Steven DeKnight Resigns from JUPITER’S LEGACY; Cites “Creative Differences”
The Netflix superhero series Jupiter’s Legacy seems to have run into a bit of production trouble as showrunner Steven S. DeKnight has left the show in the middle of shooting.
DeKnight ran the show and shared Executive Producer credit with story creators Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, also joined by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Dan McDermott. Not only is DeKnight leaving the show, but he is also rumored to be trying to negotiate an early termination to his general contract with Netflix for work on other projects, which ends in 2020.
Time will tell what DeKnight’s departure means for the production; the creative team had just finished filming episode 4 of the first season when DeKnight left the show. Obviously this news would normally mean a delay for a production but Deadline, who broke the story on Monday, reported that sources say there are no plans for the series to go on hiatus until a new showrunner is named, with efforts made for continuous production and a smooth transition. When that person comes on board, the new creative team will likely examine the existing footage and set a creative direction before any decisions are made on possible reshoots.
On Twitter Monday, DeKnight responded to a fan and was very positive in his references to the production after leaving:
Much appreciated. Love the show, love everyone involved. Hope it’s the raging success it deserves to be. A lot of people are working very hard on it. When it comes out, watch it! 🤘 https://t.co/XRv32szIf8
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) September 16, 2019
Later, DeKnight expressed more positivity, specifically calling out Executive Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura with nothing but positive comments for the production team:
Lorenzo di Bonaventura was a fantastic partner and a huge supporter. Nothing but good things to say about him. This is just show business. Things happen, you move on. I sincerely wish Netflix and the show nothing but success. https://t.co/XTeEjeSeH2
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) September 16, 2019
It’s unclear exactly what the creative differences were between the production company and DeKnight, but from DeKnight’s tone, it appears the split was amicable.
Jupiter’s Legacy is an adaptation of the comic book series of the same name; the plot synopsis provided by the production states: “When the world’s first generation of superheroes received their powers in the 1930s become the revered elder guard in the present, their superpowered children struggle to live up to the legendary feats of their parents.”
According to Netflix, the cast will be led by Transformers star Josh Duhamel, The Crown‘s Ben Daniels, Iron Man‘s Leslie Bibb, Sacred Lies‘ Elena Kampouris and Doctors‘ Andrew Horton. Duhamel will play Sheldon Sampson, also known as The Utopian, who is the leader of the superhero group The Union. He’s a man who no longer understands the world or his family.
Daniels is playing Sheldon’s brilliant older brother Walter Sampson, also known as Brain-Wave, while Bibb is playing Grace Sampson, the extremely powerful hero Lady Liberty and wife of Sheldon. Kampouris will play Chloe Sampson, the daughter of Sheldon and Grace. She has abandoned the values of her parents and pursued a path that threatens the things they’ve fought for. The family also includes Brandon Sampson (Horton), the son of Sheldon and Grace and a hero training to be the new Utopian and lead The Union.
DeKnight previously served as showrunner on the acclaimed first season of the Marvel-Netflix series Daredevil. His other credits include Spartacus and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena for Starz.
