The long-awaited premiere of the highly-anticipated FX series “Y,” based on the comic book series “Y: The Last Man” from creators Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, might be in trouble, yet again. After various starts and stops over the course of its years-long development (first as a movie franchise, now as a series), it appears that “Y” might be on its last legs.
The news surrounding “Y” started with many fearing the worst, as series showrunners Michael Green and Aïda Mashaka Croal posted a joint statement on Twitter explaining that FX was halting production on the series, which was already done with a pilot and was picked up for a full season late last year.
“FX has decided not to move forward with our series in its current form,” the statement from Green and Croal reads.
The statement continues, “We hoped to reward [the cast and crew’s] talent and their trust not just with success, but with a show that had something to say, in a time when things must be said. As ‘Y’ fans ourselves, we hope the future allows just that.”
While that statement seems to paint a dire picture for the future of the FX series, Variety is reporting that the network isn’t ready to pull the plug just yet. A spokesperson for FX told the trade that the network is still planning on developing the series with the current cast, but is doing so without Green and Croal and with new creative minds.
For those not familiar with the plot of “Y,” the series follows the adventures of the last man on Earth, Yorick Brown, and his pet monkey, Ampersand. Knowing that all the other male mammals on the planet suddenly perished, without warning, the duo attempt to find answers, while also avoiding detection, as various groups are fighting for control of the new all-female society.
Sure, it’s never good for series to dump showrunners, but we have seen this happen before on high-profile series, including “American Gods” (on its 15th showrunners, we think?) and “Star Trek: Discovery.” And it’s nice that FX is attempting to get this series back on the tracks as soon as possible because the cast that was assembled for “Y” is pretty incredible, including Diane Lane, Imogen Poots, Lashana Lynch, Juliana Canfield, Marin Ireland, Amber Tamblyn, and Barry Keoghan, as the titular last man.
The series is still expected to debut sometime in 2020. Fingers crossed on that one.
@andmichaelgreen pic.twitter.com/igNnghiatM
— Aida Croal (@mashaka74) April 15, 2019
