Jupiter’s Legacy: The Netflix Series That Was Canceled After One Season


    Jupiter's Legacy: The Netflix Series That Was Canceled After One Season

    Jupiter’s Legacy was a superhero television series that premiered on Netflix on May 7, 2021. It was based on the comic book series of the same name by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, and published by Image Comics. The show followed the first generation of superheroes who received their powers in the 1930s, and their children who struggled to live up to their legacy and ideals in the present day.

    The series starred Josh Duhamel as Sheldon Sampson / The Utopian, the leader of the Union of Justice superhero team; Ben Daniels as Walter Sampson / Brainwave, Sheldon’s older brother and a powerful telepath; Leslie Bibb as Grace Kennedy-Sampson / Lady Liberty, Sheldon’s wife and a super-strong heroine; Andrew Horton as Brandon Sampson / Paragon, Sheldon and Grace’s son and heir apparent; Elena Kampouris as Chloe Sampson, Sheldon and Grace’s rebellious daughter who rejected her superhero heritage; Mike Wade as Fitz Small / The Flare, a loyal member of the Union of Justice who suffered a career-ending injury; and Matt Lanter as George Hutchence / Skyfox, Sheldon’s former best friend and ally who turned into his greatest enemy.

    The show was developed for television by Steven S. DeKnight, who initially served as showrunner, but was replaced by Sang Kyu Kim midway through production. The show was produced by Millarworld, Di Bonaventura Pictures, and DeKnight Productions. It was the first project to emerge from Netflix’s 2017 acquisition of Millarworld, Mark Millar’s comic book imprint.

    Despite its high production values and star-studded cast, Jupiter’s Legacy received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some praised its exploration of complex themes such as family, morality, and legacy, while others criticized its slow pace, uneven tone, and excessive violence. The show also faced comparisons to other superhero shows such as The Boys, Invincible, and Watchmen.

    On June 2, 2021, Netflix announced that it had canceled Jupiter’s Legacy after one season. The decision was reportedly due to the show’s high cost and low viewership. Netflix also announced that it had ordered a spin-off continuation, a live-action adaptation of Supercrooks, another comic book series by Mark Millar and Leinil Francis Yu set in the same fictional universe as Jupiter’s Legacy. Supercrooks follows a group of super-villains who plan a heist in Europe while avoiding the attention of superheroes. A separate anime adaptation of Supercrooks was released to Netflix in November 2021.

    Jupiter’s Legacy was a ambitious attempt to bring a new perspective to the superhero genre, but it failed to find its audience and meet its expectations. The show’s cancellation left many fans disappointed and many questions unanswered. However, Netflix still has plans to expand the Millarworld universe with Supercrooks and other projects in development.

    Jupiter’s Legacy was based on the comic book series of the same name by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, and published by Image Comics. The comic book series debuted in 2013 and consisted of three limited series: Jupiter’s Legacy, Jupiter’s Circle, and Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem. The comic book series explored the history and future of the Union of Justice and their descendants, as well as the social and political implications of their actions.

    Jupiter’s Legacy was the first comic book series that Millar wrote as part of his Millarworld line of creator-owned comics, which also includes titles such as Kick-Ass, Kingsman, Wanted, and Chrononauts. Millar was inspired by Star Wars, King Kong, Roman mythology and origin stories from the Golden Age of Comics to create a superhero epic that spanned generations and genres. He also wanted to examine the relationship between superheroes and the American ideal, and how it changed over time.

    Jupiter’s Legacy was drawn by Frank Quitely, who had previously collaborated with Millar on The Authority in 2001. Quitely was praised for his detailed and expressive art style, which brought the characters and the world to life. Quitely also designed the costumes and logos for the superheroes, giving them a distinctive look. The comic book series was colored and lettered by Peter Doherty, who added depth and mood to the scenes.

    Jupiter’s Legacy was a critical and commercial success, earning multiple nominations and awards, such as the Eisner Award for Best New Series in 2014. The comic book series also attracted the attention of Hollywood, leading to Netflix’s acquisition of Millarworld in 2017 and the development of a television adaptation of Jupiter’s Legacy.

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