According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel has terminated overall deals with TV showrunners Steve Lightfoot (The Punisher) and Paul Zbyszewski (Helstrom). The outlet notes the terminated deals are among the first as TV studios have begun end deals due the newfound economic uncertainty amid the global pandemic and production shutdowns.
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Many are anticipating studios to invoke the force majeure clause in multiple pacts in response to the coronavirus. A force majeure clause typically allows studios increased latitude to make decisions that are motivated by an unforeseeable incident.
Lightfoot and Zbyszewski’s deals were with Marvel and not the Disney-owned ABC Studios. Lightfoot recently served as showrunner on Netflix’s The Punisher, which was canceled after two seasons. Zbyszewski serves as showrunner on Hulu’s upcoming live-action drama series Helstrom. The project wrapped production before the shutdowns began.
Zbyszewski is expected to wrap post-production on Helstrom, starring Tom Austen (The Royals, Misfits) as Daimon Helstrom.
Marvel’s Helstrom follows siblings and supposed serial killer offspring Daimon Helstrom (Austen) and Ana Helstrom (Lemmon). Plagued by their family background, the Helstrom’s will pursue the world’s vilest of the vile — with some family drama of their own.
Daimon Helstrom is a professor of ethics who moonlights as an exorcist. Daimon has no illusions about saving a world he has no patience for; he just hopes he can help a few of the people closest to him. In his battle against a hidden world, Daimon is determined to root out demons as they arise, and will not stop until they’re vanquished.
Ana Helstrom runs a successful auction house and suffers no fools, but her true interest lies in hunting down those who hurt others. Traumatized by her father as a child, Ana is driven to rid the world of those like him, even as she secretly worries her father will return.
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The series stars Tom Austen (Grantchester, The Royals) as Daimon Helstrom, Sydney Lemmon (Fear the Walking Dead) as Ana Helstrom, Elizabeth Marvel (Homeland, Unbelievable) as Victoria Helstrom, Ariana Guerra (Raising Dion) as Gabriella Rosetta, Robert Wisdom (Ballers) as the Caretaker, June Carryl (Mindhunter) as Dr. Louise Hastings, and Alain Uy (The Passage) as Chris Yen.
The 10-episode first season of Marvel’s Helstrom is executive produced by Paul Zybszewski who will serve as showrunner. Marvel Television’s Jeph Loeb will also executive produce. It is expected to debut next year.
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