Prime Video Cancels Supernatural Action Drama ‘The Bondsman’ Starring Kevin Bacon
In a move that has surprised industry insiders, Prime Video has decided not to proceed with a second season of its supernatural action drama, The Bondsman, starring Kevin Bacon. According to a report from Deadline, the cancellation comes more than a month after the series premiered on April 3, with all eight half-hour episodes made available on the platform.
The news is notable, given that The Bondsman had made a promising start to its run, debuting at #9 on the Nielsen Originals chart with 563 million minutes of viewing in its premiere week. However, by its second week, the series had dropped off the Nielsen ranks, despite remaining on Prime Video’s platform Top 10 list, currently at No. 5 in the U.S. The show also received high praise from critics and viewers, averaging 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, it appears that this was not enough to secure a second season.
As noted by Deadline, The Bondsman is a series that follows the story of murdered bounty hunter Hub Halloran, played by Kevin Bacon, who is resurrected by the Devil to trap and send back demons that have escaped from the prison of hell. Throughout the series, Hub chases down these demons with the help and hindrance of his estranged family, learning how his own sins led to his soul being condemned, and pushing him to seek a second chance at life, love, and country music.
The series was produced by Blumhouse Television, Marker 96, and CrimeThink Production Company, with executive producers including Erik Oleson, Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickie, and Chris McCumber for Blumhouse Television, as well as Bacon, Paul E. Shapiro, and Grainger David, who created the series. Erik Holmberg served as co-executive producer. As Deadline reports, the production team had high hopes for the series, but it appears that it was not enough to convince Prime Video to renew it for a second season.
The cancellation of The Bondsman raises questions about the current state of the streaming industry, and the challenges faced by producers in creating content that resonates with audiences. As Deadline notes, the series had received positive reviews and had performed well in terms of viewership, but it appears that this was not enough to secure a second season.
In a statement, it is clear that Prime Video has made a strategic decision not to proceed with The Bondsman, despite its positive reception. As reported by Deadline, the cancellation is a reminder that the streaming industry is highly competitive, and that even well-received series can struggle to find an audience. The decision not to renew The Bondsman for a second season is a significant one, and will likely be closely watched by industry insiders and fans of the series.
