Disney+ removed dozens of series and movies this past May. The trend has become common in the streaming sphere, with Paramount+ being the latest to undergo this plan.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, ahead of a planned merger with Showtime, Paramount+ has announced the cancellation of the following shows: Star Trek: Prodigy, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, The Game, and Queen of the Universe. Paramount+ said it was “refining our content offering to deliver the best streaming experience for subscribers” amid the Showtime merger. According to the reporting, financial concerns and discoverability on the platform were cited as the reasons these titles are being removed rather than getting cancelled. Read their statement below:
“In the unified Paramount+ with Showtime plan, the Showtime portfolio of edgy, critically acclaimed programming will complement the broad and popular Paramount+ library in a seamless offering that appeals to everyone, enables more discovery between the brands and builds overall viewership.
As we prepare to combine Paramount+ and Showtime later this month in the U.S., we are refining our content offering to deliver the best streaming experience for subscribers. This is consistent with our content strategy since launch and across our business, which ensures we make smart, efficient choices, informed by audience data and insights. We are removing select programming as we look to optimize Showtime’s robust slate of originals.
The Paramount+ series ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,’ ‘Star Trek: Prodigy,’ ‘Queen of the Universe’ and ‘The Game’ have completed their runs on Paramount+ and will not be returning to the service. We want to extend our thanks to our tremendously talented cast and crew and our producing partners for their ionate work and dedication on these programs and we wish them all the best on their future endeavors.”
The Shows Cancelled By Paramount+ Will Be Shopped To Other Platforms
Despite the cancellation, a few of the dramas that are being removed might still find a second home if their respective studios can find an interested buyer. Nickelodeon and CBS Studios will retain the option of offering Star Trek: Prodigy to other potential networks as it still will complete post-production for season 2. The same is true of Paramount Television Studios, which can shop Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies elsewhere. The Game, a dramedy rival of a popular sitcom, also can be licensed by CBS Studios. Queen of the Universe's future is particularly unclear, however. The reality competition program is expected to be removed on June 30.
This is not the first time Paramount+ has removed some of its titles, although this latest batch is more high-profile and includes a Star Trek show. The streaming service previously removed Coyote, No Activity, Guilty Party, The Harper House, The Real World, and The Twilight Zone reboot hosted by Jordan Peele. It's unclear whether more cancelations and removals might follow.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies season 1 wrapped up with a cliffhanger that clearly set up more episodes. Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 had already been renewed before Paramount+ reserved its decision. Although the Star Trek brand remains strong overall, with Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds, as well as other projects in the works. But in a time of industry uncertainty and newfound cost-consciousness, shows disappearing from streaming sadly seems like the new normal.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is a prequel series set four years before the original 1978 film. The show focuses on the founding of the Pink Ladies, a group of high school girls who challenge social norms at Rydell High. Starring Marisa Davila and Cheyenne Isabel Wells, it explores their struggles and camaraderie in the 1950s.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter