Sons of Anarchycreator Kurt Sutter has exited his new Netflix western seriesThe Abandons.Starring Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson, the series was also set to serve as a reunion for Sutter with his previousSons of AnarchycastmatesMichael Ornstein and Ryan Hurst.The Abandonswas set to be Sutter’s first major television project after he was fired from theSons of Anarchyspinoff seriesMayans M.C.in 2019, serving as its creator, showrunner, and executive producer.
As originally reported byDeadline,Sutter has exited work onThe Abandonswith three weeks left before production was scheduled to wrap. While Netflix and Sutter’s reps have declined to comment, sources suggest the change came as the result of creative differences that arose after the streamer had viewed rough cuts of the first few episodes.
Friction reportedly began when an early cut of the first episode ran an hour and 40 minutes long, and after cutting it down proved impossible, the decision was made to split it into two episodes. This necessitated some rewrites and reshoots, andDeadline’s sources claim the new scenes have been written, but not yet filmed.Netflix decided on a leadership change after viewing unfinished cuts of the newly divided episodes and episode 3, which executives felt were disjointed and lacking in forward momentum. There was reportedly no further meeting between Netflix and Sutter to address these concerns.
The report mentions that while there haven’t been major on-set conflicts,Sutter and major cast members have experienced “friction… over storylines, level of collaboration and communication.“The Abandonshas also gone over budget,Deadlineclaims, with company-wide budget cuts having previously cut the show’s episode count from ten to seven, which the split first episode brought back up to eight.
The remaining weeks of production will be overseen by executive producer and director Otto Bathurst and co-executive producer Rob Askins, though no new showrunner ofThe Abandonswill be named.Deadlinespeculates that the suddenness of Sutter’s departure could be motivated by scheduling, asthe show is reportedly targeting an April 2025 releaseand all Netflix series need months in advance for dubbing in international markets.
What Kurt Sutter’s Exit Means For The Abandons
DespiteSons of Anarchy’s overwhelming popularity, Sutter has faced a difficult time attempting to recapture the success enjoyed by his outlaw motorcycle gang show. In 2015, Sutter’s 14th century historical dramaThe Bastard Executionerwas cancelled after just one season, andhis 2019 departure fromMayans M.C.was reportedly due to complaintsof unprofessional behavior. However, Sutter would later refute those claims, insisting that the decision to remove him was primarily due to Disney’s “inane PC restraints.”
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When it was first announced,The Abandonsnot only seemed poised to deliver an opportunity for Sutter to recapture his iconic brand of outlaw drama, but his new home at Netflix seemed a much better fit than the Disney-owned FX that he so publicly railed against. Sadly, however, these latest reports would likely indicate thatThe Abandonswill not serve as Sutter’s much-anticipated return to form. Moreover, while the show does seem set to continue without him, his latest departure will also likely cast a cloud over the show’s future and its chances of continuing beyond its first season.
Our Take On The Abandons’ Future
Can The Netflix Western Survive Sutter’s Exit?
Numerous successful shows have managed to succeed in the wake of their original creator’s departure. EvenMayans M.C.wouldcontinue on for three more seasons following Sutter’s highly-publicized exit. However, Sutter and Netflix’s surprising decision to part ways onThe Abandonsbefore it has even concluded production on its inaugural season does not bode well for the show’s potential longevity.
With manySons of Anarchyfansinitially excited at the prospect of Sutter putting his own spin on an American frontier tale, his decision will come as a bitter blow for those hoping to see his western show recapture the same kind of success as his flagship series.
The Abandons
Cast
The Abandons is a television series set in the American West during the 1850s. Created by Kurt Sutter, it follows a group of families fighting to maintain their land and way of life against powerful forces threatening to displace them. The ensemble cast, headlined by Lena Headey, explores themes of survival, justice, and community in a lawless frontier era.
