With a new religion-themed series 'The Vatican' ready to launch, the premium cable network decides to bid farewell to the Jeremy Irons-starring show.
- Jun 6, 2013
AceShowbiz - The dramatic tale of Pope Alexander VI in Emmy-winning drama "The Borgias" is coming to an end after Showtime decides not to renew it for a fourth season. The Jeremy Irons-starring series is set to conclude in a finale airing Sunday, June 16 at 10 P.M. ET.
"It has been an honor to work with the great Neil Jordan and the incomparable Jeremy Irons on The Borgias," Showtime's entertainment president David Nevins says in a statement. "Neil has written nearly every episode of this series himself."
The cable network's executive continues, "His extraordinary storytelling combined with Jeremy's fascinating portrayal of the infamous Pope Alexander VI, has made for truly outstanding television that will live on. I look forward to future collaborations."
Series creator Neil Jordan adds, "I never thought I would make a cable series and have enjoyed every minute of it. For a variety of reasons we won't be doing a fourth season, but, 'The Prince' [the final episode], when I wrote it and shot it, did seem like the end of a journey for the family."
"Whatever bonded them as a family dies in this episode, and the center of the drama for me was always the family. I want to thank Showtime and David Nevins for their unstinting support over the last three years, and look forward to working with them in the future."
Premiering during Robert Greenblatt's time as head of Showtime, Borgias is averaging 2.4 million viewers across multiple platforms since the second season. It scored at least 10 Emmy nominations and won the awards for best costume and best theme song.
Last year when the show was renewed for a second season, executive producer James Flynn was hoping it could last until four season like its historical-drama predecessor "The Tudors". "The overall plan in a series like this is ideally four seasons," he said. "That would be the plan, that would be the ambition."
The cancellation of "The Borgias" came on the heels of Showtime's preparation to launch a new religion-themed drama, "The Vatican". Coming from "House M.D." executive producer Paul Attanasio and "Prometheus" director Ridley Scott, it stars "Friday Night Lights" actor Kyle Chandler.
