When the news broke in December that HBO Max had decided to effectively cancel the show “Minx,” a lot of Hollywood creatives were concerned. It wasn’t just because “Minx” was a critically successful show, but also because it had already received a second season order and was in the final week of shooting. This cancellation made showrunners, writers, and casts question the security of their own shows. If HBO could back out of a show they had already invested so much money and confidence in, then who’s to say it couldn’t happen to other shows?
What HBO Max did with “Minx” is called “writing down,” and it’s a growing trend in the industry. Networks are looking to cut costs, and one way to do that is by declaring that a show has depreciated more rapidly than anticipated. By writing down the value of the show on their books, they can show an overall loss on their balance sheet and take a sizable tax deduction. This practice applies to existing shows and previously commissioned work. That’s why we’ve seen many Paramount and Disney originals disappearing from their streaming services recently. In fact, Disney reported taking $1.5 billion in write-offs this spring, which experts attribute to all the vanishing content.
While some Hollywood executives might remind creators that it’s called “show business,” not “show security,” there are various reasons networks write down content. Besides cutting costs, they may be trying to avoid licensing or residual payments or may even be looking to shuffle content over to a free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service like Pluto TV or Tubi.
But none of these reasons really eased the pain for “Minx” showrunner Ellen Rapoport when she had to break the news of the show’s potential cancellation to her cast and crew. She had learned about it a few days prior from the show’s production company, Lionsgate, who urged her to keep it confidential. Lionsgate had tried to put a positive spin on the situation, assuring Rapoport that HBO would pay to finish the second season and that they could still take it elsewhere. However, it still felt like a devastating blow to Rapoport and the team. She described it as “a shit sandwich inside of a croissant, like, ‘We love the show, you’re canceled, but you’re going to find a new home.'”
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Rapoport kept the news to herself as she prepared to direct the finale, unsure if it would be the last time she would spend on a “Minx” set. Finally, on a Friday, Lionsgate gave her permission to inform the actors, sensing that the news would break in the trades the following week. Rapoport spent that weekend calling the show’s six series regulars and recurring guests to inform them. Everyone was surprised since the cancellation had never even been considered. Neither Rapoport nor anyone else involved in the show had received any viewership numbers from HBO Max. Streaming companies notoriously keep these stats confidential, which can be frustrating for actors and creators who are left in the dark about the status of their shows and their residuals.
The week after Rapoport broke the news to her actors, Lionsgate called her to let her know that the story was about to break and that she needed to inform the rest of the crew. Despite the cancellation, Rapoport remained optimistic, assuring everyone that “Minx” would find another distributor. Lionsgate was already in serious talks with about four potential buyers.
Although Rapoport couldn’t explicitly tell anyone working on the show about the potential new distributor, she tried to reassure them that everything would be okay. It was a startling experience for everyone involved, realizing that the project they had worked on for months could potentially never be seen. However, Rapoport’s confidence in finding another distributor gave them hope.
Overall, the cancellation of “Minx” and the trend of writing down shows highlight the uncertainties and challenges faced by Hollywood creatives. The industry remains volatile, and while financial considerations play a significant role, it’s important to remember the passion and artistry behind these projects.
