Channel 4 Axes UTOPIA

Channel 4 in the UK has announced that they have axed the fantasy drama UTOPIA, which recently concluded its second six-part series, according to Den of Geek. The show, one of the most distinctive, inventive and extraordinarily-violent British drama series of the last decade, was created by Dennis Kelly and concerned the exploits of a group of misfits originally drawn together through their love of an obscure one-off comic book graphic novel, who become embroiled in a sinister conspiracy which threatens the future of the entire human race.

The series, whose cast included Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Alexandra Roach, Geraldine James and Ian McDiarmid, ended its second run on August 12th on a cliffhanger which left the door open for a potential third series. But Channel 4 have now confirmed that the series has been officially cancelled. “UTOPIA is truly channel-defining: strikingly original, powered by Dennis Kelly’s extraordinary voice and brought to life in all its technicolor glory through (director) Marc Munden’s undeniable creative flair and vision,” said a spokesperson for Channel 4. “It’s always painful to say goodbye to shows we love, but it’s a necessary part of being able to commission new drama, a raft of which are launching on the channel throughout 2015.”

Although critically applauded (despite finding itself caught in a tabloid controversy due to its audacious revisionist depiction of the British political landscape in the 1970s in the first episode of its second season), UTOPIA has always maintained a passionate but small following. The series debuted in January 2013 with a consolidated rating of 1.70 million viewers for its first episode, but the numbers fell away gradually across the series with the final episode attracting just over one million viewers. Series Two opened its account on July 14th this year with just 900,000 viewers and by the third episode only 640,000 were still on board.

However, UTOPIA fans can take some solace from the news that an American remake will air next year on HBO courtesy of director David Fincher and writer Gillian Flynn who together masterminded the current feature film adaptation of Flynn’s popular novel GONE GIRL.

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