Creator of Canceled Netflix Show Slams Streamer For $150m Mistake (& Then Censors Himself)

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It’s no surprise that Netflix has cancelled another show after just one season. Although the show didn’t gain much traction, and some critics felt the cancellation was justified, the creator is speaking out against the platform and the broader entertainment industry, claiming they are following a harmful pattern.

Despite featuring acclaimed actresses Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey, the western series The Abandons has been widely criticized, earning a mere 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and being labeled a failure by some. Set in 1850s Washington, the show focuses on a fierce rivalry between the leaders of two families—one wealthy and influential, the other built on strong bonds of loyalty—as they fight for control. The show’s creator, Kurt Sutter, departed during production due to disagreements with the studio, a pattern stemming from his previous firing from the series Mayans where he admitted to difficult behavior. Now, Sutter is publicly critical of Netflix’s decision to cancel the show he left before it finished.

What Went Wrong With The Abandons?

The show struggled in almost every area, from costumes and writing to the story itself. Characters felt underdeveloped, even with talented actors. Things became even more chaotic when a key actor, Sutter, left with only one episode left to film. The original ten-episode season was cut down to seven, filled with reshoots, and then an eighth episode was added late in the process. Now, with the show officially cancelled, Sutter is sharing his side of the story.

In an Instagram post that was later changed, he wrote to Netflix, saying that when fear leads them to prioritize algorithms over creative choices, they should remember how that can ruin a promising project. He also pointed out that investors don’t like learning over $150 million was spent trying to correct avoidable errors caused by poor leadership – and that this is a harmful pattern for both the entertainment industry and financial markets.

I’ve been following this creator’s posts, and honestly, he’s really voicing my concerns about what’s happening in Hollywood. His original comments were tweaked, likely by his legal team, but the core message is still clear: he’s deeply disappointed with the direction things are going, both for the quality of movies and shows, and for the people who actually make them. He recently compared Hollywood to a ghost town, and it really hit home. He admitted he doesn’t fully understand all the financial issues, especially why our tax breaks are so low compared to other places. But he’s right – work is constantly moving to cheaper locations, and it feels like Hollywood is fading away, becoming just a memory of its former glory. He says we need a complete rebirth, but even just a little push to get things moving again would be a start.

Netflix clearly hoped to replicate the success Paramount found with Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone and its appealingly simple style, using Sutter to do it. However, Sutter had a different approach, remaining committed to his original idea for The Abandons and refusing to compromise his vision.

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2026-02-01 20:19