The series adaptation of 1997’s sci-fi thriller movie Gattaca will no longer move forward at Showtime.
It was reported in March 2022 that Homeland creators Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa were teaming up for the development of a Gattaca reboot. However, according to Variety, Showtime has officially scrapped the project, which was being produced by Sony Pictures Television. The outlet noted that Sony TV currently has the option to sell its planned Gattaca series to other networks or streamers.
The Gattaca series would have been adapted by Oscar-nominated scribe Craig Borten, with Gansa and Gordon serving as executive producers. Plot and character details about the project were not disclosed, but it was originally "being eyed with a sizable commitment" at Showtime during the early stages of its development. This isn’t the first time Sony Pictures Television tried to adapt Gattaca as a series, with the first attempt in 2009 when it was originally being developed as a police procedural drama.
Gattaca Was a Critical Hit
The 1997 film was written and directed by Andrew Niccol. It starred Oscar nominees Ethan Hawke as Vincent Freeman, Uma Thurman as Irene Cassini, and Jude Law as Jerome Morrow. The story is centered around a dystopian future, where society is now driven by genetic perfection. Hawke’s Vincent was an "In-Valid" who commits identity theft by assuming the identity of a genetic elite in an attempt to achieve his dreams of going to space. Despite Gattaca’s poor box office performance with a gross of over $12 million at the domestic box office, it still earned critical acclaim with critics praising its smart and provocative story.
Along with Gattaca, it was announced that Showtime would not be moving forward with three other projects as well, including a Mandy Patinkon-led series called Seasoned, and two other projects titled Split and Sweetness. These cancellations come on the heels of Showtime's integration with Paramount+, which was announced to happen on or around June 27. This integration has seen the removal and cancelation of many other shows, with Paramount+ recently canceling Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies and Star Trek: Prodigy, which had previously been renewed for a second season.
"As we prepare to combine Paramount+ and Showtime later this month in the U.S., we are refining our content offering to deliver the best streaming experience for subscribers," a Showtime spokesperson said in a statement. "This is consistent with our content strategy since launch and across our business, which ensures we make smart, efficient choices, informed by audience data and insights. We are removing select programming as we look to optimize Showtime’s robust slate of premium originals."
Source: Variety