'Dirk Gently': Efforts to Find New Home for Canceled BBC America Drama Fail
Exec producer Arvind Ethan David took to Twitter to send a heartfelt note to the show's small but dedicated fan base.
Three months after its cancellation at BBC America, efforts to find a new home for Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency have ended without a new destination.
Executive producer Arvind Ethan David took to Twitter on Sunday to send a heartfelt note to the show's small but dedicated fan base explaining that the series, axed in December after two seasons on BBC America, would not see a third season.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Dirk Gently was taken to Netflix, with the streaming giant considering a third-season pickup for the Elijah Wood drama. Ultimately, a deal was not reached. It's unclear where, if anywhere, producers also shopped the series about eccentric "holistic" detective Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) and his reluctant assistant Todd (Wood).
"The Change.org campaign, the social media love, the power-hours on Twitter, the letter and postcard campaign. All Amazing — above and beyond fandom. However, it isn't going to result in the outcome we've all hoped and worked toward. There will not be a season three of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency," David wrote. "We tried, and we've explored all options. Ultimately, whilst the passion of the fan base has never been in question, there just isn't a big enough audience for the economics to work out."
Never a ratings breakout, Dirk Gently's viewership for season two was down year-over-year compared with season one. Season two averaged slightly less than 250,000 total viewers. The decision to cancel Dirk Gently comes after BBC America bid farewell to critical darling Orphan Black in August. The Sarah Barnett-led BBC America, a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and AMC Networks, now counts Doctor Who and Luther and the upcoming Killing Eve — from Fleabag breakout Phoebe Waller Bridge and starring Sandra Oh — among its scripted originals.
Max Landis (American Ultra, Chronicle) penned the adaptation and exec produced with Robert Cooper (Stargate Atlantis), David, Zainir Aminullah, IDW Entertainment's Ted Adams, David Ozer, Circle of Confusion's David Alpert and Rick Jacobs. Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency was co-produced by AMC Studios, Ideate Media and IDW Entertainment, with Circle of Confusion producing for BBC America.
Read David's note to fans in full, below.
An update for all of you working to #SaveDirkGently
— from all of us who made #DirkGently
with much, much love. #Dirktectives pic.twitter.com/FozJgKHUH4— Arvind Ethan David (@ArvD) March 10, 2018
