Moonlight: If the Show Can Be Saved, Will O’Loughlin Want to Do It?

Published: May 21, 2008

Last week we reported that there was a possibility that the now-cancelled Moonlight series could find a new home on the CW. Though CBS dropped it, the show was being pitched to Media Rights Capitol, the company who recently purchased CW’s Sunday night airtime. Though MRC quickly passed on the series for fall, there was still a possibility that it could pop up midseason. Unfortunately, MRC has now passed on that opportunity as well. Happily for the fans, the show’s chances for survival may not be dead just yet.

Word is that Warner Bros. Television (the studio that produces the series) is still trying to find another home for the vampire drama. They’re approaching cable networks like TNT but Moonlight’s budget is prohibitive for most potential cable buyers. To help reduce the production costs, Warners is also looking into finding a new and cheaper shooting location. Warner shows like Smallville and Supernatural already film in Canada.

Part of the budget problems is one of the show’s greatest assets – Alex O’Loughlin. Because of the actor’s exposure on the series, he’s now in high demand and will likely end up being signed to another weekly series if Moonlight doesn’t survive. His agent, Nathan Morris, tells news.com.au, “He has got a whole raft of things to read through – a role like [Mick] has definitely opened plenty of doors. . . The key is to strike while the iron is hot. ”

It remains to be seen if O’Loughlin would be willing to take a paycut so that Moonlight could move to a smaller cable channel. It would also mean possibly passing on other mainstream projects that might further his career.

Though the actor clearly enjoys vampire role, the CBS series has been a veritable rollercoaster ride. After being told of the series’ cancellation, O’Loughlin described his exhaustion due to the show’s turbulent freshman year. He wrote, “From the very beginning when I was told time and again that I wasn’t the man for the job, having to prove myself to everyone with tests and screen tests, to a complete re-casting of the show, through 5 different show runners at the helm with 5 different artistic visions, to a Writer’s strike that took 5 episodes away from us? oh how the list goes on.”

Soonafter writing this, O’Loughlin and his girlfriend, Holly Vance (who guested as Lola on Moonlight), reportedly escaped L.A. for a two week vacation in Mexico.

Will a new home for the vampire series be found? Would the series’ male star still be on-board if that happens? Stay tuned!