As expected, NBC has decided not to move forward with a second season of AD: The Bible Continues. The 12 episode mini-series wrapped on June 21st and has now been cancelled.
Produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, AD: The Bible Continues tells the tale of the later chapters of biblical history (following the Crucifixion of Christ). It focuses on the disciples who had to go forward and spread the teachings of Jesus Christ to a world dominated by political unrest. The cast includes Juan Pablo Di Pace, Adam Levy, Richard Coyle, Vincent Regan, Greta Scacchi, Babou Ceesay, Chipo Chung, Emmett J. Scanlan, Jodhi May, Joanne Whalley, Ken Bones, Kevin Doyle, Helen Daniels, and Fraser Ayers.
The series debuted on April 5th to a respectable 2.33 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 9.68 million viewers. Unfortunately, the ratings saw severe drops in the weeks that followed. The finale hit a series low with a 0.7 demo and 3.56 million.
Though NBC doesn’t want a second season, the story isn’t over. Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have said that their writers have been working on scripting season two for some time.
Now that NBC has cancelled the show, the producers see it as a tentpole for the launch of OTT. They have been working on the online channel since partnering with MGM to form United Artists Media Group last fall. The online channel is envisioned as a base for faith and religion-based content but won’t be launched until 2016 or 2017.
The castmembers of AD are being released from their contracts because the next incarnation won’t be filmed for awhile. As a result, there may be some recasting when production resumes.
What do you think? Should NBC have cancelled this show? Will you watch the next season online when it becomes available or prefer to watch on DVDs. Would you pay to watch this kind of programming?
I was looking forward to watching the 2nd season!!! I wish one of the other cable channels would pick it up and show it this fall!!! I don’t want to have to wait a year or two to watch it on line. Very Sad that this country rather watch, promote and shove reality garbage TV shows in our face!
Nbc messed up big time! Canceling a biblical series is crazy’, no matter when or where season 2 come I will continue to watch it.
I was disappointed to see it cancelled. I was hoping the continuation. They were way too many commercials but I was recording it. Hopefully they are counting those people. I was watching it carefully and comparing notes for accuracy. I enjoyed it. It seems like they were doing a good job. I would love to see season 2. It appeared that it ended abruptly, so I am hoping to see it come back. I can’t believe we show other distasteful shows on T.V. and then they cancel a show like this.
This program is perhaps one of the greatest bible series to be shown on network television.
The book of Acts can not be read and understood unless one understands the context in the day in which it was written. Jesus was Jewish, his apostles were Jewish. He came ” not to abolish the Law(Torah) but to fulfill it.”Truly, the reason why the show may have disappointed many viewers is that there were far too many commercial breaks (worldly distractions).
Why not produce it in DVD form so we can watch it without distraction?
I am really disappointed in NBC’s decision to cancel this series. I hope another station picks it up. If not, I would watch it on DVD.
I’m so disappointed that they will not air a 2nd series! I hope they air it on a different network. I will definitely watch it and would pay to watch it on DVD! Big mistake NBC!
Very disappointed it was cancelled. I will definitely keep an eye for the second season however it may come out.
I looked forward to these weekly shows, we DVRd each one. It’s a shame it isn’t renewing, the world so needs to have their faith renewed.
I’m not surprised!!!! I’m very upset NBC won’t be renewing this show!! They will air all sorts of crime and murder shows but not a faith based show!! I really enjoyed this series and hope to see the second season some how!!!!!
My husband and I looked forward to this series on Sunday nights after church service. It was the only decent and Christian program we watched. It was a big mistake that NBC cancelled this program without considering the viewers interest. We will be sure to watch if it comes back on otherwise NBC will loose yet another viewer…
So disappointed. This show was so good. Sundays were hard to do, but I couldn’t wait to catch it “on demand”. I’ll be following wherever it goes.
you people amaze me…….. You give a show one season and don’t consider your viewers
I say fine your done with me I’m done with you!!!!
This series was great. NBC made a big mistake when they cancelled The Bible AD. Many of my friends thought it was an Easter special and did not know it was a series . I guess NBC did not do a good oh at advertising.
A Big mistake to cancel!!
If this program bought one person back to God, it served its purpose.
But it bought many across the country back. Including two in my household!!
A Big mistake to cancel!!
I am so disappointed! I really hope even though NBC made the mistake of cancelling the show that they still continue with Season 2. No matter where it comes out, my husband and I will definitely plan to watch!