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 am not only surprised but actually hurt that such an amazing show was cancelled. Our generation need positive shows to watch and not all of these crime filled, violent, and ridiculous reality shows. NBC has aired some pretty good shows in the past but they fail to keep them for long. Think about the months in which this show aired and re-think again. If there are any decent God-loving folks at NBC, think of all the goodness you are bringing into households on Sunday nights. Think of the blessings that people receive from this show. Please reconsider and bring… Read more »
I really enjoyed the series! I wish they would continue seriously! It really leaves you hanging on the last episode. They did a real good job holding peoples attention.
This was the BEST PROGRAM, outside of the Star Treks, that ever existed on TV!!
Great series! Kept your interest the whole time through and helped one to understand the hardships of our ancestors versus how easy we have it in modern times. Certainly adds to your respect for the apostles and the first converts to our faith. I am sure that there will be a large interest in the next series when the producers complete it. Both past viewers and people of faith will be eager consumers of this quality production.
Why?????? This show was great!! Bring it back !!! Seriously !!
Please don’t cancel this series.
I loved this epic!! Anything that is righteous and educational for our children gets cast out by the networks…….Drugs, violence and killings are glorified ie: Sopranos, true blood, spartacus and others. I am hoping that HBO, Starz or Cinemax would pick up Season 2 of AD. Lets teach our children the fight of faith instead of self destruction which other seasonal shows represent
EVE I agree!!!!.
Very well said….This show is awesome
This was a very well produced series and it is unfortunate that viewership declined. However, I am not convinced it was lack of interest. I owned a business that always slowed at the same time of year this series was running. Spring break in March, graduations, homecoming games, proms & end of school year are mostly in April/May (as well as tax season); lots of weddings in June & summer vacations beginning. This is a very busy time for families. Maybe they should have broken up the series a little more and aired it at slower times of the year… Read more »
I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH NBC!! THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CANCELLED! I LOOKED FORWARD TO WATCHING THIS WITH MY FAMILY ON SUNDAY NIGHTS. I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART AND PUT BUT ON THE AIR SOON!
Absolutely loved the series. Looked forward each Sunday night to sit down & finally watch something really good. Would love to buy a DVD set to show to the people at our church who didn’t get to watch it. Very disappointed it is being cancelled.
Jay Leno used to frequently joke about, and comment on, the bad programming choices by NBC so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. They never seem to get it right. Just when I finally find something worthwhile on their network the screw up again. Hope Roma and Mark are able to find a new home because I loved this program and looked forward to it every week. Shame on you NBC!
I liked the secular story [Pilate/Claudia] as much as the Bible events. Not many folks have commented on that. Interesting to see Bible events in the content of the background of that era. History’s not **completely** accurate, but I could visualize Book of Acts.
We were not able to watch series on TV but bought it to watch. We think it is an incredible series with great acting and producing. We are very disappointed in the decision not to have another season. Wondered if network received pressure to drop because of anti-Christian sentiment in America.
Here we go again NBC must be the champions of cancelling any show worth watching. Here you have a religious TV show for the first time on a major network and they cancel it before it even get’s going. It doesn’t surprise me. Somebody will pick it up. Maybe Joel Osteen will help.
I am so disappointed that this series has been cancelled! It was good quality, seemed historically accurate, and left me wanting more every week. Now I’m left hanging at the end of season one…
I agree. Great to watch the Bible played out accurately (way to go Roma Downey), but it doesn’t end there…because we can read the Bible for the rest of the story. So…not really a cliffhanger since it is all recorded for us in the Bible.
As for the