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?
We LOVED watching AD. We’re very disappointed that it has been cancelled. We were looking forward to Season 2 & future seasons. We would definitely watch it on a different channel. Please update us where & when it will be airing. God bless!
I hope Roma finds another network to pick up this wonderful series. I too looked forward
to watching it every week. Not only did I learn a lot historically but felt a closer walk with
the Lord.
Very upset regarding the cancellation of this show! It was the Only show my friend and I looked forward to watching together every week and we learned alot along the way. Although we both are religious neither of us were that familiar with the details. The cast were all Wonderful also. Very Sad!
Please bring it back
It’s a miracle in its self that the show was put on TV in this day and time. Hopefully it changed some people’s lives. I loved every episode and the actors that played in the series. I very much hope a second season will somehow be renewed and we can all be inspired by this series.
Looked forward to and worked my schedule around being able to watch the excellent AD program. Please bring back. Thank You. P.S. It was always a positive topic of discussion at our church of over 10,000.
i want to see NBC take a stand for what’s right and support shows that tell truth and show wisdom. God will bless your station just like he blesses all his believers.
Your loss, another channels gain.
Please don’t cancel. This is such a good series.
I am also very disappointed that AD has been cancelled. We watched every episode. I don’t watch much TV due to language,sex and violence.
Please give us a second season i enjoyed every single chapter a great production it’s very desapointed and sad not to give it again.
Loved the series. Disappointed they take the wholesome shows off the air No nudity, swearing…..it was a great show.
Please bring AD back for a second season. Great show for the whole family
We are so tired of TNT and NBC starting show series and ending them before a finale has aired. The networks leave their viewerss wondering.
I am really saddened to hear that the show was cancelled. I was really enjoying learning the true story of Jesus and I found myself reading the bible along with the show and sometimes even reading ahead. It’s sad that a show like Scandal is still on the air with all of the evil things that it portrays and a story about Jesus is cancelled. If the show will be aired on another channel please email me to let me know.
Okay, I’m officially going through withdrawals. Best show on TV! Your loss, another channels gain.
How many of you folks noticed that the only demographic mentioned in their statistics was up to 49? And most of those folks are interested only in the drivel that constitutes most television today. ? It all comes down to $$$.