FOX To Decide on Terra Nova "Very Soon"
One rumor coming out of the TCA's this morning is the news that Terra Nova has become a "High Class" problem for FOX and the decision of its renewal will be made very soon. The bottom line: There are other shows that are causing FOX to lose money. Terra Nova is backed by Steven Spielberg and has been consistent. Television needs more dramas that aren't medical or crime related. Here's hoping we get at least one more season.
Noting that Terra Nova was a show that resonated with families, Fox Entertainment topper Kevin Reilly said the network would be making a decision "very soon" on the future of its pricey dinosaur drama.Addressing reporters Sunday during the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, Reilly said the network is waiting to make big decisions like the future of the series that counts Steven Spielberg among its executive producers and that it would weigh its midseason series and development projects before making a decision.
"I do feel fortunate that we have some high-class problems," he said. "[Terra Nova] was an exciting bet to take and it's proven that it was worthwhile."
With 14 new drams launching last fall, Reilly said Terra Nova found a distinct audience that "stuck with it," specifically families who feel that they can sit and watch it together.
"There's a show there to bring back and there's an audience there to access," he said.
While the series that underwent a number of executive changes made it a bit of a challenge in terms of finding its creative voice, Reilly noted that the show's extensive executive producers made it a "bit of a challenge" and that the perception of the series "got away from us."
"The bar was sent enormously high ad if this is all we produce, we made money, the studio made money, the audience enjoyed it … it's clearly a conceit that people wanted to watch."
"If we had more holes, we'd be thrilled to lock [Terra Nova] in," he said. "Right now we're looking at everything: new shows premiering, development, we'll decide very soon. It needs to get back into production next month. We won't be able to drag our feet on it for too long."
Maybe Jason starring in a movie with Katherine Heigl this month will draw more of an audience and encourage FOX to keep it around. Fingers crossed. Bombard their twitter if you have to.