The Nevers is already off to a solid start for HBO. While we're not talking Game of Thrones numbers, the series debut is definitely promising for the new show moving forward.
Sunday night’s premiere of the science fiction drama series drew just over 1.4 million viewers across linear telecasts and digital, including the best start for a new HBO Original on HBO Max, according to the premium cable network. To put things in perspective, the premiere surpassed viewership for the premieres of recent HBO dramas including Lovecraft Country and The Undoing, and viewership is expected to grow via additional telecasts and viewing across platforms according to HBO.
The Nevers is described as "an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world." The series features an ensemble cast that includes Laura Donnelly, Ann Skelly, Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amy Manson, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Zackary Momoh, Elizabeth Berrington, Kiran Sawar, Anna Devlin, Viola Prettejohn, Ella Smith, Nick Frost, and Ben Chaplin.
The Nevers is created and executive produced by Joss Whedon and the show made some news last November when Whedon decided to step down as showrunner. At the time, Whedon released a statement saying "This year of unprecedented challenges has impacted my life and perspective in ways I could never have imagined, and while developing and producing The Nevers has been a joyful experience, I realize that the level of commitment required moving forward, combined with the physical challenges of making such a huge show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without the work beginning to suffer. I am genuinely exhausted and am stepping back to martial my energy towards my own life, which is also at the brink of exciting change. I am deeply proud of the work we have done; I’m grateful to all my extraordinary cast and collaborators, and to HBO for the opportunity to shape yet another strange world. The Nevers is a true labor of love, but after two-plus years of labor, love is about all I have to offer. It will never fade." The timing of Whedon's departure coincided with an internal investigation by WarnerMedia in regards to claims made by Ray Fisher in regards to Whedon's conduct during the Justice League reshoots. Many believe that Whedon was asked to leave The Nevers as a result of this investigation but this was never 100% confirmed.
Did YOU check out the series premiere of The Nevers?