Netflix
Netflix

I was under the impression that it was meant to be a limited series, and so a second season wasn’t expected. But  maybe for the producers of the series, a season 2 was indeed planned all along as Netflix has cancelled Baz Luhrmann’s musical drama series “The Get Down,” Deadline reports exclusively this evening.

Said to be one of Netflix’s most expensive shows with a budget of around $120 million, what was then the first season unfolded over 12 episodes, split up into 2 halves. It’s rare that a freshman Netflix series expected to carry on beyond a single season, isn’t renewed. And since the premiere SVOD platform doesn’t share viewership numbers, we can only assume that this cancellation means the audience for “The Get Down” simply wasn’t there – certainly not in the volume Netflix may have expected.

The music-driven 1970s-set drama series stars Justice Smith and Herizen Guardiola, playing 2 characters caught in the middle of a cultural revolution as hip-hop rises. The pair pursue their dreams against a fraught backdrop that includes a bankrupt New York City, ruthless gangsters, and money-hungry record label execs.

Other cast members include Shameik Moore, Skylan Brooks, Tremaine Brown, Jr.,  Yahya Abdul-Mateen, Mamoudou Athie, Jimmy Smits and Jaden Smith.

Baz Luhrmann directed and served as executive producer of the series which was also executive produced by Nas, Catherine Martin, Paul Watters, Thomas Kelly, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Shawn Ryan and Marney Hochman.