A new show could have everything going for it, but a failed TV pilot can ruin a highly-anticipated title in an instant. Whether it’s a promising spinoff of a beloved franchise, an intriguing modern adaptation of a familiar story, or a backdoor pilot wedged between normal episodes, upcoming series can be introduced to the public in a variety of ways.
Some shows run for years, while others fade into obscurity after a single season. Even still, the harshest TV cancellations hit before the show had even aired. A cast may be confirmed, a script may be written, and a release date may even loom overhead, but developing projects can ever so quickly turn into mere could-have-beens with endless wasted potential.
Lizzie McGuire Reboot
The Revival Could Have Introduced The Character To An Entirely New Audience
A touchstone of Y2K pop culture, Lizzie McGuire remains one of Disney’s most beloved coming-of-age sitcoms. Throughout two seasons and a 2003 movie sequel, Hilary Duff portrayed the titular character, known for her unique sense of style and her animated inner self that broke the fourth wall. Over a decade after the series ended, news broke of an upcoming revival.
In addition to Duff’s reprisal of the main role, Disney’s Lizzie McGuire reboot would have included the return of other iconic characters like Adam Lambergs’s David “Gordo” Gordon. The modern reboot would have followed Lizzie, now navigating adulthood as an aspiring interior designer. Following a sudden heartbreak, the 30-year-old protagonist would leave New York to return to her Californian hometown.
Fans of the original series anxiously awaited the promising spinoff, only to be disappointed by Duff herself confirming the project had been abandoned in late 2020. Allegedly, creative differences caused the reboot to be shelved indefinitely, as Disney hoped to prioritize family-friendly content while Duff preferred a more realistic portrayal of Lizzie’s adulthood— the good, the bad, and the NSFW.
Star Wars Detours
The Sci-Fi Parody Would Have Put A Humorous Twist On The Franchise
The Star Wars franchise is, without question, one of the most popular film series in history. From the original 1977–1983 trilogy to the 1999–2005 prequels to the modern sequels starting in 2015, it seems Star Wars may never truly end. A planned spinoff called Star Wars Detours, however, would have taken the franchise in a completely new direction.
Unlike the other titles in the series, Star Wars Detours was conceived as a comedic take on the sci-fi classic. In a sense, it would have operated as a Star Wars parody that still fit within the overarching timeline. Despite years of hard work and development, unfortunately, Star Wars Detours was never publicly released.
Most dropped series only have a pilot or short batch of episodes to show for their work, but 39 episodes of Star Wars Detours were produced— with 62 more scripts completed. Undoubtedly, the humorous animated series would have drawn in countless new viewers thanks to its star-studded voice cast and refreshing twist on the source material.
The IT Crowd (US)
A Failed American Spin On One Of Britain’s Best Sitcoms
Some of the most successful titles in the United States have been adaptations of international hits, including The Office, Ugly Betty, and Jane the Virgin. As such, when it was announced The IT Crowd would be getting an American remake, hopes were surprisingly high. Given Richard Ayoade would retain his career-defining role of Moss, the series felt wildly promising.
With fan-favorite comedian Joel McHale taking over the co-star spot as Roy and Jessica St. Clair standing in for Jen, it seemed as though the U.S. version of The IT Crowd would bring along its own flair, which only excited prospective viewers more. Sadly, NBC unceremoniously left the project to fizzle out after three attempted pilots.
Nevertheless, The IT Crowd remake failing may have been a blessing in disguise. After all, the original series holds up as a borderline flawless sitcom, meaning the American remake would have constantly been pit against its source material and ruthlessly dissected to determine the “better” version. Regardless, the dynamic between McHale and Ayoade would have been nothing short of perfection.
Aquaman
The Superhero Drama Would Have Followed The Hero’s Origin Story
The superhero genre requires true ingenuity to draw in new fans, which is exactly why Smallville— a teen drama focused on Clark Kent’s (Tom Welling) adolescence— became so successful. By focusing on the origin story of such a well-known character, Smallville was an accessible entry point for viewers who had never so much as opened a comic book before.
That logic inspired Aquaman, a similar series that would center on Arthur “A.C.” Curry (Justin Hartley), a teen in the Florida Keys mastering his aquatic superpowers. Creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar had a clear vision for the prequel, which would have turned Aquaman— based on an admittedly far more obscure figure than Superman— into a must-watch superhero series.
The same year as the failed Aquaman pilot, Justin Hartley joined Smallville as Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow.
Although The CW rejected it, Aquaman’s pilot episode was a triumph when it dropped on iTunes, climbing the charts and becoming the highest-downloaded title on the market. The public appeal did nothing to sway the network, though, and Aquaman remained a massively underutilized character until Jason Momoa controversially assumed the role in 2018.
Madison High
High School Musical’s Best Side Character Could Have Had Her Own Spinoff
High School Musical is irrefutably one of the most influential Disney movies of the 21st century, but its best spinoff never came to fruition. The film trilogy may have mainly focused on Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) and Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens), but there was one scene-stealing side character that no fan could forget: Alyson Reed’s Ms. Darbus.
In 2010, it was revealed that a Ms. Darbus-centered spinoff was in production. The musical series would follow the drama teacher leaving East High to build a new theater program from the ground up at the eponymous Madison High. While many Disney Channel stars were attached to the project, the pilot was never aired.
What makes Madison High’s premature cancelation even worse is that it was never truly explained. The premise was strong, the cast was incredible, and the show likely would have been an instant classic. Instead, Disney opted not to follow through with the spinoff for reasons that remain unknown to this day.
Powerpuff
A Live-Action Adaptation That Was Consumed By Public Backlash
The Powerpuff Girls was a classic cartoon, but pitches for a live-action adaptation have run rampant in the zeitgeist for decades. For the most part, concepts remained contained to formulaic fan casts of trending celebrities: one blonde, one redhead, and one with black hair. In 2020, however, The CW confirmed it would be creating its own version— simply called Powerpuff.
The darker spin on the children’s show would have followed Blossom (Chloe Bennet), Bubbles (Dove Cameron), and Buttercup (Yana Perrault), now disenchanted adults begrudgingly returning to a life of fighting crime. The basic premise seemed analogous to The CW’s Arrowverse collection of superhero dramas, but issues arose when more information became available.
Set pictures, a leaked script, and a trailer for the pilot all garnered intense backlash and widespread criticism for everything ranging from the rudimentary costumes to the overall direction of the show, which some felt was contrived and dated despite being geared towards a modern audience. Powerpuff was officially canceled in 2023, but it remains The CW’s most notorious near-miss.
Sue Sue in the City
A High Potential Premise That Was Passed Over Too Easily
Out of the numerous ABC sitcoms that took off during the 2010s, The Middle was one of the very best. The central Heck family weren’t the heroes you’d typically expect; rather, they were average, in every sense of the word. Nevertheless, the endearing characters went from ordinary to extraordinary over the sitcom’s nine-season run.
Chief among them was Sue Heck (Eden Sher), a ray of sunshine who was often overlooked in her small town. When ABC revealed they were working on Sue Sue in the City, a spinoff all about the character’s adventures in Chicago, it quickly became one of the most highly-anticipated upcoming releases.