Don't count on seeing Jon Bernthal return for another season of American Gigolo at Showtime. It has just been announced, via Deadline, that Paramount Global has axed the series after one season. The move comes as part of the network's restructuring under the watch of new top executive Chris McCarthy. With the show''s axing comes the cancelations of two other projects, as Let the Right One In has also been canceled after one season. The upcoming series Three Women, which had previously been ordered to series by Showtime and has completed filming, has also been canceled and won't be airing on Showtime.
While these three shows could potentially live on outside of Showtime, with the Deadline report noting that one offer has already come in for Three Women, it seems like American Gigolo is dead in the water following this news. Various issues plagued the production of the first season, which includes the show's developer and showrunner, David Hollander, getting fired partway through production due to allegations of misconduct. These issues and more resulted in the show's 10-episode season getting shortened to eight and likely diminishes the interest of other potential homes picking up the show.
American Gigolo is based on the feature film of the same name that was released by Paul Schrader in 1980. That original version stars Rcihard Gere as Julian Kay, an escort who becomes the prime suspect for a murder he didn't commit. The film was a big hit at the box office and was rather well-reviewed, so it was perhaps a matter of time before it would get the remake treatment in this day and age.
Jon Bernthal Is the New Julian
But Schrader was never sold on the idea of the film getting reimagined to begin with. Before the show's premiere, he had taken to Facebook to share his thoughts on the TV show. He said how he had previously been approached by Paramount about rebooting the film but turned it down, not feeling that the show would stand up to the original.
"Some years ago I received a call from Paramount asking about remaking American Gigolo as a series," the director said. "I replied that I thought it was a terrible idea--times had changed, internet porn had redefined male sex work, viruses, etc. I couldn't imagine Julian Kay working a Hen Party."
But it's nothing personal against the cast, as he also said, "I'm a great fan of Jon Bernthal and wish Gretchen Mol the best."
The American Gigolo series similarly stars Jon Bernthal as Julian Kaye, aka Johnny, the new version of Gere's character. In the series, Julian is released following a stint in prison for a murder he didn't commit, and with his newfound freedom, he joins the sex industry in Los Angeles. The series also stars Gretchen Mol, Lizzie Brochere, Leland Orser, Rosie O'Donnell, Gabriel LaBelle, Harlow Happy Hexum, Sandrine Holt, and Wayne Brady.
American Gigolo premiered on Shwotime in September and wrapped up its 8-episode season in October.