UPDATE July 21, 2010:
Starz is now reportedly (I say reportedly because different people are hearing different things and even I got three different responses yesterday), telling people that the “license” has been “discontinued” and they will not be picking up the series after all.
Discontinued in this sense means that most likely Goodkind had a clause in the contract that stated that if the series was canceled, it would revert back to him and his publisher. That’s a strong possibility.
However, another response that was given was that the license is no longer available. Starz also told me that they’re focusing on their original properties (makes sense) and will not be acquiring other shows. That means that FlashForward fans can probably forget about Starz as well.
In researching other things (such as contracts, etc.), when shows are canceled, most actors are told they are free to look for other work, even though they are still under contract. If something comes up, they can be asked to be officially released. Most often, the actor will be released and sign onto other work. If there’s a chance that the series “might” come back, actors are generally told that so they can be ready.
This doesn’t explain the “available” casting information for Seeker, if the series is canceled.
I need a Tylenol.
Stay tuned for more information in the save “Legend of the Seeker” saga.
Recently, someone posted to LegenedoftheSeeker.org board that Starz was interested in acquiring the rights to “Legend of the Seeker.” So interested in fact they’re telling people they’re getting a lot of calls about it and that the premium cable network is listening to them.
In researching this (it seems a little funky to me), on July 7 Michael Ausiello reported that Starz was not interested and the rumor was 100% hogwash. Considering that the man was wrong on DirecTV not picking up Damages (like Friday Night Lights), I’m willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt and say he is more right about Starz not picking up “LotS” than what Starz is telling people who are calling in and saying.
This is my reasoning:
As of yesterday, Starz is telling fans of the popular, yet canceled sci-fi series FlashForward that they are very interested in acquiring the rights to the series and airing it on the network. Take a look at the wording from the “Seeker” board first:
Starz reps having been telling a lot of fans that Starz is interested in acquiring the right to Legend of the Seeker/getting the license. Is that true? Yes, it is true. Starz is interested in the rights and has a bid in for Legend. Other companies also are interested in Legend, and may have bids in as well. The process will take a long time. It’s complicated.
Here is what someone posted about “FlashForward”:
Starz might be looking to pick up FlashForward. Well, that’s the word on the street, anyway. “I just called Starz and the rep told me that they are agressively (sic) seeking the license for Flash Forward (sic) and that a lot of people have been calling about Flash Forward (sic),” the site reported, according to Scott, someone apparently involved with the campaign.
Source: http://www.tvovermind.com/abc/flash-forward-tv-news/starz-reportedly-seeking-flashforward/26509
Now, we can make of this of what we want. I’m going to go on the side of caution that is: Seeker is probably canceled. What you’re seeing, is what I experienced with “Xena” back in 2000 and the reported “early cancelation” and that was: Representatives will tell you ANYTHING to get you on their list and will LIE to you to get you off in order to free up the line for “important people” (ala, people with legitimate business reasons). Because the more people on their list, they more than can say: hey, look we got a lot of potential subscribers here.
In other words, don’t get your hopes up folks.
