Starz has opted not to renew the 1970s feminist workplace comedy “Minx” for a third season, canceling the show for the second time despite a passionate fan campaign to save it.
Background on Minx’s Road to Cancellation
“Minx,” created by Ellen Rapoport, debuted its 10-episode first season on HBO Max in March 2022. It starred Ophelia Lovibond as Joyce, an earnest young feminist in 1970s Los Angeles who joins forces with publisher Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women.
The show received strong critical acclaim, with an 96% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, shortly after its premiere HBO Max canceled “Minx” as part of a wave of cost-cutting at Warner Bros. Discovery under CEO David Zaslav.
Fans mobilized to save the show, launching a #SaveMinx campaign on social media. In September, Starz announced it had picked up “Minx” for a second season consisting of 10 more episodes.
“We could not be more excited to bring this hilarious and innovative series to Starz,” said Starz President of Original Programming Kathryn Busby at the time. “’Minx’ has only just begun to show audiences its radical potential in season one.”
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Minx Season 1 premieres on HBO Max | March 2022 |
| HBO Max cancels Minx | Shortly after S1 premiere |
| Starz saves Minx, orders S2 | September 2022 |
Production on the second season finished in late 2022. The Season 2 premiere was scheduled for summer 2023.
However, Starz has now opted not to continue with a third season, canceling the show once again. This leaves the status of the already-completed Season 2 up in the air.
Starz Cites “Programming Strategy Shift” for Surprise Cancellation
In a statement on January 5th, 2023, a Starz spokesperson said:
“We are thankful to Ellen Rapoport, Feigco Entertainment, and Lionsgate for two seasons of hilarious and fearless comedy. While we will not be moving forward with a third season of ‘Minx,’ we are proud to have worked with such an incredibly talented cast and crew on this award-winning series.”
According to sources close to the situation, Starz canceled “Minx” due to a “programming strategy shift” under new network President Kathryn Busby. Busby took over Starz after the abrupt exit of her predecessor Jeffrey Hirsch last fall.
Busby is said to be steering Starz in a more female-focused direction, emphasizing shows like the hit drama “Outlander” which appeal to the network’s primarily women viewership. A raunchy comedy like “Minx” apparently no longer fit that vision.
The cancellation blindsided the “Minx” cast and crew, who were already making plans for Season 3.
“We were just getting the writers’ room up and running four weeks ago,” showrunner Rapoport told Variety. “It was clearly happening. This cancellation came out of nowhere.”
What Happens Now? Could Another Outlet Rescue Minx Again?
With Season 2 already completed, Starz could choose to quietly release those episodes at some point. But the network would likely hold off in hopes of selling the show elsewhere.
Sony Pictures TV co-produces “Minx” and will now shop it to other outlets. But finding a new home could be difficult following two cancellations.
Netflix and Hulu have been mentioned as potential rescue candidates. Fans are relaunching their #SaveMinx campaign, hoping to rally support and convince a buyer. But after two cancellations, the show’s fate remains uncertain at best.
If “Minx” does not get saved again, it would mark a premature end to a series that seemed to be just getting started according to creator Rapoport.
“We had so many stories left to tell,” she said. The cast and crew were “devastated” by the cancellation, especially since production had already begun on Season 3 scripts and new characters.
Crushed Hopes For Groundbreaking Feminist Comedy
Beyond disappointing loyal fans, the “Minx” cancellation also crushes hopes that the show could make history on several fronts:
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Spotlight on feminism: Despite 50 years of progress, feminism in the 1970s remains an underrepresented topic in pop culture. “Minx” offered a unique lens, using comedy combined with period-accurate authenticity to explore second wave feminism and women’s rights.
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Inclusive cast & crew: “Minx” stood out for both representation in front of and behind the camera. The writers room was made up entirely of women, rare in the comedy world. The cast featured LGBTQ and diverse actors in prominent roles.
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Awards potential: “Minx” earned a Critics Choice Award nomination for Best Comedy Series after its first season. With its combination of quirky humor and insightful social commentary, Season 2 could have garnered more awards attention.
In the end, Minx suffered the same fate as its fictional feminist magazine—rejected and shut down by the powers that be before it ever reached its full potential. The untimely, disappointing cancellation leaves the show’s small but passionate fan base wondering what could have been.
While the door is not completely closed for another last minute reprieve, the chances seem slim following Starz’s Firm statement that it is moving on from the show after just two seasons. It’s a frustrating end for a series that had only just begun to scratch the surface of telling unique stories exploring feminism in the 1970s. Should this be the end of “Minx,” it will remain a show that ended far too soon.
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