David Farnor | On 02, Aug 2018

Amazon has decided to axe its TV series based on The Dangerous Book for Boys.

Inspired by the best-selling book, the series told the story of a family overcoming loss with the help of a book filled with life lessons that was handed down from a father to his three boys. Conceived by Bryan Cranston and Adventureland’s Greg Mottola, it starred Chris Diamantopoulos as Patriarch, a whimsical inventor whose death left his family reeling, until hope appeared in the form of a book called The Dangerous Book for Boys that Patrick created as a handbook to help his three sons. The book provided a how-to guide for childhood that inspired fantasies for his youngest son, Wyatt (Gabriel Bateman, Lights Out). While in his fantasy world, Wyatt reconnected with his father and learns life skills that help him navigate the real world.

The series also starred Erinn Hayes (Childrens Hospital) as Beth, the matriarch of the family who is trying to raise her boys as a single parent. Drew Logan Powell (Rockaway) and Kyan Zielinski (The Lunchbox Brigade) played the other sons, Dash and Liam, while Diamantopoulos doubled up in the role of Terry, Patrick’s twin.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television and Moonshot Entertainment, Cranston and Mottola wrote the first two episodes and exec-produced the show alongside James Degus (Sneaky Pete) and Michael Glouberman (Malcolm in the Middle), who served as showrunner.

We described the show as “uneven but likeable” in our review of Season 1. “In its weaker moments, it risks undermining its attempts at sincere emotion by playing things safe and predictable, even while celebrating the unlimited power of creativity. Nonetheless, there’s something to be said for a kids’ TV series that isn’t afraid to embrace positive, life-affirming messages in the face of grief and other difficult topics.”

Now, several months after it premiered, Amazon has officially decided not to renew the programme for second run.

“It’s looking very tough for the cost of the show. It’s really difficult, coming from the genre where it exists and the kind of audience it’s drawing. The math doesn’t quite work,” Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke told Deadline earlier this year when asked about the prospect of a Season 2 renewal.

Cranston initially set up the TV series at NBC several years ago, as a personal pet project, before it stalled there and ended up at Amazon Studios. His other series Sneaky Pete, though, has recently been renewed for Season 3.

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