Utopia literally means “No Place” and that’s exactly where director David Fincher finds himself after plans for his HBO adaptation of British thriller Utopia have fallen through. According to Flavorwire, HBO has decided not to go ahead with the series (written by Gone Girl‘s Gillian Flynn), even though the cast – including Rooney Mara, Jason Ritter and Eric McCormack – had been in rehearsals for over a month and the drama was close to begin production. Fincher reportedly demanded more money than HBO was willing to pay. The show might still be made, though, as HBO, not Fincher, owns the rights.
[Dystopian Ending for British ‘Utopia’ Too]
The original series – about a group of comic book fans who stumble on to a government conspiracy hidden in an underground graphic novel – was made for Britain’s Channel 4. It quickly gained a cult following because of its visual style and black humor, and widespread criticism for its excessive violence. The series had two seasons but was canceled in 2014 following declining ratings.