Steve McQueen’s ‘Codes Of Conduct’ Stalls At HBO
Steve McQueen hasn’t released a new movie since 2013’s12 Years a Slave, but he’s been busy working in TV. Specifically, he’s been plugging away atCodes of Conduct, a HBO series described as “Six Degrees of SeparationmeetsShame.” With a fantastic cast includingPaul Dano,Helena Bonham Carter, andRebecca Hall, the New York City-set drama looked all set to be the network’s next critically acclaimed hit.
But we haven’t heard much about it in a while, and now we know why. Buried in a larger report about HBO’s woes is the detail that the network has decided not to move forward with McQueen’sCodes of Conduct, after initially giving it a six-episode order.
Codes of Conductwas to follow a young black man with a mysterious past as he navigates through New York high society. NewcomerDevon Terrellwas selected to play the lead, Beverly Snow, and given that McQueen was also the one who plucked Lupita Nyong’o out of obscurity (in12 Years a Slave) we were very excited to see what Terrell could do. HBO has not said why it opted not to proceed withCodes of Conduct.
THR says HBO has “scrapped"Codes of Conduct, after McQueen had already shot a pilot. It’s one of several high-profile projects that have been shut down late in the process. Just today, we wrote about the possibility ofWestworld— originally slated for 2015 — getting pushedall the way to 2017, and we’ve previously covered the behind-the-scenes troubles onDavid Fincher’sVideosynchrazyandUtopia. The Tom Hanks and Brad Pitt-producedLewis and Clarkhas been halted, too.
Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean all hope is lost. The trade also notes thatCodes of Conductor these other shows could be revived down the line. “We make no apologies for sticking by a project we believe has the potential to be great,” said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. “Unfortunately, we also at times find ourselves in the position of deciding not to move forward with others. That is never fun, but that is our business.”
Meanwhile, maybe McQueen can start running down some of the other projects on his to-do list, includinga heist thriller withGone Girlauthor Gillian Flynn(whoseUtopia, as mentioned above, was also shut down by HBO) anda biopic of performer and activist Paul Robesonwhich already has Harry Belafonte on board to star.
