The Clone High Reboot Is Dead

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The Clone High Reboot Is Dead

Highlights

  • Clone High reboot fails to meet expectations on HBO Max, canceled after two seasons despite being a cult classic.
  • Original and reboot both hold perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores, but audience ratings drop for the newer series.
  • Cancelation of Clone High reboot raises questions about the challenges of reviving a beloved cult classic.

As a longtime fan of Clone High who grew up watching the original series, I must say that I am disappointed and frustrated by the latest news about its cancelation after two seasons of the reboot. The show was a unique gem that captured my imagination as a teenager, and I had high hopes for its return with the original creators at the helm.

Fans of the revived version of “Clone High” are disappointed to hear that it has been canceled again following its run on the streaming network Max. Despite airing for two seasons, the show didn’t manage to attract the anticipated level of viewership and support.

In the early 2000s, a groundbreaking TV series called Clone High emerged, where historical figures were cloned and grown into teenagers to be enrolled in the titular high school as part of a covert government project led by the Secret Board of Shadowy Figures. Despite its brief run and some controversy surrounding its portrayal of Gandhi, it developed a devoted fanbase after its initial airing. This led to much anticipation when it was announced that the original creators would return for a reboot, eventually resulting in a two-season commission from HBO Max streaming service.

The revamped version of the original “Clone High” premiered on streaming platforms, but it didn’t sit well with long-time fans. Although the show improved in quality during its second season, many felt it wouldn’t be renewed for more seasons due to its lackluster debut. Sadly, these fears have been realized as Max executives announced the cancellation of the series, while acknowledging the hard work of the creative team.

While Max won’t move forward with a third installment of Clone High, we will forever appreciate our creative bond with Chris Miller, Phil Lord, Bill Lawrence, Erica Rivinoja, Erik Durbin, Judah Miller, Corey Campodonico, Alex Bulkley, and the MTV Entertainment Studios team. The exceptionally gifted voice actors, scriptwriters, cast members, and production crew allowed us to revive these iconic characters for all of us.

Although both the original and reboot TV shows have a flawless rating on Rotten Tomatoes (based on fewer than 10 professional reviews), the reboot has a lower score among audiences, at 64% compared to the original’s 84%. This reflects the show’s initial poor performance during its first run but subsequent resurgence after being canceled. While the same could potentially happen for the reboot, this isn’t particularly reassuring to those financing it for streaming. Reviving a beloved series is always risky because success hinges on nostalgia and the challenge of attracting a new fanbase who may find it difficult to appreciate changes made to the show, given two decades of dedicated fandom crafting their ideal revival in their minds.

Certain enthusiasts, disappointed by the series ending, have started criticizing David Zaslav. They argue that questionable business moves or lack of ownership over the IP may be to blame. However, it’s essential to consider that not every revival can achieve the same level of success as a show like X-Men ‘97. The revival of the 90s cartoon was so successful that future Marvel Cinematic Universe projects might adopt this model. As for Clone High, it remains in the same predicament as before: canceled due to mediocre viewership and left on a cliffhanger. Fans who are still hopeful can only wait and hope that the show is revived again, preferably sooner than two decades from now.

Clone High is available to stream on Max.

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2024-07-30 23:23