HBO cancels Josh Holloway's underrated series Duster after one season
- Duster, a crime drama series set in the 1970s, was canceled by HBO Max just a season after its premiere in May 2025.
- The show featured a reunion between creator JJ Abrams and star Josh Holloway and received positive fan feedback but failed to attract a wide audience.
- Despite the critical acclaim and a strong cast, HBO Max decided not to renew Duster for a second season, leaving fans disappointed.
In the United States, HBO Max announced the cancellation of the 1970s-set crime thriller Duster on July 10, 2025, after its debut in May 2025. The series starred Josh Holloway, known for his role in Lost, alongside Rachel Hilson as the first Black woman agent in the FBI. The creators behind Duster, JJ Abrams and LaToya Morgan, aimed to deliver an innovative crime drama that showcased textured characters and themes from the 1970s. Despite receiving a 92 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and positive feedback from fans, the series struggled to maintain a large enough audience for HBO Max to justify renewing it for a second season. The show’s journey faced multiple challenges, including production delays due to the Writers Guild of America strikes, and extensive revisions, with its pilot initially shot in 2021 and reshot two years later. These difficulties were acknowledged by Holloway, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with Abrams and the team. HBO Max expressed appreciation for the creative collaboration with the talented cast and crew, noting the cancellation was a tough decision. Warner Bros Television, which co-produced the series, also remarked on the quality and innovation present in the show, emphasizing their pride in the project. Despite these efforts and the intriguing premise of Duster, the initial reviews from critics were mixed. Many fans, however, praised the series and expressed disappointment over its cancellation. The story followed central characters—a charismatic getaway driver, Jim Ellis, portrayed by Holloway, and FBI agent Nina, portrayed by Hilson—as they navigated the criminal underworld, particularly targeting the crime syndicate led by Ezra Saxton, played by Keith David. The combination of strong performances and the captivating storyline about 1970s crime culture ultimately could not attract a sustainable viewership. The cancellation of Duster reflects a trend in the television industry where even well-received programs can face abrupt ends due to viewership metrics and changing management priorities within networks. As a result, fans are left to consider the implications of this trend, as they hope for more original and diverse narratives in future programming while navigating the disappointment of program cancellations.