'Project Greenlight' won't be returning to HBO
LOS ANGELES -- Looks like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will need to find a new network to give them the greenlight.
HBO is reportedly not picking up Damon and Affleck's docu-series Project Greenlight for another season.
HBO confirmed the decision in a statement to Mashable: "When we picked up a new season in 2014, we imagined a one season revival and decided in early 2016 another season did not make sense for us. We are proud of the show and were pleased with its run throughout the years."
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Damon also told The Associated Press the news in a recent interview, noting that he thinks "a streaming service like Amazon or Netflix might pick it up."
Adaptive Studios, the production company behind the series, was waiting until August to hear from HBO, a source close to production, told Mashable.
The studio operated under the idea that it was "not closing the door on HBO just yet, but talking to others about the series as well," the source said.
Last year, Project Greenlight's fourth season debuted on the network in September, after a 10-year break.
It originally aired on the network from 2001 to 2003, but then moved to Bravo in 2005 for its third season.
The news of a potential network move comes after the docu-series had a rocky return. Damon drew criticism for comments about diversity on Season 4's premiere while talking to producer Effie Brown. He later apologized, but internet backlash continued.
Still, Adaptive Studios has spent the last year ramping up Greenlight's presence in Hollywood by branching it out into the digital space.
The team behind the series even founded Project Greenlight Digital Studios to function as an incubator for the next generation of filmmakers.
Sources said the digital projects will likely remain unharmed, even if HBO passes on the series.
Topics HBO
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
