Glass Onion Director Weighs In On Major Streaming Cancellations Trend

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery director Rian Johnson weighs in on the major streaming cancellations trend plaguing Netflix, HBO Max and others.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery director Rian Johnson opens up on the troubling trend of streamers canceling TV shows and films. Johnson is no stranger to the world of streaming, considering he inked a deal with Netflix in 2021, signing on to write and direct two Knives Out sequels through the platform. The first sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, premiered on the streamer this past December and went on to gain critical acclaim, even nabbing an Oscar nomination. However, even directors like Johnson are concerned about recent developments in streaming.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson commented on the growing trend of streaming services canceling TV shows and films. The filmmaker, who is also working with Peacock for the hit murder mystery series Poker Face, expressed his shock and concerns for the recent trend, and how other creatives can remain positive in the wake. Check out his statement below:

It’s been horrifying. The fact that it’s becoming common practice is terrible and adds to the awfulness. In the history of the business, there has been a constant evolution of horrible things. All you can do as someone who makes stuff is ultimately put your faith in the notion that if you make something, it’s going to find its audience.

Related: Every Glass Onion Character Ranked From Worst To Best

What Do Streaming Cancelations Mean For Content Creators?

Frequent streaming cancelations have concerned viewers and creators alike. Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, and HBO Max have all canceled shows and movies at an alarming rate recently. Batgirl, Julie and the Phantoms, and 1899 were among some of the most controversial cancelations. However, amid these cancelations, record-breaking, critically-acclaimed streaming shows and movies have surfaced, including Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Last of Us, and Wednesday. As a result, many don’t know what to expect about streaming in the future.

This is why Johnson’s statement seems to sum up where streaming is heading. On the one hand, streaming cancelations are becoming regular and, while it’s horrifying, it really is an evolution of business and is likely here to stay. With the state of the economy, increased cost-cutting efforts, a renewed focus on quality over quantity, and competition, cancelations are bound to continue happening in streaming. However, creators who truly believe in their work will also just have to believe that it will find an audience.

Cancelations aren’t always a bad thing when it comes to streamers. Not all the metrics streamers utilize are understandable, which can be very frustrating, however, in general, these cancelations amp up the pressure on TV shows and films to increase their quality and engage viewers from day one. Instead of filler episodes or a long-winded season that drags in the middle, shows like Wednesday and The Last of Us are shorter and relatable from the get-go. Ultimately, streaming cancelations are a part of the evolution of the streaming process. While many hope that streamers will be less aggressive in the future with cancelations, for now, projects like Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery simply have to prove themselves in an increasingly competitive and unpredictable environment.

Next: Knives Out’s Long Creation Process Explains Exactly Why It’s So GoodSource: THR