‘I Don’t Think It’s Finished Yet’: Minx Stars and Showrunner Talk Finding the Show a Recent Home
On Monday, news broke that Minx, the HBO Max comedy about an erotic women’s magazine that debuted this 12 months, was abruptly cancelled—despite the fact that it was already renewed for one more season. The news went public because the solid and crew were almost done shooting season 2, with only per week left of filming, to be exact. All of Minx season 1 might be pulled from the streaming platform as well.
The series starring Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovibond is just considered one of the newest casualties of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, which led to the cancellation and removal of multiple titles on HBO Max, each for tax write-offs and cost-cutting reasons. Recently, other axed shows include Love Life, Legendary, Los Espookys, and The Gordita Chronicles.
“We’ve enjoyed an excellent partnership with HBO Max and are working closely to seek out a recent opportunity for Minx, so current, and recent viewers, can proceed this journey with us,” an announcement from Lionsgate, which is producing Minx, said on the time.
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Helmed by showrunner Ellen Rapoport, the 30-minute show follows editor Joyce (Lovibond) in her noble quest to launch a feminist magazine within the Nineteen Seventies, however the only person willing to finance it’s the sleazy-but-charming porn publisher Doug Renetti (Johnson). After some convincing, they work together to create the primary women’s erotic mag, titled Minx, together with photographer Richie (Oscar Montoya), secretary Tina (Idara Victor), and model Bambi (Jessica Lowe). (Lennon Parham and Michael Angarano also star as Joyce’s sister and partner, respectively.) Nevertheless it’s not all naked firefighters and dick pics; due to Joyce’s editorial savvy, it also includes thought-provoking pieces on women’s issues, all packaged in a playful page-turner. Very like the series itself. Against the backdrop of second-wave feminism and the sexual revolution, Minx’s comedic yet honest exploration of sex positivity and girls’s pleasure speaks to each the ’70s and today without feeling too preachy. It also acknowledges who gets neglected when feminism goes mainstream.
Naturally, the cancellation sparked an outcry from fans on social media, most of whom were charmed by Minx’s characters and timely conversations. (Some even mourned Johnson’s chest hair-revealing outfits as Doug.) Though it didn’t arrive with the fiery fanfare of, say, House of the Dragon, Minx received critical acclaim after its premiere in March and quietly garnered its own fan base. It currently holds a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and appears on multiple Better of 2022 lists (including ours).
However the solid and crew remain hopeful that the show will survive elsewhere. Rapoport, Lovibond, and Johnson tell ELLE.com spirits have remained high on set this week as they give attention to wrapping up the season. They even had churro and donut trucks on the lot. “We’re within the finale and into re-shoots for episodes that were scheduled in,” Johnson says on Tuesday of where they currently are in production. By the top of this, they plan to have a full, finalized second season.
And though they’ll’t share specifics, Rapoport confirms Lionsgate is already having conversations about finding a recent home for the show, and “I’m pretty confident that we’re going to find yourself at an amazing place,” she adds. Johnson notes that he’s been getting “positive texts and emails” and hopes that there’ll be excellent news to share in the long run.
Here, Rapoport, Johnson, and Lovibond discuss learning of the HBO Max cancellation, the present vibe on set, and where Doug and Joyce’s stories will go next. They’ve also shared a primary take a look at Minx season 2 in recent photos.
Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovibond as Doug and Joyce in Minx season 2.
Courtesy of Lionsgate
How exactly did you discover out the news that Minx will now not be on HBO Max?
Ellen Rapoport: They told me about per week ago, and I let the actors know this weekend. The story was leaked, so it was somewhat unexpected. I used to be told there was going to be a press release at the top of the week from HBO Max, so all of us knew prematurely.
And what was your initial response? How shocked were you?
Rapoport: I believe that we’ve all seen that things are being yanked off the service, unfortunately consequently of the cost-cutting measures that they’re taking. So it was somewhat surprising, but, I mean, it looks like anything is fair game at this point. So I don’t think anyone needs to be shocked to have their very own show removed.
Jake Johnson: I personally don’t have a loyalty to a streamer, so I had talked to people at Lionsgate and heard that they were just as excited in regards to the show as ever. And once you’ve got shows like Cobra Kai that get cancelled someplace, after which find recent life someplace else. I believe as of late, with the brand new world of streamers and so many options, it’s a few fan base and folks caring.
So if the news comes that the show’s dead and we don’t get to make anymore, then I’ll be very sad. If we’re not on HBO Max and we’re on one other name, then I’ll be just as completely happy. So I feel like I’m still within the wait-and-see phase. I felt like that article got here out on Deadline somewhat bit early, and so I’ve gotten a whole lot of sad texts from people. But I don’t think we’re at that stage yet. I believe we’re more in a wait-and-see-if-we’ve-got-a-new-home [stage]. And if we do, we’re going to come back out blazing, and we’re excited to be there.
Ophelia Lovibond: I feel the identical; it wasn’t this devastating thing. I just thought, “Okay, well then, we’ll just live someplace else. We’re still ending the show, making the show. We’re still having an incredible time filming it.”
Johnson: I’d even be way sadder if this was the one show that it happened to, and it was based off [seeing] early cuts of what we were doing, they usually hated it. Then I’d feel really sad. We haven’t even turned in a whole lot of stuff. We’re still working. So when it has to do more with money and tax considerations, I’m type of like, “What a weird fucking time…”
Lovibond: It’s like, it’s not personal.
Johnson: Let’s just keep working and discover a recent home and make more shows and hope people prefer it.
Could you talk somewhat bit more about what the atmosphere on set has been like after the news and through this week of filming?
Lovibond: I believe the incontrovertible fact that people knew we were going to be allowed to complete and the post-production was going ahead and we might have a finished season, when people realized that, it was just all hands on deck, just getting on with it. You weren’t going to desert one another. We type of rallied.
Johnson: It also led to some good jokes.
Lovibond: There was a whole lot of laughter, actually.
Johnson: We’re shooting a scene and also you get to say, like, “That is, at once, literally for no one.” But truthfully, all the pieces that we’re hearing from behind the scenes is that there’s interest from other places. And the reality is, I’d be really excited to land somewhere, and if we land somewhere that’s excited to have us, I believe we’re all just type of on this weird limbo stage. But in our business, a whole lot of times you make things and also you don’t know. You make an indie film and also you hope people prefer it, but perhaps it’ll never come out. Otherwise you shoot a pilot and, whilst you’re making it, you think that it’s really special, after which no one else agrees. So we’re within the means of just making and ending season two.
Idara Victor as Tina with Jake Johnson as Doug in Minx season 2.
Courtesy of Lionsgate
I’m sure you’ve began seeing a few of the reactions—the tweets and Instagram comments. What has that felt like?
Lovibond: It’s so lovely; there’s just been a lot support and folks being flabbergasted at it being removed, but then realizing that it’s going to go on to have a distinct life—there’s excitement about that. And that’s been really lovely to see how much people like it and wish to see more of it. There’s an actual appetite to see it. We’ve got recent material to indicate them. In order that’s great to understand it’s going to be received well.
Johnson: I believe the reality of it, and I feel the identical way. I also feel that this business, individuals are really starting to appreciate that they’ve the control greater than these streamers and these businesses. An app runs its app, but when the people want something, then there might be more of it. At once, HBO Max is making business decisions, so, great. I hope they’re right. I hope it makes all the cash they need it to make. But for individuals who need to make creative decisions, there’s a base of people that will come to that site and watch it. And in the event that they’re already there, then they’ll keep watching it. And so, as a creative, that’s really cool, when people like what you’re making and wish to see more of it.
Lovibond: A number of people [said] repeatedly [that] they don’t care what platform it’s on, they simply want to look at the show. That’s what it comes all the way down to.
Johnson: And that makes you would like to work harder to make something that they’re going to love.
Rapoport: At the top of the day, in a funny way, I feel like that is an amazing opportunity, frankly, to seek out much more viewers. We’ve the viewership we have now on HBO Max, and I believe that’s great, however the potential to go to a streamer which has a distinct makeup, a distinct type of audience, could be great, because I believe more people would discover us. And so, in some ways, if this results in more people having the ability to see us, I believe it’s a net positive.
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That is so scary! THEY WERE TOWARDS THE END OF PRODUCTION?! They’re throwing money away AND insulting all of the work that went into it. ALSO MINX IS GOOD AND I AM SAD. https://t.co/hKARSfS9cq
— a.b. (@AlannaBennett) December 12, 2022
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i used to be presupposed to be buried in jake johnson’s minx chest hair
— ashley ray (@theashleyray) December 13, 2022
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How does it feel being creatives on this industry and seeing that that is the state of the TV landscape? Does it empower you? Or does it make you are feeling somewhat discouraged?
Rapoport: I believe that we’re in a weird place where things can just be type of pulled willy-nilly from streamers. And I suppose, to be honest, I’m just grateful that our international distribution has been handled by Lionsgate. HBO Max only distributes us in North America and Latin America. And I’m just grateful that we have now a studio partner that’s incredibly stable. Most executives I take care of at that company have been there for a long time. And so I believe that that is type of an isolated situation having to do with the foundations following a merger. I’m just completely happy that we have now a studio partner who really believes within the show, is taking good care of the show, and I’m confident goes to sell the show and get it on a distinct platform.
Johnson: I also think by way of this era, there’s potential for a whole lot of growth in an exciting way. We did Recent Girl, and by season 7, I believe there have been about 40 people on the earth watching our show, and we felt it while we were doing it. For real, on Fox, our numbers were doing terrible by the top, and all of us felt it, and we knew it, and it’s why they removed us. After which it got to Netflix and it got an entire recent world. After which annually, recent people discover it. And so I do feel like Minx got here out on HBO Max, they usually marketed it in a certain way. But there may be a complete group of people that will come as much as me and say, “Hey, I read something about you. You’ve got a personality who’s got ’70s clothes? What’s it?” And I’m like, ‘We did an entire campaign for it.’”
So there are a whole lot of individuals who this show was not geared towards, who I believe would like this show. So if this finds the correct place and it finds that audience, I’m so completely happy that this happened on this terms of our business with HBO Max, because we got a second life. For me personally, I need to see the way it shakes out first.
Ahead of season two, what are you able to tease about Joyce and Doug’s stories?
Johnson: I might say this season there’s a whole lot of big things that occur. Each character goes on a large ride. There’s a whole lot of great guest stars, there’s a whole lot of big motion. The characters become involved in a bunch of various adventures. There’s an entire recent character in the combination that Elizabeth Perkins plays, she’s a extremely great character. So should you just like the ride of Minx season one, this season gets even greater.
Rapoport: I believe it’s an excellent, very fun continuation of the primary season. And we’re really servicing the entire stories in plot lines that we arrange in season one. And I believe every character really has a satisfying story.
More Doug in Minx season 2!
Courtesy of Lionsgate
What has been probably the most fulfilling part about being on the show?
Lovibond: It sounds so cheesy, however it’s just all being together and exploring this world. I mean, we actually truly get along so brilliantly. The crew works so hard, and the creativity that goes into this show, it’s just so exciting to be a part of it. And attending to all act together and make one another laugh. That’s the best way you get to spend all day. It never gets old.
Rapoport: I’m very happy with what we made in season one, and the way well it was critically received, and the way many individuals have reached out about it. We get access to limited information, but, for instance, I do know that our completion rate, which is the variety of those who finish [the show], is awfully high. Which is sweet because that claims to me that folks who began the show stayed with it. And personally, I like 200 shows after which I watch three episodes of them and just forget to return for more. So just knowing that the massive majority of people that began us finished the show is actually nice. It appears like we took people on a satisfying journey, and hopefully we’ll proceed to achieve this.
Johnson: And I actually just like the chest hair wig that I wear for this show. Because I don’t have any hair on my body. I’m totally bald. So, for this, the wardrobe people have done an incredible job fitting my chest with an ideal chest hair wig that I suppose has gathered some social media attention. So shout-out to our hair and makeup department.
Rapoport: It’s called a chest merkin. It’s called a cherkin! It’s a merkin for Jake’s chest. It’s so sad he can’t grow hair.
Johnson: It’s not sad, it’s attractive! No, I agree with Ophelia. I actually just like the group. The casting crew is actually fun. The writing’s really fun. It’s very nice to play these characters. I actually like playing Doug, and I’d be really sad if it was over. I don’t feel just like the journey has ended. What people don’t see is that, when certain [shows] get cancelled, they’re jobs and also you receives a commission, and also you receives a commission well, they usually’re fun, and you progress on to the subsequent one. But on this one, it might just be really disappointing, because I don’t think the stories are done.
There’s a sense at times when a show ends and also you’re okay that it ends. Or a movie ends and you’re feeling such as you guys did it. This one just doesn’t feel complete yet. So if it ends now, I would go away with a rather bitter taste in my mouth, because I don’t think it’s finished yet.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There’s a 75 percent likelihood she’s listening to Lorde at once.
