NBC has renewed new midseason series Taken for a 16-episode second season.
There will be a change at the helm of the thriller drama — a prequel to Luc Besson’s hit movie franchise — with Alex Cary, who developed the TV series adaptation and served as executive producer/showrunner on the first season, departing. Search is underway for a new showrunner.
Parting of the ways is said to be amicable, and I hear the series is expected to tweak its creative direction in the second season, likely adopting more procedural elements in the vein of NBC’s The Blacklist and Blindspot. While a modest ratings performer for a Monday 10 PM drama airing behind The Voice, Taken has been consistent. Additionally, the series, from EuropaCorp TV USA and Universal Television, has done well internationally, making money for NBCU because of its association with the blockbuster global movie franchise. In anticipation of a renewal, the show already had been making if-come deals with writers.
For its 13-episode first season, Taken averaged a 1.3 rating in adults 18-49 and 7.0 million viewers overall in Live+7, ranking No. 2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in its Monday 10-11 PM slot in adults 18-49, total viewers and most other key measures.
Executive produced by Besson, Taken follows the origin story of younger, hungrier former Green Beret Bryan Mills (Clive Standen) as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world. As he fights to overcome the trauma of the incident and exact revenge, Mills is pulled into a career as a deadly CIA operative, a job that awakens his very particular, and very dangerous, set of skills. In 30 years, this character is destined to become the Bryan Mills in the Taken films starring Liam Neeson.
The cast includes Jennifer Beals, Gaius Charles, Brooklyn Sudano, Monique Gabriela Curnen, Michael Irby, James Landry Hébert and Jose Pablo Cantillo.
NBC should maximize TAKEN this summer by repeating the first season, perhaps in a less valuable Friday at 9 or 10 slot. Am sure many missed it first go-around and changing viewing habits in the hot-weather months may allow for discovery and building interest in the series.
They renew Taken but they haven’t renewed Timeless yet?! LAME SAUCE
I know, right? I just want Timeless back. It’s the only bubble show I care about.
RENEW TIMELESS TOO!!!!!!!
Can you please renew Timeless now!!!
While they are at it, they should part ways with the lead actor, as he is vanilla as Kroger or Kirkland ice creams. He has no charisma or ummf, like Jack Bauer or Mark Harmon. He needs to be Taken out of the show, and replaced with some manly and spicy actor, like Idris Elba in Luther. Someone that good.
Perhaps we could harken back to the days of their Saturday night Thrillogy (Profiler/Pretender) and program a Friday Night Action branded trilogy with Taken, Blindspot and Blacklist, possibly a shorter season of Timeless to appease you nerds.
Didn’t see this sticking around, found the entire storyline weak to say the least. No one is “Taken” here in any way resembling the movie. Surprised this got the nod ahead of something like Timeless unless this is one of those relatively cheap international productions that has the potential of moving to the summer, I’m assuming that’s what EuropaTV means.
Absolutely brilliant that they have renewed taken for another season it is fantastic show that should be kept going instead of concentrate ing on reality carp they should be making more of gripping action shows like this one. I can’t wait to see how mills get out of prison cell he was languishing in at the end of the last episode. Well done for renewing it .
Bravo to NBC for renewing TAKEN, they know a winner when they see one. Awesome acting and storytelling. Just hope the departing of Alex Cary doesn’t weaken TAKEN. Need a new showrunner? How about: Andrew W. Marlowe? Of Castle and he wrote the film “Air Force One”
I am estatic that NBC has renewed Taken. No more reality shows. Looking forward to the 2nd season.
Ryan