Disney cancels 'National Treasure: Edge of History' after Season 1 as viewers brutally snub show
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Disney+ has canceled 'National Treasure: Edge of History,' a TV adaptation of the 'National Treasure' movie franchise. The adaptation followed treasure hunter actress Lisette Olivera as Jess Venezuela on a journey with a group of her friends after she received a tip regarding centuries-old treasure that is likely connected to her father.
Marianne and Cormac Wibberley, co-creators who penned the scripts for the first two films, closed the season one finale of 'National Treasure: Edge of History' by revealing a 'National Treasure' twist that premiered in February. The show was directed by Jon Turteltaub, and the cancellation comes on following the announcement of several cancellations at Disney+, including 'Big Shot,' 'Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,' 'The Mysterious Benedict Society,' 'Diary of a Future President,' and 'Turner & Hooch'.
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Show struggled to connect with the audience
Although no specific explanation was given for the show's removal from Disney+, it was stated by multiple sources that the series was struggling to connect with the audience. This despite the stellar cast and admiration for the original films. The cast included actors like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Zuri Reed, Antonio Cipriano, Jordan Rodrigues, Jake Austin Walker, and Lyndon Smith who joined Lisette Olivera's Jess Venezuela on a dangerous quest, not only to recover the lost treasure, but also to discover the truth about her family.
The adaptation's creators resurrected the franchise with an entirely fresh ensemble and an entirely new mystery for viewers to witness, one filled with intimate stakes that link back to the larger franchise. Unfortunately, the series did not meet audience desires, so the streaming network decided to cancel it. Even though it featured a couple of 'National Treasure' alumni as guest appearances, including Harvey Keitel and Justin Bartha, the show received a 38% critic score and a 49% audience score.
Disney+'s acts to eliminate 'non-MCU' and 'non-Star Wars' originals
Even if the evaluations and ratings for 'National Treasure: Edge of History' had been decent, the show's future remained uncertain as Disney+ has been eliminating many of its originals outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the 'Star Wars' franchise. 'Big Shot,' 'Mighty Ducks: Game Changers,' 'Turner& Hooch,' and other shows have also been canceled by the streamer.
'National Treasure: Edge of History' Season 1 is available to stream on Disney+