FOX has cancelled "Hieroglyph," a drama set in ancient Egypt, before it even aired, making it the first casualty of the 2014-2015 TV season.
Entertainment Weekly reported that the show, which was considered strong enough to justify a 13-episode order in October of 2013, received the axe two months before the fall TV season. Sources cited said creative issues werew behind the cancellation.
According to TheWarp, the series was not coming together as producers had hoped. A source added that high costs also played a part in the cancellation.
The show was written by Travis Beacham, who is known for his work on "Pacific Rim."
Writers were informed on Monday that the Network would not be moving forward with the series. Only a single episode had been shot and edited, but writers had reportedly written scripts for several more.
"Hieroglyph" starred Max Brown, John Rhys-Davies, Reece Ritchie, Condola Rashad, Caroline Ford, Antony Bunsee and Kelsey Chow. The series followed a thief, played by Brown, who is "plucked from prison to serve the pharoah, forcing him to navigate palace intrigue, seductive concubines, criminal underbellies and divine sorcerers, as he races to stop the downfall of one of history's greatest civilizations."
The news also comes shortly after the announcement that FOX Entertainment Chief Kevin Reilly was stepping down. Kelly reportedly gree-lighted the drama for production.
"We wanted to do a show about deceit, sex, and intrigue in the court and fantastical goings-on - no better place to set that than in ncient Egypt," said Reilly, according to Deadline.
"Hieroglyph" was set to premiere in 2015 - but no specific date had been announced. The series was produced by Chernin Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Television, Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope.
