Latest news with #JoshHolloway
Geek Tyrant
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
HBO Max Cancels 1970s DUSTER Series After One Season — GeekTyrant
Well, that was short-lived. HBO Max has officially pulled the plug on Duster after just one season. The series, created by LaToya Morgan and J.J. Abrams, had only just wrapped its season finale last week, leaving fans who were invested in its gritty, retro crime world wondering what could've been. The show premiered in May and starred Lost 's Josh Holloway as a getaway driver working for a rising crime syndicate in the 1970s Southwest. Rachel Hilson played a determined young FBI agent on a mission to bring it all crashing down. I watched the first couple episodes of the series, but it never really quite grabbed my attention. In a statement, HBO Max shared: 'While HBO Max will not be moving forward with a second season of Duster , we are so grateful to have had the chance to work with the amazingly talented co-creators J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, and our partners at Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. 'We are tremendously proud of this series led by Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson and we thank them along with our cast and crew for their incredible collaboration and partnership.' That wraps a long road for the show. Duster was first announced back in 2020 as part of Abrams' big overall deal with Warner Bros. Television and was the only live-action series from that deal to actually make it to air on HBO Max. Others including a Justice League Dark project and a Shining -inspired spinoff, never got past development. The animated series Batman: Caped Crusader , which Abrams also executive produced, was picked up by HBO Max before being moved over to Prime Video instead. Warner Bros. Television also chimed in, saying: 'J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan delivered a thrilling, multi-dimensional crime drama in Duster, with textured characters that took the audience back to the 1970s in a new and innovative way. 'Those characters were brought to life by a wonderful team led by Josh, Rachel, and an extremely talented ensemble cast, along with an expert crew behind the scenes. We are incredibly proud of the show, and while we wish this journey could continue, we are thankful to our partners at HBO Max for the opportunity to tell Jim and Nina's story.' If you watch the first season of Duster , what did you think? Source: Variety
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson: the dynamic duo revving up 'Duster's' 1970s crime scene
Josh Holloway as Jim Ellis and Rachel Hilson as Nina Hayes in a scene from the crime thriller, 'Duster'. Image: Supplied I'm an absolute sucker for a TV series or movie that is set in the '70s. Just the aesthetics alone are a vibe. That was one of the reasons that I started watching the crime thriller 'Duster', which is co-created by J. J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan. The other is that the series is helmed by 'Lost' star Josh Holloway as Jim Ellis and Rachel Hilson as Nina Hayes. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Set in the Southwest in 1972, the premise centres on the FBI's first black woman agent, Nina Hayes (Hilson), fresh out of training from Quantico, taking on the mammoth task of bringing crime syndicate boss Ezra Saxton (Keith David) to book. She is laughed at by her sexist peers. But Nina has two things in her favour: she's got the smarts to get the job done, and she is fuelled by revenge. This is personal for her. Jim is her way in as he's Ezra's trusted getaway driver. In a recent press junket, ahead of the series dropping on Showmax, Morgan, Holloway and Hilson unpacked their thoughts on it. On the title of the show, Morgan revealed: 'The Duster is a really cool car. They only made it for about six years, so we wanted something really iconic for this show. We thought about the Aston Martin that Bond has or the Mustang that Steve McQueen has, and we wanted something iconic for this, so Duster it is.' The co-creator also shed light on what inspired the storyline. 'The idea came about because J.J. had an image in his head from a few years ago. It was a phone booth, a phone ringing in the middle of the desert, and a muscle car racing up to it. And he said, I think maybe Josh Holloway jumps out of that car. "So, I was like, I dig this idea. We started pitching ideas of what it could be and building the show together, and we decided to work on it together.' Holloway was in from the get-go. He smiled and shared: 'J.J. called, and I was like, yes. The answer's yes. Whatever it is you're asking, I'm in. It's just exciting to have anyone of that calibre artistically calling you for something. And, so, he just proceeded to kind of pitch me this show. 'And every step of the way, it just got better because it's set in 1972. Muscle cars, the explosion of music and individuality, and all these kinds of cultural explosions during that time, it was so rich, and I grew up, you know, as a small child in the '70s, but I remember it. 'I remember the freedom in the culture. You were freer to do anything, especially as a child. Your parents just said, 'Come back for dinner'. There was not that helicopter type thing. It was just a wonderful, rich era, and I love cars. "I have three brothers. We grew up loving cars. And, so, that was very appealing to get to drive a muscle car, and I love the Duster because it's an obscure muscle car kind of between muscle cars.' Josh Holloway as Jim Ellis in the crime thriller, 'Duster'. Image: Supplied After taking the call, Holloway revealed he contacted Rick Seaman's Motion Picture Driving Clinic to attend stunt driving school. On casting Hilson, who looks very young, Morgan explained: 'Yes. It was key to her character. She's fresh out of Quantico. She's coming in, you know, hell bent on taking this crime syndicate down. "She is young, and so she doesn't adhere to the rules. She likes to break them and make her own way. 'We wanted someone tenacious, who was passionate, and who really believed in her cause. She comes in as sort of this unstoppable force for this immovable object that is Josh.' Hilson added, 'I mean, Nina is a badass. And I think I've not gotten to play many badasses yet. Like, overt badasses. 'She's overtly badass, and she's just so dynamic and complex. She's got this rawness that comes from, I think, her childhood and losing her father so young. So, there's this vulnerability that is like the fuel for this badassery and this tenacity and her drive. 'And then, yeah, the '70s are just such a rich period. I think 1972 in particular, you've got like, oh, God, just like a whole cornucopia of things happening politically and culturally and, you know, it's right off of the civil rights movement. 'You've got like, the Black Panthers still sort of hanging out, and I think I was excited to navigate this role, navigate this character, this young black woman in this period in this environment in the bureau, which is so unheard of.' From the stellar cast, taut storyline, where personal and professional aspirations blur, this series ticks many boxes. Morgan added: 'People who enjoy sort of like that Tarantino vibe, that Scorsese vibe, that's there. We always wanted to infuse everything with humour as well. So, there's a lot of heart and fun in the show, but, you know, some of our touchstones, we talked about 'The Godfather', we talked about 'Parallax View', 'Sugarland Express', all those great movies from the '70s that we all know and love. 'Those were inspirations, and one of my favorite touchstones is a tiny little movie called 'Five Easy Pieces', which a lot of people don't know about but I love that movie so much, and it was always the touchstone because I feel like people think the '70s are very big collars and bright clothes but in that movie, you get to see people just wearing their jeans and looking normal and looking lived in and authentic, and that's what I wanted the show to feel like.' Sadly, despite the clout of the creative team, it didn't get the nod for a second season. Rating: *** solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking. If you enjoy this series, you should watch … 'Baby Driver' An action crime film written and directed by Edgar Wright. It stars Ansel Elgort as a getaway driver seeking freedom from a life of crime with his girlfriend Debora (Lily James). Kevin Spacey, Eiza González, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Foxx appear in supporting roles.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Duster' starring Josh Holloway has been cancelled; the creators pull the plug for not getting enough numbers
'Duster' series starring Josh Holloway , Rachel Hilson, Keith David , and more, has been cancelled after airing its first season. While the show received great ratings overall, it reportedly failed to conquer its audience. The official statement... The Warner Bros. Television stated, 'J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan delivered a thrilling, multi-dimensional crime drama in Duster, with textured characters that took the audience back to the 1970s in a new and innovative way. Those characters were brought to life by a wonderful team led by Josh, Rachel, and an extremely talented ensemble cast, along with an expert crew behind the scenes,' according to The Hollywood Reporter. Josh Holloway had to struggle... Josh Hollyway, who plays a driver working for an Arizona crime syndicate, patiently waited for seven years to have the 'star' role after many false hopes and disheartening starts. He had recalled to the media outlet of not have work, and asked his agents to bring him some work just to get out of the house. 'Just hard — nothing was coming through. I had to focus on my family. I learned piano. I did all sorts of different things,' the 55-year-old said. However, the call from the producer for the role had changed his life. Furthermore, he said that the crips that his agents brought were not always the good ones, so he had to pass on. When J.J. Abrams called Holloway for the role of a wheel man of the mafia in 1972, he recalled having a Jerry Maguire moment of 'You had me at Hello!' Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo by Taboola by Taboola The second season won't be going into production... HBO Max released a statement, where they thanked the creators for having an opportunity to work with them, and stated that they are really proud of the actors for leading the series, along with the entire production crew, cast, and collaborators. In the statement, they confirmed that the second season won't be going into production.
UPI
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Josh Holloway's 'Duster' canceled after one season
1 of 2 | HBO Max has confirmed it canceled Josh Holloway's "Duster" after one season. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 10 (UPI) -- Lost alum Josh Holloway's 1970s-set crime thriller, Duster, has been canceled after one season on HBO Max. "While HBO will not be moving forward with a second season of Duster, we are so grateful to have the chance to work with the amazingly talented co-creators J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, and our partners at Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television," the streaming service said in a statement Wednesday. "We are tremendously proud of this series led by Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson and we thank them along with our cast and crew for their incredible collaboration and partnership." The show premiered in May and its finale aired last week. "Finale y'all! Lots of surprises," Holloway posted on Instagram. "Hope everyone has enjoyed #DUSTER as much as I have. Thank you @jjabramsofficial Thank you @morganicink Thank you @streamonmax @hbomax And thank you to our amazing cast & crew! What a great ride!!" It co-starred Rachel Hilson, Keith David and Greg Grunberg.
Miami Herald
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Weekend Binge Alert: 'Duster' gives a nod to this HBCU
If you're looking for something thrilling to binge over the holiday weekend, Duster on Max should be at the top of your list. Not only because it's a fast paced adventure each episode, but it also stars a fictional HBCU graduate as its main character. Set in the gritty, fast-paced world of 1970s Arizona, Duster is a slick crime thriller created by J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan. The series follows the unlikely partnership between getaway driver Jim Ellis (Josh Holloway) and FBI agent Nina Hayes, brilliantly portrayed by Rachel Hilson. But here's where it gets especially interesting for HBCU fans-Nina Hayes is written as a proud fictional graduate of Morgan State University. In early episodes she displays a Morgan State coffee cup on her desk and tells her backstory of coming from Baltimore and graduating from MSU. This creative choice subtly weaves HBCU representation into mainstream storytelling, adding depth and pride to her trailblazing character. Then there's Keith David. If you don't dig his deep voice and intense facial expressions, we'll have to question your taste in entertainment. David plays the top villain in the series, but you can't help enjoying his character's personality and struggling to root against him. At least this viewer did. Inspired by Real History, But Not Based on It While Duster isn't based on a true story, it is loosely inspired by the groundbreaking life of Sylvia Mathis, who became the first Black female FBI agent in 1976. The series captures the essence of her barrier-breaking journey, imagining what a Black female FBI agent's life might have looked like in the early '70s, even though the storyline and characters are entirely fictional. Why You Should Watch High-speed chases, undercover operations, and sharp FBI HBCU connection through Nina Hayes, a Morgan State alum who uses her intellect, grit, and courage to challenge systemic chemistry between Rachel Hilson and Josh Holloway, bringing both intensity and heart to the rich 1970s setting, delivering all the retro vibes with a modern storytelling pace. Critics have praised the show's stylish execution, sharp dialogue, and dynamic character arcs. Whether you're in it for the action, the cultural callbacks, or the refreshing take on crime dramas, Duster offers something special. Where to Watch: Stream Duster now on Max. The post Weekend Binge Alert: 'Duster' gives a nod to this HBCU appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
