Amazon abruptly changes course and axes "Etoile" halfway through two-season order

Now, in a vacuum, it doesn't feel terribly surprising that a show on Amazon about ballet companies in New York City and Paris swapping their principal dancers didn't find a sufficient audience to continue on. The question, or at least the first question, becomes why "Etoile" got a straight-to-series, two-season order in the first place. Chalk it up to "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

"Etoile" came to us from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino. They have quite the track record, having given the world "Gilmore Girls" and the aforementioned "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Also, clearly they have a thing for ballet, given that they also brought "Bunheads" into the world. "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" was a big success for Amazon, commercially and at the Emmys. When that show was in its final season, the conglomerate gave Amy and Dan the go-ahead on "Etoile." They kept them in house and gave them something of a thank you gift in ordering two seasons of, again, a show about ballet companies swapping dancers. One that shot on location in New York and Paris on top of that.

Now, it's not like Amazon broke some ironclad deal here, as they assuredly worked in failsafes in case the first season didn't cross a certain threshold of success. It may breed skepticism in other creators if Amazon offers them a similar offer, as said creators might thing, "Well you pulled the rug on the duo who gave you 'Mrs. Maisel'..." Of course, one should not weep for Amazon. They'll keep getting content. They splashed enough cash to wrest control of the James Bond franchise. They aren't sweating it.

(h/t The Hollywood Reporter)