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HBO Max Left With Just 1 Original Series After Latest Cancellation

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Andrew McCarty | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 9:48 AM ET

HBO Max has pulled the plug on its crime drama series, which earned stellar reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Duster, which reunited Lost creator and producer J.J. Abrams and star Josh Holloway, earned a 92 percent from critics and an 83 percent from audiences on the rating platform. However, that wasn't enough for the series to generate enough buzz to earn a second season.

In a statement to Deadline, HBO Max confirmed the decision to cancel the series.

“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,” HBO Max said. “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.”

Rachel Hilson, Josh Holloway at the HBO original series "Duster" Los Angeles premiere held at Universal Studios.Chad Salvador/Getty Images

According to Deadline, the show remains in the daily Top 10 on HBO Max but hasn't been able to get into the Nielsen Top 10 for streaming originals and barely cracked Luminate’s list of Top 50 streaming originals in its fourth week at the last No. 50 spot.

The series, first ordered in 2020, was reportedly shopped around by Warner Bros. and Bad Robot but failed to find a buyer. After the cast's options expired, the production companies opted to end the highly rated series after just one season.

“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,” Warner Bros. offered in a statement. “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.”

The Pitt is now HBO Max's only current original series.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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