Renegade Nell, the much-hyped Disney+ drama from Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax creator Sally Wainwright, has been cancelled by the streamer after just one series.
The series, which starred Derry Girls’ Louisa Harland as accidental outlaw Nell and Nick Mohammed as her guiding spirit Billy Blind, was generally well received when it landed in March – review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the show an 87% critics score and 88% from audiences. It seems that audiences did not follow as Disney had hoped, however and the House of Mouse has decided against renewing for a second series.
A Disney+ spokesman said: “Disney+ original series, Renegade Nell, will not be returning for a second season on the service. We’re incredibly proud of the world created by Sally Wainwright and lead director Ben Taylor. We’d like to thank them, our production partners at Lookout Point, the entire cast – led by Louisa Harland – and crew for their incredible work on this series, all of whom we hope to work with again in the future.”
The fantasy adventure series was produced by regular Wainwright collaborator Lookout Point and was unveiled as part of Disney+ UK’s debut scripted slate in April 2021. The eight-part series followed protagonist Nell Jackson, who is framed for murder and becomes a highwaywoman, accompanied by magical sprite Billy Blind who guides her towards her destiny.
It’s not all bad news for either UK shows on Disney+ or Wainwright, however. The Renegade Nell news comes just a few days after Disney+ and the BBC confirmed Doctor Who spin-off The War Between The Land And The Sea at Comic-Con, starring Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
Huddersfield scribe Wainwright, meanwhile, is currently working on BBC drama Riot Women, which will follow a punk band formed by five women going through menopause.
