Marvel’s Runaways Star On Why He Thinks Show Was Canceled

Marvel’s Runaways star Gregg Sulkin reveals why he thinks Hulu canceled the show. Sulkin played brainy jock Chase Stein in Runaways, which was based on the Brian K. Vaughan/Adrian Alphona comics of the same same. The adaptation followed six teenagers from different backgrounds who come together to stand as one against their criminal parents, who collectively run an organization called the Pride. The series featured an ensemble cast that, in addition to Sulkin, also starred Rhenzy Feliz, Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner, Ariela Barer, and Allegra Acosta.

Co-created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who are veterans of the teen drama genre thanks to their work on The OC and the original Gossip Girl, the show received largely favorable reviews over the course of its run. Reviewers praised Runaways for its faithfulness to the source material, in addition to the performances of the cast. Critics also mostly found that the superhero drama ended on a strong note in season 3.

In an interview on the Inside of You podcast (via ComicBook), Sulkin was asked about his time on Runaways by host Michael Rosenbaum. Sulkin noted the role of Chase was a dream come true and particularly cited filming at Paramount as a highlight. When it came to why Hulu decided to cancel Runaways after three seasons, Sulkin explained he views the cancellation as ultimately boiling down to a question of money and contracts — particularly how shows cost more as they gain more seasons. Take a look at Sulkin’s quote below:

I think streaming-wise, financially, they have to potentially renegotiate with everybody after the third season. They don’t have to, but it’s sort of an unspoken…[Chase Stein was a] really fun character to play, and I learned a lot on the visual effects side of stuff, I though that was great…They spent a fortune on the show. Also, it was a dream of mine to shoot at Paramount. I remember when I first moved to LA, sitting outside praying with my mom in the car, ‘Oh I’m going into an audition, I hope I work here one day.’

The actor’s explanation tracks with how networks and streaming services often assess their portfolios of shows. To take Netflix as a well-known example, the streamer has gained a reputation for canceling new scripted dramas and comedies after relatively brief runs. The thinking is that, if a show fails to grab a big audience within its first few seasons, it’s less likely to be a draw for subscribers the more it advances over the years. It is seen as a smarter investment, and a less costly one, to focus on a new show that may become a breakout hit. Based on Sulkin’s theory, it sounds like a similar calculus was applied to Runaways.

Runaways did have the advantage of its loose connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Black Panther‘s Wakanda getting a namedrop in one episode. It’s worth noting that with Kingpin revealed as the Big Bad of Hawkeye and Charlie Cox appearing in the MCU as Daredevil, Sulkin and his fellow castmates could find themselves reprising their old roles at some point in the future. If there’s an opening and audiences call for it, stranger things have happened.

Source: Inside of You podcast (via ComicBook)

About The Author

Abdullah Al-Ghamdi
(1121 Articles Published)

Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019, focusing on movie and television news. In January of the same year, he wrote a 3500+ word piece on why Primo Colón is underrated. He considers it his finest work. When he’s not arguing for the merits of his favorite wrestler, he can be reached at: [email protected].

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