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David Goyer Leaving FlashForward

Posted on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 by Devindra Hardawar

Things haven’t been going as planned for FlashForward, ABC’s Lost-replacement sci-fi drama that debuted last fall. Ratings have dropped steadily for the series since it launched, it lost Marc Guggenheim as its first showrunner in November (who was replaced by co-creator David Goyer), and then ABC decided to extend the show’s hiatus until March to avoid January competition. Oh, and it’s also sort of terrible.

Now ABC has another reason to sweat — Goyer has announced that he’s stepping down as showrunner as well. The series still has five episodes to shoot of its remaining 23-episode season order, and it’s not yet known who will be replacing Goyer.

Goyer, who scripted the Blade films (and killed the franchise by directing Blade Trinity), also contributed to both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. He’s been pursuing a directorial career since 2002’s ZigZag (he also directed The Unborn and The Invisible), but it seems like his first feature has been his best so far. Goyer listed his increasing feature film work as the main reason he couldn’t stick with the show:

As my feature projects have started ramping up again, I felt I was being pulled in too many directions. I’m proud of the show and excited about the relaunch. It’s in great hands.

I gave up on the series several episodes in because of its terrible writing, boring characters, and its never-ending quest to ape Lost in whatever way it could. I’m hoping that ABC makes the smart choice and cancels it to make way for potentially better shows next year.

ABC still has the V remake returning — which they put on hold until March after airing four episodes in the fall. The show definitely has problems of its own, but it’s far more salvageable than something like FlashForward.

Discuss: Are you enjoying FlashForward? Do you think it deserves a second season?

Comments

tee

I actually really like the show.. And I don't think it's terrible. LOST may be a great show, but that doesn't mean it's the only show worth watching. I find it interesting finding out what is happening each week as we move closer to that date in everyone's blackout.

And V was kinda "eh" to me. I'll take this any day.

Reniassance_Man

I gave up in the pilot. At first I was just bothered by commercials telling me to pay attention to clues, but I officially gave up when they showed a kangaroo clip and then told me that this kangaroo might be important later. Seriously? Don't force mysteries down our throat in hopes that we'll jump through those hoops.

Who Dat

Everything about Flash Forward is forced.

Jim

A friend of mine told me of a drinking game with FlashForward - every time someone says "FlashForward" you drink (it's remarkable how many times they say it when you're paying attention). That's basically why I watch now, even after they killed the Famous Jett Jackson.

frelling_cute

It's almost like both shows had this premise and then they couldn;t live up to the idea. V should have come back as a Miniseries linking the events of the last series with the new show but no, they wanted to get away from Kenneth Johnson.
Flash Forward was a good book but a series? Nahhh. The networks need to start making more limited series so they don't drag these anthology shows out longer than they need to be.

Auster24

Wow, you really gave FFW a bum rap. I like the show and will be watching it when it comes back on the air.

I think people are being unfair. FFW has an interesting premise but I think it's similarity to LOST - destiny vs. free will - hurts it. Since LOST has been on the air longer, people aren't willing to give FFW as big of a chance. One false step (which I admit it has made) and out it goes, unable to compare to its storyline inspiration.

LOST is a better a show but had it never aired, more people would be interested in FFW. I'm expecting a stronger second half.

evilninjax

V is terrible. Unwatchably bad. FLASHFORWARD was somewhat interesting at first but it is not particularly good. The AMC Prisoner was awful. Not a good track record for recent scifi. (haven't checked out Caprica, but I wasn't much of a new BSG fan, personally).

Krazy Joe

I can't understand why this isn't a huge ratings hit. It's currently the best show on TV (ok, 2nd best now that Lost is back). The writing has been sharp and riveting, and the characters and plots among the best on TV. This show is downright stellar --- and yet people are tuning out.

It makes me lose hope in humanity, quite frankly.

Miss Geeky

I stuck with it, cause I read the book it's based on ages ago. And the book is actually pretty interesting. There though we know from the start what caused the flashforwards and it's more about how the characters are dealing with what they find out and whether they can change their 'destinies'. The TV show tries to setup a Lost-like mystery, while I have the feeling the writers don't know themselves what the mystery is. I think the material was much better suited as a good sci-fi movie.

Still going to stick with it for now, just to see if it ever goes the same direction as the book, but it's really one of the shows on the bottom of my to-watch list.

Martin Sharde

If FlashForward gives us a character we can care about and interject some comedy or a comedic character, the show will be fine. Those are two major issues with FlashForward but I wouldn't say it's a terrible show.

cib3k

Goyer is a hack. Each one of his own projects, where there wasn't a talented director to lead him, was a failure.

vik713

I enjoy FF for what it is - a less intelligent LOST wannabe show. It has some great LOST type WTF moments but most of the time it drags on with some cheesy ass writing. V is a little better IMO. I never watched the original so the whole things new to me but they could make some slight improvements in writing too. In the end I'm still looking forward to both shows. Somethings gonna have to fill my future LOST void :(

lest78

Yeh I'll say it. I really really enjoy FlashForward and am looking forward to it's return.

Everyone here mentions how they gave it a chance and then stopped watching. I agree there was a dull patch around episodes 4-7, but then it really picked up it's pace and got really interesting.

I suggest everyone go back and start watching it again.

Ron Burgundy

im surprised that no one has mentioned that the room he needs is for Ghost Rider 2 and Batman 3...

vegabro

I know. David Goyer isn't some reservoir of original concepts from which entertainment will live or die depending on his involvement.

vegabro

I think the main problem with the show stems from the god awful, zero energy, flat as hell lead actor.

It amazes me that he got cast as the lead of a major network drama.

Matthew

I don't want either of the shows to fail. I hope they both have a creative resurgence when they return. Sci-fi shows are a nice addition to network television because of how dominant doctors, lawyers or cops have become.

Already its discouraging that the network with the most viewers (CBS) is made up of numerous insipid procedurals each spinning off from each other and setting new lows for television standards. If shows like these succeed it encourages more networks to think out of the box.

heropower

I actually prefer FlashForward to V. Both shows have issues, but the pacing on V is all wrong, and I find myself wanting to laugh at a lot of the more overt sci-fi instead of being fascinated, as I would be with BSG, Caprica, or Lost.

If I had to choose one show to get canned (though both of them easily could, soon enough) it would be V.

Chaya

That's why I'm sticking with Caprica

TheCritic28

"...I trust it is in good hands."

a.k.a No hands at all, judging how there is no showrunner at the moment.

Daniel Ha

I really, really wanted to like Flashforward. And I did for the first two or three episodes. I'm not sure if it consciously registered in my head that the show was getting bad, but I do know that I stopped caring to watch after a while.

When it went on hiatus, I didn't even notice.

Kensei

I thankfully never gave FlashForward or V a chance. V seemed slightly interesting but never grabbed my attention. I think they are both too rushed and try to fit in the gap Lost will create when this season will end.

Wes

They both will soon be cancelled. Neither are good. But I liked FlashForward more than V.

[TR]

I agree, although I think V was handled much better, so far.
That's not saying much, though, because FFW was always going to be a little more convoluted, given its premise, and harder to make into something instantly likeable. But while they kept the premise more or less interesting, they really dropped the ball with almost all characters.
With V I'd really have liked to see it develop a little slower with a bit more mystery and intrigue on those first 4 episodes.
My real sorrow in all of this is that ABC dropped Defying Gravity which was infinitely better than any of these two, be it in sci-fi, be it in characters and character development.

650, bro

really, i think that flashforward's main problem is the acting. there's like, what, 2 good (but far from great) performances and maybe 3 others that are decent. and they killed off one of the best and most likeable performances in like the 7th episode! the rest of them, especially ralph fiennes god-awful brother, overact to the nth degree and kill the already flawed script. sure, i watch it so i have something to fill the gaping void in me and to try and ignore the crushing lonliness of life, but i don't know if it'll be renewed for a second season and i'm just going to have to hope that caprica grows into something more worthy of filling BSG's shoes and that team darlton come up with something that will be interesting to watch once network tv's best show ever ends

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