HBO cancels J.J. Abrams’ Demimonde, leaving the mystery box open forevermore

When J.J. Abrams opens a mystery box, we expect him to toy with us for somewhere between

two and 92 hours before reaching a serviceable but not wholly satisfying answer to anything.

J.J. Abrams’ Demimonde is no more. Not that it ever was. But now, it can never be.

HBO has killed the project they won in a bidding war with Apple in 2018.

The series was to be Abrams’ first original TV creation since 2008. However,

HBO didn’t want to pay more than $200 million on a show with a French title—at least not properties

that don’t include the words “Joker” and “Two.” The Hollywood Reporter puts it in perspective

Even House Of The Dragon, the new Game Of Thrones prequel,

cost less than $200 million, and that can disappoint fans just as well as Abrams can.