‘Succession’ Could Have Done Two More Seasons, Says HBO Exec

March 23, 2023

“I would have taken on more, but in general, it’s the kind of thing that should be left up to the creator,” Bloys said.

What can be the success of “succession”?

HBO and HBO Max president and CEO Casey Bloys revealed that the Emmy-winning drama’s fourth and final season was unexpected. Creator Jesse Armstrong announced in February 2023 that the series would end after the next season and premiere on March 26.

“I would have taken on more, but in general, it’s the kind of thing you want to leave up to the creator,” Bloys said at the Series Mania panel (via Species). “When a show goes well, in this case Jesse felt it was the right ending. He knew the door was open and he could have done more if he felt it. But it’s an ideal situation that you choose to end on your own terms, when you want to, and tell the story you want to tell.”

Bloys added: “But if he had said I had two more seasons, I would have said, ‘OK, good.’

Creator Armstrong noted that the end of the series had been on his mind since Season 2, but it became apparent during the making of Season 4.

“The decision about the ending was solidified during the writing and even when we started shooting: I said to the cast, ‘I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think this is it.’ Armstrong said. “Because I didn’t want to hurt them either.”

Composer Nicholas Britell told IndieWire exclusively at the Season 4 premiere that no one knew it was the last season until post-production. “I think (Jesse Armstrong) basically put himself into shooting this season to say, ‘Is this the wrap?’ So that’s what I trust Jesse with,” Britell said. “But I recently found out that officially. For now, I still don’t know the end of the series. I’m halfway through the scoring and I’m purposefully keeping myself in the mystery because I like to be surprised and get that kind of reaction from the audience myself.”

Actor Jeremy Strong shared that the ending “will feel like a death,” while co-star Nicholas Braun said the cast was “really bummed” by the news of the “succession” officially ending. “I was sad as hell (on the last day),” Braun said.

Co-star Sarah Snook admitted she was “very upset” when she found out the series was coming to an end.

“It would have been nice to know at the beginning of the season, but I also understand that they wouldn’t tell us until the end because there was still the possibility that maybe it wasn’t the end,” Snook said. “Emotionally, we were all not ready to end the show because we love each other so much. But everything must come to an end, and it’s smart not to let something become a parody of itself.”

On-screen patriarch Brian Cox added that the best approach is to look “upwards and forwards” to the next projects, as Matthew McFadyen put it. The New York Times that there was “sorrow” at the end of the series. “It’s horrible and heartbreaking, but there’s a little bit of relief at the same time — a complicated mix of feelings,” McFadyen said.

For all the details on the upcoming fourth and final season of “The Succession,” click here.

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