Stephan James reflects on the cancellation of his sci-fi drama series, co-starring Lena Headey. James has appeared in several movies, includingSelmaandIf Beale Street Could Talk, and recently portrayed Boy Charles, the father of Boy Willie and Berniece, in Malcolm Washington’sadaptation ofThe Piano Lesson. He also had major roles inShots Firedand the Prime Video anthology showHomecoming, which focused on a support center for soldiers. There, he starred opposite Julia Roberts andearned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama.
Lena Headey became well known for playing Cersei Lannister inGame of Thronesas the villainous, and power-hungry, Queen ofthe Seven Kingdoms. For her role on the acclaimed HBO fantasy show, Headey was praised by audiences and received multiple Emmy Award nominations for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. No stranger to imaginative, genre work, she also appeared inTerminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,The Brothers Grimm, the300movies,The Purge, and more. She evenvoiced characters in numerousTales of ArcadiaprojectsandMasters of the Universe: Revelation.
Stephen James Recalls Beacon 23 & Its Cancellation
The Sci-Fi Drama Ended After Season 2
James and Headey eventually became co-stars onBeacon 23, where they portrayed Halan Kai Nelson and Aster Calyx, respectively. Based on writer Hugh Howey’s short stories, the sci-fi series explored two humans in the eponymous space lighthouse, and their evolving relationship. Along with James and Headey, the cast included Natasha Mumba, Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Ellen Wong, and Eric Lange. After premiering on MGM+ in 2023, the show garnered mostly mixed reactions, and one year later,Beacon 23was cancelled,leaving the fates of Halan and Aster, through 2 seasons, unclear.
Beacon 23season 1 earned a critic-based score of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, and just 53% from audiences. Meanwhile, season 2 has been more poorly received, holding a Popcornmeter score of 45%.
While speaking withScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender, James reflected on the conclusion ofBeacon 23. When asked about the ending, and what he would have wanted from a potential season 3, James explained that, while he might have hoped to continue on,he enjoyed his time making the series, and expressed his appreciation for working alongside Headey.Read his comments below:
Oh, man, it’s all good. Yeah, I loved Beacon. I loved that era. Sure, I think we all would’ve wanted more of it, but I was very grateful to do something I hadn’t done [before] like sci-fi. I was working with Lena, who’s incredible. It’s just another notch on my belt.
Our Take On The Beacon 23 Cancellation
It’s Unlikely That The Series Will Come Back
The sudden cancellation was announced in September, just months after season 2 ended, and based on the latest reception towardsBeacon 23, it seems doubtful that another platform would resuscitate the space drama now. Audiences may be wondering what happened to Halan, who appeared to die, while his spirit existed with Aster in some other capacity, but because the show incorporated, at times, confounding elements, it might become challenging to keep the story going. Despite thesci-fi show’s short duration, though, fans will likely enjoy knowing that James remains appreciative of the whole journey.
Beacon 23
Cast
Based on Hugh Howey’s sci-fi thriller stories, Beacon 23 is a television adaptation created by Zak Penn. The show follows the plight of Aster and Halan, who find themselves trapped at the end of the universe in a “lighthouse.” Suspicion mounts between the two as Halan begins to wonder about Aster’s true intentions as they spend time together in isolation. The series was initially set to air on AMC until it was picked up by MGM+ in 2023.
