Sharon Horgan Writing Season 2 of ‘Bad Sisters,’ Says ABC Passing on U.S. ‘Motherland’ Adaptation Is ‘Their Loss’
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The next season of “Bad Sisters” is slowly taking shape, even amid a writers strike.
Creator Sharon Horgan confirmed that she’s currently writing Season 2 of the hit Apple TV+ series “Bad Sisters,” which will continue the story of the Garvey clan after they successfully did away with their toxic brother-in-law Jean-Paul (played by a deliciously evil Claes Bang).
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Horgan, who was being interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter’s Nekesa Mumbi Moody, was asked about being able to continue working on non-American shows and the “schizophrenic” nature of doing so amid the WGA strike.
“We just had to down tools on all of our U.S. projects, and yeah, I feel kind of guilty I still get to make a show in the U.K.,” replied Horgan after some thought. “Because it’s really difficult for writers — not just financially but also the fact that, you know, we love to write. It’s kind of what stops us from going crazy.
“I know that the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain are really firmly in solidarity with WGA so no WGGB writers will work on any projects that are in the WGA jurisdiction, but yeah, it does feel strange to be continuing to work on something.”
Horgan, who was speaking at the Banff World Media Festival in Alberta, Canada, is likely able to continue working on the U.K.-filmed show because she has a local contract in place with Apple TV+ for “Bad Sisters” rather than a WGA-governed deal. Under the current rules, U.K. writers can continue working on existing projects (under the jurisdiction of non-WGA contracts) with “struck” companies such as Apple, but can’t take on new work.
Nevertheless, Horgan seemed uncomfortable in detailing the next season of the comedy drama. Her appearance at Banff came just hours after many top British writers including “Succession” showrunner Jesse Armstrong and “Doctor Who” writer Russell T. Davies showed up in London’s Leicester Square as part of an international day of protest in support of the WGA.
Discussing Season 2 — which, when announced, came as a surprise given “Bad Sisters” was envisioned as a limited series — Horgan hinted that, “Usually, you don’t kill a man and get away with it.”
“There’s collateral damage from that as well — there’s fallout,” she continued. “I was interested in, emotionally, what would happen to these sisters and how it would affect them. Once I figured out what my way in would be, then I felt like, ‘Well, that could work.'”
As for how she feels about ABC not moving forward with the U.S. adaptation of “Motherland,” Horgan — who co-wrote the original BBC show and executive produced the Ellie Kemper-led pilot “Keeping It Together” — said that it’s “their loss.”
“I think they’re just playing it safe,” said Horgan in response to a question from Variety about the show not moving forward. “I think they’ve recommissioned, as far as I know, all of their ongoing sitcoms. And I think just because of the current climate at the moment, they just weren’t ready to take a chance on launching a new comedy, but you know, it’s such a great pilot.”
Variety understands that Lionsgate will be shopping the U.S. pilot to other buyers.
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