©The Hollywood Reporter - HBOThe series, which premiered in May, received excellent ratings on Rotten Tomatoes—92 percent positive from critics and 83 percent from the audience—but apparently failed to attract enough viewers. For example, it didn't make the Nielsen Top 10.
A statement from Warner Bros. Television read: “J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan delivered a thrilling, multi-layered crime series with Duster, featuring richly-layered characters that transported audiences back to the 1970s in a new and innovative way. These characters were brought to life by a fantastic team led by Josh, Rachel, and an exceptionally talented ensemble cast, along with a fantastic crew behind the scenes. We are incredibly proud of this series, and while we would have loved to continue, we are grateful for the opportunity HBO Max gave us to tell Jim and Nina’s story.”
For Holloway, this news is likely particularly painful, as he had patiently waited for years for a new project after several false starts. As he explained before the premiere: "I must have thrown the coin over the wrong shoulder and broken a mirror at the same time, because I had seven rough years. Just rough—nothing was coming through. I had to focus on my family. I learned to play the piano. I did everything. Finally, I told my agents, 'Just give me work, I have to get out of the house, this is ridiculous. I'm only working for the Holloways now, I have to do something.'"
When Duster finally got off the ground and Holloway was able to reteam with his Lost producer Abrams, it felt like “a Jerry Maguire moment — You had me at ‘hello,’” Holloway said.
A statement from HBO Max read: “While HBO Max will not be moving forward with a second season of Duster, we are incredibly grateful to have collaborated with the incredibly talented co-creators J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, and our partners at Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. We are incredibly proud of this series, led by Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson, and thank them, along with the entire cast and crew, for their incredible partnership and dedication.”
