Paramount Network to air that Heathers TV reboot, but not before taking a chainsaw to it
When last we heard tell of the Heathers TV reboot, the controversial series had been expelled from the Paramount Network—after previously seeing its premiere date delayed in the wake of the Parkland school shooting—and was in search of new halls in which to wreak havoc. Now, Deadline reports that the series has returned to Paramount, where an edited version of its first season will unfold across a single week later this month.
The adaptation emerged as a lightning rod of controversy for numerous reasons, not the least of which being the show’s hook, which seeks to subvert the original’s outsider vs. cool kid conflict by making its titular clique consist of a plus-sized model, a gender-queer teen, and a lesbian person of color. There’s also the general uneasiness with a modern series mining comedy from the intersection of schools, guns, and suicide. As such, Deadline reports that the climactic explosion of the story’s high school has been edited out, necessitating the series to air just nine episodes instead of 10. The final two episodes were reportedly combined to create a cliffhanger ending. Other scenes, including one of teachers brandishing guns, was also changed.
Still, the below trailer is leaning hard into the blowback. “TV’s Most Controversial Series Is Here,” it screams, gauging your up-chuck factor with a taste of its satirical approach to gun control, sexual assault, and suicide. Shannen Doherty, star of the original Heathers, introduces the trailer while touting her “limited, but very memorable role.”
“I am beyond excited that American audiences will finally get to see Heathers,” Heathers showrunner Jason Micallef told Deadline. “Obviously I wish fans could see the tenth episode but the producers and I felt strongly about not changing anything in it, and so, it’s been considered too controversial for U.S. audiences. Still, every day at this job is a delightful dream so it’s hard to complain. Plus, what matters most is fans will now get to see the satire we all love so much.”
Are we going to prom, or to hell? We’ll find out when the series premieres on October 25, when Paramount will air two episodes a night for the entire week, with a Heathers-themed episode of Lip Sync Battle following the finale. Viewers will also be able to watch all nine episodes on the Paramount Network app and website beginning on October 22.