Hulu has opted not to proceed with its planned limited series featuring Elijah Kelley as Sammy Davis Jr., directed by Lee Daniels and produced by 20th Television. The future of this project is now uncertain.
According to Deadline, 20th Television is actively exploring other platforms for the series, planning to enhance its appeal by adding high-profile talent before presenting it elsewhere. This decision aligns with Hulu’s broader content spend cut, part of Disney’s strategy to prioritize profitability and reduce programming costs.
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Despite Hulu’s initial order for the Sammy Davis Jr. limited series in April 2022, the show faced setbacks leading to this unexpected cancellation. Showrunner Kimberly Harrison joined the project in February 2023. The eight-episode series, written by Daniels and Thomas Westfall based on Will Haygood’s biography, delves into the entertainer’s life, emphasizing his racial identity and intricate relationship with the Black community.
Elijah Kelley was set to portray Davis, capturing his journey from childhood stardom to becoming one of the most renowned African American entertainers of the 1950s and ’60s. The series aimed to explore the controversies surrounding Davis, including his relationships with white film stars, his 1960 marriage to Swedish actress May Britt, his conversion to Judaism, connections with political figures like the Kennedys and Richard Nixon, and struggles with alcohol and drugs.
The series had high-profile executive producers, including Lee Daniels, who was also set to direct the first two episodes, along with Thomas Westfall. Marc Toberoff, Pam Williams, and Elijah Kelley were also among the executive producers, with Haygood and Kelley taking on production roles.