Kurt Sutter Quits ‘The Abandons’ 3 Weeks Before Filming Wrapped, Here’s Why

Kurt Sutter, the creator of The Abandons, left his own Netflix series just three weeks before the main filming was set to finish in October 2024. This sudden departure sent shockwaves through the production and left fans wondering what happened to the high-profile Western starring Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson. The exit was confirmed by multiple sources and occurred as the show, filming in Calgary, Alberta, was about six episodes into its planned seven-episode shoot. While neither Sutter nor Netflix provided official comments, the move has been widely linked to significant creative differences regarding the show’s direction and editing.

The Creative Dispute That Led to the Exit

The core issue reportedly began when Netflix executives reviewed an early version of the series premiere. The initial cut of the first episode was about 100 minutes long, much longer than the standard one-hour runtime for a streaming episode. When editors found it impossible to cut the episode down to a normal length, a major decision was made: the premiere would be split into two separate episodes.

This change required writing and filming new scenes to create a satisfying cliffhanger for what would become the end of Episode 1 and a proper beginning for Episode 2. Sources indicate that after seeing these newly split and unfinished early episodes, Netflix executives felt the material looked “disjointed” and was not “propulsive enough”. Notably, reports state that a meeting between Sutter and Netflix’s top executives to discuss these concerns did not happen before his departure. This breakdown in communication appears to have been a key factor in the split.

Production Changes and Past History

With Sutter’s exit, the responsibility for completing the series fell to executive producer and director Otto Bathurst and co-executive producer Rob Askins. They oversaw the remaining filming, including the necessary reshoots for the restructured premiere, without a new showrunner being officially named.

This is not the first time Sutter has left a project during production. In 2019, he was fired from the FX series Mayans M.C., a spinoff of his hit show Sons of Anarchy, following an investigation into complaints about a hostile work environment. At the time, Sutter acknowledged past behavior, describing himself as “an abrasive dick” in a letter to the cast and crew. While there were no public reports of similar workplace issues on The Abandons, some sources mentioned talks of “friction” between Sutter and the show’s top stars over storylines and collaboration.

Budget and Episode Count Pressures

The creative differences occurred against a backdrop of broader budget pressures. The series had already experienced cuts common in today’s streaming industry. Netflix originally ordered 10 episodes of The Abandons in 2022. That order was first trimmed to eight episodes and then down to the seven that were filmed. The decision to split the long premiere ultimately brought the final first-season count back up to eight episodes.

The production had also reportedly gone over budget. Plans were made to mitigate some costs by reducing the filming schedule for the finale by one day. The need for swift action may have been influenced by a tight post-production schedule, as the series was reportedly targeted for a release several months after filming wrapped.

What Is ‘The Abandons’ About?

The series is set in the 1850s Oregon Territory and follows a group of outlier families pursuing their dreams on the frontier. Their lives are disrupted by a corrupt force of wealth and power that wants to take their land. These marginalized “abandoned souls” unite to form a new family and fight back. The story specifically focuses on the rivalry between two matriarchs: Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey), a devout Irish immigrant who has adopted four orphans, and Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson), the wealthy widow of a mining magnate who is determined to seize Fiona’s land.

The large ensemble cast includes Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, Lamar Johnson, Lucas Till, Aisling Franciosi, and Ryan Hurst. The series was a passion project for Sutter, who was inspired to create it after watching Bonanza reruns during the pandemic.

The Aftermath and Series Release

Following the behind-the-scenes turmoil, The Abandons was completed and released on Netflix on December 4, 2025. All episodes were made available at once. The critical reception to the final product was largely negative. Some reviews pointed to the visible scars of its troubled production, noting issues like uneven pacing, underdeveloped characters, and scenes that felt incomplete or confusing.

One review described the show as carrying “all the markings of a carved-up turkey,” suggesting the edits and changes left the story feeling hollowed out. The review also questioned if contradictory character moments were “glimpses of a more well-rounded character left on the cutting room floor”. Despite its high-profile cast and creator, the series failed to make a significant impact with critics upon its debut.

Also Read: The Abandons Finale: One Woman Emerges from the Fire, But Her Identity Is a Mystery

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