Cameron Crowe could really use a win after the chilly reception to "Aloha" this spring, and on paper, his brewing Showtime series "Roadies" seemed like a slam dunk. Produced by J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot, with "My So-Called Life" creator Winnie Holzman serving as showrunner, the series drops Crowe right into the world of rock ‘n roll he knows so well for an ensemble comedy set on a U.S. rock tour. However, it looks like it’s not all easy sailing.
Deadline reports that the pilot episode, written and directed by Crowe, is being junked, with a plan to completely overhaul. And one of the casualties is the role of Shelli, that was to be played by Christina Hendricks. The character is being reworked, and the parting is said to be amicable, but it can’t be fun for either Crowe to lose the Emmy nominated actress, or for Hendricks miss the opportunity to work with the director.
No word yet if any of the other cast members — Luke Wilson, Imogen Poots, Rafe Spall, Peter Cambor and Keisha Castle-Hughes — will stick around (I would imagine scheduling will become tricky if this hiatus drags out) but here’s hoping things get back on track, and Crowe gets back on form.