The fantasy series “The Librarians” is making a comeback on its original network TNT. The cable channel will air a new spinoff titled “The Librarians: The Next Chapter.” This comes as a surprise, as the CW network had recently renewed the show.
Dean Devlin, executive producer of the series, got a call from Sam Linsky at TNT. Linsky worked on “The Librarians” since it started on TNT in 2004. He told Devlin that TNT missed the show. This led to talks of bringing it back. Devlin said moving the show required “a little coordination,” but everyone agreed to the change.
The deal between TNT, CW, and Electric Entertainment is unique. TNT will produce original scripted programming again after a break. Also, this makes CW a production studio for the first time. Brad Schwartz, president of CW, said fans will love the next chapter.
“The Librarians: The Next Chapter” will have two 12-episode seasons on TNT. Season one finished filming and is now in post-production. It will premiere in 2025. Season two is also confirmed.
The spinoff follows a new character, Vikram, from the past stuck in present times. After accidentally releasing magic, he must team up with others to contain the threat. Christian Kane returns as Jacob Stone. The cast also includes Jessica Green, Olivia Morris, and Bluey Robinson.
Devlin sees a chance for linear TV as streaming faces challenges. He believes viewers want to simply turn on their TV. Devlin hopes this moves shows cable could surprise again with renewed focus on scheduled programming.
The team will now seek a streaming or online partner. Devlin notes those discussions were delayed but will be a priority.
This saves “The Librarians” and could affect the industry as streaming struggles. It shows interest in traditional cable and partnerships between networks and producers.
