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ABC has reportedly stepped in to reimburse Shaquille O'Neal and Gina Rodriguez for the $460,000 they owed after the production company behind Lucky 13 declared bankruptcy.
The actors supposed to star in the now-canceled show were left unpaid when the firm that produced the pilot went bankrupt. This unexpected reversal reportedly prompted ABC to intervene, guaranteeing that both O'Neal and Rodriguez earned their contractual earnings despite the show's cancellation.
The financial problems surrounding Lucky 13 sparked questions about how Hollywood handles paying actors when production firms fail. The production house had suffered for months before filing for Chapter 11, leaving some key figures in the dark. ABC's action to cover the unpaid salaries demonstrates the network's dedication to preserving industry confidence and protecting its star talent.
While Lucky 13 will not go forward, this incident has prompted a larger debate about financial accountability in television production. Fans of O'Neal and Rodriguez were sad when the project fell through, but they are relieved that the network stepped in to assure fair recompense.
Studio 1 CEO addresses financial struggles as Lucky 13 gets canceled
Hosted by Gina Rodriguez and Shaquille O'Neal, it is a show that debuted in July 2024, where contenders had to answer 13 questions with either a true or a false. Though the show captured enough attention, after its first season, ABC canceled it as Studio 1 failed to clear contestants' payments.
When asked to comment, the CEO of the production house, Adrian Woolfe, says in an interview with Deadline,
“We are in the process of taking proactive protective steps to restructure the Studio 1 business and to unlock and protect the value of the now-proven Lucky 13 IP.”
The CEO of Studio 1 says the company is making significant efforts to reorganize its operations and safeguard its financial future. This involves safeguarding Lucky 13 as a substantial asset despite the producing company's financial difficulties. Their goal is to streamline operations while keeping the show's intellectual property viable.
In another interview with Goldderby, he adds,
“Rather than it being a direct commission, the unique commercial model on which the debut series was launched in the U.S. was underpinned by advertising revenues which given well-publicized market conditions regrettably, but unavoidably, fell acutely short of forecasts.”
He discussed how the show depended on advertising money, which did not work out as expected. Instead of obtaining direct funding from a typical commission, the show relied on advertising revenue. However, due to negative market conditions, predicted revenue was much lower, making it difficult to sustain production expenses and financial commitments.
ABC Steps in as Lucky 13 faces an uncertain future
As the show's financial problems worsen, ABC is apparently striving to find a solution even though it is not legally required to cover the outstanding awards. According to reports, efforts are being made to ensure the award money is dispersed to the individuals affected. However, the network has yet to issue an official announcement.
To complicate matters, Lucky 13 Holdings and Studio 13 Entertainment, two special-purpose organizations involved in the show's production, declared bankruptcy. This has made it much more challenging to meet outstanding financial obligations.
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The show's first season is available on ABC for the fans to watch.
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