Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, creators of Adult Swim’s The Venture Bros. have been in talks with the network about a proper finale for the series, which was abruptly canceled after season 7. The adult sci-fi cartoon parodied properties like Jonny Quest and the insanity of dragging children around the globe on dangerous missions. Dr. Thaddeus S. “Rusty” Venture, his kids Hank and Dean, and their bodyguard Brock Samson would go on comedic, action-packed adventures, getting into situations and meeting characters that parodied every aspect of 20th Century geek culture.
The Venture Bros. first aired in 2003, and over its 17-year run the show produced seven seasons. Season 7 aired in 2018, but news of the show’s cancellation arrived this year. Publick and Hammer are a writers’ room unto themselves and had a hand in every step of the production, all the way through editing. As a result, each season took quite a long time to produce, which is why The Venture Bros. only managed seven seasons in seventeen years. Publick and Hammer were in the midst of writing what was to be season 8 when Adult Swim informed them that they would not be producing any more of the show.
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Speaking to NPR, Publick and Hammer said that they’ve been in talks with Adult Swim about a finale special for the series. The abrupt ending left the show in a strange place that the pair would not have chosen, with a member of the family leaving the others. The duo said they would never separate the family nor opt for an action-packed, climactic finale. The Venture Bros. will never have a final resolution, only a sensible point to leave the characters with no doubt that their wacky lives will continue away from our prying eyes. Though they are happy to continue the series, Publick and Hammer think a continuation with regular seasons is unlikely. When discussing his dissatisfaction with the current ending, Hammer explained:
“We would never end the show with one of our characters going away. We have a character walking away from the Venture family, which is not the way Jackson and I think of the Ventures. There is love and family at the core of all this, and yes [it’s] dysfunctional… but love and family is a deep part of our show. And to have somebody flip his gears and just go off in search for himself… that’s not the kind of ending we would ever write. That doesn’t feel good to me.”
Die-hard fans were understandably saddened to hear that the nearly two-decade-old series had been left on a cliffhanger, but it seems Publick and Hammer are determined not to leave it there. Adult Swim’s interest in doing right by the show despite its abrupt cancellation appears sincere, and so the finale special is likely to happen, even if it takes a characteristically long time. If it didn’t, would it truly be The Venture Bros.?
All hope is certainly not lost for the brothers. In September, preliminary talks hinted at season 8 debuting on HBO Max. Though Publick and Hammer have made no mention of it, the rumor adds to a sense of palpable interest in what’s next. Speaking to NPR, Hammer admitted that he dreams of The Venture Bros. fanbase remaining so dedicated and so influential that they summon the show back a la Star Trek. They may not be quite so superpowered, but they have heart, just as human and unapologetically weird as their favorite show. While this news isn’t official confirmation that Adult Swim is moving forward with a finale special, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Source: NPR
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