Future seasons Netflix’s hit adaptation of Konami’sCastlevaniamay go ahead without lead writer Warren Ellis. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this parting of ways may be a result of Ellis' history of sexual misconduct.
It’s not known if Ellis left or was sacked by Netflix, but this news comes after numerous women and non-binary individuals came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. The site SoManyofUs.com catalogs the many, many claims against Ellis. A preface to the site says, “From our accounts, and the others who have come forward, there is clear evidence of Warren Ellis using his celebrity status and vast public platform as catalyst and shield to manipulate and groom targets under false pretenses, and to coerce private pornography and sexual exchanges. Over twenty years, femme-presenting people, often between the ages of 19 to 26, were impacted by this pathological behavior.”
RELATED:Castlevania Producer Reveals Why the Netflix Series is So Gory
Premiering onNetflixin 2017,Castlevaniawas a loose adaptation of Konami’s NES gameCastlevania III: Dracula’s Curseand built upon the game’s storyline of vampire hunter Trevor Belmont, priestess Sypha Belnades and son of Dracula, Alucard purging the forces of darkness from Wallachia. Ellis apparently had completed the scripts for season 4 afterCastlevaniawas renewed, but he would not be involved with any future seasons.
Warren Ellis, a long time comics writer with work published by Marvel, DC and Image, responded to the accusations, admitting that there was some truth to them after many of his accusers provided screenshots of emails and private Twitter exchanges as evidence. When these allegations broke, DC comics pulled a planned story by Ellis for the first issue of theDeath Metal: Legendsof the Dark Knightsanthology.
Currently there’s no official release date forCastlevaniaseason 4or even any news that it may go on if Ellis were to depart the show. Talking toEntertainment Weeklyin an earlier interview, Ellis said, “Everything in season three gets launched into the air. I have to bring it all down in season four. […]it might be one of those things where I just sit here and assume I won’t get a season five, so I will need to bring it to at least a partial conclusion.”
MORE:Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 Revealed at New Game Plus Expo
