Leverage may be closing the books for good and executive producer Dean Devlin took it upon himself to address the fans of TNT's veteran drama.
In a blog post published on LeverageFans.com on Thursday, Devlin revealed that the future of Leverage past the three remaining season five episodes still remains unclear. Because of that, Devlin and fellow EP John Rogers wrote a finale -- airing on Christmas -- that "we had planned to make to end the series, way back when we shot the pilot."
"So, the episode that will air on Christmas is, in fact, the series finale we had always envisioned," Devlin shared.
That doesn't mean that the chances of a season six are greatly diminished because of this move; he reassured fans that everyone behind and in front of the camera is still hoping for a renewal. "Everyone involved with the show, from the cast, the crew, the writers and producers, would like nothing more than to continue telling these stories," wrote Devlin. "But, in case we do not get that opportunity we felt that, creatively, after 77 episodes, we owed it to you, our fans, to end the show properly."
Devlin went on to call the Christmas closer "the most powerful episode we've ever done."
Leverage launched in December 2008 to 5 million viewers for TNT and stars Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Aldis Hodge, Beth Riesgraf and Christian Kane as a five-person team who use their skills to fight corporate and governmental injustices.
TNT declined to comment.
Read Devlin's full letter below:
Dear LEVERAGE Fans,
As of the writing of this letter, we still do not know if there will be a season six of our show. Just as we didn’t know when we created the last three episodes which are about to air. Because of this uncertainty, John Rogers and I decided to end this season with the episode we had planned to make to end the series, way back when we shot the pilot. So, the episode that will air on Christmas is, in fact, the series finale we had always envisioned.
This is not to say we would not do a season six should we get the opportunity. Everyone involved with the show, from the cast, the crew, the writers and producers, would like nothing more than to continue telling these stories. But, in case we do not get that opportunity we felt that, creatively, after 77 episodes, we owed it to you, our fans, to end the show properly.
I sincerely hope you watch these last three episodes. They build to our conclusion. And the finale, I believe, is the most powerful episode we’ve ever done.
From all of us who make the show, thank you for watching, supporting and encouraging us. I’ve never experienced a fandom as intense, loyal and wonderful as you all.
Let’s go steal a series finale!
Dean Devlin
Executive Producer/Director LEVERAGE
