Natalie Dormer on The Fades’ cancellation and fandom

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

When Natalie Dormer attends conventions, she’s approached about her characters on massive hits Game Of Thrones, The Tudors and The Hunger Games. Repeatedly though, another more obscure role keeps coming up.

“I get so many fans coming up to me at Comic-Cons,” Dormer told Den of Geek, “who bemoan that The Fades never got picked up for a second season.”

A supernatural drama created by Jack Thorne, The Fades aired for just six episodes in 2011. It was the story of Paul, a nerdy teenager who discovers that he has the ability to perceive the titular supernatural beings.

The Fades’ premature cancellation after just one series caused anguish to fans, who adored its cleverly drawn characters, imaginative vision and down-to-earth wit. The official word on why it was cancelled is that its ratings weren’t strong enough in BBC Three’s 16-24 demographic, but really, it was a question of bad timing and funding cuts.

Why did fans take The Fades to heart so? “It was a mish-mash of genres,” says Dormer, “in that very emotionally intelligent way.”

The creator and cast too, she adds, were very special. “If you look at the cast, and if you look at Jack Thorne and where he’s gone…” As well as having his name attached to just about every exciting new drama development announced (The Sandman, His Dark Materials) Thorne has written some of the best plays and television of recent years (including the excellent National Treasure and This Is England series).

In addition to Dormer, the cast included the now Oscar-nominated Daniel Kaluuya, Marvel’s Agents Of SHIELD’s Iain de Caestecker, Dormer’s fellow Game Of Thrones actor Joe Dempsie, Lucifer’s Tom Ellis… a huge number of success stories.

A second series renewal should have been “a no-brainer”, says Dormer.

Looking on the bright side though, Dormer concludes, “It’s a shame that The Fades didn’t go to a second season, but if you look where everyone is now, it’s fascinating.”

Picnic At Hanging Rock starring Natalie Dormer arrives on BBC Two on Wednesday the 11^th of July.