HBO Max's Duster Canceled After Just One Season

LaToya Morgan, born Latoya Sherese Morgan on April 2 in Los Angeles, California, is an acclaimed film and television writer, producer, and director.[1][3] A graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory with an MFA in Screenwriting, she is a Phi Beta Kappa member and alumna of fellowships including the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop, Producers Guild Power of Diversity Fellowship, and Film Independent’s Project: Involve.[2][3] Morgan began her screenwriting career on Showtime’s *Shameless* (2012, 12 episodes), followed by staff writing on NBC’s *Parenthood*, USA’s *Complications*, and AMC’s *TURN: Washington’s Spies* (2014–2017, 30 episodes as writer, producer, and co-executive producer).[1][2][4] She advanced to co-executive and supervising producer on AMC’s *Into the Badlands* (2017–2019, 22 episodes), consulting producer on *The Walking Dead* (2019–2021, 10 episodes), and showrunner/executive producer on the 2025 series *Duster* for HBO Max, co-created with J.J. Abrams.[1][2][5] A two-time NAACP Image Award nominee, she secured back-to-back overall deals at AMC before signing a multi-year pact with Warner Bros. Television, founding her banner TinkerToy Productions to develop series across networks and platforms.[2] Morgan directed and executive produced the short *Team Marilyn*, winner of the WrapWomen and STARZ ‘Telling Our Stories’ competition ($10,000 prize), now streaming on STARZ.[1][2] She also co-produced *Splinter* (2023) and produced shorts like *Cobalt 60* (2015).[1] Currently, Morgan remains active with upcoming directing projects including *Deepest, Darkest* (pre-production) and *Team Marilyn*, alongside her Warner Bros. deal and *Duster*’s 2025 release, underscoring her rising influence in prestige television.[1][2]

J.J. Abrams, born Jeffrey Jacob Abrams on June 27, 1966, in New York City, is an American filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and composer renowned for his work in television and blockbuster science-fiction films.[1][4][5] He began his career in the early 1990s writing screenplays for films like *Regarding Henry* (1991), *Forever Young* (1992), and *Armageddon* (1998), establishing a reputation for genre-blending thrillers.[1][2][6] Abrams transitioned to television in 1998, co-creating the drama series *Felicity* (1998–2002), followed by the spy thriller *Alias* (2001–06), and the groundbreaking sci-fi mystery *Lost* (2004–10), which he co-created and for which he earned Emmy Awards for writing and directing.[1][2][3][4] He also co-created *Fringe* (2008–13), composing its theme, and produced series like *Undercovers* (2010).[1][2][4][5] His feature directorial debut came with *Mission: Impossible III* (2006), selected by Tom Cruise, which was a box-office success and led to multiyear deals with Paramount and Warner Bros.[1][2][3][5] Abrams revitalized franchises by directing the *Star Trek* reboot (2009), praised for its energy and holding a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, and its sequel *Star Trek Into Darkness* (2013).[2][3][4][5] He produced hits like *Cloverfield* (2008), *Super 8* (2011, co-produced by Steven Spielberg), and later *Mission: Impossible* entries including *Ghost Protocol* (2011), *Rogue Nation* (2015), and *Beyond* (2016).[2][3][5] Abrams directed and produced *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* (2015), the highest-grossing film in North America at the time, surpassing *Avatar*, and executive-produced *The Last Jedi* (2017).[1][2][5] He returned to direct, produce, and co-write *Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker* (2019) after Colin Trevorrow's departure.[2][5] His films have grossed over $4 billion worldwide, cementing his status as a top-grossing director.[5] Abrams remains a key figure in entertainment through Bad Robot Productions, blending TV, film, and high-concept storytelling across platforms.[1][4]

Ben Stephenson is an American television producer recognized for his work on high-profile HBO series. He served as **executive producer** on *Westworld* (2018–2020, 18 episodes), earning acclaim for the sci-fi drama's exploration of artificial intelligence and human nature[1]. His credits also include executive producing *Lovecraft Country* (2020, 10 episodes), a horror series blending racial themes with supernatural elements, and *Castle Rock* (2018–2019, 20 episodes), an anthology inspired by Stephen King's universe[1]. Stephenson's portfolio extends to *Challenger: The Final Flight* (2020, 4 episodes), a docudrama on the Space Shuttle disaster, and *Little Voice* (2020, 9 episodes), a musical series[1]. He has accumulated **12 producer credits**, alongside roles in additional crew and script departments, contributing to projects with strong critical reception, such as *Westworld*'s 8.4 IMDb rating[1]. Notable achievements include **two Primetime Emmy nominations** and a total of **one win and three nominations**, highlighting his impact in prestige television[1]. Earlier in his career, he worked on *Terra Nova* and other genre series, establishing expertise in ambitious, effects-heavy productions[1]. Currently, Stephenson remains relevant in the industry through his association with HBO's acclaimed output, though no projects post-2020 are detailed in recent records. His contributions have helped shape modern TV storytelling in sci-fi, horror, and historical genres, with enduring popularity for shows like *Westworld* among streaming audiences[1]. (298 words)

Jade Elizabeth Pettyjohn, born November 8, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, is an American actress with a career spanning over a decade in both comedy and drama.[1][3][4][7] She began acting at age eight, debuting in a 2008 episode of *The Mentalist*, encouraged by her parents, and soon appeared in episodes of *United States of Tara*, *Revolution*, and *Grimm* alongside Bree Turner.[3][7] Pettyjohn gained early recognition as **McKenna Brooks** in the 2012 film *An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars*, her first lead role, followed by her feature debut in the 2014 movie *Dakota's Summer*.[1][2][3][7] She rose to prominence on television as **Summer Hathaway** in the Nickelodeon series *School of Rock* (2015–2018), showcasing her skills as an actress and singer.[1][5][7] Notable dramatic turns include **Lexie Richardson** in Hulu's 2020 miniseries *Little Fires Everywhere* and **Grace Sullivan** in ABC's *Big Sky* (2020–2021), where she appeared in multiple Season 1 episodes.[1][2][6][7] Her versatility across genres has earned her recognition as the 11,781st most popular actor globally and 5,421st among U.S. actors, per historical popularity indices, though rankings have slightly declined since 2019.[1] As of 2025, at age 25, Pettyjohn remains active, with her official bio highlighting ongoing work, though no major recent projects are detailed in available records.[4] She has also featured in Nickelodeon's *Ho Ho Holiday Special* (2015).[3] (298 words)

Darrell Britt-Gibson is an American film and television actor and occasional writer and producer, best known for character and supporting roles across drama and comedy projects. He first gained recognition for his recurring portrayal of Darius “O‑Dog” Hill on HBO’s The Wire, appearing in the series from 2006 to 2008[1].[4] Following The Wire, Britt‑Gibson built a steady career with guest and recurring television roles, including parts on Californication and Power, and a prominent recurring role as Dale on the comedy series You’re the Worst (17 episodes), which showcased his facility for both dramatic and comedic work[1].[1] On film, he has appeared in a range of independent and studio features, including Keanu (supporting), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Judas and the Black Messiah (in which he played Bobby Rush), Just Mercy, and the Fear Street trilogy entries (1994 and 1666)[2][1]. Beyond acting, Britt‑Gibson has credits as a writer and producer; he wrote an episode of the web series Monday Wednesday Friday and is credited as a writer and executive producer on the 2024 film She Taught Love[1][2].[2] His work spans genres and formats, from short films and web series to mainstream theatrical releases, underscoring a versatile character-actor profile[1][2]. Key achievements include sustained visibility from an early role on a landmark television drama (The Wire) and participation in several high-profile films of the late 2010s and early 2020s, including award‑recognized projects such as Judas and the Black Messiah and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri[1][2]. Recent credits (film and writing/producing) through 2024 indicate continued industry activity and a move into creative roles behind the camera[1][2].

Regina Taylor, born August 22, 1960, in Dallas, Texas, is an acclaimed American actress, playwright, director, educator, and activist known for her versatile career across theater, television, film, and writing.[3][2] She grew up in a poor neighborhood, began acting in college at Southern Methodist University, and made her professional debut in the 1981 TV movie *Crisis at Central High*, portraying Minnijean Brown of the Little Rock Nine, earning early praise.[1][3][7] Taylor gained widespread recognition for her role as Lilly Harper in the NBC series *I'll Fly Away* (1991-1993), winning a **Golden Globe Award** for Best Actress in a Drama Series, three **NAACP Image Awards**, and two Emmy nominations.[1][2][3] Other notable TV roles include Anita Hill in HBO's *Strange Justice* (Peabody and Gracie Awards), the lead in Masterpiece Theatre's *Cora Unashamed*, four seasons on CBS's *The Unit*, and recent appearances in HBO's *Lovecraft Country*, Netflix's *All Day and a Night*, NBC's *Council of Dads*, CBS's *The Good Fight*, and *The Blacklist*.[2][3][4] In film, she has co-starred in *The Negotiator* (with Samuel L. Jackson), *Courage Under Fire* (Denzel Washington), *Clockers* (Spike Lee), *Lean on Me* (Morgan Freeman), *Losing Isaiah* (Halle Berry), and *A Family Thing*.[1][2][4] A trailblazer in theater, Taylor was the first Black woman to play Juliet in Broadway's *Romeo and Juliet* and has written acclaimed plays like *Crowns* (four Helen Hayes Awards, including Best Director; one of the most produced U.S. plays), *Oo-Bla-Dee* (Steinberg-ATCA Award), *Drowning Crow* (Broadway), *The Trinity River Plays* (Edgerton Award), *stop.reset.* (Signature Theatre Residency), and *Bread* (Edgerton Award).[1][2][4] She currently serves as playwright-in-residence at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (since 2020) and has held similar roles elsewhere.[2][7] Taylor remains active, blending acting, writing, and directing while advocating through her work on civil rights and Black experiences.[2][4]