Jonathan Groff-Led LOOKING to Get Two-Hour Wrap-Up Movie in 2016

HBO president Michael Lombardo addressed reporters at Thursday's Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills about the end of the low-rated series LOOKING, starring Broadway's Jonathan Groff (HAMILTON), and an upcoming two-hour finale.

The exec revealed that "ending that show was, on a personal level, very painful for me", but explained that the show's poor ratings "didn't support us going forward" with a third season.

He shared, "I thought the show, creatively, was really doing something that I hadn't seen on any other show, particularly dealing with gay lives. As a gay man, in particular, I was very proud that there was a show that felt like it was dealing very honestly and openly with gay men and their lives, without putting them into a comedic mode."

Lombardo revealed that in lieu of a third season, he has ordered a two-hour wrap-up movie, which is scheduled to begin production this fall for an early 2016 premiere. "There were some fans that really wanted to find a finale with the storylines," he said of the show. "[And the writers] wanted to wrap up storytelling for the characters."

From collaborators Michael Lannan and Andrew Haigh, the comedy-drama series LOOKING took a frank look at the experiences of three close friends living in San Francisco as they explore the options available to a new generation of gay men seeking fulfillment in love and life.

The series starred Jonathan Groff ("Glee," HBO's "The Normal Heart") as Patrick, Frankie J. Alvarez ("Smash") as Agustín and Murray Bartlett ("August") as Dom.

Source: TV Line