The Nevers cast on their ‘ambitious’ HBO sci-fi series, and defending Joss Whedon

Cast of HBO’s hotly anticipated sci-fi series ‘The Nevers’ have defended their under-siege creator Joss Whedon ahead of the show’s premiere.

Joss Whedon’s triumphant return to TV was swiftly marred by allegations of previous toxic conduct.

The under-siege director, 56, wrote and served as a showrunner on the new HBO series The Nevers, which he dubbed the most “ambitious narrative I’ve ever created”.

But during production of The Nevers, Whedon’s name was suddenly slapped across headlines kicked off by Justice League’s Ray Fisher, who accused his on-set treatment of cast on the 2017 film as “gross, abusive, unprofessional and unacceptable” in a tweet in July last year.

Fisher was backed by several of his Justice League co-stars.

Then the actors from Whedon’s ’90s hit show Buffy The Vampire Slayer also came out swinging against the director, who ultimately decided in November to step down from The Nevers, which is set to hit streaming on Binge on April 12.

And despite the chorus of allegations, The Nevers’ stars had nothing but praise for Whedon.

Joss Whedon stepped down from The Nevers in November. Picture: Mike Windle/Getty Images

Irish actress Ann Skelly, 24, told Entertainment Weekly she “loved working with Joss”.

“I found him to be a lovely boss and director. He was very open,” Skelly said. “I felt he cared a lot for the actors and the crew.

“It was definitely one of my favourite on-set experiences for sure.”

Her co-star, fellow Irish actress Laura Donnelly, 38, also had nothing but kind words for Whedon.

“It was the best screen, film or TV experience that I’ve had on any set. From my point of view, he [Whedon] always felt very supportive and protective of the artistic integrity and what we as actors needed in order to be able to do our job.”

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The Nevers hits streaming on Binge on April 12. Picture: Binge

Donnelly also said she found out about Whedon’s departure “at the same time as everybody else” and that she was “gutted”.

“I was going to miss him a lot. He was our captain,” she told the publication.

“But at the same time, he left for personal reasons and you can’t argue with that.”

When Whedon stepped down from production, he released a lengthy statement revealing he was “genuinely exhausted”.

“This year of unprecedented challenges has impacted my life and perspective in ways I could never have imagined, and while developing and producing The Nevers has been a joyful experience, I realise that the level of commitment required moving forward, combined with the physical challenges of making such a huge show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without the work beginning to suffer,” he said.

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“I am genuinely exhausted, and am stepping back to martial my energy towards my own life, which is also at the brink of exciting change.”

Set in 1896 in Victorian London, The Nevers follows a supernatural event which gives certain women abnormal abilities, with dangerous repercussions.

The Nevers hits streaming on BINGE April 12

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