There has been a lot of internet and entertainment news chatter about this story over the last few weeks and it would appear that one of the best shows on television today may not be green-lit for a second season. A&E’s highly acclaimed undercover spy drama “The Beast,” starring fan-fave Patrick Swayze, has been placed on indefinite hold due to Swayze’s ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer. However, A&E has yet to give a firm word.
Swayze stars as a tough rogue FBI agent on the trail of a group of FBI insiders who set him up to take the fall for an assassinated U.S. Ambassador and the death of the diplomat’s little daughter.
The show was dark, gritty, full of hard-hitting suspense and writing that made the show stand out against its competitors as an one-of-a-kind program.
The first 13 episodes concluded on April 23 of this year with some of the plot resolved, but left fans with a new bevy of questions about Swayze’s character and his relationship with the FBI.
To date, the only official word from A&E is the network hasn’t yet made a firm decision on the show’s fate. Much will depend on Patrick’s health. To that end, several of the stars have had their contracts extended. Swayze was placed in the hospital earlier this year with a serious bout of pneumonia, just one of the many immune-deficient complications that can occur as a side to the pancreatic cancer he suffers from.
The show co-stars Travis Fimmel, Kevin J. O’Connor, Larry Gilliard Jr. and Lindsay Pulsipher. While this headline cast may be able to continue the show if necessary, it seems likely to fail without its main star who was the driving force behind the series. According to some annonymous sources there is some talk behind the scenes to bring in a new lead to continue the show should Swayze not be able to continue. However, our sources say this is highly unlikely. A&E is committed to Swayze and will likely just officially announce the cancellation of “The Beast”.
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