American Rust (TV series)
Crime drama set in a Pennsylvania Rust Belt town.
American Rust is an American crime drama television series created by Dan Futterman, based on the 2009 novel by Philipp Meyer. The series premiered on September 12, 2021, on Showtime and was canceled after one season in January 2022, before being revived for a second season by Amazon Freevee, which was released on March 28, 2024, on Amazon Prime Video. The series was canceled again in July 2024.
- Creator
- Dan Futterman
- Based on
- 2009 novel by Philipp Meyer
- Premiere date
- September 12, 2021
- Network
- Showtime (season 1), Amazon Freevee/Amazon Prime Video (season 2)
- Number of seasons
- 2
- Status
- Canceled after second season (July 2024)
Lore & Background
The series is set in a small Rust Belt town in Pennsylvania, where chief of police Del Harris investigates a murder case involving the son of the woman he loves. The main cast includes Jeff Daniels as Chief Del Harris, Maura Tierney as Grace Poe, David Alvarez as Isaac English, and others. The first season aired on Showtime in 2021, but was canceled in January 2022. Amazon Freevee revived the series for a second season, which began filming in Western Pennsylvania in November 2022 and completed in May 2023. The second season, subtitled American Rust: Broken Justice, was released on March 28, 2024, on Amazon Prime Video. On July 26, 2024, Amazon Prime Video opted not to renew the series for a third season.
Reader's Guide
American Rust received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 28% based on 32 critic reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The critics consensus noted that despite an A-list cast, the series lacked narrative clarity and heft. On Metacritic, the first season scored 48 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews. Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club gave it a 'C' grade, describing it as 'dreary, well-acted, badly written' and criticizing the dialogue as flatly expository. The series' significance lies in its adaptation of a notable novel and its unusual revival after cancellation, though it ultimately failed to achieve critical or commercial success.
Did You Know?
- The series was originally ordered by USA Network in November 2017 but scrapped in January 2018 due to trouble finding a leading actor.
- The second season was subtitled 'American Rust: Broken Justice'.
- The series was filmed in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- The first season holds a 28% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 32 critic reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is American Rust (TV series)?
American Rust is a crime drama set in a small Pennsylvania Rust Belt town, created by Dan Futterman from Philipp Meyer's 2009 novel of the same name. It ran for two seasons across two different networks before being canceled in July 2024.
Why was American Rust canceled and then brought back?
Showtime dropped the show after its first season in January 2022, but Amazon Freevee stepped in and released a second season on Amazon Prime Video in March 2024. The series was then canceled again in July 2024.
Who created American Rust and what is it based on?
Dan Futterman developed the series for television, adapting Philipp Meyer's 2009 crime novel. The story is a crime drama rooted in the world of a small Pennsylvania Rust Belt community.
Where can I watch American Rust season 2?
The second season was released on Amazon Prime Video on March 28, 2024, under the Amazon Freevee banner. Season one originally aired on Showtime beginning in September 2021.
Is American Rust still ongoing or has it ended?
The series has concluded; it was canceled for a third season in July 2024 after its second season aired. In total, the show produced two seasons across Showtime and Amazon Freevee.
More in American television series revived after cancellation 1-24
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