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Jon Stewart isn’t doing an animated HBO show anymore

Jon Stewart isn’t doing an animated HBO show anymore

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Studio blames ‘technical issues’ for decision to not move forward with animation project

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The New York Comedy Festival and The Bob Woodruff Foundation Present the 10th Annual Stand Up for Heroes Event
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Bob Woodruff Foundation

Last year, it was reported that Jon Stewart was developing a shortform animation series for HBO, as part of a four-year deal he signed with the network after leaving The Daily Show. Now, as The New York Times reports, that project has been shelved.

In a joint statement provided to the Times, Stewart and HBO said they “have decided not to proceed with a shortform digital animated project,” citing “technical issues in terms of production and distribution that proved too difficult given the quick turnaround and topical nature of the material.”

Stewart was to produce the show with help from OTOY, a 3D graphics company that HBO partnered with in 2016. His animated shorts were planned to be distributed online, through the HBO Go and HBO Now apps, with a new video published each day. But the production schedule proved to be technologically challenging, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and the project — originally slated for release during the US presidential election — became mired in delays.

HBO and Stewart said in their statement that they’re now working to develop new projects, “which you will be hearing about in the near future.”