Paramount Network to Delay Premiere of Sitcom ‘Heathers’

Recently rebranded Paramount Network has postponed the scheduled premiere of “Heathers,” a TV series based on the 1988 movie, citing sensitivity to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

The series, which was scheduled to premiere March 7, focuses — as the movie did — on a high school, and includes several acts of violence perpetrated by students. While there is not a specific shooting incident within the first several episodes of the program, the network decided this was now not the appropriate time to move forward.

In a statement, Paramount described the darkly comedic show as “a satirical comedy that takes creative risks in dealing with many of society’s most challenging subjects ranging from personal identity to race and socio-economic status to gun violence. “In light of the recent tragic events in Florida and out of respect for the victims, their families and loved ones, we feel the right thing to do is delay the premiere until later this year,” said the statement.

“Heathers” is only the latest TV show to have its debut impacted by a mass shooting. In October, Netflix decided to withdraw a planned preview of “The Punisher,” based on the Marvel comic about a gun-wielding vigilante, from the lineup at New York Comic-Con after the tragedy that occurred in Las Vegas.