Baz Luhrmann on Shorter ‘The Get Down’ Part 2, Likely Second Season

Netflix Baz Luhrmann hip-hop drama The Get Down has often seen more problems than praise, making headlines for its unusual structure and expense, rather than content. The first season’s second half may get things back on track, though Luhrmann now reveals a shorter count than expected, and what may change in a second season.

Ahead of “Part II” arriving on April 7, The Get Down showrunner Luhrmann gave a lengthy interview to Vulture to clear up some of the complicated production, costs of which reportedly ballooned to Game of Thrones size. The decision to split Season 1 was made out of concern footage couldn’t be edited together in time, and Luhrmann now explains that “Part II” will consist of five episodes, rather than the expected six:

When we first started working on the show, an arbitrary number of 13 episodes was identified. Once we delivered the first six, as we discussed before, we were influenced by how the fans were responding, what they were connecting with, and also a discovery from working in the form. For us, it was really like a long-play movie. We were particularly concerned with making sure, with the musical numbers and density of each episode, that we weren’t finding ourselves “padding” in material for the sake of a making a number.

Ultimately, Netflix and Sony agreed we should make the number of episodes that we all felt best suited the length of the show and gave us the best ending. Therefore, in part two, we decided on five episodes with the finale being longer [about 75 minutes].

And just as Luhrmann previously suggested he’d leave showrunning duties to someone else for Season 2, it seems Netflix is preparing to move forward as such:

To be honest, we have already developed the opening of the next season. Sony and Netflix have been very driven about having a second season. There has been no question about that. They really want it. The issue is, and it is a simple truth: I never saw myself as the showrunner. […]

As Cindy Holland of Netflix said to me, “We are not in the habit of creating awesome characters and then throwing them away.” I thought that was a great quote. She said these characters live, and it’s our responsibility to try and find a way that they live on. That’s what we want to do. Is there formally a second season? No. I know they want it, and we’re trying to find a way that that can happen.

Here’s the latest synopsis for Part II, which Luhrmann notes will also feature a few animated elements, and less focus on the factual history of the Bronx:

Part Two of The Get Down picks up in 1978, one year after the events of Part One. The sweeping upheaval of late 70s New York City finds an as-yet-unnamed new pop cultural force striking a new beat in the Bronx, while disco still reigns supreme. Our young lovers Books and Mylene are caught in the swirl of a looming cultural revolution destined to change everything about their world – but they have this moment to make their mark. Amidst the backdrop of a bankrupt New York City, ruthless gangsters and money-hungry record label bosses, they discover it’s only their creativity and love that will carry them through – and that they’ll sacrifice everything for their music, and each other.

For those unfamiliar, The Get Down features among its cast Shameik Moore, Justice Smith, Herizen Guardiola, Jaden Smith, Skylan Brooks, Tremaine Browne, Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Kevin Corrigan, Jimmy Smits and Breaking Bad alum Giancarlo Esposito.

Stay tuned for further news of The Get Down Part II, and check out the trailer for the April 7 return.