“Powerless” Creator Ben Queen Exits the Series

Deadline reports that Ben Queen, the show’s creator and executive producer, has stepped down. Start of production on the midseason series, which had been slated to begin in two weeks, is being postponed as a search is underway for a new showrunner.

Queen’s departure was a mutual decision among the writer-producer, NBC and Powerless producer Warner Bros. Despite the setback, the midseason series’ debut won’t be affected as the network irons out its scheduling plans. TV, chalked up to that old standby of “creative differences”. Getting a high-concept comedy off the ground is always tricky. Back in April, showrunner Eli Jorne exited Son of Zorn, Fox’s live-action/animated hybrid comedy.

Powerless centers on an insurance company that covers damages from superhero conflicts in the DC Universe. Queen, who also created A to Z for WBTV, will remain employed at the studio as part of his overarching deal.

Powerless is the second freshman series to lose its showrunner.

Alan Tudyk, Danny Pudi, Vanessa Hudgens, Vivien Elizabeth Armour, Mark Brandon, and Antonio Cayonne star in the single-camera comedy.