Stephan James reflects on the cancellation of his sci-fi drama series, co-starring Lena Headey. James has appeared in several movies, including Selma and If Beale Street Could Talk, and recently portrayed Boy Charles, the father of Boy Willie and Berniece, in Malcolm Washington’s adaptation of The Piano Lesson. He also had major roles in Shots Fired and the Prime Video anthology show Homecoming, which focused on a support center for soldiers. There, he starred opposite Julia Roberts and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama.
Lena Headey became well known for playing Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones as the villainous, and power-hungry, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. For her role on the acclaimed HBO fantasy show, Headey was praised by audiences and received multiple Emmy Award nominations for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. No stranger to imaginative, genre work, she also appeared in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Brothers Grimm, the 300 movies, The Purge, and more. She even voiced characters in numerous Tales of Arcadia projects and Masters of the Universe: Revelation.
Stephen James Recalls Beacon 23 & Its Cancellation
The Sci-Fi Drama Ended After Season 2
James and Headey eventually became co-stars on Beacon 23, where they portrayed Halan Kai Nelson and Aster Calyx, respectively. Based on writer Hugh Howey’s short stories, the sci-fi series explored two humans in the eponymous space lighthouse, and their evolving relationship. Along with James and Headey, the cast included Natasha Mumba, Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Ellen Wong, and Eric Lange. After premiering on MGM+ in 2023, the show garnered mostly mixed reactions, and one year later, Beacon 23 was cancelled, leaving the fates of Halan and Aster, through 2 seasons, unclear.
Beacon 23 season 1 earned a critic-based score of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, and just 53% from audiences. Meanwhile, season 2 has been more poorly received, holding a Popcornmeter score of 45%.
While speaking with ScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender, James reflected on the conclusion of Beacon 23. When asked about the ending, and what he would have wanted from a potential season 3, James explained that, while he might have hoped to continue on, he enjoyed his time making the series, and expressed his appreciation for working alongside Headey. Read his comments below:
Oh, man, it’s all good. Yeah, I loved Beacon. I loved that era. Sure, I think we all would’ve wanted more of it, but I was very grateful to do something I hadn’t done [before] like sci-fi. I was working with Lena, who’s incredible. It’s just another notch on my belt.
Our Take On The Beacon 23 Cancellation
It’s Unlikely That The Series Will Come Back
The sudden cancellation was announced in September, just months after season 2 ended, and based on the latest reception towards Beacon 23, it seems doubtful that another platform would resuscitate the space drama now. Audiences may be wondering what happened to Halan, who appeared to die, while his spirit existed with Aster in some other capacity, but because the show incorporated, at times, confounding elements, it might become challenging to keep the story going. Despite the sci-fi show’s short duration, though, fans will likely enjoy knowing that James remains appreciative of the whole journey.

Beacon 23
- Release Date
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2023 – 2023
- Showrunner
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Zak Penn
- Directors
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Daniel Percival, Lewin Webb, Erskine Forde, Oz Scott
- Writers
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Zak Penn