Ray Donovan gets one last shot as Showtime confirms feature-length movie after shock cancellation

Ray Donovan is coming back for more.

Showtime is reviving the Emmy-nominated crime drama for a feature-length movie, after cancelling the show after seven seasons a year ago.

The cancellation baffled fans, star Liev Schreiber and showrunner David Hollander when the decision was announced last February.

Hollander told Vulture at the time: ‘We’re still scratching our heads. We had no indicator that the show was ending.

‘We were behaving creatively as though we were in mid-sentence. And so, there was no sense that this was going to be a completion. This was in no way a series finale.’

He also explained that they had planned for the eighth season to be the show’s last.

So thankfully for the cast and crew, they’re getting another shot, as Showtime has announced a ‘thrilling new chapter’ for Ray Donovan.

The network’s co-president of entertainment Gary Levine said: ‘When Ray Donovan went off our air after seven great seasons, we heard from so many of its loyal fans that they were not ready to say goodbye to Ray and the wonderfully dysfunctional Donovan clan.

‘And so, for them, we are delighted that Liev and David are creating a thrilling new chapter of this iconic series.’

As per the synopsis, the new film picks up where season 7 left off, ‘with Mickey in the wind and Ray determined to find and stop him before he can cause any more carnage. It will also weave together the present-day fallout from the Donovan/Sullivan feud with Ray and Mickey’s origin story from 30 years ago.’

Schreiber will return as the titular character, with Jon Voight returning as Ray’s dad Mickey and Kerris Dorsey back to play Ray’s daughter Bridget.

Hollander will direct and co-write the script with Schreiber.

Filming is tentatively scheduled to begin later this year in New York, with a 2022 premiere date likely.

Schreiber, 53, had previously promised that there ‘will be more Ray Donovan’, after the show’s abrupt cancellation.

He wrote on Instagram: ‘It’s hard to describe how amazing it feels to those of us in the Ray Donovan family who have been lucky enough to experience the overwhelming love and support that all of you have expressed for our sorrow since the news broke that Ray would not return.

‘What’s even more incredible is that it seems your voices have been heard. Too soon to say how or when, but with a little luck and your ongoing support, there will be more Ray Donovan. So to all the Donofans who got their bats out and beat the odds. Thank you.’

Ray Donovan follows a professional ‘fixer’, arranging bribes, threats and other illegal activities to help high-profile clients, who is also dealing with his father’s unexpected release from prison,

The show landed three Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actor in a drama series and three Golden Globe nominations for Schreiber, with Jon Voight winning best supporting actor at the Golden Globes in 2014.

Hank Azaria also won an Emmy for outstanding guest actor in 2016 for his role as Ed Cochran on the show.

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