Static Media
Looking back, it is difficult to imagine a series led by the late Heath Ledger, best known for “The Dark Knight,” and the acclaimed Vera Farmiga being pulled from the schedule after only a handful of episodes. Yet that is exactly what happened to “Roar,” Fox’s 1997 fantasy drama featuring both future stars.
Created by Shaun Cassidy and Ron Koslow, “Roar” was an ambitious adventure series with echoes of the era’s hit “Xena: Warrior Princess.” The story unfolded in fifth-century Ireland, where young warrior Conor (Ledger) fought against Roman control. That oppression was embodied by Diana (Lisa Zane), a Roman-aligned queen, and her extraordinary enforcer, Longinus (Sebastian Roché), a 400-year-old immortal. Like Xena, Conor gradually assembled a loyal band of companions, including former slave Catlin (Farmiga), energetic fighter Fergus (John Saint Ryan), and Tully (Alonzo Greer), a would-be practitioner of magic.
The concept seemed tailor-made for network television, particularly at a time when fantasy adventures were finding a receptive audience. Viewers, however, did not respond as Fox had hoped. Although the network backed “Roar” as part of its 1997 summer lineup, the expensive production failed to draw enough viewers to remain viable. By September of that year, Fox had canceled the series after broadcasting just eight of its planned 13 episodes.
Roar was an ambitious experiment that didn’t quite work
Fox
Ultimately, “Roar” became little more than a footnote for its two leading performers. Heath Ledger went on to international stardom and later earned a posthumous Academy Award for playing the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Farmiga likewise built an acclaimed career across horror and drama, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for “Up in the Air.”
Why a show with such promising talent failed remains less clear. Writer Lawrence Meyers defended the cast’s work in 2009, describing “Roar” as an ambitious experiment designed for the traditionally quieter summer television season—one that ultimately failed to find the right formula.
In a 2017 “Memories from the Set” interview with TVLine, Sebastian Roché recalled the production with considerable affection. He described the experience as “really amazing,” citing the talented ensemble and positive atmosphere. Roché also said the cast sensed Ledger was destined for major success. “We felt like we were on holiday most of the time because we were on this gorgeous location and [doing] what you love doing — in costume, on horseback, swinging swords, turning into 400-year-old men,” he remembered.
Roché also pointed to a likely reason for “Roar’s” early exit: formidable competition. “We were up against Buffy, and I think Buffy took the cake,” he said. If “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” helped bring down “Roar,” the loss was hardly humiliating. After all, the series was competing against a show that would become one of television’s most enduring fantasy hits.
