Joss Whedon won’t be involved behind the scenes on The Nevers at HBO as expected.

According to Deadline, creator Joss Whedon has officially exited upcoming HBO drama, The Nevers.

Whedon, who is well known for his work on titles such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, was originally set to serve as both co-writer and director on the upcoming HBO original series.

Starring Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams, James Norton, and Tom Riley, the series is described as a sci-fi drama and focuses on a group of Victorian era women who discover they have unusual abilities. The series follows the women as they combat relentless enemies and take on a mission that could change the world as well know it.

Shortly after news broke, Whedon confirmed the news with a statement in which he shed a bit of light on his decision to depart the series.

“This year of unprecedented challenges has impacted my life and perspective in ways I could never have imagined, and while developing and producing The Nevers has been a joyful experience, I realize that the level of commitment required moving forward, combined with the physical challenges of making such a huge show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without the work beginning to suffer,” said Whedon via a statement.

“I am genuinely exhausted, and am stepping back to martial my energy towards my own life, which is also at the brink of exciting change. I am deeply proud of the work we have done; I’m grateful to all my extraordinary cast and collaborators, and to HBO for the opportunity to shape yet another strange world. The Nevers is a true labor of love, but after two plus years of labor, love is about all I have to offer. It will never fade.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for HBO chimed in confirming the news saying: “We have parted ways with Joss Whedon. We remain excited about the future of The Nevers and look forward to its premiere in the summer of 2021.”

The Nevers is expected to premiere via HBO in the summer of 2021.