USA Postpones 'Shooter' Debut Due to Dallas Tragedy

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

USA Network Monday said it has postponed the July 19 premiere of its new dramatic series Shooter following last week's horrific police shooting in Dallas.

The series, based on the 2007 movie of the same name starring Mark Wahlberg, will now debut on July 26. Shooter, starring Ryan Phillipe, centers on a U.S. veteran and American hero who is trying to clear his name after beng wrongly accused of a crime.

“In light of recent tragic events and out of respect for the victims, their families and our viewers, we have decided to postpone the premiere date for the upcoming USA Network series Shooter, to July 26,” the network said in a statement.

USA last August delayed the final episode of freshman series Mr. Robot, which featured a fictional on-air shooting, in light of a real-life shooting of a local TV reporter in Virginia.

TNT last month delayed the season three premiere of The Last Ship, which depicted a mass shooting, in the wake of the June 12 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.