(Credits: Ashley Newby)

In the wake of the tragic death of former One Direction star Liam Payne, Netflix faces a tough decision over the future of his last television project Building the Band.

The reality show, produced by UK company Remarkable Entertainment, was green-lit by Netflix in May, 2024, and had reportedly finished its shoot this summer. The streaming giant now has an uncomfortable decision to make regarding the right course of action. Should it adopt a show must go on attitude and air the series as a tribute to Payne, or would it be more appropriate never to air it at all?

In truth, the show’s executive producers, Cat Lawson, Alison Holloway, Katrina Morrison, Clara Elliot and Simon Crossley, are still reeling from the awful news of Payne’s passing. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that it is simply too soon to make such an important decision, especially amidst the incredible outpouring of grief from Payne’s family, friends, and loyal fanbase.

This approach was echoed by Payne’s former bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson. They released a joint statement which read, “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”

As of Payne’s death, the streamer had yet to announce Building a Band’s debut date officially. Considering that most Netflix projects enter a three-to-six-month post-production period after their shoots finish, this could mean the show was scheduled to premiere in late 2024 or early 2025.

In the show, Payne was one of four judges alongside Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean, Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland, and Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger. They presided over a collection of 50 singers who were vying for the opportunity to form their own band – without actually meeting each other. The aim of the game was to form a connection based on chemistry and musical affinity before ever getting together in-person.

Filming of the show concluded in August with three live shows at Manchester’s Aviva Studios. Legions of Payne’s fans attended these performances to catch a glimpse of their hero. One fan on social media even revealed that the star had a memorable 31st birthday during this block of filming, as everyone in the studio sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him the day before the shoot wrapped.

With words that now seem bittersweet, Rowland had revealed to People magazine that she loved working with Payne on the show. She gushed, “Liam is absolutely hilarious. I didn’t know how funny he was, so I’m getting to know him, and he is so cool.”