What Happened to Kurt Sutter?

Kurt Sutter's career in television began to gain significant traction in 2001 when he joined the writing staff of the critically acclaimed FX crime drama "The Shield," eventually rising to executive producer for its final two seasons. This experience laid the groundwork for his breakout success as the creator of "Sons of Anarchy," which premiered in 2008 and ran for seven seasons, becoming FX's most successful episodic series at the time. The show, centered on an outlaw motorcycle club, garnered a dedicated fanbase and critical praise for its gritty storytelling and complex characters.

Following "Sons of Anarchy," Sutter attempted another historical drama, "The Bastard Executioner," in 2015, which was canceled after one season. He then returned to the "Sons of Anarchy" universe with the spin-off "Mayans M.C.," which he co-created. However, in October 2019, Sutter was famously fired from FX and Disney (which had acquired 20th Century Fox) due to multiple complaints regarding his "abrasive" and "unprofessional" behavior on set. This marked a significant turning point, leading to his departure from the franchise he helped build.

After his exit from FX, Sutter secured a deal with Netflix. In November 2021, it was announced he would direct the period movie "This Beast" and create a new Western series titled "The Abandons." Production for "The Abandons," starring Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson, began in May 2024. However, Sutter again faced creative differences, reportedly exiting the project in October 2024, weeks before filming was scheduled to wrap, after Netflix made changes like reducing the number of episodes. "The Abandons" eventually premiered on Netflix on December 4, 2025, but was canceled after just one season in January 2026. Sutter publicly criticized Netflix in February 2026, claiming the company wasted over $150 million trying to "fix unnecessary mistakes of leadership failures" after his departure.

Despite these setbacks, Sutter remains active in the industry. As of December 2025, he was reported to be developing a 1950s Los Angeles noir crime series for MGM+ and co-writing Apple TV's "Nomad," a motorcycle drama with Jason Momoa poised to star. Most recently, on August 20, 2026, Sutter addressed the announcement of "Legends," a new "Sons of Anarchy" meta-spinoff created by Charlie Hunnam, which will feature many original cast members playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Sutter, 66, confirmed he is "not involved with Legends at all, nor should I be," as it doesn't involve his characters or mythology. However, he stated that Hunnam sought his blessing, which he fully gave, expressing his love for Hunnam and his belief that fans will enjoy the "well-done" project, especially since his wife, Katey Sagal, is also set to appear.