Why Did Scott Speedman Leave Animal Kingdom?

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After a significant amount of time has passed, the primary actress of Animal Kingdom, Ellen Barkin, along with executive producer John Wells, have disclosed the reasons behind Scott Speedman’s departure from the popular series following three seasons. However, their explanations appear to be at odds with one another, leaving us uncertain about the true events surrounding Scott Speedman. So, exactly what transpired between Animal Kingdom and Scott Speedman?

Here’s why Scott Speedman had to leave Animal Kingdom

Two years after the sixth and final season of Animal Kingdom aired, fans are still questioning why Scott Speedman departed from the series during its third season. In an interview with HuffPost, the show’s main actress, Ellen Barkin, disclosed that Scott requested to exit the program, leading the writers to write his character out.

Additionally, she disclosed that she had sought permission to exit the production, yet her departure was not granted. Barkin employed this situation to underscore the persisting gender disparity within the field. Furthermore, she asserted that the crew showed significantly more consideration towards her male counterparts while on set.

Instead, Executive Producer John Wells provided an alternative reason for Speedman’s departure. He stated that Speedman’s character, Baz, was written out as part of a creative decision, not because of any personal decisions made by the actor.

According to Wells, the series was supposed to start a year earlier than they initially planned. The series is adapted from an Australian film by David Michod, where the character played by Baz dies within the first 15 minutes. However, as they found there was more material for Baz and additional stories they wished to explore, they postponed the start of the series slightly.

He also mentioned that Speedman was aware of the situation, explaining, “I’d often discussed with Scott [Speedman] that I didn’t believe it would last for five or six years, so he was ready when it occurred. It just developed naturally as part of the storyline we were creating.

It’s currently unclear about the circumstances surrounding Scott Speedman’s exit from the show. However, Barbara’s account seems to carry more credibility, suggesting that Speedman might have chosen to depart, possibly leading to the writers incorporating his character’s death in Season 3 of Animal Kingdom.

Unless Scott Speedman speaks out himself, the real reason behind his exit will remain a mystery.

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2025-06-19 15:10