‘The Cleaning Lady’ Spoilers: How Will They Write Out Arman?
Following the death of actor Adan Canto, The Cleaning Lady showrunners discuss how they managed to write Arman out of the show.
In early January, TheWrap reported that Canto had died after a battle with appendiceal cancer, which the actor kept private. “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Adan Canto. A wonderful actor and dear friend. We were honored to have him as part of the Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment families since his U.S. debut in The Following more than a decade ago,” Fox Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television said in a statement to TheWrap.
After starring in TV shows such as The Following and Designated Survivor, Canto landed a starring role in The Cleaning Lady. He portrayed gangster Arman Morales, a key figure in the Armenian Mafia. As a pivotal player in the show’s narrative, Arman was set to be heavily featured in the show’s third season. With Canto’s tragic death, The Cleaning Lady showrunners Miranda Kwok and Jeannine Renshaw sat down with TVLine to discuss the future of the show.
Showrunners ‘Devastated’ After Loss
Writing a character out of a show is never an easy task. Whether it’s due to a scheduling conflict or unforeseen circumstances, pivoting from a predetermined story can create havoc for writers. In the event of an actor’s death, that havoc can be felt well beyond the fictional world. For Miranda Kwok, co-showrunner of The Cleaning Lady, Canto’s death left quite the void. “We are all so devastated to lose Adan. He was such an important member not only of the cast, but of our family,” Kwok told TVLine.
When filming for Season 3 started in December 2023, Canto remained at home. “It was quite a struggle for us to deal with this year, in many ways,” Kwok admitted. “As people know, Adan is also very private. And he did not want to speak about the details around things. We definitely made sure to make room for him. So that if he was able to come back, we created space for him. We had to, of course, pivot when we found out he may not be able to join us.”
Originally, Season 3 was going to be a chance for viewers to learn a lot more about Arman. The Cleaning Lady co-showrunner Jeannine Renshaw spoke about their sudden pivot. “We originally crafted the season around him. It was an Arman-driven season anyway. And when we first heard he was struggling and having treatment, we wanted to make sure we had a story crafted. Where he could join us at any time and we could open it up for him,” Renshaw said.
How Will The Cleaning Lady Write Out Arman?
Despite beginning the season without Canto on set, Kwok and Renshaw remained optimistic that he would eventually make his way back later in the season. “We had it all planned to welcome him back at the end of the season,” Renshaw reveals. “It was so sad for all of us and a very, very tragic moment, but we also felt we honored him in a really nice way. All of the crew and the other actors really got a chance to process it, and hopefully the audience will get that chance, as well.”
Ultimately, Kwok believes that they have found the perfect way to honor Canto and his character. She says that “it was really important for us to honor him as a person and also him as a character. And what he meant to the show, and what he meant to fans. It was very carefully thought out and discussed so that we could tell the best story we could that would also honor him and allow our other characters to process his absence.”
In the Season 3 premiere, Arman can be briefly seen on screen. Renshaw states that this was done with the work of special effects. Something that everyone was in agreement on. “He was aware of the story we were telling and was kind of honored to have the season still revolve around him with the option of him coming back. So it was him, but it was not him on the set.”
What are your thoughts on Arman’s departure? Do you think the show will be the same without Adan Canto? Let us know in the comments section.
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