'Heroes' Season 2 Could Be Cut In Half

SyFy Portal was tipped off to a report that production had halted on the set of "Heroes," and that producers were asked to go back and modify the ending of its 11th episode. That report appears to be true, reports TV Guide's Michael Ausiello.

"Sources confirm that the show is going back and shooting an alternate ending to the Dec. 3 episode that, if used, would allow the episode to function as a season finale in the event of a strike," Ausiello said. "Originally, the episode was only supposed to serve as the conclusion of the current 'Generations' arc."

At the time of the stoppage, production was between the 13th and 14th episodes of the second season, according to reports made to SyFy Portal. However, days after NBC pulled the plug -- at least for now -- on the spinoff "Heroes: Origins," it seems that the network is not interested in leaving the audience hanging through what could be a protracted writers strike. By ending the season at the end of the "Generations" arc, which started at the tail end of the show's first season, "Heroes" may be better able to bring fans into what might be a third season following a shortened second season.

But there is still a chance that Episode 11 won't be the season finale, Ausiello says.

"Should an 11th-house agreement be reached and a strike averted, the alt ending would likely be scrapped."

"Heroes" has been suffering from a severe ratings decline since the start of the second season, which has led some to speculate the moves of potentially ending the second season early while scrapping "Origins" could be more related to ratings than to the strike.

"Heroes" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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