Turns out UnREAL‘s recent very early Season 4 renewal came with an invisible asterisk.
TVLine has learned exclusively that Lifetime commissioned just eight episodes for Season 4, down from the 10 eps the cabler ordered for each of the series’ first three seasons. A network rep declined to comment.
TVLine has learned exclusively that Lifetime commissioned just eight episodes for Season 4, down from the 10 eps the cabler ordered for each of the series’ first three seasons. A network rep declined to comment.
Source:
Lifetime ups its premium scripted content with new season greenlights of the critically-acclaimed drama series UNREAL for a fourth season and freshman drama Mary Kills People for a season two, it was announced today by Liz Gateley, EVP and Head of Programming for Lifetime. The renewal of UNREAL comes ahead of its much-anticipated third season, which will debut in early 2018 alongside Mary Kills People. Lifetime's scripted fare also includes the straight-to-series psychological thriller from Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, YOU, starring Penn Badgley and Elizabeth Lail, which begins production this August. In line with Lifetime's Broad Focus initiative, more than 50% of directors for these series are female, and are predominately produced and written by women.
With three original cable movies ranked in the top four in women 25-54* this year, Lifetime furthers its supremacy in long form storytelling with greenlights of Faith Under Fire and The Simone Biles Story (working title). Grammy(R) winner Toni Braxton, whose Lifetime biopic Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart was the #1 rated cable movie of 2016**, makes her return to the network to star as Antoinette Tuff, a clerical worker who talks down a school SHOOTER in Faith Under Fire from Sony Pictures Television. America's most decorated gymnast with 19 Olympic and World Championship medals, Simone Biles also signs on for a Lifetime biopic revealing the sacrifices and dedication it took her to become one of the greatest and most celebrated athletes in the world.
"It's an exciting time for all women when a female-directed movie, featuring a female superhero, tops the summer box office," said Gateley of today's announcement. "In television, Lifetime is the top tier destination for hiring female writers, directors and producers and we continue to celebrate the everyday, real-life heroes in our programming."
Lifetime also sets airdates for its fall movies: The Watcher in the Woods (Oct 21) starring Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston and directed and executive produced by Melissa Joan Hart; Flint (Oct 28) starring Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, Marin Ireland and Betsy Brandt from executive producers Neil Meron, Craig Zadan and Katie Couric; The Lost Wife of Robert Durst (Nov 4) starring Katharine McPhee and Daniel Gillies and I Am Elizabeth Smart (Nov 18) featuring Elizabeth Smart and starring Skeet Ulrich, Deirdre Lovejoy and introducing Alana Boden.
SCRIPTED SERIES
UnREAL- Returns Early 2018
UnREAL gives a fictitious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the chaos surrounding the production of a hit dating competition program, Everlasting. UNREAL is led by flawed heroine Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby), renowned for her skills manipulating her relationships with, and among, the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage that the program's dispassionate executive producer, Quinn King (Emmy(R)-nominated Constance Zimmer), demands. Season three features Everlasting's new feminist "suitress," Serena (Caitlin FitzGerald, Masters of Sex), who is determined to have her pick of eager male suitors.Co-created by Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro and produced by A+E Studios, seasons three and four are helmed by showrunner and executive producer Stacy Rukeyser. UNREAL season three is also executive produced by Shapiro, Robert M. Sertner, Sally DeSipio, Peter O'Fallon and David Solomon. UNREAL is the first scripted series fully produced and distributed by A+E Studios. A+E Networks also handles global sales for UnREAL, which has been sold and airs in more than 100 territories.
Mary Kills People- Returns Early 2018
Single mother Mary Harris (Caroline Dhavernas) is an ER doctor by day, but by night, she and her partner Des (Richard Short), a former plastic surgeon, moonlight as UNDERGROUND angels of death helping terminally ill patients slip away on their own terms. So far Mary has managed to stay under the radar; but death is hot, business is booming, and her double life is getting complicated. When her world starts to unravel, Mary realizes she's going to have to fight dirty if she's going to stay in THE KILLING game. Jay Ryan returns as Ben Wesley. Mary Kills People is executive produced by Tassie Cameron, Amy Cameron, Jocelyn Hamilton and Tecca Crosby. The series will be directed by Kelly Makin, Norma Bailey and David Wellington with Holly Dale as Co-Executive Producer. Tara Armstrong created the series and is Executive Producer and writer. Additional writers include Tassie Cameron, Morwyn Brebner, Lara Azzopardi and Marsha Greene. Mary Kills People is produced by Entertainment One and Cameron Pictures Inc., in association with Corus Entertainment, and with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.
YOU - Debuts 2018
Starring Penn Badgley, YOU is a 21st century love story that asks, "What would you do for love?" When a brilliant bookstore manager crosses paths with an aspiring writer, his answer becomes clear: anything. Using the internet and social media as his tools to gather the most intimate of details and get close to her, a charming and awkward crush quickly becomes obsession as he quietly and strategically removes every obstacle - and person - in his way. YOU will also star Elizabeth Lail, Zach Cherry and Luca Padovan. YOU is from Berlanti Productions and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television and A+E Studios. YOU is written by executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble and based on Caroline Kepnes' best-selling novel of the same name.
With three original cable movies ranked in the top four in women 25-54* this year, Lifetime furthers its supremacy in long form storytelling with greenlights of Faith Under Fire and The Simone Biles Story (working title). Grammy(R) winner Toni Braxton, whose Lifetime biopic Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart was the #1 rated cable movie of 2016**, makes her return to the network to star as Antoinette Tuff, a clerical worker who talks down a school SHOOTER in Faith Under Fire from Sony Pictures Television. America's most decorated gymnast with 19 Olympic and World Championship medals, Simone Biles also signs on for a Lifetime biopic revealing the sacrifices and dedication it took her to become one of the greatest and most celebrated athletes in the world.
"It's an exciting time for all women when a female-directed movie, featuring a female superhero, tops the summer box office," said Gateley of today's announcement. "In television, Lifetime is the top tier destination for hiring female writers, directors and producers and we continue to celebrate the everyday, real-life heroes in our programming."
Lifetime also sets airdates for its fall movies: The Watcher in the Woods (Oct 21) starring Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston and directed and executive produced by Melissa Joan Hart; Flint (Oct 28) starring Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, Marin Ireland and Betsy Brandt from executive producers Neil Meron, Craig Zadan and Katie Couric; The Lost Wife of Robert Durst (Nov 4) starring Katharine McPhee and Daniel Gillies and I Am Elizabeth Smart (Nov 18) featuring Elizabeth Smart and starring Skeet Ulrich, Deirdre Lovejoy and introducing Alana Boden.
SCRIPTED SERIES
UnREAL- Returns Early 2018
UnREAL gives a fictitious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the chaos surrounding the production of a hit dating competition program, Everlasting. UNREAL is led by flawed heroine Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby), renowned for her skills manipulating her relationships with, and among, the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage that the program's dispassionate executive producer, Quinn King (Emmy(R)-nominated Constance Zimmer), demands. Season three features Everlasting's new feminist "suitress," Serena (Caitlin FitzGerald, Masters of Sex), who is determined to have her pick of eager male suitors.Co-created by Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro and produced by A+E Studios, seasons three and four are helmed by showrunner and executive producer Stacy Rukeyser. UNREAL season three is also executive produced by Shapiro, Robert M. Sertner, Sally DeSipio, Peter O'Fallon and David Solomon. UNREAL is the first scripted series fully produced and distributed by A+E Studios. A+E Networks also handles global sales for UnREAL, which has been sold and airs in more than 100 territories.
Mary Kills People- Returns Early 2018
Single mother Mary Harris (Caroline Dhavernas) is an ER doctor by day, but by night, she and her partner Des (Richard Short), a former plastic surgeon, moonlight as UNDERGROUND angels of death helping terminally ill patients slip away on their own terms. So far Mary has managed to stay under the radar; but death is hot, business is booming, and her double life is getting complicated. When her world starts to unravel, Mary realizes she's going to have to fight dirty if she's going to stay in THE KILLING game. Jay Ryan returns as Ben Wesley. Mary Kills People is executive produced by Tassie Cameron, Amy Cameron, Jocelyn Hamilton and Tecca Crosby. The series will be directed by Kelly Makin, Norma Bailey and David Wellington with Holly Dale as Co-Executive Producer. Tara Armstrong created the series and is Executive Producer and writer. Additional writers include Tassie Cameron, Morwyn Brebner, Lara Azzopardi and Marsha Greene. Mary Kills People is produced by Entertainment One and Cameron Pictures Inc., in association with Corus Entertainment, and with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.
YOU - Debuts 2018
Starring Penn Badgley, YOU is a 21st century love story that asks, "What would you do for love?" When a brilliant bookstore manager crosses paths with an aspiring writer, his answer becomes clear: anything. Using the internet and social media as his tools to gather the most intimate of details and get close to her, a charming and awkward crush quickly becomes obsession as he quietly and strategically removes every obstacle - and person - in his way. YOU will also star Elizabeth Lail, Zach Cherry and Luca Padovan. YOU is from Berlanti Productions and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television and A+E Studios. YOU is written by executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble and based on Caroline Kepnes' best-selling novel of the same name.
Source:
