15th March 2019
14th March 2019
Amazon Studios has given a pilot order to a half-hour comedic drama based on the Israeli format On the Spectrum, from Jason Katims and his True Jack Productions, original series’ creators and producer yesStudios and Universal TV.
Written by Katims, On the Spectrum is a coming-of-age comedic drama about three 20-something roommates on the autism spectrum, striving for the same things that we all desire: To get a job, keep a job, make friends, fall in love, and navigate a world that eludes them.
Elias Koteas (Chicago P.D.) will play Hal Berek, a Texas rancher with a strong opinion about how John and Asa should face the challenges ahead of them.
Kathleen Turner has signed on to play Ruth Bederman, Sandy’s (Douglas) ex-wife and the mother of his daughter Mindy (Sarah Baker). As of now, Turner is scheduled to appear in one episode as Ruth, described as “Sandy’s second wife, who delights in still being able to push the buttons of her ex-husband.”
Asha Kamali (Milk & Honey) will play Aunt Missy. She handles the business side of management, within GiGi’s “Famtourage” (family/entourage). She hustles hard for her niece, using skills she learned and honed in the hood to claim the throne as Queen Bee manager from her sister, Ginny, who becomes jealous and competitive.
David DeSantos (The Rookie) will play DEA agent Dennis Livengood.
A series adaptation of the novel “An Anonymous Girl” is in the early development stages at USA Network, Variety has learned exclusively. Josh Goldin and Rachel Abramowitz will pen and executive produce the adaptation.
eOne acquired the rights to the book prior to its publication in January. Written by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the best-selling book follows Jessica Farris, who signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields. She thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking–and what she’s hiding.
12th March 2019
Starring Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson, Chernobyl dramatizes the story of the 1986 nuclear accident — one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history — and the sacrifices made to save Europe from unimaginable disaster. Chernobyl premieres this May.
Bailey Chase (Saving Grace, Longmire) will play Eddie Brucks, a musician attempting to overcome his personal demons who crosses paths with Teresa.
David Andrews (Shooter) will play Judge Cecil Lafayette, a member of one of the oldest blue blood families in Louisiana who may prove to be one of the most dangerous adversaries Teresa has ever encountered.
EXCLUSIVE: Thor: Ragnarok filmmaker Taika Waititi has boarded Time Bandits, the TV series adaptation of the beloved Terry Gilliam-directed movie, which is in development at Apple.
Waititi will co-write and direct the pilot for the potential series, co-produced by Anonymous Content, Paramount Television and MRC. He also will serve as executive producer alongside Gilliam and producer Dan Halsted (People Of Earth).
Silicon Valley co-creator Mike Judge has signed a two-year overall deal with HBO, which includes series production commitments for two new comedy series. Judge’s deal includes all forms of television, excluding animation. Under the pact, the two new comedies are Qualityland, based on the novel of the same name by Marc-Uwe Kling, a co-production with HBO and Lionsgate, and limited series A5.
Co-written and executive produced by Judge and Josh Lieb (Silicon Valley), Qualityland, based on Kling’s novel, is set in the very near future. It’s everything we have now, and more so. It’s the story of humanity’s struggle against the tyranny of convenience. But funny.
A5 is co-written by Judge and Etan Cohen (Holmes & Watson, King of the Hill). It is centered on a bioengineer who discovers the gene that makes a person an asshole and attempts to answer the questions nagging at all of us: Why do assholes exist? Why have they come to dominate our culture? And can they be cured?
Apple Event, March 25, 2019. 10am PDT. Steve Jobs Theater, Cupertino California.
— Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) March 11, 2019
It’s show time! pic.twitter.com/b0IhYj7GHs
Please join us for an Apple special event
— Matthew Panzarino (@panzer) March 11, 2019
at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino.
March 25, 2019
10:00 a.m.
The email played a short film reel countdown animation on opening. pic.twitter.com/a2COFjMIpA
NETFLIX GROWS ANIME PROGRAMMING THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEADING JAPANESE PRODUCTION COMPANIES
Partnerships with Anima, Sublimation, and David Production joins deals with Production I.G and bones in 2018
Altered Carbon: Resleeved, Dragon’s Dogma, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, SPRIGGAN, Super Crooks and Vampire in the Garden
Tokyo, Japan -- March 11, 2019 -- Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service, has entered into partnerships with Anima, Sublimation. and David Production. On top of Netflix’s earlier deals with Production I.G and bones in 2018.
These production houses and Netflix will jointly create original anime series including the animated series Altered Carbon: Resleeved from Anima. Altered Carbon is based on Netflix’s original live action science fiction series whose first season launched in February of 2018 and for which a second season is currently in production. Netflix will also partner with Sublimation on Dragon’s Dogma, an original anime series based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name. Lastly, Netflix will jointly create SPRIGGAN, based on a manga series, with David Production.
These titles join two series that will be produced by Production I.G and bones. They are Production I.G’s Ghost in the Shell: SAC _2045, premiering on Netflix in 2020; and WIT STUDIO’s,Vampire in the Garden. Bones will produce Super Crooks, based on the comic book created by writer Mark Millar and artist Leinil Francis Yu.
“Netflix aims to be the most compelling and attractive home for anime fans, creators and production studios. We are creating an environment where production houses can do their best work, and deliver their shows on a service where we connect anime fans from over 190 countries to content they love” said Netflix Director of Content (Japan), John Derderian.
Production line deals reflect Netflix’s ongoing commitment to grow its quality anime library by working closely with top creators in the industry. Production line deals are one of the best ways to secure top craftsmen in the industry in every process of production, integral to continue bringing the highest quality content to members around the world.
Altered Carbon: Resleeved - anima Inc.
This anime feature spin-off, set in the same universe of the Netflix live-action sci-fi series (second season in production from Skydance Television), will explore new elements of the story mythology.
Dragon’s Dogma - Sublimation Inc.
Based on a world-famous action RPG set in an open world, Dragon’s Dogma from CAPCOM will be brought to life as a Netflix original anime series. The story follows a man’s journey seeking revenge on a dragon who stole his heart. On his way, the man is brought back to life as an ‘Arisen’. An action adventure about a man challenged by demons who represent the seven deadly sins of humans.
SPRIGGAN - David Production Inc.
Netflix original anime based on classic manga by Hiroshi Takashige, illustrated by Ryoji Minagawa. Edgy sci-fi battle action about a man with supernatural powers to seal historical remains.
Ghost in the Shell: SAC _2045 - Production I.G, Inc.
Created by Masamune Shiro, the sequel of much acclaimed Ghost In the Shell SAC series has come back as a full 3DCG anime series. Directors Kenji Kamiyama, Shinji Aramaki and SOLA DIGITAL ARTS will collaborate once again following ULTRAMAN (streaming 1 April on Netflix). This is the first Ghost In the Shell series to be brought to fans with a double director.
Vampire in the Garden - WIT STUDIO
An original series by WIT STUDIO on two girls Momo and Fine from different backgrounds who meet by chance. A story about an unlikely friendship between human and vampire race that intertwines with the power or music.
Super Crooks - bones.inc
A story by Mark Millar and artist Leinil Francis Yu, the creators of Kick Ass and Wanted. Crime and thrills meets supernatural powers in this Millarworld title.
Gods & Heroes tells the story a young man who finds out he's the illegitimate son of Zeus, and must now fight to save Heaven and Earth.
— NX (@NXOnNetflix) March 12, 2019
The voice cast includes heavy hitters like @jason_omara, @mamiegummer, @JHenwick, @ClaudiaLives, and @EliasToufexis.
Amy Adams has signed a first-look deal with HBO and launched new production company Bond Group Entertainment with her manager Stacy O’Neil. HBO also announced the first project under the deal, Poisonwood Bible, based on the Barbara Kingsolver novel, which is being developed as a limited series. In addition, Bond Group has tapped former Starz exec Kathleen Clifford as its VP of TV Development.
Co-written by Anya Epstein (The Affair, In Treatment) and Kingsolver, Poisonwood Bible, based on Kingsolver’s novel, follows Orleanna Price, the wife of an evangelical missionary who takes her and their four daughters to the Belgian Congo in the midst of colonial upheaval in 1959. What follows is a suspenseful epic of tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction in the interlocked fates of one family and a newly independent African nation.
Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are named in charging documents just unsealed by federal authorities, alleging a large scheme involving parents who paid bribes of up to $6 million to get their kids into elite colleges, including Harvard and Yale. w/ @AaronKatersky
— Mike Levine (@MLevineReports) March 12, 2019
8th March 2019
Trammell (True Blood, This Is Us) will play Vice President Benjamin Hayes, a political survivor with an aptitude for optics who crosses the aisle to serve alongside the series’ new president, played by Beau Bridges. Bridges’ character believes tapping Hayes is an innocuous choice, one that could help heal the partisan divide, but the politico proves to be more dangerous than anticipated.
Skybound Entertainment and Amazon Studious are developing Zack Kaplan, Top Cow Productions and Image Comics’ Port of Earth into a tv series.
Written by Kaplan with art by Andrea Mutti (Rebels, Batman Eternal), the gritty sci-fi series Port of Earth tells the story of an alien alliance called The Consortium that has come to Earth with a business proposition: open Earth as a spaceport for our customers to use and receive advanced technology upgrades in exchange.
When rogue aliens break the Port restrictions and wreak havoc in different cities, however, the terms of the deal begin to change. Soon it is up to the Earth Security Agents to send them back to the Port of Earth. With The Consortium representing thousands of alien planets the series delves into political issues of exploitation, occupation, espionage, duplicity, technology and leverage, all in a gritty sci-fi setting.
Jan-Michael Vincent, best known for playing daredevil pilot Stringfellow Hawke in 1980s TV series Airwolf, has died at the age of 74, it has emerged.
7th March 2019
EXCLUSIVE: FX Networks has landed the rights to turn Don Winslow’s acclaimed Cartel Trilogy into a TV series. The series will encompass Winslow’s 2005 novel The Power of the Dog, the 2015 followup The Cartel, and the just published conclusion, The Border. Latter book, which The New York Times called “a hybrid of The Godfather and War and Peace,” and “this generation’s defining work of American mass-culture storytelling on the border,” just debuted on the NYT bestseller lists in the number three slot. The deal was made by John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions.
The book trilogy spans a 45 year period and follows a DEA agent named Art Keller through America’s long running war on drugs. The through line is a blood feud between the DEA agent and Mexican drug kingpin Adan Berrera. Much like the actual drug war, the books are often shocking in brutality and raw in humanity, portraying Mexican cartel power struggles, narcos and cops on both sides of the border, traffickers and drug mules, lawyers, journalists, junkies, teen hit men, asylum-seeking children and political corruption from Mexico poppy fields to the White House.
Thanks to Ron for the heads up. Season two of On My Block launches March 29.
6th March 2019
Brie Larson has signed on to star in and executive produce a drama series that has scored a straight-to-series commitment at Apple.
The untitled series is based on the real life experiences of CIA undercover operative Amaryllis Fox and her upcoming memoir, “Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA,” which will be published by Knopf on Oct. 15. The series is described as a look at a young woman’s (Larson) journey in the CIA, told through the prism of her closest relationships.
Jon Beavers (The Long Road Home) and Grant Harvey (The Crossing) will play Jake and Colin, respectively, part of a crew living off the grid, committing armed robberies up and down the California coast. Jake is a good-natured, career criminal. His laid back demeanor is in stark contrast to the violent Colin, an emotionally damaged vet.
THE STRANGER - CASTING & START OF SHOOT RELEASE
Siobhan Finneran takes a leading role in Harlan Coben thriller, The Stranger, with Hannah John-Kamen cast in the titular role
Jennifer Saunders, Anthony Head and Stephen Rea also join the Netflix series
The Stranger, a new Netflix drama series, today announces further cast members joining Richard Armitage in the eight-part thriller.
Happy Valley and Downton Abbey star Siobhan Finneran takes a leading role as DS Johanna Griffin in the suspenseful series, based on the bestselling Harlan Coben novel of the same name and is produced by Red Production Company.
Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and The Wasp, Ready Player One) will play the title character - a mysterious stranger who exposes people’s secrets, dropping bombshells that will shatter lives.
Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) joins in her first major dramatic role, as Heidi, Johanna’s closest friend; an outgoing character who is seeking adventure after her daughter leaves for university.
The cast also includes Shaun Dooley (Ordinary Lies, Broadchurch), Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones), Dervla Kirwan (Strike Back, Silent Witness), Kadiff Kirwan (Chewing Gum, Black Mirror), Anthony Head (The Split, Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea (War and Peace, The Crying Game).
Richard Armitage (The Hobbit) plays Adam Price, the series’ protagonist who finds himself tangled in a mysterious web of deception. His steady life, two wonderful sons and watertight marriage all seem unassailable – until The Stranger reveals a shocking secret about his wife.
Siobhan Finneran’s punchy police detective, Johanna Griffin, finds her pragmatic approach to police work compromised when her investigation into the matter becomes deeply personal.
Finneran said: “I am thrilled to be working with RED again - it’s been a brilliant 20-year relationship and I feel very lucky and blessed to have that with them. After the success and utter joy of working on Happy Valley with them, it’s great to now be involved in such a new and exciting project.”
Hannah John-Kamen said: "I’m so excited to be attached to a special project for Netflix that is so thrilling and full of mystique. It's a real page turner of a show and I'm honoured to be part of it."
Jennifer Saunders said: ‘I’m delighted to be playing Heidi in this new Harlan Coben drama. There is a great cast and production team with strong credentials lined up and we are all looking forward to starting filming in Manchester.'
Anthony Head, internationally renowned for roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Merlin and Oscar-winning film The Iron Lady, joins as Edgar Price, a successful CEO of a large property development company trying to gentrify a rundown area. Edgar’s world is also rocked when a dark secret from the past is revealed.
Anthony Head said: “I am so pleased to be working with Nicola Shindler and Harlan Coben. They’ve both built such brilliant reputations, creating shows in which mystery runs dark and deep, while being utterly believable. The Stranger is just such a fantastic script – Harlan’s concept is genius.”
Dervla Kirwan’s character, Corrine Price, is a well-respected teacher, a loving wife to Adam and mother to their two sons. When Adam learns a terrible secret about his wife from The Stranger, he confronts her but she disappears, kick-starting a chain of events with potentially devastating results.
Renowned actor Stephen Rea will take on the role of Martin Rinksy, a retired police detective who still has connections in the field. As Adam turns to him for help, the former policeman is soon forced to confront events from the past.
Also starring in the Netflix thriller:
Shaun Dooley takes the role of Doug Tripp, a dedicated family man. Tripp detects problems within Adam Price’s household – but does he know more than he’s letting on?
Paul Kaye joins as John Katz, a man pushed to extremes for the sake of his family.
Kadiff Kirwan will star as Wesley Ross, a young detective constable working alongside DS Griffin. When Johanna asks Wes to keep an explosive secret, his loyalty is tested.
The Stranger is the third collaboration for RED Production Company (a STUDIOCANAL company), Harlan Coben and Netflix, following the success of The Five and 2018 hit Harlan Coben’s Safe, which starred Michael C. Hall.
The Stranger is created by Harlan Coben, and is based on his best-selling novel. Filming starts 4 March in and around the UK.
5th March 2019
FX and production company Color Force (American Crime Story, Pose) have optioned New Yorker writer Patrick Radden Keefe's book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland to develop as a limited series. The book tells the story of a notorious abduction and murder in the height of Northern Ireland's sectarian conflict and the decades of fallout that followed.
Say Nothing chronicles the 1972 abduction of Jean McConville, a 38-year-old widow with 10 children, who was taken from her home in Belfast by suspected members of the Irish Republican Army. McConville, rumored to be a British informant, was never seen alive again.
EXCLUSIVE: FX and Scott Rudin are going full Hollywood in their latest project – a drama set in a Hollywood talent agency during the 1980s. The cable network and The Social Network producer are piloting Gone Hollywood, the Mad Men-meets-Entourage story.
Set in 1980, Gone Hollywood centers on a group of talent agents who defect from an old-guard percentery to found their own, which skyrockets to industry dominance, disrupting the business and changing movies forever. The show will mix its fictional protagonists with real-life entertainment figures and events.
Chris D’Elia (The Good Doctor, Undateable) will play Henderson, a designer-hoodie, black Ray-Bans, expensive sneakers-wearing famous comedian with a “hard-life-lessons man-of-the-people” thing working for him.
Julian Elijah Martinez will play Divine. Clean cut and serious, Divine wears the uniform of a street boss. At a young age, he’s become a name to be remembered, but is ready to move a step up. He keeps a tight watch on his crew, often coming down hard on his little brother, Bobby. When Divine gets locked up, he tries to keep the operation moving from behind bars.
Dave East will play Shotgun. Tall, with a knack for rhymes, Shotgun takes pride in being the assistant manager at the concession stand next to the Statue of Liberty. A popular figure in Staten Island, he stays above the turf wars.
Vinnie Pastore (The Sopranos) will recur as Larry, who runs a local rib joint and can be found chatting his customers ears off about the lavish history of Staten Island and its Italian influence.
Michael Braun will play EJ. an epigenetic scientist that Joanie (Paquin) meets in Montauk. His work in studying generational trauma helps Joanie understand her life in a way she never has before.
Madison Curry (Us) has been cast as Constance Terry’s (Pam Grier) daughter Cherry. A decision was made at the time the Bless This Mess pilot was picked up to series by ABC to retool the character of Cherry from a teenager, played in the Fox pilot by Christina Offley, to a young child.
SMILE! Bless This Mess starts production TODAY! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/E4s7jAChdj
— Bless This Mess (@BlessThisMessTV) March 5, 2019
Sherlock Holmes 3 won’t be on the case for Christmas next year after all. Warner Bros said tonight that the threequel starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law has been pushed to December 22, 2021
Marielle Scott will play Lucy, an edgy-chic literary agent with a deadpan wit and a sense of humor about her own LA-ness. Her career-driven nature is balanced by her earthy partner Sunrise and their toddler.
Georgina Reilly will play Corie Struthers, the estranged mother of Jimmy Ryan’s (Mark O’Brien) children.