Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for this past week:

RENEWALS/CANCELLATIONS

Outlander has been a two-season renewal by Starz, taking the show to 6 seasons. Both new seasons will consist of 12 episodes each. (Variety)

YouTube Red has given Cobra Kai a second season renewal. (Variety)

Syfy has pulled the plug on The Expanse after its currently airing third season. (Variety)

NOTE: I will be reporting on all of the upfront presentations for the major networks this coming week, which will elaborate on the renewals and cancellations of existing dramas and the pick-ups of new dramas. In fact, I posted NBC’s fall schedule, details about the new dramas and trailers for the new dramas this afternoon.

TV TO THE STAGE

Actress Melissa Benoist (Supergirl) will star as the lead of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which will mark her Broadway debut. The limited run begins June 7 through August 4. (Deadline)

TV CASTING NEWS

Actors Josh Hopkins (Cougar Town) and Lonnie Chavis (young Randall on This Is Us) and actress Jodi Balfour (Rellik and Quarry) are set to recur in the third season of True Detective that will tell the story of a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozarks and a mystery that deepens over decades and plays out in three separate time periods. Hopkins will play Jim Dobkins, a private attorney in Fayetteville, Arkansas involved in deposing state police detectives in an ongoing investigation. Balfour will play Lori, long-term love interest to Det. Roland West. Chavis will play Wayne Hays’ (series lead Mahershala Ali) son at age 9. (Deadline)

Actress Kate Walsh (13 Reasons Why, Private Practice) has joined the cast of the Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy, which is based on the award-winning comic book series by Gerard Way. This will be a live action series, following the estranged members of a dysfunctional family of superheroes – Luther, Diego, Allison, Vanya, Klaus and Number Five – as they work together to solve their adoptive father Reginald Hargreeves’ mysterious death, while coming apart at the seams due to their divergent personalities and abilities. Walsh is set for the recurring role of “The Handler,” a composed and confident leader of a mysterious, bureaucratic company. The cast already includes Ellen Page (Juno), Mary J. Blige (Mudbound), Tom Hopper (Black Sails), Ashley Madekwe (Revenge), and Colm Feore (House of Cards) [among others]. (The Futon Critic)

That’s it. Enjoy!