Hey All,
Here are the news items for this past week:
CANCELLATION/RENEWALS
‘Diary of a Future President’ Canceled at Disney+. The series, one of the few produced by an outside studio for the streamer, ends after two seasons. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Apple TV+ has given the psychological thriller Servant a fourth season renewal about a month before the third season is ready to premiere. (TV Line)
CBS has given CSI: Vegas a second season order. [Fans of the show should be forewarned that Jorja Fox and William Peterson will not be returning for the sophomore season.] (TV Line)
Paramount Plus has renewed the popular, dark comedy anthology series “Why Women Kill” for another season. (Variety)
Showtime has renewed Yellowjackets for a second season. (TV Line)
After a LONG delay, Netflix has unfortunately made the announcement that Julie and the Phantoms will not be returning for a second season. (TV Line)
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
The CW is developing a drama titled Gotham Knights from within the DC Comics universe. The logline for the potential new series is: “In the wake of Bruce Wayne’s murder, his rebellious adopted son forges an unlikely alliance with the children of Batman’s enemies when they are all framed for killing the Caped Crusader. And as the city’s most wanted criminals, this renegade band of misfits must fight to clear their names. But in a Gotham with no Dark Knight to protect it, the city descends into the most dangerous it’s ever been. However, hope comes from the most unexpected of places as this team of mismatched fugitives will become its next generation of saviors.” Fans of the DC Comics world should note that the project is NOT a Batwoman spin-off. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Wilmer Valderrama (NCIS and That 70’s Show) will star in and executive produce a live-action Zorro series that is currently in development at Disney. He would play Don Diego de la Vega and his swashbuckling alter ego, the masked horseman known as Zorro, in the days of Spanish California. The show is a reimagining of the Disney-ABC “Zorro” series starring Guy Williams that aired in the 1950s. (Variety)
NBC is working on an adaptation of the Peachtree Bluff novels by author Kristy Woodson Harvey. The one-hour drama would be centered around Ansley Murphy, who when her three adult daughters run to her in their charming seaside hometown of Peachtree Bluff, Ga., trying to escape problems that are shattering their personal lives, she’s delighted to help, until their presence exposes a secret that has the potential to tear them apart and reshape their very definition of what it means to be a family. (Deadline)
STREAMING SERVICES NEWS
Amazon is working on a 6-part adaptation of the Neil Gaiman best-selling fantasy novel Anansi Boys; and the two female leads have been cast. British actresses Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn (box office film Lovers Rock) will play Rosie Noah, a teacher and fiancée to Charles “Fat Charlie” Nancy, the main protagonist and hero (Malachi Kirby) while Grace Saif (13 Reasons Why) will play Detective Constable Daisy Day, who finds herself deep into several intersecting police cases, including a murder. The series follows Kirby’s Nancy, a young man who is used to being embarrassed by his estranged father (Delroy Lindo). But when his father dies, Charlie discovers that his father was Anansi: trickster god of stories. And he learns that he has a brother, Spider, who is determined to make Charlie’s life much more interesting but also a lot more dangerous. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Blade of the 47 Ronin, a sequel to 47 Ronin, has wrapped its production. This sequel has moved forward by some 300 years to present-day Budapest where a meeting of the five Samurai clans is taking place. The new movie represents a substantial revamp that emphasizes Asian fantasy heroes and female characters and addresses some of the cultural criticisms of its predecessor. The cast is lead by Anna Akana (Jupiter’s Legacy and A Million Little Things); Mike Moh (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Empire); veteran actor Dustin Nguyen (21 Jumpt Street and Warrior); Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians and 2019’s Charlie’s Angels); and Mark Dacascos (John Wick 3) [among others]. (Variety)
The live-action series Avatar: The Last Airbender that is set to air on Netflix has added to its cast. Newcomer Elizabeth Yu will play Azula, the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and sister to Zuko. Newcomer Maria Zhang will play Suki, the leader of an elite female fighting force known as the Kyoshi Warriors. Yvonne Chapman (Kung Fu) will play the legendary warrior Avatar Kyoshi, revered for her bravery, fearsome fighting skills and uncompromising dedication to the cause of justice. Tamlyn Tomita (Cobra Kai and The Day After Tomorrow) will play Suki’s mother Yukari, the fiercely protective mayor of Kyoshi Island. The series already boasts its male cast members as Daniel Dae Kim (Hawaii Five-0 and Lost), Ken Leung (Lost and The Night Shift) and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim’s Convenience). (Variety)
TV CASTING NEWS
Sam Waterston will return to the role of Jack McCoy in the upcoming reboot of Law and Order. (TV Line)
Kaylee Bryant made her last appearance in The CW’s Legacies this week where she has played Josie Saltzman since the series debuted back in October 2018. (TV Line)
That’s it. Enjoy!
Rueben's Ramblings 