ABC Names CBS Studios Exec Brianna Bennett New Head of Drama

Roku has appointed Kelli Raftery, a former CBS Corp. executive, as the streaming company’s VP of global communications.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Wu-Tang: An American Saga” has been renewed for Season 3 at Hulu, which will also be the show’s last.The news comes just over one week after the finale of Season 2 of the show, which is based on the true story of the pioneering rap group.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIsabel Sandoval has been tapped to direct an episode of the upcoming FX drama series “Under the Banner of Heaven,” Variety has learned exclusively.Sandoval is currently in Calgary filming her episode.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has put the drama “No Good Deed” into development, Variety has learned.The project has received a script commitment with a penalty attached at the network. Jeannine Renshaw will write and executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJohn Skipper and Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media has brought on Deirdre Fenton as executive director of unscripted, Variety has learned exclusively.In her new role, Fenton will oversee the company’s unscripted programming.

Zayn Malik, Gigi Hadid, and their families is only getting worse following explosive claims from her mother, Yolanda Hadid.On Thursday, October 28, news broke that the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star is accusing Malik of striking her, which reportedly led to a break-up between Gigi and Zayn. Now, the former One Direction star’s family is getting involved, as his sister defends him from claims of physical abuse.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLila Byock has signed a two-year overall deal with ABC Signature, Variety has learned exclusively.Byock spent five years on the editorial staff of The New Yorker magazine.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix is developing a new drama series titled “Revenge Inc.” Variety has learned exclusively from sources.Plot details on the show are being kept mostly under wraps, but sources say it would focus on a secret, underground company that specializes in revenge.Matthew Arnold serves as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner on the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman are partnering on a new production company under the CBS Studios umbrella, Variety has learned.The company, 25 Stories, is being built around promoting the voices of people of color and guiding them on entertainment career paths.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has given a straight-to-series order to a new crime drama that hails from David E. Kelley, Variety has learned exclusively.The one-hour series is titled “The Missing,” based on the Dror A.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor“Hamilton” Tony nominee Christopher Jackson has signed a first-look deal with CBS Studios to produce across all platforms, including broadcast, streaming and premium cable.“I’m looking forward to continuing my partnership with CBS in this new capacity,” Jackson, whose work as George Washington in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” earned him Tony and Grammy nominations in 2016, tells me exclusively.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “John Wick” prequel series at Starz, “The Continental,” has cast Colin Woodell in the lead role, Variety has learned.Woodell will star as a young Winston Scott, the character played in the film franchise by Ian McShane. “The Continental” will explore the origin behind the titular hotel-for-assassins through the eyes and actions of Scott, who is dragged into the Hell-scape of a 1975 New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAustin Stowell has been cast in the upcoming Showtime drama series “Three Women,” Variety has learned exclusively.The series is based on the book of the same name by Lisa Taddeo. It is described as a portrayal of American female desire, in which three women are on a crash course to radically overturn their lives.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “LA Law” sequel series pilot at ABC has cast Corbin Bernsen to reprise his role from the original series.Bernsen joins previously announced returning cast member Blair Underwood. The updated logline for the project describes it as a re-envisioning of the original featuring familiar characters working alongside new ones on the most hot button issues of the day.Bernsen returns in the role of Arnold Becker.

Brianna Bennett is moving from CBS TV Studios to ABC Entertainment to head up drama for the Disney-owned network.

EXCLUSIVE:  Former IFC Films Distribution Boss Justin DiPietro is heading to Cohen Media Group as their new Head of Marketing and Distribution.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOdetta Watkins has been hired by Amazon for the newly created role of head of drama series, the streamer announced Wednesday.In her new role, Watkins will report to Laura Lancaster, head of series for Amazon Studios.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “L.A. Law” sequel series starring Blair Underwood has been given a pilot order at ABC.The followup to the beloved late ’80s-early ’90s series was first announced as being in development at ABC back in December.In the new show, the venerable law firm of McKenzie Brackman reinvents itself as a litigation firm specializing in only the most high profile, boundary pushing and incendiary cases.