ABC Readies ‘Motherland’ Pilot With Ellie Kemper In Talks & Karan Soni Set To Star; Michael Showalter To Direct, Paul Feig To EP Adaptation Of UK Format

Jennifer Aniston spilled some tea during a new interview.

EXCLUSIVE: Roku has quickly found its new scripted boss.

BreAnna Bell Nancy Lenehan has signed on to join Ellie Kemper’s forthcoming comedy pilot “Drop-Off” at ABC as a series regular. She’ll play Marianne, the warm, caring and responsible mother of Julia (Kemper) who’s been taking care of her kids for the last six years. “Having been a working single mom herself, Marianne is not without compassion for Julia’s situation and she loves her grandchildren, but she’s done. Marianne has decided to live her own life from now on, and that includes having an affair with a guy named Rene and firmly taking some time for herself,” reads the character description. In addition to Kemper, she joins previously announced cast member Judy Greer.

Nancy Lenehan is set as a lead opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Judy Greer, Karan Soni and Michaela Conlin also star.

described how Murray stepped in to protect her after the assault on location shooting the show’s fourth season in Honey Grove, Texas in 2007.The actress said that she and Schwahn — who she refers to as “the boss” rather than by name on the podcast — had to travel together to a Texas high school to inform them they’d be filming at their school.“The flight back from that is when he assaulted me. He assaulted me again in the car on the drive from Raleigh to Wilmington, He went straight to set and he told Danneel [Ackles] that he and I made out the whole time, and it was fun, and he was trying to make her jealous.

EXCLUSIVE: Michaela Conlin has been cast as a series regular opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Judy Greer and Karan Soni also star.

Judy Greer is set as a lead opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Karan Soni also stars.

canceled in January after one season. Last summer, Greer shot the Disney+ feature “Hollywood Stargirl” with Uma Thurman and Grace VanderWaal for director Julia Hart, which recently dropped on the streamer.

BreAnna Bell Judy Greer has joined ABC’s “Drop-Off” (working title) as a series regular, Variety has learned. She’ll play Amanda, the hyper-confident, uber-organized, mom who seemingly has it all together and runs the inner circle at Julia’s kids’ school. She’s an expert at the art of a compliment that’s actually an insult. Amanda, who usually arranges babysitting swaps with the moms during school vacations, arranges a swap with Julia, who agrees to watch her kids while Amanda prepares for one of her famous dinner parties…which ends in disaster for Julia. She joins previously announced star Ellie Kemper, who leads the cast as Julia, a working mom for whom nothing is working so she goes looking for her village.

EXCLUSIVE: Mila Kunis has been set to star opposite Michael Keaton in comedy Goodrich, we can reveal.

Amirah J (Shameless) has been cast as a series regular opposite Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata in ABC‘s character-based procedural drama pilot based on TF1’s popular detective series HPI (High Intellectual Potential), from top TV and film writer Drew Goddard and ABC Signature, where Goddard and his Goddard Textiles are based. Javicia Leslie also stars.

Ellie Kemper is set to executive producer and star in Lionsgate’s “Drop-Off” (working title), which has been given a pilot order by ABC. The project, which is based on Sharon Horgan’s BAFTA nominated British format comedy “Motherland,” will see Kemper play Julia, a working mom for whom nothing is working so she goes looking for her village.

ABC has confirmed a pilot order for Drop-Off (working title) a comedy based on the British series Motherland, with Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) to star and executive produce. As we previously reported, Karan Soni (Deadpool franchise) also is set as a lead in the project, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) will direct.

BreAnna Bell ABC has placed a pilot order for Ellie Kemper’s “Drop Off” (working title). “Julia (Ellie Kemper) is a working mom for whom nothing is working so she goes looking for her village. With the help of new friends Calvin and Liz, Julia discovers she just might succeed at balancing work and parenting from time to time. This is a comedy for anybody who’s dropped their kids at school, breathed a sigh of relief…then realized it’s Sunday,” reads the logline. Kemper executive produces alongside Sharon Horgan, Clelia Mountford, Stacy Greenberg, Kira Carstensen for Merman Television. Paul Feig, Dan Magnante through Feigco Entertainment. Holly Walsh and Helen Serafinowicz also executive produce. Michael Showalter serves as an executive producer and director. Julieanne Smolinski is attached to write and executive produce. Lionsgate and ABC Signature are the studios behind the production.

EXCLUSIVE: There is a disturbance in the Force.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor We might not be able to notice it yet, but Paul Mescal says he’s been training every day to get in shape for his work in the upcoming “Gladiator” sequel. “Every time someone asks me if I’ve started working out, I’m like, ‘What do you mean? You can’t tell?’” the actor told me with a laugh at the Independent Spirit Awards. “I’m working hard. Hopefully, when you see me in three or four weeks you’ll be able to see it.” He doesn’t mind the daily routine. “I like exercise,” he said. “It’s not something I dread, thank God.” Mescal first talked to me about the training at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon last month. “I imagine it will be like the classic thing of eating lots of chicken and broccoli,” he said. I’m looking forward to it because anything that is kind of structured and difficult, it’s kinda fun.”

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International After several years in the works, British comedy sensation “Motherland” is getting a U.S. adaptation on ABC. Variety understands ABC is close to signing a pilot order for an American remake of the hit BBC comedy. The show was previously set up at Hulu by Lionsgate, which has world distribution rights, but migrated to ABC — which is arguably a much broader platform — last year. “Motherland” has aired on the BBC for three seasons since 2016. Set in a west London neighbourhood, the show follows a wacky group of mothers (and a father) who couldn’t be more different, but are united by the daily school run and a shared abhorrence for those who take parenting a little too seriously.

Rose Ayling-Ellis took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday with a heartfelt message following the sad death of disability activist Judith Heumann at the age of 75.Re-posting a sketch of the late campaigner, Rose wrote: "Sad to hear the passing of Judith Heumann, such an important figure for disability rights. "If you fancy watching something today, watch 'Crip Camp' on Netflix".

Naman Ramachandran Top Filipino director Mikhail Red (“Deleter”) will commence esports based film “Friendly Fire” imminently. Red is currently serving on the international jury at the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema and will commence the film as soon as he returns to the Philippines from France. “Friendly Fire” stars Loisa Andalio (“The Goodbye Girl”) and Coleen Garcia (“Kaluskos”). The film will follow Sonya (Garcia), a visionary female CEO who wants to put Philippine esports on the map. She scouts a young female player Hazel (Andalio) from a random internet cafe, sees the potential in her and trains her.

A version of this story about Oscar nominee Paul Mescal and “Aftersun” first appeared in the Down to the Wire issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.  Irish actor Paul Mescal turned 27 the week after his first Oscar nomination for playing a wounded, doing-his-best young father on holiday in Turkey with his wise-beyond-her-years daughter (Frankie Corio) in writer-director Charlotte Wells’ semi-autobiographical “Aftersun.” That makes him the youngest acting nominee this year. The film also catapulted his already-soaring reputation as a talent to watch, following his Emmy-nominated breakout role in Hulu’s “Normal People” in 2020.