Al Roker Entertainment Options ‘The Personal Librarian’ For Limited Series

When Marvel Studios announced their “Moon Knight” series starring Oscar Issac, a lot of folks seemed to be puzzled why that obscure Marvel character was given an adaptation on Disney+ above others still waiting to get the live-action treatment. Well, it’s starting to look like the studio isn’t shying away from the more bizarre and violent aspects of his comic book counterpart allowing for more mature and experimental superhero stories.

FX has set its cast for Retreat, a limited series from The OA creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij. Oscar nominee Clive Owen (Closer, The Knick) Harris Dickinson (Beach Rats, The King’s Man), Alice Braga (Queen of the South, The Suicide Squad), Jermaine Fowler (Coming 2 America, Judas & the Black Messiah), Joan Chen (The Last Emperor, Twin Peaks), Raul Esparza (Law & Order: SVU, Candy), Edoardo Ballerini (The Sopranos, Dinner Rush) Pegah Ferydoni (Turkish for Beginners, Drama Women Without Men), Ryan J. Haddad (The Politician, Hi, Are You Single?) and Javed Khan (The Bay, Gangs of London) join Corrin in the series, along with previously announced Marling.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAndrew Rannells has been cast in a recurring role in the upcoming Hulu limited series “Immigrant.”The darkly comedic series tells the true story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani), the Indian-American entrepreneur who started Chippendales. Along with Nanjiani and Rannells, the cast also includes Murray Bartlett and Annaleigh Ashford.Rannells will play the rich kid investor in Chippendales New York and the love interest of Bartlett, who stars as producer-choreographer Nick De Noia.Rannells’ recent onscreen roles include “Black Monday” at Showtime and “Girls5Eva” at Peacock.

Andrew Rannells has been tapped for a recurring role in Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), starring Kumail Nanjiani, Annaleigh Ashford and Murray Bartlett, from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel.

EXCLUSIVE: Hulu is developing The Golden Spoon, a darkly comic murder mystery limited series based on the upcoming novel by Jessica Olien, from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna and ABC Signature, where Brosh McKenna and her Lean Machine banner are under an overall deal.

Today marked the finale of “The Book of Boba Fett,” and we now have official confirmation that “Obi-Wan Kenobi” is going to be the next big “Star Wars” event series. Scottish actor Ewan McGregor returns to reprise the role of the iconic Jedi with a story that takes place between years after “Star Wars: Revenge of The Sith” and many before “Star Wars: A New Hope.” Disney+ and Lucasfilm have officially announced the show will begin airing on May 25, a fitting month given that May 4 is Star Wars Day, and the month should be filled with promotional materials for various “Star Wars”-related projects.

Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to Apples Never Fall, a limited series based on Liane Moriarty’s (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers) bestselling novel.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLiane Moriarty’s novel “Apples Never Fall” is being adapted into a limited series at Peacock, Variety has learned exclusively.In a competitive situation, Peacock has won the rights to the book, which was published in September 2021, and given it a straight-to-series order. Since its debut, the book has sold over one million copies.The series centers on the Delaneys, who from the outside appear to be an enviably contented family.

HBO has closed a deal for Doomsday Machine, a limited series about Facebook starring Emmy winner Claire Foy as embattled tech giant COO Sheryl Sandberg and executive producing as well. Anonymous Content (Spotlight, Mr. Robot) and wiip (Mare of Easttown, Dickinson), which took the project to the marketplace in October, will co-produce with HBO.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming FX limited series “The Patient” has cast Alex Rich in a recurring role, Variety has learned exclusively.Rich joins previously announced series leads Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson as well as cast members Linda Emond, Laura Niemi, and Andrew Leeds in the series, which hails from “The Americans” duo Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields.In the half-hour series, a psychotherapist (Carell) finds himself held prisoner by a serial killer (Gleeson) with an unusual request: curb his homicidal urges. But unwinding the mind of this man while also dealing with the waves of his own repressed troubles creates a journey perhaps as treacherous as his captivity.Rich previously appeared in the critically-acclaimed Netflix series “GLOW” in the role of Florian, the butler and best friend of Sebastian “Bash” Howard.

EXCLUSIVE: The remarkable story of a Dutch woman who risked her life to shelter Anne Frank’s family from the Nazis for more than two years and then preserved Anne’s diary, is the subject of A Small Light, a National Geographic limited series ordered by Disney+. The project comes from Grey’s Anatomy alums Joan Rater and Tony Phelan, Susanna Fogel (The Flight Attendant), ABC Signature and Keshet Studios.

Al Roker and Deborah Roberts share a lot of their lives on social media, and are currently among the many living in the cold climates of New York City.MORE: Deborah Roberts mourns devastating family loss in heartfelt tributeThe celebrity couple braved the freezing temperatures over the weekend as they enjoyed a walk around the city, and shared a selfie from their trip out on Deborah's Instagram.The star also shared a picture of their surroundings, including an ice-covered river. "Saturday shivers.

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount+ revealed earlier this week that it had a series adaptation of John Travolta movie Urban Cowboy in the works.

EXCLUSIVE: Quentin Plair (The Good Lord Bird) is set to recur opposite Kumail Nanjiani and Nicola Peltz (Transformers: Age of Extinction) will guest star in Hulu limited series Immigrant (working title), from Pam & Tommy creator Robert Siegel. Additionally, WandaVision and The Great director/executive producer Matt Shakman has joined as director and executive producer. He replaces originally announced Ramin Bahrani ahead of the series’ start of production.

David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams are teaming up for a limited series adaptation of courtroom thriller Presumed Innocent for Apple.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Lucifer” star Tom Ellis has joined the cast of Hulu’s Sterling K. Brown-led “Washington Black” limited series in the role of steam-punk inventor Christopher “Titch” Wilde.Described as an epic nine-episode adventure series based on Esi Edugyan’s novel of the same name, “Washington Black” follows the extraordinary 19th-century adventures of George Washington “Wash” Black, an 11-year-old boy on a Barbados sugar plantation who must flee after a shocking death threatens to upend his life.

Ethan Shanfeld JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot is in early negotiations to develop a limited series based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel “Billy Summers,” Variety has confirmed. Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz are set to adapt, with Zwick directing. The series will soon be shopped to streamers and high end cable networks.“Billy Summers” will be Bad Robot’s latest series adaptation with King, following “Lisey’s Story,” “Castle Rock” and “11.22.63.” The novel follows Billy Summers, a former Marine sniper and soon-retiring hitman who takes one last high-paying job.

EXCLUSIVE: JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot is putting together a limited-series package based on the Stephen King bestselling novel Billy Summers. Ed Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz will adapt, Deadline hears, with Zwick directing what will likely be six to 10 episodes. The package will be shopped shortly to high-end cable networks and streamers.

Zack Sharf Miles Teller is ready to make an offer that Paramount Pictures can’t refuse in the first trailer for the upcoming limited series “The Offer.” The 10-episode limited series centers on famous Hollywood producer Albert S. Ruddy and his attempts to get an adaptation of Mario Puzo’s gangster classic off the ground at Paramount.

Al Roker loves going to work every day and the NBC star has very good reason to!MORE: Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer respond after Family Guy jokeGiving an insight into what happens when the cameras are off in the Today studios, the dad-of-three shared a collection of backstage photos from the famous news desk.The pictures, which feature Al's co-stars including Hoda Kotb, Sheinelle Jones, Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie and Dylan Dreyer, all have one thing in common – and that's laughter.VIDEO: Today's Al Roker surprises daughter Leila during Instagram LiveFans were quick to comment on the photos, with one writing: "Laughter is so good for the soul!" while another wrote: "Love these pictures, I watch for the news, the weather, but mainly the laughter!" A third added: "What a solid crew! You guys rock."MORE: Al Roker turns a negative situation into a positive oneRELATED: Inside Hoda Kotb's cosy NY home to raise her two daughtersAl has been working on Today for decades as both a weatherman and anchor. He also regularly hosts the 3rd Hour show.Proving just how close he is to his co-stars, Al invited his colleagues to his daughter Courtney's wedding in June.A post shared by Al Roker (@alroker)Al Roker shared some candid backstage photos with his co-starsWhen he isn't working, Al enjoys nothing more than spending time with his family.MORE: Dylan Dreyer unveils husband's house rules after giving birthMORE: Al Roker's wife Deborah Roberts shares heartbreak over sudden deathThe TV star lives in New York with his wife Deborah Roberts and their youngest son Nick.His daughter Courtney, from his first marriage with ex-wife Alice Bell, often comes to visit.