Ed Sheeran is heading to court.
15.09.2022 - 19:01 / deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: There have been whispers for months about a top-secret courtroom docu-style comedy series filming to run on Amazon Freevee. We can reveal that the project, starring James Marsden (Enchanted, Westworld), is now in post-production and headed to the screen.
“Freevee has confirmed the existence of the docu-style comedy series but details are under wraps amid speculation of the unique, genre-bending format centered around a jury trial,” a rep for the free, ad-supported platform told Deadline, declining further comment.
The secrecy surrounding the filming was driven by the nature of the semi-improvised series which we hear employs a device similar to the setup used in Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat and Brüno movies and the series Who Is America? where actors, often in disguise, interact with unsuspecting regular (or famous, in some of Cohen’s work) people.
In the case of the Freevee series, we hear Marsden and a group of largely up-and-coming actors with improv background performed alongside civilians in the comedy about being summoned for jury duty. We hear the show was filmed in a real courtroom south of Los Angeles, with regular and addition shooting partially scheduled around Marsden’s Westworld schedule.
The list of executive producers on the untitled series includes two producers who had previously worked with Cohen. The full list is comprised of Dummy creator/exec producer Cody Heller; The White Lotus executive producer David Bernad; Borat Subsequent Moviefilm exec producer, and Who Is America? producer Nicholas Hatton; WeCrashed co-creator/executive producer Lee Eisenberg; director-producer Jake Szymanski (The Package); writer-producer Gene Stupnitsky (Hello Ladies); Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and Brüno co-producer
Ed Sheeran is heading to court.
EXCLUSIVE: Sean Penn, star of Milk and Gaslit, and Lost‘s Matthew Fox are set as leads of an Australian satirical comedy series for streaming service Stan. The pair will star in C*A*U*G*H*T, a six-part series from Kick Gurry (Edge of Tomorrow) that takes aim at fame and stardom.
EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures has acquired the action-comedy Regulators, starring Nicky Jam, who is also producing via music label La Industria, Inc.
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Amazon Freevee is getting into business with Bishop T.D. Jakes, signing a two-year deal with the spiritual figure to launch a FAST (free, ad-supported streaming) channel and provide on-demand access to 300 hours of Jakes’ content. The deal, which launches Dec. 1 and covers rights in the U.S., UK and Germany, will include sermons, interviews and other unscripted, faith-based programming from Jakes’ library — which has been amassed over 45 years. While the programming will be available on demand at that time, the FAST channel will launch in early 2023 on Amazon Freevee and within Prime Video. Michael Phillips, the chief operating officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, will oversee the programming output.
EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Freevee has picked up Icons Unearthed: Star Wars for the UK, the doc series that features the first tell-all on-camera interview with George Lucas’ former wife Marcia Lucas.
EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Freevee coming-of-age drama series Beyond Black Beauty has begun principal photography, with shooting of the Amazon Studios, Sinking Ship Entertainment and Leif Films show underway in Canada.
Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Kevin Hart’s “Die Hart” action-hero spoof is bringing in some fresh faces for Season 2 of the Roku original comedy: John Cena, Ben Schwartz and Paula Pell have joined the cast of “Die Hart 2: Die Harter,” the streaming company announced. In addition to the new cast, Nathalie Emmanuel will reprise her role in Season 2. Eric Appel returns to direct with Tripper Clancy returning as writer. Production of “Die Hart 2: Die Harter” has begun in Atlanta. The series will stream free (with ads) on the Roku Channel but a premiere date has not been set. In “Die Hart” Season 1, which co-starred John Travolta, Hart played a fictionalized version of himself who ultimately achieved his dream of becoming a bona-fide action hero. In the second season, Hart now wants to cement his legacy as the greatest action star of all time. He’s developed a concept for a revolutionary movie where the action is so unscripted and unexpected that even Kevin won’t know what’s coming next. But Kevin’s vision comes with a blind spot, and he soon finds himself the victim of an evil revenge plot, orchestrated by someone from his past. To survive, Hart must enlist the help of his favorite co-star, Jordan King (Emmanuel), his overeager assistant Andre (Schwartz), Andre’s mom Cynthia (Pell) and legendary Hollywood stuntman Mr. 206 (Cena).
Eugenio Derbez is developing the workplace comedy series They Came At Night with ViX+ under the first-look deal between 3Pas Studios and TelevisaUnivision.
It’s been more than two years since Season 2 of “Ramy” hit Hulu. Obviously, there are likely plenty of reasons, including a global pandemic, why it’s taken so long for Season 3 to arrive.
Pete Davidson is at the 2022 Emmy Awards!
Jason Sudeikis and Ted Lasso were the big winners of the 2022 Emmy Awards!
took home the trophy for Outstanding Comedy Series during the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards. The beloved Apple TV+ series beat out other major programs, including , , and .The category was presented by alum Pete Davidson, who had a brief reunion onstage with Jason Sudeikis, who accepted the honor on behalf of the show, the creative team and the cast.«Thank you so much to everyone who watches the show.
Pete Davidson made a surprise appearance at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards when he came up to the stage to present the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.With Wild Cherry's «Play That Funky Music» blaring through the speakers, the public address announcer said, «He needs no introduction but I'll do it anyway. Please welcome, Pete Davidson!» The alum sauntered to the stage wearing a gray jumpsuit and vintage white shades.«Hello, before I say anything, I just want to say how about a shou-tout to Kenan Thompson,» Davidson said. «The guy's been in the zone for the past 30 years just making us smile.
For the second year in a row, Apple’s hit series Ted Lasso has taken top honors at the Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy series for the show’s sophomore season.
In her show’s first season, Quinta Brunson won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series tonight, making her only the second Black woman to win in the category after Lena Waithe, and the first to win solo. Waithe shared her win in 2017 with Aziz Ansari for an episode of Master of None, titled “Thanksgiving”.
Jean Smart has won her second consecutive Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series for her role as legendary Las Vegas comic Deborah Vance in HBO Max’s Hacks.
took home the trophy for Outstanding Comedy Series during the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards. The beloved Apple TV+ series beat out other major programs, including , , and .The category was presented by alum Pete Davidson, who had a brief reunion onstage with Jason Sudeikis, who accepted the honor on behalf of the show, the creative team and the cast.«Thank you so much to everyone who watches the show.
Jean Smart is adding another feather to her cap. For the second consecutive year, the 70-year-old actress took home Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on . Smart beat out Rachel Brosnahan (), Kaley Cuoco (), Elle Fanning (), Issa Rae () and Quinta Brunson ()«Thank you for a second time honoring this show,» the now five-time winner said while accepting her award onstage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles during the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards. Smart won last year's Lead Actress Emmy for her performance on the HBO Max series. «As we all know season two of a show is kind of a litmus test,» Smart continued on Monday night, adding that the cast and crew had passed with flying colors. «The crew went above, above, above and beyond,» she said.Smart's win last year came in the wake of the death of her late husband, Richard Gilliland.