Amazon Hires Warner Bros. TV Exec Odetta Watkins as Head of Drama Series

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.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIMDb TV has greenlit the comedy series “Primo” from Shea Serrano and Michael Schur.The show was originally announced as being in development at the Amazon-owned streamer in May. The single-cam series is inspired by Serrano’s life growing up in San Antonio, TX.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Craig Robinson-led Peacock comedy series “Killing It” has set its main cast.Claudia O’Doherty (“Love,” “Trainwreck”), Rell Battle (“Black-ish,” “The Good Doctor”), Scott MacArthur (“The Mick,” “Righteous Gemstones”), Stephanie Nogueras (“The Good Fight,” “Switched at Birth”), Wyatt Walter (“Sons of Thunder”), and Jet Miller (“Bethany,” “Young Dylan”) have all joined Robinson in the series.Robinson stars in the half-hour series as Craig, a man who will do anything to

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRandall Einhorn and his Sad Unicorn banner have moved to Warner Bros. Television with a multi-year first-look deal, Variety has learned exclusively.Einhorn previously had an overall deal at ABC Signature.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” creators Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna are re-teaming on a comedy series currently in development at Hulu, Variety has learned.Titled “Badass (And Her Sister),” the series focuses on an impossibly badass spy (Bloom) who tires of her life of sexy espionage goes to live with her pushover twin sister (also played by Bloom) and, together, they learn what it means to actually be badass.Brosh McKenna and Bloom would serve as writers,

Joe Otterson TV ReporterTimothy Simons has joined the cast of “Candy” at Hulu, the true crime series about Candy Montgomery, Variety has learned exclusively.The show tells the true story of Candy Montgomery, a housewife in Silicon Prairie, Texas, who murdered her best friend, Betty Gore, with an ax in 1980. Jessica Biel is attached to play Montgomery, while Melanie Lynskey will play Betty Gore.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “John Wick” prequel series at Starz, “The Continental,” is rounding out its main cast with five new additions.Mishel Prada (“Vida”) will play KD; Hubert Point Du-Jour (“Blindspot,” “Madame Secretary”) will play Miles; Jessica Allain (“The Laundromat,” “Thriller”) has been cast as Lou; Nhung Kate (“Swapping Fate,” “The Better Man”) has been cast as Yen; and Ben Robson (“Animal Kingdom,” “Vikings”) has been cast as Frankie.The five join previously announced series lead

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 ReporterPablo Schreiber has signed onto the Hulu true crime series “Candy,” Variety has learned exclusively.The show tells the true story of Candy Montgomery, a housewife in Silicon Prairie, Texas, who murdered her best friend, Betty Gore, with an ax in 1980. Jessica Biel is attached to play Montgomery, while Melanie Lynskey will play Betty Gore.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterUma Thurman has been cast as Arianna Huffington in the Showtime series “Super Pumped,” which charts the rise of Uber, Variety has learned exclusively.Planned as an anthology, the first season of “Super Pumped” is based on Mike Isaac’s book of the same name.

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.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“History of the World, Part I” is finally getting a Part II, with Hulu ordering a variety series followup to the classic Mel Brooks comedy film, Variety has learned exclusively.“History of the World, Part II” is described as a sequel to the 1981 film. The film was made up of segments set during different periods of world history.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMel Gibson will star in the “John Wick” prequel series “The Continental” at Starz, Variety has confirmed with sources.“The Continental” was originally ordered at Starz in 2018 and is said to focus on the inner workings of the titular hotel from the film franchise, which is a refuge for assassins.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBrianna Bennett has been named senior vice president of network drama for ABC Entertainment, Variety has learned.Bennett comes to ABC from CBS Studios, where she served as vice president of drama development since 2014. She takes over heading up drama for the broadcaster from Brian Morewitz, whose exit was announced back in July.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCommon has joined the cast of the “Wool” series adaptation at Apple.The show is based on the Hugh Howey novel series of the same name. Common will star alongside previously announced cast members Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Rashida Jones, and David Oyelowo.“Wool” is a set in a ruined and toxic future where a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Jack Ryan” has been renewed for Season 4 at Amazon. In addition, Michael Peña will join the show’s cast.The thriller series led by John Krasinski recently wrapped production on its third season, which does not yet have a premiere date.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterParadigm Talent Agency has hired talent agent Irene Cabrera and lit agent Kelsey Roberts, Variety has learned. Cabrera joins Paradigm from DDO Artists Agency, while Roberts joins from Industry Entertainment.“Irene and Kelsey bring a wealth of expertise in discovering and developing unique talent across all entertainment mediums,” said Paradigm partner Andrew Ruf on behalf of the company’s leadership.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Ted Lasso’s” Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence are uniting with Jason Segel on the Apple comedy series “Shrinking,” Variety has learned.Goldstein, Lawrence, and Segel will all serve as writers and executive producers on the series, with Segel also set to star. Lawrence will executive produce under his Doozer Productions banner along with Jeff Ingold.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Interview With the Vampire” series at AMC has cast Kalyne Coleman in a recurring role, Variety has learned exclusively.Coleman joins series leads Jacob Anderson, who will play Louis, and Sam Reid, who will play Lestat, in the adaptation of the Anne Rice novel of the same name. Coleman will appear in the role of Grace, Louis’ sister.