Amazon Studios Orders YA Pilot Based on Harlan Coben Novel ‘Shelter’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe untitled “Goonies” reenactment pilot and “Blood Relative” are no longer moving ahead at Fox, Variety has learned.The two projects were holdovers from Fox’s 2020 pilot season that were delayed in shooting due to the pandemic. The decision to ax “Blood Relative” comes as something of a surprise, given that it starred Oscar winner Melissa Leo in the lead role.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox has ordered the drama series “The Cleaning Lady” for the 2021-2022 broadcast season.The one-hour show was originally ordered to pilot last year, but production was delayed by the pandemic. Elodie Young stars as Thony, a whip-smart doctor who comes to the U.S.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAli Wong is set to appear in the upcoming “Paper Girls” series adaptation at Amazon.Wong joins previously announced series leads Sofia Rosinsky, Camryn Jones, Riley Lai Nelet, and Fina Strazza. The series, which hails from Amazon Studios and Legendary Television in association with Plan B, is based on the graphic novel series by writer Brian K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKym Whitley and Danny Garcia have been cast in recurring roles in the Amazon YA pilot “Hot Pink,” Variety has learned exclusively.The pair joins previously announced stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nina Bloomgarden, David Iacono, Mimi Davila, Dana Donnelly, and Myra Molloy, as well as fellow recurring star David Arquette.The show is loosely inspired by Elana K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Law & Order” franchise is expanding again at NBC, with the network giving out a straight-to-series order for “Law & Order: For the Defense,” Variety has learned.“For the Defense” will take a look inside a criminal defense firm.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJK Simmons is set to star opposite Sissy Spacek in the Amazon sci-fi series “Lightyears,” taking over a lead role in the series from Ed O’Neill.O’Neill’s casting was reported in March, but according to an individual with knowledge of the production, he has exited for personal reasons.The series follows Irene (Spacek) and Franklin (Simmons) York, a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Invincible” has been renewed for Season 2 and Season 3 at Amazon.The announcement was made on Thursday on Twitter by Robert Kirkman alongside Steven Yeun, who voices the show’s main character.“I’m extremely thankful to Amazon for the support and dedication they’ve put behind Invincible,” Kirkman said in a separate statement.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterGrace Gummer has been cast in the “Let the Right One In” pilot at Showtime, Variety has learned.She joins previously announced cast members Demián Bichir and Anika Noni Rose. The series centers on Mark (Bichir), a father and his 12-year-old daughter, Eleanor, whose lives were changed forever 10 years earlier when she was turned into a vampire.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon’s YA pilot “Hot Pink” has added five new cast members.Nina Bloomgarden, David Iacono, Mimi Davila, Dana Donnelly, and Myra Molloy will star in the pilot, joining previously announced star Sarah Michelle Gellar.The show is loosely inspired by Elana K. Arnold’s book “What Girls Are Made Of.” In the book, Nina Faye was raised to believe that there is no such thing as unconditional love, meaning she will do anything for her boyfriend to prove her worthiness.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Summer I Turned Pretty” series at Amazon has cast Lola Tung, Rachel Blanchard, Jackie Chung, and Christopher Briney, Variety has learned.The series is based on the Jenny Han YA novel of the same name. It is described as a multigenerational drama that hinges on a love triangle between one girl and two brothers, the ever-evolving relationship between mothers and their children, and the enduring power of strong female friendship.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox has ordered the dramedy “The Big Leap” to series for the 2021-2022 broadcast season.The one-hour show was originally ordered to pilot last year, but production was shutdown by the pandemic.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDick Cook Studios (DCS) has acquired the motion picture and television rights to Charles Wachter’s debut novel “The Twin Paradox,” Variety has learned exclusively.“’The Twin Paradox’ is hands-down the best science thriller I have read,” DCS chairman Dick Cook said. “Charles is not only a great producer and terrific person; he is an innovative and visionary storyteller who has come up with a brilliant edge-of-your-seat concept with twists and turns at every corner.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“NCIS: Los Angeles” has been renewed for Season 13 at CBS, with the broadcaster also ordering “NCIS: Hawaii” to series.“NCIS: Hawaii” was first announced as being in development back in February. Matt Bosack, Jan Nash, and Chris Silber are co-writing and executive producing, with Larry Teng attached to direct and executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “How I Met Your Mother” sequel series titled “How I Met Your Father” has been ordered at Hulu with Hilary Duff attached to star.In the near future, Sophie (Duff) is telling her son the story of how she met his father: a story that catapults us back to the year 2021 where Sophie and her close-knit group of friends are in the midst of figuring out who they are, what they want out of life, and how to fall in love in the age of dating apps and limitless options.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Wings of Fire” books by Tui T. Sutherland are being adapted into an animated series at Netflix with Ava DuVernay set to executive produce.The “Wings of Fire” books have sold more than 14 million copies around the world to date.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCecilia Suárez and Augusto Aguilera have joined the ABC drama pilot “Promised Land,” Variety has learned.The show is described as an epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCall it the pilot season that wasn’t. One year later, the COVID-19 pandemic is still casting a long shadow over the new crop of broadcast shows.Across the Big Five networks, the majority of the pilots in contention this year are holdovers from 2020. The backlog is still being sorted out, underscoring the disruption of last spring when the public health crisis shut down work for months just as pilot production would have normally reached its peak.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJohn Ortiz has been cast in a leading role of the ABC drama pilot “Promised Land,” Variety has learned.The show is described as an epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley. Ortiz joins previously announced cast members Christina Ochoa and Mariel Molino.Ortiz will star as Joe Sandoval, the patriarch of the Sandoval family, a wealthy vineyard-owning family in the Sonoma Valley.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe horror comedy “Shining Vale” starring Courteney Cox, Greg Kinnear, and Mira Sorvino has been ordered to series at Starz, Variety has learned.The half-hour show had originally been picked up to pilot back in 2019. The premium cabler has given the series an eight-episode order.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAnika Noni Rose has been cast in the “Let the Right One In” pilot at Showtime, Variety has learned.She joins previously announced cast member Demián Bichir. The series centers on Mark (Bichir), a father and his 12-year-old daughter, Eleanor, whose lives were changed forever 10 years earlier when she was turned into a vampire.