APRIL’s Naeun cut from drama series following bullying controversy

Sharon Osbourne is done talking! The co-host of The Talk has “decided to leave” following her heated defense of Piers Morgan and a slew of resurfaced acts of “racist behavior” towards colleagues!

EXCLUSIVE: Lyriq Bent (She’s Gotta Have It), Shalini Bathina (Little Voice) and Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars), in a recasting, are set as leads opposite Rose Rollins and Josh Lucas in Long Slow Exhale, Spectrum Originals’ upcoming drama series from L.A. Finest‘s Pam Veasey, Anton Cropper and John Dove and Paramount TV Studios. Also joining the cast as series regulars are Enajite Esegine, Brittney Elena, Jazmine Stewart, Isabella Star LaBlanc, Carmen Flood and Erin Croom (The Conners).

Jordan Moreau Steven Yeun and Ali Wong are teaming up for “Beef,” a comedy-drama series coming to Netflix.The show follows two people who let a road rage incident burrow into their minds and slowly consume their every thought and action. “Beef” will be comprised of 10 half-hour episodes.Lee Sung Jin (“Dave,” “Tuca & Bertie”) serves as creator, showrunner and executive producer.

Nicholas Gonzalez is coming back to television.

EXCLUSIVE: Coming off a three-season run as Dr. Neil Melendez on ABC’s The Good Doctor, Nicholas Gonzalez has been tapped to co-star opposite Eoin Macken, Natalie Zea and Jon Seda in NBC’s sci-fi drama La Brea.

Ava DuVernay’s superhero DC drama Naomi has found its lead. Kaci Walfall (Army Wives, Power, The Lion King on Broadway) has been tapped for the titular role in The CW drama pilot, from DuVernay’s Array Filmworks and Warner Bros. Television. Also set as series regulars are Alexander Wraith (Orange Is the New Black, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Cranston Johnson (Filthy Rich, P-Valley, Hap and Leonard) and newcomer Camila Moreno.

EXCLUSIVE: Spectrum Originals has given a 10-episode order to Joe Pickett, a one-hour drama series based on C.J. Box’s bestselling novels. Michael Dorman (Patriot, For All Mankind) has been tapped for the title role in the project from Waco creators John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, Paramount Television Studios and Lucy Fisher’s Red Wagon Entertainment.

Former Game of Thrones star Lena Headey has been tapped as the female lead in Beacon 23, Spectrum Originals and AMC Networks’ psychological thriller series based on the book of the same name by bestselling author Hugh Howey. Headey will also executive produce through her production company, Peephole Productions, as part of her first-look deal Boat Rocker Studios, which co-produces Beacon 23 with Spectrum Originals.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered a drama series about Zulu king Shaka, with Antoine Fuqua onboard to direct and executive produce, Variety has learned.“Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation” hails from writers and executive producers Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterTom Hiddleston will star alongside Claire Danes in the series adaptation of the Sarah Perry novel “The Essex Serpent” at Apple, Variety has learned.The one-hour drama series follows newly widowed Cora (Danes) who, having being released from an abusive marriage, relocates from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex, intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area.

EXCLUSIVE: We’ll be meeting Dr. Stacy in an upcoming episode of ABC’s A Million Little Things.

For the first time since the launch of The Bachelor franchise, an installment won’t be hosted by Chris Harrison. Amid continuing controversy, Harrison will not be hosting the upcoming season The Bachelorette, ABC and The franchise producer Warner Horizon said Friday night.

EXCLUSIVE: Anonymous Content has put in development an untitled drama series about the early days of IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) auto racing from writer-producer Vinnie Wilhelm (Castle Rock, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels). Anonymous Content will serve as the studio on the project.

Peacock has launched international drama series Dime Quién Soy: Mistress of War, based on Julia Navarro’s bestselling novel. The streamer released all nine episodes today, March 8, in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association have laid down their plans for reform following the diversity controversy surrounding this year’s Golden Globes.

Meghan Markle is receiving support from a former colleague after allegations of bullying have come to light. Just days before the premiere of Markle and Prince’s Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess of Sussex, 39, was hit with allegations of bullying during her time as a working royal in Kensington Palace.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming NBC drama series “La Brea” has added four new castmembers.Eoin Macken, Jack Martin, Jon Seda, and Lily Santiago have all joined the series. They join previously announced cast members Natalie Zea, Zyra Gorecki and Chiké Okonkwo.In the show, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother and son from father and daughter.

EXCLUSIVE: The Good Wife alum Dallas Roberts, Clea Lewis (The Americans) and Nicole Chanel Williams (Boomerang) are set for recurring roles in Showtime drama series American Rust, starring Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney. The series is scheduled to begin production in Pittsburgh in late March.