Armie Hammer Exits Making of ‘The Godfather’ Drama Series at Paramount Plus (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNorman Reedus and his production company, bigbaldhead, are developing the live-action AMC series “Neglected Murderesses,” based on the book by Edward Gorey, Variety has learned exclusively.Reedus will executive produce the project along with bigbaldhead’s JoAnne Colona and Amanda Verdon under the company’s recently announced first-look deal with AMC Studios.According to an individual with knowledge of the project, the team has been pursuing the rights to “Neglected

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming “Peacemaker” series at HBO Max has cast Alison Araya and Lenny Jacobson in recurring roles, Variety has learned exclusively.They join previously announced series lead John Cena as well as series regulars Danielle Brooks, Chris Conrad, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, and Chukwudi Iwuji.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Tooning Out the News” has been renewed for Season 2 at Paramount Plus.As part of the renewal, the show is being rebranded as “Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News.” The second season will debut on March 4 with a half-hour special to coincide with the rebrand of CBS All Access to Paramount Plus.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterClaire Danes has signed on for the lead role in the upcoming Apple drama series “Essex Serpent,” Variety has learned exclusively.Danes takes over the role from Keira Knightley, whose exit from the project was reported back in October. The series is based on the book of the same name by Sarah Perry.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Yellowstone” prequel series is set at Paramount Plus under an extension of series co-creator Taylor Sheridan’s overall deal with ViacomCBS.The prequel, “Y: 1883,” follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterChiwetel Ejiofor has been cast in the lead role of “The Man Who Fell to Earth” series currently in the works at Paramount Plus, Variety has learned.The series is based on Walter Tevis’ 1963 novel and the 1976 Nicolas Roeg film that starred David Bowie, both of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterStarz has ordered the period drama series “The Serpent Queen,” based on the life of Catherine de Medici.The eight-episode series is based on the book “Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France” by Leonie Frieda. Justin Haythe will write and executive produce the series, with Francis Lawrence and Erwin Stoff also executive producing.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered a new one-hour drama series from Martin Gero and Brendan Gall, Variety has learned exclusively.The six-episode series is titled “Breathe.” When a small plane crashes in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, a lone woman must battle the elements and odds to survive.Gero and Gall are co-writing and executive producing the series, with Gero executive producing under his Quinn’s House Production company. Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterTwo new streaming players made their presence known at the 2021 Golden Globe nominations on Wednesday morning.Both Disney Plus and HBO Max scored their first nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Disney Plus picked up a nod for “The Mandalorian” in the best drama series category.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given a pilot order to the drama “National Parks,” which hails from Kevin Costner.The project was first announced as being in development at ABC in Dec.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA series set in Wakanda is in development at Disney Plus.The series is part of a new multi-year overall television deal Ryan Coogler and his Proximity Media have signed with The Walt Disney Company and will include other television projects in the future. Coogler previously directed and co-wrote the hit Marvel film “Black Panther,” which takes place in the fictional African nation of Wakanda.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe long-rumored “Frasier” revival could soon be a reality at Paramount Plus.Variety has confirmed with sources that a new iteration of “Frasier” is in discussions at the ViacomCBS streaming service, though those discussions are said to be in the very early stages.Reps for CBS Studios and Paramount Plus declined to comment.Series star Kelsey Grammer has been trying to get the revived show off the ground for some time.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNeve Campbell has signed on for a leading role in “The Lincoln Lawyer” series that was recently announced at Netflix.She joins previously announced series Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who will star as Mickey Haller, runs his law practice out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car.Campbell will play Maggie McPherson.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has ordered two drama series to pilot in some of its first pilot pickups of the 2021 pilot season.The broadcaster has given out pilot orders to the one-hour shows “Queens” and “Epic.” Both will be produced by ABC Signature. They join the previously announced ABC drama pilot “Acts of Crime,” which hails from Sam Esmail.“Queens” is written and executive produced by Zahir McGhee and executive produced by Sabrina Wind.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Sandman” series at Netflix has set its main cast. Tom Sturridge is officially set to star as Dream, with the show also adding Gwendoline Christie, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, Asim Chaudhry, and Sanjeev Bhaskar.The series is based on “The Sandman” comic book series created for DC by Neil Gaiman.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAn animated “Game of Thrones” series is in the very early development stages at HBO Max, Variety has confirmed with sources.There are no details available about what the focus of the potential series would be and no writers or talent are currently attached to the project.HBO Max declined to comment.Variety exclusively reported last week that a series based on George R.R. Martin’s “Tales of Dunk and Egg” is in the works at HBO.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“State of the Union” has been renewed for Season 2 at SundanceTV.The second season of the short form series will star Brendan Gleeson, Patricia Clarkson, and Esco Jouléy.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJamie Dornan has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming limited series “The Tourist.” In addition, HBO Max has boarded the project and will co-produce along with Two Brothers Pictures as well as serve as the show’s streaming home in the U.S.Alongside Dornan, the six-episode series will star Danielle Macdonald, Shalom Brune-Franklin, and Hugo Weaving. Filming is set to begin soon in Australia.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO is developing the third season of the hit podcast “Serial” as a limited series, with LeBron James onboard the project as an executive producer.The potential series will examine the criminal justice system at work in Cleveland, Ohio.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple is nearing an order for the limited series “In with the Devil,” with Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser onboard to star, Variety has learned.The six-episode series would be based on the 2010 novel “In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption” by James Keene and Hillel Levin.