Broadcast Series Order Volume Plummets More Than 50% in Coronavirus-Ravaged Pilot Season

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories has optioned the rights to Christina Baker Kline’s “The Exiles” with plans to adapt it as a television series, Variety has learned exclusively.“The Exiles” follows a trio of women — two English convicts and an orphaned Aboriginal girl — in nineteenth-century Australia. The historical novel is set to be published by Custom House, an imprint of HarperCollins, on Aug.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Quinn Colson novels by Ace Atkins are being developed as a TV series at HBO, Variety has learned exclusively.In the books, Colson is a former Army Ranger who returns to his home in rural northeast Mississippi.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSister has acquired the television rights to Jennifer Weiner’s novel “Mrs. Everything.”The book tells a multigenerational tale of two sisters, spanning from the 1950s to the present day.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterUSA Network is no longer moving ahead with the limited series about Evel Knievel starring Milo Ventimiglia, Variety has confirmed.It was announced last September that Ventimiglia, who stars on the hit NBC drama “This Is Us,” was to play the famous daredevil. However, the coronavirus pandemic shut down the series on March 13, right before production was to begin.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMichael Che has set up his own sketch comedy series at HBO Max, Variety has learned.The streamer has given the series a six-episode order. Che will star in the series, with each episode set to tackle a different theme or incident — such as police brutality, unemployment, or falling in love — from a Black vantage point.“I’m really excited to be working on this show with HBO Max” said Che.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe planned series adaptation of the film “Sexy Beast” is not moving forward at Paramount Network, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.The show was given a 10-episode straight-to-series order at the cabler last year. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the move to scrap the series came amid budget cuts in the wake of the Viacom-CBS merger.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has given a series commitment to a drama set in the Gotham police department from Matt Reeves and Terrence Winter, Variety has learned.The untitled series will be set in the world Reeves is creating for the feature film “The Batman,” with the intent being to launch a new Batman universe across multiple platforms. It is said to build on the film’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOscar Isaac and Michelle Williams are attached to star in an HBO limited series adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s “Scenes From a Marriage,” Variety has learned.Bergman’s version aired on Swedish television in 1973, consisting of six episodes. Bergman directed the series with Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson starring.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon has landed the rights to develop the 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist New York Times story and podcast “The Jungle Prince of Delhi” as a drama series, Variety has learned.The story, written by Ellen Barry, delved into the history of the royal family of Oudh, deposed aristocrats living in a ruined palace in the Indian capital claiming to be the heirs to a fallen kingdom.Mira Nair is attached to direct the project and will also executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Batwoman” has found its new series lead, with Javicia Leslie set to step into the cape and cowl for the show’s upcoming second season on The CW.“I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community,” Leslie said.Leslie will portray a new character on the show named Ryan Wilder.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime is developing a limited series about entertainment icon and activist Lena Horne.The series is currently titled “Blackbird: Lena Horne and America,” named for Horne’s favorite poem “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.” Jenny Lumet, Horne’s granddaughter, will co-write the first few episodes of the series with Alex Kurtzman, with both also executive producing.The series will span 60 years of Horne’s life, from dancing at the Cotton Club when she was 16,

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX and Hulu have partnered to launch the documentary series “The New York Times Presents.”The show hails from the team behind FX’s “The Weekly.” The new show will present standalone documentaries on major stories via the journalists at the New York Times.“The New York Times Presents” will feature 10 individual documentaries that will air on FX and on Hulu on Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterUniversal Content Productions (UCP) is continuing its push into the true crime space with a new limited series starring Elisabeth Moss.Moss has signed on to star in a series titled “Candy” for the studio, based on the true story of Candy Montgomery and Betty Gore.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMahershala Ali is attached to play boxer Jack Johnson in a limited series currently in the works at HBO, Variety has learned.The six-part series is titled “Unruly.” It is described as an unapologetically Black, no-holds-barred telling of Johnson’s life.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterColin Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay are teaming for a scripted series about the NFL quarterback’s high school years at Netflix, Variety has learned.The six-episode series is currently titled “Colin in Black & White.” It will provide a look at Kaepernick’s early life as a Black child growing up with a white adopted family and his journey to become a great quarterback while defining his identity.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe hit video game “Disco Elysium” is getting the TV series treatment.Indie game developer ZA/UM has partnered with the production company dj2 Entertainment to develop a series based on the game.Based on the universe introduced in Robert Kurvitz’s 2013 novel “A Sacred, Terrible Air,” the game follows a veteran detective with a mysterious past who must solve a crime that threatens to set powerful political factions into civil war.“We’re so gratified at the response ‘Disco

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple is adding another international co-production to its streaming repertoire.The streamer has boarded the Israeli psychological thriller series “Losing Alice.” The show is produced by Israel’s Dori Media Productions in association with HOT. The eight-episode series is currently airing on HOT and will stream worldwide later this year on Apple TV Plus.The series hails from creator Sigal Avin, who served as director in addition to writing.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAnother of “Normal People” author Sally Rooney’s books is set to get the series treatment at Hulu.The streamer has given a straight-to-series order to “Conversations with Friends,” which will be based on Rooney’s debut novel of the same name.The series will consist of 12 half-hour episodes.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIn a competitive situation, Apple has given a straight-to-series order to a comedy series from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Variety has learned exclusively.Titled “The Afterparty,” the series is described as a murder mystery comedy set at a high school reunion afterparty.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox has renewed the animated comedy “The Great North” for a second season before the first has even aired.The show was ordered to straight-to-series last year and is currently slated to debut at midseason in 2021. It hails from Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin from “Bob’s Burgers” as well as Minty Lewis.