Cary Joji Fukunaga, Chef René Redzepi Set Docuseries ‘Omnivore’ at Apple (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRobin De Jesús has joined the Hulu series “Immigrant,” which tells the story of the founding of Chippendales.He joins previously announced series lead Kumail Nanjiani as well as series regulars Annaleigh Ashford, Murray Bartlett, and Dan Stevens.“Immigrant” is the true story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee (Nanjiani), the Indian-American entrepreneur who started Chippendales. The series will detail the darkly comedic, crime-ridden story behind the unique male revue that became a cultural phenomenon.De Jesús will appear in the recurring role of Ray Colon. Described as a proud Nuyorican from the Bronx, Colon comes on the Chippendales scene as the resident handyman and self-proclaimed jack of all trades.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam Esmail’s “Metropolis” series has been greenlit at Apple, Variety has learned.The drama series is inspired by the 1927 Fritz Lang sci-fi film of the same name. Hailed as one of the greatest and most influential films of the silent film era, the story takes place in the futuristic city of Metropolis.While the city’s wealthy elite enjoy a lavish life of comfort and ease in penthouses and pleasure gardens, scores of workers labor at dangerous machinery in the bowels of the city to keep everything running. Freder Fredersen, the son of the most powerful man in Metropolis, has an awakening after meeting a young worker named Maria and witnessing a number of workers die in an industrial accident.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterTim Robinson and Zach Kanin have set up the comedy pilot “Computer School” at HBO Max, Variety has learned.In the pilot, a recent high school grad and his uncle attend the same computer class in suburban Michigan. Robinson will star as the uncle. Robinson and Kanin are writing and executive producing the pilot.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA&E and WWE have signed a multi-year extension of their programming partnership.Under the terms of the deal, A&E has ordered more than 130 hours of new programming centered on the sports entertainment giant.“A&E is an amazing partner with an impressive lineup of signature series across its networks,” said Nick Khan, WWE president. “The expansion of our partnership will allow us to continue creating a massive slate of new content with a trusted partner, while further establishing A&E as a destination for WWE fans for years to come.”The partnership includes 35 new episodes of “Biography: WWE Legends,” which was A&E’s most-watched series of 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMichael Douglas will star as U.S. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin in a new limited series for Apple, Variety has learned.The untitled series is based on the book “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America” by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff. Kirk Ellis, the writer behind HBO’s “John Adams” series, will write the show for Apple and serve as an executive producer.Emmy-winning director Tim Van Patten will direct and executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming Apple limited series “Manhunt” has added Anthony Boyle and Lovie Simone to its cast, Variety has learned.The pair join previously announced series lead Tobias Menzies. The show is based on the book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” by James Swanson.

Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley, Don’t Look Up) has been named as the latest recipient of Film At Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has given a straight-to-series order to the true crime series “A Friend of the Family,” which tells the story of the multiple kidnappings of Jan Broberg.Anna Paquin, Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks, and Lio Tipton will all star in the series, which hails from “The Act” co-creator Nick Antosca. The show was originally announced as being in development back in May 2020.“A Friend of the Family” is based on the true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family, and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart, and turn their daughter against them.

Rachel Zegler and her  co-star, Josh Andres Rivera, are looking more and more like a couple!  The 20-year-old actress shared a series of pictures on Valentine’s Day, seemingly confirming their romance. “Committing Valen-crimes,” she captioned a black-and-white selfie featuring the two. Zegler kept the romantic posts going on her Instagram Story.

Ariana DeBose, who made her dream come true and needed to take a moment before meeting Hollywood legend Rita Moreno, her co-star in Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story.’The 31-year-old actress plays Anita in the 2021 film, the role that Rita played in the 1961 acclaimed musical. On a recent joint interview with the rest of the cast, the pair revealed some behind the scenes situations that took place on the set of the movie, including the moment the two stars met.DeBose said she couldn’t hide her excitement when she first met Rita as the cast was getting ready for rehearsals, “I was having a full-fledged panic attack,” DeBose confessed, “I hid underneath the bleachers for like 20 minutes until I could get myself together.”The actress had to pull herself together and prepared to meet Moreno for lunch, who gave her some sweet words of encouragement, “She calmed me down and gave me the space to feel my feelings.

Zack Sharf Josh Brolin has a bone to pick with the Academy after it nominated “Dune” for 10 Oscars but shut out filmmaker Denis Villeneuve from the director category. “Dune” landed in the best picture race and earned nominations in every individual crafts category, which made Villeneuve’s omission one of the biggest nomination snubs of the year.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLiane Moriarty’s novel “Apples Never Fall” is being adapted into a limited series at Peacock, Variety has learned exclusively.In a competitive situation, Peacock has won the rights to the book, which was published in September 2021, and given it a straight-to-series order. Since its debut, the book has sold over one million copies.The series centers on the Delaneys, who from the outside appear to be an enviably contented family.

“Jaws” will never, ever forget composer John Williams’ famous musical score. The iconic theme from director Steven Spielberg’s shark flick is chilling and ominous, yet all too familiar. However, the 75-year-old filmmaker initially thought Williams — who turned 90 on Tuesday, Feb.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered the dark comedy series “Sunny” with Rashida Jones set to star, Variety has confirmed.The 10-episode series is based on the book “Dark Manual” by Colin O’Sullivan. In the half-hour show, Jones stars as Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan, whose life is upended when her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash. As “consolation” she’s given Sunny, one of a new class of domestic robots made by her husband’s electronics company.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime is developing a drama series set in the world of professional football, Variety has learned.The untitled series is executive produced by former NFL quarterback and current NFL broadcaster Tony Romo as well as Chace Crawford and Drew Comins. eOne would produce the series for Showtime.

Sasha Urban editor“Broadway, Here I Come!” said the musical adaptation of the late NBC show “Smash,” which Variety can exclusively reveal is planning a workshop for the summer, according to producer Robert Greenblatt.The musical was first confirmed to be in the works in May of 2020, with Tony winner Bob Martin (“The Prom”) and Tony-nominated Rick Elice (“Peter and the Starcatcher”) writing the book. Greenblatt is aiming for a Broadway opening in 2023, with the show being titled either “Smash, A New Musical” or “Smash: The Musical.”“They’ve delivered a draft that I’m very excited about, and we’re now in the process of putting together our first workshop, which is, you know, the earliest step in a musical where you just get a cast together, read the script and perform the score just for the producers,” Greenblatt told Variety.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a series order to the drama “Presumed Innocent” from David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams, and Dustin Thomason.Inspired by the Scott Turow novel of the same name, the courtroom thriller series tells the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a series order to the drama series “Dear Edward” from Jason Katims, Variety has learned.Based on the Ann Napolitano novel of the same name, the series will star Connie Britton (“The White Lotus,” “Dirty John”), Taylor Schilling (“Pam and Tommy,” “Orange Is the New Black”), and Colin O’Brien (“Wonka,” “Mr. Harrigan’s Place”). The role reunites Britton and Katims, who previously worked together on the series version of “Friday Night Lights.”“Dear Edward” tells the story of Edward Adler (O’Brien), a 12-year-old boy who survives a devastating commercial plane crash that kills every other passenger on the flight, including his family.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA24 is partnering with Brain Dead Studios to develop a docuseries based on the Sundance short film “You Have Never Been Completely Honest,” Variety has learned exclusively.The docuseries will be titled “Self.” It will be a hybrid-format using archival footage, animation, and reenactments to chronicle the self-help movement throughout history.“You Have Never Been Completely Honest” debuted at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. It featured the first-hand account of Gene Church, a participant in the Leadership Dynamics Institute, a secretive four-day leadership seminar in 1970 in California that was subject to accusations of physical torture and brainwashing.Joey Izzo created and directed the film and is onboard to develop and direct the series.