CBS Commits 25% of Development Budget to BIPOC Projects

The Batman.Similar – but not connected – to last year’s Joker origin story, Warner Bros’ forthcoming superhero flick stars Robert Pattinson in the lead role and will be a whole new take on the DC comic book franchise.While all of the movie’s details have not yet been released, a fan online tweeted that they had read Bautista could be playing Bane, one of Batman’s longtime arch enemies.“I just read an article speculating that @DaveBautista may be, should be, could be, playing Bane in the new

Dave Bautista is shutting down speculation that he’ll be playing one of the Dark Knight’s nemeses in “The Batman”.

The Batman is jam-packed with star power and DC villains as Robert Pattinson takes over from Ben Affleck to play the Caped Crusader. Along with Robert, we will see Zoe Kravitz suit up to play Catwoman, Paul Dano as Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson, Jayme Lawson as Bella Real, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Colin Farrell as Penguin.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHeather Morris has come onboard at Aline Brosh McKenna’s production company, Lean Machine, to serve as vice president of development and production.In her new role, Morris will help identify and develop projects for Lean Machine.

Dave McNary Film Reporter“Call Me by Your Name” director Luca Guadagnino will direct Searchlight’s untitled Scotty Bowers project with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg writing the script.Matt Tyrnauer and Corey Reeser are producing through Altimeter Films, with Rogen and Goldberg producing through their Point Grey Pictures.The project is based on the 2017 documentary “Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood” by Tyrnauer, a portrait of unsung Hollywood legend Bowers, whose memoir chronicled his

If Robin Givens has it her way, there will be no depiction of her in the upcoming Mike Tyson biopic “Finding Mike”.

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: Amazon Studios has acquired a package for a film biopic of iconic C&W singer Merle Haggard. Oscar-winning actor Sam Rockwell is circling to play Haggard, and he will do his own singing of Haggard’s standards, recorded during the ‘60s when the picture is set.Robin Bissell will direct the film, and he will write the script with Merle’s widow, Theresa Haggard, based on the Haggard memoir Sing Me Back Home.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO has optioned a book proposal about the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine with Adam McKay onboard as an executive producer, Variety has confirmed.The potential limited series is based on the book proposal “The First Shot” by Brendan Borrell.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDenis Leary has signed a broadcast development deal with Fox Entertainment.Under the deal, Leary and his production company, Amoeba, will develop and produce series for Fox. Leary may also star in any series developed under the agreement, which encompasses comedy, drama, and animation.“Everyone at Amoeba is excited about this partnership and we look forward to creating new, cutting-edge content at Fox,” Leary said.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorEXCLUSIVE: In the wake of the great response from Jennifer Hudson’s performance of Aretha Franklin’s “Young, Gifted & Black” on the BET Awards, and the 60 minute trailer that followed, MGM/United Artists Releasing is now going wide with their biopic about the legendary performer on Jan. 15, 2021, MLK weekend.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterVince Vaughn is attached to executive produce an animated comedy series in the works at Fox, Variety has learned exclusively.Fox has given Vaughn, Victoria Vaughn, and Peter Billingsly’s Wild West Picture Show production company a blind script deal for an animated series. No writer is currently attached, but Fox Entertainment will produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has optioned the rights to Curtis Sittenfeld’s alternative history book “Rodham,” which takes place in a world in which Hillary Rodham never married Bill Clinton.The series is described as telling the story of an ambitious young woman, developing her extraordinary mind in the latter part of the 20th century, moving from idealism to cynicism and all the way back again.Sarah Treem is attached to write and executive produce the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC is developing a drama series with both Eva Longoria and Forest Whitaker attached as executive producers.Titled “Chicano,” the series is inspired by the novel of the same name Richard Vasquez. It tells the multi-generational story of the Sandovals, a Mexican-American family that immigrates to Los Angeles in pursuit of the American Dream.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDiego Boneta has signed on to star in a limited series currently in the works at HBO Max, Variety has learned exclusively.Hailing from Legendary Television, the series is titled “Brujo” and will feature both English and Spanish dialogue. It is inspired by the true story of the infamous Adolfo Constanzo and the power he acquired as his acts of dark magic came to light.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon is developing a half-hour comedy series with Crab Club Inc. and SB Projects.The series is titled “The Undesirables.” It is set in a near-future Los Angeles that explores the unexpected relationships that form when a group of outcasts are forced to bond under unusual circumstances.Ken Cheng of Crab Club and Arvin Chen will write and executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS Television Studios and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) have come to a multi-year content partnership agreement.Under the deal, the two organizations will work together to develop and produce scripted, unscripted, and documentary projects for linear and streaming platforms. The partnership will be aimed toward elevating a diverse range of voices as well as increasing the visibility of Black artists.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS is no longer planning to air “Survivor” Season 41 this fall.Variety has learned that CBS has pulled the long-running reality competition series from its fall 2020-2021 lineup.

Also Read: 'MacGyver,' 'Magnum PI' Showrunner Peter Lenkov Fired by CBS Over Toxic Work EnvironmentCBS also said it’s committed to additional BIPOC writers for the upcoming broadcast season.Currently, CBS’ “SWAT” is led by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, who co-created the series and serves as showrunner.

Peter White Television EditorCBS is aggressively stepping up its efforts to be more inclusive to diverse television creators and writers, setting a slew of targets for the 2021/22 season.The broadcaster is committing 25% of its script development budget to projects from creators, writers and producers who are Black, Indigenous and people of color.

Maybe it’s just because 2020 has felt like a full decade already, but it’s surprising that we’re still waiting on Rosamund Pike’s new film, “Radioactive,” to be released in the US. Sure, it only just debuted at TIFF last year, but it sure seems like we’ve been talking about this movie for so much longer.