Colin Firth to Play Michael Peterson in ‘The Staircase’ Limited Series for HBO Max

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Wings of Fire” books by Tui T. Sutherland are being adapted into an animated series at Netflix with Ava DuVernay set to executive produce.The “Wings of Fire” books have sold more than 14 million copies around the world to date.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOlivia Colman is in negotiations to join the “Secret Invasion” series at Disney Plus, Variety has confirmed with sources.Should Colman join the series, she would join previously announced cast members Samuel L.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Joe Exotic” limited series in which Kate McKinnon will play Carole Baskin has cast John Cameron Mitchell to play the infamous “Tiger King” himself, Variety has learned.Mitchell has been cast as Joe “Exotic” Schreibvogel, the larger-than-life zoo owner in Oklahoma who loses himself in his hatred for Carole Baskin (McKinnon).

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHenry Lloyd-Hughes and Thalissa Teixeira will star alongside Lucy Hale in the AMC-Alibi series “Ragdoll,” Variety has learned.The six-episode show, which was ordered to series back in February, is set to begin production on April 19 in London.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe horror comedy “Shining Vale” starring Courteney Cox, Greg Kinnear, and Mira Sorvino has been ordered to series at Starz, Variety has learned.The half-hour show had originally been picked up to pilot back in 2019. The premium cabler has given the series an eight-episode order.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Last of Us” series adaptation at HBO has added Gabriel Luna to its cast, Variety has learned.Luna joins previously announced series leads Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who will star as Joel and Ellie respectively.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“House of the Dragon,” the “Game of Thrones” prequel series currently in the works at HBO, has added Fabien Frankel to its cast.“House of the Dragon” is set a few hundred years prior to the events of “Game of Thrones” and tells the story of House Targaryen and the Targaryen civil war that became known as the “Dance of the Dragons.”Frankel will appear Ser Criston Cole, of Dornish descent, the common-born son of the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Warrior” has been renewed for Season 3, with the show moving from Cinemax to HBO Max, Variety has learned.The first season of the show aired in 2019, with the second having debuted in October 2020. The series is based on the writings of Bruce Lee.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNatalie Portman has signed on to lead the cast of the upcoming HBO Films production “The Days of Abandonment.”The movie, which is currently in pre-production, is based on the Elena Ferrante novel of the same name. In the film, when Tess (Portman), a woman who abandoned her own dreams for a stable home life, is in turn abandoned by her husband, her world is thrown off its axis.Maggie Betts will write, direct, and executive produce the adaptation.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered the anthology series “Cinema Toast” from creator Jeff Baena and executive producers the Duplass brothers.The series is described as a post-modernist reinvention of older movies that turns pre-existing imagery from the public domain on its head to tell brand new unique stories. It will feature the voices of actors like Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, John Early, Christina Ricci, Megan Mullally, Chloe Fineman and Chris Meloni.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMichael Cera will star opposite Amy Schumer in the upcoming Hulu comedy series “Life & Beth.”Formerly known as “Love, Beth,” the show received a 10-episode order in July 2019 as part of a first-look deal Schumer signed with Hulu. She will serve as the writer, director, executive producer, and star of the series.In the show, Beth’s (Schumer) life looks pretty great on paper.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSamantha Morton has been cast in the lead role of the Starz drama series “The Serpent Queen.”Morton will star as Catherine de Medici. Based on the book “Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France” by Leonie Frieda, the eight-episode series is described as an account of one of the most influential women ever to wear a crown.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has given a series order to the half-hour comedy “Minx.”The streamer has given the show a 10-episode order. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, “Minx” on around an earnest young feminist (Ophelia Lovibond) who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women.In addition to Lovibond and Johnson, the show also stars Idara Victor, Jessica Lowe, Lennon Parham, Michael Angarano, and Oscar Montoya.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Station Eleven” series currently in the works at HBO Max is rounding out its cast.Lori Petty and Daniel Zovatto have been cast as series regulars, while Andy McQueen, David Cross, Enrico Colantoni And Julian Obradors will recur. They join previously announced cast members including Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, David Wilmot, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Philippine Velge.Based on the book of the same name by Emily St.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Three of Us,” a comedy pilot at CBS, is no longer moving forward at the network.The multi-camera pilot was a holdover from CBS’ 2020 pilot crop, which was thrown into disarray due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It starred Oliver Hudson, Malin Akerman, Brent Morin, and Vanessa Lachey.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS has given a series order to “CSI: Vegas,” a sequel series to the network’s hit forensics procedural “CSI.”Original series stars William Petersen and Jorja Fox will reprise the roles of Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle. The series opens a brand new chapter in Las Vegas, the city where it all began.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmanda Seyfried has signed on to play Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in the Hulu series “The Dropout.”Seyfried takes over the role from Kate McKinnon, whose exit from the project was reported in February. The series tells the story of Holmes, the enigmatic Stanford dropout who founded medical testing start-up Theranos.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterGeorge R.R. Martin is staying in business with HBO, with the author signing a massive five-year overall deal with the premium cabler.The deal will see Martin develop new projects for both HBO and HBO Max.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJohn Waters has joined the cast of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Season 4 at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Waters will be appear in a guest starring role in the fourth season of the critically-acclaimed series, with the exact nature of the character he is playing being kept under wraps.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJason Segel has been cast as Paul Westhead in the HBO series about the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s.The untitled series was ordered at HBO in December 2019.