‘Criminal’ Series Based On Ed Brubaker’s Comic Books In Works At Amazon Studios

EXCLUSIVE: Mandalay Television is continuing to ramp up its slate of book to series adaptations.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Margo Martindale and Chris Diamantopoulos have been cast in the lead roles of the upcoming Amazon series “The Sticky,” Variety has learned exclusively. The show was originally ordered at Amazon back in April 2022. As previously reported, the series is inspired by the true story of “The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist.” The real heist involved the theft of $18 million dollars (CAD) of of Quebec’s national maple syrup, which is more than 70% of the global maple syrup supply. Per the official logline for the half-hour comedy series, “‘The Sticky’ revolves around Ruth Clarke (Martindale), a tough, supremely competent middle-aged Canadian maple syrup farmer who’s had it with being hemmed in by the polite, bureaucratic conventions native to her country’s identity. Especially now that that very bureaucracy is threatening to take away everything she loves: Her farm, her comatose husband, and her right to freedom. With the help of Remy Bouchard, a local blockhead and Mike Byrne (Diamantopoulos), a low-level mobster, Ruth changes her fate—and transforms the future of her community with the theft of millions of dollars’ worth of maple syrup.”

Christopher Vourlias Firefly Productions is prepping a new high-end drama that the Belgrade-based outfit is billing as Serbia’s first ever superhero series. “Generation Tesla” is based on the famed Serbian American inventor Nikola Tesla, best known for his pioneering work on electricity. In the series Tesla creates an electric frequency at the time of his death that opens a portal to a new dimension, where many of his unfinished projects and ideas are hidden. As the keeper of a vast trove of secrets and knowledge, Tesla must confront the greatest enemy ever known to man, who is looking to steal the secret of this mysterious frequency to rule the world. To fight him, Tesla assembles a team of superheroes, whom he contacts through a video game-obsessed teenager, in order to save the planet.

Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler director Felicity Morris has said the documentary market is going to contract and warned filmmakers against “chasing the next viral story that everyone is talking about.”

The cast of Taylor Sheridan‘s 1883: The Bass Reeves Story is filling out!

Shades of Blue creator Adi Hasak didn’t mince his words when discussing the state of U.S. television at the EFM’s Berlinale Series Market today.

“I think we need to find a way to avoid the U.S. brainwash,” said Newen Connect CEO Rodolphe Buet at this morning’s Berlinale Series Adapting to the Market session.

Jimmy Carter has started end of life care. The Carter Center, his foundation, announced that 38th president of the United States of America entered hospice care on Saturday, February 18.

"He has the full support of his family and his medical team," it continued. "The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers."President Carter led the United States for four years between 1977 and 1981.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Kino Lorber has acquired all rights in the U.S. to “Diabolik,” “Diabolik – Ginko Attacks!” and “Diabolik — Who Are You?” from Beta Cinema at the European Film Market in Berlin. The movies are based on the smash-hit Italian comic-book series about a ruthless master thief, which has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. The stylish crime-comic adaptations are written and directed by Marco and Antonio Manetti. “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Marvel’s Avengers” actor Giacomo Gianniotti stars in “Diabolik — Ginko Attacks!” and “Diabolik — Who Are You?,” and Luca Marinelli (“The Old Guard”) in the first installment, “Diabolik.” Monica Bellucci (“Matrix,” “The Apartment”) stars in the role of Altea, Miriam Leone (“The Invisible Witness,” “Medici”) as Eva Kant, and Valerio Mastandrea (“Perfect Strangers,” “Nine”) as Inspector Ginko.

EXCLUSIVE: Danica McKellar, who inked a multi-picture deal with Great American Family in 2021, is set to star in Royal Christmas Ball, an original holiday movie premiering as part of the network’s Great American Christmas 2023.

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Television is developing a TV adaptation of the novel Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft, who will also pen the series. Julie Plec and Emily Cummins will executive produce through Plec’s production banner, My So-Called Company as part of her overall deal with Universal Television.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Bass Reeves” series from Taylor Sheridan starring David Oyleowo has added two new series regulars, Variety has learned exclusively. Forrest Goodluck and Lauren E. Banks are both set to star in the show alongside series lead Oyelowo and previously announced cast member Dennis Quaid. The series is based on the true story of the titular lawman. Per the official description, “Reeves, known as the greatest frontier hero in American history, worked in the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, capturing over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without ever being wounded.” Banks will play Jennie, described as “the strong and fiercely loyal wife of Bass Reeves.” Goodluck will play Billy Crow, said to be a “young Cherokee man with an affinity for dime store books and gaudy style.”

Indian-American filmmaker Smriti Mundhra is again collaborating with Netflix on docu-series The Romantics, which looks back on 50 years of iconic Indian film studio Yash Raj Films (YRF) and its late founder Yash Chopra. 

Taye Diggs is bidding farewell to. The actor was written off in shocking fashion during Monday's new episode, «Time.»Diggs — who plays Billy Baker, and has been a starring original cast member on The CW sports drama since its debut in 2018 — was killed off in a surprising turn of events involving a tragic bus crash.Executive Producer Nkechi Okoro Carroll released a statement to ET on Monday, addressing Diggs' departure from the show after five years.«It has been an honor to work with Taye over these last five seasons and to watch him bring such incredible life to the role of Billy Baker.» Carrol shared. «It has truly been a gift for me and my fellow writers to write a character that was equally flawed and heroic.»«Billy was all of us and what a joy it was to watch this character grow as he raised his kids and his football players as one big family,» he added.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “The Penguin” series at HBO Max has added Rhenzy Feliz to its cast, Variety has learned. Feliz joins previously announced series stars Colin Farrell, who will reprise the role of Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot from “The Batman,” as well as Cristin Milioti. Details on Feliz’s character are being kept under wraps. The eight-episode series is said to continue the story of the film. It is believed to take place in the immediate aftermath of the events of “The Batman.” Milioti will star as Sofia Falcone, the daughter of Gotham mob boss Carmine Falcone. The role means Feliz has now held roles in both the Marvel and DC Universes. He previously starred in the Marvel series “The Runaways,” which aired for three seasons on Hulu. He also recently lent his voice to the hit Disney animated film “Encanto.” His other TV credits include “American Horror Stories” and “Teen Wolf,” while his other film credits include the George Clooney directorial effort “The Tender Bar.”

Former Marvel star Rhenzy Feliz is jumping to DC. Feliz, who headlined Marvel’s Runaways on Hulu, has been cast as a lead opposite Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti in the Max original series The Penguin (working title) from Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios.

EXCLUSIVE: Kimberly Harrison (The Crossover) has been tapped as showrunner for Hulu’s limited series about Sammy Davis, Jr. from Lee Daniels and 20th Television, which stars Elijah Kelley as the Candy Man.

Her final Food Network bow. Giada De Laurentiis is teaming up with Amazon Studios after more than 20 years as a Food Network personality.

Netflix has given a series order to The Madness, a conspiracy thriller starring Emmy winner Colman Domingo. The eight-episode limited series hails from Chernin Entertainment via its first-look deal with Netflix, creator and co-showrunner Stephen Belber (O.G., The Laramie Project) and co-showrunner VJ Boyd (Justified, S.W.A.T.)