Dan Harmon Inks Fox Entertainment Animation Deal, Lands Series Commitments

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 Reporter“The Batman” director Matt Reeves is expanding his relationship with Warner Bros.Reeves and his 6th & Idaho production company have signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBeavis and Butt-Head are returning to TV.Comedy Central announced Wednesday that the world’s favorite slacker teens are getting a reimagining at the cable network courtesy of original series creator Mike Judge. Comedy Central has ordered two seasons of the show as part of a new animation deal with Judge and 3 Arts Entertainment.

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 ReporterSpringHill Entertainment, the production company founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, has signed a two-year overall deal with ABC Studios.“SpringHill Entertainment makes the shows LeBron and I want to watch,” Carter said. “We look at every project as a way to connect with our community and ask ourselves if it will entertain and empower them.

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 ReporterLike virtually all aspects of the entertainment industry, the volume of broadcast series orders took a massive hit this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.The pandemic shut down the traditional pilot season, with almost no pilots completing production.

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 ReporterMarlon Wayans has inked an overall deal with HBO Max.The deal includes a new one-hour stand up special from Wayans as well as a multi-act special which he will host. Wayans will also develop both scripted and unscripted projects for the streamer under a first look deal.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKevin Jordan has signed a first look deal with MACRO Television Studios, Variety has learned exclusively.“Right now we’re in a creative renaissance of storytelling in television and film, at a point in history where audiences are demanding to see the many Black and Brown stories that have not been told before,” Jordan said.

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.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSalma Hayek and her production company, Ventanarosa, have signed a two-year first-look deal with HBO Max.Under the deal, Hayek will bring projects to HBO Max first for potential development. Jose Tamez, president of Ventanarosa, will serve as her producing partner.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMatthew Cherry has signed a first-look development deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.Cherry is best known for his Academy Award-winning project “Hair Love,” an animated short film about an African-American father attempting to do his daughter’s hair for the first time.Under terms of the multi-year deal, Cherry will develop new television programming for all platforms, including cable and streaming.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has ordered a new adult animated series titled “10-Year-Old-Tom.”The series hails from writer and executive producer Steve Dildarian, with Nick Weidenfeld also attached as an executive producer.“Not only is Steve insanely funny, he is one of the rare talents that can write, draw and do voices.

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVEXCLUSIVE: Fox Entertainment is taking the next big step in its animation expansion with its first fully owned series. It will come from Emmy-winning Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon who has signed a broadcast network-only exclusive direct animation deal with Fox Entertainment.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu is developing a comedy series about the notorious New Jersey theme park Action Park, Variety has learned.The half-hour series is based on the book “Action Park: Fast Times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park” by Andy Mulvihill and Jake Rossen.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe CW announced Tuesday an additional four series acquisitions as part of its summer lineup.Making their U.S. debuts on The CW are: the horror whodunnit competition “Killer Camp,” debuting July 16 at 8 p.m.