David Simon, George Pelecanos HBO Series ‘We Own This City’ Halts Production Due to COVID

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“History of the World, Part I” is finally getting a Part II, with Hulu ordering a variety series followup to the classic Mel Brooks comedy film, Variety has learned exclusively.“History of the World, Part II” is described as a sequel to the 1981 film. The film was made up of segments set during different periods of world history.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMel Gibson will star in the “John Wick” prequel series “The Continental” at Starz, Variety has confirmed with sources.“The Continental” was originally ordered at Starz in 2018 and is said to focus on the inner workings of the titular hotel from the film franchise, which is a refuge for assassins.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBetty Gilpin is set to star in the series “Blood Sugar” that is currently in development at HBO, Variety has learned.In the series, when the Sharks of “Shark Tank” laugh the delightful Margot Schultz (Gilpin) and her frozen food business off stage, little do they know they’re setting in motion one of the bloodiest and wildest rises to fame and fortune this country has ever seen.The project is co-written by Duke Merriman (“So Good to See You,” “Monos”) and Preston

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Titans” has been renewed for Season 4 at HBO Max.The announcement was made as part of the DC FanDome event on Oct. 16.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Doom Patrol” has been renewed for Season 4 at HBO Max.The announcement was made as part of the DC FanDome event on Oct. 16.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCommon has joined the cast of the “Wool” series adaptation at Apple.The show is based on the Hugh Howey novel series of the same name. Common will star alongside previously announced cast members Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Rashida Jones, and David Oyelowo.“Wool” is a set in a ruined and toxic future where a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Ted Lasso’s” Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence are uniting with Jason Segel on the Apple comedy series “Shrinking,” Variety has learned.Goldstein, Lawrence, and Segel will all serve as writers and executive producers on the series, with Segel also set to star. Lawrence will executive produce under his Doozer Productions banner along with Jeff Ingold.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Interview With the Vampire” series at AMC has cast Kalyne Coleman in a recurring role, Variety has learned exclusively.Coleman joins series leads Jacob Anderson, who will play Louis, and Sam Reid, who will play Lestat, in the adaptation of the Anne Rice novel of the same name. Coleman will appear in the role of Grace, Louis’ sister.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has greenlit the half-hour comedy series “The Bear,” Variety has learned.The series stars “Shameless” alum Jeremy Allen White as a chef who returns to Chicago to run his family’s restaurant. Along with White, the series also stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Abby Elliott, and Liza Colón-Zayas, with Edwin Gibson and Matty Matheson in recurring roles.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered “That ’90s Show,” a sequel series to the hit Fox sitcom “That ’70s Show,” Variety has learned.Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, who played parents Red and Kitty Forman in the original series, are set to return in “That ’90s Show.” Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of the show, which will be a multi-cam sitcom like the original.In the new series, it’s 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer where she

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSteve Carell is set to star in the limited series “The Patient” at FX, which hails from “The Americans” team Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg.FX has ordered ten half-hour episodes of the series. The show is described as a psychological thriller about psychotherapist Alexander Strauss (Carell), who finds himself held prisoner by a serial killer with an unusual request: curb his homicidal urges.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOdetta Watkins has been hired by Amazon for the newly created role of head of drama series, the streamer announced Wednesday.In her new role, Watkins will report to Laura Lancaster, head of series for Amazon Studios.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMike Flanagan has scared up a new Netflix series, with the “Midnight Mass” and “The Haunting of Hill House” creator setting up the new limited series “The Fall of the House of Usher” at the streamer.The series is based on multiple works by Edgar Allan Poe rather than just the titular short story, though exact plot details are being kept under wraps at this time.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “L.A. Law” sequel series starring Blair Underwood has been given a pilot order at ABC.The followup to the beloved late ’80s-early ’90s series was first announced as being in development at ABC back in December.In the new show, the venerable law firm of McKenzie Brackman reinvents itself as a litigation firm specializing in only the most high profile, boundary pushing and incendiary cases.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Interview With the Vampire” series at AMC has cast Bailey Bass in the key role of Claudia, Variety has learned.Bass joins previously announced series leads Jacob Anderson, who will play Louis, and Sam Reid, who will play Lestat.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max is developing a series adaptation of the upcoming Stacy Willingham novel “A Flicker in the Dark” that hails from Emma Stone’s Fruit Tree and A24, Variety has learned exclusively.The novel is slated for publication in the U.S. in January 2022 with rights sold into 17 foreign markets to date.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Other Two” creators Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider are developing a half-hour comedy series at HBO, Variety has learned.The untitled series is described as a dark, psychological comedy set in the year 2000, about a closeted gay teen who constantly dissociates and imagines he’s a famous straight actor merely playing the role.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has greenlit the series adaptation of the novel “Washington Black,” with Sterling K.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Sopranos” creator David Chase has signed a five year first-look deal with WarnerMedia.News of the deal comes on the day that “The Many Saints of Newark,” a “Sopranos” prequel film written by Chase and Lawrence Konner, is debuting in theaters and on HBO Max. Under his new deal, Chase will develop content for HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe FX series adaptation of the James Clavell novel “Shōgun” has rounded out its main cast.Anna Sawai has been cast in the lead role of Lady Mariko, joining previously announced leads Cosmo Jarvis and Hiroyuki Sanada.