Denis Leary Inks Broadcast Development Deal With Fox

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox Sports Films is set to air “Tua,” a documentary about Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Variety has learned exclusively.“Tua is a beloved young star with an incredible story,” said Charlie Dixon, Executive Vice President of Content at Fox Sports. “We like to say, ‘Fox is Football’, and since it’s in our DNA, that means providing the deepest insight into the sport both on and off the field.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMartin Scorsese and his Sikelia Productions banner have signed a first-look film and television deal with Apple.The acclaimed director is currently working with the streamer on the film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which will directed by Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLizzo has signed a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios.Under the deal, the Grammy-winning musician will work with Amazon Studios to create television projects that will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.“I’m so excited to partner with the amazing team at Amazon,” said Lizzo. “Thank you to Jen Salke and the rest of the team for making this dream come true.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterICM Partners is close to signing a franchise agreement with the Writers Guild of America, Variety has learned from sources.Sources say that the agreement between the agency and the guild would be similar to the one recently signed by UTA in July. Under that deal, UTA agreed to end packaging fees in two years as well as agreeing to disclose financial details around deals they broker for writers, but only at the express consent of those clients.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA new iteration of “Who’s the Boss?” is in development.Variety has confirmed that a sequel series to the classic sitcom is in the works at Sony, with original stars Tony Danza and Alyssa Milano onboard to reprise their roles.The new show will take place 30 years after the events of the original series and be centered around former major-league baseball player and retired housekeeper Tony Micelli (Danza) and his relationship with his daughter Samantha Micelli (Milano),

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has signed a first-look film and television deal with Appian Way, the production company founded by Leonardo DiCaprio.The multi-year deal between covers television projects and features.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Breakout Pose actress and activist Angelica Ross has entered an overall development deal with Pigeon, the production company behind OWN’s Iyanla: Fix My Life. In addition to her deal with Pigeon, Ross is currently working with the Joe Biden campaign as the production arm of their LGBTQ+ Out For Biden initiative.Under the overall deal, Ross and Pigeon will develop and co-produce scripted and non-scripted content.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKerry Washington and her Simpson Street production banner have renewed their overall deal with ABC studios for a further three years.“Since its inception, Simpson Street has focused on using art and entertainment to amplify the human experience and weave narratives that honor our unique differences while connecting us through our shared humanity,” said Washington.

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.

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.

Peter White Television EditorComedian Denis Leary has signed a development deal with Fox Entertainment.

Will Thorne Staff WriterCookie could be getting her own show.Taraji P.

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.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerEmmy and Golden Globe winner Elisabeth Moss has launched Love & Squalor Pictures production company and signed a joint first-look deal with Fox 21 Television Studio and Hulu.

Will Thorne Staff WriterElisabeth Moss is making a giant leap into developing and producing her own content.“The Handmaid’s Tale” star has inked a joint first-look deal with the show’s platform Hulu and Fox 21 Television Studios. Moss has also launched her own production company called Love & Squalor Pictures, which will focus on creating TV and film content for all platforms.As part of the deal, Moss is developing an anthology titled “Black Match” for Hulu, in which she will star.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“grown-ish” star and executive producer Yara Shahidi has signed an overall deal with ABC Studios.As part of the deal, Shahidi is forming a production company with her business partner and mother, Keri Shahidi. The company is called 7th Sun.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLaura Benanti has joined the ensemble cast of the Fox drama pilot “Big Leap,” Variety has learned exclusively.The one-hour project centers on a group of diverse underdogs from all different walks of life who compete to be part of a competition reality series that is putting on a modern, hip remake of “Swan Lake.” It is inspired by the UK docuseries “Big Ballet.”Benanti will play Paula Dirks, a tap dancer and white-collar former V.P.

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.