Emma Roberts Sets First-Look TV Deal at Hulu, to Develop Drama Series ‘Tell Me Lies’

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHugh Davidson has signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Animation.Under the deal, Davidson will develop, write, and produce animated projects for WBA across all platforms.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO is developing a hip hop vampire drama from Macro Television Studios and the writing team of Leah Benavides Rodriguez and Carlito Rodriguez.Currently titled “Thirst,” the series tells the story of a brilliant but cocky Atlanta rapper who thinks he’s found his way to stardom when he links up with hip-hop’s hottest group.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given out a straight-to-series order to the drama series “Rebel.”Katey Sagal stars in the show, which is inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich. It is slated to debut in 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC is developing a single-cam comedy from two former “Single Parents” writers.The project is titled “Happy for You.” Taylor Cox is attached to write while Kim Rosenstock will serve as executive producer. The network has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRobert and Michelle King are attached to executive produce a series adaptation of the iHeart Media true crime podcast “Happy Face” currently in development at CBS All Access, Variety has learned.“Happy Face” is inspired by the true story of Melissa Moore, who discovered at age 15 that her father, whom she loved dearly, was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCurtis “50 Cent” Jackson is adding to his already deep roster of shows at Starz, with the premium cabler developing two new shows on which Jackson will serve as executive producer under his rich Starz overall deal. Both shows will be produced by Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television.The first series is an untitled drama inspired by the life of sports agent and attorney Nicole Lynn.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCAA has signed a franchise agreement with the Writers Guild of America, Variety has learned.Per a statement sent out by the agency, CAA has agreed to the same terms that ICM agreed to when it signed a deal with the WGA in August.“We delivered the signed agreement to the WGA, and we assume that it will be circulated to the appropriate members of the negotiating committee, as well as the membership, shortly,” the statement reads.”  “There is one change we have provided

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIssa Rae’s ColorCreative is set to produce a dramedy in development at Quibi from writer Brittani Nichols, Variety has learned exclusively.Titled “Toothbrush,” the series follows Rae. A queer woman living on the east side of Los Angeles, she struggles to find balance and boundaries with Emma, her ex-girlfriend turned best friend whose apartment she finds herself staying over more often than not.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Pose” co-creator Steven Canals has set up a drama project for development at ABC.The show is currently titled “In the End.” Incapable of living life to the fullest, Kiona Brown makes the only logical choice – to embrace death as an end-of-life doula.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterEva Longoria and Ben Spector’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment has signed a new three-year first-look deal with 20th Television.“Eva and Ben’s passion for championing meaningful stories, especially those of underrepresented voices and communities is something we believe in deeply at 20th, so we jumped at the chance to extend our relationship with them,” said 20th TV president Carolyn Cassidy.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeter Sarsgaard has joined the upcoming Hulu drama series “Dopesick” in a series regular role.The series looks into the epicenter of America’s struggle with Opioid addiction, taking viewers from a distressed Virginia mining community, to the hallways of the DEA, and to the opulence of “one percenter” Big Pharma Manhattan.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has picked up two seasons of the planned drama series reboot of the classic sitcom “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”Will Smith made the announcement Tuesday on YouTube, which can be viewed below. The series, titled “Bel-Air,” will be based on Morgan Cooper’s viral video that reimagined the NBC comedy series as a drama.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMariah Carey is set to headline a Christmas special at Apple.“Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special” will combine music, dancing and animation. It will be driven by a a story about bringing the world together.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe CW is developing a drama series that hails from Damon Wayans Jr.’s Two Shakes Entertainment, Variety has learned exclusively.The project is titled “The Pretenders.” In the show, a seemingly normal suburban family is hiding a big secret: they’re actually individual assets in the Witness Protection Program, placed together to provide safe cover for three of the assets who are unrelated minors.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given a series order to the limited anthology series “Women of the Movement,” which will tell the story of key female figures in the Civil Rights Movement.The show was first announced as being in development in August 2019. The first six-episode season is slated to debut in 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNicolas Cage is attached to voice the lead character of and executive produce a series adaptation of “Artemis Fowl” author Eoin Colfer’s novel “Highfire” in development at Amazon, Variety has confirmed.Cage will play the titular Highfire, described as a vodka-drinking, “Flashdance”-loving dragon who lives an isolated existence in the bayous of Louisiana.In the series, dragons once ruled the earth and Lord Highfire ruled the dragons from his eyrie.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA+E Networks has launched a new campaign called Voices Magnified,The cross-platform campaign is meant to spotlight and amplify the voices of those making changes in their communities for the greater good.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS All Access is developing a series about former NYPD detective Derrick Parker with Tip “T.I.” Harris attached to star and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson onboard as an executive producer, Variety has learned.The project is currently titled “Twenty Four Seven.” It is based on the book “Notorious C.O.P.: The Inside Story of the Tupac, Biggie, and Jam Master Jay Investigations from NYPD’s First ‘Hip-Hop Cop'” by Parker and Matt Diehl.During his time with the NYPD, Parker worked

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOWN has given a straight-to-series order to the drama series “Delilah,” which hails from “Greenleaf” creator Craig Wright, Variety has learned.The series will star Maahra Hill as Delilah Connolly, a headstrong, highly principled lawyer living in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox is developing a one-hour music anthology series, Variety has confirmed.The series is currently titled “Icon.” Each season would focus on the true stories of the music legends we think we know.