‘Far Cry’ Anime Series Set at Netflix, Streamer Picks Up Adi Shankar’s ‘Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered a series adaptation of the Garth Risk Hallberg “City on Fire” from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.The eight-episode series falls under the first-look deal Fake Empire, Schwartz and Savage’s production banner, set up at Apple in 2019. It is the first series order to come from the deal.In “City on Fire,” an NYU student is shot in Central Park on the 4th of July, 2003.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Last of Us” series at HBO has added Nico Parker in a guest starring role, Variety has confirmed.Parker will appear as Sarah, the daughter of Joel (Pedro Pascal). Along with Pascal, Parker joins previously announced cast members Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Merle Dandridge.Parker most recently appeared in a lead role in the HBO/Sky miniseries “The Third Day,” starring opposite Jude Law.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Weeknd is developing a series at HBO which he would star in as well as co-write.Currently titled “The Idol,” the series follows a female pop singer starts a romance with an enigmatic L.A. club owner who is the leader of a secret cult.The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, will server as co-writer and executive producer along with Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson, with all three credited as creators of the show.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“For Life” could soon be returning to life on IMDb TV.According to sources, the up and coming streamer is poised to order a third season of the legal drama, which was canceled by ABC after two seasons back in May.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe co-showrunners of the “Halo” series at Paramount Plus are exiting the series, Variety has learned exclusively.Steven Kane and Kyle Killen are both out of the long-gestating video game adaptation. According to sources, Killen departed the project ahead of the start of production last year as he felt he was unable to render full-time showrunner duties during the show’s shoot in Budapest.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAndrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones will star in the FX on Hulu limited series “Under the Banner of Heaven,” Variety has learned.The series hails from write Dustin Lance Black and is based on the Jon Krakauer novel of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJuno Temple has signed on to star in “The Offer,” the Paramount Plus series that will explore the behind-the-scenes drama during the making of “The Godfather.”“The Offer” is based on the experience of Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy (Miles Teller), about the behind-the-scenes events of the original 1972 film.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAMC is officially moving forward with a series adaptation of Anne Rice’s “Interview With the Vampire.”News of the series order comes just over a year after Variety exclusively reported that AMC had acquired the rights to Rice’s book series “The Vampire Chronicles” and “The Lives of the Mayfair Witches.” “Interview With the Vampire” is the first series to be greenlit out of the acquisition.The cabler has given the series an eight episode order with an eye toward a 2022

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDean Winters has joined the “Joe Exotic” series at Peacock in the role of Jeff Lowe.Fans of the hit Netflix docuseries “Tiger King” will recall that Lowe became Exotic’s business partner and ally in his fight against Carole Baskin before eventually turning on him.Winters is the latest addition to the already stacked cast of “Joe Exotic.” He joins previously announced series leads Kate McKinnon, who will play Baskin, and John Cameron Mitchell, who will play Exotic.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given out a straight-to-series order for an animated adaptation of “Strange Planet.”The show hails from creators Dan Harmon and Nathan Pyle, with Pyle having created the webcomic and graphic novels of the same name. Amalia Levari will serve as showrunner.The “Strange Planet” series is said to tell profound and heartfelt stories about beings on a distant planet not unlike our own.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJordan Young has been named executive producer and showrunner on the Dan Harmon animated Fox comedy “Krapopolis.”The show was ordered at Fox back in January and is slated to debut in 2022.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has ordered the limited series “Class of ’09” starring Brian Tyree Henry and Kate Mara, Variety has learned.The one-hour drama series will air exclusively on FX on Hulu and has received an eight-episode order. The show is set in a near future where the U.S.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS has officially announced that Gary Cole will join “NCIS” Season 19, with Katrina Law also set to appear in the upcoming season.Variety exclusively reported last week that Cole was going to join the long-running CBS drama, with CBS now revealing that Cole will appear in the series regular role of FBI Special Agent Alden Park. No further details on his character are available at this time.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has given a straight-to-series order to a comedy set in the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers from writer Elaine Ko and executive producer Mindy Kaling, Variety has learned.The untitled, half-hour series is inspired by the personal and professional dynamic between the family owners and front office team that together run one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJack Huston has been cast in the upcoming Amazon series “Expats,” the adaptation of Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel “The ExpatriatesSet against the fabric of Hong Kong, “Expats” is the story of an international community whose lives are bound together forever after a sudden family tragedy.Huston will play David Starr, who has long lived in the shadow of his impressive wife Hilary.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterZiwe is set to develop the comedy series “The Nigerian Princess” at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.The project follows Zoe, a wise-beyond-her-years 20-something who, debilitated by student debt, partners with a known grifter in a desperate bid to achieve the American Dream.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Dangerous Liaisons” series at Starz has added over a dozen actors to its cast.Lesley Manville, Carice van Houten, Michael McElhatton, Paloma Faith, Koshar Ali, Nathanael Saleh, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Hilton Pelser, Mia Threapleton, Colette Dalal Tchantcho, Lucy Cohu, Fisayo Akinade, Maria Friedman, and Clare Higgins will all appear in the series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDisney Plus will now starting releasing its original series episodes on Wednesdays instead of Fridays, the streamer announced.The news comes on the heels of the launch of the Marvel Studios series “Loki” on the platform, which has now released two episodes on Disney Plus as of June 16.According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the decision will apply to all scripted, unscripted, and animated series going forward.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “American Gigolo” series adaptation starring Jon Bernthal has been ordered to series at Showtime, Variety has learned.The project was ordered to pilot at Showtime in March 2020 after having been in development at the premium cabler since 2016.Bernthal will play Julian Kaye, the character played by Richard Gere in the film.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Assassin’s Creed” live-action series at Netflix has enlisted Jeb Stuart to serve as writer, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.The series was first announced as being in development in October as part of a deal between Netflix and Ubisoft to develop content based on the best-selling video game franchise. The deal includes live-action, animated, and anime series.