Fox to Adapt ‘Cliffhanger’ Novels as Drama Series

EXCLUSIVE: Eva De Dominici has been tapped for a heavily recurring role opposite Adan Canto on The Cleaning Lady, Fox’s adaptation of the Argentinean drama starring Elodie Yung, from The 100 writer Miranda Kwok, Stargirl EP Melissa Carter, who is showrunner, Shay Mitchell’s Amore & Vita Productions, Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBrooke Bowman has been promoted to executive vice president of drama development and programming at Fox Entertainment.She succeeds Charlie Andrews in the role, with Andrews exiting the company. The parting with Andrews is said to be on good terms, with his contract simply coming to an end.Bowman was previously senior vice president in the Fox drama department.

When Élodie Yung signed on to The Cleaning Lady, she relished the opportunity to play a character of many layers—a Cambodian immigrant coming from the Philippines to America who meets “extreme situations” with remarkable resilience, and will do whatever it takes to protect her son.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLegal drama “Reasonable Doubt” at Onyx Collective on Hulu has made five additions to its cast, Variety has learned.Michael Ealy, Thadeus J. Mixson and Aderinsola Olabode will all appear in series regular roles, while Pauletta Washington and Sean Patrick Thomas will appear in recurring guest star roles.In the series, viewers will judge Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi) for her questionable ethics and wild interpretations of the law until they’re the one in trouble.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterWilmer Valderrama is attached to star in and executive produce a live-action “Zorro” series that is in development at Disney Branded Television.In “Zorro,” Valderrama would star as Don Diego de la Vega and his swashbuckling alter ego, the masked horseman known as Zorro, in the days of Spanish California.The show is a reimagining of the Disney-ABC “Zorro” series starring Guy Williams that aired in the 1950s. That show also starred Gene Sheldon, George J.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Gotham Knights” TV series is in the works at The CW from three “Batwoman” writers, Variety has learned.The project hails from writers Natalie Abrams, James Stoteraux, and Chad Fiveash. Stoteraux and Fiveash are executive producers on the show, with Abrams co-executive producing.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLou Diamond Phillips and his daughter, Gracie Phillips, have signed on to guest star on the upcoming Fox drama “The Cleaning Lady,” Variety has learned exclusively. This will mark the first time the father-daughter duo has acted together onscreen.The series stars Elodie Yung as Thony, a whip-smart doctor who comes to the U.S.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFreeform is getting into animation for the first time, with the basic cabler ordering the series “Praise Petey” while also announcing two more animated shows into development.“Praise Petey” hails from “SNL” writer Anna Drezen with “Schitt’s Creek” star Annie Murphy in the lead role. The show follows Petey (Murphy), a New York City “it” girl who has it all until her life comes crashing down around her.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO has released the first look at their upcoming series about the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s.The show, now titled “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” will debut in March 2022 with ten episodes on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. It chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties.In the first trailer (see below), team owner Jerry Buss (John C.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmandla Stenberg is in talks to join the upcoming Disney Plus series “The Acolyte,” the live-action “Star Wars” series that hails from Leslye Headland.Details on the character Stenberg would play are being kept under tight wraps, but an acolyte in the “Star Wars” universe has typically referred to a Sith who has just begun their training under an experienced Sith Lord.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRegina Hicks has signed a multi-year overall deal with Netflix, Variety has learned.Hicks is the co-creator and co-showrunner of the Netflix multi-cam comedy “The Upshaws” starring Wanda Sykes and Mike Epps. The show debuted in May and was renewed for a second season in June.Under her deal, Hicks will create, write and produce new series and projects for Netflix.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterChris O’Dowd is set to star in the upcoming Apple comedy series “The Big Door Prize,” Variety has learned exclusively.The series 10-episode series is based on the M.O. Walsh novel of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox is developing a country music comedy series from Vir Das and Sam Laybourne, Variety has learned.Titled “Country Eastern,” the single-camera show has received a script commitment with a penalty attached. The show is about a young wealthy man from India who restarts his life in America with his family.

EXCLUSIVE: Sobini Films has tapped Bobby Smith Jr. (Jason’s Lyric) to write Voluptuous, a one-hour series based on the books Bare Essentials and Bound by Desire by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Brenda Jackson.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Last of Us” series at HBO has tapped Nick Offerman to play Bill in a recasting.Con O’Neill had previously been announced for the guest starring role, but according to an individual with knowledge of the situation, he was forced to bow out of the show due to a scheduling conflict.

Squid Game has been nominated for Best Drama Series at the upcoming 27th Critics Choice Awards.On Monday (December 6), the Critics Choice Association announced its nominees for the upcoming 2022 ceremony. Among the nominations were Squid Game, which has become the first non-English programme to be up for Best Drama Series, per Variety.

Taylor Sheridan continues to grow his empire and landgrab over at Paramount+. The writer/director/producer/showrunner, who is quickly becoming the Shonda Rhimes of Paramount’s streaming service, has yet another series in the works.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterColin Farrell has officially signed on to star in and executive produce a series spinoff of “The Batman” in which he would again play The Penguin, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.Farrell will first portray the villainous character in “The Batman” starring Robert Pattinson, which is due to be released on March 4, 2022. The series would then reportedly delve into The Penguin’s rise to power in the Gotham criminal underworld.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSylvester Stallone is set to star in a new drama series at Paramount Plus from Taylor Sheridan and Terence Winter, Variety has learned.The series, set in present day, follows legendary New York City mobster Sal (Stallone), who is faced with the startling task of reestablishing his Italian mafia family to the modernized, straight-shooting town of Kansas City, Missouri.