‘Friends’ Reunion Special at HBO Max to Premiere in May, Drops First Teaser

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSophie Turner has joined the cast of the HBO Max series “The Staircase.”Turner joins previously announced cast members Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Juliette Binoche, and Rosemarie DeWitt.The eight-episode series is based on the docuseries of the same name as well as various books and reports about the case of Michael Peterson (Firth), who was accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen (Collette), in 2001.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam Keeley will play John Finlay in the upcoming Peacock series “Joe Exotic.”Finlay was one of Joe Exotic’s husbands famously profiled in the hit Netflix docuseries “Tiger King.” It was announced last week that Nat Wolff would star as Travis Maldonado, another of Exotic’s husbands. Finlay joins previously announced series leads Kate McKinnon, who will play Carole Baskin, and John Cameron Mitchell, who will play Joe Exotic.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Netflix vampire romance series “First Kill” has rounded out its main cast.Eleven actors have joined the cast of the series alongside previously announced leads Imani Lewis and Sarah Catherine Hook.

The Friends reunion special is finally available to stream on HBO Max after months and months of patiently waiting!

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeter Murrieta has signed a first-look deal with Universal Television, Variety has learned exclusively.Under the deal, Murrieta will develop original content for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. He was previously an executive producer on “Mr.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe CW has commissioned three new TV specials for late 2021: “The Scooby-Doo Reunion Special,” “The Waltons: Homecoming,” and “Beebo Saves Christmas.”In “The Scooby-Doo Reunion Special,” the Mystery Inc. gang reunites at Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock is developing a series adaptation of the Victoria Aveyard novel “Red Queen” with Elizabeth Banks attached to executive produce, direct and appear in a major supporting role.Beth Schwartz and Aveyard co-wrote the pilot and will executive produce the project, with Schwartz also serving as showrunner. Banks and Max Handelman executive produce via Brownstone Productions.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO has offered a first look at the Watergate drama series “White House Plumbers” starring Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux.The five-part series tells the story of how President Richard Nixon’s own political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E. Howard Hunt (Harrelson) and G.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max’s upcoming “Green Lantern” series is eyeing actor Jeremy Irvine for the role of Alan Scott.Irvine would join Finn Wittrock in the series, who has been cast in the lead role of Guy Gardner. HBO Max declined to comment.Scott was Earth’s first Green Lantern, who, true to the comics, is a gay man.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJon Bernthal, Josh Charles, and Jamie Hector are set for three of the lead roles in the HBO limited series “We Own This City” from the team behind “The Wire.”In addition to the castings, Reinaldo Marcus Green has joined the series as director and executive producer. Variety reported that the series was set up at the premium cabler back in March.Based on the book of the same name by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton, “We Own This City” is a six-hour limited series

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA new Batman animated series has been ordered at HBO Max and Cartoon Network, with “Batman: The Animated Series” co-creator Bruce Timm attached as an executive producer.“Batman: Caped Crusader” will be executive produced by Timm along with J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Joe Exotic” series at Peacock is rounding out its cast with the addition of Brian Van Holt, Variety has learned.Van Holt will star as John Reinke, the zoo manager at Joe’s zoo, a loyal worker and friend until things go too far.

Friends—, , , , , and —will be available to HBO Max subscribers on May 27.  also shared a chills-inducing teaser video, which features the main cast walking on the iconic lot. The video even gave the special a Friends-style episode title: “The One Where They Get Back Together.”  For the special, the six ‘90s legends join a packed lineup of guest stars at original soundstage, Stage 24, on the Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The White House Plumbers” series at HBO is rounding out its main cast.Kiernan Shipka, Ike Barinholtz, Yul Vazquez, David Krumholtz, Rich Sommer, Kim Coates, and Liam James have all been cast in the series. They join previously announced cast members Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, Domnhall Gleason, and Lena Headey.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterGillian Jacobs and Wood Harris have both joined HBO’s upcoming drama series about the Los Angeles Lakers, Variety has learned.The untitled series was ordered at HBO in December 2019. It is described as chronicling the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties, in what came to be called the Showtime Era.Jacobs will appear as Chris Riley.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRussell Wilson and Ciara have signed a first-look television and film deal with Amazon.The pair will develop and produce scripted series and films with Amazon Studios through their production company, Why Not You Productions,“We’re so excited and honored to work with Amazon Studios,” said the Wilsons. “They’ve quickly become one of the most exciting studios in entertainment and have shown a strong belief in our vision to bring inspiring stories to the world.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMichael Showalter and Jordana Mollick of Semi-Formal Productions have signed a two-year first-look deal at HBO Max.Showalter is a co-creator and executive producer on the critically-acclaimed series “Search Party,” which moved over to HBO Max from TBS for its third season. The fourth season of the series debuted on Jan.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has released a first look at Lily James and Sebastian Stan as Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in the limited series “Pam and Tommy.”The series takes on the true story behind the release of the first ever viral video in history — the sex tape of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. Along with Stan and James, the series also stars Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, Taylor Schilling, Andrew Dice Clay, Pepi Sonuga, Spencer Granese, and Mozhan Marnò.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterColton Ryan has signed on to star opposite Elle Fanning in the upcoming Hulu drama series “The Girl From Plainville,” Variety has learned.Fanning as Michelle Carter and is inspired by the true story of her controversial “texting-suicide” case.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon” at HBO has unveiled its first official images.“House of the Dragon” is set a few hundred years prior to the events of “Game of Thrones” and tells the story of House Targaryen and the Targaryen civil war that became known as the “Dance of the Dragons.” The cast includes Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno, and Fabien Frankel.The photos