‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel Series ‘House of the Dragon’ at HBO Casts Fabien Frankel

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

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDiscovery Plus is venturing into scripted development, with the streamer acquiring the TV rights to the book “Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman,” Variety has learned exclusively.The move to develop the series, which is in the very early stages, is significant given that Discovery Plus is largely made up of original unscripted programming and library content from channels like HGTV, TLC, Discovery Channel, and Food Network among others.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterElizabeth Olsen is set to star in a new HBO Max limited series that boasts an all-star lineup behind the camera as well.Olsen will star in “Love and Death,” which hails from writer and executive producer David E. Kelley.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLuke Evans has been cast in one of the lead roles of the upcoming Apple action-thriller series “Echo 3,” Variety has learned.The 10-episode series, which hails from Mark Boal, is set in South America and follows Amber Chesborough, a brilliant young scientist, who is the emotional center of a small American family.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Law & Order” franchise is expanding again at NBC, with the network giving out a straight-to-series order for “Law & Order: For the Defense,” Variety has learned.“For the Defense” will take a look inside a criminal defense firm.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterTaika Waititi is hitting the high seas as the dreaded pirate Blackbeard in the upcoming HBO Max comedy series “Our Flag Means Death,” Variety has learned.Waititi joins previously announced series lead Rhys Darby.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFinn Wittrock has been cast in a lead role of the upcoming “Green Lantern” series at HBO Max, Variety has learned.Wittrock will star as Guy Gardner, who is described as a hulking mass of masculinity, and, as rendered in the comics, an embodiment of 1980s hyper-patriotism. And yet, Guy is somehow likable.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJK Simmons is set to star opposite Sissy Spacek in the Amazon sci-fi series “Lightyears,” taking over a lead role in the series from Ed O’Neill.O’Neill’s casting was reported in March, but according to an individual with knowledge of the production, he has exited for personal reasons.The series follows Irene (Spacek) and Franklin (Simmons) York, a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterToni Collette will star alongside Colin Firth in the HBO Max limited series “The Staircase,” Variety has learned.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 ReporterLena Headey has joined the HBO series “The White House Plumbers,” which delves into the Watergate scandal, Variety has learned.Headey joins previously announced cast members Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, and Domhnall Gleeson. The five-episode series tells the story of how President Nixon’s own political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJulie Ann Emery has been cast in Apple’s upcoming Hurricane Katrina series, “Five Days at Memorial.”The series is based on the Sheri Fink novel of the same name. It chronicles the first five days in a New Orleans, LA, hospital after Hurricane Katrina made landfall.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Walker” Season 2 at The CW has upped Odette Annable to series regular status.Annable currently recurs on the series as Geri, an old friend of Walker (Jared Padalecki) and his late wife.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Summer I Turned Pretty” series at Amazon has cast Lola Tung, Rachel Blanchard, Jackie Chung, and Christopher Briney, Variety has learned.The series is based on the Jenny Han YA novel of the same name. It is described as a multigenerational drama that hinges on a love triangle between one girl and two brothers, the ever-evolving relationship between mothers and their children, and the enduring power of strong female friendship.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJosh Gad and Isla Fisher are set to star in the romantic comedy series “Wolf Like Me,” which has received a straight-to-series order at Peacock.The streamer has ordered six episodes of the half-hour series. In the show, Gary (Gad) is an emotional wreck and struggles to provide for his daughter since the death of his wife.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Ironheart” series at Disney Plus has tapped Chinaka Hodge to serve as head writer, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.“Ironheart” will star Dominique Thorne as Marvel character Riri Williams, a genius inventor and the creator of the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Fantasy Island” reboot at Fox has cast Roselyn Sanchez in the show’s lead role, Variety has learned.Sanchez will star as Elena Roarke, a descendant of Mr. Roarke from the original series.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey” series at Apple is rounding out its main cast with five new additions, Variety has learned.Walton Goggins (“Justified,” “The Unicorn’), Omar Miller (“Ballers,” “The Unicorn”), Marsha Stephanie Blake (“I Am Your Woman,” “When They See Us”), Damon Gupton (“Black Lightning,” “Bates Motel”), and Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (“Coyote,” “Real Husbands of Hollywood”) have all been cast in the show alongside previously announced stars Samuel L.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Flintstones” sequel series from Warner Bros. Animation is officially in development at Fox with Elizabeth Banks attached to star and executive produce.The animated series, titled “Bedrock,” is set 20 years after the events of the original series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKyle Marvin has been cast in a lead role opposite Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto in the upcoming Apple limited series “WeCrashed,” which details the fall of WeWork, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is based on the Wondery podcast of the same name. It is described as following the greed-filled rise and inevitable fall of WeWork, one of the world’s most valuable startups, and the narcissists whose chaotic love made it all possible.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“NCIS: Los Angeles” has been renewed for Season 13 at CBS, with the broadcaster also ordering “NCIS: Hawaii” to series.“NCIS: Hawaii” was first announced as being in development back in February. Matt Bosack, Jan Nash, and Chris Silber are co-writing and executive producing, with Larry Teng attached to direct and executive produce.