‘Gentefied’ Co-Creator Marvin Lemus Signs With Verve (EXCLUSIVE)

UTA has signed writer-director Dylan Meyer. Meyer has become an increasingly in-demand screenwriter.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMinnie Driver has been cast in the upcoming Season 2 of “Modern Love” at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Details of Driver’s character in the episodic anthology series are being kept under wraps. At the time of this publishing no other stars have been confirmed for Season 2.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNorman Reedus and his production company, bigbaldhead, are developing the live-action AMC series “Neglected Murderesses,” based on the book by Edward Gorey, Variety has learned exclusively.Reedus will executive produce the project along with bigbaldhead’s JoAnne Colona and Amanda Verdon under the company’s recently announced first-look deal with AMC Studios.According to an individual with knowledge of the project, the team has been pursuing the rights to “Neglected

Angelique Jackson “Lingua Franca” filmmaker Isabel Sandoval has signed with CAA.In 2019, Sandoval made history as the first trans woman of color to direct and star in a film screening in competition at the Venice Film Festival, where “Lingua Franca” premiered. The film was acquired and released by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY and is now streaming on Netflix.Sandoval directed, wrote, edited, produced and acted in “Lingua Franca,” which she shot in 16 days in Brooklyn, New York.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming “Peacemaker” series at HBO Max has cast Alison Araya and Lenny Jacobson in recurring roles, Variety has learned exclusively.They join previously announced series lead John Cena as well as series regulars Danielle Brooks, Chris Conrad, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, and Chukwudi Iwuji.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHarlan Coben has signed on for representation with UTA.He will continue to be represented by literary agent Lisa Erbach Vance of The Aaron Priest Literary Agency and attorney Michael Gendler of Gendler & Kelly.Coben has penned over thirty novels, includingNew York Times bestsellers “The Boy From The Woods,” “Run Away,” “Fool Me Once,” “Tell No One,” and the Myron Bolitar series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIt is raining cash on “The Umbrella Academy” cast. Variety has learned from sources that the majority of the show’s core cast — Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and Justin Min — has netted a substantial pay raise going into the hit Netflix-UCP show’s third season.According to multiple sources, the six actors banded together ahead of the season to ask for a pay raise, with each of them now earning more than $200,000 per

Joe Otterson TV ReporterClaire Danes has signed on for the lead role in the upcoming Apple drama series “Essex Serpent,” Variety has learned exclusively.Danes takes over the role from Keira Knightley, whose exit from the project was reported back in October. The series is based on the book of the same name by Sarah Perry.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe cast of “The Best Man” film franchise is reuniting for a limited series that has been ordered at Peacock.“The Best Man: Final Chapters” will feature returning cast members Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, and Harold Perrineau. Peacock has ordered 10 episodes, with Malcolm D.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Yellowstone” prequel series is set at Paramount Plus under an extension of series co-creator Taylor Sheridan’s overall deal with ViacomCBS.The prequel, “Y: 1883,” follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAnthony King has signed on as showrunner and executive producer for Season 2 of “Woke” at Hulu, Variety has learned exclusively.He takes over from Season 1 showrunner Jay Dyer. In his new role, King will work alongside series co-creators Marshall Todd and Keith Knight, with Knight’s life and art serving as the inspiration for the series.“I am really excited to add Anthony to the team,” Knight said.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered a new one-hour drama series from Martin Gero and Brendan Gall, Variety has learned exclusively.The six-episode series is titled “Breathe.” When a small plane crashes in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, a lone woman must battle the elements and odds to survive.Gero and Gall are co-writing and executive producing the series, with Gero executive producing under his Quinn’s House Production company. Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDaniella Garcia has been cast in the upcoming ABC series “Rebel” in a recurring role, Variety has learned exclusively.The series stars as Katey Sagal as Annie “Rebel” Bello, a blue-collar legal advocate without a law degree. She’s described as a funny, messy, brilliant and fearless woman who cares desperately about the causes she fights for and the people she loves.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFormer Disney Channels Worldwide executive Nancy Kanter has signed an overall deal with Netflix.Under the deal, Kanter and her Available Light Productions banner will develop and produce animated and live action projects, both feature films and series, for kids and families audiences on Netflix.“Throughout my career I’ve challenged myself to think differently, imagine bigger and aim higher,” Kanter said.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNeve Campbell has signed on for a leading role in “The Lincoln Lawyer” series that was recently announced at Netflix.She joins previously announced series Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who will star as Mickey Haller, runs his law practice out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car.Campbell will play Maggie McPherson.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJoel Kinnaman has been cast in the upcoming “In Treatment” reboot at HBO, Variety has learned exclusively.The reimagined series brings a diverse trio of patients in session with the observant, empathetic Dr.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterArmie Hammer will no longer star in the upcoming Paramount Plus series “The Offer,” which tells the behind the scenes story of the making of “The Godfather,” Variety has learned from sources.It was announced in early December that Hammer was attached to lead the show in the role of Al Ruddy, who produced “The Godfather” back in 1972. The 10-episode series details Ruddy’s experience working on the iconic film.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKatie Beth Hall has been cast in the “Head of the Class” reboot pilot at HBO Max, Variety has learned exclusively.She joins previously announced series lead Isabella Gomez as well as cast members Jorge Diaz, Dior Goodjohn, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Brandon Severs, and Christa Miller.The rebooted series revolves around a group of overachieving high school students who meet their greatest challenge — a teacher Alicia Adams (Gomez), who wants them to focus less on grades and

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming Showtime series “The First Lady” has cast Kristine Froseth and Jayme Lawson, Variety has learned exclusively.The pair join previously announced series stars Viola Davis and Michelle Pfeiffer, who will play Michelle Obama and Betty Ford respectively. Formerly known as “First Ladies,” the show is described as a reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNBC’s revival of “The Weakest Link” has been renewed for Season 2 at NBC.NBC has ordered 13 more episodes, with production set to begin later this year. Jane Lynch will return to host the series, which sees contestants answer general knowledge questions to bank prize money across multiple rounds.