Greg Berlanti Set For Norman Lear Award From Producers Guild

The Walking Dead prepare to say goodbye to the zombie apocalypse drama they’ve been watching for years, it seems like one former star is stirring up quite the speculation about his future with the series. Andrew Lincoln reunited with Norman Reedus in Georgia recently, as the AMC series is said to be filming its final episodes, so what’s going on?Andrew Lincoln portrayed fan-favorite Rick Grimes on AMC’s The Walking Dead from 2010-2018, as well as one episode of Fear the Walking Dead in 2018. With TWD coming to an end, fans have been itching for one last glimpse of Rick on the small screen, in whatever form that may be, with the film trilogy taking a while to come to fruition.

Coming off six seasons as the lead of Supergirl, Melissa Benoist is poised to reunite with Berlanti Productions on another series. Benoist is in negotiations to headline The Girls on the Bus, which just received a straight-to-series order at HBO Max, I have learned. Benoist also is expected to serve as a producer on the drama series, an adaptation of Amy Chozick’s best-selling book Chasing Hillary, from Julie Plec, Chozick, Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. TV. Reps for HBO Max and WBTV declined comment.

FX, Lee Daniels and 20th Television are taking another stab at adapting Sam Greenlee’s spy novel The Spook Who Sat By The Door as a TV series after a pilot, written by Leigh Dana Jackson and directed by Gerard McMurray did not go forward at the network.

Daniel D'Addario Chief TV CriticThe CW’s “All American” has had a successful run — a notably successful one, on a network dominated by superhero programming — taking on stories about high school football. Now, a spinoff shifts the action to college baseball and tennis, but keeps the source material’s focus on Black youth.

EXCLUSIVE: Christian James (Cerebrum) is set for a key recurring role opposite Daniel Ezra, Samantha Logan and Michael Evans Behling in CW’s All American.

HBO Max has set premiere dates for three movies: Moonshot, Father of the Bride and the New Line reboot of 1990s comedy House Party. 

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Insecure” creator and star Issa Rae has been named the recipient of the Producers Guild Awards’ 2022 Visionary Award.The Visionary Award honors producers across television, film or new media who share inspiring, uplifting stories that add unique value to society and culture. Past recipients include: Octavia Spencer, Kenya Barris, Ava DuVernay, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner’s Plan B Entertainment, Illumination Entertainment’s Chis Meledandri, Laura Ziskin and Participant Media’s Jeff Skoll.Rae first garnered attention for her web series and subsequent best-selling book, “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.” She created and stars in HBO’s “Insecure,” which just concluded its fifth and final season in December.

Issa Rae, the award-winning actress, producer, writer and director, will be this year’s recipient of the Producers Guild’s Visionary Award, which honors those “who share inspiring, uplifting stories that add unique value to society and culture.” It will be presented to her in person at the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards on March 19 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Natalie Abrams, the entertainment journalist-turned TV writer behind The CW’s Supergirl and upcoming Gotham Knights, has signed with CAA for representation in all areas.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNatalie Abrams has signed with CAA for representation in all areas. She continues to be repped by attorney Patti Felker at Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson.Abrams most recently landed a pilot order at The CW for the DC series “Gotham Knights.” She serves as a writer on the pilot alongside Chad Fiveash and James Stoteraux, with Greg Berlanti executive producing.Abrams is no stranger to the DC universe on The CW, having worked as a writer on “Batwoman” as well as “Supergirl.” She has also written for fellow CW show “All American.” She also write a Batwoman tie-in comic book for DC Comics, which is due to be released this spring.Prior to getting into writing for television, Abrams worked as an entertainment journalist.

"Rust" key medic Cheryln Schaefer has filed a lawsuit against the movie's producers as well as several crew members, claiming she can no longer work following her experience on the movie set. Assistant Director Dave Halls, property master Sarah Zachry, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed and firearm supplier Seth Kenney have all been named in the suit, alongside Rust Movie Productions, LLC, and the location that production was being filmed on, Bonanza Creek Ranch.

Standup comedian Heather McDonald collapsed during a show in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday night. The 51-year-old star took to her Instagram story on the night of Feb. 5 to address fans from the hospital.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Producers Guild of America has named producer, writer, director Greg Berlanti as this year’s honoree for the Norman Lear Achievement Award. Berlanti will receive the award at the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at the Fairmont Century Plaza.“I’m incredibly honored to receive this award from everyone at the PGA, especially given it’s named after Norman Lear: the kindest, warmest and wisest legend I’ve ever had the good fortune of calling a friend.

EXCLUSIVE: The Producers Guild of America and Google announces the two projects that will each receive $50,000 grants for the production of new short films as part of “The Short Film Project” presented by the Producers Guild of America and Google.

Actor Juan Pablo Di Pace (The Mattachine Family, Fuller House) is gearing up to make his feature directorial debut with For Another Time, an LGBTQ+ romantic drama inspired by true events in his life, that will be exec produced by 99-year-old icon Norman Lear and his Act III Productions partner Brent Miller.

Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion PicturesBeing the RicardosProducer: Todd Black, p.g.a.BelfastProducers: Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik, Tamar ThomasCODAProducers: Philippe Rousselet, p.g.a., Fabrice Gianfermi, p.g.a., Patrick Wachsberger, p.g.a.Don’t Look UpProducers: Adam McKay, p.g.a., Kevin Messick, p.g.a.DuneProducers: Mary Parent, p.g.a., Cale Boyter, p.g.a., Denis Villeneuve, p.g.a.King RichardProducers: Tim White, p.g.a., Trevor White, p.g.a., Will Smith, p.g.a.Licorice PizzaProducers: Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson, Adam SomnerThe Power of the DogProducers: Jane Campion, p.g.a., Tanya Seghatchian, p.g.a., Emile Sherman, p.g.a.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Kyle Richards are back to wrap up the “Halloween” franchise.