NBC is leaning into more unscripted for midseason.
27.04.2023 - 08:49 / variety.com
Naman Ramachandran Indian streamer Sony LIV and production house Applause Entertainment have extended their existing partnership with two new series and renewals for four more. Among the new series, “36 Days,” produced in association with BBC Studios India is a suspense thriller, directed by Vishal Furia, featuring an ensemble cast including Neha Sharma, Purab Kohli, Shruti Seth, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sharib Hashmi, Shernaz Patel, Faishal Rashid, Chahat Vig and Kenneth Desai. “Kafas” (“Cage”) is a social drama series starring Sharman Joshi, Mona Singh, Vivan Bhathena, Preeti Jhangiani and Mikail Gandhi in lead roles and directed by Sahil Sangha.
“Tanaav,” the Indian adaptation of “Fauda,” has been renewed for a second season as has Hansal Mehta and Tushar Hiranandani’s “Scam 2003: The Telgi Story.”
“Undekhi” and “Avrodh” have been renewed for third seasons. The shows are part of SonyLIV’s 35-strong 2023 slate in the Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi languages, with plans for Bengali-language commissions as well. Danish Khan, head, SonyLIV, Sony Entertainment Television and Studio Next, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our long running partnership with Applause Entertainment with an exceptional slate of shows in 2023 and beyond.” Sameer Nair, MD of Applause Entertainment, added: “In our shared mission to captivate and entertain audiences through the power of storytelling we are excited to create for SonyLIV a diverse and captivating mix of new shows and returning favorites.” SonyLIV now has 24 million paid subscribers, SonyLIV head of content Saugata Mukherjee had told Variety. Applause is a division of the $45 billion Aditya Birla Group conglomerate.
NBC is leaning into more unscripted for midseason.
Joe Otterson TV Reporter “Animal Control” has been renewed for Season 2 at Fox, Variety has learned. The renewal comes as little surprise, given the fact that the show is Fox’s first wholly owned live-action comedy. Per Fox, the show’s premiere was the network’s most streamed scripted debut ever, drawing an estimated 4.5 million viewers across all platforms in its first three days of availability. As the name suggests, the series centers on a group of animal control workers. The cast is led by Joel McHale, who stars alongside Michael Rowland, Vella Lovell, Ravi Patel, Grace Palmer, Alvina August, Kelli Ogmundson, and Gerry Dee.
Ethan Shanfeld It’s pouring rain in New York City, and Mercury Lounge is packed wall-to-wall with a few hundred 20-somethings — so tightly that Peter Cat Recording Co. must clear a path through the Lower East Side rock club to journey from the front of the house to the stage. Fans stand on sofas to catch a glimpse of the New Delhi-based five-piece as crew members climb over the audience, shuttling beers from the bar to the band. During the show, devotees hand gifts to the musicians and shout requests for deep cuts. Afterward, frontman Suryakant Sawhney, cloaked in a black button-down and eyeliner, smokes cigarettes outside with fans eager to shake his hand.
Comedy thriller The Outlaws will be back for a third season. Prime Video and BBC One today announced the renewal of the series from Stephen Merchant (The Office) and co-creator Elgin James (Mayans M.C.).
BreAnna Bell “The Outlaws” has been picked up for a third season by Amazon Prime Video and BBC One. As the latest addition to the Prime membership, the third season will be available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Nordics. The comedic thriller follows a group of strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a community payback sentence in Bristol. Season 3 will pick up with crime boss The Dean (“Dracula,” “Bad Sisters”) behind bars awaiting trial, leaving the crew of outlaws to move on with their lives — until one of their own returns with a deadly secret that threatens their lives as they know it. As a murderous manhunt closes in on the gang, the group attempts to prove their innocence before The Dean’s case falls apart and he hunts them down for revenge.
Naman Ramachandran Indian studio Excel Entertainment has promoted business head Vishal Ramchandani to the newly created position of CEO. An MBA by qualification, Ramchandani joined Excel in 2008, in the marketing division. In 2013, he was entrusted with the duties of heading the division, where he spearheaded award-winning marketing campaigns for films such as “Fukrey,” “Baar Baar Dekho,” “Gold” and “Gully Boy.” In 2018, Ramchandani was elevated to the position of business head. In this role, he played a pivotal role in transforming Excel Entertainment from a creative production house to a studio that self-funds, markets and distributes its films. Under his leadership, the company’s distribution business diversified with the K.G.F. franchise, which became a nationwide blockbuster. He was also instrumental in Excel expanding into different verticals such as a talent division and co-production deals, as well as facilitating new media ventures.
Andrea Bocelli is dishing on his upcoming performance at the upcoming weekend Coronation Concert!
More to the story? Scheana Shay offered some context to the explosive Vanderpump Rules season 10 finale trailer — which finally showed the cast’s reaction to Tom Sandoval‘s cheating scandal with Raquel Leviss.
Naman Ramachandran India is the fastest growing market market in the world for giant streamer Netflix and Monika Shergill, VP, content, for the country, has a clear plan to keep the trajectory going. “A healthy streaming business, according to us, has to be built on the strong fundamentals of engagement, where we are doing very well, and revenue and profit as a global service. We are a profitable service – in many of our markets, we are on the path to profitability,” Shergill told Variety. Earlier this year, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos had said that content watching grew by 30% last year in India and revenue grew by 25%. In a subsequent earnings call, Sarandos addressed the importance of pricing in India, saying: “We’ve got to get pricing and the main payment methods right.”
Naman Ramachandran India’s official entry to the 2023 Oscars, Pan Nalin’s “Last Film Show,” and Rima Das’ acclaimed 2017 festival favorite “Village Rockstars,” are amongst the films screening at the inaugural Nirvana – Festival de la Culture et du Cinema Indiens. Taking place in Saint-Tropez May 26-28, the festival will also screen Shubhashish Bhutiani’s 2016 Venice winner “Hotel Salvation” and Rajat Kapoor’s “RK/RKAY” (2022). On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, the director’s cut of the international version of Ketan Mehta’s freedom fight themed “The Rising” (2005) will be screened. Indian filmmakers Sundaram Tagore, Deepa Sahi, Surina Narula and Sanjay Bhutiani will speak at a roundtable on Indo-French cinema.
Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Fast-rising R&B star Brent Faiyaz has struck a wide-ranging partnership with Steve Stoute’s company UnitedMasters that spans a recording partnership and a creative agency. UnitedMasters CEO and founder Steve Stoute says, “Brent Faiyaz is one of the most prolific independent artists today and we are extremely excited to embark on this new partnership with him. It’s been inspiring to watch his journey as an artist over the years and with this partnership we look to further amplify his creative vision and support his entrepreneurial ambitions.”
Netflix has renewed political drama The Diplomat for a second season.Created by Debora Cahn (The West Wing, Homeland), the series follows Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) as she becomes the new US Ambassador for the UK and juggles international crises with her turbulent marriage.After the show debuted on April 20, Netflix confirmed on Monday (May 1) the series will return for a second season.Speaking about the renewal, Russell said: “I am thrilled to be headed back for another round of this smart screwball show. Dare I say it’s fun? Thank you Netflix for giving us another shot.”The Diplomat has been renewed for Season 2.
Ryan Murphy is diving into the psyche of not one, but two, infamous killers for Season 2 of Netflix‘s hit Monster anthology series.
Harry Bosch will continue to crack cases for the foreseeable future. Ahead of the Season 2 premiere this fall, Bosch: Legacy, the spinoff of the longrunning Amazon crime series, has been renewed for a third season. Amazon Freevee announced the renewal Monday, prior to the Amazon NewFront presentation.
The Traitors has been a breakout hit in the unscripted world, with one exec saying that it did for the global formats genre what Top Gun: Maverick did for the summer blockbuster.
Richard Rankin has praised his Rebus cast mates, dubbing them 'incredible company' as the Scot gets underway with filming season one of the show.
Indian streamer SonyLIV has ordered two new series, social drama Kafas and suspense thriller 36 Days, from production powerhouse Applause Entertainment, along with four returning shows.
And Just Like That…, the beloved but imperfect revival of Sex and the City.The official trailer for the upcoming second season has just been released, and those who have been watching since the beginning will see plenty to intrigue them.Set to premiere sometime in June, the new season of And Just Like That… reunites best friends Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) as they catch up with each other and their new, updated lives in New York City.According to the trailer, as season two begins, Carrie is keeping busy with her new romantic friend Franklyn, who was introduced in the finale of season one of the show.It looks like Miranda has moved in with Che, played by Sara Ramirez, who divided viewers when in the first installment.
EXCLUSIVE: Millennial dating dramedy À La Carte will be back for a second season. AMC Networks’ streamer AllBlk today announced the renewal of the series, which is currently in production in Atlanta. Season 2 will air later this year exclusively on AllBlk and WE tv.
Naman Ramachandran Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap is back in Cannes with thriller “Kennedy,” starring Rahul Bhat in the title role. The film, which also stars Sunny Leone, will play in the Midnight Screenings strand of the festival. Several films directed by Kashyap have played at Cannes, including “Psycho Raman” (2016), “Ugly” (2013), “Bombay Talkies” (2013) and “Gangs of Wasseypur” (2012). In addition, several films produced by him have made it to the Croisette, including “Masaan” (2015), “The Lunchbox” (2013), “Monsoon Shootout” (2013), “The Congress” (2013) and “Udaan” (2010). The plot of “Kennedy” is being kept under wraps at the moment. “Kennedy is a ghost in the system looking for redemption,” is how Kashyap describes the film to Variety.