J.J. Abrams’ ‘Demimonde’ Sci-Fi Drama Series Not Moving Forward at HBO

Apple TV+ has given an eight-episode series order to a one-hour drama inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton’s unfinished final novel The Buccaneers, with Kristine Froseth (The Assistant), Alisha Boe (When You Finish Saving The World), Josie Totah (Saved by the Bell), Aubri Ibrag (Dive Club), Imogen Waterhouse (The Outpost) and Mia Threapleton (Shadows) cast as the buccaneers.

William Earl Jennifer Dorn has been promoted to visual content director at Variety.The four-year Variety veteran oversees all photography and photo imagery for the brand. She reports to incoming co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh and Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia LittletonBased in Los Angeles, Dorn has significantly expanded Variety‘s investment in original photography.

Over the years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, we’ve seen quite a few films and TV projects dedicated to telling that story. However, maybe none of which will be as harrowing as the upcoming Apple TV+ series, “Five Days at Memorial.” READ MORE: ‘Black Bird’ Trailer: Taron Egerton & Ray Liotta Star In New Apple TV+ Prison Series As seen in the teaser for “Five Days at Memorial,” the series tells the story of the, well, five days after Katrina hit the coast, but the action is completely contained to the Memorial Hospital where doctors and nurses tried their best to save people’s lives with limited resources.

Will Forte is set to star in Bodkin (w/t) at Netflix, the first drama series from Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground production company and wiip. Siobhan Cullen (The Dry), Robyn Cara (Trying), David Wilmot (Station Eleven) and Chris Walley (The Last Voyage of the Demeter) also feature in the seven-episode, darkly comedic thriller, which begins production in Ireland next week.

The Game of Thrones franchise lives on!

Ellise Shafer A “Game of Thrones” spinoff series based around Jon Snow is in early development at HBO, Variety has confirmed.Kit Harington is set to reprise his role as the fan-favorite hero in the live-action show, which would take place after the events of “Game of Thrones” — opening up what many thought was an iron-clad ending to the wildly popular series.In the final season of “Game of Thrones,” Snow realized his true identity and that he could be an heir to the Iron Throne. The series concluded with his exile from Westeros as he rides into the Haunted Forest with Ghost and the Wildlings to begin a new life.Since the potential Jon Snow sequel series would take place after the final season of “Game of Thrones,” it’s possible that familiar characters — such as his siblings Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) and Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) — could show their faces.

EXCLUSIVE: John Ortiz is set for a key recurring role opposite Vince Vaughn in Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey, written and executive produced by Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence. He replaces Arturo Luis Soria who had been originally cast in the role. 

EXCLUSIVE: SonyLIV has ordered its most ambitious original series to date, an adaptation of Indian independence non-fiction book Freedom at Midnight, as the streamer gears up to become a global service within three years.

Peyton List is set to star in an upcoming YA series for Paramount+. The working title is “School Spirits.”On Wednesday, the streamer announced a series order for the drama, which focuses on a teen stuck in the afterlife who decides to investigate her mysterious disappearance alongside a group of other students who are also stuck in limbo at their high school.

Paramount+ has handed a series order to School Spirits (w/t), a YA drama based on Nate & Megan Trinrud and Maria Nguyen’s upcoming graphic novel, with Peyton List (Cobra Kai) attached to star. The series order is part of Paramount’s push to expand its YA content. School Spirits (w/t) will be produced by Awesomeness Studio.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Euphoria” has come to be known for its over-the-top, well, everything. But one actor on the show who has managed to bring a grounded realness to every scene he is in is Colman Domingo.Domingo, who plays the guest star role of Rue’s sponsor Ali, says Zendaya has told him how thankful she is when it’s time to work with him, as the scenes with him are so different than others she does on the series.“It’s not as wild and colorful and glitzy,” Domingo tells Variety.

Reelz & Paramount+ Among Pre-Buyers Of Princess Diana Doc

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Netflix drama series “The Brothers Sun” has set its main cast, which includes Michelle Yeoh, Variety has learned.Yeoh will star alongside series regulars Justin Chien, Sam Song Li, Highdee Kuan, and Joon Lee. Alice Jewkin, Jon Xue Zhang,  Jenny Yang, Madison Hu, and Rodney To will appear in recurring roles.The show was ordered to series at Netflix back in February with an eight-episode pickup. It is set in Los Angeles and Taiwan and features an all-Asian writers room and all-Asian cast.

EXCLUSIVE: Saddle up, Hallmark fans: the channel has greenlit Ride, an original primetime series about a rodeo dynasty.

Ramin Setoodeh Executive EditorTo many fans of “Sex and the City,” Kim Cattrall was the definition of glamorous. So perhaps it’s only fitting that her next TV project will be “Glamorous,” a Netflix series in which Cattrall will be starring as a makeup mogul.“Glamorous,” which had originally been ordered as a pilot at The CW in 2019, tells the story of Marco Mejia (played by actor, singer and YouTuber Miss Benny), a gender non-conforming queer person who goes to work for Cattrall’s cosmetics queen Madolyn Addison.

Emmy winner Margo Martindale (American Crime Story: Impeachment), Andy McQueen (Station Eleven) and Ben Chaplin (The Nevers) have been cast opposite Betty Gilpin and Jake McDorman in Mrs. Davis, Peacock’s new drama series written and executive produced by Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof. Emmy-winning director Owen Harris (Black Mirror: San Junipero, Brave New World) will direct and executive produce multiple episodes, including the first episode, of the series, which comes from Warner Bros. Television, where both Hernandez and Lindelof are under overall deals.

Clayton Davis Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.

Clayton Davis Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.