Jason Katims Series ‘Dear Edward’ Starring Connie Britton, Taylor Schilling & Colin O’Brien Gets Apple TV+ Order, Sets ‘Friday Night Lights’ Reunion

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has given a straight-to-series order to the true crime series “A Friend of the Family,” which tells the story of the multiple kidnappings of Jan Broberg.Anna Paquin, Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks, and Lio Tipton will all star in the series, which hails from “The Act” co-creator Nick Antosca. The show was originally announced as being in development back in May 2020.“A Friend of the Family” is based on the true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family, and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart, and turn their daughter against them.

CBS Studios is ramping up its international order book.

HBO has announced four more cast members for The White Lotus season two, including Theo James, Meghann Fahy, Will Sharpe and Leo Woodall.They will join previously announced cast members Michael Imperioli, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco and Tom Hollander.

“Lord of the Rings” fans are getting a brand new look at the hotly anticipated TV series.

Showtime Networks Inc. and Bleecker Street have entered into a new and exclusive three-year output agreement, effective in March.

Blumhouse Productions’ adaptation of the Stephen King novel “Firestarter” has gotten a release date. The film will hit theaters and Peacock in early May.Starring Zac Efron and Sydney Lemmon as parents Andy and Vicky, the story follows them on the run as they attempt to hide their daughter Charlie (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) from the government.

Chelsea Handler recently had to call off a number of stand-up comedy shows amid a health scare. The comedian revealed to fans that she was in the hospital, and would have to cancel her performances in Oregon over the weekend.Handler took to her Instagram story on Saturday to explain that she had suffered a «scare» and was forced to postpone Friday's show in Eugene and her Saturday shows in Portland, which were stops on her Vaccinated & Horny comedy tour.«I am so sorry I had to cancel my shows tonight in Portland and my show in Eugene,» Handler shared in a video filmed from her hospital bed.

Apple TV Plus has revealed the first look for it’s upcoming spy thriller series “Slow Horses,” premiering on the platform April 1.Based on the popular CWA Gold-Dagger award-winning novels by Mick Herron, “Slow Horses” stars Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, a British intelligence officer who leads “Slough House,” an MI5 team composed of agents who made career-ending mistakes. The ensemble cast is rounded out by Jonathan Pryce, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden and Olivia Cooke.“Slow Horses” is adapted for television by “Veep” writer Will Smith, who executive produces alongside Graham Yost, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gail Mutrux, Douglas Urbanski and James Hawes.

Apple TV+ has unveiled the trailer for its upcoming drama series The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, starring Samuel L. Jackson in the titular role and Dominique Fishback.

EXCLUSIVE: Jason Schwartzman, the award-winning actor, writer, director, producer and musician who will next be seen as the lead in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City opposite Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie and many more, has signed with UTA for representation in all areas.

Orange Is The New Black. Released in 2013, the Netflix series initially followed Piper as she’s sentenced to 15 months in a minimum security women’s prison for transporting a suitcase full of drug money.As the season’s progress, her character becomes less of a focus while expanding the roles of Suzanne ‘Crazy Eyes’ Warren (Uzo Aduba), Tasha ‘Taystee’ Jefferson (Danielle Brooks), Sophia Burset (Laverne Cox) and others.The show’s creator, Jenji Kohan, has previously been vocal about the use of Piper as a “trojan horse” to explore the other characters.Speaking to NPR, Kohan said: “You’re not going to go into a network and sell a show on really fascinating tales of Black women, and Latina women, and old women and criminals. But if you take this white girl, this sort of fish out of water, and you follow her in, you can then expand your world and tell all of those other stories.”Schilling has since discussed the resentment towards Piper from audiences, describing how she felt like “a space-holder” in the series.Speaking to The Independent about the growing backlash to Piper at the time, Schilling said: “In some ways, that was really hard.

Michael Jackson's kids are supporting the musical about him. On Tuesday, Paris, Prince and Blanket «Bigi» Jackson stepped out for the opening of MJ: The Musical at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre in New York City.Paris opted for a paisley printed midi dress and ankle boots for the event.

Blanket Jackson, who prefers to go by “Bigi”, joined his older siblings, Prince Jackson and Paris Jackson, in New York City on Feb. 1. The trio attended opening night of MJ: The Musical, which is a show dedicated to their dad, Michael Jackson, who died in 2009. Prince and Paris showed up in official capacity, walking the red carpet along with other celebrities before the show. Bigi was also there, but kept a lower profile. He was photographed outside the theater with his siblings after the play, though.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a series order to the drama series “Dear Edward” from Jason Katims, Variety has learned.Based on the Ann Napolitano novel of the same name, the series will star Connie Britton (“The White Lotus,” “Dirty John”), Taylor Schilling (“Pam and Tommy,” “Orange Is the New Black”), and Colin O’Brien (“Wonka,” “Mr. Harrigan’s Place”). The role reunites Britton and Katims, who previously worked together on the series version of “Friday Night Lights.”“Dear Edward” tells the story of Edward Adler (O’Brien), a 12-year-old boy who survives a devastating commercial plane crash that kills every other passenger on the flight, including his family.

Bleecker Street has acquired the U.S. rights to “892,” a thriller starring John Boyega and Michael K. Williams that made its premiere in competition at Sundance.

Bleecker Street has acquired U.S. rights to the dramatic thriller 892, starring John Boyega (Star Wars franchise) and the late Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire), which recently made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in U.S. Dramatic Competition and won its Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast. The independently-financed distributor is planning a late summer release in theaters nationwide.

EXCLUSIVE: SmartLess, the podcast set up by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes and sold to Amazon Music and Wondery in a multi-million-dollar deal, is expanding.

Randy Jackson is a music icon. Now 60, Randy rose to fame as a member of the famed Jackson 5 (later just The Jacksons) alongside brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and the late Michael Jackson. He is also an older brother to legendary sister Janet Jackson, 55, who is the subject of a highly anticipated documentary series set to air on Lifetime and A&E. Learn more about Randy ahead of the premiere here.

the new documentary “Janet Jackson.” — which premieres on Lifetime and A&E over Friday and Saturday nights — reveals that one celebrity guest once showed up with his own party favors.“I remember one of the parties that we had, [David] Bowie came,” says Jackson. “And I guess to get away from everyone, he was looking for a little room.”As the late rock legend went in search of a private spot to indulge, he found two of Jackson’s brothers.“Michael and I are sitting in one of the other rooms away from the party,” recalls Randy Jackson.