Jessica Chastain to Star in Apple Limited Series ‘The Savant’

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “The Penguin” series at HBO Max has cast Carmen Ejogo, François Chau, and David H. Holmes in recurring roles, Variety has learned exclusively. The trio join a cast that includes series lead Colin Farrell, who will reprise the role of Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot from “The Batman, as well as Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, and Clancy Brown. Character details for Ejogo, Chau, and Holmes are being kept under wraps. Ejogo’s recent TV credits include “Your Honor,” “I’m a Virgo,” and “True Detective” Season 3. In film, she has starred in features such as the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, “Alien: Covenant,” and “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” She is repped by WME and Peikoff Mahan.

There is only one stone-cold lock for a nomination in this year’s Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category. That would be for Jessica Chastain‘s SAG Award-winning turn as Tammy Wynette in “George and Tammy.” After that, well, this is one Emmy race that gets very interesting, very quickly.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “This Is Us” alums Sterling K. Brown and Dan Fogelman are reuniting for a drama that has been ordered to series at Hulu, Variety has learned. Hulu is not commenting on exact plot details of the untitled series, but sources describe the show as a thriller and say Brown would star as the head of security for a former president. In addition to writing, Fogelman will executive produce via Rhode Island Ave. Productions along with Jess Rosenthal. Brown will executive produce in addition to starring, with John Hoberg also executive producing. 20th Television is the studio, with Fogelman currently under an overall deal there.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “Ted Lasso” breakout Phil Dunster’s role in the second season of “Surface” has been revealed. Dunster joining the second season of the Gugu Mbatha-Raw-led Apple series was reported in early March, but character details were being kept under wraps at the time. Variety can now exclusively report that Dunster will star as Quinn, the older brother of Eliza (Millie Brady). Quinn is described as “the privileged scion of a troubled, old-money family who’s attempting to blaze a new trail for the younger generation – all the while struggling against his own darker tendencies.”

Jessica Chastain has found her next big project.

Game of Thrones alumna Lena Headey has been tapped to headline Kurt Sutter’s Western action drama series The Abandons at Netflix.

Earlier this year, folks were obsessed over the Apple TV+ ads featuring Timothee Chalamet, which basically feature the actor lamenting over the fact that nearly every A-list actor has a project in the works for the streamer except him. Well, poor Timmy isn’t going to be happy to learn that Jessica Chastain is the latest to get an Apple TV+ project.

Fresh from playing country music star Tammy Wynette, Jessica Chastain is swapping the microphone for a laptop.

A Doll’s House.Jamie Lloyd directs a figurative and literal bare-bones version that has been pruned with careful thought by Amy Herzog. Herzog herself is making great strides in the American theater, having been a Pulitzer prize finalist and earning numerous other accolades.With A Doll’s House, she was tasked with a huge undertaking: trim excess from a classic play.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid series in the works at Amazon has found its showrunners. Variety has learned that Alex Metcalf has boarded the show, currently titled “Butch & Sundance,” as showrunner and executive producer. Series creators Kaz Firpo and Ryan Firpo will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Metcalf. The Firpos most recently wrote the screenplay for the Marvel film “Eternals.” Amazon has ordered the show straight-to-series. The show was first reported as being in development in September, with Regé-Jean Page attached to play Cassidy and Glen Powell playing Sundance. At that time, it was reported that deals for the show were not yet closed and discussions were ongoing.

Add another prestige limited TV series to Nicole Kidman‘s filmography. Deadline reports that the actress is in talks to star in the upcoming Netflix show “The Perfect Couple,” based on Elin Hilderbrand‘s 2018 mystery novel.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter HBO Max is developing a drama series based on the life of Heidi Fleiss, Variety has learned exclusively. The untitled series hails from writer and executive producer Maggie Cohn, who most recently served as the co-showrunner on HBO Max’s critically acclaimed limited series “The Staircase.” Fleiss will serve as a consultant on the project. Emma Tillinger Koskoff (“Joker,” The Irishman”) of First Love Films will also executive produce, along with Alex Goldstone (“Dickinson”) for Anonymous Content, Bill Gerber (“Muhammed Ali,” “A Star Is Born”) of Gerber Pictures, and David Bernon, Paul Bernon, and Sam Slater of Burn Later Productions (“Support the Girls,” “Mile 22,” “Drinking Buddies”).

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Halcyon Studios has brought on Phil Abraham to direct and executive produce the series “Beverly Hills Noir,” Variety has learned exclusively. Halcyon, a division of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, is producing the show, which is based on “Gemstone” by James Ellroy. Per the official logline, the show “follows two female detectives as they are sucked into the vortex of power, greed, and cold-blooded conspiracy in one of the most aspirational cities in the world, Beverly Hills.” Ed Decter is writing the series and will also serve as executive producer and showrunner. Along with Decter and Abraham, Ellroy, Stewart Till, and Richard Potter also executive produce. No network or streaming service is currently attached to the project.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “The Penguin” series at HBO Max has added Michael Zegen, James Madio, and Scott Cohen to its cast in recurring roles, Variety has learned exclusively. The three join a cast that includes series lead Colin Farrell, who will reprise the role of Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot from “The Batman, as well as Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, and Clancy Brown. HBO Max is not releasing character details for three new additions, but sources say that Zegen is set to play Alberto Falcone. Alberto is the son of Gotham City crime boss Carmine Falcone, who was played by John Turturro in “The Batman,” and the brother of Sofia Falcone, who will be played by Milioti in “The Penguin.” In the comics, Alberto takes credit for being the serial killer known as The Holiday Killer, who targets Gotham gangsters on a holiday each month.

EXCLUSIVE: Georgia Flood, Conor Merrigan Turner and Essie Randles have joined the cast of Peacock’s upcoming limited series Apples Never Fall, based on Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers author Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel.

Jessica Chastain seemed to be the only star to wear a protective face mask at the Oscars 2023, which was hosted by late night chat show host Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, and fans praised the actress for her decision. The Help actress, 45, wore a stunning silver rhinestone dress as she attended the star-studded event, which saw her present Best Actress alongside Halle Berry, 56. Host Jimmy Kimmel, 55, approached Jessica during his comedic segment to ask her what it was like working with her co-star Matt Damon, 52, in their 2015 film The Martian.

Jessica Chastain is being praised for wearing a mask inside the theater at the Oscars!

Halle Berry and Jessica Chastain are doing double duty at the 2023 Oscars!On Sunday, ET's Nischelle Turner and Kevin Frazier spoke to the pair on the red carpet at the 95th Academy Awards, where Chastain revealed that they are presenting the Oscars for both Best Actor and Best Actress  -- the latter of which would've been Will Smith's job had the now infamous Oscars slap not occurred. «I've been so excited since they told me we were gonna present together,» Chastain gushed before revealing which category she and Berry would be presenting. «Best Actor and Actress,» she continued. «I'm a little nervous, because I'm not as graceful as she is. And the whole thing -- we have to walk by ourselves.

Jessica Chastain singlehandedly makes a case for red and green being a perfect combination outside the holidays while posing on the red carpet at the 2023 Oscars on Sunday (March 12).

Film project auctions are some of the more interesting deals made in Hollywood, as you’ll see studios/streamers throwing around a lot of money to outbid each other if there is intense competition. Netflix, of course, has plenty of original movies cooking at any moment.