JK Simmons Joins Sissy Spacek in Amazon Sci-Fi Series ‘Lightyears’ as Ed O’Neill Exits

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Dangerous Liaisons” series at Starz has cast Alice Englert and Nicholas Denton in the two lead roles, Variety has learned.A reimagining on the Pierre Choderlos de Laclos book of the same name, the series tells the origin story of how the Marquise de Merteuil (Englert) and the Vicomte de Valmont (Denton) meet as passionate young lovers in Paris on the eve of revolution.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max’s upcoming “Green Lantern” series is eyeing actor Jeremy Irvine for the role of Alan Scott.Irvine would join Finn Wittrock in the series, who has been cast in the lead role of Guy Gardner. HBO Max declined to comment.Scott was Earth’s first Green Lantern, who, true to the comics, is a gay man.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJon Bernthal, Josh Charles, and Jamie Hector are set for three of the lead roles in the HBO limited series “We Own This City” from the team behind “The Wire.”In addition to the castings, Reinaldo Marcus Green has joined the series as director and executive producer. Variety reported that the series was set up at the premium cabler back in March.Based on the book of the same name by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton, “We Own This City” is a six-hour limited series

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA series adaptation of the “Vampire Academy” novels by Richelle Mead has been ordered to series at Peacock, with Julie Plec and Marguerite MacIntyre attached to write, Variety has learned.The book series is a personal favorite of Plec’s, who is best known for co-developing the CW series adaptation of “The Vampire Diaries.”“Julie Plec created one of the biggest fan-favorite universes with ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and its spin-off series ‘The Originals’ and ‘Legacies,’ and we

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Wednesday Addams live-action series at Netflix has cast Jenna Ortega in the lead role, Variety has learned.“Wednesday” was originally ordered to series at the streamer back in February. It is described as a supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA new Batman animated series has been ordered at HBO Max and Cartoon Network, with “Batman: The Animated Series” co-creator Bruce Timm attached as an executive producer.“Batman: Caped Crusader” will be executive produced by Timm along with J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKumail Nanjiani will play Chippendales founder Somen “Steve” Banerjee in a limited series that has been ordered at Hulu, Variety has learned.The eight-episode series is titled “Immigrant.” It will tell the true story of Banerjee, the Indian-American entrepreneur who started Chippendales.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJack McBrayer is set to host a new kids series that has been ordered at Apple, Variety has learned.McBrayer co-created the series, titled “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” with Angela C. Santomero.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox unveiled its 2021 fall schedule as part of its upfront presentation, with the network announcing renewals for a number of its shows.Both “9-1-1” and “9-1-1: Lone Star” were renewed, as was the medical drama “The Resident.” “9-1-1” will lead off Fox Monday’s this fall, while “Lone Star” is being held for midseason. “The Resident” is set to kick off Tuesdays for network in the 8 p.m.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCherry Jones has joined the cast of the upcoming Apple drama series “Five Days at Memorial,” Variety has learned.The series is based on the Sheri Fink novel of the same name. It chronicles the first five days in a New Orleans, LA, hospital after Hurricane Katrina made landfall.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The White House Plumbers” series at HBO is rounding out its main cast.Kiernan Shipka, Ike Barinholtz, Yul Vazquez, David Krumholtz, Rich Sommer, Kim Coates, and Liam James have all been cast in the series. They join previously announced cast members Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, Domnhall Gleason, and Lena Headey.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRussell Wilson and Ciara have signed a first-look television and film deal with Amazon.The pair will develop and produce scripted series and films with Amazon Studios through their production company, Why Not You Productions,“We’re so excited and honored to work with Amazon Studios,” said the Wilsons. “They’ve quickly become one of the most exciting studios in entertainment and have shown a strong belief in our vision to bring inspiring stories to the world.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAMC and AMC Plus have given a formal series order to the series “Moonhaven” from Peter Ocko.News of the order comes after it was reported that AMC had opened a writers’ room for the show under their script-to-series model. The series is expected to debut next year.“Moonhaven” is focused on a utopian colony on the Moon that may hold the keys to preserving life on Earth, which has become increasingly perilous.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMj Rodriguez will star opposite Maya Rudolph in an upcoming Apple comedy series that hails from Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard, Variety has learned.The series was ordered at Apple in March. It follows Molly (Rudolph), a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended after her husband leaves her with nothing but 87 billion dollars.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterColton Ryan has signed on to star opposite Elle Fanning in the upcoming Hulu drama series “The Girl From Plainville,” Variety has learned.Fanning as Michelle Carter and is inspired by the true story of her controversial “texting-suicide” case.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAli Wong is set to appear in the upcoming “Paper Girls” series adaptation at Amazon.Wong joins previously announced series leads Sofia Rosinsky, Camryn Jones, Riley Lai Nelet, and Fina Strazza. The series, which hails from Amazon Studios and Legendary Television in association with Plan B, is based on the graphic novel series by writer Brian K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKym Whitley and Danny Garcia have been cast in recurring roles in the Amazon YA pilot “Hot Pink,” Variety has learned exclusively.The pair joins previously announced stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nina Bloomgarden, David Iacono, Mimi Davila, Dana Donnelly, and Myra Molloy, as well as fellow recurring star David Arquette.The show is loosely inspired by Elana K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterToni Collette will star alongside Colin Firth in the HBO Max limited series “The Staircase,” Variety has learned.The eight-episode series is based on the docuseries of the same name as well as various books and reports about the case of Michael Peterson (Firth), who was accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen (Collette), in 2001.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLena Headey has joined the HBO series “The White House Plumbers,” which delves into the Watergate scandal, Variety has learned.Headey joins previously announced cast members Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, and Domhnall Gleeson. The five-episode series tells the story of how President Nixon’s own political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Invincible” has been renewed for Season 2 and Season 3 at Amazon.The announcement was made on Thursday on Twitter by Robert Kirkman alongside Steven Yeun, who voices the show’s main character.“I’m extremely thankful to Amazon for the support and dedication they’ve put behind Invincible,” Kirkman said in a separate statement.