John Wells Productions Acquires Rights To ‘Notes On An Execution’ Novel For Series Adaptation

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a hot one. Jodie Comer is to star in a series based on Jen Beagin’s upcoming book Big Swiss.

EXCLUSIVE: CCH Pounder (NCIS: New Orleans, Avatar), The Crown star Jason Watkins and Killing Eve’s Fiona Shaw have rounded out the cast for Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming big-budget adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys.

EXCLUSIVE: Doug Liman has found his next TV project and it’s pretty timely. The Edge of Tomorrow director has signed on to helm a series adaptation of Bill Browder’s book Red Notice, which explores the author’s real-life fight against a corrupt Russian government under Putin.

EXCLUSIVE: Ruby Stokes, who plays Francesca Bridgerton in the hit Netflix period romp, is to lead the cast of the streamer’s latest book adaptation.

Much-loved BBC cooking competition MasterChef is set to introduce some exciting landmark changes in the upcoming series later this month - one of which will be of particular excitement for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.The culinary professional pair will now be served a plate of hot food by the chefs, something that has not yet happened in the 18 years since the show first aired. Despite having adjusted their taste-buds to inspect room temperature cuisine over the years, John, 56, and Gregg, 57, will finally be presented with a steaming dish in a brand new round of the competition. Australian-British TV chef and presenter John recently let fans in on the show's newest addition.

EXCLUSIVE: Lan Samantha Chang’s novel The Family Chao is getting a series adaptation after Sam Esmail and UCP optioned the rights to the book.

EXCLUSIVE: Capstone has acquired the feature film rights to New York Times bestselling author James Swallow’s series of Marc Dane spy thriller novels, setting his Sunday Times bestseller, Nomad, as the first title to be adapted for the big screen.

EXCLUSIVE: As he is firming up his post-Bridgerton plans, Chris Van Dusen has signed on to co-write and executive produce Entertainment One’s TV series adaptation of Adam Silvera’s #1 NYT bestselling YA novel They Both Die At The End. The project, which has been in the works at eOne and Drew Comins’ studio-based Creative Engine Entertainment for about 10 months, will be taken out to the premium marketplace shortly.

EXCLUSIVE: PlayStation’s flagship action-adventure franchise God of War is heading to television. Prime Video is in negotiations for a live-action TV series based on the hugely popular ancient mythology-themed game, sources said.

EXCLUSIVE: Australia’s Stan and 9Network have commenced production on Bali 2002, based on the terrorist attacks on the nation’s tourist hotspots 20 years ago, with distributor Banijay Rights launching at yesterday’s London Screenings showcase.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam Esmail’s “Metropolis” series has been greenlit at Apple, Variety has learned.The drama series is inspired by the 1927 Fritz Lang sci-fi film of the same name. Hailed as one of the greatest and most influential films of the silent film era, the story takes place in the futuristic city of Metropolis.While the city’s wealthy elite enjoy a lavish life of comfort and ease in penthouses and pleasure gardens, scores of workers labor at dangerous machinery in the bowels of the city to keep everything running. Freder Fredersen, the son of the most powerful man in Metropolis, has an awakening after meeting a young worker named Maria and witnessing a number of workers die in an industrial accident.

Jean Smart is a winner!

John Cena is getting body slammed for a tweet he sent amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.About five hours after Russia began invading neighboring Ukraine, the wrestler-turned-actor decided to capitalize on the war by promoting his HBO Max show "Peacemaker," in which he plays a superhero hellbent on peace."If I could somehow summon the powers of a real life #Peacemaker I think this would be a great time to do so," he tweeted on Feb.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla “Grubbs,” a Keenspot all-ages webcomic that draws inspiration from “Calvin & Hobbes” and “Dennis the Menace,” is slated for an animated TV series adaptation penned by M.J. Offen.

amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.The actor-turned-wrestler, 44, seemingly used the Russian invasion of Ukraine to promote his HBO Max show “Peacemaker” on Twitter and sparked a major backlash.“If I could somehow summon the powers of a real life #Peacemaker I think this would be a great time to do so,” he shamelessly tweeted about the titular DC superhero role he performs on the series amid the conflict.

amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.The actor-turned-wrestler, 44, seemingly used the Russian invasion of Ukraine to promote his HBO Max show “Peacemaker” on Twitter and sparked a major backlash.“If I could somehow summon the powers of a real life #Peacemaker I think this would be a great time to do so,” he blatantly tweeted about the titular DC superhero amid the conflict.

EXCLUSIVE: XYZ Films has acquired North American rights to the LGBTQ horror-thriller Hypochondriac, starring Zach Villa (American Horror Story), Devon Graye (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore), Madeline Zima (Californication), Chris Doubek (Boyhood), Marlene Forte (Knives Out) and Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds), ahead of its world premiere in the Midnighters section of the 2022 SXSW Film Festival on March 14. The indie studio’s domestic distribution division has slated the film for a nationwide release in theaters and on digital later this year.

less interesting enough to merit less attention or screen time. But if the reason for a more succinct ending than the beginning is a lack of access, let’s hope that change gets examined a little more closely, if for no other reason than to bring together the journeys of West and Coodie as this epic story syncs up with the present day.“jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy” Act II: “Purpose” premieres on Netflix Feb.

Madison Wells, Gigi Pritzker’s award-winning, independent entertainment company, has acquired and will develop a feature adaptation of State of Terror, the best-selling novel by former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and New York Times best-selling novelist Louise Penny. This high-stakes thriller of international intrigue follows novice Secretary of State Ellen Adams, who is unexpectedly brought into the administration by a newly-elected President, her political and personal adversary. Events soon erupt that sweep her into a world of global intrigue and diplomacy where the stakes could not be higher and the potential consequences, both personal and global, could not be greater.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaHillary Rodham Clinton has done a lot in her long career. But until now none of the tomes written by the former secretary of state, U.S. senator, first lady and winner of the 2016 popular vote have gotten the big screen treatment.