Mandy Patinkin to Star in Hulu Detective Drama Pilot ‘Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem’

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “L.A. Law” sequel series starring Blair Underwood has been given a pilot order at ABC.The followup to the beloved late ’80s-early ’90s series was first announced as being in development at ABC back in December.In the new show, the venerable law firm of McKenzie Brackman reinvents itself as a litigation firm specializing in only the most high profile, boundary pushing and incendiary cases.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterConstance Zimmer has joined the cast of the YA pilot “Shelter” at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Zimmer joins previously announced series lead Jaden Michael. “Shelter” hails from Amazon Studios and MGM International Television Productions.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Interview With the Vampire” series at AMC has cast Bailey Bass in the key role of Claudia, Variety has learned.Bass joins previously announced series leads Jacob Anderson, who will play Louis, and Sam Reid, who will play Lestat.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has ordered the scripted true crime series about Candy Montgomery, with Jessica Biel now attached to star.The project was first announced as being in the works in July 2020, landing at Hulu in December. At that time, “The Handmaid’s Tale” star Elisabeth Moss was attached to play the lead role.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has greenlit the series adaptation of the novel “Washington Black,” with Sterling K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “True Lies” pilot at CBS is building out its supporting cast.Omar Miller, Erica Hernandez, and Mike O’Gorman have all joined the drama pilot. Variety previously exclusively reported that Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga would star in the pilot, which is based on the film of the same name.Like the film, main character Harry (Howey) appears to be a benign suburban dad and computer salesman on the surface, when in reality he is a world-class spy.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe FX series adaptation of the James Clavell novel “Shōgun” has rounded out its main cast.Anna Sawai has been cast in the lead role of Lady Mariko, joining previously announced leads Cosmo Jarvis and Hiroyuki Sanada.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterGinger Gonzaga will star opposite Steve Howey in the “True Lies” pilot at CBS, Variety has learned exclusively.Gonzaga will star as Helen, the role played in the “True Lies” film by Jamie Lee Curtis.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOnyx Collective on Hulu has greenlit the legal drama “Reasonable Doubt” starring Emayatzy Corinealdi in their first scripted series order, Variety has learned.The series was originally reported as being in development at Onyx Collective back in July after having previously been in the works at ABC.“Reasonable Doubt” will be executive produced by Kerry Washington and Pilar Savone for Simpson Street and Larry Wilmore via Wilmore Films.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered a series adaptation of the “Amber Brown” books by Paula Danzinger, Variety has learned.Bonnie Hunt is set to write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner on the adaptation.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHannah Waddingham has signed with CAA for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively. She continues to be repped by manager Nick Todisco at Atlas Artists, U.K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRussell Hornsby has been cast as Don King in the upcoming Hulu limited series about Mike Tyson, “Iron Mike,” Variety has learned exclusively.Hornsby joins previously announced series lead Trevante Rhodes, who will play Tyson. The series is said to be an exploration of the wild, tragic and controversial life and career of Tyson, one of the most polarizing figures in sports culture.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPatricia Arquette is set to star in, direct, and executive produce the limited series “Love Canal” currently in development at Showtime, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is based on the upcoming documentary “The Canal” by Will Battersby and upcoming book by journalist Keith O’Brien entitled “Paradise Falls.”“Love Canal” is about a group of blue collar women who came together in the late 1970s to fight for environmental justice for their community.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJaden Michael has been cast in the lead role in the YA pilot based on the Harlan Coben novel “Shelter,” Variety has learned exclusively.“Shelter” hails from Amazon Studios and MGM International Television Productions. It tells the story of high school junior Mickey Bolitar (Michael) as he navigates his new life with a mom in rehab, a dead father, an annoying aunt, and a new school in New Jersey with a camel as its mascot.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has added nine actors in recurring roles to the upcoming series “The Girl From Plainville,” Variety has learned exclusively.Chinasa Ogbuagu (“Mare of Easttown,” “Nurse Jackie”), Kelly AuCoin (“Billions,” “The Americans”), Scott William Winters (“Oz,” “City on a Hill”), Kristin Griffith (“Succession,” “The Devil All the Time”), Ella Rubin (“The Chair,” “Gossip Girl”), Megan Lawless (“The Hate U Give,” “Play by Play”), John Henry Ward (“Yes, God, Yes,” “Murder Chose

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSharon Horgan is set to star in, co-write, and executive produce a dark comedy that has been ordered to series at Apple, Variety has learned.The untitled comedy follows the lives of the Garvey sisters, who are bound together by the premature death of their parents and a promise to always protect one another.Apple has given the project a 10-episode order. It is adapted from the Flemish series “Clan,” which was created by Malin-Sarah Gozin.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Pitch Perfect” series has been ordered at Peacock with Adam Devine onboard to reprise his role from the film franchise, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is set several years after the events of the films. Devine returns as Bumper Allen, who moves to Germany to revive his music career when one of his songs becomes big in Berlin.Bumper was the main antagonist of the first film and the leader of the all-male a cappella group The Treblemakers.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has won more Emmys than any other network or platform for the first time ever, with the streaming giant nabbing 44 awards total in 2021.Not only did Netflix take home the most Emmys for the year, but it did so while winning more than double the total number of awards of its nearest competition. HBO and HBO Max, by comparison, won 19 awards in total.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAnthony Mackie has signed on for the lead role in the “Twisted Metal” live-action series currently in the works at Sony Pictures Television, Variety has confirmed.Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions are developing the series, which is based on the “Twisted Metal” vehicular combat games, the first of which was released in 1995.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHilary Swank is set to star in a drama from Tom McCarthy that has been ordered to pilot at ABC, Variety has learned.In the untitled series, a star journalist (Swank) moves to Alaska for a fresh start after a career-killing misstep, and finds redemption personally and professionally joining a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage.McCarthy is writing and directing the pilot in addition to serving as executive producer under his Slow Pony banner.