Marlon Wayans Sets HBO Max Overall Deal

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMichael Che has set up his own sketch comedy series at HBO Max, Variety has learned.The streamer has given the series a six-episode order. Che will star in the series, with each episode set to tackle a different theme or incident — such as police brutality, unemployment, or falling in love — from a Black vantage point.“I’m really excited to be working on this show with HBO Max” said Che.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIdris Elba and his Green Door Pictures production company have signed a first-look deal at Apple, Variety has learned. Under the deal, Elba and Green Door will produce both series and features for Apple’s streaming platform, Apple TV Plus.Elba is an actor, producer, director, and musician.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCate Blanchett and her Dirty Films production company have signed a first-look TV deal with FX Productions.Dirty Films is headed by Blanchett along with Andrew Upton and Coco Francini. News of the deal comes after Blanchett and Francini served as executive producers on the FX on Hulu limited series “Mrs.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has given a series commitment to a drama set in the Gotham police department from Matt Reeves and Terrence Winter, Variety has learned.The untitled series will be set in the world Reeves is creating for the feature film “The Batman,” with the intent being to launch a new Batman universe across multiple platforms. It is said to build on the film’s examination of the anatomy of corruption in Gotham City.

Can you believe Scary Movie turns 20 years old this month??

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPamela Adlon has signed an overall deal with FX Productions. In addition, Adlon’s critically-acclaimed FX series “Better Things” has been renewed for a fifth season.Adlon’s new deal covers all scripted and unscripted programming.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJuVee Productions, the production company of Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, has set an expanded first-look deal with Amazon. The deal will now include television in addition to extending their film deal.JuVee previously had a TV overall deal at ABC Studios.“We are excited to continue our partnership with Amazon Studios, bringing our TV division along with Film,” Davis and Tennon said.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOscar Isaac and Michelle Williams are attached to star in an HBO limited series adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s “Scenes From a Marriage,” Variety has learned.Bergman’s version aired on Swedish television in 1973, consisting of six episodes. Bergman directed the series with Liv Ullmann and Erland Josephson starring.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has renewed the competition series “Legendary” for a second season.The news comes on the same day that HBO Max dropped the final two episodes of the show’s first season. Season 1 MC Dashaun Wesley will return for Season 2 along with judges Leiomy Maldonado, Jameela Jamil, Law Roach and Megan Thee Stallion.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon has landed the rights to develop the 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist New York Times story and podcast “The Jungle Prince of Delhi” as a drama series, Variety has learned.The story, written by Ellen Barry, delved into the history of the royal family of Oudh, deposed aristocrats living in a ruined palace in the Indian capital claiming to be the heirs to a fallen kingdom.Mira Nair is attached to direct the project and will also executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeter Lenkov’s relationship with CBS has been terminated due to accusations the producer and showrunner created a toxic work environment on his sets, Variety has confirmed.Lenkov was the showrunner on the CBS revivals of “Magnum P.I.” and “MacGyver,” but has been fired from those shows. In addition, his overall deal with CBS Television Studios has been ended.

Mackenzie Nichols Staff WriterIt was only a matter of time before the most powerful brothers in Hollywood got into business together.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJohn Mulaney is bringing the “Sack Lunch Bunch” to Comedy Central.Variety has confirmed that Mulaney has signed a deal with the cabler to host and executive produce two new “John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch” specials.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Batman” director Matt Reeves is expanding his relationship with Warner Bros.Reeves and his 6th & Idaho production company have signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.

As has been seen several times over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, studios have been trying to figure out how to release their films with no theaters and that has resulted in some features being sold off to streaming services. That is exactly what happened with Seth Rogen’s new film “An American Pickle,” which arrives on HBO Max after Sony decided to forgo a theatrical release.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBeavis and Butt-Head are returning to TV.Comedy Central announced Wednesday that the world’s favorite slacker teens are getting a reimagining at the cable network courtesy of original series creator Mike Judge. Comedy Central has ordered two seasons of the show as part of a new animation deal with Judge and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMahershala Ali is attached to play boxer Jack Johnson in a limited series currently in the works at HBO, Variety has learned.The six-part series is titled “Unruly.” It is described as an unapologetically Black, no-holds-barred telling of Johnson’s life.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Curb Your Enthusiasm” has been renewed for an eleventh season at HBO.The show stars Larry David as a heightened version of himself.More to come…Want to read more articles like this one?

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSpringHill Entertainment, the production company founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, has signed a two-year overall deal with ABC Studios.“SpringHill Entertainment makes the shows LeBron and I want to watch,” Carter said. “We look at every project as a way to connect with our community and ask ourselves if it will entertain and empower them.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAnother of “Normal People” author Sally Rooney’s books is set to get the series treatment at Hulu.The streamer has given a straight-to-series order to “Conversations with Friends,” which will be based on Rooney’s debut novel of the same name.The series will consist of 12 half-hour episodes.