Michael Showalter, Jordana Mollick’s Semi-Formal Productions Inks First-Look Deal With HBO Max

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBerlanti Productions senior vice president of development Erika Kennair is exiting the company to serves as president of production for Malala Yousafzai’s production company, Extracurricular, Variety has learned exclusively.It was announced back in March that Yousafazi had signed a programming deal with Apple, under which she formed Extracurricular.“At Extracurricular, we want to help the next generation of women, artists and writers reflect the world as they see it,”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“WandaVision” head writer Jac Schaeffer has signed a three-year overall deal TV deal with Marvel Studios and 20th Television.Under the deal, Schaeffer will develop projects for both Marvel Studios and 20th Television. Projects for Marvel Studios will go to Disney Plus, while projects for 20th TV will be developed for all platforms.Schaeffer created “WandaVision” for television and also served as head writer and executive producer.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMichiel Huisman has been cast in one of the lead roles of the upcoming Apple action-thriller series “Echo 3,” Variety has learned.Huisman joins recently announced cast member Luke Evans. Set in South America, “Echo 3″ follows Amber Chesborough, a brilliant young scientist, who is the emotional center of a small American family.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeter Murrieta has signed a first-look deal with Universal Television, Variety has learned exclusively.Under the deal, Murrieta will develop original content for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. He was previously an executive producer on “Mr.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMark Pedowitz, chairman and CEO of The CW, spoke about the upcoming Discovery-WarnerMedia merger during a programming conference call on Tuesday.Asked how the deal would affect The CW, which is owned in part by Warner Bros., Pedowitz said “At the moment, it does not.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIn a competitive situation, Blumhouse Television and Maniac Productions have secured the rights to the BBC Radio 4 podcast “The Battersea Poltergeist.”The two companies will now work to develop a scripted series, with the podcast serving as the basis for the first season.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLee Daniels has signed a new multi-year overall deal with 20th Television.Daniels has called the studio home since 2015 when he co-created the hit Fox drama series “Empire.” He then signed another deal with 20th TV in 2018, which was set to expire in June.“I’m beyond grateful to continue my partnership with 20th, Dana Walden, Karey Burke and their amazing team, all of whom have wholeheartedly supported my vision over the past seven years,” Daniels said.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO has offered a first look at the Watergate drama series “White House Plumbers” starring Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux.The five-part series tells the story of how President Richard Nixon’s own political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E. Howard Hunt (Harrelson) and G.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCliff “Method Man” Smith and his manager, Shauna Garr, have teamed to form the production company Six AM, An Entertainment Co., Variety has learned exclusively.Six AM will aim to produce a diverse range of content for untold points of view for audiences of all ages.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Wheel of Time” series at Amazon has been renewed for Season 2 just as production is ending on Season 1, Variety has learned.Based on the Robert Jordan novel series, “The Wheel of Time” was first ordered at Amazon back in 2018.

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 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 ReporterThe long-delayed “Friends” reunion special at HBO Max will finally be there for you, with the streamer announcing the official premiere date.“Friends: The Reunion” will debut on HBO Max on May 27. In addition, HBO Max debuted the first teaser trailer for the special, which can be viewed above.“Friends: The Reunion” will now debut on the one year anniversary of the launch of HBO Max and exactly one year after it was originally supposed to air.

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 ReporterGillian Jacobs and Wood Harris have both joined HBO’s upcoming drama series about the Los Angeles Lakers, Variety has learned.The untitled series was ordered at HBO in December 2019. It is described as chronicling the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties, in what came to be called the Showtime Era.Jacobs will appear as Chris Riley.

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 ReporterHulu has released a first look at Lily James and Sebastian Stan as Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in the limited series “Pam and Tommy.”The series takes on the true story behind the release of the first ever viral video in history — the sex tape of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. Along with Stan and James, the series also stars Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, Taylor Schilling, Andrew Dice Clay, Pepi Sonuga, Spencer Granese, and Mozhan Marnò.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon” at HBO has unveiled its first official images.“House of the Dragon” is set a few hundred years prior to the events of “Game of Thrones” and tells the story of House Targaryen and the Targaryen civil war that became known as the “Dance of the Dragons.” The cast includes Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno, and Fabien Frankel.The photos

Joe Otterson TV ReporterElizabeth Olsen is set to star in a new HBO Max limited series that boasts an all-star lineup behind the camera as well.Olsen will star in “Love and Death,” which hails from writer and executive producer David E. Kelley.