NBC Developing Wrestling Culture Series ‘Pinned’ with WWE

EXCLUSIVE: Former NBA player and producer Jarnell Stokes has signed with Zero Gravity Management, which will rep the 2-time Gold Medalist for both on-camera opportunities and production deals.

EXCLUSIVE: Ben Rappaport (Younger) and Alexandra Chando (The Lying Game) have been cast as the leads of NBC’s untitled drama pilot based on the award-winning Dutch series Adam & Eva. The pilot is written by The Village creator Mike Daniels and will be directed by Stephanie Laing.

EXCLUSIVE: We’ll be seeing a new face on NCIS. The Fosters alumna Teri Polo is joining NBC’s flagship drama series in a recurring role opposite Gary Cole.

EXCLUSIVE: Stephanie Laing (Veep) has been tapped to direct and executive produce the NBC drama pilot, Untitled Mike Daniels Project, an adaptation of the Dutch series Adam & Eva. The project comes from The Village creator Mike Daniels and producers David Janollari and Rob Golenberg & Alon Aranya.

Jesse L. Martin has been tapped as the lead of NBC’s drama pilot The Irrational as he is leaving the CW’s The Flash after eight seasons. While Martin will no longer be a series regular on the Berlanti Prods./Warner Bros. TV-produced The Flash, he is expected to appear in multiple episodes of the DC drama in its recently picked up ninth season.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe action series “The Ledger” starring Xolo Maridueña has been set up at HBO Max for development, Variety has learned exclusively.The half-hour series was first reported as being shopped to networks and streamers back in October. It follows the trials and travels of Gabriel (Maridueña), a young man who sets out into the world to right the wrongs of the deadly man who trained him.

in “a coming-of-age story that explores what it means to be alive,” per a logline.“When a new family arrives in the small town of Eternal Falls, Casper finds himself entangled in a mystery uncovering dark secrets that have been buried for over 100 years,” the logline concludes.“Casper” comes from writer and executive producer Kai Yu Wu (“The Flash,” “Hannibal”).The series is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Dreamworks Animation.Wu is repped by UTA and Underground.“Casper” was also the name of the 1995 movie starring Christina Ricci that featured the ghost.

EXCLUSIVE: Davionte “GaTa” Ganter is working on an animated series for Onxy Collective.

EXCLUSIVE: In a competitive situation, Kinetic Content has landed the rights to Grady Hendrix’s forthcoming sci-fi comedic novella BadAsstronauts to develop as a half-hour television series, with Aperture Entertainment.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterWhoopi Goldberg is set to play Bird Woman in the upcoming Amazon series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s “Anansi Boys.”The series follows Charlie Nancy (Malachi Kirby)—sometimes known as Fat Charlie (it was his father’s nickname for him; he’s not fat)—a young man who is used to being embarrassed by his estranged father (Delroy Lindo). But when his father dies, Charlie discovers that he was Anansi: Trickster God of stories. And he learns that he has a brother.

EXCLUSIVE: eOne is developing a TV series based on the Paranormal Hitmen comic books from writer Brett Murphy and illustrator Wilson Gandolpho.

EXCLUSIVE: Chuck Tatham, a co-exec producer of CBS sitcom The United States of Al, has teamed with Amaze, the production company behind The Lake, Amazon’s first Canadian scripted series, on a new comedy.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBob Odenkirk could already have a new AMC show lined up.Variety has learned that the “Better Call Saul” star is attached to lead a new dramedy series that is currently being fast-tracked in development at AMC. The series is called “Straight Man,” based on the Richard Russo novel of the same name. It is described a mid-life crisis tale set at Railton College, told in the first person by William Henry Devereaux, Jr.

EXCLUSIVE: BBC Studios has optioned the Eve Stranger comic book series and is developing into a TV show.

EXCLUSIVE: Dave Logan, creator of Acorn TV’s Harry Wild and writer on Roald Dahl film To Olivia, is developing a crime drama TV series set in Malta with his Harry Wild co-writer Jo Spain.

NBC is making its summer reality plans. The network today set premiere dates for a number of unscripted series including America’s Got Talent, American Ninja Warrior, the NBC return of Who Do You Think You Are? after a decade and the new competition show Dancing with Myself.

Vince McMahon is getting in the ring for another scripted wrestling series.

J. Kim Murphy NBCUniversal has announced that it is developing “Pinned,” a new dramatic scripted series about the world of wrestling.“Pinned” comes from Universal Content Productions and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. The production is billed as a dramatic series with a logline touting “an adrenalized upstairs-downstairs soap that gives a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional wrestling promotion and the unforgettable characters that populate it.”“Pinned” will offer a look into the world of wrestling culture, documenting the mayhem both within the locker room and the boardroom of wrestling organizations.Craig O’Neill serves as an executive producer on the series, alongside Tom Rinaldi.

return for Season 2 over the weekend, there’s more news from that world. Netflix has confirmed the cast for the young Queen Charlotte spinoff series from Shonda Rhimes herself – including the actress who will play the young Charlotte.India Amarteifio (“Line of Duty”) plays the young Queen in the currently untitled series.

“The United States of America Vs. Vince McMahon” has found its showrunners. Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster will co-showrun, write and executive produce the series from WWE and Blumhouse Television. The show was in development last year.