Netflix Orders Political Drama ‘The Diplomat,’ Creator Debora Cahn Sets Overall Deal

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has given a straight-to-series order to the true crime series “A Friend of the Family,” which tells the story of the multiple kidnappings of Jan Broberg.Anna Paquin, Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks, and Lio Tipton will all star in the series, which hails from “The Act” co-creator Nick Antosca. The show was originally announced as being in development back in May 2020.“A Friend of the Family” is based on the true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family, and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart, and turn their daughter against them.

Inventing Anna sees Ozark star Garner playing fraudster Anna Delvey – whose real name is Anna Sorokin – in a new Netflix series about her life.The show tells the true story of how Sorokin scammed banks, businesses and acquaintances out of money under the fake guise of her being a wealthy German heiress.In 2019, she was convicted of crimes including grand larceny, and sentenced to four to 12 years in prison. She was initially released in 2021, but was then taken back into custody for violating the terms of her visa.Earlier this month Sorokin wrote an open letter about her feelings on the show, to which Garner has now responded.In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, Garner said: “I respect whatever Anna does in terms of whether she wants to watch the show or doesn’t want to watch the show.“That’s her choice and that’s totally fine.

Netflix series Inventing Anna.The series, which was released last Friday (February 11), chronicles the rise and fall of scammer Anna Delvey (aka Anna Sorokin) who is played by Ozark star Julia Garner.Williams who is a journalist played by Katie Lowes, makes an appearance in episode six of the series, as the show goes on to document a disastrous holiday that the real-life Williams went on with Sorokin in 2017.The journalist wrote in detail about her trip to Marrakesh in a 2018 article for Vanity Fair titled ‘My Bright-Lights Misadventure With A Magician Of Manhattan‘ and in a 2019 book titled My Friend Anna.She has since responded to her portrayal in the series in an article for Time Magazine in which she clarified that she “was not involved with the show”.Williams explained that she “expected there would be times when the dramatisation of my experience would make me uncomfortable” and added she “understood that stepping into the spotlight came with certain risks”.“I would only have so much control over how I was portrayed,” she wrote but added that “this Netflix description felt shocking”.She went on to quote one section of her character’s description which states that “the woman she becomes because of Anna” and said that these “seven little words in one fell swoop stripped me of my agency, accomplishments, and truth”.Williams added: “Were we meant to believe that the woman I had become was not on account of the parents who raised me, the love I shared with family and friends, my own efforts or personal growth, but because of Anna?” As reflected in Inventing Anna, the journalist was pressured into footing the bill for the lavish holiday when Sorokin said she was experiencing trouble with her bank.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBill Lawrence is staying put at Warner Bros. Television, with the TV writer and producer inking a massive five-year deal sources value at nine figures, Variety has confirmed.WBTV would not comment on the financial terms of the deal.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming FX limited mystery series “The Retreat” has added 10 new cast members, Variety has learned.Clive Owen, Harris Dickinson, Alice Braga, Jermaine Fowler, Joan Chen, Edoardo Ballerini, Raul Esparza, Pegah Ferydoni, Ryan J. Haddad and Javed Khan have all joined the series.

Selome Hailu CBS has given a pilot order to “East New York,” a drama series written by William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn.The series follows Regina Haywood, the newly promoted police captain of East New York, an impoverished, working class neighborhood at the eastern edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting during the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification.Finkelstein is best known for his writing and producing work on a number of police and legal dramas.

CBS has had a busy week of picking up drama pilots.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterGood news, everyone! “Futurama” is being revived at Hulu.Variety has learned that the streaming service has ordered 20 new episodes of the adult animated sci-fi comedy series. The revival hails from David X.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLiane Moriarty’s novel “Apples Never Fall” is being adapted into a limited series at Peacock, Variety has learned exclusively.In a competitive situation, Peacock has won the rights to the book, which was published in September 2021, and given it a straight-to-series order. Since its debut, the book has sold over one million copies.The series centers on the Delaneys, who from the outside appear to be an enviably contented family.

Ethan Shanfeld Hulu released the first trailer for “The Dropout,” a dramatic portrayal of the life, career and downfall of Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes, played by Amanda Seyfried.Premiering on March 3, the series will follow Holmes as she drops out of Stanford University to found Theranos, her fraudulent Silicon Valley blood testing startup that was once hailed as revolutionary. On Jan.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS has given out a pilot order to a drama about convicts that fight wildfires in California.Titled “Cal Fire,” the potential series focuses on young convict Bode Donovan. Seeking redemption and a shortened sentence, he joins a firefighting program that returns him to his small Northern California hometown, where he and other inmates work alongside elite firefighters to extinguish massive blazes across the region.“SEAL Team” star Max Thieriot co-wrote the story for the pilot and serves as an executive producer. The show is inspired by his experiences growing in Northern California fire country.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Supernatural” prequel “The Wincesters,” the “Walker” prequel “Walker: Independence,” and the DC series “Gotham Knights” have all landed pilot orders at The CW.In addition, the broadcaster has given six additional scripts for their “Zorro” project. Further details on that project can be found below.“The Winchesters” was first reported as being in development back in June 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon has given a series order to “The Horror of Dolores Roach,” Variety has learned.The half-hour show, based on the Gimlet podcast of the same name, was originally given a pilot order at Amazon in June 2021.“We at Amazon Studios fell in love with this story along with everyone else as the podcast captured listeners,” said Marc Resteghini, head of development for Amazon Studios. “We couldn’t be more excited and fortunate to be working with such world-class creatives to bring Dolores Roach to screen in what is sure to be a captivating series.”In the series, Dolores Roach (Justina Machado) is released from prison after 16 years and returns to a severely gentrified Washington Heights with $200 and the clothes on her back.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“That ’90s Show,” the Netflix spinoff of “That ’70s Show,” has set its cast of new Point Place teenagers, Variety has learned.Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi, and Sam Morelos have all joined the show as series regulars. They will star alongside previously announced cast members and returning original series stars Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith.As previously announced, the show centers on Leia Forman (Haverda), the daughter of Eric and Donna. She is visiting her grandparents for the summer, where bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitt (Rupp) and the stern glare of Red (Smith).Full character descriptions for the new cast members can be found below.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered the drama series “The Brothers Sun” from co-creators Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu, Variety has learned.The streamer has given the series an eight-episode order. It follows a Taipei gangster, Charles Sun, who’s settled into his life as a ruthless killer. But when his father is shot by a mysterious assassin, Charles must go to L.A.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given a cast contingent pilot order to the drama “Will Trent,” Variety has learned.The project is based on Karin Slaughter’s best-selling “Will Trent” novel series. It focuses on Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), who was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system.

William Earl Netflix’s upcoming “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” the direct sequel to 1974’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” is paying service to fans of the original by bringing back John Larroquette to narrate the opening of the film. Larroquette’s legendary news brief at the start of the the 1974 film was meant to scare audiences by grounding the film in true crime.