Nicolas Cage to Voice Dragon in ‘Highfire’ Series Adaptation in Development at Amazon

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO is developing a drama series that boasts Lily Rabe among its executive producers.The project is currently titled “The Big D.” Set during a hot and hotly contested summer in Dallas 1980, the show follows a triangle of women as their lives collide to unearth a secret past involving the city’s would-be First Lady, Pat Pangburn, and her mysterious bout of amnesia.Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann will serve as writers and co-executive producers on the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe scripted series about “Tiger King’s” Joe Exotic starring Nicolas Cage has been set up at Amazon for development, Variety has learned.Variety exclusively reported the project was in the works from CBS Television Studios and Imagine Television in May.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories and producer John Cameron have optioned the rights to adapt Marie Lu’s novel “Warcross” as a television series.For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game–it’s a way of life.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max is developing a series adaptation of the classic children’s mystery “The Westing Game.”The project has been given a script-to-series order at the streaming service, with MGM/UA Television attached to produce. MGM’s recent slate includes “Fargo,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Vikings,” “Get Shorty,” and the upcoming CBS drama “Clarice.”No writer is currently attached to the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAs the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, the virus’s effect on Hollywood is becoming more pronounced.Television development has slowed considerably across broadcast, cable and streaming in recent months.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA fourth installment in the “Black-ish” franchise could soon be a reality.Variety has confirmed that ABC is developing a spinoff of the critically-acclaimed comedy titled “Old-ish.” The new spinoff would focus on Earl “Pops” Johnson and Ruby Johnson, played in the mothership series by Laurence Fishburne and Jenifer Lewis.The project would Ruby and Earl as they give love a second chance.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAlan Ritchson has been cast in the lead role of Amazon’s upcoming “Jack Reacher” series, Variety has confirmed.The series is based on the Lee Childs book series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon is not moving forward on its series about conquistador Hernan Cortes after the show was forced to shut down production due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Variety has confirmed.The Spanish-language series, which starred Javier Bardem as Cortes, was intended to be a big-budget miniseries for the streamer comprised of four episodes.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA reboot of the Freeform series “Pretty Little Liars” is in the early stages of development at Warner Bros. Television, Variety has confirmed.Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who previously developed “Riverdale” for television, is developing the potential reboot.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered a comedy series starring Jamie Foxx titled “Dad Stop Embarrassing Me,” Variety has learned.The multi-camera series is inspired by Foxx’s relationship with his daughter, Corinne Foxx. The series will also star David Alan Grier, Kyla-Drew, Porscha Coleman, and Jonathan Kite.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterEmma Roberts and her Belletrist TV banner have signed a first-look TV deal with Hulu.The deal will focus on literary adaptations, as Belletrist was originally founded by Roberts and Karah Preiss as a book club.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJohn Ridley and Carlton Cuse are set to adapt Sheri Fink’s novel “Five Days at Memorial” for Apple as a limited series, Variety has learned.The book chronicles the first five days in a New Orleans, LA, hospital after Hurricane Katrina made landfall.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered a drama series based on the award-winning Chinese book series “The Three-Body Problem” with David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo set to write and executive produce.The series order covers all three books in the trilogy — “The Three-Body Problem,” “The Dark Forest,” and “Death’s End,” all of which were written by Liu Cixin.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon is developing a series about human rights lawyer Jared Genser with Orlando Bloom attached to executive produce, Variety has learned.The untitled series is inspired by Genser and his firm. He and his team work to free prisoners of conscience (Human Rights prisoners) in high-risk areas throughout the world’s most difficult Hot Zones.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAn animated “X-Files” comedy series is in the works at Fox, Variety has confirmed.The project is currently titled “The X-Files: Albuquerque.” It has received a script and presentation commitment at the broadcaster. The show would revolve around an office full of misfit agents who investigate X-Files cases too wacky, ridiculous or downright dopey for Mulder and Scully to bother with.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given a series order to the limited anthology series “Women of the Movement,” which will tell the story of key female figures in the Civil Rights Movement.The show was first announced as being in development in August 2019. The first six-episode season is slated to debut in 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJohn Harlan Kim has been upped to series regular on the upcoming fourth season of “9-1-1-” at Fox, Variety has learned exclusively.Kim recurred last season as Albert Kim, the younger half-brother of firefighter Howie “Chimney” Kim (Kenneth Choi). The brothers had never met until Albert surprised Chimey by showing up on his doorstep from Korea.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA+E Networks has launched a new campaign called Voices Magnified,The cross-platform campaign is meant to spotlight and amplify the voices of those making changes in their communities for the greater good.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA live-action “Resident Evil” series has been picked up at Netflix.The streamer has given an eight episode order to the one-hour series, which is based on the Capcom video game franchise of the same name. Constantin Films, which produced the six-film franchise based on the games, will serve as the studio behind the series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMargaret Qualley has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming Netflix dramedy series “Maid,” Variety has confirmed.The series will be based on Stephanie Land’s “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive.” It will chronicle a single mother who turns to housekeeping to—barely—make ends meet as she battles against poverty, homelessness, and bureaucracy.Qualley’s past TV credits include appearing in the critically-acclaimed HBO series “The Leftovers.” She