Nina Dobrev to Star in ‘Woman 99’ Series With Bruna Papandrea Producing

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA dramatic reboot of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is in the works, Variety has confirmed.It will be based on Morgan Cooper’s viral video that reimagined the NBC comedy series as a drama titled “Bel-Air.” The trailer, which Cooper posted online last year, has racked up over five million views on YouTube alone.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAdria Arjona has been cast in the upcoming Cassian Andor series at Disney Plus, Variety has confirmed.Arjona joins previously announced series lead Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk, both of whom will reprise their roles from the “Star Wars” film “Rogue One.” Genevieve O’Reilly and Denise Gough are also set to appear in the show, as will Stellan Skarsgard and Kyle Soller.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSara Bareilles has been cast in a lead role of the upcoming Tina Fey-Robert Carlock produced Peacock comedy series “Girls5eva.”In the series, when a one-hit-wonder girl group from the 90’s gets sampled by a young rapper, its members reunite to give their pop star dreams one more shot.Bareilles will star as Dawn, a former member of Girls5eva, who is now a bit restless in life managing her family’s small Italian restaurant in Queens.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterElle Fanning is attached to star in the Universal Content Productions (UCP) series based on the real-life case of Michelle Carter, which has landed at Hulu, Variety has learned.Titled “The Girl From Plainville,” Fanning will star as Carter, who was infamously convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2017 after texting her boyfriend encouragement to commit suicide three years prior.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterWarner Bros. Television has optioned the upcoming Diane Cook novel “The New Wilderness” for Matt Reeves’ production company, 6th & Idaho, to develop as a television series.Cook will write the pilot and executive produce the series.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Star Trek: Lower Decks” premieres today on CBS All Access, marking the first true “Star Trek” comedy series to ever air. But series creator Mike McMahan, the franchise has always been rich in comedy.“I don’t even really consider myself to be the first one doing it,” McMahan tells Variety.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJonathan Levine has signed on to direct all eight episodes of the upcoming Hulu series adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s “Nine Perfect Strangers.”Levine will also executive produce the series, which features an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Samara Weaving, Luke Evans, Melvin Gregg, Grace Van Patten, and Tiffany Boone.Levine most recently directed the feature comedy “Long Shot” starring Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO has optioned a book proposal about the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine with Adam McKay onboard as an executive producer, Variety has confirmed.The potential limited series is based on the book proposal “The First Shot” by Brendan Borrell.

Nina Dobrev wears a hot pink mask while leaving a fitness class at Remedy in West Hollywood, Calif., earlier in the week.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterElisabeth Moss is attached to star in and executive produce a series adaptation of the 2013 Lauren Beukes novel “Shining Girls,” which has been ordered to series at Apple.Moss will star as a Chicago reporter who survived a brutal assault only to find her reality shifting as she hunts down her attacker.Silka Luisa will write the adaptation and serve as executive producer and showrunner.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterVince Vaughn is attached to executive produce an animated comedy series in the works at Fox, Variety has learned exclusively.Fox has given Vaughn, Victoria Vaughn, and Peter Billingsly’s Wild West Picture Show production company a blind script deal for an animated series. No writer is currently attached, but Fox Entertainment will produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJonathan Majors is on — well, a major roll at the moment. Majors has appeared in a string of high-profile features in a matter of a few short years.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC is developing a drama series with both Eva Longoria and Forest Whitaker attached as executive producers.Titled “Chicano,” the series is inspired by the novel of the same name Richard Vasquez. It tells the multi-generational story of the Sandovals, a Mexican-American family that immigrates to Los Angeles in pursuit of the American Dream.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“grown-ish” star and executive producer Yara Shahidi has signed an overall deal with ABC Studios.As part of the deal, Shahidi is forming a production company with her business partner and mother, Keri Shahidi. The company is called 7th Sun.

Nina Dobrev and Lucy Hale are spontaneously meeting up!

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDiego Boneta has signed on to star in a limited series currently in the works at HBO Max, Variety has learned exclusively.Hailing from Legendary Television, the series is titled “Brujo” and will feature both English and Spanish dialogue. It is inspired by the true story of the infamous Adolfo Constanzo and the power he acquired as his acts of dark magic came to light.