‘Palm Springs’ Writer Andy Siara Sets Dark Comedy Mystery Series at Peacock, Sam Esmail to Produce

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe HBO Max pirate comedy series “Our Flag Means Death” is rounding out its cast with six new additions.Kristian Nairn, Nathan Foad, Samson Kayo, Rory Kinnear, Con O’Neill and Vico Ortiz will all join the show alongside previously announced series lead Rhys Darby.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has given a straight-to-series order to a comedy set in the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers from writer Elaine Ko and executive producer Mindy Kaling, Variety has learned.The untitled, half-hour series is inspired by the personal and professional dynamic between the family owners and front office team that together run one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJack Huston has been cast in the upcoming Amazon series “Expats,” the adaptation of Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel “The ExpatriatesSet against the fabric of Hong Kong, “Expats” is the story of an international community whose lives are bound together forever after a sudden family tragedy.Huston will play David Starr, who has long lived in the shadow of his impressive wife Hilary.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterZiwe is set to develop the comedy series “The Nigerian Princess” at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.The project follows Zoe, a wise-beyond-her-years 20-something who, debilitated by student debt, partners with a known grifter in a desperate bid to achieve the American Dream.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterWill Smith is set to host and star in a new one-hour comedy variety special at Netflix, Variety has learned.The special will include comedy sketches, musical performances, surprise celebrity guests, and noteworthy conversations among other things. It is set to launch on Netflix globally later this year.Westbrook Studios will produce the special for Netflix.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Dangerous Liaisons” series at Starz has added over a dozen actors to its cast.Lesley Manville, Carice van Houten, Michael McElhatton, Paloma Faith, Koshar Ali, Nathanael Saleh, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Hilton Pelser, Mia Threapleton, Colette Dalal Tchantcho, Lucy Cohu, Fisayo Akinade, Maria Friedman, and Clare Higgins will all appear in the series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDisney Plus will now starting releasing its original series episodes on Wednesdays instead of Fridays, the streamer announced.The news comes on the heels of the launch of the Marvel Studios series “Loki” on the platform, which has now released two episodes on Disney Plus as of June 16.According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the decision will apply to all scripted, unscripted, and animated series going forward.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Resident Evil” live-action series at Netflix has set its main cast, with Lance Reddick set to star as Albert Wesker.Along with Reddick, the series will also star Ella Balinska, Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong, Adeline Rudolph, and Paola Nuñez. Details on which characters the others will be playing are being kept under wraps.“Resident Evil” was originally ordered at Netflix back in August.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Waltons: Homecoming” special at CW has added ten new cast members.Ben Lawson, Marcelle LeBlanc, Christian Finlayson, Tatum Matthews, Samuel Goergen, Callaway Corrick, Rebecca Koon, Alpha Trivette, Marilyn McCoo, and Billy Davis Jr. will all star in the special.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJaboukie Young-White is set to develop the book “The Gang’s All Queer: The Lives of Gay Gang Members” by Vanessa R. Panfil at HBO with Issa Rae attached as an executive producer.In the half-hour series, a closeted twenty-something in Chicago, grieving a gang-related death, ditches college to find reckless closure.Young-White will write and executive produce the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA live-action series adaptation of the “Ted” movies has been ordered straight-to-series at Peacock, Variety has learned.Seth MacFarlane is currently in negotiations to reprise the voice role of Ted, a foul-mouthed, pot-smoking teddy bear brought to life by the magic of a little boy’s wish.MacFarlane will also write executive produce the series, with Erica Huggins also executive producing under her and MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions banner.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “MacGruber” series at Peacock has added Sam Elliott, Laurence Fishburne and Mickey Rourke to its cast.The trio of acting legends joins previously announced cast members Will Forte, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe. In the eight-episode series, after rotting in prison for over a decade, America’s ultimate hero and uber patriot MacGruber (Forte) is finally released.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Staircase” series at HBO Max has cast Odessa Young, Variety has learned.She joins previously announced cast members Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Juliette Binoche, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Sophie Turner.The eight-episode series is based on the docuseries of the same name as well as various books and reports about the case of Michael Peterson (Firth), who was accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen (Collette), in 2001.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOriginal programming has evolved to an incredible degree in even just the past few years, and television comedies have been no exception. Long gone are the days of relying on a comfortable, four-camera, laugh-track-filled sitcom; what audiences look forward to from a TV comedy in 2021 is a far cry from the expectations of audiences 20 or even 10 years ago.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSophie Turner has joined the cast of the HBO Max series “The Staircase.”Turner joins previously announced cast members Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Juliette Binoche, and Rosemarie DeWitt.The eight-episode series is based on the docuseries of the same name as well as various books and reports about the case of Michael Peterson (Firth), who was accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen (Collette), in 2001.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterStacey Sher has signed an overall deal with FX Productions.“It’s been a great privilege for me and the whole FX team to work with Stacey as an executive producer, and I’m grateful that she will continue to call FX her home,” said John Landgraf, chairman of FX. “Stacey’s track record of success speaks for itself.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam Keeley will play John Finlay in the upcoming Peacock series “Joe Exotic.”Finlay was one of Joe Exotic’s husbands famously profiled in the hit Netflix docuseries “Tiger King.” It was announced last week that Nat Wolff would star as Travis Maldonado, another of Exotic’s husbands. Finlay joins previously announced series leads Kate McKinnon, who will play Carole Baskin, and John Cameron Mitchell, who will play Joe Exotic.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterGloria Calderón Kellett has landed her first series order under her overall deal at Amazon, Variety has learned.Amazon has greenlit the one-hour romantic comedy series “With Love.” It follows the Diaz siblings, Lily and Jorge, who are on a mission to find love and purpose. The Diaz siblings cross paths with seemingly unrelated residents during some of the most heightened days of the year –the holidays.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIn a competitive situation, Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to a new drama series from Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez.The series is titled “Mrs. Davis.” Plot details on the series are being kept under wraps, but it is said to be an exploration of faith versus technology and an epic battle of biblical and binary proportions.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Netflix vampire romance series “First Kill” has rounded out its main cast.Eleven actors have joined the cast of the series alongside previously announced leads Imani Lewis and Sarah Catherine Hook.