Patricia Heaton to Star in Fox Multi-Cam Comedy With Script-to-Series Commitment

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam Reid has been cast in the lead role of Lestat in AMC’s “Interview With the Vampire” series, Variety has learned.The show, which was officially greenlit in June, is based on the Anne Rice novel of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon’s upcoming “Lord of the Rings” series is moving production from New Zealand to the U.K for Season 2.The untitled series was picked up for multiple seasons at the streamer when it was first ordered back in 2017. Filming was completed on the first season of the show on Aug.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock is listening to its friend Billy Zane (he’s a cool dude), adding him to the cast of the upcoming “MacGruber” series.Zane has joined the cast of the series along with Joseph Lee Anderson and Timothy V. Murphy.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Avatar: The Last Airbender” live-action series at Netflix has found its four series leads.Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, and Dallas Liu have all joined the series. Cormier will star as Aang, with Kiawentiio set to play Katara.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMelanie Frankel is exiting her role as head of comedy for ABC Signature, Variety has learned.According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, Frankel’s departure is amicable. She first assumed the top comedy role at the studio in October 2019 (when it was still known as ABC Studios) after having been vice president of current series since 2015.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterChloe Bennet has stepped down as one of the three leads in the live-action CW pilot based on “The Powerpuff Girls,” Variety has learned exclusively.Bennet was set to star as Blossom in the pilot, which is currently titled “Powerpuff.” The show was originally in contention during pilot season earlier this year for a potential fall air date, but The CW made the decision to redevelop and reshoot it instead, with CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz calling the first pilot “a

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne’s upcoming Peacock series has set Nora and Lilla Zuckerman to serve as co-showrunners, Variety has learned exclusively.The series, titled “Poker Face,” received a 10-episode order at Peacock back in March. Johnson created the series and will also direct and executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCatherine Zeta-Jones will play Morticia in the upcoming Wednesday Addams series at Netflix.Zeta-Jones will appear in a guest starring role as the iconic Addams family matriarch in the series, titled “Wednesday.” She joins previously announced cast members Jenna Ortega and Luis Guzmán.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Housebroken” has been renewed for Season 2 at Fox, Variety has learned.The animated comedy series stars Lisa Kudrow, Clea DuVall, Nat Faxon, Will Forte, Tony Hale, Sharon Horgan, Jason Mantzoukas and Sam Richardson. DuVall also co-created the series.In “Housebroken,” Honey (Kudrow), a standard poodle, opens her living room for the group to come and support each other through the misery, mayhem and majesty that is being a pet.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Ted Lasso” co-creator Bill Lawrence has landed a series order at Apple for the drama “Bad Monkey” with Vince Vaughn attached to star, Variety has learned.The series is based on Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 novel of the same name. It tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a one-time detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLuis Guzmán will play Gomez Addams in the “Wednesday” series at Netflix, Variety has learned.It was previously announced that Jenna Ortega will star as Wednesday Addams in the series, which was originally ordered to series at the streamer back in February. It is described as a supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSquare Peg and A24 are teaming to develop Adrian Tomine’s graphic memoir “The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist” for television as an animated series, Variety has learned exclusively.The memoir, first published in 2020, explores Tomine’s life through a series of autobiographical sketches. When a sudden medical incident lands Tomine in the emergency room, he begins to question if it was really all worthwhile: despite the accolades and opportunities of a seemingly

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThomas Lennon is developing the animated comedy “The Post Guard” at Fox, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is described as a workplace adventure comedy following the rag tag crew of humans, turtles, seals and mermaids at the secretive, and often overlooked mashup of the Coast Guard and Post Office, as they scour the high seas to find and deliver messages in bottles, while settling who among them is in charge of the ship’s menial tasks, like resetting the

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has ordered a comedy pilot from Steve Levitan and John Enbom with Keegan-Michael Key and Johnny Knoxville attached to star, Variety has learned.In the pilot, titled “Reboot,” Hulu decides to reboot an early 2000’s family sitcom. Its dysfunctional cast is forced back together and now must deal with their unresolved issues in today’s fast-changing world.Levitan is the creator, executive producer, and showrunner and also wrote the pilot story.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Great British Baking Show” will be back on Netflix to warn against the dangers of soggy bottoms later this year.While no specific premiere date has been set, Collection 9 of the popular baking competition series will debut on the streamer this fall.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has given a series order to the drama “Tell Me Lies,” based on the book of the same name by Carola Lovering. Grace Van Patten will star in the series with Emma Roberts executive producing.The series follows a tumultuous but intoxicating relationship as it unfolds over the course of 8 years.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPoppy Liu has joined the cast of “Dead Ringers” at Amazon, Variety has learned.She joins previously announced series lead Rachel Weisz and recently announced cast member Michael Chernus. The series was announced at the streaming service in August 2020 with a straight-to-series order.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKerry Bishé has joined the Showtime anthology series “Super Pumped,” the first season of which will tackle the rise of ride sharing company Uber.Bishé joins previously announced cast members Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Kyle Chandler. Gordon-Levitt will star as Uber CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick, while Chandler will play Texas venture capitalist Bill Gurley.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Lord of the Rings” series at Amazon officially has a premiere date.The highly-anticipated epic fantasy series will debut on the streamer on Sept. 2, 2022, with new episodes dropping weekly after that.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAubrey Plaza is set to star in the Hulu drama pilot “Olga Dies Dreaming,” Variety has learned.The show was ordered to pilot at the streamer back in April.