Peacock Orders Documentaries on ‘SNL’s’ Jim Downey, Diamond Princess Cruise COVID Cases

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 cast of “The Sandman” series at Netflix continues to grow, with 12 new additions to the cast being announced.Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Jenna Coleman, Niamh Walsh, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis, Kyo Ra, Stephen Fry, Razane Jammal, Sandra James Young, and Patton Oswalt will all join the show.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock is developing a series adaptation of the Victoria Aveyard novel “Red Queen” with Elizabeth Banks attached to executive produce, direct and appear in a major supporting role.Beth Schwartz and Aveyard co-wrote the pilot and will executive produce the project, with Schwartz also serving as showrunner. Banks and Max Handelman executive produce via Brownstone Productions.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe CW has given out series orders to the DC project “Naomi” and “All American: Homecoming,” a spinoff of the high school football drama “All American.”In addition, the network has decided to rework its pilot for “Powerpuff,” a live-action followup to the animated series “The Powerpuff Girls.” The show’s four leads — Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, Yana Perrault, and Donald Faison — remain attached to the project, as does the creative team behind the show.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLee Daniels has signed a new multi-year overall deal with 20th Television.Daniels has called the studio home since 2015 when he co-created the hit Fox drama series “Empire.” He then signed another deal with 20th TV in 2018, which was set to expire in June.“I’m beyond grateful to continue my partnership with 20th, Dana Walden, Karey Burke and their amazing team, all of whom have wholeheartedly supported my vision over the past seven years,” Daniels said.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJon Bernthal, Josh Charles, and Jamie Hector are set for three of the lead roles in the HBO limited series “We Own This City” from the team behind “The Wire.”In addition to the castings, Reinaldo Marcus Green has joined the series as director and executive producer. Variety reported that the series was set up at the premium cabler back in March.Based on the book of the same name by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton, “We Own This City” is a six-hour limited series

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA series adaptation of the “Vampire Academy” novels by Richelle Mead has been ordered to series at Peacock, with Julie Plec and Marguerite MacIntyre attached to write, Variety has learned.The book series is a personal favorite of Plec’s, who is best known for co-developing the CW series adaptation of “The Vampire Diaries.”“Julie Plec created one of the biggest fan-favorite universes with ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and its spin-off series ‘The Originals’ and ‘Legacies,’ and we

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given out series orders to the reboot of “The Wonder Years,” drama series “Queens,” and comedies “Maggie” and “Abbott Elementary.”The new version of “The Wonder Years” is a coming of age story set in the late 1960’s that takes a nostalgic look at a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama through the point-of-view of imaginative 12 year-old Dean (Elisha “EJ” Williams).

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAPA has promoted senior vice president of talent Sheva Cohen, vice president of scripted literary Jack Leighton, and senior vice president of physical production Julian Savodivker to partner.“It is with great pride that we promote Sheva Cohen, Jack Leighton and Julian Savodivker to partner,” said APA CEO Jim Gosnell and APA president Jim Osborne in a joint statement.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox has given a straight-to-series orders to a drama series that hails from David Shore, Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, Variety has learned.The series, titled “Accused,” is based on the BBC series of the same name that aired from 2010-2012. The Fox version is slated to debut during the 2022-2023 broadcast season.“We take great pride in Fox’s legacy of bold risk taking and inventive storytelling,” said Charlie Collier, CEO of Fox Entertainment.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Joe Exotic” series at Peacock is rounding out its cast with the addition of Brian Van Holt, Variety has learned.Van Holt will star as John Reinke, the zoo manager at Joe’s zoo, a loyal worker and friend until things go too far.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA third “Psych” revival movie, titled “Psych 3: This Is Gus,” has been ordered at Peacock, Variety has learned.In the film, in preparation for a shotgun wedding before the birth of Baby Guster, Shawn (James Roday Rodriguez) and Groomzilla Gus (Dulé Hill) go rogue in an attempt to track down Selene’s (Jazmyn Simon) estranged husband, as Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) grapples with the future of his career.Along with the previously announced cast members, original series

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Joe Exotic” series starring Kate McKinnon and John Cameron Mitchell will now air only on Peacock instead of on the streamer, NBC, and USA Network as originally planned.The show received the multi-platform series order last year. According to an individual with knowledge of the production, the move comes as the multi-platform order was made prior to Susan Rovner assuming her role as chairman of entertainment content for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAMC and AMC Plus have given a formal series order to the series “Moonhaven” from Peter Ocko.News of the order comes after it was reported that AMC had opened a writers’ room for the show under their script-to-series model. The series is expected to debut next year.“Moonhaven” is focused on a utopian colony on the Moon that may hold the keys to preserving life on Earth, which has become increasingly perilous.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDemi Lovato will find out if the truth is out there in a new limited unscripted series about UFOs that has been ordered at Peacock.In “Unidentified with Demi Lovato,” the music superstar and actress, her skeptical best friend Matthew, and her sister Dallas attempt to uncover the truth about the UFO phenomena.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNBC has given a pilot order to the one-hour drama “Dangerous Moms.”The show is based on the Spanish series “Señoras del (h)AMPA.” The series is described as an off-center dark dramedy about four diverse mothers who accidentally kill the queen bee of their school’s PTA during the demonstration of a new high-end food processor.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox has ordered the single-camera comedy “Pivoting” for its 2021-2022 broadcast season lineup.The half-hour series stars Eliza Coupe, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Maggie Q as three women dealing with the death of their childhood best friend.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMj Rodriguez will star opposite Maya Rudolph in an upcoming Apple comedy series that hails from Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard, Variety has learned.The series was ordered at Apple in March. It follows Molly (Rudolph), a woman whose seemingly perfect life is upended after her husband leaves her with nothing but 87 billion dollars.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox has ordered the drama series “The Cleaning Lady” for the 2021-2022 broadcast season.The one-hour show was originally ordered to pilot last year, but production was delayed by the pandemic. Elodie Young stars as Thony, a whip-smart doctor who comes to the U.S.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterKym Whitley and Danny Garcia have been cast in recurring roles in the Amazon YA pilot “Hot Pink,” Variety has learned exclusively.The pair joins previously announced stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nina Bloomgarden, David Iacono, Mimi Davila, Dana Donnelly, and Myra Molloy, as well as fellow recurring star David Arquette.The show is loosely inspired by Elana K.