Peacock to Develop Millennial Nun Drama From ‘Thing About Pam’ Creator Jessika Borsiczky (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMalachi Kirby will star in the series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s “Anansi Boys” at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Kirby will play the dual lead roles of both Charlie Nancy and his brother, Spider. The series follows Charlie, a young man who is used to being embarrassed by his estranged father, Mr.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe dramatic reboot of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” at Peacock has filled out its main cast.The upcoming series, known as “Bel-Air,” has added eight actors, who will star alongside previously announced series lead Jabari Banks in the role of Will. The new cast members are: Adrian Holmes (“At That Age,” “V Wars”) as Phillip Banks; Cassandra Freeman (“The Enemy Within,” “Atlanta”) as Vivian Banks; Olly Sholotan (“Run Hide Fight,” “Evolution of Nate Gibson”) as Carlton

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJoshua Sasse has been cast in the Fox country music drama “Monarch.”Sasse joins previously announced cast members Susan Sarandon, Trace Adkins, Anna Friel, and Beth Ditto.In the series. Reigning King of Country Music Albie Roman (Adkins), along with his insanely talented, but tough as nails wife, Queen of Country Music Dottie Cantrell Roman (Sarandon), have created a country music dynasty.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHilary Swank is set to star in a drama from Tom McCarthy that has been ordered to pilot at ABC, Variety has learned.In the untitled series, a star journalist (Swank) moves to Alaska for a fresh start after a career-killing misstep, and finds redemption personally and professionally joining a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage.McCarthy is writing and directing the pilot in addition to serving as executive producer under his Slow Pony banner.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA She-Ra live-action series is in the early development at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.As the project is in the very early stages, no writer is currently attached.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSteve Howey has been cast in one of the lead roles in the CBS drama pilot based on the movie “True Lies,” Variety has learned exclusively.Howey will star as Harry, the role played in the film by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The character is described as a benign, play-it-safe, seemingly risk-averse computer salesman and devoted family man, married with two kids.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCountry music star Trace Adkins has been cast in the upcoming Fox drama series “Monarch.”Adkins joins recently announced cast members Susan Sarandon and Anna Friel. In the series, “Texas Truthteller” and reigning king of country music Albie Roman (Adkins), along with his insanely talented, but tough as nails wife, Dottie Cantrell Roman (Sarandon), have created a country music dynasty.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSusan Sarandon and Anna Friel have been cast in the upcoming Fox country music drama series “Monarch,” Variety has learned.In the series, the Romans are headed by the insanely talented, but tough as nails Queen of Country Music Dottie Cantrell Roman (Sarandon). Along with her beloved husband, Albie, Dottie has created a country music dynasty.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMatt Bomer is attached to star in and executive produce a series adaptation of the Thomas Mallon novel “Fellow Travelers” that is currently in development at Showtime, Variety has learned exclusively.Ron Nyswaner is adapting the book for the screen and will also serve as showrunner and executive producer on the series. “Fellow Travelers” is described as a political thriller and epic love story that unfolds in the era of McCarthyism and resolves in the age of AIDS.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Showtime anthology “Super Pumped,” the first season of which will chart the rise of Uber, has cast Bridget Gao-Hollitt, Variety has learned exclusively.Gao-Hollitt joins previously announced cast members Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kyle Chandler, Kerry Bishé, Babak Tafti, Mousa Hussein Kraish, Jon Bass, and Hank Azaria.Planned as anthology, the first season of “Super Pumped” is based on Mike Isaac’s book of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has ordered a pilot for a potential “Dead Boy Detectives” series, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.Based on the DC Comics characters created by Neil Gaiman, the one-hour series would follow the Dead Boy Detectives — Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine — who decided not to enter the afterlife in order to stay on earth and investigate crimes involving the supernatural.Sebastian Croft and Ty Tennant are set to play Rowland and Paine respectively in the

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming Netflix drama series “Breathe” has cast Austin Stowell, Variety has learned exclusively.In the series, Melissa Barrera stars as Liv, a razor-sharp Manhattan attorney who finds herself profoundly out of her comfort zone when her small plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness and she must battle for survival.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRainn Wilson has joined the cast of the upcoming AMC series “Dark Winds.”He joins previously announced series leads Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon. “Dark Winds” is based on the Leaphorn & Chee book series by Tony Hillerman.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” drama reboot series at Peacock has cast newcomer Jabari Banks in the lead role, Variety has learned.Banks will play the role of Will, who was played by Will Smith in the original 90’s sitcom. Banks was informed by Smith himself that he had landed the part in a video which can be seen above.Banks currently lives in West Philadelphia, also the birthplace of his character.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJesse Williams has joined the cast of the Hulu drama pilot “Olga Dies Dreaming.”Williams joins previously announced series leads Aubrey Plaza and Ramón Rodríguez in the pilot, which is based on the yet-to-be-released novel of the same name by Xóchitl Gonzalez.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Dead Ringers” series at Amazon has added both Jennifer Ehle and Emily Meade in recurring roles, Variety has learned.They join previously announced series lead Rachel Weisz as well as cast members Michael Chernus, Poppy Liu, Britne Oldford and Jeremy Shamos.The series was announced at the streaming service in August 2020 with a straight-to-series order. It is a modern update of the 1988 David Cronenberg film of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Vampire Academy” series at Peacock has set its main cast as well as the directors for Season 1, Variety has learned.The show, based on the book series by Richelle Mead, will star Sisi Stringer, Daniele Nieves, Kieron Moore, André Dae Kim, J. August Richards, Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Rhian Blundell, Jonetta Kaiser, and Andrew Liner.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSteven Soderbergh and Ed Solomon have landed a series order at HBO Max for the drama “Full Circle,” Variety has learned exclusively.The series reunites the pair after they worked together on the film “No Sudden Move,” which was released on HBO Max in July. Casey Silver, who was a producer on “No Sudden Move,” will be an executive producer on the series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered a drama pilot inspired by the life of Rebecca Bender, a national leader on and survivor of sex trafficking, Variety has learned.The pilot is titled “Coercion.” It hails from Susannah Grant, with Sydney Chandler attached to star.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJosh Duhamel will star opposite Renee Zellweger in the NBC limited series “The Thing About Pam.”The series is based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria that resulted in her husband Russ’s conviction, although he insisted he didn’t kill her. His conviction was later overturned.