Pirate Comedy ‘Our Flag Means Death’ Ordered at HBO Max, Taika Waititi to Direct Pilot

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNearly a decade after the first show premiered, the “Walking Dead” franchise is far from dead. Expanding beyond the world of the comic book series of the same name created by Robert Kirkman, there are three shows set in the “Walking Dead” universe on the air, with the new one, “The Walking Dead: World Beyond,” set to debut Oct.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS All Access has given out a series order to the comedic documentary series “For Heaven’s Sake.”Created by and starring Mike Mildon and Jackson Rowe, the series will follow the search for Harold Heaven, who mysteriously disappeared from his remote cabin in Ontario, Canada, in the winter of 1934. While local police searched the nearby woods and dredged the adjacent lake, Harold was never found nor heard from again.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max has given a straight-to-series order for “Peacemaker,” a spinoff from the upcoming “Suicide Squad” film. John Cena will play the title role, reprising his role from the film.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Watchmen” took home more Emmys than any other show of 2020, with HBO scoring the most wins of any network or streaming service.“Watchmen” picked up 11 Emmys in total, including wins on Sunday night for best limited series and best actress in a limited series for series star Regina King. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II also won for best supporting actor in a drama for his work on the show.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Harley Quinn” has been renewed for a third season at HBO Max rather than DC Universe.The news comes as Warner Bros. officially announced Friday that DC Universe will no longer be home to scripted original series and will instead transition to solely a comic book subscription service called DC Universe Infinite.“Harley Quinn” is an adult animated series starring Kaley Cuoco as the DC anti-heroine.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO is developing a hip hop vampire drama from Macro Television Studios and the writing team of Leah Benavides Rodriguez and Carlito Rodriguez.Currently titled “Thirst,” the series tells the story of a brilliant but cocky Atlanta rapper who thinks he’s found his way to stardom when he links up with hip-hop’s hottest group.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Raised by Wolves” has been renewed for a second season at HBO Max. The news comes two weeks after the drama series debuted on the streaming service.Aaron Guzikowski created the series and serves as executive producer. Ridley Scott also executive produces via Scott Free Productions in addition to directing the first two episodes, marking his television directorial debut.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given out a straight-to-series order to the drama series “Rebel.”Katey Sagal stars in the show, which is inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich. It is slated to debut in 2021.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC is developing a single-cam comedy from two former “Single Parents” writers.The project is titled “Happy for You.” Taylor Cox is attached to write while Kim Rosenstock will serve as executive producer. The network has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached.

Nellie Andreeva Co-Editor-in-Chief, TVDavid Hyde Pierce is set to star opposite Sarah Lancashire in Julia, HBO Max’s drama pilot about the famous chef, trailblazing cookbook author and TV personality, from Chris Keyser and Lionsgate Television. Pierce is joining the project in recasting.

If you’re prone to anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed, don’t go peeking at the schedule for filmmaker Taika Waititi.

Also Read: 'The Westing Game' Series Adaptation in the Works at HBO MaxAlong with Waititi and Jenkins, “Our Flag Means Death” is also executive produced by Garrett Basch (“The Night Of,” “What We Do in the Shadows”) and Dan Halsted.“A series concept like this jumps off the page and you can instantly envision every moment,” Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s head of original content, said Tuesday.

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorHBO Max has given a series order to period comedy Our Flag Means Death, from Oscar winner Taika Waititi (What We Do In The Shadows, Jojo Rabbit), writer David Jenkins (People of Earth) and Garrett Basch (The Night Of, What We Do in the Shadows).Created by Jenkins, who also serves as showrunner, Our Flag Means Death is loosely based on the true adventures of Stede Bonnet, a pampered aristocrat who abandoned his life of privilege to become a pirate.Waititi will

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO is developing a drama series that boasts Lily Rabe among its executive producers.The project is currently titled “The Big D.” Set during a hot and hotly contested summer in Dallas 1980, the show follows a triangle of women as their lives collide to unearth a secret past involving the city’s would-be First Lady, Pat Pangburn, and her mysterious bout of amnesia.Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann will serve as writers and co-executive producers on the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAMC has ordered a stop-motion animation dramedy that hails from Steve Conrad and the team at “Robot Chicken” producer Stoopid Buddy Stoodios.The series is titled “Mega City Smiths.” The story, unfolding via the stop-motion animation of baby dolls repurposed as a grown-up cast of characters, hinges on an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of fictional metropolis Mega City’s most famous magnate.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCurtis “50 Cent” Jackson is adding to his already deep roster of shows at Starz, with the premium cabler developing two new shows on which Jackson will serve as executive producer under his rich Starz overall deal. Both shows will be produced by Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television.The first series is an untitled drama inspired by the life of sports agent and attorney Nicole Lynn.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDisney Plus has picked up the female-led reboot of “Doogie Howser” to series, Variety has confirmed.The new series is titled “Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.” As previously reported, it will focus on Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha, a mixed race 16-year-old girl who works as a doctor in Hawaii.The reboot hails from writer and executive producer Kourtney Kang. Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar will also executive produce along with Dayna and Jesse Bochco.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max is developing a series adaptation of the classic children’s mystery “The Westing Game.”The project has been given a script-to-series order at the streaming service, with MGM/UA Television attached to produce. MGM’s recent slate includes “Fargo,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Vikings,” “Get Shorty,” and the upcoming CBS drama “Clarice.”No writer is currently attached to the project.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Walking Dead” will end after the upcoming Season 11 on AMC, with the network also ordering a spinoff series built around the characters Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier, Variety has learned.Season 11 of AMC’s flagship show, which was originally meant to air this year but was delayed due to the pandemic, will air over two years and consist of 24 episodes in total beginning in late 2021.

allegations were laid out in a long-form story, published Tuesday, from THR’s Kim Masters, who spoke to a number of alums of Sarah Lawrence University, where Veitch studied, about the attacks and incidents that allegedly occurred there during the 2000s.Veitch’s comedy special “James Veitch: Straight To VHS” launched on HBO Max earlier this month but has subsequently been pulled by the WarnerMedia-owned streamer following these allegations.An HBO Max spokeswoman said “We were deeply disturbed to