Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo Join ‘Wool’ Series Adaptation at Apple

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAMC has officially greenlit the episodic anthology series “Tales of the Walking Dead.”The show’s six-episode first season is slated to debut on AMC and AMC Plus in summer 2022. Each one hour episodes is set within the world of “The Walking Dead” and will feature both new and existing characters.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has greenlit the half-hour comedy series “The Bear,” Variety has learned.The series stars “Shameless” alum Jeremy Allen White as a chef who returns to Chicago to run his family’s restaurant. Along with White, the series also stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Abby Elliott, and Liza Colón-Zayas, with Edwin Gibson and Matty Matheson in recurring roles.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered “That ’90s Show,” a sequel series to the hit Fox sitcom “That ’70s Show,” Variety has learned.Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, who played parents Red and Kitty Forman in the original series, are set to return in “That ’90s Show.” Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of the show, which will be a multi-cam sitcom like the original.In the new series, it’s 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer where she

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Foundation” has been renewed for Season 2 at Apple, Variety has learned.The epic sci-fi drama series, based on the Isaac Asimov stories of the same name, has only released three episodes of its 10-episode first season to date, with the fourth dropping on Oct. 8.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSteve Carell is set to star in the limited series “The Patient” at FX, which hails from “The Americans” team Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg.FX has ordered ten half-hour episodes of the series. The show is described as a psychological thriller about psychotherapist Alexander Strauss (Carell), who finds himself held prisoner by a serial killer with an unusual request: curb his homicidal urges.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOdetta Watkins has been hired by Amazon for the newly created role of head of drama series, the streamer announced Wednesday.In her new role, Watkins will report to Laura Lancaster, head of series for Amazon Studios.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMike Flanagan has scared up a new Netflix series, with the “Midnight Mass” and “The Haunting of Hill House” creator setting up the new limited series “The Fall of the House of Usher” at the streamer.The series is based on multiple works by Edgar Allan Poe rather than just the titular short story, though exact plot details are being kept under wraps at this time.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “L.A. Law” sequel series starring Blair Underwood has been given a pilot order at ABC.The followup to the beloved late ’80s-early ’90s series was first announced as being in development at ABC back in December.In the new show, the venerable law firm of McKenzie Brackman reinvents itself as a litigation firm specializing in only the most high profile, boundary pushing and incendiary cases.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Interview With the Vampire” series at AMC has cast Bailey Bass in the key role of Claudia, Variety has learned.Bass joins previously announced series leads Jacob Anderson, who will play Louis, and Sam Reid, who will play Lestat.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam Catlin has signed an overall deal at Apple, Variety has learned.Under the deal, Catlin will develop and produce scripted television projects for Apple under his Short Drive Entertainment banner along with his producing partner, Tiffany Prasifka.Catlin most recently served as showrunner, and executive producer, and co-creator of AMC series “Preacher.” He developed the show alongside Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max is developing a series adaptation of the upcoming Stacy Willingham novel “A Flicker in the Dark” that hails from Emma Stone’s Fruit Tree and A24, Variety has learned exclusively.The novel is slated for publication in the U.S. in January 2022 with rights sold into 17 foreign markets to date.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has ordered the scripted true crime series about Candy Montgomery, with Jessica Biel now attached to star.The project was first announced as being in the works in July 2020, landing at Hulu in December. At that time, “The Handmaid’s Tale” star Elisabeth Moss was attached to play the lead role.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter1212 Entertainment and Anonymous Content are teaming to adapt the Ursula K. Le Guin novel “The Dispossessed” into a limited series, Variety has learned exclusively.The book was originally published in 1974 and won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards upon its debut.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has greenlit the series adaptation of the novel “Washington Black,” with Sterling K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAnother attempt at a “Cruel Intentions” TV series is in development at IMDb TV.Inspired by the 1999 film of the same name — which was itself inspired by the novel “Dangerous Liaisons” — the new iteration of the series follows two ruthless step siblings who will do anything to stay on top. In this case, of the Greek life hierarchy at an elite Washington, D.C.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Sopranos” creator David Chase has signed a five year first-look deal with WarnerMedia.News of the deal comes on the day that “The Many Saints of Newark,” a “Sopranos” prequel film written by Chase and Lawrence Konner, is debuting in theaters and on HBO Max. Under his new deal, Chase will develop content for HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe FX series adaptation of the James Clavell novel “Shōgun” has rounded out its main cast.Anna Sawai has been cast in the lead role of Lady Mariko, joining previously announced leads Cosmo Jarvis and Hiroyuki Sanada.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe creators of “Cobra Kai” and yes Studios have teamed to develop a followup to the Israeli mockumentary series “Red Band,” Variety has learned exclusively.“Cobra Kai” creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald will executive produce the new series, titled “The New Red,” under their Counterbalance Entertainment banner. Counterbalance’s head of development, Dina Hillier, will also executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Wire’s” Felicia Pearson and Ed Burns are teaming up to develop a limited series based on Pearson’s life, Variety has learned exclusively.The show is currently titled “A.K.A. Snoop” and would delve into the hardship Pearson endured growing up in Baltimore.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterProduction on David Simon and George Pelecanos’ new HBO series, “We Own This City,” has been temporarily shut down due to a COVID-19 case onset, Variety has learned.“Production will be paused on ‘We Own The City’ this week due to a COVID event and is scheduled to resume with the usual shooting cadence next week,” HBO said in a statement to Variety.“We Own This City” is currently shooting in Baltimore, Maryland.