Rick James Biographical Series in Development From UCP

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Bachelor” settled for new lows in the overnight ratings with the debut of Matt James on Season 25 on Monday night.In the Live+Same Day ratings, the long-running ABC dating show pulled in a 1.3 rating in adults 18-49 and 5 million viewers from 8-10 p.m. That is the lowest ratings for a season premiere of the series to date, with the previous record low coming in 2019.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe new streaming service Discovery Plus is launching on multiple platforms as it debuts in the U.S.With the launch officially beginning today, Discovery Plus will be available to customers on the platforms: Roku; Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, Fire TV Edition smart TVs, and later on Prime Video Channels; iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, and the Apple TV app;  Google devices and platforms including Android phones and tablets, Chromecast with Google TV and

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAl Madrigal and Jaime Camil are attached to co-star in a single-camera comedy in development at ABC, Variety has learned.The series is titled “Guerrillas.” Madrigal is co-writing and executive producing in addition to starring, with Camil co-executive producing as well.When Miles Flores (Madrigal), a lonely efficiency expert for an oil company gets kidnapped in South America, he ends up working for a disorganized group of guerrilla soldiers to earn back his freedom.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIn a competitive situation, Amazon has acquired the rights to the Bill Konigsberg’s novel “The Bridge” with David Mandell set to adapt the book for television, Variety has learned exclusively.The limited series will be produced by Amazon Studios in association with PKM Productions. Mandell will write and executive produce, with Konigsberg also executive producing along with Patrick Moran of PKM.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSamuel L. Jackson is set to star in the limited series “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey” at Apple.The six-episode series is based on the novel of the same name by Walter Mosley, who will adapt the book for the screen.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has given a series order to the drama “Yellowjackets,” Variety has learned.The show was originally ordered to pilot at the premium cabler last September. The cast for the one-hour series is led by Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, and Tawny Cypress.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA sequel series to “Night Court” is in development at NBC, Variety has confirmed.The followup to the classic sitcom will see original series star John Larroquette return as Dan Fielding.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSebastian Stan and Lily James are in talks to star in a Hulu limited series about Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson.The project will delve into the tumultuous relationship between the rock star and the model/actress, including the infamous incident in which their honeymoon sex tape was stolen and leaked to the public.Rob Siegel will serve as writer on the eight-episode series, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg producing via Point Grey.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox has given a straight-to-series order to a reboot of “Fantasy Island,” Variety has learned.The rebooted version of the classic series hails from writers and executive producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, with the series being a co-production between Sony Pictures Television, Gemstone Studios, and Fox Entertainment.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered the six-episode “Shameless” retrospective series “Shamless Hall of Shame” to series.Beginning on Dec. 27 at 9 p.m.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon has given a series order to “I’m a Virgo” from Boots Riley with Jharrel Jerome attached to star.The half-hour series is described as an absurdist, coming of age story about a 13-foot-tall Black man (Jerome) who lives in Oakland, CA.Riley wrote the series and will also direct. He serves as executive producer along with Michael Ellenberg of Media Res, Tze Chun, and Jerome.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered the six-episode “Shameless” retrospective series “Shamless Hall of Shame” to series.Beginning on Dec. 27 at 9 p.m.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMarvel Cinematic Universe stars Mark Ruffalo and Don Cheadle will both appear in upcoming Marvel TV shows on Disney Plus.Ruffalo will appear in “She-Hulk” opposite Tatiana Maslany, reprising the role of Bruce Banner, a.k.a. The Incredible Hulk.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Swiss Family Robinson” series is in development at Disney Plus.The series hails from Ronald D. Moore and Jon M.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA series set in the “Alien” universe from Noah Hawley is officially set up at FX, Variety has learned.The announcement was made Thursday by FX chief John Landgraf as part of the Disney Investor Day presentation. Hawley will write and executive produce the series under his 26 Keys banner, with “Alien” mastermind Ridley Scott in advanced talks to executive produce via Scott Free.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox is developing an animated comedy based on the Craig Banyon Mysteries books by James Mullaney.Mullaney and Shane Black will write and executive produce the project, which is titled “Craig Banyon P.I.” It follows the supernatural adventures of an alcoholic ex-cop and current private investigator, Banyon, as he solves cases in an alternate noir, otherworldly reality.Along with Mullaney and Black, David Silverman, Greg Silverman and Paul Shapiro of Stampede Ventures will

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered the comedy series “The Curse,” which hails from Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie. Both will also star in the series alongside Emma Stone.The half-hour series is said to explore how an alleged curse disturbs the relationship of a newly married couple as they try to conceive a child while co-starring on their problematic new HGTV show.Fielder will direct and executive produce in addition to starring and co-creating the series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJulia Roberts has signed on to star in a series adaptation of the upcoming Laura Dave novel “The Last Thing He Told Me” at Apple.Roberts will executive produce in addition to starring, with Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter of Hello Sunshine also executive producing. Hello Sunshine optioned the book from Dave, who will adapt the book for television and executive produce along with her husband, Josh Singer.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCraig Macneill has signed on to direct and executive produce the pilot for the upcoming “I Know What You Did Last Summer” series at Amazon, Variety has learned exclusively.Macneill made his feature directorial debut in 2015 with “The Boy,” which was loosely based on the novel “Miss Corpus” by Clay McLeod Chapman and premiered at the SXSW Film Festival that same year. Macneill also served as co-writer on the film in addition to directing.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a series order to “Extrapolations,” an anthology series about climate change from Scott Z. Burns, Variety has learned exclusively.Burns will write, direct, and executive produce the series, which hails from Media Res.