Salli Richardson-Whitfield Extends HBO Overall Deal, Joins ‘Winning Time’ as Executive Producer

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMatt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi –the co-creators, showrunners and executive producers of “For All Mankind” — have extended their overall deal with Sony Pictures Television.The writing duo has been based at Sony for the past two years. Under the deal, they will continue to serve as showrunners on “For All Mankind” while also developing scripted dramas for all networks and platforms.“We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with the amazing team at Sony,” said Wolpert and Nedivi. “’For All Mankind’ has been a dream come true for us both and we can’t wait to keep pushing forward on Season Four of the show and other exciting new projects.”“For All Mankind” airs on Apple’s streaming service and was recently renewed for a fourth season.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO has ordered a comedy pilot about the making of a superhero movie, Variety has learned.The half-hour pilot is titled “The Franchise.” It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?The pilot story was written by Jon Brown, Keith Akushie and Armando Iannucci, with Brown and Akushie writing the pilot.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has given a straight-to-series order to the coming-of-age thriller “Hysteria!”The series hails from writer and executive producer Matthew Kane. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear will also executive produce.

ABC Signature extended its deal with Yara Shahidi and her 7th Sun Production Company to include a partnership with Onyxn Collective.

Keanu Reeves has landed his first major television series role to date.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has ordered the comedy series “The Other Black Girl.”The series is based on the Zakiya Dalila Harris novel of the same name. In the show, Nella, an editorial assistant, is tired of being the only black girl at her company, so she’s excited when Hazel is hired. But as Hazel’s star begins to rise, Nella spirals out and discovers something sinister is going on at the company.Danielle Henderson will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the show.

#Outlander universe is expanding! Outlander: Blood of My Blood, a prequel that will follow the love story of Jamie Fraser’s parents, is officially in development at STARZ,” the network shared in a tweet on the official “Outlander” Twitter account.Jamie Fraser’s parents are Brian Fraser and Ellen Mackenzie. Neither character is alive in “Outlander,” though Brian was seen in flashbacks.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterEntertainment One is expanding its partnership with unscripted production company Creature Films by signing the “Siesta Key” producer to a multiyear overall deal, Variety has learned exclusively.The pact, which is the latest extension of a first-look deal originally signed between eOne and Mark Ford’s Creature Films in 2015, evolves the relationship into exclusive development territory and is good through 2024.Throughout their six-year partnership, Creature Films, which Variety has confirmed recently appointed Pat Lambert as head of development, and eOne have produced MTV’s “Siesta Key,” which was recently renewed for a fifth season, “Behind the Music” for Paramount+, the upcoming Paramount+ doc “The Lady and the Legend” about Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, Amazon’s “Mary J. Blige’s My Life,” Lifetime’s “Wendy Williams: What a Mess,” BET’s “Chronicles,” A&E’s “Biggie: The Life of Notorious B.I.G.” and “Biography: Bobby Brown.” Lambert joins Creature Films as head of development from 44 Blue Productions, where he had worked since 2015.

according to Deadline. She will only appear in eight episodes of the upcoming season.

Heather has been the heart and soul of “The Talk” from day one. Her brilliance as an innovative producer was only outmatched by her huge smile and infectious laugh.

Thania Garcia Heather Gray, an executive producer for the CBS series “The Talk” and a former supervising producer for “The Tyra Banks Show,” has died. She was 50 years old. No further details about Gray’s death are available at this time.A letter sent to the crew of “The Talk” and press by CBS confirmed the news.

Extra, read all about it: Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey is leaving EXTRA after 22 years.

HBO Max has decided to cancel the new series Gordita Chronicles after just one season amid a programming shift at the streamer.

Kate Winslet is taking on a new role!

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterCinedign has landed North American rights to “Sell/Buy/Date,” a playful and provocative film about the sex industry. Meryl Streep executive produced the movie, which debuted at this year’s SXSW Film Festival in Austin.“Sell/Buy/Date” is set to be released theatrically this fall in the hopes that the film can garner awards attention. After playing in theaters, it will stream exclusively on Fandor with a wider digital release to follow.Broadway veteran Sarah Jones (“Bridge & Tunnel”) directed the film in her feature debut.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeUsher has signed on to executive produce “Storyville,” a new series about the birth of the Jazz Age in development from Starlings Television. The multi-Grammy Award-winning performer will exec produce along with creators and showrunners Bill Macdonald (“Rome”) and Walt Becker (“Wild Hogs”).“Storyville” is set in New Orleans and follows the tale of five brothel madams as they fight to control the red light district.

Rodney Barnes, an executive producer and writer of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” has extended his deal at HBO for an additional three years.As part of the extension Barnes will continue to develop, write and produce projects across drama, comedy and limited series formats through his Rodney Barnes Productions banner.Barnes has several projects in the works, including: the feature adaptation of “Ride Around Shining” with Jonah Hill’s Strong Baby Productions and LaKeith Stanfield set to produce, as well as a a miniseries based on the life of golf great Tiger Woods.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRodney Barnes has renewed his overall deal with HBO for a further three years, Variety has learned.Barnes most recently worked as a writer and executive producer on the premium cabler’s hit series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.” Barnes was credited with co-writing nine episodes of the show’s 10-episode first season. The show was renewed for a second season in April, with Barnes continuing on with the show as writer and executive producer.Under the terms of the deal, Barnes will continue to develop, write, and produce shows in a variety of formats under his Rodney Barnes Productions banner.Barnes’ past TV credits include shows like “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” “The Boondocks,” and “My Wife and Kids.” His current development slate include: the feature adaptation “Ride Around Shining” at Netflix; a miniseries on Tiger Woods; a feature for New Regency with Jordan Vogt-Roberts attached to direct.