Samantha Mathis & Norm Lewis Join NBC Drama Pilot ‘Blank Slate’

EXCLUSIVE: Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Mixed-ish) has been cast as a lead opposite Shanola Hampton in NBC pilot Found. The one-hour missing-persons drama, written by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, hails from Berlanti Productions, Carroll’s Rock My Soul Productions and Warner Bros. TV, where Greg Berlanti and Carroll are under overall deals.

on Hulu (even though it hails from FX) and based on the nonfiction book by Jon Krakauer (“Into The Wild,”) “Under the Banner of Heaven” is set in 1984 Utah and follows Mormon family man Detective Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield) as he investigates the murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty (Daisy Edgar-Jones, “Normal People”) and her baby daughter. The grisly crime shakes up the pious small-town community where most of the cops haven’t even seen a dead body.Spoiler alert: the culprits are Brenda’s brothers-in-law, Ron (Sam Worthington, “Avatar”) and Dan Lafferty (Wyatt Russell), who murdered her for “God told me to do it” reasons.

Selome Hailu Catherine Haena Kim has been cast as Emma in ‘The Company You Keep,’ an ABC drama pilot starring Milo Ventimiglia.Emma is described as the self-deprecating black sheep of an Asian American political dynasty who has never been afraid to carve her own path despite the objections of her impressive family. When she meets Charlie (Ventimiglia) by chance in a bar, sparks fly and the two wind up falling in love.

Catherine Haena Kim (FBI) has been cast as the female lead opposite This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia in The Company You Keep, ABC’s drama pilot, which will be shot off-cycle to accomodate Ventimiglia’s commitment to the departing NBC family drama series.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Hulu musical drama pilot “History of a Pleasure Seeker” has added Olumide Olorunfemi and Bebe Bettencourt to its cast, Variety has learned.The pair join previously announced cast members Carla Woodcock and Callum Kerr in the pilot, which is based on the Richard Mason novel of the same name.“History of a Pleasure Seeker” is set in Amsterdam in 1907 and tells the tale of a charismatic young man’s explosive adventures through all the temptations of the Belle Époque.Olorunfemi will play Sisanda, a Xhosa woman raised in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. She’s used to being the most admired young lady in her village. She did not imagine she’d spend her life cleaning other people’s floors.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterErika Christensen has been cast in the “Will Trent” pilot at ABC, Variety has learned.Christensen joins previously announced series lead Ramón Rodríguez in the drama pilot, which is based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling “Will Trent” novel series.The show follows Special Agent Will Trent (Rodríguez) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI). Trent was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system.

Erika Christensen has been cast as the female lead opposite Ramón Rodríguez In ABC’s drama pilot Will Trent, from 20th Television.

Mom, you’re embarrassing him! Jaden Smith has always had a difficult time with Jada Pinkett Smith’s desire to share all of the nuances of the family’s drama with the world.

Ramón Rodríguez is set as the lead role of ABC’s drama pilot Will Trent, which now has been officially cleared for production. He also will be a producer on the project, from 20th Television.

EXCLUSIVE: We’ll be seeing a new face on NCIS. The Fosters alumna Teri Polo is joining NBC’s flagship drama series in a recurring role opposite Gary Cole.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCarla Woodcock and Callum Kerr are set to star in the Hulu pilot “History of a Pleasure Seeker,” Variety has learned.The project is described as a a musical drama set in Amsterdam in 1907, a tale of a charismatic young man’s explosive adventures through all the temptations of the Belle Époque.Woodcock will play Constance, the most magnetic girl in Amsterdam and the undisputed queen of the city’s gilded youth. Kerr will play Piet, tutor to a very troubled child and an extreme empath, with the confidence to back himself against the odds.

Clayton Davis New Zealand-born actor, director and producer Russell Crowe had one of the most incredible runs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, quickly becoming a huge star in Hollywood. With a career that started opposite George Takei in “Blood Oath” (1990), he’s delivered a treasure trove of unforgettable performances over the last three decades.After making a name for himself in Australia with nominations and wins at the country’s equivalent to the Oscars for “The Crossing” (1990), “Proof” (1991) and “Romper Stomper” (1992), his debut in American cinemas began opposite Denzel Washington in Brett Leonard’s sci-fi flick “Virtuosity” (1995) as the virtual reality entity turned serial killer android SID.

EXCLUSIVE: Abhi Sinha is set as a series regular opposite Matt Passmore and Floriana Lima in Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

EXCLUSIVE: Dave Annable is set as a lead opposite Matt Passmore and Floriana Lima in Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

EXCLUSIVE: Hulu has handed a pilot order to History of a Pleasure Seeker, a one-hour musical drama based on Richard Mason’s novel of the same name. Mason is adapting his book himself with Bridgerton director Julie Anne Robinson helming the pilot and exec producing.

EXCLUSIVE: Ravi Patel (Wonder Woman 1984), Eric Edelstein (Creepshow) and Johnny Jay Lee (NCIS: Los Angeles) are set as series regulars in CBS comedy pilot Rust Belt News, from The Simpsons writer and The Mindy Project exec producer Matt Warburton. They join previously announced cast members Rich Sommer, Lauren Lindsey Donzis, Jayma Mays, Bailey Gavulic, Bentley Green and Angel Laketa Moore.

LAPD arrived at Will Smith’s Los Angeles home on Tuesday to investigate a possible drone flying over the residence.

Will Smith’s Los Angeles home on Tuesday to investigate a possible drone flying over the residence.«Yesterday, 03/29/22, at approximately 2:30 p.m., deputies responded to Will and Jada Smith’s residence in Calabasas regarding a drone flying over the property,” a statement provided to ET by the Lost Hills Station that services Calabasas, California, read.  “When they arrived, they contacted private security at the location and searched the area for the drone/operator. They were unable to locate either.

EXCLUSIVE: Matt Passmore (The Glades) and Floriana Lima (A Million Little Things) are set as the leads of Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.