Sarah Cooper, ‘Man With a Plan’ Executive Producer Mark Gross Score CBS Comedy Pilot Orders

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has ordered a half-hour pilot from Christopher Storer, Variety has learned.“The Bear,” as the show is called, is about a young chef who returns to Chicago to run the family restaurant. Storer will write, direct, and executive produce the pilot.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDulé Hill and Laura Kariuki have been cast in “The Wonder Years” reboot pilot at ABC, Variety has learned.They join previously announced cast members Elisha Williams, who will play main character Dean, and Saycon Sengbloh, who will play family matriarch Lillian.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNicole Richie has been cast in the ABC comedy pilot “Bucktown,” Variety has learned.In the multi-cam sitcom, after being dumped by her boyfriend and kicked out of her apartment on the eve of a big promotion, Amy finds refuge at her mom’s house in the blue-collar neighborhood where she grew up.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered a drama series about Zulu king Shaka, with Antoine Fuqua onboard to direct and executive produce, Variety has learned.“Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation” hails from writers and executive producers Olu Odebunmi and Tolu Awosika.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has ordered a pilot inspired by the hit Swedish novel and film “Let the Right One In,” Variety has learned.Demián Bichir is attached to star in the series, with Andrew Hinderaker onboard as showrunner and executive producer.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterElisha “EJ” Williams has been cast in the main role of “The Wonder Years” pilot at ABC, Variety has learned.The project will show how a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama in the turbulent late 1960s, made sure it was The Wonder Years for them too.Williams will star in the role of Dean, described as an inquisitive and hopeful 12-year-old kid coming of age in a turbulent time.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPatti LuPone and Erinn Hayes have signed on to star in the HBO Max comedy pilot “OK Boomer,” Variety has learned.In the show, a self-centered boomer (LuPone) shows up at her estranged daughter’s (Hayes) house hoping to live off the family’s money, but forms an unexpected bond with her progressive granddaughter who’s quick to challenge her on their differing views, of which there are plenty.LuPone’s character, Barbara, is described as a comically outrageous, wildly

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has ordered a limited series based on the Taffy Brodesser-Akner novel “Fleishman Is in Trouble.”Brodesser-Akner will serve as the writer and executive producer on the series, with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, and Susannah Grant also executive producing. ABC Signature is the studio, with Timberman-Beverly currently under an overall deal at the studio.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Netflix series “First Kill” has cast Imani Lewis and Sarah Catherine Hook in the lead roles, Variety has learned.The one-hour show is based on the short story of the same name by Victoria “V.E.” Schwab that was published in the Imprint story collection “Vampire Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite” in September 2020. Netflix ordered eight episodes back in October.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has ordered a pilot based on the Octavia E. Butler novel “Kindred.”The pilot will be written and executive produced by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAfter a multi-studio bidding war, Paramount Television Studios has landed the thriller series “Grace” from writer Joseph Sousa with Scott Derrickson onboard as an executive producer, Variety has learned exclusively.According to sources, the project generated interest from around a dozen major studios and production companies when it was taken to market. The story focuses on a man on death row for killing his wife who is set free when she resurfaces.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSarah Niles has been cast in “Ted Lasso” Season 2 at Apple.Niles will play Sharon, a sports psychologist who has been brought in to work with AFC Richmond. The second season of the popular series is currently in production, with Apple having ordered a third season already.Niles recently wrapped on the limited series “Viewpoint” for creators Harry Bradbeer and Ed Whitmore.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSaycon Sengbloh is the first cast member confirmed for the “Wonder Years” reboot pilot at ABC.The project will show how a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama in the turbulent late 1960s, made sure it was The Wonder Years for them too.Sengbloh will star as family matriarch Lillian Williams. Sharp as a tack, Lillian is confident, kind, perceptive and has a good sense of humor. She knows exactly the right thing to say to convince you of anything.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA spinoff of “Bosch” has been ordered to series at IMDB TV.The news comes after it was announced last year that “Bosch” would end with its seventh season, which is slated to air this summer.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJenny Lumet has signed a four-year overall deal with CBS Studios.According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the deal is in the eight-figure range. Lumet most recently co-created the CBS drama series “Clarice,” on which she also serves as an executive producer.“I feel genuine support and creative partnership at CBS Studios,” said Lumet.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Terminator” anime series has been ordered at Netflix, Variety has learned.As the project is still in the early stages, plot details are being kept under wraps. Netflix has partnered with Skydance on the series, with Skydance having produced the last two “Terminator” films.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFreeform has given a series order to the single-camera comedy “Single Drunk Female.”The series stars Sofia Black-D’Elia and Ally Sheedy in the lead roles. In the show, after a spectacularly embarrassing public breakdown, irreverent alcoholic Samantha Fink (Black-D’Elia) is forced to move back home with her “Smother” (Sheedy) to sober up and avoid jail time.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Wu Assassins” is continuing at Netflix with a standalone movie.The film, titled “Wu Assassins: Fistful of Vengeance,” will be 90 minutes and will bring back series stars Iko Uwais, Lewis Tan, Lawrence Kao, and JuJu Chan Szeto.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterABC has given out a pilot order to the drama project “Promised Land.”The show is described as an epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley.Matt Lopez is set to write and executive produce the pilot, with Adam Kolbrenner also executive producing. ABC Signature will serve as the studio.Lopez has developed a number of projects with ABC and other broadcasters in the past.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “FBI” franchise at CBS could soon be expanding. Variety has learned from sources that the network is plotting a new spinoff called “FBI: International.”The potential series would deal with the agents that make up the international branch of the FBI.