Shane Black, James Mullaney Team to Develop Animated Comedy ‘Craig Banyon P.I.’ at Fox

Highlighting the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Black communities, the CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Los Angeles revealed on Tuesday that the small medical center is overloaded with patients, with 70 people being treated in a 29-bed emergency department.

Fox is tweaking its lineup following the NFL on Fox doubleheader on January 3. The network’s new animated series The Great North is getting a special preview at 8:30 PM ET/PT, ahead of its Feb. 14 series premiere, following the series premiere of multi-cam comedy Call Me Kat, starring Mayim Bialik at 8 PM ET/PT. The ninth and final season premiere of Last Man Standing will now air at 9:30 PM ET/PT, following a new episode of The Simpsons at a special time, 9 PM ET/PT.

Chadwick Boseman will posthumously make a number of appearances as his Black Panther character T’Challa in Disney’s What If…?Marvel boss Kevin Feige has revealed the late actor – who passed away in August aged 43 following a secret four-year battle with colon cancer – recorded “numerous episodes” of the Disney+ show, admitting his appearances are “very moving”.He told Emmy Magazine: “(Boseman) came in about four times and recorded numerous episodes.

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 ReporterNBC is developing the drama series “Heirs” from Carlos Portugal.The series is set in Miami Beach’s exclusive Star Island. It follows the heirs of a Latin American ex-dictator as they face an unexpected dilemma when a young girl is kidnapped from their home on the night of their own daughter’s lavish quinceañera.Portugal will write and executive produce the project, with John Davis, Jordan Davis, and John Fox executive producing via Davis Entertainment.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA series based on the life of music icon Rick James is in the works at Universal Content Productions (UCP).The series is currently titled “Super Freak.” It is described as a funkadelic mix of music biopic and true crime, chronicling James’ plans for a comeback in the early 1990s amidst a heated trial that threatened to destroy his legacy.No network or streaming service is currently attaced to the series, which will be written and executive produced by Randy McKinnon.

Katie Price has been blasted by animal lovers after posing in real fur.The 42 year old, who recently worried she could lose her son Harvey after neighbours reported her to police, took to her Instagram feed to post a photo of herself wrapped up in a £270 black cardigan with real fox fur.

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 ReporterParamount Plus is in early development on a dark comedy that hails from Katie Wech, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.The project is titled “RIP.” Wech will write and executive produce, with Gina Rodriguez and Jennie Snyder Urman also executive producing. The trio previously collaborated on the hit CW series “Jane the Virgin.” The project originated with Rodriguez and Tiana Feghali.

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 ReporterThe potential “Empire” spinoff centered on Cookie Lyon starring Taraji P. Henson is not moving ahead at Fox, Variety has learned.The spinoff was first announced as being in development back in July, part of a first-look deal Henson had signed with studio 20th Television.

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.

Iron Man 3 writer and director Shane Black is moving into animation with a new comedy project at Fox.

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 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 ReporterFreefrom has ordered a pilot for the comedy “Single Drunk Female,” Variety has learned.In the series, after a spectacularly embarrassing public breakdown, irreverent alcoholic Samantha Fink (Sofia Black-D’Elia) is forced to move back home with her “Smother” (Ally Sheedy) to sober up and avoid jail time.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe HBO Max comedy pilot “Minx” is rounding out its cast.Idara Victor, Oscar Montoya, Jessica Lowe, Lennon Parham, and Michael Angarano have all been cast in series regular roles, with Jake Johnson attached to guest star.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIn a competitive situation, Skydance Television has acquired the rights to P. Djéli Clark’s fantasy historical novella “Ring Shout” with plans to develop it as a television series.KiKi Layne is attached to star in the project, with Kasi Lemmons attached to write, direct, and serve as showrunner.