Sharon Horgan to Star in, Co-Write, and Produce Apple Dark Comedy Series

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered “That ’90s Show,” a sequel series to the hit Fox sitcom “That ’70s Show,” Variety has learned.Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, who played parents Red and Kitty Forman in the original series, are set to return in “That ’90s Show.” Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of the show, which will be a multi-cam sitcom like the original.In the new series, it’s 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer where she

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Foundation” has been renewed for Season 2 at Apple, Variety has learned.The epic sci-fi drama series, based on the Isaac Asimov stories of the same name, has only released three episodes of its 10-episode first season to date, with the fourth dropping on Oct. 8.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSteve Carell is set to star in the limited series “The Patient” at FX, which hails from “The Americans” team Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg.FX has ordered ten half-hour episodes of the series. The show is described as a psychological thriller about psychotherapist Alexander Strauss (Carell), who finds himself held prisoner by a serial killer with an unusual request: curb his homicidal urges.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOdetta Watkins has been hired by Amazon for the newly created role of head of drama series, the streamer announced Wednesday.In her new role, Watkins will report to Laura Lancaster, head of series for Amazon Studios.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Interview With the Vampire” series at AMC has cast Bailey Bass in the key role of Claudia, Variety has learned.Bass joins previously announced series leads Jacob Anderson, who will play Louis, and Sam Reid, who will play Lestat.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam Catlin has signed an overall deal at Apple, Variety has learned.Under the deal, Catlin will develop and produce scripted television projects for Apple under his Short Drive Entertainment banner along with his producing partner, Tiffany Prasifka.Catlin most recently served as showrunner, and executive producer, and co-creator of AMC series “Preacher.” He developed the show alongside Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max is developing a series adaptation of the upcoming Stacy Willingham novel “A Flicker in the Dark” that hails from Emma Stone’s Fruit Tree and A24, Variety has learned exclusively.The novel is slated for publication in the U.S. in January 2022 with rights sold into 17 foreign markets to date.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has ordered the scripted true crime series about Candy Montgomery, with Jessica Biel now attached to star.The project was first announced as being in the works in July 2020, landing at Hulu in December. At that time, “The Handmaid’s Tale” star Elisabeth Moss was attached to play the lead role.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Other Two” creators Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider are developing a half-hour comedy series at HBO, Variety has learned.The untitled series is described as a dark, psychological comedy set in the year 2000, about a closeted gay teen who constantly dissociates and imagines he’s a famous straight actor merely playing the role.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has greenlit the series adaptation of the novel “Washington Black,” with Sterling K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe FX series adaptation of the James Clavell novel “Shōgun” has rounded out its main cast.Anna Sawai has been cast in the lead role of Lady Mariko, joining previously announced leads Cosmo Jarvis and Hiroyuki Sanada.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOnyx Collective on Hulu has greenlit the legal drama “Reasonable Doubt” starring Emayatzy Corinealdi in their first scripted series order, Variety has learned.The series was originally reported as being in development at Onyx Collective back in July after having previously been in the works at ABC.“Reasonable Doubt” will be executive produced by Kerry Washington and Pilar Savone for Simpson Street and Larry Wilmore via Wilmore Films.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered a series adaptation of the “Amber Brown” books by Paula Danzinger, Variety has learned.Bonnie Hunt is set to write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner on the adaptation.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHannah Waddingham has signed with CAA for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively. She continues to be repped by manager Nick Todisco at Atlas Artists, U.K.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPatricia Arquette is set to star in, direct, and executive produce the limited series “Love Canal” currently in development at Showtime, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is based on the upcoming documentary “The Canal” by Will Battersby and upcoming book by journalist Keith O’Brien entitled “Paradise Falls.”“Love Canal” is about a group of blue collar women who came together in the late 1970s to fight for environmental justice for their community.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRashida Jones and David Oyelowo are joining the cast of the Apple series adaptation of Hugh Howey’s “Wool” novels, Variety has learned.The pair joins previously announced cast members Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Robbins. “Wool” is a set in a ruined and toxic future where a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Pitch Perfect” series has been ordered at Peacock with Adam Devine onboard to reprise his role from the film franchise, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is set several years after the events of the films. Devine returns as Bumper Allen, who moves to Germany to revive his music career when one of his songs becomes big in Berlin.Bumper was the main antagonist of the first film and the leader of the all-male a cappella group The Treblemakers.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMandy Patinkin will star in the detective drama “Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem,” which has been ordered to pilot at Hulu.The series asks the question: How do you solve a murder in a post-fact world? Especially when sailing the Mediterranean on an ocean liner filled with the wealthy and powerful.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDiversity and authenticity in storytelling have always been critical, but only in recent years has Hollywood seemed to take notice.Throughout most of the history of American film and television, stories of people of color were more often than not told through the lens of a white creator. Many have sounded the alarm for years that by doing things this way, the nuance and culture of those being portrayed is lost or misrepresented.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAnthony Mackie has signed on for the lead role in the “Twisted Metal” live-action series currently in the works at Sony Pictures Television, Variety has confirmed.Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions are developing the series, which is based on the “Twisted Metal” vehicular combat games, the first of which was released in 1995.