T.I. to Play ‘Hip Hop Cop’ Derrick Parker in Drama Series in Development at CBS All Access, 50 Cent to Produce

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO is developing a drama series that boasts Lily Rabe among its executive producers.The project is currently titled “The Big D.” Set during a hot and hotly contested summer in Dallas 1980, the show follows a triangle of women as their lives collide to unearth a secret past involving the city’s would-be First Lady, Pat Pangburn, and her mysterious bout of amnesia.Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann will serve as writers and co-executive producers on the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCurtis “50 Cent” Jackson is adding to his already deep roster of shows at Starz, with the premium cabler developing two new shows on which Jackson will serve as executive producer under his rich Starz overall deal. Both shows will be produced by Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television.The first series is an untitled drama inspired by the life of sports agent and attorney Nicole Lynn.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Pose” co-creator Steven Canals has set up a drama project for development at ABC.The show is currently titled “In the End.” Incapable of living life to the fullest, Kiona Brown makes the only logical choice – to embrace death as an end-of-life doula.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSpectrum Originals and Paramount Network are teaming to co-produce a limited series starring Jessica Chastain as country music legend Tammy Wynette.After a nine-month exclusive run for Spectrum subscribers, the series, titled “George & Tammy,” will have a second window on ViacomCBS’ forthcoming streaming service and Paramount Network.The series chronicles the country music power couple, Wynette and George Jones, whose complicated relationship inspired some of the most

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe scripted series about “Tiger King’s” Joe Exotic starring Nicolas Cage has been set up at Amazon for development, Variety has learned.Variety exclusively reported the project was in the works from CBS Television Studios and Imagine Television in May.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO Max is developing a series adaptation of the classic children’s mystery “The Westing Game.”The project has been given a script-to-series order at the streaming service, with MGM/UA Television attached to produce. MGM’s recent slate includes “Fargo,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Vikings,” “Get Shorty,” and the upcoming CBS drama “Clarice.”No writer is currently attached to the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has picked up two seasons of the planned drama series reboot of the classic sitcom “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”Will Smith made the announcement Tuesday on YouTube, which can be viewed below. The series, titled “Bel-Air,” will be based on Morgan Cooper’s viral video that reimagined the NBC comedy series as a drama.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAnna Faris is leaving the CBS multi-cam sitcom “Mom” ahead of the show’s upcoming eighth season.“The past seven years on ‘Mom’ have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career,” Faris said in a statement. “I’m so thankful to Chuck, the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterEmma Roberts and her Belletrist TV banner have signed a first-look TV deal with Hulu.The deal will focus on literary adaptations, as Belletrist was originally founded by Roberts and Karah Preiss as a book club.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon is developing a series about human rights lawyer Jared Genser with Orlando Bloom attached to executive produce, Variety has learned.The untitled series is inspired by Genser and his firm. He and his team work to free prisoners of conscience (Human Rights prisoners) in high-risk areas throughout the world’s most difficult Hot Zones.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe cast of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is reuniting at HBO Max to celebrate the show’s 30th anniversary.Series star Will Smith and series regulars Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Alfonso Ribeiro will all be part of the special, as will DJ Jazzy Jeff. It is set to tape on Sept.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAn animated “X-Files” comedy series is in the works at Fox, Variety has confirmed.The project is currently titled “The X-Files: Albuquerque.” It has received a script and presentation commitment at the broadcaster. The show would revolve around an office full of misfit agents who investigate X-Files cases too wacky, ridiculous or downright dopey for Mulder and Scully to bother with.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe CW is developing a drama series that hails from Damon Wayans Jr.’s Two Shakes Entertainment, Variety has learned exclusively.The project is titled “The Pretenders.” In the show, a seemingly normal suburban family is hiding a big secret: they’re actually individual assets in the Witness Protection Program, placed together to provide safe cover for three of the assets who are unrelated minors.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNicolas Cage is attached to voice the lead character of and executive produce a series adaptation of “Artemis Fowl” author Eoin Colfer’s novel “Highfire” in development at Amazon, Variety has confirmed.Cage will play the titular Highfire, described as a vodka-drinking, “Flashdance”-loving dragon who lives an isolated existence in the bayous of Louisiana.In the series, dragons once ruled the earth and Lord Highfire ruled the dragons from his eyrie.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCBS Television Studios and production companies Rideback and Thinking Hat are again partnering on the Rideback/Thinking Hat Campfire writer’s room.Three new creators have been selected for the second year of the room. They are writer Jeff Buhler, multi-hyphenate Gbenga Akinnagbe, and writer Katrina O’Gilvie.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO has added nine more actors and actresses to the cast of the adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between the World and Me.”Additional cast will include: Jharrel Jerome, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Janet Mock, Jason Moran, Wendell Pierce, Mj Rodriguez, Kendrick Sampson, Yara Shahidi and Michelle Wilson. They join previously announced cast members Angela Bassett, Alicia Garza, Joe Morton, Phylicia Rashad, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Courtney B.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOWN has given a straight-to-series order to the drama series “Delilah,” which hails from “Greenleaf” creator Craig Wright, Variety has learned.The series will star Maahra Hill as Delilah Connolly, a headstrong, highly principled lawyer living in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe cast and creators of “The West Wing” are reuniting to perform together for the first time in nearly two decades in a special set at HBO Max, Variety has learned.“A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote” will debut on the streamer this fall. It will feature a theatrical staging of the “Hartsfield’s Landing” episode from the show’s third season and will be shot at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles in early October.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Powerpuff Girls” could soon fly again. Variety has learned that a live-action version of the classic Cartoon Network series is in development at The CW.In the updated version of the series, the titular superheroes are now disillusioned twentysomethings who resent having lost their childhood to crime fighting.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCarlos Portugal is developing the one-hour mystery drama “Miss NG” at HBO Max, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is set in the small town of Nuevo Guerrero, where nothing is more important than the annual Miss Nuevo Guerrero beauty pageant. But when last year’s winner goes missing, her former best friend, her arch-rival and her half-sister all enter the upcoming pageant.