‘The Wire’ Alums Felicia Pearson, Ed Burns Developing Limited Series About Pearson’s Life (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “John Wick” prequel series at Starz, “The Continental,” has cast Colin Woodell in the lead role, Variety has learned.Woodell will star as a young Winston Scott, the character played in the film franchise by Ian McShane. “The Continental” will explore the origin behind the titular hotel-for-assassins through the eyes and actions of Scott, who is dragged into the Hell-scape of a 1975 New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPablo Schreiber has signed onto the Hulu true crime series “Candy,” Variety has learned exclusively.The show tells the true story of Candy Montgomery, a housewife in Silicon Prairie, Texas, who murdered her best friend, Betty Gore, with an ax in 1980. Jessica Biel is attached to play Montgomery, while Melanie Lynskey will play Betty Gore.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterUma Thurman has been cast as Arianna Huffington in the Showtime series “Super Pumped,” which charts the rise of Uber, Variety has learned exclusively.Planned as an anthology, the first season of “Super Pumped” is based on Mike Isaac’s book of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAustin Stowell has been cast in the upcoming Showtime drama series “Three Women,” Variety has learned exclusively.The series is based on the book of the same name by Lisa Taddeo. It is described as a portrayal of American female desire, in which three women are on a crash course to radically overturn their lives.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “LA Law” sequel series pilot at ABC has cast Corbin Bernsen to reprise his role from the original series.Bernsen joins previously announced returning cast member Blair Underwood. The updated logline for the project describes it as a re-envisioning of the original featuring familiar characters working alongside new ones on the most hot button issues of the day.Bernsen returns in the role of Arnold Becker.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“History of the World, Part I” is finally getting a Part II, with Hulu ordering a variety series followup to the classic Mel Brooks comedy film, Variety has learned exclusively.“History of the World, Part II” is described as a sequel to the 1981 film. The film was made up of segments set during different periods of world history.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMel Gibson will star in the “John Wick” prequel series “The Continental” at Starz, Variety has confirmed with sources.“The Continental” was originally ordered at Starz in 2018 and is said to focus on the inner workings of the titular hotel from the film franchise, which is a refuge for assassins.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterBetty Gilpin is set to star in the series “Blood Sugar” that is currently in development at HBO, Variety has learned.In the series, when the Sharks of “Shark Tank” laugh the delightful Margot Schultz (Gilpin) and her frozen food business off stage, little do they know they’re setting in motion one of the bloodiest and wildest rises to fame and fortune this country has ever seen.The project is co-written by Duke Merriman (“So Good to See You,” “Monos”) and Preston

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJake Cannavale has signed with Buchwald for representation, Variety has learned exclusively.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCommon has joined the cast of the “Wool” series adaptation at Apple.The show is based on the Hugh Howey novel series of the same name. Common will star alongside previously announced cast members Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Rashida Jones, and David Oyelowo.“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 Reporter“Ted Lasso’s” Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence are uniting with Jason Segel on the Apple comedy series “Shrinking,” Variety has learned.Goldstein, Lawrence, and Segel will all serve as writers and executive producers on the series, with Segel also set to star. Lawrence will executive produce under his Doozer Productions banner along with Jeff Ingold.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Interview With the Vampire” series at AMC has cast Kalyne Coleman in a recurring role, Variety has learned exclusively.Coleman joins series leads Jacob Anderson, who will play Louis, and Sam Reid, who will play Lestat, in the adaptation of the Anne Rice novel of the same name. Coleman will appear in the role of Grace, Louis’ sister.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFox is developing the animated comedy “Dirt Girls,” Variety has learned.The series hails from Victoria Vincent, who will serve as writer and executive producer. Fox’s Bento Box Entertainment will provide the animation.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMRC Television has promoted Mary Claire Manley to the role of senior vice president of development.She will report to MRC TV’s executive vice president of development, Ken Segna. She is responsible for sourcing and developing new material.“Mary Claire has been an invaluable part of the team – she has a knack for sourcing great material, excellent relationships, and strong advocacy for our artists’ visions,” said Segna.

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 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 Reporter1212 Entertainment and Anonymous Content are teaming to adapt the Ursula K. Le Guin novel “The Dispossessed” into a limited series, Variety has learned exclusively.The book was originally published in 1974 and won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards upon its debut.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLegendary actress Rita Moreno described her struggle to gain power in her own life at Variety‘s Power of Women event presented by Lifetime.“Given my background, feeling powerful is a significant reality,” Moreno said. “Growing up as a young Latina immigrant in a racist and patriarchal society, I honestly couldn’t even imagine what that might have felt like.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe creators of “Cobra Kai” and yes Studios have teamed to develop a followup to the Israeli mockumentary series “Red Band,” Variety has learned exclusively.“Cobra Kai” creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald will executive produce the new series, titled “The New Red,” under their Counterbalance Entertainment banner. Counterbalance’s head of development, Dina Hillier, will also executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Babylon 5” reboot is in development at The CW, Variety has learned.Original series creator J. Michael Straczynski is onboard to write the project.