‘The Witcher’ Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich Sets Netflix Overall Deal

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming Netflix drama series “Breathe” has cast Austin Stowell, Variety has learned exclusively.In the series, Melissa Barrera stars as Liv, a razor-sharp Manhattan attorney who finds herself profoundly out of her comfort zone when her small plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness and she must battle for survival.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNkechi Okoro Carroll has renewed her overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group, where she has been based since 2018.In addition, Okoro Carroll has formed a new production company called Rock My Soul Productions.

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Studios has signed an overall deal with TV scribe and playwright Brian Otaño.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Vampire Academy” series at Peacock has set its main cast as well as the directors for Season 1, Variety has learned.The show, based on the book series by Richelle Mead, will star Sisi Stringer, Daniele Nieves, Kieron Moore, André Dae Kim, J. August Richards, Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Rhian Blundell, Jonetta Kaiser, and Andrew Liner.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs have signed an overall deal with Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“American Vandal” creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault have landed a series order at Paramount Plus for an eSports mockumentary series called “Players,” Variety has learned.“Players” follows a fictional pro “League of Legends” team as they pursue their first championship after years of close calls and heartache.

EXCLUSIVE: The Wire writer/producer George Pelecanos, who has had an informal home at HBO for nearly two decades, has made it official with a recently signed two-year overall deal. Under the pact, Pelecanos will develop and produce original content for the network.

EXCLUSIVE: Writer and producer Lauren Ashley Smith (A Black Lady Sketch Show) is expanding her relationship with CBS Studios, signing an overall deal with the studio. Under the pact, Smith will be creating comedies for network/streaming on all platforms.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe animated “Magic: The Gathering” series at Netflix has cast Brandon Routh in the lead role.The announcement was made during Wizards of the Coast’s Magic Showcase 2021 stream. Plot details on the series are still being kept under wraps, but it was confirmed that Routh will voice the character Gideon Jura.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDr. Ibram X.

The Witcher creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich is expanding her relationship with Netflix with a multi-year overall deal. Under the pact, Schmidt Hissrich will write and produce scripted series content and other creative projects for the streaming giant. The deal was announced during Netflix’s TCA session Thursday.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLongtime development executive Steven Prinz has signed an overall television deal and a first-look film deal with Amazon, Variety has learned.Prinz most recently served as global series executive for Amazon Studios, overseeing the development of projects from creators with first look and overall deals with the studio. Those included Plan B Entertainment, Michael B.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAuriel Rudnick has signed a three-year overall deal with Paramount Television Studios, Variety has learned exclusively.“I am excited to bring the kind of stories to life that I believe have long wanted to be told, and I am especially excited to be doing this with the phenomenal team at Paramount Television Studios,” Rudnick said.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Avatar: The Last Airbender” live-action series at Netflix has found its four series leads.Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, and Dallas Liu have all joined the series. Cormier will star as Aang, with Kiawentiio set to play Katara.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRobert Rodríguez and his Troublemaker Studios have signed a first-look deal with HBO and HBO Max.Under the deal, Rodríguez will bring projects to HBO Max and HBO for potential development as original series. Racer Rodríguez, Rodríguez’s son, will serve as lead development executive under the pact.

Deadline (Netflix did not comment when asked by TheWrap).Kemp will retain an executive producer role on the “Power” spinoffs, which are all in various stages of production. The agreement is similar to that of Shonda Rhimes and “Grey’s Anatomy,” when she left ABC for Netflix back in 2018.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne’s upcoming Peacock series has set Nora and Lilla Zuckerman to serve as co-showrunners, Variety has learned exclusively.The series, titled “Poker Face,” received a 10-episode order at Peacock back in March. Johnson created the series and will also direct and executive produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCatherine Zeta-Jones will play Morticia in the upcoming Wednesday Addams series at Netflix.Zeta-Jones will appear in a guest starring role as the iconic Addams family matriarch in the series, titled “Wednesday.” She joins previously announced cast members Jenna Ortega and Luis Guzmán.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJen Statsky has extended her overall deal with Universal Television.Statsky is the co-creator, co-showrunner and executive producer of the HBO Max comedy series “Hacks.” The series, which she created alongside collaborators Lucia Aniello and Paul W.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Ted Lasso” co-creator Bill Lawrence has landed a series order at Apple for the drama “Bad Monkey” with Vince Vaughn attached to star, Variety has learned.The series is based on Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 novel of the same name. It tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a one-time detective demoted to restaurant inspector in Southern Florida.