‘Twisted Metal’ Series From ‘Deadpool’ Writers in the Works at Sony Pictures TV, PlayStation Productions

Joe Otterson TV ReporterWill Forte is attached to star in a drama series in development at Peacock from Harry and Jack Williams.Titled “Expiration Date,” the series is described as a dark suburban soap about Robin (Forte), who, consumed by grief, finds a life insurance policy that covers suicide, provided that the individual doesn’t carry out the deed within one year.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLucy Hale has signed on for a starring role in the AMC-Alibi series “Ragdoll,” Variety has learned exclusively.In the six-episode show, which was ordered to series back in February, six people have been murdered, dismembered, and sewn into the shape of one grotesque body — nicknamed the “Ragdoll.” Assigned to the shocking case are DS Nathan Wolf, recently reinstated to the London Met; his best friend and boss, DI Emily Baxter; and the unit’s new recruit, DC Lake Edmunds

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDakota Fanning has joined the cast of the Showtime drama series “Ripley,” Variety has learned.The series is based on Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels. She joins previously announced cast members Andrew Scott and Johnny Flynn.In the series, Tom Ripley (Scott), a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York, is hired by a wealthy businessman to travel to Italy to try to convince his vagabond son to return home.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA series adaptation of the Victoria Schwab novel “City of Ghosts” is in the works at ABC Signature and Searchlight Television, Variety has learned exclusively.David Lowery and Sehaj Sethi are attached to write the adaptation, with Lowery also onboard to direct. Schwab will executive produce along with with Sailor Bear’s Toby Halbrooks and James M.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“The Boys” spinoff at Amazon is nearing a series order.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has ordered a limited series based on the Taffy Brodesser-Akner novel “Fleishman Is in Trouble.”Brodesser-Akner will serve as the writer and executive producer on the series, with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, and Susannah Grant also executive producing. ABC Signature is the studio, with Timberman-Beverly currently under an overall deal at the studio.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNatalie Portman and Lupita Nyong’o will star in a series adaptation of the Laura Lipman novel “Lady in the Lake,” which has been ordered straight-to-series at Apple.The series will be co-written by Alma Har’el and Dre Ryan, with Har’el writing the pilot. Endeavor Content is the studio.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s “Wild Card” book series is moving from Hulu to Peacock.The project was originally set up at Hulu in 2018.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Netflix series “First Kill” has cast Imani Lewis and Sarah Catherine Hook in the lead roles, Variety has learned.The one-hour show is based on the short story of the same name by Victoria “V.E.” Schwab that was published in the Imprint story collection “Vampire Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite” in September 2020. Netflix ordered eight episodes back in October.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has set an all-star cast for the animation-live action hybrid limited series “Lost Ollie.”Mary J. Blige, Gina Rodriguez, Jake Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Kesler Talbot, and Jonathan Groff have all been cast in major roles in the four-episode series.The show is inspired by the book “Ollie’s Oddyssey” by William Joyce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterRiley Keough has signed on to star opposite Chris Pratt in the Amazon thriller series “The Terminal List,” Variety has learned.The series follows James Reece (Pratt) after his entire platoon of Navy SEALs is ambushed during a high-stakes covert mission. Reece returns home to his family with conflicting memories of the event and questions about his culpability.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDavid Simon and George Pelecanos are returning to HBO — and Baltimore — with a limited series based on the true story of the infamous Baltimore Gun Trace Task Force, Variety has learned from sources.Simon and Pelecanos will write and executive produce the drama, which is titled “We Own This City.” It is based on the book of the same name by journalist Justin Fenton.HBO declined to comment.The series brings Simon and Pelecanos back to the streets of Baltimore, with the

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming NBC drama series “La Brea” has added four new castmembers.Eoin Macken, Jack Martin, Jon Seda, and Lily Santiago have all joined the series. They join previously announced cast members Natalie Zea, Zyra Gorecki and Chiké Okonkwo.In the show, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother and son from father and daughter.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered a live-action series adaptation of the Korean webtoon “Dr. Brain.” The series will be the first completely Korean-language project at the streamer.Kim Jee-Woon will write and direct, with “Parasite” star Lee Sun-Kyun set to star.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAlec Mapa has signed on to star alongside Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer in an ABC multi-cam comedy series, Variety has learned.The untitled series revolves around three men who were roommates in their twenties until their warring egos drove them apart. Now, the trio are reuniting decades later for one more run at the lives they’ve always wanted.Mapa will star as Andre, the third roommate from the old days in New York.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIone Skye has joined the HBO Max series “Made for Love” in a guest star role, Variety has learned exclusively.The dark comedy series follows Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterPeacock has ordered a new series hosted by world-famous science educator Bill Nye, Variety has learned exclusively.Each episode of the show, titled “The End is Nye,” dives into the myths and realities of both natural and unnatural threats, from viruses to volcanoes, asteroids to authoritarianism, and climate change to chemical warfare.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDakota Fanning has signed on to play Susan Ford in the Showtime anthology series “The First Lady,” Variety has learned.Susan is the only daughter of Betty Ford and President Gerald Ford, who will be played in the series by Michelle Pfeiffer and Aaron Eckhart respectively.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has ordered a new anthology series from “GLOW” creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch with an all-star cast attached, Variety has learned.The show, titled “Roar,” will star Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Merrit Wever, and Alison Brie. The anthology is described as a series of darkly comic feminist fables.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIndira Varma has joined the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series at Disney Plus, Variety has confirmed.The details of the character Varma will play are being kept under wraps. She joins previously announced series lead Ewan McGregor, who will reprise the role of Kenobi from the films.