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PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
Amazon ordered live action series “Blade Runner 2099.” Executive produced by the original film’s director Ridley Scott, the series will be set 50 years after the 2017 film sequel that starred Ryan Gosling. Silka Luisa wrote the script and will executive produce alongside Scott, in association with Scott Free Productions and Amazon Studios.
Mayim Bialik and “Big Bang Theory” co-star Kevin Sussman will reunite in “Call Me Kat.” Premiering on September 29, the show’s third season will follow Kat, played by Bialik, as she takes time off after years of dedication to her cat cafe. Sussman will guest star in episode 304, airing October 20, as the owner of a local board game bar.
Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg have a three-year first-look TV deal with Lionsgate. The Wahlbergs will develop and produce reality series, documentaries and non-fiction podcasts through their Work Baby Productions banner.
Joy Gorman Wettels has launched the Joy Coalition and inked a first-look deal with Fifth Season. The “13 Reasons Why” executive producer is a former Anonymous Content partner and in her new role will develop projects including the reboot of “Little House on the Prairie” and “Life Is Strange” with singer Shawn Mendes.
CCF has rebranded as Catalyst to expand its focus on female content creators. The Toronto-based company appointed Mithila Majithia as development coordinator to further its female-led growth strategy.
TIME will spotlight the world’s most influential people in “TIME100 Leadership Series.” The multiplatform profile and video series will feature in-depth conversations on topics such as advocacy, representation and responsibility, adversity and mentorship, and will bring perspective to topics such as equality and climate. The first profile for the series will be Margaret Atwood, who was named to the TIME100 list in 2017.
Taye Diggs is set to host a dating series for Hulu. “Back in the Groove” will follow three women in their 40s who are out to rediscover their youth at a resort in the Dominican Republic.
James Marsden has filmed a jury trial documentary-style comedy series with Amazon’s Freevee. The semi-improvised series is now in post-production.
John Goldwyn and Karen Rosenfelt formed a production company and signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. The producers will develop original scripted programming for all platforms. The formation of Goldwyn/Rosenfelt Productions marks the reunion for the two, who previously worked together for nearly 15 years at Paramount Pictures before becoming independent producers.
Director Kevin Bray struck a first-look deal with FX Productions. Bray’s next project will be to direct and executive produce FX’s limited series, “The Sterling Affairs,” starring Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill and Jacki Weaver. Bray will also develop new content for the network.
The ATS Team announced the launch of its first competition series, “Clash of Trades.” The LA and London-based production company’s tournament-style series aims to promote the US domestic trades industry for the Department of Defense and the Global Learning Accelerator’s Project MFG.
NEW & RETURNING SERIES
Iliza Schlesinger’s comedy special will premiere globally on October 11. Schlesinger’s sixth Netflix special, “Hot Forever,” will touch on topics “ranging from every girl’s ugly bra to how all adult men need to own a box spring,” said Netflix.
Peacock’s new original comedy special “Ladykiller” will drop on September 30. Jena Friedman’s one-hour standup set will explore hot button issues facing women in America from crime to marriage and reproductive rights.
Season two of “Be My Guest With Ina Garten” will return on October 9. In a four-episode season premiere, the Barefoot Contessa will open her East Hampton home to friends such as Faith Hill, Nathan Lane, Emily Blunt and Chef Marcus Samuelsson to try out new recipes and have conversations about their lives.
“Next at the Kennedy Center” premieres October 14 at 9p on PBS. The five-episode season will premiere with “Let My Children Hear Mingus,” celebrating the legacy of composer, bassist and bandleader Charles Mingus, during the centennial anniversary of his birth.
Bravo’s “Winter House” returns for season 2 on October 13 at 9p. New episodes will air every Thursday on Bravo, with each available to stream the next day on Peacock.
COMING UP
The Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial will air as a TV movie on Tubi on September 30. Starring Mark Hapka as Depp and Megan Davis as Heard, “Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial” comes from Fox Entertainment’s MarVista Entertainment. “With our partners at MarVista, this Tubi Original was fast-tracked into production to capture a timely take on a story that became part of the cultural zeitgeist, painting a unique picture of what millions watched play out in the headlines over the summer,” said Tubi Chief Content Officer Adam Lewinson.
Competition series “The Challenge: Ride or Dies” premieres on MTV on October 12 at 8p. In the new season, cast members will pair up with their “ride or die,” featuring a cast of best friends, exes and couples.
“Tyler Perry’s Zatima” will premiere on BET+ on September 22. The “Sistas” spinoff follows characters Zac, played by Devale Ellis, and Fatima, played by Crystal Renee Hayslett, as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship.
“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch-O-Ween Marathon” airs Halloween on Rewind TV. All six of the series’ Halloween episodes will play in primetime from 8p to 10:30p.
STREAMING
Cinedigm Corp. launched its flagship streaming service Cineverse. The platform’s library features thousands of hours of film and TV programming and is currently available for free on Connected TV and mobile devices.
CASTING
Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton) and Glen Powell (“Hidden Figures”) will headline a Prime Video series inspired by “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” that landed a straight-to-series order. The show comes from Joe and Anthony Russo’s AGBO.
Andy Samberg and Neil Campbell’s “Digman!” rounded out its cast. The half-hour adult animated series will star Samberg, Mitra Jouhari, Tim Robinson, Dale Soules, Guz Khan, Melissa Fumero and Tim Meadows. Samberg will voice the show’s protagonist, Rip Digman.
Brandon Sklenar is the latest to join “1923,” the “Yellowstone” prequel series. In the spin-off from Taylor Sheridan, Sklenar will play Spencer Dutton, opposite Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Sebastian Roché and more.
Michael Trucco landed a recurring star on “Fire Country.” The CBS drama follows a young convict seeking redemption. Kevin Alejandro, Diane Farr and Jordan Calloway also star.
It’s a full house for the holidays: Andrea Barber has joined Candace Cameron Bure’s movie. The “Full House” stars will collaborate on Great American Family’s special, “Candace Cameron Bure Presents: Christmas on Candy Cane Lane.” The film from Barber and Bure, who played best friends DJ Tanner and Kimmy Gibbler on the sitcom, is slated to premiere on the network this holiday season.
Manny Jacinto signed onto “The Acolyte,” the Disney+ “Star Wars” mystery-thriller series. Jacinto will star opposite Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae.
ViX+ series “Isla Brava” revealed its cast headliners. Fernanda Castillo, Erik Hayser, Flavio Medina, Bárbara López, Pablo Astiazarán, Juan Pablo Fuentes and Karena Flores will make up the cast of the new original series.
GOING GLOBAL
Banijay Rights is adapting “The Bridge” in Hungary. HBO Max will broadcast a local version of the competition series where participants have only 20 days to achieve a task while isolated in nature. The original format was created in Spain as part of Banijay Iberia.
Italian crime drama “This is Not Hollywood – Avetrana” is in production in Puglia, Italy. The four-part Disney+ series directed by Pippo Mezzapesa is based on the true story of Sarah Scazzi and the media response.
SPORTS
Riot Games named Lil Nas X as the new President of League of Legends. In this role, starting with the 2022 League World Championship, the rapper, singer, and songwriter will be charged with creating “explosive musical moments, an League champion skin, and a live Worlds performance for the 180+ million monthly players and fans in the League universe.” “I felt like it was time for me to try something new. I’ve left my mark on pop culture in so many ways, and now it’s time to take on the world of gaming. I will be the greatest President of League of Legends, of all time. Also I’m going to make the best Worlds anthem of all time and put on the biggest, coolest, sexiest Worlds in the history of all Worlds!” said Lil Nas X.
The NBA and the National Basketball Referees Association have entered into a new collective bargaining agreement. The seven-year agreement will begin with the 2022-23 season and run through the 2028-29 season.
Catching up on sponsorship news, Notre Dame Global Partnerships named Citi as a new Championship Partner. As part of the sponsorship, Citi will also be the title partner of the first annual Citi Shamrock Classic basketball game airing live on NBC and Peacock on Nov. 12, at 4p.
Choice Hotels International and LEARFIELD are teaming up this college football season to kick off a new perk for Choice Privileges loyalty members, titled Choice Privileges Experiences. In addition to the points redemption experiences, Choice Privileges is unveiling a special series of sweepstakes for college football fans.
Guinness announced a multi-year collaboration with NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, who will be working with the brand to “inspire Americans to pledge more than 1 million service hours through the Guinness Gives Back program,” working with Joe Montana.
Budweiser and FIFA World Cup debuted a global rallying-cry for fans: “The World is Yours to Take.” In partnership with international football icons Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., and Raheem Sterling, Budweiser will launch its FIFA World Cup campaign in more than 70 countries, the most in the brand’s 146-year history. The campaign will see offerings such as the chance to win match tickets by scanning QR codes found on limited-edition Budweiser bottles and cans, attending BUDX FIFA Fanfest watch parties around the world for the first time, on-site activations and musical performances at the Budweiser Hotel and NFTs that commemorate the tournament.
CBS Sports begins its multiplatform coverage of the Barclays Women’s Super League this weekend across Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network. CBS Sports will present a total of 57 matches from England’s top-flight women’s league this season, with the majority of matches streaming live exclusively on Paramount+ and select matches airing exclusively on CBS Sports Network.
The National Football League is celebrating Latino Heritage Month with the season-long campaign “Por La Cultura,” highlighting Latino players, coaches and staff. For the second year in a row, the league is partnering with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation as the exclusive sponsor of the Youth Sports & Fitness Awards category season.
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