Exclusive: After aggressively pursuing rights, Paramount Pictures has preemptively acquired the Wayward Children fantasy book series by Seanan McGuire. With six books already published and a seventh installment coming in early 2022, the studio plans to build a franchise around this universe of characters and stories.
Sources say Paramount’s Motion Picture Group president Emma Watts has had her eye on the series for some time and was hands on in making sure the studio landed the rights. Insiders say the studio views the series as a possible franchise given the huge fanbase that is behind it, and add it has already drawn interest from top talent to be a part of it.
The series adaptations will be produced by Pouya Shahbazian. The series takes place in Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children, a boarding school for people who have returned home from magical fantasy worlds and have trouble readjusting to their old lives.
Sources say Paramount’s Motion Picture Group president Emma Watts has had her eye on the series for some time and was hands on in making sure the studio landed the rights. Insiders say the studio views the series as a possible franchise given the huge fanbase that is behind it, and add it has already drawn interest from top talent to be a part of it.
The series adaptations will be produced by Pouya Shahbazian. The series takes place in Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children, a boarding school for people who have returned home from magical fantasy worlds and have trouble readjusting to their old lives.
- 7/29/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Peacock has landed for development Red Queen, a drama based on the best-selling YA fantasy novel by Victoria Aveyard. Elizabeth Banks is set to play a major supporting role and direct the potential series, which she and Max Handelman are executive producing through their Brownstone Prods.
Co-written by former Arrow showrunner Beth Schwartz and Aveyard, Red Queen comes from Warner Bros. TV where Brownstone and Schwartz are under overall deals. The indie studio which will co-produce with Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Brownstone.
This marks one of the first marquee buys for the NBCUniversal division headed by Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCU Television and Streaming, from Rovner’s former studio Wbtv.
Red Queen is set in an alternate near-future America where democracy is replaced by a monarchy led by a group of humans with superpowers who rule with an iron fist over those without powers.
Co-written by former Arrow showrunner Beth Schwartz and Aveyard, Red Queen comes from Warner Bros. TV where Brownstone and Schwartz are under overall deals. The indie studio which will co-produce with Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Brownstone.
This marks one of the first marquee buys for the NBCUniversal division headed by Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCU Television and Streaming, from Rovner’s former studio Wbtv.
Red Queen is set in an alternate near-future America where democracy is replaced by a monarchy led by a group of humans with superpowers who rule with an iron fist over those without powers.
- 5/25/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Scott McGehee and David Siegel just wrapped production this week on Montana Story after six weeks of shooting their script in and around the Paradise Valley south of Livingston, Montana.
Montana Story follows two estranged siblings, played by Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague, as they return home to the sprawling ranch they once knew and loved. Against a Western landscape both mythical and uncertain, they’re forced to confront a bitter family legacy and forge a new path forward. The fates of their ailing, unscrupulous father and a beloved old horse hang in the balance.
Film also stars Kimberly Guerrero (The Glorias) and Eugene Brave Rock (Wonder Woman).
Siegel and McGehee wrote, directed and produced, along with producing partner Jennifer Roth. Pic was shot on 35mm...
Montana Story follows two estranged siblings, played by Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague, as they return home to the sprawling ranch they once knew and loved. Against a Western landscape both mythical and uncertain, they’re forced to confront a bitter family legacy and forge a new path forward. The fates of their ailing, unscrupulous father and a beloved old horse hang in the balance.
Film also stars Kimberly Guerrero (The Glorias) and Eugene Brave Rock (Wonder Woman).
Siegel and McGehee wrote, directed and produced, along with producing partner Jennifer Roth. Pic was shot on 35mm...
- 12/16/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Nolan Gould, best known for his role as Luke Dunphy on ABC’s long-running multi-award-winning comedy Modern Family, has signed with A3 Artists Agency for literary representation.
Nolan portrayed the role of Luke since the show’s inception in 2009 through the wrapping of its 11th and final season this past April. During his run, he shared in four SAG awards out of seven nominations for the role, among other honors.
Aside from television, Gould has appeared in films such as Friends with Benefits alongside Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, and The To Do List with Aubrey Plaza. In 2019, Gould also starred in Yes, a dramatic film based on Tim Realbuto’s critically acclaimed off-Broadway play by the same name.
Additional film and television credits include Haunting Hour, Good Luck Charlie, Eleventh Hour, Field of Lost Shoes, and Abominable Christmas.
Gould continues to be repped by MCTalent Management, attorney Steve Younger...
Nolan portrayed the role of Luke since the show’s inception in 2009 through the wrapping of its 11th and final season this past April. During his run, he shared in four SAG awards out of seven nominations for the role, among other honors.
Aside from television, Gould has appeared in films such as Friends with Benefits alongside Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, and The To Do List with Aubrey Plaza. In 2019, Gould also starred in Yes, a dramatic film based on Tim Realbuto’s critically acclaimed off-Broadway play by the same name.
Additional film and television credits include Haunting Hour, Good Luck Charlie, Eleventh Hour, Field of Lost Shoes, and Abominable Christmas.
Gould continues to be repped by MCTalent Management, attorney Steve Younger...
- 6/29/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
A new “Star Wars” series is in the works at Disney+ from Leslye Headland, the co-creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the critically-acclaimed Netflix series “Russian Doll,” according to an individual with knowledge of the project.
Plot details for the new series are being kept under wraps. The series is female-centric that will take place in a different part of the “Star Wars” universe and timeline apart from the the other projects. The show is currently staffing, and Headland is attached to write and serve as showrunner of the untitled series. Headland’s deal for the new untitled “Star Wars” series closed months ago before the shutdown.
In 2019, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that they plan to expand the beloved “Star Wars” franchise even further on the small-screen, with “more in development.” Additional “Star Wars” TV shows include a “Rogue One” prequel following Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor character, and...
Plot details for the new series are being kept under wraps. The series is female-centric that will take place in a different part of the “Star Wars” universe and timeline apart from the the other projects. The show is currently staffing, and Headland is attached to write and serve as showrunner of the untitled series. Headland’s deal for the new untitled “Star Wars” series closed months ago before the shutdown.
In 2019, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that they plan to expand the beloved “Star Wars” franchise even further on the small-screen, with “more in development.” Additional “Star Wars” TV shows include a “Rogue One” prequel following Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor character, and...
- 4/22/2020
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
A new “Star Wars” series is in the works at Disney Plus, Variety has learned from sources. The series hails from Leslye Headland, the co-creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the critically-acclaimed Netflix series “Russian Doll.”
Details of the exact plot of the series are being kept under wraps, but sources say it will be a female-centric series that takes place in a different part of the “Star Wars” timeline than other projects. Headland is said to be attached to write and serve as showrunner on the series, with the show currently staffing.
Reps for Disney and Headland did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.
Headland also directed multiple episodes of “Russian Doll.” The show was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards for its first season, ultimately winning three. Headland began her career writing and directing the “Seven Deadly Plays” series, which includes “Bachelorette” and “Assistance.” “Bachelorette” was the...
Details of the exact plot of the series are being kept under wraps, but sources say it will be a female-centric series that takes place in a different part of the “Star Wars” timeline than other projects. Headland is said to be attached to write and serve as showrunner on the series, with the show currently staffing.
Reps for Disney and Headland did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.
Headland also directed multiple episodes of “Russian Doll.” The show was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards for its first season, ultimately winning three. Headland began her career writing and directing the “Seven Deadly Plays” series, which includes “Bachelorette” and “Assistance.” “Bachelorette” was the...
- 4/22/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Eric Petersen (Kirstie) has been cast as the male lead opposite Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy in AMC’s dark comedy series Kevin Can F*** Himself. Mary Hollis Inboden (The Real O’Neals) and Alex Bonifer (Superstore) also have joined the project, from Valerie Armstrong, Rashida Jones and Will McCormack and AMC Studios.
Created and executive produced by Armstrong, Kevin Can F*** Himself probes the secret life of a type of woman we all grew up believing we knew: the sitcom wife (Murphy). It looks to break television convention and ask what the world looks like through her eyes. Alternating between single-camera realism and multi-camera comedy, the formats will inform one another as we imagine what happens when the sitcom wife escapes her confines, and takes the lead in her own life.
Murphy plays Kevin’s wife Allison, a woman who escapes her confines and discovers her rage.
Created and executive produced by Armstrong, Kevin Can F*** Himself probes the secret life of a type of woman we all grew up believing we knew: the sitcom wife (Murphy). It looks to break television convention and ask what the world looks like through her eyes. Alternating between single-camera realism and multi-camera comedy, the formats will inform one another as we imagine what happens when the sitcom wife escapes her confines, and takes the lead in her own life.
Murphy plays Kevin’s wife Allison, a woman who escapes her confines and discovers her rage.
- 3/3/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Keeping in the spirit of their wildly popular To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and their recent follow-up To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, Ace Entertainment has optioned the rights to Abigail Hing Wen’s Ya novel Loveboat, Taipei. The book was published on January 7 and has since topped the New York Times best-seller list.
Described as a hybrid of Crazy Rich Asians, Jane Austen and La La Land, Love, Taipei continues to feed the craving for more inclusive storytelling on TV and film — specifically for Asian American narratives. The story introduces us to 18-year-old Ever Wong, who is sent from Ohio to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer. Ever is joined by 30 other students for the summer program — all of whom are a diverse array of Asian Americans. But what she thinks is a Summer program turns out to be a teen...
Described as a hybrid of Crazy Rich Asians, Jane Austen and La La Land, Love, Taipei continues to feed the craving for more inclusive storytelling on TV and film — specifically for Asian American narratives. The story introduces us to 18-year-old Ever Wong, who is sent from Ohio to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer. Ever is joined by 30 other students for the summer program — all of whom are a diverse array of Asian Americans. But what she thinks is a Summer program turns out to be a teen...
- 2/24/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Russian Doll co-creator Leslye Headland has signed a multi-year, overall deal with Fox 21 Television Studios to create, develop and direct series for network, cable and streaming platforms.
“Every once in a very rare while, you watch some tv show or movie, and it’s so special that you think how lucky you’d be if you got to work with its creator,” said Bert Salke, President, Fox 21 Television Studios. And rarer still is when you meet them and you can’t believe that they are better than you could’ve even imagined. That’s our experience with Leslye. Her incredible work in both film and TV is surpassed only by how awesome she is in real life.”
Headland co-created with Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler dramedy Russian Doll which is heading into its second season on Netflix. The series was nominated for 13 Emmy awards for its first season, winning two.
“Every once in a very rare while, you watch some tv show or movie, and it’s so special that you think how lucky you’d be if you got to work with its creator,” said Bert Salke, President, Fox 21 Television Studios. And rarer still is when you meet them and you can’t believe that they are better than you could’ve even imagined. That’s our experience with Leslye. Her incredible work in both film and TV is surpassed only by how awesome she is in real life.”
Headland co-created with Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler dramedy Russian Doll which is heading into its second season on Netflix. The series was nominated for 13 Emmy awards for its first season, winning two.
- 12/17/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Leslye Headland is getting back in business with Fox 21 Television Studios.
The “Russian Doll” co-creator, who worked with the studio on the 2010 FX series “Terriers,” has signed a multi-year overall deal with the Disney-owned studio. As part of the deal, Headland will be looking to create, develop and direct series for network, cable and streaming platforms.
Headland is best known for co-creating “Russian Doll” with Amy Poehler and series star Natasha Lyonne. The series’ first season was nominated for a hatful of Emmys, taking home three, after being handed a season 2 renewal in May.
“Every once in a very rare while, you watch some TV show or movie, and it’s so special that you think how lucky you’d be if you got to work with its creator. And rarer still is when you meet them and you can’t believe that they are better than you could’ve even imagined.
The “Russian Doll” co-creator, who worked with the studio on the 2010 FX series “Terriers,” has signed a multi-year overall deal with the Disney-owned studio. As part of the deal, Headland will be looking to create, develop and direct series for network, cable and streaming platforms.
Headland is best known for co-creating “Russian Doll” with Amy Poehler and series star Natasha Lyonne. The series’ first season was nominated for a hatful of Emmys, taking home three, after being handed a season 2 renewal in May.
“Every once in a very rare while, you watch some TV show or movie, and it’s so special that you think how lucky you’d be if you got to work with its creator. And rarer still is when you meet them and you can’t believe that they are better than you could’ve even imagined.
- 12/17/2019
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Longtime producer Alexis Martin Woodall has been tapped to become the president of Ryan Murphy Productions, giving her oversight of the Netflix-based company.
As president, Woodall will manage Murphy’s company, continuing to be hands on in executive producing its TV productions and producing its films.
“Alexis is brazen, sharp and incisive — qualities that have been instrumental in helping shape my productions, from ‘Nip/Tuck’ and ‘Glee’ to ‘American Crime Story’ to ‘Pose,'” said Murphy in a statement. “Alexis and I have worked together for nearly two decades, and I’ve watched her navigate numerous roles in my company, managing every project, every heartbeat of storytelling with style and aplomb. She is a true creative force, one of the secret ingredients tantamount to my works. We have many more stories to tell, and I am grateful to have Alexis at the helm of my company.”
Woodall started out as...
As president, Woodall will manage Murphy’s company, continuing to be hands on in executive producing its TV productions and producing its films.
“Alexis is brazen, sharp and incisive — qualities that have been instrumental in helping shape my productions, from ‘Nip/Tuck’ and ‘Glee’ to ‘American Crime Story’ to ‘Pose,'” said Murphy in a statement. “Alexis and I have worked together for nearly two decades, and I’ve watched her navigate numerous roles in my company, managing every project, every heartbeat of storytelling with style and aplomb. She is a true creative force, one of the secret ingredients tantamount to my works. We have many more stories to tell, and I am grateful to have Alexis at the helm of my company.”
Woodall started out as...
- 8/16/2019
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
Ryan Murphy has named longtime associate Alexis Martin Woodall as president of his Netflix-based company, Ryan Murphy Productions, effective immediately. She will manage Murphy’s production company while remaining hands-on executive producer on all of Rmp’s TV series as well as a producer on all the company’s films.
Murphy had not had a president-level executive at his company since Dante Di Loreto exited as president of Ryan Murphy Television in early 2015. With Ryan Murphy Productions, already among the most prolific production companies in town, undergoing further expansion under Murphy’s blockbuster overall deal at Netflix in both TV and features, running Rmp had been a sought-after job, with a number of top TV executives rumored for it. Instead, Murphy reached internally to promote Woodall, who knows Rmp inside and out, having spent her entire career working for Murphy and his company starting from the lowest level to now reaching the top.
Murphy had not had a president-level executive at his company since Dante Di Loreto exited as president of Ryan Murphy Television in early 2015. With Ryan Murphy Productions, already among the most prolific production companies in town, undergoing further expansion under Murphy’s blockbuster overall deal at Netflix in both TV and features, running Rmp had been a sought-after job, with a number of top TV executives rumored for it. Instead, Murphy reached internally to promote Woodall, who knows Rmp inside and out, having spent her entire career working for Murphy and his company starting from the lowest level to now reaching the top.
- 8/16/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Deborah S. Craig (The Blacklist) is set as a series regular opposite Ken Jeong in CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot The Emperor of Malibu, from Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan, former 2 Broke Girls executive producer Michelle Nader and Warner Bros. TV. In addition, veteran multi-camera comedy director Andy Ackerman has been tapped to direct the pilot. In The Emperor of Malibu, written by Kwan and David Sangalli, when Auggie (Tbd), the son of a Chinese billionaire (Jeong), announces his engagement to an American woman, his outrageous family descends upon the couple to win their son back and test drive the American dream. Craig will play Shiatzy. A terrifying force of nature, Auggie’s mom is sophisticated, a little eccentric and strong-willed. Outraged that Auggie chose his fiancée without her, she does her best to keep Kate (also known as “that one”) (Tbd) at a distance. Craig’s credits include recurring roles on The Blacklist,...
- 3/20/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Mom alumna Sadie Calvano is set as a series regular in CBS All Access’ Why Women Kill, a darkly comedic drama from Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry, Imagine Television Studios and CBS TV Studios.
Created by Cherry, Why Women Kill details the lives of three women living in three different decades — a housewife in the ‘60s, a socialite in the ‘80s and a lawyer in 2018 — each dealing with infidelity in their marriages. The series will examine how the roles of women have changed but how their reaction to betrayal has not.
Calvano will play April. Seen in 1963. She is a beautiful young waitress with a free spirit. She’s a burgeoning 1960’s flower child who strikes up an unusual friendship with a 1960’s housewife.
Why Women Kill is produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios. Cherry executive produces with Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo and Acme Productions...
Created by Cherry, Why Women Kill details the lives of three women living in three different decades — a housewife in the ‘60s, a socialite in the ‘80s and a lawyer in 2018 — each dealing with infidelity in their marriages. The series will examine how the roles of women have changed but how their reaction to betrayal has not.
Calvano will play April. Seen in 1963. She is a beautiful young waitress with a free spirit. She’s a burgeoning 1960’s flower child who strikes up an unusual friendship with a 1960’s housewife.
Why Women Kill is produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios. Cherry executive produces with Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo and Acme Productions...
- 3/19/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Joe and Anthony Russo are producing the prehistoric drama “The Last Neanderthal” through their Agbo production company.
The brothers have closed a deal for John Brancato’s pitch and hired stunt coordinator Terry Notary to direct “The Last Neanderthal,” which will be shot primarily with motion capture technology. Notary, a stunt coordinator and movement choreographer, played Cull Obsidian in Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” and King Kong in “Kong: Skull Island.” He has credits on “Avatar,” “Mowgli” and “War for Planet Of The Apes.”
“The Last Neanderthal” is described as an epic adventure and a tale of survival, revenge, and redemption. Brancato and Notary wrote the story. Brancato’s credits include “Terminator Salvation,” “Terminator 3,” “The Game” and “Trigger Warning,” which he wrote with Josh Olson.
The Russo brothers directed “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War” and its untitled sequel. They also worked on the comedy series “Arrested Development,...
The brothers have closed a deal for John Brancato’s pitch and hired stunt coordinator Terry Notary to direct “The Last Neanderthal,” which will be shot primarily with motion capture technology. Notary, a stunt coordinator and movement choreographer, played Cull Obsidian in Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” and King Kong in “Kong: Skull Island.” He has credits on “Avatar,” “Mowgli” and “War for Planet Of The Apes.”
“The Last Neanderthal” is described as an epic adventure and a tale of survival, revenge, and redemption. Brancato and Notary wrote the story. Brancato’s credits include “Terminator Salvation,” “Terminator 3,” “The Game” and “Trigger Warning,” which he wrote with Josh Olson.
The Russo brothers directed “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War” and its untitled sequel. They also worked on the comedy series “Arrested Development,...
- 8/4/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Joe and Anthony Russo’s Agbo has closed a deal for John Brancato’s original prehistoric pitch The Last Neanderthal. The film will be shot primarily with motion capture technology, and will mark the directorial debut of Terry Notary, a stunt coordinator and movement coach who is best known for his motion capture performances in Avatar, The Hobbit, and The Planet Of The Apes.
The Last Neanderthal is an epic adventure and a powerful drama, a tale of survival, revenge, and redemption that draws on recent discoveries to depict a prehistorical tale. Brancato and Notary wrote the story together.
Brancato’s produced credits include Terminator Salvation, Terminator 3, and the David Fincher-directed The Game. He also adapted the latter as a TV series for USA. He most recently sold to Basil Iwanyk’s Thunder Road the spec Trigger Warning, which he wrote with A History Of Violence‘s Josh Olson.
The Last Neanderthal is an epic adventure and a powerful drama, a tale of survival, revenge, and redemption that draws on recent discoveries to depict a prehistorical tale. Brancato and Notary wrote the story together.
Brancato’s produced credits include Terminator Salvation, Terminator 3, and the David Fincher-directed The Game. He also adapted the latter as a TV series for USA. He most recently sold to Basil Iwanyk’s Thunder Road the spec Trigger Warning, which he wrote with A History Of Violence‘s Josh Olson.
- 8/3/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
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