Alison Brie, Jake Lacy Join Liane Moriarty Series ‘Apples Never Fall’ at Peacock

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The upcoming Shondaland mystery series “The Residence” at Netflix has added four recurring cast members, Variety has learned exclusively. E.L. Losada (“Loot,” “Los Frikis”), Matt Oberg (“Veep,” “Superstore”), Ryan Farrell (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Deuce”), and Alexandra Siegel (“Bosch,” “American Auto”) are the latest additions to the cast. They join series lead Uzo Aduba in the show along with cast members: Andre Braugher, Edwina Findley, Molly Griggs, Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Al Mitchell, Dan Perrault, Bronson Pinchot, Susan Kelechi Watson, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Mary Wiseman, and Randall Park. The official logline for the show states, “132 rooms. 157 suspects. One dead body. One wildly eccentric detective (Aduba). One disastrous State Dinner. The Residence is a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion.”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Mel Brooks came up with the title to his 1981 comedy feature “History of the World, Part I” as a joke. There were never any plans to make a Part II.  Until now.   As the streaming revolution took hold, Brooks, his producing partner Kevin Salter and rightsholder Searchlight Pictures decided to explore a long overdue sequel, but in series form. That’s when they contacted Nick Kroll, who’s known for his sketch comedy (in addition to the painfully funny take on adolescence “Big Mouth”), to kick around a “Part II” that was four decades not in the making.  

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Bryan Cogman has signed on to serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer on the new “Zorro” series starring Wilmer Valderrama at Disney+, Variety has confirmed. The series was originally reported as being in development at the streamer in December 2021. Per the official logline, “When tragedy strikes his family, privileged caballero Diego de la Vega (Valderrama) returns to his hometown of El Pueblo de Los Angeles and discovers a culture of corruption and injustice that will lead him to take on the mantle of the masked vigilante Zorro — America’s first true superhero.” Cogman joins fellow executive producers Gary Marsh, Valderrama, and John Gertz on the series. Disney Branded Television will produce.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Demi Singleton is the latest addition to the cast of the “Bass Reeves” series at Paramount+, Variety has learned exclusively. Singleton will appear in the period drama as a series regular opposite series lead David Oyelowo, who will star as the titular legendary lawman. Additional cast members include Barry Pepper, Dennis Quaid, Forrest Goodluck, Lauren E. Banks, and Grantham Coleman. Per the official logline, the show “will bring the legendary lawman of the wild west to life. Reeves, known as the greatest frontier hero in American history, worked in the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, capturing over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without ever being wounded.”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Nic Pizzolatto has set up a western drama series at Amazon with a series commitment, Variety has confirmed with sources. The untitled series is said to “revolve around a former outlaw who must reckon with a threat from his past in order to keep the life and family he has worked so hard to build,” according to sources. Amazon declined to comment. Pizzolatto is best known for creating the HBO anthology drama series “True Detective,” which exploded onto the scene in 2014 with a first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson that received substantial critical and popular acclaim. Two more seasons have aired to date, with a fourth season starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis on the way. Issa López is writing Season 4 with Pizzolatto attached as an executive producer.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Netflix has ordered the limited series “Zero Day” starring Robert De Niro in his first regular television role, Variety has learned exclusively. In addition, Lesli Linka Glatter has boarded the show and will direct and executive produce all six episodes. Variety previously reported that the series was in development at Netflix in November. It hails from writers and executive producers Eric Newman and Noah Oppenheim. Per the official logline, “Zero Day” “asks the question on everyone’s mind — how do we find truth in a world in crisis, one seemingly being torn apart by forces outside our control? And in an era rife with conspiracy theory and subterfuge, how much of those forces are products of our own doing, perhaps even of our own imagining?”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Netflix has picked up a new comedy series starring Kristen Bell from writer Erin Foster and executive producer Steven Levitan, Variety has learned. The untitled series is said to center on “the unlikely relationship between an irreverent, outspoken, agnostic woman and an unconventional rabbi.” Bell is set to play one of the lead roles, though exactly which is being kept under wraps. Foster created the series and serves as an executive producer. Bell also executive produces in addition to starring. Levitan executive produces via Steven Levitan Productions (SLP). Craig DiGregorio, Sara Foster, and Danielle Stokdyk also executive produce. Oly Obst and Josh Lieberman are executive producers for 3 Arts. 20th Television will produce in association with SLP, with the company currently under an overall deal at the studio.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Waco: The Aftermath” series at Showtime has added 10 new cast members, Variety has learned. The new cast members for the followup to Paramount Networks’ “Waco” include: Shea Whigham, who will reprise the role of Mitch Decker, the FBI agent who managed the situation leading up the siege; Annika Marks, who will reprise the role of Kathy Schroeder, one of the surviving Branch Davidians who was also called upon to testify; Alex Breaux, who will play Timothy McVeigh; Michael Cassidy, who will play Bill Johnston, the lead prosecutor in the trial of the Branch Davidians; Gary Cole, who will play Gordon Novel, described as an “intense private investigator;” Nicholas Kolev, who will play Paul Fatta, another one of the Davidians on trial after the Waco siege; Michael Luwoye, who will play Livingstone Fagan, described as “an extremely bright biblical scholar and one of the surviving Branch Davidians on trial;” Kali Rocha, who will play Ruth Riddle, one of the Branch Davidian survivors facing trial and the possibility of life in jail; Michael Vincent Barry, who will play George Roden, one of the early leaders of the Davidian sect; and Sasheer Zamata, who will play Angie Graham, described as “a smart, experienced ATF agent.”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The upcoming Shondaland Netflix series “The Residence” has added 11 new cast members, Variety has learned. The new cast members are: Andre Braugher, Edwina Findley, Molly Griggs, Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Al Mitchell, Dan Perrault, Bronson Pinchot, Susan Kelechi Watson, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Mary Wiseman. The group joins previously announced series lead Uzo Aduba. The official logline for the series states, “132 rooms. 157 suspects. One dead body. One wildly eccentric detective (Aduba). One disastrous State Dinner. ‘The Residence’ is a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion.”

Jake Lacy and Alison Brie have joined the cast of Peacock‘s upcoming limited drama series “Apples Never Fall” as series regulars.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Apple has given a series order to the drama “The Last Frontier” with Jason Clarke set to play the lead role, Variety has learned. The series hails from creators Jon Bokenkamp, who previously created the hit NBC series “The Blacklist,” and Richard D’Ovidio, who previously worked with Bokenkamp on the 2013 film “The Call” as well as on “The Blacklist” and “The Blacklist: Redemption.” In the 10-episode series, Clarke will star as US Marshal Frank Remnick, the lone Marshal in the barrens of Alaska. Per the official logline, “Frank’ s jurisdiction is turned upside-down when a prison transport plane crashes in the remote wilderness, setting free dozens of violent inmates. Tasked with protecting the town he’s vowed to keep safe, he begins to suspect the crash wasn’t an accident, but the first step of a well-crafted plan with international political implications.”

Joe Otterson TV Reporter HBO Max is officially moving forward with the “It” prequel series currently titled “Welcome to Derry,” Variety has learned. The show was first reported as being in development in March 2022, while Variety exclusively reported that the project had attached its co-showrunners in November. As previously reported, the series was developed for television by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs. “As teenagers, we took turns reading chapters of Stephen King’s ‘It’ until the thick paperback fell to pieces,” said the Muschiettis. “‘It’ is an epic story that contains multitudes, far beyond what we could explore in our ‘It’ movies. We can’t wait to share the depths of Steve’s novel, in all its heart, humor, humanity and horror.”

Jake Lacy (A Friend of the Family, The White Lotus) and Alison Brie (Somebody I Used to Know, GLOW) are set as leads opposite Annette Bening and Sam Neill in Peacock’s upcoming limited series Apples Never Fall, based on Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers author Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has set up a new unscripted series at TBS. The announcement was made by AEW CEO, GM, and head of creative Tony Khan on Wednesday’s episode of “Dynamite.” The series is titled “AEW: All Access” and is expected to debut on TBS in March. It will follow some of the company’s biggest stars, including Adam Cole, Dr. Britt Baker, Sammy Guevara, Tay Conti, The Young Bucks, Saraya, Wardlow, and Eddie Kingston along with Khan. Each episode will follow them week-to-week as they seek to remain at the top of the company while also exploring rivalries between them. The show will also detail the lead up to major AEW events and pay-per-views

“Triangle of Sadness” is moving from the screen to the stage with a live table read set to take place next week.Fred Armisen, Nicholas Braun, Alison Brie, Tia Carrere, Ayo Edebiri, Jordan Firstman, Brett Goldstein and Kumail Nanjiani will lead the cast, with additional members to be announced for the Monday performance. Ruben Östlund will helm the reimagined reading of his film in collaboration with Neon and Film Independent.“What a joy to do a table read with this group of fine actors!” said Östlund. “Together we are planning for some surprises.

posted a video on Instagram of herself running naked through the hallways of Los Angeles’ London Hotel.“What to do when your husband is feeling anxious about his movie premiere,” the 40-year-old wrote in the caption.In the video, the “GLOW” star is seen running down the hall completely nude before knocking on the couple’s door.“Waiting on Dave to answer … he thinks I’m in the shower,” reads the on-screen text.Moments later, a robe-clad Franco, 37, opens the door and looks away in shock at his wife.“Happy premiere night,” the actress yells at a bemused-looking Franco who politely asks her to come inside the room.“I’ve done three laps already,” joked the “Lego Movie” star.Franco and Brie were in LA for the premiere of his new film “Somebody I Used to Know,” which also stars Brie and is now available on Amazon Prime.The couple appeared on “The Late Late Show with James Cordon,” where Franco said that it was the least surprising thing that has happened.“As much as it was a shock to my system to open the door, it was also the least surprising thing that’s happened this year to find her naked in the hallway of the London Hotel,” joked the “Now You See Me” actor.Several social media users found the video hysterical.A post shared by Alison Brie (@alisonbrie)“Dude is married to her, so why is he looking away,” joked one user.“Imagine you pop out of your room to get ice and Alison Brie runs by naked,” a second person joked.“This is cute,” gushed comedian Chelsea Handler.

Dave Franco is opening up about why he chose to just be the director of Somebody I Used to Know, and not cast himself as his real-life wife, Alison Brie‘s love interest.

While filming her new film "Somebody I Used to Know," actress Alison Brie was taxed with filming intimate scenes with co-star Jay Ellis.  A seemingly normal request for a romantic comedy, Brie was directed in said scenes by her husband, Dave Franco, with whom she co-wrote the film. "It doesn't make Dave and I uncomfortable," the actress told Jezebel of having her husband's direction during sex scenes.

any love story. And that’s why they were particularly deliberate in casting.“It was about sending people the material, seeing if they connected with it,” Brie said.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Lindy Booth is the latest cast member to join Sam Esmail’s “Metropolis” series adaptation at Apple, Variety has learned. Booth is now the second confirmed cast member for the series alongside Briana Middleton. Exact plot details for the show are being kept under wraps aside from the fact that it is inspired by the 1927 Fritz Lang sci-fi film of the same name, which has been hailed as one of the greatest and most influential films of the silent film era. Booth will appear in the role of Maria. Booth is best known for her starring role in the TNT series “The Librarians,” which was a spinoff of TNT’s “The Librarian” film series. The show ran for four seasons at the cable network. Booth is also known for recent appearances in shows like “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “The Flash,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Stumptown.” She has appeared in films like Zack Snyder’s “Dawn of the Dead” and “Kick Ass 2” as well.