Claire Danes Cast in Lead Role of Apple Series ‘Essex Serpent’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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 ReporterSissy Spacek and Ed O’Neill have been cast in the lead roles of the upcoming Amazon series “Lightyears,” Variety has learned.The series follows Irene (Spacek) and Franklin (O’Neill) York, a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Cobra Kai” has promoted both Vanessa Rubio and Peyton List to series regular status ahead of Season 4 on Netflix.Rubio has been with the show since Season 1 in the role of Carmen Diaz, the mother of Johnny Lawrence’s star pupil, Miguel.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterWagner Moura has signed on to star opposite Elisabeth Moss in the Apple series “Shining Girls,” Variety has learned.The series is an adaptation of the 2013 Lauren Beukes novel of the same name. Moss plays a Chicago reporter who survived a brutal assault only to find her reality shifting as she hunts down her attacker.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAustin Butler and Callum Turner will play the lead roles in Apple’s World War II drama “Masters of the Air,” a continuation of the “Band of Brothers”/”The Pacific” franchise from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.Based on the book of the same name by Donald L. Miller, “Masters of the Air” follows the true story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterTheo James and Rose Leslie have been cast in the lead role of HBO’s upcoming series based on “The Time Traveler’s Wife.”Based on Audrey Niffenegger’s novel of the same name, the series tells the story of Clare (Leslie) and Henry (James), and a marriage with a problem — time travel.Clare is described as fiery, clever and unstoppable – and for most of her life she’s had an amazing secret.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJon Stewart has lined up the key creative team for his upcoming Apple current events series.Brinda Adhikari, Chelsea Devantez and Lorrie Baranek have all joined the untitled show.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe Amazon anthology series “Modern Love” has announced its main cast for Season 2.Season 2 of the series will feature episodes starring: Gbenga Akinnagbe (“The Deuce”), Susan Blackwell (“Madam Secretary”), Lucy Boynton (“Bohemian Rhapsody”), Tom Burke (“Mank”), Zoe Chao (“Love Life”), Maria Dizzia (“Orange is the New Black”), newcomer Grace Edwards, Dominique Fishback (“Judas and the Black Messiah”), Kathryn Gallagher (“Jagged Little Pill”), Kit Harington (“Game of

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Real Housewives of Miami” revival was among the programming announcements Peacock made on Wednesday as part of its Television Critics Association presentation.The original “RHOM” aired on Bravo from 2011-2013 for four seasons.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon” at HBO is adding four new actors to its cast.Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Eve Best, and Sonoya Mizuno are all joining the highly-anticipated prequel to the megahit HBO show.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterIt is raining cash on “The Umbrella Academy” cast. Variety has learned from sources that the majority of the show’s core cast — Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and Justin Min — has netted a substantial pay raise going into the hit Netflix-UCP show’s third season.According to multiple sources, the six actors banded together ahead of the season to ask for a pay raise, with each of them now earning more than $200,000 per

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe cast of “The Best Man” film franchise is reuniting for a limited series that has been ordered at Peacock.“The Best Man: Final Chapters” will feature returning cast members Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, and Harold Perrineau. Peacock has ordered 10 episodes, with Malcolm D.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe CW has made a number of orders for the 2021-2022 season, including a pilot order for the live-action “Powerpuff Girls” series.In total, The CW announced three pilot orders and one straight-to-series pickup, with the latter being a reboot of the USA Network series “The 4400.” The other two pilots are for the DC project “Naomi” from Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship and an untitled religious dramedy from Claire Rothrock and Ryann Weir.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe HBO Max comedy series being led by Jean Smart is rounding out its main cast.Variety has learned that the show has cast two series regulars and eight recurring guest star roles. The single-camera comedy series explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance (Smart), a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old (Hannah Einbinder).Einbinder has been cast as Ava, the young writer that Deborah is forced to hire.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterApple has given a straight-to-series order for the children’s series “Jane” from J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment, and the Jane Goodall Institute.The series is titled “Jane.” It will feature a mixture of live-action and CGI as it follows Jane Garcia, a 10-year-old girl with an active imagination.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterChiwetel Ejiofor has been cast in the lead role of “The Man Who Fell to Earth” series currently in the works at Paramount Plus, Variety has learned.The series is based on Walter Tevis’ 1963 novel and the 1976 Nicolas Roeg film that starred David Bowie, both of the same name.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterStarz has ordered the period drama series “The Serpent Queen,” based on the life of Catherine de Medici.The eight-episode series is based on the book “Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France” by Leonie Frieda. Justin Haythe will write and executive produce the series, with Francis Lawrence and Erwin Stoff also executive producing.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNetflix has ordered a new one-hour drama series from Martin Gero and Brendan Gall, Variety has learned exclusively.The six-episode series is titled “Breathe.” When a small plane crashes in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, a lone woman must battle the elements and odds to survive.Gero and Gall are co-writing and executive producing the series, with Gero executive producing under his Quinn’s House Production company. Warner Bros.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSam’s Esmail ABC drama pilot “Acts of Crime” has found its lead.Newcomer Candace Grace has been cast in the lead role in the pilot, with Josiah Cross, Peter Mark Kendall, and Molly Price also joining in series regular roles.Little is known about the plot of the show, other than being described as a unique spin on the crime procedural. Grace will star as Vivien Lamonte, a Black police detective working homicide in suburban New Jersey.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe upcoming Amazon anthology series “Solos” has lined up a star-studded cast.Academy Award-winning actors Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway and Helen Mirren, Emmy Award-winning actor Uzo Aduba, Nicole Beharie, Anthony Mackie, Dan Stevens, and Constance Wu will all star in the series.“Solos” is a seven-part anthology series that is described as exploring the deeper meaning of human connection, as explored through the lens of the individual.