Leslie Jones to Star in Adult Animated Comedy Series in the Works at Warner Bros Animation (EXCLUSIVE)

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX is developing a series based on the life of Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki, best known as the founder of the Benihana restaurant chain, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.The series is currently titled “American Hiro” and is based in part on the book “Making It in America: The Life and Times of Rocky Aoki” by Jack McCallum.Representatives for FX and 20th Television declined to comment.The series will delve into Aoki’s colorful life as a mogul and businessman, from founding Benihana to being an Olympic wrestler, professional speed boat racer, hot air balloonist, and nightclub impresario. It will also examine his complicated relationship with his family and his attempts to reconcile his Japanese heritage with his American dreams. Jonathan Abrams created the series and will serve as an executive producer.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA new “Ghostbusters” animated series is in development at Netflix, Variety has learned exclusively. The series hails from Sony Pictures Animation, with Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan of Ghost Corps, Inc. onboard as executive producers.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterCarol Burnett has joined the cast of the Apple comedy series “Mrs. American Pie,” Variety has learned.Burnett joins previously announced series lead Kristen Wiig in the show, along with cast members Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, Josh Lucas and Ricky Martin.The 10-episode comedy follows Maxine Simmons’ (Wiig) attempt to secure her seat at America’s most exclusive table: Palm Beach high society in the early 1970s. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, “Mrs.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAllison Williams has boarded the upcoming Showtime limited series “Fellow Travelers” alongside Matt Bomer, Variety has learned exclusively.The series was picked up at Showtime back in April with an eight-episode order. It is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon.The show is described as an epic love story and political thriller, chronicling the volatile romance of two very different men who meet in the shadow of McCarthy-era Washington.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has ordered a series adaptation of “Tiny Beautiful Things” starring Kathryn Hahn, with Liz Tigelaar writing and Laura Dern and Reese Witherspoon executive producing.Based on Cheryl Strayed’s New York Times bestseller of the same name, the half-hour series is about a woman (Hahn) who reluctantly becomes Dear Sugar — an anonymous, revered advice columnist — when her own life is falling apart.“As we emerge from a pandemic during which stories like those told in ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ helped us feel a sense of community and camaraderie at a moment we most needed it, this is a prescient story to be able to tell at this moment in time and we’re grateful to be able to tell it,” said · Said Craig Erwich, president of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. “We’re excited to work with Liz, Kathryn, and Cheryl to tell this story, and to reunite with Reese, Liz, and our partners at ABC Signature following our incredible collaboration on ‘Little Fires Everywhere.’” Tigelaar is adapting the book for the screen and will also serve as executive producer and showrunner.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series at Disney+ is rounding out its cast with five new additions, Variety has learned exclusively.Virginia Kull, Glynn Turman, Jason Mantzoukas, Megan Mullally, and Timm Sharp are all set to appear in recurring guest star roles in the small screen adaptation of the popular Rick Riordan book series. They join previously announced series lead Walker Scobell as well as recently announced co-stars Aryan Simhadri and Leah Sava Jeffries. News of the casting comes as the series kicks off production in Vancouver.Mullally (“Will & Grace,” “Party Down,” “Children’s Hospital”) will play Alecto, a.k.a.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterFX has commissioned a comedy pilot from Brian Jordan Alvarez.The pilot is called “English Teacher.” Alvarez will star as Evan, a gay high school English teacher in Austin, TX, and his fellow teachers trying to balance the competing demands of the students and their parents in a world where the rules seem to change every day. Alvarez is writing the pilot and will also executive produce in addition to starring.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterDanielle Macdonald has been cast in the Natasha Lyonne-led Peacock series “Poker Face,” which hails from creator Rian Johnson.Macdonald is the latest addition to the growing cast. In addition to Lyonne, previously announced cast members include Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Benjamin Bratt, Stephanie Hsu, and David Castañeda.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJodie Foster is set for one of the lead roles in “True Detective” Season 4 at HBO, Variety has learned.The new season of the anthology crime series was first reported as being in development in March 2022, though no official plot details were confirmed at that time.Now it is known that In the fourth season, when the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the six men that operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJude Law is going to star in a new “Star Wars” series coming to Disney+. The announcement was made at the “Star Wars” Celebration in Anaheim, CA.The show was previously reported as being in the works earlier in May as part of a larger “Star Wars” story published by Vanity Fair.The description they gave was, “The show takes place during the post–’Return of the Jedi’ reconstruction that follows the fall of the Empire, the same as ‘The Mandalorian,’ but its plot remains a secret.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSusan Sarandon and Fat Joe are set to lead the voice cast of the animated comedy series “The Movers” in development at Fox, Variety has learned exclusively.The series is based on an original idea by Sarandon, her son Jack Henry Robbins, and Danielle Uhlarik. All three are credited as co-creators and executive producers, with Robbins and Uhlarik writing the script.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterOmar Sy has signed a first-look television deal with HBO Max.Under the deal, the French actor and producer will develop series for the streamer for multiple markets around the globe.“I am very happy to be partnering with HBO Max who share my dreams of developing globally appealing content for audiences around the world, including French speaking Africa, France and the United States,” Sy said.Sy broke out with his starring role in the French film “The Intouchables,” for which he earned a César for best actor. He was the first Black actor to win the award.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA “Speed Racer” live-action series is in the works at Apple with J.J.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterAmazon has picked up the sci-fi animated comedy “The Hospital” for two seasons.The series was originally reported as being in development at the streamer in early 2020. Maya Rudolph and Natasha Lyonne are part of the voice cast and will also executive produce under their Animal Pictures banner.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterA new “Daredevil” series is moving forward at Disney+, with Variety having exclusively learned from sources that Matt Corman and Chris Ord are attached to write and executive produce.Rumors have persisted for some time that a Disney+ series about the Man Without Fear was in the works, especially considering that two of the stars of the Netflix “Daredevil” series — Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio — have appeared in recent Marvel projects. Cox played Matt Murdock, the secret identity of Daredevil, in the film “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” while D’Onofrio reprised the role of Wilson Fisk, a.k.a.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “She-Ra” live-action series in development at Amazon has brought on Nicole Kassell to direct, Variety has learned exclusively.Variety previously reported that the show was in early development at the streamer in September 2021. Kassell will direct and executive produce the pilot episode should it go forward.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNBC is in negotiations on a pilot order for a multi-cam comedy from Mike O’Malley with Jon Cryer in talks for a lead role, Variety has learned.The untitled series follows Jim and Julia, who decide to still live together to co-raise their children after an amicable divorce. But navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets more complicated when a rich suitor for Julia’s heart enters the picture and sees them (Jim included) as the family he never had.Lionsgate is the studio behind the project.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “Daria” spinoff “Jodie” is taking shape, but will now be an animated film rather than a series as originally announced. In addition, Variety has learned exclusively that the spinoff has set its main cast.It was previously announced that Tracee Ellis Ross will voice the title role of Jodie, Daria’s friend from high school.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterEdie Falco has been cast opposite Pete Davidson in the upcoming Peacock comedy series “Bupkis,” Variety has learned.The announcement was made during NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation on Monday. “Bupkis” was picked up straight-to-series at Peacock back in April. The show is described as a heightened, fictionalized version of Davidson’s real life.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“9-1-1: Lone Star” has been renewed for Season 4 at Fox, Variety has learned.The announcement was made ahead of Fox’s upfronts presentation to advertisers on Monday afternoon. At the time of this publishing, there is still no word on a renewal for “Lone Star’s” companion series, “9-1-1,” though an announcement is expected soon.CLICK HERE to follow Variety’s coverage of Upfronts 2022“9-1-1: Lone Star” stars Rob Lowe as Owen Strand, who moves with his son (Ronen Rubinstein) to Austin, TX, to rebuild a firehouse after it experienced a tragedy.