‘Pachinko’ Creator Soo Hugh Sets Overall Deal With Apple, Media Res

Joe Otterson TV Reporter A TV series set in the world of “Legally Blonde” is in development at Amazon Prime Video, Variety has confirmed. No plot details are available, but the project is being executive produced by Reese Witherspoon along with Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, with Schwartz and Savage also writing. Witherspoon starred in two of the “Legally Blonde” films and will executive produce under her Hello Sunshine banner alongside Lauren Neustadter.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter “9-1-1” has been renewed for Season 8 at ABC, Variety has learned. The news comes about two weeks after the Season 7 premiere, which marked the first season of the first responder drama to debut on ABC after it moved over from Fox. It also comes days ahead of the series’ 100th episode, which will air on Thursday at 8 p.m.

Brent Lang Executive Editor Searchlight Pictures has signed a first-look deal with Olivia Colman and Ed Sinclair’s South of the River Pictures. Under the new pact, the specialty studio, which has worked with Colman on “The Favourite” and “Empire of Light,” will develop and produce feature-length motion pictures with the production company. South of the River Pictures was founded by Colman, Sinclair and their long-time partner in crime, Tom Carver, to develop and produce original scripted comedies and dramas with “an authored sensibility.” Colman and Sinclair have been married since 2001.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Netflix has ordered the limited series “The Beast in Me” with Claire Danes set to star, Variety has learned. The series hails from writer Gabe Rotter, with Howard Gordon attached to serve as showrunner. The series reunites Gordon and Danes, as they previously worked together on the hit Showtime series “Homeland.” Danes starred in the series, which Gordon co-created and executive produced.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter John Leguizamo has joined the cast of the upcoming Apple TV+ drama series “Firebug,” Variety has learned. In addition, Kari Skogland has boarded the series as director and executive producer. Leguizamo joins previously announced cast members Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett in the series.

EXCLUSIVE: After a decade at Paramount Global and its predecessors ViacomCBS and Viacom, Darren Star is making a move. In a competitive situation, the prolific TV creator of such shows as Beverly Hills, 90210, Sex and the City and Emily In Paris, has signed a big multi-year overall deal at Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. No one is commenting on the size of the pact, but I hear it is in the eight figures and in the top tier of premium overall deals; certainly the biggest we have seen since the end of the strikes.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver’s Point Grey Pictures has entered into a first-look deal with Lionsgate Television. News of the deal comes just after it was announced production has begun on the Apple TV+ series “The Studio.” The show, which is set at a legacy Hollywood movie studio, is produced by Point Grey and Lionsgate TV with Rogen set to star as well as write, direct, and executive produce alongside Goldberg. Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, and Bryan Cranston are also among the show’s cast.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Sterlin Harjo’s FX drama pilot starring Ethan Hawke has set its main cast, Variety has learned. The new cast members are: Keith David (“The Princess and the Frog,” “Greenleaf”), Siena East (“The Sex Lives of College Girls”), Jeanne Tripplehorn (“The Terminal List,” “Mrs. America”), Tim Blake Nelson (“Watchmen,” “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”), Scott Shepherd (“The Last of Us,” “Killers of the Flower Moon”), Tracy Letts (“Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” “Lady Bird”), Kyle Maclachlan (“Twin Peaks,” upcoming “Fallout”), and Macon Blair (“Reservation Dogs,” “I Care A Lot”).

Joe Otterson TV Reporter MGM+ has ordered a limited series adaptation of the George R. Stewart sci-fi novel “Earth Abides” with Alexander Ludwig set to star. The streamer has ordered six episodes of the series, with Ludwig set to play the role of Ish.

EXCLUSIVE: Tonia Davis, who has been the Head of Motion Pictures for five years at Higher Ground, is transitioning out of the role. She will remain a producer on upcoming projects at the studio.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Star Wars” series “The Acolyte” has set its Disney+ premiere date. The series will debut on the streaming service on June 4. A poster for the series has also been revealed, which can be seen below.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter WWE will release a documentary on the late Windham Rotunda, known to fans as Bray Wyatt, on Peacock in April. “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal” will premiere on April 1. Narrated by Mark Callaway, aka The Undertaker, the doc will feature interviews with Rotunda himself and never before seen footage from the WWE archives as well as interviews with WWE superstars like Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Becky Lynch, Triple H, and Windham’s brother Taylor Rotunda.

Soo Hugh is staying in business with Apple and Media Res after striking an overall deal with the two companies.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Maggie Kiley is attached to direct and executive produce the NBC drama pilot “Grosse Pointe Garden Society,” Variety has learned exclusively. The pilot was ordered at NBC in February. It hails from writers and executive producers Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter The “Among Us” animated series in the works at CBS Studios has added its first voice cast members, Variety has learned. Randall Park (“Always Be My Maybe,” “Fresh Off the Boat”), Yvette Nicole Brown (“Community,” “The Odd Couple”, Elijah Wood (“The Lords of the Rings” trilogy, “Wilford”), and Ashley Johnson (“The Last of Us,” “Blindspot”) will all lend their voices to the animated adaptation of the popular mobile game. Variety exclusively reported the series was in development back in June 2023.

EXCLUSIVE: DeVon Franklin is staying in business with CBS Studios and has sold his latest show.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Talaria Media is developing a new comedy series about a retired Navy SEAL, Variety has learned exclusively. The untitled single-camera series hails from writer and director Jame Anderson. It is loosely based on stories from Mark Greene’s book “Unsealed” as well as Anderson’s own life and relationship with her father, who was himself a veteran.

EXCLUSIVE: Drops of God creator Quoc Dang Tran is getting into business with HBO. The writer-producer has signed a two-year overall deal with the premium cable network to create and executive produce content exclusive to HBO. 

EXCLUSIVE: Apple TV+ is staying in business with one of the men behind its latest sports docuseries The Dynasty: New England Patriots.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Owen Wilson is set to star in a comedy series at Apple TV+ set in the world of professional golf, Variety has learned. The untitled series hails from writer Jason Keller. Apple has given the series a 10-episode order.