The Total Screen's Weekly Newsletter 012 - July 18th, 2018

News

• According to CNBC, it is unlikely that Comcast will make a new bid on Fox's 20th Century Fox assets.  Comcast is reportedly now pursuing the UK's Sky, in a bidding war against, ironically, Fox.
• Also in the rumor mill, this time from The Information, Walmart is considering a streaming video service to compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime.
• HBO has ordered The Nevers, the next series from genre TV legend Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).  The Nevers is described as a science fiction epic with a group of Victorian women who develop abilities and gain a mission to change the world.
• Batwoman joining the CW Arrow-verse might not just be a one time event for the upcoming super hero cross-over, as reports are coming in about The CW actively developing a Batwoman TV series.  Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries) is currently developing the series, and is set to run it, if it comes to fruition.
• Hulu has picked up The Vampire Chronicles TV series, an adaptation of Anne Rice's famed novels, that was developed for television by the Author herself, as well as her son Christopher.  Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) was briefly attached to the project as well.
• Rugrats is back at Nickelodeon with a 26 episode series order.  A live action movie is also in the works at paramount.
• Rivit TV has picked up Kevin Smith's (Clerks) 2 year old pilot Hollyweed as their first pilot for a new crowdfunding format that acts like a cross between Kickstarter, Patreon, and The Humble Bundle.  The pilot episode is available on rivittv.com, and if you want it to come to series you can pledge money to its development.
• Entertainment One has acquired the TV rights to the comic book series Skin&Earth.  A series is being developed by Andrew Lazar (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) and Mad Chance Productions.
• Amazon has ordered the science fiction series Tales From the Loop.  The series is being developed by Nathaniel Halpern (Legion).
• Netflix has ordered The Letter For The King, based on the fantasy/coming of age novel by Tonke Dragt.  The project is being developed by Will Davies (How To Train Your Dragon) and Paul Trijbits (The Casual Vacancy).
• Chris Addison and Will Smith (Veep) are teaming with Avalon Television, to develop Warlock Holmes, a fantasy detective series that is being pitched as The Princess Bride-meets-Game of Thrones.  No, it isn't THAT Will Smith.
• After Netflix's purchase of Millarworld in 2017, the first set of properties in development for TV and film.  For TV, Jupiter's Legacy, which will be run by Steven S DeKnight (Daredevil), tells the story of the world's first superheroes, who gained their abilities in the 1930s.  Also for TV, American Jesus, headed up by brothers Everardo (Luke Cage) and Leopoldo (Instinct) Gout, tells the story of a 12 year old boy who discovers he has the abilities attributed to Jesus in biblical lore.  In addition, 3 Netflix original films have been ordered based on Empress, Huck, and Sharkey the Bounty Hunter.
• The Heathers reboot, which had been scrapped by Paramount, has been sold to HBO in international territories outside of the US.  No US distributor has been found yet.
• Character breakdowns have been released for Agents of SHIELD's 6th season.  They include: Mercenaries Jaco and Pax, the unpredictable Butterfly, the disgruntled Professor L, and the likable Agent Damon.
• Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul Showrunner Vince Gilligan had always said that Better Call Saul would take place, before, during, and after the events of Breaking Bad.  The series opened with a vignette that occurs after Breaking Bad, and the majority of the series, so far, has taken place before.  Now, however, Gilligan has stated that there is a sub-plot in the upcoming 4th season of Better Call Saul "that very squarely gets into Breaking Bad territory."
• Speaking of Vince Gilligan, the Writer/Producer/Showrunner has inked an overall deal to stay at Sony Pictures Television, which has been his home for 11 years.
• ...meanwhile, Álex Pina (Money Heist) has inked his own exclusive deal at Netflix.
• ...and Dear White People Creator Justin Simien has inked his deal with Lionsgate.
• ...which is not to ignore Felicia D. Henderson (Soul Food), who has signed a development deal of her own with 20th Century Fox, which begins with a Consulting Producer credit on Empire.
• Ryan Murphy's (American Horror Story) first Netflix Series, The Politician, has cast Zoey Deutch (Flower), Lucy Boynton (Murder on the Orient Express), Laura Dreyfuss (Glee), and newcomer Rahne Jones in yet unknown roles.
• Meanwhile, Ryan Murphy's most popular series at FX, American Horror Story, has cast Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman (UnReal) and Kyle Allen (The Path).
• Sam Witwer (Being Human) has joined the cast of Supergirl as the villain Agent Liberty.
• Deaf Actress Lauren Ridloff (Children of a Lesser God) has been cast in The Walking Dead as Connie, "a seasoned survivor deft at using her senses to read people, situations, and trouble."
• Tracy Morgan (The Last OG) has signed on for 2 guest roles on season 30 of The Simpsons, first as himself, and then as a Tow-Truck Driver.
• Elaine Hendrix will be reuniting with her Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll Co-Star Denis Leary on his new pilot Erase at USA.
• Deborah Ayorinde (Girls Trip) has been cast as Mahershala Ali's (Luke Cage) character's daughter in season 3 of True Detective.
• Danielle Panabaker, who plays Caitlin Snow on The Flash, will be making her directorial debut on a yet unknown episode of the series 5th season.
• UnReal has been canceled by Hulu who picked up the series for its 4th and final season, which is currently streaming on the platform.
• Renewals: Crazy Ex Girlfriend has had its 4th and final season episode order expanded from 13 to 18 at the CW, Ransom has been renewed for a 3rd season at CBS, Pose has been renewed for a second season at FX, and Sweetbitter has been renewed for its own second season at Starz.

Trailers

Mayans MC - FX

 

Mirzapur - Amazon Prime

 

Casual - Hulu

 

Dark Tourist - Netflix

 

Cupcake & Dino - Netflix

 

Stranger Things - Netflix

 

Insecure - HBO

 

BBC's Upcoming Drama Slate - BBC

 

Reviews

The Expanse - Season 3

 

Podcast

The Weekly Set Podcast Episode 164

GLOW Season 2

Schedule

For our full Schedule, click here. 

Wednesday, July 18th, 2018 
Suits - USA

Thursday, July 19th, 2018
Trial & Error: Lady Killer – NBC
Snowfall - FX

Friday, July 20th, 2018
Outcast – Cinemax
Killjoys - SyFy
Wynonna Earp - SyFy
Jimmy: The True Story of a True Idiot  - Netflix
The Paynes - OWN 

Wednesday, July 25th, 2018
Castle Rock - Hulu
Burden of Truth - The CW

Thursday, July 26th, 2018
Swedish Dicks - Pop

Friday, July 27th, 2018
Orange is the New Black - Netflix
Welcome to the Family - Netflix

Monday, July 30th, 2018
A Very Secret Service - Netflix

Tuesday, July 31st, 2018
Casual – Hulu
Terrace House: Opening New Doors - Netflix
Making It - NBC

Wednesday, August 1st, 2018
The Sinner - USA
Alone Together - Freeform 

Friday, August 3rd, 2018
Animals - HBO

Sunday, August 5th, 2018
Chesapeake Shores - Hallmark
The Venture Bros. - Adult Swim/Cartoon Network

Monday, August 6th, 2018
Better Call Saul - AMC
Lodge 49 - AMC

Tuesday, August 7th, 2018
Carter - WGN
Castaways - ABC

Friday, August 10th, 2018
La casa de las flores - Netflix
All About the Washingtons - Netflix
Insatiable - Netflix
Ordeal by Innocence - Amazon

Sunday, August 12th, 2018 
Ballers - HBO
Insecure - HBO
Get Shorty - Epix
Fear the Walking Dead - AMC

Thursday, August 16th, 2018
SuperMansion: Summer Vacation Special - Crackle

Friday, August 17th, 2018
Disenchantment - Netflix