The Tracking Board’s Daily Debrief (08.22.16)

Harry Potter Scribe Steve Kloves And Scott Silver Tapped To Rewrite White Boy Rick For Darren Aronofsky, Studio 8 (EXCLUSIVE)

The writer who helped bring Harry Potter to the big screen, Steve Kloves, and 8 Mile scribe Scott Silver have been brought on to rewrite White Boy Rick. The project comes from a spec by Logan and Noah Miller that was featured on the 2015 Hit List.

These Upcoming Original Films Will Make You Forget All About Remakes And Sequels

If we really want the studios to once again start making the kinds of movies that made us fall in love with the movies in the first place, we need to start supporting films that are based on original ideas, because otherwise, they’re going to keep doing the same thing they’ve been doing that has ticked us off so much.

Kegan-Michael Key, Cobie Smulders, And Fred Savage Tapped For Nick Stoller Comedy At Netflix

Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco’s Netflix comedy Friends From College has landed a boatload of actors including the trio of Keegan-Michael Key, Cobie Smulders, and Fred Savage. Annie Parisse, Nat Faxon, and Jae Suh Park are also joining the ensemble comedy from the Neighbors director and his wife/writing partner.

More News From Around The Web

• TV Land’s sitcom inspired by the life and family of stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan will not be returning for a third season. Gaffigan and his wife/showrunner broke the news via social media on Monday. (Entertainment Weekly)

• Showtime has bought a script for The Middlesteins, a half-hour series based on the book by Jami Attenberg. Nina Tassler is set to produce while Liz Tigelaar is attached as showrunner. (Variety)

• VH1 has rounded out the cast and has tapped Awkward showrunners Chris Alberghini and Mike Chessler as showrunners/executive producers of hourlong scripted drama series Daytime Divas based on the 2011 book Satan’s Sisters by Star Jones. (Deadline)

• Katie Stevens, Meghann Fay, and Aisha Dee have landed roles in Freeform’s upcoming Cosmopolitan drama pilot Issues. The pilot inspired by the life of Cosmo editor-in-chief Joanna Coles. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Ugly Betty alum Tony Plana and Jessica Parker Kennedy have signed on to appear in season 2 of Colony. Plana will play a cunning politician Proxy Alcala while Kennedy will play Maya, a bold woman who is stationed at a secretive labor camp and is willing to take big risks for what she believes in. (Entertainment Weekly)

• Sarah Steele, who recurred on The Good Wife as Marissa Gold, is set to guest-star on Michael Weatherly-fronted Bull on CBS. Steele will star as Ellen, the host of the hugely popular, Serial-like podcast “Open and Shut.” (TVLine)

• The Skeleton Twins helmer Craig Johnson has signed on to direct and executive produce Showtime’s half-hour comedy pilot Mating (working title), from Jason Katims and Stu Zicherman, which stars Saturday Night Live alum Taran Killam. (Deadline)