All articles written by Emily Jermusyk.
1 - BREAKING NEWS
{Heat Meter} Matteson Perry’s Spec “THE CRUX” Heats Up the Market
Matteson Perry’s THE CRUX is making waves this week with attention from major studios and agencies.
It wasn’t that long ago that Once Upon a Time actor Jennifer Morrison starred in the family series that put a modern-twist on classic fairy tales. Now, she steps behind the camera for a new feminist spin on the genre starring Zosia Mamet and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
The lineup includes the returns of Whose Line is It Anyway?, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and My Last Days, as well as the additions of The Outpost and Burden of Truth.
The news comes after the departure of an original castmember from the series and the annuncement of the show’s renewal for season seven along with DC’s other superhero shows at the network.
The Wire creator David Simon is teaming up with The Young Pope‘s Mediapro to develop a new drama series set during the Spanish Civil War. The Wire alums George Pelecanos and Dennis Lehane have been tapped to pen the project.
You’ll often hear, “you couldn’t make that movie today” when it comes to comedies, but the real issue is that society has evolved and humor along with it.
The project is based on the book by Ambrose Parry, a pseudonym for writer Chris Brookmyre and consultant anesthetist Marisa Haetzman. The book will be published in August this year.
The film starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe grossed $235 million worldwide and nabbed three Academy Awards nominations including Best Picture. The network also has another project in the works centering on the early days of the U.S. space program with Leonardo DiCaprio attached to executive produce.
Following the news that Ryan Murphy would not tell Monica Lewinsky’s story in a season of American Crime Story, History is now announcing that they have also halted plans for a series based on the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
Showrunner Ryan Murphy revealed that he told Lewinsky, “No one should tell your story but you, and it’s kind of gross if they do.” 
The Golden Globe-winner previously starred in Hulu’s drama series Chance. Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Ellen Kuras have all signed on to direct episodes with scripts co-written by Luke Davies and David Michod.
The network is expanding their schedule to include Sunday nights and will continue to have shorter seasons allowing room for the many returning shows and potential new series. The future of fan favorites iZombie and The 100 is still unknown. 
Miranda July has lined up an all-star cast for her heist feature including Evan Rachel Wood, Gina Rodriguez, Richard Jenkins, and Debra Winger. Production is set to begin in May. 
Menzies takes over the role from Doctor Who alum Matt Smith. The actor has been seen in Game of Thrones, Outlander, The Night Manager, and most recently in The Terror.
It’s just a few short weeks until the return of Hulu’s award-winning drama The Handmaid’s Tale and it looks to be an epic sophomore season from the trailers that have been released. This latest one asks the audience, “Is this what freedom looks like?”
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson will direct from her own screenplay, while Rodriguez will produce alongside Paul Feig, Jessie Henderson, Anthony Bregman and Peter Cron.
The Emmy-winning series has already announced the return of season one stars Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Shailene Woodley, as well as the addition of Oscar-winner Meryl Streep. 
The series is a remake of the Norman Lear sitcom and centers on a Cuban-American family. The cast includes Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, and Todd Grinnell.
If Cobra Kai is able to balance humor and an honest coming-of-age story in the show as well as they did in this trailer, then they may be able to achieve the win YouTube Red needs.
The show is based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Timeless co-creator Eric Kripke will serve as showrunner, and Evan Golberg and Seth Rogen are set to direct.
Kathy Bates did not appear in the last season as she was in the midst of filming her Netflix comedy series Disjointed. Bates and Sarah Paulson have both received Emmy wins for their team ups with executive producer Ryan Murphy in the past. 
“I’m on my way… and I mean business!” declares star Roseanne Barr as she slowly glides up familiar stairs on a motorized chair in ABC’s teaser trailer for Roseanne revival premiering later this month. 
The show stars Neil Patrick Harris and is based on the popular children series by Lemony Snicket. Williams will guest star in the upcoming third season which will be the show’s last.
Matt Ryan’s portrayal of the role has found great success following the cancellation of the series Constantine on NBC. In addition to appearances on Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, Ryan has also voiced the role in the upcoming series on CW Seed and the animated film Justice League Dark.
Netflix’s multi-camera sitcom is hoping to fill the space left by Danny Masterson’s departure in December with the addition of Parenthood alum Dax Shepard in a recurring role. The role will be in second position after the Liz Meriwether pilot Bless This Mess.
Like its predecessors, the series is based on the bestselling books Philippa Gregory. Emma Frost, who adapted the previous installments, returns to serve as showrunner on the new series with Matthew Graham. 
Mad Men star Kiernan Shipka is set to play the titular role in the project from Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Berlanti Productions, and Warner Bros. TV. Miranda Otto and Lucy Davis also previously signed on to play Sabrina’s aunts. 
Academy Award nominee Henry Selick is set to direct. Selick previously directed the stop-motion animated films Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
After several years away from television, Mad Men alum Vincent Kartheiser is back and set to star opposite Rachelle Lefevre in an untitled legal drama from Empire creator Danny Strong. All this and more on today’s TV casting round-up.
Kidman, Kelley, and HBO found great success this past year with their breakout hit Big Little Lies which won eight Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes. The Undoing will be a limited series based on the book You Should Have Known.