TV SALES
Brian Grazer and Imagine TV has optioned Robert Baer’s novel THE PERFECT KILL. The novel is set to be published in October; in it, Baer chronicles the history of assassination as a political tool and outlines his rules for an effective kill.
Disney Television Animation is developing THE LION GUARD, a sequel to its popular “Lion King.” The made for TV movie will be followed by a spin-off series and focuses on Kion, the second born cub of Simba and Nala, as he takes the lead of the Lion Guard, the bravest and brightest lions tasked with guarding the Pride Lands.
HBO is developing GOD SAVE TEXAS, a political drama from author Lawrence Wright and producer Lauren Shuler Donner. The project centers on an idealistic cowboy who, in an effort to save his ranch and his marriage, tries to get elected to the Texas Legislature, where he becomes the target of the powerful energy lobby.
MGM is looking to develop a series based on the William Friedkin film KILLER JOE. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as a Dallas detective who is also a hired killer.
NBC is developing a comedy series from stand up comedian Jerrod Carmichael. Carmichael is a Los Angeles based stand up and performer who recently appeared in “Neighbors” and in Spike Lee’s stand up special on HBO.
Spike TV is developing a drama series based on the Stephen Frey book THE CHAIRMAN. The suspense thriller tells the story of a charismatic Gulf War veteran who takes over a billion dollar private equity fund after its founder’s mysterious death. As he becomes more and more powerful, he realizes that the world of Manhattan finance is closely tied to the brutal realm of war that still haunts him.
Steven Spielberg is developing a miniseries based on the Robert Schenkkan play ALL THE WAY. The play stars Bryan Cranston as President Lyndon B. Johnson and Spielberg is looking for Cranston to reprise his role for the project which begins with the Kennedy assassination, through Johnson’s administration and his landslide re-election victory.
Peter Bogdanovich is set to develop and direct a miniseries adaptation of THE INVENTOR AND THE TYCOON. The series centers on stop motion photography inventor and murderer Eadweard Muybridge and his benefactor Leland Stanford.
Universal Cable Productions is developing an event series based on the sic-fi book SPIN. The Robert Charles Wilson bestseller follows three childhood friends who witness the stars in the sky as they mysteriously start to vanish, leading to a NASA investigation that concludes the sun will expand and consume the planet in the next 5 years.
Xbox Entertainment Studios is developing comedy EAST OF EXURBIA, a comedy series centering on three guys who try to maintain their bro-hood while living in a house that sits on top of a magical portal to other worlds.
TV RENEWALS
ABC Family is renewing PRETTY LITTLE LIARS for its sixth and seventh seasons. The drama is the first ever multi-season pick up for the network. The series stars Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Tyler Blackburn, Lucy Hale and Ian Harding.
Comedy Central has renewed INSIDE AMY SCHUMER for a third season and REVIEW for its second season.
MTV has renewed FAKING IT for a second season. The scripted comedy series centers on two best friends who are mistakenly outed as lesbians and decide to just go with it after they realize how popular it makes them.
Starz has renewed POWER for a second season. The series, produced by rapper 50 Cent, is centers on a man who tries to leave the drug life behind and focus on his legitimate club business but is endlessly pulled back into a life of crime.
USA is renewing SIRENS for a second season. The comedy series follows a group of Chicago EMTs who rock it in the field but struggle with their personal lives.
TV GREENLIGHTS
Amazon has ordered two more comedy pilots: SALEM ROGERS: MODEL OF THE YEAR 1998 and DOWN DOG. “Salem Rogers” centers on a self-involved, arrogant former supermodel who is forced to leave rehab after 10 years and reunites with her former assistant, now a self help writer. “Dog” centers on a slacker working as a yoga instructor who takes over a yoga studio with the help of two childhood friends.
Comedy Central has ordered comedy series ANOTHER PERIOD and IDIOTSITTER. “Period” follows the misadventures of Newport, Rhode Island’s first family who have nothing to offer the world but enough money that it doesn’t matter. “Idiotsitter” follows a straight edged woman who is hired to babysit a wealthy woman under house arrest at her father’s mansion.
Lifetime has ordered an original movie starring the internet sensation Grumpy Cat. GRUMPY CAT’S WORST CHRISTMAS EVER will be written by Tim Hill and Jeff Morris and will center on a pet store cat who is perpetually overlooked and a 12-year-old girl who can communicate with it.
Netflix recently announced a new animated series THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS 360, based on the PBS kids show. Netflix has ordered 26 episodes of the series that focuses on science and technology.
TV DEALS
Corey Nickerson has signed a two year overall deal with ABC Studios to develop new projects and staff on series. Nickerson co-created “Don’t Trust the B” and also worked on “Scrubs” and “My Boys.” She is repped by CAA and Michael L. Schenkman.
George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures has signed an overall deal with Sony Pictures TV. Under the deal, Smokehouse will develop and produce comedy and drama series for all platforms.
Producer Kevin Hench has inked a two year overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV. Hench is the co-creator, executive producer and showrunner of upcoming ABC comedy “Cristela.” Hench is repped by WME and Morris Yorn.
Director Michelle MacLaren has inked a two year exclusive first look deal with HBO. MacLaren is known for directing many episodes of “Game of Thrones” as well as an episode of the upcoming drama “The Leftovers.” She also earned two Emmys for directing episodes of “Breaking Bad.” MacLaren is repped by ICM.
