Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Sam Morelos, Reyn Doi, and Maxwell Acee Donovan (Photos Courtesy of Netflix)
Netflix’s That ’70s Show sequel has found a new batch of teens for Kitty and Red to attempt to watch over. Netflix announced Ashley Aufderheide, Callie Haverda, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi, and Sam Morelos have signed on as That ’90s Show regulars.
The newcomers join That ’70s Show veterans Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp who’ve committed to reprising their roles as Red and Kitty.
The That ’90s Show casting announcement included details on who each of the teens is playing:
Ashley Aufderheide (she/her; Emergence, Four Kids and It) as Gwen. Life gets more interesting for Leia when she meets this Riot Grrrl. Equal parts loyalty, rebellion and heart, Gwen is a dynamic powerhouse and the unofficial leader of the new generation of Point Place kids. Love Gwen. Fear her. Follow her.
Callie Haverda (she/her; The Lost Husband, Shut Eye) as Leia Forman. Smart like her mom, snarky like her dad, Leia is craving adventure. She’s just not quite sure where or how to start. Until she discovers a best friend in the most unlikely of places: next door to her grandparents house in Point Place.
Mace Coronel (he/him; Pocket, Wireless, Colin in Black & White) as Jay. Jay is charming and flirty – at least, he tries. It doesn’t always come out right. When he’s not hanging out with his best friend Nate or working at the local video store, he’s armed with a video camera and the whole world is his film set.
Maxwell Acee Donovan (he/him; Gabby Duran & The Unsittables) as Nate. The polar opposite of his little sister, Gwen. Nate takes life as it comes, usually with a big open smile. He lets the gang ride in his van because there’s always something fun on the other side of the drive. He loves his family, his girlfriend and Garth Brooks.
Reyn Doi (he/him; Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar, Side Hustle, Drama Club) as Ozzie. Everyone loves them some Ozzie. He’s insightful, sarcastic and has perspective beyond his years. Ozzie is gay and impatient with the world for not being as accepting as his friends.
Sam Morelos (she/her) as Nikki. Nikki is focused, smart, and driven. From the outside, you could easily see her becoming a doctor or a lawyer. But inside, she has more rebellion than a frustrated debutante and her boyfriend Nate can scratch that itch.
Series stars Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp are involved as executive producers. The sequel was co-created by showrunner Gregg Mettler, writer Bonnie Turner, writer Terry Turner, and writer Lindsey Turner. Mettler and the Turners also executive produce along with The Carsey-Werner Company’s Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Hello, Wisconsin! It’s 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer, where she bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitty and the stern glare of Red. Sex, drugs and rock ’n roll never dies, it just changes clothes.
Apple TV+ just released the official trailer for Lincoln’s Dilemma, a four-part documentary series that delves into the life and lasting impact of one of America’s most popular presidents. The docuseries features the voice of Bill Camp as Abraham Lincoln and Leslie Odom, Jr as the voice of Frederick Douglass.
Jeffrey Wright narrates the documentary series which is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on Friday, February 18, 2022.
The docuseries is based on Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times by historian David S. Reynolds. Jacqueline Olive and Barak Goodman direct and serve as executive producers along with Peter Kunhardt, Teddy Kunhardt, George Kunhardt, Josh Tyrangiel, Richard Plepler, and Jelani Cobb.
Details on Lincoln’s Dilemma, Courtesy of Apple TV+:
With never-before-heard stories about Lincoln, as well as close-up perspectives of him as a man, the docuseries shines a light on a side of Lincoln rarely seen – and provides a fresh perspective on a story that feels more timely and relevant than ever when explored alongside the events that Americans are living through today.
The series features insights from a diverse range of journalists, educators, and Lincoln scholars, as well as rare archival materials that offer a more nuanced look into the man dubbed the Great Emancipator. Set against the background of the Civil War, Lincoln’s Dilemma also gives voice to the narratives of enslaved people, shaping a more complete view of an America divided over issues including economy, race and humanity, and underscoring Lincoln’s battle to save the country, no matter the cost.
Alina Burroughs hosts ‘Crime Scene Confidential’ (Photo Courtesy of ID)
ID will debut Crime Scene Confidential, a brand new series that hopes to answer lingering questions in specific murder cases, on March 8, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT. Details on the new investigative series were announced during ID’s Television Critics Association’s winter panel which included a Q&A with the series’ lead investigator, Alina Burroughs.
Burroughs was a Crime Scene Investigator for Orange County, FL and was involved in the discovery of the body of toddler Caylee Anthony. Burroughs was also part of the team that worked on the Pulse nightclub crime scene.
“Alina possesses an uncanny ability to see what others cannot when assessing a case and she brings a fresh mix of forensic expertise and compassion to Crime Scene Confidential,” said Jason Sarlanis, President of Crime & Investigative Content. “We think true crime fans will be riveted watching Alina navigate the complex forensic evidence of these crimes – giving viewers and in some cases law enforcement a completely different perspective on these tragic events, especially as she revisits the biggest case of her career, the tragic death of Caylee Anthony.”
Season one will consist of six episodes, each focusing on a specific murder. The series is produced by Attraction and executive produced by Richard Speer, Nicole Hamilton, David Cargill, and ID’s Jeanie Vink.
ID released the following description of season one:
The first episode of the series explores the evidence in the death of Caylee Anthony and the subsequent trial of her mother, Casey Anthony. Talking to the detectives who investigated the case and interrogated Casey Anthony as a suspect as well as chief medical examiner Dr. Jan Garavaglia who pronounced the cause of death and testified in the trial, Burroughs reveals why those investigating and prosecuting the case felt they had the evidence to go to trial. Burroughs also reflects on her own time working the scene where Caylee’s remains were found and her testimony on the stand. The episode culminates with an emotional interview with Cindy Anthony, Caylee’s grandmother, who first reported the toddler missing. While Casey Anthony was found not guilty, the case continues to haunt those who investigated the crime.
Throughout the six episode series, Burroughs investigates the evidence in some truly baffling murder cases ranging from a deadly fall from a balcony that turns out to be even more twisted than initially thought, to the case of the unexpected death of a young college student that was believed to be closed. From the unknown to the sensational, Burroughs uses her years of training to see the clues and uncover the mysteries that only an expert C.S.I. could catch, while also having emotional, and sometimes tense, conversations with both the victim’s loved ones, and, at times, even the suspected or convicted perpetrator to understand more about the case.
With every case, Burroughs brings not only her forensic expertise, but a compassionate and empathetic understanding of the lingering trauma these cases can have on the family members and loved ones – even after a verdict has been delivered. In each episode of Crime Scene Confidential Burroughs hopes to resolve any lingering misconceptions or mysteries around these agonizing crimes.
A scene from season one of ‘From’ (Photo Courtesy of EPIX)
EPIX has greenlit a four-part documentary on female musicians and a docuseries exploring the true story of the Amityville Horror house. Michael Wright, president of EPIX, also announced NFL Icons season two has been greenlit and will feature NFL legends including Walter Payton, Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson, and Cris Carter.
Wright made the announcement of EPIX’s upcoming programming lineup and development slate during the 2022 Television Critics Association’s winter press tour. The presentation also confirmed a February 20th premiere date for the sci-fi/horror series From and an April 24th premiere date for season one of Billy the Kid.
“I am incredibly proud of the premium programming that EPIX continues to produce,” stated Wright. “Women Who Rock, The Amityville Murders and the second season of NFL Icons follow in the footsteps of acclaimed docuseries like Laurel Canyon, Punk and Mr. A and Mr. M: The History of A&M Records, and they exemplify our brand promise to make prestigious and thought-provoking programming with the best storytellers in the industry.”
Details on EPIX’s Greenlit Docuseries:
Women Who Rock (Docuseries) Women Who Rock is a four-part docuseries that pays homage to the legion of female pioneers in music who have stormed the stage, wielded their instruments, amplified their voices, and sung the soundtrack of our lives. Celebrating female artists, in their own words, on power, fame, truth, defiance, artistic expression, hard-won success, and most importantly, the insights and tales behind their anthemic music. With appearances by Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan, Pat Benatar, Mavis Staples, Sheila E, Macy Gray, Rickie Lee Jones, Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, Tori Amos, Kate Pierson (B52s), Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club), and Nona Hendrix.
NFL Icons, Season Two (Docuseries)
What defines an icon? From the NFL FILMS vault in Mount Laurel, New Jersey comes a documentary series profiling NFL icons and Hall of Fame players, coaches and changemakers. Each hour-long, single subject film stitches together decades of interview archive and highlights. Spanning the icon’s career, the series dives deep into the critical decisions, plays and personality that came to define their legacy and the game of football.
Season two icons will include: Walter Payton, Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson, Cris Carter, and more, while season one featured: Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Joe Namath, Brett Favre, Vince Lombardi, Jerome Bettis, Steve Sabol and Marcus Allen.
The Making of a Haunting; The Amityville Murders (Docuseries)
This four-part docuseries is based on the world’s most famous scary story: The Amityville Horror. Today it is quite literally the first result if you Google “haunted house.” And yet, what the public knows about this case is merely what the books and films have told them. What they don’t know is that there’s a real murder behind the haunting story and then there’s the supernatural tale of unexplained horrors that haunted visitors to that property for years to come.
EPIX’s Development Slate:
SCRIPTED
Chapelwaite Season Two
Based on Stephen King’s short story “Jerusalem’s Lot,” Chaplewaite season two continues as a terrifying re-imagining of classic gothic horror that chronicles one family’s battle with an ancient and persistent evil. We will learn that the Boone curse didn’t die with Jakub, and despite Charles’s selfless act at the end of season one, De Vermis Mysteriis remains as powerful as ever, and as alluring to a new generation of vampires.
Domina Season Two Domina chronicles the struggle for control of the Roman Empire in the wake of Caesar’s death from a rare female perspective. Livia Drusilla, the golden girl of the prominent Claudii family returned to Rome after ten years in exile, determined to regain everything that was stolen from her. Now, atop a fractious empire, she must fight to preserve her marriage to Caesar Augustus and find a way to seat one of her sons on the throne as rivals new and old jockey for position in a world where it’s impossible to know who to trust.
Hotel Cocaine
Blue skies and bikinis. Sex and sand. Bullets and blow. This is the story of Roman Compte, Cuban exile, CIA operative and general manager of the Hotel Mutiny, the glamorous epicenter of the late 70’s, early 80’s Miami cocaine scene. The Hotel Mutiny was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant, and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars, and musicians – particularly the up-and-coming Latin acts who came from South America with their instruments and four kilos of cocaine in their suitcases, and Compte was at the center, doing his best to keep it all going and fulfill his own American Dream.
Black Harvest
Paris, 1952: A popular and provocative Black American author and his equally-talented, but as-yet-unpublished girlfriend arrive with plans to attend the Pan African conference and to get a break from American racism, only to find themselves in the middle of a series of abductions and murders of black men. What at first appear to be casualties of the drug-drenched underground jazz scene end up being a part of something much larger with potentially global consequences in this stylish noir.
American Classic
In this half-hour comedy, Broadway star and notorious narcissist Richard Bean (Kevin Kline) suffers a spectacular public meltdown, and returns to his tiny hometown and the family-run theater where he first became aware of his own brilliance. When he arrives, he is shocked to discover that his father, the former artistic director has slipped into a puppet-filled dementia, and that the once respected theater run by his brother (Jon Tenney) and his wife (now the town’s mayor) has become, by necessity, a low-rent dinner theater serving roast beef and murder mysteries. He decides to save the town, the theater and the world by presenting a great American classic on the dinner theater stage, directed by and starring, of course, himself.
Condor Season Three
Settled into his role as a CIA case officer abroad, Joe Turner has become a foot soldier in the Agency’s Cold War against China for Africa’s substantial natural resources. But when conflict erupts in his own little corner of the continent, Joe has to prevent the proxy war from turning into World War III, even at the cost of what’s left of his soul.
Tails of a London Dog-Walker
A half-hour comedy-drama based on the memoir London’s Number One Dog Walking Agency by Kate MacDougall. Amélie meets Bridget Jones by way of New Girl…with dogs. We follow Kate, dog-walker extraordinaire, through her magical world of perfect (and not so perfect) pooches and disastrous dates, all the while discovering who she really is.
DOCUSERIES
Sessions
The docuseries music fans have long been waiting for—a definitive portrait of the artist from the artists’ perspective, examining their story in their own words and songs. Combining the most effective and evocative aspects of such shows as MTV Unplugged, Austin City Limits and Behind the Music, SESSIONS will provide a front row seat to an amazing concert. This four-part series will also weave behind the scenes footage, interviews and archival material transporting us back and forth in time, experiencing the artists’ careers then and now, capturing their continued relevance and the indelible mark they have made on global culture.
Hollywood Black
Based on the book by historian Donald Bogle, this four-part docuseries will be the definitive chronicle and re-examination of a century of the black experience in Hollywood. From Black Face to Black Power, we’ll tell the epic story of the actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place on the screen. This groundbreaking series on Black Hollywood is the definitive account of the black experience on screen — as vital and essential as Ken Burns’ Jazz and Eyes on the Prize.
San Francisco Sounds (Working title)
From the team behind the three-time Emmy nominated documentary Laurel Canyon, comes San Francisco Sounds, a two-part documentary series that captures the spirit of the San Francisco music scene from 1966 to 1976, where a new progressive sound embracing the psychedelic and protest movements emerging from the Bay Area was born. Framed by four of the most seminal music events in history, Monterey Pop, Altamont, Woodstock and The Last Waltz, the series is anticipated to include artists such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Santana, Moby Grape, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and Steve Miller.
EPIX has set an April 24, 2022 premiere date for Billy the Kid starring Tom Blyth (The Gilded Age) as the famous outlaw. A lengthy official trailer for the series, which is described as an epic romantic adventure, debuted during EPIX’s Television Critics Association winter panel.
Billy the Kid comes from writer/executive producer Michael Hirst (Vikings, The Tudors) who says Billy the Kid has always been a hero of his since childhood. “I grew up in the North of England but it made no difference! Billy was a special kind of outlaw. For a start he was so young – and for another thing, he wasn’t a psychopath who enjoyed killing, nor a criminal who robbed for material gain. He was an outlaw most of his life, but he never wanted to be. Born into a poor Irish family of immigrants, he always wanted to go straight, to be a ‘new American.’ But he was never allowed to.
Billy’s story is much more than a fantastic drama about a charismatic cowboy – although it is that! It’s also the story of the immigrant, and the story of the creation of the new America from the lawless, violent chaos of the mid-West and its many nations. So in the end it’s not just a story at all – it’s an American myth!” said Hirst.
Joining Hirst as executive producers on season one are De Line Pictures’ Donald De Line; Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for Amblin Television; and Otto Bathurst, and Toby Leslie for One Big Picture.
Billy the Kid is a co-production between EPIX Studios and MGM International Television Productions, in association with Nordic Entertainment Groups streaming service Viaplay.
Tom Blyth stars in EPIX’s ‘Billy the Kid’
EPIX released the following description of Billy the Kid:
The eight-episode season comprised of hour-long episodes is an epic romantic adventure based on the life of famous American outlaw Billy the Kid (Blyth), also known as William H. Bonney — from his humble Irish roots, to his early days as a cowboy and gunslinger in the American frontier, to his pivotal role in the Lincoln County War and beyond. Daniel Webber (The Dirt, Escape From Pretoria) will play Jesse Evans, another famous outlaw and leader of the Seven Rivers Gang. When they meet, Jesse has already embraced a life of crime: robbing stores and cattle rustling. Billy is attracted to his wild and reckless character and becomes Billy’s doppelganger of sorts — his shadow self, forever inviting him over to the dark side of life.
Power Book IV: Force, the third spinoff in the critically acclaimed Power franchise, focuses on Tommy Egan, once again played by Joseph Sikora. Debuting on Starz on February 6, 2022, Force finds Tommy leaving New York and making Chicago his new home.
Executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson describes Chicago as a character in the much-anticipated spinoff. “It opens up a whole new environment. Culturally, things are a little different there. Gang culture…so many different elements out in the street that you can use as different devices at points in the storytelling,” explained Jackson during Starz’s Television Critics Association’s winter panel. “It gives you a completely clear slate of things that changes the show ultimately.”
Deciding to do a spinoff with Tommy as the main character was most likely an easy decision, given the character’s continuing popularity. Joseph Sikora said being allowed to play Tommy Egan for eight years has been a gift to him as an actor. Sikora’s been able to get into the “minutia of character development,” as he describes it.
During the TCA panel, Sikora explained where it is we pick up Tommy’s life at the beginning of the spinoff. “Where we find Tommy at the beginning of Power Book IV: Force is at the end of not only the Power show but also Power Book II: Ghost. So, we saw Tommy in that environment, too, but now we see him with absolutely nothing,” said Sikora. “So as an actor, what an incredible opportunity to have this very full fleshed-out character, very complex character now have absolutely nothing…a duffel bag full of money, a couple of guns, a couple of changes of clothes, and then just the shirt on his back and the gumption to survive. And I think that this survival technique speaks to us so intrinsically as human beings that that’s the transcendent that we can see and follow with Tommy throughout this show for however many years we go. Let’s say five.”
Sikora’s described Tommy as a bull in a china shop, but now that he’s in unfamiliar territory and surrounded by new players in Chicago he’s got a lot to sort through. “It’s always fun to play the bull when the bull isn’t sorry for knocking over the china. He’s very unapologetic in that way but it is that new environment. And so if Tommy was at a different part in the Power world and he just was gonna always leap first and think later, he might not make it through the city of Chicago. But because he’s in survival mode, Tommy’s a wolf that gets caught in a trap in Chicago, but he’s gonna chew off his arm to survive. That’s just who this character is,” said Sikora.
Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy) stars as Walter Flynn, one of the biggest players in Chicago and the head of an Irish crime family. Sikora thinks Walter sees a lot of himself in Tommy, this newcomer to Chicago who’s attempting to establish his own place in the pecking order.
“Walter’s been running the city for 30-plus years, and you don’t get there without knowing what the f**k you’re doing. And to be 30 years later and still be alive and being on top, you know, he can’t be no fool,” explained Flanagan.
Asked if Power fans can expect Tommy’s past to catch up with him, Jackson said it’s almost caught up to him in the past and a life in the fast lane in Chicago is dangerous. “For most people, when you get involved, they’ll tell you you’re going to be dead or in jail. Those are the outcomes that happen, and when you come into a whole new town and you’re kind of feeling your way around it, the things you go through make you who you are. That experience he’s coming from is creating his temperament as soon as he gets there,” said Jackson.
Isaac Keys plays Diamond Sampson, the head of the other big crime family in Chicago – the Chicago Brothers Inc. Keys teased that it’s going to be interesting to find out how Tommy survives in Chicago all on his own.
“One thing about the past is that you can’t control whether or not it comes back on you or not. So being out of control in situations can make you a little unstable. But Tommy’s coming into a whole new city, and he doesn’t have a support group that he’s had before. So now he’s this lone ranger out here trying to find his way. But there are other rangers in this city. There’s the Sampson Brothers, and you got the Flynn Family, and we don’t take too kindly to people just coming into the city and just trying to find their way and try to introduce themselves in a Tommy fashion,” explained Keys.
Keys continued: “It’s going to be exciting to see all of the journey but Tommy’s very calculated. Being calculated in that aspect, he’s trying to find a way. He’s good at doing that but I think he’s going to face a lot of obstacles and the past may be one but the present is going to be one too.”
Isaac Keys believes Tommy and his character, Diamond, have a lot in common. Keys also thinks Tommy and Diamond are both at a kind of crossroads.
“They’re both kind of transitioning back into kind of a new type of life,” explained Keys. “Diamond [is] coming out of prison. So Diamond, his way of thinking of things before has changed. Now his brother, Jenard Sampson – played by Kris Lofton – has been running things. So now he’s trying to get acclimated back to this city…how this city has changed, how the game has changed, the new players. But all of a sudden you’re hearing about this new player that has come in, and I pretty much thought I knew everything.
CBI is standing strong but now we got this new player in Tommy coming in. It’s like who is this guy? What is he about? And, so, it’s a curiosity. I think where Diamond kind of comes in play is that he’s intrigued. He’s not about to try to take his head off right away. He’s kind of intrigued. He’s curious about that, so he has to kind of play it a little slower.”
Another important player in this Power spinoff is Gloria Rodgers, played by Gabrielle Ryan. Gloria’s an ex-Marine and a Michelin star chef who winds up befriending Tommy. “Tommy enters the bar one day unexpectedly and I think it’s fair to say they’ve become quite fast friends,” said Ryan. “I think the thing about the Tommy character is wherever he goes, he’s very intriguing and that’s obviously something that Gloria sees immediately when he walks into the bar. She is very intrigued and does want to learn more, and she definitely does explore that.”
Joseph Sikora knows Chicago well but did sort of a refresher course in preparation for Power Book IV: Force. The TCA panel finished up with Sikora discussing getting reacquainted with the Windy City.
“I was a graffiti writer since I was 11 years old so there’s a thing in graffiti terminology that’s called ‘going all city,’ and so that’s what you have to do to have the respect in that subculture. So, yeah, I knew the city really well. I was also an amateur boxer and I fought ‘Park Districts,’ is what we call it in Chicago. Every neighborhood has its own Park District Boxing gym,” explained Sikora. “So, I went all over the city and I knew it really well. Also, my dad lived in Auburn Gresham for a while, so we would always go down there for the cookouts. So, I got to know the city really well as a young man.
I moved to New York when I was 21 years old. I’ve lived in New York longer than I lived in Chicago so what I did was I went to Chicago a month early to do ride-alongs with the police, to meet with friends and acquaintances and associates that did many, many years in prison, who ran gangs and gangsterism, and to figure out, to relearn the city of Chicago, because as I relearned it Tommy is learning it for the first time. I thought it was really important for me to know the inner workings of Chicago so I would understand how Tommy would have to put this process together.
There’s a great scene in the pilot that I really enjoyed of Tommy looking at a map of the city of Chicago. You know how we always look at it, and it’s a long thing that kind of almost mimics the state of Illinois. And Tommy, because it doesn’t make any sense to him, he takes it and he turns it [sideways]. Now, all right, now that’s my way, that’s how I learned to see this, and I think that’s a real reflection on Tommy Egan.
The only other person from New York City, in real life, that we ever saw go to Chicago and take care of business and live by his own rules was Al Capone. So if we can have a good Brooklyn boy do it, maybe a good Queens boy can do the same thing.”
The hunt for a missing child is at the center of Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season three episode five. “Child Care” is set to air on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season three stars Rob Lowe as Owen Strand, Gina Torres as Tommy Vega, Ronen Rubinstein as T.K. Strand, Sierra McClain as Grace Ryder, and Jim Parrack as Judd Ryder. Natacha Karam plays Marjan Marwani, Brian Michael Smith is Paul Strickland, Rafael Silva is Carlos Reyes, Julian Works is Mateo Chavez, and Brianna Baker plays Nancy Gillian.
“Child Care” Plot – Owen’s first date with the beautiful and accomplished Chief of Staff to the governor of Texas (guest star Amy Acker) goes awry. Meanwhile, the members of the 126 arrive at a house fire and find a couple’s young daughter is missing. Then, Judd meets a teenager who has a profound impact on him.
The Season 3 Plot:
In the third season, a slight time-jump takes place after the events of the previous season finale found the 126 shut down and the crew dispersed across the city. In the multi-episode opening storyline, a massive and unexpected arctic front hits Austin. As the ice storm causes widespread chaos, Owen and Tommy must not only save the city but find a way to resurrect and reunite the former 126.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Anthony Edwards (WeCrashed), and Parker Posey (Lost in Space) are among the first batch of cast members announced for the upcoming episodic anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead. Poppy Liu (Dead Ringers) and Jillian Bell (Rough Night) are also set to star in the latest installment of AMC Networks’ The Walking Dead franchise.
“Anthony, Jillian, Terry, Parker, and Poppy are the first wave of singular talents who will further expand the Walking Dead Universe into harrowing, hilarious, heartfelt, and horrifying new realms and we couldn’t be happier to welcome them to the family, along with these terrific directors. More announcements, more wonderful folks to come,” stated executive producer Scott M. Gimple, chief content officer of the Walking Dead Universe.
Showrunner and executive producer Channing Powell added, “We’ve worked hard to create unique, interesting and unexpected characters for both old and new TWD fans, and I’m thrilled that these are the actors who will bring them to life. I can’t wait for you to see the depth, drama, terror and, yes, humor they bring to the screen.”
Tales of the Walking Dead will consist of “six original, standalone stories focused on both new and established characters within the walker apocalypse,” according to AMC. Series producer Michael Satrazemis (The Walking Dead) is directing three episodes, with Haifaa al-Mansour (Good Lord Bird), Deborah Kampmeier (Star Trek: Picard) and Tara Nicole Weyr (The Wilds) each directing one episode.
AMC Networks is targeting a summer 2022 premiere on AMC and AMC+.
The first teaser trailer for Starz’ limited series Gaslit proclaims the series is based on an “insane but shocking true story.” The trailer was released during the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour and reveals the stunning physical transformations of Oscar winners Sean Penn and Julia Roberts as Nixon’s Attorney General John Mitchell and key Watergate player Martha Mitchell.
The teaser trailer was accompanied by a batch of photos from the much-anticipated limited series which will premiere on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
“Gaslit is the Watergate story you’ve never heard before. At the center of the show is Martha Mitchell, an unlikely whistleblower who is the first person to bust the whole scandal wide open and ultimately becomes the subject of a vicious White House smear campaign enacted in part by her own beloved husband, Attorney General John Mitchell. We also feature John Dean, a hotshot administration lawyer dragged into the coverup and thrust into the spotlight with his acerbic, whip-smart wife, Mo,” stated Robbie Pickering, creator, executive producer and showrunner of Gaslit. “The goal in making this project has always been to bring a real humanity to this subject, which yields a far richer and more relatable story than the standard male-driven political dramas about the period. I can’t wait for viewers to experience the extraordinary performances in this remarkable ensemble, led by Julia Roberts, brought to life in this thrilling, stranger-than-fiction tale of marriage, love, betrayal, and ultimately, hope.”
The star-studded cast also includes Dan Stevens as John Dean, Betty Gilpin as Mo Dean, Shea Whigham as G. Gordon Liddy, and Darby Camp as Marty Mitchell.
Based on the “Slow Burn” podcast, Gaslit is directed by Matt Ross who also serves as an executive producer along with Esmail Corp’s Sam Esmail and Chad Hamilton. Julia Roberts executive produces under her banner Red Om Films, along with co-executive producers Lisa Gillan and Marisa Yeres Gill. Anonymous Content and Slate’s Gabriel Roth and Josh Levin also executive produced.
Podcast creator Leon Neyfakh served as a consultant. The series is a UCP production.
Starz released the following synopsis of Gaslit:
“Gaslit is a modern take on Watergate that focuses on the untold stories and forgotten characters of the scandal – from Nixon’s bumbling and opportunistic subordinates to the deranged zealots aiding and abetting their crimes to the tragic whistleblowers who would eventually bring the whole rotten enterprise crashing down.
The story will center on Martha Mitchell, played by Julia Roberts. A big personality with an even bigger mouth. Martha is a celebrity Arkansan socialite and wife to Nixon’s loyal Attorney General, John Mitchell, played by Sean Penn. Despite her party affiliation, she’s the first person to publicly sound the alarm on Nixon’s involvement in Watergate, causing both the Presidency and her personal life to unravel.
As Attorney General, John Mitchell is Nixon’s most trusted advisor and best friend. Temperamental, foul-mouthed and ruthless – yet hopelessly in love with his famously outspoken wife – he’ll be forced to choose between Martha and the President.”
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Psalms Salazar has joined the cast of Starz’s P-Valley season two as Whisper, a new series regular. Gail Bean was also just announced as coming on board as a recurring character named Roulette for the drama’s sophomore season.
Starz announced the new cast members during the network’s virtual winter Television Critics Association (TCA) panel and debuted a special behind-the-scenes set visit video featuring Nicco Annan.
In addition to Nicco Annan, returning cast members include Elarica Johnson as Autumn Night, Brandee Evans as Mercedes, Shannon Thornton as Miss Mississippi, J. Alphonse Nicholson as Lil’ Murda, Parker Sawyers as Andre, Harriett D. Foy as Pastor Woodbine, Dan J. Johnson as Corbin, Tyler Lepley as Diamond, and Skyler Joy as Gidget.
P-Valley Season 2 (Photo credit: Starz)
Starz released details on Salazar and Bean’s new characters:
Psalms Salazar joins as series regular Whisper, an enigmatic free spirit with a spooky streak who speaks in riddles and eerie truths. She’s blessed with a direct line to the universe and sight beyond the earthly realm. The air to Roulette’s fire, Whisper becomes a full-blown tornado when she hits the pole.
Gail Bean stars as recurring character Roulette, a feisty wild child who truly lives up to her name—she’s taking major risks and breaking allllll of Uncle Clifford’s rules. Like fire, she’s dangerous, unpredictable, and uncontrollable—but dazzling to watch. On and off the pole, she’s turning The Pynk upside down.
Executive producer Katori Hall created the series based on her play and guides the series as showrunner. Dante Di Loreto is also involved as an executive producer.
P-Valley Details, Courtesy of Starz:
Down deep in the Mississippi Delta lies an oasis of grit and glitter in a rough patch of human existence where beauty can be hard to find. This southern-fried, hour-long drama tells the kaleidoscopic story of a little-strip-club-that-could and the big characters who come through its doors—the hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful, and the damned. Trap music meets film noir in this lyrical and atmospheric series that dares to ask what happens when small-town folk dream beyond the boundaries of the Piggly Wiggly and the pawnshop.
