TV news roundup for Week 38 of 2018

Welcome to the weekly TV news round-up where we go into the latest TV news regarding renewals, cancellations, and pick-ups.

Game of Thrones writer and producer Bryan Cogman makes the move from HBO to Amazon. It is not abnormal that writers move from one workplace to another, but with this one’s previous work in mind we do wonder if Cogman will be involved with one of the fantasy based series Amazon has in the works.

According to TVLine Lois Lane has been cast for the big annual DC TV crossover on The CW, which will also feature Supergirl’s Clark Kent/Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and introduce Kate Kane/Batwoman (Ruby Rose). The lucky lady to play the famous reporter of The Daily Planet is Elizabeth Tulloch (Grimm, The Artist).

More news about the upcoming DC TV crossover from TVLine. The wife of Batman villain Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze, Nora Fries, has been cast and will feature in the crossover. The actress cast is Cassandra Jean Amell, Oliver Queen/Green Arrow actor Stephen Amell’s wife. Her previous work includes guest appearances in Hart of Dixie, Mad Men, and competing in America’s Next Top Model. Mr. Freeze himself is currently not slated to appear.

Also connected to the big crossover is this bit of casting news. The big bad might be revealed, as Jeremy Davies (Lost) has been cast as Dr. John Deegan. This character is working in Arkham Asylum, which now definitely confirms we are going to Gotham City. It is possible that this character is based upon DC Comics character John Dee/Doctor Destiny. An evil scientist and enemy of the Justice League who invented Materioptikon or Dreamstone with which could wrap reality on the basis of dreams. Interestingly Jeremy Davies is already a part of the shared DC TV universe, as he played Ritchie Simpson in short lived Constantine TV series. It is likely they ignore that, though.

There a new bit of footage from streaming service DC Universe’s upcoming Titans series. In it Dick Grayson/Robin meets the second Robin, Jason Todd.

DC TV casting news keeps on coming, as DC Universe has cast its lead in the upcoming Stargirl series. Brec Bassinger (Nickelodeon’s Bella and the Bulldogs) will play Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl in the series based on Geoff Johns’ comic character which in turn is inspired by his deceased sister. The first season of 13 episodes is expected in 2019.

During broadcast season 2013-2014 Us & Them, the US adaption of UK comedy series Gavin & Stacy, was scheduled to air on Fox. However, the Jason Ritter (Drunk History) and Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls) comedy was never broadcasted after Fox was not happy with the scripts. Some international markets did air the comedy, but American audiences can now have a chance to see the seven produced episodes on the Sony Crackle service starting Monday 1 October, according to TVLine.

According to Deadline Warner Bros. TV has acquired the rights to Chasing Hillary: Ten Years, Two Presidential Campaigns and One Intact Glass Ceiling, a memoir from Amy Chozick. WB TV’s intent is to adapt it into a series following Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful run for President of the United States, as seen through the eyes of New York Times reporter Chozick. Chelsea Clinton called her out on Twitter over inaccuracies in the book.

TVLine tells us that HBO’s political comedy and critical darling Veep will have a seventh and final season of seven episodes, three episodes down from previous seasons. The last season had been postponed to accommodate lead Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s (Seinfeld) successful breast cancer treatment. The final season is expected in 2019.

American cable channel FX has renewed Snowfall for a third season. The series focusses on the first crack epidemic in Los Angeles in 1983 and follows multiple characters during it.

Also renewed is Greenleaf for a third season by the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). This series follows the Greenleaf family and their scandalous secrets and lies, not to mention their Memphis church with a huge congregation. The series cast is led by Keith David (Cloud Atlas, the voice of Halo’s Arbiter).

Netflix has launched a geek centric brand called “NX.” (This was also the Nintendo Switch’s codename, by the way.) The Marvel’s The Defenders Facebook page has fallen victim to remodeling to the NX Facebook page. A questionable move, which has caused a decrease in likes. This basically means we should not expect a second season of The Defenders. The new brand will promote everything “geeky” on Netflix, like Marvel TV series and movies, sci-fi series, and the upcoming Netflix adaptions of Mark Millar comics. Here is the promo video for it…

The first bit of news coming out of Netflix’s NX brand is that Netflix is going to make a second attempt at a live action adaption of Nickelodeon’s much loved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. It will be a TV series and creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino will return as showrunners. Hopefully it will be better than the infamous 2010 movie.

Netflix has also released a first trailer for their upcoming modern adaption of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 horror novel The Haunting of Hill House. The first season of ten episodes will premiere in time for Halloween on Friday 12 October. It will star Carla Gugino (Watchmen), Timothy Hutton (Leverage), Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones) among others.

Futhermore, Netflix also released another trailer for their animated adolescence comedy Big Mouth Season 2. Starring the voice talents of Nick Kroll (the upcoming The Addams Family animated movie), John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live), and Jessi Klein (Inside Amy Schumer) among others.

Massive news coming from the upcoming streaming service Disney Play! According to Variety the plan is to give the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Asgardian trickster god Loki and Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch a limited series of their own, among others! Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen are expected to star in their movie roles. It is also expected that Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige will have a heavy hand in these series, which could mean that Marvel TV will not be involved. There also have been very much unconfirmed rumors that the internal shakeup at Disney with the acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets would also mean that Marvel TV comes back under Marvel Studios umbrella. Currently it is under Marvel Entertainment’s umbrella, which is a different division within Disney.

More Marvel TV news, as Deadline reports that ABC is having another series in development. Writer of the Wonder Woman movie Allan Heinberg’s new series would focus on female heroes. This is in line with previous rumors that ABC was looking for a female centric Marvel series. Further details are played closed to the vest, as usual. We do wonder which Marvel heroines are still available, as the potential teams mentioned by other outlets, like A-Force and Fearless Defenders, have their comic rosters tied up with other series, movies, or even studios.

The Thai Netflix Twitter account spilled the beans on Marvel’s Daredevil Season 3’s release date last week. Now it has now been confirmed to be true! Netflix has released a date announcement teaser which gives the release date of Friday 19 October! It is rumored that Season 3 will be an adaption of the Daredevil comic arc “Born Again” and that villain Bullseye will feature.

The BBC has released a new trailer for Series 11 of Doctor Who. Unlike trailers for previous series they have chosen for a pop song soundtrack. Series 11 starts Sunday 7 October with Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor. Along with the new series a 13th Doctor comic from Titan Comics will be launched.

There were strong rumours about it, but it is now official. Veronica Mars will return with a fourth season of eight episodes on Hulu! Next to that the previous three seasons and the Veronica Mars movie will be available on Hulu coming Summer 2019. It would therefore make sense that Season 4 would premiere after it.

We are getting new Star Trek: Discovery a lot sooner than expected, as US streaming service CBS All Access have announced Star Trek: Short Treks! These will be four episodes of between 10 and 15 minutes in length released in monthly starting October 4. We currently have no confirmation if Netflix will carry these Short Treks internationally too, but it is to be expected. You can read more about them in our article right here.

HBO has renewed 1970s set porn drama The Deuce for a third and final season. The series currently airs its second season, starring James Franco (The Interview) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) during the rise of pornography in New York City.

Deadline reports that AMC has cancelled dark comedy drama Dietland. The now 10 episode series was based on Sarai Walker’s 2015 novel of the same name. It explored he beauty industry and society’s obsession with weight loss through the character of Plum Kettle who struggles with her weight.

It’s a busy time for actor Alan Tudyk, who soon will star in DC Universe’s Doom Patrol, as Variety reports he will also be the lead in Syfy’s Resident Alien. Based upon the Dark Horse Comics comic of the same name, Tudyk will play an alien who crash-lands in the small Colorado town Patience and takes over the identity of recluse Doctor Harry Vanderspeigle. But when the real doctor is murdered the alien’s evil mission is sidetracked.

Amazon Prime Video has released a trailer for their second season of their podcast adaption Lore. The series tells real horror stories, but unlike the podcast gives them a drama element. The second season starts streaming Friday 19 October. For more about the podcast Lore read our first episode of The Pod Bay Door.

Chris Evans (Captain America) is going to star in Apple’s adaption of William Landay’s 2012 novel Defending Jacob. The legal drama follows lawyer Andy Barber after his 14-year-old son Jacob is accused of murder. The adaption will be a limited series and it is unknown when it will be ready to be watched. But that goes for Apple’s whole streaming service.

David Walliams (Little Britain) is going to star as the British Prime Minister in Sky’s adaption of Sue Townsend’s comedic 1992 book The Queen and I. The story reimagines the royal family as living a normal life on a council estate after the UK becomes a republic. The 90 minute adaption is expected to air as a Christmas special this year on Sky One in the UK.

In 2014 BBC Three cancelled zombie drama In the Flesh, about the “partially undead” being cured and returned to society, after two series. This was extra sour, because the drama replaced the similar but certainly different The Fades, which only lasted one series. Now it might turn out the In the Flesh itself is “partially undead,” as series creator Dominic Mitchell is considering crowdfunding for a one off 90 minute special to wrap things up.

In a since deleted tweet BOOM! Studios and writer of the upcoming Hellboy reboot movie Andy Cosby said: “I guess I can confirm I am indeed in final talks to write and show-run the new DIABLO animated series for Activision and Netflix. It’s very exciting and I hope to the High Heavens it all works out.” Maybe we will hear more about this potential videogame TV series adaption when BlizzCon starts on November 2.

Netflix has order the comedy series No Good Nick for a first season of no less than 20 episodes. The series will star Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina The Teenage Witch) and Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things). They will play the married couple Liz, a hyperactive career mom, and Ed, a fun dad, who welcome 13-year-old Nick (Siena Agudong) who is to be revealed as a street-smart con artist with a secret agenda. The series is created by David H. Steinberg and Keetgi Kogan (Yo-kai Watch) who will serve as executive producers. No release date is announced yet, but somewhere in 2019 is to be expected.

According to Deadline Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson is going to star in comedy Saving Larry on NBC. The in development series would have Thompson play a dad who has to start taking care of his kids all by himself when his wife dies. No release date for this one yet, but the series development makes some wonder if Thompson’s days at SNL are coming to an end.

Disney Channel has renewed the reboot of DuckTales for a third season! This is before the premiere of Season 2, which has been revealed to be on Saturday 20 October. If that is still too long for you then there is the IDW tie-in comic. Also, we really would not mind if this reboots success would lead to a new Darkwing Duck series.

That’s it for this week, but join us next week when we round-up the TV news of that week.

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