Jermaine Fowler Developing Animated Comedy Series At Fox
Yet another animated comedy could be coming to Fox.
The network has put an untitled project from comedian Jermaine Fowler into development, Variety has learned.
The prospective series is loosely based on Fowler’s formidable years growing up in a working-class town in Prince George’s County, Maryland, with his family.
Fowler will serve as creator, writer, and executive producer on the project, which hails from Fox Entertainment. He is arguably best known for his two-season performance as Franco Wicks on the CBS sitcom “Superior Donuts.” Since then, he has starred in Pete Holmes’ HBO comedy “Crashing,” and voiced the character of Pete Repeat on Netflix’s “BoJack Horseman.” His TV credits also include “The Eric Andre Show.”
On the film side, Fowler will appear next year opposite Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” a biopic about the assassination of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton.
Beyond its Animation Domination Sunday lineup (which is currently comprised of “The Simpsons,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Family Guy” and “Bless the Harts”), Fox also has multiple other animated projects on its development slate. Just over a month ago, it was revealed the network has an “X-Files” animated comedy spinoff in the works, handing it a script and presentation commitment. Back in late July, Variety exclusively reported that Fox gave Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Picture Show production company a blind script deal for an animated series, with Vaughn himself attached to executive produce.
Fowler is represented by UTA, Management 360, ID & Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman.
Source: Variety
‘Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready’ Renewed At Netflix
Tiffany Haddish’s Netflix stand-up series, featuring six comedians personally chosen by her, is returning for a second season and is set to film with an audience this weekend.
The streamer has renewed Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready and Deadline understands that it is shooting in Long Beach, California. It will air in 2021.
Deadline understands that audience members will be tested for COVID-19 before they are cleared to attend the event with testing provided by production. They will subsequently have their temperatures tested upon arrival, after a negative COVID result, and will be required to wear masks and adhere to social distancing.
Comedians involved this time include Godfrey, who voices President Obama on Showtime’s Our Cartoon President, Tony Woods, one of Dave Chappelle’s main influences, Barbara Carlyle, who has appeared on Apollo Comedy Hour and Def Jam, Erin Jackson, who has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers and Conan, Kimberly Clark, who has appeared on Last Comic Standing and Lopez Tonight and Dean Edwards, who starred on Saturday Night Live.
This comes after the Girl’s Trip star’s first season launched on Netflix in August 2019. That season featured Chaunté Wayans (Wild n’ Out), April Macie (Last Comic Standing), Tracey Ashley (The Last O.G.), Aida Rodriguez (Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar), Flame Monroe (Def Comedy Jam), and Marlo Williams (BET’s Comicview).
The series is produced by Push It Productions and She Ready Productions with Haddish, Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz as executive producers.
Source: Deadline
Shocker! Jamie Foxx Returning As Electro In Marvel’s ‘Spider-Man 3’
How’s that for shocking news?
The next Spider-Man movie is getting a major jolt.Jamie Foxx, who played classic Spidey villain Electro in the Andrew Garfield-starring The Amazing Spider-Man 2, is in final talks to reprise the role for the latest Spider-Man installment, starring Tom Holland and being made by Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures.
Jon Watts, the filmmaker behind Homecoming and last year’s Spider-Man: Far From Home, is in the director’s chair for the third installment, which Sony has dated for Dec. 17, 2021 — although moviegoers have now come to expect release dates to change amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Most of the supporting cast from the previous movies — including Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jacob Batalon and Tony Revolori — are expected to be on the call sheet when cameras roll in Atlanta this fall. Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal are producing.
Marvel had no comment.
Story details are being kept under the mask, but having Foxx return is a stunner as it shows a further melding of the previous Spider-Man movies into the current Holland series, which is the first one that has Marvel running point on production.
Far From Home began that idea by bringing back J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, the character he played in the Tobey Maguire-starring Spider-Man trilogy, a move that tickled audiences with glee.
Foxx played Electro in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which starred Garfield as Spider-Man. The film failed to impress critics and underperformed at the box office with $708.9 million globally. Those muted box-office returns — along with the 2014 Sony hack — paved the way for Sony to do the unthinkable and strike a deal with Marvel Studios to share the character, leading to Holland starring as the webslinger in the Avengers movies and Marvel talent such as Robert Downey Jr. appearing in Sony’s solo Spider-Man films.
Despite the performance of Amazing 2, Foxx remains one of the most in-demand players in Hollywood and his casting is certain to jazz up excitement amongst fans. The actor is currently starring in Project Power, a Netflix superhero drama, and is one of the voice stars in Pixar’s upcoming feature, Soul. He is repped by CAA, LBI Entertainment, and Ziffren Brittenham.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Keegan-Michael Key Lands In New Apple Musical Comedy Series From Lorne Michaels
Apple has filled out the cast for its upcoming musical comedy series starring and produced by Cecily Strong.
The Lorne Michaels executive-produced project is adding Keegan-Michael Key, Fred Armisen and Kristin Chenoweth, as well as seven others.
The as-yet-untitled series, which was announced earlier this year, follows a couple on a backpacking trip designed to reinvigorate their relationship when they discover the magical town of Schmigadoon, in which everyone acts as if they’re in a studio musical from the 1940s. They then discover that they can’t leave until they find “true love.”
Key will play as Josh, Melissa’s (Strong) long term, pragmatic partner, and the last person who wants to be stuck in this magical town. Armisen, another “Saturday Night Live” alum, joins as Reverend Layton, the mild-mannered religious leader of the town. Chenoweth will play Mildred Layton, Reverend Layton’s morally superior wife who is in everybody’s business.
Also joining the cast are Alan Cumming (as Mayor Menlove), Aaron Tveit (as Danny Bailey), Dove Cameron (as Betsy), Ariana DeBose (as Emma Tate), Jaime Camil (as Doc Lopez), Jane Krakowski (as The Countess), and finally Ann Harada (as Florence Menlove).
The series is being co-created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio (“Despicable Me”), with Paul will serve as showrunner and writer for all of its original music. Barry Sonnenfeld will direct. Ken Daurio will serve as consulting producer. Andrew Singer will serve as executive producer on behalf of Broadway Video. Caroline Maroney, Micah Frank and Rose Lam will serve as producers.
The show hails from Broadway Video and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Source: Variety
Issa Rae Launches Her Own Production Company For Film, TV, And Digital
Issa Rae has consolidated her entertainment production ventures for feature film, television and digital under the recently launched Hoorae media company, Variety has learned exclusively.
Formerly Issa Rae Productions, Hoorae includes HBO’s “Insecure” and “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” Rae received Emmy nominations for comedy series and best actress in a comedy series for “Insecure” and best variety sketch series for “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” Hoorae’s slate includes “Tre Cnt” and the “Seen & Heard” docuseries for HBO, as well as “Rap S—” for HBO Max, “Perfect Strangers” for Spyglass, “Ghost in the Machine” for Netflix and “Sinkhole” with Monkeypaw and Universal.
“Sinkhole,” based on Leyna Krow’s short story about a mysterious sinkhole, was announced in July as a potential starring vehicle for Rae, who will also produce along with Jordan Peele. Rae came aboard “Perfect Strangers” in December as a producer, writer and star for the English-language adaptation of Paolo Genovese’s Italian feature film “Perfetti Sconosciuti.”
Rae has also promoted veteran executive Sara Rastogi to senior vice president of development and she will report to Montrel McKay, president of Hoorae film and TV. ColorCreative, the management company run by president Talitha Watkins and chief operating officer Deniese Davis, will also be under the Hoorae umbrella along with Raedio, the audio company run by president Benoni Tagoe. Raedio is a music label in partnership with Atlantic Records.
Rastogi got her start in the industry at DreamWorks Studios before moving over to Scott Free as an assistant and was promoted to creative executive. She was then brought over to 20th Century Fox and moved over to Columbia Pictures, where she built the feature residency program.
“Working with Issa, Montrel and the whole team has been refreshing and rewarding,” Rastogi said. “Issa invests in people and has cultivated an empowering company culture that allows us to take big risks, challenge ourselves, and industry norms. I am excited to continue growing with the company, in short Hoorae!”
Source: Variety
Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Debut’s First Audiobook, Comedy In Color, Hosted By Lil Rel
Laugh Out Loud Presents Comedy in Color, Volume 1 Hosted by Comedian and Actor Lil Rel is Available Now For Download
The New Audiobook Marks the Expansion of Laugh Out Loud’s Comedy In Color Franchise to a New Format, Providing Listeners with Premium Stand-Up Sets From Diverse Comedic Voices including Joel Kim Booster, Ronny Chieng, Vir Das, Nate Bargatze and more.
Simon & Schuster Audio and Laugh Out Loud, the comedy brand and multi-platform entertainment company founded by Kevin Hart, released the debut audiobook title from LOL Audio, Laugh Out Loud Presents Comedy in Color, Volume 1, Hosted by Lil Rel.
Comedy In Color, Volume 1 welcomes listeners to the largest international comedy festival on earth with curated stand-up sets from 10 jam-packed shows at the world-famous Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Lil Rel (best known for his breakout role in Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning film, Get Out, and the Fox series, “Rel”) serves as host, providing original material and personal stories from his experiences at JFL, as well as introducing a line-up of 40 of the funniest comedians from Comedy In Color. The audiobook marks the latest expansion for Laugh Out Loud’s “Comedy In Color” standup franchise.
Laugh Out Loud debuted the Comedy In Color stand up franchise on PlutoTV earlier this year, and has already seen immense success, bolstering Laugh Out Loud as one of the top comedy channels on PlutoTV.
LISTEN: Laugh Out Loud Presents Comedy in Color, Volume 1 can be purchased here and is also available for purchase on Apple, Audible, GooglePlay and more.
PREVIEW:
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Comedy In Color, Volume 1 Teaser: (LINK HERE)
Lil Rel Howery serves as host, and introduces a line-up of 40 of the funniest comedians from Comedy in Color featured in Volume 1 including: Aisha Alfa, J.B. Ball, Tone Bell, Nate Bargatze, Joel Kim Booster, Aisha Brown, Sophie Buddle, Ronny Chieng, Vir Das, Tim Dillon, Chris Distefano, Dominique, Naomi Ekperigin, Rachel Feinstein, David Gborie, Godfrey, Matt Ingebretson, Gary “G Thang” Johnson, Josh Johnson, Russell Kane, Michael Kosta, Nish Kumar, Mike Lawrence, Ismael Loutfi, Ms. Pat, Mark Normand, Jessimae Peluso, Charlie Pickering, Tony Roberts, Jordan Rock, Aida Rodriguez, Ron G, Ahir Shah, Beth Stelling, Sarah Tiana, Jesus Trejo, Ahamed Weinberg, Gina Yashere and Jenny Zigrino.
The Comedy in Color audiobook was released on September 29th online, with a CD format to be released Tuesday, Oct. 13th.
Marsai Martin Of ‘Black-ish’ Fame & Walden Media Adapting Ingrid Law’s Kids’ Fantasy Novel ‘Savvy’
Marsai Martin, who plays Diane Johnson in the hit ABC comedy Black-ish, has teamed with Walden Media to adapt Ingrid Law’s children’s fantasy novel Savvy as a TV series.
Martin’s Genius Entertainment, which has a first-look film deal with Universal Pictures, is developing the adaptation with The Chronicles of Narnia producer Walden Media.
The book, which was published in 2008 by Penguin Random House and Walden Media, tells the story of Mibs Beaumont, who is elated for her upcoming birthday. Not only does turning 13 officially make her a teenager, but in the Beaumont family, the 13th birthday is when Beaumonts discover their “savvy,” their own supernatural power. While Mibs’ grandfather can move mountains, and her brothers cause hurricanes and create electricity, her power, the ability to read minds, isn’t exactly the best thing when you’re a teenage girl.
Elizabeth Chandler, who wrote the screenplay for The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, had previously been hired, in 2011, to write a script for an adaptation, but it never went to screen.
It is the latest move by Martin, who has earned seven NAACP Image Awards and 2 BET Awards for her Black-ish role. She also made history as the youngest person to serve as an executive producer on a major Hollywood film with Little, which she conceptualized, pitched and starred in.
“Although this story is laced with supernatural characteristics, at its core it’s the story of a young girl trying to unlock her potential, something that we can all relate to, with or without superpowers,” said Martin.
“This novel has resonated with children for over a decade, and we’re honored to have the opportunity to partner with Marsai Martin, one of the youngest producers in Hollywood, to bring this story to a new generation. Savvy is an exciting read, and will be equally as thrilling when brought to life on screen” said Walden CEO Frank Smith.
Martin is repped by is repped by WME, Morris Yorn and Barnes and Oronde Garrett, Ingrid Law was represented by Writers House and UTA.
Source: Deadline
Dwayne Johnson Announces Cast For New Comedy On NBC Titled ‘Young Rock’
Dwayne Johnson has announced the actors who will bring his younger years to life.
“Young Rock,” the upcoming NBC comedy executive produced by and starring Johnson, has tapped Adrian Groulx to play 10-year-old Dwayne (described as honest, headstrong, impressionable and bold), Bradley Constant to play him aged 15 (at which point he is doing his best to fit in as a normal teenager), and “Marco Polo” star Uli Latukefu to play him from the ages of 18 to 20 (when Dwayne has just been recruited to play football on a scholarship at the University of Miami).
Also joining the cast are Stacey Leilua as Ata Johnson, Dwayne’s strong, positive mother, “S.W.A.T.” and “Harriet” alum Joseph Lee Anderson as Dwayne’s charismatic and charming father, and finally Ana Tuisila as Lia Maivia, Dwayne’s sweet grandmother who is a cutthroat, ruthless businesswoman when she needs to be.
“Young Rock,” which is slated to premiere sometime in 2021, charts Johnson’s childhood from growing up in a strong and resilient family, to being surrounded by the wild characters of his professional wrestling family, to playing football at the University of Miami. It will explore the rollercoaster that has shaped Johnson into the man he is today and the larger-than-life characters he’s met along the way. Johnson broke the casting announcements via Instagram, while also revealing that production on the series is officially underway.
The series hails from Nahnatchka Khan, who co-wrote the pilot with Jeff Chiang. Both are executive producing alongside Johnson under his Seven Bucks Productions banner. Also among the EPs are Seven Bucks’ Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Brian Gewirtz, as well as Jennifer Carreras of Khan’s Fierce Baby Productions. Universal Television, where Khan is under an overall deal, will serve as the studio. Jeffrey Walker serves as producer, director and co-EP.
Johnson recently starred in “Jumanji: The Next Level” and will next star in Disney’s “Jungle Cruise.” Meanwhile Khan is best known as the creator and executive producer of “Fresh Off the Boat,” which recently ended its six-year run. She previously created “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” which ran for two seasons on ABC.
Source: Variety
Dave Chappelle’s Remaining Comedy Shows Cancelled Over Possible COVID Exposure
A rep for Dave Chappelle has addressed the cancellation of the remaining six of his “Dave Chappelle & Friends – An Intimate Socially Distanced Affair” shows. Previous shows saw guest appearances from the likes of Sarah Silverman, David Letterman, Tiffany Haddish, Michelle Wolf, Ali Wong, and Louis C.K.,
The rep cited a possible exposure to COVID-19 being the reason for the cancellation, telling Page Six, “Due to possible exposure to COVID-19 within our inner circle, and out of an abundance of caution, we have elected to cancel the remaining … shows. For the past three months of the pandemic, Dave Chappelle has successfully created a safe haven for comedians, musicians and poets to express their art without incident.”
The statement continued, “Social distancing, face masks, hand sanitizer, temperature checks and access to daily COVID tests have all been a part of our protocol. We take COVID-19 very seriously and there have been no reported cases among patrons or crew.”
Chappelle’s wife Elaine also released a statement in a closed Facebook group, which reads, “We take COVID-19 very seriously and there have been no reported cases among patrons or crew. However, due to a possible exposure within our inner circle, and out of an abundance of caution, we have elected to cancel the remaining six shows.”
‘SNL’ Writer Sam Jay Lands New HBO Late-Night Show!
“Saturday Night Live” writer Sam Jay is getting her own late-night show.
HBO has issued a series order for a weekly show hosted by Jay and executive produced by “Insecure” showrunner Prenitce Penny.
The as-yet-untitled 30-minute show, slated to debut on the premium cabler in 2021, will see Jay tackling topics such race, politics, sexual identity, science, celebrity, religion, and more.
Nina Rosenstein, EVP of HBO programming, announced the pick up.
“Sam is fiercely funny, provocative, and a complete original. Her comedy seamlessly glides between vulnerability and grit, and she always makes you see the world in a whole new way,” said Rosenstein. “Joining forces with Prentice to bring Sam’s talent to late-night is a perfect fit.”
Jay is a staff writer on “SNL” whose first comedy special, “3 in the Morning,” was recently released on Netflix. Her acting credits include TV Land’s “Nobodies” and Comedy Central’s “Broad City.” In 2018, Variety named Jay on its 10 Comics to Watch list.
“I’m really excited to bring my point of view to late-night television and have felt nothing but support creatively from HBO and A Penny For Your Thoughts,” said Jay. “So everyone wear your mask and vote so I can make my TV show! Thaaaanks!”
The show will be executive produced by Jay algonside Penny for his A Penny For Your Thoughts banner. Chris Pollack is also on board as an EP, as well as David Martin and Kara Baker for Avalon. Alex Soler will also serve as co-executive producer for A Penny for Your Thoughts.
“I’m so excited to create this project with Sam as I think she’s one of the best comic minds today,” added Penny. “When I first started thinking about this idea, I knew I wanted to create it with someone who was smart, funny, irreverent, and boundary-pushing. Someone who would elevate it to a place that not only challenges the culture, but challenges all of us to think different and be better. Sam is undoubtedly that person. I’m extremely honored to work with her on this and we’re both incredibly grateful to Casey, Nina and everyone at HBO who believed in this project from the beginning. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
Source: Variety
