Television
Women In Entertainment and TV Academy Foundation Team Up to Launch Women In Television Summit
Plans for the inaugural Women in Television Summit are underway. A partnership between Women in Entertainment (WIE) and the Television Academy Foundation, the initiative will “bring together...
Check Out the Inclusion Rider Template
Interested in adopting the inclusion rider but unsure how to go about it? USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative is here for you. The organization has released an inclusion rider template online....
Gurinder Chadha Gets Series Order from ITV
Gurinder Chadha has another period drama on the way. ITV ordered a six-part series from the “Viceroy’s House” writer-director and her Bend It TV. Set in Delhi on the cusp of the 19th century,...
Today in #TimesUp and #MeToo: “Crown” Producers Apologize to Foy, Updates on Weinstein
#MeToo and #TimesUp are showing no signs of slowing down. In the wake of public outcry over the disparity between Claire Foy and Matt Smith’s pay on “The Crown,” the Netflix series’...
Mahalia Belo Will Helm Slavery Drama Series “The Long Song” for BBC
Up and coming director Mahalia Belo has booked her next gig. Deadline reports that the “Requiem” helmer has signed on to the BBC drama series “The Long Song.” Based on Andrea Levy’s...
Ellen Kuras to Direct Hulu’s “Catch-22” Limited Series
Ellen Kuras is taking one of the most influential novels of the 20th century to the small screen. The Oscar nominee and Emmy winner has signed on to helm two episodes of Hulu’s upcoming...
Films, Music, News, Television
Queen Latifah and Toni Braxton Ink Production Deals With Lifetime
Lifetime is making it official with two of its frequent collaborators, Queen Latifah and Toni Braxton. Variety confirms that both multi-hyphenates have signed major production deals with the...
Dawn Porter to Direct Netflix Docuseries About Bobby Kennedy
Dawn Porter is revisiting Robert F. Kennedy’s tragic presidential run. The award-winning filmmaker will helm a Netflix docuseries about the former Senator from New York, Deadline reports. “Bobby...
Sarah Drew and Michelle Hurd to Topline “Cagney & Lacey” Reboot, Rosemary Rodriguez Directing
“Grey’s Anatomy” star Sarah Drew and “Blindspot” actress Michelle Hurd are the new Cagney and Lacey. Deadline confirms that the duo have been cast as the leads of the “Cagney &...
Mira Nair to Direct BBC Adaptation of “A Suitable Boy”
“Queen of Katwe” helmer Mira Nair is eyeing her next project, another coming-of-age story. She’s “on the verge” of a deal that will see her directing the BBC and Lookout Point TV...
Netflix Must Lead on Inclusion Issues — Instead, They Are Lagging Behind
It’s been 10 days since Frances McDormand uttered those two words that set Hollywood afire — inclusion rider. And in those 10 days Brie Larson, Michael B. Jordan, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon,...
Pilot News: Projects for Nina Dobrev and Cazzie David, Directing Gig for Patricia Riggen
“Vampire Diaries” alumna Nina Dobrev, “Eighty Sixed” web series co-creator and star Cazzie David, and “Miracles from Heaven” director Patricia Riggen have all booked pilots. Dobrev is...
Nicole Kidman to Star in and Exec Produce HBO Miniseries “The Undoing”
Nicole Kidman’s last collaboration with HBO earned her great ratings, critical acclaim, and two Emmy Awards. It’s no wonder that the “Big Little Lies” star and exec producer is heading back...
Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington’s Adaptation of “Little Fires Everywhere” Goes to Hulu
“Little Fires Everywhere” has found a home just over a week after Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington announced the project. Hulu gave a straight-to-series order for the eight-episode...
“Maudie” and “Alias Grace” Win Big at 2018 Canadian Screen Awards
Women dominated Sunday night’s Canadian Screen Awards. Not only did female-led projects “Maudie,” “Alias Grace,” “Anne With an E,” and “Baroness von Sketch Show” sweep the major...
Trailer Watch: A Girl Steps into the Wrestling Ring to Win Her Father Over in “First Match”
“Put her in her place,” a teenage boy is told by a teammate just before facing off against a girl on a wrestling mat. It’s not long before she has her opponent pinned and his sexist...
#OscarsSoWhite Creator April Reign’s New Database Helps POC Find Work in the Biz
In 2015 April Reign spearheaded the #OscarsSoWhite movement to call out the Academy Awards’ lack of inclusivity among its acting nominees. The hashtag gained even more momentum in 2016, when the...
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” Co-Creator Aline Brosh McKenna Has a New Project in Development
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” co-creator and showrunner Aline Brosh McKenna has a new female-led comedy in the works. She’s joining forces with two writer-producers from the Rachel Bloom-starrer,...
ReFrame Pushes for More Inclusive Hiring in Hollywood with New Handbook
ReFrame, a Hollywood inclusion program that boasts 50 industry leaders among its ranks, has set its sights on updating show business’ current hiring practices — i.e. its habit of employing...
Rachel Brosnahan on Playing an Undercover Feminist in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Brosnahan in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”: Sarah Shatz At a recent event at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, Rachel Brosnahan was asked about the #MeToo movement and its potential impact on...
Sundance Winner Desiree Akhavan to Write, Direct, and Star in Comedy Series “The Bisexual”
“The Miseducation of Cameron Post” co-writer and director Desiree Akhavan has a TV series on the way. Titled “The Bisexual,” her first project on the small screen sees her writing,...
“Jessica Jones” Season 2 Gets Pulp Art from Female Artists, Writers and Directors Announced
We’re just days away from the release of “Jessica Jones’” sophomore season. The latest chapter in the Krysten Ritter-led superhero drama drops on March 8, and Netflix has unveiled some...
Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira Teaming Up for “Americanah” TV Adaptation
The long-gestating screen adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Americanah” is moving forward. Nearly four years after Lupita Nyong’o first optioned the heartbreaking novel about love,...
Pam Fryman to Direct Pilot of “Murphy Brown” Revival
Pam Fryman has booked her fifth pilot this season, and it’s a big one: She’ll be re-introducing viewers to “Murphy Brown.” Deadline reports that she’s signed on to direct the first episode...
Women TV Writers in the UK Sign Letter Asking Why They’re Being Denied Job Opportunities
Seventy-six women writers have banded together to pen an open letter to UK TV drama commissioners. Boiled down to its essence, the letter poses a very simple question to the execs: “Why are you...
2018 Diversity Report: Women & POC Make Gains But Remain Woefully Underrepresented
To paraphrase Ava DuVernay, there have been several encouraging “moments” in Hollywood recently — including the successes of “Girls Trip,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Black...
Trailer Watch: An Archer Fights Sexism on the Road to the Olympics in “Ladies First”
“I want my story to inspire every girl,” says Deepika Kumari in a new trailer for “Ladies First.” The short documentary chronicles the athlete’s epic journey to the Olympics. Born in...
Gina Rodriguez to Star in and Produce Netflix Rom-Com from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Gina Rodriguez is adding another Netflix project to her slate. The “Jane the Virgin” star has signed on to topline and exec produce “Someone Great” for the streamer, The Hollywood Reporter...
Jennifer Lawrence, Catt Sadler, & Stephanie Soechtig Team Up for #MeToo Doc Series
Jennifer Lawrence, former E! News host Catt Sadler, and documentary filmmaker Stephanie Soechtig are working on a #MeToo-themed docuseries. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project will...
Pilots: Amirah Vann Joins NYPD Drama About Sisters, Natalie Morales to Topline Bar Comedy “Abby’s”
“Underground’s” Amirah Vann and “Santa Clarita Diet’s” Natalie Morales each have a pilot in development. Vann has been cast as the lead in an untitled NYPD drama at ABC exec produced by...
Tiffany Haddish to Host MTV Movie and TV Awards
“Hey it’s me, Tiffany Haddish coming straight at you with some good news,” the “Girls Trip” breakout announced in a video she posted on Instagram yesterday. The rapidly ascending star...
Films, Music, News, Television, Trailers
Trailer Watch: A Young Hip Hop Artist Discovers Her Voice in “Roxanne Roxanne”
Shanté, the protagonist of Roxanne Shanté biopic “Roxanne Roxanne,” is used to people speaking for her. When she comes home past curfew, she can’t get a word in while her mother, Peggy (Nia...
CBS Introduces Women’s Empowerment Initiative Eye Speak
The Eye is stepping up its support of women. Variety reports that CBS has launched Eye Speak, a program dedicated to advancing women’s careers at the network and providing opportunities for female...
Trailer Watch: Sandra Oh Courts Disaster with a Psychopath in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Killing Eve”
A trailer has finally dropped for “Killing Eve,” and it looks like we’re in for a riveting game of cat and mouse — it’s just not entirely clear who is playing which role. Hailing from...
“Fleabag’s” Phoebe Waller-Bridge Has Another TV Project in the Works, Vicky Jones to Write
“Fleabag” won’t be returning for its sophomore season until 2019, but the dark comedy’s creator and star keeps lining up projects in the meantime. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and her producing...
Katie Holmes to Topline Ilene Chaiken’s Fox FBI Drama Pilot
Katie Holmes is returning to broadcast TV. Deadline reports that the “Dawson’s Creek” alumna will lead the untitled Fox FBI drama pilot from Ilene Chaiken and Melissa Scrivner Love. Rose...
Paul Feig and Kim Rosenstock’s “Girl Code” Gets Freeform Pilot Pickup
If you’ve been missing Cameron and Donna since “Halt and Catch Fire” concluded its four-season run in October, we’ve got some good news for you. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Freeform...
Trailer Watch: Carey Mulligan Butts Heads with MI5 in “Collateral”
The military, politics, the church, law enforcement: a handful of institutions collide in “Collateral,” the Carey Mulligan-starring drama that premiered last week in the UK. A trailer has...
Rachel Lee Goldenberg to Direct Pilot for CW Funeral Home Dramedy “Playing Dead”
Rachel Lee Goldenberg has an eclectic résumé: her directorial efforts include upcoming movie musical “Valley Girl,” meta Lifetime TV movie “A Deadly Adoption,” and the pilot for Andrea...
TV Updates: Julie Plec to Helm “Roswell” Reboot Pilot, “Deadlier Than the Male” Ordered to Series
Another woman has landed her first-ever pilot directing gig. Deadline reports that “Vampire Diaries” co-creator and showrunner Julie Plec will helm the “Roswell” reboot’s pilot. She is the...
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” Season 4 Premiere Date Announced
The world’s most lovable weirdo is set to make her triumphant return to Netflix. “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s” fourth season will hit the streamer May 30, Deadline reports. But there’s a...
“Grace and Frankie” Renewed for Season 5
The small screen’s most delightful odd couple is staying put. Less than one month after “Grace and Frankie’s” fourth season dropped comes word that the Netflix series has been renewed for...
“The Chi” Creator Lena Waithe Has a New Show in the Works at TBS
Lena Waithe seems poised to build an empire. Her new Showtime series, “The Chi,” was renewed for a second season just weeks ago, and now comes word that she has another series in development at...
Pilot Updates: Hannah Simone to Lead “Greatest American Hero,” Zetna Fuentes to Helm “Chiefs”
Pilot news continues to roll in. The previously announced gender-swapped “Greatest American Hero” reboot has found its star: “New Girl’s” Hannah Simone. And CBS drama pilot “Chiefs”...
Michelle Wolf Has a Netflix Show on the Way
Michelle Wolf is getting her own show. The “Daily Show with Trevor Noah” contributor and writer will host a half-hour weekly talk show on Netflix, the streamer announced in a press release....
Trailer Watch: Carey Mulligan Tries to Solve a Murder in “Collateral”
Carey Mulligan swaps period garb for a badge in “Collateral.” A trailer has dropped for the four-part crime thriller. The Oscar nominee plays Kip Glaspie, a detective determined to find answers...
WGA Winners: Tina Fey, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Flint,” and More
Offred’s story is still striking a chord. The 70th annual Writers Guild of America Awards took place over the weekend, and Emmy, Golden Globe, and DGA winner “The Handmaid’s Tale” took home...
NBC’s Jennifer Salke Takes Over as Head of Amazon Studios
Jennifer Salke is saying goodbye to NBC and hello to Amazon Studios. After six years as entertainment president at NBC, the exec has been hired as the head of Amazon Studios, Variety confirms. Her...
Elizabeth Olsen Will Star in Facebook Dramedy Series from Kit Steinkellner
Elizabeth Olsen portrayed an Instagram influencer in “Ingrid Goes West” and her next project will see her become a social media star in her own right — sort of. The Hollywood Reporter...
Jennifer Garner to Topline Lena Dunham’s New HBO Series
Lena Dunham’s next TV project has found its star. Entertainment Weekly confirms that Jennifer Garner will lead “Camping,” a comedy about an outdoorsy weekend gone awry. Dunham is writing and...
Trailer Watch: Slaughterhouse Workers Fall in Love in Oscar Contender “On Body and Soul”
A new U.S. trailer has dropped for one of the year’s most celebrated romances — and undeniably its weirdest. “Is it possible that two people dream the same thing?” asks Maria (Alexandra...