Small Screen: Quinta Brunson Discusses Adapting ‘The Guest’, ‘Land of Women’ Releases Trailer
Brian Tee - John Nacion
Broadcasting: Brian Tee from NBC's medical drama Chicago Med expressed his interest in returning to the series as Dr. Choi. Tee suggested a few ways that Dr. Choi could return, such as a large tragedy to another character, or some other catastrophic drama.
“There’s always conversation [about] returning on screen...So we’ll always start that conversation, and if the right time or the right storyline comes along, maybe it might happen. So it’s kind of one of those things that you never say goodbye to,” Tee said.
Ektor Rivera - Aaron Davidson
Cable: The CW announced that All American: Homecoming will not be continuing for a fourth season. The All American spinoff focused on the experience of tennis player Simone and her experience at a HBCU (Historically Black College and University). Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll released a statement of her disappointment,
“I’m devastated to learn that All American: Homecoming will not be moving forward with more episodes and that this new season premiering in July will be our final one. However, I am so very grateful to have worked with this incredible cast and crew, led by Geffri Maya, to bring the authentic HBCU experience to your screens for the last three seasons. We made this show for the culture and thank our loyal audience and fans for taking this ride with us. We made this show so that our community, our kids could be seen and celebrated every week and we are proud to say we accomplished that mission…”
Hallmark's series The Chicken Sisters has cast Ektor Rivera (Groundswell) to play the character Sergio. The series is set in fictional town Merinac following fried chicken restaurants in intense competition. The series is based on the HJ Dell'Antonia novel.
Streaming: Apple TV+'s new mini series Land of Women (Tierra de Mujeres) has released their trailer. The series stars Eva Longoria (Flamin’ Hot) as Gala, wife to Fred, and showcases her glamorous life in New York City. Because of Fred owing $15 million to a mob, Gala, her mother Julia (Carmen Maura), and her daughter Kate (Victoria Bazua) are threatened. Gala takes her family to Spain, where they meet and take hospitality from winery owner Amat (Santiago Cabera). Full of romance, comedy, and drama, the family has to deal with the threats, one way or another. The series will premiere on June 26th on Apple TV+.
Paramount+'s series Frasier has cast Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) as Monica in season 2. Monica is the older sister to Olivia, and is a professor with wit and smarts. Showrunners Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli commented on Brown's recruitment,
“We are thrilled to be graced with the comedic gifts of Yvette Nicole Brown. Her work is effervescent, deftly balancing humor and heart.”
Sydney Topliffe (Doin' It) has joined the cast for Netflix Canada's Wayward. Topliffe will play Abbie, best friend to Leila. She joins other series regulars, such as Brandon Jay McClaren (Ransom) and Josh Close (American Solitaire). Previously known as Tall Pines, the series follows the "troubled teen industry" in a small, sinister country town.
CBS's procedural drama Watson has cast Rochelle Aytes (S.W.A.T.). Aytes will leave her role as Nichelle Carmichael in S.W.A.T., and has plans to return as a recurring character in the next season. Aytes will play Dr. Mary Morstan in Watson, who is the Medical Director of the hospital and one of the best surgeons on the East Coast.
Netflix and Sony are collaborating on a new series from the 2021 film Fatherhood.The movie originally casted Kevin Hart as the single father raising his child after his wife's death. The series is set to move into production, with oversight by Vinnie Malhotra and Ada Chiaghana from Higher Ground, and Mike Stein and Tiffany Brown from Hartbeat.
Prime Video's series Criminal has cast Logan Browning (Dear White People) as Jenny. Jenny is a calm, yet witty, detective who enjoys intimidating cops. Criminal is based on the graphic novel series by Ed Brubaker and explores different crime stories. She joins cast members such as Adria Arjona (Hit Man) and Kadeem Hardison (K.C. Undercover).
HBO's untitled comedy pilot has cast True Whitaker (Godfather of Harlem). This untitled series will focus on a friend group reuniting together and reflecting on their times apart and what has changed. Further details on Whitaker's character and story are not yet released.
Paramount+ and Showtime's prequel series for Dexter cast James Martinez (House of Cards), Christian Milian (Falling Inn Love), Alex Shimizu (The Outcasts), and Reno Wilson (Good Girls). The show follows a young student named Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he grows into a serial killer, developing a system to eliminate individuals who deserve to be removed from society. Martinez and Milan are cast as Angel Batista and Maria LaGuerta, who are two homicide detectives. Shimizu will play Vince Masuka, a forensic analyst, and Wilson is Bobby Watt.
Netflix's limited series Missing You has cast Ashley Walters (Top Boy) as character Josh Buchanan. He joins cast members Jessica Plummer (The After) and Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses), to name a few. The series is based on Harlan Coben's novel of the same name and follows a detective whose lost fiancé mysteriously reappears after her father's murder.
Amazon Prime Video series Countdown brings Jessica Camacho (All Rise) onto the cast. The series follows a LAPD officer investigating a murder that requires law enforcement from all branches to participate. Camacho will play Ambe Oliveras, a DEA Special Agent.
Amazon Prime Video's series Criminal, based on the graphic novel, has cast Taylor Selé (P-Valley). He joins other members such as Adrai Arjona and Kadeem Harison. Selé will play recurring character Royal,, a bold and intimidating manager of a gambling club in the underworld.
Frankie A. Rodriguez (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) is joining Hulu's Chad Powers. Rodriquez will play Danny, the mascot for a football team and friend of main character Chad Powers. The series is based on a Eli Manning comedy sketch, and will now be adapted into a 30-minute episodic series.
When meeting with the producers of Hulu’s Under The Bridge, Lily Gladstone (Billions) was asked to star as Cam Bentland. In this story, Gladstone would play an investigative police officer looking for the murderer of a teenage Indigenous child named Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta). In this offer, Gladstone worried that the victim of the story, Reena, will center around their marginalization and hurt. In reference to the Sixties Scoop in Canadian history, 20,000 Native children were pulled from their families and adopted by white people; in Under the Bridge, Cam (Gladstone) discovers she was one of the children during this event. Gladstone reflected on her leading role being one that Indigenous people can relate to:
“Maybe the Indigenous woman cop is a compelling character because it’s a contradiction. It’s having this desire to protect your community, but then seeing that you’re being mobilized against your own people,” she stated.
Revolt
Industry: REVOLT confirms its move to a new ownership with its current employees, their largest shareholder group.This new structure allows employees to benefit from the growing success of the company. REVOLT's mission is to transform the narrative of Black culture, and in this motion, the company establishes a new benchmark to offer equity participation with employees who belong to historically disenfranchised groups often excluded from such equity participation opportunities. CEO Detavio Samuels released his statement regarding this move,
“Today, we are most proud of the transformation that our teams will experience as they shift from being employees to owners of the business they are helping to build. Black culture is global culture, and REVOLT’s superpower is being the home for creators that move culture globally, allowing us to build the most powerful storytelling engine for Black voices...”
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) released that TV content commissioning by Australian streaming companies has dropped significantly. The decline affects initial meetings, development, and production stages, leading to financing issues and impacting members' morale. Netflix and Paramount+ were identified as the least active streaming services in Australia over the past year. SPA members cite a lack of funding, changes in corporate strategy, and a global slowdown as reasons for the decline. SPA CEO Matthew Deaner provided some call to action,
"Australian audiences need some guarantee of access to Australian stories via online streaming services, just like they have for other services. The screen industry has been extraordinarily patient throughout a lengthy consultation process. Still, we need the Albanese Government to deliver on this important cultural commitment with a robust framework that supports both the industry and audiences now and into the future.”
Paramount Global has not yet offered word on the latest merger offer from Skydance Media in their June 4th shareholders meeting. Shari Redstone, Paramount Global's chair, discussed the content assets and changing leadership across CBS and Paramount Pictures. The trio executives George Cheeks of CBS, Brian Robbins of Paramount Pictures, and Chris McCarthy of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios took over the discussion of changing leadership, as Bob Bakish was removed from Paramount Global on April 30th. With no clear answer on the merger, the trio outlined their plan to cut costs and increase engagement. McCarthy expressed, “We all agree that Paramount is not where we want it to be,” and that they cannot comment on the merger with Skydance Studios.
The town hall meeting by Paramount Global's top executives, George Cheeks, Brian Robbins, and Chris McCarthy, was postponed from June 5 to June 25. This decision was made because of Shari Redstone’s review of a merger offer from David Ellison’s Skydance Media. At the recent shareholders' meeting, the executive trio outlined their strategic vision and cost-cutting measures, implying no imminent sale despite ongoing merger discussions. During their June 4th shareholder meeting, they planned to cut $500 million costs by laying off employees, creating joint ventures in streaming for Paramount+, or selling assets to meet their goal.
In The Hollywood Reporter's roundtable, Off Script, comedy actresses discussed their experiences in the industry. Hosted by Yvonne Orji, the roundtable featured Ego Nwodim (Good Times), Maya Rudolph (Loot), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest), and Renee Elise Goldsberry (Girls5eva) as they conversed about their goals, realizations, and industry expectations they challenged. In discussing their most transformative moments of their careers, Buteau cited booking her role on First Wives Club, her first series regular gig. In this role, Buteau reflected on her goal to showcase women of bigger sizes and their sexuality in the series; Buteau wanted to work with the producers on letting people find women attractive of many sizes, along with being funny. Buteau stated, “It changed how people cast me and how I saw myself.”
For the same question, Rudolph reflected on her experience filming Bridesmaids, as it was the first time she enjoyed working on a comedy film with people she enjoyed being around. During her time on SNL, Rudolph explained her position on having fun while on set.
“We would have fun and play at SNL, but it's rare to get to work and look at each other and say 'This is really funny!' or 'I'm having fun!' or laugh with each other. That was transformative,” said Rudolph.
Alongside discussions of SNL, Mwodim spoke about the pressure of quick sketch comedy on SNL. Mwodim said she enjoys the discomfort of pressure and not meeting expectations. Mwodim prides herself in not knowing what people want from her career. Mowdim encouraged her co-hosts with advice she herself needed to learn.
“There is such peace in the surrender to the process. Surrender to the fact that it is a puzzle, and you're not really going to solve it. It's not really a math equation, and that pressure and discomfort you feel is the thing I love,” said Mwodim
Regarding her wanting to adapt Emma Cline's The Guest and writing outside of Abbott Elementary, Brunson expressed her ambitions to go beyond what is expected in the industry. With the main character of The Guest being a rambunctious white girl, Brunson stated that adapting this character would be so different from creating a story that she, herself, can relate to. Brunson further explains this sentiment in regards to being a Black woman:
“I don't want to be the source material forever; I don't think there's freedom in that…They kind of have an urge to keep seeing you bleed, and I don't really want to do that with my career.”
Goldsberry reflected on the impact working on the series Girls5eva had on her idea of age as an actress, divulging how she questioned her ability to grow in her career at her age. With Girls5Eva being about a group of older women wanting to get back into pop stardom 20 years after their original careers, Goldsberry found herself thinking, “You can be 50 and dream. Don't let the world tell you that it is absurd to do something new.”
In the drama actress edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s Off Script, Sofia Vergara (Griselda) and Anna Sawai (Shōgun) discussed challenging stereotypes and changes in their careers. In speaking with Shōgun showrunner Justin Marks about desexualizing Japanese women in Western media, Sawai expressed that Japanese actresses weren’t only just being sexualized, but they were defined by their relationship to a male character. In playing her character Lady Mariko in Shōgun, Sawai found that it was important to keep her character physically separate from Blackthorne in certain scenes. Specifically, Sawai explains,
“[The scene] is even more intimate because you know that there's nothing physical about it. I'm just very lucky that we're finally being able to give a portrayal of real Japanese women.”
When asked about the feelings of rage when playing Griselda in her first drama series Griselda, Sofia Vergara found that working on a drama instead of her go-to comedy series’ changed her perspectives of handling stress in production. With her character having addictions to cigarettes, cocaine, and many emotional scenes, Vergara found it difficult to separate the stress from her actual life. Vergara expressed,
“I couldn't fall asleep, and I was crying on set... I didn't know if I was going to survive this. I did, and it was for 6 months. It changes you a little bit. Dramas make comedy look so much nicer!"
Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us) reflected on Boots Riley’s initial pitch of the series I'm a Virgo. Riley met Jerome in his hotel room to describe the plan to Jerome, and presented Jerome with figurines. The series explores capitalism, poverty, and police brutality within the Black community through fantastical elements. Jerome admitted he was scared and excited about becoming the giant Cootie. Jerome explained that he had to learn how to play into Cootie’s fragility and naivete as a 19 year old, especially as his character was confined in one spot his entire life. Outside of working on the series, Jerome dabbles in music, considering it to be therapeutic. Jerome expressed a passion to pursue music in his career.
Nonso Anozie (Ted Lasso) will join the cast for The Magic Faraway Tree adapted from Enid Blyton's novel series. The story will follow the Thompson family and their moving to the countryside in England. The children stumble across a tree and learn about the people living within. Anozie will play the group leader Moonface.
Golda Rosheuvel spoke about one of her costuming wonders in Netflix’s Bridgerton: the season 3 motorized swim wig. In season 3, Queen Charlotte (Rosheuvel)'s wig took 2 years to develop by Erika Ökvist, the series' designer. Reflecting jokingly on Ökvist's original ideas during the process, Rosheuvel stated, “Some of the ideas I had to go, ‘No!’ At one point, she wanted a boat — a full ship — on my head, and I was like, ‘It’s not going to work, babe.'”
X-Men '97 continuation of the X-Men classic animated series is releasing a 2 record vinyl set based on the Newton Borther's score. The vinyl will be released by pop culture shop Mutant. Eric Garza of Mutant describes the release,
“Across 40 tracks and 80-plus minutes, the Newton Brothers craft a soundscape that includes giant sweeping orchestral and synth-driven cues that could comfortably exist in any day of future past. It’s a bold and epic body of work worthy of Marvel’s merry mutants.”
The Writers Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) has sent a document entitled "Putting Writers at the Heart of the Story" to the new government stating that residuals, royalties and exploitative practices need to be addressed in new UK law. To specify further, the WGGB wants UK scriptwriters to be incentivized for tax credits, clear labeling for AI generated content, and improved residuals and royalties. The WGGB calls the UK government into action by stating,
“We call on whoever forms the next government to enshrine protections for writers on fair pay and fair treatment, ensure that the creative sector is sustainable and, in a world that is being transformed by AI, introduce robust protections on copyright.”
Shōgun's pilot episode script Anjin by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks has been released with a written explanation for tackling the adaptation of the already existing classic TV series. In reflecting on the miniseries and the book, Marks and Kondo noticed the impact Shōgun had on American culture and wondered if there needed to be another adaptation of the story. The first episode is designed to teach the audience how to watch and interpret the series and the two differing cultures in a new generation. Kondo and Marks explain the importance of learning to understand and develop stories that the audience may not be used to:
“…it’s about how we encounter another culture, and how we encounter ourselves when faced with what we can’t understand. It’s a story about the fallacy of translation… how we can never fully reconcile the tragic gaps in language and culture, though we dare not stop trying,” they stated.
