Small Screen: Paramount Shuts Down Paramount Television Studios, ‘Supacell’ Secures Second Season
Gina Rodriguez - Leon Bennett/Stringer
Broadcast: The CW's series The Librarians: The Next Chapter will not be scheduled for airing this fall. Originally scheduled to premiere after Superman & Lois on October 24, the series has been replaced in the timeslot by the docuseries The Wranglers. The new series is a spinoff of TNT's The Librarians and follows the story of individuals tasked with safeguarding a mythical Library housing powerful artifacts. The series stars Callum McGowan (Jamestown) as Vikram, a time-traveling Librarian who accidentally unleashes magic and must form a new team to fix his mistake. The cast also included Jessica Green (The Outpost), Bluey Robinson (Dirty God), and Olivia Morris (RRR).
ABC's drama series Will Trent has cast Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) as a series regular. Rodriguez will portray Marion Alba, the confident assistant district attorney who works alongside Will (Ramón Rodriguez) to investigate a gang-related crime in Atlanta. Rodriquez joins fellow cast members Erika Christensen (Parenthood), Iantha Richardson (American Soul), Sonja Sohn (The Wire), and Jake McLaughlin (Quantico).
CBS's series FBI has added Lisette Olivera (National Treasure: Edge of History) to the cast of its seventh season. Olivera will play behavioral analysis agent Syd. FBI, created by Dick Wolf, is set in a New York FBI office and follows the investigations of a team of special agents. The series will air its seventh season on October 15th, 2024.
Skye Townsend (A Black Lady Sketch Show) has been promoted to a series regular on CBS's The Neighborhood. The sitcom, which returns for a seventh season on October 21, follows a white Midwestern family adjusting to life in a predominantly Black neighborhood in California. Townsend plays Courtney, the partner and co-parent of Marty Butler (Marcel Spears). Townsend's character navigates co-parenting without being in a romantic relationship.
Katherine Renee Kane (Wintersmith) is set to exit the cast of FBI after appearing in one episode of the upcoming seventh season. Kane has portrayed special agent Tiffany Wallace, an “outspoken” partner to special agent Stuart Scola (John Boyd), since joining the show in its third season in 2020. Kane's exit occurs with the introduction of Lisette Olivera (National Treasure: Edge of History), who will join the cast in Season 7 as a behavioral analysis unit agent named Syd. FBI tells the story of special agents in New York City and their investigations.
Michaela Coel will star, write, and executive produce HBO and BBC’s upcoming drama series First Day on Earth.The series centers on British novelist Henri, who travels to Ghana, her parents' homeland, to reconnect with her estranged father and rediscover her roots. However, the journey takes unexpected turns, forcing Henri to confront both danger and hypocrisy while forging new friendships and redefining her sense of identity. This new project marks Coel's return to writing after the critically acclaimed I May Destroy You, which also saw her partner with HBO, the BBC, and Various Artists Limited. Various Artists Limited's executive producers Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni expressed excitement about working with Coel.
“Yet again, Michaela delivers a highly original, singular story that explores the relationship between England and Ghana via a second generation British-Ghanaian woman who takes up the opportunity to return to the homeland of her parents and finds herself encountering a cast of memorable characters and experiences that force her to face some painful home truths,” said Clarke and Troni. “But as ever with Michaela, it is by turns shocking, funny and unforgettable, and done in her inimitable style.”
Cable: HBO's drama series The Gilded Age has cast Leslie Uggams (Roots), LisaGay Hamilton (The Dropout), and Jessica Frances Dukes (Ozark) to the third season. They join existing cast Denée Benton (Genie), Louisa Jacobson (Gone Hollywood), and Taissa Farmiga (The Nun), to name a few. The series follows high and low society members in 1880s New York City. Uggams joins as Mrs. Ernestine Brown, a member of the Black elite in Newport. Hamilton is cast as Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a Black suffragist. Dukes will portray Athena Trumbo, a member of the elite Black in Newport in support of Peggy's (Benton) career.
Jacqueline Grace Lopez expressed her gratitude and surprise upon leaving General Hospital in an Instagram post August 14th, saying, “Not gonna lie, this goodbye hurts... I didn’t see it coming.” Reflecting on her nearly two-year journey with the show, she highlighted the importance of representation, especially as a Latina. Specifically, she discussed how playing Blaze, a Latina character, broke ground by introducing Latiné story elements. Lopez also cherished the connection she built with fans, particularly those who resonated with Blaze's journey as a gay woman, and emphasized how much she valued helping people feel seen through her work.
“My joy in this work is to help people feel seen. For that reason alone, this chapter of Blaze was an absolute gift,” said Lopez. “It feels so sudden, but I have to trust in timing. Heading out of Port Charles with nothing but gratitude.”
FX has unveiled the teaser for its upcoming horror drama series Grotesquerie. The teaser features a voiceover by star Niecy Nash-Betts (Claws) and a brief appearance by Travis Kelce, whose role remains undisclosed. The series follows Detective Lois Tryon (Nash-Betts) as she investigates a series of crimes in a small community. With no leads, she teams up with Sister Megan (Micaela Diamond) to uncover the truth. The series is set to premiere on September 25th.
FX has released the trailer for its upcoming limited series American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. The series is set to premiere on September 17th and will consist of 10 episodes. The series explores the life of NFL player Aaron Hernandez, focusing on his football career, his troubled family background, and the crimes that led to his murder conviction and eventual death by suicide in prison. Josh Andrés Rivera (West Side Story) stars as Hernandez and Patrick Schwarzenegger (Gen V) plays Hernandez’ teammate Tim Tebow. The series is based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. and marks the first installment in FX's American Sports Story anthology.
Guz Khan - Jo Hale
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video has added Guz Khan (Man Like Mobeen) to Riz Ahmed's (Venom) developing comedy series. The untitled half-hour series was announced in June 2024. Khan will be a regular character, but the details of the story and name are not yet announced. Ahmed will star, write, executively produce, and showrun the series. The series explores aspiring actor Shah Latif (Ahmed) ending up in a conspiracy thriller.
Netflix has renewed Supacell for a second season after the success of its first season premiere in June. In the official description, the series follows a group of five Black South Londoners who unexpectedly gain superpowers and are brought together by Michael Lasaki, who leads them on a mission to save the woman he loves. The series, created by Rapman, features actors such as Adelayo Adedayo, Calvin Demba, and Tosin Cole, to name a few.
HBO has announced the development of a new comedy series titled Flat Tyres from Fifth Season, co-created by Thabo Rametsi (Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu) and Robbie Leacock (Final Portrait). The show centers on a group of four misguided friends who continually fail in their attempts to become criminal masterminds in Cape Town's township. The series will be executively-produced by Nicholas Hatton, Jason Woliner, Matt Sadeghian, and Geordan Somerville.
Prime Video's upcoming Bosch spinoff has added Victoria Moroles (Snow Falls) and Amy Hill (Magnum P.I) to the cast. The two join series regulars Jimi Stanton (Exodus), Camryn Manheim (Return to Sender), Maggie Q (Fear the Night), Courtney Taylor (Out of My Mind), and John Carroll Lynch (Lucky). The series follows Detective Renée Ballard (Q) as she leads the LAPD's cold case division. As she tries to solve a larger conspiracy, she enlists the help of retired detective Harry Bosch. Moroles is set to play Martina Castro, a legal intern, and Hill is cast as Tutu, Ballard's quirky, yet supportive, grandmother.
Showtime's coming-of-age drama series The Chi has promoted Lynn Whitfield (Greenleaf) to a series regular for its seventh season. Whitfield plays Alicia, a formidable matriarch determined to avenge her brother's murder. Previously a guest star, Whitfield’s character clashed with the villain Douda, losing her son to gun violence. The series is created by Lena Waithe and focuses on the lives of residents in Chicago's South Side.
Hulu has announced a series order to Mid-Century Modern, a multi-camera comedy featuring Nathan Lee Graham (LA to Las Vegas), Nathan Lane (Modern Family), and Matt Bomer (Fellow Travellers). Created by David Kohan, Max Mutchnick, and Ryan Murphy, the series centers on three gay best friends—played by Graham, Lane, and Bomer. After an unexpected death, the three decide to spend their golden years together in Palm Springs. Nathan Lee Graham portrays Arthur, a dignified and elegant fashion industry veteran. The show received a pickup following a successful live audience pilot directed by James Burrows.
Netflix's period drama Bridgerton has cast Yerin Ha (Halo) as Sophie Beckett, the love interest of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). The upcoming season will be based on Julia Quinn's third novel in the Bridgerton series, An Offer From a Gentleman. Sophie, known as the “Lady in Silver,” is the illegitimate daughter of an earl and was raised in his household without public acknowledgment. The third season was released in two parts in May and June 2024, and was renewed for Season 4 in 2021.
Max's drama series The Pitt has added Alexandra Metz (Chicago Fire), Michael Hyatt (Snowfall), Kristin Villanueva (Bonding), Amielynn Abellera (The Cleaning Lady), Krystel V. McNeil (South Side), Jalen Thomas Brooks (Thanksgiving), Brandon Mendez Homer (The Good Fight), and Deepti Gupta (For All Mankind) to the cast. Descriptions for the characters and their story have not been released. The series explores the experiences American healthcare workers have in modern-day at a hospital in Pittsburgh.
Paramount+'s sci-fi series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has cast newcomer Sandro Rosta in the first season. Rosta will join as a cadet with George Hawkins (Tell Me Everything), Karim Diané (One of Us Is Lying), Kerrice Brooks (My Old Ass), and Zoë Steiner (Significant Others). The series follows Starfleet cadets as they train to become Starfleet officers, alongside drama and enemies against the Academy and the Federation. Production is set to begin late August.
The first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to stream for free on Samsung TV Plus until August 28th. This marks the first time the season is available for free streaming, exclusively for Samsung TV and Galaxy device owners in the U.S., UK, Canada, Brazil, and Germany. The series takes place in Middle-earth's Second Age and explores the creation of the Rings of Power and the rise of Sauron, with the upcoming season featuring the intense Siege of Eregion. Samsung TV Plus senior vice president Salek Brodsky commented on the development.
“We are pleased to have expanded our partnership with Prime Video to make Samsung TV Plus the only destination to watch Season One of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power for free...,” said Brodsky. “Nearly 300 million Samsung TV and Galaxy owners will have the opportunity to discover or catch-up on this hit series, while continuing to enjoy free access to one of the world’s largest offerings of live tv channels and popular titles on-demand.”
Amazon MGM Studios' series Poltergeist has announced Kalinda Vazquez will be joining Robbie Thompson in writing, show running, and executive-producing. The plot and casting are still under wraps, but the series has been in development since October 2023. The show comes from the 1982 film Poltergeist, which focused on the Freeling family finding that their new house is haunted. Vazquez previously worked on Star Trek: Discovery, Once Upon a Time, and Fear the Walking Dead, to name a few.
Lucasfilm has announced they will not renew Disney+'s series The Acolyte for a second season. Set 100 years before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the show aimed to explore the rise of the Sith and challenge traditional Star Wars narratives, but it received mixed reactions from fans. While some appreciated its fresh take on the Jedi and the Force, others found it controversial, leading to declining viewership. Despite this, the series garnered attention for its diverse cast, such as Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game), Jodie Turner-Smith (Anne Boleyn), and Margarita Levieva (In From the Cold).
Amazon Prime Video's unnamed comedy series by Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) has cast Sheeba Chaddha (Doctor G), Sajid Hasan (Aik Sitam Aur), and Aasiya Shah (Bloods). Chaddha, Hasan, and Shah join Ahmed and Guz Khan (Army of Thieves) as series regulars. The series will follow Shah Latif (Ahmed), an aspiring, yet struggling, actor finding himself in a conspiracy thriller.
Paramount
Industry: Paramount Global plans to cut $500 million in costs by the end of the year. In a memo from company leaders, it was revealed that the cost-cutting measures will primarily affect the marketing, communications, and other corporate departments, resulting in around 2,000 job eliminations. The company has already taken significant financial hits, including a $6 billion write-down of its cable networks, such as MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central. CEO’s George Cheeks, Brian Robbins, and Chris McCarthy emphasized the need for these changes to adapt to the evolving media landscape, as traditional TV viewership shifts to streaming. They acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence in the company's direction.
“The industry continues to evolve, and Paramount is at an inflection point where changes must be made to strengthen our business. And while these actions are often difficult, we are confident in our direction forward,” the CEOs said in a statement. “We understand that you may have questions about next steps, and while we may not be able to provide all the answers at this time, we will continue to update you on our progress.
Paramount Television Studios is shutting down as part of parent company Paramount Global's cost-cutting measures to save $500 million. The studio was known for producing significant series like The Offer and Jack Ryan, and all of its current projects will now be transferred to CBS Studios. Nicole Clemens, president of Paramount Television Studios, expressed her pride in the studio's achievements despite the difficult circumstances. Paramount Global co-CEO George Cheeks also praised the studio's contributions, thanking Clemens and her team for their work in helping to usher Paramount into the streaming era.
“This has been a challenging and transformative time for the entire industry, and sadly, our studio is not immune,” said Clemens.
Westwind Media has named industry veteran Doug Kent as president of the company. Before working with Westwind, Kent previously held senior positions at Formosa Group and Technicolor. In this move, the company also expanded its talent roster by mixing with Joe Earle, Christian P. Minkler, and Gabriel J. Serrano. Earle commented on partnering with Kent after working with him on past projects by saying, “We've worked with each other on and off over the years, and I'm glad we get to do it again.” Echoing his sentiments, Kent expressed his enthusiasm about the new role.
“This is a remarkable opportunity to shape a lasting legacy in the industry. It's also an opportunity to foster a business that reflects the expansive culture of Los Angeles, one that better represents the city I live in and grew up in,” said Kent. “A person can always affect change, but I'm excited to contribute to and influence the future of our company from this leadership position.”
Media Res production company has hired television executives Ayesha Nadarajah and Megan Reid. Ayesha Nadarajah, now VP of Nonfiction, has a background in producing acclaimed films such as Traveling While Black and HBO’s Apollo. Megan Reid, who joins as VP of Scripted Development, comes from FX Networks, where she worked on series like The Patient and Fleishman Is in Trouble. Michael Ellenberg, Founder of Media Res, expressed his excitement for the new additions.
“Their depth of experience and creative approach to every project they touch will be a vital asset to our team as we continue to rapidly expand. We are honored to be their chosen new home and look forward to supporting the incredible achievements they each will lead,” said Ellenberg.
Beau DeMayo, creator of X-Men ’97 has responded to Disney’s misconduct allegations through his attorney, Bryan Freedman, after Disney announced his firing from the series. DeMayo had posted on social media claiming that the actions against him were in response to gay pride posts he made. In response, Disney stated that their decision was based on an investigation that uncovered unspecified “egregious” misconduct during DeMayo's time on the show. Freedman, in his statement, accused Disney of employing a “playbook” that involves inserting illegal clauses in contracts to silence employees and deflect blame through a well-organized publicity machine. He promised to reveal detailed examples of Disney's alleged misconduct in the coming months, asserting that DeMayo’s case is part of a broader pattern of illegal behavior by the company.
Channing Dungey is set to replace the head of U.S. networks at Warner Bros. Discovery, Kathleen Finch, at the end of the year. Dungey is the current Warner Bros. Television Group chairman and CEO. This news follows Warner Bros. Discovery's second-quarter earnings report, which revealed a significant devaluation in the company's cable networks. Finch, who joined Discovery in 2018, has overseen major channels like HGTV, CNN, TBS, and Cartoon Network. Dungey, known for her success in leading Warner Bros. Television, will step into Finch's role, bringing experience from overseeing the productions of Abbott Elementary, Ted Lasso, and The Golden Bachelor. Finch released a statement about her leave and welcoming Dungey to her position.
“The greatest joy, and the part I will miss the most, is the incredible people with whom I get to work every day... I am so proud of what the US Networks group has accomplished together, and I know under Channing’s leadership there are many successes to come,” said Finch.
A+E Networks experienced significant layoffs across all divisions on August 13th. The departments included in this round were programming, marketing, and public relations at Lifetime, A&E, and History. Among those let go were key executives, including Amy Savitsky, Lifetime's senior VP of unscripted development and programming, along with Kim Chessler, Cat Rodriguez, and Zach Behr. These cuts are part of a broader trend of downsizing within the cable industry, including Paramount Global’s plans to reduce its U.S. workforce by 15%. A+E did not specify the exact number of layoffs but acknowledged the contributions of departing employees.
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson's company G-Unit Film and Television is partnering with Lionsgate to launch 50 Cent Action, a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel. The channel wants to focus on diversity and action-packed entertainment. Jackson will curate the channel to include his company’s past works, such as his Power series, Rambo, and The Expendables, to name a few. He emphasized that this new venture is “a natural extension of the work we're doing at G-Unit Film and Television and G-Unit Studios.”
