TAGGED AS: FX, HBO, Lifetime, USA
This week in TV news, Lifetime’s biopic has its Britney, Feud casts more AHS favorites, John Cho has a new USA drama, and more!
Lifetime network announced this week that the role of Britney Spears in the new TV biopic Britney, has been cast: Australian actress Natasha Bassett (Camp, Hail Caesar!). The film will document the singer’s teenage fame, her rocky relationship with Justin Timberlake, her 55-hour marriage to Jason Alexander, and her relationship with the father of her two kids, Kevin Federline. Anne-Marie Hess (Perfect High) is writing the screenplay and Leslie Libman (NCIS, Manson’s Lost Girls) will direct when the film starts shooting in Vancouver next month. The announcement also precedes Spears’ release this week of her ninth studio album, Glory.
Deadline has reported that Tracey Ullman is returning to HBO in Tracey Ullman’s Show, which will feature Ullman playing various characters and famous faces, including Dame Judi Dench and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The six-episode sketch comedy series aired on BBC One in the UK earlier this year, and will premiere on October 28th on HBO.
The immensely talented Sarah Paulson will play Oscar winner Geraldine Page in Ryan Murphy’s highly anticipated new show Feud. Geraldine Page was an eight-time Oscar nominee who won the best actress honor for The Trip to Bountiful. Before taking on the role of Page, Paulson most recently collaborated with Murphy in the critically acclaimed series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (earning an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Marcia Clarke) and has long been an esteemed player on American Horror Story. Feud will chronicle the legendary rivalry between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis that occurred during the making of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Paulson joins recently cast Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon… and it now seems the glamour and glitz of this project has tipped to cosmic levels.
USA Network is developing a new one-hour drama with Star Trek star John Cho, who is also set to executive produce. Connoisseur will center around Clay Park, a brilliant con artist who dupes the wealthiest, most powerful people in the country into paying millions for fake wine. The show is based on an original idea by Gary Lundy who is set to write and who will be sharing executive producing duties with Hand of God creator Ben Watkins and Cho. A premiere date is yet to be set by USA.
