TV Talk

Stephen King and J.J. Abrams Unite for Castle Rock, Marvel-verse Recruits Game of Thrones Star, and More TV News

by Laura Hertzfeld | February 23, 2017 | Comments

TAGGED AS: ABC, CBS, FOX, Fox News, FX, Masterpiece, NBC, Netflix, Starz, TBS, TNT, WGN

This week in TV news: Hulu teams up with Stephen King and J.J. Abrams, a Game of Thrones star heads to the Marvel Universe, Demi Moore pops up on Empire, Larry Wilmore and Milo Yiannopoulos’ late-night showdown has a ripple effect, and more.

Development News: Stephen King and J.J. Abrams on Hulu, Kevin Smith, Harvey Levin, and More

Stephen King’s worlds are about to collide in the new 10-episode series Castle Rock, coming to Hulu. Produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, the show will take place within the Maine landscape featured in several of King’s works.

Fox News will air a 10-episode series from Harvey Levin called OBJECTified in which the TMZ host tours celebrities’ houses and discusses the objects that are meaningful to their lives. [THR]
Kevin Smith will develop a series based on Todd MacFarlane’s Spawn comic series spinoff Sam and Twitch for BBC America. [Empire]
Breaking Bad alum Aaron Paul has his next project — a drama about whiskey baron Jack Daniel for WGN America.
[THR]
And comedian Louis C.K. is back to stand-up with two new Netflix specials, the first of which, called 2017, premieres April 4. [THR]
Shooting starts next month on Acorn Media Enterprises–BBC One coproduction Love, Lies & Records, a six-part drama that will star Ashley Jensen (Catastrophe). [RLJ Entertainment, Inc.]

Jail Time for Dance Moms Host Abby Lee Miller?

Dance Moms' Kendall Vertes, Abby Lee Miller, Jojo Siwa (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Dance Moms host Abby Lee Miller could be dancing to the jailhouse rock if the feds have their way. The U.S. Attorney’s office is calling for the reality show host to do 2.5 years for the 20 counts of fraud she was indicted on last week. Her defense is arguing for probation. [Deadline]

PaleyLive: American Crime Panel Kicks Off Month of Conversations

A premiere screening of the third season of anthology series American Crime will kick off PaleyLive’s spring season in Los Angeles on March 1. The accompanying panel will feature stars Felicity Huffman, Benito Martinez, Connor Jessup, and more and will discuss the season, which will “dive into timely topics such as forced labor issues in the agricultural community, economic divides, individual rights, and modern-day indentured servitude.” Tickets and more information can be found at The Paley Center for Media website.

Running March 17-26, PaleyFest 2017 panels include:

3/17 – The Walking Dead
3/18 – Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends
3/18 – This Is Us
3/19 – Grey’s Anatomy
3/21 – NCIS: Los Angeles
3/22 – The Late Late Show w/ James Corden
3/23 – Orphan Black
3/24 – Bob’s Burgers
3/25 – Pretty Little Liars
3/25 – Westworld
3/26 – Scandal
3/26 – American Horror Story: Roanoke

Casting News: Game of Thrones Star Iwan Rheon to Marvel-verse, Demi Moore on Empire, Paula Abdul as Paula Abdul, and More

Game of Thrones actor Iwan Rheon in Los Angeles, Sept. 2016 (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon — better known as the evil Ramsay Bolton on the HBO series — will star in the new Marvel series Inhumans on ABC. The show is based on the 1965 comic series about a race of superhumans and will have its premiere in IMAX before heading to the small screen for an eight-episode run. [THR]

Glee and Scream Queens star Lea Michele has joined an ABC comedy pilot from Hamilton star Daveed Diggs that stars Brandon Micheal Hall (Search Party) as a rapper who runs for mayor as a stunt and wins. [Variety]
Fox comedy pilot LA -> Vegas has added Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story) in a lead role. [Deadline]
Dennis Haysbert (24) will costar in NBC virtual reality thriller Reverie with Sarah Shahi. [Variety]
CBS drama pilot Instinct, starring and executive produced by Alan Cumming, has added Lost star Naveen Andrews. [Deadline]
Paula Abdul served as the inspiration for Kourtney Kang’s lead in her new series, so it’s only fitting that she’ll play herself in the NBC comedy pilot. [Deadline]
Without a Trace alum Enrique Murciano has been cast in NBC’s The Blacklist. [Deadline]
Demi Moore will play a nurse in a recurring role on the Fox hip-hop drama Empire. She makes her debut on the show in the season 3 finale. [THR]
Anne Heche will star in NBC’s military drama pilot For God and Country. [Deadline]
ABC drama pilot The Gospel of Kevin has cast Parenthood alum Jason Ritter to star. [THR]
Tim Robbins will top line Alan Ball‘s new drama for HBO starring alongside Holly Hunter. [THR]
Pirates of the Caribbean alum and Smash leading man Jack Davenport heads to ABC’s upcoming Doomsday. [THR]
Andy Favreau (Aquarius) will join Anders Holm and Mindy Kaling in Kaling’s upcoming comedy pilot for NBC. [Deadline]
Cougar Town‘s Busy Philipps is heading to Tina Fey‘s comedy pilot The Sackett Sisters on NBC. [Deadline]
Sonia Braga (Aquarius, Luke Cage) will star in police detective drama Las Reinas for ABC. [THR]
Jeremy Luke (Mob City) is joining the cast of This Is Us. [Deadline]
And MMA champ Ronda Rousey will kick some butt as a guest star on NBC’s Blindspot. [Variety]

Sherlock Season 4 May Have Been Series’ Last, Says Writer Mark Gatiss

Sherlock writer Mark Gatiss, who plays the famous detective’s brother Mycroft on the show, delivered some disappointing news at the U.K.’s WhatsOnStage awards on February 19, suggesting that the mystery series starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman may have reached its close.

“I honestly don’t know if there will be any more,” Gatiss said. “It’s incredibly difficult to get Benedict and Martin’s diaries to align. And obviously we left it in a very happy place … if that’s the end, I’d be very happy where we left it.”

Milo Yiannopoulos’ Very Bad Week: Larry Wilmore Confrontation, Resignation, Book Deal Canceled

Conservative writer and pundit Milo Yiannopoulos dominated the headlines this week. First, by being told “Go f*** yourself” — twice — by comedian Larry Wilmore on Overtime following Yiannopoulos’ appearance on HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher, on which they were both guests. The now-former Breitbart editor’s appearance on the show was followed by revelation of even more controversial remarks — this time about pedophilia — resulting in his resignation from the conservative news site and the cancellation of his book deal with Simon & Schuster.

Richard’s Having a Little Too Much Fun in Silicon Valley Trailer

Richard (Thomas Middleditch) drops some big news — and some crazy maniacal laughter — in the trailer for the new season of Silicon Valley, back April 23 on HBO.

Alex Trebek’s New Career: Rapper?

Cue the “Think” music. Alex Trebek may have a second career — as a rapper. Check out the video of the Jeopardy host nailing these rap lyrics during this week’s College Championship.