The Kumars are plotting a return — this time on American television. Fox has ordered a presentation for multi-camera comedy Meet The Kumars, a sequel to the hit 2001 BBC series The Kumars At No. 42 and its 2014 revival for Sky The Kumars. The original cast is back for the U.S.-flavored offshoot, from Hat Trick Productions, which will be filmed in the UK.
Fox also has come in as a partner on The Donut, a single-camera comedy in development at Canada’s CBC from Catherine Reitman and Philip Sternberg, stars of CBC’s popular comedy Workin’ Moms, which Reitman created.
The two commissions are part of Fox’s international content expansion, which involves developing and producing scripted series with local creators and studios in English-language territories — currently Canada and the UK., with plans for Australia also underway. >>>Rebuilding A Comedy Brand |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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Maverick Meets 'Birdman' - Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment are in negotiations for an untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu film starring Tom Cruise. This also marks the first film for Cruise (who will also produce) following the announcement of his strategic partnership with Warner Bros last month. >>>Top Secret Project Free Agency - In the days since Verve CEO Bill Weinstein abruptly left the agency, competing narratives have emerged about his departure and that of three others who who are expected to join Weinstein at a new agency he is believed to be launching. >>>Management Style Questioned
Intimacy Coordinators Under Fire - Following recent revelations about what went on in the filming of the Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman-starring Miller’s Girl, SAG-AFTRA has tightened up its standards and protocols for the use of Intimacy Coordinators – especially when it comes to confidentiality. >>>Guild Steps In
Moviegoers In Search Of Smart, Indie Films - When it comes to choosing films, for the layperson there seems to be a total breakdown in the way we communicate with one another about the experience. And we’d better figure out how to solve it, or we’ll end up terminally Netflixed to our sofas. >>>Peter Bart's Column
Berlin Blues - Martin Scorsese was at the Berlinale this week for the first time in a decade and his presence was a reminder of the festival's glories of yesteryear. It feels like a long time since of the world's traditionally great cinema showcases has attracted big studio splashes, a the industry will be hoping incoming Director Tricia Tuttle will bring some much needed pop to next year's edition >>>Changes Ahead
This Is The End - The six-year production deal between Lionsgate and BBC Studios that spawned CBS hit Ghosts has come to an end, Deadline understands. This comes as two of the pact's key execs, Rachel Bendavid and Angie Stephenson, have secured new roles at Culver City-based BBC Studios LA Productions. >>>Lionsgate Examining Partnerships
In Brief... Vietnam emerges as key Asian film sector... How Law & Order bid farewell to Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy (spoilers)... Police officer arrested for murder of Australian TV presenter Jesse Baird and his partner |
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By her own admission, America Ferrera was not a Barbie girl growing up. But now, two decades into her career, Ferrera will be forever bathed in the warm pink glow of the Mattel brand thanks to her role in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. Here, Ferrera reflects on womanhood, her career and making her directorial debut. >>>Read The Interview |
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Exclusive
Daniel Levy is set to join the ensemble cast of Legendary’s live-action hybrid, Animal Friends, which already stars Ryan Reynolds, Addison Rae, Jason Momoa and Aubrey Plaza.
Exclusive
Laura Harrier (White Men Can’t Jump) has been tapped for a major role opposite Bill Skarsgård and Nicolas Cage in Lords of War, the sequel to 2005 crime thriller Lord of War, which Andrew Niccol wrote and is directing
Olivia Munn has been cast alongside Jon Hamm in Your Friends and Neighbors, Apple TV+’s upcoming drama series from Warrior creator Jonathan Tropper and Apple Studios.
Exclusive
The Walking Dead alum Josh McDermitt is set as a lead opposite Stephen Amell in NBC drama pilot Suits L.A., a new extension of the Suits universe from Aaron Korsh, creator and writer of the original series. |
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More News 📉 Warner Bros. Discovery shares fell more than 10% this morning after the company delivered a mixed fourth-quarter earnings report. On the plus side, streaming posted a full year of profit, but a big negative was a 14% slump in advertising revenue. The latter worries investors given WBD's exposure to advertising volatility across its dozens of TV networks.
🔴 Paramount Global has been downgraded by credit ratings agency S&P Global to “credit watch negative” due to discouraging trends in its cash flow.
✂️ Beleaguered youth-skewing media company Vice is eliminating “several hundred positions” and moving away from online news. |
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On the Radar
Fri - Warner Bros. Discovery earnings; Sci-Tech Oscars
Sat - SAG Awards
Sun - PGA Awards, Independent Spirit Awards
Mon - Shogun premieres on FX
Wed - Endeavor, Paramount, Nexstar, Sinclair, Liberty Media and AMC Entertainment earnings; Apple shareholder meeting |
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'Super' Start - To celebrate the ramp up of Superman: Legacy production in Atlanta, director/scribe and co-DC boss James Gunn posted a photo of the cast on Instagram, including our first look at a bald-headed Nicholas Hoult in Lex Luthor mode. |
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