Stay in the loop on industry and casting news with our write-up on who’s been slated for recent film and television roles!
“Village Gazette”
A familiar late-night face will make her primetime debut when “Village Gazette” goes into production at NBC this pilot season. Amber Ruffin, best known for her “Late Night With Seth Meyers” segments, will find herself in denial over at her new gig. In the lovely and idyllic town of Benson lives a newspaper editor who has a gift that seems to come in short supply these days: unbridled optimism and gratitude. However, her fluffy gazette pieces soon find a competitor in a newly hired reporter who’s out to uncover the town’s seedy secrets and ruin Benson’s rose-colored point of view. The “Late Night” writer is currently the only name attached to the project, which Wendy O’Brien is casting. There’s no word on where the pilot will shoot, but the likely choice would be New York when production starts at the beginning of March.
“Your Honor”
Bryan Cranston will be on the other side of the law from his time on “Breaking Bad” with his new role on Showtime. “Your Honor” has been given a straight-to-series order and focuses on a Chicago judge, played by Cranston, who becomes wrapped up in a moral dilemma when his son gets arrested. The hit-and-run charge causes a domino effect when it’s revealed that not only did the judge spin a web of lies to help his son dodge the consequences, but the victim is discovered to be the child of a notorious crime boss. With a 10-episode order already in place, the series, based on the Israeli show “Kvodo,” has begun casting with Lowry-Johnson/Goldstein Casting. Cranston is currently the only name attached to the project. New Orleans will serve as home for the production with shooting scheduled to begin in the spring.
“Merry Happy Whatever”
Winter is coming to an end, but Netflix is already thinking about the Christmas season: Dennis Quaid has just signed on to the holiday series “Merry Happy Whatever” at the streaming giant. The eight-episode series cast by Jeff Greenberg will follow a dad, already stressed from the holiday season, welcoming his youngest daughter home. The caveat to the happy reunion comes when she arrives with her new boyfriend, an unexpected addition to the festivities. Quaid is currently the only actor attached to the comedy. Production is set to begin in April. No location is confirmed for the shoot, but one of the coastal hubs is expected to host the project.
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