Welcome to Rumorville! Here you can learn about casting news that’s about to break in Hollywood. These speculations might be only rumors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow the trail all the way to the audition room.
New IMDb TV Originals Slate
Earlier this week, IMDb TV released its latest list of original series currently in development. The free, ad-supported streaming service is looking to bulk up its original content and, as reported by Variety, has put five series up in an attempt to do that, including a new project from “The Good Place” creator Mike Schur and author Shea Serrano. Entitled “Primo,” it is expected to be a coming-of-age story about “a Mexican-American teenager balancing cultural norms, college aspirations, societal expectations, and the hectic home life of being raised by his single mom and five uncles.” Serrano will write and executive produce with Schur executive producing.
The other four projects in development are: “Blessed and Highly Favored,” an unconventional workplace comedy from Chris Marcil and Sam Johnson (“What We Do in the Shadows,” “Frasier,” and “NewsRadio”) about a prodigal daughter who returns to Dallas as a rookie pastor and is tasked with keeping her family’s church alive. “Greek Candy” is a single-camera comedy series inspired by the 100-year-old chocolate factory of Melina Kanakaredes and her family that will be written by Kanakaredes and Marc Firek. “The Fed,” written by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, will follow the personal and career drama surrounding a group of young finance hopefuls as they begin an elite fellowship with the Federal Reserve. Finally, “The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, PA,” written by Vijal Patel and directed by Michael Showalter is about an Indian family and the tumultuous yet humorous events of the two years since they arrived in Pittsburgh.
“Secret Invasion”
Another name has joined the list of potential invaders. First reported by Deadline, “Dublin Murders” and “Damnation” star Killian Scott is the latest in negotiations to join Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Emilia Clarke in the upcoming Marvel series “Secret Invasion.” As we reported last week, Olivia Colman is also in negotiations to join the Disney+ series, which will star Jackson and Mendelsohn as Nick Fury and Skrull Talos, respectively, and “showcases a faction of shape-shifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years.” A rep for Marvel declined to comment on Deadline’s request and it is unclear which role Scott would play should the deal go through. Kyle Bradstreet (“Mr. Robot”) will write and executive produce. A fall shoot in the U.K. and Europe is being planned. Marvel veteran CD Sarah Finn is the casting director.
Vincent Chin Limited Series
Amidst AAPI Heritage Month and recent anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S., a new limited series is in development to remind us how history repeats itself. First reported by Variety, Amazon Studios is developing a new limited series created, written, and executive produced by Marilyn Fu (“The Sisterhood of Night,” “The Honor List”) about Vincent Chin, the 27-year-old Chinese American brutally beaten and killed in 1982 by two former autoworkers, Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz, who blamed him for the economic downturn in Detroit. The still-untitled Topic Studios project reportedly came to Amazon in 2020. Destin Daniel Cretton (“Just Mercy”) will direct and exec produce the series. Says Fu, “Now more than ever, Vincent’s story has so much to show us about racism in our country. This series is a rallying call, a voice for the silenced, a chance for people to see themselves reflected in those they cross the street to avoid. This is how we can cut through the violence—by sharing our pain and acknowledging our collective humanity.” Writing is reportedly underway.
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