Gilmore Girls is one of the most heartwarming series and because of that, it acquired millions of fans. The series is filled with quirky and witty characters, who handled adversities with brilliantly funny dialogues. We had the good luck of having the Gilmore Girls for seven seasons and then we got to revisit them with Netflix’s Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. So, if you miss the characters, romance, and heartwarming stories set in a small town in Gilmore Girls here are some similar shows you should check out next.
Virgin River (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
Virgin River is a romantic comedy-drama series developed by Sue Tenney. Based on a novel series of the same name by author Robyn Carr, the Netflix series is set in the remote North Carolina town of Virgin River and it follows the story of Melinda “Mel” Monroe who takes on the job of...
Virgin River (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
Virgin River is a romantic comedy-drama series developed by Sue Tenney. Based on a novel series of the same name by author Robyn Carr, the Netflix series is set in the remote North Carolina town of Virgin River and it follows the story of Melinda “Mel” Monroe who takes on the job of...
- 8/27/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Amazon’s Prime Video, the home of The Summer I Turned Pretty, is adding another romance series to its roster.
The streamer has ordered Every Year After, an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s best-selling novel Every Summer After. Leila Gerstein (Hart of Dixie, Hulu’s Saint X) is adapting the novel and will serve as showrunner, executive producing with Fortune. Amazon MGM Studios is producing.
“We are thrilled to bring the beautifully crafted story, Every Summer After, to our global Prime Video customers as Every Year After,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios. “Carley Fortune’s wildly successful book is the perfect blend of heartfelt nostalgia and poignant romance. With Leila Gerstein’s vision, the audience will go through an exploration of this remarkable narrative in a way that captures its essence and emotional depth.”
Every Summer After, published in 2022, centers on Persephone “Percy” Fraser, who...
The streamer has ordered Every Year After, an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s best-selling novel Every Summer After. Leila Gerstein (Hart of Dixie, Hulu’s Saint X) is adapting the novel and will serve as showrunner, executive producing with Fortune. Amazon MGM Studios is producing.
“We are thrilled to bring the beautifully crafted story, Every Summer After, to our global Prime Video customers as Every Year After,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios. “Carley Fortune’s wildly successful book is the perfect blend of heartfelt nostalgia and poignant romance. With Leila Gerstein’s vision, the audience will go through an exploration of this remarkable narrative in a way that captures its essence and emotional depth.”
Every Summer After, published in 2022, centers on Persephone “Percy” Fraser, who...
- 7/31/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amazon Prime Video has ordered a series adaptation of the Carley Fortune novel “Every Summer After,” Variety has learned.
The series will be titled “Every Year After.” Leila Gerstein is attached to adapt the book for the screen and will also serve as the series’ showrunner and executive producer. Fortune is also set to executive produce.
“‘Every Summer After’ holds a very special place in my heart and in the hearts of readers all over the world who deeply connect with Sam and Percy’s love story,” said Fortune. “I’m excited to partner with Amazon to take their journey even further—beyond the pages of the book, onto the screen, and into the hearts of audiences across the globe.”
The official logline for the series states, “Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. A week to get it right. ‘Every Year After,’ is a fun,...
The series will be titled “Every Year After.” Leila Gerstein is attached to adapt the book for the screen and will also serve as the series’ showrunner and executive producer. Fortune is also set to executive produce.
“‘Every Summer After’ holds a very special place in my heart and in the hearts of readers all over the world who deeply connect with Sam and Percy’s love story,” said Fortune. “I’m excited to partner with Amazon to take their journey even further—beyond the pages of the book, onto the screen, and into the hearts of audiences across the globe.”
The official logline for the series states, “Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. A week to get it right. ‘Every Year After,’ is a fun,...
- 7/31/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Prime Video has ordered “Every Year After,” a TV series adaptation of Carley Fortune’s New York Times bestselling novel “Every Summer After.” The series is described as a “fun, sweeping, romantic story” that asks the question: what if your first love actually was your soulmate?
Leila Gerstein, who created “Hart of Dixie” and “Saint X” and won an Emmy and Golden Globe for her work on “The Handmaid’s Tale,” serves as showrunner, while Fortune is attached to executive produce.
“We are thrilled to bring the beautifully crafted story, ‘Every Summer After,’ to our global Prime Video customers as ‘Every Year After,’” Amazon MGM Studios television head Vernon Sanders said in a statement. “Carley Fortune’s wildly successful book is the perfect blend of heartfelt nostalgia and poignant romance. With Leila Gerstein’s vision the audience will go through an exploration of this remarkable narrative in a way that captures its essence and emotional depth.
Leila Gerstein, who created “Hart of Dixie” and “Saint X” and won an Emmy and Golden Globe for her work on “The Handmaid’s Tale,” serves as showrunner, while Fortune is attached to executive produce.
“We are thrilled to bring the beautifully crafted story, ‘Every Summer After,’ to our global Prime Video customers as ‘Every Year After,’” Amazon MGM Studios television head Vernon Sanders said in a statement. “Carley Fortune’s wildly successful book is the perfect blend of heartfelt nostalgia and poignant romance. With Leila Gerstein’s vision the audience will go through an exploration of this remarkable narrative in a way that captures its essence and emotional depth.
- 7/31/2024
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Prime Video has handed a series order to Every Year After, based on Carley Fortune’s bestselling romantic novel Every Summer After, with Hart of Dixie and Saint X creator Leila Gerstein attached to pen the adaptation and serve as showrunner.
The pickup marks the latest expansion into the contemporary romance genre where Prime Video has found success with hit TV series and movie titles like The Summer I Turned Pretty and The Idea Of You, both also based on popular books.
Every Year After is described as a fun, sweeping, romantic story that asks the question, what if your first love actually was your soulmate?
Fortune will executive produce alongside Gerstein.
“We are thrilled to bring the beautifully crafted story, Every Summer After, to our global Prime Video customers as Every Year After,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “Carley Fortune’s wildly successful book is...
The pickup marks the latest expansion into the contemporary romance genre where Prime Video has found success with hit TV series and movie titles like The Summer I Turned Pretty and The Idea Of You, both also based on popular books.
Every Year After is described as a fun, sweeping, romantic story that asks the question, what if your first love actually was your soulmate?
Fortune will executive produce alongside Gerstein.
“We are thrilled to bring the beautifully crafted story, Every Summer After, to our global Prime Video customers as Every Year After,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “Carley Fortune’s wildly successful book is...
- 7/31/2024
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Land of Women is Apple TV+’s comedy-drama thriller series created by Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, and Paula Fernández. Inspired by Sandra Barneda‘s bestselling novel titled La Tierra de las Mujeres, the Apple TV+ series follows the story of Gala, a middle-aged woman who suddenly has to flee to a small town in Spain with her mother and young daughter because of some dangerous people her husband owes money to. If you loved the feel-good, romantic, and comedy aspect of Land of Women, here are some similar shows you could watch next.
Dead to Me (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
Dead to Me is a dark comedy-drama series created by Liz Feldman. The Netflix series follows the story of Jen, a recently widowed woman whose husband died in an unsolved hit-and-run case, and now she is determined to solve the crime. During a support group session she meets...
Dead to Me (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
Dead to Me is a dark comedy-drama series created by Liz Feldman. The Netflix series follows the story of Jen, a recently widowed woman whose husband died in an unsolved hit-and-run case, and now she is determined to solve the crime. During a support group session she meets...
- 6/29/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Exclusive: Anonymous Content has elevated four senior executives at the company including three within AC Studios, the premium independent film and TV production studio that sits inside Anonymous Content as well as a longtime executive in their Brand division.
AC Studios promotions include Garrett Kemble who will become President of Scripted, Jessica Grimshaw who has been named Head of Unscripted, and Nina Soriano who is now Producer and Head of Music Content – an initiative that will work across every division of the firm to build relationships and projects that bridge the worlds of music, television and film.
Additionally, longtime Commercial Executive Producer SueEllen Clair has expanded her role to include Vice President, Commercials, where she will continue to oversee projects and directors working across the Commercial and Music Content divisions of Anonymous Content.
All four execs will continue to be based out of the company’s Los Angeles office.
“We’re so thrilled for Garrett,...
AC Studios promotions include Garrett Kemble who will become President of Scripted, Jessica Grimshaw who has been named Head of Unscripted, and Nina Soriano who is now Producer and Head of Music Content – an initiative that will work across every division of the firm to build relationships and projects that bridge the worlds of music, television and film.
Additionally, longtime Commercial Executive Producer SueEllen Clair has expanded her role to include Vice President, Commercials, where she will continue to oversee projects and directors working across the Commercial and Music Content divisions of Anonymous Content.
All four execs will continue to be based out of the company’s Los Angeles office.
“We’re so thrilled for Garrett,...
- 5/24/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Set during an idyllic Caribbean vacation, “Saint X” follows two Black resort employees assumed to be responsible for the mysterious disappearance of a college freshman, the source of racial injustice that seeps into every part of the show.
“The beautiful setting and the fun, murder mystery gives it this appearance of being one show, but underneath it, we have a great umbrella that we get to really talk about real issues,” executive producer Leila Gerstein told TheWrap. “It’s something that the writers and I talked about all the time and how we were going to handle all of it; it was really important to us for it to come through.”
At the center of the thriller series, which premiered April 26 on Hulu, is 19-year-old Alison, who returns from her first year of college at a crossroads as her equality studies spill into her family vacation on a luxurious island...
“The beautiful setting and the fun, murder mystery gives it this appearance of being one show, but underneath it, we have a great umbrella that we get to really talk about real issues,” executive producer Leila Gerstein told TheWrap. “It’s something that the writers and I talked about all the time and how we were going to handle all of it; it was really important to us for it to come through.”
At the center of the thriller series, which premiered April 26 on Hulu, is 19-year-old Alison, who returns from her first year of college at a crossroads as her equality studies spill into her family vacation on a luxurious island...
- 4/26/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
“Saint X,” Alexis Schaitkin’s acclaimed 2020 novel, has roiling depth beneath its placid surface, much like the pristine waters of the Caribbean island where it takes place. The body of a young American girl washes ashore in those tropical tides, and because her death incites the story, “Saint X” initially cuts the figure of a thriller. Yes, the book slowly unfurls the details behind her untimely demise. But the story isn’t really about what happened, it’s about the grief, recrimination and obsession that consumes the survivors over time. It’s a meditation on trauma, shot through with social commentary and disguised as a nondescript “imperiled woman” beach read.
Hulu’s series adaptation of “Saint X” hews closely to its source material, which winds up being as much a curse as a gift. The show also feints at a proper whodunnit, then builds to a nuanced, if anticlimactic conclusion,...
Hulu’s series adaptation of “Saint X” hews closely to its source material, which winds up being as much a curse as a gift. The show also feints at a proper whodunnit, then builds to a nuanced, if anticlimactic conclusion,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Joshua Alston
- Variety Film + TV
In a moment of emotional crisis, Alison (West Duchovny) blurts out the suspicion that’s been weighing on her to a stranger in the bathroom: “Am I generic?” she sobs. And though the stranger assures her that she’s not, Saint X takes a more nuanced view.
In premise, the series would seem to be a fairly standard take on the dead-white-girl narrative, with Alison’s eventual unexplained death serving as the mystery at the heart of the plot. But as with the 2020 Alexis Schaitkin novel it’s based on, it upends those tropes by offering a kaleidoscope of perspectives that reconsider what kind of stories we expect from tragedies like these, and who gets to be at their center — or it aims to, anyway. Unfortunately, an accumulation of minor fumbles leaves what could’ve been an incisive subversion of a familiar story feeling, instead, more like a replication of it.
In premise, the series would seem to be a fairly standard take on the dead-white-girl narrative, with Alison’s eventual unexplained death serving as the mystery at the heart of the plot. But as with the 2020 Alexis Schaitkin novel it’s based on, it upends those tropes by offering a kaleidoscope of perspectives that reconsider what kind of stories we expect from tragedies like these, and who gets to be at their center — or it aims to, anyway. Unfortunately, an accumulation of minor fumbles leaves what could’ve been an incisive subversion of a familiar story feeling, instead, more like a replication of it.
- 4/26/2023
- by Angie Han
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Saint X, Hulu's adaptation of Alexis Schaitkin's novel, is loosely inspired by the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, but viewers shouldn't expect a ripped-from-the-headlines take on her story. The question of what happened to Alison Thomas (West Duchovny), a 19-year-old American who mysteriously died while vacationing with her family at a Caribbean resort, is the least interesting thing about Saint X, which engages with white privilege, classism, and other social ills across its eight episodes. The girl-gone-missing tale is simply writer/executive producer Leila Gerstein's gateway to these thorny topics, and while it doesn't always succeed, the show's willingness to take big swings makes it stand out in a sea of middling mysteries.
- 4/24/2023
- by Claire Spellberg Lustig
- Primetimer
One sister isn’t letting the truth stay buried.
On Tuesday, Disney+ dropped the trailer for the new mystery series “Saint X”, executive produced by Drake and based on the best-selling novel by Alexis Schaitkin.
Read More: Drake Drops New Single ‘Search & Rescue’, Samples Kim Kardashian Talking Kanye Divorce
Welcome to Saint X, streaming April 26 on Disney+ Canada. pic.twitter.com/RwevHg0FIv
— Disney+ Canada (@DisneyPlusCA) April 6, 2023
“The psychological drama ‘Saint X’, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives, explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre,” the official description reads.
“It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.”
Read More: Drake Vibes To A Popular Avril Lavigne Hit In Viral TikTok
Written by Leila Gerstein (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and directed by Dee Rees...
On Tuesday, Disney+ dropped the trailer for the new mystery series “Saint X”, executive produced by Drake and based on the best-selling novel by Alexis Schaitkin.
Read More: Drake Drops New Single ‘Search & Rescue’, Samples Kim Kardashian Talking Kanye Divorce
Welcome to Saint X, streaming April 26 on Disney+ Canada. pic.twitter.com/RwevHg0FIv
— Disney+ Canada (@DisneyPlusCA) April 6, 2023
“The psychological drama ‘Saint X’, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives, explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre,” the official description reads.
“It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.”
Read More: Drake Vibes To A Popular Avril Lavigne Hit In Viral TikTok
Written by Leila Gerstein (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and directed by Dee Rees...
- 4/11/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Even if you’ve signed up for every streaming service out there, it can feel monumental when a title moves from one to another. In April, Netflix mainstay “New Girl” moves to Hulu; still streaming, but not where fans are used to finding it — like rearranging the furniture in your apartment and waking up surprised every day that the couch is over there now.
But what’s important is that “New Girl” lives on, now joining Hulu’s own TV and movie library and originals from Freeform, FX, National Geographic, and more. Later in the month, Leila Gerstein’s “Saint X” — based on the novel by Alexis Schaitkin — premieres with three episodes, recounting the story of a young girl found dead during a family vacation and the sister piecing it together years later. Alycia Debnam-Carey, Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny, Jayden Elijah, Bre Francis, Kenlee Anaya Townsend, Betsy Brandt, and Michael Park star.
But what’s important is that “New Girl” lives on, now joining Hulu’s own TV and movie library and originals from Freeform, FX, National Geographic, and more. Later in the month, Leila Gerstein’s “Saint X” — based on the novel by Alexis Schaitkin — premieres with three episodes, recounting the story of a young girl found dead during a family vacation and the sister piecing it together years later. Alycia Debnam-Carey, Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny, Jayden Elijah, Bre Francis, Kenlee Anaya Townsend, Betsy Brandt, and Michael Park star.
- 3/17/2023
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Anonymous Content is developing Ryan La Sala’s bestselling social horror novel The Honeys for film.
The Honeys follows a queer teen, Mars, who is investigating the connection between his twin sister Caroline’s violent death and the Honeys, a group of beautiful, otherworldly girls who she boarded with at her exclusive summer camp. As Mars probes into who — or what — the Honeys really are, he’s surprised to find them inviting him into their world. He discovers they’re guarding a dark and sickeningly sweet secret in the meadows behind their cabin that could cost him everything.
David Levine and Garrett Kemble will oversee the project for Anonymous Content’s AC Studios. La Sala will serve as EP.
La Sala’s bestselling and award-winning novels center around surreal things happening to queer people, including Reverie and Be Dazzled, both published by Sourcebooks, and The Honeys (Scholastic). His next...
The Honeys follows a queer teen, Mars, who is investigating the connection between his twin sister Caroline’s violent death and the Honeys, a group of beautiful, otherworldly girls who she boarded with at her exclusive summer camp. As Mars probes into who — or what — the Honeys really are, he’s surprised to find them inviting him into their world. He discovers they’re guarding a dark and sickeningly sweet secret in the meadows behind their cabin that could cost him everything.
David Levine and Garrett Kemble will oversee the project for Anonymous Content’s AC Studios. La Sala will serve as EP.
La Sala’s bestselling and award-winning novels center around surreal things happening to queer people, including Reverie and Be Dazzled, both published by Sourcebooks, and The Honeys (Scholastic). His next...
- 2/27/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Hulu has announced that their eight-part psychological drama series Saint X will make its streaming premiere on Wednesday, April 26th! The first three episodes of the show will be available to watch on that date, and the remaining five episodes will be released on a weekly basis. When we first heard about Saint X, Victoria Pedretti (The Haunting of Hill House) was attached to star – but after Pedretti left the project over “creative differences”, she was replaced by Alycia Debnam-Carey of Fear the Walking Dead.
Written by Leila Gerstein and based on a novel by Alexis Schaitkin, Saint X is told via multiple timelines and perspectives. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Debnam-Carey is taking on the role of Emily, “a...
Written by Leila Gerstein and based on a novel by Alexis Schaitkin, Saint X is told via multiple timelines and perspectives. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Debnam-Carey is taking on the role of Emily, “a...
- 1/12/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Betsy Brandt and Michael Park have joined the cast of Hulu’s psychological drama Saint X.
The series is told via multiple timelines and perspectives, explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre as it explains how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Brandt and Park will play Mia Thomas and Bill Thomas, respectively, in the eight-episode series adapted from Alexis Schaitkin’s novel. The characters are upper middle class parents of two, enjoying a family vacation in a Caribbean resort until one of their daughters goes missing.
They join previously announced talent including Alycia Debnam-Carey, who replaced previous lead Victoria Pedretti after she exited the series due to creative differences. The series also stars Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny and Jayden Elijah.
Related Story 'Saint X': Alycia Debnam-Carey Set...
The series is told via multiple timelines and perspectives, explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre as it explains how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Brandt and Park will play Mia Thomas and Bill Thomas, respectively, in the eight-episode series adapted from Alexis Schaitkin’s novel. The characters are upper middle class parents of two, enjoying a family vacation in a Caribbean resort until one of their daughters goes missing.
They join previously announced talent including Alycia Debnam-Carey, who replaced previous lead Victoria Pedretti after she exited the series due to creative differences. The series also stars Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny and Jayden Elijah.
Related Story 'Saint X': Alycia Debnam-Carey Set...
- 10/27/2022
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Garrett Kemble, an 11-year Universal Content Productions veteran, has joined Anonymous Content as EVP of Development for AC Studios, the independent film and TV production studio that sits inside the management/production company. He will work across both film and television development.
Kemble left UCP, where he most recently was Head of Development, earlier this summer, and has been in talks with Anonymous Content ever since. He is reuniting with former UCP President Dawn Olmstead who is now CEO of Anonymous Content.
“I have had the great privilege of working closely with Garrett for many years and he is truly one of the best there is,” Olmstead said. “He has an innate ability to find such completely original and deeply compelling stories and ideas and create something magical that draws audiences in through their unexpected, fresh narratives. His creative instincts are only matched by his leadership skills. We are...
Kemble left UCP, where he most recently was Head of Development, earlier this summer, and has been in talks with Anonymous Content ever since. He is reuniting with former UCP President Dawn Olmstead who is now CEO of Anonymous Content.
“I have had the great privilege of working closely with Garrett for many years and he is truly one of the best there is,” Olmstead said. “He has an innate ability to find such completely original and deeply compelling stories and ideas and create something magical that draws audiences in through their unexpected, fresh narratives. His creative instincts are only matched by his leadership skills. We are...
- 8/18/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Following a competitive situation, Spotlight and Mr. Robot outfit Anonymous Content and Chapter One, the UK production house launched by Anonymous Content, Casarotto and United Agents, have acquired rights to produce a movie adaptation of new book Breadsong.
The Brit memoir tells the story of bouncy teenager Kitty Tait who overnight becomes overwhelmed by a cloud of depression and anxiety. Seeing his daughter completely withdrawn from the world, Kitty’s dad Al, desperate to help her with her mental health struggles, asked her to bake a loaf of bread with him. One loaf escalated into an obsession and Kitty started to find her way out of the terrible place she was in. Kitty began to take her baking in a whole new direction, eventually opening the Orange Bakery in Oxfordshire with her dad where queues regularly snake down the street. The book also features more than 80 of Kitty’s favorite recipes.
The Brit memoir tells the story of bouncy teenager Kitty Tait who overnight becomes overwhelmed by a cloud of depression and anxiety. Seeing his daughter completely withdrawn from the world, Kitty’s dad Al, desperate to help her with her mental health struggles, asked her to bake a loaf of bread with him. One loaf escalated into an obsession and Kitty started to find her way out of the terrible place she was in. Kitty began to take her baking in a whole new direction, eventually opening the Orange Bakery in Oxfordshire with her dad where queues regularly snake down the street. The book also features more than 80 of Kitty’s favorite recipes.
- 5/4/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Fear the Walking Dead‘s Alycia Debnam-Carey is taking on a new role and replacing You‘s Victoria Pedretti in Hulu‘s Saint X. In a casting change, Debnam-Carey will now take on the role of Emily in the adaptation of Alexis Schaitkin’s novel of the same name. Described as a psychological drama told from various timelines and perspectives, Saint X is written for television by Leila Gerstein and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. When a young woman’s death during a Caribbean vacation creates a ripple effect, her surviving sister is sent on a pursuit to uncover the truth. Debnam-Carey’s Emily is described as a sharp and ambitious woman whose life begins to crumble. Victoria Pedretti (Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) According to Deadline, Saint X is currently shooting in the Dominican Republic, which could conflict with Debnam-Carey’s production on Fear the Walking Dead‘s eighth...
- 5/3/2022
- TV Insider
Updated: May 2: “You” star Victoria Pedretti has exited the lead role of Hulu’s “Saint X,” currently mid-production in the Dominican Republic, over creative differences. She will be replaced by “Fear the Walking Dead” star Alycia Debnam-Carey. Deadline reports that Pedretti exited before the current shutdown, which followed a crew walk-off last Friday.
Pedretti, Deadline reports
Earlier, May 1: Hulu is likely hoping that Dee Rees’ “Saint X” miniseries will be its next hit adaptation of a buzzy novel, but the show’s production is off to a rough start.
Deadline has reported that the series was forced to shut production down last week after several crew members walked off set in the Dominican Republic last Friday due to a pay dispute.
The report indicates that several members of the show’s American crew felt their contracts were being violated due to a disagreement about overtime compensation. Crew members...
Pedretti, Deadline reports
Earlier, May 1: Hulu is likely hoping that Dee Rees’ “Saint X” miniseries will be its next hit adaptation of a buzzy novel, but the show’s production is off to a rough start.
Deadline has reported that the series was forced to shut production down last week after several crew members walked off set in the Dominican Republic last Friday due to a pay dispute.
The report indicates that several members of the show’s American crew felt their contracts were being violated due to a disagreement about overtime compensation. Crew members...
- 5/3/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Hulu’s upcoming series Saint X is undergoing a major casting change. Victoria Pedretti (You) who had been tapped as the lead, has departed the psychological drama over creative differences. She has been replaced by Fear the Walking Dead‘s Alycia Debnam-Carey on the show, produced by ABC Signature, which is shooting in the Dominican Republic.
Debnam-Carey’s casting raises questions about her future on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead where she has played fan favorite Alicia Clark since Season 1 as a series regular. Production on Season 8 is slated to start in June-July, so she won’t be there at the beginning; she may join later in the shoot, I hear.
Pedretti departed Saint X last week, before the current shutdown on the eight-part series which started when crew members walked off the set Friday night over a payment dispute with the studio.
Written by Leila Gerstein based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel,...
Debnam-Carey’s casting raises questions about her future on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead where she has played fan favorite Alicia Clark since Season 1 as a series regular. Production on Season 8 is slated to start in June-July, so she won’t be there at the beginning; she may join later in the shoot, I hear.
Pedretti departed Saint X last week, before the current shutdown on the eight-part series which started when crew members walked off the set Friday night over a payment dispute with the studio.
Written by Leila Gerstein based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel,...
- 5/3/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Victoria Pedretti will no longer star in the “Saint X” series at Hulu, Variety has learned, with Alycia Debnam-Carey stepping in to take over her role.
According to an individual with knowledge of the production, Pedretti decided to leave the show over creative differences. The news also comes after it was reported that production on the series had shut down in the Dominican Republic after a large number of crew members walked off the show reportedly over a pay dispute.
“Saint X” is based on the Alexis Schaitkin novel of the same name. It is described as a psychological drama, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Debnam-Carey will now star in the role of Emily,...
According to an individual with knowledge of the production, Pedretti decided to leave the show over creative differences. The news also comes after it was reported that production on the series had shut down in the Dominican Republic after a large number of crew members walked off the show reportedly over a pay dispute.
“Saint X” is based on the Alexis Schaitkin novel of the same name. It is described as a psychological drama, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Debnam-Carey will now star in the role of Emily,...
- 5/3/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Filming on Hulu’s new series Saint X shut down Friday in the Dominican Republic after several crew members, including the key grip and members of the electric unit, walked off the set, Deadline has learned.
The U.S. crew members, said to span the show’s entire first-unit grip and electric teams, allege that they were not compensated correctly for overtime, which led to their walk-off. Saint X is produced by ABC Signature, part of Disney Television Studios.
A spokesperson for Disney TV Studios confirmed that a number of employees were let go after “walking off the job, forcing filming to stop,” adding that they will be replaced with other U.S. union members.
The set of the psychological drama has remained dark since (Saturday and Sunday were scheduled days off); it is unclear when filming will resume, though a studio insider indicated that the goal is to restart production this week.
The U.S. crew members, said to span the show’s entire first-unit grip and electric teams, allege that they were not compensated correctly for overtime, which led to their walk-off. Saint X is produced by ABC Signature, part of Disney Television Studios.
A spokesperson for Disney TV Studios confirmed that a number of employees were let go after “walking off the job, forcing filming to stop,” adding that they will be replaced with other U.S. union members.
The set of the psychological drama has remained dark since (Saturday and Sunday were scheduled days off); it is unclear when filming will resume, though a studio insider indicated that the goal is to restart production this week.
- 5/2/2022
- by Lynette Rice and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Jayden Elijah (School’s Out Forever) rounds out the lead cast of Saint X, joining Victoria Pedretti, Josh Bonzie and West Duchovny in Hulu’s eight-part series from writer Leila Gerstein and director Dee Rees.
Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a psychological drama told via multiple timelines and perspectives that explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Elijah plays Edwin, a handsome and magnetically charming employee at the island’s resort who immediately captures Alison’s (Duchovny) attention. He harbors a healthy distrust of the rich white people he’s paid to serve and dreams of one day leaving the island for New York.
Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale) wrote the project and...
Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a psychological drama told via multiple timelines and perspectives that explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Elijah plays Edwin, a handsome and magnetically charming employee at the island’s resort who immediately captures Alison’s (Duchovny) attention. He harbors a healthy distrust of the rich white people he’s paid to serve and dreams of one day leaving the island for New York.
Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale) wrote the project and...
- 4/7/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
West Duchovny has signed on to star in the upcoming Hulu drama series “Saint X,” Variety has learned.
Duchovny joins previously announced cast members Victoria Pedretti and Josh Bonzie in the show, which is based on the Alexis Schaitkin novel of the same name. It is described as a psychological drama, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Duchovny will play Alison, described as a smart and charismatic young woman who is beginning to look at her own privilege through a critical lens as she vacations with her family at a beautiful island resort.
Duchovny’s past credits include the features “Linoleum” and “A Mouthful of Air.” On the TV side, she previously appeared...
Duchovny joins previously announced cast members Victoria Pedretti and Josh Bonzie in the show, which is based on the Alexis Schaitkin novel of the same name. It is described as a psychological drama, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Duchovny will play Alison, described as a smart and charismatic young woman who is beginning to look at her own privilege through a critical lens as she vacations with her family at a beautiful island resort.
Duchovny’s past credits include the features “Linoleum” and “A Mouthful of Air.” On the TV side, she previously appeared...
- 4/5/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
West Duchovny (Linoleum) is set as a lead opposite Victoria Pedretti and Josh Bonzie in Saint X, Hulu’s eight-part series from writer Leila Gerstein and director Dee Rees.
Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a psychological drama told via multiple timelines and perspectives that explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Duchovny will play Alison, a smart and charismatic young woman who is beginning to look at her own privilege through a critical lens as she vacations with her family at a beautiful island resort.
Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale) wrote the project and will executive produce with Dee Rees (Mudbound) directing and executive producing. Stephen Williams will also executive produce with David Levine...
Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a psychological drama told via multiple timelines and perspectives that explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Duchovny will play Alison, a smart and charismatic young woman who is beginning to look at her own privilege through a critical lens as she vacations with her family at a beautiful island resort.
Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale) wrote the project and will executive produce with Dee Rees (Mudbound) directing and executive producing. Stephen Williams will also executive produce with David Levine...
- 4/5/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Josh Bonzie (The Politician) is set as a lead opposite Victoria Pedretti in Saint X, Hulu’s eight-part series from writer Leila Gerstein and director Dee Rees.
Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a psychological drama told via multiple timelines and perspectives that explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Bonzie will play Clive ‘Gogo’ Richardson’ who we meet as a shy and clumsy but warm-hearted 20-year old, and again decades later as a hardened, changed man.
Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale) wrote the project and will executive produce with Dee Rees (Mudbound) directing and executive producing. Stephen Williams will also executive produce with David Levine and Zack Hayden for Anonymous Content, Aubrey Graham pka Drake,...
Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a psychological drama told via multiple timelines and perspectives that explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Bonzie will play Clive ‘Gogo’ Richardson’ who we meet as a shy and clumsy but warm-hearted 20-year old, and again decades later as a hardened, changed man.
Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale) wrote the project and will executive produce with Dee Rees (Mudbound) directing and executive producing. Stephen Williams will also executive produce with David Levine and Zack Hayden for Anonymous Content, Aubrey Graham pka Drake,...
- 4/1/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Victoria Pedretti has booked her first post-you role: The actress has joined Hulu’s upcoming series Saint X, our sister site Variety reports.
Adapted by Leila Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale, Hart of Dixie) from Alexis Schaitkin’s novel of the same name, the psychological drama explores “how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth,” per Variety.
More from TVLineTVLine Items: Doctor Who Special Sets Date, Hard Knocks for Lions and MoreTVLine Items: James Bond Competition Show, UK Ghosts...
Adapted by Leila Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale, Hart of Dixie) from Alexis Schaitkin’s novel of the same name, the psychological drama explores “how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth,” per Variety.
More from TVLineTVLine Items: Doctor Who Special Sets Date, Hard Knocks for Lions and MoreTVLine Items: James Bond Competition Show, UK Ghosts...
- 3/29/2022
- by Vlada Gelman
- TVLine.com
Victoria Pedretti (You) will lead the cast of Saint X, Hulu’s eight-part series from writer Leila Gerstein and director Dee Rees.
Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a psychological drama told via multiple timelines and perspectives that explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Pedretti stars as Emily, a sharp and ambitious editor of environmental documentaries whose carefully constructed, seemingly perfect life begins to crumble.
2022 Hulu Pilots & Series Orders
Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale) wrote the project and will executive produce with Dee Rees (Mudbound) directing and executive producing. Stephen Williams will also executive produce with David Levine and Zack Hayden for Anonymous Content, Aubrey Graham pka Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, and Jason Shrier for DreamCrew Entertainment,...
Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a psychological drama told via multiple timelines and perspectives that explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Pedretti stars as Emily, a sharp and ambitious editor of environmental documentaries whose carefully constructed, seemingly perfect life begins to crumble.
2022 Hulu Pilots & Series Orders
Gerstein (The Handmaid’s Tale) wrote the project and will executive produce with Dee Rees (Mudbound) directing and executive producing. Stephen Williams will also executive produce with David Levine and Zack Hayden for Anonymous Content, Aubrey Graham pka Drake, Adel “Future” Nur, and Jason Shrier for DreamCrew Entertainment,...
- 3/29/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Victoria Pedretti has signed on for a lead role in the upcoming Hulu drama series “Saint X,” Variety has learned.
The series is based on the Alexis Schaitkin novel of the same name. It is described as a psychological drama, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Pedretti will star as Emily, a sharp and ambitious woman whose carefully constructed, seemingly perfect life begins to crumble.
This marks the latest major streaming TV role for Pedretti. She most recently appeared as Love Quinn across multiple seasons of the hit Netflix series “You,” including the third season that dropped back in October. She is perhaps best known for starring in the Netflix series “The Haunting of Hill House...
The series is based on the Alexis Schaitkin novel of the same name. It is described as a psychological drama, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Pedretti will star as Emily, a sharp and ambitious woman whose carefully constructed, seemingly perfect life begins to crumble.
This marks the latest major streaming TV role for Pedretti. She most recently appeared as Love Quinn across multiple seasons of the hit Netflix series “You,” including the third season that dropped back in October. She is perhaps best known for starring in the Netflix series “The Haunting of Hill House...
- 3/29/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu is adapting Alexis Schaitkin’s novel Saint X, giving an eight-part series order to the project from writer Leila Gerstein and director Dee Rees.
The psychological drama, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives, explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Produced by ABC Signature, Gerstein, the Hart of Dixie creator who was a consulting producer on The Handmaid’s Tale, will write and exec produce, while Mudbound director Rees, who has also written and directed on series such as Empire and Masters of the Air, will direct and exec produce.
Watchmen exec producer Stephen Williams will also executive produce with Anonymous Content and DreamCrew Entertainment as well as Schaitkin.
The book was published in...
The psychological drama, which is told via multiple timelines and perspectives, explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Produced by ABC Signature, Gerstein, the Hart of Dixie creator who was a consulting producer on The Handmaid’s Tale, will write and exec produce, while Mudbound director Rees, who has also written and directed on series such as Empire and Masters of the Air, will direct and exec produce.
Watchmen exec producer Stephen Williams will also executive produce with Anonymous Content and DreamCrew Entertainment as well as Schaitkin.
The book was published in...
- 1/24/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Hulu has ordered a series adaptation of the novel “Saint X” by Alexis Schaitkin, Variety has learned.
The series is described as a psychological drama told in multiple timelines and perspectives. It is about a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation and how it creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Hulu has given the show an eight-episode order. Leila Gerstein will write and executive produce the adapatation. Gerstein previously worked on the Hulu shows “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Looking for Alaska.” Dee Rees is attached to direct and executive produce. Rees received an Oscar nomination for her work on the screenplay for “Mudbound,” which she also directed. Schaitkin, Stephen Williams, Anonymous Content, and DreamCrew Entertainment will also executive produce. ABC Signature is the studio.
Gerstein is repped by WME, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, and Morris Yorn.
The series is described as a psychological drama told in multiple timelines and perspectives. It is about a young woman’s mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation and how it creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
Hulu has given the show an eight-episode order. Leila Gerstein will write and executive produce the adapatation. Gerstein previously worked on the Hulu shows “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Looking for Alaska.” Dee Rees is attached to direct and executive produce. Rees received an Oscar nomination for her work on the screenplay for “Mudbound,” which she also directed. Schaitkin, Stephen Williams, Anonymous Content, and DreamCrew Entertainment will also executive produce. ABC Signature is the studio.
Gerstein is repped by WME, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, and Morris Yorn.
- 1/24/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Emmy winner Patricia Heaton is eying a return to television with a multi-camera comedy that has received a script-to-series commitment at Fox. Heaton is set to star in and executive produce the untitled project, which is produced by Fox Entertainment and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. The project reunites Heaton and Kaplan who worked together on the CBS comedy series Carol’s Second Act.
Search is underway for a writer to pen the comedy, which will be set in Nashville and, if picked up to series, would be entirely produced in Music City where both Heaton and Kapital have strong ties. Heaton currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Nashville, while Kapital operates stages in the city where it shot its Kevin Williamson CBS All Access series Tell Me a Story.
The plan is for the city of Nashville to serve as the series’ backlot with some location shoots...
Search is underway for a writer to pen the comedy, which will be set in Nashville and, if picked up to series, would be entirely produced in Music City where both Heaton and Kapital have strong ties. Heaton currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Nashville, while Kapital operates stages in the city where it shot its Kevin Williamson CBS All Access series Tell Me a Story.
The plan is for the city of Nashville to serve as the series’ backlot with some location shoots...
- 7/26/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox has given a script-to-series commitment to an untitled anthology show inspired by the music of Huey Lewis, TheWrap has confirmed.
The project, which will be written by “Hart of Dixie” creator Leila Gerstein, is described as an hour-long romantic comedy anthology series, with each season inspired by the music of a different pop star. The first season, inspired by Lewis’ career, will weave together a present-day love story with a teen rom-com set in 1986. Per Fox, “An homage to the great rom-coms of the ’80s and ’90s, the season will remind us that the Power of Love is, indeed, a curious thing.”
Gerstein’s other credits include “The Handmaid’s Tale,” TNT’s “Claws” and the Netflix fantasy series “Cursed.”
The project is a co-production between Fox and Kapital Entertainment, with Lewis attached as an executive producer alongside Gerstein and Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor of Kapital.
Lewis and his...
The project, which will be written by “Hart of Dixie” creator Leila Gerstein, is described as an hour-long romantic comedy anthology series, with each season inspired by the music of a different pop star. The first season, inspired by Lewis’ career, will weave together a present-day love story with a teen rom-com set in 1986. Per Fox, “An homage to the great rom-coms of the ’80s and ’90s, the season will remind us that the Power of Love is, indeed, a curious thing.”
Gerstein’s other credits include “The Handmaid’s Tale,” TNT’s “Claws” and the Netflix fantasy series “Cursed.”
The project is a co-production between Fox and Kapital Entertainment, with Lewis attached as an executive producer alongside Gerstein and Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor of Kapital.
Lewis and his...
- 3/10/2021
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Exclusive: In a competitive situation, Fox has landed an hourlong anthology series from 1980s music superstar Huey Lewis, Hart of Dixie creator Leila Gerstein and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. The project, a co-production of Fox Entertainment and Kapital Entertainment, has received a script-to-series commitment.
Written by Gerstein, each season of the Untitled Huey Lewis Project is a self-contained romantic comedy inspired by the music of a beloved pop star. Huey Lewis sets the beat as the inspiration of Season 1, which interweaves a present day love story with a teen rom-com set in 1986. It is conceived as an homage to the great rom-coms of the ‘80s and ‘90s and a reminder that the Power of Love is, indeed, a curious thing.
Lewis and Gerstein executive produce with Kaplan and Dana Honor of Kapital Entertainment.
The anthology series is based on an idea by Kaplan, who considers Lewis a true idol of his growing up.
Written by Gerstein, each season of the Untitled Huey Lewis Project is a self-contained romantic comedy inspired by the music of a beloved pop star. Huey Lewis sets the beat as the inspiration of Season 1, which interweaves a present day love story with a teen rom-com set in 1986. It is conceived as an homage to the great rom-coms of the ‘80s and ‘90s and a reminder that the Power of Love is, indeed, a curious thing.
Lewis and Gerstein executive produce with Kaplan and Dana Honor of Kapital Entertainment.
The anthology series is based on an idea by Kaplan, who considers Lewis a true idol of his growing up.
- 3/10/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix debuted the official trailer for “Cursed” and ESPN announced that Pablo Torre will become the full-time host of the “ESPN Daily” podcast.
Dates
Comedy Central has announced that “Corporate” will premiere its third and final season on July 22 at 10:30 p.m. The six-episode season will follow Matt, Jake, Lance and other Hampton DeVille employees as they work through the everyday struggles of office life including workplace conflict, business trips and climbing the corporate ladder. “Corporate” stars Jake Weisman, Matt Ingebretson, Lance Reddick, Aparna Nancherla, Anne Dudek and Adam Lustick and was created by Weisman, Ingebretson and Pat Bishop.
First Looks
Netflix released the trailer for “Cursed,” launching July 17. Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller, “Cursed” reimagines the legend of King Arthur through the eyes of Nimue, who accompanies him on his journey to...
Dates
Comedy Central has announced that “Corporate” will premiere its third and final season on July 22 at 10:30 p.m. The six-episode season will follow Matt, Jake, Lance and other Hampton DeVille employees as they work through the everyday struggles of office life including workplace conflict, business trips and climbing the corporate ladder. “Corporate” stars Jake Weisman, Matt Ingebretson, Lance Reddick, Aparna Nancherla, Anne Dudek and Adam Lustick and was created by Weisman, Ingebretson and Pat Bishop.
First Looks
Netflix released the trailer for “Cursed,” launching July 17. Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller, “Cursed” reimagines the legend of King Arthur through the eyes of Nimue, who accompanies him on his journey to...
- 6/30/2020
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix's latest series will delve deep into Arthurian legends.
The streamer on Tuesday unveiled the full-length trailer for Cursed, and there's a lot to like.
Based on the New York Times bestselling book, Cursed is a re-imagination of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake.
After her mother's death, she finds an unexpected partner in Arthur, a humble mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin and deliver an ancient sword.
Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther.
Cursed is a coming-of-age story whose themes are familiar to our own time: the obliteration of the natural world, religious terror, senseless war, and finding the courage to lead in the face of the impossible.
The streamer on Tuesday unveiled the full-length trailer for Cursed, and there's a lot to like.
Based on the New York Times bestselling book, Cursed is a re-imagination of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake.
After her mother's death, she finds an unexpected partner in Arthur, a humble mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin and deliver an ancient sword.
Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther.
Cursed is a coming-of-age story whose themes are familiar to our own time: the obliteration of the natural world, religious terror, senseless war, and finding the courage to lead in the face of the impossible.
- 6/30/2020
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Netflix is getting into Arthurian legends. The streaming service has unveiled the trailer for “Cursed,” its upcoming fantasy series about the origins of the Lady of the Lake. “Cursed,” which is adapted from Tom Wheeler’s New York Times bestselling novel, will feature 10 hourlong episodes. The show will premiere on Netflix on July 17.
The “Cursed” synopsis from Netflix reads: “‘Cursed’ is a re-imagination of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake. After her mother’s death, she finds an unexpected partner in Arthur, a humble mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin and deliver an ancient sword. Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther.”
“Cursed” stars Katherine Langford (Nimue), Devon Terrell...
The “Cursed” synopsis from Netflix reads: “‘Cursed’ is a re-imagination of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake. After her mother’s death, she finds an unexpected partner in Arthur, a humble mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin and deliver an ancient sword. Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther.”
“Cursed” stars Katherine Langford (Nimue), Devon Terrell...
- 6/30/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
King Arthur, who? In the trailer for Netflix’s upcoming series “Cursed,” it’s the Lady of the Lake who gets to wield Excalibur.
Based on the book by Tom Wheeler and “Sin City” director Frank Miller, “Cursed” is described as a re-imagination of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue (“13 Reasons Why” star Katherine Langford), a young woman with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful and tragic Lady of the Lake.
After her mother’s death, Nimue finds an unexpected partner in Arthur (Devon Terrell), a humble mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin (Gustaf Skarsgård) and deliver an ancient sword. Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther (Sebastian Armesto).
Also Read: Netflix Pulls Episode of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross's 2015 Comedy Show...
Based on the book by Tom Wheeler and “Sin City” director Frank Miller, “Cursed” is described as a re-imagination of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue (“13 Reasons Why” star Katherine Langford), a young woman with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful and tragic Lady of the Lake.
After her mother’s death, Nimue finds an unexpected partner in Arthur (Devon Terrell), a humble mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin (Gustaf Skarsgård) and deliver an ancient sword. Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther (Sebastian Armesto).
Also Read: Netflix Pulls Episode of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross's 2015 Comedy Show...
- 6/18/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Before Wilson Bethel won over Rachel Bilson as her love interest on Hart of Dixie, he was just a guy sitting next to her in a kissing booth on The O.C. while Seth Cohen made his big “Acknowledge me now or lose me forever” declaration. The grand gesture proved successful for Seth, but Bethel’s jock Brad was not so lucky. In fact, he was never seen again, even though Bethel thought at the time that he had landed a recurring part on the hit Fox drama.
During a recent chat about his CBS legal drama All Rise, Bethel...
During a recent chat about his CBS legal drama All Rise, Bethel...
- 11/7/2019
- TVLine.com
The Handmaid’s Tale takes home two prizes in TV category.
Jordan Peele won best original screenplay at the 2018 Writers Guild Awards for Get Out, while James Ivory won the adapted screenplay award for Call Me by Your Name.
The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East handed out the prizes at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York last night (11 February).
Get Out boosted its Oscar chances by triumphing in a strong field including Lady Bird, The Shape Of Water, The Big Sick and I, Tonya. Martin McDonaugh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which made the Oscar shortlist in this category, was not eligible for a WGA award.
The adapted screenplay nominees mirrored the Oscar list, and included Molly’s Game, The Disaster Artist, Logan and Mudbound.
Jane Goodall documentary Jane won the documentary screenplay award.
On the TV side...
Jordan Peele won best original screenplay at the 2018 Writers Guild Awards for Get Out, while James Ivory won the adapted screenplay award for Call Me by Your Name.
The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East handed out the prizes at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York last night (11 February).
Get Out boosted its Oscar chances by triumphing in a strong field including Lady Bird, The Shape Of Water, The Big Sick and I, Tonya. Martin McDonaugh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which made the Oscar shortlist in this category, was not eligible for a WGA award.
The adapted screenplay nominees mirrored the Oscar list, and included Molly’s Game, The Disaster Artist, Logan and Mudbound.
Jane Goodall documentary Jane won the documentary screenplay award.
On the TV side...
- 2/12/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Winners of the 2018 Writers Guild of America Awards were revealed on Feb. 11 in ceremonies held simultaneously in Los Angeles and New York. As only screenplays written under the guild’s guidelines or those of several international partners are eligible for consideration, these kudos, which are celebrating their 70th anniversary, have not been the most reliable barometer of the Oscars.
Indeed, one of this year’s leading contenders for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars — Martin McDonagh for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” — was ruled out of the running by the guild. However, that WGA race does include four of the other Academy Awards nominees — “The Big Sick,” “Get Out,” “Lady Bird” and “The Shape of Water.” It is rounded out by “I, Tonya.” Jordan Peele won for “Get Out” edging out Greta Gerwig, who had been predicted to win for “Lady Bird.”
All five of the Oscar contenders for Best...
Indeed, one of this year’s leading contenders for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars — Martin McDonagh for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” — was ruled out of the running by the guild. However, that WGA race does include four of the other Academy Awards nominees — “The Big Sick,” “Get Out,” “Lady Bird” and “The Shape of Water.” It is rounded out by “I, Tonya.” Jordan Peele won for “Get Out” edging out Greta Gerwig, who had been predicted to win for “Lady Bird.”
All five of the Oscar contenders for Best...
- 2/12/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 2018 Writers Guild of America Awards take place on Feb. 11 with simultaneous ceremonies held in both New York and Los Angeles. Only scripts written under the guild’s guidelines or those of several international partners are allowed to vie for these awards. As such, these kudos are not the most reliable barometer of the Oscars.
In the past nine years only 59 of the WGA nominees have numbered among the 90 screenplays that reaped Academy Awards bids. Indeed, 2014’s Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay, “Birdman,” was deemed ineligible. Likewise for one of this year’s leading contenders for that award: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”
On the television side, the leading nominees are “Better Call Saul,” which competes for best drama series writing as well as for two individual episodes and “The Americans,” which is up for both overall drama series writing and an individual episode. Over in comedy, reigning Emmy...
In the past nine years only 59 of the WGA nominees have numbered among the 90 screenplays that reaped Academy Awards bids. Indeed, 2014’s Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay, “Birdman,” was deemed ineligible. Likewise for one of this year’s leading contenders for that award: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”
On the television side, the leading nominees are “Better Call Saul,” which competes for best drama series writing as well as for two individual episodes and “The Americans,” which is up for both overall drama series writing and an individual episode. Over in comedy, reigning Emmy...
- 2/10/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced this year’s winning motion picture, television, and digital productions at the 29th Annual Producers Guild Awards presented by Cadillac ceremony, which took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Closing the evening, the feature film “The Shape of Water” and its producers Guillermo del Toro and J. Miles Dale won the PGA’s Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures. This category is one of the most eagerly anticipated of season and widely considered a strong prognosticator for the Oscars®, as the Zanuck Award has matched the win for Best Picture 19 times in its 28-year history. Also, the films “Coco” won for feature animation and “Jane” won the theatrical documentary category. The Hulu television series “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Season 1) and its producers Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Ilene Chaiken, Sheila Hockin, Eric Tuchman,...
- 1/21/2018
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
Honour keeps fantasy-drama on course for Oscar.
Source: Fox Searchlight
‘The Shape Of Water’
Fox Searchlight’s The Shape Of Water received a big fillip in its Oscar ambitions as it won the Producers Guild Of America’s (PGA) Darryl F. Zanuck for best feature at the 29th annual PGA Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday night (January 20).
The PGA best feature winner has gone on to win the best picture Oscar in 19 out of the last 27 years. That said, in the last two years PGA winners La La Land and The Big Short lost out at the Academy Awards to Moonlight and Spotlight.
Director-producer Guillermo del Toro was absent due to the ill health of his father in Mexico. His fellow producer J. Miles Dale collected the honour and read a message on behalf of del Toro.
Jordan Peele won the Stanley Kramer award for a film that raises awareness of social issues for Universal’s Get Out...
Source: Fox Searchlight
‘The Shape Of Water’
Fox Searchlight’s The Shape Of Water received a big fillip in its Oscar ambitions as it won the Producers Guild Of America’s (PGA) Darryl F. Zanuck for best feature at the 29th annual PGA Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday night (January 20).
The PGA best feature winner has gone on to win the best picture Oscar in 19 out of the last 27 years. That said, in the last two years PGA winners La La Land and The Big Short lost out at the Academy Awards to Moonlight and Spotlight.
Director-producer Guillermo del Toro was absent due to the ill health of his father in Mexico. His fellow producer J. Miles Dale collected the honour and read a message on behalf of del Toro.
Jordan Peele won the Stanley Kramer award for a film that raises awareness of social issues for Universal’s Get Out...
- 1/21/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The Producers Guild of America hands out its awards on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. That is the night before the Screen Actors Guild does the same. Unlike, the latter, which will air on TNT and TBS, the PGA ceremony is not televised. However, it is an equally important stop on the road to the Oscars.
The PGA Awards has an enviable track record at presaging the eventual Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards. The guild and the academy have agreed on 19 of the most recent 28 Best Picture champs. Last year, all nine Oscar nominees for Best Picture numbered among the 10 PGA contenders; only “Deadpool” was snubbed by the academy. The PGA prize went to “La La Land” while the Oscar was (eventually) won by “Moonlight.”
Discuss All the Oscar contenders with Hollywood insiders in our notorious forums
Nominees for the 29th annual edition of the PGA awards in the three film...
The PGA Awards has an enviable track record at presaging the eventual Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards. The guild and the academy have agreed on 19 of the most recent 28 Best Picture champs. Last year, all nine Oscar nominees for Best Picture numbered among the 10 PGA contenders; only “Deadpool” was snubbed by the academy. The PGA prize went to “La La Land” while the Oscar was (eventually) won by “Moonlight.”
Discuss All the Oscar contenders with Hollywood insiders in our notorious forums
Nominees for the 29th annual edition of the PGA awards in the three film...
- 1/20/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Send laywers, guns, and money. The Underlings TV show project has received a script commitment plus penalty from Fox. Deadline reports the legal dramedy comes from Leila Gerstein and Kapital Entertainment. Gerstein created Hart of Dixie, starring Rachel Bilson, which was cancelled after four seasons on The CW.According to the report, "The Underlings is set at a corporate law firm fueled by greed where a group of beleaguered, hapless assistants, led by a plucky paralegal, resolves to right the wrongs of their evil bosses and clients." Gerstein is writing and will also executive produce, with Kapital's Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor.Read More…...
- 9/30/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Fourteen years after the end of Ally McBeal, Fox is returning to the legal dramedy arena with another female-centered young ensemble. The network has given a script commitment plus penalty to The Underlings, from Hart of Dixie creator producer Leila Gerstein and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. Written/executive produced by Gerstein, The Underlings is set at a corporate law firm fueled by greed where a group of beleaguered, hapless assistants, led by a plucky…...
- 9/29/2016
- Deadline TV
“Welcome to ‘The O.C…. panel,” moderator Alan Sepinwall said to a crowd gathered in the State Theater Sunday afternoon. “I won’t say the last word of Luke’s line.”
And with those words and the telling one withheld, the final event of Atx Season 5 began. Though not as prestigious as “The West Wing” — which also held a celebrated reunion at the Austin TV festival — nor as prominently placed as the “Closing Night” honoree (“Ugly Betty’s” elaborate celebration), “The O.C.” Creatives Panel and Script Reading was one of the most exciting, fun and relevant — yes, relevant — activities of the four-day festival, if not the year so far.
With creator Josh Schwartz, writers Stephanie Savage and Leila Gerstein, and music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, the Q&A portion was fast and focused. Led by Sepinwall, the panelists were peppered with quick questions they answered with efficiency and insight.
“The model of soaps at the time was that they were driven by female characters. And you’ve got one driven by two brothers and the dad.”
“It was unusual to do a show like that,” Schwartz said. “But luckily I didn’t know that. That was my way into doing a nighttime soap: having a neurotic Jewish guy to comment on [what happens].”
“How comfortable was Fox with the ‘neurotic Jewishness’ of it all?”
“I would say, ‘medium comfortable,'” Savage said. “Seth Cohen was Josh’s way into the show, but because it was unique it was challenging to the network.”
“Why did you decide to kill Marissa?”
“It’s complicated,” Schwartz said. “For reasons both creative and cynical — kind of where we were with the network. We really wrestled with it.”
California, here we come. #TheOC reunion at #atxtvs5 @atxfestival
A photo posted by IndieWire (@indiewire) on Jun 12, 2016 at 3:31pm Pdt
More great pieces of trivia surfaced over the quick, 30-minute Q&A, as well:
Casting Marissa Cooper came down to Mischa Barton and Olivia Wilde, the former of which obviously landed the part, but the latter appeared in Season 2 as a love interest for Marissa. Schwartz said it came down to the fact Marissa needed to be saved, and “Olivia needs no saving.” Arcade Fire was the one band they couldn’t get for the show. “That’s all I’m going to say,” said a clearly disappointed Schwartz. Chrismakkuh, the combination holiday of Hanukkah and Christmas created by Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) on the show, was not, in fact, a tradition celebrated by Schwartz prior to its implementation on “The O.C.” That was something the writers came up with, as a group, in the room. “I did own that sweater that Seth wears, though,” Schwartz said. Schwartz also commented on how the first season felt special, as well as what may have gone wrong later on. “Part of the fun of the first season was how much story we were going through,” Schwartz said when asked about lessons he learned from the series. “If you have characters that people really love, though, you should keep them around.” Other current celebrities who got their start on “The O.C.” include Shailene Woodley as Marissa’s younger, who was later recast (“I wonder what happened to her.”), and Chris Pratt, who the writers loved working with in order to bring some comedy back to the show in Season 4.
But after hearing all these facts, reminiscing about the past and then experiencing the script read live by new cast members, only then did “The O.C.” seem not only like a nostalgia-infused favorite from yesteryear, but a relevant piece of the modern TV landscape.
For starters, the only cast member from the series to reprise his role on Sunday was Tate Donovan as Jimmy Cooper, Marissa’s father (who’s lovable as hell but horrifically bad with money). Otherwise, the parts were played by fresh faces and, more importantly, the roles were gender-swapped. Mae Whitman (“Parenthood”) was Seth. Matt Lauria (“Friday Night Lights,” “Kingdom”) was Summer, Arielle Kebbel (“Ballers”) was Ryan Atwood, while Patrick J. Adams (“Suits”) nabbed the challenging role of Marissa Cooper.
While that may simply seem like either a fun and/or necessary thing to do for a panel being held well after most of the fest’s talent had left town (but still in need of somewhat famous faces), what really made the reading pop went back to something Sepinwall noted during the Q&A. Soaps, an inherently trashy endeavor pre-“O.C.,” even in primetime efforts, were often targeted at female audiences. While perhaps not the direct connotation, the focus nevertheless established a connection between sleazy, unrealistic and overblown scenarios being marketed to a female audience, while more of television’s “prestige” dramas were a) of a higher regard, and b) sold to men (just like most entertainment).
“The O.C.” did the opposite. The decision to put men front and center — which, as noted, represented a risk — was a feminist choice. Schwartz was, unknowingly or not, creating a show for everyone with respect for its characters, stories and audience. So, by allowing women to play male characters (and vice versa) on Sunday, the series pointed to its past while noting the crucial push for progress right now; as though the group was saying, “Look at what happens when you don’t talk down to your audience, and you take a risk.”
But that’s not all: Schwartz also noted during the panel how they wanted to make a series where the adult storylines were equally enticing to the kids’.
“We really wanted to set the tone that this could be as much for adults as it is for kids,” he said. “As the kids got older, it’s harder to keep the parents involved — there’s a reason with ‘90210’ they spent four years in high school and then went to college and it was exactly the same.”
It’s worth noting Schwartz has said before that he’s never seen “90210.” At the panel, he admitted maybe an episode or a few scenes slipped in somewhere, but he remains largely uninfluenced by the popular (if disrespected) soap when it came to writing “The O.C.” And his show embraced many of the genre’s soapy stories, but they still found a way to make them legitimate; legitimately juicy, yes, but also legitimately good.
There shouldn’t necessarily be any embarrassment connecting the two, but what “The O.C.” tried to accomplish was far more ambitious than anything that’s come before and, arguably, what’s happened since: A series bucking the accepted standards, practices and audience of its genre that spoke to an older crowd as much as its younger fans, “The O.C.” is a relevant piece of TV history — whether you welcome it or not.
All four seasons of “The O.C.” are available to stream on The CW Seed.
Stay up to date with breaking TV news and all your favorite shows: Sign up for the Indiewire TV newsletter today!
Related stories'The West Wing' Reunion: Aaron Sorkin and Cast Remember How the Internet Saved the Series'Friday Night Lights' Reunion: Connie Britton Thrills Fans & More Cast Highlights From Atx TV Fest'Fargo' Creator Noah Hawley Explains the UFOs in Season 2 (Thanks to Beau Willimon)...
And with those words and the telling one withheld, the final event of Atx Season 5 began. Though not as prestigious as “The West Wing” — which also held a celebrated reunion at the Austin TV festival — nor as prominently placed as the “Closing Night” honoree (“Ugly Betty’s” elaborate celebration), “The O.C.” Creatives Panel and Script Reading was one of the most exciting, fun and relevant — yes, relevant — activities of the four-day festival, if not the year so far.
With creator Josh Schwartz, writers Stephanie Savage and Leila Gerstein, and music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, the Q&A portion was fast and focused. Led by Sepinwall, the panelists were peppered with quick questions they answered with efficiency and insight.
“The model of soaps at the time was that they were driven by female characters. And you’ve got one driven by two brothers and the dad.”
“It was unusual to do a show like that,” Schwartz said. “But luckily I didn’t know that. That was my way into doing a nighttime soap: having a neurotic Jewish guy to comment on [what happens].”
“How comfortable was Fox with the ‘neurotic Jewishness’ of it all?”
“I would say, ‘medium comfortable,'” Savage said. “Seth Cohen was Josh’s way into the show, but because it was unique it was challenging to the network.”
“Why did you decide to kill Marissa?”
“It’s complicated,” Schwartz said. “For reasons both creative and cynical — kind of where we were with the network. We really wrestled with it.”
California, here we come. #TheOC reunion at #atxtvs5 @atxfestival
A photo posted by IndieWire (@indiewire) on Jun 12, 2016 at 3:31pm Pdt
More great pieces of trivia surfaced over the quick, 30-minute Q&A, as well:
Casting Marissa Cooper came down to Mischa Barton and Olivia Wilde, the former of which obviously landed the part, but the latter appeared in Season 2 as a love interest for Marissa. Schwartz said it came down to the fact Marissa needed to be saved, and “Olivia needs no saving.” Arcade Fire was the one band they couldn’t get for the show. “That’s all I’m going to say,” said a clearly disappointed Schwartz. Chrismakkuh, the combination holiday of Hanukkah and Christmas created by Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) on the show, was not, in fact, a tradition celebrated by Schwartz prior to its implementation on “The O.C.” That was something the writers came up with, as a group, in the room. “I did own that sweater that Seth wears, though,” Schwartz said. Schwartz also commented on how the first season felt special, as well as what may have gone wrong later on. “Part of the fun of the first season was how much story we were going through,” Schwartz said when asked about lessons he learned from the series. “If you have characters that people really love, though, you should keep them around.” Other current celebrities who got their start on “The O.C.” include Shailene Woodley as Marissa’s younger, who was later recast (“I wonder what happened to her.”), and Chris Pratt, who the writers loved working with in order to bring some comedy back to the show in Season 4.
But after hearing all these facts, reminiscing about the past and then experiencing the script read live by new cast members, only then did “The O.C.” seem not only like a nostalgia-infused favorite from yesteryear, but a relevant piece of the modern TV landscape.
For starters, the only cast member from the series to reprise his role on Sunday was Tate Donovan as Jimmy Cooper, Marissa’s father (who’s lovable as hell but horrifically bad with money). Otherwise, the parts were played by fresh faces and, more importantly, the roles were gender-swapped. Mae Whitman (“Parenthood”) was Seth. Matt Lauria (“Friday Night Lights,” “Kingdom”) was Summer, Arielle Kebbel (“Ballers”) was Ryan Atwood, while Patrick J. Adams (“Suits”) nabbed the challenging role of Marissa Cooper.
While that may simply seem like either a fun and/or necessary thing to do for a panel being held well after most of the fest’s talent had left town (but still in need of somewhat famous faces), what really made the reading pop went back to something Sepinwall noted during the Q&A. Soaps, an inherently trashy endeavor pre-“O.C.,” even in primetime efforts, were often targeted at female audiences. While perhaps not the direct connotation, the focus nevertheless established a connection between sleazy, unrealistic and overblown scenarios being marketed to a female audience, while more of television’s “prestige” dramas were a) of a higher regard, and b) sold to men (just like most entertainment).
“The O.C.” did the opposite. The decision to put men front and center — which, as noted, represented a risk — was a feminist choice. Schwartz was, unknowingly or not, creating a show for everyone with respect for its characters, stories and audience. So, by allowing women to play male characters (and vice versa) on Sunday, the series pointed to its past while noting the crucial push for progress right now; as though the group was saying, “Look at what happens when you don’t talk down to your audience, and you take a risk.”
But that’s not all: Schwartz also noted during the panel how they wanted to make a series where the adult storylines were equally enticing to the kids’.
“We really wanted to set the tone that this could be as much for adults as it is for kids,” he said. “As the kids got older, it’s harder to keep the parents involved — there’s a reason with ‘90210’ they spent four years in high school and then went to college and it was exactly the same.”
It’s worth noting Schwartz has said before that he’s never seen “90210.” At the panel, he admitted maybe an episode or a few scenes slipped in somewhere, but he remains largely uninfluenced by the popular (if disrespected) soap when it came to writing “The O.C.” And his show embraced many of the genre’s soapy stories, but they still found a way to make them legitimate; legitimately juicy, yes, but also legitimately good.
There shouldn’t necessarily be any embarrassment connecting the two, but what “The O.C.” tried to accomplish was far more ambitious than anything that’s come before and, arguably, what’s happened since: A series bucking the accepted standards, practices and audience of its genre that spoke to an older crowd as much as its younger fans, “The O.C.” is a relevant piece of TV history — whether you welcome it or not.
All four seasons of “The O.C.” are available to stream on The CW Seed.
Stay up to date with breaking TV news and all your favorite shows: Sign up for the Indiewire TV newsletter today!
Related stories'The West Wing' Reunion: Aaron Sorkin and Cast Remember How the Internet Saved the Series'Friday Night Lights' Reunion: Connie Britton Thrills Fans & More Cast Highlights From Atx TV Fest'Fargo' Creator Noah Hawley Explains the UFOs in Season 2 (Thanks to Beau Willimon)...
- 6/13/2016
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Welcome to the Atx, bitch! Get ready to learn some new secrets from behind-the-scenes of The O.C. because the Atx Television Festival's Season 5 Fest is mounting a reunion of the very writers room that provided us with some of the greatest teen angst to ever grace the small screen. Creator Josh Schwartz is set to chat with writer/executive producer Stephanie Savage and writer Leila Gerstein, with additional panelists to be announced at a later date. But that's not all The O.C. fun making its way to Austin this June! The festival will also be hosting a script reading of the pilot episode, similar to last year's Dawson's Creek reading, with a cast that remains Tbd. Can we...
- 2/5/2016
- E! Online
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