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Sherry Lansing, Mayim Bialik, Debra Messing, David Mamet, Gene Simmons, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and Scooter Braun are among the high-profile entertainment industry figures who have added their names to a counter-petition organized by the Creative Community for Peace in response to a letter published earlier this week calling for a boycott of “Israeli cultural institutions that are complicit or have remained silent observers of the overwhelming oppression of Palestinians.”

The initial open letter, which refers to the Israel-Gaza conflict as a “genocide,” counts as its signatories more than 1,000 writers including Normal People author Sally Rooney, Naomi Klein, Rachel Kushner, Annie Ernaux, Percival Everett and Jonathan Lethem.

The counter-petition “reject[s] the calls to boycott Israel and Jewish writers, publishers, authors, book festivals and literary agencies, along with those who support, work with, or platform them” and argues that “the instincts and motivations behind cultural boycotts, in practice and throughout history,...

Prolific screenwriter and producer Jenji Kohan is not on board with Paramount+ With Showtime’s long-rumored Weeds sequel, calling the idea a “money grab.” Kohan served as the creator and showrunner of the Showtime comedy-drama series Weeds, which aired from August 8, 2005, to September 16, 2012. The series centers on Mary-Louise Parker‘s Nancy Botwin, a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family. Speaking at the Seriesly Berlin TV conference in Germany, the Emmy-winning writer questioned the relevancy of Weeds now that marijuana has been legalized in almost 40 states. “I don’t really know if there’s more story to tell,” she said, per Deadline. “I think Weeds was done, and I think [a sequel] be a money grab.” She continued, “They can do what they want, but this wouldn’t be associated with the team that made [the original series]. And I think there are many other stories to be told.

The creator of Weeds is not enthused by the idea of a sequel series that is in development at Showtime.

The original series premiered in 2005 and came to a close in 2012. A few years later, it was announced that Starz was developing a sequel with franchise star Mary-Louise Parker returning to star and executive produce. In 2023, the project moved networks.

While at the Seriesly Berlin TV conference, Weeds creator Jenji Kohan explained that she didn’t think a spinoff series made sense at the time, going as far as to call it a “money grab.”

Keep reading to find out more…

“I feel like now that pot is legal [in many places] that I don’t really know if there’s more story to tell,” she explained, via Deadline. “I think Weeds was done, and I think it’d be a money grab a little bit, and I’m not involved with it.

The first Seriesly Berlin wrapped last night, and the general feeling from those in attendance is it could be a worthwhile addition to a television conference space in Germany that already houses the likes of Berlinale Series Market and the well-regarded Seriencamp in Cologne.

Ahead of time, Seriesly’s organizers posed the question: “Who the f*** needs another TV event?” The answer, it transpires, could well be the Berlin TV set and deep-thinking drama aficionados from all corners of the globe.

Situated in Mitte, in the heart of the German capital, a young crowd turned out for a gathering that set out to do conferencing differently. All newbie events need a moment to find their feet, and Seriesly’s first effort, emceed by industry-savvy comedians, was creative-friendly and a place for thought-provoking questions about the world of drama. An alternative logline for the event could have read: ‘An existential take on TV.

Weeds creator Jenji Kohan is here to harsh your sequel series buzz.

Speaking at the Seriesly Berlin TV conference in Germany, the Emmy Award-winning scribe sounded less than enthusiastic about Paramount+ With Showtime’s long-gestating follow-up to the pot dramedy. Now that weed has been legalized in nearly 40 states, “I don’t really know if there’s more story to tell,” she said, according to Deadline. “I think Weeds was done, and I think it’d be a money grab.

More from TVLine<em>Nurse Jackie</em> Sequel Series Starring Edie Falco in the Works at Prime Video<em>Dexter</em> Prequel <em>Original Sin...

Jenji Kohan wants TV writers to ditch dystopian stories in favor of ones that lean into a ‘protopia’ and serve up a more positive vision of the world and where we’re headed. The writer was also quizzed about whether she liked the notion of sequel to her show Weeds. It’s safe to say she does not want to light up a follow-up to her pot-dealing drama, which ran for eight seasons on Showtime.

Kohan gave a wide-ranging masterclass to a room of writers and drama execs at Seriesly, and duly delivered one of the highlights of the newbie TV event in Berlin. She wrote on shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Gilmore Girls, Sex and the City and the first season of Friends. She talked about her own shows during the masterclass including Orange Is The New Black and Weeds. Deadline’s scoop last year said a sequel to the latter was,...

Die Showrunnerin und Drehbuchautorin Jenji Kohan feierte große Erfolge mit „Weeds“ und „Orange Is the New Black“. Jetzt hat sie in Berlin beim Serienfestival Seriesly eine Masterclass gegeben und wetterte unter anderem gegen den Trend von Dystopien.

Jenji Kohan (Credit: Seriesly Berlin)

Die nun schon seit Jahrzehnten erfolgreiche Showrunnerin Jenji Kohan, deren größten Hits bisher „Orange Is the New Black“ und „Weeds“ waren und deren neueste Netflix-Serie „The Decameron” vor Kurzem beim Streamer startete, hat am Dienstag das Serienfestival Seriesly in Berlin mit einer Masterclass in der Fotografika beehrt. Der Head of Programming Matija Dragojevic stellte höchstpersönlich die Fragen.

Die gut aufgelegte US-Drehbuchautorin hatte unterschiedliche unterhaltsame Wutreden anzubieten. Ihre witzige Kritik an der Emmy-prämierten FX-Serie „The Bear“ sei hier aus Pietätsgründen ausgespart. Aber sie sparte auch nicht bei der sich im Serienbereich ausbreitenden Untergangsstimmung. „Dystopien sind schlecht für uns. Hört mit den Dystopien auf! Es ist eine selbsterfüllende Prophezeiung.

Exclusive: Prime Video has unveiled plans for a trio of docs from German producer Beetz Brothers Film Productions.

Here in Berlin at the inaugural Seriesly Berlin event, a November 10 launch was set for German Cocaine Cowboy on Prime Video Germany. A second doc, Billions Mike (aka Milliarden Mike), will debut a week later (November) before Killy My Doppelgänger debuts in 2025.

Prime Video has licensed the three docs, which from Leonine Studios-owned Beetz Brothers Productions.

German Cocaine Cowboys, a four-part documentary series about rise of Hamburg gangster Joe Marx to the top of the notorious Cali cartel in the 1990s and his subsequent return to Germany after years off jail time, was teased last month and footage is being shown to delegates her in Berlin today.

The producers are Christian Beetz and Georg Tschurtschenthaler for Beetz Brothers, and the director is Peter Dörfler. Production is supported by German Motion Picture Fund and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

Here in Germany at the inaugural Seriesly Berlin conference, execs from international TV sector debated market contraction, opportunities and the meaning behind “bonfires and fireworks.”

In a panel chair by Deadline’s Stewart Clarke at the Fotografiska arts center in Berlin’s Mitte, The Art of Coproduction founder Marc Lorber and Constantin Film Chief Content Officer Jan Ehlert outlined how shows could achieve success either by “burning brightly” for a short period of time or slowly gaining heat over several seasons or years.

“With the firework [shows], hopefully they burn big and bright, with lots of ‘ooh aah’ moments,” said Lorber. “Good or bad, people know about them. On the other hand, Bonfire shows smoulder and burn. They are sustainable and returnable, and people feel comfortable with them.”

Ehlert, whose company makes Netflix hit Liebes Kind (Dear Child), added there was “huge demand for all types of entertainment.”

“For a show to work globally,...

Die für die Comedyserie „Tracey Takes On…“ 1997 mit einem Emmy ausgezeichnete Produzentin Jenji Kohan hält im Rahmen des Serienfestivals Seriesly Berlin eine Masterclass ab.

Jenji Kohan hält bei Seriesly Berlin eine Masterclass ab (Credit: Seriesly Berlin)

Das Serienfetival Seriesly Berlin konnte für seine von 16. bis 18. September stattfindende erste Ausgabe die US-Produzentin, Autorin und Showrunnerin Jenji Kohan für eine Masterclass gewinnen, die am 17. September um 13 Uhr in der Fotografiska Berlin stattfindet. Das gab das Festival heute bekannt.

Kohan zählte u.a. bei Serien wie „Der Prinz von Bel Air“, „Sex and the City“, „Gilmore Girls“, „Will & Grace“ und „Orange is the New Black” und wurde 1997 für die Comedy-Serie „Tracey Takes On…“ mit einem Emmy ausgezeichnet.

Weitere Informationen zu Seriesly Berlin unter www.serieslyberlin.com.

Exclusive: Orange is the New Black and Weeds showrunner Jenji Kohan is to deliver a masterclass at Seriesly Berlin, the new TV festival launching in the German capital next week.

The storied creator-showrunner will “share insights into her writing process, developing and pitching shows, handling feedback, and maintaining a strong creative voice,” according to the fest. The first-come-first-served talk is encouraging screenwriters in particular to register and will take place Tuesday at 1 p.m. Cet (4 a.m. Pt).

Kohan is the creator and showrunner of Showtime smash Weeds and Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, one of the streamer’s biggest early hits. Other credits include Tough Trade, Glow and, more recently, Netflix’s The Decameron, which is an adaptation of the famous Italian novel.

Kohan will speak from the panoramic view of Berlin at Fotografiska’s rooftop bar.

She joins a growing linuep that includes Amazon Germany Country Director Christoph Schneider,...

I hope you’ve stretched and are well hydrated, because you’re going to need it for the marathon of TV that lies ahead. Friday marks the official beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which means we’ve got more than two weeks of impressive physical feats across 32 sports and 45 disciplines that will inspire you while putting your athletic prowess to shame.

It all begins with the opening ceremony, which for the first time in history is taking place outside of a stadium. The parade of athletes that is the centerpiece of the event will occur on the Seine, with each nation’s delegates having their own boat. It is unclear whether the size of the watercraft is determined by the size of the delegation, but it would probably be funnier that way. LeBron James and Coco Gauff are the flag bearers for the United States.

Hosting the Summer Games is a lot of work,...

Have you ever wondered what “Love Island” would be like if it were set in the 1300s? Netflix’s new dark-comedy series “The Decameron” will answer all of your questions.

The series, created by Kathleen Jordan and executive produced by “Orange Is the New Black” and “Weeds” alum Jenji Kohan, is loosely based on Italian Author Giovanni Boccacio’s short story collection from the mid-14th century. The plot begins after “The Black Death strikes hard in the Italian countryside in 1348, and a handful of nobles retreat to a grand villa with their servants. But what starts as a wine-soaked sex romp descends into a race for survival in this soapy dark comedy,” according to the official description.

Keep reading to find out what stars are traveling back in time to the 1340s in our complete “The Decameron” cast and character guide. The show is now streaming on Netflix.

Zosia Mamet...

Created by Kathleen Jordan, and executive produced by Jenji Kohan, this absurdist Netflix comedy series is very loosely inspired by the 14-century story collection titled The Decameron. 

The Decameron examines the all-too-timely theme of class struggles in the season of a pandemic. In the year 1348, the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence, and a handful of nobles retreat with their servants to a grand villa to wait out the plague with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, a scramble for survival ensues, brought to life by a cast of characters both cunning and outrageous.

HeyUGuys spoke to creator Kathleen Jordan and cast members Tony Hale, Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education),  Zosia Mamet (Girls), Jessica Plummer, and Saoirse-Monica Jackson about their experience working on such an innovative comedy.

The 8-episode series hits the streamer on July 25th.

The post HeyUGuys meets the creator & cast member of...

Kathleen Jordan, one of the finalists to lead the creative vision of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, is set to develop other projects with the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network after it emerged she struck an overall deal.

Jordan closed the two-year deal with HBO and its sister streaming service in January, meaning that while she won’t be involved in the Potter reboot, she will still work closely with the company.

She previously created the Netflix series Teenage Bounty Hunters, the teen comedy drama that was exec produced by Jenji Kohan.

Jordan also created Netflix’s upcoming medieval black comedy The Decameron, which launches later this month. She serves as showrunner on the series, which is set in 1348 when the Black Death, the deadliest pandemic in human history which killed as many as 200 million people, strikes hard in the city of Florence. She also exec produces alongside the...

Netflix has revealed the official full trailer for the soapy dark comedy series ‘The Decameron.’

You are cordially invited to a wine-soaked sex romp set in the Italian countryside. The Decameron is a soapy dark comedy that examines the all-too-timely theme of class struggles in the season of a pandemic. In the year 1348, the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence, and a handful of nobles retreat with their servants to a grand villa to wait out the plague with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, a scramble for survival ensues, brought to life by a cast of characters both cunning and outrageous.

Created by Kathleen Jordan, who was very loosely inspired by the 14-century story collection The Decameron, the eight-episode series is through Jenji Kohan’s Tilted Productions. Kohan serves as an executive producer, alongside Jordan, director Michael Uppendahl, and Tilted’s Blake McCormick and Tara Herrmann.

Netflix has revealed the trailer and key art for the dark comedy series The Decameron, starring Tony Hale, Zosia Mamet, and Saoirse-Monica Jackson. The eight-episode series will launch on July 25, 2024.

You are cordially invited to a wine-soaked sex romp set in the Italian countryside. The Decameron is a soapy, dark comedy that examines the all-too-timely theme of class struggles in the season of a pandemic.

In the year 1348, the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence, and a handful of nobles retreat with their servants to a grand villa to wait out the plague with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, a scramble for survival ensues, brought to life by a cast of characters both cunning and outrageous.

Created by Kathleen Jordan, who was very loosely inspired by the 14-century story collection The Decameron, the series is brought to you by Jenji Kohan’s Tilted Productions.

The deadliest pandemic in history has a saucy bunch of nobles in medieval Italy entangled in a countryside sex romp in the official trailer for Netflix’s The Decameron.

“I’ve been having sinful thoughts,” Lou Gala, who plays Neifile, a God-fearing and highly sexual young guest at a countryside villa during the Black Death pandemic, says at one point in the trailer for the series. (Think Love Island, with people also infiltrating a villa for temptation, but taking place in the hills of Tuscany in 1348.)

Social rules among the nobility and their servants eventually wear thin during this soapy dramedy from creator/showrunner Kathleen Jordan and executive producer Jenji Kohan as a wine-soaked sex romp ensues. People then begin to die but more from an orgy of riches and wine that has everyone scrambling for survival.

Inspired by Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th-century literary tale The Decameron, the Netflix eight-parter...

Fans of “Bridgerton,” get ready for a different kind of period piece.

Netflix’s latest soap series “The Decameron” centers on the “wine-soaked sex romp” that was paramount to 14th century Florence, apparently. Per the official synopsis, “The Decameron” is a soapy dark comedy that examines the all-too-timely theme of class struggles in the season of a pandemic. In the year 1348, the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence, and a handful of nobles retreat with their servants to a grand villa to wait out the plague with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, a scramble for survival ensues, brought to life by a cast of characters both cunning and outrageous.

The eight-episode series is created by Kathleen Jordan, who was very loosely inspired by the 14-century story collection “The Decameron.” The show is produced through Jenji Kohan’s Tilted Productions, with Kohan serving as...

Updated with full trailer: After the initial sensual teaser set to New Order’s “Blue Monday,” Netflix has now released a full-length trailer for The Decameron, its dark comedy starring Tony Hale, Zosia Mamet and Saoirse-Monica Jackson.

Set in the year 1348 when the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence, it follows a handful of nobles who retreat with their servants to a grand villa to wait out the plague with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, a scramble for survival ensues, brought to life by a cast of characters both cunning and outrageous. The trailer, which you can watch above, provides a glimpse into that.

The Decameron premieres July 25 on Netflix. See additional series details below.

Previous, July 10: Ready for a wine-soaked sex romp in the Italian countryside? Netflix has set July 25 for the premiere of The Decameron, Netflix‘s soapy period dramedy...

Netflix has pulled back the velvet curtain on the teaser trailer for the upcoming series ‘The Decameron.’

The Decameron is a soapy dark comedy that examines the all-too-timely theme of class struggles in the season of a pandemic. In the year 1348, the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence, and a handful of nobles retreat with their servants to a grand villa to wait out the plague with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, a scramble for survival ensues, brought to life by a cast of characters both cunning and outrageous.

The cast includes Amar Chadha-Patel, Leila Farzad, Lou Gala, Karan Gill, Tony Hale, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Zosia Mamet, Douggie McMeekin, Jessica Plummer, Tanya Reynolds

Created by Kathleen Jordan, who was very loosely inspired by the 14-century story collection The Decameron, the eight-episode series is through Jenji Kohan’s Tilted Productions. Kohan serves as an executive producer,...

Period comedy The Decameron is coming to Netflix, and here’s the trailer for the brand new eight episode show.

It seems that period comedies are coming back into vogue. A few months ago we got Andy Riley’s fun Dark Ages romp Seize Them!, with Derry Girls star Nicola Coghlan, Aimee Lou Wood and Nick Frost.

Another Derry Girls alumnus, Saoirse Monica-Jackson, stars in The Decameron, which is coming to Netflix next month.

A prescient comedy, the show examines how people of that generation dealt with a worldwide pandemic, and the chasm between the rich and the poor.

The synopsis reads as follows:

You are cordially invited to a wine-soaked sex romp set in the Italian countryside… The Decameron is a soapy dark comedy that examines the all-too-timely theme of class struggles in the season of a pandemic. In the year 1348, the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence,...

Netflix has just released the teaser trailer for the upcoming dark comedy The Decameron. The show is a limited series that is set to run for eight episodes and is slated to hit the streamer on July 25. The cast includes an ensemble of actors, which features names like Amar Chadha-Patel, Leila Farzad, Lou Gala, Karan Gill, Tony Hale, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Zosia Mamet, Douggie McMeekin, Jessica Plummer and Tanya Reynolds. The teaser cheekily calls the subject of the show “The Party of the 14th Century” with New Order’s “Blue Monday” providing background for the madness.

The official synopsis reads,

“You are cordially invited to a wine-soaked sex romp set in the Italian countryside. The Decameron is a soapy dark comedy that examines the all-too-timely theme of class struggles in the season of a pandemic. In the year 1348, the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence, and a handful...

Exclusive: Andrew DeYoung has been tapped to direct and executive produce HBO’s half-hour comedy pilot The Chair Company, starring Tim Robinson. The project hails from Robinson and his writing partner Zach Kanin, and is executive produced by Adam McKay and Todd Schulman for McKay’s Hyperobject Industries.

In The Chair Company, written and executive produced by Robinson and Kanin, after an embarrassing incident at work, a man (Robinson) finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy.

The project continues DeYoung’s with Robinson, having most recently shot his feature debut comedy Friendship, from Fifth Season and BoulderLight Pictures, with Robinson and Paul Rudd. He co-wrote and directed the Peacock sketch comedy special Would It Kill You To Laugh? through A24. Recent credits include directing episodes of the hit Max series Our Flag Means Death and upcoming Jenji Kohan Netflix series Decameron. He has directed multiple episodes, including the series finale, of...

On Easter Sunday, an emotional Alex Edelman completed his final performance of Just for Us, bringing six life-changing years with the hugely acclaimed solo show to a close.

“After the show, I had a real sense of like, ‘Okay, it’s done now,’ and I really felt a deep connection to all of the people that have worked on it…and seen it, and all the people who gave it gentle or firm nudges,” the NY-based comedian shared earlier this afternoon. “I just felt the real comet’s tale of people and things and experiences that have come behind the show, and it was a sort of equal parts mixture of gratitude and sadness.”

First put on its feet all the way back in 2018, the show’s plot is thrust into motion as Edelman recalls being subjected to antisemitic comments on the platform formerly known as Twitter. Rather than blocking the offenders,...

The Writers Guild of America West will present Designing Women and Evening Shade creator Linda Bloodworth Thomason with its highest honor — the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement. The award is presented to a Guild member who has “advanced the literature of television and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the television writer.” Designing Women star Jean Smart will present the statuette to Bloodworth Thomason at the Wgaw’s annual WGA Awards on April 14.

The multiple Emmy-nominated television creator-writer, director, and producer launched her career with an Emmy-nominated script on M*A*S*H* in 1973. She concurrently worked on M*A*S*H* and Mary Tyler Moore Show spinoff Rhoda before creating and producing her first series Filthy Rich in 1982. Filthy Rich would lay the groundwork for the creation of landmark comedy series Designing Women by bringing her together with actresses and collaborators Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, and Smart.

In addition to her work in television,...

Exclusive: Zosia Mamet, Michael Angarano and Tommy Martinez (Good Trouble) have been cast in Peacock’s upcoming comedy series Laid as series regulars. Mamet will play Aj, Angarano will play Richie and Martinez will play Isaac.

They join previously announced lead Stephanie Hsu in the series written and executive produced by Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna.

Laid is based on the Australian series created by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher, and produced by Liz Watts. It follows a woman who finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past to move forward. It’s described as a f*cked-up rom-com where the answer to “Why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?” is a resounding: “Yes, there is. The problem is definitely you.”

The series comes from Universal Television,...

Exclusive: Madeline Brewer has been cast in Netflix’s hit psychological drama You for the show’s fifth and final season.

In a series regular role, Brewer will portray Bronte, an enigmatic and free-spirited playwright who comes to work for Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) at his bookstore. As the two connect over literature and loss, she stokes in him a nostalgia for his former self, causing him to question everything his life has become.

You, based on Caroline Kepnes’ best-selling novel of the same name, revolves around the question, “What would you do for love?” The series follows Joe Goldberg, a man who will do just about anything when love is at stake.

Season 4 was set in London where Joe took on the new identity of Jonathan Moore, an English professor, while following Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) around Europe. Details regarding the focus...

Exclusive: And then there were three. As Deadline reported exclusively earlier this month, the field of writers in the running to adapt Jk Rowling’s Harry Potter books into a live-action series for Max has been narrowed down to three finalists. We can now reveal their names — according to sources, they are Francesca Gardiner, Tom Moran and Kathleen Jordan. The trio will be able to hone in on their pitches for the next couple of months, with a decision on who gets the job expected in June, we hear. As Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced last week, the Harry Potter series is slated to debut on Max in 2026.

Reps for Max and the studio behind the series, Warner Bros. Television, declined to comment.

Gardiner, Moran and Jordan are among the names of writers in contention reported exclusively by Deadline over the past month.

The extensive search started off...

Exclusive: The Harry Potter television series is moving closer to fruition.

In April, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that a series, based on the classic wizarding world, would be coming to its streaming service Max.

Deadline understands that things in Potterworld are now heating up with a marathon of pitches underway from writers vying for the right to adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven books.

Martha Hillier, Kathleen Jordan, Tom Moran and Michael Lesslie are among those who are presenting their visions to the streaming service and Warner Bros Television, sources said. It’s an interesting mix of Brits and Americans. We’ve heard that the group of writers were commissioned by Max to create pitches for a series reflecting their take on the IP.

We hear the first round of pitch meetings happened in Los Angeles this week and sources said that the top choices will go on to the next round in the UK.

Taryn Manning’s audition for the Britney Spears starrer Crossroads was so good it made director Tamra Davis nervous.

“She was picking something on her arm, and it looked like it might start bleeding,” recalls Davis of a casting session for the 2002 road trip drama, written by soon-to-be TV mogul Shonda Rhimes. “I thought ‘Oh my, she’s too much, this girl.’ But at the same time, she was the girl.”

Manning was vying for the role of Mimi, a trailer park teen with dreams of moving to Los Angeles to make it as a singer. Manning so nailed the mannerisms and soul of a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who longed for stardom that Davis also felt confused. “I remember quietly telling [casting directors Kim Davis-Wagner and Justine Arteta] that while she was amazing, I needed a real actress. My whole goal with the movie was to surround Britney with really talented actors,...

Exclusive: Kimiko Glenn, the actress best known for her award-winning work on Netflix’s acclaimed series Orange Is the New Black, has signed with Artists First for management.

On Jenji Kohan’s groundbreaking Netflix series, centered on happenings within a minimum-security New York prison, Glenn played inmate Brook Soso. She joined the show in Season 2 and by the time it had aired all seven seasons, claimed three Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Most recently, Glenn has been seen on ABC’s The Goldbergs, Facebook Watch’s Sacred Lies, Hulu’s History of the World Part II, Michelle Obama’s Netflix series Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant, and Doug Ellin’s Ramble On opposite Martin & Charlie Sheen and Kevin Connolly. She was previously a series regular for three seasons on YouTube Originals’ Streamy Award winner, Liza on Demand.

Other TV credits for Glenn include a series...

The Writers Guild of America West’s officers have spoken out against the Hamas terror attacks, following weeks of maintaining a controversial group silence. In an email sent to members on Tuesday morning, which TheWrap has obtained, the guild’s officers stated, “All of us in Guild leadership are horrified by the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th.” The statement was signed by President Meredith Stiehm, VP Michele Mulroney and Secretary-Treasurer Betsy Thomas.

The Hamas strikes against Israel left over 1,400 dead with hundreds taken hostage. Israel responded by hitting Gaza repeatedly with heavy airstrike bombardments that have left thousands killed and plunged the region into chaos.

“The murder of so many innocent people in Israel is an abomination,” the WGA leaders further noted Tuesday. “We deeply mourn the deaths of innocent Palestinians ensnared in the violence in Gaza. We feel for all our members who have been affected, directly and indirectly.

The Screenwriters Guild of Israel called out the Writers Guild of America over their reluctance to release a consensus statement condemning the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.

The WGA board has faced heavy criticism over the union failing to join SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America in condemning the attacks.

“It is a damn shame that a professional writers’ guild decides to withhold words. To keep utterly silent. To not take a stand. Well, your silence is considered a stand, picking a side. A shame,” the Israeli Screenwriters Guild wrote a statement posted to social media Sunday.

English follows:

בעוד אנחנו, חברנו וחברותנו מלווים משפחות בלוויות, מחזיקים אצבעות ומתפללים להחזרתם של החטופים והחטופות ולשלומם של כל חיילנו וחיילותינו, בניהם כמובן גם תסריטאים ותסריטאיות אשר נמצאים בחזית המלחמה, בהתנדבות ובעורף האזרחי, נאלצנו גם לכתוב את המכתב המצורף. pic.twitter.com/qL5yJJ7VpP

— Screenwriters Guild of Israel – איגוד התסריטאים (@IgudHatasritaim...

The Screenwriters of Guild of Israel has sharply criticized the Writers Guild of America for failing to weigh in on the Oct. 7 attacks by the Hamas terrorist organization in southern Israel, which led to the deaths of around 1,400 people, mostly civilians.

“Your silence is loud and clear and completely contrasted by the loud support demanded from the Sgi and their members just a few weeks ago,” the sister guild said in a statement.

The WGA board has faced criticism from within its own U.S. membership for failing to join other guilds, including SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America, in condemning the Hamas attack. “It is a damn shame that a professional writers’ guild decides to withhold words. To keep utterly silent. To not take a stand. Well, your silence is considered a stand, picking a side. A shame,” the Israeli screenwriters guild stated.

The WGA’s board appears...

Exclusive: The Writers Guild of America’s silence on the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel looks to be the only statement they’ll be making, at least according to West Coast president Meredith Stiehm.

“In the past week, some members have requested that the Guild take a public stand on events in the Middle East,” WGA West boss and former Homeland EP today told showrunners and others who have sought a statement of support and condolence from their Guild similar to what the DGA and SAG-AFTRA, plus Disney, Comcast, and many others have already said for the over 1400 killed by Hamas and the hundreds taken hostage. “Equally, many members have asked us to refrain from making any statement” Stiehm continued in the email sent out at around noon today.

Read the full email, entitled “Follow up to your outreach” from Wgaw president Meredith Stiehm below.

“The Board of Directors has...

An estimated 75 members of the Writers Guild of America met Friday afternoon for a 90-minute Zoom meeting that served as an outlet for their collective disappointment about their union’s silence after Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Showrunners including Hank Steinberg (Without a Trace), Howard Gordon (Homeland), Joel Fields (The Americans) and Marc Guggenheim (Legends of Tomorrow) attended the virtual gathering in which attendees expressed confusion about why the WGA, fresh off a nearly 150-day strike, has not joined other guilds including SAG-AFTRA and the DGA in condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack that killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians.

“It feels very much as if we all marched in solidarity for five months having our guild’s back and here they are not having ours,” Guggenheim told The Hollywood Reporter after the meeting.

Much of Friday’s meeting saw writers looking for answers about the WGA’s silence as it pertains to...

Exclusive: The Writers Guild of America hasn’t said anything publicly about the savage attack on Israel by terrorists on October 7, and a number of irate showrunners and others will be discussing that silence Friday.

Almost a week after dozens of high-profile WGA members put out an open letter reprimanding guild leadership for “when terrorists invaded Israel to murder, rape, and kidnap Jews… the Guild stayed silent,” guild members are getting together to say something more.

“The guild wants this to go away, but we aren’t going away — it is outrageous they’ve said nothing, absolutely outrageous,” one individual who plans on joining today’s virtual meeting told Deadline.

Chaired by American Soul creator Jonathan Prince, a Zoom meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Pt today to discuss why the WGA has been silent about Hamas’ onslaught against the Jewish state, which has left more than 1,400 dead and thousands injured.

Joel Fields, the showrunner of “The Americans,” blasted the Writers Guild of America on Wednesday for failing to issue a statement condemning the Hamas attack on Israel.

“The Writers Guild has failed us deeply,” Fields said. “For an organization that constantly puts out statements to make sure that it’s on the right side of history, it has sadly issued its statements through its silence.”

Fields was speaking on a panel at Variety’s Hollywood & Antisemitism Summit, presented by The Margaret & Daniel Loeb Foundation and Shine A Light.

His remarks followed up an open letter that was issued on Sunday, which argued that the WGA’s silence on the issue showed that it had “lost the plot.” Fields was among the signatories, as was Joe Weisberg, the creator of “The Americans,” along with Jerry Seinfeld, Eli Roth, Susannah Grant, Steven Levitan, Scott Frank, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Jenji Kohan and many others.

Exclusive: Isabella Ferreira, one of the young stars of Hulu’s recent teen dramedy Love, Victor, has signed with Innovative Artists for representation.

Set in the same universe as the hit 20th Century Fox film Love, Simon, based on the novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Love, Victor wrapped up a three-season run on the streamer last summer. Created by Love, Simon scribes Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, who also served as showrunners, the show follows the journey of Victor, a high school student coming to terms with his sexuality while navigating the ups and downs of love, family, and friendships.

Starring alongside Michael Cimino as Victor, as well as Ana Ortiz, James Martinez, Rachel Naomi Hilson and others, Ferreira played the role of Pilar, Victor’s sullen younger sister in the throws of teenage angst.

The 20-year-old Philadelphia native also recently starred alongside Rowan Blanchard and Auli’i Cravalho in Crush,...

A group of writers penned an open letter calling out the Writers Guild of America for remaining silent following the Israel-Hamas War, despite SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America putting out statements denouncing the Hamas terrorist attacks.

The writers — including Eli Roth, Jenji Kohan, Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Sherman-Palladino and many more — pointed out that the WGA has always supported causes like Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement.

“But when terrorists invaded Israel to murder, rape, and kidnap Jews…the Guild stayed silent,” the letter reads. “We are a group of screenwriters who wish to clearly and forcefully condemn the heinous crimes committed by Hamas against innocent civilians.”

The letter continues, “The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people is complex and full of nuance, but the crimes committed on October 7th were simple and cruel. If we cannot stand up to call it what it is — a monstrous...

In a strong sign of support of Israel from Hollywood, more than 700 figures from the entertainment industry have signed an open letter to condemn Hamas and demand the safe return of hostages being held in Gaza.

The letter is the first major move from the entertainment industry, as Israel has been under attack.

Released by the nonprofit Creative Community for Peace, the letter has been signed by celebrities and Hollywood leaders including Gal Gadot, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer, Michael Douglas, Jerry Seinfeld, Debra Messing, Ryan Murphy, Greg Berlanti, Haim Saban, Irving Azoff, Ynon Kreiz, Mark Hamill, Howie Mandel, Bella Thorne, Antoine Fuqua and more.

The open letter calls on the entertainment community at large to speak out forcefully against Hamas, to support Israel, to refrain from sharing misinformation about the war and to do whatever is in their power to urge Hamas terrorists...

Exclusive: Veteran executive and producer Nina Wolarsky, who helped put Netflix on the original series map, has joined Plan B Entertainment as the company’s first ever President of Television.

The high profile hire signals a major television expansion following Mediawan’s acquisition of a majority stake in Brad Pitt’s Plan B last December.

Known for its formidable film portfolio, which includes three Best Picture nominees and one winner, 12 Years a Slave, Plan B had ventured into television with such projects as the Emmy-winning HBO movie The Normal Heart and the Emmy-nominated HBO movie Nightingale and Prime Video series The Underground Railroad.

The company telegraphed its growing ambitions in the TV space two years ago with the hire of Scott Free’s Carina Sposato and Netflix’s Ernest McNealey as Plan B’s first dedicated, senior-level TV executives. The duo will now be part of Wolarsky’s team.

As the SAG-AFTRA strike continues, several actors have come forward to share their residual checks. Streaming residuals stand as a major point of concern for both the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America.

WGA captain Caroline Renard shared a TikTok from “P-Valley” star Brandee Evans. In the video, which was posted in May prior to the latest strike, Evans shares three residual checks from SAG-AFTRA. The first two checks are for $3.99 and $4.67, respectively, and the third one is for $0.01.

Evans plays series lead Mercedes Woodbine on the Starz original and has appeared in 17 of 18 episodes of the GLAAD and TCA-nominated series.

@therealbrandee

Happy Birthday week to me!!!! #VoteYes @sagaftra I’m about to turn up on Friday with these checks! #SagAftra #SagAftraStrong #SagAftraStrike @SAG-AFTRA

♬ original sound – Brandee Evans

The trend of highlighting these residual posts started in earnest last Saturday when a TikTok from “Orange Is the New Black...

Orange Is the New Black helped put Netflix on the map. Now, several of the supporting stars on the trailblazing prison dramedy are looking back on the show’s breakout and continued success to ask why they weren’t fairly compensated.

Their questions, coming as the Jenji Kohan-created series celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its July 11, 2013, premiere, surfaced in a New Yorker story published ahead of SAG-AFTRA announcing an actors strike after the union failed to reach a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) group of studios and streamers. And many of the Oitnb castmembers’ woes reflect the issues at heart of the tense negotiations between SAG and the AMPTP.

Ten Oitnb recurring stars (some who were later upped to series regulars) — including Kimiko Glenn, Alysia Reiner, Beth Dover, Emma Myles, Diane Guerrero, Taryn Manning and Lea DeLaria — spoke with writer Michael Schulman about...

Jenji Kohan’s Orange Is the New Black premiered 10 years ago. It can be hard to remember just how different TV was a decade ago. Original programming on Netflix and Hulu was so new that people didn’t know what Oitnb was — they called it a “web series”. Of course, that terminology was short-lived as Oitnb and its contemporaries ushered in today’s streaming era. But helping launch Netflix originals isn’t Orange Is the New Black’s real legacy. After all, House of Cards was first on that front and is not remembered as fondly.

Showtime‘s new direction of spinoffs and revivals is underway as a Nurse Jackie and Weeds sequel is now in the works from Lionsgate Television. According to network reps, both series are in early development, with the original leads, Edie Falco and Mary-Louise Parker, set to reprise their starring roles with executive producer credits. Although the projects are still being negotiated, Nurse Jackie will be written and executive produced by Abe Sylvia and Liz Flahive, respectively, reenlisted from the original show. Meanwhile, Weeds will be written and executive produced by Christian Torpe, creator of the popular Danish series Rita, featuring the main character Nancy (Parker) in Copenhagen. A continuation of Weeds has been in the works for years, with a follow-up series previously announced in 2019 by writer Victoria Morrow. It was set to pick up with the Botwin family ten years after the events of the original series in an era of marijuana legalization.

Exclusive Updated: Showtime is looking to bring back two of its signature comedy series, Nurse Jackie and Weeds. Both hail from Lionsgate Television and former Showtime chief Robert Greenblatt who has a deal at the indie studio.

Reps for Showtime and Lionsgate would not comment but I hear the followups, now in early stages of development, have the original leads, Edie Falco and Mary-Louise Parker, attached to star and executive produce. Sources stress that the projects are still coming together and deals are being negotiated.

The Weeds revival would be written and executive produced by Christian Torpe, creator of the popular Danish series Rita, and would feature Nancy (Parker) in Copenhagen, I hear.

Meanwhile, I hear the Nurse Jackie sequel would be written/executive produced by Abe Sylvia and Liz Flahive who were writers-producers on the original series. The concept is still being finalized.

Greenblatt, who I hear came up...

It’s been nearly four years since we learned that a “Weeds” sequel series was in the works. When Variety exclusively broke the news of the revival in 2019, which was then at Starz, Mary-Louise Parker was set to executive produce and reprise her role as Nancy Botwin in the potential new series. But Justin Kirk, who played her charming and unfiltered brother-in-law Andy Botwin, isn’t so sure about it.

“Even as a fan, do you really want to see us all old and coming back? By the time of Season 8, I don’t think the general idea was, ‘We should keep doing this!'” he told Variety. “Look, I love those people, I love that character. I probably know as much as you do about any future reboots.”

In Variety‘s original report, the logline for the new “Weeds” was: “The new show picks up with the Botwin family...

Exclusive: Joey Soloway, the Emmy winner best known for creating, producing, directing and writing the groundbreaking Amazon series Transparent, has signed with Range Media Partners for management.

Inspired by the 2011 coming out of Soloway’s parent, Transparent charts the lives and personal journeys of the members of a Los Angeles family after they learn that their parent is a trans woman. The show was one of the first powerhouse originals to emerge out of Amazon, premiering to universal acclaim and going on to run for five seasons between 2014 and 2019. It in 2015 became Amazon Studios‘ first series to win major awards, as well as the first show produced by a streaming service to win a Golden Globe for Best Series, also over the course of time claiming eight Emmys from 24 nominations, another Globe, three Critics’ Choice Awards, a Peabody, four GLAAD Media Awards and numerous other accolades. Soloway personally collected two Emmys for directing,...