"Beauty and the Beast" series delay / Zucker and CNN+ / Apple Christian Dior series / "The Tourist" trailer

Plus the weekend calendar, AMC's "Dirty Black Bag," Peacock kids show line-up, "Law & Order" updates, and more

Inside.com Part of   Network February 11, 2022

Disney+ delayed the "Beauty and the Beast" prequel series for "creative reasons." The start date on the shoot had already been pushed from early spring to summer; once it became clear that it could not be pushed again due to scheduling conflicts and weather concerns, plans were suspended indefinitely. More: Sources within the production told Deadline that Disney+ decided not to move forward with the show because of issues with creative elements, including the scripts and original music. Luke Evans and Josh Gad plan to reprise their roles from the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" film remake -- as Gaston and LeFou, specifically -- should the series move forward. The show was developed and written by Gad along with "Once Upon a Time" vets Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz; the three would serve collectively as showrunners. DEADLINE

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the departure of former CNN chief Jeff Zucker has complicated plans for the CNN+ streaming service. Zucker was apparently a major advocate for the service at WarnerMedia, and had been instrumental in developing the new streamer's line-up and editorial voice. More: Though CNN+ was originally introduced as a standalone service, WarnerMedia executives are reportedly now thinking about offering it in a "bundle" along with HBO Max. Any current decisions about CNN+ will likely be revisited later this year, should the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger go through as planned. One source told THR that Zucker had planned to exit CNN at the end of 2021, but remained specifically so he could oversee the CNN+ launch. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11 MARRY ME: Romantic musical comedy-drama from Universal Pictures, starring Jennifer Lopez as a pop star who's betrayed by her celebrity partner (Maluma) and spontaneously decides to marry a stranger (Owen Wilson) sees holding a "Marry Me" sign at one of her concerts. The film is based on a graphic novel by Bobby Crosby, and was directed by "Girls5eva" vet Kat Coiro. It's being simultaneously released today to Peacock and movie theaters. [Peacock] DOLLFACE: Comedy series from first-time creator Jordan Weiss, starring Kat Dennings as a young woman who rekindles her long-dormant female friendships after a bad breakup. Brenda Song, Shay Mitchell, and Esther Povitsky co-star. It's back for a second season. [Hulu] INVENTING ANNA: Nine-episode limited series from "Bridgerton" and "Scandal" mastermind Shonda Rhimes, starring "Ozark" vet Julia Garner as New York socialite and con artist Anna Delvey. The series is based on Jessica Pressler's New York article "How Anna (Sorokin) Delvey Tricked New York's Party People"; Anna Chulmsky co-stars as a journalist based on Pressler. The cast also includes Katie Lowes, Laverne Cox, Arian Moayed, Anders Holm, and Anna Deavere Smith. [Netflix] LOVE IS BLIND: The reality dating series -- in which couples get to know one another, and agree to get engaged, before ever meeting face to face -- returns for a second season. Nick and Vanessa Lachey co-host. [Netflix] TALL GIRL 2: Sequel to the 2019 teen romantic comedy "Tall Girl," in which Jodi Kreyman (Ava Michelle) struggles to find balance amidst her sudden brush with high school popularity. Griffin Gluck, Sabrina Carpenter, Steve Zahn, and Angela Kinsey co-star; Emily Ting ("Go Back to China") steps in as director. [Netflix] BIGBUG: French-language sci-fi comedy feature from co-writer/director Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("Amélie") about a group of bickering suburbanites who are imprisoned by their own supposedly helpful household robots. Dominique Pinon, Elsa Zylberstein, André Dussollier, Alban Lenoir, Isabelle Nanty, and Claude Perron co-star. [Netflix] LOVE AND LEASHES: Romantic comedy feature from South Korea, based on the webcomic "Moral Sense" by Gyeoul. K-pop sensations Seohyun and Lee Jun-young co-star as colleagues who experiment together with bondage play following an office delivery mix-up. [Netflix] TOY BOY: The crime drama series from Spain -- about a male stripper (Jesús Mosquera) who's released from prison after being framed for murder -- returns to Netflix for a second season. [Netflix] ANNE+: THE FILM: Dutch-language coming-of-age drama -- a follow-up to the TV series of the same title -- in which recent Amsterdam university graduate Anne (Hanna van Vliet) prepares to upend her life by moving to Montreal along with her girlfriend, Sara (Jouman Fattal). Van Vliet co-wrote the script along with director Valerie Bisscheroux. [Netflix] LOVE TACTICS (ASK TAKTIKLERI): Romantic comedy feature from Turkey about an ad executive and fashion blogger competing to see who can convince the other to fall head over heels in love. Demet Özdemir and Sukru Ozyildiz co-star. [Netflix] I WANT YOU BACK: 2022 romantic comedy feature starring Charlie Day and Jenny Slate as vengeful thirty-somethings who team up to ruin their former partners' new relationships. Gina Rodriguez, Scott Eastwood, Manny Jacinto, and Dylan Gelula co-star. "This Is Us" showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger wrote the script; Jason Orley ("Big Time Adolescence") directed. [Amazon] SOFIA NIÑO DE RIVERA: LO VOLVERÍA A HACER: The comedian's new Spanish-language special was recorded at the Gramercy Theater in New York during her pandemic-delayed eight-city US tour. [Amazon] THE IN BETWEEN: 2022 romantic fantasy-drama feature starring Joey King as a teen who believes that her dead boyfriend (Kyle Allen) is attempting to make contact with her from the afterlife. Arie Posin ("The Chumscrubber") directs. [Paramount+] THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE: Coming-of-age drama film from director Josephine Decker ("Shirley"), based on the novel by Jandy Nelson (who also wrote the adaptation). Grace Kaufman stars as a shy teen with musical ambitions who's trying to find herself in the aftermath of her older sister's tragic death. Jason Segel, Cherry Jones, Pico Alexander, and Jacques Colimon co-star. [Apple TV+] PRETZEL AND THE PUPPIES: Debut animated series for young kids, inspired by the classic book "Pretzel" by "Curious George" creators Margret and H.A. Rey. It's about a family of dachshunds, led by stay-at-home dad Pretzel (Mark Duplass) and mom Greta (Nasim Pedrad), the mayor of their hometown of Muttgomery. [Apple TV+] EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALL WHITE: Three-part docuseries from filmmaker Sacha Jenkins ("You're Watching Video Music Box"), exploring the history of race in America from the perspective of people of color. Interviewees include Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Jemele Hill, Amanda Seales, Margaret Cho, and Dr. Nick Estes. [Showtime] ANTLERS: 2021 horror drama feature from co-writer/director Scott Cooper ("Hostiles"), starring Keri Russell as a small-town Oregon teacher who, along with her sheriff brother (Jesse Plemons), gets drawn into a dark mystery by an enigmatic student (Jeremy T. Thomas). [HBO Max] FIRST TIME FIXER: Reality DIY series from Magnolia in which first-time home renovators recount their experiences and relate the lessons they've learned along the way, with occasional help from mentors Chip and Joanna Gaines. Season 3 debuts on Discovery+ today. [Discovery+] RUSSIA'S WILD TIGER: Nature special from National Geographic Wild tracking a group of Siberian tigers in eastern Russia as they face threats including habitat loss and poaching. [Disney+] JOE BOB'S HEARTBREAK TRAILER PARK: New holiday special from the "Last Drive-In" team, including a double-feature of films that explore the heartbreaking side of Valentine's Day. Hosts Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl will be joined by a number of special guests. [Shudder] SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 PROFILED: THE BLACK MAN: Docuseries from Discovery+, OWN, and producer Tina Knowles-Larson, looking at widely-held American stereotypes about Black men, and the devastating impact they've had throughout US history. Interviewees include Knowles-Larson, DeRay Mckesson, Tamika Mallory, Sway Calloway, Billy Porter, and others; Tristan "Mack" Wilds hosts. [Discovery+] THE CABINS: Debut reality dating series in which prospective couples move into a log cabin together, and must decide every 24 hours if they want to extend their stay or pack up and go home. [Discovery+] PUPPY BOWL PRESENTS: PUPPY MANIA: Reality competition special in which various pups compete for the Puppy Mania Trophy. Former NFL running back Rashad Jennings will judge; Kym Whitley hosts. [Discovery+] FORECASTING LOVE AND WEATHER: Debut workplace comedy series from Korea about the lives and loves of a group of colleagues working for the government's weather service. Park Min-young, Song Kang, Yoon Park, and Yura co-star. [Netflix] TWENTY FIVE TWENTY ONE: Another freshman series from Korea, this romantic drama relates the epic love story between champion high school fencer Na Hee-Do (Kim Tae-Ri) and a once-wealthy heir (Nam Joo-Hyuk) whose family has fallen on hard times. [Netflix] SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 SUPER BOWL LVI: This year's NFL Championship Game between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals will stream live on Peacock from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, starting at 12 pm PT. The halftime show features Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. [Peacock] BEL-AIR: Jabari Banks stars in this re-imagining of the classic '90s sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" as an hour-long drama, as a teen from West Philadelphia who experiences culture shock after moving in with wealthy Los Angeles relatives. Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, and Jimmy Akingbola co-star. [Peacock] MY PACK LIFE: Debut reality series following Lee Asher as he builds a modern-day dog sanctuary on 25 acres in Oregon, then travels the country along with 15 rescue dogs to promote animal adoption. [Discovery+]

Mendelsohn, Dior, Bincohe, and Chanel Apple TV+ ordered the period drama series "The New Look," charting the rise of fashion icon Christian Dior. Ben Mendelsohn will star as Dior; Juliette Binoche is also attached to play Coco Chanel. More: "Bloodline" and "Damages" vet Todd A. Kessler created the series, and will write and direct; it's the first project to emerge from his new partnership with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. The series will film exclusively in Paris, and will depict a number of notable French designers of the post-WWII era, including Balmain, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, and Yves Saint Laurent. Binoche will also be seen in HBO Max's "The Staircase," a scripted show based on the classic true-crime series. DEADLINE

"The Tourist" NEW TRAILERS THE TOURIST: Limited series from the UK starring Jamie Dornan ("Belfast") as a British man who wakes up in an Australian hospital with no memory, only to find that he's being pursued by people from his past whom he doesn't recognize. The cast includes Danielle Macdonald, Shalon Brune-Franklin, Damon Herriman, and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. It arrives on March 3. [HBO Max] THAT DIRTY BLACK BAG: English-language Spaghetti Western drama series from Italian filmmaker Mauro Aragoni and Irish director Brian O'Malley, about the violent, protracted conflict between a sheriff (Dominic Cooper) and a bounty hunter (Douglas Booth). The series comes to AMC+ on March 10. [AMC+]

"Abominable" Peacock announced a number of new animated series for young viewers. The line-up includes sequel series following up on the DreamWorks Animation features "Megamind" and "Abominable." More: "Megamind's Guide to Defending Your City" finds the former supervillain attempting to reinvent himself as the world's first "superhero influencer"; original writers Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons will executive produce the series. The comic adventure series "Abominable and the Invisible City" finds Everest the Yeti, Yi, Jin, and Peng seeking out more hidden mythological and magical creatures. New series will include "Press Start!," based on the Scholastic book franchise; "Team Mekbots: Animal Rescue," about kids from around the globe who design robots that help them rescue animals in need; and the educational series "Dino Pops," which employs comedy hijinks to teach kids about dinosaurs. The streamer also renewed the preschool-focused musical series "Babble Bop!" for a second season. DEADLINE

Classic "Law & Order" CASTING UPDATES LAW & ORDER: While speaking with Variety, returning star Sam Waterston indicated that a previously-unannounced veteran will also be returning for NBC's new revival series. Waterston said: "There is a person coming back in the first show, one of my favorite people on Earth. I'm not allowed to tell who that is but you'll be glad when you see her." The procedural series returns on February 24. [NBC / Peacock] IMMIGRANT: The Hulu limited series about the founding of Chippendales added Grammy winner and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells to its cast. He'll play a wealthy investor in the dance troupe who's also a love interest for producer/choreographer Nick De Noia (Murray Bartlett). Rannells will also be seen in the upcoming second season of Peacock's "Girls5eva." [Hulu] THE PATIENT: David Alan Grier took a major recurring role in the upcoming FX half-hour limited series "The Patient" from "Americans" creators Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields. Steve Carell stars as a therapist being held prisoner by a serial killer (Domhnall Gleeson) who's desperate to cure for his homicidal urges; no details were announced on Grier's role. [FX / Hulu]

"Kin" During the Television Critics Association (TCA) winter press tour, AMC announced renewals for six series across all of its various brands and platforms. The list includes "Kin," "Bloodlands," "My Life is Murder," "London Kills," "Creepshow" and "Slasher." More: The Irish gang drama series "Kin" stars Charlie Cox and 2022 Oscar nominee Ciarán Hinds, and streams on the AMC+ service. "Bloodlands," another Irish crime thriller, will return for second and third seasons on Acorn TV; James Nesbitt stars as DCI Tom Brannick, who moonlights as an assassin known as "Goliath." The mystery series "My Life is Murder" also streams on Acorn TV, and hails from New Zealand; Lucy Lawless stars as a retired detective who nonetheless presses on with her own investigations. The British police procedural series "London Kills" was renewed for third and fourth seasons at Acorn; it stars Hugo Speer as DCI David Bradford. The horror anthology series "Creepshow" will return to Shudder for a fourth season, while the new season of Shudder's "Slasher" franchise will be subtitled "Ripper," and set in the late 19th Century. AMC also announced a line-up of new live-action series and an animated "Better Call Saul" spin-off titled "Slippin' Jimmy." VARIETY

QUICK HITS 3D technology is changing the future of eCommerce. Threedium has just launched the most powerful low-code 3D & AR engine in the world.* Netflix has started informing viewers that its collection of live-action series inspired by Marvel Comics -- including "Daredevil," "Luke Cage," and "Jessica Jones" -- will leave the platform on March 1. "Walking Dead" star Norman Reedus, the Jim Henson Company, and "The Dark Crystal" vets Brian and Wendy Froud are co-developing a new family TV series, featuring a line-up of original creatures. According to Entertainment Weekly, negotiations between "Futurama" producers and voice actor John DiMaggio have hit a standstill regarding the new revival series, and a new voice actor is being sought to portray Bender the robot. "Los Espookys" co-creator and star Julio Torres signed a two-year deal to produce content for HBO and HBO Max; he already has two projects -- "Little Films" and "Lucky" -- in development at the network and streamer. "Inventing Anna" star Julia Garner said she's unconcerned whether or not Anna Sorokin -- whose crimes while posing as socialite "Anna Delvey" inspired the series -- watches the show. Production has begun on Season 2 of the Spanish cult horror series "30 Coins"; the show, from filmmaker Alex de la Iglesia, streams on HBO Max in the US. According to Page Six, "My Unorthodox Life" star Julia Haart was fired as CEO of Elite World Group, and filed for divorce from husband Silvio Scaglia, within a matter of hours this week, as cameras rolled on the new season of her Netflix reality series. "BigBug," the new sci-fi comedy feature from French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, was apparently rejected by studios in his native country before being salvaged by Netflix. "Black Monday" vet Payman Benz will direct and executive produce four episodes of Netflix's workplace comedy series "Blockbuster," including the pilot; the show is set at the last open Blockbuster Video in the US, and stars Randall Park. Director Todd Strauss-Schulson signed to the Peacock "Pitch Perfect" spin-off series; he's previously worked twice with star Adam Devine, on the films "The Final Girls" and "Isn't It Romantic." Author Joe Hill ("Locke and Key," "NOS4A2") is developing a TV series based on his 2016 novel "The Fireman" in collaboration with Walden Media. Hundreds of thousands of investors are automating their money with this fintech platform.* *This is sponsored content

Lon Harris is the writer and editor of Inside Streaming and was the very first person to ever write an Inside newsletter. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and also writes about TV and film for Fandom, Screen Junkies, Rotten Tomatoes, Gamma Ray and others. Plus he has a Game of Thrones podcast called "Casterly Talk" and competes on The Movie Trivia Schmoedown as "The Professor." Editor Jonathan Harris is a writer for Inside.com. Previously, he wrote for The Huffington Post, TakePart.com, and the YouTube channel What’s Trending.

Click to Share ➞

767 Bryant St. #203, San Francisco, CA 94107 Copyright © 2022 Inside.com

Did someone forward this email to you? Head over to inside.com to get your very own free subscription! You received this email because you subscribed to Inside Streaming. Click here to unsubscribe from Inside Streaming list or manage your subscriptions.