Cavill joins "Warhammer" / Peacock strategy shift / Hulu's "1619 Project" / HBO responds to "Winning Time" suit

Plus the weekend calendar, HBO Max's "The Climb," "Fear Street 4" rumors, HBO's "Little Films," and more

Inside.com Part of   Network December 16, 2022

Actor Henry Cavill has been tapped to star in an Amazon Prime Video series based on the "Warhammer 40,000" board game and sci-fi franchise. The actor recently exited his lead role on the Netflix fantasy drama "The Witcher"; he'll be replaced in that show's fourth season by actor Liam Hemsworth. More: Though it was rumored that Cavill left "The Witcher" in order to star as Superman in more films for Warner Bros., new DC Studios chief James Gunn will instead reboot that character with a younger actor. Despite the change in plans at WB, Cavill reportedly won't return to playing Geralt of Rivia in "The Witcher." Instead, he's in talks to join the "Warhammer" series, which remains in early development. The games are set in a distant future in which humanity is locked in an endless war against magical creatures. Cavill is famously a big "Warhammer" fan who has frequently discussed his enthusiasm for the franchise. TV LINE

"Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin" After failing to gain traction with a comedy-heavy line-up in 2022, development executives at Peacock plan to shift strategy next year. The team, led by NBCUniversal's head of TV and streaming content Susan Rovner, will focus more on scripted dramas and "event series," along with true-crime and celebrity-driven shows on the unscripted side. More: Peacock launched with a number of high-profile comedy series, including "Saved by the Bell," "Punky Brewster," "Rutherford Falls," and "Girls5Eva," none of which remain in active development at the network. New shows in development include the reality dating series "Queen's Court"; a thriller series from "Yellowstone" writer Ian McCulloch and genre director James Wan; and a true-crime docuseries about the Zodiac Killer. Deadline also reported that the comedy series "Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin" may survive the strategy shift and get renewed for a second season. NBCU is apparently also searching for a big-budget event series with breakout potential, on the scale of "House of the Dragon," "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," or "Stranger Things." DEADLINE

WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 BLACK ADAM: 2022 superhero film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the DC Comics anti-hero, a slave from the ancient kingdom of Khandaq who's resurrected in the present day with god-like power. While Adam battles the villainous Intergang, which has seized control of present-day Khandaq, the Justice Society of America intervenes hoping to restore order. Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, and Pierce Brosnan co-star. [HBO Max] RANCH TO TABLE: Combo reality and cooking series following cattle rancher and entrepreneur Elizabeth Poett as she manages her family's 14,000-acre property, while also preparing regional delicacies utilizing fresh, local ingredients. Season 3 premieres today on the Magnolia cable network, along with Discovery+ and HBO Max. [HBO Max / Discovery+] MARTIN: THE REUNION SPECIAL: The 30th-anniversary reunion special -- bringing together "Martin" cast members Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, and Carl Anthony Payne II -- debuted over the summer on BET+ and comes to HBO Max today. Snoop Dogg, Tracy Morgan, La'Andria Johnson, and Brian McKnight make guest appearances; Affion Crockett hosts. [HBO Max] STOREFRONT STORIES: Debut travel series from Magnolia Network in which shopkeepers from around the US share the unique history and stories behind their retail spaces. [Discovery+] FROM THE SOURCE: In this culinary docuseries, chef and restauranteur Kate Button explores the origins and stories behind various foods and ingredients. Season 3 hits Discovery+ today. [Discovery+] HI I'M... HAKKI AKDENIZ: The latest entry in Discovery's ongoing "Hi I'm..." biographical series profiles the Kurdish-American entrepreneur and acrobatic pizza thrower, an immigrant to the US who founded New York's successful Champion Pizza chain. [Discovery+] BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS: Spanish-language comedy-drama feature from Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu ("Birdman," "The Revenant"), starring Daniel Gimémez Cacho as a journalist and documentarian in the midst of an existential crisis who goes on an introspective, surreal journey of self-discovery. [Netflix] THE VOLCANO: RESCUE FROM WHAKAARI: Documentary chronicling the devastating volcanic eruption on New Zealand's White Island in 2019, in which 22 lives were lost. The film features eyewitness testimony from survivors and focuses on the heroic efforts by first responders and civilians alike to save lives. Rory Kennedy ("Ghosts of Abu Ghraib," "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing") directed. [Netflix] THE RECRUIT: Debut spy thriller series starring "To All the Boys..." vet Noah Centineo as newly-hired CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks. After he gets mixed up with a former asset who could threaten the agency, Owen finds himself at the center of a vast conspiracy. Aarti Mann, Vondi Curtis-Hall, Kristian Bruun, Laura Haddock, Colton Dunn, and Fivel Stewart co-star; Alexi Hawley ("The Rookie") created. [Netflix] DANCE MONSTERS: Innovative dance competition series in which amateur contestants perform via motion capture technology, appearing before the judges as a variety of colorful animated animals and creatures. Pussycat Dolls vet Ashley Roberts hosts; judges include Ne-Yo, Lele Pons, and Ashley Banjo. [Netflix] PARADISE PD: The adult animated comedy series from "Brickleberry" vets Waco O'Guin and Roger Black -- about the exploits of an inept small-town police department -- returns on Friday for its fourth and final season. [Netflix] COOK AT ALL COSTS: In this combination game show and cooking competition series, home cooks manage a budget and bid on special ingredients while attempting to create dishes that will wow a panel of celebrity guest judges. [Netflix] A STORM FOR CHRISTMAS: Limited holiday comedy-drama series from Norway about a group of busy travelers who get stranded together at Oslo airport with just 24 hours left to go before Christmas. Dennis Storhøi, Valter Skarsgård, Hanna Ardéhn, Ida Elisa Broch, and Jon Øigarden co-star; Per-Olav Sørenson created the series and directed all six episodes. [Netflix] SUMMER JOB: The Gen Z subjects of this debut Italian reality series were told they were being flown to a tropical paradise for a dream vacation. Upon arriving, however, they're informed that to keep the trip going, they'll have to secure local employment. [Netflix] FAR FROM HOME: Five-part coming-of-age drama series from Nigeria, starring Mike Afolarin as a teenager from a poor family who's offered a prestigious scholarship to an elite school serving the 1%. However, his new social position is threatened by a dangerous secret from his past. [Netflix] PRIVATE LESSON: Turkish romantic comedy feature starring Bensu Soral as a tutor who focuses on helping her students with their personal lives, not just their schoolwork. [Netflix] METALLICA PRESENTS: HELPING HANDS CONCERT: Live concert special streaming from Los Angeles' Microsoft Theater, benefitting Metallica's All Within My Hands foundation, which combats food insecurity and aids victims of natural disasters worldwide. The show opens with a set by guest Greta Van Fleet, followed by a "unique performance" from Metallica; Jimmy Kimmel hosts. The stream kicks off at 5:30 pm PT. [Paramount+] SNOW DAY: Musical remake of the 2000 comedy feature, about a group of kids who break out of their usual routines and take big risks when a surprise blizzard shuts down their school for the day. Michaela Russell, Shelby Simmons, Fabi Aguirre, Laura Bell Bundy, and Rob Huebel co-star; Jerry Trainer takes over the role of Snowplowman. [Paramount+] BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A 30th CELEBRATION: Two-hour ABC special commemorating the 30th anniversary of Disney's animated musical "Beauty and the Beast," including original performances of some of the film's most memorable songs. H.E.R. and Josh Groban co-star as Belle and The Beast; Joshua Henry, Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones, Martin Short, David Alan Grier, Shania Twain, and Leo Abelo Perry will also make appearances. The show aired Thursday night on ABC and hits Disney+ on Friday. [Disney+] IF THESE WALLS COULD SING: Original documentary feature chronicling the history of London's Abbey Road Studios, where a number of classic albums -- including The Beatles' "Abbey Road" and Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" -- were recorded. The film features insights from John Williams, Elton John, Paul McCartney, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Jimmy Page, Noel and Liam Gallagher, and others; Mary McCartney (Paul's daughter!) directed. [Disney+] THE PUPILS (LE PUPILLE): Half-hour live-action short from Italy, about a rebellious group of girls living at a strict Catholic boarding school in the weeks heading into Christmas. Alice Rohrwacher ("Happy as Lazzaro") directed; Alfonso Cuarón produced. [Disney+] NANNY: 2022 horror film from first-time writer/director Nikyatu Jusu, which won the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival. (It's the first horror film ever to win the award.) Anna Diop stars as an undocumented Senegalese immigrant working as a nanny in New York whose career and future plans are violently interrupted. Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls, and Morgan Spector co-star. [Amazon] ABOUT FATE: 2022 direct-to-VOD rom-com, based on the 1976 Soviet TV film "The Irony of Fate." Emma Roberts and Thomas Mann co-star as a couple that's fated to be together, but can't seem to actually work things out over the course of a stormy and chaotic New Year's Eve. Madelaine Petsch, Lewis Tan, and Britt Robertson co-star. [Amazon] LOL: LAST ONE LAUGHING MEXICO: The unscripted Spanish-language comedy series locks a group of comedians in the "LOL House" for six hours, challenging them not to laugh at one another's outrageous antics. Season 5 cast members include Eugenio Derbez, Capi Pérez, Liliana "La Chupitos" Arriaga, El Diablito, Slobotzky, and Ricardo Peralta. [Amazon] LITVINENKO: 4-part British limited series, produced for the UK's ITVX streaming service, based on the life of former Russian intelligence operative and defector Alexander Litvinenko (David Tennant). The series centers on the investigation by his wife Marina Litvinenko (Margarita Levieva) and the London police into the individuals responsible for his 2006 poisoning with Polonium-210. [AMC+ / Sundance Now] THE APOLOGY: 2022 thriller starring Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad") as a recovering alcoholic who's getting ready to host a family Christmas celebration when her estranged ex-brother-in-law (Linus Roache) shows up unannounced, looking to impart a dark secret. Janeane Garofalo co-stars; newcomer Alison Locke wrote and directed. [AMC+ / Shudder] I LOVE MY DAD: Semi-autobiographical 2022 comedy feature from writer/director James Morosini, starring Patton Oswalt as a father who's so desperate to reconnect with his estranged son (Morosini), he "catfishes" the boy by posing on social media as a waitress named Becca. Claudia Sulewski, Rachel Dratch, Lil Rel Howery, and Amy Landecker co-star. [Hulu] COLLIDE: 2022 thriller, set over the course of a single evening, tracing the intersecting lives of a group of characters who all pass through the same busy Los Angeles restaurant. Ryan Phillippe, Jim Gaffigan, Kat Graham, and Drea de Matteo co-star; Mukunda Michael Dewil ("The Immaculate Room") co-wrote and directed. [Hulu] HOLIDAY HERITAGE: Holiday romantic drama from Hallmark, starring Lyndie Greenwood as a woman who returns to her hometown for Christmas and Kwanzaa celebrations, hoping to heal the divide with her estranged family. Holly Robinson Peete, Brooks Darnell, and Darlene Cooke co-star. [Peacock] CHRISTMAS AROUND THE USA: Hour-long CW holiday special exploring Christmas traditions from various regions around the US, with a focus on festive seasonal displays. Dean Cain and Laura McKenzie co-host. [CW] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17 FIVE MORE MINUTES: MOMENTS LIKE THESE: 2022 holiday drama from Hallmark, inspired by the Scotty McCreery song "Five More Minutes," starring Ashley Williams as a young widow whose Christmas wish for her son gets answered in an unexpected way. Lucas Bryant co-stars. [Peacock] 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: Another Hallmark holiday feature, this one stars Torrey DeVitto as a former actress who takes charge of her town's annual Christmas Eve play. Zane Holtz co-stars. [Peacock] JAMIE VS. BRITNEY: THE FATHER DAUGHTER TRIALS: Original Discovery+ docuseries chronicling the legal battle between pop star Britney Spears and her father, Jamie Spears, who had controversially been granted conservatorship over his daughter and exercised control over her personal life and finances. [Discovery+] THE 90th ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE: The annual parade features floats and balloons, marching bands, equestrians, celebrity guests, and of course, a visit from Santa Claus. This year's Grand Marshal was Danny Trejo. [CW] SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 1923: The latest "Yellowstone" spinoff -- a prequel to the main series, and a sequel to "1883" -- centers around members of the Dutton family during the Prohibition era, as the country was on the verge of the Great Depression. Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Sebastian Roché, Darren Mann, Michelle Rudolph, James Badge Dale, Marley Shelton, and Timothy Dalton co-star. Taylor Sheridan ("Yellowstone," "Tulsa King") created the series. [Paramount+] WHEN CHRISTMAS WAS YOUNG: Romantic comedy feature from CBS starring Tyler Hilton as a music manager attempting to secure the rights to a Christmas song written by a talented singer-songwriter (Karen David) with whom he shares some personal history. Sheryl Crow wrote original songs for the film and executive produced. [Paramount+] iHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL: Musical concert special compiling performances from this year's Jingle Ball tour, which features Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Jack Harlow, Sam Smith, Pitbull, Charlie Puth, Black Eyed Peas, Demi Lovato, and others. The show aired Saturday night on CW and hits the website and app today. [CW] MAGNOLIA WORKSHOPS: Series of workshop-style courses, produced for cable's Magnolia Network, offering viewers expert tutorials on topics like growing flowers, painting, and styling your home. [Discovery+] HANUKKAH ON RYE: Hallmark holiday rom-com about a brand-new Jewish couple -- united by a matchmaker -- whose romance is threatened when they discover they own rival delicatessens. Jeremy Jordan, Yael Grobglas, and Lisa Loeb co-star. [Peacock] THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON: 2021 Western drama feature from writer/director Leah Purcell, who also stars in the title role as a pregnant mother living with her four children in the Australian Outback of the late 19th Cenutry. Rob Collins and Malachi Dower-Roberts co-star. [Hulu]

Hulu and Onyx Collective's six-part docuseries "The 1619 Project" arrives on January 26. The series builds on ideas first introduced by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones in The New York Times Magazine. More: Hannah-Jones will host the series herself, and also serves as an executive producer. "The 1619 Project" examines American history from a new perspective, placing the institution of slavery and its present-day consequences at the center of the narrative. Episodes -- including "Democracy," "Race," "Music," and "Capitalism" -- are based on essays originally written by Hannah-Jones for The Times and example how contemporary American life was shaped by slavery and its legacy. Oprah Winfrey produced through her company, Harpo Films. VARIETY

HBO responded to a lawsuit brought by a former production health advisor on the sports drama series "Winning Time." In her lawsuit, Georgia Hasse alleges that she was terminated for speaking out against problems with a COVID testing vendor that the production had employed; HBO claims she was removed due to "misconduct." More: Hasse filed her suit in Los Angeles Superior Court in May, accusing HBO and the show's producers of wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation, age harassment, and intentional interference with contractual relations. She maintains that she discovered the official "Winning Time" coronavirus testing vendor, CineMedia, was charging the production for lab-based COVID tests while providing less expensive and inferior rapid tests, only to be told that the company had a special relationship with executive producer Kevin Messick.  According to HBO's response, Hesse's termination was prompted by complaints from several colleagues on a previous production, "Westworld." DEADLINE

HBO Max dropped a trailer for the new rock climbing reality competition series, "The Climb." "Aquaman" star and climbing enthusiast Jason Momoa produced the show along with legendary climber Chris Sharma. More: In the series, amateur climbers will put themselves to the test for a shot at a $100,000 grand prize and a pro climbing sponsorship. Champion climber and "American Ninja Warrior" vet Meagan Martin is also onhand to advise the competitiors. The show will feature the contestants attempting real climbs, including a 70-foot trip up the Patiasso al Pallaso in Spain. The series debuts on January 12. PEOPLE

According to the film blog Above the Line, Netflix has greenlit a new entry in the "Fear Street" horror movie franchise. Chloe Okuno, whose previous film was the 2022 psychological thriller "Watcher," has apparently been tapped to direct. More: Netflix released a trilogy of "Fear Street" films over the course of a few weeks in summer 2021; those entries were all co-written and directed by Leigh Janiak. The films are based on YA books from "Goosebumps" author R.L. Stine. Okuno also directed a segment of the anthology "V/H/S/94" and the Season 1 finale of Showtime's "Let the Right One In." ABOVE THE LINE

QUICK HITS Okta achieves hiring goals to support business growth using Greenhouse Recruiting. Find out how they win the best talent.* HBO greenlit the comedy series "Little Films" from star, creator, and director Julio Torres ("Los Espookys"); the unconventional story centers around Torres searching around New York for his lost golden oyster. Kathryn Hahn will star in a Hulu series based on Cheryl Strayed's book "Tiny Beautiful Things," compiling her "Dear Sugar" advice columns that were originally published in the online literary magazine The Rumpus; Strayed was previously portrayed on screen by Reese Witherspoon in a film based on her book "Wild." HBO Max renewed the comedy series "The Sex Lives of College Girls" for a third season; the second season, which wraps up next week, has ranked among HBO Max's most popular original series to date. The Amazon fantasy-comedy series "The Legend of Vox Machina" -- based on characters created for the tabletop role-playing series "Critical Role" -- returns for a second season on January 20. HBO Max and the CBC renewed the comedy series "Sort Of" for a third season. Netflix ordered the reality competition series "Outlast" from Jason Bateman's company Aggregate Films; the series follows 16 "lone wolves" who must find ways to work within teams in order to survive the harsh Alaskan wilderness. Netflix released early images from the upcoming romantic comedy feature "Your Place or Mine," starring Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher as best friends who decide to swap homes and lives for a week; the film arrives on February 10. Apple canceled the drama series "Shantaram" -- based on the epic novel by Gregory David Roberts, and starring Charlie Hunnam as an Australian fugitive starting a new life in the slums of '80s Bombay -- after a single season. JetBlue named Peacock as its exclusive streaming partner; all passengers will get access to a free-to-view selection of Peacock programming, including previews of upcoming shows, while Peacock subscribers can enjoy free Wifi access to the platform's full catalog. "Shazam" vet Jack Dylan Grazer joined the cast of Disney+'s "The Spiderwick Chronicles" series; he'll provide the voice of a "boggart" known as Thimbletack. Ready to streamline security and accelerate growth? Check out Vanta’s demo-on-demand for an insider look at how scaling startups get compliant quickly.* *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 Eduardo Garcia is a writer and editor based in New York. He is the author of "Things You Can Do," an illustrated book about climate action. Bylines in The New York Times, The Guardian, Slate, Scientific American, and others. In one of his previous lives, Eduardo worked as a Reuters correspondent in Latin America for nearly a decade.

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