Naomi Series in Development at The CW

Warner Bros TV has hired Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship to develop a script for a potential CW series based on the DC comics character, Naomi McDuffie. The show's logline reads,

Naomi follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes.

Image credit: DC Comics

Wonder Girl Series in Development at the CW

DC is developing yet another TV series for the CW, this one about a new version of Wonder Girl, according to Deadline. The lead character is Yara Flor, daughter of an Amazon warrior and a Brazilian river god, who will make her comicbook debut next year in the Future State range. The series will be executive produced by Dailyn Rodriguez, David Madden, Greg Berlanti, and Sarah Schechter. A lead actress has not been cast at this time.

Art by Joëlle Jones

HBO Max Orders The Suicide Squad Prequel, Peacemaker

HBO Max has given an eight-episode straight-to-series order to Peacemaker. The "action-adventure-comedy" series focuses on the origin of John Cena's character from the upcoming movie, who's described as "a man who believes in maintaining peace at all costs—no matter how many people he needs to kill to do it." James Gunn will serve as writer, director, and executive producer with Peter Safran and John Cena as executive producer and co-executive producer, respectively. Gunn commented,

Peacemaker is an opportunity to delve into current world issues through the lens of this superhero/supervillain/and world’s biggest douchebag. I’m excited to expand The Suicide Squad and bring this character from the DC film universe to the full breadth of a series. And of course, to be able to work again with John, Peter, and my friends at Warner Bros. is the icing on the cake.

New Star Trek Series in Development

CBS All Access has ordered a new show called Star Trek: Strange New Worlds straight to series. The show will follow the USS Enterprise before Kirk took command and feature the return of Anson Mount as Captain Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One, and Ethan Peck as Spock. Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet, Henry Alonso Myers, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry, and Trevor Roth will serve as executive producers (with the first three also writing the premiere).

Image via CBS

Scott Derrickson Steps Down at Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Director

Scott Derrickson has left his role as director of the Doctor Strange sequel due to creative differences (possibly due to the horror aspects of the movie). He will remain onboard as executive producer.

Marvel and I have mutually agreed to part ways on Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness due to creative differences. I am thankful for our collaboration and will remain on as EP.

— N O S ⋊ Ɔ I ᴚ ᴚ Ǝ ᗡ ⊥ ⊥ O Ɔ S (@scottderrickson) January 10, 2020

HBO Max Developing Green Lantern & Strange Adventures Series

WarnerMedia announced today that they are developing two live-action DC Comics-based series for the upcoming streaming service, HBO Max. One is an anthonology series called Strange Adventures and the other will feature members of the Green Lantern Corps. Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter will executive produce both series, with John Stephens acting as showrunner for Strange Adventures. Berlanti commented,

Both of these original DC properties we’ll be creating for HBO Max will be unlike anything seen on television. An anthology series of cautionary tales set in a world where superpowers exist, and, in what promises to be our biggest DC show ever made, we will be going to space with a Green Lantern television series, but I can’t reveal any more about that just yet.

HBO Max will launch in May 2020.

PS. I almost missed the announcement that Elizabeth Banks is producing a half-hour comedy series called DC Super Hero High.

Superman & Lois Spin-off in Development

The CW is reportedly developing a new Arrowverse spin-off starring Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch as Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Titled Superman & Lois, the potential series will be executive produced by Todd Helbing, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Geoff Johns. It will focus on "all the stress, pressures and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society."

Deborah Chow to Direct Obi-Wan Series

Lucasfilm has confirmed that Deborah Chow will direct the untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi streaming series. The show will be written by Hossein Amini, and executive produced by him, Chow, Kathleen Kennedy, Tracey Seaward, and John Schwartz. Kennedy commented,

We really wanted to select a director who is able to explore both the quiet determination and rich mystique of Obi-Wan in a way that folds seamlessly into the Star Wars saga. Based on her phenomenal work developing our characters in The Mandalorian, I’m absolutely confident Deborah is the right director to tell this story.

New Arrow Spin-off in Development

The CW is reportedly developing a new spin-off of Arrow, focusing on Mia Smoak, Laurel Lance, and Dinah Drake. The series will be set up by a backdoor pilot on Arrow season 8, which will be written by Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship, and Oscar Balderrama. The series will be executive produced by those four, along with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, and will seemingly feature Mia as the new Green Arrow.

I couldn't really find a photo of all 3 of them on short notice

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Series Announced

Marvel announced today that the Disney Channel has ordered an animated series based on the Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur comic books. The show will follow

the adventures of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her ten-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur. After Lunella accidentally brings Devil Dinosaur into present-day New York City via a time vortex, the duo works together to protect the city's Lower East Side from danger.

Executive producer Laurence Fishburne commented,

As an avid comic book fan, I am thrilled to be involved with 'Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.' Disney Channel is the perfect platform to explore this pint-sized female African American superhero and I can't wait for their audience to enjoy the lighthearted adventures of Lunella and Devil Dinosaur.

The press release doesn't mention whether the show will be part of the MCU, but then again, the initial announcement of Cloak & Dagger didn't mention the MCU either.

Michael Chabon to Serve as Star Trek: Picard Showrunner

CBS confirmed today that Michael Chabon will serve as showrunner on their new streaming series, Star Trek: Picard. Alex Kurtzman, overseer of all things Trek at CBS, commented

Daring, lyrical, humane, whimsical, celebrated: words that describe both Jean-Luc Picard and the literary genius of Michael Chabon. Despite a laundry list of accomplishments most writers only dream of, Michael shines with the heart and soul of a Trekkie who’s finally found his dream job. We’re so fortunate to have him at the helm as we explore this next chapter in the great captain’s life.

Chabon said,

Star Trek has been an important part of my way of thinking about the world, the future, human nature, storytelling and myself since I was ten years old. I come to work every day in a state of joy and awe at having been entrusted with the character and the world of Jean-Luc Picard, with this vibrant strand of the rich, intricate and complex tapestry that is Trek.

Image via CBS

Star Trek Animated Series in Development at Nickelodeon

CBS has confirmed reports that a second animated Star Trek series (the first being Lower Decks at All Access) is in development at Nickelodeon. The untitled series will be executive produced by Kevin and Dan Hageman, along with Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, and Katie Krentz. The plot is described as following "a group of lawless teens who discover a derelict Starfleet ship and use it to search for adventure, meaning and salvation."

Loki Series Lands Showrunner

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Michael Waldon will act as showrunner, executive producer, and pilot episode writer for the upcoming Loki streaming series. The show will reportedly be set in the past and see Loki act as an "unlikely influencer on historical events."

Section 31 Star Trek: Discovery Spin-off Announced

CBS has officially confirmed development of a Star Trek streaming series about Empress Georgiou's time in Starfleet's section 31. The untitled show will star Michelle Yeoh with Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, and Aaron Baiers as executive producers and Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt as showrunners. Yeoh commented,

I’m so excited to continue telling these rich ‘Star Trek’ stories. Being a part of this universe and this character specifically has been such a joy for me to play. I can’t wait to see where it all goes – certainly I believe it will go ‘where no WOMAN has ever gone before!’

Image from Discovery season 1

Jac Shaeffer is Vision and Scarlet Witch Showrunner

Marvel's Vision and Scarlet Witch, which is in development as a potential series on Disney+, has added Jac Schaeffer as showrunner, executive producer, and writer of the pilot episode. Schaeffer has previously written for the upcoming Captain Marvel and Black Widow movies.

Stephen Schiff is Rogue One Prequel Showrunner

Stephen Schiff (The Americans) will serve as showrunner for the untitled Rogue One prequel series, according to Deadline.

Photo via Getty

Animated Star Trek Comedy Announced

CBS has announced that they've ordered two seasons of a new animated comedy series Star Trek: Lower Decks. The show will be executive produced by Mike McMahan, Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Katie Krentz, and Aaron Baiers. The half-hour program "will follow the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least-important ships" and air on CBS All Access at an unspecified point in time.

New Female-Centric Marvel Show in Development

According to Deadline, ABC has committed to producing a new Marvel show featuring unspecified superpowered female characters. The unnamed series will consist of an unspecified number of 45-ish minute episodes, produced by Allan Heinberg (Wonder Woman, Young Avengers) and Jeph Loeb.

Melissa Rosenberg Stepping Down as Jessica Jones Producer

Jessica Jones TV series creator and executive producer Melissa Rosenberg is leaving the show after season three. She has opted to take a competing offer from Warner Bros Television to develop unspecified projects for them.

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Stargirl Series Coming to DC Universe

DC announced today that they're developing a Stargirl TV series for their DC Universe streaming platform. The series will be produced by Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti, and Sarah Schechter and is described as follows,

STARGIRL follows High School sophomore Courtney Whitmore who inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. This new DC Universe series reimagines Stargirl and the very first superhero team, the Justice Society of America, in a fun, exciting and unpredictable series premiering in 2019, produced by Warner Bros. Television, Mad Ghost Productions and Berlanti Productions.

This is existing artwork they just slapped some logos on