Category: Television

Newly received or noteworthy information of relevancy to the television industry; press releases may be included.

Whoopi Goldberg will return to the Star Trek Universe in second season of ‘Star Trek: Picard’ on CBS All Access

While visiting the set of the daytime talk show The View, it was with a surprise to Whoopi Goldberg, the show’s co-host, to hear Sir Patrick Stewart offer a formal invitation to return to the Star Trek universe. She will be reprising her role as Guinan, the lovable bartender of Ten Forward, in the second season of Star Trek: Picard only on CBS All Access. Here is a video of the announcement from Wednesday morning’s broadcast of The View.

Guinan is a fan favorite character who first showed up in second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation and has made reoccurring appearances through the remainder of the series’ seven season run, in addition to appearing in two of the movie adaptations.

The last time Whoopi Goldberg had appeared on screen in the role of Guinan was in the 2002 film Star Trek: Nemesis. Since the very beginning of the original television broadcast of The Next Generation, she has been an avid supporter of the series and has a genuine affection for the Star Trek universe. Her reaction to receiving the formal invitation to return for more episodes is authentic and true. It is great opportunity to know she was welcomed aboard by the ship’s captain.

HBO Max Orders New Three-Part Animated Mini-Series “Aquaman: King of Atlantis” from Executive Producer James Wan

Innovative Kid’s Animated Special Featuring Iconic Characters from the Blockbuster DC Film and Comic Books

James Wan
James Wan (Photo by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

HBO Max announced at the WarnerMedia Television Critics Association day, an order for a three-part animated mini-series Aquaman: King of Atlantis that will be executive produced by James Wan (Aquaman and the upcoming Malignant) through his Atomic Monster production company. Based on the classic DC character created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris, each of the standalone episodes will have a unique story following the adventures of Aquaman as protector of the deep. Aquaman: King of Atlantis joins HBO Max’s powerhouse animation line-up that includes Looney Tunes Cartoons, Jellystone, Adventure Time: Distant Lands, Little Ellen, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Rick and Morty, and The Boondocks. “This DC property is a fan-favorite rich with well-known characters and dynamic storylines,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max. “On the heels of Warner Bros. Pictures’ box office smash hit, we are certain Aquaman: King of Atlantis will be an exciting addition to our already robust slate of kids and family programming.”

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the series begins with Aquaman’s first day on the job as king of Atlantis and he’s got a lot of catching up to do. Luckily, he has his two royal advisers to back him up: Vulko, the scholar, and Mera, the water controlling warrior-princess. Between dealing with unscrupulous surface dwellers, elder evils from beyond time and his own half-brother who wants to overthrow him, Aquaman is going to have to rise to the challenge and prove to his subjects, and to himself, that he’s the right man for the trident!

The series is executive produced by James Wan, Atomic Monster’s Michael Clear (Annabelle Comes Home), Rob Hackett (Swamp Thing) and Sam Register (Teen Titans Go!). Victor Courtright (ThunderCats Roar!) and Marly Halpern-Graser (Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) will serve as show runners and co-executive producers.

WarnerMedia Expands Relationship with Steven Soderbergh With 3-Year Overall Deal for HBO Max and HBO

Deal Builds Upon Previously Announced HBO Max Original Soderbergh Film ‘Let Them All Talk’

Announced today from the stage at the WarnerMedia Television Critics Association (TCA) Day, legendary filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has signed a three-year deal to develop content for both HBO Max and HBO, which shall be exclusive in all forms of television and a first-look for features. Soderbergh’s first project with HBO Max is the previously announced feature Let Them All Talk starring Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, Dianne Wiest, Lucas Hedges, and Gemma Chan, which tells the story of a celebrated author who takes a journey with some old friends to have some fun and heal old wounds. The film will launch on HBO Max in 2020. Soderbergh has been making films with Warner Bros. Pictures since 2001 and remains a long-time collaborator with HBO.

“This arrangement grew out of talks Michael Sugar and I were having with Sarah Aubrey during the negotiations for Let Them All Talk, and there were four things tractor-beaming me toward this deal: One, I have a history with both HBO and Warner Bros.; two, my definition of a good product, a good process, and a good working culture is shared by the WarnerMedia family; three, the wide range of potential outlets aligns with my range of interests, and four: I get to witness and participate in the building of something new at a very large scale. Oh, and there is a financial aspect, so that’s probably five,” said Steven Soderbergh.

“Steven is a groundbreaking filmmaker who not only tells unique, irresistible stories, but is also a master of so many genres,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max. “In many ways, he is the anti-algorithm constantly surprising, never predictable and his career is living proof that one gifted filmmaker can impact our culture again and again. I can’t wait for the projects that we’re working on together to premiere on HBO Max.”

“From Behind the Candelabra, to The Knick and Mosaic, we know first-hand that Steven Soderbergh’s creative genius knows no bounds,” said Casey Bloys, President, HBO Programming.  “An indefatigable innovator, we couldn’t be more excited to continue our relationship with Steven and provide a home for his future projects.”

The deal was brokered by Michael Sugar of Sugar 23 and Jamie Feldman of LGNAFC (Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark).