TV News Wrap-Up: ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’ Ending with Season 7, ‘The Walking Dead’ Exit Confirmed, and ‘His Dark Materials’ Trailer Released
Brace yourselves! This week’s TV News Wrap-Up is likely just a taste of what’s to come. With San Diego Comic-Con happening this week and the 2019 Emmy nominations out it looks like we are going to be in for a wave of good news.
Here are some of the things you can look forward to seeing in the upcoming TV season.
Teasers and Trailers
The first full traier for the His Dark Materials series has dropped. HBO dropped the trailer during the show’s panel at San Diego Comic Con on Thursday. The small-screen debut of the Phillip Pullman novels features an all-star cast including James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Set in a world where science, theology, and magic are entwined the series follows the story of an orphan named Lyra whose search for a missing friend leads her to uncover an evil plot involving stolen children.
Netflix has released the trailer for Dear White People‘s Volume 3. Fans of the Netflix streamer will be in for a lighter and goofier spin as woke college comedy opens with Sam declaring that she’s done with the campus radio show. Volume 3 of the Netflix series drops Friday August 2nd.
Netflix also dropped the first trailer for it’s limited series Unbelievable. Starring Kaitlyn Dever, the series tells the true story of a teenager who files a police report claiming she was raped by a home intruder. When the investigation gets underway, those closest to Marie begin to doubt her story. Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away investigators look at an eerily similar cases in an attempt to catch a serial rapist.
Cancellations and Renewals
ABC announced that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will end with the forthcoming Season 7. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “That announcement came as a surprise. The show, which had reduced licensing fees to secure its fifth-season pickup, has hardly been a top performer for the broadcaster. But, as the first Marvel TV foray, it is proving to be the most enduring.”
CHLOE BENNET, CLARK GREGG, ELIZABETH HENSTRIDGE
A.P. Bio has been un-canceled by NBC. In a move that makes sense for the latest season’s numbers, the third season will move network’s streaming service. You can read more about this surprising show save here.
Fear the Walking Dead has been renewed for Season 6 at AMC. TV Line reports that the news was announced at the spin-off’s panel at Comic Con on Friday.
Casting News
Josh Charles is joining the Netflix drama Away, opposite Hilary Swank. TV Line reports that The Good Wife alum will play Matt Logan, the good husband opposite Swank’s a-list astronaut characer Emma Logan. Away tells the story of “Emma Logan, an American astronaut who must leave her NASA engineer husband (played by Charles) and teenage daughter behind to command an international space crew embarking upon a treacherous mission to Mars. Charles’ character, Matt Logan, undergoes a life-altering experience in the first episode that will drive home the true cost of what it means to be away from his wife.”
Paul Adelstein has been cast in Chicago P.D. Season 7 as Interim Superintendent Jason Crawford. According to TV Line his arrival will fill the voice left by John C. McGinley’s Brian Kelton who was murdered in the Season 6 finale. Adelstein’s previous credits include Prison Break, I Feel Bad, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Private Practice, and Scandal.
Danai Gurira will exit The Walking Dead in the show’s upcoming Season 10. TV Line reports that during the show’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, Gurira confirmed that this will be her last season. Gurira has played Michonne since Season 3, and while this is sad news for fans of The Walking Dead it has been speculated since February.
Jeremy Jordan is returning while Mehcad Brooks is exiting Supergirl. In an Entertainment Weekly exclusive, Brooks will exit in the first half of Supergirl Season 5 this fall. Brooks has been a part of Supergirl since Season 1, playing James Olsen. This news comes on the heels of Jeremy Jordon returning as Winn in the second half of Season 5. TV Line also reported that Andrea Brooks would be promoted to series regular in Season 5.
Jasika Nicole has been promoted to series regular ahead of The Good Doctor Season 3. According to TV Line, Nicole previous recurred as Dr. Carly Lever on the ABC drama, and the Season 2 finale included Shaun going to Carly’s house to ask her out to dinner.
FREDDIE HIGHMORE, JASIKA NICOLE
Ted Danson will play the mayor of Los Angeles in a new comedy from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. According to Entertainment Weekly, the as-yet-untitled comedy “…centers on a rich businessman who runs for mayor of Los Angeles for non-altruistic reasons. After he wins unexpectedly, he is faced with the reality of governing, and has to ‘figure out what he stands for, gain the respect of his staff, and connect with his teenage daughter, all while controlling the coyote population.'” The series has already received a direct to series order from NBC.
Ben Lewis has been promoted to series regular for Arrow‘s final season. According to TV Line, Lewis recurred as William Clayton-Queen during Arrow Season 7, but has now been promoted to a regular during the 10-episode farewell run of the series. His previous credits include The Handmaid’s Tale, Chasing Life, and Suits. His casting follows the promotion of Katherine McNamara who plays Felicity and Oliver’s daughter.
Morris Chestnut is scrubbing in for The Resident Season 3. TV Line reports, “Chestnut is set to play Dr. Barrett Cain. The character is an ‘intimidating neurosurgeon’ who is hired by Red Rock Medical to help turn around Chastain Park Memorial’s finances. He believes himself to be a ‘superman physician’ who is ‘capable of curing crippling diseases. He’s charming when he wants to be,’ but is ‘utterly ruthless in his quest for money and power. His ability to exact swift revenge on any who oppose him will put the good doctors at Chastain in jeopardy and drive the season-long thriller arc.'”
Series Pickups
A Gossip Girl reboot has been ordered by HBO Max. The reboot of the 2008 show has been picked up for ten hour-long episodes by HBO Max. The reboot will follow a new group of private school students and will address just how much social media and the landscape of New York itself have change in the intervening years. You can read our coverage of the full story right here.
Around the Industry
Netflix has removed the suicide scene from 13 Reasons Why amid backlash. TV Line reports that that in response to a new study that drew a connection between a spike in teen suicide and the Netfix show, the streamer and creator Brian Yorkey have decided to the edit out the scene in which Katherine Langford’s Hannah Baker takes her own life. Netflix said in a statement, “We’ve heard from many young people that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help — often for the first time. As we prepare to launch Season 3 later this summer, we’ve been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show. So on the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we’ve decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from Season 1.”
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That’s it for this weekend’s TV News Wrap-Up and we’re sure it’s just getting started. Stick around for more news stories and follow us on Twitter to see more announcements from San Diego Comic-Con unfold in real time.
And be sure to tell us what you’re most looking forward to in the fall TV season in the comments below.
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Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.