TV News Wrap-Up: Javicia Leslie Cast as New Lead in ‘Batwoman,’ ‘The Crown’ Gets Sixth Season, ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ to End With Part 4

Summer is in full swing, and while we might be enjoying some new releases, there is still plenty to come.

Networks have made several announcements this week including renewals, cancellations, and a few casting announcements. 

Take a look at our TV news wrap-up to see what you may have missed. 

The CW has renewed DC’S Stargirl for a second season.

• According to the Hollywood Reporter, in addition to the second season, the network will also become the exclusive in-season home for the show. 
• The show has performed solidly since it debuted on May 19th, “averaging 1.55 million viewers and a 0.4 rating among adults 18-49 after three days of delayed viewing, which puts it in the top half of the network’s scripted roster for the season.” 

Javicia Leslie will replace Ruby Rose in Batwoman Season 2. 

• Leslie will play Ryan Wilder, a character set to take over the mantle of Batwoman.
• Additionally, Leslie is also the first Black actress to play Batwoman in a film or live-action TV production. 
• According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leslie said in a statement, “I am extremely proud to be the first Black actress to play the iconic role of Batwoman on television, and as a bisexual woman, I am honored to join this groundbreaking show which has been such a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community.”

The Crown is getting a sixth season after all.

• Deadline reports that the streamer has granted the series a sixth season after creator Peter Morgan decided that they could use the episodes to cover storylines in greater detail.
• Creator Peter Morgan announced, “As we started to discuss the storylines for Series 5, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons. To be clear, Series 6 will not bring us any closer to present-day — it will simply enable us to cover the same period in greater detail.”
• “The Crown keeps raising the bar with each new season. We can’t wait for audiences to see the upcoming fourth season, and we’re proud to support Peter’s vision and the phenomenal cast and crew for a sixth and final season,” said Cindy Holland, vice president of original content at Netflix. 

Netflix’s Dead to Me has been renewed for a third and final season.

• TVLine reports that the streamer has renewed the dark comedy starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini for a third outing. 
• Creator Liz Feldman will remain in the Netflix fold via a multi-year deal she signed with the streamer. 
• Dead to Me Season 2 ended with a cliffhanger despite no guarantee of a third season. 

Carina Adly MacKenzie has exited Roswell, New Mexico as showrunner ahead of Season 3.

• An exclusive report from The Hollywood Reporter states, “According to multiple insiders, the first-time showrunner’s relationship with studio Warner Bros. Television had been strained for some time”
• One of the noted incidents included MacKenzie accusing iTV, a foreign distributor of the show, of homophobia, biphobia, and bigotry, and Warner Bros. Television had to do damage control. 
• Others insight tension between writers and several cast members. 
• MacKenzie released a statement saying, “I have made the difficult decision to resign from my role on Roswell, New Mexico. I do not take this decision lightly, but ultimately due to fundamental differences, I must depart and entrust Roswell, New Mexico to capable hands. I am so proud of what we built over the last two years, and I believe in the heart and soul of the show: asking tough questions, striving to make the world better, amplifying marginalized voices, and fighting the good fight.”
• MacKenzie inked a two-year development deal with Warner Bros. Television. Sources say she is no longer under that deal. 
• No word yet on who is going to take MacKenzie’s place, but her co-showrunner Christopher Hollier is expected to fill the void. 

Netflix announced that Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will end with Part 4, which will debut later this year. 

• The streamer announced that the final eight episodes will premiere later this year. 
• This is the typical lifespan for most of the streamer’s dramas with Ozark, one of the most popular dramas getting a fourth and final season renewal just last week. 
• The announcement came days after another Riverdale off-shoot, Katy Keene, was canceled by The CW. 
• Deadline reports, “It is unclear whether any characters from either ending series would make their way to the mothership Riverdale. That would include Kiernan Shipka’s title character from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.”

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What is your favorite bit of TV news from the last week? Let us know in the comments below. 

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