TV News Wrap-Up: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Adds Transgender and Non-Binary Characters, Gina Torres Joins ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’, Anna Faris Exits ‘Mom’

Hollywood is starting to think about getting back to work, and that means that there are plenty of surprises good and bad coming to your favorite shows. 

Take a look at some of the production highlighs from the past week with our TV news wrap-up. 

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Anna Faris has announced that she won’t be returning for Mom Season 8. 

• TV Line reports that the star of the series will the actress has announced she won’t be returning in her role as Christy Plunkett in order to pursue other opportunities.
• “The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career. I’m so thankful to Chuck [Lorre], the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience. While my journey as Christy has come to an end, allowing me to pursue new opportunities, I’ll be watching next season and rooting for my TV family,” said Faris.
• Warner Bros. Television has confirmed that Faris will not be recast and her exit will be addressed in a Season 8 storyline.

Riverdale creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is in the early stages of development of a Pretty Little Liars reboot.

• The project falls under Aguirre-Sacasa’s overall deal with Warner Bros. Television.
  Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo will executive produce since Alloy owns the rights to the series.
• All other details about the series, including its plot are being kept under wraps and it is unknown if I. Marlene King, the creator of the original series will return for this new iteration.
• Variety speculates that a natural home for this series would be HBO Max since, “According to sources, the streaming service is looking to build out its offerings of YA content. To that end, HBO Max is currently prepping a sequel series to the classic teen drama ‘Gossip Girl.’ 

9-1-1: Lone Star adds Suits star Gina Torres to the cast as a series regular. 

• The announcement confirms that the medical drama will tackle the coronavirus pandemic in its sophomore year.
• According to TV Line, “She’ll play paramedic captain Tommy Vega, who was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform to raise her twin daughters until COVID-19 changed everything.”
• Tommy’s husband’s restaurant has gone under as a result of the pandemic and although it breaks her heart to be away from her little girls, she proves that when she puts on the uniforms she’s still a boss.
• Showrunner Tim Minear is excited about the casting saying he always wanted to write for Torres since he first saw her in Firefly.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist has promoted four characters to series regulars ahead of Season 2.

• TVLine reports that among the characters receiving promotions are Andrew Leeds and Alice Lee who play Zoey’s older brother and sister-in-law.
• Also receiving promotions Thomas Grant and Kapil Talwalka, Zoey’s Sprq Point colleagues Leif and Tobin.
• Lauren Graham’s appearances as Joan, Zoey’s boss is currently up in the air because coronavirus pushed the filming of the Disney+ reboot of Mighty Ducks Graham is scheduled to star in.
• Production for Mighty Ducks was scheduled to start in mid-summer, but now filming for both shows might coincide meaning Joan may not make as many appearances. 

The Mandalorian is locked in for an October premiere date on Disney+. 

• TVLine reports that the series will be returning to the screen on Friday, October 30th.
• The series had wrapped production on Season 2 before the coronavirus outbreak.
• Fans can expect to see new faces including “Rosario Dawson, reportedly as Clone Wars fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano; Battlestar Galactica‘s Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze; The Terminator star Michael Biehn as a bounty hunter; Attack of the Clones alum Temuera Morrison (as the iconic Boba Fett?); and Justified gunslinger Timothy Olyphant in an undisclosed role.”
• Production for the third season is already underway although it hasn’t been formally renewed by the streamer.

Star Trek: Discovery will introduce the first transgender and non-binary characters from the franchise in Season 3.

• TVLine reports that Ian Alexander, an actor who uses they/them and he/him pronouns, has been cast as a transgender character named Gray.
• Gray is described as “…empathetic and warm, Gray is eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host, but he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn.”
• Non-binary actor Blue del Barrio has been cast in the recurring role of Adira, who is described as, “…a highly intelligent character with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years.”
• “Star Trek has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresented communities because it believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation is entirely within our reach. We take pride in working closely with Blu del Barrio, Ian Alexander, and Nick Adams at GLAAD to create the extraordinary characters of Adira and Gray, and bring their stories to life with empathy, understanding, empowerment, and joy,” said Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner and executive producer on Star Trek: Discovery.

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

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