TV News Wrap Up: ‘NCIS: New Orleans’ to End, Arrowverse Vet on ‘Stargirl,’ New ‘FBI’ Spinoff

CBS cancels two of its most popular series, Bridgerton chooses its new lead, and The CW expands its superhero universe.

Settle in and binge this week’s news!

Donald Glover, Phoebe Waller-Bridge Bring ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ Series to Amazon

• Comedy dream team Donald Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge are reuniting to put a new spin on popular action film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, per Variety.
• The duo, who previously worked together on Solo: A Star Wars Story, will star in and executive produce the series based on the 2005 movie starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
• The story follows married assassins who don’t know their spouse is in the same business. When their employers find out, they are forced to defend themselves, and save their marriage.
• Variety also reports, the show is part of Glover’s new overall deal with Amazon.
• Though not confirmed by the streaming network, the deal features a curated content section for Glover’s projects, as well as, movies and shows he supports.
• “Talk about the dream team! Donald and Phoebe are two of the most talented creators and performers in the world. It’s truly a dream for us, as it will be for our global audience, to have these two forces of nature collaborating as a powerhouse creative team,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, in a statement. “Mr. and Mrs. Smith is an iconic property, and we can’t wait to see how Donald, Phoebe and Francesca make it their own. We’re thrilled to be working with them, and with such great partners at New Regency.”
• Mr. and Mrs. Smith is currently set to debut in 2022.

 

‘NCIS: New Orleans’ to End, CBS Developing New ‘NCIS’ Set in Hawaii

• It’s good news, bad news for NCIS fans.
• CBS announced that Season 7 will be the last for NCIS: New Orleans, per Deadline.
• The procedural stars Scott Bakula as Dwayne Pride, the special agent in charge of the team working out of the New Orleans office. He was introduced as an old friend of Gibbs on NCIS Season 11 Episodes 18-19, “Crescent City.”
• The series finale is currently scheduled to air Sunday, May 16.
• NCIS: New Orleans airs Sunday at 10/9c on CBS.
• The show’s executive producers won’t have time to rest, as they are in early development on the next installment in the franchise.
• Deadline reports, Christopher Silber and Jan Nash are working on NCIS set in Hawaii.
• The series will reportedly feature new characters, and might not be introduced on one of the existing NCIS shows.

Season 8 to be Last for ‘Mom’

• One of CBS’ most popular comedies is coming to an end. The network announced that Season 8 will mark the end of Mom, per TVLine.
• The series stars Allison Janney and Anna Faris as Bonnie and Christy, mother/daughter recovering alcoholics trying to rebuild their lives after years of bad decisions.
• Faris left the show before Season 8, with Christy moving away to go to Georgetown Law.
• “Getting to be part of Mom these past eight years — showing the laughter, love and hope that can come with recovery — has been one of the great honors of my life,” Janney wrote on Instagram. “I want to thank [executive producers] Chuck Lorre, Gemma Baker, Nick Bakay, and all the writers… for giving us these wonderfully flawed and lovable characters to bring to life. I miss seeing all of your faces. And these amazingly talented actors I got to act with everyday!!! Mimi, Jaime, Kristen, Beth, and the coolest man on the planet, Bill Fichtner. And of course Anna Faris.⁣ [Director] Jamie Widdoes for your patience and dedication and enormous talent steering this ship!⁣ Our entire crew, your laughter and love and dedication to this show has made it a joy to come to work. And last but not least all of our extraordinary fans!!! Thank you for all of your support over the years.”
• The series finale is scheduled to air on Thursday, May s at 9/8c.
• Mom airs Thursday at 9/8c on CBS.

CBS in Early Development on Next ‘FBI’ Spinoff

• CBS wants to add another series to its popular FBI franchise. Variety reports the network in the early stages of talks about FBI: International.
• The series could possibly focus on the agents working in the FBI’s international branch, which has offices around the world.
• FBI and FBI: Most Wanted are among CBS’ most popular series, airing Tuesday at 9/8c and 10/9c respectively.

Tim Burton’s Wednesday Addams Series Lands at Netflix

• Filmmaker Tim Burton is making his live-action TV debut with a classic character.
• According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wednesday will feature an older Wednesday Addams, as she tries to control her new psychic abilities, while solving a long-ago family mystery, and investigating a killing spree.
• Burton will direct and executive produce the eight-episode series, alongside Alfred Gough and Miles Millar of Smallville.
• The Addams Family originally ran on ABC for two seasons from 1964 to 1966. It was followed by the 1991 feature film The Addams Family and its 1993 sequel Addams Family Values, where Wednesday was memorably portrayed by Christina Ricci.

JJ Abrams Developing Constantine Series for HBO Max

• JJ Abrams is entering the world of DC Comics, with his Bad Robot working on a John Constantine series for HBO Max, per TV Line.
• The series would feature a younger version of the character with a diverse cast.
• John Constantine is a self-proclaimed “master of the dark arts,” who fights supernatural threats to the DC Universe, often working with characters like Zatanna, Swamp Thing, and Etrigan the Demon.
• He has been played on TV since 2014 by Matt Ryan. First on the NBC series Constantine, then he brought the character to the Arrowverse in Arrow Season 4 Episode 5 “Haunted.” Ryan joined Legends of Tomorrow as a recurring character in Season 3, becoming a series regular in Season 4.
• He has also voiced Constantine in several DC animated projects.

John Wesley Shipp is ‘Stargirl’s’ Flash

• Stargirl will officially become part of the Arrowverse when John Wesley Shipp guest stars as Earth-2 Flash Jay Garrick.
• Entertainment Weekly reports he will appear in Stargirl Season 2 Episode 9, a flashback featuring “the Golden Age Flash as a member of Earth-2’s Justice Society of America.”
• On The Flash, Shipp portrayed Barry’s father Henry, Garrick, and most recently Earth-90 Barry Allen, reprising his role from the 1990 TV show.
• Stargirl takes place on Earth-2, while all the other Arrowverse shows are located on Earth-Prime.

Alexander Hodge Among ‘Painkiller’ Cast Additions 

• Alexander Hodge, most recently seen as Andrew on Insecure, is set to join Painkiller, per Deadline.
• He will play Philky, “ruggedly handsome with long raven hair, ink art on his body and one born from a strong Chinese lineage. He once lived as a homeless alcoholic in Gotham City but now works as a bartender and uses his tech skills to help Khalil.”
• The Black Lightning spinoff will follow Jordan Calloway’s Khalil Payne/Painkiller as he leaves Freeland, and looks for redemption Akashic Valley.
• Calloway and Hodge will be joined by Sibongile Mlambo as Maya, a “strikingly attractive woman yet is icy and mysterious. She is a natural leader who immediately gives the impression that she is someone who expects results and is not to be messed around with.”
• The cast also includes James Roch as Cousin Donald, a “larger-than-life, gentle giant who wears a distinct uniform – head-to-toe leather with matching boots – a juxtaposition of his military past. He was a medic in the Marines and knows medicine well but also has the ability of talking perspective to others.”
• The backdoor pilot for Painkiller will air as Episode 7 of Black Lightning’s current season.
• Black Lightning airs Monday at 9/8c on The CW.

Simone Ashley to Lead ‘Bridgerton’ Season 2

• Simone Ashley has been cast as Kate in Bridgerton Season 2, per Deadline. 
• She will star opposite Jonathan Bailey in the Netflix hit based on Julia Quinn’s novels. Season 2 will adapt “The Viscount Who Loved Me.”
• Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.

Archie Panjabi Joins Season 3 of ‘Snowpiercer’

• Archie Panjabi is boarding Season 3 of Snowpiercer as a series regular. TVLine reports her character’s name is Asha, but there are no other details.
• Snowpiercer airs Monday at 9/8c on TNT.

—

What news item are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

 

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

The Flight Attendant: 10 Things We Want to See in Season 2 (And 5 We Don’t)