Duffer Brothers are in talks to leave Netflix for Paramount / Ariana Madix to play a doctor on St. Denis Medical / LL Cool J is returning to host MTV VMAs
PLUS: Amazon greenlights biblical drama Joseph of Egypt, starring Adam Hashmi.
Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer are in talks to leave Netflix for Paramount
The Duffer Brothers "are in advanced negotiations to exclusively create film and television — with an emphasis on tentpole movies — at the legacy studio just taken over by David Ellison’s Skydance," reports Variety's Matt Donnelly and Adam B. Vary. "The move would reunite the Duffers with Cindy Holland, Paramount’s new head of streaming, who greenlit Stranger Things at Netflix." According to Deadline, the Paramount deal would feature a streaming and big theatrical component. But the Duffers still have a lot work left at Netflix. "They’ve completed production on two new series set to debut on the streamer in 2026: the adventure series The Boroughs with Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard and Alfred Molina; and the relationship horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen with Jennifer Jason Leigh. A preview of the upcoming animated prequel Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 screened at the 2025 Annecy Festival in June. And following the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, which premieres in November, the brothers are expected to mount an as-yet unannounced live action spin-off series," says Donnelly and Vary. Netflix made the Duffers household names in 2016 after their careers had stalled, as Donnelly and Vary note: "Stranger Things was turned down by just about every network in the industry, until Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps came onboard and sold the show to Netflix."
Ariana Madix to play a doctor on St. Denis Medical
The Vanderpump Rules vet and Love Island USA host will guest on Season 2 of the NBC mockumentary sitcom as a doctor named Dr. Emerson.
Amazon greenlights biblical drama Joseph of Egypt, starring Adam Hashmi
Created by Craig Wright and executive produced by The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins‘ 5&2 Studios, Joseph of Egypt tells the "Old Testament story about Joseph (Hashmi) who, betrayed by jealous brothers, defies all expectations and rises to incredible power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. But when his past catches up with him, he is confronted with the ultimate test," per Deadline. The main cast also includes Alexander Siddig as Jacob, Babak Tafti as Simeon, Daniel Peera as Reuben, and Iris Bahr as Leah.
LL Cool J is returning to host the MTV Video Music Awards
The longtime Grammys host will helm the Sept. 7 ceremony solo after co-hosting the 2022 ceremony with Jack Harlow and Nicki Minaj.
Boyd Holbrook joins Omar Sy on Netflix's Extraction
The Sandman and Narcos vet is returning to Netflix in a role being kept under wraps.
Jon Stewart jokingly blames watching Fox News for his face’s “erosion"
“Do I watch Fox News? Look at me!” Stewart said on Thursday’s Weekly Show podcast. “Look! Is this, would this happen to some… Do you think this erosion happens naturally?” he said, indicating his face. “You think this is just wind, sun, and rain? No, this is the corrosive acid rain that flows from America’s newsroom on a daily basis.”
Bill O’Reilly’s upcoming novel Confronting Evil: Assessing the Worst of the Worst is being adapted for TV as an unscripted series
The production studio Fifth Season plans to bring Confronting Evil, which debuts Sept. 9, to television. The book is billed as "an examination of 12 evil individuals and groups from across recorded history, including Genghis Khan, Roman emperor Caligula, Henry VIII, 19th century slave traders, Hitler and Stalin, among others. By exploring how and why the warlords, tyrants, businessmen and criminals facilitated death and misery, Confronting Evil explains the struggle between good and evil, and the consequences of human inaction and indifference in the face of evil," per the official logline.
Elsbeth books Julia Fox to play a New York City "grief influencer"
The Uncut Gems star, who recently played herself on Hulu's Adults, will guest on Season 3 of the CBS drama series as Raquel Drabowski, described by CBS as a “Staten Island widow who transformed herself into an upscale NYC ‘Grief Influencer’ and reality star on the hit dating series ‘Black Veil.'”
Netflix adult animated series Strip Law casts Adam Scott, Janelle James, Stephen Root and Keith David
Created by Cullen Crawford, the official logline for Strip Law states: “Uptight lawyer Lincoln Gumb (Scott) is too boring to win cases in Vegas until he teams up with local magician/hedonist Sheila Flambé (James) to bring some flash and pizzazz to the stupidest cases the city can throw at them.”
Lifetime renews Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out for Season 2
In Season 2, the Dr. Sandra Lee-led reality show will "introduce viewers to never-before-seen dermatological conditions, including a bicep bump that bends belief, mole-like lesions gone rogue, a protruding and veiny sac of uncertain mass atop a shoulder, and rare and unique skin conditions," per Deadline.
The Hunting Wives may have already inspired a reality show
A casting studio is seeking “real hunting wives of the South” following the breakout success of Netflix’s The Hunting Wives this summer.
Only Murders in the Building celebrates Steve Martin on his 80th birthday
"No one’s cooler than Brazzos. Happy birthday," the Hulu mystery comedy posted to social media. Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel celebrated his fellow former Oscars host by writing: "When I met this man - of whom I think so much - in the lilac room at SuperCuts, who could have guessed that we’d still be together to celebrate number 80? YOU CALL THIS A BIRTHDAY POST FOR (Steve Martin)?????"
Mayor of Kingstown gets a Season 4 premiere date, releases the first look at new cast member Edie Falco
The Jeremy Renner-led Paramount drama series will also feature new additions Lennie James and Laura Benanti when it returns Oct. 26.
The Gilded Age ends Season 3 with a series high
About five million watched Sunday's season finale, setting a series record for the fifth week in a row.
Check out the cast of The Boys prequel Vought Rising
The prequel series from The Boys creator Eric Kripke will concern a "twisted murder mystery about the origins of Vought in the 1950s, the early exploits of Soldier Boy, and the diabolical maneuvers of a Supe known to fans as Stormfront, who was then going by the name Clara Vought," per the official announcement.
See the first images from Nobody Wants This Season 2
Noah and Joanne appear to be going strong in the first glimpse of the Netflix romcom series' second season, premiering Oct. 23.
Larry the Cable Guy moves from Netflix to Amazon for his next special
Watch the trailer for the hour-long Larry the Cable Guy: It’s A Gift, premiering on Prime Video on Sept. 12.
James Gunn and John Cena reveal Peacemaker's Season 2 trailer, featuring more "f*cks" and nudity
"Aren't the "f*cks more powerful in the trailer," Cena says in the trailer for Season 2, premiering Aug. 21.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's Season 6 trailer features a Below Deck cameo
While in Greece, "the ladies trade their sprinter van for an RV, fly first class to Greece and sail the seas with the crew of Below Deck Down Under," per the official synopsis for Season 6, premiering Sept. 16.
Watch Netflix's trailer for The Truth About Jussie Smollett?
Former Empire star maintains his innocence in the documentary exploring his 2019 alleged hate crime. The Truth About Jussie Smollett? premieres Aug. 22.