Michael Wright News

Premium cable network EPIX® announced today that Godfather of Harlem, its Forest Whitaker led, critically-acclaimed drama from ABC Signature Studios, which is a part of Disney Television Studios, will return for season two.  The 10-episode sophomore season, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein (Narcos) will commence production in New York later this year.

Eclipse Theatre Company, the only Midwest theatre company to feature one playwright in one season, will begin their 2020 Caryl Churchill Season this spring with a production of Cloud 9, with Rachel Lambert directing.

Premium network EPIX revealed a slate of projects in development, setting the stage for a bold lineup of original content through 2020 and beyond.  The announcement, from EPIX President Michael Wright, comes on the heels of the network launching a dynamic schedule of original content in 2019, including the premieres of docuseries Elvis Goes There and Punk; and scripted dramas Perpetual Grace, LTD, Pennyworth and Godfather of Harlem.

First Stage will fuel the imaginations of audiences young and old with their next 2019/20 mainstage production, A WRINKLE IN TIME, based on the bestselling book by author Madeleine L'Engle, adapted for the stage by John Glore and directed by First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank. The play explores the adventures of female protagonist Meg Murry with her brother Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe. On a dark and stormy night, a mysterious stranger arrives at Meg Murry's home and she embarks on a wild, empowering journey of self-discovery. Joining forces with Charles, Calvin, Mrs. Whatsit, and many more, they travel through space and time to battle the forces of evil so Meg can rescue her father, save humanity and find herself. This fantastical adventure of a lifetime will propel the imaginations of First Stage audiences and help them discover what a tesseract is. Sponsored by Enerpac Tool Group.

Premium network EPIX announced today that a drama series (title forthcoming) based on the short story Jerusalem's Lot by Stephen King has been greenlit for a 10-episode season, starring Academy Award® winner Adrien Brody.  Set in the 1850s, the series follows Captain Charles Boone (Brody), who relocates his family of three children to his ancestral home in the small, seemingly sleepy town of Preacher's Corners, Maine after his wife dies at sea. However, Charles will soon have to confront the secrets of his family's sordid history, and fight to end the darkness that has plagued the Boones for generations. The series will commence production in May 2020 in Halifax, Nova Scotia with an eye towards a Fall 2020 premiere.

The Sherman Playhouse will be performing Jack and the Beanstalk A Very British Panto starting December 6 just in time for the holidays. This Traditional British Panto returns to Sherman! Oh yes it does! Jack and the Beanstalk is one of the UK's favorite pantos, filled with spectacle, songs and good family fun. Falling on hard times good-hearted dreamer Jack is sent by his mother, Dame Trott to market to sell his faithful, sweet-natured cow Daisy. Meanwhile Fleshcreep, the Giant's wicked henchman is sent to terrorize the kingdom and kidnap the Princess, stealing her away to his master's castle in the clouds. Why does Jack exchange Daisy for a bag of magic beans? Will the Princess be rescued from Fleshcreep's evil clutches? Can the Giant be defeated and the kingdom freed? Find out as Jack climbs the beanstalk to adventure aided by his silly brother, a good fairy and a bumbling King with his dimwitted guards! There'll be music, dancing, magic, thrills, spills and jokes coming thick and fast! Fun for all the family where the audience is definitely encouraged to join in the silliness!

Premium network EPIX announced that it will premiere the Gabriel Byrne and Elizabeth McGovern-led drama series, War of the Worlds, exclusively to US audiences on February 16, 2020 at 9pm. 

Premium cable network EPIX® announced today that Pennyworth, its critically-acclaimed DC drama from Warner Horizon Scripted Television, will return for season two. The 10-episode sophomore season will commence production in the UK in January 2020 – filming once again at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden – with an eye towards a 2020 premiere on EPIX.

 Premium television network EPIX® and NFL Films announced today that Emmy-nominated broadcaster Rich Eisen will host NFL: The Grind.  Starting September 11, the 17-episode season of NFL: The Grind airs Wednesdays at 9pm ET throughout the entirety of the 2019 NFL season.

Music for Theatre CHICAGO ends the 2018-19 season with it's original work HOMELAND 24: The People's Play. Highlighting the cast are Chicago favorites Nicholia Q. Aquirre as Della, Head of Council, Raymon Cunha as The LEADER, Raymond Cleveland in a dual role as Vernon and the loving gender fluid parent Baba and Tim Vance as villain Councilman Bill.

The Minty Organization, the non-profit company which oversees The Minty Awards, under the leadership of Michael Pinto, has announced nominations for the Ninth Annual Minty Awards, set for Sunday, June 2 at 7pm at the historic St. George Theatre (35 Hyatt Street).

EPIX, the premium TV network owned by Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), and AT&T (NYSE: T) today announced that they have reached a distribution agreement that will make EPIX available on a subscription basis to customers for $5.99 beginning Sunday, May 19th. The network will also be available soon on the streaming service DIRECTV NOW. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Premium television network EPIX(R) and NFL Films will team up this fall on the weekly series NFL: The Grind, premiering Wednesday, September 11 at 9pm eastern time and airing for 17 episodes throughout the entirety of the 2019 NFL season. Featuring a yet-to-be-named host, NFL: The Grind will serve as both a weekly destination for the final word on the week in football, as well as an up close and personal, inside look at life in the NFL - on and off the field - across the endurance test that is the NFL season. In addition to a weekly deep dive into the games, each episode will feature original field pieces - each hosted by an NFL veteran - that will give fans an inside look behind the grind, documenting never-before-told stories of NFL players, coaches and more as they navigate the season.

Mirvish and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre's production of A DOLL'S HOUSE PART 2 does for theatre what is usually reserved for blockbusters and novels - it provides a sequel, many years down the road, to one of Henrik Ibsen's more controversial works (A Doll's House). Written more than a hundred years after the original play's debut, Lucas Hnath has composed a script that investigates what Nora, the wife and mother who left her family, has been up to since her prompt departure. While the cast and creative team navigate the fine line between humour and solemnity the show requires well, there are moments where it seems like something's missing from the narrative.

David Mirvish in a co-production with the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre presents A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 by Lucas Hnath. Starring four outstanding Canadian actors and directed by Krista Jackson, this brilliant and audacious play is performed March 23 to April 14, 2019 at Toronto's CAA Theatre as part of the Off-Mirvish Season. 

Premium network EPIX® has greenlit Slow Burn, a six-episode docuseries based on the hit podcast of the same name.  From Nixon and Watergate to Clinton's impeachment, host Leon Neyfakh excavates the strange subplots and forgotten characters involved in the downfall of a president—flashing back to politically tumultuous times not so far removed from today.  Slow Burn, winner of Best Podcast at the first iHeartRadio Podcast Awards, is produced by Slate. The docuseries will be produced in partnership between Left/Right, a Red Arrow Studios company, and Slate.

EPIX, the premium TV network owned by Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), today announced the launch of EPIX NOW, the network's new streaming service available through partner app stores, featuring its full library of critically acclaimed original programming and blockbuster movies. The app is available for download today in the App store for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV and in Google Play for Android phones and tablets. It will also be coming soon to Roku®devices and Amazon Fire TV. The service will continue rolling out across additional devices over the course of the year. 

EPIX has greenlit Laurel Canyon, a feature-length documentary that will pull back the curtain on a mythical world and provide an up-close look at the lives of the musicians who inhabited it. Through a wealth of rare and newly unearthed footage and audio recordings, the documentary will feature an intimate portrait of the artists who created a music revolution that would change popular culture. Alison Ellwood (History of the Eagles) will direct the feature-length film, which will premiere in late 2019 on EPIX.

According to Deadline, Robert Townsend is aiming to bring a stage version of his 1991 film The Five Heartbeats to Broadway. Townsend will write the play with Keenan Ivory Wayans, who also wrote the screenplay.

Epix has renewed Get Shorty for a a seven-episode third season, according to Deadline. The dark comedy is one of Epix's three original three scripted series, along with Berlin Station and Graves, and comes from the now-sole owner MGM.