John Wells News

Tony Award-winner Anika Noni Rose has signed on for a new dramedy series from Netflix. 

Deadline reports that 'Love, Simon' star Nick Robinson has joined 'Maid,' the upcoming Netflix dramedy series. Margaret Qualley was announced as the female lead earlier this week. 

Deadline reports that actress Margaret Qualley will star in 'Maid,' a new Netflix dramedy series from producers John Wells and Margot Robbie.

Ahead of one of the most pivotal elections in our nation's history, HBO Max and The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin announced today that for the first time in 17 years, the original cast of the Emmy®- and Peabody Award-winning hit Warner Bros. Television drama series will come together with Sorkin and executive producer/director Thomas Schlamme for A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote, which will debut on the streaming service this fall.

Los Angeles-based Echo Theater Company, dedicated to creating new work for the theater, has announced the nine writers who will participate in the company's 2020 Playwrights Lab.

The voices of the next generation of entertainment industry professionals will be heard loud and clear at the 2020 Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama 'eShowcase'.

Cady McClain has just signed a nonexclusive distribution deal with Collective Eye for her award-winning documentary Seeing is Believing: Women Direct. The film chronicles the challenges and triumphs of women directors, emphasizing the opportunity for women to use their voice through media to change the social and political landscape and achieve full equality in a male dominated business.

SHOWTIME has announced that it has picked up an 11th and final season of its hit comedy series SHAMELESS, premiering this summer. SHAMELESS, which originally premiered in the winter of 2011, ranks as the network's no. 1 comedy, its longest-running series and has the youngest-skewing audience of any SHOWTIME series. Season 10 of SHAMELESS, which will finale on Sunday, January 26, has been averaging 5.7 million weekly viewers across platforms. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc., at the Television Critics Association's Winter Press Tour.

After a fan gave his religious mother a picture of Ewan in his Jedi robes, she displayed it in their home thinking it was a picture of Jesus.

Netflix orders female-driven dramedy series Maid, inspired by the New York Times best-selling memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land.

When German star, comedian Max Ehrlich, and his best friend, composer Willy Rosen were caught in Holland in 1942 and sent to the Westerbork Transit Camp, the commandant recognized Max and made him an offer he couldn't refuse: Every Monday night before the train leaves for Auschwitz the next morning, Max and Willy will do a cabaret. IF they are funny, they do it next week. If not - they are on the train. What followed was 18 months of the funniest cabaret in all of Europe!

A PRINCESS STORY, written by Burt Reynolds' master class student Veronica Viruet Simpson, took home two top prizes at the Georgia Latino International Film Festival. Simpson, who penned the story as a loving tribute to her late father, Abigail Viruet, and Vietnam veteran John Curtis Wells, won both Best Actress and Best Director awards.

Ewan talks about his beard, dressing up for Halloween, trick-or-treating in Scotland, his favorite candy, keeping his return as Obi-Wan Kenobi a secret, reading William Shatner's book on the set of Star Wars with Jar-Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best, his new sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and his terrifying experience seeing Halloween as a 12-year-old in Holland.

SAG-AFTRA Foundation and BroadwayWorld have partnered for a filmed Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City. Join us on Friday, October 18 (1PM) at the Robin Williams Center (247 West 54th Street) for a career reflection with Tracy Letts. Moderated by BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge of 'Backstage with Richard Ridge!'

SHOWTIME has released a new trailer for the upcoming tenth season of SHAMELESS, premiering on Sunday, November 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy® and SAG Award® winner William H. Macy, SHAMELESS is the network's No. 1 comedy series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO Max is interested in an upcoming drama series that will see Academy Award-winner Joan Cusack starring as famous TV chef Julia Child.

According to Variety, HBO Max has given a pilot order to three brand new series: 'Generation,' 'Red Bird Lane,' and 'Rules of Magic.' The latter is based on Alice Hoffman's novel--it is a prequel to 'Practical Magic,' which was adapted for film in the late nineties. 

Today, BET Networks announced the production of a new original movie 'SACRIFICE' starring Paula Patton ('Hitch,' 'Precious'). 'SACRIFICE' takes place in Los Angeles following Daniella Hernandez, played by Patton, a highly sought after entertainment lawyer. The legal thriller tracks Daniella as she navigates the nefarious lives of her rich and famous clients. Daniella has a reputation that proves problematic to LA Law enforcement, forcing her to be at odds with her sorority sister turned nemesis District Attorney Beverly Rucker. In an attempt to protect her often unscrupulous clients, Daniella enlists the services of her resourceful assistant and a young ex-hacker and tech genius. 'SACRIFICE' is executive produced, written, and directed by Chris Stokes. Marques Houston also serves as the film's co-executive producer for Footage Films. Principal photography for 'SACRIFICE' took place in New Orleans. 'SACRIFICE' will premiere on BET's new streaming service BET+ in 2020.

TNT, a division of WarnerMedia Entertainment, has renewed its powerhouse drama Animal Kingdom for a fifth season. The popular series continues to grow its fanbase, reaching nearly 18 million viewers this season so far across all platforms, defying industry trends where the typical returning series is down double digits. Season four of Animal Kingdom premiered on par with the season three average and the series is one of this year's top 10 cable dramas (P18-49, L+7).    

Interview with Artistic Director John Wells III to chat about the company and their play STRAIGHT. Directed by Kate Rose Reynolds and Andrea Agosto, playing July 25th - August 4th at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center