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Hard as it may be to believe, it's been nearly 15 years as of writing since the first episode of "Once Upon a Time" aired on ABC in the fall of 2011. The series was a stroke of genius from "Lost" alums Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, who harnessed the endlessly engrossing mystery box elements of the former program for a story that not only smashed together all the classic fairy tales viewers grew up with, but twisted them in surprising ways.

As is now expected of a show of this kind -- especially one that runs without a clear endpoint in sight -- constant reveals of secret identities, children, and parentages created a ludicrously confusing family tree that was further warped by retcons, alternate realities, and re-written timelines. Fortunately, it didn't take a cursed dagger or magical pen for us to make sense of it all, as we set out to...

Scott Speedman will play the title role in ABC’s “Rj Decker” pilot, Variety has confirmed.

The one-hour drama pilot is based on Carl Hiaasen’s 1987 novel “Double Whammy.” The pilot order was originally announced in May.

The official logline for the series states:

“Rj Decker, disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con, starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida, tackling cases that range from slightly odd to outright bizarre with the help of his journalist ex, her police detective wife, and a shadowy new benefactor, a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally… or his one-way ticket back to prison.”

The role keeps Speedman in business with ABC, as he has been recurring on the broadcaster’s hit medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” since that show’s 18th season after originally appearing in the 14th. Speedman’s other recent TV roles include the...

When I most unexpectedly reunited with the age-defying Ginnifer Goodwin on the Disney Upfront’s blue carpet earlier this month, I had recently gotten a Facebook “memory” about the Once Upon a Time musical episode, which aired eight years prior (and for which I was on-set, in March 2017).

So after talking a bit about her voice acting encore as police rabbit Judy Hopps in Disney’s Zootopia 2 (due in theaters Nov. 26!), I had to invite Ginny to reflect on Ouat‘s “The Song in Your Heart,” which aired May 7, 2017, saw her duet with husband Josh Dallas’ Charming, and teed...

Once Upon a Time successfully reimagined many popular fairy tales over its run on ABC, earning a very devoted fan base over seven seasons. Fans have been interested in a reboot or revival of the show since it ended -- and one of the series' main cast members is ready and willing to go back.

While making an appearance at Disney Upfronts, Ginnifer Goodwin -- who played Snow White / Mary Margaret Blanchard for Ouat's first six seasons -- told The Hollywood Reporter that she'd be up for a reboot. "Absolutely," Goodwin replied when asked if she'd be interested in reprising her role again.

“I would kill to go back” — #GinniferGoodwin shares how she feels about a possible #OnceUponATime reboot at #DisneyUpfronts.Posted by The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Goodwin reflected on the major impact Once Upon a Time had on her -- not just professionally, but personally as well.

ABC has picked up the drama pilot “Rj Decker,” based on Carl Hiaasen’s 1987 novel “Double Whammy.”

The one-hour pilot hails from writer and executive producer Rob Doherty, with Paul McGuigan attached to direct and executive produce. Hiaasen is also executive producing along with Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman of Timberman/Beverly Productions. 20th Television is the studio.

The official logline for the series states:

“Rj Decker, disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con, starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida, tackling cases that range from slightly odd to outright bizarre with the help of his journalist ex, her police detective wife, and a shadowy new benefactor, a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally… or his one-way ticket back to prison.”

This marks the latest attempt to adapt a Hiaasen novel for television in recent years. Apple TV+ currently has the series...

Another Carl Hiaasen novel is being developed as a TV series with Bill Lawrence onboard.

Variety has learned exclusively that a series version of Hiaasen’s novel “Skinny Dip” is currently in development at Max with Adam Horowitz & Edward Kitsis set to write and Lawrence attached as an executive producer.

The logline for the one-hour dramedy series describes it as “a screwball-romantic-comedy-triangle about murder, revenge, and greed in the Everglades.”

Lawrence, a longtime fan of Hiaasen, is currently the creator and showrunner on the series adaptation of “Bad Monkey” at Apple TV+. That show debuted at Apple in August 2024 and was renewed for a second season in December.

Horowitz and Kitsis will write and executive produce “Skinny Dip.” Lawrence, Jeff Ingold, and Liza Katzer will executive produce via Doozer. Warner Bros. Television, where Doozer is under an overall deal, is the studio.

Horowitz and Kitsis are best known as the...

If you ask anyone what my favorite show is, to this day, it's still Once Upon a Time. The premise of the series, especially those first three seasons, was so unique and wonderful. It was a world that allowed you to escape into the fairytale stories where many were changed in inventive ways that surprised us all.

The show went on for seven seasons, from 2011 to 2018 on ABC, though I'd say that for most fans no matter who your favorite character was or what relationship you shipped the hardest, Ouat season 7 was completely unnecessary and honestly erased from most of our minds. I at least ignore the fact that it was a thing.

It's been a few years now since the series finale aired, and that makes us fans nostalgic for the show. That does mean that the actors are already being asked about whether they'd like to see and...

Exclusive: After a rocky third season that saw the exit of co-developer/showrunner/director David S. Goyer amid production restarts and budget adjustments, things are looking up for Apple TV+’s sci-fi drama Foundation. With the completed third season not yet scheduled but likely to debut this year, the streamer and Foundation studio Skydance Television already are prepping a fourth installment of Isaac Asimov’s adaptation starring Jared Harris and Lee Pace.

Ian Goldberg (Fear the Walking Dead) has been tapped as new executive producer/showrunner, with a Season 4 writers room up and running, sources tell Deadline. Goldberg’s work on the show falls under an overall deal he has signed with Skydance TV, I hear.

Season 3, which originally paused production in spring 2023 after several weeks of filming due to the WGA strike, was delayed in its 2024 production restart because of issues related to budgeting and physical production. Filming eventually...

From plots of political treachery and imitate romances to vast multiverses and epic intercontinental warfare, the fantasy genre encompasses much of the stories that make life so rich. Many of these tales come from the literary world, bled from the ink of such legendary writers as J.R.R. Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, H.P. Lovecraft, as well as those who follow in their footsteps, like Andrzej Sapkowski, Terry Pratchett, and George R.R. Martin. 

Whether adapting the work of these prolific authors or creating a world that's entirely new, the fantasy genre demands one thing: grand narrative scale. Perhaps this is why such stories have flourished through the medium of television in recent years, taking viewers to distant lands, ancient times, and far away worlds we could once only dream of through the pages of a book. 

But not all fantasy TV series are created equal, which is why we've assembled a...

For all the blood, sweat, and manpower that ABC poured into finding a successor to "Lost" (a show that shaped the course of television in the early 21st century), I'd bet dollars to donuts the network never wagered it would take the shape of "Once Upon a Time."

Conceived by "Lost" alumni and "Tron: Legacy" writers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, "Once Upon a Time" casts "House, M.D." veteran Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, a seemingly unremarkable bail bond agent who, just like any hero's journey protagonist worth their salt, discovers there's far more to her world (and destiny) than she ever realized. The show itself combines jigsaw puzzle-style storytelling with well-known fairy tale characters -- especially the Disneyfied versions, which was possible thanks to ABC being owned by the Mouse House -- to create a dense lore and elaborate mythos that rivals anything J.J. Abrams or Damon Lindelof could ever hope to dream of.

Once Upon a Time star Colin O’Donoghue addresses the possibility and whether he'd reprise the role of Hook. The popular ABC fantasy drama that ran from October 2011 to May 2018, expanding into comic books, novels, and even a short-lived spinoff. The show's longevity stems from its ability to blend the real world with something a little more mystical and magical, leading to questions about whether that approach could be applied to another revival or follow-up project.

In an interview on the I've Never Said This Before with Tommy Didario podcast, O’Donoghue talked about the chances of a Once Upon a Time spinoff. The actor acknowledged that the fantasy drama still had a devoted audience, though he noted that the ultimate decision about a revival would come down to Disney — which owns ABC. In the quote below, O’Donoghue also touches on whether he'd return as Hook:

Colin: I mean, that’s a big question,...

A new Tron film is underway, over a decade since the last entry, Tron: Legacy. Planned as a standalone sequel, Tron: Ares, has officially unveiled a first proper look at the upcoming sci-fi film.

In an interview with Empire, director Joachim Rnning teased what to expect from the upcoming installment, and promised the film will still maintain humanity at the core of the film while unveiling a better look at the new red suit. At the same time, it further hyped one of the most exciting parts of the film: the soundtrack. The previous installment had a soundtrack by the electronic duo Daft Punk, and the new movie will have a new sound by the rock band Nine Inch Nails.

Related Netflix Reveals First Look at Tom Hardy in Action Thriller From The Raid Director

Three years after filming wrapped, Netflix shares a first look at Gareth Evans' upcoming action movie,...

Lost is a show that starts with a lot of promises, but over the years, the plot keeps getting more complicated. Unanswered questions lead to more unanswered questions until no one remembers what they were asking in the first place. Lost gets lost in the way, and the series finishes in such a way that confuses viewers even more.

Lost's finale has the haunting effect of leaving viewers thinking about it for days and even weeks after. The last season opens a black box by showing two timelines: one that takes place as planned, and the other that shows what would happen if they never crashed. Many viewers are confused about what the ending really means and the point of everything. Similarly, many shows wrap up in a way that's deeply haunting.

Westworld's Season 4 Finale Leaves Viewers Confused

Similar to Lost, the HBO sci-fi drama Westworld created its own rabbit hole.

Fairytales converge in the world of Once Upon a Time, a magical series that aired on ABC from 2011 to 2018. Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz's fantasy show follows Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), who becomes a guide to the eclectic array of characters and creatures in this patchwork town. We've met queens, princesses, princes, and villains, but in Season 2, a green-clad sharpshooter sneaks into the mix, and you may recognize his motto: steal from the rich, give to the poor. Robin Hood briefly appeared in the second season and was played by Tom Ellis. However, he was re-casted after this first appearance, returning in Season 3 as Sean Maguire.

Disneys live-action Snow White remake has been confirmed to have made a big but necessary change to the title characters name, which copies a decision Disney had already made in a TV show with a 78% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Since the 2010s, Disney has been riding the wave of live-action remakes of some of its animated movies, and though not all of them have succeeded, the studio continues to make the most out of it. Disney still has a long list of live-action remakes coming up, and next in line is Snow White, directed by Marc Webb.

The Snow White live-action remake will keep the same premise as the animated classic, but like every other remake of this kind, its expected to have various changes. Starring in Snow White are Rachel Zegler as the title character, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, and Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman. Snow White...

CGI has become a staple of modern filmmaking -- you can find it in almost every single fantasy or science fiction movie or television show now. It hasn't always been so prevalent. CGI is an arduous artistic process, and without huge cinematic breakthroughs like Tron: Legacy and Avatar, it wouldn't be this way. Besides directors, actors have their thoughts too -- and Jeff Bridges wants to share his.

On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, it was divulged that Jeff Bridges wasn't enthused about his CGI depiction in Tron: Legacy. The actor was speaking with host Josh Horowitz, when he gave his thoughts on being digitally scanned. He said, "Its the new thing I got scanned and in the computer for when we did Tron 2 What was it called? Legacy...I wasnt particularly fond of that recreation of myself. I thought I looked more like Bill Maher than myself."

Related...

20 years ago, “Lost” premiered on ABC and made TV history.

The series premiere was already the most expensive TV pilot ever made, but from the moment Jack (Matthew Fox) opened his eye in the pilot created by Damon Lindelof, J.J. Abrams, and Jeffrey Lieber, nothing would ever be the same. Over the course of six seasons and 121 episodes, “Lost” earned Emmys and accolades, amassed a hugely dedicated and intrepid fanbase, and changed the television landscape.

A lot has changed in the two decades since that series premiere. For some, the show’s legacy was tarnished by later seasons and particularly the Season 6 finale (agree to disagree). More troublingly, writers and actors from the “Lost” heyday have spoken out about what they found to be a sexist, racist, and generally toxic work environment. Actor Harold Perrineau was actually speaking honestly about his experiences back when he was still a series regular,...

Disney is one of the most popular and prolific production companies. While many might only associate Disney with their animated movies, Disney has also released several popular and beloved live-action movies. Movies like Enchanted, Freaky Friday and Cruella have earned the critic's love and approval just as much as the public's. However, other Disney live-action movies haven't had the same luck.

Many Disney live-action movies are beloved by audiences and have even become cult classics, but critics weren't so positive about them. Iconic movies like Hocus Pocus and The Princess Diaries received bad reviews from critics, even though many Disney fans love these movies. Even live-action remakes of beloved Disney animated movies have had the same luck, including the live-action remakes of films like Aladdin and The Lion King. However, some Disney live-action movies are good, even if they have received bad reviews from critics.

Tron: Legacy Is a Decent...

Robin Hood was recast in Once Upon A Time from Tom Ellis to Sean Maguire due to scheduling conflicts. Ellis only appeared as Robin Hood in one episode of Once Upon a Time, while Maguire played the character for over 50 episodes. Ellis's biggest TV role came later as Lucifer in a show that originally ran on Fox and later on Netflix.

Once Upon A Time featured several characters from classic tales, among those Robin Hood, who went through a recast after his first appearance. In 2011, viewers were introduced to a new take on fairy tales in Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz's fantasy adventure drama series. The TV show aired on ABC from 2011 to 2018 and came to an end after seven seasons full of magic, betrayal, and heartbreak. Once Upon A Time primarily centered around Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), who was found by her son Henry Mills (Jared S. Gilmore...

In today's streaming era, where most shows last only three seasons with eight episodes each, it's easy to forget how inconsistent network television could be. Most of these shows, in what was known as the Golden Age of TV, lasted for at least five seasons, with twenty episodes each. While there were benefits to long-running television, many agree that these shows often got worse the longer they ran.

Many of these shows started off really well, with interesting and compelling pilot episodes that captured the viewers' interest. However, as these shows went on, the plot began to falter, and many of these shows ended up jumping the shark. With shows like Riverdale, they had such good pilots that the show would be almost unrecognizable by the series finale.

Once Upon a Time Had a Good Premise The Pilot Introduced an Interesting Concept

Number of Seasons

7

Pilot IMDb Score

8.1

Series IMDb...

The Gaston and LeFou prequel series with Luke Evans and Josh Gad is sadly not moving forward. Evans does not explain why the prequel series was scrapped. Had the series been greenlit, potential challenges included narrative pitfalls and engaging unlikable lead characters.

Beauty and the Beast star Luke Evans provides a disappointing update on the Gaston and LeFou prequel series. Evans and Josh Gad had previously signed on to reprise their respective roles as Gaston and LeFou from Disney's 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast for a Disney+ series set before the movie's events. Once Upon A Time showrunners Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis and legendary composer Alan Menken were involved in the development of the project.

While speaking with Out magazine, Evans has now revealed that the Beauty and the Beast prequel series is "sadlynot on the table." He did not go into further detail on why the Disney+ series is no longer moving forward,...

Ginnifer Goodwin is well and ready to return to her fairytale role in ‘Once Upon A Time,’ so all she needs now is a phone call. At the moment though, she’s currently lending her voice to the sequel of Disney’s hit animated movie ‘Zootopia.’

Ginnifer Goodwin – Reacts To ‘Once Upon A Time’ Reboot Rumors

Recently, fans have excitedly been sharing ‘Once Upon A Time’ reboot rumors, so much so that they may magically wish it into existence. And if producers are ever considering the possibility of rebooting the fantasy franchise – most other shows are being rebooted these days anyway, so why not? – they know who to call.

Goodwin revealed her interest in returning to the show during the Disney fan event D23, which took place in Anaheim, California, on Friday, Aug. 9.

“I hear these rumors as well [about a reboot], and I am available if they [want to do that],” Goodwin, 45, said. “I mean, I...

Once upon a time, there was a magical series filled with classic fairy tales and Disney characters thrown into the real world via a dark curse cast by an Evil Queen the show was appropriately called, Once Upon a Time. The brainchild of former Lost writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, the show enchanted ABC viewers for seven seasons and 156 episodes. During a recent interview with Collider, former Once star, Colin O'Donoghue, got fans thinking about the possibility of a Once Upon a Time revival. While there's certainly an argument for the show's return, audiences don't have to wait for a theoretical revival to return to the realms of the show.

Jennifer Morrison's Emma Swan played a vital role in breaking the curse and uniting fairy tale characters in Once Upon a Time. Season 7 saw a reduced role for Emma, leaving fans questioning the decision behind her limited screen time in the final episodes. Morrison's departure marked the end of an era for the show, with Once Upon a Time never quite recapturing its original magic without Emma.

Created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, the ABC fantasy series Once Upon a Time brought new life to classic fairy tale characters. The show featured an all-star cast stepping into well-known character roles but with subtle twists. At the front of that cast was actor Jennifer Morrison, playing lead character Emma Swan. She was introduced as a bail bonds agent who encountered a son she had given up for adoption a decade before. What followed was a family story involving alternate...

“The Muppets Mayhem” has been canceled after just one season at Disney+, Variety has learned.

The series was originally ordered at Disney+ in early 2022 and debuted on the streamer in May 2023. The cast of the series included Lily Singh, Tahj Mowry, Saara Chaudry, and Anders Holm.

Per the official description, the comedy series followed “The Electric Mayhem Band — Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on vocals and bass, Janice on vocals and lead guitar, Zoot on saxophone and Lips on trumpet — on an epic, music-filled journey to record their first-ever studio album. With the help of a driven young music executive, Nora (Singh), the old-school Muppet band comes face to face with the current day music scene as they try to finally record their first studio album.”

The Muppet performers for the show included Matt Vogel as Floyd, Bill Barretta as Dr. Teeth, Peter Linz as Lips,...

No hostage left behind.

So many of your favorite stars have come together to thank President Biden for his efforts in working to peace amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Amid the news that two American hostages and two Israeli hostages have been released from captivity, Hollywood heavyweights are hoping for the safe return of the 220 innocent people who are still being held hostage by Hamas.

“We are heartened by Friday’s release of the two American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan and by today’s release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husbands remain in captivity,” the letter read.

The letter continued, “But our relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death. They were taken by Hamas in the savage massacre of October 7, where over 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered – women raped, families burned alive,...

Spinoff Once Upon A Time In Wonderland failed to gain traction and weakened its original show, Once Upon A Time. The spinoff, based on Lewis Carroll's novels, explored new characters and fantastical settings, but it was quickly canceled. The decision to run Once Upon A Time In Wonderland in a difficult time slot and alongside more popular shows led to its struggle and eventual cancelation.

Though expected to be a popular addition to network television, the Once Upon A Time In Wonderland spinoff series failed to take off and wound up weakening the momentum of its original show, Once Upon A Time. The idea for the spinoff series came after its forerunning show became a sensation on small screens following the lives of classic fairytale characters like Snow White, Prince Charming, Captain Hook, and more. Once Upon A Time was an ABC hit that aired for seven seasons and...

Jamie Dornan almost returned to Once Upon a Time, but a scheduling conflict prevented his character from reuniting with the cast. Despite being a fan-favorite, Dornan's character was killed off in season 1, and attempts to bring him back in season 3 were unsuccessful. While his return would have excited fans, focusing on Fifty Shades of Grey was a better career move for Dornan compared to a brief return on Once Upon a Time.

Jamie Dornan almost returned to reprise his role on the ABC hit Once Upon a Time, but a scheduling conflict curbed what would have been a satisfying reunion for his character and the show's cast. For one short but sweet season, Dornan played Storybrooke County's Sheriff Graham and his fairytale counterpart, the Huntsman. Despite the Dark Curse preventing the Sheriff from remembering his past life as the fairytale character, flashbacks to the timeline of the Enchanted Forest revealed...

All seven seasons of ABC’s Once Upon a Time will start streaming on Hulu Sept. 1. The fairytale drama has been streaming exclusively on Disney+ since it left Netflix; it will now be shared by the two Disney entertainment platforms.

Exclusivity, considered paramount in the early stages of the streaming wars, has taken a back seat to media companies’ push for additional revenue and profitability. The strategy shift has led to original HBO series streaming on Netflix, for example, with NBCUniversal’s Suits also finding its way to the global streamer.

At Disney, there has been increasing cross-pollination between previously walled-up Disney+ and Hulu.

The Simpsons, which started streaming exclusively on Disney+ at launch, also has a couple of seasons available on Hulu.

Once Upon a Time is considered a quintessential Disney+ series as it has been built on classic Disney IP, including most Disney princesses. Same goes for Marvel...

When the Writers Guild strike began on May 2, it wasn’t just union members trying to anticipate what a months-long work stoppage might mean.

A number of industry and writer-adjacent organizations on both coasts had already begun discussions about the work stoppage’s potential impact in the weeks before negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers ended on May 1 without a deal. With the memory of the three months it took to reach a deal during the last Hollywood writers’ strike in 2007-2008 on the mind, industry and entertainment-adjacent organizations were on alert.

The challenge, a few tell The Hollywood Reporter, wasn’t whether they’d respond, but to what needs, when and for how long alongside what the WGA was already offering its striking members.

As of last December, that was $20 million in strike funds, according to the union, with WGA West’s...

Marlee Matlin, Ramy Youssef, Lauren Ridloff, Ryan O’Connell and Ali Stroker are among the Hollywood names supporting the Inevitable Foundation’s open letter calling on the industry to shift away from relying on disability consultants and instead hire creatives with disabilities on film and TV projects.

A total of 35 deaf, disabled and allied writers, actors, showrunners and producers signed their names to the letter written and published by the Inevitable Foundation’s co-founders Marisa Torelli-Pedevska and Richie Siegel as part of their new Hire Disabled Writers, Not Just A Disability Consultant initiative.

Paul Feig, Jason Katims, Sian Heder, Liz Tigelaar, Krista Vernoff, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, Josh Feldman, Shoshannah Stern and Timothy Omundson also backed the open letter, pledging to, in their own creative capacities, put more disabled creatives in positions of power and move away from the consultant model. It’s a system frequently used “instead of — not...

Click here to read the full article.

Manifest star Josh Dallas knows full well how lucky the show is to have a second bite of the apple, and he’s truly made the most of it. Much like the series’ central mystery involving Montego Air Flight 828 which disappeared and reappeared five years later, the former NBC supernatural drama briefly vanished last summer, only to return as a Netflix series a couple months later. Creator Jeff Rake’s remaining three-season plan evolved into a 20-episode season four that will be split into two parts, with part one arriving Nov. 4 on Netflix.

For Dallas, he credits the show’s passionate fans, affectionately dubbed “The Manifesters,” for the series’ rebirth, as they, combined with new viewers, rallied to keep the show’s existing three seasons atop the Netflix charts for a prolonged period.

“There was this amazing groundswell from our fans who not...

Following the critical success of ABC's fairytale fantasy Once Upon a Time, which turned its last page in 2018, Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis haven't had much success reviving that lightning in a bottle with other series—including the Beauty and the Beast prequel series that was delayed. During a recent interview for Central Park's upcoming season, Collider's Christian Radish spoke with Josh Gad about the series, and he gave us a little taste of what the delayed prequel project entailed.

Click here to read the full article.

Beauty and the Beast is getting the live treatment at ABC to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beloved animated classic’s history-making Academy Award nomination.

The Disney-backed broadcast network is making a two-hour, live-action/animated special that will feature a new cast and air Dec. 15 on the broadcast network. Jon M. Chu (In the Heights, Wicked) is on board to executive produce the project, which will be directed by Hamish Hamilton. The latter is best known for helming awards shows including the Emmys and Grammys, as well as the Super Bowl halftime show, ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live and a pair of Disney’s quarantine-era sing-alongs. The special will be available to stream Dec. 16 on Disney+.

“Beauty and the Beast is a timeless story and we’re so fortunate to work with creative mastermind Jon M. Chu and veteran director Hamish...

The Muppets are staging another comeback.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Disney+ has handed out a series order to The Muppets Mayhem.

The series follows the Electric Mayhem Band as they work on their first-ever album.

Lilly Singh is attached to play Nora, "the junior A&r executive who is tasked with managing and wrangling the band that originally debuted" in the pilot for The Muppet Show back in 1975.

The project comes from The Goldbergs creator Adam F. Goldberg, Bill Barretta, and Jeff Yorkes based on characters created by Him Henson.

The latest series chronicles The Electric Mayhem Band as they go on an epic musical journey to finally record their first studio album.

With the help of Nora, the old-school Muppet band comes face to face with the current day music scene as they try to finally go platinum.

“We are so excited to bring the story of The Electric...

Disney Plus has ordered a new series about the beloved Muppets musical group The Electric Mayhem Band, Variety has learned.

The series, titled “The Muppets Mayhem” will follow the the band as they try to record their first ever album. Lilly Singh will star as Nora, the human junior A&r executive tasked with managing The Electric Mayhem band. The band consists of Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on vocals and bass, Janice on vocals and lead guitar, Zoot on saxophone, and Lips on trumpet.

“The Goldbergs” creator Adam F. Goldberg developed the series along with Bill Barretta and Jeff Yorkes based on characters created by Jim Henson. Goldberg and Barretta also executive produce, with Yorkes co-executive producing. Michael Bostick and Kris Eber also executive produce along with David Lightbody of The Muppets Studio and Leigh Slaughter. ABC Signature and The Muppets Studio will produce.

Beauty And the Beast's prequel series might not see the light of day.

The show is being put on hold just days after the highly-anticipated series made fresh casting additions.

Deadline first reported the news, citing creative reasons for the shocking decision.

Scripts reportedly did not come in as well as expected, and the music that was to accompany the offshoot is running behind schedule.

Production on the series had already been pushed to the summer, and delaying the show longer in its current form did not seem like a viable option.

The project was set to have Josh Gad and Luke Evans reprising their roles from the hit movie of the same name.

Briana Middleton, Fra Fee, Jelani Alladin, and Rita Ora were also attached to star.

The good news is that Disney is committed to bringing the project to fruition, but it might not be for another few years yet.

The “Beauty and the Beast” prequel TV series at Disney+ is on hold indefinitely, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

The hold is said to be for creative reasons as well as scheduling issues.

Josh Gad and Luke Evans, who starred in the live-action “Beauty and the Beast” movie, are both executive producing the prequel series in addition to reprising their on-camera roles. And actually, Gad is co-showrunning the show with “Once Upon a Time” bosses Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

Other executive producers on the limited series include Liesl Tommy and legendary Disney songwriter Alan Menken. Tommy was set to direct the premiere episode of the ABC Signature series, with Glenn Slater writing the lyrics for the first episode.

Set in the iconic kingdom of “Beauty and the Beast” years before Beast and Belle’s epic romance, the prequel series was set to follow Gaston (Evans...

Disney+’s Beauty and the Beast prequel series will not be moving forward at this time. The decision comes as the lead cast of the eight-episode series had been assembled ahead of the planned summer 2022 shoot in the U.K.

According to sources, the call not to proceed with the show was made for creative reasons, with the scripts and original music not coming together in the direction expected or running behind schedule. With a number of creative elements up in the air and the shoot’s start already pushed from early spring to summer, a decision was made to put the project on hold. Pushing filming further into the fall was not an option because of talent availability and weather concerns, sources said.

Luke Evans and Josh Gad headline the prequel, reprising their roles as Gaston and LeFou. Briana Middleton, Fra Fee and Jelani Alladin also had been cast as leads.

The “Beauty and the Beast” prequel series is no longer moving forward as planned at Disney Plus.

According to sources, the live-action musical show is being postponed for an undetermined amount of time due to creative and scheduling issues. The show was meant to begin shooting this summer in Europe, but certain creative elements were not yet ready, which would have delayed shooting. Given the scheduling issues this would cause with the show’s cast as well as weather constraints, it was decided to hold off and revisit the show at a later date.

News of the postponement comes just days after it was announced that Rita Ora was set to join the cast of the show, while Variety exclusively reported that “Hawkeye” alum Fra Fee was joining back in January.

The series was ordered at the streamer in June 2021. It would have seen Luke Evans and Josh Gad reprise...

British pop star Rita Ora is joining Disney+’s Beauty and the Beast prequel series.

Ora, who is best known for pop hits such as Your Song and Anywhere, will play a fugitive with surprising abilities who carries with her a secret that could potentially affect an entire kingdom in the eight-episode limited musical series.

A regular fixture on British musical reality series, Ora has previously starred in Fifty Shades of Grey as well as starring as the Artful Dodger in 2021 feature film Twist.

She joins Luke Evans and Josh Gad, who are reprising their roles as Gaston and LeFou. Briana Middleton, Fra Fee and Jelani Alladin also star.

2022 Disney+ Pilots & Series Orders

Beauty and the Beast was developed and written by Gad and Once Upon a Time creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, with the trio serving as executive producers/co-showrunners.

Set in the iconic kingdom of Beauty and the Beast...

Singer/songwriter Rita Ora has joined the cast of Disney Plus’ upcoming ‘Beauty and The Beast’ prequel. The news was announced Monday during Disney Branded Television’s session at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour.

On the “Beauty and the Beast” (working title) prequel, Ora will star as “a fugitive with surprising abilities who carries with her a secret that could potentially affect an entire kingdom.” She joins a cast that includes Josh Gad, Luke Evans, Briana Middleton, Fra Fee and Jelani Alladin.

Gad also serves as an executive producer and co-showrunner, along with Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.. The show takes place years before the events of “Beauty and the Beast” and follows Gaston and LeFou as they set off with LeFou’s stepsister, Tilly, after a surprising revelation from her past comes to light.

Ora’s film credits include the “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchise, “Fast & Furious,...

British singer/songwriter Rita Ora is the latest addition to Disney+’s Beauty and the Beast prequel series.

Set in the iconic kingdom from Beauty and the Beast yet years before Beast and Belle’s epic romance, the series will follow Gaston and LeFou (played by Luke Evans and Josh Gad) as a surprising revelation sends them and LeFou’s stepsister, Tilly (The Tender Bar‘s Briana Middleton), on an unexpected journey filled with romance, comedy and adventure.

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Rita Ora has joined the cast of the Disney+ limited prequel series for “Beauty and the Beast.” The singer-songwriter will play “a fugitive with surprising abilities who carries with her a secret that could potentially affect an entire kingdom,” according to the show’s updated logline.

So, not Belle, if you were holding out hope for that.

Josh Gad and Luke Evans, who starred in the live-action “Beauty and the Beast” movie, are both executive producing the prequel series in addition to reprising their on-camera roles. And actually, Gad is co-showrunning the show with “Once Upon a Time” bosses Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Other executive producers on the limited series include Liesl Tommy and legendary Disney songwriter Alan Menken. Tommy will director the premiere episode of the ABC Signature series. Glenn Slater will write the lyrics for the first episode.

Set in the iconic kingdom of “Beauty and the...

Exclusive: Jelani Alladin (The Walking Dead: World Beyond) is set as a series regular in Disney+’s upcoming Beauty and the Beast (working title) prequel series, joining previously announced Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Briana Middleton and Fra Fee.

The eight-episode limited musical series, a prequel to the 2017 live-action film, was developed and written by Gad and Once Upon a Time creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, with the trio serving as executive producers/co-showrunners. Tony Award-nominated director Liesl Tommy executive produces and directs the pilot.

Set in the iconic kingdom of Beauty and the Beast years before the Beast and Belle’s epic romance, the series will follow Gaston (Evans) and LeFou (Gad) as they set off with LeFou’s step-sister, Tilly (Middleton), after a surprising revelation from her past comes to light, sending the unlikely trio off on an unexpected journey filled with romance, comedy, and adventure.

Hawkeye alum Fra Fee has signed on for role in Disney+’s upcoming Beauty and the Beast prequel series, joining previously announced Luke Evans, Josh Gad and Briana Middleton, Deadline has confirmed.

The eight-episode limited musical series, a prequel to the 2017 live-action film, was developed and written by Gad and Once Upon a Time creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, with the trio serving as executive producers/co-showrunners.

Set in the iconic kingdom of Beauty and the Beast years before the Beast and Belle’s epic romance, the series will follow Gaston (Evans) and LeFou (Gad) as they set off with LeFou’s step-sister, Tilly (Middleton), after a surprising revelation from her past comes to light, sending the unlikely trio off on an unexpected journey filled with romance, comedy, and adventure. While the mysteries of the past are uncovered and the dangers of the present grow, old friends and new...

Fra Fee is staying in business with Disney Plus with a role in the upcoming “Beauty and the Beast” prequel series, Variety has learned exclusively.

The live-action musical series was ordered at the streamer in June 2021. It stars Luke Evans and Josh Gad, who will reprise the roles of Gaston and LeFou (Louie) respectively from the 2017 live-action “Beauty and the Beast” film. In addition, newcomer Briana Middleton will play Tilly, Louie’s stepsister. Set in the iconic kingdom of “Beauty and the Beast” years before the Beast and Belle’s romance, the series will follow Gaston and LeFou as they set off with Tilly after a surprising revelation from her past comes to light, sending the trio off on an unexpected journey.

Fee will star as Prince Benoit Berlioz, a childhood friend of Tilly’s who has grown into a handsome, charismatic, confident prince.

Fee was most recently seen in...

ABC brass have made the final round of decisions on the network’s outstanding drama pilots. Following the pickup to series for sprawling multi-generational Latinx family drama Promised Land earlier today, the network has opted not to proceed with the fairytale-themed Epic, executive produced by Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis.

ABC previously picked up to series drama pilot Queens while passing on Triage, Dark Horse and the Kevin Costner-executive produced National Parks Investigation.

Epic, written by former Once Upon a Time writer Brigitte Hales and directed by James Griffiths, was among three 2021 ABC drama pilots that were put on a different track; it was filmed in Ireland for post-upfront consideration. The large-scope drama, headlined by Brittany O’Grady and also starring Sarah Hyland and Eleanor Fanyinka, was described as a romantic anthology that reinvents fairy tales for a new audience.

2021 ABC Pilots & Series Orders

Like Once Upon a Time,...

ABC decided Wednesday not to move forward with “Once Upon a Time” creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis’s fairy tale pilot “Epic,” TheWrap has learned.

The now-scrapped project, which is described as “a romantic anthology series that reinvents fairy tales for a new audience,” stars Brittany O’Grady as cynical princess Lune, Sarah Hyland as princess Rose, Eleanor Fanyinka as the mysterious character The Seer and “Game of Thrones” alum Toby Sebastian as Prince Philippe.

Horowitz and Kitsis, who most recently reteamed to reboot Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories” at Apple TV+, are executive producers on the “Epic” pilot. Brigitte Hales, a veteran of “Once Upon a Time” and Hulu’s “11.22.63,” wrote the pilot script and is also an executive producer.

The pilot hailed from Disney’s studio ABC Signature.

Horowitz and Kitsis’ “Once Upon a Time” ran on ABC for seven seasons, from 2011 to 2018. The show, which centered around...

ABC has picked up the Latino drama project “Promised Land” to series. The show is described as an epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley.

The cast includes John Ortiz as Joe Sandoval, Cecilia Suárez as Lettie Sandoval, Augusto Aguilera as Mateo, Christina Ochoa as Veronica Sandoval, Mariel Molino as Camila Sandoval, Tonatiuh as Antonio Sandoval, Andres Velez as Carlos, Katya Martín as Juana and Rolando Chusan as Billy.

Matt Lopez is set to write and executive produce the pilot. Lopez has developed a number of projects with ABC and other broadcasters in the past. He most recently created and executive produced the CTV drama “Gone,” starring Chris Noth, Leven Rambin and Danny Pino. As a feature writer, his credits include “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” “Race to Witch Mountain,” “Bedtime Stories” and “The Wild.” He is currently also a writer on...