News

In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix revealed the release date and teaser for “Last Chance U: Basketball,” and Disney Channel announced the voice cast for “Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil’s Dinosaur.”

Dates

Netflix revealed that “Last Chance U: Basketball,” a spinoff of Greg Whiteley’s football-centric docuseries, will premiere globally on March 10. Over the course of eight episodes, the show will follow the East Los Angeles College Huskies (Elac) in their high stakes chase to an unprecedented California state basketball championship. Led by head coach John Mosley, the Elac team consists of former D1 recruits and powerhouse athletes hustling to showcase their college potential, but the players are tested as they battle adversity, inner demons and emotions on and off the court. In addition to Whiteley, Joe Labracio, Lucas Smith and James D. Stern serve as executive producers on “Last Chance U: Basketball.” Co-executive producers on the project include Andrew Fried,...

Resurrection, a film from The Bible producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett that follows the immediate aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion, will premiere on Discovery+ on March 27.

In Resurrection, Jesus’ followers are hunted, leaderless and desperately searching for understanding, but when Jesus rises from death, they realize that hope didn’t die on the cross. It lives on in them. A production from MGM and LightWorkers, a division of MGM, Resurrection is produced by Downey, Burnett and The Bible showrunner Richard Bedser.

“Faithful audiences crave content that speaks to their faith and values, and we can think of no better home for this film than discovery+. David Zaslav and his team have created an incredible home for family friendly entertainment,” said Downey and Burnett. “We look forward to sharing Resurrection’s ultimate story of hope with the discovery+ viewers and are grateful to be able to share this epic story with...

A new Biblical epic about the resurrection of Jesus Christ called “Resurrection” is coming to Discovery+ this Easter from the team behind the hit miniseries “The Bible” and the film “Son of God.”

“Resurrection” comes from producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett for LightWorkers and MGM, along with “The Bible” showrunner Richard Bedser. The film will launch on Discovery+ on March 27, 2021.

The film follows the immediate aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion and shows how Jesus’ followers are hunted, leaderless and desperately searching for understanding. But when Jesus rises from death, they realize that hope didn’t die on the cross — it lives on in them.

“Resurrection” was put together from footage within MGM and LightWorkers’ existing library of Biblical material in place of filming during the pandemic.

“Faithful audiences crave content that speaks to their faith and values, and we can think of no better home for this film than Discovery...

Exclusive: MGM Television is cementing its move into premium factual programming with a new partnership with Imax documentary producer and distributor K2 Studios.

The Hollywood studio will co-produce eight premium documentary TV series with K2, which specializes in producing nature, wildlife, science and adventure programming.

The deal also includes distribution of K2 library content and a first-look deal for new K2 content.

The partnership comes after MGM revealed its push into factual documentaries and specials last year with a new division based out of London run by EVP Richard Bedser.

The first K2 release of the MGM partnership will be Sam Neill-narrated Sea Lions: Life By A Whisker, which will continue its rollout this summer as theaters reopen post-Covid.

K2 Studios President Mark Kresser will oversee all production and distribution for Imax/giant-screen markets and will executive produce the initial eight TV series in partnership with David Gross’s Definition Studios,...

Long-time Studiocanal executive Rola Bauer is joining MGM as President, International Television Productions.

Bauer will oversee development, production and co-productions for MGM’s international scripted TV content, reporting to MGM TV Group Chairman Mark Burnett.

Based in Munich, she will split her time between MGM’s European and U.S. offices.

A highly respected veteran of international TV production, Bauer previously steered Studiocanal’s TV content, including Years And Years and War Of The Worlds, while also spearheading acquisitions for Midnight Sun, The Last Panthers, and Below the Surface. On the international co-production and distribution front, she handled ZeroZeroZero as well as Harlan Coben’s Safe, her third Coben series, for Netflix and the Canal+ Group.

She led the development and orchestrated the funding of detective series Take Two, the U.S./European co-production from Tandem, Milmar Pictures and ABC Studios. She has also been instrumental in shaping numerous international productions,...

In today’s TV news roundup, Bet Plus renewed “Bigger” for a second season, and Netflix announced premiere dates for “On My Block” Season 3 and “Feel Good.”

Casting

Josh Hartnett has been cast in Quibi’s upcoming series “Die Hart.“ Hartnett will play a fictionalized character of himself, an alumnus of the action school where Kevin Hart is training. Harnett’s character has returned to the school to participate in Hart’s training where he is trying to become an action star in a movie. The series follows Hart who no longer wants to be the comedic sidekick and tries to land his dream job as the leading man action star. However, he must train at the world’s greatest action star school where he is pushed to his limits by the action school coach (John Travolta) and a “tough-minded” student (Nathalie Emmanuel). Hartnett is represented by ICM, Management 360,...

MGM Television is expanding its international unscripted division with the hire of The Bible showrunner Richard Bedser.

Bedser joins the company, based out of London, as Evp of Factual Series, Documentaries and Specials, reporting to MGM’s President of Unscripted & Alternative Television and Orion Television, Barry Poznick.

This comes after Bedser’s All3Media-backed scripted producer Two Halves Pictures closed at the end of last year.

MGM Television planted its flag in the sand in the UK in November with the hire of former Channel 4 exec Dom Bird.

Prior to launching Two Halves Pictures, Bedser worked closely with Mark Burnett, MGM’s Worldwide Television Chairman and Roma Downey as showrunner on History’s The Bible miniseries and NBC’s A.D. He also exec produced their feature film Son of God,

Bedser spent five years as the Managing and Creative Director of Burnett and Downey’s LightWorkers Media, based out of London.

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: June 3, 2014

Price: DVD $ Tba, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $ Tba

Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

The life of Christ is immortalized on film again in Son of God.

The movie is from the same team behind the three-Emmy Award nominated History Channel miniseries The Bible, including director/co-writer Christopher Spencer, co-writers Richard Bedser (Gettysburg), Colin Swash (TV’s The Queen) and Nic Young (Saving Ronald Reagan). Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado (Miami Blue) also portrays Jesus in both.

Son of God follows the Gospel of John’s telling of Christ’s life and includes a score by Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer Hans Zimmer (12 Years a Slave).

Like The Passion of Christ, this PG-13 religious film wowed moviegoers more than critics, getting 76% approval compared to 22%, according to Rotten Tomatoes. Son of God grossed a respectable $60 million in theaters.

The Blu-ray and DVD carry these special features:

making-of video, including...

Relativity International has licensed more than 60 territories to LightWorkers Media’s feature version of smash miniseries The Bible, set to launch on more than 3,000 screens in North America through Fox on Friday (28).

Relativity International president Camela Galano and her team concluded brisk sales on the Jesus tale Son Of God after introducing the title at the recent Efm In Berlin.

The Bible producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey of LightWorkers Media reprise their roles on the feature as does Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado (pictured) in the role of Jesus. Hans Zimmer composed the score.

Sun Distribution Group acquired pan-Latin American rights and plans an Easter weekend release, while Gulf Films picked up 16 Middle Eastern territories and Blitz Film will release in eight territories across the former Yugoslavia.

Additional deals concluded in the Philippines (Pioneer Films), Poland (Monolith Films), Portugal (Big Picture Films), Indonesia (Pratama Film), South Korea (Sookie Pictures), Japan (Broadmedia Studios) and Hong Kong (Golden Scene).

Relativity International...

Chicago – Actress Roma Downey and Producer Mark Burnett are on a mission. After producing the huge success of the miniseries “The Bible” last year, the husband-and-wife team now turn to the “greatest story ever told” – the life of Jesus Christ – in the new film “Son of God.”

Roma Downey is no stranger to the ethereal aspects of religious themed programming. For nine seasons, she was the star of “Touched by an Angel,” portraying a heavenly messenger who guided earthbound humans at their crossroads. Mark Burnett is a familiar name in the television universe, having produced several mega-successful reality shows including “Survivor,” “The Voice,” “Shark Tank” and “The Apprentice.” The couple were married in 2007, and last year produced the number one rated cable TV miniseries, “The Bible.” The 10 episodes followed the book from the beginning in the Old Testament (Genesis) to the Letters of Paul in the New Testament.

Diogo Morgado...

Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated new drama “Son of God” starring Diogo Morgado!

“Son of God,” which is rated “PG-13” and opens on Feb. 28, 2014, also stars Amber Rose Revah, Sebastian Knapp, Greg Hicks, Adrian Schiller, Darwin Shaw, Joe Wredden, Simon Kunz and Matthew Gravelle from writer and director Christopher Spencer and writer Richard Bedser.

To win your free “Son of God” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases your odds of winning; this doesn’t intensify your competition!

Note: You can enter...

Exclusive: Relativity International has picked up international sales rights to Son Of God, LightWorkers Media’s feature version of smash miniseries The Bible.

President Camela Galano will commence talks with Berlin buyers on the New Testament stand-alone feature that Fox has committed to release on more than 3,000 screens in North America on February 28.

The Bible producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey produced the feature version, which chronicles the life of Jesus and stars Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado (pictured) reprising his lead role from the miniseries.

Greg Hicks, Adrian Schiller, Darwin Shaw, Sebastian Knapp, Joe Wredden, Simon Kunz, Paul Marc Davis, Matthew Gravelle, Amber Rose Revah and Downey round out the cast.

Christopher Spencer directed Son Of God and Tony Mitchell and Crispin Reece directed additional scenes.

Nic Young is the lead writer, with additional writing by Richard Bedser, Spencer and Colin Swash. Richard Bedser also produced. Hans Zimmer composed the score.

Relativity International’s Efm slate...

Exclusive: Relativity International has picked up international sales rights to Son Of God, LightWorkers Media’s feature version of smash miniseries The Bible.

President Camela Galano will commence talks with Berlin buyers on the New Testament stand-alone feature that Fox has committed to release on more than 3,000 screens in North America on February 28.

The Bible producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey produced the feature version, which chronicles the life of Jesus and stars Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado (pictured) reprising his lead role from the miniseries.

Greg Hicks, Adrian Schiller, Darwin Shaw, Sebastian Knapp, Joe Wredden, Simon Kunz, Paul Marc Davis, Matthew Gravelle, Amber Rose Revah and Downey round out the cast.

Christopher Spencer directed Son Of God and Tony Mitchell and Crispin Reece directed additional scenes.

Nic Young is the lead writer, with additional writing by Richard Bedser, Spencer and Colin Swash. Richard Bedser also produced. Hans Zimmer composed the score.

Relativity International’s Efm slate...

After announcing the project more than five months ago, NBC has officially greenlit the 12-episode miniseries A.D., which will pick up where History’s well-watched The Bible left off.

Mark Burnett, wife Roma Downey and Richard Bedser will serve as executive producers on the project, which will most likely premiere in spring 2015.

“You might think the story is over at the Crucifixion, but as most of the world knows, that was only the beginning,” NBC Entertainment chief Jennifer Salke said in a statement. “Everyone’s lives were completely altered in an instant and the immediate aftermath of Christ’s...

NBC has given a formal green light to 12-hour miniseries A.D., Mark Burnett and Roma Downey‘s follow-up to their highly rated miniseries The Bible that aired on History earlier this year. The project, produced by LightWorkers Media with Burnett, Downey and Richard Bedser serving as executive producers, is eyeing a premiere in spring 2015. “Last year when Mark Burnett was launching The Bible on cable, I told him, without hesitation, that if he wanted to tell more of the story, we’d love to do it at NBC,” said NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt. “We are firmly in the ‘event’ business and nothing has more event potential than A.D. as it continues immediately after the The Bible ended.” The order for A.D., which will be written by BAFTA nominee Simon Block (The Shooting Of Thomas Hurndall), comes a week after NBC greenlighted its first miniseries under the network...

NBC has greenlit the 12-hour miniseries "A.D.," a follow-up to the miniseries "The Bible" that aired on History earlier this year from creators Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. The project will be produced by LightWorkers Media with Burnett, Downey and Richard Bedser serving as executive producers. "A.D." will most likely air in spring 2015. "Last year when Mark Burnett was launching 'The Bible' on cable, I told him, without hesitation, that if he wanted to tell more of the story, we'd love to do it at NBC," said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. "We are firmly in the .event. business and nothing has more event potential than 'A.D.' as it continues immediately after the 'The Bible' ended. The heft of a broadcast network,...

Following the success of "The Bible" on History, the producers are back with another tale inspired by the religious book. Son of God follows Jesus Christ (Diogo Morgado) from his birth to his loyally followed teachings and milestone events such as the crucifixion and resurrection. This is the first time a major motion picture from a studio like 20th Century Fox has focused on Jesus since the controversial but successful Passion of the Christ from Mel Gibson, and now we have a trailer. Because of the subject matter, this has a built-in audience who will take buses to see the film, but we doubt it will be a box office giant. Here's the trailer for Christopher Spencer's Son of God, originally from Yahoo: Son of God is directed by Christopher Spencer ("The Bible") from a script co-written by Colin Swash, Nic Young & Richard Bedser (all writers of "The Bible...

In an announcement that has to sting for the History channel, the sequel to "The Bible," the surprisingly massive miniseries hit from Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "Celebrity Apprentice," "The Voice") and his wife Roma Downey ("Touched By An Angel"), is headed to NBC. You know, you take a chance by allowing a reality show king to make his first scripted venture, a 10-hour religious saga going from Genesis to death of Jesus, and when it does well, he ups and moves the follow-up to one of the big networks. The sequel is tentative titled "A.D.: Beyond the Bible," and will begin in the days after the crucifixion, when "in the face of terrible odds and brutal persecution, the small band of Jesus’ disciples stand against the combined might of Rome and their own local authorities. In a generation of rebellion, war, famine, and carnage, who can they trust? Who should they fear?...

History has announced that its five-part docudrama series The Bible will premiere on March 3 at 8 Pm. The 10-hour special, executive produced by Mark Burnett and his wife Roma Downey (who plays Mary), combines live action and CGI to tell the best-known stories of the word’s most popular book. Keith David narrates the series, which Burnett has been working on for two years and which was greenlighted in May 2011. Also in the cast is Portugal’s Diogo Morgado as Jesus and UK-based actors including Sean Teale (Skins), David Rintoul (My Week with Marilyn), Amber Rose Revah (The Borgias), Peter Guinness, Greg Hicks and Simon Kunz (Matchpoint). “History has a legacy of delving into important subjects to which all people are connected,” said Nancy Dubuc, President, Entertainment and Media for A+E Networks. “There’s no question the Bible is one of the world’s most significant and most popular books,...

Mark Burnett's next TV project is a long way from "The Voice" and shouting matches between Nene Leakes and Star Jones.

Burnett will executive produce a History Channel miniseries "The Bible." History announced the 10-hour series on Tuesday (May 24); the "docudrama" is scheduled to air in 2013.

"This series will bring the historical stories of The Bible to life for a new generation," History Channel president and general manager Nancy Dubuc says. "We are thrilled to work with Mark, who is a rare breed in the business. He is an amazing storyteller, and on this project, has the ability to deliver what we hope will be the largest audience History has ever seen."

"The Bible" will film on location and use visual effects to re-create the stories of Noah's Ark, the Exodus and Jesus' crucifixion, among others, History says. It's the latest in the cable channel's effort to dramatize history...

History has greenlighted The Bible, a five-part, 10-hour docudrama series from Survivor executive producer Mark Burnett to air in 2013. The Bible will tell some of the best-known stories from the most popular book in human history, from Noah’s Ark and the Exodus to Daniel in the Lion’s Den to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It is set to film on location and will combine live action and state-of-the-art CGI. "This series will bring the historical stories of The Bible to life for a new generation," History president and general manager Nancy Dubuc said. Burnett, who said he had been working on the project for the past two years, is executive producing the series with his wife, former Touched By an Angel star Roma Downey, and Richard Bedser. Lightworkers Media and Hearst Entertainment & Syndication are producing.

Make a room for one of the most critical events in our nation’s history – the Battle of Gettysburg!

We’re here today for something huge, so check this out – for 150th anniversary of America’s deadliest war, Ridley and Tony Scott are teaming up with the History Channel to produce film that will be titled Gettysburg!

“History is the perfect partner for us to tell the epic true story of Gettysburg. We are excited to bring this battle to audiences in a powerful new way.” That’s exactly what Ridley Scott had to say about this project in an interview with EW.

The film, as well as series and specials, will launch as a weeklong commitment to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War.

Richard Bedser will write the documentary, which will be directed by Adrian Moat. Two-hour documentary “…will strip away the romanticized veneer...