The latest geek TV news update has legal action, new series, casting, and the Doom Patrol.
Lucien Greaves, the co-founder of and spokesperson for the Satanic Temple, has pledged to take legal action against Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which debuted on Netflix on October 26 (see “'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' Trailer”). At issue is the show’s design of Baphomet, which Greaves believes appropriates the temple’s copyrighted design of the figure. Baphomet is the main icon for the Satanic Temple. In the show, the statue of Baphomet figures prominently in the central foyer of the Academy of Unseen Arts, where Sabrina and her cohorts are getting their supernatural education. Greaves is concerned that the fictional statue may dilute the Satanic Temple’s icon and that the association of Baphomet with evil in the show will incite “Satanic panic” against the temple. Lawyers for the Satanic Temple have sent a letter to Netflix asking that the depiction of the statue be removed from the show.
Disney’s over-the-top streaming service has added another original show to the lineup, with a six- to eight-episode limited series centered on Falcon and the Winter Soldier in the works. Malcolm Spellman (Empire) has signed on the write the series according to Variety. Further details on the series weren’t made available, including whether Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan might reprise their respective roles, but it reportedly is the first original series for the OTT service to secure a writer. Disney is also working on series centered on Loki and Scarlet Witch (see “Disney and Marvel Developing Original Series for OTT Service”). All of the new series are being produced by Marvel Studios and MCU head Kevin Feige.Jason Flemyng (Stardust, X-Men: First Class) has joined the cast of Pennyworth. He will play villain Lord Harwood reports Deadline. Felmyng joins Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Paloma Faith, Ryan Fletcher, and Hainsley Lloyd Bennett on the 10-episode Epix series about Alfred Pennyworth’s post-army and pre-Bruce Wayne days (see “Animated 'Star Trek,' 'Bee and Puppycat' Return, Del Toro's 'Pinocchio,' 'Luke Cage' Not So Unbreakable, 'Pennyworth' Cast Grows”).
Actress Sarah Scott has reported Kip Pardue, who portrays Karolina’s father Frank Dean on Hulu’s Runaways, for sexual misconduct (via Los Angeles Times). The pair were filming a pilot for a television series called Mogulettes. Scott says that Pardue became aroused shortly before they were to film a post-coital scene, which she learned when he placed her hand on his groin. Despite her discomfort, Scott shot the scene, after which she alleges Pardue called her into his dressing room and masturbated in front of her. Pardue has denied that he masturbated in front of Scott, but he issued a statement apologizing for the other behavior. Scott reported Pardue to the show’s director and producers, the Screen Actors Guild, the Time’s Up Legal Fund, and the Hermosa Beach Police Department. Both parties have entered mediation with SAG. Depending on the outcome, Pardue could be suspended or expelled from the guild or sanctioned in some other way. The latest promo for Titans features the Doom Patrol, who will be making their first appearance in the fourth episode of the series. Robotman (Brendan Fraser), Negative Man (Matt Bomer; see “Kaley Cuoco Voices 'Harley Quinn,' 'Doom Patrol' Adds Matt Bomer, 'Titans' Go! For Second Season”), and Elasti-Girl (April Bowlby) make an appearance in the video. The series also stars Joivan Wade (Cyborg / Victor Stone), Diane Guerrero (Crazy Jane), and Alan Tudyk (Mr. Nobody / Eric Morden; see “'Swamp Thing' Director, Superman for 'The Witcher,' Tudyk Gets Villainous, DC Universe Launch Date, 'Castlevania' Poster, Disney OTT Price Tag”). Doom Patrol is expected to debut on DC Universe in early 2019.DC Universe’s Swamp Thing has cast Jeryl Prescott (The Walking Dead) to play Madame Xanadu, the immortal fortune teller and sorceress created by David Michelinie, Val Mayerik, and Michael William Kaluta in 1978. Prescott joins Jennifer Beals (Sheriff Lucilia Cable; see “'Runaways' Trailer, 'Discovery' Poster, 'Swamp Thing' Casting, Netflix Orders Two Comics Series, Alan Tudyk Is A 'Resident Alien'”), Crystal Reed (Abby Arcane), and Maria Sten (Liz Tremayne). Derek Mears will portray the Swamp Thing for the series, which is being directed by Underworld helmer Len Wiseman and will air sometime in 2019 (see “AMC's 'The Walking Dead' Plans, 'Star Wars Resistance' Debut, Shudder Is a 'Lucky Man,' 'Swamp Thing' Cast, Live Action 'Ladybug & Cat Noir'”).