Hulu makes a major deal, Pennyworth and The Mandalorian casts grow, and more in the latest geek TV news.
Polly Walker (Rome, Caprica) has joined the cast of Pennyworth, Epix’s prequel series about Alfred Pennyworth’s post-army and pre-Wayne Manor days in the 1960s. Walker is playing Peggy Sykes, a dominatrix and matriarch of a family of maniacs (via Deadline). She joins previously cast Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Jason Felmyng, Paloma Faith, Ryan Fletcher, and Hainsley Lloyd Bennett (see “Satanic Temple Takes Legal Action Against 'Sabrina,' Falcon and Winter Soldier Series, Sexual Misconduct Charges Against 'Runaways' Actor, 'Pennyworth Casting,' Doom Patrol in 'Titans' Promo”).
Get ready, witches. Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will return on April 5. Netflix dropped a teaser trailer for Part 2 of the series, which features witchy shenanigans galore. Part 1, which includes the first ten episodes of the 20 that Netflix ordered, bowed on October 26 (see “'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' Trailer”). The Satanic Temple recently sued Netflix for copyright infringement over the use of a statue of Belial in the series, and the case was settled for an undisclosed amount (see “Disney's OTT Service Name, 'Rogue One' Series, Satanic Temple Sues Netflix, Netflix Adds New Anime, Grant Morrison Adapting 'The Invisibles' For TV”).
There won’t be more Tales from the Crypt. TNT had placed a 10-episode series order for a revival from M. Night Shyamalan (see “M. Night Shyamalan's 'Tales From the Crypt' Gets Series Order”), but the series was quietly cancelled without explanation. “We tried everything that we could,” Shyamalan said in a recent interview with Digital Spy. “That was so mired in people that had rights to it, constantly mired from the original comic books to the people that did the original show and that was a very contentious era for that show and who was involved and all the stuff that had nothing to do with me, a generation before me. ” Despite Shyamalan’s pleas, he wasn’t able to navigate the complicated ownership issues and free the Crypt Keeper once more.
Nick Nolte is joining Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian reports Variety. He will join previously cast Pedro Pascal (Narcos) and Gina Carano (Deadpool), but as is par for the course, Disney is keeping mum about character details (see “Hulu's 'Wild Cards,' 'The Mandalorian' Casts Lead, Aardman Goes Employee Owned, 'Alf' Reboot Booted, Michael Chabon Writes 'Star Trek'”). Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), and Dave Filoni are directing episodes of the Star Wars spinoff, which will air on Disney+ (see “'Watchmen' First Look, 'Pennyworth' Cast, CBS Orders 'Secret Six' Pilot, 'The Witcher' Adds Leads, 'The Mandalorian' Directors”).
