Minnie Driver Joins NBC’s ‘Peter Pan Live’

Minnie Driver - H 2014

AP Images/Invision

Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver is joining NBC’s live production of Peter Pan.

The About a Boy star will serve as the narrator and play adult Wendy Darling on the telecast, set for Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. on NBC.

“We’re thrilled to have Minnie as part of this Peter Pan adventure,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment. “She appears in the final emotional scene when Peter returns to the Darling home years later only to realize Wendy is now grown up and has a daughter of her own, but you’ll also hear her voice throughout the movie since Adult Wendy is also our narrator. She’s a classy addition to our wonderful cast.”

This isn’t foreign territory for Driver, who recently released her album, Ask Me to Dance, featuring songs penned by Stevie Wonder, Neil Young and John Prine.

Additionally, NBC has set a making-of special for Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. as a primer one week ahead of the production. The one-hour special promises to give behind-the-scenes access to the process of bringing Peter Pan Live to the stage, from casting and dress rehearsals to costume designs and learning to fly.

Allison Williams plays the title character, while Christopher Walken portrays Captain Hook. Christian Borle and Kelli O’Hara co-star. Peter Pan Live is executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

Email: Philiana.Ng@THR.com
Twitter: @insidethetube

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Netflix Adapting Lemony Snicket’s ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ Into TV Show

LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS Still - H 2014

Paramount/Courtesy of Everett Collection

Netflix is adapting popular book series A Series of Unfortunate Events into an original series.

The streaming service has acquired the rights to produce a new series based on the 13 best-selling novels published from 1999-20006 and written by Lemony Snicket, the pen name of author Daniel Handler.

Paramount Television, the TV arm of Paramount — the studio behind the 2004 feature starring Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep and Jude Law — will produce the series in association with Netflix. Handler will serve as an executive producer.

A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the tale of orphaned children Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire at the hands of the villainous Count Olaf, as they face trials and tribulations, misfortunes and an evil uncle in search of their fortune, all in their quest to uncover the secret of their parents’ death. More than 65 million copies have been sold in the series, which has been translated into 43 languages, and has spawned board games, card games, video games and albums.

“On the search for fantastic material that appeals to both parents and kids, the first stop for generations of readers is A Series of Unfortunate Events. We are proud to start work on a series for a global audience that already loves the books, “ said Cindy Holland, vp original content for Netflix. “The world created by Lemony Snicket is unique, darkly funny, and relatable. We can’t wait to bring it to life for Netflix members.”

“I can’t believe it,” Snicket said from an undisclosed location. “After years of providing top-quality entertainment on demand, Netflix is risking its reputation and its success by associating itself with my dismaying and upsetting books.”

Handler is represented by ICM Partners and Charlotte Sheedy. ICM Partners brokered the deal for rights.

More to come…

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‘Royal Pains’ Renewed for Seasons 7 and 8 by USA

Royal Pains Mark Feuerstein Still - H 2014

Giovanni Rufino/USA Network

‘Royal Pains’

The doctor is still on call.

USA Network has given a two-season renewal to long-running medical drama Royal Pains, bringing the series to an eighth-season and the 100th-episode milestone, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Seasons seven and eight will be shortened, consisting of eight episodes each.

Royal Pains wrapped its sixth season on Sept. 2, averaging 3.36 million viewers. It was a top 10 series on Tuesdays evenings.

The news comes on the heels of USA renewals for Suits, a top five cable series in all key demos, and Satisfaction, which ranks among the top new original scripted series in 18-to-49.

Royal Pains remains a key player in USA’s scripted stable, joining Suits, Satisfaction, Sirens, Benched, Covert Affairs, the final run of White Collar and the forthcoming Dig. Graceland and Playing House remain on the bubble, though it is likely the former will return. The network is prepping four drama pilots as it aims to add to its portfolio: Carlton Cuse‘s Colony, starring Josh Holloway; Jennifer Carpenter‘s Stanistan; hacker drama Mr. Robot with Christian Slater and Queen of the South, starring Alice Braga.

Royal Pains centers on HankMed, a concierge practice serving the wealthy and well-connected in the Hamptons. Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Reshma Shetty, Brooke D’Orsay and Ben Shenkman star in the Universal Cable Productions series. Andrew Lenchewski and Michael Rauch write and executive produce, along with Rich Frank, Jeff Kwatinetz and Paul Frank.

Royal Pains remains a staple for fun summer TV viewing, and we are pleased to bring back the series for two additional seasons,” said Chris McCumber, president of USA Network. “We’re extremely proud of both the talent and creative team, who, season after season, have brought to life to these relatable and multifaceted stories, which continue to attract a loyal fan base.”

Royal Pains was a breakout hit from its first episode and continues to deliver for USA and our studio,” said Jeff Wachtel, president and chief content officer of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “It’s no easy feat to maintain a real connection with your audience season after season, but Andrew, Michael, Mark, Paulo, Reshma and the rest of team have done that and more.”

Email: Philiana.Ng@THR.com
Twitter: @insidethetube

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