Woodley, Dern, Kravitz set to return in ‘Big Little Lies’

LOS ANGELES, Feb 17, (RTRS): Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoe Kravitz are officially on board for “Big Little Lies” Season 2, HBO announced Friday.

Woodley returns as Jane Chapman, with Dern coming back as Renata Klein, and Kravitz reprising the role of Bonnie Carlson. The trio join previously announced returning cast members Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, with Meryl Streep also joining the second season as Perry’s mother.

In the second season, while processing Perry’s sudden death, Jane is trying to build a new life for herself and Ziggy. Renata is now faced with new challenges in her marriage, while Bonnie struggles with Perry’s death and is forced to face demons in her past.

Woodley and Dern were both nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe award in the supporting actress category for their work on the show’s first season, with Dern winning both awards.

Woodley is repped by Management 360 and Hyperion Talent. Dern is repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment. Kravitz is repped by Paradigm and Untitled Entertainment.

HBO announced in December that “Big Little Lies” would return for a second season. Kidman and Witherspoon will again executive produce in addition to starring. Season 1 was based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, with Season 2 based on a new story by the author. David E. Kelley, who wrote and executive produced Season 1, will return in the same roles for Season 1. Andrea Arnold will direct all seven episodes.

Jean-Marc Vallee, who directed all of Season 1, will also executive produce along with Kelley, Kidman and Per Saari through Blossom Films, Witherspoon through Hello Sunshine, Bruna Papandrea, Nathan Ross, Gregg Fienberg and Arnold.

“Big Little Lies” premiered on HBO in early 2017 and went on to win eight Primetime Emmy Awards at the 69th annual ceremony in Sept of the same year, including best limited series or TV movie, and acting wins for Kidman, Dern, and Alexander Skarsgard. Moriarty will serve as producer.

Harry Connick Junior’s daytime talk show is drawing to a close.

“’Harry’ is ending it’s run after two seasons,” a spokesperson for NBCUniversal Domestic Television told Variety. “Harry is a phenomenal talent and it’s been a great partnership working with the Fox Stations and other supportive groups on this truly unique show.”

“Harry” will continue to tape through September. For the week ending Jan. 28, the most recent for which data is available, the show averaged a 0.9 Nielsen household rating.

“I have truly loved doing this show and appreciate your welcoming me into your homes every single day,” Connick said. “I’m incredibly proud of the show we produced over the past two seasons. We tried to create a safe place where families could gather to be entertained, uplifted and inspired and where we could celebrate everyday women who work hard to make our world a better place. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and will continue to find avenues to uplift our country.”

George Stephanopoulos will soon have the opportunity to interview a person whose knowledge has been in constant demand and yet in relatively short supply.

Stephanopoulos, ABC News’ “Chief Anchor” and a co-host of the network’s “Good Morning America,” said via Twitter Friday that he had landed an exclusive interview with James Comey, the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Comey was fired from his job last May and was in the middle of both an investigation into former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and a firestorm of speculation around actions taken by President Donald Trump.

“Looking forward to my exclusive interview with James Comey for the launch of his book ‘A Higher Loyalty’ — pub date April 17,” Stephanopoulos posted on Twitter Friday morning.

New book is slated for publication earlier than expected after being moved up from May 1. Stephanopoulos trumped the efforts of producers and anchors at several competing news outlets, according to a person familiar with the matter.

An air date has not been determined, nor has ABC announced the program or programs on which Stephanopoulos’ interview will appear.

Bokeem Woodbine has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming CBS drama pilot “Main Justice,” Variety has confirmed.

The series is inspired by the life of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who served under President Barack Obama and was the first African-American to hold the top Justice Department position. Woodbine will play Miles Blair, the recently sworn in Attorney General of the United States. His years of experience as a beat cop and ultimately as Detroit’s Police Commissioner have made him pragmatic, tough and grounded. It’s trial by fire when he takes the reins in Washington.

Woodbine received widespread acclaim for his role in Season 2 of the FX series “Fargo,” and was recently seen in the Marvel film “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”His other recent credits include “Underground,” “Snowfall,” and “Southland.” He will also appear in the upcoming USA series “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.”

He is repped by Gersh and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein.

Jeanine Mason has been cast in the lead role upcoming “Roswell” reboot pilot at The CW, Variety has confirmed.

The untitled “Roswell” project would follow Liz Ortecho (Mason), the daughter of undocumented immigrantswho reluctantly returns to her tourist-trap hometown of Roswell, New Mexico. There she discovers a shocking truth about her teenage crush who is now a police officer: he’s an alien who has kept his unearthly abilities hidden his entire life. She protects his secret as the two reconnect and begin to investigate his origins, but when a violent attack and long-standing government cover-up point to a greater alien presence on Earth, the politics of fear and hatred threaten to expose him and destroy their deepening romance.

Mason is perhaps best known for winning Season 5 of “So You Think You Can Dance” on Fox. She currently appears in the recurring role of Dr. Sam Bello on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” and has previously appeared on shows like “Of Kings and Prophets,” “Criminal Minds,” “Major Crimes,” and “You’re the Worst.”