Brady’s world
‘The Patriot Way’ scripted series in development
Brady’s world: You don’t have to tell NFL fans that the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady era could provide plenty of fodder for a riveting sports drama — and, as first reported by Deadline, one such drama is reportedly already in the works.
Hailing from The Gotham Group, the producer of The Maze Runner film franchise, “The Patriot Way” is being touted as a scripted limited series that chronicles Brady’s rise from sixthround draft pick to undisputed all-star, as he leads the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances and six titles between 2001 and 2019.
Count on the series to highlight not just the highs but also a few tougher moments, too, such as the “Spygate” and Deflategate” controversies, as well as the quarterback’s clashes with head coach Bill Belichick.
No strangers to the sports world after penning the Oscar-nominated screenplay for “The Fighter” (2010), Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson have been tapped to write the script for “The Patriot Way,” which will be based on the 2018 bestseller “12: The Inside Story of Tom Brady’s Fight for Redemption” by author Casey Sherman and journalist Dave Wedge.
“The New England Patriots dominated the professional sports landscape for 20 years,” Tamasy and Johnson said in a statement. “Our series will bring the audience inside Gillette Stadium, better known as Fortress Foxboro, to shed new light on the thrilling, historic come-from-behind victories; the dark side of success; and building a culture of winning at all costs.”
The screenwriting duo previously adapted another of Sherman’s books, “The Finest Hours,” which was the source material for the similarly titled 2016 film starring Chris Pine. They also turned Sherman and Wedge’s 2015 book “Boston Strong” into the 2016 film “Patriots Day,” which starred Mark Wahlberg.
Brady, who has opted to take a year off before starting his broadcasting career with Fox, is not involved in the project — in fact, the team behind the series indicated they wouldn’t be seeking image rights to portray Brady and his Patriots contemporaries since they’re public figures, * and that would allow them “the freedom to tell the story without a filter.”
More Morimoto: Sushimaking is considered a true art form in Japan and beyond, with the visual aesthetics being just as important as the taste — though, of course, both must be top-notch.
While it’s not a food type that lends itself well to the kind of timed challenges featured in most reality competition series, it is rather surprising that the recently launched “Morimoto’s Sushi Master,” which streams free on the Roku Channel, is the first-ever sushi-focused TV competition.
“Morimoto’s Sushi Master” finds Masaharu Morimoto of “Iron Chef” and “Iron Chef America” fame presiding over a series of challenges aimed at testing the technical skills and creative talent of sushi chefs. As head judge, Morimoto gets to decide which competitor is a true master of the art form, and the first six episodes were well received, with NRP TV critic David Bianculli declaring it “as tasty as a cooking TV reality show can get.”
It seems only logically that Roku would want to serve up more “Morimoto’s Sushi Master,” and it is doing just that — the streamer has officially greenlit six more episodes, with both Morimoto and host Lyrica Okano (“Marvel’s Runaways”) set to return for a second season.
In a statement, Morimoto, who is also credited as an executive producer, said: “I am honored and excited to be a part of ‘Morimoto’s Sushi Master’ for another season. The show not only celebrates the artistry of sushi but also creativity and innovation. I look forward to seeing what the talented chefs bring to the sushi table this time around.”
Call me ‘Madam’: North American TV viewers know award-winning actress Rachel Griffiths as massage therapist Brenda Chenowith from HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” or as mother/sibling Sarah Walker Laurent in the ABC series “Brothers & Sisters.”
The Australian actress has had plenty of other roles since, and if you’re wondering where you might see her next, know that she was recently tapped to lead the cast of a new upcoming dramedy series titled “Madam.”
Shooting has already begun on the series, which, as the title suggests, finds Griffiths playing the role of a madam — albeit an initially reluctant one. According to the official description, McKenzie (Mack) Leigh (Griffiths) opts to set up an ethical brothel in New Zealand when a cheating husband and a mountain of debt leave her struggling to provide for her family. It is based on an unpublished memoir by Antonia Murphy, an American woman who, in 2017, opened a feminist agency focused on protecting women’s rights and well-being. (New Zealand decriminalized sex work in 2003.)
No word yet on how/when the show will be made available for streaming outside of New Zealand, though Vicki Keogh, senior director of commissioning for Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ, indicated, “We’re confident this series will resonate with audiences both locally and overseas.”