Small Screen: William Catlett Joins Cast Of Peacocks 'Crystal Lake', National Hispanic Media Coalition Selects 2025 Participants
Streaming: William Catlett (Never Let Go) has joined the cast of Peacock's upcoming prequel horror series, Crystal Lake. While the specifics of his character are still under development, it has been confirmed that he will play Levon Brooks. Originally picked up by Peacock as a series in 2022, Crystal Lake will explore the life of Jason Voorhees before the events of the first Friday the 13th film, delving into her story before the killing spree and his many, many resurrections.
In 2024, Catlett was quite busy, starring in three films: Never Let Go, alongside Halle Berry; Constellation, and the horror thriller Abigail. Additionally, he has appeared in Apple TV+’s The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey and HBO’s Lovecraft Country. He is represented by IAG, Anonymous Content, and Granderson Des Rochers.
T’Nia Miller, known for her roles in director Mike Flanagan's horror series The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) and The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020), is set to appear in Marvel’s upcoming Vision series for Disney+. It is speculated that Miller will portray the guilful and intelligent character Jocasta. If the series adheres to the original comic storyline, Jocasta is an advanced AI robot who struggles with her identity. Although she is initially loyal to her creator, Ultron, she ultimately betrays him to ally with the Avengers. Vision is the second spinoff from WandaVision (2021), following Agatha All Along (2024).
Isabel DeRoy-Olson (Fancy Dance) has joined the cast of AMC and AMC+ thriller Dark Winds for its upcoming fourth season. Set in 1971 on the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley, Dark Winds follows Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Tribal Police as he attempts to solve a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. As he digs deeper into the case to uncover the truth, he also must confront the traumas of his past. DeRoy-Olson will portray Billie Tsosie, a member of the Navajo tribe who only wants to connect with her people. When her cousin takes her out of school, she quickly finds that she’s in over her head, relying only on her wit and resilience to survive.
The new season will consist of eight hour-long episodes and is currently in production in Santa Fe, NM, with a premiere scheduled for 2026. A member of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation from the Yukon Territory and Anishinaabe from the Ebb and Flow First Nations of Lake Manitoba, DeRoy-Olson appears in Hulu’s Under the Bridge (2024) and has a role in HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry (2025). She is represented by Authentic Talent & Literary Management, RED Management, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.
Based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic novels, Netflix's reboot of Little House on the Prairie has cast Jocko Sims (How to Die Alone), Wren Zhawenim Gotts (Echo), Meegwun Fairbrother (The Sticky), and Alyssa Wapanatâhk (Peter Pan & Wendy) as series regulars. Intended to be a hopeful family drama, Little House on the Prairie explores the origins of the American West. Filming is set to begin in June 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada.
Sims will portray Dr. George Tann, a generous and kind-hearted doctor who plays a key role in maintaining community connections. Fairbrother will take on the role of Mitchell, a successful and kind farmer. Wapanatâhk will play White Sun, Mitchell's opinionated, beautiful, and sharp-witted wife, while Gotts will play their bright and imaginative daughter, Good Eagle. The executive producers include Rebecca Sonnenshine, Joy Gorman Wettels, Trip Friendly, Dana Fox, and Susanna Fogel. Sarah Adina Smith will direct the first episode, with CBS Studios producing.
Sims recently starred in Hulu's How to Die Alone alongside Natasha Rothwell from The White Lotus (2021). He is represented by IAG, Benedetti Entertainment, and Skrzyniarz & Mallean. Zhawenim Gotts is a member of the federally recognized Sokaogon Chippewa tribe and appeared as Young Bonnie in the Marvel series Echo (2023). She is represented by Osbrink Talent Agency. Fairbrother can be seen in Prime Video’s The Sticky (2024) as Gary Montour and has also appeared in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024). He is represented by The Characters Talent Agency and More/Medavoy Management.
Patrick Walker has been promoted to a recurring series regular on Fox's medical drama Doc for its second season. Based on the Italian series Nelle Tue Mani (2020), which is based on a true story, Doc follows Dr. Amy Larsen as she tries to rebuild her life after a severe car accident that causes her to lose eight years of her memory. She must restart her medical journey as an intern in the hopes of becoming a doctor again. Walker will portray Dr. Theodore "TJ" Coleman, a smart, kind, and charismatic first-year resident. The series ended its first season with a 9% increase in viewership, and during its early stages, because of its success, was ordered for a 22-episode second season.
The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and FOX Entertainment Studios. Barbie Kligman and Hank Steinberg serve as co-showrunners and executive producers, alongside executive producers Erwin Stoff, Russell Fine, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Carol Barbee, and David Foster. Walker was recently featured opposite Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in the indie film Liz Here Now. He has also portrayed Reverend Wakely in the Apple series Lessons in Chemistry. (2023). Additionally, he appeared in Netflix’s The Vince Staples Show, playing the antagonist White Boy.
Prime Video's new limited series, The Greatest, has added Erica Tazel (The Devil You Know) and Reno Wilson (Dexter: Original Sin) to its cast as production continues in Toronto. The eight-episode series will highlight defining moments throughout Muhammad Ali's life, showcasing him not only as a legendary boxer but also as a husband, father, son, and brother. The main cast includes Jaalen Best (All American: Homecoming) as Muhammad Ali, Kai Parham (Colin in Black and White) as Rudy Clay, Omari Hardwick (Power), and Dana Gourrier (To Live and Die and Live) as Cassius "Cash" Clay Sr. and his wife, Odessa "Bird" Clay, who are the parents of Ali and Rudy Clay. Amin Joseph will portray Sonny Liston, Ali's rival, while Michael Ealy will play the role of Malcolm X. Tazel will play Geraldine Liston, the wife of boxer Sonny Liston.
In addition to Ben Watkins and Michael B. Jordan, Elizabeth Raposo will serve as an executive producer alongside Lonnie Ali, Corey Salter, Marc Rosen, and Matthew Gross. Craig Siebels is the Executive Producer and Producing Director. Wilson is represented by Buchwald and More/Medavoy Management, while Tazel is represented by Gladys Gonzalez and Pakula/King & Associates.
Paramount+’s The Chi (2018) has been renewed for an eighth season just two weeks after the record-setting Season 7 premiere! The series focuses on Alicia (Lynn Whitfield) and the significant women reclaiming their power despite rising rivalries. In addition to Whitfield, the cast includes Jacob Latimore, Yolonda Ross, and others. The swift renewal marks The Chi amongst Showtime’s longest-running series, alongside Shameless (2011), Homeland (2011), and Weeds (2005)
“Thanks to Lena Waithe and her incredible team, our talented cast and crew, and devoted fans—the South Side story continues!” said Chris McCarthy, Co-CEO of Paramount Global and President of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios.
Lena Waithe is the creator and executive producer of The Chi. Justin Hillian serves as the co-showrunner and executive producer, alongside Jewel Coronel, who is also a co-showrunner and executive producer. Common joins them as an executive producer, along with Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Resheida Brady-Anderson, Derek Dudley, Shelby Stone, and Naomi Funabashi.
Unfortunately, Peacock’s rom-com Laid (2024) has been canceled after just one season. Based on the Australian series of the same name, Laid follows Ruby Yao (Stephanie Hsu), who discovers that the people she has slept with are all dying, one by one, in the order she slept with them. Together with her best friend, AJ, she sets out to track them down to find out who has passed away and who is still alive.
While the series received positive reviews, it did not gain the popularity that was expected and failed to make the Nielsen streaming rankings. Co-showrunner Nahnatchka Khan shared that she had begun developing ideas for a second season, particularly with Ruby’s father returning to her life, potentially providing answers to the deaths of her former partners. "If Season 1 was about her revisiting her adulthood and her past sexual partners, then Season 2 is more formative," Khan explained. Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna serve as executive producers alongside Hsu, John Davis, John Fox, Jennifer Carreras, Marieke Hardy, Kirsty Fisher, and Liz Watts.
Prime Video's Gen V (2023) has been green-lit for a second season, which is set to premiere on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. The series stars Jaz Sinclair, who will reprise her role as Marie Moreau. As Marie and her classmates begin their sophomore year at Godolkin University, they must use their powers to navigate dangerous challenges in their fight for freedom from the oppressive university while also confronting their past traumas and unresolved issues.
Zazie Beetz (Atlanta, Joker) will star in an upcoming Apple TV+ series based on Lars Kepler’s Joona Linna novels. Though the series is currently untitled, production is set to begin this summer in Pittsburgh. The series tells the story of Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who opts for a quieter life in Western Pennsylvania. But, soon after moving, he and his family are attacked by serial killer Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham). Using the skills and resources he's accumulated over the years, Jonah searches for Jurek’s latest victim, forcing him to send his daughter, FBI Agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz), up against Jurek.
Rowan Joffe (Tin Man) and John Hlavin (The Man Who Fell to Earth) will serve as writers, executive producers, and showrunners for the series. Schreiber and Beetz will also act as executive producers, with Tim Van Patten directing and executive producing the first two episodes. Coelho Ahndoril and Ahndoril are included as executive producers along with Øystein Karlsen, David Rysdahl, Dorothy Fortenberry, and Niclas Salomonsson. Beetz gained recognition for her role as Van in Donald Glover’s series Atlanta (2016), earning an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy in 2018. She is represented by WME, Entertainment 360, and Sloane Offer.
David Lim, who is known for his role as Victor Tan on CBS’s S.W.A.T., expressed his disappointment over the announcement of the spinoff S.W.A.T. Exiles. The news came just two days after the finale of S.W.A.T., and Lim noted that neither he nor any of the original cast members were included in the new series. While the creators of S.W.A.T. Exiles have yet to cast any of the original members, they have kept Shemar Moore, which has not sat well with Lim. In an Instagram post, he shared, “I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale, with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one. After eight incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition—for the people who built this show and for the impact it had on so many.”
Ravi Ahuja, president of Sony Pictures Television, mentioned that the spinoff is still in its early stages, and there is a possibility that original cast members could join the new series. He added that fans can expect to see some of their favorite characters involved in the S.W.A.T. universe in one way or another.
Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt is adding Kash Doll to its cast as a recurring guest star for its third season. She will play Nisha, the loyal assistant and friend of Wendy, played by Rumer Willis. Kash Doll, whose real name is Arkeisha Antoinette Knight, is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan, known for her early mixtapes, K.R.E.A.M. (Kash Rules Everything Around Me) and Trapped in the Dollhouse. These mixtapes led to collaborations with artists such as Big Sean, Lil Wayne, and Summer Walker. Kash Doll has also appeared as herself in Empire (2019), played Miasha in an episode of Diarra From Detroit (2025), and had a role in the Starz series BMF.
She is represented by BRBR Management.
Charmaine DeGraté, a writer known for her work on Star Wars and Game of Thrones, has signed a first-look deal with Universal Television. Under this agreement, DeGraté will develop and produce projects for the NBCUniversal studio. Following the completion of a Marvel project, she is currently working on a series for both Universal Television and Apple TV+. DeGraté has previously served as a co-executive producer on Star Wars: The Acolyte (2024) and Amazon's Daisy Jones & The Six (2023). She has also contributed to HBO’s House of the Dragon (2022) and has written two films for Skydance: Bermuda Triangle (2023) and Atlantis.
This deal is the beginning of Universal Television's new first-look model, which allows creators to develop a limited number of projects with the studio. This approach gives both parties the chance to evaluate their working relationship before entering into a long-term partnership. DeGraté expressed her enthusiasm about joining Universal, stating, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Universal Television family. It’s a privilege to collaborate with the exceptional team at UTV, whose bold vision for storytelling continues to raise the bar in our industry. This creative partnership marks an exciting new chapter.”
She is represented by UTA, 3 Arts, and Bruce Gellman at Hansen Jacobson.
Brenda Victoria Castillo - NHMC
Industry: Following in the footsteps of Los Angeles, Texas has recently approved Senate Bill 22, which aims to significantly enhance its film and television production incentives. The state is allocating $300 million every two years for the next decade, totaling $1.5 billion.
The bill passed the House with a vote of 112-26 and now returns to the Senate before reaching the desk of Governor Greg Abbott, who supports the measure. He has until Sunday, June 1, 2025, to sign it. This legislation is considered a crucial step for the Texas film industry, as it aims to expand the workforce and attract new productions. Supported by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Texas celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey and Dennis Quaid, the bill offers grants based on in-state spending, which could reach up to 31% for qualified projects. Additionally, there are plans for significant development of sound stages in Texas, signaling further investment in the state's film sector.
Ten Latina women have been selected for The National Hispanic Media Coalition’s 2025 Scriptwriters Program, an intensive eight-week writers lab where participants develop an original script and pilot. Selected scripts will be reviewed by major studios like The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, and Netflix.
Brenda Victoria Castillo, president and CEO of NHMC, emphasized the importance of authentic storytelling, stating that this program aims to elevate Latina voices in the industry. The program is conducted virtually, allowing national participation and fostering a community for writers to collaborate, network, and share opportunities. Alumni have gone on to work on notable shows like Interview With the Vampire (2022) and Chicago Fire (2012). The participants for the 2025 Series Scriptwriters Program include the following: Akaylah Ellison, Ann Valdés, Ariana Padilla-Rogers, Christina Ingraldi, Grasie Mercedes, Janet Quinonez, Kari Mote, Kat Castañeda, Michelle De la Rosa Driscoll, and Sibia Millan.
According to the recent upfront negotiations, NBCUniversal, Disney, and Paramount will no longer work with GroupM, a prominent media-buying agency that has significantly influenced Madison Avenue. As of Tuesday, May 27, 2025, GroupM will be replaced by Wire and Plastic Products, better known today as WPP Media, a UK-based holding company. WPP Media will manage over $60 billion in media investments and collaborate with the majority of leading advertisers worldwide, including agencies such as Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, many companies are integrating this technology into their operations. WPP Media's CEO, Brian Lesser, has highlighted the importance of data and advanced intelligence in responding to shifting consumer behaviors, especially in the context of AI. Recently, GroupM faced a few hurdles. The company has begun to see a decline in its revenue and client losses, including accounts from Coca-Cola and other major advertisers.
Prime Video's Gen V (2023) has been confirmed for a second season, which is set to premiere on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. The series stars Jaz Sinclair, who will reprise her role as Marie Moreau. As Marie and her classmates begin their sophomore year at Godolkin University, they must use their powers to navigate dangerous challenges in their fight for freedom while also confronting their past traumas and unresolved issues.
Making Stories Without End
michele val jean - Sonja Flemming/CBS
In this week's episode of Making Stories Without End, our host, Natalie Moore, interviews Michele Val Jean, the creator, showrunner, head writer, and co-executive producer of CBS’s Beyond the Gates (2025). During their conversation, they covered various topics, including one that may be sensitive for some readers: the rape storyline from General Hospital. This storyline involves Luke and Laura's son, Lucky, who discovers the incident twenty years later. Val Jean, a victim herself, expressed her desire to revisit this topic. She criticized how the show referred to the moment as “mutual seduction,” which she clarified it was not.
“I just wanted to call a rape, a rape. And so I'm thinking, well, how do I get there? So I thought, what if Lucky comes upon the aftermath of a girl that he knows that was just raped, and he goes through her struggle, you know, shes a shattered person, and he helps put her back together and then he finds out what happened with Luke and Laura”.
Although the scene is fiction, storylines such as this are real for many people.
“And that was really satisfying for me personally because, you know it is a survival story, you know, you are shattered and you have to put the pieces of yourself back together, and back then when it happened to me, we didnt have those resources as black people on the south side of Chicago, you know we didnt go to shrinks… So a whole bunch of stuff didn't get resolved for me, that did get resolved for me through the writing of the story”.
Moore later asked if there was something ValJean was trying to do with a black cast that she hadn't seen before in daytime soap operas:
“Yeah, well, first of all, I wanted the show to be based in a loving family, you know, where the Dupree, they might be mad at each other, they might be through with each other, but when at the end of the day, theyre gonna come together and protect each other and support each other. And I hadn't seen that really on daytime, you know? On daytime you get occasional families, right? But they kind of, you know, they come and go. They appear and disappear”.
Moore emphasizes that the love the Duprees have for one another is clear. "It comes across that they have each other's backs. When one family member stands up, they all stand up."
