The CW has acquired the rights to AMC’s drama series 61st Street, which will air in 2024.

The series, which stars Courtney B. Vance and Aunjanue Ellis, was cancelled by AMC in January after its first season as part of the organization’s cost-cutting measures, even though the second season had been already completed. The Michael B. Jordan-produced series chronicles the story of a promising high school athlete who gets swept up in a corrupt Chicago criminal justice system. 

The CW will air 61st Street’s first seasons in Fall of 2023, with the second season debuting on the broadcast network in 2024. 

“61st Street is a gripping, star-studded premium drama led by a powerhouse performance from Courtney B. Vance and featuring an incredibly talented ensemble cast and creatively brilliant team of producers,” The CW president of entertainment Brad Schwartz said in a statement. “We are proud The CW is now the broadcast home of 61st Street and cannot wait to introduce this series to a whole new audience.”

The deal comes as eight CBS-owned The CW affiliate stations will become independent stations beginning this September. Nexstar Media Group purchased 75% of The CW in October. 

Disney Plus will commemorate Independence Day with the launch of its documentary series America the Beautiful.

The streaming service will make all six episodes of the National Geographic-produced series available on July 4. Narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan, the series showcases North America's most spectacular regions to witness the landscapes of the most diverse land on Earth while focusing on its many unique creatures, said the streaming service.

According to Disney Plus, each episode of America the Beautiful -- the first documentary series to utilize cinema-grade cameras on fighter jets to reveal epic imagery -- showcases smart and brave animal heroes of all sizes whose funny and amazing antics are brought to life with character-led storytelling.

Executive producers for America the Beautiful are Mark Linfield, Vanessa Berlowitz, and Ashley Hoppin. ■

HBO Max has set a Nov. 4 premiere date for the second season of its adult animated series Gen:Lock, the streaming service said Thursday.

The futuristic series, which takes place 50 years in the future, continues the tale of an oppressive authoritarian force that threatens to conquer the world. The series stars Michael B. Jordan, along with Dakota Fanning, Maisie Williams, Golshifteh Farahani, G.K. Bowes, and David Tennant.

Jordan serves as executive producer for Gen:Lock along with Alana Mayo.

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AMC has signed Emmy Award winner Courtney B. Vance to appear in its upcoming drama series 61stStreet, the network announced Thursday.

The series, from Peter Moffat and produced by Michael B. Jordan, is a courtroom drama that follows a promising, black high school athlete who is swept up into the infamously corrupt Chicago criminal justice system. Vance (The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Lovecraft Country, Genius) plays a public defender in the twilight of his career serving the busiest courthouse in America.

AMC has ordered two seasons of 61stStreet, which is set to debut in 2021, said network officials.

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“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the phenomenal Courtney B. Vance returning to the courtroom for 61stStreet,” said Sarah Barnett, president of AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios.”Courtney is the cornerstone of what’s sure to be a stellar ensemble for this ambitious and highly entertaining drama.”

In other AMC news, the network announced new cast additions for its upcoming drama series Soulmates, including Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), Malin Akerman (Billions, Dollface, Rampage), Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad, Life in Pieces) and JJ Feild (Turn). The six-part anthology series examines the nature of romantic love, and is written by Will Bridges (Stranger Things, Black Mirror) and Brett Goldstein (Superbob, Adult Life Skills).

AMC will look to expand its original series lineup with the greenlighting of two new series, 61st Street and Kevin Can F**k Himself.

Courtroom drama 61st Street, executive produced by Michael B. Jordan and Alana Mayo of Outlier Society (OWN’s David Makes Man), will receive a two-season order with eight episodes per season, according to network officials. The series revolves around Moses Johnson, a promising, black high school athlete who is swept up into the infamously corrupt Chicago criminal justice system, according to AMC.

The 10-episode Kevin Can F**k Himself, from creator Valerie Armstrong (Lodge 49) and executive produced by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (Claws) along with Craig DiGregorio, explores what happens when a stereotypical TV sitcom wife escapes her confines and forces the world to let her take the lead, said the network. 

"At AMC we believe in shows that have startling vision and fresh voice, with something to say," said Said Sarah Barnett, president of AMC Networks Entertainment Group & AMC Studios in a statement. "These two projects couldn’t be more in our sweet spot, as both have something big to say, and a genius way of saying it."

AT&T didn’t take long to step up to the plate with regards to improving inclusion and diversity efforts within its new WarnerMedia division, pledging Wednesday to commit to further diversifying its future TV, movie and digital projects both in front of and behind the camera.

Three months after completing its $108.7 billion purchase of Time Warner – which includes cable networks TNT and HBO – AT&T released a policy statement outlining WarnerMedia’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Among the policy's initiatives, WarnerMedia says that in the early stages of the production process, “we will engage with our writers, producers and directors to create a plan for implementing this commitment to diversity and inclusion on our projects, with the goal of providing opportunities for individuals from under-represented groups at all levels.”

WarnerMedia will launch its initiative with Michael B. Jordan’s Just Mercy Warner Bros. Pictures project. Jordan (HBO's Fahrenheit 451) has already adopted inclusion riders for new projects within his production company Outlier Society.

“Inclusivity has always been a no-brainer for me, especially as a black man in this business. It wasn’t until Frances McDormand spoke the two words that set the industry on fire — inclusion rider — that I realized we could standardize this practice,“ he said. “The WarnerMedia family has introduced an approach that accomplishes our shared objectives, and I applaud them for taking this enormous step forward.”

In its policy statement, WarnerMedia says it has a “historic and proven commitment to diversity and inclusion … but there is much more we can do.”

Indeed, in a 2017 Directors Guild Of America survey, The Warner Bros. Companies and HBO ranked sixth and seventh among the top 10 largest TV studios in hiring women and minority directors.

WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey said the diversity policy is the “next logical step to improve our content and cement our leadership in contributing to positive change in the industry.”

Added Warner Bros Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara: “I’m proud that Warner Bros. and our sister companies, HBO and Turner, are willing to state unequivocally that this is where we stand on diversity and inclusion. Our policy commits us to taking concrete action to further our goals, to measure the outcomes and to share the results publicly.”

The industry will certainly be monitoring WarnerMedia’s progress. As the company states: "it is essential that our content and creative partners reflect the diversity of our society and the world around us."

The full policy statement reads as follows: 

WarnerMedia companies, Warner Bros., HBO and Turner, have long been committed to diversity and inclusion as moral and business imperatives. It is essential that our content and creative partners reflect the diversity of our society and the world around us. Together with other production companies, networks, guilds, unions, talent agencies and others in the industry, we all must ensure there is greater inclusion of women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, those with disabilities and other underrepresented groups in greater numbers both in front of and behind the camera.

For our part, WarnerMedia pledges to use our best efforts to ensure that diverse actors and crew members are considered for film, television and other projects, and to work with directors and producers who also seek to promote greater diversity and inclusion in our industry. To that end, in the early stages of the production process, we will engage with our writers, producers and directors to create a plan for implementing this commitment to diversity and inclusion on our projects, with the goal of providing opportunities for individuals from under-represented groups at all levels. And, we will issue an annual report on our progress.

The companies of WarnerMedia have a historic and proven commitment to diversity and inclusion. But there is much more we can do, and we believe real progress can be made in the industry. We will work with our partners in the entertainment community to make this commitment a reality.

OWN has tabbed Tarell Alvin McCraney to create a new dramatic series, the network said.

McCraney, the co-writer and executive producer of the Academy Award-winning Best Picture Moonlight, will create, write and executive produce the new coming-of-age drama from Warner Horizon Scripted Television, said OWN.

The series, inspired by events in McCraney’s own life, follows a 14-year old prodigy from the projects who must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out.

Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy (Revenge/Swingtown) will serve as executive producers alongside Michael B. Jordan (Creed).

“When Tarell shared his powerful story with us there wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” said OWN CEO Oprah Winfrey in a statement. “I knew this was something special that our viewers will without a doubt connect to and feel compelled to explore with us. I am honored to be working with Tarell and the rest of the producers on this project.”

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