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Jamie Ward, Simon Harrison, Chipo Chung and More Join Final Season of ‘His Dark Materials’ (TV News Roundup)

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jamie Ward, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Simon Harrison, Chipo Chung and Amber Fitzgerald-Woolfe have joined the third and final season of “His Dark Materials,” directed by Amit Gupta, Charles Martin and Weronika Tofilska.

The eight-episode season, which is currently in production, is based on “The Amber Spyglass,” the final novel in Philip Pullman’s bestselling trilogy.

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Season 3 of “His Dark Materials” follows Lyra (Dafne Keen) and Will (Amir Wilson), the bearer of The Subtle Knife, as they travel through multiple worlds to find and protect each other.

Also starring Ruth Wilson, Simone Kirby, Will Keen, Jade Anouka, Ruta Gedminstas and James McAvoy, “His Dark Materials” is produced by Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. Executive producers include Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch, Joel Collins and Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman, Jack Thorne, Tom Hooper; Deborah Forte, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line Cinema; and Ben Irving for the BBC.

Also in today’s TV news roundup:

FIRST LOOKS

Netflix released a trailer for Season 2 of “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” premiering on July 6. The absurdist sketch comedy series returns with newly-announced guest stars Bob Odenkirk, Brooks Wheelan, Gary Richardson, John Early, Julia Butters, Mike O’Brien, Patti Harrison, Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Richardson and Tim Heidecker. Created and written by Robinson and Zach Kanin, the series is executive produced by The Lonely Island (Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone) and Ali Bell for Party Over Here, alongside Alex Bach and Dan Powell for Irony Point. Alice Mathias also executive produces and directs alongside Kanin. Watch the trailer below.

PROGRAMMING

Netflix announced three new animated comedy series for kids, “A Tale Dark & Grimm,” “Dogs in Space” and “Super Giant Robot Brothers.” Based on the bestselling book series by Adam Gidwitz, “A Tale Dark & Grimm,” out this fall, follows Hansel and Gretel as they venture through other classic Grimm fairy tales. The voice cast includes Raini Rodriguez, Andre Robinson, Scott Adsit, Ron Funches, Erica Rhodes, Adam Lambert, Eric Bauza, Tom Hollander, Missi Pyle and Nicole Byer. The series is produced in partnership with Boat Rocker Studios in association with Novo Media Group and Astro-Nomical Entertainment, with animation services by Boat Rocker’s Jam Filled Entertainment. David Henrie, James Henrie, Bug Hall, Bob Higgins, Jon Rutherford and Doug Langdale executive produce. “Dogs in Space,” due fall 2021, follows genetically enhanced dogs on a galactic quest to find a new home for the human race. The voice cast includes Haley Joel Osment, Sarah Chalke, Kimiko Glenn, Chris Parnell, David Lopez, Debra Wilson and William Jackson Harper. Creator Jeremiah Cortez executive produces with Adam Henry and Atomic Cartoons’ Jennifer Twiner McCarron, Matthew Berkowitz and Kristin Cummings. “Super Giant Robot Brothers” follows two giant robots who discover they are brothers as they help defend Earth from intergalactic forces of evil. From creators Victor Maldonado and Alfredo Torres, the series is directed by Mark Andrews and executive produced by Tommy Blancha, who also serves as showrunner.

PARTNERSHIPS

GROM Social Enterprises, Inc. announced two partnership deals this week through their recently acquired kids’ and family production company Curiosity Ink Media, headed by former Nickelodeon executive Russell Hicks. In a new alliance with global toy company Cepia, the company will develop and produce entertainment content based on “Cats vs. Pickles,” tapping into the growing popularity of the hit toy property and animated shorts that premiered on YouTube and chronicle the love-hate relationship between cats and pickles. Additionally, Curiosity will partner with independent comic book and graphic novel publisher Dynamite Entertainment to unveil a slate of kids’ titles in 2022, kicking off with Curiosity Books’ “Baldwin’s Big Adventure” and an activity book for preschoolers based on “PAW Patrol,” produced by Spin Master Entertainment and airing on Nickelodeon.

ACQUISITIONS

Jewish Life TV (JLTV) has acquired broadcasting premiere rights for “Fauda” and “Prisoners of War,” which will both debut on the JLTV network on July 1. Also, JLTV will feature never-before-seen original content with new series “Inside Fauda” and “Inside Prisoners of War,” which will feature in-depth interviews with the cast and crew and provide a behind-the-scenes look at the making of each hit show. The programming will be available on DirecTV, Xfinity, Spectrum in the U.S. and Bell Fiber in Canada.

LATE NIGHT

Vin Diesel, Riley Keough and Modest Mouse will appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” while Quentin Tarantino, Iliza Shlesinger and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real will be on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” will have on Wanda Sykes and Craig Melvin; Graham Norton, Zosia Mamet, Brandon Taylor and Kristina Schiano will be on “Late Night With Seth Meyers”; and Elizabeth Olsen and Edgar Wright will appear on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”

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