Sci Fi TV News Briefs: A Dune TV Series Is in the Works at WarnerMedia, Michael Rooker Joins Amazon's Dark Tower, and More

Sci Fi TV News Briefs: Quick hits keeping you updated on sci fi and fantasy television news.

Dune Spin-Off: The upcoming WarnerMedia streaming service has decided to start big and has given a straight-to-series order for Dune: The Sisterhood. This comes from Legendary Television and will be directly linked to the upcoming big screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune in the works Warner Bros. Deadline Hollywood gives the following description for the series:

Dune: The Sisterhood explores this universe through the eyes of a mysterious order of women: the Bene Gesserit. Given extraordinary abilities by their mastery of the body and the mind, the Bene Gesserit expertly weave through the feudal politics and intrigue of The Imperium, pursuing plans of their own that will ultimately lead them to the enigmatic planet Arrakis — known to its inhabitants as Dune.

Denis Villeneuve, who is directing the movie, will also direct the pilot for the series and remain involved as executive producer. This is part of WB’s plan to build up a franchise around the Dune books which includes more films and possibly television series as well as digital content packages, comic books, and video games. The Dune film is set for a 2020 debut and the television series will probably land about that time a well.

Netflix Casts I Am Not Okay With This: Netflix has announced the cast for its supernatural YA series I Am Not Okay With This which is based on the graphic novel by Chuck Forsman. The cast will include Sophia Lillis (It), Wyatt Oleff (It, Guardians of the Galaxy), Kathleen Rose Perkins (Colony), and Sofia Bryant. The Hollywood Reporter gives the following description for the series:

An irreverent origin story, following Lillis’ Sydney, a teenage girl navigating the trials and tribulations of high school all while dealing with the complexities of her family, her budding sexuality, and…mysterious superpowers just beginning to awaken from deep within her.

Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the Fucking World) is developing the series and Shawn Levy (Stranger Things) is onboard as executive producer. Eight thirty-minute episodes of the series have been ordered and it is set for a 2020 debut.

Rooker Enters the Dark Tower: Genre mainstay Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy) has signed on to appear in the pilot for Amazon’s upcoming Dark Tower series. Based on the Stephen King books, this series will not be connected to the 2017 feature film (which was a Box Office flop) and will focus on the origin story of Roland Deschain and how he became a gunslinger. Rooker, who’s role has not been announced, is re-teaming with Glen Mazzara who is developing the series for Amazon and who previously worked together with the actor on TWD.

Jude Law Finds The Third Day: Jude Law (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Captain Marvel) has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming fantasy TV series The Third Day which will air on HBO in the U.S. and Sky in Britain. The Hollywood Reporter give the following description of the project:

Set on a mysterious island off the coast of Britain, The Third Day tells the story of Sam (Law) who encounters the island’s secretive inhabitants and their strange rituals. Fantasy and reality began to blur for Sam, triggering past traumas, and brings him into conflict with the islanders.

This is planned as a six-part mini-series with Kit de Waal and Dean O’Loughlin writing and Marc Munden directing. It will likely debut at some point in 2020.