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The movie and television production schedules are still reeling from delays and cancellations due to the pandemic in 2020-21. That hasn't stopped showrunners from dreaming, though, and 2022 is shaping up to be a season of comebacks, new series, and films that audiences have been waiting for, with the exception of a few surprises.
Here's what's up and coming from Hollywood's biggest showrunners during the new year.
D.B. Weiss And David Benioff
The powerhouse behind Game of Thrones is at it again. They've already produced The Chair, starring Amanda Peet, but their adaptation of the science-fiction trilogy, The Three-Body Problem, is what has everyone on the edge of their seat. The novels were written by Liu Cixin and led to Weiss and Benioff's cushy deal with Netflix for a series about humanity's first encounter with an alien civilization. According to Vulture, Benioff and Weiss will serve as writers and executive producers as well.
Francesca Sloane
She is a writer and producer, known for her work on Fargo (2014) and StartUp (2016), but her title as showrunner for the upcoming Mr. and Mrs. Smith series may be her biggest role yet. Fresh off of FX's Atlanta, Donald Glover will move his attention toward Amazon Prime's Mr. and Mrs. Smith reboot, set to debut in 2022, according to The Verge. Sloane has her hands full as major changes have already taken place during the writing. Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge was set to star alongside Glover and has walked away from the project.
Seth MacFarlane
He created the television series, Family Guy, setting the bar pretty high for slightly off-color or downright crude humor animation. MacFarlane has been working on The Orville, with two seasons appearing on Fox and a third set to premiere on Hulu next year. However, what has everyone talking about is the sitcom based on MacFarlane's R-rated teddy bear films, Ted and Ted 2. No word on a release date yet, but here's to hoping we'll see something in 2022.
Dana Ledoux Miller And Michael Russell Gunn
The duo behind Designated Survivor will serve as showrunners for the limited Netflix series, Thai Cave Rescue, based on a true story of 12 young soccer players and their coach, trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand, rescued after more than two weeks. The rescue mission received worldwide attention in 2018, and Miller and Gunn will also hold titles as executive producers in the much-anticipated series. According to Variety, the project is backed by several producer powerhouses, including Kevin Tancharoen (Marvel's Agents of SHIELD), Jon M. Chu, and 'Baz' Nattawut Poonpiriya (Bad Genius).
Dan Levy
Fresh off of his hit series Schitt's Creek, Levy will star in the romantic comedy Happiest Season, alongside Kristen Steward, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen, set to release this winter. In addition. Levy has signed a three-year contract with ABC to develop projects, and although specifics haven't been announced, Levy is hard at work on a variety of ideas, ranging from thrillers to dramas to comedies. One thing is for sure, and Levy has made it clear he plans to continue telling inclusive and meaningful stories that spread positivity.
Lisa Joy And Jonah Nolan
The husband-and-wife team moved their Kilter Films over to Amazon in 2019 and have several projects underway. The Westworld creators have their sights set on another sci-fi series based on Amazon's video game franchise, Fallout. Though fans may have to wait to see what Joy and Nolan come up with in Fallout, Hollywood Reporter says they're currently producing thriller series The Peripheral based on the William Gibson novel and starring Chloe Grace Moretz.
Gloria Calderon Kellett
She brought us the reboot of One Day at a Time from 2017 to 2020, starring a Cuban American family and three generations facing social, emotional, and economic issues. With the comedy series behind her, Calderon Kellett is focusing on With Love, a Latinx rom-com series on Amazon Prime. She'll now step in front of the camera to star as Tia Gladys. With Love features the Diaz family over the course of 12 months and celebrates holidays together. Calderon Kellett said the show centers around her own family and community, dealing with love, relationships, and celebration.
Tracy Oliver
The actress, writer, producer, and director became the first African American woman to write a film (Girls Trip - 2017) to gross over $100 million at the box office. She's also the showrunner and creator of BET's First Wives Club, the television adaptation of the 1996 movie; however, what most fans are looking forward to is the product stemming from Oliver's multi-year, eight-figure agreement with Apple. Oliver has been tasked with developing television and film projects with diverse storylines under her company, Tracy Yvonne Productions. While nothing has been announced, it's a sure bet Oliver will surprise fans with her next project.
Sources: Vulture, The Verge, Variety, Hollywood Reporter