Ahead of the network unveiling its fall schedule and midseason programming on Tuesday, sources tell Shadow and Act that The CW has picked up two additional series for the 2021-22 broadcast television series. The network is moving forward with the All American spinoff, All American: Homecoming, as well as Ava DuVernay’s DC Comics series, Naomi. Both join the new 4400 series for a total of three new scripted shows that the network will have in the upcoming season.
We also hear that of the other projects that were in development for the season, Powerpuff (which shot a pilot) is being reworked and will have a new pilot done for off-cycle consideration. The original pilot’s four leads Chloe Bennet. Dove Cameron, Yana Perrault and Donald Faison, and other cast members, writers and producers, will continue to be on board. The potential Nancy Drew spinoff, Tom Swift, appears to still in consideration as well. The character, played by Tian Richards, appeared in a recent episode of the parent series. Though no pilot was shot, there is a script for one.
All American: Homecoming is a young adult sports drama set against the backdrop of the HBCU experience which follows a young tennis hopeful from Beverly Hills and an elite baseball player from Chicago as they contend with the high stakes of college sports, while also navigating the highs, lows and sexiness of unsupervised early adulthood at a prestigious Historically Black College. The series will star Geffri Maya, Peyton Alex Smith, Kelly Jenrette, Cory Hardrict, Sylvester Powell, Netta Walker and Camille Hyde. It is written and executive produced by All American showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, and Robbie Rogers. Michael Schultz directed the pilot spinoff episode. The series is from Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. The series’ backdoor pilot will air as an episode of All American in July.
Naomi follows a teen girl’s journey from her small northwestern town to the heights of the Multiverse. When a supernatural event shakes her hometown to the core, Naomi sets out to uncover its origins, and what she discovers will challenge everything we believe about our heroes.
The series will star Kaci Walfall, Cranston Johnson, Alexander Wraith, Mary-Charles Jones, Barry Watson, Mouzam Makkar, Daniel Puig, Camila Moreno, Will Meyers, and Aidan Gemme (“Tomorrowland,” “Deliver Us from Evil”).
Based on the characters from DC, Naomi is written and executive produced by Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship and executive produced by Sarah Bremner and Paul Garnes of ARRAY Filmworks. Amanda Marsalis directed and co-executive produced the pilot episode. Naomi is from ARRAY Filmworks in association with Warner Bros. Television.
