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Netflix has given the green light to The Beast In Me, a limited series headlined and executive produced by Claire Danes. In addition to Danes, the mystery thriller project, created, written and executive produced by Gabe Rotter, is executive produced by Jodie Foster, Conan O’Brien via Conaco and Homeland co-creator/executive producer Howard Gordon who will serve as showrunner, reuniting with the acclaimed series’ star/executive producer Danes. 20th Television is the studio; Gordon is no longer under a deal at Sony Pictures TV, which explains his involvement.

The surprising mix of big names attached to the series reflects its long, twisty path to the screen — indicative of how hard it often is to get a show made — which we will get into in a bit. The story may also inspire aspiring writers not to give up.

Gabe Rotter, photo by Lewis Abel

In The Beast In Me, since the...

It’s official. The CW’s comedies Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend will end after their upcoming fifth and fourth seasons, respectively. Additionally, the network revealed this season that the upcoming fifth season of comedic drama iZombie also will be its last, making for string of farewells on the CW next season. It will start with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which is on the fall schedule, and continue in midseason with Jane the Virgin and iZombie.

The announcement is not a surprise. Ahead of Jane the Virgin‘s fifth season renewal, star Gina Rodriguez had referred to a then-potential Season 5 as “our final season,” while Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star/co-creator Rachel Bloom tweeted after its pickup, “Just found out that #CrazyExGirlfriend has been renewed for a final season.”

Meanwhile, iZombie was probably the bubbliest of the CW established series and in danger of cancellation over its ratings performance but clinched a renewal...