HBO is bringing Joss Whedon to the world of pay cable television, ordering the “Avengers” director’s science-fiction series, “The Nevers.”
“The Nevers” is an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and on a mission that might change the world.
Whedon serves as writer, showrunner and executive producer, the first TV series he will helm since Fox’s short-lived “Dollhouse” in 2009-2010.
“We have long been fans of the incredibly talented and prolific Joss Whedon and we can’t think of a better project than ‘The Nevers’ with which to welcome him to the HBO family,” HBO programming president Casey Bloys said in a statement. “We look forward to meeting the strange, multifaceted characters of ‘The Nevers,’ to learn their stories, see them in action and share them with our viewers. We’re honored that Joss chose HBO as the place to build his ambitious new world and we are excited to get started.”
“The Nevers” won’t be the only TV show Whedon will be involved with. He is also set to executive produce a half-hour comedy series at Freeform. That project, currently in development, has the working title of “Pippa Smith: Grown-Up Detective” and comes from creators Siobhan Thompson and Rebecca Drysdale. It is a dark comedy that centers around the titular Pippa Smith, a 20-something who played a former kid sleuth on TV, as she deals with relationships, addiction and being too dang old for the detecting game.
“I honestly couldn’t be more excited,” Whedon said. “‘The Nevers’ is maybe the most ambitious narrative I’ve created, and I can’t imagine a better home for it than HBO. Not only are they the masters of cinematic long-form, but their instant understanding of my odd, intimate epic was as emotional as it was incisive. It’s been too long since I created an entirely new fictional world, and the HBO team offer not just scope and experience, not just ‘prestige,’ but a passionate collaboration. I could go on, but – I’m impatiently grateful to say – I have work to do.”
On the small screen, Whedon is most known for helming “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” its spinoff “Angel,” and “Firefly.” He was also among the major creative forces for Marvel’s big screen Cinematic Universe, directing both “The Avengers” and its sequel, “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” He also helped the MCU expand to television, directing the pilot for ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
Last year, he stepped in for Zack Snyder to finish Warner Bros.’ “Justice League” after Snyder left due to a family tragedy. He was also set to direct a “Batgirl” film for DC/Warner Bros. before leaving the project in February.
Summer TV Premiere Dates: Every New and Returning Show (Photos)
Find out when the most hotly anticipated new shows and your old favorites return this summer. We'll keep updating this gallery as more shows are announced.
"I'm Dying Up Here" (Showtime) Sunday, May 6 at 10 p.m.
Showtime
"Sweetbitter" (Starz) Sunday, May 6 at 8:30 p.m.
Starz
"Vida" (Starz) Sunday, May 6 at 8 p.m.
Starz
"Safe" (Netflix) Thursday, May 10
Netflix
"All Night" (Hulu) Friday, May 11
Hulu
"Patrick Melrose" (Showtime) Saturday, May 12 at 9 p.m.
Showtime
"Little Women" (PBS) Sunday, May 13 at 8 p.m.
PBS
"13 Reasons Why" (Netflix) Friday, May 18
Netflix
"Fauda" (Netflix) Thursday, May 24
Netflix
"Picnic at Hanging Rock" (Amazon) Friday, May 25
Amazon
"The Bachelorette" (ABC) Monday, May 28 at 8 p.m.
ABC
"Six" (History) Monday, May 28 at 10 p.m.
History
"100 Code" (WGN America) Tuesday, May 19 at 10 p.m.
WGN America
"America's Got Talent" (NBC) Tuesday, May 29 at 8 p.m.
NBC
"Animal Kingdom" (TNT) Tuesday, May 29 at 9 p.m.
TNT
"Beat Shazam" (Fox) Tuesday, May 29 at 8 p.m.
Fox
"Love Connection" (Fox) Tuesday, May 29 at 9 p.m.
Fox
"Queen Sugar" (OWN) Tuesday, May 29 at 10 p.m.
OWN
"World of Dance" (NBC) Tuesday, May 29 at 10 p.m.
NBC
"American Ninja Warrior" (NBC) Wednesday, May 30 at 8 p.m.
NBC
"MasterChef" (Fox) Wednesday, May 30 at 10 p.m.
Fox
"Reverie" (NBC) Wednesday, May 30 at 10 p.m.
NBC
"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix) Wednesday, May 30
Netflix
"Pose" (FX) Sunday, June 3 at 9 p.m.
FX
"Succession" (HBO) Sunday, June 3 at 10 p.m.
HBO
"Dietland" (AMC) Monday, June 4 at 9 p.m.
AMC
"So You Think You Can Dance" (Fox) Monday, June 4 at 8 p.m.
Fox
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (CW) Monday, June 4 at 9 p.m.
CW
"Humans" (AMC) Tuesday, June 5 at 10 p.m.
AMC
"Teachers" (TV Land) Tuesday, June 5 at 10:30 p.m.
TV Land
"Younger" (TV Land) Tuesday, June 5 at 10 p.m.
TV Land
"Condor" (Audience) Wednesday, June 6 at 10 p.m.
Audience Network
"American Woman" (Paramount) Thursday, June 7 at 10 p.m.
Paramount Network
"The Four" (Fox) Thursday, June 7 at 8 p.m.
Fox
"Marvel's Cloak & Dagger" (Freeform) Thursday, June 7 at 8 p.m.
Freeform
"Nashville" (CMT) Thursday, June 7 at 9 p.m.
CMT
"Big Hero 6: The Series" (Disney) Saturday, June 9 at 9 a.m.
Disney
"The $100,000 Pyramid" (ABC) Sunday, June 10 at 9 p.m.
ABC
"Celebrity Family Feud" (ABC) Sunday, June 10 at 8 p.m.
ABC
"Claws" (TNT) Sunday, June 10 at 9 p.m.
TNT
"To Tell the Truth" (ABC) Sunday, June 10 at 10 p.m.
ABC
"The Bold Type" (Freeform) Tuesday, June 12
Freeform
"Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back" (Fox) Wednesday, June 13 at 9 p.m.
"Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce" (Bravo) Thursday, June 14 at 10 p.m.
Bravo
"Marlon" (NBC) Thursday, June 14 at 9 p.m.
NBC
"Strange Angel" (CBS All Access) Thursday, June 14
CBS All Access
"Goliath" (Amazon) Friday, June 15
Amazon
"The Affair" (Showtime) Sunday, June 17 at 9 p.m.
Showtime
"Deep State" (Epix) Sunday, June 17 at 9 p.m.
Epix
"Shades of Blue" (NBC) Sunday, June 17 at 10 p.m.
NBC
"Drunk History" (Comedy Central) Tuesday, June 19 at 10 p.m.
Comedy Central
"Yellowstone" (Paramount) Wednesday, June 20 at 9 p.m.
Paramount Network
"Young & Hungry" (Freeform) Wedneday, June 20 at 8 p.m.
Freeform
"Detroiters" (Comedy Central) Thursday, June 21 at 10 p.m.
Comedy Central
"The Gong Show" (ABC) Thursday, June 21 at 8 p.m.
ABC
"Queen of the South" (USA) Thursday, June 21 at 9 p.m.
USA
"Shooter" (USA) Thursday, June 21 at 10 p.m.
USA
"Marvel's Luke Cage" (Netflix) Friday, June 22
Netflix
"Preacher" (AMC) Sunday, June 24 at 10 p.m.
AMC
"Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (CW) Monday, June 25 at 8 p.m.
CW
"GLOW" (Netflix) Friday, June 29
Netflix
"Masters of Illusion" (CW) Friday, June 29 at 8 p.m.
CW
"Power" (Starz) Sunday, July 1 at 9 p.m.
Starz
"Sacred Games" (Netflix) Friday, July 6
Netflix
"Heathers" (Paramount) Tuesday, July 10 at 10 p.m.
Paramount Network
"The Outpost" (CW) Tuesday, July 10 at 8 p.m.
Getty Images
"Burden of Truth" (CW) Wednesday, July 11 at 8 p.m.
Getty Images
"Harlots" (Hulu) Wednesday, July 11
Hulu
"The HollywoodPuppet Show" (Fuse) Tuesday, July 17 at 10:30 p.m.
Fuse
"Suits" (USA) Wednesday, July 18 at 9 p.m.
USA
"Snowfall" (FX) Thursday, July 19 at 10 p.m.
FX
"Trial & Error: Lady, Killer" (NBC) Thursday, July 19 at 9 p.m.
NBC
"Wynonna Earp" (Syfy) Friday, July 20 at 9 p.m.
Syfy
"Killjoys" (Syfy) Friday, July 20 at 10 p.m.
Syfy
"Outcast" (Cinemax) Friday, July 20 at 10 p.m.
Cinemax
"Castle Rock" (Hulu) Wednesday, July 25
Hulu
"Swedish Dicks" (Pop) Thursday, July 26
Pop TV
"Casual" (Hulu) Tuesday, July 31
Hulu
"The Sinner" (USA) Wednesday, August 1
USA
"Mr. Mercedes" (Audience) Wedneday, August 22 at 10 p.m.
Audience Network
"The Innocents" (Netflix) Friday, August 24
Netflix
"Jack Ryan" (Amazon) Friday, August 31
Amazon
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From returning favorites like Netflix’s ”Luke Cage“ to highly anticipated debuts such as Ryan Murphy’s ”Pose,“ TheWrap’s complete guide to summer TV premieres
Find out when the most hotly anticipated new shows and your old favorites return this summer. We'll keep updating this gallery as more shows are announced.