Kristen Wiig Exits Reese Witherspoon-Produced Apple TV Comedy Series

Kristen Wiig is stepping down as star of the half-hour comedy series being developed for Apple by Reese Witherspoon, due to scheduling conflicts with the production of the “Wonder Woman” sequel, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap. The show is now on hold as Apple and the show’s producers consider their options, including finding a new lead actress.

Inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s upcoming short story collection “You Think It, I’ll Say It,” the project from Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine received a 10-episode order, and was set to become Apple’s first half-hour scripted comedy. Wiig signed onto the series when it was ordered in January, and was set to executive produce as well as star.

However, Wiig joined “Wonder Woman 1984” just two months later. That film is currently in production, with Wiig playing classic DC comics villain Cheetah. The superhero sequel’s shooting schedule, as well as other obligations, overlapped with the plan for the Apple series, leading to Wiig’s exit.

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Apple is still interested in the show, which Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter will executive produce for Hello Sunshine, alongside Colleen McGuinness, who created it and will serve as showrunner. Sittenfeld will act as consulting producer.

This marks the third project Apple has ordered from Hello Sunshine, including Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s morning show drama and Octavia Spencer’s “Are You Sleeping,” which is co-produced by Chernin Entertainment.

Those series join the tech company’s lineup of originals, including Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories,” Ron Moore’s space drama, the drama “See” from Steven Knight and Francis Lawrence, and the docuseries “Home” from Matt Tyrnauer and Matthew Weaver.

Deadline first reported Wiig’s departure.

11 DC Comics Superheroes and Villains Who Deserve R-Rated Movies (Photos)

With R-rated films like "Logan" brutalizing the box office, an insider tells TheWrap that DC Films would "100 percent" make R-rated superhero movies with the right characters. Here are a few suggestions for characters dark enough to demand an R rating.
1. Justice League Dark

Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment released a successful R-rated "Justice League Dark" animated movie, and there's no reason they can't do the same in live action.
DC Comics
2. Suicide Squad 2

The first "Suicide Squad" focused on hardened criminals, but they kept things PG-13. They could do a lot more damage with an R rating.
Warner Bros.
3. Deadshot

Warner Bros. is looking to spin off Will Smith's hardened "Suicide Squad" character. An R-rating would make a lot of sense, given that he's a professional assassin.
Warner Bros.
4. Gotham City Sirens

Warners is also looking to spin off Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn character from "Suicide Squad." We all know the streets of Gotham are deadly enough to deserve an R rating.
DC Comics
5. Lobo

A film about DC's badass alien bounty hunter Lobo is in development, with Jason Fuchs developing a screenplay. An alien can't be expected to abide by MPAA standards.
DC Comics
6. Black Adam

Dwayne Johnson is attached to star as outlaw "Black Adam" for New Line. In the comics, Black Adam rules his own nation — the fictional Middle Eastern country Kahndaq — as a beloved, if violent, dictator. R territory for sure.
DC Comics
7. Nightwing

Bruce Wayne's former ward Dick Grayson set off on his own in the comics, and is expected to get his own movie as well in "Nightwing." R is for Robin.
DC Comics
8. Red Hood

If DC Films is making a "Nightwing" movie, how about focusing on another Bat-underling? Ex-Robin Jason Todd came back from the dead to avenge his killing as Red Hood, and a PG-13 probably can't contain all his rage.
DC Comics
9. Arkham Asylum

The video game series featuring all of Gotham City's craziest villains could easily lend itself to a film in the vein of David Fincher's "Seven."
DC Comics
10. Deathstroke

DC Comics assassin Deathstroke is the villain in the upcoming "The Batman," and if he merits a spinoff, it would be hard to imagine it as anything but an R movie.
DC Comics
11. The Batman

Making "The Batman" R-rated would send a signal that DC Films isn't messing around. In the "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" Ultimate Edition, Batman was at his most Frank Miller violent and brutal.
Warner Bros.
If you like this gallery, check out this list of the 14 Biggest Superhero Movies Opening in 2017, From ‘Power Rangers’ to ‘Wonder Woman’ (Photos)

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An insider tells TheWrap that DC Films would ‘100 percent’ make R-rated superhero movies with the right characters — here are few that would be perfect

With R-rated films like "Logan" brutalizing the box office, an insider tells TheWrap that DC Films would "100 percent" make R-rated superhero movies with the right characters. Here are a few suggestions for characters dark enough to demand an R rating.

View In Gallery

11 DC Comics Superheroes and Villains Who Deserve R-Rated Movies (Photos)

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