From sitcoms and dramas to limited series and revivals, fall TV is officially back with more new shows than in the past. But who’s creating this content? Here, Variety highlights the showrunners behind some of the new, most highly anticipated series coming in the next few months.
Kevin Abbott
Writer and executive producer of “Happy’s Place,” Abbott has worked with Reba McEntire before, both as a writer on and produce on “Reba.” Previously, Abbott produced 160 episodes of “Last Man Standing” and worked on “My Name Is Earl,” “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place,” “Roseanne” and “The Golden Girls.”
Produced by: Universal TV
Premiere: Oct. 18, NBC
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Joe Barton
“Black Doves,” a spy thriller set in London at Christmastime, was created by Barton and is led by Keira Knightley. In the past five years, he created and produced “Giri/Haji,” “The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself” and “The Lazarus Project.”
Produced by: Noisy Bear and Sister
Premiere: December, Netflix
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Ronan Bennett
Bennett produces “The Day of the Jackal,” a British adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s novel, starring Eddie Redmayne. The creator of British thriller “Top Boy,” Bennett will also write all 10 episodes of the upcoming “Ray Donovan” offshoot series, “The Donovans.”
Produced by: Sky Studios, Carnival Films, Universal International Studios
Premiere: Nov. 7, Peacock
Stephen Belber and VJ Boyd
Emmy-winner Colman Domingo leads thriller “The Madness,” created by co-showrunner Belber, a playwright, Broadway producer and director whose credits include “O.G.” and “The Laramie Project.” Boyd, for his part, is best known for writing on and producing “Justified” and “S.W.A.T.”
Produced by: The North Road Company, Chernin Entertainment
Premiere: Nov. 28, Netflix
Jon Brown
Brown serves as showrunner and executive producer — he also penned the pilot — on “The Franchise,” a comedy about a film crew making a superhero movie; the series is produced by Armando Iannucci and Sam Mendes. Brown’s resume includes writing multiple episodes of “Succession,” “Avenue 5,” “Dead Pixels” and “Loaded.”
Produced by: Dundee Prods, Neal Street Prods.
Premiere: Oct. 6, HBO
Alfonso Cuarón
Psychological thriller “Disclaimer” is written and directed by Cuarón and led by Cate Blanchett. Best known as the director of “Roma,” “Gravity,” “Y Tu Mama También” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” this marks Cuarón’s first television project.
Produced by: Apple Studios, Esperanto Filmoj, Anonymous Content
Premiere: Oct. 11, Apple TV+
Liz Feldman
Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano are two of many A-listers who lead “No Good Deed,” a dark comedy about three families trying to buy the same house with dark mysteries inside. Executive producer and showrunner Feldman also writes and directs multiple episodes. She previously wrote on “2 Broke Girls,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “Hot in Cleveland,” but is best-known for creating “Dead to Me.”
Produced by: Gloria Sanchez Prods.
Premiere: Dec. 12, Netflix
Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher
A reimagining of the 1999 cult classic, “Cruel Intentions” takes place at an elite college in Washington, D.C. Goodman is the creator and showrunner of the 2021 adaptation of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” on which Fisher was a writer.
Produced by: Sony Pictures TV, Amazon MGM Studios, Original Film
Premiere: November, Amazon Prime Video
Pilar Golden
Golden executive produces “Beyond Black Beauty,” a drama about a young equestrian with Olympic goals whose life is uprooted. Golden previously wrote on the 2021 “Gossip Girl” reboot and “God Friended Me.”
Produced by: Sinking Ship Entertainment, Leif Films, Saga Film, Amazon MGM Studios
Premiere: Oct. 15, Amazon Prime Video
Claudia Grazioso
Grazioso serves as showrunner on Hallmark’s first-ever holiday TV series, “Holidazed,” which follows six families living on a cul-de-sac, coming together for the holidays. Grazioso previously wrote 41 episodes of “Are We There Yet?” and has penned multiple holiday TV movies.
Produced by: Unity Pictures, Little Engine Prods.
Premiere: Nov. 14, Hallmark+
Tasha Huo
Huo, who last wrote on fantasy miniseries “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” serves as “Tomb Raider: Legend of Lara Croft” showrunner. The animated series picks up 25 years after Lara Croft’s first appearance. Tao also penned the upcoming sword and sorcery film “Red Sonja.”
Produced by: Legendary Television, Tractor Pants, Crystal Dynamics, Powerhouse Animation
Premiere: Oct. 10, Netflix
Eric Ledgin
Ledgin, alongside Justin Spitzer, executive produces “St. Denis Medical,” a mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed hospital. A former writer for “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” Ledgin’s credits include “Superstore,” “American Auto” and “Rutherford Falls.”
Produced by: Universal Television and Spitzer Holding Co.
Premiere: Nov. 12, NBC
Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North
To tell Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ beginnings, CBS tapped co-showrunners who knew the character best for “NCIS: Origins.” Monreal wrote on 10 seasons of “NCIS”; her credits also include “Brothers & Sisters,” “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” and “Griselda.” North produced 10 seasons of “NCIS,” co-writing Mark Harmon’s farewell episode. Other credits include “Rizzoli & Isles” and “Scorpion.”
Produced by: CBS Studios
Premiere: Oct. 14, CBS
Ian McCulloch
A first-time showrunner, McCulloch executive produces James Wan’s thriller, “Teacup,” led by Yvonne Strahovski. He’s previously worked as a producer and writer on “Yellowstone,” “Chicago Fire” and “Deputy.”
Produced by: UCP, Atomic Monster
Premiere: Oct. 10, Peacock
Steve Holland and Steven Molaro
“Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” is the third show in “The Big Bang Theory” franchise. A spinoff of “Young Sheldon,” it makes perfect sense that the same showrunners would run the new take. Both Molaro and Holland worked on “The Big Bang Theory” for more than a decade.
Produced by: Chuck Lorre Prods.
Premiere: Oct. 17, CBS
Marco Ramirez
Ramirez created “La Máquina,” about an aging boxer looking for his final shot at the title, reuniting “Y Tu Mamá También” stars Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna. He co-created “The Twilight Zone” reboot and wrote on “Sons of Anarchy” and “Daredevil.”
Produced by: Searchlight Television, La Corriente del Golfo
Premiere: Oct. 9, Hulu
Alison Schapker
Before becoming showrunner on “Dune: Prophecy,” which acts as a prequel to the 2021 film, Schapker produced “Fringe,” “Scandal” and “Westworld.” She served as showrunner on “Altered Carbon.”
Produced by: HBO, Legendary Television
Premiere: November, HBO
Mike Schur
“A Man on the Inside,” an adaptation of the 2021 documentary “The Mole Agent,” reunites showrunner Schur with “The Good Place” star Ted Danson, who leads the new comedy. Schur is a TV veteran thanks to “The Office,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Master of None.” (Case in point: His 19 Emmy nominations.)
Produced by: Universal TV, Fremulon, 3 Arts Entertainment, Micromundo Producciones, Motto Pictures
Premiere: November, Netflix
Taylor Sheridan
Sheridan’s latest series, “Landman,” is set in the oil rig world and based on Christian Wallace’s “Boomtown” podcast. Best known for creating “Yellowstone,” the producer and writer also co-created “Mayor of Kingstown” and created crime drama “Tulsa King.”
Produced by: Bosque Ranch Prods., 101 Studios, Imperative Development, MTV Entertainment Studios
Premiere: Nov. 17, Paramount+
Kirstie Swain
Swain pens and executive produces twisted thriller “Sweetpea” alongside producers Patrick Walters, Helen Gregory, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Ella Purnell and Ella Jones. Lead by Purnell, the series is based on C.J. Skuse’s cult novel.
Produced by: See-Saw Films, Sky Studios
Premiere: Oct. 10, Starz
Sarah Thorp
Thorp serves as creator and showrunner on psychological thriller “Before,” led by Billy Crystal. She previously worked as a producer and writer on “Damien” and “Hawthorne,” and penned the 2010 comedy “The Bounty Hunter.”
Produced by: Paramount Television Studios
Premiere: Oct. 25, Apple TV+
Ben Watkins
Created by Watkins, “Cross” is based on the characters from James Patterson’s Alex Cross book series and stars Aldis Hodge. Watkins’ credits include “Truth Be Told,” “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” “Hand of God” and “Burn Notice.”
Produced by: Amazon MGM Studios, Paramount Television Studios, Skydance Television
Premiere: Nov. 14, Amazon Prime Video
Charles Yu
Acclaimed author of “Interior Chinatown,” Yu serves as showrunner in the adaptation of his 2020 novel; Taika Waititi executive produces. The award-winning author was a writer on “Westworld.”
Produced by: 20th Television
Premiere: Nov. 19, Hulu
Josh Zetumer
Based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s best-selling book, “Say Nothing” spans four decades in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Creator Zetumer’s credits include writing “Patriots Day” and “RoboCop.”
Produced by: FX Prods.
Premiere: Nov. 14, FX on Hulu
