News Shorts: Twilight Animated Series In Development With Daria Spinoff Jodie Cancelled, And Avatar: The Animated Series Renewed On Netflix For Season 2 And Season 3 With Monsters At Work Moving To Disney Channel For Season 2

Twilight Animated Series In Development 

Michael Burns, vice chairman of Lionsgate, shared the news during a Q&A at the Morgan Stanley media conference on Tuesday, revealing, “We’re going to go out with the ‘Twilight’ series, an animated series, I think there’ll be a lot of interest in that.”

The animated series would be based on the Stephanie Meyer book series of the same name, which was previously adapted into a film franchise, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

There were four “Twilight” novels — “Twilight,” “New Moon,” “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn” — published between 2005 and 2008. In 2015, Meyer released the book “Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined,” which gender-swapped the two main characters, Bella and Edward. Meyer then released “Midnight Sun” in 2020, which told the story of the first book from Edward’s perspective rather than Bella’s.

Jodie axed on MTV

The long-gestating project first began as a series that would feature Daria and Jodie, and then was narrowed to just focus on the latter character. In 2020, Comedy Central picked up the adult animated show from creator and head writer Grace Edwards and MTVE Studios with hopes to pair it with South Park.

Two years later, it morphed into a movie.

“Jodie will not be moving forward at MTVE Studios,” said an MTVE Studios spokesperson. “We have loved working with Tracee, Grace and the whole team on creating a film that is full of joy and genre-bending fun with an inclusive, diverse, and incredible cast.  We are fully supportive of them finding a home elsewhere and look forward to partnering with them in the future.”

Avatar: The Last Airbender cancelled on Netflix

Netflix announced that it has greenlit Albert Kim’s take on Avatar: The Last Airbender for another two seasons that will “bring The Legend of Aang to its proper conclusion.”  Netflix also shared a new teaser image suggesting that, like the animated series, the live-action show’s second and third seasons will focus on Team Avatar’s adventures in the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation, respectively.

There’s no word yet on when production on the new seasons will begin or when we might expect to see them on Netflix.

Monsters Inc. coming to Disney Channel 

The second season of the animated series “Monsters at Work” will premiere April 5 on the Disney Channel, and begins streaming on Disney+ May 5 in the United States. With the first reason rolling out in Africa by March 25 on Disney Channel. 

Based on Pixar’s “Monsters” franchise and a sequel to Monsters, Inc., the series follows a maintenance crew at the monsters factory as it transitions from scaring kids to making them laugh to generate energy for the city of Monstropolis.

The first season won an Emmy for Individual Achievement in Animation.

Development Alert: Arise News Coming Soon To DStv And GOtv In More African Countries

Arise News is a London based television network that offers news and current affairs to audiences across the United States, Europe and Africa. It is operated by Arise Broadcasting Ltd., which is owned by Nigerian media mogul Nduka Obaigbena.

It offers programs such as Arise 360, Global Business Report, Arise Newshour and Daybreak Nigeria. This is accompanied by a streaming service known as Arise Play in 2021 with select titles can be live streamed with content from BBC Studios.

Since 2017, Arise News was only viewable on DStv Channel 416 and GOtv 24 in Nigeria. By 2020, Arise News can be found streaming on Freeview via its own service on Channel 269 and formed part of the Visiontv line-up on Channel 264.

As seen not long ago, MultiChoice might be looking to allocate Arise News in more African countries through DStv. This was after the channel had been spotted by several viewers taking up transmissions formerly occupied by B4U Movies.

The inclusion to more DStv customers doesn't seem far fetched a stretch as they offered news centres in Johannesburg and Lagos. The only mystery now is why they'd wait 11 years after it launched to expand to other markets with 5 years in Nigeria.

Die Fakulteit: Schools In Session With eExtra's New High School Drama This April, Will Be Available On e.tv

Not long ago, it was reported that eMedia Investments was filming a new Afrikaans drama that was set to rival with KykNET and replace 18:00 on SABC 2. Now it has been reported that eExtra will be launching a new series titled Die Fakulteit (The Faculty).

The project will ensemble a new and familiar cast alongside including Bibi Du Perez, Carien Botha, Abel Knobel, Tabitha De Jager, Carl Trautman, Leigh Ann Fourie, Tène Minderon and Zöricke Snyman with guest appearances from Zoé Jacobs and Geraldine Pilay.

Die Fakuliteit was produced by Marno Koen and Michael Van Zyl of Coolerbox Brothers with George Van Rooyen serving as director. The crew have produced various content for M-Net and Via including Klankbank, Konings van Kitskos and Die Rusbank Sessies.

Die Fakulteit begins 14 April 2024 on eExtra replacing Ouma Sarie at 19:30. Prior to this, Chrysalis would be returning to the channel with season 2 from 8 April 2024 replacing Soos Dag En Nag at 20:00.

Details of a plot has yet to mentioned but this is what we've got about the show

Our school's coat of arms - At Hoërskool Oos we are proud to say that in terms of sports, academics and culture we are considered one of the most average schools in the East Rand. As our motto goes: we think, we know, "we can?"

Recap To The Month: e.tv Reportedly Looking To Replace 7de Laan With New Afrikaans Drama, Could This Be The Final Nail In The Coffin For SABC?

As some readers are aware, SABC decided to cancel 7de Laan after 23 years on air with repeats of Snoozefest Vetkoekpaleis taking up its timeslot. Prior to this, there was a whole debate amongst viewers urging either DStv or e.tv to revive the soap.

Since 7de Laan is technically a product of SABC that makes its almost impossible to consider. Another theory shared by a viewer was the possibility of e.tv looking to ramp up a similar offering seeing as kykNET already has Suidooster and Binnelanders and not everyone has DStv.

According to insiders, e.tv is currently filming a new local drama of course details of a name or plot has yet to be revealed. This drama which will be in Afrikaans (not dubbed) is set for release sometime in the year most likely after Ouma Sarie seeing as it forms a block on e.tv.

Ouma Sarie launched on e.tv in 2023 and is said to be the most watched Afrikaans drama with 1.8 million viewers. This was basically half of 7de Laan's viewers and even shows like Droomvelore and Die Vreemdeling which serve as imported content had more viewers than 7de Laan.

During the week, it was reported the public broadcaster would be moving their Afrikaans programming on SABC 3 (excluding Vetkoekpaleis). With rumours swirling around that SABC would be cancelling further Afrikaans programs across their channels.

Although SABC denied such allegations the public broadcaster hasn't introduced any new content in that area. With the cancellation of FOKUS, the public broadcaster was warned that further alienation of Afrikaans programming would lead to a loss of viewers and advertisers.

Following the cancellation of 7de Laan, Nuus now serves as the most watched Afrikaans program on SABC 2 currently in the top 10 with 500,000 which is 300,000 less from 7de Laan. This move to SABC 3 would lead it to lose its ranking with audiences fleeing.

It's not just the channel but the timeslot to be direct 20:30 which is where consumers are probably tuning to their Turkish stories on eExtra or other local content on kykNET.

Vetkoekpaleis as mentioned is also being brutalized with its viewership sitting around 500,000 (300,000 drop) while 7de Laan bowed with 800,000 viewers. With e.tv rolling out this drama in the coming months consumers of Vetkoekpaleis will likely revert to e.tv once it launches.

Ratings Flop: Skeem Saam Loses 1.3 Million Viewers In New Timeslot On SABC 1

Last year, it was reported that the public broadcaster would be moving Skeem Saam to a new timeslot in March. Accompanied by the move of Afrikaans programs to SABC 3 as part of a brand restructure with Vetkoekpaleis remaining on SABC 2.

The public broadcaster was warned by several consumers over the decline in consumption for their offering. As anticipated, Skeem Saam experienced a ratings drop with 1.3 million viewers alongside its former timeslot with no word on SABC 2 or SABC 3.

Considering these channels already carry the least amount of audiences we presume the latter experienced a massive drop far worse than SABC 1. With Vetkoekpaleis already losing viewers on a monthly basis the move of its tribal offering with create further distance.

In light of this argument, the public broadcaster is celebrating the 3 million views instead of trying to recover the lost numbers. Now consumers will flee to e.tv for Scandal or Mzansi Magic for My Brother's Keeper.

Below is a press statement by the SABC 

SABC1 is excited to share that the daily drama Skeem Saam, produced by Peu Communications, achieved a massive historical audience rating of over 3.2 million viewers last night, 4 March 2024 when the popular drama debuted in the new timeslot of 19:30.

The move to a new timeslot was announced by the channel in January 2024, and the change kicked off last night with plots ranging from Leeto discovering that his friend Bullet has been lying to him, Jacobeth accusing Magongwa of witchcraft after being hit by a truck in front of his gate and Sthoko offering to cook dinner for Babeile and Lewatle, is there a new romance on the card in Turfloop?

Skeem Saam promises to continue delivering high quality and intriguing storylines, introducing a new face in April, but the viewers will have to wait and see who joins the Skeem Saam family next. The battle between Lehasa and Khwezi intensifies and there is hope for Pretty as she might have found the perfect firm to finish her articles.

“As the Public Broadcaster we wanted to make sure that we align with the audiences and to give them what they have asked for. We are proud of the performance of the first night and are looking forward to more highlights and wins with the Skeem Saam move. Thank you to the SABC1 audiences for walking the journey with us!” – SABC1 Channel Head – Ofentse Thinane.

‘Angeke Baskone’ with Skeem Saam at 19:30 weekdays, only on SABC1