Martin Freeman Joins Marvel’s ‘Captain America: Civil War’

Martin Freeman is no stranger to franchise films after starring as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. But the Fargo and Sherlock actor will now make his comic book movie debut in next year’s Captain America: Civil War. Marvel announced the news Tuesday, while not disclosing who Freeman will play in the movie that’s expected to pit Iron Man against Captain America over the Superhero Registration Act. Civil War premieres May 6, 2016. [Marvel]

Playstation Network Renews ‘Powers’ for Second Season

Playstation’s first TV series Powers, based on Brian Michael Bendis’ comic book of the same, had a rocky start getting to the small screen. The drama was first developed at FX as a pilot, before finally landing on the Playstation Network. But it seems like all the hard work paid off because Powers has just been renewed for a second season. The drama, starring Sharlto Copley (District 9) as a cop investigating crimes involving special abilities, will return in 2016. [THR]

Syfy, Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Reuniting to Adapt ‘Brave New World’

Syfy’s 2002 miniseries Taken brought together an all-star cast and crew to tell a story centered on the Roswell crash in New Mexico, winning the network one of its only major Emmy wards to date. Thirteen years later, Syfy is reuniting with Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin Television to adapt Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World as a new scripted series. Les Bohem, who penned Taken, will write the scripts about a world without poverty, war or disease, where genetically engineered humans live off drugs, free sex and consumerism. That is, until one day an outsider threatens their entire way of life. [THR]

BBC America’s ‘Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell’ Gets Date, Trailer

Magic is coming to BBC America in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, a seven-part miniseries from Peter Harness (Wallander, Is Anybody There?) based on the bestselling novel from Susanna Clarke. The series takes place in early 19th century England, when people have all but stopped believing in magic. But based on the first trailer, that’s all about to change as Mr. Norrell (Eddie Marsan) and Jonathan Strange (Bertie Carvel) battle it out across the country to see who is the greatest magician of them all, beginning June 13 on BBC America. [YouTube]

Katherine McNamara to Lead ABC Family’s ‘Shadowhunters’

Mortal Instruments fans, meet your new Clary Fray. Katherine McNamara (The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials) has landed the female lead in ABC Family’s drama Shadowhunters, a TV adaptation of Cassandra’s Clare’s bestselling fantasy novels. Like the previous movie version starring Lily Collins, the series will follow Clary, who on her 18th birthday discovers she comes from a long line of Shadowhunters — human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons. The series will also star Dominic Sherwood as shadowhunter Jace. McG (Chuck, Charlie’s Angels) is set to direct the first episode. [TheWrap]