TVLine Items: New Forsyte Saga Series, Dwayne Johnson’s WCW Docu and More

The Forsyte Saga is making a return, courtesy of a new series reimagining at Masterpiece on PBS.

Based on John Galsworthy’s novel of the same name, the update follows the lives of the wealthy Forsyte family in 1880s London and explores the themes of love, loyalty, ambition and betrayal. Francesca Annis (Flesh and Blood) will star as the formidable Forsyte matriarch Ann, while Stephen Moyer (True Blood) will play her eldest son, Jolyon Senior, head of the family stockbroking firm Forsyte & Co. 

The ensemble also includes Danny Griffin (Fate: The Winx Saga) as Jolyon’s bohemian son, Jo; Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey: A New Era) as Jo’s status-driven wife, Frances; Eleanor Tomlinson (One Day) as Louisa Byrne, a Soho dressmaker and Jo’s first love.

Rounding out the cast are Jack Davenport (The Morning Show) as Ann’s competitive younger son, James; Joshua Orpin (Titans) as James’ shrewd and sometimes ruthless son, Soames; Millie Gibson (Doctor Who) as Irene, the dancer whom Soames falls in love with; and Tom Durant Pritchard (This Is Going To Hurt) as Monty Dartie, James’ son-in-law.

Production on the six-episode first season is slated to begin this May.

The Forsyte Saga was previously adapted by ITV into a 2002 series starring Damian Lewis, while the BBC aired its own series in 1967.

Ready for some more recent newsy nuggets? Well…

* Dwayne Johnson is executive-producing the Vice TV docuseries Who Killed WCW?, about the rise and fall of World Championship Wrestling, our sister site Deadline reports.

* The Netflix limited series Black Rabbit, starring Jason Bateman and Jude Law, has added the follow actors to its cast: Troy Kotsur (CODA), Abbey Lee (Lovecraft Country), Odessa Young (The Staircase) and Robin De Jesus (Welcome To Chippendales). 

* The first season of Apple TV+’s animated adventure trilogy WondLa, featuring the voices of Jeanine Mason, Teri Hatcher and Brad Garrett, will premiere Friday, June 28.  

* Netflix has released a trailer for the Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous sequel series, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, premiering Friday, May 24: 

Which of today’s TVLine Items pique your interest?