Fox at TCA: Lea Michele will be on ‘Scream Queens,’ and there might be more ‘X Files’

Fox started off its Television Critics Association by revealing a long list of casting details for upcoming programming, including that Emma Roberts, Lea Michele, Joe Manganiello, AbigailBreslin, Keke Palmer and Ariana Grande will show up in Ryan Murphy’s new “Scream Queens” series. The only previously aanounced name had been Jamie Lee Curtis (because who else would star in something called “Scream Queens”?).

Executives Dana Walden and Gary Newman announced some of the casting for the “Grease Live” program the network will be airing – Julianne Hough will star as Sandy, while Vanessa Hudgens takes on Rizzo. No word yet on who will be Danny.

Today’s panel tension came courtesy of questions about “Empire” star Terence Howard, as one journalist pressed the execs about why they’d hired someone with a history of domestic violence. Walden said the network hadn’t been aware of his personal issues until December, and emphasized that their experience with him had been excellent. So basically, don’t expect Howard to lose his job (or his other job on “Wayward Pines”) on this any time soon.

They also addressed rumors of a new “24” season, saying they had no current plans, but were in discussion with the creative team. Renewals for “Bones” and “Sleepy Hollow” were not confirmed, though “Bones” seems likely – they’re currently in contract negotiation with Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz. “Sleepy Hollow” seems to have a slightly less clear future. Walden said the show had gotten “overly serialized” and indicated some recalibration might occur to bring fans back in. Expect it to get much more episodic – sounds like execs think the show’s mythology is just too confusing to follow.

Newman said that rumors about an “X-Files” relaunch are not off-base. Fox is indeed in talks about reviving it, and they’re “hopeful” something might happen, but who/if/when it would all come together isn’t confirmed. Both Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny are a bit busy these days with other projects.