Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion group has picked six writers for its 2018 Universal Writers Program, a one-year track that gives writers the opportunity to develop two feature scripts under the guidance of Universal and Focus Features production executives and producers.

Lorne Michaels will be entirely under the NBCUniversal umbrella. The Saturday Night Live kingmaker, who spent nearly 30 years at Paramount Pictures for his film endeavors, has left the Viacom-owned studio for Universal Pictures, where he and his Broadway Video have inked a first-look deal. The move is a logical one given Michael's long-standing relationship with NBCUniversal on the TV side. Erin David, his longtime collaborator, will oversee the film division there.

Following the box office success of “Ready Player One,” Universal has hired Dan Mazeau to write a new draft of its sci-fi thriller “Armada,” based on Ernest Cline’s 2015 novel. Cline, who authored “Ready Player One” and co-wrote the screenplay, wrote an earlier draft of the “Armada” screenplay. Universal said Tuesday that Cline will remain in collaboration with Mazeau and producers on the forthcoming draft.

“Saturday Night Live” standout Kate McKinnon is in negotiations to join the cast of Universal and Working Title’s untitled comedy from director Danny Boyle and scribe Richard Curtis, sources tell Variety. If a deal closes, McKinnon would join Lily James and Himesh Patel, who are set to star with Boyle directing and Curtis writing the script. Curtis and Boyle will also produce the film. Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce alongside Matt Wilkinson and Bernie Bellew. Nick Angel and Lee Brazier are executive producers. Most plot details are being kept under wraps, but it will be music-themed and set in the 1960s or ’70s. Details of McKinnon’s character are also currently unknown.

The man who rebooted Universal’s dinosaur franchise is coming back for its next installment. “Colin Trevorrow is going write and direct the third Jurassic World story,” executive producer Steven Spielberg exclusively tells EW. Spielberg will also return as an executive producer on the third World.