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LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
Looking to keep track of all the various projects in development? Click here to visit our signature "Devwatch" section. There visitors can view our listings by network, genre, studio and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!
ARMY WIVES (Lifetime) - Jeff Melvoin ("Line of Fire") has come aboard as the new showrunner of the upcoming drama, about - you guessed it - a group of Army wives. He'll take over for Samantha Corbin-Miller. No reason was given for the change.
Commitment: Ordered to series (13 episodes)
Cast: Brian McNamara (Michael Holden), Brigid Brannagh (Pamela Moran), Catherine Bell (Denise Sherwood), Drew Fuller (Trevor LeBlanc), Kim Delaney (Claudia Joy Holden), Sally Pressman (Roxy LeBlanc), Sterling K. Brown (Roland Burton), Wendy Davis
Writer: Katherine Fugate
Director: Ben Younger
Executive Producers: Deborah Spera (The Mark Gordon Company), Jeff Melvoin, Katherine Fugate, Mark Gordon (The Mark Gordon Company)
Studio: ABC Television Studio
THE BIONIC WOMAN (NBC) - Mae Whitman ("Thief") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, a reimagination of the 1970s series of the same name. She'll play Becca Sommers, who's detailed in the casting notice as: "15. Jaime's younger sister. She's a pretty teenager determined to hide her looks under a tough, sarcastic, resentful demeanor. It's clear Becca misses her mom and blames Jaime for not spotting the signs of her mom's disease sooner. Still, beneath her brave, spiteful exterior lies the heart of a vulnerable girl who really does love, and need, her big sis. Her dad took off years ago, and when Becca was 11 her mother died of cancer leaving Becca in Jaime's care."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Mae Whitman (Becca Sommers), Michelle Ryan (Jaime Sommers), Will Yun Lee (Jae Kim)
Writer: Laeta Kalogridis
Director: Michael Dinner
Executive Producers: David Eick, Laeta Kalogridis
Studio: NBC Universal Television
FOOTBALL WIVES (ABC) - Holly Robinson Peete ("Love, Inc."), who's in real life married to former NFL player Rodney Peete, is the latest addition to the pilot's ensemble cast. She'll play the mother of Brian White's character, the star wide receiver.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Arielle Kebbel (Nicole), Brian White (Kyle), Eddie Cibrian, Gabrielle Union (Chardonnay), Holly Robinson Peete, James Van Der Beek, Kiele Sanchez (Donna), Lucy Lawless (Tanya), Ving Rhames (Frank)
Writer: Marco Pennette
Director: Bryan Singer
Executive Producers: Ann McManus (Shed Productions), Bert Salke (Brancato-Salke Productions), Bryan Singer (Bad Hat Harry Productions), Chris Brancato (Brancato-Salke Productions), Eileen Gallagher (Shed Productions), Marco Pennette, Maureen Chadwicke (Shed Productions)
Studio: ABC Television Studio
GRAVITY (The CW) - The netlet has opted to postpone production on the drama pilot, about the daily lives of a sexy ensemble of rookie cops and their training officers in Los Angeles. Said decision was reportedly made due to difficulties finding a showrunner.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot (14-20 minute presentation)
Cast: Matt Czuchry (Ray), Brooke Nevin (Hilary), Ryan Merriman (Will)
Writer: Caleb Kane
Directors: Jonas Pate, Josh Pate
Executive Producers: Darryl Frank (DreamWorks Television), Justin Falvey (DreamWorks Television)
Co-Executive Producer: Caleb Kane
Consulting Producer: Charles Segars
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
K-VILLE (FOX) - John Carroll Lynch ("Close to Home") and Tawny Cypress ("Heroes") have both scored roles on the drama pilot, about cops in post-Katrina New Orleans. He'll play Dixon, the head of the felony action squad, while Cypress is set as Love Tap, the only woman on the squad.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Anthony Anderson (Marlin Boulet), Blake Shields (Jeff "Glue Boy" Gooden), Cole Hauser (Trevor Cobb), John Carroll Lynch (Dixon), Tawny Cypress (Love Tap)
Writer: Jonathan Lisco
Director: Deran Sarafian
Executive Producers: Jonathan Lisco
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS (Showtime, New!) - Actor/director Tim Robbins and producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas ("Queens Supreme") are developing a new drama pilot for the cable channel, about a family-owned pharmaceutical business. The project, which Robbins will write, direct and executive produce, will also examine the politics, research, bureaucracy, miraculous cures and greed that accompany the pharmaceutical industry's search for the next billion-dollar drug. Goldsmith-Thomas will also executive produce alongside Daniel Thomas.
Commitment: Script
Cast: TBA
Writer: Tim Robbins
Director: Tim Robbins
Executive Producers: Daniel Thomas, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Tim Robbins
Studio: TBA
REAPER (The CW) - Nikki Reed ("The O.C.") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a young man (Bret Harrison) who essentially becomes Satan's bounty hunter, reclaiming souls that have somehow escaped from hell. She'll play Andi, an unspecified character.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Bret Harrison (Sam), Nikki Reed (Andi), Tyler Labine (Sock)
Writers: Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters
Director: Kevin Smith
Executive Producers: Deborah Spera (The Mark Gordon Company), Mark Gordon (The Mark Gordon Company), Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters
Studio: ABC Television Studio
THE RICH INNER LIFE OF PENELOPE CLOUD (CBS) - Oscar winner Marisa Tomei has been tapped for the lead role in the comedy pilot, about a brilliant, opinionated writer (Tomei), struggling to deliver the follow-up to her acclaimed first novel, who has an epiphany and tries to recapture her youthful optimism. She'll play the title character, a casting which lifts said contingency off the pilot's production.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously cast-contingent)
Cast: Marisa Tomei (Penelope Cloud)
Writer: Jeff Greenstein
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Jeff Greenstein
Studios: ABC Television Studio, CBS Paramount Network Television
SEE JAYNE RUN (ABC) - Jarrad Paul ("Monk") and Kurt Fuller ("Big Day") have both landed roles on the comedy pilot, about an alpha female in an investment banking firm. Paul will play Neil, a hardworking associate, while Fuller is set as Harold, the woman's boss. In addition, Ira Ungerleider ("The Loop") has come aboard as the pilot's showrunner/executive producer.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Ava Gaudet (Jessica), Jarrad Paul (Neil), Kurt Fuller (Harold), Stephen Rannazzisi (Paul)
Writer: Alana Sanko
Director: Will MacKenzie
Executive Producers: Alana Sanko, Becky Clements, Ira Ungerleider, Peter Traugott (Brillstein-Grey Television)
Studio: ABC Television Studio
SUPREME COURTSHIPS (FOX) - Camille Guaty ("The Nine") and Kate Burton ("Grey's Anatomy") have both signed onto the drama pilot, about six Supreme Court clerks and they judges they work for. The former is set as Amber, an ambitious, smart and liberal clerk, with Burton as the justice she works for.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Bridget Regan (Holly), Camille Guaty (Amber), Kate Burton, Kurtwood Smith (Justice Henry Greenberg), Leslie Odom, Jr. (Marcus Truman), Shane West (Tony Capressi), Zachary Knighton (Clyde Dupree)
Writer: Gary Tieche
Director: Ion Toynton
Executive Producers: Gary Tieche, John Eisendrath, Marty Adelstein (Adelstein Productions), Michael Thorn (Adelstein Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
THEM (FOX) - Reg Rogers ("Stone Cold"), James D'Arcy ("Exorcist: The Beginning"), Steve Toussaint ("Broken News") and Freya Stafford ("White Collar Blue") have all been cast in the drama pilot, about a sleeper cell of extraterrestrial terrorists who take the shape of humans. Rogers will play the "therapist" who helps the agents assimilate into their new culture while the latter trio are set as Cain, Uriah and Tara respectively, three unspecified characters.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Ben Feldman (Floyd), Freya Stafford (Tara), James D'Arcy (Cain), Rachel Nichols (Donna Shea), Reg Rogers, Steve Toussaint (Uriah)
Writers: David Eick, John McNamara
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Executive Producers: David Eick, John McNamara, Jonathan Mostow,
Co-Executive Producers: David Alpert (Circle of Confusion), David Engel (Circle of Confusion), Lawrence Mattis (Circle of Confusion)
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
TWO FAMILIES (FOX) - Sean O'Bryan ("Six Feet Under"), Lucy Punch ("The Class"), Christopher Denham ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") and Geneva Carr ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") are set to round out the cast of the comedy pilot, about two sets of adult siblings who share the same father (Beau Bridges). O'Bryan will play David 2, who's described in the casting notice as follows: "Late 20's-30, Caucasian. Religious, affable, a former athlete. He was formerly a substance abuser and is now a born-again Christian. He tries to tell it like it is. Keeps bad feelings buried, but blurts out his addiction history without hesitation. Married to a sexy Christian named Willow. No children. Successful and has no guilt about it. Religion for him is not about punishment but redemption."
Punch then is set as Irene - "Late 20's-30, Caucasian. David 2's younger sister. Irene is a bit of a nut. Loves animals because she feels more confident with them than she does with people. She hasn�t quite found her niche in the world. Dotes on her younger brother. His care has often been her raison d�etre. She doesn�t always get along with her older brother, David 2. She thinks he thinks he is better than she is. Irene was David Sr�s other favorite. She stepped into the void when her mom died early." - with Denham as Greg - "Early-Mid 20's, Caucasian, offbeat type. The youngest of the two families. He is The Baby. He was anemic when he was born and was thereafter labeled as sickly. He has managed to have a myriad of tiny ailments and syndromes that Irene thinks are serious, but are really nothing. Things you can�t pinpoint. He has inactive Hashimoto�s diseases and "circulation" problems, hypoglycemia. He has used it to his advantage ever since. He is lazy, loves comic books, and will not grow up. He feels no guilt whatsoever at being cared for by his sister or father."
Finally, Carr is playing Judith - "Late 30s, Caucasian and a successful realtor, organized, reasonable. She is a little type A, but feels that she needs to be, that she has to hold the family together. Whether this is true or not has yet to be seen. She can be both bossing and caring. An older sister. She is married to an older man and has one adopted daughter. She is certainly the kind of woman who is comfortable around people older than she is."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Beau Bridges (David Sr.), Carlos Jacott (David 1), Christopher Denham (Greg), Geneva Carr (Judith), Lucy Punch (Irene), Samantha Bee (Susan), Sean O'Bryan (David 2)
Writers: Barbara Wallace, Thomas R. Wolfe
Director: Michael Engler
Executive Producers: Barbara Wallace, Thomas R. Wolfe
Studios: 20th Century Fox Television, HBO Independent Productions
UNTITLED GREY'S ANATOMY SPIN-OFF PROJECT (ABC) - Tim Daly ("The Nine") and Paul Adelstein ("Prison Break") have both landed roles on the potential "Grey's" spin-off. Daly will play a McDreamy-esque character while Adelstein's role wasn't specified. Still to be cast: a female psychiatrist and a female fertility specialist.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Kate Walsh (Addison Shepherd), Paul Adelstein, Taye Diggs, Tim Daly
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
Director: Michael Grossman
Executive Producers: Betsy Beers (Shondaland Productions), Mark Gordon (The Mark Gordon Company), Shonda Rhimes (Shondaland Productions)
Studio: ABC Television Studio
UNTITLED MAGGIE FRIEDMAN PROJECT (The CW) - Enuka Okuma ("Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye") has been cast in the drama pilot, about a young female life coach who's also a witch. While not specified, she's believed to be playing Joanna, who's described in the casting notice as: "Mid-Late 20s. Alex's best friend, supportive, warm and witty, Joanna's known Alex is a witch since they were 12, and she's comfortable with her friend's unusual talent. Very much in love with Michael, Joanna puts Alex up in their apartment for a while till Alex finds her own place."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Enuka Okuma (Joanna), Justin Hartley (Danny)
Writer: Maggie Friedman
Director: James Frawley
Executive Producers: Becky Hartman-Edwards, Maggie Friedman
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
UNTITLED SIMON FULLER/MAL YOUNG PROJECT (FOX, New!) - "American Idol" creator Simon Fuller has landed a pilot order for a new half-hour scripted soap about a blue-collar family. Fuller and veteran British writer/producer Mal Young ("EastEnders") created the project - which should it be picked up to series, could potentially air several times a week - and will executive produce via Fuller's 19 Entertainment banner. No other details were released.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: Mal Young, Simon Fuller
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Mal Young, Simon Fuller
Studio: 19 Entertainment
VIVA LAUGHLIN! (CBS) - D.B. Woodside ("24") has landed the role of Marcus on the drama pilot, about a man (Lloyd Owen) who dreams of opening a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. No other details were given about his role.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Carter Jenkins (Jack), D.B. Woodside (Marcus), Ellen Woglom (Cheyenne), Hugh Jackman (Guest Star), Lloyd Owen (Ripley Holden), Madchen Amick
Writer: Bob Lowry
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Executive Producers: Bob Lowry, Gabriele Muccino, Hugh Jackman (Seed Productions), John Palermo (Seed Productions), Paul Telegdy (BBC Worldwide Productions), Peter Bowker
Studios: CBS Paramount Network Television, Sony Pictures Television
WILDLIFE (NBC) - Mo Collins ("The 40 Year Old Virgin") has landed a role on the pilot, a workplace comedy set at a wildlife park. She'll play an animal handler bored with her job.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Brooke D'Orsay (Missy), Christopher Sieber (Jim), Mo Collins, Philip Baker Hall (Arnie)
Writers: David Israel, Jim O'Doherty
Director: Tucker Gates
Executive Producers: Conan O'Brien (Conaco Productions), David Israel, David Kissinger (Conaco Productions), Jeff Ross (Conaco Productions), Jim O'Doherty
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio
WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB (ABC) - Rob Benedict ("Threshold") is the latest to score a role on the drama pilot, about four girlfriends - a homicide detective, a medical examiner, an up-and-coming newspaper reporter and a young assistant district attorney - who solve tough murder cases in San Francisco. He'll play Owen in the project, who's further detailed in the casting notice as follows: "20s, smart, attractive, with a hint of geek. Owen is a Crime Scene Tech. He and Claire often flirt on the job; Owen is now ready to take it to the next level."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Angie Harmon (Lindsay Boxer), Aubrey Dollar (Cindy Thomas), Laura Harris (Jill Bernhardt), Paula Newsome (Claire Washburn), Rob Benedict (Owen), Tyrees Allen (Warren Jacobi)
Writers: Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain
Director: Scott Winant
Executive Producers: Brett Ratner (Rat Television), Elizabeth Craft, James Patterson, Joe Simpson, Sarah Fain, Scott Winant
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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