 |
 |
[05/18/07 - 05:15 PM]
Development Update: Week of May 14-18
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
|
|
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!
THE ANATOMY OF HOPE (A.K.A. UNTITLED TOM SCHULMAN/RAFAEL YGLESIAS PROJECT) (HBO) - Chris Messina, John Ortiz, Simon Callow, Valerie Pettiford, Matt Craven, Deepti Daryanani, Daryl Edwards, Diego Klattenhoff, Kerry Condon and Sarah Knowlton have all been cast in the pilot, a hospital drama that explores cancer battles from the patients' point of view. In addition, executive producer J.J. Abrams has confirmed he'll direct the hour from a script by Tom Schulman and Rafael Yglesias. As for specifics, Messina will play an oncologist who goes between being overly friendly and aloof; Ortiz will play a recent cancer survivor; Callow is set as one of the top oncologists in the U.S.; Pettiford is playing a terminally ill cancer patient; Craven will play a hyper guy who may have prostate cancer; Edwards will play a patient with advanced cancer; Klattenhoff is playing a recently engaged young man with bone cancer in his leg with Condon as his fiancee; Daryanani is set as a beautiful young doctor; and Knowlton will play a nurse who runs the chemo ward. Abrams, Schulman and Yglesias then are executive producing alongside Bad Robot's Bryan Burk via the company's overall deal with Warner Bros. Television.
BIG LOVE (HBO) - The pay channel has commissioned a trio of three-to-five minute mini-episodes of the series collectively dubbed "Big Love: In the Beginning." All three installments will feature the regular cast and crew as well as fill in various elements of the backstory of the Henricksons. The first, "Post-Partum," is set five years ago when Bill's wife Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) suffers a breakdown after her child is born; the second "Meet the Babysitter," takes place three years ago when youngest wife Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) comes into the picture; and the last, "Moving Day," focuses on an incident set a little over a year ago when the family considers a move to the suburbs. HBO on Demand subscribers will have access to the episodes starting Monday, June 4 before they're actually broadcast on the channel itself on Sunday, June 24 at 7:45/6:45c.
FAMILY MAN (TNT, New!) - William H. Macy ("The Wool Cap") has been tapped to star in a potential new drama series for the cable channel, about a man who organizes charity drives by day and cracks the safes of major corporations by night. Macy himself will co-write the script with longtime collaborator Steven Schachter (who will also direct) as well as executive produce alongside Craig Zadan and Neil Meron via their Sony Pictures Television-based Storyline Entertainment. As for specifics, it's understood the story will be told with the use of flash forwards, with Macy's character seen in prison in the future.
JOURNEYMAN (NBC) - Alex Graves, who helmed the drama pilot to the series, has inked a one-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for Graves to continue on as an executive producer for the first 13 episodes of the project as well as develop new series projects for the studio.
JUDGMENT DAY (Lifetime) - Graham Norton ("The Graham Norton Show") has been tapped to host the pilot, which is described as an in-studio popularity contest where seven women are voted off one by one by a female audience based on how they handle a series of questions and challenges, demonstrating how people all too often judge a book by its cover. Production on the hourlong project, from Simon Andreae ("Ebaum's World") and Fox Television Studios, is set to begin next month in Los Angeles.
MR. & MRS. SMITH (ABC) - Regency Television reportedly is set to begin shopping the pilot to other networks as early as next week. The project, which was co-produced by Doug Liman's Dutch Oven banner, didn't make the cut for ABC's 2007-2008 schedule this week. It's understood creator Simon Kinberg and co-stars Jordana Brewster and Martin Henderson are all still attached to the pilot, however no option length was given.
UGLY BETTY (ABC) - Executive producers Salma Hayek and Jose Tamez have signed a new two-year overall deal with the show's producer ABC Studios. The pact sets up their Ventanarosa Productions at the studio where they'll develop new series projects as well as continue with their duties on "Betty."
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [may 2007]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[12/17/25 - 10:16 AM]
Versant Announces Long-Term Partnership Extension with Rory McIlroy and Launch of New Production Venture
Under the agreement, which extends through 2038, Rory McIlroy will continue to serve as the global face and partner of GolfPass, reinforcing the platform's premium positioning and its commitment to best-in-class golf experiences.
|
[12/17/25 - 10:05 AM]
Video: "Scars of Beauty" - Second Season Confirmed - HBO Max
After much gossip and rumors, we're here to clarify that... it's real!
|
[12/17/25 - 10:05 AM]
Video: "Tyler Perry's Sistas" Returns for Season 10 - Premieres January 7 at 9/8c
Tyler Perry's hit series returns for Season 10 with new drama, deeper friendships, and unexpected twists.
|
[12/17/25 - 10:00 AM]
"Hollywood Squares" Kicks Off Season 2 with Star-Studded Celebrity Lineup
This season's newcomers who will share the board with famed center square Drew Barrymore include Anthony Anderson, Glenn Close, Kat Dennings, Fortune Feimster, Zarna Garg, Jay Mohr, Padma Lakshmi, Joel McHale, Ariana Debose and Arsenio Hall.
|
[12/17/25 - 10:00 AM]
AMC Networks' January Highlights Include "Gangs of London," "Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale," "My Life Is Murder," "Planet Earth: Kingdom" and More
Other premieres include the new series "Wolf" on AMC+ and Shudder, based on Mo Hayder's acclaimed Jack Caffrey novels.
|
[12/17/25 - 09:46 AM]
Netflix Announces Series Adaptation of Liz Moore's "The God of the Woods"
Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the new series follows the wealthy Van Laars as they fight to hold their family together, unearthing devastating secrets in the process.
|
[12/17/25 - 09:18 AM]
Video: "Paul Anka: His Way" - Official Trailer - HBO
The film follows the iconic, chart-topping songwriter and musician Paul Anka through stardom and reinvention in an ever-changing industry.
|
[12/17/25 - 09:01 AM]
Netflix and Barstool Sports Announce Exclusive Video Podcast Partnership
The podcasts joining Netflix in early 2026 include "Pardon My Take," "The Ryen Russillo Show," and "Spittin Chiclets."
|
[12/17/25 - 09:00 AM]
Obsessive Compulsions and Strange Fixations Are Back in a Compelling New Season of TLC's "My Strange Addiction"
The series explores the unfiltered stories of people whose obsessive behaviors have taken over their lives. Each episode dives into bizarre, real-world situations revealing how these addictions shape daily routines and impact the way they navigate the world.
|
[12/17/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Starz Releases "Outlander" Final Season Opening Title Sequence Performed by Academy and Grammy Award Winner Annie Lennox
The eighth and final season of the groundbreaking series will premiere on Friday, March 6, 2026.
|
[12/17/25 - 09:00 AM]
Comedian and Actor Bert Kreischer and Country Music Star Hardy to Host "New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash," Airing Dec. 31 on CBS and Paramount+
Social media star Haley Baylee will correspond from New York City and count down with the East Coast at midnight ET for New York City's Ball Drop.
|
[12/17/25 - 08:01 AM]
First Behind-the-Scenes Look at Netflix's "Mercenary: An Extraction Series," with Production Underway
The highly-anticipated series starring Omar Sy recently wrapped filming in Ireland and is resuming production in Morocco.
|
[12/17/25 - 08:01 AM]
MGM+ and Prime Video Unveil First Look Images and Premiere Date for New Mystery Thriller Series "Vanished" Starring Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin
The four-part mystery thriller series will premiere on Sunday, February 1 in the U.S., Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Latin America with a weekly release.
|
[12/17/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Tell Me Lies" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Hulu
The new season follows Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) as they've rekindled their tumultuous romance in time for spring semester at Baird College.
|
[12/17/25 - 08:00 AM]
Season Three of the Critically Acclaimed Crime Drama "Gangs of London," Starring Sope Dirisu and Joe Cole, Makes Its Streaming Debut Thursday, January 15 on AMC+
In Season three, ex-undercover cop turned gangster Elliot (Dìrísù)?is now operating as a top-level criminal alongside the Dumanis, but their business is thrown into chaos when their shipment of cocaine is spiked, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians all over London.
|
|
|
|
