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[05/18/07 - 05:15 PM]
Development Update: Week of May 14-18
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
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
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[06/26/25 - 12:16 PM]
Netflix's "Vladimir" Casts Leo Woodall in Titular Role
The limited series is being adapted from Julia May Jonas's acclaimed novel.
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[06/26/25 - 10:05 AM]
Discovery Channel Builds on Shark Week Momentum with Powerhouse Summer Slate Featuring Five New and Returning Series
Newcomers include "Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse" and "Animals on Drugs."
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[06/26/25 - 09:10 AM]
Boxing Champion Laila Ali Jumps Into the Ring as Host of Food Network's "Chef Grudge Match" Where Culinary Rivals Battle to Settle Old Scores
Each episode features two head-to-head battles where resident judge Jet Tila welcomes a guest judge to help determine who walks out with $10,000 cash, the losing chef's most coveted knife and bragging rights for life.
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[06/26/25 - 09:01 AM]
Starz and Hallmark+ Announce New U.S. Streaming Bundle Now Available on Prime Video
New customers can access both streamers for $13.99/month, more than 25 percent savings.
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[06/26/25 - 09:01 AM]
"Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends" Premieres Aug. 11 on Disney Jr. and Next Day on Disney+
The first 10 episodes will be available on Disney+ in the U.S. and select international markets and Disney Jr. on Demand the following day, Tuesday, August 12, and will continue rolling out globally throughout 2025 and 2026.
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[06/26/25 - 08:30 AM]
Video: "Surf Girls: International" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The series follows five up-and-coming female surfers representing their home countries as they travel the world competing in the Challenger Series.
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[06/26/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix's "Black Rabbit" Starring Jude Law & Jason Bateman - First Look & Date Announcement
Starring and executive produced by Jude Law and Jason Bateman, this propulsive thrill ride will premiere globally September 18, only on Netflix.
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[06/26/25 - 08:00 AM]
A New Season of "Life After Lockup" Premieres Friday, August 1 at 8 PM ET/PT on We TV
The series follows seven former inmates and their significant others from the hit series "Love After Lockup" and "Love During Lockup" as they navigate their emotional journey to keep their love alive and stay free.
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[06/26/25 - 07:20 AM]
Video: "To Kill a Monkey" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An old friend coaxes Efemini into the alluring world of cybercrime, where every decision he makes draws him deeper into a moral minefield.
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[06/26/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The documentary follows Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano's intense journey and preparations as they train for their historic trilogy fight, airing live on Netflix on July 11.
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[06/26/25 - 06:01 AM]
The CW Network and Mobil 1 Brand Team Up to Showcase "Mobil 1 Victory Lane" in the NASCAR Xfinity Series
Starting Saturday, July 5 in Chicago, the integration will put the Mobil 1 brand front and center for one of motorsport's most celebrated traditions, the winner's ride down Victory Lane.
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[06/26/25 - 02:01 AM]
"It's Worth It by Dani Rovira" Arrives at Netflix on July 11th
Actor and comedian Dani Rovira returns to the stage with an honest and hilarious take on finding light even in life's darkest moments.
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[06/25/25 - 11:55 AM]
Prime Video Finishes Groundbreaking First Season of Exclusive NASCAR Coverage
According to Nielsen, NASCAR on Prime posted a season average of 2.16 million viewers (AMA P2+) across five events, and attracted droves of younger viewers to its live coverage.
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[06/25/25 - 11:39 AM]
New Nova Series "Human," A BBC Studios Science Unit Production with Nova and GBH for PBS and the BBC, Investigates the Origin of Our Species
The five-part series documenting the long and complex story of the human species will premiere Wednesdays, September 17-October 15 at 9pm ET/8c on PBS.
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[06/25/25 - 11:17 AM]
OWN's "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" Returns July 19 with a Season Full of Revelations, Reinventions, and Raw Emotion
Premiering Saturday, July 19 at 8pm ET/PT, the network's top-rated unscripted hit returns for its milestone 10th season that promises to deliver emotional depth, explosive drama and real-life stakes.
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