 |
 |
[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 |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[01/21/26 - 10:27 AM]
Reelz Renews Hit Series "On Patrol: Live," Orders 90 New Episodes
The network also ordered another 90 one-hour episodes of spin-off and "OPL" lead-in "On Patrol: First Shift," extending the run of the franchise through January 2027.
|
[01/21/26 - 09:19 AM]
Bravo's "Ladies of London: The New Reign" Makes Its Proper Debut in a Two-Hour Premiere Event Thursday, March 5 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
Lady Emma Thynn, Martha Sitwell, Mark-Francis Vandelli, Lottie Kane, Missè Beqiri, Kimi Murdoch, Myka Meier, and Margo Stilley will star in the revival.
|
[01/21/26 - 09:01 AM]
Emmy-Nominated Series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" Returns to Hulu This Spring
Season four premieres on March 12 with all 10 episodes on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ in select international markets.
|
[01/21/26 - 08:19 AM]
Viaplay U.S. Unveils February Slate: Award-Winning European Film, Royal Drama & Nordic Crime
Highlights include the "The Commoner - A Royal Dilemma," a modern Romeo and Juliet story set against post-war Europe.
|
[01/21/26 - 08:13 AM]
"Dreaming Whilst Black" Season Two to Premiere on Paramount+ Friday, February 20, 2026
In season two, Kwabena is finally on the brink of his first major directing opportunity when he's offered the chance to helm a radical, "color-blind" historical drama.
|
[01/21/26 - 08:09 AM]
TBS Greenlights Prank Comedy Series "Foul Play with Anthony Davis" to Premiere Monday, April 6
The first batch of episodes will premiere on Monday, April 6 immediately following the NCAA National Championship game, and at 9:00PM ET/PT every Monday following.
|
[01/21/26 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces New Unscripted Series Starring Alix Earle and Family Coming in 2026
Gen Z's ultimate "It" girl, Alix Earle, is giving her fans an unfiltered look at her life like never before with a new unscripted series arriving in 2026.
|
[01/21/26 - 08:01 AM]
"Tournament of Champions" Raises the Stakes to New Heights When Four Icons of the Food World Join the New Season of Food Network's Ultimate Culinary Competition
32 of the nation's best chefs including proven warriors and fierce new challengers are ready to battle, but nothing will prepare the chefs for the competition's biggest surprise ever.
|
[01/21/26 - 08:00 AM]
"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" Returns for Season 3 Later This Year on Disney+
Midway through the credits of the Season 2 finale, viewers were treated to a surprise first look at Season 3, confirming that the series will return later this year.
|
[01/21/26 - 07:16 AM]
"Formula 1: Drive to Survive" Season 8 Launches February 27
The series will offer never-before-seen footage as we follow new team lineups, management takedowns, fierce friendships and bitter rivalries of another high-octane season on the Formula 1 circuit.
|
[01/21/26 - 07:02 AM]
Video: Apple TV Reveals First Look at Season Five of Hit Space Drama "For All Mankind"
The 10-episode fifth season will make its global debut on Apple TV with one episode on Friday, March 27, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 29.
|
[01/21/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Being Gordon Ramsay" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Follow celeb chef Gordon Ramsay behind the scenes as he juggles family life, global empire and his biggest launch yet in this all-you-can-eat documentary.
|
[01/21/26 - 07:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for "56 Days," Starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia
All eight episodes will be released on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
|
[01/21/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "The Night Agent" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Peter teams with a reporter to expose the elusive Broker and stop a terrorist attack, unaware that a powerful conspiracy is plotting to bury the truth.
|
[01/21/26 - 06:00 AM]
Best New Artist Nominees Set for Special Performance at "The 68th Annual Grammy Awards"
Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR and The Marías will perform at the event, airing Sunday, February 1.
|
|
|
|
