[01/04/08 - 06:05 PM] Development Update: Week of December 31-January 4 By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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LAW & ORDER: LONDON (ITV, New!) - Universal Media Studios and Wolf Films are in talks to license the "Law & Order" franchise to U.K. broadcaster ITV and production company Kudos Film & Television. The resulting project, tentatively dubbed "Law & Order: London," is expected to receive a 13-episode order, the largest for any non-soap on the network in recent memory. The news marks the first English language incarnation of the franchise outside of the U.S. as well as the first non-domestic take on the original series. (Russia and France both air local versions of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" while the former also runs its own "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.") In addition, "London" is expected to rely on scripts originally written for the U.S. show but reworked to meet local customs. Kudos chiefs Stephen Garrett and Jane Featherstone will executive produce "London," which insiders suggest could also turn up domestically on one of NBC Universal's cable siblings (Bravo or USA).
TRUTH IN ADVERTISING (TNT) - Griffin Dunne ("3 lbs.") and Sarah Clarke ("24") both reportedly have joined the cast of the pilot, a drama set at an advertising agency. They'll play Tony Mink and Erin McGuire, two unspecified characters. They join the previously cast Eric McCormack, Monica Potter and Tom Cavanagh. Michael Robin is directing the Warner Horizon Television-based hour from a script by Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny. The group will also executive producing alongside Greer Shephard.
