 |
 |
[01/11/08 - 06:17 PM]
Development Update: Week of January 7-11
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!
30 DAYS (FX) - Host/executive producer Morgan Spurlock has inked a two-year overall deal with Fox Television Studios. The pact calls for the prolific filmmaker to develop series projects - both for broadcast and new media - for the company via his Warrior Poets banner. He'll also continue his work on the FX series, a co-production of Reveille and Actual Reality, which will roll out its third season sometime this year. Separately, Spurlock is set to debut his new film "Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?" at Sundance later this month.
A&E ORIGINAL SERIES (A&E) - The cable channel is moving forward with three new original series, all of which are expected to roll out in the coming months. First up is "Crime 360" (Base Productions, 17 episodes), a one-hour effort that uses CGI visualizations and state-of-the-art 3-D photography to look at the evidence in investigations of actual crimes. Next is the half-hour "Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force" (Stars & Stripes Media, 11 episodes), which focuses on the work of a Manhattan-based federal agency whose job is to join with state and local agencies to track down dangerous felons on the lam in the greater New York/New Jersey area. Finally, there's "Rookies," a docusoap which tracks a group of recent police academy graduates in their first year on the job. A&E plans to air the series as two separate incarnations - one in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana (Tiger Aspect USA, eight episodes) and another in Tampa, Florida (The Greif Co., eight episodes). The executive producers of the aforementioned projects are John Brenkus and Mickey Stern on "Crime 360," Gary Tarpinian, Stuart Goodman and Vincent Scarza on "Manhunters," Charles Brand, Jamie Munro, Lawrence Cumbo and Christine Connor on the Jefferson Parish edition of "Rookies" and Leslie Greif and Adam Reed on the Tampa edition of "Rookies." For A&E, Rob Sharenow and Laura Fleury will executive produce "Crime 360" and "Manhunters" with Sharenow, Neil A. Cohen and Stephen Harris on "Rookies" (Jefferson Parish) and Sharenow, Cohen and Andy Berg on "Rookies" (Tampa).
APATOW PRODUCTIONS (New!) - Filmmaker Judd Apatow, the mind behind the cult series "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared," has inked a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact gives the studio first crack at any of Apatow's TV efforts. In addition, former 20th executive Nicholas Weinstock has been tapped as the head of development for Apatow's self-titled banner.
DIRT (FX) - The cable channel has announced the show's second season will bow on Sunday, March 2 at 10:00/9:00c. Its return however will be short-lived: only seven of 13 ordered episodes were completed before the WGA strike.
INSEPARABLE (FOX) - Shaun Cassidy's ("Invasion") drama script, previously set up at CBS for 2003-04 season consideration, is being redeveloped by FOX and ABC Studios. The project, a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde tale about a partially paralyzed forensic psychiatrist with a split personality whose alter ego is a charismatic criminal, was resurrected by the studio as part of his overall deal. In an interesting twist however, FOX has given the go ahead to cast the hour despite Cassidy not turning in a revised draft of the script due to the WGA strike. No official pilot order however will be given until Cassidy's updated script is completed.
SONS OF ANARCHY (A.K.A. FOREVER SAM CROW) (FX) - Charlie Hunnam, Scott Glenn and Katey Sagal have all been cast in the pilot, a drama set in the world of motorcycle clubs. Hunnam will play the lead role of Jackson "Jax" Teller, who's described in the casting notice as follows: "25-33, Caucasian. Handsome in a broken cowboy kind of way, an expert mechanic with lots of tattoos and scars on his arms, he is the vice-president of SAMCRO, and is the son of the founder, John Teller. The motorcycle club life is all he has ever known, but Jax is starting to have his doubts -- doubts that could invalidate the last 32 years of his life. Jax is a paradox on two wheels: he's intelligent, sensitive and reflective, yet quick-tempered and dangerously reactive, a man who can anguish over his sick child yet drive a pool cue into an enemy's groin. Jax's enemies are multiplying these days: rival Latin and White Supremacist gangs have joined forces to rip off SAMCRO's stash of weapons. The father of a premature baby (born too soon because his pregnant ex-wife Wendy took too many drugs while carrying the baby), Jax has been studying his late father's journals, and he's begun to question SAMCRO's "outlaw = criminal" business model. He begins to foster a belief that his club's commitment to the MC lifestyle may not have to include selling arms. But this shift in philosophy seems destined to bring him into deadly confrontation with his foster father, Clay Morrow." Glenn then is set as Jack's aforementioned stepfather, the president and patriarch of the club, with Sagal as Jack's mother and the matriarch of the club. In addition, Allen Coulter has signed on to direct the hour while Fox 21 has been tapped to co-produce alongside FX Productions. Kurt Sutter penned the pilot script and is executive producing alongside Art Linson and John Linson. Production is set to begin in mid-February.
THE TWO COREYS (A&E) - The network has renewed the Corey Haim/Corey Feldman series for a second season of 10 half-hour episodes. RDF USA ("Wife Swap") and Tijuana Entertainment ("Breaking Bonaduce") are behind the project, which is expected to return sometime in the spring. Haim and Feldman, longtime friends best known for their various 1980s films, were last seen feuding at the end of season one and apparently have not seen each other since. The new season then will pick up as they finally reunite and decide whether to work through their differences or part ways. While exact numbers weren't released, A&E noted the show's first season delivered a 28% and 40% growth from the network's primetime average among adults 25-54 and 18-49, respectively. Feldman and Haim also serve as executive producers alongside RDF's Greg Goldman, Chris Coelen and Tony Yates; Tijuana's Troy Searer and John Foy; and A&E's Rob Sharenow, Michael Morrison and Scott Lonker.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [january 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[02/18/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Boyfriend on Demand" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Seo Mi-rae is worn out by work. Love? It's the last thing on her mind. But a virtual dating service sparks feelings - and maybe a real shot at romance.
|
[02/18/26 - 02:34 PM]
TLC Announces the Return of "7 Little Johnstons" on Tuesday, March 17
The Johnston family is back, and this season is all about love, laughter, and one unforgettable trip down the aisle.
|
[02/18/26 - 12:28 PM]
Next on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN - March 2026
Highlights include the return of "Daredevil: Born Again" plus the streaming premieres of "The Secret Agent," "It Was Just an Accident," "Dangerous Animals," and "Sentimental Value."
|
[02/18/26 - 11:02 AM]
AMC Networks' March Streaming Highlights Include "Dark Winds," "The City Is Ours: A Crime Family Saga," "100 Nights of Hero" and More
Other offerings include the return of "Mystery Road: Origin" and the debut of "The Feud on Shelbury Drive."
|
[02/18/26 - 11:01 AM]
New Babies, New Beginning. New Season of Bravo's "The Valley" Premieres on Wednesday, April 1 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
The season three cast includes Danny Booko & Nia Sanchez Booko, Luke Broderick & Kristen Doute, Jason & Janet Caperna, Brittany Cartwright, Jasmine Goode, Jesse Lally, Michelle Saniei and Zack Wickham.
|
[02/18/26 - 10:10 AM]
Video: Official Trailer for "The Faithful: Women of the Bible" Premiering March 22 on FOX
The highly anticipated biblical event series stars Minnie Driver, Natacha Karam, and Jeffrey Donovan.
|
[02/18/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare" Debuts March 10
The film reconstructs the nine harrowing days following the disaster in forensic, real-time detail, from the control-room engineers fighting to prevent a total meltdown, to the political leaders confronting the unthinkable, to ordinary citizens caught in the fallout.
|
[02/18/26 - 09:17 AM]
Great American Media Launches, "40 Days of Scripture & Film," A Lenten Journey Featuring Acclaimed Faith-Based Films, Including "God's Not Dead," "The Blind," "Someone Like You," and "Just in Time"
Other highlights include the mid-winter finale of "Crossroad Springs"; the original movie "Blessings in Disguise"; and an all new season of "When Hope Calls: Brookfield."
|
[02/18/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Unicorn Academy: Secrets Revealed" Teaser - Netflix Family
Follow Sophia and her friends as they embark on a glimmering quest to unlock Unicorn Island's mysteries and banish Grimoria - and Ravenzella - for good!
|
[02/18/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Hulu Debuts Official Key Art and Trailer for Season Four of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"
The series returns with all 10 episodes on Thursday, March 12 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ in select international markets.
|
[02/18/26 - 09:00 AM]
Adult Swim Gives Green Light to Animated Comedy from Dan Licata and Joe Pera, "My Two Cars"
The animated quarter-hour comedy is the only show brave enough to explore what happens when a man owns two cars and all the joy and frustration that comes with it.
|
[02/18/26 - 08:31 AM]
BET Honors the Enduring Legacy of Civil Rights Trailblazer Rev. Jesse Jackson with Special Tribute, "Jesse Jackson: In His Own Words," Airing February 18 and 19 on BET
Narrated by CBS News National Correspondent Michelle Miller, this BET News special offers a rare and powerful look at Rev. Jackson's life through archival interviews and historic speeches that capture his profound national and global impact.
|
[02/18/26 - 08:06 AM]
Dawn French Sitcom "Can You Keep a Secret?" Recommissioned for a Second Series After Launch Episode Racks Up 5.3 Million Viewers
The series landed as the third biggest comedy launch on BBC iPlayer since 2024 with an audience of 3.3 million (62% of the audience) across 28-days.
|
[02/18/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for "Imperfect Women," Premiering Globally March 18
The eight-episode series will make its global debut on Apple TV with the first two episodes on Wednesday, March 18, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through April 29.
|
[02/18/26 - 06:31 AM]
"Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution" - Historian Lucy Worsley Explores One of History's Most Explosive Breakups and How the British Empire Lost the War for America's Independence Against a Ragtag Band of Rebels
The new two-part series, filmed on both sides of the Atlantic, premieres Tuesday, April 7.
|
|
|
|
