 |
 |
[03/28/08 - 06:54 PM]
Development Update: Friday, March 28
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!
AUSTIN GOLDEN HOUR (The CW) - Justin Hartley ("Smallville") is the first to join the cast of the pilot, a real-time medical drama about a team of young emergency room surgeons and emergency medical technicians. Hartley, who has a talent holding deal with the network, will play one of them. Lance Gentile and Mal Young created the hour, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television and Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment.
THE BAD MOTHER'S HANDBOOK (ABC, New!) - "Help Me Help You" creators Jennifer Konner and Alexandra Rushfield are back the Alphabet, this time for a new comedy based on Kate Long's book of the same name. The single-camera half-hour then will revolve around 32-year-old Karen, whose life is consumed by taking care of her 16-year-old daughter and 48-year-old mother. The project, which they're executive producing alongside Stu Bloomberg, is the result of a two-script deal the duo signed with ABC Studios last summer. Long's book is no stranger to television as Catherine Tate, Anne Reid and Holly Grainger toplined a U.K. adaptation last year.
CAN OPENERS (CBS) - Lauren Lee Smith ("The L Word") has scored the lead role on the drama pilot, which centers on a twentysomething female brain surgeon (Smith) who fights to survive in the intensely competitive boys club that is the seven-year neurosurgical residency. Elle Johnson is behind the project, which is based at Sony Pictures Television and Denis Leary and Jim Serpico's Apostle Productions banner.
CAPTAIN COOK'S EXTRAORDINARY ATLAS (ABC, New!) - Tom Wheeler ("Empire") has landed a pilot commitment from the Alphabet for a new fantasy drama about a young girl who finds a magical atlas that reveals a secret world underneath our own. The project is set up at Warner Bros. Television where Wheeler will write and executive produce.
CASTLE (ABC, New!) - Feature writer Andrew Marlowe ("Hollow Man") has landed a pilot presentation commitment from the network for a new drama about a horror novelist who consults for the NYPD Homicide department. The project is set up at ABC Studios and Beacon Television where he'll executive produce alongside the latter's Armyan Bernstein and Laurie Zaks.
CSI: MIAMI (CBS) - Sunil Nayar, a co-executive producer on the series, has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with CBS Paramount Network Television. The pact calls for the writer/producer to be upped to executive producer next season. In addition, he'll develop new projects for the studio, including a blind script commitment for CBS with a mid-six-figure penalty attached.
EX LIFE/THE KINGDOM (CBS) - The Eye has quietly passed on both projects despite their previous commitments. "The Kingdom," a Middle Ages-based drama about four average young men, one of whom discovers he's heir to the throne, was given a hefty $2 million put pilot order back in July while "Ex Life," a comedy about on a newly single guy who is taken under the wing of a group of more experienced guys, was ordered to pilot last month. Rob Greenberg and CBS Paramount Network Television were behind the latter while Chad Hodge, director Barry Sonnenfeld and Sony Pictures Television were attached to the former.
FINNEGAN (ABC, New!) - Trent Jones ("Threat Matrix") has scored a pilot presentation order for a new drama at the network. The project, which is set up at ABC Studios, focuses on the organized crime/vice unit in Los Angeles, which is led by a tough female detective. He'll write and executive produce alongside Francie Calfo.
HOW TO TEACH FILTHY RICH GIRLS (The CW) - Joanna Garcia ("Welcome to the Captain"), Lucy Kate Hale ("Bionic Woman") and Ashley Newbrough ("The Best Years") have all been cast in the drama pilot, about a Yale-educated woman who is hired to be the live-in tutor/life coach to two rich heiresses in Palm Beach, Florida. Garcia will play said woman, Megan Smith, while Hale and Newbrough are set as heiresses Rose and Sage Baker. Marsha Mason and Michael Cassidy also star in the hour, which is based on the book series by Zoey Dean. Rina Mimoun is writing and executive producing for Warner Bros. Television alongside Alloy Entertainment's Bob Levy and Leslie Morgenstein.
THE INN (FOX) - "Arrested Development" alum Jason Bateman has signed on to direct the comedy pilot, described as "Upstairs/Downstairs" set at a hip New York hotel. Bateman, who helmed episodes of "For Your Love" (as well as an episode of "Development"), will work from a script by creator Abraham Higginbotham. Niecy Nash stars in the half-hour, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television, Reveille and Principato-Young Entertainment.
KINGS (NBC) - Christopher Egan ("Eragon") and Ian McShane ("Deadwood") are the first to be cast on the drama pilot, a contemporary soap loosely based on the story of King David. Egan will play David, a pure-hearted young warrior who joins the royal court after saving the life of his king's son. McShane's then is set as the charismatic and authoritative King Silas. Universal Media Studios is behind the hour, which comes from creator Michael Green.
THE MENTALIST (CBS) - Simon Baker ("Smith") has been tapped for the lead role while Owain Yeoman ("The Nine"), Amanda Righetti ("The OC"), Shaun Toub ("The Kite Runner") and Tim Kang ("Third Watch") have also joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a man who uses his keen sense of observation to solve crimes as an independent detective working with the police. Baker will play the title character, Patrick Jane, with Yeoman, Righetti, Toub and Kang as unspecified characters. Bruno Heller is behind the Warner Bros. Television-based hour which David Nutter is directing.
SPACED (FOX) - Sara Rue ("Less Than Perfect") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about two strangers (Rue, Josh Lawson) who pose as a married couple in order to rent an apartment. She'll play Daisy Steiner, said woman, in the half-hour. Jessica Stevenson originated the role in the U.K. version. She joins the previously cast Federico Dordei and Will Sasso on the Warner Bros. Television/Granada International/Wonderland Sound and Vision-based project, which Charles Stone is directing from a script by Adam Barr.
STARTING UNDER (FOX) - Bert Belasco ("Dash 4 Cash") is set to play son to Bernie Mac in the comedy pilot, about a larger-than-life and opinionated man (Mac) who, after a divorce, finds himself living with and working for his introverted twentysomething son (Belasco). Ken Davitian also stars in the half-hour, which comes from creator Bruce Helford and director Andy Ackerman. Warner Bros. Television and Mohawk Productions are co-producing.
THE UNUSUALS (ABC, New!) - Noah Hawley ("Bones") has lined up a pilot presentation order from the Alphabet for an hourlong dramedy set at a New York police precinct. He penned the script and is executive producing alongside Peter Tolan for Sony Pictures Television.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [march 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[12/03/24 - 09:10 AM]
Max Sets January 16 Premiere Date for New Animated Original Series "Mermicorno: Starfall"
The series invites audiences into a dazzling underwater world where a team of Mermicornos (enchanting mermaid-unicorns) embark on exciting, hilarious and stylish adventures to save the ocean from the evil Ika Inkblot.
|
[12/03/24 - 09:06 AM]
Peacock's Fan-Favorite Drama Series "Bel-Air" Renewed for Fourth and Final Season
Set in modern-day Los Angeles, "Bel-Air" reimagines the iconic culture-defining '90s sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" through a new, dramatic take on Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air.
|
[12/03/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Big Boys" - Official Trailer - Hulu
A comedy about two mismatched boys who strike up an unlikely friendship when they're thrown together at university. They'll explore, experiment, and try to discover themselves, whilst also helping one another along the way.
|
[12/03/24 - 08:44 AM]
Sean Hannity to Host New Long-Form Interview Show "Sean" on FOX Nation
Episode one kicks off with iconic actor, writer and director Sylvester Stallone alongside his wife, entrepreneur, and model Jennifer Flavin Stallone.
|
[12/03/24 - 07:34 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Unveils Trailer for Stunning Docuseries "The Secret Lives of Animals"
Hailing from the acclaimed BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the series will debut globally on December 18 on Apple TV+.
|
[12/03/24 - 07:13 AM]
Apple TV+ Unveils First Look at Season Two of Psychological Thriller "Surface" Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw
The eight-episode second season premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, February 21, followed by new episodes every Friday through April 11.
|
[12/03/24 - 07:01 AM]
"Smile 2" Possesses Paramount+ - Critically Acclaimed Second Installment of the Box Office Hit Horror Franchise Is Available to Stream Now Exclusively on Paramount+
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events.
|
[12/03/24 - 07:00 AM]
Sky and Starz Darkly Comic Thriller "Sweetpea" to Return for a Second Killer Season
Season 2 will see Rhiannon Lewis return with a vengeance as her killer secret continues to spiral, and she becomes more twisted than ever.
|
[12/03/24 - 06:31 AM]
Philomena Cunk Returns for a One-Hour Special, "Cunk on Life," Where She Will Try to Answer the Age Old Question "What's The Point of It All?"
Netflix will stream it globally outside of the UK and Ireland starting January 2.
|
[12/03/24 - 06:00 AM]
"Family Guy" Returns to Adult Swim's Primetime Lineup in 2025 with Episodes Airing Every Weekday at 10PM ET/PT
To mark the return of "Family Guy," Adult Swim will also host a three-day marathon of episodes every evening from 7pm to 5am ET/PT beginning Wednesday, January 1.
|
[12/03/24 - 04:01 AM]
Liza Minnelli's Highly Anticipated Memoir Optioned for Television Adaptation by Magnolia Hill Productions and Warner Bros. Television
The project is the result of over 15 years of deeply personal recorded conversations between Minnelli and her long-term creative partner Michael Feinstein, a Grammy and Emmy nominee, Tony Award recipient, and the world's leading authority on the Great American Songbook.
|
[12/02/24 - 01:26 PM]
Apple TV+ Announces "Lucky," New Limited Series Starring Anya Taylor-Joy
In "Lucky," Taylor-Joy stars as a young woman who left behind the life of crime she was raised in years ago, but must now embrace her darker, criminal side one final time in a desperate attempt to escape her past.
|
[12/02/24 - 01:00 PM]
"Saturday Night Live" Returns Dec. 7 with Three Shows to Close Out 2024
Chris Rock and Martin Short will follow the previously announced Paul Mescal as hosts.
|
[12/02/24 - 11:36 AM]
All-New Survivalist Competition Series "Extracted" Set to Premiere Monday, February 10 on FOX
"Extracted" features 12 untrained competitors attempting to survive extremely grueling conditions, perilous terrain, and the threat of fearsome predators in the unforgiving Canadian wilderness.
|
[12/02/24 - 11:20 AM]
Video: "Light Shop" - Official Trailer - Hulu
A series about six lost strangers who find themselves drawn to a mysterious shop that inexplicably holds the key to their past, present and future.
|
|
|
|
