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[04/03/08 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: Thursday, April 3
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!
ACCIDENTAL FRIENDSHIP (Hallmark, New!) - Chandra Wilson ("Grey's Anatomy") is set to topline a new original movie at the cable channel about a woman who finds herself homeless whose life looks to be tumbling into an abyss until she unexpectedly crosses paths with a female police officer who helps put her life back on track. Anna Sandor ("Felicity: An American Girl Adventure") penned the project, which is set to go into production early next month to premiere sometime in late November or December. Michael Prupas is producing for Muse Entertainment.
CAN OPENERS (CBS) - Jay Hernandez ("Six Degrees") has joined the cast of the drama pilot presentation, which centers on Susan (Lauren Lee Smith), a brain surgeon who fights to survive in the competitive boys club that is the seven-year neurosurgical residency. He'll play Barry, a third-year resident who is willing to break the rules to get what he wants and also has a thing for Susan. Omar Gooding also stars in the Sony Pictures Television/Apostle Productions-based project, which comes from executive producers Denis Leary, Jim Serpico and creator Elle Johnson.
CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD (NBC) - "The Today Show's" Al Roker is in talks to host the upcoming celebrity edition of the veteran game show. FremantleMedia North America is behind the project, which is set to roll out this summer. No other details were released.
NEVER BETTER (ABC, New!) - Dave Walpert ("Miss Guided") has scored a pilot order from the Alphabet for a new single-camera comedy about a man in recovery who's now trying to be a good husband and father despite his somewhat misguided attempts. The project is set up at ABC Studios where Walpert is writing and executive producing alongside John Heyman and Warren Littlefield of the Littlefield Co. No other details were released.
REVOLUTION (Sci Fi) - Billy Campbell ("The 4400"), Rowena King and Steve Sandvoss have all joined the cast of the two-hour drama pilot, about the simmering unrest among the colonists of a 22nd century Earth colony. Campbell will play Tom Hart, a solder-turned-farmer who displays all the qualities of being a true leader, with King as Olivia Agee, the new governor of the colony, and Steve Sandvoss, Tom's older son, Chris. The trio joins the previously cast David Smith. Michael Rhymer is directing the CBS Paramount Network Television-based project from a script by Ed Redlich and John Bellucci. Simon West and Jib Polhemus are executive producing alongside Redlich and Bellucci.
ROMAN'S EMPIRE (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet has commissioned a pilot presentation for a new single-camera comedy from Al Higgins ("Malcolm in the Middle"). The CBS Paramount Network Television-based project, which is based on the BBC comedy of the same name, revolves around a lovable guy who, after getting dumped by his girlfriend, tries but cannot extricate himself from her wealthy family and her outrageous father. Higgins penned the pilot script and is executive producing alongside Katalyst Films's Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg and Karey Burke and Tiger Aspect's Andrew Zein and Ben Cavey.
SUNSET TAN (E!) - The cable channel has ordered a second season of the reality series, about the staff of a chain of tanning salons in Los Angeles. Among the storylines for the new season, due this summer: the launch party of a Vegas location, the staff heading into the country for a weekend of ranching and the ousted duo known as the "Olly Girls" looking for new jobs outside the tanning industry. E! Studios and Intuitive Entertainment co-produce the half-hour with Mechelle Collins, Kevin Dill and Jay James serving as executive producers.
UNTITLED KRISTIN NEWMAN PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Kristin Newman ("How I Met Your Mother") is the latest to land a pilot commitment from the Alphabet, this time for a new single-camera comedy about a thirtysomething woman who tries to break free of her overbearing and dysfunctional family, friends and boss. The project is set up at ABC Studios with Newman and DreamWorks Television's Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank serving as executive producers. No other specifics were given.
UNTITLED ROBERT WUHL PROJECT (HBO, New!) - Robert Wuhl ("Arli$$") has reupped his development deal with HBO, a network which he has been based for over 12 years. The 18-month extension calls for the actor/producer to continue to develop new series projects for the pay channel. Already in the works: an untitled single-camera half-hour of which no details were released. "I think I know what an HBO series should be," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "And I've always been on time and under budget." Most recently Wuhl toplined the specials "Assume the Position With Mr. Wuhl" at the network.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[04/24/26 - 12:00 PM]
What's New on HBO Max This May
Highlights include season two of "On The Roam," comedy special "Josh Johnson: Symphony," documentary series "U.S. Against The World: Four Years With The Men's National Soccer Team," new episode of "The Yogurt Shop Murders," and documentary "The A List: 15 Stories From Asia And Pacific Diasporas."
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[04/24/26 - 11:16 AM]
"Wuthering Heights" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max May 1
The Emerald Fennell film stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, whose forbidden passion for one another turns from romantic to intoxicating in an epic tale of lust, love and madness.
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[04/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Zizians Documentary Series Set at HBO
The multi-part documentary series explores the Zizians, an enigmatic group of young technologists who garnered national attention in 2025 after law enforcement linked members of the group to a series of violent crimes across the country.
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[04/24/26 - 08:59 AM]
NBA Playoffs Return to NBC Sports Delivers Big Viewership Gains Over First Three Nights
NBC Sports' first six NBA Playoff games averaged 4.9 million viewers, up 38% vs. comparable coverage last year and the most-watched for the first Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights of the playoffs since 1994.
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[04/24/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: New Featurette - Hulu Original Series "Rivals" Season 2
Ahead of the highly anticipated second season of the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning "Rivals," Hulu has released a new recap featurette.
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[04/24/26 - 08:00 AM]
La La Anthony, Rutina Wesley, Taylor Polidore Williams, DeVaughn Nixon and Alexxis Lemire Join Season 4 of Hulu's Hit Legal Drama "Reasonable Doubt" as Recurring Guest Stars
Morris Chestnut, Joseph Sikora and Brandee Evans also return as recurring guest stars.
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[04/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
"Scooby-Doo: Origins" Starts Production in Atlanta
A modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog.
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[04/24/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Gordon" - First Look - Netflix
Based on the novel by Marcelo Larraquy, "Gordon" arrives on Netflix in 2026.
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[04/23/26 - 11:41 PM]
Prime Video Unleashes UK's Biggest Digital Stars in Highly Anticipated Comedy Reality Series, "Would You Rather: Decide to Survive"
The series will launch exclusively worldwide on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories in June 2026.
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[04/23/26 - 09:00 PM]
The Vampire Lestat's Gritty Cover of Billy Idol's Legendary Song "Dancing with Myself" Is Now Available on All Digital Platforms
AMC Global Media and Lakeshore Records released the single on the Vampire Lestat artist profile pages at major digital music services, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
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[04/23/26 - 03:13 PM]
"Euphoria" Season 3 Premiere Surpasses 20M Global Viewers, Up 68% vs. Season 2
Episode 2 matched the premiere with approximately 8.5 million U.S. viewers in its first three days.
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[04/23/26 - 02:50 PM]
Goal! ESPN Airs Two Most-Viewed First Round Game 2's on Cable Ever, Continuing Successful Start to 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Monday's Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins matchup (Game 2, 7 p.m. ET) delivered 1.6 million viewers and Tuesday's Boston Bruins-Buffalo Sabres matchup (Game 2, 7:30 p.m.) delivered 1.2 million viewers, setting the new Game 2 record.
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[04/23/26 - 02:02 PM]
"The Cult of Natureboy," A New Four-Part Docuseries That Offers a Raw and Unfiltered Look Inside a Modern Cult, Premieres April 28 on Hulu
In 2016, a rising social media star named Eligio Bishop, also known as "NatureBoy," used his platforms to recruit followers into a group he called Carbon Nation, encouraging them to abandon their families and join his vision of a self-proclaimed Black utopia.
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[04/23/26 - 01:03 PM]
Apple TV Sets New Comedy Series, Elizabeth Banks to Star and Executive Produce
The series is set to begin production in Los Angeles this year.
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[04/23/26 - 12:19 PM]
USA Sports Delivers Most-Watched Match in LOVB Volleyball History to Cap Inaugural Season of Record Viewership on USA Network
The first Finals match on Thursday, April 16, which Salt Lake won 3-2 in a closely-contested fifth set, averaged 163,000 viewers, ranking as the most-watched LOVB game of all-time.
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