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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!
90210 (The CW) - Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah ("What About Brian") are in talks to assume the potential showrunning duties on the much-ballyhooed "90210" revival. Meanwhile, AnnaLynne McCord ("Nip/Tuck") has joined the cast. She'll play Naomi Bennett, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "Legal 18 to play 16. Naomi is the super-hot, super-rich, high-maintenance girlfriend of Ethan Ward. At least she's his girlfriend until she exacts her painfully public revenge. In early episodes, Naomi will seem to function as a stock, spoiled bitch from hell, but over time, she'll reveal herself as a more textured character. Her impossible parents will routinely be in Principal Ward's office demanding more and better for their daughter. By the time she's gotten over her Ethan heartbreak and is ready to take him back, she'll discover that his attention has turned to Annie Mills." As for Sachs and Judah, they'll take over for the original pilot's scribe Rob Thomas, whose involvement was already in third position to his ABC pilots, "Cupid" and "Good Behavior." It's understood the pair will pen a new pilot script to the project, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television.
CAN OPENERS (CBS) - Ben Feldman ("Cloverfield") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about the residents in a neurosurgical program. He'll play Michael Ward, a first-year resident. Eion Bailey, Jay Hernandez, Lauren Lee Smith and Omar Gooding also star in the project, which comes from creator Elle Johnson and the Sony Pictures Television-based Apostle Productions.
DON'T BRING FRANK (FOX) - The network has opted not to move forward with the project, a U.S. version of the 1973-1978 BBC comedy "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em." Sony Pictures Television and BBC Worldwide Productions were behind the half-hour, which began casting in February. Phil Stark penned the pilot script and executive produced alongside Paul Telegdy and Ian Moffitt.
GOOD BEHAVIOR (A.K.A. OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE) (ABC) - Emmy-winner Charles McDougall ("Desperate Housewives") has been tapped to helm the drama pilot, about a family of criminals whose matriarch decides it's time for her brood to go straight. The ABC Studios-based project, which was penned by Rob Thomas, is based on the New Zealand format "Outrageous Fortune."
LITERARY SUPERSTAR (ABC) - The Jenna Elfman-led comedy pilot, about a book publicist who's intensely loyal to her clients and lobbies to continue working with smaller, quirkier authors, is no longer set up at the Alphabet. ABC Studios and Sony Pictures Television were behind the half-hour, which was executive produced by Darren Star, Dottie Dartland Zicklin and Matthew Reilly. No reason was given for the decision. Production was originally set for a December/January start but was derailed due to the WGA strike. No casting was announced beyond Elfman.
REVOLUTION (Sci Fi) - Brooklyn Sudano ("My Wife & Kids") has joined the cast of the two-hour pilot, about the simmering unrest among the colonists at a 22nd-century outpost Earth colony. She'll play Roxanne, the love interest to Chris Hart (Steve Sandvoss). Billy Campbell, David Smith and Rowena King also star in the CBS Paramount Network Television-based project, which comes from co-creators Ed Redlich and John Bellucci. Michael Rhymer is directing while Simon West also serves as an executive producer.
SIT DOWN, SHUT UP (FOX) - "Arrested Development" alums Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Henry Winkler are all set to lend their voices to the animated project, about the staff members at a high school who are preoccupied with their own needs and agendas, which means the students come second. Also signing on are Cheri Oteri, Will Forte, Regina King, Nick Kroll, Tom Kenny and Maria Bamford. Mitch Hurwitz penned the pilot script to the project, which is based on the live-action Australian series. Granada International, Sony Pictures Television and Hurwitz's Tantamount banner are co-producing.
UNTITLED BRENDA HAMPTON PROJECT (ABC Family) - Mark Derwin ("Life With Bonnie") and Josie Bissett ("Melrose Place") have booked the final principal roles on the upcoming drama, which centers on an unexpected teen pregnancy. The former will play George Nicholson, who's described in the casting notice as: "40-50, any ethnicity. Anne's husband, the father of Amy and Ashley, he's a good dad who, not without some humor, lectures his youngest daughter for getting sent to the principal for violating the dress code. He makes it clear that he expects his girls to dress well, behave well, and not have sex until they're married - and maybe not even then." Bissett then is set in the recurring role of Kathleen Johnson: "40-50, any ethnicity. Grace's mom, good natured, warm, supportive, Kathleen is a devout Christian who is only too happy to help her daughter with her Fellowship Hall party, even if she's got to cart the leftover food to some local shelters. She clearly enjoys her life and having a harmonious family." Production is underway on 10 episodes of the series for a summer premiere.
WRECKING BALL (The CW) - The netlet has decided to hold off on producing the drama pilot, about a young lawyer and scion of a famous political family who joins a smart, working-class recent law school grad to form a small firm aimed at helping those who have no place else to turn. Richard Hatem and Ross Fineman were behind the project, which was set up at Fox Television Studios.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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