or


[05/02/08 - 05:41 PM]
Development Update: Friday, May 2
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!


90210 (The CW) - Tristan Wilds ("The Wire") and Michael Steger ("The Winner") have joined the cast of the CW's "90210" spin-off. Wilds is playing Dixon Mills, the casting notice of which details him as: "Legal 18 to play 16, any ethnicity. Harry Mills took a shine to Dixon Cook long before he adopted him. Harry couldn't believe this foster kid was one of the smartest, most determined fifth-graders he'd ever seen. Sure, he had some behavioral problems. He'd get in fights weekly. He'd rarely speak unless asked a direct question. Then, when Dixon got busted for trying to steal a case of milk cartons to take home to his little foster siblings, there was some talk of sending him to an "alternative school" - a notorious place run more like a prison than school. Harry held a family meeting and made the decision to adopt Dixon. He's been a member of the family for six years. Though Dixon can still have a chip on his shoulder, his fighting/bad-boyisms seems to be a thing of the past, and the way he's opened up is nothing short of miraculous. Though he's scary-smart, he possesses no nerd trappings. He can both intimidate Annie's dates and correct their homework."

As for Steger, he's set as Navid Shirazi: "Legal 18 to play 17. Navid is of Middle Eastern descent. He holds one of the most coveted positions of power at Beverly Hills High. He's the executive producer of the journalism department's daily ten minute closed-circuit television newscast. (Half the students who work on the show are in it for the popularity boost; half are there for the serious journalism.) Navid is certainly bright, though his unique talent is his ability to make almost anything happen at Beverly Hills High. He's a consummate politician. In his three years at the school, he has charmed the faculty sponsors of nearly every organization, negotiated quid-pro-quo relationships with the major cliques and cultivated a reputation as an insider. Though Navid is friendly with scores of classmates, he learns he hasn't had a true friend until Dixon enrolls in the television class." They join an ensemble which also includes AnnaLynne McCord, Dustin Milligan, Jessica Stroup, Jessica Walter, Lori Loughlin, Ryan Eggold and Shenae Grimes. Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah and Rob Thomas are the executive producers for CBS Paramount Network Television.


ANCIENT DISCOVERIES (History) - The cable channel is moving forward with a fifth season of the series, which uses CGI, international locations and dramatic storytelling to bring life to the ancient world. Wild Dream Films has secured a $4 million contract to produce the new season, which will consist of 13 one-hour episodes. The company recently opened a new headquarters and state-of-the-art high-definition production capabilities in Cardiff, Wales.


GOOD BEHAVIOR (ABC) - Catherine O'Hara ("For Your Consideration") is in talks to topline the drama pilot, about the matriarch (O'Hara) of a family of criminals who decides that it's time for her brood to go straight after her husband ends up in the clink for five years. She would play said woman, Jackie, in the project, which comes from creator Rob Thomas and director Charles McDougall. ABC Studios is co-producing alongside Larkin-Goldstein Productions and South Pacific Pictures.


PRINCE OF MOTOR CITY (ABC) - Warren Christie ("October Road") and Andie MacDowell ("Beauty Shop") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, a gothic family soap inspired by William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" set in Detroit's auto industry. Christie will play the title role of Billy Hamilton, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "Early-Late 30s, Caucasian, attractive, intelligent, introspective and charismatic ("All the boys want to be him and all the girls want to bed him"). He comes from an extremely wealthy background and teaches "Atheism, Theism and Existentialism" at Harvard. Summoned home to Detroit to attend his estranged father William's funeral, Billy is troubled to learn that, though he was disowned seven years ago when he opted to pursue philosophy instead of going into the family business, his father has left him in charge of the Hamilton Motor Plant, which is relied upon by everyone in Detroit."

MacDowell then is set as his mother Gertrude Hamilton: "Late 40s-60, Caucasian, she is William's ravishingly beautiful widow (the Butler says she "ages in reverse") and Billy's affectionate mother who visits him frequently in Boston. She reminds Billy that he and his father used to be close, especially when they worked on cars together, and she defends Billy to the board members, who are shocked that Hamilton Motors has been left in the care of the young man." They join the previously cast Aunjanue Ellis and Piper Perabo in the hour, which comes from ABC Studios and co-creators Hamish Linklater and Jessica Goldberg.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· 90210 (CW)
· ANCIENT DISCOVERIES (HISTORY)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GOOD BEHAVIOR (ABC)
· OCTOBER ROAD (ABC)
· PRINCE OF MOTOR CITY, THE (ABC)
· WINNER, THE (FOX)
· WIRE, THE (HBO)





[06/10/26 - 10:21 AM]
NBC Reveals Season Two Cast for Hit Reality Adventure Series "Destination X"
The roster is inclusive of fan-favorite Bravolebs, Bombshells and reality competition superstars.

[06/10/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Worst Neighbor Ever" - Official Trailer - Netflix
You think you know your neighbors? Think again. This new series features firsthand accounts of violence, intimidation, and harassment that are more shocking than ever.

[06/10/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "The Welcome Table" Debuts June 23
From the United States to the Caribbean, Italy, Kenya, Peru, Brazil, and Australia, the film traces the devastating human consequences of a changing climate - from hurricanes and floods to droughts, rising seas, and the impact of extractive industries on Indigenous communities.

[06/10/26 - 09:58 AM]
Video: Starz Drops Pulse-Pounding First Teaser Trailer for Upcoming Crime Drama "Fightland"
"Fightland" premieres Friday, July 31 with new episodes available to stream weekly on Fridays only on the Starz app, and all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms.

[06/10/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Would You Rather: Decide to Survive" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The series comes to Prime Video on the June 26.

[06/10/26 - 09:08 AM]
NBC Sports Delivers 2nd-Largest Final Round Audience for U.S. Women's Open Since 2014
Coverage averaged 1.3 million viewers across NBC and Peacock.

[06/10/26 - 09:01 AM]
Roku Originals Heats Up "Summer Sparks" Scripted Feature Starring Jesse Metcalfe and Kathryn Davis
"Summer Sparks" welcomes all to Camp Evergreen, where a summer cook-off means laughter, connection, and a little romance.

[06/10/26 - 09:01 AM]
A Summer of Suspense, Seduction and Obsession Begins as FX's "The Shards" Premieres on August 5 on FX and Hulu
Set against the vivid backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the series follows a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school as they navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of American adolescence.

[06/10/26 - 08:01 AM]
HGTV Heats Up Summer with New Series "Worst Yard on the Block" and "Extreme Buyers Club" and New Seasons of Popular Titles This July
Other premieres include "Renovation Resort Showdown," "Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy," and "Ugliest House in America."

[06/10/26 - 08:01 AM]
"Toy Story 30 Years and Beyond - A Special Edition of 20/20" Airs Friday, June 12, on ABC, Streams Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
This new special charts the studio's journey from making shorts and TV commercials to becoming an animation-industry superpower - told by those who lived it.

[06/10/26 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Colleen Hoover's "Reminders of Him" Beginning July 10
The unforgettable story of love, loss and the courage to start over stars Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lainey Wilson and more.

[06/10/26 - 07:31 AM]
"Scooby-Doo: Origins" Rounds Out the Cast
Rusty Schwimmer, Sara Gilbert, Bruce McGill, Sherilyn Fenn plus others join the cast.

[06/10/26 - 07:06 AM]
Jennifer Saunders, Sean Teale, Simone Ashley, Amar Chadha-Patel, Rhea Norwood, Matthew Beard, and Sharon Horgan Join the Season 6 Cast of "Only Murders in the Building"
Bloody brilliant news.

[06/10/26 - 07:04 AM]
Hugh Laurie and Joe Alwyn Join John le Carre's "Legacy of Spies," as BBC and MGM+ Announce Further Casting
Plus: Academy Award nominee and winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival Claudia Llosa joins lead director and executive producer Michael Lennox, as second director on the series.

[06/10/26 - 07:02 AM]
"The Adam Ray Show," A New Podcast from Comedian Adam Ray, to Premiere on Netflix on June 19
Same host. Different characters. All chaos. Each week, Adam Ray taps into his roster of alter egos to interview famous guests - and no one is safe.