 |
 |
[05/12/08 - 06:53 AM]
Development Update: Monday, May 12 (Morning)
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!
CAPRICA (Sci Fi) - Eric Stoltz ("The Butterfly Effect") and Alessandra Toressani ("Malcolm in the Middle") have both joined the cast of the two-hour backdoor pilot, a prequel to the network's "Battlestar Galactica." Stoltz will play Daniel Graystone, a wealthy computer engineer who, after an emotionally crippling family tragedy, uses his technological wizardry to forever change the future of Caprica. Toressani then is set as his daughter, Zoe. The pair join the previously cast Esai Morales and Paula Malcomson in the project, which comes from Universal Media Studios and executive producers David Eick, Remi Aubuchon and Ronald D. Moore. Jeffrey Reiner directs.
CLASS DISMISSED (A.K.A. SIT DOWN, SHUT UP) (FOX) - The animated comedy, which received a series commitment over the weekend, has been renamed to "Class Dismissed." The project, from creator Mitch Hurwitz, revolves around the lives of seven staff members of a dysfunctional high school in a small northeastern fishing town. 20th Century Fox Television, Granada USA, Sony Pictures Television and Tantamount are co-producing the half-hour, which is also executive produced by Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum.
DOLLHOUSE/FRINGE (FOX) - FOX has issued formal series commitments to both of the much-ballyhooed hours. Joss Whedon is behind the former, which revolves around a top-secret world of people programmed with different personalities, abilities and memories depending on their mission. The show's ensemble cast includes Amy Acker, Dichen Lachman, Eliza Dushku, Enver Gjokaj, Fran Kranz, Harry Lennix, Miracle Laurie, Olivia Williams and Tahmoh Penikett. 20th Century Fox Television is producing while Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain also serve as executive producers alongside Whedon. As for "Fringe," said hour follows the exploits of a young female FBI agent who tackles unexplained medical and scientific phenomena. Anna Torv toplines the Warner Bros. Television-based project, which also stars Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole, John Noble, Joshua Jackson, Kirk Acevedo, Lance Reddick and Mark Valley. Alex Graves, Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Burk, J.J. Abrams, Jeff Pinkner and Roberto Orci are the executive producers. "Dollhouse" is believed to be targeted for midseason while "Fringe" will likely roll out in the fall.
EUREKA (Sci Fi) - Frances Fisher ("In the Valley of Elah") has booked an eight-episode arc on the show's upcoming third season, due on July 29. She'll play Samantha Thorne, a.k.a. "The Fixer," a corporate titan who is brought in to clean up Global Dynamics. No other specifics were released.
MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC) - "Boston Legal" co-star Saffron Burrows has joined the cast of the Peacock's new drama, about a suburban dad named Henry (Christian Slate) whose alter ego, Edward, is a spy. She'll play Dr. Norah Skinner in the hour, who's detailed in the casting notice as: "Early 30s, beautiful without much makeup. She is a shrink and Edward's girlfriend who slaps him when she finds out he slept with Natasha, a Russian spy, during his mission to Paris. She runs a therapy sessions of sorts with Henry to make sure his memory is wiped clean of his time as Edward, and she's surprised when Edward asks her what Henry is like." Mike O'Malley also stars in the project, which comes from Universal Media Studios and creator Jason Smilovic. David Semel is directing the pilot.
THE PHILANTHROPIST (NBC) - "Battlestar Galactica" executive producer David Eick has been tapped as the new showrunner of the upcoming drama, about a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need no matter what the risks or costs. He'll take over for Tom Fontana, who penned the pilot and several additional scripts before exiting due to the creative differences last month. Eick, who recently inked an overall deal with "Philanthropist" producer Universal Media Studios, then will serve alongside fellow executive producer Charlie Corwin, whose idea the show is based upon. No casting has been announced.
THE PITTS (FOX) - The network has passed on the animated project, a revival of the short-lived 2003 live-action series of the same name about the unluckiest family in the world. The network went through two table reads of the half-hour before ultimately deciding to not move forward. 20th Century Fox Television nevertheless is already shopping the project to other networks, including ABC as a potential companion to its upcoming effort "The Goode Family." Julie Thacker-Scully and Mike Scully are behind "The Pitts," whose voice cast includes Allison Janney, Andy Milonakis, Dylan Baker and Lizzy Caplan.
VIRTUALITY (FOX) - "Friday Night Lights" creator Peter Berg has signed on to direct and executive produce the two-hour drama pilot, about a long-term NASA mission and a limitless world of virtual reality. "Battlestar Galactica's" Ronald Moore and Michael Taylor co-created the project, which is set up at Universal Media Studios. Berg's Film 44 producing partner Sarah Aubrey will also serve as an executive producer, where she'll join Moore, Taylor and BermanBraun's Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [may 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[08/15/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Upload" - Official Trailer - Hulu
The show's first three seasons are now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
|
[08/14/26 - 11:31 PM]
Disney Sets the Stage for What's Next in Entertainment at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event
Other TV highlights include "Oswald," an all-new live-action animated hybrid series based on the classic character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
|
[08/14/26 - 11:09 PM]
Development Update: Week of August 10-14
Updates include: Starz's "SWAT: Exiles" land early renewal; Hulu cancels "Deli Boys" after two seasons; and Disney+, HBO Max pass on projects.
|
[08/14/26 - 09:23 PM]
Season 2 of the Emmy Award-Winning Series "Ahsoka" Premieres Exclusively on Disney+ January 20
The new season, which once again stars Rosario Dawson in the titular role, is a story set after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, which has Ahsoka confronting what it means to be a Jedi, while the galaxy faces a formidable opponent in Grand Admiral Thrawn.
|
[08/14/26 - 09:02 PM]
Video: First Look at Marvel Television's "VisionQuest" on Disney+
Marvel Television's "VisionQuest," an all-new original series coming exclusively to Disney+ October 14, concludes the epic trilogy that began with 2021's groundbreaking, award-winning "WandaVision" and 2024's acclaimed "Agatha All Along."
|
[08/14/26 - 08:30 PM]
Video: "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" Drops Electrifying Season Three Teaser Trailer at D23: The Ultimate Fan Event
Season 3 of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" marks the first time that the third book - "The Titan's Curse" - comes to screen and is the third installment of Disney Hyperion's bestselling book series by acclaimed author Rick Riordan.
|
[08/14/26 - 07:58 PM]
Global Video Game Phenomenon "Kingdom Hearts" Greenlit for First-Ever Original Television Series on Disney Channel and Disney+
The series reimagines the iconic adventure with a brand-new story that will expand on the universe of Kingdom Hearts while celebrating the characters that have captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
|
[08/14/26 - 01:45 PM]
ABC News Is No. 1 on Sunday Morning and Friday Night
"20/20" saw year-to-year increases in all key target demos: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.
|
[08/14/26 - 12:01 PM]
HBO Max Renews Original Comedy Series "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe" for a Second Season
New episodes are being released weekly on HBO Max, with the season finale scheduled for release on Thursday, September 24.
|
[08/14/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Expands Young Adult Slate with New Series "Sid & Zoey," "Sunshine Girls" and More
Plus: "Finding Her Edge" to begin production on Season 2; and Randall Park joins the cast of "Minimum Wage."
|
[08/14/26 - 09:01 AM]
Stream "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" on Disney+ September 2
The galaxy's favorite duo is bringing the adventure home.
|
[08/14/26 - 08:47 AM]
FOX One to Live Stream IROC Presented by Chevrolet as Part of FOX Sports' Coverage of Historic Freedom 250 Weekend in Washington, D.C.
The races bring together legendary names from NASCAR and INDYCAR, including Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti, all piloting authentic historic IROC Pontiac Firebirds.
|
[08/14/26 - 03:22 AM]
Video: New Season Update - "Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya" - Prime Video
Seasons two and three are now in development.
|
[08/13/26 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "Mousetrap" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A reclusive writer wakes to find his identity stolen - and must ally with a ruthless loan shark to reclaim his life from a man known as "The Rat."
|
[08/13/26 - 03:39 PM]
ESPN Delivers Its Second Most-Watched WNBA Regular Season Game in 30 Years of Coverage!
The New York Liberty-Indiana Fever matchup averaged 2 million viewers on Tuesday, August 11.
|
|
|
|
