[05/20/08 - 06:30 PM] Development Update: Tuesday, May 20 By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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KINGS (NBC) - The Peacock has given a formal series order to the drama, a modern-day David vs. Goliath tale set in a war-torn metropolis from writer/producer Michael Green. Despite its presence on the network's midseason schedule unveiled last month, "Kings" apparently only had a two-hour pilot commitment. Christopher Egan, Ian McShane, Sebastian Stan, Susanna Thompson and Allison Miller all star in the Universal Media Studios-based project, which is currently in production. Francis Lawrence is directing. Lawrence and Green are also executive producing alongside Erwin Stoff.
PRISON BREAK (FOX) - Producers have begun casting for a new recurring role on the show's upcoming fourth season. Said character, Roland Glenn, is expected to appear in six to seven of the show's first eight episodes. The role is further detailed in the casting notice as follows: "25-35, any ethnicity. A computer whiz with poor social skills. Roland works with Scofield and the gang in their attempt to bring down The Company. But, he's the kind of guy who doesn't know when to shut up and is cocky at all the wrong times."
THE SIMPSONS (FOX) - Industry insiders reported this week that the voice cast behind the animated veteran has yet to sign on for a 20th season. It's believed that negotiations will likely put production on the new season on hold for a few months however FOX and producer 20th Century Fox Television nevertheless are said to be optimistic about a pact being reached. Viewers on the other hand likely won't be affected as the series works well ahead of its air schedule (only 13 of the show's usual 22-episode production cycle for season 19 have aired). As for the voice cast, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer are believed to make around $360,000 an episode, a number which could be upped closer to $500,000 once a new deal is in place.
