 |
 |
[06/13/08 - 05:14 PM]
Development Update: Friday, June 13
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!
24 (FOX) - Jon Voight has been tapped for his first series role in nearly 40 years. He'll play the show's seventh season "big bad" that's introduced in the upcoming prequel event and subsequently turns up later in the actual season. Details about his character however remain under wraps. Production is underway in South Africa on the prequel, which is set to air on November 23. Voight's last TV series role was a three-episode arc on "Gunsmoke" in the late 1960s.
FOURPLAY (ABC) - Ayda Field ("Back to You") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about two men - Derek (Josh Cooke), who is straight, and Drew (Alan Tudyk), who is gay - who are lifelong best friends and business partners. She'll take over for Sarah Lafleur as Audrey, Derek's stylish but emotionally messy girlfriend. Said recasting was made following the pilot's table read. It's understood Lafleur will move onto another ABC project as a result of her talent deal with the network. Rizwan Manji and fellow "Back to You" alum Ty Burrell also star in the half-hour, which comes from Warner Bros. Television and co-creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick.
LAPD (NBC, New!) - John Wells has booked his first post-"ER" project, a drama centering on the Los Angeles Police Department. "ER" veteran Christopher Chulack is set to direct the project - which has a put pilot commitment from the network - from a script by feature writer Ann Biderman ("Primal Fear"). Wells, Biderman and Chulack then will executive produce via Wells's Warner Bros. Television-based banner.
SIT DOWN, SHUT UP (FOX) - The writers of the upcoming animated series have walked off the show in pursuit of WGA representation. Said event was reportedly the result of Sony Pictures Television informing them they were covered by the Writers Guild when if fact they had made arrangements with another union, IATSE. The news marks the latest spat over which union should cover primetime animation. Under IATSE, writers do not receive get new-media revenues or residuals of any kind - a key strike point for the WGA earlier this year. Nevertheless with Sony's animation division, Adelaide Productions, having a deal with the IATSE in place for the past 10 years, industry insiders suggest the "Sit Down" staff doesn't have much leverage. Nevertheless their rallying cry is that all the other FOX-aired/20th Century Fox Television-produced animated shows fall under the WGA umbrella. ("Sit Down" is a co-production with 20th however Sony is the production lead.) It's not clear how long production will be delayed on the series, which is being targeted for midseason, as the result of the walkout.
UNTITLED OFFICE SPIN-OFF PROJECT (NBC) - Aziz Ansari (MTV's "Human Giant") is the first to be cast on the much-ballyhooed spin-off. No details about his character however were released other than he'll be part of a larger ensemble. Greg Daniels and Michael Schur are shepherding the project, which remains a hot topic of speculation. It's not clear if any of the parent show's characters will be part of the spin-off or if the sibling characters will initially be planted in the mothership before heading to the new show. In any case, Ansari has inked a one-year talent deal with producer Universal Media Studios as part of his involvement while Tucker Cawley, Dan Goor, Paul Feig, Charlie Grandy and Alan Yang have been tapped to be part of the writing staff. And separately, "Office" alum Rashida Jones has likewise inked a talent holding deal with the studio - leading many to speculate about her involvement with the show - while Paul Lieberstein, who doubles as Toby on the show, has been upped to executive producer on "The Office" proper.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [june 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[08/20/25 - 09:42 AM]
New Animated Series "Paris & Pups," Inspired by Paris Hilton and Her Real-Life Pets, Set to Premiere on YouTube September 23, 2025
Created for kids 5-8, the series launches with four episodes in week one, followed by weekly episode drops.
|
[08/20/25 - 09:18 AM]
ESPN Taps John Cena, Complex, Lyft, Samsung and More in Massive Multi-Platform Marketing Campaign for ESPN Direct-to-Consumer & Enhanced App Launch
The campaign - which features John Cena in its creative TV spots - is designed to build excitement and encourage personalization around the reimagined ESPN App and DTC service.
|
[08/20/25 - 09:06 AM]
Tilly Ramsay to "Dish It Out" in New Prime Video Original Series September 5
The 32-episode series will release eight new episodes weekly on Fridays through September 26.
|
[08/20/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Reasonable Doubt" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Hulu
After a tumultuous season of fighting to save her best friend from a life sentence while healing from her own deadly affair, Jax Stewart has finally earned some peace in her life... even if she sees it all as a little boring.
|
[08/20/25 - 09:01 AM]
Prime Video Names John Wall to NBA on Prime Studio Team
The longtime Washington Wizards guard will make appearances in-studio alongside Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, Candace Parker and Udonis Haslem.
|
[08/20/25 - 09:00 AM]
A24's "Friendship" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max September 5
The film stars Tim Robinson, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Paul Rudd.
|
[08/20/25 - 09:00 AM]
"Survivor" Announces the 18 New Castaways Competing on the 49th Edition with a Two-Hour Season Premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 24
The series returns with a fresh set of dynamic and determined competitors, including two players who will ultimately compete in the show's landmark 50th season, premiering in spring 2026.
|
[08/20/25 - 09:00 AM]
Acorn TV's Brooke Shields Mystery Series "You're Killing Me," Produced by Topsail Entertainment & Shaftesbury, Cast Amalia Williamson and Tom Cavanagh
The six-episode series, which starts production in Nova Scotia, Canada this September, is set to debut on Acorn TV in 2026.
|
[08/20/25 - 08:02 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Reveals Official Teaser for "Mayor of Kingstown" Season Four, Starring Oscar Nominee Jeremy Renner and Emmy and Golden Globe Winner Edie Falco
In season four, Mike's control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians' wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town.
|
[08/20/25 - 08:02 AM]
Antonia Thomas, Josh Dylan and Imelda Staunton to Star in "Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence" for BritBox
In the first contemporary English language television series adaptation of Agatha Christie's stories, Tommy and Tuppence are a detective duo for the ages.
|
[08/20/25 - 08:01 AM]
Benvenuto! "Emily in Paris" Season 5 First Look & Date Announcement
All episodes of Season 5 will premiere on December 18.
|
[08/20/25 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - Hulu Original K-Drama "Tempest"
The new spy thriller with an international cast, including Gianna Jun, Gang Dongwon, John Cho and more, is launching with three episodes on September 10 on Hulu and Disney+.
|
[08/20/25 - 08:00 AM]
HBO & BBC Release First Look of Drama Series "Half Man"
The six-episode drama series will debut in 2026 on HBO Max in the US, Latin America, and Europe, and on BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland in the UK and Ireland.
|
[08/20/25 - 07:59 AM]
Video: "Summertide" Official Trailer - Acorn TV
An exhilarating South African multi-generational drama following the Field family and those who cross their paths - each with their own secrets and desires.
|
[08/20/25 - 07:14 AM]
Video: Apple's Award-Winning Drama "The Morning Show" Unveils Season Four Trailer
"The Morning Show" returns for season four on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, September 17 with the first episode, followed by one episode weekly until November 19.
|
|
|
|
