or


[01/22/09 - 06:55 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, January 22
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!


MERCY (NBC, New!) - Elizabeth Heldens ("Friday Night Lights") has received a pilot order for the Peacock for a new drama about three nurses bound together in friendship by the highs and lows of their personal and professional lives. The project is set up at Universal Media Studios with Heldens executive producing.


RHI ENTERTAINMENT PROJECTS (Various) - TV movie mogul Robert Halmi Sr., who's currently celebrating his 85th birthday and his 30th year in the television business, has lined up a slew of new projects at Sci Fi and ABC. The former has already commissioned three efforts: "The Phantom," based on Lee Falk's adventure comic strip about a costumed crimefighter operating from the African jungle, is slated to begin filming in Montreal in late winter/early spring (with Paolo Barzman directing); "Riverworld," a new take on Philip Jose Farmer's book in which the human race is resurrected as illness-free immortal beings on an Earthlike planet, will begin filming in Vancouver in March (with Stuart Gillard directing); and "Alice," a contemporary retelling of "Alice in Wonderland," is on track for a May start in Vancouver (with Nick Willing directing). Meanwhile at the Alphabet, Halmi is developing "Planet Earth Conspiracy," a thriller set against the backdrop of our planet in peril because of climate change, and "Grapes of Wrath," a long-in-the-works adaptation of John Steinbeck's infamous novel. And finally, Halmi is also eyeing a sequel (or even a weekly series) based on NBC's "The Last Templar," premiering this weekend, this time set in India. Halmi is executive producing all the aforementioned projects alongside his son Robert Halmi Jr.


THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (ABC) - The Alphabet has ordered a pilot for its small screen take on the John Updike novel, best known as the 1987 feature that starred Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeifer and Jack Nicholson. Maggie Friedman ("Related") is behind the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which will center on three women who discover they have supernatural powers after a mysterious man comes to their small town. Friedman penned the pilot and will executive produce.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· ALICE (SYFY)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EASTWICK (ABC)
· FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (DIRECTV)
· GRAPES OF WRATH (ABC)
· LAST TEMPLAR, THE (NBC)
· MERCY (NBC)
· PHANTOM, THE (SYFY)
· PLANET EARTH CONSPIRACY (ABC)
· RELATED (WB)
· RIVERWORLD (SCI FI)
· RIVERWORLD (SYFY)
· RIVERWORLD (SCI FI)





[11/18/25 - 10:09 AM]
Tubi Serves Up the First Look at "Mo' Waffles," a Wild New Comedy from TikTok Duo A Twink and a Redhead and Robin Jordan, Premiering December 19th
When a hip hop legend vanishes before his waffle joint's opening, his oddball crew must crack the case, wondering if one of them could be the culprit.

[11/18/25 - 10:02 AM]
Video: Official Trailer & Key Art - "Dance Moms: A New Era" Season 2
The A+E Factual Studios series returns with all episodes on Monday, December 8 only on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

[11/18/25 - 10:01 AM]
TNT Sports Announces Commentators for GEICO Players Era Men's & Women's Championships
Coverage of the GEICO Players Era Men's Championship on both Monday, November 24 and Tuesday, November 25 will begin on TNT at 12:30 p.m. ET.

[11/18/25 - 10:01 AM]
BET+ Original Film, "Son of the Preacher," Premieres Thursday, November 27
The film stars Gabrielle Graham, Chris LeBlanc, Darren Herbert, Rachel Crawford, Ronnie Rowe, Tkaia Green, and Karen Burthwright.

[11/18/25 - 09:30 AM]
Prime Video Sets the Heist in Motion: First Look and Premiere Date for "Steal" Unveiled
All six episodes will be available on January 21, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[11/18/25 - 09:01 AM]
NBC to Air 78th Emmy Awards Live on Monday, Sept. 14 from the Peacock Theater
The date of Emmy Award nominations will be announced in the coming months.

[11/18/25 - 09:00 AM]
Reunion Announcement: Hulu's "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" Season 3 Reunion Special
The special premieres December 4 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[11/18/25 - 09:00 AM]
The 28th Annual "Family Film and TV Awards," Hosted by Julie Chen Moonves, to Air Dec. 13 on CBS and Paramount+
Legendary magic and comedy duo Penn & Teller will receive the Outstanding Family Entertainers Award, celebrating 50 years of captivating audiences, and the night will feature special performances by country music superstar Blake Shelton.

[11/18/25 - 08:16 AM]
Ira Levin's Novel "The Boys from Brazil" Is Coming to Netflix
Adapted by Peter Morgan and directed by Alex Gabassi, this five-part historical thriller stars Jeremy Strong, August Diehl, Daniel Brühl and Gillian Anderson.

[11/18/25 - 08:02 AM]
First Look Images and Premiere Date for New Game Show "What's in the Box?" Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris
Giant boxes conceal jaw-dropping prizes, wild surprises and unexpected reveals in "What's in the Box?," a high-stakes arching game show that tests smarts, strategy and stamina.

[11/18/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
Lara races across the globe to uncover ancient African relics before a techno-visionary bent on playing god uses them to unleash worldwide destruction.

[11/18/25 - 07:48 AM]
TNT Sports to Present First-Ever World Sevens Football 7v7 Soccer Tournament in North America, Dec. 5-7, on TNT, truTV & HBO Max
The fast-paced World Sevens Football (W7F) series has redefined women's soccer with elite talent from eight of the best clubs in the world, an immersive fan-first experience, and a groundbreaking $5 million prize pool, the largest in the sport, designed to fuel intense, high-stakes competition.

[11/18/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: NFL Christmas Gameday - 2025 Official Trailer - Netflix
Starting at 1 PM ET, the Dallas Cowboys take on their rivals, Washington Commanders, followed by the Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings at 4:30pm ET.

[11/18/25 - 07:30 AM]
Acorn TV Fan Favorite Series "Midsomer Murders" Returns For an All-New Season Monday, December 8
Homicide, blackmail, greed, and betrayal: just a taste of what goes on behind the well-trimmed hedges of Midsomer County in this deliciously sinister series.

[11/18/25 - 07:11 AM]
OWN Announces New Series Featuring Award-Winning Host Iyanla Vanzant: "Iyanla: The Inside Fix"
"There has never been a better time for us to bring the iconic Iyanla Vanzant back home to the OWN Network," said Tina Perry, President of OWN.