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[03/27/09 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Friday, March 27
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
BEN HUR (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet is set to team with Alchemy Television Group and Spain's Drimtim Entertainment for a new mini-series about the renegade hero in ancient Rome. William Wyler's 1959 film about the subject took home 11 Oscars, including Best Picture. Steve Shill ("Rome") will direct the $22.5 million production from a script by Alan Sharp ("Rob Roy"). Casting is underway on the project, which will begin filming in May in Spain, Morocco and Canada. David Wyler, William Wyler's son, is executive producing alongside Alchemy's Simon Vaughan and Drimtim's Roger Corbi. It's understood ABC plans to air the project as a limited series however no air date has been set.
EMPIRE STATE (ABC) - David Call is the latest addition to the drama pilot, "a contemporary Romeo-and-Juliet tale about the love between the blue-collar Sam (Mike Vogel) and the wealthy Annabelle (Beau Garrett) whose fathers are nemeses." He'll play the man's younger brother in the project, which comes from writer Michael Seitzman, director Jeremy Podeswa and ABC Studios.
MASTERWORK (FOX) - Aussie Matt Passmore and Brit Tom Ellis have both landed lead roles on the drama pilot, a thriller about a race against time to recover the world's most sought-after artifacts. They'll join the previously cast Natalie Dormer. Passmore will play an FBI agent specializing in the acquisition of stolen art who teams with Dormer's character, an MI-5 agent. Ellis then plays her fiance, a special agent at Scotland Yard. Paul T. Scheuring penned the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, which Jeffrey Nachmanoff is directing.
NEW YORK GOES TO WORK (VH1, New!) - Tiffany "New York" Pollard is set to topline another series for the cable channel in which she undertakes various jobs suggested by text-messaging viewers. The series, from reality house 51 Minds Entertainment - home to previous Pollard efforts "I Love New York" and "Flavor of Love," will launch on Monday, May 4 at 10:00/9:00c. Here's the network's official description: "Each week America will choose from a list of three possible job opportunities and vote via their mobile phones by texting which job they would like to see Tiffany try. Will she be a Cal Trans sewer worker, a mortuary beautician, or a fast food employee? It will be up to you. And don�t think it will be easy for Tiffany. She�ll be worked, in all aspects of the job! Why again is she doing this? For the money of course. If she can impress her new employers, she�ll receive a $5,000 bonus each week. But, if she quits, fails, or gets fired, she�ll get absolutely nothing." Mark Cronin and Cris Abrego are the executive producers.
STATE OF ROMANCE (NBC) - Stephen Rannazzisi ("Big Day") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about the "Pride & Prejudice"-esque relationship between Mike (Steve Howey) and Emily (Lindsey Broad). He'll play Mike's roommate in the project, which comes from Universal Media Studios and co-creators Barbara Wallace and Tom Wolfe.
VICTORIA SILVSTEDT: MY PERFECT LIFE (E!, New!) - The cable channel has acquired the rights to the rights to the U.K.-produced reality series, which tracks the life of the former Playboy Playmate of the Year. Set to roll out Thursday, April 2 at 8:00/7:00c, the project bowed on E!'s counterpart in the U.K. back in November.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[03/03/26 - 09:01 AM]
The History Channel Announces Global Rollout of Landmark Series "World War II with Tom Hanks" Launching This Memorial Day
The landmark 20-episode documentary series reexamines World War II through the lens of a new century, offering a deeply human portrait of how the modern world was forged in the fires of global conflict.
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[03/03/26 - 08:54 AM]
Intense, Action-Packed Ukrainian Series "Double Stakes" Makes Exclusive U.S. Debut Thursday, March 19, 2026 on European Streamer Viaplay
Arriving at a cultural moment when American audiences are hungry for authentic stories from Ukraine, this eight-part series blends the moody atmospherics of Nordic Noir with the gritty realism of a modern Ukraine.
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[03/03/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This documentary traces the life of Lamar Odom, from his rise to NBA fame and marriage to Khloé Kardashian to his near-fatal overdose in a Nevada brothel.
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[03/03/26 - 08:03 AM]
HGTV Star Designers Team Up with Celebrities for the Ultimate Las Vegas Gamble in a New Season of Blockbuster Hit "Rock the Block"
HGTV's highest-rated series, which attracted over 16.6 million viewers across linear and streaming to its last run, will return for seven fresh episodes hosted by popular carpenter, craftsman and design expert Ty Pennington and take the ultimate gamble on four unexpected duos.
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[03/03/26 - 08:01 AM]
The Whispers Are True... Prime Video Reveals Premiere Date for "The Legend of Vox Machina" Season Four
Season four will have a three episode weekly rollout on Prime Video beginning June 3, 2026.
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[03/03/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Big Tech Meets Even Bigger Ego in the Explosive Trailer for "The Audacity," from Emmy Award-Winner Jonathan Glatzer, Premiering Sunday, April 12 on AMC and AMC+
The gripping eight-episode series premieres Sunday, April 12 at 9pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+, with additional episodes debuting weekly on Sundays.
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[03/03/26 - 07:31 AM]
"Love on the Spectrum" Season 4 - Date Announcement & Key Art Debut - Premieres April 1
In its fourth season, this U.S. based series tells the stories of unique and diverse individuals - including new romantic hopefuls and familiar faces - searching for something we all hope to find, love.
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[03/03/26 - 07:31 AM]
MGM+ and Paramount+ Bring Stars Aboard New Original Series "Treasure Island"
The six-part drama brings thrilling new life and a star cast to Robert Louis Stevenson's 18th century epic, with David Oyelowo, Hayley Atwell, Jack Huston, Tomer Capone and Tom Sweet.
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[03/03/26 - 07:03 AM]
FOX Sports Marks 100 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026 with Company Wide Celebration
FOX Sports is leading the way in building momentum across the country on the road to the opening match.
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[03/03/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Zootopia 2" - Announce - Disney+
The film is coming to Disney+ on March 11.
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[03/03/26 - 07:00 AM]
Video: National Geographic Releases Un-Bee-Lieveable Trailer for "Secrets of the Bees," Led by Award-Winning National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory
Hosted and narrated by BAFTA and Emmy-winning National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory, the two-part series uses groundbreaking filming technology to reveal the extraordinary world of bees.
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[03/03/26 - 06:03 AM]
ID Expands "People Magazine Investigates" with New Special Unpacking the Twelve Tribes Cult
The two-hour will premiere Monday, March 16 from 9-11pm ET on ID and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
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[03/03/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for "FULL SPEED: The Daytona 500"
After the first two seasons debuted on Netflix, "FULL SPEED" makes the move to Prime Video, with Seasons 1 and 2 also now available on Prime Video.
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[03/03/26 - 05:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer, Key Art and New Episodic Imagery for "The Miniature Wife"
All 10 episodes of dramedy series starring Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen will debut Thursday, April 9 on Peacock.
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[03/03/26 - 05:31 AM]
Netflix Turns Up the Heat with All-New Firefighter Drama Series "Tyler Perry's Where There's Smoke"
The 16-episode hour-long drama is written, directed, and produced by Perry.
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