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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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[11/09/26 - 10:30 AM]
FOX Entertainment Docuseries "The Well" Is Now Streaming Exclusively on Hulu
Produced by FOX Entertainment Studios, Mountain Top Pictures, Haven Entertainment and Fairvale Entertainment, "The Well" investigates more than 200 unsolved murders that continue to haunt California's San Joaquin County, including those linked to the infamous Speed Freak Killers.
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[11/09/26 - 09:11 AM]
Peacock's "Here Come the Irish" Returns for Season Three Monday, Dec. 14, Chronicling the Trials and Triumphs of Notre Dame's Defining Season
"Here Come the Irish" follows Notre Dame in the aftermath of the playoffs as the team enters a new season fueled by grit, determination and brotherhood, with their sights set on reaching new heights.
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[11/09/26 - 09:03 AM]
BritBox Launches "Austen Untold" Anthology Franchise with Greenlight of New Series "The Other Elliot Sister"
"The Other Elliot Sister" builds on the approach established by "The Other Bennet Sister," placing a character previously confined to the margins at the heart of her own story.
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[11/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Trials of Karen Read" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An accident, a deadly fight or an elaborate cover-up? This true-crime series digs into the murder trials of Karen Read that sparked viral conspiracies.
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[11/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Unveils New Trailer for "Blade Runner 2099"
All eight episodes of the highly anticipated limited series will premiere on November 25, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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[11/09/26 - 08:31 AM]
ESPN Secures Exclusive Media Rights to New Games in Expanded 24-Team College Football Playoff
The agreement runs through the 2031-32 season and builds on the six-year agreement ESPN and the CFP announced in 2024, which began with the 2026-27 season.
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[11/09/26 - 07:30 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream "One Night Only" Beginning December 4
The film stars Academy Award nominee Monica Barbaro and BAFTA nominee Callum Turner, alongside Maya Hawke, Julia Fox and more.
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[11/09/26 - 06:31 AM]
"Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie" Premieres Monday, Nov. 16, on Hulu and Disney+ in Select Markets Internationally
The new feature-length documentary explores the triumphs and hardships that shaped Rucker's life, from his childhood in Charleston, South Carolina, to music superstardom around the globe.
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[11/09/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the Trailer for the Final Season of "Maxton Hall - The World Between Us"
The first two episodes of the six-part season will be available on Prime Video starting December 9, 2026, followed by a new episode each week until the grand finale on December 23, 2026.
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[11/09/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "The Unthinkable Daughter" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Decades after the crimes that shocked Brazil, Suzane von Richthofen speaks in exclusive interviews about the murders of her parents and their aftermath.
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[11/07/26 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Salish's 12 Games of Christmas" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Salish Matter and seven of her closest friends go head to head in 12 epic holiday challenges for a mountain of Christmas presents, with her dad, Jordan, as host.
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[11/07/26 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "Ethos" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Written and directed by Berkun Oya, "Ethos" returns for its second season of four episodes after six years, only on Netflix November 12.
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[11/06/26 - 01:55 PM]
Paramount Network to Launch Original Series "American Mayhem," Hosted by Larry the Cable Guy and Produced by V10 Entertainment, on Friday, Nov. 13
With his signature heartland humor, Larry the Cable Guy guides viewers through a fast-paced collection of funny, unexpected and relatable moments captured across America.
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[11/06/26 - 11:40 AM]
Romantic Epic "The Remarried Empress" Becomes The Most Viewed Local Original Premiere of All Time on Disney+ Globally
It currently ranks as the number one Korean title premiere in over 50 global markets including the US, the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Chile, ANZ and Canada.
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[11/06/26 - 10:56 AM]
ABC News Wins Across Sunday Morning, Friday Night and Late-Night
"20/20: Justice for Faith" ranked as Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in Adults 25-54 (437,000) and Adults 18-49 (341,000) on October 30.
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