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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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[10/26/26 - 12:02 PM]
From Tipoff to One Shining Moment: CBS Sports & TNT Sports Unveil 2026-27 College Basketball Schedule
For the 29th time, CBS Sports will present the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Semifinals (Saturday, March 13) and Championship (Sunday, March 14), as well as the Big Ten Women's Basketball Championship on Sunday, March 7.
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[10/26/26 - 11:32 AM]
ESPN's NBA Opening Week Delivered Its Largest Audience Since 2014
The Philadelphia 76ers' victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers averaged 2.5 million viewers, up 26% from last year's comparable game.
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[10/26/26 - 11:04 AM]
Ready for More Magic? "Coven Academy" Season 2 Is Coming
Freeform confirmed the news on social media this morning.
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[10/26/26 - 11:00 AM]
FOX's All-New "Baywatch" Series Premiere Wednesday, January 6 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)
The series will celebrate the franchise's enduring legacy, while re-energizing it for today's global audience.
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[10/26/26 - 10:00 AM]
Hulu Announces Provocative New Docuseries "Get Huge: Looksmaxxing to Death"
The three-part series will debut November 10 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and on Disney+ internationally.
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[10/26/26 - 09:26 AM]
"CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" Scores Nearly 5 Million Total Viewers on ABC and Disney+
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[10/26/26 - 09:23 AM]
Amy Madigan to Star Alongside Viola Davis in New Thriller "Ascent" for Paramount+
Madigan will play Rachel, a former executive at Ascent Ventures and Catriona's (Davis) lifelong mentor.
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[10/26/26 - 09:05 AM]
TLC Uncovers The Case That Had America Asking, "Who Did This?" in New Special, "The Mad Pooper"
The two-hour special premieres Thursday, November 19 at 8PM ET/PT.
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[10/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Ali G: Who Iz I?," Starring and Directed by Sacha Baron Cohen, Is Coming to Prime Video October 28
Sacha Baron Cohen's new film marks his directorial debut.
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[10/26/26 - 08:31 AM]
BET and the City of Chicago Partner to Bring the "Soul Train Awards" Home
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[10/26/26 - 08:14 AM]
MGM+ Greenlights the Supernatural Horror Investigation Series "The Black Tapes" Starring Emmy-Nominee Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
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[10/26/26 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Announces November 5 Premiere Date for "Terrell & T.O."
The documentary captures the turbulent rise from childhood to Hall of Fame of NFL trailblazer Terrell Owens, whose undeniable talent and outspoken personality made him one of the most celebrated, scrutinized, and misunderstood figures in NFL history.
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[10/26/26 - 06:01 AM]
Netflix Announces the Start of Production on "Jotade", the Adaptation of Santiago Diaz's Novel
Jotadé is an unconventional police officer: brazen and irreverent, yet sharp, sincere, and fiercely loyal to both his colleagues and his Romani community.
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[10/26/26 - 12:01 AM]
This Diwali, Home Is Where the Heart Is: Netflix Announces a Heartwarming New Film "Dilwali Diwali" Premiering November 5
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[10/24/26 - 04:11 PM]
Jackpot, Bravoholics! BravoCon Returns to Las Vegas Oct. 22 - 24, 2027
Fans will enjoy unparalleled access to their favorite Bravolebrities through must-see panels, immersive activations, exclusive meet-and-greets, photo opportunities and exciting surprises, experiencing the Bravo universe like never before.
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