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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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[05/19/26 - 12:31 PM]
Bravo's "Summer House" First-Ever Three-Part Reunion Begins Tuesday, May 26 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Uncensored and extended versions of all three parts will be available to stream next day on Peacock.
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[05/19/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for "Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal"
All three episodes will be available to stream at launch on Tuesday, June 2.
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[05/19/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 11 - "The Roast of Kevin Hart" Heats Up to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
True crime audiences also streamed the second season of "Worst Ex Ever," which rose to the No. 2 spot on the English TV list with 8.1 million views.
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[05/19/26 - 11:46 AM]
Netflix Forges Creative Partnership with Powerhouse Animation Duo Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath
As part of the multi-year deal, the duo will develop animated series and films exclusively for Netflix, with first-look rights for live action projects.
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[05/19/26 - 11:36 AM]
Tia Mowry Returns to Lifetime to Star and Executive Produce New "Ripped from the Headlines" Thriller "Single Black Tenant" Premiering on June 27
The movie, inspired by actual events, follows a woman who begins to suspect that the home she thought would save her may ultimately destroy her.
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[05/19/26 - 11:03 AM]
TNT Sports' Exclusive 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final Coverage to Begin Thursday, May 21 on TNT, truTV & HBO Max
On the call for the entire series will be Kenny Albert, along with commentary from Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher, and reporting from Jackie Redmond.
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[05/19/26 - 11:00 AM]
Darius Rucker to Receive the Veterans Voice Award Presented by USAA's Honor Through Action at "The 52nd American Music Awards," Live, Monday, May 25 at 8:00 PM, ET, 5:00 PM, PT on CBS
The award recognizes artists who use their platforms to make meaningful, lasting change in the lives of those who served.
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[05/19/26 - 10:56 AM]
Netflix Expands Consumer Products Footprint with Strategic Confectionery and Toy Partnerships
Highlights include naming Moose Toys as the master toy partner for the upcoming animated film "Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory" and musical preschool series "Young MacDonald."
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[05/19/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Series "Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult" Debuts June 1
The three-part documentary series chronicles Hoyt Richards, who, at 16 years old, meets an enigmatic Manhattan socialite on a Nantucket beach and is pulled into his spiritual group, Eternal Values.
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[05/19/26 - 10:00 AM]
AMC Global Media Invites Fans Deeper Into the World of "The Vampire Lestat" with New Companion Series, "The Vampire Lestat: After Dark"
Hosted by writer, producer and podcast host Lizzie Bassett, the after show will take fans behind the scenes of each weekly episode of "The Vampire Lestat," featuring interviews with series cast and producers.
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[05/19/26 - 09:30 AM]
Video: Starz Debuts Jaw-Dropping Trailer for Fifth and Final Season of "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" Premiering on Friday, June 12
"Power Book III: Raising Kanan" is a prequel series in the "Power" universe that explores fan-favorite character Kanan Stark's entry into the drug business and his evolution from an innocent teenager into a ruthless kingpin, influenced by his mother's manipulation and deception.
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[05/19/26 - 09:18 AM]
ESPN's Exclusive Presentation of the 2026 Stanley Cup Western Conference Final Presented by Geico Takes The Ice Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
ESPN's Western Conference Final coverage is a prelude to the network's exclusive Stanley Cup Final coverage on ABC.
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[05/19/26 - 09:11 AM]
Video: "Voicemails for Isabelle" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A young woman's hilariously confessional voicemails to her late sister are unknowingly redirected to a stranger, who begins to fall in love from afar.
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[05/19/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer for Season 3 of "Capture"
Don't believe everything you see.
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[05/19/26 - 08:05 AM]
It's a Snoopy Summer! Apple TV Announces an All-New Slate of Peanuts Programming
Highlights include a second season of beloved musical "Camp Snoopy" to debut on Friday, June 26 and a brand new special, "Snoopy Presents: There's No Place Like Home, Snoopy," premiering on Friday, July 31.
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