or


[09/08/09 - 06:34 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, September 8
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!


24 (FOX) - Rami Malek ("Night at the Museum"), Julian Morris ("ER") and Hrach Titizian have each landed roles on the upcoming eighth season. Malek will play Marcos, "a would-be suicide bomber who is Arab American with sympathies toward radical Islam," with Morris as a CTU SWAT agent and Titizian as Nabeel, "the second-in-command of security for President Hassan (Anil Kapoor)." No other details about their arcs were given.


COVERT AFFAIRS (USA) - Eric Lively ("24: Redemption") and Kari Matchett ("ER") has both been cast on the drama pilot, about Annie Walker (Piper Perabo), "a multilingual CIA trainee who joins the agency while still reeling over a mysterious ex-boyfriend who appears to be of particular interest to her bosses." In addition, Eion Bailey has signed on for the recurring role of said ex-boyfriend. Lively will play Conrad Sheehan III, "a third-generation CIA man and womanizer who enjoys a spicy rapport with Annie," while Matchett is set as "a driven CIA agent who is the head of the agency's Domestic Protection Division and Annie's new boss." Anne Dudek and Christopher Gorham also star in the Universal Cable Productions-based project, which Tim Matheson is directing from a script by Chris Ord and Matt Corman.


FAMILY BUSINESS (ABC, New!) - Sonny Lee and Patrick Walsh ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia") have booked a multi-camera comedy at the Alphabet about "a dysfunctional Midwestern family that tries to keep their grocery business afloat after being rocked by divorce." The project is set up at the ABC Studios-based Mark Gordon Co. with Gordon executive producing and Lee and Walsh serving as co-executive producers.


PREGNANCY PACT (Lifetime, New!) - Telefilm gurus Frank Von Zerneck and Robert Sertner are developing a new ripped-from-the-headlines movie at the cable channel inspired by the much-debated story about 17 girls at Gloucester High School in Massachusetts who allegedly agreed to get pregnant at the same time - and succeeded. Pam Davis and Teena Booth are penning the project for Von Zerneck-Sertner Films. No other specifics about the film were released.


UNTITLED RICHARD RUSSO PROJECT (HBO, New!) - Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Russo ("Empire Falls") is developing a new drama at the pay channel about the recent Catskills Gas Rush. The project is based on David France's 2008 article for New York Magazine which detailed the conflict between New York weekenders, who have second homes in the area, and local diary farmers, looking to have their land prospected, over the latter's attempts to lease their land to gas companies. The Catskills are said to be home to the largest reservoir of natural gas ever discovered in America, however it wasn't until recently that the technology to drill for it - not to mention the demand - reached a level that was cost effective. The weekenders however oppose drilling for environmental and esthetic reasons. France himself will serve as a consulting producer on the project with Russo writing and executive producing alongside Mark Johnson and Will Gluck. As for specifics, the untitled hour will begin four years ago and follow both sides. Currently, gas companies are still waiting approval from New York State for drilling to start.


WHITE COLLAR (USA) - Natalie Morales ("The Middleman") has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about a con artist (Matthew Bomer) and an FBI agent (Tim DeKay) who work together to solve white collar crimes. She'll play Lauren Cruz, "a smart junior FBI agent in the white-collar division who holds her own with her superiors and the master thieves she's investigating." Said role was originally pegged as a two-episode guest arc. The series launches Friday, October 23 at 10:00/9:00c.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [september 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· 24 (FOX)
· COVERT AFFAIRS (USA)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EMPIRE FALLS (HBO)
· ER (NBC)
· FAMILY BUSINESS (ABC)
· IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (FXX)
· MIDDLEMAN, THE (ABC FAMILY)
· PREGNANCY PACT (LIFETIME)
· UNTITLED RICHARD RUSSO PROJECT (HBO)
· WHITE COLLAR (USA)





[06/27/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print" - Official Trailer - HBO
Ms. wasn't just a magazine-it was a revolution. Told through the lens of three directors and the covers that made history.

[06/27/25 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams "Drop" Beginning July 11
Directed by Christopher Landon, the action-thriller film stars Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane and Jeffery Self.

[06/27/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano headline a historic all-women's boxing mega-event from Madison Square Garden. Presented by Most Valuable Promotions.

[06/27/25 - 05:32 AM]
Video: "The Family Man" Season 3 - Official Announcement - Prime Video
The wait is over. New season. New mission.

[06/26/25 - 12:16 PM]
Netflix's "Vladimir" Casts Leo Woodall in Titular Role
The limited series is being adapted from Julia May Jonas's acclaimed novel.

[06/26/25 - 10:36 AM]
"Free Bert," A New Scripted Comedy Series from Actor and Comedian Bert Kreischer, Is Coming to Netflix
Netflix confirmed the news on social media this morning.

[06/26/25 - 10:33 AM]
Hallmark Channel's Original Series "The Chicken Sisters" Will Return for Season Two Sunday, August 10, Streaming Next Day on Hallmark+
Follow along in this new chapter as the Moore-Hillier women learn to rise above the roost with new challenges, starring Schuyler Fisk, Genevieve Angelson, Lea Thompson and Wendie Malick.

[06/26/25 - 10:05 AM]
Discovery Channel Builds on Shark Week Momentum with Powerhouse Summer Slate Featuring Five New and Returning Series
Newcomers include "Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse" and "Animals on Drugs."

[06/26/25 - 09:10 AM]
Boxing Champion Laila Ali Jumps Into the Ring as Host of Food Network's "Chef Grudge Match" Where Culinary Rivals Battle to Settle Old Scores
Each episode features two head-to-head battles where resident judge Jet Tila welcomes a guest judge to help determine who walks out with $10,000 cash, the losing chef's most coveted knife and bragging rights for life.

[06/26/25 - 09:01 AM]
Starz and Hallmark+ Announce New U.S. Streaming Bundle Now Available on Prime Video
New customers can access both streamers for $13.99/month, more than 25 percent savings.

[06/26/25 - 09:01 AM]
"Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends" Premieres Aug. 11 on Disney Jr. and Next Day on Disney+
The first 10 episodes will be available on Disney+ in the U.S. and select international markets and Disney Jr. on Demand the following day, Tuesday, August 12, and will continue rolling out globally throughout 2025 and 2026.

[06/26/25 - 08:30 AM]
Video: "Surf Girls: International" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The series follows five up-and-coming female surfers representing their home countries as they travel the world competing in the Challenger Series.

[06/26/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix's "Black Rabbit" Starring Jude Law & Jason Bateman - First Look & Date Announcement
Starring and executive produced by Jude Law and Jason Bateman, this propulsive thrill ride will premiere globally September 18, only on Netflix.

[06/26/25 - 08:00 AM]
A New Season of "Life After Lockup" Premieres Friday, August 1 at 8 PM ET/PT on We TV
The series follows seven former inmates and their significant others from the hit series "Love After Lockup" and "Love During Lockup" as they navigate their emotional journey to keep their love alive and stay free.

[06/26/25 - 07:20 AM]
Video: "To Kill a Monkey" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An old friend coaxes Efemini into the alluring world of cybercrime, where every decision he makes draws him deeper into a moral minefield.