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)





[04/28/25 - 11:09 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights New "Ripped from the Headlines" Movie Inspired by Real Stories "Girl in the Attic" Starring Jean Louisa Kelly and Sophia Carriere
Premiering Saturday, June 14, the harrowing and suspenseful film delves into the resilience of the human spirit and the power of unlikely alliances in the face of unimaginable terror.

[04/28/25 - 11:00 AM]
New Investigative Genealogy Series "Relative Secrets" to Premiere Monday, June 2 on BBC America and Acorn TV
Each episode in this suspenseful new series will investigate an everyday American family's darkest mystery, aiming both to solve the mystery and explore how it shapes that family today.

[04/28/25 - 09:00 AM]
Grammy Award Winner Gretchen Wilson Announced as "Tour Manager" for CBS' New Music Competition Series "The Road"
As "tour manager," Wilson will provide support and guidance to the emerging musicians while they make their way across America, ensuring the tour's success while sharing her own expertise and experiences on the road as a touring artist.

[04/28/25 - 09:00 AM]
BET+ Greenlights Critically Acclaimed "Diarra from Detroit" for Second Season
Bryan Terrell Clark, DomiNque Perry, and Jon Chaffin are confirmed to return as series regulars in the upcoming season, continuing their dynamic roles alongside Kilpatrick.

[04/28/25 - 08:36 AM]
AXS TV Kicks Off the Summer with a Memorial Day Music Marathon, Airing All Day Long on Monday, May 26 Starting at 8A ET
The all-day event puts the spotlight on 13 powerhouse performances from some of music's most iconic artists.

[04/28/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Netflix Tudum 2025 - Official Trailer - May 31 - Netflix
This high-energy show will be streamed LIVE on Netflix May 31st at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

[04/28/25 - 06:01 AM]
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Unveils Electrifying Class of 2025 Inductees
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be live on Saturday, November 8, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.

[04/28/25 - 06:00 AM]
Video: "Welcome to Wrexham" - Season 4 Official Trailer - Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds - FX
Things are kicking off as Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds welcome us back to Wrexham FC - and what is shaping up to be the greatest underdog story of all time.

[04/28/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Cheat: Unfinished Business" - Official Trailer #2 - What Is Cheating? - Netflix
Sun, scandal and second chances collide in this reality show in which former cheaters reconnect with their exes. With Amanda Holden and Paul C. Brunson.

[04/28/25 - 03:01 AM]
"Kaulitz & Kaulitz" - Launch Date and First Look for Season 2
Season 2 of the reality series about Germany's most famous twins debuts on June 17.

[04/28/25 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Rotten Legacy" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After a grave illness, a media mogul discovers his children's tactics threaten the empire he carefully built - and he'll do whatever it takes to save it.

[04/27/25 - 03:01 PM]
Japanese Amazon Original Drama Series, "Marry My Husband," Starring Fuka Koshiba and Takeru Satoh, Coming Exclusively to Prime Video
Based on the popular NAVER web novel, this Japan-Korea joint project marks the Japanese adaptation of the hit series.

[04/27/25 - 06:26 AM]
ABC News Exclusive: President Donald J. Trump Sits Down With Terry Moran as He Marks His First 100 Days in Office
The one-hour special will air this Tuesday, April 29 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT on ABC.

[04/26/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Alien: Earth" - Official Teasers - FX
The highly anticipated sci-fi horror series from executive producer Noah Hawley is coming to FX and Hulu in Summer 2025.

[04/26/25 - 12:11 AM]
Video: "Dan Da Dan" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix Anime
Season 2 is coming to Netflix on July 3.