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[12/09/10 - 06:25 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, December 9
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!
BIRD DOG (TNT) - Ashley Williams ("Saving Grace") and Gerald McRaney ("Undercovers") have booked the lead roles on the drama pilot, about an unlikely partnership between two cops who happen to be father and daughter. They'll play the aforementioned duo - Gail and Sam McGrath. Williams takes over for Eliza Dushku, who bowed out earlier this month over creative issues. Mike Robe is behind the Warner Horizon Television-based hour, which also stars Suzy Nakamura, William Ragsdale and Wynn Everett.
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (ABC, New!) - Mike Kelley ("Swingtown") is developing a small screen take on Alexandre Dumas's classic tale "from a female perspective and chronicles the story of a mysterious young woman who comes to the Hamptons to exact revenge on the people who destroyed her family." ABC Studios is behind the hour, with Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen - whose company, Temple Hill, recently inked a two-year overall deal with the studio - also serving as executive producers alongside Kelly. The news marks Temple Hill's second literary adaptation this year: the company is also behind a new take on "Romeo & Juliet" at the network, from writer Andrea Berloff and director Catherine Hardwicke.
DANNI LOWINSKI (The CW) - Neal Bledsoe ("Ugly Betty") is the latest addition to the Amanda Walsh-led drama pilot, about "a scrappy hairdresser a law school graduate who is brushed off by law firms and sets up her own practice in a shopping mall kiosk." He'll play "the youngest partner at a Chicago law firm." Richard Shepard is directing the CBS Television Studios-based hour from a script by Jennie Snyder Urman.
THE HASSELHOFFS (A&E) - The cable channel has pulled the newcomer - featuring single dad David Hasselhoff and his two daughters, Taylor Ann and Hayley - after just two episodes. Repeats of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" will fill the Sunday, 10:00/9:00c hour effective immediately. A modest 718,000 viewers tuned into its launch this past Sunday (including a 0.3 rating among adults 18-49) with the second half-hour dipping to 505,000 viewers. It's not clear when or if the eight remaining half-hours will air.
HOMELAND (Showtime) - Mandy Patinkin ("Criminal Minds") has joined the cast of the Claire Danes-led drama pilot, about "an American soldier taken prisoner during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Left for dead, the soldier miraculously returns to the U.S. after years in captivity. Danes plays Carrie Anderson, a driven CIA officer battling her own psychological demons, who becomes convinced that the intelligence that led to his re-capture was a setup and that this national hero may be connected to an Al Qaeda plot to be carried out on American soil." Patinkin is set as "the smart and politically savvy CIA Division Chief emeritus Saul Berenson who is Carrie's main champion in the intelligence upper echelon and her sounding board." Michael Cuesta is helming the hour, which comes from co-creators Alex Gansa, Gideon Raff and Howard Gordon.
HOUSE OF LIES (Showtime) - Matthew Carnahan's comedy, set in the world of corporate management consulting, is reportedly close to a pilot order at the pay channel. Stephen Hopkins ("The Unusuals") is on board to helm the potential half-hour, which is based on Martin Kihn's book of the same name. Production then would be contingent on casting the lead role of Marty, "a thirtysomething top management consultant who is cutthroat and not afraid to play dirty," with Don Cheadle already in talks. Carnahan is executive producing the project alongside Jessika Borsiczky.
LOVE BITES (NBC) - The Peacock and producer Universal Media Studios have confirmed the upcoming anthology has been rolled from 13 to nine episodes. Originally set to launch on Thursday nights at 10:00/9:00c this fall, various issues - from co-star Becki Newton's pregnancy to creator Cindy Chupack stepping down as showrunner - caused the network to push the series to midseason. "Love Bites" is one of three scripted properties ("Friends With Benefits," "The Paul Reiser Show" being the others) yet to be scheduled by the network.
LUCK (HBO) - Michael Gambon ("Angels in America") and Patrick J. Adams ("A Legal Mind") have both landed recurring roles on the upcoming drama, "a provocative look at horse racing - the owners, gamblers, jockeys and diverse gaming industry players." The former will play "a nemesis or worthy adversary for [Dustin] Hoffman's Ace Bernstein" with Adams as Nathan Israel, "who works closely with Bernstein." Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Kevin Dunn, Richard Kind, Jason Gedrick, Ritchie Coster, Ian Hart, Tom Payne, Kerry Condon, Gary Stevens and Nick Nolte also star in the hour, due sometime next season.
THREE INCHES (Syfy) - The cable channel is reportedly considering redeveloping the drama as a single-camera comedy. The 90-minute pilot, directed by Jace Alexander from a script by Harley Peyton, revolves around "professional daydreamer and underachiever, Walter Spackman (Noah Reid) [who] is struck by lightning, and develops a unique "super" power -- the ability to move any object using just his mind... but only a distance of three inches. He's soon recruited by a covert team of superheroes each gifted with their own extraordinarily ordinary abilities." Said decision comes on the heels of fellow pilot "Alphas" landing a series commitment earlier this week. While the show's fate is being mulled, it's understood producer Fox Television Studios will extend Reid's option as well as "other key cast members." Andrea Martin, Antony Del Rio, Brandon Jay McLaren, James Marsters, Kyle Schmid, Naoko Mori and Stephanie Jacobsen also star.
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[12/09/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Kicks Off Its Winter Lineup with Special Advance Premiere Dates for New Series "Best Medicine" and Returning Comedy Series "Animal Control" Following FOX NFL Doubleheaders
Plus: look for a two-night premiere event for new drama series "Memory of a Killer," starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperiloi, beginning immediately after the NFC Championship Game.
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[12/09/25 - 10:31 AM]
John Stamos, Dale Dickey, and Cam Gigandet Join "The Hunting Wives" Season 2
The trio joins previously announced new cast members Kim Matula and Alex FitzAlan, alongside returning cast members Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, Jaime Ray Newman, Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, George Ferrier, Karen Rodriguez, Hunter Emery, and Branton Box.
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[12/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
BET+ Original Film, "A Soulful Christmas," Premieres Thursday, December 25
The film stars Kaci Walfall, Myles Truitt, Shanice, Kenny Lattimore, Taylor Symone, E. Roger Mitchell, Towanda Braxton, KB Holland, Kyler Chavis, Gail Everett-Smith, Gerard Catus, Ryan James, and Elijah Resurreccion.
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[12/09/25 - 09:31 AM]
"The Upshaws" Returns to Netflix on January 15 with Final Season
As Regina makes a run for office and Bennie's garage falls on hard times, the Upshaws will always find a way to keep it real, loud and full of love.
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[12/09/25 - 09:22 AM]
Viaplay January 2026 Exclusive U.S. Premieres: "Sport vs. Money," "Stayer," "The Curse," "Scenes After a Marriage"
"Slayer" follows an aging rock musician forced to confront his greatest challenge when the mother of his child dies tragically - struggling to balance fatherhood, fame, and the haunting choices of his past.
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[12/09/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Official Trailer - "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball" Season 2
The series, produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, returns on Monday, December 22 only on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.
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[12/09/25 - 09:01 AM]
The History Channel's New Series "History's Deadliest with Ving Rhames" to Premiere on Monday, January 26
The 10-part series produced by Propagate Content will reveal the unbelievable details surrounding the world's most prolific and powerful killers.
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[12/09/25 - 08:10 AM]
Roku Originals Hits the Road for Sophia Bush and Lauren Holly Comedy Feature "Broad Trip"
From Muse Entertainment and Motion Content, the film recently wrapped production and will debut on The Roku Channel in May 2026.
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[12/09/25 - 08:09 AM]
FOX Nation Taps Zachary Levi for New Docudrama "David: King of Israel" Slated for Early 2026
Released weekly, the program brings to life the thrilling, turbulent and deeply human story of David, the shepherd boy who rose to become the greatest king in Israel's history, and whom Christians regard as the ancestor of Jesus Christ.
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[12/09/25 - 08:08 AM]
OWN Announces "Maxxed Out": A Bold New Financial Intervention Series Premiering January 10, 2026
This unflinching eight-episode series reveals how money (and mismanaged money) can strain even the strongest relationships.
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[12/09/25 - 08:01 AM]
Tyrese Haliburton Joins "NBA on Prime" as Player Contributor
Haliburton will make his debut tonight on "NBA on Prime's" postgame show, "NBA Nightcap," following the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic (6:00 p.m. ET) and New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors (8:30 p.m. ET).
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[12/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
Apple TV Reveals First Look at "Margo's Got Money Troubles" from David E. Kelley
Based on Rufi Thorpe's bestselling novel of the same name, the eight-episode series will premiere globally on Wednesday April 15, 2026 with three episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 20, 2026.
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[12/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Reveals First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "56 Days," Starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia
All eight episodes will be released on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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[12/09/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Unlocked: A Jail Experiment" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
At an Arizona correctional facility, a sheriff implements a bold experiment to grant incarcerated men more agency in this eye-opening reality series.
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[12/09/25 - 06:01 AM]
The Game is Afoot! Prime Video Releases First-Look Images for "Young Sherlock" Series
The thrilling series, brought to life by visionary director and executive producer Guy Ritchie, charts the origin story of Sherlock Holmes in an irreverent, action-laden mystery that follows the iconic detective's early adventures.
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