[12/17/10 - 07:52 PM] Development Update: Friday, December 17 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!
A.K.A. JESSICA JONES (ABC, New!) - Feature writer Melissa Rosenberg ("Twilight") is looking to bring the Marvel Comics character to the small screen. Said hour would revolve around a thirtysomething superhero who, as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, gets out of that biz and opens her own detective agency. ABC Studios and Marvel Entertainment are co-producing the project with Jeph Loeb, Joe Quesada and Alan Fine executive producing alongside 3 Arts Entertainment's Howard Klein and Rosenberg via her Tall Girls Productions banner. Brian Michael Bendis, the character's creator, is also on board as a consultant.
THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS) - Kunal Nayyar has closed a new deal with producer Warner Bros. Television that will keep the actor on the series for the foreseeable future. Said pact is reportedly valued around $75,000 an episode (plus built-in annual raises), up from his current $25,000 per installment payday. Co-stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and Simon Helberg completed their renegotiations earlier this year.
BLUE BLOODS (CBS) - Amy Carlson will reportedly be upped to series regular should the freshman drama return for a second season. She'd continue on as Linda Reagan, the wife of Donnie Wahlberg's character. Carlson guest starred in the pilot and has appeared in every episode since.
THE BUDDY SYSTEM (CBS, New!) - Matt Lawton ("Blue Collar TV") has booked a potential comedy at the Eye about "four new dads who attempt to revive their friendships." Said half-hour is set up at Sony Pictures Television with FanFare Productions and New Wave Entertainment co-producing. Jamie Tarses, Julia Franz, Barry Katz, Brian Volk-Weiss and Michael Pelmont will executive produce alongside Lawton.
THE INBETWEENERS (MTV) - Alex Frnka (Lifetime's "Unanswered Prayers") has snagged the female lead on the comedy pilot, about four high school boys (Joey Pollari, Bubba Lewis, Zack Pearlman, Mark L. Young) who are not the most cool and popular but not geeky enough to be branded uncool. She'll play "a super-hot (and wise) high-school girl who is the cause for some of the four boys' teenage angst." Taika Waititi is directing the Kapital Entertainment-based project from a script by Brad Copeland. Aaron Kaplan, Damon Beesley and Iain Morris also serve as executive producers.
PARENTHOOD (NBC) - John Corbett ("United States of Tara") has snagged a multi-episode arc on the show's sophomore season. He'll play Seth, "Sarah's (Lauren Graham) recovering alcoholic-musician ex and the father to Amber (Mae Whitman) and Drew (Miles Heizer) [who] attempts to reconnect with his family while in town to perform a few shows with his band." Darin Heames originated the role in the pilot but hasn't been seen since.
THAT GIRL (MTV) - Desi Lydic has joined the cast of the upcoming comedy, about 15 year-old Jenna Hamilton (Ashley Rickards), "who launches from social misfit to 'that girl' when an accident leads everyone to believe she tried to commit suicide." She'll play Valerie Marks, Jenna's high school guidance counselor, a role which she guest starred as in the pilot. Nikki Deloach, Beau Mirchoff, Mike Faiola, Brett Davern, Drew Osborne, Greer Grammer and Jessica Lu also star.
UNTITLED EVA JIN PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Chinese-born filmmaker Eva Jin is developing a new drama at the network about "a crime-fighting female college student in China." Will Smith and James Lassiter's Overbrook Entertainment is behind the hour, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television. No other specifics were given.
VEEP (HBO) - Reid Scott, Tim Simons and Matt Walsh have all joined the cast of the Julia Louis-Dreyfus-led comedy pilot, about a former Senator (Louis-Dreyfus) who becomes Vice President. Scott will play Dan Egan, "a DC legend," with Simons as Jonah, "who works in the President's office," and Walsh as Mike, her spokesman. Anna Chlumsky also stars in the half-hour, which comes from writer/director Armando Iannucci.
