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[02/01/11 - 10:55 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, February 1
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!
AWAKENING (The CW) - William Laurin and Glenn Davis's drama, "which tells the story of two sisters who come of age and battle each other amid a zombie uprising," has officially been ordered to pilot by the netlet. Reveille's Howard T. Owens, Carolyn Bernstein and Todd Cohen will executive produce alongside the duo for Warner Bros. Television.
BENT (NBC, New!) - Tad Quill ("Perfect Couples") has snagged a pilot order from the network for a new romantic comedy about "a recently divorced type A single mother who tries hard not to fall for the sexy surfer-dude contractor she hires to re-do her kitchen." The single-camera project is set up at Universal Media Studios.
THE CAPE (NBC) - The Peacock has quietly rolled back its commitment to the series from 13 to 10 episodes. Said decision comes after last night's series low 1.5 rating among adults 18-49. NBC only has three more episodes slated before "The Event" assumes the Monday, 9:00/8:00c hour on February 28. Production on "The Cape" wraps this week.
COOPER & STONE (The CW, New!) - Laurie Arent ("Life") is the latest to land a pilot order from the netlet, this time for a drama about "two Chicago female detectives who specialize in pop culture knowledge and solving homicides." She'll executive produce for CBS Television Studios.
GEORGETOWN (A.K.A. UNTITLED WILL FETTERS PROJECT) (ABC) - The Will Fetters-penned drama, now known as "Georgetown," has scored a pilot commitment. Warner Bros. Television and the studio-based Fake Empire are behind the hour, an ensemble drama about "the young people behind the power brokers of Washington, D.C." Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage and Len Goldstein are the executive producers with Fetters serving as a co-executive producer. Journalist Ashley Parker serves as a consultant.
GOOD CHRISTIAN BITCHES (ABC) - A pilot presentation has been ordered for Robert Harling's small screen take on Kim Gatlin's book of the same name, about "a recently divorced mother of two who, to get a fresh start, moves back to the affluent Dallas neighborhood where she grew to find herself in the whirling midst of salacious gossip, Botox, and fraud." Harling, Darren Star and Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan are the executive producers for ABC Studios.
HALLELUJAH (ABC) - The Marc Cherry-penned drama, about "a tiny town in Tennessee torn apart by the forces of good and evil until a stranger arrives to restore faith to the town's residents," has been ordered to pilot. ABC Studios is behind the hour - to be "punctuated by songs from a gospel choir, which is meant to serve as a kind of Greek chorus" - which Cherry will executive produce alongside Sabrina Wind via their studio-based banner.
HART OF DIXIE (The CW, New!) - Leila Gerstein ("Gossip Girl") has snagged a pilot commitment from the netlet for a new drama about "a young big-city doctor inherits a medical practice in an oddball Southern town." Fake Empire's Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage and Len Goldstein are executive producing the hour alongside Gerstein for Warner Bros. Television.
HEAVENLY (The CW, New!) - Richard Hatem ("The Gates") has booked a pilot order from the netlet for a new drama about "a female lawyer and an angel-turned-human work to save the futures and the souls of their subjects." Said effort is set up at CBS Television Studios where Hatem will executive produce alongside Fineman Entertainment's Ross Fineman.
HIGH STAKES (NBC, New!) - ITV Studios America is developing a potential game show at the Peacock which can "bring life-changing riches to one risk-taking contestant." No format details were given about the series, to be executive produced by creator Jamie Roberts. NBC has given a pilot order to the project, which is being developed simultaneously for the U.K.
IDENTITY (ABC) - John Glenn's domestic take on the U.K. drama, about an elite police unit that combats identity-related crime, has received a pilot presentation order. Mark Gordon and Deb Spera are executive producing the project via their ABC Studios-based The Mark Gordon Co. Glenn and ITV Studios's Paul Buccieri likewise serve as executive producers.
ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC) - Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz's drama has landed a pilot commitment from the Alphabet. Said hour, about "a woman with a troubled past who is drawn into a small town in Maine where the magic and mystery of fairy tales just may be real," comes from ABC Studios. Damon Lindelof, who was involved in the development of the project, is not attached.
REVENGE (A.K.A. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO) (ABC) - Mike Kelley's modern day take on "The Count of Monte Cristo" has been ordered to pilot. Said hour, about "a vengeful woman with a secret who moves to the Hamptons to exact revenge on the people who destroyed her family," is set up at ABC Studios. Temple Hill's Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey are executive producing alongside Kelley.
THE RIVER (ABC) - Oren Peli's drama pilot, about "a family who travels to the deep Amazon to locate and rescue their missing father," has been greenlighted by the network. Michael Green ("Kings") penned the hour, which was originally conceived by Peli and Michael Perry. ABC Studios and DreamWorks Television are co-producing with Peli, Green, Jason Blum, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank serving as executive producers.
UNTITLED EMILY SPIVEY PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Emily Spivey ("Parks & Recreation") has booked a cast-contingent pilot order from the Peacock for a new comedy about "an acerbic working mother, who never thought she'd be a mom, along with her stay-at-home husband and opinionated parents." She'll write and executive produce for Universal Media Studios alongside Broadway Video's Lorne Michaels.
UNTITLED SUSANNAH GRANT PROJECT (CBS) - Jonathan Demme ("The Silence of the Lambs") has signed on to direct and executive produce the drama pilot, about "an ultra-competitive surgeon whose life is changed forever when his ex-wife dies and begins teaching him what life is all about from the here-after." He'll work from a script by Susannah Grant. Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman are also executive producing for CBS Television Studios.
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[02/27/26 - 01:28 PM]
Paramount to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery to Form Next-Generation Global Media and Entertainment Company
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances and approval by WBD shareholders, with a vote expected in the early spring of 2026.
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[02/27/26 - 12:30 PM]
The Jaw-Dropping Fifth and Final Season of Starz's Hit Drama Series, "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" Set to Premiere June 12
To date, the series has accumulated over 21 billion minutes viewed across all episodes and remains one of Starz's top-performing series.
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[02/27/26 - 09:12 AM]
Team USA Hockey Olympic Gold Medalists Hilary Knight, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes to Appear Together on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Monday, March 2
The episode will also feature guests Nicole Kidman, Luke Thompson and a cooking demo by Chef Mario Carbone.
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[02/27/26 - 08:12 AM]
Paul Wesley Joins Season Three of Hit Apple TV Series "The Buccaneers"
Wesley will play the role as Frank, a mysterious but charming stranger who arrives into Nan and Mrs. St. George's world, turning it upside down.
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[02/27/26 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Focus Features' "Hamnet" Beginning March 6
Directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao, the film tells the untold story behind one of Shakespeare's most memorable works and celebrates the power of imagination and the creative spirit.
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[02/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Debuts First-Look Image of Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus On Set of New Series "God of War"
The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions, and has received a two-season order.
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[02/27/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Netflix and Apple TV Join Forces to Stream Formula 1 Thrills
The entire new season of "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" is now on Netflix globally and Apple TV in the U.S.
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[02/26/26 - 08:46 PM]
"Dandelion": Netflix Adapts "Gintama" Creator Hideaki Sorachi's Debut Work into New Anime Series
Set within the Send-Off Department of the Japanese Angel Federation, Dandelion follows "Angels" Tetsuo Tanba and Misaki Kurogane as they scramble to track down Earthbound spirits - souls unable to move on and find peace - and gently guide them to pass on.
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[02/26/26 - 06:01 PM]
Video: "Still Shining" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After falling in love as teens, two young adults drift apart - only to reunite 10 years later and confront their heartbreak, growth and new challenges.
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[02/26/26 - 02:46 PM]
Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.
"The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid," said co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters.
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[02/26/26 - 02:19 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars to Season High with Best Audience in Over a Year
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 157 consecutive weeks across all key measures.
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[02/26/26 - 02:08 PM]
Britbox Unveils Spring Slate with "The Lady" Starring Mia McKenna-Bruce; Premieres March 18
Other highlights include the return of "Hope Street" and the debut of "Mudtown."
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[02/26/26 - 01:36 PM]
Paramount Comments on Warner Bros. Discovery Board's Determination of Paramount's Proposal as Superior
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, said: "We are pleased WBD's Board has unanimously affirmed the superior value of our offer, which delivers to WBD shareholders superior value, certainty and speed to closing."
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[02/26/26 - 01:16 PM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors Determines Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance Constitutes a "Company Superior Proposal"
Under the terms of the Netflix merger agreement, this notice triggers a four business day period during which Netflix has the right to propose revisions to the Netflix merger agreement so that the PSKY proposal would cease to constitute a "Company Superior Proposal."
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[02/26/26 - 01:00 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews Hit Joel McHale Series "Animal Control" for Season Five
In addition, the first three seasons of the series are currently streaming on Netflix, and the show has been sold in territories around the world.
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