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[03/22/11 - 11:11 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, March 22
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/THE RABBIT FACTORY (TNT) - On the heels of ordering the Eric McCormack-led drama "Perception" to series, the cable channel has reportedly passed on the other two drama pilots from said development cycle. "Bird Dog," from writer/director Mike Robe and Warner Horizon Television, revolved around an unlikely partnership between two cops (Gerald McRaney, Ashley Williams) who happen to be father and daughter. "The Rabbit Factory," from writer Alan Loeb and Lionsgate Television, tracked a recently widowed police detective (Steven Weber) and his newly married partner (D.L. Hughley) as they delve into a world of mystery, intrigue and occasional hijinks. Currently in the pipe at TNT are the "Dallas" reboot as well as the cast-contingent "Generations."
BOSS (Starz) - Connie Nielsen ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about Thomas Kane (Kesley Grammer), "the mayor of Chicago who is diagnosed with a degenerative mental condition that only he and his doctor know about." She'll play his wife, Meredith ("suited, immaculately groomed"), whom his marriage has disintegrated to the point they only speak in public. Gus Van Sant is directing the pilot to the Lionsgate Television-based hour, from writer Farhad Safinia.
DAMAGES (DirecTV) - Judd Hirsch ("NUMB3RS") is the latest actor set to recur on the show's upcoming fourth season. He'll play a former mentor of Patty's (Glenn Close), "a man who took her under his wing during her first job out of law school," but now spends his time "at the bottom of a bottle." Other new additions this season include Chris Messina, Dylan Baker and John Goodman.
FREE AGENTS (NBC) - Natasha Leggero ("Last Comic Standing") has been cast in the comedy pilot, about "two quirky co-workers - Alex (Hank Azaria) and Helen (Kathryn Hahn) on the rebound who are attracted to one another." She'll play Emma, Alex's opinionated executive assistant. Mo Mandel co-stars in the Universal Media Studios-based half-hour, which Todd Holland is directing from a script by John Enbom.
MAD MEN (AMC) - Matthew Weiner is reportedly on track to sign a new deal with producer Lionsgate Television to continue as showrunner of the Emmy-winning series. Said negotiations will likely push the start of production by several weeks, potentially bumping its usual summer debut into the fall or beyond. No other details were given.
THE RIVER (ABC) - Daniel Zacapa has scored a role on the drama pilot, about the search in the Amazon for Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood), a missing TV explorer, led by his wife Tess (Leslie Hope) and son Lincoln (Joe Anderson). He'll play Emilio Valenzuela, who along with his daughter Jahel (Paulina Gaitan), run the engine room of the S.S. Hopewell, the vessel spearheading the search. Eloise Mumford, Paul Blackthorne, Shaun Parkes and Thomas Kretschmann also star. Meanwhile, Zack Estrin ("No Ordinary Family") has joined the project as part of an overall deal with producer ABC Studios. There he'll serve as an executive producer alongside showrunner Michael Green and ultimately take over said post for the back nine of its presumed freshman run. Green, who's based at 20th Century Fox Television, will then transition back to development. Should the pilot not get ordered to series, Estrin will join another ABC Studios-based property.
UNTITLED SUSANNAH GRANT PROJECT (CBS) - "Law & Order" alumnus S. Epatha Merkerson has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Michael Halstead (Patrick Wilson), an ultra-competitive surgeon whose life is changed forever when his ex-wife, Anna Lindberg (Jennifer Ehle), dies and begins teaching him what life is all about from the hereafter. She'll play Rita, Michael's "don't cross her" assistant. Afton Williamson and Julie Benz also star in the CBS Television Studios-based hour, to be directed by Jonathan Demme.
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[05/23/25 - 11:39 PM]
Development Update: Week of May 19-23
Updates include: Prime Video cancels "The Wheel of Time" after three seasons; NBC rounds out cast of comedy pilot "Stumble"; and Starz opens writers' rooms for three projects.
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[05/23/25 - 08:02 AM]
ESPN Selects Top Major League Baseball Rivalries for "Sunday Night Baseball" on June 8 and June 15
The New York Yankees to host Boston Red Sox on June 8; and Los Angeles Dodgers to host San Francisco Giants on June 15.
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[05/23/25 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Grenfell: Uncovered" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Survivors, witnesses and experts tell the story of the tragic fire that engulfed a residential tower block in London - and the investigation that ensued.
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[05/22/25 - 02:02 PM]
Bravo's "Top Chef" Heads to Milan for Season 22 Finale
Host Kristen Kish, head judge Tom Colicchio and perennial judge Gail Simmons are also joined at the final table by culinary powerhouses Richard Blais, Carlo Cracco, Sarah Cicolini, Tim Flores, Gregory Gourdet, Genie Kwon, Santiago Lastra, Hunter Lewis and Clare Smyth.
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[05/22/25 - 01:02 PM]
"Soaring to Life: The Making of How to Train Your Dragon" Special to Air Friday, June 6 at 8 P.M. on NBC and Next Day on Peacock
The film opens in theaters nationwide on June 13.
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[05/22/25 - 12:39 PM]
Summer Heats Up with New Sizzling Viaplay Original Series "Mafia" and "In the Name of Love" as Streamer Announces July and August U.S. Premieres
Other highlights include "Johanna Möller - Sweden's Most Hated Woman" on Thursday, July 10.
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[05/22/25 - 12:18 PM]
"Survivor" Finale Is CBS' Most-Watched Wednesday in a Year
The three-hour season 48 finale was the #1 broadcast of the night among Adults 25-54 with 0.9.
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[05/22/25 - 11:31 AM]
FOX Nation to Present Patriotic-Themed Programming Ahead of Memorial Day 2025
Additionally, Martha MacCallum will host a new episode of "The Final Journey of the Forgotten Warriors," sharing the stories of Korean War Veterans that fought for our country during "The Forgotten War."
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[05/22/25 - 10:03 AM]
Josh Hartnett to Star in Newfoundland Limited Series at Netflix
He'll play a hard-bitten fisherman whose remote town is being terrorized by a mysterious sea creature.
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[05/22/25 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - Hulu Original "Atsuko Okatsuka: Father"
Premiering on Friday, June 13 on Hulu, this is the eighth original special in Hulu's new stand-up comedy slate, Hularious.
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[05/22/25 - 09:07 AM]
"The Other Bennet Sister" Finds Its Mary Ella Bruccoleri to Star in New BritBox Drama Based on the Best-Selling Novel by Janice Hadlow
Bruccoleri will take on the role of one of Jane Austen's most unassuming characters: Mary Bennet - the seemingly unremarkable and overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
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[05/22/25 - 09:06 AM]
Discovery's Annual "Shark Week" Kicks Off July 20th, 2025 at 8PM ET/PT
A full programming schedule for "Shark Week" will be distributed in the coming weeks.
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[05/22/25 - 09:04 AM]
Prime Video Announces July 9 Premiere Date for "Ballard"
The series, the latest in the Bosch universe, will debut all 10 episodes exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Wednesday, July 9.
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[05/22/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "KPop Demon Hunters" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums, they're using their secret identities as demon hunters to protect their fans from ever-present supernatural danger.
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[05/22/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Rosario Tijeras (Mexico)" Season 4 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Years after Rosario's sacrifice, her legend haunts her daughter, Ruby. As the teen's life takes a dangerous turn, secrets from her past begin to unravel.
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