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[04/27/11 - 11:20 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, April 27
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!
BLACK JACK (Comedy Central) - Ving Rhames has been tapped for the title role on the comedy pilot, about Black Jack (Rhames) "who, after 20 years as the most kick-ass special ops agent the U.S. government has had on its payroll, finally goes too far and is de-commissioned." Michael Starrbury penned the script while David Gordon Green is attached to direct. Rhames's casting lifts said contingency off the pilot's production. Danny McBride, Jody Hill and Matt Reilly are also executive producing alongside Green and Starrbury.
THE FIRM (NBC, New!) - eOne Television and Paramount Pictures are developing a small screen take on John Grisham's book-turned-Tom Cruise-led-feature of the same name. Lucas Reiter penned the pilot to the project, which was originally developed by CBS but stalled in the script stage. The eOne incarnation however has already been cleared for 22 episodes on Sony's AXN networks in more than 125 territories around the world with NBC in talks to carry the series domestically. As for specifics, "The Firm" will follow Mitch McDeere (Cruise in the film) and his family as they emerge from the Federal Witness Protection Program after 10 years, "determined to reclaim their lives and their future [but] soon find that past dangers are still lurking and new threats are everywhere." Casting is underway for a July production start in Canada. Grisham and Reiter are executive producing alongside John Morayniss, Michael Rosenberg and Noreen Halpern.
GAME CHANGE (HBO) - Sarah Paulson, Peter MacNicol and Justin Gaston are the latest additions to the project, a docudrama about John McCain's (Ed Harris) and Sarah Palin's (Julianne Moore) failed 2008 presidential campaign. Paulson will play McCain's senior campaign adviser Nicolle Wallace with MacNicol as McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis and Gaston as Levi Johnston, who fathered the baby of Palin's teenage daughter Bristol (Melissa Farman). Jamey Sheridan, Larry Sullivan, Ron Livingston and Woody Harrelson also star in the film, from director Jay Roach, writer Danny Strong and executive producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.
METRO (NBC) - Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan has signed a two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact will cover his duties on the aforementioned pilot - a drama depicting a complex web of crime, policework and politics in Los Angeles, starring Jimmy Smits, Danny Pino, Noah Emmerich and Madchen Amick - should it move forward to series. He'll also develop new series projects for the studio via his Unsupervised Television banner, to be run by Suzanne Joskow. Already in the works are two efforts at FOX: a Washington, D.C. drama and an animated comedy.
NCIS (CBS) - Cote de Pablo has inked a new two-year deal to continue on the veteran Eye drama. She'll reportedly receive a significant salary bump to about $120,000 per episode - on par with the show's other female cast member, Pauley Perrette - as well as a sizable cash bonus. Said development means all the show's principal cast members - de Pablo, Perrette, Sean Murray, Michael Weatherly, David McCallum and Mark Harmon - are locked up for next season.
THE OFFICE (NBC) - Former co-executive producers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg have inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with ABC Studios. The duo, who penned the upcoming Justin Timberlake/Cameron Diaz feature "Bad Teacher," will develop new projects for the studio via their Quantity Entertainment banner.
UNDERCOVER BOSS (CBS) - A half-hour companion series - "featuring updates on the CEOs and employees, as well as previously unseen footage" - is reportedly being shopped as part of the show's off-network package by CBS Television Distribution. Said run is being targeted for a fall 2012 bow on both cable business news outlets as well as general entertainment channels. Production is underway on a pilot for the series with Stephen Lambert executive producing via his Studio Lambert banner.
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[01/14/26 - 12:02 PM]
NBC Will Now Offer a Special Premiere of "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins" on Sunday, Jan. 18 Immediately Following Coverage of the NFL Playoff Game
The series will return on Monday, February 23 at 8 p.m. with an encore of the pilot and a new episode immediately following at 8:30 p.m. in its timeslot premiere.
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[01/14/26 - 12:01 PM]
Ryan Hurst to Play Kratos in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios
Hurst played Thor in PlayStation's "God of War Ragnarök," bringing established familiarity with the franchise to the role of Kratos.
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[01/14/26 - 12:00 PM]
HBO Max and A24 Renew Multi-Year U.S. Pay-1 Output and Library Deal
As part of the agreement, HBO Max subscribers will also have access to a library of dozens of A24 films throughout the course of the deal.
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[01/14/26 - 11:49 AM]
This Valentine's Day, Tubi's YA Original Film "Kissing Is the Easy Part" Premieres Exclusively on Tubi on February 13
The romantic comedy is directed by Fawzia Mirza and based on the popular Wattpad webnovel (currently at 31.9 million reads) of the same name by Christine Duann adapted by Rebecca Webb.
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[01/14/26 - 11:32 AM]
Scott Speedman-Led Series "RJ Decker" to Premiere on ABC Tuesday, March 3, Streaming Next Day on Hulu
Season 8 of "The Rookie" shifts to Mondays at 10 p.m. starting January 26, following the highly anticipated season premiere of "American Idol."
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[01/14/26 - 10:36 AM]
OWN Greenlights First-Ever "Belle Collective" Spinoff in 2026, Expanding the Franchise as Its #1 Friday Night Series Returns
The franchise spotlights dynamic women who embody the strength, ambition and pride of Black female entrepreneurship, redefining what it means to be a modern southern Belle who unapologetically carves her own path.
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[01/14/26 - 09:01 AM]
BET's "The Coach Vick Experience," Executive Produced by NFL Legends Michael Vick, Michael Strahan, and Deion Sanders, Premieres February 4, 2026
The emotional, high-stakes docuseries follows Michael Vick as he returns home to Virginia for the biggest challenge of his life - stepping in as a first-time head coach tasked with reigniting Norfolk State's struggling football program.
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[01/14/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Paul McCartney: Man on the Run" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
From Academy Award-winning director Morgan Neville, the film chronicles the arc of McCartney's solo career as he faces down a myriad of challenges while creating new music to define a new decade.
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[01/14/26 - 08:31 AM]
Taylor Tomlinson Returns to Her Roots with Her Eagerly Anticipated New Netflix Comedy Special "Prodigal Daughter"
Tomlinson's fourth comedy special premieres globally on February 24, 2026, only on Netflix.
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[01/14/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for Season Two of Emmy Award-Nominated "Yo Gabba GabbaLand!"
Season two brings this group together with a new roster of musical guests to create dynamic performances and original songs to help kids and families uncover life lessons through music, movement and joyful discovery.
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[01/14/26 - 08:30 AM]
TLC's "90 Day: The Single Life" Returns with Second Chances, Shocking Secrets, and New Romances
The new season follows singles on their journeys to romance, some of which lead to unexpected sparks between familiar 90 Day faces.
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[01/14/26 - 08:01 AM]
Season Three of the HBO Original Drama Series "Euphoria" Debuts April 12
A group of childhood friends wrestle with the virtue of faith, the possibility of redemption, and the problem of evil.
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[01/14/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Lincoln Lawyer" Season 4 - Official Trailer - Netflix
On trial for a murder he didn't commit, Mickey must face a relentless DA as he fights to prove his innocence, expose the real killer and save his firm.
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[01/14/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Bluff" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
As her tranquil life is shattered by the return of her vengeful former captain, a skilled ex-pirate must confront her bloody past to save her family.
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[01/14/26 - 06:29 AM]
"State of Fear", The First Spin-Off of a Netflix Brazil Production, Premieres February 11
Directed by Pedro Morelli and produced by O2 Filmes, the feature is the first spin-off of a Netflix Brazil series, "Brotherhood," created by Morelli.
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