|
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!
BEVERLY HILLS COP (CBS) - David Denman ("Traffic Light") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, which continues the film franchise with Axel Foley's (Eddie Murphy) son Aaron (Brandon T. Jackson) who follows in his father's footsteps. He's on board as Brad Fullmer, a detective who's billed as "the whitest guy you know; strong, loyal, socially awkward, a half-step behind, but a good guy to have on your side." Kevin Pollak also stars in the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, from writer Shawn Ryan. (Deadline.com)
BONNIE & CLYDE (Lifetime) - Oscar-winners Holly Hunter and William Hurt have both been cast in the mini-series, based on the true story of famed bank robbing couple Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Hunter will play Bonnie's mother Emma with Hurt as Frank Hamer, the Texas ranger credited with tracking down and killing Bonnie and Clyde. Sony Pictures Television is behind the project from director Bruce Beresford, writers Joe Batteer and John Rice as well as executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. (Deadline.com)
BRENDA FOREVER (NBC) - David Wain ("Childrens Hospital") has been tapped to direct the comedy pilot, which has likewise closed Ellie Kemper for the title role. She'll play Brenda Miller, whose "past and present are interwoven to give a unique portrait of how a chubby, awkward, but incredibly confident 13-year-old grew up to be a 31-year-old woman who still marches to the beat of her own drum." Andrew Leeds and David Lampson are behind the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour with Matt Tarses, Peter Tolan and Michael Wimer among the executive producers. (Deadline.com)
ENLISTED (FOX) - Keith David ("The Cape") is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about three very different brothers working together in the Army at a small base in Florida. He'll play CSM Cody Wallace, "an intimidating, firm but fair 30-year army veteran who puts the oldest brother in charge of a unit of dipshits and slackers." 20th Century Fox Television is behind the single-camera project, from creator Kevin Biegel and fellow executive producer Mike Royce. (Deadline.com)
HAPPINESS (NBC) - Echo Kellum ("Ben & Kate") has joined the cast of the Sean Hayes-led comedy, about a man who must figure out how to become a full-time dad to his 14-year-old daughter as well as navigate his temperamental new boss at work. He'll play Hunter, one of Sean's co-workers who is very passionate about everything, including his hobbies of being a musician, artist, photographer and poet. Linda Lavin also stars in the Universal Television-based project, from director James Burrows and writer Victor Fresco. (Deadline.com)
JOE & JOE & JANE (NBC) - Dave Annable ("666 Park Avenue") has booked one of the title roles on the multi-camera comedy pilot, about Joe Waxman (yet to be cast), a conflict-avoidant children's book author caught in an ongoing tug of war between his wife, Jane (Sally Pressman), and co-author/best friend, Joe Dougan. He's set as the latter role, who's "passionate, moody and a bit of a dog." Joe Port and Joe Wiseman are behind the project, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television. (Deadline.com)
MCCARTHYS, THE (CBS) - Jack McGee ("Common Law") has boarded the comedy pilot, about "an Irish-Catholic, sports-crazed Boston clan and the gay son whose greatest sin is not his sexuality but his desire to spend less time with his family." He's set as the father, Arthur, a "not always politically correct" high school basketball coach. In addition, Fred Savage ("2 Broke Girls") has signed on to direct the single-camera project from a script by Brian Gallivan. Sony Pictures Television is producing. (Deadline.com)
MIXOLOGY (ABC) - Blake Lee, Andrew Santino and Mercedes Masöhn have all been cast in the single-camera comedy pilot, about five guys and five girls trying to find love at Mix, a trendy Manhattan bar, over the course of one night. Lee will play Tom, "a nice-guy, clean cut accountant recently dumped by his long-time girlfriend"; with Santino as Bruce, "Tom's brutally honest best friend from college"; and Masöhn as Maya, "a gorgeous ballbuster, formerly a jock and currently a sports attorney." They join the previously cast Kate Simses in the ABC Studios-based half-hour, from co-creators Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. (Deadline.com)
NARCOS (Netflix, New!) - Feature helmer José Padilha ("RoboCop") is spearheading a potential drama at the distributor about the life and death of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, "the ruthless boss of the Medellin Cartel and a known terrorist who was also a congressman, a family man and revered by the poor as a new Robin Hood." The potential 13-episode series comes from Gaumont International Television with Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard attached to pen the script and executive produce alongside Eric Newman. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED NCIS: LOS ANGELES SPIN-OFF PROJECT (CBS) - John Corbett ("United States of Tara") has scored the male lead on the show's proposed spin-off, about a mobile team of agents who are forced to live and work together as they crisscross the country solving crimes. He'll play Roy Quaid, "a former NCIS Special Agent forced to retire from active service. While no longer an active agent, Roy is the most experienced investigator working for Red Team, a fact that's not lost on any of the other agents." In addition, Miguel Ferrer's Assistant Director Owen Granger will recur on the series, in addition to his duties on the parent show. Edwin Hodge also stars in the project, from CBS Television Studios (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - NBC has tacked on another episode to "Chicago Fire," bringing its freshman run to 24 episodes (Deadline.com); Jason Moore and Thomas Schlamme have been tapped to helm ABC's "Pulling" and "Doubt" pilots (Schlamme will also executive produce) while Brad Anderson will direct FOX's 2048-set project from J.H. Wyman (Deadline.com); USA has pushed production on its drama pilot "Horizon" until the summer (Deadline.com); Taissa Farmiga is locked in to return to "American Horror Story" next season (Deadline.com); David Manson has come aboard the second season of Netflix's "House of Cards" as an executive producer (Deadline.com); and Margo Martindale has been cast as Nick's (Jake Johnson) mother on "New Girl" (EW.com).
|
