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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!
BACKSTROM (CBS/20th; W: Hart Hanson; D: TBA) - Thomas Dekker and Camryn Manheim have both been cast in the Rainn Wilson-led drama pilot, based on Leif G.W. Persson's literary hero Everett Backstrom, a homicide detective/equal-opportunity misanthrope. She'll play Police Chief Anna Holt ("shrewd, beleaguered") while he's set as Gregory Valentine ("gay, whip-smart, fence/entrepreneurial crook"), Backstrom's underworld connection. Beatrice Rosen, Dennis Haysbert, Kristoffer Polaha and Page Kennedy also star. (Deadline.com)
BAD TEACHER (CBS/Sony; W: Hilary Winston; D: Don Scardino) - Comedian Caitlin Kimball has booked a role on the comedy pilot, based on the Cameron Diaz-led feature about Meredith Davis (Ari Graynor), a foul-mouthed, gold-digging junior high school teacher. She'll play Kim ("a shy submissive type"), the student teacher to Faculty President/Meredith's nemesis Ginny Taylor-Clapp (Kristin Davis). David Alan Grier, Ryan Hansen and Sara Gilbert also star. (Deadline.com)
BOOMERANG (FOX/Warner Bros.; W: Davey Holmes; D: TBA) - S. Epatha Merkerson and Jeff Ross will both guest on the drama pilot, about the Hamiltons - dad Bill (Anthony LaPaglia), mom Margie (Felicity Huffman) and their sons Sam (Michael Stahl-David) and Carl (Patrick Heusinger), a family who serves as assassins for the federal government. She'll play Naomi, the mysterious "Primary" on their new assignment while he's set as an agency handler of operatives. Rosa Salazar and Stephanie Jacobsen also star. (Deadline.com)
DELIRIUM (FOX/20th; W: Karyn Usher; D: TBA) - Melinda McGraw ("Ben and Kate") will guest star on the drama pilot, based on Lauren Oliver's book trilogy about star-crossed lovers Alex (Daren Kagasoff) and Lena (Emma Roberts) in a world where love - a.k.a. deliria - is deemed illegal and can be eradicated with a special procedure. She'll play Lydia, the Ann Romney-esque wife of pro-procedure lobbyist Thomas Fineman (Billy Campbell). Brenda Koo, Corey Reynolds, Erin Cahill, Gregg Sulkin, Jeanine Mason and Michael Michele also star. (Deadline.com)
DO IT YOURSELF (TBS; W: Rob Long & Walt Becker; D: James Widdoes) - Parvesh Cheena ("Outsourced") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about Nick (Ben Rappaport), a 20-something laid-off math teacher who finds himself thrust into the blue collar world when he gets a job at that most American of retail institutions: the big box home supply store. He'll play his co-worker and friend in the multi-camera project, which also stars Bill Engvall, Melora Hardin, Nicky Whelan and Ryan McPartlin. (Deadline.com)
DOUBT (ABC/Sony; W: David Shore; D: Thomas Schlamme) - Steve Coogan (Tropic Thunder) has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about Vincent J. Calzonetti, a cunning but charming ex-cop who's now a low-rent lawyer that uses his street smarts to work the system for his clients while battling his own demons. He'll star alongside the previously cast Greg Grunberg, Kacey Rohl and Rockmond Dunbar in the project. (Deadline.com)
GANG RELATED (FOX/20th; W: Chris Morgan; D: Allen Hughes) - Terry O'Quinn ("Hawaii Five-0") has boarded the drama pilot, about Ryan Lopez (Ramon Rodriguez), a gang member sent in to infiltrate the San Francisco Police Department only to be caught between his crime family ties and an increasing sense of loyalty to his new brothers in blue. He'll succeed Tom Berenger as Sam Chapel, the tough, dynamic police captain heading up the Task Force. Cliff Curtis, Inbar Lavi, Jay Hernandez, RZA, Shantel VanSanten and Sung Kang also star. (Deadline.com) (Deadline.com)
GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA (NBC/Universal; W: Liz Brixius; D: TBA) - Christina Ricci has bowed out of the comedy pilot, about Karen McNeil, a woman who unexpectedly awakens from a coma after 17 years to find she has a teenage daughter, Evie (Miranda Cosgrove). She had been set to play said title role, but opted to exit after the single-camera project's table read. It's not clear if production will stay in New York - where Ricci is based - as a result of the change. Daniel Stern and Ann Cusack also star. (Deadline.com)
IRONSIDE (NBC/Universal; W: Michael Caleo; D: Peter Horton) - Spencer Grammer ("Greek") has been cast in the drama pilot, about Robert Ironside (Blair Underwood), a San Francisco police detective who's forced to find new ways of fighting crime after being paralyzed by a gunshot. She'll play Holly ("fresh-faced; energetic"), a petite, beautiful detective who works alongside Ironside. Brent Sexton and Neal Bledsoe also star. (Deadline.com)
ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC) - The Alphabet and ABC Studios have ordered a presentation for a potential spin-off of the drama told through the point of view of Alice (of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" fame). Zack Estrin and Jane Espenson are helping spearhead the project, which would track Alice and two other new characters - Amahl ("exotic, soulful and optimistic") and The Knave ("a sardonic adventurer, a man of action, a loner and a heart-breaker") - in a post-curse world. Barbara Hershey's Cora (a.k.a. Queen of Hearts) may also potentially appear. "Once" creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are penning the four-scene presentation, which is slated to begin production on April 7 in Vancouver. Estrin then would supervise the spin-off, a likely bridge between the fall and spring runs of the parent series. Kitsis and Horowitz previously floated the idea of a Mad Hatter-led spin-off however actor Sebastian Stan was not available. (Deadline.com)
RAKE (FOX/Sony; W: Peter Duncan; D: Sam Raimi) - Tara Summers ("Ringer") has been cast while Sam Raimi (Oz the Great and Powerful) has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about the chaotic and comedic life of criminal defense lawyer Keegan Joye (Greg Kinnear). Raimi will also serve as an executive producer on the pilot. As for Summers, she'll play Leanne Zander, his extremely put-upon yet no-nonsense assistant. Bojana Novakovic, David Harbour, John Ortiz, Miranda Otto and Necar Zadegan also star in the hour. (Deadline.com)
SILK ROAD (HBO, New!) - Director Ben Wheatley (Sightseers) is developing a new drama at the pay channel which he'll write, direct and executive produce. No details were given about the project other than Silk Road "is the name of an online black market, where the majority of products qualify as contraband in most jurisdictions." Mythology Entertainment's Bradley J. Fischer, Laeta Kalogridis and James Vanderbilt will executive produce alongside Wheatley with Amy Jump and Andy Starke of Rook Films serving as co-executive producers. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED CRAIG ROBINSON PROJECT (NBC/Universal; W: Owen Ellickson; D: Steve Pink) - Jane Adams ("Hung") has joined the cast of single-camera comedy pilot, about an impulsive, good-hearted musician (Craig Robinson) who adjusts to his new life as a music teacher in a big-city middle school. She'll play Jeanette née Peter, his stressed-out junior high principal who's almost always in damage-control mode. Amanda Lund, Amandla Stenberg and Larenz Tate also star. (THR.com)
UNTITLED JH WYMAN PROJECT (FOX) (FOX/Warner Bros.; W: J.H. Wyman; D: Brad Anderson) - Mekia Cox ("Undercovers") will guest star in the pilot, a drama set in 2048 Los Angeles where robots are widely used in law enforcement and follows human detective John Kennex (Karl Urban) and his android partner Dorian (Michael Ealy). She'll play John's ex, an unspecified character. Also starring are Lili Taylor, Mackenzie Crook, Michael Irby and Minka Kelly. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Arielle Kebbel has been tapped to host The CW's summer dating game series "Perfect Score" (Deadline.com); Michael McGrady has booked recurring roles on Showtime's "Ray Donovan" and TNT's formerly-known-as "L.A. Noir" (Deadline.com); "Men at Work" creator Breckin Meyer has signed an overall deal with producer Sony Pictures Television (Deadline.com); and "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" alums Casey Johnson and David Windsor have inked a two-year overall deal with ABC Studios (Deadline.com).
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