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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!
ASSISTANCE (NBC/Universal; W: Leslye Headland; D: TBA) - The single-camera comedy pilot - about a magnetic hyperactive workaholic (Krysten Ritter) who tries to juggle the demands of her long-time boyfriend (Peter Cambor), her smug work-husband (Zach Cregger) and her powerful boss - will "likely be retooled" for future consideration at the Peacock. Vinette Robinson also stars in the half-hour, from Gary Sanchez Productions. (Deadline.com)
BLINK (The CW/CTS; W: Vera Harbert; D: TBA) - The netlet has passed on the drama pilot, about Ari Trask (Madeline Carroll), a 16-year-old girl reeling from a car accident that put her father, Greg (John Benjamin Hickey), in a coma and his attempts to communicate from the great beyond. Elizabeth Marvel, Johnny Simmons and Michael Weston also starred. (Deadline.com)
BRENDA FOREVER (NBC/Sony; W: Andrew Leeds & David Lampson; D: David Wain) - The comedy - about one woman's journey from slightly chubby and awkward 13-year-old girl (Mandalynn Carlson) to slightly more attractive and stylish 31-year-old (Ellie Kemper) but little in her personality has changed - "may undergo reshoots" for series consideration at the Peacock. The Peter Tolan-produced half-hour also stars Daija Owens, David Krumholtz, Da'vine Joy Randolph, Lindsay Kraft and Stephnie Weir. (Deadline.com)
COMPANY TOWN (The CW/CTS; W: Sera Gamble; D: Taylor Hackford) - The drama pilot - about the aftermath of a sexual assault scandal at a Naval base in Norfolk, Virginia - won't be moving forward to series at the netlet. The ensemble cast included Arjun Gupta, Dondre Whitfield, Evie Thompson, Gage Golightly, Graham Hamilton, Maya Kazan, Merle Dandridge and Stella Maeve. (Deadline.com)
FAMILY GUIDE, THE (NBC/Universal; W: D.J. Nash; D: David Schwimmer) - Parker Posey has exited the newly picked up comedy, about Henry (Eli Baker), a 14-year-old boy who watches his family - blind father Mel (J.K. Simmons), immature mom Joyce (Posey), rebellious older sister Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley) and their dog Elvis - come closer together post-divorce. Said role will be recast. No other details were given about the change. (Deadline.com)
GAFFIGAN (CBS/Sony; W: Jim Gaffigan & Peter Tolan; D: TBA) - The Jim Gaffigan-led comedy - about a husband and wife (Gaffigan, Mira Sorvino) trying to raise their five kids in a New York two-bedroom apartment - won't be getting a fall order but "will likely undergo reshoots" for midseason consideration. Christian Barillas and Tongayi Chirisa also star in the single-camera project. (Deadline.com)
I AM VICTOR (NBC/Universal; W: Mark Goffman; D: TBA) - The John Stamos-led hour - about a high powered divorce attorney with a unique view of relationships, including that marriage is just a contract - is considered still alive at the network and "will likely be retooled." The project also stars Angela Sarafyan, Josh Zuckerman, Lorenza Izzo, Matthew Lillard, McKaley Miller, Megan Dodds and Terry Kinney. (Deadline.com)
MURDER IN THE FIRST (TNT; W: Eric Lodal & Steven Bochco; D: TBA) - Raphael Sbarge ("Once Upon a Time") has joined the cast of the pilot, a crime drama that will intimately dissect a single murder case over an entire season, from the commitment of the crime through the investigation, arrest and trial. He'll play police inspector David Molk in the project, which also stars Bess Rous, Kathleen Robertson, Mimi Kirkland, Steven Weber and Taye Diggs. (Deadline.com)
RAVENSWOOD (ABC Family) - Nicole Gale Anderson ("Beauty and the Beast") has joined the cast of the "Pretty Little Liars" spin-off, which centers on a town, not far from Rosewood, PA, which has suffered under a deadly curse for generations. She'll play Miranda, "a fiercely independent foster kid who uses her wits to cover her emotional scars." Brett Dier, Elizabeth Whitson, Merritt Patterson and Tyler Blackburn also star in the project, due in October. (TVLine.com)
RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA (HBO, New!) - Kimberly McCreight's novel - about "a workaholic single mother who, after a teenage girl's apparent suicide at her tony Brooklyn private school, attempts to reconstruct the events leading up to her daughter's death" - is being developed as an original movie at the pay channel. Nicole Kidman, fresh off her Emmy win for "Hemingway & Gellhorn" at the network, is attached to star and executive produce via her Blossom Films banner alongside Per Saari. (Deadline.com)
TO MY ASSISTANT (FOX/Warner Bros.; W: Ellen Kreamer & Sherry Bilsing-Graham; D: Peyton Reed) - The comedy pilot - previously reported as dead - is now billed as still alive and there "is talk about switching it from single-camera to multi-camera." The half-hour revolves around the assistants at a big New York law firm who band together as a family to help each other cope with the obnoxious, overbearing bosses. Brittany Snow, Catherine O'Hara, Jillian Bell, Joe Egender, Melissa Tang, Stephen Root and Tone Bell star. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED CRAIG ROBINSON PROJECT (NBC/Universal; W: Owen Ellickson; D: Steve Pink) - The Craig Robinson-led half-hour - about an impulsive, good-hearted musician who adjusts to his new life as a music teacher in a big-city middle school - remains under consideration at the network. Amanda Lund, Amandla Stenberg, Jean Smart and Larenz Tate also star in single-camera project, from executive producer Greg Daniels. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - NBC reportedly has interest in bringing back "Community" creator Dan Harmon in some capacity for its just-ordered fifth season (Deadline.com); WE tv is in talks to order nine episodes of the "Untitled LaGravenese & Goldwyn Project," originally developed by sibling AMC, contingent on finding a showrunner (Deadline.com); Kim Dickens is bound for the new season of "Sons of Anarchy" as a "seductive and maternal madame" (TVLine.com); Simon Kassianides will guest on "Covert Affairs" as "a debonair, Vienna-based arms dealer whose inner circle Annie must infiltrate" (TVLine.com); and Justina Machado will recur on ABC Family's "The Fosters" as the outspoken and extremely protective mother of Bianca Santos's Lexi Rivera (THR.com).
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