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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!
HAPPYLAND (MTV; W: Ben Epstein; D: Lee Toland Krieger) - Bianca Santos, Zulay Henao, Shane Harper, Katherine McNamara and Cameron Moulene have snagged the principal roles on the pilot, a soapy teen comedy which explores the underbelly of one of the country's most popular theme parks and those who work there. Santos will play Lucy, a cynical teen whose mom (Henao) makes a living as a fairy tale princess, faces the realities of growing up and falling in love while living in a make believe world. Harper then is set as Ian, "the handsome son of the park's new president, a new hire at the park who is smitten by feisty Lucy"; with McNamara as Harper, "a resident of the park who goes after Ian despite the fact that she has a boyfriend, Will (Moulene), a character performer at the park." Guest starring are Brady Smith and Ryan Rottman as Ian's father and brother, respectively. Lee Toland Krieger is directing while Craig Zadan and Neil Meron also serve as executive producers. (Deadline.com)
LINE OF SIGHT (AMC/AMC Studios/FTS; W: Blake Masters; D: Jonathan Demme) - Darren Pettie ("Mad Men") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about Lewis Bernt (David Morrissey), a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator who survives a mysterious plane crash, bringing him on a quest to discover the accident's cause. No details about his character were given. Kai Lennox, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Olafur Darri Olafsson, Omar Metwally, Samantha Mathis and Sarah Clarke also star. (TVLine.com)
UNDATEABLE (NBC/Warner Bros.; W: Adam Sztykiel; D: Scott Ellis) - Briga Heelan is returning to the upcoming comedy, about new roommates - man-child Danny (Chris D'Elia) and chronic over-thinker Justin (Brent Morin) - who bond over their foibles with the opposite sex. The actress was originally cast as "the warm-hearted but tough Nicki, the waitress in Justin's bar who feels protective of all the guys who hang out there but doesn't know that Justin has had a sweet spot for her since the day they met." Megan Park was subsequently brought in after Heelan exited the project due to her first position status on TBS's "Ground Floor." Schedules for both shows have since synched up enough for Heelan to do three episodes of the NBC series, replacing Park. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED DAVID HUDGINS PROJECT (CBS, New!) - David Hudgins ("Parenthood") has sold a new drama to the Eye about "an outrageous and irreverent Federal judge with lifetime tenure who bucks the system." Universal Television is behind the hour where Hudgins, a former attorney himself, will executive produce. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED SARAH THORP PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Sarah Thorp (The Bounty Hunter) has booked a potential drama at the Alphabet about "a normal, all-American family that becomes the target of an anonymous stalker, causing the unraveling not only of their lives but the fabric of the community around them." Sony Pictures Television is behind the hour with Shore Z Productions' David Shore and Madhouse Entertainment's Robyn Meisinger and Adam Kolbrenner also serving as executive producers with Erin Gunn producing. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Annie Ilonzeh and Blair Redford are both bound for The CW's "Beauty and the Beast" as "a high school friend of Catherine (Kristin Kreuk) who is a strong-willed, dynamic journalist" and "a long-lost Army buddy of Vincent's (Jay Ryan) who turns out to be a terrifying opponent and a dangerous threat," respectively (TVGuide.com); Keith David has been tapped to voice the Cheshire Cat on "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" while Roger Daltrey is reprising his role from the parent series as the hookah smoking Caterpillar (TVLine.com); and Mircea Monroe will guest on FOX's "Enlisted" as "a civilian liaison who books entertainment for the troops" that used to date Geoff Stults's character (TVLine.com).
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