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[01/22/14 - 11:17 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, January 22
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!
GRACEPOINT (FOX; W: Chris Chibnall; D: James Strong) - Madalyn Horcher has been cast in the event series, a gripping crime drama which follows the tragic and mysterious death of a young boy found dead on an idyllic beach surrounded by rocks and a jutting cliff-face, from where he may have fallen. She's set as Chloe Lasseter, "the smart and sassy daughter of Mark (Michael Pena) and Beth (Virginia Kull), who is hit hard by her brother Danny's death." The project's ensemble also includes Anna Gunn, David Tennant, Jacki Weaver, Jessica Lucas, Josh Hamilton, Kendrick Sampson, Kevin Rankin, Kevin Zegers and Nick Nolte. (Deadline.com)
HIGHER (HBO, New!) - "Trainspotting" author Irvine Welsh is spearheading a new project at the pay channel billed as "a fictional comedy is set in the world of electronic music." Calvin Harris, Will Smith and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter are among the executive producers of the project, which also include Overbrook Entertainment's James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith and Miguel Melendez; Three Six Zero Group's Mark Gillespie and Dean Wilson; and Marcy Media's Jay Brown and Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith. (Deadline.com)
OPEN (HBO/Fox 21; W: Lauren Gussis & Ryan Murphy; D: TBA) - Jaimie Alexander (Thor: The Dark World) and Lina Esco (LOL) are the latest additions to the drama pilot, billed as "a modern, provocative exploration of human sexuality and relationships." Esco will play Gina, "a smoking hot and extremely ambitious employee at Jonathan's (Scott Speedman) sports management agency (and the object of his sexting and extra-curricular exploits) who will stop at nothing to get the job promotion and her man." Alexander then will guest as Claire, "the postpartum-suffering, pill-popping Stepford wife of Evan (Wes Bentley)." Aisha Tyler, Anna Torv, Cheyenne Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michelle Monaghan also star. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED BILL COSBY PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Comedian Bill Cosby is eyeing a return to the small screen as part of a new comedy at the Peacock. Said effort will be built around Cosby, "who will play the patriarch of a multi-generational family." Former "The Cosby Show" producer Tom Werner is on board to executive produce the half-hour alongside Cosby. The search is underway for a writer on the project, which has been put on the off-season development track. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED DAVID O. RUSSELL/SUSANNAH GRANT PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell (American Hustle) and writer Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) are set to team for a new drama billed as "an upstairs/downstairs soap set at a private country club" at the Alphabet. The project has been given a straight-to-series 13-episode order with ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios co-producing. Grant penning the pilot teleplay off a story she conceived with Russell. Both will executive produce alongside Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly of Timberman-Beverly Productions. It's not clear if Russell also plans to direct. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Emmy-winner Ann Peacock ("A Lesson Before Dying") has been tapped to pen the CBS mini-series "The Dovekeepers," based on Alice Hoffman's novel of the same name (Deadline.com); HBO has passed on its Topher Grace/Sarah Silverman-led comedy pilot "People in New Jersey" while its untitled half-hour from Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin is being redeveloped with a production commitment (Deadline.com); Pedro Pascal is bound for at least five episodes of "The Mentalist" as "a charming man with integrity, a blue-collar cop with FBI smarts" and a potential love interest for Robin Tunney's Lisbon; (TVLine.com)
Elisa Donovan will succeed Tara Reid on "Melissa & Joey" as "a museum director who hits it off with Joe (Joey Lawrence) at a bar" (TVGuide.com); Stephen Merchant will guest on "Modern Family" as "the officious Mandalay Bay hotel butler assigned to take care of the Pritchett-Dunphy clan" during its upcoming Las Vegas-set episode (TVGuide.com); and Nicole Ari Parker has joined the cast of TNT's upcoming drama "Murder in the First" as Sonia Perez, "a brilliant and tough district attorney whose career hedges on a high-profile murder case" (THR.com).
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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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