or


[03/10/15 - 11:44 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, March 10 - Odds & Ends
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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!


BLINDSPOT (NBC/WBT; W: Martin Gero; D: Mark Pellington) - Ashley Johnson has booked a role on the drama pilot, about Jane Doe (Jaimie Alexander), a beautiful woman, with no memories of her past, who is found naked in Times Square with her body fully covered in intricate tattoos. Her discovery sets off a vast and complex mystery that immediately ignites the attention of the FBI who begin to follow the road map on her body to reveal a larger conspiracy of crime while bringing her closer to discovering the truth about her identity. She'll play Patterson Leung, "the resident tech expert on Mayfair's (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) team." Audrey Esparza, Rob Brown, Sullivan Stapleton and Ukweli Roach also star. (Deadline.com)


BREED (TNT; W: John Scott Shepherd; D: Scott Winant) - Callie Thorne ("Necessary Roughness") has snagged a role on the pilot, a supernatural drama centering on a volatile race of creatures who are committing brutal murders in the Pacific Northwest, and the reluctant FBI investigator who pairs with a female assassin to track them. She'll play Emme Haladjian, "the beautiful, charismatic, highly-accomplished prosecutor whose appearance hides her vicious secrets, and the danger she poses to Cooper and the city." Aisha Hinds, Amber Clayton, Justin Chatwin, Nadia Hilker and Shaun Majumder also star. (Deadline.com)


CORDON (The CW/WBT; W: Julie Plec; D: David Nutter) - George Young and Trevor St. John are the latest additions to the drama pilot, about when a deadly epidemic breaks out in Atlanta, a large city quarantine is quickly enforced, leaving those stuck on the inside to fight for their lives. The former will play Dr. Victor Cannerts, "Director of the CDC who gets quarantined in the city hospital within the Cordon and cut off from his resources"; while St. John is set as Leo, "a once-celebrated personality in the world of journalism. When he starts to receive intel from a mysterious anonymous source about the particulars of the epidemic and the government's response, Leo must dust off his investigative instincts in order to uncover the machinations he believes lie at the heart of the outbreak." Chris Wood, Christina Moses, Claudia Black, David Gyasi, Hanna Mangan Lawrence and Kristen Gutoskie also star. (Deadline.com)


CUCKOO (NBC/Lionsgate; W: Kieron Quirke & Robin French; D: TBA) - Rachel DiPillo ("Jane the Virgin") has been tapped for the female lead of the comedy pilot, based on the British series about a daughter comes back from a summer abroad married to a charming but infuriating eccentric named Cuckoo (Flula Borg), much to her father's annoyance. She'll play said girl, Rachel, "a recent college grad who just spent a semester in Thailand where she met and married Cuckoo. She has a big heart, which has led to her acceptance of all of Cuckoo's quirks." Griffin Gluck also stars. (Deadline.com)


DEAD PEOPLE (The CW/WBT; W: Tom Kapinos; D: TBA) - Echo Kellum ("Sean Saves the World") has been cast in the drama pilot, about Floyd Hale (Andrew J. West), a down-on-his-luck, semi-alcoholic but roguishly charming cab driver who after a near-death experience, he suddenly has the ability to interact with ghosts, including his late ex-wife (Alexandra Chando) who he has never gotten over. He'll play his best friend Doug, "a successful attorney who lives with his wife and two children, worries about Floyd and wants to help him in any way he can." (Deadline.com)


FLESH & BLOOD (ABC/ABCS; W: Jenna Bans; D: Paul McGuigan) - Andrew McCarthy has signed on for a role in the drama pilot, about Claire Warren (Joan Allen), the Mayor of Red Pines, California, whose young son, Adam Warren (Liam James), returns after being presumed dead after disappearing over a decade earlier, sending shockwaves throughout their tight knit community. He's set as Hank Asher, "Claire's former neighbor who spent 12 years in prison for Adam's murder." Alison Pill, Floriana Lima, Margot Bingham and Zach Gilford also star. (Deadline.com)


FRANKENSTEIN (FOX/20th; W: Rand Ravich; D: Michael Cuesta) - Tim DeKay ("While Collar") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Ray Pritchard (Rob Kazinsky), a morally corrupt retired cop, who is given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead. He'll play Duval Pritchard, Ray's FBI agent son, in the project, which has also added Philip Baker Hall as Ray prior to said transformation. Adhir Kalyan also stars. (Deadline.com)


GAME OF SILENCE (NBC/Sony; W: David Hudgins; D: Niels Arden Oplev) - Claire van der Boom ("Hawaii Five-0") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about Jackson Pogue (David Lyons), a rising attorney on the brink of success who could lose his perfectly crafted life when his long lost childhood friends threaten to expose a dark secret from their violent past. She'll play Marina Nagle, "the beautiful, intelligent partner of her law firm who is engaged to Jackson." Bre Blair, Conor O'Farrell, Demetrius Grosse, Larenz Tate and Michael Raymond-James also star. (Deadline.com)


HEART MATTERS (NBC/Universal; W: Jill Gordon; D: Robert Duncan McNeill) - Don Hany (Serangoon Road) has joined the cast of the drama pilot, a medical soap that follows the outspoken Alex Panttiere (Melissa George), one of the rare female heart transplant surgeons. Alex brings an innovative eye to treating patients week to week while also balancing the complications of her professional and romantic life. He'll play Jessie Shane, "the hospital's new Chief of Surgery. Alex (George) and Jessie (Hany) had a passionate, unforgettable affair when she was an intern, and now ten years later, they are working together." Dave Annable and Shelley Conn also star. (Deadline.com)


IMPACT (A&E, New!) - The cable channel is developing a small screen take on Matthew Graham and Nigel McCrery's 2002 film, "a fast-pace thriller that begins immediately following the downing of a major commercial flight near the nation's capital. When the country's best airline investigator learns that her son may have been on the flight, everyone she once trusted will become a suspect." Writer Jason George and director Kimberly Peirce are behind the A+E Studios-based project, which will also be executive produced by Eli Holzman, Eric Lehrman, Stephen Lambert and John Yorke of All3Media America. Richard Ruiz and Nigel McCrery are the producers. (Deadline.com)


LUCIFER (FOX/WBT; W: Tom Kapinos; D: Len Wiseman) - Lauren German ("Chicago Fire") is set to star opposite Tom Ellis in the drama pilot, about Lucifer (Ellis) who, bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, resigns his throne and abandons his kingdom for the gorgeous, shimmering insanity of Los Angeles, where he gets his kicks helping the LAPD punish criminals. She'll play Chloe Dancer, "an LAPD homicide detective who finds herself both repulsed and fascinated by Lucifer. As they work together to solve a murder, Lucifer is struck by Chloe's inherent goodness. Used to dealing with the absolute worst of humanity, Lucifer begins to wonder if there's hope yet." Lina Esco also stars. (Deadline.com)


MIX (ABC/WBT; W: Jennifer Cecil; D: Daniel Barnz) - Sharon Lawrence has snagged a role on the drama pilot, about the realities of modern-day families - multi-cultural and multi-generational, built through divorces, affairs and adoptions - set against the backdrop of a revered family restaurant at a crossroads. She'll play Stella Ruiz, "the ex-wife of Ray (Joaquim de Almeida), who owns her own successful restaurant, Mix Plus, which is right next door to Mix, but can't refuse helping her charming ex-husband get his restaurant back in the black - and their family stable." Britne Oldford, Camille Guaty, Sam Page and Walter Perez also star. (Deadline.com)


OF KINGS AND PROPHETS (ABC/ABCS; W: Adam Cooper & Bill Collage; D: Jeffrey Nachmanoff) - Oliver Rix and Simone Kessell have both scored roles on the drama pilot, billed as an epic biblical saga of faith, ambition and betrayal as told through the eyes of a battle-weary king (Ray Winstone), a powerful and resentful prophet and a resourceful young shepherd on a collision course with destiny. Rix will play David, "the second king of Israel"; and Kessell is set as Anohim, "the queen of Israel, wife of Saul (Winstone) and a top adviser to the throne." Maisie Richardson-Sellers also stars. (Deadline.com)


ROSEWOOD (FOX/20th; W: Todd Harthan; D: Richard Shepard) - Anna Konkle has been tapped for a role on the drama pilot, about Dr. Beaumont Rosewood, Jr. (Morris Chestnut), the top private pathologist in all of Miami. She'll play Kathy Fern Clyde, aka "KFC," "a hyper-neurotic DNA specialist who works in the lab." Jaina Lee Ortiz and Maggie Elizabeth Jones also star. (Variety.com)


SHARING (NBC/Universal; W: Jeremy Bronson; D: TBA) - Christine Taylor and Jerry Minor have both joined the cast of the pilot, a workplace comedy about the different groups of people working side by side in a shared office space. She will play Polly, "who co-owns Open Spaces with her husband Mike (Minor). She's effervescent, type-A and no nonsense and wishes her husband would stand up for himself and to the people in the office." Greta Lee, Jack Carpenter and Stephen Schneider also star. (Deadline.com)


SNEAKY PETE (CBS/Sony; W: Bryan Cranston & David Shore; D: Seth Gordon) - Shane McRae ("The Following") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi), a con man who, upon leaving prison, takes cover from his past by assuming the identity of a cellmate, Peter Murphy, hiding out from his debtors while working for his new "family's" bail bond business. He'll play Taylor, "a small-town cop thrilled to be reunited with his long-absent cousin Pete." Libe Barer, Margo Martindale, Marin Ireland and Peter Gerety also star. (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED ASEEM BATRA PROJECT (NBC/Universal; W: Aseem Batra; D: Betsy Thomas) - Rizwan Manji ("Backstrom") is the latest to board the multi-camera comedy pilot, about best friends Dale (Michael Cassidy) and Georgie (Christine Woods) whose relationship is upended when he starts dating the "perfect" woman. He's set as "Dale's workplace confidant and right-hand man." (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED BATTLE OF THE SEXES PROJECT (HBO, New!) - Elizabeth Banks is set to play Billie Jean King with Paul Giamatti as Bobby Riggs in a new movie at the pay channel which details "the 1973 Battle of the Sexes tennis match in which the 29-year-old No. 2-ranked female star beat the 55-year-old retired former Wimbledon champ." David Auburn (Proof) will pen the script with Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman executive producing alongside Brownstone Productions' Banks and Max Handelman. (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED DANA KLEIN PROJECT (FOX/20th; W: Dana Klein; D: Pamela Fryman) - Bret Harrison ("Breaking In") has signed onto the multi-camera comedy pilot, about Ellen (Jenna Elfman), a working mom who is in constant competition with her perfect, stay-at-home sister-in-law, Amy (Liza Lapira). He'll play Jack Stanley, "taking over for Brian Austin Green who originally was cast in the role but had to pull out for medical reasons." Izzy Watts, Matt Letscher, Nancy Lenehan and Peter Riegert also star. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Syfy has passed on a second season of its event series "Ascension" (Deadline.com); Mark Goffman has inked a two-year overall deal with CBS Television Studios, a pact which will end his run as showrunner of 20th Century Fox Television's "Sleepy Hollow" (Deadline.com); Nasim Pedrad is the latest addition to FOX's upcoming anthology "Scream Queens" (Deadline.com); Vince Nappo and Rachel Skarsten are both bound for "Reign" as General Renaude and Queen Elizabeth, respectively (Deadline.com);

"Homeland" executive producer Chip Johannessen has signed a new two-year overall deal with producer 20th Century Fox Television (Deadline.com); Tim Bagley has been upped to regular on NBC's "Mr. Robinson" as Supervisor Dalton, "a County School Supervisor who oversees the ever-dwindling budget at Studs Terkel High and Mr. Robinson's biggest fan" (Deadline.com); and Marsha Mason will guest on "Madam Secretary" as "a strong-minded therapist for highly placed government officials" (TVLine.com).






  [march 2015]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· ASCENSION (SYFY)
· BACKSTROM (FOX)
· BLINDSPOT (NBC)
· BREAKING IN (FOX)
· BREED (TNT)
· CHICAGO FIRE (NBC)
· CONTAINMENT (CW)
· CUCKOO (NBC)
· DEAD PEOPLE (CW)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FAMILY, THE (ABC)
· FOLLOWING, THE (FOX)
· GAME OF SILENCE (NBC)
· HAWAII FIVE-0 (CBS)
· HEARTBEAT (NBC)
· HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)
· IMPACT (A AND E)
· JANE THE VIRGIN (CW)
· LUCIFER (NETFLIX)
· MADAM SECRETARY (CBS)
· MIX (ABC)
· MR ROBINSON (NBC)
· NECESSARY ROUGHNESS (USA)
· NOT SAFE FOR WORK (NBC)
· OF KINGS AND PROPHETS (ABC)
· REIGN (CW)
· ROSEWOOD (FOX)
· SCREAM QUEENS (FOX)
· SEAN SAVES THE WORLD (NBC)
· SECOND CHANCE (FOX)
· SHARING (NBC)
· SLEEPY HOLLOW (FOX)
· SNEAKY PETE (AMAZON)
· UNTITLED BATTLE OF THE SEXES PROJECT (HBO)
· UNTITLED DANA KLEIN PROJECT (FOX)
· WHITE COLLAR (USA)





[01/03/25 - 04:06 PM]
College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Score Strong Viewership Across ESPN Platforms
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential registers 21.1 million viewers, the most-watched non-NFL sporting event since the 2024 CFP National Championship.

[01/03/25 - 12:00 PM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Memphis Grizzlies Visit San Antonio Spurs on January 17
This matchup replaces the previously scheduled Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls game.

[01/03/25 - 11:31 AM]
MGM+ Unveils "Godfather of Harlem" Season Four First Look Images
In Season 4, Bumpy Johnson continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York's Mafia families, while contending with the emergence of a potential rival in newly arrived Black gangster Frank Lucas.

[01/03/25 - 10:00 AM]
Video: "Grosse Pointe Garden Society" - Official Sneak Peek - NBC
When four members of a suburban garden club get entangled in a scandalous murder, they're forced to bury the body - in their own well-manicured flower beds.

[01/03/25 - 09:09 AM]
Lifetime Unveils Full "Voices of a Lifetime" 2025 Slate with Music Icons Mary J. Blige, Lisa Lisa and Gloria Gaynor
The movie event kicks off on Saturday, January 25 at 8:00/7:00c with an all-new original movie executive produced by Mary J. Blige along with Jordan and John Davis.

[01/03/25 - 08:37 AM]
Date Announcement and First Look: Hulu Original Series "Shoresy"
Created by and starring Jared Keeso, "Shoresy" returns for season four on Wednesday, February 26 with all six new episodes exclusively available in the U.S. on Hulu.

[01/03/25 - 08:00 AM]
Video: AMC/AMC+ Release a Gripping New Teaser Trailer for Hit Noir Thriller "Dark Winds" Starring Zahn McClarnon
"Dark Winds" will return with an expanded third season exclusively on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, March 9 at 9pm ET/PT with new episodes airing weekly on Sundays.

[01/03/25 - 07:00 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams DreamWorks' "The Wild Robot" Beginning January 24
Directed by three-time Academy Award nominee Chris Sanders, the heartwarming critically acclaimed film is voiced by Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill and Catherine O'Hara.

[01/02/25 - 10:31 PM]
Video: "Paatal Lok" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Prime Video
A down and out cop lands the case of a lifetime when four suspects are nabbed in the assassination attempt of a prime time journalist.

[01/02/25 - 09:31 PM]
Video: "Black Warrant" - Official Trailer - Netflix
One jailer, thousands of criminals, and the dark secrets of a prison like never before.

[01/02/25 - 01:03 PM]
Video: All-New Extended Trailer for Survivalist Competition Series "Extracted" Set to Premiere Monday, February 10 on FOX
"Extracted" features 12 untrained competitors attempting to survive extremely grueling conditions, perilous terrain, and the threat of fearsome predators in the unforgiving Canadian wilderness.

[01/02/25 - 01:00 PM]
ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025" Is Top Program of the Night Across Primetime and Late-Night
The festive, star-studded celebration rings in the new year with 18 million total viewers during late-night edition - peaking at 22 million viewers during midnight quarter hour.

[01/02/25 - 12:51 PM]
Prime Video Registers TNF's Most-Watched Season in the 19-Year History of the Package Across Key Demographics
According to Nielsen's Panel Only measurement, TNF on Prime Video posted an +11% average viewership increase among total viewers over the previous season (13.20 million vs. 11.86 million).

[01/02/25 - 12:03 PM]
Video: Official Season 7 Trailer - "The Rookie"
John Nolan, once the oldest rookie in the LAPD, has used his life experience, determination and sense of humor to keep up with rookies 20 years his junior.

[01/02/25 - 12:01 PM]
Diddy's Inner Circle Breaks Their Silence in Peacock's All-New Documentary Special "Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy"
The 90-minute documentary special tells the story of Sean Combs' early years and his decades-long transformation to Puffy and then to Diddy, with crucial insight into the forces that shaped the man and may have made him a monster.