or


[03/19/15 - 11:25 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, March 19
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!


COOPER BARRETT'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE (FOX/20th; W: Jay Lacopo; D: TBA) - Charlie Saxton ("Betas") has scored a role on the pilot, a single camera comedy that celebrates the mistakes and misadventures we all make during the years after college, before settling down. He'll play Neal Kang, "one of Cooper's (Jack Cutmore-Scott) roommates. Fresh out of college, he is excited about his new job working in an office, designing scalable software platforms, but terrified about the number of strangers he's going to have to interact with." James Earl and Meaghan Rath also star. (Deadline.com)


CURSE OF THE FUENTES WOMEN, THE (NBC/WBT; W: Silvio Horta; D: Jason Ensler) - Robbie Jones ("90210") has been cast in the drama pilot, which revolves around a magical and mysterious young man (Adan Canto) who inexplicably emerges from the ocean, breathing new passion into the lives of the Fuentes women - the beautiful but lonely Lola (Christina Vidal), her ailing mother Esperanza (Rachel Ticotin) and her troubled daughter Soledad (Katie Sarife). He'll play Jean-Baptiste, "the line cook at Café Fuentes who's taken over for Esperanza. With business dwindling he spends most of his time gawking at his boss, Lola, whom he's desperately in love with." (Deadline.com)


FAMOUS IN LOVE (ABC Family, New!) - Actress Bella Thorne ("Shake It Up!") and writer I. Marlene King ("Pretty Little Liars") are set to team for a potential drama based on Rebecca Serle's romantic novel of the same name, about "a college student (Thorne) plucked from obscurity to star in a major Hollywood movie franchise who struggles with her new-found fame." Warner Horizon Television is behind the hour with Dan Farah and Long Lake Media's King executive producing and Serle, who will co-write the script with King, as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com)


GRANDPA (FOX/ABCS; W: Danny Chun; D: TBA) - Ravi Patel ("Super Fun Night") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about Jimmy (John Stamos), a charismatic longtime bachelor whose life is upended when he discovers he's a father - and a grandfather. He's set as Ken, "Jimmy's good friend who is always up for a party but is never invited to one." Christina Milian, Kelly Jenrette, Paget Brewster and Josh Peck also star. (Deadline.com)


HEART MATTERS (NBC/Universal; W: Jill Gordon; D: Robert Duncan McNeill) - Comedian D.L. Hughley is the latest to be cast in 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 Dr. Hackett, "the psychiatrist at the hospital." Dave Annable, Don Hany, Jamie Kennedy, Joshua Leonard, Maya Erskine and Shelley Conn also star. (Deadline.com)


HOUDINI & DOYLE (FOX, New!) - The network has signed onto a 10-episode drama centering on Harry Houdini, "master magician, escape artist and paranormal debunker, and Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the world's greatest detective and a paranormal aficionado - grudgingly join forces to investigate crimes with a supernatural slant. Although they're both rich, famous and brilliant, they're the original odd couple, with Houdini believing in nothing, Doyle in everything." Sony Pictures Television, Shaftesbury Films and Big Talk Productions are all behind the hour with a teleplay by David Hoselton from a story he conceived with David Titcher. They'll likewise executive produce alongside David Shore. (Deadline.com)


PREACHER (AMC/Sony; W: Sam Catlin; D: Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen) - Ian Colletti ("Rake") has been cast in the drama pilot, about Jesse Custer, a conflicted Preacher in a small Texas town who merges with a creature that has escaped from heaven and develops the ability to make anyone do anything he says. Along with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga), and an Irish vampire named Cassidy, the three embark on a journey to literally find God. He's set as Eugene Root, aka Arseface: "Even with his horribly disfigured face and severe speech impediment, Eugene's still the nicest kid you'll ever meet and really looks up to Jesse. Stomach-churningly difficult to look at, Eugene's the town's reviled Frankenstein's monster, but that won't change his earnest, sweet and pure outlook on life. However, he is troubled by something terrible he's done in the past - something he fears might have turned God himself against him." (Deadline.com)


WARRIOR (NBC/Universal; W: David DiGilio; D: Phillip Noyce) - Jason Scott Lee (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story) has been cast in the drama pilot, about Kai Forrester (Natalie Martinez), a damaged heroine who works undercover with physical and spiritual guidance from a mysterious martial arts master (Holt McCallany) to bring down an international crime lord. He'll play Koto, "a martial arts master chosen to recruit Kai (Martinez) to work with Interpol on stopping a Japanese organized crime syndicate." Andy Allo, Lance Gross, Rila Fukushima and Will Yun Lee also star. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - James Caan has bowed out of the FOX comedy pilot "Fantasy Life" due to scheduling issues (Deadline.com); Kelli Williams has been tapped for the lead role in UP TV's first scripted series "Ties That Bind" (Deadline.com); "Trophy Wife" creators Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins have signed a new two-year overall deal with ABC Studios (Deadline.com); "The Walking Dead" executive producer Greg Nicotero has likewise inked a two-year overall deal with AMC (Deadline.com); Necar Zadegan and Lyndon Smith have both landed roles on the new season of "Extant" (Deadline.com); Ehren Kruger is spearheading a TV series following "the swashbuckling adventures of brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm" for Miramax Television (Deadline.com); and adult film stars Amia Miley and Peta Jensen will both appear in the upcoming season of "True Detective" (THR.com).






  [march 2015]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· 90210 (CW)
· BETAS (AMAZON)
· COOPER BARRETT'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE (FOX)
· CURSE OF THE FUENTES WOMEN, THE (NBC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EXTANT (CBS)
· FAMOUS IN LOVE (FREEFORM)
· FANTASY LIFE (FOX)
· GRANDFATHERED (FOX)
· HEARTBEAT (NBC)
· HOUDINI & DOYLE (FOX)
· PREACHER (AMC)
· PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (FREEFORM)
· RAKE (FOX)
· SHAKE IT UP (DISNEY)
· SUPER FUN NIGHT (ABC)
· TROPHY WIFE (ABC)
· TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO)
· WALKING DEAD, THE (AMC)
· WARRIOR (NBC)





[11/20/24 - 12:30 PM]
Slam Dunk! Disney, ESPN and the NBA Team Up to Present "Dunk the Halls" - the First Real-Time, Animated NBA Game: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks on Christmas Day
"Dunk the Halls" will be presented on ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+.

[11/20/24 - 12:06 PM]
Australian Hulu Original Scripted Drama Series "The Artful Dodger" Is Back for Season 2
The eight-episode Season 2 has an all-star returning cast including Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jack Dawkins aka The Artful Dodger, David Thewlis as Fagin, and Maia Mitchell as Lady Belle Fox.

[11/20/24 - 12:00 PM]
Third Annual "LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular" Premieres Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 8:00 - 10:00PM ET/PT on FOX
Special celebrity guests include Sophia Bush, Holly Robinson Peete, Eric McCormack and Lil Rel Howery pairing up with fan-favorite former contestants to compete in jaw-dropping holiday-themed challenges for charities of their choice.

[11/20/24 - 12:00 PM]
"Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story" to Premiere December 5 on Prime Video
The four-part documentary penetrates the neon-hued world of Lisa Frank Inc., a brand that defined girlhood for a generation of Americans only to seemingly disappear overnight.

[11/20/24 - 11:03 AM]
Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro Set to Host "The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular" Airing Sunday, Dec. 1, on ABC and Stream Next Day on Hulu and Disney+
Narrated by Kristen Bell, who will share the tale of how the Disney Parks kicks off the most magical holiday ever, "The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular" airs Sunday, December 1.

[11/20/24 - 11:00 AM]
Paramount+ with Showtime Announces "The Honey Trap: A True Story of Love, Lies and the FBI" Premiering Friday, December 6th
The documentary feature, directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Chris Moukarbel, is a dramatic tale of espionage, propaganda, and romance, following the infamous Berlin rapper Denis Cuspert aka Deso Dogg and his journey from artist to MMA fighter to ISIS recruiter.

[11/20/24 - 10:34 AM]
Bravo Rings in the New Year with "Southern Hospitality" Season Three Premiering Thursday, Jan. 2 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
The Queen of King Street, Leva Bonaparte, and her staff - Joe Bradley, Bradley Carter, TJ Dinch, Maddi Reese and Emmy Sharrett - are back for an unforgettable summer of work, play and debauchery.

[11/20/24 - 10:01 AM]
Peacock's New Docuseries "Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story" Goes Inside the Cultural Phenomenon to Reveal the Dark Underbelly of Joe Francis' World
The docuseries, premiering December 3 exclusively on Peacock, includes Francis' first in-depth, in-person interview with a journalist in almost a decade.

[11/20/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Anthony Jeselnik celebrates 20 years of delivering boundary-pushing comedy to the masses in this razor-sharp stand-up special.

[11/20/24 - 10:01 AM]
The CW Network Sets 2025 Midseason Premiere Dates for New and Returning Series
Season 7 of the hit series "All American," starring Michael Evans Behling, Greta Onieogou and Bre-Z, kicks off with a special sneak peek on Wednesday, January 29 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT) before premiering in its regular timeslot on Monday, February 3 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT).

[11/20/24 - 10:00 AM]
"The Simpsons" - Pamela Hayden, the Voice of Milhouse and Other Iconic Characters Retires the Show After 35 Years
Hear Pamela give her final voice to Milhouse and Jimbo Jones in an all-new episode this Sunday, November 24 on FOX.

[11/20/24 - 09:34 AM]
AXS TV Presents Every Star-Studded Episode from Season One of the Emmy-Nominated Hit "Nashville" in a Special Two-Day Marathon on December 7 & 8, Starting at 10A ET
As part of the event, AXS TV presents new exclusive interviews with cast members Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, and Sam Palladio.

[11/20/24 - 09:05 AM]
Food Network's Emmy-Nominated Series, "Kids Baking Championship," Returns with an All-New Animal-Inspired Season
Hosts and judges, Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown, welcome a new field of talented kid bakers to the kitchen for challenges inspired by creatures big and small, including a few fluffy, furry and feathery friends who drop in to the kitchen for live appearances over the course of the season.

[11/20/24 - 09:01 AM]
First Look: Netflix's "Zero Day" Premieres on February 20, 2025
The limited series stars Robert De Niro as respected former U.S. President George Mullen, who, as head of the Zero Day Commission, is charged with finding the perpetrators of a devastating cyber attack that has caused chaos around the country and thousands of fatalities.

[11/20/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Dream Productions" - Official Trailer
Disney and Pixar's all-new four-episode limited series is available December 11 only on Disney+.