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[04/15/15 - 11:47 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, April 15
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!
EMERALD CITY (NBC) - David Schulner ("Do No Harm") has been tapped to oversee a revival of the previously mothballed drama, now detailed as follows: "In the blink of a tornado's eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and her K9 police dog are transported to another world, one far removed from our own - a mystical land of competing kingdoms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. This is the fabled Land of Oz in a way you've never seen before, where wicked witches don't stay dead for long and a young girl becomes a headstrong warrior who holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands." Schulner succeeds previous writer Matthew Arnold and showrunner Josh Friedman. Universal Television is behind the project, which once again has a 10-episode order. (Deadline.com)
INTO THE BADLANDS (AMC/eOne; W: Al Gough & Miles Millar; D: David Dobkin) - Aramis Knight, Madeleine Mantock and Ally Ioannides have all been cast in the upcoming drama, a genre-bending martial arts series very loosely based on the classic Chinese tale "Journey to the West." In a land controlled by feudal barons, the series tells the story of a ruthless, well-trained warrior named Sunny (Daniel Wu) and a young boy, M.K. (Knight), who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment. Mantock then is set as Veil, "a beguiling beauty and Sunny's lover. She is a doctor who specializes in making and applying prosthetic limbs for Clippers (squads of assassins) who have lost them"; with Ioannides as Tilda, "one of The Widow's 'butterflies,' who is trained to kill and who befriends M.K." Emily Beecham, Sarah Bolger, Orla Brady and Oliver Stark also star. (Deadline.com)
UNDERGROUND (WGN America/Sony; W: Joe Pokaski & Misha Green; D: Anthony Hemingway) - Adina Porter ("The 100") has been tapped for a role on the period drama, set in the pre-Civil War South and following the slaves who set foot on the fabled Underground Railroad, the secret network of men and women who risked their lives aiding them, and the mercenaries tasked with hunting them down at any cost. She'll play Pearly Mae, "a strong wife and mother who first gives voice to the song in which the runners will find clues to help guide them to freedom." Alano Miller, Amirah Vann, Christopher Meloni, Devon Gummersall, Johnny Ray Gill, Mykelti Williamson, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Reed Diamond, Aldis Hodge and Jessica De Gouw also star. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED O'SHANNON & WARREN PROJECT (CBS/CBSP; W: Dan O'Shannon & Peter Warren; D: Pamela Fryman) - Jacob Hopkins ("The Goldbergs") is the latest to be cast in the comedy pilot, about a group of friends and family at three different times in their lives. He's set as Phil, "a popular childhood acquaintance to Andrew (Adam Brody), Chris (Tyler Labine) and Holly (Tracy Spiridakos) who was always a jerk to Andrew and Chris growing up." Kelly O'Sullivan and Noureen DeWulf also star. (Deadline.com)
VIRTUOSO (HBO; W: Alan Ball, Peter Macdissi & Steve Hamilton Shaw; D: TBA) - Shannon Tarbet has joined the cast of the period drama, which is set against the complex and volatile backdrop of 18th century Vienna and follows a class of young musical prodigies from all over Europe at the prestigious Academy of Musical Excellence. She's on board as Ina, "who lives on the streets of Vienna. She is poor and dirty but very pretty and with a huge spirit and tremendous energy for life. She and her street-musician boyfriend face daily danger on the mean streets and have to fight for their love and safety." Alex Lawther, Francois Civil, Iva Babic, Lindsay Farris, Nico Mirallegro and Peter Macdissi also star. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Paul F. Tompkins, Jay Johnston, Brian Posehn, John Ennis, Mark Rivers and Dino Stamatopolis have all signed onto Bob Odenkirk and David Cross's Netflix sketch comedy series "With Bob and David" (Deadline.com); Colton Haynes's Roy Harper is departing "Arrow" after the current season (Deadline.com); Keon Alexander is bound for "Tyrant" in a yet-to-be-revealed role (Deadline.com); Rick Famuyiwa has closed his deal to direct HBO's Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill docudrama "Confirmation" (Deadline.com);
London-based actress Cush Jumbo is on track to recur on "The Good Wife" next season (Deadline.com); Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet and Jemima Kirke will lend their voices to a previously announced installment of "The Simpsons" featuring their "Girls" co-star Lena Dunham (EW.com); Lance Reddick is the latest set to appear on the "Castle" season finale (TVLine.com); Christina Cole is bound for "Suits" as "a Harvard educated psychiatrist specializing in high end corporate consulting who becomes the perfect match for Harvey" (TVLine.com); and Giacomo Gianniotti will visit "Grey's Anatomy" in a top secret role (TVLine.com).
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[03/04/26 - 11:31 AM]
"Disney Animation's Songs in Sign Language" to Debut on Disney+ April 27
Directed by veteran Disney animator/director Hyrum Osmond, the featured songs are "The Next Right Thing" (from Frozen 2), "We Don't Talk About Bruno" (from Encanto) and "Beyond" (from Moana 2).
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[03/04/26 - 11:03 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases First Teaser from the DC Studios Series "Lanterns," Starring Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, and Kelly Macdonald
The series is slated to debut later this August on HBO and available to stream on HBO Max.
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[03/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Untamed" Season 2 Production Kicks Off in Hawaii
The series will film on location on O'ahu and the island of Hawaii.
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[03/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
MTV Announces the Final 18 Episodes of "Jersey Shore Family Vacation," One of TV's Most Influential Reality Franchises, Premiering on Thursday, May 7 at 8PM ET/PT
This farewell season marks the culmination of a franchise that entertained millions with major life milestones, laugh-out-loud chaos, and the unfiltered chemistry that defined an era of reality television.
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[03/04/26 - 09:46 AM]
"The Verdict," Hosted by Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, Returns to Vice TV For Season Two, Taking on the Biggest Debates in Sports
In each episode, Russo and a lineup of sports insiders, journalists, and analysts get to the bottom of the hottest debates in sports history, presenting both sides through a fast-paced documentary debate format.
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[03/04/26 - 09:45 AM]
Lifetime Raises the Bar by Expanding Into Premium Vertical Storytelling with "Tides of Temptation," A Micro Drama Feature Executive Produced by Taye Diggs
Serving as a digital offshoot of the just announced upcoming original movie "Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You," the project expands the film's universe through a cinematic, mobile-first format designed with feature-level production value.
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[03/04/26 - 09:44 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights Three New Original Movies for 2026 Love of a Lifetime Slates Featuring All-Star Casts
Valerie Bertinelli, Henry Czerny, Eric McCormack, Taye Diggs, Heather Hemmens, and Cynthia Bailey are among the featured talent.
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[03/04/26 - 09:43 AM]
Lifetime Reteams with Robin Roberts for "Angel in the Rubble" Starring Sherri Shepherd in Remembrance of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11
Slated to premiere in September in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the movie is based on Genelle Guzman-McMillan's memoir "Angel in the Rubble: The Miraculous Rescue of 9/11's Last Survivor."
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[03/04/26 - 09:42 AM]
Lifetime Expands Roster of Powerhouse Creatives with New Movie Projects Helmed By Queen Latifah and Taraji P. Henson
"Queen Latifah and Taraji P. Henson are extraordinary talents and dynamic producers who share Lifetime's passion for telling powerful stories about women," said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming, A&E, Lifetime and LMN.
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[03/04/26 - 09:41 AM]
A+E Global Media Greenlights Two New Digital-First Series Under the History Brand
"Mistakes That Made America" and "Cracking Up" are both due later this year.
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[03/04/26 - 09:40 AM]
The History Channel Marks the 25th Anniversary of September 11 with New Two-Hour Special "102 Minutes Inside the Towers"
The documentary offers a deeply immersive and unique perspective through firsthand accounts from those who were inside the Twin Towers.
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[03/04/26 - 09:39 AM]
The History Channel Taps Internationally Acclaimed Action Icon Dolph Lundgren to Executive Produce and Host New Series "History's Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren"
Produced by Superluna Studios in association with 3BMG, the eight-episode series takes viewers on a thrilling journey through the gears, guts, and genius behind the machines that reshaped our world.
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[03/04/26 - 09:38 AM]
The History Channel Greenlights New Nonfiction Series "Crime and Justice with Tom Selleck" (w.t.)
The 10-episode, one-hour series examines the true stories behind some of the most consequential crimes and investigations in American history.
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[03/04/26 - 09:37 AM]
The History Channel Orders "Extraordinary Origins with Ted Danson" (w.t.) A New Series Hosted and Executive Produced by the Multi-Award-Winning Actor
The 10-episode series examines the stories behind some of history's most significant innovations, inventions, and discoveries that helped shape the modern world.
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[03/04/26 - 09:36 AM]
The History Channel Greenlights New Nonfiction Series "History's Strange Fortunes with Kevin Bacon" (w.t.)
Stories about money - money made, money lost, and money spent - are woven into the fabric of our nation's history.
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