or


[04/15/15 - 11:47 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, April 15
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!


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).






  [april 2015]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 100, THE (CW)
· ARROW (CW)
· CASTLE (ABC)
· CONFIRMATION (HBO)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DO NO HARM (NBC)
· EMERALD CITY (NBC)
· GIRLS (HBO)
· GOLDBERGS, THE (ABC)
· GOOD WIFE, THE (CBS)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· INTO THE BADLANDS (AMC)
· SIMPSONS, THE (FOX)
· SUITS (USA)
· TYRANT (FX)
· UNDERGROUND (WGN)
· UNTITLED O'SHANNON & WARREN PROJECT (CBS)
· VIRTUOSO (HBO)
· W/ BOB & DAVID (NETFLIX)





[03/18/26 - 01:13 PM]
"Saturday Night Live" Launches New Short-Form Digital Original Series, "The Rundown"
Guests will stop by Studio 8H to select a favorite segment from the show's history to add to the iconic Rundown board, building an all-star episode along the way.

[03/18/26 - 01:03 PM]
All New Series "Conspiracies & Coverups" Premieres April 1 at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel
Former CIA covert intelligence officer Andrew Bustamante exposes the truth behind some of the most sensational, "ripped from the headlines" conspiracy theories in the all-new series.

[03/18/26 - 12:32 PM]
The Ultimate Test of Survival: "Lord of the Flies" Debuts May 4 on Netflix
Innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways in the first television adaptation of William Golding's landmark dystopian classic.

[03/18/26 - 12:31 PM]
Darren Star & David Schulner Uncork New Napa Valley Rom-Com Series for Netflix
"Uncorked" delves into the life of a talented but self-destructive winemaker who returns to Napa for her second chance at love, legacy and that elusive 100 point wine.

[03/18/26 - 11:59 AM]
ID's Titans of True Crime Return with New Seasons of "Homicide Hunter: American Detective with Joe Kenda" and "On the Case with Paula Zahn"
The series will premiere back-to-back beginning Wednesday, April 15 at 9:00/8:00c.

[03/18/26 - 11:48 AM]
FOX Advertising Announces a Season-Long Major Brand Partnership with Toyota and the Reimagined FOX Primetime Series "Baywatch"
The series will showcase the Toyota Tacoma as the official Baywatch lifeguard vehicle which will be fully customized to authentically reflect the LA County lifeguard vehicles.

[03/18/26 - 11:31 AM]
Jinkies! Netflix Casts Mckenna Grace, Tanner Hagen, Abby Ryder Fortson, Maxwell Jenkins in the Live-Action "Scooby-Doo" Series
The series will uncover how this mystery-solving crew, and their beloved dog, first teamed up to crack the haunting case that started it all.

[03/18/26 - 10:31 AM]
TBS Orders New Season Pick-Up of "Impractical Jokers," Cable's #1 Original Series of the Year, Amid Record-Breaking Ratings
The final two episodes of season 12 air Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 following NCAA coverage on TBS.

[03/18/26 - 10:31 AM]
"Million Dollar Secret" Season 2 - Only on Netflix April 15
This season, the stakes are higher than ever as players face trickier agendas, grueling challenges and navigate the ever-changing game of deception.

[03/18/26 - 10:01 AM]
Peacock Reveals July 16 Premiere Date & Releases First Look Images for "The Five Star Weekend"
The series stars Jennifer Garner, D'Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, Regina Hall, Chloƫ Sevigny, Harlow Jane and Timothy Olyphant.

[03/18/26 - 10:01 AM]
"Nemesis" - Official First Look, Teaser Art & Date Announcement
The series, due on May 14, is the story of two men on either side of the law, the tale of what happens when an unstoppable force (an expert criminal) meets an immovable object (a brilliant police detective).

[03/18/26 - 10:00 AM]
Rewatch "Ready or Not" on Hulu Before the Highly Anticipated Sequel "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" Hits Theaters This Friday
Audiences can revisit the film that started it all and get a special look for what's to come.

[03/18/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Sheng Wang: Purple" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this special, Sheng delves into what it means to be a grown-up and explores ordinary life moments: sharing prized berries with your friends' kids, cooking with shallots, braving the ghosts in your house, finding joy in nature and much more.

[03/18/26 - 09:28 AM]
Vice Studios Secures Worldwide Adaptation Rights for Iconic Video Game IP "Payday" Partnering with Starbreeze Entertainment to Expand the Video Game Franchise Into Film and Television
Over 15 years of continuous development have made the "Payday" name synonymous with heisting, serving a massive community of more than 50 million players.

[03/18/26 - 09:07 AM]
"Be My Guest with Ina Garten" Welcomes Allison Janney, Jon Batiste, Hoda Kotb and Michael Barbaro in New Season
The new episodes premiere Saturday, April 11th at 12pm ET/PT on Food Network and stream the next day on HBO Max and discovery+.