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[09/10/15 - 11:31 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, September 10
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!
CANARY (ABC, New!) - Zack Estrin ("The Whispers") is developing a new drama at the Alphabet about "a woman who risks everything to help a whistleblower come forward with secret information that will impact the lives of millions." Said effort comes from ABC Studios and Momentum Television with the latter's Nick Hamm and Sabrina Eisenstadt also serving as executive producers. (Deadline.com)
CHAMPION: THE JEFF BEEKMAN STORY (FOX, New!) - John Aboud and Michael Colton (Penguins of Madagascar) have scored a put pilot commitment from the network for a single-camera comedy which "chronicles the everyday experiences of a hyper-competitive but perpetual underdog dad presented like a sports documentary, with commentary and analysis." The project is set up at ABC Studios with Mila Kunis, Susan Curtis, Cami Curtis and Lisa Sterbakov of Orchard Farm Productions also serving as executive producers. (Deadline.com)
CRUSADERS, THE (FOX, New!) - Actor Idris Elba and writer/director Thomas Ikimi (Legacy) are set to re-team for a new drama at the network about "an extended family of second-generation Africans living in the U.S. who specialize in locating and returning valuable objects stolen from Africa during colonial occupation." Legendary Television-based Di Bonaventura Television is behind the project with Green Door Pictures' Elba, T&T Studios' Ikimi and Di Bonaventura's Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Dan McDermott serving as executive producers. (Deadline.com)
DOWNWARD DOG (ABC, New!) - Samm Hodges and Michael Killen have received an off-cycle pilot production order from the Alphabet for a single-camera comedy about "a woman and her dog." Legendary Television and ABC Studios are behind the project, which began as a web series produced by Animal Media Group. Mosaic Media Group's Jimmy Miller and Sam Hansen and Animal's Kathy Dziubek are also serving as executive producers. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED LENA WAITHE PROJECT (Showtime/Fox 21; W: Lena Waithe; D: Clark Johnson) - Tequan Richmond, Aisha Hinds, Alex Henderson, Sierra McClain, Olivia Dawson and Jason Weaver are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, a relevant, timely and distinctive coming-of-age story of a young African American male in which just growing up can be a matter of life and death. Richmond will play Emmett, "an attractive, young African-American teen who believes his sexual prowess is what defines him"; with Hinds as Jada, "Emmett's young, single mother"; Henderson as Kevin, "an adolescent whose childlike innocence collides with his pent up aggression"; McClain as Jerrika, "a tightly wound restaurant manager"; Dawson as "the mother of two of the main characters Brandon and Coogie"; and Weaver as Ronnie, "a street corner philosopher and a fixture in the neighborhood, who must go to extraordinary lengths to try and win back the love of his life." Production is set to begin in Chicago later this year with Elwood Reid recently added as showrunner. (Deadline.com)
URBAN COWBOY (FOX/20th/Paramount; W/D: Craig Brewer) - Nathalie Kelley ("UnREAL") and Lindsey Gort ("Impastor") are both bound for the network's modern reimagining of the 1980 movie, about star-crossed young lovers Kyle (Alfonso Herrera) and Gaby as they pursue their dreams and passions through the sweat of line dancing in honky tonks, the grime of the oil refineries and the glamour of modern Texas. Kelley will play the aforementioned Gaby, "the gorgeous, feisty, independent minded, bright and resourceful daughter of Marshall (Jim Belushi), the owner of Gilley's, a super-popular Houston honky tonk." Gort then is set as Pam, "the beautiful daughter of one of Houston's most powerful families who captures Kyle's attention." Bryana Salaz and Edward James Olmos also star. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - HBO's Bernie Madoff docudrama "The Wizard of Lies" has added Nathan Darrow (as Andrew Madoff), Kathrine Narducci (Eleanor Squillari), Steve Coulter (Martin London), Kristen Connolly (Stephanie Madoff) and Diana Henriques (herself) to the cast (Deadline.com); Vivica A. Fox has been cast as Cookie's (Taraji P. Henson) older sister on "Empire" (Deadline.com); David Slade has been tapped to direct the pilot and several more episodes of Starz's "American Gods" (Deadline.com); and Christopher Stanley will recur on "American Crime" as "a handsome and sophisticated businessman and love interest to Felicity Huffman's character" (THR.com).
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[06/04/26 - 11:01 AM]
FX's "The Marriage Plot" Limited Series Ordered for FX and Hulu
Sadie Sink is attached to star and executive produce the project, which will be adapted from the acclaimed novel by Jeffrey Eugenides.
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[06/04/26 - 10:09 AM]
Patricia Heaton to Star in and Executive Produce MPI Original Films' New Legal Drama Pilot "Public Interest"
Set inside a nonprofit public interest law firm in Washington, D.C., "Public Interest" follows Ingrid Erickson, an attorney unexpectedly thrust into the firm's top leadership role after its longtime president suffers a sudden heart attack, and her unconventional team as they fight for everyday people facing impossible odds.
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[06/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Star-Studded Line-Up of Performers and Presenters Revealed for the "79th Annual Tony Awards" Live Sunday, June 7 on CBS
Rachel Zegler, who will return to Broadway next Spring, will deliver a special tribute to "A Chorus Line," which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
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[06/04/26 - 09:40 AM]
Joshua Jackson Joins "Your Friends & Neighbors" Season 3
He's no stranger to a tight-knit neighborhood.
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[06/04/26 - 09:31 AM]
"Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert" Premieres in the U.S. on Disney+ and Hulu June 26
The nearly two-hour live concert film was recorded during the legendary singer-songwriter's "A Quiet Celebration Tour."
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[06/04/26 - 09:01 AM]
NBC to Air "Alan Jackson: The Last Show"
Filmed before a sold-out crowd at Nashville's Nissan Stadium, the special will capture a once-in-a-generation farewell from one of country music's most beloved and influential artists.
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[06/04/26 - 09:01 AM]
Ms. Lauryn Hill to Receive the Living Legend Icon Award at the "BET Awards" 2026 Sponsored by Sprite
Culture's Biggest Night will broadcast live on Sunday, June 28 at 8 PM ET/PT, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Druski as host.
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[06/04/26 - 09:00 AM]
Prime Video Releases First-Look Images and Premiere Date for Season Two of "Batman: Caped Crusader"
The highly anticipated returning animated noir series from DC Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Bad Robot Productions, and 6th & Idaho will premiere all 10 episodes on Friday, July 31.
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[06/04/26 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock Orders "The Break-In," New Mystery Series from Carnival Films and Writer Megan Gallagher
In the aftermath of a devastating home invasion, Alice Rathbone refuses to accept that the tragic event was simply random.
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[06/04/26 - 08:05 AM]
Food Network Fires Up July with Four All-New Series, One Brand New Tournament and a Fan-Favorite Return
The BBQ charcoals will be glowing, engines will be revving, and the drama will be scorching this July on Food Network where new and returning series will combine for the network's hottest summer yet.
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[06/04/26 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix's "Devil May Cry" Renewed for Third and Final Season!
Across two seasons, "Devil May Cry" has appeared on the Netflix Global Top 10 for four weeks with season 1 accumulating 21.7M views in 2025 and season 2 already accumulating 6.4M views in just two weeks.
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[06/04/26 - 07:30 AM]
Tubi Announces Multi-Project Slate with Kevin "KevOnStage" Fredericks
Tubi is deepening the collaboration across formats and genres, spanning two new seasons of "Safe Space," a new scripted workplace comedy as well as his first stand-up special and original feature films on the platform.
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[06/04/26 - 07:15 AM]
ESPN Adds Former NBA and WNBA Official Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling as Rules Analyst
In her new role, Holtkamp-Sterling will provide real-time analysis and context around officiating decisions, replay reviews and rules interpretations, giving fans a deeper understanding of some of the game's most pivotal moments.
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[06/04/26 - 06:30 AM]
Ryan Leaf Named USA Sports' Lead Analyst for Inaugural Season of Pac-12 Football Coverage on USA Network
USA Network's 22-game slate features multiple appearances by all eight Pac-12 schools with at least one home game for every team, showcasing each unique gameday experience throughout the Pac-12.
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[06/04/26 - 04:01 AM]
Great American Media Announces Two Signature Holiday Celebrations - Great American Christmas in July on Great American Family and GFAM+, Miracles of Christmas (NEW) on Great American Faith & Living, Beginning June 26
Headlining Great American Christmas in July is the World Premiere of, "The Trouble with Mistletoe," starring Jillian Murray and Brett Varvel.
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