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[10/29/15 - 11:37 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, October 29
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!


13 REASONS WHY (Netflix, New!) - Jay Asher's novel is being eyed as a 13-episode series at the streaming service. Said effort would "follow a boy named Clay through an emotional night when he receives a shoe box of cassette tapes from his late classmate and crush Hannah, after she recently committed suicide. On the tapes, which are mailed with instructions to pass along from one student to another, Hannah explains to twelve peers how they each played a role in her death, by giving thirteen reasons explaining why she took her life." Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Brian Yorkey is on board to pen the pilot with Selena Gomez, Mandy Teefey, Michael Sugar, Steve Golin, Kicked to the Curb's Kristel Laiblin and Anonymous Content's Joy Gorman Wettels also among the executive producers for Paramount Television. (Variety.com)


BROOKLYN ANIMAL CONTROL (USA/UCP; W: J.T. Petty; D: Brian Kirk) - Clea Duvall has been tapped for a role on the Stephen Graham-led drama pilot, based on the comic book of the same name which follows the inner workings of a secret subdivision of the NYPD that functions as social services for some of the city's most unique citizens - werewolves. She'll play Madeleine Holmlund, "current Den Mother Vilhelmiina's (Jane Alexander) eldest daughter, Madeleine is heir apparent to lead her people. But when challenged for dominance by her uncle Theo (James Callis), Madeleine's forced to finally immerse herself in the violent underworld politics of the city." (Deadline.com)


HEAVEN CHANGES EVERYTHING (NBC, New!) - Todd and Sonya Burpo's sequel book to "Heaven Is for Real" is being developed as a drama at the Peacock. Randy Brown (Trouble with the Curve) is penning the Sony Pictures Television-based project, which follows "a small-town pastor who must find the courage and faith to lead his parishioners after the news of his son's visit to Heaven due to a near-death experience begins to capture worldwide attention." Joe Roth, T.D. Jakes and DeVon Franklin will executive produce alongside Brown and the Burpos. (Deadline.com)


I'LL HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING (ABC, New!) - Aisha Muharrar ("Parks & Recreation") has sold a new single-camera comedy to the Alphabet about "a unique approach to self-actualization in which a writer emulates the lives of America's celebrities, notable figures and icons in her weekly column. The misguided exploits of her equally clueless friends add to the pain and humor of becoming an adult." The project is based on Rebecca Harrington's book, subtitled "My Adventures in Celebrity Dieting." Warner Bros. Television is behind the half-hour, which has a penalty attached. (THR.com)


MIDNIGHT, TEXAS (NBC, New!) - Monica Owusu-Breen ("Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.") is developing a small screen take on the three-book series by Charlaine Harris, about Midnight, Texas, "where the real world and the supernatural collide in a dangerous, sexy, place full of dark secrets and mysterious people. It's a small town where asking the wrong question or overstaying your welcome could get you killed. Stop at the one traffic light and everything looks normal; stay awhile and learn the truth." The project has been set up at Universal Television-based David Janollari Entertainment with Janollari also executive producing. (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED RAY KELLY PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Michael Finch and Jeffrey Nachmanoff are set to team for a new drama at the Alphabet about "two Joint Terrorism Task Force Agents, a FBI Special Agent and a NYPD detective, both very different people with secrets who are thrown together to solve the terror crime of the century before it happens. Their target is a man who knows everything about terror because he was designed to sow it. Two of these people know each other intimately - but not the ones you think, or in the way you think." The project is loosely inspired by the life of Ray Kelly, "the longest serving Police Commissioner in New York City's history." Nachmanoff will also direct and executive produce alongside Finch, Mark Gordon and Nick Pepper of the Mark Gordon Co. for ABC Studios. Kelly then will receive a producing credit. (Variety.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - ABC has ordered three additional episodes of its Tuesday comedy "The Muppets" bringing its season total to 16 (Deadline.com); FOX has trimmed its order for midseason drama "Lookinglass" from 13 to 11 episodes (Deadline.com); Fox Television Stations has cleared a third and a fourth season of syndicated talk show "The Real" (Deadline.com); Jennifer Jason Leigh is the latest actress bound for Showtime's "Twin Peaks" revival (Deadline.com); and Matt Walsh will return to "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" as weekend shifter Det. Lohank (EW.com).






  [october 2015]  
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· 13 REASONS WHY (NETFLIX)
· BROOKLYN ANIMAL CONTROL (USA)
· BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (NBC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· HEAVEN CHANGES EVERYTHING (NBC)
· I'LL HAVE WHAT SHE'S HAVING (ABC)
· MARVEL'S AGENTS OF SHIELD (ABC)
· MIDNIGHT, TEXAS (NBC)
· MUPPETS, THE (ABC)
· PARKS & RECREATION (NBC)
· REAL, THE (SYNDICATION)
· SECOND CHANCE (FOX)
· TWIN PEAKS (SHOWTIME)
· UNTITLED RAY KELLY PROJECT (ABC)





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