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[03/16/16 - 11:16 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, March 16
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!
BULL (CBS/CTS; W: Paul Attanasio & Phil McGraw; D: Rodrigo Garcia) - Michael Weatherly ("NCIS") is set as the title role on the drama pilot, based on Dr. Phil McGraw's early days as head of one of the most prolific trial consulting services of all time. He'll play Dr. Jason Bull, "who runs Trial Sciences Inc., a company that analyzes juries to help develop defense strategies. He has a physicality and feral intelligence that make him magnetic to women, and a bruising candor." In addition, Rodrigo Garcia has signed on to direct and executive produce the hour. (Deadline.com)
HAVOC (FOX/20th; W: Chris Case; D: Malcolm D. Lee) - Comedian Bill Bellamy has been tapped as the title role on the single-camera comedy pilot, about Jay "Havoc" Hammond, an African American, ex-NFL lineman who recently moved in with his white wife Christy (Becki Newton) and her two oddball sons, as he struggles to win the most challenging game of his life: fatherhood. He'll play Jay, who "tries to respect Christy's wish that he let her be the disciplinarian, but when he feels like she's allowing the kids to get away with too much, he steps in with comic results - but manages to get through to the kids, too." (Deadline.com)
HIGH RISE (HBO, New!) - Cami DeLavigne (Blue Valentine) is developing a new drama at the pay channel "set in the world of high end New York architecture that follows a brilliant, but struggling architect who gets seduced by a billionaire's daughter as she takes him under her wing and launches his career into the world of celebrity architecture." The Firm's Jeff Kwatinetz and Josh Barry also serve as executive producers for The Weinstein Company-based project. (Deadline.com)
REAL GOOD PEOPLE (CBS/CTS; W: Stephnie Weir; D: James Burrows) - Julie White is the latest addition to the multi-camera comedy pilot, set in Texas and centering on a conservative, small town family who is forced to reconcile their family values when they discover their children's lives are less than perfect. She'll play Gloria, "the family matriarch and other half of what is possibly the world's happiest couple." (Deadline.com)
SPEECHLESS (ABC/20th; W: Scott Silveri; D: Christine Gernon) - Minnie Driver and Mason Cook have both been cast in the single-camera comedy pilot, about a family with a special-needs child described as being good at dealing with the challenges it faces and excellent at creating new ones. She'll play the mother, Maya. "Fiercely protective of her non-verbal son J.J., she makes it her mission to find the perfect school for him, repeatedly moving her family from town to town in the process." Cook then is set as Ray, "the youngest of the family's three boys." (Deadline.com)
TRANSYLVANIA (The CW/CTS; W: Hugh Sterbakov; D: Jason Ensler) - Sofia Pernas ("The Young and the Restless") has joined the cast of the period drama pilot, about Victoria Harker (Laura Brent), a headstrong young woman in search of her missing father ventures from NYC to Transylvania where she teams up with wrongfully disgraced Scotland Yard Inspector G. Lestrade (Luke Allen-Gale), and together they witness the births of the most famous monsters and villains in history. She'll presumably replace Amrita Acharia as Coriander, "an exotic gypsy, the leader of the matriarchal Szgany clan that runs the fleshpots of the Old City - the haunted spot where Vlad the Impaler once killed thousands of their tribe." (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED WOODY ALLEN PROJECT (Amazon; W/D: Woody Allen) - Michael Rapaport, Becky Ann Baker, Lewis Black, Margaret Ladd, Joy Behar, Rebecca Schull, David Harbour and Christine Ebersole have all booked roles on the upcoming series, details of which remain under wraps. Elaine May, John Magaro, Miley Cyrus and Rachel Brosnahan also star. Production began in New York this month with Erika Aronson executive producing and Helen Robin producing. (Deadline.com)
ZOOBIQUITY (FOX/20th; W: Jonathan Collier & Stephen Nathan; D: Kevin Bray) - Melissa Tang ("The Goodwin Games") has booked a role on drama pilot, which follows the unlikely pairing of Dr. Kara Martins (Marsha Thomason), a successful, driven cardiologist, as she risks career suicide by teaming with Dr. Lucas Cort (Peter Facinelli), a socially-challenged veterinarian who relates better to animals than people. She's on board as Dr. Diana Hess, "an earthy and free-spirited top resident pathologist at the hospital." (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Richard Brake will recur on "Ray Donovan" as "a dangerous and intimidating man who works for some very powerful people" (Deadline.com); Amin El Gamal is bound for FOX's "Prison Break" revival as Cyclops (Deadline.com); Annabeth Gish is likewise bound for "Halt and Catch Fire" as "a successful venture capitalist and divorced mother of two who is considering an investment in Mutiny" (Deadline.com); Judd Hirsch has been cast as Leonard's father on the season finale of "The Big Bang Theory" (THR.com); and Britt Robertson has scored an arc on Hulu's "Casual" as "Jordon's (Vincent Kartheiser) assistant, who is smart, sarcastic and has an agenda of her own" (THR.com).
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[02/27/26 - 01:28 PM]
Paramount to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery to Form Next-Generation Global Media and Entertainment Company
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances and approval by WBD shareholders, with a vote expected in the early spring of 2026.
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[02/27/26 - 12:30 PM]
The Jaw-Dropping Fifth and Final Season of Starz's Hit Drama Series, "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" Set to Premiere June 12
To date, the series has accumulated over 21 billion minutes viewed across all episodes and remains one of Starz's top-performing series.
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[02/27/26 - 09:12 AM]
Team USA Hockey Olympic Gold Medalists Hilary Knight, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes to Appear Together on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Monday, March 2
The episode will also feature guests Nicole Kidman, Luke Thompson and a cooking demo by Chef Mario Carbone.
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[02/27/26 - 08:12 AM]
Paul Wesley Joins Season Three of Hit Apple TV Series "The Buccaneers"
Wesley will play the role as Frank, a mysterious but charming stranger who arrives into Nan and Mrs. St. George's world, turning it upside down.
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[02/27/26 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Focus Features' "Hamnet" Beginning March 6
Directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao, the film tells the untold story behind one of Shakespeare's most memorable works and celebrates the power of imagination and the creative spirit.
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[02/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Debuts First-Look Image of Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus On Set of New Series "God of War"
The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions, and has received a two-season order.
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[02/27/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Netflix and Apple TV Join Forces to Stream Formula 1 Thrills
The entire new season of "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" is now on Netflix globally and Apple TV in the U.S.
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[02/26/26 - 08:46 PM]
"Dandelion": Netflix Adapts "Gintama" Creator Hideaki Sorachi's Debut Work into New Anime Series
Set within the Send-Off Department of the Japanese Angel Federation, Dandelion follows "Angels" Tetsuo Tanba and Misaki Kurogane as they scramble to track down Earthbound spirits - souls unable to move on and find peace - and gently guide them to pass on.
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[02/26/26 - 06:01 PM]
Video: "Still Shining" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After falling in love as teens, two young adults drift apart - only to reunite 10 years later and confront their heartbreak, growth and new challenges.
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[02/26/26 - 02:46 PM]
Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.
"The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid," said co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters.
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[02/26/26 - 02:19 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars to Season High with Best Audience in Over a Year
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 157 consecutive weeks across all key measures.
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[02/26/26 - 02:08 PM]
Britbox Unveils Spring Slate with "The Lady" Starring Mia McKenna-Bruce; Premieres March 18
Other highlights include the return of "Hope Street" and the debut of "Mudtown."
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[02/26/26 - 01:36 PM]
Paramount Comments on Warner Bros. Discovery Board's Determination of Paramount's Proposal as Superior
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, said: "We are pleased WBD's Board has unanimously affirmed the superior value of our offer, which delivers to WBD shareholders superior value, certainty and speed to closing."
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[02/26/26 - 01:16 PM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors Determines Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance Constitutes a "Company Superior Proposal"
Under the terms of the Netflix merger agreement, this notice triggers a four business day period during which Netflix has the right to propose revisions to the Netflix merger agreement so that the PSKY proposal would cease to constitute a "Company Superior Proposal."
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[02/26/26 - 01:00 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews Hit Joel McHale Series "Animal Control" for Season Five
In addition, the first three seasons of the series are currently streaming on Netflix, and the show has been sold in territories around the world.
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