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[02/06/18 - 11:20 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, February 6
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!


BLESS THIS MESS (FOX) - The Lake Bell-led comedy has received a pilot order from the network that will be shot in June for midseason consideration. Bell is directing the pilot from a script she co-wrote with Liz Meriwether. Katherine Pope will also executive produce for 20th Century Fox TV. The logline is as follows: "A newlywed couple gives up their drab and unfulfilling lives in NYC and moves to Nebraska to live a simpler life. It doesn't work out like they planned."
EMPIRE (FOX) - Kade Wise and Chet Hanks will both recur on the back half of the show's current season as Preacher Azal, "a politically conscious, Muslim rapper who piques Jamal Lyon's (Jussie Smollett) musical interest"; and Blake, "a blue-collar rapper, a skilled MC and lyricist," respectively. (Deadline.com)
GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC) - Scott Speedman ("Animal Kingdom") is bound for the veteran drama in a yet-to-be-revealed role. Said casting reportedly comes as the actor looks to depart the TNT drama after a few episodes this season. (Deadline.com)
GUESS WHO DIED (NBC) - Christopher Lloyd has been tapped for a role on the single-camera comedy pilot as Mort: "Crusty and grumpy, puttering along slowly in his golf cart at Las Esperanzado Senior Community, he's a man of mystery and wealth." (Deadline.com)
HISTORY OF THEM (CBS) - Caitlin McGee is the latest addition to the multi-camera/hybrid comedy as Skylar, "Adam's (Brett Dier) sister, a lawyer who knows what she wants and she wants it now." (Deadline.com)
KEVIN (PROBABLY) SAVES THE WORLD (ABC) - Leslie Jones will drop by an upcoming episode as Cindy, "a fellow celestial being like Yvette (Kimberly Hébert Gregory). When Yvette starts to experience some very human weaknesses, she recruits Cindy as her replacement - though Kevin (Jason Ritter) will quickly learn that Cindy's approach is a little more... intense." (THR.com)
LIL KEV (FOX, New!) - Comedian Kevin Hart will lend his voice to a potential animated series at the network about "a 12-year-old, pint-sized, optimistic, highly imaginative kid who navigates growing up in the crime filled inner-city of North Philly with the help and sometimes hindrance of his strong, quick-tempered mother, drug addicted father, pessimistic older brother, ex-con uncle and wise-ass talking dog." Wanda Sykes, Keith Robertson, Gerald "Slink" Johnson and Deon Cole will also voice the pilot presentation, from writers Michael Price and Matt Claybrooks. 20th Century Fox TV and Lionsgate TV are behind the project with Hart, Price and Jeff Clanagan executive producing and Claybrooks as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com)
MILLION LITTLE THINGS, A (ABC) - David Giuntoli ("Grimm") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot as Eddie, "the former front man of a local band turned music teacher and stay-at-home dad. His marriage is in trouble, and although he loves being a dad, he wonders what his life would have been like had he made different choices." (Deadline.com)
ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC) - Co-creator Adam Horowitz took to Twitter with the news the veteran drama won't return for an eighth season. (@AdamHorowitzLA)
OUTRIDER (Amazon, New!) - Arnold Schwarzenegger is attached to star and executive produce a new event series at the streaming service billed as "a mystery set in the Oklahoma Indian Territory in the late 1800s. It tells the dark and dangerous tale of a deputy who is not only tasked by a notoriously brutal judge with apprehending a legendary outlaw in the wilderness - but must also partner with a ruthless Federal Marshall to make sure justice is properly served. And as the story unfolds, not only will enemies become allies, but a series of unpredictable surprises will blur the line between good guys and bad." Trey Calloway and Mark Montgomery are behind the project with Mace Neufeld also executive producing. No studio was indicated. (Deadline.com)
TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO) - Mamie Gummer will recur on the upcoming season as Lucy Purcell, "a young mother of two at the center of a tragic crime." (THR.com)
UNTITLED BARRIS & BEAN PROJECT (ABC) - Alec Baldwin has opted not to star in the multi-camera comedy, about a stuck-in-his-ways, opinionated, fading TV star who moves in with his progressive daughter, her girlfriend and the child they are raising together. The actor however will remain an executive producer on the project alongside Kenya Barris and Julie Bean. Originally ordered directly to series, Baldwin's exit will roll back ABC's commitment to a pilot order. (THR.com)
UNTITLED STAR WARS LIVE-ACTION PROJECT (Disney OTT) - Walt Disney Company chairman and CEO Bob Iger further revealed its proposed live-action "Star Wars" TV series is one of several being considered. "We are developing not just one, but a few Star Wars series specifically for the Disney direct-to-consumer app. We've mentioned that and we are close to being able to reveal at least one of the entities that is developing that for us. Because the deal isn't completely closed, we can't be specific about that," he said during an earnings call Tuesday. "I think you'll find the level of talent... on the television front will be rather significant as well." (THR.com)
VIKINGS (History) - Eric Johnson has signed onto the show's sixth season as Erik, "a formidable warrior who is an outlaw living on his wits and martial skills." (Deadline.com)
VILLAGE, THE (NBC) - Moran Atias ("The Resident") is the first to board the drama pilot as Edda, "an Iranian immigrant who gets detained by ICE for having fraudulent citizenship papers." Her involvement is presumably in second position to the FOX drama. (Deadline.com)
YOUNG SHELDON (CBS) - Jason Alexander will guest on episode 16 this season as Mr. Lundy, "Medford High School's resident drama teacher who "boldly shepherds" Sheldon (Iain Armitage) into the world of acting." (Variety.com)





  [february 2018]  
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M
T
W
T
F
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· ANIMAL KINGDOM (TNT)
· BLESS THIS MESS (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EMPIRE (FOX)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· GRIMM (NBC)
· GUESS WHO DIED (NBC)
· HISTORY OF THEM (CBS)
· KEVIN (PROBABLY) SAVES THE WORLD (ABC)
· LIL KEV (BET PLUS)
· MANDALORIAN, THE (DISNEY PLUS)
· MILLION LITTLE THINGS, A (ABC)
· ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC)
· OUTRIDER (AMAZON)
· RESIDENT, THE (FOX)
· TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO)
· UNTITLED BARRIS & BEAN PROJECT (ABC)
· VIKINGS (AMAZON)
· VILLAGE, THE (NBC)
· YOUNG SHELDON (CBS)





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