or


[07/27/18 - 11:43 PM]
Development Update: Friday, July 27
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!


BESTIES/BLACK-ISH/GROWN-ISH (Various) - As expected, Kenya Barris has formally exited his overall deal with ABC Studios as he transitions to a new pact with Netflix. Barris will nevertheless remain an executive producer on all three series with Jonathan Groff and Kenny Smith overseeing "black-ish"; Julie Bean continuing to run "grown-ish"; and co-creator Ranada Shepard behind newcomer "Besties." (Deadline.com)
CENTRAL PARK (Apple) - Regina Hicks has been tapped as co-showrunner of Loren Bouchard and Josh Gad's animated series as part of two-year overall deal with producer 20th Century Fox Television. Apple made a two-season, 26-episode, straight-to-series order to the project - which tells the story of a how a family of caretakers, who live and work in Central Park, end up saving the park, and basically the world - back in March. (Deadline.com)
CHICAGO FIRE (NBC) - Annie Ilonzeh and Steven Boyer will both recur on the show's seventh season as Emily Foster," described as an intelligent, easygoing and confident new paramedic"; and Jerry Gorsch, "the recently named Assistant Deputy Commissioner at the CFD." (Variety.com)
CHICAGO PD (NBC) - Rob Morrow will drop by the upcoming season as Evan Gilchrist, "an outspoken critic of the police department who is forced to call on CPD for help when his teen daughter goes missing." (TVLine.com)
DOUBT (CBS) - Co-creators Tony Phelan and Joan Rater have signed a two-year overall deal with Universal Television where they will develop new series projects for the studio. Said duo were previously set up at CBS Television Studios. (THR.com)
EMPIRE (FOX) - Toby Onwumere is bound for the upcoming season as Kai, "a war correspondent and also Jamal's (Jussie Smollett) love interest." (Deadline.com)
FBI (CBS) - Greg Plageman has joined the freshman drama as showrunner. He'll take over from Craig Turk, who has bowed out of the series over creative differences. (Deadline.com)
KILLING EVE (BBC America) - Emerald Fennell has been tapped as lead writer for the show's second season, taking over for the ever-busy Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Waller-Bridge will continue as an executive producer on the new season, which recently began production. Additionally, Lisa Bruhlmann and Francesca Gregorini have signed on as directors alongside returning executive producer Damon Thomas. (Variety.com)
LETHAL WEAPON (FOX) - Maggie Lawson is set for a recurring role on the revamped series as Natalie Flynn, "an emergency room surgeon and Wesley's (Seann William Scott) ex-girlfriend. The two met in an active war zone years earlier, where Natalie served as a medic, and had a brief romance that resulted in a child. Over a decade later, Cole once again is a regular in Natalie's ER - he's moved to Los Angeles to get closer to both her and their kid." (Deadline.com)
ONE DAY AT A TIME (Netflix) - Famed creator Norman Lear and his ACT III Productions banner have signed a two-year first look deal with producer Sony Pictures Television. It's understood the pact includes the option to re-imagine titles from Lear's extensive library, including "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times," among others. (Deadline.com)
PSYCH (USA) - James Roday has inked a one-year first-look deal with producer Universal Cable Productions. The pact gives the studio first crack at the actor-director-writer's behind-the-camera output. (THR.com)
SUPERGIRL (The CW) - Rhona Mitra and Robert Baker are both bound for the upcoming season as Mercy Graves, "Lex Luthor's longtime bodyguard"; and Mercy's brother, Otis Graves. This incarnation of Mercy Graves is detailed as "an ex-CADMUS agent who has always believed in human exceptionalism. But with both Lex and Lillian in prison, Mercy is stepping out of the Luthor shadow and running her own show." Baker's Otis Graves "is Mercy's defacto right hand man. What he lacks in brains, he makes up for with his savant-like abilities to assassinate aliens." (Deadline.com)
TIME BANDITS (Apple, New!) - A small screen take on Terry Gilliam's 1980 fantasy film is being developed by the company. Anonymous Content, Paramount Television and Media Rights Capital are all behind the project, which "follows the time-traveling adventures of an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin who, one night, stumbles on six dwarfs who emerge from his closet. They are former workers of the Supreme Being who have stolen a map that charts all the holes in the space-time fabric, using it to hop from one historical era to the next in order to steal riches." Gilliam will be a non-writing executive producer on the project, additional auspices of which were not given. (Deadline.com)





  [july 2018]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· BLACK-ISH (ABC)
· CENTRAL PARK (APPLE TV PLUS)
· CHICAGO FIRE (NBC)
· CHICAGO PD (NBC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DOUBT (CBS)
· EMPIRE (FOX)
· FBI (CBS)
· GROWN-ISH (FREEFORM)
· KILLING EVE (BBC AMERICA)
· LETHAL WEAPON (FOX)
· ONE DAY AT A TIME (POP)
· PSYCH (USA)
· SUPERGIRL (CW)
· TIME BANDITS (APPLE TV PLUS)
· UNRELATED (FREEFORM)





[08/29/25 - 10:46 AM]
National Geographic Documentary Films Announces Global Acquisition of Streaming Rights to Werner Herzog Documentary "Ghost Elephants" Following Venice World Premiere
The documentary will make its U.S. premiere at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend.

[08/29/25 - 10:08 AM]
"Prison Break" Turns 20: Executive Producer Dawn Olmstead Curates Episode Collections on Hulu
It's been 20 years since Michael Scofield entered Fox River State Penitentiary on a mission: break brother Lincoln out.

[08/29/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "French Lover" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a jaded actor meets a down-on-her-luck waitress in Paris, their unexpected love story begins - but will it survive the glare of the spotlight?

[08/29/25 - 08:02 AM]
Video: Prime Video Unveils Paris Trailer and New Cast for the Final Episodes of "The Summer I Turned Pretty"
Joining the series in recurring roles are Corinna Brown, Fernando Cattori, Isaline Prevost Radeff, and Jahz Armando.

[08/29/25 - 05:43 AM]
"Sounds of Summer" - Feel-Good, Music-Packed Movie About Swedish Pop Icons Gyllene Tider Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, September 18, 2025 on Viaplay
Directed by Per Simonsson and named after the band's most enduring hit, "Sounds of Summer" is a breezy, very inspiring 97-minute ride that follows Gessle from small-town outsider to pop trailblazer.

[08/29/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "RIV4LRIES" - Official Trailer - Netflix
At a middle school in Pisa, no one has ever challenged the cool kids - until new girl Terry arrives with bold ideas and the rivalries begin.

[08/29/25 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind: UK" Season 2 - The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Who's saying "I still do?" Emma and Matt host this season's couples and special guests as tea is spilled and secrets are revealed in a fiery reunion.

[08/28/25 - 02:03 PM]
Wonder Project Announces October 5 Streaming Subscription Launch Date on Prime Video and Premiere Date for "House of David" Season Two; Unveils First Look Images of the Hit Drama Series
Season Two of the biblical drama series House of David from Wonder Project and Amazon MGM Studios follows the aftermath of the battle between David and Goliath and David's rise to the throne.

[08/28/25 - 12:12 PM]
Video: "The Hospital" - A Comedy Improv Sketch Show - Premieres Wednesday, September 10
The Hospital offers a "behind-the-scenes" look at what happens when you mix improv comedy with total medical negligence.

[08/28/25 - 11:02 AM]
Shudder Launches Biggest Ever Programming Event "Season of Screams" - Featuring a Monster Lineup of New Films, Series and Live Watch Parties on Shudder TV - From September 1 Through December 31
Shudder's "Season of Screams" features highly anticipated films such as the acclaimed Dangerous Animals, a new installment in the popular "V/H/S" franchise - "V/H/S/Halloween" - and the found footage breakout hits "House on Eden" and "Hell House LLC: Lineage."

[08/28/25 - 11:01 AM]
MGM+ Greenlights "Words + Music," Inspired by the Critically Hailed Audible Original Series, Featuring Grammy Winners Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, John Legend and Alanis Morissette
"Words + Music" is set to premiere this fall on MGM+ in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

[08/28/25 - 10:06 AM]
ESPN Unveils Deep Roster of NBA Game Commentators for 2025-26 Season
Veteran analyst Tim Legler will join ESPN's lead NBA broadcast team, which includes Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Breen, analyst and NBA Champion Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters.

[08/28/25 - 10:05 AM]
HBO Original Two-Part Documentary "Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television" Debuts September 9
The project takes audiences on a two-part journey through the history of Black representation on television, showcasing how Black artists and creators both shaped and revolutionized the medium while confronting the systemic challenges that have often undermined their contributions.

[08/28/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: National Geographic Documentary Films Unveils Trailer for "Lost in the Jungle," the Unbelievable Story of Four Indigenous Children Who Survived a Plane Crash in the Amazon, Ahead of World Premiere at Telluride Film Festival
For the first time ever, the four Indigenous children who survived the Colombian plane crash on May 1, 2023 - and then endured 40 days alone in the jungle - share their extraordinary story of survival, told in their own words.

[08/28/25 - 09:38 AM]
Video: Tubi Debuts Trailer for Stand-Up Comedy Special "Rel Talk" from Lil Rel Howery
"It feels amazing to bring this special to my city, my people, and now to the millions of folks watching on Tubi," said Howery.