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[08/12/19 - 11:50 PM]
Development Update: Monday, August 12
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!


CHARLEMAGNE (Quibi, New!) - Michael Hirst is developing a period drama at the short-form video service "based on the wild life of Charlemagne, emperor of the Romans, who united Eastern and Western Europe amidst navigating a salacious, complicated personal life." No studio or other auspices were given. (Deadline.com)
EMPIRE (FOX) - Keesha Sharp is slated to recur on the show's final season as Dr. Paula Wick, "a smart, inciteful woman who offers endless compassion but doesn't take sh*t from anyone." (Deadline.com)
FIREFLY LANE (Netflix) - Ben Lawson has been cast opposite Katherine Heigl in the upcoming drama, about Kate and Tully (Heigl), who meet as young girls and become inseparable best friends throughout thirty years of ups and downs, successes and failures, depression and disappointments. Lawson will play Kate's ex-husband Ryan, "who also has a long history working with Tully." Additionally, Peter O'Fallon will direct and executive produce the first episode alongside Maggie Friedman, Stephanie Germain and Lee Rose. (Deadline.com)
FLACK (Pop) - Martha Plimpton will guest on the new season as "the deceased mother of Anna Paquin's PR exec character." (TVLine.com)
HOW TO... WITH JOHN WILSON (HBO, New!) - John Wilson is set to star in a "half-hour, first person documentary series hosted by an anxious New Yorker (Wilson) who attempts to give everyday advice while dealing with his own personal issues. Acting as both cameraman and narrator, he covertly documents the lives of fellow New Yorkers in a comic odyssey of self-discovery, inevitably making the audience comfortable with the awkward contradictions of modern life." Wilson, Nathan Fielder and Clark Reinking are the executive producers of the project, which has been ordered to series. (Variety.com)
PANIC (Amazon) - Lauren Oliver, Lexa Hillyer and Lynley Bird's Glasstown Entertainment has signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios. The pact will give the company first crack at their output, which includes the upcoming YA drama series based on Oliver's novel. (Deadline.com)
SAME TIME, NEXT CHRISTMAS (ABC) - George Newbern, Nia Vardalos, Phil Morris and Dannah Lockett have all scored roles on the holiday movie, which stars Lea Michele, Bryan Greenberg and Charles Michael Davis. Newbern will play Woody Harrison, "Olivia's father, a laid-back easygoing southern California man who is still deeply in love with Faye, his wife of more than 30 years." Vardalos then is Faye Henderson, "Olivia's mother, a fit, attractive woman, a vegetarian who does yoga and keeps her husband Woody on a healthy regimen as well." And Morris will play Alec Cutler, "Jeff's dad, an energetic, funny guy who was widowed early on, made an unfortunate second marriage, and has kept resolutely single ever since"; with Lockett as Madelyn, "Jeff's adorable little girl, who is initially upset to be in Hawaii for Christmas missing out on her white Christmas in Vermont." (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED NATHAN FIELDER PROJECT (HBO, New!) - Nathan Fielder is attached to write, direct and star in an untitled comedy pilot at the pay channel as part of a one-year overall deal. Clark Reinking as well as Rise Management's Christie Smith and Dan McManus will also executive produce alongside Fielder. No other details were given about the project. (Variety.com)





  [august 2019]  
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· CHARLEMAGNE (QUIBI)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EMPIRE (FOX)
· FIREFLY LANE (NETFLIX)
· FLACK (AMAZON)
· HOW TO WITH JOHN WILSON (HBO)
· PANIC (AMAZON)
· REHEARSAL, THE (HBO)
· SAME TIME, NEXT CHRISTMAS (ABC)





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