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[09/16/19 - 11:45 PM]
Development Update: Monday, September 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!
BARRACUDAS (ABC, New!) - Cheryl Hines and Rachael Harris is set topline a single-camera comedy at the Alphabet about sisters Becky and Bernie Byrnes, "two incredibly different, spectacular divorce lawyers who spend their lives getting people out of dysfunctional relationships but who can't get out of their own dysfunctional relationship - their relationship with each other." Christine Pietrosh and Jessica Goldstein are behind the 20th Century Fox Television-based project, which has a put pilot commitment. Small Dog Picture Company's Jason Winer and Jon Radler are also executive producing alongside the quartet. (Deadline.com)
BLESS THIS MESS (ABC) - Langston Kerman is joining the cast of the show's sophomore season as Brandon, "Constance's (Pam Grier) son who returns from the military where he was a bomb diffuser." In addition, Lennon Parham's Kay Bowman and David Koechner's Beau Bowman have been promoted to series regulars. (Deadline.com)
CITY HALL (FOX, New!) - Bruce Romans has sold a potential drama to the network about "the lives of the three most powerful people in Los Angeles: Mayor Ben Bautista, a rising Democratic political star; his loyal Chief of Staff, Maya Phillips; and the Deputy Mayor, Jack Cavanaugh." Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Jeff Gorell is also on board to executive produce the FOX Entertainment-based hour, as are SideCar's Gail Berman; and The Nacelle Company's Matt Ochacher, Michael Pelmont and Brian Volk-Weiss. (Deadline.com)
DICKINSON (Apple TV+) - John Mulaney will guest on the upcoming comedy as writer Henry David Thoreau. (TVLine.com)
FIREFLY LANE (Netflix) - Yael Yurman, Jon Ecker and Brandon Jay McLaren have all scored roles on the Katherine Heigl/Sarah Chalke-led drama. Yurman will play Marah, "Kate's daughter, a rebel just starting to come out of her shell"; with Ecker as Max Brody, "a sexy and big-hearted EMT who shares a one night stand with Tully"; and McLaren as Travis, "a handsome widowed father whose daughter attends the same school as Kate's (Chalke) daughter, Marah, and finds himself bonding with Kate." (Deadline.com)
GOOD GIRLS (NBC) - Ione Skye is set to recur on the new season as Gayle, "a go-getter and a successful saleswoman at the hot tub store where Dean (Matthew Lillard) now works. She has the industry figured out, and is willing to let Dean in on some secrets to give him a boost, but their work relationship gets complicated when Dean is tempted to fall back into his old ways." (THR.com)
HEELS (Starz) - Alexander Ludwig has been tapped to star opposite Stephen Amell in the drama, about "a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals, Jack (Amell) and Ace (Ludwig) Spade, war over their late father's legacy. In the ring, Ludwig's Ace Spade is the beloved hero and star of the DWA. Things are more difficult in the real world, where he struggles to reconcile his town idol status with his insecurities and demons." (Deadline.com)
JUPITER'S LEGACY (Netflix) - Steven S. DeKnight has departed the superhero series as showrunner over creative differences. Production is underway on the eight-episode first season, with filming completed on about four episodes. The search is underway for a replacement. (Deadline.com)
KINGKILLER CHRONICLE, THE (Showtime) - The pay channel has passed on its proposed adaptation of Patrick Rothfuss's global bestselling contemporary fantasy trilogy from Lin-Manuel Miranda and John Rogers. Producer Lionsgate Television, which has multiple produced scripts, plans to shop the project elsewhere. (Deadline.com)
MOODY CHRISTMAS, A (FOX) - Jay Baruchel has been tapped to star in the holiday event series as Sean Jr, "the oldest Moody child, still living at home, sleeping in his old room, he is the dreamer, the screw-up. A maintenance worker at a hockey rink, he's immature and impulsive, with a crazy grandiose get-rich-quick plan." (Deadline.com)
MOSQUITO COAST, THE (Apple TV+, New!) - Justin Theroux is attached to star in a new drama series at the streaming service based on Paul Theroux's novel-turned-feature about "an idealist who uproots his family to Latin America." Writer Neil Cross and director Rupert Wyatt are behind the Fremantle-based project, with Cross and Tom Bissell set to pen the debut installment. Veritas Entertainment Group's Alan Gasmer, Peter Jaysen and Bob Bookman will also executive produce, as will Ed McDonnell. No other specifics were given. (Deadline.com)
MR. ROBOT (USA) - Ashlie Atkinson has been tapped for the show's final season as Janice, "a chatty taxidermist with a peculiar sense of humor." (Deadline.com)
NO GOOD NICK (Netflix) - David H. Steinberg posted to social media the streaming service has passed on a second season for the comedy series. (@DavidHSteinberg, 9/15)
OLD MAN, THE (FX) - Amy Brenneman has signed onto the Jeff Bridges-led drama pilot as Zoe: "Picking up the pieces after a bruising divorce, Zoe rents a room to Dan Chase (Bridges) not knowing he's on the run. But when the truth is revealed... she'll draw on reserves she never knew she had in order to survive the day." (Deadline.com)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (NBC) - Newcomer Shane Gillis has been terminated from the series, the network confirmed today. "After talking with Shane Gillis, we have decided that he will not be joining SNL," an SNL spokesperson said on behalf of Lorne Michaels. "We want SNL to have a variety of voices and points of view within the show, and we hired Shane on the strength of his talent as comedian and his impressive audition for SNL. We were not aware of his prior remarks that have surfaced over the past few days. The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable. We are sorry that we did not see these clips earlier, and that our vetting process was not up to our standard." (Deadline.com)
SHAMELESS (Showtime) - Constance Zimmer is bound for the new season in the recurring role of Claudia, "a wealthy, sophisticated woman whom Debbie encounters at a hotel bar. Claudia's assumptions about Debbie send her into an existential crisis." (Deadline.com)
SHANTARAM (Apple TV+) - Charlie Hunnam, Richard Roxburgh and Radhika Apte are set to star in the Gregory David Roberts novel-turned-series, which "tells the story of Lin (Hunnam), a man on the run from an Australian prison looking to get lost in the teeming city of Bombay. Cut off from family and friends by distance and fate, he finds a new life in the slums, bars and underworld of India." Roxburgh will play Marty Nightingalem, "who works for the Australian Federal Police and is part of a small, elite unit trained for the pursuit and capture of escaped convicts"; with Apte as Kavita, "a driven Indian journalist looking for answers." Additionally, Justin Kurzel will direct the first two installments of the 10-episode series, while Dave Erickson has joined as an executive producer, succeeding David Manson. Eric Warren Singer, Steve Golin, Nicole Clemens, Andrea Barron and Richard Sharkey likewise executive produce. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED KINBERG & WEIL PROJECT (Apple TV+) - Chad Feehan has bowed out as showrunner of the upcoming sci-fi drama series due to his first position duties on Amazon's "The Hunt." (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED LAUPER & LYNCH PROJECT (Netflix, New!) - Cyndi Lauper and Jane Lynch are attached to star in a new comedy series at the streaming service from Stephen Engel and Carol Leifer. No specifics were given about the Skydance Television-based project, which would follow the 60-something duo "looking for our next act and we haven't had children." (Deadline.com, 9/15)
UNTITLED OPRAH WINFREY PROJECT (Apple TV+) - Directors Dawn Porter and Asif Kapadia; showrunner Kahane Cooperman; and fellow executive producers Jon Kamen and Dave Sirulnick have signed onto the documentary series, which aims to dispel the stigma surrounding mental health. They'll work alongside Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex on the project, to be produced by RadicalMedia. (Deadline.com)
WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW, THE (Syndication) - Debmar-Mercury has cleared the veteran talk show for two more seasons on the Fox Television Stations Group, taking it through the 2021-22 season. (Deadline.com)
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[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.
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[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.
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[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.
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[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.
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[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.
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[10/23/25 - 11:28 AM]
"High Potential" Rises to Season High as Show Nears Fall Finale
ABC's popular drama rose to a multiplatform season high in Total Viewers (12.50 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.31 rating) after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.
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[10/23/25 - 11:13 AM]
USA Network Renews "The Rainmaker" for Second Season
Across the first nine premiere episodes of the season, "The Rainmaker" has averaged 1.3 million total viewers.
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[10/23/25 - 11:06 AM]
Global Box Office Sensation "Wicked" Arrives Nov. 19 on NBC
The NBC telecast of "Wicked" leads up to the November 21 premiere of "Wicked: For Good," the epic finale to the global cultural phenomenon.
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[10/23/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Documentary "My Nightmare Stalker: The Eva LaRue Story"
The powerful two-part documentary premieres Thursday, November 13, exclusively on Paramount+.
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[10/23/25 - 11:00 AM]
What's New on HBO Max This November
New original series include "I Love LA" and "The Seduction"; as well as documentaries "Alex vs ARod," "One to One: John & Yoko," and "Thoughts & Prayers."
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[10/23/25 - 10:31 AM]
Definitive Kevin Durant Doc Series Underway for Netflix from OBB Pictures and Boardroom
Production will continue shooting into the current season and for years beyond as he approaches the final chapters of his career.
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[10/23/25 - 10:04 AM]
"Merry Little Mystery" - Starring Jordin Sparks & Keon Alexander Streaming on The Roku Channel November 19th
Natasha Maxwell spends the holidays at her grandparent's house in the tiny town of Roundtop, where she grew up.
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[10/23/25 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "One to One: John & Yoko" Debuts November 14
A rare and revelatory inside look at John Lennon and Yoko Ono's first year in New York City in the early 1970s, the film delivers an immersive, cinematic experience that brings to life a chapter of explosive creativity and political activism in their lives.
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[10/23/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday" (2025) Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Celebrity bakers Baron Davis, Cheri Oteri, Oliver Hudson, and Janelle James swap the spotlight for spatulas, as they take on three holiday-themed challenges and vie for the coveted Star Baker crown.
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[10/23/25 - 09:01 AM]
Country Music Icon Reba McEntire Set to Take the Stage as Host of "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" Special
The annual two-hour telecast will air live Wednesday, December 3 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and simulcast on Peacock.
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