or


[01/16/20 - 11:35 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, January 16
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!


ADVENTURE ZONE, THE (Peacock, New!) - The streaming service is developing a new comedy series from Adam Higgs. The project is detailed as: "Based on the McElroy Family's wildly popular Dungeons & Dragons podcast and #1 NY Times Bestselling graphic novel series - The Adventure Zone is a side-splitting and heart-filled fantasy animated comedy series that follows an unlikely, poorly equipped trio and their beleaguered Dungeon Master as they reluctantly embark on a quest to save their world." Clint McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy and Griffin McElroy also serve as executive producers. No studio was indicated. (Deadline.com)
CLEAN SLATE (Peacock, New!) - George Wallace and Laverne Cox are attached to star in a potential comedy at the streaming service. Its logine is as follows: "Old school car wash owner, Henry, is thrilled that his estranged child is returning to Alabama after 17 years. However, Henry has a lot of soul searching to do when the child he thought was a son returns as the determined, proud, trans woman, Desiree." The pair co-wrote the script with Dan Ewen and will executive produce alongside Norman Lear and Brent Miller for Sony Pictures Television. Paul Hilepo produces. (Deadline.com)
DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (The CW) - Joanna Vanderham is slated to recur on the series as "a ruthless killing machine with daggers made of bones. Wherever she goes, death follows." (Deadline.com)
DIVISION ONE (Peacock, New!) - Maggie Carey and Julia Brownell are set to team for a potential comedy at the streaming service. The logline is as follows: "Division One is a coming-of-age comedy about an underdog women's collegiate soccer team that gets a new female coach - a former professional soccer player who's fallen from grace - and must decide whether or not they're going to take the risk of trying to be great." Universal Television-based Paper Kite Productions is behind the project, to be directed by Carey, with Amy Poehler, Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle, Kim Lessing and 3 Arts Entertainment's Dave Becky and Tom Lassally likewise executive producing. (Deadline.com)
EXPECTING (Peacock, New!) - Chris Schleicher has sold a new comedy to the streaming service from Warner Bros. Television. The project's logline: "Ellie, a fiercely independent but perpetually single music manager, has always wanted a family but never found a man worthy of the role of "father." That is, until her 39th birthday, when she decides to ask her gay best friend and co-worker, Jonathan, if he'll be her sperm donor. When Jonathan surprises himself by saying "yes," it sets off a chain of events that turn Ellie and Jonathan's personal and professional lives upside down as they try to turn their "chosen family" into a biological family." Mindy Kaling and Howard Klein will also executive produce. (Deadline.com)
FIERCE QUEENS (Quibi) - Reese Witherspoon has signed onto narrate the upcoming docuseries from BBC Studios Natural History Unit. (Deadline.com)
GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, THE (Netflix) - Sandi Toksvig is stepping down as host of the series after three years. (Deadline.com)
HATCHING TWITTER (Peacock, New!) - Nick Bilton has set up a potential drama series at the streaming service and Universal Content Productions. Patrick Macmanus will also executive produce the project, detailed as: "Through exclusive access and exhaustive investigative reporting, New York Times best-selling author and Vanity Fair special correspondent Nick Bilton draws on hundreds of sources, documents, and internal e-mails to tell intimate true stories of companies behaving badly and technology gone awry. The first installment of this anthology series will be based on Bilton's acclaimed book Hatching Twitter, a tale of betrayed friendships and high-stakes power struggles that accompanied the meteoric rise of the infamous tech company. 140 characters and a few lines of code changed the world, disrupting the very fabric of the way people communicate. This series will explore the real masterminds behind it all, how it was done, and the colossal ramifications the technology will have on our future." (Deadline.com)
JETT (Cinemax) - Star Carla Gugino took to social media to confirm the network has pulled the plug on the series following its decision to get out of original programming yesterday. (@carlagugino)
LIMETOWN/SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS (Facebook) - The company has canceled both scripted series, which starred Jessica Biel and Elizaeth Olsen, respectively. (Deadline.com)
MACGRUBER (Peacock, New!) - Will Forte is attached to reprise his role on a potential comedy series at the streaming service. Its logline is as follows: "After rotting in prison for over a decade, America's ultimate hero and uber patriot MacGruber is finally released. His mission: to take down a mysterious villain from his past - Brigadier Commander Enos Queeth. With the entire world in the crosshairs, MacGruber (Will Forte), Vicki, and Piper must race against time to defeat the forces of evil. Only to find that evil... may be lurking within." Director Jorma Taccone will co-write the pilot alongside Forte and John Solomon with Lorne Michaels, John Goldwyn, Andrew Singer and Erin David also executive producing for the Universal Television-based Broadway Video. (Deadline.com)
NEW AMSTERDAM (NBC) - Gina Gershon will recur on the current season as Dr. Lauren Bloom's alcoholic mother, Jeanie. (TVLine.com)
RISE AND KILL FIRST (HBO) - Yuval Adler has been tapped to write and direct the limited series, based on Ronen Bergman's book about the secret history of Israel's targeted assassinations. Avi Nir, Peter Traugott and Alon Shtruzman will also executive produce alongside Adler and Bergman for Keshet Studios. (Deadline.com)
SMALL AXE (Amazon) - Micheal Ward has been cast in Steve McQueen's upcoming anthology series as "a character who falls in love with a female lead over the course of one day." (Deadline.com)





  [january 2020]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· ADVENTURE ZONE, THE (PEACOCK)
· CLEAN SLATE (AMAZON)
· DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (CW)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DIVISION ONE (PEACOCK)
· EXPECTING (PEACOCK)
· FIERCE QUEENS (QUIBI)
· GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, THE (UNITED KINGDOM) (NETFLIX)
· HATCHING TWITTER (PEACOCK)
· JETT (CINEMAX)
· LIMETOWN (FACEBOOK)
· MACGRUBER (PEACOCK)
· NEW AMSTERDAM (NBC)
· RISE AND KILL FIRST (HBO)
· SMALL AXE (AMAZON)
· SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS (FACEBOOK)





[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[02/27/26 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Focus Features' "Hamnet" Beginning March 6
Directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director ChloƩ 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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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."

[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."

[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."

[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.