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[02/10/21 - 11:36 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, February 10
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!


A5/QUALITYLAND (HBO) - The pay channel has opted not to proceed with both comedy projects from Mike Judge. The former was a limited series centered on a bioengineer who discovers the gene that makes a person an asshole; while the latter, based on Marc-Uwe Kling's novel, detailed the story of humanity's struggle against the tyranny of convenience. Neither got to the casting stage despite production commitments. (Deadline.com)
ESSEX SERPENT, THE (Apple TV+) - Claire Danes has signed on to topline the upcoming drama, which "follows newly widowed Cora (Danes) who, having being released from an abusive marriage, relocates from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex, intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area." She replaces Keira Knightley, who bowed out back in October. (Variety.com)
LAST OF US, THE (HBO) - Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey have been tapped for the lead roles on the proposed video game adaptation, which "takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel (Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse across the U.S. and depend on each other for survival." (Deadline.com)
MANDALORIAN, THE (Disney+) - Gina Carano has been terminated by Lucasfilm after the actress "shared a TikTok post comparing the current divided political climate in the U.S. to Nazi Germany." A company spokesperson released a statement saying "Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable." (Deadline.com)
MOUTHFUL OF BIRDS (Amazon, New!) - Minhal Baig is developing a TV take on Samantha Schweblin's short story collection, featuring stories of "women on the edge, men turned upside down and the natural world at odds with reality." The project is a result of the filmmaker's recently signed overall deal with Amazon Studios. David Kaplan and Evan Nicholas are also executive producing. (Deadline.com)
NEVERS, THE (HBO) - "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" alums Charisma Carpenter and Michelle Trachtenberg both posted allegations of misconduct against Joss Whedon to social media. The former also indicated her participation in the WarnerMedia probe involving Whedon and a series of ongoing allegations by "Justice League" actor Ray Fisher. Whedon bowed out from "The Nevers" in November. (Deadline.com)
PUNKY BREWSTER (Peacock) - Jasika Nicole will recur on the revival series as Lauren, "a fun-loving and self-assured lawyer whose relationship with Cherie (Cherie Johnson) develops throughout the season." (Deadline.com)
RED BIRD LANE (HBO Max) - The streamer has passed on the psychological horror series pilot, about eight strangers who arrive at an isolated house-all for different reasons-and quickly realize that something sinister and terrifying awaits them. Susan Sarandon was among the large ensemble cast. (Deadline.com)
RIVERDALE (The CW) - Adeline Rudolph has been cast as Minerva Marble on the current season. No other specifics were given. (@writerras)
SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON (Disney+) - Ronald D. Moore has signed a multi-year overall deal with 20th Television, ending his decade-long run at Sony Pictures Television. There he'll develop new series projects via his Tall Ship Productions, including the previously announced "Swiss Family Robinson" with Jon M. Chu. (THR.com)
TOP BOY (Netflix) - Howard Charles is bound for the show's second season as Curtis in a season-long arc. No other details were given. (Deadline.com)
TRUE LIES (CBS) - The Eye has given a pilot order to a new small screen take on the 1994 James Cameron film, in which "shocked to discover that her bland and unremarkable computer consultant husband is a skilled international spy, an unfulfilled suburban housewife is propelled into a life of danger and adventure when she's recruited to work alongside him to save the world as they try to revitalize their passionless marriage." Writer Matt Nix of Flying Glass of Milk Productions and director McG of Wonderland Sound and Vision are spearheading the project with Mary Viola and Lightstorm Entertainment's Cameron and Rae Sanchini also executive producing for 20th Television. ABC and FOX previously mounted adaptations in 2010 and 2017, respectively, that didn't move past the script stage. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED REDWALL PROJECT (Netflix, New!) - The streaming service is developing a new TV series based on Brian Jacques's "Redwall" books, which "chronicle the adventures of the heroic animals that inhabit the forest haven of Redwall Abbey." Said effort would follow "the character of Martin the Warrior, a wise and ferocious mouse who co-founded Redwall Abbey along with Abbess Germaine." No auspices however were given. (Deadline.com)
VEGAS HIGH (HBO Max) - The streaming has likewise passed on the coming-of-age period drama pilot, about a girl caught between two worlds - the fast paced lifestyle of Las Vegas and her strong Mormon faith and community. (Deadline.com)
YOUNG ROCK (NBC) - Matthew Willig has been cast as legendary wrestler André the Giant in the upcoming comedy series: "André was very private and didn't let many people in, but he was very close to the Johnson family and had a unique and beautiful relationship with Dewey (Dwayne Johnson's nickname when he was a young boy) who idolized the 8th Wonder of the World." (Deadline.com)





  [february 2021]  
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· A5 (HBO)
· BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (UPN)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· ESSEX SERPENT, THE (APPLE TV PLUS)
· LAST OF US, THE (HBO)
· MANDALORIAN, THE (DISNEY PLUS)
· MOUTHFUL OF BIRDS (AMAZON)
· NEVERS, THE (TUBI)
· PUNKY BREWSTER (PEACOCK)
· QUALITYLAND (HBO)
· RED BIRD LANE (HBO MAX)
· RIVERDALE (CW)
· SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON (DISNEY PLUS)
· TOP BOY (NETFLIX)
· TRUE LIES (CBS)
· UNTITLED REDWALL PROJECT (NETFLIX)
· VEGAS HIGH (HBO MAX)
· YOUNG ROCK (NBC)





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