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[04/07/21 - 11:08 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, April 7
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!


4400, THE (The CW) - Brittany Adebumola, Jaye Ladymore and Amarr Wooten are the latest additions to the reboot series. Adebumola will play Shanice, "a driven lawyer, wife and new mother from the year 2005 who is suddenly transported to 2021 only to find that her daughter is now a teenager"; with Ladymore as Claudette, "a preacher's wife from the 1950s who was active in the early Civil Rights Movement"; and Wooten as Hayden, "who arrives in 2021 from the 1930s where he was kept in an institution." (Deadline.com)
BLACK MONDAY (Showtime) - Thomas Barbusca and Adreinne Wells have both landed roles on the new season. Barbusca will play Werner, "a Young Republican assigned as an aide on the congressional staff of Blair (Andrew Rannells). Werner is more ambitious and less sycophantic than he initially seems." And Wells is Nomi, "a self-possessed young talent with the voice to prove it, who quickly becomes the crown jewel in the new business venture of Mo (Don Cheadle)." (Deadline.com)
CELEBRITY BAKE OFF ESPAÑA (Amazon, New!) - The streamer has ordered a new Spain-based take on Love Productions' "The Great British Baking Show" in which "12 famous faces will compete each week to be crowned best celebrity amateur baker." The 10-episode series is licensed from BBC Studios and will be produced by Boxfish TV. Edi Walter and Mariano Tomiozzo are the executive producers. (Deadline.com)
CHI, THE (Showtime) - Grammy-nominated rapper Vic Mensa will recur on the upcoming season as Jamal, "a passionate but high-strung man who is fighting to get help for his girlfriend and younger sister. His efforts place him at odds with Trig (Luke James) and Tracy (guest star Tai Davis)." (Deadline.com)
CROWN, THE (Netflix) - Filming on the show's fifth season is set to begin in July featuring its latest ensemble of Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana; Dominic West as Prince Charles; Imelda Staunton as the Queen; and Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret. (Variety.com)
DON'T (ABC) - The Alphabet has nixed the Ryan Reynolds-produced game show after one season. (TVLine.com)
ESSEX SERPENT, THE (Apple TV+) - The Claire Danes/Tom Hiddleston-led drama has cast Frank Dillane as Luke Garrett, "a pioneering young surgeon; some call him a genius, others a liability"; Hayley Squires as Martha, "more than just a servant in Cora's household, she's a highly intelligent and fiery young socialist, and Cora's closest confidante"; Clémence Poésy as Stella Ransome, "friendly, sympathetic and adored by her husband Will and children; a beautiful soul inside and out, she becomes a firm friend of Cora's when she arrives in Aldwinter"; and Jamael Westman as George Spencer, "Luke's right hand man; an unexceptional surgeon he may be, but a kinder man you couldn't hope to meet." (Deadline.com)
MABEL (Showtime, New!) - Tyler Perry is developing a drama series at the pay channel which "tracks the origin story of the larger-than-life Madea character created and performed by Perry." JaNeika James and JaSheika James are penning the project, which was created by Perry and Tim Palen. It is further detailed as follows: "every great story has to start somewhere and every legend has a beginning. Long before she was the force of nature known as Madea she was a smart, fierce, irresistible, dangerous, crazy 20-something black woman named... Mabel Simmons. When she moved to Atlanta in 1972 she set the city - and the world - on fire!" All four will executive produce for Tyler Perry Studios. (Deadline.com)
MACGYVER (CBS) - The Eye has pulled the plug on the reboot series after five seasons. "All of us at CBS are extremely grateful for the incredible work and dedication from Lucas [Till] and the rest of the cast, as well as Monica [Macer], the writers and the entire crew," said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. "The MacGyver team traveled far and wide to repeatedly save the world with little more than bubble gum and a paper clip and made this show distinctly their own. We're gratified we get to give this dedicated and loyal fan base the opportunity to say goodbye to their favorite characters in the thoughtful manner this series deserves." The show's de facto finale airs April 30. (Deadline.com)
PAM & TOMMY (Hulu) - Nick Offerman has been cast in the streamer's Pamela Anderson/Tommy Lee limited series as Uncle Miltie: "Big and burly, this legendary prolific porn impresario brings his larger-than-life stature into the workplace to keep things lively and real. "The money guy," Uncle Miltie helps Rand (Seth Rogen) distribute the sex tape. A borderline sociopath, he treads the a line between humorous and horrific." Lily James and Sebastian Stan star in the title roles. (Deadline.com)
PERIPHERAL, THE (Amazon) - The Chloë Grace Moretz/Jack Reynor-led drama, a small screen take on William Gibson's novel, has cast Charlotte Riley as Aelita; J.J. Feild as Lev; Adelind Horan as Billy Ann Baker; T'Nia Miller as Cherise; and Alex Hernandez as Tommy Constantine. No other specifics were given. (Deadline.com)
SEAL TEAM (CBS) - Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly have signed a multi-year, eight-figure overall deal with Lionsgate Television, ending their current run at ABC Signature. The pact gives Lionsgate exclusive access to their Timberman-Beverly Productions' future output. The company's other offerings include "The Man Who Fell to Earth" at Showtime, "Fleishman is in Trouble" at Hulu and "City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit" at FX. (Deadline.com)
WITCHER, THE: BLOOD ORIGIN (Netflix) - Jodie Turner-Smith has bowed out of the prequel series after a scheduling conflict. She had been set to play Éile, "an elite warrior blessed with the voice of a goddess, who has left her clan and position as Queen's guardian to follow her heart as a nomadic musician. A grand reckoning on the continent forces her to return to the way of the blade in her quest for vengeance and redemption." (Deadline.com)





  [april 2021]  
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· 4400 (CW)
· BLACK MONDAY (SHOWTIME)
· CELEBRITY BAKE OFF ESPAÑA (SPAIN ONLY) (AMAZON)
· CHI, THE (SHOWTIME)
· CROWN, THE (NETFLIX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DON'T (ABC)
· ESSEX SERPENT, THE (APPLE TV PLUS)
· FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE (FX ON HULU)
· GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, THE (UNITED KINGDOM) (NETFLIX)
· JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL (FX)
· MABEL (SHOWTIME)
· MACGYVER (CBS)
· MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, THE (SHOWTIME)
· PAM & TOMMY (HULU)
· PERIPHERAL, THE (AMAZON)
· SEAL TEAM (PARAMOUNT PLUS)
· WITCHER, THE: BLOOD ORIGIN (NETFLIX)





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