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[08/23/22 - 11:46 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, August 23
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!


ALERT (FOX) - Dania Ramirez has scored the lead role on the upcoming drama: Nikki Parker, "a salt-of-the-earth woman whose life was ripped apart by the disappearance of her 11-year-old son, and found her calling as the head of the Missing Person's Unit. Her zeal and personal connection to the victims and their families infuses each and every case, and she helps others find their loved ones even as she couldn't find her own." (Deadline.com)
AVALON (ABC) - Roslyn Ruff is set to star opposite Neve Campbell in the drama series as Lena, "a police administrative dispatcher, "gatekeeper and grand guardian of perspective." She's unflappable, always a voice of reason. Self-reliant, very spiritual and independent, she is not in a relationship but gives the best relationship advice." (Deadline.com)
GIRLS ON THE BUS, THE (HBO Max) - Scott Foley is set to recur on the political drama series as "a little-known mayor from Kansas who has joined the presidential race." (Deadline.com)
KING KONG (Disney+, New!) - Stephany Folsom is developing a "serialized action/adventure drama that brings the classic monster story into the modern age, with a return to Skull Island and the dawn of a new Kong." The project is based on Merian C. Cooper's original books and the new "King Kong" novelizations by Joe DeVito. James Wan, Michael Clear and Rob Hackett of Atomic Monster and Dannie Festa and Marc Manus of World Builder Entertainment are also on board to executive produce for Disney Branded Television. Said effort is not to be confused with Legendary/Warner Bros.' Monsterverse, "which only uses the Kong part of the gorilla monster's moniker." (Deadline.com)
NIGERWIFE, THE (HBO, New!) - Amy Aniobi is developing a TV take on Vanessa Walters's upcoming novel which "tells the story of Nicole Oruwari, who has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of glittering Lagos, Nigeria, and a glamorous, highly-exclusive group of friends. A UK ex-pat with two young children, Nicole left everything behind to become a "Nigerwife" - the foreign bride of a Nigerian man - trading gloomy London, along with her overreaching family, for sunny, moneyed Lagos. But when Nicole disappears without a trace from a boat in the affluent Ikoyi harbor, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. When Nicole projects an image of effortless wealth and happiness, a very different picture soon begins to emerge - one of depression, isolation, and even violence. Who was the real Nicole? And where did she go?" Aniobi and Walters will executive produce with SuperSpecial's Aanch Khaneja serving as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com)
ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING (Hulu) - Paul Rudd has signed onto the show's third season, following a surprise appearance in today's finale as Ben Glenroy, "the lead actor in Oliver Putnam's (Martin Short) Broadway play who falls dead on stage just as the curtain flew up signaling the show to begin." (Deadline.com)
PENGUIN, THE (HBO Max) - Matt Reeves and his 6th & Idaho banner have renewed their overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. The news comes as the director has signed a first-look film deal with sibling Warner Bros. Pictures Group. (Deadline.com)
PLAYING DIRTY (HBO Max, New!) - The streamer has ordered a seven-part series which "follows the life of soccer agent Alberto Martín Ruiz, otherwise known as 'Beto,' as he leaves the comfortable life of working at a large soccer agency to go it alone and start his own venture. Navigating between his daily delirious struggle with soccer players and his stressful family life, his only solace is his girlfriend, Sonia. However, just when things start to work, disaster strikes, his biggest client leaves and his girlfriend dumps him." Hugo Silva, Dafne Fernández, Óscar Casas, Gorka Otxoa, Miguel Ángel Sola, Kira Miró and Diogo Sales will star in the project, which comes from Pokeepsie Films. Adolfo Martínez, Secun de la Rosa and Rodrigo Ruiz-Gallardón will direct from scripts by Jorge Valdano Sáenz and Pablo Tébar. Carolina Bang, Álex de la Iglesia, Valdano Sáenz, Miguel Salvat, Antonio Trashorras and Antony Root are the executive producers. (Deadline.com)
POWER, THE (Amazon) - Toni Collette and Josh Charles are the latest bound for the Naomi Alderman adaptation. They replace Leslie Mann and Tim Robbins, respectively, who both exited the series in May. Additionally, Raelle Tucker has joined the project as showrunner as part of an overall deal with producer Amazon Studios. (Deadline.com)
ROOKIE, THE (ABC) - Lisseth Chavez will recur on the show's fifth season as Celina, "a new rookie with an easy confidence and high marks at the Academy whose unconventional approach to police work poses a unique challenge for her training officer." (Deadline.com)
STRAIGHT MAN (AMC) - Mireille Enos is booked the the female lead opposite Bob Odenkirk in the Richard Russo adaptation as Lily Devereaux, "the emotionally grounded, unflappable wife of Hank Devereaux, Jr. (Odenkirk), and the Vice Principal of the local high school in rural Pennsylvania where they live. As Hank's life starts to unravel, Lily begins to question the path she's on and the choices she's made. She'll start to explore other opportunities for herself while doing her best to keep Hank and their adult daughter on track." (Deadline.com)
WAY HOME, THE (Hallmark Channel) - Evan Williams is the latest addition to the upcoming drama as Elliot Augustine, "Kat Landry's (Chyler Leigh) good friend from high school friend who now teaches science at their alma mater. The unexpressed feelings he had for Kat back then may still be lurking just under the surface, but the two pick up their easy friendship again when Kat returns to their small town of Port Haven, New Brunswick. Elliot is also her daughter Alice's (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) science teacher and plays a surprising role in the journey Alice takes as she learns the truth about her family's past." (Deadline.com)





  [august 2022]  
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· ALERT: MISSING PERSONS UNIT (FOX)
· AVALON (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GIRLS ON THE BUS, THE (MAX)
· HEADLESS CHICKENS (POLLOS SIN CABEZA) (HBO MAX)
· KING KONG (DISNEY PLUS)
· LUCKY HANK (AMC)
· NIGERWIFE, THE (HBO)
· ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING (HULU)
· PENGUIN, THE (HBO)
· POWER, THE (AMAZON)
· ROOKIE, THE (ABC)
· WAY HOME, THE (HALLMARK)





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