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[12/06/24 - 11:53 PM]
Development Update: Week of December 2-6
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!


BUCCANEERS, THE (Apple TV+) - The show's second season has tapped Greg Wise, Jacob Ifan, Grace Ambrose and Maria Almeida in unspecified roles. (Deadline.com, 12/4)
DEVIL'S RANCH (ABC, New!) - Rebecca Murga has sold a new drama to the Alphabet which "follows a group of ex-military personnel who operate a ranch on the Texas-Mexico border by day and conduct various missions across the globe by night." Showrunner Heidi Cole McAdams will also executive produce alongside Trevor Engelson for Underground and 20th Television. Diego Rey serves as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com, 12/6)
DUO (NBC, New!) - Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood are set to star in a proposed drama at the network: "In Duo, when a soft-spoken, blue-collar worker (Wood) and a magnetic performer (Benoist) looking for her next break unexpectedly cross paths, their fateful meeting leads to a partnership that changes them both forever. The project is described as a family drama centered around a new two-person band and the disruption their rapidly rising career has on both their lives and the lives of those closest to them." Wood penned the hour which is executive produced by Three Things Productions' Benoist and showrunner Rina Mimoun for Warner Bros. Television. Wood serves as co-executive producer. (Deadline.com, 12/5)
ÉTOILE (Amazon) - Ivan du Pontavice and Taïs Vinolo are the latest additions to the ballet dramedy in yet-to-be-revealed roles. (Deadline.com, 12/5)
GHOSTS (CBS) - Nat Faxon will guest on the series as Alexander Hamilton, "the founding father who was Isaac's rival in life and obsession in death." (Deadline.com, 12/5)
HARRY POTTER LIVE-ACTION SERIES (HBO) - Paapa Essiedu is up for the role of Professor Severus Snape on the series. Said report notes "the actor has been offered the part although it is not clear if negotiations have begun in earnest." (THR.com, 12/4)
HOT BENCH (Syndication) - CBS Media Ventures will relocate production of the series from California to Connecticut next season where it is projected to get a 30% tax credit, which "would amount to savings of about $3.5M a year on its $12M budget." (Deadline.com, 12/5)
LAW ACCORDING TO LIDIA POËT, THE (Netflix) - The streamer has commissioned a third season of the Italian drama series. (Variety.com, 12/3)
LOPEZ VS. LOPEZ (NBC) - Jaime Camil will return to the comedy series as Josué Consuelos, "the unfaithful ex-boyfriend of Rosie (Selenis Leyva)," in the show's January 3 and January 10 episodes. (Variety.com, 12/6)
MR. & MRS. SMITH (Amazon) - Mark Eydelshteyn has scored the male lead of the show's second season. No other details were given. (Deadline.com, 12/6)
RHYTHM + FLOW FRANCE (Netflix) - The streaming service has commissioned a three-part special reuniting the talent of competition series "enabling viewers to catch up with their favorite contestants." (Variety.com, 12/3)
SCRUBS (REBOOT SERIES) (ABC, New!) - The long-rumored revival of the comedy series is officially in development at ABC and 20th Television. Original co-stars Zach Braff (John "J.D." Dorian), Sarah Chalke (Elliot Reid), Donald Faison (Christopher Turk) and John C. McGinley (Perry Cox) are expected to return, as is Judy Reyes (Carla Espinosa) in a limited capacity due to her series regular status on ABC sibling "High Potential." Creator Bill Lawrence will pen the pilot and executive produce but not serve as showrunner due to his overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. (Deadline.com, 12/5)
STUMBLE (NBC, New!) - Liz Astrof and Jeff Astrof have scored a put pilot commitment from the network for a single-camera comedy: "Stumble is a mockumentary about the ridiculously high stakes and competitive world of junior college cheer." Monica Aldama and Dana Honor will executive produce alongside the siblings for Universal Television and Defining Eve Productions. (Deadline.com, 12/3)
TASTE (NBC, New!) - Emmy winner Julie Bowen is attached to star in a new comedy at the network from Justin Shanes and Nedaa Sweiss: "Taste follows the employees at a legacy food magazine in the Bay Area. When the publication is bought by a Silicon Valley tech mogul, its traditionalist editor (Bowen) is suddenly forced to work with a young, buzzy TikTok chef." Universal Television is behind the project with Bowen and Sons Productions' Rachael Field and Gail Simmons also executive producing alongside said trio. (Deadline.com, 12/5)
UNTITLED CONWAY & MURGA PROJECT (Amazon, New!) - Rebecca Murga and Jalysa Conway have set up a drama at Amazon "set in the world of a rigorous ROTC military program at a major university, where students from all different walks of life push themselves to limits they never thought possible." Spike Lee will direct and executive produce alongside the duo. (Deadline.com, 12/6)
UNTITLED LOVE ISLAND SPIN-OFF PROJECT (Peacock, New!) - The streamer is in talks with ITV America for a third spin-off of the franchise. No other details were given. (Deadline.com, 12/3)
UNTITLED MURDAUGH MURDERS (Hulu) - Jason Clarke has been cast as real-life convicted killer Alex Murdaugh in the limited series opposite Patricia Arquette. (Deadline.com, 12/2)
UNTITLED ROOKIE SPIN-OFF PROJECT (ABC, New!) - "The Rookie" creator Alexi Hawley is spearheading a new spin-off of the franchise: "Set in Washington state, the potential spinoff follows a male cop who is stepping into a new phase of life in his second act." Nathan Fillion, Bill Norcross and Michelle Chapman will also executive produce for Lionsgate Television and 20th Television. No other details were given. (Deadline.com, 12/5)
UNTITLED SAMMY THE BULL PROJECT (FX, New!) - Writer Terence Winter and director Antoine Fuqua are set to team for a potential drama based on the life of notorious mobster Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano: "Gravano was previously a made member of the Gambino Family, one of the Five Families of the New York Mafia. He allegedly began his life of organized crime in the 1960s, becoming involved in crimes like racketeering, hijacking, and larceny as well as murder. He was later closely associated with eventual Gambino Family boss John Gotti and worked with Gotti to kill then Gambino boss Paul Castellano. Gravano rose to the rank of underboss under Gotti, but then became a government witness in 1991. With his testimony against Gotti and others in the Gambino Family, he became one of the highest-ranking Mafia members ever to cooperate with the federal government." Nicholas Pileggi, Aaron Kaplan, Billy Malone, J.J. Sacha, Scott Greenberg and Rick Yorn will also executive produce for Kapital Entertainment, LBI Entertainment and FX Productions. (Variety.com, 12/6)
WITNESS, THE (Netflix) - The upcoming drama, based on the true story of the violent murder of Rachel Nickell in 1992, has cast Jordan Bolger as André; Max Fincham as teenage Alex; Neil Maskell as DI Keith Pedder; Kevin Eldon as DCI Mick Wickerson; Mark Stanley as DS Ivan Agnew; Jon Pointing as DC Nick Sparshatt; James Dryden as DC Paul Miller; Kerry Godliman as André's mother June; James Bradshaw as DCI Tony Nash; and Claire Rushbrook as Dr. Jean Harris-Hendriks. The three-part drama is written and created by Rob Williams and directed by Alex Winckler with Williams, Sarah Brown and John Yorke executive producing for for STV Studios. (Variety.com, 12/4)





  [december 2024]  
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· BUCCANEERS, THE (APPLE TV PLUS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DEVIL'S RANCH (ABC)
· DUO (NBC)
· ÉTOILE (AMAZON)
· GHOSTS (CBS)
· HARRY POTTER LIVE-ACTION SERIES (HBO)
· HOT BENCH (SYNDICATION)
· LAW ACCORDING TO LIDIA POËT, THE (NETFLIX)
· LOPEZ VS. LOPEZ (NBC)
· LOVE ISLAND: BEYOND THE VILLA (PEACOCK)
· MR. & MRS. SMITH (AMAZON)
· MURDAUGH: DEATH IN THE FAMILY (HULU)
· RHYTHM + FLOW FRANCE (NETFLIX)
· ROOKIE, THE (ABC)
· ROOKIE, THE: NORTH (ABC)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· SCRUBS (REBOOT SERIES) (ABC)
· STUMBLE (NBC)
· TASTE (NBC)
· UNTITLED CONWAY & MURGA PROJECT (AMAZON)
· UNTITLED SAMMY THE BULL PROJECT (FX)
· WITNESS, THE (NETFLIX)





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