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[08/01/25 - 11:45 PM]
Development Update: Week of July 28-August 1
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
ANNA PIGEON (USA Network) - Tracy Spiridakos and Ronnie Rowe Jr. have scored the lead roles on the drama series: "Anna Pigeon (Spiridakos) is a former city slicker who became a park ranger after a devastating loss changed the trajectory of her life forever. While Anna tries to outrun her demons, her focus turns to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds, no matter who or what gets in her way." Rowe Jr. will play Frederick Stanton, "an FBI agent and charismatic wanderer who chases crimes through national parks and keeps his cool, except when it comes to ranger Anna Pigeon." (Deadline.com, 8/1)
BRILLIANT MINDS (NBC) - Al Calderon, Porsha Williams, Connor Tomlinson, Molly Bernard and Laura Vandervoort are the latest faces bound for the series. Calderon will play Nurse Scotty Silva, "who runs the hospital and looks good doing it"; with Williams as Bitsy, "an affluent Upper West Side housewife who sees Dr. Carol Pierce at her private practice"; Vandervoort as Cynthia Grudko, "an MMA fighter's wife raising two kids"; Bernard as Lauren Brooks, "a young professional looking for love who finds herself in her worst nightmare: she has a mental health crisis while filming a reality dating show... and everyone is watching"; and Tomlinson as Tom, "who lives in a group home and has an affinity for the spy genre." (Deadline.com, 7/31)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (REBOOT SERIES) (Hulu) - Kingston Vernes is the latest addition to the pilot as Carson, "a Junior Olympian and popular student at New Sunnydale Academy who is the object of Nova's (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) crush and starts noticing her after a life-changing event." (Deadline.com, 7/30)
CARELL, LAWRENCE & TARSES COMEDY SERIES (HBO) - Scott MacArthur will recur on the comedy series in a yet-to-be-revealed role. (Variety.com, 7/29)
CLASH OF THE THUNDERMANS (Nickelodeon, New!) - The cable channel has greenlit a follow-up to its "The Thundermans Return" movie and "The Thundermans: Undercover" series: "In Clash of the Thundermans, when Chloe develops a destructive new superpower, the Hero League orders her to an elite boarding school for superheroes to learn control of her abilities. Faced with the prospect of sending Chloe away for years, the Thundermans split apart, with Phoebe, Barb and Billy taking her into hiding. Max, Hank, and Nora track their rogue family members, until the two factions face off against each other in a full-on battle for the Thundermans' future." Ariel Winter joins returning cast members Kira Kosarin as Phoebe Thunderman, Jack Griffo as Max Thunderman, Maya Le Clark as Chloe Thunderman, Addison Riecke as Nora Thunderman, Diego Velazquez as Billy Thunderman, Chris Tallman as Hank Thunderman, and Rosa Blasi as Barb Thunderman. Winter will play Cognita. Co-executive producer Trevor Kirschner is directing from a script by Jed Spingarn, Sean W. Cunningham, and Marc Dworkin. Said trio executive produces alongside Kosarin, Griffo, and Richard Bullock. (Deadline.com, 7/31)
FIVE-STAR WEEKEND, THE (Peacock) - The Jennifer Garner-led drama has added Henry Eikenberry as Dylan Leclaire, "a handsome, laid-back but goofy young man balancing fatherhood and struggling to figure out what he truly wants"; and Roberta Colindrez as Sunny, "a passionate tour guide in Nantucket with a connection to Brooke (D'Arcy Carden)." (Deadline.com, 8/1)
FREE BERT (Netflix) - Matthew Del Negro, Robert Mello, and Braxton Alexander have all scored unspecified roles in the Bert Kreischer-led comedy series. (Deadline.com, 7/30)
FUBAR (Netflix) - The streamer has pulled the plug on the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led series after two seasons. (Deadline.com, 8/1)
GOD COMPLEX (Amazon, New!) - Sonay Hoffman and Tommy Benjamin have sold a new drama to the streamer: "God Complex centers on Gabriel, a revered neurosurgeon who sacrifices himself to a grieving gunman denied care. This act of heroism shatters his marriage to a compassionate OB-GYN who can't forgive his recklessness. Now separated, they must navigate the fallout - professional, personal, and political - while saving lives in a broken system that nearly cost them everything." They'll executive produce via their Story Well Pictures banner. (Deadline.com, 7/28)
HOLIDAY, THE (Apple TV+, New!) - Krissie Ducker is spearheading a TV series at the streamer and Left Bank Pictures based on Nancy Meyers's 2006 romantic comedy: "The limited series keeps the setup of the movie about a single American and single British woman living very different lives who swap their houses for the holidays and find love in the process." Meyers is not involved with the project. (Deadline.com, 8/1)
HOSTEL (Peacock, New!) - Writer/director Eli Roth's proposed small screen take on the horror franchise has found a home at the streamer: "In the "Hostel" franchise, innocent tourists are kidnapped by a mysterious group known as the Elite Hunting Club operating out of Eastern Europe, with the group's rich clientele paying to torture and murder the tourists." Paul Giamatti is attached to star in the series with Chris Briggs and Mike Fleiss executive producing for Fifth Season. (Variety.com, 7/31)
HOTEL SOFIA (NBC, New!) - Maria Ferrari and Andy Gordon have sold a multi-camera comedy to the network about "an ex-pat who runs a hotel full of American foreign exchange students in Greece. [The sitcom] follows the female hotel owner, who dispenses wisdom as she works to rebuild her own life." Susan Rovner will also executive produce under her Aha Studios banner. No studio was indicated. (Deadline.com, 7/30)
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (HBO) - Annie Shapero has been cast as Alysanne Blackwood on the show's third season, appearing in five of the eight planned episodes: "Known as Black Aly, Blackwood plays a key role in Martin's Fire and Blood novel. The fearless warrior is Lord Benjicot Blackwood's aunt and fights for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) in the Dance of the Dragons before marrying Lord Cregan Stark, who is played by Tom Taylor. She becomes a legendary figure in House Stark lore and her storyline looks likely to be told in House of the Dragon Season 3." (Deadline.com, 7/30)
MATLOCK (CBS) - Justina Machado is slated to recur on the show's sophomore run as Eva, "a formidable, smart, and ambitious attorney and Jacobson Moore managing partner Howard "Senior" Markston's (Beau Bridges) 4th ex-wife. The one who made him swear off marriage. Eva runs Jacobson Moore's Miami office and she arrives in New York for an emergency meeting... which she uses to her advantage." (Deadline.com, 8/1)
MAXIMUM PLEASURE GUARANTEED (Apple TV+) - Dolly De Leon will star alongside Tatiana Maslany in the comedy series as Detective Sofia Gonzalez. (Deadline.com, 7/29)
MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN (FOX) - The show's sophomore run has tapped the following actors to recur: Bethan Brown as Corporal Laila Jackson, who "used to work with Chief Karl Alberg in Minneapolis, where she was on the detective track"; Marci T. House as Angela Clyburn as "a Medical Examiner who works tirelessly and pays attention to detail"; and Joshua Close as Todd, "an avid and insightful reader who spends his time at the local library." (Variety.com, 7/31)
MY LIFE WITH THE WALTER BOYS (Netflix) - Chad Rook will appear in at least four episodes of the show's third season. No other details were given. (Deadline.com, 7/29)
PERF (FOX, New!) - Andrea Savage is attached to star in a sitcom at the network billed as "an ensemble multi-camera comedy that reflects Savage's aspirational, edgy real life-based voice and her ability to tap into the humor of being an adult." She'll also write and executive produce for FOX Entertainment Studios. (Deadline.com, 7/30)
PITT, THE (HBO Max) - Lawrence Robinson will recur on the series as Brian Hancock, "a sweet, charming, and kind-hearted patient who turns a soccer injury into a possible meet-cute with one of the doctors." (Deadline.com, 7/29)
PRESUMED INNOCENT (Apple TV+) - Jack Reynor will star opposite Rachel Brosnahan in the anthology's second season. His role wasn't specified. (Deadline.com, 7/29)
RANSOM CANYON (Netflix) - Casey W. Johnson's Kit Russell has been promoted to regular for the series' second season. (Deadline.com, 8/1)
SLOW HORSES (Apple TV+) - Creator Will Smith is stepping down from the series after five seasons. Gaby Chiappe will spearhead season six while Ben Vanstone is behind season seven. (Deadline.com, 7/29)
SOUTH PARK (Comedy Central) - The show's 26-season library will exit HBO Max on Tuesday, August 5. As previously announced, Paramount+ will be its exclusive streaming home going forward. (Variety.com, 8/1)
STAY TUNED (Hulu) - Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells are attached to star in a new small screen take on the 1992 cult classic film: "In the TV series take, Rannells and Gad will find themselves trapped on the wrong side of the screen and forced to navigate their way through TV's most binge-worthy obsessions." Jordan Cahan, who co-wrote the original feature, is spearheading the project and will executive produce alongside said duo; Akiva Goldsman and Greg Lessans of Weed Road Productions; and James G. Robinson, David Robinson, and Aaron Semmel of Morgan Creek Entertainment. In 2020, Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing mounted a previous incarnation for AMC Studios. (Deadline.com, 7/30)
TERMINAL LIST, THE (Amazon) - Edwin Hodge and Caitlin Bassett will recur on the show's second season. No other details were given. (Deadline.com, 7/30)
WATSON (CBS) - Robert Carlyle has been cast as the legendary literary detective Sherlock Holmes in the show's second season: "With his eyes fixed on the future, Watson faces an unexpected twist when Sherlock Holmes, who was presumed dead, resurfaces, forcing him to confront a buried secret from his past - one that lies hidden within his own body." (Deadline.com, 7/30)
WESTIES, THE (MGM+) - The period drama has cast Allen Leech as Brendan Cahill, "a ruthless IRA cell leader with deep political ambitions that cause him to see every human relationship as either leverage or liability"; Hamish Allan-Headly as John Gotti, "the brash, rising capo of the Gambino crime family, who chafes under the leadership of Big Paul Castellano"; Vincent Walsh as Eddie Breen, "Eamon Sweeney's (J.K. Simmons) most trusted lieutenant and adviser, a streetwise Westie with a knack for chopping up and disappearing bodies"; and Hilary McCormack as Erin Malone, "a street hustler with charm, ambition, and just enough edge to earn Mickey Flanagan's (Stanley Morgan) affection and trust." (Variety.com, 7/30)
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[08/29/25 - 10:46 AM]
National Geographic Documentary Films Announces Global Acquisition of Streaming Rights to Werner Herzog Documentary "Ghost Elephants" Following Venice World Premiere
The documentary will make its U.S. premiere at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend.
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[08/29/25 - 10:08 AM]
"Prison Break" Turns 20: Executive Producer Dawn Olmstead Curates Episode Collections on Hulu
It's been 20 years since Michael Scofield entered Fox River State Penitentiary on a mission: break brother Lincoln out.
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[08/29/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "French Lover" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a jaded actor meets a down-on-her-luck waitress in Paris, their unexpected love story begins - but will it survive the glare of the spotlight?
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[08/29/25 - 08:02 AM]
Video: Prime Video Unveils Paris Trailer and New Cast for the Final Episodes of "The Summer I Turned Pretty"
Joining the series in recurring roles are Corinna Brown, Fernando Cattori, Isaline Prevost Radeff, and Jahz Armando.
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[08/29/25 - 05:43 AM]
"Sounds of Summer" - Feel-Good, Music-Packed Movie About Swedish Pop Icons Gyllene Tider Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, September 18, 2025 on Viaplay
Directed by Per Simonsson and named after the band's most enduring hit, "Sounds of Summer" is a breezy, very inspiring 97-minute ride that follows Gessle from small-town outsider to pop trailblazer.
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[08/29/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "RIV4LRIES" - Official Trailer - Netflix
At a middle school in Pisa, no one has ever challenged the cool kids - until new girl Terry arrives with bold ideas and the rivalries begin.
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[08/29/25 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind: UK" Season 2 - The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Who's saying "I still do?" Emma and Matt host this season's couples and special guests as tea is spilled and secrets are revealed in a fiery reunion.
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[08/28/25 - 02:03 PM]
Wonder Project Announces October 5 Streaming Subscription Launch Date on Prime Video and Premiere Date for "House of David" Season Two; Unveils First Look Images of the Hit Drama Series
Season Two of the biblical drama series House of David from Wonder Project and Amazon MGM Studios follows the aftermath of the battle between David and Goliath and David's rise to the throne.
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[08/28/25 - 12:12 PM]
Video: "The Hospital" - A Comedy Improv Sketch Show - Premieres Wednesday, September 10
The Hospital offers a "behind-the-scenes" look at what happens when you mix improv comedy with total medical negligence.
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[08/28/25 - 11:02 AM]
Shudder Launches Biggest Ever Programming Event "Season of Screams" - Featuring a Monster Lineup of New Films, Series and Live Watch Parties on Shudder TV - From September 1 Through December 31
Shudder's "Season of Screams" features highly anticipated films such as the acclaimed Dangerous Animals, a new installment in the popular "V/H/S" franchise - "V/H/S/Halloween" - and the found footage breakout hits "House on Eden" and "Hell House LLC: Lineage."
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[08/28/25 - 11:01 AM]
MGM+ Greenlights "Words + Music," Inspired by the Critically Hailed Audible Original Series, Featuring Grammy Winners Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, John Legend and Alanis Morissette
"Words + Music" is set to premiere this fall on MGM+ in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
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[08/28/25 - 10:06 AM]
ESPN Unveils Deep Roster of NBA Game Commentators for 2025-26 Season
Veteran analyst Tim Legler will join ESPN's lead NBA broadcast team, which includes Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Breen, analyst and NBA Champion Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters.
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[08/28/25 - 10:05 AM]
HBO Original Two-Part Documentary "Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television" Debuts September 9
The project takes audiences on a two-part journey through the history of Black representation on television, showcasing how Black artists and creators both shaped and revolutionized the medium while confronting the systemic challenges that have often undermined their contributions.
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[08/28/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: National Geographic Documentary Films Unveils Trailer for "Lost in the Jungle," the Unbelievable Story of Four Indigenous Children Who Survived a Plane Crash in the Amazon, Ahead of World Premiere at Telluride Film Festival
For the first time ever, the four Indigenous children who survived the Colombian plane crash on May 1, 2023 - and then endured 40 days alone in the jungle - share their extraordinary story of survival, told in their own words.
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[08/28/25 - 09:38 AM]
Video: Tubi Debuts Trailer for Stand-Up Comedy Special "Rel Talk" from Lil Rel Howery
"It feels amazing to bring this special to my city, my people, and now to the millions of folks watching on Tubi," said Howery.
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