 |
 |
[08/22/25 - 11:06 PM]
Development Update: Week of August 18-22
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!
ADVOCATE, THE (ABC, New!) - Tawnya Bhattacharya and Ali Laventhol have sold a legal drama to the Alphabet: "The Advocate is a character-driven legal procedural centered around a brilliant, ruthless attorney who abruptly walks away from her high-powered job to open a small firm after a traumatic brain injury radically alters her personality." Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger, and Scott Morgan of The Walk-Up Company will also executive produce for 20th Television. (Deadline.com, 8/22)
BLADE RUNNER 2099 (Amazon) - The long-in-the-works "limited series followup to the 2017 movie sequel Blade Runner 2049" is now targeted for a 2026 launch. (Deadline.com, 8/22)
COLIN KAEPERNICK DOCUMENTARY SERIES (ESPN) - Spike Lee's planned documentary series on ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been shuttered by the network. "ESPN, Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences," ESPN said in a statement. "Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film." (Deadline.com, 8/18)
DEXTER: ORIGINAL SIN/DEXTER: RESURRECTION (Showtime) - The "Dexter" prequel series' second season is no longer moving forward; while a writers' room for a proposed second season of the sequel series is set to open imminently. (Variety.com, 8/22)
FAITHFUL, THE (FOX) - The biblical limited series has cast Alexa Davalos as Rebekah, "bold, compassionate, and courageous, she's tested in every imaginable way after a conversation with God sets her on an irreversible path"; Tom Mison as Isaac, "burdened by an inheritance he didn't ask for and haunted by a faith he both fears and yearns to understand"; Tom Payne as Jacob, "a survivor and a strategist who, mired by his position as the second-born son, learns to rely on cunning and determination for the blessing he seeks"; and Ben Robson as Esau, "a hunter and a warrior who carries the weight of expectation placed on the firstborn son." (Deadline.com, 8/21)
GOLDEN BACHELOR, THE (ABC) - Former franchise staple Jason Ehrlich has joined the spin-off as a consulting producer. (Deadline.com, 8/18)
HARRY POTTER LIVE-ACTION SERIES (HBO) - The new adaptation has cast Tristan Harland as Fred Weasley, Gabriel Harland as George Weasley, Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley; and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley. (Deadline.com, 8/19)
JOSEPH OF EGYPT (Amazon) - Omid Abtahi will recur on the eight-episode biblical drama as Ankuh. (Deadline.com, 8/20)
KATABASIS (Amazon, New!) - Angela Kang is spearheading a small screen take on R.F. Kuang's new fantasy novel for Amazon MGM Studios: "Kuang's "Katabasis" is a fantastical academic satire that follows Alice Law, a graduate student studying Magick at Cambridge University, as she descends into the underworld to retrieve her deceased advisor, Professor Grimes, in order to get his recommendation to secure her future after graduation. Alice's academic rival, Peter Murdoch, decides to join her, and together they embark on a journey through the courts of Hell in search of Grimes." Kang, Kuang, Kang & Co.'s Mandy Safavi, Ben Smith, and Jeffrey Weiner are the executive producers; with Adam Docksey as a co-executive producer for Captivate Entertainment. (Variety.com, 8/20)
NCIS (CBS) - Nancy Travis will drop by the show's two-part season premiere as Navy Vice Admiral Harriet Parker, "the sister of Gary Cole's Special Agent Alden Parker. When Alden and Harriet are reunited as adults, in the wake of their father Roman's recent murder, fans will quickly discover that their childhood dynamic is still alive and well. But while their sniping might make for good TV, it's also sure to complicate their respective jobs." (TVLine.com, 8/21)
PENGUIN, THE (HBO) - Creator Lauren LeFranc has signed a two-year overall deal with HBO and HBO Max. There she'll develop series projects via her newly launched banner, Acid and Tender Productions. (Variety.com, 8/19)
PERFECT COUPLE, THE (Netflix) - Joanna Calo has exited the proposed second season as showrunner. (Deadline.com, 8/19)
PITT, THE (HBO Max) - Zack Morris will recur on the second season as Jackson Davis, "a patient brought to the ED after an uncontrollable outburst in the college library." (Deadline.com, 8/21)
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (Netflix) - The Jane Austen adaptation has added Jasmine Blackborow as Charlotte Lucas, "the closest friend of lead character Elizabeth Bennet, played by Emma Corrin." (Deadline.com, 8/18)
SHARDS, THE (FX) - Hayes Warner has been cast in the Bret Easton Ellis adaptation as Debbie Shaffer, "a rich prep school girl with the right connects." (Deadline.com, 8/22)
SHIFTING GEARS (ABC) - "Home Improvement" alums Patricia Richardson, Richard Karn, and Debbe Dunning will reunite with Tim Allen on the show's season premiere. (Deadline.com, 8/19)
STRANGER THINGS (Netflix) - Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer have signed "a wide-ranging four-year, exclusive deal for feature films, television, and streaming projects" with Paramount Skydance Corporation. The pact will start at the end of their current Netflix deal in April 2026. The duo, via their Upside Down Pictures banner, however will continue to oversee their active projects at the streamer. (Deadline.com, 8/19)
SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS, THE (Hulu, New!) - Brennan Peters is looking to bring Kristy Woodson Harvey's novel to the small screen at the streamer: "The Summer of Songbirds is a story about the power of forged family - the family we choose, the family we fight to keep, again and again. It revolves around three girlfriends and their unbreakable bond forged in their childhood summers spent in North Carolina. Now in their 30s, each grappling with the harsh realities of adulthood, they're forced to confront secrets and betrayals from both the past and present that threaten to unravel their chosen family." Aaron Kaplan will executive produce alongside Peters and Harvey for Kapital Entertainment and 20th Television. Tiffany Przybyla Wong and Jaiden Kaplan co-executive produce. (Deadline.com, 8/19)
TRUE DETECTIVE (HBO) - Oscar winner Nicolas Cage is in talks to topline the fifth season of the anthology series. (Deadline.com, 8/21)
UNTITLED DAN FOGELMAN NFL SERIES (Hulu) - Mandy Moore has signed onto the series from the "This Is Us" creator as Lauren, "the daughter of NFL team owner Hank Durkin (William H. Macy) and his heir apparent." (Deadline.com, 8/18)
UNTITLED MIKE EPPS PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Mike Epps is attached to star in a multi-camera comedy at the network: "In the untitled half-hour, after wildfires sweep through Altadena, two estranged Black brothers - one played by Epps - reunite to sell their late grandmother's house to private developers. But when they learn her caretaker now owns part of the home and refuses to sell, they're forced to live together and confront their differences - and what community, legacy, and family really mean." Khalabo Ink Society's Kenya Barris is behind the half-hour for BET Studios and CBS Studios with Epps, Niles Kirchner, and Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan also executive producing. (Deadline.com, 8/19)
VARNELL HILL (BET+) - Kym Whitley will star opposite Tommy Davidson on the eight-episode "Martin" spin-off as Kim Jones, "Varnell's (Davidson) longtime assistant, emotional bodyguard, professional fixer, and the talk show's unofficial executive producer." (Deadline.com, 8/20)
WOLFENSTEIN (Amazon) - Creator Patrick Somerville has signed a two-year television overall deal with producer Amazon MGM Studios. He'll continue to develop new projects alongside Stephanie Jacob-Goldman via their chaoticgood.tv banner. (Variety.com, 8/20)
|
|
|
 [august 2025]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[07/25/26 - 02:18 PM]
"Family Guy" Halloween and Holiday Specials Return Exclusively to Hulu This Year
Having danced with any number of devils on "Succession," Kieran Culkin now gets to play the Devil himself in "Happy Hell-o-ween."
|
[07/25/26 - 01:49 PM]
Star Trek Universe Takes Over Hall H with Special Announcements, Exclusive First Looks and a 60th Anniversary Celebration at Comic-Con International
Ruaridh Aldington joins season two of "Starfleet Academy" as a series regular playing Keats, a young alien our cadets encounter on an away mission who possesses a mysterious backstory.
|
[07/25/26 - 01:30 PM]
Video: Global First Look at New Contemporary Mystery Thriller, "Yaga," Revealed at Comic-Con International
Set to premiere this October on AMC+, the eight-episode, half-hour drama reimagines the myth of Baba Yaga as a contemporary mystery thriller set in a small coastal town.
|
[07/25/26 - 11:46 AM]
Video: Hulu Debuts "Futurama" Season 14 Trailer and Announces Three "XXXL-Sized" Specials During San Diego Comic-Con Panel
The first of the three specials will be Xmas themed and will launch in 2027.
|
[07/25/26 - 10:46 AM]
"Bob's Burgers" to Debut Exclusive Holiday Short on Hulu
In "On the Fort Day of Christmas," a record-breaking Christmas snowstorm means one thing to the Belcher kids - a record-breaking Christmas snow fort.
|
[07/25/26 - 03:31 AM]
"Ranma1/2" Returns with Season 3 on October 3, Only on Netflix
Romance? Comedy? Martial arts? You can have it all when the series returns.
|
[07/24/26 - 06:15 PM]
Former "Live PD" Co-Host and Analyst Tom Morris Jr. Joins "On Patrol: Live"
Morris Jr. will reunite with host and executive producer Dan Abrams and co-host and analyst Sgt. Sean "Sticks" Larkin starting Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1.
|
[07/24/26 - 03:18 PM]
"Adventure Time: Side Quests" Returns with All-New Episodes This Fall on Disney+ and Hulu
Side quest-ed straight into a second season.
|
[07/24/26 - 02:01 PM]
Netflix Announces the Adaptation of Marcelo Rubens Paiva's "Happy Old Year"
The series is produced by Amaia and O2 Filmes.
|
[07/24/26 - 02:00 PM]
Adult Swim Announces "President Curtis" Season Two Now in Production
Season two will continue the adventures of President Curtis and his team as they confront new cryptid threats, unexpected allies, and increasingly bizarre sci-fi missions.
|
[07/24/26 - 01:46 PM]
Video: HBO Max Releases Official Trailer for DC Studios Drama Series "Lanterns," Debuting August 16
The eight-episode season debuts Sunday, August 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
|
[07/24/26 - 01:15 PM]
AMC Global Media Renews "Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire" for a Fourth Season, Titled "Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned"
Based on the beloved novel, "Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned" will be executive produced and showrun by Hannah Moscovitch, along with executive producers Mark Johnson and Rolin Jones.
|
[07/24/26 - 12:46 PM]
Video: "Common Side Effects" - First Look at Season 2 - Adult Swim
Season 2 is coming in 2027.
|
[07/24/26 - 12:31 PM]
News from AMC Global Media's "The Walking Dead: Dead City" San Diego Comic-Con Panel
It was also announced that the fourth and final season of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" starring Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride, will air in 2027.
|
[07/24/26 - 11:30 AM]
Video: Prime Video's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Brings an Epic New Season Three Teaser Trailer, Exciting News and Lots of Surprises to San Diego Comic-Con's Iconic Hall H
The first four episodes of season three will premiere on November 11, 2026.
|
|
|
|
