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[05/01/26 - 11:32 PM]
Development Update: Week of April 27-May 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!
AMERICAN BLUE (HBO Max) - The Milo Ventimiglia-led drama pilot has added Wrenn Schmidt and Ellyn Jameson. Schmidt will play Lori Gillespie, "a strong-willed, self-deprecating attorney. She is Milk's ex-wife and mom to their daughter, Talia." And Jameson is set as Erin "Oz" Ostrowski, "a fast-rising JPD tactical officer facing the first true reckoning of her career." (Deadline.com, 4/28)
APPRENTICE, THE (REBOOT SERIES) (Amazon, New!) - Donald Trump Jr. is reportedly being eyed to host a proposed revival of the series at the streamer. Nevertheless, an Amazon spokesperson told the publication: "Since our acquisition of MGM, we have had preliminary internal discussions about what's next for The Apprentice as a property. The show is not in active development, and any reporting on details of the show or names of potential hosts would be purely speculative." (Variety.com, 4/29)
BAD GUY, THE (Amazon) - The Italian series has found a U.S. home on free streamer The Network. The series, which ran for two seasons, will launch on June 23. (Deadline.com, 4/28)
BASTARDS (Hulu, New!) - Meaghan Oppenheimer is developing a new drama at the streamer: "After a world-famous artist is engulfed in a public scandal, her three adult children - each from a different father and each unraveling in their own way - are forced to move back into their childhood home to take care of the teenage sister they barely know. As old dynamics resurface and secrets come to light, the siblings must confront their inheritance of love, cruelty, and chaos." She'll write and executive produce for 20th Television, home to her overall deal. (Variety.com, 4/27)
BISHOP (Amazon) - The Joel Kinnaman-led drama has added Ulrich Thomsen as "Oliver's uncle"; Erik Svedberg-Zelman as "Asker's nephew"; John Larroquette as "a billionaire businessman and friend of Lincoln Graves"; and Rob Yang as "a successful developer and investor." (Deadline.com, 4/30)
BOOSTER GOLD/PARADISE LOST (HBO Max) - The long-in-the-works DC Studios series remain in active development. (Deadline.com, 4/27)
BRILLIANT MINDS/STUMBLE (NBC) - The network has pulled the plug on both series. The former ends after two seasons while the latter was a freshman entry. (Deadline.com, 5/1)
CASPER (Disney+) - Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston are spearheading a live-action take on Casper the Friendly Ghost, described as "a modern update on the classic ghost story." The duo will co-write the script with Letterman directing. Steven Spielberg will also executive produce for UCP. The studio previously developed the property for Peacock in 2022 written by Kai Yu Wu. (Deadline.com, 4/29)
CBS 2026-27 SEASON SERIES (CBS) - The Eye has confirmed episode orders for various new and returning series next season, including "Cupertino" (20); "Einstein" (13); "Eternally Yours" (20); "Fire Country" (13, down from 20); "Ghosts" (22, even); "Matlock" (13, down from 16); "NCIS: New York" (20); "NCIS: Origins" (10, down from 18); and "NCIS: Sydney" (10, down from 20). (Deadline.com, 5/1)
CHAD POWERS (Hulu) - Michael Waldron has renewed his overall deal with 20th Television, home to the Glen Powell-led series returning this fall. (Deadline.com, 4/27)
DO YOU WANT KIDS? (ABC) - The Alphabet has passed on the comedy pilot starring Rachel Bloom and Rory Scovel. (Deadline.com, 4/30)
DOLL FACTORY, THE (Paramount+) - The U.K. series has found a U.S. home on free streamer The Network. The six-part adaptation of Elizabeth Macneal's book will launch on May 28. (Deadline.com, 4/28)
GODSPEED (Amazon, New!) - Joe Pokaski is developing a potential series at the streamer: "Godspeed is a one-hour family drama set in the high-stakes world of NASCAR racing. Parrish Motorsports is the last family-owned team in Stock Car Racing with ties to the original bootleggers. When their owner and driver are killed in a crash, the owner's widow, Virginia, must rally her fractured family to save the team, protect their legacy, and chase a championship." A writers' room is underway for the project with Scott Stuber, Patrick Chu, Michael Sugar, Ashley Zalta, Margaux Swerdloff, Gladys Cheng, and Tim Clark also executive producing for Wandering Rocks Productions, United Artists, Sugar23, and NASCAR Studios. (Deadline.com, 4/28)
IN THE LINE OF FIRE (A.K.A. PROTECTION) (NBC) - The Peter Krause/Hope Davis-led drama is now running under the title "In the Line of Fire." (Deadline.com, 5/1)
INTERROGATOR, THE (FOX) - Michael Beach has been cast in the upcoming drama as Louis, "the first member of Henry's team. Dryly witty, with a warm, fatherly smile and a twinkle in his eye that belies a very harrowing past, Louis's role on the team is a jack-of-all-trades - he's the AV and IT expert. He's the voice in Henry's ear with facts and figures. He's a handyman: great with electronics, great with explosives, and he can even solve plumbing problems. He's Henry's best friend, his father-confessor, his moral touchstone - because they were each other's saviors." (Deadline.com, 4/28)
JILL & GINGER (A.K.A. UNTITLED LIZER, LYNCH AND SAGAL PILOT) (NBC) - The Katey Sagal/Jane Lynch-led comedy pilot has been named "Jill & Ginger." (Deadline.com, 5/1)
MIRACLES OF THE NAMIYA GENERAL STORE, THE (Disney+, New!) - Production is underway on a Korean-language series adaptation of Keigo Higashino's 2012 bestseller at the streamer: "A time-bending fantasy about three petty criminals who hide out in a derelict general store after a botched heist, only to begin receiving letters seeking advice from strangers writing from decades in the past." The cast includes Ryu Seung-ryong, Kang You-seok, Park Jung-woo, Kim Seong-jeong, Kim Hye-yoon, Moon Sang-min, and Lee Chae-min, with special appearances by Yum Jung-ah, Yeom Hye-ran, Jung Chae-yeon and Jang Dong-yoon. Park Young-ju is the writer/director for The Lamp. (THR.com, 4/29)
MORNING SHOW, THE (Apple TV) - Sydney Park and Jeff Wilbusch will recur on the show's fifth season as Leah, "Cory Ellison's new assistant"; and Roman, "Head of Protective Services for the UBN News Division," respectively. (Deadline.com, 4/29)
OFF CAMPUS (Amazon) - India Fowler and Philipa Soo have been cast in the show's second season. Fowler will play Grace Ivers, "the love interest to Antonio Cipriano's John Logan. She is a sociology major freshman trying to fit in at Briar University." And Soo will recur as Scarlett, "a theatre artist who is guest directing an original play at the college's drama department." (Deadline.com, 4/30)
PHONY (Hulu) - The Connie Britton/Sam Nivola-led series has cast Meera Syal as Sharla, "a private investigator who lives on the outskirts of town"; Grace Brennan as Mallory, "Sonny's middle school crush who just re-enrolled in public school after being homeschooled by her religious parents for the last few years"; Mahaela Park as Chloe, "Sonny's girlfriend and class president of Delby High"; Maliq Johnson as Vogel, "a popular goofball with a big heart that Sonny can always rely on, a friend who is down for anything"; and Colter Lee as Weldon, "Mallory's cousin and a new student at Delby High." (Deadline.com, 4/28)
RENO 911! (Comedy Central) - Two-time Oscar-nominated producer Stacey Sher has signed a first-look deal with MGM Television. There she'll develop new series via her Shiny Penny Productions. (Deadline.com, 4/27)
SECOND LADY, THE (Amazon, New!) - Jessica Sharzer is developing a TV series based on Irving Wallace's novel at the streamer: "In The Second Lady, when America's beloved First Lady is abducted and replaced by a Russian double, both women must fight to survive - one navigating captivity in Siberia, the other infiltrating the White House to sabotage NATO during the G7 Summit." Kevin Williamson, Ben Fast, and Peter J. Donaldson will also executive produce for Outerbanks Entertainment and Universal Television. David Wallechinsky is a co-producer. (Deadline.com, 4/30)
SECRETS OF THE BEARS (NGC, New!) - The cable channel has ordered a new installment of the "Secrets Of..." franchise: "Secrets of the Bears is a three-part series that sees Gregory and Dr. Rae-Wynn Grant travel the globe to meet the planet's eight extraordinary species of bear. Premiering in spring 2027, it will explore charismatic brown bears and secretive sun bears, and reveal new science and never-before-seen behaviors that show bears are smarter, more adaptable, and even more sociable than people ever imagined." Vanessa Berlowitz, Chloe Sarosh, James Cameron, and Maria Wilhelm are the executive producers for Wildstar Films and Lightstorm Earth with Bertie Gregory as a producer. (Deadline.com, 4/30)
SECRETS OF THE DEEP (NGC, New!) - The cable channel has ordered a new installment of the "Secrets Of..." franchise: "Secrets of the Deep features Gregory and marine biologist Diva Amon that journeys into the ocean's most unexplored realms around the world. The three-part series, which comes from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, will reveal the strange, emotional, and deeply interconnected lives of creatures in Earth's most mysterious and least understood ecosystem." Roger Webb, James Cameron, and Maria Wilhelm are the executive producers for Lightstorm Earth with Mark Wheeler and Bertie Gregory as producers. (Deadline.com, 4/30)
SOUTHERN BASTARDS (Hulu) - Cara Buono will recur on the comic book-turned-TV series pilot in a yet-to-be-revealed role. (Variety.com, 5/1)
SUNSET PI (A.K.A. UNTITLED DEL TREDICI AND GOOR PROJECT) (NBC) - The Jake Johnson-led comedy pilot has been given the moniker "Sunset P.I." (Deadline.com, 5/1)
UNTITLED GILGO BEACH MURDERS PROJECT (Peacock, New!) - Jordan Hawley is spearheading a scripted take on the true crime story at the streamer, which was also the focus of the recent docuseries "The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets": "For 30 years, the Long Island serial killer hunted in the shadows of suburbia - evading law enforcement by living an unremarkable double life. When detectives finally crack the case, his devoted wife and children are forced to confront the man they thought they knew, now revealed as a sadistic killer." Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson will also executive produce for UCP and G-Unit Film & Television. (Variety.com, 5/1)
WIDOW'S BAY (Apple TV) - Director/executive producer Hiro Murai recently re-upped his first-look deal with FX through his Chum Films production banner. (Variety.com, 4/29)
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[10/27/26 - 03:36 PM]
College Football on FOX Scores Big Numbers in Week 8
7,015,000 viewers tuned into FOX "Big Noon Saturday" for Indiana's win over Michigan.
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[10/27/26 - 03:14 PM]
FOX's "America's Game of the Week" Roars with 24,670,000 Viewers in Week 7
The network's Sunday window ranks as the #1 program in all of television through the first seven weeks of the season (24,749,000 average).
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[10/27/26 - 03:03 PM]
No Time Like October: FOX Sports Drives in 12,259,000 Viewers for Game 1 and 10,854,000 Viewers for Game 2
Both telecasts were the most-watched of their respective days on any network.
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[10/27/26 - 02:59 PM]
NBC and Peacock Deliver Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 4 Ever
Led by Gabby Williams' 17 points, Golden State's 67-62 win over Atlanta peaked at 2.5 million viewers for the game's exciting conclusion from 3:30-3:45 p.m. ET.
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[10/27/26 - 02:40 PM]
"College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Continues Record-Setting Season; ESPN Networks Deliver Three of the Top Five Games Across All Nets
Ole Miss/Texas (8.1 million) was the top game of the week and added to ESPN's nine total games this season with 8+ million viewers.
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[10/27/26 - 02:06 PM]
Chiefs-Seahawks Is Most Watched Week 7 NBC "Sunday Night Football" Game Since 2013, Averaging 26.3 Million Viewers on NBC & Peacock
The audience peaked at 29.0 million viewers on NBC and Peacock in the second quarter (9:30-9:45 p.m. ET).
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[10/27/26 - 02:01 PM]
ABC Decks the Halls with Festive Holiday Programming for 2026
Highlights include joyful episodes of "Abbott Elementary," "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Celebrity Family Feud," "Press Your Luck," "Scrubs" and "What Would You Do?: Holiday Edition."
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[10/27/26 - 01:01 PM]
"Crystal Lake" Makes Killer Debut on Peacock
"Crystal Lake" has generated 1.3 billion minutes watched over its first 11 days, making it the fourth highest scripted original series ever on Peacock.
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[10/27/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Allen" - Official Trailer - Netflix
20 years after his encounter with an alien, Petey never moved on. Now his old friend has returned, and the reason why is complicated - and unexpected.
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[10/27/26 - 12:01 PM]
School Is Back in Session: FOX Enrolls Summer Breakout Hit "Nation's Dumbest" for a Second Season
Hosted by acclaimed comedian Jack Whitehall, the series will return to FOX for a new season of pop quizzes, physical challenges and classroom chaos, as a fresh group of celebrities compete to avoid earning the distinction no one wants: the title of The Nation's Dumbest.
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[10/27/26 - 11:31 AM]
Video: "The Mosquito Bowl" - Red Band Trailer - Netflix
In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, four college football stars enlist in the US Marines, discovering the strength of brotherhood and the cost of war.
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[10/27/26 - 11:08 AM]
Melissa Joan Hart Set to Star in and Executive Produce Lifetime's New Ripped from the Headlines Movie "Black Widow Killer: The Judy Buenoano Story" (wt)
The film also stars Chris Bauer and Matthew Settle.
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[10/27/26 - 11:01 AM]
Professional Bowlers Association Reimagines Tournament Formats and Expands 2027 PBA Tour Broadcast Schedule to 30 Live Events Across The CW Network, ESPN App, CBS, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Network
The best players in the world from over 30 countries will compete February through June in five PBA major tournaments and title events on the biggest stage in the sport.
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[10/27/26 - 11:00 AM]
FOX Entertainment Studios and Endemol Shine North America Break New Ground with "Fear Factor" Vertical Series
The new vertical video production, set to debut on Holywater Tech's My Drama platform, marks the first time an established unscripted television franchise has been transformed into an original scripted series.
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[10/27/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Official Trailer & Key Art for New Amy Poehler Comedy "Dig"
The series follows a team of dedicated archaeologists (and less-dedicated college students) who spend their summer working on a dig site in Greece.
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