[09/19/12 - 11:11 PM] Development Update: Wednesday, September 19 Updates include: James Gandolfini to star in HBO's "Criminal Justice"; Netflix acquires Ricky Gervais-led "Derek"; and Rachel Boston joins Lifetime's "Witches of East End."
DESCRIPTION: (from Netflix's press release, May 2013) Netflix will premiere "Derek," an original series starring, written, directed and executive-produced by Emmy(R) and Golden Globe winner Ricky Gervais on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM PT. All seven 30-minute episodes in the series will be available at launch. A bittersweet comedy-drama about a group of outsiders living on society's margins, "Derek" centers around Derek Noakes (Gervais), a tender, innocent man whose love for his job at a retirement home shines through. Derek cares deeply for the home's residents, because they are kind and funny and tell him stories of what life used to be like. Working alongside Derek is Dougie (Pilkington) , his landlord who is one of life's unlucky individuals; Kev (Earl) , a loveable train wreck; and Hannah (Godliman), a care worker in the home and Derek's best friend. She is smart, witty and hard-working, but unlucky in love, and, like Derek, always puts other people first.
