or


[02/26/14 - 11:58 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, February 26
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!


AGATHA (ABC/ABC Studios; W: Tom Donaghy; D: Jace Alexander) - Christian Keyes ("Beauty and the Beast") has been cast in the drama pilot, about Agatha McAuliffe (yet to be cast), a former convict turned big city criminologist who is brought in to help local police - including her estranged chief detective father - crack a case involving a perplexing disappearance. He'll play Zane Leaveau, "a tattooed bad boy whom she just can't seem to stay away." Erik Palladino, Jee Young Han and Meta Golding also star. (Deadline.com)


CLUB, THE (A.K.A. UNTITLED GRANT & RUSSELL PROJECT) (ABC/ABC Studios/CTS; W: David O. Russell & Susannah Grant; D: TBA) - Callie Hernandez (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, an upstairs/downstairs soap set at a private country club. She'll play Ana, "who works at the club, secretly stealing and pawning off nice items from her workplace." In addition, co-creator David O. Russell has bowed out as an executive producer on the project. Said development reportedly won't affect its 13-episode order. (Deadline.com)


COERCION (NBC/Universal; W/D: George Nolfi) - Kenneth Choi ("Ironside") is the latest to book a role on the drama pilot, about the O'Connor family and their son, Alex (Gavin Stenhouse), a decorated American war hero and CIA analyst who is a true patriot and loves his country and family. Unbeknownst to him, both of his parents (Hope Davis, TBA) and his sister (Margarita Levieva) are part of a dormant Russian sleeper cell that has just been reactivated. He's set as Sam Luttrell, the CIA station chief for New York. (Deadline.com)


CRISTELA (ABC/20th; W: Cristela Alonzo & Kevin Hench; D: John Pasquin) - The Cristela Alonzo-led comedy - about an American Latina straddling two cultures while not fully belonging to either - has received a pilot presentation commitment from the Alphabet. Alonzo also co-wrote the multi-camera project alongside Kevin Hench, which tracks Cristela, "in her sixth year of law school and living rent-free with her sister and brother-in-law, as she hopes to land a prestigious law firm internship as her mother heckles her about getting a real job, her brother-in-law encourages her to move out and her sister runs low on patience." John Pasquin is attached to direct with Marty Adelstein, Shawn Levy and Becky Clements also among the executive producers. (Deadline.com)


DAMAGED GOODS (ABC/Warner Bros.; W: Lauren Iungerich; D: Declan Lowney) - Justin Hartley and Ben Lawson have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about three damaged women and two damaged men who explore the minutiae of love and relationships. The former will play one of said fellows, the handsome and smart Tim, who is "hit hard when his girlfriend and law firm colleague gets the promotion he expected to get"; with the latter as Michael, "a smart, funny, good-natured, dermatologist." Steve Talley also stars. (Deadline.com)


EMPIRE (FOX/20th; W: Danny Strong & Lee Daniels; D: Lee Daniels) - Taraji P. Henson ("Person of Interest") and Jussie Smollett have both been cast in the pilot, a unique family drama set in the world of a hip-hop empire. She'll play Cookie Lyon, "Lucious's (Terrence Howard) ex-wife and former business partner who spent 17 years in prison for dealing drugs"; while he's set as their middle son Jamal ("a sensitive soul and musical prodigy who could easily rise to superstardom if he desired"), "a gay man, he's been rejected and judged by his father since childhood." (Deadline.com)


HIEROGLYPH (FOX/20th; W: Travis Beacham; D: Miguel Sapochnik) - John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings) has been tapped for a role on the upcoming drama, about a notorious thief who is plucked from prison to serve the Pharoah (Reece Ritchie), navigating palace intrigue, seductive concubines, criminal underbellies and even a few divine sorcerers. He'll play Vocifer, "Ambrose's one-time mentor who was a dashing thief back in his day." Antony Bunsee, Caroline Ford, Condola Rashad, Kelsey Chow and Reece Ritchie also star. (Deadline.com)


MESSENGERS, THE (The CW/CTS; W: Eoghan O'Donnell; D: TBA) - Sofia Black-D'Elia and Joel Courtney are the first to board the drama pilot, about a group of unconnected strangers who seemingly die from an energy pulse, only to awaken to learn that they have been deemed responsible for preventing the impending Apocalypse." She'll play Erin Connors, "who despite the stresses in her life, is eager to make a new life for herself and her young daughter far away from her hot-headed ex-husband"; while he's set as Peter White, "a loner who was raised in a group home and is bullied constantly." (Deadline.com)


MISSION CONTROL (NBC/Universal; W: David Hornsby; D: TBA) - Michael Rosenbaum ("Smallville") has been cast in the comedy pilot, which examines what happens when Mary, a strong woman, butts heads with Tom (yet to be cast), a macho astronaut, in the race to land on the moon in 1962. He's on board as astronaut Bus, a jock and high status idiot. Jonathan Slavin and Malcolm Barrett also star. (Deadline.com)


OLD SOUL (NBC/Universal; W: Amy Poehler, Jon Fener & Josh Bycel; D: David Wain) - Fred Willard ("Modern Family") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about Nadia (Natasha Lyonne), a young woman who's trying to find herself, but in the meantime she's working as the aide to a group of elderly people. He's set as Hector, "a veteran Broadway songwriter who has been joyously married to Rita (Rita Moreno), his writing partner, for more than 50 years." Greta Lee, Nick Thune and Rita Moreno also star. (Deadline.com)


SAVE THE DATE (CBS/ABC Studios/CTS; W: Jackie Filgo & Jeff Filgo; D: Pamela Fryman) - Michelle Trachtenberg, Tom Bennett and Julie White have all booked roles on the comedy pilot, about 35-year-old and newly single Katie (Maggie Lawson), who drunkenly books a wedding venue and now is faced with the task of meeting the right man in time. Trachtenberg will play Hillary, Katie's buttoned-down, no-nonsense sister "who is sharing an apartment with her"; with Bennett as Roger, Hillary's weatherman handsome, salt of the earth boyfriend of four years; and White as Connie, Katie and Hillary's vibrant, very attractive mother. (Deadline.com)


SELFIE (ABC/Warner Bros.; W: Emily Kapnek; D: Julie Anne Robinson) - Allyn Rachel ("Weeds") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about Eliza Dooley (Karen Gillan), a self-obsessed 20-something woman who enlists the help of Henry Higenbottam (yet to be cast), a marketing expert at her company to help repair her tarnished image after she becomes the subject of a viral video. She's on board as Bryn, her adorable neighbor, a hipster girl's girl. Also starring are Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Karen Gillan and Tim Peper also star. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - VH1 has reportedly given its Laura Ramsey-led drama pilot "Hindsight," from writer Emily Fox and director Michael Trim, a 10-episode series order (Deadline.com); "Strike Back" will take a six-month break from filming after co-star Sullivan Stapleton "suffered a serious injury while exploring the town in his free time" (Deadline.com); Rick Eid has been tapped as showrunner of Lifetime's "The Lottery" as part of a new two-year overall deal with producer Warner Bros. Television (Deadline.com); Entertainment Studios has cleared "America's Court With Judge Ross" in 85% of the country for seasons five and six (Deadline.com); Melody Thomas Scott will guest on "The Crazy Ones" in an unspecified role (TVGuide.com); and newcomer Mackenzie Marsh is bound for "The Following" as "a woman with anger issues (naturally) who forms an attachment to the escaped serial killer" (TVGuide.com).






  [february 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· ALLEGIANCE (NBC)
· AMERICA'S COURT WITH JUDGE ROSS (SYNDICATION)
· BEAUTY & THE BEAST (CW)
· CRAZY ONES, THE (CBS)
· CRISTELA (ABC)
· DAMAGED GOODS (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EMPIRE (FOX)
· FOLLOWING, THE (FOX)
· HIEROGLYPH (FOX)
· HINDSIGHT (VH1)
· IRONSIDE (NBC)
· LOTTERY, THE (LIFETIME)
· MCKENNA FILES, THE (ABC)
· MEMBERS ONLY (ABC)
· MESSENGERS, THE (CW)
· MISSION CONTROL (NBC)
· MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
· OLD SOUL (NBC)
· PERSON OF INTEREST (CBS)
· SAVE THE DATE (CBS)
· SELFIE (ABC)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· STRIKE BACK (CINEMAX)
· WEEDS (SHOWTIME)





[06/01/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft" - Date Announcement - Netflix
Danger is her friend. Hayley Atwell is Lara Croft in "Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft," arriving October 10 on Netflix.

[06/01/24 - 08:59 AM]
Video: Starz Celebrates "World Outlander Day" Announcing November 22 Premiere Date for Second Half of Season Seven and Releases First Look Teaser
In addition to the eight remaining episodes in season seven, "Outlander" is currently in production on a 10-episode eighth and final season.

[05/31/24 - 01:15 PM]
"Air" to Make Broadcast Debut June 11 on ABC
From award-winning director Ben Affleck, "Air" reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike's fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand.

[05/31/24 - 12:53 PM]
The CW Sets Return of "Masters of Illusion," "World's Funniest Animals" for Thursday, June 20
Look for said duo back-to-back starting at 9:00/8:00c.

[05/31/24 - 12:08 PM]
Disney+ Anthology Series "Goosebumps" Adds Recurring Cast Arjun Athalye, Stony Blyden, Sakina Jaffrey, Eloise Payet, Christopher Paul Richards and Kyra Tantao
The previously announced series regular cast includes David Schwimmer, Ana Ortiz, Sam McCarthy, Jayden Bartels, Elijah Cooper, Galilea La Salvia and Francesca Noel.

[05/31/24 - 10:31 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" Was the #1 Entertainment Series Across Broadcast and Cable for the 2023-24 Season in the 18-49 Demo
The top-rated telecast of the season in total viewers was the Ryan Gosling/Chris Stapleton episode on April 13, 2024, with 8.9 million.

[05/31/24 - 09:30 AM]
CBS Finales Dominate in Live+7 Viewership
CBS' May finales experienced significant increases with Live+7 Day viewing, currently having 16 of the top 25 shows with the highest seven-day lift.

[05/31/24 - 09:00 AM]
Max Original Comedy Special "Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go" Debuts June 13
Actress, comedian, and star of the Emmy-winning Max Original comedy series "Hacks," Hannah Einbinder takes the stage at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles for her first stand-up special.

[05/31/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Juanpis Gonzalez: The People's President" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a spoiled Colombian snob becomes president through money and connections, he finds staying in power takes more than he expected.

[05/30/24 - 08:01 PM]
"Master of the House" Unveils a Scandalous Tale of Power and Greed on July 18
The mysterious death of Asia's largest diamond tycoon sets the stage for the series, premiering on July 18.

[05/30/24 - 06:01 PM]
Video: "The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
As a prophecy of doom unfolds upon the peaceful land of Britannia, a pure-hearted boy sets out on a journey of discovery - and revenge.

[05/30/24 - 04:02 PM]
"Son of a Donkey" Brings Back Theo and Nathan Saidden in New Series for Netflix and Princess Pictures
The Saiddens will write, direct, produce and star in the series also produced by Princess Pictures for Netflix.

[05/30/24 - 04:01 PM]
Netflix Announces New Romance Series from Japan Starring: Shun Oguri, Han Hyo-Joo, Yuri Nakamura, and Jin Akanishi
"Romantic Anonymous" (wt) is currently in production and will be coming to Netflix in 2025.

[05/30/24 - 02:16 PM]
Interest Rates Are at an All-Time High as Season 15 of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles" Returns Wednesday, July 10 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
Returning for Season 15 are agents Josh and Heather Altman, Josh Flagg and Tracy Tutor.

[05/30/24 - 02:06 PM]
HBO, NFL Films, and the Chicago Bears Announce "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears," A New Season of the Groundbreaking Sports Reality Series, Debuting August 6
General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus will be at the helm, guiding 2024's first overall draft pick, quarterback Caleb Williams, 2024's ninth overall pick, wide receiver Rome Odunze, and an array of veteran players including DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Jaylon Johnson, and Montez Sweat.