[11/07/12 - 11:03 PM] Development Update: Wednesday, November 7 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!
BLACK SAILS (Starz) - Hannah New (The CW's "Shelter") has been cast in the upcoming drama, which centers on the tales of Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his men, and takes place 20 years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island." She's set as Eleanor, "the beautiful, courageous and determined owner of a rowdy Open Nassau saloon who wields considerable influence in her dual roles as fence/supplier and party host." Jessica Parker Kennedy and Tom Hopper also star in the Michael Bay-produced project, from co-creators Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine. (Deadline.com)FIVE 2 (Lifetime, New!) - Jennifer Hudson, Melissa Leo, Octavia Spencer and Sarah Hyland have all been cast in the follow up to the cable channel's film anthology, which depicted various characters dealing with breast cancer. Executive producers Jennifer Aniston, Marta Kauffman, Kristin Hahn, Kevin Chinoy and Francesca Silvestri will once again executive produce the sequel, which will turn its focus to address mental illness. Bonnie Hunt and Laura Dern are already on board to direct two of the segments for Sony Pictures Television, Echo Films and Freestyle Picture Co. (THR.com,, Variety.com)MAX GENERAL (NBC, New!)/NIGHT HUNTERS (FOX, New)! - Feature writer Thompson Evans ("Hit List") has sold potential dramas to said networks. FOX's "Night Hunters," from ABC Studios, is about "undercover NYC police officers who pose as taxi drivers"; while NBC's "Max General," from Universal Television, takes place "in the trauma division of a big city hospital." The Littlefield Co.'s Warren Littlefield and Ann Johnson are also on board to executive produce both hours alongside Evans. (Deadline.com)MISSIONARY, THE (HBO) - Benjamin Walker ("Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter") has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about Roy, "a young American missionary who gets caught up in Cold War intrigue while helping a young woman escape East Berlin." He'll take over for Aaron Paul, who was previously in talks to play said role. Baltasar Kormakur ("The Deep") is also on board to helm the hour from a script by Charles Randolph and Malcolm Gladwell. Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg also serve as executive producers. (Deadline.com)NORFOLK (The CW, New!) - Sera Gamble ("Supernatural") is developing a new drama at the netlet about "the lives and loves of the young people at the Norfolk Naval Station." Oscar-nominee Taylor Hackford ("Ray") is on board to direct and executive produce the potential hour for CBS Television Studios, with writer Gamble likewise executive producing alongside Bill Haber of Ostar Productions. (THR.com)TROOPER (TNT) - Alimi Ballard ("Numb3rs") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about K.J. Flaxton (Mira Sorvino), "a recently divorced female state trooper who is as unconventional at work as she is at home raising her three kids." He'll play Hollis Figgins, a member of the K9 unit who has a crush on Sorvino's character. Gary Wilmes played said role in the original CBS pilot. Writer Aron Eli Coleite and director Jason Ensler are behind the project, which is set up at the Warner Horizon Television-based Jerry Bruckheimer Television. (Deadline.com)AND IN OTHER NEWS... - ReelzChannel and Muse Entertainment are reportedly in talks for a sequel to their successful mini-series "The Kennedys" based on J. Randy Taraborrelli's book "After Camelot" (Deadline.com); and Ben Browder has been tapped as DC Comics character Ted Gaynor on "Arrow"(IGN.com).
[06/17/13 - 04:16 PM] FX Casts Oscar(R)-Nominated Actor John Hurt in "The Strain" Corey Stoll, Kevin Durand, Mia Maestro, Richard Sammel, Lauren Lee Smith, Jonathan Hyde and Miguel Gomez also star in the project, from Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan.
[06/17/13 - 11:00 AM] CBS Announces 2013-2014 Premiere Dates The bulk of the Eye's new and returning series will roll out during the official premiere week, September 23-29.
