[11/08/11 - 11:06 PM] Development Update: Tuesday, November 8 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!
THE BRIDGE (FOX, New!) - Taylor Elmore ("Justified") has booked a new drama at the network "set on a Navy aircraft carrier with a touch of 'Upstairs Downstairs' to the storytelling technique." Mark Johnson will executive produce the hour alongside Elmore via his Gran Via Productions for Sony Pictures Television. Gran Via's Melissa Bernstein and Mark Ceryak likewise are expected to receive producing credits. (Deadline.com)COLD-BLOODED (CBS, New!) - Debra J. Fisher and Andrew Wilder ("Criminal Minds") are developing a new drama at the Eye about "a pair of married private eyes who solve crimes in Alaska." Sony Pictures Television and Gran Via Productions are behind the hour with the latter's Mark Johnson executive producing alongside the duo. Gran Via's Melissa Bernstein and Mark Ceryak likewise are expected to receive producing credits. (Variety.com)DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Co-star Vanessa Williams has inked a talent holding deal with the network. The pact calls for the Alphabet to develop a new series project for the actress following her turn as Renee Perry on the "Housewives," which wraps this season. Said deal however isn't limited to drama. (Deadline.com)THE RIFLEMAN (CBS, New!) - Laeta Kalogridis ("Shutter Island") and Patrick Lussier ("Drive Angry") are developing a revival of 1958-63 drama, about Civil war hero Lucas McCain, "an unparalleled sharpshooter with a haunted past, who moves to the uncharted New Mexico territory to raise his son Mark." Chris Columbus ("Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief") is also on board to direct the hour for CBS Television Studios and Carol Mendelsohn Productions. Original series producer Arthur Gardner and his son Steven Gardner then will executive produce alongside Robert Levy (son of fellow original producer Jules Levy), Kalogridis, Lussier, Columbus, Mendelsohn and Julie Weitz. (Deadline.com)AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Kelly Ripa has inked a new five-year deal with Disney-ABC Domestic Television to continue on "Live! With Kelly" through at least 2017 (Deadline.com); Mimi Rogers will play mother to Ashton Kutcher's Walden Schmidt, a noted primatologist, for at least two episodes on "Two and a Half Men"(Deadline.com); Miguel Ferrer will recur on "NCIS: LA" as a high-ranking federal agency supervisor (Deadline.com); Nick Jonas has been tapped as the oft-mentioned deadbeat dad of Mike's (Tim Allen) young grandson on "Last Man Standing"(TVLine.com); Carlos Bernard is set to recur on "Dallas" as a suave Venezuelan businessman trying to hammer out a deal with Larry Hagman's J.R. (NYMag.com); Emilie de Ravin has been tapped as Beauty and the Beast's Belle on "Once Upon a Time"(TVGuide.com); Jeffrey Wright will turn up on "House" as "a renowned neurosurgeon who is both Foreman's mentor and the arbitrator of House's fate" (TVLine.com); plus Amir Arison will guest on "American Horror Story" as a real estate developer interested in buying the Harmons' home (THR.com).
