or


[02/28/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: February 28
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 newly branded "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!

13 GRAVES (FOX) - Katheryn Winnick (the upcoming Matthew McConaughey/Sarah Jessica Parker-led feature "Failure to Launch") has been tapped as the female lead in the drama pilot, about an ex-treasure hunter (Matthew Lillard) whose search for his missing brother puts him in the hunt for Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro's fabled Incan gold. She'll play Briony Becker in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, who's described in the casting notice as: "Late 20s, Caucasian. Pretty and smart, she knows what she wants. Treasure enthusiast who is currently working as a check-out girl, she is salt of the earth kind of girl - no pretense. After she meets Mathew who is looking for his brother, she decides to leave her fianc� behind and heads to Florida in search of the treasure." Norman Reedus and Eric Stonestreet also star in the project, which Dominic Sena is directing from a script by creator Joel Wyman.

AMERICAN CRIME (FOX) - Rebecca Mader (Grace on "Love Monkey") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the world of high-powered Los Angeles lawyers and how they go about freeing their clients, most of whom are either very rich or involved in high-profile cases. She'll play one of the unspecified leads in the project, which David McNally is directing from a script by creator Tyler Bensinger. Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman also serve as executive producers on the project, which comes from Warner Bros. Television.

EDISON (CBS) - Relative newcomer Deidrie Henry ("ER") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a Los Angeles detective (John Leguizamo) who relies on impersonations and disguises to solve crimes. She'll play Det. Snow in the project, which comes from CBS Paramount Network Television, Touchstone Television and Mandeville Films. Terri Hughes and Ron Milbauer are behind the hour, which is also executive produced by Mandeville's David Hoberman.

EMILY'S EYES (A.K.A. UNTITLED DAN MCDERMOTT PROJECT) (Lifetime) - Abigail Spencer (Rebecca Tyree on "All My Children") has been tapped for the lead role in the drama project, which the cable channel has given a 13-episode order. The NBC Universal Television/Bull's Eye Entertainment-based hour centers on a tough-as-nails F.B.I. agent (Spencer) in her mid-20s with the ability to sniff out liars - whose parents were C.I.A. operatives now serving time for treason - as she rights her parents' wrongs. Dan McDermott and Scott Shepherd are behind the project, which is targeting a summer premiere. Bull's Eye's Tom Nunan also serves as an executive producer.

JERICHO (CBS) - Sprague Grayden (Terry Ryder on "Over There") and Kenneth Mitchell (Marc Taggart on "Odyssey 5") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a small town in Kansas that's dealing with life after a series of nuclear attacks destroys most of America's big cities. They'll play Heather and Peter respectively in the CBS Paramount Network Television/Junction Entertainment-based hour, which also stars Michael Gaston, Lennie James, Eric Knudsen and Skeet Ulrich. Jon Turteltaub is directing the pilot from a script by creator Stephen Chbosky.

RAINES (A.K.A. SEEING RED) (NBC) - Luis Guzman ("Luis"), Nicole Sullivan (Chloe Reid on "Hot Properties") and Dov Davidoff (the upcoming Mark Wahlberg-led feature "Invincible") have all joined the cast of the drama pilot, about an eccentric, brilliant cop (Jeff Goldblum) who talks to dead victims that help him solve his cases. No details were given about their respective characters. Graham Yost is behind the NBC Universal Television-based hour, which Frank Darabont is directing.

SHARK (CBS, New!) - Actor James Woods, who recently guested on "ER," and director Spike Lee ("Sucker Free City") are set to team for a new drama at the Eye about an L.A.-based celebrity attorney who decides to changes sides and become a prosecutor. Ian Biederman ("Cold Case") is behind the hour, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television and David Nevins & Brian Grazer's Imagine Television. The network has given the project a green light to produce a pilot, lifting its cast-contingency. Lee will direct from a script by Biederman with Biederman, Nevis and Grazer serving as executive producers.

THE SINGLES TABLE (NBC) - Jarrad Paul (Kevin Dorfman on "Monk"), Rhea Seehorn (Nicole Walker on "Head Cases") and Conor Dubin (Danny Robel on "Close to Home") have all joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about five single people who meet at a wedding and develop bonds. No details about their characters were specified. Bill Martin and Mike Schiff are behind the project, which also comes from 20th Century Fox Television and director Adam Bernstein.

SPLIT DECISION (The CW) - Liz Tigelaar's previously UPN-based drama project has been given a pilot commitment from the CW. The Spelling Television/Broken Road Productions-based hour (which like all CW newcomers has added CBS Paramount Network Television and Warner Bros. Television as producers) revolves around a teen girl who gets a chance to reinvent herself upon moving to a new high school, with dual plotlines following her decision to sit with either the popular kids or the arty outsiders on the first day of school. Tigelaar penned the pilot script and will executive produce along with Todd Garner, Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent. Robert Luketic, who was originally attached to direct and executive produce, is no longer involved with the project. Simon West reportedly is in talks to fill in.

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBC) - Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman on "The West Wing") and Sarah Paulson (Alice Isringhausen on "Deadwood") have both joined the cast of the drama project, which comes from creators Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme. Whitford will play producer/director Danny Tripp, a recovering cocaine addict who returns to run the show, while Paulson is set as Harriet Hayes, a Christian fundamentalist and one of the sketch show's three stars (not to mention the ex-girlfriend of Perry's character). The pair join the previously cast ensemble of Timothy Busfield, Nate Corddry, Evan Handler, D.L. Hughley, Carlos Jacott, Amanda Peet, Matthew Perry, Michael Stuhlbarg and Steven Weber. Schlamme is directing from a script by Sorkin with both serving as executive producers via Warner Bros. Television and Shoe Money Productions.

UNTITLED PAUL REISER PROJECT (A.K.A. INVINCIBLE) (CBS) - Bobby Cannavale (Vince D'Angelo on "Will & Grace") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about an ambitious young man who takes over the family car dealership in Queens, New York. He'll play the lead role of Danny in the CBS Paramount Network Television/Nuance Productions-based half-hour, which comes from creator Paul Reiser and producer Craig Knizek. No other details were given.

WATERFRONT (CBS) - William Baldwin ("The Squid and the Whale") is set to star opposite Joe Pantoliano in the drama pilot, about the quirky mayor (Pantoliano) of Providence, Rhode Island. He'll play Brennan, an uptight district attorney who frequently buts heads with Pantoliano's character. Jack Orman is behind the hour, which is set up at Warner Bros. Television.

THE WAY (CBS) - Julia Ormond (Lifetime's "Beach Girls") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a New England family that copes with the death of the powerful clan's matriarch by using witchcraft to hurt their rivals and build a successful business empire. She'll join the previously cast Riley Smith in the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, which has also added Rod Holcomb (ESPN's "Code Breakers") as director. Adam Kulakow is behind the project, which he'll also executive producing along with Michael De Luca.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 13 GRAVES (FOX)
· AKA (CBS)
· ANGELA'S EYES (LIFETIME)
· BEACH GIRLS (LIFETIME)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· CLOSE TO HOME (CBS)
· CODE BREAKERS (ESPN)
· COLD CASE (CBS)
· DEADWOOD (HBO)
· ER (NBC)
· HEAD CASES (FOX)
· HOT PROPERTIES (ABC)
· JERICHO (CBS)
· JUSTICE (FOX)
· LOVE MONKEY (CBS)
· LUIS (FOX)
· MONK (USA)
· ODYSSEY 5 (SHOWTIME)
· OVER THERE (FX)
· RAINES (NBC)
· SHARK (CBS)
· SINGLES TABLE, THE (NBC)
· SPLIT DECISION (CW)
· STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBC)
· SUCKER FREE CITY (SHOWTIME)
· UNTITLED PAUL REISER PROJECT (CBS)
· WATERFRONT (CBS)
· WAY, THE (CBS)
· WEST WING, THE (NBC)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[02/24/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Debuts Official Trailer for "The Madison" Starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell
The six-episode debut season premieres globally on Saturday, March 14, with three episodes exclusively on the service.

[02/24/26 - 07:05 AM]
MGM+ Renews Hit Romantic Adventure Drama Series "Robin Hood" for Season Two
The 10-episode season will go into production at PFI Studios in Serbia this summer.

[02/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Pride and Prejudice" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Jane Austen's beloved classic returns in a faithful adaptation by Dolly Alderton, starring Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet and Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy.

[02/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for Season Five of "For All Mankind"
The 10-episode fifth season will make its global debut on Apple TV with one episode on Friday, March 27, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 29.

[02/24/26 - 06:11 AM]
Paramount Confirms Submission of Revised Proposal to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery
This submission follows a period of engagement with WBD after it received a seven-day waiver under its merger agreement with Netflix, Inc. to engage with Paramount.

[02/24/26 - 05:16 AM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Confirms Receipt of Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance
"Following engagement with PSKY during the seven-day limited waiver period, we received a revised PSKY proposal to acquire WBD, which we are reviewing in consultation with our financial and legal advisors," the Board said in a statement.

[02/24/26 - 05:01 AM]
Prime Video to Exclusively Premiere "Nippon Sangoku" S1 on April 5, 2026
The story depicts the near future of Japan, where revolution arose from nuclear war, natural disasters, and corrupt governance, where civilization has collapsed.

[02/23/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Ready or Not Texas" - Official Teaser - Netflix
No plans, just vibes. When two best friends and their crew set off for Texas on an entirely unscripted adventure, there's no telling what's coming next.

[02/23/26 - 03:55 PM]
NBCUniversal's Presentation of Milan Cortina Olympics Dominates Media Landscape & Delivers Largest Winter Games Audience Since 2014
Sunday's Closing Ceremony provided a spectacular culmination as more than 215 million Americans (215.6 million through February 17) tuned in across NBCUniversal's platforms for "Legendary February."

[02/23/26 - 02:00 PM]
Video: Official Trailer & Key Art - "Dinosaur" Season 2
The charming Scottish series returns for season two on February 25 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

[02/23/26 - 01:08 PM]
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao Saturday, September 19 Live Globally Only on Netflix
Two of the greatest icons in boxing history will meet again in the first-ever professional boxing match at Sphere in Las Vegas.

[02/23/26 - 12:07 PM]
Hulu Greenlights "The X-Files" Pilot from Ryan Coogler and Proximity Media, Starring Danielle Deadwyler
The truth is officially out there.

[02/23/26 - 12:00 PM]
CBS Series Post Strong Fall Viewership, Topping Broadcast and Streaming Rankings in Live + 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
The CBS fall lineup scored eight of the top 10 most-watched series among broadcast competition and nine of the top 20 most-watched series among all broadcast and streaming competition for this season's episodes airing through January 4, 2026.

[02/23/26 - 11:38 AM]
Video: "Marshals" - Trailer 2 - Watch on CBS - Stream on Paramount+
The new era of "Yellowstone" begins on CBS. Luke Grimes stars as Kayce Dutton in "Marshals."

[02/23/26 - 11:16 AM]
Acclaimed Comedian Druski to Serve as Special Commentator for NBC's "The Voice: Battle of Champions"
Druski joins the four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series as its first-ever commentator, drawing from his love of music to offer unique takes on the coaches' strategy as they vie for the win.