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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 APOSTLES (FOX) - Shawn Hatosy ("Factory Girl") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about the off-duty lives of cops in Simi Valley, California. He'll play one of them, a family guy whose wife also is on the L.A.P.D.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Shawn Hatosy
Writer: Charles Pratt, Jr.
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Charles Pratt, Jr.
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
THE CURE (FOX) - Anson Mount ("Conviction"), Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon ("N.Y.P.D. Blue") and Esai Morales ("Vanished") have all been cast in the drama pilot, about a pharmaceutical executives who quits his job to join a small organization that cuts corners to find medical cures. The trio will play members of said group - Darren Elliot, Trudie Ericson and Jorge, respectively.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Anson Mount (Darren Elliot), Esai Morales (Jorge), Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon (Trudie Ericson)
Writers: John Zinman, Patrick Massett
Director: Danny Cannon
Executive Producers: Akiva Goldsman (Weed Road Pictures), Danny Cannon, John Zinman, Patrick Massett
Co-Executive Producers: Brittany Lovett, Stephanie Koff
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
FORT PIT (NBC) - Viola Davis ("Traveler") has booked the final principal role on the drama pilot, about one of the worst police precincts in Brooklyn. She's set as Captain Gloria Lefkowitz, who's described in the casting notice as: "34-48, any ethnicity. The captain of the 74th, she's "attractive but very good at hiding it." Married, with a young son, Lefkowitz hasn't been dehumanized by the chaos and corruption that surrounds her, and she seems to have acclimated to the Wild West climate that prevails among her rank and file. However, as we later learn, Lefkowitz is keenly interested in cleaning up Fort Pit, and will hand-pick the idealistic young Bonelli to assist her." Her casting is in second position to her duties on the yet-to-premiere ABC drama.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Dania Ramirez (Angela Hardwick), David Call (Don Van Ness), Elias Koteas (Jack Cade), James Badge Dale (Bobby Bonelli), Michael Rispoli (Sgt. Jim Wesson), Viola Davis (Captain Gloria Lefkowitz)
Writers: Michael Chernuchin, Peter Tolan
Director: Peter Tolan
Executive Producers: Denis Leary (Apostle Productions), Jim Serpico (Apostle Productions), Michael Chernuchin, Peter Tolan
Producers: Lou DiGiamo, Robert Cea
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
JOURNEYMAN (NBC) - Reed Diamond ("Vanished") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about a man (Kevin McKidd) who travels back in time. He'll play the brother of said man, Jack Vasser, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "35-40, Caucasian. Jack is Dan's (Kevin McKidd) brother, a cop whose job has made him a little cynical--but he's the kind of cop you want on the line. (Jack is a little more blue collar than Dan, with hardened good looks.) Not particularly easy going , Jack's only grudgingly civil to Katie and Dan, since there's some intense emotional history between them: Katie was once Jack's girlfriend, and he still has feelings for her). Seen in the present and also back in 1997, when Dan travels back to his engagement party where Jack and Katie are vividly present, Jack loves his brother, worries about him, and tells him that he's there for him if he wants to talk."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Kevin McKidd (Dan Vasser), Moon Bloodgood (Livia Beale), Reed Diamond (Jack Vasser)
Writer: Kevin Falls
Director: Alex Graves
Executive Producers: Alex Graves, Kevin Falls
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
LIFE ON MARS (ABC) - Dwight Little ("Murder at 1600") has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about a cop who finds himself transported back to the 1970s. He'll work from a script by creator David E. Kelley.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Rachelle Lefevre (Annie Cartright)
Writer: David E. Kelley
Director: Dwight Little
Executive Producers: David E. Kelley (David E. Kelley Productions), Jane Featherstone (Kudos Productions), Stephen Garrett (Kudos Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
THE MAN (CBS) - "The O.C." alum Melinda Clarke has scored a role on the LL Cool J-led drama pilot, about an undercover cop who juggles his job and taking care of a boy orphaned after one of his drug busts. She's believed to be playing Lt. Brooke McClusky, who's described in the casting notice as: "35-40, Female. Tough, sexy, and smart, she's Manny's boss, the head of the task force to clean up Los Angeles. Her background includes detective work in the Robbery/Homicide Division, and that experience has well-equipped her to oversee undercover operations. She briefs the group on their missions and is surprised when Manny becomes emotionally involved with Kiko. She worries sometimes that Manny tries too hard to save everyone."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot (14-20 minute presentation)
Cast: Jessica Collins (Constance Brielle), LL Cool J (Manny "The Man" Baxter), Melinda Clarke (Lt. Brooke McClusky)
Writer: Anthony Zuiker
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Anthony Zuiker
Producers: Jason Barrett (Alchemy Entertainment), LL Cool J
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
SLEEPER CELL (Showtime) - Co-creators Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris have inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. The pact calls for the pair to develop new series projects for the studio. The duo also confirmed their Showtime drama won't be returning for a third season as Voris told Daily Variety: "When it became clear that 'Sleeper Cell' wasn't coming back for a third season, we immediately had a meeting with [Warner Bros. Television]."
UNTITLED GABE SACHS/JEFF JUDAH PROJECT (ABC) - Ashley Williams ("How I Met Your Mother") is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about the dating and competitive work life of co-workers and friends at a top law firm. She'll play Julie, the co-leader of the litigating team who is Ivy League smart, tomboy cool and sexy.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Ashley Williams (Julie)
Writers: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah
Studio: ABC Television Studio
UNTITLED VICTORIA PILE PROJECT (ABC) - The newly rebranded ABC Television Studio has come aboard as a co-producer of the comedy pilot, which revolves around the eccentric characters in a police precinct. CBS Paramount Network Television was originally announced as the sole producer of the project.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Victoria Pile
Director: Victoria Pile
Executive Producers: Victoria Pile
Studios: ABC Television Studio, CBS Paramount Network Television
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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