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[05/18/07 - 05:15 PM]
Development Update: Week of May 14-18
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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 ANATOMY OF HOPE (A.K.A. UNTITLED TOM SCHULMAN/RAFAEL YGLESIAS PROJECT) (HBO) - Chris Messina, John Ortiz, Simon Callow, Valerie Pettiford, Matt Craven, Deepti Daryanani, Daryl Edwards, Diego Klattenhoff, Kerry Condon and Sarah Knowlton have all been cast in the pilot, a hospital drama that explores cancer battles from the patients' point of view. In addition, executive producer J.J. Abrams has confirmed he'll direct the hour from a script by Tom Schulman and Rafael Yglesias. As for specifics, Messina will play an oncologist who goes between being overly friendly and aloof; Ortiz will play a recent cancer survivor; Callow is set as one of the top oncologists in the U.S.; Pettiford is playing a terminally ill cancer patient; Craven will play a hyper guy who may have prostate cancer; Edwards will play a patient with advanced cancer; Klattenhoff is playing a recently engaged young man with bone cancer in his leg with Condon as his fiancee; Daryanani is set as a beautiful young doctor; and Knowlton will play a nurse who runs the chemo ward. Abrams, Schulman and Yglesias then are executive producing alongside Bad Robot's Bryan Burk via the company's overall deal with Warner Bros. Television.
BIG LOVE (HBO) - The pay channel has commissioned a trio of three-to-five minute mini-episodes of the series collectively dubbed "Big Love: In the Beginning." All three installments will feature the regular cast and crew as well as fill in various elements of the backstory of the Henricksons. The first, "Post-Partum," is set five years ago when Bill's wife Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) suffers a breakdown after her child is born; the second "Meet the Babysitter," takes place three years ago when youngest wife Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) comes into the picture; and the last, "Moving Day," focuses on an incident set a little over a year ago when the family considers a move to the suburbs. HBO on Demand subscribers will have access to the episodes starting Monday, June 4 before they're actually broadcast on the channel itself on Sunday, June 24 at 7:45/6:45c.
FAMILY MAN (TNT, New!) - William H. Macy ("The Wool Cap") has been tapped to star in a potential new drama series for the cable channel, about a man who organizes charity drives by day and cracks the safes of major corporations by night. Macy himself will co-write the script with longtime collaborator Steven Schachter (who will also direct) as well as executive produce alongside Craig Zadan and Neil Meron via their Sony Pictures Television-based Storyline Entertainment. As for specifics, it's understood the story will be told with the use of flash forwards, with Macy's character seen in prison in the future.
JOURNEYMAN (NBC) - Alex Graves, who helmed the drama pilot to the series, has inked a one-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for Graves to continue on as an executive producer for the first 13 episodes of the project as well as develop new series projects for the studio.
JUDGMENT DAY (Lifetime) - Graham Norton ("The Graham Norton Show") has been tapped to host the pilot, which is described as an in-studio popularity contest where seven women are voted off one by one by a female audience based on how they handle a series of questions and challenges, demonstrating how people all too often judge a book by its cover. Production on the hourlong project, from Simon Andreae ("Ebaum's World") and Fox Television Studios, is set to begin next month in Los Angeles.
MR. & MRS. SMITH (ABC) - Regency Television reportedly is set to begin shopping the pilot to other networks as early as next week. The project, which was co-produced by Doug Liman's Dutch Oven banner, didn't make the cut for ABC's 2007-2008 schedule this week. It's understood creator Simon Kinberg and co-stars Jordana Brewster and Martin Henderson are all still attached to the pilot, however no option length was given.
UGLY BETTY (ABC) - Executive producers Salma Hayek and Jose Tamez have signed a new two-year overall deal with the show's producer ABC Studios. The pact sets up their Ventanarosa Productions at the studio where they'll develop new series projects as well as continue with their duties on "Betty."
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[11/10/25 - 12:00 PM]
Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis Return as Roku Originals Orders Fourth Season of "Honest Renovations" After Strong Season Three Performance
Additionally, Roku has greenlit a third installment of "Honest Renovations: A Holiday Home Makeover," set to premiere during the 2026 holiday season.
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[11/10/25 - 11:32 AM]
Emmy Award-Winning Series "The Pitt" to Debut on TNT Monday, December 1 at 9PM ET/PT
As part of a special programming event, three back-to-back episodes will air weekly on Mondays through December 29 on TNT.
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[11/10/25 - 10:31 AM]
"A Different World" Sequel Series Heads Back to Hillman College
Free-spirited freshman Deborah Wayne, daughter of Dwayne and Whitley, is setting out to build her own legacy alongside a whole new generation of Hillman's best and brightest.
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[11/10/25 - 10:01 AM]
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" Wraps Production on Third and Final Season
Netflix adds that Season 2 news is "coming very soon."
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[11/10/25 - 09:30 AM]
Starz Announces March 6, 2026, Premiere Date and Unveils Dramatic New Key Art for the Eighth and Final Season of the Timeless Romance "Outlander"
In the final chapter of "Outlander," a heart-wrenching journey lies ahead for Claire and Jamie's enduring love story.
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[11/10/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Merchants of Joy" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Meet the Merchants of Joy, a new documentary premiering at DOC NYC next month and coming to Prime Video December 1.
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[11/10/25 - 09:00 AM]
Grab Your Remote and Rally Your Bravo Besties - BravoCon Begins Streaming on Peacock Nov. 14
Viewers can stream the Bravoverse Live Stage in real time and revisit panels on-demand, while every Gold and Glam Stage panel will be available next day at 12 p.m. ET - bringing the Vegas excitement straight to living rooms nationwide.
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[11/10/25 - 08:31 AM]
"With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration" - Date Announcement & Key Art Debut
This December, join Meghan in Montecito for a magical holiday celebration. Together, friends and family deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs - with simple how-tos to follow at home.
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[11/10/25 - 08:06 AM]
Video: "The Gold" Season 2 Preview
Season two also welcomes new faces, including Tom Hughes, Stefanie Martini, Thomas Coombes, and Tamsin Topolski.
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[11/10/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Missing: Dead or Alive?" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
A young woman disappears in the dead of night. A man vanishes without his vital possessions. Police tackle new cases in this chilling true-crime series.
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[11/10/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - Hulu Original "Sebastian Maniscalco: It Ain't Right"
The latest special in the Hularious stand-up slate premieres Friday, November 21 on Hulu, and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers, in the US, and on Disney+ internationally.
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[11/10/25 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Trailer for Sports Docuseries "Here Come the Irish" as New Season Premieres on Monday, Dec. 8
"Here Come the Irish" documents the legendary football team through their grit, determination and brotherhood along with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with those closest to the program.
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[11/10/25 - 06:40 AM]
Full Rosters Announced for "Optum Golf Channel Games" - Live Primetime Competition Featuring Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler on Golf Channel and USA Network December 17
Team Rory will include Shane Lowry, Luke Donald, and Haotong Li; and Team Scottie will feature Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns, and Luke Clanton.
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[11/10/25 - 06:15 AM]
"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" Marks Historic First as Chicago Hosts Live Central Time Countdown
Joining New York City's Times Square live East Coast Time zone countdown and the only broadcast Spanish language live Atlantic Time zone countdown from Puerto Rico, Chicago will bring the city's energy and New Year's festivities directly into homes across the nation.
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[11/10/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Owning Manhattan" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
Ryan Serhant aims to break into the posh uptown housing market, but will team rivalries, egos, gossip and betrayals stand in the way of success?
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