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[02/01/08 - 06:16 PM]
Development Update: Week of January 28-February 1
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!
ABC FAMILY ORIGINAL SERIES (ABC Family) - The cable channel has firmed up its original series plans for 2008 and beyond. It's understood recently completed pilots "The Middleman" and "Roomies" have been ordered to series as has a new untitled hour from "7th Heaven" creator Brenda Hampton. "Middleman," from writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, stars Natalie Morales as a twentysomething struggling artist who's recruited by a secret agency to fight comic book-type villains alongside the title character (Matt Keeslar), a sci-fi superhero who serves as her guide. Jeremiah Chechik directed the pilot, which also stars Britt Morgan and Mary Pat Gleason. As for "Roomies," the multi-camera comedy stars Tyler Francavilla and David Weidoff as, you guessed it, roommates. Kieron Quirke and Robin French created the project, which is also executive produced by Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis of Acme Productions. Andy Cadiff directed the pilot. And finally, the Hampton hour is described as a teen relationship series similar in sensibility to "Juno." All three newcomers are said to have commitments of at least six episodes. "Middleman" and "Roomies" were part of a quartet of pilots ordered last year, the others being "Samurai Girl" and "Happy Campers." Hampton's project is believed to be a straight series commitment, contingent on casting the lead role.
Meanwhile in related ABC Family news, the network is in talks with Canadian broadcaster CBC to import the comedy "Sophie," about a young woman (Natalie Brown) whose picture-perfect life comes crashing down. 13 episodes have been completed of the half-hour, which bowed on January 9 on the network. Sebastian Spence, Amy Lalonde, Jeff Geddis, Mimi Kuzyk, Sara Botsford, Chantelle Chung and Catherine B�rub� also star in the project, which comes from Jocelyn Deschenes of Sphere Media Plus. The show itself is based on a French-language series that aired in Quebec before it was transplanted to the CBC. Lastly, ABC Family also confirmed a decision is expected soon on the fate of "Lincoln Heights" while "Wildfire," currently in its fourth season, won't be renewed for a fifth season.
DIRT (FX) - FX has confirmed Danny Comden ("I'm With Her") has completed a three-episode arc on the show's upcoming second season. He plays Ted Rothman, an almost-divorced president of a major TV studio who wants to rekindle a romance with Courtney Cox's character. The new season bows Sunday, March 2.
FRINGE (FOX) - Australian actress Anna Torv has scored the lead role on the two-hour drama pilot, about a young, tough FBI agent who is forced to confront the spread of unexplained phenomena and work with an institutionalized scientist whose work might be at the center of a coming storm. She'll play Olivia Warren, the agent in question. Also signing on are Blair Brown and Jasika Nicole. The former will play Nina Cord, a 16-year veteran at Prometheus Corp., a cutting-edge research facility, while Jasika Nicole is playing the recurring role of Astrid Farnsworth, a stunning federal assistant. They join the previously cast John Noble, Kirk Acevedo, Lance Reddick and Mark Valley. Alex Graves is helming the Warner Bros. Television/Bad Robot-based drama, which comes from co-creators Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and J.J. Abrams. The group also executive produces alongside Bad Robot's Bryan Burk.
UNTITLED FASHION MAGAZINE ASSISTANT PROJECT (The CW, New!) - "America's Next Top Model's" Tyra Banks and Ken Mok have scored a series commitment from the netlet for a new reality series in which aspiring assistants compete to become assistant editors at a fashion magazine. The project, which has an eight-episode commitment, is expected to begin production in April for a launch in late spring or summer. As for specifics, each episode will feature two different challenges - an individual one and a team one with the winner of the former making the pairings for the latter. Each team challenge then will focus on submitting a page for "The Book," a mock edition of the magazine, with the loser's page going in the trash and one of its members being sent home. Banks and Mok will executive produce the project via their respective banners, Bankable Productions and 10x10 Entertainment, alongside Eli Holzman, who developed "Project Runway" at Miramax Television, and Full Picture's Jane Cha and Desiree Gruber, fashion experts and managers of "Runway" host Heidi Klum. It's understood the "Runway" team came up the initial idea for the series and pitched it to the CW, who in turn paired them with Banks and Mok. Talks are underway with various magazines to sponsor the show with the editors themselves likely appearing as judges. It's not clear if Banks herself will appear on camera.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[06/13/25 - 11:00 AM]
Nick Cannon to Host Season Six of FOX's Bricktastic Competition Series "LEGO Masters"
Season six will air on FOX during the 2025-26 season.
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[06/13/25 - 10:01 AM]
Scripps Reaches Multi-Year Agreement with the WNBA to Continue Friday Night Games on ION
This season, ION is broadcasting the most regular season games, 50 in total, as part of its WNBA Friday Night Spotlight series.
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[06/13/25 - 09:31 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Blumhouse's "The Woman in the Yard" Beginning June 27
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written by Sam Stefanak, the film stars Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, Peyton Jackson and Russell Hornsby.
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[06/13/25 - 09:00 AM]
"A Minecraft Movie" Begins Streaming Exclusively on Max June 20
Starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, the film, directed by Jared Hess, is the first-ever big screen, live-action adaptation of Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time.
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[06/13/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Rivalry Ignites in the Music Video for New Single "Don't Mess with Us" from "Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires"
The latest installment of the music-fueled franchise premieres Thursday, July 10 at 7 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel and streams the next day, Friday, July 11, on Disney+ and Disney Channel On Demand.
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[06/13/25 - 08:28 AM]
Peacock Reveals New All-Star Cast for Season 4 of Emmy Award-Winning Reality Competition Series "The Traitors"
Peacock's Emmy Award-winning competition reality series The Traitors will return for a fourth season with an all-new lineup of pop-culture powerhouses, hosted once again by the devastatingly witty Emmy Award winner Alan Cumming who also serves as executive producer.
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[06/13/25 - 08:16 AM]
Prime Video Announces Jay Baruchel, Sydelle Noel, AGNEZ MO, Anggun, Kevin Weisman, Marc Blucas, Kevin Corrigan, and Kathleen Robertson Will Join Star Alan Ritchson for "Reacher" Season Four
The fourth season of the action-packed drama series starring Alan Ritchson is based on the 13th book in Lee Child's global best-selling series, "Gone Tomorrow."
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[06/13/25 - 07:49 AM]
Starz Greenlights Propulsive Crime Drama "Fightland"
The high-octane scripted drama is set in the cutthroat, high-stakes, cash-rich, world of British boxing.
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[06/13/25 - 06:00 AM]
"Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League" Streams Exclusively on Max on July 3
A sequel to the globally celebrated 2018 anime film "Batman Ninja," this original feature once again reimagines DC's legendary Dark Knight through the lens of Japanese anime, blending iconic characters with bold storytelling and visually stunning animation.
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[06/13/25 - 06:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Unveils Teaser Trailer for "Hotel Costiera," the New Original Series Starring Jesse Williams, Launching September 24
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[06/12/25 - 03:50 PM]
CBS Program Advisory: "A Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys"
To honor the life of Brian Wilson, the late visionary leader of the Beach Boys, the two-hour special will rebroadcast this Sunday, June 15 at 9:00/8:00c.
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[06/12/25 - 02:00 PM]
Adult Swim Reveals New and Returning Series and a Forthcoming Special Featuring Top Industry Creators at Annecy International Animation Film Festival
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[06/12/25 - 12:43 PM]
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[06/12/25 - 12:01 PM]
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[06/12/25 - 12:00 PM]
We TV Unveils All-Star Lineup of Celebrity Guest Judges for Season 2 of "Deb's House"
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