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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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[07/28/26 - 10:01 AM]
National Geographic Documentary Films Greenlights New Film from Oscar and Multi BAFTA Award-Winning Director James Marsh
Brought to the screen by Magna Studios for release in 2027, the film brings to life the gripping true story of Aron Ralston, who inspired the Academy Award-nominated Searchlight Pictures film "127 Hours," directed by Danny Boyle.
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[07/28/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Below" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Josh Hartnett stars in the suspenseful new thriller, coming to Netflix on October 8.
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[07/28/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Max Launches New Mobile Features for Enhanced Content Discovery
"HBO Max Shorts" is designed to help users discover something to watch by highlighting iconic and memorable scenes from the HBO Max library in a vertical, scrollable feed.
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[07/28/26 - 08:01 AM]
A Killer Comeback Awaits as Paramount+ Reveals First-Look Images of "Dexter: Resurrection" Season Two
The new season is coming later this year on Paramount+.
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[07/28/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rory Kennedy and her Emmy-nominated producing partner Mark Bailey continue their urgent investigation into the once-iconic aviation giant, uncovering startling new revelations and capturing voices from the inside.
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[07/28/26 - 07:31 AM]
AMC Global Media's Acorn TV Renews Critically Acclaimed Crime Drama "Art Detectives," Starring Stephen Moyer, for a Second Season
Production begins in Belfast and across Northern Ireland this July and will premiere with a two-part special this December, followed by a full six-episode season in 2027.
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[07/28/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Last Sunrise" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Based on the beloved novel, The Last Sunrise follows Ry (Maia Reficco), a college student with a chronic illness, on a summer escape to Mallorca with her mother (Eva Longoria).
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[07/28/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Here the Whole Time" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Felipe just wanted a quiet summer with his artsy mom and every musical he could binge... when his childhood crush knocked on his door to join the party.
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[07/28/26 - 06:01 AM]
MGM+ Picks Up Action Thriller Series "Embassy," Starring Anna Kendrick, Sam Heughan and J.K. Simmons from AGC Television, Ascendant Fox, and Turbine Studios
When armed mercenaries storm the U.S. Embassy in London, Layla (Kendrick), a sharp and resourceful American diplomat, faces an impossible choice: protect the U.S. Ambassador (Simmons) or follow his orders to exfiltrate a high value asset being held at the embassy.
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[07/28/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV's Emmy Award-Winning Series "Ted Lasso" Returns to the Pitch in Season Four Trailer
"Ted Lasso" returns with its 10-episode new season on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 with one episode, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through October 7 on Apple TV.
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[07/28/26 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and ESPN Set August 4 Launch for CW Sports Live Streaming on the ESPN App
More than 800 annual hours of CW Sports will be broadcast live on The CW Network as well as stream live on the ESPN App for viewers with an ESPN Unlimited subscription plan.
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[07/28/26 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "Mourinho" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This trophy-packed, insider-fueled documentary charts José Mourinho's iconic rise as one of the world's top footballing managers of the most elite clubs.
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[07/27/26 - 04:01 PM]
Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love" Sets November 6 Netflix Release Ahead of Venice and Toronto Premieres
The film follows two married couples - a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary filmmaker and her husband - whose paths cross when the filmmaker sets out to film them, bringing both marriages face to face with their different lives and hidden desires.
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[07/27/26 - 02:00 PM]
ABC Announces Fall 2026 Premiere Dates
The news comes following a successful season where ABC delivered 10 of the Top 20 programs in the 2025-2026 broadcast season across Adults 18-49, more than any other broadcast network.
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[07/27/26 - 12:56 PM]
"How to Catch a Dirtbag" Premieres August 5 on Discovery Channel
A new series featuring the "investigations" of internet sensation Michael McWhorter, aka "Tizzy Ent", who has popularized the art of internet crowd sourcing to help identify those who appear to do horrible things in public and seem to get away with it.
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