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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!
CASTLE (ABC) - Rob Bowman ("Day Break") has come aboard to direct the pilot, a drama about a horror novelist who consults for the NYPD. He'll work from a script by creator Andrew Marlowe who's executive producing alongside Laurie Zaks and Armyan Bernstein. ABC Studios is co-producing with Bernstein's Beacon Television.
CUPID (ABC) - Bobby Cannavale ("Will & Grace") has been tapped for the lead role on Rob Thomas's drama pilot, about a charming and manic man who thinks he is the Roman god of love, Cupid, banished to Earth until he can match 100 couples. Jeremy Piven played said role of Trevor Hale on the original series. ABC Studios and Sony Pictures Television are behind the hour, which Bharat Nalluri is directing from a script by Thomas.
MIKE BIRBIGLIA'S SECRET PUBLIC JOURNAL (CBS) - Bob Odenkirk, Rachel Blanchard and Phil Hendrie have all joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about stand-up comedian (Birbiglia) who lives with his girlfriend in Brooklyn and struggles in his efforts to be a grown-up. Blanchard will play Mike's sensible but adorable live-in girlfriend, a medical intern, with Hendrie as his gruff doctor and Odenkirk as Mike's older brother. Birbiglia is also executive producing the half-hour alongside Andy Secunda for CBS Paramount Network Television.
MYTHOLOGICAL X (CBS) - Alexandra Breckenridge ("Dirt") and Adam Rothenberg have both scored roles on the drama pilot, about a woman (Elizabeth Reaser) who, after learning from a psychic that she already has dated the man she's supposed to marry, revisits all her past relationships. The latter is set as Fishy, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "30-35. He is Michaela's good friend and neighbor. Smart, funny and a bit befuddled. Despite his good looks and humor, women tend to gravitate to him for friendship and not romance. He does have a long-term girlfriend, Sky, but he still manages to seem a bit of a romantic underdog. His ability to be humble with his accomplishments but self-aggrandizing with his shortcomings makes him endearing and also the object of a considerable amount of razzing. He has a sweet demeanor but he's very much a guy's guy." Breckenridge then is playing Sky: "26-32. Fishy's girlfriend and Michaela's good friend. A no bullshit, tell it like it is hottie, who is voraciously stylish. She has a cutting wit and proclivity for talking about sex. She could easily pass as a fashionista or a privileged party girl but she's a high school biology teacher from a working class family." Rachel Boston also stars in the project, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television, Diane Ruggiero and Jonathan Levin. Timothy Busfield is directing from a script by Ruggiero.
OUTNUMBERED (FOX) - Ken Marino ("Reaper") and Brook Bloom ("CSI: Miami") have booked the lead roles on the comedy pilot, about parents who struggle to raise three intelligent and curious children. Marino will play Pete, the father, a history teacher at an inner city school, while Bloom is set as his wife Sue, a part-time personal assistant. Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner originated said roles in the original U.K. series. Hat Trick Productions and Media Rights Capital are behind the project, which comes from executive producers Jimmy Mulville, Keith Samples and creator Larry Levin. Bill English also stars while Bryan Gordon is directing.
PAMELA (E!, New!) - Pamela Anderson is set to topline a new reality series at the cable channel. The eight-episode project, from World of Wonder Productions, will roll out this summer. It's understood unlike most "docusoaps," the series will feature a more observational tone as she balances her personal life, business ventures and career. Anderson herself will also executive produce the half-hour alongside Handprint Entertainment's Jeff Pollack and World of Wonder's Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato and Tom Campbell. Video and commercial director Nigel Dick will co-executive produce.
RIVERVIEW TOWERS (AMC, New!) - Darren Aronofsky ("The Fountain") is developing a new psychological thriller at the cable channel about a family that moves into an apartment building with paranormal activity. John J. McLaughlin, who penned Aronofsky's upcoming feature "Black Swan," is writing the script to the project, which was originally set up at HBO more than two years ago. Aronofsky then will executive produce alongside his Protozoa partner Eric Watson and Jed Weintrob. In addition, Patty Jenkins ("Monster") is in talks to direct should it move forward to pilot.
SINGLE WHITE MILLIONAIRE (CBS) - Rick Peters ("Veronica Mars") and Brooke D'Orsay ("Happy Hour") have both joined the cast of the multi-camera comedy pilot, about an unassuming millionaire (Fred Savage) in his 30s who is ready to settle down. Peters will play one of the man's two best friends while D'Orsay will play the wife of Peters's character. They join the previously cast Lance Barber in the Warner Bros. Television-based project, which James Burrows is helming off a script from creator Ricky Blitt.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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