or


[05/07/08 - 05:24 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, May 7
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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!


CAPRICA (Sci Fi) - Esai Morales ("Jericho") has been tapped for one of the lead roles in the upcoming two-hour/backdoor pilot, a prequel to the network's "Battlestar Galactica." He'll play Joseph Adama, the father of William Adama (Edward James Olmos in the current series), a deeply passionate man with a strong sense of justice and someone you wouldn't want as your enemy. He joins Paula Malcomson on the Universal Media Studios-based project, which comes from creators Remi Aubuchon and Ronald D. Moore. Jeffrey Reiner is directing.


HARD KNOCKS (HBO) - The Dallas Morning News reported today that the HBO series will revisit the Dallas Cowboys for its fourth season, due this summer. The show's 2002 edition followed the eventual 5-11 team under then coach Dave Campo. It's understood NFL Films will begin the five-to-six-week production in late July at the team's Oxnard, California training facility.


LIFE ON MARS (ABC) - "October Road" creators Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are reportedly in talks to come aboard the potential freshman drama as its executive producers/showrunners. Appelbaum and Nemec are based at ABC Studios which likewise is in negotiations to co-produce the series alongside 20th Century Fox Television. The group however is waiting to get the blessing from creator David E. Kelley, who penned and executive produced the long-in-the-works pilot. It's believed financial considerations are the impetus for Kelley's exit. Kudos Film and Television's Jane Featherstone and Stephen Garrett are still on board as executive producers. Tommy Schlamme helmed the pilot, which stars Jason O'Mara as a cop, who after being hit by a car in the present day, finds himself transported to the 1970s.


OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet is said to be moving forward with a new game show from Katalyst Films and 3 Ball Productions in which the game is literally taken to the contestants' homes. Family members then can win everything from cash to plasma TVs by answering trivia questions about their lives and about items found in and around their home. 3 Ball's JD Roth and Todd A. Nelson are executive producing the project alongside Katalyst's Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg and Karey Burke.


UGLY BETTY (ABC) - The sophomore dramedy is set to relocate to New York City next season following the state's decision to triple its tax credit for film and TV productions to 30%, with New York City proper offering an additional 5% credit. "Betty's" pilot was actually shot in New York City before ABC Studios shifted production to Los Angeles. The move nevertheless will likely cause 150 L.A. crew members to lose their jobs, however most are expected to be reassigned to other studio-based properties. Conversely, the majority of the show's ensemble cast are already based in New York themselves. The "Betty" writers are expected to remain on the West Coast.


UNTITLED EDIE FALCO PROJECT (Showtime) - Peter Facinelli, Paul Schulze, Merritt Wever, Eve Best and Haaz Sleiman have all joined the cast of the Edie Falco-led comedy pilot, about a strong-willed New York nurse (Falco). In addition, Anna Deavere Smith has signed on as a recurring character - Mrs. Akalitus, the reluctant hospital administrator. As for the principal members, Facinelli will play Dr. Cooper, a likable "golden boy" who appears to be in control but is actually a bundle of nerves; Schulze is set as Falco's boyfriend, Eddie, a pharmacy tech; with Wever as Zoey, a first-year nurse; Sleiman as Maurice, a.k.a. "Momo," a gay Muslim nurse; and Best as Dr. O'Hara, a loner whose only friend at the hospital is Falco's character. Evan Dunsky is behind the Lionsgate Television-based project, which Allen Coulter is directing.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· CAPRICA (SYFY)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· HARD KNOCKS (HBO)
· JERICHO (CBS)
· LIFE ON MARS (ABC)
· NURSE JACKIE (SHOWTIME)
· OCTOBER ROAD (ABC)
· OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS (ABC)
· UGLY BETTY (ABC)





[03/19/26 - 01:17 PM]
Maya Hawke to Star in Netflix's Series Adaptation of "The God of the Woods"
The multi-generational drama series is set in the Adirondacks, exploring the Van Laar family's dark secrets, class tensions, and the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of 13 year old Barbara Van Laar from her family's summer camp - in the wake of an earlier family tragedy that may be related.

[03/19/26 - 01:03 PM]
3 Million "Outlander" Fans Drive the Epic Season Eight Premiere to a Four-Year Series High
The episode, entitled "Soul of a Rebel," secured the top spot for the week among all scripted cable programs.

[03/19/26 - 01:01 PM]
Peacock Renews "Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together" for a Second Season
Production begins this month and the series will air later in the year.

[03/19/26 - 12:46 PM]
Statement from Disney Entertainment Television: "The Bachelorette"
From a spokesperson: "In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of 'The Bachelorette' at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family."

[03/19/26 - 12:13 PM]
FOX Sports, IndyCar Announce Launch of New Digital-Exclusive Series, "All In: IndyCar"
The debut episode, "The Champ Is Here," features four-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

[03/19/26 - 10:02 AM]
Amazon MGM Studios Has Officially Greenlit "The Challenger," A Limited Series Starring Kristen Stewart
Stewart will play astronaut and physicist Sally Ride, who in 1978 became the first American woman to fly in space.

[03/19/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Announces Limited Series "Enigma Variations" Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson
The series, based on André Aciman's novel, tells the story of a man remade by the lovers who ignite and undo him over the course of 10 transformative years.

[03/19/26 - 09:14 AM]
New Season of "Storied Spaces" Premieres March 28 on Magnolia Network
Escape to beautifully designed and curated spaces, seen through the eyes of the families that breathed life into them.

[03/19/26 - 09:04 AM]
Video: "O11CE: New Generation" - Trailer - Disney+
Same team, new dream. The Hawks take the field in "O11Ce: New Generation," now streaming on Disney+.

[03/19/26 - 09:01 AM]
Season Two of "Hazardous History with Henry Winkler" Set to Premiere Sunday, April 19 at 9/8c on The History Channel
Each one-hour episode of this nostalgia-drenched series tells the stories of the things we did for fun, for money, or out of plain boredom that you can't do anymore.

[03/19/26 - 09:01 AM]
HBO to Debut Comedy Special "Josh Johnson: Symphony" This Spring
Said Josh Johnson: "I'm excited to have my breakout piece be with a company that nurtures vision like HBO does. I'm grateful to them, and you, for watching."

[03/19/26 - 09:01 AM]
Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Riley Green to Perform at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards
The 61st ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the world-renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

[03/19/26 - 08:34 AM]
Must-See April U.S. Debuts from Viaplay - German Conspiracy Thriller, Award-winning Film
Highlights include "Dangerous Truth," inspired by real events surrounding the faulty intelligence that helped justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

[03/19/26 - 08:12 AM]
Apple Original Films' "What Happens at Night" from Martin Scorsese, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, Begins Principal Photography
Hailing from Apple Studios, and made in partnership with STUDIOCANAL, the dream-like story follows a married American couple who travel to a small, snowy European town to adopt a baby.

[03/19/26 - 08:11 AM]
Netflix Canada Announces New Series "This Summer Will Be Different"
Based on the beloved novel by Carley Fortune, the series is a simmering, sun-soaked romance set across multiple summers on Prince Edward Island about Lucy, a young woman navigating her 20s and her first real love with her best friend's brother, the one person she was never supposed to fall for.