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[05/12/08 - 06:53 AM]
Development Update: Monday, May 12 (Morning)
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!
CAPRICA (Sci Fi) - Eric Stoltz ("The Butterfly Effect") and Alessandra Toressani ("Malcolm in the Middle") have both joined the cast of the two-hour backdoor pilot, a prequel to the network's "Battlestar Galactica." Stoltz will play Daniel Graystone, a wealthy computer engineer who, after an emotionally crippling family tragedy, uses his technological wizardry to forever change the future of Caprica. Toressani then is set as his daughter, Zoe. The pair join the previously cast Esai Morales and Paula Malcomson in the project, which comes from Universal Media Studios and executive producers David Eick, Remi Aubuchon and Ronald D. Moore. Jeffrey Reiner directs.
CLASS DISMISSED (A.K.A. SIT DOWN, SHUT UP) (FOX) - The animated comedy, which received a series commitment over the weekend, has been renamed to "Class Dismissed." The project, from creator Mitch Hurwitz, revolves around the lives of seven staff members of a dysfunctional high school in a small northeastern fishing town. 20th Century Fox Television, Granada USA, Sony Pictures Television and Tantamount are co-producing the half-hour, which is also executive produced by Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum.
DOLLHOUSE/FRINGE (FOX) - FOX has issued formal series commitments to both of the much-ballyhooed hours. Joss Whedon is behind the former, which revolves around a top-secret world of people programmed with different personalities, abilities and memories depending on their mission. The show's ensemble cast includes Amy Acker, Dichen Lachman, Eliza Dushku, Enver Gjokaj, Fran Kranz, Harry Lennix, Miracle Laurie, Olivia Williams and Tahmoh Penikett. 20th Century Fox Television is producing while Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain also serve as executive producers alongside Whedon. As for "Fringe," said hour follows the exploits of a young female FBI agent who tackles unexplained medical and scientific phenomena. Anna Torv toplines the Warner Bros. Television-based project, which also stars Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole, John Noble, Joshua Jackson, Kirk Acevedo, Lance Reddick and Mark Valley. Alex Graves, Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Burk, J.J. Abrams, Jeff Pinkner and Roberto Orci are the executive producers. "Dollhouse" is believed to be targeted for midseason while "Fringe" will likely roll out in the fall.
EUREKA (Sci Fi) - Frances Fisher ("In the Valley of Elah") has booked an eight-episode arc on the show's upcoming third season, due on July 29. She'll play Samantha Thorne, a.k.a. "The Fixer," a corporate titan who is brought in to clean up Global Dynamics. No other specifics were released.
MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC) - "Boston Legal" co-star Saffron Burrows has joined the cast of the Peacock's new drama, about a suburban dad named Henry (Christian Slate) whose alter ego, Edward, is a spy. She'll play Dr. Norah Skinner in the hour, who's detailed in the casting notice as: "Early 30s, beautiful without much makeup. She is a shrink and Edward's girlfriend who slaps him when she finds out he slept with Natasha, a Russian spy, during his mission to Paris. She runs a therapy sessions of sorts with Henry to make sure his memory is wiped clean of his time as Edward, and she's surprised when Edward asks her what Henry is like." Mike O'Malley also stars in the project, which comes from Universal Media Studios and creator Jason Smilovic. David Semel is directing the pilot.
THE PHILANTHROPIST (NBC) - "Battlestar Galactica" executive producer David Eick has been tapped as the new showrunner of the upcoming drama, about a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need no matter what the risks or costs. He'll take over for Tom Fontana, who penned the pilot and several additional scripts before exiting due to the creative differences last month. Eick, who recently inked an overall deal with "Philanthropist" producer Universal Media Studios, then will serve alongside fellow executive producer Charlie Corwin, whose idea the show is based upon. No casting has been announced.
THE PITTS (FOX) - The network has passed on the animated project, a revival of the short-lived 2003 live-action series of the same name about the unluckiest family in the world. The network went through two table reads of the half-hour before ultimately deciding to not move forward. 20th Century Fox Television nevertheless is already shopping the project to other networks, including ABC as a potential companion to its upcoming effort "The Goode Family." Julie Thacker-Scully and Mike Scully are behind "The Pitts," whose voice cast includes Allison Janney, Andy Milonakis, Dylan Baker and Lizzy Caplan.
VIRTUALITY (FOX) - "Friday Night Lights" creator Peter Berg has signed on to direct and executive produce the two-hour drama pilot, about a long-term NASA mission and a limitless world of virtual reality. "Battlestar Galactica's" Ronald Moore and Michael Taylor co-created the project, which is set up at Universal Media Studios. Berg's Film 44 producing partner Sarah Aubrey will also serve as an executive producer, where she'll join Moore, Taylor and BermanBraun's Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[03/04/26 - 03:01 PM]
FX's "Disinherited" - New Drama from Emmy Award Winner Peter Gould and T-Street Ordered to Series on FX and Hulu
Victoria Pedretti and Kiera Allen star as a pair of scrappy sisters thrust by an unexpected inheritance into a world of generational wealth and long-buried crimes.
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[03/04/26 - 11:31 AM]
"Disney Animation's Songs in Sign Language" to Debut on Disney+ April 27
Directed by veteran Disney animator/director Hyrum Osmond, the featured songs are "The Next Right Thing" (from Frozen 2), "We Don't Talk About Bruno" (from Encanto) and "Beyond" (from Moana 2).
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[03/04/26 - 11:03 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases First Teaser from the DC Studios Series "Lanterns," Starring Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, and Kelly Macdonald
The series is slated to debut later this August on HBO and available to stream on HBO Max.
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[03/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Untamed" Season 2 Production Kicks Off in Hawaii
The series will film on location on O'ahu and the island of Hawaii.
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[03/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
MTV Announces the Final 18 Episodes of "Jersey Shore Family Vacation," One of TV's Most Influential Reality Franchises, Premiering on Thursday, May 7 at 8PM ET/PT
This farewell season marks the culmination of a franchise that entertained millions with major life milestones, laugh-out-loud chaos, and the unfiltered chemistry that defined an era of reality television.
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[03/04/26 - 09:45 AM]
Lifetime Raises the Bar by Expanding Into Premium Vertical Storytelling with "Tides of Temptation," A Micro Drama Feature Executive Produced by Taye Diggs
Serving as a digital offshoot of the just announced upcoming original movie "Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You," the project expands the film's universe through a cinematic, mobile-first format designed with feature-level production value.
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[03/04/26 - 09:44 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights Three New Original Movies for 2026 Love of a Lifetime Slates Featuring All-Star Casts
Valerie Bertinelli, Henry Czerny, Eric McCormack, Taye Diggs, Heather Hemmens, and Cynthia Bailey are among the featured talent.
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[03/04/26 - 09:43 AM]
Lifetime Reteams with Robin Roberts for "Angel in the Rubble" Starring Sherri Shepherd in Remembrance of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11
Slated to premiere in September in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the movie is based on Genelle Guzman-McMillan's memoir "Angel in the Rubble: The Miraculous Rescue of 9/11's Last Survivor."
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[03/04/26 - 09:42 AM]
Lifetime Expands Roster of Powerhouse Creatives with New Movie Projects Helmed By Queen Latifah and Taraji P. Henson
"Queen Latifah and Taraji P. Henson are extraordinary talents and dynamic producers who share Lifetime's passion for telling powerful stories about women," said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming, A&E, Lifetime and LMN.
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[03/04/26 - 09:41 AM]
A+E Global Media Greenlights Two New Digital-First Series Under the History Brand
"Mistakes That Made America" and "Cracking Up" are both due later this year.
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[03/04/26 - 09:40 AM]
The History Channel Marks the 25th Anniversary of September 11 with New Two-Hour Special "102 Minutes Inside the Towers"
The documentary offers a deeply immersive and unique perspective through firsthand accounts from those who were inside the Twin Towers.
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[03/04/26 - 09:39 AM]
The History Channel Taps Internationally Acclaimed Action Icon Dolph Lundgren to Executive Produce and Host New Series "History's Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren"
Produced by Superluna Studios in association with 3BMG, the eight-episode series takes viewers on a thrilling journey through the gears, guts, and genius behind the machines that reshaped our world.
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[03/04/26 - 09:38 AM]
The History Channel Greenlights New Nonfiction Series "Crime and Justice with Tom Selleck" (w.t.)
The 10-episode, one-hour series examines the true stories behind some of the most consequential crimes and investigations in American history.
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[03/04/26 - 09:37 AM]
The History Channel Orders "Extraordinary Origins with Ted Danson" (w.t.) A New Series Hosted and Executive Produced by the Multi-Award-Winning Actor
The 10-episode series examines the stories behind some of history's most significant innovations, inventions, and discoveries that helped shape the modern world.
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[03/04/26 - 09:36 AM]
The History Channel Greenlights New Nonfiction Series "History's Strange Fortunes with Kevin Bacon" (w.t.)
Stories about money - money made, money lost, and money spent - are woven into the fabric of our nation's history.
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