|
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!
I WAS TOLD THERE'D BE CAKE (HBO, New!) - Sloane Crosley's bestselling collection of essays has been optioned by the pay channel as a potential comedy series. Former HBO Entertainment topper Carolyn Strauss is executive producing the project via her production deal with the network. A search is underway for a writer to pen the adaptation. "Cake's" topics range from Crosley accidentally amassing a collection of plastic ponies to locking herself out of her apartment twice on the same day.
MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC) - Alfre Woodard ("Desperate Housewives") has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about Henry (Christian Slater), a mild-mannered suburban dad whose alter ego, Edward, is a suave spy. She'll play the dual roles of Mavis Heller and Helen, which are detailed in the casting notice as follows: "50s, sturdy, intelligent, tough and astute. She is Edward and Raymond's boss at Janus HQ who walks with a cane and plays chess against herself during downtime. She is first seen angrily reprimanding Edward for ignoring a direct order during his mission in Paris. When Henry, Edward's mild-mannered alter-ego, emerges unexpectedly, and expresses an interest in working for her, she explains that the Henry side of his personality was basically concocted in a lab 15 years ago and that Janus has no use for Henry, only Edward. Later, as a sign of good faith, and to show that she is also making sacrifices, she arranges for Henry to run into her alter ego, Helen." Mike O'Malley, Saffron Burrows and Yara Martinez also star in the Universal Media Studios-based hour, which was created by Jason Smilovic.
SUPERNATURAL (The CW) - Creator Eric Kripke has inked a two-year overall deal with producer Warner Bros. Television. The pact covers his duties on the drama as well as calls for him to develop new series projects for the studio. Separately, co-star Katie Cassidy won't be returning for the show's fourth season. "She's great, but this was unfortunately a financial decision - purely budgetary, because creatively she was terrific," Kripke told TV Guide. "I have nothing but great affection for Katie, and she was great for the show. It was a very difficult business decision about the realities we are in." Fellow cast member Lauren Cohan was killed off during the season finale and likewise won't be returning.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
