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[04/09/09 - 06:02 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, April 9
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!
DAY ONE (NBC)/INSIDE THE BOX (ABC) - Xander Berkeley has booked recurring roles on both pilots. On the former he'll play Clark Christiansen, the father of Addison Timlin's character, who's injured in an explosion. The project, from Jesse Alexander and Universal Media Studios, revolves around the residents of an apartment complex who bind together after a cataclysmic event. On "Box," he's set as Fred O'Brien, the Washington Bureau Chief of NNC, the show's fictional cable news network. Richard E. Robbins created the ABC Studios-based hour, which also comes from executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.
EASTBOUND & DOWN (HBO) - The pay channel has commissioned a second season of the comedy series, which will begin production later this year for a 2010 premiere. The series opened to modest 671,000 viewers on February 15, eventually climbing to 950,000 viewers on March 15 and closing its freshman season with 904,000 viewers on March 22. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, Jody Hill, Danny McBride and Ben Best are the executive producers.
LIGHTS OUT (FX) - Melora Hardin, Elias Koteas and Kevin Conway have all joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Patrick "Lights Out" Leary (Holt McCallany), "an aging former heavyweight boxing champion who struggles to find his identity and support his wife and three daughters after his fighting days are over." Hardin will play his wife, Theresa Leary, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. Conway then is set as Robert Leary, Patrick's father and former trainer, a widower who still runs a gym, while Koteas is playing Clay Tarpin, Patrick's boyhood friend who is his manager/business partner. Clark Johnson has also signed on to direct the hour, which comes from creator Justin Zackham, Fox TV Studios and FX Productions. Phillip Noyce and Ross Fineman also serve as executive producers.
PRISON BREAK (FOX) - TVShowsonDVD.com is reporting 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will release the final two installments of the series directly to DVD on July 21. Sister company 20th Century Fox Television ordered the episodes back in November, in addition to the two-hour series finale, which airs Friday, May 15 on FOX. Billed, "Prison Break: The Final Break," the single-disc release is detailed as follows: "The shocking series conclusion was just the beginning. Secrets revealed and mysteries solved. The truth will blow you away."
RONNA & BEVERLY (Showtime) - The cable channel has passed on the comedy pilot, about two middle-aged Jewish women (Jessica Chaffin, Jamie Denbo) who tirelessly promote their book, a dating guide for Jewish singles. Lionsgate Television was behind the half-hour, which was penned by Chaffin, Denbo and Jenji Kohan. Paul Feig was the director. It's understood the studio will shop the project to other outlets. Showtime passed on fellow entries "The End of Steve" and "The L Word" spin-off "The Farm" last week, leaving Tim Robbins's drama "Possible Side Effects" as the only pilot still awaiting its fate.
UNTITLED DAVID HEMINGSON PROJECT (ABC) - Noa Tishby ("Ghosts of Girlfriends Past") has been tapped to guest star on the drama pilot, about four young lawyers at one of L.A.'s most prestigious law firms. Her role however wasn't specified. Michael Fresco is helming the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour from a script by David Hemingson.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[03/16/26 - 03:05 PM]
College Basketball Crown Reveals Full Field and Bracket for Premier Postseason Tournament
With an NIL prize pool of $500,000 raising the stakes for every game, the College Basketball Crown provides fans with more elite competition and compelling storylines during the most exciting time of the year.
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[03/16/26 - 01:35 PM]
FOX Sports' Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen to Call Inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic
As previously announced, actor and comedian Kevin Hart will serve as the event's host alongside actor and comedian Druski.
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[03/16/26 - 11:12 AM]
Starz to Premiere "The Housemaid" on April 1 in Its Exclusive Streaming Debut Following Blockbuster Theatrical Run
Directed by Paul Feig, "The Housemaid" is a gripping psychological thriller set in a world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems.
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[03/16/26 - 11:06 AM]
TNT Sports to Debut "4.7 Seconds: For the Championship" on March 16, Reliving Greatest Finish in NCAA Tournament History
The special will also be available on demand on HBO Max throughout the duration of the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, and will also re-air on Saturday, March 28 on TBS after the conclusion of TNT Sports and CBS Sports' NCAA Men's Elite 8 coverage that night.
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[03/16/26 - 11:01 AM]
Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed Announced as First Three Hosts of "Saturday Night Live UK"
Wet Leg, Wolf Alice, and Kasabian will be their respective musical guests.
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[03/16/26 - 10:56 AM]
"CNBC Cures: Defying Rare Disease" with Becky Quick to Premiere on Thursday, March 19 at 7PM ET
The special spotlights the families dealing with rare diseases and the scientists, advocates, and innovators fighting to change their futures.
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[03/16/26 - 10:31 AM]
"Free Bert" Renewed for Season 2 on Netflix
Bert Kreischer will appear at Netflix is a Joke Festival 2026, performing the "Bert and Shaq's Crowd Work Show" at The Comedy Store on May 8 and hosting "2 Bears 5K" with Tom Segura and Jelly Roll at The Rose Bowl on May 9.
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[03/16/26 - 10:31 AM]
Things Are About to Get Wild When "Primate" Streams on Paramount+ March 25
The film follows a group of friends' fight for survival after their pet chimpanzee, Ben, goes on a violent rampage, turning a tropical homecoming into a primal tale of horror and survival.
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[03/16/26 - 10:01 AM]
CBS Presents "The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special," An Entertainment Tonight Production, Monday, April 6 on CBS
The special celebrates the acclaimed CBS comedy's final season, honoring eight seasons, 156 episodes, and eight unforgettable years of laughter, heart and community, leading up to the series finale on May 11.
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[03/16/26 - 09:31 AM]
Haley Baylee to Host "Win the Mall" - A High-Stakes New Reality Competition Show Coming to Netflix Fall 2026
Part shopping spree, part social strategy, this high-gloss reality competition drops players into a living mall where they'll fight to outshop, outsmart, and outlast one another - and only one will walk away with the keys to the ultimate prize.
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[03/16/26 - 09:01 AM]
Nate Diaz Vs. Mike Perry Join Most Valuable Promotions' Massive Triple-Headliner Professional MMA Event on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, Live Globally Only on Netflix
The bout joins the recently announced heavyweight clash between lineal heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou vs. Brazil's Philippe Lins and the historic women's main event between former UFC champion and Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey vs. combat sports trailblazer Gina Carano.
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[03/16/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord" - Official Trailer - Streaming April 6 on Disney+
Let us have our revenge.
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[03/16/26 - 06:00 AM]
ESPN Announces Commentator Pairings for Exclusive Coverage of NCAA March Madness Women's Basketball
For the first time ever, all four ABC sites in the first and second rounds will feature a reporter, with Holly Rowe, Alyssa Lang, Molly McGrath and Jess Sims joining the calls.
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[03/16/26 - 05:31 AM]
Netflix's "Assassin's Creed" Casts New Recurring Roles
Noomi Rapace, Ramzy Bedia, Sean Harris, and Corrado Invernizzi are among the latest additions.
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[03/16/26 - 05:01 AM]
Great American Media Announces "One More Christmas," Starring Candace Cameron Bure and Jonathan Scarfe, New Original Film for Great American Christmas 2026
Bure will headline two original films for Great American Christmas 2026 and will also serve as executive producer on an additional holiday feature to be announced soon.
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