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[07/29/09 - 06:18 PM]
Development Update: July 28-29
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!


ATLAS SHRUGGED (Epix, New!) - The fledgling pay channel is reportedly developing a mini-series based on Ayn Rand's famed novel of the same name. Charlize Theron is attached to the star in the project, which revolves around the mysterious disappearance of the world's greatest innovators and industrialists. No other specifics were given.


THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE (The CW) - Elle Macpherson and Corbin Bleu have both been promoted to regulars on the netlet's upcoming drama. Bleu will continue on as Issac, one of the models living together in a co-ed residence in New York. Macpherson likewise is on board as Claudia Foster, a former supermodel who owns the top modeling agency in New York. Production on the series begins this week.


THE BORDER (ION) - Tonya Lee Williams ("The Young and the Restless") has joined the cast of the Canadian import, about "elite Canadian immigration and customs officers working with U.S. authorities to defend the Canadian-U.S. border against outside threats." She'll play a senior U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent in the project, which also stars Catherine Disher, Grace Park, Graham Abbey, James McGowan, Jim Codrington, Jonas Chernick, Mark Wilson, Nazneen Contractor and Sofia Milos. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Fireworks International and White Pines Pictures are co-producing.


THE FORGOTTEN (ABC) - Heather Stephens has joined the cast of the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced drama, about a group of amateur detectives led by a former cop (Christian Slater). She's set as one of the sleuths, Lindsay, who's "left to care for her baby after her husband is thrown in jail for an unknown crime." Reiko Aylesworth played said role, then named Linda, in the original pilot. No reason was given for Aylesworth's recasting.


HANK (ABC) - Nathan Gamble is a new addition to the upcoming comedy, which stars Kelsey Grammer as "a titan of industry who suddenly finds himself out of work, almost out of money and around a wife and kids for whom he's never made much time." He's on board as Henry, the son of Grammer's character - a role originated by Ryan Wynott in the original pilot. No reason was listed for the recasting.


HEROES (NBC) - Robert Knepper has been upped to series regular for the show's fourth season. Originally tapped for a six-episode arc, the "Prison Break" alum is now set to appear in every episode of the upcoming volume. He plays "the charismatic but evil Earth-moving ringleader of a traveling carnival who recruits people with special powers for a mysterious purpose."


SWORDS: LIFE ON THE LINE (NBC) - The Thom Beers-produced series has found a home at Discovery. Originally set up at NBC, the hourlong series follows a group of New England fisherman as they "brave the frigid, unpredictable waters of the North Atlantic." The newcomer will now roll out on Tuesday, August 11 at 9:00/8:00c, a slot formerly occupied by fellow Beers series "Deadliest Catch." Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun also serve as executive producers.


TERRIERS (FX) - Donal Logue has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about Hank, "an ex-cop who partners with his best friend to launch a P.I. business where the duo, both with maturity issues, solve crimes while trying to avoid danger and responsibility." Executive producer Shawn Ryan originally broke the news via his Twitter account. Ted Griffin penned the hour for Fox 21 and is also executive producing.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [july 2009]  
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· ATLAS SHRUGGED (EPIX)
· BEAUTIFUL LIFE, THE (CW)
· BORDER, THE (OVATION)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FORGOTTEN, THE (ABC)
· HANK (ABC)
· HEROES (NBC)
· PRISON BREAK (FOX)
· SWORDS: LIFE ON THE LINE (DISCOVERY)
· TERRIERS (FX)





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