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[12/10/09 - 06:13 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, December 10
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!
AMERICA: THE STORY OF US (History) - Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Colin Powell, Brian Williams, Buzz Aldrin, Tommy Franks, Donald Trump, John Lasseter and Stevie Wonder have all been tapped to participate in the upcoming 12-part event, which will "focus on the elements that distinguish American democracy, the conflicts that shaped it and the myriad social and industrial innovations that have fueled the country's prosperity." Said talent will serve as on-camera commentators with Jane Root executive producing via her Nutopia production banner. "America" is due sometime in 2010.
DELTA BLUES (TNT) - Alfre Woodard ("Three Rivers") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Dwight Hendricks (Jason Lee), "a Memphis police officer who lives with his mother (Celia Weston) and moonlights as a tribute artist." She'll play "the formidable new lieutenant who tries to exercise her power over Dwight," a role presumably in second position to the hiatused "Rivers." Warner Horizon Television and Smokehouse Productions are behind the hour, which also stars Abraham Benrubi, DJ Qualls, Leonard Howz, Robyn Lively and Sam Hennings. Clark Johnson is directing from a script by Joshua Harto and Liz Garcia.
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS (HBO) - Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement have announced via their web site their pay channel series won't be returning for a third season. "We've noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won't be returning for a 3rd season," said the statement. "We're very proud of the two seasons we made and we like the way the show ended. We'd like to thank everyone who helped make the show and also everyone who watched it. While the characters Bret and Jemaine will no longer be around, the real Bret and Jemaine will continue to exist." The show wrapped its second season back in March.
GLEE (FOX) - Tony-winning actress Idina Menzel ("Wicked") is reportedly in talks to recur on the back half of the show's freshman season. She would play the coach to glee club "Vocal Adrenaline," the McKinley High glee club's main competition. Menzel had already been the focus of a fan campaign to cast her as Rachel Berry's (Lea Michele) biological mother. Also signing on for a five to six episode arc is Jonathan Groff. He'll play the lead male vocalist of "Vocal Adrenaline" and a potential love interest for Rachel Berry. Groff co-starred opposite Michele in the Broadway production of "Spring Awakening."
KEEP HOPE ALIVE (FOX) - Kate Micucci ("Scrubs") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about Jimmy (Lucas Neff), "a 25-year-old single parent raising an infant with the help of his quirky family after the mother of the baby -- with whom he had a one-night stand -- ends up on death row." She'll play Mike, "an unkempt, fairly oblivious cousin of Jimmy living in a tent in the laundry room of their great-grandmother's house." Said role was originally envisioned a male. Garrett Dillahunt, Kate Micucci, Martha Plimpton and Olesya Rulin also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which Michael Fresco is directing from a script by Greg Garcia.
THE SIX (ABC, New!) - Merv Griffin Entertainment has landed a presentation order from the Alphabet for a new game show based on the Russian format "What? Where? When?" Said project, which has been running for 35 years in its home country, is being redubbed "The Six," after the number of contestants on the show. The late Vladimir Voroshilov created (and hosted) the series, which pits a panel of six knowledgeable persons against the viewing audience. Said experts are tasked with answering audience-submitted questions listed on a spinning horizontal wheel divided into segments. If the experts answer correctly in the allotted 60 seconds they receive a point, if they don't the audience receives a point with question's author also earning a prize. (Sample question: "They first appeared in 1908 in Mexico. There were two of them. Over time, they came closer and closer together, like wings of a black raven. Name them." Answer: "Frida Kahlo's eyebrows.") Exact format details however are still being worked out. Merv Griffin's Roy Bank is executive producing the project alongside Ukranian-born actor Alex Reznik, Jonathan Barry and Ron Ward. Dwight Smith and Michael Agbabian are the showrunners with Brian Veskosky serving as a co-executive producer.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[10/11/26 - 11:45 AM]
Global Book Franchise "Artemis Fowl" Greenlit for Animated Television Series on Disney Channel and Disney+
Author Eoin Colfer announced the news during the "25 Years of Artemis Fowl" panel at New York Comic Con.
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[10/11/26 - 11:28 AM]
Meet Alex Holland When "The Rookie North" Premieres Wednesday, January 6 on ABC
Look for Season 9 of "The Rookie" at 9:00/8:00c followed by the debut of "The Rookie North" at 10:00/9:00c.
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[10/11/26 - 10:15 AM]
Tubi Announces Next Film in Continued Partnership with R.L. Stine with Adaptation of "The Babysitter"
Desperate to earn enough money for a prestigious writing program, sixteen-year-old Jenny takes a babysitting job despite a prowler terrorizing girls across town.
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[10/11/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: 2026 Netflix Holiday Trailer Week - Official Teaser - Netflix
Whether you're in the mood for a family story on four legs, a romance with security clearance, a Christmas miracle with a choir of legends, or a holiday déjà vu you can't shake - the holidays start on Netflix.
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[10/11/26 - 12:08 AM]
FOX Entertainment Global Accelerates Worldwide Expansion of Hit Survival Format "Extracted" with New Malaysia Production Hub
The new hub, where season three of FOX's U.S. network series just wrapped, combines one of the world's most dramatic natural survival environments with a specialized, state-of-the-art production ecosystem designed specifically for international format licensees.
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[10/10/26 - 04:45 PM]
Video: Prime Video Unveils New Trailer for "Blade Runner 2099" at New York Comic Con
All eight episodes will premiere on November 25, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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[10/10/26 - 03:56 PM]
"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" Returns to New York Comic-Con with Walker Scobell on the Main Stage to Talk Season Three
During the panel, Scobell announced that season three will have a two-episode premiere on November 20, followed by two new episodes dropping each week on Disney+ and Hulu.
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[10/10/26 - 01:20 PM]
"Star Trek" Beams Into the Big Apple to Celebrate "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" and 60 Years of the Iconic Franchise at New York Comic Con
Bill Nighy and Rosemarie DeWitt will guest star in the upcoming season, which will premiere March 2027 on Paramount+.
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[10/10/26 - 09:30 AM]
"Bob's Burgers" Hulu-Exclusive Holiday Short to Premiere December 7
In "On the Fort Day of Christmas," a record-breaking Christmas snowstorm means one thing to the Belcher kids - a record-breaking Christmas snow fort.
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[10/09/26 - 05:00 PM]
Adult Swim's Acclaimed Animated Thriller "Common Side Effects" Returns January 24
The news was announced today at New York Comic Con by co-creators Joe Bennett and Steve Hely.
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[10/09/26 - 03:18 PM]
All Seasons of "The Walking Dead" Series Available on AMC+ for the First Time Ever, Beginning January 7
The pop culture phenomenon, which launched a television franchise, joins AMC+'s "The Walking Dead Universe" Collection, including all six spin-off series, totaling 371 episodes, as well as exclusive specials, bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes content, Comic-Con panels and more.
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[10/09/26 - 03:02 PM]
News from AMC Global Media's New York Comic Con Panels
Highlights include premiere windows for the new seasons of "Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches" (Wednesday, December 30) and "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" (February 2027).
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[10/09/26 - 11:15 AM]
Video: Prime Video Unveils Explosive Teaser and Premiere Date for New Original Series, "Bloodaxe" from the Creator of "Vikings"
All eight episodes will premiere Wednesday, January 20, 2027 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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[10/09/26 - 09:14 AM]
Avatar Takes to the Stage at New York Comic Con - "Avatar: Seven Havens" Renewed for Books 3 and 4, New Animated Series "Avatar Kuruk: Wave of Chaos" Coming to Paramount+
In "Avatar Kuruk: Wave of Chaos" a rebellious teenage Avatar bucks thousands of years of tradition by choosing to learn the four elements through globetrotting adventures, staying one step ahead of his angry teacher, rowdy pirates, and chaotic spirits - all while helping the world in his own unique ways.
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[10/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
Season Two of "Little House on the Prairie" Wraps Production and Rounds Out Cast
Season two follows the next book in the series, "On the Banks of Plum Creek."
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