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[04/02/10 - 12:08 AM]
Development Update: Friday, April 2
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!
HELLCATS (The CW) - Robbie Jones ("One Tree Hill") and Heather Hemmens ("The Candy Shop") are both on board the presentation, a drama set in the world of competitive college cheerleading. He's believed to be playing Luis Famosa, an "easy and laid-back, seriously unserious" member of the squad who befriends Marty (Aly Michalka), much to the chagrin of Dan (Matt Barr). Said role was originally written for someone of Cuban descent. Hemmens then is set as Alice Vandermark ("a willowy beauty with jaded New York cool"), a fellow Hellcat that suffers a hairline wrist fracture. Ashley Tisdale and Gail O'Grady co-star in the hour, which was penned by Kevin Murphy. CBS Television Studios, Tom Welling Productions and Warner Bros. Television are co-producing.
HITCHED (CBS) - Riki Lindhome has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about a twentysomething newlywed couple (Jack Carpenter, Kristin Kreuk) navigating their new life together. She's on board as Shari Ratner, the bride's best friend, "a ball buster" whose husband never speaks. Josh Schwartz and Matt Miller are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which also stars Eugene Levy, Kurtwood Smith and Thomas Middleditch. Rob Greenberg is directing.
HUGE (ABC Family) - Gina Torres ("Gossip Girl") is the latest addition to the series, which launches Monday, June 28 at 9:00/8:00c. She'll play Dr. Dorothy Rand in the hour, about "the lives of seven teens and the staff at a weight-loss camp, as they look beneath the surface to discover their true selves and the truth about each other." Andrew Caldwell, Ari Stidham, Ashley Holliday, Harvey Guillen, Hayley Hasselhoff, Nikki Blonsky and Zander Eckhouse also star in the ensemble.
LAW & ORDER (NBC) - S. Epatha Merkerson is departing the series after 17 seasons. Said decision comes as production is about to begin on the show's 20th season finale. Merkerson reportedly made the request in time to give her character an appropriate send-off. Earlier this week, the Peacock announced Olympic Gold Medal winning skier Lindsey Vonn would guest star on the aforementioned finale, to be written and directed by Rene Balcer. As for the future of the series, rumblings persist that a 21st season will be contingent on whether or not TNT, home to its off-network run, will extend its contract beyond season 20 which in turn will help offset the cost of production.
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (ABC Family) - Chad Lowe ("24") has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about "four estranged best friends who are reunited one year after their best friend and queen bee of the group, Alison, goes missing only to discover they are receiving messages from an anonymous "A" who knows all their secrets." He'll play Byron, one of the girls' (Lucy Hale) fathers, a "handsome professor that the college girls on campus all talk about when they get drunk and horny." Alexis Denisof originated the role in the pilot. No reason was given for the recasting. Ashley Benson, Laura Leighton, Nia Peeples, Shay Mitchell as Emily and Troian Bellisario also star in the project, which bows Tuesday, June 8 at 8:00/7:00c.
STRANGE BREW (FOX) - Greg Germann ("In Case of Emergency") and Damon Gupton ("Deadline") have both booked roles on the comedy pilot, about a family-owned brewery. The former will play Burt ("fit, comfortable in his Republican skin"), a president of a rival company who tries to convince patriarch Ted (Jere Burns) to sell him a piece of the business. Gupton then is set as Lester Lewis III, a third generation brewmaster who's a de facto member of the family. Aya Cash, Laurie Metcalf, Mo Mandel and Skylar Astin also star in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which Marc Buckland is directing from a script by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[04/23/26 - 08:31 AM]
"The Chi" Sets May 22 Premiere Date for an Unforgettable Final Season on Paramount+
Produced by 20th Television, the 10-episode final season will roll out weekly every Friday.
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[04/23/26 - 08:01 AM]
"A Different World" Sequel Wraps Production in Atlanta Adding Cliff "Method Man" Smith and More to Cast
The show will explore the lives and loves of a new generation at the iconic fictional HBCU, Hillman College.
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[04/23/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Official Trailer and Key Art for "The Legend of Vox Machina" Season Four
Premiering on June 3, Season Four will have a three-episode weekly rollout on Prime Video.
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[04/23/26 - 07:11 AM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Stockholders Approve Transaction with Paramount Skydance
Based on the preliminary vote count from today's Special Meeting, WBD stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the adoption of the merger agreement with Paramount.
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[04/23/26 - 07:01 AM]
The "Battlestar Galactica" Universe Heads to Paramount+ and Pluto TV in the U.S. May 1
From the critically acclaimed miniseries to all four seasons and the feature-length film "The Plan," audiences can experience the full scope of humanity's fight for survival on streaming once again.
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[04/23/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Roast of Kevin Hart" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Catch Kevin Hart getting roasted live, only on Netflix on Sunday, May 10, at 5PM PT.
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[04/23/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for "Star City," New Space-Race Drama Set in the World of "For All Mankind"
The bold, eight-episode alt-history series will debut globally on Apple TV with two episodes on Friday, May 29, followed by one new episode every Friday through July 10.
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[04/23/26 - 07:00 AM]
Prime Video Announces May 21 Premiere Date for "Kyle Larson vs. The Double"
Directed by Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Cynthia Hill, the documentary will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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[04/23/26 - 05:30 AM]
Video: Locker Rooms and Late Nights - The "Off Campus" Trailer Is Here
Based on the international bestselling book series from Elle Kennedy, and created for television by Louisa Levy, all episodes of the series will be available on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on May 13, 2026.
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[04/23/26 - 03:01 AM]
The Kawanda Family Grows! Alvaro Mel Joins the Cast of "Old Dog, New Tricks" for a New Season
The Netflix series has begun production on seasons two and three.
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[04/22/26 - 11:31 PM]
Video: "Sapne Vs Everyone" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The new season premieres May 1, 2026 on Prime Video.
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[04/22/26 - 05:30 PM]
Hulu's Second-Annual Get Real House Event Brings Together the Biggest Names in Reality TV and Delivers Major Announcements
The ultimate crossover event gathered over 150 unscripted TV icons and creatives, including Khloé Kardashian, Travis Barker, Lisa Vanderpump, Heidi Klum, Maura Higgins and more.
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[04/22/26 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "The WONDERfools" - Official Teaser - Netflix
A goofy group of townies stumbles into superpowers and fights rising evil as doomsday panic grows in this wild, turn-of-the-century action comedy.
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[04/22/26 - 04:46 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Expands Hit Franchise with a New Competition Series, "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro," Coming to ABC and Hulu
The series will premiere July 13, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes available the next day on Hulu.
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[04/22/26 - 01:00 PM]
ESPN Opens NBA Playoffs with Most-Watched Playoff Game of Opening Weekend
Saturday's Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers matchup on ABC averaged 5.2 million viewers, peaking at 6.4 million viewers during the 11 p.m. ET quarter hour.
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