 |
 |
[03/21/11 - 10:59 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 21
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!
ANGLER (HBO, New!) - Barton Gellman's book of the same name - about former Vice President Dick Cheney - is being developed as a potential mini-series at the pay channel. Rick Cleveland ("Six Feet Under") is penning the adaptation, which will track Cheney's life from "his early days as Donald Rumsfeld's protege in the Nixon administration, to the nation's youngest Chief of Staff under President Ford, to serving as Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush, through two controversial terms as Vice President under President George W. Bush." Spring Creek Productions and Fair Catch Productions are co-producing with Paula Weinstein, Jeffrey Levine, David Kennedy and "Frontline's" David Fanning and Michael Kirk executive producing.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Jonathan Cake ("Six Degrees") is set to join the cast of the long-running soap. He'll play Aaron, "a handsome, sexy, college-educated police detective with strong family values who becomes involved with Bree (Marcia Cross) when he comes to Wisteria Lane to investigate a case," in an upcoming four-episode arc before returning as a regular next season.
EATING WITH THE ENEMY (HBO, New!) - James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos") is set to star in and executive produce a potential docudrama at the pay channel about the true story of Bobby Egan, the owner of a Hackensack, New Jersey rib joint who became involved in back channel negotiations with North Korea to stop producing nuclear weapons. Said project is based on Egan and Kurt Pitzer's book of the same name, subtitled "How I Waged Peace With North Korea from My BBQ Shack in Hackensack." Egan improbably made inroads with the North Korean government after showing up at the doorstep of their consulate near the U.N. and offering his friendship. He subsequently made several trips to North Korea itself, where he was approached by the State Department to be their conduit in backdoor nuke talks. As for the film, Mark Armstrong, Nancy Sanders, Jane Rosenthal, Brandon Brito and Megan Lyvers will executive produce for Tribeca Productions and Gandolfini's Atta Boy Productions with Pitzer and Kimberly Levin co-producing. No other auspices were given.
FREE AGENTS (NBC) - Kathryn Hahn ("Hung") is set to star opposite Hank Azaria in the comedy pilot, about "the attraction between two quirky PR executives working together - Alex (Azaria) and Helen (Hahn) - who both are on the rebound, Alex from a divorce and Helen from the loss of a fiance." Todd Holland is directing the Universal Media Studios-based half-hour, from creator John Enbom. Mo Mandel also stars.
LOSING IT WITH JILLIAN (NBC) - Network sources have confirmed the Jillian Michaels-led series, in which "The Biggest Loser" trainer travels across the country to transform one family at a time, won't be returning for a second. Said effort was absent from the Peacock's summer lineup, which was revealed earlier today.
MORE AS THE STORY DEVELOPS (A.K.A. UNTITLED AARON SORKIN PROJECT) (HBO) - Jeff Daniels is reportedly in talks to topline the Aaron Sorkin-penned drama pilot, set behind the scenes of a nightly cable news show. He'd play Will McCallister, "a famous cable newsman of the Anderson Cooper/Brian Williams mold who is smart and talented guy but just a pain in the ass to work with and for." Sorkin and Scott Rudin are the executive producers.
PRIVATE PRACTICE (ABC) - Benjamin Bratt ("The Cleaner") is on track to join the cast of the veteran drama. Details about his role are being kept under wraps, however it's understood he'll be introduced in the season finale. Said casting is designed to fill the void left by Audra McDonald, who's departing the series at the end of the season.
R.E.M. (NBC) - Cherry Jones ("24") and Michaela McManus ("The Vampire Diaries") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Mark Britten (Jason Isaacs), a police detective living in two different realities following a horrible car accident: one in which his son Rex (Dylan Minnette) lives, another in which his wife Hannah lives - each with their own partner and psychiatrist. In addition, co-star Laura Allen has been recast as Hannah ("stunning, warm"). The actress was previously attached as Tara ("long, slender, like someone who not only plays a sport for a living, but does it well"), Rex's tennis coach and trusted confidante. Said role will now go to McManus. Jones then is set as Stephanie Evans, Mark's psychiatrist in the reality where Rex lives. The previously cast B.D. Wong conversely is Mark's psychiatrist in the reality where Hannah lives, while Steve Harris and Wilmer Valderrama play Mark's respective partners. David Slade is directing the Kyle Killen-penned hour, from 20th Century Fox Television.
SECRET CIRCLE (The CW) - Natasha Henstridge ("Eli Stone") and Australian actor Louis Hunter have both landed roles on the drama pilot, about Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson), a California teen who moves to her mom's hometown of New Salem, Maine and discovers that she comes from a family of witches. She'll play Dawn Chamberlain ("a strikingly beautiful woman in her late 30's"), the vice principal at Cassie's school and an old friend of her mother's; while Hunter is on board as Nick Armstrong ("good physique, and he knows it"), Cassie's new neighbor, another member of the circle, a coven of young witches. Jessica Parker Kennedy, Phoebe Tonkin, Shelley Hennig and Thomas Dekker also star in the hour, which Liz Friedlander is directing from a script by Andrew Miller.
TITANIC (ABC, New!) - Simon Vaughn's long-in-the-works mini-series has found a U.S. broadcast home at the Alphabet. Said effort will chronicle the famous ship's maiden and final voyage through multiple points of view, using both fictional and historical characters. Production is set to begin in Hungary shortly for a premiere in April 2012 - the 100th anniversary of the boat's sinking. Oscar-winner Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park") penned the project with ITV Studios, Lookout Point, Deep Indigo Productions, Sienna Films and Mid Atlantic Films co-producing.
VINCE UNCENSORED (CBS) - Elizabeth Perkins ("Weeds") has booked the female lead on the comedy pilot, about Vince Donohue (Michael Chiklis), "a man who decides to take a more honest approach to life after a life-altering experience." She'll play his Wife, Janet, a middle school teacher and mother to their three daughters. Kelsey Grammer is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, from creator Phoef Sutton.
|
|
|
 [march 2011]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[08/04/26 - 09:04 AM]
Third and Final Season of Paramount+ Original Comedy Series "Colin from Accounts" to Premiere September 10
All episodes of the highly anticipated new season will be available to stream at premiere, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S.
|
[08/04/26 - 09:01 AM]
First Look at "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story," September 17th on Netflix
The new installment will follow the series' first female "monster," played by Ella Beatty alongside Vicky Krieps as Bridget Sullivan, Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden, and Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden.
|
[08/04/26 - 08:47 AM]
Viola Davis to Star in and Executive Produce Paramount+ Original Series, "Ascent"
"Ascent" is a character-driven thriller set in the dangerous world of global corporate crisis and damage control.
|
[08/04/26 - 08:18 AM]
Video: "Here the Whole Time" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Felipe just wanted a quiet summer with his artsy mom and every musical he could binge... when his childhood crush knocked on his door to join the party.
|
[08/04/26 - 08:18 AM]
FOX Sports Unveils 2026 NFL Broadcast Lineup Boasting Super Bowl Champs, Hall of Famers and Emmy Award Winners
FOX NFL's lead announce team of award-winning play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and seven-time Super Bowl champion and critically acclaimed analyst Tom Brady embark on their third season together.
|
[08/04/26 - 08:15 AM]
Video: Date, Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "The Girls: A Khloe Kardashian Project"
The series premieres with all six episodes on August 21 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
|
[08/04/26 - 08:06 AM]
Video: "Honest Renovations" Season 4 - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
They're back! Join Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis as they transform the homes and lives of deserving families.
|
[08/04/26 - 08:03 AM]
BritBox Reveals Additional Casting for Upcoming Agatha Christie Adaptation "Hercule"
The upcoming six-part drama series stars Edward Bluemel as Agatha Christie's iconic Belgian detective.
|
[08/04/26 - 07:34 AM]
ESPN Unveils 2026-27 College Football Commentator Teams
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and reporter Holly Rowe will again serve as the lead team on ABC and ESPN.
|
[08/04/26 - 07:02 AM]
From Studio to Stadium: NBC's "Sunday Night Football" Show Open Stars Carrie Underwood for 14th Consecutive Year
In the latest evolution of "SNF's" show opens since 2013, the year of Underwood's debut, this year's edition features scenes in three distinct locations - the recording studio, an intimate setting in a small music venue, and a concert performance in a packed stadium.
|
[08/04/26 - 05:01 AM]
"This Summer Will Be Different" Starts Production on Prince Edward Island
Netflix also announced new recurring cast, including Jordan Rodrigues as Miles Lam, Jude Wilson as Zach, Natalie Brown as Christine, James Tupper as Ken, Tom Barnett as Peter and Celia Owen as Joy.
|
[08/04/26 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "Blood Sacrifice" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Following the brutal murder of two police officers, a tenacious detective reluctantly joins forces with his estranged ex-cop father to catch the killer.
|
[08/03/26 - 08:01 PM]
Video: "Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Hathaway Noa leads a rebel group in a fight against the corrupt Earth Federation government. But when he meets a mysterious woman, his resolve is tested.
|
[08/03/26 - 05:06 PM]
Video: "Made in Korea" - Season 2 Teaser Trailer - Hulu
Nine years after Season 1, Baek Kitae (Hyun Bin) stands at the height of his power, while Jang Geonyoung (Jung Woosung) is preparing to strike back.
|
[08/03/26 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "Take a Hike!" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Beginner hikers vs. the freezing reality of a snowy K-mountain. Join Car, the garden X DOWOON X Lee Chae-min X TARZZAN as they struggle to the top.
|
|
|
|
