 |
 |
[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 |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[08/19/26 - 10:13 AM]
Date & Title Announcement: "Jamie Foxx: Take Care of Yourself"
The new special from Academy Award-winning acclaimed actor, comedian, singer, and producer Jamie Foxx premieres October 7.
|
[08/19/26 - 10:02 AM]
2026 Little League Baseball Region Tournaments Deliver Largest Audience Since 2009
The Metro Region Championship matchup between Darien, Conn., and Bayonne, N.J., on August 14 averaged 1.2 million viewers, making it the third most-watched Little League Baseball Region Tournament game ever.
|
[08/19/26 - 09:31 AM]
For Third Week in a Row, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Is the No. 1 Primetime Entertainment Program Among Total Viewers
Scoring a new season high among Total Viewers (4.41 million), the August 12 episode earned the show's best performance in over a year.
|
[08/19/26 - 09:04 AM]
Shudder's Biggest Programming Event of the Year Returns! "Season of Screams" Features a Monster Lineup of New Films, Series and Live Watch Parties from September 1 Through December 31
Highlights include "Joe Bob's Halloween House Party" on Friday, October 23; and the return of "The Boulet Brothers' Dragula" this fall.
|
[08/19/26 - 09:03 AM]
A&E Crime & Investigation Premieres Coming This Fall
New seasons of "Late Night Law," "After the First 48," and "Killer Investigations" will be joined by a bonus episode of "Scott Peterson: The New Evidence."
|
[08/19/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Untold Mr. T: I Pity The Fool" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A retrospective feature documentary about Laurence Tureaud... better known as Mr. T.
|
[08/19/26 - 08:31 AM]
NBC Sports Names College Football Announce Teams as Season Kicks Off with No. 14 USC Trojans Hosting San Jose State Aug. 29 on NBC and Peacock
With the season beginning in 10 days, NBC Sports today named its college football announce roster.
|
[08/19/26 - 08:01 AM]
"Scary Movie" Launches Exclusively on Paramount+ Starting September 3
Arriving on Paramount+ over 13 years since "Scary Movie 5" and 26 years since the original film, "Scary Movie" brings beloved characters back to the franchise, including the hysterical Wayans Brothers, Marlon and Shawn as Shorty and Ray Wilkins, and the incomparable Anna Faris and Regina Hall as Cindy Campbell and Brenda Meeks.
|
[08/19/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Earle Meets World" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Alix Earle, Gen Z's ultimate "It" girl, gets real in this unscripted, unfiltered series that goes behind the scenes of her life and family.
|
[08/19/26 - 08:01 AM]
Prime Video Announces Five New Cast for Season Two of Original Series "Bloodaxe"
Gard Løkke, Melina Åkerman, Kieran Bew, Sebastian Bull, and George Burgess join the cast for the second season of the historical drama.
|
[08/19/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Physical 100: Mexico" - Official Trailer - Netflix
One hundred competitors from all walks of life battle through grueling physical challenges to determine who will emerge as Mexico's ultimate warrior.
|
[08/19/26 - 07:01 AM]
Apple TV's Acclaimed Comedy "Bad Monkey" Returns for Season Two on December 2
The 10-episode sophomore season will revolve around an all-new original story and will make its global debut on Apple TV with one episode on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through February 3, 2027.
|
[08/19/26 - 06:31 AM]
Jo Koy Returns to Netflix with His Sixth Stand-Up Special, "Blue in the Face"
Filmed in front of a sold out crowd in Stockton, California, Jo Koy relives a wild dental disaster, recounts getting fired from McDonald's and celebrates his veteran stepdad in this hilariously heartfelt special.
|
[08/19/26 - 06:10 AM]
Paolla Oliveira and Fabiula Nascimento Star in "Imperfect Mother," Netflix's New Melodrama, Which Begins Shooting in Rio de Janeiro
Filmed in Rio de Janeiro, the series focuses on human relationships shaped by moral dilemmas, difficult choices and the challenges of starting over.
|
[08/19/26 - 06:01 AM]
Your First Look at the Cast of "Murderbot" Season 2
The ensemble includes Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Akshay Khanna, Tamara Podemski, Sabrina Wu, Tattiawna Jones, John Cho, Jack McBrayer, Kali Reis, Clark Gregg, DeWanda Wise, Blair Underwood, Griffin Newman, Jason George, Topher Grace, Patton Oswalt, Brendan Hunt, Nicholas Braun, Britne Oldford, Katy O'Brian, Bridget Everett, Michael Sheen, Wanda Sykes, Martha Plimpton, Tramell Tillman, and Steve Buscemi.
|
|
|
|
