or


[02/28/14 - 11:41 PM]
Development Update: Friday, February 28
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!


BATTLE CREEK (CBS/Sony; W: David Shore & Vince Gilligan; D: TBA) - Dean Winters, Aubrey Dollar and Edward Fordham, Jr. have all been cast in the drama pilot, about a detective and an FBI agent with very different world views who are teamed up to clean up the semi-mean streets of Battle Creek, Michigan. Winters will play the aforementioned detective, Russ Agnew, "a smart, tough, impatient, and pragmatic guy who gets results but whom no one wants to partner with because he prefers to cut through any nonsense, and this has earned him a reputation for being mean and gruff." Dollar then is set as Holly, "the office manager who shares mutual attraction with Russ"; with Fordham as Aaron Funkhauser, a "chubby detective." Janet McTeer and Kal Penn also star. (Deadline.com)


BLACK BOX (TNT, New!) - Feature writer Jason Fuchs (Ice Age: Continental Drift) has sold a potential drama to the cable channel which "centers on three strangers whose lives are forever changed after the accidental crash of a civilian airliner over the Long Island Sound when clues begin to emerge that the crash may not have been accidental." Said effort is set up at Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television with the company's Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also serving as executive producers. (Deadline.com)


COERCION (NBC/Universal; W/D: George Nolfi) - Alexandra Peters (Sage Paints The Sky) is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about the O'Connor family and their son, Alex (Gavin Stenhouse), a decorated American war hero and CIA analyst who is a true patriot and loves his country and family. Unbeknownst to him, both of his parents (Hope Davis, TBA) and his sister (Margarita Levieva) are part of a dormant Russian sleeper cell that has just been reactivated. She's set as Sarah, "Alex's younger teenage sister who idolizes her older brother." Kenneth Choi also stars. (Deadline.com)


EXPOSED (ABC/Universal; W: Charles Randolph; D: TBA) - Brian F. O'Byrne ("Prime Suspect") has snagged a role on the drama pilot, about Anna Loach (yet to be cast), an investigative journalist who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth including making questionable alliances. He's on board as Quigg, "a very powerful, mysterious man who works for the Pentagon." Sandrine Holt, Pedro Pascal and Peter De Jersey also star. (Deadline.com)


HIEROGLYPH (FOX/20th; W: Travis Beacham; D: Miguel Sapochnik) - Max Brown ("Beauty and the Beast") has scored the lead role on the upcoming drama, about a notorious thief who is plucked from prison to serve the Pharoah (Reece Ritchie), navigating palace intrigue, seductive concubines, criminal underbellies and even a few divine sorcerers. He'll play said thief, Ambrose, in the project, which also stars Antony Bunsee, Caroline Ford, Condola Rashad, Kelsey Chow and John Rhys-Davies. (Deadline.com)


IRREVERSIBLE (ABC/Sony; W/D: Segahl Avin) - Jessica Knappett and Iris Bahr have both been cast in the David Schwimmer-led comedy pilot, about Andy (Schwimmer) and Sarah, "a somewhat eccentric, self-absorbed couple, and their trials and tribulations - most of which they bring upon themselves." The former will play the aforementioned Sarah, "a neurotic and feisty morning show host on a second-rate channel who dreams of becoming an important newswoman someday"; with the latter as Stacey, "Sarah's older, yet less mature sister." (Deadline.com)


MESSENGERS, THE (The CW/CTS; W: Eoghan O'Donnell; D: Stephen Williams) - British actor Jon Fletcher has joined the cast while Stephen Williams ("Zero Hour") is set to direct the drama pilot, about a group of unconnected strangers who seemingly die from an energy pulse, only to awaken to learn that they have been deemed responsible for preventing the impending Apocalypse. Fletcher will play Joshua Simmons Jr., "a charismatic and compelling pastor at a Texas mega-church." Black-D'Elia and Joel Courtney also star. (Deadline.com)


ODD COUPLE, THE (CBS/CTS; W: Joe Keenan & Matthew Perry; D: TBA) - Sarah Baker ("Go On") has scored a role on Matthew Perry's updated take on Neil Simon's classic play, about two mismatched roommates, the messy Oscar Madison (Perry) and the neat freak Felix Unger. She'll play Oscar's assistant Sam, "who spends most of her work day on the phone apologizing to assorted high-and-mighty people who have been offended by Oscar's latest rant." (Deadline.com)


SAINT FRANCIS (ABC/ABC Studios; W: Christopher Moynihan; D: TBA) - Henry Simmons ("Ravenswood") has joined the cast of the multi-camera comedy pilot, about Francis Quinlan (Michael Imperioli), a blue-collar, no-nonsense Long Island cop and family man who butts heads with the modern, liberal world when his 29-year-old sister gets pregnant out of wedlock. He'll play Peter, "Francis's business partner at the bar they own." Paget Brewster also stars. (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED KEVIN WILLIAMSON PROJECT (CBS/Warner Bros.; W: Kevin Williamson; D: Liz Friedlander) - Dylan McDermott ("Hostages") has been tapped for a lead role on the drama pilot, a psychological thriller centering around a pair of detectives who handle stalking incidents for the Threat Management Unit of the LAPD. He'll play one of them, Jack Larsen, "a recent transfer from the Threat Assessment Unit from New York; his healthy confidence and quick thinking has gotten him into trouble in the past - a past he hopes to leave behind." (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Mason Cook has joined the cast of TNT's "Legends" where he'll succeed Lux Haney Jardine as Martin's (Sean Bean) son (Deadline.com); Ethan Suplee likewise has been added to TV Land's "Jennifer Falls" where he'll replace Joel David Moore as Jennifer's (Jaime Pressly) brother (Deadline.com); "Kirstie" creator Marco Pennette will bow out of the Kirstie Alley-led comedy should it return for a second season (Deadline.com); "Cougar Town" co-executive producers Chrissy Pietrosh and Jessica Goldstein have inked a two-year overall deal with Universal Television (Deadline.com); Riley Smith will recur on "True Blood" as "a sexy, rock 'n' roll vampire with a romantic side" (Deadline.com); Soleil Moon Frye is bound for "Mistresses" as "a potential celebrity client for Joss's (Jes Macallan) new party planning business" (EW.com); and Shohreh Aghdashloo will visit "Bones" as Arastoo's (Pej Vahdat) mother (THR.com).






  [february 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· ALLEGIANCE (NBC)
· BATTLE CREEK (CBS)
· BEAUTY & THE BEAST (CW)
· BLACK BOX (TNT)
· BONES (FOX)
· COUGAR TOWN (TBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EXPOSED (ABC)
· GO ON (NBC)
· HIEROGLYPH (FOX)
· HOSTAGES (CBS)
· JENNIFER FALLS (TV LAND)
· KIRSTIE (TV LAND)
· LEGENDS (TNT)
· MESSENGERS, THE (CW)
· MISTRESSES (ABC)
· ODD COUPLE, THE (CBS)
· PRIME SUSPECT (NBC)
· RAVENSWOOD (ABC FAMILY)
· SAINT FRANCIS (ABC)
· STALKER (CBS)
· TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
· ZERO HOUR (ABC)





[09/15/25 - 04:00 PM]
HBO Max Acquires Exclusive U.S. Rights to Powerful Event Series, "One Day in October" from FOX Entertainment
Filmed on location in Israel, "One Day in October" presents seven emotionally gripping and artistically interwoven narratives of love, courage, sacrifice and survival.

[09/15/25 - 03:25 PM]
Over 41 Million Global Viewers on Netflix Watch Terence Crawford Defeat Canelo Alvarez to Claim Super Middleweight Championship
The main event scored an estimated average minute audience (AMA) of 36.6 million live+SD viewers from opening to closing bell, per VideoAmp and Netflix.

[09/15/25 - 02:51 PM]
Tom Brady, Fanatics, Riyadh Season, FOX Sports and OBB Media Announce Groundbreaking Inaugural Flag Football Event
Other confirmed players include some of the biggest names in football, such as Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham Jr., and Rob Gronkowski.

[09/15/25 - 12:16 PM]
Video: "Stay" - Trailer - Hulu
What will it take to leave? "Stay" streams October 8.

[09/15/25 - 11:52 AM]
Video: "Power Book IV: Force" - Official Teaser - Season 3
Tommy's almost back, and he's ready to take over the whole city.

[09/15/25 - 11:45 AM]
The "77th Emmy Awards" Delivers Its Largest Television Audience Since 2021, Up +8% from Last Year
Hosted by Nate Bargatze, the telecast was seen by more than 7.42 million viewers on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.

[09/15/25 - 11:02 AM]
Video: "Matlock" - New Season Official Trailer - CBS
Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates stars as Matty Matlock, a brilliant attorney who rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses clever tactics to win cases while hiding a hidden agenda.

[09/15/25 - 10:30 AM]
ABC News Studios and "20/20" Announce "The Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of Disneyland - Special Edition of 20/20," Airing Sept. 21 on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
The two-hour special pulls back the curtain to reveal the magic behind Walt Disney's dream, with enchanting stories sure to surprise and delight even the most devoted fans.

[09/15/25 - 10:16 AM]
Video: "Frankie Quinones: Damn That's Crazy" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Frankie QuiƱones hits the stage to unpack love, addiction and the high-stakes politics of the family carne asada.

[09/15/25 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Short "The Devil Is Busy" Debuts September 23
The film takes viewers on a daylong journey with Tracii, the determined head of security at a women's healthcare clinic in Atlanta, Georgia as she works to ensure the safety of women seeking abortions in the face of new restrictions and persistent protests.

[09/15/25 - 09:30 AM]
Utkarsh Ambudkar and Ginnifer Goodwin Join the Cast of Disney Jr.'s Hit Series "Superkitties"
They'll be voicing villains Champster and Pamster Glamster (aka The Glamsters), a glamorous and hilariously clueless brother and sister hamster duo who cause chaos for the SuperKitties.

[09/15/25 - 09:16 AM]
Acorn TV Celebrates "An Autumn to Die For"
The event will feature an extensive array of great programming including premieres of all-new series such as the Acorn TV original "Murder Before Evensong" starring Matthew Lewis and based on the bestselling series by British author The Reverend Richard Coles.

[09/15/25 - 09:01 AM]
Watch the Magical Adventure "Smurfs," Premiering on Paramount+ September 16
In the film, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the crew on a daring rescue mission to save Papa Smurf (John Goodman) after he is mysteriously kidnapped by the evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel.

[09/15/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The shocking true-life tale of Ed Gein, the infamous murderer and grave robber who inspired many of Hollywood's most iconic on-screen killers.

[09/15/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.