or


[06/06/14 - 11:43 PM]
Development Update: Friday, June 6
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!


CASUAL VACANCY, THE (HBO; W: Sarah Phelps; D: Jonny Campbell) - Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan, Julia McKenzie and Rufus Jones will topline the cast of the mini-series, a small screen take on J.K. Rowling's novel of the same name about "a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey." Gambon plays Howard Mollison, "owner of the Pagford delicatessen"; with Dolan as Tess Wall; McKenzie as Howard's wife, Shirley Mollison; Jones as Howard's son, Miles Mollison; Hawes as Miles's wife, Samantha Mollison; and Kinnear as Barry Fairbrother. Also starring are Simon McBurney as Tess' husband, Colin Wall; Keeley Forsyth as Terri Weedon; Abigail Lawrie as Terri's daughter, Krystal Weedon; Richard Glover as Simon Price; Marie Critchley as Simon's wife, Ruth Price; and Michelle Austin. (Deadline.com)


DOWN DOG (Amazon, New!) - Robin Schiff ("Are You There, Chelsea?") has landed a pilot commitment from the digital company for a new comedy about "a slacker working as a yoga instructor who takes over the yoga studio with no skills and experience, relying on the help of his two childhood friends." No other details were given. (Deadline.com)


GOD SAVE TEXAS (HBO, New!) - Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright (The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda And The Road To 9/11) is developing a new drama at the pay channel about "an idealistic cowboy who, looking to save his ranch and marriage, tries to get elected to the Texas Legislature, where he becomes the target of the powerful energy lobby and learns how to survive in the crazy, brutal world of Texas politics." Lauren Shuler Donner, Margo Lion and Jack Leslie will also executive produce The Donners' Company-based hour, which is based on Wright's 2005 play "Sonny's Last Shot." (Deadline.com)


NARCOS (Netflix; W: Carlo Bernard & Doug Miro; D: José Padilha) - Pedro Pascal ("Game of Thrones") has been cast in the upcoming drama, an all-new take on the amazing story of the Medellin Cartel, once the world's most ambitious and violent trafficking organization. He'll play Javier Pena, "a Mexican DEA agent sent to Colombia on a U.S. mission to capture and ultimately kill Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura)." Boyd Holbrook also stars. (Deadline.com)


RED OAKS (Amazon; W: Greg Jacobs & Joe Gangemi; D: David Gordon Green) - Gage Golightly ("Teen Wolf") has joined the cast of the Steven Soderbergh-produced comedy pilot, set in the summer of 1985 and follows 20-year-old David Myers who takes a job as an assistant tennis pro at the predominantly Jewish Red Oaks country club in New Jersey and tries to figure out what kind of life he wants to lead. She's set as Karen, "David's girlfriend and co-worker at Red Oaks Country Club." Ennis Esmer and Richard Kind also star. (Deadline.com)


RETURNED, THE (A&E; W: Carlton Cuse & Raelle Tucker; D: Keith Gordon) - Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Sandrine Holt and Agnes Bruckner are the latest additions to the drama series, which focuses on a small town that is turned upside down when several local people, who have been long presumed dead suddenly reappear, bringing with them both positive and detrimental consequences. Winstead will play Rowan, "the girlfriend of late musician Simon (Mat Vairo) who had a very difficult time getting past his death 10 years ago and now will have to adjust to his return"; with Holt as Julie, "a competent compassionate doctor who is struggling in her personal life"; and Bruckner as "the sheriff's chief deputy." Jeremy Sisto, Kevin Alejandro, Sophie Lowe, Mark Pellegrino and India Ennenga also star. (Deadline.com)


SALEM ROGERS: MODEL OF THE YEAR 1998 (Amazon, New!) - Lindsey Stoddart has reportedly booked a pilot order from the digital company for a new comedy about "a self-centered, arrogant former supermodel who is forced to leave rehab after 10 years and reunites with her long-suffering former assistant, now a self-help writer using her years with Salem as an inspiration." No other details were given. (Deadline.com)


WHITNEY HOUSTON (Lifetime; W: Shem Bitterman; D: Angela Bassett) - "America's Next Top Model" alum Yaya DaCosta has booked the title role on the cable channel's biopic of the same name, which chronicles the headline-making relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model, and singer, songwriter Bobby Brown -- from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. The Sanitsky Company is producing. (TVLine.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Thom Barry will recur on "Perception" as "the skeptical and no-nonsense special agent in command of the Chicago FBI office and Kate Moretti's (Rachel Leigh Cook) boss" (Deadline.com); and NBC has opted to postpone its early production on episode three of "Law & Order: SVU's" upcoming 16th season "due to exhaustion on the part of the cast, particularly star Mariska Hargitay" (Deadline.com).






  [june 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (VH1)
· ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA? (NBC)
· CASUAL VACANCY, THE (HBO)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DOWN DOG (AMAZON)
· GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
· GOD SAVE TEXAS (HBO)
· LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC)
· NARCOS (NETFLIX)
· PERCEPTION (TNT)
· RED OAKS (AMAZON)
· RETURNED, THE (A AND E)
· SALEM ROGERS: MODEL OF THE YEAR 1998 (AMAZON)
· TEEN WOLF (MTV)
· WHITNEY (LIFETIME)





[03/25/26 - 03:03 PM]
ABC Programming Update: Tuesday Night Dramas
Following the Season 2 finale of "High Potential" on April 7, "R.J. Decker" will move to the Tuesday 9 p.m. time slot beginning April 14.

[03/25/26 - 02:33 PM]
ESPN Scores Second Most-Watched NCAA Women's Second Round Ever
Through two rounds (First and Second), the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament is averaging 628,000 viewers.

[03/25/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: HBO Original Harry Potter Series Releases First Official Teaser and Announces Christmas 2026 Debut
"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" will debut Christmas 2026 on HBO and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max where it's available, including recent launch markets Germany, Italy, and the UK & Ireland.

[03/25/26 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Media Ventures Announces Programming Slate for the 2026-2027 Broadcast Season
Said offerings include eight fan-favorite and award-winning shows and three exciting new titles.

[03/25/26 - 10:21 AM]
BET's "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Returns for Its Explosive Midseason Premiere on Wednesday, April 8 at 8 PM ET/PT
Welcome back to the 305 - where the sun is hot, the tea is hotter, and everybody's business is everybody's business.

[03/25/26 - 10:10 AM]
Zac Brown Band to Star in "Sunday Night Baseball" Open on NBC and Peacock
The show open debuts Sunday, April 12, leading into the Cleveland Guardians-Atlanta Braves game on NBC and Peacock (7 p.m. ET) and will open "Sunday Night Baseball" each weekend for the rest of the season.

[03/25/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "A Different World" Sequel Series Adds Additional Guest Stars
The latest additions include Dawnn Lewis and Glynn Turman, who will be reprising their roles from the original series.

[03/25/26 - 09:16 AM]
Video: "The Old Stories: Moses" - Official Trailer - Wonder Project
From the creators of "House of David" - a three part companion special.

[03/25/26 - 09:05 AM]
German Political Thriller "Dangerous Truth" Debuts in U.S. Thursday, April 9 on European Streamer Viaplay
Inspired by real events surrounding the faulty intelligence that helped justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the six-part German thriller explores a deadly conspiracy buried within European intelligence services.

[03/25/26 - 09:04 AM]
Video: "Star City" - Official Teaser - Apple TV
Star City. Where reaching for space meant risking everything on Earth.

[03/25/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Apex" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A grieving woman pushing her limits on a solo adventure in the Australian wild is ensnared in a twisted game with a cunning killer who thinks she's prey.

[03/25/26 - 05:01 AM]
Duffy to Share Her Story as She Steps Back Into the Light in New Documentary Film for Disney+
The feature length documentary film that will follow Grammy, Brit, and Ivor Novello award-winning singer, Duffy.

[03/25/26 - 04:17 AM]
Netflix Announces the Start of Production for "Reasonable Doubts"
The limited series centers on the Sellés family, who belong to the well-off bourgeoisie, are well integrated into their city, and enjoy the esteem and respect of high society.

[03/25/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Flunked" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Eddy, a math genius and small-time crook, avoids jail-time by going undercover as a teacher. His mission: to identify the kid of a major criminal.

[03/25/26 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "Should I Marry a Murderer?" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A fiancée turned key witness reveals how she stayed engaged to a man accused of murder while gathering evidence against him in this documentary series.