 |
 |
[04/15/15 - 11:47 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, April 15
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!
EMERALD CITY (NBC) - David Schulner ("Do No Harm") has been tapped to oversee a revival of the previously mothballed drama, now detailed as follows: "In the blink of a tornado's eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and her K9 police dog are transported to another world, one far removed from our own - a mystical land of competing kingdoms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. This is the fabled Land of Oz in a way you've never seen before, where wicked witches don't stay dead for long and a young girl becomes a headstrong warrior who holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands." Schulner succeeds previous writer Matthew Arnold and showrunner Josh Friedman. Universal Television is behind the project, which once again has a 10-episode order. (Deadline.com)
INTO THE BADLANDS (AMC/eOne; W: Al Gough & Miles Millar; D: David Dobkin) - Aramis Knight, Madeleine Mantock and Ally Ioannides have all been cast in the upcoming drama, a genre-bending martial arts series very loosely based on the classic Chinese tale "Journey to the West." In a land controlled by feudal barons, the series tells the story of a ruthless, well-trained warrior named Sunny (Daniel Wu) and a young boy, M.K. (Knight), who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment. Mantock then is set as Veil, "a beguiling beauty and Sunny's lover. She is a doctor who specializes in making and applying prosthetic limbs for Clippers (squads of assassins) who have lost them"; with Ioannides as Tilda, "one of The Widow's 'butterflies,' who is trained to kill and who befriends M.K." Emily Beecham, Sarah Bolger, Orla Brady and Oliver Stark also star. (Deadline.com)
UNDERGROUND (WGN America/Sony; W: Joe Pokaski & Misha Green; D: Anthony Hemingway) - Adina Porter ("The 100") has been tapped for a role on the period drama, set in the pre-Civil War South and following the slaves who set foot on the fabled Underground Railroad, the secret network of men and women who risked their lives aiding them, and the mercenaries tasked with hunting them down at any cost. She'll play Pearly Mae, "a strong wife and mother who first gives voice to the song in which the runners will find clues to help guide them to freedom." Alano Miller, Amirah Vann, Christopher Meloni, Devon Gummersall, Johnny Ray Gill, Mykelti Williamson, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Reed Diamond, Aldis Hodge and Jessica De Gouw also star. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED O'SHANNON & WARREN PROJECT (CBS/CBSP; W: Dan O'Shannon & Peter Warren; D: Pamela Fryman) - Jacob Hopkins ("The Goldbergs") is the latest to be cast in the comedy pilot, about a group of friends and family at three different times in their lives. He's set as Phil, "a popular childhood acquaintance to Andrew (Adam Brody), Chris (Tyler Labine) and Holly (Tracy Spiridakos) who was always a jerk to Andrew and Chris growing up." Kelly O'Sullivan and Noureen DeWulf also star. (Deadline.com)
VIRTUOSO (HBO; W: Alan Ball, Peter Macdissi & Steve Hamilton Shaw; D: TBA) - Shannon Tarbet has joined the cast of the period drama, which is set against the complex and volatile backdrop of 18th century Vienna and follows a class of young musical prodigies from all over Europe at the prestigious Academy of Musical Excellence. She's on board as Ina, "who lives on the streets of Vienna. She is poor and dirty but very pretty and with a huge spirit and tremendous energy for life. She and her street-musician boyfriend face daily danger on the mean streets and have to fight for their love and safety." Alex Lawther, Francois Civil, Iva Babic, Lindsay Farris, Nico Mirallegro and Peter Macdissi also star. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Paul F. Tompkins, Jay Johnston, Brian Posehn, John Ennis, Mark Rivers and Dino Stamatopolis have all signed onto Bob Odenkirk and David Cross's Netflix sketch comedy series "With Bob and David" (Deadline.com); Colton Haynes's Roy Harper is departing "Arrow" after the current season (Deadline.com); Keon Alexander is bound for "Tyrant" in a yet-to-be-revealed role (Deadline.com); Rick Famuyiwa has closed his deal to direct HBO's Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill docudrama "Confirmation" (Deadline.com);
London-based actress Cush Jumbo is on track to recur on "The Good Wife" next season (Deadline.com); Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet and Jemima Kirke will lend their voices to a previously announced installment of "The Simpsons" featuring their "Girls" co-star Lena Dunham (EW.com); Lance Reddick is the latest set to appear on the "Castle" season finale (TVLine.com); Christina Cole is bound for "Suits" as "a Harvard educated psychiatrist specializing in high end corporate consulting who becomes the perfect match for Harvey" (TVLine.com); and Giacomo Gianniotti will visit "Grey's Anatomy" in a top secret role (TVLine.com).
|
|
|
 [april 2015]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[03/27/26 - 03:16 PM]
Official Trailer for HBO's Harry Potter Series, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," Shatters Records as HBO and HBO Max's Most-Watched Ever by More Than Double, Amassing +277 Million Organic Views in 48 Hours
The series will debut Christmas 2026 on HBO and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max.
|
[03/27/26 - 01:01 PM]
Hugely Popular "Chicago" Series Set to Return to NBC in the Fall
"Chicago Fire" will begin its 15th season in the fall, "Chicago P.D." its 14th and "Chicago Med" its 12th.
|
[03/27/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Rounds Out Cast of "Kennedy" with Production Underway in London
The new drama series based on Fredrik Logevall's book, "JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956," will explore the triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy family from Chernin Entertainment.
|
[03/27/26 - 09:48 AM]
FOX Sports Assembles Top-Tier Roster for 2026 Major League Baseball Regular Season Coverage
Entering their fifth season together, first-ballot Hall of Famer John Smoltz and Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Joe Davis call FOX Sports' top regular season and playoff games.
|
[03/27/26 - 09:46 AM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers in Late-Night, Friday Night and Sunday Morning
"20/20" scored its best Adults 25-54 performance in 11 months.
|
[03/27/26 - 09:21 AM]
"The Morning Show" News Incoming - Sean Hayes Joins the Cast of Season 5
Apple TV confirmed the news on social media this morning.
|
[03/27/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Series "The Dark Wizard" Debuts April 14
The four-part documentary series is an up-close and unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, one of the world's most influential and controversial climbers, BASE jumpers, and highline walkers.
|
[03/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
ESPN Original "Why Not Us: UMES Volleyball" to Premiere March 30
Presented by Andscape and produced by Sport & Story, the latest installment follows the inspiring journey of the newly formed men's volleyball team at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore - the first men's volleyball program at a Division I HBCU.
|
[03/26/26 - 02:05 PM]
"The Madison" Marks Taylor Sheridan's Biggest Debut Season Launch with 8 Million Views Globally for Paramount+
The debut of the six-part series also marks the biggest freshman season launch for the prolific creator among women 35+.
|
[03/26/26 - 12:49 PM]
Apple Original Films Lands New Sci-Fi Thriller "Liminal"
Starring Vanessa Kirby and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the feature will be directed by Louis Leterrier.
|
[03/26/26 - 12:01 PM]
"After the Flood" Returns to BritBox: Tensions Rise in High-Stakes Season Two Premiere
Other April highlights include "A Taste For Murder," "Silent Witness," and "Death in Paradise."
|
[03/26/26 - 12:00 PM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Added on April 8
The game replaces the previously scheduled Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons matchup.
|
[03/26/26 - 11:30 AM]
BET and Paramount+ Announce the Sixth Season Renewal of Multi-Emmy-Nominated Comedy "The Ms. Pat Show"
The upcoming season will be among the first BET originals to stream on Paramount+, which becomes the new streaming home for BET content beginning in June, bringing the beloved series to a global platform with nearly 80 million subscribers.
|
[03/26/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" Springs Into April with Back-to-Back Episodes
Jack Black and Colman Domingo will host on April 4 and April 11, respectively.
|
[03/26/26 - 10:03 AM]
Sony Pictures Television Advertiser Sales Heads Into 2026 Upfront Bringing Advertisers Branded Content Opportunities Within High Volume of Originals and a Safe Harbor of Entertainment Programming
The studio continues to elevate its media investment opportunities for advertisers through Game Show Network, a top 10 cable network and a top five general entertainment network.
|
|
|
|
