|
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!
BLOCKS (Showtime, New!) - Writer/director Bridget Moloney has sold a potential comedy to the pay channel based on her short film of the same name which "centers on Ashley and her husband Eric, new-ish parents, navigating the transformations brought about by parenthood and marriage after kids. Their struggles manifest into episodes of magical realism that force them to confront who they really are and what they really want." The project is set up at Sony Pictures Television with Matt Tolmach and David Manpearl of Matt Tolmach Productions and Ben Sinclair also executive producing and Camilla Grove and Paige Tolmach producing. (Deadline.com)
CONSTRUCTION (Paramount+, New!) - Davita Scarlett has sold a potential drama to the streamer "inspired by Cheryl McKissack, fifth generation owner of the oldest minority and female construction company in America. Described as Dynasty meets Succession in a high stakes family saga, the series follows a 5th generation Black, NYC female construction magnate in the hard-knuckled male-dominated world of a trillion dollar industry in which she navigates big money; city and state politics; and above all else, family." Scarlett, McKissack and Sheila Ducksworth are the executive producers for CBS Studios as part of its production partnership with the NAACP. Chandra McQueen is a producer. (Deadline.com)
CROWN, THE (Netflix) - Humayun Saeed has been cast as Dr. Hasnat Khan in the upcoming fifth season: "Dr. Khan is a British-Pakistani heart surgeon who practiced at London's Royal Brompton Hospital. Khan's 2004 statement to the Metropolitan Police, which was submitted in 2008 to an inquest into Princess Diana's death, stated that he was in a relationship with her from 1995-1997 and that she broke up with him after she met Dodi Fayed at a holiday with Mohammed Al Fayed and his family." (Variety.com, 1/9)
DIVORCE COURT (Syndication) - Star Jones has been tapped as judge of Lincolnwood Productions' veteran syndicated series beginning in September. She'll succeed Faith Jenkins, who took over in 2020. (Deadline.com)
HELL OR HIGH WATER (FOX, New!) - Jessica Mecklenburg is looking to bring David Mackenzie's 2016 film to the small screen at FOX in which "when a ruthless oil tycoon attempts to plunder a West Texas ranching community, two local brothers dodge a zealous Texas Ranger and fight to keep what's theirs, one bank robbery at a time, come hell or high water." Mackenzie, Sidney Kimmel, John Penotti, Charlie Corwin, Marcy Ross, Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane, Julie Yorn and Carla Hacken will also executive produce for SK Global, Madison Wells and FOX Entertainment. (Deadline.com)
LITTLE ROCK NINE (Apple TV+, New!) - Gwen Parker is developing an eight-part limited series at the streamer which "takes a deep dive into the 1957-1958 school year of Little Rock 9, and the showdown that rocked the nation. After segregated schools were proclaimed unconstitutional in the U.S., the NAACP in 1957 registered nine black students to attend the previously all-white Little Rock Central High. After the Arkansas National Guard was deployed by the Governor to block the students from entering the school, President Eisenhower had to intervene, providing military escort to the teens. Still, the nine were subjected to a year of physical and verbal abuse by many of the white students." Sheila Ducksworth and Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan and Brian Morewitz will also executive produce for Apple Studios. (Deadline.com)
PROMISED LAND (ABC) - The upcoming drama has tapped the following to recur: Yul Vazquez as Father Ramos, "a Catholic priest [who] has compassion and good humor tinged with a certain world-weariness"; Julio Macias as Javier, "the newly hired General Manager at the Heritage House Vineyard, son of the vineyard's now-retired foreman"; Ariana Guerra as Rosa, "fueled by dreams of becoming a nurse in her new home of California, she doesn't give up on her dreams even as her circumstances become increasingly grim"; Kerri Medders as Young Margaret, "the ambitious, beautiful daughter of O.M. Honeycroft, the wealthy owner of the Honeycroft Estate"; Tom Amandes as O.M. Honeycroft, "an intimidating, all-powerful presence, he's a successful businessman who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty - after all, it's the soil and its fruit that made him rich."; Natalia del Riego as Daniela, "a new employee at the home of the Sandoval family, and an undocumented immigrant"; and Miguel Angel Garcia as Junior, "the youngest child of the Sandoval family, and the most erratic." (Deadline.com)
SOAPDISH (Paramount+, New!) - Jennie Snyder Urman and Asha Michelle Wilson are set to team for a small screen take on the 1991 Whoopi Goldberg-led movie "described as a juicy, soapy, and twisty dramedy ensemble starring Goldberg who reprises her role as Rose, Head Writer for the venerable soap The Sun Also Sets." Joanna Klein of Sutton Street Productions, Tom Leonardis and Sheila Ducksworth will also executive produce for CBS Studios and Paramount Television Studios, part of the NAACP's production partnership with the former. (Deadline.com)
SUPER PUMPED (Showtime) - "The Battle for Uber" series has cast Ian Alda as Peter Fenton, "a young partner at venture capital firm Benchmark"; Sonny Valicenti as "young Benchmark partner Matt Cohler"; Ben Feldman as Larry Page, "co-founder of Google"; Rob Morrow as "Apple senior executive Eddie Cue"; Rama Vallury as Tahir Kahn, "a top engineer at Uber"; and Eva Victor as Susan Fowler, "an engineer who upends the culture at Uber." (Variety.com)
UNTITLED DL HUGHLEY PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Comedian D.L. Hughley is attached to star in a multi-camera comedy for FOX Entertainment: "Unfiltered, unapologetic, and opinionated radio host DL Hughley is free at work but under siege at home as he navigates life as a husband and father to an LGBTQ+ daughter, a son on the autism spectrum whose white girlfriend lives with them, and another daughter who can't leave his credit card alone." Hughley and Owen Smith are penning the project, which has a penalty attached, with Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment also executive producing, as will Sheila Ducksworth, president of the NAACP/CBS Studios joint partnership. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED EARTHQUAKE PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Comedian Earthquake is set to star in a potential comedy at the Eye which "centers on single dad-and-dating comedian Quake who goes from good time dad to full time dad when his two kids move in with him, forcing him to juggle his career as a standup comedian and a D.C. comedy club owner, which includes him taking back the reins of the club's management from his free-wheeling childhood friend." Earthquake and Robb Chavis are behind the project with Erika Conner, Jermaine Smith and Sheila Ducksworth also executive producing for CBS Studios as part of its production partnership with the NAACP. (Deadline.com)
WHITE LOTUS, THE (HBO) - Aubrey Plaza is the latest bound for the new season as Harper Spiller, "a woman on vacation with her husband and his friends." (Deadline.com)
|
