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[07/20/22 - 11:44 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, July 20
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!


ABBOTT ELEMENTARY (ABC) - William Stanford Davis, who recurred as Mr. Johnson last season, is being promoted to series regular for the show's second season. (Deadline.com)
BLACK CAKE (Hulu) - Lashay Anderson, Faith Alabi and Ahmed Elhaj have all scored roles on the upcoming drama. Anderson will play Bunny Pringle, "a fiery teenager and talented swimmer who struggles to fit in with her peers in 1960's Jamaica. She and her best friend Covey have big plans to become world-famous swimmers, but when Covey disappears under mysterious circumstances, Bunny is forced to reckon with unforeseen consequences in her own life." Alabi is Pearl Thomas, "a stoic and genuine, loveable caretaker for the Lyncook household at a time when things are increasingly dangerous and uncertain. Through it all, she remains unwavering in her devotion to Covey - a gesture that's rooted in a secret pact she made with the child's estranged mother, Mathilda, who vanished six years ago." And Elhaj will recur as Gibbs Grant: "After meeting and falling hard for Covey, Gibbs' bright future is thrown into disarray. As the two encounter countless obstacles, Gibbs' love for Covey is put to the ultimate test." (Deadline.com)
BLANK SLATE/UNBROKEN (NBC) - The network has passed on both drama pilots, which had been targeted for midseason debuts. Producer Universal Television plans to shop them elsewehre. Three other projects - fellow dramas "Adam & Eva" and "The Irrational" plus comedy "We Thought We Were Done" - remain under consideration. (Deadline.com)
BOTCHED (E!) - The cable channel has renewed its plastic surgery reality series for an eighth season, due in 2023. (Deadline.com)
DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC) - Pro-turned-judge Derek Hough has signed an overall deal with Walt Disney Television Alternative to develop new series projects. (Deadline.com)
DOLL FACTORY, THE (Paramount+, New!) - Buccaneer Media is behind a new six-part adaptation of Elizabeth Macneal's novel at the streaming service: "Set in London in 1850, The Doll Factory tells the story of Iris, who paints dolls for a living alongside her twin sister, Rose, and dreams of becoming an artist and by night secretly paints herself naked. Silas is a taxidermist who owns a shop filled with his creations. He dreams of one day finding an item so unique he will be catapulted to fame. Louis is a painter and member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, searching for his next muse. When Iris meets Silas, and then Louis, she is offered an opportunity to escape and start a new life. To do so, she must abandon her sister, sacrifice her reputation, and launch herself into the unknown. But as Iris' world expands, a story of dark obsession begins to unfold." Writer Charley Miles and director Sacha Polak are spearheading the project with Suzanne McAuley producing. Tony Wood, Anna Burns and Richard Tulk-Hart are the executive producers, as are Miles and Macneal. (Deadline.com)
GOOD TROUBLE (Freeform) - Brooke Nevin has scored a recurring role on the current season as Ryan, "a food critic and love interest to Dennis Cooper (Josh Pence)." (Deadline.com)
IDOL, THE (HBO) - Jennie, a rapper-singer for K-pop group Blackpink, will visit the upcoming drama series in a yet-to-be-revealed role. (Deadline.com)
NATIONAL TREASURE: EDGE OF HISTORY (Disney+) - Tommy Savas will recur on the feature-turned-TV series as Dr. Zeke, "who works at the city morgue." (Deadline.com)
NEVER GAME, THE (CBS) - The Justin Hartley-led drama has formally been ordered to pilot by the network. The project, based on Jeffery Deaver's novel, follows lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw, who roams the country as a "reward seeker," using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement to solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family. Ben Winters penned the latest incarnation of the script, taking over from Michael Cooney. Hartley and director Ken Olin also serve as executive producers for 20th Television with Julianna LaRosa and Roxy Olin as co-executive producers. (Deadline.com)
NEW AMSTERDAM (NBC) - Freema Agyeman's Helen Sharpe is exiting the series in advance of its upcoming fifth and final season. (TVLine.com)
PANDA (Showtime, New!) - Eddie Huang has sold a new drama to the pay channel which follows Panda, "a gifted delinquent, who starts selling ecstasy in Orlando, Florida during the pressed pill boom of the late-90s. He's motivated by his mother's challenge to "be the best of the stupid people." With the help of Jade, a cunning private school girl from the other side of town, they're able to connect the hoods and take over the burgeoning drug trade in the Florida Breaks Rave Scene." Matt Dines and Jonah Hill of Strong Baby Productions will also executive produce. (Deadline.com)





  [july 2022]  
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M
T
W
T
F
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· ABBOTT ELEMENTARY (ABC)
· ADAM & EVA (NBC)
· BLACK CAKE (HULU)
· BLANK SLATE (NBC)
· BOTCHED (E)
· DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DOLL FACTORY, THE (UK ONLY) (PARAMOUNT PLUS)
· EXTENDED FAMILY (NBC)
· GOOD TROUBLE (FREEFORM)
· IDOL, THE (HBO)
· IRRATIONAL, THE (NBC)
· NATIONAL TREASURE: EDGE OF HISTORY (DISNEY PLUS)
· NEW AMSTERDAM (NBC)
· PANDA (SHOWTIME)
· TRACKER (CBS)
· UNBROKEN (NBC)





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