 |
 |
[05/01/14 - 11:28 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, May 1
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!
BESSIE (HBO, New!) - Queen Latifah is set to play iconic blues singer Bessie Smith in a proposed biopic at the pay channel, which "chronicles how Smith overcame her tempestuous personal life to become one of the most acclaimed performing and recording artists of the 1920s and '30s, earning the nickname Empress of the Blues." Dee Rees (Pariah) wrote and will direct the project, which is based on the biography "Bessie" written by Chris Albertson. Latifah will also executive produce alongside Shakim Compere, Lili Fini Zanuck, Richard Zanuck, Shelby Stone and Randi Michel with Hallie Foote as co-executive producer and Ron Schmidt as producer for Flavor Unit Entertainment and the Zanuck Company. (Deadline.com)
DIG (USA/UCP; W: Gideon Raff & Tim Kring; D: S.J. Clarkson) - Regina Taylor and Omar Metwally have both booked roles on the event series, about an FBI agent stationed in Jerusalem (Jason Isaacs) who, while investigating a murder of a young female archeologist, uncovers a conspiracy 2000 years in the making. She'll play Ruth Ridell, "the U.S. ambassador to Israel who has little time for problems that Peter creates for her with the local authorities"; while he's set as Yussef Khalid, "an American who disappeared after being accused of murder." Alison Loren Sudol, Anne Heche and David Costabile also star. (THR.com)
HOW AND WHY (FX/FXP; W/D: Charlie Kaufman) - Marcella Plunkett (Dark Touch) has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, the story of a man, Goodman Hesselman (John Hawkes), who can explain how and why a nuclear reactor works, but is clueless about life. She'll play two roles, "Cynthia, a photographer at Goodman's new TV station in Murfreesboro, and Magda, Mendelson's (Michael Cera) secretary, whose day is spent in a cramped, tiny room, not much bigger than her desk." Sally Hawkins and Catherine Keener also star. (Deadline.com)
UNSTRUNG (ABC Family; W: Emily Whitesell; D: TBA) - Chanel Celaya and Sofia Mattsson are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, which explores the sexy, cutthroat, and emotional stakes of the professional world tour of tennis as brother and sister Luke and Ellie Holt compete to move up the ranks. Celaya will play the aforementioned Ellie, "an athletic, spunky beauty with great talent but not-so-great discipline"; with Mattsson as Ninotchka Andropov, "a diva ranked 3rd in the world but first in looks." (THR.com)
UNTITLED ANDY ST. CLAIR/PAUL O'TOOLE PROJECT (MTV, New!) - Andy St. Clair and Paul O'Toole have scored a cast-contingent pilot order from the network for a new comedy about "22-year-old Andy, who after he catches his girlfriend cheating, accidentally rear-ends a celebrity. Taking pity on Andy, the celebrity takes it upon himself to teach him how to man up." Odenkirk Provissiero's Marc Provissiero will executive produce the project with St. Clair and O'Toole serving as co-executive producers. (THR.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Brian Percival has bowed out of helming the AMC drama pilot "Knifeman" for personal reasons (Deadline.com); "Nashville" executive producer R.J. Cutler has signed a first-look development deal with CBS Television Studios for scripted projects, ending his run at Lionsgate Television (Deadline.com); Kristin Chenoweth has been cast as Maleficent in Disney Channel's "Descendants," "who butts horns with her daughter Mal (Dove Cameron)" (Deadline.com); Nestor Serrano and Brit Morgan will both recur on the new season of "Graceland" (TVLine.com); and Tyler Hilton is bound for the upcoming CBS drama "Extant" as "the chief coder on the Humanichs Project at the center of the story" (THR.com).
|
|
|
 [may 2014]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[01/29/25 - 11:44 AM]
"Little House on the Prairie," A Reimagining of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Book Series, Is Coming to Netflix
Part family drama, part survival tale, and part origin story, the series will offer a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the American West.
|
[01/29/25 - 11:08 AM]
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" Returns February 16
The weekly series has received 30 Emmys since its premiere in 2014.
|
[01/29/25 - 11:02 AM]
Discovery Channel February Programming Highlights
Highlights include new installments of "Contraband: Seized at the Border" and "Destinations of the Damned with Zak Bagans" plus "Puppy Bowl XXI."
|
[01/29/25 - 10:41 AM]
Awesomeness TV Lands the Rights to "That Friend," from Comedian and Digital Star Sabrina Brier
Set against the vibrant, Gen Z-driven energy of New York City, the upcoming series will follow a 20-something aspiring influencer as she navigates the chaos of building her podcast while balancing life with her three best friends, coping with a dwindling bank account, and chasing her dreams of making it big.
|
[01/29/25 - 10:30 AM]
Video: "Deli Boys" - Official Teaser - Hulu
Things are about to get messy. Stream "Deli Boys" on March 6, only on Hulu.
|
[01/29/25 - 10:19 AM]
CBS' "FBI" Tuesday Up from Its Season Average
The flagship "FBI" averaged 8.36 million Live+SD viewers, up +1% from its STD average (8.31 million viewers).
|
[01/29/25 - 09:02 AM]
Video: "Hot Wheels Let's Race" Season 3 Trailer - Netflix Jr
Coop and his friends have trained for this moment their whole lives. Now, three epic races will decide who wins the Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage!
|
[01/29/25 - 09:02 AM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Skyrockets to Season Highs in All Key Measures Earning Best Total Viewer Audience and Household Rating in Nearly a Year
The show earned its best Total Viewer audience (2.52 million) and its best Household numbers (1.68 rating) in nearly a year.
|
[01/29/25 - 09:01 AM]
Jazwares Goes Deeper Into the Upside Down with Netflix's "Stranger Things" to Launch All-New Toy Line
Jazwares will launch a robust product line inspired by the show's beloved characters and themes from the highly anticipated "Stranger Things 5" season and its animated series spinoff currently in the works.
|
[01/29/25 - 09:00 AM]
"Survivor" Announces the 18 New Castaways Competing on the 48th Edition with a Two-Hour Season Premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 26
The trailblazing reality series, which shifts to 90-minute weekly episodes beginning Wednesday, March 5 at 8:00 PM, returns with a bold new group of competitors, inspired gameplay and momentous tribal councils.
|
[01/29/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Official Trailer Released for Clever Crime Comedy "Ludwig" Starring David Mitchell
The detective show broke viewership records out of the UK, with more than 9.5 million viewers and a second season already confirmed.
|
[01/29/25 - 08:45 AM]
Prime Video Orders Megan Park Drama Sterling Point to Series
Park created the series and will also direct, executive produce, and co-showrun alongside Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.
|
[01/29/25 - 08:22 AM]
Suspenseful Whodunnit Series "Who Shot Otto Mueller?" Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, February 13, 2025 on Viaplay
This twisty contemporary thriller, which received a Best International Series nomination at Geneva International Film Festival, explores the deadly consequences of family secrets, betrayal, and revenge, all while testing the limits of loyalty and justice.
|
[01/29/25 - 08:00 AM]
Special Performances to Highlight "The 67th Annual Grammy Awards" Include a Star-Studded Salute to the Life and Legacy of Quincy Jones, Tributes Celebrating the City of Los Angeles and Annual in Memoriam Segment
Brad Paisley, Brittany Howard, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Cynthia Erivo, Herbie Hancock, Jacob Collier, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent and Stevie Wonder are set to appear.
|
[01/29/25 - 07:39 AM]
Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan to Return for "Marble Hall Murders"
This is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed fan-favorites "Magpie Murders" and "Moonflower Murders," which premiered on "Masterpiece" in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
|
|
|
|
