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!
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT (NBC) - The network, Fremantle and Syco Entertainment have released a statement following the firing of Gabrielle Union from the series. "We remain committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees and take very seriously any questions about workplace culture. We are working with Ms. Union through her representatives to hear more about her concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps may be appropriate." Said statement follows reports that "Union had been dismissed after complaining about hostile work environment and racially charged incidents." (Deadline.com, 12/1)
CLAWS/MOTHERLAND: FORT SALEM (TNT/Freeform) - Creator Eliot Laurence has signed a multi-year overall deal with Fox 21 Television Studios, the studio behind both projects. There he'll continue to develop new series for the studio. (Deadline.com)
GUMSHOE (HBO Max) - Sonya Cassidy, Miles J. Harvey, Carla Jimenez, Max Casella and Phillipa Soo are set to star in the comedy pilot, which follows sweet, optimistic young cop Cassie (Cassidy) and creepy, crime-obsessed teenager Eamon (Harvey) who secretly team up to solve a murder. Jimenez will play Henrietta, "a medical examiner who has strange hobbies like collecting clown dolls and stealing condiment packets from restaurants"; with Casella as Dennis Laramie, "a confident detective who thoroughly enjoys his place of seniority in the department"; and Soo as Liz Chen, "a Berkeley Police Detective." (Variety.com)
KINGDOM BUSINESS (NBC, New!) - John Sakmar and Kerry Lenhart have sold a new drama to the network billed as "a behind-the-scenes look into the world of the gospel music industry and all of the conflict and secrets that come with money, fame and success." DeVon Franklin, Holly Carter, Kirk Franklin and Michael Van Dyck also serve as executive producers for Franklin Entertainment, Relevé Entertainment, Fo Yo Soul Entertainment, Inspired Entertainment and Universal Television. (Deadline.com)
KIRBY JENNER (Quibi, New!) - The life of Kendall Jenner's fraternal twin brother, "a parody Instagram account in which self-described amateur model Kirby inserts himself into his famous sisters' photos," is set to be the focus of a new series at the streaming service from Wonderland Sound and Vision, Ventureland Productions and E! Entertainment. Kirby is executive producing the project alongside Kendall and mom Kris Jenner as well as McG, Mary Viola, Ali Brown, Rami Hachache, Howie Mandel, Gil Goldschein and Ryan Seacrest. Co-executive producing are Mike Dempsey, Brooks Morrison and Daniel Mackey. (THR.com)
L WORD, THE: GENERATION Q (Showtime) - Jillian Mercado will recur on the revival series as Maribel Suarez, "an immigration attorney and the little sister of Sophie (Rosanny Zayas). The two are very close, and Maribel is always there to give Sophie advice and support." (Deadline.com)
MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE (PBS, New!) - The broadcaster has acquired the U.S. rights to the six-episode series, which stars Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet, "the first-ever female detective in 19th century London." Stuart Martin also stars as Detective Inspector William Wellington of Scotland Yard, a.k.a. "The Duke"; with Kevin Doyle as Eliza Scarlet's late father, Henry Scarlet; Andrew Gower as Rupert Parker, "Eliza's business partner and friend"; and Ansu Kabia as Moses, "a well-known crook from Jamaica who, despite the Duke's objections, Eliza sometimes hires for a variety of jobs, making use of his skills and knowledge of the world"; plus Helen Norton, Cathy Belton and Danny Midwinter in unspecified roles. Writer Rachael New and director Declan O'Dwyer are behind the project, a co-production of A+E Networks International and Element 8 Entertainment. New, O'Dwyer, Todd Berger, Patrick Irwin, Jin Ishimoto, Patricia Lenahan Ishimoto and Harvey Myman are the executive producers. (Deadline.com)
THEM (Amazon) - The anthology horror series has cast Brooke Smith as Helen Koistra, "the realtor who moves the Emory family into their new home to the chagrin of their white neighbors"; Anika Noni Rose as Ella Mae, "a petite, loving, god-fearing, if a bit fastidious housewife"; P.J. Byrne as Stu Berks, "Henry's patronizing new boss at the aeronautics plant"; Malcolm Mays as Calvin, "the first friendly face Henry meets at his new job in the aeronautics plant"; and Jeremiah Birkett and Sophie Guest in unspecified roles. (Deadline.com)
TITANS (DC Universe) - Damaris Lewis, who appeared as Koriadn'r aka Starfire's Tamaranean sister aka Blackfire, has been named regular for the series' third season. (TVLine.com)
TRUTH & JUSTICE (CBS, New!) - Peter M. Lenkov, Joe Halpin and Neil Strauss are set to team for a new drama at the Eye about "a disgraced cop-turned-PI and a down-and-out journalist, both seeking redemption, who team up and use nothing but their intellect, perseverance and profound empathy to dive deep into the lives of victims and perpetrators to deliver the justice that is so desperately needed in an otherwise flawed system." Halpin, Strauss, 101st Street Entertainment's Lenkov, Tenderfoot Television's Donald Albright and Rideback's Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED QUINTA BRUNSON PROJECT (HBO Max, New!) - Quinta Brunson is set to star in a single-camera comedy at the streaming service about "an ambitious millennial flying up the ladder at a media startup company, who is unexpectedly tasked with running the newly hired, PR crisis-averting diversity team made up of green Internet newbies." The project, which has a put pilot commitment, will be co-written by Brunson and Michelle Nader for Warner Bros. Television. Nader and Danielle Stokdyk are the executive producers with Brunson as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com)
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