Development Update: the 8th of April
HANNIBAL (NBC) - Hugh Dancy ("The Big C") has been tapped as Will Graham in the Peacock's contemporary take on Thomas Harris's novel "Red Dragon." Said hour, which has been ordered directly to series, will track the early relationship between FBI agent Graham ("a handsome, haunted man with a naive focus") and serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. William Petersen and Brian Cox originated the roles in the 1986 feature (titled "Manhunter") with Edward Norton and Anthony Hopkins taking over for the 2002 remake. Bryan Fuller is behind the project, which comes from The Gaumont Film Company. (Deadline.com)
MISTRESSES (ABC) - Alyssa Milano ("Romantically Challenged") has been tapped as the remaining lead on the upcoming drama, about the lives of four female friends and their involvement in an array of illicit and complex relationships. She'll play Savi (short for Savannah), a married lawyer who struggles to stay connected to her husband. Jes Macallan also stars as her sister Josslyn with Rochelle Aytes and Yunjin Kim as pals April and Katie. Cherie Nowlan is directing the pilot to the ABC Studios-based hour, from writer K.J. Steinberg. (Deadline.com)
REBOUNDING (FOX) - Amanda Walsh ("Sons & Daughters") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about Danny Markle (Will Forte), a man recovering from the death of his fiance with help from friends on his pick-up basketball team (Hayes MacArthur, Malcolm Barrett and Matt L. Jones). She's take over for Aly Michalka as Taryn, the girlfriend of MacArthur's character. Andrea Savage also stars in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, from co-creators Joe Port and Joe Wiseman. Jason Winer is directing. (Deadline.com)
THE WIDOW DETECTIVE (CBS) - Jennifer Beals ("The Chicago Code") and Paula Marshall ("Gary Unmarried") have booked the remaining principal roles on the drama pilot, about Denny Brennan (John Corbett), a decorated detective who has lost three partners in the line of duty and serves as the male figure in the lives of his fallen partners' families. They'll play two of said widows: Lainey Vargas Becker ("a strong blue-collar sexiness"), owner of a valley hair salon; and Jill Jaworski ("a beauty with fiery eyes"), a mother of three daughters; respectively. Elyes Gabel plays Lainey's son Troy, who partners with Denny on the job, while Conor Leslie is on board as Amanda, Jill's eldest, who's engaged to a detective. Davis Guggenheim is directing the CBS Television Studios-based hour, from writer David Hubbard. Eriq La Salle, Michael Irby and Natalie Martinez also star. (Deadline.com)
THE AMERICANS (FX) - Noah Emmerich ("White Collar") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about the complex marriage of two KGB spies (Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell) posing as Americans in suburban Washington DC in the early 1980's. He'll play their new neighbor, "a Counter Intelligence FBI agent who grows suspicious of the couple next door." Director Gavin O'Connor and writer Joe Weisberg are behind the project, to be produced by DreamWorks Television, Fox Television Studios and FX Productions (Deadline.com)
ANIMAL KINGDOM (NBC) - Kym Whitley ("Let's Stay Together") has booked a role on the comedy pilot, about George Coleman (Justin Kirk), a veterinarian who loves animals but usually hates their owners. She'll presumably play Juanita, a nurse at Rutledge Animal Hospital. Amy Huberman, Bobby Lee and Tyler Labine co-star in the Universal Television-based half-hour, which comes from co-creators Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka. Anthony and Joe Russo are directing. Whitley is also guest starring on fellow NBC pilot "Bad Girls" as Celisa, a correctional officer. (Deadline.com)
BABY BIG SHOT (CBS) - Stephanie March ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") is the latest to be cast in the drama pilot, about Martina Garretti (Janet Montgomery), a working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a Manhattan law firm. She's on board as Natalie Minka ("Spence-educated Manhattan royalty with legs up to her neck"), a high-ranking associate at said firm. Erin Cummings, Felix Solis, Kyle MacLachlan, Pablo Schreiber and Toni Trucks also star in the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, from writer Dana Calvo. (Deadline.com)
DAKOTA (The CW) - Erich Bergen and Brooklyn Sudano have both landed roles on the drama pilot, about Maya Beaumont (Amber Stevens), a documentarian who travels back in time to 1990 where she meets and falls in love with the rock star subject of her film, Joey Dakota (Craig Horner), only to return to present day where she must find her way back and prevent his untimely death. They'll presumably play Nicky ("a welldressed, handsome guy with a fun demeanor") and Holly ("pretty in an earthy way"), Joey's manager and his wife - who also happen to be Maya's parents. Leah Renee and Scott Wolf also star the CBS Television Studios-based hour, from writer Bert V. Royal. (Deadline.com)
DOWNWARDLY MOBILE (NBC) - Greg Cromer and Salli Richardson-Whitfield have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about Rose Davis (Roseanne Barr), the proprietor of a mobile home park and surrogate mother to all of the unique people who live there in a challenging economy. They'll play Mr. and Mrs. Denby, a well-to-do attractive couple making a fresh start after losing everything in a Ponzi scheme. John Goodman, Mary Birdsong and Romy Rosemont also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, to be directed by Gail Mancuso. (Deadline.com)
THE FAMILY TRAP (ABC) - James Pumphrey and Ravi Patel are the latest to board the comedy pilot, about newlyweds (Mandy Moore, Nelson Franklin) who get the opportunity of a lifetime to run a hip, new restaurant in her hometown but at the cost of bringing her closer to her needy and high maintenance parents (Stockard Channing, Kurt Fuller). The latter will play Bobby, their internet millionaire pal who hires them, with Pumphrey as Zach, Annie's (Moore) younger brother. Erinn Hayes and Majandra Delfino co-star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, from co-creators Bob Fisher and Stacy Traub. Shawn Levy is directing. (Deadline.com)
MOCKINGBIRD LANE (NBC) - Eddie Izzard ("The Riches") is in final negotiations to star in the drama pilot, an imaginative reinvention of "The Munsters" as a visually spectacular one-hour drama. He's on track to play Grandpa (Al Lewis on the original series), the 580-year-old patriarch of the clan "with a rosy twinkle in his milky eyes." The actor will also receive a producing credit on the project, from writer Bryan Fuller, director Bryan Singer and producer Universal Television. (Deadline.com)
NED FOX IS MY MANNY (FOX) - Abby Elliott has departed the comedy pilot, about Kate, an uptight single mom whose aimless brother Ned (Nat Faxon) moves in to help her raise her five-year-old daughter, Maddie (Maggie Jones). The actress had been attached to play Kate however was released following yesterday's table read. Casting is underway for a replacement. Writer Dana Fox and director Jake Kasdan are behind the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which also stars Echo Kellum and Lucy Punch. (Deadline.com)
OVER AND OUT (CBS) - P.J. Byrne ("The Game") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about Ray Barker (Martin Lawrence), a widowed father of two teenagers who, after losing his job in construction, decides to go to the police academy and become a cop at the age of 46. He's on board as Kip Dennis, the station's "fey, self-important busybody." Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger are behind the CBS Television Studios-based half-hour, to be directed by Fred Savage. (Deadline.com)
SUPER FUN NIGHT (CBS) - Alan Ritchson ("Blue Mountain State") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about three nerdy female friends - Kimmie, Helen-Alice and Marika - on their "funcomfortable" quest to have "super fun" every Friday night. He'll play Jason ("a tanned hunk-a-licious buffoon"), the boyfriend of Kimmie's younger, prettier sister Jazmine. Kevin Bishop also stars in the Rebel Wilson-penned half-hour, from the Warner Bros. Television-based Conaco Productions. (THR.com)
1600 PENN (NBC) - Jenna Elfman ("Accidentally on Purpose") has been cast in the comedy pilot, about a dysfunctional First Family where the out-of-control oldest son Skip (Josh Gad) returns home and becomes not only it's biggest liability but also the glue holding everyone together. She'll play First Lady Emily Nash Gilchrist ("street-smart and honest to a fault; working-class roots; eager to win over her step kids") in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, from director Jason Winer and co-creators Jon Lovett and Josh Gad. Amara Miller, Andre Holland, Bill Pullman and Brittany Snow co-star. (Deadline.com)
THE ASSET (FOX) - Hamish Linkalter ("The New Adventures of Old Christine") is in final talks to star in the drama pilot, about Anna King (Ali Larter), a globe-trotting CIA agent whose cover is that of a renowned photojournalist. He'll play her handler, CIA analyst Asher Wallach, in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, from writer Josh Friedman and director Neil Burger. Bradley Whitford and Jamie Chung also star. (Deadline.com)
BABY BIG SHOT (CBS) - Erin Cummings ("Pan Am") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about Martina Garretti (Janet Montgomery), a working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a Manhattan law firm. She's on board as her sister Bonnie ("auburn-haired beauty"), a manicurist with "a rockin' bod and not a care in the world." Felix Solis, Janet Montgomery, Kyle MacLachlan and Toni Trucks co-star in the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, from creator Dana Calvo. (Deadline.com)
BAD GIRLS (NBC) - Tracee Ellis Ross ("Reed Between the Lines") has landed a role on the drama pilot, which follows the ins and outs of a group of unlikely women at a federal correctional institute. She'll play one of them, Rachel ("type-A; brainy; driven"), once a high-powered business woman. John Dahl is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based hour from a script by Nancy Pimental. Amy Smart, Jurnee Smollett, Karolina Wydra, Rick Gonzalez and Zoe Boyle also star. (Deadline.com)
BANSHEE (Cinemax) - Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen and Hoon Lee are the latest to board the upcoming drama, about Lucas Hood (Antony Starr), an ex-convict and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, PA, where he continues his criminal activities even as he's being hunted by the shadowy gangsters he had betrayed years earlier. She's set as Carrie Hopewell, "once a notorious jewel thief who now lives in Banshee under an assumed identity, with a husband and children who know nothing of her criminal past." Thomsen then is set as Proctor, "an intimidating, wealthy local businessman who believes he is above the law"; with Lee as "a dangerous transvestite computer hacker who assists Lucas in his criminal enterprises." David Schickler and Jonathan Tropper are behind the Alan Ball-produced hour, to be directed by Greg Yaitanes. Daniel Ross, Demetrius Grosse, Frankie Faison, Matt Servitto and Trieste Dunn also star. (Deadline.com, Deadline.com)
THE CARRIE DIARIES (The CW) - Chloe Bridges ("90210") has been tapped to star in the drama pilot, which stars AnnaSophia Robb as a teenage Carrie Bradshaw in the 1980s. She'll play her nemesis Donna LaDonna ("very pretty with a sexy laugh and an insane amount of confidence in her star power"), who dresses like Madonna and can actually pull it off. Warner Bros. Television is behind the hour, which also stars Austin Butler, Brendan Dooling, Ellen Wong, Freema Agyeman, Katie Findlay, Matt Letscher and Stefania Owen. Miguel Arteta is directing from a script by Amy B. Harris based on the book of the same name by Candice Bushnell. (Deadline.com)
DAKOTA (The CW) - Scott Wolf ("V") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about Maya Beaumont (Amber Stevens), a documentarian who travels back in time to 1990 where she meets and falls in love with the rock star subject of her film (Craig Horner) only to return to present day where she must find her way back and prevent his untimely death. He's on board as Franklin Morgan ("looks like a geek - but still kinda cute - in a geeky way"), a mysterious yet affable man who may have the answers to Maya's time travel foibles. Leah Renee also stars in the CBS Television Studios-based hour, from writer Bert V. Royal. (Deadline.com)
GO ON (NBC) - Laura Benanti ("The Playboy Club") has snagged the female lead on the comedy pilot, about Ryan King (Matthew Perry), an irreverent yet charming sportscaster, who after his wife dies, finds surprising solace from the members of his support group. She'll play Lauren Schneider ("wound tightly but manages to keep her cool, usually"), said group's leader. Allison Miller, Julie White, Khary Payton and Suzy Nakamura also star in the Universal Television-based half-hour, from director Todd Holland and writer Scott Silveri. (Deadline.com)
GOLDEN BOY (CBS) - Bonnie Somerville ("Cashmere Mafia") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, which tracks one man's (Theo James) meteoric rise from uniform cop at age 26 to police commissioner at 34. She's set as Deborah McKenzie ("Long Island girl with the map of Ireland on her face"), a third generation cop from his homicide days. The Nick Wootton-penned hour also stars Chi McBride, Kevin Alejandro and Stella Maeve. Warner Bros. Television-based Berlanti Television is producing with Richard Shepard set to direct. (Deadline.com)
L.A. NOIR (TNT) - Simon Pegg ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol") is in talks to guest star in the pilot, about the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker (Neal McDonough) and mobster Mickey Cohen (yet to be cast) in the 1950s. He'll play a top-secret role in the hour, from writer/director Frank Darabont. Alexa Davalos, Jeremy Strong, Jon Bernthal and Milo Ventimiglia also star. (Deadline.com)
REVOLUTION (NBC) - Zak Orth, Andrea Roth and J.D. Pardo have all booked roles on the pilot, a drama set in the near future where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. Roth will play Rachel Matheson - Danny (Graham Rogers) and Charlie's (Tracy Spiradakos) mother and Ben's (Tim Guinee) wife - as seen in flashback. Orth then is set as Aaron ("lovably neurotic"), the village's resident teacher who hates nature and nature hates him; with Pardo as Nate Walker ("rough-around-the-edges handsome"), a skilled archer who befriends Charlie. (Deadline.com, Deadline.com)
TATTOO RESCUE (Spike TV, New!) - The cable channel has commissioned a pilot for a potential reality series in which renowned tattoo expert Joey Germinario - also known as "Joey Tattoo" - and his team of experts as they travel the country transforming failing tattoo studios into profitable businesses. The hour-long project comes from Original Media and Sweatshop Media with the latter's Vem Miller, who created the series, executive producing. (THR.com)
UNTITLED KARYN USHER PROJECT (FOX) - Rick Schroder ("24") has landed a role on the drama pilot, about Jane Forsythe (Saxon Sharbino), the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA agent who is recruited to become an operative herself. He'll play her late father Charlie, in the 20th Century Fox Television-based project, which Brett Ratner is attached to direct. Angela Bassett, Julian McMahon and Louise Lombard also star. (Deadline.com)
THE ASSET (FOX) - Jamie Chung ("Samurai Girl") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about Anna King (Ali Larter), a globe-trotting CIA agent whose cover is that of a renowned photojournalist. She's set as May Kent, a polygraph expert with the CIA. Bradley Whitford also stars in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, which Neil Burger is directing from a script by Josh Friedman. (Deadline.com)
BABY BIG SHOT (CBS) - Janet Montgomery ("Human Target") has booked the lead role on the drama pilot, about a working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a Manhattan law firm. She's set as said woman, Martina Garretti ("sexy, mischievous and 27"), in the hour, which comes from Sony Pictures Television and creator Dana Calvo. (Deadline.com)
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (ABC) - Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham ("Amadeus") has joined the cast of the pilot, a drama set in a mythical city where its princess is tasked with quelling a rebellion. He's on board as Cyril, the palace's Chamberlain, "a wise and trusted but duplicitous man of state." Chris Egan and Darius Campbell also star in the ABC Studios-based hour, from writer Jonathan E. Steinberg and director Yves Simoneau. (Deadline.com)
THE CARRIE DIARIES (The CW) - AnnaSophia Robb ("Soul Surfer") has booked the title role while Katie Findlay and Ellen Wong have also been cast in the drama pilot, a "Sex and the City" prequel based on Candice Bushnell's recent book about the high school years of Carrie Bradshaw. Robb will play the titular role ("quirky, beautiful in an interesting way") with Findlay and Wong as pals Jill "The Mouse" Thompson ("intense, extremely bright and loyal") and Maggie Landres ("overtly sexy and working it"). Amy B. Harris penned the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which Miguel Arteta is attached to direct. (Deadline.com, Deadline.com)
CHICAGO FIRE (NBC) - David Eigenberg ("Sex and the City") has been cast in the pilot, an ensemble drama about the men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. He'll play one of them, Christopher Herrmann ("a tall, salt-of-the-earth family man"), who just lost his home to foreclosure and is now forced to move in with his in-laws. Eamonn Walker, Monica Raymund and Taylor Kinney also star in the Universal Television-based hour, which Jeffrey Nachmanoff will direct from a script by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt. (Deadline.com)
COUNTER CULTURE (ABC) - Emmy-winner Doris Roberts ("Everybody Loves Raymond") is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about three aging sisters running their family diner together in West Texas who find that sibling dynamics are always getting in the way of getting the job done. She'll play their Aunt Lee ("88, a meticulously coiffed belle with a doomsday attitude"), who works as the cashier. Stephnie Weir is behind the project, from ABC Studios and Sony Pictures Television. Ted Wass is directing. (Deadline.com)
ELEMENTARY (CBS) - Lucy Liu ("Southland") has landed the female lead on the pilot, a drama which envisions Sherlock Holmes in the present day as a former Scotland Yard consultant who solves crimes for the NYPD. She'll play Joan Watson, a former surgeon who's hired by Holmes's brother to be his personal recovery assistant. CBS Television Studios is behind the hour, to be directed by Michael Cuesta from a script by Robert Doherty. (Deadline.com)
THE GOODWIN GAMES (FOX) - Jake Lacy ("Better With You") has snagged the remaining lead role on the comedy pilot, about three siblings who must heed to the idiosyncratic terms of their father's will to inherit his fortune. He'll play the youngest sibling Jimmy ("all heart, zero impulse control"), a scruffy petty thief who is has just gotten out of jail - yet again. Becki Newton, Felisha Terrell and Scott Foley also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, from director Peyton Reed and co-creators Carter Bays, Chris Harris and Craig Thomas. (Deadline.com)
GUILTY (FOX) - Cuba Gooding Jr., Julian Morris and Eva Amurri Martino have booked three of the principal roles on the drama pilot, about a brilliant, morally questionable defense attorney who, after being falsely convicted of fraud and stripped of his legal license, uses his unorthodox methods to solve the cases he's been prohibited from handling and to ultimately exact revenge on the men who set him up. Gooding will play said man William "Billy" Remz ("brilliant, charismatic -- Steve Jobs with a law degree") with Morris as Alex Sitterson ("he's physically, 25; intellectually, 60; emotionally, 6"), an eager young attorney whom Billy recruits to use as a proxy in the courtoom. Martino then is set as Lily Agostoni ("definitely pretty; Donna Karan pantsuit; multiple piercings; nose ring"), a lawyer at Billy's firm who embraces his brazen style. McG is helming the Warner Bros. Television-based hour from a script by Marc Guggenheim. (Deadline.com, THR.com, Variety.com)
LAST RESORT (ABC) - Robert Patrick ("The Unit") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about the crew of a nuclear submarine, who, after disobeying a suspicious order become fugitives and declare themselves an independent nuclear nation. He'll presumably play Master Chief Joseph Prosser, "the rusty nail that holds the boat together; in charge of all the enlisted men; principled; believes in duty, honor, and the chain of command." Also starring in the ensemble are Andre Braugher, Autumn Reeser, Camille de Pazzis, Daisy Betts, Daniel Lissing, Dichen Lachman, Sahr Ngaujah and Scott Speedman. (@ShawnRyanTV)
MASTERS OF SEX (Showtime) - Caitlin Fitzgerald ("Gossip Girl") has scored a role on the drama pilot, which chronicles the lives and the intriguing, unusual relationship between William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), the pioneers into the science of human sexuality, whose research touched off the sexual revolution. She'll play Masters's wife Libby in the project, which also stars Nick D'Agosto and Teddy Sears. Michelle Ashford penned the hour for Sony Pictures Television, to be directed by John Madden. (Deadline.com)
ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES (ABC) - Comedian Dustin Ybarra has scored a role on the pilot, a multi-camera comedy about two streetwise brothers and their aging grandfather as they concoct outrageous, morally questionable get-rich-quick schemes in their quest to become millionaires. He'll play one of the brothers, Rodney Trotter ("23, tall and dorky"), joining the previously cast John Leguizamo. Brian Bradley and Steven Cragg are behind the ABC Studios-based project, to be directed by Ted Wass. (Deadline.com)
PRAIRIE DOGS (ABC) - Dayo Okeniyi and Charlotte Newhouse have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about Neil (Kal Penn), an uncool cubicle worker at one of the coolest companies in the world, who becomes the victim of identity theft and engages the charismatic conman to help him change his life. They'll play his co-workers Mazi ("an earnest and cheerful African immigrant with an accent") and Charlotte ("has bad hair, bad clothes, but a lot of attitude"), joining the previously cast Dan Fogler and Michaela Watkins. Luke Greenfield is directing the ABC Studios-based half-hour from a script by Jackie and Jeff Filgo. (Deadline.com, Deadline.com)
REVOLUTION (NBC) - Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad") has joined the cast of the pilot, a drama about a group of people struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. He's set as Captain Neville, "a hard-as-steel military man with a genteel southern manner who may not always be what he seems." Writer Eric Kripke and director Jon Favreau are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which also stars Anna Lise Phillips, Graham Rogers and Tracy Spiradakos. (Deadline.com)
THE SELECTION (The CW) - Ethan Peck ("10 Things I Hate About You") has snagged a role on the pilot, a drama set 300 years in the future about a poor woman (Aimee Teegarden) who is chosen by lottery to compete to become the next queen of a war-torn nation. He'll play Prince Maxon ("25, handsome, and regal"), the fellow whom one young lady from each of its 35 provinces is chosen to come to the Palace and vie for his hand. Mark Piznarski is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based hour from a script by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED KEVIN WILLIAMSON PROJECT (FOX) - Jeananne Goossen ("Alcatraz") has scored the female lead on the drama pilot, about Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), a diabolical serial killer who uses technology to create a cult of serial killers, and retired FBI profiler Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), who finds himself in the middle of it. She's set as Jennifer Mason ("30's, attractive, all business"), the FBI agent who teams with Hardy. Shawn Ashmore and Valorie Curry co-star in the project, from Warner Bros. Television and director Marcos Siega. (Deadline.com)
THE WIDOW DETECTIVE (CBS) - Elyes Gabel ("Game of Thrones") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about Denny Brennan (yet to be cast), a decorated detective who has lost three partners in the line of duty and serves as the male figure in the lives of his fallen partners' families. He'll play Troy Vargas ("27, brooding good looks; no longer the kid Denny used to know"), the son of one of the widows who requests to be Denny's partner at the LAPD. CBS Television Studios is behind the hour, from writer David Hubbard and director Davis Guggenheim. (Deadline.com)
ZERO HOUR (ABC) - Addison Timlin ("Californication") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about Hank (yet to be cast), a skeptical everyman who gets swept up in one of history's greatest conspiracies: a spectacular mystery surrounding the Twelve Apostles. She'll play Rachel ("22; the ballsy, intellectual queen of parkour & coffee shops"), one of Hank's employees at his magazine, Modern Skeptic. Scott Michael Foster also stars in the ABC Studios-based hour, from writer Paul Scheuring and Pierre Morel. (Deadline.com)
