#pickedup

GIFTED- picked up to series STUDIO: 20th Century Fox Television/Marvel Television TEAM: Matt Nix, Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, Jeph Loeb, Jim Chory

LOGLINE: Two ordinary parents discover that their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.

Cast (thus far)

Stephen Moyer (True Blood) will play the dad, Reed, an ambitious attorney trying to balance the demands of his job at the DA’s office with his responsibilities to his family.

Amy Acker (Person of Interest) will play Kate, who is struggling to deal with her separation from her husband Reed and her increasingly challenging teenage children.

Natalie Alyn Lind (The Goldbergs) will play Lauren, one of the children at the center of the story. Smart, pretty, popular, organized and already ahead on her college applications; Lauren is the model of a perfect kid.

Percy Hynes White (Between) is set to play Andy, a sensitive kid and a bit of a loner, who keeps to himself to avoid the turmoil he faces both at school and at home.

Sean Teale (Incorporated) will play Marcos Diaz/ Eclipse. A natural rebel compelled by circumstances to cooperate with others, Marcos is a passionate and strong-willed fighter who sometimes lets his emotions overrule reason. His alter ego, Eclipse, who possesses the ability to absorb and manipulate photons, is a newly created mutant for this expanded X-Men universe.

Coby Bell (Burn Notice) will play Jace Turner, a weathered man who quietly wrestles with the moral ambiguities of a job that regularly requires cold-blooded, calculating efficiency on a day-to-day basis.

Blair Redford (Satisfaction) will play Sam, the strong-headed Native American leader of an underground group of mutants.

Jamie Chung (Gotham) will play the sarcastic and lively Clarice Fong aka Blink, an established character from the comics with the power of teleportation. Clarice’s naturally strong exuberance has taken a hit after a sudden and traumatic upheaval of her life. As she adjusts to the new people and places that are suddenly ‘home’, Clarice is slowly becoming herself again.

Emma Dumont (Aquarius) will play Lorna Dane/ Polaris. Strong-willed, brave and extremely loyal, she has the ability to manipulate magnetism.

Further details:

the pilot will be shot in Dallas

FOX already has DC television properties such as Gotham and Lucifer, but passed on Black Lightning this season in favor of Gifted

Lynd had a major recurring role on Gotham in its second season, and Chung had a major recurring role in its third season

unlike current X-Men series Legion, Gifted will be spun directly out of the X-Men movie continuity

actress Fan Bingbing portrayed Blink in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past and is contracted to play the character in 4 X-Men films

pictures of Originals star Joseph Morgan at a table-read spurred rumors he had joined the series; several reports have since negated this

 FIRST TEASER

THE RESIDENT- picked up to series (fka The City) STUDIO: 20th Century Fox Television/3 Arts Entertainment/Fuqua Films TEAM: Amy Holden Jones, Hayley Schore, Roshan Sethi, Oly Obst, Antoine Fuqua, Phillip Noyce

 LOGLINE: An idealistic young doctor begins his first day under the supervision of a tough, brilliant senior resident who pulls the curtain back on all of the good and evil in modern-day medicine. Lives might be saved or lost, but expectations will always be shattered.

 Cast (thus far)

Manish Dayal (The Hundred-Foot Journey) will play Devon Pravesh, a first-year resident at Kings County Hospital. Top of his class at medical school, the type to follow rules, and driven and passionate when it comes to medicine, Devon is a hard-working perfectionist from a working-class background.

Matt Czuchry (The Good Wife) will play a tough, brilliant and cocky senior resident, Conrad Hawkins, who pulls the curtain back on all of the good and evil in modern day medicine.

Emily VanCamp (Revenge) will play Nicolette aka Nic, the nurse who is Conrad’s (Czuchry) on-again-off-again romantic fling.

Shaunette Renée Wilson (Billions) will play Mina Okafor, a Nigerian rising surgical star recently trained on a new device that could redefine surgery.

Valerie Cruz (The Following) will play hospital CEO Renata Lopez.

Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek) will play Chief of Surgery Dr. Soloman Bell, every inch the image of an ideal surgeon. 

 Further details:

the pilot will be shot in Atlanta

this show was originally developed at Showtime

this script review is very critical of the pilot

INSTINCT- picked up to series (fka Killer Instinct, fka Dr. Death) STUDIO: CBS Television Studios TEAM: Michael Rauch, Alan Cumming, Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, James Patterson, Bill Robinson, Leopoldo Gout, Marc Webb

 LOGLINE: A former CIA operative who has since built a “normal” life as a gifted professor and writer is pulled back into his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer on the loose. Based on James Patterson’s upcoming book.

 Cast (thus far)

Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) will play Dylan, a former CIA operative pulled back into his old life when the NYPD needs his help.

Bojana Novakovic (Shameless) plays Lizzie, a top detective with the NYPD who approaches Dylan to help with the case.

Naveen Andrews (Lost) will play Julian, Dylan’s old friend from the CIA who rivals Dylan in brilliance and wit.

Daniel Ings (Lovesick) will play Tracy, Dylan’s “all-American” husband of one year.

Khandi Alexander (CSI: Miami) will play Lizzi’s police superior.

THE GOOD DOCTOR- picked up to series STUDIO: Sony Pictures TV TEAM: David Shore, Daniel Dae Kim, Sebastian Lee, David Kim, Erin Gunn, Lindsay Goffman

LOGLINE: A young surgeon with Savant syndrome is recruited into the pediatric surgical unit of a prestigious hospital.

 Cast (thus far)

Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel) will play Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with Savant syndrome who is recruited into the pediatric surgical unit of a prestigious hospital. Murphy is awkward at the best of times and not good with social interaction but possessed of an engaging honesty and directness. A medical savant, Shaun has survived a troubled childhood to become a talented doctor.

Antonia Thomas (Misfits) plays Claire Browne, a strong-willed, caring and talented doctor who forms a special connection with Shaun while wrestling her own challenges.

Richard Schiff (The West Wing) will play Dr. Ira Glassman, President of the San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Glassman, a good man who wasn’t always a good man, is advocating for Murphy’s hire. He has mentored the young doctor since he was 16 and admits that Shaun is like a son to him, so Shaun’s appointment is very personal.

Hill Harper (CSI: NY) will play Dr. Horace Andrews, the head of surgery at the hospital.

Beau Garrett (Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce) will play Jessica Preston, a hospital board member who is a friend of Dr. Glassman and sides with him as he presents his protegee, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Highmore), to the board.

Nicholas Gonzalez (How to Get Away with Murder) plays Dr. Neil Melendez, the boss of the surgical residents at the hospital.

Irene Keng (Grey’s Anatomy) is Dr. Elle McLean, a resident at the hospital.

Chuku Modu (Game of Thrones) will play Dr. Jared Unger, a resident at the San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.

 Further details:

this pilot will be shot in Vancouver

this review praises it as a “real” medical drama, and especially praises the characters

 FIRST TEASER

CHAMPIONS- picked up to series STUDIO: Universal TV/Kaling International/3 Arts Entertainment TEAM: Charlie Grandy, Mindy Kaling, Howard Klein, Michael Spiller

 LOGLINE: Vince is a charismatic gym owner with no ambition who lives with his younger brother Michael, a gorgeous idiot. Their simple life of women and working out is put on hold when Vince’s teenage son is dropped off on their doorstep by Priya, one of his old high school flings.

 Cast (thus far)

Anders Holm (Workaholics) will play Vince, a docile and charismatic gym owner in Queens with no ambition who lives an easy ride life with his dim younger brother Michael.

Andy Favreau (Aquarius) will play Vince’s younger brother Michael, a gorgeous idiot.

JJ Totah (Glee) will play Vince’s teenage son Michael, dropped on his doorstep by Priya. Michael is a gay, opinionated teenage handful, and a talented pianist/singer who’s moved from Ohio to New York City to go to the Manhattan Academy of Arts until his sponsor fell through.

Mouzam Makkar (The Exorcist) wil play Britney, Vince’s on-again, off-again girlfriend since they were 13. Britney is a smart hustler with an emotional streak that makes her do dramatic things.

Nina Wadia (EastEnders) will portray Lubna, a not to be trifled with ambitious Saudi woman who owns the salon next to the gym owned by Vince. She is the mother of two very successful daughters and has her eye on expanding her business at Vince’s expense.

Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project) will play Priya, an old high school fling of Vince’s and mother to his teenage son.

THE MAYOR- picked up to series STUDIO: ABC Studios/Brownstone Productions/Bluegrass FanFare TEAM: Jeremy Bronson, Daveed Diggs, Jamie Tarses, Scott Stuber, Dylan Clark, James Griffiths

LOGLINE:  When an outspoken, idealistic rapper runs for office as a publicity stunt and actually gets elected, he surprises everyone (including himself) when he has a natural knack for the job and slowly transforms City Hall.

 Cast (thus far)

Brandon Micheal Hall (Search Party) will play Courtney Rose, a struggling hip-hop artist who runs for mayor to promote his mixtape — and wins.

Lea Michele (Glee) will play Val, Courtney’s Chief of Staff and reliable foil.

Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) will play Dina, Courtney’s chatty, drama-prone, single mom who had him when she was a teenager — but she’s also his best friend and biggest cheerleader. They’re always oversharing, and he seeks out her advice on everything. Dina, who has a high-volume personality and a big laugh, works at the post office, which allows her to stay on top of the latest neighborhood gossip.

Bernard Jones (Shitty Boyfriends) will play Jermaine, Courtney’s high-energy, fast-talking best friend who occasionally raps and becomes City Hall’s lead aide.

 Further details:

this will be a single-camera comedy

the pilot production commitment was contingent on casting the lead role, which was satisfied with Hall’s casting

FIRST TEASER

LA TO VEGAS- picked up to series STUDIO: 20th Century Fox TV/Gary Sanchez Productions TEAM: Lon Zimmet, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, Steven Levitan

 LOGLINE: An ensemble workplace comedy set on the Friday night flight from LAX to Vegas and the returning flight on Sunday, it follows a group of underdogs trying to find their place in the world who all share the same goal: to come back a winner in the casino of life.

 Cast (thus far)

Ed Weeks (The Mindy Project) will play Micah, an accountant and regular on the flight between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where he visits his family on weekends. Plagued by more than a few demons, he’s a recovering alcoholic/gambler/sex addict who is separated from his wife. As people who have both made a lot of mistakes in their past, he and head flight attendant Ronnie have a strong connection.

Dylan McDermott (The Practice) will play the pilot on Flight 1710, Captain Dave, all-American, cocky but also a baby, a likable narcissist who feels connecting with his passengers is just as important as flying the plane.

Kim Matula (UnReal) will play Ronnie, the head flight attendant.

Olivia Macklin (The Young Pope) will play Nichole, a young, fresh-faced exotic dancer.

 Further details: this will be a single-camera comedy