Charlie Studio: Sony Pictures Television Executive Producer(s): Darlene Hunt, Jodie Foster Writer(s): Darlene Hunt Logline: A self-destructive, emotionally-stunted alcoholic vows to get her life on track after rescuing a dog she believes to be her reincarnated mother. SSN Insight: Per Variety, Foster is rumored to also direct the pilot of the half hour comedy. Foster has been steadily working in TV, earning DGA nominations for her work on Netflix’s House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, for which she was also nominated for an Emmy for a directing an episode of the latter.
Untitled DC Comics Superhero Spinoff Network: CW Television Network Studio: Warner Bros. Television Production Companies: DC Entertainment, Berlanti Productions Executive Producer(s): Andrew Kreisberg, Marc Guggenheim, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter Logline: The storyline involves Ray Palmer/The Atom, villain Leonard Snart/Captain Cold, and Dr. Martin Stein. Details: Based on characters from the DC Comics universe and from the shows Arrow and Flash, which air on the CW. SSN Insight: Planned as a possible straight to series order for 2015-2016 midseason. The spinoff would star Arrow’s Brandon Routh as The Atom, Caity Lotz, Flash’s Victor Garber as Dr. Martin Stein and Wentworth Miller as the villain Captain Cold. Caity Lotz will also star, but as her character Sara Lance was killed off in Arrow, her role is unclear. Per Variety, it will also feature three major DC Comics characters who have never been in a television series before.
Ducktales Network: Disney XD Studio: Disney Television Animation Logline: Follows Scrooge McDuck, his curious and mischief-making grandnephews — Huey, Dewey and Louie — and the optimistic yet temperamental Donald Duck as they embark on high-flying adventures worldwide. Details: Based on the Emmy-winning series that aired from 1987-1990 as part of The Disney Afternoon daily syndicated cartoon block. SSN Insight: Disney XD ordered the new animated comedy series, which is slated to launch in 2017.
Graves Network: EPIX Studio: Lionsgate Production Company: Kingsgate Films Executive Producer(s): Joshua Michael Stern, Greg Shapiro Writer(s): Joshua Michael Stern Logline: Former U.S. president Graves has an epiphany, realizing that some of his policies have brought damage to the country. He embarks on a quest to right the wrongs while his wife is pursuing a career in politics. SSN Insight: Ordered straight to series. EPIX, a premium TV network/VOD service backed by Viacom, Lionsgage and MGM has ordered 10 episodes. Nick Nolte is slated to star as Graves.
Untitled Jessie Spinoff Network: Disney Channel Production Companies: It's A Laugh Productions Executive Producer(s): Pamela Eells Logline: A spinoff of Jessie, this show follows the continuing adventures of Emma, Ravi and Zuri Ross. Details: The series is a spinoff of Jessie, which aired on Disney Channel from 2011-2015. SSN Insight: Ordered straight to series by Disney on February 25.
Model Woman Studio: Sony Pictures Television Production Company: Anonymous Content Executive Producer(s): K.J. Steinberg, Rosalie Swedlin, Robert Lacey Writer(s): K.J. Steinberg Logline: The story about family, beauty, ambition, business and popular culture is centered on Eileen Ford, the outspoken and controversial woman who started as a model and went on to co-found the famous Ford Modeling Agency with her husband Jerry. Details: Based on the book, "Model Woman: Eileen Ford and the Business of Beauty," written by Robert Lacey and to be published by Harper on June 16, 2015. SSN Insight: Lacey’s previous books include Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II And The House of Windsor. Steinberg currently produces the ABC series, Mistresses. She currently has an overall deal with Sony Pictures Television for two-years, which began in October 2014.
Ms. Network: HBO Production Company: Smokehouse Pictures Executive Producer(s): George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Bruce Cohen, Marisa Tomei, Kathy Najimy Logline: The story looks at the creation of Ms. Magazine in 1971 through the eyes of the two women who founded and ran it, Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug, and those whose lives it changed during the world-altering early days of the Women’s Movement. Details: Based on the life and career of Gloria Steinem. SSN Insight: Steinem will serve as a consultant on the mini-series. Marissa Tomei will play Steinem. Tomei recently signed a first-look development deal with HBO to develop, produce and possibly star in projects.
Sex Criminals Studio: Universal Television Production Company: Milkfed Criminal Masterminds Executive Producer(s): Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction Writer(s): Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction Logline: A female librarian and male actor discover they can freeze time when they orgasm. Based on the comic book in which Suzie's a normal girl with an extraordinary ability: when she has sex, she stops time. One night she meets John... who has the same gift. And so they do what any other sex-having, time-stopping, couple would do: they rob banks. Details: Based on the comic book, "Sex Criminals," written by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky and published by Image Comics in 2013. SSN Insight: DeConnick and Fraction have a two-year overall deal with Universal Television. The comic has won an Eisner Award, Harvey Award and was named the best comic of the year in 2013 by Time magazine. SSN also picked this comic in the article, “The 6 Hot Comics out of New York Comic-Con Poised to be the Next Hollywood Breakout”.
Stuck in the Middle Network: Disney Channel Production Company: It's A Laugh Productions Executive Producer(s): Linda Videtti Figueiredo Writer(s): Alison Brown, Linda Videtti Figueiredo Logline: Harley is the ultimate middle child who lives life in the eye of the tornado that is her family. But Harley has big-family life figured out that is, until the day she needs everyone to be in one place, on time, for her event. It’s chaos times seven, but Harley realizes guts, ingenuity and a seat near the mashed potatoes make living large a whole lot of fun. SSN Insight: Disney has ordered a pilot. Jenna Ortega will star, she currently plays young Jane on the CW’s Jane the Virgin and Darcy on the Netflix series Richie Rich. Production begins in spring with a premiere to be considered later this year.
Underground Network: WGN Studio: Tribune Studios, Sony Pictures Television Production Companies: Weed Road Pictures, Safehouse Pictures Executive Producer(s): Misha Green, Joe Pokaski, Akiva Goldsman, Tory Tunnell, Joby Harold Writer(s): Joe Pokaski, Misha Green Logline: Follows a group of slaves who plan a daring escape from a Georgia plantation to cross 600 miles to freedom, aided along the way by a secret abolitionist couple running a station on the Underground Railroad, as they evade those tasked with bringing them back, dead or alive. SSN Insight: WGN has ordered 10 episodes for the season on February 27. Although relatively new to original scripted content, this show joins WGN’s Salem, the currently airing Manhatten, and the Appalachian drama Titans which received a straight to series order.