ABC's Runner; CBS' Limitless; The CW's Cordon, Dead People & Tales From the Darkside; FOX's Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life & Untitled Dana Klein; NBC's People Are Talking; and Showtime's Billions.
ABC's RUNNER
- Michael Offer has been tapped to direct the drama pilot from writer Michael Cooney. He most recently helmed the pilot for ABC's breakout hit How to Get Away With Murder.
FOX's COOPER BARRETT'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE
- FOX has given a pilot order to single camera comedy Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life written by Jay Lacopo. Executive producers are Lacopo and Gail Berman. 20th Century Fox Television and The Jackal Group will produce. The project celebrates the mistakes and misadventures we all make during the years after college, before settling down.
THE CW's TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE
- The CW ordered its first pilots for the current development - starting with a remake of the 1980s horror anthology Tales From the Darkside. Joe Hill wrote the pilot, and executive produces with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Heather Kadin, Mitch Galin and Jerry Golod. CBS Television Studios and K/O Paper Products will produce. Each episode will be completely different and contain at least one separate story, with new actors in every hour.
THE CW's CORDON
- The CW's next pilot order is for Cordon from writer Julie Plec and director David Nutter. Plec and Nutter executive produce, with Warner Bros. Television, My So-Called Company and Eyeworks producing. The project is based on a Belgian series created by Carl Joos. When a deadly epidemic breaks out in Atlanta, a large city quarantine is quickly enforced, leaving those stuck on the inside to fight for their lives. Loved ones are tragically torn apart, and the society that grows inside the cordon reveals both the devolution of humanity and the birth of unlikely heroes.
THE CW's DEAD PEOPLE
- The CW's third pilot order today goes to drama Dead People written by Tom Kapinos. Executive producers are Kapinos and J.J. Abrams. Warner Bros. Television, Bad Robot Productions and Aggressive Mediocrity will produce. The project centers on a down-on-his-luck semi-alcoholic but roguishly charming cab driver who - after a near-death experience - suddenly has the ability to interact with ghosts, including his late ex-wife who he has never gotten over.
SHOWTIME's BILLIONS
- Trophy Wife star Malin Akerman has been cast opposite Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti on the drama pilot. She will play Lara Axelrod, a former nurse from humble beginnings, who is now married to billionaire Bobby (Lewis).
FOX's UNTITLED DANA KLEIN PROJECT
- Veteran comedy director Pam Fryman (How I Met Your Mother) has signed on to direct the pilot for the untitled project from writer Dana Klein.
NBC's PEOPLE ARE TALKING
- Tone Bell (Bad Judge, Whitney) has been cast on the multi-camera comedy from writer DJ Nash. He will play Mitch's best friend, neighbor and voice of reason. He's a stand-up comic, which is relevant only in that he has no fear when it comes to talking to someone or making a scene in public to prove his point.
- Additionally, Pam Fryman has been tapped to direct this comedy pilot as well.
CBS' LIMITLESS
- Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man) has been tapped to replace Neil Burger as director on the potential series adaptation of the 2011 feature film. Burger had to pull out due to a scheduling conflict, but he'll remain an executive producer on the project. Webb most recently helmed the pilot for FOX's Lone Star as well as Showtime's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which is currently waiting on a series pickup.
