ABC Family is expected to renew Lincoln Heights for a third season, sources said. The network is looking at giving the drama series a 10- to 12-episode order, with the whole cast expected to return. Sources said ABC Family is eyeing a spring start-of-production date for the series, which is produced by ABC Family/Disney and executive produced by Kathleen McGhee-Anderson.
ABC Family has picked up the supernatural drama pilot The Middleman for a full series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The production schedule and launch date of the new series have yet to be determined because of the writers’ strike. Middleman, from writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost), stars Natalie Morales as a 20-something struggling artist recruited by a secret agency to fight comic-book-type villains. Matt Keeslar plays the title character, a superhero who serves as her guide.
Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales have been tapped to star in ABC Family’s comic-inspired drama pilot The Middleman, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Mary Pat Gleason also has been cast in the one-hour project, which is based on Medium writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach’s graphic novels for Viper Comics, which were illustrated by Les McClaine. The project was ordered to pilot last month. Middleman centers on Wendy Watson (Morales), a twenty-something struggling artist recruited by a secret agency to fight comic-book-type villains. Keeslar will play the title character, a superhero who serves as her guide. Gleason will play Ida, the robotic gatekeeper and veteran assistant to Keeslar.
ABC Family has ordered Season 3 of the original drama Kyle XY, a series that has become the network’s signature show, from ABC Studios. Ten episodes have been ordered. A start date has not been determined yet as the show is currently in production on the back 10 episodes of Season 2.
Ally Sheedy has just been tapped to join the cast of Kyle XY. She will be playing Jessi XX’s mom, Sarah, in the final three episodes of the ABC Family hit’s sophomore season. The second season of Kyle XY is scheduled to air in 2008.
In anticipation of the U.S. theatrical premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, ABC Family will provide its viewers with an opportunity to catch up on the first three films in the phenomenally popular Harry Potter franchise, and offer an exclusive sneak peek of the new film, opening in theatres nationwide on July 11. The triple feature weekend - from Friday, July 6, through Sunday, July 8 - includes airings of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. During each broadcast, viewers will also be treated to never-before-seen footage from the newest “Harry Potter” film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
The air dates and times are as follows:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Friday, July 6 (7:30PM – 11:00PM ET/PT)
Encore presentation, Saturday, July 7 (3:30PM – 7:00PM ET/PT)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Saturday, July 7 (7:00PM – 11:00PM ET/PT)
Encore presentation, Sunday, July 8 (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET/PT)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Sunday, July 8 (5:00PM – 8:00PM ET/PT)
Encore presentation, Sunday, July 8 (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM ET/PT)