Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

There are some interesting news items to share with all of you, including a few little spoilers here and there:

TELEVISION

Relative newcomer actor Daniel Buran (who has appeared in episodes of CSI: NY, Criminal Minds and Southland) will be seen in roughly 7 episodes of True Blood, playing Raoul, the werewolf pack master of Shreveport and Alcide’s (Joe Manganiello) boss. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Legendary actor Peter Fonda will appear on CSI: NY as an ex-partner of Det. Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) named William Hunt, who will reconnect with Mac after a thug they once put away is released from prison. Even worse, this so-called reformed criminal now has a vendetta against Fonda’s character. The two-part episodes are expected to air in late April. (Lynette Rice at Entertainment Weekly)

Ready for the time warp? The CW is going to reair the very first hour of Smallville on April 8 at 8 PM. The first episode of this long-running series originally aired on October 16, 2001. A repeat of Supernatural will be aired that night with new episodes of both shows airing the next week. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

DIGITAL SERIES NEWS

Tahmot Penikett (Battlestar Galactica and Dollhouse) has joined the cast of the Warner Bros. digital series Mortal Kombat. He will play police officer Lieutenant Stryker. Other cast members include Michael Jai White as Jax, Jeri Ryan as Sonya and Darren Shahlavi as Kano. White and Ryan are reprising their roles from last year’s unofficial Mortal Kombat: Rebirth short. (IGN)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four) and Mike Colter (The Good Wife) have joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot called Ringer, which is about Bridget Cafferty (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a troubled young woman who, while on the run from the mob, hides out by inhabiting the life of her wealthy twin sister, Siobhan Marx, until she learns that her twin’s life has a bounty on it as well. Gruffudd will play Siobhan’s husband Andrew Marx while Colter will play Malcolm Howard, Bridget’s AA sponsor. Nestor Carbonell (Lost) also stars. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Max Greenfield (Veronica Mars) has joined the Zooey Deschanel-led FOX comedy pilot known as Chicks and Dicks. The ensemble comedy is about the sexual politics of men and women and centers on Jessica (Deschanel), an optimistic but unlucky-in-love elementary school teacher who, after her most recent break-up, moves out of her apartment with her ex and moves in with 3 juvenile guys. (Deadline)

Actress Annie Wersching (24) will alongside actress Scottie Thompson (NCIS and Trauma) in the ABC drama pilot Partners, which centers on two female police detectives, Mattie (Thompson) and Jess (Wersching), who are fiercely loyal to one another since they’re also secretly half-sisters. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Dakota Fanning and Ryan Donowho are to star in the upcoming thriller movie Mississippi Wild. Donowho will play a teen who has to go on the run with his girlfriend (Fanning) after stealing diamonds that belong to a local gangster. Robert Duvall, Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker are in talks to join the cast. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Daniel Radcliffe is attached to star in the independent drama movie The Amateur Photographer, which is based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Monger. The 1970-set tale follows a young man who discovers his artistic calling after being drafted by the denizens of a sleepy little New England mill town to serve as photographer of their most intimate moments. (Variety)

Q&A SECTION (with Adam Bryant and Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Question: Any new missions coming up on Chuck? — Frankie

NATALIE: Much to the chagrin of Chuck and Sarah, Casey is going to be enticed away from Team Intersect by Bentley (Robin Givens), General Beckman’s frenemy. “She presents him with things he knows are true: This has been your longest assignment; your team doesn’t need you anymore,” Givens tells us. “You were the best sharpshooter and now you’re bartending; you’re doing paperwork. So she presents him with an offer that he can’t say no to.” Two of his new team members include past Gretas Stacy Keibler and Isaiah Mustafa, whose real names will be revealed.

Question: I’m still reeling from the Castle kiss this many weeks later. Tell me there’s more where that came from! — Sharon

ADAM: While I can’t promise another liplock, I can tell you that in next week’s episode, Castle and Beckett will be locked in a confined space with one another. Twice. In related (and perhaps squeal-inducing) news, that same episode, the first of an intense two-parter, finds Beckett wondering if she should be with a man who isn’t always out healing Third World countries.

Question: Is there still hope for Michael and Nikita? — Amber

NATALIE: As if the Mikita fans hadn’t fully recovered from Ryan and Nikita’s kiss, now the “other man” in Nikita’s Division-hating life, Owen, is set to return. Of course, he’ll clash with Michael, and not just over black boxes. Do I sense a little jealousy from Michael? Short answer: Duh.

Question: So happy that Justified is back. What’s coming up? —Brett

ADAM: Remember Loretta, the young girl Raylan rescued from the pedophile in the premiere? You’ll be seeing a lot of her, as executive producer Graham Yost calls her the “heart of the season.” While Raylan is busy trying to keep her safe, look for Mags to play adoptive mama, and perhaps accidentally put her even further in harm’s way. “She does have a real soft spot for Loretta because she’s the mother of three boys and was the only woman in the household for many years,” Yost says. “You’ll see the depth of that bond from Mags’ point of view and what transpires because of that. There are unforeseen consequences.”

That’s it. Enjoy!