Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Sorry for today’s update being so late, but here are the news items:

TELEVISION

It has been confirmed by actor Arthur Darvill himself that his Doctor Who character Rory Williams will be back for the next new season of the long-running fan favorite. (Dave Golder at SFX)

Actress Kristin Lehman (The Killing) will make a guest appearance in an upcoming episode of Castle, playing Martina Kaye, a sexy art insurance investigator who joins Castle and Beckett on a murder investigation that involves the theft of a valuable sculpture; and when Martina meets Castle, the attraction is instant. The show is back for a new season on ABC, starting on September 19 at 10 PM. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Actor (and Old Spice spokesman) Isaiah Mustafa has landed a recurring role on ABC’s Charlie’s Angels. He will play Det. Ray Goodson, a hunky lawman for whom Angel Kate (Annie Ilonzeh) was once engaged. The series debuts on September 22 at 8 PM on ABC. Mustafa will debut around the show’s 4th episode. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actor Greg Grunberg (Heroes) could have a potential recurring role in Hawaii Five-0, playing an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent based out of Honolulu, and whose team’s primary functions are the survey of items smuggled into the region and all Homeland Security threats. The show is back on September 19 at 10 PM on CBS. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Comic actor Jay Mohr will guest star in the new NBC drama Prime Suspect in a role that could become recurring. He will play slick New York City assistant district attorney John Bullock, who is good at his job, though not exactly on the same wavelength as Jane Timoney (Maria Bello). The series debuts on September 22 at 10 PM. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Bruckheimer TV will be producing a potential pilot for NBC with wrestling star turned actor Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock. The fictional drama will be set in the world of wrestling in the 1980’s. (Deadline)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actor Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) will star in the HBO made-for-TV movie called The Day the Laughter Stopped, revolving around silent film star Fatty Arbuckle based on the book by David A. Yallop. Arbuckle (1887-1933) was a silent film star, comedian, director and screenwriter who mentored Charlie Chaplin and discovered Buster Keaton and Bob Hope. The popular comedian also had his troubles: in 1921 Arbuckle was accused of raping and accidentally killing actress Virginia Rappe and was tried for her death three times. Though he was acquitted, the scandal plagued his career and worked sparingly in the 1920s. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica and Dollhouse) will have the starring role in the TNT movie Innocent, which is based on Scott Turow’s book of the same name. The made-for-TV movie, which will kick off the new Mystery Movie Night series on TNT on November 29 features Penikett as Jim Brand, a hot-headed, tenacious prosecutor after one guy: Judge Rusty Sabich (Bill Pullman), who has been charged with the murder of his wife. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

CONDOLENCES

Singer-songwriter Nick Ashford who along with his wife Valerie Simpson wrote tunes for Motown – like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “I’m Every Woman” passed away yesterday in New York City. He was 70 years old. (E! Online)

Celebrated songwriter Jerry Leiber – part of the legendary songwriting team Leiber and Stoller – passed away at the age of 78 from cardiopulmonary failure. The duo wrote songs for Elvis Presley, the Coasters and many others. Some of their hits included “Hound Dog,” “Yakety Yak,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Love Potion No. 9.” (David Ng at The LA Times)

ME: Rest in peace, Mr. Ashford and Mr. Leiber. Deepest condolences are extended to their families, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Young actor Caleb Landry Jones (X-Men: First Class) will play the lead role the vampire drama called Byzantium, which is based on a play by Moira Buffini. Actresses Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan will play a mother-daughter vampire duo who move to a small British town and reveal their secret. Jones will play a teenager dying from leukemia whose struggle with mortality emotionally affects Ronan’s character making her question her own immortality. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor Djimon Hounsou has joined the cast of the film Paradise Lost, which is an adaptation of the classic 17th Century poem by John Milton. The story follows the fallen angel Lucifer (Bradley Cooper) who, after being cast out of Heaven, mounts an army that battles the forces of good led by his Archangel brother Michael (Benjamin Walker). Hounsou will play Abdiel, the Angel of Death. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!