Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The cable network Starz greenlit a new 10-episode scripted series called Marco Polo about the 13th century explorer that is being described as a fantastical martial arts epic chronicling the famous adventurer’s early years in the court of Kublai Khan. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

NBC is planning a contemporary spin on Count Dracula, but the series will be set in the 1890s, and is expected to be a “big, sweeping international soap opera that is young, sexy and supernatural”. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The CW is finalizing a deal for a pilot order to Arrow, an hour-long superhero drama based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow, coming from Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg. It is being reported that this version will set Green Arrow in a new world with an original story that is not based on the comics; but there is no word on whether actor Justin Hartley, who played Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in Smallville, will star. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

A&E is developing a TV series prequel to Psycho called Bates Motel. The series would focus on giving viewers “an intimate understanding of how Norman Bates’ psyche developed from his childhood through his teen years.” (IGN)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Chris Diamantopoulos (the upcoming box office film The Three Stooges, The Kennedys and Starter Wife) has joined the cast the comedy flick called The Black Marks that will star Kurt Russell as a retired motorcycle daredevil with a penchant for snatching art. Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel also star. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actress Kate Winslet is attached to star in the Kenneth Branagh film called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society that is a love story set in London and the Channel Islands after WWII. Winslet will play a magazine columnist who enters into a correspondence with a man from Guernsey. She soon learns how the islanders used a book group during the war as cover to outwit their German occupiers; so captivated by their stories, she travels there herself. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) is set to join the upcoming thriller Kill Your Darlings that is set to star Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise). The story is about the relationship between Allen Ginsberg (Radcliffe), Jack Kerouac and Lucien Carr which eventually ends up with them caught up in murder. Olsen will play Edie Parker, the wealthy art-student girlfriend of Jack Kerouac who will be played by Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire). (Variety and First Showing)

Q&A SECTION (with Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: I am dying over these Vampire Diaries photos right now and don’t know what to think, especially Caroline and Klaus. I need scoop immediately anything on #TVD. — @Gval21

Gonzalez: You should be dying — of excitement. Because as hinted in last night’s episode — and teased to Spoiler Room by Julie Plec — it sounds like it’s on. “I have a feeling that Klaus ultimately is equally capable of indulging in love and sabotaging love, just like Damon is. But there is certainly going to be an object of his interest very soon,” she told us Wednesday night.

Question: I’ve been reading a lot online recently about a new character coming to The Vampire Diaries, Samantha Gilbert, and that she’s supposedly a new love interest for Damon?? As a hardcore Delena shipper, please SAY IT ISN’T SO!!! — Sophie

Gonzalez: It isn’t so. “She’s not for Damon,” EP Julie Plec assures. “We’ll meet her in the past, not the present. She’s somebody that we meet in not present-day Mystic Falls.” All better, Soph?

Question: Anything about TVD‘s Stefan/Katherine? Thanks! — Rose

Gonzalez: Though she’s currently on the down low, I’d expect to see Katherine very soon. “She’s gone underground, and so it will be a surprise when we see Katherine again. As Katherine tends to do, she’ll pop up sometime and throw everyone for a loop,” says Plec.

Question: Drop Dead Diva won’t be back on for a while, but I’m dying for some scoopage. Please help! S.U.S. (Send Us Scoop!) — Dani

Gonzalez: There’s a new angel on the block. Well, there will be. The show is currently casting the role of Luke, a young-at-heart, confident “after-life coach” who will act as Jane’s new guardian angel. Casting intel describes him as having the “charm of Jack Nicholson and the soul of Russell Brand” with a little Vince Vaughn and a touch of Christian Slater thrown in. Well, that’s specific. Meanwhile, the show is also casting someone — presumably for one of the show’s cases of the week. They’re looking for someone to play a charming, intelligent — and possibly murderous — socialite named Emily Horn who comes to Jane needing help.

Question: I know everyone probably is asking you for Castle-Beckett spoilers, but I want some Ryan and Esposito scoop. What do you have for me about my favorite Bromance? — Jen Jones

Gonzalez: There are no specific plans as of yet, according to EP Andrew Marlowe. “That stuff is living toward the back half of the season. But it’s something we have our eye on.”

Question: I’m hearing amazing things about the Castle noir episode. DISH! — Tonya

Gonzalez: The episode, airing in February, will find Castle and Beckett coming across the journal of an investigator from the 1940s, and as Stana Katic told the press at the People’s Choice Awards, “Castle dreams it into reality where all of our characters dig up kind of film noir stereotypes — Castle become the P.I. I become a gangsta’s mom. [Ryan and Espocito] are thugs… Everybody looks absolutely phenomenal in that episode.” But you might not recognize everyone. I hear Castle’s mom (Susan Sullivan) actually goes blonde for the occasion! More importantly, though, the episode supposedly has a pretty epic moment. (You didn’t think it was gonna just be fancy costumes and sets, right?) “I think the best version of the Castle-Beckett story happens in that episode,” Katic teased.

Question: I’d love something on Snow and Charming from Once Upon a Time. They are easily my favorite TV couple. Talk about a twist on the will-they-won’t-they formula. So GOOD! — Suzanna

Gonzalez: I agree on all counts! Especially after I heard what Ginnifer Goodwin had to say about the “dark” revelations coming our way. “There are some big surprises. I mean, there are surprises that have led me to throw scripts at walls,” she says. “We’re going to learn a lot more about Snow and the things that we learn are not pretty. There is a dark side. We jump back in time so much; in the past you will learn about her wretched history. Yes, there are some wretched parts of her history. There will be some pretty MASSIVE obstacles put between Snow White and Prince Charming.”

That’s it. Enjoy!