Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actors Dan Futterman (Judging Amy) and Roger Bart (Desperate Housewives) have been cast in recurring roles on the upcoming 6-episode USA Network drama Political Animals, that will take a look at a fictional ex-first family, centering on Elaine Barrish (Sigourney Weaver), the divorced former First Lady and newly appointed Secretary of State who throws herself into the job after recovering from the dissolution of her marriage and losing the presidential nomination. She attempts to keep her family together, while simultaneously dealing with crises of the State Department and hungry DC journalist Susan Berg (Carla Gugino) bent on destroying her career. Futterman will play Alex Davies, Bureau Chief of the Washington Journal and love interest to Susan Berg. Bart will play Barry Harris, new President Garcetti’s Chief Of Staff, a weasely guy who politely despises Elaine and loves cutting her out of policy decisions. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Bree Turner has been promoted to series regular on Grimm when it returns for its second season next year. She plays Rosalee Calvert, the sister of the spice shop owner who was tragically murdered and whose death was investigated by Det. Burkhardt (series star David Giuntoli). (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actress Laura Vandervoort (Smallville) will guest star in an upcoming episode of White Collar, which is back with new episodes starting on July 10 on the USA Network. She will play a New York City socialite who stands to receive a large life insurance payout when her wealthy husband dies, but little else seems to be known about her character as of yet. Actor Michael Weston (House) will also show up on the series, playing David Cook, an overconfident and elusive criminal mastermind who Peter has been trying to put away since the beginning of his FBI career. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line and Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Emily Blunt will join Tom Cruise in the action film All You Need is Kill, where they will both play soldiers fighting an epic battle against aliens. (Vulture)

Actor Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class) is in talks to join the espionage thriller called Paranoia for which Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman are in advanced negotiations to star. Till would portray a friend and co-worker of Liam Hemsworth’s character in the film, which is set in the world of dueling telco giants. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope) has joined Evan Peters (American Horror Story) and Juno Temple (Year One) in the 1970’s coming-of-age film called Truck Stop. Lahti will play Peg, the relationship-scarred owner of a truck stop. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actor T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy) has joined the cast of the Jackie Robinson biopic called 42, where he will play Harold Parrott, the Dodgers traveling secretary who has to deal with the repercussions of housing once Robinson joins the team. Chadwick Boseman (Lincoln Heights and Persons Unknown) and Harrison Ford also star. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actress Julianne Moore is in talks to play Carrie’s mother (Chloe Moretz from Kick-Ass and Let Me In) in the latest remake of the Stephen King classic novel. (Bloody Disgusting and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!