Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Anna Chlumsky (Veep), Broadway actor Raul Esparza and TV vet Roger Bart (Revenge and Political Animals) will all appear in the same upcoming episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in the fall. Chlumsky will play the author of a best-selling erotic novel (think “50 Shades of Grey”) who accuses a high-profile talk show host (Bart) of a brutal rape. However, the SVU squad gets suspicious when they discover her account of the rape mimics the chapters in her book. The squad, along with the DA’s office (Esparza), also struggles to keep the case from turning into a media frenzy. The long-running series will be back on NBC on September 26. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actor turned director Peter Horton (thirtysomething) will appear in an upcoming episode of CSI: NY this October, playing a California-based FBI agent who once dated Jo (Sela Ward). While visiting New York, his character will reconnect with Jo and help her and Mac (Gary Sinise) with a case that concludes in the City by the Bay. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Irish actor Colin O’Donoghue (The Tudors and The Rite) will appear in the potentially recurring role of Captain Hook on Once Upon a Time. He will first appear in the fourth episode of the new season that is set to start on September 30 on ABC. (TV Overmind)

Actress Annie Parisse (Person of Interest) has joined the cast of the FOX mid-season drama The Following that will star Kevin Bacon as ex-FBI agent Ryan Hardy, who leads the search to catch diabolical serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) who has created a cult of serial killers. Parisse will play Debra Parker, an FBI specialist brought in to lead the investigation of Joe Carroll and his followers. She succeeds actress Jeananne Goossen (Alcatraz) in the pilot as the role has been reworked and recast. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Syfy has been busy this week, finalizing a deal with filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and TV producer Marti Noxon (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) and handing out a pilot order to Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies) and veteran producer Robert Halmi, Sr. The first project: Proof (Shyamalan and Noxon) which will follow what happens to the son of a billionaire tech genius after the tragic accident that causes the death of his parents, offering a large reward for anyone who can find proof of life after death. Meanwhile, the Halmi-Fuller project is an adaptation of the John Christopher cult 1969 young adult sci-fi novel The Lotus Caves that will be called High Moon. The story behind this pilot is a future where the countries of Earth have established colonies to mine the Moon’s resources. When a new life form is discovered, chaos erupts as various factions race to uncover and exploit its powerful secrets. (The Futon Critic and Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Diane Kruger (National Treasure) will play Sarah Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s step-mother in the next film about the 16th US President called The Green Blade Rises. This version tells the story of America’s greatest hero, the hardships that shaped him, the tragedy that marked him forever and the two women who guided him to immortality. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actress Octavia Spencer (The Help) has joined the cast of the romantic comedy called Baggage Claim that will star Paula Patton as a flight attendant who is the oldest unmarried gal in her family, who sets her sights on finding a groom before her sister gets hitched in 30 days. (Vulture and Dark Horizons)

Actor Jason Clarke (Lawless and The Chicago Code) has joined the cast of the upcoming thriller called White House Down. He will play Stenz, the leader of the mercenaries who break into the Executive Mansion. Among the cast are Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx and Maggie Gyllenhaal. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Director Shana Faete (who directed last year’s Country Strong) is in talks to direct a remake the classic 80’s film Endless Love, which was based on the novel of the same name by Scott Spencer that made Brooke Shields a star. (The Hollywood Reporter and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Caroline Dhavernas (Wonderfalls and Off the Map) has joined the cast of the upcoming NBC thriller series Hannibal based on the legendary character Hannibal Lechter from the Thomas Harris novels. She will play Dr. Alana “Al” Bloom, a psychiatric protégé of Hannibal Lecter’s who teaches psychology at Georgetown University and is consulting with the FBI on criminal profiling when she introduces her mentor Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne). Hannibal is slated to air mid-season and is executive produced by Bryan Fuller, who created Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line)

Actor Elyes Gabel (Game of Thrones) has joined one of the new roles on Body of Proof. He will play Det. Adam Schaeffer, a newly minted detective and partner to Det. Tommy Sullivan (newly announced series regular Mark Valley of Human Target fame). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Jay Hernandez (Six Degrees) has joined the cast of this fall’s new ABC drama Last Resort. He will appear as Paul Wells, a handsome and seemingly nice-guy charmer who tests the loyalty of Scott Speedman’s character’s estranged wife in the series (to be played by Jessy Schram from Falling Skies). Hernandez will appear in an 8-episode arc. Last Resort will debut on September 27. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

TV TRAILER

New “Doctor Who” Promo Art, Trailer

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) will play the villain role of Malekith in the Thor sequel. Malekith is a super-villain in the Marvel Universe, who is the ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim. In the comics, he clashed mightily with Thor, and will go up against the hammer-wielding son of Odin in the film. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actress-Director Drew Barrymore will direct the end-of-the-world drama called The End. It is being reported that the film will focus on only a few people and have an uplifting and humanistic tone as this group reconciles their fate on Earth’s last day. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actress Keira Knightley is the front runner, while Felicity Jones (Like Crazy) and Evangeline Lily (Lost) are in the mix for the role of Cathy Muller, the future wife-to-be of Jack Ryan in the upcoming reboot of the Jack Ryan character this time to be played by Chris Pine (Star Trek). (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actor Cillian Murphy (The Dark Knight and Inception) will star in the six-part BBC drama called Peaky Blinders. He will star as Tommy, the most ruthless brother in a family of gangsters. The mini-series will be set in 1919 Birmingham where Tommy’s family rules the lawless post-war slum neighborhoods as returning soldiers, revolutionaries and criminals fight for survival. (Nancy Tartaglione at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Ruben Santiago Hudson (Castle) and Athena Karkanis (Lost Girl) have been cast in the AMC drama pilot called Low Winter Sun, which is based on the 2006 British mini-series. The project is a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption that starts with the murder of a cop by fellow Detroit detective Frank Agnew (Mark Strong). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Watch with Kristin at E! Online)

Heather: Revenge scoop, please?!

Watch with Kristin: Another crime is about to go down in the Hamptons, (Shocking, we know.) The ABC hit is currently casting a detective—a gruff one, who is looking into a recent missing persons case, and an anchor, who is reporting on a tragic crime. It also seems like we’ll be seeing more of Nolan’s professional life this season as we’ll be meeting a funky and cool tech genius. But wait, who goes missing?!

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Shiri Appleby, best known for her work on the cult favorite TV series Roswell, will have an arc on the second season of the HBO comedy Girls, playing Natalie, a new love interest for Hannah’s (Lena Dunham) lover Adam Driver (Adam Sackler), who broke up with Hannah in the first season finale. Natalie is described as a beautiful and charming New Yorker who adores Adam despite his wild sexual tendencies. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Ben Feldman (who got an Emmy nom for his work on Mad Men) will be returning to his role of guardian angel Fred on Drop Dead Diva season finale set for September 9. The official description for that episode is: “Viewers get a look into what Fred’s been up to since he left Earth. Now we find him back in Heaven in his old position of processing the new arrivals and naive Fred finds himself in a predicament similar to the one that brought him to Earth in the first place”. (Lynette Rice at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Matt Lauria (Friday Night Lights) will be joining the cast of Parenthood for a major recurring role. He will play a returning soldier from Afghanistan who bonds with fellow war vet Zeek (Craig T. Nelson). (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Aisha Hinds (187 Detroit) will have a six-episode recurring role on the mid-season mystery/thriller drama series Cult that will air on The CW (she is featured in the pilot). She will play Roselyn Sakelik, a celebrated LAPD homicide detective, who is very different, and far more dangerous, than anyone first thinks she is. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Gary Dourdan (CSI) will have a recurring role in the ABC soap Mistresses – that is set to debut in May. The new series is about four women, April (Rochelle Aytes), Josslyn (Jes Macallan), Katie (Yunjin Kim) and Josslyn’s older sister Sarah (Alyssa Milano). He will play a detective who will cause trouble for Karen and Elizabeth Grey (Penelope Ann Miller). Actor Matt Del Negro (Rizzoli & Isles) will also recur as a co-worker of Karen’s who has a crush on her. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Twilight star Jackson Rathbone will appear in an upcoming episode of White Collar, playing Nate Osbourne, a volatile ex-con who will steal anything for the love of his life. He is one half of a Bonnie and Clyde duo who break out of jail and into the middle of an event where Neal (Matt Bomer) and Sara (Hilarie Burton) are present. Actress Jessica McNamee (The Vow) will plays Penny, his better half. (Huff Post TV)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

BBC America will co-produce BBC One’s remake of the classic Alexandre Dumas novel The Musketeers. The new drama will be written by Adrian Hodges (My Week With Marilyn) and will retain the 17th-century setting. There will be 10 one-hour episodes set for 2014. Among Hodges’ other credits are the TV shows Survivors and Primeval. (Tim Molloy at The Wrap)

Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner, the executive producers on House, are working with FOX on a new potential drama that will take place on a naval aircraft carrier. (Lacey Rose at The Hollywood Reporter)

CONDOLENCES

Prolific author Gore Vidal truly passed away yesterday due to complications of pneumonia. He was 86. (The LA Times and E! Online)

ME: Rest in Peace, Mr. Vidal. Condolences to his family, friends and his worldwide readers.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Writer Laura Harrington (The American) will adapt the fantasy-adventure novel Quicksilver by Sam Osman for the big screen. The story recounts the tale of three disparate middle school students who are confronted by the truth of their bloodlines and their prophesied role as humanity’s only defense against an alien occupation force. They must figure out who in their dreary English village is an alien foe and who may be a secret ally. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Margo Martindale (Justified) has joined the cast of the upcoming film called August: Osage County. She will play Mattie Fae Aiken, the wife of Charles Aiken (to be played by Chris Cooper) and sister to Violet Weston (to be played by Meryl Streep). Julia Roberts will play Violet’s daughter Barbara; Abigail Breslin as Barbara’s daughter and Juliette Lewis. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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