Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The new CBS legal drama Made in Jersey is the first casualty of the fall season, getting pulled off the schedule after only two episodes airing. (Michael O’Connell and Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Gaumont International Television has signed a deal with ABC for a potential straight-to-series project based on the character Michael Bennett from best-selling author James Patterson. The project has received a script-to-13 episode commitment, which means ABC has ordered a script and if the network bigwigs like it, that should get a 13-episode order. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) has landed a role in the post-apocalyptic TNT drama pilot Last Ship. The project is based on a 1989 novel by William Brinkley and follows the crew of a naval destroyer who might be the only survivors left on the planet after a nuclear war. Dane will star as Captain Tom Chandler, a career Navy man and a loving father and husband who is never home as much as he’d like to be. Chandler is authoritative, decisive, fair, courageous and a born leader, respected and loved by men and women in his command. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, which focuses on three suburban couples affected by a murder. The cast includes Martin Henderson (Off the Map), Perrey Reeves (Entourage) and Nicole Ari Parker (Soul Food). (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Ralph Fiennes will star in the upcoming box office film called Grand Budapest Hotel from director Wes Anderson; but details on the film or Fiennes’ role have not be released yet. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actors Hayden Christensen and Nicolas Cage will star in the film called Outcast, which will be set in 10th Century China, following a warrior who attempts to redeem himself by saving a princess. (The Wrap and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER
First “Hitchcock” Trailer Online

Q&A SECTION (with Adam Bryant and Natalie Abrams from TV Guide and Michael Ausiello from TV Line)

Question: I’m worried that Castle has nowhere to take Beckett now that her mom’s murder has been solved. Make me feel better? — Valerie

ADAM: Stana Katic doesn’t think you should be worried. “There’s a certain amount of closure, but it doesn’t mean that the tale is done,” she says. In fact, Katic is finding it much more fun to play the “new” Beckett. “She’s more lethal because she’s thinking more clearly. She’s not running on emotion anymore,” she says. “She’s become more dangerous to the bad guys.” Sounds like Castle better stay in line!

Question: Will Emily get Revenge on Ashley for dating Daniel? — Mary

NATALIE: She certainly has a few tricks up her sleeve. “You’re going to find that Ashley is not a random friend for Emily,” creator Mike Kelley tells us. “There’s a reason that Emily chose her to be her entrée into the Hamptons world, so she’s got a few cards to play against Ashley should she choose to use them. I also think that there were true feelings involved between Emily and Daniel that she has to resolve in her head. She still has affection for him. Love on Daniel’s side for Emily is going to cause a problem between Daniel and Ashley.”

Question: Totally loving Revolution! How will Maggie’s death impact the show? —Wes

ADAM: As we have already seen, Maggie’s death hit pretty close to home for Charlie. However, look for that sadness and pain to ultimately harden her. “You’re going to see Charlie try to lose hope, try to be more like Miles,” executive producer David Rambo tells us. “If she thinks that this is what you have to do to survive, she’s going to try to do it.”

Question: When will Regina learn about her true origin on Once Upon a Time? — Sam

NATALIE: Oh, that Regina is the child promised to Rumplestiltskin? They haven’t filmed it yet, says Lana Parrilla. “At this point, Regina doesn’t have the knowledge that she is the child. There is a hint that he has held her as a baby and she’s kind of freaked-out.” Still, Regina has other things to worry about considering she needs to turn her attention to rescuing Emma and Snow. “There’s conflicting feelings around Emma and Mary Margaret being gone,” Parrilla says. “There’s celebratory moments typically, and then, ‘OMG, without them, I still don’t have Henry. I need them in order to have a relationship with Henry.'” So look for that to heat up now that Henry’s been left to live with Grandpa Charming.

Question: I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey and was wondering if you could give any scoop on Sybil/Branson or Mary/Matthew? — Caitlin

Ausiello: Them specifically, no. However, I do have some tantalizing teases about Season’s 3’s Christmas episode (known here in the States as the season finale). For one thing, “It’s not set at Christmas,” Hugh Bonneville tells us. “It goes out to Christmas, but it’s not set at Christmas. It has a very different flavor [and] lots of thrills and spills along the way.” Adds Brendan Coyle: “It’s very, very romantic and deeply heartbreaking. It’s very Downton.” If it’s so very Downton, it must end with a cliffhanger, yes? “I can’t give that away,” Bonneville insists. “[But] the end is phenomenal.”

That’s it. Enjoy!