Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Annie Potts (Designing Women) and actor Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) will pay a visit to the new ABC Family drama The Fosters. Potts will appear as Sharon, Stef’s (series lead Teri Polo) colorful and talkative mother who comes into town for a visit with the family while Collins comes to town as Stewart, Lena’s (series lead Sherri Saum) her old-school father who has a unique knack for diplomatically dealing with their big brood. The next new episode of The Fosters will air on ABC Family on July 1 at 9 PM. (ET Online)

Actor Eric Winter (The Mentalist and Moonlight) has joined the cast of the upcoming Lifetime drama Witches of East End, playing Dash, the JFK Jr.-esque fiancé of Freya Beauchamp (Jenna Dewan-Tatum’s reluctant witch. Winter is taking over the role from actor Patrick Heusinger (Royal Pains). The series will center on Joanna Beauchamp (Julia Ormond) and her two adult daughters Freya (Dewan-Tatum) and Ingrid (Rachel Boston), both of whom unknowingly are their family’s next generation of witches. An official airdate for this new Lifetime drama has yet to be scheduled. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FX is adding another limited series to its development slate. The cable network is developing Mohicans, an adaptation of the James Fenimore Cooper classic novel “The Last of the Mohicans”. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Chris Zylka (The Secret Circle and The Amazing Spider-Man) has joined the cast of the HBO drama pilot called The Leftovers. The project is based on the novel by Tom Perrotta that
takes place as the Rapture happens — but not quite like it’s supposed to, telling the story of the people who didn’t make the cut and a world that will never be the same. Justin Theroux will play Kevin Garvey, the police chief and father of two who’s trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy in a world that is starting to completely reject the notion. Amy Brenneman will play Laurie Garvey, a woman who has left her entire life behind to join a mysterious cult and cuts off ties with her husband and children. Zylka will play Tom, Laurie and Tom’s estranged son who has recently dropped out of college and taken refuge with a mysterious guru. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Scott Speedman (Last Resort) has joined the cast of the HBO drama pilot from Ryan Murphy called Open that explores human sexuality and relationships. Speedman will play Jonathan, a handsome sports marketing executive. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Cameron Diaz will take over for Sandra Bullock in the new film adaptation of Annie in the role of Miss Hannigan. Young actress Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts Of The Southern Wild) will play the lead role with Jamie Foxx as Daddy Warbucks. (Nikki Finke at Deadline)

Actor Joe Anderson (Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 2) has joined the upcoming box office film Hercules, playing a marathon runner who serves as a scout for Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) and his mercenaries, reporting on their enemies’ movements. The cast of the film also Ian McShane, John Hurt, Rufus Sewell and Joseph Fiennes. (Empire and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!