Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Jason George (Mistresses and Grey’s Anatomy) has joined the cast of the new upcoming Lifetime drama Witches of East End in the recurring role of Adam, the love interest for Ingrid (Rachel Boston from American Dreams and In Plain Sight), one of two daughters of Joanna Beauchamp (Julia Ormond), who learn they are from a long line of witches. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line)

Actress Summer Glau (Firefly, The Sarah Connor Chronicles and The Cape) has joined the cast of The CW series Arrow for its second season. She will have the recurring role of Isabel Rochev, the VP of Acquisitions for Steelmoor International, a company looking to take over Queen Consolidated; and an adversary to Oliver aka The Hood aka Arrow. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Lisa Edelstein (House) will make a multi-episode appearance on Castle this fall, playing Rachel McCord, a tough and highly-skilled Federal Investigator whose appearance plays a vital role in Beckett’s decisions about her future. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg) will make a guest appearance on Royal Pains in the August 28. She will play Lacy, a reformed party girl who believes life can still be a party — even if you’re not partying. When Hank and Evan’s father Eddie calls upon her for some family advice, she offers surprising insight into the Lawson clan. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings franchise) has joined the cast of the FX drama pilot The Strain that is based on the vampire novel trilogy by director Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. The pilot will tell the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll from House of Cards), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. Details on what character Astin will play, though, are being kept under wraps. (The Deadline Team)

A one-hour drama at FOX has been put into development based on the Alan Moore/Kevin O’Neill graphic novel League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Neither men are involved in the project, however; and no other details are available at this time. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Janine Turner (Northern Exposure) has joined the cast of the upcoming supernatural thriller flick Solace that is set to star Anthony Hopkins as retired doctor and FBI psychic John Clancy, who’s tasked with helping hunt down a killer (Colin Farrell). Turner will play Elizabeth Clancy, wife of Hopkins’ character. Sharon Lawrence, Abbie Cornish and Jeffrey Dean Morgan will star in the film. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Jeff Bridges Faces Down A Dragon In The Seventh Son Trailer

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

Question: I’m going to miss Ashley on Revenge! Have we already seen the last of her? — Kate

NATALIE: No, Ashley will definitely be back, at least for the season premiere, in which she pops up at one of Emily’s big parties. Look for her to share an awkward encounter with her ex Daniel, just as he seems to be as in love with Emily as he ever was. Meanwhile, Jack will be hitting the bottle extra-hard now that he’s a single dad and knows the truth about Emily.

Question: Love the scoop on Nashville. Got any other tidbits about what’s next for Rayna and Deacon? — Kristy

ADAM: Both might find dates where they least expect them. We hear that the show is casting for a hot, no-nonsense attorney who, while trying to convince Deacon to sue Rayna, decides to let him into her legal briefs. Meanwhile, Rayna will confront the new head of her record label, whom she suspects of rushing the release of her new album to capitalize on the publicity of her car accident. His response? Let’s go to dinner!

Question: How will Elena deal with college on The Vampire Diaries? — Jonah

NATALIE: Elena and Caroline will find college to be much more difficult than they anticipated when they stumble into a class led by a hot, but not-so-nice professor who knows more about Mystic Falls than he’s letting on. Does it scare anyone else that his true passion is research that he believes will help humanity?

Question: What’s coming up on Longmire? — Anna

NATALIE: When Cady gets into a nasty car accident that lands her in the hospital, Walt and Vic do everything in their power to get the bottom of it, but it’s actually Branch who suspects foul play closer to home.

Question: I still can’t believe that Peter was arrested for murder on White Collar! Where will the case stand when the show returns? — Chad

ADAM: Although Peter will be back at work at the FBI, he’ll still have to appear in court for a grand-jury hearing scheduled to decide whether to indict him. He thinks he’s doing the right thing by testifying on his own behalf, but damning new evidence might make him regret his decision.

Question: I am so thrilled that Falling Skies wound up renewed! Any scoop to add to my celebration? –Chelsea

Ausiello: Try this casting item on for size: Jennifer Ferrin (The Following) guest-stars in the July 21 episode…. as Tom’s wife. Also, are you eagle-eyed enough to spy Doug Jones in the same episode out of his Cochise get-up?

Question: Any NCIS tidbits to share on the new season? —Cheryl

Ausiello: There’s some serious WTF?! buzz surrounding the CBS smash’s Sept. 24 premiere, and here’s why: The episode is titled “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.” (Trend alert: This is the third instance in recent memory of an hour-long drama using this expression as an episode title, following Scandal and The Good Wife.) Maybe the title is a nod to the insane workload dropped on the desk of the I.T. department’s newest hire Ozzy, a towering figure who’s tasked with digging up information on an intruder and tracking down a potential hacker.

Question: Any news on whether or not Lana Parrilla will be on Once Upon A Time panel at Comic-Con? –Callie

Ausiello: Though Parrilla was not among the first batch of RSVPs, I have just learned that thanks to a bit of “hocus pocus,” she will materialize at the panel after all.

Question: You’ve been conspicuously quiet about Castle Season 6. —Charlie

Ausiello: The show is casting a handful of new detectives who I’m guessing will be Beckett’s new D.C.-based colleagues in the U.S. Attorney General’s office. One of them — a character named Matt, who’s intelligent and driven — will recur, so either Kate’s putting down roots in the nation’s capital or this guy’s going to follow her back to the Big Apple or…

Question: Are the rumors true about Once Upon a Time introducing Tinker Bell? —Bonnie

Ausiello: I’ll answer that question by describing to you the new character of Violet and letting you draw your own conclusions. How about that? Vi is a mischievous twentysomething whose penchant for troublemaking belies the heart of a true survivor. (Interesting side note, especially for Hook if she is Tinkerbell: She never lets a slight go unpunished!)

Question: Thanks for the Nashville scoop last week. —Tara

Ausiello: We almost lost Rayna! It’s true. We’ll learn in the season premiere that she nearly perished in the finale’s cheesetacular car accident, but the silver lining is the near-death experience sent her album sales soaring. Jump ahead several months to the opener and her career’s still on an upswing and she’s the apple in the eye of her label’s new top exec, the very good looking and incredibly charming Jeff. You thinking what I’m thinking? ‘Cause I’m thinking these two crazy kids are going to mix in a little pleasure with their business

Question: Any scoop on Hart of Dixie? —Cornelia

Ausiello: The premiere, titled “Southern Comfort Zone,” will introduce two new recurring characters. One is Joel, a quintessential New York artist who passes through Bluebell to get some inspiration for his latest book and becomes enamored with the small town’s charms. The other’s Lynly, Lavon’s spoiled, clueless cousin who arrives to town in the hopes of mending her broken heart. News flash: Girlfriend’s not as dumb as she lets on.

Question: Production of Season 5 of Vampire Diaries officially started this week. I realize it’s a tad early but is there a way we can find out how much Delena sexiness is shippers can expect in the premiere!? —Ana

Ausiello: Can’t help you on the Delena front, but there’s buzz that the show is casting a male doctor who knows alllllll of Damon’s secrets.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today, few though they are:

TELEVISION

Scottish actor Sam Heughan has been cast in the lead role of the upcoming Starz TV series adaptation of the popular Diana Gabaldon best-selling book series Outlander. He will play lead character Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous young Scottish warrior. Heughan has appeared in the Hallmark Channel made-for-TV movie A Princess for Christmas alongside Merlin alum Katie McGrath and the PBS mini-series Any Human Heart. (Starz Public Relations)

BOX OFFICE MOVIES

Actress Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and actor Martin Sheen (The West Wing are set to star in the box office movie called – of all things – Trash that is being adapted from the Andy Mulligan novel. Sheen will play Father Juilliard while Mara will play Olivia, an NGO worker, in a tale about three poverty-stricken boys who discover something unusual, mysterious and dangerous in a city dump in the Third World-set story. (The Deadline Team)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Keri Russell and Jennifer Coolidge charm in first ‘Austenland’ trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Welcome back to reality after that nice, long holiday weekend, right?!

Here are the news items for the holiday weekend and today:

TELEVISION

Actor Chris Carmack (The O.C.) and siblings Lennon and Maisy Stella have been promoted to full-time series regulars on Nashville for its upcoming second season on ABC. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

INTERNATIONAL MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE NEWS

A “one-off” movie called Legacy has been ordered by the BBC Two that will star actress Romola Garai (The Hour) and Charlie Cox (Boardwalk Empire) in a story that will be set in 1970s London during the height of the Cold War when a young spy discovers the disturbing truth about his father’s complex past. (Nancy Tartaglione at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies for this past holiday weekend (estimates based on information gathered as of Sunday by Deadline)

1. Despicable Me 2 – 82.5 million
2. The Lone Ranger – 29.4 million
3. The Heat – 25 million
4. Monsters University – 19.5 million
5. World War Z – 18.2 million
6. White House Down – 13.5 million
7. Man of Steel – 11.4 million
8. Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain – 10.1 million
9. This Is The End – 5.8 million
10. Now You See Me – 2.7 million

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: Kristen Bell Goes Poolside in Trailer for Indie ‘The Lifeguard’

NOTE: The young guy who is the “love interest” for Kristen’s character is David Lambert, who plays Brandon on the ABC Family drama The Fosters.

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

Question: Will Nick’s precarious situation be resolved in the first five minutes of the new season by a rescue, or will he actually be taking an unscheduled trip to Europe? I noticed that Renard was last seen watching his brother leave the hotel, with the implication that he was going to follow him, but I’m not sure whether that was intentional. — Isaac

Sandra: Don’t expect a quick resolution in the case of Nick’s zombiefication at all. In fact, Kouf tells me, “It’s going to take a couple of scripts to get Nick back into shape. Gotta say, he’s having a tough time. It hasn’t been easy on him,” he says. He adds that it will take a huge group effort to help Nick, who will definitely be a changed man after his experience. “Like with any near-death experience or medical issue that someone deals with, it kind of changes their lives. You have a new perspective on things, so Nick is going to have to deal with the residual effects,” he teases.

Question: I have been a faithful Grimm watcher since the first episode! Since season 2, you have converted me to a major Juliett/Renard shipper. Please tell me there is still hope all of us J/R shippers in season 3! — Megan

Sandra: “No plans but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen,” Kouf reports. “We allow the characters to kind of develop in a natural way. As we create the characters and we work them through the story, sometimes, suddenly someone has a different need that we didn’t know they had. And we allow ourselves to play those needs out.” In sum, he says, “You just never know, and we don’t always necessarily know. The characters speak to us. We try to let them behave and tell us what they want.”

Question: Any scoop on what’s up with Hank this season on Grimm? — Gail

Sandra: “He’s been kind of single for a while,” Kouf says, “so we plan to get him hooked up again.” Now accepting casting suggestions!

Question: Teen Wolf! PLEASE!! — Lauren

Sandra: Scott’s guilt over Derek’s “death” is going to weigh heavily on him in episode 6, resulting in what Tyler Posey calls his favorite episode of the season. “It shows a side of Scott you’ve never seen before and it was a lot of fun to play and very emotional and everyone on set was crying,” he said. “So get ready with those tissues.” Yes, guys, get ready for a full-on Scott break down. But who will be there for him during this tough time? Well, his bestie of course! “Stiles steps up and becomes the man and shows Scott the right way to go.”

Question: Any Teen Wolf scoop for me? Maybe something on the midseason finale. — Jenna

Sandra: Here’s what The Posey told me about the midseason finale, which sounds like a doozy. “It’s going to be the biggest thing in Teen Wolf history so far,” he says. “And Scott is going to finally show why he’s the lead of the show.”

Question: I need Downton scoop. PLEASE! — Marie

Sandra: How about some scoop on Gary Carr’s Jack Ross, who we got a first peek at in some new pictures that surfaced this week! When I caught up with executive producer Gareth Neame, he dished on the jazz musician’s addition and what we’d be seeing between Ross and cousin Rose (Lily James), who meet in a London club. “We know she’s a bit of a wild child, right? She’s a bit rebellious, and she likes the boyfriends,” he teased.

Question: Would love some Orphan Black scoop! — Shelly

Sandra: While possible Emmy contender Tatiana Maslany and Co. don’t report back for season 2 until fall, there’s one thing she’s almost certain of: Helena is for sure dead and gone. “I think that’s the best thing,” she says. “If you invest in a character and then they’re gone, that’s real life. That’s what happens. I think it raises the stakes for the series. You see these clones as fallible and human — even Helena who seems to defy humanity can die…We don’t know what’s going to happen to any of the clones now. They’re all up for grabs now.”

Question: I’m SO sad Orphan Black is gone. PLEASE tell me you have info on S2? — Jenny

Sandra: While Maslany can’t say how many new clones will be introduced next year (because she doesn’t know), when asked how many more she thinks she can take on, she jokes, “17!” “I’m just excited to see what they bring forward,” she says. “I have no clue what kind of characters they’re going to create or what were going to explore. I trust [the exec producers] implicitly and I’m just kinda like, ‘Whatever you guys want to throw at me, I’ll try to defend that character as much as I can and play with it and have fun.’ I’m really up for whatever’s coming.” And while she has yet to think about what accents she might want to practice over hiatus, she says, “There are loads of accents I’d be interested in doing and lots that would terrify me as well.” My humble suggestion? Let’s meet an Aussie!

Question: Any information on the Switched at Birth ‘what-if’ episode? — Jordan

Sandra: Airing tonight (July 8), the episode, which explores what would have happened if Regina had told the hospital about the switch when the girls were still young, is pretty fun, but will also leave you fuming at alt-John and alt-Kathryn. Why? Let’s just say their actions have huge consequences in the alt-world.

Question: I need some White Collar scoop!!! — Lizbeth

Sandra: Here’s some five-alarm scoop: Thought Magic Mike was the last time we’d see Matt Bomer in a fireman’s outfit? Think again. I hear he’ll suit up again around the sixth episode of the fifth season. Bonus scoop: The show is currently casting a bit part as a crisis negotiator. This person’s task at hand? Talking MOZZI off the ledge of a building.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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