Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor David Bradley (from the Harry Potter franchise and who will be seen in tonight’s Doctor Who-inspired made-for-TV movie An Adventure in Space and Time) will take over for legendary actor John Hurt (who, ironically, will be seen in tomorrow’s 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who) in the FX drama series The Strain that is based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy from Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. The drama will tell the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll from House of Cards), the head of the Center 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. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself. Bradley will play Professor Abraham Setrakian, a holocaust survivor who immigrated to the United States after World War II and now runs a pawn shop in Spanish Harlem; he may be the only one with answers – if anyone will listen. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Elisabeth Rohm (Law & Order) and actor J.R. Ramirez (Emily Owens, M.D.) have joined the cast of the upcoming Starz drama series called Power that is about a wealthy New York City nightclub owner named James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), who wants to build an empire and turn the club into a Fortune 500 business. But there’s just one problem: He is living a double life. When he is not in the club, he is the kingpin of the most lucrative drug network in New York for a very high-level clientele. Rohm will play Cynthia, who works for Vogue magazine and is working with Ghost and his club to host a blowout party for her boss. Meanwhile, Ramirez will play Julio, second in command to Tommy (Joseph Sikora). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Rachel Blanchard (Clueless and 7th Heaven) has landed a recurring role in the upcoming FX small screen adaptation of Fargo, based on the 1996 film. She will play Kitty Nygaard, sister-in-law to Lester Nygaard (actor Martin Freeman from Sherlock and The Hobbit films). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Marley Shelton (Eleventh Hour) will star in the Lifetime dystopian-future drama pilot called The Lottery that is set in a world where women have stopped having children, threatening extinction of the human race. When 100 embryos are successfully fertilized, a national lottery is held to decide the surrogates. The proposed series will center on Dr. Alison Scott (to be played by Shelton), the brilliant fertility specialist whose breakthrough in fertilizing 100 viable eggs may have life-and-death consequences she could not have anticipated. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Noah Bean (Nikita) will join his Nikita co-star Aaron Stanford in the Syfy drama pilot 12 Monkeys, which is based on the 1995 film. No details are available on what part Bean will play in the pilot, though. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Chris Fedak, co-creator of the fan favorite series Chuck, is developing a new horror project for NBC. The project is called The Woods, but very little is known about the project except this:  a young woman returns to the mysterious wooded mansion her sister disappeared from when they were girls, only to learn that the sinister beings that took her sister are still there. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Eloise Mumford (The River and the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Christmas with Holly) will appear in the much-buzzed-about flick Fifty Shades of Grey, playing Anastasia Steele’s (Dakota Johnson) roommate. (AJ Marechal at Variety)

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Question: When is Patrick getting back to Revenge? – Hugo

Mitovich: There’s a strong chance he’ll be back by this season’s 13th episode (if not much sooner), because that when the ABC soap will be introducing (drumroll, please) Patrick’s ruggedly handsome biological father, Jimmy. In that same episode, we’ll also meet two other pivotal characters — Conrad’s mysterious first wife, Stevie, and Sara’s blue-collar mom Loretta (who is not pleased her daughter has re-started a romance with Daniel).

Question: What can you hint about the upcoming episodes of Scandal? –Lindsey

Mitovich: Here’s a tiny something to get you through the next two weeks: Already I have teased the “wow” of Episode 9, airing Dec. 5. But the actual midseason finale teeing up the winter break? It’s even wow-ier. “Episode 10, which sort of frames this first chapter of this third season, is bananas. Banananananas,” Bellamy Young told me. “I mean, the writers blow my mind every time I sit down, they raise their own game. I don’t know how they do it.” And while unable to spill details, Young said that the gasp-worthy moments on hand for that pre-hiatus hour come in the following flavors: “Sad, sexy, happy and horrifying.”

Question: I know Revolution just had its midseason finale, but I’m hoping you’ll have some scoop on the rest of the season. In fact, I have to ask: What is going on with Monroe and Charlie? Please tell me that is happening. It’s so wrong, but so intriguing! –Katie

Mitovich: That “wrong” bit of chemistry “is something that we’ve seen, as well,” exec producer Rockne S. O’Bannon admits, “and we really think is really quite interesting. So there’s a potential for that.” But as of right now, just potential. “I’d hate to say that it couldn’t happen, but obviously there’s a lot of things stacked against it,” O’Bannon notes. “There’s a creepiness factor to it that is on the one hand creepy, and on the other hand is maybe worth exploring. But the sparks between them, that low-level spark, is definitely something we’re very cognizant of.”

Question: Will Constable Bob be returning on Justified? –Jennifer

Mitovich: As a matter of fact, yes, Patton Oswalt is confirmed for a Season 5 encore!

Question: On Beauty and the Beast, what the heck is in Vincent and Tori’s DNA that make them attract each other like that? Is this, like, a primal desire of a beast to “mate”? Oh please say no! –Madge

Mitovich: I brought your Q to EP Brad Kern, and he explained, “Tori and Vincent amplify each other’s powers and emotions — and that’s an attraction we’re going to continue to play.”

Question: Please keep it coming with the Beauty and the Beast scoop! With the winter hiatus coming around, I need a little something –Larissa

Mitovich: The CW drama is casting the recurring role of Sam, a brilliant and charming archeologist who has been mysteriously affected by something that happened to him over the past six years.

Question: I’m just getting into The Tomorrow People – is there early word if it is going to be renewed for another season? –Donald

Mitovich: The CW freshman is a keeper for now, which is the most anyone can ask for at this very early date. On the scoop front, later this season you’ll be meeting an assassin-for-hire who is half-badass, half-vulnerable – and for a very good, probably extremely spoilery reason.

Question: Do you have anything on Once Upon a Time that isn’t related to one ‘ship or another? –Lauren

Mitovich: Wrap your magic bean around this one: For Episode 14, the show is casting the possibly recurring role of a teenage African-American female who comes across as skittish and timid, having had her naturally curious and determined spirit tempered by years of crippling fear. That said, when put to the test, this lass can reach within and summon the strength to be a hero. Ready, set, speculate!

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!!