Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Showtime has renewed its horror drama Penny Dreadful or a 10-episode second season. (Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

ONLINE SERIES DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Jenessa Grant (the ill-fated Aylee on Reign) will be a series regular on the Amazon drama pilot Hysteria that centers on Dr. Logan Harlow (Mena Suvari), a bright but socially awkward neurologist/psychiatrist at the University of Texas Medical School who travels to her hometown of Austin, TX to investigate a mysterious epidemic among high school girls that might be spreading through technology. Grant will play Cassie Yates, the star dancer of the high school team who will transform into a powerful force. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

TV MINI-SERIES NEWS

The History Channel is developing a three-night, six-part mini-series called Sons of Liberty that will follow a defiant and radical group of young men, including Sam Adams, John Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock and Joseph Warren as they band together in secrecy to spark a revolution and make America a nation. Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia), Henry Thomas (E.T.) and Michael Raymond-James (Once Upon a Time) will play Sam Adams, John Adams and Revere, respectively, while Rafe Spall (Prometheus) and Ryan Eggold (The Blacklist) will fill the roles of Hancock and Warren. Marton Csokas (Rogue) will play Thomas Gage, the general who is sent to handle the unrest in Boston, while Dean Norris (Breaking Bad and Under the Dome) has been cast as Benjamin Franklin. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Tim Roth (Lie to Me and the upcoming box office film Grace Of Monaco), will appear as George Wallace in the upcoming film Selma that is about Martin Luther King’s 1965 landmark voting rights campaign. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Actor Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) will appear alongside Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) and Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) in the upcoming adaptation of the classic story about Tarzan. Hounsou will play the role of Chief Mbonga. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Actress Naomi Watts has joined the cast of the Divergent franchise (based on the Veronica Roth books), playing the key role of Evelyn, the leader of the Factionless, which were featured in the first film. (Heat Vision)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

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

Question: Anything on Falling Skies? — Deon

Natalie: Tom and Anne’s daughter Alexis has gone through some very interesting changes — including suddenly looking like a Daenerys Targaryen (from Game of Thrones) knock-off. The human-alien hybrid says she believes in peace, but can she really be trusted? Also, with Alexis separated from her parents when the season begins, Tom will look to a past ally for help being reunited with his family.

Question: I need some Sleepy Hollow scoop, ASAP! — Carlton

Natalie: Remember when the producers said that the team would create a creature to combat Headless? Well, that creature now has a name! The new monster, which will be built using Headless’ head, will be called “The Kindred,” according to executive producer Roberto Orci. “It’s sort of a doppelganger of someone you might’ve seen,” he says of the creation. “Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.”

Question: Barbie survives on Under the Dome, right? — Steven

Natalie: Given that the last time we saw Barbie he was thisclose to being hanged in front of the residents of Chester’s Mill, things aren’t looking great. But, just for you, I will officially cross him off the list of those dying in the premiere. However, given the new problems headed Barbie’s way — you might find a clue here — he might wish he was dead.

Question: Is Jane really pregnant on Rizzoli & Isles? — Harrison

Natalie: Yup, and she’s trying to keep it a secret. But that won’t last too long when someone in her inner circle figures out that she’s with child and confirms it with Maura. “Jane is still figuring out how to handle this,” executive producer Jan Nash says. “But she’s definitely pregnant. We didn’t want to throw that out there and not go through with it. Will she keep [the baby]? That’s a different question.”

Question: Should I be worried about Mike’s new secretary on Suits? — Tate

Natalie: Well, executive producer Aaron Korsh does call Amy “his Donna.” The two have a very easygoing chemistry — and already rib each other on lunch orders — but it doesn’t sound like she even has to try to be a third wheel. “There are quite a few bumps for [Mike and Rachel],” Korsh says, ominously adding that he has “decided for sure” whether or not the pair — whom he had wanted to break up last season — will split this year.

Question: So happy Beauty and the Beast is back! But what’s going to happen now that Cat’s been kidnapped? — Maria

Natalie: Why worry? We all know how resourceful Detective Chandler is! Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Vincent returns from being on the lam to look for her. And it sounds like her kidnapping will have long-reaching consequences. “We find out who the guys that have taken her are early in the episode, but they’re not who they seem,” Kristin Kreuk teases. “The episode [sets] the groundwork for what the show will be more like in Season 3.”

Question: Do you have any intel on if Hayden Panettiere’s pregnancy will be written into Nashville next season? —Brooke

Ausiello: I’m told Callie Khouri and her fellow writers are debating this issue as we speak (many of them heard the news around the same time as the general public, which means they’ve only had a week or so to weigh the pros and cons). My guess? Hayden’s baby bump will be incorporated into the show.

Question: Will Rachel Bilson’s pregnancy be written into the fourth season of Hart of Dixie? —Julianne

Ausiello: Unlike the uncertainty surrounding Nashville’s Juliette, I hear Dixie producers have made a decision about whether or not to impregnate Zoe. Unfortunately, they’re not sharing it with anyone. A show source would only confirm that “Rachel will appear in all upcoming episodes.”

Question: This hiatus is killing me. Got any Teen Wolf spoilers? Preferably anything about Stiles? —Stephanie

Ausiello: You’re in luck, Stephanie, because the June 23 premiere is full of Stiles. Not only does he get a chance to play bad ass, which is always fun, but he also has a few intense moments with both of the ladies in his life — one more so than the other. Needless to say, Stiles’ love life won’t become any less complicated in Season 4.

Question: Will Matthew Goode be returning to The Good Wife next season? Finn started growing on me by the finale. —Jennifer

Ausiello: Robert and Michelle King apparently share your enthusiasm, because I can exclusively confirm that Goode will be back in Season 6 as a full-fledged series regular.

Question: Covert Affairs’ Auggie has gotten a lot of promotions in past seasons that haven’t lasted – any promotions this year, and if so, will they stick? –Rhiannon

Ausiello: “No promotions so far this year,” Christopher Gorham answered when we chatted him up at Upfronts, “and I’d be surprised if we see any more of that, because really, Auggie loves what he does, and nothing else really fits.”

Question: What is gonna be the status of Barry and Felicity’s relationship on The Flash and Arrow? –Rachelle

Ausiello: It is hinted in the Flash premiere that Barry’s trip to Starling City (and/or a certain someone he met there!) indeed made an impression on him. But we also see almost immediately that the CSI whiz shares a quite complicated “relationship” with Iris West, the police detective’s daughter he “grew up with” after his mother was murdered/his father arrested. Obviously, the question will be: When will those two ever be on the same page regarding what they feel beyond a “brother/sister” vibe?

Question: Will we get to see Once Upon a Time‘s “Rumbelle” as a married couple, seeing them in their home instead if the shop all the time? Will they have a honeymoon, eventually? Will we see some happy times? –Intarr

Ausiello: Funny you should bust out the H-word. Because in previewing Season 4 — where Rumple will continue to conceal the secret about the true dagger, as well as revisit whatever complicated history he has with that ice queen, Elsa — series co-creator Adam Horowitz said, “There is a list of things that are brewing for Belle and Rumple to deal with, but before they do, let’s let them enjoy their honeymoon.” (Surely he was speaking figuratively, so calm down, everyone.)

Question: Do you have anything on Switched at Birth? —Nikki

Ausiello: Bay and Emmett’s night of passion will be followed by a whole mess of complications — does boyfriend Tank ring a bell? — in the June 16 season opener. And that’s too bad because Emmett could really use Bay’s support when things go from bad to worse with tormentor Matthew.

Question: How will Callie react when she meets her biological father on The Fosters? —Marissa

Ausiello: Better question: How will you react upon seeing Dawson’s Creek‘s Kerr Smith playing dad to a teenager? Also, what makes you think Callie wants to meet her father when the show returns on June 16?

That’s it. Enjoy!