Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today and yesterday:

TELEVISION

It has been confirmed that actor Vince Vaughn will join Colin Farrell in the second season of HBO’s True Detective. The story this time around will revolve around three cops and career criminal who navigate a web of conspiracy after a murder. Farrell will play Ray Velcoro, a compromised detective whose allegiances are torn between his masters in a corrupt police department and the mobster who owns him. Meanwhile, Vaughn will play Frank Semyon, a man in danger of losing his criminal empire when his move into legitimate enterprise is upended by the murder of a business partner. (Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

Syfy has given a 13-episode straight-to-order series for an alien drama tentatively called Hunters that will be based on the Whitley Strieber best-selling novel “Alien Hunter” that chronicles the disappearance of a decorated Philadelphia cop’s wife, which leads him to a secret government unit assembled to hunt a group of ruthless terrorists; shadowy figures that may or may not be from this world. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

STREAMING SERIES

Hulu has ordered a direct-to-series order for 11/22/63 that is based on the novel written by Stephen King and executive produced by the former and J.J. Abrams. This thriller is about high school English teacher Jake Epping, who travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The USA Network has given a pilot order to an English-language adaptation of Telemundo’s blockbuster 2011 telenovela La Reina del Sur – to be called The Queen Of The South that centers on Teresa Mendoza, who is forced to go on the run and seek refuge in America when her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico. There is she teams with an unlikely figure from her past to bring down the leader of the very drug trafficking ring that has her on the run. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Spike TV is working on a sci-fi project called Red Mars, based on the Kim Stanley Robinson best-selling trilogy, which 0is about the colonization and terraforming transformation of Mars into a place where humans can sustainably live. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Xavier Samuel (The Twilight Saga) will star in the new contemporized version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The story will be set in present day Los Angeles and told from the perspective of Adam/The Monster (Samuel), who is created by a husband and wife team of eccentric scientists only to be met with nothing but aggression and violence from the world around him. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

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

Question: Any more info on the new mythology on Castle and how it will shape or affect Season 7 overall? —Rachael

Ausiello: As you can imagine, Monday’s season opener sets up a very provocative, perplexing puzzle to be solved — and only a random piece or two are nudged into place by the time the hour ends, leaving Beckett decidedly uneasy. Suffice it to say, any obvious theories you’ve seen batted around out there over the summer (very likely) missed the mark. Color us definitely intrigued by the who, why and how of Rick’s vanishing act.

Question: Do we know yet who Sally Pressman is playing on Once Upon a Time? She has to be Elsa and Anna’s mom, right? —Deirdre

Ausiello: Maybe. Maybe not. The Once creators were mum on Pressman’s role at the L.A. premiere party, largely because she’s part of “a storyline that has never been introduced,” Eddy Kitsis explained. Added Adam Horowitz: “Out of context, we could tell you her [character’s] name, but it might confuse you. You’d be like, ‘So…?’”

Question: On Once Upon a Time, will Queen Elsa get a chance to bond much with another magical, emotionally closed off, formerly lonely woman who just got her family back (AKA Emma Swan)? —Robert

Ausiello: Elsa will actually play a very important role in Emma’s life, especially with regard to magic. Explains Jennifer Morrison: “Elsa’s definitely helpful in terms of her starting to figure out ways to focus her power, control her power and try to use it as effectively as possible.”

Question: How will Olivia & Co. deal with Harrison’s death on Scandal? —Sarah

Ausiello: The original Gladiator’s untimely demise will have a profound impact on Abby. “It affects her in way I never saw coming,” teases her portrayer, Darby Stanchfield. “It affects her deeply, profoundly. You will see in the very first scene how Abby is different.”

Question: Anything on Scandal? —Anet

Ausiello: It may be a while before we find out how Huck’s family reunion went; he was last seen ringing the doorbell at his ex’s house, after which she opened the door. Per Guillermo Diaz, “We’re starting to shoot Episode 6 and we haven’t really touched on it that much. But our show is all about flashbacks, so I’m sure at some point Shonda [Rhimes] is going to flash back [to that moment] and we’re going to find out what [happened].”

Question: I’m not going to be able to handle the break after Outlander‘s finale. Give me something to tide me over until next year? –Molly

Ausiello: First, pace yourself. You’ve got one episode to savor before the midseason hiatus. Second, if you haven’t read the books, this next bit is a spoiler. Proceed accordingly. Third, how about a little information on Season 2? The Starz series is casting Brianna Randall, whom fans of Diana Gabaldon’s novels know is Jamie and Claire’s 20-year-old daughter. Bree – who was raised in Boston and who calls Frank Randall her dad — is smart, strong-minded, practical, funny and stunningly beautiful (like her folks).

Question: Got anything on Sleepy Hollow? —Liz

Ausiello: Lyndie Greenwood tells TVLine that Jenny won’t be enamored of Sheriff Leena Reyes (Sakina Jaffrey from House of Cards), who debuts next week. A former Sleepy Hollow lawwoman, Reyes was around when Abbie and Jenny’s crazy mom was alive, but “Jenny doesn’t remember her, so when she finds out Reyes was around [before], she feels extremely betrayed,” the actress says. “She gets her guard up pretty quickly. She’s not a fan.” BONUS SCOOP: I hear that when Matt Barr’s Nick Hawley arrives on the scene, he’ll have a past connection to one Mills sister… but be interested in the other.

Question: I just discovered Beauty and the Beast and I’m dying to know what will happen in the new season! —Lauriane

Ausiello: Cat will still be with the NYPD when the show returns at midseason, but Tess will no longer be her partner — at least not as of Episode 5. That’s when the show will introduce Detective Harris, a relatively green cop in his late 20s who is quite chuffed to work alongside the infamous Cat.

Question: Will Laurel and Felicity become friends in the new season of Arrow? —Meg

Ausiello: Not only will Felicity and now-in-the-know Laurel be friendly this season, but our favorite geek girl will also get on great with fleeting beau Barry Allen’s No. 1 Central City gal, during the Arrow/The Flash crossover (in Episodes 8). “[Iris West] does have an opinion on Felicity, and it’s all good. She’s a fan of Felicity,” The Flash’s Candice Patton tells us. “I think viewers will be very excited to see Barry stuck between these two women. It’s so good.”

Question: Any last-minute spoilers before the Castle premiere? — Michelle

Adam: Although it’s not built as a two-parter like last year’s season-opener, don’t expect to get all the answers about who caused Castle’s car accident or why by the end of the premiere. But do be prepared for the answers that are immediately available to make every character — even Beckett — seriously evaluate how much they really know (or believe in) Castle. The only silver lining: Those immediate answers don’t necessarily paint the full picture. But will the damage already be done?

Question: I need some more Homeland scoop! Are Quinn and Carrie still working together?

Adam: Although the first episode does pair the former colleagues on a mission, they hardly see eye-to-eye. (In other words, any sparks between them aren’t necessarily romantic ones.) Could that have something to do with the fact that Quinn turned down an offer to come work on Carrie’s team? Let’s just say Quinn disapproves of Carrie’s decision-making in both her professional and personal life.

Question: I loved the Gotham pilot, particularly the portrayal of the Penguin! What else can you tell me about him? — Philip

Adam: While the other villains introduced in the pilot will take some time to become wicked, Penguin is already well on his way. (RIP, Mr. Fisherman!) “The second he gets out of that water he has immediately clicked into how he’s going to get back at the people who have harmed him and how he’s never going to let it happen again,” Robin Lord Taylor says. “That’s his transformation. It’s a rebirth in a way.” That said, look for the introduction of Carol Kane as his mother to shed light on why he’s so messed-up — and perhaps change the way viewers see him. “With any ‘bad guy,’ once you understand where they came from, it’s harder to condemn them as just an evil person,” Taylor says. “I don’t know if [viewers will] necessarily be agreeing with him or hoping that he gets what he wants, but there’s at least understanding why he’s doing what he’s doing.”

Question: Got any Once Upon a Time scoop? I can’t wait to see Queen Elsa really freeze Storybrooke! — Tina

Adam: The Ice Queen will be a stranger in a strange land, but she will recognize at least one familiar face when she hits town. Unfortunately, it will bring up painful memories, which sets her on a mission to find answers about a significant object from her past — at all costs. Also, as was reported earlier, Elsa’s anxieties will lead to the creation of a snow monster, and let’s just say it’s nothing like the cuddly, summer-lovin’ Olaf!

Question: I’m so glad that Jenny survived the car crash on Sleepy Hollow. What’s next for her? — Trisha

Adam: Jenny can’t seem to catch a break! On Monday’s all-new episode, the former mental patient will once again find herself behind bars after an unfortunate run-in with the new sheriff. And since Abbie is unable to explain the truth behind what Jenny is up to (you know, taking down the Horseman of Death), Abbie has no choice but to let her sister take one for the team. Hopefully, Abbie won’t take another decade to get Jenny out this time.

Question: I think I’m sticking with Red Band Society! What else can you tell me about it? — Valerie

Adam: Now that we’ve met the major players, it’s time to start meeting their families. And the relatives won’t waste much time adding to the drama. “Emma is going to have a sister, Dr. McAndrew has a story about his brother and Leo’s got an older brother — and someone will like him,” executive producer Margaret Nagle told us. Hmm, could that perhaps related to this little nugget about Kara? “She’s going to fall in love, but he’s not going to love her back so that’s going to be hard for her,” Nagle says.

That’s it. Enjoy!