Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Percy Daggs III (Veronica Mars) will guest star in an episode of the upcoming CW series iZombie that is executive produced by Rob Thomas (the man behind Veronica Mars). The series follows Olivia “Liv” Moore (actress Rose McIver from Once Upon a Time), a medical resident whose life is changed forever when she attends a party that turns into a zombie feeding frenzy. Daggs will play Sean Taylor, a wealthy genius who lives in Seattle. When he gets a job offer in Silicon Valley, he plans to move his wife Penny and 6-year-old stepdaughter Anna there, but then finds himself in a tough custody battle with Anna’s father, Everett. But the problem is seemingly solved when Everett is killed. Veronica Mars fans already know that VM alum Ryann Hansen will also appear in the show as well. iZombie will premiere midseason. (Liz Raftery at TV Guide)

Actress Lyndsy Fonseca (How I Met Your Mother and Nikita) is joining the cast of the upcoming ABC mid-season drama Agent Carter that follows the heroine (series lead Hayley Atwell) in 1946 as she works for the Strategic Scientific Reserve while secretly taking on secret missions with Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper). Fonseca will play Angie Martinelli, an aspiring actress who befriends Peggy. Agent Carter will debut on ABC in January. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Peter Jacobson (House) has joined the cast of the USA Network drama pilot Colony that is about life in Los Angeles after a mysterious “foreign” occupation. Jacobson will play the recurring role of Alan Snyder, the savvy proxy governor of occupied Los Angeles who is under growing pressure to crush the resistance movement. Colony is already set to star Josh Holloway (Lost), Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

ABC is teaming with Jenny Bicks (The Big C) to adapt the Karen Russell best-selling book St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves that centers on mysterious and attractive twins Claudette and Felix, 16, who, when they show up at the elite St. Lucy’s boarding school, change the school and the tiny town of Green Hills, Maine, in ways no one could have imagined. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

ABC is looking to adapt the British drama Silk as its next legal drama. The chronicles the journey of unorthodox and uncompromising attorney Martha Costello. What she lacks in polish she makes up for in her unstoppable blue-collar determination. Martha is constantly in battle not only for her own clients, but also for her own survival at the world’s top law firm, the secretive and elitist Crown & Royce. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

CBS is working with NCIS: Los Angeles showrunner Shane Brennan on a new as yet untitled drama that centers on four agents who go undercover as the perfect family for an operation that has them rooting out dangerous criminals in the suburbs while becoming an unlikely family at the same time. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Nathalie Emmanuel (Daenerys’ hand maiden Game of Thrones) has joined the cast of the upcoming sequel The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. She will play Harriet, the leader of another group of maze runners. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

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

Question: I saw on Twitter that you got the White Collar final season premiere. Anything you could share? — Katie H.

Mitovich: I can share that the final-season storyline, as laid out in the first episode (airing Nov. 6), is pretty damn nifty – a specific, final gambit with enormous stakes all involved, including on the personal front. The highly unexpected return of Ross McCall’s Keller only adds to the mercuric, unpredictable nature of this ambitious con. Also: Great fun in Episode 2, where Peter and Neal must pose as father and son; damn if Tim DeKay doesn’t sell it. (That said, someone should have reminded me that plowing through the first two episodes would mean I’m already one-third through the farewell run!)

Question: Anything about Elizabeth Burke on White Collar? –Wahiba

Mitovich: She is still very much D.C.-bound as the season opens, with her and Peter dedicated to managing the medium-distance relationship. Until something rather unanticipated happens.

Question: Anything about Castle Episode 10? We know that is Christmas-related and is written by Chad and Dara Creasey, but do you have other news? –Nancy

Mitovich: A source tells me that in that episode, against the backdrop of the most wonderful time of the year, Esposito and Lanie will “navigate a defining moment in their relationship.” I hear goosebumps forming out there!

Question: Will The Flash‘s Iris Allen hail from the 31st Century like she does in the comic books? –Michael

Mitovich: I am unable to speak to that specifically, but series lead Grant Gustin confirmed during our visit to the set, “Time travel will be a part of the show” — and seemingly at Barry’s own, inadvertent doing. “The first time it happens, I think it’s an accident, and that’s going to be fun to play with,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that.”

Question: Do you have anything that is coming up for The Flash? – Andy

Mitovich: If you fear that Dr. Wells learned nothing from the Ghostbusters, you would be correct. “There will be more characters [going] into the metahuman prison” located within S.T.A.R. Labs, Gustin says, “and there’s a possibility things could go wrong with that.” Sigh, no one listens to William Atherton.

Question: Do you have any scoop on either The Vampire Diaries or Haven? –lilslim

Mitovich: Haven it is! If this photo that I shared with you recently didn’t already tip you off, let me spell it out for you: Laura Mennell’s CDC scientist (debuting on Halloween) will have a bit of a romance with Dwight. But any sparks might be doused should Dwight discover a secret the doc is hiding…. (Reminder: Haven now airs Fridays at 7/6c.)

Question: How will The Flash play into the Arrow plot and vice versa? —Lindsay

Mitovich: If you’re talking about the Episodes 8, two-night crossover, Stephen Amell shared that one of the biggest moments for the Arrow actually occurs during the Flash hour. The nature of that scene, however, remains a well-guarded secret. “I can’t tell you anything about it other than it relates to Central City — and when I saw it in the Flash script, it ended up being actually quite gratifying,” he shared. “[Director of photography] Glen Winter said it was his favorite thing I’ve been involved in so far on the show.”

Question: Once Upon a Time‘s Regina and Robin are said to be soul mates, and as we know soul mates tend to have a deep connection. Will that connection be explored? –Ana

Mitovich: First, Regina needs to recover from the thief’s declaration of love, which despite the smile she met it with is perhaps the last thing she needed to hear. “It complicates everything,” Lana Parrilla notes. “It’s easy if he says, ‘I’m an honorable man. I have to stay with my wife.’ As hard as that is to hear, it’s also what she admires about him. But when he says, ‘I love you and I know I should be doing the right thing but my heart lies elsewhere,’ even though Mary Margaret and Henry say, ‘This is something to celebrate,’ Regina doesn’t see it that way. She finds it harder to walk away from him knowing what he feels about her.”

Question: Loved, loved this week’s Supernatural, can you tell me what’s next? –Mae

Mitovich: The next episode, “Paper Moon,” brings back Kate the werewolf for a specific, thematic reason, says writer Adam Glass. “Her experience, as great Monster of the Week episodes always do, reflects basically where the boys are at emotionally right now. So it will be them looking at themselves in the mirror through Kate and what’s happening in her experience.” Explaining the decision to revisit the lady lycanthrope, Glass says that when viewers last saw Kate, in Season 8’s “Bitten,” “It was like The Incredible Hulk, which was pretty cool, as she’s walking off. And I think everybody in the writers room was like, ‘What happened to Kate? What is her next move?’ So the idea of bringing her back is just tremendous.”

Question: Any new spoilers for Beauty and the Beast Episode 6? –Stephanie

Mitovich: For that episode, titled “Chasing Ghosts,” the CW series is seeking Asian actresses in their 40s/50s to play Cat’s two aunts. Lily is the no-nonsense one out to get the 411 on her niece’s rugged roommate Vincent, while Claire is the more sensitive “family peacekeeper.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Lifetime is moving forward with a six-one hour limited series Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles based on the network’s Lizzie Borden Took An Ax movie. Chirstina Ricci and Clea Duvall will reprise their roles (Ricci as Lizzie and Clea and Lizzie’s sister Emma) from the movie. This limited series will focus on numerous people close to Lizzie who start to mysterious die under brutal and strange circumstances; and, of course, Lizzie is suspected by legendary Pinkerton detective Charlie Siringo (actor Cole Hauser from Damages). The limited series will air sometime next year. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Kelly McCreary (Emily Owens, M.D.) has been promoted as a series regular on Grey’s Anatomy where she plays Dr. Maggie Price, Meredith’s half-sister. (Variety Staff)

Actor John Allen Nelson (Privileged) will have a recurring role on Red Band Society, playing Emma’s (series regular Ciara Bravo) father Jon Chota. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Gloria Reuben (Falling Skies and ER) will have a recurring role in the USA Network cyber-crime drama pilot Mr. Robot that centers on a young programmer, Elliot (Rami Malek from The Twilight Saga franchise), who suffers from a debilitating anti-social disorder and decides that he can only connect to people by hacking them. He will find himself in the intersection between a cybersecurity firm he works for and the underworld organizations recruiting him to bring down corporate America. Reuben will play Elliot’s psychologist Krista, who is trying her best to break through their frustratingly silent sessions together. (The Deadline Team)

FOX is developing a drama based on the legendary story of Frankenstein with executive producers Howard Gordon (24 and Homeland) and Rand Ravich (Life and Crisis). The project will center on Adam Tremble, a morally corrupt FBI agent who is given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead. Now younger and stronger, Tremble will have to choose between his old temptations and his new sense of purpose, dealing with threats beyond the FBI’s capabilities. All the while navigating the complicated relationship with his “creators”: an antisocial Internet billionaire and his bio-engineer twin sister. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

ABC is developing a contemporary take on The Phantom of the Opera to be overseen by Marc Cherry (the man behind Desperate Housewives. Set in the modern-day music business, the plot involves a ghost who haunts an opera house and helps a budding singer before jealousy gets the better of him. (Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

FOX is also developing a drama called Riverdale that will focus on the iconic comic book characters Archie, Betty and Veronica and Josie and the Pussycats. Set in the present, the series offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends, exploring the surreality of small-town life, the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Into the Woods Featurette

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Morena Baccarin (Homeland and Firefly) will have a recurring role in Gotham, playing Dr. Leslie Thompkins, a gifted and dedicated physician who was a friend of the late Thomas and Martha Wayne. She is determined to use her skills to aid Gotham’s most in need, which currently means working at the newly opened Arkham Asylum’s Home for the Criminally Insane. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

FOX has given their new medical drama Red Band Society an order of four more scripts. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Kevin Rahm (Mad Men and Desperate Housewives) will have a recurring role on Bates Motel, playing Bob Paris, the wealthy, self-involved and gregarious owner of an elite hunting club who grew up with Romero (series regular Nestor Carbonell). The pair now have a strained relationship, but they keep their mutual dislike under wraps. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Amanda Righetti (The Mentalist) will star alongside Josh Holloway (Lost) and Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead and Prison Break) in the USA Network drama pilot Colony that comes from Lost executive producer Carlton Cuse. The pilot is a family drama/thriller about life in Los Angeles after a mysterious “foreign” occupation. She will play Madeline, younger sister of Katie (Callies) and the mother of a diabetic child in need of insulin. She appeals to Katie for help but will do what it takes to protect her child and family in need. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

The Avengers: Age of Ultron

Q&A SECTION (with Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Do you have anything on Laurel and Oliver on Arrow? I’m dying here! —Micaela

Ausiello: How about something on Ray-Felicity-Oliver instead? Felicity will announce her new gig working for Ray at the start of Wednesday’s episode, triggering a passive-aggressive reaction from Ollie. Meanwhile, if you were wondering, like us, whether there would be any residual awkwardness between Felicity and Oliver, given what transpired in the season premiere, Amell shares, “I’ve always strived [to make] sure [Arrow] relationships are adult relationships. You can kiss someone and you can profess something to them, but that doesn’t mean you avoid eye contact with them. There is a bigger goal and a much bigger circumstance at play. So, [while] I’m sure things are awkward, they’ve got work to do.”

Question: Any Once Upon a Time scoop about ‘Rumbelle’? —Serena

Ausiello: Sunday’s reveal that Rumple is after the Sorcerer’s hat and all the magic it contains certainly doesn’t bode well for the couple’s future. “He definitely loves her and wants to be with her, but the hat existed long before she came along and will probably exist long after she’s gone,” muses Robert Carlyle. “This quest is so massive for him. This addiction is huge. [It] drives Rumplestiltskin more than love.”

Question: Any Supernatural scoop? —Frances

Ausiello: Now that the bromance between Dean and Crowley appears to be over, the King of Hell is going through an identity crisis of sorts. “The journey’s a little different than last year,” Mark Sheppard explains. “Last year, the human element was the problem. I still think there’s a residual issue there. [Now] Crowley’s re-evaluating his position as King of Hell and his friendship with Dean. But I know there’s a lot of affection there between the two of them, whether Dean agrees to it or not.”

Question: I’d love some info on Felicia Day’s Supernatural return. —Estée

Ausiello: Day’s Season 10 comeback — which the actress is currently shooting — will present “a Charlie we haven’t seen before,” executive producer Robert Singer teases. Adds Day: “She comes back from Oz, and her experiences there have changed her.”

Question: Any NCIS spoilers about Tony’s love life? Will any sparks fly between him and his old partner from Philly or the FBI agent he’s partnered with for a case? – Connie

Ausiello: Tony and Leia Pendergast seem mutually keen on each other. And sparks will also fly between DiNozzo’s old Philly PD partner (guest star Marisol Nichols) and McGee? As Sean Murray shared, “She’s slightly insulting to McGee when he first meets her, so he’s not sure how he feels about this woman.”

Question: The Flash. Obsessed. Scoop me. —Gerald

Ausiello: Now that Joe is helping Barry in his quest to clear his dad’s name, “Things start to be revealed pretty quickly after Episode 3,” Grant Gustin says. “Joe is spending a lot of time looking into things that Barry wouldn’t necessarily think to look into.” Meanwhile, Barry will remain in the dark about his other father figure, Dr. Harrison Wells, and his secret agenda. “Barry has moments where he doesn’t necessarily trust him, but there’s no real, like, questioning his character too much from,” says the actor. “He’s finding flaws in him, so he’s kind of fallen off the pedestal a little bit. But there’s no real like, ‘What’s this guy up to?’”

Question: I need Reign scoop! I’m dying over here with the promo of Mary being pregnant! I’m a big fan of spoilers, and one I found hinted at a possible rape storyline and the potential that that’s where her pregnancy comes from. Can you confirm or deny? — Julia

Ausiello: I can’t confirm or deny, Julia, but I can tell you that the p-word will continue to weigh heavily on both Mary and Francis in the weeks to come. “Becoming pregnant and having a child is still one of Mary’s top priorities in Season 2,” executive producer Laurie McCarthy says. “At that time, one of the most important responsibilities for any queen was to produce an heir.” As for how that heir is produced, I suppose anything is possible.

Question: Any Reign scoop? —Charlotte

Ausiello: Episode 10 will introduce Conde’s brother, Antoine, whose lust for power — specifically power over France — might just outweigh his loyalty to Francis. In addition to being “charming” and “sexy,” he’s also described as a “bad influence,” so it’s safe to assume he’ll gain a few allies in his quest for the crown.

Question: I’m considering breaking my Gotham habit if things don’t improve quickly — unless you give me a reason to keep watching. —Nick

Ausiello: I suggest sticking around through at least through Episode 7 (airing Nov. 11). Word on the street says it’s all kinds of fantastic — and there’s a massive twist ending, to boot.

Question: Hey, my question is about Hawley on Sleepy Hollow. Does the show plan on making him a romantic interest for Jenny or Abbie? —Melissa

Ausiello: Hey, we asked Lyndie Greenwood the same thing, and while she maintains she’s “in the dark” about which Mills sister Hawley ultimately will pursue, she’s not worried, either way. “Abbie and Jenny have fought so hard for [their] relationship,” she says. “They have had way bigger problems than some dude coming into their life and upsetting things.” Still, expect at least a little sisterly static. “Of course, it’s an issue,” Greenwood previews.

Question: Do you have any scoop on what’s to come in Season 4 of Grimm? —Jordan

Ausiello: Remember that spell Adalind performed to de-Grimm Nick? It’s going to have long-reaching — and potentially game-changing — ramifications in the first half of the season.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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