Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for yesterday and today:

TELEVISION

TNT has given the drama series Legends a second season order. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Krysten Ritter (Veronica Mars) has landed the lead role in the Marvel straight-to-series drama Jessica Jones that will air on Netflix. The story centers on Jessica Jones, a superhero suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, which leads to her hanging up her costume and opening her own detective agency, where she ends up helping people and assisting other superheroes. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice) is supposedly in talks to join the second season of the FX drama Fargo that will be set in Sioux Falls in 1979, focusing on some younger iterations of the characters from the first season. An official air has yet to be announced. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor Bradley James (Merlin) has landed the title role in the Lifetime straight-to-series drama Damien based on the classic horror film The Omen. The six-episode series will follow the adult life of Damien Thorn (James), the mysterious child from the 1976 film who has grown up, seemingly unaware of the satanic forces around him. Haunted by his past, Damien must now come to terms with his true destiny — that he is the Antichrist, the most feared man throughout the ages. The series is slated to premiere in 2015. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Steven Weber (Wings and Murder In the First) will not only show up as President Thomas Jefferson in Sleepy Hollow on FOX and he will recur in the upcoming CW series iZombie, where he will play the CEO of an energy drink company. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line and Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Jason Ralph (the upcoming NBC series Aquarius) and actress Sosie Bacon (The Closer) will appear in the upcoming Syfy supernatural drama The Magicians, which is an adaptation of the Lev Grossman best-selling book series that follows a group of 20-somethings studying magic in New York. Ralph will star as the brilliant-yet-depressed Quentin, while Bacon will play the shy-yet-powerful Alice. (Andy Swift at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Warner Bros. has announced the stars of their planned super-villain tentpole film Suicide Squad, including Jared Leto as The Joker; Will Smith as Deadshot; Tom Hardy as Rick Flagg; Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn; Jai Courtney as Boomerang and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress. The story centers on the team of super villains who are given a chance at redemption by the government. The catch: Their mission will probably kill them all. Rumor has it that Jesse Eisenberg is in talks to play Lex Luthor in the film. (Justin Kroll at Variety)

Actress Nazanin Boniadi (Homeland) will star opposite Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) in the upcoming remake of the classic film Ben-Hur. She will play Esther. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

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

Question: Haven‘s winter finale is upon us — how much wine will we need to get through it? –Dawn

Mitovich: How much have you got…? A lot goes down in Friday’s episode, given the “mother” of a bombshell that Charlotte dropped on Audrey. When all is said and done — and following the reveal of one of the coolest Troubles ever plus a highly entertaining exchange of words between Audrey and Mara – no fewer than two major characters will elect to make a tremendous sacrifice in the name of Haven’s greater good. And the very final scene? Creeeeepy.

Question: Any scoop on what’s coming up for Once Upon a Time‘s Hook? –Stef

Mitovich: I am hearing that, as perhaps hinted by Swan’s conspicuous reaction to last Sunday’s liplock, Hook’s heartlessness will indeed impact Emma – and that Belle will get pulled into his predicament, as things get ever dicier. Bonus Scoop: For Episode 15, Once is casting the possibly recurring role of a king whose crown was hard-won, and the fight to keep it has taken a toll. He is also described as “handsome, though not refined, and highly protective of his family.”

Question: Pretty Little Liars is one of my favorite shows. Do you have anything on that? –Sabreen

Mitovich: How about some scoop on Mona’s ghostly return to Rosewood this coming Tuesday? The late, great Ms. Vanderwaal has a few big surprises for Alison up her sleeve, though it might not be what fans are expecting. “The real surprises are the ones she offers to Alison, who finally gets to see things through Mona’s eyes,” executive producer Marlene King reveals.

Bonus Scoop: We’ll get to see more of the past through Mona’s eyes in 2015. Says King, “She will offer us, through flashbacks, more insight into her life… and her death.”

Question: Did Arrow‘s Marc Guggenheim mention anything about under what context Laurel is going to be wearing the Canary outfit? –Kathleen

Mitovich: The EP wouldn’t go into specifics, but allowed, “Something happens in the midseason finale (airing Dec. 10) that makes it necessary. Which is not to say [Laurel wears it] in the midseason finale, but the impetus [for the costume] will happen then.”

Question: Everyone always asks about Arrow‘s Oliver and Felicity, which is fine, but I would rather get some spoilers on Quentin or Roy or Thea for once. –Nikki

Mitovich: Hey, I’m all about spreading the love, and with regards to Ms. Queen, I’ve got EP Marc Guggenheim saying, “There’s a lot of Thea and Felicity coming in the back half of the season. They’ll be sharing quite a bit of screen time in 2015, and it’s very interesting.”

Question: Is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2B premiering a week earlier now that Agent Carter is premiering with two episodes? –Matt C.

Mitovich: Excellent question, but no, S.H.I.E.L.D. will still resume its run on March 3.

Question: CBS’ Scorpion is my favorite new show! Do you have some scoop, preferably about Toby and Happy? –Daisy

Mitovich: “That’s a very complicated relationship,” EP Nick Santora tells us. “Toby is a student of human behavior and emotion, and Happy’s an expert at hiding her emotions. We want to see them progress toward hopefully getting together one day, and while we can’t promise if that will happen or not, we’re moving that relationship along. And it might take a big step in Episode 15.”

Question: Is it true that The Flash will be introducing Reverse-Flash very soon? That seems more like a season finale sort of thing. –Greg

Mitovich: The iconic adversary’s introduction apparently was — wait for it — fast-tracked. In the midseason finale (airing Dec. 9), “Barry and Reverse-Flash come face-to-face,” Grant Gustin affirms. The actor then makes clear that it’s not The Flash who meets the foe, but Barry—”and it rocks him, to say the least. It terrifies him.” After it is confirmed to Barry that Reverse-Flash killed his mom, “It’s kind of a relief in some ways, because it confirms that Barry isn’t crazy and that what he thought he saw as a kid is true,” Gustin previews. “Now he is more determined than ever to find this guy and stop him, kill him. This might be a special circumstance where Barry would break a neck.”

Question: Anything to share about my new CW obsession, Jane the Virgin? –Leslie

Mitovich: Previewing singer Paulina Rubio’s guest-starring turn, as herself, in the fall finale (airing Dec. 15), Andrea Navedo says, “It has to do with Xo’s aspirations as a performer. She’s always idolized her, so a sort of fantasy/dream life bleeds into reality for Xo, and she actually gets a wish fulfilled.”

Question: How is the relationship between Reign‘s Mary and Conde going to play the rest of Season 2? I know romance wouldn’t be exactly following history, but their chemistry is undeniable. –Danielle

Mitovich: Conde and Mary’s bond will continue to grow, I am told — and that will eventually force Mary to make a decision that could put those involved in grave danger.

Question: Have you any information on The Fosters‘ Christmas episode? –Tricia

Mitovich: Sorry, Tricia, but I’m gonna skip right past the holiday outing (airing Monday) and instead gift you with some knowledge about the end of Season 2, where we will meet Robert’s parents – including Robert Quinn Sr., a wealthy, domineering patriarch who during a heated dinner table debate just might detour his son’s opinion about his parental responsibilities.

That’s it. Enjoy!