Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for this past week:

First of all congrats to all of the Oscar winners who were announced Sunday night, including Birdman, Eddie Redmayne, Julianne Moore, Alejandro Inarritu, J.K. Simmons, Patricia Arquette, Selma, Big Hero 6, The Imitation Game and The Grand Budapest Hotel (among others).

TELEVISION

Actress Lena Dunham (Girls) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Scandal, but details on the role she will play is being kept under wraps. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

Actress Calista Flockhart (Brothers & Sisters) will appear in the CBS pilot Supergirl, playing Cat Grant, a self-made media magnate and founder of CatCo, where Kara Zor-El (lead Melissa Benoist) works as her assistant. (Elizabeth Wagmeister at Variety)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Jessica Chastain has joined the cast of The Huntsman, starring opposite Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron, who reprise their roles from the first installment of the Snow White reboot. There are no specific details on who she will play in the movie, though. (Ali Jaafar at Deadline)

Here are the top 10 box office films from this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Fifty Shades of Gray – 23.2 million
2. Kingsman: The Secret Service – 17.5 million
3. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – 15.5 million
4. McFarland, USA – 11.3 million
5. The DUFF – 11 million
6. American Sniper – 9.6 million
6. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 – 5.8 million
7. Jupiter Ascending – 3.6 million
8. The Imitation Game – 2.5 million
10. Paddington – 2.3 million

Q&A SECTION (with Kristin Dos Santos at E! and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Question: Will we see much of Felicity on Arrow? – BrowningAmber

Kristin: There’s a huge scene coming up in this week’s episode that is legitimately going to break the internet. It involves Felicity…and that’s all we can say.

Question: We will see a confrontation between Laurel and Thea about Sarah on Arrow? – birdsofcanary

Kristin: You will indeed see a scene between these two fierce females in this week’s episode, though what is discussed and both women’s reactions to the conversation will not be what you’re expecting. It’s a fascinating scene to watch, and it left us wanting more scenes between this dynamic duo!

Question: Is Agent Carter getting renewed!!? – @_LightToMyDark

Kristin: We certainly hope so! Agent Carter has been kicking some major ass all season long, and since the eight episode first season comes to an end tonight, we asked the showrunners if they’d be willing to take another trip back to the ’40s for a second season. “Oh god, absolutely! All day long, yeah,” Michelle Fazekas says with a laugh. “It’s so much fun, I love these characters, it’s such a happy cast and crew and writing staff. Everyone loves being there. It was a special, intense, short amount of time, and everyone is hoping that we can continue for more.”
‏
Question: Any scoop on The100? Maybe the season finale or any major character deaths? – isabellag08

Kristin: Bigger. That seems to be the keyword for the finale and beyond as showrunner Jason Rothenberg reveals he and the writing team are “most excited” about building out the universe. “It’s the thing that floats my boat, this universe creation and telling that bigger Grounder story,” he says. “And we’re going to keep doing that. Season three will make season two look like season one. It’s so different and bigger.

Question: Please, any kind of Outlander news! Any teases on what to expect when the show returns? – Theresa124:

Kristin: When the “Droughtlander” ends, in the first episode back, you will get that super-steamy love scene we already teased you about (and showed you a full minute of, which any good citizen has watched on repeat). That love scene comes after what is thus far Claire and Jamie’s biggest fight. And though at first you might start to dislike him a wee bet, you will ultimately love him all the more, when you see how he’s willing to change his ways, even his belief system for the woman he loves. This ain’t no fleeting fling, and arguably, one of TV’s most passionate love affairs of all time.

Question: Arrow scoop, please! – Deborah

Mitovich: Seeing as how we’re due for a couple of weeks of reruns, this Wednesday’s episode was “designed to be this crazy cliffhanger” — and boy is it! – “and have all this amazing stuff in it,” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg teases. Among the highlights for him: “Seeing what [Thea]’s willing to do, and what Oliver’s willing to do, for her soul,” and watching John Barrowman and Matt Nable finally share a scene. EP Marc Guggenheim, meanwhile, is “really excited for people to see the A.T.O.M. suit in its full glory,” especially as Ray takes his maiden flight. “This show is not Flash — we don’t traffic in these sort of visuals — so it’s a big deal for us to get this kind of character on the show, looking the way he does.” Bonus scoop: See if you can guess which character delivers this heartbreaker: “It’s hard to remember a time when I was actually in love with you.”

Question: Please give me something on Forever! I am desperately hoping it comes back for a second season! – Eileen

Mitovich: If you’re among those wondering how Henry’s wife, Abigail, died, we went straight to the source — series star Ioan Gruffudd — for the answer. And it turns out… he doesn’t have one. “I always thought that something had happened where she not necessarily died in front of us, but maybe we had to part company to protect her or protect me or something,” he says. “Who knows if she’s still alive or still out there? I tend not to ask, because it’s best that I don’t know these things.”

Question: I am seeking any info on Season 5 of Teen Wolf. – Lisa

Mitovich: For those who’ve been holding out hope for Danny’s return, there’s this consolation prize: Episode 4 of the new season, titled “Condition Terminal,” will introduce the recurring character of Corey, who in the course of being treated in an operating room for a strange, painful wound dishes on his boyfriend Lucas. (Guest star Lucas, meanwhile, is described as a shy young man who has become an aggressive problem at a club.)

Question: Is there any way you can get any scoop about Once Upon a Time’s Belle? Her fans are dying for news. – Betsy

Mitovich: Your long wait for Belle goodness will end as soon as possible, because she gets the first line of dialogue — “Well, I see you still have your temper” — once the ABC drama returns to Storybrooke in Sunday’s Season 4B premiere. “And yes,” co-creator Adam Horowitz notes, “we haven’t forgotten that she’s still in possession of the Dark One’s dagger. That’s going to come into play pretty soon after our return as well.”

Question: Any hint on the surprise related to Emma’s Once Upon a Time storyline for the second part of the season? – Frances

Mitovich: You probably got a taste for it from the new promo that debuted during the Oscars and hinted at Miss Swan’s dance with the dark side. As EP Horowitz explained at a Tuesday screening of the Season 4B opener, “One of the big themes for the second half of the season that we want to deal with is what makes someone a hero and what makes someone a villain — what the differences are and what the common ground is. Emma has spent a long time on the series being told she’s a savior and being told she’s a hero. Now she’s going to have to face that it’s not black-and-white.”

Question: Any scoop on Grimm? – Jen

Mitovich: Casting is underway for the guest-starring role of “Iron Hans,” a rugged fiftysomething ranch owner who hosts weekend retreats for Wesen fathers and sons who have lost contact with their warrior heritage. We’ll also meet his beautiful, twenty-something (and strong-willed) daughter, Maggie.

Question: What does it say for a potential Season 8 of Castle that they wrapped up the two major storylines (Bracken, 3XK)? And if this is indeed the last season, shouldn’t the writers already know so that they can properly wrap up the show? – Vaso

Mitovich: I revisited this hot topic with showrunner David Amann the other week — asking, At what point do they need to know which way the wind is blowing with regards to re-signing Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic and possibly locking a renewal? – and his response was this: “Obviously, we’re prepared for whatever comes along, and we’ll adjust as necessary. But we’re hopeful that the show will move forward. In the meantime, we’ll just make the best show that we can.”

Question: Is there any hope for Jane the Virgin‘s steadfast, remaining Jane/Michael ‘shippers? – Lianne

Mitovich: It’s kinda sorta possibly looking that way. As creator EP Jennie Urman said of upcoming episodes (resuming March 9), “There are a few moments where Michael helps Jane with certain things that he knows how to help her with only because of their history, and that starts to play a big part in their reconnection. At the same time, her relationship with Rafael gets stressed the more they start to think about the practicals of what their life will be and what their life will look like together.” (Hmm, now that I have re-read that, you can probably strike the “kinda sorta.”)

That’s it. Enjoy!