Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the entertainment news items for this past week:

INTERNATIONAL TV NEWS

The BBC has confirmed the new drama California Avenue will star Bill Nighy, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Burke and Erin Doherty. The series is set in a secluded canal-side caravan park deep in the luscious English countryside, where its peace is irrevocably disrupted by the arrival of Lela (Doherty) and her 11-year-old child, both on the run, looking for refuge in this hidden world. It is here that a fractured family will come together, ghosts and demons will firmly be put to rest and an unexpected love is forged. Nighy and Bonham Carter star as Jerry and Eddie, Lela’s parents, while Burke is showman outcast, Cooper. (Deadline)

TV CASTING NEWS

The Amazon MGM Studios faith-based drama It’s Not Like That will star Erinn Hayes, Scott Foley and J.R. Ramirez along with Caleb Baumann, Cary Christopher and newcomers Leven Miranda, Cassidy Paul and Liv Lendell. The series follows Lori (Hayes), who is freshly divorced with two teens. Malcolm (Foley) is a minister and a recently widowed dad of three. Their families once did everything together, but now Lori and Malcolm must navigate their newly minted singledom, parenthood and the complexities of Malcolm being a modern-day minister. Ramirez plays the series regular role of David, Lori’s ex-husband.  The other cast members will play the children of the character played by Hayes and Foley.  (Deadline)

The 10-episode BBC and Britbox series adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister will include Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Indira Varma and Richard Coyle, which will explore and expand the world of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ through the often-overlooked perspective of Mary Bennet. Grant and Jones will star as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet while Varma and Coyle will portray Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Mary’s worldly aunt and uncle who take her under their wing as governess to their three children, introducing her to a social circle that includes Mr. Ryder (Laurie Davidson); Mr. Hayward (Dónal Finn) and Ann Baxter (Varada Sethu). (Variety)

Timothy Olyphant has joined the cast of the upcoming Peacock series adaptation of The Five-Star Weekend that will star Jennifer Garner, Regina Hall, Chloe Sevigny, Gemma Chan and D’Arcy Carden. The series will follow Hollis Shaw (Garner), a famed food influencer known for her delicious recipes, impeccable taste, and warm demeanor suffers a devastating loss. Unable to move forward, the death starts to expose the cracks in Hollis’s picture-perfect life—her strained marriage, her complicated relationship with her daughter, and her growing pursuit of validation from her followers. In an effort to overcome grief and find herself again, Hollis gets the idea to host a weekend away at her house on Nantucket with three friends from different stages in her life: her childhood, her twenties, thirties, and one surprise fifth star. Set against a luxurious and coastal backdrop, they will mature in ways they could never imagine as boundaries are pushed and secrets are exposed. Olyphant will play the role of Jack. (Variety)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Glen Powell will star in the untitled firefighter film from director Ron Howard. The movie will follow disparate childhood friends, now elite firefighters, who must rekindle their fractured relationship when a series of deadly fires sweep across Texas. (Deadline)

Jason Momoa’s son Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke (from Silo) have joined the cast of Dune 3. They will play Leto II and Ghanima, the twin offspring of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya), born after the events of the original story. (Deadline)

Glenn Close and Billy Porter have joined the cast of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping with Close set to play Drusilla Sickle, the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter will play Magno Stift, her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer. (Deadline)

Jon Bernthal will appear in the next installment of Spider-man: Brand New Day that is expected to hit theatres in July of 2026. (Variety)

Russell Crowe has joined the cast of the Henry Cavill remake of Highlander, playing mentor to the immortal. (Variety)

That’s it. Enjoy!