Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items from Labor Day and today:

TELEVISION

Actor Steven Culp (Desperate Housewives) will have a recurring role on Grey’s Anatomy this fall, playing Dr. Parker, a top dog doctor. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Well-known author Neil Gaiman will be writing another episode for Doctor Who. Let the rejoining begin, as he wrote the fantastic episode “The Doctor’s Wife” last season!! (We Got This Covered and Blastr)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

CBS has landed the Beverly Hills Cop remake that was put into development with Shawn Ryan (the man behind The Shield) at the helm. The series will center on Axel Foley’s blue-collar police officer son, Aaron, who helps take down the criminal elements of the rich and famous in Beverly Hills, while trying to escape the shadow of his larger than life father. Murphy will reprise his role as Axel in pilot and may recur if the pilot goes to series. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor William Fichtner (Prison Break) and legendary actor Donald Sutherland [among others] are set to star in Crossing Lines an action-crime drama series created by former Criminal Minds showrunner Ed Bernero for Tandem Communications. This 10-episode series will follow the workings of a special crime unit set up by the International Criminal Court to investigate serialized crimes that cross over European borders and to hunt down criminals to bring them to justice. This marks the first series for the Munich-based Tandem, a leading producer of event mini-series like The Pillars Of The Earth. It will air on TF1 in France and on Sony Pictures TV Networks’ AXN channels across 81 countries. The series has no U.S. distribution yet, though. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Crackle, the multi-platform entertainment network, announced the production of its new original series called Chosen that will star Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), who will also executive producer alongside series creators Ben Ketai and Ryan Lewis. The series follows Ian Mitchell (Ventimiglia), a husband, father and lawyer who awakens one morning to discover a mysterious box on his doorstep containing a loaded gun – and a photo of a stranger he is instructed to kill within the next three days. This series will be comprised of six half-hour episodes that will include cast members Diedrich Bader (Napoleon Dynamite), Nicky Whelan (Hall Pass), Brett Davern (Awkward) and Katrina Law (Spartacus: Vengeance) [among others]. (The Futon Critic)

Starz has picked up a 10-episode series called The White Queen, which is an adaptation of the Phillipa Gregory series of best-selling novels (“The White Queen”, “The Red Queen” and “The Kingmaker’s Daughter”). The series will follow the thrilling story of the women caught up in the ongoing conflict for the throne. They are some of the most ruthless players in history and will stop at nothing to support their own causes and those of the ones they love. It is a stunningly rich tale of love and loss, seduction and deception, betrayal and murder, vibrantly woven through the stories of three different yet equally driven women, in their quest for power as they manipulate behind the scenes of history – Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville. The year is 1464 and England has been at war for nine years battling over who is the rightful King of England – it is a war between two sides of the same family, The House of York and The House of Lancaster. The House of York’s young and devilishly handsome Edward IV (Max Irons, Red Riding Hood) is crowned King of England with the help of the master manipulator Lord Warwick “The Kingmaker” (James Frain, True Blood and The Tudors). But when Edward falls in love and secretly marries a beautiful young widow, the commoner Elizabeth Woodville (newcomer Rebecca Ferguson) Warwick’s plan for control over the English throne comes crashing down around him. Frustrated by the new Queen’s influence he will stop at nothing to maintain his grip on the King. The captivating and beautiful Elizabeth Woodville marries for the love of her King, with the help of her mother Jacquetta (Janet McTeer), a self proclaimed sorceress. Elizabeth’s most fierce adversary is the staunchly loyal Lancastrian Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale, The Crimson Petal & The White), a damaged and highly religious woman who would willingly lay down her life to see her young son Henry Tudor take the throne. And then there is Anne Neville (newcomer Faye Marsay), Lord Warwick The Kingmaker’s daughter – a pawn in her father’s battle for control; who finds her strength and ambition when she takes control of her destiny and marries the King’s younger brother Richard Duke of York (Aneurin Bernard, Spring Awakening). The White Queen will air on Starz in 2013. (The Futon Critic)

CONDOLENCES

Oscar-nominated actor Michael Clarke Duncan passed away over the weekend, two months after suffering a heart attack. He was only 54 years old. He is best known for his work in the box office film The Green Mile, but he also appeared in Daredevil and Green Lantern (among other films). He was also one of the lead stars in the short-lived, Bones spin-off called Finder. (Twitter and E! Online)

ME: Rest in Peace, Mr. Duncan. Deepest condolences to his family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box offices from this past holiday weekend courtesy of TV Guide and Box Office Mojo:

1. The Possession – 17.7 million
2. Lawless – 10 million
3. The Expendables 2 – 8.9 million
4. The Bourne Legacy – 7.3 million
5. ParaNorman – 6.6 million
6. The Odd Life of Timothy Green – 6.3 million
7. The Dark Knight Rises – 6.1 million
8. The Campaign – 5.7 million
9. 2016 Obama’s America – 5.6 million
10. Hope Spring s- 4.7 million

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Hot Trailer: ‘Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters’

Q&A SECTION (with Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: Have you seen the Castle screener?— @genkichiba

Gonzalez: Yes I did! The morning-after scene is everything executive producer Andrew Marlowe promised and they bring the plot about Beckett’s mom’s murder to a big non-resolution resolution that is very clever. And you’ll see exactly what my confusing terminology means when you see the episode.

Question: Anything on Castle?? Please?— @themrslondon

Gonzalez: All the buzz about the first scene is worth it, but the last scene is also going to be a fave among the fans.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Kelly Overton (True Blood) will guest star in an upcoming episode of the new CW drama Beauty and the Beast, playing Claire, an intelligent and extremely athletic doctoral student who hits it off with medical examiner Evan (Max Brown) after they meet online. The series will debut on October 11 at 9 PM. (Robyn Ross at TV Guide)

Actress Gloria Votsis (White Collar) will guest star on an upcoming episode of Person of Interest. She will play Maxine Angelis, a hotshot reporter. The CBS series will be back on September 27. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Julia Ormond (Sabrina) will star in the hour-long Lifetime pilot called Witches of East End based on the Melissa de la Cruz best-selling novel of the same name that centers on the adventures of Joanna Beauchamp (Ormond) and her two adult daughters. Joanna is a sexy, warm, artistic, tough, ethereal beauty who has been concealing a shocking secret from her daughters; namely, that they are witches born and bred. Having put her magical past and powers on hold, Joanna is now living a quiet life as a small town art teacher, but in the face of a grave and immediate danger, it seems the only way out is for the trio to rediscover their skills. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

ABC has given a script order for a terrorism drama from writer-producer Pamela Davis. The project is called Double Felix and it will revolve around a family man who after suffering from a traumatic brain injury attempts to regain his memory and discovers he may have been part of a domestic terrorist plot. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

CBS has picked up an as-yet-untitled project that will center on an FBI agent from Nebraska who single-handedly prevents a major domestic terrorist attack while on a family vacation and instantly becomes an American hero. He then takes on a new job leading a DC task force. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Liam Hemsworth, Hippies & Teresa Palmer in ‘Love & Honor’ Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific, holiday weekend.

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Jorge Garcia (Lost) will appear as “The Giant” on Once Upon a Time, but no other details are being released about his storyline. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Kimberly Williams- Paisley (According to Jim) will have a multi-episode arc on the new ABC drama Nashville, a “family” soap set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene that follows one star at her peak (Connie Britton) and one on the rise (Hayden Panettiere). Williams-Paisley will play Peggy Samper, an old flame and former co-worker of Teddy Conrad (Eric Close), husband of Rayna Jaymes (Britton). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Tessa Thompson (Veronica Mars and Copper) will have a recurring role on the new ABC thriller series 666 Park Avenue, which is about a young couple (Dave Annable and Rachael Taylor) who sign up as managers of a mysterious Manhattan building. Thompson will play Laurel Harris, a media consultant with an inside track on New York politics. She entices Henry (Annable) with her contacts, offering to open doors for him, and her presence complicates his relationship with his girlfriend (Taylor). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Laura Vandervoort (Smallville and V) will appear in at least two episodes of the Syfy series Haven, playing a highly intelligent and beautiful woman who has returned to Haven for the latest cycle of Trouble. She is driven to the brink of madness by the loss of a loved one. (Matt Mitovich and Megan Masters at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

NBC has bought a “light” drama that will be executive produced by country star Miranda Lambert. The project is inspired by Lambert’s experience growing up and centers on a couple who run a highly successful detective agency while also trying to raise two teenagers. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

NBC has also bought an as-yet untitled project from Howard Gordon (EP at the Showtime series Homeland) and writer Josh Friedman (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) that is being described as a thriller soap set in a world much like ours, where human-looking robots are commonplace. After a routine homicide explodes into the first robot-on-human murder, the lead detective must solve the case and investigate a growing robot rebellion while dealing with the impact on his own fractured family. [NOTE: Does this sound anything like I, Robot? C’mon?!] (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Actress Taylor Schilling (Mercy and The Lucky One) will have the lead in the new Netflix 13-episode hour-long series called Orange Is The New Black from Weeds creator Jenji Kohan. The series is based on the book by Piper Kerman and is about Piper (Schilling), an engaged Brooklynite whose decade-old relationship with a drug-runner in college results in her arrest and multi-year detention in a federal penitentiary. Lacking any real-world experience to deal with this harsh new environment, Piper immerses herself in women’s prison culture and finds acceptance, tears, laughter, and love amidst an outspoken group of inmates. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Michael Keaton will replace Hugh Laurie as the villain in the remake of the box office film RoboCop that will star Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) in the lead role. Keaton will play the CEO of the corporation that builds RoboCop. (The Wrap)

Actor Michael Douglas will portray President Ronald Reagan in Reykjavik, a political drama film that spans a three day meeting of peace talks between Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the titular Icelandic city after the nuclear fallout of Chernobyl. (The Hollywood Reporter and First Showing)

Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire) will star in the new feature film called The First, which is about the life of Hollywood legend Mary Pickford. Pitt will play Owen Moore, Pickford’s first husband. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actress Charlize Theron and producer Basil Iwanyk are teaming for a film about recently slain war journalist Marie Colvin, a well-known American war correspondent who covered conflicts in Kosovo, Chechnya, East Timor, Sri Lanka and beyond. No word yet on whether Theron will also act in the lead role in the film, though. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Shia LaBeouf Chases Robert Redford in ‘Company You Keep’ Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Annie Wersching (24) will join the cast of Body of Proof for a multi-episode arc, playing a nurse. Body of Proof is scheduled to return at mid-season on ABC. (Robyn Ross at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC has ordered a pilot for S.H.I.E.L.D., a live-action series Joss Whedon, Marvel TV and ABC Studios. The project, of course, is based on the peacekeeping organization, which stands for Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate or Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division that appears in both the Marvel comic book and feature film universes. Whedon will work on the brother alongside his brother Jed and sister-in-law Maurissa Tancharoen (who have worked on various other projects with Joss like Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Shawn Ryan (the man behind Last Resort and The Shield) and actor Eddie Murphy are shopping around a TV series version of Beverly Hills Cop, with the potential series NOT being a remake or reboot but a straight up sequel, following detective Axel Foley’s son. It is described as an hour-long crime procedural with comedic elements. Murphy is attached to reprise his role in a recurring capacity. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

The Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King have set up a drama project at Showtime called Girls With Guns which is about two Los Angeles sisters whose family moves to the one place in the world where women are drafted into the military: Israel. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Ryan Gosling (The Notebook) will make his directorial debut with a new film called How to Catch a Monster, starring Christina Hendricks (Mad Men). Gosling also wrote the film that is said to weave elements of fantasy noir and suspense into a modern day fairytale. It is set against the surreal dreamscape of a vanishing city where Billy, a single mother of two, is swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town. (Shock Til You Drop and First Showing)

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch with Kristin at E! Online, Adam Bryant at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Any hope for George and Zoe on Hart of Dixie? Love those two together! – Lizzie

Team WWK: George will start seeing someone who is not Zoe in season two, and it seems like George is pretty serious about her. Her name is Presley and she’s a tomboy with a wicked sense of humor. While she makes fun of all the Southern belles throwing themselves at the town’s golden boy at first she soon finds herself attracted to George, and, as Taylor Swift sings, sparks fly. Fans can expect to see Presley stick around Bluebell for awhile. (And Team Wade goes wild!)

Question: Any Castle scoop? Will we see Beckett’s therapist again this season?— Rachel, via Twitter

ADAM: Not right away. Beckett’s new relationship with Castle is perhaps a sign that her visits with Michael Dorn’s character last season helped. However, creator Andrew W. Marlowe isn’t ruling out the possibility of Beckett returning to the couch later in the season. “We like having that option there,” he says. “When things get even more complicated around midseason, it’s important for Beckett to have some folks to talk to, whether it’s [her therapist] or Lanie or someone else.”

Question: Anything new to report on Suits? — Lisa

ADAM: Ready to meet Rachel’s father? The show is currently casting him, a high-powered New York attorney who comes on as opposing council against Harvey in a major case. Rachel’s relationship with her dad is far from happy — a fact that Harvey will use to his advantage when he asks Rachel to sit in on depositions to distract dear old Dad.

Question: How about some scoop on Psych? — Esaul

Ausiello: How about some new details on two-hour musical episode I told you about at Comic-Con? Apparently, the plot is going to revolve around an institutionalized playwright composer, who is suspected of murdering the theater critic who was bent on trashing his show.

Question: Any chance Paige Turco’s character will return for more episodes of Person of Interest? —Carole

Ausiello: There’s a very good chance seeing as how I can confirm that Turco returns in the fifth episode of Season 2 (premiering Sept. 27). She’s not the POI that week, but helps out in a way that only Zoe can.

Question: I’m dying for some Downton Abbey scoop on Lady Sybil and Branson! —Ashley

Ausiello: The relative newlyweds are back at Downton in Season 3, which doesn’t sit well with the onetime chauffeur’s former colleagues. “When they come back from Ireland, where does he belong?” muses series creator Julian Fellowes. “It’s difficult for him because here are all these people he worked with and now they’re bending over and serving him. It’s a difficult journey he has to make.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All

Here is the news for today, albeit a few short list

TELEVISION

Actress Wendy Crewson (24 and Saving Hope) will appear in a guest starring role on Revenge when the ABC soap returns for its second season. She will play Helen, a powerful business executive who has dealings with Conrad Grayson (Henry Czerny). Revenge will be back starting on Sunday (its new night) September 30 at 9 PM (its new air time). (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actresses Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory), Teri Polo (Meet the Parents) and Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) and actors Dylan Walsh (Unforgettable) and Chris Klein (American Pie franchise) [among others] are set to star in the independent comedy flick called Scribble that will be about a group of working people who want to be writers. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Elizabeth Banks and actor Morgan Freeman will provide their voices to the Warner Bros. new animated 3D film called Lego, which is about an ordinary Lego mini-figure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, who is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil Lego tyrant from gluing the universe together. Specifics on their characters are being kept under wraps, but they will join Chris Pratt and Will Arnett as part of the cast. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Thinking that it will work again, Fame just might be coming back to the small screen if Nigel Lythgoe (the guy behind American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance) has anything to say about it. It worked as a 1980 box office film and a 1982 TV series that ran for six seasons, but failed as a 1997 TV remake and a box office reboot in 2009 so who knows. This version would be a re-imagining of the original film and series, striving to embody their spirit. It would be set against the backdrop of today’s unprecedented access to the world of celebrity, exposing the gritty struggle, heartache and pain endured in the search for stardom. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Tania Raymonde (Lost) will have a multi-episode arc in the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth, playing a street artist named Zarra who becomes friends with Baby (Vanessa Marano). The series returns for the remainder of its extended-length first season on September 3. (Robyn Ross at TV Guide)

The Canadian sci-fi series Continuum has been renewed by Showcase for a second season, has been picked up by Syfy UK to air overseas and has been picked up by Syfy to be broadcast here in the States with an anticipated debut of sometime in early 2013. (Twitter and Showcase and Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls and The Good Wife) will make a guest appearance on the new CBS drama Elementary, playing Dr. Carrie Fox, a former colleague of Joan Watson (Lucy Liu). She will assist Joan and Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) in an investigation. Elementary is set to debut on September 27. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actress Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) will star in the A&E Psycho prequel called Bates Motel that will be a contemporary exploration of Norman Bates’ formative years, exploring his relationship with his mother, Norma (Farmiga), and will offer a look at the back story that helped forge the infamous serial killer. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE TRAILER
Watch: First Teaser for ‘The Girl’ Starring Toby Jones as Hitchcock

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Eureka) has landed a lead role in the Lifetime hour-long drama project called The Secret Lives of Wives, which will explore the unvarnished truth behind the marriages of four different women, providing an honest portrayal of the ultimate challenge every relationship faces – emotional and sexual longevity. Richardson-Whitfield will play one of the four women, Reed, who is the sultry host of a call-in radio show that caters to women’s fantasies. But her radio persona is at sad odds with her personal life, as her marriage of 17 years is on the rocks. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jason Momoa (Stargate Atlantis) will play the villain in the upcoming box office film called Wolves that centers on a young man (Lucas Till from X-Men: First Class), who transforms into a werewolf and finds himself falsely accused of murdering his parents. He goes on the run, eventually arriving at a small town named Lupine Ridge that has a history of supernatural happenings. Momoa will play the werewolf patriarch of the town. (Borys Kit at The Hollywood Reporter)

Here are the top 10 movies from the box office for this past weekend courtesy of Deadline:

1. The Expendables 2 – 13.5 million
2. The Bourne Legacy – 9.2 million
3. ParaNorman – 8.5 million
4. The Campaign – 7.4 million
5. The Dark Knight – 7.1 million [TIE]
5. The Odd Life of Timothy Green – 7.1 million [TIE]
7. Premium Rush – 6.3 million
8. 2016 Obama’s America – 6.2 million
9. Hope Springs – 6 million
10. Hit and Run – 4.3 million

Actor Thomas Dekker (The Secret Circle and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) has joined the cast of the upcoming film called Plush from director Catherine Hardwicke. The film tells the story of a young rocker (Emily Browning) who struggles to continue writing music while juggling the death of her brother and collaborator, a jealous husband, two kids, and a mysterious and infatuated guitarist. (Just Jared and Dark Horizons)

CONDOLENCES

Legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong passed away over the weekend at the age of 82. (Deadline)

ME: Rest in Peace, Mr. Armstrong. Condolences to his family, friends and legends of fans across the globe.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

Q&A SECTION (with Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: Any Auggie/Annie scoop?! – Shane

Gonzalez: Here’s something that might entice you: The Sept. 4 episode ends on a note you won’t see coming (it involves a betrayal and a death), and that will bring A-squared together in the following week’s episode, which is likely to go in the shipper Hall of Fame!

Question: Can I get some Alex scoop? #Nikita — Nicole

Gonzalez: When the new season begins, Alex is having what Maggie Q calls “a little bit of an identity crisis” after coming clean about her identity at the end of last season. “She can’t be as effective as a member of the team as she’d like to be because of her new-found fame,” says Maggie Q. “The downside [of her reveal] is that she is now a public figure…She’s going to struggle with that.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Robert Sean Leonard (House) and actress Gloria Reuben (ER) will both be showing up in five-episode arcs on Falling Skies when the series returns to TNT next year for its third season. Leonard will play Roger Kadar, PhD, an obsessive but gifted scientist who runs Charleston’s power grid and lives underground with his pet rats. Reuben will play Marina Perlata, an aide to Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), who has been one of the leaders from the human resistance movement against an invading alien force. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Kristin Lehman (The Killing) has been cast in the Canadian series called Motive that has been given a 13-episode order by the Canadian channel CTV. The series follows divorced single mom Angie Snow (Lehman), a feisty female Vancouver homicide detective who matches wits with killers in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Garcelle Beauvais (Franklin & Bash) will appear in an upcoming episode of Psych as a new crush for Gus. She will play Miranda, the owner of a radio station where Gus (Dule Hill) and Shawn (James Roday) go undercover as on-air personalities to solve a murder. The confident Miranda is more than forward about her feelings for Gus. But while he would normally welcome such attention, Gus has a serious girlfriend (Parminder Nagra). (Sadie Gennis at TV Guide)

Actress Arielle Kebbel (The Vampire Diaries) and Robbie Amell (Revenge and younger brother of Arrow star Steven Amell) will both have guest appearances in the same episode of Hawaii Five-0. They will play a couple who enter a fortune-teller’s lair and face devastating consequences. Hawaii Five-0 is back for a new season starting on September 24 on CBS. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actress Madchen Amick (Damages) will guest star in the new CW series Beauty and the Beast. Appearing in episode 3 of the debut season, she will play a wealthy polo-club president named Lois who owns a therapeutic horse camp. Beauty and the Beast debuts on The CW on October 11. (Megan Masters at TV Line)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actress Angela Bassett and Ruby Dee will appear in the Lifetime made-for-TV movie called Betty and Coretta that will tell the dual stories of Coretta Scott King and Dr. Betty Shabazz as they carry on as single mothers following the assassinations of their husbands, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Bassett will play King opposite Mary J. Blige, who co-stars as Shabazz. Dee will appear onscreen as a historical witness to narrate the duo’s story as someone familiar with the events of both their lives. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

NBC has bought an hour-long romantic comedy tentatively titled Cyrano, which will be a contemporary project centering on a less-than-attractive but genius campaign strategist who returns to save the floundering gubernatorial campaign of the handsome but inarticulate Mayor whose career he helped launch. With the candidate being the photogenic, charismatic mouthpiece for the strategist’s ideas and rhetoric, the sky’s the limit — until both men fall for the same woman, a journalist covering the campaign. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

ABC Family has just picked up two new drama pilots: one from Jennifer Lopez and one from Jane By Design producer Gavin Polone. The first is called The Fosters (from Lopez) which will be about a multi-ethnic family that compromises of a mix of foster and biological kids being raised by two moms. The other is called Socio, which centers on a charismatic sixteen-year-old alleged sociopath, who recently reconnected with his two female best friends from childhood, and who becomes the prime suspect when a fellow student is murdered. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The CW has given a script commitment to a new drama from Richard Hatem (co-executive producer of Supernatural) for a drama project called Wrecking Ball that is about a JFK Jr.-type brash young man from a well known political family who teams with an idealistic twenty-something girl volunteer from his failed Congressional campaign to solve underdog cases of the week. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games and Race to Witch Mountain) has landed the role of Navy SEAL Shane Patton in the film adaptation of the Marcus Luttrell book called Lone Survivor, which tells the harrowing story of how Luttrell and his Navy SEAL team members fought to stay alive after being ambushed in Afghanistan in 2005 by Taliban forces during a covert mission in the Hindu Kush mountain region, where the team went to kill a terrorist leader. Ludwig plays a soldier alongside a cast that includes Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch and Eric Bana. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actress Mireille Enos (The Killing) will star in the upcoming box office film called Ten that will star Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sam Worthington. She will play a member of the elite DEA team, and she is married to the character played by Worthington. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Looks like actor Hugh Laurie (House) won’t be appearing as the villain in the remake of RoboCop after all. (Variety and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items, few though they are, for today:

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Sprague Grayden (Jericho and 24) and actor David Costabile (Suits) will co-star alongside actors Mark Strong, James Ransone and Lennie James in the AMC drama pilot called Low Winter Sun, which is based on the 2006 British miniseries. The project is described as a story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption that starts with the murder of a cop by fellow Detroit detective Frank Agnew (Strong). Seemingly the perfect crime, in reality the murder activates forces that will forever alter that detective’s life and pull him into the heart of the Detroit underworld. Grayden will play the fierce and ruthless Elena, Damon’s (Ransone) wife who wants to extend the family’s crime networks while Costabile will play David Westwood, an upright investigator from Internal Affairs who shows up and causes quite a stir among the officers. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Mr. Eko from Lost) has joined the cast of the upcoming film Thor: The Dark World, as one of the lead villains, playing the dual roles of Algrim the Strong and Kurse. Chris Hemsworth will once again appear as Thor with Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Jaimie Alexander, Stellan Skarsgard, Rene Russo and Kat Dennings all reprising their roles. Christopher Eccleston will play the primary villain Malekith the Accursed, the ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim. (Variety)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Tomorrow night at 10 PM, TV viewers will get to see the failed FX pilot Outlaw Country as a made-for-TV movie. The project is a crime thriller/family drama set against the backdrop of Southern organized crime and Nashville royalty. It will star Luke Grimes, Haley Bennett, Mary Steenburgen and John Hawkes. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch with Kristin from E! Online)

Marybeth: I would love some scoop on the new season of Revenge!

Team WWK: Ruh-roh, sounds like someone is in danger, and it’s the life-threatening kind! Episode four will find one of our Hamptonites being rushed to the ER, where a cool and calm doc will have to work with the patient’s loved ones to make the best decision. Yikes, sounds serious! Please don’t pull the plug!

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

FINALLY! The BBC and BBC America will simultaneously air the season premiere of Doctor Who on Saturday, September 1. American fans can watch it at 9 PM on the cable network. Fans should also take note that a 5-part web prequel mini-adventure called “Pond Life” will go online daily starting next Monday. (Dark Horizons)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC has put in development an hour-long dramedy called Between Park & Lex that comes from writer Maria Maggenti (the box office film Monte Carlo) and produced by ABC Studios, Allan Loeb’s DarkFire TV and actor Ryan Reynolds (yep, you read that right!). The project centers on a mother and daughter who team up as amateur sleuths, who balance their day jobs and regular lives with solving crimes on the side. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The cult British adventure/sci-fi series Blake’s 7 is getting a reboot at Syfy with a script-to-series commitment, which means that if the cabler likes the script, it will greenlight the project as a 13-episode series. The series centered on hard-core renegades and criminals who escape from a prison planet, battling humans and aliens alike – and becoming heroes. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

CBS is developing a reboot of the classic western series Have Gun Will Travel, which will be written by David Mamet, who will also direct the potential pilot. The original series starred Richard Boone as Paladin, a top-notch gunfighter who preferred to settle problems without violence but stood his ground when provoked. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Anthony Zuiker (the creator of the CSI franchise) is teaming with Gossip Girl executive producer Sara Goodman for a new drama project called Taboo that has been sold to CBS. This potential series is a sexy soap that centers on a stay-at home-mom who goes back to work as an undercover psychological profiler for the FBI, but the job isn’t nearly as dangerous as the sexual obsession she falls into with the man she’s investigating. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Looks like Disney Pictures is going to attempt a reboot of the period adventure film The Rocketeer. The 1930’s set original film followed a racing pilot (Billy Campbell) who discovers a rocket-pack prototype having been hidden inside his stunt plane by gangsters. (Vulture and Dark Horizons)

Actor Sam Claflin (Snow White and the Huntsman and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) has been cast in the role of Finnick in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Adam Bryan and Natalie Abrams from TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Will Castle and Beckett being together change the kinds of cases Castle features? — Melanie

ADAM: Not really, but it could change the location of the show a bit. “It opens us up to brand-new territory,” creator Andrew W. Marlowe tells us. “There are ways that are organic to get Castle and Beckett out of New York; they can go away for the weekend.” Case in point: An upcoming episode will feature a romantic getaway in the Hamptons! Well, it’s romantic until the town’s fresh-faced police chief calls on Beckett and Castle to assist with his first-ever homicide investigation.

Question: How long will it be before Elena starts embracing her vampirism on The Vampire Diaries? — Amy

NATALIE: Not long. Once the transition starts, there’s no turning back. Fortunately, she’s got a ton of friends who have already been through it themselves! In the season premiere, Stefan will have a heartfelt chat with Elena about her new strengths and weaknesses. He’ll also present her with her first daylight ring — made especially for her by Bonnie.

Question: What can we expect from Jimmy Palmer on NCIS now that Brian Dietzen has been made a series regular? — Marc

ADAM: With Ducky sidelined by his heart attack, look for Palmer to jump scalpel-first into his job as acting coroner. “He really has to take over the reins, [and] it points out both Palmer’s strengths and weaknesses,” executive producer Gary Glasberg says. But what happens when Ducky comes back? “They work so brilliantly together as a team,” Glasberg says. “[But] Palmer is assuming a certain role. Inherently, there are moments [of conflict]. There’s a great episode down the road when Ducky has to rediscover his mojo.”

Question: Now that Michael knows the name of the man who killed his brother on Burn Notice, will he actually be able to find him? — Rebecca

ADAM: Sort of. During Thursday’s midseason finale, Michael will come face-to-face with the man he believes to be Tyler Gray. But Michael will be forced to question the legitimacy of his intel when he learns a very surprising (and life-threatening) revelation about someone close to him.

Question: Now that Bree Turner is a series regular on Grimm, please tell me that the hinted-at romance between Rosalee and Monroe will finally get a kick in the butt! — Leslie

ADAM: The Blutbad-Fuchsbau moment you’ve been waiting for will finally arrive when Monroe and Rosalee go out on a date. But while we were hoping for an enchanting, furry encounter à la Lady and the Tramp, danger in the form of another Wesen interferes. But don’t worry about their safety: Rosalee will reveal an unexpected side of herself.

Question: Any scoop on Once Upon a Time? —Rae

Ausiello: Something will happen this season that will ensure Mary Margaret and Emma get a lot of mother-daughter bonding time, whether they like it or not. Bonus clue: Think Lost.

Question: Can I get a spoiler on Season 2 of Person of Interest? —Andres

Ausiello: Finch going missing in the Season 1 finale raises a big question about the Machine’s identification of the next POI — and viewers will get that answer when the hit drama returns Sept. 27. ”[Exec producer] Jonah [Nolan] and [writer] Denise [Thé] have found a really novel, interesting way to present the number in the absence of Finch. Who does the Machine turn to?” says EP Greg Plageman. “And that is answered in the premiere, per the title [‘The Contigency’].” Wait, so it’s not simply some pneumatic tube like at the bank drive-up? “We toyed with that!” Plageman admits.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today (few though they may be):

TELEVISION

Actor Goran Visnjic (ER) has joined the cast of the upcoming mid-season series Red Widow, which will debut on ABC. The series is based on a Dutch format, centering on Marta Walraven (Radha Mitchell) who, after her gangster husband is brutally murdered by a rival cartel, takes on the gangsters and the FBI to unveil the truth about her husband’s death. Visnjic will play Schiller, the mafia mob boss. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Neal McDonough (who just finished a recurring role on Justified) will appear on an upcoming episode of CSI: NY this fall. He will play Senator Gordon Hamilton, the “ultimate politician”. CSI: NY will return for a new season starting on September 28 at 8 PM (its new time slot). (Megan Masters at TV Line)

Actor Terrence Howard (Iron Man) will guest star on Hawaii Five-0, being featured in flashbacks to Danny’s (Scott Caan) life as a cop in New Jersey. This episode will also feature Ving Rhames. Hawaii Five-0 will be back starting on September 24 on CBS. (Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

BBC is producing a new take on The Lady Vanishes with a cast that includes Keeley Hawes (Upstairs Downstairs, Gemma Jones (Spooks) and Julian Rhind-Tutt (The Hour). The story centers on Iris, a young socialite on vacation who leaves her friends to travel alone; but after fainting at the train station, she awakens in a dreamlike state where a woman who comforts her then vanishes. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Director Gary Ross (who directed The Hunger Games) has a new project: Peter And The Starcatchers with Disney. The film is in spirit a prequel to Peter Pan (by J.M. Barrie) In this film the story is focused on a fantasy pirate adventure that starts when Peter leads a group of orphaned boys sent to work as servants for King Zarboff. He winds up on a ship with Molly, who intrigues him with a story of how she is an apprentice Starcatcher, a group that collects “starstuff” that falls to Earth and gives power to those who find it. They must keep it away from the pirate Black Stache, as well as the king. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch With Kristin at E! Online)

Question: Something I never thought I’d say: Peter Hale has become my favorite character on Teen Wolf! What’s he going to be up to in season three? – Jacqui

Team WWK: You aren’t the only one loving Peter’s funnier side. “Ian Bohen loved it. It’s fun when you can bring a character back like that. From mass murdered in season one and people love him now!” executive producer Jeff Davis says. As for Peter’s role in season three, Jeff teases, “His intentions I would say are pretty murky at the moment. You’ll definitely know more in season three. He’s going to become a bigger presence than he’s been.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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