Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Today will mark my last daily update until either Monday or Tuesday of next week due to my going to Anaheim starting tomorrow for the annual Wonder Con.

For now, here is today’s news:

TELEVISION

HBO has canceled the low-rated but renewed for a second season debut drama Luck due to the death of three horses during the production of the series. (Variety)

Actor Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl) has joined the cast of the upcoming six-episode USA Network series Political Animals that already consists of Sigourney Weaver and Carla Gugino. The series, which will debut this summer, follows Elaine Barrish (Weaver), a divorced former First Lady who immerses herself in her new job as Secretary of State as she rebounds from the dissolution of her marriage and losing the presidential nomination. Stan will play her son T.J, a lost soul struggling with addiction — the polar opposite of his “perfect” twin brother, Douglas (James Wolk from Lone Star and Happy Endings). Brittany Ishibashi (Ghostfacers) plays Doug’s fiancée. Carla Gugino plays a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who is hell-bent on destroying Elaine’s career. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Eric Close will reprise his role of Boston lawyer Travis Tilden in the second season of the USA Network drama Suits. (The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Bonnie Somerville (The Ugly Truth) has landed the female lead opposite British actor Theo James (Bedlam and Downton Abbey) in the CBS drama pilot called Golden Boy that centers on cop Walter Clark (James) and chronicles his meteoric rise from officer to detective and ultimately police commissioner. Somerville will play Detective Deborah McKenzie, a Long Island native and third-generation cop who is the only female detective on the homicide squad. (Deadline)

Actress Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot called Bad Girls that will follow the ins and outs of a group of unlikely women in a federal prison. Ross will play Rachel, a high-powered business woman who is now serving time for selling phony mortgages. She delayed having kids because of her career, and now she’s desperate to get pregnant — which isn’t easy in prison. (Deadline)

Actor/Comedian Simon Pegg is in negotiations to play a top-secret role in the TNT period drama pilot called L.A. Noir that is a period thriller based on the acclaimed novel of the same name. The pilot centers on the 1940s/50s-era epic battle between determined Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker (Neal McDonough) and boxer-turned-mobster Mickey Cohen. Details on Pegg’s character are being kept under wraps. Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) and Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) also star. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Scott Wolf (Party of Five and V) has been cast in drama pilot called Joey Dakota over at The CW. The pilot is based on the Israeli format Danny Hollywood, which is a romantic-time-travel-musical centering on Maya (Amber Stevens), a documentary filmmaker making a film about Joey Dakota, a rock star who met an untimely death in the 1990s. She travels back in time to the 1990s where she meets and falls in love with Joey and when she unexpectedly returns to present day, she must find her way back to the past to reunite with her love and prevent his death. Wolf will play the mysterious Franklin, who seems to know a lot about Maya’s situation, may have been dabbling with time travel himself, and could be the key to Maya’s returning to the past and the man she loves. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Rick Schroder (NYPD Blue) has joined the cast of the as-yet untitled drama pilot from Karyn Usher that centers on Jane Forsythe (Saxon Sharbino), the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA operative (Schroder) who encounters a mysterious rogue agent (Julian McMahon) who serves as her professional mentor in the spy world. Angela Bassett will also star. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Chloe Moretz (Hugo) and actor Rupert Grint (the Harry Potter franchise) have both joined the cast of the upcoming film called The Drummer which is an independent bio-pic chronicling the last six years in the life of Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson. Moretz is in final negotiations to play Wilson’s daughter Jennifer while Grint will play Stan Shapiro, a mail room intern at William Morris who befriended Wilson during the last years of the musician’s life. Actor Aaron Eckhart will play Wilson while actress Vera Farmiga is set as Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actor Michael Fassbender (Shame and X-Men: First Class) is in talks to star in the upcoming movie called The Mountain Between Us, which follows two strangers who survive a plane crash in the Colorado woods and are forced to rely on one another for survival, eventually falling in love. Fassbender plays the lead role of Ben Trace, a doctor and avid climber who uses his skills to transport an injured writer named Ashley down a mountain in harsh weather. (Variety and First Showing)

Actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfo in the Harry Potter franchise) will appear alongside actress Sharon Stone in the upcoming movie called Attachment playing a student who seduces his married teacher (Stone), then stalks her and her family while dating the teacher’s teenage daughter. (Vulture)

Actor Nathan Fillion (Castle) has joined the cast of the Percy Jackson sequel called Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Sea of Monsters, which is based on the second book in Rick Riordan’s best-selling young adult book series. He will play the god Hermes, the father of antagonist Luke, who is played in the films by actor Jake Abel. Logan Lerman returns in the lead role of demigod Percy with Alexandra Daddario and Brandon T. Jason both returning as well. (Pamela McClintock at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actors Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) and Richard Blake (Dragonball: Evolution) will star in the upcoming film called Snake and Mongoos that is an independent bio-pic based on the true story of drag racing legends Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “Mongoose” McEwen. Williams will play Prudhomme and Blake will play McEwen. The film will follow the longtime friendship and rivalry between the two legends. (Variety)

Actress Kiera Knightley (Pride & Prejudice) is in early talks to take on the lead role in the film adaptation of the Nicolas Sparks novel called Safe Haven. The synopsis of the book is: When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family. But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her; a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. (Twitch and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

In advance, have a fantastic weekend and I’ll be back with more news, probably, on Tuesday of next week.

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The History Channel is making its first foray into scripted series with Vikings, a 10-episode drama that will chronicle the world of the mighty Norsemen who raided, traded and explored during medieval times. The drama will premiere in 2013. (Deadline)

Actress Khandi Alexander (CSI: Miami) will guest star in the upcoming new summer drama Common Law from the USA Network. The series is set to premiere on May 11, telling the story of Travis Marks (Michael Ealy) and Wes Mitchell (Warren Kole), two sharp LAPD detectives whose partnership becomes so strained that Captain Mike Sutton (Jack McGee) sends them to see couples therapist Dr. Ryan (Sonya Walger). Alexander will play Captain Sutton’s long-suffering wife Helen, who joins her husband and his detectives in group session. In fact, Sutton sends Wes and Travis to Dr. Ryan because she was able to work wonders for him and his wife. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Here are the dramas that have been given a renewal order by CBS (thus far): Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, CSI, The Good Wife, Hawaii Five-0, The Mentalist, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles and Person of Interest. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue) will guest star on Rizzoli & Isles as the biological mother of Maura (Sasha Alexander). The cable drama will be back this summer with new episodes on TNT. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Andrea Roth (Rescue Me) and JD Pardo (American Dreams) have both been cast in the NBC drama pilot from JJ Abrams and Eric Kripke called Revolution that follows a group of people struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. Roth will play Rachel, the mother of 2 of the leads who Pardo will play Nate, an expert archer. (Deadline)

Actress Erin Cummings (Spartacus: Blood and Sand) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot called Baby Big Shot, which is a legal drama centered on Martina (Janet Montgomery), a working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a top New York law firm. Cummings will play Martina’s sexually heightened older sister. (Deadline)

Katherine LaNasa (Big Love) and Neil Jackson (Make It or Break It) have both been cast in the NBC drama pilot called Notorious that is being described as an opulent soap in which a female detective returns undercover to the wealthy and troubled Lawson family she grew up in — as the maid’s daughter — to solve the murder of the notorious heiress who was once her closest friend. LaNasa will play the beautiful, elegant sharp-tongued Sofia Lawson, the second wife of the patriarch Robert Lawson (Victor Garber), who is used to managing the family crises with ruthless expertise. Jackson will play the handsome, sexy and smart bad boy of the family who has returned home for the funeral. (Deadline)

Actor Matt Davis (The Vampire Diaries) will star opposite Jessica Lucas (Melrose Place and 90210) in the drama pilot for The CW called Cult. The pilot centers on Skye (Lucas), an inquisitive young production assistant on a wildly popular television show called Cult. After a rash of disappearances and a likely murder, she joins Jeff (Davis), a journalist blogger whose brother was among those gone missing, in investigating the rabid fans of the series who might be re-creating crimes seen on the program in real life. (Deadline)

Actress Suleka Mathew (Hawthorne) and Jaime Ray Newman (Eastwick and Drop Dead Diva) have both been added to the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Penoza, which is based on a Dutch format. The pilot centers on Martha (Radha Mitchell), the widow of an assassinated criminal who is forced to adopt her husband’s role in a crime syndicate in order to protect her family. Mathew will play Marta’s best friend Dina while Newman will play Marta’s younger sister Kat. (Deadline)

Actress Louise Lombard (CSI) has joined the as-yet untitled FOX drama pilot from Karyn Usher that centers on Jane Forsythe (Saxon Sharbino), the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA operative who encounters mysterious rogue agent Kevin Lear (Julian McMahon) who serves as her surrogate father and professional mentor in the spy world. Lombard will play Kevin’s former lover Wendy, a CIA operative who offers to help him raise a teen girl. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jeremy Irons is in final negotiations to join the supernatural love story Beautiful Creatures (based on the best-selling novel of the same name). He is expected to play Macon Ravenwood, the mysterious and reclusive uncle of the leading girl (Alice Englert). (The Press Association and Dark Horizons)

It looks like the box office adaptation of the long-running FOX drama 24 has been put on hold yet again. The film hasn’t been scrapped, but it is rumored to be on hold until sometime next year. It has already been reported that lead actor Kiefer Sutherland has expressed his displeasure over this latest development. (Twitter, Deadline and First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER AND BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE

Watch: New Featurette & Preview for ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’

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

Question: Got any scoop on the “kid from Baltimore” storyline on NCIS? — Maddie, via Twitter

ADAM: Word on the “kid” is that he’s a boy Tony once saved from a fire many years ago. Unfortunately, not all of his family members made it out alive, which drove him to become an arson investigator. Look for him to be reunited with Tony when a string of fires leave the Baltimore cops stumped and in need of some federal input.

Question: I’m really rooting for Lanie and Esposito to get back together on Castle. What do you know about that? — Nicky

ADAM: You’ll probably enjoy Beckett and Lanie’s upcoming girls’ night! Tamala Jones tells us the episode will reveal what it was in Lanie’s past that turned her against marriage and spooked her into breaking things off with Esposito. Perhaps reliving the bad will lead to good things down the line. “We’re talking about Castle and we’re talking about Esposito, and I think that’s a good segue into rekindling or figuring out why Esposito and Lanie didn’t work,” Jones says.

Question: What’s coming up on Once Upon a Time? —Chris

NATALIE: Mary Margaret won’t be the only one behind bars. Lest we forget, Prince Charming ran away from the kingdom, and even though he helped Abigail reunite with her golden lover, King George won’t be so forgiving. “King George takes him, so he’s locked away in fairytale land,” Josh Dallas teases. “He’s going to have to do some fighting to get out.”

Question: I can’t wait for Royal Pains to return! Is Dr. Paul Van Dyke (Kyle Howard) really going to be the new Hank of Hank Med? —Mindy

NATALIE: Not quite. Although Evan was seen knocking on Paul’s door in the final moments of Season 3, he will hire another doctor who has some serious people problems. Paging Dr. Hank!

Question: Now that Homeland has announced a Season 2 premiere date, I think it’s time to start dishing!

ADAM: Morena Baccarin confirms that there will be a time-jump between seasons, and she’s hoping her character will be in a happier place, despite Brody’s new political career, when the drama returns. “I think it’s going to be a challenge,” she says. “I think she embraced it in order to be there for him, which is something she wants and believes is best for the family.” She may also get wise to Brody’s double life. “I think it makes sense that she catches on a little or at least suspects something is going on,” Baccarin says.

Question: I am tired of seeing David Clarke on Revenge. He annoys the hell out of me! Please tell me when he is gone from the show. —C.C

Ausiello: Conrad, is that you? I’m afraid I have some bad news. Not only will Emily’s dead pa continue to be a regular presence in flashbacks, but the upcoming episode set in 1991 will chronicle the early days of his relationship to Victoria. The big surprise? The Grayson matriarch wasn’t always such an ice queen. “Over time, she’s become a little bit more [hardened],” portrayer Madeleine Stowe tells TV Line. “Early on, you might see something that’s a little more playful, a little more fun.” The origin-heavy hour will also jump ahead to 2002 to show the “tough and rough” dynamic between fresh-out-of-juvie Emily and frenemy Nolan, previews Emily VanCamp, who adds, “We also have almost all of the take-down characters [return]. It’s really cool. It’s a great episode.”

Question: Please grace us with any scoop you have on Revenge. —Brandi

Ausiello: Fun fact: There’s a good reason Jack is holding on to that blood-soaked hoodie of his instead of lighting a match to it. “I might need it later,” hints Nick Wechsler in character. “If I need to get [Amanda] out of trouble, I might want it because I need to prove that I was there.” Meanwhile, don’t expect the bartender to swoop in and steal Emily while Daniel’s off doing time in the pokey. “He’s a good enough guy that he’s not wishing ill on [Daniel],” muses the actor. “He feels bad for him.” But, he adds, there “might be an [opportunity] now” in Daniel’s absence for “a slightly lingering hug” between the childhood sweethearts.

Question: I heard that the last two Hart of Dixie episodes of the season could be major for the Zoe/Wade/George triangle. Can you confirm and shed some more light on to which way this will go? —Ali

Ausiello: Here’s my carefully worded response to what is proving to be a very popular question here at Ask Ausiello headquarters: Zoe is going to have a lot to mull over this summer given what’s about to go down in her relationships with both guys.

Question: Can you please, please, please share some Smash scoop with us? —Bill

Ausiello: Someone (a very important someone) gets fired from Marilyn: The Musical in next week’s episode, but it remains unclear if the pink slip will stick.

Question: Please help us get through our Grimm hiatus with some scoop about what is coming up. —Stacie

Ausiello: I have it on good authority that the season finale will feature not one but two spectacular cliffhangers. In more timely news, next time we see poor Juliette she’ll be taking matters into her own hands — literally.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

I’ve been MIA from the daily updates for the past few weekdays because of other obligations, but I’m back now at least for a few more days. Fair warning: I’ll be away for the weekend, heading to Anaheim (California) for the annual WonderCon this weekend so be prepared for delayed news during that time too.

Right now, though, here are the news items from the past three weekdays:

TELEVISION

Actor Mekhi Phifer (Torchwood) will guest star on an upcoming episode of White Collar when the USA Network drama returns this summer for more new episodes. He will play FBI agent Kyle Collins, the Bureau’s top international fugitive-hunting specialist, who is tasked with catching Neal (Matt Bomer) — at any cost. Meanwhile, actress Mia Maestro (Alias) has landed the role of Maya, a local café owner with whom Neal will be romantically involved. And, actor Raymond Cruz (The Closer) will play Sheriff Enrico Morales, a corrupt local official on a small island town who crosses paths with Neal and Mozzie (Willie Garson). (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide, Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Tammy Blanchard (Moneyball) has booked a three-episode arc on the Showtime dark comedy series The Big C. She will play Giselle, a sexy, married, and uninhibited Pilates instructor who enters into an unconventional relationship with Cathy’s (Laura Linney) brother Sean (John Benjamin Hickey). Her growing affection for Sean and her adventurous sense of romance fulfills and complicates his life in ways he never expected. (Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Scottie Thompson (NCIS) has joined the cast of Graceland, a drama pilot from White Collar creator Jeff Eastin for the USA Network that will follow six agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and U.S. Customs whose worlds collide while living together in an undercover house in Southern California. Thompson will play Lauren Kincaid, a loyal and determined DEA agent dealing with the repercussion of her wounded partner. Additionally, actor Courtney B. Vance (FlashForward) has landed a role in the drama pilot where he will play Sam Campbell, a veteran FBI special agent who is the section chief at Quantico and the mentor for Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit), a freshly minted agent just out of the academy. (Variety, The Futon Critic and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks and Desperate Housewives) is set to co-star in the CBS drama pilot called Baby Big Shot that is a legal drama centered on Martina (Janet Montgomery), a working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at top New York law firm Stark & Cohen. MacLachlan will play the head man at Stark & Cohen, a rhino who booms confidence and big-picture philosophy. He sees something in Martina and gives her a promotion. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Steven Bauer (Breaking Bad) has joined the cast of the Showtime drama pilot called Ray Donovan that stars Liev Schreiber in the title role. The pilot centers on Ray, a professional “fixer” for LA’s rich and famous who can make anyone’s problems disappear, except the ones created by his own family. Bauer will play Avi, Ray’s number one man at his detective agency. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Claire Forlani (CSI: NY) has landed the lead in the ABC drama pilot Scruples based on the best-selling novel by Judith Krantz of the same name that will feature Natalie Portman as one of the executive producers. Forlani will star as Billy Winthrop, a powerful clothing designer. Meanwhile, actor Boris Kodjoe (Undercovers) has been cast as Josh Hillman, the attorney of Billy’s late husband. Also, actors Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) and Gary Cole (Chuck) have booked principal roles on the drama pilot. Murray will play Spider Elliot, a photographer who’s partners/friends with Billy and designer, Valentine O’Neill (Karine Vanasse from Pan Am). Cole will play Royce Franklin, a lawyer who wants Billy’s company for himself. (Deadline, The Futon Critic and TV Line)

Actor Matt Letscher (Eli Stone) will play dad to actress AnnaSophia Robb, who will play young Carrie Bradshaw in The Carrie Diaries, the ’80s-themed CW drama pilot based on Candace Bushnell’s novel. (Deadline)

Actress Jacinda Barrett (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) will play ER vet Anthony Edwards’ wife in the ABC drama pilot Zero Hour. (Deadline)

Actress Sharon Leal (Hellcats) will play the wife of Cuba Gooding Jr. character in the FOX drama pilot called Guilty. (Deadline)

Actor Tim Guinee (The Good Wife) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot called Revolution, which comes from J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke. The pilot follows a group of people struggling to survive in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. (Deadline)

Actor Jay Mohr (Gary Unmarried and Ghost Whisperer) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot called Applebaum that will star Rachelle Lefevre (the Twilight Saga franchise) as a former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom. Mohr will play her P.I. partner, Al Hockey whose garage doubles as the agency’s office. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Michael Imperioli (Detroit 1-8-7 and The Sopranos) has been cast in the NBC drama pilot called County that will follow a group of young doctors in a frenetic, underfunded and morally compromising Los Angeles county hospital. He will play Dr. Mercer, Jack’s (Jason Ritter from Parenthood and The Event) senior resident. (TV Line and The Futon Critic)

Actor Craig Horner (Legend of the Seeker) has landed a lead role in the drama pilot called Dakota for The CW. The pilot is about Maya Beaumont (Amber Stevens), a documentarian who travels back in time to 1990 where she meets and falls in love with the rock star subject of her film only to return to present day where she must find her way back and prevent his untimely death. He will play said subject, Joey Dakota, who’s fated to commit suicide at age 25. (The Futon Critic and Deadline)

Actor Grant Show (Melrose Place) and Mariana Klaveno (True Blood) have landed roles in the ABC drama pilot called Devious Maids that will be about four maids (Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez, Roselyn Sanchez and Judy Reyes) with ambitions and dreams of their own while they work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills. Show and Klaveno will play Spencer and Peri Davis, bickering actors who employ one of the maids (Ramirez). Additionally, actress Susan Lucci (All My Children) and actors Drew Van Acker (Pretty Little Liars) and Brett Cullen (Lost) have also landed roles in the pilot. Lucci will play Genevieve Delacourt, Zoila’s (Reyes) employer, an aging beauty who’s driving herself crazy over the loss of her looks. Acker will appear as her handsome, well-meaning son Remi, whom Zoila’s daughter Valentina pines after while Cullen will play Michael Slate, who hires Marisol (Ortiz) after his old maid left with his ex-wife Olivia (yet to be cast). (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Rade Serbedzija (24) and actress Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black) have been cast in the ABC drama pilot about Marta Walraven (Mitchell), the widow of an assassinated criminal who is suddenly forced to adopt her late husband’s role in order to protect her family. Serbedzija will play Andrei Lazarev, a respected old-school Russian mobster. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Angela Bassett and actor Julian McMahon (Charmed and Nip/Tuck) are in talks to join the cast of the as-yet untitled Karyn Usher Project at FOX that will be about Jane Forsythe (Saxon Sharbino), the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA agent who is recruited to become an operative herself. They’ll play her contrasting mentors: Alice Vargas, the Director of the CIA; and Kevin Lear, her late father’s best friend. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Vanessa Williams (Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called 666 Park Avenue that will be about a young couple (Rachael Taylor, Dave Annable) who accept an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in New York City where they begin to experience supernatural occurrences. Williams will play Olivia Doran, the wife of the building’s owner, Gavin (Terry O’Quinn). (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Alan Dale (Lost) has landed a role in the ABC drama pilot Beauty and the Beast set in a mythical city where its princess, Grace (Ruth Bradley), is tasked with quelling a rebellion. Dale will play her father, Emperor Dorian, who has been poisoned – presumably by the rebels – leaving Grace in charge. (Variety and The Futon Critic)

Actor Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights) has been cast in the as-yet untitled Josh Berman/Rob Wright drama pilot for FOX that will be about Grace Devlin (Jordana Spiro from My Boys), one of Chicago’s top young cardiothoracic surgeons who, to save her gambling-indebted brother is forced to moonlight as a mob doctor. Gilford will play Brett Robinson, a doctor who works with Grace at the Chicago Medical Center. (The Hollywood Reporter and The Futon Critic)

Actress Carla Gugino (Watchmen) will star opposite actress Sigourney Weaver (Avatar) in the six-hour USA Network original series called Political Animals. Gugino will play Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper reporter Susan Berg, a hungry DC journalist bent on destroying the career of former First Lady and newly appointed Secretary of State Elaine Barrish (Weaver). (The Futon Critic)

Actresses Julie Benz (Buffy and Angel) and Jaime Murray (Warehouse 13) and actor Tony Curran (Covert Affairs) have landed roles in the Syfy drama called Defiance that will be sent the near future, focusing on a world where humans and aliens must learn to live together on an exotic new Earth that has been transformed by alien terra-forming machines. Benz will play Amanda Rosewater, the idealistic newly appointed mayor of the mining boomtown who is determined to maintain peace in the community; Curran will play Datak Tarr, a member of another elite alien race known as the Castithans who schemed his way out of his home planet before it was destroyed and Murray as Datak’s beautiful and proper wife. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Lennie James (Hung and Jericho) has landed a role in the ABC drama pilot called Gotham that is about Annie Travers (Megan Ketch), a cop who, after pursuing a seemingly unsolvable case, discovers a magical world that exists within New York City. He will play Gabriel Riga, a wealthy CEO running for mayor who has ties to said world. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Neal McDonough (Justified) has scored a role in the TNT drama pilot called L.A. Noir that tells the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen in the 1950s. He will play Parker, a man with a long memory and a ruthless streak when provoked, who is committed to rooting out corruption in the police department, and equally dedicated to bringing down Mickey Cohen and the mob. Also cast in the pilot is actress Alexa Davalos (The Chronicles of Riddick), who will play Jasmine, a beauty with a complicated past. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

FOX is developing an English-language adaptation of Telemundo’s blockbuster 2011 telenovela La Reina del Sur (The Queen of the South), which centers on Teresa Mendoza, an innocent young girl from a small Mexican village, whose desire to avenge a personal tragedy leads her down a path to become the most powerful woman in the dangerous world of narcotics trafficking in Europe. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor William Moseley (The Chronicles Of Narnia) has landed a role in the drama pilot for The CW called The Selection, which is based on the upcoming series of books by Kiera Cass. The story is an epic romance set 300 years in the future, centering on America Singer (Aimee Teegarden from Friday Night Lights), a poor young woman who is chosen by lottery to participate in a competition to marry Prince Maxon (Ethan Peck from the TV version of 10 Things I Hate About You) and become the next queen of a war-torn nation at a crossroads. Moseley will play Aspen Leger, a handsome and brave young man with a regal bearing under his ragged clothes who belongs to the servant class and has to support his entire family. He is having a secret, illegal relationship with America since it’s not allowed to date anyone out of one’s caste. Despite his love for her, when he learns she has a shot at bettering her and her family’s lives by competing in The Selection, he takes himself out of the picture by enlisting in the royal army. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 movies for this past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations:

1. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, $39.1 million
2. John Carter, $30.6 million
3. Project X, $11.6 million
4. Silent House, $7.01 million
5. Act of Valor, $7 million
6. A Thousand Words, $6.4 million
7. Safe House, $5 million
8. The Vow, $4 million
9. This Means War, $3.8 million
10. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, $3.7 million

The feature film Maleficent, a twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale which tells the story from the perspective of the evil witch, to be played by Angelina Jolie, who can turn into a dragon will star young actress Elle Fanning (Super 8 and Somewhere) has landed the role of Princess Aurora, the young sent to sleep for longer than a short slumber in the old story. (Twitch and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey) will appear, in addition to Season 3 of the PBS/UK mega-hit, in another period project in London called Summer in February where he will play Gilbert Evans, a 1913 land agent for the Lamorna Valley estate in England’s picturesque, southwestern county of Cornwall, which has become home to a group of artists. Australian actress Emily Browning plays the object of his affection, Florence Carter-Wood, and Dominic Cooper is Evans’ charismatic competition, A.J., who would go on to fame as artist Sir Alfred Munnings, one of England’s best painters of rural scenes. The film is based on a book by a teacher from his old school, Jonathan Smith. (Yahoo News)

Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway (Shameless and HawthoRNe) will guest star in the season finale of the new drama Ringer, playing Special Agent Berens, the Regional Director of the FBI who shows leniency to Agent Machado (Nestor Carbonell). The season finale will air on The CW on April 17 at 9 PM. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actor Jamey Sheridan (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) has been promoted to a series regular for season 2 of Showtime’s new drama Homeland. In season one, he played Vice President Walden, who survived an assassination attempt and offered Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) to run for the U.S. House of Representatives as he himself is priming for a Presidential run. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Frankie Faison (The Wire) has been cast as a regular in the upcoming Cinemax drama Banshee that is being executive produced by Alan Ball (True Blood). The 10-episode series will center on an ex-convict and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, PA, where he continues his criminal activities even as he’s being hunted by the shadowy gangsters he had betrayed years earlier. Faison will play Sugar Bates, a powerful and wise former boxer and ex-con who is now the owner of the local watering hole. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Jay Harrington (Better Off Ted) has been added to the cast of the FOX drama pilot called Guilty from Greg Berlanti (Everwood). The pilot centers on a brilliant, morally questionable defense attorney, Billy (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) who, after being falsely convicted of fraud and stripped of his legal license, uses his unorthodox methods to solve the cases he’s been prohibited from handling and to exact revenge on those who set him up. Harrington will play Scott, a former colleague of Billy’s who has set up a practice of his own that Billy uses as a home base. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Mercedes Masohn (The Finder) and actor Robert Buckley (One Tree Hill) have both landed roles in the ABC drama pilot 666 Park Avenue, based on the Gabriella Pierce novel, about a young couple (Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable) who accept an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in New York City where they begin to experience supernatural occurrences. Masohn and Buckley will play two of their tenants – playwright Brian Leonard and his photographer wife Louise. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Aidan Quinn (the short-lived Prime Suspect) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot called Elementary that envisions Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) in the present day as a former Scotland Yard consultant who solves crimes for the NYPD alongside Joan Watson (Lucy Liu), his personal recovery assistant. Quinn will play Tobias “Toby” Gregson, an NYPD Captain who originally crossed paths with Holmes while assigned to Scotland Yard to observe their counterterrorism bureau after 9/11. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Rochelle Aytes (the short-lived Work It, Detroit 1-8-7 and The Forgotten) has landed a role in the upcoming ABC drama called Mistresses, which is based on the U.K. series of the same name. The pilot follows the lives of four female friends and their involvement in an array of illicit and complex relationships. She will play April, a recent widow raising two daughters and running a high-end linen shop on Robertson Boulevard. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Jeremy Piven is in negotiations to star in the 10-episode ITV drama series called Mr. Selfridge. That will trace the life of the flamboyant and visionary American entrepreneur, Harry Gordon Selfridge, chronicling the launch of his famous London department store Selfridge’s. The series is based on the book Shopping, Seduction And Mr. Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead. It would be set in London in 1909 at a time when wealthy women were enjoying a new sense of freedom, and “Mile a Minute Harry” wanted to indulge, empower and celebrate these women, making shopping as thrilling as sex. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Lauren German (Hawaii Five-0 and Happy Town) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot Chicago Fire that will star Jesse Spencer (House). The drama is about the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. German will play the all-business and humorless Shay to whom the team reports. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

British actor Theo James (Bedlam, Downton Abbey and Underworld: Awakening) has landed the lead in the CBS drama pilot Golden Boy, which centers on Clark (James), a cop, and chronicles his meteoric rise from officer to detective and ultimately police commissioner. Actor Ryan Phillippe was originally tapped for the role but exited shortly thereafter. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is in negotiations to star in the revenge thriller film called Motor City that follows a small-time hood (Gyllenhaal) framed and sent to prison by a drug trafficker, only to relentlessly exact revenge years later to get back the woman he loves. Gary Oldman and Amber Heard have already been cast. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actor s Nick Braun (ABC Family’s short-lived 10 Things I Hate About You) and Brandon T. Jackson (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief) have joined the cast of upcoming comedy film called Get A Job that follows a college graduate named Will (Miles Teller from Footloose and Rabbit Hole) and his friends who have to lower their expectations about life as they enter the real world during a recession. Braun, Jackson as well as Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad and Kick Ass) will play Will’s three friends. Anna Kendrick (the Twilight Saga franchise) will play Will’s hard-charging girlfriend and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) is his father who is also looking for a job at the same time his son is. Alison Brie is also onboard as a sharp-witted co-worker. (Yahoo! and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor John Ratzenberger (Cheers) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Drop Dead Diva, playing the estranged father of Kim Kaswell (Kate Levering) who, after decades of loyal service as a janitor at a Fortune 500 insurance company, suddenly loses his job and discovers his pension has been underfunded. Not one to take defeat lying down, he strikes back at his corrupt former employer by moving into the insurance company CEO’s empty Bel Air estate until he’s caught by the CEO, who tries to evict him. Larry will turn to Kim for legal help. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actor Ben Browder (Farscape and Stargate SG-1) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Doctor Who. The episode will be set in the Wild Wild West, but there are no specifics on what character he will play. (SFX and Blastr and DoctorWhoTV)

Actor Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) will play a key role in the season finale of the new USA drama Common Law, which is set to premiere on May 11. The new series stars Michael Ealy and Warren Kole as Travis Marks and Wes Mitchell, two well-regarded Los Angeles robbery-homicide detectives who are forced to go into counseling in order to save their “work marriage.” Sonya Walger (Lost) plays Dr. Ryan, the therapist who helps them work through their issues. Purcell will play John Crowell, a swaggering detective who works for the LAPD’s Special Investigative Services. Part of the reason Wes and Travis were forced into couples’ therapy is because Wes pulled his gun on Travis, an incident that got both of them in very serious trouble and forced them into counseling. (Huffington Post)

Actress Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) and actor Niall Matter (Eureka) have been cast in lead roles in the spin-off (of sorts) Canadian series Primeval: New World that will air on the SPACE Channel in Canada. There doesn’t seem to be any U.S. distributor as yet. (KSiteTV and The Hollywood Reporter)

Actors Rob Estes (Silk Stalking) and Evan Handler (Sex and the City) will both guest star in episodes of Necessary Roughness. Estes will appear as Rob Maroney, Terrence’s (Mehcad Brooks) agent who is willing to go to any lengths to fulfill his wishes while Handler will play Marshall Pittman, a powerful media mogul who owns the New York Hawks. (Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

MTV has given a pilot pickup order to Cassandra French’s Finishing School For Boys, a drama from actress Krysten Ritter and writer Eric Garcia based on Garcia’s novel of the same name. The pilot centers on Cassie French, a 22-year-old over-achiever who gets her dream job as a lawyer for a Hollywood studio but can’t find a guy ready for a real, mature relationship. After the latest disappointment, she locks a guy up in her basement in order to train him to become the perfect gentleman. Ritter, who will star in the midseason comedy Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23 next month, and Garcia are executive producing the pilot. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Film legend Sigourney Weaver will star in the USA Network six-hour original series Political Animals, playing Elaine Barrish, the divorced former first lady and newly appointed secretary of state who throws herself into the job after recovering from the dissolution of her marriage and losing the presidential nomination. Elaine will rely heavily on her son Doug (James Wolk from Happy Endings and the short-lived Lone Star), an ambitious politico who also serves as her chief of staff but is tormented by his twin brother’s battle with addiction. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Carrie-Anne Moss has landed the female lead opposite Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis in the as-yet untitled Ralph Lamb drama pilot for CBS. The pilot will be set in the 1960s and will chronicle the true story of Ralph Lamb (Quaid) – rodeo cowboy turned longtime Sheriff of Las Vegas – and Johnny Savino (Chiklis), a Chicago mob fixer whose entrepreneurial vision for transforming Las Vegas collides with the law-and-order mandate of Sheriff Lamb. Moss will play A.D.A. Katherine O’Connell, the daughter of a local rancher who grew up a neighbor to the Lambs and is now cutting her teeth in the D.A.’s office. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor John Barrowman (Torchwood) has landed the last series regular role on the ABC period drama pilot called Gilded Lilys that will be set in 1895 and will center on the Lilys, who are looking to revive their family’s fortunes by opening the most lavish hotel in New York history. Barrowman will play playboy brother Julius Lily. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Christine Adams (Terra Nova) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Americana, a family soap that centers on iconic fashion designer Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), the patriarch of a sprawling family who just welcomed a new member, Alice Clarke (Ashley Greene), a young designer whose shocking arrival turns the family and the legendary label inside out. Adams will play Robert’s wife Sierra, a bronze-skinned East African beauty and former supermodel. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Keri Russell (Felicity) will star in the FX period drama pilot called The Americans that will center on two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington, DC in the early 1980s. The arranged marriage of Phillip Jennings and Elizabeth Jennings (Russell) grows more passionate and genuine by the day but is constantly tested by the escalation of the Cold War and the intimate, dangerous and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of spies and informants under their control. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Anthony Edwards (ER) will be possibly be back on TV as he has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Zero Hour that centers on Hank Foley (Edwards) who, after spending 20 years as the editor of Modern Skeptics magazine, becomes involved in one the most compelling conspiracies in human history when his wife is kidnapped. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Rhys Coiro (A Gifted Man) has landed the lead role alongside Rachelle Lefevre (the Twilight saga films and ironically A Gifted Man) in the CBS drama pilot called Applebaum that is based on the Ayelet Waldman series of books called Mommy Track Mysteries. The pilot centers on Juliet Applebaum (Lefevre), a former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom. Coiro will play Juliet’s husband Peter, a successful comic book artist who is crazy about his wife. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Anson Mount (Hell on Wheels) will play a nasty villain in the indie racial drama film called Supremacy that is set to star Danny Glover, Joe Anderson, Derek Luke, Stacey Dash and Dawn Olivieri. The drama is based on a true story about a paroled white supremacist who has just killed a cop, and takes an African American family hostage over a long night of terror as authorities cordon off the neighborhood where he and his lady accomplice are laying low. Mount plays the role of Sobecki, a heavily tattooed maximum security prison inmate who’s the head of the Aryan Brotherhood and oversees his criminal empire from behind bars. He’s the kidnapper’s leader and not thrilled when he learns of his charge’s screw-up when he’s called in by authorities to negotiate with the kidnapper. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actor Michael Pena (Crash and Observe and Report) will star in the lead role in the bio-pic about Cesar Chavez, the labor organizer of the 60’s and 70’s. (Variety and First Showing)

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams and Adam Bryant from TV Guide)

Question: What’s coming up for Emily and Nolan on Revenge now that she knows he’s been working with Takeda? —Holland

NATALIE: They’re going to butt heads big time, but the damage isn’t permanent. Executive producer Mike Kelley sees them as siblings. “Nolan sees David Clarke as a de facto father figure and [Emily] didn’t get the benefit of knowing her father as an adult. They both think of each other like family, so no matter what we throw at them, they’re going to remain connected.”

Question: When will we learn what Snow White did that made the Evil Queen hate her so much on Once Upon a Time? — Sarah

NATALIE: April 1 is the magical day. So much is revealed in the hour that Lana Parrilla says she was surprised the story wasn’t spread over several episodes. “You’ll meet young Regina,” she says. “I look totally different — fresh-faced, doe-eyed, young, fun, excited about life, in love, and then it just gets really dark. It’s way before she becomes the Evil Queen.” Adds Ginnifer Goodwin: “Folks will sympathize with the Evil Queen in ways they’re not expecting

Question: I’m kind of bummed Castle killed off Sophia (Jennifer Beals). I liked the way she challenged Castle and Beckett. Is that weird? — Ashley

ADAM: It’s a little weird. But we may not have seen the last of the Russian spy after all. “I always knew that she was going to be the bad guy and we were going to kill her in the end. But I also know that in any sort of CIA-inspired story, nobody is ever really dead for certain,” creator Andrew W. Marlowe tells us. “I like to have my cake and eat it too. It’s all depending on where our storytelling takes us and assuming that Jennifer had a good time and wants to come back and play with us.” (OK, maybe it’s not so weird after all…)

Question: I miss Covert Affairs. What’s coming up in the new season? — Lois

NATALIE: Annie is getting a new mentor and confidant this season. If Joan is the “cold mom,” think of Lena as the “cool mom,” something Annie greatly aspires to be. Though Lena’s a consummate professional, she’s also very inclusive and treats her operatives as equals. Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is. Sorry, Annie!

Question: Got any scoop on Grimm? — Joshua

NATALIE: Get ready to meet Cinderella! She’s led a half-tragic, half-magical life with her mean stepmother and stepsisters, and a “Prince Charming” whose company has just sunk the family fortune. Oh, and did we mention Cinderella likes the dark and has got a wingspan that Batman would be jealous of?

Question: Now that Neal has run away, what will we see next season on White Collar? — Tom

NATALIE: Though Neal will be off living the life — with a new lady love in tow — he won’t be missing for long, not if Internal Affairs has anything to say about it. They’ll send their most dangerous agent to track him down, which is bad news for Neal because said agent will take his targets dead or alive.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Justified has been renewed for a 13-episode fourth season by FX. (The Futon Critic)

Fans of Veronica Mars can rejoice. SoapNet has picked up the syndication rights to the show and will be adding 4 episodes to their Saturday and Sunday morning programming schedule. On Saturdays the episodes will air from 10 AM to 1 PM while on Sunday the episodes will air from 10 AM to 1 PM.  (Twitter)

Actress Karina Lombard (The 4400 and The L Word) will guest star in an upcoming episode of NCIS as the longtime friend and mentor of Ziva. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Vanessa Marano (Switched at Birth) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Grey’s Anatomy, playing a patient in the 20th episode of the current season that is set to air in late April. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

FOX has made it official: Terra Nova has NOT been renewed. It will now join the LONG list of shows for which the network has cancelled; but word has it that 20th Century Fox TV is going to shop the series around. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and E! Online)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Mamie Gummer (Meryl Streep’s daughter and former star of the short-lived series Off The Map) has landed a lead role in the medical drama pilot at The CW called First Cut. The pilot is to center on Emily (Gummer), a newly minted doctor who, glad to leave her nerdy past behind for a fresh start in the adult professional world, discovers that, sadly and comically, life at the hospital where she works is no different than high school. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Eric Close (Without A Trace) and actress Connie Britton (American Horror Story and Friday Night Lights) have both joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Nashville that will be a family soap about love, country music, family, politics and sex, set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene. The pilot centers on 40-year-old Nashville superstar Rayna James (Britton) who is stunned to find that her star is fading and her label requires her to team up with teen sensation Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) on tour – or else face the loss of her own tour and the label’s promotion of her latest record, whose sales have been underwhelming. Close will play Rayna’s husband, who is now living on his wife’s salary. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and Tierney Bricker at E! Online)

Actress Jessy Schram (Falling Skies and Once Upon a Time) has been added to the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Last Resort that is about the crew of a U.S. nuclear submarine who, after ignoring a questionable order to fire nuclear missiles, escape to a NATO outpost where they declare themselves to be the world’s smallest nuclear nation. Schram will play Sam’s (Scott Speedman) dutiful wife whose patience for his return is growing thin. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Relative newcomer Megan Ketch has landed the female lead in the ABC drama pilot Gotham that will center on Detective Annie Travers (Ketch), a born-and-bred New Yorker investigating the “impossible murder” of a nightclub owner who is stunned to learn that New York has a whole secret magical history of which she (and everyone else) was hitherto unaware. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor David Harbour (Pan Am) has landed a role in the NBC drama pilot called Midnight Sun that is about the FBI’s investigation into the disappearance of a remote cult in Dugan, Alaska – led by Bennett Maxwell (Titus Welliver) – which taps into a grander political conspiracy. Harbour will play Ethan Davies, a suspicious lieutenant at the local Coast Guard Station. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Brianna Brown (General Hospital) has been cast in the ABC drama pilot called Devious Maids (based on the Mexican soap by Marc Cherry, the creator of Desperate Housewives). This pilot revolves around four maids (Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Roselyn Sanchez and Dania Ramirez) with ambition and dreams of their own while they work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills. Brown will play Taylor Slate, the classy and smart second (trophy) wife to Michael Slate, who’s insecure as his ex, Marisol, continues to be a factor in his life. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars and House of Lies) has been cast in Some Girls, the upcoming film adaptation of the Neil LaBute play that will star Adam Brody (The O.C.) as a man who attempts to make amends with several ex-girlfriends on the eve of his wedding. Bell plays Bobbi, a smart, articulate woman he bailed on years before without a word, leaving her without respect or love for him. (Twitter)

Actress Zoe Saldana and actor Casey Affleck are considering joining the cast of the upcoming film called Out of the Furnace that already includes Christian Bale as part of the cast. In fact, Bale will play a freed convict whose brother is murdered, scuttling his plans to go straight in lieu of seeking revenge. Saldana would play Bale’s ex-wife who is married to the town’s sheriff. There are no details on the role that Affleck would play as yet. (Vulture and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Dakota Fanning and Jeremy Irvine in UK Drama ‘Now is Good’ Trailer

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Roush at TV Guide)

Question: I am involved in an intense love-hate relationship with Smash. I can’t quite figure this show out. On the one hand, I adore the main characters: Ivy and Karen, Derek, Julia and Tom, all are entertaining, engaging and obviously talented. From there, though, the show falls down. It seems to me that the Smash writers haven’t quite settled on a personality for the show. Its half straight-forward soap and half over-the-top camp. I, for one, enjoy the straight-forward soap aspects much more. Is it possible to gradually tweak the show to weed out the parts that aren’t working? And what’s your take on the Ellis character, in particular? To me he’s just irritating, and not in an “Oooh, drama!” kind of way. I want him off my TV screen. I don’t think this show needs an outright villain; the drama between these flawed characters is good enough. Thoughts? — Kirsten

Matt Roush: Couldn’t agree more about Ellis. A terribly written and poorly realized character, one of several weak spots in a show that is clearly still trying to find its voice and tone. (The episode in which Karen went back home to Iowa was the show’s worst to date, but then it was followed by the episode in which Ivy shut Karen out during rehearsals, which may have been the show’s best since the pilot.) For me, Smash is at its best when focused on the show, as if it were A Chorus Line: The Series. The showmances, the financial and creative pressures, anything involving that cad Derek, I’m on board. It can take a while for any show that’s truly original to find its legs. I hope Smash gets that chance.

Question: Based off your previous columns, you are a fan of BBC 3/BBC America’s Being Human. So am I! I have seen the first two episodes of the original version’s fourth season, and for lack of a more original word: Wow. I’m not sure where to start almost. One major death off screen, another major death at the end of the first episode, it almost feels like a UK version of Fringe now with such a reboot of storytelling and focus. The show’s dynamic on almost every level has changed, which has to be considered a huge gamble, right? The initial purpose of the show was to almost be a parable at how being human regardless of one’s quirks was hard or different, but now it has this edge to it with what they are trying to do.

Also, unlike American TV, in the U.K. the main star of any show is usually the show itself. Whether it’s Being Human or Spooks (aka MI-5), in the U.K. a character isn’t the star of a show, the show is the star of the show, which enables them to freely kill anyone at anytime. The U.S. is much more based on brands, and TV stars are brands, and people tune in to watch the stars, not the show, so there is a diverging philosophical difference. Another difference is that actors in the U.K., once having proven themselves, will get offers from American TV or even Hollywood as is the case with John Mitchell’s Aidan Turner, who got a part in The Hobbit. So what are your thoughts of the revamped (pun slightly intended) version of Being Human? And do you see America’s version in a different light with its ability to tell a story without the worry of losing its cast to bigger (possibly) and better (possibly) things? Also you once said the U.S. version made a mistake in its casting. Slam on Sam Witwer? And why? — Trenton

Matt Roush: I am very intrigued by this transformative season of the British Being Human, and you make some very interesting points about the willingness of many British series to kill off major characters, even fairly early in a show’s run. (Often precipitated, as in the case of Being Human this season, by the actors deciding to move on.) But I should also note that what I’ve seen of the Syfy version this season, it has improved quite a bit over last year. I still have issues about the principal actors who are not Sam Witwer, but as the show diverges from the original series, it is becoming more interesting.

Question: I was just wondering about your views on Person of Interest and what do you think its chances are for a renewal? I just read that Touch is going to be airing in the same timeslot as Person Of Interest. Do you think it will hurt the ratings for the show? — Ishaan

Matt Roush: I am enjoying Person of Interest more and more as the season continues, and as the world of the show expands with more recurring characters (both heroic and villainous). I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t get renewed. It will be interesting to see how Touch fares on Thursdays, a rather last-minute programming change designed to give this very unusual show a boost from an American Idol lead-in. Person of Interest is more offbeat than the usual CBS series, but I think it will do fine against the new competition. This is one of those time periods where there’s just about something for everyone, from NBC’s comedies to Grey’s Anatomy to Person of Interest and now Touch. That’s a lot of variety in one hour of prime time. Which is good for everybody.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Adam Harrington (The Secret Circle) will guest star on an upcoming episode of Castle, playing Brad Melville, the host of a reality TV dance competition called A Night of Dance. Actress Lauralee Bell (The Young and the Restless) will portray a Paula Abdul-inspired judge on the same episode. (Give Me My Remote)

More cast members are coming back to American Horror Story, including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Lily Rabe. (Jenna Mullins and Tierney Bricker at E! Online)

Actor Paul Blackthorne (The River) will guest star in an upcoming episode of CSI, playing Tom, a pompous, slick and charismatic college professor who teaches a popular class on the nature of celebrity. But a protégé of his who employs some questionable methods to operate his own gossipy video blog ends up dead. Tom ends up defending his methods to investigators but makes no apologies at the same time. (Lynette Rice at Entertainment Weekly)

Veteran actor Michael Gambon has been promoted to series regular for the second season of the HBO series Luck that is just now in its debut season. Also, actress Margarita Levieva (Revenge) will join the series in a recurring role during season two. Gambon plays the mythical Mike, an adversary for Ace Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) while Levieva will play Sarah Israel, sister of Nathan Israel (recurring guest star (and star of USA’s Suits) Patrick J. Adams. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Karinne Vanasse (Pan Am) will guest star in the ABC drama pilot called Scruples, based on the best-selling 1978 novel of the same name. She will guest as a designer named Valentine. The series centers on a rich and powerful clothes designer in a world of sex, revenge and scandal. (Lacey Rose at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Justin Hartley (Smallville) has joined the cast of the new medical drama pilot at The CW called First Cut. The pilot will revolve around a newly minted female doctor working at a hospital. Hartley will play Will, a handsome and flirty surgical intern, a golden boy that all girls want to date and all guys want to hang out with. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Annabeth Gish (The X-Files) has been cast in ABC drama pilot called Americana, which centers on iconic fashion designer Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), the patriarch of a sprawling family who just welcomed a new member, Alice Clarke (Ashley Greene), a young designer whose shocking arrival turns the family and the legendary label inside out. Gish will play Alice’s mother, a fading beauty. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Luke Goss (Hellboy II) has joined the ABC drama pilot called Penoza (from Melissa Rosenberg, the writer behind the Twilight saga of films). The pilot is based on the Dutch format, centering on Martha, the widow of an assassinated criminal who is forced to adopt her husband’s role in a crime syndicate in order to protect her family. Goss will play the bodyguard of Martha’s mobster father who is assigned to look after her and her children. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Julia Stiles (Dexter) has landed her first regular TV series gig in the NBC crime drama pilot called Midnight Sun that is being adapted from the Israeli format and revolves around an investigation into mysterious disappearances within a group living on a cult-like commune in Alaska. Stiles will play Leah Kafka, an FBI cult specialist leading the investigation that ultimately uncovers a larger conspiracy. (Deadline and Megan Masters at TV Line)

Actor Jesse Spencer (House) has landed the lead in the NBC drama pilot called Chicago Fire that is about the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. Spencer will play the lead, Matthew Casey, a firefighter at Firehouse 55, a natural leader who is in his element when on a rescue or putting out a fire but in his personal life, he is grappling with a recent separation from his wife. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Austin Butler (Life Unexpected and Switched at Birth) and actress Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who and Law & Order: UK) have joined the cast of the drama pilot The Carrie Diaries for The CW. Butler will play Sebastian Kydd, the principal love interest of Carrie, a childhood crush who moves to Castlebury High after getting kicked out of his old high school. Agyeman will play Larissa, Carrie’s mentor, a hip, cutting-edge editor/party girl who works at Interview magazine. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Billy Burke (the Twilight saga films) has been cast in the NBC drama pilot called Revolution (from J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke). The drama follows a group of people struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. Burke will play a charismatic Marine. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Rachelle Lefevre (A Gifted Man) has landed a lead role in a CBS drama pilot called Applebaum, which is based on the Ayelet Waldman series of books “Mommy Track Mysteries. The pilot centers on Juliet Applebaum (Lefevre), a former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Emmy Rossum (Shameless) is in final talks to star opposite Viola Davis and Emma Thompson in the upcoming box office film Beautiful Creatures, which is an adaptation of the novel of the same name. Rossum’s role in the film has yet to be disclosed. (Brian Brooks at Deadline)

Here are the top 10 box office films for this past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations:

1. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, $70.7 million
2. Project X, $20.8 million
3. Act of Valor, $13.7 million
4. Safe House, $7.2 million
5. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, $7 million
6. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, $6.9 million
7. The Vow, $6.1 million
8. This Means War, $5.6 million
9. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, $4.7 million
10. The Artist, $3.9 million

The folks over at MGM have closed a deal with actor Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) to play the title role in the remake of Robocop. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Men in Black 3 Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Adam Baldwin (Chuck) will be joining up with his former Firefly co-star, Nathan Fillion, on the latter’s ABC hit series Castle, playing Ethan Slaughter, a rough and tumble cop from the city’s gang unit who lands a case that Castle is desperate to follow. Along the way, Slaughter shows Castle a dirtier side of police work that forces Castle to reconsider what he’s willing to do to close a case. As the season nears its cliffhanging conclusion, expect this new alliance to place Castle in the line of fire like never before. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Actress Tess Harper (Breaking Bad) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Revenge, playing Carol Miller, a sympathetic former corporate secretary who has spent the last 15 years living a quiet life on a remote farm outside Madison, WI. There is more to Carol than meets the eye, though, and she shows her tough side as her complicated past is uncovered. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actor John de Lancie (Star Trek) will appear in an upcoming episode of The Secret Circle, playing Royce Armstrong, the powerful, yet recluse grandfather of Jake (Chris Zylka). Royce comes out of hiding to reveal disturbing conspiracy theories about the events of 16 years ago and how the present-day circle is involved. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actor David Zayas (Dexter) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Grimm, playing Sal Burrel, a monstrous troll-like creature known as a Hasslich. The dangerous Sal, who is a city building inspector heading up a racketeering scheme, runs into a problem when the beaver-eqsue Eisbiber community defies his demands for a cut of their earnings. (Megan Masters at TV Line)

Actress Jessica Lange and actor Zachary Quinto are the first two cast members – who will be series regulars – who will appear in the next new season of American Horror Story. Quinto will play a brand new character next season; in fact, it’s been revealed he will play one of two male leads and the nemesis to Lange’s character, who will be at the center of the Season 2 storyline. The second season will also be set at an East Coast institution. There are several other roles being cast, including the male co-lead opposite Quinto. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Peter Cambor will be back as Nate Getz, the one-time resident operational psychologist, on NCIS: Los Angeles in an early April episode. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Matt Lauria (Friday Night Lights) has joined the cast of the ABC period drama called Gilded Lilys where he will play Charlie, the dashing, self-aware nephew of a wealthy millionaire and the boyfriend of Violet (Sarah Bolger from The Tudors). The pilot will be set in 1895 and will center on a vicious rivalry and a scandalous secret unfolding against the backdrop of the opening of New York’s first luxury hotel. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Amber Stevens (Greek) has landed the lead role in drama pilot called Joey Dakota at The CW. The pilot is based on the Israeli format Danny Hollywood, the romantic-time-travel-musical that will center on Maya (Stevens), a documentary filmmaker who travels back in time to the 1990s where she meets and falls in love with the rock star subject of her film. When she unexpectedly returns to present day, she must find her way back to the past to reunite with her love and prevent his untimely death. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Sara Rue (Less Than Perfect and Popular) has joined the cast of the ABC comedy pilot called Malibu Country that is set to star singer-actress Reba McEntire. The pilot centers on Reba Gallagher (McEntire) who, after her “good ol boy” rock star husband cheats on her and burns through most of their money, divorces him and moves her family from Nashville to the only asset she has left — a little house in Malibu. Rue will play Kim, Reba’s upbeat new neighbor who is a share-too-much, hug-too-freely, trophy wife. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Irish actress Ruth Bradley has been cast in the lead role in the ABC drama pilot Beauty and the Beast. In this version, which is a re-imagining of the classic fairy tale, Bradley will be the Belle-esque Grace, an embattled princess. (Megan Masters at TV Line)

Actors Paul Blackthorne (The River) and Jamey Sheridan (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) have joined the cast of the drama pilot called Arrow at The CW. The pilot, of course, is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow that will star Stephen Amell as the vigilante superhero who fights crime using archery, martial arts and technology under his secret identity as Oliver Queen, a wealthy playboy and billionaire industrialist-turned-outspoken politician in Star City. Blackthorne will play Det. Quentin Lance, the father of Oliver’s love interest Laurel (Katie Cassidy), a gruff, determined city detective who believes true justice can only come from law and order. Meanwhile, Sheridan will play Robert Queen, Oliver’s father. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Johnathon Schaech (That Thing You Do), Kerris Dorsey (Brothers & Sisters and Moneyball) and Ambyr Childers (All My Children) have all joined the cast of the cast of the Showtime drama Ray Donovan that will star Live Schreiber as a professional “fixer” for the rich and famous in Los Angeles. Schaech will play Sean Stevens, a major movie star with a mysterious connection to Ray’s past. Dorsey will play Ray’s daughter, Bridget and Childers (All My Children) will play Ashley Rucker, a young star under Ray’s protection. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Australian actor Jay Ryan has landed the lead role opposite Kristin Kreuk (Smallville) in the drama pilot Beauty and the Beast from The CW. This version will be loosely based on the 1980s CBS series that will center on Catherine (Kreuk), a tough-minded NYPD homicide detective haunted by witnessing her mother’s murder nine years ago and the killers’ quick demise at the hands of a Beast. After years of searching, Catherine finally finds the Beast, Vincent Koslow (Ryan), the survivor of a military experiment that went disastrously wrong, and becomes the protector of his secret life as a superhero. Ryan appeared on the popular Australian soap Neighbours and had a small recurring role in Terra Nova. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

According to actor Niall Matter (Zane on Eureka) via his Twitter feed he has signed on as one of the leads on the new Primeval series. I’m going to guess this is the Americanized version that has been talked about recently. (Twitter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Scarlett Johansson and James D’Arcy (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) are set to play Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins respectively in the upcoming film called Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho that will follow Hitchcock and his struggles during the filmmaking of the horror classic. Anthony Hopkins will play the iconic director and Helen Mirren will play his wife Alma. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Nicole Kidman will star in the upcoming box office film called The Railway Man, a World War II. The drama will also star Colin Firth, as prisoner of war in Japan and his reconciliation with one of his captors 30 years later. Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) will be playing a younger version of Lomax (Firth’s character) during the WWII scenes. Kidman will play Lomax’s wife Patti, who took a key role in helping him to face up the psychological damage caused by his wartime horrors, and in bringing him back together with one of the Japanese officers who had participated in his torture. (Variety and First Showing)

British actress Olivia Williams (Dollhouse) will star opposite Ben Barnes, Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore in the film adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s series of young adult books about a teen who learns the art of wizardry after discovering that he is the seventh son of a seventh son called The Seventh Son. Her role in the film has yet to be disclosed. (Brian Brooks at Deadline)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

I had some real life drama yesterday, keeping me away from the news for most of the day so today’s update will be a little extra long to incorporate all of the news from yesterday and today. Here goes:

TELEVISION

ABC Family has given a full season order to their new series Jane By Design, receiving an order for another eight episodes. The show will air its spring finale on March 6. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Scott Bakula (Men of a Certain Age, Chuck and Quantum Leap) will appear in a multi-episode arc on upcoming episodes of Desperate Housewives, playing Bree’s (Marcia Cross) lawyer. (TV Line)

NBC has picked up the 12-episode Canadian series Saving Hope with plans to air the medical drama this summer. The series will follow charismatic Chief of Surgery Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks, Stargate: SG-1) at Toronto’s Hope-Zion Hospital who ends up in a coma, leaving the hospital in chaos – and his fiancée and fellow surgeon, Alex Reid (Erica Durance, Smallville), in a state of shock. Along with newly-arrived star surgeon, Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies, The Vampire Diaries), Alex races to save Harris’ life. As the action unfolds, comatose Dr. Harris explores the hospital halls in “spirit” form, not sure if he’s a ghost or a figment of his own imagination. Reid, along with her fellow doctors, press on to save his life and those of their other patients, as they deal with the complicated and courageous decisions that are made in their daily struggle to keep hope alive. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Adam Arkin will guest star in two upcoming episodes of Justified (after directing five episodes of the series). He will play Detroit mafia head Theo Tonin, the boss of Quarles (Neal McDonough) and father of Sammy Tonin (Max Perlich). (Entertainment Weekly and Hanh Nguyen at TV Guide)

Actor Charles Shaughnessy (The Nanny) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Castle, playing Nigel Winthrop, the Deputy General at the British Consulate, who Castle and Beckett suspect has more on his agenda than diplomacy and fancy dress-up balls. The episode is expected to run in early April. (Hanh Nguyen at TV Guide and Twitter)

Veteran actor Leonard Nimoy (of Star Trek fan) will finally make a cameo on The Big Bang Theory; but there is a twist in this story: he will be heard but not seen in the March 29 episode. Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is an obsessed fan of the legend and in the episode Nimoy will speak to Sheldon as Spock in a dream sequence. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Lisa Edelstein will not come back to House for the long-running medical show’s series finale, which is set for May 21. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actresses Ashley Greene (the Twilight franchise) and Tiffany Hines (Nikita) have joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Americana that will follow the life of Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), who is the creator of the most iconic fashion brand in the world which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Greene will play Alice Garano, an aspiring designer and the daughter of Robert’s estranged brother Martin Garano (Ken Olin) while Hines will play Alice’s roommate, Shane Kelly, a beautiful medical student. Emilie de Ravin and Natalie Mendoza are also part of the cast. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress-singer Majandra Delfino (State of Georgia and Roswell) has joined the cast of the ABC comedy pilot called The Family Trap that is about Annie (Mandy Moore) and Ben (yet to be cast), newlyweds who get the opportunity of a lifetime to run a hip, new restaurant in Annie’s hometown bringing her closer to her needy and high maintenance family. Delfino will play Sarah, one of Annie’s sisters who is divorced and living at home. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) and actor Robert Wisdom (Prison Break and Burn Notice) have joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Nashville that will center on the Nashville music scene and its stars, both rising and fading. Panettiere will play 19-year-old starlet Juliette Barnes while Wisdom will play Coleman Caldwell, who aims to be the next Mayor of Nashville. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Natalie Zea (Justified) has joined the cast of the as-yet-untitled Kevin Williamson pilot for FOX that is about Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), a diabolical serial killer who uses technology to create a cult of serial killers, and Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), the FBI agent who finds himself in the middle of it. Zea will play Claire Matthews, Carroll’s ex-wife who is horrified to learn he’s escaped from prison. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Rachael Taylor (the failed reboot of Charlie’s Angels” has landed the lead role in the ABC drama pilot called 666 Park Avenue that will be about a young couple who accept an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in New York City where they begin to experience supernatural occurrences. She will play Jane Van Veen, one half of the couple, joining Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters) as her boyfriend Henry Martin and Terry O’Quinn as the building’s owner Gavin Doran. (The Hollywood Reporter and The Futon Critic)

Actor Linus Roache (Law & Order) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Antichrist that will be about Carter Henderson (Max Thieriot), an astrophysics grad student who learns that he is the chosen one to destroy the forces of evil. Roache will play John Daniel Teras, a New York Senator who’s the target of an assassination attempt. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

British actor Barry Sloane has landed the lead role in the ABC drama pilot called Gotham that is about Annie Travers (yet to be cast), a cop who, after pursuing a seemingly unsolvable case, discovers a magical world that exists within New York City. Sloane will play Boyo, her guide through said world. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actors Bruce Davison and Max Adler (Glee) [among others] have joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Last Resort that is about the crew of a nuclear submarine, who, after disobeying a suspicious order become fugitives and declare themselves an independent nuclear nation. Davison is believed to be playing Admiral Arthur Shepard, a friend and mentor to Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) and the father of Lieutenant Grace Shepard (Daisy Betts). Adler’s role is unspecified. They join Autumn Reeser, Dichen Lachman, Robert Patrick, and Scott Speedman in the pilot. (Shawn Ryan TV and The Futon Critic)

Actor Victor Garber (Alias and Eli Stone) is the first to be cast in the NBC drama pilot called Notorious that is to be about a female detective who returns undercover to the wealthy family she grew up in – as the maid’s daughter – to solve the murder of the notorious heiress who was once her closest friend. Garber will play Robert Lawson, the spectacularly wealthy patriarch of the family and CEO of Lawson Pharmaceuticals. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot called Do No Harm, that will be an updated take on the Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde drama that revolves around Jeffrey Kohl (Steven Pasquale, Rescue Me), a brilliant neurosurgeon who wrestles with his dangerous alter-ego that threatens to wreak havoc on his personal and professional life. Rashad will play Dr. Vanessa Young, the chief of surgery and Jeffrey’s boss. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

CONDOLENCES

Actor-singer Davy Jones, who was one of the four members of the 1960’s band and star of the TV series of the same name passed away at the age of 66 yesterday morning. (TMZ)

NOTE: My deepest sympathies go out to Davy’s wife Jessica, his four daughters and his grandchildren as well as the rest of his family, friends and fans. I have been a huge fan of Davy and The Monkees since the early 1970’s when I used to watch the reruns of the TV series. He will be greatly missed.

Here are two links for his obituary via the LA Times and a very nice article written about Davy’s life also from the LA Times.

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actresses Mary Birdsong (Reno 911), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) and Missi Pyle (The Artist) have joined the cast of the upcoming sequel Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Sea of Monsters where they will play The Fates, the sisterly trio of mythological goddesses who determine the destiny of all. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actors Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Ben Foster are in talks to play three of the four lead Navy SEALs in the upcoming box office film called Lone Survivor that will be based on the book by Marcus Luttrell. The harrowing story deals with how Luttrell’s SEAL team fought to stay alive after being ambushed in Afghanistan in 2005 by Taliban forces during a covert mission in the Hindu Kush. Wahlberg will play Luttrell, but the other roles are as-yet unspecified. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actor Gerard Butler is set to replace Eric Bana in the diamond-heist thriller called Brilliant that will follow a small-time criminal who partners with a female thief to pull off a daring diamond heist. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor Russell Crowe is in official negotiations to play the title character in the Biblical epic Noah. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) is in talks to star opposite Josh Brolin in the remake of the action thriller Oldboy where she could play the role of the caseworker who helps investigate the past of Brolin’s character, a man kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years and inexplicably released. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Roles for the supernatural period thriller called A Winter’s Tale are up for grabs with the likes of actors Benjamin Walker (the upcoming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) and Tom Hiddleston (Thor) up for the male lead while actresses like Lily Collins (Mirror Mirror), Bella Heathcote (In Time) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) up for the female part. The story is to be a sweeping drama about reincarnation set in the early 20th century. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFCIE TRAILER

The Avengers New Trailer: Five Things We Learned About Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and More

Watch: Minions Are Back in First Teaser Trailer for ‘Despcable Me 2’

Q&A SECTION (with The TV Addict, Adam Bryant and Natalie Abrams at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Any idea as to who Zoe will end up with at the end of HART OF DIXIE’s first season? — Brenda

The TV Addict: Ideas, we’ve got plenty! But since we’re hesitant to spoil what promises to be a very turbulent HART OF DIXIE season finale, we’ll simply leave it at this: Assuming of course Zoe goes through with making her romantic intentions known to either George and/or Wade, she will do so in an electric manner that harkens back very nicely to the show’s series premiere.

Question: As much as I love me some ONCE UPON A TIME, I’m still reeling from the death of Sheriff Graham. Are there any plans at all to bring him back? — Lisa

The TV Addict: There are, but like anything in life, there are no guarantees. Said co-creator and executive producer Adam Horowitz during a recent press event promoting the season’s final string of episodes, “To be quite honest with you, I hope so. We would like to have him back. Sometimes it is a scheduling thing that is beyond our control, but right now we are trying to move heaven-and-earth to hopefully make it happen. But I can’t promise you.” Added co-executive producer/creator Eddy Kitsis, “The character was designed for this arc. We knew coming into it. We knew that when we were picked up the air schedule was that we’d do seven episodes and then go off for a Christmas break. So we were like, “Let’s kill someone.” Because when Henry said in the beginning, “the final battle begins,” we as writers felt like if there weren’t stakes to this battle — if there weren’t casualties — people would start to think, “well, maybe it’s not that strong of a curse.” So Jamie knew when he took the role that it was only going to be for seven episodes. But when people — the reaction that they had was great for us because the other worry is that no one cares. It’s like the old, “Oh, who cares? They killed someone we don’t like.” It’s like when it’s “a shocking death this week!” and it’s waiter number four, and everyone cries, “Foul!” and goes, “that’s bullshit, that’s not a real death.” So we wanted to give a real death. No one is more upset than us, we love Jamie. Writing the Huntsman was awesome.”

Question: Now that LOST GIRL has been officially renewed for a third season I was hoping you might be able to share a little something on what fans can expect? — Joanna

The TV Addict: Relationship melodrama galore! Which is to say, when LOST GIRL does return for its highly anticipated third season, fans can expect Bo’s romantic life to get even more complicated. Or at least that was our takeaway after our sources that let it slip that Producers have begun the search for a new series regular named Tamsin who is described as an up for anything, kick ass cop with a dark past. Also of note, actors hoping to nab what will surely be a highly coveted role on this increasingly buzzy series will have to be comfortable with simulated sex scenes with both men and woman!

Question: Is there any reason to hope Castle and Beckett will hook up this season on Castle? — Elizabeth

ADAM: Hope springs eternal, Elizabeth, especially after an upcoming episode that involves a bombing at an anti-Wall Street rally. While Castle and Beckett try to piece together what happened, they will examine their relationship. “It does make Castle and Beckett start questioning what they’re doing in life,” executive producer Andrew W. Marlowe teases. “[The victims] had plans… and then suddenly their lives were over. So it makes you think: ‘Should I wait or should I act now?’ Those thoughts are definitely on their minds.” I think I speak for many of us when I say: Enjoy yourself (It’s later than you think)!

Question: Anything fun coming up on NCIS: Los Angeles? — Drew

ADAM: Our team will soon be working closely with a couple of FBI agents, but neither of them sound like a walk in the park. Despite being smart and authoritative, a middle-aged female agent has become cynical and is just going through the motions. Perhaps that’s because her younger partner only has his job because of his daddy.

Question: Once Upon a Time scoop, please! — Billy

NATALIE: Now that Regina has discovered that Mr. Gold knows the truth about the curse, “their relationship is definitely going to change,” executive producer Edward Kitsis says, noting that both their motives will become clear in the coming episodes. Lest we forget, Rumplestiltskin did create the curse that the Evil Queen unleashed. “The question that I would ask is: Why would somebody create a curse that they didn’t themselves employ and for what reason? That is a question we’re going to answer this year,” he says.

Question: I just watched the Awake pilot online, and I can’t wait for more. Any teases? — Eric

ADAM: Although the second episode continues to pursue the show’s basic question — whether Detective Britten’s wife or son survived a terrible car accident — it also offers a twist that could change the entire scope of the show. I’ll just say this: The crash was almost certainly no accident.

Question: You said last year that Royal Pains was introducing a new love interest for Hank who would stick around. Well so far, that has not happened. Emily is gone, Constance Zimmer lasted one episode. So where did you hear this from? Because it never happened! Get your facts straight before scaring people like that! — Nancy

Ausiello: The fact that you didn’t bother including a link to my alleged foiler proves you’re bluffing. I rarely, if ever, screw up. For instance, I know with 100-percent certainty that the fourth season will introduce — in a two-, count ’em, two-episode arc — Jill’s oldest brother, Hank McGillicuddy, who develops a problem that even Tums can’t cure while training for a Lobster Roll Eat-Off. The show is also adding a new recurring character — Jeremiah Ellis, a doctor at Hank Med — who is so socially awkward that he might actually be described as anti-social. (Asocial, maybe?)

Question: Any upcoming news on Rizzoli & Isles? Love from the UK. — Clare

Ausiello: The 15-episode third season kicking off this summer promises to be a doozy. Not only is there a tenacious IAD officer trying to find a suspicious link between Jane and Paddy Doyle (aka Maura’s crooked father), but (perhaps not coincidentally) we’re gonna get to meet Maura’s bio-mom. Not only that, but Mom — Hope is her name — might recur.

Question: Any Justified scoop? —Noel

Ausiello: Next week, Raylan and Boyd find themselves framed for two separate murders (well, attempted murder in one instance). Raylan also pays a visit to Quarles’ little torture/sex chamber, where a familiar fella makes him a perverse offer he can (and easily does) refuse.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

In what will be a surprise decision to many TV viewers, show runner (aka series creator) Alan Ball will be stepping down from his control of the HBO vampire series True Blood after NEXT season. The show will be back for its fifth season this summer; but once that season has concluded, Ball will only be associated with the show in a supervisory capacity. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actor Jordan Belfi (Entourage and Moonlight) and actress Ashley Jones (The Bold and the Beautiful) will appear as the big-screen versions of Booth and Brennan in an upcoming episode of the FOX drama Bones. The episode will revolve around the production of a movie written by Brennan and featuring the characters “Dr. Kathy Reichs” and “Special Agent Andy Lister.” Jones will play the actress portraying Reichs, while Belfi will play the actor playing Lister (aka Booth). Bones will be back from its hiatus on April 2 (a newly announced return date). (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal, Southland and the Charlie’s Angels film franchise reboot) will play Watson in the CBS drama pilot Elementary, the network’s latest reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes legend. Actor Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone) will play Sherlock. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Young actress AnnaSophia Robb (Soul Surfer) has landed the lead role in The Carrie Diaries, the drama pilot at The CW based on the novel by Candace Bushnell, which is a prequel to the HBO comedy Sex and the City. The pilot will center on a young Bradshaw, who comes of age in the 1980s and is asking her first questions about love, sex, friendship and family while exploring the worlds of high school and Manhattan. (Variety and Deadline)

Jamie Chung (Samurai Girl and Sucker Punch) has joined the FOX drama pilot The Asset that will center on Anna King (Ali Larter), a remarkably gifted globe-trotting photographer with a secret life: she is a CIA field operative. Chung will play a polygraph expert with the CIA who administers a confrontational polygraph to King that immediately puts her on the wrong side of King’s temper and attention. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor David Eigenberg (Sex and the City) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot called Chicago Fire that will follow the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. Eigenberg will play a veteran firefighter who just lost his home to foreclosure and is now forced to move in with his in-laws. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus) has joined the ABC drama pilot Beauty and the Beast, which is the network’s fantasy re-imagining of the classic tale where an embattled princess, Grace, discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast, Shiro (Darius Campbell), a mercenary bodyguard. Abraham will play Emperor Dorian’s chancellor, a wise and trusted but duplicitous man of state. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. has landed a lead role in the FOX legal drama pilot called Guilty, which will center on William “Billy” Remz (Gooding), a brilliant, morally questionable defense attorney who, after being falsely convicted of fraud and stripped of his legal license, uses his unorthodox methods to solve the cases he’s been prohibited from handling … and to exact revenge on those who set him up. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Jordana Spiro (My Boys) has landed a lead role in the as-yet-untitled FOX medical drama pilot from Josh Berman and Rob Wright pilot that will center on Grace Delvin (Spiro), one of Chicago’s top young cardiothoracic surgeons who, to save her gambling-indebted brother, is forced to moonlight as a mob doctor. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE POSTER REVEALED

An Action-Packed Theatrical Poster for ‘The Avengers’ Has Surfaced

That’s it.  Enjoy!

Read Full Post »