Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Happy Friday! Lots of interesting news, tidbits and some spoilers (tread lightly) to share with everyone:

TELEVISION

NBC is finally giving the long-delayed rom-com anthology series Love Bites a chance. The series, which stars Becki Newton (Ugly Betty), will begin a nine-week summer run starting on June 2 at 10 PM. But the odds of the series making it to a second season are long because Newton has already been cast in another pilot for CBS and if NBC completely believed in the series, it would have aired during the regular season. (Vulture)

Legendary actor Ed Asner will appear in a two-episode arc on Royal Pains as the grandfather of Hank and Evan. The medical dramedy will be back on the USA Network with new episodes on June 29 at 9 PM. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

It looks like the cable network Starz is ready to roll out its first original limited series, an adaptation of the Dean Koontz 1985 novel Twilight Eyes. The project centers on Slim MacKenzie, who uses his psychic powers, aka Twilight Eyes, to hunt Goblins — monsters that have the ability to mimic human beings. While the events in the book take place even before the 1980s, the adaptation will be set in present day. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Dwayne Johnson will star in and produce a box office film about black country music star Charley Pride. Pride was one of eleven children born to Mississippi sharecroppers who became a musician and went on to sell more than 70 million records. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actors Travis Fimmel (The Beast), Daniel Cudmore (X2) and Andre Braugher (Primal Fear) have joined the cast the upcoming box office film called The Baytown Disco, which follows the foibles of three redneck brothers (Fimmel, Cudmore and Clayne Crawford) who get more than they bargained for when agreeing to help a woman (Eva Longoria) get her son back from his seemingly abusive father (Billy Bob Thornton). Serinda Swan, Thomas Sangster and Meagan Good also star. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Now that actor Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) is out of the film adaptation of the Dark Horse graphic novel R.I.P.D. (or Rest In Peace Department), starring Ryan Reynolds, it looks like legendary actor Jeff Bridges is in talks to join the supernatural action comedy. Bridges would be playing Reynolds partner in the story of a dead cop who makes a deal to work one hundred years in divine law enforcement in exchange for a shot at finding who killed him. (Deadline and First Showing)

Two more newcomers have been added to the cast of the much-anticipated box office adaptation of the Suzanne Collins novel The Hunger Games. Actors Chris Mark and Jackie Emerson will play the District 5 tributes. (Movie Web)

SPOILER ROOM (with Sandra Gonzalez from Entertainment Weekly)

SPOILER ALERT!!

YOUR ‘CASTLE’ QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

First, I was completely blown away by the great response and the volume of questions y’all sent in for Andrew Marlowe. So I figured I’d poke out three of the most spoiler-ific questions for today’s column for a super-sized Castle item. Rest assured, you’ll be getting several more answered as we head toward the finale!

Question: Any further scoop on the upcoming L.A. episode would be fun…. shared hotel suite…. sportscars… palm trees… bikinis that episode is already looking like it’s going to be a fan favorite! — Cheryl

Answer: I’d be willing to say it’ll be a fan-fave — especially if you enjoy rogue Beckett! “She’s not a cop in L.A. She’s not working under any authority, so she has to go a little rogue, which I think both delights Castle, but also makes him a little bit nervous,” says Marlowe. “In New York, she’s always there as a safety net to make sure things go as planned. But in L.A., they’re flying blind.” But Marlowe is humbled when I tell him fans are building this one up. “Well, we hope we don’t disappoint. I don’t want to build it up too much,” he says, laughing. So modest!

Question: I hope this is an appropriate question as I have never posted one before: I am wondering if Marlowe and/or fellow writers see all the storyline theories for the L.A. episode or season finale posted on sites like the ABC message boards? I read them and have to chuckle, wondering if the powers that be read them and laugh at how off base they are or be amazed at how correct they are. Thanks. — Rayna

Answer: There’s absolutely no right or wrong question to ask, Rayna! Fear not. But you should fear that information you’re writing online is getting back to Marlowe. He’s a busy guy, so he doesn’t always have time to read it himself. But trust me when I say, he hears it. And you know what? Some of the theories you’ve pondered about the finale are correct! “Certainly there are people out there who are flirting with various elements of what we’re doing who have gotten some things right,” he says.

Question: Please give us some theories on the possible game changer for Castle and Beckett!!! Is someone he knows involved in Beckett’s mom’s murder? Beckett pregnant by Josh? I need something significant from the finale to get me through the summer! PLEASE!!!!! — Jade

Answer: Pregnant? I think not. And my game changer theory? Per Marlowe, “There’s a moment where the two of them talk about their feelings for each other and really get to express where they think they’re at in the relationship,” Marlowe says, making my heart flutter. “I think fans will be really interested to see how that information comes out.”

‘SUPERNATURAL’ EP SERA GAMBLE TEASES SAM’S CRUMBLING WALL, ‘SHOCKING BEGINNING’

Last week I teased the first hour of Supernatural’s two-hour finale (airing May 20), and now, I come with intel on the show’s second hour, which EP Sera Gamble says opens with “a bang,” as the wall in Sam’s mind that protects him from his darkest memories falls down. “You see Sam in a state he’s never been in before pretty much at the top of the episode,” she says. “Structurally, he does a couple of pretty interesting things in that episode.” Um, I’m worried. Nay, pleasantly terrified. “I will say that hopefully it’s entertaining. It’s like when you start to think about what that could be in your imagination — something completely spun out in all directions — except hopefully we give you something you were thinking and some unexpected twists,” she says. “We like to throw stuff at the boys that they weren’t prepared for as much as possible.” I only hope we’re prepared for the trauma. Probably not. But that’s the fun of it.

Q&A SECTION (with Sandra Gonzalez from Entertainment Weekly):

Question; NCIS L.A.? – LG

Gonzalez: I am so glad you asked. And I also hope you’re a Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) and Kensi (Daniela Ruah) fan for two reasons. (1) The May 3 episode is going to be awesome because not only does it delve deep into Deek’s twisty backstory, but it also finds Deeks undercover in a way we’ve never seen before. “[Kensi] has never seen him be intimate with a woman before — not in real life and not undercover. She’s confronted for the first time with seeing him in a big, big kiss with his past lover, and it’s interesting how she’s able to react to that. She has to keep her cool,” says Ruah. But for Olsen, the best part of the episode was seeing Deeks go to a “darker place” than we’ve seen before, and subsequently “how Kensi navigates his fall.”

Question: The Glades — do you know when it’s going to come back on? All the website says is “coming soon.” I think it is one of the BEST newer shows. Please tell me the slime ball getting out of jail IS NOT going to stop the divorce! Jimcal are great together. Have not seen that much chemistry between 2 actors in a long time.— Dana S from Texas

Gonzalez: The Glades returns June 5 for its 13-episode second season, that, as you mentioned, finds Callie’s husband, Ray, out of the slammer. And while I totally agree that “Jimcal” (that’s a new one to me!) are a great pair, Ray’s presence will definitely complicate things — especially in the episode where Callie finds herself stuck in a safe house with Ray and her son, Jeff. It’s almost like they’re… a family again. Rest assured the Jimcal story is far from done, though.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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Hey All,

The news for today is really short, but there are still a few interesting items to share, especially the new trailer for upcoming Harry Potter film (Part 2 is out in theatres on July 15):

TELEVISION

Actor-comedian Bill Engvall (The Bill Engvall Show) will take a dramatic turn in the TNT medical drama HawthoRNe when it returns this summer. He will play Richmond Police Internal Affairs Det. James “Jimmy” Dupree, who is called in to investigate a case involving an incident at James River Hospital. The series returns for its third season on June 14 at 10 PM. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The John Grisham novel The Firm, which was made into a box office film back in 1993 is becoming a TV series. NBC is currently in negotiations to pick up the 22-episide series that will be produced by eOne Television in association with SPT networks and Paramount Pictures. Part of the deal is for the series to air on Sony’s AXN networks – to be aired in more than 125 territories around the world. The domestic sale is handled by eOne, which retained basic and pay TV, broadcast and digital/DVD rights for the show outside of AXN markets and handles distribution worldwide, including the U.S. and Canada. Casting is underway and production is expected to begin in July. The series is to pick up 10 years after the events in the 1993 feature left off. It reintroduces Mitch McDeere who brought down a prestigious Memphis law firm operating as a front for the Chicago mob. McDeere and his family emerge from isolation after 10 years in the Federal Witness Protection Program. Determined to reclaim their lives and their future, the McDeeres soon find that past dangers are still lurking and new threats are everywhere. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

It’s official: Actress Elizabeth Banks will play Effie Trinket in the upcoming movie adaptation of the Suzanne Collins book The Hunger Games. In addition, newcomers Ethan Jamieson and Tara Macken will play the kids from the wealthy District 4. (Nicole Sperling at LA Times and Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Armie Hammer (The Social Network) is in talks to play the title character in the upcoming film The Lone Ranger, taking over for Ryan Gosling who had previously been linked to the role. Johnny Depp is already set to play Tonto. (Mike Fleming at Deadline and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ Official Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Over the Hump Day! With it being Administrative Assistant’s Day, I was out of the office for lunch so today’s update is a little late; but there are some interesting news items to share with all of you:

TELEVISION

Actor John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation and Stargate SG-1) has been cast in Torchwood: Miracle Day. What his role will be has not been confirmed. Torchwood: Miracle Day will premiere on July 8. (Geeks of Doom)

The CW dramas Gossip Girl, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries and 90210 have all been renewed for next season. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor William Forsythe (The Untouchables) has been cast in the second season of Boardwalk Empire, playing gangster Manny Horvitz. (The Futon Critic)

BOOK NEWS WITH TV TIE-IN

Late author Robert B. Parker’s estate has announced that his signature Spenser and Jesse Stone mystery novel series will continue. Michael Brandman, who has co-written and produced the CBS TV movies that feature Tom Selleck as the tortured alcoholic detective Stone, will write the first Stone novel. Titled Robert B. Parker’s Killing the Blues, it will be published September 13, 2011. Brandman has also produced three Spenser novel adaptations for A&E. The new Spenser novels will be written by Ace Atkins, who has written such novels as White Shadow, Infamous and Wicked City. His first Spenser novel will be releases spring of 2012. Parker’s 39th and final Spenser novel, Sixkill, will be released by GP Putnam in May. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

MADE FOR TV NEWS

Actors Sarah Paulson (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) and Peter MacNicol (Ally McBeal and Numb3rs) have joined the cast of the HBO film Game Change that follows John McCain’s (Ed Harris) 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (Julianne Moore) as his running mate to their ultimate defeat in the general election. Paulson will play McCain’s senior campaign advisor Nicolle Wallace. Meanwhile, MacNicol will play McCain’s campaign manager Rick Davis. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Newcomers Kalia Prescott and Ian Nelson have been chosen to portray the unnamed tributes of District 3 in the upcoming adaptation of the Suzanne Collins novel The Hunger Games. The District 3 duo is known for being explosives experts, using that skill throughout the match. (Dark Horizons and the Hunger Game’s Facebook page)

Actor Paul Walker will star in the upcoming thriller Vehicle 19 that centers on an unsuspecting traveler (Walker) in a foreign country who picks up the wrong rental car and becomes tangled in a web of corruption by the local police. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Jeremy Renner, Wanda Sykes, Keke Palmer, Jennifer Lopez, Aziz Ansari and hip hop star Drake will lend their voices to the upcoming animated sequel Ice Age: Continental Drift. Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Seann William Scott and Josh Peck are all returning for the story in which a cataclysm sets an entire continent adrift. Using an iceberg as a makeshift ship, our animal gang launches themselves on an epic seafaring quest. Renner will portray Gutt, a self-styled master of the high seas while Lopez will play Shira, a sabre toothed who melts the heart of Diego. Roles for the others have not been announced. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Must Watch: Badass HD First Trailer for Tarsem Singh’s ‘Immortals’

Watch: Second Full Trailer for Matthew Vaughn’s ‘X-Men: First Class’

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

Question: Any more teases about the end of Castle’s season? — Greg

ADAM: There may be yet another familiar face we see less of next year. But this one doesn’t involve the Grim Reaper: Castle’s daughter Alexis may be leaving the city. “[Her boyfriend] is going off to college — he’s going to Stanford,” creator Andrew W. Marlowe reveals. “So how is the long-distance relationship going to work? When we leave Episode 23, Alexis has vowed to go to college early, because she has the credits, so she can be with Ashley.” Someone should tell the Grim Reaper Castle might have a special job for him.

Question: I am obsessed with The Killing. What can you tell me? — Brandon

ADAM: In Sunday’s episode, all eyes will continue to be on Bennett, including those of a couple different neighbors who saw Rosie at her teacher’s house after the dance on the night of the murder. But the person who’s really staring a hole through Bennett is Rosie’s grief-stricken father.

Question: Anything cool coming up with Rizzoli’s family on Rizzoli & Isles? — Sam

NATALIE: You bet. Colin Egglesfield (Melrose Place) has booked a recurring role as Jane’s youngest brother, Tommy, a lovable screw-up whose back home after a stint in prison. Sasha Alexander’s Maura offers Tommy her couch while he sorts his life out. But that kindness quickly comes into question when her apartment is found ransacked and burglarized, leaving Jane to find her brother before the cops do.

Question: Any clue as to who (or even what) Agent X is on Chuck? —Chris

Ausiello: It’s someone we know. How can I be sure? ‘Cause exec producer Chris Fedak told me so! Fedak also revealed that the Season 4 finale (airing May 16) is both “epic” and one of “the most expensive episodes.” The last scene also sets up a doozy of a fifth season. Now all we need is that pesky pickup from NBC!

Question: What can you tell us about the upcoming Glee death? —Katie

Ausiello: The dearly departed is female. And not named Emma.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

The news isn’t too voluminous today, but there are still some items that should be found to be interesting:

TELEVISION

Actress Elisabeth Harnois (Miami Medical) will be joining the cast of CSI as a regular. She was originally signed to guest star in the May 5 episode as the estranged daughter of Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann), who works for the Los Angeles Police Department and helps the Las Vegas crew hunt down serial killer Nate Haskell (Bill Irwin). The guest stint grew into a bigger role on the show. She was expected to return for more episodes and has now been upgraded to a full-blown regular status on the show. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The new Showtime period piece The Borgias has been given a second season order for 10 episodes. Production of Season 2 will begin in the summer for a 2012 premiere. Oscar-winner Irons stars as Rodrigo Borgia, the cunning, manipulative patriarch of the Borgia family who builds an empire by bribing, buying and muscling his way into the papacy. Along the way, the family commits virtually every sin in the book and invents more than a few of their own. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Lauren Stamile (Grey’s Anatomy) will have a recurring role in the upcoming season of Burn Notice, playing a CIA agent looking into the murder of a fellow operative. Her investigation leads her to cross paths with Michael (Jeffrey Donovan). (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actresses Alison Pill and Olivia Munn are in negotiations for supporting roles while actress Marisa Tomei is closer to agreeing to play the lead in the HBO pilot by Aaron Sorkin tentatively called More As This Story Develops. The pilot centers on cable news anchor Will McCallister (Jeff Daniels), who has his own show, and the show’s female executive producer and staff. Tomei is poised to play the executive producer, MacKenzie, for whom producing the news is what she does best and everything else is tied for last place. Pill would play Maggie, an associate producer on the assignment desk. While Munn would play a sexy financial analyst on the same cable network as McCallister. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

CONDOLENCES

Phoebe Snow, a singer and songwriter who gained fame with her 1974 self-titled album that featured the hit single Poetry Man has passed away. She was 60. (LA Times)

ME: Rest in Peace, Ms. Snow. Deepest sympathies to her family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Mireille Enos (The Killing) is set to play the wife of Brad Pitt in the upcoming film World War Z, which is an adaptation of the Max Brooks novel that is set ten years after a global zombie epidemic. Brad Pitt is playing a U.N. worker collecting testimonials from various people around the world about the events of the war. Enos would play his wife, a mother of two girls. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Meanwhile actor Joel Kinnaman (also from The Killing) has a part in the upcoming thriller called Safe House where he will play the key role of a man who operates the titular CIA safe house which comes under attack. The only surviving agent (Ryan Reynolds) must then transport a lethal prisoner (Denzel Washington) to another destination before the attackers kill them both. Shooting on the film is currently underway in South Africa. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actor Johnny Depp will indeed make a cameo in the long-in-gestation box office adaptation of the TV series 21 Jump Street, which stars Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube and Alison Brie (among others). (First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Monday Everyone! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and for those who celebrate it, Happy Easter! The news is a little on the short side today, but there were still a few items of interest:

TELEVISION

Actor Ron Livingston (Band of Brothers) will appear in the HBO film called Game Change, that is being produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone. The movie follows John McCain’s (Ed Harris) 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (Julianne Moore) as his running mate to their ultimate defeat in the general election. Livingston will play Mark Wallace, a senior adviser to McCain-Palin 2008. He led the debate-preparation team for Gov. Palin, who ended up exceeding expectations in her face-off with Joe Biden. (Deadline)

Actress Kelli Giddish (the short-lived Chase) will appear in the last two episodes of The Good Wife, playing an investigator for Lockhart Gardner who used to work with Kalinda (Archie Panjabi). There is a possibility for Giddish to return in the fall, though The Good Wife is yet to be officially renewed, so the show’s producers have not started working on storylines for Season 3. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Vera Farmiga (Source Code and Up in the Air) is set to star in the action thriller called Safe House that follows the only surviving CIA agent (Ryan Reynolds) after an attack at an agency Safe House. He must go on the lam with a dangerous prisoner (Denzel Washington) to get him back to safety. Farmiga will play a CIA operative supervising Reynolds’ character. Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Robert Patrick and Liam Cunningham also star. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

The top 10 box office films for this past weekend are as follows, according to Box Office Mojo and TV Guide:

1. Rio – 26.8 million
2. Madea’s Big Happy Family – 25.8 million
3. Water for Elephants – 17.5 million
4. Hop – 12.5 million
5. Scream 4 – 7.2 million
6. African Cats – 6.4 million
7. Soul Surfer – 5.6 million
8. Insidious – 5.4 million
9. Hanna – 5.3 million
10. Source Code – 5.1 million

CONDOLENCES

Famed screenwriter Kevin Jarre passed away at the age of 56 after suffering heart failure. He was the man behind the box office films Glory, Rambo, Tombstone, The Devil’s Own and The Mummy [among others]. (E! Entertainment Online)

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

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

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

Question: I don’t understand why more people are not watching Fringe. I admit Season 1 was a bit rocky, but Season 2 was great, and so far this season has been the best, in my opinion. It’s the only show that seems to fill The X-Files void for me. Last Friday’s “LSD” episode was brilliant. I still crack up every time I picture the “How wonderful!” thought bubble above cartoon Walter. And how hilarious was tripping Broyles? He’s the only character I’ve never liked on the show, because he’s so rigid, but it was nice to see him loosen up a bit. Too bad it took a bad trip of LSD to do it. Anyway, I know it was renewed for a fourth season despite the poor ratings, but do you think that will be the end? I mean, how can they afford to keep such a low-rated show around? On another note, I just wanted to thank you for turning me on to The Killing, which I probably never would have watched without your recommendation. I usually don’t go for the dark, brooding style this show seems to have, but for some reason, I’m completely drawn in. And while I’m giving thanks, thanks again for turning me on to Justified last year. This season has been awesome. Is it just me, or is Raylan’s boss Art one of the funniest characters ever? His “You’re like the hillbilly whisperer. I think I’ll put you on Oprah” line to Raylan had me rolling on the floor. — Camille

Matt Roush: Thanks for letting me get this week’s column started on a positive note. There’s so much terrific TV happening right now — can’t believe Justified will be over after next week, but what a great ride that’s been, and thanks for giving me a chance to throw an appreciative shout-out to Nick Searcy (Art), who brings such a sharp and understated wit to the often stock role of the exasperated boss. These last few weeks, as Art expresses his disappointment and distrust of Raylan in the wake of the Winona money debacle, we feel for Raylan because who wouldn’t want Art’s respect? (When I chatted with Searcy at an FX party recently, he told me the recent bit about Art’s hearing aids came from him. They’re real, and Searcy suggested to executive producer Graham Yost that they be worked into his story.) Regarding Fringe: This is the very definition of a cult TV show, and we’re long past the stage where they’re making it easy for the casual observer (so to speak) to dip in and out. You have to commit fully to enjoy this one, and it’s not getting any easier to find and hold those kinds of viewers. Like Chuck, which has always lived on the bubble, Fringe can’t honestly expect to grow its audience significantly at this point from season to season, so it will likely be living on a year-to-year basis. Clearly there’s another full season’s worth of story left in this premise, and who knows where next week’s season finale will propel it. But Fox seems to appreciate the show for what it is, and probably knows it couldn’t do any better on Fridays than what Fringe is doing (and we all wish it were doing better). But despite its ratings woes on a tough night, the show is generating great buzz, and my hope is that the producers and the network respect each other enough to make a mutual decision about when it’s time to fold tent on this one, so a proper finale can be crafted. I’ll be OK if the fourth year is the last if the creative types are all on board. I’d be even more thrilled if they can somehow make it work even longer.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Friday!! I hope everyone has some fun activities planned for this weekend. And, if you decide to be home tomorrow, please make sure you tune in to the season premiere of Doctor Who on BBC America. It looks like it’s going to a great season opener (and it’ll feature favorite guest actor Mark Sheppard, which I’d say is a win-win for viewers).

In the meantime, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Amanda Tapping got onto Twitter yesterday to clear up some confusion regarding her Syfy show Sanctuary. Seems the show is moving to a new night, but tonight’s episode will air and then all further episodes will air on Monday nights at 10 PM. (Twitter)

BBC America has picked up the rights to air all 80 hours of the remake of Battlestar Galactica, including the two-part mini-series that started it all as part of the network’s “Supernatural Saturday”. It all kicks off on June 18 at 7 PM. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Mary McCormack (In Plain Sight) is expecting and it turns out her character on the show – Mary Shannon – will be also. It is being presumed that the father is FBI Agent Farber (Steven Weber) for who Mary was involved with the season 3 finale. The show returns to the USA Network on May 1 at 10 PM. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Masi Oka (Heroes and Hawaii Five-0) is teaming up with writer Alex Sabeti on an Inception-esque pilot script for Syfy that is called The Correctors. The pilot follows two agents of the Exceptions Bureau who are dispatched to a parallel universe where they inhabit the bodies of their identical selves in order to stop events from occurring. Sabeti and Oka developed the story and Sabeti will write the script with Masi attached to star and executive produce. (Marisa Guthrie at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

An offer has been made to actor Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) to take over the reins from Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in the upcoming movie The Bourne Legacy. Renner would play a new character in the spinoff film. The character would be an operative from a covert government program that is even more dangerous than the Treadstone brainwashing program that hatched Bourne. (Natalie Finn at E! Entertainment Online)

Actor Brian White (Men of a Certain Age and Moonlight) has landed the lead role in the upcoming Tyler Perry film Good Deeds. He will play Walter Deeds, the brother of wealthy entrepreneur Glen Deeds (Perry) who becomes smitten with a single mother who’s down on her luck (Thandie Newton) after his relationship with his fiancee (Gabrielle Union) begins to lose its luster. (Joshua L. Weinstein at The Wrap)

Actress Paula Malcomson (Caprica and Deadwood) will appear as the mother of Katniss and Prim Everdeen in the much anticipated box office adaptation of the best-selling novel Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The film is to be in theatres on March 23, 2012. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

In addition to Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom returning to the box office film The Hobbit – to be directed by Peter Jackson – it has been announced by the director himself – that actor Ian Holm will be seen in the film as the older version of Bilbo Baggins (who will be played by actor Martin Freeman throughout most of the film. (First Showing)

Actors Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes will be sharing the screen again (they appear in the latter Harry Potter films as the evil Bellatrix Lestrange and Lord Voldemort respectively) in the adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic novel Great Expectations. Additionally, actor Jeremy Irvine (to be seen in the upcoming film War Horse) will appear in the movie as well, playing the part of Pip while Carter is in talks to play Miss Havisham. It is rumored Ralph Fiennes is in talks to play Magwitch. (First Showing)

Q&A SECTION (with The TV Addict and Sandra Gonzalez from Entertainment Weekly)

Question: Any word on what ROYAL PAINS has up their sleeve this summer? — Mike

The TV Addict: Not so much, except to say that if the upcoming summer season of ROYAL PAINS is half as funny as the episode titles we’re hearing come out of the writer’s room, fans are in for a real treat. At least as evidence by the third episode of the season which is titled, “The Shaw/Hank Redemption” Seriously PSYCH writers, watch your back.

Question: Please tell me Jeremy and Bonnie will survive the season on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES? — Lesley

The TV Addict: As much as we would love to tell you that both Jeremy and Bonnie will make it out of the season finale of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES in one piece, we can’t. Luckily what we can share is this just released synopsis of the episode that may-or-may-not offer up a clue or two as to who is a goner come May 12. “While Mystic Falls presents a screening of “Gone with The Wind” in the town square, Damon’s (Ian Somerhalder) memories of Katherine (Nina Dobrev) in 1864 mix with the reality of Elena (Nina Dobrev) in the present day. Stefan (Paul Wesley) pays a terrible personal price for his attempt to prevent a tragedy, and Sheriff Forbes (Marguerite MacIntyre) makes a deadly mistake while trying to keep everyone safe. More than one life hangs in the balance as the consequences of the sacrifice ritual play out to a horrifying conclusion.”

Question: Can’t wait for the return of WHITE COLLAR, any scoop? — Kristin

The TV Addict: This summer look for a Mozzie flashback revealing how he embarked on a life of crime and cons. You’ll meet his mentor and the one man he owes everything to. But the past never stays buried, and when the mob puts a hit out on his former mentor, Mozzie, Peter and Neal race against the clock to save him. It is a rare glimpse into how Mozzie became the philosophy-quoting, caper-loving con artist we all know and love.

Question: Does Ryan Murphy have any surprises up his sleeve as the GLEE club heads towards Nationals? — Rebecca

The TV Addict: Complete with guest stars galore (Kristin Chenoweth returns on May 3 to convince Mr. Schuester to hit the road with him, with Jessie St. James returning May 10th) the road to Nationals will be full of surprises. Not the least of which will be an unexpected loss that rocks the world of one of McKinley’s own on May 17th.

Question: Castle!!!!! — Sharon

Sandra: Think you’ve heard all there is to hear about the finale? Think again. Whilst grilling executive producer Andrew Marlowe about the episode via email, the king of teases had this to say: “Part of the drama of how we’re ending the season hopefully will be all the speculation of how it will affect all our characters next season, especially Beckett and Castle now that, after the finale, so many more of their emotional cards will be on the table.” Considering the show’s track record for making the stone in my chest ache, this might be completely amazing.

Question: I’d love some Nikita scoop! I’m loving that they hooked up Michael and Nikita and didn’t string fans along. But now I wonder if they’re going to stay that way! – Kate

Sandra: By the sounds of it, things very well might stick for Mikita. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s all roses from here on out, says Shane West (Michael). “They’re still different people in the way they handle things and handle their day-to-day lives differently,” he says. “That’s one of the serious issues — and trust issues — [they face]. But their hearts are definitely unified.”

Question: The Chicago Code is great. Any word on a second season and/or finale scoop? – Max

Sandra: Agree on the show’s greatness. After the fall of EP Shawn Ryan’s Terriers, I thought the “gritty TV” slot in my schedule would have a major void (especially since Southland is now on break), but Chicago Code has certainly delivered. Too bad it’s listed in the “Danger Zone” on EW’s Renewal Scorecard. We’ll just have to wait and see. Until then, nibble on these scoops: 1) the finale is a cliffhanger. 2) R.I.P. [SPOILER]. “As you may have noticed, Shawn likes to kill characters. It gets hairy,” Matt Lauria (Caleb) teases.

Question: Thank you for the love you gave to In Plain Sight in the last column. Too little love for that show. Anything to add this week? — Veronica

Sandra: You’ll want to definitely tune in when Brad Whitford guests this season as an uber-paranoid father who finds himself in Witness Protection after his shady dealings result in a family tragedy. It’s really powerful stuff. But what the team is left wondering at one point is who’s a greater threat to the man: his nemesis or himself?

Question: What the chuck, Sandra?! Where’s the Chuck scoop!? (…she asked lovingly. J) – Mayra

Sandra: Well, if you’re anything like Chuck fans Mandi and Dawn who sent me a link to these great spoilerific photos from the location of the finale, you know there’s a wedding! (Thanks, ladies!) I cannot, however, guarantee that all goes well when it comes to the marriage.

Question: Royal Pains is coming back. Scoop for fans? Like my mom and me and…well, I’m sure there are others.

Sandra: In one episode next season, you’ll get to meet an old friend of Eddie’s (Henry Winkler) – who he knows from prison. The boys are shocked to learn the history behind their bond, which involved mutual heroic acts.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Thursday Everybody! Let’s get right into today’s news, shall we?:

TELEVISION

Actor Kevin Alejandro (Southland and True Blood) will play Hercules Maldanado (aka The Tornado) in the season finale of Bones. Hercules is said to be a flashy, arrogant man obsessed with bowling, but his skills don’t match up. He’s sort of his team’s dead weight. (William Keck at TV Guide)

The BBC America will debut the new sci-fi drama Outcasts on June 18 at 9 PM. The series stars
Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty), Liam Cunningham (Clash Of The Titans) and Hermione Norris (MI-5) and Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica. The series takes viewers into a new world as it explores survival, sex, politics and the drive for power in a new post-Earth era. (The Futon Critic)

The other new BBC America drama Bedlam will debut on October 8 at 9 PM. The series is set in Bedlam Heights, an apartment building converted from a pre-Victorian lunatic asylum where the inhabitants experience the darker side of the building’s history when former asylum spirits come back to claim what they believe to be theirs and seek revenge on those who have wronged them. The series stars singer and actor Will Young (Pop Idol and Skins), Charlotte Salt (The Tudors) and Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey). (The Futon Critic)

The cable network A&E has announced the season 2 premiere date for The Glades: June 5 at 10 PM. Mark your calendars! (Twitter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Chris Colfer (Glee) has penned a pilot that the Disney Channel is about to shoot. The project is called The Little Leftover Witch, which is based on a children’s book of the same name by Florence Laughlin. The series (if picked up by the cable network) would be about a little witch who was taken in by a family after crash-landing from her broom. (Nikki Finke at Deadline)

The recent Pulitzer Prize winning book A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan has been purchased by HBO with the intentions of making the “sprawling tale” into a TV series. The book focuses on a coterie of characters first introduced as they orbit the world of punk rock in 1980s San Francisco. Their lives are explored for the next 30 or so years, with interlocking stories that deal as much with changes in the lives of the characters as it does changes in technology. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Cuban-born actress Marlene Forte (Crossing Jordan and House of Payne) has landed the final role on the TNT pilot (reboot of) Dallas. She will play Carmen, the Ewing family’s longtime housekeeper, whose daughter, Elena (Jordana Brewster), enjoys a friendship with Ewing cousins John Ross (Josh Henderson) and Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe). (William Keck at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

20th Century Fox has scored the film rights to an upcoming trilogy of young adult science fiction novels by author Alexandra Bracken that are set in a time when a mysterious virus has left most American children dead. The few kids that have survived have developed psychic powers. One of them is a 16-year-old girl named Ruby who has been living in a government-run “rehabilitation camp” for six years. The first book, “Black is the Color”, sees Ruby joining forces with a small band of escapees who have a secret mission of their own. Anarchist organizations hunt Ruby for their own purposes, while a leader named ‘The Slip Kid’ who offers shelter to young people in danger turns out to not be all that he seems. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor Jonas Armstrong (the BBC series Robin Hood), British acting veteran Stephen Dillane and actress Parminder Nagra (Bend It Like Beckham and ER) will appear in the London-based thriller called Twenty8k. Nagra will appear as a fashion executive who returns to London from Paris after her brother lands up in jail after a fatal gang shooting. She then tries to unravel what happened to her brother and becomes immersed in police corruption and gangland danger. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actors Julia Stiles, Taye Diggs and Melissa George will star in the film called Between Us that is an adaptation of the Joe Hortua off-Broadway play. The story follows two couples who were friends in school and whose periodic meetings conjure up rivalries and bitterness over unrealized ambitions that get waylaid by money and children. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Rather than appearing in the upcoming film The Great Gatsby, actor-director Ben Affleck is will helm and star in a film called Argo, which is based on the intriguing true story of how the CIA used a fake sci-fi film to rescue Americans during the Tehran hostage crisis. (Deadline and First Showing)

It is rumored that actress Kate Beckinsale (Underworld franchise) by appear in the remake of the film Total Recall that already includes actors Colin Farrell and Bryan Cranston. Meanwhile, actresses Eva Mendes and Rosario Dawson are the top contenders for a separate role in the film. (Deadline and First Showing)

Actors Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling and Josh Brolin are in talks to star in the mob film called Gangster Squad that is about Mickey Cohen, the Brooklyn-born gangster who was sent to Los Angeles by Meyer Lansky to keep an eye on Bugsy Siegel. Cohen became a mob kingpin himself in the 1940s, and at one point fired rounds from two .45-caliber handguns into the ceiling of the Hotel Roosevelt lobby. Penn is in talks to play Cohen. Brolin and Gosling are in negotiations to play police officers who go after Cohen. (Deadline and The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

Freddie Highmore in the Official Trailer for ‘The Art Of Getting By’

Official Trailer for Sundance Sensation Mike Cahill’s ‘Another Earth’

Must Watch: New Trailer for Richard Ayoade’s Indie Fave ‘Submarine’

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Over the Hump Day! We are that much closer to the weekend. There is a good bit of news, mostly some interesting Q&A’s for upcoming stories for some of TV’s favorite shows among other items. Let’s get into it all:

TELEVISION

Actor Cliff Curtis (Trauma and Body of Proof) has landed the male lead opposite Ashley Judd in ABC action series Missing that centers on Becca Winstone (Judd), a devoted single mom who, after her 18-year-old son disappears in Italy, takes it upon herself to travel to Europe and track him down. It soon becomes clear that Winstone is a former CIA agent who will stop at nothing to bring her son home alive. Curtis will play the director of a CIA branch in London who risks his career to help Becca in her search. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The FX series Rescue Me returns on July 12 at 10 PM. In its final season, which consists of nine episodes, will deal with Tommy Gavin’s (Denis Leary) recognition of how deeply he is in need of rescue and how time is running out on his last chances for redemption. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Two Dallas alums will be joining the cast for the pilot of the TNT reboot. Charlene Tilton and Steve Kanaly will join Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray for the Ewing family reunion. The network has yet to announce if the pilot will be picked up to series, though. (William Keck at TV Guide)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Young New York stage actor Dan Amboyer has been cast as William in the Hallmark movie entitled William and Kate: A Royal Love Story that follows the “glamorous future royal couple”. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOOK NEWS WITH A TV TIE-IN

The debut novel by actress Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls and Parenthood) has been acquired by Random House. The semi-autobiographical book entitled You’ll Never Make It is about an actress in New York City in the mid-nineties who waits tables as she hopes for [her] big break. (Vulture)

CONDOLENCES

Tim Hetherington, news photographer and Oscar nominated co-director of the harrowing Afghanistan war film Restrepo, was killed in Libya today while he was chronicling the civil conflict on the front line. He was 41. (E! Entertainment Online, The Wrap and Twitter)

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

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE….

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Ben Affleck has dropped out of contention to play Tom Buchanan in the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby due to scheduling conflicts. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actors Rosemarie DeWitt (Mad Men), John Krasinski (The Office) and Olivia Thirlby (Juno) are all in talks to star in the independent film called Nobody Walks that is set over one week and follows a Los Angeles family who invite a young, charismatic artist into their home, only to find her disrupting their lives. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor Justin Long is joining the cast of the independent film called Lumpy. The film is about an Arizona wedding where the groom (Long) and bride (Jess Weixler) are shocked when their fun-loving best man, Lumpy (Tyler Labine), dies at the end of the evening. The newlyweds axe their honeymoon and return to Minneapolis to make funeral arrangements. It’s there that they slowly uncover that Lumpy wasn’t quite who they thought he was. Michael Landes and Shelley Long co-star. (Deadline and Hit Fix)

Actress Catherine Zeta Jones is in final negotiations to join the cast of the film adaptation of the Broadway play Rock of Ages. She will play the villain of the movie, a part that was not in the stage production. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Newcomer Willow Shields will play the role of Primrose “Prim” Everdeen in the upcoming movie Hunger Games. She joins the recently confirmed newcomers Dayo Okeniyi and Amanda Stenberg as well as already announced cast members Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. The film is expected to be released on March 23, 2012. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actors Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ben McKenzie (Southland), Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse) and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) will provide their voices to the animated film Batman: Year One, which is an adaptation of the Frank Miller comic book classic. Cranston is playing Lieutenant Gordon, while McKenzie is Bruce Wayne/Batman. Dushku will be Catwoman, and Sackhoff is Detective Sarah Essen, a Gordon love interest. In Year One, a young Bruce Wayne is first starting out as a costumed vigilante, creating an early bond with Lieutenant James Gordon, whose importance in the tale makes it as much as Gordon’s story as Wayne’s. (Borys Kit at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: Another New International ‘X-Men: First Class’ Trailer Hits

Q&A SECTION (with Adam Bryant and Natalie Abrams at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line with additional reporting by Vlada Gelman and Megan Masters)

Question: Will we learn who killed Joanna Beckett in the Castle finale? — Liza

ADAM: No, but you’ll get another big clue, which will put someone very close to Beckett under suspicion. Meanwhile, while we’ve been focusing on this rumored death, we should have also been telling you about the gunshots that ring out in the episode’s final moments.

Question: When is The Chicago Code going to deal with Wysocki’s brother’s death? They have mentioned it a couple times. — Bryan

ADAM: “There will be some big-time revelations by the end of the season,” creator Shawn Ryan promises. First up: Jarek’s old wounds will be reopened by his father, who will be played by the terrific character actor Chelcie Ross, who most recently played hotelier Connie Hilton on Mad Men.

Question: Will Annie get a love interest on Covert Affairs? — Heather

NATALIE: Yes, in the form of a ruggedly handsome doctor she meets when her niece requires his expertise. Doctor McHandsome is quite smitten with Annie, and his persistence threatens to compromise Annie’s mission to uncover a mole in the CIA.

Question: Please tell me these rumors of a Glee death during May Sweeps aren’t true! –Eric

Ausiello: Rumors of a Glee death aren’t true. Glee DEATHS on the other hand? That’s totally happening. Sources confirm to me exclusively that this season’s penultimate episode, which bears the ominous title “Funeral,” is about the death of several things. One being a beloved character. The other being a major couple.

Question: You’ve been slacking on Chuck scoop lately. Give us something good and maybe I’ll forgive you. —Jeremiah

Ausiello: Despite the fact that Chuck‘s season/possible series finale is titled “Chuck vs. The Cliffhanger,” the episode has its fair share of closure. “It’s a good ending, but it also serves as a good beginning if we do get a fifth [season],” reveals leading lady Yvonne Strahovski. “I feel like every [Chuck finale] has had to be that because we never know, so the writers always plan for both.” Adds Zachary Levi: “It ends in the same Chuck way that we’ve ended any season or half-season that later became a full season. It’s open. You’re going to see the whole team collaborating and working together to make things right and have some closure about certain things that are really big, but also leave the potential for it to be continued later.”

Question: Throw me some Bones, would ya? —Cara

Ausiello: Angela and Hodgins baby is gonna to be delivered by 90210‘s Mrs. Teasley! Actress Denise Dowse — best known as the stern but fair Vice Principal of the original West Bev High — will guest star in the season-ender as Angela’s unflappable baby doc. Speaking of the Bones finale, David Boreanaz confirmed on Twitter that Ryan O’Neal is back for the episode — although he didn’t say why. That’s where exec producer Stephen Nathan comes in. “He is on a bowling team that’s in the same league as our victim,” Nathan explains. “Because Max has had a bedroom-related accident, a space has opened up on the team that Booth fills.”

Question: Any scoop on the next season of White Collar? —Juliet

Ausiello: The future is… the past! The show is planning a flash(way)back episode in which we not only get to see what Willie Garson’s Mozzie was like at ages 5 and 12, we get to see his transformation from bullied youngster to shrewd con artist.

Question: I know you have already given us a lot of tidbits about the upcoming Castle episodes, but we are still dying (no pun intended) for more! Any other items you can share about the upcoming L.A. episode with Castle/Beckett sharing a hotel room, or the explosive season finale? —Cheryl

Ausiello: How about some scoop on the episode sandwiched between those two? “Because the finale is serious and the L.A. episode is very much off-pattern for us, we had a lot of fun with the [penultimate] episode,” explains series creator Andrew W. Marlowe. “It’s about a death at a beauty pageant. We have Michael McKean (Smallville) playing a New York real estate multi-millionaire who runs the beauty pageant. Teri Polo (Meet the Parents) is in it as well. It’s just a fun Castle episode, but it also touches on the Castle-Beckett relationship, and also the Alexis/Ashley relationship, because Ashley is going off to college and that presents a complication for Alexis.”

Question: So… Supernatural. I just love that the brother dynamic has returned now that Sam’s got his soul back. Can we expect some great brotherly love in this season’s remaining episodes? —Julia

Ausiello: You can. As exec producer Bob Singer previews, “Dean is willing to trust him completely. And by season’s end, they are in total lock-step with each other, saving each other’s lives and having that relationship the fans crave.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

There’s quite a bit of news to share today so let’s get straight into it all:

TELEVISION

After just three airings, CBS has pulled its mid-season series Chaos. Effective immediately repeats of CSI: NY will air for two weeks then starting on May 6, the new season of Flashpoint will air at 8 PM. (TV Done Wright)

Game of Thrones just debuted on HBO on Sunday (April 17) and already the cable network has given the series an order for a second season. The series is based on the best-selling fantasy book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” by George R.R. Martin. It follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen as they vie for power in a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. (The Futon Critic)

IN PREPARATION FOR THIS WEEKEND

Matt Smith previews the new season of ‘Doctor Who’: ‘We learn so much about the characters’

MUSIC NEWS WITH A BOX OFFICE TIE-IN

Oscar winning actor Jeff Bridges will be working Grammy- and Oscar-winning producer T Bone Burnett on his debut album. (Josh Grossberg at E! Entertainment Online)

CONDOLENCES

It is being reported that much beloved British actress Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and was the lead in the popular Sarah Jane Adventures TV series has passed away. She had been battling cancer. She was 63. (Twitter)

ME: Rest in Peace, Ms. Sladen. Deepest condolences to her family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE….

BOX OFFICE NEWS

It would seem that actress Elizabeth Banks is in talks to join the cast of the upcoming film The Hunger Games based on the novel by Suzanne Collins. She would play Effie Trinket, a pink-haired showbiz type who becomes the handler of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence). Meanwhile, actress Leven Rambin (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Grey’s Anatomy) will play Glimmer, the District 1 combatant who’s pitted against Katniss. (Mike Fleming at Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actor Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa) and Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives) will appear opposite each other in the new comedy film called The Baytown Disco that follows the foibles of three redneck brothers who get more than they bargained for after agreeing to help a woman get her son back from his seemingly abusive father. It is presumed that Thornton will play one of the brothers. The film also stars Serinda Swan (Tron Legacy and Breakout Kings), Clayne Crawford (A Walk to Remember) Thomas Sangster (Love Actually) and Megan Good (Brick). (The Wrap and First Showing)

Actor Joshua Jackson (Fringe) has joined the cast of the movie adaptation of Lay the Favorite, the story of a professional gambler named Beth Raymer who started off as a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas but soon rose to become one of the world’s best gamblers. After falling in love, Raymer soon begins to re-evaluate her life and the profession she has chosen. Actress Rebecca Hall (The Town) will play Beth with Bruce Willis playing another professional gambler. (Variety and First Showing)

Actors James Franco and Winona Ryder will both star in the independent film called The Stare, which follows a playwright (Ryder) who finds her mind beginning to warp as she struggles to launch her next production. She’s plagued by dreams and visions of being watched, but can’t decide if she’s at the center of a manipulative plot or simply losing her grip on reality. Franco will play one of the performers in the playwright’s production. (Deadline and First Showing)

Actress Rebecca Romijn (Eastwick and X-Men) will appear in the Tyler Perry film called Good Deeds, playing a former corporate executive who prefers motherhood. As usual, Perry will play the title character, Glen Deeds. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

It has been confirmed by Warner Bros. that actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard will join the cast of the much anticipated sequel The Dark Knight Rises; but now we know their roles: Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City cop while Cotillard will play Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member who wants to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father’s philanthropic endeavors. (Joshua L. Weinstein at The Wrap)

Actress Isla Fisher (Confessions of a Shopaholic) is in talks to join the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, joining Leonardo DiCaprio, who is expected to play the wealthy and mysterious Jay Gatsby; Carey Mulligan (An Education) is to play Daisy Buchanan with Tobey Maguire set to star as well. Ben Affleck is also in negotiations to join the cast. Fisher will play Myrtle, a married woman having an affair with Affleck’s character. She is later killed by a speeding car, an event that leads to the book’s tragic ending. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actors James Marsden and Claire Danes will star in the independent film called As Cool as I Am, which is based on the Pete Fromm coming-of-age novel about Lucy Diamond, the teen daughter of self-centered parents who married when they were teens. Marsden and Danes play the parents. The role of Lucy has not yet been cast. (Joshua L. Weinstein at The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Hot Trailer: ‘The Help’

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

Question: I would like to see some more Chuck spoilers. — Becca

Sandra: Sure thing! Would you like spies with that? On the night before Chuck and Sarah’s rehearsal dinner, something terrible will happen to someone we love (an incredibly important member of Operation Bartowski), and it will force the team to confront their greatest enemy: the CIA. “Chuck’s team will find themselves facing a CIA agent who’s tougher than Bentley, Beckman, and Shaw combined,” executive producer Chris Fedak teases.

Queston: Please, some White Collar scoop? Will we get more Peter-Neal-Elizabeth scenes? Love three of them together! — @_st07 via Twitter

Sandra: There will definitely be more of the trio than there was last season, according to what executive producer Jeff Eastin told me last month. But I still wouldn’t say it’s as much quality time as Neal will be spending with Sara — some of which includes diamond lingerie.

Question: I can’t wait for the new season of In Plain Sight! Scoop? — Lauren

Sandra: The show returns with some new faces, some returning faces, and one huge twist: a surprise engagement! But while Brandi and Peter are thrilled about the engagement, the episode presents new challenges to the couple — and much of it starts when Brandi ends up in cuffs!

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Today’s update is unlike any other update that I have done (in a really long) – and I’ve been putting together a daily entertainment update for about 8 years now.

All of the news for today is for the box office; nothing new for TV or development news or anything else. Strange, but there it is:

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Ryan Gosling is in talks to star in the box office film The Lone Ranger in the title role with Johnny Depp playing Tonto. The film isn’t scheduled to be released until 2014, though. (The Wrap)

Actress Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries) has joined the cast of the box office film The Perks of Being A Wallflower, which stars Emma Watson (Harry Potter franchise), Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief) and Paul Rudd. (Deadline)

Actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Undercovers) has landed a supporting role in the supernatural thriller called Odd Thomas, which is based on the Dean Koontz bestselling novel. She will play Viola, a waitress who raises two young girls after their junkie mother dies. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Two newcomers have landed roles in the much-buzzed about upcoming film The Hunger Games based on the Suzanne Collins best-selling novel of the same name. Dayo Okeniyi and Amanda Stenberg will appear as Thresh and Rue. The film will star Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) and Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are Al Right) in the lead roles. The film is to be released on March 23, 2012. (Kate Ward at Entertainment Weekly)

Thomas Jane and Sylvester Stallone will appear in the film Headshot where Stallone will play a hitman paired with a young NYPD detective (Thomas Jane) in a high-stakes investigation that leads from the dingy back alleys of New Orleans all the way to the power corridors of Washington, D.C. (JoBlo and First Showing)

The top 10 box office results for this past weekend, courtesy of Box Office Mojo and TV Guide are as follows:

1. Rio – 40 million
2. Scream 4 – 19.2 million
3. Hop – 11.1 million
4. Soul Surfer – 7.4 million
5. Hanna – 7.3 million
6. Arthur – 6.9 million
7. Insidious – 6.8 million
8. Source Code – 6.3 million
9. The Conspirator – 3.9 million
10. Your Highness – 3.8 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

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