Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Happy Over the Hump Day Everyone!! There is a lot of news to share so let’s get right to it all:

TELEVISION

ABC Family has picked up another one-hour scripted drama. This one is called Jane By Design (formerly known as What Would Jane Do). Set to debut in early 2012, this light-hearted drama follows Jane (Erica Dasher from The Lake), a teenager who lands a job at a hip retail company when they mistake her for an adult. Jane soon finds herself juggling life both as a regular high school student and as an assistant to a high powered executive in the cutthroat world of fashion… all while trying to keep her true identity a secret. The cast includes Nicholas Roux (Lemonade Mouth), Rowly Dennis (Desperate Housewives), India De Beaufort (One Tree Hill), Meagan Tandy (10 Things I Hate About You), Matthew Atkinson (CSI) and Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral), who appears as Jane’s steely boss. (Deadline)

With the soon departure of executive producer Ed Bernero, actress A.J. Cook just might be coming back to Criminal Minds. Cook left at the end of last season when her option was not picked up, which, of course, sparked a huge outcry among fans. Meanwhile, actress Paget Brewster who left the show not that long thereafter MAY come back as well SHOULD her new comedy pilot for NBC not be picked up; but that is more rumor than fact right now. Cook’s return will make things “interesting” for actress Rachel Nichols who was brought in to fill the void left by Cook’s departure. Bernero may be moving over to ABC should his pilot Partners be picked up to series. Erica Messer will take over show-runner/executive producer duties at Criminal Minds. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

Are you curious about where your favorite shows stand in terms of being renewed or canceled? Then, check out the following from the folks at TV.com:

What’s Renewed, What’s Canceled, and What’s Still In Between? (2011 Edition)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

TV, film and comic book writer Mark Verheiden has been tapped to co-write with Akiva Goldsman the NBC TV series The Dark Tower, which is part of a massive joint deal to turn Stephen King’s opus of best-selling novels into a feature film trilogy and a TV series. Verheiden will executive produce the The Dark Tower series along with Goldsman, Ron Howard will direct the series. Verheiden’s resume includes Smallville, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, the upcoming TNT series Falling Skies as well as nearly 125 comic books including The American, Aliens, Predator, The Phantom, Superman and Superman/Batman. (Deadline)

Actress Jessica Lange has been cast in the FX drama pilot American Horror Story that comes from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (the men behind Glee). She will star opposite Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights). Plot details are being kept under wraps; but she will play a nosy neighbor to Vivien Harmon (Britton). (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Bradley Cooper is in early negotiations to star in the remake of The Crow. He would play a rock musician who is murdered while trying to save his fiancée from thugs. He is then resurrected by supernatural forces and seeks revenge. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Rufus Sewell (A Knight’s Tale) will play Adam, the lead vampire villain, in the upcoming box office film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. He joins Benjamin Walker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Dominic Cooper in the film that is expected to be released on June 22, 2012. (Variety)

Kevin Durand (Lost and I Am Number Four) is in final negotiations to join the cast of the upcoming film Cosmopolis, which is an adaptation of the popular Don DeLillo novel of the same name. The film stars Robert Pattinson as a financial whiz who risks his immense fortune by betting against the yen on one particularly chaotic day. His decisions eventually make him the target of an assassination. Durand would play his chief security officer. The cast includes Samantha Morton, Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti and Sarah Gadon. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Daniel Sunjata (Rescue Me) has joined the cast of The Dark Knight Rises, but no details have been released on which character he will play. (Dark Horizons)

Actor Russell Brand (Arthur) is joining the cast of the big screen adaptation of Rock of Ages, playing Lonny, the show’s narrator and a rock club operator. The cast includes Diego Boneta (Pretty Little Liars), Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise. Amy Adams is reportedly circling the role of a rock journalist. (Brent Lang at The Wrap)

Actors Sean Penn and Christian Bale are looking to team for the war zone drama called The Last Photograph that revolves around a photograph that becomes the catalyst for a journey two men undertake through war-torn Afghanistan. Bale is expected to play a war correspondent who is the only survivor of an attack on a group of Americans. While Penn is expected to play a retired ex-special ops soldier determined to free a family member who has been kidnapped and the war correspondent agrees to travel the rough terrain to find them with him in exchange for the story. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

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

Question: I’m dying for more information on Castle and Beckett sharing the same hotel room in Castle‘s upcoming L.A. episode. —Ashley

Ausiello: It’s not as contrived as it sounds. There’s actually a very plausible explanation for the slumber party. “Beckett booked a hotel on a cop’s salary that’s located all the way out in the valley,” explains exec producer Andrew W. Marlowe, “and Castle has a two-bedroom suite at a high-end hotel in Beverly Hills.” Um, duh. The Valley vs. 90210? Take it from an L.A. sorta-native — it’s a no-brainer. Anyway, one thing leads to another which, in turn, leads to… sex? “She certainly thinks about it, and considers it,” teases Marlowe. “She’s emotionally raw because they’ve come out to Los Angeles in the aftermath of the murder of her training officer, so she’s dealing with those emotions and kind of where she is in life. We call it our ‘Walls of Jericho’ moment for any [viewers] out there who are fans of It Happened One Night.”

Question: I am positively dying after the amazing Pretty Little Liars season finale. Megan’s interview with Oliver Goldstick helped (a little), but there is no way I can make it until June without some Liars scoop! Any tidbits you can share — particularly about my favorite Liar (Hanna) and the sweetest guy in Rosewood, Lucas? —Paige

Ausiello: When the show returns, it’ll be the dynamic between Lucas and Caleb that will have fans talking. “A budding bromance is formed,” reveals exec producer I. Marlene King of the polar opposites. “It’s a lovely story between Lucas and Caleb, so that’s going to play out over the summer episodes.” And what about Hanna’s reaction to Caleb’s return? “We literally just filmed the scene where Hanna realizes Caleb is back in Rosewood and it’s just so bittersweet,” King swoons. “It’s so lovely. So I can’t wait for our fans to see it. She’s happy to see him, but she’s not going to let him know that.”

Question: Will Jill and Hank ever admit they love each other on Royal Pains? I am all for a bit of “Will they/Won’t they?” but this is getting ridiculous. — Nancy

Ausiello: I have bad news for you, Nance. Word is, the show is introducing a new love interest for Hank — and she may stick around full-time.

Question: Do you have anything concerning Burn Notice? Preferably something on the Michael-Fi relationship?! —Franziska

Ausiello: Anything? Yes. Something on Michael-Fi’s romance? Not today, sorry. Watch for an upcoming episode to feature Michael matching wits with a con artist who’s sharp enough to know that the key to not getting caught is not getting rich. But oh! Oh! Oh! Does he wanna be rich! (You see where this might be a problem for him.)

Question: When will we actually see Klaus on Vampire Diaries? — Joey

NATALIE: Not until April 21, but in this week’s episode — which also includes a shocking death — Klaus will use Alaric’s body to infiltrate the group. He’ll discover what Katherine couldn’t tell him, no matter how much he tortured her: Bonnie is one powerful lady now, thanks to 100 dead witches. Expect not only a double cross while trying to take down Klaus, but a triple cross. So much crossing!

Question: Who’s going to die on Castle’s finale? I can’t stand the thought of losing anyone! — Amy

ADAM: I’m desperately hoping this is a case of “it isn’t what it looks like,” but I’m hearing the show is looking for actors to play Capt. Montgomery’s previously unseen wife and daughter. Even worse, they’ll show up right around the same time the Grim Reaper is supposed to come calling.

Question: Love all the NCIS scoop. Now give me some more! — Lance

ADAM: Could someone new be joining the ranks of NCIS brass? The show is in search of someone to play a politically savvy and powerful D.C. administrator who steps into his new job driven to get things done with little concern for consequences. The character is scheduled to play a substantive part in the end of this season, and possibly the beginning of the next.

Question: Got any scoop on this week’s episode of Fringe? — Charlie

NATALIE: Is it a coincidence that “Brown Betty,” last season’s musical episode, was Episode 219, one of the most experimental in Fringe’s history, and this Friday’s episode, No. 319, is titled “Lysergic Acid Diethylamide,” aka the full name of LSD? Nope! Is it also a coincidence that William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) has a presence in both episodes? Maybe not, but it’s certainly odd, his being dead and all. Intrigued? Watch this trippy promo.

Question: I can’t wait until Royal Pains comes back. Will Divya and Raj ever have their wedding? — Samantha

ADAM: Being detained (and missing your nuptials) for possibly having the plague is kind of a bad omen for marriage — even an arranged one. When the show returns, jumping almost a year in time, viewers will probably not be that shocked to know that Divya has called off the wedding, vowing to marry for love. What is shocking, however, is just how drastically Divya’s parents respond to the news.

Question: Is Auggie really being replaced on Covert Affairs? — Melanie

NATALIE: Yes, by an aggressive, impersonal new tech named Reva. Not to worry, though, Christopher Gorham isn’t leaving the show. In fact, Auggie will be back working with Annie as soon as Episode 5, when she has to infiltrate the CIA training facility as a recruit who didn’t graduate. That shouldn’t be too hard considering she never did.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Tuesday!! Is everyone’s work week (school week, whatever) off to a good start? I sure hope so!! There wasn’t very much news to share with all of you today, but are at least a few good items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Kerr Smith (Life Unexpected and Dawson’s Creek) will guest star in a two-episode arc on NCIS playing Lt. Jonas Cobb, a confident former military man who plays a key role in helping the team figure out the identity of the Port-to-Port Killer. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Actor Oded Fehr will reprise his role as Eyal Lavin on Covert Affairs, appearing in the fourth episode of the new season, which will start on June 7 at 10 PM. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor James McAvoy (Wanted and X-Men: First Class) will appear in the crime thriller flick called Welcome to the Punch that is about a London detective whose old nemesis, an armed robber called Red Diesel, reappears after five years absence. His return heralds the uncovering of a massive conspiracy. (The Playlist and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: Brand New Official Trailer for John Madden Thriller ‘The Debt’

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

Question: What can we expect from the Fringe finale? — Rob

Sandra Gonzalez: If Fringe exec producers Jeff Pinkner and Joel H. Wyman’s teases turn out to be true, the three-episode arc (beginning April 22) that closes out this season will likely send theorists into a tailspin. “Pretty much every question anyone had this season will get answered,” Pinkner says. “If we do our jobs correctly, we’ll make people look at the entire season through a different perspective.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Monday Folks! I hope the start of your week has been a good one. Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The following news broke on Twitter on Friday night, but for those of you who didn’t see it, get your calendars out and ready. USA Network has announced return dates for both Burn Notice and Royal Pains as well as set debut dates for two of their new dramas. Burn Notice will be back for season five on June 23 at 9 PM followed by the new series Suits (formerly called A Legal Mind) at 10 PM. The new series Suits revolves around a brilliant but unmotivated college dropout (Patrick J. Adams) who’s recruited by one of Manhattan’s top corporate lawyers (Gabriel Macht). The series also stars Gina Torres (Firefly). Meanwhile, Royal Pains will be back with season three on June 29 at 9 PM followed by the new series Necessary Roughness at 10 PM, which stars Callie Thorne (Rescue Me) as a tough, sexy Long Island divorcee who gets a job as therapist for a professional football team in order to make ends meet and soon finds herself a sought-after therapist to high-profile clients. Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Mehcad Brooks (True Blood) and Scott Cohen (Gilmore Girls) co-star. As previously announced, White Collar and Covert Affairs will both return on June 7. Psych, unfortunately, won’t be back until sometime this fall. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Danny Glover will guest star on Leverage as a retired war veteran who acquired a piece of art that has a little bit of a mystery story behind it; and much of the story will be narrated by his character. Leverage returns with 10-episodes starting on June 26. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line with reporting by Vlada Gelman)

Actress Claire Forlani (Camelot) will have a recurring role on NCIS: Los Angeles, playing Lauren Hunter, the team’s new operations manager, which puts the future of current operations manager Hetty (Linda Hunt) in question. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Amber Tamblyn will be working with House executive producer Katie Jacobs on a new drama pilot about a young teacher in the world of public education in America. Currently the show has received a script commitment from FOX. Also expected to be part of the show is actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony-winning writer-star of the Broadway musical In the Heights, who appeared in the two-hour sixth-season premiere of House. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Adam Harrington (Queer as Folk and Dexter) will be playing Adam’s (Thomas Dekker) father, Ethan Conant in the drama pilot The Secret Circle. Also actress Emily Holmes (Snakes on a Plane) has been cast in a guest starring role as Cassie’s (Britt Robertson) deceased mother, Amelia Blake. The pilot follows Cassie as she moves to New Salem and discovers she is part of a secret coven of witches and may also be the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle of good versus evil. (Tierney Bricker at Zap2It)

CONDOLENCES

Oscar-winning director Sidney Lumet passed away over the weekend. He helmed over 40 movies, including 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon and Network. He was 86. (Brandi Fowler at E! Entertainment Online)

ME: RIP, Mr. Lumet. Deepest sympathies go to his family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE….

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) will appear as General Zod in upcoming Superman film, Man of Steel. (Jenna Mullins at E! Entertainment Online)

Actor Josh Pence (The Social Network) will appear in the upcoming box office film The Dark Knight Rises as a young Ra’s Al Ghul. He will be seen in flashbacks. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actor Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man) will star in the film adaptation the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The coming-of-age story revolves around a youth (Suraj Sharma) who is the lone survivor of a sunken freighter who winds up sharing a lifeboat with a hyena, an injured zebra, an orangutan and a hungry Bengal tiger. Maguire is set to play a writer who interviews the adult Pi about his life-changing experience. Gerard Depardieu co-stars. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor Paul Giamatti has joined the cast of the big screen adaptation of the Broadway hit Rock of Ages, playing a sleazy band manager. (Kate Ward at Entertainment Weekly)

Here are the top 10 movies at the box office for this past weekend according to Box Office Mojo and TV Guide (with updated numbers from The Hollywood Reporter):

1. Hop – 21.6 million
2. Hanna – 12.4 million
3. Arthur – 12.2 million
4. Soul Surfer – 11.1 million
5. Insidious – 9.7 million
6. Your Highness – 9.5 million
7. Source Code – 9 million
8. Limitless – 5.6 million
9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules – 4.8 million
10. The Lincoln Lawyer – 4.6 million

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

Question: On an emotional recent Sunday, I settled in to learn who was the subject of the notification officer’s visit on Army Wives. I would have been upset by the death of any of the characters, but when I learned it was Jeremy Sherwood, I was in tears for the rest of the episode as they showed how it happened and the other characters’ reactions. It was almost like I had lost one of my nephews. We have watched Jeremy grow from troubled teenager who physically abused his mother into a confident, caring young man on the brink of marriage. As in Army Wives’ better moments, we were reminded of the devastating losses suffered by military families and their friends every day when a loved one is killed or seriously wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq. In the subsequent episode, among other ripples, we saw how Jeremy’s death has even affected the way Roland handles his counseling cases. Exploring the ripples from Jeremy’s death should give us some great stories this season. Terry Serpico and Catherine Bell as Jeremy’s grieving parents have been wonderfully real. So far, the writers have handled the stories with some understatement. I hope they can resist their shameless manipulation impulses and let the stories unfold realistically. As for Richard Bryant, the local Charleston actor who played Jeremy, I wish him much success in his career. He did a great job. Have you watched any Army Wives this season? What is your take on these developments? — Frank

Matt Roush: I checked in with Army Wives when I heard there was going to be a significant death in the family, and I thought they handled the story with appropriate respect and solemnity. I hope as you do that the show doesn’t lapse into melodrama as a result, but so far, I’d say you’re right to be impressed.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Friday to one and all! I hope you have some fun activities planned for this week or maybe you plan on taking it easy and just enjoying the weekend. Either way have a great one.

Now, let’s get into the news for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) will star opposite actress Ashley Judd in the ABC action series called Missing that has received a 10 episode order. The series will center 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. Bean will play Becca’s husband Paul, who was blown up in front of his son but will appear throughout the series in flashbacks. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actress Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) will return to the small screen as producer and star of the HBO original movie based on the best-selling novel The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood, which centers on a mother mourning the death of her young daughter and struggling to overcome the grief that jeopardizes every aspect of her life — including her marriage. She begins to find her way back into the world through a knitting circle. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Young actress Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) may become the next actress to play Juliet on the big screen as she is in talks to join the cast of Romeo and Juliet, which is being adapted by Oscar winner Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park. (Joshua Weinstein at The Wrap)

It looks like actor Ben Affleck is “in talks” to play the role of Tom Buchanan in the Baz Luhrmann adaptation of The Great Gatsby, starring alongside actor Leonardo DiCaprio, as Jay Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan. (First Showing)

Actor Michael Sheen (The Queen and Frost/Nixon) is in talks to play Elizabeth Collins Stoddard’s (Michelle Pfeiffer) manipulative brother Roger in the Tim Burton adaptation of the ’60s vampire soap Dark Shadows. Also young actor Thomas McDonell (the upcoming movie Prom) was cast as younger Barnabas Collins, to the older Barnabas played by Johnny Depp. The cast also includes Jackie Earle Haley (Human Target) as Collins’ servant Willie Loomis, Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech) as Dr. Julia Hoffman, Eva Green (Camelot and Casino Royale) as the witch Angelique Bouchard and relative newcomer (but one of the new faces to watch for this coming year) Bella Heathcote as Victoria Winters, the governess of the Collinwood estate. (moviegno.me)

Actor Dave Franco (Scrubs – and brother of James Franco) has been cast to play a villain in the adaptation of the 1980’s TV series 21 Jump Street that starred Johnny Depp. His character will be Eric, the most popular kid in school, who also happens to be a raging drug dealer. Jonah Hill’s narc character befriends him to infiltrate the cool kid crowd. Channing Tatum plays another undercover officer. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

It’s a big night tonight for those of us who watch the CW, as it’s the long-awaited return of new episodes for both The Vampire Diaries (for those of you who follow the show Klaus will be introduced on the April 21 episode!) and Nikita, after a 6-week spring hiatus. But for those of you who don’t watch the former WB network, you can check out new episodes of Bones on FOX or new episodes of CSI and The Mentalist on CBS.

In the meantime, please check out the news for today, as there are some interesting casting items, some new show pick-ups that you’ll want to know about and there are some new movie trailers that you’ll want to check out (and more):

TELEVISION

Actress Mary McDonnell will reprise her role as Captain Sharon Raydor on The Closer during the series super-sized ‘final’ season, being upgraded as a full-time series regular. This has led to the belief that she will lead the spin-off series titled Major Crimes along with some of the current cast of The Closer crossing over to that new series. Nothing has been confirmed for this latter part of news, though. The final season of The Closer will air 10 episodes this summer, followed by five in the winter, and the final six next summer. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Despite rumors to the contrary, actress Christina Ricci will not be appearing on the CBS drama CSI. That role will actually be filled by actress Elisabeth Harnois (Miami Medical), who will debut in the May 5 episode as a young woman who helps the Las Vegas team with the Nate Haskell investigation who is the estranged daughter of Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann). Her character works for the Los Angeles Police Department. Harnois is expected to return in the fall for more episodes. (Lynette Rice at Entertainment Weekly)

Showtime has picked up two new shows: Homeland and House of Lies, which have both received 12 episode orders. Homeland is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Carrie Anderson (Claire Danes), a CIA officer battling her own demons, who becomes convinced that the intelligence that led to the rescue of Scott Brody (Damian Lewis) a U.S. soldier who had been missing and presumed deal for nine years, was a setup and may be connected to an Al Qaeda plot to be carried out on American soil. Mandy Patinkin will portray Saul, a veteran CIA Division Chief who is Carrie’s (Danes) boss and mentor. Meanwhile, House of Lies is a half-hour comedy that stars Don Cheadle as Marty, a highly-successful and cutthroat consultant who is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his way with and for his clients. Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars and Heroes) will play Jeannie Van Der Hooven, a razor-sharp, Ivy-League graduate who works at Marty’s firm. Co-stars include Ben Schwartz (Undercovers), Josh Lawson (The Deep End) as Marty’s corporate team members and Dawn Oliveri (Heroes and The Vampire Diaries) as Marty’s acerbic ex-wife [among others]. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Annabeth Gish (Mystic Pizza and The X-Files) will appear in the second season of Pretty Little Liars as the therapist that all of the girls have to visit because of the events that unfolded in season one. Gish’s character is Anne Sullivan, the mysterious woman assigned to uncover the ugly truth from each girl. The show will be back with new episodes on June 14. (Pop Wrap)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Hope Davis (In Treatment) will star opposite Tea Leoni in the HBO half-hour comedy pilot Spring/Fall, which is set in New York City against the backdrop of the fashion world and centers on the dysfunctional partnership between Margo (Leoni) and Eden (Davis), two women with different approaches to career, family and friendship. Margo is a successful designer and a happily married mother of 5-year-old twins working for famous fashion designer Victor Cross. When he commits suicide, Margo takes over his line and quickly realizes she’s in over her head, so she reaches out to her estranged former best friend and collaborator Eden, a one-time famous fashion designer herself, and convinces her to come work for her. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Amber Valletta will guest star in the ABC drama pilot called Revenge that revolves around Emily (Emily Van Camp from Brothers and Sisters), a woman who moves to the Hamptons and learns quickly that every kind gesture her new neighbors make is an invitation to their own downfall. Ashley Madekwe (Secret Diary of a Call Girl), Nick Wechsler (Roswell), Gabriel Mann (Mad Men), Connor Paolo (Gossip Girl), Christa B. Allen, Henry Czerny (The Tudors), Madeline Stowe and Josh Bowman round out the cast. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

The upcoming four-hour mini-series Titanic has announced some of its cast, including Linus Roache (Batman Begins), Geraldine Somerville (Harry Potter) and Toby Jones (Infamous). The film will focus on different characters ranging from steerage passengers to upper class guests. (Jeff Labrecque at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Javier Bardem is close to signing a deal to play gunslinger Roland Deschain in The Dark Tower, the mammoth adaptation of the Stephen King 7-novel series that will span three movies and a limited run TV series in between each film. The premise is that Deschain becomes humanity’s last hope to save civilization as he hits the road to find the Dark Tower; but along the way, he encounters characters, good and bad, in a world that has an old West feel. Ron Howard directs a script from Akiva Goldsman with Brian Grazer producing. The deal itself is a complex one, almost unprecedented, because it calls for Bardem to star in the feature film and the TV component. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actor Jay Baruchel has joined the upcoming box office film Cosmopolis, which stars Robert Pattinson as a financial whiz kid who bets his entire fortune against the yen on one day. Baruchel will play the shy guy who founded the company, and who acts as the trader’s conscience. (Dark Horizons)

Actor William Fichtner (Prison Break) is in final negotiations to join Jodie Foster in the upcoming sci-fi epic Elysium. (Dark Horizons)

Actors Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson and Aidan Gillen have all joined the cast of the box office film Shadow Dancer, which is based on the novel by Tom Bradby. The story is about a former female IRA terrorist turned informer. Owen and Riseborough replace Guy Pearce and Rebecca Hall who were set for the lead roles late last year. (Dark Horizons)

Actress Maggie Grace (Lost) will reprise her role as the daughter of Liam Neeson in the upcoming sequel Taken 2. (Dark Horizons)

A film based on legendary singer Dusty Springfield is in the works. The film is to be based on the Sharon Davis book called A Girl Called Dusty. Cast and crew have yet to be chosen. [MY OPINION HERE: Kristin Chenoweth or even UK singer Duffy would be great in the role.] (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

In addition to Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Aaron Johnson being part of the upcoming adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, Director Joe Wright (Hanna, Pride and Prejudice and Atonement) has announced that actress Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire) and actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) are now a part of the cast as well. It is also rumored that James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan may also be joining the cast. The eight-part novel deals with a 19th century Russian woman (Knightley) trapped in a loveless marriage who becomes a social outcast when she has an affair with the aristocrat Count Vronsky (Johnson). (The Playlist, MTV News and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone in ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ Trailer

Watch: First Full Teaser Trailer for Roland Emmerich’s ‘Anonymous’

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Over the Hump Day! I sure hope everyone is having a good week. While today’s news is rather short there were still some interesting items to share with all of you):

TELEVISION

Actor Ethan Peck (the TV series 10 Things I Hate About You) is set to appear on Gossip Girl later this season. He will play a director’s assistant, but no other specific details are available at this time. (Tierney Bricker at Zap2It)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Brenda Strong (the voice of Mary Alice Young on Desperate Housewives) will play Ann Ewing, the latest wife of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) in the TNT drama pilot/remake Dallas. In this version actors Jesse Metcalfe (Chase) plays all-grown-up Christopher Ewing (Bobby’s son), while J.R.’s conniving spawn, John Ross, will be played by Josh Henderson (Over There). Larry Hagman will reprise his iconic role as J.R. Ewing. (William Keck at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones and Judy Greer have joined the cast of the upcoming box office film Playing the Field that stars actor Gerard Butler as a former pro soccer player who finds himself dodging romantic advances from soccer moms after he agrees to coach his son’s youth team in an attempt to bond with the boy. Zeta-Jones will play a hot newscaster, while Greer takes on the role of a lathered-up housewife. The cast also includes Dennis Quaid as a rival soccer coach, Jessica Biel as Butler’s ex-wife, and Uma Thurman as one of the mom’s after Butler. (24 Frames and Dark Horizons)

Actress Meg Ryan will make her feature directorial debut with the film Into the Beautiful, which is described as a contemporary version of The Big Chill, following longtime friends who reconnect after years apart. (Variety and First Showing)

Actor Malcolm McDowell and actress Carrie-Anne Moss have joined the cast of the horror flick Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, which stars Adelaide Clemens (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones). McDowell will play Leonard Wolf while Moss will play Claudia Wolf. The film is about a teenager (Clemens) on the run from dangerous forces that she doesn’t fully understand. Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean and Deborah Kara Unger also star. (Joshua Weinstein at The Wrap)

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

Question: I’m dying for Burn Notice to come back. Scoop me! — Jared

ADAM: I’m hearing the new season will feature a new recurring character, a female operative sent by the CIA to investigate the murder of one of its own. Although Michael is willing to help her, it quickly becomes apparent that Michael may have been responsible for the operative in question’s death.

Question: Any scoop on my favorite show, Rizzoli & Isles? — Aaron

NATALIE: While the ladies try to track down a Navy sailor during Boston’s “Fleet Week” who is accused of rape, Maura and Jane will be the object of an auto shop owner’s affection. Once Giovanni realizes Jane doesn’t dig him, he’ll switch his attention to the interested Maura. The ace up his sleeve to seal the deal? He’s holding out on fixing Jane’s mom’s car until Maura sleeps with him. Classy!

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!! Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Brad Dourif (Deadwood) will appear in the season finale of Fringe on May 6, playing a mysterious character named Moreau. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

If you’d like to read more about some newly announced guest stars and some spoilers for Drop Dead Diva, please visit here.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

A new hour-long drama is being considered by ABC Family based on the childhood of country singer and recent Academy of Country Music winner Miranda Lambert whose father – Richard Lee “Rick” Lambert – is a retired police officer who became a private investigator in partnership with her mother, Beverly “Bev” June Lambert. The project is being described as Hart to Hart with a family, centering on a Texas family where the kids help their PI parents in solving cases. (Deadline)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

The HBO made-for-TV movie Too Big to Fail, starring William Hurt, Paul Giamatti and Matthew Modine, based on the bestselling book by Andrew Ross Sorkin, will premiere on Monday, May 23 at 9 PM. The movie centers on Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (Hurt) and examines the symbiotic relationship between Wall Street and Washington. The cast includes Edward Asner, Billy Crudup, Topher Grace, Cynthia Nixon, Michael O’Keefe, Bill Pullman, Tony Shalhoub and James Woods. (The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class and Jane Eyre) is set for a lead role in the upcoming film called Good Vibrations, which tells the true story of Terri Hooley, a man who many people call a punk rock impresario. (First Showing, The Playlist and Cineuropa)

Actress Mae Whitman (Parenthood and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) is in final negotiations to join the independent coming-of-age film called The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is based on the 1999 coming-of-age novel by Stephen Chbosky, which follows the trials and tribulations of a 15-year-old shy and unpopular high school student (Logan Lerman) who writes a series of letters to a mysterious pen pal. Whitman will play Mary Elizabeth, a tattooed vegetarian who becomes his first girlfriend. Actress Emma Watson (the Harry Potter franchise) has the lead role in this film. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

ANIMATED FILM NEWS

Actress Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) will be voicing a role in Star Wars: The Clone Wars but very little is being released about which character she will play except that it is “a memorable character”. (Blastr)

SPOILER ROOM (with Sandra Gonzalez from Entertainment Weekly)

WARNING: Please tread carefully if you don’t want to be spoiled on Being Human, Supernatural and Chuck!!

BIG CHANGES COMING TO ‘BEING HUMAN’

Holy cow, Humans! Last night’s penultimate episode of Being Human on Syfy not only included a few nail-biting cliffhangers (Please don’t die, Aidan!), but it also left us on a great note going into the season 1 finale. Lucky for you, Sam Witwer spilled many a secrets about next week’s wicked finale to help ease the pain of the wait. “There are actually a few cliffhangers, and there are a few provocative questions, primarily with Josh and Aidan,” Witwer says. And some of those new questions are likely to be raised in the flashback scene to two years ago that “explains something that Josh did earlier this season,” Witwer teases. “There’s a vengeful move that Josh does at the urging of [Josh’s jerk were-buddy] Ray. We learn a little bit more about why he did that. And we’re also catching Aidan right as he’s about to pull away from the vampires; he’s already starting to feel quite alone and isolated. So that, more than anything, allows him to identify Josh as someone else who has the same problem.” But aside from exploring Aidan and Josh’s first encounter, the episode will also play a key part in defining what the trio’s friendship has become since their first meeting earlier this season — and what might change. “By the end of the season, the question of are they better together or better apart is answered — or begins to get answered. We have a lot of moments that are designed to remind us — sometimes literally and sometimes in a metaphoric way — how far these characters have come with each other,” Witwer says. But just don’t get too comfortable with the direction — or line-up, for that matter — that you see now. Because Witwer warns that come next week, not all will be as it is now. “Some of the things we end with demand the show has to change to keep up with them.”

‘SUPERNATURAL’: A TITANIC-SIZED TWIST

Has the wait been long enough for you? Well, lucky for you, the first new episode of Supernatural in six weeks is all you’ve been waiting for — a little mythology, a lot of one-liners, and a heck of a twist. In the April 15 episode, titled “My Heart Will Go On,” Sam and Dean find themselves in an altered reality where everything — from the not-Impala they drive (horror!) to the career of Celine Dion — is different as a result of the Titanic not sinking. But once Supernatural fans get a glimpse of how the ship’s safe arrival to the U.S. affects the world, you might find yourself wishing, like Balthazar (who’s behind the altered world), that the ship never sank. Particularly when you see the circumstances under which Ellen (Samantha Ferris) returns to the fold. If you, like me, bawled like a baby when she and Jo (Alona Tal) were killed off last season, you might shed more than a tear during this episode. Also great? Many bromantic moments between Dean, Sam, and the “dirty-trenchcoat-wearing angel who’s in love” with them. Not my words.

MORE AWESOME ACTION FOR CAPT. AWESOME ON ‘CHUCK’

The spy world is a dangerous place, and after Awesome and Ellie welcomed baby Clara this season, I got a flood of emails asking if this was the end of the new parents’ spy adventures. Well, for the most part it was — at least in regards to this season, when they resided primarily in Babyville. But things are about to change… “It was really tricky because the first time Awesome got into the spy world, it was a little self-centered to be honest. You know, married life does have its lulls. He wanted to spice things up a little bit and get that adrenaline rush,” Ryan McPartlin says. “If he did that now with a baby, it would be really selfish. So [the writers] had to be really careful bringing us into the spy world and making it out of necessity rather than desire.” Fans can assume that “necessity” has something to do with Pa Bartowski’s laptop of secrets, which Ellie has found herself engrossed with since she got her hands on it. But McPartlin eased any fears a bit, saying that the audience will be “relieved and happy to see what comes of it.” But not before Awesome and Ellie get to have a little fun. “I think the audience still likes to relate to people who are thrown in there, who have no business being there. Otherwise, you just have Alias. Where does it go? Whereas when we get in there, everything is haphazard,” he says, laughing.

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

Question: I’d love some Drop Dead Diva! — Margo

SANDRA: Then you’ll love this. Sharon Lawrence and Faith Prince will be reprising their roles as Deb and Jane’s mom, respectively, in episode 7 of next season, titled “Mothers’ Day.” But prepare to see them like we’ve never seen them before: singing “Lean On Me” with Brooke Elliott! “Jane’s got to help both moms with [separate] legal issues, and they’re fighting over her attention. She’s being torn between both mothers,” creator Josh Berman tells EW exclusively. “Then on top of that, we learn something new about her relationship with Grayson in this episode. It’s a juicy episode.” Juicy, indeed!

Question: I need some Warehouse 13 info — is Myka coming back? I hate waiting a whole year for a summer show to return. — Nathan C.

SANDRA: Waits are painful but usually worth it — and I hear yours might be, too. Though the powers that be are still quite mum on a return for Myka and would not confirm her appearance in the first episode of the third season (as listed on IMDB), a “you’ll see” is always better than a “no.” Right?

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Wow, what an interesting couple of days I have had. As I mentioned late last week, I left for San Francisco early Friday morning (yes, I traveled on April Fool’s Day, but no pranks were pulled by the airlines) to attend Wonder Con; the 3-day mini-Comic-Con-like event that happens annually in that city. I took part in a lot of panels, did some behind the scenes interviews in the press room and got to visit with some friends for whom I haven’t seen in a while. All in all it was a good 3 days, but I have so much to catch up not only in my personal life but also in my professional one.

One of those “things” is my daily update for Friday and for today, which, of course, are combined below for your enjoyment. But before I get into all of the news, please know that I will be working on some fun items for the site to fill you in on the excitement of Wonder Con and I hope you will also stop by NiceGirlsTV for more coverage from the con.

Now, let’s get into the news, shall we?

TELEVISION

Congratulations to the winners of the 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, including Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Reba McEntire, The Band Perry, Garth Brooks and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers. (TV Guide)

Legendary actor Malcolm McDowell will appear in the season premiere of Psych as Ambassador Fanshaw, a witty British diplomat temporarily residing in Santa Barbara. When a murdered woman turns up in his house, Fanshaw hires Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dulé Hill) to help him psychically find her killer. Psych will be back with its 6th season sometime this summer. (E! Entertainment Online)

Mark your calendars! True Blood will be back on HBO with 12 all new episodes (the show’s fourth season) starting on June 26 at 9 PM. (The Futon Critic)

Actors Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia (both from Heroes) are set to voice Iron Man and Wolverine respectively in two new animated series based on the Marvel superheroes that will air on G4 next year. (Dark Horizons)

The role of Diana’s girlfriend on White Collar has been cast. Actress Moran Atias (from Starz’s series Crash, which was based on the box office film) will play Christie, Diana’s (Marsha Thomason) oft-referred-to-but-never-seen onscreen sweetheart who is a cardiologist who brings out Diana’s lighter side with her sweet smile and scalpel-edged wit. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

MADE FOR TV MOVIES NEWS

Legendary actor Burt Reynolds will co-star with LeAnn Rimes in the CMT made-for-TV movie called Reel Love, one of the first two films to come out of the newly created CMT Original Movies division, which will produce TV movies with a focus on romantic comedies and music-based films. Reel Love stars Rimes as Holly, a successful big-city girl who returns to her small-town roots after a family emergency. She then embarks on a soulful, comedic journey to reconnect with family and friends and find meaningful romance along the way. Reynolds will play Holly’s father, a grizzled ex-Army, ex-cop, ex-trucker. The movie will premiere in September. (Deadline)

Another Procter & Gamble family friendly 2-hour movie is set to air on NBC. The made-for-TV movie (and backdoor pilot) is called Passport and stars Robyn Lively as Meredith, an expert chef skilled in Piloxing (Pilates mixed with boxing) who is raising her teen kids alone because of her geologist husband Simon’s (Loren Dean) erratic travel schedule. When Simon doesn’t return home from his latest trip, Michelle launches an investigation and discovers that he has been leading a double-life as a covert intelligence operative with CAD (Clandestine Activities Division). Along with her teenage daughter (Skyler Day), she travels to Europe to save Simon, who was abducted during his latest mission and must work together with his captor to bring down a traitor at CAD. (Deadline)

MUSIC NEWS WITH TV TIE-IN

Actor-Singer Matthew Morrison (Glee) has announced the dates for his upcoming tour (which follow below). His self-titled debut album from Mercury Records will be out on May 30. He will be in Minneapolis on June 18, St. Louis on June 19, Rosement (Illinois) on June 21, Columbus (Ohio) on June 22, Detroit on June 23, Philadelphia on June 27, Newark (New Jersey) on June 28, Boston on June 29, New York City on July 1, Atlantic City on July 2, Washington, D.C. on July 6, Greensboro (North Carolina) on July 7, Duluth (Georgia) on July 7, Tampa on July 10, Orlando on July 11, Boca Raton (Florida) on July 13, Jacksonville (Florida) on July 14, Grand Prairie (Texas) on July 16, Austin on July 17, Phoenix on July 19, San Diego on July 20 and Los Angeles on July 23. (The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Relative newcomer actor-singer Diego González Boneta (Pretty Little Liars and 90210) will play leading man Drew Bowie in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages, working alongside Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and others). Boneta got his start as a singer in Mexico. (Vulture)

Actress Lily Collins (The Blind Side and Priest) – and daughter of Phil Collins – landed the role of Snow White opposite actor Armie Hammer (The Social Network), who will play the Prince while Julia Roberts will play the evil Queen. The movie is due in theatres on June 29, 2012. (E! Entertainment Online)

Actress Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass and Let Me In) is in talks to join the Tim Burton film adaptation of the classic TV series Dark Shadows. She is expected to play Carolyn, the daughter of reclusive Collins matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer). (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actors Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) and Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) have landed roles in the much-anticipated film adaptation of the best-selling book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Hutcherson will play Peeta Mellark, the sometimes love interest of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) while Hemsworth will play Gale Hawthorne, Katniss’s loyal friend. The film hits theaters on March 23, 2012. (The Wrap)

Legendary actor Leonard Nimoy will be coming out of retirement to voice Sentinel Prime, the new Autobot in the upcoming sequel Transformers: Dark of the Moon. He will not appear on camera. (First Showing)

Relative unknown actors – Sam Claflin and Alicia Vikander – will appear alongside Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges in the film The Seventh Son, which is an adaptation of Revenge of the Witch, the first book in the Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney. Claflin will play Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son who is apprenticed to Spook (Bridges), a local whose job is to fight evil spirits and witches. But while Spook is away, the boy will soon have to face the powerful witch Mother Malkin (Moore) on his own. Vikander will play Alice, an enigmatic new friend of Tom’s who aims to help him fight the evil witch. (First Showing)

Actors Alec Baldwin, Marisa Tomei, Thomas Haden Church and Allison Janney are all joining the cast of the box office film called Lucky Them, which follows a female rock journalist who sets out to find her ex-boyfriend. (Dark Horizons)

Will Smith and his son Jaden will star in the as-yet untitled futuristic science fiction adventure film to be directed by M. Night Shyamalan. (Deadline)

Here are the top 10 movies at the box office for this past weekend according to Exhibitor Relations and E! Entertainment Online:

1. Hop, $38.1 million
2. Source Code, $15.1 million
3. Insidious, $13.5 million
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, $10.2 million
5. Limitless, $9.4 million
6. Lincoln Lawyer, $7.1 million
7. Sucker Punch, $6.1 million
8. Rango, $4.6 million
9. Paul, $4.3 million
10. Battle: Los Angeles, $3.5 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Thursday Everybody!! The news isn’t too voluminous, but I still found some interesting items to share:

TELEVISION

It has been confirmed that Allison Mack will be back on Smallville for the two-hour series finale. (Zap2It)

Actress Vinessa Antoine (Being Erica and Soul Food) will have a recurring role on the Syfy series Haven when it returns for its second season. She will play Evidence “Evi” Ryan, a former con-artist and lover of Duke’s (Eric Balfour). (The Futon Critic)

Actor Jonathan Groff will be back on Glee for this season’s final three episodes. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Looks like the box office movie Transporter will be made into a 12-episode action drama on Cinemax. The series will center on professional transporter Frank Martin, operating in a seedy underworld of dangerous criminals and desperate players, who can always be counted on to get the job done — discreetly. Production will begin this summer, but no premiere date has been set yet. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Parker Posey will guest star on The Big C when it returns to Showtime on June 27. She will appear in four episodes as Poppy, an older woman who develops an unlikely relationship with Adam (Gabriel Basso), Cathy’s son. Also announced yesterday was that actor Hugh Dancy will also guest star in the show. He will appear in six episodes as Lee, a charming fellow cancer patient who befriends Cathy (Laura Linney) [SPOILER ALERT] as they take part in an experimental drug trial. (Tim Molloy at The Wrap)

HBO has pulled the plug on their series In Treatment. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Denis O’Hare (True Blood) has joined the FX drama pilot American Horror Story that stars Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) and comes from co-creators Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy (the men behind Glee). (The Futon Critic)

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) is being courted for the FX drama pilot called Powers about a pair of homicide detectives in a world where superheroes are commonplace. He would play one of them, Christian Walker, who secretly used to be a superhero. (The Futon Critic)

Margo Martindale (Justified) has joined the cast of the as-yet untitled Susannah Grant pilot that is about Michael Halstead (Patrick Wilson), an ultra-competitive surgeon whose life is changed forever when his ex-wife, Anna Lindberg (Jennifer Ehle), dies and begins teaching him what life is all about from the hereafter. Martindale will take over for S. Epatha Merkerson as Rita, Michael’s “don’t cross her” assistant. (The Futon Critic)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actress Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) will star as Sixties cover girl Jean Shrimpton – the supermodel of her day – in a new BBC film called We’ll Take Manhattan, which will examine the charged four-year love affair between the iconic model and photographer David Bailey. This is Gillan’s first leading role since making her debut in Doctor Who. (Daily Mail Reporter and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) will voice the role of Tomar-Re, a key member of the Green Lantern Corps. in the upcoming Green Lantern movie that stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actor Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and actress Sarah Shahi (Fairly Legal) are set to appear in the box office thriller called Static that follows a young couple on the verge of divorce and dealing with the loss of their child. Their life is complicated further by the arrival of a young visitor (Sara Paxton) with supernatural implications. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor John Travolta is set to play mobster John Gotti Sr. in the film Gotti: Three Generations that will focus on the relationship between John Gotti Sr., the head of the Gambino crime family who died in prison in 2002, and his son John Gotti Jr. who took over the family business. The younger Gotti served time in prison, but then successfully escaped conviction in four subsequent racketeering trials. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

PS: Have a terrific weekend – I’m send these well wishes off early, as I’m heading to WonderCon tomorrow and will have limited access to the internet during that time.

Read Full Post »