Rueben's Ramblings

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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Hey All,

Happy Friday to everyone! I hope everyone has some great plans for the weekend and will be enjoying some much deserved time off. For now, let’s get into the news for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Julia Ormond will guest star as a police psychologist who will be conducting mandatory sessions with Detective Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She is set to appear in all eight episodes of the show’s final season, which premieres on the USA Network on Sunday, May 1. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

The youngest member of the original New Kids on the Block, Joey McIntyre, has been cast as – get this – the “buff new officer” at the Santa Barbara Police Department on the USA Network series Psych. This will be a guest-starring role in which Shawn and Gus suspect the new officer is living a double life as “The Mantis,” the city’s mysterious masked vigilante/superhero who has single-handedly been taking down a drug syndicate. Psych will return with new episodes this fall. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Mark your calendars! Syfy has announced their summer schedule with Eureka and Warehouse 13 both returning with new episodes on July 11 at 8 and 9 PM (respectively); Haven coming back for a second season on July 15 at 10 PM; and the new series Alphas debuting on July 11 at 10 PM. Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. The team is lead by Dr. Leigh Rosen(David Strathairn) and the cast includes Malik Yoba (New York Undercover), Warren Christie (October Road), Laura Mennell (Watchmen), Ryan Cartwright (Bones) and Azita Ghanizada (General Hospital: Night Shift). (PopCultureZoo)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

HBO has begun talks to acquire the Neil Gaiman novel American Gods to be developed into another fantasy series. The 2002 book follows an ex-convict on a cross-country journey through a modern day United States where all the mythological gods and monsters of ancient history have immigrated to. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

In addition to announcing the summer returns of their TV shows, Syfy announced the summer movies they will be airing on Saturday nights. Those include the following (thanks to PopCultureZoo for the details):

Red Faction: Origins, which will debut on June 4, at 9PM. The movie stars Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe) and Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica) star in a TV adaptation of the hugely successful video game franchise. The story goes like this: Twenty-five years have passed since Alec Mason (Patrick) led the Martian Colonies to freedom and 12 years since vengeful enemies killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter Lyra, and left a broken hero in their wake. Jake Mason (Smith), Alec’s only son and an officer in the Red Faction Militia, has his world turned inside out when he discovers that now, 12 years after her kidnapping, his sister is still alive. As a powerful new enemy swarms across the planet, Jake goes out to find her, only to learn that his lost sister is one of them — a cold-blooded soldier sworn to destroy the Red Faction. Vernon portrays The Matriarch, leader of the tribal Marauders sect.

Ice Road Terror, debuting on June 11, at 9PM is about Truckers (Brea Grant from Heroes and Michael Hogan from Battlestar Galactica) as they face a deadly ice creature on the frozen roads.

Swamp Shark premieres on June 25, at 9PM, starring Kristy Swanson (the original Buffy Summers), D.B. Sweeney (Jericho) and Robert Davi (Profiler) in the story of mutant sharks terrorizing the Louisiana bayous.

Age of Dragons stars Danny Glover in a re-imagining of Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick. This movie will be set in a mythical realm where Captain Ahab and crew hunt dragons for the vitriol that powers their world. The movie will air in July.

Super Eruption is about a scientist and a park ranger (Juliet Aubrey from Primeval and Richard Burgi from Desperate Housewives) who try to stop the eruption of a massive volcano under Yellowstone Park. This movie will also air in July.

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor James Tupper (Men in Trees and Grey’s Anatomy) has joined the cast of the box office film Playing the Field that centers on a former soccer star (Gerard Butler) who is forced to coach his son’s soccer team and then has trouble resisting the demanding yet seductive soccer moms. Tupper will play the fiancé of Butler’s ex-wife (Jessica Biel) and the soon-to-be step-dad to Butler’s son. Uma Thurman and Catherine Zeta-Jones also star. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actor Nestor Carbonell (Lost) is in negotiations to reprise his role as Gotham’s Mayor in the upcoming box office film The Dark Knight Rise. (Variety)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Must Watch: Theatrical Trailer for Jon Favreau’s ‘Cowboys & Aliens’

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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Hey All,

It’s almost Friday – YAY! Is everyone looking forward to the weekend? I’m sure we all are, right? In the meantime, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The hour-long Canadian series called Heartland, which is now in its fifth season there, has been acquired for reairing on the cable channel GMC, which is considered America’s favorite channel for uplifting music and family entertainment. The series will premiere there on April 14 with back-to-back episodes at 7 and 8 PM (Eastern time) There will be encores at 9 and 10 PM and 11 PM and 12 midnight as well as on Sunday at 11 PM and midnight (again all Eastern time). Heartland is a modern-day Little House on the Prairie that focuses on the struggle of a debt-ridden family of Rocky Mountain horse ranchers fighting to keep a dream alive against a backdrop of young love, conflict and intrigue. The series stars Amber Marshall (The Elizabeth Smart Story), Shaun Johnston (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee), Michelle Morgan (Stargate Atlantis) and Graham Wardle (In the Land of Women). (The Futon Critic)

Actress Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (Prison Break) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Los Angeles, playing a central role in an upcoming episode that has not been given an air date. No other details are available on her role. (Robyn Ross at TV Guide)

ABC announced today that they are cancelling daytime soap operas One Life to Live and All My Children, leaving only 4 soap operas on during daytime. All My Children will air its final episode in September of this year with One Life to Live ending in January 2012. (Daniel Frankel at The Wrap)

One Tree Hill is doing it again…they are going to fast-forward through time. But unlike the four year leap that happened between Seasons 4 and 5, this fast forward is only supposed to be months and will be contained within an episode rather than over the summer hiatus – that is IF the show is being renewed. No word has been announced if the show will be back for yet another season or not. (Robyn Ross at TV Guide)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actresses Jeanne Tripplehorn and Patricia Clarkson will star in the Lifetime original movie Project Five, which an anthology of five short films that explore the impact of breast cancer on people’s lives, four of which are being directed by Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore and Patty Jenkins. Tripplehorn will play Pearl, an oncologist, who is the only character to appear in all five segments. Clarkson will star in the segment directed by Aniston. (Deadline)

Newcomer Alice St. Clair will play Kate Middleton in the Hallmark movie William and Kate: A Royal Love Story. The Lifetime movie called William & Kate, which stars Nico Evers-Swindell as Prince William and Camilla Luddington as Middleton, premieres next Monday. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Hugh Laurie (House) will star in the film adaptation of the Lloyd Jones novel called Mister Pip, playing Mr. Watts, the last white man left on the war-torn island of Bougainville where he is asked to open a school. He reads the kids his favorite novel, Great Expectations and as they bond over the book, they shed some perspectives on their own difficult lives. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actress Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters) will play dowdy, old Mary Todd Lincoln (Abraham’s wife) in the upcoming biopic Lincoln that is set to star Daniel Day-Lewis as the bearded, emancipating president. (Rich Juzwiak at TV Guide)

Actress Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) will join Aaron Eckhart in the box office film called The Expatriate that follows a CIA agent assigned to track down her former CIA partner and lover (Eckhart). (First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

VIDEO: Taylor Lautner Shows Off His Action Acting Muscles in Abduction

Must Watch: First Teaser Trailer for ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’

That’s it. Enjoy!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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