Rueben's Ramblings

ausHi All,

Here are the news items for all of last week:

TELEVISION

Actress Dora Madison Burge (Friday Night Lights) has landed a recurring role on Chicago Fire, playing Jessica “Chili” Chilton, the new paramedic in charge replacing Mills (Charlie Barnett), who left to move to North Carolina with his family. (Kate Stanhope at The Hollywood Reporter)

ABC has canceled Revenge after four seasons on the air. The series finale will air on May 10. (Variety)

Syfy has also canceled the drama Helix with the show’s April 10 finale serving as its series finale. (Denise Petski at Deadline)

Actress Amber Stevens (Greek) will appear in the upcoming season of Chasing Life, playing Frankie, the best friend of Leo (series regular Scott Michael Foster, who also appeared in Greek). (Andy Swift at TV Line)

TV TRAILER

MINI-SERIES NEWS

Lifetime, A&E and the History Channel will be teaming up for a reboot of the classic War and Peace. The limited series will simulcast next year with the cast including Paul Dano (12 Years a Slave), Lily James (Downton Abbey and Cinderella), Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), James Norton (Death Comes to Pemberley and Grantchester) and Jim Broadbent (Cloud Atlas). (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box offices films from last weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Furious 7 – 18.2 million
2. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 – 15.5 million
3. The Age of Adaline – 13.3 million
4. Home – 8.3 million
5. Unfriended – 6.2 million
6. Ex Machina – 5.4 million
7. The Longest Ride – 4.3 million
8. Get Hard – 3.9 million
9. Monkey Kingdom – 3.55 million
10. Woman in Gold – 3.5 million

Actress Jennifer Garner will star in the next Christian-focused film Miracles From Heaven that will be based on the book by Christy Beam. The story follows a young girl who is suffering from a rare digestive disorder and finds herself miraculously cured after surviving a terrible accident. (Justin Kroll at Variety)

MOVIE TRAILER

Q&A SECTION (with Kristin Dos Santos at E! Online and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: What’s coming up for Snow and Charming on Once Upon a Time? – Hannah

Kristin: Don’t shoot the messenger, but it sounds like they are headed to trouble! Also you really shouldn’t shoot the messenger because the messenger is Josh Dallas, who just stopped by our E! News set. He told me this about what’s ahead: “There’s big stuff going down, things that are going to shock the fans, things that a lot of the characters, particularly Snow and Charming, something that they don’t want to happen.”

Question: I’ll take anything you’ve got on Pretty Little Liars! I’m literally counting down the days until season six! – Lauren D.

Kristin: Grab a nightlight because PLL is getting even darker. “We are going to be punished for our actions for trying to escape from Charles and once we do escape, there are going to be some serious repercussions and scares, emotional as well as physical,” Janel Parrish previews of what’s in store in season six. “It’s going to get dark.” And except to see all of the Liars handle their dollhouse-related-PTSD in different ways. “They’re all going to be messed up in different ways,” Parrish teases. In other news, we’ll be meeting two new characters next season: Lorraine Stone aka Lesli’s formidable mother, and Zoe, a pretty new friend of Emily’s. And no, the show is not recasting Emily’s other friend Zoe, played by Rumer Willis, as we’ve learned it’s a different character. You can never have enough Zoes, right?!

Question: Outlander scoop, please! – Renee

Kristin: Honestly? Saw a bit more of what’s to come down the road, and I can’t say a word about it. Mostly because I can’t even breathe when I start thinking about it. You book fans know what I’m talking about. In the meantime, I can tell you in the next episode, airing this Saturday, Jenny goes into labor, some dangerous men arrive, and the episode does not end on the happiest note. Basically: Get ready and start preparing for the worst. Is there a word than means even worse than the worst? Yes, there is. Spoiler Alert: That word is JACK RANDALL.

Question: I’ll take anything you’ve got on Switched at Birth. – Ilana

Kristin: We hear that the ABC Family show is about to tackle pregnancy in a way that’s going to have fans talking. You thought the rape storyline was powerful? You haven’t seen anything yet.

Question: I need Chasing Life spoilers! – Felicia

Kristin: It’s a good thing April has a lot of wedding planning to look forward to because she’s going to need all the happy times she can get in the light of some terrible, awful news she gets almost immediately in the season two premiere. We can’t reveal what that is, but we can say that it’s going to change the entire show moving forward in a way that is going to affect everyone.

Question: I’ll take whatever spoilers you have on Arrow! – Sophia

Kristin: Here’s some not-so-great news: the Arrow cave is done. “[Team Arrow is] going to end up hanging out a great deal at Palmer Technologies,” executive producer Marc Guggenheim says. “We had to expand Ray’s workshop to allow for scenes with now suddenly a whole large group of people rather than just Ray and Felicity. So we did a little bit of set redesign and set redecoration. That basically is the lair for the remainder of the season. That said, you haven’t seen the last of the lair yet. It makes one final appearance in [episode] 21.”

Question: What is Arrow the show going to look like now that Oliver is staying in Nanda Parbat? —Amir

Ausiello: For one, don’t worry about a rehash of the midseason arc that robbed Starling City of its hero. “The tricky thing about [the next episode] is making it different from… when Oliver was missing and presumed dead,” says showrunner Marc Guggenheim. “One of the things we talked about is, How is Team Arrow functioning post-Oliver? We didn’t want to get into ‘crime on the rise,’ because I felt like we did that with Brick, but you’ll see with [the next two episodes] what Team Arrow is up to and how they’re working to continue to protect the city.” And no, that doesn’t mean the Atom will simply step in to fill the void. As Guggenheim notes, “Every time Ray interacts with or allies himself with Team Arrow, there’s a story reason behind it, as opposed to just the assumption that, ‘OK, he’s part of the team now.’ [This week] is a very Team Arrow-centric episode, and Ray, for all of his charms and for all of the help he can provide, is not a member of Team Arrow.”

Question: May I have some scoop on Gotham? —Monica

Ausiello: Yes you may, and then some. Here’s a report from Matt Mitovich, who has already seen Monday’s freshman finale: “It’s true, I audibly groaned at the close of last episode, seeing that a(nother) mob war would fuel the finale. But know what? It kinda works — though make no mistake, there are some sloppy twists. (Like the characters who make a bold escape only to be recaptured 15 seconds later.) Elsewhere, something involving Cat kinda broke my heart; we bid adieu to a character I was very sad to see go; and while the big Bruce reveal is teased in promos, it’s still pretty cool (yet absolutely should not have been spoiled). Also: The Riddler promises to be a quite different sort of villain.”

Question: Outlander — anything about the finale will be devoured and appreciated. –Erin

Ausiello: I can tell you what likely won’t be in the finale: Any mention of Jack Randall’s brother, a minor point in Diana Gabaldon’s first book but a major one in the second (and therefore likely important in the second season of the Starz drama). “I don’t think that made it into the edit,” series creator Ron Moore tells TV Line, and Tobias Menzies — whose character would have uttered the mysterious line (familiar to fans of the book) during a harrowing scene in the finale — says he can’t recall the mention, either.

Question: I’m worried about Forever not coming back next year. Take my mind off it by giving me some finale scoop, please. —Barb

Ausiello: Remember when star Ioan Gruffudd told TV Line Henry wasn’t going to worry about Adam much in the future? The finale makes the why behind that statement abundantly clear — and not in the way you’re thinking.

That’s it. Til next weekend!!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items from last week:

TELEVISION

The TV Land new series Younger has been given a second season order by the network. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Regina King (Southland and American Crime) has joined the cast of the HBO drama The Leftovers. She will play Erika Murphy, a doctor who runs the local urgent care in the town. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Eric La Salle (ER) has joined the cast of the summer CBS series Under the Dome where he will play Hektor Martin, a ruthless CEO of the energy company run by Barbie’s (series lead Mike Vogel) father. (Denise Petski at Deadline)

Actor Marc Blucas (Buffy and Necessary Roughness) has joined the cast of the upcoming WGN America series Underground, which focuses on the pre-Civil War Underground Railroad. He will play John Hawkes, an abolitionist lawyer, replacing Devon Gummersall, who was originally cast in the role. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Bruce Davison (Last Resort) has replaced actor Stephen Collins as Lena’s dad on the ABC Family drama The Fosters. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

Actress Maggie Grace (Lost) will guest star in an episode of Masters of Sex, playing Christine Wesh, a well-respected gynecologist who helps Masters and Johnson on a case with international implications. (Rebecca Iannucci at TV Line)

TV TRAILER

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Franz Drameh (Edge of Tomorrow) has joined the cast of the as yet titled Arrow/The Flash spin-off on The CW. He will play Jay Jackson, a former high school athlete whose pro-career was derailed by injury. Now making ends meets as an auto mechanic, Jay will come to have a surprising affiliation to the S.T.A.R. Labs crew. (Laura Prudom at Variety)

ONLINE NEWS

The Netflix series Marvel’s Daredevil has been given a second season order. (Whitney Friedlander at Variety)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Two more actors have joined the growing cast of the upcoming live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. They are Ewan McGregor and Stanley Tucci. McGregor will play the maître d’, who is turned into a candelabra due to the curse put upon the prince and his castle while Tucci will play Cadenza, the grand piano, a new character being added to the story. (Ethan Anderton at First Showing and Justin Kroll at Variety)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Q&A SECTION (with Kristin Dos Santos at E!; Michael Ausiello at TV Line and Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: Cannot believe Victoria Grayson is dead on Revenge! Will Charlotte come back to the Hamptons after she finds out? – Jeaneen

Kristin: Christa B. Allen will definitely be returning, but won’t be sharing any scenes with Madeleine Stowe, even in flashbacks. “I unfortunately didn’t get to work with Christa,” Stowe tells us. But when asked if we could possibly be seeing any other returns before season’s end, Stowe teases, “There will be surprises, for sure.”

Question: Game of Thrones has been slow in the first two episodes this season. Is the action going to pick up soon? – Eric

Kristin: We asked Kit Harrington that very question, and his answer has got us all kinds of excited! “There is one really big battle coming up,” Harrington says. “There is one really epic battle. There’s some other good fights and some good action, too, towards the end of the season. It’s definitely one to watch.”

Question: Got anything on Orphan Black? – Leah

Kristin: Who’s ready for some Team Hendrix this season?! “Allison and Donnie have found a renewed interest in each other and their relationship is in a reparative phase,” Jordan Gavaris tells us. “They are very much enjoying being together in the suburbs and doing that whole suburban thing, being the perfect suburban couple. Sometimes that leads to a caper or two, and sometimes Felix is there to help out. He’s still going to be a crisis counselor. It’s in those moments I relish the comedy and have fun with it. He’ll be called upon in the very near future to help with a crisis, and it has hilarious results.”

Question: I need some answers before pull all of my hair out. When will we get the next big question-making answer about the relationship between Red and Liz on The Blacklist? – Tamim

Ausiello: Here’s a tiny bone for you involving The Fulcrum, which has caused quite a rift in Red and Liz’s relationship. According to series creator Jon Bokenkamp, that pesky blackmail file is going to play a major role in the season’s final episodes. “It’s less about the information that’s in The Fulcrum,” he says, “and more about what that device is going to do to our characters, and the problems it’s going to create for them.”

Question: Bummed Colton Haynes is leaving Arrow, but I’m happy he’ll be back for one more episode this season to wrap up his story. Any scoop on that? – Carrie

Ausiello: As Guggenheim points out, “Thea was too busy getting ‘killed’ by Ra’s to say goodbye to Roy. So we owed the audience some closure for this love story.” The pair’s farewell will take place in this season’s penultimate episode airing May 6.

Question: Could you confirm that Agah Bayar is returning to NCIS? – Zoe

Ausiello: Indeed, I could: Showrunner Gary Glasberg says that Tamer Hassan will put in a “really important” encore in the season’s penultimate episode, titled “The Lost Boys.” An arms dealer who has been featured on the series thrice before, “Agah Bayar has specific information” about an “unfortunate event” being planned by a terror group that recruits young people online. Notes the EP, “He and Gibbs always have good stuff together.”

Question: I’m a big fan of The Flash, specifically Iris West. I was wondering if you could tease anything coming up for her towards the end of the season? – Janneh

Ausiello: Iris will learn the truth about what’s going on with the men in her life “a lot sooner than” the May 19 finale, executive producer Andrew Kreisberg reveals. “How that happens and how it plays out with everybody else is going to make up the core of the last few episodes,” he confirms, adding, “She is not [going to be] happy with Joe and Barry and Eddie.”

Question: Any info about Tyrion and Daenerys’ first meeting on Game of Thrones? – Courtney

Ausiello: I can tell you that it doesn’t happen this Sunday. And speaking of the youngest Lannister sibling and this week’s episode, make sure you stay tuned until the very end: Tyrion runs into a familiar face on his path to Meereen.

Question: Will the audience ever find out what is in the box that Deeks opened on NCIS: LA? I’m dying to find out what “everything he ever wanted” actually means. – Leah-Margaret

Ausiello: I’m going to farm this one out to exec producer Shane Brennan, if that’s cool with you Lea-Margaret. “The mystery of what’s in the box will be revisited next season,” confirms the EP, before cryptically adding, “Will we find out what’s in it? Maybe….”

Question: What will the reunion with Ward look like on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? – Ralph

Natalie: Remember when Simmons vowed to kill Ward? She may finally make good on that promise—or at least try to. “Simmons meant what she said,” Elizabeth Henstridge tells me. “She hates him so much. He did the worst thing possible to her and took away the most precious thing in her life, which is Fitz.” In that case, do it!

Question: What’s going to happen now that Oliver is in the League on Arrow? – Danny

Natalie: Well, it looks like the League will be setting their sights on Nyssa next week. “Nyssa was the Heir to the Demon,” executive producer Marc Guggenheim says. “There’s a real question as to whether or not Nyssa poses a threat to Oliver’s ascension to Ra’s. Into that dynamic, we insert Team Arrow, who are not necessarily all on the same page in terms of how involved they should be getting here. There’s an argument to be made that she’s not the nicest person ever.”

Question: I know there’s no chance of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman anytime soon on Gotham, but will there at least be any hints toward his future in the finale? – Christine

Natalie: Bruce will actually make a shocking discovery about his family. “He’s going to find the biggest clue of all,” executive producer Bruno Heller tells me. “There’s going to be a huge discovery. What could he possibly discover at this point in his life? What could he and Alfred find out about the family and where they live and the future? That’s what we’re going to discover in this last episode. It’s a huge reveal.”

Question: Any scoop for the season finale of Forever? – Clark

Natalie: Henry will set his sights on getting his vengeance on Adam for what happened to Abigail, even if it means playing the long game. But his plans may come to fruition much sooner than he expected when the dagger that could potentially kill Adam practically falls in his lap. But the question is whether he’ll actually go through with it.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are all of the news items for this past week:

TELEVISION

Hallmark Channel has given a second season order to Good Witch with a 10-episode season set to air sometime in 2016. (TV By the Numbers)

NBC has changed its mind on the Oz-inspired Emerald City, giving the pilot a straight-to-series 10-episode order. The series will follow 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and her K9 police dog who, after a tornado, are transported to another world far away: a mystical land of competing kingdoms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. (Elizabeth Wagmeister and Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

Orange Is the New Black has been renewed for a fourth season by Netflix (LA Times)

MTV has canceled their thriller series Eye Candy after only one season. (Variety)

Dominic Cooper has been cast as the lead in the AMC drama Preacher, which centers on Jesse Custer, a conflicted preacher in a small Texas town who merges with a creature that has escaped from heaven and develops the ability to make anyone do anything he says. Along with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and an Irish vampire named Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun from Misfits), the three embark on a journey to literally find God. Also, Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds) will play Vyla Quinncannon, a genteel but formidable businesswoman who owns the local slaughterhouse in town. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and Variety)

Actress Mimi Rogers will appear in the two final episodes of NCIS, playing a CIA. (Rebecca Iannucci at TV Line)

Actor Dayo Okeniyi (The Hunger Games) has joined the cast of the Jennifer Lopez drama Shades of Blue that will air on NBC. The straight-to-series drama centers on Harlee McCord (Lopez), following a tight-knit crew of police officers who are effective at keeping the streets safe but also corrupt when it comes to lining their pockets and protecting their own. When one of the officers is forced to become a federal informant, she must decide between her own family’s welfare and that of her police family. Okeniyi will play Michael Loman, a new detective assigned to Lt. Bill Wozniak’s (Ray Liotta) tight-knit plainclothes situation unit. The cast also includes Drea de Matteo (The Sopranos) and Warren Kole (Common Law). (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor David Meunier (Justified) has joined the cast of the upcoming Lifetime drama Damien (the follow-up, of sorts, to the classic horror film The Omen). The series follows the adult life of Damien Thorn (Bradley James from Merlin and Homeland), who has grown up seemingly unaware of the satanic forces around him. Meunier will play Detective Shay, a decorated veteran and cynical no-nonsense cop who is investigating the strange occurrences surrounding Damien Thorn. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Christina Cole (What a Girl Wants and Hex) has booked a recurring role on Suits, playing Dr. Paula Agard, a Harvard-educated psychiatrist specializing in high-end corporate consulting. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

TV TRAILER

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC Family has given the greenlight to the supernatural drama Beyond, which is about a young man who wakes up from a coma after 12 years and discovers new supernatural abilities that propel him into the middle of a dangerous conspiracy. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) has teamed with Reunion Pictures for Rain, a drama set in the future that is her own creation. Sackhoff wrote and will executive producer the project that is being described as an evolutionary parable that gives us a look into our possible future as a species viewed through the eyes of a soldier named Rain (Sackhoff). It explores how the long-term effects of global warming, the burning of fossil fuels and the scientific manipulation of nature’s balance rot the world and contribute to its decline. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Olivia Munn (The Newsroom) has joined the cast of the upcoming box office film X-Men: Apocalypse, playing Betsy Braddock aka Psylocke. (Alex Stedman at Variety)

Actress Jayma Mays (Glee) will star opposite Tom Cruise in the upcoming box office film Mena, which is a fact-based tale about Barry Seal (Cruise), a pilot who was a gun runner and drug trafficker transporting contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel during the 1980s. (Patrick Hipes at Deadline)

Actress Sofia Boutella (Kingsmen: The Secret Service) has landed a lead role in Star Trek 3, but there are no details on what role she will play. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Actor Jason O’Mara (Sons of Liberty and the upcoming Complications on the USA Network) will star alongside Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey and Once Upon a Time) in the upcoming box office film Jadotville that is based on the 1961 siege of an Irish UN battalion by 3,000 Congolese troops led by French and Belgian mercenaries working for mining companies. (Ali Jafar at Deadline)

Actors Bill Pullman and Judd Hirsch will be joining the long-in-gestation Independence Day sequel, joining returning stars Jeff Goldblum and Vivica A. Fox. New members of the cast of this sequel will include Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Travis Tope and Joey King. (Ethan Anderton at First Showing)

Here are the top 10 box office films for last weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Furious 7 – 60.5 million
2. Home – 19 million
3. The Longest Ride – 13.5 million
4. Get Hard – 8.6 million
5. Cinderella – 7.2 million
6. Insurgent – 6.8 million
7. Woman in Gold – 5.8 million
8. It Follows – 2 million
9. Danny Collins – 1.6 million
10. While We’re Young – 1.3 million

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

ME: My head is SO spinning after watching this latest trailer. WHOA!!!!

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich and Michael Ausiello at TV Line and Kristin Dos Santos at E!)

Question: We’ve not had many spoilers for Once Upon a Time‘s Rumbelle recently. Is there anything that Adam and Eddy are willing to spill? Will we see them in the Dark Castle again? Will we see the chipped cup again? –Betsy

Mitovich: As I do, I hand-delivered your question to the Once creators, and Adam Horowitz confirmed that while there will be no revisiting of the Dark Castle during this last stretch of episodes, “The chipped cup does come back.”

Question: Do you have any scoop on the final episodes of The Blacklist this season? – shellerm

Mitovich: When the series returns April 23, you won’t have to wait long to find out Red’s post-gunshot fate — and his survival will be more touch-and-go than you’d expect. “We pick up immediately, in the moments of the shooting. Dembe was being shot at, and Red’s bleeding on the ground, clearly wounded in a horrible way,” creator Jon Bokenkamp tells us. “[Red’s condition] creates a void, and Liz is going to have to step up and fill the space that is occupied by Red and work through this situation.”

Question: I was wondering if I could get any insight on Revenge as we approach the season (or possibly series) finale. (The season finale has been named “Two Graves”!) –Sabrina

Mitovich: It certainly sounds ominous, doesn’t it? “We’ve only ever done one-word episode titles since the show began,” showrunner Sunil Nayar reminds, “and the show began with this quote Mike [Kelley] had chosen from Confucius: ‘Before embarking on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.’ We wanted … to tell people that there is an element to this journey that will be over [in the finale]. You just have no idea for whom those graves are dug, or who will end up in them.”

Question: What’s the plan for Gotham‘s Barbara? Will she and Jim come face-to-face again before the end of the season? Or perhaps she confronts Leslie? –Nicole

Mitovich: Barbara actually figures into the Ogre storyline that kicks off Monday, and since Gordon will be on the hunt for the killer (played by Milo Ventimiglia), it’s safe to say the estranged lovers will be reunited, though perhaps under less-than-ideal circumstances. As for Barbara/Leslie, “Yes, they are going to meet in Episode 22 — and it’s a corker!” show boss Bruno Heller effuses. “Those two have several agendas they need to work their way through.”

Question: I’m so worried about the upcoming death of a main character in the Grimm season finale! What can you tell us about the events leading up to the big moment? – Sam

Mitovich: Right before the offing, there’ll be “a lot of vengeance coming to a head,” series co-creator James Kouf tells TV Line. Co-creator David Greenwalt adds that the scene will be filled with “revenge and wild surprise.”

Question: In the May 27 episode of Grimm, Viktor was rushed away in a way that was obvious it wasn’t Alexis Denisof in the scene. Will he appear again anytime soon or is he now too busy with Finding Carter? – Jordan

Mitovich: You answered your own Q, Jordan – Denisof’s Finding Carter schedule is keeping him plenty busy, so Viktor won’t be seen again anytime soon. Ergo the recent introduction of Nico Evers-Swinddell as Kenneth, an even more ruthless member of the royal family.

Question: In the last four episodes of NCIS, will there be some recurring characters or guest stars? –Ann

Mitovich: I can tell you that in the season’s antepenultimate episode (airing April 28), Matt Jones reprises his role as NCIS Special Agent Ned Dorneget (and for multiple episodes) and Jamie Bamber returns as Bishop’s husband. (If you also watch NCIS: New Orleans, know that Steven Weber will be back as Councilman Hamilton in the final two episodes, while Stacy Keach returns as Pride’s pop in the May 12 season finale.)

Question: Melisandre is already creeping me out this season on Game of Thrones. What is up with her? – Greg

Kristin: You are not alone. We actually screamed during the season five premiere: Stay away from Jon Snow! “It’s my favorite season as far as my character goes,” Carice van Houten says. “I had a lot more to do and a little more of an arc, and you’ll see things that you haven’t really seen before. You’ve seen that I’m interacting with Jon Snow. [Stannis and I] need him. We’re stronger now because we have an army and it looks like we have a chance to get on the throne. But we might need Jon Snow to do that.”

Question: Anything about Ezria from PLL?! – adoringezriax

Kristin: We’d totally tell you what’s going on with Aria and Ezra, but even Lucy Hale is in the dark! “I don’t know. I truly, genuinely have no idea,” she tells us. “I want to think hopefully when we do the time-jump they’re trying to have babies and stuff. But we’ll see!” But Hale promises we will see who all the Liars are dating after the time-jump, though she wouldn’t reveal exactly how many years the show will be skipping.

Question: Will the significance and meaning of Robin Hood’s lion tattoo be addressed on Once Upon a Time in the future? – TLM1262

Kristin: Even though we just found out a lot about Robin Hood in his origin story episode, we still didn’t learn anything about that dang lion tattoo! Even Sean Maguire wants to know more about it. “I thought about that myself, and I’m really intrigued to hear the genesis and origin of the lion tattoo as well,” Maguire says. “We just learned a lot about how Robin became the man he is today, but the lion tattoo is going to remain a secret for a bit longer.”

Question: The Royals just gets better and better! Anything new coming up, like maybe a new romance? – Jen

Kristin: Kind of! Get ready to meet a guy who makes Eleanor “fall to pieces” and act “like a total dog.” That may not sound very Eleanor-like, and it’s not. You’re about to meet a whole new, much softer side of the princess, and you might just fall even more in love with her than you already are.

Question: Any word on what’s happening with Revenge? The last few episodes have all felt very series-finale leaning. Will it be renewed or cancelled? And if we do get a Season 5, is there a major revamp in store? —Sean

Ausiello: Based on what I’m hearing about the finale, there would have to be a major revamp if the show returns for a fifth season. Actually, forget revamp — there’d have to be a whole new show.

Question: Ever since Emily VanCamp tweeted that picture of herself with Tom Amandes, I’ve been freaking out over the impending Everwood reunion. What do you know? — Tim

Ausiello: Oh, we know quite a bit, Tim, including that the circumstances of their meeting might not be as clear-cut as they seemed in VanCamp’s tweet. “I know that it appears Amanda Clarke is in prison garb in a courtroom, but in regards to this show, it really means nothing,” Revenge showrunner Sunil Nayar advises. “It could mean she’s been arrested, or it could mean she’s undercover, or it could mean she’s pulling a play on someone.” All right, Tim, take your pick!

Question: Can you please give up any news or spoilers on Jane the Virgin? —Bev

Ausiello: Just because Jane and Rafael have broken up doesn’t mean sex is off the table. The titular virgin is “looking for anything she can do to salvage the relationship because she’s so in shock,” executive producer Jennie Urman reveals. “[Sex] comes up in a few different contexts, and then there are some surprising turns in that area.”

Question: I won’t ask about Castle‘s renewal chances, but they started shooting the last episode last week, so I hope there is something you can share about it!? —Mandy

Ausiello: Outside of what showrunner David Amann shared with Inside Line, all I can add at this point is that the Season 7 finale finally has a title — and it’s… “Hollander’s Woods,” which of course is a reference to the “password” that Not Henry Jenkins used to earn Rick’s trust after his vanishing.

Question: Any scoop or spoilers on Person of Interest? —Steph

Ausiello: Lucky for you, Matt Mitovich chatted up the cast at this week’s Paley Center for Media event. So for one, we’ve got Kevin Chapman teasing the April 28 episode (aka Part 1 of the season finale), in which the POIs are no less than Dominick and Elias: “Fusco gets himself into a situation that he almost doesn’t get out of!” As for the season-ender itself, Michael Emerson warns, “It ends on a note of, ‘They cannot survive.’ That it is impossible that this can go on.”

Question: Will we see Laura Benanti again on Nashville? Sadie’s departure seemed awfully abrupt. I love the character and the chemistry she was developing with Luke. —Erin

Ausiello: It’s highly unlikely you will see her again this season (Benanti’s a little busy headlining the tourist-trap musical New York Spring Spectacular), but, if Nashville is renewed, there’s a decent chance you will see a fair amount of Sadie next season.

Question: Any interesting news on Scorpion? — Dylan

Ausiello: Even though Happy has been giving Toby the iciest of shoulders since he stood her up on their first date, EPs Nick Santora and Nick Wootton can promise a light at the end of the tunnel for fans of their relationship. “Toby’s not the type to give up,” notes Wootton. “It’s two people with very difficult, checkered emotional and romantic pasts trying to come together.” Adds Santora: “There’s a little wink and nod at the end [of the finale] that there might be a thawing between them.”

Question: Any update on Outlander casting Brianna and Roger for next season? —Lana

Ausiello: “We’re not close,” series creator Ronald D. Moore says about the process of picking actors to play [Spoiler alert!] Claire’s adult daughter and the Rev. Wakefield’s grown-up son (briefly glimpsed as a child asking for biscuits earlier this season). We can tell you that the Starz series also is actively casting the part of [No, seriously: Spoiler alert!] Alexander Randall, Black Jack Randall’s beloved brother — though star Tobias Menzies tells TV Line he hasn’t yet screen-tested with anyone in the role. “It’s the one human relationship he has in his life,” the actor adds, “so yeah, that could be very fruitful.”

Question: Any news you can share about The Blacklist season finale? —Robert

Ausiello: After last year’s finale killed off one character (RIP Meera) and brought life-threatening injuries upon another, series creator Jon Bokenkamp made it clear that he’s not afraid of shocking people again in Season 2. “Those things that sometimes scare us in the writers’ room are often the things that we find most exciting, and we try to surprise ourselves,” he says. So, what does that mean for Harold Cooper, whose terminal cancer may go untreated in the coming weeks? In short, it doesn’t look good. “That might fall into the realm of cliffhangers and surprising storytelling,” Bokenkamp hints. “He’s in a bad place. That is definitely a storyline that we’re going to be embracing and wrestling with until the end of the season.”

Question: Any tiny scoop for the last episodes of NCIS? —Ann

Ausiello: In the season’s penultimate episode, “The Lost Boys” — which airs May 5 and continues a story arc about a terrorist group that recruits young people online — one of the NCIS agents will form a special connection with a boy caught in middle of the scheme.

Question: Gotham spoilers, please! —Zara

Ausiello: The Season 1 finale, airing May 5, is titled “All Happy Families Are Alike.” Now, is that not-at-all ominous, or ominous in its non-ominousness?

That’s it. Hope your weekend has been great!!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for this past week:

TELEVISION

Actress Agnes Bruckner (The Returned) will play Emma’s one-time childhood friend (and Maleficent’s child) Lily in an upcoming episode of Once Upon a Time. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Actors Reed Diamond (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Devon Gummersall (Mad Men) and Mykelti Williamson (Justified) have all joined the upcoming WGN America historical series Underground that follows a group of slaves planning a daring escape from a Georgia plantation to cross 600 miles to freedom. Diamond will play Tom Macon, a plantation owner and political candidate who has trouble believing his own slaves would ever consider running while Gummersall will have the series regular role of John Hawkes, a lawyer and abolitionist who is trying to reconcile the way things are with the way things should be; and Williamson will recur as Moses, a fiery preacher for the slaves on the plantation who decides to take his family on the run. The cast of the show includes Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU), Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Friday Night Lights), Aldis Hodge (Rectify) and Jessica De Gouw (Arrow). (Erik Pedersen at Deadline and Kate Stanhope at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Mamie Gummer (The Good Wife) has joined the cast of the WGN America series Manhattan for the show’s second season, playing a street-smart spy who uses her charm and sexuality to pass atomic secrets to the Soviets. (Whitney Friedlander at Variety)

Actor Jimmy Jean-Louis will reprise his role of The Haitian on Heroes: Reborn, which will air as a limited series later this year. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Nina Dobrev has announced that she will not be returning to The Vampire Diaries for the show’s 7th season set for this fall. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Annet Mahendru (The Americans) will appear in the FOX thriller The Following, playing a character that is being described as “very sexy, very dangerous but also very sophisticated”. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line)

Actress Melina Kanakaredes (Providence and CSI: NY) has joined the cast of the CBS summer series Extant where she will appear in two episodes, playing Dorothy, a tightly wound, by-the-book circuit court judge who also happens to be the estranged wife of JD Richter (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The show will return for its second season on July 1. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor John Noble (Sleepy Hollow and Fringe) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Forever, playing Aubrey Griffin, a wheelchair-bound expert of history and antiques. When a museum curator dies with a cursed Roman dagger in her possession, Aubrey gets caught up in solving the mystery behind the weapon. (Rebecca Iannucci at TV Line)

Actress Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse and Buffy) will recur on the upcoming 4th season of Banshee, playing Agent Veronica Dawson, a sexy and shockingly reckless FBI profiler, who will team up with Lucas Hood (series lead Antony Starr) to catch a serial killer. (Andy Swift at TV Line and Deadline)

Actor Peter Stormare (The Blacklist and Prison Break) will have a recurring role on Graceland when it returns for its 3rd season on the USA Network. He will play Martun Sarkissian, the Head of the Armenian Mafia, who runs an international arms business. (Kate Stanhope at The Hollywood Reporter)

Pivot and Sky Atlantic have given a second season order to the series Fortitude. (Aaron Couch at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Wallace Langham (CSI) will appear in the season finale of Castle. There are no details yet on what role he will play. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Lucy Griffiths (True Blood and Robin Hood) will appear in the AMC comic book adaptation of Preacher, the controversial 1990s series from DC Comics that revolves around Rev. Jesse Custer, a badass Texas preacher who, after losing his faith, learns that God has left heaven and forsaken his duties. She will co-star as Emily Woodrow, a no-nonsense single mother of three. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

It looks like ABC has faith in the Marvel Universe, as they are developing a spin-off series to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. but there are no specifics yet on what this potential series could focus on just yet. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box offices movies from last weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Furious 7 – 147 million
2. Home – 27 million
3. Get Hard – 13 million
4. Cinderella – 10.2 million
5. The Divergent Series: Insurgent – 10.1 million
6. It Follows – 2.5 million
7. Woman in Gold – 2.1 million
8. Kingsman: The Secret Service – 1.8 million
9. Do You Believe? – 1.5 million
10. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – 1.1 million

Q&A SECTION (with Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: If Once Upon a Time’s Cruella and Ursula fell through the portal at the same time as Maleficent’s baby, why didn’t they take care of her? Will we see what happened to them right after they went through? —Larry

Ausiello: Those questions — as well as the matter of Lily proceeding to age a couple decades while Cruella and Ursula didn’t — will be answered at the beginning of the winningly titled April 19 episode, “Sympathy for the De Vil.”

Question: I’ll take whatever you may have on The Flash during this pesky one-week break! –Liz

Ausiello: OK, here goes:

* At WonderCon, Danielle Panabaker hinted that we may see Caitlin dabble with her Killer Frost fate sooner than expected.

* There are no flies on Iris, who will very quickly glean that Eddie is hiding something from her. (And when she finds out about all who have lied to her? Think: angry + devastated.)

* The Grodd episode promises to be scarier — and funnier — than you might imagine.

* The inclusion of Captain Cold and Heat Wave in the Arrow/Flash spinoff series will affect The Flash’s storyline toward season’s end – and is one of the reasons Cold learned the Flash’s secret identity.

Question: Longtime reader and fan, first-time question-asker! I’m wondering what kind of Outlander surprises might be in store in the second half of the season for those of us die-hard book fans? Any crazy changes/additions we should prepare for? —Tracy

Ausiello: Creator/executive producer Ronald D. Moore recently told TV Line about a slight discrepancy taking place at the very end of the season. To keep it spoiler-free for those who haven’t read the Diana Gabaldon novel: There’s that thing that happens at a place that rhymes with “Schmentworth,” and then “instead of going to France and playing all the abbey scenes there, I chose to keep the abbey in Scotland so there is still a danger to them and a need to escape.” But, he reassures fans of the books, “the abbey scenes are still there.”

Question: I would love to have some scoop on Gotham. I really need some spoilers about Bruce and Alfred. —Veronika

Ausiello: Be careful what you wish for, Ronnie. Gotham boss Bruno Heller told Matt Mitovich that although stabbing victim Alfred will be up and about when the Fox drama returns on Monday, he’ll have a dickens of a time stopping Master Bruce from discovering “something about his family that is earth-shattering.”

Question: Arrow scoop, please! —C.J.

Ausiello: This just in: The title of the Season 3 finale is “My Name Is Oliver Queen,” as confirmed by EP Marc Guggenheim on Twitter.

That’s it. Until next weekend!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for this past week:

TELEVISION

NBC has decided what their next live musical TV event: The Wiz. (Elizabeth Wagmeister at Variety)

Actress Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Doctor Who, but there aren’t any details on what character she will play. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who) will star in the proposed Arrow/The Flash spin-off. He will play Rip Hunter, a roguish time traveler who hides the strains of being responsible for history itself behind a facade of charm and wit. Meanwhile, newcomer Ciara Renee has also landed a role in the spin-off where she will play Kendra Saunders aka Hawkgirl. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Emmanuelle Vaugier (Lost girl) has landed a six-episode recurring role on the BC summer series Mistresses where she will play Niko, who’s becomes the new mixologist at Wunderbar and a thorn in Joss’ (series regular Jes Macallan) side. (Erik Pedersen at Deadline)

The Americans has been given a season 4 order by FX. (Elizabeth Wagmeister at Variety)

Netflix has given their new thriller Bloodline a second season order. (Elizabeth Wagmeister at Variety)

Actor Hisham Tawfiq has been promoted to series regular on The Blacklist for the show’s third season that will air during the 2015-2016 TV season. He plays Red’s bodyguard Dembe. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Tom Amandes (Everwood) will appear in an upcoming episode of Revenge, but details about what character he will play is being kept under wraps. TV viewers will recall that Amandes and Revenge lead Emily VanCamp appeared in Everwood together. (Andy Swift at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC Family has given a series order to Shadowhunters, which is based on the Cassandra Clare book series The Mortal Instruments. The story follows 18-year-old Clary Fray, who discovers her family history of Shadowhunters and quickly gets throw into their world of demon hunting alongside fairies, warlocks, vampires, and werewolves. (Dana Rose Falcone at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office films from this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Home – 54 million
2. Get Hard – 34.6 million
3. Insurgent – 22 million
4. Cinderella – 17.5 million
5. It Follows – 4 million
6. Kingsmen: The Secret Service – 3 million
7. Run All Night – 2.2 million
8. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – 2.18 million
9. Do You Believe? – 2.15 million
10. The Gunman – 2 million

Actor Stephen Amell (Arrow) will play Casey Jones in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 film alongside Megan Fox. (Justin Kroll at Variety)

Q&A SECTION (with Kristin Dos Santos at E!, Michael Ausiello and Matt Mitovich at TV Line and Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: I am still freaking out over PLL’s finale! I can’t believe the girls are still going to be trapped in the Dollhouse in season six! I need more scoop from your interview with Marlene! – Lauren D.

Kristin: Fret not, they will eventually get out, but it might take them awhile to recover, Marlene King warns. “The fallout of what they go through definitely leaves them scarred and in need of healing and rebonding with the families and their bed buddies and their loved ones,” she says. Kind adds that season six is “really about answers and closure for all of them. It is an ending to the story that we started so long ago, but it’s a very fast-paced ending to the story.”

Question: I need something on Game of Thrones. The premiere is so close, I can’t wait! – Brandon

Kristin: Sorry bromance lovers, but Bronn isn’t going to be too upset over his breakup with Tyrion. “He’s really moving on,” Jerome Flynn says of Bronn when we catch up with him in season five. “He’s got this plan that involves the lovely Lollys Stokeworth, who’s very sweet. The plan is to get married and then Lollys has got a sister with a big castle and he’s got his eyes on that castle. He’s going to use his ways to get that castle.”

Question: Give us some Outlander scoop, please! – GinnyMae

Kristin: Looking ahead: The fifth episode back ends with everything in such a dark place (someone has been taken), that I’m probably going to have to go on medication to deal with the stress of how long I have to wait to see the sixth episode back. It is at that point that the series will get VERY dark, and we will all need to group hug on the daily.

Question: Loving The Royals! So my kind of show! What’s next for Jasper and Eleanor? I watch them with one eye open, heart pounding. – Rebecca

Kristin: Alexandra Park (Eleanor herself) tells us that there’s a third wheel coming into the mix! “Eleanor connects with an old…connection,” she teases. “An old friend. I’m not going to go any further than that!” She also thinks the jury’s still out on whether “Jeleanor” are good together. “Their relationship is dark and it’s broken. It’s sexual, but at the end of the day…it’s too early to tell, but I do think they have an underlying care for one another. So, maybe not right away, but I think there is a piece that’s right…I think everyone COULD be tamed, eventually. Whether or not it will happen, I don’t know.”

Question: Are we going to learn more about H.I.V.E. on Arrow? – Mark

Kristin: Not this season, but expect to learn everything about it in season four! “From my understanding, H.I.V.E. is going to be a big part of next season’s big baddie,” David Ramsey says. “We are going to delve right into why H.I.V.E. hired Deadshot to kill Andy and what H.I.V.E. is all about to begin with. There will be a lot of Diggle’s connection to H.I.V.E. next season so stay tuned.”

Question: Anything about Iris West working as a reporter on The Flash? –monik@westallen_

Kristin: Since Iris’ mentor Mason Bridge is now missing (although we know that the Reverse Flash killed him!), expect her interest in both Bridge and what Bridge was working on (i.e. figuring out Harrison Wells’ secret) to motivate Barry to make a huge decision, one that will have major ramifications on his relationships with Joe, Eddie and Iris.

Question: I’ll take anything you have on The Flash! – Sam

Kristin: There are two scenes in tonight’s episode that are, by far, the coolest scenes we have ever seen on TV ever, and it’s all thanks to the incredible visual effects team on the CW’s hit series. One scene in particular comes right at the beginning of the episode, and shows what happened the night Barry’s mother was murdered by the Reverse Flash…in slow motion. Yeah, this is one episode you’re going to want to watch over and over and over again. The other scene involves something called “genetic camouflage.” What does that mean? Speculate away!

Question: Can we really trust this Gonzales guy on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? This whole “real S.H.I.E.L.D.” business sounds pretty suspicious. – Jake

Kristin: We took your question straight to Edward James Olmos himself to find out if Gonzales really means what he says, or if he’s got ulterior motives when it comes to leading what he calls the “real” S.H.I.E.L.D. “Take his word at face value? Oh god yes,” Olmos says. “Are you kidding? Especially in the time that they’re living in. Can you imagine if this guy wasn’t really speaking from the heart? Oh my god. Then they should have gotten another actor to play it!”

Question: Got anything on my favorite show, Nashville? – Lizzie

Kristin: As excited as you already are for Christina Aguilera’s guest starring role as Jade St. John, a pop star who wants to hit it big in the country music biz, we just heard she’s going to have a very interesting connection to one of Nashville’s main characters that has us even more psyched to see this drama play out: she’s Jeff Fordham’s ex-fiancée! Since Jeff is currently linked to Layla on the down-low, and we previously revealed Jade is going to hit it off romantically with Luke, expect the sparks to fly, y’all.

Question: OMG, I am still obsessing over Chasing Life’s finale! What can we expect to see from Leo and April’s engagement next season? – Cassidy

Kristin: Well, you can expect to meet some new family members. No, not from April’s side, but from Leo’s family. In the season two premiere, Leo’s grandmother and uncle will both make their debut when the Hendries through a big party. Hm…we wonder what for?

Question: Any scoop about Castle? —Fred

Ausiello: The finale — which is supposed to delve into both Castle and Beckett mythology — will feature a “distinguished, highly intelligent” psychiatrist. What say you, Mitovich? “Perhaps the shrink is a means to pull out of Rick any repressed memories about his ‘missing’ months?’” Yep, that sounds about right.

Question: Got any scoop for us on The Fosters? — Ashley

Ausiello: Well, Ashley, how about details on a new, accidental troublemaker coming in Season 3? His name is Tony and he’s a talented musician described as “good-looking in an ‘adorkable’ way,” and he tends to put way too much pressure on himself. We don’t know much else about him right now, but I’m thinking he could end up as a pal for Brandon or a love interest for Callie… or both.

Question: Do you have any quality info about The Flash that you can share? —Brandy

Ausiello: Barry and Joe’s decision to clue Eddie in on The Flash’s identity while keeping Iris in the dark is going to cause plenty of disagreement within the trio. “Eddie, as the much more emotionally in-touch character, is like, ‘This is ridiculous. By not telling her, you’re actually putting her in more danger,’” exec producer Andrew Kreisberg previews. “That starts to become the conflict between the three men, because Eddie is not happy with how Barry and Joe have been handling this. It starts to really impact his relationship with Iris.” It’ll also force Barry to take a good, long look at himself — and he won’t like what he sees. Teases Kreisberg: “Barry will go, ‘Wait, when did I become such a great liar? I thought of myself as so innocent and pure.’”

Question: Flash spoilers? —Andy

Ausiello: Did you see these date night photos from the April 14 episode, featuring the arrival of two Arrow residents in Central City? Allow Kreisberg to explain: “Eddie, Iris, Barry, Felicity and Ray all go out for dinner. Everybody is talking about their feelings, and Eddie and Iris get into a fight. Barry’s the fifth wheel.” Adds Rick Cosnett (Eddie): “Brandon Routh and I had a lot of fun with that scene. We all don’t know what to say, because there’s so much going on with Wells and with everyone’s storylines, that the dinner is 10 times more awkward than our little double date that we had at Jitters [with Barry/Felicity].”

Question: I’d love a Jane the Virgin scooplet. —Tim

Ausiello: You have not seen the last of Bridget Regan’s Rose (AKA Sin Rostro), who executive producer Jennie Urman says is part of “a big twist” at the end of the season.

Question: Any more news on if there’s going to be a death on Grimm? —Lianne

Ausiello: Yes, the Grim Reaper will make an appearance in the finale.

Question: Can you offer up anything Game of Thrones related?— Harry

Natalie: Hmm, should I tell you that we’re going to see the dragons at their scariest in the season premiere? Or that the show is flashing back to see Cersei as a snotty little kid? What if I instead tease that the season-opener includes a horrible death for one familiar character? You good? Great.

Question: What’s the latest on The Blacklist’s Fulcrum? — Jerry

Natalie: It’s coming back into play next week when Red pushes Liz to fork it over amidst what he claims is a life or death matter. “He wants her to turn it over because he says it’s important and she’s not there yet,” executive producer Jon Bokenkamp says. “The mythology surrounding the Fulcrum, Reddington and really the people who he is most afraid of comes in fairly sharp focus by the end of the season. It’s something we’re going to be answering and paying off in what I think is going to be a really compelling way.”

Question: Do you know exactly how Harrison Wells plans to use Barry on The Flash? — Mark

Natalie: If I actually knew the physics of how that worked, I probably wouldn’t be a writer. But Tom Cavanagh provided somewhat of an explanation: “If you know the Speed Force, it’s fair to say that Barry’s abilities come from a positive culling of the Speed Force,” he says. “Reverse Flash’s abilities come from what Barry would call a negative culling of the Speed Force. Truthfully, the Speed Force is important to both of them accomplishing their goals and the Speed Force doesn’t separate. As they fight towards what they really want—or think they want—they are going to have to take advantage of that Speed Force. I say, ‘think they want,’ because if you’re familiar with the mythology, what Barry needs and what Barry thinks he wants aren’t always the same thing.”

Question: What about some Forever? — Railene

Natalie: Michael Gill, aka President Garrett Walker from House of Cards, is going to guest-star in the upcoming April 7 episode as Dmitry Milikoff, a former Russian dancer and current artistic director of a prestigious ballet company who, of course, becomes a murder suspect.

Question: Can Regina be trusted not to reveal Snow and Charming’s secret on Once Upon a Time? — Diane

Natalie: Surprising as it may sound, the Evil Queen can be trusted… for now. “It would really test their relationship if Regina spills that secret,” Lana Parrilla tells me. “Maybe she’ll do that in a dark state. There’s also the flip side that Regina may think two wrongs don’t make a right. What happened between them happened so long ago. She may be adult in this situation.”

Question: In the Pretty Little Liars finale, “A” gave Mona a gas mask, but she never used it. Will that be important in season 6? — Jess

Natalie: “A”/Charles never gives a present without a reason behind it. In fact, Janel Parrish assures us that the gas mask will play an important role when season 6 returns with the girls still trapped in the dollhouse. Though Parrish says Mona “will be treated differently because she is [Charles’] favorite,” that doesn’t mean that Mona will be off the hook. “[Mona] will ultimately still be punished,” she adds.

Question: Anything on the Scorpion finale? –Stacy

Mitovich: Ohhh, it promises to be a doozy, coming off of some rather massive, cliff-hanging developments in the penultimate episode. Let’s just say that Walter is dealt one too many emotional blows that drive him possibly over the edge – and that isn’t necessarily just a figure of speech. That, coupled with two other twists, makes the big question entering the season finale no less than: Is Team Scorpion dunzo?! (Though I’m gonna guess the answer is no.)

Question: On Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I was a little puzzled how May in the episode “One of Us” told Andrew they would not send Skye away, then in “Love in a Time of Hydra” she told Coulson she agreed with her ex. My question is: Do we see more development in her relationship with Skye that she considers Skye family? –Stephanie

Mitovich: Any concerns you might have about May’s faith in Skye should be alleviated this Tuesday, when amidst utter chaos, May makes it a priority to do whatever she can to (hopefully) save Skye from certain doom. All in all, the next episode is quite excellent, offering a fascinating series of flashbacks to when S.H.I.E.L.D. fell circa Captain America 2, thus allowing us to really see Lucy Lawless’ Isabelle Hartley (and her knife) in action. Meanwhile, in the present timeline, you’ll get the knock-down, drag-out agent-on-agent fight you perhaps never knew you wanted.
I’m worried that last night’s Once Upon a Time was the beginning of the end for “good” Emma.

Question: Will the Author being in Storybrooke distract her from hating on her parents, or is she guaranteed to go dark? –Jamie

Mitovich: That, I reckon, is the million-dollar question as the final episodes play out. As Colin O’Donoghue reminds, “The second half of this season is about the struggles that heroes and villains each have. And what great about the show is it’s never cut and dry. It’s never as easy as a villain is a straight villain or the heroes are pure heroes. They’ve all done something that they regret, but learn from it in a positive way.” As for the Savior specifically, Hook’s portrayer says, “We’ve seen moments where you could see where Emma could maybe become darker. Whether or not she does is a whole other thing.”

Question: Can you give me something on Arrow‘s Diggle? –Sofia

Mitovich: Though Suicide Squad business prevented him from having a chance to chime in, rest assured that, like Oliver, Dig has something to say about Ray’s super-suited alter ego. “He has some not-so-weak opinions,” David Ramsey says with a laugh. “He doesn’t have a problem with Ray, who is compelled by something, a higher purpose, that Diggle as a person tunes into. But Ray’s not trained, and a part of the criticism he has for Ray is the same one he has for Laurel Lance as Black Canary. Because while it’s honorable what compels Laurel, Diggle feels that, like Atom, she needs to be better trained before she can be super-effective in Starling City.”

Question: This entire season of Arrow feels completely off, in my opinion. Never in my TV-watching life have I yelled (and not in good way) “What the f—?” as many times as I have throughout this season. My question is, do you feel the same? –Amanda

Mitovich: I would say that Season 3 doesn’t so much feel “off” as “too soon” – meaning, bringing on the mighty Ra’s al Ghul is more of a Season 4 or 5 move, especially since it necessitated the permanent (?) removal of Sara from the playing field. (Then again, Sara’s death was also needed as a catalyst to push Laurel into Canary mode, which some would argue was becoming conspicuously overdue.) My other quibble with the Ra’s “offer” – and I’ve stated this elsewhere — is that it asks us to believe that no one already in the League is a more worthy successor than the guy their boss dispatched within a matter of minutes. Also, I feel like Oliver and Felicity’s talks about feelings are getting a bit repetitive. All that said, I’ve greatly enjoyed Thea’s much-needed development this season.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for the past week:

TELEVISION

Actress Allison Mack (Smallville) has landed a recurring role on the upcoming NBC drama American Odyssey that will star Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as Sergeant Odelle Ballard, an American soldier who, in the midst of a SEAL Team Six-like takedown of an Al Qaeda leader, stumbles across enormously volatile intel. Soon afterwards, private military contractors arrive to take out Odelle’s entire unit, though she miraculously, secretly survives. As the rumor that Sgt. Ballard is alive starts spreading — yet is dismissed as “propaganda” by nefarious members of the military brass — corporate litigator Peter Decker (Nurse Jackie‘s Peter Facinelli) and activist Harrison Walters (Jake Robinson, The Carrie Diaries) get pulled into the deadly conspiracy. Mack will play Julia, an intelligent and empathetic stranger who befriends Odelle’s daughter Suzanne in a bookstore — though all is perhaps not as it seems. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

It looks like FOX is gearing up for a six-episode limited series of The X-Files, reuniting Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. This revival will be much like the return of 24 to the network. (Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

Showtime has ordered the high-finance drama Billions that will star Damian Lewis (Homeland) and Paul Giamatti (Sideways). The series will revolve around politics and power in the world of Wall Street and New York investment firms. (Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

It has finally been confirmed that the upcoming sixth season of Downton Abbey will be its last. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

The History Channel series Vikings has been renewed for a fourth season. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor William Petersen (CSI) has joined the upcoming WGN America drama Manhattan that will return for a second season later this year. Petersen will play Colonel Emmett Darrow, the enigmatic new ranking military officer at Los Alamos, a deeply religious and patriotic man who feels called by God to usher in the atomic future and to spread American values across the globe. (Press Release)

Actor Oded Fehr (Covert Affairs) will have a recurring role in the upcoming ABC Family drama Stitchers that follows a young woman (Emma Ishta from Manhattan Love Story), who is recruited into a secret government agency to be “stitched” into the minds of the recently deceased, using their memories to investigate murders and help solve mysteries before they go to the grave. Fehr will play Leslie Turner, the enigmatic head of the covert stitchers program. The cast also includes Kyle Harris (The Carrie Diaries), Allison Scagliotti (Warehouse 13) and Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Eureka). (Elizabeth Wagmeister at Variety)

Actor Masi Oka (Hawaii Five-0) will reprise his role of Hiro Nakamura in the reboot of the once-popular NBC drama Heroes renamed as Heroes Reborn. (Whitney Friedlander at Variety)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Hulu has ordered its first drama series The Way, giving it a 10-episode straight-to-series order. The series comes from Jason Katims’ True Jack Productions and will examine a family at the center of a controversial faith–based movement struggling with relationships, marriage and power. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The History Channel is developing a scripted drama Knightfall that will chronicle the actual events leading up to and following the persecution, downfall and burning at the stake of the Knights Templar on Friday the 13th in 1307. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies from this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. The Divergent Series: Insurgent – 52.3 million
2. Cinderella – 35 million
3. Run All Night – 5.032 million
4. The Gunman – 5.028
5. Kingsman: The Secret Service – 4.6 million
6. Do You Believe? – 3.6 million
7. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – 3.5 million
8. Focus – 3.2 million
9. Chappie – 2.7 million
10. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – 2.4 million

Q&A SECTION (with Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Is there a significance to the different colors of The Flash‘s “speed streak”? It seems it is yellow when he is not suited up and red when he is. The opposite seems true for Reverse Flash. Does this mean something? —BG

Ausiello: That question is above my pay grade. Or below it. Either way, I have no earthly idea. I can tell you that the mystery of who feeds the metahumans will be addressed, as will the more complex issue of whether it’s ethically copacetic for Flash’s foes to be locked up in S.T.A.R. Labs to begin with. “There’s a long discussion [in Episode 22] about the moral implications of the pipeline and what keeping them there means. Do they have that right?,” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg previews. “All the characters get to chime in on how they feel about it. That’s exciting because — beyond everybody always asking how do they go to the bathroom and where do they get their food from — some of them are super dangerous. So, how do you let them out into the world?”

Question: As we’re moving quickly toward May, do you have any scoop on where NCIS is headed for their Season 12 finale? Are we getting a cliffhanger this year? –Joni

Ausiello: Sort of…? Coming off of last spring’s decidedly quiet finale, showrunner Gary Glasberg told Matt Mitovich that while Season 12 will end with “not your typical cliffhanger,” viewers can for certain expect “shocking surprises that will leave everyone speechless.”

Question: Daenerys-related Game of Thrones intel, please. — Randee

Ausiello: In the new season’s second episode, one of the Mother of Dragons’ advisors will tempt her. Kim Roots would be very happy if that advisor were Daario — played by Michiel Huisman — and if said tempting took place while he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Or pants. (Dear Universe: Please give Kim what she wants. She really, really needs this.) On a more serious note, those two crazy kids, as you are well aware, already connected carnally; if Daario is the consigliere, we’re betting he’s appealing to Dany’s quest to take the Iron Throne.

Question: I would love some scoop about Orphan Black. What will the new season bring? —Jack

Ausiello: It’ll bring a moment in the opening seconds of the April 18 premiere that will feel too good to be true. You can also expect an onslaught of creepy Castor clones; more than one heartbreaking falling out; a scene-stealing turn from a scorpion; and a surprising new business venture for Alison and Donnie.

Question: What is going to be the future for The 100’s Clarke and Bellamy. Will fans have to wait another season for at least a kiss?! — Liza

Ausiello: Let’s back up a little, Liza. Before we start talking about what Clarke and Bellamy’s future will be like, let’s ask ourselves this: Will they even have a future? When prodded about Clarke’s parting words to Bellamy (“May we meet again”), executive producer Jason Rothenberg has only this to say: “I hope they do meet again.” Don’t forget, it’s a big, post-apocalyptic world out there.

Question: How long is Grimm going to keep Adalind’s pregnancy a secret from Nick and his friends? —Erin

Ausiello: Nick and the gang will find out about the upcoming “cursed” event in Episode 19, which is slated to air in April.

Question: Is Abigail dead on Forever? I can’t seem to find a straight answer anywhere. —Sheri

Ausiello: The fate of Henry’s beloved — yet absent — wife will come up in next week’s episode, and will continue to be revealed as the season draws to a close, series creator Matt Miller tells TV Line. A bonus piece of information that probably will only confuse you more: Henry’s assistant, Lucas, becomes heavily involved in that storyline.

That’s it. Enjoy!

PS: Have a great weekend!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for the Thursday and Friday:

TELEVISION

Actress Judith Shekoni (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2) has joined the cast of the upcoming NBC series Heroes Reborn, the reboot, of course of the once popular series Heroes that will star Zachary Levi (Chuck), Robbie Kay (Once Upon a Time) and Jack Coleman, who will reprise his role. Shekoni’s role, however, is being kept under wraps. Also, actor Ryan Guzman (The Boy Next Door and Pretty Little Liars) has also joined the series where he will play a former military guy (that is the only detail on his character that has been made available). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and Sydney Bucksbaum at E! Online)

Actor Owain Yeoman (The Mentalist and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) will appear in the pilot episode of the upcoming CBS drama Supergirl where he will play longtime DC Comics villain Vartox, an alien convict, who has been hiding on Earth for the past 12 years. After Supergirl’s emergence on Earth, Vartox seeks her out to ascertain her identity and do battle with her. (Nathalie Caron at Blastr)

Actor Dennis Haysbert (24) will guest-star in an upcoming episode of Blue Bloods, playing Chief Donald Kent, an old pal of Frank’s (series lead Tom Selleck). (Andy Swift at TV Line and AOL)

Actress Kelli Williams (The Practice and Army Wives) has been cast in the UP Channel’s first scripted series called Ties That Bind that will revolve around Allison (Williams), a tough and fearless police detective, who must arrest her younger brother for aggravated assault. Her world drastically changes when her brother is convicted and sent to prison. She then brings his two teenage children into her family’s home, joining her husband and her own teenage children. The series is scheduled to premiere this summer. (Denise Petski at Deadline)

Actresses Necar Zadegan (24, Emily Owens, M.D. and Girlfriends Guide to Divorce) and Lyndon Smith (Parenthood) have joined the cast of the CBS summer series Extant. Zadegan will recur as Shayna Velez, a former Lt. Colonel, now Chief of Staff to Tobias Shepherd (David Morrissey), the head of Global Security Commission (threat assessment center.). Meanwhile Smith will recur as JD Richter’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) estranged and rebellious daughter. (Denise Petski at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Ruth Negga (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) landed the female lead in the AMC drama pilot Preacher, which is based on the cult 1990’s comic about Jesse Custer, a conflicted Preacher in a small Texas town who merges with a creature that has escaped from heaven and develops the ability to make anyone do anything he says. Along with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Negga), Jesse’s former and only true love, and an Irish vampire named Cassidy, the three embark on a journey to literally find God. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for the past few days:

TELEVISION

Actress Barbara Hershey will co-star in the upcoming Lifetime thriller series Damien based on the 1976 feature film The Omen that will star Bradley James (Merlin and Homeland) in the lead role. The series will focus on Damien who has grown up and is seemingly unaware of the satanic forces around him. Haunted by his past, Damien must now come to terms with his true destiny — that he is the Antichrist, the most feared man of all time. Hershey will play Ann Rutledge, the world’s most powerful woman who has been tasked with making sure Damien fulfills his destiny as the Antichrist. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

VH1 has given a second season order to their series Hindsight. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Robbie Kay (Peter Pan on Once Upon a Time) will star alongside Jack Coleman and Zachary Levi (Chuck) in the upcoming NBC 13-episode event series Heroes Reborn. Details on the character he will play have not been revealed yet. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Amazon Studios has given the online series Bosch a second season order. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

Actor Ed Quinn (Eureka) will have a long-running story arc on the ABC summer series Mistresses where he will play Dr. Alec Adams, an internist at the hospital. (Denise Petski at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Jeff Davis (the series creator of the MTV thriller series Teen Wolf) will team up with actor Brandon Boyce to adapt the Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In for A&E. The potential series centers on a bullied teen boy who befriends a female vampire just as a string of murders occurs in their town. (Rebecca Iannucci at TV Line)

Actress Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) has landed a role in the HBO Salem Witch Trials pilot called The Devil You Know, which is to be written by Jenji Kohan, the creator of Orange Is the New Black. She will play Jane Porter, the youngest daughter of Israel Porter, the head of a powerful family involved with the historic trials. (Andy Swift at TV Line and Deadline)

PALEY FEST TRAILERS

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Freddie Stroma (Pitch Perfect and the upcoming Lifetime series UnReal) has joined the cast of the upcoming Michael Bay film called 13 Hours about the assault on the U.S. compound in Benghazi. He will play a brash Yale grad who is an undercover CIA agent in Libya. The cast includes John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, Max Martini and Pablo Schreiber. (Erik Pederson at Deadline)

Actor Christopher Gorham (Covert Affairs) will appear in the upcoming movie Po, where he will play a recently widowed man who must learn to cope with becoming a single father to his 9-year-old autistic son, Po (Julian Feder). (Erik Pederson at Deadline)

Actor Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) will star in the reboot of The Crow, playing the lead roles. (Dread Central and Dark Horizons)

Here are the top 10 box office films from this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Cinderella – 67.9 million
2. Run All Night – 11 million
3. Kingsman: The Secret Service – 6.2 million
4. Focus – 5.73 million
5. Chappie – 5.70 million
6. The Second best Exotic Marigold Hotel – 5.68 million
7. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – 4 million
8. McFarland, USA – 3.6 million
9. American Sniper – 2.86 million
10. The DUFF – 2.85 million

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams at TV Line and Kristin do Santos at E!)

Question: Lauren Bowles as Mellie’s sister on Scandal is perfect. Is there anything you can tell me about her arrival? — Katrina

Natalie: As I mentioned in the casting story, Harmony is going to shed light on where Mellie came from. “For Harmony to come to the White House is Mellie’s personal Armageddon,” Bellamy Young tells me. “Mellie is paddling so hard to make people believe that she is who she is pretending to be right now, and all the water just falls away and she’s fully exposed for who she is, where she came from and what’s really inside of her. That’s the most terrifying thing to Mellie. It is not pretty.”

Question: I was wondering if we would ever get some insight on how Iris feels about Barry? I just adore their relationship on The Flash! — Janneh

Natalie: That question will be answered very soon—like in next week’s episode. When the Weather Wizard returns seeking vengeance on Joe, Barry and Iris will be caught in the crosshairs, causing them both to reevaluate some secrets they’ve been keeping.

Question: The Outlander hiatus has driven me insane. Please pony up some scoop. — Tina

Natalie: Fans of the novel already know what’s coming in the aftermath of Jamie rescuing Claire from Black Jack. But even when Jamie faces temptation, the subsequent tension between the newlyweds won’t last too long, especially since not everyone will welcome them back home with open arms.

Question: With May’s husband appearing on this week’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., does that mean we’ll finally find out what happened in Bahrain? — Jimmy

Natalie: Not exactly, but you will get a big clue about it that surprisingly relates to Skye. In related news, the team will also discover a debilitating side effect of Skye’s powers that could jeopardize her future with the team.

Question: Any Once Upon a Time scoop this week??? — Sunny Mom

Natalie: I know the RumBelle fans are probably freaking out over Belle hooking up with Will Scarlet, but executive procure Adam Horowitz will tell you why it’s actually a good thing: “Belle has to be strong,” he says. “If [RumBelle] are to have any chance to be together, she has to be a strong person. What [Rumple] has to do is probably pretty difficult. That activates him in a way and starts him on a new quest that he’s really energized about.” Adds EP Edward Kitsis: “He is going to do his Rumplest to get it all back. You’re going to see full Rumple.”

Question: Is it too early for Under the Dome scoop? — Jo

Natalie: It’s never too early. There may be more rough waters ahead for Julia and Barbie as I’ve learned that Twisted alum Kylie Bunbury has landed a guest-starring role—with the possibility to recur—as Eva Sinclair, a potential love interest for Barbie. “Eva Sinclair is a beautiful, young anthropologist who has mysteriously arrived in Chester’s Mill,” executive producer Neal Baer teases. “How she got there and what her relationship is with Barbie—and how she will come between him and Julia—will be revealed, providing stunning answers to why the Dome dropped over Chester’s Mill.”

Question: Is Bash going to figure out that Catherine killed his mother on Reign? — Elena

Natalie: It’s hard to imagine that the writers would let that one go. “I’m sure at some point, [Bash] must get a little curious about that,” Torrance Coombs says. “There’s a gold mine there, and I don’t know how he’ll react.” However, the question is when he’ll learn the truth. “Catherine is very good at hiding bodies, so it might take him a while to find out,” Coombs says.

Question: Outlander!! I could watch Caitriona, Tobias and Sam playing “Ne’er Have I E’er” until the end of time! Was so amazing…did they spill any scoop *after the Paley panel? – Francesca1132

Kristin: If they did, that would have been the whiskey talking so I’d never repeat! However, I have seen the next 5 episodes, and in the spirit of the drinking game, I can tell you that Jamie would have to drink at: “Ne’er Have I E’er been completely naked standing up out of a river, with my hands serving as a wee bitty sports cup.” And also “Ne’er Have I E’er passed out drunk and then been taken to task by my ladylove.” And yes, I am talking about things that happened ON THE SHOW, in upcoming episodes, just to be perfectly clear! The next five episodes are FANTASTIC.

Question: What can we expect for Olicity in the upcoming episodes? Will we see Oliver realizing what he’s missing and fight for them? – Asparkinyou

Kristin: We will, but we don’t know if he’ll fight for it right away after he find out about her hookup with Ray in Wednesday’s ep. “There’s no real fallout for Oliver. He’s upset and disappointed, but when he says he wants her to be happy, he wants her to be happy,” Stephen Amell explains. “He doesn’t like it, I don’t think he’s going to be high-fiving ray anytime soon, but if Ray can be good for her then fantastic.”

Question: Dying for any info on The Flash and Arrow! – Annie S.

Kristin: Good because we’ve got some kissin’ scoop on both that we’ve been dying to share. While Emily Bett Rickards tells us she’s kissed three different men as Felicity, Grant Gustin reveals Barry actually has her beat, kissing four ladies. Yes, four.

Question: I need Arrow scoop now! – Mike

Kristin: You know how Det. Lance is the only one left on the show who has yet to put together that Oliver Queen is the Arrow? Don’t judge him too harshly, because he’s about to catch on to that secret sooner than you think…and with deadly consequences.

Question: Give me something, anything, on Chasing Life! – Sarah

Kristin: Remember how mad we all were when Chasing Life ended on a cliffhanger involving Leo’s surgery during the midseason finale?! There will be another Leo/April cliffhanger in the season finale, but this time, you won’t have to wait months to find out the resolution. Thank goodness, right? Our advice: make sure you watch until the very last second of the episode if you’re watching live, and if you’re recording it, set your DVR to record an extra minute in case your recording cuts off before the episode ends. Trust us, you do not want to miss the final moment of the episode.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for this past week:

TELEVISION

Actor Chris Chalk (12 Years A Slave) has been cast as Lucius Fox, the resident genius at Wayne Enterprises, on Gotham while Jada Pinkett Smith will be gone from the show at the end of the first season, as she only “signed (on) for a year”). (Nellie Andreeva and Lisa de Moraes at Deadline)

Actress Rachel Skarsten (Lost Girl) will appear as Queen Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin on Reign. She will appear in the season two finale and then become a series regular in season three of the show. (Carissa Pavlica at TV Fanatic)

Syfy has given their new thriller series 12 Monkeys a second season order. (Carissa Pavlica at TV Fanatic)

The CW has canceled the dramedy Hart of Dixie after four seasons with the series finale set to air on March 27. (Tierney Bricker and Sydney Bucksbaum at E! Online)

Actress Izabella Miko (Clash of the Titans and Coyote Ugly) will have a recurring role on Chicago Fire, playing Katya, a sexy, alluring, and flirtatious stripper from Eastern Europe who dreams of a future beyond working at a club but gets in a dark situation. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Tania Raymonde (Lost and Chicago Fire) will have a recurring role (that could become permanent) on the TNT drama The Last Ship that returns for its second season this summer. She will play Domino, a genius, edgy and attractive hacker who has lived off the grid and will become an asset to the crew of the ship. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck and Unforgettable) will have a recurring guest role on NCIS: New Orleans, playing Sheriff Jim Lemieux, a friend of Special Agent Dwayne Pride (series lead Scott Bakula) and a lifelong law enforcement officer in the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Kerry Washington (Scandal) will appear in the upcoming HBO telefilm called Confirmation that will focus on the scandal surrounding Clarence Thomas’ appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. Washington will play Anita Hill. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line)

Actress Lauren Bowles (True Blood) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Scandal, appearing as the sister of Mellie Grant (series regular Bellamy Young). (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

TV TRAILERS

Finding Carter

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Callie Thorne (Rescue Me) has joined the cast of the TNT drama pilot Breed that tells the wild and chilling story of a series of brutal murders in the Pacific Northwest and the mysterious race of creatures who may be committing them. Thorne will play Emme Haladjian, the beautiful, charismatic, highly-accomplished prosecutor whose appearance hides her vicious secrets, and the danger she poses to Cooper and the city. (Denise Petski at Deadline)

ONLINE SERIES

Netflix has given a season three order to The Fall that stars Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) and Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Gray and Once Upon a Time). (Nancy Tartaglione at Deadline)

ONLINE SERIES TRAILER

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office films from this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Chappie – 13.3 million
2. Focus – 10 million
3. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – 8.6 million
4. Kingsman: The Secret Service – 8.3 million
5. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – 7 million
6. Fifty Shades of Grey – 5.6 million
7. McFarland, USA – 5.3 million
8. The Lazarus Effect – 5.1 million
9. The DUFF – 4.9 million
10. Unfinished Business – 4.8 million

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Q&A SECTION (with Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Revenge is on fire this season! Do you have any scoop? —Julius

Ausiello: I don’t think you realize how perfect your question is, Julius. Episode 20, appropriately titled “Aftermath,” deals with the fallout from a devastating fire at a yet-unknown Hamptons residence. What I do know, however, is that both Emily and David will try to enter the home looking for answers — and they’ll both be turned away by the authorities.

Question: Do you have any scoop on the season finale of Grimm or anything for the episode(s) leading up to the finale? —Jordan

Ausiello: Co-creator David Greenwalt promises that the next few episodes will show us “Juliette like you’ve never ever seen her, and the captain like you’ve never ever seen him. Just wild stuff.” “Wild” as in “we once hooked up and now we’re moving toward it again?,” we wonder. “Always a possibility between those two,” co-creator James Kouf cagily allows.

BONUS SCOOP: The soon-to-arrive new prince, Kenneth, “is much more direct” than Viktor, Greenwalt says. And the recently added Royal and Adalind “have a very funny connection” that “goes to a place you won’t see coming,” Kouf adds.

Question: I would love some Scandal scoop! —Kyle

Ausiello: Hopefully this guy digs Girls, because I’ve got Guillermo Diaz dishing best he can on Lena Dunham’s mystery role, airing later this month. “She’s really sassy,” is all he would say about Dunham character. As for the guest star herself, “She got used to speaking really fast, like we do on the show, very easily,” Huck’s portrayer reports. “She’s a huge fan of Scandal, and we’re all a big fan of Girls, so it was exciting to have her on set.”

Question: Is there any scoop you can share on Scandal? —Logan

Ausiello: If you thought that Virginia senator Susan Ross — regardless of her bout of foot-in-mouth — was a shoo-in to replace Andrew as VP, think again. As POTUS himself, Tony Goldwyn, tells us, “There are real complications about Susan Ross. So, I can’t say that it’s a done deal. When we last left Fitz, that was his decision [to pick her], but it might not be as easy as it seems.”

Question: Do we have any idea who knocked up Once Upon a Time’s Maleficent? —Andrew

Ausiello: Series co-creator Eddy Kitsis says that the baby daddy will be revealed, “If there is one.” Meaning? Meaning, he notes, “This is a show where dwarves are hatched from an egg.”

Question: I’m looking for some Merry Men scoop! Any info on either Once Upon a Time‘s Will Scarlett or Robin Hood? –Brittani

Ausiello: During this second half of Season 4, “We’ll get a look at a bit of the past between Will Scarlett and Robin Hood,” co-creator Adam Horowitz shares. “We’ll learn they had adventures both in and out of Sherwood Forest. And no look at the Merry Men would be complete without a return of the Sheriff of Nottingham.”

Question: Do you have any info at all on the upcoming season of Suits? —Jack

Ausiello: While Mike and Rachel’s engagement doesn’t mean we’re in for “the season of wedding planning,” the upcoming nuptials “will bring up issues in their relationship,” executive producer Aaron Korsh previews. On a different front for the couple, “[Rachel’s father] Robert Zane is going to become involved in a legal case with Mike and that’s going to have some impact on all of their relationships with each other.”

BONUS SCOOP: The show is looking for an actress in her late 30s to early 60s to play Harvey’s new, no-nonsense shrink.

Question: Got anything on Arrow? —April

Ausiello: Ra’s al Ghul’s offer to Oliver to replace him as the leader of the League of Assassins will shake things up for his daughter Nyssa in a big way. “She’s no longer heir to the demon,” notes her portrayer, Katrina Law. “She no longer has her lover, who I’m sure she was thinking about keeping around forever. She’s essentially lost everything. For the first time in her life, she is vulnerable and she feels weak and useless; it’s very jarring. You’re going to see Nyssa trying to figure out who she is and what she stands for now.” And that journey could lead her to find an ally in fellow daddy issues-plagued Laurel. Teases Law: “The two of them may have more in common than Nyssa originally thought.”

Question: Obsessed with Jane the Virgin. Any scoop on this season’s final episodes? —Caroline

Ausiello: Mean Girl alert! Season 1’s penultimate episode will mark the introduction of Jane’s beyotch of a high school nemesis Stephanie, and sources confirm to me exclusively that Mariah Buzolin of All My Children and (ha!) Jane by Design fame has snagged the role.

Question: I’d love to read anything new you have for Castle! Please?! –M.

Mitovich: This is a bit interesting: I asked showrunner David Amann – on behalf of a reader, maybe? I forget – if there might ever be an episode that pits the men against the women, sort of how that one Lisa Edelstein episode did, but sticking with the regular cast. Think: Beckett, Lanie, Gates and Tori (and you could even throw in Alexis) vs. Castle, RySpo and a reluctant Perlmutter. And Amann said, “There may be something like that, where there’s a different configuration to the investigative team that emphasizes a couple of the women. That’s something to look for around [Episode] 21.”

Question: When Haven returns, how is Duke going to handle knowing he’s unleashed all those troubles? –Aimee

Mitovich: As we await word on when Season 5 of the Syfy drama will resume, I hope I can tide you over with this: Presented with your question, executive producer Matt McGuinness answers, “Duke will struggle with the guilt of causing some serious pain to the town, and deal with it in a very Duke way: By being selfish, noble, clever, and brave — in that order.”

Question: Any scoop on Strike Back, Grey’s Anatomy or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? –Alamin

Mitovich: I choose SHIELD, and in turn will tease that Drea de Matteo’s “gifted” baddie when we first meet her on Tuesday is a bit more “Edward Scissorhands” than the new promo suggests; Jemma and Bobbi bond some over the “comes with the job” aspect of colleagues lying to each other; and May’s ex (played by Blair Underwood) gives her some guff when they reunite, stemming from an unreturned phone call.

Question: Desperately seeking some Stydia hope on Teen Wolf. Can you give me any? –Mary

Mitovich: I’m not sure if this qualifies as “hope,” but Stiles and Lydia will be spending quite a bit of (platonic) time together in Season 5. “[They’re] at the forefront of … trying figure out the next mystery,” Holland Roden says of her and Dylan O’Brien’s characters. Lydia will also be heavily “involved” with Deputy Parrish, whom she vowed to help at the end of Season 4. In terms of romance, though, exec producer Jeff Davis teases, “She may not end up with the person you think she does at first” — so who knows?

Question: Any news on Teen Wolf‘s new villains or new creatures? –Tom

Mitovich: How about the skinny on Cody Christian (Pretty Little Liars), who’s joining Season 5 as new werewolf Theo? “He’s a lone wolf that comes into Beacon Hills, and he’s got sort of a cloudy, mysterious past,” EP Jeff Davis says. “He’s looking for a pack, and he’s looking to be a part of Scott’s pack. Whether they accept him and whether they trust him is something that’s debated in the first few episodes.”

Question: What are the chances for SmoaknLance happening on Arrow? –Nikki

Mitovich: I like your thinking, giving Laurel’s sad dad some happiness in the form of Felicity’s got-it-going-on mom. And Paul Blackthorne himself noticed that when he tweeted out this selfie of him and Charlotte Ross, “It did seem to go down well!” He thus seconds the “SmoaknLance” idea, saying, “I think that Lance deserves some loving in his life, don’t you? And I think it’d be hilarious. He’d be sitting there across from her at dinner thinking, ‘What is this in front of me?’ and at the same time, ‘Why am I so attracted to what’s in front of me?’ I think it’d be a brilliant couple, because they’re obviously so different yet seemingly so perfect in a crazy way, so I hope it happens.” As for whether it does happen during Ross’ Episode 18 encore, you’ll just have to stay tuned.

Question: Now that Jane the Virgin is back, anything new and fun to share? –Gina

Mitovich: Our interest was piqued after these comical-looking photos of Rafael, his ex and a pooch, so we asked Justin Baldoni what exactly is going on. “There’s a celebrity that comes to stay at the Marbella, and Petra and Rafael are entrusted to watch his dog,” he describes. “You have some Lucy and Desi moments between the two of them. It’s very slapstick. It’s fun.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the few news items for yesterday:

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Development of a new potential series is underway based on the best-selling book “Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s History Making Race Around the World” by Matthew Goodman. For those not in the know, Nellie Bly (real name Elizabeth Jane Cochrane), working as a journalist for the New York World newspaper and Cosmopolitan reporter Elizabeth Bisland competed in a trip around the world based on the Jules Verne classic back in 1889. The race started on November 14 with each reporter leaving New York, going the opposite way around the world. They used mainly railroads and steamships, spanning 24,000 miles, reporting along the way and enthralling readers across the globe. Bly won the race, going around the globe in 72 days. (Anita Busch at Deadline)

ME: On a personal note, Nellie Bly spent a portion of her life in my small hometown of Apollo, Pennsylvania before becoming a journalist; and the house where she lived is still standing and is a historical landmark back there.

MINI-SERIES NEWS

Brit actors Olivia Colman (Broadchurch) and Tom Hollander (Pride & Prejudice) will star in the AMC-BBC One co-production The Night Manager alongside Hugh Laurie (House) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki in the Marvel movies). The mini-series is based on the John le Carre novel that follows former British soldier Jonathan Pine (Hiddleston), who is recruited by an intelligence operative named Burr (Colman) to navigate the shadowy recesses of Whitehall and Washington where an unholy alliance operates between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade. To infiltrate the inner circle of lethal arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper (Laurie), which includes an associate named Corcoran (Hollander), Pine must himself become a criminal. (Laura Prudom at Variety)

Actor John Barrowman (Arrow and Torchwood) is developing a mini-series adaptation of The 49th Key, the story by Erika Lewis from a recent issue of fantasy comic magazine Heavy Metal that is based on the 16th century legend of Enochian magic, telling the story of a secret language of angels. It follows a rogue archeologist and a young mute autistic boy on a treacherous journey through England. The boy is the key to a gateway between our world and that of a magical society that exists below the Earth’s surface. Barrowman will executive produce and star. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actors Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) and Luke Evans (The Hobbit and Dracula Untold) will star alongside Emma Watson (Harry Potter franchise) in the Disney film Beauty and the Beast. Stevens will play the Beast while Evans will play Gaston. Watson will play Belle. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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