Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Peter Gallagher (Covert Affairs) will have a recurring role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit this fall, playing Deputy Chief William Dodds, the charismatic and tough-as-nails boss who oversees all of the special victims units in New York City. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Frances O’Connor (Mr. Selfridge and Timeline) has been cast as Belle’s (series regular Emilie de Ravin) mother on Once Upon a Time; she will be seen through flashbacks. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Austin Butler (The Carrie Diaries and Switched at Birth) will have a recurring role on Arrow this fall, playing a new love interest for Thea Queen (series regular Willa Holland). (Tierney Bricker at E! Online)

Actress Mamie Gummer (Off the Map and Emily Owens, M.D.) will guest star in an episode of Elementary this fall, playing Margaret Bray, a New York heiress who runs her family’s charitable foundation. After a rare map that belonged to her family leads to bloodshed—and two deaths —Margaret finds herself a somewhat unlikely aide to Holmes (series lead Jonny Lee Miller) and Watson’s (series lead Lucy Liu) investigation and in danger herself. (Chris Harnick at E! Online)

Actor Ben Hollingsworth (the Hallmark Channel movie Lucky in Love) has landed a recurring role on the upcoming FOX mid-season drama Backstrom that will star Rainn Wilson (The Office) as Everett Backstrom, an overweight, offensive, irascible detective who’s engaged in a constant struggle with his self-destructive tendencies. Hollingsworth will play DA Steven Kines, who meets with Backstrom regarding a material witness who’s gone missing. (The Deadline Team)

Due to a scheduling conflict actress Madeline Carrol will be replaced by actress Mary Mouser (Body of Proof) as Karen Grant, the daughter of the President of the United States on Scandal. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Question: With less than a week to the Season 5 premiere, feel like sharing any Haven scoop? Anything on Jennifer’s fate? Dave’s fate? –Michelle

Mitovich: Jennifer’s fate is the hot topic as the season premiere plays out – different people need to find her for very different reasons. Things don’t look very good for Dave, either – though there’s a final scene with him that will make you go hmmm.

NOTE: The show has been shifted to 8 PM on Thursday nights. Set your DVR’s accordingly.

Question: Dying for a Homeland scoop, particularly one involving my favorite duo, Carrie and Quinn. Will sparks fly this season? –Jo

Mitovich: Having hit the Season 4 premiere screening on Thursday night, I can avow that, yes, sparks of a kind are flying between the two when the show returns – primarily because they find themselves on opposite sides of a budding conflict. As Claire Danes explained it to me at the event, “Quinn is eager to get out of the [espionage] business and is recognizing behavior in Carrie that he himself has had in the past as an assassin, and he’s concerned for her. So he’s trying to jar her into ‘consciousness,’ but she’s reluctant to engage.”

Question: Long-time reader, first-time writer. Do you have any Blacklist scoop? –Steph

Mitovich: Get ready to meet Red’s little friend! Literally. Episode 5 of the NBC hit’s second season will introduce us to Glen, a “diminutive” DMV wonk who has a long history with Spader’s character. Also being cast for that episode is the recurring role of Zoe, a “worn but pretty” woman who holds no less than the key to Red’s past.

Question: Is there anything you can tell us about Hook’s arc for this season of Once Upon a Time that we haven’t heard yet? Anything on his childhood/parents? –Ana

Mitovich: Series co-creator Adam Horowitz would only say that when it comes to the good (?) pirate, “There is more delving into his past to come” – though the burning question of whom he traded the Jolly Roger to, in the name of finding Emma, won’t be revealed until “somewhere down the road.”

Question: Do you have any Once Upon a Time scoop that has nothing to do with any of the ‘ships? –Sara

Mitovich: Always! For Episode 7, the ABC series is casting the one-off role of a pompous prince who beneath his veneer of confidence-slash-arrogance is not much more than a coward ill-equipped to handle conflict.

Question: The wait for more Sleepy Hollow is killing me! Tide me over with some scoop? –Meaghan

Mitovich: As if Ichabbie ‘shippers needed more headaches to worry about, casting is underway right now for the recurring role of David, a charismatic hunk who “has seen a lot in his lifetime” – and is poised to be a romantic interest for Ms. Mills when he surfaces about two-thirds of the way into Season 2.

Question: Got anything juicy on CW’s The Flash? –Andy B.

Mitovich: Looks like Central City will get hit with a Blackout in Episode 7, when Farooq, an electricity-wielding metahuman, seeks vengeance against Dr. Wells. Flash to the rescue? Maybe not, seeing as Barry will be suffering a “powers” outage just when this new baddie arrives.

Question: Do you have anything on how things are with Mary and Francis when Reign comes back? –Bree

Mitovich: Mary and Francis will face immeasurable new conflicts — and understandably so — now that Lola has given birth to her and Francis’ lovechild, but the real couple struggling at French Court in Season 2 will be Bash and Kenna. “There are going to be new players who come in over the course of the season,” executive producer Laurie McCarthy teases. “One of them might have a history with Bash that’s going to unnerve Kenna.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items, few though they may be, for today:

TELEVISION

Game of Thrones fans will have to do without Kristian Nairn (Hodor) and Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bram Stark) in season five of the series, as they will not be featured in the storylines. (Liz Raftery at TV Guide)

Actor Matt Nable (Riddick) will play the formidable role of Ra’s al Ghul on Arrow this fall. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Serinda Swan (Graceland) will appear in a four-episode arc on Chicago Fire this fall, playing Brittany Baker, a graphic designer and potential new love interest to Kelly Severide (series lead Taylor Kinney). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE NEWS

Lifetime is moving forward with the third Flowers in the Attic book series adaptation. If There Be Thorns will now find actress Rachel Carpani (McLeod’s Daughters and Against the Wall) and actor Jason Lewis (Sex and the City) in the lead roles of Christopher and Cathy Dollanganger with young actor Mason Cook (Legends) playing Cathy’s son Bart.
(Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FOX has announced plans for a six-hour limited event series based on the Carrie Underwood song and accompanying music video for Two Black Cadillacs that will tell the story of a murderous love triangle in the modern South. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actors Alex Carter (CSI and Burn Notice) and Carlos Bernard (24) will guest star on Major Crimes, when the show returns in November. Carter will play Ronald Glover, an affluent man who has been paying out the nose for a surrogate baby—his wife’s fondest dream. But when they are hauled in by the police for questioning, their dream takes on a nightmarish quality. On the other hand, Bernard will play Pete Sims, a celebrity driver and recovered substance abuser who is trying to stay on the straight and narrow. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Hemlock Grove has been renewed by Netflix for its third and final season, which will consist of 10 episodes. (TV By the Numbers)

Actor Brendan Hines (Suits and Lie to Me) will recur on the new CBS drama Scorpion, playing Drew Winters, father of Paige’s (series regular Katharine McPhee) genius son, Ralph. The drama will debut on September 22. (Rebecca Iannucci at TV Line)

The FOX summer drama Gang Related has been cancelled. (Tim Kenneally at The Wrap)

Syfy has given a greenlight to Childhood’s End, a six-hour mini-series based on the Arthur C. Clarke classic novel. The story follows the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious “Overlords,” whose arrival begins decades of apparent utopia under indirect alien rule, at the cost of human identity and culture. The mini-series will premiere in 2015. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) will play pyromaniac Mick Rory (aka Heatwave) in an upcoming episode of The Flash. Ironic or not, but his Prison Break co-star Wentworth Miller will also appear in an upcoming episode of the series as Leonard Snart (aka Captain Cold) while fellow Prison Break co-star Robert Knepper will be crossing over from Arrow to The Flash as The Clock King. (Andy Swift at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

NBC is developing a 10-hour mini-series that will examine the Ten Commandments. The project called Decalogue will have a modern setting and will be based on the Danish format of the same name that is expecting to follow the same format of 10 one-hour films, with each short exploring one or several moral and ethical issues. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) will star in the USA Network pilot called Stanistan that revolves around the staff at the American compound in the Middle Eastern country of Stanistan, where State Department workers, covert CIA officers and journalists strike a delicate balance of danger and levity. Carpenter will play public affairs officer Marcie Post, the daughter of a well-respected diplomat and the newly appointed spin-master for all US government activity in the country of Stanistan. This is one of three projects currently under development by the cabler. (Tim Kenneally at The Wrap).

HBO is developing an hour-long romantic drama called Elizabeth that will star and be executive produced by actress Patricia Clarkson (Easy A and Shutter Island). The project will be set in the world of international politics. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Michael Green, a producer on Gotham, The Flash, Smallville and Heroes is attached to a TV adaptation of Supergirl, but no further details are available at this time. (Bleeding Cool and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Dwayne Johnson (Fast and Furious franchise) will play DC Comics villain Black Adam in the upcoming film adaptation of Shazam. The role of Shazam has yet to be cast, though. (Brett Malec at E! Online)

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

Question: Do you have any new information on The Blacklist’s new season? — Roger

Adam: How about some exclusive casting news? Tony-nominated Broadway veteran Norm Lewis — who is currently starring in the title role of The Phantom of the Opera and did a stint last season on Scandal — has been tapped to play J.P. Laskin, a business associate of Red’s who doesn’t exactly agree with his recent moves in the ongoing war with Berlin. In fact, I hear Laskin may even be tempted to switch sides. Of course, once Red finds out about the betrayal, he’ll probably make the choice for him. Perhaps playing a “phantom” will come in handy!

Question: Is Gotham’s version of James Gordon more of an antihero? — Matt

Adam: Not initially. But when you consider that all of Gordon’s steel-jawed good intentions to clean up Gotham eventually end with a man dressed in a rubber Batsuit coming to save the day, it’s pretty much assured that he’ll face some challenges. But that doesn’t mean he’s doomed to fail. “There will be triumphs. The mere fact that he tries to maintain his integrity is a victory,” executive producer Danny Cannon says. “He finds a way, not to control it, but he learns what Gotham is. It’s this vast machine and its internal engines are driven by corruption and have been since the beginning of time. Gordon has to change in order for that machine to not break down.”

Question: I would love pretty much anything you can give me on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as long as it’s not about romance/’shipping. —Joseph

Ausiello: When pressed by Matt Mitovich to tease the opening moments of Season 2, EP Jeff Bell ultimately said, “We come in in a surprising way,” adding: “Coulson was always interested in getting back to the roots of S.H.I.E.L.D., to the kind of organization it used to be — you know, this small, covert, ‘men in black’ kind of thing. And I think you get a feel for that when we come into the second season.”

Question: Do you have any Grimm scoop? –Lil

Ausiello: Adalind and the royals will have some competition as they search for her missing daughter: The NBC drama’s upcoming fourth season will feature a “new character who will enter the fray who also really wants to find that baby,” series co-creator David Greenwalt tells TVLine.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items, few though they may be, for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Annet Mahendru (The Americans) will guest star on Grey’s Anatomy this fall, but in true Shonda Rhimes TV style, there are no details on what part she will play. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor John Stamos (Full House) has landed the male lead in the upcoming ABC mid-season series Members Only that will be an upstairs/downstairs drama set at an exclusive Connecticut country club, centered on the club’s leisure-class members and the working-class employees that make the place tick. Stamos will play female lead Mickey (series regular Natalie Zea)’s fast-talking hedge-fund billionaire husband whose marriage to Mickey has bought him what his money never could: membership. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Torrey DeVitto (The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars) will guest star in an episode of Major Crimes, playing Nicole Flynn, the daughter of Lt. Andy Flynn (series regular Tony Denison). (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

TV TRAILER

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FOX has given a pilot commitment to a new take on the 1981 sci-fi dramedy The Greatest American Hero. The new version will chronicle inner-city teacher Isaac’s adventures after his discovery of a superhero suit that gives him superhuman abilities. Unfortunately for Isaac, he hates wearing the suit and has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error because he quickly misplaces the suit’s instructions. He also has to deal with a government handler who has very different objectives than him and struggles as to whether he should use his newfound gifts to help others or just himself. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box offices movies for this past holiday weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy – 16.3 million
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 11.7 million
3. If I Stay – 9.2 million
4. As Above/So Below – 8.3 million
5. Let’s Be Cops – 8.2 million
6. The November Man – 7.6 million
7. When the Game Stands Still – 5.6 million
8. The Giver – 5.2 million
9. The Hundred-Foot Journey – 4.6 million
10. The Expendables 3 – 3.5 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Longmire has been cancelled after three (3) season on A&E; however, the studio behind the series is seeking a new home for the show. (Tim Kenneally at The Wrap)

Actor Nolan Funk (Glee and Awkward) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Arrow, playing Cooper Seldon, Felicity’s hacker boyfriend from her days at MIT. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor David Sutcliffe (Gilmore Girls) has landed a series regular role on the upcoming TNT supernatural medical drama Proof that centers on Dr. Carolyn Tyler (Jennifer Beals), a skeptical, hard-science, brilliant female surgeon who is persuaded to investigate cases of reincarnation, out-of-body experiences, and hauntings. Sutcliffe will play Dr. Len Bayliss, Dr. Tyler’s ex-husband who still works with her at the hospital. (The Deadline Team)

Actor Patton Oswalt will guest star in the upcoming CBS buddy cop drama Battle Creek that stars Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters. Duhamel plays Milton Chamberlain, a handsome, charismatic FBI agent with unlimited resources, who opens a field office at the underfunded police station in Battle Creek and chooses a gruff local detective, Russ Agnew (Winters), to be his partner. Oswalt will play the unorthodox mayor of Battle Creek, Michigan. (Mandi Bierly at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Corbin Bernsen (Psych) will guest star in the upcoming fall CBS drama Scorpion about Walter O’Brien (Elyes Gabel from Body of Proof), an eccentric genius who assembles a team of super-geniuses to combat the complex threats of the modern age. Bernsen will play Bob Connelly, a Las Vegas casino owner who turns to Walter’s team when his profit margins start to shrink. But Walter will discover that underneath the glitz and glamor, all is not as it seems with Connelly and his casino. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Actors Enver Gjokaj (Dollhouse, Extant and Rizzoli & Isles) and Chad Michael Murray (Southland and One Tree Hill) have landed roles in the upcoming ABC drama Agent Carter that will star Hayley Atwell in the title role from the Marvel Universe. Gjokaj will play Agent Daniel Sousa, who will meet Carter while she takes on a new role at the pre-SHIELD Strategic Scientific Reserve in New York City. Murray will play SSR Agent Jack Thompson. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter and Marvel.com)

Actress Amy Gumenick (Supernatural) will appear as Carrie Cutter (a.k.a. Cupid) on Arrow. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Greg Grunberg (Alias and Heroes) will guest star in an upcoming episode of CSI, playing Len Bryant, a white-collar everyman battling addition at a high-end rehab facility. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC is developing a new medical drama from David Marshall Grant (Nashville and Smash) that is inspired by the real story of former agent, Byrdie Lifson-Pompan, who was a top CAA literary agent who was misdiagnosed and her brain tumor went undetected until discovered by another doctor. She underwent surgery and fully recovered. Several years later, Lifson-Pompan, who also had other family members suffer from medical misdiagnoses, made a career change, leaving agenting after 22 years to pursue a career as a medical advocate. She teamed with Dr. Valerie Ulene, a medical doctor and a health education specialist, to launch Clear Health Advisors, a healthcare consulting and case management company that helps patients navigate the healthcare system, including getting an accurate diagnosis and finding the right treatment. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Greg Berlanti will be teaming with NBC on a new hour-long project called Blindspot that will center on an FBI agent who is drawn into a complex conspiracy when a naked amnesiac is found in Times Square covered in fresh tattoos, including his name on her back. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Actor Luke Kleintank (Pretty Little Liars) has been cast in the Amazon pilot The Man In The High Castle that is based on the Philip K. Dick novel that is set in 1962, exploring an alternative reality in which Nazi Germany and Japan won World War II and occupy the United States, with the East Coast controlled by the Nazis and the West Coast owned by Japan, and a chunk of the Midwest still up for grabs. Kleintank will play Joe Blake, an all-American guy living in New York who has joined the clandestine American Resistance. (The Deadline Team)

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Question: Can you give us any scoop on Once Upon a Time’s Regina, please? We need something to cheer us up! –Ana

Mitovich: Well, when I asked The Boys about the Regina/Robin Hood/Marian love triangle presumably on tap for Season 4, Adam Horowitz was quick to retort, “Who says we’re doing a love triangle?” He then explained, “Hopefully it becomes less about the relationship itself and more about Regina [and] open[s] the door to who she is and what she’s going to become.”

Question: Do you have any info on Belle’s mom on Once Upon a Time? –Natalie

Mitovich: Debuting in an Episode 6 flashback Bell’s ma being described as “a strong-willed, spirited woman” who carries herself with grace and aplomb – even under the most trying circumstances. She’ll also boast a natural European accent, if casting has their druthers.

Question: Do you have any new scoops for Beauty and the Beast fans? Maybe a return date? –Zavier

Mitovich: For Season 3 – which has a premiere date of Sometime in 2015 – the resilient CW drama is casting the role of Tess’ older brother Jamie, an overbearing lawman on track to become his kin’s commanding officer. Big bro will bust JT’s chops some, bringing out an impressive new side to Tess’ beau.

Question: Any news on Resurrection‘s new season? –Sherryl

Mitovich: Asked to compare Season 2 to the show’s freshman run, series creator Aaron Zelman told me, “In Season 1, so much happens so quickly – it was eight or nine days – so it was very reactive. Whereas Season 2 is a bit more, ‘OK, this is the new reality — now how do we live with this? What does it mean that people can come back? And what does it mean that people who came back can disappear?’ What does it mean for doctors like Maggie to treat people who are terminal knowing maybe they’re not terminal? It throws everything on its head. You’re going to see a lot more characters dealing with that new reality.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific and safe holiday weekend!!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Brandon Jay McLaren (Graceland and Falling Skies) will have a recurring role on the Bravo original scripted drama The Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce that stars Lisa Edelstein (House) as Abby McCarthy, a self-help book author who hides the fact that she’s separated from her husband as she starts to navigate her life as a single woman in her early 40s. McLaren will play Marco, an intellectual who runs his own organic heritage vegetable farm, who meets Phoebe (series regular Beau Garrett) and her kids. The series will debut later this year. (Jethro Nededog at The Wrap)

Actress Rila Fukushima (Wolverine) will take over for actress Devon Aoki on Arrow in the recurring role of Tatsu Yamashiro, a Japanese martial arts expert who wields a deadly sword. In the show, Tatsu will be one of Oliver’s mentors in the flashbacks and a critical influence on his journey to eventually become The Arrow of present day. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Matt Letscher (Eli Stone and Scandal) will guest star in the season premiere of Castle this fall, playing Henry Jenkins, a security consultant who provides Beckett with information on the most important case of her life. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actor David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) will have a major recurring role in The Good Wife this fall, playing a highly respected cable news legal commentator who is so disgusted by the corruption and murder rate in Chicago that he decides to run for office in order to affect change. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FOX is developing a drama series adaptation of the novel Nod by Adrian Barnes that is set at a time when most of humanity loses the ability to sleep and scientists are at a loss to explain why no one is tired. The story revolves around Tanya and Paul, an “inter-somnial” couple – she, Awakened and flourishing, and he, one of the remaining few who are still handicapped by the need for sleep. But when signs of deprivation start to show among the Awakened, the bonds of friendship and love get tested in unexpected ways — because if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Daniel Dae Kim (Hawaii Five-0 and Lost) and CBS are developing a medical drama from the network based on the South Korean drama Good Doctor. The untitled project centers on how a brilliant doctor with Aspergers uses his special gift for solving complex cases at a Boston teaching hospital. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

MGM is looking to revive In the Heat of the Night for the small screen. This version would be set in the present day, aiming to examine issues of race, justice and inequality through the eyes of characters in Mississippi. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Actress Riley Voelkel (The Newsroom) has been cast in one of the lead roles in Point Of Honor, the Amazon Civil War family drama from Carlton Cuse (Lost and Bates Motel) and Randall Wallace. The project centers on best friends and brothers-in-law, Robert Sumner and John Rodes, who find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Voelkel will play John’s sister Lorelei who is married to Robert. Actor Patrick Heusinger (Royal Pains) will play Colonel Palmer Kane. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Netflix is developing the French production Marseille for an American audience. The project tells the story of Robert Taro, the French city’s mayor. (Samantha Highfill at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) is expected to be cast in the role of King Arthur in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming latest adaptation of the legendary character. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Markie Post (Night Court) will guest star in multiple episodes of Chicago P.D. playing Bunny, Erin Lindsay’s (series regular Sophia Bush) mom, a bartender in a dive bar who has been estranged from her daughter. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Kristin Bauer van Straten (True Blood) will be back on of Once Upon a Time, reprising her role as the villain Maleficent. She will appear in a “big arc” for the latter part of the show’s upcoming fourth season. (Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

TV TRAILER

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

NBC is working with actress-executive producer Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives and Devious Maids) and John Glenn (Identity) on a new medical drama project. The as-yet titled drama would be “ER meets House”, telling the story of a perfectionist Latina doctor who returns to her hometown to take a job at a prestigious hospital. But when a secret from her past, a mistake she made early in her career, comes back to haunt her, it will threaten to put the very fabric of her life in critical condition. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

MINI-SERIES NEWS

Actress Kathryn Prescott (Finding Carter and Reign) has joined the upcoming four-hour mini-series The Dovekeepers that will be based on the Alice Hoffman historical novel that focuses on four extraordinary women whose lives intersect in a fight for survival at the siege of Masada. Prescott will play Aziza, a stunning teenage tomboy and expert archer who disguises herself in her brother’s armor to skillfully fight alongside the male warriors of Masada, even fooling Amram (Diego Boneta), her lover and fellow warrior. The mini-series will be executive produced by Mark Burnett and his wife actress Roma Downey. It is expected to air on CBS in 2015. (The Deadline Team)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Graham McTavish (Outlander and The Hobbit) has joined the cast of the upcoming Disney film The Finest Hour, starring alongside Chris Pine and Casey Affleck. He will play Frank Fauteux in the 1952-set film about a daring Coast Guard rescue off the coast of Cape Cod. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

Actor Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey and Once Upon a Time) has joined the cast of the upcoming psychological thriller The 9th Life of Louis Drax that will be an adaptation of the Liz Jensen best-selling novel, following young Louis Drax, who suffers a near-fatal fall on his ninth birthday. In order to reveal the strange circumstances surrounding the boy’s accident, Dr. Allan Pascal (Dornan) is drawn into a thrilling mystery, testing the boundaries of fantasy and reality. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

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

Question: How long will Talia be sticking around on NCIS: LA? — Mary

Adam: It doesn’t look like Talia (Mercedes Masohn) is going anywhere soon. “We love this character,” executive producer Shane Brennan says. “Without a doubt we’ll be bringing her back.” But don’t expect Talia and Kensi to become best friends anytime soon. “Let’s just say things become heated between [Talia] and Kensi when Talia gives her some unasked-for advice,” Brennan teases. “Her impact is both emotional and physical.”

Question: I would love any NCIS spoilers you might have. — Laura

Adam: It’s been a while since we checked in with SecNav Sarah Porter, no? Fear not: Leslie Hope will reprise her role in an episode slated to air in mid-October (the same episode that will introduce Stephanie Jacobsen as DiNozzo’s new love interest). The episode, appropriately titled “Choke Hold,” finds the team investigating the bizarre strangling of a Navy research scientist.

Question: Although I love Jaime on Outlander, Claire has an intriguing chemistry with her husband’s evil ancestor, “Black Jack” Randall. What can you tell me about him? — Val

Adam: Soon we’ll see Claire leave Castle Leoch to visit the surrounding lands, where she’ll encounter more English redcoats. And where we find redcoats, we’ll find Jack. He’ll have a little heart-to-heart with the pretty time traveler that will reveal just how sick, twisted and sadistic he can be. A word of advice: Don’t eat before you watch! On a lighter note, expect to see a couple familiar faces — author Diana Gabaldon and series creator Ron Moore — at a lively gathering on Saturday’s episode.

Question: What can you say about the new season of Nashville? — Evelyn

Adam: Rayna will have to say an emotional goodbye to someone close to her early in Season 3. No, we’re not talking about Luke or Deacon, but Rayna’s sister, Tandy! As Connie Britton first hinted on Instagram, Tandy will depart the show when she decides to take a job at a nonprofit in San Francisco in an effort to finally step out of her father’s and sister’s shadows once and for all.

Question: I need more Suits scoop after that ending! — Whitney

Adam: As if Jessica and Malone didn’t have trust issues already, their no-longer-down-low romance will become even more fraught now that Louis knows about Mike. “Jessica and Malone in [Episode] 11 will be dealing with the consequences of that professionally first and foremost, which will affect their relationship in the future. It’s a big toll,” executive producer Aaron Korsh teases. And no, Malone has definitely not forgotten about Louis asking him for help in Episode 9. “That plays heavily into how Malone reacts and what he wants to do.”

Question: Graceland has been great this season, but I miss seeing everyone in the house together. — Gina

Adam: Although having everyone scattered to the four winds can be frustrating, Daniel Sunjata promises it will be worth it. “These things that seem a little bit disparate and only barely tangential, they are all actually very related,” he says. “[The plots] will become more focused and more clear. There will be more group scenes, and we will see these various plot threads begin to dovetail more intensely as we approach the season finale.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Despite giving a straight-to-series order and a big promotional push at Comic Con, NBC has decided not to move forward with Emerald City, the Oz-inspired drama that was to hit small screens next season. (Shelli Weinstein at Variety)

The folks at Showcase have decided to make the upcoming fifth season of Lost Girl its final season. The good news, though, is that the final season will be super-sized, getting 16 episodes to wrap up the cult favorite, the episodes will be aired as a split season. (TheTelevixen.com)

Actor Jason Ritter (Parenthood) will guest star on an episode of Person of Interest, playing Simon Lee, a whip-smart, political Wunderkind, who has an incredible gift of foresight. (Matt Fowler at IGN)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FOX has ordered a pilot called The Cure to be written by best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell and Glenn Gordon Caron (the series creator of the TV drama Medium). The project is being described as a provocative, character-driven medical thriller about a young, impulsive African-American neurologist who decides to take the law into her own hands in the cause of tackling a deadly disease. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

HBO is in the early stages of developing a TV series prequel of the 2010 feature film Shutter Island. If the prequel, called Ashecliffe, gets picked up, it will be set at the isolated mental hospital depicted in the film with the events in the series taking place before those in the film and the novel on which the movie was based. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

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

1. Guardians of the Galaxy – 17.6 million
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – 16.8 million
3. If I Stay – 16.3 million
4. Let’s Be Cops – 11 million
5. When the Game Stands Tall – 9 million
6. The Giver – 6.7 million
7. The Expendables 3 – 6.6 million
8. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For – 6.48 million
9. Hundred-Foot Journey – 5.6 million
10. Into the Storm – 3.8 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Paul Reubens (aka Pee-wee Herman) will guest star in multiple episodes of The Blacklist this fall, playing Mr. Vargas, a dapper, finicky “muscle” who handles delicate situations in the criminal underworld. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line and Mandi Bierly Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Lori Petty will reprise her role of inmate Lolly on Orange Is the New Black during season 3. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line and Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) and actress Holliday Grainger (The Borgias) will appear in the BBC1 TV movie adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, playing lead characters Oliver Mellors and Lady Chatterley. (Dark Horizons)

BBC America is adding another series to its line-up in the form of the sci-fi drama The Living and the Dead that will take place in Somerset, England in 1888, exploring a land and a community on the edge of monumental change and on the hinge between ancient traditional ways and an industrial, scientific future in a land of ghosts and myths, poltergeists and demons. At the heart of the community is Nathan Appleby, a reluctant farmer obsessed with proving the existence of the afterlife. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

CBS is working with executive producer Jason Katims and Sarah Watson (Parenthood) on a new medical drama project that is yet untitled. The project will be set at a high-tech Silicon Valley hospital with a cutting-edge approach to medicine. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Amblin Television is putting together a TV series version of the box office film Minority Report. Plans are in the very early stages of development so there are no other details at this time. But, as a refresher, the story from the 2002 movie had Tom Cruise in a future where a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crimes. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams and Samantha Highfill at Entertainment Weekly)

Question:  I saw the EW questions for Once Upon a Time. Why no Rumple or Belle questions? It made me sad, I know there had been some. — Karen

Natalie/Samantha: I did ask about them… just not during The Hot Seat. On the Belle side, there’s this. But on the Rumple side, I hear things are going to get very contentious again between him and Hook this season. “Hook and Rumplestiltskin have a very long history that is blood-riddled and difficult that has been put aside for a little while due to circumstance,” executive producer Adam Horowitz tells me. “But now that circumstances have changed, that past history is going to rear its head again.” Let’s just hope Hook doesn’t steal another one of his wives.

Question:  Do you have any scoop on Lucy Lawless’ character on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? — Sydney

Natalie/Samantha: Former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Isabelle Hartley shares a history with Coulson, though it’s more like “mutual respect” than anything sexual, according to executive producer Maurissa Tancharoen. In fact, one might look to the comics for a possible clue as to who Isabelle shares that kind of past with. Could she be the very Isabelle that dated the late Victoria Hand? “There’s always a chance,” Jed Whedon says coyly, adding that trust will be an issue with Isabelle. “When we meet her, she might not necessarily be on the right side of things.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

PS: Have a great weekend!!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Greg Finley (Star-Crossed and The Secret Life of the American Teenager) has landed a recurring role on The Flash that will debut in October on The CW. He will play the Tony Woodward (aka Girder), who – much like Barry Allen – was affected by the S.T.A.R. Labs explosion, given him the ability to turn his skin into living metal. (Brian Gallagher at Movie Web)

Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo (24 and Grimm) will co-star in the upcoming space opera The Expanse on Syfy. The series is based on the James S. A. Corey best-selling book series that is set 200 years in the future, following a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective (actor Thomas Jane from Hung) and a rogue ship’s captain (Steven Strait from Magic City) together in a race across the solar system to expose a conspiracy. Aghdashloo will play Chrisjen Avasarala, a smart and passionate member of a political family legacy who has risen high in the ranks of Earth’s governing body without once standing for election. The 10-episode series debuts next year. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Molly Hagan (Longmire and Switched at Birth) will take over the role of Eva Moore, the overbearing mother to Liv (Rose McIver from Once Upon a Time) in the mid-season CW series iZombie. She replaces SNL alum Nora Dunn, who played the role in the original pilot. This isn’t the first casting change for the series, as actress Alexandra Krosney (Last Man Standing) played Liv’s best friend Peyton in the pilot, but actress Aly Michalka (Hellcats) will take over the role in the series. Also, actress Judy Reyes (Devious Maids) will guest star in an upcoming episode of the series, playing Lola Abano, an artsy bohemian who becomes the prime suspect when her artist husband is murdered. (Rebecca Iannucci at TV Line and Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Brian Patrick Wade (Teen Wolf) will appear as Carl “Crusher” Creel (aka the Marvel villain Absorbing Man) on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He will put Coulson and his team through their paces in the season premiere. (Marvel.com and Natalie Abrams at Entertainment Weekly)

Spike TV has announced more casting for their upcoming six-hour event series Tut that will chronicle the youngest Pharaoh ever to rule Ancient Egypt. Actor Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones and Dracula) will play the savvy military, yet power hungry, strategist General Horemheb; Sibylla Deen (Tyrant) will play Ankhe, the calculating and conniving sister-wife of King Tutankhamun; actor Alexander Siddig (Da Vinci’s Demons and Atlantis) will play High Priest Amun, a major political figure who holds great influence in King Tutankhamun’s inner sanctum; actor Peter Gadiot (Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and Matador) will play Ka, King Tutankhamun’s close confidant and seemingly loyal friend from childhood who harbors a secret love for Ankhe, Tut’s sister-wife; Iddo Goldberg (Salem and Mob City) will play Lagus, an Egyptian soldier who develops a special bond with King Tutankhamun; and – announced yesterday – actress Kylie Bunbury (Twisted) will play Suhad, the beautiful and endearing girl of Mitanni descent who develops a strong bond with the young Egyptian king, despite the fact she is not of royal bloodlines. The lead role will be played by Bunbury’s Twisted co-star Avan Jogia and legendary actor Ben Kingsley will play Ay, the Grand Vizier to King Tutankhamun, who wields tremendous power and influence as the top advisor to the young Egyptian ruler. The event series will debut on Spike TV in 2015. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC is developing a new series based on the Derrick Storm novels written by TV character Richard Castle from the TV series Castle with Castle creator Andrew W. Marlowe and series executive producer Terri Edda Miller on board as executive producers for this new potential series. The series would focus on Derrick Storm, the private investigator-turned-CIA freelancer. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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