All Series News

Lost Final Season Date Announced

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:23:00 GMT

Drum roll please, the date for the Lost season finale is...Tuesday 2nd February. The hugely anticipated final return will start off with a one hour recap then a two hour long episode on ABC, it will then continue as normal every Tuesday at 9 pm prime position.

ABC also confirms that J.J. Abrams has made Nestor Carbonell, Ken Leung and Zuleikha Robinson regular cast members. The trio will feature heavily alongside Emilie de Ravin's returning Claire.

Sky One has not yet announced a specific date for the UK showing but has said it will be "early 2010". The series is expected to run up until the end of May.

H.Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Friday 20 November 2009

Chuck Back In January

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:38:00 GMT

Oh the excitement! Brightening up our rainy November morning is the news that Chuck is coming back earlier than planned (in January instead of March) - and NBC have requested an extra six episodes, meaning that the third season will be 19 episodes long. The show will resume its regular time slot of Mondays at 8pm from January 11 after an initial double episode on Sunday January 10. Heroes, which was yesterday revealed to be struggling in the ratings war will be shifted to the 9pm slot on Mondays, in the hope that it can cash in on the spy comedy's flourishing ratings.

Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak revealed what would be done with the series story arc to accomodate the extended run: "Right now, we're going to stick with the 13 that we had planned. When we got the order for six more episodes, we restructured the story somewhat, but we're still operating along the lines that the six additional episodes will be Chuck season 3.2. We're not going to pad the original story out. We're going to tell more story."

The next season also has an impressive list of guest stars coming up including Law & Order's Angie Harmon, play Sydney, an enemy operative; Superman himself Brandon Routh as CIA Agent Daniel Shaw; Robert Patrick (Terminator 2 : Judgement Day) as Colonel Keller, a soldier and spy from Casey's past; Smallville's Kristin Kreuk as Chuck's potential squeeze Hannah; Armand Assante (Judge Dredd) as dictator Premier Goya, who is the target of an assassin; 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin will play Hugo Panzer, the man in the middle of Chuck's first solo mission; and our very own Vinnie Joneswill play arms dealer Carl Stromberg.

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Friday 20 November 2009

Steven Spielberg And Stephen King Do 'Dome'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Take the cr�me de la cr�me of supernatural thriller novelists and put them with one of the most prolific and talented directors of a generation and you have one helluva project. Big-timers Stephen King and Steven Spielberg are working on an adaptation of King's most recent novel Under the Dome for DreamWorks TV.

The drama sees an invisible force field descend on a small town in Maine.
Many of King's master pieces have been made into film/TV projects, one recently being From a Buick 8 and Dolan's Cadillac. He has also previously collaborated with Spielberg on the adaptation of his 1984 novel The Talisman. Dome comes with a surge of recent TV projects for Spielberg which include The United States of Tara and The Pacific.

With an amazing duo and a crazy storyline Dome looks set to wow audiences and definitely satisfy Stephen and Steven fans.

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Friday 20 November 2009

Sam Shepard To Star In Tough Trade

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:17:00 GMT

What better way to launch, than bringing the concept of Dynasty right up to date and contextualising it in the fascinating world of music. Brand new multi-platform channel Epix has picked The Notebook's veteran actor Sam Shepard to play patriarch in its inaugural pilot, to be called Tough Trade.
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Coming straight from the good people at Lionsgate TV, Tough Trade is an hour-long drama following the ups and downs of the Tuckers - a three-generation Nashville music dynasty - as they struggle with the financial consequences of the changing industry along with their own personal issues and debauched predilections.
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So we can expect plenty of familial backstabbing, alimony rows and indulgent behaviour - looks like this could be the replacement we needed for Dirty Sexy Money, just with more tunes.

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Friday 20 November 2009

Heroes Pulls In Not So Heroic Viewing Figures

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:53:00 GMT

Tim Kring probably isn't feeling so super this morning as it was revealed that Heroes viewing figures hit a new low on Monday night.

Despite it's peak spot at 8pm on NBC, the show was down around 280k on last week's episode to a reported 5.07m, which by US standards in the current economic climate leaves the show on shaky ground.

Heroes is up against CBS comedies How I Met Your Mother and Accidentally on Purpose, which trounced the super-powered scifi drama with 8.44m and 7.76m viewers respectively in their 8pm and 8.30pm slots.

Meanwhile Hugh Laurie starrer House held a massive 12.95m over at Fox.

ABC's Dancing With The Stars kept the US tapping their toes with the ginormous 18.74m between 8pm and 10pm, showing that the masses really do prefer their reality.

So will this poor showing spell the end for Heroes? Or can Peter Petrelli and co turn things around with their multitudinous skills?

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Thursday 19 November 2009

Chris Addison On Skins

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:46:00 GMT

Chris Addison is going back to school with a role as a headmaster in E4's Skins. Addison states that his character will be "an uptight smug bully". He also talked about the fact that Skins targets a particular audience 'the yoof', saying it "makes anyone above the age of 23 feel old" but he also marked this as one its strengths in terms of it being "energetic, colourful and full of life".

Skins which has seen Nicholas Hoult and Dev Patel go on to big Hollywood type things since appearing in the first season, was first broadcast in 2007 and is due to start its fourth series in the New Year. It follows A-level students over a two year period and has covered all manner of teen angst throughout the series.

Comedian Addison, who is currently in Armando Iannucci's The Thick of It, also had his place in In the Loop, making him the ideal serious candidate to play another exasperated adult authority figure in Skins, much like Harry Enfield who comically plays the dad of Tony (Hoult) and Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario). So we're expecting a love-to-hate character amongst the teens' highs and lows at the Bristol school.

H. Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Thursday 19 November 2009

Gretchen Turns Gangsters Mol In HBO's Boardwalk Empire

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:30:00 GMT

Gretchen Mol has recovered her senses and is going back in time once again following the cancellation of the US version of Life on Mars, joining HBO's upcoming drama Boardwalk Empire to play a showgirl called Gillian.
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The show, written by The Sopranos scribe Terence Winter, is executive produced by none other than Martin Scorsese, who directed the pilot.

It follows the rise of Prohibition in 1920 through the trials and tribulations of the politician and gangster who ruled over Atlantic City, Nucky Thompson, played by Sopranos regular Steve Buscemi. The time was one of great change down on the Boardwalk as Atlantic City developed from a quiet family seaside resort to the heart of gambling, drugs and gangland activity in a repressed and depressed socio-economic climate.
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The show also stars Funny Games' Michael Pitt, Revolutionary Road Oscar-winner Michael Shannon as Van Aldon and Scorsese favourite Public Enemies' Stephen Graham as Al Capone.

Mol is no stranger to a retro take on crime and seediness in America's past, not only having flashed back as a 70s cop in New York for Mars, but also flashing her wares portraying the pin-up icon of the 50s and beyond in The Notorious Bettie Page.

Boardwalk Empire is due on screens in early 2010.
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E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Wednesday 18 November 2009

Jason Lee For Delta Blues

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:07:00 GMT

My Name is Earl star Jason Lee will turn his hand to playing Memphis cop Dwight Hendricks, an off-kilter character with a passion for Elvis impersonations in the George Clooney and Grant Heslov production Delta Blues.

Penned by Liz Garcia and Joshua Harto, Delta follows Dwight - still living at home with mom well into his thirties, as he shakes down bad guys by day and shimmies those hips by night.

Lee, best known for his role as Earl Hickey, has played numerous varying parts over the last decade - including Almost Famous, The Incredibles and Dreamcatcher to name a few. His future projects include Columbus Circle and a rumoured part in The Other Side. And lest we forget his fondness for singing Chipmunks...

For Clark Johnson director of Delta Blues, Lee appears to be a solid choice - especially considering his emminantly quiffable hair and some might say rock n roll facial hair.

H. Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Wednesday 18 November 2009

Orlando Jones In The House

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:12:00 GMT

His most recent home may have been in the Cirque du Freak, but Orlando Jones looks like he's found himself a House as he lines up a guest appearance on the hit medical drama.

The Evolution actor, who has most recently been gracing the small screen in shows such as Pushing Daisies, Men in Trees and Rules of Engagement, will play Marcus, estranged brother to Omar Epps' character Dr Eric Foreman, cohort to Hugh Laurie's arrogant MD Gregory House.

The episode is already in the can, ready for broadcast in February next year.

So, what other long-lost relatives need to be brought in to the show? Perhaps a prodigal second-cousin for Dr Lisa Cuddy or errant aunt for Jesse Spencer's Robert Chase?

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Tuesday 17 November 2009

Exorcist To Be Re-excised For TV

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:34:00 GMT

Let's face it, we haven't had our fill of crucifixes and revolving heads lately, so that kindly author man William Peter Blatty, is promising a rejuvination of his classic The Exorcist - this time for the small screen.

The TV mini-series should include the novel's subplot which followed Chris MacNeil's housekeeper Karl, his daughter Elvira, and the questions over the death of Burke Dennings.

He told Cemetery Dance magazine: "I might have it my way in the near future, inasmuch as I've written an Exorcist miniseries script that not only faithfully includes all the main elements of the novel, but also some rather spooky new material and scenes, as well as a totally new (and perhaps much more satisfying) ending. I've also updated it."

Blatty may have gone batty, but he is also promising that the aging director of the 1973 original, William Friedkin will direct the project. Which seems a little unlikely as the pair have always been at odds about the final cut of the film. Which would explain why Blatty is itching to get back to basics with his story, this time with the benefits of major leaps in effects technology to make the possession all the more believable.

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Monday 16 November 2009

Larry Charles Is A Telly Fanboy

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:32:00 GMT

NBC can hardly curb their enthusiasm at Larry Charles' new semi-scripted comedy project which he is developing with Terminator Salvation director McG under his production house Wonderland.

Much like long-awaited film-com Fanboys, the laffer will follow a dedicated band of sci-fi geeks, who after hearing a much loved show has been cancelled, take on the mantle of making episodes themselves. So imagine plenty of Be Kind Rewind action as the fanboys shoot the series in their small town.

Charles - whose most recent offering Bruno has served to perpetuate Sacha Baron Cohen's meteoric rise in Hollywood - will write, exec produce and direct the show which is being made for Warner Bros.

Wonderland is also behind the upcoming Danny Comden project The Intruders.

So which cancelled shows would you give another chance for a low-budget makeover? Perhaps Joss Whedon would suggest this treatment for his recently axed Dollhouse?

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Monday 16 November 2009

Thumbs Up For Torchwood 4

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:26:00 GMT

Russell T. Davies, creator of Torchwood, has cited plans for a fourth season of the sci-fi show. Despite saying the "recession has hit British television", he assured viewers that the team had "great ideas" and that there "is a further lease of life for many years to come, certainly for a fourth season".

The BBC show is a drama detailing the adventures of Captain Jack Harness (John Barrowman) who travels from the 51st to the 21st century to battle extraterrestrial and supernatural threats as part of the Torchwood Institute, a criminal investigation group founded by Queen Victoria.

The third season gained around 5.8 million viewers in July this year and is a spin-off of the ever popular Doctor Who, as well as an anagram of the title.

Apparently Davies has "a shape in mind" for the season being developed at the start of 2010 and all this enthusiasm just leaves us waiting for what sounds like an explosive fourth series.

H. Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Friday 13 November 2009

NBC Pilot 'Rex Is Not Your Lawyer' Welcomes Jeffrey Tambor

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:44:00 GMT

Rex Is Not Your Lawyer can now count Jeffrey Tambor as part of the team since he's been cast as David Tennant's psychiatrist. The hour long NBC pilot that focuses on a top litigator who starts teaching his clients to represent themselves in court after suffering a series of panic attacks will be set in Chicago. Tambor, who's character also suffers from panic attacks, will become romantically involved with Rex's mother as well as being his shrink.

Andrew Leeds and David Lampson have written the script and will also be supervising producers for the dramedy with David Semel as director. Tambor recently starred in The Hangover and is best known for his part as George Bluth Senior in Arrested Development.

H. Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Friday 13 November 2009

A New Charlie's Angels For ABC?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:06:00 GMT

Charlie's Angels may be coming to life once more in the form of a Josh Friedman written and produced version for ABC. The Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles creator will apparently be on board if the network gives the green light to the pilot, with plans to produce alongside Drew Barrymore, the former angel from the 2000 remake, and Leonard Goldberg, who produced the first version in 1976 along with Aaron Spelling.

So we have Friedman, Goldberg and Barrymore all on board plus Charlie's Angels producer Nancy Juvonen to exec produce. If ABC do give the pilot order, suffice to say this expert-on-the-angels team will already be able to smell the taste of sweet success.

H. Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Friday 13 November 2009

Smallville Movie Flying Onto The Small Screen?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:51:00 GMT

Smallville is big business, even after 8 years on TV, and now to secure its popularity on the small screen, a fantastic new feature-length episode is being put together combining some of the most exciting DC Comic characters - including Stargirl, Hawkman, and Dr. Fate.

The characters, who were originally going to appear in their own stand-alone episodes, will now be united in the TV movie which will show for the first time on US screens on January 29.

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Thursday 12 November 2009

The Final Call On Whedon's Dollhouse

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:24:00 GMT

Its existence and success had always been a real question but now Fox has given the answer with the cancellation of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. After 2 seasons and 26 episodes, the sci fi drama starring Eliza Dushku and Harry J. Lennix will leave screens around the end of January, promising a big show finale which creator Whedon is apparently onboard for.

In response to cancellation, Whedon remained upbeat saying "By the time the last episode airs, you'll know what my next project is". The news may have not come as a surprise since the show received relatively low ratings and inconsistent support.

So the plastic-fantastic sciencey glam vibe didn't work out so well, let's hope Buffy the Vampire Slayer Whedon can deliver next time round.

H. Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Thursday 12 November 2009

Winona Ryder Says 'Enough' Is Enough To Hallmark

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:33:00 GMT

Winona Ryder is set to take the lead on the small screen by making the made-for-TV feature When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story alongside Flags of Our Fathers' Barry Pepper.

The actress, known for her quirkier roles in films such as Beetle Juice and Edward Scissorhands in the 80s and 90s is settling down to more grown up fare these days, with her latest film being retirement romance The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.

This biopic tells the story of Al-Anon co-founder Lois Wilson and her marriage to big drinker Bill Wilson who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous.

The pair lived the high-life partying through the 1920s, until his excessive boozing led to their financial and social undoing. Even when Ben turned a corner and reached sobriety, Lois struggled with her own problems associated with his addiction - and in 1951 started Al-Anon to help families and friends of alcoholics battling addiction.

Production kicks off in Toronto this week for show on CBS later this season.

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Wednesday 11 November 2009

ABC Gets 'Forgotten' And 'Eastwick' Is Out

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:03:00 GMT

It's all change at ABC and it's not all good news for some shows. Fantasy drama Eastwick has been dropped after a run of thirteen episodes. The show which is based on the novel and film The Witches of Eastwick, starring Sara Rue and Veronica Cartwright failed to work its magic on viewers, resulting in poor viewing stats.

Now for the good news, the network has picked up 5 episodes of The Forgotten, starring Christian Slater and Heather Stephens. The detective drama sees a team of amateur investigators "The Forgotten Network" get to work piecing together the lives of Jane and John Doe.

So, although execs are putting Eastwick to the back of their minds, it seems that ABC won't let the Mark Friedman drama be forgotten.

H.Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Tuesday 10 November 2009

Battlestar Trucco Joins Lifer Shahi In Law Drama Pilot

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 10:44:00 GMT

Battlestar Galactica's Michael Trucco and How I Met Your Mother actress Virginia Williams are set to face-off with The Sopranos' Sarah Shahi in a drama pilot called Facing Kate for the USA Network.
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Bronwen Hughes (who recently helmed episodes of critically lauded shows such as Breaking Bad and ) is set to direct the project which follows the recently bereaved daughter of a San Francisco lawyer who becomes a mediator in order to look after his firm, played by Life and The L Word star Shahi. Williams (not to be confused with Ugly Betty's Vanessa Williams) will attempt to stand in Kate's way, as the meddlesome young step mother whose only concern is taking control of the legal business for her own financial gain.

Trucco, best known as BSG's Ensign Samuel Anders, steps in as Shahi's character's legal eagle ex-husband who, despite being a serious player, still has feelings for her.

So Shahi has played a stripper, a cop and now a lawyer - will it be a medical drama next for the gorgeous actress? And will Trucco and Williams be able to give her the Space she needs in this new show?
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Production on the pilot kicks off soon for show in 2010.

E.Phillips

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Monday 9 November 2009

Jennifer Stone Is Harriet The Spy

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:57:00 GMT

Harriet M. Welsch, teen super spy, is going to have a new face in Disney's forthcoming adaptation of the popular book series and 1996 film Harriet the Spy.

The telepic will star Jennifer Stone of Wizards of Waverly Place fame - and will be a technologically updated version of the Louise Fitzhugh childrens' classic with Harriet, as a film producer's daughter reaching to be "class blogger".

David Levine of Disney Channel programming expressed his enthusiasm at having Stone on board, saying she was "great talent" for the network. Written by Heather Conkie and Alexandra Clarke, the re-adaptation will be directed by The Secret World of Alex Mack's Ron Oliver.

Blake McGrath, a contestant from "So You Think You Can Dance" is reportedly doing choreography which possibly means we can expect a twist in the classic sneaky goings on of the average New York high school spy.

H. Hemblade

>> Real the whole article | on Screenrush - Monday 9 November 2009