Saturday, August 31, 2013

HOLLYWOOD SPY EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON CW'S NEW HISTORICAL SAGA 'REIGN' ON MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS WITH ADELAIDE KAINE, TOBY REGBO, TORRANCE COOMBS, CELINA SINDEN, ANNA POPPLEWELL, MANOLO CARDONA

  'REIGN' HISTORICAL SHOW
ON MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
In the sea of new science fiction shows, dramas and sitcoms, one of the rare historical ones will be CW's lavish and romantic take on the genre in REIGN show which charts the youth of famous Mary Queen of Scots! Scheduled to start airing on October 17th, in the Thursday evening slot after THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, the series will follow the early years of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1557 France, while she was engaged to the young French prince Francis!


  THE STORY OF 'REIGN'
 DEMANDS OF HEART & COUNTRY
Hidden between the lines of the history books is the story of Mary Stuart, the young woman the world would come to know as Mary, Queen of Scots. Queen of Scotland since she was six days old, the teenage Mary is already a headstrong monarch - beautiful, passionate, and poised at the very beginning of her tumultuous rise to power. Arriving in France with four close friends as her ladies-in-waiting, Mary has been sent to secure Scotland’s strategic alliance by formalizing her arranged engagement to the French king’s dashing son, Prince Francis. But the match isn’t signed and sealed, it depends more on politics, religion and secret agendas than affairs of the heart. Prince Francis is intrigued by the fiery Scot, but like most young men, he resists the idea of settling down into marriage, especially when he has a history with a lady of the court and his own point of view on the wisdom of an alliance with Scotland.  Still, an attraction between Mary and Francis is ignited. Further complicating things is Bash, Francis’ roguish half-brother, who has a history of his own - despite his illegitimate birth, Bash is his father’s favourite. And now that Bash has caught Mary’s eye, a royal triangle may be forming. While at French Court, fierce foes and dark forces conspire to sabotage Mary’s marriage to Francis and even threaten her life, until a mysterious shrouded guide becomes her ally. With danger and sexual intrigue around every dark castle corner, Mary rallies her ladies-in-waiting and steels herself, ready to rule the new land and balance the demands of her country and her heart.

  THE CAST OF 'REIGN'
ADELAIDE KAINE & TOBY REGBO
Australian actress Adelaide Kaine takes the lead role, while dashing Toby Regbo plays prince Francis, with Megan Follows (WORLD WITHOUT END) playing Queen Catherine de Medici, the Queen Consort of France, who is willing to do anything to maintain her own standing and power at Court, as well as that of her children. The show also has Caitlin Stasey playing Kenna, a free spirit who serves as one of Mary's ladies-in-waiting together with Celina Sinden who will play Greer. Torrance Coombs will play Sebastian, Francis’ resourceful illegitimate half brother, a favorite son of King Henry II (Alan Van Sprang). It is also interesting that one of Mary's ladies in waiting will be portrayed by Anna Popplewell, the little girl from NARNIA saga! She will play Mary's lady Lola! Rossif Sutherland plays famous Nostradamus, queen's wizard prophet! Latin heartthrob Manolo Cardona joins the cast as Tomas, the dashing Prince of Portugal. He’s playful and seemingly grounded though he may have a sinister, sadistic, and completely amoral soul. Meanwhile, Katie Boland will be Clarissa, a strange and almost feral young woman who hides in the shadows as her face is severely disfigured. Her past is a tantalizing puzzle that will reach out to change the lives around her in ways no one suspects! Luke Roberts will play Simon Westbrook, a charming but sinister English diplomat determined to destroy Mary!

  DEZZY'S HISTORY CLASS
QUEEN OF THREE KINGDOMS 
The life of real Mary Stuart wasn't all that bright and happy. As someone who claimed rights on three different thrones her royal life was quite dynamic: as the descendent of Henry VIII's sister (played by Gabrielle Anwar in TUDORS) she had a claim on English throne which made her an enemy of Henry's daughter Queen Elizabeth. Mary also became French queen when her husband Francis became the king of France. But he died only a year after of ear infection and Mary returned to Scotland after that. Sadly, Scotland was in chaos being torn between Catholics and Protestants and she spent her life their plotting with Scottish lords and trying to calm down the religious situation. When, in one of the uprisings against her, she escaped to England, Elizabeth arrested her and after 18 years of custody killed her. Mary got her revenge in the way that her son James took over English throne after Elizabeth's death.

Friday, August 30, 2013

ALEX PETTYFER, RACHEL HURD WOOD IN 'STAR WARS VII'? ROONEY MARA JOINS CATE BLANCHETT IN 'CAROL'! NEW TRAILER FOR KEANU REEVES ASIAN EPIC '47 RONIN'! DWAYNE JOHNSON IN 'LORE' FANTASY ACTION

STAR WARS VII GETS
ALEX PETTYFER & RACHEL HURD WOOD IN THE CAST?
Well, with the production scheduled to start in January, we have new rumours about the casting choices for STAR WARS VII circling around the net! After the news that Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamil will return in their old roles, along with the possible return of Ewan McGregor, the word is that Alex Pettyfer and Rachel Hurd Wood have auditioned for the roles of Luke Skywalker's son and Princess Leia's daughter. Apparently other actors are still coming in and auditioning for the coveted roles. The story of the science fiction, to be directed by STAR TREK helmer J.J. Abrams, is said to be set thirty years after RETURN OF THE JEDI. You've seen Pettyfer most recently in THE BUTLER.It was previously rumoured that Zac Efron and Ryan Gosling tried out for the roles of Han Solo's and Skywalker's sons.

DWAYNE JOHNSON IN
'LORE' FANTASY ACTION
In other news from the fantasy genre, Dwayne Johnson fronted fantasy action LORE has found its director in David Green who replaces Barry Sonnenfeld who apparently wanted too much money for the budget.  The movie tells the story of a group of shepherds who serve as the world's last line of defence against a horde of mythological monsters.
CATE BLANCHETT & ROONEY MARA TO GO LESBIAN IN CAROL
Meanwhile, Deadline reports that Rooney Mara will join Cate Blanchett in CAROL, the movie adaptation of PRICE OF SALT book, a story of a burgeoning relationship between two very different women in 1950s New York. Rooney Mara will be a young woman working in a department store and hoping for a better life, while Blanchett is playing a wife trapped in a loveless marriage who’s desperate to break free but fearful of losing her daughter in the process.

47 RONIN NEW TRAILER
 KEANU REEVES AS SAMURAI
Check out the new international poster and also a new international trailer for Keanu Reeves' Asian epic 47 RONIN coming out this Christmas! From ancient Japan's most enduring tale, the epic 3D fantasy adventure 47 Ronin is born. Keanu Reeves leads the cast as Kai, an outcast who joins Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada), the leader of 47 outcast samurai. Together they seek vengeance upon the treacherous overlord who killed their master and banished their kind. To restore honour to their homeland, the warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

PREVIEWS FOR NEW FOX FANTASY SHOWS 'ALMOST HUMAN' WITH KARL URBAN & MICHAEL EALY AND 'SLEEPY HOLLOW' WITH TOM MISON, NICOLE BEHARIE! 90'S SF MOVIE 'OUTBREAK' TO BE MADE INTO NBC SCIENCE FICTION SHOW

NEW 'ALMOST HUMAN' PREVIEW
KARL URBAN IS A FUTURISTIC COP
It will be a television day today at HOLLYWOOD SPY. Two new previews for you: first a new trailer for Fox Autumn show ALMOST HUMAN!  Produced by STAR TREK's J.J. Abrams and starring Karl Urban and Michael Ealy it is a high-tech, high-stakes action drama  set 35 years in the future, when police officers are partnered with highly evolved human-like androids. An unlikely partnership is forged when a part-machine cop (Urban) is forced to pair with a part-human robot (Ealy) as they fight crime and investigate a deeper cover-up in a futuristic new world. 
DEZZY'S SCIENCE CLASS
In the show Karl Urban's character gets a cyborg leg after an accident. Robotic prosthetic legs already exist today. Of course they are not incorporated into the body but attached to it. They have biosensors which detect signals from the user's nervous or muscular systems which they then relay to a controller located inside the robotic leg. This means that biosensors can detect the force and position that you want your leg to take. You have seen that thanks to different kinds of prosthetic legs some people with amputated legs have even competed in running at the Olympics trying their luck against the athletes with legs.


VIRAL 'OUTBREAK' MOVIE
TO BECOME NBC TV SHOW
Only a few days ago I told you that sf movie 12 MONKEYS is getting its TV series version at SyFy, and know here's another science fiction movie from the 90's which will be turned into a television show: NBC is planning to turn OUTBREAK into their new drama. If you remember, the 1995 movie followed The 1995 film focused a dangerous viral outbreak that spread from Africa to the US threatening to become a global pandemic and it starred Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Spacey, Rene Russo, Donald Sutherland and Morgan Freeman!

NEW 'SLEEPY HOLLOW' PREVIEW
 TOM MISON IS ICHABOD CRANE
The second new preview is for Fox fantasy crime show SLEEPY HOLLOW!  From STAR TREK producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci it is a modern-day retelling of Washington Irving’s classic, in which Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison from “Salmon Fishing  in the Yemen”) is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to find that the world is on the brink of destruction and that he is humanity’s last hope, forcing him to team up with a contemporary police officer (Nicole Beharie) to unravel a mystery that dates back to the founding fathers.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

AARON PAUL IS JOSHUA, SIGOURNEY WEAVER TUYA, JOEL EDGERTON PHARAOH RAMSES, CHRISTIAN BALE MOSES IN RIDLEY SCOTT'S 'EXODUS' EPIC! 'DALLAS BUYERS CLUB' TRAILER WITH MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY & JARED LETO! 'THE AFFAIR' SHOW WITH DOMINIC WEST, JOSHUA JACKSON

RIDLEY SCOTT'S EXODUS EPIC
 AARON PAUL, SIGOURNEY WEAVER, BEN KINGSLEY, JOHN TURTURRO JOIN CHRISTIAN BALE & JOEL EDGERTON
Now, I'm all up for it, but this has got to be the film with the strangest cast ever: you already know that Ridley Scott is preparing EXODUS Biblical epic in which Christian Bale is set to play Moses while Australian actor Joel Edgerton will be the Egyptian pharoah Ramses II. 'Deadline' now reports that Ben Kingsley is negotiating to portray a Hebrew scholar, while John Turturro is set to play Seti, father of the Pharoah Ramses! To make things weirder Sigourney Weaver might play Ramses’ mother Tuya, while television star Aaron Paul is in talks to play Joshua, the Hebrew slave who leads the people into the promised land after Moses.

NEW SITCOM PILOTS!
DEADBEAT AND THURSDAYS
Networks are currently buying new sitcoms, and one of the new ones at NBC is THURSDAYS from Breckin Meyer. The story revolves around a group of male friends and a weekly Thursday guys dinner that has become a tradition in their busy, chaotic lives. Meanwhile, Hulu has ordered a ten episode comedy series DEADBEAT. The hilarious sitcom will focus on a hapless but gifted male medium who helps New York’s ghosts settle their unfinished business.
'THE AFFAIR' WITH DOMINIC WEST, JOSHUA JACKSON
In the drama series department, Showtime is preparing THE AFFAIR an intense exploration of two marriages and an affair that disrupts them — with all of the complex consequences that result. It centers on Noah (Dominic West), a good husband and devoted father of four whose settled, comfortable world is about to implode when he meets Allison (Ruth Wilson) who he he thinks is his soul mate. Joshua Jackson plays Cole, a hard-edged cowboy married to Allison. Their emotionally charged marriage becomes even more complicated when Allison begins an affair with Noah! Maura Tirney plays Noah's wife.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB TRAILER
 MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, JARED LETO IN AIDS DRAMA
The first trailer has been released for medical drama movie DALLAS BUYERS CLUB starring Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto and opening in cinemas right in the time of the preawards season this November! McConaughey plays a real-life Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof, whose free-wheeling life was overturned in 1985 when he was diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. These were the early days of the AIDS epidemic, and the U.S. was divided over how to combat the virus. Ron, now shunned by many of his old friends, and bereft of government-approved effective medicines, decided to take matters in his own hands, tracking down alternative treatments from all over the world by means both legal and illegal. Bypassing the establishment, the entrepreneurial Woodroof joined forces with an unlikely band of outcasts - who he once would have shunned - and established a hugely successful buyers’ club. Their shared struggle for dignity and acceptance is a unique story of the transformative power of resilience!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

'NORTH AND SOUTH' CIVIL WAR MINI SERIES REMAKE! SYFY ORDERS '12 MONKEYS' SF SHOW! NEW 'THE AFTER' APOCALYPTIC TV SHOW FROM X FILES CREATOR! NEW TRAILER FOR 'THE TOMORROW PEOPLE' SF SHOW

NORTH AND SOUTH
 MINI SERIES REMAKE
After I've reported some time ago that we shall get a new version of SHOGUN at Fox, here's another of the classic mini series from the 80's that is getting its remake: 'Deadline' reports that Discovery Channel is preparing new mini series on NORTH AND SOUTH! Based on John Jake's books the story is set in the American Civil War and follows George Hazard and Orry Main who meet as young men at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, their families become close,  but the vastly different ways of life for the Main and Hazard families threaten to drive them apart, leading to fractured marriages and poisoned sibling relationships… and everything is put to the ultimate test as fathers, sons, brothers and friends fight each other on the battlefields of the deadliest war America has ever seen. Discovery is already producing their scripted series KLONDIKE and WILLIAM WALLACE!

SYFY ORDERS '12 MONKEYS'
SHOW BASED ON THE 90'S FILM
In other television news, today, SyFy has officially ordered a pilot episode for new sf show 12 MONKEYS. Based on the 90's sf film with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, the new series will follow the journey of a time traveler from the post-apocalyptic future who appears in present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate the human race. The casting should start quickly since the shooting is scheduled for November.
'THE AFTER' SHOW FROM X FILES CREATOR
Meanwhile, X FILES creator Chris Carter is returning to TV after almost a decade: he is preparing a series pilot for THE AFTER, an action thriller which takes place in the moment of the apocalypse. Produced by Amazon Studios the show will also be directed by Carter.


THE TOMORROW PEOPLE
 NEW SF TRAILER AND POSTER
CW has revealed a new poster and a new promo trailer for their new Autumn series THE TOMORROW PEOPLE which will hit the small screens October 9th. Based on the original British television series of the same name, the series brings the story of several young people from around the world who represent the next stage in human evolution, possessing special powers, including the ability to teleport and communicate with each other telepathically. Together they work to defeat the forces of evil. The cast includes Robbie Amell, Amanda Clarke, Jeffrey Pierce....

Monday, August 26, 2013

TEASER FOR KIRSTIE ALLEY'S NEW SITCOM 'KIRSTIE' WITH RHEA PERLMAN, GEORGE WENDT, JASON ALEXANDER, MICHAEL RICHARD! NBC'S NEW EPIC FANTASY SHOW 'EMERALD CITY'! TIMOTHY DALTON JOINS 'PENNY DREADFUL' 19TH CENTURY SHOW

EMERALD CITY
NEW NBC EPIC FANTASY SHOW
Sometime ago, I've informed you that SyFy is planning to make new fantasy series WARRIORS OF OZ which will follow a warrior from present day Earth is transported to a post-apocalyptic future Oz where he must team up with three other warriors, Heartless, Brainless, and Coward, in order to defeat the evil Wizard who has enslaved the land. Now, NBC has also nabbed an OZ project. Titled EMERALD CITY, their show is described as a dark reimagining of the classic tale of Oz in the vein of "Game Of Thrones! According to 'Deadline' the show will be based on the 14 novels that L. Frank Baum, the writer of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", wrote after the initial success of the first book.

TIMOTHY DALTON JOINS
PENNY DREADFUL PERIOD SHOW
Earlier last week, I've informed you that Josh Hartnett, Eva Green and Rory Kinnear have been cast in new period set horror series PENNY DREADFUL, and now the new info is that JAMES BOND and FLASH GORDON star Timothy Dalton has joined them too! In the Sam Mendes directed eight-part series, which will describe the origin stories of famous literary horror characters such as Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein's monster, Dorian Gray and Count Dracula, as they deal with life in 19th century Victorian London, Timothy Dalton will play African explorer Sir Malcolm! The Showtime series will have extreme horror scenes.

FIRST 'KIRSTIE' TEASER
 KIRSTIE ALLEY, MICHAEL RICHARDS, RHEA PERLMAN, JASON ALEXANDER
In other TV news today, you can check out the first teaser trailer for TV Land's upcoming new sitcom KIRSTIE which reunites tones of major comedy stars. Debuting December 4, the sitcom centres around Broadway star Madison Banks (Kirstie Alley) whose life turns upside down when Arlo (Eric Petersen), the son she gave up at birth, suddenly appears, hoping to connect after his adoptive parents have died. CHEERS' Rhea Perlman stars as Maddie’s assistant and best friend alongside SEINFELD'S Michael Richards as Maddie’s outlandish driver. John Travolta is supposed to guest star, CHEERS' George Wendt will play Thelma's (Perlman) ex-husband, while SEINFELD's Jason Alexander is Madison's Broadway manager.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

HOLLYWOOD SPY EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON 19TH CENTURY SET MOVIE ADAPTATION OF EMILE ZOLA'S 'THERESE RAQUIN' WITH ELIZABETH OLSEN, JESSICA LANGE, TOM FELTON & OSCAR ISAAC!

THERESE RAQUIN
EMILE ZOLA MOVIE ADAPTATION
The drama, we waited for a long time to premiere, the movie adaptation of Emile Zola's THERESE RAQUIN, will see the light of the day at Toronto Film Festival and will then open in cinemas at the end of September. Directed by Charlie Stratton and starring Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Felton, Jessica Lange, and Oscar Isaac, the movie, shot in Belgrade, Serbia, last winter, is set in the lower depths of 1860s Paris, and brings a tale of obsessive love, adultery and revenge, based on Émile Zola’s scandalous novel. The film comes from the producers of ALBERT NOBBS and TALENTED MR. RIPLEY!
THERESE'S STORY
 TRAGIC PASSION
Thérèse Raquin (Elizabeth Olsen), a sexually repressed and beautiful young woman, is trapped in a loveless marriage to her sickly cousin, Camille (Tom Felton), by her domineering aunt, Madame Raquin (Jessica Lange). Therese spends her days confined behind the counter of a small shop and her evenings watching Madame play dominos with an eclectic group. After she meets her husband’s alluring friend, Laurent (Oscar Isaac), she embarks on an illicit affair that leads to tragic consequences. Therese is drawn in by his primitive sexuality and overwhelming presence. A secret and risky affair quickly evolves into an insatiable obsession, and Therese is finally alive. Dominated and controlled solely by their lust, they soon plot to remove the only   obstacle to their freedom, the unsuspecting Camille. After a terrible “accident” takes Camille, Laurent quickly assumes his place as Therese’s new husband and Madame’s loving son. But guilt consumes the murderous pair, their desire unravelling into suspicion and mistrust  while they torment each other with threats of confession. Watching as they spiral out of control, Madame comes to realize the horrific truth and Therese must finally face the tragic consequences of her own reckless passion.

THERESE TIDBITS
KATE WINSLET & GERARD BUTLER
The original cast meant for this film was much more intriguing and, honestly speaking, absolutely mindblowing: the film was supposed to have Kate Winslet in the lead role with Gerard Butler playing Laurent and Glenn Close playing Madame Raquin - can you believe such a groundbreaking cast?!  But that plan fell apart and Jessica Biel was the next candidate for the role, but was in the end replaced by lovely Olsen. Meanwhile, back in the 90's Liam Neeson and his late wife Natasha Richardson were also planning to adapt the book!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

HOLLYWOOD SPY SPOTLIGHT ON ABC'S NEW SCIENCE FICTION SHOW 'SHIELD' FROM JOSS WHEDON WITH CLARK GREGG, MING NA WEN, ELIZABETH HENSTRIDGE, IAN DE CAESTECKER, BRETT DALTON

MARVEL'S S.H.I.E.L.D.
 SUPERHUMAN INVESTIGATORS
One of the many new science fiction shows to premiere this Autumn on the small screen is Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. which will start its first opening season over at ABC on September 24th! Produced and directed by famous Joss Whedon (FIREFLY, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), it will be a new superhero series set within the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization of secret agents. Today, we spotlight the main characters in the action series, lead by Agent Phil Coulson who puts together a small team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to handle strange new cases. Each case will test the team in cooperation and ingenuity as they try to work together figuring out newly emerging superhuman individuals in the world.

PHIL COULSON IS
 THE TEAM LEADER
Agent Phil Coulson "Team Leader" is played by Clark Gregg! He oversees many of the division's field operations and he will basically headline the whole show which will exist in the same universe  as Marvel's THE AVENGERS. This is why Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson might guest star in the show in the roles of their movie characters. 

JEMMA SIMMONS
EXPERT ON BIO SCIENCE
Agent Jemma Simmons "Bio-Science" will be played by Elizabeth Henstridge. An agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. who specializes in life sciences (both human and alien). She's always in the lab and works very closely with Fitz, they're like an old married couple. She's highly intelligent doesn't apologize for it and has come up the ranks very quickly.

AGENT LEO FITZ
WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY!
Agent Leo Fitz "Weapons Technology" is played by Iain De Caestecker! He designs and builds all the gadgets and technology. He's kind of lost touch with reality and spends a lot of time with Simmons - they can have the most crazy argument you've ever seen and then 10 minutes later it's like nothing happened. He spends a lot of time living in front of the reality of a computer screen. Now he's entering into this world that's more hands on.

AGENT MELINDA MAY
WEAPONS EXPERT & PILOT
Agent Melinda May "Pilot/Weapons Expert" is played by Ming-Na Wen! Something has happened to her at a level she couldn't cope with so she ended up doing paperwork. She's called in by Phil to join the team but she's reluctant to get back on the field because of her deep dark past. She is also an ace pilot.

AGENT GRANT WARD
 BLACK OPS SPECIALIST
Agent Grant Ward "Black Ops Specialist" is portrayed by Brett Dalton! He's a one-man ninja, he's a Swiss Army knife, he has a tool for every situation. But he's got a gap in that skill set and that's anything involving other people. Ward has a strong moral foundation and is not without his charm!

AGENT SKYE
EXPERT HACKER
Skye "Hacker" is played by Chloe Bennet. She is an unusual computer hacker who is not socially awkward. Bubbly and goofy but also warm, edgy and witty, she is in her late 20s and can more than hold her own in any situation. Skye is also obsessed with superheroes!

Friday, August 23, 2013

SPECTACULAR 'POMPEII' EPIC TRAILER WITH KIT HARINGTON, EMILY BROWNING, KIEFER SUTHERLAND! ZIYI ZHANG RETURNS TO 'CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON THE GREEN DESTINY'! JUDI DENCH & DUSTIN HOFFMAN IN BBC'S 'ESIO TROT'! OLIVIA MUNN JOINS JOHNNY DEPP, EWAN MCGREGOR IN 'MORTDECAI'

ZIYI ZHANG IN EPIC SEQUEL
 CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON GREEN DESTINY
Good news from Asia, people. According to 'Entertainment Weekly' Ziyi Zhang is negotiating to return to the sequel of the legendary epic CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON now titled THE GREEN DESTINY. She will again play Jen Yu, appearing probably in flashbacks which will explain what happened to her character, Michelle Yeoh will also return with Donnie Yen playing Silent Wolf. With the story based on the book "Iron Knight, Silver Vase" by Du Lu Wang the shooting should begin next spring. As I've reported before, Ziyi will also join Takeshi Kaneshiro in John Woo's THE CROSSING epic drama which set in the midst of the Chinese Revolution during the late 1940s, follows couples who flee by ships to the island of Taiwan.

OLIVIA MUNN IN MORTDECAI
WITH JOHHNY DEPP, EWAN MCGREGOR
Another gorgeous lady, Olivia Munn, has joined Johnny Depp's MORTDECAI. Based on   the Kyril Bonfiglioli novel "The Great Mortdecai Moustache Mystery", and with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor also in the cast, the film will see Johnny Depp playing an art dealer, Charles Mortdecai, who searches for a stolen painting rumored to contain a secret code that gains access to hidden Nazi gold.
JUDI DENCH & DUSTIN HOFFMAN IN BBC'S ESIO TROT
In TV news, Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman will star in BBC's adaptation of Roald Dahl's ESIO TROT. The 90 minute TV movie, to be directed by  Richard Curtis, follows Mr Hoppy (Hoffman), a retired bachelor who has a secret love for his neighbour Mrs Silver (Dench). However, she only gives her attention to her pet tortoise Alfie. The shy Mr Hoppy's attempts to talk to Mrs Silver usually end in some form of calamity. Mr Hoppy then comes up with a possibly ingenious idea to win her affections, after he learns of her wish for Alfie to be bigger.

EPIC 'POMPEII' TRAILER
 KIT HARINGTON, EMILY BROWNING, KIEFER SUTHERLAND
And here it is, here it is: after we've seen the first pic from historical epic POMPEII two days ago, now we have the spectacular and atmospheric first trailer! Opening in cinemas next February,  and set in the days leading up to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, the film will see Kit Harington playing a slave on a ship heading for Naples who works to get home to save the woman (Emily Browning) he loves and his best friend, a gladiator trapped inside the city's coliseum! As the city is slowly buried in volcanic ash, he also comes face-to-face with the murderer of his family. Kiefer Sutherland and Carrie Anne Moss play Emily Browning's parents!
DEZZY'S HISTORY LESSON
Ancient city of Pompeii along with Herculaneum and many villas in the surrounding area, was mostly destroyed and buried under 4 to 6 m of ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The eruption was cataclysmic for the town. The site was again discovered in the 16th century with the objects that lay beneath the city well preserved for thousands of years because of the lack of air and moisture. You could even see exact positions in which all of the people died. Most of the people didn't die from ash suffocation but from extreme heat of 250*C  which instantly killed them even if they were within buildings. Ironically, the eruption occurred on August 24, just one day after Vulcanalia, the festival of the Roman god of fire, including that from volcanoes.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

MARION COTILLARD IS MICHAEL FASSBENDER'S LADY 'MACKBETH'! ELIZABETH OLSEN IS SCARLET WITCH IN 'AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON'? AMAZING 'THE BOOK THIEF' WW2 TRAILER WITH GEOFFREY RUSH! HAYLEY ATWELL JOINS 'CINDERELLA'

ELIZABETH OLSEN TO PLAY
 SCARLET WITCH IN AVENGERS II?
According to latest rumours Saoirse Ronan has passed on the role of Scarlet Witch in THE AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON and the frontrunner for the role has now become Elizabeth Olsen! Joss Whedon has previously revealed that he has imagined the role of Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch with Saoirse in mind. Scarlet Witch can control probabilities while her twin brother Pietro Maximoff aka Quicksilver has the power of superspeed. Aaron Johnson is rumoured for that role. The film, which will see the return of Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Rufallo and others, will start shooting next February. After a number of dramatic roles, Elizabeth Olsen is moving over to blockbusters starting next year with GODZILLA in which she already stars with Aaron Johnson!

HAYLEY ATWELL JOINS
KENNETH BRANAGH'S 'CINDERELLA'
Kenneth Branagh's movie adaptation of fairy tale CINDERELLA has another cast member: Hayley Atwell will play Cinderella's mother who appears at the beginning of the film. She joins Lily James in the lead role, Cate Blanchett as the stepmother, Richard Madden as the prince, Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother, Holly Grainger and Sophie McShera as the stepsisters, Stellan Skarsgard as the Grand Duke.
MARION COTILLARD JOINS MICHAEL FASS- BENDER IN 'MACBETH'
Good news also come from the new adaptation of MACKBETH! It seems that Michael Fassbender, who is taking the lead role in the Justin Kurzel directed movie, will get a decent wife in the film. Instead of the previous horrid choice of weak and bland Natalie Portman, the role of lady Macbeth will go to Marion Cotillard! The film will be set in war torn 11th century Scotland.

THE BOOK THIEF WW2 TRAILER
WITH GEOFFREY RUSH
20th Century Fox has released the first trailer for the movie adaptation of Markus Zuzak's novel THE BOOK THIEF which will open up in theatres this November starring Geoffrey Rush! This drama tells the inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a new family in World War II Germany. Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson play her adoptive parents whose lives, together with their whole German town, will change forever when she begins stealing books and sharing them with others!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

KIT HARINGTON'S 1ST PIC FROM 'POMPEII' EPIC FILM! RODRIGO SANTORO & WILL SMITH TO 'FOCUS'! 'WHITE QUEEN' CANCELLED BY BBC! JAMES MARSDEN & VINCE VAUGHN ON 'BUSINESS TRIP'! NBC MERMAID SITCOM! BEN RAPPAPORT IN 'LOVE IS DEAD' SITCOM!

RODRIGO SANTORO TO
'FOCUS' WITH WILL SMITH
Our favourite Latino star Rodrigo Santoro, whom you will watch again as Persian emperor Xerxes in 300 RISE OF AN EMPIRE, has a new gig: he will join Will Smith in FOCUS! According to "The Hollywood Reporter" the movie will revolve around a veteran con man (Will Smith) who takes a young woman (Margot Robbie) under his wing and teaches her the illicit trade before falling for her. Years later, they reunite in Buenos Ares as he is planning a complicated operation. Rodrigo Santoro is playing the target of this con, the owner of an international racing team who is also trying to win over Margot Robbie's character. Margot was recently one of the candidates to play CINDERELLA in Kenneth Branagh's movie.

WHITE QUEEN BBC EPIC SHOW
NOT GETTING SECOND SEASON
BBC has officially killed of their epic show WHITE QUEEN which will not be getting its second season! Currently also showing at Starz in USA, the ten episodes which followed famous War of the Roses, got bad reviews both from the critics and from audience for its lack of historical accuracy, chaotic storyline, poor acting, bad costumes, poor sets and lack of character focus. Fingers crossed that another of the upcoming BBC shows WOLF HALL, gets better treatment.
LOVE IS DEAD FOR BEN RAPPAPORT
 In other television news today, USA is preparing new sitcom with Ben Rappaport in the lead role. LOVE IS DEAD is set at an agency that specializes in breaking up romantic relationships on behalf of those who are willing to pay to not be around when it happens. The story centres on Alex (Rappaport) who, after he’s dumped by a representative of the agency, vows to find out what it is, specifically, that’s wrong with him — by taking a job at the company.

BUSINESS TRIP FOR
JAMES MARSDEN, VINCE VAUGHN
Meanwhile, The Wrap writes that James Marsden has joined Vince Vaughn in BUSINESS TRIP. The comedy, which also has Dave Franco and Nick Frost in the cast,  will see Vaughn portraying a businessman whose trip to Europe devolves into madness.You can currently watch James Marsden playing president Kennedy in THE BUTLER.
MERMAID SITCOM AT NBC
And something deeply strange is to come from NBC where they will make a sitcom about a MERMAID from SEX AND THE CITY scribe Jenny Bicks. The new comedy show will follow a beached mermaid in search of adventure who winds up working in a bar in Miami with an eclectic group of people as lost as she is.
SORTA LIKE A ROCKSTAR MOVIE
Matthew Quick, whose novel SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK was made into an Oscar nominated film, will also see his new book SORTA LIKE A ROCKSTAR being adapted at Fox. It follows a high school senior who secretly lives in the back of a school bus, a situation that arose when her mother’s boyfriend kicked them out. The bus (they call it Hello Yellow) is the same one that her mother uses to drive kids to school, and despite the adversity, she is a self-proclaimed princess of hope and girl of unyielding optimism. A fatal tragedy puts her optimism to the test.

KIT HARINGTON IN THE 1ST
 PICTURE FROM 'POMPEII' EPIC
Check out the first picture of GAME OF THRONES star Kit Harington in new historical adventure POMPEII in which he plays next to Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland, Carrie Anne Moss.
Set in the days leading up to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, a slave on a ship heading for Naples works to get home to save the woman he loves and his best friend, a gladiator trapped inside the city's coliseum.