“Sci-Fi Saturday” at TrekMovie.com March 11, 2009 12:30 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Site Info, Television.Tags: TrekMovie.com
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Every weekend I contribute a column titled “Sci-Fi Saturday” (sometimes “Sci-Fi Sunday”) to TrekMovie.com. If you’re not aware of the site, do give it a browse. The site’s owner/editor, Anthony Pascale, has done a wonderful job making it “the source for everything new in Trek”, as the site’s tag line rightfully claims.
And if you have any sort of interest in Sci-Fi entertainment, I think you’ll enjoy the weekly columns I contribute to the site. To that end, you can find the latest edition of “Sci-Fi Saturday” linked below.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Sci-Fi Saturday: Watchmen, Terminator, Transformers, Tron + Lost, Heroes, Smallville, Doctor Who + more
Note: You’ll always find a link to the most recent article on the newly created Sci-Fi Saturday Page. As I said, the article goes up every Saturday (although occasionally on Sunday).
Friday Night Lights Close to Renewal? March 10, 2009 4:37 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in DirecTV, NBC, News, Television.Tags: Friday Night Lights
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Just came across this very interesting report over at Michael Ausiello’s EW page. Apparently, and despite declining ratings, NBC and DirecTV are close to renewing their partnership, announced last year, to keep Friday Night Lights on the air.
According to Ausiello, NBC says they’re only interested if they can get a commitment by DirecTV to air TWO more seasons. Although a spokesperson for NBC Universal declined to comment, an NBC insider acknowledged to Ausiello that the studio is “actively looking at ways to keep FNL going,” with another adding, “We’re very optimistic a deal will be worked out.”
About those ratings. Eight episodes into its third season, Friday Night Lights is averaging just 3.99M viewers and a 1.4/4 A18-49 rating/share (its household rating/share is 2.5/4). The season high came with the season premiere (2.8/5; 4.53M; 1.6/5) and the season (also series) low came at episode five (2.1/4; 3.46M; 1.1/3).
Russell Brand Talks ‘Pirates 4’ March 10, 2009 11:55 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News.Tags: Pirates of the Caribbean, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Russell Brand
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Last year there was a rumor that Russell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) was in talks to play Captain Jack Sparrow’s (Johnny Depp) brother in the next Pirates of the Caribbean film. Brand was recently asked about the rumor by Access Hollywood and he said that “There’s been some talk of doing a ‘Pirates’ movie,” but that he has “eight other things to do” including Get Him To The Greek with Judd Apatow, so he doesn’t “know if there’ll be time to be a pirate.”
Get Him To The Greek is the upcoming Forgetting Sarah Marshall spinoff that will have Brand reprise his role as Aldous Snow.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is on record from last November saying that they are targeting a 2012 release for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean.
Five Join Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods March 10, 2009 3:04 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Casting, Movies, News.Tags: Anna Hutchison, Chris Hemsworth, Drew Goddard, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Joss Whedon, Kristen Connolly, The Cabin in the Woods
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Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard have cast Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz and Jesse Williams in the duo’s secretive genre project The Cabin in the Woods. The screenplay was written by Whedon who is producing with Goddard (who is also directing).
“Finding this ensemble has been very hard and very rewarding,” Whedon said. “Each of the ‘kids’ is unique, fascinating and talented, and like true friends, the group is more than the sum of its parts. These are people you care about, able to go toe to toe with the amazing actors we’ve corralled thus far, and not unpretty in the bargain. I can’t wait to harm them.”
The Cabin in the Woods is shooting now, but its release has been pushed back from October 23rd to February 5, 2010.
Source: THR
Matt Barr Joins Gossip Girl Spinoff March 10, 2009 3:03 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television, The CW.Tags: Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl Spinoff, Matt Barr
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One Tree Hill alum Matt Barr has been cast in The CW’s Gossip Girl spinoff as Keith van der Woodsen. The character is described as a rich and handsome Malibu prince who is the love interest to Lily Rhodes (Brittany Snow). Although The CW isn’t confirming it, speculation is that the character is Serena’s (from Gossip Girl) father.
The Gossip Girl spinoff, still untitled, is set in 1980’s Los Angeles and chronicles the teen years of Lily.
Source: THR
Ridley Scott Has Found His Merry Men March 10, 2009 2:31 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Universal Pictures.Tags: Alan Doyle, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Durand, Ridley Scott, Robin Hood, Russell Crowe, Scott Grimes
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Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand and Alan Doyle have been cast as the group of adventures in Ridley Scott’s still untitled Robin Hood project, headlined by actor Russell Crowe as Robin Hood and Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian. The project was written by Brian Helgeland.
From THR:
Grimes has been cast in the role of Will Scarlet, a skilled swordsman and Hood’s nephew.
Durand is playing Little John, Hood’s right-hand man. He is best known in the legends for fighting a duel with Hood using quarterstaves while trying to cross a river.
Doyle is playing Alan a Dayle,CQ who in lore was a roving minstrel and needed help when his love was being forced to marry another man.
Eminem Returning With Two New Albums March 10, 2009 2:11 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Music, News.Tags: Eminem, Relapse, Relapse 2
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Interscope Records has announced that best-selling rapper Eminem will be releasing two new albums this year. The first album, titled Relapse, will be released on May 19th. It’s Eminem’s first original studio album in more than four years.
Relapse will be followed up by Relapse 2 in the second half of the year.
Source: Variety
Watchmen Tops at Box Office With $55.2M Opening March 10, 2009 1:45 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, News.Tags: Watchmen
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Zack Snyder’s highly anticipated adaptation of the Alan Moore graphic novel Watchmen, opened over the weekend with a solid $55.2 million from 3,611 theaters on 7,500 screens, helping the box office improve a healthy 11% over the same time frame last year. The film opened on Friday with $24.5M before dropping 25% on Saturday to $18.4M and 33% on Sunday to $12.3M.
While still a respectable bow, the picture fell slightly below opening weekend expectations of $60-70M.
The film performed better in IMAX venues. Opening in 124 of the large-screen theaters, Watchmen generated a second-best ever $5.4 million, accounting for nearly 10 percent of its weekend gross on less than three and a half percent of the film’s total theater count. (The Dark Knight holds the record — $6.3 million at 94 sites).
In fact, while Watchmen failed to match Snyder’s last film — March record holder 300 which grossed $70.9M in 2007 — Watchmen’s IMAX gross was significantly above 300 ($3.6M from 62 such venues).
In foreign markets, the film took $27.5 million from 5,097 theaters in 45 territories. Thus far, Watchmen is at $82.7M worldwide, slightly more than its estimated $150M production budget.
Sources: Box Office Mojo and Variety
Rebecca Romijn Joins ABC Pilot Eastwick March 9, 2009 8:16 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, Casting, News, Television.Tags: Eastwick, Rebecca Romijn
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Rebecca Romijn has joined the cast of ABC’s Eastwick, the networks drama pilot based on the 1987 feature-film The Witches of Eastwick, and based on the John Updike novel of the same name.
Romijn will play the lead character on Eastwick, Roxi Torcoletti, joining previously cast Lindsay Price (who’ll play “Joanna Frankel”), Jaime Ray Newman (“Kat Rougemont”) and Paul Gross (“Darryl Van Horne”).
Source: Variety
Casting Underway for Live-Action Star Wars TV Show March 9, 2009 7:24 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television.Tags: Rose Byrne, Star Wars
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During a press junket for the Nicolas Cage thriller Knowing, co-star Rose Byrne let slip that George Lucas has begun casting for his live-action TV series based on Star Wars: “A lot of my friends have been auditioning for it,” she said. Byrne (who played Dorme in ‘Episode II’) will not be auditioning for the series, noting she already has a steady gig on the FX series Damages, where she was nomianted for a Golden Globe: “I’m on a show,” she said. “I don’t know if I look that good in space.”
According to past reports, the live-action Star Wars series will focus on minor characters from the franchise and will be set in the time period between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and the original Star Wars. Lucas plans to write and shoot an entire year’s worth of episodes before looking for a cable channel to air the series.
Source: MTV Movies Blog
Watch: First 13 Minutes of Castle March 9, 2009 6:54 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, News, Television, Videos.Tags: Castle, Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic
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Tonight is the premiere of the new ABC drama Castle, starring Nathan Fillion (Desperate Housewives, Firefly) and Stana Katic (The Spirit). But ahead of the show’s debut tonight — at 10:00pm following the season premiere of Dancing With the Stars — you can watch the first 13 minutes of the show online, right now. Head on through the jump to watch. (more…)
First Look: Daniel Radcliffe on Deathly Hallows Set March 9, 2009 6:37 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Images/Photos, Movies, News.Tags: Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
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The Daily Mirror has published the first photo of Daniel Radcliffe on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. A user on the Harry Potter fansite Snitch Sneeker scanned the image, which you can see posted above (along with another one from Oculumedia). Follow the links to see the images in higher res.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I hits theaters on November 19, 2010 followed by ‘Part II’ on July 15, 2011.
via ComingSoon.net
Ashlee Simpsons-Wentz Headed to Melrose Place March 9, 2009 5:07 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Casting, News, Television, The CW.Tags: Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Melrose Place
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Singer/Actress Ashlee Simpson-Wentz will star on The CW’s Melrose Place update, returning to network television seven years after her role on The WB’s 7th Heaven. Simpson-Wentz will play Melrose Place’s newest resident, Violet, a bright-eyed but shrewd small-town girl and recent L.A. transplant who has come to town with a secret. THR reports that the character will draw parallels to the original series’ Sandy Harling (Amy Locane).
Simposon-Wentz joins the previously announced cast of Michael Rady and Katie Cassidy (see related story).
The View Enjoying Its Most-Watched Season Yet March 9, 2009 4:55 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, News, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Barbara Walters, Broadcast TV Ratings, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, The View, Whoopi Goldberg
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ABC daytime talk show The View is riding a ratings high. The talk show, featuring a panel of Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd, Joy Behar and for a few times a week series co-executive producer Barbara Walters, drew its largest audience ever on the morning after Barack Obama was elected president (6.2 million) and has maintained that momentum ever since, enjoying its most-watched season to date with an average audience of 4.2 million viewers (+20% over last season’s 3.5 million).
ABC Daytime president Brian Frons believes that the election has elevated the series, but that it has been making positive strides over the past few years:
“We used to be an internally focused show, more introspective, but now we’re more outwardly looking,” Frons said. “Rosie (former moderator O’Donnell) looked out into the society, and we have built and grown from that.
“We have a group of diverse, intelligent women who filter the news and say, ‘Here’s how we feel about it and here are some things for you to think about.’ “
Source: Variety
ABC Picks Up Impact, New Four-Hour Sci-Fi Miniseries March 9, 2009 4:41 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, News, Sci Fi, Television.Tags: David James Elliot, Impact, James Cromwell, Natasha Henstridge, Steven Culp
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ABC has picked up Impact, a four-hour miniseries about humanity’s efforts to survive after the moon is hit by a meteor and enters into a collision course with Earth. The $14 million production was directed by Michael J. Rohl and stars David James Elliot, Natasha Henstridge, Steven Culp and James Cromwell.
The SCI FI Channel has second-window rights, while Sony Pictures Home Entertainment acquired the video rights to the miniseries.
Source: Variety
Heroes May Be Returning, But It’s Still in Trouble March 8, 2009 10:36 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Broadcast TV Ratings, Heroes
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Although NBC promises the show is coming back for another season (see previous story), and insists that even season four won’t be its last, it’s time to face facts: Heroes is in deep trouble. Based just on season averages, over the course of three seasons the show has shed 5.78M viewers (-42%) and 2.3 A18-49 rating points (-38%).
But the bigger issue here is the more recent slide in viewers which has resulted in continued week-to-week series lows and an overall low viewership standing. Much more after the jump, including a full look at the ratings charts teased above. (more…)
Dakota Fanning To Star in New Moon March 8, 2009 8:21 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Casting, Movies, News, Summit Entertainment.Tags: Dakota Fanning, The Twilight Saga's New Moon
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It’s official. The late-January report from E! Online that Dakota Fanning was in talks to play Jane in The Twilight Saga’s New Moon has been confirmed. A rep for Summit Entertainment has confirmed the casting news to People Magazine.
Filming on ‘New Moon’ is set to begin in Vancouver later this month.
“We did just get a script. We’re shooting the rest of the films back to back,” says Nikki Reed, who plays Rosalie Hale in the film. “(Director) Chris Weitz is amazing and I think it’s going to be wonderful.”
The Twilight Saga’s New Moon hits theaters on November 20, 2009.
Knight Rider Probably Not Coming Back March 8, 2009 7:33 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in NBC, News, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Broadcast TV Ratings, Knight Rider
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Last Wednesday’s season finale of Knight Rider will likely serve as the show’s series finale. TV Guide is reporting that despite heavy reto0ling, the show will not be returning for a second season. Last Wednesday’s finale drew just 5.68 million viewers and a 1.7 A18-49 rating, down 23 and 32 percent, respectively from the show’s season premiere last fall (7.35M viewers and a 2.5 A18-49 rating). NBC refused comment.
New Up Trailer March 8, 2009 7:11 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Trailers, Movies, News.Tags: Up
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Disney/Pixar have debuted the new trailer for their next animated feature Up. This looks like another winner for Pixar. The trailer gives us the deepest look into the film, including a new character (a talking dog) and a first look at the film’s villain. Watch the trailer after the jump. (more…)
Watchmen: $25.1M Opening Day March 7, 2009 11:46 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, News, Warner Brothers.Tags: Watchmen
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Watchmen grabbed an estimated $25.14 million on Friday. That figure includes the $4.55 million that the film grossed from midnight Thursday grosses. That’s actually slightly lower than Snyder’s last film, 2007’s 300 which grabbed $28.11 million in its first day ($2.5 million of which from Thursday midnight).
While 300’s March opening weekend record of $70.89 million isn’t out of reach, many analysts expect the film to drop off and fall short of that tally, instead finishing the weekend at around $55-60 million.
Make no mistake, that’s still impressive. The issue here seems to be the film’s long run time. At 2 hours and 43 minutes, it’s a full 46 minutes longer than Snyder’s 300. In addition to the fatigue concern, there’s the simple fact that it won’t be able to be played in as many screens as most other, shorter, blockbusters.
Look for further updates on the film’s gross throughout the weekend.
DWTS: Nancy O’Dell and Jewel Out, Holly Madison In March 6, 2009 2:37 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, News, Television.Tags: Dancing with the Stars, Holly Madison, Jewel, Nancy O'Dell
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ABC has confirmed that injuries have forced Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell and singer Jewel out of competition for the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars (premieres this Monday on ABC).
E! Online reports that Holly Madison of E!’s reality series Girls Next Door will be on the season instead. Hugh Hefner has confirmed the news himself, saying he “made the arrangements” for Madison to replace Jewel on the show. “It’s a show she’s wanted to be on for a long time,” Hefner said, adding “I’m delighted. It’s all good stuff.”
The other replacement will be announced on the season premiere Monday night, where both Jewel and O’Dell will appear to talk about their injuries. Sex and the City star Gilles Marini is also battling injuries (diagnosed with tendonitis in his shoulder and groin) but is still hanging in.
Source: E! Online
Seth Rogen Talks Green Hornet March 6, 2009 2:16 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Columbia Pictures, Movies, News, Sony Pictures.Tags: Seth Rogen, Stephen Chow, The Green Hornet
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Seth Rogen is doing press for his latest film Monsters vs. Aliens, but found some time to talk about Green Hornet, which he co-wrote and stars in.
According to MovieHole, Rogen says that the film will begin shooting this June. Rogen also reiterated that the film will not be an origin story in the traditional sense and will be unlike every other superhero film out there. Rogen also said that it’ll concentrate on the relationship bettween Green Hornet and Kato (played by Stephen Chow).
Midnight Watchmen Screenings Take In $4.6M March 6, 2009 1:58 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, News, Warner Brothers.Tags: Watchmen
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Watchmen grossed $4.6 million from Thursday midnight runs. That’s nearly double the midnight gross for Snyder’s previous film 300, which took in $2.5M in March 2006. The film played in more than 1,595 theaters across the country and did so well in IMAX that the exhibtor sold out all 124 showings and added 3am showings. IMAX adds that much of the weekend is already sold out.
Watchmen opens wide today in a record — for an R-rated film — 3,611 theaters. Most analysts expect the film to gross somewhere in the neighborhood of $60-70 million, more than likely near the higher end of those projections, meaning it may beat the weekend gross of Snyder’s 300, which holds a March record of $70.9 million in its opening weekend.
Source: Variety
Seinfeld Cast to Guest on Curb Your Enthusiasm March 5, 2009 11:16 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in HBO, News, Television.Tags: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jason Alexander, Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Larry David, Michael Richards, Seinfeld
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The cast of Seinfeld is returning to television. EW is reporting that the four stars of the nine-year NBC series Seinfeld — Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards — “will be featured in a multiple-episode story arc” the seventh season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm this fall.
Larry David, creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm, co-created Seinfeld with Jerry Seinfeld. The re-uniting of the four main cast members marks the first time they’ve all appeared together in a scripted TV show since Seinfeld went off the air nearly 11 years ago.
Fourth Mad Max In Development, In Animated 3D March 5, 2009 11:07 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News.Tags: George Miller, Mad Max
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Director George Miller told MTV that a fourth Mad Max movie, sans Mel Gibson, is in development and that they’re taking a different route, it’ll be 3D and animated:
Now Miller is resurrecting the idea as an R-rated, stereoscopic anime flick for theatrical release. It’s a curious undertaking, to be sure, but one made all the more certain to happen after the runaway success in 2006 of his computer-animated “Happy Feet”—not that the newest, ever-violent “Max” film will have much in common with that kid-friendly penguin party.
“I see myself as someone who is very curious about storytelling and all its various media,” Miller said. “I’ve always loved anime, in particular the Japanese sensibility. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Read the rest of the interview at MTV.
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