Whatcha Talkin’ ‘Bout?
We’ve been waiting for almost a year, and now the news is out: The British series Misfits will return to E4 on October 30th at 10pm for its third season, and I couldn’t be more excited. [E4]
But wait, there’s more: Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl, Chuck) is teaming up with Misfits creator Howard Overman to write a U.S. version for the hit series. I’m always open to a new adaptation, but I worry it’ll have to really be changed in order to air stateside. [Vulture]
For the most part, television has its successes and its flops. But every once in a while, a show comes around that breaks all the records. The Walking Dead premiere, which aired a week ago, became the highest rated telecast in basic cable history. I haven’t watched it yet this season, but can we get some kudos for the show? [Deadline]
You may already have enough tv to watch for the fall season, but get ready because midseason television is quickly coming. A sneak peek for J.J. Abrams’ Alcatraz, starring Jorge Garcia, Sam Neill, and Sarah Jones, has been released. It has the mystery and feel of Abrams’ best, but will it be a hit? [EOnline]
Halt, Who Goes There?
Make way, X-Files alumni coming through! Mitch Pileggi has joined TNT’s remake of Dallas for a mutli-episode arc as Harris Ryland, owner of Ryland Trucking and Shipping. [EW]
A lot of Glee fans were upset when they learned the character of Sam Evans wouldn’t be returning to the show. Well, rest easy because Chord Overstreet will be coming back to McKinley High starting in December. [TVLine]
If the darkness of Revenge is more your cup of tea, you’ll be happy to know Lost star Hiroyuki Sanada will play Kioshi Takeda, a business man with connections to our Emily Thorne, starting in episode 9. [EW]
Imagine graduating as valedictorian of your high school at 13 or 14, and then going on to graduate from college before you’re 18 or 20, all while maintaining a steady acting career. This is only one of the reasons I’m a fan of the Panabaker girls: Kay and Danielle. Danielle Panabaker is set to star in ABC Family’s new series Intercept, about four college students who solve crimes using a device that lets them listen in on conversations. Sounds a little like Person of Interest, but with ABC Family’s track record, I’m still intrigued. [Deadline]
I don’t know how I missed this little piece of information, but Danielle Panabaker will also be guest starring on The Vampire Diaries as a vampire-witch. For those of you who have been watching this season so far, you know there’s no end to the creature crossovers the show is getting into. [BuddyTV]
Gimme More, More, More TV!
Now one of my most anticipated shows, HBO has bought China Doll from the creators of Big Love. Despite insisting it won’t be a sci-fi series, the show will be about a mixed-race family and their humanoid robot. I get that it’ll have more of a socio-economic focus, which I also love, but if you have robots it’s automatically going to be science fiction. Sorry! [Deadline]
Ever the genre king, Fox has given a put pilot commitment to its adaption of Marvel’s The Punisher. No word yet on who will be the punishee. [Deadline]
And because spies are coming back, Fox has also bought a CIA drama from Falling Skies‘ Joe Weisberg. The show will focus on the young assistants of high-ranking officers in the CIA, DIA, NSA, FBI and intelligence at the White House. Interesting side note: Joe Weisberg is a former CIA officer turned writer, so I think he knows a little about the subject. [Deadline]
Over on ABC, Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy) has sold her fourth project this season with The Circle, a drama about ten friends who became siblings once they were adopted by a billionaire philanthropist, and then question their past after one of this is murdered. Who doesn’t love a conspiracy thriller? [Deadline]
Mandy Moore is coming to tv! After a competitive bidding between three networks, ABC has landed a half-hour comedy starring Moore as a newlywed and to be written by Wedding Crashers Bob Fisher. [Deadline]
The writer of recent film Easy A has sold a thriller to The CW called Dare. The show will follow six young adults who are forced to play a game of deadly Truth or Dare. Sounds a little like Final Destination to me. [Deadline]
It was one of my favorite shows growing up, and now Touched by an Angel‘s Martha Williamson is creating a new faith based show for Lifetime about a hospital chaplain. [The Hollywood Reporter]
The Other Stuff That’s Not TV
Yet, the most important news to come out this week, and on my birthday nonetheless, is Joss Whedon has completed filming on his newest endeavor, no not The Avengers but what he worked on during his two week break afterward, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Of course, Whedon cast members are included for free. [MuchAdotheMovie]
More Whedonverse news: Summer Glau will guest star on an upcoming episode of the webseries The Human Preservation Project. [MTV]
Earlier this year, I saw Angelina Jolie on the NBC Universal lot. Turns out she was there editing her directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey. The trailer has now been released. [Deadline]
Over ten years ago, Lana and Andy Wachowski took the world by storm with their film The Matrix. Since then they directed Speed Racer and are currently working on parts of Cloud Atlas, but the two are set to return to sci-fi with their new film Jupiter Rising. [Deadline]
From the team behind the Emmy nominated Pillars of the Earth, Tandem Communications and Scott Free are filming the adaption of Kate Mosse’s bestselling novel Labyrinth. The four-part miniseries will star Tom Felton, John Hurt, Sebastian Stan, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Vanessa Kirby and will center on two women’s search for the holy grail in medieval times and present day. The first picture of the cast has been released, minus a few notable actors. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Hasbro should really be working on adaptions of all my favorite board games, but instead they’re helping the Zombieland writers with Micronauts, a new film from JJ Abrams and Paramount. [Deadline] And they’re also working on a new Transformers because it’s just what the doctor ordered. [Deadline]
In more unflattering movie news, Anne Hathaway has joined Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe for Universal Pictures’ musical adaptation of the play Les Miserables. What could be worse than Hathaway trying an accent again? She’s going to sing now, too? [Deadline]