Good Evening, Clarice
NBC has given a premiere date to its highly anticipated new series Hannibal from Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies). Based on the Red Dragon novel, it stars Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen, as well as favorites Caroline Dhavernas (Wonderfalls), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix), Gina Torres (Firefly) and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files). Watch the first trailer at EW and tune in April 4 at 10pm.
Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz (About a Boy) are switching over to tv and adapting the bestselling technothriller novel Reamde for Fox TV Studios. Chris Weitz will write and direct the pilot about a hostage whose family, many involved in an MMORPG, must rescue her when various kidnappers drag her around the world. Don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting for a good global adventure series.
AMC is developing its next horror monster-drama, The Terror, an adaptation of the 2007 bestselling novel by Dan Simmons. Set in 1847, it will follow a crew in the arctic being stalked by a cunning and vicious predator. The network is already home to hit series The Walking Dead, so this newest potential series would fight right in. Film writer David Kajganich will write the pilot.
FX has ordered to pilot Tyrant, from Homeland‘s Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff, along with Six Feet Under‘s Craig Wright. Raff wrote the script, which tells the story of an American family pulled into the problems of a chaotic Middle Eastern nation. It sounds a lot like Showtime’s hit series Homeland so far, but we’re sure there’s a lot about the premise still being kept under wraps.
No Flesh Should Glory in His Presence
From Coach to Cardinal, Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) is moving into Showtime’s The Vatican. Known for playing honest and noble characters, Chandler will star as Cardinal Thomas Duffy, the Archbishop of New York, whose progressive ideas, like ordaining a woman, make him quite a few friends, as well as a number of enemies within the Catholic Church.
According to Deadline, Jake McLaughlin (Savages) has landed the male lead in NBC’s drama pilot Believe from J.J. Abrams. Written by Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men) and Mark Friedman, McLaughlin will play Tate, a man who escapes from prison to protect a girl with powers that will awaken in seven years. Cuarón is also directing the pilot.
NBC’s stylish pilot Bloodlines has found its Kill Bill-like character with KaDee Strickland (Private Practice). Strickland will play Stella Killpriest, a warrior who’s descended from a long line of mercenaries and killers. She’s also the mother of Bird Benson, the recently cast Skyler Samuels. Unfortunately for her, Bird has made it her mission to kill Stella and thus avenge her father’s death.
CBS’ drama pilot Hostages is racking up quite the list of stars. Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story) has joined as the male lead opposite previously cast Toni Collette (United States of Tara). Based on an Israeli series, ala Showtime’s Homeland, McDermott will play an FBI agent at the center of a political conspiracy surrounding the President and a Washington D.C. surgeon (Collette).
Mike Vogel (Pan Am) is set to lead CBS’ 13-episode summer series Under the Dome, an adaptation of the Stephen King novel and produced by Steven Spielberg. Vogel will play Barbie, yes, you read that right, an Army veteran on a secret mission in Chester’s Mill. Does he have anything to do with the town’s subsequent predicament? You’ll have to watch on June 24 at 10pm to find out.
You’re X-Men
Bryan Singer’s upcoming film X-Men: Days Of Future Past continues to hold everyone’s attention by casting actors from both the previous X-Men film by Matthew Vaughn as well as the original trilogy. This time, however, the director has welcomed a new actor into the fold, Game of Thrones favorite Peter Dinklage. Sadly, Singer is keeping quiet about who Dinklage might be playing.