Richard Madden and Dustin Hoffman to Headline ‘Medici: Masters of Florence’
Game of Thrones‘ Richard Madden will be TV royalty once again, as he and Dustin Hoffman are set to star in Medici: Masters Of Florence. Chronicling the rise of the Medici family and the Italian Renaissance, the eight-part drama from Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files, The Man in the High Castle) and Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek) will follow the family’s ascent from merchants to power brokers who sparked an economic and cultural revolution, all while creating a long list of enemies.
Madden will play the lead, Cosimo de’ Medici, and Hoffman is family patriarch Giovanni de’ Medici. Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (The Pillars of the Earth) is directing all eight episodes, starting this month in Rome and Florence where the actual events took place. RAI will broadcast the series in Italy, while Wild BunchTV is overseeing international sales at MIPCOM in a few weeks. [Deadline]
‘A-Team’ TV Series Remake in the Works
The A-Team is coming back for a new TV reboot of Stephen J. Cannell’s classic 1980s action series. 20th Century Fox TV has started development on a new contemporary take to be written by Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow, Nikita). Fast & Furious writer-producer Chris Morgan and Cannell’s daughter, TV director Tawnia McKiernan are executive producing. The new diverse team of American Special Forces operatives will include both male and female members, unlike the original, who set out to clear their names after they’re framed for a crime they didn’t commit. While uncovering a black-ops conspiracy, they’ll also help people in need with their military skills and high-tech expertise. [Deadline]
Steven Soderbergh Directing Choose Your Own Adventure Movie ‘Mosaic’ at HBO
Steven Soderbergh has revealed his next project — an ambitious choose your own adventure movie at HBO. Sharon Stone is set to star, and Garrett Hedlund is being eyed for Mosaic, which reportedly begins shooting next month in Utah. The Traffic, Ocean’s 11 and The Knick director will film multiple scenarios, so events in the plot can play out in various, different ways. Viewers can then select which scenes they want to watch through an app, thereby choosing the final outcome of the story. [Variety]
Benedict Cumberbatch and Jake Gyllenhaal in Talks to Star in ‘The Current War’
Following The Imitation Game, Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is in talks to play another historical figure, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. The two actors will star as feuding power titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, respectively, in The Current War from playwright-screenwriter Michael Mitnick (The Giver). Taking place in the late 1880s, the film focuses on Edison and Westinghouse’s battle over the supply of electricity. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon is in discussions to shoot the script, which made the coveted Black List in 2011. [THR]
Two-Part ‘The X-Files’ Trailer Premiering During ‘Gotham’ and ‘Minority Report’
Fans of The X-Files have been waiting patiently for a closer look at the upcoming revival. And FOX aims to please with a new two-part trailer releasing next week. Tune into Gotham on Monday at 8 p.m. for part one, followed by part two during Minority Report on Tuesday at 9 p.m. Then don’t forget to watch Mulder and Scully take on new adventures this January after the NFC Championship Game.