AMC’s confirmed season five of the critically-acclaimed, award-winning series Better Call Saul will kick off in February 2020. The fifth season will arrive with a special two-night premiere, airing on February 23rd and February 24th.
Season five episode one will air at 10pm ET/PT on Sunday, February 23rd following The Walking Dead. Episode two will air on Monday, February 24th at 9pm ET/PT, the fifth season’s permanent timeslot.
Bob Odenkirk returns to lead the cast in the title role. Season five also stars Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler, Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, Michael Mando as Nacho Varga, Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring, Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin, and Tony Dalton as Lalo.
Peter Gould is the showrunner and executive produces with Vince Gilligan, Mark Johnson, Melissa Bernstein, and Thomas Schnauz.
The Breaking Bad spin-off prequel has earned 32 Emmy Award nominations since its premiere in February 2015. The drama’s also taken home three Critics’ Choice Awards and three AFI Awards for “TV Programs of the Year.”
The Season 5 Plot:
In the 10-episode fifth season of Better Call Saul, Jimmy McGill’s (Odenkirk) decision to practice law as “Saul Goodman” creates unexpected and profound waves of change for those in his orbit.
Overview of Better Call Saul, Courtesy of AMC:
Better Call Saul is set six years before Saul Goodman meets Walter White. When we meet him, the man who will become Saul Goodman is known as Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny and hustling to make ends meet. Working alongside and often against Jimmy is “fixer” Mike Erhmantraut, a beloved character first introduced in Breaking Bad. The series will track Jimmy’s transformation into a man who puts the criminal in “criminal lawyer.”
Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill and Michael Mando as Nacho Varga in ‘Better Call Saul’ season 5 (Photo Credit: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television)Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut in season 5 (Photo Credit: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television)Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill and Lavell Crawford as Huell Babineux in season 5 (Photo Credit: Warrick Page/AMC/Sony Pictures Television)Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill and Frances Lee McCain as Judge Chapak in season 5 (Photo Credit: Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television)
“This is what I do. I don’t just solve mysteries, I bust myths. I bust them wide open,” says Nash (Tom Cavanagh) to Team Flash down in the tunnels where he reveals he believes The Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) is dwelling as season six episode six of The CW’s The Flash begins.
Nash tells Team Flash that The Monitor creates fear and is a false God that he intends to take down, hence saving Barry from the impending Crisis.
Barry (Grant Gustin) tries to vibrate through the rocks but ends up being bounced back into a wall. Nash tells the team the rock wall is covered in eternium which is speed-vibrating resistant. He needs an artifact that will illuminate the eternium and show him where he can dig without hitting it.
Over at S.T.A.R. Labs, Chester (Brandon McKnight) wakes up and his molecules have finally stabilized. He goes playfully snooping through an almost empty S.T.A.R. Labs and when he does a search on the computer for news about himself, he discovers he has been legally declared dead.
Ralph (Hartley Sawyer) and Barry team up to try to find Sue Dearbon and travel to Midway City where they crash a high society black-tie party. Ralph manages to lift a very attractive female guest’s pass to the VIP lounge.
Meanwhile Nash teams up with Allegra (Jessica Camacho), needing her to use her powers to help him mark the eternium.
Cecile (Danielle Nicolet) helps Chester become legally declared alive again. Then feeling bored and not knowing what to do with all her free time now that she no longer is a D.A., she offers to help him ask the girl he’s had a crush on out.
Back at the high society party, Ralph and Barry locate the host of the event, Remington Meister (Carlo Rota). Ralph’s playing it cool trying to fit in, but Barry blows it by asking about Sue Dearbon which puts Meister on edge. He checks the guest list and tells them Dearbon isn’t on it, but neither are they. He bets them in a hands of cards and suggests they leave. As he walks away he tells an attractive lady he knows to have “their friend” keep an eye on them.
Barry thinks they should leave the party but Ralph points out the room is full of criminal bosses and thinks he should do some investigating. Barry wants to change into The Flash but Ralph says no, that this is a different type of investigation and they need to be more discreet.
Back at Central City, Cecile and Killer Frost (Danielle Panabaker) are trying to help Chester ask out Natalie, the girl he’s had a crush on for months. Cecile, talking into an earpiece that Chester is wearing, gives him all the wrong advice and suggestions to court Natalie. It goes so badly that he ends up spilling coffee all over her.
Down in the tunnels, Nash fills Allegra in on multiverse and lets it slip that Barry is The Flash. He also lets slip that he intends to kill The Monitor when he finds him. Allegra, not wanting to use her powers after hearing that, tells him he’s on his own and walks off.
Barry decides to ignore Ralph’s suggestion and suits up as The Flash. He speeds through the mansion but doesn’t find Dearbon. The Flash is then shocked and knocked out by Meister’s henchwoman, Ultraviolet.
Ralph finds a computer and digs up what’s up for the big auction at the party. It’s a satellite missile launcher (similar to the one in the Bond film, GoldenEye). Just as he discovers this he’s knocked out by Meister.
Ralph and Barry wake up tied to chairs as Meister reveals his awful new tech toy – a laser gun he intends to use to kill both of them right after the auction. He also tells the boys he’s going to use it to destroy Central City as a way to demonstrate the weapon.
Barry tries to phase out of his binds but Ralph tells him there’s a metapower-reducing device in the room with them. Barry apologizes and says he should have listened to him. Ralph replies that, yes, The Flash is great and important but so is he just being Barry Allen.
Ralph comes up with the idea to have Barry grab his cufflink and throw it at the super laser. He does and it explodes but it doesn’t destroy the laser; instead, the laser starts wildly shooting. Barry notices a pattern to it and he and Ralph position themselves so the laser will hit their binds. It works and they’re free. Now, off to stop Meiser from selling the weapon and destroying Central City!
Allegra finds her way back to Nash after getting lost in the tunnels and admits she doesn’t want to use her powers because she doesn’t want to become like her cousin, Ultraviolet. Nash assures her that in life people get to choose who they are. If she uses her powers it doesn’t mean she’s going to turn evil. Allegra takes his words to heart and uses her powers, lighting up the eternium on the rock wall.
Back at the auction, Barry stumbles out on stage drunk as a distraction so Ralph can get to the laptop control of the satellite weapon. Ultraviolet begins fighting Barry while Meister goes after Ralph. In a comedic action fight (again modeled after James Bond films), Barry and Ralph win their fights and stop the weapon from destroying Central City in the nick of time.
Cecile talks to Chester and confesses what happened between him and Natalie was all her fault. She reveals that since she left the DA’s office, she’s feeling a little lost. Chester tells her they need to be themselves and “shine through.”
Later in the day, Chester meets up with Cecile and says he asked out Natalie but she said no. He’s okay about it because he’s now taking steps to live his life again. Cecile suggests maybe he would be a good fit to work at S.T.A.R. Labs.
Over at the CCPD, a press conference is held where The Flash tells the media he’s handing over the job of watching over Central City and protecting its citizens to The Elongated Man. The Elongated Man takes the podium as The Flash steps back and leaves.
The Elongated man proclaims: “Today, I hereby promise that I will defend Central City with my dying breath.” He then does something unexpected; he calls CSI Barry Allen to the podium. Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) speaks and says that heroes who wear capes and have speed are important but that there are some unsung heroes too. Joe gives a surprised and humbled Barry the highest honor the CCPD can give a member in law enforcement: the Medal of Honor. Joe explains the medal is being awarded to recognize all the years and time he’s spent on cases, working the evidence, and giving the families of murder victims justice.
The episode ends with The Elongated Man giving Iris (Candice Patton) some photos of Ultraviolet at the mobster’s party. Just as he’s about to leave, Dr. Ramsey Rosso (Sendhil Ramamurthy) shows up and attacks him.
The Flash Season 6 Episode 6 Review:
Cute, lighthearted, and a little bit too cheesy, episode six titled “License to Elongate” has Barry and Ralph working together on a missing person case that becomes a comical homage to the James Bond films. Instead of superhero saves and action, most of the episode is spent with Gustin and Sawyer looking dashing in tuxedos and recreating classic 007 scenes and moments.
The episode is the second directed by cast member Danielle Panabaker who captures the flare and tongue-in-cheek tone of the Roger Moore Bond films extremely well. It’s clear she has a real eye for creating memorable shots with the camera and finds different, creative ways to shoot scenes that give them an extra edge or interesting look.
With the Crisis much closer now, will Nash be able to catch up to The Monitor in order to save Barry or will Barry perish in Crisis leaving the rest of Team Flash to mourn and continue on without their leader?!
The teaser trailer for ABC’s Emergence season one episode eight shows Piper confronting Alex about the truth regarding her background and what Jo really knows. Directed by Jessica Lowrey from a script by Lindsey Allen, “American Chestnut” is set to air on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.
Episode eight guest stars include Maria Dizzia as Emily, Seth Barrish as Alan Wilkis, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson as Vanessa Cox, Rowena King as Helen, and Enver Gjokaj as Agent Ryan Brooks.
Season one stars Allison Tolman, best known for her starring role in Fargo, as Jo Evans. Alexa Swinton (Billions) plays Piper, Owain Yeoman (The Mentalist) is Benny Gallagher, and Ashley Aufderheide (The Slap) is Mia Evans. Robert Bailey Jr. (The Night Shift) is Officer Chris Minetto, Zabryna Guevara (New Amsterdam) is Abby Frasier, Donald Faison (Ray Donovan) is Alex Evans, and Clancy Brown (Billions) plays Ed in season one.
“American Chestnut” Plot – The FBI arrives in Southold, complicating Jo’s efforts to find Emily. Meanwhile, Alex and Piper hunt for answers on a road trip, and the family celebrates Mia’s birthday.
The Season 1 Plot:
“Beyond explanation … beyond understanding … lies the truth. This character-driven genre thriller follows a police chief who takes in a young child she finds near the site of a mysterious accident who has no memory of what has happened. The investigation draws her into a conspiracy larger than she ever imagined, and the child’s identity is at the center of it all.”
Enver Gjokaj and Allison Tolman in ‘Emergence’ season 1 episode 8 (ABC/Eric Liebowitz)Donald Faison and Alexa Swinton in season 1 episode 8 (ABC/Eric Liebowitz)Robert Bailey Jr and Allison Tolman in season 1 episode 8 (ABC/Eric Liebowitz)Maria Dizzia in season 1 episode 8 (ABC/Patrick Harbron)A scene from season 1 episode 8 (ABC/Patrick Harbron)
The CW’s Riverdale will be taking a two-week break for the Thanksgiving holiday, returning on December 4, 2019 with season four episode eight. Michael Goi directed episode eight, “In Treatment,” from a script by Tessa Leigh Williams.
Season four episodes air on Wednesdays at 8pm ET/PT.
The season four cast is led by KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones. Madelaine Petsch is Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols is Hermione Lodge, Mӓdchen Amick is Alice Cooper, Ashleigh Murray is Josie McCoy, Casey Cott is Kevin Keller, Mark Consuelos is Hiram Lodge, Skeet Ulrich is FP Jones, Charles Melton is Reggie Mantle, and Vanessa Morgan plays Toni Topaz.
“Chapter Sixty-Five: In Treatment” Plot – GINA TORRES GUEST STARS AS RIVERDALE HIGH’S GUIDANCE COUNSELOR — As residents across Riverdale begin receiving more mysterious videotapes on their doorsteps, the seniors of Riverdale High eagerly await their college decision letters. Concerned that the stress may be getting to them, Mrs. Burble (guest star Gina Torres), the school’s guidance counselor, meets with Betty (Reinhart), Archie (Apa), Veronica (Mendes), Cheryl (Petsch) and Jughead (Sprouse) to discuss what’s plaguing them.
Fans of Marvel’s Runaways will have one final season to spend with Karolina (Virginia Gardner), Nico (Lyrica Okano), Gert (Ariela Barer), Chase (Gregg Sulkin), Alex (Rhenzy Feliz), and Molly (Allegra Acosta). Marvel and Hulu are bringing the series to a close with the upcoming third season set to debut on December 13, 2019, a season that cast members believe feels the most like a Marvel superhero show.
During our interview at the 2019 New York Comic Con, Lyrica Okano teased we’ll see “Dark Nico” rising in season three. Okano also discussed – without spoilers! – what’s in store for Nico and Karolina, the addition of Morgan le Fay, and the crossover episode with Cloak and Dagger.
Where do we pick up with Nico in the new season? What’s going on in her head?
Lyrica Okano: (Laughing) “Oh, she’s very stressed out. Karolina’s currently missing. Chase as well, and Gert. For Nico, she takes that responsibility on herself. She’s on a mission to get them back. She’s got a lot on her plate this year.”
How much more will we delve into the darkness of Nico?
Lyrica Okano: “All of it! This season there’s like no holding back. It’s like all of it – magic, science – the two worlds colliding. Everything coming together. All of that will be in season three.”
How far are we getting into the magic element in season three with Morgan le Fay coming in?
Lyrica Okano: “Everything that you ever could imagine that has to do with magic will be shown. I’m not even exaggerating! We did a lot with special effects. It’s action-packed and everything you could ever imagine.”
Cloak and Dagger will be crossing over this season. What can you tease about that and what you were looking forward to exploring by bringing those characters into your world?
Lyrica Okano: “Well, Cloak and Dagger come to the Runaways to help us rescue one of our very own. What else can I say about that without spoiling it? Aubrey (Joseph) and Olivia (Holt), they were such a pleasure to work with and they’re great human beings. I think it was really fun to see our two worlds coming together, seeing how they deal with their special powers and how the special effects are done on their show and that being brought to our show. We have a certain way of how our dialogue is written and then they have their own way. So, seeing that and then working through that together was really, really fun.”
Lyrica Okano stars in ‘Marvel’s Runaways’ (Photo by: Greg Lewis / Hulu)
In addition to Cloak and Dagger coming on the show, are there any other superhero team-ups you would love to see?
Lyrica Okano: “I think Ariela (Barer) has said this many times today, but The Avengers. We would love to be in a film with those guys. Please! Yeah, The Avengers – that would be pretty cool.”
Will Nico and her parents be interacting this season?
Lyrica Okano: (Laughing) “Are they okay? Yeah, you’ll see a lot of the Minoru family coming… I’m not going to say anything! You’ll see them interact for sure.”
Is this darkness in her something you wanted to channel? Is it something you like playing?
Lyrica Okano: “Yeah. I mean, it’s a lot of hard work. It’s a lot. For Nico this season it’s all about the Dark Nico rising. And for her, it feels like a teenage identity crisis times a million. So, putting that into me and figuring that internally and then bringing that out in front of the cameras is a lot of work. But it is really fun and it’s cool to explore that.”
How does that affect her relationship with Karolina?
Lyrica Okano: (Smiling) “I don’t know. Could you imagine? It’s not great. It’s got to be hard having a girlfriend that like constantly is in emotional pain and physical pain, and just watching over them. You’ll see…you’ll see.”
What sets this season apart for you from the previous two?
Lyrica Okano: “Well, I will say it’s a whole lot of magic and a whole lot of action. Because Morgan le Fay comes into our season this year, it’s not just the magic that we’ve seen with the staff. It’s otherworldly. There’s so much, but I can’t talk about it.”
Lyrica Okano: “Amazing. I mean, she’s got a huge job on her hands. Morgan le Fay is a pretty iconic character. I was able to have a lot of one-on-one time with her this season. She’s just obviously so professional and so sweet. For her to come into something that we’ve already established as a cast for three years now, for her to come in and do everything that she’s done this season was pretty amazing to watch. A lot of green screens.
[…] It was so nice to see another Brit come into our cast because Gregg [Sulkin] was very excited. When those two were talking it was just like, ‘Oh yeah, I forgot that Gregg was British!’”
If you hadn’t played this character in the Marvel universe, which character would you have liked to play?
Lyrica Okano: “Jessica Jones, but that’s already (done). Like, other Marvel characters that we haven’t seen?”
Yes.
Lyrica Okano: “I don’t know. I feel like I’m always really grateful that Nico Minoru came into my hands because I wouldn’t have it any other way. I wouldn’t want to play any other Marvel character because Nico is just so right for me – at the right time for me. So, I honestly can’t think of any other one. Plus, we wouldn’t be allowed to play another Marvel character, so I didn’t even let that come to my mind.”
Are there characters you’re working with this season you might not have had the chance to work with in the past?
Lyrica Okano: “With Olivia and Aubrey…obviously we were anticipating the crossover to happen for three seasons now and it finally has happened. That’s so great to have that fall into our laps.
But I was pretty involved this season with everybody. I was lucky enough to be able to work with everybody.”
Will we get to see more flashbacks this season?
Lyrica Okano: “Yeah… I mean, wouldn’t it be cool? Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing to see if that were to happen? That would be great. But, yeah, that’s going to happen.”
Is there a scene you can tease from season three that you’re really excited about fans getting to see?
Lyrica Okano: “Yes. There are a lot of scenes that I’m very excited for, but I guess the one that I am allowed to talk about is the Cloak and Dagger episode. That was pretty awesome. And Morgan le Fay…how she gets involved with the Runaways. Those scenes are pretty epic.”
Are there any new settings that come into the Runaways world this year?
Lyrica Okano: “Yeah, lots of new settings. And it’s dark.”
Would you say overall the tone of this upcoming season is darker than it has been?
Lyrica Okano: “Yeah, darker and it’s different but in the most amazing way. Like, we really put everything we could think of, everything that we had, into this season.”
The Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder is back in the supernatural world of blood-sucking creatures with a starring role in V Wars. The new Netflix series, based on the bestselling books by Jonathan Maberry, just unveiled a full trailer along with a new poster featuring Somerhalder.
Joining Ian Somerhalder (“Dr. Luther Swann”) for season one are Adrian Holmes (“Michael Fayne”), Jacky Lai (“Kaylee Vo”), Peter Outerbridge (“Calix Niklos”), Kyle Breitkopf (“Dez”), Laura Vandervoot (“Mila Dubov”), and Kimberly-Sue Murray (“Danika Dubov”).
Somerhalder’s also keeping busy behind the scenes as director of episode nine and as an executive producer. Additional first season directors include Brad Turner (101, 102, 108, 110), TJ Scott (103, 104), Kaare Andrews (105), Marita Grabiak (106), and Bobby Roth (107). William Laurin, Glenn Davis, Brad Turner, Eric Birnberg, Thomas Walden, James Gibb, Lydia Antonini, Matthew McCluggage, Paul Harb, Ted Adams, and Jonathan Maberry also executive produce.
The vampire series is a High Park Entertainment in association with IDW Entertainment production. William Laurin and Glenn Davis guide season one as showrunners.
The first season of the horror/thriller consists of 10 episodes and is set to premiere on December 5, 2019.
The Plot:
“Dr. Luther Swann (Somerhalder) enters a world of untold horror when a mysterious disease transforms his best friend, Michael Fayne (Holmes), into a murderous predator who feeds on other humans. As the disease spreads and more people are transformed, society fractures into opposing camps pitting normal people against the growing number of these ‘vampires.’ Swann races against time to understand what’s happening, while Fayne rises to become the powerful underground leader of the vampires.”
Poster for ‘V Wars’ starring Ian Somerhalder (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
A&E Network has set 2020 season and/or series premiere dates for Project Blue Book, 60 Days In, Alaska PD, and The First 48. Season two of History’s Project Blue Book will debut on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT. The second season of the series from Robert Zemeckis will consist of 10 episodes and is based on real-life stories from Roswell and Area 51.
Alaska PD will make its primetime debut on A&E with a special two-night premiere on January 1, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT and January 2nd at 9pm ET/PT. 60 Days In returns to A&E on Thursday, January 2nd at 10pm ET/PT, and the 15th season of The First 48 will kick off with an anniversary special on January 1st at 8pm ET/PT followed by new episodes on Thursdays at 8pm ET/PT beginning January 2nd.
In addition to confirming the new season premiere dates, A&E Network has put out official descriptions for Project Blue Book, Alaska PD, The First 48, and 60 Days In.
Project Blue Book:
Project Blue Book is inspired by the personal experiences of Dr. J. Allen Hynek (Aidan Gillen), a brilliant college professor recruited by the U.S. Air Force to spearhead this clandestine operation (Project Blue Book) that researched thousands of cases, over 700 of which remain unsolved to this day. The ten-episode sophomore season will find Dr. Hynek and Captain Michael Quinn (Michael Malarkey) on a dangerous quest for the truth and delve deeper into themes of global conspiracy, touch on how UFOs have impacted the evolution of our nation’s military practices and technology and lean into the nostalgia of the 1950s.
It will also kick-off with a deep dive into two of the most well-known UFO cases in US history: Roswell, New Mexico where a rancher claimed to have found mysterious wreckage on his property thought to be a UFO and Area 51, a government-run location in Nevada historically rumored to be a magnet for paranormal events and UFO-related activity.
Other episodes this season take Hynek and Quinn further into the secrets and conspiracies of the 1950s, with stories about the haunting Skinwalker Ranch (a 512-acre property reputed to be the site of numerous paranormal and UFO-inspired events), the mysterious Kelly-Hopkinsville encounter (where a rural Kentucky family claimed to have been visited by aliens), the CIA’s infamous mind-control experiments, and an episode which follows Hynek in his role as expert consultant to the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Alaska PD:
Alaska PD brings viewers to America’s Last Frontier, where the line between civilization and lawlessness can be razor-thin. Chronically shorthanded police departments across the state must turn to officers from the Lower 48 to fight a soaring crime rate. For the “newbies” it is a trial by fire as they learn first-hand that policing, like everything else, is different in Alaska.
In a state where guns are carried as part of everyday life, officers often have to protect an entire town by themselves while enforcing laws many are unwilling to follow. They face numerous dangers found only in Alaska, not just from people who want to be free from the rules of society, but also from encounters with predatory animals roaming through town and sub-zero conditions that can be deadly and unrelenting.
The First 48:
For the last 15 years, The First 48 has followed thousands of homicide investigations in 27 cities across the country as detectives work relentlessly to solve murders in the critical first 48 hours of a crime. Over the course of the series’ run, viewers have been given unprecedented access to crime scenes, forensic processing, and investigations as detectives follow leads and uncover evidence and witnesses in order to identify the killers.
To kick off the new season, an anniversary special will bring viewers along as detectives work to solve the murders of two women in Tulsa, Oklahoma who were gunned down in broad daylight. Commemorating 15 years on the air, the two-hour special will also include interviews with some of the most prominent homicide detectives featured in the series to-date as they look back on the some of the most memorable cases of their careers.
60 Days In:
For the first time in 60 Days In history, more participants struggle to survive the intense program and are forced to quit the program early, as the newly elected Sheriff takes over one of the worst facilities the series has ever seen. After two decades, the Etowah County Detention Center in Alabama is under new management and the newly elected Sheriff is determined to make a change. In his first week, he decided to shakedown the facility and in one day alone, found more than 200 broken door locks, drugs and removed more than two tons of contraband. With no time to lose, Sheriff Horton along with Chief Peek and select members of their team have agreed to embed innocent participants to uncover the issues that plague the facility.
This season, the participants will face the biggest challenge of their lives in an effort to rid a jail, that is in dire need of help, of contraband and corruption before it is too late.
The cast of ‘The Watch’ season 1 (Photo Credit: Alex Telfer / BBC STUDIOS / BBCA)
BBC America’s confirmed new cast members for their upcoming series, The Watch, based on the Discworld novels by Sir Terry Pratchett. New to the cast are Anna Chancellor, James Fleet, Ingrid Oliver, Ruth Madeley, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, and Bianca Simone Mannie. In addition to announcing the new cast members, BBC America confirmed the characters each will be playing.
The six new The Watch cast members join previously announced series stars Richard Dormer (“Captain Sam Vimes”), Adam Hugill (“Constable Carrot”), Jo Eaton-Kent (“Constable Cheery”), Marama Corlett (“Corporal Angua”), Lara Rossi (“Lady Sybil Ramkin”), and Sam Adewunmi (“Carcer Dun”).
Directors Brian Kelly (Outlander) and Emma Sullivan (Doctor Who) have also just signed up to helm episodes of the series, joining Craig Viveiros as directors. Simon Allen (The Musketeers) is the show’s lead writer.
“It’s been so exciting to join such a wonderfully creative team – from writer Simon Allen to the stunning production design and a truly talented group of actors – to help realize Terry Pratchett’s brilliantly anarchic yet strangely real and moving world,” said Anna Chancellor. “With the combining characteristics of Dracula and Elvis – Lord Vetinari has sprung to life in the most alarmingly joyful way.”
Commenting on his casting, James Fleet said, “I’m delighted to be playing the Archchancellor. I think the writing and design catch the spirit of Terry Pratchett’s work and create a world of jeopardy and humor.”
The eight episode season one of The Watch is expected to premiere in 2020. Filming is currently underway in South Africa.
The series is co-produced by BBC Studios and Narrativia. Richard Stokes, Hilary Salmon, and Ben Donald for BBC Studios, Rob Wilkins for Narrativia, Simon Allen, and Craig Viveiros are executive producers. Johann Knobel produces and Simon Rogers (Doctor Foster) is the production designer. The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography John Pardue (Luther), costume designers Colleen Kelsall (Tolkien) and Dihantus Engelbrecht (Noughts and Crosses), and hair and make-up designer Amanda Ross-McDonald (Black Sails).
The Watch Plot and Characters:
“Set in a fictional city where crime has been legalized, The Watch is a genre-busting series that follows a group of misfit cops as they rise up from decades of helplessness to save their corrupt city from catastrophe. Uniquely anarchic and thrillingly entertaining, the character-driven drama follows several of Sir Terry Pratchett’s best-loved creations on a riotous and emotional odyssey.
Anna Chancellor (Pennyworth) is set to star as Lord Vetinari, The Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, and architect of the city’s normalized wrongness and ramshackle system of governance. James Fleet (Outlander) will play The Archchancellor, a wizard, magical advisor, and the Head of the Unseen University. Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who) stars as the Head of The Assassins’ Guild, Doctor Cruces.
Ruth Madeley (Years and Years) will portray the wiry Throat, the city’s best snitch, with a gang of freelance henchmen at her beck and call. Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Dynasty) will play Captain John Keel, former leader of The Watch and mentor to Sam Vimes, determined to save the corrupt and chaotic city. Bianca Simone Mannie (Homeland) stars as the cunning Wonse, a wizard hopeful in waiting that is frequently underestimated.”
The new trailer for Universal Pictures’ Cats just arrived and I’m sorry but these “cats” are still freaking me out! The just-released minute and a half trailer for the musical shines the spotlight on each of the key cats, including Taylor Swift as Bombalurina.
In addition to Taylor Swift, James Corden as Bustopher Jones, Dame Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy, Jason Derulo as Rum Tum Tugger, Idris Elba as Macavity, Jennifer Hudson as Grizabella, Ian McKellen as Gus The Theatre Cat, and Rebel Wilson as Jennyanydots. Royal Ballet principal dancer Francesca Hayward makes her feature film acting debut as Victoria in Cats. The cast also includes Robbie Fairchild, Laurie Davidson, Les Twins (Larry and Laurent Bourgeois), Mette Towley, Royal Ballet principal dancer Steven McRae, and Bluey Robinson.
Oscar winner Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Lee Hall. The film’s based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular Broadway musical which was inspired by Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot.
Writer/director Tom Hooper’s behind the scenes team includes Tony Award-winning choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, In the Heights). Hooper produces with Debra Hayward, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner. Andrew Lloyd Webber, Steven Spielberg, Angela Morrison, and Jo Burn serve as executive producers.
Universal Pictures has set a December 20, 2019 theatrical release date.
More on Cats, Courtesy of Universal:
“One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, the stage musical Cats received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 years and earned the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983, the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for an extraordinary 18 years.
Since opening in London in 1981, Cats has continuously appeared on stage around the globe, to date having played to 81 million people in more than fifty countries and in nineteen languages. It is regarded as one of the most successful musicals of all time.”
Fox’s 9-1-1 returns after a two week break with season three episode nine, “Fallout.” Episode nine will air on Monday, November 25, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT.
The cast of season three includes Angela Bassett as Athena Grant, Peter Krause as Bobby Nash, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Kendall, and Oliver Stark as Evan “Buck” Buckley. Aisha Hinds plays Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, Kenneth Choi is Howie “Chimney” Han, Rockmond Dunbar is Michael Grant, and Ryan Guzman is Eddie Diaz.
The “Fallout” Plot – The 118 responds to debris from a meteor shower crashing into an apartment building and a deadly fire caused by a hazardous waste truck crash inside a tunnel. Meanwhile, Hen struggles with guilt over her ambulance accident, Bobby introduces Eddie to an old friend to help with his anger and Maddie receives an urgent call for help.
9-1-1 Series Description, Courtesy of Fox:
Creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear reimagine the procedural drama with 9-1-1, exploring the high-pressure experiences of police officers, firefighters and dispatchers who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives.
