‘Yellowstone’ Season 2 Episode 6 Recap: “Blood the Boy”

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July 31, 2019

Yellowstone Season 2 Episode 6 — Luke Grimes and Kevin Costner in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 2 episode 6

Paramount Network’s Yellowstone season two episode six begins with a flashback to a teenage Jamie. John (played by Josh Lucas) wonders what his son wants to be when he grows up and then shocks Jamie by presenting him with a letter of acceptance to Harvard. Jamie’s understandably surprised given that he never applied. It appears John’s pulled some strings.

“You want to be me some day? Then become something that can help me protect this place,” says John to a very confused Jamie. “Lawyers are the swords of the century. Words are weapons now. I need you to learn how to use them.”

Spring forward to current events and Jamie (Wes Bentley) is staring in the mirror, trying to convince himself he doesn’t deserve what he’s brought on by granting an interview and exposing his father’s secrets.

He steels himself and then meets with his father. John (Kevin Costner) informs his son he’s actually hurting his siblings with his stupid decision. John wants Jamie to get with the reporter and find out exactly what it is she wants. If she wants to ruin the ranch, then Jamie will need to sue her.

Meanwhile, Malcolm (Neal McDonough) and Teal Beck (Terry Serpico) meet with Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) at the tribe’s Painted House Casino. Thomas warns them to skip the small talk and head straight to the point of this meeting. The Becks believe Thomas’ partnership with Dan Jenkins is no longer necessary now that the tribe has procured his land. Instead, they suggest Thomas should partner with them because they can provide slot machines unavailable elsewhere.

Malcolm assures Thomas that they know how to negotiate their way through any deal, including ones involving Dan Jenkins and John Dutton. The conversation takes a dark turn as Malcolm warns Thomas he’ll screw with his planned casino at every turn unless Thomas brings them on board.

As they leave it’s clear Thomas isn’t worried. He realizes the Becks are scared of his game-changing casino plans.

Back at the ranch, Jimmy (Jefferson White) is still worried about making money to pay off his debt. Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) tells him about a bucking horse event that could earn him money if he stays on for eight seconds. Lloyd thinks Jimmy might actually be able to win a few grand. He even offers to spot him the entrance fee.

Lloyd puts Jimmy on a bucking horse and times him, and he hangs on for eight seconds. Rip (Cole Hauser) walks up as Jimmy’s with the horse and asks Lloyd to watch over the kid and not get him killed.

Sheriff Donnie Haskell (Hugh Dillon) pulls over John as he’s heading back to the ranch. Haskell warns John against working with the Becks, and he knows what he’s speaking of from personal experience. The Becks have forced Haskell to do their bidding after he couldn’t pay off what he lost at a casino. They’ve had their differences, but Haskell’s dead serious when he warns John to stay away from Malcolm and Teal.

John Dutton heads over to Dan Jenkins’ office, knocking out the bodyguard outside his door and then throwing a wine bottle, followed by a chair, at Dan (Danny Huston). He growls, “Do you know what a f*cking mess you’ve made in this valley?!”

Dan claims he didn’t kill John’s cows, but John had already figured out it was the Beck brothers. They were attempting to get him to turn on Dan. If the Becks would kill John’s cows, what would they do to Dan? John believes this new twist necessitates a new approach. Dan confirms Thomas and the Becks are pushing him out of the casino, and John suggests they all sit down (without the Becks) and clear the air.

Dan agrees.

Back at the ranch, Lloyd puts Jimmy to the real test with a horse no one rides for eight seconds. Jimmy, reluctantly, mounts the horse and away he goes. He hangs on for dear life and remains in the saddle for longer than eight seconds. Lloyd’s impressed and gives Jimmy a pat on the back, saluting the fact he’s finally found something he can do on the ranch.

Jamie meets with Sarah Nguyen (Michaela Conlin), the reporter, way out in the country, far away from any prying eyes. Jamie, acting as an attorney, rescinds his permission to be quoted. He also explains that some things he disclosed were attorney-client privilege and could get him disbarred. The article will also hurt his family and get him disowned.

Sarah’s not in the least bit impressed with his argument, revealing she hopes his family loses everything. She also adds that she’s glad she’s the one who will take it all away.

Jamie’s rendered speechless as she turns and walks away. He stares at her back and then quickly follows her, slamming her head into her car and knocking her out. He screams in anguish, unable to understand what he’s done. Still, he realizes he needs to finish the job and begins strangling her while repeatedly saying he’s sorry as she struggles against his hands.

Once she’s dead, he bellows at the sky.

Jamie returns to the ranch and heads straight to Rip. Rip immediately realizes something’s wrong and Jamie shows him the dead reporter in his car. Rip begs him not to tell his father because that would make him an accessory to murder. “Jamie, I’m just a wrangler. Kayce has my job,” says Rip.

As Rip’s walking away Jamie begs for his help – as a friend. Rip admits Jamie has always treated him as an equal and heads into the bunkhouse. He finds Walker (Ryan Bingham) hanging out and asks him to drive a car. Ryan agrees.

Walker drives one of the ranch’s trucks while Rip and Jamie follow. Rip warns Jamie the only way to get rid of the mess is to get rid of him and asks not to be put in that position. They arrive at the place where Jamie committed murder and Walker’s told to drive Sarah’s car (without being told whose car it is) and follow Rip.

Rip watches as Jamie struggles with the dead body in a kayak. Jamie’s having trouble pulling it into the river, and Rip refuses to help. Jamie’s finally able to send it floating down the river, and just a short way from the bank the kayak overturns and Sarah’s body is tossed out.

Rip smashes the reporter’s phone.

Walker meets up with Rip and Rip refuses to say who owns the car. However, Walker’s quick to figure out he’s just been made an accessory to murder. Rip points out his own prints aren’t in the rental car or on the kayak.

Rip agrees Walker can leave the ranch since now he has something to hold over his head should Walker ever want to cause trouble for the Duttons.

And now for a shocker…Monica (Kelsey Asbille) is making out with her physical therapist. She stops him before they have sex because she needs closer with Kayce.

Jimmy makes it to the fair where he signs a Do Not Resuscitate order in case he’s horribly injured. He watches the other riders and becomes increasingly nervous as one of the rider’s goes down before he even makes out of the chute.

Jimmy eyeballs the horse he’s been given to ride, noting that it’s huge. He gets on it anyway, desperately in need of money. Lloyd warns him to pray and hold on.

Jimmy almost chickens out but doesn’t. He holds on past eight seconds and wins the event. Lloyd tells him to wave to the crowd and finally Jimmy understands he’s not only alive but also just earned a nice check and a shiny belt buckle.

Jimmy returns to the ranch and shows off the buckle to his fellow wranglers. He’s disappointed to learn Avery has quit while he was gone. As they’re all standing around talking, Walker enters, packs up his stuff, and leaves.

Lloyd volunteers to ride with Rip as he gives Walker a lift off the ranch. Just as they’re about to drive off, Kayce arrives (he’s been missing this whole episode). Walker explains that Rip’s taking him to the train station, and Kayce tells Walker he’ll take him. (In season one we learned the “train station” is where they take people they need to have disappear forever.)

Walker gets in Kayce’s truck, even after Rip reminds Kayce he doesn’t know where the station is. As they drive, Kayce asks Walker what he did. Kayce knows there’s a reason Rip was ready to send Walker off, and they pull over to the side of the road. They have a heart-to-heart about how humans aren’t better than animals, yet Kayce believes he’s different than Rip and the others. Walker, obviously realizing he’d be dead if he was riding with Rip, wonders if Kayce is truly different.

Kayce makes him swear he’ll never say anything about what he witnessed at the ranch. Kayce then promises he’ll be running the ranch differently if Walker ever returns in the future. He’ll welcome Walker back into the fold. Walker agrees he should stay away from the ranch for a while and they drive off, with Walker saying he owes Kayce one.

Tate’s spending time with his grandfather, John, when the news comes on about Sarah dying in a boating accident. John sends Tate off to bed and listens to the reporter explain Sarah was the third drowning death this year.

John spots Jamie having a drink in the living room and demands his son look at him. John wonders how they move on from this mess, and Jamie claims he had no choice. John disagrees.

The wranglers are up way before sunrise. As they stand around drinking coffee, Rip decides it’s time to get to work. John, Kayce, and Tate are also up before dawn, ready to go out hunting. John reminds Tate the rifle has the power to take a life and that he doesn’t have the power to bring something back from the dead. He warns him to make sure before he pulls the trigger.

Kayce helps Tate line up a shot and he kills a deer. Kayce and John are proud of the kid and initiate him with the blood of the deer. Kayce smears it all over Tate’s face, but Tate isn’t happy when he looks down at the dead animal. “It’s a big deal, taking a life, but everything on this earth has to do it to survive,” says Kayce. John agrees and adds it’s the one thing on this planet that everything shares.

More on Yellowstone:

‘Mayans M.C.’ Interview: Antonio Jaramillo on Season 2, Riz’s Tattoos, and His Co-Stars

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 31, 2019

FX’s Mayans M.C. returns for a second season on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Season one of the Sons of Anarchy spinoff created by Kurt Sutter and Elgin James introduced the Mayans M.C. charter, and season two will find the gang out for revenge and setting up new alliances.

The cast of the critically acclaimed drama took part in the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con where the season two trailer debuted and hints were dropped as to what’s in store.

On the red carpet at the Entertainment Weekly Comic-Con Bash, series star Antonio Jaramillo took the time prior to the party to discuss playing Michael ‘Riz’ Ariza. Jaramillo also talked about the appeal of the series and a specific actor he’d love to be able to share scenes with in season two.

What I love about Mayans M.C. is that it’s not just about the action. It’s about the families; it’s about loyalty. What do you love about it?

Antonio Jaramillo: “What you just said. We should put that in a slogan! It’s about family, you know the dynamic of Mr. Olmos dealing with the kids – the two brothers. And then one of them trying to go astray and the other one doesn’t know if he wants to go into the club or lead a different life. It’s really cool. I think it’s really cool. And then you put that together with motorcycles and leather and sexy guys and then you’ve got a show, yeah!”

What did you really dig your teeth into with this character? What do you find is the most interesting aspect of Riz?

Antonio Jaramillo: “You know, it hasn’t been explored just yet but I made my character somewhat religious. All the tats that I have, they are scriptures. Because I wanted to have an inner turmoil, a guy that believes in God, but he has been betrayed by religion like a lot of people have. You know, like the churches.

So, it hasn’t been explored yet, but I hope it is in the future. Because I have a cross on my chest, I have a scripture here, I have another scripture here, and they are all different scriptures. People have to pay attention. I want them to go, ‘Ooh, what is that?’ I want them to look it up so they know what it means because each one has its specific meaning.

I know I have a whole biography of my character and hope that we get seven seasons so that we can explore that more. But for now, they are working on the dynamic of the kids – the brothers – and Mr. Olmos, Felipe, his sons and how that’s going to work out. And then we’ll go into the club a little more and explore all the other characters.”

Mayans M.C. Antonio Jaramillo — Antonio Jaramillo as Michael “Riz” Ariza in ‘Mayans M.C.’ (Photo: Prashant Gupta/FX)

Who would you like Riz to team up with more in season two? You guys really got to work with each other so much in the first season and there’s some really interesting chemistry going on. Who do you hope for more screen time with in season two?

Antonio Jaramillo: “I want to be with Mr. Olmos. I don’t know what dynamic because I’m one of the club members. I don’t know, but I would love to be with Mr. Olmos and explore that. I really want Michael Riz to be with Felipe Reyes and also Coco. You know, Richard Cabral. I want me and him to have something, a disagreement, something. I know I had a disagreement with Clayton Cardenas – Angel – but we got it all worked out. But Mr. Olmos for sure.”

Who doesn’t want to work with him? What can you tease about the upcoming season? What can we look forward to?

Antonio Jaramillo: “It’s going to be a lot more of what you saw in season one. A lot of trouble, a lot of fights, a lot of motorcycles, a lot of leather, a lot of spiciness because you have a 97% Hispanic cast. So, you know, it’s kind of spicy and sexy. More of that.”

A Look Back at Season 1:

First Look: ‘The Irishman’ Teaser Trailer with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 31, 2019

Netflix just released the first trailer for Martin Scorsese’s much-anticipated and long-awaited Jimmy Hoffa drama, The Irishman. The two-minute trailer shows off the visual effects de-aging process, letting the audience get a glimpse of a younger Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.

The Irishman marks the ninth feature film Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese have collaborated on as actor and director, with the most recent prior to this gritty drama being Casino in 1995. News of a Jimmy Hoffa film first hit back in 2008, and Scorsese’s finally set to unveil the project this fall on Netflix and in select theaters.

The cast includes Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, and Anna Paquin. Stephen Graham, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jack Huston, Kathrine Narducci, Jesse Plemons, Domenick Lombardozzi, Paul Herman, Gary Basaraba, and Marin Ireland are also featured in Scorsese’s The Irishman.

Steven Zaillan adapted Charles Brandt’s 2003 book, I Heard You Paint Houses, for the screen. Scorsese, De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Irwin Winkler, Gerald Chamales, Gaston Pavlovich, and Randall Emmett produce.

Martin Scorsese’s behind the scenes team includes director of photography Rodrigo Prieto, production designer Bob Shaw, costume designers Christopher Peterson and Sandy Powell, and editor Thelma Schoonmaker. Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic was tapped to transform De Niro and the cast into younger versions of themselves for flashbacks.

The Plot:

“Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci star in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, an epic saga of organized crime in post-war America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran, a hustler and hitman who worked alongside some of the most notorious figures of the 20th century. Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime: its inner workings, rivalries and connections to mainstream politics.”

The Irishman Cast — Ray Romano (Bill Bufalino ) Al Pacino (Jimmy Hoffa), and Robert De Niro (Frank Sheeran) in ‘The Irishman’

The Irishman Robert De Niro — Joe Pesci (Russell Bufalino) and Robert De Niro (Frank Sheeran) in ‘The Irishman’

‘The InBetween’ Season 1 Episode 9 Preview: “Devil’s Refugee” Photos

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Rebecca Murray

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July 31, 2019

The InBetween Season 1 Episode 9 — Harriet Dyer as Cassie Gallagher in ‘The InBetween’ season 1 episode 9 (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC)

With only two new episodes to go, NBC’s The InBetween is set to air season one episode nine on August 07, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT. Episode nine is titled “The Devil’s Refugee” and was directed by Eduardo Sánchez from a script by Moira Kirland and Lauren Barnett.

“The Devil’s Refugee” guest stars include Berkeley Ratzlaff and Sean Bolger.

Harriet Dyer stars as Cassie, Justin Cornwell is Damien Asante, Anne-Marie Johnson is Lt. Swanstrom, and Cindy Luna plays Det. Maria Salinas. Chad James Buchanan is Will and Arrow‘s Paul Blackthorne plays Tom Hackett.

The drama comes from writer/executive producer Moira Kirland (Castle, Madam Secretary). David Heyman, Nancy Cotton, and Matthew Gross executive produce, and Charlotte Sieling directed/executive produced the pilot.

“THE DEVIL’S REFUGEE” Plot – Cassie (Dyer), Tom (Blackthorne) and Damien (Cornwell) investigate the cold case disappearance of Millie (Ratzlaff) and soon realize that her disappearance may involve an old acquaintance, Ed Roven (Bolger).

The Season 1 Plot:

“Cassie Bedford was born with a rare ability.

She has visions … whether she likes it or not. Sometimes Cassie sees events that have previously occurred or will happen in the future. In addition, sometimes she encounters unsettled spirits who need her help.

When her father, Det. Tom Hackett, and his new partner, former FBI Agent Damien Asante, need assistance solving a dark and puzzling murder, Cassie reluctantly agrees to use her abilities and helps solve some of the city’s most challenging cases.”

‘Siren’ Season 2 Episode 16 Photos: “New World Order” Preview

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 31, 2019

Season two of Freeform’s dramatic mermaid series, Siren, finishes up with episode 16. Airing on August 1, 2019, the second season finale is titled “New World Order.” Nick Copus directed from a script by Dean White and Cole Fowler.

Season two’s cast is led by Eline Powell (Game of Thrones) as Ryn. Alex Roe (The 5th Wave) plays Ben, Fola Evans-Akingbola (An American Exorcism) is Maddie, Ian Verdun (Life’s a Drag) stars as Xander, and Rena Owen (Star Wars Episodes II and III) is Helen.

The series is based on a story by Eric Wald and Dean White. Wald, White, Brad Luff, Nate Hopper, RD Robb, and Emily Whitesell are the executive producers. Whitesell also serves as showrunner.

The “New World Order” Plot: Ben faces a choice that has rippling consequences amongst mermaid, hybrid and human alike, as the truth about mermaids is exposed.

The Siren Plot, Courtesy of Freeform:

“Siren takes us inside Bristol Cove — a coastal town known for its legend of once being home to mermaids. When the arrival of a mysterious girl proves this folklore all too true, the battle between man and sea takes a very vicious turn as these predatory beings return to reclaim their right to the ocean.”

Siren Season 2 Episode 16 — Eline Powell and Fola Evans-Akingbola in ‘Siren’ season 2 episode 16 (Freeform/Eike Schroter)

‘The Hunt’ Trailer: ‘GLOW’s Betty Gilpin Fights for Her Life

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 30, 2019

It’s easy to get confused about who’s the hunter and who’s being hunted in the official trailer for The Hunt. Blumhouse Productions’ two-minute trailer teases a lethal game, lots of gruesome deaths, and even throws in an adorable pig for good measure. Not sure who’s side the pig’s on, but here’s hoping he’s not in the “being hunted” category.

The cast includes Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project), Betty Gilpin (GLOW), Emma Roberts (American Horror Story), and Hilary Swank (Trust). Justin Hartley (This Is Us), Ethan Suplee (Santa Clarita Diet), and Glenn Howerton (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) also star in the action thriller.

Craig Zobel (Z for Zachariah, The Leftovers) directed from a screenplay by The Leftovers team of Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse. Lindelof and Jason Blum produce, with Craig Zobel, Nick Cuse, and Steven R. Molen executive producing.

Zobel’s behind the scenes team consists of director of photography Darran Tiernan, production designer Matthew Munn, and costume designer David Tabbert.

Universal Pictures will open The Hunt in theaters on September 27, 2019.

The Hunt Plot:

“Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don’t know where they are, or how they got there. They don’t know they’ve been chosen… for a very specific purpose … The Hunt.

In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, a bunch of elites gathers for the very first time at a remote Manor House to hunt humans for sport. But the elites’ master plan is about to be derailed because one of the hunted, Crystal (Gilpin), knows The Hunters’ game better than they do. She turns the tables on the killers, picking them off, one by one, as she makes her way toward the mysterious woman (Swank) at the center of it all.”

The Hunt Poster — Poster for Universal Pictures’ ‘The Hunt’

‘The Outpost’ Season 2 Episode 4 Preview: “Regarding the Matter” Photos

By

Rebecca Murray

-

July 30, 2019

The Outpost Season 2 Episode 4 — Jessica Green as Talon in ‘The Outpost’ season 2 episode 4 (Photo: Aleksander Letic © 2019 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment)

The CW’s summer fantasy adventure series, The Outpost, continues its second season run with episode four, “Regarding the Matter of Garret Spears.” Episode four was directed by Jonathan Glassner from a script by Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin and is set to air on August 1, 2019.

Season two airs on Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT.

The season two cast is led by Jessica Green as Talon. Imogen Waterhouse plays Gwynn, Anand Desai-Barochia is Janzo, Jake Stormoen is Captain Garret Spears, Philip Brodie is Everit Dred, Robyn Malcolm is The Mistress, and Andrew Howard plays Marshal Withers.

Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin created the series and serve as executive producers with Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan-Wilson. Jennifer Griffin and Jonathan English produce.

The “Regarding the Matter of Garret Spears” Plot – THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY – Gwynn is taken hostage with a ransom only Talon (Green) can pay. Talon summons a risky ally to help her finish what she started. Janzo (Desai-Barochia) tries out his new image on Talon.

The Outpost Plot:

“Having defeated Dred and retaken the Outpost, Talon (Green) and Gwynn prepare for war. Talon delves deeper into demon summoning, while Gwynn (Waterhouse) recruits allies. The Prime Order trinity known as “The Three” reveal mysterious powers as they send spies, assassins, and a devastating weapon to the Outpost. As Talon uncovers the legacy of her people, she must decide who to trust, and separate her real friends from her enemies before the Prime Order attacks.”

‘Grand Hotel’ Season 1 Episode 8 Photos: “Long Night’s Journey” Preview

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 30, 2019

Adrian Pasdar guest stars as Felix in ABC’s Grand Hotel season one episode eight. “Long Night’s Journey Into Day” was directed by Ellen Pressman from a script by Nicki Renna. Episode eight will air on Monday, August 5, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.

The cast of season one includes Oscar nominee Demián Bichir (Best Actor, A Better Life) as Santiago Mendoza, ALMA award winner Roselyn Sánchez (Outstanding Actress in a Drama Television Series, Without a Trace) as Gigi Mendoza, Denyse Tontz (The Fosters) as Alicia Mendoza, and Bryan Craig (Valor) as Javi Mendoza. Wendy Raquel Robinson (The Mayor) is Mrs. P, Lincoln Younes (Home and Away) is Danny, Shalim Ortiz (Magic City) is Mateo, and Anne Winters (13 Reasons Why) plays Ingrid.

Chris Warren (The Fosters) plays Jason, Feliz Ramirez is Carolina, and Justina Adorno (Seven Seconds) is Yoli in the show’s first season.

Grand Hotel is written and executive produced by Brian Tanen. Eva Longoria, Ben Spector, Bob Daily, Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, and director Bill D’Elia also executive produce.

As of July 30, 2019, ABC has not announced whether Grand Hotel will return for a second season. Season one, which premiered on June 17th, consists of 13 one-hour episodes.

The “Long Night’s Journey Into Day” Plot – The Mendozas begin to recover after an accident disturbs the family, and Danny discovers a bombshell that would jeopardize his relationship with Alicia.

Series Details:

Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior.

Grand Hotel Season 1 Episode 8 — Roselyn Sanchez in ‘Grand Hotel’ season 1 episode 8 (ABC/Mitch Haaseth)

‘The Lighthouse’ First Trailer Starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 30, 2019

A24 just released the first riveting trailer for the horror fantasy, The Lighthouse. The film’s a two-hander starring Robert Pattinson (recently named as the new Batman) and four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe.

The Lighthouse was directed by Robert Eggers, the filmmaker behind the gothic horror story The Witch. Robert Eggers co-wrote the screenplay with Max Eggers. Rodrigo Teixeira, Jay Van Hoy, Lourenço Sant’ Anna, and Youree Henley served as producers.

A limited release will launch on October 18, 2019 (New York/Los Angeles) followed by an expansion in other cities.

In addition to winning the coveted role of Batman in The Batman, Robert Pattinson recently completed Waiting for the Barbarians with Johnny Depp. Pattinson also recently wrapped up work on The King with Timothée Chalamet and The Devil All the Time with Tom Holland. He’s currently shooting Tenet written and directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy). His performances post-Twilight have confirmed there’s more to the British actor than playing a sparkly vegetarian vampire.

Willem Dafoe earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his roles in At Eternity’s Gate, released in 2018. He also picked up three Best Supporting Actor nominations for his performances in The Florida Project, Shadow of the Vampire, and Platoon. He’ll next be seen in Motherless Brooklyn directed by Edward Norton and co-starring Norton and Bruce Willis.

The Plot:

“From Robert Eggers, the visionary filmmaker behind modern horror masterpiece The Witch, comes this hypnotic and hallucinatory tale of two lighthouse keepers on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.”

The Lighthouse Robert Pattinson — Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson star in ‘The Lighthouse’ (Photo Credit: A24)

‘Stumptown’ Interview: Cobie Smulders on Tackling a Complicated Character

By

Rebecca Murray

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July 30, 2019

Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother, Friends from College) takes on the lead role in ABC’s upcoming series, Stumptown, debuting this fall. The series is based on the comic books by Greg Rucka and follows Smulders as Dex Parios, a character described as “strong, assertive and sharp-witted army veteran with a complicated love life, gambling debt and a brother to take care of in Portland, Oregon. Her military intelligence skills make her a great PI, but her unapologetic style puts her in the firing line of hardcore criminals and not quite in alliance with the police.”

Smulders joined the Stumptown cast and Greg Rucka at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con to promote the show’s September 25, 2019 premiere. In our roundtable interview, Smulders explained why she was attracted to playing Dex and what viewers can expect from the first season.

Greg Rucka says you nailed every aspect of Dex. What was your entry point into the character? What did you fall in love with?

Cobie Smulders: “First of all, thank you, Greg! You know, I read the script first – the pilot script – and then I went, ‘This is based on a graphic novel. What’s the novel?’ And then I read the four that he wrote and it really sold me on the project because I could get from the graphic novel so clearly what was this world was, how this character moves in that world, and the other characters that are involved.

It’s just really cool. I mean, I’ve been very lucky. As an actor, you don’t very often get the opportunity to say a joke, punch a guy in the face, and then do a crazy, dramatic scene about loss. You don’t get to do that often. It’s a very rare thing to be involved with something where you’re playing all of these different notes. It very rarely comes along, so I’m really excited about exploring it.

We’re at the very beginning, beginning stages that are building on what we established in our pilot which is this group of misfits living in Portland all sort of trying to get along.”

It seems there was a sort of possible “will they or won’t they” romance teased. Can you talk about that?

Cobie Smulders: “When I hear ‘will they or won’t they,’ I just like don’t… This place where we are with this character, Dex, I think she’s completely incapable of a relationship. So, obviously that complicates the situation when people are talking about the triangle between Detective Hoffman (played by Michael Ealy), myself, and Grey (played by Jake Johnson).

The relationship with Grey is that we came up together. We grew up together. He is amazingly helpful with raising my brother which I’ve been sort of saddled with. And, that has a weird emotional history. But the current one with Hoffman, I just feel like she’s not able to commit to anything. She’s not able to commit to anything in her life. We’re just starting her on this path of being a private investigator and it’s the first thing that she’s probably ever tried to commit to since she went into the military.”

Producer David Bernad: “I think it’s important to say the character isn’t defined by those male relationships and it’s definitely not something she’s seeking out. I think it’s an aspect of her life but it’s a really a show that explores her character going through an existential crisis and trying to reconcile her PTSD and kind of figuring out what she wants her life to be. These two guys are an element of that but like Cobie’s stated, she’s not ready. She has to fix herself first.”

Stumptown Star Cobie Smulders — ‘Stumptown’ stars Camryn Manheim, Michael Ealy, Cobie Smulders, Tantoo Cardinal, Cole Sibus, Adrian Martinez, and Jake Johnson (ABC/Image Group LA)

What’s your favorite part of her personality?

Cobie Smulders: “I really enjoy playing…there’s something really interesting, and we did it a few times in the pilot, where she’s on the edge and she doesn’t know when she’s dealing with her PTSD, she’s very unhinged. I love playing somebody who’s in that place and playing out how they come back and ground themselves again, and who they need to do that. That was really fun to play.

(Laughing) I also really like pretending to be drunk. I really enjoy it. I’m not a big drinker anymore. In my youth – I’m definitely pulling from experiences. But there’s just something that’s just such a fun thing to play somebody who’s like always going out, who’s kind of roaming from one thing to the next. Who’s just kind of…she’s untethered. But one thing that she’s holding onto is this relationship that she has with her brother. If that wasn’t in her life, who knows where this woman would be. Who knows where she would be? She’d be roaming around somewhere but because she has this boy in her life to take care of and have him take care of her, it grounds her back. It brings her back from the edge.”

How much of the backstory do we actually get to see?

Cobie Smulders: “We’ll certainly over the first season get to know more about all the characters. In the pilot we learn this character is somebody who’s suffering from PTSD and that that derives from experiences in the military. We get to see that in flashbacks. That’s really all. We don’t see any of the background of the other characters so much.”

David Bernad: “Not yet. That’s really what this show over the first season will unspool, some of these backstories. Why are Dex and Ansel living in this house? Where are the parents? We’ll get a little deeper into the loss that she suffers. We’ll see it in the pilot in terms of her ex-boyfriend.

Each of the other characters’ backstories…every character in the show has a secret. And as we go on, everyone’s lying to somebody – whether it’s themselves or another character. That’s really what the first season unspools, those relationships.”

On a series that has a lot of deep stuff being dealt with, how good is it to find a fun aspect to the character to lighten things up a little?

Cobie Smulders: “Well, it’s wonderful because like in life it can be falling apart around you, but you don’t act like it, you know? I think it’s very true to life. You might be a mess but you’re not going to tell anyone that you are. You’re not going to admit to that. So, I think that plays into it.

That is the joy of pretending to shoot this based in Portland that we get to bring in all these characters that are unlike characters you’d normally see on TV. Bad guys aren’t going to look like your average bad guy. If you saw them walking down the street, that’s not how you would peg them. So, there’s definitely comedic moments with guest stars but also within it we’re all just trying to survive. You’ve got to laugh.”

More with the Stumptown Cast and Creator Greg Rucka:

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