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Horror Films of 2019: Preview of the Year’s Scary Offerings

By
Rebecca Murray
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Horror Movies Preview - Pet Sematary Cat
A scene from ‘Pet Sematary’ (Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes © 2018 Paramount Pictures)

2018’s crop of horror movies produced two real box office standouts: Halloween and A Quiet Place. 2019’s film entries in the horror genre should easily surpass 2018’s box office given that fans will be treated to the second part of It, a new Godzilla film, and the much-anticipated sequel to 2009’s Zombieland.

It: Chapter 2 catches up with the story 27 years after the events that played out in 2017’s It. Director Andy Muschietti snagged a first-rate cast that includes James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, James Ransone, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, and Andy Bean to take on the main characters as adults. The new addition to the Godzilla franchise pits the massive creature against Mothra, Rodan, and his biggest nemesis, King Ghidorah. Both films are guaranteed to be blockbusters, as is the Zombieland sequel that took a decade to bring to fruition.

Horror fans will also learn the valuable lesson that bringing loved ones back from the dead has dire consequences with the Pet Sematary remake. The terrifying doll first introduced in The Conjuring gets a third film all to herself, and BrightBurn introduces an evil version of a Superman-type character. Chucky returns, Jim Jarmusch directs a zombie comedy with Bill Murray and Adam Driver, and a remake of The Grudge hopes to creep out audiences in 2019.

Hellboy is reborn with Stranger Thing‘s David Harbour in the titular role, and 2019’s horror film roster also includes Marvel’s scariest X-Men story to date.


Here’s a look at what’s in store for 2019 listed alphabetically and with release dates and plot details where available.

47 Meters Down – Uncaged – June 28
Starring John Corbett, Nia Long, Sophie Nelisse, Corinne Foxx, Sistine Stallone, Brianne Tju, Davi Santos, and Khylin Rhambo
The Plot: 47 Meters Down – Uncaged tells the story of four teens diving in a ruined underwater city, who quickly find themselves in a watery hell as their adventure turns to horror when they learn they are not alone in the submerged caves. As they swim deeper into the claustrophobic labyrinth of caves they enter the territory of the deadliest shark species in the ocean.

Annabelle 3 (not the official title) – July 3
Starring McKenna Grace, Madison Iseman, Katie Sarife, Patrick Wilson, and Vera Farmiga
The Plot: Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her “safely” behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest’s holy blessing. But an unholy night of horror awaits as Annabelle awakens the evil spirits in the room, who all set their sights on a new target—the Warrens’ ten-year-old daughter, Judy, and her friends.

Antlers – TBD 2019
Starring Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, and Amy Madigan
The Plot: In Antlers, a small-town Oregon teacher (Russell) and her brother (Plemons), the local sheriff, discover that a young student (Thomas) is harboring a dangerous secret with frightening consequences.

BrightBurn star Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks stars in Sony Pictures’ ‘BrightBurn’ (Courtesy of Sony Pictures © 2018 CTMG, Inc)

BrightBurn – May 24
Starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones, and Meredith Hagner
The Plot: What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.

Child’s Play – June 21
Starring Aubrey Plaza, Brian Tyree Henry, and Gabriel Bateman
The Plot: Child’s Play follows a mother (Plaza) who gives her son (Bateman) a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature.

The Curse of Llarona – April 19
Starring Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velasquez, Marisol Ramirez, Sean Patrick Thomas, Roman Christou, Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen, and Tony Amendola
The Plot: This timeless Hispanic legend comes to terrifying life in “The Curse of La Llorona.” La Llorona. The Weeping Woman. A horrifying apparition, caught between Heaven and Hell, trapped in a terrible fate sealed by her own hand. The mere mention of her name has struck terror around the world for generations. In life, she drowned her children in a jealous rage, throwing herself in the churning river after them as she wept in pain. Now her tears are eternal. They are lethal, and those who hear her death call in the night are doomed.

La Llorona creeps in the shadows and preys on the children, desperate to replace her own. As the centuries have passed, her desire has grown more voracious…and her methods more terrifying.

In 1970s Los Angeles, La Llorona is stalking the night—and the children. Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker and her own small kids are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope to survive La Llorona’s deadly wrath may be a curandero, and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide. Beware of her chilling wail…she will stop at nothing to lure you into the gloom. Because there is no peace for her anguish. There is no mercy for her soul. And there is no escape from the curse of La Llorona.

The Dead Don’t Die – TBD 2019
Starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Chloë Sevigny, Tilda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, and Selena Gomez
The Plot: Writer/director Jim Jarmusch’s 2019 film is described as a zombie comedy.

Eli – January 4
Starring Kelly Reilly, Lili Taylor, and Max Martini
The Plot: The story of a young boy who undergoes treatment for a rare disease in a secluded clinic, which turns into a haunted prison with no way out.

Escape Room – January 4
Starring Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, Nik Dodani, and Yorick van Wageningen
The Plot: Escape Room is a psychological thriller about six strangers who find themselves in circumstances beyond their control and must use their wits to find the clues or die.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters Poster and Trailer
Poster for ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters.’

Godzilla: King of the Monsters – May 31
Starring Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Aisha Hinds, and Zhang Ziyi
The Plot: The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

Grudge – June 21
Starring Andrea Riseborough, Damián Bichir, John Cho, Betty Gilpin, Lin Shaye, and Jacki Weaver
The Plot: A house cursed by a vengeful ghost curses those who enter it with a violent death.

Happy Death Day 2U – February 14
Starring Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine, Rachel Matthews, Caleb Spillyards, and Charles Aitken
The Plot: Jessica Rothe leads the returning cast of Happy Death Day 2U, the follow-up to Blumhouse’s (Split, Get Out, The Purge series) surprise 2017 smash hit of riveting, repeating twists and comic turns. This time, our hero Tree (Rothe) discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead.

The Haunting of Sharon Tate – TBD 2019
Starring Hilary Duff, Jonathan Bennett, and Lydia Hearst
The Plot: The film follows actress Sharon Tate (Duff) in the weeks leading up to her and her unborn child’s murder as she is plagued by visions of her impending death.

Hellboy – April 12
Starring David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, and Daniel Dae Kim
The Plot: Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge.

It: Chapter 2 – September 6
Starring James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Teach Grant, and Bill Skarsgård, Andy Bean, Jaeden Lieberher, Wyatt Oleff, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs, and Jack Dylan Grazer
The Plot: Because every 27 years evil revisits the town of Derry, Maine, It: Chapter Two brings the characters—who’ve long since gone their separate ways—back together as adults, nearly three decades after the events of the first film.

The Lighthouse – TBD 2019
Starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe
The Plot: The Lighthouse is a fantasy horror story set in the world of old sea-faring myths.

Ma – TBD 2019
Starring Luke Evans, Juliette Lewis, Octavia Spencer, and Allison Janney
The Plot: Blumhouse Productions hasn’t released the official synopsis.

Mary – TBD 2019
Starring Gary Oldman, Emily Mortimer, Owen Teague, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Jennifer Esposito
The Plot: The story centers on a struggling family that buys an old ship at auction with high hopes of starting a charter business, only to discover her horrifying secrets once in isolated open waters.

Midsommar – Aug 9
Starring Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, and Will Poulter
The Plot: A couple travels to Sweden to visit their friend’s rural hometown for its fabled mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult. (Plot courtesy of Paste Magazine)

The New Mutants Poster

The New Mutants – August 2
Starring Alice Braga, Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heatons, Henry Zaga, and Blu Hunt
The Plot: The official synopsis has not been released.

Pet Sematary – April 5
Starring Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, Hugo and Lucas Lavoie, Jete Laurence, and Obssa Ahmed
The Plot: Based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King, Pet Sematary follows Dr. Louis Creed (Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife Rachel (Seimetz) and their two young children from Boston to rural Maine, discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family’s new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his unusual neighbor, Jud Crandall (Lithgow), setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unfathomable evil with horrific consequences.

The Prodigy – February 8
Starring Taylor Schilling, Jackson Robert Scott, Peter Mooney, and Colm Feore
The Plot: In her much-anticipated foray into the horror-thriller genre, Taylor Schilling stars in The Prodigy as Sarah, a mother whose young son Miles’ disturbing behavior signals that an evil, possibly supernatural force has overtaken him. Fearing for her family’s safety, Sarah must grapple with her maternal instinct to love and protect Miles in favor of investigating what – or who – is causing his dark turn. She is forced to look for answers in the past, taking the audience on a wild ride; one where the line between perception and reality remains blurry.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark – TBD 2019
Starring Michael Garza, Austin Abrams, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur, and Natalie Ganzhorn
The Plot: Inspired by one of the most terrifying book series of all time, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark follows a group of teens who must solve the mystery surrounding a wave of spectacularly horrific deaths in their small town. The five join the previously announced Zoe Colletti in the ensemble at the heart of the film.

The Turning – TBD 2019
Starring Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, and Brooklynn Prince
The Plot: For more than 100 years, a deeply haunting tale has been passed down to terrify audiences. DreamWorks Pictures’ The Turning takes us to a mysterious estate in the Maine countryside, where newly appointed nanny Kate is charged with the care of two disturbed orphans, Flora and Miles. Quickly though, she discovers that both the children and the house are harboring dark secrets and things may not be as they appear.

Us – March 15
Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Anna Diop, Evan Alex, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Madison Curry, Cali Sheldon, and Noelle Sheldon
The Plot: Visionary filmmaker and Academy Award winner Jordan Peele, who created the blockbuster Get Out, follows that success with another original and provocative thriller.

Zombieland 2 – October 11
Starring Emma Stone, Zoey Deutch, Abigail Breslin, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Avan Jogia
The Plot: The much-anticipated Zombieland sequel takes place in a future where the zombies have evolved, forcing our fearless zombie killers to sharpen their killing skills.




Ryan Reynolds Will Narrate ‘Great Bear Rainforest’ Documentary

By
Rebecca Murray
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Ryan Reynolds Great Bear Rainforest
Ryan Reynolds to narrate ‘Great Bear Rainforest’ (Photo Copyright Alamy Photo)

Ryan Reynolds has signed on to narrate the 2019 documentary, Great Bear Rainforest. The documentary was shot in Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest and will open in IMAX and giant screen theaters on February 15, 2019.

“I want my children to know there is still an area in this world that has remained wild, and will remain that way, because of the long history of stewardship shown by indigenous people,” said Ryan Reynolds. “I hope this film inspires the younger generation that there is hope for the future if we all work together and take care of our planet’s remaining wild places.”

Great Bear Rainforest was directed by Ian McAllister who has an intimate knowledge of the area after working in the Great Bear Rainforest for three decades. The film’s a Spirit Bear Entertainment production and was executive produced by Kyle Washington and Byron Horner. Jeff Turner served as a producer. MacGillivray Freeman Films is on board as distributor.


“We can’t think of a more perfect fit for this project than Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds,” explained director Ian McAllister. “Ryan is a wonderful representative for the ongoing conservation of this globally significant rainforest which is part of his Canadian heritage and we are thrilled he will be our narrator.”

Oscar winner Hans Zimmer (The Lion King) is composing the film’s main title theme and Anže Rozman is composing the documentary’s score.

Commenting on his involvement, Hans Zimmer said, “When I saw the footage that Ian McAllister and Byron Horner showed me of their film I could not help but be swept away by the spellbinding imagery of this truly remarkable place. I was so moved by the beauty and grandness of this environment that I felt compelled to be involved on a deeper level and I am excited to be a part of the team.”

“Featuring three First Nations’ youth sharing in their own voices their intergenerational conservation efforts, the Great Bear Rainforest represents two firsts. This is the first giant screen film for IMAX theaters shot exclusively in British Columbia and the first to feature Indigenous Peoples in Canada,” stated Executive Producer Byron Horner.

Documentary Details:

“Hidden from the outside world, Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest is home to an immense array of wildlife, including the fabled all-white spirit bear—the rarest bear on earth—and the indigenous First Nations, who have provided stewardship of the forest for millennia.

Director Ian McAllister and producer Jeff Turner and their crews spent three years filming throughout the remote reaches of the Great Bear Rainforest. From the underwater ocean world, through the salmon river valleys to the ice-capped peaks of the Coast Mountains, their unprecedented close-up footage of the spirit bear, along with stunning shots of the forest’s coastal wolves, grizzlies, sea otters, humpback whales, sea lions, salmon and the annual herring spawn will thrill audiences who may not even know that such a world exists.”





‘Get Shorty’ Comedy Series Earns a Third Season from EPIX

By
Rebecca Murray
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Get Shorty star Chris O'Dowd and Steve Weber
Steve Weber and Chris O’Dowd star in ‘Get Shorty’ (Photo Courtesy of EPIX)

EPIX’s popular dark comedy series, Get Shorty, has been renewed for a third season. The network’s targeting a 2019 premiere of the third season of the comedy created by Davey Holmes (Shameless, In Treatment) and based on Elmore Leonard’s bestselling novel.

The cast of Get Shorty is led by Screen Actors Guild nominee Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children) and Emmy Award-winner Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond, Men of a Certain Age). Sean Bridgers (Rectify, Room), Lidia Porto (Horrible Bosses 2), Carolyn Dodd (The Adventures of Catty Wompus), Goya Robles (11:55), Megan Stevenson (Review), Steven Weber (Ballers) and Sarah Stiles (I’m Dying Up Here) also star in the upcoming third season.

“Chris O’Dowd and Ray Romano have so thoroughly embraced their roles, and I know I speak for all fans of Get Shorty when I say that we can’t wait for their escapades to unfold in season three,” stated EPIX President Michael Wright. He added, “The entire EPIX team is looking forward to working again with Davey Holmes, Adam Arkin and the MGM Television team to continue Get Shorty‘s success.”

Series creator Davey Holmes serves as an executive producer along with Adam Arkin (The Americans, Sneaky Pete).

The Plot:

The series follows Miles Daly (O’Dowd), muscle for a Nevada crime ring who tries to become a movie producer in Hollywood with the help of a washed-up producer, Rick Moreweather (Romano), as a means to leave his criminal past behind. In season two, Miles struggles to reconcile his ambitions as a filmmaker and a family man with his skill set as a career criminal. His progress in Hollywood is jeopardized when the washed-up producer, with whom he partnered in season one, agrees to wear a Federal wire.

In season three, Miles embraces more ruthless methods as he settles scores and attempts to climb the Hollywood ladder.




‘Bird Box’ New Trailer: Don’t Open Your Eyes!

By
Rebecca Murray
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Netflix’s new trailer for the thriller Bird Box shows off new adrenaline-pumping scenes of Sandra Bullock attempting to lead her children to safety while being pursued by an unknown entity. The film required Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) to perform wearing a blindfold, something that affected the Oscar-winning actress’ approach to the role. “There’s one scene where I’m calling for Girl in the film while blindfolded, and I realized I would have to express so much through my voice because as actors we usually rely a lot on our eyes to tell the emotional story,” stated Bullock.

In addition to Sandra Bullock, the drama stars Trevante Rhodes, Jacki Weaver, Rosa Salazar, Danielle Macdonald, Lil Rel Howery, Tom Hollander, Colson Baker, BD Wong, Sarah Paulson, and John Malkovich.

Emmy Award-winner Susanne Bier (The Night Manager) directed from a screenplay by Eric Heisserer. Dylan Clark, Chris Morgan, and Clayton Townsend produced, and Bullock served as an executive producer.

Director Bier praised Bullock’s performance and commitment to the role, commenting that it came from the Oscar winner’s deeply personal feelings. “I think this role felt especially crucial to Sandra because it is about motherhood and she brings out a combination in Malorie of being vulnerable yet forceful, tough yet also sexy. At the end of the film, it was really hard editing her performance because I fell in love with every single take,” said Bier.

Bird Box will open in limited theatrical release on December 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and London. The film will be released in additional theaters and on Netflix on December 21st. The MPAA’s given the film an R rating for violence, bloody images, language and brief sexuality.

Bird Box star Sandra Bullock
Vivien Lyra Blair, Sandra Bullock, and Julian Edwards star in ‘Bird Box’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)

The Plot:

When a mysterious force decimates the world’s population, only one thing is certain: if you see it, you take your life. Facing the unknown, Malorie finds love, hope and a new beginning only for it to unravel. Now she must flee with her two children down a treacherous river to the one place left that may offer sanctuary. But to survive, they’ll have to undertake the perilous two-day journey blindfolded.




‘The Passage’ – Henry Ian Cusick and Jamie McShane Interview

By
Rebecca Murray
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Fox’s new drama The Passage, based on the best-selling book series by Justin Cronin, is set to premiere on January 14, 2019. The sci-fi thriller involves the unexpected consequences of the hunt for a cure for humanity’s most deadly diseases.

The cast of Fox’s The Passage season one features Henry Ian Cusick, Jamie McShane, Saniyya Sidney, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Caroline Chikezie, Vincent Piazza, Brianne Howey, McKinley Belcher III, and Emmanuelle Chriqui also star in the series’ first season.

Paired up for roundtable interviews at the San Diego Comic-Con, The Passage stars Henry Ian Cusick (The 100) and Jamie McShane (Bosch) provided a little insight into their characters and the plot.

Can you describe your characters?

Jamie McShane: “I play Dr. Tim Fanning. I am a scientist who becomes a neurologist. I went to Harvard with my buddy here.”

Henry Ian Cusick: “I play Dr. Jonas Lear who is a microbiologist and we’ve known each other for a long time. We were best friends. We share a lot in common.”

Jamie McShane: “A lot. He has this expedition to find a cure for a various diseases, and we find that there’s a strain of a virus down in Bolivia which seems to be prolonging people’s lives and they’re being able to fight diseases and all. So, he enlists me to join him down there and it goes very awry. It messes me up first.”

Henry Ian Cusick: “He becomes the viral. He becomes Patient Zero. We take him back to Project NOAH and we do tests on him. The virus that he has is resistant to AIDS, cancer, Ebola – everything you can think of – so we’re trying to figure out how we can use that for good. But we’re heavily funded by a military department who want to use it for other reasons. That’s our side of the story.

We’re getting hit at the same time by an avian-type flu coming into America that’s going to wipe out half the population in 12 hours if we don’t get a cure. And then we decide to get this cure we need to get…because we use test subjects who are convicts from jail on death row…we decide to get a young girl.”

Jamie McShane: “Because the younger the convicts have been, the better it’s worked on them, the less they’ve transformed into virals. So, they decide to get a young girl.”

Henry Ian Cusick: “We need a young girl, a young kid, and we choose Amy Belafonte.”

The Passage star Henry Ian Cusick
Henry Ian Cusick in ‘The Passage’ (Photo by Eliza Morse © 2019 FOX Broadcasting)

How does your character come to terms with choosing a child and doing experiments on prisoners? Is he okay with that?

Jamie McShane: “That’s a great question.”

Henry Ian Cusick: “That’s the part of the character that I like doing. You know, here’s a man who went out with all the best intentions in the world to find a cure for all these awful ills that the world has, loses his best friend, loses his wife, comes back and he just works and works and works. He’s sort of in that unit the whole time and doesn’t leave. You’re going to seem him in that, working the whole time. And, then he gets to the point where, ‘I need to work on a child.’ So, that is the moral dilemma and that’s when it becomes interesting for an actor.”

How does The Passage compare to The 100 in terms of horror and scariness?

Henry Ian Cusick: “So, The 100 is a lot more in your face and blood splattering on the screen – not to say that The Passage won’t. […] I think it’s a lot more psychological and there’s a lot more heartwarming stories and a lot more about relationships rather than just, ‘Let’s all fight.’ I’m not saying The 100 is that. Obviously, The 100 has all that, but it’s not going to be as hardcore I don’t think. I could be totally wrong though.”

From what you’ve described it doesn’t seem like your character gets into the “heartwarming” storyline.

Henry Ian Cusick: “I don’t know yet.”

Jamie McShane: “I think he’s in a lot of the heartbreaking with things that happen. Like he said, he lost his best friend, his wife is dying and he loses her. He’s pretty much responsible for all the things that happen in these three books and the storylines. How do you feel about that?”

Henry Ian Cusick: “Not so good.”

Have you read the books?

Jamie McShane: “Yeah, we have.”

What drew you to the story?

Henry Ian Cusick: “Well, we read them because we got the parts.”

Jamie McShane: “The way Justin writes and crafts the books, in a way you get a little lost but you get to where you’re like, ‘All right, I’m going to trust this in getting lost.’ Because it happened several times for me during the course of the three books, and then it all ties together. Because you’re like, ‘Wait a minute – who are these people? We just jumped in time, how did we get here?’ And then it all ties back so well.

I find it fascinating how when everything does go awry and the world reverts back to a much earlier time – they don’t have the cars, they don’t have electricity as such – how people have to go back and start over again. If you look at the technology we have now what you can do with a camera and Wi-Fi and internet and all that, they have to go back to, ‘There’s a junk of a car. How do we get it to run? How do we get it to move? What is it?’ Having to hunt for your own food again, having to grow your own food. I find it fascinating, that sort of going back in time and such.”

Do we delve much into your backstory and get into the relationship you had that led up to this?

Henry Ian Cusick: “Yes. Absolutely. You’ll see me with a dark beard. Jamie’s hair is down to (his shoulders). All the hippie love power back in the ‘70s.”

Jamie McShane: (Laughing) “He’s lying.”

Henry Ian Cusick: “We’re going way back to the early days of Harvard. I don’t know… We don’t know, but we have a lot of backstory.”

This doesn’t mean you get killed off on The 100 though, right?

Henry Ian Cusick: (Smiling) “I didn’t say that.”

Jamie McShane: “I do not get killed off.”

Henry Ian Cusick: “He definitely does not get killed off.”




‘Dirty John’ Season 1 Episode 4 Photos: “Shrapnel” Plot and Cast Info

By
Rebecca Murray
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Dirty John Season 1 Episode 4
Eric Bana as John Meehan in ‘Dirty John’ season 1 episode 4 (Photo by: Jordin Althaus/Bravo)

Bravo’s new dramatic limited series Dirty John continues with season one episode four airing on December 16, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT. Photos from the episode titled “Shrapnel” show John Meehan in a hospital bed while the other main characters are in comforting mode – but not at John’s side.

The season one cast is led by Connie Britton (American Horror Story, Nashville) and Eric Bana (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Deliver Us From Evil). Juno Temple (The Most Hated Woman in America), Julia Garner (Ozark, The Americans), Alexander Gomez (Too Old to Die Young), Jake Abel (Love & Mercy, Supernatural), Jean Smart (A Simple Favor, Legion), Judy Reyes (One Day at a Time, Jane the Virgin), and Kevin Zegers (Fear the Walking Dead, Notorious) also star in the addictive limited series’ first season.

Dirty John is written by series creator Alexandra Cunningham. Cunningham also executive produces with Eric Bana, Connie Britton, Richard Suckle, Charles Roven, Mark Herzog, Christopher G. Cowen, Chris Argentieri, and Jeffrey Reiner. Reiner directed the show’s first four episodes.

“Shrapnel” Plot – Debra confronts John in the present, while we learn more about Arlane’s past.

The Dirty John Plot:

Based on the articles and breakout true crime podcast from Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard, Bravo’s scripted event series Dirty John tells the true story of how a romance between Debra Newell (Britton) and the charismatic John Meehan (Bana) spiraled into secrets, denial, manipulation, and ultimately, a fight for survival for an entire family.

Their fast-tracked romance creates tension between Debra and her two daughters Terra (Garner) and Veronica (Temple), leaving the girls no choice but to investigate the man who has swept their mother off her feet, while the backstory of Debra and her mother Arlane (Smart) provides insight into why Debra was so vulnerable to John in the first place.

Dirty John Season 1 Episode 4
Connie Britton as Debra Newell and, Kevin Zegers as Toby in ‘Dirty John’ episode 4 (Photo by: Michael Becker/Bravo)
Dirty John Season 1 Episode 4
Connie Britton as Debra Newell and Juno Temple as Veronica Newell in episode 4 (Photo by: Michael Becker/Bravo)
Dirty John Season 1 Episode 4
Juno Temple as Veronica Newell in episode 4 (Photo by: Michael Becker/Bravo)
Dirty John Season 1 Episode 4
Connie Britton as Debra Newell in season 1 episode 4 (Photo by: Michael Becker/Bravo)
Dirty John Season 1 Episode 4
Jean Smart as Arlene Hart and Joe Tippet as Bobby in episode 4 (Photo by: Michael Becker/Bravo)




‘Ghost Adventures’ Marathon Kicks Off 2019 with Ghost Hunting and ‘Demon House’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Travel Channel’s kicking off the new year with a special Ghost Adventures marathon. Fans of the ghost hunting series will be able to binge the series beginning December 31st at 8am PT/ET. The marathon leads into the television premiere of Ghost Adventures‘ Zak Bagans’ documentary film, Demon House.

“As Zak’s TV family, we are excited to feature his incredible film and nourish fans with never-before-seen extra content,” stated Jane Latman, general manager, Travel Channel. “And what better way to ring in the New Year than from the edge of your seat!”

Travel Channel’s New Year’s programming lineup also includes the one-hour special, Demon House: Lost Footage. The special will feature new previously unseen footage from the documentary.


In addition to Zak Bagans, the Ghost Adventures team includes Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley, and Jay Wasley.

Ghost Adventures Marathon:

    Beginning Monday, December 31 at 8:00am ET/PT

  • In each episode of Ghost Adventures, Zak Bagans and Aaron Goodwin, along with A/V techs Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley, travel to a different haunted destination where they meet with locals, eyewitnesses and experts in an attempt to piece together the haunted history of each site. They then begin a dusk-to-dawn “lockdown” investigation, using the latest scientific gadgets and technology in an effort to obtain physical evidence of the paranormal and uncover the truth behind each haunted mystery.

    Featured episodes include: “Manresa Castle,” “Odd Fellows Asylum,” “Grand Canyon Caverns,” “Old Lincoln County Hospital,” “Palace Saloon,” “Kennedy Mine,” “The Titanic Museum,” “Pythian Castle,” “The Slaughter House,” “Nevada State Prison,” “Black Dahlia House,” “Return to Winchester Mystery House,” “Stone Lion Inn,” “The Washoe Club: Final Chapter” and more.

  • Demon House – Two-Hour Documentary; Television Premiere
    Premieres Tuesday, January 1 at 9pm ET/PT

  • In 2014, the story of a demon possession in Gary, Indiana, caused a worldwide media sensation. Paranormal investigator Zak Bagans was producing an episode of his popular television series, Ghost Adventures, when the story broke; he bought the house a day later over the phone, sight unseen. But Bagans and his crew were unprepared for what awaited them at the house possessed by “200 demons.” Bagans soon suffered from a debilitating illness, crew members quit and people nearly died … Bagans even started to wonder if just viewing the film could open audiences up to possession themselves. Had he made a movie too dangerous to release?

  • Demon House: Lost Footage – One-Hour Special
    Premieres Tuesday, January 1 at 11pm ET/PT

  • This exclusive special reveals never-before-seen footage from Zak Bagans’ film, Demon House, a documentary that follows Bagans’ investigation of a haunted Gary, Indiana, home he purchased, sight unseen, and is believed to be possessed by demons. The hour-long special features commentary from Bagans about the home and its backstory, the terrifying investigation and unseen evidence.

  • “Curse of the River Bend” – Two-Part Ghost Adventures Special
    Premieres Saturday, January 5 and Saturday, January 12 at 9pm ET/PT

  • Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Jay Wasley and Billy Tolley head to Alton, Illinois, in this two-part Ghost Adventures special. A city just north of St. Louis, Missouri, Alton sits on the Mississippi River. Rife with dark history, it’s considered one of America’s most haunted towns. The crew investigates two of the town’s most haunted buildings in hopes of capturing paranormal evidence.

  • McPike Mansion – Premieres Saturday, January 5 at 9pm ET/PT
    The team travels to Alton, Illinois, a town considered by many to be one of the most haunted places in America, to investigate a Victorian mansion with a rich history and reports of dangerous paranormal activity.

  • Mineral Springs Hotel – Premieres Saturday, January 12 at 9pm ET/PT
    The crew concludes their two-part investigation of Alton, Illinois, at the Mineral Springs Hotel. The 1914 structure has been witness to multiple deaths, and Zak Bagans believes a demonic entity is keeping these lost souls trapped inside the building.




‘God Friended Me’ Season 1 Episode 11 Photos: “17 Years” Preview, Cast and Plot

By
Rebecca Murray
-

CBS’s God Friended Me finishes up the first half of the season with episode 11 airing December 16, 2018. Season one episode 11 is titled “17 Years” and was directed by Tamra Davis from a script by Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt.

Episode 11 features guest stars David Hoflin as Charles Cole, Holley Fain as Angela, and Joe Holt as Daniel Estes. Lisann Valentin, Aiden Medina, Hope Blackstock, and Lauren Lim Jackson also guest star in the fall finale.

Season one’s cast includes Brandon Micheal Hall as Miles Finer, The Flash‘s Violett Beane as Cara Bloom, Suraj Sharma as Rakesh, Javicia Leslie as Ali Finer, and Joe Morton as Reverend Arthur Finer. Victoria Janicki plays Nia, Kyle Harris is Eli, Erica Gimpel is Trish, and Abby Awe plays Lucy.

The “17 Years” Plot – Miles is shocked and angered when the God Account sends him the name of the drunk driver who killed his mother 17 years earlier, leading Cara and Rakesh to help him face the worst moment of his life in order to move forward. Also, Miles and Rakesh learn revealing information about Falken, the mysterious hacker who they believe is tied to the God Account.

The God Friended Me Season One Plot Description:

God Friended Me is about an outspoken atheist whose life is turned upside down when he receives a friend request on social media from “God” and unwittingly becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him. Miles Finer is intelligent, hopeful and optimistic, but he doesn’t believe in God. This puts him at odds with his father, Reverend Arthur Finer, a beloved preacher at Harlem’s Trinity Church for 25 years who is stung by his son’s strong rejection of his faith. Miles feels he’s found his purpose in life hosting a podcast where he’s free to speak his mind, but that changes when he receives the ultimate friend request.

After repeated pokes by “God,” Miles’ curiosity takes over, and he accepts the request and follows the signs to Cara Bloom, an online journalist suffering from writer’s block. Brought together by the “God” account, the two find themselves investigating “God’s” friend suggestions and inadvertently helping others in need. Joining them on their journey are Miles’s supportive sister, Ali, a doctoral psych student by day and bartender by night, and his best friend, Rakesh, a sometime hacker who helps Miles and Cara research the enigmatic account. Miles is set on getting to the bottom of what he believes is an elaborate hoax, but in the meantime he’ll play along and, in the process, change his life forever.

God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 11
Brandon Micheal Hall as Miles Finer and Violett Beane as Cara Bloom in ‘God Friended Me’ season 1 episode 11 (Photo Credit: Peter Kramer / 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc)
God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 11
Violett Beane as Cara Bloom and Brandon Micheal Hall as Miles Finer in episode 11 (Photo Credit: Screengrab / 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc)
God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 11
Javicia Leslie as Ali Finer (Photo Credit: Peter Kramer / 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc)
God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 11
Holley Fain as Angela and David Hoflin as Charles Cole in episode 11 (Photo Credit: Scott McDermott / 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc)
God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 11
A scene from ‘God Friended Me’ episode 11 (Photo Credit: Scott McDermott / 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc)




‘The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part’ Short – Emmet Celebrates the Holidays

By
Rebecca Murray
-

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is ringing in the holidays with a special short film, “Emmet’s Holiday Party.” The two and a half minute short shows that not even living in Apocalypseburg can get the always optimistic Emmet down. Lucy, however, is still all broody and prepared for the worst case scenario to unfold in any given situation.

Emmet wants to spread a little joy among the Apocalypseburg residents by throwing a gigantic holiday party, complete with a huge Christmas tree that can be seen from space. Of course, the massive tree and its lights draw the attention of unwanted visitors from outer space. Fortunately, they’re only paying the little town a visit to add a star to the top of the tree.

The holiday short ends with a chorus of “Everything is Awesome” breaking out as happy skaters circle an ice rink. The only citizen not in a joyous mood turns out to be Batman who’s depressed his sweater only has eight abs.


The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part features the voices of Chris Pratt as Emmet (as well as Rex Dangervest), Elizabeth Banks as Lucy (aka Wyldstyle), Will Arnett as LEGO Batman, Charlie Day as Benny, Alison Brie as Unikitty, and Nick Offerman as Metal Beard. New voice cast members include Tiffany Haddish as Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi, Stephanie Beatriz as Sweet Mayhem, Arturo Castro as Ice Cream Cone, and Maya Rudolph.

Mike Mitchell directed from a screenplay by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Roy Lee, and Jinko Gotoh produced, with Jill Wilfert, Keith Malone, Matthew Ashton, Chris McKay, Zareh Nalbandian, Ryan Halprin, Will Allegra, and Chris Leahy executive producing.

Warner Bros Pictures will release the animated sequel in theaters on February 8, 2019 in 2D and 3D.

The Plot:

The much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all, The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part, reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are now facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than it can be rebuilt.

The battle to defeat the invaders and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet (Pratt), Lucy (Banks), Batman (Arnett) and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.




‘Gotham’ – Robin Lord Taylor Season 5 Interview on Penguin’s Journey

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Fox’s Gotham is set to return for its fifth and final season on January 3, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT. The new season will continue to focus on Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman, while also introducing new villains including Bane (Shane West). Fan favorite villains The Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), The Riddler (Cory Michael Smith), and The Joker (Cameron Monaghan) will also play integral roles in the show’s fifth season which will finish up with a 10 year leap forward in time for the series’ finale.

Robin Lord Taylor was among the cast members in attendance at the 2018 New York Comic Con supporting Gotham‘s final season. During our roundtable interview, Robin Lord Taylor discussed The Penguin’s evolution and what he hopes fans take away from the character by the end of the season.

How does it feel going into Gotham‘s final season?

Robin Lord Taylor: “I couldn’t be more proud of the stories that we’ve told. My fellow actors and also my crew have made me a better actor and a better person. I owe them so much. It’s crazy. (Getting emotional) I’ve been on the verge all day… People are like, ‘Who are you going to miss the most?’ It’s like I can’t answer it. Everyone’s changed me. It’s crazy. It’s emotional.”

In past interviews you’ve said fans will get to watch The Penguin evolve further into the comics’ version.

Robin Lord Taylor: (Laughing) “I wasn’t going to spoil it, but our showrunner did. Yeah, you will see our version of the traditional Penguin from the comic books in the last episode. All of the components will be there. It will be fully realized. I’m so excited because it almost makes…it legitimizes him in a certain way. It’s like now I really do feel like I am the third Penguin. Like, I followed Burgess Meredith and Danny DeVito. Like, what the f*ck is my life? Unbelievable! It’s amazing.”

Was there anything you really wanted to make sure got in before the end of the show’s run?


Robin Lord Taylor: “There was, and it will make it in – the monocle. I wanted to make sure that when we tell that story, that it’s not just some affectation. It’ s not just some weird stylistic choice.

You know, in one of the stories it’s an actual injury that he receives. [John Stephens] walked me through the beginning of the season. He walked me through vaguely where we’re going. He was like, ‘Do you have anything that you really need?’ I was like, ‘Can we please when we do the monocle make it the injury?’ because it ties into this character from the beginning having been beaten and now he has the limp and he’s somewhat handicapped. It’s about how Gotham City itself is destroying this person, is cutting him down, is turning him into a monster. And that’s such an important component of it, I feel, the fact that he’s now blinded in one eye.

There’s something about him now where one side of his body is damaged and the other side is not. It’s like this duality that’s always been there with him, this sympathetic yet monstrous person, you know? And I just thought that was so important. It will come into play in these next couple of episodes.”

For you personally, are there any villains coming up that you’d like to see Penguin sharing scenes with?

Robin Lord Taylor: “I’ve been in lots of scenes with, I think, all of the villains. I’m actually going to flip it a little and say I want more scenes with the good guys. I’ve had passing scenes with Lucius Fox and I’ve had a passing scene with Alfred. I just really want to have more stuff with those guys because when you put two of these characters together, you learn new things about them and then about their relationship to these people. I just think that would be so cool to play more on the good guy side of things.”

What will the relationship be like between The Penguin and The Riddler in the new season? Will they have an alliance or will they collide?

Robin Lord Taylor: “Here’s the thing…yes and no. Because again these two characters are so brilliant, and they don’t want to answer to anybody else. It’s hard for them to share and to collaborate and cooperate, but yet at the same time they have to. To get anything done in Gotham City you have to have allies, you have to work with other people especially now that Gotham in season five is fractional. People control certain aspects and so you need to do deals with all of these other people.

With The Riddler in particular I sort of say to myself, ‘My best friend is also my enemy.’ That’s sort of how I feel about their connection. It’s like face-to-face we’re fine but turn your back around and then in goes the knife. They will always have that contention, but I like that. That’s a friction and that’s good stuff, and that’s exciting. You don’t know where they’re going to go. So, yeah, that’s what’s in store for them.”

Robin Lord Taylor Gotham The Penguin
Robin Lord Taylor as The Penguin in season 4 of ‘Gotham’ (Photo © 2018 Fox Broadcasting Co)

What’s one of your favorite Penguin stories from any other interpretation?

Robin Lord Taylor: “I love Batman Returns, that movie and that story of The Penguin. It’s such a departure from the comic books but I think it is just such a poetic, beautiful translation of the character that Tim Burton did. And also, just Danny DeVito’s performance has been reviewed ever since the movie came out. That’s really been my favorite.

And, also, what I really appreciate now especially having worked on Gotham and looking back, specifically at Tim Burton’s work, I like the bravery that he had to play with canon, to play with these traditional characters and not be afraid to put his own interpretation or his own design in order to take it a different way. We’ve done that with the show and we’ve gotten a lot of blowback from certain fans about some of the storylines that we’ve put in. A lot of people have complained that it wasn’t in the comics; it wasn’t canon. I really now having experienced it on my own, I really appreciate the bravery that Tim Burton had to really tell a new story.

If these stories aren’t reinterpreted, if they aren’t changed, if we stick to one specific idea of who these characters are, there’s no way Batman would be 80 years old and we’d still be talking about him. These stories need to change and they need to adapt. Being able to take these characters and make them your own and adapt them to the time in which you’re doing it…this is The Penguin for right now. In some years there would be another one. Every generation gets the Batman that they deserve.”

What do you want fans to take away from this last season about Oswald/The Penguin?

Robin Lord Taylor: “I want them to recognize how Gotham City has created this monster and created all of these monsters. It’s about the city and how it corrupts. I want people to see this person who as a child, if things had gone right, if he hadn’t been poor from an immigrant family, if he hadn’t been bullied mercilessly, if he had been supported and treated with love, I believe he would be a good person. I really do believe he could have used his amazing intellect for good things.

But, that’s not the story we’re telling. So by the very end when the show is all said and done, I want people to look back specifically at The Penguin and see how this person started with a shred of humanity and then through circumstances in this city with these people he ends up a monster. He ends up one of the most ruthless, horrifying people you’ve ever seen. I want people to see how Gotham City has corrupted what could have been good.”




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