The CW’s new fantasy series The Outpost continues on July 31, 2018 with season one episode four. The episode titled “Strange Bedfellows” was directed by John Lyde from a script by Jason Faller an Kynan Griffin.
The cast is led by Jessica Green (Ash vs Evil Dead) as Talon. Season one also features Jake Stormoen as Garret, Imogen Waterhouse as Gwynn, Anand Desai-Barochia as Janzo, Philip Brodie as Everit dred, Andrew Howard, and Robyn Malcolm.
Kynan Griffin and Jason Faller created the series and serve as executive producers along with Dean Devlin (The Librarians), Marc Roskin, Rachel Olschan-Wilson, and Jonathan Glassner (Stargate SG-1). Faller and Griffin wrote all 10 episodes and John Lyde directed four, including episode one.
The “Strange Bedfellows” Plot: POWER STRUGGLE – Against the Smith’s (Kevin McNally) advice, Talon (Jessica Green) goes after the demon before she’s ready. The Mistress (Robyn Malcolm) proves herself a ruthless enemy in her scheme to take over the colipsum trade.
The Series Plot:The Outpost follows Talon, the lone survivor of a race called “Blackbloods.” Years after her entire village is destroyed by a gang of brutal mercenaries, Talon travels to a lawless fortress on the edge of the civilized world, as she tracks the killers of her family. On her journey to this outpost, Talon discovers she possesses a mysterious supernatural power that she must learn to control in order to save herself, and defend the world against a fanatical religious dictator.
Hulu’s Castle Rock is set in the Stephen King multiverse and fans of the horror meister’s work are going to have a fun time catching all the references in the show’s first season. Some references are obvious (like the Shawshank prison and the character Alan Panghorn) while others will take multiple viewings of an episode to catch.
The cast of the psychological horror series includes Bill Skarsgard who just came off a starring turn in the blockbuster film adaptation of Stephen King’s It. Skarsgard stars as Pennywise the Clown in It, but in Castle Rock his character’s much more mysterious. In our interview at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con, Skarsgard did a terrific job of discussing the original series while avoiding any spoilers about the true identity of his character.
Bill Skarsgard Castle Rock Interview:
Did you have any trepidation about jumping into another Stephen King project?
Bill Skarsgard: “Yeah. Initially going into it I was a little bit reluctant to because they didn’t give me… Everything was very secretive about this project. Everything was kept under wraps. They just reached out in interest with a short description of the character, no description of the show, really, just that it was a multiverse sort of Stephen King universe show. I was reluctant. I was like, ‘I just did something within that world and I don’t know how this interferes with that narrative, really.’
But as soon as they allowed me to read the pilot that all changed. I fell in love with the show. I thought it was an amazingly strong pilot. I met Sam (Shaw) and Dustin (Thomason), the writers, and just loved those guys. At that point I was like, ‘I’m in. I really want to do this.’”
Was it one of those situations where once you got the part, you were given more details on the character? Or, did they leave you in the dark episode to episode?
Bill Skarsgard: “They tried. (Laughing) They tried a little bit but they told me, even just in the meeting before I got the role, they told me a little bit about the character. But, they didn’t tell me where it was going. They didn’t explain the mystery to me.
Once I got the job, it was really important for me to know what my character knew in every given point. I’ve heard stories on TV shows – you never do this on films, obviously, because you get to read the whole script. And what we’re doing to me it’s a 10-hour film and I didn’t know why you would not tell your actors the whole thing because that’s how you do when you work on stage, on film…anything, really. But, it’s a different thing because writers also write as the show’s going on, so things change as they change. The story actually changes as you’re shooting. I know they see the dailies and what we’re doing with the character and they go, ‘Oh, shit, that’s cool!’ and then that affects the actual thing. It’s an organic process. It’s molding itself as you’re going along.
But, like I said, it’s important for me to know what my character knows in every given point and what the motivation is for every given scene. Otherwise it’s like I’m gambling that I’m hitting the right tone, if I don’t know what tone I’m trying to strive for.”
What was it about the character that you really latched onto? What was your entry point into figuring out who he is?
Bill Skarsgard: “It’s a weird one because I can’t tell you exactly everything because I would spoil too much of it. But, it’s a weird one where there’s a lot of different layers to the character – almost like it’s different characters within the character. I had to have different approaches to finding the different layers.
Initially going into it, it was very important that he’s been in isolation for a very long time so researching what solitary confinement does to one’s psyche and trying to imagine what it would have been like to have been in there for that long and how strange and terrifying it would be to interact with people after being there. So, you know, there’s a version of the character that’s like this (wild hand movements in front of his face showing his fear of people). But it’s not as aesthetically (pleasing).
Tonally, the character had to have sort of a calmness in it. Without giving too much away, there’s a psychological explanation for why he’s calm. Those things were really important to figure out, that sort of looking someone in the eyes might be really weird and overwhelming. And, physical space is just almost suffocating. All of those things were really intriguing and fun to explore.”
How many Stephen King books have you read in prepping for this? Are some King narratives more helpful to you in finding the tone of this than others?
Bill Skarsgard: “I’ve read five or six of his books. Needful Things, because it’s set in Castle Rock and Alan Panghorn is a character who’s recurring in the show as well. It’s more fun than anything. I think it was more important for the writers to because they, in a way, adapted all of his books to the show. For me, it was like what’s important for the tone is the show is what we’re doing, which is a new story. My tone needed to be respectful to the truth of the show, as opposed to being respectful to books of Stephen King. So, it’s different that way.
With It, the book was the bible for me because that was the source material that we were adapting. All the little clues I could get from Stephen King’s words about who the character is were little things I sort of used as detective work to make the truth of the character. That’s different. This is a new thing that’s inspired by rather than an adaptation.”
As you delve into this character, is there anything you’re surprised to learn about yourself as an actor?
Bill Skarsgard: “No. If anything with Pennywise that was such an overwhelming experience that I feel like I was like, ‘All right, I have to really go for it here.’ So, I was committed, going for it, really doing bold choices. And I think it paid off and it worked. That made me more confidant in committing to bigger choices. I did that with this character as well. It can backfire at times, it probably will backfire at times, but it’s fun to be explore it and be more bold.”
Can you talk about working with André Holland and how your two characters will interact?
Bill Skarsgard: “André is like a straight-up professional, like theatre-schooled actor. It’s always a pleasure working with that sort of caliber of actor – really committed, really smart, really talented. Their relationship…they have a relationship. My character has a connection to Henry and I can’t tell you what that is. You have to see the show. Towards the end of it the mystery is revealed and you’ll find out how these two characters are intertwined.”
Felicity Huffman joins ‘Central Park Five’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Netflix’s Central Park Five has signed on Felicity Huffman, Jharrel Jerome, and Jovan Adepo in key roles. The trio joins previously announced cast members Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, and John Leguizamo in the dramatic four-episode series.
Oscar nominee Ava DuVernay (13th) is writing and directing the limited series. DuVernay is also executive producing along with Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King from Participant Media, Oprah Winfrey/Harpo Films, Jane Rosenthal and Berry Welsh from Tribeca Productions.
Netflix is aiming for a 2019 premiere.
The Central Park Five cast and characters, courtesy of Netflix:
Oscar nominee and Emmy Award winner Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) will play Linda Fairstein, the prosecutor who headed the Manhattan district attorney’s sex crimes office during the case.
Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight) will play Korey Wise, one of the wrongfully convicted five who was charged as an adult in the case and served twelve years in prison before being exonerated.
Jovan Adepo (Fences) will play the exonerated Antron McCray, another member of the wrongfully convicted five, who was released after serving six years in a New York State prison.
Two-time Emmy Award nominee Michael K. Williams (Bessie, The Night Of) will play Bobby McCray, devoted father of accused teen Antron McCray.
Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) will play Elizabeth Lederer, the Manhattan Assistant District Attorney and lead prosecutor on the case.
Emmy Award winner John Leguizamo (John Leguizamo: Freak) will play Raymond Santana Sr., the father of accused teen Raymond Santana Jr.
The Plot: Based on a true story that gripped the country, Central Park Five will chronicle the notorious case of five teenagers of color who were convicted of a rape they did not commit. The four episode limited series will focus on the five teenagers from Harlem — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise. The series will span from the spring of 1989, when each were first questioned about the incident, to 2014 when they were exonerated and a settlement was reached with the city of New York.
Chris Bauer and James Franco in season 1 of ‘The Deuce’ (Photo by Paul Schiraldi / HBO)
HBO’s set a September 9, 2018 premiere date for the second season of the dramatic series, The Deuce. Season two will air on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT and will pick up the action five years after the first season’s finale.
According to the network, season two will consist of nine episodes.
The Deuce was created by The Wire and Treme‘s George Pelecanos and David Simon. The cast is led by James Franco (The Disaster Artist) as twins Vincent and Frankie Martino. Franco also serves as an executive producer along with Pelecans, Simon, and Nina K. Noble.
Returning season two cast members include Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Carr (Downton Abbey), Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Wire), Margarita Levieva (Revenge), Dominique Fishback (Show Me a Hero), Emily Meade (The Leftovers), Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. (The Wire), Chris Bauer (The Wire), Michael Rispoli (The Sopranos), and Chris Coy (Banshee).
Joining the series for the show’s second season are Luke Kirby (Rectify) and Jamie Neumann (The Looming Tower). The guest cast includes Zoe Kazan (The Big Sick), Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid), Mustafa Shakir (Marvel’s Luke Cage), David Krumholtz (Living Biblically), Don Harvey (The Night Of), Cliff “Method Man” Smith (8 Mile), Daniel Sauli (House of Cards) and Sepidah Moafi (Falling Water).
“This is the moment when it genuinely seemed for the first time that hardcore pornography was going to become mainstreamed into American culture and pysche,” says David Simon. “And in a very real sense that would happen to a profound degree, though not in the ways that our protagonists once imagined.”
The Season 2 Plot: Amid a city that is as culturally dynamic as it is dystopic, the show finds its protagonists living at the apex of the Golden Age of Porn, when the dream of a mainstream X-rated film business is a suddenly a credible reality, and the culture of pornography and its blatant commodification of sex is finding increasing traction among more and more Americans.
Disco and punk are in full swing, and police corruption and political tolerance for New York’s midtown demimonde is at its height. And the Mafia, the early backer of pornography at the moment when courts declared for its legality, is now seemingly poised to reap great profits. A comparable – and, in some ways, more professional – porn industry is rising on the West Coast as well. But for now, New York is holding its own in a city flush with movies, music and art, as the drug-fueled party rages around the clock.
Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) and Amazon Studios are collaborating on a Daisy Jones & The Six limited series based on Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel. Amazon gave the series a 13 episode order and will be producing the series with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Circle of Confusion.
The limited series will air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and has the Oscar nominated screenwriting team of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (The Disaster Artist) writing the series’ pilot. They’ll also oversee the limited series as executive producers along with Reese Witherspoon, Hello Sunshine’s Lauren Neustadter, and Circle of Confusion’s Brad Mendelsohn. Author Taylor Jenkins Reid is on board as a producer.
“When I heard Hello Sunshine was developing Daisy Jones & The Six, I tracked down a copy right away and devoured it in one sitting. I loved it so much I had to take it off the market and bring it to Amazon Studios,” stated Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “I was immediately struck by how perfectly it fit into our overall approach of bringing passionate creators and entertaining, compelling content to our Prime Video audience. Reese, Lauren and I are kindred spirits!”
“As soon as I started reading Daisy Jones & The Six, I immediately fell head over heels in love with it, and I’m thrilled to be bringing it to the screen with Amazon and Jen Salke, whose passionate pursuit of the material spoke volumes,” said Reese Witherspoon. “With Neustadter and Weber, two writers I deeply admire, stewarding this project, I am so confident that Daisy and her band’s journey toward finding their voice will leave just as permanent a mark with viewers around the world as it did with me.”
The Plot:Daisy Jones & The Six centers on a fictional rock band in the 1970s, following their rise through the ranks of the LA music scene and beyond, eventually becoming one of the most legendary bands in the world.
Season five of The CW’s The 100 draws to what’s guaranteed to be a bloody, violent close with a two-part finale. “Damocles – Part One” is set to air on July 31, 2018 and was directed by Dean White from a script by Justine Juel Gillmer. “Damocles – Part Two” follows on August 7, 2018, with Dean White directing from a script by series creator Jason Rothenberg. White’s an executive producer on the series and he’s directed 22 episodes of the sci-fi action thriller.
The season five cast includes Eliza Taylor as Clarke Griffin, Paige Turco as Dr. Abigail Griffin, Bob Morley as Bellamy Blake, Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake, Lindsey Morgan as Raven Reyes, Christopher Larkin as Monty Green, Henry Ian Cusick as Marcus Kane, Richard Harmon as John Murphy, Luisa d’Oliveira as Emori, Chelsey Reist as Harper, Adina Porter as Indra, Ivana Milicevic as Diyoza, Lola Flanery as Madi, and Tasya Teles as Echo.
The Season Finale Part One Plot: – In part one of the fifth season finale, Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) leads her people into war. While behind enemy lines, our heroes must overcome their differences to save Wonkru from extinction.
The “Damocles – Part Two” Plot: – In part two of the fifth season finale, Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and her friends must risk everything to fight one last battle for survival, only to glimpse an even darker threat to the last living valley on earth.
The panel for Syfy’s Wynonna Earp was a popular destination at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con, with Earpers getting a chance to ask questions of the cast and be the first to learn the show’s been renewed for a fourth season. Season three is currently airing on Fridays at 9pm ET/PT, and in addition to taking part in a panel with Comic Con attendees, the stars of Wynonna Earp participated in interviews to delve into the new season.
Dominique Provost-Chalkley kicked off our roundtable interview by talking about the evolution of Waverly over the three seasons. She also discussed WayHaught, the arrival of Mama Earp, and the relationship between Waverly and Wynonna.
How do you like Waverly’s arc from the first season’s episode one where she’s sweet and innocent to now when she’s a total badass?
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: “I like how you say she was sweet and innocent and she entered with her shotgun, like, ‘Pow!’ But, I agree. She’s always had the fire in her belly, shall we say. But, yes, I’m very fortunate to have played a character who was at a very impressionable age. You discover so much in your early 20s. You change and evolve every single year, so I think that’s why Waverly has had so many character arcs because you’re constantly discovering things about yourself as a young woman. And, I like reminiscence over my young Waverly times. ’Oh, she was so naïve,’ and now she’s learning the harsh truths of the world and becoming a woman.
I’m so fortunate to have been able to play her.”
More than any other character she seems to have had that growth.
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: “Yes, absolutely.”
Do the scripts still surprise you regarding where she’s going?
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: “Oh, yes. Oh, yeah! Every single script I get I’m like, ‘Oh, I know what’s coming. I got this,’ and it’s like, ‘Whoa.’ That’s what Emily does so well. She never ever ever writes what you think she’s going to write. I think that’s why our fans are so passionate and invested ultimately.”
How is Waverly taking the dynamic of her mom coming into the picture so suddenly after so long?
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: “It’s hard, you know? It’s not hard – it’s wonderful that her mother is back. I think she loves her mom more than she loves anyone, really, from when she was a child. She left when she was very, very young but that relationship she had was so strong and had such an impact on her. I think the part that’s really hard to take is the fact that Wynonna didn’t tell her that she’d been in contact with her. I think that comes as a really, really big blow. Poor little Waverly’s heart is crushed once again. But, without saying too much, I think Mama Earp coming in […]really helps Waverly grow even more, ultimately.”
Which relationship in the show is your favorite? Which characters would you like to see in relationships?
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: “Well, I’m a big Doc and Wynonna fan. I mean, I know they aren’t together but just be together already! You’re so good! They have so much chemistry. Even in episode one I was just like, ‘This is so sexy.’ When they had the knife…I was like, ‘Wow, it’s hot!’ Real, real, real sexy stuff. So, I will always say that but I also kind of want Doc and Jeremy to get together. That would be super fun. Why not? We’re fluid in this show. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. We can just have a go, right?”
What about your ship? Katherine Barrell was saying it’s going to be domestic WayHaught this season.
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: “Yeah. Absolutely. I love where WayHaught sits this year. I think we’re entering into the next stage of their relationship. We found out all the past stuff and then we become stronger for it. So, WayHaught, they just have such an understanding now as you do when you get a year into a relationship. It strengthens them.
What I love most about it is this year is it’s a two-way thing. Waverly supports Nicole just as much as Nicole supports Waverly, which is nice because I feel like we’re finding our place within the relationship and Waverly’s becoming more confident in the relationship. She’s becoming older and stronger and just stepping into the shoes of what she needs to be for Nicole. I’m really happy that she manages to support her in a really turbulent time.”
And, what about Waverly and Wynonna and the ultimate reveal of the big secret?
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: “I think that at the beginning Waverly is so hurt and so heartbroken. But as always with the show there are bigger fish to fry. I think that Waverly, what she does so well is she forgives. She’s constantly striving to understand and forgive the people she loves. So, as much as it hurts she has to swallow a lot of that because she just wants to be there for everyone else and it’s not about her.
She’s such a good person, man. You know, you’re like, ‘How are you that much of a good human being?’ I’m always constantly inspired by her.”
Do you think this season is when she really comes into her own?
Dominique Provost-Chalkley: “Yes. Yes. And if we get to season four, I will say the same thing then.”
Momentum Pictures just released a one-minute teaser trailer for the dramatic end-of-the-world film, I Think We’re Alone Now. The trailer shows Peter Dinklage (best known for playing a Lannister we can tolerate in Game of Thrones) walking down a street. There are large white X marks on the pavement, and a car appears to have recently crashed. The car seems to confuse Dinklage’s character, but whoever drove it remains unseen in the teaser video.
In addition to two-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage, the cast of the drama includes Elle Fanning (How to Talk to Girls at Parties), Charlotte Gainsbourg (Independence Day: Resurgence), and Paul Giamatti (Billions). Reed Morano (The Handmaid’s Tale, Billions) directed from a script by Mike Makowsky. Fred Berger, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fernando Loureiro, Roberto Vasconcellos, and David Ginsberg served as producers.
Momentum’s planned a September 14, 2018 release in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The film will open nationwide on September 21, 2018.
The Plot: Del (Peter Dinklage) is alone in the world. After the human race is wiped out, he lives in his small, empty town, content in his solitude and the utopia he’s methodically created for himself — until he is discovered by Grace (Elle Fanning), an interloper whose history and motives are obscure. Worse yet, she wants to stay.
Elle Fanning and Peter Dinklage star in ‘I Think We’re Alone Now.’
David Guintoli, Romany Malco and Christina Moses star in ‘A Million Little Things’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)
ABC’s set the premiere dates for their 2018-2019 fall primetime lineup which includes new shows The Kids Are Alright, A Million Little Things, The Rookie, Single Parents, and The Alec Baldwin Show. The fall schedule also includes the revamped version of Roseanne minus Roseanne Barr and now titled The Conners.
Dancing with the Stars will return for its 27th season and has also spawned a special Dancing with the Stars: Juniors edition which will pair professional junior ballroom dancers with celebrity kids. The Juniors edition will launch with a special two-hour premiere on Sunday, October 7th.
The network also confirmed the return of TGIF, a block of programming that debuted 30 years ago. The new TGIF schedule will include Fresh Off the Boat, Speechless, and Child Support.
ABC Premiere Dates:
MONDAY, SEPT. 24
8:00-10:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars” (Season 27 premiere)
10:00-11:00 p.m. “The Good Doctor” (Season 2 premiere)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26
8:00-8:30 p.m. “The Goldbergs” (Season 6 premiere)
8:30-9:00 p.m. “American Housewife” (Season 3 premiere; new time)
9:00-9:31 p.m. “Modern Family” (Season 10 premiere)
9:31-10:00 p.m. “Single Parents” (Series premiere)
10:00-11:00 p.m. “A Million Little Things” (Series premiere)
THURSDAY, SEPT. 27
8:00-10:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” (Season 15 premiere; two hours)
10:00-11:00 p.m. “How to Get Away with Murder” (Season 5 premiere)
FRIDAY, OCT. 5
8:00-8:30 p.m. “Fresh Off the Boat” (Season 5 premiere; new day and time)
8:30-9:00 p.m. “Speechless” (Season 3 premiere; new day)
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Child Support” (Season 2 premiere; new time)
SUNDAY, OCT. 7
8:00-10:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors” (Series premiere; two hours)
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Shark Tank” (Season 10 premiere)
Kevin Costner and Luke Grimes in ‘Yellowstone’ season 1 episode 4 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Paramount Network has officially announced the renewal of the dramatic series, Yellowstone. According to the network, Yellowstone‘s first episode was watched by 5.3 million viewers and the series is still averaging 5 million viewers four episodes in. The drama currently ranks only behind The Walking Dead on the most watched cable series list.
Season one premiered on June 20, 2018 and currently airs on Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT. The first season will wrap up on August 22nd.
Season two will begin production soon, with Paramount Network targeting a 2019 premiere. The second season will consist of 10 one-hour episodes which will be filmed in Montana and Utah.
Oscar winner Kevin Costner leads the season one cast that includes Wes Bentley (‘Jamie Dutton’), Kelly Reilly (‘Beth Dutton’), Luke Grimes (‘Kayce Dutton’), Cole Hauser (‘Rip Wheeler’), Kelsey Asbille (‘Monica Dutton’), Danny Huston (‘Dan Jenkins’), Gil Birmingham (‘Thomas Rainwater’), Jefferson White (‘Jimmy Hurdstrom’), Gretchen Mol (‘Evelyn Dutton’), Brecken Merrill (‘Tate Dutton’), Ian Bohen (‘Ryan’), and Denim Richards (‘Colby’). The series comes from Taylor Sheridan (Wind River, Hell or High Water, Sicario) who writes and serves as showrunner. Sheridan, Kevin Costner, John Linson, Art Linson, and David C. Glasser are the executive producers.
The Season One Plot: Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States, under constant attack by those it borders — land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first National Park. It is an intense study of a violent world far from media scrutiny — where land grabs make developers billions, and politicians are bought and sold by the world’s largest oil and lumber corporations. Where drinking water poisoned by fracking wells and unsolved murders are not news: they are a consequence of living in the new frontier. It is the best and worst of America seen through the eyes of a family that represents both.
