The new trailer for Lionsgate’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard features Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in crazy action scenes. The R-rated comedy was directed by Patrick Hughes from a script by Tom O’Connor, with John Thompson, Matt O’Toole, Les Weldon producing. Gary Oldman, and Salma Hayek, Elodie Yung, Joaquim De Almeida, Kirsty Mitchell, and Richard E. Grant co-star in the action film heading to theaters on August 18, 2017.
The Plot: The world’s top protection agent [Reynolds] is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hitmen [Jackson]. The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite end of the bullet for years and are thrown together for a wildly outrageous 24 hours. During their raucous and hilarious adventure from England to the Hague, they encounter high-speed car chases, outlandish boat escapades and a merciless Eastern European dictator [Oldman] who is out for blood. Salma Hayek joins the mayhem as Jackson’s equally notorious wife.
Behind the Scenes of Red Nose Day Actually with Andrew Lincoln (Photo by: Nick Briggs/Comic Relief)
The third annual The Red Nose Day Special aired on NBC on May 25, 2017 and raised $35+ million for child in need, bringing the total raised to more than $95 million in the U.S. The annual fundraising event, which was created by Oscar-nominated writer-director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral), has brought in $1 billion worldwide since Curtis began the Red Nose Day campaign in 1988 in the UK.
The 2017 Red Nose Day Special included the much-anticipated “Red Nose Day Actually” short film which reunited the cast of 2003’s Love Actually, written and directed by Richard Curtis. The 16-minute film features Love Actually cast members Rowan Atkinson, Marcus Brigstocke, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Laura Linney, Martine McCutcheon, Lucia Moniz, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, and Olivia Olson catching Love Actually fans up on where they are now. The short also includes a happy ending for Laura Linney’s character with the introduction of her husband played by Patrick Dempsey.
The “Red Nose Day Actually” video ends on an optimistic note, with Hugh Grant as the U.K. Prime Minister declaring there’s reason to be hopeful. “Metallica’s new album is an absolute cracker. And on a deeper level, I’m optimistic. Wherever you see tragedy, you see bravery, too. Wherever you see ordinary people in need, you see extraordinary ordinary people come to their aid. Today’s Red Nose Day and people are giving their hard-earned cash to people who they’ll never meet, but whose pain and fear they feel and want to fight. So, it’s not just romantic love which is all around. Most people still every day, everywhere have enough love in their hearts to help human beings in trouble. Good’s going to win – I’m actually sure of it,” says Grant.
Richard Curtis executive produced the U.S. special along with Lily Sobhani and John Irwin of Irwin Entertainment. For more information, visit the Red Nose Day website at rednoseday.org.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Keira Knightley (Photo by: Nick Briggs/Comic Relief)Liam Neeson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Photo by: Sarah Lee/Comic Relief)Martine McCutcheon and Hugh Grant (Photo by: Nick Briggs/Comic Relief)
Oscar winner Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) will executive produce Blue Book, a new UFO drama produced by A+E Studios. History’s just announced they’ve given the sci-fi series created and written by David O’Leary a 10 episode season one order, with Jack Rapke (Cast Away) and Jackie Levine (Allied) joining Zemeckis to executive produce.
History hasn’t revealed a potential air date or any casting details.
“Rarely have I been associated with a project that is a perfect fusion of historical fact and extraordinary entertainment,” said Zemeckis. “We are grateful for A+E Studios’ and HISTORY’s support for what I know will be a fabulous series.”
“Blue Book is inspired by the true covert events of an era in American history shrouded in mystery,” added Paul Buccieri, President, A+E Studios and A+E Networks Portfolio Group. “Robert Zemeckis and the creative team have shaped an incredibly compelling narrative, building upon HISTORY’s unique, growing brand of fact-based scripted programming.”
The Plot:Blue Book chronicles the true top secret United States Air Force-sponsored investigations into UFO-related phenomena in the 1950’s and 60’s known as “Project Blue Book.” The series follows Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a brilliant college professor recruited by the U.S. Air Force to spearhead this clandestine operation that researched thousands of cases, many of which were never solved. Each episode will draw from the actual files, blending UFO theories with authentic historical events from one of the most mysterious eras in United States history.
A coherent plot and chemistry between the romantic leads are noticeably missing in the fifth film of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The film’s scattershot approach to storytelling touches upon a hunt for a mythical item known as Poseidon’s Trident, a ghost ship with a crew of walking dead pirates out for revenge, a son longing for a reunion with his father, and repeated missions to rescue Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). No single storyline feels adequately developed and the new key players in the cast are completely forgettable additions to the Disney franchise.
The film introduces Henry (Brenton Thwaites) as the grown son of Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner and Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann. Henry’s determined to free his father from the Flying Dutchman which means he must go on a quest to find the Trident of Poseidon. Carina (Kaya Scodelario) joins the quest as a young astronomer who’s viewed with fear by men because she’s independent and intelligent. And Captain Jack Sparrow somehow ties into this mission while also being hunted down by the vicious dead pirate Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) who needs the Trident to free his undead crew.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales should be the final film of the Pirates franchise, however it most likely won’t be as the franchise is still a cash cow for the Mouse House. Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow was a fun treat for audiences of all ages when he drunkenly sauntered onto the screen in 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Captain Sparrow was warmly welcomed back in 2006’s Dead Man’s Chest, but by 2007’s At World’s End the shtick had grown old and the appeal of this campy, kooky character was wearing thin. Then came 2011’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides which was basically just a hodge-podge collection of action sequences. The 2017 Pirates attempts to capture the pure joy of the original film but falls short in large part due to Johnny Depp’s younger cast mates.
The Dead Men Tell No Tales combination of Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario can’t compare to the team of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, actors who had natural chemistry on screen. Thwaites and Scodelario are fine in their roles but just don’t mesh, much to the detriment of the film. (The vibe is more sibling-ish than romantic.) Fortunately, Geoffrey Rush’s return as the ruthless Captain Barbossa and the addition of Javier Bardem as the long-dead Captain Salazar elevate the supporting characters and help carry the action adventure film through many of the rough parts of the script.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales features incredible special effects and occasional laughs provided by Depp’s Sparrow, but Pirates fans shouldn’t expect this fifth Pirates film to stand up well in comparison to the original. The franchise has grown long in the tooth and the film’s final scene would be a satisfying end to the series, if Disney’s willing to let their cash cow go before it outstays its welcome.
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of adventure violence, and some suggestive content
T.J. Miller and Josh Brener in ‘Silicon Valley’ season 4 (Photo: John P. Johnson / HBO)
HBO’s officially announced Veep and Silicon Valley have been renewed for the 2018 primetime season. Veep earned a seventh season while Silicon Valley‘s been renewed for season five. Both half-hour comedies are airing on Sunday nights and will finish out their current seasons on Sunday, June 25th.
The 10 episode sixth season of Veep stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, the former vice president and president who’s having a difficult time adjusting to life outside the White House. The cast of season six also includes Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole, Sarah Sutherland, and Sam Richardson. The award-winning comedy was created by Armando Iannucci and is executive produced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Mandel, Frank Rich, Lew Morton, and Morgan Sackett.
The fourth season of Silicon Valley features Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Zach Woods, Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, Josh Brener, Amanda Crew, Matt Ross, Jimmy O. Yang and Suzanne Cryer. Following the season five renewal announcement, HBO confirmed T.J. Miller won’t return for the upcoming season. “The producers of Silicon Valley and T.J. Miller have mutually agreed that T.J. will not return for season 5,” said HBO in a statement released to The Hollywood Reporter. “In Erlich Bachman, T.J. has brought to life an unforgettable character, and while his presence on the show will be missed, we appreciate his contribution and look forward to future collaborations.”
Miller’s co-star Kumail Nanjiani added his thoughts about Miller’s exit on Twitter:
Very sad to say bye to Erlich Bachman. @nottjmiller is the funniest guy I've ever met & thrilled to work w him for 4 yrs. Brothers forever.
Blake Lively to star in ‘The Husband’s Secret’ (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)
Blake Lively is confirmed to star in The Husband’s Secret for CBS Films. Lively will also executive produce the dramatic film based on the bestselling novel by Liane Moriarty. Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz and Andrew Miano are also on board to executive produce the theatrical adaptation. Moriarty’s Big Little Lies was recently made into an HBO series starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Shailene Woodley.
“Liane Moriarty has established herself as one of the defining voices of the modern woman and Blake Lively’s unique combination of vulnerability, strength and extraordinary talent makes her the perfect actress to realize Moriarty’s creation,” stated Terry Press, President, CBS Films.
Lively’s credits include The Shallows, Cafe Society, The Age of Adaline, Gossip Girl, Savages, Green Lantern, and The Town.
The Novel’s Plot: Imagine your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not only the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. And then imagine that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive…
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. But that letter is about to change everything—and not just for her. There are other women who barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they, too, are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.
How stunning is this new photo from Starz’ American Gods season one? Starz just released this gorgeous photo of Gillian Anderson from the series’ upcoming fifth episode airing on May 28, 2017 along with the following description: “Gillian Anderson stars as the New God Media in the critically acclaimed series American Gods. Media assumes whatever form will deliver her message most effectively and is often personified by iconic celebrities.”
The network also unveiled a video clip featuring Anderson as Media in the form of David Bowie confronting Technical Boy (Bruce Langley).
American Gods is based on Neil Gaiman’s critically acclaimed, award-winning novel and was adapted into the Starz series by Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Michael Green (Heroes). Fuller and Green are the season one showrunners and executive produce the series along with Gaiman and director David Slade.
The cast is led by Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon and includes Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday, Emily Browning as Laura Moon, Pablo Schreiber as Mad Sweeney, Yetide Badaki as Bilquis, Bruce Langley as Technical Boy, Crispin Glover as Mr. World, Orlando Jones as Mr. Nancy, Gillian Anderson as Media, Kristin Chenoweth as Easter, Jonathan Tucker as Low Key Lyesmith, Cloris Leachman as Zorya Vechernyaya, Peter Stormare as Czernobog, Chris Obi as Anubis, Demore Barnes as Mr. Ibis, and Corbin Bernsen as Vulcan.
The Plot: Adapted from the award-winning novel, American Gods posits a different kind of war brewing—one between Old Gods and New. The traditional Old Gods, with mythological roots from around the world, fear irrelevance as their believers die off or are seduced by the money, technology, and celebrity offered by the New Gods. Shadow Moon (Whittle) is an ex-con who, left adrift by the recent death of his wife, becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to conman Mr. Wednesday (McShane). But in truth, Mr. Wednesday is a powerful old deity, on a cross-country mission to build an army and reclaim his lost glory.
“Welcome to the last resort.” Netflix has just released the teaser trailer for Ozark, a new drama series starring Jason Bateman who also serves as director and an executive producer. Bill Dubuque (The Judge) created the series and executive produces along with showrunner Chris Mundy (Hell on Wheels). In addition to Bateman, the cast includes Laura Linney, Esai Morales, Julia Garner, Marc Menchaca, Jason Butler Harner, and Harris Yulin.
Netflix has set a July 21, 2017 global release date.
The Plot: The Byrdes and their teenage kids, Charlotte and Jonah, are, for all intents and purposes, an ordinary family with ordinary lives. Except for the job of Marty, a Chicago financial advisor who also serves as the top money launderer for the second-largest drug cartel in Mexico. When things go awry, Marty must uproot his family from the skyscrapers of Chicago and relocate to the lazy lake region of the Missouri Ozarks.
Alberto Rosende and Katherine McNamara in ‘Shadowhunters’ season 2 episode 11 (Photo by John Medland / Freeform)
Freeform’s Shadowhunters returns for the second half of season two on Monday, June 5, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT with an episode titled ‘Mea Maxima Culpa.’ The network has just unveiled new photos, videos, and a detailed synopsis for season two episode 11 directed by Matt Hastings from a script by Michael Reisz. The series is based on Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments book series and is executive produced by Reisz, Hastings, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, McG, Mary Viola, Martin Moszkowicz, and Robert Kulzer.
The season two cast includes Katherine McNamara as Clary Fray, Dominic Sherwood as Jace Wayland, Alberto Rosende as Simon Lewis, Emeraude Toubia as Isabelle Lightwood, Matthew Daddario as Alec Lightwood, Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Garroway, and Harry Shum Jr. as Magnus Bane.
The ‘Mea Maxima Culpa’ Plot: In the Shadowhunters summer premiere, Shadowhunters and Downworlders are picking up the pieces after Valentine’s attack at the Institute. Downworlder numbers are down and the different packs and clans debate on what they must do to survive. With Valentine in custody, the Institute is on high alert, but Jace carries the heaviest burden of all due to his part in igniting the Soul Sword and the secret he is keeping from Clary. But Jace and the Shadowhunters don’t have much time to mourn as a greater demon is loose in Manhattan.
Meanwhile, Izzy struggles on the road to recovery when she encounters Sebastian, a mysterious stranger, as Simon tries to understand his new Daylighter status. Will Tudor guest stars.
Mimi Kuzyk, Ryan Graham, Dominic Sherwood and Katherine McNamara (Photo by John Medland / Freeform)Katherine McNamara and Dominic Sherwood in ‘Shadowhunters’ (Photo by John Medland/Freeform)Alberto Rosende in ‘Shadowhunters’ (Photo by John Medland/Freeform)Alberto Rosende and Katherine McNamara in ‘Shadowhunters’ (Photo by John Medland/Freeform)
Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) in ‘Despicable Me 3’ (Photo Credit: Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures)
Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have unveiled another Despicable Me 3 trailer featuring more of the bizarre little yellow Minions. Directed by Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda, and Eric Guillon, this third film of the Despicable Me franchise adds Trey Parker (South Park) to the voice cast as Gru’s new nemesis, former child star Balthazar Bratt. The voice cast also includes Steve Carell as Gru, Kristen Wiig as Lucy, Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, Dana Gaier as Edith, Steve Coogan as Silas, Nev Scharrel as Agnes, and Jenny Slate.
Despicable Me 3 is set to open in theaters on June 30, 2017.
The Plot: The team who brought you Despicable Me and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, returns to continue the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions. Trey Parker joins the voice cast as the villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ‘80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date.
