Crackle has greenlit a new original crime series, The Oath, created and written by Joe Halpin. Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson and his G-Unit Film & Television Inc are executive producing along with Halpin, Todd Hoffman, and Dennis Kim. Halpin is a former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy and, according to Crackle, his series “explores a different kind of subculture – gangs made up of those sworn to protect and defend.” Season one will consist of 10 one-hour episodes.
“I am very excited to be partnering with Sony Pictures Television Networks and Crackle. To be able to bring this story to life is something I’m looking forward to and Joe Halpin’s personal experience will make this unlike anything that’s been seen before,” said Jackson.
“Curtis, G-Unit Film & Television Inc., Storied Media Group and Joe Halpin are the perfect team to take this extraordinarily fast paced and complex narrative to Crackle’s passionate and engaged audience,” noted Eric Berger, Crackle GM and EVP, Digital, Sony Pictures Television Networks. “This is the kind of unexpected storytelling that our viewers have come to expect and we look forward to breaking new ground with this new original drama.”
The Plot: These secret societies are nearly impossible to get into – but once inside, members will do what they must to protect each other from enemies on the outside and from within their own ranks. The drama examines this all-too-real world through a gang that started out with the right intentions. But in order to stay both out of jail and alive, they will all need to re-examine the principles that guide them and speculate as to whether they can trust the badged criminals that operate amongst them.
The Oath original pulls the curtain back on the inner workings of this band of brothers forced to turn on each other after being picked off by the FBI.
The CW’s Riverdale season one episode 10 revealed why Jughead hates his birthday, found Veronica discovering a link between her father’s incarceration and Cheryl’s dad, and introduced Archie’s mother, played by Molly Ringwald. And speaking of Archie, after a night of commiserating about their parents, he wound up sleeping with Veronica. Meanwhile, Betty confessed to having a darkness inside her after Jughead accused her of being the perfect girl next door.
Episode 11 titled ‘To Riverdale and Back Again’ continues the hunt for Jason Blossom’s murderer. Directed by Kevin Sullivan, season one episode 11 was written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and will air April 27, 2017. The Riverdale cast includes KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge, Mӓdchen Amick as Alice Cooper, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, and Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy.
The ‘To Riverdale and Back Again’ Plot: SUSPICIONS CONTINUE TO GROW — Betty (Reinhart) is slammed overseeing Homecoming and Reunion weekend, but Alice (Amick) wants her to help with the Jason Blossom investigation. Alice turns to Archie (Apa) and Veronica (Mendes) for help, but when Betty discovers they are working with her mom, she is not happy. After seeing his father FP (guest star Skeet Ulrich) start to clean up his act, Jughead (Sprouse) wonders if it’s the right time to give him another chance. Cheryl (Petsch) and Polly (guest star Tiera Skovbye) have both decided to go to Homecoming in Jason’s honor, until a revelation waylays their plans. Meanwhile, Fred (Perry) and Mary (guest star Molly Ringwald) attend the Homecoming dance, leaving Fred to possibly reconsider the divorce.
Netflix just announced the season two premiere for Flaked, the dramedy from Will Arnett and Mark Chappell, along with revealing a season two photo. The season two tagline, “Backpedaling just got harder…,” warns that Chip’s life isn’t exactly going to be all sunshine and roses – not that Flaked viewers thought happiness was in Chip’s near future. In addition to Arnett, the season two cast includes David Sullivan (“Dennis”), Ruth Kearney (“London”), George Basil (“Cooler”), and Lenora Crichlow (“Rosa”).
Arnett serves as an executive producer along with series co-creator Mark Chappell, Ben Silverman, Peter Principato, and Mitch Hurwitz.
The Plot: In the new season of Flaked, Chip returns to Venice after a short exile and finds that he is no longer welcome. People have not forgotten that he sold out the local community. And for what…? Chip’s lost everything: his store, his friends, his reputation, his bicycle… he doesn’t even have a guest house to live in. All he’s got left is London, and she’s beginning to look elsewhere — spiritually, if not physically.
Chip starts to claw his way back into the affections of the community, first asking Dennis to be his sponsor, then helping his friend in a new business venture, and even doing an honest day’s work… But the lies are never too far behind, and just when it looks as though he’s won back his friend and stabilized his relationship, everything splinters again and he slips back into the bottle…
It becomes clear that he needs to make a choice: his best friend or the love of his life. Lies or sobriety.
When The CW’s The Flash returns from a lengthy break it will be with an episode directed by series star Tom Cavanagh. Cavanagh previously directed three episodes of his comedy series Ed back in 2003 and 2004, but season three episode 19 marks his first time behind the camera for The Flash. Written by Carina Adly MacKenzie, season three episode 19 is titled ‘The Once and Future Flash’ and is set to air on April 25, 2017.
The season three cast includes Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash, Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells, Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow, Candice Patton as Iris West, Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West/Kid Flash, Carlos Valdes as Cisco, Jesse L Martin as Joe West, and Tom Felton as Julian.
‘The Once and Future Flash’ Plot: BARRY TRAVELS TO THE FUTURE TO SAVE IRIS – Barry (Gustin) travels to the future to find out Savitar’s still unknown identity in the hopes of saving Iris (Patton). Upon his arrival in 2024, Barry encounters future versions of his Team Flash friends, who, following the death of Iris, have become very different people, profoundly impacted by their showdown with Savitar. It will be up to Barry to infuse a sense of hope back into the team, as he proves to be hero his future friends have been waiting for. Meanwhile, back in 2017, the hunt for Killer Frost (Panabaker) continues.
AMC’s released the poster for Fear the Walking Dead season three which is set to debut on June 4, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT. The season three poster features Frank Dillane as Nick Clark with blood shaped like a skull in profile on his face accompanied by the tagline, “Fear What You Become.” Per the network, the image represents “the idea that the person you become in the new world is more brutal, savage and heartless; and capable of things that were unimaginable before the dead began to walk.”
Fear the Walking Dead season three will kick off with back-to-back one-hour episodes on June 4th. In addition to Dillane, the upcoming season stars Kim Dickens as Madison, Cliff Curtis as Travis, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia, Mercedes Mason as Ofelia, Colman Domingo as Strand, Danay Garcia as Luciana, Dayton Callie, Daniel Sharman, Sam Underwood, and Lisandra Tena.
The Plot: As Fear the Walking Dead returns for season three, our families will be brought together in the vibrant and violent region formerly known as the U.S.-Mexico border. International lines done away with following the world’s end, our characters must attempt to rebuild not only society, but family as well. Madison has reconnected with Travis, her apocalyptic partner, but Alicia has been fractured by her murder of Andres. Madison’s son is only a few miles from his mother, but Nick’s first action as a leader saw him and Luciana ambushed by an American militia group – the couple escaped death, Luciana was shot, and Nick no longer feels immortal. Recovering both emotionally and physically, Strand has his sights set on harnessing the new world’s currency, and Ofelia’s captivity will test her ability to survive and see if she can muster the savagery of her father.
Dylan O’Brien (left, with Shiva Negar) plays counterterrorism agent Rapp. (Photo: Christian Black)
CBS Films and Lionsgate just unveiled the teaser trailer for American Assassin, an action drama based on Vince Flynn’s novel. Directed by Michael Cuesta, American Assassin was adapted for the screen by Stephen Schiff, Michael Finch, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz. Teen Wolf‘s Dylan O’Brien stars along with Sanaa Lathan, Michael Keaton, Taylor Kitsch, Shiva Negar, and Scott Adkins. American Assassin‘s set to open in theaters on September 15, 2017.
The Plot:American Assassin follows the rise of Mitch Rapp (O’Brien) a CIA black ops recruit under the instruction of Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Keaton). The pair is then enlisted by CIA Deputy Director Irene Kennedy (Lathan) to investigate a wave of apparently random attacks on both military and civilian targets. Together the three discover a pattern in the violence leading them to a joint mission with a lethal Turkish agent (Negar) to stop a mysterious operative (Kitsch) intent on starting a World War in the Middle East.
Cory Michael Smith in the “How The Riddler Got His Name” episode of ‘Gotham’ (Photo by Jeff Neumann/FOX)
Fox’s Gotham will return after a lengthy midseason three break with new episodes beginning on April 24, 2017. Episode 15 of season three is titled ‘How the Riddler Got His Name’ and will feature Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma/The Riddler. Smith was among the Gotham cast members who made the trek to WonderCon to promote the series and participate in a Q&A with fans. Smith also sat down for roundtable interviews, providing more insight into what we can expect for the fan-favorite character when season three returns.
What is motivating Edward Nygma as season three continues?
Cory Michael Smith: “Finding an identity, feeling significant, having worth, finding fun, entertaining himself, making people respect him. But I think the number one thing is figuring out who he is. He just doesn’t know and he’s like this amoeba that just can’t really figure out what’s going on. It almost feels like – and I like to think of this with him – it almost feels like there are lives that he could have had or should have had, and he missed it. So, now he’s like he’s got to just figure something out with the world and body that he’s in and with this mind, you know? I think when he lost Kristen it was like something was actually stolen from him. That was the only time he’s felt like a normal person and he ruined it.”
Can he get over it?
Cory Michael Smith: “I don’t know. Sure, you can get over stuff but I think it’s actually terrible when you lose someone that you love. He’s not someone who deals with feelings well. He says sometimes…I think he says it to Jim Gordon that this is fate. ‘This is my fate. I didn’t make this choice. This is happening to me and I have to just go with it.’”
And it doesn’t help that the next girlfriend had the same exact face. Is that going to be a theme?
Cory Michael Smith: (Laughing) “If we can get Chelsea Spack back a third time, I’m down.”
Is there something about Ed that you’ve really enjoyed playing this season?
Cory Michael Smith: “Yeah. I like that I’ve kind of made him explore sort of intimidation, intimidating people and harnessing power through a voice. I let him drop his voice a little bit and truly feel like a man. I like that he’s kind of leaned into being a violent person for a little bit. I don’t think that that necessarily has to stay or be something that defines him, but I think having a period of his life where like he’s really okay with being physically secure and protecting himself, I think that’s great. Toward the latter half – these last eight episodes – not even the end of the season…the end of the season’s a little rough…but in these first forays into Riddlerdom there’s a lot of fun. It’s the first time you see him having a lot of fun with riddles and his identity, especially in [season three episodes] 15 and 17. I look forward to more of that in the future.”
This season has gone a little bit more dark but also a little more comic book-ish. How much fun is it to go that little bit further?
Cory Michael Smith: “I think it’s important. They’re called super-villains, at least some of us. I like it. These are supposed to be people who are larger than life. The greatest criminals in our history, Charles Manson – he’s a comic book character. That’s some crazy stuff; that’s over the top. It’s just a little more interesting.”
Ed is coming into his own. How does it feel for you to also come into your own on the show and be more involved in the storylines?
Cory Michael Smith: “It’s great. I’ve been very fortunate to now be a pillar of the show, especially from where we came. Danny [Cannon] said at the panel that they gave me chances. Certain actors when they started giving us opportunities they’re like, ‘Oh wow, there’s an actor in there! We can give him stuff.’ I would deliver something interesting at least and so they would give me something else. It just took them a while to key in to, ‘Oh, we can let this character have a bigger role in this city.’ It’s just been a kind of slow development that way.
It’s worked out wonderfully. I love the way the arc has gone for him. I like that it started kind of quiet. I feel very lucky.”
Since the other comic book shows have done it, will there be a musical episode of Gotham?
Cory Michael Smith: “If you want to see a musical episode of Gotham, you have to come to a karaoke party which we have often. Drew (Powell) and I…David (Mazouz) throws down. He likes to do rap.”
The CW’s The 100 returns from a short break with season four episode nine titled ‘DNR.’ The trailer for the episode airing on April 26, 2017 shows there are only six days left to get to safety before radiation kills everyone above ground. ‘DNR’ was directed by Mairzee Almas from a script by Miranda Kwok.
The 100‘s season four cast includes Eliza Taylor as Clarke, Bob Morley as Bellamy, Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia, Devon Bostick as Jasper, Lindsey Morgan as Raven, Henry Ian Cusick as Marcus, Christopher Larkin as Monty, Richard Harmon as Murphy, Zach McGowan as Roan, Paige Turco as Abby, Isaiah Washington as Jaha, Chai Hansen as Ilian, and Luisa D’Oliveira as Emori.
The ‘DNR’ Plot: CLARKE STRUGGLES TO KEEP THE PEACE — Jasper (Bostick) and Bellamy (Morley) go on a quest. Meanwhile, Clarke (Taylor) struggles to keep the peace after word of Jaha’s (Washington) discovery spreads.
Queen Latifah (Photo by Scott Gries / Copyright 2017)
Grammy Award winners Queen Latifah and Jill Scott, Spirit Award nominee Marin Ireland, and SAG Award winner Betsy Brandt are set to star in Lifetime’s Flint. The Lifetime Original movie focuses on the Flint, Michigan water crisis and will be directed by two-time Oscar nominee Bruce Beresford (Tender Mercies, Breaker Morant) from a script by Barbara Stepansky. Queen Latifah, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Katie Couric, and Shakim Compere are executive producing.
Lifetime confirmed shooting is expected to get underway next week.
The Plot: Inspired by the Time magazine cover story, “The Toxic Tap,” by Josh Sanburn. The project follows the true story of three women from Flint who sought justice following the wrongdoing committed against the residents of the city who were unknowingly drinking and using lead-laden water. Their actions inspired a national movement for safe drinking water despite the political powers working against them at every turn. Scott, Brandt and Ireland will portray real-life activists and Latifah will play a fourth resident, fighting to expose the poisoning of the community during the horrific events of the water crisis.
Sissy Spacek, Jacinda Barrett, Katie Finneran, and Kyle Chandler in ‘Bloodline’ (Photo by Jeff Daly/Netflix)
Netflix just announced the premiere date for Bloodline season three, the critically acclaimed drama’s final season. Bloodline season three will consist of 10 one-hour episodes and will premiere on Friday, May 26, 2017. In addition to a teaser trailer announcing the premiere date, Netflix released a few photos from the upcoming final season.
Bloodline season three stars Kyle Chandler, Sissy Spacek, and Ben Mendelsohn. The series was created by Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman, and Glenn Kessler. The trio also write and executive produce the Emmy nominated series.
The Plot: The dramatic thriller explores the demons lurking beneath the surface of a contemporary American family. In Bloodline, the Rayburns are hard-working pillars of their Florida Keys community, but their past contains dark secrets that they hope remain buried. Paranoia and mistrust build as lies pile up, alliances are shattered and an unthinkable crime takes place. The tight-knit family’s formerly harmonious relationship deteriorates, and good people are forced to consider doing very bad things.
Kyle Chandler stars in ‘Bloodline’ (Photo by Jeff Daly/Netflix)Norbert Leo Butz stars in ‘Bloodline’ (Photo by Jeff Daly/Netflix)John Leguizamo and Sissy Spacek star in ‘Bloodline’ (Photo by Rod Millington/Netflix)
