Advertisement
Home Blog Page 1671

‘Bates Motel’ Season 5 – Vera Farmiga Interview on Norma’s Death

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Bates Motel star Vera Farmiga
Vera Farmiga from ‘Bates Motel’ at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con (Photo © Richard Chavez)

A&E’s critically acclaimed Bates Motel will, unfortunately, be ending after season five. The final season will find Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga) dead to everyone but Norman (Freddie Highmore) whose fragile mental state continues to erode as he carries on conversations with his deceased mother. During the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con, I had the opportunity to speak with Farmiga about her death scene in season four and what we can expect as the show heads into its final season. Farmiga hasn’t seen any season five scripts but says she’s game for anything series creators/writers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin have in store for Norma.

Vera Farmiga Interview:

It was so sad to watch Norma die. How was it to play that scene?

Vera Farmiga: “I loved it. I have been emoting so much for years, and I couldn’t wait for serenity. I really couldn’t. I worked very hard for it, but it’s been an emotionally frantic thing to execute for me. And I actually, to be really honest with you, was really psyched to relax and fall asleep. I rubbed it into the boys’ faces. They had this thing where they would call me ‘Easy Money’ because all of a sudden they had to take over, and they had to deliver really, really huge emotional stuff. But for me it was a chance to just fall asleep, nod off, and hover on that sort of sleep and that was the key for me to play.

There was one moment which was really dark and it was the first time – the moment where they actually dug me six feet under, put me in the coffin, and closed the coffin and started shoveling dirt – I literally felt the fear and paralysis and the awareness for me like I don’t know what. There was literally a moment where my spirit just kind of jolted out of my body. I don’t know, it was just a really strange moment. That was the hardest thing for me.”

Was it sad?

Vera Farmiga: “It was sadder than I thought it would be. I thought I could rest on the laurels of my Eastern European stoicism about it. I was like, ‘Yeah, whatever. She dies.’ Like, I have these supercharged storytelling experiences my whole career, but this one really hit me hard.”

How has it been being in a TV series for going on five years? It’s the first time, isn’t it?

Vera Farmiga: “It’s the first time. I’ve done a couple of them where they only went to 13 episodes. I loved this role. I loved my collaborators. I have such close friends now, and you can see that chemistry on the scene. You can see how we absolutely adore each other and how close we are and how affectionate we are. I think it just comes across. You know, that’s a cool thing for me to experience because usually when you work so long with people, there’s no lukewarm attitude. You’re either going to love each other or you’re going to come out the other way, and I adore them.”

What’s your role as an executive producer?

Vera Farmiga: “I think in the capacity that I do I’ve always been very vocal about my ideas and keeping making sure…I mean I’m on set every day making sure that tonally everybody is on the same page. I’ve directed before and the boys will tell you that even though I haven’t directed a single episode I’m always directing them. I’m always bossing people around and doing my thing, and they let me. In that respect, I think is where you see ‘executive producer.’ I’m always kind of doing backup. It just has been the case.

And this year what I really love is that after I directed Higher Ground, I think one of the most enriching experiences for me to be a part of where I thrived, and probably if I didn’t do what I do, I would be an editor. I love that process, and this year they made me privy to all the footage and I was able to see directors’ cuts and give them my impressions and ideas. That was really fun for me to do as an executive producer on the series.”

Are you looking forward to this next season where there are more intimate scenes between you and Freddie Highmore because that’s all it can be with Norma dead?

Vera Farmiga: “You know what? I have no idea what’s in store. I don’t even know how I’m going to approach Norma. Until they give me some words…and I haven’t seen a single page of season five. I only imagine that they have no rules anymore. They’re throwing all the rules out because she’s there. They choose to push her out that season four window and she’s fallen 12 stories high like a Hefty cinch sack filled with vegetable soup and now Norman’s got to pick up all these pieces, these fractured pieces of his psyche, so I think it’s going to be very interesting. I have no idea what’s in store but I’m game for it.”

Do you really enjoy doing horror projects?

Vera Farmiga: “Bates Motel, I don’t look at it as a horror. There’s horrifying events that happen to real people but there’s nothing supernatural. To me I always treat it like a delicate love story and that’s my approach. Even in, to be honest with you, The Conjuring it’s like we’ve taken that genre and turned it on its head. When have you ever seen song and dance numbers and love stories as a part of a horror film? And so I don’t approach them in…I don’t even know what that means.

I look at my characters and I’ll be wowed by them in terms of who they are and what they’ve come through in life and where they’re going. That’s how I approach it. If it happens to be in a drama film, great. The fact is I’d done almost probably around 50 films and only four or five of them have been horror.”

Watch the Vera Farmiga interview:

‘Jason Bourne’ Movie Review – Bourne is Back

By
Kevin Finnerty
-
Matt Damon in Jason Bourne
Matt Damon stars in ‘Jason Bourne’ (Photo © 2016 Universal Studios)

“It’s started again – a new program ‘Ironhand.’ It’s even worse than before,” says Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) who has reconnected with Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in Greece to warn him the CIA is back to training assassins like he used to be in the latest installment in the Bourne action film series, Jason Bourne.

After years of living off the grid, Bourne is contacted by Nicky, who, while working with a blogger/journalist, has stolen proof via secret CIA files that the agency is once again training assassins to kill anyone they want regardless of the reason. Nicky has also reached out to Jason because she has discovered some hidden truth’s about his father and the CIA. She knows deep down Jason wants to learn the truth about what happened to his father and why he volunteered to become the most lethal killing operative the agency ever had.

During their quick but informative meeting, Jason realizes that Nicky is being hunted by some of the agency’s operatives. The two friends once again team up to try and get out of Greece alive. Their objective is to make their way to Parson’s blogger associate to expose what the CIA is doing and to allow Jason to know everything about his past finally.

Action-packed and with a strong cast, Jason Bourne is a worthy installment in the assassin-on-the-run series but falls short of introducing any interesting characters or in unveiling a surprising backstory. It’s nowhere near as good as the first film, 2002’s The Bourne Identity, or the third film, 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum, which is this critic’s personal favorite.

Damon is once again perfect in the role of Bourne. He owns the character and knows exactly how to play him, just as Sean Connery owned the role of Bond back in the 1960s. It’s almost impossible to imagine anyone else portraying this character, and in fact, it appears the idea of Jeremy Renner taking over the franchise (which was the setup for 2012’s The Bourne Legacy) has been abandoned, with director Paul Greengrass and Damon now back in the Bourne fold. Damon also got back into great physical shape to portray the mid-life ex-assassin who has been living in rough remote areas as an underground prize fighter to make a living and survive.

Julia Stiles is solid as Nicky, the young woman who abandoned the agency after realizing what they turned David Webb (aka Jason Bourne) into and how they hunted him as he fought to find the truth out about himself and regain his humanity. Parsons eventually became Bourne’s second most important ally, and the two actors once again click on screen as they join together in the best chase sequence of the film.

Alicia Vikander is effective as hungry and ambitious CIA officer Heather Lee, the right arm of the CIA Director Robert Dewey. It’s clear she has her own agenda in hunting down both Bourne and Parsons and seems to be willing to play any and all sides to get what she wants from the agency. It’s unfortunate that’s where her character’s development ends. Vikander’s Heather Lee is not even in the same league as Joan Allen’s character Pam Landy as far as intelligence or depth of character.

Tommy Lee Jones IS Tommy Lee Jones as CIA Director Robert Dewey who wants to put down Bourne no matter what the cost. It’s a completely unoriginal, one-dimensional character that Jones manages to infuse with his personality.

The action scenes, while extremely well-choreographed, suffer at times with the shaky, hand-held camera style that director Paul Greengrass has made his hallmark. This is abundantly clear late in the film during the ambitious car chase in Las Vegas. It’s very hard to follow exactly which vehicle just hit another vehicle, and the blurred camera footage is likely to give a few audience members a headache.

Still, while not being in the same league as some of the earlier Bourne films, Jason Bourne is an entertaining addition to the action movie series. It’s good to have Bourne back.

GRADE: B-

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action and brief strong language

Running Time: 123 minutes

Release Date: July 29, 2016




‘The 100’ Season 4: Eliza Taylor Interview on Clarke and Saying Goodbye to Lexa

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Eliza Taylor in The 100
Eliza Taylor from ‘The 100’ at Comic Con 2016 (Photo Credit: Richard Chavez)

The CW’s The 100 cast once again participated in the San Diego Comic Con, with Eliza Taylor, Lindsey Morgan, Marie Avgeropoulos, Henry Ian Cusick, Christopher Larkin, and Richard Harmon taking questions from fans on Friday, July 22, 2016. The cast also sat down for interviews at the Con where Eliza Taylor told us she’s hoping season four of the popular sci-fi action drama isn’t quite as dark as season three.

Eliza Taylor Interview:

How is Clarke going to move on from everything that happened last season?

Eliza Taylor: “How does she ever move on? I don’t know. I mean, yet again we’re faced with another issue, another save the world moment which distracts her from all the other save the world moments so she doesn’t really ever move on. One thing that might be cool about this season is having her actually get to have a moment where she breaks down or actually gets to process everything that’s happened to her. I don’t know if that’s going to happen because Jason [Rothenberg] doesn’t tell us anything. But, what I really hope for this season is that it’s going to be a lot more hopeful. I want there to be more hope. Last season was dark, even for us. Even for us, and that’s saying something!”


Have you asked Jason for that moment for Clarke?

Eliza Taylor: “No, I never ask. No. I don’t know. I mean, I know that I’ve been doing this for three years but Comic Con is still terrifying to me. Talking to Jason, the guy who hired me, is still terrifying to me. You know, stepping on that red carpet stuff it’s all… This time three years ago I was waiting on tables, so it’s different and I’m still nervous as f**k all the time.”

In the season finale Clarke has a chance to really say goodbye to Lexa. What did it mean for her to be able to say goodbye?

Eliza Taylor: “She already had to say goodbye once which was f**king hard. Sorry! I keep swearing. It’s just really hard. Really f-ing hard. And then at the end to see her again and for her to say, ‘I will always be with you,’ I think that was easier. God, it was the love of her life, but it was something she needed to hear. Like, you will always be with me and I know it and I feel you every day. And, that’s what she needed. So, yeah.”

How do you get into and out of the mindset needed for playing such darkness?

Eliza Taylor: “It’s really hard. It’s really hard. Yeah, there have been times where I’ve gone home from doing a really emotional scene and just sobbed because it’s incredibly hard to get out of. A lot of people say that when you play a character it’s 70% you and 30% the character. You put so much of yourself and your feelings into whatever your character’s going through then of course you’re going to take them home with you, you know? My boyfriend could have proposed to me yesterday and then I have to do a scene where I murder 30 children. I’m not going to be happy about the proposal. I’m going to be like, ‘Must get clean!’ in the shower with my engagement ring for hours. It’s a terrible analogy but that’s how it feels. It’s very tricky and it’s something that you do have to learn to separate yourself from as much as you can.”

Clarke was separated from the main cast last season. Do you hope she’ll be back with them in season four?

Eliza Taylor: “Yeah, I would love that, to be honest. It would be so nice to be with everyone again. For like four or five months I was away from all of them. I was in Polis, I was doing my thing, doing Alycia [Debnam-Carey], and then finally it was like the band was back together. It was so nice because it was like us from the pilot. I miss that so much so I hope in the season we get to do more of that.”

Watch the full Eliza Taylor interview:





‘The Last Man on Earth’ Season 3 – Will Forte and Kristen Schaal Interview

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Last Man on Earth Will Forte and Kristen Schaal
Will Forte and Kristen Schaal in the “Falling Slowly” episode of ‘The Last Man on Earth’ season two (Photo © 2016 Fox Broadcasting Co)

Seated next to his onscreen love interest Kristen Schaal, Fox’s The Last Man on Earth series creator/writer/executive producer/actor/all around pretty cool guy Will Forte kicked off our roundtable interview at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con by joking that for season three he’ll be doing interviews while wearing shades. He was also sporting more hair than when we last saw his character, Phil ‘Tandy’ Miller, at the end of season two. However, the hair won’t be sticking around for much longer.

“We have to shave it off again in a couple of weeks – and the eyebrows,” said Forte, somewhat regretfully.

Season two ended with the very real possibility that Phil’s brother, Mike (played by Jason Sudeikis), has died as a result of the virus. Asked if there’s any possibility Sudeikis will reprise his role ever again, Forte replied, “Never say never on anything. We like to keep our options open, but it was a very, I thought, fitting ending to that story so it would have to be a really good reason to mess with that. It seemed like a good ending point. But, you know, Jason Sudeikis – he’s just awesome and we had so much fun. He’s just amazing so…”

“So we don’t want him back,” interjected Schaal.

“We did not see him actually die. We assume that he’s dead,” said Forte. “But, you know what your high school wrestling coach tells you about assuming.”

Forte says the process of coming up with scripts involves batting around ideas in the writers room. “It always leads to somebody coming up with something good,” explained Forte. “It’s usually pretty obvious what the good ideas are because you’re throwing around so many bad ones all day. It’s just trial and error. You usually know when it’s worth trying out because you go, ‘Wait a second, that’s all right.'”

“I’ll think in little dialogue chunks and then stuff will come from there, at least with me,” said Forte. “Everyone kind of has their own process. How do you think of stuff?”

“I guess I’m more visual. I try to see it. I see it first in my head,” answered Schaal, adding that she was told to think in set pieces. “It’s really hard, you know? In your favorite movies there’s these key moments and these set pieces. Meet the Fockers there’s a cigarette on the roof and the cat, and that was a set piece and it leads to another set piece.”


Will we be seeing any surprise guests in season three that will help push the story forward? “Well, the end of season two there are three people in hazmat suits coming towards us with guns. We know who one of the people is in a hazmat suit. We know who one of the other ones is. We still don’t know who the third one is, but I’m very excited about the one that we do know. Obviously I’m not going to tell you who this man or woman is, but it’s very fun. We’re very excited. Other than that, we’re still charting the course for the season. We don’t like to get too comfortable in one situation. There could be a change of scenery. A lot of fun ideas though. We also have some ideas that are kind of like the season two appendicitis situation where things got pretty serious and we kind of had to deal with the more serious part of what it would be like to live in this scenario. We have something that’s quite different than that but in the same territory of a little more on the dramatic side, approaching it from a more real point of view.”

“The story will be moved,” added Schaal.

When asked if there are any little moments in the show that really say a lot about their characters, Forte replied, “We haven’t done it for so long because we were done with it for so long. I can’t think of it.”

“I think there are nice little moments when Carol and Tandy are starting to sort of copy each other. Like, she wants to say, ‘Boom,’ now and try to make jokes,” answered Schaal. “She’s trying to adopt a sense of humor, which is really nice.”

“It’s really fun getting to know everybody so well because then when you’re together doing a scene, you can bring in these… Like, she’s the improv queen and you just bring in these elements that weren’t even in the script. They just organically come from being with each other for so long. I think there are a lot of those moments,” said Forte. “I mean, we plan for a lot of those moments and some just kind of come out of the relationships that we all have and the trust that we have in each other.”

For more with Forte and Schaal, including their riffs between questions, watch our interview video from Comic Con:

‘Masterminds’ Trailer with Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, and Jason Sudeikis

By
Rebecca Murray
-

Masterminds Movie with Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig

Relativity Studios released a new trailer for Masterminds, a comedy film that’s a mini-Ghostbusters reunion. Kristen Wiig stars alongside her fellow Ghostbusters Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones in the film, inspired by true events. The cast also includes Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Ken Marino, Devin Ratray, Jon Daly, and Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre) directs from a screenplay by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, and Emily Spivey. Relativity has set a September 30, 2016.

The Plot: In this action comedy inspired by true events, David Ghantt (Galifianakis) discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Day in and day out he drives an armored vehicle, transporting millions of other people’s money with no escape in sight. The only glimmer of excitement is his flirtatious work crush Kelly Campbell (Wiig) who soon lures him into the scheme of a lifetime.

Along with a group of half-brained criminals led by Steve Chambers (Wilson) and an absurdly faulted heist plan, David manages the impossible and makes off with $17 million in cash…only problem is he foolishly hands the money over to this wild group of double crossers and has been set up to take the fall. With the bandits blowing the millions on lavish and ridiculous luxuries, they leave behind a glaring trail of evidence. Now on the lam and in over his head, David must dodge the authorities, evade a hilarious hit man, Mike McKinney (Sudeikis), and try to turn the tables on the ones he trusted most.

Watch the Masterminds trailer:

First Photo: Tyler Hoechlin as Superman in ‘Supergirl’

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Supergirl and Superman First Photo
Melissa Benoist as Supergirl and Tyler Hoechlin as Superman in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Frank Ockefels III and Diyah Pera © 2016 The CW Network, LLC.)

The first official photo of Superman in Supergirl has arrived. The photo features Supergirl star Melissa Benoist in her full costume standing next to series newcomer Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf) as Superman in a costume designed by Kiersten Ronning. Superman will be introduced in the beginning of season two. Supergirl will join The CW primetime lineup on October 10, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT after airing season one on CBS.

In addition to Melissa Benoist as Kara Zor-El/Kara Danvers/Supergirl and Hoechlin as Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent, the Supergirl cast includes Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen, Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, Jeremy Jordan as Winn Schott, David Harewood as Hank Henshaw, Calista Flockhart as Cat Grant, Peter Facinelli as Maxwell Lord, and Jenna Dewan Tatum as Lucy Lane.

The Plot: Supergirl is an action-adventure drama based on the DC character Kara Zor-El, Superman’s (Kal-El) cousin who, after 12 years of keeping her powers a secret on Earth, decides to finally embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be. Twelve-year-old Kara escaped the doomed planet Krypton with her parents’ help at the same time as the infant Kal-El. Protected and raised on Earth by her foster family, the Danvers, Kara grew up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex, and learned to conceal the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin in order to keep her identity a secret. Years later at 24, Kara lives in National City assisting media mogul and fierce taskmaster Cat Grant. She works alongside her friend and IT technician Winn Schott and famous photographer James Olsen, who Grant just hired away from the Daily Planet to serve as her new art director. However, Kara’s days of keeping her talents a secret are over when Hank Henshaw, head of a super-secret agency where her sister also works, enlists her to help them protect the citizens of National City from sinister threats. Though Kara will need to find a way to manage her newfound empowerment with her very human relationships, her heart soars as she takes to the skies as Supergirl to fight crime.

‘Once Upon a Time’ Season 6: Colin O’Donoghue, Josh Dallas Say Bromance is Blossoming

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Once Upon a Time Colin O'Donoghue and Josh Dallas
Jared Gilmore, Adam Horowitz, Lana Parrilla, Edward Kitsis, Josh Dallas, Emilie de Ravin, Colin O’Donoghue, and Rebecca Mader (Photo © Richard Chavez)

Once Upon a Time‘s Colin O’Donoghue and Josh Dallas were teamed up for interviews at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con where they promised that not only will their bromance be back on in season six, it will be blossoming. Season five finished up with Hook (O’Donoghue) and Emma (Jennifer Morrison) actually saying they love each other and with Mr. Hyde (Sam Witwer) arriving in town.

Season five also set up the return of the Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) and all Oncers know that means trouble for our favorite Storybrooke characters. And in our interview, O’Donoghue and Dallas spoke about what the return of the Evil Queen means for Snow, Charming, Hook, and Emma.

Josh Dallas and Colin O’Donoghue Interview:

How is Charming going to feel having to face the Evil Queen again?

Josh Dallas: “It’s deja vu for real. I mean, the Evil Queen is back and she’s back with a vengeance and she’s full-on evil. Much like the whole basis of Once Upon a Time the Evil Queen going after Snow White and wanting her dead, and that’s definitely going to be the case. She’s going to go after his wife full force, which means she’s going to go after Charming too. In fact, she’s going after all of these characters.”

Colin O’Donoghue: “She’s going after everybody.”

Josh Dallas: “She’s taking no prisoners. She’s really doing some mental manipulation with everybody and it’s going to turn everybody inside of themselves. They’re going to have a lot internally to kind of deal with.”

We know you’ve only read up to episode three so far. What can you tease about what you’ll be doing and who you’re going to be interacting with that we might not expect?

Josh Dallas: “I mean, you’re definitely going to see a more meaningful friendship grow between Hook and Charming. It just might get rocked by something later on. What else?”

Colin O’Donoghue: “We know that Hyde is still around so they have to figure out what his agenda is. He’s there to sort of rough things up as well. So, it’s great for the Evil Queen. You’ve got Mr. Hyde there just having a great old time.”

Josh Dallas: “I really don’t know why we buy real estate in Storybrooke. It is the worst town in America to live!”

Are you happy the story will be taking place in Storybrooke instead of some alternate land?

Colin O’Donoghue: “I think it’s been fun to sort of play around over the few seasons with all the different worlds that we’ve gone to. I think the season will be in a different way fun because each character will have to delve in deep and look at who they are as people this season more so than any other season.”

Josh Dallas: “And you’re still going to experience other worlds, Fairy Tale Land, and we’ll still see other worlds other than Storybrooke for sure. Maybe not as much, but you will definitely see those flashbacks.”

How do you think Hook and Emma’s relationship will evolve this season after exchanging I love yous at the end of last season?

Colin O’Donoghue: “I mean, I think it’s going to be the same as every year. I think it’s going to be complicated in a different way. [Laughing] We know after the end of last season that it’s true love. The only way that she could save Hook was to sacrifice her heart at the time to save him. That opened the door and the only way that would open is if it was true love, so we know that. So now they have to figure out how they move forward knowing that because it’s such a big…true love is such a rare thing and it’s such a huge part of the show. And also I mean the Evil Queen is back and she’s going to be gunning for Snow and Emma so who knows how that’s going to affect things. It’ll be complicated.”

It was mentioned we’ll be getting more of Hook’s history. Can you expand on that?

Colin O’Donoghue: “I can’t really go into it because it’s such a big spoiler, but it’s going to test some relationships that he has in Storybrooke. I think it’s going to make him sort of reflect even more on who he was, who he is now, and how can he sort of forgive himself if he can for his past. That’s really what it’s going to be. More so than anything it’s just going to really affect a couple of specific relationships that he has.”

Will it test his relationship with Emma?

Colin O’Donoghue: “I’m sure it will be tested. A lot of the things that Hook did in his past a lot of people wouldn’t really be able to forgive. But, Emma has said before that she’s willing to move on from that and leave his past to where it is. But at the moment we’re not there in the shooting so we haven’t read exactly what that’s going to be yet.”

Will we see any consequences of the fact that he was brought back from the dead?

Colin O’Donoghue: “I don’t know. I’m sure along the way there’s probably going to be something. You know, I mean again it’s one of those things where it’s so early in the season and Eddie and Adam will give us little tidbits just so we know some of the bigger things we need to know. And then we read the episodes week-to-week, similar to the way people watch them, so at the moment I don’t know but I’m pretty certain it must have some sort of consequence or whatever. Much like him having the darkness inside him, it will always be there in a way. So, there’s bound to be some sort of thing.”

What do you do to keep your character new and fresh to you?

Josh Dallas: “I mean, the great thing about it is that they do keep changing it up so they do keep giving you challenges as an actor to play and new challenges for the characters to play. There’s always something new happening and a new facet to the character that just makes it deeper and more full. They just keep writing new things, that’s the great joy.”

Colin O’Donoghue: “It’s also we’re lucky in this show that every episode week-to-week is really different. The relationships, especially in the core characters, are all so complex. It’s always fresh. Working with an amazing cast and crew in Vancouver, it’s just really fun and fresh every day.”

Is there anyone you’re hoping you have more scenes with this season that you maybe didn’t get to in the past seasons?

[Josh clears his throat, hinting Colin should say it’s him.]

Colin O’Donoghue: [Taking his time] “No…”

[Josh makes more throat-clearing noises.]

Colin O’Donoghue: “No, it’s pretty good. [Laughing] I was pretty satisfied last season. No, actually it is going to be fun because we are going to have quite a bit to do together this season. That’s going to be interesting because we don’t always get a chance to do that so it’s going to be fun.”

The bromance is back on?

Colin O’Donoghue: “The bromance is back on.”

Josh Dallas: “Back on and blossoming!”

Watch the full Josh Dallas and Colin O’Donoghue interview:





‘Ballers’ with Dwayne Johnson Renewed for Season 3

By
Rebecca Murray
-
Ballers Season 2 Dwight Johnson, John David Washington, Omar Benson Miller
Dwayne Johnson, John David Washington, and Omar Benson Miller in ‘Ballers’ (Photo: Jeff Daly / Courtesy of HBO)

HBO’s football comedy Ballers will be back for a third season. Season two is currently airing on Sunday nights and stars Dwayne Johnson (Central Intelligence, the Fast and Furious franchise) and Rob Corddry (Childrens Hospital, Hot Tub Time Machine) as financial managers working with high-powered professional athletes. The season two cast also includes John David Washington, Omar Benson Miller, Donovan Carter, Troy Garity, Jazmyn Simon, London Brown, Arielle Kebbel, Dulé Hill, Richard Schiff, and Andy Garcia. Season two, which kicked off on July 17, 2016 and drew in 5.7 million viewers, consists of 10 half-hour episodes.

Ballers was created by Boardwalk Empire‘s Stephen Levinson and is executive produced by Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Peter Berg, Evan Reilly, Rob Weiss, Julian Farino, and Denis Biggs. Announcing the show’s renewal, HBO Programming President Casey Bloys said, “Dwayne Johnson, Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg and the rest of the Ballers team have once again delivered a winner for our viewers. We look forward to another great season of Ballers next year.”

The Ballers Plot: Looking at the whirlwind lifestyles and real-life problems of former and current football players, Ballers stars Dwayne Johnson as ex-superstar Spencer Strasmore, who has reinvented himself as a financial manager for today’s players in sun-soaked Miami.

‘Grimm’ Season 6: David Giuntoli Interview

By
Rebecca Murray
-
David Giuntoli from Grimm at Comic Con
David Giuntoli from ‘Grimm’ at Comic Con (Photo © Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)

NBC once again brought almost all of the main Grimm cast to the San Diego Comic Con to take part in a panel with fans of the popular series. Grimm stars David Giuntoli and Bitsie Tulloch even shared a little more than just hints at the upcoming sixth season of the series, with Tulloch wearing her engagement ring in public for what she confirmed was the first time. The couple have been dating for two years and got engaged in April. But, back to Grimm. Season six has a 13 episode order as of now and should be returning to NBC’s primetime lineup this fall. Season five’s finale found #TeamGrimm taking on Captain-turned-Mayor Sean Renard (played by Sasha Roiz) and season six will find the Scooby Gang and Renard now bitter enemies.

That first time public acknowledgement of his engagement might be one of the reasons Giuntoli was in an incredibly good mood in the press room at Comic Con. During our brief interview, Giuntoli said Renard’s gone full evil. “He’s tasted a little bit of power as the Mayor of Portland, Oregon – the most powerful position in the world,” joked Giuntoli. “I want to be alderman one day! No, he’s gone full dark side and he looks good in black. He’s got like a Dieter kind of like mock turtleneck. His nipples you can see through it. They get hard when he talks about power. It’s true – they just [pop up] every time.”

Turning just slightly more serious, Giuntoli added, “So, we go against Renard. It’s intense. He plays a good villain, Sasha. We, I think as a gang, if he becomes mayor he can kind of have the city in the palm of his hand and all the power in that so we try to make that not happen.”

Asked if he has a preference for how he wants Nick’s personal relationships to work out, Giuntoli replied, “Yeah. Nick wants to be with the woman who wants to kill him the least. I feel like he should have a thermometer, like a gauge. ‘Are we in the blue zone? Come with me.’ But it’s been a veritable Jerry Springer show, if all that stuff ever comes to a head.”

Will the next season be more action-oriented than season five? “What I don’t see happening – and I’m actually pleased about this – is that I think the world we’re going to keep it more into the core of our eight regulars and then Trubel,” explained Giuntoli. “I think we’re going to do more of that and kind of watch how that all plays out between the dynamics of these people as opposed to bringing in a much, much greater world. I’m actually very excited about that. The first three episodes have seemed to be really dealing with these plot points, not kicking anything down the road. Really kind of digging in, so it’s neat.”

Giuntoli added, “The fans of Grimm and the religion of it and whatever myth we’ve created behind it, we’re dealing directly in it and we’re not teasing something for a nebulous maybe never answer. We’re going to put it all out there.”

Watch the David Giuntoli interview:




‘The Vampire Diaries’: Julie Plec on the Final Season, Crossovers, and a June Wedding

By
Rebecca Murray
-
The Vampire Diaries Season 8 at Comic Con
‘The Vampire Diaries’ cast and Julie Plec at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con (Photo © Richard Chavez)

During the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con, The CW confirmed the eighth season of The Vampire Diaries would be the series’ final season. Knowing in advance the show’s heading into its final season gives The Vampire Diaries‘ co-creator and executive producer Julie Plec time to finish up storylines and maybe even bring back Nina Dobrev’s character, Elena Gilbert.

During our interview at Comic-Con, Plec said she’s hoping Dobrev returns to The Vampire Diaries. Plec also said we can expect little season one treats for fans who’ve faithfully watched the series for its eight-season run.

Julie Plec Interview:

Can you point to anything from season one that we might see brought back for season eight?

Julie Plec: “We are just in the early stages of writing the scripts but every day in the room we talk about different ways we can celebrate the first season. There’s a pitch on the table now about the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant and the Decade Dance and Founder’s Day, going back to the idea of the root of the founding families even so much as seeing the history of season one played out from a different perspective. There’s all kinds of different tricks and tools and fun things we’re trying to do so we’ll see if we actually do them. But, that’s definitely our intention.”

Will there be any crossovers?

Julie Plec: “There’s no crossovers specifically because the timelines don’t match up this year. But I was just saying to somebody else that that doesn’t mean that before we run end titles on the last image of the finale that we won’t pay some sort of homage to what’s happening in The Originals and, conversely, The Originals, my hope, knock on wood, will continue to live on as can any of these characters with it.”

Do you think there will be any other spin-offs?

Julie Plec: “I have thought about it. I would say it’s not out of the question. I don’t have it right now. I have nuggets of ideas of, ‘Oh, wouldn’t it be fun if we could do this?’ Or, ‘Wouldn’t it be neat to try that?’ Nothing that’s even cemented enough to say I’ve got something in the works, you know? But I do think that when you stumble upon a world that makes so many people happy – and in this case the world of Mystic Falls – then you should always keep your mind open to exploring it in other ways.”

What about the possibility of the return of Elena?

Julie Plec: “Do you realize that I’ve been in here for 35 minutes and you are the first person to ask me about that. I’ve had nine questions about the June wedding and not a single person has asked me about Elena so I’m waiting. Look, all I can say because there is nothing written in stone but Nina made me a promise when she left that she would come back and be a part of the goodbye, and I intend on holding her to that. And I’m sure she intends on living up to it as well so we just have to figure it out – the how, the when, the what – but it would be a real tragedy if we couldn’t bring that story back around full circle.”

And about the June wedding?

Julie Plec: “I will say nothing other than what I’ve said nine times to the entire rest of the room that we are well aware that that line exists in the pilot. That was Caroline’s intention from minute one, so it’s the final season so we don’t like to leave a lot of things hanging. So, we’ll see.”

Is it harder for you to have a shorter season?

Julie Plec: “No, it’s so good. We’re doing 16 episodes. For seven years we’ve been complaining…we are very grateful for our jobs, we love our jobs, but 22 episodes a year for seven years is so hard. It’s hard to maintain a level of quality. It’s hard to maintain a level of sanity. And to be able to do a 16 episode season is the greatest gift that we could be given. And then to be able to do it knowing you’re approaching an end date for the entire series means every minute count, every episode counts. There’s no fluff episodes; there’s no stall. Every episode is going to matter.”

Since you’ve been with the cast for so long is it almost like leaving a family?

Julie Plec: “Yes. So I’m the girl who when it came time to graduate high school my parents were moving out of town so I knew in my heart I would never see most of those people again. I was crying in the corner at every graduation party. You know, like a beer in my hand, just sobbing. I get very nostalgic about this stuff, very emotional, and I love these guys so much. The good news is we all work in the same business.

We’ll have opportunities to work together again. I was so sad about Containment ending and I’ve already hired half the cast across the two shows, so there’s definitely going to be opportunities. But, it’s going to be tough emotionally. It’s like growing up with the same group of people and then finally saying goodbye. I’m looking forward to it because it’s beautiful but it hurts.”

Is there a possibility that after it ends we might still see a Vampire Diaries character show up on The Originals?

Julie Plec: “I would love that. I’m using that to hold the network hostage and say, ‘Listen, keep The Originals on the air and I swear at some point we’ll try to find a way to work everybody through those doors because why not? It’s a great world. Vampires are not done – people still like vampires and there’s no other vampires on television that I want to see. I’d love to keep it going.”

What can you say about new cast members this season?

Julie Plec: “Speaking of the Containment cast, I’ve put Kristen Gutoskie into the role of Celine, the new nanny. From a teacher role to a nanny role. Someone that Caroline’s trying to figure out why Alaric hired the hot nanny instead of the old nanny. We’ve got Demetrius Bridges who was Xander on Containment who’s going to be playing the role of Dorian who’s one of Alaric’s interns. We’ve just cast Nathalie Kelley in a role, this great Australian actress, in the role of Sybil which the breakdown’s been floating out there for quite some time. And then there’s many more to come.”

Will Kevin Williamson be coming back?

Julie Plec: “Kevin is launching his new show Time After Time and so what he’s promised to do is be in this as much as he can be. He helped me write the premiere. He’s absolutely going to write the finale with me, and then anything else he can do along the way. He’s been reading the stories and reading the scripts and chiming in, so it’s been nice to have him back.”





1...1,6701,6711,672...3,125Page 1,671 of 3,125

Trending

All Rights Reserved – Showbiz Junkies 2020