John Corbett as Flash, Robert Kelly as Bam Bam, Liz Gillies as Gigi, and John Ales as Rehab in ‘Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll’ (Photo by Eric Liebowitz / FX)
FX’s summer schedule will include the second season of Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and the third season of the dramatic series, Tyrant. The network just confirmed the premiere dates for the new seasons of both shows, with Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll set to kick off season two’s 10 new half-hour episodes on June 30, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT. Tyrant‘s third season will premiere on July 6th at 10pm ET/PT.
In addition to announcing the premiere dates, FX also released details on the upcoming new seasons of the two series.
Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll centers on “Johnny Rock” (Denis Leary), lead singer of a legendary early 90s New York band called The Heathens. Known for living up to their name, the band partied so long and so hard that even Keith Richards thought they needed to slow things down. The Heathens were on the brink of becoming famous for their kickass live shows and the release of their highly anticipated first album. Until they broke up. The same day the album dropped. Because lead guitarist Flash (John Corbett) found Johnny in bed with his wife. So the band became legendary for all the wrong reasons – like self-destructing sooner than any group in rock-n-roll history. 25 years later, Johnny’s massively talented daughter Gigi (Elizabeth Gillies) reunites Johnny, Flash, and the rest of their dysfunctional rock and roll family – Ava (Elaine Hendrix), Bam Bam (Robert Kelly) and Rehab (John Ales) and– to be her new backup band, The Assassins. Together they’ve got another shot at rock glory.
Tyrant is the story of an unassuming American family drawn into the inner workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation. Bassam “Barry” Al-Fayeed (Adam Rayner), the youngest son of a war-torn country’s controversial dictator, returns to his homeland after a self-imposed 20-year exile in America, only to be forced back into the treacherous familial and national politics of his youth. When his brother, Jamal (Ashraf Barhom), assumes the presidency, Barry hopes to introduce humanitarian freedoms to his homeland. Before long, it becomes clear that Jamal lacks any sense of morality or justice, so Barry colludes with the U.S. government to overthrow him. The plan fails and Barry narrowly escapes execution. Determined to end the corrupt Al-Fayeed rule, Barry, under the alias “Khaled,” joins the insurgency, and quickly becomes a leader, and a symbol of freedom and hope. When the Caliphate targets Abuddin, Barry and Jamal become unlikely allies. They defeat the invaders but just as Jamal prepares to make a triumphant address to his people, he is shot. Jamal’s fate is unclear and the future of Abuddin is once again in Barry’s hands.
Antoine Fuqua’s new version of The Magnificent Seven, the classic Western that starred Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson, is set to open in theaters on September 23, 2016 and MGM and Columbia Pictures have just released the first official trailer. The first look at the action drama set in the Wild West features lots of gunslinging, some humor, things blowing up, and an explanation as to why seven outlaws are working together to help out a town.
Denzel Washington reunites with his Training Day and The Equalizer director for this new take on the classic story which also stars Chris Pratt, Vincent D’Onofrio, Haley Bennett, Ethan Hawke, Peter Sarsgaard, Byung-Hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Martin Sensmeier. Nic Pizzolatto and Richard Wenk wrote the screenplay, and Roger Birnbaum and Todd Black produced the new The Magnificent Seven.
The Plot: With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns – Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.
Idris Elba with his two Screen Actors Guild Awards (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Turner)
Screen Actors Guild winner Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation, Luther) and Oscar winner John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) are collaborating on a new limited series titled Guerrilla set up at Showtime and Sky Atlantic. The series will be written, directed, and executive produced by Ridley, with Elba co-starring and also executive producing. The original dramatic series will consist of six one-hour episodes and will shoot in London this summer.
“We’re excited to partner with our friends at Sky to bring a fascinating and unexplored story spearheaded by John and Idris, two major creative talents at the top of their game,” stated David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “Guerilla will surely keep our audience at their edge of their seats.”
“It’s been a long time desire of mine to collaborate with Mr. Ridley and his work here is nothing short of a masterclass in character building and story-telling. TV is in for a treat,” said Elba.
Ridley added, “I am both humbled by and impressed with Idris’s passion toward bringing this story to life. I share his commitment for populating the culture with driven and complicated people of color, and believe we have great partners on the producorial level, and with our broadcasters Sky Atlantic and Showtime.”
The Plot:Guerrilla is a love story set against the backdrop of one of the most politically explosive times in U.K. history. It tells the story of a politically active couple whose relationship and values are tested when they liberate a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell in 1970s London. Their ultimate target becomes the Black Power Desk, a true-life, secretive counter-intelligence unit within Special Branch dedicated to crushing all forms of black activism. Whilst the series is set against a background of social and political activism, at its heart Guerrilla is about a relationship under pressure, and the reality that for any couple there comes a point when the choices they make have real and lasting consequences.
The Girl on the Train‘s teaser trailer was one of my favorite new trailers that screened during the 2016 CinemaCon. Following its debut at the convention of theater owners, Universal Pictures has now made the trailer available online along with the official teaser poster. Based on Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel, The Girl on the Train stars Emily Blunt (Sicario, Edge of Tomorrow), Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Edgar Ramirez, Lisa Kudrow, and Laura Prepon. Tate Taylor (The Help, Get On Up) directed and co-wrote the adaptation with Erin Cressida Wilson (Men, Women, and Children). Universal Pictures is aiming for an October 7, 2016 theatrical release.
Jared LeBoff and Celia Costas executive produced the much-anticipated film adaptation of Hawkins’ riveting novel.
The Plot: In the thriller, Rachel (Blunt), who is devastated by her recent divorce, spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day, until one morning she sees something shocking happen there and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds.
Barry, Barry, Barry…if only you’d left well enough alone. The Flash season two episode 18 found Barry unwilling to give up on the idea of taking down Zoom once and for all. Episode 18 titled ‘Versus Zoom’ also delved into Zoom’s past and exposed the path he took to becoming the evil master villain who terrorized Earth-1 and Earth-2. One of the better episodes of season two, ‘Versus Zoom’ packed in the action but also allowed for quieter moments for the characters to connect and confirm that despite the dangerous situations they find themselves in, they’re still family.
The Recap:
The episode opens with a flashback to the night Barry’s mom was murdered and in a voice-over Barry (Grant Gustin) says he’s thankful for everything Joe (Jesse L Martin) did for him by taking him in.
Next up is a visit to Earth-2 many years ago where a young Hunter Zolomon watches as his father beats up his mother. The father places his helmet on Hunter’s head and then shoots his wife, leaving Hunter an orphan. No relatives claimed him so he winds up at an orphanage.
Present day, Barry’s in Keystone City ready to test the tachyon device. He turns it on, it charges him up, and he definitely feels different. And he’s off…speeding back to Caitlin, Cisco and Iris at S.T.A.R. Labs as they monitor his speed. He’s never gone this fast before and his vitals are great. He says he can go even faster and does, arriving at the lab after going four times faster than ever before. Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) strolls in and says that’s faster than Zoom’s ever gone. Barry wants the tachyon device to be made a bit smaller but other than that he’s ready to go get Zoom. Cisco (Carlos Valdes) points out the small problem with that plan: the breaches are closed. Barry asks Harrison about opening them and Harrison suggests he forget about the breaches and Zoom. He’s definitely not on board with helping Barry get to Zoom because Harrison doesn’t want Zoom to attack anyone they know and care for ever again. But Barry’s determined to not let Zoom get away with what he’s done. After Harrison leaves, Barry tells they gang they’ll get to Earth-2 even without Harrison’s help.
Joe and Barry finish up a dinner of pizza and beer, and Joe wants to know if he’s sticking around to watch Formula One with Wally. Barry passes on the offer because he needs to get back to work at the lab on the breach problem, but Joe thinks Barry should listen to Harrison and just forget about it. In walks Wally (with his laundry), and Joe offers him money to help with his college living expenses. Wally declines the money, and after he leaves Joe confesses to Barry he can’t figure him out. “I wonder if his doppleganger is that complicated,” says Joe, and Barry looks like he has an idea.
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco and Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) tell Barry thus far the only plan they have is to set off a nuclear warhead next to the city’s electrical grid which, of course, is never going to happen. Barry asks Wells for everything he knows about Cisco’s doppleganger, Reverb. Wells says he can access the multi-dimensional energies between Earths. He can see through dimensions and find breaches. Barry adds, “Reverb had the ability to somehow manipulate that multi-dimensional energy.” Which means Reverb can open a breach to any Earth, and that means Cisco can also do it.
Cisco concentrates and nothing happens. Barry wants him to try again, encouraging him but he still fails. After a couple of attempts, Cisco says he can’t do it and leaves.
Wells shows up at Joe’s house and wants to know if Joe’s had any luck finding his daughter. And, he also wants Joe to talk Barry out of reopening the breach to Earth-2. Joe says he can’t, even though he thinks it’s a dumb idea. Barry’s too stubborn and no way will he let it go. Joe asks Wells to do him a favor and help Barry because he’ll stand a better chance of beating Zoom.
Cisco and Barry go to where a breach used to exist and Cisco tries once again. Nothing happens, and Cisco is frustrated. Then Wells shows up and tells Barry he’ll help so Barry doesn’t get himself killed. Wells gives Cisco new re-calibrated goggles and this time Cisco is able to open the breach. On Earth-2, Zoom hears the breach open and says, “Keep coming, Cisco. Keep coming!” Cisco yanks off the glasses and closes the breach, telling Barry he can’t do it and to please never ask him to do it ever again.
At S.T.A.R. Labs Wells has given the tachyon absorption enhancer an upgrade. Caitlin, Wells, and Barry haven’t seen Cisco, and Joe and Iris show up to see if they can help with anything. Joe asks Barry why Wally won’t let him help out financially, and Barry explains it’s because Wally wants him to ask him to move in, not give him money to live somewhere else. Meanwhile, Iris (Candice Patton) and Caitlin talk about whether it actually is Iris’ destiny to be with Barry.
It turns out Barry was right. Joe sets up a bedroom for Wally and then offers it to him, and Wally’s smile is huge as he says yes.
Cisco finally confesses to Barry that he’s worried he’ll turn to the dark side if he opens breaches. He’s Anakin Skywalker right now, but this could be how he becomes Darth Vader. That’s what happened to Reverb, and Barry laughs and says he gets it. He’s also been worried about any new ability he’s learned, but Cisco’s been there for him. Cisco has Caitlin, Barry, Iris, Wells, and Joe, which is something Reverb never had. They are family. With that, Cisco agrees to try again.
Caitlin’s worried and definitely doesn’t want to face Jay again, and while discussing the man they now know is Zoom she says his Earth-1 doppleganger was Hunter Zolomon. Wells asks if she’s sure, which she is, and Wells reveals on Earth-2 Hunter Zolomon is a well known serial killer. He killed 23 people, was sent to a mental institute, and had daily electroshock therapy. The particle accelerator explosion happened while Hunter was receiving one of those treatments. That’s how he became Zoom. Jay doesn’t know they know this, and Barry thinks that will work to their advantage.
Cisco opens a breach and Zoom immediately comes through and faces The Flash (Cisco runs out of the room, hopefully to safety). Zoom taunts The Flash and then they set off racing across the city. Zoom’s getting close to Barry but Barry keeps just ahead of him, leading him to where Wells and Joe wait to shoot Zoom. The chase leads back to S.T.A.R. Labs where The Flash stops and he and Zoom circle one another, with Zoom saying he still wants to take The Flash’s speed. They race around S.T.A.R. Labs and up pops a life-size cutout of Hunter’s dad. Zoom stares at it and then they’re off again, this time with a life-size cutout of Hunter’s mom stopping Zoom in his tracks. The Flash shoots Zoom and then rips off his mask, pushing him to the ground. Zoom asks how they figured out his real name and Barry reminds him he told Caitlin the name of his Earth-1 doppleganger. Barry tells him they would have helped him, but Zoom says it would have only been a temporary cure that Caitlin could offer. Zoom admits he doesn’t care how many people he kills and tells Barry he could have just as easily become a bad guy. Barry tells him it’s over and Zoom says, “You can’t lock up the Darkness.” His eyes turn black and his hand vibrates and off he goes with The Flash hot on his heels. They race across the city again and The Flash loses him.
Joe, Iris, and Barry head back to Joe’s and the house is torn apart. On the wall in Wally’s room is a message: “Your speed for Wally.” (Barry should have listened to Joe and Wells!)
Wally is locked up in the cage on Earth-2 and Zoom tells him only one person can help him and that’s The Flash. Wally doesn’t know The Flash, but Zoom tells him someone The Flash cares about cares about him.
At Joe’s they try to figure out what to do and Barry says they’ll do what they have to to get Wally back. Barry is willing to give Zoom his speed in exchange for Wally.
At S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco puts on the goggles and can see Wally in the cage by touching Jay’s helmet. Cisco also sees Zoom and tells him Barry’s willing to make the deal. Zoom brings Wally back through the breach to S.T.A.R. Labs where everyone points their guns at Zoom. Barry says, “My speed for Wally’s life. Hand him over and it’s yours.” Zoom hands him over and Cisco quickly gets Wally to safety. Wells prepares to take Barry’s speed from him, but he needs to calibrate the gadget that will do the job. He also threatens Jay, saying, “One day I’m going to knock that smug expression clean off your face.” Barry realizes this was Jay’s plan all along, and Jay admits that’s true. He used his time remnant by going back in time (like the Reverse Flash) and he knew that if they saw Jay die, then they’d try to make Barry go faster. Barry asks who the man in the iron mask is and Jay replies, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” He also says he dressed as The Flash to give people hope, just so he could rip it away from them. Caitlin calls him a monster which reminds him of his mom saying that to his dad before his dad shot her.
Barry prepares to have his speed removed. He starts running in place, with Wells collecting the speed in the speed force transmitter. They watch as it fills up as Barry runs slower and slower until he’s human once again. They rush to him when he collapses and Wells hands Jay the transmitter. He immediately injects himself and grabs Barry by the neck with Caitlin begging him to let Barry go if he has any humanity left. He does, throwing Barry to the ground. Then he grabs Caitlin and leaves!
Grey Damon as Brian Shafe and David Duchovny as Sam Hodiak in ‘Aquarius’ (Photo by: Vivian Zink / NBC)
NBC will be airing the season two premiere of Aquarius without any commercial interruptions. The dramatic series is set for a two-hour premiere on June 16, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT, with only one 55 second local news break to air during the premiere’s second hour. Beginning with episode two of season two the show will shift to its regular timeslot of 10pm ET/PT.
David Duchovny (Californication) is reprising his role as LAPD Homicide Detective Sam Hodiak. Gethin Anthony (Game of Thrones) is back as cult leader/murderer Charles Manson. Season one of the series also featured Grey Damon, Emma Dumont, Claire Holt, Michaela McManus, Brian F. O’Byrne, Chance Kelly, Ambyr Childers, Madisen Beaty and Cameron Deane Stewart. Duchovny, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Melanie Greene, and writer John McNamara (Trumbo) executive produce.
Aquarius season one was the first broadcast series, according to NBC, to have its full episode order streamed in its entirety just four weeks after the series premiere aired.
The Plot of Season One: Los Angeles. 1967. Sam Hodiak (Duchovny), a decorated World War II vet and homicide detective, barely recognizes the city he’s now policing. Long hair, cheap drugs, rising crime, protests, free love, police brutality, Black Power and the Vietnam War are radically remaking the world he and the Greatest Generation saved from fascism 20 years ago. So when Emma Karn (Dumont), the 16-year-old daughter of an old girlfriend, goes missing in a sea of hippies and Hodiak agrees to find her, he faces only hostility, distrust and silence. He enlists the help of Brian Shafe (Damon) — a young, idealistic undercover vice cop who’s been allowed to grow his hair out — to infiltrate this new counterculture and find her.
The generational conflict between the two is immediate and heated, yet they’re both dedicated officers and soon realize the need to bring Emma home is more urgent than they foresaw. The immediacy arises because she has joined a small, but growing, band of drifters under the sway of a career criminal who now dreams of being a rock star: Charles Manson (Anthony).
Poster for ‘Equals’ starring Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart.
The sci-fi romance Equals had its U.S. premiere at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival on April 18th, and in support of its debut A24 released the full trailer online for the latest film from director Drake Doremus (Like Crazy). Equals stars Kristen Stewart (Twilight, American Ultra) and Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies, The X-Men franchise) along with Guy Pearce, Jacki Weaver, Kate Lyn Sheil, and Bel Powley. A24 is planning to release the film via DirecTV on May 26th followed by a July 15th theatrical release.
The Plot: Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult play Nia and Silas, two people who work together in a futuristic society known as “The Collective.” A seemingly utopian world, “The Collective” has ended crime and violence by genetically eliminating all human emotions. Despite this, Nia and Silas can’t help noticing a growing attraction between them, leading them to a forbidden relationship—at first tentative, but then exploding into a passionate romance. As suspicion begins to mount among their superiors, the couple will be forced to choose between going back to the safety of the lives they have always known, or risk it all to try and pull off a daring escape.
Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures unveiled a new trailer for the action film Warcraft based on the Blizzard Entertainment games and directed by Moon‘s Duncan Jones. Jones co-wrote the script with Charles Leavitt and Vikings‘ Travis Fimmel stars as Anduin Lothar with Toby Kebbell playing Durotan. The supporting cast includes Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Ben Schnetzer, Rob Kazinsky and Daniel Wu in supporting roles. Warcraft will arrive in theaters on June 10, 2016 in RealD 3D and IMAX 3D.
Warcraft was produced by Charles Roven, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Alex Gartner, and Stuart Fenegan. Jillian Share, Brent O’Connor, Mike Morhaime, and Paul Sams are the executive producers.
The Plot: The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: Orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people and their home. So begins a spectacular saga of power and sacrifice in which war has many faces, and everyone fights for something.
Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman at the ‘Horrible Bosses 2’ premiere (Photos by Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)
Filming is now underway on the comedy movie Office Christmas Party starring Horrible Bosses co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. The cast also includes Olivia Munn (soon to be seen in X-Men: Apocalypse), T.J. Miller, Kate McKinnon (one of the new Ghostbusters), Jillian Bell, Courtney B. Vance, Vanessa Bayer, Rob Corddry, Randall Park, Abbey Lee, Sam Richardson, and Jamie Chung. Josh Gordon and Will Speck (Blades of Glory) are directing from a script by Laura Solon. Gordon, Speck, Richard Vane and Beau Bauman are executive producing.
DreamWorks Pictures said filming is now taking place in Atlanta. The studio’s aiming for a December 9, 2016 theatrical release.
The Office Christmas Party Plot: In Office Christmas Party, when the CEO tries to close her hard-partying brother’s branch, he and his Chief Technical Officer must rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and close a sale that will save their jobs.
Olivia Munn took to Instagram to post this new photo from the set:
Aja Naomi King and Nate Parker at the 2016 CinemaCon (Photo by Rebecca Murray)
The Birth of a Nation trailer earned loud, sustained applause from the National Association of Theatre Owners members in attendance at the 2016 CinemaCon in Vegas, and the film’s writer, director, and star Nate Parker was recognized with the Breakthrough Director of the Year award from the group. The dramatic, Sundance award-winning film will be released by Fox Searchlight in October and has already generated Oscar buzz for the first-time feature film director. And prior to taking the stage at CinemaCon’s Big Screen Achievement Awards, Parker and actress Aja Naomi King (‘Cherry’) spoke about the film and the awards talk during a small press conference.
I asked the multi-hyphenate Parker if he ever felt as though there was a time during the 27-day shoot when he wasn’t sure he could get it done. “No, and if I did feel that way I would never let anyone know,” said Parker, laughing. “The important thing with being a director is everyone looks to you for everything. They say the fish swims from the head and so every day I had to be the one who walked the fastest, that smiled the hardest, that was willing to sweat. I wore a suit on the days when I wasn’t in costume and when it was especially hot I wore a wool vest just so everyone knew that I had skin in the game. It worked. I felt like my team was always with me and I never felt like there was a hierarchy. I tried my best to make everyone feel like their opinion was important. To get through those 27 days when the schedule called for 38 initially, the only way was for everyone to work to their capacity. And, the only way people do that is if they feel appreciated.”
Asked why there seem to be quite a few films and TV shows about slavery recently, Parker said he wouldn’t classify them as “about slavery.” “I’d say that people in 2016 are more open to the truth about who we are and what our identity is. So, we can tell those stories in a way that’s unapologetic without feeling like they’re polarizing or they’re making people uncomfortable. I don’t think my film is a film about slavery. I think it’s a film about healing and liberation and resistance being an option,” explained Parker.
In response to my question as to what it was about Cherry that she latched onto, Aja Naomi King replied, “What I loved about this character was the first time we see her she looks so beaten upon and what I loved was in Nat wanting to help her it wasn’t out of some kind of attraction. It was this idea that he could no longer be complicit in the furthering of someone else’s destruction. That kind of love, that kind of desire to help human kind, it really spoke to me. With Cherry, she herself has so much fight in her and I think that’s what connects these two characters. With her dying breath she will not be subjugated. She will not submit and that is what makes them such fiery, animated people. I think that’s what connects them in their souls. I really loved that about these two people.”
Watch the full interview with Nate Parker and Aja Naomi King:
