Executive producer Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor) is dipping his toes in the dating series pool with a new unscripted show coming to Fox later this year. The series doesn’t have a title yet, but it does have a 10 episode first season order from Fox. The untitled series was created by Burnett, Ben Newmark, Dan Newmark and Larry Barron, all of whom will serve as executive producers.
“I am so happy to be making my first dating series with FOX,” stated eight-time Emmy winner Burnett. “It’s a genre that attracts a wide audience and our series gives a very fresh perspective that mirrors real life.”
The Plot:
Set in the Caribbean Islands, the series will take the instant “yes or no” connection of modern digital romance to the next level. Single men and women will match up, based on their instant chemistry, but the real soap opera will unfold when these budding couples discover whether or not they have the compatibility to make their relationships last. Further details will be announced at a later date.
Adam Lambert cast in ‘THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW’ (Photo courtesy of Fox)
Fox’s reimagining of the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show has found its Eddie. Adam Lambert has joined the cast of the two-hour musical and will be playing motorcycle-riding bad boy Eddie, played by Meatloaf in the 1975 cult classic film. The cast of Fox’s new Rocky Horror is led by Victoria Justice as Janet and Ryan McCartan as Brad. Reeve Carney plays Riff Raff, Laverne Cox is Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and Staz Noir is Rocky.
“I grew up watching Rocky Horror, but could never imagine that I would be part of this new vision,” said Lambert. “Rocky Horror always made me feel like it was OK to celebrate my weirdness. Hallelujah, bless my soul! I love that old time rock-n-roll!”
Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, Descendants) is directing and choreographing the musical. Ortega is also executive producing along with Lou Adler and Gail Berman.
The Plot: The Rocky Horror Picture Show follows sweethearts Janet (Justice) and Brad (McCartan), who stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s (Cox) bizarre abode. Frank-N-Furter, a sexually ambiguous, flirtatious alien mad-scientist – with the help of his faithful servants, Riff Raff (Carney) and Magenta – is holding an annual, Transylvanian science convention to showcase the birth of “Rocky Horror” (Nair) – a fit, attractive man created solely to fulfill Frank’s desires.
Details on Adam Lambert’s Career, Courtesy of Fox:
Best known for his soaring voice and unique blend of theatrical flair and glam-rock sensibilities, Adam Lambert has performed in front of sold-out crowds worldwide -both as a solo artist and with the legendary rock group Queen. His work has garnered a number of music awards and nominations, including a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance,” a BMI Award for “Award-Winning Song,” two GLAAD Awards, a Young Hollywood Award for “Artist of the Year,” a TEEN CHOICE Award for “Choice Male Reality/Variety Star” and a People’s Choice Award nomination for “Break-Out Musical Artist.”
A San Diego, CA, native, Lambert stepped into the national spotlight in 2009 when he became a finalist on the eighth season of AMERICAN IDOL. His vocal range, along with his unique style, made him a standout contestant and he quickly won over millions of viewers. After the season wrapped, Lambert released his widely successful RCA Records debut, “For Your Entertainment,” which has sold nearly two million copies worldwide to date. The album’s first single, “Whataya Want From Me,” became a radio smash and earned him his first Grammy Award nomination for “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.”
In June of 2010, Lambert embarked on his first headlining tour, playing to sold-out crowds in the U.S., Europe and Asia. His sophomore album, “Trespassing,” was released in 2012, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Most recently, Lambert wrapped a hugely successful world tour fronting Queen, with original band members Brian May and Roger Taylor. Additionally, Lambert had a five-episode arc on “Glee,” during its 2013-2014 season. His third studio album, “The Original High,” executive-produced by Max Martin and Shellback, was released on Warner Bros. Records on June 12, 2015 and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 Album chart.
“Ghost Town,” the first single from “The Original High,” was praised by the New York Times as “his best single to date.” The album’s second and most recent single, “Another Lonely Night,” currently impacting Top 40 radio, displays Lambert’s signature vocal stylings, with hints of precision and controlled intensity shining through. On February 23, Lambert will kick off his much anticipated “THE ORIGINAL HIGH TOUR,” in Huntington, NY.
Guillermo del Toro (Crimson Peak) has come on board Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark as a producer and may also direct. Frequent Tim Burton collaborator John August (Frankenweenie, Corpse Bride) wrote the screenplay based on the short story collections by Alvin Schwartz.
Guillermo del Toro is a longtime fans of Scary Stories and even owns Scary Story illustrations by Stephen Gammell (he’s posing with them in the above picture). No plot details are available nor has a potential release date been announced.
Sean Daniel, Jason Brown, and Elizabeth Grave are attached to produce the film.
Per the official announcement: “Alvin Schwartz’s trilogy of short story collections have sold more than seven million copies worldwide, resulting in at least as many nightmares. From the moment the first book was published in 1984, the Scary Stories series was one of the most banned from placement by the American Library Association, as the collections were considered to be too scary for children. The ensuing controversy only helped to fuel sales, and the trilogy has remained a cultural phenomenon ever since.”
Another new trailer and poster have arrived for Gods of Egypt, an action film starring Gerard Butler, Game of Thrones‘ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Brenton Thwaites. The new trailer is all about eyeballs and action scenes, all played out in gold tones. Directed by Alex Proyas, the cast also includes Chadwick Boseman, Elodie Yung, Courtney Eaton, and Geoffrey Rush.
Gods of Egypt opens in theaters on February 26, 2016.
The Plot:
The survival of mankind hangs in the balance as an unexpected mortal hero Bek [Brenton Thwaites] undertakes a thrilling journey to save the world and rescue his true love. In order to succeed, he must enlist the help of the powerful god Horus [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau] in an unlikely alliance against Set [Gerard Butler], the merciless god of darkness, who has usurped Egypt’s throne, plunging the once peaceful and prosperous empire into chaos and conflict. As their breathtaking battle against Set and his henchmen takes them into the afterlife and across the heavens, both god and mortal must pass tests of courage and sacrifice if they hope to prevail in the epic final confrontation.
Aaron Stanford as James Cole and Amanda Schull as Cassandra Railly in ’12 Monkeys’ (Photo by: Steve Wilkie/Syfy)
Syfy’s set the premiere dates for 12 Monkeys season two and Hunters season one. 12 Monkeys starring Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Kirk Acevedo, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa, and Todd Stashwick will kick off its 13 episode second season on April 18, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT. The first season of the sci-fi/thriller Hunters will premiere on April 11, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT./p>
Hunters is inspired by Alien Hunter by Whitley Strieber and is executive produced by The Walking Dead executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, Emile Levisetti (Royal Pains), and Natalie Chaidez (Heroes). Chaidez is the series’ showrunner.
Hunters stars Nathan Phillips, Britne Oldford, and Nip/Tuck‘s Julian McMahon. The series follows Baltimore FBI agent Flynn Carroll’s (Phillips) search for his missing wife. The search “leads him to a highly-classified government organization – the Exo-Terrorism Unit (ETU) – who track and fight alien terrorists.” Oldford is Regan, a valuable ETU operative keeping secrets of her own. McMahon plays the dangerously unhinged terrorist, McCarthy.
12 Monkeys is based on the film of the same name staring Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis. Terry Matalas, Travis Fickett, Charles Roven, and Richard are the executive producers.
The 12 Monkeys plot: “12 Monkeys follows the journey of Cole, a time traveler sent back in time from a dark, hellish future to prevent it from ever happening. Joining forces in the present with Dr. Railly, Cole must defeat a centuries-old malevolent organization known as the Army of the 12 Monkeys. As Cole, Railly and their unlikely allies get closer to the truth, they’ll learn there are deadly consequences for all of history … and time itself.”
Adele joins James Corden for Carpool Karaoke on ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden’ (Photo by Craig Sugden/ CBS Broadcasting, Inc)The Late Late Show host James Corden returns to the driver’s seat for another edition of Carpool Karaoke and this time he gives a ride to Grammy winner Adele. Traveling around London, the two discuss Adele’s new bob haircut, fan encounters when she’s been drinking, and her trilogy of albums named after her age. There’s also, of course, lots of singing, with Adele and Corden singing everything from “Hello” to a Spice Girls number and Nicki Minaj’s “Monster.”
The James Corden and Adele Carpool Karaoke video is one of Corden’s most popular Youtube videos to date. Corden’s also taken the driver’s seat to hang out with all four members of One Direction, Chris Martin from Coldplay, Sia (complete with matching wigs), and Sir Elton John. Other passengers have included Stevie Wonder, Carrie Underwood, Justin Bieber, Jason DeRulo, Jennifer Hudson, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, and Iggy Azalea.
Starz’ riveting dramatic series Flesh and Bone, which earned two Golden Globe nominations, is set in the world of ballet and features accomplished ballet dancers including former American Ballet Theatre principal Sarah Hay in the lead role of troubled-but-brilliant dancer Claire. The cast of season one also includes American Ballet Theatre soloist Sascha Radetsky, former American Ballet Theatre principal Irina Dvorovenko, Emily Tyra, Damon Herriman, Tina Benko, and Ben Daniels (House of Cards).
The eight episode season one premiered on November 8, 2015 and arrived on Blu-ray and DVD on January 5th, and thanks to Anchor Bay we have copies of Flesh and Bone season one on Blu-ray to give away to lucky winners! We also have an exclusive behind-the-scenes video spotlighting the dancers and the audition process.
For a chance to win Flesh and Bone on Blu-ray, simply send an email to [email protected] with “Flesh and Bone” in the subject line. Only one email entry per email address is allowed and you must be 18 years or older to enter the contest. Enter now for a shot at winning! The contest ends on January 21, 2016 at 6pm PST.
The Plot:
In Flesh and Bone, Claire (Hay) joins a prestigious ballet company in New York. She’s beautiful, soulful, talented and an emotionally wounded young woman who somehow still possesses an innate innocence and fragility while at the same time harboring self-destructive tendencies and a vaulting ambition. Claire is a transcendent ballerina, capable of reaching the sublime but her inner torment and aspirations drive her in unforeseeable ways. Along the way, she encounters drugs, sex, starvation, desire, betrayal, pain, punishment, fear, rebellion, insecurity and ambition.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 6,261 voting members threw their 2016 Oscars support behind The Revenant, awarding that film 12 nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, followed by Mad Max: Fury Road which received 10 nominations. The Martian picked up seven nominations with Bridge of Spies, Carol, and Spotlight each snagging six nominations. The 88th Academy Awards winners will be announced on February 28, 2016.
The list of Oscar nominees is a curious one, generating attention online for who the Academy members left out as much as for who they included. Straight Outta Compton, The Martian helmer Ridley Scott, Carol, and The Hateful Eight didn’t receive the nominations that were expected. Aaron Sorkin won the screenplay award for Steve Jobs but didn’t pick up an Oscar nomination in that category. The late push for Star Wars: The Force Awakens paid off only in technical awards. Room star Jacob Tremblay’s breakthrough performance was ignored and, once again, not a single actor of color earned a nomination.
2016 Oscar Nominations:
Best Picture
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Matt Damon, The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
Alicia Vikander. The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Best Animated Feature Film
Anomalisa
Boy and the World
Inside Out
Shawn the Sheep Movie
When Marnie Was There
Best Cinematography
Carol, Ed Lachman
The Hateful Eight, Robert Richardson
Mad Max: Fury Road, John Seale
The Revenant, Emmanuel Lubezki
Sicario, Roger Deakins
Best Costume Design
Carol, Sandy Powell
Cinderella, Sandy Powell
The Danish Girl, Paco Delgado
Mad Max: Fury Road, Jenny Beavan
The Revenant, Jacqueline West
Best Directing
Adam McKay, The Big Short
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant
Lenny Abrahamson, Room
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
Best Documentary Feature
Amy
Cartel Land
The Look of Silence
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom
Best Documentary Short
Body Team 12
Chau, Beyond the Lines
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah
A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness
Last Day of Freedom
Best Film Editing
The Big Short, Hank Corwin
Mad Max: Fury Road, Margaret Sixel
The Revenant, Stephen Mirrione
Spotlight, Tom McArdle
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey
Best Foreign-Language Film
Embrace of the Serpent, Colombia
Mustang, France
Son of Saul, Hungary
Theeb, Jordan
A War, Denmark
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Mad Max: Fury Road – Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega and Damian Martin
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared – Love Larson and Eva von Bahr
The Revenant – Sian Grigg, Duncan Jarman and Robert Pandini
Best Music – Original Song
“Earned It” from Fifty Shades of Grey
Music and lyrics by Abel Tesfaye, Ahmad Balshe, Jason Daheala Quenneville and Stephan Moccio
“Manta Ray” from Racing Extinction
Music by J. Ralph and lyrics by Antony Hegarty
“Simple Song #3” from Youth
Music and lyrics by David Lang
“Til It Happens to You” from The Hunting Ground
Music and lyric by Diane Warren and Lady Gaga
“Writing’s on the Wall” from Spectre
Music and lyrics by Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith
Best Music – Original Score
Bridge of Spies, Thomas Newman
Carol, Carter Burwell
The Hateful Eight, Ennio Morricone
Sicario, Johann Johannsson
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, John Williams
Best Production Design
Bridge of Spies, production design: Adam Stockhausen; set decoration: Rena DeAngelo and Bernhard Henrich
The Danish Girl, production design: Eve Stewart; set decoration: Michael Standish
Mad Max: Fury Road, production design: Colin Gibson; set decoration: Lisa Thompson
The Martian, production design: Arthur Max; set decoration: Celia Bobak
The Revenant, production design: Jack Fisk; set decoration: Hamish Purdy
Best Short Film – Live Action
Ave Maria
Day One
Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut)
Shok
Stutterer
Best Short Film – Animated
Bear Story
Prologue
Sanjay’s Super Team
We Can’t Live Without Cosmos
World of Tomorrow
Best Sound Editing
Mad Max: Fury Road – Mark Mangini and David White
The Martian – Oliver Tarney
The Revenant – Martin Hernandez and Lon Bender
Sicario – Alan Robert Murray
Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Matthew Wood and David Acord
Best Sound Mixing
Bridge of Spies – Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Drew Kunin
Mad Max: Fury Road – Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff and Ben Osmo
The Martian – Paul Massey, Mark Taylor and Mac Ruth
The Revenant – Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montano, Randy Thom and Chris Duesterdiek
Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio and Stuart Wilson
Best Visual Effects
Ex Machina – Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara Bennett
Mad Max: Fury Road – Andrew Jackson, Tom Wood, Dan Oliver and Andy Williams
The Martian – Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Chris Lawrence and Steven Warner
The Revenant – Rich McBride, Matthew Shumway, Jason Smith and Cameron Waldbauer
Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould
Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay
The Big Short – screenplay by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
Brooklyn – screenplay by Nick Hornby
Carol – screenplay by Phyllis Nagy
The Martian – screenplay by Drew Goddard
Room – screenplay by Emma Donoghue
Best Writing – Original Screenplay
Bridge of Spies – Written by Matt Charman, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
Ex Machina – Written by Alex Garland
Inside Out – Screenplay by Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley; original story by Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen
Spotlight – Written by Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy
Straight Outta Compton – Screenplay by Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff; story by S. Leigh Savidge, Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff
Melissa George as Dr. Alex Panttiere and Dave Annable as Dr. Pierce Harrison in ‘Heartbeat’ (Photo by: Michelle Faye/NBC)
NBC hasn’t announced a premiere date for Heartbeat, however the network is showing off a new trailer for the series based on Dr. Kathy Magliato and starring Melissa George. The cast of the dramatic series also includes Dave Annable, Shelley Conn, D.L. Hughley, Jamie Kennedy, Maya Erskine, JLouis Mills and Joshua Leonard. Heartbeat‘s written by Jill Gordon and executive produced by Gordon, Amy Brenneman, Brad Silberling and director Robbie Duncan McNeill.
The Plot:
Heartbeat follows Dr. Alex Panttiere, an outspoken world-renowned heart transplant surgeon and one of the few women in her field. Stubborn and fearless, Alex always operates on her own terms. She revels in a racy personal life that’s a full-time job in itself, manages the daily demands of skeptical faculty and dutiful interns, and pushes the boundaries of medical science to impressive new heights.
Liam James stars in ‘The Family’ (Photo by Bob D’Amico / ABC)
ABC has set a March 3, 2016 premiere date for the new dramatic series The Family starring Joan Allen, Liam James, Alison Pill, Margot Bingham, Zach Gilford, Floriana Lima, Madeleine Arthur, Rarmian Newton, Rupert Graves, and Andrew McCarthy. The Family comes from writer/executive producer Jenna Bans (Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal), with Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman, and Laurie Zaks also executive producing.
The Plot: “A family is shaken to the core when a politician’s presumed dead son suddenly returns. After disappearing a decade earlier, Adam Warren’s homecoming to Red Pines, Maine, is initially met with astonishment and joy, but suspicions soon begin to emerge. Is he really who he says he is? The boy’s shocking reappearance forces the entire family to re-examine who they are and unearths long-buried secrets, betrayals and heartache.”
The series will keep audiences guessing not only as to Adam’s whereabouts during the time he was held captivate, but also whether this young man who has returned to the Warren family is in fact the boy who went missing years ago. ABC presented a Q&A with the cast of the series during the 2016 Television Critics Association’s winter event in Los Angeles, and following the panel we sat down with a small group of reporters and Liam James to find out how he’s approaching this intriguing character.
Liam James Interview:
Have you made a decision whether you’re really Adam or not?
Liam James: “I don’t think it’s really up to me. The thing about the show is that I’m working with some of the greatest actors in the world and some of the greatest writers, so I just kind of do what they tell me and if there’s something that I can add to it, I’m just thankful.”
Were you told the truth about him before filming started?
Liam James: “I don’t know what the truth really is. I kind of come from the POV of the audience, really. The best thing about playing someone who’s stunted, whose emotional development is not there I think is it’s fine to always have a little bit of that in the real world as well, so I can kind of carry that over.”
You’ve played so many damaged kids or troubled kids, what is the key to approaching those roles?
Liam James: “You know, I think it’s just you go into the room and audition for all sorts of things and what they like is whatever comes out. I’m trying my best to not be pigeonholed in any sort way. I just try and do my best in any type of emotion. The great thing about the show is my character starts off so one-dimensional and like someone who you just kind of move around, but he turns out to be the most dynamic. I get to have this amazing character development that no one else does.”
Do you come out of a character like this pretty easy, or do you take him home with you?
Liam James: “I think I’m able to come out. I think I’m learning a lot about acting from doing this television show. On stage, Joan Allen, she’s up there and she’s talking and just having a normal conversation where she’s the most bubbly, bright person and then two seconds later she’s weeping to the point of like you don’t even understand. And I just kind of watch her and I learn so much.”
Did a lot of doors open up for you after The Way, Way Back?
Liam James: “Yeah, I think they did. I think just talking with people because in Vancouver you don’t get a whole lot of that exposure. But, yeah, it increases your exposure. I think that everything that I’ve done has just been fun. I love every project I’ve done.”
Starz’ riveting dramatic series Flesh and Bone, which earned two Golden Globe nominations, is set in the world of ballet and features accomplished ballet dancers including former American Ballet Theatre principal Sarah Hay in the lead role of troubled-but-brilliant dancer Claire. The cast of season one also includes American Ballet Theatre soloist Sascha Radetsky, former American Ballet Theatre principal Irina Dvorovenko, Emily Tyra, Damon Herriman, Tina Benko, and Ben Daniels (House of Cards). 
