Animals will be attacking humans again next summer as CBS just announced they’ve given a season two order to Zoo. The drama earned high ratings for a summer series over its first season run, taking the top spot as the #1 scripted summer series this year. Despite less-than-stellar reviews, the ratings were big enough that a renewal order was an easy decision for the network.
“Zoo‘s thrilling stories clicked with audiences each week during a very competitive summer,” stated Glenn Geller, President, CBS Entertainment. “We’re excited for viewers to see where our talented writers and cast take them as the adventure continues to unfold during season two in the ultimate fight of man vs. beast.”
Zoo is based on James Patterson’s bestselling novel and is executive produced by Patterson, Jeff Pinkner, Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Scott Rosenberg, Michael Katleman, James Mangold, Cathy Konrad, Bill Robinson, Leopoldo Gout and Steve Bowen. The season one cast included James Wolk, Kristen Connolly, Billy Burke, Nonso Anozie, and Nora Arnezeder.
CBS hasn’t announced whether they’ll be bringing back the summer series Extant starring Halle Berry. The network’s Under the Dome ended its summer run after finishing up season three in September 2015. The 2016 summer season will debut the comedy/thriller BrainDead.
Harrison Ford has been chosen to receive the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA Los Angeles). Harrison, soon to be seen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will receive the award in recognition of being an “iconic and trail-blazing” entertainer.
The Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award is given out annually to someone who has had “a profound, lasting impact on the worldwide entertainment industry.”
Ford will be honored at the British Academy Britannia Awards ceremony to be held on October 30, 2015 in Los Angeles. The awards show will air on Pop on November 6th.
“It is impossible to imagine the past 40 years of Hollywood history without Harrison Ford, and his performances are as iconic as the films themselves,” stated BAFTA Los Angeles Chairman Kieran Breen. “Not only is he a superb actor, but he has remained a uniquely compelling and beloved audience favorite throughout his career. We are delighted to honor him this year with the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award.”
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by actor/comedian Jack Whitehall. Announcing Whitehall’s involvement, co-chairs Adam Bialow and Deborah Kola said, “With our outstanding slate of deserving honorees, our hilarious new host Jack Whitehall, and our new US broadcast partner Pop, we can’t help but be tremendously excited for the biggest British night in the Hollywood calendar.”
BAFTA Los Angeles previously announced Orlando Bloom, Meryl Streep, Sam Mendes, James Corden, and Amy Schumer will be honored at this year’s event. Funds raised from the star-studded gala will go toward funding BAFTA Los Angeles’ community outreach, education, scholarship, and archival projects.
Who is Richie Lanz and what’s he doing in Afghanistan? Open Road Films answers that question in a documentary-style behind-the-scenes video about the lead character from the upcoming Rock the Kasbah comedy. The video stars Bill Murray as the fictional rock manager who claims he discovered Madonna, talked Slash into wearing a top hat, and made sure Woodstock was a success. Barry Levinson directed the dramatic comedy heading to theaters on October 23, 2015.
The cast also includes Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson, Danny McBride, Scott Caan, and Bruce Willis.
The Plot:
A has-been rock manager from Van Nuys, California stumbles upon a once-in-a-lifetime voice in a remote Afghan cave in Rock the Kasbah, a dramatic comedy inspired by stranger-than- fiction, real-life events and directed by Oscar winner Barry Levinson. Richie Lanz (Murray), dumped and stranded in war-torn Kabul by his last remaining client (Deschanel), discovers Salima Khan (Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with a beautiful voice and the courageous dream of becoming the first woman to compete on national television in Afghanistan’s version of American Idol.
Richie partners with a savvy hooker (Hudson), a pair of hard-partying war profiteers (McBride and Caan) and a hair-trigger mercenary (Willis) and, braving dangerous cultural prejudices, manages his new protégée into becoming the “Afghan Star.”
Matt Damon plays a botanist who proudly proclaims he’s going to science the sh*t out of being stranded on Mars after being presumed dead in The Martian, one of the Ridley Scott’s best films in decades. The Martian boasts an outstanding ensemble cast, but Damon’s definitely the headliner in this sci-fi action adventure film that makes you wish you’d paid better attention in science and biology classes.
Entertaining and sharply written, this is one film that actually deserves to be seen in 3D and IMAX if the option’s available at your local theater. Otherwise, see it in the conventional 2D format at a theater; don’t wait for this on Blu-ray or On Demand.
The Martian is full of interesting characters, all of whom are intelligent, and all of whom have been given their moments to shine by screenwriter Drew Goddard who adapted Andy Weir’s book for the screen. The film focuses on astronauts who’ve made the trip to Mars only to be forced into cutting short their mission on the red planet due to a massive storm.
Unfortunately, not all of them make it into the ship when an evacuation becomes necessary, and Mark Watney (Damon) is hit by debris and ultimately presumed dead when his sensor stops transmitting his vitals. No one wants to leave his body behind, but staying put is simply not an option as they could lose not only the specimens and research they were able to do before the storm hit but also their lives.
After a state funeral is held on Earth with citizens worldwide mourning Watney’s death, an analyst at NASA notices something is moving on the surface of Mars. On further inspection, NASA confirms Watney is still alive and now he’s stranded without enough food or water to last until a rescue mission can be launched.
Fortunately, Watney’s perfectly suited for the task of figuring out how to make plants grow on an alien planet. Of course, now we know there is water on Mars, but the film’s Mars is one in which there’s not a drop of water and the soil doesn’t contain the proper nutrients to make anything grow. Watney’s all over that problem, using all of his skills to become the greatest botanist on the planet. He admits time and again in his video diary that he believes he’ll die before NASA is able to put together a rescue mission. But he’s determined to stay alive, no matter what it takes to do so.
Ridley Scott and Drew Goddard have crafted a believable, heart-wrenching, even life-affirming film that balances the drama in space with some well-placed humorous moments. Damon plays Watney as an eternal optimist with a self-deprecating, wry sense of humor and a distinct dislike of disco. Watney’s smart enough to realize he has to fight to stay sane and not give in to loneliness and despair, and by approaching each problem as an objective to tackle, this botanist becomes a hero kids can look up to and adults will embrace and root for.
Jessica Chastain plays the commander of the Mars mission who made the decision to leave Watney behind following what she believed was a fatal accident. Chastain brings an authoritative presence to the role of Melissa Lewis, and it’s completely believable that the crew would follow her orders without question.
The crew also includes Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Sebastian Stan, and Aksel Hennie, with Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig, and Donald Glover making up the group at NASA focused on solving the problem of getting Watney home safely. Ridley Scott’s gathered a terrific group of actors together, all of whom deliver stellar performances. Daniels in particular shines as the head of NASA who has to balance budgetary restrictions, politics, and the debate over whether one man’s life is worth the possible sacrifice of hundreds of millions of dollars to a mission that could fail (and if it does, it will fail in full view of an enthralled public). Plus, any astronaut who takes part in the rescue mission has the potential of dying in the attempt if anything goes wrong.
The Martian is a riveting space adventure with striking cinematography and incredible effects. It’s simply stunning to watch, but what makes The Martian so memorable and such a captivating theatrical experience are the characters at the heart of the film, with Damon’s Watney front and center. Watching Watney work out each of the problems he must overcome in order to survive is fascinating, and Damon’s performance is genuinely moving.
The Martian‘s set far, far away but it’s grounded in real human emotions. It may not make you long for a chance to travel to Mars, but it’s refreshing to see characters other than ones inspired by comic books revealed as heroes on the big screen in a big-budget, epic film.
GRADE: A-
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity
A scene from Channel 4’s original series, ‘Hunted.’
How long would you last on your own with investigators on your trail? CBS has just greenlit Hunted, an alternative series that attempts to answer that very question. The one hour show, based on a UK series that recently debuted to strong numbers, will allow participants to put their survival skills to the test by staying ahead of skilled investigators.
Details on how to apply for season one will be released soon.
“Hunted is a compelling new alternative series format, which our Alternative department had been tracking for a while, that feels tailor-made for CBS,” stated Glenn Geller, President, CBS Entertainment. “It combines the suspense of a crime drama with the thrill of a competition reality series and some very topical social issues.”
The Plot:
Hunted follows ordinary people attempting the nearly impossible task of disappearing in today’s vast digital world, as professional investigators combine state-of-the-art tracking methods with traditional tactics to narrow down the search area. From searching their target’s home and scouring Internet and cell phone histories to identifying behavioral patterns, they look for clues to potential hiding places and collaborators that can ultimately lead to capture.
If you believe there can never be too much of Doctor Who, BBC Three just made your day. A Doctor Who spin-off titled Class has just been announced, with young adult book author Patrick Ness tapped to write the eight-episode season.
Ness, Steven Moffat, and Brian Minchin are executive producing, and filming is expected to take place Wales, with the series set to air in 2016.
Ness has written nine books including six bestselling young adult novels. A two-time Carnegie Medal winner, Ness recently adapted his book A Monster Calls for the screen.
“No one has documented the dark and exhilarating world of the teenager like Patrick Ness, and now we’re bringing his brilliant storytelling into Doctor Who,” said executive producer Moffat. “This is growing up in modern Britain – but with monsters!”
“I’m astounded and thrilled to be entering the Doctor Who universe, which is as vast as time and space itself,” commented Ness, discussing his first TV series. “There’s so much room there for all kinds of amazing stories, and to work with Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin to find a place to tell one of my own has been an absolute joy. I can’t wait for people to meet the heroes of Class, to meet the all-new villains and aliens, to remember that the horrors of the darkest corners of existence are just about on par with having to pass your A-Levels.”
The Plot:
Class is a YA series set in contemporary London. Incredible dangers are breaking through the walls of time and space, and with darkness coming, London is unprotected. With all the action, heart and adrenaline of the best YA fiction (Buffy, Hunger Games), this is Coal Hill School and Doctor Who like you’ve never seen it before.
Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon in ’99 Homes’ (Photo Courtesy of Broad Green Pictures)
Broad Green Pictures’ just-released new trailer for 99 Homes finds Andrew Garfield’s character ready to do whatever it takes to make sure his family has a home. Directed by Ramin Bahrani, Garfield’s 99 Homes co-stars include Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire), Laura Dern (Wild), and Noah Lomax. 99 Homes is currently playing in limited release and will expand nationwide on October 9, 2015.
The Plot:
When single father Dennis Nash (Garfield) is evicted from his home, his only chance to win it back is to go to work for Rick Carver (Shannon), the charismatic and ruthless businessman who evicted him in the first place. It’s a deal-with-the-devil that provides security for his family, but as Nash falls deeper into Carver’s web, he finds his situation grows more brutal and dangerous than he ever imagined.
The pirate drama Black Sails will air season three in 2016 and today Starz has released the season three trailer along with the first official poster for the upcoming season. Created by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, Black Sails is executive produced by Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, Andrew Form, Chris Symes, and Dan Shotz.
The cast is led by Toby Stephens and includes Hannah New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Tom Hopper, and Zach McGowan. Ray Stevenson will be introduced as Blackbeard in season three.
Black Sails has been averaging 4.5 million viewers over its first two seasons. Filming on season four is set for this fall in South Africa.
The Plot:
The ten-episode third season of the authentic high seas drama, returning in 2016, follows the most feared pirate of the day, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island.
In the wake of the burning of Charles Town, all the New World lives in fear of Captain Flint. But when his campaign of terror crosses over into madness, it falls to John Silver to locate the man within the monster before it’s too late. Meanwhile, with Eleanor Guthrie in prison, Jack Rackham oversees a new Nassau, hoping to secure his legacy as a king among thieves. All will be tested when a new threat arrives, one the pirates could never have anticipated. It knows them. It understands them. And in the blink of an eye, it will turn them against each other.
William Moseley, Creator Mark Schwahn and Elizabeth Hurley (Photo by: Kevin Plunkett / E! Entertainment)
E!’s addictive drama series The Royals returns for a second season on November 15, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT with the monarchy still in turmoil following the death of the King. The network’s just released a new minute-long trailer for the series showing all the key players either being betrayed, betraying someone, or dealing with relationship issues.
The cast is once again led by Elizabeth Hurley and includes Jake Maskall, Alexandra Park, William Moseley, and Tom Austen. The Royals was created by Mark Schwahn who also executive produces with Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, and Shauna Phelan. The series was one of the top scripted cable shows during its season one run, with 1.1 million people tuning in to see the first season’s finale.
The Choice, the latest film to be adapted from a Nicholas Sparks book, has just unveiled a teaser trailer and poster. Without even knowing The Choice came from a Sparks novel, just the description of an “incredible love story full of romance, hope, and heart-wrenching choices” would point to a Nicholas Sparks-inspired romantic film. Plus, the trailer – which seems to away most of the film – includes sunsets, rain, and lots of pretty people in sometimes difficult situations, something you find in the majority of film adaptations of Sparks’ novels.
Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies) and Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) lead the cast of this drama directed by Ross Katz and adapted for the screen by Bryan Sipe. The cast also includes Maggie Grace, Alexandra Daddario, Tom Welling, Brett Rice, and Tom Wilkinson.
The Choice will open in theaters on February 5, 2016.
The Plot:
The Choice tells the story of Travis Shaw and Gabby Holland, who meet first as neighbors in a small coastal town and end up pursuing a relationship that neither could have foreseen. Spanning a decade and tracing the evolution of a love affair that is ultimately tested by life’s most defining events, this story features a memorable ensemble of friends and family in Sparks’ beloved North Carolina setting, culminating in the question that every couple must ask themselves: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?
