The fourth book of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Series, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, went on sale on September 1, 2015 in Canada and the U.S. and sold more than 200,000 copies over its first week in release. The fourth book was written by journalist/novelist David Lagercrantz who was selected to continue Larsson’s series by his estate. Larsson passed away in 2004.
Worldwide, the first three books in the series – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest – have sold more than 80 million copies. This latest book hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list and the demand has been so high that Knopf has ordered four additional printings.
“The response from readers has been beyond what we’d anticipated and speaks to the connection readers have to this series,” said Sonny Mehta, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Alfred A. KnopfMehta. “Lisbeth Salander is one of the most compelling heroines of 21st century crime literature and I am thrilled to see readers have welcomed her return.”
The Plot:
She is the girl with the dragon tattoo—a genius hacker and uncompromising misfit. He is a crusading journalist whose championing of the truth often brings him to the brink of prosecution.
Late one night, Blomkvist receives a phone call from a source claiming to have information vital to the United States. The source has been in contact with a young female superhacker—a hacker resembling someone Blomkvist knows all too well. The implications are staggering. Blomkvist, in desperate need of a scoop for Millennium, turns to Salander for help. She, as usual, has her own agenda. The secret they are both chasing is at the center of a tangled web of spies, cybercriminals, and governments around the world, and someone is prepared to kill to protect it . . .
Variety broke the news that UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will be starring in a remake of the 1989 action drama, Road House. The original starred Patrick Swayze as a tough bouncer at a roadhouse who took on a mob boss. The 1989 film was directed by Rowdy Herrington and also featured Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliott, Ben Gazzara, Kathleen Wilhoite, and Kevin Tighe.
The remake will have Rousey taking over the lead, but at this point, according to Variety, no screenwriters are attached to the MGM project. If the Road House remake moves forward, MGM is likely aiming for a 2016 start of production.
Rousey’s continuing to expand her career outside of the UFC cage with recent roles in Entourage, Furious 7, and The Expendables 3. Rousey confirmed the Road House casting news in a tweet:
“It is a great honor to play a part in celebrating the life of a man that inspired so many. I couldn’t be more grateful to have this opportunity to pay respect to the beloved Patrick Swayze… I promise to work incessantly to make sure this project is a tribute his family and fans can be proud of.” – @RondaRousey
AMC order Preacher to pilot back in December 2014 and today the network’s confirmed they’ve greenlit a first season order of 10 one-hour episodes. Seth Rogen broke the news in a tweet and AMC followed up with a press release officially announcing the series order. Rogen and his friend/frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg (This Is The End) developed the series along with showrunner Sam Catlin (Breaking Bad), with the comic book created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon providing the source material. Season one will debut next year and will star Dominic Cooper, Joseph Gilgun, Ruth Negga, Ian Colletti, W. Earl Brown, and Lucy Griffiths.
“Garth Ennis’ Preacher is, above all, about great characters – something we look for in all of our series,” stated Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. “The fact that it is also darkly funny, has some great supernatural elements, and takes us on an incredible adventure is just the icing on the cake. The incredible creative team behind this show – led by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Sam Catlin and Neal Moritz – made a pilot that completely blew us away, and we know the series will satisfy and surprise fans of the comics, and captivate fans of great TV everywhere.”
Rogen and Goldberg added, “We started reading the comic when it first came out in the ’90s. In many ways Garth’s sense of drama and comedy and Steve Dillon’s visual aesthetic helped form our style, and the idea that we are actually bringing Preacher to life is a dream come true. This is the craziest thing ever and we can’t wait to move forward and work our asses off to make it the best it can be.”
Catlin wrote the pilot and Rogen and Goldberg co-directed.
The Plot:
Preacher is the story of Jesse Custer (Cooper), a conflicted Preacher in a small Texas town who is inhabited by a mysterious entity that allows him to develop a highly unconventional power. Jesse, his ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Negga), and an Irish vampire named Cassidy (Gilgun) embark on a journey to, literally, find God.
Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Dave Bautista has signed on to the cast of Bushwick, an action thriller set up at XYZ Films and Bullet Pictures. Bautista joins Jane Levy (Evil Dead) in the drama to be directed by Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott (Cooties). Nick Damici and Graham Reznik wrote the script, and Nate Bolotin and Adam Folk are producing. Filming will take place in New York later this year.
“We are very excited to have such a talented and dynamic actor join Bushwick. Dave Bautista is perfect to breathe life into the action-packed role,” said XYZ’s Bolotin.
Former WWE star Bautista will next be seen in the new Bond film, Spectre. He’s also booked to reprise his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 which will shoot early next year.
The Plot:
The film tells the story of twenty-year-old Lucy (Levy) and war veteran Stupe (Bautista). Texas is trying to secede from the U.S. and NYC is being used as a negotiation tool. Lucy meets Stupe after coming up from the subway into the military invasion of Brooklyn. Together they decide to cross the treacherous five blocks of Bushwick – littered with looters, local militias, the invading forces, and one crazy cousin – in order to get home and be reunited with Lucy’s grandmother.
Co-host and supermodel Hannah Davis and co-host and mentor Tim Gunn star in Lifetime’s ‘Project Runway Junior’ (Photo by Barbara Nitke / Copyright 2015)
Lifetime’s set a November 12, 2015 premiere date for the new competition series, Project Runway Junior. The new show is in the same vein as Project Runway but with young designers ages 13 to 17 given the opportunity to show off their skills.
Tim Gunn and Hannah Davis> co-host the series, which will award the winner a FIDM scholarship and a home sewing and crafting studio from Brother. The first season Project Runway Junior winner will be featured in Seventeen Magazine and will be awarded $25,000 in cash.
Season one will be judged by Kelly Osbourne, Christian Siriano, and Aya Kana (Cosmopolitan and Seventeen Magazine fashion editor). Scream‘s Bella Thorne will be the finale’s guest judge, and First Lady Michelle Obama will appear in a video on the December 10th episode. According to Lifetime’s series announcement, First Lady Michelle Obama will appear on video to “announce a challenge with Lands’ End that will support Let Girls Learn, a new whole-of-government Presidential Initiative, which includes a collaboration with the Peace Corps that helps adolescent girls around the world go to school and stay in school.”
Project Runway Junior Designers:
Bridget, 16 – Brockton, MA
Jaxson, 15 – Minneapolis, KS
Jesse, 16 – Swampscott, MA
Matt, 17 – Manhattan Beach, CA
Maya, 13 – Maumee, OH
Peytie, 15 – Carlsbad, CA
Samantha, 16 – South Ozone Park, NY
Sami, 16 – Westlake Village, CA
Victoria, 17 – Westlake, OH
Ysabel, 17 – Artesia, CA
Zachary, 16 – Berkeley, CA
Zach, 15 – Louisville, KY
Trick ‘r Treat‘s writer/director Michael Dougherty tackles another holiday-themed horror film with Krampus, coming to theaters on December 4, 2015. Legendary Pictures has released a new trailer for the horror movie, showing off a little of the creepy creatures (designed by Weta Workshop and Weta Digital) as well as laying out the basics of the plot.
The cast is led by Adam Scott and Toni Collette and features David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Emjay Anthony, Stefania Lavie Owen and Krista Stadler. Dougherty co-wrote Krampus with Zach Shields and Todd Casey, and he produced the film with Zach Shields, Thomas Tull, and Todd Casey.
The Plot:
Legendary Pictures’ Krampus, a darkly festive tale of a yuletide ghoul, reveals an irreverently twisted side to the holiday. The horror-comedy tells the story of young Max (Emjay Anthony), who turns his back on Christmas as his dysfunctional family comes together and comically clashes over the holidays. When they accidentally unleash the wrath of Krampus — an ancient entity from European folklore — all hell breaks loose and beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own. Now, the fractured family is forced to unite if they hope to survive.
Netflix is premiering the documentary Keith Richards: Under the Influence on September 18, 2015 featuring The Rolling Stones guitarist in an up-close-and-personal look at his life and career. The original documentary was directed by Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) and follows Richards as he looks back on his music and as he works on his first solo album in 23 years.
Neville, Justin Wilkes, and Jane Rose produced the film which was shot by cinematographer Igor Martinovi (What Happened, Miss Simone?, House of Cards, Man on Wire).
The Synopsis:
In Keith Richards: Under the Influence, we visit key people and places that have always enchanted Keith and inspired his music with The Rolling Stones to his latest solo record: Chicago, home of the blues, where Keith first encountered Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and the hallowed halls of Chess Records; Nashville, where Keith explores his long love of country music; and New York where Keith recorded the album and collaborated with the likes of Steve Jordan and Waddy Wachtel. And along the way, we get an additional dose of inspiration from a long-time friend, Tom Waits.
Lastly, this film is a chance to sit at the feet of one of music’s most iconic and least understood figures. The Keith Richards we get to know is smart, funny, poignant and profound.
AMC has just released the official key art for The Walking Dead‘s sixth season. The new poster features Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes with the injuries he received during the fight with Pete in the finale of season five still clearly visible. The new poster also confirms the season six premiere date, which was announced back in July, is remains set for October 11, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT.
Season six will kick off with a 90-minute episode. The first season of Fear the Walking Dead will wrap up on October 4th.
In addition to Lincoln, the cast includes Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Chandler Riggs, Lauren Cohan, Steven Yeun, Sonequa Martin-Green, Michael Cudlitz, and Lennie James.
The nominees have been revealed for the 49th Annual CMA Awards and this year Little Big Town and Eric Church top the list with five nominations each, followed by Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert with four nominations a piece. This year’s celebration of Country music will be held on November 4th at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and will air live on ABC. Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley return as co-hosts for the eighth year.
Little Big Time once again earned a nomination in the Vocal Group of the Year which came as no surprise since the group has won that award three times and has been nominated in that category every year since 2006. They were also nominated in the Single of the Year (“Girl Crush”), Album of the Year (Pain Killer), Musical Event of the Year (“Smokin’ and Drinkin’ with Miranda Lambert), and Music Video of the Year (“Girl Crush”) categories.
Church was nominated in the Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, Single of the Year (“Talladega”), Song of the Year (“Like a Wrecking Ball”), and Musical Event of the Year (“Raise ‘Em Up” with Keith Urban) categories.
“I am very excited by this year’s list of nominees,” commented Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “They represent the breadth and depth of the format – from first-time nominees to revered members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.”
2015 CMA Awards Nominees:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“American Kids”
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
“Girl Crush”
Little Big Town
Produced by Jay Joyce
Capitol Records Nashville
“I Don’t Dance”
Lee Brice
Produced by Lee Brice
Curb Records
“Take Your Time”
Sam Hunt
Produced Zach Crowell and Shane McAnally
MCA Nashville
“Talladega”
Eric Church
Produced by Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenahora, Jr.
EMI Records Nashville
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
Old Boots, New Dirt
Jason Aldean
Produced by Michael Knox
Broken Bow
Pageant Material
Kacey Musgraves
Produced by Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally
Mercury Nashville
Pain Killer
Little Big Town
Produced by Jay Joyce
Capitol Records Nashville
The Big Revival
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
Traveller
Chris Stapleton
Produced by Dave Cobb and Chris Stapleton
Mercury Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“American Kids”
Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally
“Girl Crush”
Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, and Hillary Lindsey
“Like a Cowboy”
Randy Houser and Brice Long
“Like a Wrecking Ball”
Eric Church and Casey Beathard
“Take Your Time”
Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Chris Stapleton
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Thompson Square
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to each artist)
Django and Jimmie
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
Legacy Recordings
“Lonely Tonight”
Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe
Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville
“Raise ‘Em Up”
Keith Urban featuring Eric Church
Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville
“Smokin’ and Drinkin’”
Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town
RCA Nashville
“Wild Child”
Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter
Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush (Mandolin)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Biscuits”
Kacey Musgraves
Directed by Marc Klasfeld
“Girl Crush”
Little Big Town
Directed by Karla Welch and Matthew Welch
“Girl in a Country Song”
Maddie & Tae
Directed by TK McKamy
“Little Red Wagon”
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Something in the Water”
Carrie Underwood
Directed by Raj Kapoor
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Sam Hunt
Maddie & Tae
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Room premiered at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival where it earned rave reviews, with Variety calling Brie Larson’s performance superb and The Playlist describing the film as deeply moving. With Oscar buzz starting to build over Larson’s performance, A24 has just released the official trailer online. Room will next screen at the Toronto Film Festival on September 15th followed by a limited release in theaters on October 16th before opening in wide release on November 6th.
In addition to Larson, the cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen and William H. Macy. Lenny Abrahamson (Frank) directed the film and Emma Donoghue adapted her bestselling novel for the screen.
The Plot:
Both highly suspenseful and deeply emotional, Room is a unique and unexpectedly tender exploration of the boundless love between a mother and her child. After 5-year-old Jack and his Ma escape from the enclosed surroundings that Jack has known his entire life, the boy makes a thrilling discovery: the outside world. As he experiences all the joy, excitement, and fear that this new adventure brings, he holds tight to the one thing that matters most of all–his special bond with his loving and devoted Ma.
AMC order 
