Stephen Colbert takes over The Late Show on September 8, 2015 at 11:35pm ET/PT, sitting down in the hosting chair to welcome his first guests Oscar-winner George Clooney and Republican Presidential Candidate Jeb Bush. The Late Show‘s bandleader Jon Batiste will be the first night’s musical guest along with his band Stay Human. CBS also just announced the other celebrities who’ll be joining The Late Show With Stephen Colbert over its first week.
Four-time Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johansson is confirmed for Wednesday, September 9th. Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and musician Kendrick Lamar are also set for Sept. 9th, with Lamar pulling double duty as the night’s musical guest.
Country superstar Toby Keith will be performing on September 10th and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick will be interviewed on the show’s third episode. And the first week will finish up with appearances by actress/comedian Amy Schumer, bestselling author Stephen King, and Troubled Waters on Friday, September 11th.
Colbert, Tom Purcell and Meredith Bennett executive produce The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
Hugh Jackman’s going to be touring five Australian cities with his Broadway to Oz concert show based on his popular Broadway show Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway. Broadway to Oz will kick off in Melbourne on November 24, 2015 and will stop in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. All concert dates will take place in November and December 2015.
“Broadway to Oz is a dream come true. This is THE show I’ve always wanted to bring home,” stated Jackman announcing the Australian shows.
Broadway to Oz is described as a high-octane show that will take the audience “on a journey through Jackman’s life so far, from his early days in outback Australia to his vast musical theatre triumphs and to the first time he wielded the Wolverine claws in the blockbuster X-Men film franchise,” according to Ticketek. “The multi-million dollar arena production showcases some of Jackman’s greatest successes, including The Boy from Oz and Les Miserables and watch out for his irreverent nod to the mighty Wolverine. Jackman croons, twirls and shimmies through several medleys, including stunning tributes to classic musicals. A state-of-the-art lighting, sound and video production and a vast company of 150 musicians, singers, dancers and choir will support Jackman’s showmanship and infectious Aussie charm.”
The Broadway to Oz Tour Dates:
November 24 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
November 25 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
November 30 – Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney, NSW
December 1 – Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney, NSW
December 5 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD
December 6 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD
December 10 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, SA
December 15 – Perth Arena, WA
Willa Holland at Comic-Con 2015 (Photo by Richard Chavez)
Season three of The CW’s hit series Arrow was an incredibly emotional, incredibly challenging season for Willa Holland. Holland plays Thea Queen in the popular show and her character came back from the dead, said goodbye to the love of her life, and found out the truth about everyone she was close to. Season four will find Thea having grown into a stronger person who refuses to be pushed aside and who will become an integral part of Team Arrow.
Asked how Thea’s handling all of the developments and all the loses, Holland replied, “Oh man, I think that she has just been through the wringer. I think she’s gotten to a point where her skin is pretty numb. It’s going to take her a while to really feel…I don’t think she’s ever going to feel normal after everything she’s gone through. But I think that’s why her putting on the costume and doing what she’s doing in season four is going to be so very good for her because it’s giving her a purpose. It’s making her feel like she has meaning which is very important because for so long she was just sitting on the sidelines being lied to all the time and not being able to feel like she was strong. People were bringing her down continuously, so now it’s her being strong.”
Thea will be much more capable of standing on her own in season four, but in season three Holland had to handle emotional scenes including a few opposite John Barrowman who plays her father, Malcolm Merlyn. Discussing working with Barrowman on scenes that are supposed to be incredibly serious, Holland couldn’t help but laugh. “They were very intense and it’s very hard to be serious around John, not going to lie,” explained Holland. “It’s very hard to keep my face straight because the man is so incredibly hilarious and he loves to play pranks on everybody all the time – especially on your coverage. So, yeah, it was probably the most entertaining parts of actually working on this season.”
Barrowman kept her laughing, however the scene in which Thea says goodbye to Roy was so authentic that it’s not difficult to imagine it was a much more somber set on the day it was shot. “It was really sad, but Colton [Haynes] and I are so close – and he’s close to everybody on this cast – that it’s not like we’re not going to see him anymore, as well as there’s always a possibility of him coming back. It’s not like he died on the show. He definitely has all the power to come back and help out for a little bit. There’s a bunch of possibilities for it. But, those emotions were real and it seems very palpable. As was, not to go back in time, but Moira’s death scene – that scene was very palpable. All of those tears from Stephen [Amell], me and Susanna [Thompson] were beyond real. There wasn’t a single bit of that emotion that needed to be faked. Maybe exaggerated slightly because of the circumstances, but definitely all beyond real,” said Holland.
Back to season four, fans are wondering if Thea will be using her newfound strength to take over now that Oliver has left Starling City. “I wouldn’t go saying that far, but I definitely have a feeling that at the end of season three we saw her helping out the team. Now that there is no Oliver they definitely need a little more help so I have a feeling she’s going to be kicking some ass, taking some names as well,” replied Holland during roundtable interviews at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con.
Arrow season four will also see new dynamics play out between the characters as Thea takes on more responsibility. “Thea and Laurel [played by Katie Cassidy] have always had a really nice sisterly relationship so she’s definitely getting to have more exploration around that. And I know that we got to see in the last two episodes she kind of was far more introduced to the Diggles as well, hanging out at the house with Lyla and everybody and the kid, and beforehand she never really had much of a relationship with them other than thinking he was the driver helping out her brother. So now that she’s aware of everything that’s going on, I think that there’s going to be far more of a strong connection and bond between those three.”
And speaking of her new position within the group, Holland is excited about getting to play a costumed superhero although she’s not looking forward to donning the costume in hot weather. “I am so stoked about it expect for during the summer. I’m not looking forward to wearing it outside in the summer. It’s going to be very, very hot inside of all that tight, tight leather. But, regardless, I’m not going to complain because I’m getting to be a superhero so it’s kind of amazing. I’ll just put mini-fans around me at all times. I’ll just put them up my arm,” said Holland, laughing.
Holland hopes they can come up with a lighter costume for the warm weather, but what she really wants is a cape. “I’ve been asking about that but I don’t think it’s coming any time soon. But, hopefully, though. Fingers crossed. I keep on pushing it out there to the universe,” revealed Holland. “Maybe I’ll get a cape…just maybe.”
Charles Michael Davis (‘Marcel’) says fans can expect to see Marcel going all Tyler Durden/Fight Club in season three of The CW’s The Originals. At the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, Davis was all smiles when discussing what’s in store for Marcel in the new season debuting on October 8, 2015.
“I think it’s a great thing because I was always bugging them to build a gym on the set so now one of our sets is a gym. There’s going to be some cool fighting. I just went to Louisville, I went to the Muhammad Ali Center and so I kind of want to incorporate a little bit of that fighting – that showmanship. Hopefully, you’ll get to see Marcel back to his original form,” said Davis, adding that this Fight Club is going to be vampire only.
Davis agrees with his fellow The Originals cast members who’ve said this coming season will also see the introduction of some interesting new villains. “They come cruising into town. They come in in kind of a fog…like there’s mystery behind them. They’re intelligent, they’re dangerous, they’re sexy. They come in with a twinkle in their eyes. To me, they reminded me of season one when we met Marcel, but there are now just more of them.”
One of the big twists of season two involved Rebekah’s body-swapping, which meant that a new actress was brought in to play the character.
“Casting is great,” said Davis, discussing his new co-star. “When they brought in Maisie [Richardson-Sellers]… Claire [Holt], I just love. As a human being, I just love her. I feel like she’s my soulmate. She just brings something out of me, and Maisie was the same way and it’s rare just for me in general. I don’t really find people that I connect with like that, especially not even knowing them. So to have them hired and cast as love interests is some strange alchemy or chemistry. So for me it’s always a surprise. If they were to bring in another Rebekah in a different body with the way things are going, I know they’d find somebody great. It’s been a joy; it hasn’t been too hard. Maisie was great at figuring out the simple things, like how she walks, the attitude, and then she just owned it. I remember when she first showed up she was a little nervous filling those shows, and then all of a sudden she just relaxed and knew what to do.”
Looking back, Davis says having the chance to work with Phoebe Tonkin was one of his favorite memories from season two.
“I rarely saw her in season one so any scenes I got to do with her, even when we were on the hunt looking for Elijah or Rebekah or whoever,” said Davis. But, he also loves any opportunity to shoot scenes as a group. Davis revealed it’s always a long day of shooting when he, Daniel Gillies, and Joseph Morgan are together on set because the threesome can’t keep it together, with most of the blame resting on Gillies’ shoulders. Davis pointed to Gillies as the main prankster, saying his co-star even pulled off a prank or two that have left cars in body shops and damage to personal property. Laughing, Davis said, “I can’t wait for season three. I think I’m going to join in on some of the pranks. I was a little quiet.”
Starz has unleashed a new trailer for the upcoming horror series Ash vs Evil Dead starring Bruce Campbell and Lucy Lawless. The series has landed a Halloween debut, kicking off its 10 episode season one on October 31st at 9pm ET/PT. The cast also features Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorenzo, and Jill Marie Jones, with Evil Dead‘s original creative team – Campbell, Sam Raimi, and Rob Tapert – executive producing along with showrunner Craig DiGregorio.
The Plot:
Campbell reprises his role as Ash, the stock boy, aging lothario, and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons –personal and literal. Destiny, it turns out, has no plans to release the unlikely hero from its “Evil” grip.
Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Alycia Debnam-Carey and Frank Dillane in ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3 / AMC)
Kim Dickens and Cliff Curtis lead the cast of AMC’s The Walking Dead prequel, Fear the Walking Dead. The new zombie apocalypse series premieres on August 23, 2015 and reveals details on the origin of the zombie outbreak.
Kim Dickens stars as Madison, Cliff Curtis plays Travis, Frank Dillane is Nick, and Alycia Debnam-Carey stars as Alicia. Lorenzo James Henrie is Christopher, Elizabeth Rodriguez is Liza, Ruben Blades is Daniel, and Mercedes Mason plays Ofelia.
Season one executive producers include Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Erickson, David Alpert, and Greg Nicotero.
The Synopsis: Living in the same universe as The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead is a gritty drama that explores the onset of the undead apocalypse through the lens of a fractured family. Set in a city where people come to escape, shield secrets, and bury their pasts, a mysterious outbreak threatens to disrupt what little stability high school guidance counselor Madison Clark and English teacher Travis Manawa have managed to assemble.
The everyday pressure of blending two families while dealing with resentful, escapist, and strung out children takes a back seat when society begins to break down. A forced evolution, a necessary survival of the fittest takes hold, and our dysfunctional family must either reinvent themselves or embrace their darker histories.
The weekend of August 21 – 23, 2015 wasn’t a good one at the box office for new releases. Straight Outta Compton emerged the easy winner, earning the top spot on the box office chart for the second weekend in a row. Although business for the story of N.W.A. did fall off a steep 56%, Straight Outta Compton still pulled in an impressive $26.8 million.
There wasn’t much to be impressed about with the opening weekends of Sinister 2, Hitman Agent 47, or American Ultra. Pre-release estimates had Sinister 2 looking at a $15 million opening but the horror sequel failed to capture much interest, ringing up just $10 million over its first three days in release. The first Sinister film opened in 2012 and posted an $18 million opening.
American Ultra‘s ending set up the possibility of a sequel, but hopes for an American Ultra 2 are slim at this point as the Jesse Eisenberg/Kristen Stewart action comedy scraped up a mere $5.6 million at the box office. Faring slightly better was the latest Hitman movie which drew in $8.1 million.
The cast of ‘Manhattan’ season 1 (Photo Courtesy of WGN America)
WGN America’s Manhattan returns for a second season on October 13, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT. The latest trailer for the dramatic series created by Sam Shaw (Masters of Sex) provides a sneak peek at what may have happened to Frank Winter (John Benjamin Hickey) and gives Manhattan fans a first look at William Petersen’s character, Col. Emmett Darrow. The Manhattan cast also includes Olivia Williams, Ashley Zukerman, Rachel Brosnahan, Katja Herbers, Christopher Denham, Michael Chernus, Harry Lloyd, Michael Chernus, and Daniel Stern.
New cast members for season two include Mamie Gummer (Ricki and the Flash), Griffin Dunne, and Neve Campbell.
The Plot:
The all-new season of Manhattan will take viewers inside the world of Los Alamos, where locked away from everyone else, scientists and their families surrender their freedoms, compromise their marriages, and even sacrifice their sanity to end one bloody war and usher in another – the Cold War waiting just over the atomic horizon – all while foreign spies and a climate of paranoia threaten to destroy the project from within.
Producer Denise Di Novi is making her feature film directorial debut with Unforgettable starring Rosario Dawson and Katherine Heigl. Set up at Warner Bros Pictures, the dramatic film has just begun shooting in Los Angeles. The cast also includes Geoff Stults, Isabella Rice, Simon Kassianides, Whitney Cummings, Robert Wisdom, and Cheryl Ladd. Christina Hodson wrote the script and Di Novi, Alison Greenspan, and Ravi D. Mehta are producing.
Di Novi signed up a top-rated behind-the-scenes team for her first time out as a director. Caleb Deschanel (The Right Stuff) is the director of photography, Nelson Coates is the production designer, and Frédéric Thoraval is the film’s editor.
The Plot:
Heigl stars as Tessa Connover, who is barely coping with the end of her marriage when her ex-husband, David (Stults), becomes happily engaged to Julia Banks (Dawson) — not only bringing Julia into the home they once shared but also into the life of their daughter, Lilly (Rice). Trying to settle into her new role as a wife and a stepmother, Julia believes she has finally met the man of her dreams, the man who can help her put her own troubled past behind her. But Tessa’s jealousy soon takes a pathological turn until she will stop at nothing to turn Julia’s dream into her ultimate nightmare.
Disney’s Descendants was a ratings bonanza for the network and today one of the movie’s lead actors, Sofia Carson, released a new retro-soul version of the movie’s fan favorite song “Rotten to the Core.” Carson’s new video was directed by Naren Wilks and Adam Santelli and was shot in London using a 3D green-screen cylinder.
And, according to Disney, the “Rotten to the Core” music video will be the opening of the Descendants Wicked World short-form series arriving on September 18th on Disney Channel.
Descendants ranks #5 on the top cable television original movie list with 12.2 million viewers tuning in to watch the premiere. The movie’s soundtrack hit the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, the Billboard Soundtrack chart, and iTunes’ soundtrack chart.
The Descendants Plot:
Disney’s Descendants stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart and Sofia Carson as the teenage sons and daughters of Disney’s most infamous villains. With a knowing wink at traditional fairy tales, the live-action movie fuses castles with classrooms to create a contemporary, music-driven story about the challenges in living up to parental and peer expectations. The notable cast also includes Mitchell Hope, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Maz Jobrani, Kathy Najimy and the Tony Award-winning Kristin Chenoweth.
