Carly Rae Jepsen’s new album E·MO·TION will be available on August 21, 2015 from Schoolboy Records/Interscope. The Grammy nominee’s new album will feature songs she co-wrote with Sia, Greg Kurstin, Peter Svensson, Ariel Rechtshaid, Mattman & Robin, Carl and Rami, Rostam Batmanglij, Devonté Hynes, and Shellback. Fans can begin pre-ordering the album beginning on June 23, with anyone who pre-orders E·MO·TION able to instantly download “I Really Like You,” “All That,” and “Emotion.”
“I took my time with this album and wanted to make a pop record that had heart to it. I was lucky enough to work with some of my favorite writers and producers and together we made a collection of songs that I couldn’t be more proud of,” said Jepsen.
Jepsen’s first album, Kiss, featured the bubbly single “Call Me Maybe” which earned the top spot on the iTunes Singles charts in 47 countries. Jepsen sold more 17 million copies of “Call Me Maybe” and spawned countless videos from groups including Olympi
E·MO·TION Track List:
Run Away With Me
Emotion
I Really Like You
Gimmie Love
All That
Boy Problems
Making The Most of The Night
Your Type
Let’s Get Lost
LA Hallucinations
Warm Blood
When I Needed You
Starz has confirmed they’ll be bringing both Outlander and Ash vs Evil Dead to the 2015 San Diego Comic Con. According to the network’s official announcement, the Ash vs Evil Dead panel will take place on Friday, July 10 from 6-7pm PT. Outlander‘s sure to be standing room-only panel will be held on Saturday, July 11th at 4pm PT.
Although plans are subject to change, currently the Outlander panel is set to feature executive producer Ronald D. Moore, Outlander author Diana Gabaldon, and actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe. Starz will be bringing Ash vs Evil Dead‘s executive producers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, actor/executive producer Bruce Campbell, and Lucy Lawless to San Diego for the sold-out convention.
Details on Season 2 of Outlander:
Outlander is the story of a married combat nurse Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) from 1945 who gets transported back into the year 1743, and is forced to marry Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a young Scottish warrior. Season two of Outlander begins as Claire and Jamie arrive in France, hell-bent on infiltrating the Jacobite rebellion led by Prince Charles Stuart, and stopping the battle of Culloden. With the help of his cousin Jared (Robert Cavanah), a local wine merchant, Jamie and Claire are thrown into the lavish world of French society, where intrigue and parties are abundant, but political gain proves far less fruitful. Altering the course of history presents challenges that begin to weigh on the very fabric of their relationship. However, armed with the knowledge of what lies ahead, Claire and Jamie must race to prevent a doomed Highland uprising, and the extinction of Scottish life as they know it.
Ash vs Evil Dead Plot:
Bruce Campbell will be reprising 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.
The CW’s Beauty and the Beast returns for a third season on June 11, 2015 at 8pm ET/PT with an episode titled “The Beast of Wall Street.” The relationship between Cat (Kristin Kreuk) and Vincent (Jay Ryan) has gotten stronger and this season finds more people in on Vincent’s big secret. Episode one of season three was directed by Jeff Renfroe from a script by Brad Kern.
The Plot: VINCENT HAS WEDDING BELLS IN MIND — With the happy couple seeming to be enjoying an ordinary life, Vincent (Ryan) thinks the timing might finally be right to pop the question until Cat (Kreuk) stumbles on an extraordinary case with the FBI involving somebody who goes on a superhuman rampage. Though reluctant to engage with the case for fear of losing the normality he has found, Vincent finds himself with no other options when Cat is injured after discovering that someone is drugging innocent victims and transforming them into super-humans.
Meanwhile, Tess (Nina Lisandrello) accuses JT (Austin Basis) of stalling his recovery as he tries to understand how he’s still alive. Nicole Gale Anderson also stars.
Warner Bros Pictures’ new trailer for the action thriller The Man From U.N.C.L.E. features more of Henry Cavill (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and Armie Hammer (The Lone Ranger) in action. Based on the classic TV series that most of the film’s target audience won’t remember, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was co-written and directed by Guy Ritchie and features Cavill and Hammer as rival spies forced to work together. The cast also includes Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. opens in theaters on August 14, 2015.
The Plot:
Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.
Poster for ‘A Deadly Adoption’ with Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig (Photo: Lifetime Copyright 2015) A Deadly Adoption, that Lifetime movie that Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig did in secret, is not only a real thing but has a premiere date and a teaser trailer. A Deadly Adoption will air on June 20, 2015 at 8pm ET/PT and today the network’s unveiled the first official teaser trailer. It’s only 20 seconds long but it’s a must-see for anyone who’s ever watched a made-for-TV movie. Ferrell’s supposedly a Lifetime movie fan and shot the film with Wiig on the sly. Once news got out about their secret project, Ferrell expressed his disappointment in the release of info on A Deadly Adoption and said they had decided not to move forward on the film. Either Lifetime decided to go ahead and air the movie without Ferrell and Wiig on board, or Ferrell reconsidered his decision.
At the time of the online leak about the movie, Ferrell issued a statement to EW: “We are deeply disappointed that our planned top secret project was made public. Kristen and I have decided it is in the best interest for everyone to forego the project entirely, and we thank Lifetime and all the people who were ready to help us make this film.”
A Deadly Adoption was written by Andrew Steele (The Spoils of Babylon) and directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg. Ferrell, Adam McKay, Sharon Bordas, Fernando Szew, Andrew Steele and Jessica Elbaum executive produced.
The Plot:
Inspired by a true story, A Deadly Adoption is a high-stakes dramatic thriller about a successful couple (Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig) who house and care for a pregnant woman (Jessica Lowndes) during the final months of her pregnancy with the hope of adopting her unborn child.
Denis Leary as Johnny Rock, John Corbett as Flash, Robert Kelly as Bam Bam, John Ales as Rehab in ‘Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll’ (Photo Credit: Patrick Harbron / FX)
FX Networks has big plans for the 2015 San Diego Comic Con including a first look at Kurt Sutter’s much-anticipated new series, The Bastard Executioner. The network just revealed their Comic Con plans, with Archer, American Horror Story: Hotel, Scream Queens, Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, and The Strain all set for presentations at the sold-out event.
The panels will include Q&As with the talent as well as footage.
Archer, the award-winning animated comedy about a spy agency whose employees constantly undermine, sabotage and betray each other for personal gain, will bring together Creator Adam Reed and Executive Producer Matt Thompson with the voice cast of H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter, Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash and Lucky Yates. In addition to the panel, fans will see an exclusive screening of a “Best of…” reel highlighting many of the series’ best moments.
American Horror Story – fresh off its fourth installment, Freak Show, and soon to return with Hotel – will feature stars who will appear in both chapters: Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Matt Bomer. They will share the stage with stars of Ryan Murphy’s upcoming Fox comedy Scream Queens.
FX TV Block Featuring Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, The Strain and a Sneak Peek of The Bastard Executioner
Panel: 3:00-4:30 PM, Hall H.
Kick out the jams with Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, premiering on FX on July 16th at 10 PM ET/PT. Denis Leary stars as the lead singer of a legendary 90s band called The Heathens, who were on the brink of stardom when they broke up and now, years later, are looking to recapture some of the old glory. Creator/Executive Producer/Writer/Director Denis Leary will be joined on stage by actors Elizabeth Gillies, Elaine Hendrix, Robert Kelly and John Ales to discuss the new series and present an exclusive sneak peek of the show. Then catch The Strain, a thriller based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy of the same title that will debut its second season on July 12th at 10 PM ET/PT. Fans will get an exclusive screening of all-new material, including two original pieces created specifically for SDCC and an insightful discussion with Showrunner/Executive Producer Carlton Cuse, Co-Creator/Executive Producer/Writer Guillermo del Toro, Co-Creator/Executive Producer/Writer Chuck Hogan and actors Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Kevin Durand, Ruta Gedmintas, Richard Sammel and Natalie Brown. And for an epic finale, get an exclusive world premiere first-look at Sons of Anarchy Creator Kurt Sutter’s highly-anticipated new series The Bastard Executioner.
Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, and Evan Ross in ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2’
Lionsgate announced they’ll be bringing cast and filmmakers from the final The Hunger Games movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, as well as The Last Witch Hunter starring Vin Diesel to the 2015 San Diego Comic Con. Conan O’Brien, who recently revealed he’ll be doing his show from San Diego throughout Comic Con’s run, will be moderating the Lionsgate panel set for July 9th in Hall H from 12-1:15pm PT. The Thursday panel will include never before seen footage along with Q&As with the casts and filmmakers (Lionsgate didn’t confirm who will be in attendance).
Lionsgate will also have a huge presence on the convention center floor. The Lionsgate Booth (#4045) will feature autograph signings, giveaways, and photo opps for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, The Last Witch Hunter, Shaun the Sheep, American Ultra, and Sicario.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Plot:The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 now brings the franchise to its powerful fourth chapter in which Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) now fully realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival — they are for the future.
With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss confronts President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her. The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.
Plot of The Last Witch Hunter: The modern world holds many secrets, but the most astounding secret of all is that witches still live amongst us; vicious supernatural creatures intent on unleashing the Black Death upon the world. Armies of witch hunters battled the unnatural enemy across the globe for centuries, including KAULDER, a valiant warrior who managed to slay the all-powerful QUEEN WITCH, decimating her followers in the process. In the moments right before her death, the QUEEN curses KAULDER with her own immortality, forever separating him from his beloved wife and daughter in the afterlife. Today KAULDER is the only one of his kind remaining, and has spent centuries hunting down rogue witches, all the while yearning for his long-lost loved ones. However, unbeknownst to KAULDER, the QUEEN WITCH is resurrected and seeks revenge on her killer causing an epic battle that will determine the survival of the human race.
Jurassic World: Guardian of the Theme Park. That should be the full title of the fourth installment in this franchise. Sadly, it isn’t. And for all the cautious optimism I could employ, the movie isn’t a sign that carrying on with the series was a particularly good idea.
Fair warning, I may spoil a few things along the way here but I doubt that if you’ve watched the latest trailers, you care much about ruining plot points anyway.
In Jurassic World, we’ve skipped the idea of explaining how a successful and safe (up until this movie) dinosaur theme park has been developed. The script has also skipped the notion of logic but we’ll get to that. We’re introduced to a family on the brink of divorce, with one small kid super into dinosaurs, and his older brother whose hormones are in predictable overdrive. Their Aunt (Bryce Dallas Howard) is a big muckety muck at Jurassic World and has agreed to show them around with VIP privileges … and so off go the kids to Costa Rica … while the adults maybe get on with the divorce … who knows, it’s a dumb plot point that doesn’t mean much and isn’t really handled or resolved anyway.
Once at the park, Howard is of course too busy to take the kids around herself and a poor British assistant is tasked with babysitting. (Shocker: She’s terrible at it and the kids soon ditch her to explore on their own.) While this is happening, Howard has been tasked with working with Chris Pratt, who’s ex-Navy and somehow his training with boats/planes/who knows it’s never explained, gives him the skills to train velociraptors … sort of. Because he’s been able to bond with a pack of vicious killing machines, he’s brought in to assess the new dino on the island, a genetically created splice-job named the Indominus Rex. This one’s bigger than a T-Rex, as smart as a velociraptor, and has a few additional special abilities from other animals that come into play during the movie. Shock and surprise, this new killing machine gets out of her enclosure, and it’s up to Howard and Pratt to save the day.
Look, I know I just gave a lot more exposition than I normally do but it couldn’t be helped. Not if I was going to be able to explain just how terrible this movie is. As I stated earlier, I was cautiously optimistic. I certainly didn’t expect to be awed like I had been over twenty years ago with the first Jurassic Park, but I figured the goal here was to at least make the movie fun.
Problem number one is the script. It’s insipid. It’s demeaning to the intelligence of the audience. And for everyone who’s gone berserk examining the lack of gender equality in film lately, this sets women back a few decades. The kids’ mom is played by Judy Greer … who was apparently paid by the tear because of the five or six scenes she’s in, all but one of them involves her devolving into a messy saline puddle.
Then there’s Howard. She’s saddled with one of the worst “heroine” roles in quite some time. Coming off the heels of George Miller’s phenomenal Mad Max: Fury Road, wherein women are shown to be strong, intelligent, and three-dimensional, this problem is only exacerbated more. At first, Howard plays the sad stereotype of the successful business woman with a stick up her ass. She’s forgone meaningful relationships due to the demands of the corporate world. As the dino guano hits the fan, she plays the typical damsel in distress for a while, making plenty of horrifically stupid decisions that would have gotten her killed if Pratt wasn’t around. Then, as the film comes mercifully closer to an end, she somehow grows the stones to do something to save everyone that is equal parts courageous and stupid (given that she should know better since she works at Jurassic World). None of these changes in her behavior make sense and really the entire relationship between herself and Pratt is something more common to films like Jewel of the Nile and Crocodile Dundee … only even less flattering to woman-kind.
It’s at this point I could start ranting about the sad, stereotypical inclusions of Vincent D’Onofrio and Irrfan Khan but this movie doesn’t deserve that much effort. While the VFX and sound design teams clearly put in a lot of work, studios need to take a lot more care to understand that a bad script is a bad script. You can gussy it up with all the bells and whistles to distract audiences as much as possible but it doesn’t make the movie any less awful.
After rewriting the script, a new director might have been a wise choice. Colin Trevorrow does well with some of the side characters, like Jake Johnson, who also worked with him on the underappreciated Safety Not Guaranteed. But how that meant he was ready for a blockbuster like this is a bit odd. Most of the action pieces look as if they could have been designed by almost anyone and there’s really not much cohesion going on here. I still blame the script first and foremost, but as the director, he should have seen how off-track things were going and attempted to right the ship.
Seriously, if this was the movie Spielberg was so excited to get to audiences that he resurrected a franchise that should have been killed by the previous dreadful sequels, then I’m surprised he hasn’t just forced another soul-crushing Indiana Jones sequel down our throats yet … oh wait, that’s still coming? Super.
Look, the sad reality is that Mad Max: Fury Road has set an extremely high bar for other action films to pass. Hell, it’s a high bar for most movies to pass lately. Jurassic World doesn’t come close to justifying the ticket price and honestly, I’d watch The Lost World again before subjecting myself to another round of this kind of pain (but not the third one … even that may be worse than this). I’ll admit that I got a good number of laughs in because it is so insanely bad and cliché, but I could have made better use of my time unpacking boxes after a recent move than sitting around watching this drivel. Although the movie currently somehow has an 8.6 rating at IMDb, that kind of internet buzz only further destroys my hope in humanity, but take that for what you will.
Maybe you take a chance on this for free on the home market but even then, I don’t think you’ll ever get hear someone get on somebody’s case for not watching Jurassic World. I say: Visit this attraction at your own risk … and after pondering where that money could be better spent.
GRADE: D+
MPAA rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril
Game of Thrones star Kit Harington stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live and was treated to three men – Scheiffer Bates, Charlie Farrell, and Steve Love – doing their best Jon Snow impersonations while reading random text (including the ingredients on a box of cereal). Harington also provided a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the battle scene with the Wildlings and the White Walkers, and what it’s like to have lunch on set seated across from one of the White Walkers in full make-up.
In addition to the current season of Game of Thrones, which finishes up on June 14, 2015, Harington can also be seen in theaters starring in Testament of Youth.
American Sniper star Bradley Cooper is working with his The Hangover director Todd Phillips, Oscar winning producer Graham King (The Departed, Argo), and Syfy on Hyperion, an event series based on Dan Simmons’ award-winning novel. Itamar Moses (Boardwalk Empire) has been tapped to adapt Simmons’ book for the series and will co-executive produce the sci-fi show.
“It is an absolute honor to enter into the world created by Dan Simmons that is arguably one of the greatest works of science fiction, and help realize it for television audiences,” said executive producer Cooper.
“As Syfy continues to forge important partnerships with award-winning talent on and off screen, this powerhouse team led by Bradley Cooper, Graham King and Todd Phillips brings an extraordinary track record in producing entertainment of the highest creative ambition,” stated Dave Howe, President, Syfy & Chiller. “Epitomizing the gold standard of science fiction story-telling, Hyperion tackles smart and provocative themes that help define Syfy’s development vision.”
The Plot:
Set on the eve of Armageddon with the entire galaxy at war, Hyperion is the story of seven pilgrims who set forth on a voyage to seek the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope and a terrible secret — while one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.
