Fox just announced some big scheduling moves, including release dates for the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes sequel, Gambit, Assassin’s Creed, and The Mountain Between Us. It looks like fans of the Apes films will have to wait an additional year for the still-untitled sequel, as Fox has bumped it off of its July 29, 2016 release date to July 14, 2017.
The July 14th date was previously held by The Fantastic Four 2, which is now scheduled for a June 2, 2017 release.
Moving into the July 29, 2016 spot vacated by the Apes film is the comedy movie Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates.
Meanwhile, the X-Men spinoff Gambit will hit theaters on October 7, 2016. Gambit‘s set to star Channing Tatum, and he took to Twitter to confirm his involvement as well as the release date:
How do you say October 7, 2016 in Cajun? – Channing Tatum (@channingtatum)
Additionally, Fox confirmed that the romantic drama The Mountain Between Us starring Sons of Anarchy‘s Charlie Hunnam and Gone Girl‘s Rosamund Pike will arrive in theaters on February 10, 2017 (just in time for Valentine’s Day). Assassin’s Creed with Michael Fassbender will open on December 21, 2016 and Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman on Earth will follow close behind on December 25, 2016.
History’s critically acclaimed dramatic series Vikings will return for a third season beginning on February 19, 2015 at 10pm and in support of its upcoming premiere, the network’s released two new photos of the cast as well as three very short teaser videos. Season three will consist of 10 episodes, with Travis Fimmel, Clive Standen, and Katheryn Winnick back in starring roles. The cast also includes Alexander Ludwig, George Blagden, Jessalyn Gilsig, Linus Roache, Gustaf Skarsgard, and Alyssa Sutherland.
Season three will also feature new characters played by Ben Robson, Kevin Durand, Lothaire Blutea, and Morgane Polanski. Here’s the scoop on who the new Vikings cast members will be playing, courtesy of History:
· Kalf (Ben Robson) – Lagertha’s young, handsome second in command. She is fond of him and trusts him to look after her affairs while she is away, but it is possible that Kalf is more ambitious and calculating than he appears.
· Harbard (Kevin Durand) – A wanderer who turns up unexpectedly in Kattagat when Ragnar and most of the men of the town are away raiding. Harbard will have a profound effect on Queen Aslaug, Siggy and Helga, all of whom have had the same dream, presaging his arrival.
· Emperor Charles of France (Lothaire Bluteau) – A complex, troubled and powerful man who views battling the Vikings as spiritual and earthly.
· Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski) – The daughter of Emperor Charles and a beautiful, young woman of considerable courage and resolution.
Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) Queen Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland), Siggy (Jessalyn Gilsig), King Ecbert (Linus Roache), Rollo (Clive Standen), Athelstan (George Blagden), and King Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) in History’s ‘Vikings’
The Plot of Season Three:
The new 10-episode season begins with Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) as King and follows the great responsibility that now rests on the shoulders of the former farmer.
With the promise of new land from the English, Ragnar leads his people to an uncertain fate on the shores of Wessex. King Ecbert (Linus Roache) has made many promises and it remains to be seen if he will keep them. But ever the restless wanderer, Ragnar is searching for something more … and he finds it in the mythical city of Paris. Rumored to be impenetrable to outside forces, Ragnar and his band of Norsemen must come together to break down its walls and cement the Vikings legend in history.
The gripping family saga of Ragnar, Rollo (Clive Standen), Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) continues as alliances and loyal friendships are questioned, faith is catechized and relationships are strained. Vikings tells the extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of these warriors and portrays life in the Dark Ages, a world ruled by raiders and explorers, through the eyes of Viking society.
Some of the footage in 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios’ official new trailer for The Peanuts Movie has been seen before in previously released videos, but that really doesn’t matter to fans of Charles Schultz. In the official trailer for the November 6, 2015 theatrical release, Snoopy takes to the skies while Woodstock stays grounded.
Directed by Steve Martino, the voice cast includes Noah Schnapp, Hadley Belle Miller, Alexander Garfin, and Noah Johnston.
The Plot:
In Peanuts, a 3D, CGI animated comedic adventure, Snoopy, the world’s most lovable beagle – and flying ace! – embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home.
Syfy and Relativity Television are working on a new – and timely – unscripted series about real-life hackers. Hackers will take viewers inside the world of high-tech hackers, and each episode will feature stories taken from the headlines.
Tom Forman and Brad Bishop are executive producing the series.
The Plot:
Hackers will reveal the secrets behind the most infamous cyber-crimes ever committed, using sophisticated, never-before-seen digital graphics to create an experiential “hacking” scene that exposes what actually happens when a computer network is broken into – including what goes on inside the mind of the hacker.
Each episode of Hackers will unveil the true stories — ripped from the headlines — of real-life hackers who turned entire industries upside down, featuring interviews with both the actual perpetrators and the law enforcement agents who tracked them down.
The episodes will include profiles and professional secrets of the hacker, who will reveal how they committed the crime, from trolling the Internet to rooting out vulnerabilities inside the company websites.
The first Monday following two weeks of year-end holiday fun is one of the least anticipated days of the year. However, SpongeBob SquarePants has declared today to be a “Day of Positivity” and has unveiled new videos – including a semi-annoying music video – promoting positivity.
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies will also be hosting events across the U.S. and Canada, and Cinemark Theaters will be giving out 500 coupon cards for free junior popcorn in support of the Day of Positivity. The first 500 ticketholders today at Cinemark Theaters will receive a coupon for a popcorn that can be redeemed at a screening of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water during its opening weekend.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water opens in theaters on February 6, 2015.
The Plot:
From Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies comes The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, an all-new 3D adventure that’s as wild and funny as its name. For the first time, SpongeBob SquarePants, the world’s favorite sea dwelling invertebrate, comes ashore to our world for his most super-heroic adventure yet.
‘The Adventures of Puss in Boots’ (Photo Copyright 2014 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.)
Netflix has set a January 16, 2015 premiere date for The Adventures of Puss in Boots, the animated series featuring the swashbuckling cat. The DreamWorks Animation original series will offer up five episodes of the first 22 episode season beginning on January 16th, with the remaining episodes airing throughout 2015.
Eric Bauza provides the voice of Puss in Boots. Jayma Mays, Laraine Newman, Joshua Rush, John Leguizamo, Danny Trejo, Maria Bamford, John Rhys-Davies, Robbie Rist, and Jim Cummings also lend their voices to characters in the first season of the family-friendly animated comedy series.
“Action, comedy, adventure and heart combine with a dazzling visual style to make The Adventures of Puss in Boots both unique and timeless,” stated Margie Cohn, head of television for DreamWorks Animation. “Puss is a hero for the ages. With a cold glass of leche in one hand and his sword in the other, there’s nothing that could get in the way of this swashbuckling hero … except hairballs.”
The Plot:
The Adventures of Puss in Boots finds the world’s most famous feline fortune-hunter in the hidden city of San Lorenzo, a mythical land that is invisible to the outside world thanks to a magical spell that protects its quirky inhabitants – not to mention its wondrous treasure. When Puss in Boots accidentally breaks the spell, he must do more than fight off an endless legion of invaders and marauders … he must become a legend.
With a sweeping, epic visual flair and extraordinary quests in each episode, The Adventures of Puss in Boots combines adventure and comedy with the quick-witted, nimble-footed style that is as synonymous with its hero as his namesake boots.
Felicity Jones stars as Jane Wilde and Eddie Redmayne stars as her suitor Stephen Hawking in Academy Award-winning director James Marsh’s THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, a Focus Features release. (Photo Credit: Liam Daniel/Focus Features)
The Art Directors Guild just announced their nominees for the 19th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards recognizing the best in movies, television, commercials, and music videos for 2014. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on January 31, 2015 in Los Angeles.
In addition to distributing awards in the competitive categories, the ADG will be honoring Christopher Nolan with the Cinematic Imagery Award, and Jim Bissell, Camille Abbott, John P Bruce and Will Ferrell (the scenic artist, not the actor) will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Production Design Awards Nominees
NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A FEATURE FILM IN 2014:
Period Film
INHERENT VICE
Production Designer: DAVID CRANK
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Production Designer: ADAM STOCKHAUSEN
THE IMITATION GAME
Production Designer: MARIA DJURKOVIC THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Production Designer: JOHN PAUL KELLY UNBROKEN
Production Designer: JON HUTMAN
Fantasy Film
CAPTAIN AMERICA:THE WINTER SOLDIER
Production Designer: PETER WENHAM
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Production Designer: JAMES CHINLUND
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Production Designer: CHARLES WOOD INTERSTELLAR
Production Designer: NATHAN CROWLEY INTO THE WOODS
Production Designer: DENNIS GASSNER
Contemporary Film
AMERICAN SNIPER
Production Designers: JAMES J. MURAKAMI, CHARISSE CARDENAS BIRDMAN
Production Designer: KEVIN THOMPSON FOXCATCHER
Production Designer: JESS GONCHOR
GONE GIRL
Production Designer: DONALD GRAHAM BURT NIGHTCRAWLER
Production Designer: KEVIN KAVANAUGH
NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION 2014:
One-Hour Period or Fantasy Single-Camera Television Series
GAME OF THRONES: “The Laws of Gods and Men,” “The Mountain and the Viper”
Production Designer: DEBORAH RILEY
MAD MEN: “Time Zones”
Production Designer: DAN BISHOP GOTHAM:”Pilot,” “Selina Kyle,” “Arkham”
Production Designer: DOUG KRANER
THE KNICK: “Method and Madness,” “Working Late a Lot”
Production Designer: HOWARD CUMMINGS
BOARDWALK EMPIRE: “Golden Days for Boys and Girls”
Production Designer: BILL GROOM
One-Hour Contemporary Single-Camera Television Series
HOMELAND:”The Drone Queen”
Production Designer: JOHN D. KRETSCHMER
HOUSE OF CARDS:”Chapter 18″
Production Designer: STEVE ARNOLD
JUSTIFIED:”Murder Of Crowes,” “Wrong Roads,” “The Toll”
Production Designer: DAVE BLASS
THE NEWSROOM:”Boston,” “Main Justice,” “Contempt”
Production Designer: KAREN STEWARD
TRUE DETECTIVE: “The Locked Room,” “Form and Void”
Production Designer: ALEX DiGERLANDO
Television Movie or Mini-Series
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW: “Massacres and Matinees”
Production Designer: MARK WORTHINGTON
COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY: “Unafraid of the Dark”
Production Designer: SETH REED
FARGO: “The Crocodiles Dilemma”
Production Designer: JOHN BLACKIE
HOUDINI: “Part I,” “Part II”
Production Designer: PATRIZIA VON BRANDENSTEIN
SHERLOCK: “His Last Vow”
Production Designer: ARWEL W. JONES
Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series
CALIFORNICATION: “Faith, Hope, Love,” “Like Father Like Son,” “Kickoff”
Production Designer: RAY YAMAGATA
HOUSE OF LIES: “Wreckage,” “Middlegame,” “Zha- Moreng”
Production Designer: RAY YAMAGATA
MODERN FAMILY: “Halloween 3: Awesomeland,” “Marco Polo,” “Won’t You Be Our Neighbor”
Production Designer: CLAIRE BENNETT
SILICON VALLEY: “Articles of Incorporation,” “Signaling Risk,” “Optimal Tip-To-Tip Efficiency”
Production Designer: RICHARD TOYON
VEEP: “Clovis,” “Special Relationship,” “Debate”
Production Designer: JAMES GLOSTER
Multi-Camera Television Series
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: “How Your Mother Met Me”
Production Designer: STEPHAN OLSON
MIKE & MOLLY: “Mike & Molly’s Excellent Adventure,” “The Dice Lady Cometh”
Production Designer: JOHN SHAFFNER
THE BIG BANG THEORY: “The Locomotive Manipulation,” “The Convention Conundrum,” “The Status Quo Combustion”
Production Designer: JOHN SHAFFNER:
THE MILLERS: “You Are the Wind Beneath My Wings, Man,” “Con-Troversy,” “Papa Was a Rolling Bone”
Production Designer: GLENDA ROVELLO
UNDATABLE: “Pilot”
Production Designer: CABOT McMULLEN
Awards or Event Special
86(th) ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS
Production Designer: DEREK McLANE
PETER PAN LIVE!
Production Designer: DEREK McLANE
SUPER BOWL XLVIII HALFTIME SHOW: STARRING BRUNO MARS
Production Designer: BRUCE RODGERS
THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS 2014
Production Designer: JOE STEWART
THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED AMERICA:A GRAMMY SALUTE TO THE BEATLES
Production Designer: MATTHEW RUSSELL
THE 66(th) PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS
Production Designer: KEITH IAN RAYWOOD
Short Format: WebSeries, Music Video or Commercial
APPLE: “Perspective”
Production Designer: SEAN HARGREAVES
COLDPLAY: “Magic”
Production Designer: EMMA FAIRLEY
IKEA: “Carousel”
Production Designer: RICHARD LASSALLE
KATY PERRY: “Dark Horse”
Production Designer: JEREMY REED
SIMPSON’S MARATHON
Production Designer: ZACH MATHEWS
Variety, Competition, Reality, or Game Show Series
KEY & PEELE: “Halloween Episode,” “Alien Imposters”
Production Designer: GARY KORDAN
PORTLANDIA: “Celery”
Production Designer: TYLER B. ROBINSON
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: “Louis C. K. with Sam Smith,” “Anna Kendrick with Pharrell Williams,” “Chris Rock with Prince”
Production Designers: KEITH IAN RAYWOOD, EUGENE LEE, AKIRA YOSHIMURA, N. JOSEPH DeTULLIO
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON: “1,” “45,” “56”
Production Designers: EUGENE LEE, PETER BARAN
THE VOICE: “Blind Auditions Premiere”
Production Designers: JAMES PEARSE CONNELLY, ANTON GOSS
Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) in ‘Outlander’ (Photo Courtesy of Starz)
Starz won’t be bringing back Outlander until April 4, 2015, but at least they’re helping to cure “Droughtlander” with a teaser trailer for the upcoming full trailer. Introduced by Sam Heughan (‘Jamie Fraser’), the latest look at what’s in store for the second half of the first season shows off new footage featuring Heughan and Caitriona Balfe (‘Claire Fraser’). Enjoy!
The Plot:
Outlander follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
Stuart Scott on the set of SportsCenter (Photo by Rich Arden / ESPN Images)
ESPN SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott has passed away at age 49 following a long, recurring battle with cancer. Scott, who was originally diagnosed in November 2007, is survived by his two daughters, his parents, one brother, and two sisters.
“ESPN and everyone in the sports world have lost a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure in Stuart Scott,” stated ESPN president John Skipper. “Who engages in mixed martial arts training in the midst of chemotherapy treatments? Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to the set? His energetic and unwavering devotion to his family and to his work while fighting the battle of his life left us in awe, and he leaves a void that can never be replaced.”
At the 2014 ESPYs in July, Scott was the recipient of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. During his acceptance speech, he talked about his two daughters. “Taelor and Sydni, I love you guys more than I will ever be able to express. You two are my heartbeat. I am standing on this stage here tonight because of you,” said Scott. He also discussed his battle with cancer. “I also realized something else recently,” stated Scott. “I said, I’m not losing. I’m still here. I’m fighting. I’m not losing. But I’ve got to amend that. When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live. So live. Live. Fight like hell!”
Here’s a brief look back at Scott’s life and career, courtesy of ESPN:
For 21 years, years Scott was one of ESPN’s and ABC Sports’ most recognizable and quotable personalities and one of the most popular sportscasters around the world. His catchphrases, including his most famous “Boo-ya” and “As cool as the other side of the pillow,” have become an integral part of pop culture. While Scott became instantly known for his enthusiasm and colorful descriptions, he was always proud of the facts he would weave into his storytelling, recognizing that every great story is based in fact.
After joining the network in 1993 for the launch of ESPN2, Scott became a leading voice on ESPN’s SportsCenter, where he anchored the 11pm show. Over the years, his talent and work ethic led to many additional high-profile assignments including major hosting roles on NFL and NBA programming. During his career with ESPN, Scott covered a slew of major events, including the NBA Finals, Super Bowl, Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series, the NCAA Final Four and more.
From 2007-2011 Scott was the host of ABC Sports’ weekly NBA Sunday studio show, ESPN’s NBA studio show, and served as a host during the NBA Finals Trophy presentation each year. Scott also hosted numerous ESPN and ABC series and specials, including Dream Job, Stump The Schwab, ESPN’s 25th Anniversary Special, and The ESPY Red Carpet Show.
In addition to this busy TV schedule, Scott had also worked as a regular contributor to ESPN: The Magazine, ESPN Radio, and ESPN.com.
Scott was featured in countless This is SportsCenter commercials, which he so enjoyed.
Most recently, Scott was in the anchor chair alongside his longtime partner, Steve Levy, when ESPN re-launched SportsCenter on a new set.
Scott not only interviewed most of the world’s top athletes, he interviewed top celebrities, newsmakers, and politicians. Stuart interviewed and played a televised game of one-on-one basketball with President Barack Obama, one of his two interviews with the President, and conducted numerous one-on-one interviews with the likes of Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Denzel Washington and President Clinton.
Hollywood and Madison Avenue also took notice of Scott’s wide appeal; he was featured in numerous high-profile commercial campaigns. He appeared on many TV shows, sitcoms, feature films and music videos and was parodied in a Saturday Night Live skit.
Over the years, Scott earned numerous awards and honors. He was recently honored with the NABJ Award of Merit, received a Rammy Award which pays tribute to superlative performances in athletics, academics and sports from his beloved alma mater, UNC-Chapel Hill, and was a guest of honor at the 14th annual “An Evening with Heroes” celebration in Indianapolis, which benefits the Heroes Foundation. In 2011 he was honored by The V Foundation with “The Spirit of Jimmy V Award.” He was instrumental in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for The V Foundation, Livestrong, and participated in Stand Up To Cancer campaigns as well donating time to raise awareness and funds for numerous other charities.
He always said a personal and professional highlight for him came in 2004, when he was requested by U.S. soldiers to be a part of “ESPN’s SportsCenter: Salute the Troops” effort, in which he and fellow anchors hosted a week of programs originating in Kuwait.
Prior to joining ESPN, Scott worked at local stations in Orlando, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina and Florence, South Carolina. He was graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1987. One of his proudest moments came when he served as the commencement speaker at his alma mater in 2001.
At North Carolina he played wide receiver and defensive back for a club football team.
He was diagnosed with cancer in November 2007, and dealt with recurring bouts of the disease. He met the challenge as he did everything in his life – with determination, a courageous fighting spirit and an always positive attitude that impacted and inspired everyone who knew him.
Our thoughts are with Stuart Scott’s family and friends at this difficult time.
Jennifer Aniston will be recognized for her career, including her recent work in the dramatic film Cake, at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Aniston is set to receive the Montecito Award which is given to a performer who has “given a series of classic and standout performances throughout his or her career and whose style has made a major contribution to film.”
Aniston received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination as well as a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Cake, and she’s on the short list of possible Academy Award Best Actress contenders.
The Montecito Award will be given to Aniston during the 2015 festival on January 30th. Previous winners include Daniel Day-Lewis, Naomi Watts, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, and Javier Bardem.
“Once in a while a performer who we thought we knew gets outside of his or her comfort zone and shows us the unexpected,” stated SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. “When that happens it is cause for celebration – and this is why the 2015 Montecito Award is bestowed upon Ms. Aniston.”
The 2015 Santa Barbara International Film Festival runs January 27 – February 7, 2015. For information on purchasing tickets, visit www.sbfilmfestival.org.
