The final poster for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 declares “The Courage Of One Will Change The World…” with a battle-ready Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) looking fully capable of taking on the Capital and President Snow. Standing in front of the Mockingjay symbol, Katniss appears ready to lead the rebellion.
Directed by Catching Fire helmer Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong, Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 will open in theaters on November 21, 2014. In addition to Lawrence, the cast includes Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket), Julianne Moore (President Coin), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Plutarch Heavensbee), Jeffrey Wright (Beetee), Sam Claflin (Finnick Odair), Jena Malone (Johanna Mason), Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman), and Donald Sutherland (President Snow).
The Plot:
The worldwide phenomenon of The Hunger Games continues to set the world on fire with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which finds Katniss Everdeen in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.
Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson in ‘Top Five’ (Photo Courtesy of TIFF)
One of the most buzzed about films at the Toronto Film Festival has found a home at Paramount Pictures. Paramount was the winning bidder for the worldwide rights to Top Five starring Chris Rock. Rock also wrote and directed the comedy that also features Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michael Che, and Jay Pharoah.
“Chris and I go back decades, both personally and professionally, and so I am particularly proud to have watched his career grow to its highest heights over many decades,” said Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO Brad Grey, announcing the acquisition. Grey said Top Five shows just how talented Rock is as both a storyteller and filmmaker, and that he’s thrilled to be partnering with him on the theatrical release.
The Top Five Plot:
Top Five tells the story of New York City comedian-turned-film star Andre Allen, whose unexpected encounter with a journalist (Rosario Dawson) forces him to confront the comedy career—and the past—that he’s left behind.
It must have been an easy decision when it came to figuring out who to bring in to host the upcoming season 40 premiere of SNL. Chris Pratt’s an obvious choice to host the Saturday Night Live premiere following his starring turns in two of this year’s biggest blockbusters: Guardians of the Galaxy and The LEGO Movie. Pratt’s also working on the fourth Jurassic Park film, Jurassic World, and will be back playing Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation when it returns for season seven next year.
Pratt will be joined by musical guest Ariana Grande who’s making her debut on the late night variety series.
Sarah Silverman will be hosting the show on October 4, 2014, marking her first time as host. She’ll be joined by SNL veterans Maroon 5 who are scheduled to make their fifth appearance as musical guests.
Jeff Goldblum stopped by Late Night with Seth Meyers and during his visit he sang lyrics to the Jurassic Park theme song that he picked up while surfing the internet. Would the films have been better had they actually used these lyrics to the theme song?
Goldblum says he believes the films would have been improved if these lyrics were used.
Brothers Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) & Rollo (Clive Standen) in ‘Vikings’ (Photo by Jonathan Hession/History/ Copyright 2014)
The press room for History’s Vikings was once again one of Comic-Con’s best as the network set up an incredible spread of food and drinks for members of the media as well as cast members from the critically acclaimed action series. The room was also one of the loudest at the event, as the cast – including Travis Fimmel (‘Ragnar Lothbrok’) and Clive Standen (‘Rollo’) – were in good spirits. It was obvious this is one cast that truly gets along away from the set.
Season three doesn’t debut until 2015, but Fimmel and Standen were already working on the new episodes when we sat down to discuss the series created by BAFTA Award nominee Michael Hirst (Elizabeth). Fimmel says in season three, it’s all about Paris. “Paris is such a big thing about this next season. We’ve done the England thing. We’ve set up the farms in England, and now Ragnar wants to get back to exploring. It’s very exciting to see new places again and he gets back to raiding a bit more than setting up the farm,” said Fimmel.
Asked if this third season is more difficult or if he’s just really comfortable in the character at this point, Fimmel replied, “I’m glad a lot of family stuff is out of the way last year. The first year Ragnar was all about exploring but then he got caught up with all the family issues and all the drama at home, so this year, we get to go to Paris and do what Ragnar wants to do.”
“I think I’m just getting older,” answered Fimmel, laughing, when asked if physically season three’s a more demanding season. “I’m huffing and puffing a lot this season.”
“We’ve got great stuntmen,” said Fimmel, adding that they’ve got a great team put together in front of and behind the camera.
As for what we can expect, I asked Fimmel and Standen if Michael Hirst has written anything that’s shocked them or if they’ve predicted all the changes that have taken place over the previous two seasons leading up to season three. “We haven’t read the last four scripts, so we have no idea what’s going on in Paris, so I’m sure that’s going to be a big surprise for all of us,” replied Fimmel. “I’m surprised I haven’t been killed yet.”
“We’ve seen some of the concept art for Paris; they’re still building it. That’s incredible. It’s unlike anything that we have seen before in France. Paris was a very different place,” said Standen. “It was almost an island, so it’s impenetrable. Somehow, Ragnar Lothbrok and his Vikings managed to somehow get inside. We’ll be telling the story of the first raid on Paris. It’s there in the history books so we’ve done a lot of research. Some of us have done some research on it.”
What state is the relationship in between Ragnar and Rollo in season three? “We’re together more, but once again, the women cause us grief,” answered Fimmel.
“I think what draws us together and gives us some mutual respect again is that Pagan / Christianity thing. There seems to be unrest within the camp, with some people not liking any of the Christians being involved in anything and keeping our old Pagan ways. I think the brothers obviously being brought up the same way so they have the same beliefs, they have that as a common interest. I think Rollo finds a way of having his brother’s back that way as well. They don’t have to share that much with words; they can read each other’s minds,” explained Standen.
“And like I said, we go back to the raiding thing this year more so than all the dramas, so we’ll be on the boat again together raiding,” offered Fimmel.
‘Peter Pan Live!’ Key Art (Photo by: NBCUniversal)
Tony Award nominee Kelli O’Hara will be joining Allison Williams, Christopher Walken, and Christian Borle in NBC’s live production of Peter Pan. Peter Pan Live! will air on December 4, 2014 with Williams tackling the title role, O’Hara will play Mrs. Darling, Borle is Smee & George Darling, and Walken is on board to play Captain Hook.
“Kelli O’Hara is Broadway royalty, a musical star at the top of her game,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “She will be perfect as the regal mother of the Darling children, and we look forward to her rendition of the beautiful lullaby ‘Tender Shepherd.’”
Rob Ashford (The Sound of Music Live!) is directing and 10 time Emmy winner Glenn Weiss is helming the live production. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will executive produce, and Emmy nominee David Chase is the musical director. Derek McLane is the production designer, Catherine Zuber is the costume designer, and Robert A. Dickinson is the lighting designer.
Kelli O’Hara’s Profile [Courtesy of NBC]
Two of O’Hara’s five Tony nominees have come in the last three years — best performance by a leading actress in a musical for both The Bridges of Madison County (2014) and Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012). Her other Tony nominees are for the musicals South Pacific (2008), The Pajama Game (2006) and The Light in the Piazza (2005).
For her work in The Bridges of Madison County, The New York Times said of O’Hara, “She confirms her position as one of the most exquisitely expressive stars in musical theater.” The New York Daily News says O’Hara “gives a performance of rare and radiant grace.”
She was also nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for each of those productions, as well as a Drama Desk Award for all previously mentioned shows, except The Light in the Piazza.
O’Hara’s other Broadway productions include Follies, Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical and Jekyll & Hyde.
To showcase her incredible vocal talents, O’Hara is set to make her opera debut Dec. 31 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York’s Lincoln Center, co-starring with Renee Fleming in a production of The Merry Widow. In spring 2015, she will return to Broadway in the revival of the classic 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, starring Ken Watanabe.
The cast of the NBC miniseries The Slap has expanded by two. Zachary Quinto (American Horror Story) and Brian Cox have signed on to roles in the eight-episode series, which is based on the Australian show of the same name.
Quinto and Cox join previously announced actors Peter Sarsgaard and Mary-Louise Parker in the dramatic limited series. Jon Robin Baitz (The West Wing) is writing the miniseries and will executive producer along with Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Ted Gold, and Tony Ayres.
The Plot of The Slap:
The Slap is a complex family drama that explodes from one small incident where a man (played by Zachary Quinto) slaps another couple’s misbehaving child. This seemingly minor domestic dispute pulls the family apart, begins to expose long-held secrets, and ignites a lawsuit that challenges the core American values of all who are pulled into it.
Keanu Reeves (Photo by Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)
It was just announced that Keanu Reeves, Roland Emmerich, Gregg Hurwitz, and Stephen Hamel will be executive producing the TV series New Angeles with Slingshot Global Media. Emmerich is directing the pilot, Hurwitz is on board to write the pilot, and Slingshot Global Media is distributing the series.
“We’re thrilled to have Roland and Keanu on board for a project of this magnitude,” said David Ellender, CEO of Slingshot Global Media. “Roland’s masterful vision for this is extraordinary, and Keanu’s action work behind and in front of the camera speaks for itself.”
Commenting on NYT bestselling author Hurwitz’ involvement with the series, Emmerich said, “Gregg is an incredibly imaginative writer, and I’m looking forward to bringing his ideas for the show to life. It’s exciting to get the opportunity bring a massive project like this to the small screen within a rapidly changing television space.”
The Plot:
The show will be set in the future, based around a young man who escapes the mundane reality of his life by entering an exciting virtual reality world called New Angeles. Once down the rabbit hole, he adopts a new identity, becoming the man he was always destined to be, and in the process, unlocking the keys to a mystery that has real world consequences for him and his family.
Stephanie (Tia Mowry-Hardrict), Maggie (Sheryl Lee Ralph), Charlie (Michael Boatman), Gabrielle (Sydney Park), James (Tylen Jacob Williams), Aaron (Damarr Calhoun) in INSTANT MOM on NickMom.
Nickelodeon wants more of Instant Mom, giving the comedy series a third season order at NickMom and Nick at Nite. Season three, starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict, will consist of 20 episodes.
The renewal order comes a month before the premiere of season two of the family comedy. Instant Mom season two will air on Thursday nights at 8pm ET/PT starting on October 2, 2014.
“Instant Mom has proven to be the perfect breakout series for families to enjoy together on Nick at Nite,” said Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon’s President of Content Development and Production. “The show appeals to kids and parents alike, and we’re excited to continue delivering new, comedic storylines that our talented cast and creative team bring to life.”
In addition to Mowry-Hardrict, the cast of Instant Mom includes Michael Boatman, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sydney Park, Tylen Jacob Williams and Damarr Calhoun.
The Plot:
The multi-camera, scripted half-hour series features Tia Mowry-Hardrict as Stephanie, a former party girl who becomes a full-time stepmom to three kids when she marries the more traditional Charlie. Stephanie manages to keep it all together using her own unique style, never losing her sense of fun, and with the help of her mother Maggie, she learns what being a mom really means.
Lisa Kudrow in ‘The Comeback’ (Photo by John P. Johnson/HBO)
The final season of HBO’s The Newsroom will premiere on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 9pm ET/PT followed by the return of the limited comedy series The Comeback at 10pm and Getting On at 10:30pm. The Newsroom will be concluding its run with a six episode season three while The Comeback is offering up eight new episodes. Getting On‘s second season will consist of six episodes.
The Newsroom was created by Aaron Sorkin and stars Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Sam Waterston, John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel and Olivia Munn. The series follows a cable news team “on their quixotic mission to do the news well in the face of a fickle audience, corporate mandates and tangled personal relationships.”
The Comeback‘s second season comes nine years after the first season and finds Friends star Lisa Kudrow back as struggling actress Valerie Cherish. HBO offered this synopsis for the much-anticipated second season: Valerie Cherish is “a fading TV ‘It Girl’ who was once so desperate to stay in the spotlight that she allowed cameras to follow her every move as she appeared on a new sitcom – with disastrous results. Now, it’s ten years later, and Valerie thinks she has it all figured out this time. She doesn’t.”
The half hour comedy Getting On stars Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein, Niecy Nash and Mel Rodriguez and was created by Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer. The series is set in a hospital and follows “the daily lives of nurses and doctors as they struggle with the darkly comic realities of caring for the elderly in an overwhelmed healthcare system, skewering the petty bureaucracies of modern medical practice in America.”
