The Conjuring spinoff (not the sequel) will be entering theaters on October 3, 2014, so says New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Annabelle, currently in post-production, will focus on the creepy doll that was the source of nightmares for fans of the 2013 horror film. The Conjuring‘s cinematographer John R. Leonetti directed, Gary Dauberman wrote the script, and The Conjuring director James Wan and Peter Safran produced the horror spinoff.
The cast of Annabelle is led by Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, Alfre Woodard, and, of course, the terrifying doll that was part of the collection of paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) in The Conjuring.
The Conjuring was made for a budget of $20 millionish and grossed over $318 million worldwide before exiting theaters.
Helen Mirren in ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’ (Photo Credit: DreamWorks Pictures)
Producers Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey talk about the film adaptation of Richard C. Morais’ bestselling book The Hundred-Foot Journey in this new behind-the-scenes video from the DreamWorks Pictures release. The cast is led by Oscar winner Helen Mirren and includes Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon, with Lasse Hallström directing.
The Hundred-Foot Journey opens in theaters on August 8, 2014.
The Plot:
In The Hundred-Foot Journey, Hassan Kadam (Dayal) is a culinary ingénue with the gastronomic equivalent of perfect pitch. Displaced from their native India, the Kadam family, led by Papa (Puri), settles in the quaint village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val in the south of France. Filled with charm, it is both picturesque and elegant – the ideal place to settle down and open an Indian restaurant, Maison Mumbai. That is, until the chilly chef proprietress of Le Saule Pleureur, a Michelin-starred, classical French restaurant run by Madame Mallory (Mirren) gets wind of it. Her icy protests against the new Indian restaurant a hundred feet from her own escalate into a heated battle between the two establishments until Hassan’s passion for French haute cuisine — and for Madame Mallory’s enchanting sous chef, Marguerite (Le Bon) — combine with his mysteriously-delicious talent to weave magic between their two cultures and imbue Saint-Antonin with the flavors of life that even Madame Mallory cannot ignore. At first Madame Mallory’s culinary rival, she eventually recognizes Hassan’s gift as a chef and takes him under her wing.
The Hundred-Foot Journey abounds with flavors that burst across the tongue. A stimulating triumph over exile, blossoming with passion and heart, it is a portrayal of two worlds colliding and one young man’s drive to find the comfort of home, in every pot, wherever he may be.
Season two of The CW’s popular dramatic thriller/romance Beauty and the Beast comes to an end with “Deja Vu,” airing at 9pm on July 7, 2014. Fortunately for all Beauty and the Beast fans, this is just the season finale and not the series finale as The CW will be bringing the show back for season three in 2015.
The “Deja Vu” Plot:
CAT FACES A TOUGH DECISION — Cat (Kristin Kreuk) searches for a way to thwart Gabe (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and finds her answer in an unexpected place: the journal of her ancestor, which makes Cat fear the only way to stop Gabe is by killing Vincent (Jay Ryan).
Nina Lisandrello and Austin Basis also star. Stuart Gillard directed the episode from a script by Brad Kern and Roger Grant.
Jessica Lange as Fiona, Emma Roberts as Madison, Jamie Brewer as Nan, Taissa Farmiga as Zoe, Gabourey Sidibe as Queenie in ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ (Photo Credit: Michele K. Short/FX)
FX has big plans for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con including the first trip to the sold-out convention for the cast of American Horror Story. FX will once again have a must-see lineup of shows at the Con, with AHS joining fan favorites Archer and Sons of Anarchy at the event as well as the new series The Strain.
With Guillermo del Toro, Carlton Cuse, and Chuck Hogan set to join the entire cast at Comic-Con, The Strain will undoubtedly draw a huge crowd to the San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H.
FX says Archer will be screening an original short created just for Comic-Con along with a new episode of season six. SoA fans will be treated to the first peek at season seven footage and The Strain will debut the third episode along with a recap of the series thus far. American Horror Story is also planning a look back at Coven and a look ahead at Freak Show.
Here’s the scoop on FX’s 2014 Comic-Con plans:
Friday, July 25
ARCHER
Panel: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Screening and Q&A: Archer is an animated comedy that revolves around the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS) and its employees who use every covert operation and global crisis as another excuse to undermine, sabotage and betray each other for personal gain. Come see an exclusive screening of an original short animation piece created specifically for SDCC, plus the upcoming never-before-seen season six premiere episode.
Then join the voice cast of H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, Judy Greer, Amber Nash, and Lucky Yates, plus creator Adam Reed and co-executive producer Casey Willis as they discuss bringing this animated series to life. Room: Indigo Ballroom.
Saturday, July 26
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN
Panel: 7:00-8:00 PM – Screening and Q&A: Fans will get an inside look at the most recent installment of AHS with cast members Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Michael Chiklis, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Emma Roberts, and Executive Producer Tim Minear. The screening portion will feature an exclusive look back at AHS: Coven and will tease the upcoming AHS: Freak Show. Room: 6DE.
Sunday, July 27
Charlie Hunnam as Jackson ‘Jax’ Teller in ‘Sons of Anarchy’ (Photo Credit: James Minchin/FX)
SONS OF ANARCHY
Panel: 12:30 PM -1:30 PM – Screening and Q&A. Get an inside look into the upcoming final season of FX’s highest-rated series ever, with creator Kurt Sutter, executive producer Paris Barclay and the entire cast: Charlie Hunnam (via satellite), Katey Sagal, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Theo Rossi, Dayton Callie, and Jimmy Smits. Room: Hall H.
THE STRAIN
Panel: 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM – Screening and Q&A. Experience a sneak peek into the highly anticipated new drama The Strain, a high-concept thriller based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy of the same title premiering July 13. Fans will first be treated to an extended recap reel of the first season and a screening of the never-before-seen third episode of the season (airing July 27).
Immediately following the screening, there will be a Q&A with creator/author Guillermo del Toro, Executive Producer/Showrunner Carlton Cuse, Executive Producer/writer Chuck Hogan and the entire cast: Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Miguel Gomez, Ben Hyland, and Jack Kesey. Room: Hall H.
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SoA‘s Charlie Hunnam at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con:
Taye Diggs will be joining the cast of CBS’s The Good Wife for season six. Diggs will have a multi-episode arc playing a character named Dean Levine-Wilkins, a “meticulous and talented equity partner at Lockhart/Gardner who decides to throw in his lot with Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) and accompany her to Alicia (Julianna Margulies) and Cary’s (Matt Czuchry) company, Florrick/Agos.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Taye on the show,” stated Executive Producers/Showrunners Robert and Michelle King. “We’ve been huge fans for years, and love his ability to play comedy and drama with equal ease.”
The series will return to kick off season six on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at 9pm.
Poster for ‘The Spoils of Babylon’ (Photo Credit: IFC)
IFC is back in business with Funny Or Die, ordering up a sequel to the popular The Spoils of Babylon series titled The Spoils Before Dying. The second season will feature a new cast, however executive producer Will Ferrell will be returning to play fictional author Eric Jonrosh.
According to IFC, The Spoils Before Dying will be made up of six new episodes and will air next summer. Andrew Steele and Nate Young will be back as writers and executive producers, and Piedmont is also on board as director.
“With IFC’s renewed partnership with Funny or Die, Eric Jonrosh and his most-prized works will continue to entertain and enthrall audiences for generations to come,” said Jennifer Caserta, IFC’s president.
“The first Spoils mini-series beat the NFL and Big Bang Theory in ratings (adults: ages 74-92) and changed the way Americans talk, think and prepare meat,” said executive producer Adam McKay. “We anticipate this new series from Jonrosh with Steele and Piedmont becoming the most watched television event in the history of earth.”
Will Ferrell said, “Hang on to your hats America! This one’s going to be totally bonkers!”
The Spoils Before Dying Plot:
The Spoils Before Dying, based on Jonrosh’s first best-selling novel, will take viewers into the seedy underbelly of the 1950s jazz scene, in a detective story positively buzzing with erotic charge. It follows a jazz-pianist turned private eye who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation that spins out of control and leads him down paths – romantic and otherwise – he never expected.
A family affair: L to R Rollo (Clive Standen), Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) and Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) in ‘Vikings’ (Photo Courtesy of History)
Vikings cast members Travis Fimmel (‘Ragnar’), Katheryn Winnick (‘Lagertha’), and Clive Standen (‘Rollo’) as well as writer/creator Michael Hirst will once again be taking time away from shooting the critically acclaimed History series to make the trek to San Diego for the sold-out Comic Con. This year they’ll be joined at the pop culture festival by Alexander Ludwig (‘Bjorn’) and Julian Hobbs (VP Scripted & Non-Fiction Development & Programming, HISTORY) as part of the Vikings gang taking part in a Q&A with fans along with signing autographs.
Filming is currently underway in Ireland on the 10 episode third season which will air in 2015, but fans don’t have to wait that long to see footage from the upcoming season. History’s planning on debuting exclusive season three footage during the Vikings panel on Friday, July 25th. The panel will take place from 4:45-5:45pm in Room 6A at the San Diego Convention Center.
History also announced a special “On the Set with VIKINGS” event which will be available throughout the Con at 450 2nd Avenue. Here’s the scoop, courtesy of the network:
Fans will get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings and have a starring role in their own custom video that can be shared on social media. From the moment fans enter the “back-lot” they will be treated as cast members. Upon entering, guests will create a character profile and choose a weapon of choice. Next, they will meet with hair and make-up artists to become transformed into a fierce Viking and be placed into three scenes complete with Vikings ships, battles, axes and villages. When fans have completed the experience they will have a :30 video to share via Twitter, Facebook or Vine.
In addition, the cast will be signing autographs and posing for photos on Friday, July 25 from 1 – 2 p.m. at the 450 2nd Avenue location.
The Vikings Plot:
Vikings tells the extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of these warriors. The drama portrays the world of these Dark Age raiders, traders, explorers – not from an outsider’s view, but, through the eyes of Viking society. Vikings centers on Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), a restless young warrior and family man who longs to find and conquer new lands across the sea and claim the spoils as his own.
Travis Fimmel continues to lead the stellar cast as Ragnar, along with Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, an Earl and fierce shield maiden; Clive Standen as Rollo, Ragnar’s impulsive brother; Alexander Ludwig as Bjorn, the intelligent and bold warrior son of Ragnar; George Blagden as Athelstan, a young and not-so-innocent monk; Jessalyn Gilsig as Siggy, beautiful wife of the late Earl Haraldson; Linus Roache as Ecbert, King of Wessex, a man of strength, knowledge and undisguised ambition; Gustaf Skarsgard as Floki, a ship builder who designs the new generation of Vikings ships and Alyssa Sutherland as Princess Aslaug, Ragnar’s new wife.
Joining the cast for season three are Lothaire Bluteau (The Tudors) as Emperor Charles of France, a powerful man who views battling the Vikings as spiritual and earthly; Kevin Durand (The Strain) as The Wanderer, a mysterious man who is not what he seems; and Morgane Polanski (The Ghost) as Princess Gisla, the elegant, self-possessed daughter of Emperor Charles and his most trusted advisor and Ben Robson (Dracula: The Dark Prince) as Kalf, Lagertha’s trusted second in command.
20th Century Fox has unveiled a new trailer for the much-anticipated dramatic thriller Gone Girl based on the bestselling book by Gillian Flynn. Flynn adapted her novel for the screen, two-time Oscar nominee David Fincher directs, and Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike star in the October 3, 2014 release. The cast also includes Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Emily Ratajkowski, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, Carrie Coon, and David Clennon.
The Gone Girl Plot:
Gone Girl unearths the secrets at the heart of a modern marriage. On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?
John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight was absent from HBO’s Sunday night lineup on July 6, 2014 but he still filed a mini-recap of the week via the show’s YouTube channel. Oliver says of all the major news last week, fireworks displays turned out to be the most important as America celebrated its Independence Day.
Explaining why Americans love fireworks so much, Oliver said, “Because they’re like sparkly guns you can shoot at the sky.” Check out what else he had to say about the 4th of July celebration:
The final pilot to make it into this upcoming third pilot season on Amazon’s Prime Instant Video will be the comedy series Red Oaks from producer Steven Soderbergh and director David Gordon Green (Eastbound & Down). Joe Gangemi and Gregory Jacobs wrote the pilot, with Paul Reiser, Craig Roberts, Richard King, Oliver Cooper, and Jennifer Grey starring.
Red Oaks joins third season pilots The Cosmopolitans, Hand of God, Hysteria, and Really, all of which will debut later this year.
“To be able to collaborate with Steven, David and Greg, three of the most highly-regarded creators in Hollywood, is an absolute pleasure,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “Red Oaks brings together not only top-notch talent, but also a hilarious and wonderfully written script that we think our customers will enjoy seeing come to life later this year.”
“Greg Jacobs told me this idea on the set of Behind the Candelabra and I told him it was great and that he should start working on it immediately,” said Steven Soderbergh. “Then, while we were on the set of The Knick he gave me the script he wrote with Joe Gangemi and I said, ‘This is ready to go, let’s find a director.’ We very quickly agreed to approach David because the humor was sharp without being mean, and we felt he would understand and appreciate that.”
The Red Oaks Plot:
Red Oaks is set in 1985, and features college student David Myers who is both reeling from his father’s heart attack and conflicted about what major to declare in the fall. Myers gets a summer job as an assistant tennis pro at the Red Oaks Country Club in suburban New Jersey and while there, he meets a colorful cast of misfit co-workers and wealthy club members including an alluring art student named “Skye” (played by guest star Alexandra Socha) and her corporate raider father “Getty” (played by Reiser). A coming-of-age comedy set in the “go-go” 80s that is equal parts hijinks and heartfelt, Red Oaks is about enjoying a last hurrah before summer comes to an end—and the future begins.
