Dick Van Dyke and his wife Arlene are fine after their Jaguar caught fire on the 101 freeway in Los Angeles. The incident occurred at around 2pm on Monday, August 19, 2013 when witnesses called in that an elderly man – later identified as Dick Van Dyke – was slumped behind the wheel of a Jag, according to the AP. Witnesses helped Van Dyke, who wasn’t treated for any injuries, from the car which was ultimately completely destroyed in the fire.
Arlene Van Dyke tweeted “He’s fine thank God!!” and posted a Vine video of Dick talking to CHP officers.
Later, Dick Van Dyke tweeted this picture of the destroyed car, joking “Used Jag for sale REAL CHEAP!!”
DreamWorks Pictures has unveiled this new poster for The Fifth Estate, the dramatic thriller starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Brühl, and Anthony Mackie. Directed by Bill Condon (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and 2), the cast also includes David Thewlis, Alicia Vikander, Peter Capaldi, Carice van Houten, Dan Stevens, Stanley Tucci, and Laura Linney.
DreamWorks Pictures is releasing The Fifth Estate in theaters on October 18, 2013.
The Plot:
Triggering our age of high-stakes secrecy, explosive news leaks and the trafficking of classified information, WikiLeaks forever changed the game. Now, in a dramatic thriller based on real events, The Fifth Estate reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century’s most fiercely debated organization. The story begins as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Brühl) team up to become underground watchdogs of the privileged and powerful.
On a shoestring, they create a platform that allows whistleblowers to anonymously leak covert data, shining a light on the dark recesses of government secrets and corporate crimes. Soon, they are breaking more hard news than the world’s most legendary media organizations combined. But when Assange and Berg gain access to the biggest trove of confidential intelligence documents in U.S. history, they battle each other and a defining question of our time: what are the costs of keeping secrets in a free society—and what are the costs of exposing them?”
A dramatic thriller based on real events, The Fifth Estate reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century’s most fiercely debated organization.
Magician Harry Houdini’s life will be explored in the new four-hour miniseries Houdini coming to the History channel. History’s set Oscar winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist) to star as Houdini, with Kristen Connolly (The Cabin in the Woods) in place to play his wife, Bess.
Filming is expected to take place this fall. Uli Edel (The Baader Meinhof Complex) is directing from a script by Nicholas Meyer (The Seven-Per-Cent Solution).
Commenting on the project, Brody said, “Since my childhood, when I dreamed of being a great magician, Harry Houdini has been one of my heroes. His bravery and obsessive determination still fascinate me. Houdini mastered the art of escape – not only from physical chains but from poverty and the social constraints of a humble immigrant origin. His life story appeals to the universal longing for acceptance with which we all can identify. To portray him is beyond an honor.”
“The Great Harry Houdini is a fascinating man in history, and I have no doubt that Adrien Brody will bring the magician’s riveting story to life for our audience,” said Dirk Hoogstra, History EVP and General Manager.
The Plot:
Before David Blaine and David Copperfield, there was one man whose name was synonymous with being the master of illusion and escape – Harry Houdini. Houdini follows the man behind the magic as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualist,s and encounters the greatest names of the era, from U.S. presidents to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Grigori Rasputin. The drama will chronicle the life of a man who can defy death through his stunts, his visions and his mastery of illusion.
Focus Features has debuted two new clips from the dramatic thriller Closed Circuit starring Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, and Ciarán Hinds. Directed by John Crowley (Intermission, Boy A) from a script by Steve Knight (Eastern Promises, Amazing Grace), Closed Circuit also features Riz Ahmed, Anne-Marie Duff, Kenneth Cranham, Denis Moschitto, Julia Stiles, and Jim Broadbent.
Closed Circuit opens in theaters on August 28, 2013.
The Plot:
A high-profile terrorism case unexpectedly binds together two ex-lovers (Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall) on the defense team – testing the limits of their loyalties and placing their lives in jeopardy.
One morning, a busy London market is decimated by an explosion. In the manhunt that follows, only one member of the suspected terrorist cell survives: Farroukh Erdogan (Denis Moschitto), who is arrested and jailed. Preparations begin for what promises to be the trial of the century.
But there’s a hitch: the government will use classified evidence to prosecute Erdogan, evidence so secret that neither he nor his lawyers can be allowed to see it. Hence the need for the Attorney General (Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent) to appoint a Special Advocate, an additional government-approved defense lawyer (Claudia Simmons-Howe, played by Golden Globe Award nominee Rebecca Hall), one who has clearance to see classified evidence and who can argue for its full disclosure when the trial moves to “closed” session. The rules for the Special Advocate are clear: once the secret evidence is shared with her, Claudia will not be allowed to communicate even with the defendant or with other members of the defense team.
But just as the case is on the eve of going to trial, Erdogan’s lawyer dies suddenly, and a new defense attorney, Martin Rose (Eric Bana), quickly steps in. Martin is tenacious, driven, brilliant – and an ex-lover of Claudia’s. The two lawyers make an uncomfortable pact to keep their former affair hidden. But as Martin begins to piece the case together, the outlines of a sinister conspiracy emerge, one that will draw him and Claudia dangerously close again.
Angie Harmon and Lee Thompson Young in TNT’s ‘Rizzoli & Isles’
Actor Lee Thompson Young was found dead at his Los Angeles home today after he didn’t show up for work on TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles series. The 29 year old Young was discovered dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Following the discovery, TNT issued this statement:
“Everyone at Rizzoli & Isles is devastated by the news of the passing of Lee Thompson Young. We are beyond heartbroken at the loss of this sweet, gentle, good-hearted, intelligent man. He was truly a member of our family. Lee will be cherished and remembered by all who knew and loved him, both on- and off-screen, for his positive energy, infectious smile and soulful grace. We send our deepest condolences and thoughts to his family, to his friends and, most especially, to his beloved mother.”
Young played Detective Barry Frost on Rizzoli & Isles, and production has been temporarily suspended as the cast and crew cope with this tragic news.
In a statement to HollywoodLife, Young’s manager Jonathan Baruch said, “Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed. We ask that you please respect the privacy of his family and friends as this very difficult time.”
Young’s television credits include The Famous Jett Jackson, The Guardian, South Beach, Scrubs, FlashForward (his character ultimately committed suicide). He also had roles in the feature films Friday Night Lights, Akeelah and the Bee, The Hills Have Eyes 2, and Just An American.
Our thoughts are with Lee Thompson Young’s family and friends at this difficult time.
What is this? J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions has just released this new one-minute video titled “Stranger,” but no one knows what it’s for. The official YouTube channel for Bad Robot doesn’t list a description and the comments section has been disabled. So, let the guessing game begin. Is it a TV series? A movie? I think it’s safe to assume it’s not the new Star Wars movie…but it could be pretty much anything else.
Travel Channel’s 3rd annual “Weekends to Die For” special programming begins with Ghost Adventures: Up Close & Personal, a one hour behind-the-scenes event that airs on September 27, 2013 at 9pm. The special will include some of the most unforgettable scenes from the series.
Paranormal investigators Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin will show off investigations from throughout their seven seasons, divided up into 10 categories. The scenes were selected by Bagans, Groff, and Goodwin as well as fans who voted on TravelChannel.com.
The series also has big plans for its 100th episode, which will premiere on Friday, October 4th at 9pm. Per the official announcement:
“In the milestone 100th episode, part of the current season, Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin travel to St. Louis for an unprecedented investigation – the Exorcist House, site of the actual petrifying events depicted in the popular novel and Hollywood film, The Exorcist. Timed to the 40th anniversary of the film’s release, Ghost Adventures is the very first paranormal television show to ever investigate the home, which is the only building left in St. Louis in its original form that is tied to the Exorcist case.
The team seeks answers to the mysteries behind what happened here in the past and in the home’s recent history. To further aid in the investigation, they interview the great niece of Father William Bowdern, who performed the exorcism in 1949.”
In addition, Ghost Adventures has a special two-hour Halloween episode airing on October 31st which will find the team heading to Transylvania to explore the Vlad the Impaler legend. The episode’s official synopsis: “Bagans and the group explore the most terrifying haunted castles and locations in this intriguing and historical Romanian province, including Targoviste, where Vlad ruled from and ordered the impaling of thousands of people; Hunedoara, where Vlad was imprisoned for seven years; and the mysterious Hoia-Baciu Forest – locally referred to as the ‘Bermuda Triangle of Romania.'”
Season two of Showtime’s critically acclaimed series Homeland left Brody (Damian Lewis) on the run with Carrie (Claire Danes) assisting him in his escape. And in this new video featuring clips from season three, the cast talks about what we can expect from the riveting drama.
Season three premieres on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 9pm.
Have you had a chance to catch Starz’s new period drama The White Queen? It’s definitely worth a look, and we’re only coming up on episode three of season one, so you aren’t far behind.
Starring Max Irons, James Frain, Rebecca Ferguson, Janet McTeer, Amanda Hale, Faye Marsay, and Aneurin Bernard, The White Queen is based on Philippa Gregory’s series of three bestselling novels: The White Queen, The Red Queen and The Kingmaker’s Daughter. The series airs on Saturday nights at 9pm.
Episode 3 Details:
A grieving Queen Elizabeth conjures up the perfect storm to get King Edward home. But more danger awaits as her jealous detractors plot to end his reign.
The White Queen Description:The White Queen is a riveting portrayal of one of the most dramatic and turbulent times in English history. A story of love and lust, seduction and deception, betrayal and murder, it is uniquely told through the perspective of three different, yet equally relentless women – Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville. In their quest for power, they will scheme, manipulate and seduce their way onto the English throne.
The year is 1464, before the Tudor dynasty ruled the country, and war has been ravaging throughout England over who is the rightful King. It is a bitter dispute between two sides of the same family, The House of York and The House of Lancaster.
The House of York’s young and handsome Edward IV is crowned King of England with the help of the master manipulator, Lord Warwick “The Kingmaker.” But when Edward falls in love with a beautiful Lancastrian commoner, Elizabeth Woodville, Warwick’s plan to control the throne comes crashing down.
A violent, high-stakes struggle ensues between Elizabeth, her most fierce adversary, Lancastrian Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville, the pawn in her father’s power game – each woman vying for the crown.
An American Werewolf in London – still one of the best werewolf movies ever made – will be included in Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 23. The 1981 horror film starring David Naughton and Griffin Dunne is set to become a haunted house at this year’s event, with Universal teaming up with An American Werewolf in London writer/director John Landis to create a “disturbingly-real haunted house experience that pays homage to one of the greatest lycanthropic stories ever told.”
“It’s terrific that guests will be able to actually experience some of the scarier scenes from the film,” stated Landis. “I had fun working with the Universal team to bring one of my more insane movies to life.”
“An American Werewolf in London is a must-see for any true horror fan,” added Mike Aiello, Creative Director for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. “The haunted maze mirrors John Landis’ horrifying story and having him work with us in the creative process was really the only way this could authentically come to life.”
Halloween Horror Nights 23 will take place from September 20 to November 2. For more info, visit halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando.
Details on the Werewolf-inspired Halloween Horror Nights Exhibit:
“Beginning September 20, guests will step inside the film and experience a retelling of the horror classic – from the attack on the English moors to the hospital nightmares to witnessing the bone-crunching transformation of David from human to bloodthirsty werewolf. Guests will encounter David’s vicious werewolf form as he wreaks bloody chaos through London’s subway tunnel, Piccadilly Circus, and more.”
