BBC announced the addition of Charlie Cox (Boardwalk Empire), Romola Garai, Andrew Scott, and Simon Russell Beale to the cast of the dramatic thriller Legacy set up with BBC Two. The Cold War thriller will be directed by Pete Travis (Dredd) and is based on the book by Alan Judd as adapted by Paula Milne.
Travis and Milne previously worked together on 2009’s Endgame.
“Legacy falls well within the genre of the British spy thriller but has an extraordinary personal twist,” said Milne. “For what is espionage if not betrayal at the most fundamental level of human interactions? When that occurs within a family… It’s dynamite!”
Adds BBC Executive Producer Lucy Richer, ”Charlie is going to make a fantastic Charles Thoroughgood and I’m delighted to have such a talented cast on board. Leading on from the recent success of drama on BBC Two, Paula’s script is guaranteed to make Legacy the most bold and ambitious drama imaginable.”
The cast of Legacy also includes Olivia Grant, Christian McKay, and Tessa Peake Jones.
The Plot: The 90-minute film tells the compelling story of a young spy, Charles Thoroughgood (Cox), who discovers the disturbing truth about his father’s complex past.
Fresh out of the army, Charles has barely begun his training in Britain’s secret intelligence service, MI6, when his university association with a Soviet diplomat lands him on a case.
The diplomat, Viktor Koslov (Scott), has been working in London and his behavior suggests he could be turned. Charles’s bosses hope to exploit Viktor for their own purposes. But when Charles makes contact, Viktor reveals certain information that he would rather not believe.
As he is drawn deeper and deeper into the machinations of international intelligence, Charles finds himself falling in love with someone very close to the dangerous world he inhabits – a forbidden love, which makes it all the more intoxicating…
Romola Garai plays Anna, and Simon Russell Beale plays Hookey.
Episode two of the final season of Showtime’s Dexter finds our favorite serial killer becoming more involved with one of this season’s more intriguing new characters, Dr. Vogel (played by Charlotte Rampling). Episode two of season eight debuts on Sunday, July 7, 2013 at 9pm.
The Plot of “Every Silver Lining:” Miami Metro continues their hunt for the Brain Surgeon, while Dr. Vogel enlists Dexter’s (Michael C Hall) help. While on a case, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) has to take matters into her own hands.
The 2013 San Diego Comic-Con will run Thursday, July 18th through Sunday, July 21st at the San Diego Convention Center, with a sneak preview on Wednesday night. The annual event has grown from 100 attendees back in 1970 to a filled-to-capacity crowd of 130,000 attendees, with panels representing movies, television, comic books, and anime.
For those lucky enough to get a ticket to the event, here’s the schedule of films and television shows to be presented on Thursday, July 18th:
Intelligence – 10am, Ballroom 20
Stars Josh Holloway, Meghan Ory, and Marg Helgenberger and executive producers Michael Seitzman, René Echevarria, and Tripp Vinson discuss the new CBS dramatic thriller. Holloway plays Gabriel, a high-tech intelligence operative enhanced with a supercomputer microchip in his brain. With this implant, Gabriel is the first human ever to be connected directly into the worldwide information grid and have complete access to Internet, WiFi, telephone, and satellite data. He can hack into any data center and access key intel in the fight to protect the United States from its enemies. Leading the elite government cybersecurity agency created to support him is Director Lillian Strand (Helgenberger), a straightforward and efficient boss who oversees the unit’s missions.
Strand assigns Riley Neal (Ory), a Secret Service agent, to protect Gabriel from outside threats, as well as from his appetite for reckless, unpredictable behavior and disregard for protocol. As the first supercomputer with a beating heart, Gabriel is the most valuable piece of technology the country has ever created and is the U.S.’s secret weapon. Join the cast and producers for an exclusive viewing of the first episode, followed by a panel discussion.
Mad Screening and Q&A – 10:15, Room 6DE
The MADness continues in San Diego as MAD once again descends on Comic-Con with their usual-but mostly unusual-brand of hijinks and hilarity. Producers Kevin Shinick and Mark Marek and other hilarious minds from the show promise a wisecracking discussion about the series inspired by the beloved and bestselling humor magazine. Producers will also share new footage featuring all the fan-favorite elements of the show, from animated parodies and crazy commercials to pretend promos and classic gags. This panel is sure to leave everyone feeling MAD. From Warner Bros. Animation, MAD airs Mondays at 8:30/7:30c on Cartoon Network.
Host Richard Hatch (Capt. Apollo, Tom Zarek), director Michael Nankin (BG, Defiance, Blood and Chrome), Dr. Kevin Grazier, producer/writer Michael Angeli, write/producer Kevin Murphy, Michael Taylor, producer Paul Leonard, and surprise BG guests discuss and celebrate the 35-year history and future of the three Battlestar Galactica series and franchise. Includes Q&A, theatrical trailers, and discussion.
Stars Matt Lanter, Aimee Teegarden, and Grey Damon, along with executive producers Adele Lim, Meredith Averill, Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg invite you to get a first look at the futuristic epic romance tale, Star-Crossed. When an spacecraft crash-landed in Emery’s (Teegarden) small town when she was only 6, whether the aliens came in peace or with more sinister intentions didn’t matter: a fierce battle erupted as humans fought for control over their new rivals, an alien species called the Atrians.
In the midst of the conflict, Roman (Lanter), a 6-year-old Atrian boy, found his way to a shed behind Emery’s house, where she protected him from harm. In their brief time together, Emery and Roman forged a deep bond, but the authorities wasted no time tracking Roman down and capturing him. Emery has grown up believing that Roman was killed that day.
Ten years later, in 2024, the Atrians have been acclimated to life on Earth, but they are interred in a heavily guarded camp known as the Sector to keep them separate from humans. Now, for the first time, a group of Atrian teens will enroll in a suburban human high school, with the goal of testing the feasibility of human/alien integration. The eyes of the nation and the whole world are fixed on this historical social experiment, an endeavor fraught with suspicion and fear. In the mayhem of the first day, Emery is amazed to learn that Roman was not killed by the authorities and is, in fact, one of the Atrian students. Their childhood bond is quickly rekindled.
In a school and a society that distrusts everything about the Atrians, Emery and Roman have found each other again. However, their relationship is threatened by the small-mindedness of their respective communities and the political agendas of people in power. While the world around them rages with anger and prejudice, their bond becomes increasingly strong and increasingly dangerous. As an epic Romeo and Juliet romance unfolds, a violent encounter between their two families could threaten their relationship. Can Roman and Emery’s love-and peace between the species-survive? The cast and producers offer an exclusive first look at the series, followed by a panel discussion.
Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan along with executive producers Jennifer Levin, and Sherri Cooper invite all #Beasties to join them for an exclusive discussion of what is ahead for #VinCat and the sophomore season of the breakout fan-favorite series from the CW network. Beauty and the Beast, winner of the People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama, is a modern adaptation of a beloved fairy tale. In the second season, Detective Catherine Chandler (Kreuk), shaken to the core that everything she knows has been a lie, is determined to get answers to the secrets that have been revealed about her family.
Cat must also try to navigate her evolving relationship with handsome doctor Vincent Keller (Ryan), who struggles with becoming a terrifying beast when he is enraged, unable to control his super-strength and heightened senses. Cat and Vincent continue to grapple with the desire to be a normal couple while trying to keep a low profile from Muirfield, now on the hunt for both of them. Join the cast and producers for a panel discussion.
The cast and crew of Annoying Orange offer a slam-packed, manic musical mash-up, featuring an exclusive look into the show’s unique production process, an epic episode premiere, a live musical number, a Toby Turner dance, and insight into the emerging creative bridge between Internet and traditional television entertainment. Panel includes Dane Boedigheimer (creator, Orange, Pear, Midget Apple, Marshmallow), Toby Turner (Nerville), iJustine (Passion Fruit), Tom Kenny (Coconut, Guava), Rob Paulsen (Broccoli Alien Overlord), Tom Sheppard (co-creator, director, Li’l Squishy, Old Man Banana), Gary Binkow (EP), and Conrad Montgomery (Cartoon Network creative executive).
For the fifth year running, cable TV’s most beloved fake psychic detective series is bringing its signature brand of humor, pop culture nostalgia and delicious flavor to Comic-Con. Fans will get a unique, interactive peek behind the pineapple as the show’s creative team discuss Psych‘s long-anticipated musical episode and upcoming season, share exclusive video content, and take audience questions galore.
The panel, moderated by Psych guest star and ‘80s icon and fan favorite Cary Elwes (Pierre Despereaux), features stars James Roday (Shawn Spencer), Dulé Hill (Burton “Gus” Guster), Maggie Lawson (Juliet O’Hara), Tim Omundson (Carlton Lassiter), Kirsten Nelson (Chief Karen Vick), and Corbin Bernsen (Henry Spencer), as well as producers Steve Franks (creator and executive producer), Kelly Kulchak (executive producer), and Chris Henze (executive producer). Hilarious hijinks are highly likely to ensue.
Europa Report – 1:10pm, Hall H
At the movies, it seems there’s so much science fiction, but so little science. Sebastian Cordero’s Europa Report seeks to change that. The film depicts a near-future crewed mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa, seeking evidence for life in an ocean beneath the moon’s icy surface. The movie uses current science to tell a story of discovery and danger.
This panel features the film’s crew and cast, alongside scientists involved with a NASA concept for a real robotic spacecraft, the Europa Clipper, designed to investigate the mysteries of Europa, including whether it has the elements to support life. Participants include Sebastian Cordero (director, Rage and Chronicles), Bear McCreary (composer, Battlestar Galactica, The Walking Dead), producer Ben Browning, and actress Karolina Wydra, alongside JPL scientists Steve Vance and Kevin Hand.
Comedy Central: Workaholics – 2pm, Indigo Ballroom Hilton San Diego Bayfront
It’s time to get weird with Comedy Central’s hit series Workaholics! Whether it’s Blake dressed in a bear coat, Adam singing about Catherine Zeta Jones while on shroomz, or The Ders celebrating his birthday with a drinking triathlon, the boys seem to run into trouble wherever they go. These three friends work together from 9 to 5, live together from 5 to 9, and party together 24/7. Stars, co-creators, writers, and executive producers Blake Anderson, Adam Devine, Anders Holm, and Kyle Newacheck go behind the scenes for a sneak peek into next season, including a few special surprises that are guaranteed to be “Tight Butthole.” S’Go!
Sherlock – 2:15pm, Ballroom 20
Steven Moffat (co-creator, executive producer and writer), Mark Gatiss (co-creator, executive producer and writer), and Sue Vertue (producer) discuss the latest adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his long-suffering faithful friend, Dr. John Watson. Coming to PBS Masterpiece during the 2013-14 season.
View a preview the first episode of the highly anticipated new NBC drama series The Blacklist from Sony Pictures Television. It stars James Spader as the world’s most wanted criminal who mysteriously turns himself in and offers to give up the Blacklist, a global directory of all the criminals with whom he has worked. Join James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, and executive producers Jon Bokenkamp, Jon Eisendrath, John Davis, and John Fox for a Q&A session. Check out The Blacklist on Mondays at 10:00 this fall on NBC.
Murder Police – 3pm, Room 25ABC
From David Goodman (Family Guy) and Jason Ruiz, this new animated FOX series follows a dedicated but inept detective, Manuel Sanchez, and his colleagues-some perverted, some corrupt, some just plain lazy-in a twisted city precinct. Panelists David Goodman, Jason Ruiz, Will Sasso, Chi McBride, Peter Atencio, and Justina Machado will unveil a sneak peek at footage, followed by a fan Q&A session.
The Sidekick – 3pm, Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
From director Michael J. Weithorn (King of Queens, A Little Help) and writer/actor Rob Benedict comes The Sidekick, the offbeat story of career “sidekick” Max McCabe. When Max begins to lose his youthful zip and is unceremoniously fired by his superhero boss, he finds himself cast adrift in a world that seems to have no use for an aging professional buddy.
The panel will feature a 30-minute premiere screening and panel Q&A with Weithorn, Benedict, and cast members Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, Josh Meyers, Richard Speight Jr., Jordan Peele, cinematographer Steve Lubensky, and other special guests to be announced.
The X-Files 20th Anniversary – 3:30pm, Ballroom 20
It’s been two decades since FBI Special Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) first partnered to investigate unsolved paranormal cases. The X-Files made primetime safe for sci-fi, and spawned a generation of hugely successful writer/producers. Somewhere, the truth is still out there. TV Guide Magazine Los Angeles bureau chief Michael Schneider leads a panel scheduled to include series creator Chris Carter, plus writers/producers David Amann, Vince Gilligan, Howard Gordon, Darin Morgan, Glen Morgan, John Shiban, Jim Wong, and more guests to come.
Shailene Woodley in 'Divergent'
Ender’s Game and Divergent – 3:50pm, Hall H
Summit Entertainment presents a special sneak peek at the highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved, award-winning novel Enders Game. This is a must-see for fans, who will be shown all-new, exclusive footage and treated to a Q&A with stars Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, and Abigail Breslin, along with producer Roberto Orci (Star Trek Into Darkness) and director Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine).
The panel will also feature the first footage ever seen of the futuristic thriller based on the #1 New York Times best-selling novel, Divergent. Cast and filmmakers will complete a Q&A sharing details of the project’s transition from book to film. Panelists will include novelist Veronica Roth, director Neil Burger, and cast members Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Ansel Elgort, Mekhi Phifer, Ben Lamb, Ben Lloyd-Hughes and Christian Madsen.
Wilfred: Screening and Q&A – 4pm, Indigo Ballroom Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings) stars as Ryan, a young man struggling unsuccessfully to make his way in the world until he forms a unique friendship with Wilfred, his neighbor’s canine pet, played by Jason Gann, who co-created and starred in the Australian version of Wilfred in 2007. While everyone else sees Wilfred as just a dog, Ryan sees a crude and surly man in cheap dog suit. Join Elijah and Jason with Wilfred co-stars Fiona Gubelmann and Dorian Brown along with executive producers Reed Agnew and Eli Jorné and David Zuckerman, plus executive producer/director Randall Einhorn as they discuss bringing this unique live-action comedy to life.
Voltage Pictures: The Zero Theorum – 5:10pm, Hall H
An eccentric and reclusive computer genius plagued with existential angst works on a mysterious project aimed at discovering the purpose of existence or the lack thereof once and for all. However, it is only once he experiences the power of love and desire that he is able to understand his very reason for being. Appearing on stage to introduce the special early look at this new film and take your questions are producers Zev Foreman (Killer Joe) and Dean Zanuck (Get Low), and Terry’s daughter Amy Gilliam, who worked on the film.
Join cast members Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Dylan O’Brien, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden, Charlie Carver, and Max Carver plus executive producer Jeff Davis for a Q&A as they discuss season 3 and share a special video presentation exclusively for Comic-Con fans.
Adult Swim: The Heart, She Holler – 6pm, Room 25ABC
The creators and stars of Adult Swim’s epic TV event The Heart, She Holler explain it all at this panel. Executive producers John Lee and Alyson Levy will be joined by cast members Patton Oswalt, Amy Sedaris, and Heather Lawless.
You’ve been there for every edge-of-your-seat moment, every kill, inside Dexter’s most intimate thoughts, watching him transform before your eyes. Now, after eight amazing seasons, it’s time to say goodbye to America’s Favorite Serial Killer. Join the cast, writers/executive producers, and surprise guest stars who are too big to mention, for a final farewell panel that even Hall H can’t contain! The Q&A session with the stars and executive producers of Dexter features panelists include series star/executive producer Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jennifer Carpenter (Deb), David Zayas (Batista), and James Remar (Harry).
Also appearing are executive producers John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Scott Buck, and Manny Coto. Satisfy your Dexter obsession all weekend. The new season of Dexter airs Sundays at 9:00 ET/PT only on Showtime.
Hannibal – 6:45pm, Room 6A
Emmy Award-winning executive producer Bryan Fuller, director David Slade, Martha De Laurentiis, and star Hugh Dancy reveal juicy morsels from behind the scenes of the groundbreaking NBC drama Hannibal. This feast of many courses will serve key moments from the first season as an entree, followed by a digestif of sneak previews of the second season. Not to mention a few surprises along the way. Bon appetit, Fannibals!
Here it is…The Walking Dead season four banner that will be on display at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con. Now, what can we discern from the placement of each of the characters? Why is Tyreese (Chad L Coleman) so far from the group? Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus sporting longer bangs) are fighting side-by-side using their ‘signature weapons’ on a gaggle of walkers, but is Michonne (Danai Gurira) really with them or is she astride a horse in the distance?
Inquiring minds want to know, but unfortunately, we have to wait for the answers until The Walking Dead returns in October.
Taylor Schilling stars in 'Orange is the New Black' - Photo credit: Jill Greenberg for Netflix
Netflix is further feeding into the television audience’s desire to binge-watch with the debut of the new dramedy Orange is the New Black on July 11, 2013 at 12:01am PT. Instead of releasing one episode per week, Netflix’s system is to release all episodes of their original shows on the same day, allowing viewers to decide how many episodes to sit through at a time.
Orange is the New Black hasn’t even aired a single one of its 13 episodes yet, however, Netflix is so sold on the show they’ve already given the green light for a season two. The series, based on Piper Kerman’s popular memoir, stars Taylor Schilling as an engaged New Yorker who has to serve time in prison for a crime she committed a decade prior when she was involved in a different relationship.
Jenji Kohan (Weeds) adapted Kerman’s memoir and serves as executive producer along with Lisa Vinnecour, Michael Trim, and Sara Hess. And in support of the show’s debut on July 11th, Schilling and Kohan took part in a conference call to discuss Orange is the New Black, adapting the memoir for television, and the appeal of this Netflix project.
Taylor Schilling and Jenji Kohan Interview
What was the appeal of Orange is the New Black?
Taylor Schilling: “I was really excited that Jenji was attached to the project. I had a hard time on TV the last time on television, and so I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that again. But, I really am a big fan of Jenji and I know this is her next thing and so I read it. Once I read the script, I was really, really impressed that there was a woman who was sort of like the centerpiece of her own story and that it [wasn’t] a role that was in reaction to a man; she was driving her own [story], and she was sort of like in the center of her own narrative.
So I was just really excited, and I love the idea that it was based on a true story. I read it and really was ready to do anything to be a part of it.”
How do you think you would fare if you were in real life in Piper’s shoes?
Taylor Schilling: “I think I would probably be eaten alive.”
How long do you envision the show will continue with the predetermined timeframe that Piper’s character is in prison?
Jenji Kohan: “Four hundred years. It’s going on forever. As long as they’ll have us, I feel confident that we can stretch this s**t out forever. As long as we’re interested in these characters and the stories, it’s prison – we can make the rules.”
What kind of research did you do on prison life?
Jenji Kohan: “We did tons of research. We went to visit a prison. We had speakers. We have read tons of supplementary material, books, and articles. We are constantly e-mailing articles that…and when I say ‘we’ I mean the writers in the writers’ room. We have dipped ourselves in prison culture and lore and media, and the experience and people. We really want to be as informed as possible.”
Did you approach this show differently than Weeds knowing that it’d be a show that would be binge-watched possibly and not necessarily a thing delivered in a normal once-a-week format? Did that change the way you framed your narrative?
Jenji Kohan: “It didn’t for a season because we were just sort of trying to craft our episodes and get it done. I’d like to think about it a little more in season two, but not too much because it seemed to work the first time around. I think a good story well told is a good story well told whether you’re watching them all in a row or not. However, it might be fun to take a closer look at how the previous episode ends and how that end relates to the beginning of the next episode.
We’re also talking a lot in the room about planting seeds that can grow over the course of the season knowing that people might be watching them in bulk. Sort of bury some Easter eggs and let people find them later on.”
How actively involved was the real Piper in transitioning her story to the small screen?
Jenji Kohan: “You know, Piper reads the scripts and we e-mail a lot. Most of her comments on [it were] more technical: ‘This wouldn’t happen. This is against the rules.’ This and that. She’s been extremely respectful of our taking her story and then veering left with it and taking it in its own direction. But, you know, I always want her involved because she’s the mother of all this.”
Taylor, did you talk to her before you started playing the role?
Taylor Schilling: “No. I met her when we were shooting the first episode. And as this show progressed, she became more and more of a resource for me and it was easier to kind of like incorporate some of her. What really helped me is listening to the minutia of experience, like a lot of the sensory details and things like that were pretty cool.”
Laverne Cox and Taylor Schilling in 'Orange is the New Black' - Photo Credit: Ursula Coyote for Netflix
Was it your decision initially not to talk to her before you tackled the project?
Taylor Schilling: “I think so, yes. I mean I know she was available if I wanted it. You know, one of the coolest, most strange things about this project is that Jenji and I spoke before we started shooting about how our Richfield Prison is a fictional place and Piper Chapman is a fictional character. So that really freed me to just sort of create from the scripts that I was given, and that felt sort of like the most fertile place to begin for me.”
The guards in the series are a lot nicer than the guards in Piper’s memoir…
Jenji Kohan: “That’s one of [Piper’s] biggest complaints that they’re not big enough a**holes.”
What went into making that decision?
Jenji Kohan: “[…]You want everyone to be a full character and no one’s just evil, or very few people, hopefully. They’re characters, so you want to flush them out. You’ve got to show all sides of them. There is definitely an antagonistic relationship between guards and prisoners. I do think it flares up. It’s something we may address more in season two. But in season one I was really more concerned about having full characters as opposed to just villains.”
How do you protect yourself legally when you change characters based on real people?
Jenji Kohan: “We created the characters separate from the book. Early on, we were told don’t base these people on the people she wrote about. And (Tessa Tuckey) was a name she made up; it wasn’t the name of the actual person, and then we created a different character just using that name. Aside from Piper and her immediate family, most of the characters are creations and not from the book – and that’s how we protected ourselves.”
You’re fleshing out a lot of the prisoner characters by explaining exactly how it is they got in prison in the first place. How many characters are going to get that treatment?
Jenji Kohan: “I wouldn’t set a number on it. You know, as long as we’re interested and curious about someone, we’ll tell their story.”
Jenji, what motivated you to adapt Piper’s memoir?
Jenji Kohan: “The book works for me as another page on so many levels. It’s one of those places where you can juxtapose all sorts of groups and experiences and force them to deal with one another. I’m always looking for crosswords like that. I love that our way in was this kind of yuppie white girl story, because if you go to a network and you say, ‘I want to talk about Latinos and blacks and their prison experience and the cycle of poverty,’ it’s not going to be a big sale. You can kind of write in on Piper and then expand the world and tell everyone’s story.
It’s a great Trojan horse to a certain extent. And, I just fell in love with the characters in the book. I felt this is such a rich world inhabited by real people with great stories.”
What surprised you about the prison experience that you didn’t know before you started this project?
Taylor Schilling: “Well, a lot of things surprised me. What I did find, what could be really interesting was there are things that I had never thought about in my life. I never thought about how loud prison was. I’ve never thought about how your ears never really get a break from all this noise, and that actually was replicated on our set pretty well.
I never thought about how the lights don’t go out so you never really rest in that way. I never really thought about the intensity of being watched all the time. Those are some things that I didn’t know about prison.”
Jenji Kohan: “You know, the oppression of it, just the sense of helplessness and really being part of a system and a bureaucracy that is arbitrary. I never thought of the depth of losing your freedom and what that meant. I was surprised and delighted by the ways people maintain their humanity and try to survive.”
Jenji, do you see a connection between Nancy on Weeds and Piper on Orange is the New Black?
Jenji Kohan: “I think that’s certainly from a similar socioeconomic background. They’re both hot. They both have that sort of adventure junkie dream in them where they pursue danger. What attracts me is how they walked that line and the push-pull between those sides of them – the side to be the good girl and the part of them that wants to be the rebel and feel that excitement and escape their stereotype.”
Taylor, what’s been different about this experience as opposed to your previous show and do you think part of the difference is being on Netflix versus being on traditional TV?
Taylor Schilling: “For sure. It feels really nice to know that there’s going to be 13 [episodes]. It feels very settling and it feels like you can really spread out and sort of juice around in the process. It felt really nice to not have anybody talking about numbers and no one’s talking about ratings. And also, from my experience, from my point of view, it felt like there was one person running the ship and it felt like there was space for Jenji to be sort of at the helm. And that’s not what I’ve experienced in television before.
So, it felt more akin to like an interesting movie where there were producers who were really excited by the work and wanted to make space for the director’s vision to be shared with an audience. It felt more cohesive.”
There are some tough emotional scenes throughout the series. Which one was the hardest one for you to do?
Taylor Schilling: “I think that what was so cool about this job, about this character, is that the writing sort of was like a really great dance partner and just kind of like led me through like a variety of different stuff. And what I do like a lot is that Piper’s constantly getting hit with something different and evolving as the season goes on. She’s kind of circling deeper and deeper and deeper into herself and needing to draw from places that she previously had shut off, more and more and more. It was just exciting all the way through.”
How did you get Jodie Foster to direct an episode?
Jenji Kohan: “You know, it happened because she had a deal at Showtime to do a show, and very wisely she realized, ‘I haven’t done television and I want to check this out.’ And when Jodie Foster says she wants to come direct your show, you say, ‘Yes.'”
Jenji, can you tell us what you saw in Taylor’s audition that made her right for the role?
Jenji Kohan: “First of all, she came in the room and she looked the part. It was just what we’d all had in mind as a kind of cool, blonde, girl next door, American goddess. And so, there was that she looked the part. And then when she gave a stellar performance and also proved to be funny, it was that realization that there was actually a unicorn in our room. Taylor is such an incredible find because she’s the whole package and you so rarely get that. She just took it.”
Jenji, have you always been fascinated with women who break the law?
Jenji Kohan: “It’s not necessarily women who break the law. I’m deeply fascinated by flawed characters and the more deeply flawed, the better. I think underground economies are a great place to find them. And I think we all have the bad girl or bad boy in us and it’s fascinating to me how it’s handled.”
Armie Hammer, best known for starring as the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network, tackles one of the two lead roles in Walt Disney Pictures’ The Lone Ranger. Hammer plays John Reid/The Lone Ranger in the Western directed by Gore Verbinski and co-starring Johnny Depp as Tonto, and in this video courtesy of Disney he talks about his reaction to being offered the role and the challenges of taking on the iconic character. He also discusses shooting on location, working with Johnny Depp, and being directed by Gore Verbinski.
The Lone Ranger opened in theaters on July 3, 2013.
The Plot:
From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ The Lone Ranger, an adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American warrior Tonto (Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.
Here it is…the teaser poster for Lovelace which is due to arrive in theaters on August 9, 2013. Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Lovelace stars Amanda Seyfried (as porn star Linda Lovelace), Peter Sarsgaard, Hank Azaria, Wes Bentley, Adam Brody, Bobby Cannavale, and James Franco.
Debi Mazar, Chris Noth, Robert Patrick, Eric Roberts, Chloe Sevigny, Sharon Stone, and Juno Temple also star.
The Plot: In 1972 — before the internet, before the porn explosion — Deep Throat was a phenomenon: the first scripted pornographic theatrical feature film, featuring a story, some jokes, and an unknown and unlikely star, Linda Lovelace. Escaping a strict religious family, Linda discovered freedom and the high life when she fell for and married charismatic hustler Chuck Traynor.
As Linda Lovelace she became an international sensation—less centerfold fantasy than a charming girl-next-door with an impressive capacity for fellatio. Fully inhabiting her new identity, Linda became an enthusiastic spokesperson for sexual freedom and uninhibited hedonism. Six years later she presented another, utterly contradictory, narrative to the world—and herself as the survivor of a far darker story.
In this interview video courtesy of Disney, Johnny Depp talks about his starring role in The Lone Ranger and reuniting with his Pirates of the Caribbean and Rango director Gore Verbinski. Depp also discusses how he came up with the look for Tonto, the chemistry on the set with Armie Hammer who plays The Lone Ranger, shooting on location, and his favorite scene from the Western.
The Lone Ranger opened in theaters on July 3, 2013.
The Plot: From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ The Lone Ranger, an adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.
We’ll always know him best as Charlie Sheen, but in Machete Kills he’s going by his birth name: Carlos Estevez. Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez tweeted out this special poster featuring Sheen/Estevez as President Rathcock in the Machete sequel which finds Danny Trejo back kicking butt in the lead role.
Joining Trejo and Sheen in the sequel are Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Vanessa Hudgens, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Mel Gibson.
The original Machete had a budget of $10 million and made over $14 million during its September 3-5th 2010 opening weekend. This sequel will arrive just a little over three years later on October 4, 2013.
The Plot: In Machete Kills, Danny Trejo returns as ex-Federale agent Machete, who is recruited by the President of the United States for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man – he must take down a madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war and anarchy across the planet.
Humans are taking the fight to the monsters in this new trailer for Warner Bros Pictures’ sci-fi action movie Pacific Rim. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pacific Rim will be released in theaters on July 12, 2013. The cast is led by Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba and includes Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, and Ron Perlman.
The Plot:
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)—who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
Watch the trailer:
And WB has also released this “It’s About Compatibility” clip featuring Rinko Kikuchi and Charlie Hunnam:
