Jennifer Hudson and Jacob Latimore in 'Black Nativity' - Photo Courtesy of Fox SearchlightFox Searchlight has unspooled the first teaser trailer for the holiday musical Black Nativity. The teaser finds Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) singing “Silent Night,” and also shows off some of the other characters featured in the music-driven film.
The Plot:
Black Nativity follows Langston (Jacob Latimore), a street-wise teen from Baltimore raised by a single mother, as he journeys to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett). Unwilling to live by the imposing Reverend Cobbs’ rules, a frustrated Langston is determined to return home to his mother, Naima (Jennifer Hudson). Langston embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey and along with his new friends, and a little divine intervention, he discovers the true meaning of faith, healing, and family.
The cast of Vikings will be on hand at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con taking place in downtown San Diego Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21st. Among the stars of History Channel’s Vikings who’ll be at the event are Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Gustaf Skarsgard, George Blagden, and Jessalyn Gilsig. They’ll be joined by Vikings writer and creator Michael Hirst as well as History’s EVP/General Manager Dirk Hoogstra to talk about all things Vikings.
According to History Channel, the following Vikings Comic-Con events are planned:
· VIKINGS COMIC BOOK – The comic book [pictured] will be given to select fans attending the Vikings events at Comic-Con.
· 7/19, 6-7 p.m., Top Level, Room 6A – VIKINGS PANEL – Stars Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Gustaf Skarsgard, George Blagden, Jessalyn Gilsig join Vikings Writer & Creator Michael Hirst and Dirk Hoogstra, EVP and General Manager, HISTORY for a discussion about the series and life during production.
· 7/18-7/20, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. – VIKINGS INTERACTIVE WATERWAY – The experience includes miniature Vikings “ships” that fans can race on actual water, a Photo-Op area for keepsakes, and Lagertha-inspired shield maidens who will greet visitors. The waterway is located across the street from the Convention Center at 450 Second Ave., between 1st & 2nd Avenue.
The cast will also participate in an autograph signing on 7/19.
Clara, Brian and Aaron Henningsen. Photo credit: LeAnn Mueller
These are halcyon times for Country vocal groups. So how does a new group stand out? The Henningsens have at least two ways of making an impression in this crowded field.
One involves songwriting: On American Beautiful, their Arista Nashville debut, Brian Henningsen, son Aaron and daughter Clara, as a trio or in various combinations, join with various co-writers on all 10 tracks, with consistently pleasing results.
Match that with singing that exceeds today’s standards for technique, expression, and emotion, and you’ve got a winner on your hands. Producer Paul Worley captures every nuance of Clara’s phrasing and then pulls back to reveal their three-part power in all its glory. The title cut (written by all three with Brett Beavers) anchors on a punchy power-guitar riff and soars on a catchy, sing-along chorus. It’s no surprise that this single totaled 77 Country Aircheck and Billboard radio adds in its first week.
But dig into the album and you’ll discover other levels of artistry. A nostalgic fiddle and dreamy waltz setting take us deep into “Arkansas” (Brian and Clara with Cactus Moser), whose story of aged siblings gathered for a brother’s funeral casts a spell that lingers after the last chord dies. (Recollections of “kerosene nights and innocent days” draw us back into a nearly forgotten past.) And when they join voices to celebrate the light that guides them through stormy times on “To Believe” (all three with Jimmy Yeary), even doubters have to be left feeling a little less alone.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
BOOK ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND
BRIAN: “Jayber Crow, by Wendell Barry.”
CLARA: “The Bible, Sense and Sensibility.”
AARON: “The Bible.”
WHAT YOU WOULD BE IF NOT A MUSICAL ARTIST
BRIAN: “A farmer.”
CLARA: “A marine biologist.”
AARON: “A senator.”
MUSICAL HERO
ALL: “Our producer, Paul Worley.”
SONG YOU’D WISH YOU’D WRITTEN
ALL: “‘The House That Built Me’ or ‘Wichita Lineman.’”
SOMETHING WE’D NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU
ALL: “We get along really well but we love to argue. We call it debating.”
Yes, I realize it’s barely summer however it’s not too early to start thinking about Halloween, is it? Okay, so maybe it’s a tad too soon to plan out your Halloween costume, but Universal Orlando’s definitely getting busy planning their Halloween Horror Nights event. The 23rd annual scarefest is gearing up to spook park visitors, and one of the first announced films to be included in this year’s event is Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods. The Lionsgate horror film’s co-writer and director Drew Goddard is working with Universal Orlando Resort to bring the film alive during Halloween Horror Nights. Universal and Goddard are promising to deliver a “movie-quality haunted house experience that’s authentic to the film and places guests in the middle of an ancient fight for survival.”
Halloween Horror Nights will take place September 20th through November 2nd and will once again feature “disturbingly-real haunted houses.” The event has been ranked one of the best Halloween experiences, and tickets are now on sale at Halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando.
“This is a twisted dream come true for me,” stated Goddard about his involvement in the project. “The Universal team has done an amazing job making all the terrifying aspects of Cabin come to life, and horror fans will not be disappointed. Also, they said they’d let me dress up like a merman and scare people, so I’ll see you guys there.”
“The Cabin in the Woods took the horror film genre and turned it on its head, and it’s a perfect fit for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights,” added Michael Aiello of Universal Orlando’s Entertainment Team. “We’re collaborating with LIONSGATE and Drew Goddard to bring the iconic monsters from the film to our event. Guests will be assaulted by terrifying beasts taken right from the big screen — including the Hell Lord, the Dollfaces, the vicious Sugarplum Fairy, the Doctors and more.”
The Details: “At Halloween Horror Nights 23, guests will step inside the menacing cabin from the movie and fend off a malicious family of zombies. Just like in the film, guests will flee from the cabin and enter a hidden facility where a secret operative is plotting their sacrificial demise. Suddenly, a menagerie of bloodthirsty monsters is released — and they’re in the middle of all-out chaos.”
FX also announced Wilfred will show off a new episode and Archer is prepared to show off an exclusive clip. For SoA fans, expect some footage from season six.
FX 2013 Comic Con Schedule:
Thursday, July 18
WILFRED
FOX Booth Signing – 1:00-2:00pm
Panel – 4:00-5:00pm:
Screening and Q&A: Elijah Wood 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 theAustralian 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 Jason Gann with Wilfred co-stars Fiona Gubelmann and Dorian Brown as well as showrunners Eli Jorné and Reed Agnew and executive producer David Zuckerman as they discuss bringing this unique, live-action comedy to life. Room: Indigo (Hilton Bayfront).
ARCHER
FOX Booth Signing – 3:15-4:00pm
Join the voice cast of Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash and Lucky Yates, plus series creator Adam Reed and executive producer Matt Thompson.
Friday, July 19
ARCHER
Panel – 5:00-6:00pm:
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. Join the voice cast of H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash and Lucky Yates, plus series creator Adam Reed and executive producerMatt Thompson as they discuss bringing this animated series to life. Room: Indigo (Hilton Bayfront).
Sunday, July 21
IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA
FOX Booth Signing – 1:30-2:30pm
Panel – 3:00-3:50pm:
Screening and Q&A. The Gang returns to Comic-Con with “Mac” (Rob McElhenney), “Dennis” (Glenn Howerton), “Charlie” (Charlie Day), “Dee” (Kaitlin Olson), and “Frank” (Danny DeVito). Room: Hall H.
SONS OF ANARCHY
FOX Booth Signing – 12:00pm-1:00pm
Panel – 3:50-4:30pm:
Get an inside look into the world of FX’s highest-rated series ever, with creator Kurt Sutter, executive producer Paris Barclay and the entire cast: CharlieHunnam, Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, Maggie Siff, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior,Tommy Flanagan, Theo Rossi, Dayton Callie, and Jimmy Smits. Room: Hall H.
Two families – one living, one dead – share the same house in Nickelodeon’s new live-action series The Haunted Hathaways. If this was on any other channel The Haunted Hathaways might have gone for the scares, but Nickelodeon’s keeping it family-friendly and funny instead.
The new series created by Robert Peacock (The Jeff Foxworthy Show) will premiere on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 8:30pm.
“The Haunted Hathaways is a high-concept show that combines the ultimate blended family with a new dimension of fun to bring fresh and relatable storytelling for our audience,” stated Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon’s President of Content Development and Production. “Fans will be excited to see the silly hijinks and supernatural comedy that ensue as our talented creative team and ensemble cast bring these two families, literally from different worlds, to life.”
The Plot:The Haunted Hathaways follows the adventures of a not-so-typical blended family. When Michelle Hathaway (Ginifer King) relocates to New Orleans, LA., to open a bakery with her daughters Taylor (Amber Montana) and Frankie (Breanna Yde), they quickly learn that life in the “Big Easy” is very different. Unbeknownst to them, their new home is already occupied by a ghost family comprised of jazz musician father Ray Preston (Chico Benymon), and his sons Miles (Curtis Harris) and Louie (Benjamin “Lil P-Nut” Flores Jr.).
After agreeing to live under one roof, they come to care about and rely on one another while driving each other crazy– just like any normal family would. Though leery at first, the Hathaways soon discover how much fun life can be when living with ghosts.
Sorry, Hobbit fans…Peter Jackson says this year The Hobbit will not be represented at the San Diego Comic-Con. In his new production video, Jackson explains that while he realizes it will disappoint fans, he just doesn’t have the time to put together a sizzle reel, and neither himself nor any cast are available to make the trek to San Diego.
But in happier news, the first production blog of 2013 shows off some brand new behind-the-scenes footage from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Oscar Isaac and Justin Timberlake star in 'Inside Llewyn Davis' - Photo Courtesy of CBS FilmsCBS Films is sharing this new official trailer for what’s likely to be their entry in the Oscar race: Inside Llewyn Davis. Written and directed by the Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men), Inside LLewyn Davis snagged the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival and will arrive in theaters on December 6, 2013.
The cast is led by Oscar Isaac and includes Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Garrett Hedlund and Justin Timberlake.
The Plot:
Inside Llewyn Davis follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles—some of them of his own making.
Watch the trailer:
And if you’re wondering, the song in the trailer is “Dink’s Song” performed by Marcus Mumford.
Oscar Isaac stars in 'Inside Llewyn Davis' - Photo Courtesy of CBS Films
Shooting The Lone Ranger on location had its perks, but it also had its downside. In this new video from the Disney action film director Gore Verbinski and the crew are featured behind the scenes as Mother Nature wreaks havoc on the film shoot.
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, a thrilling 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.
“In the Elements” Video:
And Disney’s showing off this new “End of the Line” clip featuring Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as John Reid on top of a train:
Agnes Bruckner stars as “Anna Nicole Smith” in the Lifetime Original Movie, 'Anna Nicole' - Photo by Patrick Eccelsine / Copyright 2013
Lifetime premiered Anna Nicole, the story of Anna Nicole Smith, on Saturday, June 29, 2013 to viewership numbers that proved the model can still draw an audience even five years after her death at the age of 39. The biopic starring Agnes Bruckner as Anna Nicole, Martin Landau as J. Howard Marshall, and Adam Goldberg as Howard K. Stern drew in 3.3 million viewers over its premiere airing and will repeat tonight at 8pm.
The Anna Nicole Smith story, which followed the supermodel from childhood up through her death, was Lifetime’s most-watched original movie of the year. The made-for-TV movie was directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho, The Notorious Bettie Page).
The Plot: Anna Nicole follows the swift rise and fall of Vickie Lynn Hogan (Bruckner), a Texas high school dropout and single mother with dreams of a better life. Realizing the power of her beauty, Vickie accepts a job as a dancer at topless bar, where she changes her name to Anna Nicole Smith and first makes her mark.
With a new persona and a shocking marriage to octogenarian millionaire J. Howard Marshall (Landau), Anna’s career blasts off when Playboy features her in a pictorial spread that evokes comparisons to Marilyn Monroe. But after her husband’s death, Anna’s financial support ends, and her hard-partying ways, excessive drinking, drastic weight fluctuation, and endless pill-popping take their toll, inevitably setting the stage for the fading starlet’s tragic descent.
Hungry for celebrity, Anna launches her own hit reality show and soon gives birth to her daughter. But her newfound happiness and positive outlook on life is shattered when her son dies of an overdose while visiting his mother and newborn sister in the hospital. Unable to overcome the devastation over his death, in a tragic twist less than one year later, Anna herself dies of a fatal combination of pills, adding her name to a long list of icons who have succumbed to the temptations of fame.
Yes, I realize it’s barely summer however it’s not too early to start thinking about Halloween, is it? Okay, so maybe it’s a tad too soon to plan out your Halloween costume, but Universal Orlando’s definitely getting busy planning their Halloween Horror Nights event. The 23rd annual scarefest is gearing up to spook park visitors, and one of the first announced films to be included in this year’s event is Joss Whedon’s 
