The Weinstein Company is taking a chance on Madonna, picking up her feature film directorial debut, W.E., for distribution in the U.S. A romantic drama, W.E. was not only directed by Madonna but also co-written by the pop diva (along with Alek Keshishian).
The film stars Abbie Cornish (Limitless), Oscar Isaac (Drive), James D’Arcy (Master and Commander), Andrea Riseborough (Never Let Me Go), Natalie Dormer (The Tudors), Richard Coyle (Prince of Persia), James Fox (Sherlock Holmes) and Laurence Fox (Inspector Lewis). The announcement was made by TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein and President of Production Donna Gigliotti.
Spanning six decades, W.E. juxtaposes a contemporary love story with that of King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson.
“W.E. is about the nature of true love, and the sacrifices and compromises that are often made. I’ve wanted to tell this story for a very long time, and bringing it to life has been a great adventure for me. I’m looking forward to working with Harvey and The Weinstein Company on this film,” commented Madonna.
“Madonna has really come into her own as a filmmaker with W.E.,” said Weinstein. “She’s taken one of the most famous romances of the 20th Century and brought it to life in a smart, sexy and thoroughly modern way. It’s a terrific addition to our US release slate.”
Commented Gigliotti, “The advance footage for W.E. was some of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait for American audiences to have the opportunity to see this film.”
The Plot:W.E. tells the story of two fragile but determined women – Wally Winthrop and Wallis Simpson – separated by more than six decades. In 1998, lonely New Yorker Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) is obsessed with what she perceives as the ultimate love story: King Edward’s VIII’s abdication of the British throne for the woman he loved, American divorcée Wallis Simpson.
But Wally’s research, including several visits to the Sotheby’s auction of the Windsor Estate, reveals that the couple’s life together was not as perfect as she thought. Weaving back and forth in time, W.E. intertwines Wally’s journey of discovery in New York with the story of Wallis (Andrea Riseborough) and Edward (James D’Arcy), from the glamorous early days of their romance to the slow unraveling of their lives in the decades that followed.
On June 13, 2011, Relativity Media announced they’d picked up the worldwide distribution rights to Bandito Brothers’ Act of Valor. Roselyn Sanchez and Emilio Rivera co-star in the intense action thriller, which features a group of active duty Navy SEALs.
Ex-stuntmen and documentary filmmakers/commercial directors Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh (Step Into Liquid) directed the film from a screenplay by Kurt Johnstad (300).
“Act of Valor follows a Navy SEAL squad on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent, and in the process, takes down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all costs. The filmmakers had unprecedented Naval access resulting in high-octane combat sequences and never-before-seen military operation scenes which are composited from actual events in the lives of the men appearing in the film and their comrades.”
Poster for ‘Act of Valor’
Tucker Tooley, Relativity’s President of Worldwide Production, stated, “Act of Valor is truly one-of-a-kind—ripped from today’s headline-making heroic missions, an incredibly crafted film featuring active duty Navy SEALs, in a remarkable and fast-paced story that will give audiences an authentic inside glimpse and make them proud of America’s finest. We’re honored to add this unbelievably entertaining and gripping film to Relativity’s 2012 slate.”
“The world has always had deep admiration for these men who continually risk their lives to protect our freedom,” says Waugh.
“To witness their incredible brotherhood and to tell their actual stories was inspirational and such a privilege,” adds McCoy.
You can’t help but smile when you’re in the presence of penguins, CG or real. In the family comedy Mr. Popper’s Penguins, six penguins are delivered to an unsuspecting, work-obsessed Mr. Popper (played by Jim Carrey). This new clip shows what happens when they follow him to a very important black-tie event. Mr. Popper’s Penguins opens in theaters on June 17, 2011.
The Plot: n this family comedy, Jim Carrey is Mr. Popper, a driven businessman who is clueless when it comes to the important things in life – until he inherits six penguins. Popper’s penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland – and the rest of his life upside-down. Filmed on a refrigerated soundstage with real Gentoo Penguins, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a contemporary adaptation of the classic book.
IFC Films’ The Myth of the American Sleepover is inspired by first time writer/director David Robert Mitchell’s experiences growing up in Michigan. Mitchell’s comedy/drama is set to hit theaters on July 22, 2011.
The cast includes Marlon Morton as Rob, Amanda Bauer as Claudia, Claire Sloma as Maggie, Brett Jacobsen as Scott, Annette DeNoyer as Beth, and Madi Ortiz as Avalina. Nikita and Jade Ramsey star as Ady and Anna.
Official Synopsis: This story follows four young people on the last night of summer – their final night of freedom before the new school year starts. The teenagers cross paths as they explore the suburban wonderland they inhabit in search of love and adventure – chasing first kisses, elusive crushes, popularity and parties. While looking for the iconic teenage experience, they discover the quiet moments that will later become a part of their youth they look back on with nostalgia.
Ray Romano, Scott Bakula, and Andre Braugher lead the cast of TNT’s Men of a Certain Age. The one-hour comedy debuted on December 7, 2009 with season two following on December 6, 2010.
The cast also includes Matt Price, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Richard Gant, Braeden Lemasters, Brian J. White, Brittany Curran, and Kwesi Boakye. Little JJ, Shelly Desai, Skoti Collins, Isaiah Montgomery, Jon Manfrellotti, and Penelope Ann Miller also star.
The Synopsis: Joe (Ray Romano) is a divorced, slightly neurotic father of two who runs a party store and recently overcame a gambling problem. After some early missteps, he is getting more into the swing of the dating scene and has now decided to rekindle his dream of becoming a professional golfer, training for a spot on the senior tour.
Andre Braugher, Ray Romano and Scott Bakula in 'Men of a Certain Age' - Photo Credit: Art Streiber/TNT
The only married man in the group is Owen (Andre Braugher), who is devoted to his wife and family. Having spent much of his adult life working under the thumb of his domineering father, Owen is finally starting to assert himself more. He has even convinced his father he’s ready to be groomed to take over the family car dealership, but is struggling with being the boss.
Terry (Scott Bakula) is a laid-back, handsome actor who seems to breeze through life (and women). But following disastrous attempts at managing an apartment complex and trying to resuscitate his acting career, Terry is searching for stability and now sells cars at Owen’s family dealership.
Spike TV’s popular show Deadliest Warrior will return for season 3 on July 20, 2011 (10-11pm ET/PT), with 10 all new episodes. This year’s highlights include the first female matchup and the first fantasy matchup.
Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, Jared Harris, Vincent Kartheiser, Jon Hamm, Robert Morse and Elisabeth Moss in ‘Mad Men’ (Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/AMC)
Season five of the critically acclaimed, incredibly popular drama Mad Men premieres on AMC on March 25, 2012. The new season promises lots more backstabbing, maneuvering, and power-grabbing, just like we’ve become accustomed to with the award-winning show.
Mad Men stars Jon Hamm as Don Draper, Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell, January Jones as Betty Draper, and Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris. Aaron Staton is Ken Cosgrove, Rich Sommer is Harry Crane, John Slattery is Roger Sterling, Kiernan Shipka is Sally Draper, and Robert Morse is Bertram Cooper.
Bryan Batt plays Salvatore Romano, Michael Gladis is Paul Kinsey, and Alison Brie stars as Trudy Campbell.
The Synopsis: The series revolves around the conflicted world of Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the biggest ad man (and ladies man) in the business and his colleagues at the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Advertising Agency. As Don makes the plays in the boardroom and the bedroom, he struggles to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing times and the young executives nipping at his heels. The series also authentically depicts the roles of men and women in this era while exploring the true human nature beneath the guise of 1960s traditional family values.
In the two-hour season five opener, we’re welcomed back with a surprise for Don as Pete and Roger butt heads, and Joan clashes with a houseguest.
Bryan Cranston stars as a science teacher who breaks bad in order to earn extra money after he’s diagnosed with cancer in AMC’s Breaking Bad. Season five of the one-hour drama will premiere on July 15, 2012 and AMC’s released new details on the plot along with a short promo video.
In addition to Bryan Cranston as Walter White, the season five cast includes Anna Gunn as Skylar, Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, Dean Norris as Hank Schrader, RJ Mitte as Walter Jr, Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman, Jonathan Banks as Mike, and Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring.
The Synopsis:Breaking Bad follows protagonist Walter White, a chemistry teacher who lives in New Mexico with his wife and teenage son who has cerebral palsy. White is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of two years to live. With a new sense of fearlessness, and a desire to secure his family’s financial security, White chooses to enter a dangerous world of drugs and crime, where he ascends to power. The series explores how a fatal diagnosis, such as White’s, releases a typical man from the daily concerns and constraints of normal society and follows his transformation from mild family man to kingpin of the drug trade.
Season 5: At the end of season four, in one of the most talked about finales of the year, Walt White’s war with Gus Fring ended in triumphant victory. Now, his transformation from a well-meaning family man into Heisenberg, a ruthless drug kingpin, is almost complete. No longer under the thumb of a mastermind criminal, Walt now assumes the role of one himself, as he and Jesse look to build their own empire. Meanwhile, Skyler struggles with the reality of her husband’s new role and Hank works to wrap up his investigation of Gus’ business.
The post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller Falling Skies returns for season three on June 9, 2013. Noah Wyle leads the cast of the popular drama.
The series also stars Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Connor Jessup, Maxim Knight, Seychelle Gabriel, Mpho Koaho, Peter Shinkoda, Colin Cunningham, and Sarah Carter.
Season 1 Synopsis:Falling Skies opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force.
At the center of the series is Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), a Boston history professor whose family has been torn apart. His wife was killed in the initial attack, and one of his three sons has been captured. Determined to get his son back and to ensure the safety of his other two sons, Tom must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as one of the leaders of the resistance movement known as the 2nd Mass, because of their location in Boston, Mass. They are constantly trying to gain intelligence about the aliens in order to one day outsmart and overtake them and hopefully rebuild their lives.
Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) co-stars as Anne Glass, a pediatrician who works with the surviving children to help them cope with the traumatic upheaval in their lives. Will Patton (Armageddon) plays a fierce leader of the resistance, Weaver. The series also stars Drew Roy (Secretariat) as Hal, Tom’s oldest son and a growing fighter in the resistance movement; Maxim Knight (Brothers & Sisters) as Matt, Tom’s youngest son; Connor Jessup as Ben, Tom’s son who was captured by aliens; and Seychelle Gabriel (Weeds) as Lourdes, an orphaned teenager who helps Anne in the group’s makeshift medical clinic. Colin Cunningham is John Pope, the leader of an outlaw motorcycle gang and Sarah Carter is Margaret, a wary survivor of Pope’s gang.
Falling Skies focuses on the resilience of the survivors and their determination to maintain their humanity when all else has been destroyed. It is a tale of endurance, commitment and courage in which everyday people are called upon to become heroes. They may be outmatched, outnumbered and outgunned, but nothing can beat the human spirit. Most of all, the series is about the ties that bind people together in the most difficult of circumstances.
The aliens in the series are mighty, mysterious and merciless. They are highly intelligent and use military-like tactics, which makes them an overwhelming force against the 2nd Mass. There are two types of aliens that the human survivors have named Skitters and Mechs. Combining live action and special visual effects, the Skitters have spider-like bodies and incredible strength and agility. The deadly, robotic Mechs stand upright and can shoot bullets from their arms. The aliens control captured children, like Tom’s son Ben, through bio-mechanical harnesses but have yet to reveal their ultimate plan for them.
Season 2 Plot: As the second season opens, three months have passed since Tom went willingly with the aliens in one of their ships. Nobody has seen or heard from him during this time, and his absence has taken its toll on his sons. Tom hoped that by agreeing to a dialogue with the invaders, he would not only free his son Ben from the invaders’ influence but also get a better picture of the aliens’ overall plan.
Many lives have been lost since Tom left, but the survivors of the 2nd Mass still struggle on with courage and resilience. Ben and his older brother, Hal, have stepped up as fighters but quickly butt heads as they both seek to secure their roles as leaders in their father’s absence. Hal has developed a strong, if not flirtatious, friendship with former renegade Maggie. Ben, meanwhile, has become a particularly strong soldier. But even though his prowess is a huge asset to the 2nd Mass, he has an independent streak that could place others in harm’s way.
Amidst the turmoil, Tom’s youngest son, Matt, struggles to find his place in a world torn apart by war and destruction. Also in Tom’s absence, Anne has become more of a maternal figure for the Mason boys. And Weaver, the commander of the 2nd Mass, continues to lead his fighters into battle against the aliens. The unknown effect of the harness continues to be an unfolding mystery and the 2nd Mass will discover the transformative powers the harness has on humans.
Throughout the season we will also be introduced to more mysterious alien creatures. One of these creatures has a connection to Tom and Ben that will be surprising. The survivors will have a nomadic existence as they march toward Charleston, S.C., where they hope to meet up with other remaining existence groups and begin to rebuild society.
Season 3 Plot: As the new season of Falling Skies opens, seven months have passed since the survivors of the 2nd Mass reached Charleston, which has been named the capital of the New United States. Now elected to public office, Tom (Wyle) has taken a more aggressive approach to the alien occupation than former leader Dr. Manchester.
The government has formed a tenuous alliance with a band of rebel skitters who now paint their faces with a red and yellow stripe before battle in honor of Red Eye, their fallen leader. Tom’s son Ben (Jessup) serves as the mediator between Mason and the rebel skitters. But the alliance may not be enough to overpower the enemy Espheni, whose forces are now being led by an even more sinister overlord. To complicate matters further, another race of aliens has just entered the battlefield.
Charleston also faces dangers from within its own walls. Recent battle losses have convinced Tom and the military that there may be a mole feeding strategic plans to the Espheni. Despite the threats they face, the survivors living in Charleston are doing their best to rebuild their lives. Dr. Glass (Bloodgood) and Tom are focusing on their growing family. Newly promoted to Colonel of the 2nd Mass, Weaver (Patton) is enjoying a renewed relationship with his daughter. Hal (Roy) is recovering from mysterious injuries he suffered while trying to destroy an alien superweapon.
Meanwhile, his romantic pursuit of Maggie (Carter) is finally starting to see positive results, though she has a growing concern that something is wrong with him beyond mere battle injuries. And Pope (Cunningham), the non-conformist leader of the Berserkers, has set up his own little Popetown on the outskirts of Charleston.
Guest Stars: Doug Jones portrays Cochise; leader of the rebel alien troops, Gloria Reuben will play Marina Perlata, one of Tom’s key aides. Robert Sean Leonard is slated to guest-star as Roger Kadar, an obsessive but gifted scientist who runs the local power grid and lives underground, earning him the nickname “The Rat King.” Stephen Collins will also appear in the third season as Benjamin Hathaway, the President of the United States prior to the alien invasion. And Terry O’Quinn returns to guest star as Dr. Manchester, Tom’s former mentor and his predecessor as Charleston’s leader.
Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman lead the cast of the dramatic thriller The Killing, debuting on AMC on April 3, 2011. The one-hour drama focuses on different investigations surrounding one murder.
Mireille Enos plays Sarah Linden, Joel Kinnaman stars as Stephen Holder, Billy Campbell is Darren Richmond, Michelle Forbes plays Mitch Larsen, and Brendan Sexton III plays Stan Larsen. Patty Jenkins directed the pilot episode.
The Synopsis:The Killing ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim’s grieving family, and the suspects. Set in Seattle, the story also explores local politics as it follows politicians connected to the case. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they’ve moved on, their past isn’t done with them.
The Killing stars Mireille Enos (Big Love) as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective that investigates the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell (Once and Again) as Darren Richmond, Seattle’s City Council President and now running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie’s killer; Michelle Forbes (True Blood) as Rosie’s mother, Mitch Larsen; and Brent Sexton as Rosie’s father, Stan Larsen.
