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Giancarlo Esposito and Rufus Sewell to Star in Netflix’s ‘Jigsaw’ Series

Giancarlo Esposito Jigsaw
Giancarlo Esposito to star in ‘Jigsaw’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)

Netflix just released details of their upcoming drama series, Jigsaw*, which – despite the name – apparently has nothing to do with the Saw franchise. The streaming service’s Jigsaw is described as an “innovative, suspenseful crime thriller” created by showrunner and executive producer Eric Garcia (Matchstick Men, Repo Men).

Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Paz Vega (She Loves You), Rufus Sewell (The Man in the High Castle), and Tati Gabrielle (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) are confirmed to star. In addition, Peter Mark Kendall (Strange Angel), Rosaline Elbay (Ramy), Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), and Niousha Noor (Here and Now) are set to star in the nonlinear series.

The eight episode season is executive produced by Scott Free Productions’ Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, and Jordan Sheehan. Russell Fine also executive produces along with Automatik Entertainment’s Fred Berger, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and Justin Levy. Elite Squad‘s Jose Padilha is directing the first two episodes.

Filming is currently underway at Netflix Studios: Brooklyn. Netflix hasn’t set a target premiere date.

Jigsaw Plot and Character Details:

“Spanning 24 years, Jigsaw centers around the largest heist ever attempted, and the vengeance, scheming, loyalties, and betrayals that surround it. It’s loosely inspired by the real-life story where seventy billion dollars in bonds went missing in downtown Manhattan during Hurricane Sandy.

The series consists of eight parts ranging from 24 years before the heist to 1 year post-heist and takes a non-linear approach to storytelling that builds intrigue and suspense.”

  • Giancarlo Esposito (he/him) as “Leo Pap” – A natural leader, Leo is whip-smart, intense and driven, with an engineer’s mind and a meticulous eye for detail. He became a thief at a young age — and though he had a chance to get out, he couldn’t stay away from the criminal life and his relapse cost him his family and his freedom.
  • Paz Vega (she/her) as “Ava Mercer” – An attorney by day, she is equally at home on a gun range or gallery show as she is in the courtroom. Although she plays things fast and loose, deep down she’s a passionate soul who will do anything to protect the few people close to her.
  • Rufus Sewell (he/him) as “Roger Salas” – A former thief who has reinvented himself as a top tier security expert, Roger is a salesman with an uncanny ability to manipulate people to his ends. Loyal, to a point, but his own ambitions and needs will win out every time.
  • Tati Gabrielle (she/her) as “Hannah Kim” – Intelligent, ambitious, and adaptable, Hannah is a woman who wears many hats — and is driven by far more than money. As a chameleon who flows between the world of high-stakes finance and low-lying crime, she will have to use everything in her bag of tricks to find a way up and out.
  • Peter Mark Kendall (he/him) as “Stan Loomis” – A small-time smuggler with a big-time passion for life’s epicurean pleasures, Stan’s got a mouth that never stops running and the heart of a hopeless romantic. Loyal to a fault, he’s willing to risk it all for the object of his desire — even if it means giving up the comfortable life he’s built for himself.
  • Rosaline Elbay (she/her) as “Judy Goodwin” – The crew’s demolitions specialist, Judy is headstrong and independent — an eccentric spitfire with a sarcastic edge who is clever and talented enough to stay a step ahead of her mistakes.
  • Jai Courtney (he/him) as “Bob Goodwin” – A chest-puffing alpha male with a knack for safecracking and pushing people’s buttons, Bob is attractive enough to be a threat and smart enough to be dangerous to anyone who gets in his way when he’s on the hunt.
  • Niousha Noor (she/her) as “Nazan Abassi” – Driven, damaged and tenacious to a fault, FBI Agent Nazan Abassi is the raging fire that threatens to burn our crew of thieves down— as long as those flames don’t consume her first.
  • – the series was retitled Kaleidoscope

‘Big Sky’ Season 2 Trailer Introduces New Key Players

ABC’s extended trailer for Big Sky season two teases a new case for Cassie and Jenny to solve, the return of fan-favorite supporting players, and a bunch of new characters who’ll make life in Montana interesting. The season two trailer also provides a brief glimpse at what season one’s big baddie, Ronald Pergman (Brian Geraghty), is up to after escaping justice.

Season two will premiere on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT.

Kylie Bunbury and Katheryn Winnick return to lead the cast as Cassie Dewell and Jenny Hoyt, respectively. Geraghty is back as Ronald Pergman, Dedee Pfeiffer plays Denise Brisbane, Jesse James Keitel returns as Jerrie Kennedy, Omar Metwally lives on as Mark Lindor, and Anja Savcic returns as Scarlet Leyendecker. Janina Gavankar joins the cast as Ren and Logan Marshall-Green will play Travis.

Rick Legarski died in the first season but John Carroll Lynch is confirmed to return for season two.

The popular dramatic series is based on the books by C.J. Box. David E. Kelley, Elwood Reid, and Ross Fineman serve as executive producers. Big Sky‘s produced by 20th Television in association with A+E Studios.

ABC released the following description of the upcoming season:

“Big Sky follows private detectives Cassie Dewell and Jenny Hoyt as they reunite to investigate a car wreck outside of Helena, Montana, which they soon discover may not be as straightforward a case as it seems. As they unravel the mystery of that accident, their worlds will collide with a band of unsuspecting teens, a flirtatious face from Jenny’s past, a vicious outsider hellbent on finding answers and more mysterious familiar – and unfamiliar – faces.”




‘Skymed’ Medical Drama Greenlit at Paramount+

Skymed Series
Aaron Ashmore as Wheezer, Natasha Calis as Hayley, and Praneet Akilla as Chopper in Skymed season 1 (Photo: Holly Dunphy/Paramount+© 2022 CBS TELEVISION STUDIOS)

Paramount+ is adding Skymed, a one-hour medical drama created by Julie Puckrin, to their lineup. The premium service announced production is now underway in Manitoba and Ontario on Skymed‘s 10-episode first season.

“This show was inspired by the real-life experiences of my sister and brother-in-law, who met flying air ambulances in the north,” stated Puckrin. “Together with a talented team of writers, we created relatable characters full of hope, compassion, and resilience. I am thrilled to be working with such an incredible and diverse cast to bring these exciting, emotional stories to life.”

The cast of season one includes Natasha Calis (Nurses), Ace (Aason) Nadjiwan (Batwoman), Morgan Holmstrom (Siberia), Praneet Akilla (Nancy Drew), and Thomas Elms (The Order). Mercedes Morris (Between), Kheon Clarke (Riverdale), Rebecca Kwan (Taken), Braeden Clarke (Outlander), and Aaron Ashmore (Killjoys) also star.

“Julie has brilliantly imagined these characters who are not only dealing with demanding, high-pressure circumstances, they’re also dealing with the ups and downs of their lives as they come into their own,” said Vanessa Piazza, executive producer, Piazza Entertainment. “We are proud to partner with Paramount+, CBS Studios and CBC, and look forward to introducing these characters to audiences.”

Puckrin executive produces along with Vanessa Piazza, Ron Murphy, Gillian Hormel, Kyle Irving, and Lisa Meeches. Steve Adelson is directing the pilot. Piazza Entertainment, in association with CBC and CBS Studios, produces the series.

Paramount+ released the following description of Skymed:

“Life, death, and drama at 20,000 feet, Skymed weaves together intense character journeys and high-stakes medical rescues, as we follow the triumphs, heartbreaks and tribulations of budding nurses and pilots flying air ambulances in remote Northern Canada. They’re all in over their heads, and on their own, with no one to rely on but each other.”

 

‘FBI: International’ Season 1 Episode 1 Photos, Plot, Cast and Air Date

CBS’s new addition to the FBI franchise – FBI: International – premieres with the final installment of a three part FBI crossover event. FBI season four episode one kicks things off on September 21, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT followed by FBI Most Wanted‘s third season premiere at 9pm. FBI: International season one episode one concludes the crossover at 10pm ET/PT.

FBI: International moves to its regular Tuesdays at 9pm ET/PT time slot on September 28th.

The season one cast includes Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester, Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines, Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo, and Christiane Paul as Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger.

Episode one guest stars include FBI‘s Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, Jeremy Sisto and Alana De La Garza. FBI: Most Wanted‘s Julian McMahon and Kellan Lutz also guest star.

“Pilot” Plot: Special Agent Scott Forrester and his Budapest-based FBI fly team head to Croatia, after Isobel Castille (Alana De La Garza) enlists their help to capture an American fugitive who escaped to Zagreb with a 14-year-old girl. OA (Zeeko Zaki) continues with the mission overseas, intent on bringing the fugitive to justice, while Europol agent Katrin Jaeger attempts to help the team secure the necessary support and access from the less-than-cooperative local authorities, in the conclusion of a special three-part crossover event.

Season One Description, Courtesy of CBS:

FBI: International is the third iteration of the successful FBI brand that follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team. Headquartered in Budapest, they travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be, putting their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people.

The Fly Team’s Special Agent Scott Forrester, their accomplished and dedicated leader, puts his missions ahead of his personal life and is rarely seen without the team’s “secret weapon” – their trusty Schutzhund dog, Tank. Second in command is Special Agent Jamie Kellett, not afraid to tussle – in an alley or courtroom – and her extensive network of informants is a powerful resource. Special Agent Andre Raines shines in the field and makes good use of his accounting background in tracking criminal enterprises’ moving money; and the group’s newest member is Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad who excels at interrogation and strategy.

A key part of the mix is the unflappable Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger, a multilinguistic liaison between the FBI Fly Team and each host country they inhabit. Always at the scene where American interests are at risk, FBI: International is a globe-trotting depiction of law enforcement overseas.

FBI International Season 1 Episode 1
Christiane Paul, Carter Redwood, Vinessa Vidotto, Heida Reed, Luke Kleintank, and Green as Tank in ‘FBI: International’ season 1 episode 1 (Photo: Dvid Lukcs / CBS 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc)
FBI International Season 1 Episode 1
Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo, Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom Zidan, Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester and Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines in season 1 episode 1 (Photo: Katalin Vermes © 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc)
FBI International Season 1 Episode 1
Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines, Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester and Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo (Photo: Katalin Vermes 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc)
FBI International Season 1 Episode 1
Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester and Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett in season 1 episode 1 (Photo: Katalin Vermes © 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc)
FBI International Season 1 Episode 1
Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester and Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines in season 1 episode 1 (Photo: Katalin Vermes 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc)
FBI International Season 1 Episode 1
Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester and Green as Tank in season 1 episode 1 (Photo: Katalin Vermes 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc)
FBI International Season 1 Episode 1
Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom Zidan and Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester in season 1 episode 1 (Photo: Nelly Kiss © 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc)




‘Tough as Nails’ Announces 12 Season 3 Competitors

Tough As Nails Season 3
Lia Mort, Jerome Kapuka’a, Lamar Edwin Hanger, Elizabeth Rillera, Kelsy Reynolds, and Takeru “Tak” Tanabe. Bottom: Sarah Ham, Mike Shaffer, DeQuincey “Quincey” Walker, Christine Connors, Alfredo “Alfie” Rivera, and Kalimba Edwards compete on ‘Tough as Nails’ (Photo: Cliff Lipson © 2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

Competitors on the upcoming third season of Tough as Nails will include a construction foreman, a fire captain, and a crop duster. Series creator Phil Keoghan returns to host season three which will kick off with an episode featuring season one winner Kelly “Murph” Murphy airing on October 6, 2021.

Season three’s first episode will take place at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. Additional settings will include Mt. Baldy, the U.S. Coast Guard base in San Pedro, and the Irwindale Speedway.

“It is a privilege that we are now in season three of Tough as Nails and can continue to honor America’s hardest-working people, the essential workers who have helped us get through a really challenging time,” stated Phil Keoghan, host and executive producer. “It feels good that this is a show for the people and about the people that we should all acknowledge and celebrate. While there is only one Tough as Nails champion in the individual competition, I think what viewers are really gravitating towards, and what makes this show special, is the team competition and the legacy that is being built with Savage Crew and Dirty Hands.

At a time when there is so much division in the world, it’s good to see a group of people from all walks of life, who have never met each other before, unite and work together for a common goal.”

Tough as Nails Season 3 Competitors:

  • Name: Kelsy Reynolds
    Job: Crop duster
    Age: 30
    Hometown: Mansfield, Ill.
  • Name: Christine Connors
    Job: Ironworker
    Age: 29
    Hometown: Johnstown, Pa.
    Current Residence: Glendora, Calif.
  • Name: Takeru “Tak” Tanabe
    Job: Construction foreman
    Age: 35
    Hometown: Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i
    Current Residence: Kona, Hawai’i
  • Name: Jerome Kupuka’a
    Job: Heavy equipment operator
    Age: 48
    Hometown: Ewa Beach, Hawai’i
    Current Residence: Kapolei, Hawai’i
  • Name: Lamar Edwin Hanger
    Job: Carpenter
    Age: 54
    Hometown: Orange County, Calif.
    Current Residence: Eastvale, Calif.
  • Name: Lia Mort
    Job: Jill-of-all-trades
    Age: 54
    Hometown: Lititz, Pa.
    Current Residence: Richfield, Pa.
  • Name: Dequincey “Quincey” Walker
    Job: Diesel mechanic
    Age: 34
    Hometown: Lamar, S.C.
    Current Residence: Florence, S.C.
  • Name: Kalimba Edwards
    Job: Fire captain
    Age: 43
    Hometown: Wallace, Neb.
    Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minn.
  • Name: Mike Shaffer
    Job: Lineman
    Age: 32
    Hometown: Brewerton, N.Y.
  • Name: Elizabeth Rillera
    Job: Contractor
    Age: 37
    Hometown: Shelton, Wash.
    Current Residence: Olympia, Wash.
  • Name: Sarah Ham
    Job: Cement mason
    Age: 30
    Current Residence: Queens, N.Y.
  • Name: Alfredo “Alfie” P. Rivera
    Job: Construction supervisor
    Age: 55
    Hometown: Santiago, Chile
    Current Residence: Lilburn, Ga.




‘Dopesick’ Debuts a New Trailer Starring Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton stars as a doctor whose patients wind up addicted to opioids thanks to OxyContin in Hulu’s original limited series, Dopesick. The new two-minute trailer introduces Keaton and the other key players involved in the struggle to hold Big Pharma – and specifically Purdue – accountable for the thousands of deaths caused by a drug the makers advertised as being non-addictive.

In addition to Oscar nominee Michael Keaton (Birdman), the cast includes Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, Will Poulter, John Hoogenakker, Kaitlyn Dever, and Rosario Dawson. Phillipa Soo and Jake McDorman guest star.

The limited series is inspired by Beth Macy’s New York Times bestselling book and was adapted by Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (Recount, Game Change). Oscar winner Barry Levinson (Rain Main) directs and executive produces along with Strong, Keaton, John Goldwyn, Warren Littlefield, Beth Macy, and Karen Rosenfelt.

The first three episodes of Dopesick will be released on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Additional episodes of the eight-episode limited series arrive on subsequent Wednesdays.

The Plot:

Dopesick examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Big Pharma, to a distressed Virginia mining community, to the hallways of the DEA. Defying all the odds, heroes will emerge in an intense and thrilling ride to take down the craven corporate forces behind this national crisis and their allies.

Dopesick Poster



‘Ordinary Joe’ Season 1 Preview: Plot, Photos, Cast and Air Date

NBC’s new fall series Ordinary Joe, starring James Wolk as the titular character, will premiere on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT. The one-hour drama follows Joe’s life as played out in three separate stories. In one story Joe’s decision of what to pursue after college leads him to follow in his family’s footsteps into law enforcement. Another story finds Joe becoming a nurse, while the third story shows Joe’s chosen to embrace his love of music.

Writer/director Matt Reeves, who’s currently hard at work on finishing up The Batman with Robert Pattinson, wrote a script for Ordinary Joe back in 2007. Reeves never moved forward on the project because he was kept busy with Cloverfield instead, and a decade-plus later Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner learned about the script from 20th Television. Friend and Lerner spoke with Reeves, learned of his very personal connection to the story, and then finessed the series into something that incorporated important aspects of their own lives.

Reeves remains involved with Ordinary Joe as an executive producer alongside writers Friend and Lerner. Adam Kassan, Rafi Crohn, and Howard Klein are also involved as executive producers.

In addition to James Wolk (Tell Me a Story, Watchmen), the season one cast includes Charlie Barnett (You) as Eric Payne, Elizabeth Lail (Gossip Girl) as Jenny Banks, and Natalie Martinez (The Fugitive) as Amy Kindelan.

The Plot, Courtesy of NBC:

Life is all about the choices you make – and sometimes what you do in a single moment can change everything. This new heartfelt, life-affirming drama follows Joe Kimbreau, who faces one of these decisions at his college graduation. The three parallel stories that diverge from that night find Joe and the people around him with different careers, relationships and family lives, showing the unexpected ways that things change – and stay the same. But when it comes down to it, there is no “right” choice; no matter what happens, Joe’s life is always messy, exciting, tough, unpredictable … and beautiful.

“Way Leads to Way” Episode One – After his college graduation, Joe Kimbreau is faced with a pivotal decision that steers his life down three drastically different paths.

Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 1
Elizabeth Lail as Jenny Banks and James Wolk as Joe Kimbreau ‘Ordinary Joe’ season 1 episode 1 (Photo by: Parrish Lewis/NBC)
Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 1
James Wolk as Joe Kimbreau in season 1 episode 1 (Photo by: Parrish Lewis/NBC)
Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 1
Natalie Martinez as Amy Kindelán and Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Diaz in season 1 episode 1 (Photo by: Parrish Lewis/NBC)
Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 1
Elizabeth Lail as Jenny Banks, John Gluck as Christopher, James Wolk as Joe Kimbreau, and Natalie Martinez as Amy Kindelán in episode 1 (Photo by: Parrish Lewis/NBC)
Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 1
James Wolk as Joe Kimbreau and Adam Rodriguez as Bobby Diaz in season 1 episode 1 (Photo by: Sandy Morris/NBC)
Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 1
Natalie Martinez as Amy Kindelán and James Wolk as Joe Kimbreau in season 1 episode 1 (Photo by: Parrish Lewis/NBC)
Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 1
James Wolk as Joe Kimbreau in season 1 episode 1 (Photo by: Parrish Lewis/NBC)
Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 1
James Wolk as Joe Kimbreau and Natalie Martinez as Amy Kindelán in episode 1 (Photo by: Parrish Lewis/NBC)




‘West Side Story’ New Trailer Arrives Along with Photos and Poster

The latest take on the classic West Side Story musical just unveiled a new music-filled trailer along with a few new stills from the film and a poster. Three-time Oscar winner Steven Spielberg directs this remake of the 1957 Broadway musical which was previously brought to life on screen in the 10-time Oscar winning 1961 film.

The 1961 film starred Natalie Wood as Maria, Richard Beymer as Tony, Russ Tamblyn as Riff, and George Chakiris as Bernardo. The 2021 remake features Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler as star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria. The cast also includes Ariana DeBose as Anita, David Alvarez as Bernardo, Mike Faist as Riff, Josh Andrés Rivera as Chino, Ana Isabelle as Rosalía, Corey Stoll as Lieutenant Schrank, and Brian d’Arcy James as Officer Krupke.

Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Peabody Award winner Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film, plays Valentina, the owner of the store where Tony works. Moreno also serves as an executive producer.

Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tony Kushner adapted the 1957 Broadway show for the screen and executive produces. Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Kevin McCollum produce.

Spielberg’s behind the scenes team includes Tony Award winner Justin Peck as choreographer and Grammy nominee Matt Sullivan as executive music producer. Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori supervised the cast on vocals and Grammy Award winning LA Philharmonic conductor helmed the recording of the score which was arranged by Academy Award nominated composer and conductor David Newman.

20th Century Studios and The Walt Disney Company will release West Side Story in theaters on December 10, 2021.

The Plot:

“An adaptation of the original Broadway musical, West Side Story explores young love and tensions between rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks on the streets of 1957 New York.”

West Side Story
Rachel Zegler as Maria and Ansel Elgort as Tony in 20th Century Studios’ ‘WEST SIDE STORY’ (Photo © 2021 20th Century Studios)
West Side Story
Mike Faist as Riff (Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios)
West Side Story
Rachel Zegler as Maria (Photo by Niko Tavernise © 2021 20th Century Studios)
West Side Story
Ilda Mason as Luz, Ariana DeBose as Anita, and Ana Isabelle as Rosalia in ‘WEST SIDE STORY’ (Photo by Niko Tavernise © 2021 20th Century Studios)
West Side Story
Ansel Elgort as Tony (Photo by Niko Tavernise © 2021 20th Century Studios)
West Side Story
A scene from 20th Century Studios’ ‘WEST SIDE STORY’ (Photo © 2021 20th Century Studios)
West Side Story
David Alvarez as Bernardo Vasquez (Photo © 2021 20th Century Studios)
West Side Story Poster



Emily Deschanel is Set to Star in Netflix’s ‘Devil in Ohio’ Limited Series

Devil in Ohio Emily Deschanel
Emily Deschanel as Suzanne Mathis in ‘Devil in Ohio’ (Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022)

Emily Deschanel has signed on to star in the Netflix limited series Devil in Ohio, based on the bestselling book by Daria Polatin. Polatin (Jack Ryan, Hunters) is on board to guide the series adaptation as showrunner and executive producer.

According to Netflix’s official announcement, the limited series will consist of eight 45-minute episodes. Production is currently underway in Vancouver, with John Fawcett, Brad Anderson, Leslie Hope, and Steve Adelson confirmed as directors.

Additional cast members include Sam Jaeger as ‘Peter,’ Gerardo Celasco as ‘Detective Lopez,’ Madeleine Arthur as ‘Mae’, Xaria Dotson as ‘Jules,’ Alisha Newton as ‘Helen,’ and Naomi Tan as ‘Dani.’

Netflix released this synopsis of the series:

“When hospital psychiatrist Dr. Suzanne Mathis shelters a mysterious cult escapee, her world is turned upside down as the strange girl’s arrival threatens to tear her own family apart.”

In an October 2017 interview with Horror Fuel, Polatin discussed why she decided to write Devil in Ohio after working as a writer on series including Weeds and Shut Eye. “Because I work in mediums, I am always looking for the right medium for the right story. I wrote a pilot about a cult and I was interested in these kinds of isolated communities and what they did to somebody. A producer friend brought me the true story of this young woman who had escaped from a satanic cult and had moved in with her psychiatrist’s family. So I felt like a novel was the best way to tell that story,” explained Polatin.

 

LAIKA Announces ‘Wildwood’ as Its Next Animated Feature Film

Wildwood First Photo
LAIKA releases the first photo from ‘Wildwood’

LAIKA announced production is now underway on their next animated film, Wildwood. The film is based on The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy’s bestselling novel, illustrated by Carson Ellis, and has LAIKA’s President & CEO Travis Knight on board to direct.

Knight directed the studio’s Kubo and the Two Strings, which was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Animated Feature Film, Best Achievement in Visual Effects).

“As a deep-dyed native son of Oregon, I have rainwater, microbrew, and fair-trade coffee coursing through my veins,” said Knight. “With Wildwood, I have the opportunity to tell a madly ambitious story of magic, wonder, and danger set in the place I grew up. My very own Portland will join that pantheon of unforgettable fantasy realms, with a stirring epic that will kindle imaginations, lift spirits, and break hearts.”

Knight added, “Colin and Carson’s novel is a lyrical work of art. The entire LAIKA family is fully committed to honoring it with a film of breathtaking spectacle and aching beauty. I can’t wait to share it with the world. Although we’re doing this in stop-motion, so, you know, I’ll have to.”

LAIKA released the following description of Wildwood:

“Beyond Portland’s city limits lies Wildwood. You’re not supposed to go there. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland. Her baby brother Mac has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, and she—along with her hapless classmate Curtis—is going to get him back. Prue might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one. One filled with strange talking animals, roguish bandits, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.

Wildwood is a tale of love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets and of the magic you can find on your doorstep if you’re willing to look for it.”

Wildwood marks six-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel’s first fully animated feature film.

 

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