News

Photo: Nikki DeLoach, Warren Christie

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Paulina Stevens

Nikki DeLoach and Warren Christie star in the new Hallmark movie, Our Holiday Story. Airing as part of the feel-good network’s Countdown to Christmas 2024, the movie tells the story of a happily married couple, as they tell their daughter’s boyfriend how they met and fell in love. Read on to learn more about the upcoming rom-com and its cast.

Our Holiday Story on the Hallmark Channel Photo: Gavin Langelo, Sydney Scotia

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Paulina Stevens

According to TV Insider, Our Holiday Story is about a happily married couple, Dave (Christie) and Nel Ammer (DeLoach), who have a guest over for the holidays – their daughter Joanna’s (Sydney Scotia) new boyfriend, Chris Eiker (Gavin Langelo).

As they get to know him, Dave and Nell share the story of how they first met and fell in love.

Somewhere, as "Euphoria" struggles to reassemble its cast of former no-names-turned-movie-stars for season 3, the team behind "Bones" is wistfully inquiring, "First time?" Hart Hanson's nearly-unstoppable procedural dramedy not only transformed Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz into household names over its 12 seasons, but it also took many of its supporting players to the next level. The only downside was, this meant it was sometimes necessary for the show's creatives to kill off a fan-favorite member of the Jeffersonian's staff once the actors behind them had filled up their workload with outside projects.

Most infamously, "Bones" took Booth's honorary little brother Lance Sweets out back behind the shed after John Francis Daley's directing career made it impossible for him to continue playing the cherished FBI psychologist on a regular basis. It wasn't fun for anyone (least of all Daley), although he was far from the only cast member whose character got Old Yeller-ed.

Goodbye, The Lazarus Project. Unless a mysterious sci-fi organisation steps in to reset time to before Sky chose to cancel the mind-bending time travel drama, that’s our lot. After airing two seasons, they won’t be making a third.

The news was first announced in The Sun, and later confirmed by trustworthy outlets including TV Zone and RadioTimes.com. It had previously been rumoured that if season three were to go ahead, creator Joe Barton would be stepping back to a producer role and welcoming in new writers, who would have to do without some of the major cast members including Tom Burke. Now, that won’t happen because season two will be the last.

Barton posted the cancellation news on social media, along with a meme featuring a woman and a child wearing matching denim jackets throwing confetti in the air, along with the words “Don’t cry because it’s over,...

The American Film Market kicks off Oct. 31 and runs through Nov. 5 in its new headquarters at the Le Meridien Delfina in Santa Monica. Industry screenings are set at theaters throughout the city and AFM’s conference series, the AFM Sessions, will take place at the Hilton Santa Monica Hotel. More than 245 companies and organizations are exhibiting at this year’s AFM, with national pavilions from China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Thailand and the U.K. In all, buyers from more than 65 countries are registered at the film market.

Here are some of the buzziest titles at AFM 2023:

Alphas

Director: Liam O’Donnell

Producers: Pierre Morel, Renee Tab, Christopher Tuffin, Matthew Chausse, Drew Bailey

Key cast: Martin Henderson

Story is set in a quiet surfing community where killer whales are enlisted to fend off great white sharks after a series of attacks. When the alpha great white shark proves too powerful to stop,...

Pierre Morel among producers. Production in Australia set for early 2024.

XYZ Films has boarded worldwide sales on Sentient Entertainment’s shark thriller Alphas starring Martin Henderson and will introduce to buyers at AFM next week.

Liam O’Donnell will direct the Australia-uk co-production and Taken and District 13 director Pierre Morel will produce alongside his partners Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin of Sentient, and Matthew Chausse and Drew Bailey.

Principal photography is scheduled to start in Australia in early 2024 on Alphas, which takes place in a quiet surfing community where killer whales are enlisted to fend off great white sharks after a series of attacks.

It lasted only one season, but fans still mourn the demise of the sci-fi/western Firefly. As much as we love watching (and rewatching) the series, sometimes it's not enough.

Are you longing for a little more Captain Tight Pants? Want to see Zoe quietly kick some adversary's butt? Wishing you could revisit the Hero of Canton?

Well, we can't bring back Firefly -- oh, how we wish we could! -- but we can tell you where you can tune in to see the cast now.

If you can't get enough of the crew of the Serenity, read on to find out where you can see them now.

Ron Glass - Shepherd Derrial Book

Shepherd Book was the preacher with a cryptic past who boards the Serenity and befriends its crew. We loved Book's warmth and acceptance of his other crew members while still being able to hold onto his faith.

Bruce Miller has stepped down from his post as showrunner of the “The Handmaid’s Tale,” passing his duties on the sixth and final season to Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang, who already served as writers and executive producers.

Miller has showrun the Hulu drama since its premiere in 2017. He will remain on staff as a writer and executive producer on Season 6 while moving on to focus on developing a screen adaptation “The Testaments,” the “Handmaid’s Tale” sequel that original author Margaret Atwood wrote in 2019.

Tuchman has extended his preexisting overall deal with MGM, which serves as the studio on the series. Along with “The Handmaid’s Tale,” he is best known for writing for the 1997 animated “Anastasia” movie and serving as showrunner on “Kyle Xy,” with other credits including Freeform’s “Stitchers,” the CW’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Syfy’s “Alphas” and “Eureka” and CBS’ “Early Edition” and “Dr. Quinn,...

Christina Ricci is staging a return to the Addams Family universe.

Deadline is reporting that the actress has joined the cast of Wednesday, the forthcoming Netflix series.

Ricci is well known for playing Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family movie series in the 1990s.

Jenna Ortega is set to headline the series in the role of Wednesday, but no details have been revealed about who Ricci will be playing.

All we can do is speculate. Perhaps the show will use flash-forwards and show Ricci in the role again.

We have no idea.

Deadline notes, however, that Ricci was brought into the fold following Thora Birch's exit.

Birch exited the series in December for personal reasons.

Ricci will not be playing the same character, it has been revealed.

The cast also includes Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams and Luis Guzman as Gomez Addams.

The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused...

Christina Ricci is returning to “The Addams Family” — but this time, she won’t be reprising her iconic role as Wednesday Addams. Instead, the actress is joining Netflix’s Wednesday series in an undisclosed new role, the streamer announced Monday.

“Yes, it’s true — the magnificent Christina Ricci is joining the cast of the new Wednesday Addams series as an exciting new character *snap snap*” Netflix wrote in a tweet.

Ricci was just 11 years-old when she played Wednesday in “The Addams Family” in 1991. She reprised the role in 1993 for “Addams Family Values.”

“You” and “Jane the Virgin” alum Jenna Ortega is taking up the mantle as the beloved Wednesday in the upcoming eight-episode series for Netflix. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman are set to guest star as her mother and father, Morticia and Gomez.

The young adult series comes from “Into the Badlands” creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and director Tim Burton.

Christina Ricci, the actress who played Wednesday in the iconic ’90s franchise “The Addams Family,” is returning to the universe by joining Netflix’s “Wednesday” series in a mystery role, Variety has learned.

The live-action series from Tim Burton stars “You” and “Jane the Virgin” alum Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams. “Yellowjackets” star Ricci will not be playing an older version of the character for “Wednesday,” but further details about her character are being kept under wraps.

The eight-episode series is described as a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

Ortega leads the series, with fellow cast members include Ricci,...

Gwendoline Christie is keeping busy.

The popular Game of Thrones actress is the latest addition to the cast of Wednesday, Tim Burton's forthcoming live-action series focusing on The Addams Family.

Christie is on board as Larissa Weems, the principal of Nevermore Academy, who has a complicated relationship with Morticia Addams.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is set to play Morticia, while You's Jenna Ortega has the lead role of Wednesday.

Luis Guzmán is set to play Gomez Addams.

The rest of the cast is rounded out by Victor Dorobantu, who plays Thing, the family’s non-verbal disembodied hand, Issac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams, and George Burcea as Lurch.

Tommie Earl Jenkins (Mayor Walker), Iman Marson (Lucas Walker), William Houston (Joseph Crackstone), Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Deputy Santiago), Oliver Watson (Kent), Calum Ross (Rowan), and Johnna Dias Watson (Divina) also star.

Thora Birch, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Emma Myers,...

The forthcoming Addams Family TV series, Wednesday, has added 10 more faces to its cast.

The latest wave of cast members includes Thora Birch and Jamie Mc Shane.

Also joining the cast is Riki Lindhome, Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, and Emma Myers.

They are joined by Naomi J. Ogawa (Skylin3s), Joy Sunday, and Percy Hynes White.

It was previously announced the series would be toplined by Jenna Ortega, while Catherine Zeta-Jones (Prodigal Son) was on board as Morticia Addams and Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams.

Scroll down to find out who the new additions will be playing:

- Hunter Doohan will play Tyler Galpin. A townie who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Wednesday Addams. Tyler has a troubled relationship with his father, the local sheriff.

- Georgie Farmer will play Ajax Petropolus. A student at Nevermore Academy who also happens to be a Gorgon. Awkward and shy,...

Netflix’s upcoming “Addams Family” prequel series centered on Wednesday Addams has filled out its roster of Nevermore Academy students, adding 10 to the Tim Burton-produced coming-of-age tale.

Joining the series are Hunter Doohan, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Emma Myers, Naomi Ogawa, Joy Sunday, Percy Hynes White, Thora Birch, Riki Lindhome and Jamie McShane.

“You” and “Jane the Virgin” alum Jenna Ortega will star in the eight-episode series as the beloved “Addams Family” teenager, with Catherine Zeta-Jones set to guest star as her mother, Morticia and Luis Guzman as Gomez Addams, Wednesday’s father. The roles of Wednesday’s brother Pugsly, as well as other Addams family members like Cousin It, Thing, Lurch or Uncle Fester have yet to be cast.

The eight-episode young adult series comes from “Into the Badlands” creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and director Tim Burton. The project is described as “a sleuthing, supernaturally infused...

Tim Burton's live-action TV adaptation of The Addams Family has found its Morticia.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Catherine Zeta-Jones has landed the coveted role, and has been added to the cast as a guest star on the eight-part series.

Netflix confirmed earlier this year that You's Jenna Ortega will play the title role of Wednesday Addams, one of the world’s most enduring pop cultural icons.

The character has been portrayed in television, film, video games and even musicals, but Wednesday has always been part of The Addams Family ensemble until now -- in her first young adult television series.

"The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy," reads the logline.

"Wednesday's attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her...

Luis Guzman has joined Netflix’s Wednesday Addams series, “Wednesday,” and is set to guest star as Wednesday’s father, Gomez Addams.

The eight-episode young adult series comes from “Into the Badlands” creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and director Tim Burton. “Jane the Virgin” and “You” alum Jenna Ortega will star in the series, described as “a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy.”

Per Netflix, “Wednesday attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.”

Wednesday’s father Gomez has been portrayed in past iterations of “The Addams Family” by John Astin, Raul Julia and Tim Curry. Oscar Isaac most recently voiced the character in Universal’s 2019 animated film, and...

Back in February, Netflix announced that they are teaming up with MGM/UA to bring a key member of the creepy and kooky family to life in the new live-action series Wednesday, with Tim Burton on board to make his television directing debut on the series. Now, the series has found its star, as Jenna Ortega has been cast as Wednesday Addams.

The news was announced by Netflix on their official Twitter page (see below). Comprised of eight episodes and described as a "coming-of-age comedy," the new series will follow Wednesday Addams' eerie adventures and supernatural sleuthing at the Nevermore Academy.

We have the previous press release with more information below, as well as the poster for the new series. There's no word yet on when the show will premiere, but we'll keep Daily Dead readers updated as more news is revealed.

Happy Wednesday! @JennaOrtega will play the iconic Wednesday...

Are you ready to meet a new iteration of Wednesday Addams?

Netflix on Wednesday (hehe) confirmed Jenna Ortega will play the title role of Wednesday Addams, one of the world’s most enduring pop cultural icons.

The character has been portrayed in television, film, video games and even musicals, but Wednesday has always been part of The Addams Family ensemble until now -- in her first young adult television series.

"The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy," reads the logline.

"Wednesday's attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore."

Tim Burton is on board as the director and EP.

Al Gough and Miles Millar will serve as showrunners and EPs.

Jenna Ortega has been cast in the lead role of Netflix’s “Wednesday,” a new live-action series which gives the daughter from “The Addams Family” her own young adult television series. Tim Burton is directing all eight episodes of the television series and also serves as an executive producer. The project is backed by MGM Television. Al Gough and Miles Millar are the showrunners of the series.

Netflix’s official synopsis for “Wednesday” reads: “The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.”

Ortega is no stranger to Netflix, as the 18-year-old actress was featured in supporting roles in...

Tim Burton has cast the leading lady for “Wednesday,” his upcoming live-action, comedic, coming-of-age Netflix series following the iconic “Addams Family” character Wednesday Addams.

Taking on the role of everyone’s favorite goth teen is “Jane the Virgin” and “You” alum Jenna Ortega, the streaming service said today. While Wednesday has been portrayed in television series, films, video games and even musicals, Ortega will have the honor of being the first to play the character in a solo story, rather than as part of The Addams Family ensemble.

Here’s the official description for the eight-episode YA show “Wednesday”:

“The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all...

Exclusive: A hot TV package is hitting the premium marketplace. Oscar winner Barbra Streisand is set to executive produce Lioness, a drama series about the life of Golda Meir headlined by Emmy-nominated Unorthodox star Shira Haas, from MGM/UA Television in association with Nina Tassler and Denise Di Novi PatMa Productions.

Written and executive produced by Emmy winner Eric Tuchman (The Handmaid’s Tale) and to be directed/executive produced by Emmy winner Mimi Leder (The Morning Show), the series is based on Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel non-fiction book by Francine Klagsbrun.

The book chronicles the life and career of Meir, one of the most influential figures in the history of Israel and a prominent figure in world history. It spans her birth in Kiev to her American upbringing in Milwaukee, her role in the formation of Israel and her rise to become the new nation’s first and only female prime minister.

This just in from Netflix…

Who among us has never felt like an outsider? I truly believe that most people have, at one time or another, felt odd. Maybe creepy. Kooky even. And perhaps because I was so tapped into my inner oddball, I found a deep kinship to the family of Addams.

Whether it was the classic TV series, the brilliant movies, the recent Broadway musical or even their guest appearances on Scooby Doo – every time the Addams Family was on a screen, I was watching. I loved that at every opportunity the Addams skewered so-called “normality.” Their entire existence was a middle finger (attached to a disembodied hand) to the status quo. And none was more rebellious, more avant garde and more iconic than Wednesday Addams.

Adolescence is an awful time for everyone. We’re growing hair in weird places, getting taller, breaking out, and all we want...

Wednesday Addams will get her time to shine on Netflix.

Eight episodes have been ordered for the supernatural mystery drama.

What's more, Tim Burton will be involved, teaming with showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar to bring the project to life.

The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy.

Wednesday's attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at

Burton will direct and exec produce the series, while Gough and Millar will serve as showrunners and exec produce alongside Andrew Mittman, Kevin Miserocchi (Tee and Charles Addams Foundation), Kayla Alpert, Jonathan Glickman for Glickmania (Addams Family 2), and Gail Berman.

As expected, the project has been in the works for...

Nicole Kidman’s 2001 haunted house film “The Others,” directed by Chilean helmer Alejandro Amenabar, is getting a remake.

“The Others,” set in 1945 in a remote country house on the British island of Jersey, centered on Kidman’s character, Grace Stewart, discovering unknown “others” living in her home. One of her children says she has seen a group of people in the house several times — a man, a woman, an old woman and a child named Victor — who claimed “the house is theirs.”

“The Others” was a box office hit, grossing more than $200 million on a $17 million budget. The film won seven of Spain’s Goya Awards, including best film and best director for Amenabar.

Universal Pictures optioned the rights to “The Others” from Sentient Entertainment, which acquired control of the rights in a heated bidding war in April from FilmSharks-owned The Remake Co. and Video Mercury. Sentient made the deal...

Exclusive: Whalerock Industries, Lloyd Braun’s West Hollywood-based production and consulting company behind such unscripted series as Battlebots, Hyperdrive and Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness, is making a push into podcasting. The company has launched Echoverse, a first-of-its-kind podcast studio focusing on science fiction, supernatural, and fantasy audio experiences, headed by former Syfy executive Mark Stern.

The studio is funded by Whalerock, along with individual investors.

“The sci-fi, supernatural, and fantasy genres represent a significant opportunity in the scripted podcasting market, and Mark Stern is the ideal executive to bring this vision to life.” said Anne-Marie O’Neill, CEO of Whalerock.

Stern was most recently president of Fearless Media Group, which he launched in 2018 as an extension of the work he began as the head of Im Global Television. Prior to that, Stern was president of original content at Syfy for 11 years, where he developed and produced dozens of...

Some days, it’s impossible to sit down to read a long book. Maybe you’re waiting to be admitted to an appointment, or maybe you’re standing in line. You might be on public transit, where balancing that hardcover doorstopper you checked out of the library is simply impossible. In those moments when your attention could be drawn to something else at any moment, it’s convenient to have something shorter to read.

That’s where the current renaissance of serial fiction comes in. Publishers like Serial Box, Amazon, and apps like Tapas have created a host of short reading experiences when you only have twenty minutes (or less) to spend looking at your device. To know where to get your serial fiction online, whether on your phone or your computer, check out these recommendations to get your fix.

Serial Box

My all time favorite serial app is Serial Box.

A new video series will feature actors from the nerdosphere — including Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”), Jonathan Frakes (“Star Trek”), Phil Lamarr (“Samurai Jack”) and Brea Grant (“Heroes”) — performing beloved monologues from the past to benefit No Kid Hungry.

Aptly named “The Plague Nerdalogues,” the series is a compilation of fan-favorite actors reenacting classic geek scenes from film and television, all for charity. For example, Frakes will take on the role of Captain Kirk, Helfer will perform as Bill from “Kill Bill” and Lamarr as Samurai Jack doing Inigo Montoya from “The Princess Bride.”

Other actors on the roster include Cameron Cuffe, David Dastmalchian, Azita Ghanizada, Todd Stashwick, Rob Benedict, Yuri Lowenthal, Rekha Sharma, Tiffany Smith and Damion Poitier.

The “Nerdalogues” will be uploaded to theplaguenerdalogues.com and available for a minimum $10 donation to No Kid Hungry. Once a donation has been made, viewers will receive a password that unlocks unlimited...

The CW’s Batwoman, despite having to end its season earlier than planned, served up some major twists (and one wild reveal) with its freshman finale.

In the name of neutralizing a hometown football hero who had been victimized by falsified brain scans and become a machetes-swinging brute immune to pain, Batwoman suggested to Commander Kane that they combined forces. But after doing so, as the lights popped back on at a blacked-out football stadium, Batwoman realized that the Crows had surrounded her. And then they attempted to riddle her with bullets, though the Scarlet Knight managed to grapple away...

Will Blindspot go out with a bang? Which of the Legends will pull double duty? Is Insecure Issa about to be rocked by a big reveal Read on for answers to those questions plus teases from other shows!

NBC’s final Blindspot season is going to premiere in a couple of weeks (on Thursday, April 30) and we know absolutely nothing about it. Some scoop, please!! –Audrey

I relayed (as I do) your urgent plea to series creator Martin Gero, and he was lovely enough to respond with this tasty morsel: “Hi Audrey! We’ve kept a pretty tight lid on this season,...

Exclusive: In a competitive situation, La-based Sentient Entertainment has won the remake rights to Nicole Kidman horror movie hit The Others, which scared up north of $200M global when it was released in 2001.

Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of Alejandro Amenabar’s timely self-isolation tale about a war widow who hides her children away in an isolated mansion due to a rare disease characterized by photosensitivity. The arrival of three mysterious servants unlocks the house’s terrifying secrets. Kidman was Golden Globe and BAFTA-nominated for her turn and writer-director Amenabar won Goyas for Best Director and Screenplay.

More from DeadlineSentient Pacts With The Washington Post On Film About Police Dog Who Sniffed Out Colombian Drug CartelSpanish-Language Horror Hit 'Morgue' Strikes Sales Deal With Remakes Specialist FilmSharks; Watch First International TrailerHBO Latino Takes U.S. Rights To Animated Film 'Lino 3D', Canada Deal Also Closes -- Cannes

Sentient struck...

Longtime TV and film editor Susan Kesler died Thursday, March 19, following a brief battle with ovarian peritoneal cancer. She was 60.

Kesler started out in the business as an apprentice editor on “The Love Boat” and “Dynasty,” two of the most popular TV shows in the late 1980s. Her career blossomed to include working as an assistant editor on such TV series as “The X-Files,” “Crossing Jordan,” “Heroes,” “Alphas,” “Falling Skies,” “Dominion,” “Defiance” and “Zoo,” as well as the feature films “Tremors” and “ ‘night, Mother.” Most recently, she served as assistant editor for the current NBC series “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.”

Emmy-winning editor Jon Koslowsky, Ace, who frequently worked with Kesler, said, “Sue was always there if you needed a friend.”

Kesler was an avid classic TV buff who, at various times, owned a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger, a replica of the one featured in “Get Smart” (1965-1970), and a “Rockford Files” (1974-1980) Pontiac Firebird replica.

Announced last year, Steven Quale, James Cameron’s protégé and second unit director on Avatar and Titanic whose directing credits include the thrilling Final Destination 5 and Into The Storm, will direct Alphas from a screenplay by Frank Hannah (The Cooler). Two weeks ago, Voltage Pictures announced that the film will star Sam Worthington (Fractured), who will team with a killer whale (not kidding) to fight off a school […]...

Announced last year, Steven Quale, James Cameron’s protégée and second unit director on Avatar and Titanic whose directing credits include the thrilling Final Destination 5 and Into The Storm, will direct Alphas from a screenplay by Frank Hannah (The Cooler). With Efm underway in Berlin, Voltage Pictures has announced that the film will star Sam Worthington (Fractured), who will team with a killer whale (not kidding) […]...

Production start set for Manila, Philippines, in August.

Busy Australian star Sam Worthington has signed up for the thriller CounterPlay (formerly Escape), which Blue Fox Entertainment is selling at the Efm and marks the first international feature produced by Mam Media in association with BlackOps Studios Asia.

Worthington, whose credits include the Avatar franchise and Terminator Salvation and just signed to Alphas, will play a former kidnap and hostage negotiator who comes out of retirement to help get a young man accused of drug trafficking out of the Philippines and back to Australia.

CounterPlay is scheduled to shoot in Manila in the Philippines in August.

Sentient and Endurance Media are producing and will finance the project.

Sam Worthington, star of the upcoming Avatar sequels, is in advanced talks to take a break from Pandora to play the lead in shark-versus-killer whale thriller Alphas, which Voltage Pictures is introducing to Efm buyers.

Sentient and Endurance Media are producing and will finance the project. Steven Quale (Final Destination 5), who co-directed Aliens Of The Deep with James Cameron and started out as second unit director on Titanic and Avatar, will direct the high seas adventure.

The producers have already licensed the feature to Germany (Square One/Prosieben), Spain (YouPlanet), and Middle East,...

It was recently announced that Kevin Smith would be developing a new He-Man animated series called Masters of the Universe: Revelation for Netflix. What’s exciting and cool about this series is that it will pick up where the original ‘80s series ended!

Here’s the synopsis that was released for the show:

A radical return to Eternia, Revelation is a direct sequel series to the classic era of Masters of the Universe. Featuring fan favorites He-Man, Orko, Cringer, and Man-At-Arms, the story pits our heroic warriors and guardians of Castle Grayskull against Skeletor, Evil-Lyn, Beast Man and the vile legions of Snake Mountain!

But after a ferocious final battle forever fractures Eternia, it's up to Teela to solve the myster of the missing Sword of Power in a race against time to prevent the end of the Universe! Her journey will uncover the secrets of Grayskull at last. This...

Alec Bojalad Aug 18, 2019

Kevin Smith will be spearheading a Masters of the Universe: Revelation anime series for Netflix.

After bringing She-Ra and The Princesses of Power to the streaming world, Netflix will continue to delve the He-Man extended universe for gold.

Filmmaker Kevin Smith announced at Power-Con in Anaheim on Sunday that he will be bringing an animated Masters of the Universe series called Masters of the Universe: Revelation to Netflix.

Smith, a prolific tweeter and podcaster, has intimated over the past year that he had been working on a project surrounding a major IP. His tweet promoting he and Marc Bernardin's podcast Fatman Beyond live podcast appearance at Power-Con now makes a bit more sense.

Sunday! It%u2019s Fat Man on He-Man when we interview @MastersOfficial maestro Rob David and gab about Grayskull at @ThePowerCon! See the show at 1:30 at the @HiltonAnaheim! https://t.co/bZzC8neJl7 pic.

Kevin Smith surprised audiences at Sunday’s annual Power-Con convention by announcing a new anime “He-Man” series for Netflix.

The new series, titled “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” will take place in the Mattel toy inspired world and will focus on some of the unresolved storylines of the classic ‘80s show. Smith will serve as showrunner and executive producer.

“I’m Eternia-ly grateful to Mattel TV and Netflix for entrusting me with not only the secrets of Grayskull, but also their entire Universe,” Smith said. “In ‘Revelation,’ we pick up right where the classic era left off to tell an epic tale of what may be the final battle between He-Man and Skeletor! Brought to life with the most metal character designs Powerhouse Animation can contain in the frame, this is the Masters of the Universe story you always wanted to see as a kid!”

Mattel Television is producing alongside executive producer Rob David,...

Kevin Smith had a big surprise for He-Man fans Sunday, as he announced that he will be executive producer and showrunner on a limited “Masters of the Universe” series that Netflix will develop.

The new series, “Masters of the Universe: Revelations,” will focus on the unresolved storylines of the original 1982 TV series, picking up many of the characters’ journeys where they left off decades ago.

“I’m Eternia-ly grateful to Mattel TV and Netflix for entrusting me with not only the secrets of Grayskull, but also their entire Universe,” said Smith in a statement. “In ‘Revelation,’ we pick up right where the classic era left off to tell an epic tale of what may be the final battle between He-Man and Skeletor! Brought to life with the most metal character designs Powerhouse Animation can contain in the frame, this is the Masters of the Universe story you always wanted to see as a kid!

By the power of Grayskull, Kevin Smith has taken a metaphorical Power Sword to help bring a new animated series based on the He-Man. The Jay and Silent Bob Reboot director surprised fans at Power-Con in Anaheim on Sunday to share the news of his new Netflix anime series Masters of the Universe: Revelation, which will be an original story based on the world of Mattel’s classic ’80s era He-Man toy franchise.

Smith will serve as the executive producer and showrunner of Masters of the Universe: Revelation, a limited series which focuses on the unresolved storylines of the classic series, picking up many of the characters’ journeys where they left off decades ago.

“I’m Eternia-ly grateful to Mattel TV and Netflix for entrusting me with not only the secrets of Grayskull, but also their entire Universe,” said Smith. “In Revelation, we pick up right where the classic era...

Alana Joli Abbott May 22, 2019

We talked to actress Summer Glau about narrating the first season of Serial Box's science fiction story Alternis.

Summer Glau’s most recent project won’t show her on screens pitched in battle with Terminators, Reavers, superheroes, or advanced human beings. Instead, the actress best known for her work on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Firefly, who has also appeared in television series including Dollhouse, The Cape, Arrow, and Alphas, is lending her voice to Serial Box’s newest serial, Alternis.

In a near future, Tandy Kahananui realizes that someone has stolen the game she created, but she has no idea how high the stakes are. World powers are secretly using the standings of an Mmorpg to determine which countries receive wealth—and which go without resources. Team USA realizes that Tandy could be exactly the edge they need to raise their standings in the game,...

One key member of the Fourth Precinct will be back on the beat in ABC’s New York Undercover revival: Original cast member Malik Yoba is returning to reprise his starring role, according to our sister site Deadline.

Yoba will once again play J.C. Williams in the revival. But while J.C. was a young undercover detective during the show’s original Fox run, now he’ll be overseeing the unit and training the next generation of detectives.

New York Undercover, from Law & Order mastermind Dick Wolf, originally ran on Fox from 1994 to 1998, with Yoba as the only main...

“Aliens of the Deep” director Steven Quale is set to direct aquatic thriller “Alphas,” based on the screenplay by Frank Hannah. Finance and sales are by Voltage Pictures.

The story sees a school of great white sharks terrorize a coastal town. The town’s only hope is a damaged killer whale who has been in solitary confinement for years after killing its trainer.

Production is by Nicolas Chartier for Voltage, Pierre Morel (“Taken”) and Sentient Entertainment’s Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin. Jonathan Deckter, president and COO of Voltage, will executive produce. The film is being pitched at the American Film Market.

Describing “Alphas” as “highly commercial yet sophisticated,” Chartier said: “Steven Quale has a formidable track record of bringing beautifully made blockbusters.” Quale, a protégé of James Cameron, has credits that also include New Line Cinema’s “Final Destination 5” and action thriller “Into the Storm.”

Hannah is a Scottish-born screenwriter and filmmaker,...

Steven Quale is set to direct the upcoming aquatic thriller Alphas, based on the screenplay by Frank Hannah (The Cooler).

The deep sea epic centers on a school of great white sharks terrorizing a coastal town. The only hope is a damaged killer whale who has been in solitary confinement for years after killing its trainer.

Producers include Academy Award-winning Nicolas Chartier for Voltage Pictures, Pierre Morel and Sentient Entertainment’s, Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin. Jonathan Deckter, President and COO of Voltage Pictures will executive produce.

In addition to producing, Voltage Pictures will also finance the film and is handling worldwide sales for the VFX thriller.

“Alphas typifies the kind of highly commercial, yet sophisticated films that attract buyers to the Voltage slate,” said Nicolas Chartier, CEO of Voltage Pictures. “Steven Quale has a formidable...

Voltage Pictures has boarded Alphas, a shark-invested thriller from Aliens of the Deep director Steven Quale. Nicolas Chartier's production and sales outfit will fully finance and handle worldwide sales on the project.

The plot of Alphas involves a school of great white sharks that terrorize a coastal town, whose only hope is to release a damaged killer whale that has been in solitary confinement for years after killing its trainer. Frank Hannah (The Cooler) penned the screenplay.

Chartier, whose credits include the Oscar winner The Hurt Locker and the Amy Schumer comedy I Feel Pretty, will produce Alphas for Voltage together with Pierre ...

Voltage Pictures has boarded Alphas, a shark-invested thriller from Aliens of the Deep director Steven Quale. Nicolas Chartier's production and sales outfit will fully finance and handle worldwide sales on the project.

The plot of Alphas involves a school of great white sharks that terrorize a coastal town, whose only hope is to release a damaged killer whale that has been in solitary confinement for years after killing its trainer. Frank Hannah (The Cooler) penned the screenplay.

Chartier, whose credits include the Oscar winner The Hurt Locker and the Amy Schumer comedy I Feel Pretty, will produce Alphas for Voltage together with Pierre ...

Fox is developing a music comedy series that hails from the Jackal Group, Variety has learned.

The project is titled “An American Band.” The single-camera comedy is about the harmonic and discordant adventures of The Wyldes, a diverse and dysfunctional Northern California family that can’t get a single thing right with each other, except for the music they’ve been making for the last 25 years as a multi-generational family band.

Fox has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached. Jay Lacopo is the writer and executive producer, with Gail Berman and Joe Earley executive producing via Jackal Group. Jackal Group will produce along with 20th Century Fox Television.

Lacopo previously partnered with Jackal Group when he created the Fox sitcom “Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life.” The show starred Jack Cutmore Scott, Meaghan Rath, James Earl, Charlie Saxton, Liza Lapira, and Justin Bartha. Lacopo is repped by Wme.

TV opening sequences are the lifeblood of television shows -- they can be short or long, but no matter what, they set the mood for a series. Dramas often use more symbolic sequences, while comedies typically utilize humorous material from the show itself to engage viewers.

Opening sequences may be right at the beginning of the episode, right after the cold open, or not present at all for narrative purposes. Shows may also utilize variations of opening sequences in order to best facilitate the storytelling of a show.

Related: Enjoy Unlimited access to thousands of Movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video

The best of them are pliable and moldable while still servicing the show it's for, and they not only deliver crucial information about a show but also convey important narrative and aesthetic information. If you have the urge to skip them, don't!

There are hundreds of incredible sequences out there.

Praise be: “The Handmaid’s Tale” will be under Bruce Miller’s eye for the foreseeable future. Miller has signed a deal with MGM Television and Hulu, keeping him on as showrunner for the Emmy-winning drama.

As part of the multi-year overall deal, Miller will also develop new projects for Hulu and MGM. Miller will hire a development executive to help him create new shows that he will create and write, as well as identify new writers and projects to work with his production banner.

“’The Handmaid’s Tale’ series would not be the creative force it is without Bruce Miller behind it. He is truly a one-of-a-kind partner and storyteller and we’re thrilled to continue our relationship with him to bring authentic, relevant and riveting stories to Hulu,” said Beatrice Springborn, VP of Content Development, Hulu.

The Miller deal comes as “The Handmaid’s Tale” recently premiered its second season.

The Handmaid’s Tale creator, executive producer and showrunner Bruce Miller has signed a major multi-year overall development deal with Hulu and MGM Television, which co-produce the Hulu drama based on the novel by Margaret Atwood. Under the pact, Miller will continue at the helm of the Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody award-winning series, in addition to developing new shows.

As part of the deal, Miller will bring on a development executive and will focus on developing projects for Hulu and MGM TV that he will create and write, as well as work to identify writers to work with him in developing these projects under his banner.

“The Handmaid’s Tale series would not be the creative force it is without Bruce Miller behind it. He is truly a one-of-a-kind partner and storyteller and we’re thrilled to continue our relationship with him to bring authentic, relevant and riveting stories to Hulu,...

Just as there’s more TV than ever these days, viewers are also much more savvy to how this Golden Age operates. That’s partly thanks to social media, which helped democratize the TV process. For example, this month veteran TV writer/producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe started a conversation on Twitter that became, as Twitter itself now defines it, a “moment.” In an 11-part thread, he shared a number of writers’ room terms that he and other scribes have used over the years. They range from logical to absurd, depending on your knowledge of the TV landscape.

Take a “Gilligan Cut,” which Wolfe defined as follows:

"Gilligan Cut" Aka "A Gilligan" – A cut that reverses or undermines what's been set up in the previous scene. Example: "Don't worry about Gilligan. He knows that jungle like the back of his hand." Cut To: Gilligan sinking into quicksand. #TVWriting 2/?

— Robert Hewitt Wolfe...