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John Simm will be the Master again on Doctor Who
by Doc on Apr.09, 2017, under Television
Filming just wrapped on the upcoming season of Doctor Who which debuts this coming Saturday on BBC and BBC America, and it seems a secret was leaked…that John Simm will return to the role of the Master, the actor confirmed.
When we last saw John Simm as the Master (In “The End Of Time” in 2010), he had sacrificed himself in an act of redemption/revenge to close the time lock that held the last days of the Time War including Gallifrey. The character later returned in the form of Missy, played by Michelle Gomez. Apparently, we will have BOTH incarnations on screen.
Showrunner Steven Moffat said, “Nothing stays secret for long on Doctor Who, but you’ll have to wait a little bit longer to see exactly what The Master is up to and how he makes his return to face the Doctor. It’s been a huge pleasure to have fan favorites John Simm and Michelle Gomez face to face in the same role! It’s not often you get to see a solo personality clash.”
He did not specify which episode, but I have a feeling this will be perhaps the finale, as both Moffat and current Doctor Peter Capaldi are set to depart the show.
Carrie Fisher WILL NOT appear in Star Wars Episode IX
by Doc on Apr.09, 2017, under Movies
Updated 4/14: Well, it seems that Todd Fisher was wrong…according to Kathleen Kennedy a short time ago on stage at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Carrie Fisher will NOT appear in the final epic movie. “Sadly, Carrie will not be in nine,” Kennedy said. “But we will see a lot of Carrie in Eight.” She also added that Todd Fisher was “confused.”
Original: We already knew that the unexpected death of actress Carrie Fisher wouldn’t affect Star Wars Episode VIII, as she completed all her scenes, but we weren’t sure how it would affect the production or storyline for the final saga installment. But her brother, Todd Fisher, confirmed to the New York Daily News that he and his niece and Carrie’s daughter Billie Lourd having given Lucasfilm their approval for existing footage of their mother to be used in Episode IX – and that it is understood that no CGI will be used.
“Both of us were like, ‘Yes, how do you take her out of it?’ And the answer is you don’t,”, according to Fisher. “She’s as much a part of it as anything and I think her presence now is even more powerful than it was, like Obi Wan — when the saber cuts him down he becomes more powerful. I feel like that’s what’s happened with Carrie. I think the legacy should continue.”
It is not clear how much Leia will appear in the movie.
Syfy announces summer schedule
by Doc on Apr.09, 2017, under Television
Syfy announced its spring/summer schedule today, which includes the new unapologetic orgy-of-action grindhouse series, BLOOD DRIVE, from Universal Cable Productions. Additionally, the summer staple SHARKNADO will return for its 5th installment, and Syfy will once again feature live coverage from the summer’s biggest genre event, San Diego Comic-Con.
In addition, 12 MONKEYS, KILLJOYS, DARK MATTER, WYNONNA EARP and FACE OFF return.
SERIES PREMIERE
BLOOD DRIVE – Series premieres Wednesday, June 14 at 10/9c
Get uncomfortable…! In the tradition of classic grindhouse movies, BLOOD DRIVE is a new series soaked in high-octane chaos and just barely approved for television. After Los Angeles’ last good cop (Alan Ritchson) is forced to join a twisted cross-country death race, his only hope of survival is a dangerous femme fatale who has the need for speed (Christina Ochoa). Oh, and forget gasoline… these cars run on human blood! The series is from Universal Cable Productions and executive producers John Hlavin (“Underworld Awakening”), David Straiton (“Bates Motel”) and Frederik Malmberg (“Let Me In”), along with producer Mark Wheeler (“Becoming”). James Roland (“Weeds”) created the project and is a co-executive producer on the series.
MOVIES AND LIVE EVENTS (in order of air date)
LIVE FROM COMIC-CON – Coverage runs Thursday, July 20 – Saturday, July 22 at 11/10c
For the second year in a row, Syfy telecasts live from the heart of San Diego Comic-Con. Bringing the hottest party of the summer to the fans, with direct access to the biggest stars, breaking news, insider party coverage, exclusive content and sneak peeks of the most anticipated films and TV series, each night will bring you the news you need to know from the ‘Con.
SHARKNADO 5 (Working Title) – Premieres Sunday, August 6 at 8/7c
The pop culture phenomenon SHARKNADO blows into town this summer… and this time, the shark-infested storms pick up wind as the world braces for the inevitable – a global shark takeover. Will our chainsaw-wielding hero Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering) and partner in crime April Wexler (Tara Reid) save the world from this jaw snapping-nado…again?
RETURNING SERIES (in order of air date)
12 MONKEYS – Season 3 premieres over 3 consecutive nights Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21 from 8-11/7-10c (Previously Announced)
Critically-acclaimed series 12 MONKEYS follows the journey of James Cole (Aaron Stanford), a man from 2043 sent back in time to eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will all but annihilate the human race, and his partner, brilliant virologist Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull). In Season 3, the duo embarks on a desperate search across time to find the man responsible for the apocalypse – a time traveler who calls himself the Witness. Killing the Witness will save the world, but the journey will come at tremendous personal stakes for the pair.
DARK MATTER – Season 3 premieres two episodes back-to-back Friday, June 9 at 8/7c (then single episodes air weekly on Fridays at 9/8c)
Based on the graphic novel created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, DARK MATTER centers on an intergalactic crew who awaken on a derelict spaceship with no memories of who they are or how they got there. After the EOS 7 space station is destroyed, the survivors fight to stay alive and find the rest of their crew.
WYNONNA EARP – Season 2 premieres Friday, June 9 at 10/9c
Based on the IDW Publishing comic book created by Beau Smith, WYNONNA EARP follows the life of famous lawman Wyatt Earp’s demon-fighting great-great-granddaughter Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano), who inherited Wyatt’s mythic abilities. In Season 2, Wynonna and the gang must face a whole new level of evil when more paranormal beings enter the Ghost Triangle.
FACE OFF – Season 12 premieres Tuesday, June 13 at 9/8c
The award-winning competition series FACE OFF features innovative artists competing for a grand prize and top honor of being Hollywood’s next great special effects make-up artist. McKenzie Westmore, a member of a multigenerational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, returns to host.
KILLJOYS – Season 3 premieres June 30 at 8/7c
After sustaining serious personal losses, our trio of interplanetary bounty hunters must come together and prepare themselves for what lies ahead. Tension and tragedy loom over the J Star System as they struggle to assemble an army and prepare for battle.
USA renews Colony, but production moves to Vancouver
by Doc on Apr.05, 2017, under Television
Like Supergirl did for it’s second season, USA’s Colony will move to Vancouver for its third season.
USA has renewed the show for another 13 episode season, but without receiving a tax credit from the California Film Commission, producers elected to relocate production to Vancouver. It seems that the Commission is trying to drum up publicity by luring a few productions to Los Angeles – such as Lucifer and Legion, but it isn’t doing the same to keep current productions from skipping town. And top line actors don’t necessarily move with the show – they can have clauses that state they can opt-out of the contract if the production relocates. Supergirl lost Calista Flockhart as part of their move, although she did transition off in the first few episodes.
ABC’s Mistresses went through a similar situation, moving to Vancouver for their third season, and lost star Alyssa Milano. The show returned to LA for the fourth season once they received the tax credit, although Milano did not return.
Casting TidBits: Sackhoff, Henriksen join The Machine; Dirk Gently promotes Chau
by Doc on Apr.05, 2017, under Television
Battlestar Galactica‘s Katee Sackhoff and Aliens‘ Lance Henriksen will join Jaeden Bettencourt (Hotel Transylvania 2) as the voice of three supercomputers in the artificial intelligence-driven drama pilot The Machine for Syfy.
Based on a 2013 British cult film, the series will explores humanity through artificial intelligence when a sentient AI is created, but the military wants to use it for war. Caradog James, who directed the film, is an executive producer with Red & Black Films and John Giwa-Amu, the film’s producer, and Andrew Miller (The Secret Circle).
Over at BBC America’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, the series has upped actor Osric Chau, who played Vogel of the Rowdy 3, to a series regular for Season 2. Chau previously appeared on Supernatural.
Verizon’s go90 service adds Babylon 5, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, more
by Doc on Apr.03, 2017, under Television
Verizon’s go90 service has added several Warner Bros. shows that had a strong fanbase, hoping to draw them to their service.
The new shows include Veronica Mars, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Babylon 5, Fringe, Almost Human, Believe, and Stalker. All will start streaming tomorrow, April 4th, except for Veronica Mars which will start sometime in May.
According to Chip Canter, the general manager for Verizon Digital Entertainment, “To be able to bring these seven titles to our users is a great opportunity to continue to double down on a genre that’s performed well for go90 and attract users who have been demanding these series or may be discovering them for the first time. This order represents our commitment to a data-driven programming strategy that marries popular traditional series with our originals and organizes them into 4-5 key audience-specific networks as a way to super serve our audiences; these series are a great fit for our go90 Saga network.”
Verizon’s go90 streaming service provides free streaming service built around a mobile-oriented social platform, marrying traditional series and original programming. Verizon Wireless customers can stream the shows data-free.
Joss Whedon in talks for Batgirl standalone movie
by Doc on Apr.01, 2017, under Movies
Joss Whedon may yet get his DC heroine movie…after pitching a Wonder Woman movie a 2007, where the studio opted instead to go a different direction which ultimately didn’t happen, Whedon is now in talks with Warner Bros. to bring a Batgirl feature to the big screen under the DC Universe of movies.
Whedon has a knack for strong female characters and leads – from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Firefly to Dollhouse, he hasn’t been afraid to let the women stand on their own, so he seems a good fit to bring us a Barbara Gordon who doesn’t stick to the background of her better-known vigilante friends. Spin it and get out of the way, Bruce…
Rainn Wilson steps into Mudd for Star Trek: Discovery
by Doc on Apr.01, 2017, under Television
Harcourt Fenton “Harry” Mudd will finally return to Star Trek…one of the franchises most memorable guest characters will appear in the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery for CBS All Access, played by Emmy-nominated Rainn Wilson, who starred in The Office for nine years.
The bombastic criminal/”entrepreneur” Harry Mudd was originally played by the late Roger C. Carmel in the original series episodes “Mudd’s Women” and “I, Mudd”, and he reprised the role in the animated series episode “Mudd’s Passion”.
Iron Man poster lawsuit continues
by Doc on Mar.29, 2017, under Comics, Movies
Remember that lawsuit filed almost two years ago which claimed that Marvel Studios ripped off elements from a comic called Radix for their modern take on Iron Man? Well, it hasn’t gone away just yet – it’s just transformed.
Early last year the court in Massachusetts denied the case based on jurisdiction, but the plaintiffs, brothers Ben and Ray Lai, owners of Horizon Comics Productions, refiled on April 4th, 2016 in New York. On Monday, U.s District Court Judge J. Paul Oetken issued a ruling on Marvel’s motion to dismiss the suit, dismissing portions of the complaint but allowing others to proceed.
In the ruling, Judge Oetken notes that several parts of the complaint revolve around elements that Marvel called “unprotectable” under copyright, and the court agreed. A “highly mechanized suit of armor” was one, as it was too vague, as was the “three point landing” pose that was common between a poster for Iron Man 3 and some Radix promotional artwork. The pose, frankly, is so utterly common it’s now a cliché and is even referred to as “scènes à faire” or an obligatory scene in the ruling, and despite the plaintiffs assertions that Iron Man originally wore spandex and minimal armor, he wore power armor well before Radix existed, and even when he first debuted in 1963. As those elements are unprotectable, they cannot be considered as part of the test for “substantial similarity” for the case.
Some elements, however, may be protectable in comparing the images, notably things like hairstyles, style of the suit, the use of blue lights in the suit, etc. and Judge Oetken will allow the complaint to proceed “in part”. However, with what seems to remain in the complaint to press on, it still looks like an uphill battle that got even steeper for the plaintiffs.
ABC pulls Time After Time off the air
by Doc on Mar.29, 2017, under Television
Times Up.
ABC has pulled freshman series Time After Time after only five of seven completed episodes aired, after the show pulled dismal ratings, averaging only 2.2 million viewers.
The show was based on the novel by Karl Alexander and the 1979 movie adaptation, and featured Freddie Stroma as H.G. Wells and Josh Bowman as Jack the Ripper, brought to the present day via Wells’ time machine.
The show may have had a hard time finding viewers in a prime time landscape awash with time-bendy shows, but at the same time we didn’t see a lot of heat generating for the show in general. Although as fans of the original movie we had high hopes for the show, but due to a very busy second-half schedule it was being queued up for binge-watching on our TiVo.
There are currently no plans to air the remaining two episodes.