Author Archives: Sarah Sommer

About Sarah Sommer

Sarah is a journalist and an artist who lives in the city. She loves movies and television. She reads early and often. Sarah also helps out over at BSCkids.com and our other sites!

Philip Seymour Hoffman On Plutarch Heavensbee and Catching Fire

Lionsgate announced a few weeks ago that the role of Plutarch Heavensbee has been cast with the role being filled by renowned actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. Many were surprised by this casting as Hoffman is most known for his serious roles in films such as “Doubt,” “The Ides of March,” “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” “Capote,” and “Cold Mountain.” (Though he was also gold in the comedy film Along Came Polly.) 

Hoffman recently spoke about why he chose the role. A major fact, he explained, was the character he would be portraying.

“I liked the people involved. It’s a great group of actors. It’s a great environment. And the character was something I was attracted to. It was just an interesting role,” Hoffman recently told EW.com.

Plutarch becomes the head gamemaker during the 75th Hunger Games Quarter Quell in Catching Fire and eventually helps the main character Katniss.

“He’s somebody who’s part of the revolution, but you don’t know it. The idea that somebody would be risking themselves in such an extreme way to join something that’s that dangerous because he thinks it’s the future…that’s interesting stuff, you know?” he continued.

Before taking the role, Hoffman revealed he hadn’t even read the novels. However, once offered, he read the entire series and watched the first film to catch up.

 “It’s good. I’ve read the script, which is true to the book — I kinda ruined it for myself. But I’m reading it anyway, because I really want to find out everything I need to know about this guy,” Hoffman said in the interview.

Hoffman is expected to return for Mockingjay part 1 and 2, a two part film based on the third and final novel.  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is due out in theaters Nov. 22, 2013.

Game of Thrones and True Blood Aren’t Going Anywhere

HBO easily has two of the most popular series around. “Game of Thrones” continues to be a top performer along side their other series “True Blood.” But many wonder what future do these shows have? Thankfully, HBO executives recently sat down to answer questions while sounding off about the futures of the mega popular shows they air.

Richard Plepler and Michael Lombardo talked about where they see the two hit shows going in the future.

“Game of Thrones,” based off the book series written by George R.R. Martin, is about to enter its third season which will be based on the first half of the third novel, “A Storm of Swords.” The show’s future, however, is largely dependent on the novels.

Plepler offered a conforting statement for those who worry the series will end before the books do.

 “As long as he keeps writing we’ll keep producing, and he seems excited with that prospect.”

The novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire, has two novels left still to be written by Martin, however, in case something should happen, the producers of the HBO series, know how it is going to end. This also means they wrote make any major changes to the plot either.

“True Blood,” based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, is halfway through its fifth season. Plepler and Lombardo seem confident that the series will continue on despite showrunner, Alan Ball, stepping down.

This coming year Alan Ball is taking a little bit of a step back, but I think creatively, they’re still engaged and excited by the storytelling,” Lombardo explains. “As long as it continues to be performing with the consumer, but more importantly exciting the storytellers, I think we’re there.”

HBO definitely seems to know where their money is coming from. Now, if only they would allow an online subscription…

Kristen Stewart To Lie Down In Darkness

Like she recently did with Rupert Sanders, BA-ZING!

Ok, I’m going to put my K-stew serious face on. It was recently announced that Stewart is set to play the lead role in the upcoming adaptation, Lie Down In Darkness. The film is based on the novel of the same name written by William Styron that was first published in 1952.

“Lie Down In Darkness” was Styron’s first novel and has received wide critical acclaim.

The official description of the novel is as follows:

“Lie Down in Darkness” centers on the Loftis family — Milton and Helen and their daughters, Peyton and Maudie. The story, told through a series of flashbacks on the day of Peyton’s funeral, is a powerful depiction of a family doomed by its failure to forget and its inability to love.

Scott Cooper is attached to direct the project. Stewart will play Peyton, however, there is no official start date yet.

There is also no word on any other talent attached to the project or an anticipated release date.

Two New Cast Members Added To City of Bones

The upcoming film adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s “City of Bones” has almost rounded out is main cast. The author announced the addition of two new cast members yesterday including Aidan Turner as Luke and CCH Pounder as Madame Dorothea.

Turner is most known for playing (incredibly sexy) vampire Mitchell on the British “Being Human.” He also is gaining attention for his upcoming role in The Hobbit trilogy in which he will play the character of Kili. Turner is set to play Luke in “City of Bones,” a character that is a father figure to Clary as well as a protector to her family.

“Luke has a hell of a dark past despite his current mild-mannered, bookstore-owning ways. The scars he bears belie his gentle heart — but he could tear you apart with his teeth if you threatened something he cared about,” says Clare about Luke.

CCH Pounder has been in several television shows over the years and has a wealth of experience in the industry. She is set to play the role of Madame Dorothea, Clary’s next door neighbor who is definitely more than she appears at first.

“You may know her from The Shield. Or The X-Files. Or Warehouse 13. Or ER. Or The West Wing. Or pretty much every cool show in the known universe. Our director’s wanted to work with her for ages and I think she will be amazing,” says Clare.

Turner and Pounder join the already star studded cast that includes:

  • Lily Collins is Clary Fray
  • Jamie Campbell Bower is Jace Wayland
  • Robert Sheehan is Simon Lewis
  • Jemima West is Isabelle Lightwood
  • Kevin Durand is Pangborn
  • Robert Maillet is Blackwell
  • Lena Headey is Jocelyn Fray
  • Godfrey Gao is Magnus Bane
  • Jared Harris is Hodge
  • Aidan Turner is Luke
  • CCH Pounder is Madame Dorothea

The film is being directed by Harald Zwart.

‘True Blood’ Actress Janina Gavankar Talks Nude Scenes, Sookie’s Love Triangle

 

HBO’s hit series, “True Blood” is known for many things. A large audience, kinky and not so kinky sex scenes and about a million different plots shoved into every episode. Recently, Janina Gavankar, the woman who plays Luna, Sam Merlotte’s shifter sometimes girlfriend, sat down with Celebuzz to talk about the show as well as its copious amounts of sex and nakedness.

We know that the shifters in the series are often naked. When they change form they have to be so that means both for Sam and Luna, lots of time in front of the camera naked. Gavankar assured that she feels completely comfortable to be naked in the professional environment of the show.

I am. Besides the fact that it is obviously the most professional environment that you can imagine, I joined in season four so by then they had already seen way worse than what I was about to do. Shifters are naked so much just because we shift into other things that we’re not even connected to. I feel like I’m just as connected to my human form as I am to a horse form. So in that regard, the brain space of nudity is a little different for shifters, and that is something obviously I’m very OK with.

To prepare for her nude scenes and/or racier scenes with in the series, Gavankar explained the process of keeping everything professional (even when her mother was in town watching.)

We do fittings for a day of nudity, meaning what kind of nude-colored undergarment am I going to tape to my body to make sure that everybody can remain professional. We have really long work days so you’re in these outfits — or non-outfits — with everybody around you doing their job. On one day, my mother was actually in town — and when my mom is in town I take her everywhere — so she was there for the entire fitting watching it all happen.

It demystified the entire thing for her [mother]. She really got to see how it’s very much work. It’s a full work day and she got to see how professional it really was. She was there for the entire fitting watching it all happen — how we’re talking about sizes of underwear and which color matches my skin tone. It’s really very technical. There’s nothing sexy and therefore awkward because of it. There is nothing awkward about it because there is nothing sexy about it either.

Most of us would probably be mortified to watch a taped sex scene featuring ourselves, but not Gavankar, she explains how the post production crew makes it look much better than it did the day it was filmed.

Here’s the truth: They make us look even better than we do in real life, because were in full makeup. We’ve probably been sprayed tanned, made up and the lighting is perfect with wind blowing through your hair. There’s even a film score behind it and the music makes it even cooler. By the time you watch it, it’s all been cut together so beautifully that it looks way better than it did on the day of the shoot.

Gavankar also let us know who she thinks Sookie should end up with.

I love Bill (Stephen Moyer) but I think she needs to give Alcide (Joe Manganiello) a real shot. But in the very end? I would say Bill. I feel like whenever she’s crying and she’s with him, I’m always more choked up. Maybe it’s just because of their real life chemistry.

11 New Promo Images For The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 2

For those of you stoked about the upcoming finale movie installment in The Twilight Saga, you’ll be happy to see these 11 new promo images recently revealed online. And yes they all look positively brooding and/or ridiculous because it wouldn’t be Twilight unless all the vampires and werewolves were angsty (although the one of Stewart above appears she is sort of smiling, so thats something)

Despite being amidst a cheating scandal between stars/ former lovers Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, the film is expected to still do extremely well in the box office. The Bill Condon-directed adaptation opens in theaters on November 16.

Check out the new promo images below:

 

Based on Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series, the film’s large cast includes:

Main cast
  • Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan/Cullen
  • Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen
  • Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black
  • Peter Facinelli as Carlisle Cullen
  • Elizabeth Reaser as Esme Cullen
  • Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen
  • Kellan Lutz as Emmett Cullen
  • Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale
  • Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale
  • Billy Burke as Charlie Swan
  • Sarah Clarke as Renée Dwyer
  • Julia Jones as Leah Clearwater
  • Booboo Stewart as Seth Clearwater
  • MyAnna Buring as Tanya
  • Maggie Grace as Irina
  • Casey LaBow as Kate
  • Michael Sheen as Aro
  • Jamie Campbell Bower
  • Christopher Heyerdahl as Marcus
  • Chaske Spencer as Sam Uley
  • Christian Camargo as Eleazar
  • Mía Maestro as Carmen
  • Mackenzie Foy as Renesmee Cullen
Part 2 adds new cast members:
  • Dakota Fanning as Jane
  • Cameron Bright as Alec
  • Charlie Bewley as Demetri
  • Daniel Cudmore as Felix
  • Noel Fisher as Vladimir
  • Guri Weinberg as Stefan
  • Lee Pace as Garrett
  • Joe Anderson as Alistair
  • Judi Shekoni as Zafrina
  • Tracey Huggins as Senna
  • J.D. Pardo as Nahuel
  • Rami Malek as Benjamin

Kevin Zeggers Cast In City of Bones Adaptation

Actor Kevin Zeggers has been cast as Alec Lightwood in the upcoming film adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones. 

City of Bones is the first novel in the series, The Mortal Instruments. 

Alec Lightwood is the brother to Isabelle Lightwood, who is set to be played by Jemima West. Alec also has feelings for Jace Wayland and later Magnus Bane.

Zeggers joins main characters Lily Collins as Clary Fray and Jamie Campbell-Bower as Jace Wayland. Also cast is Lena Headey, Jared Harris, Kevin Durand, and Robert Maillet.

City of Bones follows teen Clary Fray, who discovers she is a descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, an order of half-angel warriors who protect the world from demons. The rest of the characters include her best friend Simon, who is in love with her, while she has feelings for fellow shadowhunter Jace Wayland, who also may or may not be her brother, and siblings  Isabelle and Alec Lightwood, with Alec Harboring feelings for Jace as well.

Screen Gems is producing the adaptation with Harald Zwart directing.

The film is scheduled for release on August 23, 2013.

Could Battle Royale Become A Television Series?

The 1999 novel and 2000 film, Battle Royale, is a cult classic and many fans are yearning for a remake. However, thanks to the recent release and extreme popularity of The Hunger Games, a film remake is looking less likely.

But, could a new television series be on the horizon?

The LA Times recently reported that the CW has been in recent discussion for adapting the novel into a one hour drama series on the network.

If they do decide they want to move forward with the project, they will need to gain the approval of Takami, which according to Japanese law must be secured before any remake can begin.

The CW argues that the television show could flourish much like the popular series, “The Vampire Diaries” found success despite the Twilight Saga dominating the film industry.

While the talks are only in the preliminary stages, the network (CW) would acquire the rights of Koushun Takami’s underlying novel, then unpack and expand on it for an hourlong dramatic series.

Producers Neal Moritz and Roy Lee had been working on a new film way before Suzanne Collins published her novel series, but the project stalled when New Line operations consolidated in 2008.

Then when The Hunger Games was released, the film remake was effectively killed.

Hopefully a television series can get off the ground. While it wont be ideal to fans who want a film reboot (we can also assume it will not be in anyway as gory and brutal as the film and novel) the TV series could be something to look forward to.

The Dark Knight Rises Doesn’t Disappoint – Review

Last night I excitedly headed to the BIG theater in my city to see a movie I just couldn’t wait for, The Dark Knight Rises. I want to preface this review by saying that I went into this movie with high expectations. After the impressive film, The Dark Knight, I felt like this film, the ending of a trilogy, had to be better than the previous, though I had in my mind it might be an impossible standard.

However, The Dark Knight Rises does NOT disappoint. I will say that I did not think it was better, but it was on par and as good as the previous installment.

The film pulls the audience in very early on with the almost immediate introduction of Bane. We are only a few minutes into the film when we are introduced to the main “villain” of this tale and with it the story quickly begins its jaunty three hour ride. Not to mention I was ecstatic to see Petyr Baelish make an appearance ( or  Aidan Gillen for you non Game of Thrones watchers.)

We also are very quickly introduced to Anne Hathaway’s character, Selina Kyle/ Catwoman. I was totally against her in the role from the minute her casting was announced. It wasn’t that I didn’t think she couldn’t handle the role, I just have never really liked her in her other projects. (I also have a spot in my heart that is taken by Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman.) BUT, Hathaway’s performance was almost flawless. She portrayed the sultry, confident cat burglar who is actually not evil, isn’t a villain. I also found her to be a great foil for Batman/Bruce Wayne. Her ideals and actions are opposite his but deep down they are very similar – they want to get out on their own terms. You can see the chemistry between the actors from the get go and it only grows through out the film.

JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT. (need I say more?)

YES. THIS.

Also his acting was fantastic and I sense Night Wing on the horizon.

This movie did make me feel like an idiot though. Not in the way you think. There is a HUGE twist at the end, that still surprised me. After it was revealed, I felt dumb for not seeing it sooner. It might have to do with some misdirection by some of the cast members in interviews, but I was definitely caught off guard by the big reveal. I won’t give it away here because you deserve to experience it on your own if you reading this before seeing the film.

One thing that I disliked what the time framing. After Bane comes to power and Batman (is somewhere else entirely) there is no frame of reference of how much time is passing. We can ASSUME it is at the least a few weeks, but there is no real knowledge of it has been week, months, or even a year. It’s not like I was some cliched montage or some equally annoying shit, I just want some frame of reference. We only find out how long it has been right before the action is about go down and someone outright says it. But it takes to long to establish that more than a few weeks as passed. I found it to be slightly lazy on either the Director’s part or the screenwriters part.  However, while cinematically, this bothered me, it in no way hindered the actual movie for me.

Most of all, this film was a great addition to the trilogy as awhole. It flowed seamlessly from the end of The Dark Knight to create something you can watch back to back without missing a beat. It looks similar to the first two and was just as action packed and character oriented as the rest.

Also: TEARS WERE SHED. The ending was PERFECT. Tears of sadness followed by tears of joy. (There is just something so heartbreaking about watching Alfred blubber that released the floodgates of tear waterfall.) The ending gives closure to  not just this film but the entire trilogy. It packs everything up in a neat little bow while closing the stories of some characters and opening the doors of others.

Seriously, who can watch him breakdown and not at least tear up?

Snow Patrol Frontman To Appear In Game Of Thrones

Gary Lightbody, the frontman for popular band Snow Patrol, has revealed he will appear in a future episode of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

The singer posted a picture of himself in costume after filming his scene for the series. He also said this about his role,

“So I did my scene this morning for Game Of Thrones. I looked like this. Can’t say much just it’s no pivotal role. Fun!“

Lightbody didn’t say who he would be playing or whether or not he would be interacting with any of shows leads.

Season 3 of “Game of Thrones” will premiere on March 31, 2013. You can see a list of new cast members here.