Many television channels view timeshifting services as bad for business, but not AMC. The network reported sizable ratings boosts for “The Walking Dead” and “Mad Men” due in part, it says, to Netflix and other online streaming services.
Last year, Netflix purchased the exclusive rights to stream every back episode of AMC shows “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” and “The Walking Dead.”
According to DigitalTrends, AMC reported that its revenues were up about 40 percent in the first three months of 2012. Profits were up 20 percent thanks to strong ratings and performance of the new season “The Walking Dead.”
They haven’t been shy about vocalizing the role of Netflix in their ratings. Part of the reason for the network’s success, according to CEO Josh Sapan, was the working with Netflix and Amazon.
2012 got off to a strong start for AMC Networks, with double digit increases in net revenues, AOCF and operating income,” Sapan said. “Continued viewer enthusiasm for our programming resulted in ratings gains for our national networks, most notably AMC’s The Walking Dead, which ended its second season with nine million total viewers, an increase of 50 percent over last season’s finale. The series reigns as the highest-rated scripted drama in basic cable history in advertiser’s key demos. The fifth season of AMC’s Mad Men currently ranks as the most watched season ever of the series, outperforming the prior season by double-digits. These successes underscore the strength of our original programming strategy, which continues to drive audience and advertiser demand for our networks.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Sapan later went into more detail during a conference call,
New viewers are finding these shows on a digital service, catching up on prior seasons and then tuning into AMC for new seasons in greater numbers, many for the first time.”
AMC isn’t without its problems though. Dish Networks, a satellite TV operator, has decided to drop the channel from its lineup. Dish cited low ratings as the reason for the cut, but said it was the result of ongoing litigation between the two companies over its participation in Voom HD, a collection of HD channels that Dish decided to pick up, but dropped in 2008.
However, “The Walking Dead” continues to do extremely well on the channel. After premiering in October 2010, it has broken several ratings records and continues to be well received by critics and viewers. It has also received many award nominations, including a Writers Guild of America Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Television Series Drama. The series has also attained strong Nielsen ratings, beating various records for a cable series, including receiving 9 million viewers for its season two finale to become the most-watched basic cable drama telecast in history.
Neil Marshall, director of 2005’s claustrophobic nightmare The Descent, has signed on to direct the upcoming film The Last Voyage of the Demeter. Millennium films will release the project which cycled through numerous directors before landing in Marshall’s hands.
According to Screenrant, Filmmakers such as Robert Schwentke (RED), Marcus Nispel (Conan the Barbarian), Stefan Ruzowitzky (Anatomy) and David Slade (Twilight: Eclipse) have all either circled or been briefly attached to direct the project at different points in time.
Though not a direct book adaptation, the story’s origins lie within the text of Bram Stoker’s 1897 classic Dracula. The Demeter was the ship that brought Dracula from Transylvania to London in Stoker’s book. The damaged ship washed ashore in England with one survivor.
The film will follow the segment of the novel featuring the titular last voyage of the Demeter and the terror that occurs on board.
Within the novel, Dracula, the Russian ship, the Demeter, having weighed anchor at Varna, runs aground on the shores of Whitby, England, during a fierce tempest. All of the crew are missing and presumed dead, and only one body is found, that of the captain tied to the ship’s helm. The captain’s log is recovered and tells of strange events that had taken place during the ship’s journey. These events led to the gradual disappearance of the entire crew apparently owing to a malevolent presence on board the ill-fated ship. An animal described as a large dog is seen on the ship leaping ashore. The ship’s cargo is described as silver sand and boxes of “mould”, or earth, from Transylvania.
The film’s script was written a decade ago by Bragi Schut (Season of the Witch).
Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer and Bradley Fischer will be producing. The three have worked together on films before, such as Zodiac, Black Swan and Shutter Island.
The film was almost made last year by David Slade with a cast that included Ben Kingsley and Noomie Rapace, but when that was shut down the actors also left the project. It isn’t immediately known whether either cast member will return with the new project moving forward.
Little more information has been released about the indirect adaptation.
It was announced a few months ago that the novel “666 Park Avenue” had been optioned for television and there it sat for months. Now, it has been announced that ABC will adapt Gabriella Pierce’s 2011 novel for television due to air in the 2012-2013 television season.
Terry O’Quinn, Vanessa Williams, Dave Annable, Rachael Taylor, Mercedes Masohn, Robert Buckley, Helena Mattsson and Erik Palladino will star/appear in the show.
The show will follow Gavin Doran, played by O’Quinn and his wife Olivia, played by Vanessa Williams who own The Drake, home to dozens of residents who are unaware of the supernatural forces at work in the building. When a young Midwestern couple – Jane Van Even and Henry Martin – is hired to manage The Drake, they begin to unravel the mystery.
David Wilcox (Fringe), Leslie Morgenstein (Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries) and Gina Girolamo (The Secret Circle, The Lying Game) will executive produce.
Here is ABC’s pitch:
If you could make one wish, what would it be? And what would you do to get it? At 666 Park Avenue, all of your dreams and burning desires can come true: wealth, sex, love, power, even revenge. But just be careful what you wish for, because the price you pay… could be your soul. Welcome to The Drake, the premiere apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.”
Read the novel’s official plot synopsis below:
What if your mother-in-law turned out to be an evil, cold-blooded witch . . . literally? Ever since fabulously wealthy Malcolm Doran walked into her life and swept her off her feet, fledgling architect Jane Boyle has been living a fairy tale. When he proposes with a stunning diamond to seal the deal, Jane can’t believe her incredible luck and decides to leave her Paris-based job to make a new start with Malcolm in New York. But when Malcolm introduces Jane to the esteemed Doran clan, one of Manhattan’s most feared and revered families, Jane’s fairy tale takes a darker turn. Soon everything she thought she knew about the world—and herself—is upended. Now Jane must struggle with newfound magical abilities and the threat of those who will stop at nothing to get them.”
Even if you haven’t seen the movie or read the massively popular trilogy, The Hunger Games, you at least know its central premise. Children, thrown into an arena, fight to the death for one victor. While that is definitely not something most would like to be apart of in real life, the idea of the strategic survival in a game with a multiplayer capacity seems …. well fun.
So when Minecraft, a giant vital sandbox of a game, merged with one of the most violent and popular stories, we get possibly one of the coolest custom experiences ever. Since there isn’t (yet) an officially licensed Hunger Games title out there, this one of best ways to get a piece of action and chaos that is the Games.
The servers that host the Games within Minecraft are called “Survival Games” with the players called “Tributes.” Even the opening of each session mimics the opening scene of the Arena from the books and movie. Tributes stand in a large circle around a cache of supplies and when a time hits zero, you better run.
Very similar to the original story, most run for the supplies in the center, being killed quickly, fighting over the best supplies and weapons. Then tributes can run into the woods to begin the strategic battle of survival as they begin hunting each other down throughout the map. The session ends when only one player/tribute is alive.
Even alliances form during the sessions to help hunt down those left by themselves or unprepared. Just beware, because betrayal is always an option as it gets to the last few players.
If you want to take part, a dedicated Minecraft Survival Games website has been established that includes links to servers hosting the games as well as leader boards to track the progress of the best tributes playing the games.
You can watch a player taking place in one of the Survival Games matches below:
HBO has finally premiered the full trailer for the upcoming season 5 of “True Blood.”
Season 5 will include several new cast members such as Christopher Meloni, most know for working on “Law & Order: SVU.” Details on who his character will be has yet to be released. Also joining this season is Scott Foley as Patrick, one of Terry’s war buddies. Louis Herthum will join as JD, Alcide’s father and Kelly Overton will appear as Rikki, a werewolf curious about Marcus. It has also been revealed that Carolyn Hennesy will play Rosalyn Harris, a texas vampire thrown into the mix.
Alan Ball has cast the reoccurring role of Alexander Drew for the upcoming season 5, a Chancellor of the vaunted Vampire Authority.
“True Blood” is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris. The novels follows the world as the existence of vampires are revealed and the two groups of humanity struggle to co-exist around the world. The novels focus primarily on the town of Bon Temps, a small town in Louisiana and the life of telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse.
The new season will premiere June 10th. You can see what we already know about season 5 here, or just watch the trailer below.
Elena: So, Rachel, what was it about this episode that made you say the F word all over Twitter?
Rachel: Holy Craaaap, Dany’s Dragons were stolen! This shit DOESN’T HAPPEN IN THE BOOKS. I am lost. This scene is such a great representation of how I felt during the entire episode. HBO is finally making changes that put the readers in the dark and now we (get to?) enjoy the show in much the same way as non-readers. Sitting on the edge of our seats, no idea what’s happening next, worrying for our favorite characters.
The changes can’t please everyone, but if they continue on making these sorts of changes, that don’t rewrite entire plotlines, I think it will be great. It is an adaptation, after all, and I don’t think anyone can reasonably expect the writers to follow each book exactly. (Remember when I kind of hated The Hunger Games? Yes. It was because the movie followed the book too closely and lost most of its heart in the process.)
This change for Dany’s storyline ESPECIALLY is definitely the right move for HBO. I love Dany. She is one of my favorite characters, but her storyline can get a little…well, boring. HBO recognized that sitting around in Qarth receiving sycophants and having Jorah make you feel uncomfortable is not enough of a story for Dany. Compare that to what is coming for pretty much any other character, and it is absolutely understandable and expected that HBO would spice it up. I’m totally fine with it. I’m upset that Irri is dead, but at least she defended the dragons with her life. She was brave.
And the noises the baby dragons were making? Heartbreaking. I cannot wait to see Targaryen Dany Eyes in full force for the entirety of the next episode. Girl is going to lose her mind.
Rachel: Elena, what did you think as a non-reader?
Elena: It didn’t really stand out to me as being obviously not of the books when I watched it, and so I think the writers did a really great job of integrating in Martin’s trademark “you can see it coming in retrospect but never in advance” sort of solipsistic-character interaction with the world. Having had Dany’s behavior in Qarth in the book explained to me, I can see why this didn’t happen in the books (read: because she didn’t leave her dragons alone very much), but in the show it was just sort of a duh moment. Like…the entire city knows you’re there, and that you have dragons, and that you are making house calls on all the rich men, trying to finance Operation: Reclaim the Iron Throne, and that you have a very limited contingent of guards. Why wouldn’t someone move in to take the one thing of value (sorry, Dany) that you have while you are essentially defenseless? I know there is a thing about hospitality and guests, but…she’s not the guest of the city but of Xaro. Also, the city is full of rich men. Sure, some of them did it entirely honestly, but as Xaro pointed out, most of them did not—they did things that would make a back-alley whore blush and didn’t blink because it was what needed to be done. Of course some opportunistic Qarthian is going to try and steal her dragons.
This scene also tied in very well to what is going on with the rest of the show right now. Part of being a lord in this land is being able to hold what you claim…we are actually seeing that theme play out in macro with the various kings and will they be able to hold their thrones (as indeed Robert was barely able to) and on a micro-scale with individual holdings. Such as Bran not being able to hold Winterfell against Theon…and Theon in turn probably not being able to hold it long against Robb or anyone Robb sends. Or his sister, for that matter, when her 500 knights get there (assuming she even sends them). Come on, she’s not going to let her brother use her men to secure what he stole and still call himself Lord of Winterfell. She’ll steal it from him. Ha! Take that, Theon!
Elena: Speaking of Theon…were there more changes from the books in his Winterfell-felling quest?
Rachel: Oh, Theon. Theon, Theon, Theon, Theon. Having just seen Avengers I am tempted to draw lots and lots of parallels between Theon and Loki. They’re both adopted. They both have older brothers they have a really complicated relationship with. They’re both horrible fucktards. And yes, both are strangely compelling. Although, I think we’ll give Loki the trophy in prettiness, we’ll all agree. (Sorry, Alfie, considered yourself…Loki’d).
But yes, there were more changes in Winterfells scenes. Let’s talk about the things that HBO has done in that I liked:
THE DETAILS: Bran had a handle hanging above his bed that allowed him to sit up my himself. I loved this detail. Not only because it gives Bran more physicality – we don’t see him only move around with Hodor’s help – but because it also means that Bran has made a turn-around from the depressed child we saw following his accident. Bran has figured out how to go on with daily life.
Yes, I’m totally OK with the fact that they compressed (again) several scenes into one. Namely that instead of Theon killing Mikken (which would have made no sense as he isn’t a character in the show), he killed Ser Rodrik (who dies a little later in the book, but I can’t tell you details). There is emotional impact since we know this character, plus Theon’s total inability to get through Rodrik’s neck in one or even three blows is just…gugh. Maybe we shouldn’t blame Theon – all that salt air can dull his blade. And since the Greyjoys Do Not Sow, we can’t expect them to have any native blacksmiths around to keep their weapons sharpish. But those of us who’ve read the books know Theon’s worse moments are coming…soon.
Maester Luwin’s performance. What a scene stealer! Isaac (Bran) did an awesome job as well at conveying the frustration of a little boy who can do nothing to stop the inevitable. Not merely due to his handicap but because he has no men and no way to oust Theon from Winterfell. He is feeling the responsibility of keeping his people safe, but it is Maester Luwin that really steps up in his scenes. He is no fool to let a boy shoulder those responsibilities. Also – that opening scene with the ravens. WIN.
I’m going to scoot right on by seeing Tonks naked (Wow, these Harry Potter books got way adult) except to say that she should have just killed him, otherwise why even put yourself through it? She could have skipped boning with Theon and gone straight to offering herself to the guards (arguments against this will include – “but she needed Theon to be asleep!”…Yea…or dead?)
But really I have to love any scene in which Shaggydog makes an appearance.
Rachel: Anyway, there were lots of wtf moments in terms of writing in the Osha escape scene, agree?
Elena: Man, that sequence was just killer. Tonks Osha is yet another Badass Bitch! Are there any women in Westeros who are not secret badasses? No wonder all the men are so terrified of letting them do anything but knit. I mean, all these warring rapacious assholes have to get the genes from somewhere, and apparently it’s not all from daddy…but I digress. Right. Lots of WTF when Osha goes in and has sex with Theon. The only point to that scene is to continue the narrative confusion of what her game is until the end of the episode. Because, seriously, there is no reason for her to bang Theon if she isn’t going to kill him! Gurl. Your brain is a bit too one-track here. You have Theon sleeping like a baby in all his self-satisfied glory, no guards in sight, and you…just put your cloak back on and walk out? Honey, the guard would have been just as certain Theon sent you to warm his night if you had gone to him first. Did you worry not having the scent of Theon’s balls on your breath might tip your hand?
Rachel: Insert me making a face and saying “Theon’s Balls?” to myself.
Elena: Anyway, Osha’s mad plan to escape with Bran and Rickon was, aside from the 5-minute detour (bc you know that’s all it took) to fuck Theon to sleep, pretty brilliant. And while I would totally like to claim that I knew she wasn’t really betraying Bran, because she’s Tonks, and she’s too Awesome for that…honestly, I didn’t question her trying to get out of being the Stark’s indentured servant at all. But the second she slit that guy’s throat I remembered what happened on the day she was caught. Theon wanted to kill her, and Robb stopped him. She told Robb, if you spare my life, I am yours. And she is from the North. They do not make bullshit vows like the Iron Islanders do. She meant that. And Theon was fucking there, and he fucking heard her make that promise, and he doesn’t have a bazillion character motivations to keep track of the way I do. So how the fuck did he forget that?
So, yeah, Osha is awesome.
Theon is…not awesome. He totally allowed himself to be bullied into having Ser Rodrick executed, and then he had to be bullied into doing it himself. I don’t think he has very long to live. He’s not fooling anyone into thinking he’s real leadership material. If he weren’t such a hosebeast I might feel sorry for him. Like, I understand he has conflicting motivations. And I get that he is young and hasn’t been exposed to having to do these hard things for himself. But at the same time, if he had a stronger sense of self, he’d have the courage of his convictions. Instead he has no convictions, just whatever seems necessary at that moment. He is not thinking ahead, and in the game of thrones if you can’t think five moves ahead you’re going to lose. Theon can’t even think one move ahead right now.
I just hope Robb gets his wish to be the one to kill him. I feel like that isn’t going to happen for him, though. Theon’s just Too Stupid To Live.
Rachel: So remember when Roose finally wanders over to tell Robb and Cat and Talisa of Theon’s betrayal, and Cat is all, “I TOLD YOU!”? You were right, Cat. You were riiiight. Robb is basically an idiot if he thought he could rely on Theon as if he were Jon. No way. Everyone forgot that Theon was a PRISONER. Everyone but Cat, because she’s very good at remembering which ones are her children and which ones aren’t.
Ten thousand extra points for Roose’s “Let me send word to my Bastard at the Dreadfort.” YESSS. SEND ALL THE WORDS. And leaches!
As far as Robb still mooning over Talisa…eh.
Elena: That was such an awkward mom intrusion. Robb was just starting to get his mack on, inviting her to have dinner in his tent and all, and then his mom comes up and might as well have pulled him away by his ear. Ha! Also Cat is going to get to say I Told You So a second time when Lady Talisa turns out to be not foreign and not Talisa. The lady part I give her, Robb’s right about that, but otherwise? I call bullshit on that story. Cat smells it, too. She keeps giving that girl the skank eye, like, “Bitch, please, I have a pen pal in every keep in the Riverlands (except Harrenhal, obviously), and I know there ain’t no mothafucking lady named Taleezha running around here with any legitimate purpose.”
Also, having Roose’s inclination to suck fingerbones explained to me, your caption on our first Talisa picture (“Roose, you’re making this [amputation] awkward”) is stunningly hilarious. Apparently, like the books, OUR VERY COLUMNS can be revisited with greater appreciation once the bigger picture comes clear!
Elena: Right. So, since I mentioned Harrenhal…what did we think of this week’s episode of As the Wheel Turns: Isengard?
Rachel: LOL at Littlefinger’s teleportation abilities. Yet another creation of the show that is not in the books. It’s kind of weird. I guess they don’t want to pull a Downton Abbey and put everything in letters for people to read and then pull dramatic faces over – I get it. Also, I’m going to assume that show-Littlefinger TOTALLY recognized Arya but very handily CHOSE not to. However, I…have no idea why he would do that. If he did recognize her and then told his ally Tywin…they probably would have shipped her back to King’s Landing or arranged a trade to get Jaime back…maybe. But Littlefinger doesn’t give a rip about ol’ horse face, he’s got other fish to fry.
By far the best moment was Jaqen H’ghar’s kill. Again, changes from the book, but the impact and plot movement is the same. Plus, HA! Arya demands, Jaqen delivers. Tywin does…nothing? The fallout (ha) of this kill may actually come back to kick Arya in the butt. Tywin isn’t the type of lord to ignore the fact that one of his men was obviously murdered right in front of him.
Thaffierths! <———— I’m sorry. I had to.
Jaqen H’ghar strikes (our hearts) again! Let’s here it for team, “More water, sir?”!
Elena: I don’t know, that guy was getting on Tywin’s nerves. Maybe he will choose not to look a gift horse in the mouth?
Really the whole sequence convinced me that Jaqen H’ghar is kind of in love with Arya. Not, like in a creepy sexual way, but in the “I’ll wait for her” guy in love with Hit Girl on Kick-Ass way. He finds her fiery spirit irresistible. Also I think he responded to her imperious tone. She definitely channeled her mother there, with that NO, JAQEN, IT MUST BE NOWWWWWWWWWWWW. Like even the representative of the red god took a step back and decided not to annoy Her Ladyship further. Because if Arya uses a Cat tone, you know shit’s about to get real, and he couldn’t stand to see his little bird of death get hurt.
Rachel: A… raven, perhaps? As to Jaqen – representative of R’hllor? You think that? Just because he mentioned him to Arya before? I totally understand why you would think that given the line but take this is a negative head nod from me. Ya know.. FYI. (This has been a message from DarthRachel Omnipotence Corps.)
Elena: Conclusion: Stark girls are irresistible to sociopaths. Or perhaps it’s Tully girls, if Littlefinger’s obsession with Cat is any guideline. Discuss in the context of Sansa’s arc this week.
Rachel: The big San/San moment this week! Sandor rescuing Sansa. Not going to lie, my exposure to The Phantom of the Opera as a small child has left me predisposed to liking their dynamic even though IT’S TERRIBLE. It is! He’s an amoral killer with a hate-gig, and she’s a naïve (but learning) prisoner. It’s romantic in a brooding, windswept moor sense, but also horrifying. More San/San!
The riot in King’s Landing might actually be less powerful in the books than it was in the show. In the books they’re on horseback, and everyone is running, and I was not in as much fear for characters’ lives (okay, let’s face it, there aren’t a lot of characters I give a rip about in the scene to start with) as I was in the show. Putting them on the ground not only saved them horse-renting money, it helped put the camera down in the riot instead of horse-back level. Well done!
Elena: I would say…it’s easy to fear for a character’s life even if you actively want to see them dead. It’s just that fear is perhaps the wrong connotation. “Actively question their ability to survive” is more tone-neutral, yes? Because I actively questioned the ability of any of them to survive. It would be a fitting end for our Good King Joffrey, White Knight of Douchebaggery and High Wizard of Craziness to get trampled in street riot by peasants throwing cow pies. Better yet, by peasants force-feeding him cow pies. That would make my life complete…but it was not to be. Instead the little fuckball left Sansa out to get raped to death in the streets. He obviously is not turned on by sub’s the way the Hound is. Maybe he should toss over Sansa for Margaery, I bet she could whip (literally) some sense into him. But the Hound probably should have let Sansa at least get her little princess hymen snapped by the first of those street roughs; then Joffrey would have thrown her to him like a bone! Maybe he will anyway if Margaery strolls into King’s Landing with her father’s army and a black leather dress on. San-San 4evah!
Rachel: I’m laughing at that because I know you, I know you aren’t actually advocating Sansa be raped. You’re making a comment on how fucked up and shitty Joffrey is, YOU HEAR THAT COMMENTORS?
I don’t have much to say about the introduction of Ygritte except that I love her and it was perfect and I demand more Ygritte! So what did you think of Ygritte becausesheismyfavoriteandIreallyhopeyoulikeher?!
Elena: Ygritte was AWESOME! She is going to test Jon Snow’s knowledge of Where To Put It very quickly, I sense. Although considering how uncomfortable her wiggling made him, perhaps he really DOES know.
God, I can’t wait to see what all she can manipulate him to do with her feminine wiles. I mean, Jon Snow is this poor horny virgin who couldn’t even bring himself to bang a Winterfell whore (and the whore was obviously not actively trying to seduce him or she could have talked him out of walking away, so obviously he has NO experience even attempting to resist feminine wiles, because he has never in his life had any directed at him), and here’s this wild thing who calls his bluff when he’s told to kill her and almost escapes him and still fights him the only way she can…yeah. This is not going to end well for him. If by end well we mean staying true to his vows at The Wall, that is. The actual sex will probably end very well. She will show him the true meaning of a Wild Rumpus (because she’s a wildling, and Jon Snow has run off to Where The Wild Things Are…AKA North Of The Wall).
I kind of expect that she takes Jon to the wildling camp and he finds out that the King Beyond the Wall is actually Uncle Benji. Because that would be dramatic irony of the type that is totally irresistible for this kind of story (cough *soap opera with swords* cough). And if the King Beyond the Wall is not a man to whom Jon Snow owes ostensible fealty…then Jon Snow will someone end up the new King Beyond the Wall, because that’s just how things are going to go for the kid. His destiny is not to become wildling shish kebab or live out his days on The Wall until he is old and impotent and telling stories about how he could have stopped a civil war but didn’t. No.
But now he won’t have to, because he has met Ygritte, and she is pretty enough to tempt even a Lord of Winterfell, and she is hard enough to impress even a Lord of Winterfell, and yet she is low enough that the Bastard of Winterfell doesn’t feel out of his league as long as he doesn’t lose his fights to her! Jon Snow, meet Rocked. As in, your world officially is. And yes, the romance reader in me will unabashedly ship the one fucking couple of maybe-they-could-hook-up characters on this show for whom it would not be a disaster or betrayal in one way or another to actually hook up. I mean, yes Jon vowed celibacy, but…come on. Even Lord Mormont admits they don’t actually expect the men to keep that vow, and anyway Jon’s “brothers” kind of threw him to the wolves on that one with their whole, “you go on and kill her while we walk to the top and wait for you” bit. There was just no way he was ready for killing a pretty girl without having seen her kill someone first. So I’m not going to consider it any kind of oathbreaking for him to forget about those assholes (even though Jon will be emo about it for YEARS). Anyway, my main point was, Yay, Ygritte!
Rachel: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (insert me laughing hysterically and weeping and then laughing again and I will never tell you WHYYYYYYYYY)
The rumor mill has been swirling for months about who will play Carrie’s mother in the upcoming Carrie remake. It was reportedly between Jodie Foster and Julianne Moore. It was reported last week that Moore was offered the role and Deadline confirmed that she has accepted.
Carrie’s mother is abusive towards her, using her fundamental christian values to keep her from experiencing the world, and being a teenager.
Moore will be starring along side Chloe Moretz, who is playing the titular character.
Deadline has also reported that Gabriella Wilde, who recently starred in The Three Musketeers, is in talks to take the role of Sue Snell.
Carrie is based on the novel written by famed horror author Stephen King, originally published in 1974. The plot revolves around the titular Carrie, a high school girl who is bullied by the other students in her school. She uses her newly discovered telekinetic powers to exact revenge on all those who tease her.
It is one of the most frequently banned books in United States schools. Much of the book is written in an epistolary structure, through newspaper clippings, magazine articles, letters, and excerpts from books.
There have already been several adaptation of the novel, the 1976 film being the most well known and praised.
The film has been said to be less of a remake of the 1976 Brian De Palma film and more of a re-adaptation of the original text.
Shooting for the upcoming adaptation begins next month under the direction of Kimberly Peirce. It is said that it will be released March 2013.
Warner Bros. has confirmed that it will release a widely expected Lord of the Rings Lego videogame.
Packaging for Lego’s new line of LOTR toys, inspired by the three Peter Jackson movies based on the books, reveals the title is on the way. The news was announced last week and confirmed on the Lego Official Website.
In preparation for the game release, Lego will be releasing a new toy set based on the characters. The toy set based on the characters and upcoming game will be hitting stores Summer 2012.
Toy News predicted that Warner Bros. will officially unveil the new Lego game within the next few weeks, leading up to the E3 video games exhibition, and possibly at the show itself.
The game’s creation conveniently coincides with the upcoming release of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, coming to theaters Dec. 14.
The Lego video game series has done extremely well with hit titles such as the Lego Star Wars series, and Lego Batman. There have been four Lego Star Wars video games: Lego Star Wars: The Video Game (2005) Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (2006) Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (2007) Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (2011). As of February 13, 2009, Lego Star Wars: The Video Game has sold over 6.7 million copies worldwide, Lego Star Wars II has sold over 8.2 million, The Complete Saga has sold over 3.4 million, and the three combined have sold over 20 million.
With the game sets, and the film coming out this year, the Lego LOTR video game will most likely do very well commercially. It also seems the Lego video games have a stable fan base that are anticipating this new release.
Shawn Levy (Date Night, Night at the Museum) is working on a deal to direct the big-screen adaptation of The 39 Clues, the 11-volume novel series Scholastic Media began publishing in 2008.
Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can) wrote the script and Spielberg and Scholastic’s Deborah Forte are producing. Originaly Brett Ratner was attached to direct the film adaptation, but he later dropped out and was replaced by Levy.
According to Deadline, DreamWorks purchased the film rights to the book before it was published, intending for Steven Spielberg to direct.
More than a typical novel, The 39 Clues includes cards and an online game that gives clues to a mystery. Readers who solve the mystery can win a cash prize.
The story is about the Cahills, whose relatives include the likes of Houdini and Napoleon. The movie is framed as an epic family adventure about two ordinary kids who discover that they are part of the world’s most powerful family sets them off on a globe-trotting treasure hunt.
The book’s official plot synopsis follows:
Minutes before she died Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her decendants an impossible decision: “You have a choice – one million dollars or a clue.”
Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world’s most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will reveal the family’s secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what’s important: hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents.
The 39 Clues is Scholastic’s groundbreaking new series, spanning10 adrenaline-charged books, 350 trading cards, and an online game where readers play a part in the story and compete for over $100,000 in prizes.”
The 39 Clues books set the story, and the cards, website and game allow kids to participate in it. Kids visit the website – the39clues.com – and discover they are also lost members of the Cahill family. They then set up online accounts where they can compete against other kids and against Cahill characters to find all 39 clues.
Through the website, kids can track their points and clues, manage their card collections, dig through the Cahill archives for secrets, and “travel” the world to collect Cahill artifacts, interview characters, and hunt down clues. Collecting cards helps: Each card is a piece of evidence containing information on a Cahill, a clue, or a family secret.
Universal Pictures is in talks to make Kick-Ass 2, with Jeff Wadlow (Cry Wolf) directing his own screenplay. Mark Millar is also expected to write for the sequel, according to IMDb.com.
Kick-Ass, released in 2010, was based on the graphic novel of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. The first installment was directed by Matthew Vaughn. It made $28 million and grossed $48.1 million domestic and $103 million worldwide.
The previous director, Vaughn, cannot direct the sequel because he is committed to a follow-up to X-Men: First Class, but is fully supportive of the change, according to Deadline.com.
IMDB lists the sequel as Kick-Ass 2: Balls 2 the Wall. The comic book sequel also listed it as their working title before becoming simply, “Kick-Ass 2.”
It is not yet known whether original cast members Aaron Johnson (Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass), Chloe Moretz (Mindy Macready/Hit-Girl) and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Chris D’Amico/Red Mist) will reprise their roles. Although they have all expressed interest in continuing the series.
No other details have been released.
For those interested in catching up before the sequel, the official plot synopsis of the original book follows.
Have you ever wanted to be a superhero? Dreamed of donning a mask and just heading outside to kick some ass? Well, this is the book for you – the comic that starts where other superhero books draw the line. Kick-Ass is realistic superheroes taken to the next level. Miss out and you’re an idiot! Wolverine: Enemy of the State’s team of Mark Millar (Civil War) and John Romita Jr. (World War Hulk) reunite for the best new book of the 21st century. This title collects Kick-Ass numbered 1-8.”
And the synopsis for Kick-Ass 2:
KICK-ASS is back, just as over-the-top as ever! As everybody’s favorite psychotic 11-year-old HIT GIRL trains KICK-ASS to be…well, a bad-ass, RED MIST gathers a team of super-villains to take them down! It’s super hero mayhem as only MARK MILLAR and JOHN ROMITA JR. can bring you!”
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