Radar Watch: It’s going to be one heck of a speech.

Posted by Araceli on May 10, 2010 • (0)

It’s been about a month since I posted the last installment of Fannish News, so this one will probably be a doozy. As always, this won’t cover every scrap of news in the last month, cause that would be impossible, but just the parts I’ve found interesting and hope you will, too. Just how much news can happen in a month? We’re about to find out.

TV-Land is up first.

Pilot season, one of my favorite times of the year, is the top news getter. If you were left rather unsatisfied like me from this past season’s new shows, then you’ll be happy to know a whole crop of new shows are coming your way this summer and fall.

For fall television, The Hollywood Reporter has posted two separate updates on each network’s top contenders:++

NBC: David Shore’s Rockford Files (near-lock with Firefly’s Alan Tudyk), J.J. Abrams’ Undercovers (ordered to series, getting rave reviews), Bruckheimer’s Chase (ordered to series, positive buzz), David E. Kelley’s legal drama Kindreds (warm), dramedy Love Bites, and comedies This Little Piggy and Friends with Benefits (Dollhouse’s Fran Kranz). CBS: Hawaii Five-O (done deal, Moonlight’s Alex O’Loughlin, Lost’s Daniel Dae Kim, BSG’s Grace Park, and BtVS’ James Marsters as guest star), Brett Ratner’s Chaos (top contender), Defenders (another top contender with Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell), Criminal Minds spinoff with Forest Whitaker (no one seems to like it), and comedy Bleep My Dad Says (William Shatner). FOX: Breakout Kings, Shawn Ryan’s Ride Along, Midland, and Speilberg’s Terra Nova (ordered to series), and comedies Security (Christian Slater) and Most Likely to Succeed. ABC: Berlanti’s No Ordinary Family (stand out with The Shield’s Michael Chiklis), Shonda Rhimes’ Off the Map, Detroit 187, and comedy Mr. Sunshine (Matthew Perry). CW: Nikita (Maggie Q, X-Men’s Aaron Stanford, ER’s Shane West), Betwixt, and maybe Hellcats. TVGuide has also posted their 14 most promising and liked pilots. Check it out for some new plot and cast information on some of the above.+

It looks like THR was pretty on the money, seeing as the first pilot to be picked up was NBC’s Undercovers from J.J. Abrams for the 2010-11 season.+ NBC’s Chase has also been picked up to series.+ Not mentioned was NBC’s The Event (Jason Ritter), a conspiracy thriller, which has since been picked up as well. FOX’s Terra Nova by Brannon Braga (Star Trek, 24, FlashForward), Craig Silverstein (Nikita) and Spielberg/Chernin was also picked up straight to 13 episodes because of its cost and even without a complete script yet.+ I’m very excited about this show, if done well it could be pretty epic. They’re already in talks to cast Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) in the main role.+ CW’s Nikita is pretty much a done deal as well, seeing as they’ve already started staffing for the show.+ For the final fall schedule, we’ll have to wait til next week for May Upfronts.

As for the rest of fall television, there’s still no word on NBC’s The Cape with Firefly’s Summer Glau, beyond what Summer has already stated in interviews.+ It was previously thought it would be either The Event or The Cape getting on the schedule, but The Event has already been picked up and The Cape is now getting a lot of buzz. So, we’ll have to wait and see if they decide to do both. NBC’s president let some information out on their early pickups, bubble shows, etc. And it sounding pretty good for Chuck and The Cape.+

Already given a six episode order, AMC’s The Walking Dead has been chugging along with casting news: Prison Break’s Sarah Wayne Callies joins and The Shield and X-Files’ Laurie Holden also joins.++ AMC’s The Killing pilot has cast Billy Campbell (The 4400) and will begin filming soon.+ MTV’s American Skins has been picked up for 10 episodes and we’re all dreading to see how different it’ll be from the popular British version.+ FX’s Justified has been given a second season order.+ NBC’s Parenthood has also been renewed for a second season.+

ABC’s Southern Discomfort comedy series has cast Sophia Bush, which could spell trouble for her current series One Tree Hill on CW.+ Again, it was previously thought it would be either One Tree Hill or Life Unexpected, but now I’ve been hearing that both are possible for mid-season orders.+ One Tree Hill would of course be her first priority should it be renewed.

Speaking of CW, it’s new hit The Vampire Diaries has season one available for preorder on Amazon and will be released in August.+ I’ve never bought a season of a tv show as soon as it’s come out before, but I may have to buy and preorder this one instead of paying full price. In case you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, here’s what TV Addict had to say about the show:+

You can put away those Team Damon and Team Stefan t-shirts, because after last night’s episode, we’re firmly planted on Team Williamson/Plec! The talented VAMPIRE DIARIES showrunners who not only continue to astound by juggling multiple story-lines, every-changing allegiances, and ridiculously awesome guest stars (How David Anders does not have his own show we’ll never know!) on a weekly basis. But inexplicably manage to end each episode with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that has us counting down the days to next Thursday.

Then, there’s also the interesting interview Williamson and Plec did with Deadline about making the show and their expanding fanbase.+ Now, that you’ve been adequately convinced, The CW will be airing encore episodes this summer along with Moonlight so you can get caught up before the second season premieres in September.+

For summer television, ABCFamily is hoping new show Pretty Little Liars premiering June 8th will be their next big hit.+ I agree with TVSquad, there’s four reasons why it will be: an intriguing mystery story, cool cast (including BtVS and Vampire Diaries Bianca Lawson), made by Alloy Entertainment of Gossip Girl and Vampire Diaries (if anyone can get me a job with them, please do), and good music.+ Check out the trailer with music for the show at the second link.

Also premiering this summer is USA’s Covert Affairs a CIA spy drama, which has been given a July 13th premiere date along with returning series White Collar.+ AMC’s Rubicon another conspiracy thriller has also been given a premiere date of August 1st alongside returning series Mad Men.+

A quick aside for webseries, Felicia Day has taken home another Streamy for The Guild and sure has become a force since her BtVS days.+ Farscape and Stargate’s Ben Browder has been cast in Naught for Hire a noir sci-fi webseries.+ SyFy has acquired the rights to Riese an award-winning fantasy webseries.+ All hail the rise of web tv.

Moving onto sci-fi television, SyFy is moving their popular original series Syfy Friday night lineups to Tuesdays starting this fall when viewing levels are higher.+ David Duchovny is hoping to bring back one of the most popular sci-fi shows The X-Files and play Fox Mulder again one day.+ Fox Mulder may be brought back sooner than he thinks though, because a comic book combining The X-Files and 30 Days of Night is in the works.+

Anyone who knows me also knows I love educational television, too. Well, when it’s well done anyway. Here’s some I’m keeping on my radar: Spielberg is developing a Future Earth show for Discovery.+ Discovery is also developing Weird or What hosted by William Shatner about unsolved cases from around the world.+ Discovery Channel is also planning Curiosity: The Questions of Life a five year event starting in 2011.+ Lastly, History Channel is lining up a cast for it’s miniseries The Kennedys which will star Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Katie Holmes and Tom Wilkinson.+

Movie-land now.

Twilight: Eclipse premiered their final trailer on Oprah.+ Even better than the official trailer though is this fanmade extended trailer mashup.+ The runtime for the film has been clocked in at 2hrs and 4min.+. The soundtrack has been given a release date of June 8th.+ The first single will be Muse with Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever) released to radio on May 17th.+

Moving on, Twilight: Breaking Dawn has been confirmed as happening and Oscar-winner Bill Condon will be directing the final installment.+ No confirmation on how many movies, but word is it will be divided into two. For those worried about how this newest director to the saga will fare, Condon has posted a note to fans.+ Summit has also given a release date of 11/18/11.+

First images from Bel Ami showing Robert Pattinson and Uma Thurman have been released.+ There’s also news that the short film The Summer House that he did forever ago will be released in July on iTunes.+ An amusing article on how BFF Tom Sturridge got his part in Waiting for Forever by reading the script off Rob’s floor.+ His other BFF Bobby Long has signed with ATO Records, very exciting.+ And not to be left out, Kristen Stewart will be starring in Jack Kerouac story On the Road.+ There’s also a good cover story and interview with her for Elle.+

Former Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke’s new film Red Riding Hood has cast the male lead Shiloh Fernandez alongside Amanda Seyfried.+ Amanda Seyfried also did an interview with MTV on why she fell in love with the script after some prodding from Catherine Hardwicke.+

Joss Whedon hasn’t quite been confirmed to be directing the Avengers movie, but he might as well be since he’s already gotten Stan Lee’s approval.++ Also, Edgar Wright who will be directing Ant-Man before Avengers is made, has already had a meeting with Joss as well.+ So, it seems to be a sure thing. Joss’ horror movie Cabin in the Woods has gotten a rating of R and release date of January 14, 2011.+ An interview with Fran Kranz (Dollhouse) released some more information on the top secret movie.+ Lastly, for Joss’s Glee episode, a press summary and release date of May 18th has released.+ I believe that’s it in Joss news.

Also in Joss news, there have been some great fandom links going around (it includes other shows, too FYI): 25 TV Flashback Episodes You Love.+ SFX’s greatest flashback episodes ever.+ 20 Great All Seems Lost Moments From Science Fiction/Fantasy!+ 13 amazing musical moments from sci-fi TV shows.+ And LOGO is having a BtVS marathon of 30 episodes, so help out and vote for the ten greatest Buffy episodes.+ And for extra oomph: Why We Adore Joss Whedon.+

Next best thing, comic book movie news. The Green Lantern costume will be all CG?+ Captain America has two bits of casting news: Hayley Atwell has been cast as his love interest and Hugo Weaving has been cast as Red Skull.++ The first picture from Thor of Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) has been released.+ First photo from Conan of Stargate Atlantis’ Jason Momoa. Dark Knight sequel has an official release date of July 20, 2012.+ X-Men: First Class is in the works to be directed by Kick-Ass’ Matthew Vaughn.+ Cowboys and Aliens has added Sam Rockwell to its cast.+ Lastly, the trailer for Jonah Hex has been released.+

The jury is still out on if The Last Airbender will be any good or not, but the new trailer doesn’t look too shabby, and the cartoon is awesomesauce.+ James Cameron has revealed more on The Avatar sequel diving into the oceans of Pandora and more.++ More exciting though, to me at least, is his Battle Angel Alita plans.+ And if that’s not enough Cameron news for you: information on Fantastic Voyage, which is written by Cameron.+

One of my favorite director’s Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, The Truman Show) has a new sci-fi project: I’m.mortal.+ One of my other favorite’s Darren Aronofsky has cast Rachel Weisz as another Jackie Kennedy. (The other being History Channel’s miniseries.)+ The next movie for J.J. Abrams may be a collaboration with and tribute to Steven Spielberg.+ An amusing Da Vinci action hero film will be written by FlashForward showrunner.+ The film for the upcoming book, yes you read right, I Am Number Four has cast District 9′s Sharlto Copley as lead. Teresa Palmer has also joined the film.++ In the remake of vampire film Let the Right One In, Kick-Ass star Chloe Moretz will be starring.+

Destroying our childhood memories one movie at a time: Tom Arnold joins Battleship with Taylor Kitsch.+ Screenwriters have been hired for Masters of the Universe.+ Disney unveils plans for Monsters Inc. sequel.+ And Spierig Brothers to direct Dark Crystal sequel.+

And just to give you some fun people news:

BtVS alums Tom Lenk out with Alyson Hannigan & herbaby Satyana.+ Seth Green gets married and I was starting to wonder if it’d ever happen.+ Anna Torv and Mark Valley sadly split.+ And surprisingly Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton welcome a baby boy, cause who even knew they were dating?+