Film Junk » TV

Star Wars Live Action TV Show to Introduce Time Travel?

Sean — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:16:03 +0000

I want to make it clear right up front that this next story is nothing more than a big fat rumour, but since Star Wars fans are willing to argue over just about anything, I figured it might be worth mentioning. We all know that George Lucas has been working on a live action Star Wars TV series for quite some time now, but back in 2010 he announced that the series was being put on hold for a few years because it was not yet economically feasible. With a proposed title of Star Wars: Underworld, the series is expected to fill in the gap between the prequels and original trilogy by focusing on the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe. Now this week there is a rumour floating around the web stating that the show might introduce a sci-fi element that has been completely absent from Star Wars up until now: time travel. Is George Lucas getting ready to go back to the future? The good folks over at Ain't It Cool News recently received information from an "untested source" about the plot of one of the first episodes of Star Wars: Underworld. The story in question revolves around "a group of bandits acquiring the capability of time travel, and using it to travel back in time to stop Darth Vader from ever existing." This would potentially involve revisiting the prequels and stopping Anakin before he turns to the dark side. If this is true, it could be a pretty dangerous idea to bring to the mix. It's very easy to get carried away with time travel and to start altering continuity (yet again) or to use it as a band-aid solution for every problem. On the other hand, I can't say that I'm not intrigued by the possibilities. Once again, we have no idea if this rumour is reliable in any way, but it doesn't seem all that far-fetched either. Would you like to see time travel introduced to the Star Wars universe? Do you have faith in Star Wars: Underworld or have you completely given up on George Lucas at this point?

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Game of Thrones Season 2 Trailer

Sean — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:47:17 +0000

I don't think it's a stretch to say that the second season of Game of Thrones is one of the most anticipated returns of a TV show we've had in quite some time. The first season went out on such an epic note that it's been agony waiting for the story to continue, and while I suppose the books are always there for people who don't want to wait, who the hell's got time for that? HBO has released the first full trailer for the new season this week, and although it's fairly vague, it certainly seems to hint at big things for Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). "Winter" can't come soon enough. Game of Thrones Season 2 premieres on HBO on April 1st; check out the trailer after the jump and see what you think.

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Ferris Bueller 2 Trailer or Super Bowl Ad?

Josh — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:45:22 +0000

I can remember hearing rumors about a sequel to the classic John Hughes film Ferris Bueller's Day Off since the late '90s. Back in 2007, Sean reported that there was actually a script called Ferris Bueller 2: Another Day Off penned by Rick Rapier with the hope of Hughes to direct. Matthew Broderick denied a sequel in an interview with Variety back in '07. "Ferris Bueller is about the week before you leave school, it's about the end of school. It doesn't have a sequel," Broderick said. "It's a little moment and it's a lightning flash in your life." Now, five years later, with John Hughes gone and Broderick grey-haired and bloated (he turns 50 this year), we get the following teaser (mysteriously posted on YouTube this morning as "Coming Soon" with little description) that most are saying is an ad for... another ad. A Super Bowl ad. That would be a first, as far as I know, but it is almost more believable than a sequel at this point. There are no clues on the IMDb Pro pages for either Broderick or Rapier. Still, I have hope. Maybe Alan Ruck finally sat Broderick down for an intervention after Tower Heist because rumors about a film based on Rapier's script began circulating again last year. The teaser features Broderick recreating a piece of the opening scene from the esteemed original film, by pulling open his curtains and delivering into the camera, "How can I handle work on a day like today?" (a twist on the original line "How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?"). Check out the video after the jump. So, whether we have a teaser for an ad or a teaser for a movie, it seems we'll find out on Sunday, February 5th. Cruel to make us watch the Super Bowl to find out. But, I think it would be even more cruel if this were just a commercial for Expedia or Marriott Hotels as some have suggested. Am I alone in wanting to see this? Broderick hasn't given us much to be hopeful about lately, but Election was enough for me to think he could pull off this big a role as an adult. I will say that, if it is a movie, the photography looks a little more "Glamor Shots by Deb" than I'd hope. Maybe that is a point in favor of it being an ad. What do you think? Super Bowl ad or movie? And if it is a movie, is it a good idea?

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NBC Planning an Office Spin-Off Starring Rainn Wilson

Sean — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:58:23 +0000

I have to admit, I haven't really been watching much of The Office this season; although there are still plenty of funny people working on the show, it just hasn't been the same without Michael Scott. I'm not sure what the ratings have been like, but if you ask me, this next bit of news seems like a surefire sign that it is the beginning of the end for the show. According to Deadline, NBC is officially developing a spin-off series from The Office that it is planning for 2013. The show would be headlined by Rainn Wilson and would focus on the Schrute Family beet farm and Bed & Breakfast. The plan would be for Wilson to do one more season of The Office before transitioning to the new series. Although NBC claims that they have no plans to end The Office, John Krasinksi is also talking about leaving to focus on movies, and I'm wondering how much longer it can continue with so many key players leaving. The Schrute farm has been featured on several episodes of The Office, and it is inhabited by Dwight's many bizarre relatives and neighbours. Apparently the idea of giving them their own show is one that Wilson and showrunner Paul Lieberstein (who also plays Toby Flenderson) had been kicking around for a while, but recently they started to think it could actually work and decided to pitch it to NBC. The network agreed. My first reaction is that it's a terrible idea. I think Dwight is better as a supporting player than a main character, but I do like Rainn Wilson. It's interesting to note, however, that Parks and Recreation also started life as a spin-off from The Office and has since proven itself to be a pretty solid show. What do you think, could this idea actually work? Do you want to see The Office continue indefinitely or should they end it sooner rather than later?

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Dexter Movie is a Distinct Possibility

Sean — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:36:08 +0000

I was originally expecting (and kind of hoping) that this season of Dexter would be the last one, but alas the show has since been renewed for (at least) two more seasons. I guess that's to be expected when the show is still setting new records for number of viewers (this season averaged 5.12 million per week), it's just too bad that they are running out of ideas. I watched a couple of episodes from season 6 and couldn't really get into the storyline, although I've heard a lot of people raving about this season's crazy twist ending. Either way, if the show's popularity continues to climb, it seems that Showtime might even take things to the next level, setting up an open-ended series finale that indulges the possibility of a feature film continuation. In a recent interview with TV Guide (warning: contains spoilers), Dexter executive producer Manny Coto (aka Greg's favourite director of all time) said that they still don't have an end game in sight and that they are kind of taking each season as it comes. However, he does mention the movie scenario, and it's clear that it has at least been discussed behind closed doors:

"We're not really looking at an end game right now. In a way, it's almost like every season is a form of an end game. This season could've been an end to Dexter, setting it up for the movies, for example. So every season kind of comes to it's own conclusion and can be a sort of end game... I'm actually just projecting from my own experience on 24, where at the end we weren't going to kill Jack Bauer. We were going to leave him open because down the road there might be a movie. And sure enough, there's a movie coming."

Obviously it's still just speculation at this point, but it seems to be something that every popular TV series eventually must consider nowadays. Personally I'm not convinced that it is always a good idea, but as more and more TV properties make the jump to the big screen we'll get a better idea of how people can make it work. Are you a fan of Dexter? Would you like to see it become a movie franchise or would you prefer to have a definitive series end in the near future?

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Sherlock Series 3 in the Works

Sean — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:03:28 +0000

So far I had been holding back on watching the last two episodes from Series 2 of Sherlock, partially because the show is so good and I didn't want it to be over just yet. However, the good news is that it now looks like this season won't be the last one after all. This week we've received confirmation from series co-creator Stephen Moffat that a third series was always in the cards, and Deadline has the inside scoop from production company Hartswood that another season is "in the early planning stages for 2013." Most importantly, both Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are expected to return. This makes me a happy man. Stephen Moffat posted the following clarification about the future of the show via Twitter earlier this week:

"Yes of course there’s going to be a third series — it was commissioned at the same time as the second. Gotcha!"

This is reassuring to hear, especially because we all know that Martin Freeman has been very busy with The Hobbit and Benedict Cumberbatch's career is blowing up right now, having recently landed a key role in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek sequel. Granted, given the popularity of the show, it is conceivable that they might try to recast it with two new leads, but I don't think it would work nearly as well. The series finale aired on BBC One on Sunday, although the new season has yet to air at all on PBS in the U.S. Were you satisfied with series 2 and are you looking forward to a potential series 3 of Sherlock?

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A&E Developing a Psycho TV Series Called Bates Motel

Aaron — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:52:35 +0000

After hearing about AMC's Goodfellas TV series earlier this week, we can now report that another classic film will soon be receiving the television treatment: none other than Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. This time around it's A&E that will develop the new show, titled Bates Motel, which will act as a prequel to the Hitchcock film. It will chronicle the development of Norman Bates' psyche and how the treatment he received from his mother and her lover warped him into a killer. Anthony Cipriano (12 and Holding) penned the script, but, as of yet, no director or actors have been signed. While A&E is known mainly for unscripted material like Intervention and Hoarders, Bates Motel would represent the network's growing attempts at scripted shows like The Glades and Breakout Kings. While the idea of exploring Norman Bates' past may sound like an interesting idea on paper, I've found that it's usually better to leave some level of mystery to a character that famous. As an obvious example, just think of the Star Wars prequels and their telling of Darth Vader's past. Putting that idea aside, a Norman Bates-centered show could still have some potential, perhaps in the same vein as Dexter. We all know that messing with an iconic horror property like this can make fans pretty touchy (just ask Gus Van Sant after his remake), so the material will need to be handled just right for any type of success. Are you looking forward to a trip to Bates Motel? Who would you like to see play a young Norman Bates?

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Green Arrow TV Series in the Works

Sean — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:04:56 +0000

After last year's fiasco that found NBC passing on a Wonder Woman TV series, it would seem that network execs still haven't learned that superheroes generally just won't work on the small screen. The CW has reportedly ordered a pilot for a live action Green Arrow series with Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim on board to write and executive produce. The duo wrote the script for last year's Green Lantern movie so at least they have some experience with the colour green. They also worked on the short-lived TV series No Ordinary Family, which was also about a family of superheroes. Although Green Arrow appeared in quite a few episodes of Smallville, Entertainment Weekly notes that Justin Hartley, the actor who played Oliver Queen / Green Arrow on that show, will not be involved. There has been no word on the approach they might be taking for the show, but the fact that it is being set up at The CW means there is a good chance it will be another young teen superhero soap opera. Smallville is obviously one of the few successful comic book-related TV shows from the past decade or so, so you can't necessarily blame them for following this formula. On the other hand, it could easily turn out like the ill-fated Aquaman show that they tried to get off the ground back in 2006. It seems like a lot of superhero shows fail on television because the budget simply can't support high quality special effects. The one good thing with Green Arrow is that he doesn't really have superpowers per se; he is based more in the "real world" and is comparable to Batman in that he is just a billionaire with a lot of gadgets and weaponry. What do you think, could a Green Arrow TV series actually work? Is this something you'd be interested in watching?

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AMC Picks Up Goodfellas TV Series

Sean — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:50:25 +0000

We've been hearing talk about a Goodfellas TV series for a while now, but this week we've got a big update on the project that will bring it much closer to becoming a reality. Shows that revolve around organized crime continue to be a big draw on cable networks; HBO is enjoying success with Boardwalk Empire and preparing to launch David Milch's Luck while Showtime also just recently picked up Animal Kingdom. Now AMC is looking to get into the game as well by putting Goodfellas into development. If it works out, it could be a great addition to their well-established line-up that includes Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. But will it offer anything new that any of these other mob shows don't already have? Their plan is to make the Goodfellas TV series a prequel focusing on the early years of the characters growing up in the 1960s. Nicholas Pileggi, writer of the original film and Wiseguy (the book on which it was based), will write and produce the series along with Jorge Zamacona (Homicide: Life On The Street) and the original film's producer Irwin Winkler. There's been no word on what kind of involvement Martin Scorsese might have, although it seems likely to be minimal. Aside from the period setting, I think it could be difficult for a Goodfellas series to get out from under the shadow of The Sopranos, which remains to this day one of HBO's biggest hits. It's somewhat ironic, however, considering that the movie Goodfellas was such a big influence on that show. Clearly the hardest part will be finding other actors to play younger versions of Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci and make the characters their own. What do you think, could a Goodfellas series actually work or is this a bad idea?

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Eastbound & Down Season 3 Teaser Trailer

Sean — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:21:05 +0000

You knew it was coming... but did you know it was coming so soon? Kenny Powers returns to HBO in less than two months as the third and final season of Eastbound & Down is scheduled to premiere on February 19th at 10 pm. I know some people thought that the second season was a bit of a step down from the first, and I have to admit that my own enthusiasm started to wane towards the end. But that doesn't mean that I won't be tuning in. Kenny is back from Mexico and hot on the comeback trail. Not much else is known about season 3, but Jason Sudeikis will reportedly be playing Kenny's friend, Shane, while Ike Barinholtz (MADtv) will play a Russian phenom pitcher. Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey and Craig Robinson will also reprise their roles at some point. The final season is 8 episodes long. Are you pumped for the epic conclusion to the Kenny Powers saga? Check out the new teaser trailer after the jump.

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84th Academy Awards Trailer Starring Megan Fox and Josh Duhamel

Sean — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:08:34 +0000

Yes, it's true... this year's Academy Awards now have their very own teaser trailer, and even more shocking, it's actually kind of funny. (Well, except for that punchline, anyway.) The trailer was created with the help of the folks from Funny or Die, and it will even be screening in 2000 theatres starting this weekend. If you ask me, it's a great way to raise awareness and hopefully connect with the younger audience that they've been having so much trouble attracting. I'm not sure that Megan Fox and Josh Duhamel are the coolest choices they could have made to star in it, but hey, at least Megan Fox barely has any lines. What do you think, does this bode well for this year's Oscar telecast? Check out the teaser trailer after the jump.

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Comic Book Men Trailer: Kevin Smith’s AMC Reality Series

Sean — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:06:07 +0000

As part of his quest to eventually quit the movie industry, last year we heard that Kevin Smith was in the process of pitching a reality series that takes place at his Red Bank, New Jersey comic book store, Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash. AMC ordered a pilot, and eventually picked up the show for six one-hour episodes. Now it appears that the series has an official title, release date, and a couple of TV spots as well. Described by Smith as "Pawn Stars for fanboys," the title they have apparently decided on is Comic Book Men... which is pretty terrible if you ask me. What was wrong with the original working title of Secret Stash? Anyway, AMC seems to have high hopes for it as the show will premiere on February 12th, directly following an episode of The Walking Dead. Are you looking forward to Comic Book Men? Check out the first two TV spots after the jump and see what you think.

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