HOLLYWOOD SPY

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE JOINS

DREAMWORKS''TROLLS' MOVIE

Kids friendly movie news today, starting with the news on those ugly TROLLS dolls with whom some of you maybe played as kids?

Dreamworks is turning it into a movie with Justin Timberlake revealed today as the lead star of the musical comedy coming from SHREK'S team of producers and directors. Justin Timberlake will lend voice to Branch, a hilariously hardcore survivalist who hides his surprising true colours. For the first time, the movie tells the story behind the beloved TROLLS and their gravity defying and colourful manes! Singer actress Anna Kendrick will lend her voice to Princess Poppy. She and Branch venture far beyond the only world they have ever known, with their quest testing their strength and revealing their true colours – with no shortage of musical mash-ups along the way!

'THE JUNGLE BOOK' TRAILER

FOR DISNEY'S NEW ADVENTURE

As announced last weekend, Disney (who has also announced their remake of MARY POPPINS today) has released today the first trailer for their new big screen version of THE JUNGLE BOOK which will roar

into theatres next April! Directed by John Favreau it will have CGI animals and one live actor, with the story which follows an orphan boy who is raised in the Jungle with the help of a pack of wolves, a bear and a black

panther. Little Neel Sethi plays Mowgli, Ben Kingsley voices black panther Bagheera, Lupita Nyong'o is mother wolf Raksha, Scarlett Johansson is snake Kaa, Bill Mooray is bear Baloo, Idris Elba is Shere Khan, Christopher Walken is King Louie!

It is interesting that a year later, in April 2017, rival THE JUNGLE BOOK: ORIGINS will hit cinemas too, but in live action version with Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Benedict Cucumberpatch and Tom Hollander.

LI BINGBING

TAKES THE LEAD ROLE IN 'NEST' SF MOVIE

As 'Deadline' reports super gorgeous Chinese star Li Bingbing (you remember her from sf movies TRANSFORMERS and RESIDENT EVIL, fantasy epic SNOW GIRL AND THE DARK CRYSTAL, and historical drama SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN) has signed on to play the lead role in NEST, which is being planned as the largest ever budgeted Chinese Australian coproduction. To be filmed in 3D, NEST tells the tale of a team of scientists who discover a swarm of deadly, intelligent and carnivorous funnel web spiders. Battling through an ancient labyrinth, the team must learn the secret behind the spiders’ heightened abilities before its too late.

'DOCTOR THORNE' SERIES FROM

'DOWNTON ABBEY' CREATOR

Looks like we're again getting bored aristocrats from Julian Fellowes whose new series has just got its cast! Tom Hollander and Ian McShane will lead the cast of ITV's new period set three part drama DOCTOR THORNE based on Anthony Throllope novel which Weinstein Co. will distribute worldwide!

TOM HOLLANDER AND IAN MCSHANE LEAD THE CAST
It will follow Dr Thomas Thorne (Tom Hollander), who lives with his penniless niece Mary (Stefanie Martini). When Lady Arabella Gresham (Rebecca Front) finds out that her son Frank (Harry Richardson) is in love with Mary, she is horrified and believes it is his duty to make a rich marriage to save their family estate - after her husband Francis Gresham Senior (Richard McCabe) has frittered away their fortune. Scheming with her sister-in-law (Phoebe Nicholls)

and niece (Kate O'Flynn), Arabella targets wealthy American heiress Martha Dunstable (Alison Brie). Ian McShane is alcoholic railway millionaire Sir Roger Scatcherd, while Cressida Bonas is Mary's friend and confidante Patience Oriel.

STEPHEN KING'S 'THE MIST'

TO BECOME A TV SERIES

Fight against natural elements today, beginning with the announcement coming from The Weinstein Company who will turn Stephen King's famous novel THE MIST into TV series! The story, which was already turned into a rather scary movie back in 2007, is set in a seemingly innocuous mist that seeps into a small town but contains limitless havoc. From psychological terrors to otherworldly creatures, the mist causes the town residents’ darkest demons to appear forcing them to battle the supernatural event and, more importantly, each other.

'THE YOUNG MESSIAH' TRAILER

STARRING SEAN BEAN

First trailer is here for new historical drama which is arriving into the theatres next Easter THE YOUNG MESSIAH starring Sean Bean, Jonathan Baileyand Adam Greaves Neal. The movie tells the story of Jesus Christ at age seven as he and his family depart Egypt to return home to Nazareth. Told from his childhood perspective, it follows young Jesus as he grows into his religious identity.

'IN THE HEART OF THE SEA'

NEW TRAILER WITH CHRIS HEMSWORTH, BEN WHISHAW, CILLIAN MURPHY, BRENDAN GLEESON, TOM HOLLAND

A new trailer and a new poster have been released for December 11th sea adventure IN THE HEART OF THE SEA starring Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Holland! In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The movie reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will

call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.

JENNA COLEMAN TO LEAD

QUEEN 'VICTORIA' EPIC SERIES

Earlier this year I've announced that British ITV will prepare a new TV series on queen Victoria titled simply VICTORIA and now it has been confirmed that Jenna Coleman is to take the crown and play the lead role of the infamous enslaver and invader. The actress will leave DR WHO for this gig. The eight part historical series will revolve around the early life of the British monarch, from her ascension to the throne to her marriage to Prince Albert. The first episode, directed by Tom Vaughan, will be 90 minutes long! Since the filming starts next month in Northern England, expect new cast names announced here as we get the info! The series comes from POLDARK team.

BRYAN SINGER TO HELM

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA

Here's something for all of you fans of adventure movies: X-MEN's Bryan Singer, who has, believe it or not, just turned 50 yesterday, has announced that his next movie project will be the big screen adaptation of Jules Verne's 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA! He has already finished the script saying he has wanted to retell jt since childhood and promising that it will be an epic and emotional adventure for all ages! As you know, famous classic follows brave Captain Nemo and his mighty submarine Nautilus on their underwater adventures. Singer's X MEN: APOCALYPSE is ready to hit cinemas in May next year.

'TUTANKHAMUN' EPIC TV SERIES

MAX IRONS & SAM NEILL CAST

Speaking of ITV's historical series, another one I've recently announced, epic adventure TUTAN- KHAMUN has cast Max Irons and Sam Neill under Peter Webber's helm! Max Irons

will play Howard Carter who became an iconic figure and an unlikely hero. The story unfolds from 1905 when Carter, an eminent British archaeologist, is leading an expedition only to have his license to dig revoked by Cairo’s Antiquities Service. Carter spends years living rough and resorting to selling previously discovered archaeological relics. A chance meeting with British aristocrat eccentric Lord Carnarvon (Sam Neill), brings a change of fortunes as the enthusiastic amateur needs an experienced archaeologist to help him with a series of random excavations. Carter and Carnarvon begin the most unlikely friendship, in spite of their differences of background and character. After years of searching for the tomb, Carter and Carnarvon successfully discover the last resting place of the boy-king TUTANKHMAUN in 1921 against all odds and at great personal expense.

'THE GO BETWEEN' BBC MOVIE

WITH JOANNA VANDERHAM, JIM BROADBENT, VANESSA REDGRAVE

British menu today at The House of Dezmond today, since we have two new programmes to announce coming to BBC in next two Sundays! We

begin with the period set TV movie THE GO BETWEEN which airs this Sunday at BBC One. The adaptation of LP Hartley's classic novel stars Joanna Vanderham, Jim Broadbent, Ben Batt and Vanessa Redgrave!

Told from the perspective of Leo Colston, a callow 12-year-old middle-class boy, the story starts when he is invited by upper-class school friend Marcus Maudsley to stay at his elegant family home for the blazing hot summer of 1900. Leo is instantly enthralled by Marcus's family, and most especially his beautiful and wilful older sister Marian. When Marcus is taken ill, Leo is left to his own devices, but finds himself alone and adrift in a world of alien social mores and adult concerns. Gauche and anxious to please, Leo is slowly and unwittingly drawn into a web of deceit as Marian pursues an illicit and passionate affair with tenant farmer Ted Burgess, a man of much inferior social

position whom she can never marry. Marian and Ted befriend the lonely and easily influenced Leo and use him to carry secret messages between them. Leo quickly grows friendly with Ted and worships Marian with a

mixture of innocent love and incipient sexuality he barely understands. Only when he meets Hugh Trimingham, the kind, war wounded aristocrat to whom Marian is promised, does Leo start to question his

role as intermediary. As Leo's 13th birthday approaches, Marian's moods fluctuate and the summer heat becomes more oppressive. Wholly unable to comprehend the true implications of the adult emotions

seething around him, Leo sets in motion a chain of events that ultimately prove the catalyst for a shocking tragedy that will haunt him forever.

BBC'S 'CIDER WITH ROSIE'

STARRING SAMANTHA MORTON AND TIMOTHY SPALL

And then, coming Sunday, the week after, also at BBC One is a 90 minute adaptation of CIDER WITH ROSIE starring Samantha Morton and Timothy Spall! A vivid memoir of Laurie Lee’s

childhood, CIDER WITH ROSIE is an evocative coming-of-age story set in an idyllic Cotswold village during and immediately after the Great

War. Marking the journey of young Lol (Archie Cox) as he grows from boy to man, the story chronicles first love, loss and family upheaval. Check out the lovely trailer below:

'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST'

LUKE EVANS TO SING TWO SONGS

Being wonderfully blasphemous and delightfully irreverent as we truly are, we're not sending you to Church this Sunday but to our own enchanting hunkfest! Starting with our deeply beloved Welsh superstar Luke Evans. Now, as some of you know, HOBBIT and DRACULA star has the most amazing singing voice (check out his song from RENT in the clip below) and I myself have been begging him to record an album for years now, but it seems we will hear that stunning voice of his on the big screen since Disney has revealed that he will have two songs in their live action adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in which he plays charmingly narcissistic Gaston alongside Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Dan Stevens, Ewan McGregor and Kevin Kline. Legendary Alan Menken is writing the music and Luke has revealed, speaking for 'Collider' that his two songs are 'incredibly unique and different'! Bill Condon is directing.

FINAL 'RESIDENT EVIL' MOVIE

CASTS WILLIAM LEVY, EOIN MACKEN, AND IAIN GLEN
And since we're a worldwide read site, it wouldn't do to just give you a Welsh hunk, so we're giving you an Irish and Latino one too! The final, sixth, part of famous sf action franchise RESIDENT EVIL has added Eoin Macken and William Levy to the cast alongside Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter and Iain Glen in the Paul W.S. Anderson helmed movie in which Milla as mighty Alice races against time to stop the villainous Red Queen from destroying the final remnants of

humanity. MERLIN's Macken currently stars in NBC's THE NIGHT SHIFT series and has shot THE FOREST thriller in Serbia with Taylor Kinney and Natalie Dormer, while Levi is the most famous of Latin models, actors and heartthrobs!

IS EMILY BLUNT

DISNEY'S NEW 'MARY POPPINS'?

So, I kinda decided not to do our traditional and widely popular fashion report from Emmy awards because it was such a parade of atrocious gowns this year that my eyes still hurt! So, we're moving onto the latest Hollywood rumours which are saying that our dearest Emily Blunt has been offered the lead role in Disney's big screen remake of MARY POPPINS which has been announced a few days ago! Although Blunt said there is no official offer (which doesn't mean there isn't an unofficial one wink wink) but if she really gets the role it would reunite her with director Rob Marshall who helmed other of her musicals INTO THE WOODS! The movie actually won't be a remake, but a sequel! It will take place 20 years after the original movie sending the magical nanny onto a new adventure.

'ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU' TO

BECOME A CBS TV SERIES

Over in today's television news, something really nice: one of the most mysterious of the classic novels THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU from H.G. Wells is to be turned into MOREAU TV series at CBS by SLEEPY HOLLOW creator Phillip Iscove. The TV adaptation will follow the title character of disgraced London physiologist Dr. MOREAU, who retreats to an island to work on the experiments creating animal human hybrids, but here's the catch - this time the doctor is a woman. Fiercely intelligent and fearless, Dr. Katherine MOREAU expands the boundaries of medicine through bold and revolutionary

scientific experimentation and treatments in her privately funded island hospital. The book has been adapted into movies many times and many series had episodes inspired by it.

STUNNING 'DANISH GIRL' PHOTOS

WITH EDDIE REDMAYNE AND ALICIA VIKANDER

A visual feast for you today coming in the form of gorgeous, Annie Leibovitz shot, photos of Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander in the Tom Hooper helmed visually stunning drama THE DANISH GIRL on one of the first sex change patients also starring Ben Whishaw and Matthias Schoenaerts. The movie is out this November filled with Oscar winners since beside Hooper and Redmayne, the cast also includes Oscar winning composer Alexandre Desplat!

FIND THE COURAGE TO BE YOURSELF

In early 1920s Copenhagen, the illustrator and artist Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander) asks her husband, Einar Wegener (Eddie Redmayne), to stand in for a female model. The popularity of the portraits leads to Gerda painting her husband in

further pictures as a woman. Einar develops an attraction for a female physical appearance and begins living as a woman named Lili Elbe.

Ultimately Elbe becomes the first ever recipient of male to female sex reassignment surgery, and Gerda supports her decision, although their

marriage becomes strained when Gerda comes to the realization that Lili is no longer the person she married. A childhood friend of Lili, Hans Axgil (Matthias Schoenaerts), shows up and forms a complex love triangle with the couple.

'MEADOWLAND' TRAILER

OLIVIA WILDE & LUKE WILSON

You can also check out the first trailer for critically acclaimed drama MEADOWLAND in which Olivia Wilde gives a haunting performance alongside Luke Wilson, Elizabeth Moss and

Giovanni Ribisi. In the hazy aftermath of an unimaginable loss, Sarah and Phil come unhinged, recklessly ignoring the repercussions. Phil starts to lose sight of his morals; Sarah takes off on a potentially disastrous journey, falling deeper into her own fever dream.

HOLLYWOOD SPY REACHES

100 MILLION GOOGLE + HITS
I'm not entirely sure how it is possible, but our official Google Pluspage has just reached more than 100,000,000 hits, that is ONE HUNDRED MILLION hits which is how many hits Lady Gaga and One Direction have at YouTube :) ! I'm guessing tens of thousands of

photos I've posted here over the years are connected with that profile too and we get hits from Google Photo Search. Click here to join us there if you haven't so far!

'TROY: THE FALL OF A CITY'

TV SERIES COMING TO BBC

As always, BBC has something epic in store for us! Together with David Farr (the NIGHT MANAGER scribe) they will produce a historical television series based on the fall of Troy! TROY: FALL OF A CITY is supposed to retell the majesty and wonder of the Trojan War to the new generation of viewers. With the 3,000 year old story told for the first time through the eyes of a Trojan family, who become entangled in the conflict as war with Greece breaks out, the drama will re-examine the Judgement of Paris, a key event in the ancient world's most prominent tales. The series will convey the emotional richness, the effects of war, and the toll taken on city and family by the horrors of siege.

BBC'S 'MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM' TV MOVIE

CASTS MAXINE PEAKE, MATT LUCAS AND JOHN HANNAH
BBC has already announced 20 part drama DICKENSIAN, Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkin's THE DRESSER

and the new adaptation of WAR AND PEACE, Tom Hiddleston's THE NIGHT MANAGER! There's also A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM TV movie adaptation starring VILLAGE's Maxine Peake as Titania, Matt Lucas (Paddington) as Bottom, John Hannah (SPARTACUS) as Theseus, Eleanor Matsuura (The Lady In The Van) as Hippolyta and newcomer Hiran Abeysekera as Puck. The CGI rich project is set in the tyrannical court of Athens and the magical forest around the city!

'THE ANGRY BIRDS' TRAILER

WITH JASON SUDEIKIS

Sony has released the first trailer for their animated movie adaptation of famous THE ANGRY BIRDS which are to flap their wings in the cinemas May next year! The movie takes us to an island populated

entirely by happy, flightless birds...Or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red (Jason Sudeikis), a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck

(Josh Gad), and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride) have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it's up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to.

MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE

RICHARD MADDEN AND DUSTIN HOFFMAN LEAD NEW EPIC SERIES

Now the news of the day is extremely exciting: our dearest Prince Charming and King of the North Richard Madden and Dustin Hoffman are set to lead the cast of new eight part historical TV series MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE which would chronicle the rise of the Medici family and the Italian Renaissance! THE MAN IN THE HIGHT CASTLE's Frank Spotnitz is producing the series following the story of the family’s ascent from simple merchants to power brokers who sparked an economic and cultural revolution, in the process creating a long list of powerful enemies. Richard Madden will play enterprising son Cosimo de’ Medici, and Hoffman is family patriarch Giovanni de’ Medici.

'DICKENSIAN' BBC SERIES

FIRST PHOTOS REVEALED
Continuing TV news, but this time coming from United Kingdom, check out the first photos from BBC's ambitious new historical series DICKENSIAN which will have 20 half hour episodes starting this

Autumn. The series is set in the realm populated by fictional characters from Charles Dickens’ novels including Scrooge, Fagin and Miss Havisham, as their lives intertwine in 19th century London. The Old

Curiosity Shop sits next door to The Three Cripples Pub, while Fagin’s Den is hidden down a murky alley off a bustling Victorian street. The all-star cast is lead by Stephen Rea, Pauline Collins, Caroline Quentin, Peter Firth, Tuppence Middleton, Ellie Haddington, Sophie Rundle, Anton Lesser, Ned Dennehy, Adrian Rawlins, Joseph Quinn, Tom Weston-Jones and others. Check out the glimpse into DICKENSIAN and WAR AND PEACE in BBC Autumn trailer.

'LAST MAN STANDING'

SEASON 5 OF TIM ALLEN SITCOM

Are you ready for the return of hilarious Mike Buckster and his family? Because this Friday marks the start of the fifth season of beloved

ABC family sitcom LAST MAN STANDING starring Tim Allen and Nancy Travis. In the new season Mike has returned from being on a fantastic two-month road trip, travelling to far-flung places for Outdoor Man, the sporting goods emporium where he is marketing director. It’s great to be back with his wife, Vanessa, and their three daughters, but finds a lot has been going on at home as well as the job since he’s been away. Vanessa is dealing with her new teaching job and

with the empty nest syndrome, their oldest daughter Kristin (Amanda Fuller) has married the father of her son Ryan (Jordan Masterson), their midde daughter Mandy (Molly Ephraim) is scoring success with her fashion line, while their youngest Eve (Kaitlyn Dever) is finishing high school!

KATE WINSLET TO BE

THE 'FAVOURITE' OF QUEEN ANNE

She's only recently been in period costumes at the court of King Louis in A LITTLE CHAOS, but it seems our dear Kate Winslet will get into corsets again since she has been cast in new historical movie THE FAVOURITE coming from critically acclaimed young director Yorgos Lanthimos (THE LOBSTER)! It will depict the political machinations behind the scenes during the reign of Queen Anne, the last monarch of the House of Stuarts, taking place between the end of the 17th century and first years of the 18th century, when Anne reigned from 1702-1707. Olivia Colman will play Queen Anne, Winslet will be Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, the Queen’s close confidante, and Emma Stone will be Abigail Masham, an impoverished, distant relative of Sarah, who gains a position at court tending to the Queen. The story follows the shifting balance of power between the lead characters as they jockey for influence.

RACHEL WEISZ TO LEAD

'MY COUSIN RACHEL' PERIOD SET MOVIE ADAPTATION?

Speaking of Lanthimos, he recently directed Rachel Weisz in the above mentioned THE LOBSTER, and Rachel has a new gig too, according to 'Deadline'! She is in talks to join Roger Michell's adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier classic novel MY COUSIN RACHEL, the period set dark romance which revolves around Philip, a young orphan at a large Cornwall estate, who believes his mysterious, beautiful cousin Rachel may have been responsible for the murder of his beloved guardian Ambrose, also a cousin of theirs. As Philip plots his revenge, he finds his feelings complicated as he falls under Rachel’s beguiling spell.

LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS
Rachel Weisz is already shootingTHE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS with Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, which those who've seen some of the cuts, already call one of most emotional movies in years!

FIRST TEASER TRAILER FOR

'BEOWULF: RETURN TO THE SHIELDLANDS' EPIC TV SERIES

Continuing our period set projects weekend, check out the first teaser trailer for ITV's new epic fantasy series BEOWULF: RETURN TO THESHIELD- LANDS which should air some time early next year in thirteen episodes starring DA VINCI'S DEMONS'Kieran Bew in the lead role!

With the story set in the mythical Shieldlands, a place of spectacle and danger populated by both humans and fantastical creatures, Kieran Bew plays one of literature’s greatest and most enduring heroes, Beowulf. Ed Speleers (ERAGON, DOWNTON ABBEY) plays Slean and Laura Donnelly takes is Elvina.
KIERAN BEW & ED SPELEERS
BEOWULF is a series about courage, greed, betrayal, revenge, loyalty, power, man versus wilderness and, of course love. It is a series that explores the notion of good and evil, heroes and villains. However,

beyond these wider political undercurrents and inner personal turmoils are the excitement, danger and sense of adventure that any great Western has. Epic fights, thrilling chases, raids, celebrations and battles

are an essential part of the promise. The cast also includes William Hurt, Joanne Whalley, David Harewood, Elliott Cowan, Joe Sims, David Bradley, Emmett Scanlan and others.

NEW PHOTOS FOR EPIC SERIES

'JEKYLL AND HYDE'

Speaking of ITV, check out new photos from other two of their upcoming epic dramas: JEKYLL AND HYDE and JERICHO! The first one, set in glamourous 1930s London, will star another DA VINCI'S

DEMONS' actor Tom Bateman as Robert Jekyll, Richard E Grant as Bulstrode who heads the secret government department MI0 known as ‘The Invisible Men’ and Natalie Gumede as Bella who forms part of a love triangle with Robert.

'JERICHO'

Meanwhile, there are two set photos from JERICHO, set in the 1870s, and focusing on the shantytown of Jericho, home to a community that

will live, thrive and die in the shadow of the viaduct they’ve been brought together to build. Pioneers, settlers and outcasts, they include

people with secrets to hide and those looking to start again. Jessica Raine and Hans Matheson lead the cast!

'THE LAST KINGDOM'

9TH CENTURY EPIC TV SERIES

To end our period set projects weekend in a regal way, here's a spotlight on BBC America's new historical series THE LAST KINGDOM

which is to bring 9th century into your Saturday evenings when it starts airing October 10th! Adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s “The Saxon Stories,” THE LAST KINGDOM sees many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England under invading Vikings, with only the great Kingdom of Wessex standing defiant under its visionary King Alfred the Great (David Dawson).

BRAVE PRINCE UHTRED
Our main hero is Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon). Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his

birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he — Saxon or Viking? On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands!

LORD UHTRED OF BEBBANBURG

Uhtred’s father, Lord Uhtred (Matthew MacFadyen), is a formidable fighter and ruler of the kingdom of Bebbanburg in Northumbria. He is a

serious and rather distant man whose commitments to Bebbanburg leave little time for his two sons. Young Uhtred struggles to win his father’s affection and approval.

KING ALFRED THE GREAT
As the King who dreamt of uniting the separate kingdoms of England, Alfred (David Dawson) has integrity and is a thinker, master strategist, yet troubled by poor health. A man of great wisdom, he is

committed to the power of the written word and the spread of Christianity. Even Uhtred, who first sees Alfred as a humourless nit-picker, grows to admire the man who will become known as King Alfred the Great.

FEARLESS WARRIOR BRIDA

Alongside Uhtred, Brida (Emily Cox) is captured as a child and raised by Danes. Brida and Uhtred’s similar fates bind them as kindred spirits;

the two become best friends. Fearless, gutsy, outspoken, and a born fighter, Brida immediately feels at home in the boisterous world of the Danes.

FEROCIOUS WARRIOR UBBA
The most senior ranking Dane, Ubba (Rune Temte) is loud, brash, violent, playful and a little unhinged. A ferocious warrior, Uhtred is

warned as a boy never to fight Ubba, but fate may dictate that he must. Ubba’s weakness is his superstition and his reliance on his sorcerer Storri.

RAGNAR THE YOUNGER

Uhtred’s Danish brother Ragnar the Younger (Tobias Santelmann) is handsome, brave, loyal and fair. Ragnar embodies the Viking way of

life for Uhtred — freedom, passion, challenge and adventure…a world away from the strictures of Alfred’s court.

THE BLIND POET RAVN
Ravn (Rutger Hauer), is a ‘skald’ (a Viking poet and wise man). Given his considerable life experience, he is philosophical about the struggles

of the Danes and is able to impart his wisdom to young Uhtred, who often acts as the eyes of blind Ravn.

AELFRIC THE USURPER

Aelfric (Joseph Millson) is Uhtred’s uncle and usurper of the throne of Bebbanburg. Aelfric is unscrupulous, scheming and power hungry.

He sees Uhtred as a barrier to his claim on Bebbanburg and is committed to his demise.

EVA LONGORIA

TO PRODUCE 'BONITA & MECHELLE' SITCOM FOR NBC

A bunch of new comedy series has been ordered by major networks, people, and Dezzy is here to tell you which ones! Eva Longoria, who is already starring and producing HOT & BOTHERED comedy series this Fall at NBC, will now produce BONITA & MECHELLE a multi camera sitcom on two women, one Hispanic and one African American who find themselves living together while conquering the ups and downs of single life and parenting!

OTHER NEW NBC SITCOMS

MANLY 'MANHOOD' COMEDY
NBC has also ordered MANHOOD which looks at what it means to be a man today, when the gender lines have never been blurrier, following

three men who explore different sides of masculinity in a weekly men’s group meeting, where they cry, beat drums and fire-walk to find the answer.
NEW MARLON WAYANS SITCOM
The same network has also nabbed new sitcom with Marlon Wayans! Loosely inspired by Wayans’ life, the untitled comedy centres on an inappropriate but loving father committed to successfully co-parenting with his polar opposite ex-wife.

'THE REAL O'NEALS'

NEW ABC COMEDY SERIES

Meanwhile, coming real soon to ABC is their new single camera sitcom THE REAL O'NEALS starring Martha Plimton, Jay R. Ferguson, Noah Galvin, Matthew Shively and Bebe Wood. A fresh take on a

seemingly perfect Catholic family whose lives take an unexpected turn when surprising truths are revealed. Instead of ruining their family, the honesty triggers a new, messier chapter where everyone stops pretending to be perfect and actually starts being real.

CLIVE BARKER'S WEAVEWORLD

TO BECOME A CW SF SERIES

There have been a number of adaptations announced, beginning with Clive Barker's WEAVEWORLD which is to be turned into a CW TV series! The story will follow an app designer who teams up with a young pastry

chef who has just discovered that she is destined to be guardian of a mythological realm that can be accessed through a portal in an old Savannah mansion. Together, they fight an epic battle with evil forces who are vying for control of the magical world.

WONDER -LING

Fox 2000 is to make Mira Bartok's partial futuristic YA book manuscript THE WONDERLING into a Stephen Daldry movie! The book which is yet to be shopped to publishers follows a half human half fox who, with a half human half bird journeys from an orphanage to the city to save music.

'THE MAN WHO SOLD THE MOON'

NEW HEINLEIN'S ADAPTATION

Meanwhile, Allen Bein is to turn Robert Heinlein's science fiction classic THE MAN WHO SOLD THE MOON into television series as well about a businessman possessed by a dream to take humanity off Earth. As a young entrepreneur, he starts a private space company to colonize the moon and create the home he never had. He is driven to the brink while single-handedly ushering the entire human race to its next evolutionary step.

FREDERIK POHL'S GATEAWAY

TO BECOME SYFY TV SERIES

And SyFy will make a TV series out of Frederik Pohl's novel GATEWAY in which humanity discovers an asteroid teeming with the long abandoned spaceships of an advanced alien race setting in motion a gold rush for alien artefacts and technology. The ships are pre-programmed, transporting their voyagers to distant worlds of riches or certain death. Undaunted by the peril or the odds, prospector Robinette Broadhead gambles everything on a journey to GATEWAY. After one nightmare mission, he returns to extraordinary wealth and luxury, but is haunted by the loss of his crewmates, including the love of his life.

'SS-GB' WW2 TV SERIES WITH

KATE BOSWORTH & SAM RILEY

Here's a series for you if you like them British: BBC has announced their work on the new historical thriller drama SS-GB starring Kate Bosworth and Sam Riley in the lead roles. It will be a five part World War Two set small screen adaptation of popular novel by Len Deighton with the script being written by screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade! The story of SS-GB takes place in London 1941 in an alternative reality in which the Battle of Britain is lost, Winston Churchill is dead, King George is held prisoner by the SS, the possibility of imminent military rule is a constant, pockets of Resistance continue to present a threat and neighbours spy on neighbours.

DISNEY'S 'DISENCHANTED'

SEQUEL TO AMY ADAMS FILM
Since Hollywood likes fairy tales in recent years, the latest news from Tinseltown say that Disney has lifted 'status hiatus'

label from ENCHANTED 2 and is fast tracking the work on the sequel of the super popular contemporary fairy tale movie which scored high success around the world back in 2007 and even got Oscar nominations for some of its songs. The sequel will be titled DISENCHANTED and will be directed by Anne Fletcher, but both the plot and the original stars who might return are kept under wraps. As you probably remember the original movie launched Amy Adams into movie stardom and had a very strong supporting cast in James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey, Julie Andrews and Susan Sarandon.

'ONE FAT SUMMER' YA BOOK

BECOMES 'MEASURE OF A MAN' MOVIE ADAPTATION

And if you have kids or like teen movies, 'Deadline' writes that Robert Lipsyte's bestselling and award winning YA novel ONE FAT SUMMER will be turned into MEASURE OF A MAN movie with Jim Loach directing the coming of age story about an overweight and underconfident teenager (Blake Cooper) who experiences a turning point summer in which he learns to stand up for himself. Liana Liberato will play Michelle Marks, Cooper’s antagonistic older sister, while Luke Benward plays Pete Marino, the crush of every girl in town who befriends Cooper, in the movie which also has Donald Sutherland in the cast.

'ROBIN HOOD: ORIGINS'

TO CAST TARON EGERTON AND GUGU MBATHA RAW AS LEADS?

While Disney is still planning their NOTTINGHAM AND HOOD in the large scale vein of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, rival project ROBIN HOOD: ORIGINS is already casting. After making a choice of Taron Egerton (Jack Huston, Jack Reynor were also considered) in the lead role, they're now considering between Gugu Mbatha Raw (BELLE) and Eve Hewson (THE KNICK, also known as daughter of irritating Bono Vox) for the female lead. This grittier version will see Robin Hood arrive back from the Crusades and recruit

his band of Merry Men after finding corruption has spread across Sherwood Forest and Nottingham.

MICHAEL LANDES TO LEAD

'HOOTEN & THE LADY' INDIANA JONES STYLE TV SERIES

A new TV adventure awaiting us next summer? Yep, British Sky 1 has cast Michael Landes and Ophelia Lovibond as leads in their ambitious new Indiana Jones style adventure series HOOTEN AND THE LADY with eight episodes scheduled for shooting next month in Rome and then across the Globe! Ophelia Lovibond will be Lady Alexandra Lindo Parker of the British Museum, who teams with adventurer Hooten - played by Michael Landes. Together, the pair track down fabled treasures from the past, including the lost Amazonian golden city of Z, the Buddha's missing scroll and the lost tomb of Alexander the Great.

NEW 'RISEN' EPIC POSTER

WITH JOSEPH FIENNES!

And you can check out the first poster for historical thriller action movie RISEN out next January - Biblical story following Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide

Lucius (Tom Felton), who are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumours of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem!

'THE ROYALS' SEASON 2 TRAILER

SHOWS CHAOS AT THE COURT

Are you missing the spicy shenanigans from the British court in E!'s first ever scripted series (and the second most viewed new cable show last year) THE ROYALS? They're returning with the second season

November 15th and are ready to fight for the throne more than ever as you can see in the new trailer below which has new King Cyrus (Jake Maskall) ruling the kingdom as he ever wanted. Elizabeth Hurley as the widowed Queen Helena, William Moseley as rebellious Prince

Liam, Tom Austen all return and Joan Collins will, it seems, have a bigger presence in the new season as the queen's zesty momma Grand Duchess Alexandra of Oxford!

NICHOLAS SPARKS 'THE CHOICE'

TRAILER WITH BENJAMIN WALKER, THERESA PALMER, TOM WELLING

Here's something romantic: the first trailer for Nicholas Sparks adaptation THE CHOICE which is out, no surprise, February next year, starring Benjamin Walker and Theresa Palmer as Travis Parker and Gabby Holland, two young people from different worlds

– and yet they're instantly drawn to each when their puppies make friends (and more). One slight problem is that Gabby's spoken for, and Travis will compete with Tom Welling to win her heart. Tom Wilkinson also stars.

BETTE MIDLER

JOINS YA BOOK 'FREAK SHOW' MOVIE ADAPTATION

Our most beloved Bette Midler has just been cast by Trudie Styler to star in her movie adaptation of James St. James' bestselling novel FREAK SHOW about Billy Bloom, a funny,

good hearted, cross dressing teen who becomes the new student at an ultra conservative high school. Although accosted with Bible thumpers, the jocks, the bullies, Billy takes a stand. Determined to be who he is and not bow to peer pressure, he refuses to change his outlandish outfits or behaviour. Instead, he decides to run for Homecoming Queen for outcasts and underdogs everywhere. Bette will be his mother, Anna Sophia Robb and Ian Nelson are his best friends and Lorraine Toussaint is his nanny!

'ASSASSIN'S CREED' CASTS

BRENDAN GLEESON & JEREMY IRONS AS FATHERS
Well, now that is quite a strong cast now: not only that the big screen adaptation of ultra popular game ASSASSIN'S CREED has Michael Fassbender in the lead role and his MACBETH co-star Marion Cotillard as the female lead, but now they've also welcomed Brendan Gleeson and Jeremy Irons! While Gleeson will be the father of Fassbender's Callum Lynch, Irons will be the father of Marion's character. Thanks to a revolutionary technology that unlocks genetic memories, Callum Lynch experiences the adventures of his ancestor,

Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain and discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and then amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.

'WAR & PEACE' EPIC TV SERIES

MINDBLOWING CAST PHOTOS

Now, do I have some mouth watering visual treats for you today, people, you won't believe it if I tell you... which I still will! I'm bringing you new photos from three of our most anticipated of the upcoming

historical TV series, starting with the first, mind blowing, poster and cast photos from BBC's dramatic adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's WAR AND PEACE directed in six episodes by Tom Harper! Airing at the end of the year, it brings the classic story that revolves around five

aristocratic Russian families, set during the reign of Alexander I, and centred on the love triangle between Natasha Rostova, Pierre Bezukhov, and Andrei Bolkonsky in the days of the Napoleonic French army's invasion of Mother Russia. Lily James, plays heroine Natasha Rostova,

charismatic James Norton is Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Paul Dano is Pierre Bezukhov. Oscar winner Jim Broadbent, Gillian Anderson, Jack Lowden, Rebecca Front, Aneurin Barnard, Brian Cox, Greta Scacchi and Ade Edmondson all star in supporting

roles. WAR AND PEACE will air sometime this winter at BBC and will be simultaneously broadcast over in USA and around the world by Lifetime, History and A+E! Catch the glimpse of the series in BBC's Winter series trailer:

'MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE'

FIRST RICHARD MADDEN AND DUSTIN HOFFMAN PHOTOS
Only a week or so ago I've announced that our dearly beloved star Richard Madden will join Dustin Hoffman in new epic TV series MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE and now we already have the

first photo with Madden looking hotter than ever! It will follow the Medicis' ascent from simple merchants to power brokers who sparked an economic and cultural revolution, in the process creating a long list

of powerful enemies. Richard Madden will play enterprising son Cosimo de’ Medici, and Hoffman is family patriarch Giovanni de’ Medici.

'VERSAILLES' EPIC TV SERIES

STUNNING CAST PHOTO WITH GEORGE BLAGDEN AND ALEXANDER VLAHOS

Another epic series airing this Winter is French English language series VERSAILLES in which irresistible George Blagden plays French king Louis XIV who is building his magnificent royal palace. Check out

the stunning cast photo also showing Alexander Vlahos as his brother Duke d'Orleans! Check out the teaser trailer:

#LouisXIV débarque en novembre sur CANAL+ avec La série Création Originale #Versailles. pic.twitter.com/6hy3ByJtpb
— Versailles, la série (@VersaillesCANAL) October 4, 2015

DISNEY'S 'THE JUNGLE BOOK' MOVIE TRAILER IS HERE WITH BEN KINGSLEY, SCARLETT JOHANSSON, IDRIS ELBA! JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, ANNA KENDRICK LEAD DREAMWORKS 'TROLLS' ADAPTATION!

TOM HOLLANDER, IAN MCSHANE LEAD ITV'S NEW HISTORICAL DRAMA 'DOCTOR THORNE' FROM 'DOWNTON ABBEY'S' JULIAN FELLOWES! LI BINGBING TO LEAD 'NEST' SF MOVIE

NEW 'THE HEART OF THE SEA' TRAILER WITH CHRIS HEMSWORTH, CILLIAN MURPHY, BEN WHISHAW! STEPHEN KING'S 'MIST' TO BECOME TV SERIES! 'THE YOUNG MESSIAH' TRAILER WITH SEAN BEAN

JENNA COLEMAN TO PLAY QUEEN 'VICTORIA' IN NEW EPIC TV SERIES! MAX IRONS AND SAM NEILL LEAD ITV'S 'TUTANKHAMUN' EPIC SERIES! BRYAN SINGER TO DIRECT '20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA' MOVIE!

BRITISH WEEKEND: NEW TV MOVIES COMING TO BBC 'THE GO BETWEEN' WITH JOANNA VANDERHAM, JIM BROADBENT, VANESSA REDGRAVE, 'CIDER WITH ROSIE' WITH SAMANTHA MORTON, TIMOTHY SPALL

LUKE EVANS TO SING TWO SONGS IN DISNEY'S LIVE ACTION 'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST'! EOIN MACKEN, WILLIAM LEVY, IAIN GLEN JOIN MILLA JOVOVICH IN 'RESIDENT EVIL 6'!

IS EMILY BLUNT DISNEY'S LEAD IN THE SEQUEL TO 'MARY POPPINS'? H.G. WELLS SF NOVEL 'THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU' TO BECOME CBS TV SERIES WITH FEMALE DOCTOR!

STUNNING ANNIE LEIBOVITZ 'THE DANISH GIRL' PHOTOS WITH EDDIE REDMAYNE AND ALICIA VIKANDER! 'MEADOWLAND' HAUNTING TRAILER WITH OLIVIA WILDE, LUKE WILSON, ELIZABETH MOSS

BBC ORDERS 'TROY: FALL OF A CITY' EPIC TV SERIES, CASTS MAXINE PEAKE, JOHN HANNAH, MATT LUCAS IN 'MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM' TV MOVIE! 'ANGRY BIRDS' MOVIE TRAILER WITH JASON SUDEIKIS, DANNY MCBRIDE

RICHARD MADDEN, DUSTIN HOFFMAN LEAD 'MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE' EPIC TV SERIES! TIM ALLEN'S 'LAST MAN STANDING' STARTS 5TH SEASON! 'DICKENSIAN' BBC SERIES PHOTOS WITH STEPHEN REA, PAULINE COLLINS, TOM WESTON JONES

PERIOD MOVIES FRIDAY: KATE WINSLET TO BE 'THE FAVOURITE' OF OLIVIA COLMAN'S QUEEN ANNE IN NEW HISTORICAL MOVIE WITH EMMA STONE! RACHEL WEISZ TO LEAD 'MY COUSIN RACHEL' ADAPTATION?

'BEOWULF: RETURN TO THE SHIELDLANDS' EPIC TV SERIES TEASER WITH KIERAN BEW, ED SPELEERS, ELLIOTT COWAN! NEW TOM BATEMAN'S 'JEKYLL & HYDE' AND JESSICA RAINE'S 'JERICHO' EPIC SERIES PHOTOS

HOLLYWOOD SPY SPOTLIGHT ON 'THE LAST KINGDOM' EPIC TV SERIES WITH ALEXANDER DREYMON, DAVID DAWSON, RUTGER HAUER, TOBIAS SENTELMANN

SITCOM MONDAY: NBC ORDERS EVA LONGORIA'S 'BONITA & MECHELLE', 'MANHOOD' AND NEW MARLON WAYANS' COMEDY SERIES! ABC'S 'THE REAL O'NEALS' NEW SITCOM

NEW MOVIE ADAPTATIONS: CLIVE BARKER'S 'WEAVEWORLD', ROBERT HEINLEIN'S 'MAN WHO SOLD THE MOON', FREDERIK POHL'S 'GATEAWAY' TO BECOME SERIES. YA NOVEL 'WONDERLING' TO BECOME STEPHEN DALDRY FILM?

DISNEY MOVES FORWARD WITH AMY ADAMS' DIS'ENCHANTED' SEQUEL! KATE BOSWORTH, SAM RILEY IN BBC ALTERNATE REALITY WW2 SERIES 'SS-GB'! 'MEASURE OF A MAN' YA MOVIE ADAPTATION

TARON EGERTON, GUGU MBATHA RAW FOR 'ROBIN HOOD: ORIGINS' MOVIE! MICHAEL LANDES TO LEAD 'HOOTEN AND THE LADY' ADVENTURE TV SERIES! 'RISEN' EPIC POSTER WITH JOSEPH FIENNES

NEW 'THE ROYALS' SPICY SECOND SEASON TRAILER WITH ELIZABETH HURLEY, WILLIAM MOSELEY, TOM AUSTEN! LOTS OF SHIRTLESS BENJAMIN WALKER IN NICHOLAS SPARKS 'THE CHOICE' TRAILER!

BRENDAN GLEESON, JEREMY IRONS JOIN MICHAEL FASSBENDER, MARION COTILLARD IN 'ASSASSIN'S CREED'! BETTE MIDLER IN MOVIE ADAPTATION OF YA BESTSELLER 'FREAK SHOW'!

ENCHANTING NEW EPIC TV SERIES PHOTOS FROM 'WAR & PEACE' WITH JAMES NORTON, JIM BROADBENT, GILLIAN ANDERSON, LILY JAMES, 'MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE' WITH RICHARD MADDEN, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, 'VERSAILLES' WITH GEORGE BLAGDEN, ALEXANDER VLAHOS!