HULU TO DEVELOP TWO TV SERIES OUT OF GEORGE R.R. MARTIN EDITED SCIENCE FICTION 27 BOOK ANTHOLOGY WILD CARDS

    'WILD CARDS' TO BE

 TURNED INTO SF SERIES AT HULU

The saga will be adapted into two sf series

I'm a bit late with this one, but Hulu is apparently very close to producing two sf series based on WILD CARDS sf anthology edited by George R.R. Martin and written by a collection of authors as a shared universe of anthologies, mosaic novels and stand alone stories! As Hollywood Reporter states, there have been 27 books so far!

  

Set in the present, the series explores the aftermath of an alien virus, released over Manhattan in 1946 that killed 90 percent of those it infected. In the survivors, DNA was altered, creating grotesque physical deformities, except for a tiny percentage who develop super human powers

Andrew Miller will write the series!

instead. Called the Wild Card virus, it has passed down through generations, and can go undetected until suddenly activated by a traumatic event — at which point the carrier is either killed, mutated or granted god-like powers. Effects that are largely a manifestation of the victim's emotional state, making them vulnerable to reverence or ridicule on a deeply personal level. Now, after decades of sociological turmoil, having been worshipped, oppressed, exploited and ignored, victims of the virus want to define their own future. The Secret Circles Andrew Miller is set to write the series which is looking to open writers' rooms!

1ST THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY TV SERIES TRAILER WITH TOM HOPPER, ROBERT SHEEHAN! NETFLIX TO TURN SALMAN RUSHDIE'S MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN INTO TV SERIES

    'MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN'

SALMAN RUSHDIE TV ADAPTATION

The book was turned into a movie back in 2012

Two Netflix projects about kids with special powers, starting with TV series adaptation of Salman Rushdie's MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN which  follows the life of Saleem Sinai, born on the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the time of India’s independence. His every act is mirrored and magnified in events that sway the course of India’s national affairs; his health and wellbeing are inextricably bound to those of his nation; his life is inseparable, at times indistinguishable, from the history of his country. Perhaps most remarkable are the telepathic powers linking him with India’s 1,000 other “midnight’s children,” all born in that initial hour and endowed with magical gifts.

    'UMBRELLA ACADEMY'

FIRST TRAILER IS HERE!

Netflix has released a trailer for their new fantasy series THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY which will roll out February 15th based on the Dark Horse comic

Academy opens its doors next February

books. It stars Tom Hopper, Robert Sheehan and Ellen Page.

On the same day in 1989, forty-three infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by Sir Reginald Hargreeves, a billionaire industrialist, who creates THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY and prepares his “children” to save the world. But not everything went according to plan. In their teenage years, the family fractured and the team disbanded. Now, the six surviving thirty-something members reunite upon the news of Hargreeves’ passing. They have to work together to solve a mystery surrounding their father’s death. But the estranged family once again begins to come apart due to their divergent personalities and abilities, not to mention the imminent threat of a global apocalypse.

MOST ANTICIPATED EPIC & PERIOD SET 2019 SERIES: CATHERINE THE GREAT, BEECHAM HOUSE, MEDICI, WAR OF THE WORLDS, HIS DARK MATERIALS, NAME OF THE ROSE, SPANISH PRINCESS, LES MISERABLES AND OTHERS!

    UPCOMING NEW EPIC DRAMAS

LES MISERABLES

One of the first ones to arrive is BBC One's six part adaptation of LES MISERABLES which will air in UK from December 30th and later on at PBS too. Starring Lily Collins and Dominic West it is set against a backdrop of post-Napoleonic France as unrest begins to grip the city of Paris once more. Spy more here!

THE LONG SONG

Arriving a bit sooner, also on BBC One, from December 18th is three part 19th century saga THE LONG SONG starring Jack Lowden and Hayley Atwell bringing the story of an enslaved woman (Tamara Lawrance) living in Jamaica in 1838 under British rule.Spy more here!

DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES

Already airing on BBC is another three part historical drama DEATH AND NIGHTINGALES starring Jamie Dornan and Matthew Rhys. It is an epic tale of love, betrayal, deception, and revenge set in the Irish countryside in 1885. Spy more here!

MEDICI: THE MAGNIFICENT

This one is technically a 2nd season not a new series, but the title and the cast are new: MEDICI: THE MAGNIFICENT has already aired in Italy but will air soon on Netflix with Daniel Sharman playing Lorenzo De Medici who is now taking over the family's business with his brother played by Bradley James. Spy more here!

GENTLEMAN JACK

BBC is also preparing 19th century series set in Shibden Hall where GENTLEMAN JACK also known as Anne Lister (Surrane Jones) returns to Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1832, determined to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home Shibden Hall. But to do that she will dress and act as a man! Spy more here!

BEECHAM HOUSE

Rival ITV is taking us to 19th century India in six part saga BEECHAM HOUSE starring Tom Bateman, Kabir Bedi and Leo Suter! This lavishly exotic saga will offer us a look at the lives of residents living in a Delhi mansion during the cusp of 19th century. Spy more here!

CATHERINE THE GREAT

Sky and HBO will take us to glorious mother Russia and imperial court at Hermitage where Helen Mirren will take the role of CATHERINE THE GREAT in the story of her mature years when she already had many stunning victories and even more lovers. Spy more here!

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

BBC is also finishing the production of their three part adaptation of THE WAR OF THE WORLDS starring Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear and Eleanor Tomlinson in a story set in London during the Edwardian era, where George and Amy's attempt to start a life together is interrupted by a Martian invasion of Earth. Spy more here!

HIS DARK MATERIALS

BBC is also coproducing another major fantasy adaptation but with HBO! Eight part saga HIS DARK MATERIALS will star James McAvoy as Lord Azriel in the story about two children who embark on a magical adventure through parallel universes. Spy more here!

THE NAME OF THE ROSE

Italian Rai and HBO are also preparing a new eight episode TV adaptation of THE NAME OF THE ROSE following John Turturro as a medieval friar who investigates a series of mysterious deaths at an abbey. The adaptation of Umberto Eco's novel also stars Rupert Everett and Alessio Boni. Spy more here!

LAMBS OF GOD

Australian Foxtel is preparing gothic tale LAMBS OF GOD in which Ann Dowd, Essie Davis and Jessica Barden are playing three nuns whose life in solitude, far away from the rest of the world in a remote and rugged island on the coast, is interrupted by the arrival of a hot as hell priest played by Sam Reid. Spy more here!

THE SPANISH PRINCESS

After White Queen and White Princess, Starz will offer us more royal drama in THE SPANISH PRINCESS which will see Charlotte Hope playing the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon, as she navigates the royal lineage of England with an eye on the throne. Elliot Cowan and Olly Rix also star. Spy more here!

  RETURNING EPIC DRAMA
Beside the above mentioned new dramas, let us not forget that we can expect the new season of the ones we already love, from the third season of

Victoria returns with the third season this January!

VICTORIA at ITV starting probably in January, to the final seasons of POLDARK and DURRELLS starting probably next spring, and also the

Knightfall returns to History with the second season and new cast!

third season of Sky's 17th century saga JAMESTOWN. And while you are already enjoying the third season of medieval saga THE LAST KINGDOM

Jamestown returns with the third season this spring!

over at Netflix, you can expect more knights in the second season of KNIGHTFALL at History Channel too! Hulu's HARLOTS should also return with the third season next summer!

THE MUSKETEERS ARE BACK FROM RETIREMENT IN THE KING'S MUSKETEERS: THE PENULTIMATE MISSION ITALIAN HISTORICAL COMEDY ADVENTURE

    THE KING'S MUSKETEERS

ON THEIR PENULTIMATE MISSION!

The movie hits Italian cinemas around New Year

Your treat for today is the trailer for Italian historical adventure THE KING'S MUSKETEERS: THE PENULTIMATE MISSION which hits their cinemas December 27th!

D'Artagnan (Pierfrancesco Favino), Porthos (Valerio Mastandrea), Athos (Rocco Papaleo), Aramis (Sergio Rubini) are today a cattle breeder with an improbable French accent, a lustful lord, an indebted friar and a drunken innkeeper, but tomorrow they will be musketeers again for patriotic reasons. Cynical, disillusioned but ever so skilful with swords and muskets, they will be called on a new adventure by

The Musketeers are not in the best of shapes!

Queen Anna (Margherita Buy) to save France from the intrigues weaved at the court by the treacherous Cardinal Mazzarino (Alessandro Haber), and his conspirator Milady (Giulia Bevilacqua)! Supported in their exploits by mute Servo (Lele Vannoli) and exuberant Ancella (Matilde Gioli), the four - riding their more or less faithful steeds - will fight for the freedom of the persecuted Huguenots and for the salvation of the very young and and dissolute Louis XIV (Marco Todisco).They will certainly try their best to complete another incredible mission even if it is hard to say whether it will be their ultimate or maybe penultimate one.

HILARIOUS FIRST TRAILER FOR FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS BRITISH COMEDY WITH JAMES PUREFOY, DANNY MAYS, TUPPENCE MIDDLETON, DAVID HAYMAN

    FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS TRAILER

SEES JAMES PUREFOY SINGING!

It's the UK's number one buoy band :)

The only thing I have for you today is the first trailer and poster for delightful British comedy FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS in which Danny Mays plays a fast living, cynical London music executive who heads to a remote Cornish village on a stag weekend where he’s pranked by his boss (Noel Clarke) into trying to sign a group of shanty singing fishermen (led by James Purefoy). He becomes the ultimate ‘fish out of water’ as he struggles to gain the respect or enthusiasm of the unlikely boy band and their families who value friendship and community over fame and fortune. As he’s drawn deeper into the traditional way of life

Some bands just cannot be managed!

he’s forced to re-evaluate his own integrity and ultimately question what success really means. Also starring Tuppence Middleton, David Hayman, Dave Johns, the movie is out next March!

FIRST TRAILER FOR WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE BIOPIC ALL IS TRUE IS HERE WITH KENNETH BRANAGH, JUDI DENCH AND IAN MCKELLEN!

   1ST 'ALL IS TRUE' TRAILER

FROM KENNETH BRANAGH FILM WITH JUDI DENCH, IAN MCKELLEN

1st trailer has been released for Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare drama ALL IS TRUE which also stars Judi Dench and Ian McKellen! The story

The movie will get a limited week long release in December ahead of the awards season but will get official release date in 2019

is set in 1613 when Shakespeare is acknowledged as the greatest writer of the age. But disaster strikes when his renowned Globe Theatre burns to the

The movie is getting limited December release ahead of the awards race

ground. Devastated, Shakespeare returns to Stratford, where he must face a troubled past and a neglected family. Haunted by the death of his only son

Judi Dench already starred with Kenneth in Shakespeare's Winter's Tale

Hamnet, he struggles to mend the broken relationships with his wife (Judi Dench) and daughters. In so doing, he is forced to examine his own failings

Isn't Sir Ian McKellen lovely as Lord Southampton?

as husband and father. His very personal search for the truth uncovers secrets and lies within a family at war. Sir Ian McKellen is his patron, the Earl of

Directed by Branagh, the movie was written by Black Adder's Ben Elton

Southampton. Official movie release is set for February but it will play in selected theatres before Christmas ahead of Oscars nomination race.

COMEDY WEDNESDAY: FULLER HOUSE SEASON 4 TRAILER AND POSTER ARE HERE! BRENT MORIN TO LEAD NBC'S NEW DEPARTMENT STORE SITCOM! NBC DEVELOPING SAVE THE DELI MULTICAM SITCOM!

   NEW NBC MULTICAM SITCOMS

BRENT MORIN'S STORE SITCOM

Brent Morin returns to TV after Undateable

Comedy all the way today! We fell in love with him in one of TV's most original sitcoms Undateable, and now the ever so talented and charming Brent Morin is coming back as the star and co writer of new NBC multi camera sitcom in which he will play Andy Hewitt who, in a desperate attempt to prove himself to his family after losing his dream job, has no choice but to take a retail job at the world’s most fashionable department store.

SAVE THE DELI  
Speaking of stores and comedies, NBC is also developing multicam sitcom SAVE THE DELI based on David Sax' book which centres around a  young woman, who much to the shock of her family, friends and mostly herself, becomes the new owner of her Chicago family deli after her grandfather dies. Naturally, her very opinionated staff and family members make the job unbearable since they all have conflicting ideas of how to save the deli.

   'FULLER HOUSE'

HAPPINESS IS BACK WITH SEASON FOUR TRAILER!

Netflix has released a trailer for the fourth season of their much loved family sitcom FULLER HOUSE which returns December 14th! With new showrunners, the comedy will  pick up with Danny (Bob Saget), Joey (Dave

Fuller House returns with Season 4 December 14th at Netflix

Coulier), Jesse (John Stamos) and Rebecca (Lori Loughlin) all moving back to San Francisco where DJ (Candace Cameron Bure) and Steve

The first episode will be a Christmas set one!

(Scott Weinger) are enjoying love as a couple. The season will also follow Jackson’s (Michael Campion) burgeoning romance and the pregnancy of

As always the new season will feature dance and singing numbers!

Kimmy (Andrea Barber) who is carrying a baby for Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Jimmy (Adam Hagenbuch)! Juan Pablo Di Pace, Soni Nicole Bringas, Elias Harger, John Brotherton, Ashley Liao also star.

WATERSHIP DOWN BBC & NETFLIX ANIMATED ADVENTURE TRAILER IS HERE WITH JAMES MCAVOY, NICHOLAS HOULT, GEMMA ARTERTON, TARON EGERTON, BEN KINGSLEY, TOM WILKINSON

   'WATERSHIP DOWN'

TRAILER FROM BBC ADAPTATION

BBC keeps on releasing trailers for their festive programmes, and on the menu today is WATERSHIP DOWN an animated adventure which will premiere during prefestive weekend, December 22nd and 23rd and
 then air on Netflix on the 23rd worldwide. The forthcoming small screen adaptation of Richard Adams' timeless classic will also feature song Fire on Fire by Sam Smith, which he recorded with BBC Concert Orchestra. BBC has released the first trailer from the film featuring main characters Hazel (voiced by James McAvoy), Fiver (Nicholas Hoult), Bigwig (John Boyega), Clover (Gemma Arterton) and Strawberry (Olivia Colman) among others. The stellar voice cast also includes Rosamund Pike, Taron Egerton, Gemma Chan, Rory Kinnear, Tom Wilkinson, Ben Kingsley and others. The mini series will air in two hour and a half long episodes.

THE STORY OF WATERSHIP DOWN
adapted for the screen by Tom Bidwell, uses Richard Adams’ bestselling novel as its source to bring an innovative interpretation to the beloved classic. Set in the idyllic rural landscape of southern England, this tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of rabbits on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stout-hearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, towards a promised land and a more perfect society.

FIRST TRAILER FOR BBC & PBS EPIC TV SERIES LES MISERABLES WITH LILY COLLINS, DOMINIC WEST, JOSH O'CONNOR, OLIVIA COLMAN, DEREK JACOBI

'LES MISERABLES'

Les Miserables starts December 30th!

BBC TV SERIES TRAILER IS HERE!

Its already quite clear that in the whole slate of festive delights BBC One has prepared for the upcoming December holidays, the latest six part TV series adaptation of famous LES MISERABLES will probably be the highlight of Christmas 2018! The series is hitting the small screens at the very end of December in UK and later in 2019 at PBS Masterpiece for the viewers in Northern America! To the delight of many, this version won't be

The new adaptation of Les Miserables will be without any singing!

a musical one! Beside Dominic West as Jean Valjean, Lily Collins as poverty stricken mother Fantine and David Oyelowo as the evil

Josh O'Connor as Marius and Ellie Bamber as Cosette

police inspector Javert, the cast also includes Olivia Colman as Madame Thénardier, Adeel Akhtar as Monsieur Thénardier, Josh O’Connor as

Dominic West is Jean Valjean in the series!

Marius and Ellie Bamber as Fantine's daughter Cosette. Legendary Derek Jacobi will play Bishop Myriel while Joseph Quinn is Enjoiras!

HUGO'S 19TH CENTURY STORY
directed by Andrew Davies, is turned into series which delves deep into the many layers of the classic novel, revelling in Jean Valjean and Javert's cat-

Dominic West and David Oyelowo as Valjean and Javert

and-mouse relationship, against the epic backdrop of France at a time of civil unrest. With striking intensity and contemporary resonance, Hugo’s novel

Olivia Colman as opportunistic Madame Thenardier

explores the struggles and triumphs of the underclass and the quest for a better life. The six part television adaptation of the renowned book will vividly

Lily Collins as poor Fantine

and faithfully bring to life the vibrant and engaging characters, the spectacular and authentic imagery and, above all, the incredible yet accessible story that was Hugo’s lifework.

1ST PHOTOS FROM 'MEDIEVAL' 14TH CENTURY ADVENTURE WITH BEN FOSTER, WILLIAM MOSELEY, MICHAEL CAINE, MATTHEW GOODE, TIL SCHWEIGER!

  FIRST 'MEDIEVAL'

PHOTOS FROM THE CZECH EPIC!

We are ready to top our Epic Weekend today with the first photos coming from the sets of new historical adventure MEDIEVAL which sees American actor Ben Foster playing Czech national hero and warlord Jan Zizka who was

William Moseley, Ben Foster and Michael Caine in the film!

a powerful figure in the famous Hussite wars in the medieval times. With the massive budget of about $20 million, the new historical movie is currently

Til Schweiger is the richest man in the country in the film!

shooting on the sets near Prague and around Czech republic. Superhunky Czech actor and judo champion Petr Jakl is both writing and directing the

William Moseley plays Jan' brother, brave Jaroslav!

movie! He is not the only athlete in the production as legendary Czech decathlon world recorder Roman Sebrle is also in the cast!

WHAT'S THE MOVIE ABOUT? 
MEDIEVAL will follow their 14th century national hero Jan Zizka of Trocnov (Ben Foster), a revered military tactician who defeated armies of the

Ben Foster takes the lead role of Jan Zizka!

Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire. He is known for his innovative strategies and for quickly training peasants to face skilled and armoured

Matthew Goode plays King Sigismund of Hungary and Croatia

opponents who usually outnumbered his own troops. The historical adventure film will also have another storyline which will revolve around his

Michael Caine plays Lord Boresh in the medieval adventure!

relationship with king's lover, a rich heiress Catherine (Sophie Lowe), whom he is sent to save but unexpectedly falls in love with her, while another storyline will describe his fight against a rival king.

WHO ELSE IS IN THE CAST?

Our favourite William Moseley plays Jan's brother Jaroslav, legendary Michael Caine is Lord Boresh the right hand of Czech King Wenceslaus and

Karel Roden is King Wenceslaus in the movie

German superstar Til Schweiger is Rosenberg, the richest lord in the kingdom. British thespian Matthew Goode will portray King Sigismund of

Czech world record breaker Roman Sebrle plays one of the knights

Hungary and Croatia, the brother of Czech King Wenceslaus, and if my eyes are not playing with me he will have a blondish hair in the movie! Czech actor Karel Roden is playing King Wenceslaus himself!