TEASERS FOR VIKINGS: VALHALLA AND SHADOW & BONE SEASONS 2! THE WITCHER: BLOOD ORIGIN EPIC SPIN OFF SERIES STREAM DATE ANNOUNCED WITH A NEW POSTER!

  BLOOD ORIGIN  

THE WITCHER SPINOFF SERIES TO ARRIVE THIS CHRISTMAS 

During the Tudum even this weekend, when they announce upcoming projects, Netflix has announced and confirmed that THE WITCHER spin off series

The show will arrive this Christmas

BLOOD ORIGIN will arrive as your Christmas present December 25th! Set 1,200 years before the events of The Witcher series, the six-episode Blood Origin will focus on how the first Witcher was created and the events that lead to the pivotal conjunction of the spheres, when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one. Minnie Drives has been announced as the new addition to the cast led by Michelle Yeoh, Laurence O’Fuarain, and Sophia Brown, who all play warrior elves. The godawful Driver will meanwhile play a Seanchai, a shapeshifting collector of old lore with the abilities to travel between time and worlds. You can also check out the first poster for the new epic series and also a new photo of Michelle Yeoh in the costume of her character. The original Witcher series, meanwhile, returns with season 3 next summer.

  VIKINGS: VALHALLA  

SEASON TWO TEASER TRAILER

Tudum has also brought us an exciting first teaser for the second season of VIKINGS: VALHALLA epic series which will return sometime next year and the teaser gives us a look at  our heroes Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett) and Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), as they make a desperate last stand against Olaf and his warriors! And, yes, there are some mighty fireballs coming from the sky to save them in the last moment! The series already has third season ordered as well!

 

 

  SHADOW AND BONE  

SEASON TWO TEASER IS HERE

Although it will arrive sometime next year, Netflix has shown the first teaser over at Tudum event for the second season of their fantasy series SHADOW AND BONE which is set in the fictional land of Ravka, where teenage orphan Alina has the power of light with which she can stop the dark forces led by Ben Barnes. The teaser gives us the first look at some new characters as well: Jack Wolfe as Wylan Hendriks; Patrick Gibson as Nikolai Lantsov, the son of Ravkan king Alexander III with his own private fleet; Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Bataar, a Heartrender and close friend of Alina’s; and our dear Warrior star Lewis Tan as Tolya Yul-Bataar, Tamar’s twin brother and another Heartrender. Check out the teaser below and see if it will wet your appetite for the continuation of the series based on Leigh Bardugo's Grisha novels. 

WHICH STARS WILL WE SEE IN HALLMARK'S COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS 2022? ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LA BREA ADVENTURE TV SERIES SEASON 2 STARTING NEXT WEEK

  HALLMARK CHANNEL'S  

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS 

Believe it or not, it is that time of the year when Hallmark announces it's legendary countdown to Christmas which means festive movies from October 21st all the way till the end of December. The 40 movies that will premiere across the channel will bring back some of your favourite romantic

John Brotherton, Luke MacFarlane, Andrew Walker, Jonathan Bennett

genre stars from Luke MacFarlane and Corey Sevier to John Brotherton, Dean Jeannotte and Andrew Walker! The lineup will also include a gay romance between Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa in THE HOLIDAY SITTER about a guy who recruits the help from a handsome neighbour while babysitting his niece and nephew! Some of the films will also

Steve Lund, Korey Sevier, Dean Jeannotte, Chandler Massey

feature Aimee Teegarden, Tia Carrere, Jack Wagner, Victor Webster, Will Kemp, Melissa Peterman, Greta Scacchi, Bruce Campbell. There will even be THREE WISE MEN AND A BABY, a movie including three Hallmark faves Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker.

  LA BREA SEASON 2  

ARRIVES NEXT WEEK!

La Brea returns next Tuesday to NBC

One of the premieres that next week is bringing us is the return of NBC's adventure series LA BREA with the second season after the success of the first one last year which became the best watched new show of the season.The series follows an epic family adventure after a massive sinkhole opens in Los Angeles pulling people and buildings into a mysterious and dangerous primeval land where they have no choice but to band together to survive. 

 

STARTING SEPTEMBER 27TH

 which is next Tuesday, season two returns to the Harris family which remains separated as Eve (Natalie Zea) is reeling from her bratty son, Josh (Jack Martin), having mistakenly gone through a portal to 1988. What she doesn’t know yet is that her estranged husband, Gavin (Eoin Macken), and their daughter, Izzy (Zyra Gorecki), have landed in prehistoric Seattle and now must brave the elements and animals to make their way to L.A. The cast will see the return of Jon Seda, Nicholas Gonzalez, Chiké Okonkwo, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney, Lily Santiago, Josh McKenzie, Tonantzin Carmelo, and Michelle Vergara Moore, with Martin Sensmeier as Taamet, the leader of The Exiles, a dangerous group of people living in 10,000 BC. Taamet will become a feared adversary of the La Brea Survivors as Season Two unfolds.

SEE THE STORY OF ROMEO'S EX IN ROSALINE PERIOD SET COMEDY MOVIE TRAILER! TONI COLLETTE, ANNA FARIS WANT KATHLEEN TURNER'S ESTATE IN NEW COMEDY TRAILER WITH DAVID DUCHOVNY, RON LIVINGSTON

 ROSALINE MOVIE TRAILER 

HEAR ROMEO'S EX'S STORY

Rosaline arrives to Hulu October 14th

Hulu has released a trailer for their new period set comedy movie ROSALINE based on Rebecca Serle's bestselling book about Romeo's ex Rosaline. Arriving to Hulu October 14th, it is a fresh and comedic twist on Shakespeare's classic love story "Romeo & Juliet," told from the perspective of Juliet's cousin Rosaline (Kaitlyn Dever), who also happens to be Romeo's recent love interest. Heartbroken when Romeo (Kyle Allen) meets Juliet (Isabela Merced) and begins to pursue her, Rosaline schemes to foil the famous romance and win back her guy. Karen Maine sat behind the helm of this one.

 

  THE ESTATE TRAILER  

WITH A HELLUVA CAST!

The Estate is out this November

If you are more in the mood for some comedy, check out the trailer for THE ESTATE out November 4th, with Toni Collette and Anna Faris playing two sisters who attempt to win over their terminally ill, difficult-to-please Aunt in hopes of becoming the beneficiaries of her wealthy estate, only to find the rest of their greedy family members have the same idea. You will be thrilled to see Kathleen Turner playing aunt Hilda with David Duchovny, Ron Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt as the rest of the greedy and cunning family without morals. Dean Craig both wrote and directed this movie comedy.

IT'S WAR AND POWER STRUGGLE AT COURT IN THE EMPRESS TRAILER FOR NEW NETFLIX' HISTORICAL SAGA! MORTEN HEE ANDERSEN JOINS MADS MIKKELSEN IN THE BASTARD 18TH CENTURY MOVIE DRAMA

  MORTEN HEE ANDERSEN  

JOINS MADS MIKKELSEN'S PERIOD SET FILM THE BASTARD

Morten Hee Andersen has joined the cast

It was previously known as King's Land but for some reason they opted for a rather bland title THE BASTARD, but it still has Mads Mikkelsen in the lead, and he is now joined by our dear Morten Hee Andersen (you remember him as the hot prince in Margrete Queen of the North) and Gustav Lindh, Simon Bennebjerg, Amanda Collin, Kristine Kujath Thorp, Magnus Krepper, Jakob Lohmann and Felix Kramer! The story of Nikolaj Arcel's film is set in the middle of the 18th century when Danish King Frederik V declared that the wild heath of Jutland should be tamed, cultivated, and colonized so that

First look at Mads Mikkelsen in the film which arrives next year

civilization could spread and new taxes be generated for the royal house. But nobody dared go to this brutal land until a lone soldier named Ludvig Kahlen stepped up. The film, produced by Zentropa, should arrive to cinemas sometime in Autumn next year and you can also check out first two photos showing Mikkelsen at the sets of the new movie.

  THE EMPRESS TRAILER  

FOR NETFLIX EPIC SERIES

Netflix has released the official trailer for their new German original series THE EMPRESS which arrives September 29th! You can read more about the series in our lavish spotlight here. In an incredible twist of fate and against all expectations, an unusual love ignites between Emperor Franz of Austria and Hungary (Philip Froissant) and Bavarian princess Elisabeth (Devrim Lingnau). Together they embark on a dangerous path. Surrounded by power struggles and intrigues, Elisabeth confronts those who do not believe in her to become one of Europe's first glamorous celebrities and also the empress of a vast empire. 

JANNIS NIEWOHNER, GIJS NABER TO LEAD HAGEN EPIC FANTASY TV SERIES! DIVA HISTORICAL ADVENTURE TV SERIES ON LEGENDARY 17TH CENTURY HEROINE LA MAUPIN!

   JANNIS NIEWOHNER TO LEAD  

Jannis Niewohner will be Siegfried!

HAGEN EPIC FANTASY SERIES

I admit that I made a little Squee! sound when this news reached our spying headquarters late last night and some of you will recall that I predicted this casting outcome: our lieblings Jannis Niewohner will lead RTL+ series adaptation of HAGEN epic fantasy saga! It follows weapons master Hagen (Gijs Naber) as he keeps a crisis-ridden kingdom together, while hiding his secret love for the king’s daughter Kriemhild (Lilja van der Zwaag) and his own unpredictability. He is forced to decided between love and loyalty after the inexperienced king asks dragonslayer Siegfried von Xanten (Jannis Niewöhner) to help him secure the hand of the dangerous Valkyrie Brunhild in marriage. Dominic Marcus Singer, Rosalinde Mynster, Jördis Triebel and Jörg

The project will be made into a cinematic film and six part TV series

Hartmann also star. You will remember that our favourite German star Jannis led Maximilian epic TV series, Turncoat WW2 drama and Narcissus und Goldmund medieval movie and Felix Krull.

  DIVA EPIC TV SERIES  

ON LEGENDARY LA MAUPIN

I've mentioned this one before, but now it is official: The Kissing Booth director Vince Marcello will produce historical adventure TV series DIVA told through a very contemporary lens, which will chronicle the life of

La Maupin was also good with a sword

legendary French heroine Julie D’Aubigny, following her rise from an impoverished servant in 1680s France to battle rogues and royalty alike, in her quest to conquer the stage as the opera singer otherwise known as La Maupin. The show set amidst some of Europe’s most iconic settings, including Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles, the backstreets of Paris and Marseille, and the lavender-filled hillsides of Provence, will then watch as La Maupin finds fame, fortune and love, with both men and women, along the way. The show, which will also depict her as a master swordsmistress, will be presented this October at Mipcom in Cannes.

GO ON A TRIP AROUND THE WONDERS OF EUROPE WITH HUGH BONNEVILLE IN NEW HIGH END PERIOD SET SERIES

 THE WONDERS OF EUROPE 

WITH HUGH BONNEVILLE

Here is something interesting for you period set drama lovers: Hugh Bonneville will narrate Studiocanal's new four part documentary series THE WONDERS OF EUROPE (L’Europe des Merveilles) taking the viewers on a grand tour of the architectural landmarks of Europe in the international version of the French programme. As 'Variety' reports, this new high-end docu-series focusing on European cultural heritage and architecture was unveiled at Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Biarritz, the international market entirely dedicated to French TV programs. 

 

THE WONDERS OF EUROPE

 is enhanced by French composer Cascadeur’s original music and, for the international version, Bonneville’s narration. The first season reveals the story of the people who built four European wonders, the Palace of Versailles, and the temples of the Acropolis, but also the Louvre in Paris, and the Alhambra in Granada. Watching the Acropolis being built before your very eyes or Versailles being enlarged by order of Louis XIV to become one of the most beautiful palaces in the world with its 73-meter long Hall of Mirrors and sumptuous gardens are just a couple of the time travel trips that the show takes you on. Currently in the making, season two will also include four parts: two on monuments in France and probably one each in Germany and Italy. A third season is already under discussion.

VISIT THE 1920'S THE HOUSE OF DREAMS IN BERLIN IN NEW GERMAN PERIOD SET TV SERIES

 THE HOUSE OF DREAMS 

PERIOD SET TV SERIES

Now, this one started last night, September 18th, but I forgot to tell you on time, naughty me, not that most of you even have RTL + unless you live in Germany or in one of the European countries that have it in their cable

The series started streaming last night

system, but even then you'd have to know Deutch. I am rather sure, though, that THE HOUSE OF DREAMS (Das Haus der Träume)will at some point be available on MHz Choice with English subtitles. 

 

  THE 12 PART TV SERIES

takes us to Berlin in the 1920s, Jewish businessman and war veteran Arthur Grünberg (Alexander Scheer) wanted to open Germany's first credit department store in the completely impoverished district of Berlin. There, even the little people should be able to fulfill a few of their dreams thanks to cheap purchase, that's his noble goal, which, however, is not so easy to implement due to the financing. In addition to business problems and the burgeoning National Socialism, he and his wife Alice Grünberg (Nina Kunzendorf) are also struggling with marital problems. Plus, her son Harry (Ludwig Simon) lives very differently from the rest of the family and spends his nights in Berlin as abar pianist. He has no interest whatsoever in the family business. The penniless Vicky Maler (Naemi Florez), who is soon able to earn at least a little money as a saleswoman in  their department store, falls in love with him of all people. When she finds out who Harry really is, whom she previously thought was also a penniless musician, their relationship is on shaky ground. Marriage between the two is unthinkable for a number of reasons, although Vicky is now pregnant by Harry.

WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER? PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE NEW PERIOD SET TV SERIES WITH IRRESISTIBLE SAM REID

 INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

The show starts October 2nd at AMC Plus

WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?

I know, I know, I am not into bloodsuckers either, but I certainly am a huge sucker for our dearest Sam Reid, the best actor of his generation, so watching AMC's new INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE mini TV series is a definite must when it launches October 2nd! The new eight episode adaptation of the famous novel by Anne Rice will have Rolin Jones as writer, executive producer, and show runner, with Anne's son Christopher Rice also serving as the executive producer.

The series will have eight episodes

 

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE 

 a sensuous, contemporary reinvention of Anne Rice’s revolutionary gothic novel,  follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) and Claudia’s (Bailey Bass) epic story of love, blood, and the perils of immortality, as told to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Chafing at the limitations of life as a Black man in 1900s New Orleans, Louis finds it impossible to resist the rakish Lestat de Lioncourt’s offer of the ultimate escape: joining him as his vampire companion. But Louis’s intoxicating new powers come with a violent price, and the introduction of Lestat’s newest fledgling, the child vampire Claudia, soon sets them on a decades-long path of revenge and atonement. “Let the tale seduce you, just as I was seduced,” Jacob Anderson as the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac says in the trailer below. “He was my murderer, my mentor, my lover, and my maker.”

GLEN POWELL, REGE JEAN PAGE ARE BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID IN NEW PRIME VIDEO TV SERIES! SEE NEW CATHERINE THE GREAT IMAGES FROM THE 2ND SEASON OF THE RUSSIAN SERIES

 GLEN POWELL TO LEAD 

BUTCH CASSIDY & SUNDANCE KID SERIES WITH REGE JEAN PAGE

Well, I'm not sure when did Butch become black, but it seems Amazon does not care, and our sweet hunk Glen Powell will lead BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID western TV series together with Rege Jean Page who will be Butch. Ordered by Amazon for full series, it will be a classic western about outlaws in an alternate America. You probably remember the classic movie from 1969 starring Paul Newman as Butch and Robert Redford as Sundance.

 

  CATHERINE THE GREAT  

NEW SEASON TWO PHOTOS

And your epic treat for today are new photos from the second season of Russian historical series CATHERINE THE GREAT (Velikaya - not to be confused with their rival series CATHERINE II in which the tzarina was played by Marina Aleksandrova and which already had two seasons). Kinopoisk was the first to show new images with Elizabeth Boyarskaya in the role of older Catherine II from the sequel to the series "Catherine the Great". The first part, where Julia Snigir played the Empress, was released in 2015. Now the action takes place in 1763, the first year after the coronation of Catherine.  The series also stars Anton Khabarov (Grigory Orlov), Alexei Morozov (Gregory Potemkin), Pavel Vorozhtsov (Nikita Panin), Alexey Filimonov (Lev Naryshkin), Igor Gordin (Alexey Bestuzhev), Sofia Sinitsyna (Ekaterina Dashkova) and Philip Ershov (future Emperor Paul). Filming is currently taking place in palaces, parks and mansions of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, as well as on the ship "Poltava". The project involves more than 560 historical costumes, which were sewn and rented in Spain and the Czech Republic. Mars Media is working on the 12-episode second season ordered by Russia's Channel One.

PATHE TURNING ILIAD AND ODYSSEY INTO ULYSSE SF TV SERIES! CRAIG PARKER, SEAN ASTIN ARE POLITICIANS FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IN A SOCIAL CONTRACT THRILLER MOVIE

  THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY 

TO BECOME A SF TV SERIES

Our favourite Pathe is producing

Well, that would be a first: as Variety reports, Antonin Baudry, Pathe and Ness Films from Paris,  are set to adapt Homer’s epic war tales of “The Iliad and The Odyssey” into a science fiction series titled ULYSSE! Antonin Baudry, who is writing the adaptation, had the idea of transposing these mythological tales in space and in the future!

The series will follow the fantasy-filled adventures of Ulysse through the 10-year Trojan Wars and beyond. ULYSSE will also involve mythological characters from “The Iliad and the Odyssey,” such as Achilles, Helen, Hector and Penelope. Baudry previously did The Wolf's Call for Netflix. This will be one of the very rare science fiction shows done in France.

 CRAIG PARKER TO LEAD 

A SOCIAL CONTRACT MOVIE

Craig Parker will lead with Sean Astin

If you miss our gorgeous hunkster Craig Parker from Spartacus and Reign, he is now leading A SOCIAL CONTRACT movie with Sean Astin, his colleague from Lord of the Rings movies. In the film exploring the dynamics and social constructs of power, relationships and government, a political dinner turns deadly when a group of power-starved politicians fight for a seat of survival on a helicopter at the onset of a nuclear war. Astin will play a senator in the political thriller.