"THE SNOW QUEEN" ANIMATED TRAILER! RZA HELMS "GENGHIS KHAN"! "MERLIN"'S SIR GWAIN EOIN MACKEN IN NBC'S "AFTER HOURS"! NEW "MILA 2.0" SF SHOW

One of the most beloved knights from BBC's MERLIN show, Irish hunk Eoin Macken, who plays the gentle and honourable sir Gwain in the fantasy show, has been cast in

NBC's pilot AFTER HOURS which will focus on the overnight shift in the emergency department of the San Antonio Medical Centre. Macken will star as former Army medic who comes into conflict with his bosses over his unorthodox approach to emergency medicine. Although Macken didn't have big roles before he got noticed in MERLIN, he did also play in THE TUDORS and in another historical epic CENTURION in which he played one of the warriors. He was much more successful as a top model working for big names such as Ralph Lauren and companies like GQ and Abercrombie and Fitch. It is interesting that besides getting a degree in psychology he also managed to direct a few films.

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

According to "The Hollywood Reporter" rapper turned director, RZA, whose THE MAN WITH THE IRON FIST is about to open in cinemas

this weekend, will also direct the new biopic on one of the most savage and bloodthirsty tyrants in history GENGHIS KHAN. For this, RZA will return to China to shoot the film about the Mongolian warlord which is written by CONAN THE BARBARIAN's John Millius who was originally supposed to helm the project. Deadline reports that GREY'S ANATOMY creator Shonda Rhimes will produce television adaptation of MILA 2.0, a book by Debra Driza which is yet to be released in March next year. The sf show will revolve around an android named MILA - or Mobile Intel Life-like Android - who develops human emotions, as well as the plight of her scientist 'mother'.

THE SNOW QUEEN TRAILER

Now, here is something delightful. The first trailer for long anticipated Russian animated film THE SNOW QUEEN which is supposed to hit Russian

 cinemas later this year on December 31st, the New Year Eve. Produced by Russia's famous director Timur Bekmam- betov (who earlier this year helmed ABRAHAM LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER), the film is based on the beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, which follows a boy called Kai who is kidnapped by the wicked Snow Queen. His sister Gerda embarks on a quest to rescue him with the aid of the Queen's put-upon troll minion. As you might remember, Disney has also been developing their own version of Snow Queen for many years now, and it is supposed to be a hand drawn animated feature in the vein of Disney's classics.

CATE BLANCHETT, DANIEL CRAIG, JEAN DUJARDIN IN GEORGE CLOONEY'S "THE MONUMENTS MEN"!

THE MONU- MENTS MEN

Oh, my, now this is quite a cast. Sometime last year HOLLYWOOD SPY mentioned that George Clooney has bought the movie adaptation rights for  Robert M Edsel's book "The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History", and that he will make THE MONUMENTS MEN period set movie out of it, but now it seems he's gathering quite a cast for it. "Deadline" reports today that Cate Blanchett, Daniel Craig, Jean Dujardin, Bill Murray and John Goodman will star in this story which follows a group of art historians and curators who helped to recover thousands of stolen artworks from the Nazis, during the final days of their reign. The story will apparently focus on the 11 months period between D-Day and V-E Day. Clooney will direct the film himself.

EPIC TRAILER FOR LEE BYUNG HUN'S "MASQUERADE"! PATRICK WILSON, JERRY O'CONNELL, MATT BOMER IN "SPACE STATION 76"! ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER RETURNS TO "THE LEGEND OF CONAN"!

Here's something unusual, "The Hollywood Reporter" wrote this weekend about a film which has just ended its production over in Los Angeles completely unnoticed by the media. It is a sci fi comedy SPACE STATION 76 with a rather interesting cast including Patrick Wilson, Jerry O'Connell, Liv Tyler and Matt Bomer. The comedy is set in a 1970's version of the future and centres on a group of crew members aboard a space station. Always amazing Patrick Wilson portrays the suicidal captain alongside Liv Tyler, who plays his assistant. Matthew Bomer plays a engineer with a robotic hand, who is unfortunatley married to a controlling wife (Marisa Coughlan).

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

After the rather floppish CONAN THE BARBARIAN remake with Jason Momoa, we shall return to the classic epic with a direct sequel

to the original film. Titled THE LEGEND OF CONAN, the sequel will, and this is the biggest news, have Arnold Schwarze- negger returning to the role which made him famous. The film is planned as Universal's leading movie for summer 2014. The original ended with Conan on the throne as a seasoned warrior, and the sequel will see him as the Nordic Viking mythic guy who has played the role of king, warrior, soldier and mercenary and is now nearing the last cycle of his life.

MASQUERADE TRAILER

And here's something Asian for you today: a trailer for South Korean historical comedy MASQUERADE which is currently breaking box office records over in

its home country. The film brings a Prince and the Pauper story set in 17th-century Korea, with "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" star Lee Byung-hun playing dual roles: he is both the tragic King Gwanghae and the commoner who shares a fatefully remarkable resemblance to the ruler, Ha-Seon. Deeply embroiled in palace intrigue which aims to assassinate the ruler, King Gwang-Hae orders his trusted councillor Heo Kyun to find him a body double. When the King collapses from a mysterious poison, Ha-seon must carry off the biggest MASQUERADE of his career to save the country from chaos while under imminent threat of death. He will surprise all by demonstrating just leadership in the corrupt court. He will become a king that the people dreamed of, writing in fifteen

 days of wise and good rule in the real king's fifteen years long history of tyranny. The film has sold 10 million tickets in South Korea in just a month, in a middle of a slow season, which is faster even than AVATAR. The film is already showing in Northern American cinemas.

DECEMBER 2012 COMEDIES: GERARD BUTLER'S & CATHERINE ZETA JONES' "PLAYING FOR KEEPS", BARBRA STREISAND'S "THE GUILT TRIP", BETTE MIDDLER'S & BILLY CRYSTAL'S "PARENTAL GUIDANCE", PAUL RUDD'S "THIS IS 40"!

I'm guessing it is rather unusual for December to be month of laughter in cinemas rather than the month of fantasy, epic drama and festivity, but this December will be filled with movie comedies. Check them out.

THE GUILT TRIP

Now, you may like this one, or hate it due to its cast immediately, choose yourself. THE GUILT TRIP opens up in theatres right on Christmas, so if

 you're in the mood to spend the holy day with Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen, you might like this story about Andy Brewster (Seth Rogen) an inventor who lives in Los Angeles. He’s come up with an amazing organic cleaner but can’t get anyone interested in manufacturing it. Andy plans a business trip to promote the product and decides to take his recently widowed mother (Barbra Streisand) along for the ride. She’s been despondent since his father died, so he comes up with a great idea — during the trip he’ll surprise her with a stop in San Francisco, where one of her ex-flames lives.The cast also includes Colin Hanks, Adam Scott and Yvonne Strahovski.

PLAYING FOR KEEPS

But if you want a film with a cast which you fall in love with, the one to chose on December 7th is PLAYING FOR KEEPS with Gerard Butler and gorgeous Catherine Zeta Jones. This is a romantic comedy about a charming, down-on-his luck former soccer star (Butler) who returns home to put his life back together. Looking for a way to rebuild his relationship with his son, he gets roped into coaching the boy’s soccer team. But his attempts to finally become an “adult” are met with hilarious challenges from the attractive “soccer moms” who pursue him at every turn. PLAYING FOR KEEPS is directed by Gabriele Muccino, the director of "The Pursuit of Happiness" and also stars Uma Thurman, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid.

PARENTAL GUIDANCE

If this December will put you in the mood for something more family oriented, you have delightful PARENTAL GUIDANCE opening on the Christmas day as well. Charming couple Bette Middler and Billy Crystal star in the story of  old school grandfather Artie, who is accustomed to calling the shots, but meets his match when he and his eager-to-please wife Diane agree to babysit their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents go away for work. But when 21st century problems collide with Artie and Diane’s old school methods of tough rules, lots of love and old fashioned games, it’s learning to bend - and not holding your ground - that binds a family together!

THIS IS 40

And here's something that has both parental problems in the plot and great actors in the cast. Hilarious comedy THIS IS 40 is ready to hit cinemas on December 21st starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann. They are playing Pete and Debbie from the blockbuster hit "Knocked Up" as we see first-hand how they are dealing with their current state of life. Directed by hit director Judd Apatow this comedy movie also stars always delightful Melissa McCarthy in a rather hilarious role, legendary actor John Lithgow, popular comedian Jason Segel, gorgeous Megan Fox and Lena Dunham.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S REPORT FROM THE LAVISH ROYAL WEDDING OF LUXEMBOURG'S CROWN PRINCE GUILLAUME AND COUNTESS STEPHANIE DE LANNOY!

As you know, HOLLYWOOD SPY likes to cover royal weddings in our posts too, and since our previous coverages of delightful royal weddings in Monaco of prince Albert and princess Charlene, in Jordan of prince Rashid and princess Zeina and in United Kingdom of 

prince William and Kate Middleton, were so popular and well visited by our readers, here's the latest one. We are a bit late, since it happened a week ago, but here is the report from the royal wedding in one of Europe's smallest countries Luxembourg with some truly 

gorgeous pictures. It was the wedding of Prince Guillaume, who is the heir to the throne and the future grand duke of Luxembourg, and his new wife Belgian Countess Stephanie de Lannoy.

THE ROYAL GUESTS

As you will see in the pictures the truly lavish and utterly beautiful ceremony in the divinely decorated cathedral has gathered lots of Europe's and world's crowned heads including some kings and queens.

Among others, there were royal heads from Denmark (always delightful pair prince Frederick and his lovely wife Marry) Belgium, Norway, Serbia, Sweden, Lichtenstein, Romania, Holland, Romania and Great 

Britain (Prince Edward and his wife), and always stunning Lalla Salma, the wife of Moroccan king.

THE WEDDING GOWN

I must admit I liked princess Stephanie's dress the most from all the royal gowns we have seen recently since we have had so many royal weddings around Europe. Her gown was very simple, but gorgeously

refined with stunning lace veil which had a stunning length of four meters and was designed by world's best high fashion designer Elie Saab, who, as you know, dresses most of the elegant stars at all

the famous movie awards. The gown was also richly beaded, made of silk and lace with silver floral designs. The only thing I did not like was her hairdo, since she looks much prettier and sweeter with her long golden hair down.

A COSTLY WEDDING

Similarly to last year's royal wedding in Monaco, this one was also very expensive (they say it cost about 500,000 euro, but as you know, even though it is one of the smallest countries, Luxembourg is also one

 of the richest countries in the world since it is a financial and steel haven), and it featured vivid celebrations around the city with fireworks, concerts and street parades.

GUILLAUME & STEPHANIE

If you follow royal circles you already know that young and very handsome prince Guillaume has, for quite a long time, been one of the most attractive royal bachelors in the world, and he got engaged

with Stephanie last year. They also had a sad moment at the wedding when they held a minute of silence to Stephanie's mother who died in August.  After and before the wedding the royal couple was greeted

by adoring crowds who gathered in the streets and in front of the church and the grand-ducal palace. The couple has been enjoying great popularity and are beloved by the citizens of Luxembourg. She is two years younger than him, who is 30 years old. Guillaume is known for

his charity work and is a member of Luxembourg army, while Stephanie is a well educated young lady who, luckily, speaks both languages of Luxembourg - German and French. She will become 

Luxembourg's Grand Duchess when Guillaume takes the throne from his parents. It is interesting that he is the last of the European heirs to to throne to get married among the ones who rule the official monarchies.

PS Click on the pictures to see them in bigger size!

BEAUTIFUL "SAFE HAVEN" TRAILER WITH JOSH DUHAMEL & JULIANNE HOUGH! "MASS EFFECT", "ASSASSIN'S CREED", "INSURRECTION", "MADAME BOVARY" FILM ADAPTATIONS! CW'S "REIGN" EPIC SHOW ON MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS!

If you like video games there are a lot of them awaiting movie adaptation. One of them is MASS EFFECT, which will be adapted by Legendary

Pictures and is set in the year 2183, centring on a space commander leading an elite team on a mission to destroy a deadly alien race. These mechanized aliens wipe out everything in the galaxy once every 50,000 years. On the other hand, the adaptation of ASSASSSIN'S CREED has found its home at New Regency. Michael Fassbender will both produce and star in the story which features a man travelling back in time to operate in the shadows of various historical events. Another similar project will also be INSURRECTION which, based on a comic book, will be Paramount's sci-fi take on the story of Spartacus, following a man who leads an uprising against powerful corporations that command clone armies and rule the world.

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

Beside video games, another popular thing to adapt onto films are classic novels and it seems that beside LES MISERABLES, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, ANA KARENINA and THERESE RAQUIN, we'll be getting another classic novel adapted onto the big screen: it will

be Flaubert's MADAME BOVARY which will have Rhys Ifans, Paul Giamatti and Mia Wasikowska in the story about a married woman who tries to enhance her social status by having a number of extramarital affairs. Rhys Ifans will play Monsieur Lheureuse, who leads her to her financial downfall by making her buy things on credit. Meanwhile, "Deadline" reports that in the sea of new historical shows, CW is preparing their teen take on MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS! Pitched as "Game of Thrones" meets "Marie Antoinette" the pilot, titled REIGN, will show Mary as a "warrior queen" with a "girl posse" who fought to gain the throne of Scotland after spending her childhood at the French court, only to end up killed by her own sister Elizabeth I. As I've reported earlier this summer, Michael Hirst of TUDORS and ELIZABETH THE GOLDEN AGE (in which she was portrayed by Samantha Morton), has a plan of shooting a film on Mary with Saoirse Ronan and BBC had a great mini series on her with Clemence Poesy in the lead role.

SAFE HAVEN TRAILER

I have a lovely romantic trailer for you today. It is the first trailer for SAFE HAVEN movie adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' bestselling novel, which, appropriately, hits cinemas February 8th 2013 directed

by amazing Lasse Hallstrom. When a mysterious young woman named Katie (Julianne Hough) appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming

 personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex (Josh Duhamel), a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo (Cobie Smulders). Despite her

reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family. But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past

that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards... And that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven!

ABC BUYS CHARLIZE THERON'S VIKING TV SHOW "THE CLAN"! TRAILER FOR UNDERWATER EPIC "EMPIRES OF THE DEEP" WITH OLGA KURYLENKO! JAMES CAMERON TO HELM "THE INFORMATIONIST" AFTER AVATAR SEQUELS

Well it seems that beside History Channel's VIKINGS series with Travis Fimmel and Gabriel Byrne, which is currently being shot in Ireland and

  will hit small screens next year, according to "The Hollywood Reporter" we shall enjoy another television epic with Northern warriors. Charlize Theron has just sold her THE CLAN production to ABC. The story of the future show is described as a sweeping drama set in the Highlands of medieval Scotland, where the great clans battle one another - and the Viking invaders. Charlize has already found a man who will direct it, write it and executive produce it - HOTEL RWANDA's Terry George! Beside a number of other television project, Charlize has also produced her award winning dramas YOUNG ADULT and MONSTER. She is currently preparing for her role in MAD MAX FURY ROAD in which she plays a one-armed nasty road warrior Furiosa!

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

One of the biggest news yesterday was that, after he finishes AVATAR sequels (which will take years and years), James Cameron will direct movie adaptation of THE INFOR- MATIONIST. The book by Taylor Stevens centres on Vanessa “Michael” Munroe, a woman born in central Africa who spent her teenage years as a protege of gunners and mercenaries. She reinvents herself as an information dealer for wealthy clients, but when a billionaire hires her to find his daughter who went missing in Africa, Munroe finds herself back in the Dark Continent. You can also check out today, delightful covers for the new EMPIRE magazine featuring some of the characters from THE HOBBIT, my fave are Cate Blanchett's Galadriel and Ian McKellen's Gandalf.

EMPIRES OF THE DEEP CLIP

And here's a long awaited trailer for ambitious Chinese epic shot in English, EMPIRES OF THE DEEP. Directed by Michael French (CATWOMAN'S director Pitof was the original helmer), EMPIRES OF THE DEEP,  the biggest US-Chinese co-production in the history with its budget

reaching $130 million has a cast lead by gorgeous Olga Kurylenko (the role was first meant for Monica Belucci), beside Steve Polites and Jean-Michel Casanova. For thousand of years, legends of beautiful mermaids have enchanted people from all over the globe. Their fascinating and mysterious world has always captured the imagination of humans. In film history, there hasn't been a single movie that has uncovered and explored this mystical world. What secrets lurk beneath the depths? And why do beautiful mermaids seduce human men? EMPIRES OF THE DEEP is the first underwater fantasy film to unveil and answer these questions. Set in a mythical world, the story of this fantasy epic adventure centres on a man who enters a mysterious underwater

 kingdom to rescue his father, and ends up falling for a mermaid. As you can see in the trailer, three years in the making, tense waiting for the end of the production and more than $100 million budget, didn't yield a promising result, but we're willing to give it a try, are you?

ROBIN HOOD & TARZAN IN "ONCE UPON A TIME"? HUGH GRANT IN NEW ROMCOM! TRAILER FOR "PRIVATE PEACEFUL" WW1 SAGA! NEW WAR SHOW FROM "BAND OF BROTHERS" AND "PACIFIC" TEAM!

Talking to the creator of ABC's hit fantasy show ONCE UPON A TIME, "Entertain- ment Weekly" has revealed that beside the Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, Captain Hook and other fairy tale characters which have appeared in season two, which has started with great ratings, some other fictional, but not fairy tale, heroes could appear soon in the story. Named in the list are Robin Hood, Tarzan, Marry Poppins... and apparently even Sherlock Holmes was once planned to appear in the show, but the producers didn't get the rights on the Arthur Conan Doyle detective.

Speaking of new TV projects, the team behind legendary war series BAND OF BROTHERS which starred many Hollywood stars, and later on PACIFIC, are preparing third WW2 show, which will now focus on aerial battles in the Pacific ocean.

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

It seems British naughty boy, Hugh Grant is going back to what he does best: he will again star in a romantic comedy. Here's the plot of the untitled comedy: In 1998, Ray Michaels (Grant) was on top of the world - a witty, sexy, Englishman in Hollywood who had just won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. Fifteen years later, he's creatively washed up, divorced, and broke. With no other options, he takes a job teaching screenwriting at a small college on the East Coast. Although the idea of teaching is less than thrilling, he hopes to make some easy money and enjoy the favors of impressionable young co-eds. What he doesn't expect to find is romance with a single mom who's gone back to school. We can currently watch Hugh Grant in CLOUT ATLAS.

PRIVATE PEACEFUL TRAILER

The only trailer I have for you today, in this rather poor week for movie clips, is the trailer for a film which is currently showing in cinemas. PRIVATE PEACEFUL is a touching and sweeping British drama with the story set in the fields of Devon and the WW1 battlefields of Flanders,

where two brothers fall for the same girl while contending with the pressures of their feudal family life, the war, and the price of courage and cowardice! The film stars Jack O'Connell, Richard Griffiths, Maxine Peake.... And is directed by Pat O'Connor helmer of  CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, SWEET NOVEMBER, DANCING AT LUGHNASA...

JUDE LAW & EMILIA CLARKE IN "DOM HEMINGWAY"! MELISSA MCCARTHY & SHIRLEY MCLAINE IN "TAMMY"! AMAZING LONDON MUSEUM EXHIBIT OF GOWNS FROM FAMOUS EPIC MOVIES! 1ST PICTURE FROM "VIKINGS" EPIC SHOW

A film which is currently being shot over in UK, DOM HEMINGWAY with Jude Law and Richard E. Grant, has got a female addition to the

 cast: Emilia Clarke, everybody's favourite GAME OF THRONES Dragon queen, will join the two British stars in the movie. The story of the film follows Jude Law's character, Dom Hemingway, a safe cracker with a loose fuse who after 12 years in prison travels with his best friend (played by Richard E. Grant) to collect what he’s owed for not ratting on crime bosses. Demian Bichir will play the French crime boss. As I've reported before, Emilia is also in the run to play the superhero's love interest next to Chris Evans in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, while Jude Law is ready for the award season with his magnificent portrayal of Karenin in ANA KARENINA.

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

Always hilarious Melissa McCarthy, whom we are about to see in IDENTITY THEFT next to Jason Bateman, is going ahead with her 

own project TAMMY, a comedy which she personally wrote. The update on the project, coming from "The Hollywood Reporter" hints that Melissa, who will take the lead role as well, might be joined in the cast by Shirley McLaine. The road trip comedy  will have the story which centres on a woman who is laid off from her job at Hardee’s, discovers her husband is having an affair and decides to go on a road trip with her alcoholic, foul-mouthed, diabetic grandmother. The granny would be played by Oscar winning Shirley :) As you know, you can currently see Shirley in British series DOWNTON ABBEY. A lovely treat for you today is the exclusive first pic from History Channel's first scripted series VIKINGS which will air sometime next year. The picture gives the first look at Travis Fimmel as a Viking warrior. You

can read more about the show in our extensive spotlight. VIKINGS are currently being shot over in Ireland, while BBC's epic series THE WHITE QUEEN has just started its production over in Belgium. Meanwhile, The Weinstein Company and Starz have also started preproduction on MARCO POLO series which will have a budget of $5 million per episode.

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM HOLLYWOOD COSTUME EXHIBIT

And here's something lovely. "The Hollywood Reporter" has published pics from Victoria and Albert Museum's 'Hollywood Costume' exhibit which has assembled an impressive collection of movie costumes that will be on display at the London museum from Oct. 20. Check out some of the gowns which will be seen there:

The first one is the majestic dress Cate Blanchett wore as the English queen in one of the most stunning epics ever to hit the big screen ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE. The film is deemed as one of the historical films with best costume designs ever.  Oscar winning costume designer Alexandra Byrne paid special attention to rich colours of the period.

There's also the famous dressed wore by Glenn Close in famous DANGEROUS LIAISONS. Oscar winning James Acheson deliberately made the costumes sexier to match the sexually tense plot of the movie.

As you remember Sandy Powell won an Oscar for her work on SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and this royal dress worn by Judi Dench as the queen, was one of the richly embroided and beaded gowns.

Coming from the same film, this is the gown Gwyneth Paltrow wore when her character went to an audience with Judi Dench's queen Elizabeth. Gwyneth's dress was made from silk brocade with metallic thread, and was more modern that the real dresses from that period.

HOLLYWOOD SPY EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON STARZ' & DAVID S. GOYER'S EPIC NEW TV SERIES "DA VINCI'S DEMONS" WITH TOM RILEY, LAURA HADDOCK, LARA PULVER, ELLIOT COWAN

Here's something we have anxiously been awaiting for a year now - the first pictures from HOLLYWOOD SPY's favourite among the upcoming new shows - DA VINCI'S DEMONS. As you can see, the first pictures show

  young British actor Tom Riley in the lead role of Leonardo Da Vinci who is on the quest to expose the lies of religion in this new historical adven- ture ready to air next year over at Starz. Coming from famous producer David S. Goyer (MAN OF STEEL), this epic new show tells the untold story of a 25 year old Da Vinci during his turbulent youth in Renaissance Florence as the artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist struggles to live within the confines of his own reality and time. He begins to not only see the future but invent it. The show will take its place in the programme in Spring 2013, since spring has obviously become a

favourite time of the year for historical shows to air, as we've already seen with THE TUDORS, BORGIAS, CAMELOT and GAME OF THRONES. It will probably hit the small screens when SPARTACUS WAR OF THE DAMNED finishes its final run at Starz.

DA VINCI'S STORY

The show brings the story of the world's greatest genius during his raucous youth in Renaissance Florence. Brash and brilliant, young da Vinci is an artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist.

 As a free thinker, with intellect and talents that are almost superhuman, he struggles to live within the confines of his own reality and time. He begins to not only see the future, but invent it. In a world where thought and faith are controlled, one man fights to set knowledge free. Leonardo Da Vinci is tortured by a gift of superhuman genius. He finds himself in a conflict between truth and lies, religion and reason, past and future. His aspirations are used against him by the opposing forces of the time – luring him into a game of seduction where those who despise his intellect need him most. His quest for knowledge nearly becomes his undoing. Da Vinci throws

himself into his genius and emerges as an unstoppable force that lifts an entire era out of darkness and propels it into light. His story becomes a mirror into our own world, calling us all to join his fight to free the future.

DA VINCI'S CAST

Beside young Tom Riley in the lead role, the show, which will break records by being broadcast in 200 countries around the world thanks to Fox International Channels, will also see stunning British actress Laura Haddock as Lucrezia Donati, the mistress of Lorenzo Medici and lover of Leonardo da Vinci. Lara Pulver will play the seductive and politically-minded Clarice Orsini, Lorenzo Medici's wife, while Lorenzo will be played by Elliot Cowan whom you're currently watching in SINBAD epic series. Allan Corduner will appear as Verrochio, Leonardo's mentor and James Faulkner as Pope Sixtus IV.

It is interesting that when Starz approached David S. Goyer on doing a historical show with them, they also considered doing a series on Cleopatra (which would make it a rival show to NBC's future show on

the Egyptian queen). The costumes are being done by Annie Symons who worked on BBC's epic mini series THE HOLLOW CROWN, on GREAT EXPECTATIONS at BBC. The eight part series is being entirely shot in Wales.