SPOTLIGHT ON FOX'S NEW SF SERIES 'SECOND CHANCE' WITH ROB KAZINSKY, JESSE IRVING, DILSHAD VADSARIA!

NEW SF TV SERIES

 DEATH GAVE HIM A 'SECOND CHANCE' IN LIFE

The only thing I have for you on the last day of 2015 before the New Year hits us at midnight is a short spotlight on new sf series SECOND CHANCE which arrives onto the small screens Wednesday, January 13th at Fox! It is a kind of a modern day sf Frankenstein with the cast lead by Rob Kazinsky.

Previously known as LOOKINGLASS and also THE FRANKENSTEIN CODE, the 11 episode series SECOND CHANCE will see Rob Kazinsky (“True Blood”) starring as a disgraced, 75 year old ex-sheriff, who dies at the hands of corrupt cops. He is brought back to life in the improved body of a younger man by billionaire tech-genius twins. However, despite having a new life and a chance to relive his life and find a new purpose, the temptations that led to his career being tarnished continue to haunt him even though he is given a second chance as a 35 year old with unpredictable near superhuman abilities. Jesse Irving, Dilshad Vadsaria and Tim Dekay also star. You can watch the first episode here if you're in USA!

FIRST IMAGES OF EMILY BLUNT IN 'THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN' AND MOWGLI AND LUPITA NYONGO'S WOLF RAKSHA IN DISNEY'S 'THE JUNGLE BOOK'

EMILY  BLUNT

IN THE FIRST PHOTOS FROM 'THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN'

New movie images for you today! Beginning with first photos from EW of Emily Blunt as THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN! She leads the cast in the adaptation of the popular bestseller as an unemployed alcoholic who becomes obsessed with a couple (Luke Evans and Hayley Bennett) that she sees every day from her train, during a commute that takes her past the home her ex-husband (Justin Theroux) shares with his new wife (Rebecca Ferguson). One day she accidentally witnesses an act of betrayal, followed shortly thereafter by the young woman’s disappearance.

DISNEY'S 'THE JUNGLE BOOK'

REVEALS NEW PHOTO OF RAKSHA

Empire has, meanwhile, published a new photo from this April's THE JUNGLE BOOK featuring little Mowgli and his adoptive wolf mother Raksha who gets her voice from Lupita Nyong'o! Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson also feature in Disney's movie.

1ST PHOTOS FROM 'HOLLOW CROWN: WAR OF ROSES' WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, JUDI DENCH! BBC TO MAKE 'HOWARD'S END' MINI SERIES! MILO VENTIMIGLIA, MANDY MOORE, JUSTIN HARTLEY IN 'BIRTHDAY' NBC DRAMEDY

'HOWARD'S END'

TO BECOME BBC MINI SERIES

Just some TV news for you today, people! Just when we thought we're done with early 20th century England on TV with the end of DOWNTON ABBEY, the era will return to the small screen through BBC's latest order: a new TV drama based on HOWARD'S END novel by E. M. Forster! As 'Deadline' reports, Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award nominated screenwriter and playwright Kenneth Lonergan is penning the series which explores the changing landscape of social and class divisions in early 20th century England through the prism of three families: the intellectual and idealistic Schlegels, the wealthy Wilcoxes from the world of business, and the working class Basts.

HOLLOW CROWN: WAR OF ROSES

FIRST PHOTOS WITH JUDI DENCH, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH  
You can also check out the first photos from BBC's and PBS second season of THE HOLLOW CROWN TV series, the adaptations of Shakespeare's works! This time titled THE WAR OF THE ROSES it will bring lavish adaptations of 'Henry VI', Parts I and II, and 'Richard III' describing rebellion in France, Civil War in England, rise and fall of Joan Of Arc! Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Tom Sturidge will be wearing crowns together with the supporting cast which includes Hugh Bonneville, Keeley Hawes and Sally Hawkins!

NBC'S 'BIRTHDAY' SERIES

CASTS JUSTIN HARTLEY, MANDY MOORE, MILO VENTIMIGLIA

Over in USA, NBC is rounding up the cast for Dan Fogelman's (GALAVANT) so called BIRTHDAY dramedy series following eight leading characters who were all born on the same day! As 'Variety' reports the pilot of the potential one hour series has already gathered up some well known young faces for the cast including HEROES' and GILMORE GIRLS' Milo Ventimiglia, pop star Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Sterling Brown and Ron Cephas Jones. Ventimiglia and Moore will be a couple just moved into their new home in Pittsburg and expecting triplets. REVENGE's Hartley will be handsome and successful television actor with an underlining boredom in his ultimate bachelor life.

MONDAY VISUAL TREATS: FIRST PHOTOS OF BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH AS 'DOCTOR STRANGE' AND MICHAEL FASSBENDER IN 'ASSASSIN'S CREED'

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

IN THE FIRST PHOTO AS MARVEL'S 'DOCTOR STRANGE'

Only a couple of visual treats for you for the beginning of the last week this year! This week's cover of Entertain- ment Weekly gives you the first look at Benedict Cumber -batch as DOCTOR STRANGE! We probably should not expect a trailer any time soon since the shooting is still on! This film will be somewhat different from others in the Marvel Universe with Cumberbatch playing a surgeon who turns into a powerful sorcerer! The unusual cast also includes Tilda Swinton (as the female Ancient One), Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Scott Adkins and Mads Mikkelsen (as the main villain whose name is yet to be revealed)!

MICHAEL FASSBENDER IN

NEW 'ASSASSIN'S CREED' PHOTO  
We also have a new photo of Michael Fassbender in the adaptation of famous video game ASSASSIN'S CREED revealing more of his hooded costume. In a film opening in a year's time, he will play both the modern assassin and his 15th century ancestor whose memories he can use through technology. Marion Cotillard, Brendan Gleeson and Jeremy Irons also star.

PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON BBC'S MOST AMBITIOUS EPIC TV SERIES 'WAR AND PEACE' WITH JAMES NORTON, LILY JAMES, JACK LOWDEN, GILLIAN ANDERSON, JIM BROADBENT, ANEURIN BARNARD

 'WAR AND PEACE'

BBC'S MOST AMBITIOUS EPIC TELEVISION SERIES EVER

Are you ready for the highlight of all epic television programmes this winter, the latest small screen adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's glorious novel WAR AND PEACE which will bring sweeping saga of the 19th century heroic imperial Russia to BBC One in six one hour episodes from Sunday January 3rd, produced by the Weinstein Company as BBC's most ambitious drama project to date? Lifetime, A&E Network and History will simultaneously broadcast the miniseries as four two hour episodes later from January 18th for the viewers in the United States of America. It will also air in Australia and many European countries.

SWEEPING 19TH CENTURY SAGA  
Based on one of the best, most influential, longest and most popular novels in history which has been sold in almost 40 million copies to date, WAR AND PEACE from famous Russian writing genius Leo Tolstoy the mini series details Napoleon’s bloodthirsty and aggressive attack on Eastern Europe and the impact the war has on five Russian aristocratic families in the 1800s whose personal entanglements threaten to disrupt their privileged world! Tolstoy’s expansive novel is also set against the backdrop of the reign of Tzar Alexander I, the lingering effects of his grandmother Catherine The Great’s rule and the events surrounding Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812.

STARSTUDDED ENSEMBLE CAST!

Adapted by Andrew Davies, the man who reimagined 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Bleak House' and penned 'Mr Selfridge', and directed by Tom Harper, WAR AND PEACE will boast the mind blowingly star studded cast led by 'Cinderella' and 'Downton Abbey' star Lily James as the romantic and impulsive Natasha Rostova, magnetic James Norton ('Grantchester', 'Life in Squares', 'Belle') as handsome and brave prince Andrei Bolkonsky, while Paul Dano ('12 Years a Slave', 'Little Miss Sunshine') will take the role of the socially awkward but noble Pierre Bezukhov. Prince Vassily Kuragin will be portrayed by Stephen Rea ('The Honourable Woman', 'The Crying Game'), Count Rostov is played by Ade Edmondson ('The Young Ones', 'Holby City') while Countess Rostov is played by Greta Scacchi ('The Odyssey', 'Emma')! Charismatic star Jack Lowden ('Passing Bells') will appear as Nikolai Rostov Natasha's brave Hussar brother, while 'The Musketeers' star Tom Burke will be psychopathic Dolokhov! Prince Bolkonsky will be portrayed by legendary 'Moulin Rouge' and 'Harry Potter' star Jim Broadbent!  Anna Pavlovna will be played by 'The X Files' star Gillian Anderson! 'White Queen' star Aneurin Barnard is social climber Boris Drubetskoy Nikolai's best friend, while Brian Cox will appear as General Kutuzov!

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S MEGAMASSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON 2016 MOVIES: PART TWO - JULY THROUGH DECEMBER!

2016 IN CINEMA

THE YEAR OF EPIC MOVIES

The end of the year is closing, people, perfect time for a two part HOLLYWOOD SPY'S SPOTLIGHT ON 2016 MOVIES! Going month by month, I will present you with some of the biggest movies awaiting us next year!

THE SUMMER OF TARZAN

The month of July will begin with the roar from the jungle when brand new THE LEGEND OF TARZAN arrives with Alexander Skarsgard and Margot Robbie in the lead roles. The first mindblowing trailer already left us without breath! GHOSTBUSTERS are also getting their remake with Melissa McCarthy, while ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE is returning Scrat, Sid, Manny and Diego back to the cinemas. Animated department will also bring us ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE and THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS while Steven Spielberg is coming back with BFG or Big Friendly Giant. However, STAR TREK: BEYOND will probably attract your attention most, taking Chris Pine, Karl Urban and Zachary Quinto into the exploration of universe with Idris Elba as a new villain! A month after that, in August Jack Huston will step into the sandals of new BEN HUR while you also get another doze of Karl Urban who also stars in Disney's live action PETE'S DRAGON!

THE AUTUMN OF BABIES  
Announcing the end of summer and the approaching Autumn, September will hire some STORKS to deliver babies to your home addresses in the new animated adventure, and they might also bring BRIDGET JONES' BABY too! She is now in her 40's, has kids and beside Colin Firth also has Patrick Dempsey as the new hunky addition! Meanwhile, the end of October will bring us the new instalment of the neverending saga UNDERWORLD 5 returning Kate Beckinsale to the role of Selena vampire next to Theo James and Bradley James!

THE WINTER OF FANTASY

November will launch fantasy winter with Eddie Redmayne playing the magizoologist in FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM who travels the world searching for magical creatures, while Disney will bring us their new animated adventure MOANA, set in the Ancient world of Oceania with princess of the South Pacific and her friend demigod Maui starting an adventure. December brings a brand new movie from the sf saga STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE spin-off following the Rebel Alliance who go on a mission to retrieve plans for the Death Star. Felicity Jones, Donnie Yen, Diego Luna and Riz Ahmed lead the cast! Speaking of space ships, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt will be PASSENGERS who suddenly wake up on a 120 year long journey through space. Michael Fassbender will lead the big screen adaptation of ASSASSIN'S CREED video game as a hero who uses incredible skills and knowledge of his ancestors to battle Templar organization in today's time. New JUMANJI and MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN from Tim Burton also arrive in December. Don't miss the first part of our spotlight from yesterday!

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S MEGAMASSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON 2016 MOVIES: PART ONE - JANUARY THROUGH JUNE!

2016 IN CINEMA

THE YEAR OF EPIC MOVIES

The end of the year is closing, people, perfect time for a two part HOLLYWOOD SPY'S SPOTLIGHT ON 2016 MOVIES! Going month by month, I will present you with some of the biggest movies awaiting us next year!

THE FINEST HOURS OF JANUARY
Beside Chloe Moretz and Nick Robinson's THE 5TH WAVE apocalyptic movie in which they try to fight of unrelenting alien attacks, you will also watch THE FINEST HOURS in which Chris Pine, Eric Bana and Ben Foster are launching a daring rescue in the middle of the sea blizzard. At the same time, Joseph Fiennes will go Ancient Roman in RISEN, epic thriller on the Roman centurion who has to locate the RISEN body of Jesus.

THE GODS OF FEBRUARY

The second month of the year will bring the most lavish of all movie spectacles in 2016 to the cinemas in the form of GODS OF EGYPT starring Gerard Butler, Nikolai Coster Waldau, Geoffrey Rush as Egyptian deities in war! Action will rule in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES as well, with Douglas Booth, Lilly James, Jack Huston, Lena Headey playing Austen's characters in the time of 'the sorry stricken'! You will get some romance in THE CHOICE, the latest adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel starring Benjamin Walker and Theresa Palmer!

DAWN OF MARCH
The third month traditionally announces the beginning of the season of the massive blockbusters which will be opened this year with BATMAN VS SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE starring Henry Cavill, Ben  Affleck and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman! The second part DIVERGENT: ALLEGIANT is also out this month starring Theo James and Shailene Woodley. THE LITTLE PRINCE gorgeous animated movie and the long awaited sequel to the legendary Asian epic movie CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY with Michelle Yeoh also arrive in March, together with Disney's delightful animated movie ZOOTOPIA!

THE HUNT OF APRIL

The first month of Spring doesn't bring us flowers but snow and ice in the gorgeous body of Emily Blunt playing the Snow Queen Freya in HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR next to Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth! A week before that THE JUNGLE BOOK opens its pages featuring voices of Idris Elba and Ben Kingsley!

THE APOCALYPSE OF MAY
May will be the month of superheroes launched with the long awaited sequel CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR with Chris Evans in the lead role joined by Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther! It is followed by the new part of X MEN: APOCALYPSE franchise starring Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Aaron Johnson, Olivia Munn, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar Isaac, Rose Byrne! Meanwhile, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway return in ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS!

DARLING ORCS OF JUNE

June is as always launching the summer of massive blockbusters starting this year with the most epic of all projects WARCRAFT, the fantasy story of warriors and orcs starring Travis Fimmel, Ben Foster and Dominic Cooper! After that Disney is releasing FINDING DORY sequel and then the summer is topped by the mother of all sequels INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE which sees the world fighting back with the recovered alien technology with Liam Hemsworth joining the classic cast! Stay tuned for the second part of the spotlight tomorrow!

MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH A PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON 'THE 5TH WAVE' SF ACTION MOVIE WITH CHLOE MORETZ, NICK ROBINSON, RON LIVINGSTON!

'THE 5TH WAVE' SF MOVIE

DARKNESS, DESTRUCTION, INFECTION, INVASION

Before wishing you lovely Christmas Eve tonight and Christmas Day tomorrow, I will leave you to enjoy the festive end of the week with a spotlight on January's highly anticipated science fiction action movie THE 5TH WAVE. The big screen adaptation of Rick Yancey's bestselling apocalyptic sf saga will bring aliens to the theatres January 22nd!

THE STORY

Four waves (the first took electricity down, the second was massive tsunamis, the third a deadly bird virus,  the fourth - killing of the remaining humans) of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth decimated and knocked humankind back to the Stone Age. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, as one of Earth's last human survivors, Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. As she prepares for the inevitable and lethal 5th wave, Cassie teams up with a young man, her crush from the high school, who may become her final hope - if she can only trust him.

NICK ROBINSON AND CHLOE MORETZ LEAD THE CAST

Beside two massive teen stars Nick Robinson (JURRASIC WORLD, MELLISSA AND JOEY) and Chloe Moretz in the lead role of Cassie, the cast also includes Liev Schreiber, Maria Bello and Ron Livingston. J Blakeson of THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED is directing!