PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON 'STILL STAR CROSSED' ROMEO & JULIET SEQUEL TV SERIES STARRING WADE BRIGGS, TORRANCE COOMBS, ANTHONY HEAD, GRANT BOWLER

 'STILL STAR CROSSED'

NEW PERIOD SET TV SERIES  

I have a very distinct feeling ABC will cancel this one around or before its fifth episode, but some of you might still give STILL STAR CROSSED, the small screen adaptation of Melinda Taub's novel, a go when it starts airing at ABC this late spring, Monday, May 29th! The mini series picks up where the famous story of Romeo and Juliet ends, charting the treachery, fight for power and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate.

AFTER THE LOVERS' DEATH  
In the wake of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic deaths, the Montague and Capulet rivalry escalates. A new royal takes the throne and struggles to determine what is best for his city when Verona becomes an epicentre of mayhem.

Following the death of her cousin Juliet, Rosaline Capulet (Lashana Lynch) finds herself in the middle of a political play to try and save Verona. She will prove she’s a force to be reckoned with especially when it comes to her destiny and must make tough decisions regarding her loyalty to the Capulet name. Rosaline’s sister, Livia Capulet (Ebonee Noel), is a hopeless romantic who dreams of a marriage to provide her with a life she’s always wanted, but her yearning for love makes her an easy target, and she gets drawn into a sordid secret unbeknownst to her.

Romeo’s death thrusts his cousin, Benvolio Montague (Wade Briggs), into a position of responsibility as he becomes the sole heir to the Montague name and must abide by a sinister plan to solidify his family’s prominence. A newly crowned Prince Escalus (Sterling Sulieman) is determined to end the bloodshed between the Montagues and Capulets, but his only solution forces him to decide between following his heart or protecting his kingdom. Eager to help her brother rule Verona, Princess Isabella (Medalion Rahimi) finds herself drawn to the throne, but quickly realizes that obtaining power as a woman will require succumbing to a twisted scheme. 

 Lord Capulet (Anthony Head) is the patriarch of the Capulet dynasty and is willing to maintain the legacy of his family’s name at any cost. Lady Capulet (Zuleikha Robinson) may want the same as her husband, but a mystery behind her true ambitions will slowly come to light. The Montagues are on the precipice of matching the Capulets social status, but Romeo’s death threatens to stall their ascent. Angered by grief and the loss of his son, Lord Montague (Grant Bowler) will stop at nothing to ensure the Montagues are the most respected family in Verona.

The sparring families aren’t the only one’s affected by Romeo and Juliet’s tragic fate. The keeper of Verona’s darkest confessions, Friar Lawrence (Dan Hildebrand), feels a deep responsibility for their deaths, along with the Capulet’s lifelong caretaker, the Nurse (Susan Wooldridge). She holds many secrets of her own including the fact that she is tending to Count Paris (Torrance Coombs), who was supposed to wed Juliet but was left for dead after a brutal fight with Romeo.

MOST ANTICIPATED 2017 NEW EPIC TV SERIES BRIEF OVERVIEW: BRITANNIA, JAMESTOWN, WHITE PRINCESS, VERSAILLES, KNIGHTFALL, WILL, TROY FALL OF A CITY, STILL STAR CROSSED

  'BRITANNIA' 

To air sometime this year on Sky One (probably September), the ten episode epic series is set in 43AD as the Roman Imperial Army returns to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia - a mysterious land ruled by warrior women and powerful druids who can channel the powerful forces of the underworld. Spy More

  'JAMESTOWN' 

Also airing this year on Sky One (May 5th), the eight part saga is set in the early 17th Century, following three courageous women who leave their dark pasts behind in England, and make the journey of a lifetime across the ocean for a new life in America. Spy More

  'WHITE PRINCESS' 

To start airing its eight episode season from April 16th on Starz it will bring the story of Elizabeth of York, the White Queen's daughter, and her marriage to the Lancaster victor, Henry VII from the Tudor dynasty. Spy More

'VERSAILLES' 

Already airing in France, the second season of the lavish saga about famous Sun King who is building his court at Versailles, will air in UK from April 21st, Germany from May, Canada June and in USA on Ovation from Autumn. Spy More

'KNIGHTFALL' 

Telling the story of the final days of Knights Templar during the 14th century it will air later this year in ten episodes on History Channel, A+E with the cast lead by Tom Cullen! Spy More

  'WILL' 

A drama about the lost years of young William Shakespeare after his arrival to London in 1589 when theatre was like rock and roll and ayoung man with a dream changed the world with his words.Ten episode saga starts this summer on TNT. Spy More

  'TROY: FALL OF A CITY'

Retelling the legendary story of the 10 year old siege of Troy, which occurred in the 12 or 13th century BC, this BBC and Netflix eight part series will air later this year. Spy More

'STILL STAR CROSSED' 

Eight part period drama that picks up where the famous story of Romeo and Juliet leaves off, charting the treachery, palace intrigue, and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets will start airing on ABC Monday May 29th. Spy More

HOT FROM THE SPYLINE

 POLDARK third season starts on BBC in June - THE DURRELLS second season starts on ITV this month, third season has been ordered too - VICTORIA second season starts on ITV this Autumn will have Christmas Special - MEDICI: MASTERS OF FLORENCE second season shoots in September, sadly, won't have Richard Madden as it will focus on Cosimo's grandson Lorenzo Medici. THE LAST KINGDOM season 2 already airs in UK, will hit Neftlix from May. THE CROWN season 2 will have young Camila Parker Bowles

PERIOD SET SATURDAY: COELHO'S 'ALCHEMIST' GETS MOVIE ADAPTATION! IOAN GRUFFUDD JOINS MEL GIBSON, SEAN PENN IN 'PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN' 19TH CENTURY FILM. CLAIRE COOPER IS LADY MONTAGUE IN 'STILL STAR CROSSED' EPIC SERIES

IOAN GRUFFUDD TO STAR IN

 'PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN' FILM & 'LIAR' THRILLER SERIES

One of our fave Welsh stars Ioan Gruffudd has two new potentially big gigs: not only that he will join the not so popular duo Mel Gibson and Sean Penn in the 19th century set movie THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN about the professor who started to compile the Oxford English Dictionary, but he will also take the lead role next to extremely busy Joanne Froggatt in ITV's six part thriller TV series LIAR! It will follow a female teacher and a renowned surgeon who spend together a night which will change their lives even though neither fully realizes the far reaching consequences that their meeting will have on each other or their families.

COELHO'S 'THE ALCHEMIST' 

TO GET MOVIE ADAPTATION
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, right? The most translated book by a living author, Paolo Coelho's worldwide bestseller THE ALCHEMIST will be adapted into a big screen feature movie by Sony TriStar and Laurence Fishburne's production company who bought the rights for a very pricey amount! The book, which has been sold so far in around 65 million copies in 56 different languages, revolves around a young Spaniard who embarks on a quest to find a hidden treasure within the Egyptian pyramids.

STILL STAR CROSSED EPIC SHOW

 FINDS ITS LADY MONTAGUE!

Meanwhile, the latest one to join ABC's upcoming midseason period set drama series STILL STAR CROSSED a sequel to Romeo and Juliet story is Claire Cooper who will play Lady Montague, a master manipulator and a woman with a dark past and dangerous secrets, in the show that picks up where the story of Romeo and Juliet ends, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate. Anthony Head and Zuleikha Robinson play lord and lady Capulet, Grant Bowler is lord Montague, Torrance Coombs is prince Paris, Wade Briggs is Benvolio Montague who together with Sterling Sulieman as prince Escalus and Lashana Lynch as Juliet's cousin Rosaline actually are the lead characters in the new love triangle.

FULL TRAILERS FOR ABC'S EPIC SERIES 'STILL STAR CROSSED' ROMEO AND JULIET SEQUEL AND TIME TRAVELLING 'TIME AFTER TIME' ADVENTURE

'STILL STAR CROSSED' TRAILER

FOR ROMEO & JULIET SEQUEL

Full trailers have been released this week for ABC's freshly ordered new historical shows. Starting with their sequel to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet STILL STAR CROSSED, which will hit the small screens probably in the mid season and smells like a potential flop, if you ask me, because of the rather poor casting - I just don't see any charisma nor star power in Lashana Lynch especially not in a love story like this. It also stars magnetic Wade Briggs as Benvolio Montague, Anthony Head as Lord Capulet, Zuleikha Robinson as Lady Capulet, Sterling Sulieman as Prince Escalus, Medalion Rahimi as Princess Isabella, Grant Bowler as Damiano Montague, Torrance Coombs as Paris and Dan Hildebrand as Friar Lawrence.

16TH CENTURY VERONA

 STILL STAR CROSSED is set in 16th century Verona charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate. The story will revolve around Rosaline (Lashana Lynch), Juliet’s cousin who is taken in by the Capulets after her parents die, forced to suffer her aunt's cruelty as a servant, and then ordered to marry dangerous and deadly handsome Benvolio (Wade Briggs), a Montague!

'TIME AFTER TIME' SERIES

YOUNG  H.G.WELLS ADVENTURES

On the other hand, another of ABC's freshly ordered new shows will have modern times mixed with history!  TIME AFTER TIME  will chronicle the epic adventures of young H.G. Wells (Freddie Stroma) who travels through time chasing Jack the Ripper (Josh Bowman) who, in our day, is a brilliant and charismatic surgeon. Upon arriving in modern New York, he is captivated by museum curator Jane Walker (Genesis Rodriguez). Pop star Jordin Sparks will play a New York stylist Jesse Givens who is also Jane Walker’s roommate, while Regina Taylor will play a billionaire who owns and protects the Time Machine. It is based on the novel written by Karl Alexander.

ALL THE CANCELLED TV SHOWS AT ABC, FOX, CW AND IN UK! FIRST TEASERS FOR ABC'S EPIC SERIES 'TIME AFTER TIME' AND 'STILL STAR CROSSED', JENNA ELFMAN'S 'IMAGINARY MARY' SITCOM

FRESHLY CANCELLED SHOWS

 TIM ALLEN'S 'LAST MAN STANDING' GETS 6TH SEASON

Beside the cancellation and renewal TV news today (the happiest one is that ABC has ordered Tim Allen's LAST MAN STANDING for a sixth season, while over in UK the sad news is that JERICHO, HOME FIRES and INDIAN SUMMERS epic dramas have been officially killed of, and in USA NASHVILLE, AGENT CARTER, GALAVANT, THE MUPPETS, CASTLE at ABC, GRINDER, GRANDFATHERED at Fox, CONTAINMENT at CW have all been cancelled and CW is also taking over SUPERGIRL from CBS), ABC has also revealed the first teasers for series that they've ordered for whole seasons:

ABC'S ORDERED SHOWS

'TIME AFTER TIME'

It follows famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells (Freddie Stroma) who gets transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper (Josh Bowman). Once H.G. arrives in New York City, he finds a world he never thought possible and a young woman who captivates him!

'STILL STAR CROSSED'

 In which Romeo and Juliet are dead but we continue to follow the war between the Capulets and the Montagues! It is charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate. Wade Briggs, Torrance Coombs, Grant Bowler star. 

JENNA ELFMAN'S 'IMAGINARY MARY'
 It centres on Alice (Jenna Elfman), a fiercely independent career woman whose life is turned upside-down when she meets the love of her life – a divorced father with three kids. This triggers even more upheaval when the slightly unhinged imaginary friend she created as a child suddenly reappears to help her navigate the transition from single girl to a woman ready for a family.

 In latest news we hear that sadly NBC has cancelled their best sitcom ever UNDATEABLE after three magnificent seasons. They've also cancelled Eva Longoria's TELENOVELA.

ABC FINISHES CASTING FOR ROMEO & JULIET SEQUEL EPIC TV SERIES 'STILL STAR CROSSED' WITH TORRANCE COOMBS, ANTHONY HEAD, GRANT BOWLER, WADE BRIGGS

'STILL STAR CROSSED' EPIC

'ROMEO & JULIET' TV SEQUEL

Now, here's an extreme example of the current trend of diversity in Hollywood: a new historical series in which the young nobles of the 16th century Verona will be played by black actors! What do you say about that? ABC has finished casting actors for their new epic series STILL STAR CROSSED with the pilot ready to start shooting this month.

The small screen adaptation of the book by Melinda Taub, STILL STAR CROSSED is set in 16th century Verona and picks up where William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet left off, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate.

TORRANCE COOMBS, ANTHONY HEAD, GRANT BOWLER STAR

This time the story will revolve around Rosaline (Lashana Lynch), an intelligent and headstrong Capulet and Juliet’s cousin who is taken in by the Capulets after her parents die, forced to suffer her aunt's cruelty as a servant, and then ordered to marry dangerous and deadly handsome Benvolio (Wade Briggs), a Montague, who is against it at first but will later on fall in love with Rosaline who is smart, although not beautiful. Since they're dead, Romeo and Juliet will appear only in flashbacks, and will be played by Danish actress Clara Rugaard and British black hunk Lucien Laviscount. Among the more famous names in the cast, Anthony Head plays Lord Capulet. Kind and powerful, Lord Capulet is a thoughtful man with a sunny, jovial disposition. However, he will turn on you if you cross him. ROME's Zuleikha Robinson is his evil wife Lady Capulet. His fellow SyFy star Grant Bowler will play rival Lord Montague, scary, rugged, ruthless and brilliant man hellbent on raising his family’s fortunes, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, magnetic Torrance Coombs, who left CW's REIGN in which he played French prince Sebastian, will be prince again, this time Paris, the chivalrous and seductive Count of Mantua, who was betrothed to Juliet before she died. Dan Hildebrand will play Friar Lawrence, who uses the church to climb the social ladder. Sterling Sulieman will be Prince Escalus, while Medalion Rahimi will play Princess Isabella, intelligent, outspoken and practical with inner steel. Ebonee Noel will play Rosaline's younger sister Livia,

STEPHEN FRY JOINS 'GREAT INDOORS' SITCOM, TYLER RITTER 'YOUNG & HUNGRY'! BBC ORDERS 'QUACKS' VICTORIAN MEDICAL COMEDY WITH RUPERT EVERETT! MEDALION RAHIMI JOINS 'STILL STAR CROSSED', SOFIA PERNAS 'TRANSYLVANIA' EPIC SHOWS

'YOUNG AND HUNGRY' 

TYLER RITTER JOINS THE CAST

TV news today, starting with infos from the TV comedy world: FreeForm's YOUNG & HUNGRY sitcom, which has just been renewed for the 5th season will have THE MCCARTHYS star Tyler Ritter guest starring as Adam, a handsome and funny man who is nursing a broken heart after being left at the altar. He and Gabi (Emily Osment) bond over their similar relationship problems and the fact that they are both budding entrepreneurs.

STEPHEN FRY IN 'GREAT INDOORS'

Meanwhile, British legend Stephen Fry will star in NBC's new sitcom THE GREAT INDOORS in which  Joel McHale plays an adventure reporter who must adapt to the times when he becomes boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of their magazine. Fry will be the charismatic founder of  THE GREAT INDOORS magazine, and a world traveller, explorer and adventure! 

BBC ORDERS 'QUACKS' 

VICTORIAN COMEDY SERIES
Over in UK, BBC has ordered 6 half hour episode period series set in the 1840s titled QUACKS about four young pioneers in the daring and wild days of Victorian medicine!  The comedy takes place at a time when doctors were just as likely to kill their patients as cure them, when they experimented on themselves and each other. It was an era when the O.R. — or operating theatre in British parlance — was full of spectacle and showmanship (and screw-ups). Rory Kinnear will play one of those showmen, an arrogant surgeon; Mathew Baynton is a fledgling psychiatrist; Tom Basden a hedonistic dentist turned anaesthetist and Lydia Leonard a headstrong social campaigner. Rupert Everett will guest star.

'STILL STAR CROSSED' 

 CASTS PRINCESS ISABELLA

ABC has cast Medalion Rahimi to play intelligent, outspoken and practical princess Isabella in their upcoming new STILL STAR CROSSED 16th century Verona set series that picks up where William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet left off charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate. She joins Torrance Coombs in the cast.

SOFIA PERNAS IN 'TRANSYLVANIA'

Over at CW, Sofia Pernas has joined their historical adventure series TRANSYLVANIA replacing Amrita Acharia as Coriander, an exotic gypsy queen of the matriarchal clan that runs the fleshpots of the Old City, the haunted spot where Vlad the Impaler once killed thousands of their tribe. Set in 1880 TRANSYLVANIA centres on Victoria (Laura Brent), a headstrong young woman in search of her missing father who ventures from NYC to Transylvania where she teams up with a wrongfully disgraced Scotland Yard Detective (Luke Allen-Gale), and together they witness the births of the most famous monsters and villains in history.

FULL 'FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS' TRAILER WITH MERYL STREEP, HUGH GRANT! 'RANCH' SITCOM TRAILER WITH ASHTON KUTCHER, DANNY MASTERSON! 'STILL STAR CROSSED' SERIES CASTS TORRANCE COOMBS, WADE BRIGGS

'STILL STAR CROSSED' SERIES

TORRANCE COOMBS, WADE BRIGGS, LASHANA LYNCH CAST

In today's TV news, another of the series pilots we're looking forward too has found its lead stars. As 'Deadline' reports ABC's historical drama STILL STAR CROSSED will be lead by British actress Lashana Lynch and Wade Briggs, and will also star Zuleikha Robinson as Lady Capulet. Meanwhile, Torrance Coombs is leaving REIGN to play Count Paris of Mantua in this one. Based on the book by Melinda Traub it will be set in 16th century Verona picking up where William Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET left off. It charts the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate.

ILL FATED LOVERS  
The story centres on Rosaline (Lashana Lynch), a gorgeous, intelligent and headstrong Capulet and Juliet’s cousin. Following the death of her parents, she is taken in by her aunt and uncle, Juliet’s parents Lady (Zyleikha Robinson) and Lord Capulet, and forced to work as a servant. She does her best to tolerate her aunt’s cruelty, and focuses on finding a way to free herself of the humiliation. She is eventually ordered to marry Benvolio (Wade Briggs), a Montague.

'THE RANCH' SITCOM TRAILER

 WITH ASHTON KUTCHER AND DANNY MASTERSON

Netflix has released the first trailer for their new multi camera sitcom THE RANCH out April 1st! Set in present day on a Colorado ranch, it follows Colt’s (Ashton Kutcher) return home after a brief and failed semi- pro football career to run the family ranching business with his older brother Jameson “Rooster” (Danny Masterson) and father Beau (Sam Elliott), whom he hasn’t seen in 15 years. Debra Winger stars as their mother, Maggie, who runs the local town bar.

'FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS' 

TRAILER WITH MERYL STREEP

And check out this delightful treat - the first full trailer for FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS in which Meryl Streep plays the worst opera singer the world has ever known... although she does not know it herself! Hugh Grant plays her trusted manager. The voice she heard in her head was beautiful, but to everyone else it was hilariously awful. Her manager and partner was determined to protect his beloved Florence from the truth.

DAVID SCHWIMMER, JIM STURGESS TO LEAD 'FEED THE BEAST' TV SERIES! NBC ORDERS 'GOOD FORTUNE' SITCOM AIRS 'CROWDED' ON SUNDAYS! ABC ORDERS 'STILL STAR CROSSED' ROMEO AND JULIET SEQUEL TV SERIES

AMC'S 'FEED THE BEAST'

SERIES TO STAR DAVID SCHWIMMER AND JIM STURGESS

Beside the news that David Bowie's LABYRINTH is getting a reboot and that McG might direct new MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, other news comes from the TV world! FRIENDS' David Scwimmer and movie star Jim Sturgess will lead new AMC's series FEED THE BEAST!

Based on Danish series BANKEROT, the ten episode series will see the two of them playing best friends, Tommy Moran (David Schwimmer), and Dion Patras (Jim Sturgess), who take one last shot at their dream of opening a restaurant. They push each other, welcome love into their lives and overcome their demons. They also betray, backstab, manipulate and coerce each other into the most dangerous situations imaginable!

 'STILL STAR CROSSED' 

GETS PILOT ORDER BY ABC
Meanwhile, a project I've announced last year has been officially ordered for a pilot by ABC! Shondaland and ABC will try to turn Melinda Taub's bestselling book STILL STAR CROSSED into potential TV series. As a sort of a Romeo and Juliet sequel and set in 16th century Verona, it picks up where Shakespeare’s story left off, charting the treachery, palace intrigue and ill-fated romances of the Montagues and Capulets in the wake of the young lovers’ tragic fate. In the book, to end the family feud, Prince Escalus orders the most eligible Montague bachelor, Benvolio, Romeo’s best friend, to marry Juliet’s older cousin, Capulet maid Rosaline, the girl Romeo first loved.

NBC'S NEW TV COMEDIES

'CROWDED' & 'GOOD FORTUNE'

Beside moving THE CARMICHAEL SHOW and new sitcom CROWDED into Sunday evenings from March, NBC has also ordered a pilot for multicamera sitcom GOOD FORTUNE an ensemble comedy that focuses on a hyper structured young woman whose life is upended when she starts taking advice from a mysterious fortune teller. CROWDED is also a multicamera sitcom: After 20 years of parenting, empty nesters Mike (Patrick Warburton) and Martina (Carrie Preston) are finally reclaiming their wild side. Yet when both of their two grown daughters unexpectedly move back in, and Mike’s parents scratch their plans to spend their golden years in Florida, their roost is full again.

From executive producer Sean Hayes, this new (and very timely) family comedy proves that life is crazy with a full house, especially the second time around.