This weekend, HANGOVER2 hits theaters – can the most successful R-rated movie ever top itself? Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis talk about days on the set with bad food, good monkeys and Mike Tyson. And this summer, The BBC gives us another new fantasy series and we’ve got the scoop.
Can the HANGOVER be topped? Drop us a comment below!
30 years ago today, John Lennon was shot and killed by a person who we aren’t going to name.
His influence was huge in the world, and has been immortalized in comics in so many ways, from biographies to being a Skrull super-hero. And most recently, he’s been portrayed in a BBC biopic by Doctor Who‘s Christopher Eccelston, with Yoko Ono being played by Naoko Mori from Torchwood.
You’re still missed, John.
It has been a very good year for producer Steven Moffat. He took over [[[Doctor Who]]], hired Matt Smith (after rejecting him for Watson) to replace the incredible David Tennant and kept the show high in the ratings. He has proven exceptionally versatile with the recent [[[Jekyll]]] miniseries, wrote the script for [[[The Adventures of Tintin]]] for Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg and now has updated [[[Sherlock Holmes]]]
Arthur Conan Doyle’s indelible detective has survived pastiche, parody, and endless retellings of the classic stories. Moffat and Mark Gatiss took all the trappings and characters bringing them to the 21st Century. Dr. John Watson arrives after a tour in Afghanistan (some things never change) and meets Holmes, moving in with him at 221B Baker Street. Instead of a journal, Watson blogs about their cases and marvels at Holmes’ disinterest in the extraneous, even things like who is the current Prime Minister.
Benedict Cumberbatch is a strong Holmes, with an intense gaze and unshakeable focus making him reminiscent of another famous figure who stands apart from humanity, a certain Spock. He’s fortunate to be matched with Martin Freeman’s even-keeled Watson. They make a very enjoyable duo.
His intellect needs to be constantly engaged or he fears slowly going mad, using Watson as his tether to the world he seeks to protect. Watson craves a normal life, dating Sarah (Zoe Telford), a doctor, and making a respectable living. As a consulting detective, Holmes continues to take on cases, earning him the respect of DI Lestrade (Rupert Graves). The only downside to the updating is that by placing Holmes in 2010, it oddly echoes [[[Fox’s House]]], which is directly inspired by Holmes with both figures driven and detached from mankind.
The three episodes that aired on the BBC over the summer and just completed a run on PBS are now available on a two-disc set from Warner Home Video/BBC Video. The roughly 90 minute stories give all the characters plenty of room to breathe while letting Holmes investigate his mysteries. Behind all three is the invisible hand of Moriarity, who finally reveals himself in time for the finale. The good news is that a second season of three episodes will arrive in fall 2011.
The stories, including “A Study in Pink” written by Moffat, are involving and enjoyable, requiring you to keep up and pay attention. The discs are complemented by the original 60 minute pilot, which was produced in January 2009 and was so well received by the BBC that they ordered 90 minute shows requiring them to rework and reshoot the story. It’s an interesting comparison. There’s also a 32-minute behind-the-scenes look at production of the trio of stories which is interesting. You can watch “A Study in Pink” with commentary by Moffat, Gatiss and Sue Vertue, while Cumberbatch, Freeman and Gatiss can be heard during “[[[The Great Game]]]”.
Just the other day we talked about how everyone was awaiting word on a fourth season of the BBC series Torchwood. Here’s this morning’s formal press release with the details. Let the rejoicing and anticipation begin.
LOS ANGELES, June 7 /PRNewswire/ — Starz
acquired U.S. television rights to the next installment of the BBC’s
audience sensation Torchwood, developed and produced by BBC
Worldwide Productions. Starz will debut the 10-episode series
exclusively in the U.S., and BBC One will debut it in the U.K., both in
summer, 2011. This is a co-production between Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and
BBC Worldwide, and BBC Worldwide will distribute the show outside the
U.S. The deal was jointly announced today by Starz, LLC President and
CEO Chris Albrecht and BBC Worldwide
Productions EVP Jane Tranter.
The stars of the previous versions of Torchwood, notably John Barrowman (Capt. Jack
Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), will return for the new version.
Additional key cast, reflecting the more international scope of the
series, will be announced soon.
Torchwood is a drama that puts extraterrestrial
threats into a very real world, and asks how humanity deals with the
danger – while fighting mankind’s darkest instincts. The series’
previous three seasons aired on BBC America in the U.S. and garnered
record-breaking ratings for the network. Created by visionary
writer/producer Russell T Davies, Torchwood has to date been
located primarily in Cardiff, Wales.
The new series will allow Davies and his writing
explosive and global story, one that takes advantage of the unlimited
narrative opportunities of a premium television service like Starz.
Davies and BBC Worldwide Productions’ SVP Scripted Julie Gardner
return as executive producers, with Davies also serving as show-runner
for the new Torchwood.
“We’re committed to programming exceptional television that is
entertaining, imaginative and provides a premium TV experience, and by
any measure the new concept for Torchwood fits that mandate,”
Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht
said. “I’ve been part of successful partnerships with Jane Tranter and the BBC previously, and I’m
very much looking forward to working with them again.”
Torchwood has attracted remarkable attention and loyalty in
both the UK and U.S., and in this new partnership with Starz, the next
chapter will not only reward our current fans, but also introduce new
viewers to the most impressive installment yet,” said Jane Tranter, EVP, BBC Worldwide Productions. “Chris Albrecht and his
delivering quality premium programming to their subscribers, also a core
attribute of the BBC, and we are excited to be working with them as the Torchwood adventure continues.”
“Russell, Jane and Julie came to us with a compelling vision for the
evolution of the Torchwood saga that really takes the story
into whole new areas,” added Carmi Zlotnik,
Managing Director of Starz Media ? the production and development
division of Starz. “The compelling story and characters this trio
created provide a strong template for driving this narrative in exciting
ways.”
Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama
Commissioning said: “We have a long history of working with many U.S.
networks, but it is incredibly exciting to be working with Starz for the
first time, as well as to be reunited with the best of British in
Russell, Jane and Julie. Torchwood will burst back onto the
screen with a shocking and moving story with global stakes and locations
that will make it feel bigger and bolder than ever”
Torchwood is the latest piece of notable programming from
Starz. It follows on the heels of the recently concluded first season of
the epic “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” this summer’s highly anticipated
event series “The Pillars of the Earth,” based on author Ken Follett‘s international bestseller, and the
recently announced series “Camelot,” which Starz is co-producing with
GK-TV and will air early in 2011.
“Torchwood” originally debuted in the UK on BBC One in 2006. All five
episodes of Torchwood: Children of Earth” reached the Top 10 list in
TV Episodes across the entire iTunes TV Store, with episode 1 of the
series reaching the top spot the week of launch in August, 2009.
The Hollywood Reporter says that Fox is developing a stateside version of the U.K. hit series Torchwood.
The project is from BBC Worldwide Prods., with original series creator Russell T. Davies writing the script and the original producing team is on board. In addition
to Davies, exec producers include Davies’ producing partner Julie
Gardner (former head of drama at BBC Wales for the show’s first season)
and Jane Tranter (another BBC vet, now exec VP programming and
production at BBC Worldwide Prods. in the U.S.).
Also, some of
the current cast — most likely John Barrowman, who plays the immortal
Captain Jack Harkness — might star if Fox orders Torchwood to pilot.
As
for the new show’s plot, the U.S. version will contain a global story
line compared to the more localized sensibility of the first two BBC
seasons.
No word if this ends up being the fourth season of Torchwood that we talked about back during San Diego.
Just up on the BBC website, in time for the debut of the new bloke, Matt Smith.
UPDATE: Oh, look, some nice person has posted the video that you’re not supposed to see if you aren’t in England:
AIDEN TURNER, star of the BBC’s BEING HUMAN shares some backstage secrets on making vampire love scenes, plus an invite to Marvel’s Big Birthday Bash, and your opportunity to help COMIX4SIGHT and hear our first LIVE broadcast direct from Wizard World CHICAGO.
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There’s some great TV on BBC America – a new series called BEING HUMAN that mixes a vampire, werewolf and ghosts all with the one goal of surviving in society. Meet the cast and creator and hear first hand how difficult the road was to get the show on the air. Plus, director Lauren Montgomery and actress Juliet Landau relate how much fun it was to work on GREEN LANTERN:FIRST FLIGHT. Plus, comedy in comics – what a concept, and The JSA might be moving to SMALLVILLE.
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It’s our COMIC CON SPECIAL! Join us as we share just a few of the great people and even greater stories we grabbed over the weekend, including:
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This just in: a rep from BBCAmerica has let it out to our man on the scene that Torchwood has been picked up for another season by the BBC. Details to come…
UPDATE: BBC America told ComicMix’s Mike Raub that Torchwood has been picked up for a fourth season. No word on when it will air or the number of episodes. This follows the highly succesful UK broadcast of Children Of Earth.
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