Dominic Monaghan reports on J.J. Abrams' guiding vision for the Star Wars cast. Pretty much the whole cast previews season four of Game of Thrones. Plus, what historical figure may appear on Doctor Who next? Spoilers now!
Star Wars
Dominic Monaghan told Dweebcast that he's been asking J.J. Abrams for a part in Episode VII, and Abram's reported response indicates that once we actually get a full cast announcement, we may not recognize the names:
We've talked a few times about it. (Abrams) said 'We're putting together a cast of unknowns. We want to follow the '77 New Hope cast because obviously Harrison Ford wasn't well known at that point, Mark Hamill wasn't and Carrie Fisher wasn't either.
What he said was, 'We don't want to fall into that mistake of people going, 'Oh, it's that guy from that thing!' and then you're completely out of the Star Wars universe.
Badass Digest has sources saying that the first two weeks of filming won't start at the home base studios in England, but in Morocco. Filming in Morocco might mean either a return to Tatooine or a visit to a similar desert planet. There's also some speculation that the still-standing sets from the 1977 original could be reused, to show how the Skywalker moisture farm has changed over the decades in the fictional world. [Badass Digest]
Story of Your Life
Amy Adams is in early talks to star in Story of Your Life, based on a short story by Ted Chiang. The story follows a linguist who's hired to figure out whether the alien ships that have recently landed come in peace or not. As she does so, she suffers vivid flashbacks which help figure out the mystery of their landing. [Deadline]
Guardians of the Galaxy
At ECCC, Karen Gillan talked about getting in shape for the role of Nebula and shaving her head:
The training for Guardians of the Galaxy was really intense. I had to train for two months. Every day I wasn't filming, I had to work out and eat loads of protein. I had to train all the time and I learned how to defend myself. Some of my fight sequences were with Zoe Saldana, who is amazing at it, and I look like spaghetti.
. . . [Shaving my head] helped me play the role, because I suddenly felt intimidating, which is a new sensation for me. And the decision was made before I even got the part. They said, 'The actress who plays this role has to shave her head.' I said, 'Absolutely,' thinking that I wasn't going to get it. I mean, it's like this big Marvel movie! And then I got it, and I was like, 'Oh. I guess I'm going to be bald.'
Now, there's a chance that all this means is that Hasbro is using the upcoming film to promote the comic (as they've said), but a Guardians of the Galaxy toy set included Iron Man and Nova figures. The Guardians are reproductions of the film characters, but Iron Man is in his Marvel Now Guardians iteration and Nova has his classic comics look. While the timeline of the Marvel movies so far don't make an Iron Man appearance likely, a Nova one isn't totally out of the question. See a photo of the toy set from Big Bad Toy Store below. [Slashfilm]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier/Agents of SHIELD
Tuesday's episode showed Jasper Sitwell leaving the team's mission for one he is ordered to go on, with Sitwell telling Coulson, "I guess I got a boat to catch. Good luck, Agent Coulson." As you may already have guessed, the boat in question appears to be the one from the four minutes of footage we've already seen, with a ship full of captured SHIELD agents. In the video below, you can see Sitwell at 1:57 mark. [Deadline]
Batman Vs. Superman
CBS Detroit reports that the film is casting extras in Detroit, and that the film is looking for "men and women at least 18-years-old who are clean-cut military and law enforcement types or business executives in suits." [CBS Detroit via M Live]
Godzilla
Here's another TV spot. [Shock Till You Drop]
Doctor Who
We've got a few details for season 8: The third episode will be written by Mark Gatiss and will guest star Tom Riley (Da Vinci's Demons) It will also include performances by Trevor Cooper, Ian Hallard, David Benson, Roger Ashton-Griffiths and Sabrina Barlett.
Episode 6 will be written by Gareth Roberts (who wrote "The Shakespeare Code," "The Unicorn and the Wasp," "The Lodger," and "Closing Time"). It'll guest star Nigel Betts, Edward Harrison, Andy Gillies, Ellis George and Jimmy Vee. [Doctor Who TV, Doctor Who TV]
Speaking of Mark Gatiss, he's recently pitched an idea that he thinks would work:
One of the things which new Doctor Who sort of invented was the idea of a celebrity historical – Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Winston Churchill, Shakespeare. There's three writers there so I think Jane Austen stands quite a quite a good chance actually…
[Cbnfoz via Kasterborous]
Game of Thrones
TV Guide has a nice round-up of where we left each character and previewed what's coming up next. One quote comes from Mark Stanley (Grenn), who says that Jon Snow will unite the Night's Watch and take a lot of responsibility.
Second, Sophie Turner previewed what's coming up for Sansa:
Her emotional journey is probably like the biggest that you've seen from her over any season. It's, like, a very mental transformation that you go through. She goes from very much being a victim and a pawn in other people's games to manipulating the people who've gone before her. She kind of becomes a dark horse. She's survived, but now it's time for her to start living. Zing!
And Isaac Hempstead Wright said about Bran:
This season, Bran is exploring the mystical side of his story line. Bran's [ability to warg] definitely reaches a climax. He's really starting to use it and understand how useful it can be in the greater picture. Also, there's this supernatural force that is pulling him to somewhere, and he doesn't know what it is or where he's going. It's some sort of higher thing that even he doesn't understand. Jojen is helping to guide him and understand what this force is for.
Finally, John Bradley makes it sound like Samwell Tarley is not having a good season:
We see him really depressed through his own doing. He makes decisions that are very questionable and could lead to utter catastrophe. I think his self-loathing this year is absolutely justified for the first time." And even though Sam has sworn a vow of chastity as a brother's of the Night's Watch, his feelings for Gilly deepen. "I think that he loves her in a very, very genuine and innocent way... He and Gilly have bonded over the fact that they've got utterly dysfunctional relationships with fathers. You can't get more dysfunctional than Gilly's relationship with her father.
Check out the link for more. [TV Guide]
A few reviews of the premiere episode have made there way online, and one says that Oberyn Martell's introduction in the premiere will follow that of the book, and will show those unfamiliar with the plot "how red blooded and forceful the Viper and his paramour Ellaria Sand are." And as for the Wall:
Jon Snow is being made to feel like an unwelcome guest in his own home; very few are happy at his return, even before hearing of his exploits, and even fewer believe what he claims the future holds for them on the wall. Of all Ned's children he seems to be coping with the news of the Red Wedding the best, but the added pressure of it isn't helping his precarious situation in the Nights' Watch. Elsewhere in the North Wildlings are getting ready for Mance's signal, some being more eager than others to exact revenge on the crows.
Variety's review is mostly spoiler-free, but Brian Lowry seems most impressed with the Arya plotline, saying:
The best material involving the steely young Arya (Maisie Williams), who is traveling in the company of the towering mercenary the Hound (Rory McCann), a relationship that – in the best "Thrones" tradition – mixes disarming comedy with the constant threat of stomach-turning violence.
[Variety]
The 100
Here's a video interview with Marie Avgeropoulos:
Teen Wolf
Jeff Davis is once again saying that Daniel Sharman can always return to the show:
Whether it's season four or season five, I would say there's a good possibility of it.
American Horror Story
We know a little bit more about Jessica Lange's character, who will be the manager of one of the last freak shows, who has "rescued all these different individuals. It's the end of that era, of the freak show, and we'll do anything to keep our business going." Angela Basset, however, does not know anything about her character. [E! Online]
Agents of SHIELD
Here's the promo for 1.17 "Turn, Turn, Turn":
In the Flesh
Here's a trailer for season 2. [TV Equals]
Defiance
Here's Syfy's trailer for season 2 of Defiance. [TV Equals]
Revolution
Here's the synopsis for season 2.18, "Austin City Limits":
Revolution Season Episode 18 "Austin City Limits" – Frustrated with Neville (Giancarlo Esposito), Jason (JD Pardo) turns to Miles (Billy Burke) with crucial information about the Patriots' next steps for Texas. Determined to derail the Patriots' plans, Miles and Monroe (David Lyons) rush to Austin with Jason, Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos) and Connor (Mat Vairo) in tow. Meanwhile, Aaron (Zak Orth) grows suspicious of Priscilla's (Maureen Sebastian) increasingly unusual behavior.Also starring Stephen Collins and Elizabeth Mitchell
Go here for photos from that episode. [TV Equals]
Additional reporting by Charlie Jane Anders and Ryan Plummer