Last Wednesday we learned that Buffyverse album James Marsters has joined the cast of the revamped CBS TV series Hawaii Five-0 as the arch villain in the pilot episode and today we get to meet the rest of the cast of Five-0. Alex O’Loughlin plays the lead character Steve McGarrett while Scott Caan plays his faithful partner Danny Danno Williams (who will be doing all of the “booking” on the show). Lost alum Daniel Dae Kim has been cast as Detective Chin Ho Kelly and Battlestar Galactica’s Grace Park will play Kono Kalakaua. Here is a group shot of the principal cast filming scenes for the new TV series on the island of Oahu this week:

As I said before, I vaguely remember this show when it was on the air in re-runs when I was little but I somehow doubt this new version will resemble the original series in any way but the character names. I have to say that I like this cast tho … this group of actors could be the right formula for CBS to make a hit out of this show again. After the jump, check out a few individual photos of the cast on set in Hawaii …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

Earlier this week we learned that hottie actor Channing Tatum was up for the role of Captain America in the planned big screen adaptation of the comic book series and I was ALL EXCITED that my boy Chan might become this all-American hero. Late yesterday, tho, it was reported that the role of Captain America was offered to Chris Evans (who previously played Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in the Fantastic 4 films) … meaning it’s a done deal, y’all. Chris Evans will be Captain America if he wants the role:

The long, drawn out process to determine who will carry the shield of America’s greatest super-patriot is over. Sources have confirmed to HitFix that Chris Evans has been offered the role of the title hero in “The First Avenger: Captain America.” Other candidates for the part included Channing Tatum, Ryan Phillippe, John Krasinski and Mike Vogel. HitFix has learned the word about Evans’ casting came down this afternoon to the other potential Cap’s that the role was Evans’. Some of the other new actors auditioning for the role had not even met with director Joe Johnston yet when the decision was made. Evans is hardly a stranger to comic fans. He previously played hot-head Johnny Storm in 20th Century Fox’s two “Fantastic Four” movies. Assuming Evans takes the role, he’ll be committed to a number of future Marvel films including “Captain America” sequels, “The Avengers” and appearing in other Marvel Universe pictures. The 28-year-old actor last appeared on screen in 2009’s Sci-Fi thriller “Push.” He’ll star opposite Zoe Saldana in another comic book adaptation, “The Losers,” next month. He’ll follow that up with “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” which is based on a popular series of graphic novels. On a humorous note, this may be the second blonde Marvel hero the brown-haired Evans has played, but did not dye his hair for. Fans were initially ruffled when Evans stayed dark-haired as Johnny Storm so will he pull out the peroxide for Steve Rogers? Stay tuned. No word officially from Marvel Studios or distributor Paramount Pictures at this time.

OK … while I was in love with the idea of Channing Tatum playing Captain America, I can’t say I’m all that miffed that Chris Evan got the role. He is nice eye candy and I’m sure he’ll make a fine Captain America. Homie better bleach his hair tho … Captain America is blonde! At this point, because the report has yet to be confirmed, we don’t know if Evans has taken the role or not … but he’s be dumb not to. I’m fairly certain he’ll say yes, sign on the dotted line and be Captain America.

[Source]

In January we learned that beefy Twilight hunk Kellan Lutz was being considered for the lead role in the upcoming remake film Conan the Barbarian … but while, sadly, Kellan did not get the lead role (Jason Momoa got the lead role), I am happy to pass along the news that one of my fave actresses has been added to the cast. Rose McGowan, who starred in the film Scream and on the TV series Charmed, has been cast as a witch in Conan … talk about your type-casting. Here are a couple photos of Rose lookin’ fab as hell in SoCal yesterday and some deets from Variety about the Conan casting:

Nu Image/Millennium Films has completed the cast for “Conan,” adding Rose McGowan, Stephen Lang, Rachel Nichols, Ron Perlman, Said Taghmaoui and Leo Howard to star alongside Jason Momoa. Marcus Nispel began lensing Monday at Nu Boyana Studios, Nu Image’s facility in Sofia, Bulgaria. The film will be released domestically by Lionsgate. Based on the Robert E. Howard books, the film is written by Thomas Dean Donnelly & Joshua Oppenheimer, Sean Hood and Andrew Lobel and centers on the mythical hero driven to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village. Lang will portray a sadistic warlord, and McGowan is to play an evil half-human/half-witch. Howard appears as young Conan, and Perlman portrays Conan’s father. The film’s produced by Avi Lerner, Boaz Davidson, Joe Gatta and Fredrik Malmberg. Exec producers are Danny Dimbort, Trevor Short, George Furla and Henry Winterstern. The project’s been in development for a decade; Paradox had set it up at Warner Bros. but decided against a new rights deal three years ago and went to Nu Image instead.

While I PERSONALLY think that Kellan Lutz would make a better Conan the Barbarian, I’m willing to give Jason Momoa a chance at winning me over. I’m so pleased that Rose is part of the cast that I will DEFFO be seeing this film when it gets released. Incidentally, Charmed season 4 has just begun re-running on TNT TV this week and I’ve started gettin’ my McGowan fix again. It’ll be really fun to see her in a new movie … I can’t wait!!

[Photo credit: X17; Source]

Great news, Buffyverse fans!! It is being reported that James Marsters, who played the vampire Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, has been cast in the new remake of the CBS TV series Hawaii Five-0! The news first broke on Marsters’s official Facebook page but is already spreading like wildfire! Woot!!

CBS crime procedurals are big mainstream hits, but hardly the kind of shows that resonate with the geek culture. However, the new CBS pilot Hawaii Five-0 is certainly getting geek attention, thanks to the fanboy-friendly cast involved. With Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica) and Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) both among the main cast, the latest Comic-Con friendly actor to take a notable role is Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel alum James Marsters, who has now revealed, via his official Facebook page, that he will appear in the pilot, “as the nemesis of lead character Jack McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin).”

This is fantastic news!! It’s unclear how permanent this role on Hawaii Five-0 will be for Marsters but if he is really going to play the protagonist’s “nemesis” then that implies a lasting adversarial relationship that should last for a while!! After the jump, read the deets as they were posted on James Marsters’s Facebook page earlier this week …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

Earlier today we learned that Ryan Phillippe is in the running to play Captain America in the planned big screen adaptation of the comic book hero and right now we learn that Hottie McHotster Channing Tatum is also up for the role! Entertainment Weekly breaks down which actors are vying for the role of Capt. America but I’m telling you right now, I’m putting all of my support behind Channing Tatum:

Marvel Studios’ search continues for the perfect actor to don the red, white, and blue suit and spread American ideals in the big-screen adaptation of Captain America. Today’s rumor mill throws G.I. Joe’s Channing Tatum into a mix of 20-something-year-olds that include the known, Ryan Phillippe, Fantastic Four’s Chris Evans; the semi-known, Cloverfield’s Mike Vogel, Gossip Girl’s Sebastian Stan; and the unknown, Young and the Restless’s Wilson Bethel. The studio held lengthy screen tests last weekend for at least four of those actors (Hedlund has not yet screen-tested, though sources believe he is the studio’s first choice), and Marvel is expected to have a decision soon. In the meantime, we’ve got a few plot details to share. Sources tell EW that Captain America, which is set to begin filming in June for a release next summer, will be shot on location in London as the Joe Johnston-helmed movie will feature a stylized 1940s WWII backdrop. And while Cap won’t be fighting Hitler as he did in the very first Captain America comic book, he will battle Red Skull, Hitler’s right-hand man. Probably the biggest challenge with Marvel’s casting challenge is not the Captain America movie, but what comes next. Marvel’s plans include an Avengers film that will bow in summer 2012. And anyone familiar with Marvel lore knows that Captain America is a father figure to the rest of the Avengers. That means Marvel’s casting choice for Cap must be someone who can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man, Samuel Jackson’s Nick Fury, and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, to name a few. “They’re casting two franchises here,” said a source close to the production. “This is no easy feat.”

Channing can do it! He can carry this film and play the integral role in The Avengers movie! While I understand that a lot is riding on the perfect casting, Channing Tatum has proven that he can carry a film at the box office and he’s already got the action hero cred to play a superhero! I’m not a huge Captain America fan (but I did love the 1979 TV movie based on the hero) but I can deffo get behind the film if Channing takes the lead. What do y’all think … who do YOU think should be cast as Captain America?

[Source]

Whoa! Just when you thought the news about Betty White hosting the May 8th ep of Saturday Night Live was the best ever … today we learn even BETTER NEWS!! TV Land has just announced that our golden Betty will star in her own TV series for the network titled Hot In Cleveland! Here is the just released first promo pic and press release announcement:

TV Land announced today that it has signed Emmy® Award-winning and audience-adored actress Betty White to star in the highly-anticipated TV Land PRIME Original sitcom “Hot in Cleveland” scheduled to premiere in June. Betty White will take on the role of the snarky but lovable Elka Ostrovsky, property caretaker of the home that co-stars – Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick – rent after their plane makes an emergency landing in Cleveland and they decide to stay. “Hot in Cleveland” is written by Emmy® Award-winning Suzanne Martin (“Frasier,” “Ellen”) and is produced by Emmy® Award-winner Sean Hayes (“Will & Grace”) and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills Productions. “Hot in Cleveland,” a TV Land PRIME original production has been picked up for ten episodes and is the network’s first venture into scripted comedy series.

“The talented Betty White is the finishing touch to this outstanding sitcom ensemble,” states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. “Betty’s illustrious career spans more than 60 years and makes her one of Hollywood’s most iconic and sought after actresses in television today. Her lively role as Elka in “Hot in Cleveland” is what viewers love to see from her – an amazing sense of timing and fantastic comedy genius. We are confident audiences will love her in this project, TV Land’s first foray into scripted television.”

“Hot in Cleveland” revolves around three fabulous, LA women of a certain age and best friends (Bertinelli, Leeves and Malick). Their lives are changed forever when their plane – headed for Paris – unexpectedly lands in Cleveland and they soon rediscover themselves in this new “promised land.” Loving their new home, the women find themselves living under one roof and battling the sassy caretaker of the property they have rented, played by Betty White.

Wee!! This is such fantastic news!! How amazing will it be to have Betty White back on TV again?! I gotta say … this Hot In Cleveland show, which is revolves around “LA women of a certain again and best friends”, sounds a bit like Golden Girls: The Next Generation. If this new show is even remotely as entertaining as GG was then I am SOLD! This is very exciting news … I can’t wait to see this show!! What do y’all think … are you dying or what?

[Source]

Happy news for fans of Paula Abdul AND the classic 80s talent TV show Star Search (the show, you might remember, which gave stars like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Destiny’s Child and more their first exposure on TV when they were children) … according to Entertainment Weekly, ABC is revamping the show for its return to air and the network is very close to sealing the deal that would have Paula host and/or judge the show! I don’t know about you but this sounds like it could be a really sweet gig for our dear Paula:

This just in: Paula Abdul is straight up headed back to TV! Sources confirm to me exclusively that the ex-American Idol judge is finalizing a deal to headline an updated version of Star Search, the great-granddaddy of all televised singing competitions, for ABC. Abdul’s role is still being defined, but I hear it will likely include some combination of hosting and judging. An ABC rep refused to comment. The Alphabet network had been wooing Abdul since last summer when she officially announced her departure from Idol. There was talk of her joining Dancing With the Stars in some capacity, but a deal never came to fruition. It’s not clear if Abdul’s Star Search gig would preclude her from joining former colleague Simon Cowell as a judge on the forthcoming US version of his UK monster hit, The X Factor, which is slated to debut on Fox in the fall of 2011. (Star Search is being targeted for this summer.) This isn’t the first time that Star Search, which premiered in 1983 with host Ed McMahon, has been resurrected from the TV bone pile. In 2003, CBS brought the show back with Arsenio Hall in an attempt to capitalize on the massive popularity of the then-new American Idol. The revival was axed in 2004.

Man … Star Search was such a great show in the 80s! They used to have all sorts of competition segments beyond just singing and dancing. Contestants also had the chance to compete in Comedy and Spokesmodel (which was always my fave!). As the show got more popular, the Spokesmodel category got axed … but I hope they bring it back for this new version! I vaguely remember the Arsenio Hall version of the show but I never watched it … I would hope that Paula’s Star Search would be more popular. This sounds like a great opportunity for Paula … but it would be fabulous if she could do this AND get a hosting gig on Cowell’s US version of X-Factor. I want my homegirl to make money! What do y’all think about this? Any Star Search fans in the hiz? Is this great news or what?

[Source]