SciFiAndTvTalk

Strike Back Renewed For Sixth Season (CINEMAX)

CINEMAX has renewed the action series Strike Back for a sixth season, it was announced today by Kary Antholis, president, HBO Miniseries and CINEMAX Programming. Currently debuting episodes Friday nights (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), with the fifth-season finale scheduled for April 6, the show follows the explosive escapades of Section 20, an elite, multinational, covert special ops team, as it spans the globe fighting a vast web of interconnected criminal and terrorist activity.

“The rebirth of Strike Back has reestablished CINEMAX as a destination for adrenalized, entertaining action series,” noted Antholis. “We are delighted to offer Section 20 the opportunity to continue saving the world from mayhem and destruction.”

Among the critical praise for the series,TVGuide.com described the current season of Strike Back as a “visually stunning” show that “regularly delivers action sequences on par with many feature films.”

Season five actors include Warren Brown, Daniel MacPherson, Roxanne McKee, Alin Sumarwata, Nina Sosanya, Don Hany, Trevor Eve and Katherine Kelly.

The next season will mark CINEMAX’s sixth, and UK co-producer Sky’s seventh, season in the Strike Back franchise. CINEMAX began airing the series with Sky’s second season, and in 2013, presented Sky’s first season of the show as Strike Back: Origins. For more on the series, visit facebook.com/cinemax, medium.com/hbo-cinemax-pr, twitter.com/Cinemax #StrikeBack and youtube.com/Cinemax.

Strike Back is a CINEMAX Presentation in association with Sky; a Left Bank Pictures Production. Andy Harries, Sharon Hughff, Jack Lothian and MJ Bassett are executive producers. Bill Shepherd is series producer and Nuala O’Leary is producer.

Tom Hardy's Other Deleted Star Wars Scenes (Nerdist Remix)

In a galaxy far, far away Tom Hardy was a Stormtrooper serving in the Imperial Army during The Last Jedi. The scenes were cut and left on the edit room floor. Little did you know-- Tom Hardy's Stormtrooper cameo was just one of many deleted scenes from the Star Wars sequels! In this Nerdist Remix, we see how Tom Hardy channeling his most iconic character may have gotten most of his lines cut from the Star Wars movies. Check it out below!

 

Astro City Coming To TV!

FremantleMedia North America, the studio behind the acclaimed American Gods TV series, has obtained the rights to Astro City. Spanning 16 (and counting) collected, standalone yet loosely-connected story arcs containing more than 2,000 original characters, the fictional Astro City universe explores the lives of ordinary people and those of the all-too-human superhumans in their midst, and their collective, daily struggle to hold on to hope in the face of world-shaking, life-altering events beyond any single individual’s control. 

A mid-sized American city blessed with, and cursed by, the largest number of superheroes and supervillains in one place on Earth, Astro City is a unique brand of humanistic saga -- part superhero epic, part intimate drama -- in which the (mostly) good hearted, workaday residents of the eponymous locale come into daily contact with the worrisome, the weird and the wondrous. 

Currently published by DC Comics, the multiple award-winning, critically acclaimed, Astro City comics series, created by writer Kurt Busiek and artists Brent Anderson and Alex Ross has -- in the 23 years since its 1995 Image Comics debut -- remained a triple threat worldwide: a sales success, critics’ choice, and fan favorite.  The property’s vastly detailed story world represents the last, fully fleshed out superhero universe in the English language comic book business that remains unexploited for the screen. 

The live action Astro City television drama series is being produced by FremantleMedia North America, with its pilot episode being written by Kurt Busiek and Rick Alexander.  Gregory Noveck serves as Executive Producer of the series, along with Alexander and Busiek. 

Said Busiek, “It’s a thrill to be working with Rick, Gregory and FremantleMedia on this.  Everyone, at every turn, is supportive, helpful and completely focused on capturing the feel of Astro City and bringing it to life as a TV show.  I can’t wait to see it all take wing.” 

Astro City creator/writer, Kurt Busiek, is one of the most-honored writers in the comics industry today, having won over two dozen industry awards including the prestigious Eisner and Harvey Awards for Best Series, Best Single Issue, Best Writer, Best New Series and more.  In addition to Astro City, Busiek’s decades of success in the creator-owned comics space has also included the titles Arrowsmith, Shockrockets, Superstar: As Seen on TV, The Wizard’s Tale, Jonny Demon, The Liberty Project and Ransom.  His most recent original comics series is The Autumnlands, with artist Benjamin Dewey. 

Film and television writer-producer and genre-IP acquisition and adaptation specialist, Rick Alexander, is currently Executive Producer on EuropaCorp Television’s series version of Howard Chaykin’s landmark ’80s sci-fi comic, American Flagg!, and is also developing UK comics creator Warren Ellis’ horror infused military actioner, Gravel, as a feature for Legendary Entertainment. 

Gregory Noveck, through his Slow Learner banner, is developing George R.R. Martin’s Wild Cards at Universal Cable Productions and James Patterson’s Virgin at Sonar. 

FremantleMedia North America’s Executive Vice President of Scripted Programming and Development, Stefanie Berk, is overseeing for the studio. 

Colony - Season Three Premiering In May (USA Network)

COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO "Colony Panel" - Pictured (L-R): Wes Tooke, Ryan Condal, Tory Kittles, Josh Holloway, Sarah Wayne Callies, Peter Jacobson, and Carlton Cuse. (Photo by: Matt Winkelmeyer/USA Network).

COLONY’s third season begins six months after the Bowmans’ escape from the Los Angeles bloc as Will (Josh Holloway) and Katie (Sarah Wayne Callies) struggle to rebuild their family in the world beyond the walls. When their peaceful existence is shattered, they are sent on an odyssey that will finally reveal the horrifying truth behind Earth’s mysterious occupiers and once again force our heroes to choose sides.  Tune in Wednesday, May 2nd (exact time TBD).

As noted above, photo by Matt Winkelmeyer and copyright of USA Network, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Shadowhunters - New Featurettes! (Freeform)

Shadowhunters' Simon Lewis (Alberto Rosende). Photo copyright of Freeform.

The cast of Shadowhunters discuss their personal signature weapons in this new featurette from Freeform.

 

Also, Alberto Rosende ("Simon Lewis") shares secrets from shooting that mysterious Seelie marking ceremony from Episode 3001.

 

New episodes of “Shadowhunters  air Tuesdays @ 8:00 p.m. EST/PST on Freeform.

 

As noted above, photo copyright of Freeform, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Siren Made A Splash At WonderCon 2018 (Freeform)

(L-R): Siren's Emily Whitesell (showrunner), Rena Owen, Alex Roe, Eline Powell, Sibongile Mlambo, Ian Verdun and Eric Wald (creator/executive producer) at WonderCon 2018. Photo copyright of Freeform.

The cast and executive producers of the much discussed mermaid drama, Siren, attended WonderCon on Saturday, March 24, in Anaheim, California. Fans were treated to a screening of never-before-seen footage and a Q&A session with series regular stars Eline Powell, Alex Roe, Ian Verdun, Sibongile Mlambo and Rena Owen, and executive producers Eric Wald and Emily Whitesell. During the panel, which was moderated by TVGuide.com 's Lindsay MacDonald, the cast and executive producers shared detailed stories about the making of the upcoming mermaid drama.

 

In this epic tale, the coastal town of Bristol Cove, known for its legend of once being home to mermaids, is turned upside down when a mysterious girl (Powell) appears and begins wreaking havoc upon the small fishing town. Using their resources, marine biologists Ben (Roe) and Maddie (Fola Evans-Akingbola) must work together to find out who and what drove this primal hunter of the deep sea to land and are there more like her out there? Siren premieres Thursday, March 29th with a special two-hour premiere (8:00–10:00 p.m. EDT), on Freeform.

 

As noted above, photo copyright of Freeform, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Sci Fi Magazine - June 2018

If you happen to be passing a newsstand, check out the new issue of Sci Fi Magazine (June 2018 issue) which contains my "TV in Focus" section interviews with Adam Nagaitis (The Terror), J.R. Ramirez (Marvel's Jessica Jones), Babou Ceesay (Into the Badlands), Bill Irwin (Legion), Jack Cutmore-Scott (Deception), Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead), Camren Bicondova (Gotham), Steve Zahn (The Crossing) and Jeff Ward (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as well as my feature interviews with Tala Ashe (DC's Legends of Tomorrow), Katee Sackhoff (The Flash) and Odette Annable (Supergirl). If you live in the U.S. and cannot find a copy of the magazine at your local newsstand you can order it directly - SCI FI Circulation, P.O. Box 1654, Williamsport, PA 17703. Single copies are $5.00 plus $2.00 for postage. Yearly subscriptions can also be purchased - U.S.A. $16.95; Canada and overseas $30.95 US$. Thanks as always for your continued support!

Steve Eramo

Tara Buck (True Blood, Ray Donovan) Collaborates With Chris Pierce & Friends on Trouble Man Video

Consummate Soul Man Chris Pierce released his latest single and video Trouble Man on Calabama Recordings on International Women’s Day during Women’s History Month. The track is a powerful reinterpretation of a 1972 Marvin Gaye song, reimagined and seen through the female lens. The video features Renee Goldsberry (Altered Carbon, Hamilton), Taryn Manning (Orange Is the New Black, Hustle & Flow), Kristin Bauer van Straten (True Blood), Brit Morgan (Supergirl), Rachel True (The Craft), Tara Buck (True Blood, Ray Donovan), Marieh Delfino (The Invitation), Amelia Rose Blaire (Scream: The TV Series) and Japanese pop star Yuna Ito.  A special cameo includes Gina Maisto Smith, a highly accomplished lawyer who is a leader in the field of institutional response for sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. 

 

The video for Trouble Man was conceived in the spirit of activism with the hope to bring continual awareness and dialogue to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement. The intention is to add to the larger conversation about female empowerment and the importance of men joining the fight for female equality.

 

Tara Buck. Photo courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings.

 

Renee Elise Goldsberry. Photo courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings.

 

Pierce teamed up with She & I Productions, a newly launched company headed by actors Tara Buck and Marieh Delfino, committed to distributing content that empowers women both in front of, and behind the camera.

 

Taryn Manning. Photo courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings.

 

  Kristin Bauer van Straten. Photo courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings.

 

The video will go live on both the She & I and Chris Pierce websites. An online community and outreach resource list for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence is offered on She & I. Women visiting the site will be able to access national resources tailored to need and specific location throughout the United States.

 

Pierce traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record Trouble Man  with the legendary Swampers and Muscle Shoals Horns. The song was recently released as part of his critically acclaimed album You’ve Got To Feel It! on Calabama Recordings. Elmore says, “His powerful vocals, just as feverish and unrestrained as they are smooth, exuberant and tender.”

 

Pierce is a highly respected member of the Los Angeles music community. He co-wrote the hit song We Can Always Come Back to This, which was prominently featured on the #1 US Primetime TV show This Is Us. The song charted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart as well as Top 20 on the Billboard Rock and R&B charts. He is also a 2018 Guild of Music Supervisors nominee for “Best Song/Recording Created for Television”.

 

From Chris Pierce: "I searched deep in my heart to find a personal connection when I had the honor to record the song Trouble Man by Marvin Gaye in Muscle Shoals, Alabama last year. I thought about the intended perspective of the song and the importance of developing my own personal perspective, aligning in unison with my own life and the people that I care about. Soon after we recorded the song, the long overdue conversation surrounding so many women’s horrid experiences with men of power in the entertainment industry and beyond was being brought to light and I had a vision for a current perspective of the song and lyrics, through the power of feminism.

 

I was raised primarily by my mother, who we had the honor of featuring in the music video.  Her priority since the mid/ late 1960’s has been to bring to the forefront, the urgency of the fight for women’s rights. Her and my Godmother, who also raised me, were the first in their circle to join NOW (National Organization for Women) -- and they continue to protest for women’s rights to this day.  I consider myself a fortunate man, having been raised with the understanding of the importance and power of feminism and the importance of bringing the conversation to the forefront.

 

With the release of this new recording and video of Trouble Man, my hope is to add to the conversation through artistic expression and speak directly to the human heart through soulful imagery in the hope that it leads to personal responsibility, leading to action. As a man, I challenge all men to hear loudly women’s accounts of courage and agony and take a deep look within.“

 

As noted above, all photos courtesy/copyright of Calabama Recordings, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Siren - Interactive Events and Promotions To Celebrate Series Premiere (Freeform)

Mermaid legends come to life in the gripping new drama series Siren, premiering March 29th @ 8:00 p.m EST/7:00 p.m. on Freeform. In this epic tale, the coastal town of Bristol Cove is turned upside down when a mysterious girl (Eline Powell) appears and begins wreaking havoc on the small fishing town. Using their resources, marine biologists Ben (Alex Roe) and Maddie (Fola Evans-Akingbola) must work together to find out who and what drove this primal hunter of the deep sea to land, and are there more like her out there?

In anticipation of “International Mermaid Day” (March 29), Freeform will roll out a series of visually stunning live activations, social media opportunities, and a thirst-quenching drink as you dive into the two-hour series premiere!

The Mermaid Museum: In partnership with POPSUGAR, Freeform has created an immersive mermaid experience for those who want to indulge their obsession with these mythical creatures and visit the fictional world of Bristol Cove. Washing ashore in the heart of Los Angeles, the museum will be open to the public from March 22 to the 25. The free ticketed event will include a live mermaid in a 4,800 gallon-water tank, a speakeasy-inspired fishing store, numerous photo-ready exhibitions and a 360° underwater projection room.

The First Official #InternationalMermaidDay: March 29th marks the day to celebrate these powerful, mysterious, and mythical creatures of the sea. In honor of the series premiere of “Siren” that night at 8/7c – this is the day to bring mermaid culture to life! From Snapchat filters to customized Pressed Juicery juices, audiences will have a multi-platform experience to bring “Siren” to life.

Custom Siren Snapchat Lens: On premiere day, transform into a mermaid from Siren with the nationwide Snapchat lens exclusively available for one day only. Capture and post your transformation from traditional mermaid to the dark and mysterious deep-sea creature using the hashtag #internationalmermaidday and #siren.

Mermaid Fuel by Pressed Juicery: On International Mermaid Day, all 68 Pressed Juicery locations will serve limited-edition, free bottles of “Mermaid Fuel” while supplies Last. “Mermaid Fuel” is a delicious and hydrating blend of maple water, lemon, blue algae, mint, and maple syrup.

Fin Fun Giveaway: On March 22, check out the @Siren Instagram account for a chance to win a Siren-inspired swimmable tail from Fin Fun.

Tune in March 29th @ 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CT for the special two-hour Siren premiere event on Freeform. The series is based on a story by Eric Wald and Dean White who both serve as executive producers. Emily Whitesell (Finding Carter) serves as showrunner and executive producer. Brad Luff, Nate Hopper and RD Robb also serve as executive producers.

Marvel's Cloak & Dagger - New Promotional Teaser (Freeform)

Check out the new promotional teaser for the upcoming Marvel's Cloak & Dagger. The series follows Tandy Bowen (Olivia Holt) and Tyrone Johnson (Aubrey Joseph) – two teenagers from very different backgrounds, who find themselves burdened by and awakened to newly discovered superpowers which are mysteriously linked to one another. The series is based on the beloved comic characters and is co-produced by Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios. 

Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger premieres Thursday, June 7th @ 8:00 p.m. EST with a two-hour event on Freeform.