EMILY BROWNING JOINS KIT HARINGTON IN "POMPEII" EPIC? LAURA RAMSEY TO LEAD NBC SF SHOW "THE SIXTH GUN"! JAMIE CHUNG, SIENNA GUILORY, JAMES MCLAUGHLIN IN J.J. ABRAM'S SF SHOW "BELIEVE"

A couple of times last year, your trusted HOLLYWOOD SPY has informed you that Paul W. Anderson is preparing an epic film which will follow the infamous natural disaster at POMPEII. Now we

have new rumours on the possible casting: delightful Emily Browning, whom we've last seen in SUCKER PUNCH and SLEEPING BEAUTY, could possibly take the lead female role joining GAME OF THRONES Kit Harington who is taking the lead male role. The script, which was rewritten by DOWNTON ABBEY's Julian Fellowes (let us hope he didn't turn it into a yawnfest), is set in the days leading up to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and follows the love of a slave and the daughter of the slave's master amid the eruption in A.D. 79 and destruction of Pompeii. Emily will star this June in pre WW1 set movie SUMMER IN FEBRUARY with Dominic Cooper and DOWNTON ABBEY's Dan Stevens in a true tale of love, liberty and scandal amongst the Edwardian artists' colony in Cornwall!

  THE SIXTH GUN SF SHOW 

And in television casting news today, NBC has found their actress for the lead role in new science fiction epic show THE SIXTH GUN which will get its pilot this year. According to "Deadline", stunning beauty Laura Ramsey, whom we've watched in THE RUINS, will portray the main protagonist in the television adaptation of the science fiction western comic book. Based on the Oni Press comic by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt, THE SIXTH GUN tells the story of six pistols of otherwordly power, and charts the chaos that occurs when an innocent girl comes into possession of the last, most powerful weapon. Two other additions to the cast are W Earl Brown who will appear in the show as foul-mouthed undead Confederate General Oliander Hume, with hunky Graham McTavish (from THE HOBBIT) playing his lieutenant while Aldis Hodge is set to play private detective Mr Mercer.

  BELIEVE SF SHOW 

Other 2013 pilots are also casting their leads: according to "The Hollywood Reporter" NBC's new science fiction show BELIEVE has cast ONCE UPON A TIME's Jamie Chung, ERAGON's Sienna Guillory, SAVAGE's James McLaughlin and newcomer Johnny Sequoyah! Produced by STAR TREK and STAR WARS director J.J. Abrams and directed by HARRY PLOPPER's Alfonso Cuaron,  the story of the new drama revolves around Bo (Johhny Sequoyah), a young girl in possession of great powers,  which will come into their own in seven years, and the man who is sprung from prison (Jake McLaughlin) to protect her from those trying to hunt her down. Jamie Chung, Mulan in ONCE UPON A TIME, will play Channing, a strong, practical and smart woman who works for Winter (Delroy Lindo) and assists Tate (McLaughlin) when he escapes from prison. Meanwhile, Sienna Guillory will play Moore, a cool hit-woman who has issues with her own mother.

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JAMIE BELL IN 18TH CENTURY SHOW "TURN"! TOM ELLIS, CHRIS EGAN IN ABC FANTASY SHOW "GOTHICA"! TRAILER FOR BBC'S "IN THE FLESH" ZOMBIE SHOW! JAMES MCAVOY IS "THE CROW" IN THE REMAKE?

Another epic show to come to ABC this year is GOTHICA, a "gothic soap" weaving together the mythology and stories of classic literary

figures such as Frankenstein, Dracula and Dorian Gray. Brilliant British star Tom Ellis will play Victor Frankenstein who is in charge of a hospital and its biotech research programme. He is grieving for his recently deceased daughter, and trying to work out if there's a way he can bring her back to life. Chris Egan will play Dorian Gray, a wealthy playboy and aspiring entrepreneur who invests $20 million of his fortune into a newspaper owned by Frankenstein's old flame Grace van Helsing. Gorgeous Janet Montgomery plays Grace van Helsing, from a wealthy publishing family, who returns to run her family newspaper with the help of Gray's investment! Chris Egan played the lead in POE pilot, while Tom Ellis starred in British TV showS MIRANDA, MERLIN and THE FADES. Stunning Janet Montgomery also starred in MERLIN as ethereal Princess Mithian!

  HOLLYWOOD HEADLINES 

Now, here's an interesting casting twist: after the plans to have Bradley Cooper or Channing Tatum  as the new lead actor in the remake of

THE CROW have broke down, according to "Movie Web" the new candidate for the gig is James McAvoy from ATONEMENT and X-MEN! If he gets the job he will take the role of Eric Draven, a rock star who is brutally murdered along with his fiancée. He comes back to life to avenge his and his fiancee's murder, so their souls can finally rest in peace. As you know the role was played by Brandon Lee back in the 90s when he died at the set.Beside action crime films WELCOME TO THE PUNCH and TRANCE, McAvoy will be seen next year again as Professor X in X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST which is trying to reunite all the previous mutant superheroes. And yet another movie star to move

 over to television is Jamie Bell who will take the lead role in AMC's new drama TURN! According to "TVLine" he will play play a New York farmer who forms an unlikely spy ring with his childhood friends! It is interesting that the show will be historical since his character - Abraham Woodhull will find himself unexpectedly at the centre of a battle for America's independence in the 1778-set drama. The pilot will be directed by RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Rupert Wyatt!

  IN THE FLESH TRAILER 

And here's a spooky zombie trailer for upcoming BBC Three show IN THE FLESH which will start airing this March! Starring Luke Newberry, Ricky Tomlinson and Kenneth Cranhamthe show takes place four years after a zombie uprising and charts humanity's

efforts to reintegrate the living dead into society. One such zombie is Kieren Walker, who must adjust to his new life with the help of fellow zombie Amy (Emily Bevan), his best friend Rick (David Walmsley) and his sister Jem (Harriet Cains).

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DRAMATIC TRAILER FOR RAFTING ACTION "KON-TIKI" & ROMANTIC FOR "SOMETHING REAL AND GOOD"! ROBERT EMMS CAST IN BBC "ATLANTIS"! ROBBIE AMELL IN "TOMORROW PEOPLE" SF SHOW! BRIDGET REGAN JOINS "MURDER IN MANHATTAN" SERIES

 Your first trailer for today is for Norwegian Best Foreign Film contender at this year's Oscars - KON-TIKI: In 1947, the world is gripped

with excitement as the young Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl embarks on an astonishing expedition - a journey of 4,300 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean on the KON-TIKI raft. Thor suspects that the South Sea Islands had been settled by ancient South Americans from thousands of miles to the east. Despite his inability to swim and fear of water, Thor decides to prove his theory by sailing the legendary voyage himself. After replicating the design of an ancient raft in balsa wood, Thor and five fellow adventurers set sail from Peru. Their only modern equipment is a radio, and they take a parrot along for company. A natural leader, Thor uses the stars and

the ocean's current to navigate the raft. After three dangerous months on the open sea, encountering raging storms, sharks, and all the dangers the Ocean can muster, the exhausted crew sight Polynesia and make

 a triumphant landing. Having sacrificed everything for his mission, even his marriage, the success of the KON-TIKI expedition proves bittersweet for Thor. The film hits cinemas in April!

  HOLLYWOOD HEADLINES 

In latest TV news, lovely Bridget Regan, whom we remember as the lead actress from LEGEND OF THE SEEKER, has taken the lead role in ABC new drama MURDER IN MANHATTAN and will play a part of

a New York-based mother and daughter team who act as amateur sleuths. Over at CW, REVENGE star Robbie Amell has joined new sf show THE TOMORROW PEOPLE about teens with super powers who fight evil around the world. He will play a tortured young man who dreams of being normal next to Peyton List and Luke Mitchell! Meanwhile over in United Kingdom, BBC has made their first casting choice for their Autumn 2013 new epic fantasy show ATLANTIS which will replace MERLIN in Saturday primetime! Robert Emms (WAR HORSE, MIRROR MIRROR) will play young Pythagoras, a genius mathematician and philosopher, in the thirteen episode series set in the mysterious ancient world of ATLANTIS a place of bull leaping, of snake haired goddesses and of palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants. It’s into this strange, compelling realm that the young Jason

arrives and an amazing adventure begins, bringing to life the vast store of Greek myths and legends re-imagined for a new generation. The role of Jason is yet to be cast, let us hope they cast someone delightful like Colin Morgan was in MERLIN!

  SOMETHING REAL AND GOOD TRAILER

Well, this is what we all dream of - for an ordinary, boring day to turn into SOMETHING REAL AND GOOD. And that is also the title of the new independent romantic movie for which you can watch the first trailer below. The story of the movie follows a young man and woman who meet by chance in an airport while waiting for a delayed flight. When the plane is rerouted, they decide to make the best of it, and over the course of one night, realize that sometimes it takes a detour to make a connection. The film, which premiers March 5th, stars Alex Hannant, Dillaran Martin, Tommy Shayne Manfredi, Marla Stone.

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HOLLYWOOD SPY EXCLUSIVE FASHION REPORT FROM 2013 OSCARS RED CARPET! THE BEST AND THE WORST DRESSED CELEBS! WHAT WAS IN THE SWAG BAGS?

So, my dear freaks, did you watch the 85th Academy Awards last night? How did you like the winners? Were you disappointed with the losers? How did you like Seth MacFarlane as the host? How did you like special tributes to famous musicals? And more importantly how did you like the fashion this year? You can read more about the winners here, and check out HOLLYWOOD SPY's fashion report from Oscars 2013 red carpet below! I'm only happy that BRAVE won Best Animated Film Oscar, it was such a delightful and heart warming movie! 

As you know each Oscar nominee gets a lavish goodie bag every year. The gift bags are prepared by a special agency and it is no secret that the makers of the products found in the bags pay large sums so that their things would become presents for celebrities! THR reports that this year each bag is worth stunning $45,000 and it includes tones of various things - from lavish items such as a trip to Australia and $5,000 face-lift gift certificate to some cheap items such as self-help books, hair ties, maple syrup and a six pack of condoms :)

  THE BEST DRESSED 

If you ask me, the absolute belle of the evening was lovely Lily Collins in stunning elven blue lace dress, but she wore that at a party after the Oscars. She wore something similar in blue at last year's premiere of MIRROR MIRROR. Naomi Watts also looked stunning in silver

 asymmetrical Armani,  Amy Adams was a fairy tale princess in her lavish gown, while Alicia Wikander and Jennifer Hudson chose profound shades of blue colour and looked refined and noble at the same time.

I did maybe expect a bit more from Catherine Zeta Jones, but it was so lovely seeing her smiling again at the red carpet. I've no idea who Christin Chenoweth is, but she also looked nice, and Stacy Keibler was looking lovely again just like last year when she was best dressed!

  THE WHITE SWANS 

Three ladies who opted for white looked like winter queens: I wished Charlize Theron's dress was cut a bit higher. Zoe Saldana was sweet in her white gown with dark elements. I didn't really like Jennifer Lawrence's look and I think her fall at the stairs was staged, but she did look elegant.

  THE RED ROSES 

Gorgeous  Olivia Munn wore a dress which I didn't really understand but it did look amazing from the back. Jennifer Aniston's gown

was maybe a bit too big for her, but Sally Field looked  fresh in her red dress with long train.

  TOO MUCH COLOUR 

I didn't like the ladies who put too much colour on them - Fan Bingbing was overly pink, Resee Witherspoon too blue, and Jane Fonda was too yellow, but kinda elegant.

  THE WORST DRESSED 

Well, beside Salma Hayek whom we remember from earlier years as sexy and lovely but she disappointed this year, the rest of the ladies among the worst dressed almost always lack style:Anne   Hathaway looked pale and neglected in that satin apron, Nicole Kidman was too kitschy as usually, while Helena Bonham Carter probably wanted to be on this list in the first place!

  THE HANDSOME BOYS 

All our boys looked handsome and dashing last night - from always seductive Hugh Jackman, to sexy Channing Tatum, magnetic

Chris Pine and charismatic Eddie Redmayne whose shoes I didn't quite understand.

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DRAGONS FLY IN 1ST "GAME OF THRONES" SEASON 3 TRAILER! JOHN STAMOS IN "I AM VICTOR"! YAEL GROBGLAS IN SF EPIC "SELECTION"! NICHOLAS SPARKS "THE LONGEST RIDE" MOVIE ADAPTATION! JASON CLARKE & KODI SMIT MCPHEE IN "DAWN OF THE PLANET OF APES"

In television news today, some pilot casting updates: John Stamos has landed the lead role in NBC's new show I AM VICTOR in which he will play Los Angeles' most sought after divorce attorney, Victor Port, a charismatic man who is unapologetically blunt and has an original perspective on relationships. The character will be similar to Hugh Laurie's HOUSE. Meanwhile, over at CW, after they've found their Mary Queen of Scots in Adelaide Kane for their new epic show REIGN, they also found the lead actress for their sf epic SELECTION. Israeli actress Yael Grobglas will star in the epic romance centring on a working-class young woman chosen by lottery to participate in a competition with 25 other women for the Royal Prince's hand to become the nation's next queen. Balancing her loyalty to family, true love and the kingdom, she must attempt to remain true to herself as she navigates the cutthroat competition and palace intrigue, all while a budding rebellion threatens to topple the crown.

  MOVIE HEADLINES 

In movie news, the upcoming sequel DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES has landed first two actors: Jason Clarke and young Kodi Smit McPhee will take the lead roles in the story set 15 years after the first film following a group of scientists trying to survive in the new world overrun by apes. The story will also deal with Caesar (Andy Serkis), the ape leader who is having trouble controlling the animals in his kingdom. The film is being directed by CLOVERFIELD's Matt Reeves. And yet another heartwarming story from Nicholas Sparks, whose SAFE HEAVEN is doing fine currently at the box office, has been sold for movie adaptation: Fox will adapt his novel THE LONGEST RIDE which will be published this September and they bought it for amazing $5 million! The first part of the plot begins with a 90-year-old stuck in his car after a major crash. He begins seeing visions of his late lover, and the life they had built together. The other story follows a young bull rider who falls in love with a college history major, despite coming from different backgrounds. A mysterious occurrence brings both of these couples together.

  GAME OF THRONES
 SEASON 3 TRAILER 

And probably the biggest piece of news this weekend was the first trailer for the third season of popular epic show GAME OF THRONES which will premier March 31st at HBO. The marketing has been rather bad or almost nonexistant so far, with no posters, no real trailers, no plots from the new season, so this trailer might finally show you at least something of what will be happening in the third run of the show which will introduce some new characters too such as  Wildling leader Mance Rayder played by Ciaran Hinds and the Lady Olenna the Queen of Thorns played by Diana Rigg. Two good things in the trailer: beautiful music and the first look of princess Daenerys' grown up dragons :) Ten new episodes will be based on the third book in George R.R. Martin's epic saga A STORM OF SWORDS! The musicians Will Champion, drummer of Coldplay, and Gary Lightbody, the singer of Snow Patrol, will make cameo appearances!  

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HOLLYWOOD SPY SPOTLIGHT ON SPECTACULAR NEW EPIC SF SHOW "DEFIANCE" WITH GRANT BOWLER, JAIME MURRAY, JULIE BENZ, TONY CURRAN, MIA KIRSHNER! NEW CHARACTER PHOTOS!

I am sure that you will agree with me that there aren't many science fiction series on the small screens, so we are looking forward to all new shows of that genre. Probably the only new sf show to premiere this Spring is DEFIANCE which is ready to start its television life April 15th over at SyFy channel in US and UK, and Showcase in Canada! The innovative serial drama from the minds behind "Battlestar Galactica" and "Farscape" will follow a mysterious man who, drifting through a terramorphed American landscape, settles in a border town where aliens and humans fight against the fragility of peace.

DEFIANCE STORY

 The series is set in the near future, where aliens known collectively as Votans have come to Earth seeking a new home after their solar system was destroyed. However, when they reached Earth they discovered that despite a prolonged negotiation with the government on Earth they were not welcome. Rather than turn away, they began a war with the humans as they are determined to make Earth their new home. During the war, the Votans drop terraformers on the planet and transform the surface of the planet; scorching the earth, opening chasms in the ground and covering the surface of the planet in dust and debris. After decades of war, a ceasefire is declared when both side realise that they must focus on survival on this new almost alien planet. The series largely revolves around the character of Jeb Nolan. Jeb was only ten years old when the Votans arrived and he served in the military during the war. With the war now over, he returns to his hometown of St Louis to find that its is no longer the city he left; it is little more than a refugee camp. Deciding that his services are needed, Jeb takes up a position as the Chief Lawkeeper in DEFIANCE, so he can protect the town from dangerous clashes between humans and aliens, military scavengers and others dangerous visitors who occasionally enter the town.

DEFIANCE CAST

Kiwi actor Grant Bowler (True Blood, Ugly Betty) plays Nolan, former soldier and newly appointed law keeper in the bustling frontier town of DEFIANCE. Julie Benz (Dexter, No Ordinary Family) plays Amanda Rosewater, the idealistic mayor of DEFIANCE who is committed to maintaining peace in a deadly new world. The Oscar-nominated actor Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves) plays Rafe McCawley, richest man in Defiance and owner of the largest mine in the territory. Jaime Murray (SPARTACUS) portrays Stahma Tarr, a highly influential member of the elite Castithan alien race. Tony Curran (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Blade II) plays Datak Tarr, scheming Castithan alien and ark survivor. Stephanie Leonidas plays Irisa, Nolan’s ward and Irathient alien warrior. Fionulla Flanagan will portray Nicky, popular ex-mayor of DEFIANCE and mentor to Amanda. Mia Kirshner (24, The L Word) plays Kenya, the town madam of DEFIANCE whose devotion has woven her into many of the city’s affairs.

DEFIANCE TIDBITS

The show will be directed by Scott Stewart who helmed sf films PRIEST and LEGION, and is produced by producers of FARSCAPE, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, V, ALIEN NATION, SEAQUEST... The authors of the show are also producing a Defiance MMO video game which will be connected to the series! X-FILES star Gillian Anderson was first considered for the role of Stahma or Amanda but the producers didn't approach her thinking she wouldn't return to TV again. The Votans actually consist of seven different alien races, and the studio even hired a linguist who developed two full languages for the alien races of the Castithans and the Irathients

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AKSEL HENNIE JOINS DWAYNE JOHNSON IN "HERCULES" EPIC! LUKE MITCHELL & PEYTON LIST IN "TOMORROW PEOPLE" SF SERIES! "THE FAULT IN OUR STARS" BOOK GETS MOVIE ADAPTATION

Some nice news from new historical adventure HERCULES which stars Dwayne Johnson (who recently admitted that this is his

lifelong dream project about which he dreamt ever since he was a little kid): they have started with the casting and the first to join Dwayne is brilliant Norwegian actor and director Aksel Hennie who will play Tydeus, a close friend of Hercules, who is dual axe wielding madman that is required to be chained while he sleeps. Brett Ratner's film, scheduled for August 2014, will see the son of Zeus as a mortal with a intimidating reputation who leads a group of mercenaries on a mission after they begin to suspect the motives of their vicious employer Cotys, the King of Thrace. The film will leave out the mythical elements and will portray HERCULES as a warrior. We shall watch Aksel Hennie in another epic film - THE LAST KNIGHTS which stars Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman - adventure epic following a band of warriors who set out to avenge their leader's murder!

  TOMORROW PEOPLE 

In television news today, yet another of CW's supernatural and fantasy pilots for new series, TOMORROW PEOPLE has started the

 casting process. The US remake of the popular 1970's British show of the same name, will follow a bunch of young people and teens with super powers which they used to fight evil around the world. Produced by ARROW and VAMPIRE DIARIES producers, the show will have lovely Peyton List from MAD MEN in the lead role of Cara, a young woman with special powers who is described as both trustworthy and serious. Australian hunkster Luke Mitchell is another addition to the cast and he will play John Young, a member of the team who specialises in teleportation and who is instrumental in recruiting other gifted people to the group. He will also be Cara's love interest! As most other Oz hunks, Luke has starred in HOME AND AWAY and in NEIGHBOURS!

  FAULT IN OUR STARS 

And you have probably heard by now that 2012 bestselling novel THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green has been sold for movie

adaptation! The acclaimed novel will be turned into a movie by Fox and SAFE HEAVEN and TWILIGHT producers with Josh Boone (he directed the WRITERS film which I've recently mentioned with a trailer, which stars Greg Kinnear, Lily Collins, Logan Lerman) directing. The story of the book revolves around a teenage girl stricken with terminal cancer who falls for a boy in her support group. The two form a bond as they deal with their illnesses. Shailene Woodley, from DESCENDANTS, DIVERGENT and THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2, and young Hailee Steinfeld, from TRUE GRIT and ROMEO AND JULIET, are currently in the run for the lead role!

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CHRISTIAN BALE AND TOM HARDY IN RIVAL MOUNTAIN CLIMBING FILMS "EVEREST"! DELIGHTFUL TRAILER FOR "HUNKY DORY" WITH MINNIE DRIVER AND ANEURIN BARNARD! UNIVERSAL BUYS "ARCHLIGHT" MOVIE RIGHTS

Sometime last year your HOLLYWOOD SPY informed you that Universal is preparing EVEREST action drama and now, according to "The Hollywood Reporter" they have found the lead actor. Christian Bale is negotiating to star in the true story of two separate groups who tried to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1996, which ended in tragedy. Christian Bale would play Rob Hall, the leader of a New Zealand group which suffered four casualties during the ascent. The most curious thing is that Sony Pictures is also preparing their own film with the very same title EVEREST which will see Tom Hardy playing famous explorer George Mallory in the story which will describe the mystery surrounding Mallory's 1924 ascent of Mount Everest.

DID YOU KNOW? 
When it comes to their future projects, Christian Bale will star in an untitled 2014 film about ABSCAM FBI sting operation in the 1970s which lead to the conviction of United States Congressmen.That one has a rather stellar cast including Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner!

  HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

And here's something for the writers among my dear readers: "The Hollywood Reporter" writes that Universal has bought the movie

  rights on upcoming sf novel ARCHLIGHT by Josin L. McQuein! The sci-fi YA novel is set in a post apocalyptic future where the remnants of humanity are hunkered down in an outpost protected by a wall of light named Arclight, hiding from creatures known as the Fade. Into this enclave enters a lone teenage girl with no memory of who she is and how she survived in what is called the Dark but one who holds the key to its survival. It is interesting that the book is yet to be released this April and that the writer was paid $500,000 in a two book deal even before the books were written.

  HUNKY DORY TRAILER

And the only trailer I have for you on this very dry day is a delightful one for charming Welsh comedy HUNKY DORY starring Minnie Driver in the lead role. 

It's the beginning of the summer of 1976 in South Wales. But school's not out yet, so Viv (Minnie Driver), a fiery high school drama teacher, is determined to fire up her hormonal, apathetic students one last time by putting on the best end-of-the-year show the school has ever seen: a glam rock-infused musical version of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Can she overcome the typical teenage distractions of sex and drugs with some great rock and roll? Find out in this rousing musical from the producer of "Billy Elliot", featuring songs from legendary artists such as David Bowie, ELO, The Beach Boys, and more, all performed and recorded live on set by the talented young cast. The heartwarming flick is out March 22nd! Aneurin Barnard, whom you will soon watch as King Richard in Starz epic show THE WHITE QUEEN, is also in the cast!

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NEW ASIAN FILMS: SPECTACULAR TRAILER FOR "SAVING GENERAL YANG" EPIC! SEDUCTIVE "DANGEROUS LIAISONS" WITH ZHANG ZIYI! ACTION PACKED "THE GRANDMASTERS" WITH ZHANG ZIYI AND TONY LEUNG!

Since it's been a very dry week in Hollywood, I have some Asian trailers for you today: first, new, extremely epic and totally spectacular trailer for Chinese historical action SAVING GENERAL YANG! Directed by Ronny Yu (who is one of the leading candidates to also helm SILVER VASE, IRON KNIGHT the sequel to legendary CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON), the sweeping Asian war epic focuses on the story of the Yangs which has been eulogized for hundreds of years in the Chinese society. It details the exploits of the Yang military family, recounting the unflinching loyalty of the Yang family heirs. The plot places focus on how the seven sons of the Yang family held hands in the rescue of their father. The cast includes Adam

Cheng, Ekin Cheng, Chun Wu, Vic Chou, Fan Xu, Raymond Lam, Bo Yu, Chen Li and Xin Bo Fo. SAVING GENERAL YANG is scheduled to open around the world this April!

DANGEROUS LIAISONS

And something more seductive for my lady readers: Chinese version of DANGEROUS LIAISONS which will be released at DVD market this February in USA. 1930s Shanghai: the glamorous, tumultuous "Paris of the East" whose salons, streets and bedrooms frame this Chinese adaptation of the

French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Aging socialite Mo Jieyu (Cecilia Cheung) still finds herself circling ex-boyfriend Xie Yifan (Jang Dong-kun). Even after years of separation, their attraction and appetites burn just beneath the surface. Mo, the rich and charming widow with a taste for indulgence and sensuous pleasures, still has eyes for famous womanizer Xie, who secretly burns with love for her. And yet, in his luxurious life, Xie's new interest lies in chaste humanitarian Du Fenyu (Ziyi Zhang), who has captured his attention and earned his desire for conquest. Mo lures Xie into a treacherous, dangerous game of hearts: win, bed, and leave Du, proving his mettle as a rogue and impossible catch. But can Xie take the honor of such a woman, without losing his own heart, as well? As war looms in

Shanghai, can Xie win Mo's seductive game? Can he choose between these two women? Where will such a triangle lead them all? In matters of the heart, and in this city, there may be no difference between love and war.

THE GRANDMASTERS

The third Asian trailer for today is for Wong Kar Wai's long awaited period action THE GRANDMASTERS which premiered last week at Berlin Film Festival, after already playing in Chinese cinemas this

January, and will be distributed around the world this year. The story revolves around martial arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee! The film chronicles the life of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man

from the 1930s in Foshan, his flight to Hong Kong after the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the events leading to his death. The film stars Tony Leung in the lead role with the cast also including gorgeous Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Cung Le....

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NEW BBC "WAR AND PEACE" EPIC MINI SERIES! ROBIN WILLIAMS & SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR ARE "CRAZY PEOPLE" IN CBS SITCOM! KYLE CHANDLER JOINS MATTHEW GOODE IN RIDLEY SCOTT'S "THE VATICAN" SHOW

Since we love all things epic and historical, we are excited about the freshly announced monumental project over at BBC - according to "Digital Spy" they are preparing a six part mini series on the famous Leo Tolstoy's

 classic saga WAR AND PEACE from the 1869!  Andrew Davies, who recently wrote MR. SELFRIDGES hit series at ITV and who also worked on BRIDGET JONES movies and on Colin Firth's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE television adaptation, will pen the television adaptation of the literary masterpiece! With rich characters, epic drama, the thrilling and heartbreaking story of love, war and family life is scheduled for 2015! One of the last WAR AND PEACE television adaptations we've seen was the expensive $70 million European co-production from 2007 which starred Alessio Boni as Prince Andrej Bolkonski, Clemence Poesy as Natasha Rostova, Malcolm McDowell as Prince Bolkonski, with Brenda Blethyn also in the cast!

KYLE CHANDLER JOINS RIDLEY SCOTT'S "VATICAN"

In other television news today, intriguing new drama in preparation over at Showtime THE VATICAN has just scored another television 

star for its cast. After British star Matthew Goode and German actor Sebastian Koch, new name in the cast is Kyle Chandler who will play the charismatic yet enigmatic Cardinal Thomas Duffy, who is the Archbishop of New York. Matthew Goode (BIRDSONG, WATCHMEN) will play papal secretary and his closest confidante, who has a very powerful perch within the inner-circle of the Vatican, in this contemporary thriller about spirituality, power and politics, set against the modern day political machinations within the Catholic church. The potential series would explore the relationships and rivalries in addition to the mysteries and miracles behind the institution! The pilot will be directed by Ridley Scott!

SARAH M.GELLAR & ROBIN WILLIAMS R "CRAZY PEOPLE"

In the sitcom world, here's a new one with a rather unusual cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (whose last year's show RINGER was a flop and was cancelled after the first

season) will join Robin Williams in CBS sitcom pilot CRAZY PEOPLE! Robin Williams is the latest in the long line of movie stars who are moving over to the small screens, and he will lead the cast in the story that  follows a father and his daughter who work together in the advertising world. In this David E.Kelley sitcom, Gellar will play Sydney Roberts, Simon's (Robin Williams) daughter. She's described as pretty, intense, driven, organized and burdened with being practical. Sydney is the creative director and life and soul of the Roberts and Roberts Advertising Agency at the center of the comedy. She wants to be her father but is too busy having to parent him.

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