Screenwatching

Spartacus Update! Whitfield in Training - Filming of Blood & Sand Prequel Moves Forward

OnFilm, New Zealand's Screen Production Industry Magazine reports that the Spartacus 6-episode prequel will start shooting on August 2. When they finish with the mini-series, it will be followed up by the production of Season 2 of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Read more on OnFilm

I don't know that there was a question of if Season 2 of Spartacus Blood and Sand would be "a go," given its tremendous popularity. This is not at all a diss of Andy Whitfield but the show is very much an ensemble piece so his absence could be worked around for a few episodes.

I'm guessing that was one option. Another "why didn't I think of that" option is to do a prequel whilst Andy Whitfield (the show's namesake) continues his recovery from Stage 1 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Whitfield's illness had put production of the acclaimed Starz original series on hold.

Season 2 is a go! Star Andy Whitfield's diagnosis of  put production of Season 2 on hold. Instead, producers greenlit a 6-episode "Spartacus" prequel series starring Lucy Lawless and John Hannah.

Update/ Whitfield announced that he is now cancer-free and has already begun training for his appearance in the prequel series.

Spartacus star Andy Whitfield has been given a clean bill of health and is already training for his return to the set of the Starz drama series. “I’m raring to go,” Whitfiled said in a phone interview from New Zealand. Fans will be able to meet the actor at next month's Comic Con where Whitfield will make an appearance along with other actors and producers from Starz's breakout series Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Welsh-born Whitfield was diagnosed with treatable Stage 1 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in early March during a routine checkup just as the show was about to start shooting Season 2. He began treatment immediately while production was put on hold. About five weeks ago, tests revealed that Whitfield was clear of cancer and three weeks ago, he completed his treatment. Whitfield, who thanked Starz executives for sticking with him and supporting him through his ordeal, has already started his own training for what is a very physically demanding role and will start vigorous boot camp training at the end of July.

Source

Spartacus will be seen in two episodes of the prequel. Whitfield will begin filming his scenes in October, which gives him plenty of time for the rigorous boot-camp training he does for the physically demanding role. After the prequel series wraps the cast will immediately segue into the full Season 2 of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand."

According to Starz, Whitfield will appear as Spartacus in 2 out of 6 planned episodes. The prequel series will focus on the rise of the House of Batiatus, the gladiator academy, and will revolve around the relationship between Lawless' and Hannah's characters, Lucretia and Batiatus.

"The prequel story maintains the excitement and entertainment value of the first season of 'Spartacus,' giving audiences the engaging experience they've come to expect," Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht said in a statement released Tuesday, May 11.

Other returning actors include Peter Mensah as Doctore, Manu Bennett as Crixus, Antonio Te Maioha as Barca, Nick E. Tarabay as Ashur and Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia.

Read the official Starz Press Release after the jump

NEW - 'The Big C' Showtime Laura Linney - 'Weeds' Mary Louise Parker Promo Teasers

Weeds season 6 and The Big C season 1 - Premiere August 16 on Showtime.

 

  Back to "The Big C" and what likely looks like Nancy Botwin's swan song on "Weeds," Season 6.

I'm sold on both the actress and the plot outline of the show. With a half-hour premium cabler I always think, even that if it stinks, I've only wasted 25 minute and I don't' think Linney's new show is gonna stink. Here are some of the deets on Linney and the big C via Showtime:

Three-time Academy Award® nominee, three-time Emmy® winner, and SAG® and Golden Globe® Award winner Laura Linney comes to series television on SHOWTIME® as star and executive producer of the provocative new half-hour original series, THE BIG C. Linney plays a reserved suburban wife and mother whose recent cancer diagnosis forces her to shake up her life and find hope, humor and the light side of a dark situation, while managing her immature but well-meaning husband, played by Oliver Platt. Recurring guest star Gabourey Sidibe (Oscar® nominee for Precious) will play a precocious student. THE BIG C will shoot 13 episodes later this spring for an August 16th premiere at 10:30pm PT/ET following Weeds. THE BIG C is created and written by Darlene Hunt, who will serve as executive producer, along with showrunner/writer Jenny Bicks, Laura Linney, Neal H. Moritz and Vivian Cannon. It is produced by Original Film in association with Sony Pictures Television. Acclaimed writer/director/producer Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) directed the pilot.

I came to start watching Weeds just as it was starting to peter out--about the third season--but I went back and watched Season 1 and 2 as well as 4 and 5 since then. That Weeds has been granted a sixth season just blows my mind  but I'm on board as long as Mary-Louise is.Yes, she's that good.How can anyone hate Mary Louise Parker or "Uncle Andy" (Justin Kirk)? The characters, despite their deep flaws are portrayed by very capable and appealing actors. Must be part of the reason for the longevity.

Anyhoo, I read back in May that Nancy Botwins frenemy, played by Elizabeth Perkins is officially giving up her duties on the show after this season and that might be a good idea for everyone else involved, too.Six years is a looong time for a show that running on one note for way beyond it usual allotted time. Nancy has burned all her bridges but no one wants to see her  reach the inevitable resolution -- either jail or death. I vote for an off-scene ending. Exit leaving us with something a bit optimistic... and maybe slightly ominous.

The Big C: You Can't Hurt My Feelings

— Short promo teaser for the launch of the new Showtime original series "The Big C", starring Laura Linney.

Toy Story 3 - Look on the Sunnyside - Internet Chat - New Gadgets

DisneyPixar — April 14, 2010 —

Toy Story 3 - Internet Chat

DisneyPixar — May 20, 2010 —

Toy Story 3: New Gadgets "Designed to make you go oooooh!"

Ken's Dating Tips - The Bachelorette Ken's Dating Tips #1 #2 #3 - The Bachelorette

Ken's Dating Tips - The Bachelorette

ABCNetwork — June 07, 2010 — Toy Story returns--see what adventures await. Toy Story 3, in theaters June 18, 2010.

ABCNetwork — June 07, 2010 — Toy Story returns--see what adventures await. Toy Story 3, in theaters June 18, 2010.

Ken's Dating Tips 2 - The Bachelorette

ABCNetwork — June 07, 2010 — Toy Story returns--see what adventures await. Toy Story 3, in theaters June 18, 2010. Ken's Dating Tips, Number 3 - The Bachelorette

Weeds - Season 6 Teaser Trailer

As much as I like the show, "Weeds" has grown decidedly dark (some would say grim) in recent seasons.

Nancy Botwin, when we first met her was a cash-strapped young-ish widow with two school-age (middle and high school) kids who planned for a short period to deal in cannabis selling in order to tide her family over until she could get a better gig. From there, she found that she was supremely unqualified for work that could support her family and so continued dealing weed, always planning to get out of the business just as soon as she could afford to do so.

As one would expect, trouble resulted--and a lot of it was amusing, especially when Uncle Andy (Justin Kirk) was brought into the picture. However, Andy's presence in season 5 couldn't clear the palate of the sour taste of Esteban raping a pregnant Nancy and her not seeming to have issue with it.

There were a number of other unsavory and frankly, not-very-funny situations too, culminating in Nancy's teenage son murdering her adversary, a female drug kingpin and political heavyweight in Mexico who was in fact threatening Nancy's family with violence (though not acting to carry it out at that precise moment). Shawn clonked the woman over the head with a golf club, sending her into the pool, where if not killed by the blow, she died of drowning.

So what fun is in store for Season 6? Mary Louise Parker as Nancy is awesome--the whole cast is quite good in fact--it's the material that has been dragging the show down. Since Nancy does not deal anymore, the premise of the show has sort of gone by the wayside and perhaps after this season, it is time for Weeds to do the same.

The "Weeds" Season 6 teaser trailer features a black-clad hot mama Mary-Louise Parker's Nancy Botwin burying all her Season 5 secrets -- set to a jaunty little tune called "Terrible Things" by April Smith --

A ringing cell phone with Esteban on the other end, a handgun, passport, the Jesus bobbled camera she got from Guillermo and Shane's croquet mallet that he used to brain Pilar in the season finale.

Where will Season 6 take the Botwins? What we know so far is that Nancy and her brood will be starting over in Seattle -- with some help from a woman named Linda, played by Linda Hamilton, and her partner Fiona. Elizabeth Perkins has said Season 6 will be her last "Weeds" season.

The sixth season premieres August 16, 2010 on Showtime.

Source: Zap2it