TV Bits: ‘Dexter’, ‘House Of Cards’, ‘The Killing’, ‘Happy Endings’, ‘Up All Night’, Jason Blum, Ridley Scott, Neal Stephenson, JK Simmons, Rupert Grint, And More
It’s pilot casting season! And as such,Rupert Grint,JK Simmons,Dylan McDermott,Billy Campbell,Jennifer Beals, and tons more have found new homes on the small screen. Also after the jump:
Moving on to casting updates for existing series:Peter SarsgaardandAmy Seimetzhave signed on for AMC’s recently revivedThe Killing. As previously reported, Season 3 will introduce a new mystery which will be resolved over 12 episodes. Apparently the show’s learned something from the whole “who killed Rosie Larsen” debacle.
In his first-ever recurring TV role, Sarsgaard will portray a death-row inmate named Tom Seward who’s been in and out of the system since childhood. Seimetz will play a poor single mom whose adolescent daughter goes missing. [TVLine]
Nick Gomezwill go from dealing with zombies to facing down cops. TheWalking Deadalum is set to play hitman Javier “El Sapo” Guzman onDexter, which enters its eighth season this fall. The character tangles with the Morgan sibs when Deb gets in the way of his latest target. [TV Line]
’90s kids, rejoice. AHome Improvementmini-reunion is brewing onTim Allen’sLast Man Standing, withJonathan Taylor Thomaslined up for a guest spot. JTT will play the manager of a restaurant where Kristin (Amanda Fuller) is trying to land a job. He’s the second non-Allen Home Improvement alum to appear on the ABC series;Richard Karnplayed an architect earlier this season. [TV Line]
The very busyRidley Scotthas added another TV project to his plate. The filmmaker is working with AMC onThe Terror, a drama series based onDan Simmons' 2007 bestseller of the same title.
The story takes place in 1847, when a Royal Navy crew in search of the Arctic’s Northwest Passage finds a nasty predator waiting for them.David Kajganich, the writer behind the upcoming remakes ofPet Semetary,It, andCreature From the Black Lagoon, is set to script. [Deadline]
About a BoyduoChrisandPaul Weitzare reteaming for a very different kind of literary adaptation. Chris Weitz is attached to write and direct theNeal StephensonadaptationReamde, which he and his brother will executive produce.
The series is described as “globally scaled action-adventure with the technology underlying sophisticated role-playing games and interweaving love stories.” In more practical terms, it’s the story of a kidnapping and the ensuing rescue effort. [Deadline]
FX has ordered thirteen episodes ofThe Bridge, an adaptation of a Scandinavian crime drama (yes, another one) titledi Bron. Production will begin this spring, with the premiere slotted for July.Diane KrugerandDemián Bichirplay detectives from the U.S. and Mexico, respectively, who join forces to track down a serial killer who works along the border. [TV Line]
NBC’s troubledUp All Nightmay not be struggling much longer. Last fall, the network announced an unorthodox plan to switch the show from single- to multi-camera in the middle of its second season. That transition doesn’t seem to be going so smoothly. Following the departures of creatorEmily Spiveyand starChristina Applegate, NBC has just reduced the multi-cam order from five episodes to just one.
At least that lone episode will be bringing on some strong talent behind the camera. Emmy-winning sitcom vetJames Burrowshas been set to direct. It’s unclear at this time whether Applegate will be replaced for the episode. [Deadline]
Also not looking so healthy these days is ABC’sHappy Endings. The network has been fussing with the show’s scheduling all season, setting it for Tuesdays, then for SundaysandTuesdays, then for double doses on just Tuesdays. Now they’ve decided to drop the comedy from Tuesdays altogether.
StartingMarch 29,Happy Endingswill air two back-to-back episodes on Fridays starting at 8:00 PM. Its former Tuesday evening timeslot will be taken over byCelebrity Wife Swap. The time to start your “save the show” efforts is now. [Variety]
The traditional ratings model doesn’t really apply to Netflix’sHouse of Cards, so it’s been tough to gauge just how well the series is doing compared to those on broadcast and cable television. But according to Netflix’s chief content officerTed Sarandos, it’s an unqualified hit.
At the Dive Into Media conference this week, he boasted that the political drama was the service’s most-watched title, though he wouldn’t offer any actual numbers. “I don’t want to give ratings, because it is a real apples-to-oranges comparison with network ratings,” he said. That likely won’t change anytime soon, either, as Sarandos added that he has “no motivation” to disclose that information in the near future. [AllThingsDviaCinema Blend]
Since January 2011,Comcasthas owned 51% ofNBCUniversal. Now the company’s figuring picking up the other 49% as well, for the low low price of $16.7 billion. The cable provider had always planned to start increasing its stake in the network, but the new buy comes several years ahead of schedule. [HuffPo]
Paranormal Activity’s “found footage” not real enough for you? ProducerJason Blumhas just the thing. Syfy’sStrandedtakes real-life participants to a haunted location, and follows what happens via hand-held footage and security camera tapes. Check out the new trailer:
StrandedpremieresFebruary 27. [viaTV Line]
I really like this trend of releasing pilot episodes online ahead of schedule. The latest to take advantage of that marketing tactic is The CW’sCult, about a TV show whose fans may be a littletoodevoted. Watch the full first episode below:
Our impressions of the episode from last year’s Comic-Con can be foundhere.Cultmakes its on-air debutFebruary 19. [viaCinema Blend]
