Posts Tagged ‘HBO’

Steven Spielberg Shopping Script about Jackie Kennedy; HBO in the Lead

Posted: March 17th, 2010 at 3:07 pm

We have all seen a number of films made about President John F. Kennedy and his assassination, but as big of a figure as he was, he managed to have an equal in his late wife, Jackie. Now, the LA Times is reporting that Steven Spielberg is shopping around a script entitled Jackie that will combine the two, although fashion and superstardom are likely to be left out. Noah Oppenheim, who holds many titles including head of development at Reveille, journalist, author, and a former producer for the Today Show, wrote the script that follows Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ perspective in the days following her husband’s assassination. Although Spielberg is just on board as a producer at this point, he is attracting a familiar buyer.

According to the article, HBO is at the head of the line to purchase the script and they would likely turn it into a film for the network. Spielberg has a long history with HBO, and recently launched the WWII series The Pacific, serving as an executive producer.

Bad-Ass Teaser Trailer for HBO’s BOARDWALK EMPIRE

Posted: March 16th, 2010 at 1:33 pm

If you liked yesterday’s trailer for David Simon’s Treme, you’re gonna love the teaser trailer HBO just premiered for their upcoming prohibition-era crime drama Boardwalk Empire.  The trailer only features two lines of dialogue (and I won’t spoil them because they’re great), and the rest is set to some slick music.  The visuals look great, the cast is strong, and I can’t wait to check this show out.  The wait will be somewhat excruciating as the show won’t premiere until this fall.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer and read the full synopsis for Boardwalk Empire.

New Trailer, Images, and Featurette for HBO’s TREME, the New Orleans Series from WIRE Creator David Simon

Posted: March 15th, 2010 at 9:39 pm

Early in the new year we got our first look at the teaser trailer for Treme, the upcoming series from The Wire creator David Simon.  Consisting mostly of slow pans about New Orleans, it didn’t reveal much, though the scattering of various instruments hinted at the musical nature of the show.  HBO has released a new trailer that imparts all sorts of great imagery, though it still doesn’t reveal much about the narrative–we’ll let the logline do that: the show “explores the lives of several struggling musicians and other New Orleans locals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina”.  The new trailer rather beautifully lingers on said musicians dancing and parading through the street amid the destruction, and gives us a look at cast members Steve Zahn, John Goodman, Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters, Khandi Alexander, and Rob Brown (among others), plus an Elvis Costello cameo.  The 1:37 clip is often reminiscent of the mostly headless “Way Down in the Hole” montages that primed the viewer for each episode of The Wire.

The show’s debut date of April 11 is now less than a month away, so get excited.  Hit the jump to check out the trailer and the full plot synopsis.

Larry David Says There’s a “Pretty Good Chance” CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM Will Return for an 8th Season

Posted: March 14th, 2010 at 9:42 pm

Earlier today, Curb Your Enthusiasm creator and star Larry David told a nearly sold-out crowd at the William S. Paley Festival that there was a “pretty good chance” the HBO sitcom would return for an 8th season.  In their article, Variety does not specify how many times David used the word “pretty” in making his comment.

HBO keeps the door open for David to new a season (because the network isn’t stupid), but David only does it if he has a good story to tell for the ten episodes produced each season.  In the most recent season, Larry was able to re-unite the Seinfeld cast and make it work damn well.  He also added the term “secondhand semen” to the national lexicon.

David told the audience that if Curb does come back, guest star JB Smoove would likely return (I don’t think fans would accept the show without Smoove’s character, Leon) and that he would consider an arc about the Toyota Prius he drives on the show (”Hey, Prius!”).

Kevin Dunn, Kerry Condon, and Tom Payne Push Their LUCK with David Milch and Michael Mann HBO Drama

Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 11:00 pm

The cast of David Milch (Deadwood) and Michael Mann’s (Heat) horse-racing and gambling drama Luck continues to expand as Kevin Dunn (Transformers) , Kerry Condon (The Last Station), and Tom Payne (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) have all joined the cast.  The HBO drama series will feature Dustin Hoffman as Ace Bernstain, a man who, after three years in prison, teams with his longtime chauffeur and muscle (played by Dennis Farina), to craft a complex plan involving the Santa Anita racetrack.

THR reports that Dunn will play the prodigious misanthrope who is the ringmaster of a syndicate of misfits. Condon will play an exercise rider who is interested in “Bug Boy” (Payne), an apprentice jockey.

As we reported earlier today, Nick Nolte has also just joined the cast and will play a formerly famous trainer known as “The Old Man”.

Nick Nolte Joins David Milch and Michael Mann’s Upcoming HBO Drama, LUCK

Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Nick Nolte will star alongside Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, and John Oritz in Luck, a new HBO drama from David Milch (Deadwood) and Michael Mann (Heat).  Deadline reports that Nolte is close to signing a deal that would have him getting in the show’s world of horse race-gambling.

Luck is told from multiple points of a view and centers Ace Bernstain (Hoffman), who, after three years in prison, teams with Gus Economou (Farina), his longtime chauffeur and muscle, to craft a complex plan involving the Santa Anita racetrack. They recruit Turo Escalante (Ortiz), a successful trainer with sordid reputation.  Nolte would play Nolte is agreeing to play “The Old Man”, a formerly famous trainer.

SOPRANOS Creator David Chase Forms a Band in the 1960s

Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 4:23 pm

Ever since the screen cut to black on The Sopranos finale two-and-a-half years ago, it seems like creator David Chase has been hiding in that darkness.  Early last year, he poked his head out to let us know about two projects he’s working on.  For HBO, Chase plans to chronicle the history of the Hollywood with miniseries A Ribbon of Dreams.  A couple months earlier, Chase mentioned another project to EW, saying only “it is about rock ‘n’ roll.”  Otherwise, mum was the word.

Now via THR, we have a bit more information on that latter project.  It is a coming-of-age saga that follows the formative stages of a rock band in the 1960s.  Still not a lot to go on, but it’s good to know the man that brought us Tony Soprano will eventually return to storytelling.  Even better that he’s working in the realm of music, as The Sopranos had a frequently amazing soundtrack.  I’ll leave you with the final scene and its memorable use of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”, after the spoiler-filled jump.

HBO Believes That a Film About the Financial Collapse From A Sorkin Is TOO BIG TO FAIL

Posted: March 4th, 2010 at 7:40 pm

It turns out that if your last name is Sorkin, and I have heard of you, then you are a writer who is very interested in politics.  While the most recent work of the most famous Sorkin, Aaron, details the relatively apolitical story of the founding of Facebook in the David Fincher-directed The Social Network, New York Times reporter Andrew Sorkin recently authored Too Big To Fail,  a behind-the-scenes account of how decision makers in Washington and Wall Street responded to the looming 2008 financial meltdown.  Now from Deadline we hear that HBO has acquired the rights to adapt Sorkin’s book with the intent to dramatize.  I can guarantee more information on the project, as well as an excellent rate on a subprime mortgage loan, after the break.

PRECIOUS Director Lee Daniels to Bloom New Project for HBO

Posted: March 3rd, 2010 at 7:11 am

Apparently determined to scoop up every great director working today, HBO has now added Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire director Lee Daniels to a roster that already includes Martin Scorsese, Kathryn Bigelow and Michael Mann in developing new series for the channel.

Daniels is teaming up with author Amy Bloom to develop an as-yet-untitled series about a multigenerational, multiracial family in Philadelphia. Daniels will direct at least the pilot, and they both will serve as executive producers if this goes to series (anyone wanna bet against that?)

Let’s see … that makes Martin Scorsese developing Boardwalk Empire for Steve Buscemi to star in; Michael Mann and Deadwood creator David Milch teaming up for Luck, to somehow star Dustin Hoffman; Kathryn Bigelow and Broadway producer John Logan collaborating on The Miraculous Year, about one year in the life of a charismatic Broadway producer and his family; The Wire creator David Simon returning very soon with Treme, his post-Katrina New Orleans series, and now Daniels, Yeah, I think you could say HBO is on a roll.

HBO Orders 10 Episodes of GAME OF THRONES - Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fantasy Series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE

Posted: March 2nd, 2010 at 3:16 pm

HBO has picked up Game of Thrones for a full season and ordered 9 additional episodes on top of the already shot pilot.  Based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, the plan is for each season to cover one book in the series.  There are currently four books with more on the way.  Game of Thrones will start shooting this June in Belfast and the season will air in spring 2011. The cast includes Mark Addy, Sean Bean, Lena Headey, Harry Lloyd, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jennifer Ehle and Peter Dinklage.  Here’s how THR describes the series:

The sprawling tale set in the mythical land of Westeros tells the story of the noble Stark family who become caught up in high court intrigue when patriarch Eddard (played by Sean Bean) becomes the king’s new right-hand man.

The buzz on the series is extremely high.  Hit the jump for more:

Starz to Build Ken Follett’s THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH

Posted: March 2nd, 2010 at 8:20 am

Chris Albrecht, the new chairman and CEO of Starz Entertainment, is starting off strong.  Albrecht has secured the U.S. television rights to The Pillars of the Earth, a $40 million, 8-part mini-series adapted from Ken Follett’s acclaimed novel.  Produced by the German Tandem Communications, Canada’s Muse Entertainment and the Tony and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, Pillars is the type of splashy acquisition that typified Albrecht’s time as the Chairman of HBO.  Directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (Heroes), the mini-series boasts an all-star line-up including Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Macfayden and Donald Sutherland.  During Albrecht’s time at HBO, the network frequently boasted the most critically acclaimed dramas and mini-series on television.  The move to get Pillars shows that he is serious about getting Starz as much Emmy gold as he can.  That said, I am looking forward to seeing his other programming decisions.  (via THR)

HBO Lands Todd Haynes’ MILDRED PIERCE Miniseries Starring Kate Winslet

Posted: February 11th, 2010 at 6:01 pm

Kate Winslet has long been attached to star in Todd Haynes’ upcoming miniseries Mildred Pierce based on the James M. Cain novel. However, it wasn’t known who would be showing it.  Now Variety is reporting HBO has landed the five-hour period piece.

Haynes will direct and help write the miniseries along with Jonathan Raymond, who previously wrote the Michelle Williams starrer Wendy and Lucy. Haynes previously wrote and directed the Oscar-nominated Bob Dylan biography I’m Not There. Variety describes Winslet’s role as:

“A proud, single mother struggling to earn her daughter’s love during the depression in middle-class Los Angeles.”

For more on Mildred Pierce, including the Oscar pedigree a feature film adaptation had in 1945, hit the jump.

Steven Spielberg Interview HBO’s THE PACIFIC

Posted: February 4th, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Executive producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are following up their highly successful 2001 mini-series Band of Brothers with the epic 10-part The Pacific, premiering on HBO on March 14^th.

The mini-series tracks the intertwined journeys of three U.S. Marines — Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello) and John Basilone (Jon Seda) — of the 1^st Marine Division, which is the oldest and largest active duty division of the U.S. Marine Corps.

While Band of Brothers followed the experiences of one company of Amy paratroopers in the European Theater of Operations, The Pacific depicts the war a world away in the Pacific Theater of Operations, which encompassed most of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, including the Philippines, the Netherlands East Indies, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.  With the support of their fellow Marines and comrades in the Navy, Air Force and Army, the 1^st Marine Division was at the forefront of many of the hardest-fought campaigns of the Pacific War.  More after the jump:

Russell Crowe, Maria Bello, and Writer Simon Beaufoy Will Have EMERGENCY SEX At HBO

Posted: January 29th, 2010 at 1:44 pm

Simon Beaufoy, Oscar winning writer for Slumdog Millionaire, is set to script Emergency Sex on HBO, starring Maria Bello in a project based on the book that Russell Crowe bought the rights for, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures: A True Story From Hell on Earth, written by Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait, and Andrew Thomson, follows their travels, sex, and addiction to helping rebuild and heal communities across Bosnia, Cambodia, Haiti, Liberia, Rwanda, and Somalia.

The three met in Cambodia as helpers for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the ’90s and the story details their travels to the various locales and the mental strain they endured. Obviously, Bello will likely be playing Postlewait in the series.

David Fincher and Charlize Theron to Create MIND HUNTER, a New Show for HBO

Posted: January 27th, 2010 at 10:34 pm

Although they’ve never worked together before on a movie, David Fincher and Charlize Theron are teaming up to create a new drama series called Mind Hunter for HBO.  The show revolves around the investigation of serial killers (original!) and is based off John Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit.  According to Variety, “The book recounts Douglas’ experiences as a top FBI investigator of serial killers and rapists, and the profiling techniques he developed.”  I wonder if Douglas goes out to dinner, looks at a guy at another table and thinks, “Yep, that guy’s a rapist.”  Or does profiling not work that way?

Scott Buck will write the script, which is a good choice since Buck is an executive producer on Dexter.  Theron, Fincher, Buck will executive produce along with Jennifer Orme Erwin who was the one who brought the book to Theron’s attention.

Theron is set to co-star in George Miller’s upcoming Mad Max movie, Fury Road, which is scheduled to begin filming this summer in Australia.  Fincher is currently at work on the “Facebook-movie”, The Social Network, which is about the founding of the popular website.

First Teaser Trailer for Martin Scorsese’s Upcoming HBO Show BOARDWALK EMPIRE

Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 1:55 pm

Along with visiting Shutter Island, where we will all finally get to go Feb. 19, Martin Scorsese has directed the pilot for the upcoming HBO show Boardwalk Empire, and you get the sense from the first teaser trailer that he’s right at home again on the seedy turf of the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

The series, which will be written at least in part by The Sopranos veteran Terrence Winter, chronicles the rise of the New Jersey city in the 1920s, and features a cast that should give Scorsese and the other directors plenty of talent to work with. Steve Buscemi stars as Nucky Thompson, a character based on Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, the boss of the Republican political machine that ruled the realm. Gretchen Mol will play a showgirl involved with Nucky, and The Wire fans should note that Omar himself, Michael K. Williams, is in the cast too (and, we’d have to imagine, will show himself as man not to be fucked with.)

Hit the jump to see the teaser trailer, and let us know if you think this looks like something worthy of Scorsese’s - and your - time.  Boardwalk Empire premieres on HBO this fall.

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