Battle Royale, the Japanese cult classic released in 2000 about, “teenagers in a totalitarian state fighting for survival in a government-imposed competition” might be coming to television. At this point, the long gestating remake would likely be compared to far more recent The Hunger Games, but it might be a perfect fit for television (The Vampire Diaries found success on television despite the similarly themed Twilight series). According to the Los Angeles Times, there have been talks at the CW for the network to acquire rights to Koushun Takami’s original novel, then “unpack and expand on it for an hourlong dramatic series.”
AMC is developing a television series centered around Area 51, long considered to be the government facility where alien technology and living/dead extra-terrestrials have been kept since the infamous Roswell crash in 1947. The series will be based on the bestselling book Area 51 by Annie Jacobsen, who will co-produce, joining executive director Gale Ann Hurd and writer Todd E. Kessler as the core creative team. “The 1950s/’60’s-era series will focus on the workers in Area 51 who protect America’s deepest, darkest secrets.”
AMC has cancelled The Killing.
After seven seasons, Eric Dane has decided to leave Grey’s Anatomy.
Ashley Williams will reprise her character, Victoria, who is not the mother, on several episodes of the new season of How I Met Your Mother.
Taryn Manning will return as Steve McGarrett’s sister, Mary Ann, on the season premiere of Hawaii Five-0 to pay a visit now that their presumed dead mother (Christine Lahti) has resurfaced after 20 years.
Ivan Sergei has joined the cast of The Mentalist in a recurring role of FBI Agent Gabe Mancini.
We mentioned it the other day, but it’s official. Laurence Fishburne will recur as FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit leader Jack Crawford in Bryan Fuller‘s Hannibal television series, joining Hugh Dancy as Will Graham and Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter.
Julian Morris will guest star on Once Upon a Time as Prince Phillip, the prince who’s seeking to awaken Sleeping Beauty.
Jenna Dewan will star opposite Adam Levine as part of a couple in the upcoming season of American Horror Story. The cast for the season also includes Jessica Lange, James Cromwell, Joseph Fiennes, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Zachary Quinto, Chloe Sevigny and Lizzie Brochere.
Mad Men creator Matt Weiner has confirmed that Elizabeth Moss has not left the show. Her character, Peggy Olson, ““is going to be on the show next year,” Weiner shared. “I can’t say how much, in what capacity or what [her story] is going to be, but she has not left the show.””
And, here’s a first look at the upcoming season of Cinemax’s Strike Back, which returns August 17th.
