Movie Release :

Monday, December 19, 2016

Latest Movie News From Moviefone

Latest Movie News From Moviefone

'Gotham City Sirens': Will Smith Is Up for Margot Robbie's 'Suicide Squad' Spinoff

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BRITAIN-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM"Gotham Suicide Sirens" will star at least one of fans' favorite "Suicide Squad" characters, and that number could grow. Will Smith, who played Deadshot, is open to appearing in the female-led spinoff as well.

The upcoming film is intended to focus on DC's villainesses, including Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), but if male villains are needed, Deadshot sounds like a definite possibility. While speaking to MTV International, he said he'd "definitely love to be in it" and sang the praises of Robbie, who is executive producing the project.

"I love Margot Robbie," he said. "I will do anything she wants to do."

Smith's "Collateral Beauty" co-star Jacob Latimore was also present, and he too said he would be up for joining Robbie. Clearly, the casting directors aren't going to have trouble finding interested actors. Of course, the men might not be needed since the women will be the focus. Sorry, boys.

[via: MTV International]

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'Game of Thrones' Season 7 Speculation: Photo Hints at a Character's Return

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With "Game of Thrones" returning later than usual this year, there's no shortage of months to speculate on what fascinating madness Season 7 will bring. Thanks to a new photo, we may know one more character who will be involved when the time comes.

*There are spoilers ahead, so consider yourself warned.*

There's only so much you can keep hidden in the internet age, and once again, social media seems to have unveiled one of the show's secrets. Fans apparently caught a group of cast members out for drinks in Belfast -- including a familiar face whose Season 7 return hasn't been confirmed. Joseph Mawle, who has had an infrequent but recurring role as Benjen Stark over the years, was among the group.

When we last saw Benjen, he saved Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and Meera (Ellie Kendrick) from the White Walkers, only to leave them shortly thereafter. Though brief, his Season 6 appearance sparked speculation that he is the character Coldhands from the books, a theory the showrunners later confirmed. The fact that Mawle has been spotted in Northern Ireland with the cast seems to bode well for his return -- and for us learning more about the mysterious character.

The wait continues, but at least now we have new material to agonize over.

[via: The Independent]

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Showtime Officially Renews 'Shameless' for Season 8

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"Shameless" never seemed to be in danger of cancellation this year, but fans will be relieved to know that the dramedy series has officially been renewed.

Showtime made it pretty clear that Season 8 was coming in Sunday night's Season 7 finale, but the premium network removed any possible doubt Monday with the official announcement. Season 8 is slated to kick off production in May and premiere later in 2017. That means we'll get another 12 episodes of hilarious missteps, conflict, and quirks.

The show will continue to star William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum, both of whom are getting raises, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Rossum, in particular, will be seeing a bigger paycheck -- she got execs to agree to a deal that makes up for years of being paid less than her male co-star. Rossum and Macy have starred on the show since the beginning, playing two members of the large and dysfunctional Gallagher family.

The show's seventh season brought in its highest ratings to date, so we'll see if Season 8 can top them come 2017.

[via: The Hollywood Reporter]

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Matthew McConaughey Still Wants to Do 'True Detective' Season 3

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TWC-Dimension Celebrates The Cast And Filmmakers Of "Gold"HBO has made it clear that "True Detective" Season 3 probably isn't happening, but Matthew McConaughey is still interested.

The anthology crime drama has been on indefinite hiatus since its sophomore season fell flat, arguably because it moved on from its Season 1 detective duo of Rustin "Rust" Cohle (McConaughey) and Martin "Marty" Hart (Woody Harrelson). Nonetheless, at least one of the two actors is still willing to consider reprising his role. McConaughey recently appeared on "The Rich Eisen Show," where he confirmed that he is "open to [Season 3] for sure."

"If that thing was written well and it came up again, I wouldn't hesitate for a second," McConaughey said.

Unfortunately, nothing seems to have changed regarding the fate of "True Detective" Season 3 at this point. "That ball has not advanced at all," McConauhey said to Eisen. "I've talked to the creator, Nic Pizzolatto, who's taking a little break from it."

The good news is that the show hasn't been officially canceled. It sounds like the ball that McConaughey speaks of is still in Pizzolatto and HBO's court, and maybe, just maybe, he'll help convince them to get back in the game.

[via: The Rich Eisen Show; h/t: Variety]

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David Bowie Was Too Busy to Play Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings'

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David Bowie WillIf director Peter Jackson had had his way, "The Lord of the Rings" would have featured none other than the late, great David Bowie in one of the trilogy's key leading roles. Now, as the "LOTR" franchise celebrates its 15th anniversary this week, timed to the December 2001 release of "The Fellowship of the Ring," fans finally know the reason why Bowie never made it into the trilogy.

Earlier this year, actor Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry in the series, told the Huffington Post that he saw Bowie at a "LOTR" audition back when the franchise was first casting. While there was some speculation that Jackson wanted Bowie to play Gandalf, the heroic wizard who was eventually played by Ian McKellen, the exact circumstances of the rocker's potential involvement in the franchise remained a bit of a mystery.

In honor of the series's big anniversary, the Huffington Post interviewed the "LOTR" casting director to get the real scoop about why Bowie never appeared in the films, and it turns out that the reason is a pretty simple one: He just didn't have time.

"He was unavailable," casting director Amy Hubbard explained to HuffPo, confirming that Jackson was interested in Bowie for the Gandalf role. But the rocker's schedule was so packed, he never even auditioned, according to Hubbard.

"We approached him," she told HuffPo. "I'm pretty sure it was Peter Jackson's idea in the first few weeks that we got going. It was one that he'd always wondered about, and we rang [Bowie's agent], and [Bowie] was far too busy."

Of course, McKellen wound up being perfect for the part, and today, it's hard to picture anyone else in the role. Still, it's curious to think about how Bowie would have fit into the "Lord of the Rings" universe. Would he have been willing to reprise his role for the "Hobbit" trilogy, as McKellen did? Would he have somehow found a way to wear glitter? We'll never know, but it's fun to imagine the possibilities.

[via: Huffington Post]

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A 'Malcolm in the Middle' Movie Could Happen, Says Bryan Cranston

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malcolm in the middle, bryan cranston, hal, reunion, movieBryan Cranston may be best known these days for his Emmy-winning work as Walter White on AMC's dearly departed "Breaking Bad," but to a certain set of fans, the actor will always be beloved for his role as Hal, the patriarch on Fox family sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle." And while some actors who've gone on to huge success following their humble sitcom beginnings may be eager to put the past behind them, Cranston just can't stop bringing up "Malcolm" -- and may have some good news for those hoping to see more from the wacky family.

During a recent Reddit AMA promoting his performance in the new James Franco comedy "Why Him?," the actor was asked whether there would be a "Malcolm in the Middle" movie anytime soon. And it just so happens that there may indeed be a "Malcolm" reunion on the way.

"There has been some conversation about that," Cranston responded. "I dont [sic] know if or when that could happen, I guess we have to gauge the temperament of the fans to see if its [sic] something they want. But maybe. It would be fun to play with all those people again."

Based on the fan's question in the first place, it certainly seems that audiences would be on board for a reunion movie. And Cranston himself fanned the flames earlier this fall when he told E! News that he was eager to reunite with the rest of the cast -- including Frankie Muniz and Jane Kaczmarek -- for another story about the family, perhaps set about a decade after the show signed off in 2006.

Fans should keep their fingers crossed -- and pay attention to Cranston, too. We have a feeling the actor isn't done talking about "Malcolm" yet.

[via: Reddit]

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'Rogue One' Star Felicity Jones to Host First 'SNL' of 2017

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Exclusive Screening Of Lucasfilm's "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story""Saturday Night Live" will return from its winter hiatus with a bang, kicking off the second half of its 42nd season with "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" star Felicity Jones set to host the show in January.

Jones will make her "SNL" debut during the long-running sketch comedy's first episode of 2017, alongside musical guest Sturgill Simpson, who's also appearing on the show for the first time. Jones's emceeing gig will be a bit of a victory lap for the "Rogue One" headliner, after the "Star Wars" spinoff flick proved to be a huge box office draw over its opening weekend, raking in $155 million domestically and more than $290 million globally.

Simpson will also be celebrating when he appears on "SNL," having nabbed two Grammy nominations recently, including one for Album of the Year.

Oscar nominee Jones ("The Theory of Everything") is just the latest high-profile star to take the Studio 8H stage this season, with Casey Affleck (an Oscar hopeful for "Manchester by the Sea"), John Cena, Emma Stone, Kristen Wiig, and Dave Chappelle hosting in recent weeks. "SNL" is currently on hiatus for the winter holidays, and will be back with Jones and Simpson on January 14.

[via: Saturday Night Live]

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The 'Twin Peaks' Revival Teaser Is Just David Lynch and a Doughnut

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twin peaks, revival, teaser, david lynch, doughnut, donut, gordon coleIn keeping with the original show's offbeat nature, a new official teaser for Showtime's upcoming "Twin Peaks" revival series features just two things: creator David Lynch, and a glazed doughnut.

The short clip aired on the premium cable network over the weekend, and was shared by Showtime's social media accounts, too, teasing that Lynch would be back as FBI regional bureau chief Gordon Cole. And it literally features nothing but Lynch-as-Cole sitting in a chair, wearing a hearing aid, and chomping on a doughnut while the iconic "Twin Peaks" theme song plays.

The teaser ends with a shot of the show's title card (which also doubles as the town's welcome sign), and touts "The Return" of the series, which is due to air on Showtime in 2017. Aside from Lynch, among those reprising their roles include original cast members Kyle MacLachlan, Sherilyn Fenn, Madchen Amick, Sheryl Lee, Dana Ashbrook, David Duchovny, Miguel Ferrer, Grace Zabriskie, Peggy Lipton, Ray Wise, Wendy Robie, Russ Tamblyn, and Catherine E. Coulson.

And that's not all. Of the whopping 217 members of the cast this time around, there are some pretty big names among the show's newcomers, including Monica Bellucci, Michael Cera, Laura Dern, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, Amanda Seyfried, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, and Naomi Watts.

Showtime will offer the full original ABC seasons of "Twin Peaks" on its streaming service beginning on December 26. An airdate for the revival series has yet to be announced, but it's expected sometime in early 2017.

[via: Showtime]

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'Passengers' Unscripted

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When "Passengers" stars Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence go "Unscripted," you never know what they'll talk about. Space pizza? Check. Failed gutter repair? Check, check. Sloth attacks? Check, check, check.

"Passengers" hits theaters December 21st.

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Angry 'The Walking Dead' Fans Compare Show to ISIS in FCC Complaint Letters

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OK, "The Walking Dead" Season 7 premiere was horrific, and viewers had every right to be shocked, disgusted, and done watching the AMC show. But was it really more horrible than watching ISIS behead someone? Really?

TWD lost a lot of viewers -- a lot of viewers -- after the Season 7 premiere, and some of them were so upset they wrote complaint letters to the Federal Communications Commission. Through the Freedom of Information Act, the Daily Dot obtained complaints sent by more than a dozen viewers in the days after the October opener.

As site noted:

"Some of the complaints that the FCC released to the Daily Dot regarded technical issues, such as commercial volume, gripes with a cable company, or complaints about the language, including uncensored F-bombs from Lauren Cohan and Chris Hardwick on The Talking Dead and one particularly graphic line from Negan. ["I just slipped my dick down your throat and you thanked me for it."] But the majority of complaints that arrived immediately after and in the days following the season 7 premiere, 'The Day Will Come When You Won't Be' directly referenced the violence in the episode."

Daily Dot shared two separate complaint ticket orders from viewers comparing the premiere carnage to ISIS.

From Eagan, MN: "While a fan of the show, I think this episode went too far in gore and graphical nature for Television. This would have been rated R or NC-17 in the theater. You don't show ISIS beheading people on TV, nor should you allow someone to be beaten with a barbed-wire baseball bat."

From Hardy, VA, with the subject "AMC Walking Dead should be censored more.": "The AMC show The Walking Dead has transformed from people killing soulless animated corpses into a sadistic, emotional torture by showing people killing other people in the most brutal and sadistic ways. The last episode of season 6 and the latest episode of season 7 made me very anxious and sick to my stomach. Watching ISIS behead someone isn't as horrible as watching this tv show."

In case it needs to be said, ISIS = real, TWD = fiction.

You can head to Daily Dot to read all of complaints about the violence, gore, and "vulgar" language, including one from a parent who said the premiere left him/her and their 12-year-old daughter "psychologically traumatized."

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First 'Blade Runner 2049' Trailer Pits Harrison Ford vs. Ryan Gosling

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The "Blade Runner" story continues with "Blade Runner 2049." Are you ready for L.A. to somehow get even worse?

Harrison Ford's former blade runner Rick Deckard pulls a gun on new blade runner Officer K (Ryan Gosling) in the first teaser, released Monday by Warner Bros. At the start of the trailer, we hear Deckard's familiar voice saying, "Replicants are like any other machine -- they're either a benefit or a hazard. If they're a benefit, it's not my problem." But if they are a hazard...?

It's later in the trailer that Deckard and K have their standoff, with this voice-over teasing their complicated dynamic:

Deckard: "I did your job once. I was good at it."

K: "Things were simpler then."

They didn't seem that simple then. Here's the "Blade Runner 2049" synopsis:

"Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years."

For fans, it has been slightly longer than 30 years, since Ridley Scott's film came out in 1982. Check out the first teaser trailer:"BladeRunner 2049" -- directed by "Arrival" director Denis Villeneuve -- also stars Jared Leto, Lennie James, Mackenzie Davis, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, and Sylvia Hoeks. It's scheduled for release on October 6, 2017.

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'The Good Fight' First Teaser Is Surprisingly Dark & Steamy

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"The Good Fight" is starting to look like "Fifty Shades of Law."

"The Good Wife" spinoff -- starring Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart, Cush Jumbo as Lucca Quinn, and "Game of Thrones" alum Rose Leslie joining the group as Diane's goddaughter Maia -- premieres February 19 on CBS before moving to the streaming service CBS All Access.

CBS just shared the first teaser, which includes this silky and ominous-sounding declaration from Diane: "Practicing law, you don't go on instinct. You listen and watch. Eventually, everyone reveals themself."

The mood of the teaser is dark and mysterious, with several steamy shots, like this is a sexy thriller rather than a continuation of "The Good Wife."

Here's the CBS synopsis:

"The Good Fight picks up one year after the events of the final broadcast episode of The Good Wife. In the new series, an enormous financial scam has destroyed the reputation of a young lawyer, Maia Rindell, while simultaneously wiping out her mentor and godmother Diane Lockhart's savings. Forced out of Lockhart & Lee, they join Lucca Quinn at one of Chicago's pre-eminent law firms.

The series, from "The Good Wife" creators Robert and Michelle King, stars Christine Baranski, Cush Jumbo, Rose Leslie, Delroy Lindo, Sarah Steele, Justin Bartha, Erica Tazel, Paul Guilfoyle and Bernadette Peters."

Watch the teaser:

Here's the official poster, making it clear that is a "nasty woman" series with three powerful leading ladies:

For what it's worth, TVLine reports that Rose Leslie's Maia is a lesbian with a steady girlfriend; it's only noteworthy because you rarely see that on network series, especially the conservative CBS. But this isn't really a CBS show, it's a CBS All Access show.

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What's New on TV, Netflix, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: Dec. 19-25

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At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's new on Netflix and TV, we've got you covered.

New on DVD and Blu-ray

"Sully"
You still have a few days of Christmas shopping left, and it may help you to know that Tom Hanks is for sale as of Tuesday, December 20. Hanks and director Clint Eastwood combined superpowers for this dramatic retelling of Captain "Sully" Sullenberger's January 15, 2009 Miracle on the Hudson. The popular and acclaimed film -- co-starring Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, and Anna Gunn -- is available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD December 20. The home release includes a few special features, "Sully Sullenberger: The Man Behind the Miracle," "Moment by Moment: Averting Disaster on the Hudson," and "Neck Deep in the Hudson: Shooting Sully."

"The Magnificent Seven"
Watch director Antoine Fuqua's all-star ensemble cast -- Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Byung-Hun Lee, Martin Sensmeier, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Peter Sarsgaard -- reimagine the classic Western as it arrives on Blu-ray and DVD December 20. Exclusive to Blu-ray is the interactive "Vengeance Mode," where Washington, Pratt, Hawke and the other cast members sit with Fuqua to breakdown key scenes, share their best memories from the set, and reflect on the experience. Also exclusive to Blu-ray are deleted scenes and two featurettes, "Gunslingers," and "The Taking of Rose Creek." The Blu-ray and DVD also share four additional featurettes.

"Storks"
In this animated family film -- out on Blu-ray and DVD December 20 -- storks have moved from baby delivery to corporate package delivery, until a baby girl is accidentally produced, and top delivery stork Junior (voiced by Andy Samberg) must race to make their first-ever baby drop before his boss finds out. The home release comes with tons of fun features, including outtakes, commentary, a music video, "Storks: Guide to Your New Baby," and "The Master: A LEGO Ninjago Short."

New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital

"Deepwater Horizon"Mark Wahlberg reteamed with director Peter Berg ("Lone Survivor") for this powerful drama inspired by the real-life heroes of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster of 2010. The movie arrives first on Digital HD December 20, then Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand January 10. The Blu-ray and Digital releases have more than two hours of special features, including three featurettes; special "Work Like An American" tributes; and an hour-long five-part series "Beyond the Horizon," in which Wahlberg and the cast meet the real-life heroes and discuss their experiences from Deepwater Horizon. The DVD has two of the featurettes and the tributes.

Check out this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip featuring Kurt Russell and Peter Berg talking about working with Mark Wahlberg:"Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life"
This family friendly comedy, based on the best-selling series by James Patterson, arrives on Digital HD December 20, then Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand January 3. Griffin Gluck stars as Rafe, alongside Lauren Graham, Rob Riggle, Thomas Barbusca, Andy Daly, Adam Pally, and Retta. Special features, which come with every format, include a gag reel; deleted scenes; and the featurettes "That Middle School Life," "Middle School = The Worst / Making Movies = The Best," "The Wedgie Wheel," and "Yolo: Behind Operation Rafe."

Watch this exclusive clip highlighting Andy Daly and Retta:"The Dressmaker"
Kate Winslet brings revenge back in fashion in this dark, quirky comedy about a dressmaker who returns to her small Australian town for revenge on the locals, many years after they accused her of murder. Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving, Caroline Goodall, and Sarah Snook co-star in the film, which is out on Digital HD on December 20, and VOD, Blu-ray, and DVD on December 27. Special features on the Blu-ray, DVD, and iTunes Extras include two featurettes, "The Story" and "Designing The Dressmaker," plus a photo gallery.

New on Netflix

"Trollhunters" Season 1 (Netflix Original)TrollhuntersSeason 1December 2016Guillermo del Toro spent years creating this animated series for Netflix, following 15-year-old Jim (Anton Yelchin), who stumbles on a magical amulet that transforms him into the Trollhunter, defender of the good trolls. This is one of Yelchin's last roles; he died unexpectedly in June at age 27, after completing most of his work on the first season. "We went through great pains to ensure that his voice is preserved for the series," del Toro told Entertainment Weekly. "He was so passionate about it, and he had so much fun doing this." "Trollhunters" -- available for streaming Friday, December 23 -- also features the voices of Ron Perlman, Jonathan Hyde, Lexi Medrano, Amy Landecker, Fred Tatasciore, and Steven Yeun.

"Travelers" Season 1 (Netflix Original)
"A federal agent tracks four people who suddenly seem to possess entirely new personalities, leading to a startling discovery about humanity's future" in this sci-fi TV series starring Eric McCormack. The first season has 12 episodes and you can stream them on Netflix starting December 23.

"Sense8" Christmas Special (Netflix Original)
"Sense8" fans, here's an early Christmas present for you: Netflix has scheduled a two-hour Christmas special available on December 23. Here's the description, per Variety: "The journey continues as these eight singular hearts and minds weave in and out of each other's lives finding deeper connections, learning darker, more desperate secrets about one another and struggling to identify with more than just oneself." Season 2 will follow this with 10 new episodes starting May 5.

"Captain America: Civil War"
This Christmas, treat yo self to some not-so-festive fun with Marvel's Avengers -- including the debut of Tom Holland's Spider-Man -- as Cap's third solo film arrives for streaming on December 25. If you got someone the gift of Netflix this year, maybe mention that this blockbuster is now waiting for them.

TV Worth Watching

"It's A Wonderful Life" (Saturday on NBC at 8 p.m.)As you might expect, the week leading up to Christmas is packed with Christmas movies and shows, including TBS and TNT running "A Christmas Story" on a 24-hour loop Christmas Eve to Day. No holiday is complete without "It's a Wonderful Life," so put it on in the background on Saturday night while you wrap those last minute gifts, bake cookies, cry from stress/loneliness, or whatever it is that you do as a tradition. TV Guide has a great list of the upcoming holiday shows for the full week, so head there for more.

"Project Runway" Season 15 (Thursday on Lifetime at 8 p.m.)
Who will win this slightly-better-than-average season, Laurence or Erin? It could be Roberi or Rik, but probably not. Watch the final runway show and winner reveal (featuring guest judge Zendaya) on December 22.

"The Wall" (Monday on NBC at 10 p.m.)
Somehow Chris Hardwick doesn't have enough to do from "@midnight" and "Talking Dead" to his Nerdist podcast, so he's also hosting and executive producing this new game show, which is co-executive produced by LeBron James. According to NBC, "'The Wall' offers a pair of teammates life-altering cash prizes. The rules are simple: Get a question correct and a green ball falls down the wall and adds the value of the slot to the players' winning total. Miss a question and an ominous red ball falls and deducts the value from the team's total. Teammates have to work together to build a huge cash prize."

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'Rogue One' Fans Rush to Rewatch This 'Star Wars' Opening Scene

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One of the great things about "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is how it leads right into "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope." Only now can fans fully appreciate the movie that came out some 40 years ago.

Some "Star Wars" fans probably continued the story at home, popping in copies of Episodes IV-VII after watching "Rogue One" in theaters. Other fans -- a bunch of them -- searched for the "Star Wars" opening scene online. That's it below. That screen crawl is now more poignant since it's not an impersonal recounting of history, it's a fresh report about lost heroes we came to know and care about.

Watch the first 7 minutes of "Star Wars" to see how "Rogue One" flows into the original:If you check out the YouTube comments, it's basically a "Rogue One" fest, with fans saying they checked out the video because of the new movie. Chances are, if you've seen "Rogue One" you've seen all of the other films, but there are actually some people just getting started on their "Star Wars" journeys, wondering if this film is where they should begin or what. So be gentle with the newbies, and consider suggesting the prequels be watched sparingly.

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'SNL' Uses 'Love Actually' (and 'The Help') to Woo Elector

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To you, is this perfect?

On Saturday, Dec. 17, "Saturday Night Live" combined a modern Christmas classic with today's Dec. 19 meeting of the electoral college for a classic take on "Love Actually." In "Hillary Actually," Hillary Clinton (Kate McKinnon) got Andrew Lincoln's role (make her play Rick Grimes next!) as the "caroler" who rings the doorbell under false pretenses. The object of affection this time was not Keira Knightley but an elector played by Cecily Strong. HRC tried to woo the elector to her side, or any side but Donald Trump's. ("But bish... he cray.")

"The Help" got dragged into things at one point, when Clinton's cards read off quotes from that movie instead of "Love Actually": "You is kind. you is smart. You is important. Is that this movie? I've literally never seen a movie."

Watch the sketch:Here are the original movie scenes: Casey Affleck hosted the Dec. 17 SNL (and had one standout sketch about Dunkin Donuts) and Felicity Jones will host the show when it returns in January.

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15 Things You Never Knew About Steve Martin's 'Father of the Bride'

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What's not to like about "Father of the Bride," which celebrates its 25th anniversary this week (it was released on December 20, 1991)?

It has Steve Martin at the peak of his overwhelmed-dad period, a luminous Diane Keaton, a delightful Kimberly Williams-Paisley (in her screen debut), an unhinged Martin Short, and all the drool-worthy, catalog-quality consumerism and home decor you'd expect in a movie from Nancy Meyers.

Still, as many times as you've lusted after Annie Banks's lavish dream wedding -- or groaned like George over its costly excesses -- there's plenty you may not know about "Father of the Bride." Read on for the story of how this bridal party came to be.
1. In the original 1950 "Father of the Bride," it was Spencer Tracy who played exasperated dad Stanley Banks, with Elizabeth Taylor as his soon-to-be-wed daughter. MGM scheduled the film's release to coincide with the 18-year-old starlet's real-life wedding to hotel heir Nicky Hilton, hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime publicity bonanza. Little did anyone know at the time that a Taylor wedding wouldn't be that rare of an event.

2. In the remake, co-scripted by Meyers and then-husband Charles Shyer (who also directed), Stanley became George Banks, now named for the apoplectic dad in "Mary Poppins." But he kept Stanley as a middle name.
3. At 45, Martin was beginning to move on from the wacky comedies that had launched his film career and was starting to play conventional dads in movies like "Parenthood."

"I'm not doing 'wild and crazy,' "Man With Two Brains" comedy anymore," he said at the time of the film;s release. "If I didn't change, I'd be an idiot. I'd look really foolish if I were doing those kind of comedies now. I'm not the same age as I was. I'm wiser than I was."

4. Tom Irish made his debut in the 1950 "Father" and his final screen appearance in the 1991 remake. In both films, he played a relative named Ben Banks.
5. Phoebe Cates was the filmmakers' first choice for the bride, but she was pregnant and unavailable, so they went with newcomer Williams.

6. Martin said he didn't try to pay homage to Tracy's performance, which he considered "flawless." Instead, he just tried to be himself.

"What I'm personalizing in 'Father of the Bride' is the melancholy that I feel, or that people feel," he said. "I like that emotion. It's a very perplexing emotion. All you can do when you're indicated by it is just stand there. You can't do anything about it. If you're angry, you can yell, of if you're sad, you can cry. But if you have melancholy, you just can't believe what's happening. I like to play it."
7. The picture-perfect Banks home (above) is a real house in Pasadena, California that was recently sold in 2016. Shyer filmed most of the interior and exterior shots there, but the backyard where the wedding takes place was that of another house in Alhambra, California.

8. Martin wasn't the only one essentially playing himself on screen. "Everybody in this movie is kind of playing themselves," he said. Citing on-screen wife Keaton, he said, "Diane is very much like that. Her personality is like quicksilver, and she talks like that, and when you first meet her, you think she's doing a Diane Keaton impression. She really is lightning and erratic and crinkling with electrical charge."
9. George Newbern, as bridegroom Bryan MacKenzie, was also drawing from his own life. He'd recently married (in fact, you can see the tan line on his ring finger during the ceremony) and had to win over a formidable father-in-law named George.

"It's just not fun," he said. "Girls don't have to do that. I'm from the South, from Arkansas. My father had to do it. My grandfather was a federal judge, and my father had to go talk to him. He said that was just like descending into hell."
10. Perhaps the only person playing someone broader than himself was Short, as wedding planner Franck. But Short said, if anything, he was underplaying the character.

"If you go meet a wedding coordinator in Beverly Hills, you'd ask, 'Why is he playing it so down?'" Short said he largely improvised Franck's dialogue, which he said was mostly gibberish on the page. As for the character's incomprehensible accent, Short acknowledged, "The accent was a complete mishmash. There was no consistency. Maybe he was from Poland, educated in England, visited Prague, and made side trips to Yugoslavia."

11. Yep, that's future "Scott Pilgrim" and "Fargo" co-star Kieran Culkin as Annie's brother, Matty. Having made his debut as bed-wetting cousin Fuller in "Home Alone," the eight-year-old Culkin enjoyed his first major speaking role in "Father."
12. After the film's release, Martin claimed "Father" marked the first time "I looked at a movie I was in and liked myself."

13. "Father" cost a reported $20 million to make. It made $89 million in theaters, prompting a sequel four years later.
14. Williams and Newbern capitalized on their newfound fame by appearing together as a young couple, much like the MacKenzies, in a series of Hallmark ads.

15. In 2014, Martin shot down reports that he'd signed on to star in a belated threequel, one that would have had kid brother Matty now grown and engaged -- to another man.

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