While much of American politics seems to be one big drama, the HBO series Veep has been looking at it as a comedy since 2012. As the real thing has encountered plenty of “truth is stranger than fiction” moments during the show’s seven seasons, Veep’s political world has done its best to push boundaries of its own. When we spoke with series star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, she admitted that the real world’s storylines were crazier than anything her show could have delivered. (Click on the media bar below to hear Julia Louis-Dreyfus)
The final season of Veep will premiere March 31 on HBO.
The sadness is starting to kick in for big fans of The Big Bang Theory, knowing there are less than 10 new episodes left before the show rides off into a glorious television sunset. Many people wish the show could go on forever — or at least a few more years — but Johnny Galecki thinks the show is signing off at the right time, while it’s still at the top of its game. (Click on the media bar below to hear Johnny Galecki)
The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS.
Technology has been changing everything in Hollywood over the past few decades, and few of those technologies has come further, faster, than performance capture. Animated movies can now be based almost completely on performances given by real actors. Alita: Battle Angel is the latest film to be made using performance capture technology, and one of its stars, two-time Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz, told us he’s fascinated by the process, and he would like to see it used in ways that really spotlight the actors’ skills.
The personal and professional partnership of choreographer/director Bob Fosse and dancer/actress Gwen Verdon produced several performances, roles, and productions that have become legendary over the years. This spring, FX will be airing a highly anticipated miniseries, Fosse/Verdon, based on the couple’s life and work together. Four-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams is playing Verdon, and she talked to us about what she learned about the actress during the process of making the miniseries. (Click on the media bar below to hear Michelle Williams)
When Brie Larson was cast as Carol Danvers and her alter ego, Captain Marvel, in the movie of the same name, the Oscar-winner decided she wanted to approach the role in a uniquely personal way. Infusing the character with her own emotions and experiences, she told us, helped her make the performance more organic, and she looked at the whole process as being an amazing, life-changing journey. (Click on the media bar below to hear Brie Larson)
George Clooney’s wearing a lot of hats in his new project: He’s a star, producer, and director on the upcoming miniseries Catch-22, based on the classic novel by James Heller. Clooney is extremely passionate about the series, and he explained to us why he was so gung-ho about getting involved with the project. (Click on the media bar below to hear George Clooney)
How would “The Heart of the Ocean” looked on Claire Danes? We’ll never know. But we almost did. Danes was under serious consideration for the role of Rose, but turned it down. Kate Winslet wound up getting an Oscar nomination for the role, so why would Danes turn it down? Well, it had to do with the leading man. Director James Cameron recently revealed the casting decision came down to two young actors — Matthew McConaughry and Leonardo DiCaprio. Had McConaughey won the role, we might have seen Danes acting opposite him. But when DiCaprio was cast, Danes knew she had to let somebody else have the role. It wasn’t that she didn’t like DiCaprio, she points out … it was because she had just finished doing another movie with him! (Click on the media bar below to hear Claire Danes)
Even without Titanic on her resume, Danes has done pretty well for herself. The last season of her Emmy-winning series Homeland will premiere on Showtime later this year.
It won’t come as a shock for us to report that people love Will & Grace. After all, they kept the original series on TV for eight seasons, and their continued love for the show made it possible for Will & Grace to return from the dead last year, resurrected with brand-new episodes. Do the cast members understand this passion? Absolutely! Eric McCormack says he’s fanboyed other shows the same way Will & Grace fans have supported his show. (Click on the media bar below to hear Eric McCormack)
Cole Sprouse (Riverdale) and Haley Lu Richardson (Support The Girls) play teenagers who have cystic fibrosis in Five Feet Apart. The latest trailer shows the gradual and inevitable bond between Stella (Richardson) and Will (Sprouse), and though romances that survive even the direst of circumstances isn’t a new thing, Five Feet Apart definitely has a purposeful intent.
Director Justin Baldoni, best known as actor (Jane the Virgin), also produced Five Feet Apart, and his production company Wayfarer Entertainment has just expanded its storytelling possibilities a $25 million content fund. The studio is aimed at creative narratives that focus on “the power of human connection,” and hopefully Baldoni’s passions lead to memorable moviegoing experience.
Five Feet Apart opens nationwide March 15. Check out the trailer and tell us what you think!
With the success of Happy Death Day, a sequel was definitely in the offing. Israel Broussard, who plays Tree’s (Jessica Rothe) boyfriend Carter. Broussard, who was also featured in the hit romantic comedy To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (which is also prepping for a sequel), said Happy Death Day 2U is not a carbon copy of the original.
“The main players – they’re still the main players but there are sides of them you don’t get to see in the first one,” said Broussard. “That brings up a lot of questioning who they really are. So there’s subtle differences and there are not so subtle differences.”
Click on the media to hear Broussard and Jessica Rothe talk about the creative energy of the sequel.
While much of American politics seems to be one big drama, the HBO series Veep has been looking at it as a comedy since 2012. As the real thing has encountered plenty of “truth is stranger than fiction” moments during the show’s seven seasons, Veep’s political world has done its best to push boundaries of its own. When we spoke with series star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, she admitted that the real world’s storylines were crazier than anything her show could have delivered. (Click on the media bar below to hear Julia Louis-Dreyfus)
