Rebel Wilson Books MTV Movie Awards Host Gig

Call her a Rebel with a mike.

Keeping up with the tradition of landing big-name comedians, MTV has tapped perennial scene-stealer Rebel Wilson to host the 2013 MTV Movie Awards.

The 28-year-old Aussie native can add this latest credit to her ever-expanding resume. Since breaking out in Bridesmaids, Wilson has brought on the funny in this year’s Pitch Perfect, Bachelorette, and What to Expect When You’re Expecting. 

Next, she’ll appear alongside Chris Colfer in Struck by Lightening, the Glee star’s writing and directorial debut, which premiered earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Don’t miss the MTV Movie Awards on April 14, 2013!

You can watch a promo for the awards show below, which features a surprise cameo by Rebel’s on-screen Bridesmaids brother, Matt Lucas!

Golden Globes Promo Showcases Hosts Fey, Poehler

Is it January 13 yet?

As if I didn’t love them enough already, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler get all dolled up and channel Hollywood’s classic leading ladies in the first promo for this year’s Golden Globes. In case you didn’t know, the funny girls/longtime BFFs are hosting the “greatest celebrity party/awards show” exactly one month from today.

Hollywood has been buzzing about the pair taking over for three-time host Ricky Gervais, and if this promo is any indication, then they surely won’t disappoint!

Nominations for this year’s awards were announced this morning. For a full list of the nominees, click here.

Will you watch Tina and Amy on the Golden Globes?

Cleaning Up After Desperate Housewives

The dirty laundry just keeps piling up.

The “Desperate Housewives” aren’t packing it in until May, but series creator Marc Cherry is already busy planning his next project. Continuing in the tradition of the hit landmark series, Cherry is reportedly developing a new show called Devious Maids at ABC. (The title could use some work.) The series, based on a popular Mexican telenovela, follows four Latina maids working in a posh neighborhood in Beverly Hills.

Cherry is also busy reworking the pilot for Hallelujah, the musical drama which ABC passed on earlier this year. The gods at the Alphabet network did show Cherry some mercy, so there’s a chance the series might still make it to air. If you remember, Hallelujah starred Lost alumnus Terry O’Quinn, who recently extended his run on the second season of Hawaii 5-0.

Devious Maids I can definitely get on board with, but I’m still a little nervous about Hallelujah. I’m curious to see who Cherry casts in the roles of the maids, not to mention the housewives they work for.

Which Marc Cherry series are you more excited about?

Ghost Stories

Nothing complements glee club like… ghosts?

Glee co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk are currently developing a new show over at FX called American Horror Story, a thriller about a dysfunctional family that moves into a haunted house in San Francisco.  Falchuk and Murphy are, of course, no strangers to the genre, having previously collaborated on FX’s award-winning plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck.  Murphy will direct the pilot, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

From what I’ve read, it seems like Falchuk and Murphy have another hit on their hands.  If you aren’t already sold on the premise of the show, maybe the cast will do it.  Fresh off her gig on Friday Night Lights, Connie Britton has been tapped to play the family matriarch, Vivien Harmon.  Her on-screen hubby, Ben, will be played by The Practice’s Dylan McDermott.  Filling their daughter Violet’s shoes will be newcomer Taissa Farmiga, little sis of Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga.  True Blood’s Denis O’Hare has signed on to play Larry the Burn Guy, a former resident of the house, and veteran actress Jessica Lange has landed the role of Constance, the Harmons’ new neighbor.  Lange, of course, most recently won an Emmy for her portrayal of Big Edie in the HBO miniseries Grey Gardens.

As a fan of the supernatural genre, I’m eager to see what Falchuk and Murphy come up with.  Being addicted to Glee, and having been obsessed with Nip/Tuck, I’m all the more excited about this project. For these reasons and more, American Horror Story has earned a spot on my list of television pilots to look out for (you can check out the original list here).

Who You Gonna Call? The Avengers, Duh!

For those of you foaming at the mouth for Thor and Captain America, I’ve got some exciting news for you.  Fresh out of screenwriter/director Joss Whedon’s mouth comes word that filming on next summer’s superhero extravaganza The Avengers is officially underway.  In a letter written by the geek messiah himself, Whedon announced that filming would begin yesterday in Albuquerque.  According to Entertainment Weekly, the much-anticipated project will also shoot in Cleveland and New York City.  As you probably know, The Avengers will team up Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Robert Downey, Jr.’s Iron Man, Chris Evans’ Captain America, and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk.  Joining them will be Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, to name a few.  The film will be released on May 4, 2012.

I’m optimistic about this project for a couple of reasons.  First off, Whedon has assembled himself one hell of a cast.  (If I’m being totally honest, I’m a little disappointed that Ed Norton won’t be reprising his role as Hulk, but I’m pleased that Mark Ruffalo will be stepping into – and bursting out of – his shoes.)  Second, if anyone can juggle all those characters while still managing to tell a good story, it’s Joss Whedon.  Whedon is an amazing storyteller, and has created some pretty groundbreaking television series, including Firefly, Dollhouse, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my favorite television show growing up.

Which superhero movie are you most excited for?

Parents Behaving Badly

Two years ago, I was in New York City for a wedding, and had the pleasure of seeing God of Carnage, a new play that had just begun its run on Broadway.  Written by French playwright Yasmina Reza, and featuring the all-star cast pictured above, the show revolves around two couples meeting to discuss a playground altercation between their sons.  Before long, the adults are behaving like children.  Hilarity ensues.  God of Carnage was hailed by critics and audiences alike, and deservedly went on to win the Tony for Best Play in 2009. 

Earlier in the week, I learned that Roman Polanski is directing a movie adaptation of the award-winning play, starring Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, and Christoph Waltz.  While I’m a little disappointed that the original cast won’t be reprising their roles, I can’t say that I’m bummed out about their replacements.  The film is currently in production in Europe, and will be released in theaters by the year’s end.  Don’t miss it!

Summer in Rome

Woody Allen sure knows how to pick ’em.  Midnight in Paris, his latest star-studded flick, may not be premiering until the Cannes Film Festival in May, but the iconic director is wasting no time planning his next outing, and has already lined up a stellar cast.  Earlier today, Variety reported that Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page have signed on to the as-yet-untitled film, which is set to begin shooting this summer in Rome.  Penelope Cruz and Alec Baldwin are also attached to the project.

This casting news has me all kinds of excited.  First off, I’m a huge fan of both Eisenberg and Page, so I’m really looking forward to seeing these two young stars share the screen.  Both are cool yet kind of quirky, so I’m definitely psyched about this pairing.  I’m also thrilled about the idea of Cruz reuniting with her Vicky Cristina Barcelona director.  Lastly, I can’t wait to see what Baldwin adds to the mix.  Once again, Woody Allen has once proven that he has a real knack for assembling pretty amazing and eclectic casts!

Behind the Screams

After years of waiting and wondering, Scream 4 is set to hit theaters on April 15.  (I, for one, have every intention of seeing it on opening weekend, despite being in exams.)  In honor of Ghostface’s return to the big screen, the new issue of Entertainment Weekly features a cover story on the making of the film!  

In a candid interview with screenwriter Kevin Williamson, the pop culture mag gets to the bottom of the rumors that behind-the-scenes conflict forced Williamson to abandon the project early in production, leading to his replacement by Scream 3 screenwriter Ehren Kruger.  According to Williamson, while he did butt heads with Dimension Films co-chairman Bob Weinstein, he’s “very supportive of the film,” though he has yet to see the final product.  The Vampire Diaries creator goes on to explain that his commitment to the supernatural drama was the reason he had to bow out of Scream 4 prematurely, but that he “did [his] darndest to try and make a really good movie.”  He also hints at the possibility of a Scream 5.

Frankly, I’m relieved to hear to hear that Scream 4 will have Williamson’s signature on it, at least in some shape or form.  While I loved Scream 3, I was really looking forward to seeing what Williamson would bring to the table.  Like I mentioned last month, the original Scream still stands as one of my favorite horror films, and Williamson played a huge part in that film’s success.  The opening scene in which Drew Barrymore’s character is tormented over the phone and then murdered is one of the scariest movie moments ever, and also has some of the best writing I’ve ever seen.

The Dark Knight Rises in Pittsburgh

Though details of the script are still being kept hush-hush, it appears that production on The Dark Knight Rises is right on schedule.  Christopher Nolan announced earlier today that filming on the third and final installment of the Batman franchise will commence this summer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Since The Dark Knight was filmed primarily in Chicago, it looks like Gotham City will be getting a face-lift!  Word is the director opted for the change of scenery after falling in love with the city’s architecture.  The Dark Knight Rises will be released in theaters on July 20, 2012.

Television Preview: 6 Pilots to Look Out for

Spring is here, and that can only mean one thing: It’s pilot season!  With May sweeps right around the corner, networks have already begun gearing up for the fall.  So, without any further delay, here’s a list of the 6 TV pilots that I’m most looking forward to, in no particular order.  (Narrowing the list down to 5 was too daunting a task.)

1. Ringer (CBS):  I was sold on this project from the moment I learned that Sarah Michelle Gellar had signed on to star.  I mean, it’s about bloody time for Buffy to make a comeback!  The premise is pretty neat, too.  SMG pulls double duty as a woman on the run from the mob hiding out as her estranged twin sister, who, as it turns out, has some secrets of her own. 

2. Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (NBC):  That ’70’s Show’s Laura Prepon stars in this comedy based on late-night host and stand-up comedian Chelsea Handler’s best-selling book.   Need I say more?

3. 17th Precinct (NBC):  I’m really psyched for this supernatural cop drama, which is being described as “an adult Harry Potter.”  Battlestar Galactica fans are going gaga over the casting of Jamie Bamber, Tricia Helfer, and James Callis.  I myself couldn’t be more excited about the uber-talented Stockard Channing scoring a lead role in the series.

4. Two Broke Girls (CBS):  There’s a lot to like about this sitcom.  (1)  It comes to us from Sex and the City scribe Michael Patrick King and Chelsea Lately regular Whitney Cummings.  (2) It stars Kat Dennings, one of the most talented young actresses around.  (If I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, then I’d have at least, like, fifty cents.)  (3)  It follows two young waitresses from very different backgrounds trying to make it in the Big Apple.

5. Secret Circle (CW):  Vampire Diaries creator Kevin Williamson is hoping to work his magic again with this supernatural drama, based on another series of books by L.J. Smith.  Starring Life Unexpected’s Britt Robertson, the show is about a California teen whose world is turned upside-down when she moves to New Salem, and discovers that she is a witch.  Williamson has struck gold with The Vampire Diaries, and I have no doubt that he’ll continue his winning streak with Secret Circle. 

6. Good Christian Bitches (ABC):  This dramedy about a recently divorced mother of two who clashes with a group of conservative women (led by Pushing Daisies’ Kristin Chenoweth) when she moves back to her hometown sounds like a lot of fun.  Iron Man’s Leslie Bibb has nabbed the leading role, and Designing Women’s Annie Potts has been tapped to play her mother.