Robert Pattinson to hunt down Saddam Hussein in “Mission: Blacklist”

by Dimitris Ioannou

“The Twilight Saga” star Robert Pattinson is joining the army, but only for the movies. The young actor has signed for the leading role in the movie “Mission: Blacklist” where he'll play military interrogator Eric Maddox, the man who spearheaded the investigation to find out where former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was hiding.

The film is based on Maddox's book “Mission: Blacklist #1”. The director of “Johnny Mad Dog” Jean-Stephane Sauvaire is leading the project, while the adaptation for the screen and the production is by Erik Jendersen, mostly known from HBO's TV mini-series “Band of Brothers” in 2001.

“Mission: Blacklist” is scheduled to be sold at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. Robert Pattinson will be at Cannes Film Festival for David Cronenberg's “Cosmopolis” which is competing for the Palme d'Or prize.

HBO renewed “Game of Thrones” for a third season

by Dimitris Ioannou

As you might have already suspected, HBO has renewed “Game of Thrones” for a third season, airing next year.

Show creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will officially get another season to bring to life the George R.R. Martin's fantasy novels, settled in the mythical Westeros.

The second season, premiered two weeks ago drew 3.9 million viewers, up 74 percent over the series premiere last year. It also jumped 27 percent over last season's finale, which grabbed 3 million viewers with its initial airing.

HBO's “The Newsroom” first trailer

by Dimitris Ioannou

HBO sure knows how to make great series, so “The Newsroom” coming this summer is definitely gona be one of them. The network released online the first trailer of the new drama series, created by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, The Social Network, Moneyball).

Starring Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy in the role of an anchorman at a 24-hour cable news network. In the trailer we see McAvoy's desperate attempts to keep his audience, after a very striking and public meltdown.

“The Newsroom”, which premieres on June 24, also stars Emily Mortimer, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel, Sam Waterson and Jane Fonda as the CEO of the cable network.

Watch the trailer below. Will you watch it?

First "True Blood" season 5 trailer

by Dimitris Ioannou

Waiting sucks!

HBO has finally revealed something about “True Blood's” fifth season, scheduled to air this June. The first ever trailer, aired this Sunday before “Game of Thrones” season 2 debut and it is released online too.

In the 32 seconds video we see all the main characters including, among others, Sookie (Anna Paquin), Bill (Stephen Moyer), Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll).

Jessica is also featuring in the first still of the fifth season. She looks a bit older and bolder. What do you think?

HBO cancels “Luck” after third horse dies

by Dimitris Ioannou

After the death of a third horse during the filming of HBO's racetrack drama series “Luck” this Tuesday, the network finally decided to cancel the production. We are already two episodes since the end of this season and although the show starring Dustin Hoffman earned a second-season pickup for 10 more episodes, everything came to an end.

The network released this statement:

“It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series Luck. Safety is always of paramount concern. We maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horseracing anywhere with many fewer incidents than occur in racing or than befall horses normally in barns at night or pastures. While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won’t in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision. We are immensely proud of this series, the writing, the acting, the filmmaking, the celebration of the culture of horses, and everyone involved in its creation.”

Two days ago a horse injured while walking back to its barn at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif and was euthanized. Now the American Humane Association is investigating into the set. “Luck” is a big loss for HBO, as the ratings were significantly high, with an averaged of about 4.8 million viewers for each episode.

The CW casts young Carrie Bradshaw

by Dimitris Ioannou

The name AnnaSophia Robb may not ring you a bell for the moment, but the beautiful actress who according to The Hollywood Reporter will portray the young Carrie Bradshaw in the new prequel to HBO's “Sex and the City”, is willing to at least capture your attention. The project, based on Candace Bushell's novel “Carrie Diaries”, goes back in time when the young Carrie was still in high school exploring love, sex and friendship.

Since last September, HBO's corporate cousin CW is one hundred per cent committed to the project, and is about to start shooting for the pilot episode very soon. “The Carrie Diaries” as the title of the show will be, follows the heroine in the 1980s Manhattan through her relationship with Sebastian Kydd and rivalry with popular girl Donna LaDonna.

Fake Empire's Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage and Len Goldstein (Gossip Girl, Hart of Dixie) will executive produce alongside Warner Bros. Television. Former “Sex and the City” scribe/co-producer Amy B. Harris will adapt the book and serve as showrunner. Miguel Arteta will direct the pilot. Stefania Owen (Running Wilde), is going to play Carrie's 14-year-old sister.

AnnaSophia Robb best known for the role of Violet in the 2005 Tim Burton film “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” also starred in movies like “Because of Winn-Dixie”, “Bridge to Terabithia” and “Jumper” among others.

Now, the 18-year-old actress should only hope for the series to have the same impact to her career as the original “Sex and the City” did for Sarah Jessica Parker's.

Alan Ball to step down as “True Blood's” showrunner

by Dimitris Ioannou

Only a few months before the highly anticipated premiere of “True Blood's” season five this June and the rumors have finally been confirmed! The shows creator Alan Ball is stepping down from his duties as showrunner if the HBO hit series returns for a sixth season next year. However he will still have a supervisory role according to the network's statement: When we extended our multi-year overall deal with Alan Ball in July 2011, we always intended that if we proceeded to “True Blood’s” sixth season that Alan would take a supervisory role on the series and not be the day-to-day showrunner.If we proceed to season six, the show will remain in the very capable hands of the talented team of writers and producers who have been with the show for a number of years.This is the best possible world for both HBO and Alan Ball. Alan will remain available as executive producer to consult and advise on “True Blood” and he will be free to develop new shows for both HBO and Cinemax. “Banshee”, on which Alan serves as executive producer, is the first in house series for Cinemax and is expected to begin production this spring.

On the other Ball on his statement says, “True Blood has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life. Because of the fantastic cast, writers, producers and crew, with whom I have been lucky enough to work these past five years, I know I could step back and the show will continue to thrive as I look forward to new and exciting ventures.”

The HBO's vampire pop culture phenomenon is based on Charlaine Harris’ best selling books about the charismatic waitress Sookie Stackhouse and the charming vampire Bill Compton. Placed at the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, the book adapted by Ball into the television series in September 2008. The high ratings every summer made “True Blood” the network's most popular series since “The Sopranos”. It's not the first time that Ball works for HBO, as he is the creator of the drama “Six Feet Under” run from 2001-2005.

About a month ago the first teaser of season five broadcasted online. The 37 seconds video has the title “Buried” and introduces us to next season without actually saying nothing at all. Take a look...