TNT Holds Onto "Falling Skies"

TNT have ordered 10 more episodes of the Ontario-lensed sci fi TV series, "Falling Skies", from executive producer Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks TV.

"Falling Skies' debuted in June, with 8 million total viewers, ranking it as cable's top series launch in 2011, averaging 6.4 million total viewers in its first three episodes.

The new Second Season episodes will air in 2012.

In other "Falling Skies" news, Dark Horse comics will launch a graphic novel series, based on the show, available July 13, 2011, written by Paul Tobin, with illustrations and cover by Juan Ferreyra/Andrew Dalhouse :

"...In the heart of Boston, following the devastating events of an alien invasion, history professor 'Tom Mason' and his sons 'Hal', 'Matt' and 'Ben' are just trying to survive. After an extreme firefight with the aliens, Ben gets kidnapped. Determined to get his son back, Tom joins forces with the second 'Mass', a militia group that is taking the fight against the aliens. But with the group's munitions supplies running low, Tom must locate an old friend to equip him and his team in order to ensure the survival of the human race..."

"Falling Skies" stars actor Noah Wyle ("ER") as resistance leader 'Tom Mason', who leads a ragtag group of survivors, following a hostile invasion of the Earth.

Cast also includes Moon Bloodgood as 'Anne Glass', Will Patton as 'Weaver', Drew Roy as 'Hal', Maxim Knight as 'Matt', Connor Jessup as 'Ben', Seychelle Gabriel as 'Lourdes', Colin Cunningham as 'John Pope' and Sarah Carter as 'Margaret'.

"...'Falling Skies' opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force.

"...'Tom Mason' (Wyle) is a Boston history professor whose family has been torn apart. His wife was killed in the initial attack, and one of his three sons has been captured. Determined to get his son back and to ensure the safety of his other two sons, Tom must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as one of the leaders of the resistance movement known as the '2nd Mass', constantly trying to gain intelligence about the aliens in order to outsmart and overtake them..."

There are two types of aliens in the series named 'Skitters' and 'Mechs'. Combining live action and SFX, the Skitters have spider-like bodies, while the robotic Mechs stand upright and can shoot bullets from their arms.

Along with Spielberg, "Falling Skies" is executive produced by DreamWorks TV's Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. Robert Rodat ("Saving Private Ryan") wrote the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg. Mark Verheiden ("Battlestar Galactica") and Greg Beeman ("Smallville") are co-executive producers, with the pilot directed by Carl Franklin ("Out of Time").

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Falling Skies"...

"Pacific Rim" aka "Still Seas" Starts Shooting

As Sneak Peek first reported May 2011, director Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy") is prepping his PG-rated, 'mecha monster' movie "Pacific Rim" @ the Pinewood Toronto Studios sound stages for a six-month shoot starting October 31, 2011, running to April 2012.

"Sons Of Anarachy" star Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba ("Thor") have already been cast for the film, under the working title "Still Seas".

The storyline follows hostile ET's from a parallel world called 'The Anteverse', that try to destroy humanity by first attacking cities and nations neighboring the Pacific Ocean. The creatures are thwarted in their attempts by Earth-made, high-tech, weapons-ready robots, with Hunnam playing the role of 'Raleigh Antrobus', who 'pilots' one of the advanced 'machines'.

Legendary Pictures purchased the screenplay for "Pacific Rim" in a pre-emptive buy from screenwriter Travis Beacham ("Clash Of The Titans").

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Sneak Peek "Dream House"

Sneak Peek the new poster supporting Universal's upcoming Ontario-lensed horror feature "Dream House", directed by six-time Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan, starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts and Marton Csokas :

"...'Will Attenton' (Craig) and his wife, 'Libby' (Weisz) move into what appears to be their dream home in 'Morgan Creek'. But the dream is shattered when the couple is haunted by the former deceased inhabitants..."

Principal photography took place mostly on location in Toronto and throughout Ontario, Canada, February to March 2010, with re-shoots lensed December 2010.

"Dream House" will be released September 30, 2011.

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"Alphas" : Your Will Is Her Power

Sneak Peek the new character posters supporting the Toronto-lensed Syfy TV series "Alphas", premiering July 11, 2011 :

"...Five people discover that they have superhuman abilities, which they use to maintain justice. They are called 'Alphas'. They discover that they are not alone, and that the other individuals with those abilities aren't going to use them for good..."

Cast includes David Strathairn as 'Dr. Lee Rosen', a neurologist and psychiatrist, who is the unconventional leader of the team, Malik Yoba as 'Bill Harken', a former FBI agent and 'hyperadrenal Alpha', with super human strength and a resistance to harm that borders on invulnerability, Warren Christie as 'Cameron Hicks', a former army sniper and minor league baseball pitcher with 'hyperkinesis', Laura Mennell as 'Nina Theroux, whose 'alpha skill' is called "influencing", Ryan Cartwright as 'Gary Bell', noted as a 'transducer', or 'human antenna' and Azita Ghanizada as 'Rachel Pirzad', a 'synesthete'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Alphas"...

"Alphas": Impossible Is What They Do Best

Sneak Peek the new poster supporting the Toronto-lensed Syfy TV series "Alphas", debuting July 11, 2011 :

"...Five people discover that they have superhuman abilities, which they use to maintain justice. They are called 'Alphas'. They discover that they are not alone, and that the other individuals with those abilities aren't going to use them for good..."

Cast includes David Strathairn as 'Dr. Lee Rosen', a neurologist and psychiatrist, who is the unconventional leader of the team, Malik Yoba as 'Bill Harken', a former FBI agent and 'hyperadrenal Alpha', with super human strength and a resistance to harm that borders on invulnerability, Warren Christie as 'Cameron Hicks', a former army sniper and minor league baseball pitcher with 'hyperkinesis', Laura Mennell as 'Nina Theroux, whose 'alpha skill' is called "influencing", Ryan Cartwright as 'Gary Bell', noted as a 'transducer', or 'human antenna' and Azita Ghanizada as 'Rachel Pirzad', a 'synesthete'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Alphas"...

"Total Recall": Martians Go Home

According to new reports, Columbia Pictures upcoming reboot of "Total Recall", shooting in Toronto May 16 to September 9, 2011, has 'ditched' the Martian storyline of the original 1990 sci fi feature, and instead involves the nation states 'Euromerica' and 'New Shanghai', with actor Colin Farrell ("Minority Report") playing 'Douglas Quaid', a factory worker who begins to believe he is a spy — although he doesn't know for which side.

US cast of the new film, scheduled to lense @ Pinewood Toronto Studios, includes Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") as the villain, Bill Nighy as 'Quatto', leader of the 'Resistance', Kate Beckinsale ("Underworld") as 'Lori', Jessica Biel ("The A-Team") as 'Melina' and Ethan Hawke ("Training Day") who will have a cameo.

"Total Recall" is based on author Philip K. Dick's novelette "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale", first published April 1966, in "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction", featuring a meshing of reality, false memory and real memory.

That story followed 'Douglas Quail', a simple and ordinary man, who wishes to visit Mars. Unable to afford it, he visits a company, 'Rekal Incorporated' that offers implanted memories, or 'extra-factual memory'. The attempt to implant Mars memories of Quail as a secret agent reveals that Quail actually is an undercover government assassin with a mind full of dangerous secrets.

The Rekal staff quickly get Quail out of their office; he heads home and finds certain physical evidence to support his new old memories. The government initially seeks his death but instead Quail manages to make a deal. He returns to Rekal to have his Mars memories once more suppressed, and is offered by way of compensation a set of heroic wish-fulfillment false memories. The Rekal staff begin the memory-implanting procedure — and uncover a different and older set of suppressed memories, revealing that the unbelievable memories they are about to insert are already there and are true.

The title of the Dick short story is an allusion to the 1962 Broadway musical "I Can Get It for You Wholesale".

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"Warehouse 13": The Unknown Has An Address

"Warehouse 13", the Toronto-lensed Syfy 'dramedy' TV series is now a comic book series from Dynamite! Entertainment, available August 2011, written by Ben Raab and Deric A. Hughes, with illustrations and cover by Ben Morse :

"...When a series of sudden, unexplained sinkholes appear beneath the streets of Rio de Janeiro, the 'Warehouse' team heads down to Brazil in the middle of 'Carnival' to uncover the cause. What they discover is that someone is using an ancient artifact to move massive chunks of earth and mine huge, underground gold deposits. With the ground becoming increasingly unstable, our heroes find themselves in a race to retrieve the artifact before the entire city collapses..."

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Toronto Film Production Update - June 2011

Here is the Toronto Film Production Update for June 2011 :

"AGAINST THE WALL", Season 1, TV Series, Apr. 25 – Aug. 31/11

"COBU", Feature Film, May 9 – June 24/11

"COVERT AFFAIRS", Season 2, TV Series, Mar. 14 – Oct. 17/11

"LIFE WITH BOYS", Season 1, TV Series, Feb. 22 – June 3/11

"MICHAEL : TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS", Season 1, TV Series, June 11 – Aug. 27/11

"TRANSPORTER", TV Series, July 4 – Nov. 21/11

"ALPHAS", Season 1, TV Series, May 2 – Aug. 19/11

"COMBAT HOSPITAL", Season 1, TV Series, Feb. 28 – July 27/11

"DEGRASSI: The Next Generation", Season 11, TV Series, Mar. 14 – Nov. 18/10

"LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE", Season 6, TV Series, May 09 – July 4/11

"PREY", TV Movie, May 16 – June 10/11

"SUITS" (aka: "A LEGAL MIND"), TV Series, Apr. 25 – Aug. 12/11

"WAREHOUSE 13", Season 3, TV Series, Feb. 9 – July 22/11

"BEING ERICA", Season 4, TV Series, May 16 /11 - TBA

"COSMOPOLIS", Feature Film, May 25-July 15/11

"FLASHPOINT", Season 4, TV Series, Feb. 14 – Sept. 15/11

"LOST GIRL", Season 2, TV Series, May 9 – Sept. 22/11

"TOTAL RECALL", Feature Film, May 16 – Sept. 9/11

Toronto Preps For "Pacific Rim"

Exclusive: Sneak Peek has learned that Pinewood Toronto Studios, offering the largest indoor soundstage in North America, will host director Guillermo Del Toro's upcoming Legendary Pictures', PG-rated, 'mecha monster movie' "Pacific Rim", following principal photography on Columbia Pictures' $200 million feature film reboot of "Total Recall".

Actor Charlie Hunnam ("Sons Of Anarchy") will lead the cast this fall, in a storyline where hostile ET's from a parallel world called 'The Anteverse', try to destroy humanity by first attacking cities and nations neighboring the Pacific Ocean. The creatures are thwarted in their attempts by Earth-made, high-tech, weapons-ready robots, with Hunnam's character, 'Raleigh Antrobus' as a pilot of one of the advanced 'machines'.

Legendary Pictures purchased the screenplay for "Pacific Rim" in a pre-emptive buy from screenwriter Travis Beacham ("Clash Of The Titans").

Click the images to enlarge...

Syfy Spinning Off "Warehouse 13"

Syfy reports they will spin-off a new TV series from their Toronto-lensed 'dramedy', "Warehouse 13", scripted by "Warehouse" writers Jack Kenny and Bob Goodman.

The show will focus on the "Warehouse" character 'H.G. Wells', played by Jaime Murray ("Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena"), set in an 1890's 'steampunk' environment, where she uses her knowledge of contemporary science to solve crimes and mysteries.

Toronto seems best suited for the 19th century setting, that has been used to great effect for "The Murdoch Mysteries" and ABC's upcoming TV pilot "Poe".

"Warehouse 13" is noted as the most watched original series in Syfy history with an average of 3.4 million viewers last season.

The show returns for a third season, July 11, 2011.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Warehouse 13"...

Toronto Start For Grisham's ''The Firm''

Author John Grisham’s best-seller "The Firm" has been commissioned by Global, NBC Universal and Entertainment One for an original 22-episode x 60-minute series, premiering midseason 2012 in tandem on Global and NBC as part of the networks’ fall TV seasons.

"This series is an exciting extension of the popular Grisham brand and a key addition to Global’s new fall midseason primetime lineup," said Barbara Williams, SVP, Content, Shaw Media, "...an excellent opportunity to steadily build upon our growing number of high-profile network partnerships, joining the likes of 'Titanic', 'Combat Hospital' and 'Rookie Blue'."

Executive produced by Lukas Reiter ("Law & Order") and Grisham, "The Firm" continues the story of 'Mitchell Y. McDeere' and his family, 10 years after the events of the feature film and novel.

"...As a young associate, 'Mitchell Y. McDeere' brought down 'Bendini, Lambert & Locke', a prestigious Memphis law firm operating as a front for the underworld. His life was never the same. After a difficult 10 years, which included a stay in the Federal Witness Protection Program, Mitch and his family emerge from isolation determined to reclaim their lives and their future – only to find that past dangers are still lurking and new threats are everywhere..."

The second novel by Grisham, "The Firm" was made into a 1993 feature starring Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman.

"...'Mitchell Y. McDeere' is a law student who graduated third in his class at Harvard Law School, while married to his high school sweetheart 'Abby'. His brother 'Ray' is serving a prison term, and his other brother 'Rusty' died in Vietnam.

"Mitch has offers from law firms in New York and Chicago but eventually decides to join 'Bendini, Lambert and Locke', a small tax law firm based in Memphis. The firm offers him a large salary, a lease on a new BMW, a low interest mortgage on a house, as well as paying off his student loans. Soon after he joins, his new colleagues help him study and pass his bar exam.

"Two of Mitch's colleagues die in a scuba diving accident in the Cayman Islands the week he starts at the firm. Mitch finds the deaths unsettling. During a memorial service at the firm for the two deceased attorneys, Mitch notices plaques commemorating three other attorneys who died while working at the firm. Suspicious, he hires private investigator 'Eddie Lomax', an ex-cell mate of his brother Ray, to investigate the deaths of the attorneys.

"Lomax discovers that all five of the deceased attorneys died under questionable circumstances and cautions Mitch to be careful. Soon after delivering his report to Mitch, Lomax is murdered..."

"The Firm" is produced by Entertainment One in association with Sony Pictures Television and Paramount Pictures and will be lensed on location in Toronto.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Firm"...

"Murdoch Mysteries": Forensic Sleuthing In The Age Of Invention

The Toronto-lensed dramatic TV series, "Murdoch Mysteries: Season 3", is now available on DVD from Entertainment One.

"Murdoch Mysteries" stars Yannick Bisson as 'William Murdoch', a police detective working in Toronto, Ontario during the 1890's, based on the "Detective Murdoch" novels by author Maureen Jennings.

"Murdoch Mysteries" originated with three MOW's broadcast in 2004 and 2005, with Canadian actor Peter Outerbridge cast as 'Murdoch'. The original three movies, shot in both Winnipeg and Toronto.

Detective Murdoch' (Bisson) solves many of his cases using methods of detection that were unusual at that time, including fingerprinting, human-blood testing and trace evidence. His assistants are 'Inspector Brackenreid' (Thomas Craig), 'Doctor Julia Ogden' (Hélène Joy) and inexperienced partner 'Constable George Crabtree' (Jonny Harris).

Historical characters the likes of 'Buffalo Bill Cody', 'Annie Oakley', 'H. G. Wells', 'Nikola Tesla', 'Wilfrid Laurier' and 'Queen Victoria' have appeared on the show, often foreshadowing future events.

"Murdoch Mysteries" is produced/developed by Shaftesbury Films in association with Citytv, Granada International, UKTV and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Television Fund.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a clip from the "Murdoch Mysteries"...