NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 007: "Kill the Moon" Is Up!

"Tell me what you know, Doctor, or else I'll slap you so hard you'll regenerate."

After my weekend hiatus away the show, Jesse Jackson and I together again with another episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast!

This time out, we give our thoughts on "Kill the Moon," the seventh episode from Doctor Who Series Eight, including things like a creepy story that morphs into something else entirely, the Twelfth Doctor's alien detachment, the return of the Doctor's yo-yo, the Doctor's accuracy of piloting the TARDIS, the wonky science of the moon cracking open and being suddenly replaced, Kevin Smith's Superman movie that mercifully never happened, that horribly awkward abortion debate metaphor, why voting with lights doesn't quite work for the planet Earth, our popular Reverse the Polarity segment, teasing our plans for what happens after Series Eight ends, and more!

And for those who still aren't aware of this yet, we're available on iTunes RIGHT HERE as well as Stitcher RIGHT HERE, so please subscribe and tell your friends about us. If you're looking for direct MP3 downloads, you can find them RIGHT HERE as well. Oh, and don't forget we have an officially official Next Stop Everywhere Facebook page and Twitter account, so be sure to Like and/or Follow us, okay?

Have fun watching "Mummy on the Orient Express" on BBC America this Saturday, then keep checking iTunes, Stitcher and the Southgate Media Group website for our next Doctor Who review!

TWIN PEAKS Returns for Season 3 on Showtime!

Needless to say...DAMN good coffee...and HOT!

TVLine has word that the cult classic 1990-91 ABC series Twin Peaks is actually returning to television!  According to the article, Showtime has greenlit a nine-episode limited series of the much-beloved series from David Lynch and Mark Frost that will air sometime in 2016.

It seems this will not be a reboot (Hooray!), but a modern continuation of the original series similar to TNT's recent Dallas revival.  TVLine also reports that Lynch and Frost are writing all nine episodes, with Lynch directing all of them as well!

"What more can I say – Twin Peaks with David Lynch and Mark Frost on Showtime in 2016!" said Showtime Networks president David Nevins.  "To quote Agent Cooper, ‘I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.’"

Added Lynch and Frost, "The mysterious and special world of Twin Peaks is pulling us back.  We’re very excited.  May the forest be with you."

This follows on recent teases from Lynch and Frost on Twitter, stating "Dear Twitter Friends, that gum you like is going to come back in style!  #damngoodcoffee"

Lynch confirmed the news on Twitter this morning with the following post and teaser video...

Dear Twitter Friends… it is happening again. http://t.co/r0l9rhK4eB #damngoodcoffee
— David Lynch (@DAVID_LYNCH) October 6, 2014

As Peaks Freaks know, the 2016 airdate for the series is perfect, fulfilling Laura Palmer's promise "I'll see you again in twenty-five years."  And considering the recent release of Twin Peaks and the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me on Blu-Ray, it seems there was a coordinated effort to bring the series back.

Deadline has some additional details, revealing that Showtime will re-air the first two seasons, which are own by parent CBS Corp.  They also claim that original star Kyle MacLachlan is rumored to be returning as Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Dale Cooper, who was left possessed by the killer spirit BOB at the end of Season 2 with Cooper's spirit trapped in the mysterious Black Lodge.

More updates on the project as they come in...

GOTHAM Casts Nicholas D'Agosto as Harvey Dent

So, did the casting decision come down to a flip of a coin?

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the new Fox series Gotham has cast Nicholas D'Agosto in the role of Harvey Dent, who eventually becomes the Batman villain Two-Face.  The role will be recurring during the show's first season.

According to the article, Dent is "Bright, charming and idealistic, Harvey Dent's sole mission is to eradicate the crime and corruption that has poisoned Gotham.  He is described as appealing, energetic and full of light and life, even while taking on the worst Gotham has to offer.  Though he one day serves as the white knight Gotham desperately needs, Harvey also shows glimpses of who he will become: Two-Face."

The 34-year-old actor currently stars as Dr. Ethan Haas on the Showtime series Masters of Sex and appeared as West Rosen on the NBC series Heroes.  In addition, D'Agosto starred in the movie Final Destination 5 and has had roles on the television series The Office, Without a Trace, Supernatural, House and Six Feet Under.

Created in 1942 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Harvey Dent debuted in the very first Two-Face story in Detective Comics (vol.1) #66.  When "Boss" Maroni was put on trial for the murder of the murder of a man named "Bookie" Benson, Gotham City district attorney Harvey Dent served as prosecutor.  Batman provided testimony at the trial, but Maroni called Batman a liar, leading Dent to show evidence of Maroni's lucky two-headed silver dollar that was found at the murder scene with Maroni's fingerprints on it.   Enraged, Maroni hurled a small vial of acid at Dent, horribly disfiguring the left side of Dent's handsome face and transforming him into the insane gangster Two-Face.

In the current New 52 continuity, Dent is a successful defense attorney whose clientele includes twin sisters from the McKillen crime family, Shannon and Erin, until they place a contract on James Gordon and his entire family, despite Dent's protestations.  The Gordons survive the attempt on their lives, but Dent, trapped by attorney client confidentiality, is unable to discourage the McKillens from continuing their lethal vendetta.  The violent attempt on the Gordons' lives prompts Bruce Wayne to use his resources to initiate and fund Dent's campaign for district attorney.  Dent becomes D.A. and has the McKillen sisters prosecuted and sentenced to life in prison.  After Shannon commits suicide, Erin escapes by switching places with her sister's corpse.  Blaming Dent for her sister's death, Erin breaks into Dent's house, kills Gilda in front of him, and pours acid on his face, transforming him into Two-Face.

D'Agosto will be the fourth actor to portray Harvey Dent/Two-Face in live-action, after Billy Dee Williams in the 1989 film Batman, Tommy Lee Jones in the 1995 film Batman Forever and Aaron Eckhart in the 2008 film The Dark Knight.  The character has also appeared several times in animation, including Batman: The Animated Series (voiced by Richard Moll), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by James Remar), Beware the Batman (voiced by Christopher McDonald), Batman: Year One (voiced by Robin Atkin Downes), and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (voiced by Wade Williams).

Anthony Horowitz to Write James Bond Novel PROJECT ONE

As we continue to wait for Daniel Craig to return to the big screen for his fourth outing as James Bond, Bond fans can spend some time next year with a new OO7 novel by Anthony Horowitz currently titled Project One.

Based on an unpublished story by Bond creator Ian Fleming, Project One will be set in the 1950s and features James Bond taking on the Russians and becoming involved in a Formula One race.  The story, "Murder on Wheels," was written by Fleming in the 1950s, as one of several episode treatments for a Bond TV series which fell through because of the Sean Connery films.  Many of the plots were turned into short stories including "Octopussy," "The Living Daylights" and "For Your Eyes Only," but a few outlines were never published, said Fleming’s great-niece Jessie Grimond.

"It's no secret that Ian Fleming's extraordinary character has had a profound influence on my life," said Horowitz, "so when the estate approached me to write a new James Bond novel how could I possibly refuse?  It's a huge challenge -- more difficult even than Sherlock Holmes in some ways -- but having original, unpublished material by Fleming has been an inspiration.  This is a book I had to write."

Horowitz is best known as the author of the young adult spy series of Alex Rider novels, two adult Sherlock Holmes novels (The House of Silk and Moriarty), the Diamond Brothers series, The Power of Five series, and many others.  He is the latest of several modern James Bond authors, including William Boyd (Solo), Jeffery Deaver (Carte Blanche) and Sebastian Faulks (Devil May Care).

And look, there's even a handy press release...

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., The Ian Fleming Estate, the Orion Publishing Group, and HarperCollins US and Canada are delighted to announce that international bestselling and award-winning writer Anthony Horowitz is at work on an official new James Bond novel. Currently dubbed Project One, the novel is due for worldwide release on 8th September 2015.

The new book by Horowitz - a lifelong fan of Ian Fleming - will be set in the 1950s and will be unique among the modern James Bond novels, in that a section will contain previously unseen material written by Fleming to which Horowitz has had exclusive access.

Jessie Grimond, great-niece of Ian Fleming, said: "In the 1950s Ian Fleming wrote several episode treatments for a James Bond television series. But it never came to be made and he ended up turning most of the plots into the short stories that are now in the collections For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and The Living Daylights. However, there are a few plot outlines which he never used and which, till now, have never been published, or aired. Given that Anthony is as brilliant a screenwriter as he is a novelist, we thought it would be exciting to see what he would do with one of them."

Lucy Fleming, niece of Ian Fleming, said: "We are thrilled that Anthony has taken on the Bond mantle, and can't wait to read his novel. Anthony is a brilliant writer, as his millions of fans around the world demonstrate. He has an exceptional skill for writing spy thrillers in particular, and it is this coupled with the original Fleming material and his knowledge of and enthusiasm for Bond, which makes for a really exciting proposition."

Malcolm Edwards, Deputy CEO and Group Publisher, Orion Publishing Group, said: "James Bond and Anthony Horowitz is a match made in publishing heaven. Anthony is a writer of exceptional skill and I have no doubt he will deliver a book that will resonate and delight Bond fans around the globe. For our part, we will publish the book in a way that celebrates the legacy of literary Bond and mount a campaign that will make publication day one of the biggest publishing events of 2015."

Jonathan Burnham, Senior Vice President and Publisher, HarperCollins US, said: "HarperCollins is thrilled to be publishing the new James Bond novel in the United States and Canada. Anthony Horowitz is an author of exceptional skill and range - his Sherlock Holmes novel, House of Silk, displayed his amazing ability to reanimate fictional characters to create a new and powerful narrative. The combination of this talent, his inventiveness and brilliance as a novelist, and his access to hitherto unpublished Fleming material, makes this a uniquely exciting event for all James Bond fans."

The book will be published by Orion Publishing Group in the UK, and by HarperCollins in the United States. The book rights were sold in the English language by Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, on behalf of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd and The Ian Fleming Estate. International rights will be offered at the forthcoming Frankfurt Book Fair on October 6.

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE Episode 006: "The Caretaker" is Up!

"Now, I imagine you have many questions.  Fire away, I won't answer any of them."

Despite some rather annoying audio quality issues, Jesse Jackson and I are back with another episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast.

This time out, we give our thoughts on "The Caretaker," the sixth episode from Doctor Who Series Eight, including things like Clara juggling her life in time and space with the Doctor and her teaching at Coal Hill School on Earth with her boyfriend Danny Pink, the first meeting between the Doctor and Danny, why Alex Kingston needs to return as River Song, why people travel with the Doctor when it's so obviously dangerous, what happened to the house that was next to the barn in "The Day of the Doctor," our popular Reverse the Polarity segment and more!

And for those who still aren't aware of this yet, we're available on iTunes RIGHT HERE as well as Stitcher RIGHT HERE, so please subscribe and tell your friends about us. If you're looking for direct MP3 downloads, you can find them RIGHT HERE as well.  Oh, and don't forget we have an officially official Next Stop Everywhere Facebook page and Twitter account, so be sure to Like and/or Follow us, okay?

Have fun watching "Kill the Moon" on BBC America this Saturday, then keep checking iTunes, Stitcher and the Southgate Media Group website for our next Doctor Who review!

Netflix Announces CROUCHING TIGER Sequel as First Original Movie

Hollywood, like most things, you are nothing.

Netflix announced that it has signed a deal with The Weinstein Company to release Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, the sequel to the 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon directed by Ang Lee.  The film will premiere exclusively on Netflix and in selected global IMAX theaters on August 28, 2015 and could be a significant game-changer for movie theater distribution.

Based on the Crane Iron Pentalogy by wuxia novelist Wang Dulu, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is set in the Qing Dynasty during the 43rd year (1779) of the reign of the Qianlong Emperor and features Chow Yun-fat as an accomplished Wudang swordsman Li Mu Bai whose master was murdered by Jade Fox (Cheng Pei-pei), a woman who sought to learn Wudang skills.  Mu Bai's friend Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) is a female warrior and the two have developed feelings for each other, but have never acknowledged or acted on them.  Intending to give up his warrior life, Mu Bai asks Shu Lien to transport his sword, also referred to as the Green Destiny, to the city of Beijing, as a gift for their friend Sir Te (Sihung Lung).  At Sir Te's estate, Shu Lien meets Jen (Zhang Ziyi), the daughter of a visiting Manchu aristocrat who is destined for an arranged marriage but is far more than she seems.

The film won Best Foreign Language Film at the 73rd Academy Awards, the 58th Golden Globe Awards and the 54th British Academy Film Awards.  In addition, the film won Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score at the Academy Awards, with nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song, Best Costume Design, and Best Film Editing.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend will be directed by Yuen Wo-Ping and feature the return of Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu Lien, Donnie Yen as Meng Sizhao/Silent Wolf and Harry Shum, Jr. as Tiefang. 

Oh, look.  There's an official press release...

NETFLIX ANNOUNCES FIRST ORIGINAL MOVIE

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: THE GREEN LEGEND TO PREMIERE SIMULTANEOUSLY ON NETFLIX AND IN SELECT GLOBAL IMAX® THEATERS

Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen star under the direction of Yuen Wo-Ping in the Sequel to the Academy Award®-winning 2000 film

Beverly Hills, Ca. and New York, September 29, 2014–Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, the stunning next chapter in the saga started by the critically and popularly acclaimed Ang Lee martial arts epic, will premiere exclusively on Netflix and in selected global IMAX® theaters on August 28, 2015.

Produced by The Weinstein Company, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend echoes the themes of the original movie, but tells its own story — one of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption, set against breathtaking action in an epic martial arts battle between good and evil that will decide the fate of the Martial World.

Directed by the renowned martial arts choreographer (The Matrix Trilogy and Kill Bill 1&2) and director (Tai Chi Master) Yuen Wo-Ping, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Lady) reprising her role as Yu Shu-Lien and Donnie Yen (Ip Man 1&2, Monkey King 3D) as Silent Wolf.

The film is to be the first of several major films backed by Netflix to premiere on the same day on the world’s leading Internet TV network and in select IMAX theaters globally, giving consumers and exhibitors around the world unparalleled flexibility in how, when and where they enjoy a major motion picture.

“Fans will have unprecedented choice in how they enjoy an amazing and memorable film that combines intense action and incredible beauty,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “We are honored to be working with Harvey Weinstein and a world-class team of creators to bring this epic story to people all over the world and to partner with IMAX, a brand that represents the highest quality of immersive entertainment, in the distribution of this film.”

“The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement,” said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “We are tremendously excited to be continuing our great relationship with Netflix and bringing to fans all over the world the latest chapter in this amazing and intriguing story.”

“IMAX has a terrific opportunity, via this partnership with Netflix, to release Crouching Tiger – a high-quality, action-packed film that is right in our wheelhouse — at the end of the summer blockbuster season,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “We are particularly hopeful it will play in our highly successful China market. In territories where we simultaneously release with Netflix, we are excited to offer consumers the option of deciding how, when and where they want to view the film, and exhibitors the opportunity to participate in this alternative form of content in a new and innovative way.”

Based on the acclaimed novel, Iron Knight, Silver Vase, by Wang Dulu (book 5 in the Crane-Iron Pentalogy) and written by John Fusco (Marco Polo) the new film is produced by Harvey Weinstein (Academy Award winner – The King’s Speech, The Artist) and Peter Berg (Emmy Award winner – Friday Night Lights; Lone Survivor, Hancock) and Sarah Aubrey (Friday Night Lights; Lone Survivor, Hancock) and executive produced by Morten Tyldum (Headhunters, The Imitation Game), Ralph Winter (X-Men franchise), Anthony Wong, and Bey Logan (The Medallion).

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend also stars Harry Shum Jr (Glee, Revenge of the Green Dragons), Jason Scott Lee (Seventh Son, Hawaii Five-O), Roger Yuan (Bulletproof Monk), Eugenia Yuan (Revenge of the Green Dragons) and newcomer Natasha Liu Bordizzo.

Principal photography is now underway in New Zealand. The film’s director of photography is Tom Sigel (Drive, X-Men: Days of Future Past) and design is led by the Academy Award®-winning Lord of the Rings team of costume designer Ngila Dickson, production designer Grant Major and visual effects supervisor Mark Stetson.

HANNIBAL's Bryan Fuller Wants David Tennant to Guest Star

The Doctor meeting Dr. Lecter...How charming.

The Metro has revealed that Bryan Fuller, the creator and showrunner of the NBC series Hannibal, wants former Doctor Who star David Tennant to appear on the series and has been trying to get him for a while now.

"I’m a huge fan of David Tennant, and we’ve been trying to get him on the show for quite some time," said Fuller.  "He’s such a spectacular actor.  He brings such an effervescence to every performance.  I would love to have David on the show.  Or just write for David!  I would kill and eat somebody to work with David!  He’s my favorite Doctor."

The Scottish actor and former Tenth Doctor auditioned for the lead role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter on the drama series, although the role eventually went to Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen.  Tennant is currently starring on the Fox series Gracepoint, an American remake of his UK drama series Broadchurch, with the role of Detective Emmett Carver instead of Detective Inspector Alec Hardy.

In addition, Fuller gave Fannibals some more details about what they can expect in Season 3.  "The interesting thing about Season 3 is that we are heading away from the crime procedural aspect of the story-telling," he said, "and it is very much a soap opera for the first half."

"There are some creative deaths," he continued, "but it’s much more about our regular characters as opposed to a killer of the week coming in and creating these fantastic death tableau.  We’re really focusing on the relationships between these characters and the fallout from Season 2 for the survivors who made it through the 'Red Dinner.'"

"There’s a slight evolution of the series in that way," added Fuller.  "The first half of the season I’m really excited about because it’s more like an intense psychological thriller.  I’m excited about the rematch between Hannibal and Jack Crawford."

We'll also get a look at Hannibal's past, giving us a better idea of what motivates the character.  "We are absolutely delving into his history," said Fuller.  "Not as many flashbacks as much as it is finding present day survivors from that era of his life and understanding, with greater detail, about Hannibal and his modes of human interaction."

"I would be very nervous about casting child actors to portray such iconic characters because it’s always a gamble," he added.  "For me, I kind of don’t want to imagine anybody else in this incarnation than Mads Mikkelsen."