NBC Unveils Their Midseason Lineup With A Little Bit Of Everything

Originally published on PopWrapped.  20 January 2014.

NBC’s midseason lineup is a mixture of laughs and thrills. Trailers for four of the network’s new shows have been released for your viewing (and critiquing) pleasure.

Adapted from Nick Hornby’s novel, About a Boy stars David Walton as a one-hit wonder who spends his time picking up women. When he befriends the son (Benjamin Stockham) of his new neighbor (Minnie Driver), his life takes a turn for the better and funnier. Fans of Parenthood may recognize Walton from his guest appearance on the show last Thursday (About a Boy and Parenthood share producer Jason Katim). In fact, Dax Shepherd’s Crosby will pop up on the new show. About a Boy premieres Tuesday, February 25 at 9 p.m. with a sneak peek on Saturday, February 22 at 11/10c.

If you’ve flipped by NBC at all lately, you’ve probably seen the clip of JK Simmons as a blind man trying to chop down a tree. This is Growing Up Fisher, starring Simmons and Jenna Elfman as a soon-to-be divorced couple. Similar to ABC’s The Goldberg’s, the show is seen through the eyes of the couple’s young son, whose adult self (Jason Bateman) provides narration. Based on the life of writer-producer DJ Nash, Growing Up Fisher premieres Tuesday, February 25 at 9:30 p.m. (sneak peek on February 23 at 10:30 p.m.).

Having two powerhouses like Alfonso Cuaron and J.J. Abrams make a TV show together sounds like a recipe for success. For your consideration is Believe, supernatural thriller about a young girl born with telekinetic powers. She’s being hunted by people who want to exploit her gifts and are willing to do anything to kidnap the girl. To protect her, a mysterious man (Delroy Lindo) asks a death row inmate (Jake McLaughlin) to guard her at all costs. Directed by Cuaron and produced by Abrams, Believe premieres Sunday, March 16 at 9 p.m.

What would you do to save your child? Crisis starts out with the kidnapping of a bus filled with high-profile teens, among them the President of the United States’ son. The kidnappers use their hostages as leverage to force their well-connected parents to kill, steal, lie and more in order to see their sons and daughters again. Gillian Anderson heads up the cast, which also stars Dermot Mulroney, Rachael Taylor and James Lafferty. Crisis premieres Sunday, March 16 at 10 p.m.

J.J. Abrams Unveils His Newest Project: A Book Entitled “S”

Originally published on PopWrapped.  30 October 2013.

J.J. Abrams is riding the geek wave to success. Not only is he the director of Star Trek and the creator ofLost, but he is helming arguably the most highly anticipated movie of 2014, Star Wars: Episode VII.

So when J.J. Abrams releases details on a new project, we expect it to be something in the geek/fantasy/adventure TV or feature film vein. But as it turns out S is a book. A literal hardback novel.

Back in August, a mysterious trailer was posted teasing project “S” and everyone (myself included) assumed it had something to do with one of the director/creator’s well-known projects. Now we’ve learned that S is a collaborative novel, written by Doug Dorst and conceived by Abrams.

The plot centers on two college students who are searching for answers about (fictional) author V.M. Straka. Using Straka’s book, Ship of Theseus, as a means of corresponding with one another, the two amateur detectives write notes, leave postcards and maps, and more about their quest within the book.

A novel certainly doesn’t seem like Abrams’ realm of expertise so I wonder, did steering the Enterprise and the Millennium Falcon push him over the edge? Not at all, he says. “‘S.’ was born out of an idea of a love story and the notion of celebrating the book as an object,” Abrams said in the New York Times. “In a digital age, it’s a distinctly analog object. It felt romantic to me.”

Described as looking and feeling like a literary artifact, according to the LA Times, S contains the described copy of Ship of Theseus. The worn novel has all of the attributes of an old library book and we, as the reader, follow along with that story as well as students, Eric and Jen’s, investigation into Straka. 

In short, S is a book that contains a book that is used as both the mode of storytelling for the reader (us) and the characters (Eric and Jen). Think Inception mixed with The Lake House and just a dash of The English Patient. See the book trailer here.

S was released on Tuesday, October 29, and is available to purchase through all major retailers.

Benedict Cumberbatch is Rumoured To Be Joining Star Wars VII

Originally published on PopWrapped.tumblr.com.  2 September 2013.

The Star Wars rumor mill is whirring again with yet another tantalizing piece of gossip: Benedict Cumberbatch may be joining the cast of Episode VII.

Though the rumor has been vigorously not commented on by everyone associated with the highly anticipated new Star Warsmovie that does not mean fans are not all a-flutter.

Speculation of the Sherlock actor reuniting with his Star Trek director J.J. Abrams began when Cumberbatch abruptly departedfrom the Guillermo del Toro film, Crimson Peak. Since that movie and Star Wars are both expected to begin shooting in January 2014, fans were quick to connect the dots.

Cumberbatch’s repeated declaration of love for the lightsaber franchise has also added heat to the rumor. In a May interview with Total Film he confessed that he was, “an out-and-out kid running around with a lightsaber wanting to fly the Millennium Falcon.” He stated in the same interview that he had already approached Abrams about a role in Episode VII.

“I’ve already asked [J.J. Abrams] if I can be a lightsaber,” Cumberbatch joked. “We’re in talks – about whirring sounds and the rates for the lights and everything.”

In all seriousness though, who would Cumberbatch play in the Star Wars film? Everyone is mum on that as well, with some of the filmmakers jokingly saying he will be the villain. After his stunning performance as Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness, being a Sith Lord seems right up his alley.

Then again, the image of Cumberbatch running around in Jedi robes with a blue or green lightsaber sounds quite nice too.

Even with details being fairly nonexistent, there are two things I feel sure about: One, anything Cumberbatch did in Episode VIIwould be phenomenal. And two, after roles in Star Trek, The Hobbit trilogy, and Sherlock, a part in Star Wars: Episode VII would certainly cement Cumberbatch’s (well deserved) status as a geek god.

Will Samuel L Jackson Make A Star Wars Return?

Originally published on PopWrapped.Tumblr.com.  23 July 2013.

Wondering if Samuel L. Jackson will be making an appearance in Star Wars Episode VII? So is Jackson.

At George Lucas’ wedding in June, Jackson met up with Star Wars Episode VII director, JJ Abrams.

According to Digital Spy, the two had a wordless interaction where Jackson silently questioned Abrams by raising his eyebrows. Abrams responded with a shrug.

“I don’t know what that means,” Jackson said when recalling the encounter. So for now, the actor as no clue if he’ll be putting on his Jedi robe and picking up his purple lightsaber again.

The actor’s campaign to return as Jedi Master Mace Windu has become well known. Despite Windu losing a hand, getting electrocuted and flying out a window in Revenge of the Sith, Jackson believes they could bring the character back.

"He just went out the window. He’s a Jedi! He could have landed on a ledge," he teased.

Members of the first Star Wars trilogy like Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill are expected to reprise their roles. Harrison Ford is expected to return as well, however, the man behind Han Solo has been very tight lipped on the subject. Ewan McGregor has also expressed interest in being involved in the project.

“I just think it would be cool to have some of us that people relate to as being part of the Star Wars franchise to give entry to the new characters that they’re going to bring to whatever the new thing is,” Jackson said. “It kind of makes it an easier entrance."

Star Wars: Episode VII will be the first Jedi film since Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 and is expected to hit theater in 2015.