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It looks like the BBC is putting detective Hercule Poirot on the case.
Dangerous Liaisons and Places in the Heart actor John Malkovich will play Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in the BBC's three-part adaptation of Agatha Christie's The ABC Murders, the show's producer announced Wednesday.
Set to begin filming next month with Alex Gabassi as the director, the 1930s-set mystery will co-star Rupert Grint, Andrew Buchan, Eamon Farren, Tara Fitzgerald, Bronwyn James and Freya Mavor.
"The ABC Murders is one of my great-grandmother's most unsettling and intense stories and Hercule Poirot one of her most intriguing characters. I am humbled by the quality of cast we have lined up for the show and I am most excited to experience the unique approach John Malkovich will bring to the role in this thrilling, one-off television adaptation," James Prichard, executive producer and chief executive officer of Agatha Christie Limited, said in a statement.
Poirot has previously been played on screen by actors Albert Finney, Alfred Molina, Orson Welles, David Suchet and Kenneth Branagh.
I do enjoy a good mystery. Who doesn't?!
Be Well,
Steve
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus to be honored with Mark Twain Prize
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been selected to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The actress, best known for her roles on Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine and Veep, will receive the award on October 21 during an event at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, D.C.
Previous honorees include Richard Pryor, Tina Fey. Will Ferrell, Ellen DeGeneres, Carol Burnett, Jay Leno, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray and David Letterman -- who was honored last year.
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recognizes those who have had an impact on American society in similar ways as Twain, a novelist.
"Merely to join the list of distinguished recipients of this award would be honor enough, but, as a student of both American history and literature, the fact that Mr. Twain himself will be presenting the award to me in person is particularly gratifying," Louis-Dreyfus said in a statement.
"Like Mark Twain, Julia has enriched American culture with her iconic, unforgettable and outright hilarious brand of humor," said Kennedy Center president Deborah F. Rutter. "Over four decades, her wildly original characters and her gift for physical comedy have left us in stitches. Julia is a role model for so many, and we look forward to honoring her on October 21."
Louis-Dreyfus, who has been battling breast cancer, is expected to return to work on HBO's Veep in August with the seventh and final season of the comedy airing in 2019.
Matt Groening's 'Disenchantment' to premiere in August on Netflix
Disenchantment, the new animated series from Simpsons and Futurama creator Matt Groening, will premiere Aug. 17 on Netflix.
Netflix made the announcement on Twitter Wednesday alongside the first images released for the series that feature main characters princess Bean, elf Elfo and demon Luci.
The images feature the characters surrounded by scary trees, exploring a dungeon and relaxing inside a throne room.
The fantasy-based comedy will feature the voices of Abbi Jacobson (Bean), Nat Faxon (Elfo) and Eric Andre (Luci). John DiMaggio, Billy West, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacNeille, David Herman, Matt Berry, Jeny Batten, Rich Fulcher, Noel Fielding and Lucy Montgomery will also be providing voice work.
"In Disenchantment, viewers will be whisked away to the crumbling medieval kingdom of Dreamland, where they will follow the misadventures of hard-drinking young princess Bean, her feisty elf companion Elfo, and her personal demon Luci. Along the way, the oddball trio will encounter ogres, sprites, harpies, imps, trolls, walruses, and lots of human fools," reads the synopsis.
Animation on Disenchantment is being done by Rough Draft Studios, the same studio behind Futurama. Groening is serving as an executive producer alongside Josh Weinstein.
The first ten episodes of Disenchantment will be arriving on Netflix on Aug. 17. The streaming service ordered 20 episodes of the series in June 2017.
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"You do you. Whatever it is that makes you happy, that makes you want to get up and dance in the morning, or even just that makes your want to feel content - just keep doing that."
--Emilia Clarke, on her advice for young girls, to People Now
??? Guess Who ???
Which British actor will star in, and direct, a modern version of 'Hunchback of Notre Dame'?
ABC cancels 'Chew' to pave way for third hour of 'GMA'
ABC canceled its food and lifestyle program The Chew Wednesday after seven seasons.
The show initially starred Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz and Michael Symon but recently saw the departures of busy mom of three Oz and Batali, who has been accused of sexually inappropriate behavior in the restaurant industry.
The show's ending paves the way for the addition of a third hour of Good Morning America, starring Michael Strahan, Robin Roberts, Ginger Zee and George Stephanopoulos.
The Chew will continue to air new episodes until June, with reruns taking the time slot until September.
"Over the past six years Good Morning America has solidified its place as America's No. 1 morning show," Ben Sherwood, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney|ABC Television, said in a statement. "We believe there is great opportunity for viewers and advertisers in expanding to a third hour.
"While this is the right decision for our business, it is also bittersweet. For seven years, The Chew has delighted audiences by delivering innovative food segments in an entertaining atmosphere. We applaud and thank Gordon Elliott, Aimee Householder, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and the entire cast and crew for their great work and amazing run. And we wish them the very best."
Regina King, Don Johnson cast in HBO's 'Watchmen' pilot
Regina King, Don Johnson and more have been cast in HBO's pilot of Watchmen, a new series from screenwriter Damon Lindelof that is based on the famed graphic novel of the same name.
Joining King and Johnson in the superhero drama is Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Adelaide Clemens, and Andrew Howard. The details about their characters are being kept under wraps.
King, who previously starred on HBO's The Leftovers which was co-created by Lindelof and Tom Perrotta based on Perrotta's novel of the same name, will be taking on the lead role.
Lindelof, who is developing the series, is executive producing with Nicole Kassell who will be directing the pilot, and Tom Spezialy.
The pilot is HBO's second attempt at developing a show based on the DC Comics property that features characters such as Doctor Manhattan, Nite Owl, Silk Spectre and Rorschach investigating the murder of one of their own before uncovering a dark conspiracy.
Lindelof is a fan of the 1986 Watchmen comic book by Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons. He recently announced on Tuesday on Instagram that his Watchmen series will not be a re-telling of the story and will feature new characters set in the same world.
Watchmen was previously adapted into a feature film by director Zack Snyder in 2009.
??? Guess Who ???
Which British actor will star in, and direct, a modern version of 'Hunchback of Notre Dame'?
Luthor and Avengers: Infinity War actor Idris Elba has signed on to star in, direct and produce a contemporary movie based on Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The story was originally set in 15th century France.
"The feature film will be a sonic and musical experience for which Elba will also produce the music," a news release from Netflix said about the modern-day version of the epic.
Michael Mitnick is penning the project.
Additional casting and a start date for production were not immediately announced.