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The Orville is a sci-fi adventure comedy-drama series created by Seth MacFarlane. The Hulu series is set in the 25th century, and it follows Captain Edward “Ed” Mercer as he and his crew take their USS Orville spacecraft on various adventures in different parts of the galaxy. The Orville stars Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Halston Sage, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, Jessica Szohr, and Anne Winters. So, if you loved the hilarious comedy, a sci-fi story, and entertaining characters in The Orville, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Avenue 5 (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Avenue 5 is a sci-fi dark comedy series created by Armando Iannucci. The HBO series is set on a fictional interplanetary cruise ship, Avenue 5, and it follows Captain Ryan Clark and...

Cameras have started rolling on Fing!, a family fantasy film starring Oscar winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) and based on the bestselling children’s book from David Walliams.

The film is an AGC Studios production. The studio today revealed that Mia Wasikowska, Penelope Wilton, and Richard Roxburgh have joined the cast.

The film’s story follows librarians Mr. and Mrs. Meek, who will do anything to keep their darling daughter, Myrtle, happy. But it’s not enough for Myrtle who always wants more. But when Myrtle declares she wants a Fing, her parents have no choice but to track one down, taking them to the furthest and darkest corners of the jungle. Fing turns out to be as much as a destructive monster as Myrtle, who in turn, has to battle it out with the evil animal park owner, The Viscount, who is determined to own this rarest of creatures.

Taika Waititi and Mia Wasikowska are set to star in the Sky Original film based on David Walliams’ bestselling children’s book, Fing.

Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey), Walliams (Little Britain), Richard Roxburgh (Elvis), Robyn Nevin (Sting) and Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners) will also star alongside newcomer Iona Bell.

The fantastical feature film, co-written by Walliams and Kevin Cecil (Veep) and directed by Jeffrey Walker (The Artful Dodger), has begun principal filming at Queensland Studios in Brisbane, Australia, secured through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy.

The story follows librarians Mr. and Mrs. Meek, (Harrison and Wasikowska) who will do anything to keep their darling daughter, Myrtle (Bell), happy. But it’s not enough for Myrtle who always wants more. When Myrtle declares she wants a Fing, her parents have no choice but to track one down, taking them to the furthest and darkest corners of the jungle. Fing turns out...

The best selling children’s book Fing is getting the feature film treatment, courtesy of Sky. More on the project below.

Word has reached the Film Stories news desk that Sky is adapting the 2019 children’s book Fing into a feature film. The film is set to be released as a Sky Original and filming is currently underway in Brisbane, Australia.

Fing will be directed by Jeffrey Walker while author David Walliams is co-writing the script with Kevin Cecil.

The project has also attracted quite a number of Hollywood stars. Taika Waititi, Mia Wasikowska, Penelope Wilton, Robyn Nevin, Blake Harrison and newcomer Iona Bell are all set to star in Fing.

Here’s a proper synopsis of the story: The story follows librarians Mr. and Mrs. Meek, (Harrison and Wasikowska) who will do anything to keep their darling daughter, Myrtle (Bell), happy. But it’s not enough for Myrtle who always wants more,...

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Resident Alien is a sci-fi adventure mystery comedy-drama series created by Chris Sheridan. Based on the comic book of the same name by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, the Syfy series is set in a small Colorado town, and it follows an alien who crash-lands on Earth and takes on the form of a vacationing physician after killing him. His mission is to destroy Earth, but after living amongst humans, he begins thinking and feeling like them. Resident Alien stars Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Judah Prehn, and Elizabeth Bowen. So, if you loved the sci-fi elements, interesting stories, and entertaining characters in Resident Alien, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

3rd Rock from the Sun (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – NBC

3rd Rock from the Sun is a...

Taika Waititi is in discussions to star in the adaptation of David Walliams’ bestselling children’s book “Fing!,” alongside Rafe Spall, David Walliams and newcomer Iona Bell.

The script for the family fantasy is written by Walliams alongside Emmy Award-winner Kevin Cecil (“Veep”). Jeffrey Walker is set to direct.

AGC Intl. is launching worldwide sales, excluding U.K./Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Walliams has sold over 60 million copies of his children’s books in 55 languages.

The film centers on librarians Mr. and Mrs Meek, who will do anything to keep their darling daughter, Myrtle, happy. But it’s not enough for Myrtle who always wants more. When Myrtle declares she wants a Fing, her parents have no choice but to track one down, taking them to the furthest and darkest corners of the jungle.

Fing turns out to be as much as a destructive monster as Myrtle, who in...

Oscar winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) is in early talks to star in Fing!, a family fantasy film based on the bestselling children’s book from David Walliams.

We’re told others in the cast will include Rafe Spall (Just Mercy), Walliams (Little Britain) and newcomer Iona Bell. Waititi’s deal is not done at this stage, and it’s not entirely clear whether it will make. Production kicks off in Australia and the UK in Q1.

The story follows librarians Mr. and Mrs. Meek, who will do anything to keep their darling daughter, Myrtle (Bell), happy. But it’s not enough for Myrtle who always wants more, more, More! When Myrtle declares she wants a Fing, her parents have no choice but to track one down, taking them to the furthest and darkest corners of the jungle. Fing turns out to be as much as a destructive monster as Myrtle,...

Historical British comedy Seize Them! lands in UK cinemas in April, and the trailer has landed.

Prolific comedy writer Andy Riley, along with his writing partner Kevin Cecil, has written for numerous comedy shows including Trigger Happy TV, So Graham Norton, Smack the Pony, The Armando Iannucci Shows, Black Books, Harry and Paul, Big Bad World and Veep. They also created and wrote the underrated Matt Berry sitcom Year of The Rabbit for Channel 4.

On the big screen, Cecil and Riley wrote the scripts for Gnomeo And Juliet and the sequel, Sherlock Gnomes.

Now, Riley has written the screenplay for Seize Them! a historical comedy with a huge ensemble cast of familiar faces from the British comedy scene. Originally set for release last year, we’re delighted to see it’s now returned to the cinema release schedule.

The synopsis reads as follows:

Brimming with warmth, humour and swordfights,...

Funny Woman, the comedy drama based on a character created by Nick Hornby, is back for a second series. Here are the details...

Production is underway on the second series of Funny Woman, the Sky comedy drama based on the 2014 novel by Nick Hornby.

Gemma Arterton stars as a budding comedian inspired by Lucille Ball, who attempts to make a name for herself in the oppressive, male dominated culture of 1960s London. Production is now underway on the second series, which will comprise four hour-long episodes.

The synopsis for the new series reads as follows:

Series 2 finds Sophie on a high. She is the nation’s favourite TV comedy star; she’s got a group of good friends and her romance with Dennis is full of promise. But trouble is just round the corner: Dennis’s divorce will take three years; Sophie’s new sitcom flops and she uncovers a devastating family secret.

Objective Fiction, the UK producer behind Netflix comedy Feel Good, is opening a permanent Los Angeles operation, which will be led by head of scripted Hannah Mackay.

Mackay is relocating to the U.S. and will become SVP of Objective Fiction America with immediate effect. She will be responsible for winning original commissions, as well as overseeing American co-productions. Objective Fiction America will be based alongside Objective Media Group America, within All3Media America.

Objective Fiction’s U.S. development slate includes a new project with Feel Good creator Mae Martin titled Programmed; AMC Studios’ The Hook, by Neil Forsyth and John Niven and Designer Spy, by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley; Witless, a co-production with Funny or Die for CBS Studios; and a new female take on Peep Show for FX.

Mackay executive produced Feel Good, which was a Channel 4 and Netflix co-production before the U.S. streamer decided...

Objective Fiction, producer of Netflix/Channel 4 show “Feel Good,” is setting up a permanent U.S.-based operation.

Hannah Mackay, previously the outfit’s head of scripted, will be relocating to Los Angeles to take up the role of senior VP, Objective Fiction America, with immediate effect.

Mackay’s focus will be on North American original commissions, alongside U.S./U.K. co-productions. Objective Fiction’s current slate of U.S. developments include a project from “Feel Good” creator and star Mae Martin for Netflix; “The Hook,” by Neil Forsyth and John Niven; and “Designer Spy” by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley, both for AMC Studios; “Witless,” a co-production with Funny or Die for CBS Studios; and a female take on “Peep Show” for FX.

Objective Fiction’s new U.S. office will also help the international growth of Tannadice Pictures, a label they established in 2020 with “Guilt” writer Neil Forsyth.

Exclusive: Channel 4 has back-tracked on its decision to commission a second season of Victorian-era comedy crime caper Year Of The Rabbit after the coronavirus pandemic forced the British broadcaster into £150M ($205M) of content cuts.

Channel 4 renewed Matt Berry’s Year Of The Rabbit in February last year, funding the Objective Media Group (Omg) show alongside AMC-owned U.S. cable network IFC. But now, Omg is on the hunt for a new partner for the comedy.

“Year Of The Rabbit is a victim of the devastating effects of Covid,” Omg chief executive Layla Smith told Deadline. “IFC are very committed to the show, but we will need to find another partner — and we’re working on that.”

The show stars Berry as a detective in Victorian London, who fights crime alongside his hapless partner, played by Freddie Fox, and the country’s first female police officer, performed by Susan Wokoma.

If you know Matt Berry from his most famous roles — such as The It Crowd’s idiot boss Douglas Reynholm, Toast of London’s pompous struggling actor Steven Toast, or the preening and lascivious vampire Laszlo on What We Do in the Shadows — talking to him over the phone is sort of like meeting his un-evil twin. Where his characters are outrageous and inappropriate, Berry is circumspect and gentlemanly. While they pronounce every word as if they’re doing Shakespeare in the Park, with a ponderous theatricality, his signature rich...

There are few people alive with Matt Berry’s line delivery skills. When he’s not leaning into the lofty, roller-coaster cadence that’s led to scene-stealing parts on “The It Crowd,” “Toast of London,” and most recently the TV version of “What We Do in the Shadows,” he’s an actor with a gift for raised eyebrows and comedic directness that can turn both short proclamations and impossibly syllable-d word chunks into the most dependable punchlines.

So it’s always a treat to see him take on a role that affords those talents a front-and-center spot. The latest TV project to do so is “Year of the Rabbit,” a period detective comedy that aired last summer on Channel 4 and makes its stateside debut this week on IFC. Berry stars as Di Eli Rabbit, a street-savvy detective dispensing with his own brand of pre-forensics sleuthing in 1880s London.

Rabbit’s methods are unconventional,...

Keely Hawes, one of the breakout stars of Bodyguard, Veep’s Sally Phillips and Three Girls’ Jill Halfpenny have joined IFC and Channel 4’s comedy series Year of the Rabbit.

The trio have joined the show, which stars Toast of London’s Matt Berry, as it goes into production on location in the UK.

Hawes stars as the mysterious Lydia, Phillips is Princess Juliana of Bulgaria, and Halfpenny features as Rabbit’s ex, the deadly Flora.

The six-part series follows a group of Victorian detectives; Berry, who stars in Jim Hosking’s An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn and Matt Groening’s Netflix animation Disenchantment, plays Detective Inspector Rabbitt, a hardened booze-hound who’s seen it all, and his new, hapless, by-the-books partner, played by Parade End’s Freddie Fox. While investigating a local murder, the chief of police’s lewd but insightful adoptive daughter, played by Chewing Gum’s Susan Wokoma,...

U.S. cable network IFC and British broadcaster Channel 4 have ordered Year of the Rabbit, a six-part comedy starring Toast of London’s Matt Berry. The two broadcasters have commissioned the show from All3Media-backed Objective Fiction after it was piloted by C4 last year.

The news was announced today at the Atx Television Festival in Austin.

The series follows a group of Victorian detectives; Berry, who stars in Jim Hosking’s An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn and Matt Groening’s Netflix animation Disenchantment, plays Detective Inspector Rabbitt, a hardened booze-hound who’s seen it all, and his new, hapless, by-the-books partner, played by Parade End’s Freddie Fox. While investigating a local murder, the chief of police’s lewd but insightful adoptive daughter, played by Chewing Gum’s Susan Wokoma, becomes the country’s first female officer. Together, the trio must fight crime while rubbing shoulders with street gangs,...

IFC and Channel 4 are teaming for the original TV comedy Year of the Rabbit.

The project, a six-episode straight-to-series order, will star Matt Berry as Detective Inspector Rabbit — a drunk sleuth investigating crimes inspired by the world of Sherlock Holmes' Victorian-era London.

Written by Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil, and directed by Ben Taylor, the series also stars Freddie Fox and Susan Wokoma. It's being produced by Objective Fiction.

“Like everyone else in comedy, we have been trying to develop a Victoria- era procedural cop show for years so between that and stalking Matt Berry since ...

The first trailer has been released for the upcoming animated film Sherlock Gnomes and it looks pretty damn silly. The movie is a sequel to the 2011 film Gnomeo and Juliet. Regardless of how silly the movie looks, I'm sure that the kids will enjoy it.

The movie boasts an impressive cast that includes Johnny Depp as detective Sherlock Gnomes, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Watson, Mary J. Blige as Irene, James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Maggie Smith, Stephen Merchant and Ozzy Osbourne.

The beloved garden gnomes from Gnomeo and Juliet are back for a whole new adventure in London. When Gnomeo and Juliet first arrive in the city with their friends and family, their biggest concern is getting their new garden ready for spring. However, they soon discover that someone is kidnapping garden gnomes all over London. When Gnomeo and Juliet return home to find that everyone in their garden is...

The Writers Guild of America has just announced the nominations for their annual awards for Best Screenplays (by writers who are guild signatories). That’s right, before you get nervous thinking that your favorite may have been left off the list, you must remember that the WGA is the group that is not all-inclusive and leaves out several of the top contenders each year due to them not being part of the guild or not following their very specific rules. For this reason, you won’t see Inside Out, The Hateful Eight, and Ex Machina in the Original Screenplay category or Room, Brooklyn, or Anomalisa in the Adapted screenplay category.

Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...

The Big Short

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the motion picture, long-form television, digital series, sports programs and additional television nominations for the 27th Annual Producers Guild Awards.

The categories include: The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures; The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures; The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television; Outstanding Sports Program; and Outstanding Digital Series. The feature documentary film category and other television category nominations were previously announced by the PGA in late 2015.

All 2016 Producers Guild Award winners will be announced on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. This year, the Producers Guild will present special honors to Jim Gianopulos (Milestone Award), Shonda Rhimes (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), David Heyman (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), The Hunting Ground (Stanley Kramer...

The Producers Guild of America has announced the nominations for its 27th annual Producers Guild Awards! 10 films are vying for the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures. And sorry "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "Carol," you did not make the cut :sad

The PGA Awards winners will be announced on January 23. Here's the complete list of nominees of the 27th annual Producers Guild Awards:

Theatrical Motion Picture nominees

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures

The Big Short

Producers: Brad Pitt & Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner

Bridge of Spies

Producers: Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt, Kristie Macosko Krieger

Brooklyn

Producers: Finola Dwyer & Amanda Posey

Ex Machina

This film is in the process of being vetted for producer eligibility

Mad Max: Fury Road

Producers: Doug Mitchell & George Miller

The Martian

Producers: Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Mark Huffam

The Revenant

Producers: Arnon Milchan,...

The Writers Guild of America announced some of its nominees for its 2015 awards on Thursday, including television, new media, and radio, and among the TV nominees are series both new and old, and all beloved.

In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.

On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.

The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...

It’s now been a full four years since the release of whimsical animation Gnomeo and Juliet, and just as we were beginning to question whether the sequel was in trouble or not, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Black Mass star Johnny Depp has landed the title role in Sherlock Gnomes.

Starring opposite James McAvoy and Emily Blunt for the follow-up, Depp’s titular sleuth will be hunted down by the Shakespearian pair, as they long to solve the great mystery surrounding the disappearances of fellow garden gnomes once and for all. Kung Fu Panda director John Stevenson is behind the lens for the animated sequel, though it’s unclear whether Sherlock Gnomes will once again tap Elton John for musical inspiration.

Speaking of tapping an old formula, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley will return to pen the script for Paramount, which picked up rights for the film from...

Remember Kinvig, Clone, Not With A Bang? These are the UK sci-fi sitcoms you’re unlikely to see on comedy best-of lists…

With E4 sci-fi comedy commissions, Tripped and Aliens, and in-development Channel 4 projects, Space Ark and Graham Linehan/Adam Buxton collaboration The Cloud, in the works, a new crop of sci-fi sitcom could be making its way to UK TV.

Making funny sci-fi on a small-screen budget is tough enough without the additional pressure of having to attract viewers more traditionally down-to-earth in their sitcom tastes. Sci-fi sets and effects can be seen as prohibitively expensive by comedy commissioners (which is perhaps why the best UK sci-fi sitcoms of recent years has been on BBC Radio), and the genre’s niche status doesn’t scream mainstream hit. Over the years, one or two stand-outs have managed to straddle the sci-fi and comedy TV worlds, but plenty more have stumbled in the attempt.

Gary Cole

Veep, Season 4, Episode 8: “B/ill”

Teleplay by Tony Roche, Andy Riley, and Kevin Cecil, Story by Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, Andy Riley, and Kevin Cecil

Directed by Becky Martin

Airs Sundays at 10:30pm (Et) on HBO

Putting into motion the Families First bill was one of the first actions Meyer undertook as President. However, a bill she has been proud of and championed has ended up as an albatross on her neck, as the support for the bill has dwindled, with the nickname “Mommy Meyer bill” ending up attached to it. This week sees the bill finally come to a vote, and the administration decides to take the action to try and kill it, a decision that comes with its own set of consequences, exacerbated by Meyer falling ill. The result is a strong episode that delves into how the government works in Veep while still retaining the show’s humour.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Veep, Season 4, Episode 2: “East Wing”

Teleplay by Kevin Cecil, Roger Drew, and Andy Riley, Story by Armando Iannucci, Kevin Cecil, Roger Drew, and Andy Riley

Directed by Stephanie Laing

Airs Sundays at 10:30pm (Et) on HBO

The fourth season premiere of Veep proved that the show’s change was only superficial, with Meyer continuing to face the same roadblocks and powerlessness as President that characterised her time as Vice-president, only in larger doses. This week’s episode once again proves that point, while showing that Meyer herself has also not changed much, in another hilarious episode that allows several members of the cast to shine.

Gary and Selina’s blowup is an intriguing aspect of the episode. The season premiere indicated that the one person whose job was negatively impacted by the transition to the Oval Office was Gary. Thus, it’s not surprising to see...

Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel" won the Original Screenplay honor at the recently concluded Writers Guild Awards while Morten Tyldum's "The Imitation Game" took home the Adapted Screenplay trophy. "The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swarts" written by Brian Knappenberger won Documentary Screenplay award. The film is not nominated for an Academy award.

In TV land, HBO's "True Detective" won the Drama Series award and FX's "Louie" received the Comedy Series trophy.

Here's the complete list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 2015 Writers Guild Awards:

Feature Film

Original Screenplay

Boyhood, Written by Richard Linklater; IFC Films

Foxcatcher, Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman; Sony Pictures Classics

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness; Fox Searchlight Winner

Nightcrawler, Written by Dan Gilroy; Open Road Films

Whiplash, Written by Damien Chazelle; Sony Pictures Classics

Adapted Screenplay

American Sniper,...

The Writers Guild of America announced the TV nominees for the 2015 WGA Awards on Thursday (December 4) morning and several new shows broke into the fields in a big way. And, of course, there were a number of big WGA Award nomination head-scratchers. Specifically, where the heck was FX's "Fargo"? The answer is below. Making perhaps the biggest splash was "Transparent," which earned three nominations and, since "Orange Is The New Black" earned two nods and "House of Cards" pick up one, that meant that Amazon Prime and Netflix are, at least for one award-giving organization, on equal footing as creators of original programming. The Jill Soloway-created "Transparent" is nominated for New Series, where it will go against "The Affair," "The Knick," "Silicon Valley" and "True Detective." "Transparent" and "Silicon Valley" are also up for Comedy Series, going against "Louie," "Veep" and "Orange Is The New Black." Lest you panic...

Newcomer Billy Kennedy from London has landed the lead role in the new BBC dramatisation of David Walliams' book The Boy In The Dress, which has just started filming in London.

Billy (represented by Esta Charkham Associates) previously played Toots in the National Theatre's production of Emil and the Detectives, and Weeping William in Horrid Henry:The Movie but this is his TV debut.

The Boy In The Dress tells the story of 12-year-old Dennis, an ordinary boy, who lives in an ordinary town – but he feels different. A chance view of a fashion magazine introduces him to a whole new world of colour and creativity, but can a boy wear a dress, and what will the Headmaster, his Dad, and his friends in the football team think if they find out?

Following on from the success of previous David Walliams books TV adaptations Gangsta Granny and the BAFTA-nominated Mr Stink,...

David Walliams' children's book 'The Boy in the Dress' will be adapted for the TV. The 42-year-old comedian's first story will be dramatised by BBC One in time for Christmas 2014, following in the footsteps of his previous festive offerings 'Mr Stink' and 'Gangsta Granny'. Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley will join David in adapting the hour-long special, which tells the story of a 12-year-old cross-dressing boy and the thoughts and feelings of his friends and family. David said: ''I am over the moon that my first novel for children is going to be on BBC One at Christmas. I was very pleased...

BBC One has commissioned a third film based on David Walliams's series of children's books.

Boy in the Dress will air on the channel during the Christmas period, following Gangsta Granny and Mr Stink.

Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley will adapt the hour-long special, alongside Walliams.

The story is centred on a 12-year-old boy who enjoys cross-dressing, and how his family and friends react to it.

Walliams said: "I am over the moon that my first novel for children is going to be on BBC One at Christmas.

"I was very pleased with the adaptations of Mr Stink and Gangsta Granny, and I trust Boy in The Dress will delight and surprise a family audience."

The BBC's Shane Allen said: "Boy in the Dress is a very touching, hilarious and poignant story of why being different is something to celebrate. As with David's other novel adaptations I have no...

Sally Phillips, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Veep, Season 3, Episode 06: “Detroit”

Teleplay by Kevin Cecil, David Quantick, and Andy Riley, Story by Armando Iannucci, Kevin Cecil, David Quantick, and Andy Riley

Directed by Tim Kirkby

Airs Sundays at 10:30pm (Et) on HBO

It was inevitable that Meyer’s newest campaign for the Us Presidency would run into some hot button issues, whether she liked it or not. The team has already faced prior crises related to this, whether they be public ones like the abortion stance, or private ones like Meyer’s childcare support. However, with the roles in the unit now more clearly defined, this week’s episode throws multiple problems at Meyer and her staff in a short period of time, resulting in an entertaining episode that further reinforces that the campaign will not be an easy one.

Watching Meyer’s campaign this week is an intriguing look into how the team handles crises,...

Kevin Dunn, Reid Scott

Veep, Season 3, Episode 04: “Clovis”

Teleplay by Kevin Cecil, Roger Drew, and Andy Riley, Story by Armando Iannucci, Kevin Cecil, Roger Drew, and Andy Riley

Directed by Armando Iannucci

Airs Sundays at 10:30pm (Et) on HBO

While Meyer formally kicked off her presidential campaign last week, she has yet to select a campaign manager, a decision she has previously wrestled with. While Ben has pushed the idea of hiring an outsider, Dan and Amy have both expressed an interest in the job. Despite neither one speaking openly to Meyer about the position, she is aware of their eagerness. This week’s episode sees both characters put in positions that further complicates Meyer’s eventual decision, in another superbly funny episode that proves Kent’s value to the team.

Dan effectively manipulating Jonah this week is a fascinating development. This season has made it clear that...

Review Patrick Sproull 26 Dec 2013 - 19:00

Patrick checks out heart-warming, rollicking family drama, Gangsta Granny...

This review contains spoilers.

In some curious and forgettable circumstances I found myself reading Gangsta Granny to one of my younger relatives a couple of years ago. Hailing from the David Walliams stable it was expected to be ripe with gags and puns about the modern world but behind the humour there was a moral tale about people’s neglect of the elderly. At Christmas time it seems ideal fare for families grazing round the TV for feel-good laughs and a life lesson, so unsurprisingly the BBC nabbed the rights and set about adapting it. Written by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (two of the penmen behind Gnomeo and Juliet. The one with Jason Statham as a garden ornament. Yeah, that one) with more than a little help from Walliams himself Gangsta Granny has been...

Miranda Hart and Joanna Lumley are to star in a BBC adaptation of Gangsta Granny.

David Walliams's best-selling children's novel will be turned into a one-off 60-minute film for BBC One, following the success of the TV adaptation of Mr Stink.

Julia McKenzie (Marple) will star as the title character in the comedy drama, which begins filming on Sunday (October 27), for a broadcast at Christmas.

The project has been co-written by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Gnomeo & Juliet) with Walliams.

Gangsta Granny follows schoolboy Ben (Reece Buttery), who becomes bored after being forced to stay with his grandma.

However, she soon tells him the story of when she used to be an international jewel thief, before they join forces to complete the big heist she never completed.

Lumley will portray the Queen, while Walliams and Hart will play Ben's parents Mike and Linda.

Rob Brydon will play nosy neighbour Mr Parker,...

Comedy Central has unveiled a new trailer for Big Bad World, its upcoming original comedy starring Blake Harrison.

Harrison, best known as Neil Sutherland in The Inbetweeners, plays Ben Turnbull, a university graduate who reluctantly returns to his home town after three years away.

Big Bad World finds Ben with no job, no girlfriend and living with his parents after his years away at uni.

The show also stars Caroline Quentin, James Fleet, Seann Walsh, Scarlett Alice Johnson and David Flynn.

When the pilot was commissioned, Andrew Newman of Objective Productions said: "Comedy Central already have many of the best comedy shows from around the world and we are very proud to be making a new British one for them."

Big Bad World has been written by Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf, with additional episodes penned by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Black Books). Tristram Shapeero (Peep Show, Community ) will direct.

BBC One have announced the commission of David Walliams’s popular children’s book Gangsta Granny for Christmas 2013.

The TV special was commissioned by departing controller of BBC One Danny Cohen, as well as newly appointed BBC head of Comedy Shane Allen. The production will be In-House and is scheduled to be screened later this year.

Fronted by the same team who made Mr Stink – which has secured a BAFTA nomination – the script will be written by Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley, who also co wrote Gnomeo & Juliet & Black Books. David Walliams will also be lending his writing hand too.

Speaking in a BBC press release, David Walliams talks about his excitement of seeing Gangsta Granny being made for TV;

“Gangsta Granny has proved to be the most popular of all my books. It is an adventure story about two unlikely thieves, Granny and her grandson, Ben. It should make for exciting family viewing at Christmas.

Have I got some thrilling news for you! Gnomeo & Juliet, Disney’s lawn-set adventure about two star-crossed ceramic gnomes, is getting its sequel. The original film drew its inspiration — and pun-ny title — from William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, but unlike that tragic tale, these warring Montagues and Capulets put aside their difference without any bloodshed… though there were some injuries that required hefty amounts of superglue.

Earlier this year, details about the sequel emerged revealing that its title Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes refers to a new figure in the world of lawn gnomes, sassy frog-nannies and plastic flamingos, who is tasked with solving the mystery of the garden’s missing ornaments/residents.

Elton John is back as producer and set to contribute original music for the production; screenwriters Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil are returning also, but rather than bringing back Gnomeo & Juliet director Kelly Asbury, Kung Fu Panda co-director...

Sherlock Gnomes, the sequel to Elton John's animated musical Gnomeo & Juliet, will be directed by Kung Fu Panda helmer John Stevenson. The lawn decorations from the first film will be joined by the famous sleuth, who in this case, is also a garden gnome. Gnomes is trying to find out why the citizens of the English garden are disappearing but, perhaps it's the plaster in his brain, Gnomes isn't as bright as his human counterpart. The writers from the first outing, Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil, are writing the follow up and Elton John is writing new music for the pic. John's Rocket Pictures is producing and, assumably, Disney will again distribute under its label.

Stevenson is currently working on Alien Rock Band about an intergalactic battle of the bands.  

Gnomeo & Juliet grossed $194 million at the box office.

Source: Deadline...

Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes has appointed John Stevenson as director. Deadline confirms that the Kung Fu Panda filmmaker has signed on to helm the sequel, succeeding Kelly Asbury in the director's chair. Asbury will serve as a creative consultant, while screenwriters Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil will make a return to the series. Sir Elton John will provide songs for the soundtrack once again. James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are expected to reprise their (more)...

The sequel to Elton John's "Gnomeo and Juliet" is now getting off the ground. "Kung Fu Panda" director John Stevenson has signed on to helm the new 3D animated film, which will bring back original writers Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil. The sequel, called "Sherlock Gnomes," centers on the characters from the first movie enlisting the help of a famous gnome-detective in solving the sinister disappearance of gnomes from the suburban gardens of England. John is writing original music for the movie, which will go into production early next year. "Gnomeo and Juliet" was released in 2011 and went on to gross $194 million worldwide. It has a 56% fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.

John Stevenson ("Kung Fu Panda") is set to direct the 3D animated "Gnomeo and Juliet" sequel "Sherlock Gnomes" for Rocket Pictures says Deadline.

The story centers on the characters from the first movie enlisting the help of a famous gnome-detective in solving the sinister disappearance of gnomes from the suburban gardens of England.

Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil are back on scripting duties while Elton John and David Furnish will produce. John is currently writing original music for the movie, and filming begins early next year.

Kung Fu Panda director John Stevenson has agreed to direct the animated sequel Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes for Rocket Pictures.

We first reported on the sequel back in March, when Gnomeo and Juliet writers Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil signed on to write the screenplay. The story centers on Gnomeo and Juliet hiring the great detective Sherlock Gnomes, when several of the gnomes have gone missing. Gnomeo and Juliet stars James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are expected to return as the title characters, although no deals have been finalized yet.

As he did with Gnomeo and Juliet, Elton John will produce with his Rocket Pictures partner David Furnish, with Steve Hamilton Shaw executive producing. Elton John will also compose new music for the sequel.

Production is scheduled to begin early next year, although it isn't clear when they plan to release this animated follow-up.

Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes is in...

When your movie turns a profit, nobody actually having a recollection of it doesn’t make much difference. I can only assume this is one of the driving philosophies behind Sherlock Gnomes, a sequel to last year’s Elton John-infused animated picture Gnomeo & Juliet that, according to Deadline, John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda) will now be directing.

As should be clear from the oh-my-Lord-are-you-really-going-with-that title, the project — which Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil, Gnomeo‘s writers, are returning for — sees the original movie’s characters seeking the help of a world famous detective (guess his name) to solve “the sinister disappearance of gnomes from the suburban gardens of England.” So, does that make this our first-ever mixing of William Shakespeare and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? And does it really have to be this?

Yes, it does. Elton John will contribute once again, having been said to come back as producer through Rocket Pictures,...

Back in March, Elton John’s Rocket Pictures, which spearheaded the original movie’s development, announced that successful ‘toon Gnomeo & Juliet would be getting a sequel called Sherlock Gnomes. Now it has a director, with Kung Fu Panda man John Stevenson on board.Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil are back once more for the new adventure, which focuses on the main characters from the first film (so hopefully James McAvoy and Emily Blunt will return to the voice booth) enlisting the aid of a master gnome detective to discover why some ornaments are vanishing from the gardens of England.“John has the perfect sensibility for this movie, together with the vision to build on the first film to create a distinctive, fresh and action-packed adventure,” said Rocket boss Steve Hamilton Shaw in a statement picked up by Deadline.Stevenson’s not a shocking choice, since the first movie’s director...

Breaking… The Kung Fu Panda director has come aboard Sherlock Gnomes, the 3D animated sequel to last year’s Disney-released Gnomeo & Juliet. Elton John‘s Rocket Pictures is producing again with the first movie’s co-writers Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil also back for the follow-up, which centers on the characters from the first movie enlisting the help of a famous gnome-detective in solving the sinister disappearance of gnomes from the suburban gardens of England. “John has the perfect sensibility for this movie, together with the vision to build on the first film to create a distinctive, fresh and action-packed adventure,” said Rocket CEO and producer Steve Hamilton Shaw. Stevenson is repped by CAA. Elton John is writing original music for the movie, which is now set to begin production early next year. Rocket Pictures, repped by UTA, also said today that it has hired former Walt Disney Animation production...

Announced earlier this year , Rocket Pictures is moving forward with a sequel to their 2011 hit Gnomeo & Juliet . Today, Deadline updates that Kung Fu Panda helmer John Stevenston has signed on to direct Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes . The original film featured the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt who, though unconfirmed, are likely to return. The first film's director, Kelly Asbury, will serve as creative consultant while Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil are set to again provide the screenplay. As in the original, Sherlock Gnomes will feature new music by Elton John.

Hollywood loves its sequels, and we’ve got the proof here. Meet the 105 sequels at various stages of production, and a further 17 that seem to have died.

It’s been nearly five years since we started doing our annual round-ups of the current movie sequels that are in the works, and this year marks the longest list of all. Furthermore, what the 105 we've rounded up here doesn’t include are the projects that we suspect might have been lost to development hell, which we’ve detailed down at the bottom. Hollywood does love its follow-ups.

The projects that we do talk about here each have some chance of happening, and we’ve done a release date cut off of films due after October 2012 at the earliest. Thus, this summer’s collection of sequels – including The Dark Knight Rises, Madagascar 3, Ice Age 4, G.I. Joe 2, The Expendables 2, American Pie: The Reunion,...

With sequels recently announced for Project X and The Muppets, it seems that it’s only a matter of time before we hear the same about The Lorax, Act of Valor or Bridesmaids (we hope). In the meantime, here are a handful of recently added follow-ups to IMDbPro's expanding database of in-development listings:

21 Jump Street 2 – Agents Schmidt and Jenko are suiting up for a high school reunion. The film's scribe Michael Bacall told MTV last week that he's met with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum to begin writing a sequel to the spoof based on the popular '80s crime drama.

Mission: Impossible 5 – No official announcements have been made from Tom Cruise regarding his plans to portray Ethan Hunt again, but after M:I4's successful run at the box office ($686 million worldwide), Viacom boss Philippe Dauman was boastful about the franchise's future, saying, "oh yes", there are plans to develop an additional sequel.

Sherlock Gnomes – We had gnome idea how clever Elton John's spin on Shakespeare's classic would turn out, but were pleasantly surprised with the barrage of bard jokes and a Kiki Dee cameo. The musician's production company is now developing a sequel with scribes Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley that will feature new tunes by the Rocket Man himself.

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3 – Journey 2 is cleaning up overseas, so it's no surprise that New Line has enlisted director Brad Peyton and writers Brian and Mark Gunn to get crackin' on a new adventure. Stars Dwayne Johnson and Josh Hutcherson are reportedly circling the project.

Chronicle 2 – Max Landis is a busy man. The writer's got several high-profile projects on his laptop including Amnesty at Universal and Frankenstein at Fox and he is still riding high after his sci-fi thriller Chronicle premiered at the top of the box office charts last month. Now he's added a sequel to that project to his development slate, which Fox will also produce.

If you know of something in the works, you can submit it via our online submission form. (it doesn't have to be a sequel).

Joss Whedon has been discussing The Avengers recently and when asked about how to make The Avengers 2 bigger and better he said, "By not trying to. By being smaller. More personal, more painful... By being the next thing that should happen to these characters, and not just a rehash of what seemed to work the first time. By having a theme that is completely fresh and organic to itself." He also talked about what interests him about the characters saying, "I want to know what makes them tick, what makes them flawed, what makes them fight - and ultimately, what makes them awesome... I go to these movies for those moments when the heroes define themselves, either through action or deliciously overwritten speeches." And finally, in the video seen just above, he discusses Iron Man's suit in the film. [source / source / [source] Moviefone's Mike Ryan cold called actual John Carter's in...