News

Jackson "Jackie" Hunsicker, who co-wrote the screenplay for Ten Little Indians, which starred Donald Pleasence and Brenda Vaccaro in a 1989 big-screen adaptation of the famed Agatha Christie novel, has died. She was 69.

Hunsicker died Friday in Studio City after a recurring battle with cancer, her cousin Ned Nalle announced.

Hunsicker also wrote and directed The Frog Prince (1988), starring Helen Hunt, and Oddball Hall (1990), a comedy starring Don Ameche and Burgess Meredith. Those films, as well as Ten Little Indians, were made for the Cannon Group.

She also wrote for the 1995 ABC series The Marshal, starring...

Academy Award nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) will guest star on an episode of the nationally syndicated series Legend of the Seeker, it was announced today. Castle-Hughes, who begins filming the episode in her native New Zealand this week, will portray a beautiful and powerful young woman claiming to be the Creator, the living embodiment of a God. When she demonstrates extraordinary power, unraveling the mystery of her true identity becomes a matter of life and death for Richard (Craig Horner), Kahlan (Bridget Regan) and Zedd (Bruce Spence). Combining elements of fantasy, adventure, magic, mystery and romance with state-of-the-art visual effects and a high level of action, Legend of the Seeker is an adaptation of internationally best-selling author Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth book series. Castle-Hughes is best known for her role as Paikea "Pai" Apirana in the 2002 film Whale Rider for which she was nominated an Academy Award.

"Legend of the Seeker"" is an action fantasy TV series, produced by ABC Studios, based on "The Sword of Truth" novels by author Terry Goodkind.

Executive producers are Sam "Evil Dead" Raimi, Robert "Xena" Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and Kenneth Biller.

Premise follows the adventures of 'woods guide' 'Richard Cypher' (Craig Horner), a mysterious woman named 'Kahlan Amnell' (Bridget Regan), and a wizard named 'Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander' (Bruce Spence) who try to stop 'Darken Rahl' (Craig Parker) from unleashing an ancient, terrifying power.

Renewed for a second season, "Legend Of The Seeker" won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series...

The second season of Legend Of The Seeker premieres this weekend, November 7-8, with a two-hour television event, beginning with last year’s season finale and then followed by “Marked,” Season Two’s inaugural episode. The show is based on Terry Goodkind’s 11-novel fantasy saga chronicling the adventures of Richard Cypher, Kahlan Amnell and Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander. The first book, Wizard’S First Rule, was published in 1994. The last, Confessor, was released in 2007.

Executive-produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and Kenneth Biller, Legend Of The Seeker debuted last November and had a first-season run of 22 episodes that roughly followed the events of Goodkind’s Wizard’S First Rule. To be openly honest, I haven’t read the Sword Of Truth books or seen the TV series, but Starlog covered the show in issues #371 & #372, and so I was familiar with the basic premise.

For those...

The second season of Legend Of The Seeker premieres this weekend, November 7-8, with a two-hour television event, beginning with last year’s season finale and then followed by “Marked,” Season Two’s inaugural episode. The show is based on Terry Goodkind’s 11-novel fantasy saga chronicling the adventures of Richard Cypher, Kahlan Amnell and Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander. The first book, Wizard’S First Rule, was published in 1994. The last, Confessor, was released in 2007.

Executive-produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and Kenneth Biller, Legend Of The Seeker debuted last November and had a first-season run of 22 episodes that roughly followed the events of Goodkind’s Wizard’S First Rule. To be openly honest, I haven’t read the Sword Of Truth books or seen the TV series, but Starlog covered the show in issues #371 & #372, and so I was familiar with the basic premise.

For those...

It was chilly in Times Square Thursday morning, but there I was, standing, waiting for the sword & sorcery heroes. And after about a half-hour, they Did show up, arriving direct from the TV fantasy world into the heart of New York City via black stretch limousine. What a way to travel between mythical kingdom and civilization!

Well, if you haven’t guessed, this was a NYC press event held on “Military Island” (that isle of concrete between 44th Street and 43rd, bracketed lengthwise by Broadway and Seventh Avenue; its title derives from the U.S. Army Recruiting Station located on its south end for decades). You may have seen publicity events held there before—it’s directly in front of ABC’s Good Morning America studios, and the show regularly makes use of that Times Square turf to stage concerts, contests and other antics.

Now, normally, I might Not venture...

"Legend of the Seeker": The Complete First Season is currently available on DVD.

Released on Oct. 13 through Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, the epic fantasy series based on Terry Goodkind's "The Sword of Truth" novels comes with the first season's 22 hour-long episodes spanning a five-disc set. In addition to these offerings, the set contains numerous special features, such as deleted scenes, audio commentaries, and the and the behind-the-scenes featurettes "Forging the Sword: Crafting a Legend" and "Words of Truth: A Conversation with Terry Goodkind."

With the basis of the first book in the series, "Wizard's First Rule," the season follows young Westland man Richard Cypher (Craig Horner), who doesn't know of his destiny to be more than a woodsman. However, he learns of his birthright as the Seeker, a chosen warrior with the power to wield the long-hidden Sword of Truth and defeat the evil of the lands,...

Actress Jolene Blalock, best known for her role as the Vulcan T'Pol in Star Trek: Enterprise has been cast in a recurring role on the upcoming second season of the nationally syndicated series Legend of the Seeker, it was announced today.

Blalock, who begins filming in New Zealand this week, will portray a mysterious Sister of the Dark who possesses very powerful magic -- she not only threatens Richard's (Craig Horner) quest to defeat evil forces, but her ultimate goal is to destroy Kahlan (Bridget Regan).

The second season of the action-adventure series Legend of the Seeker will premiere the weekend of November 7th. Combining elements of fantasy, adventure, magic, mystery and romance with state-of-the-art visual effects and a high level of action, the series is an adaptation of internationally best-selling author Terry Goodkinds "Sword of Truth" book series.

Shot with the exotic and rugged New Zealand landscape as its backdrop,...

The syndicated action-adventure series Legend of the Seeker has announced its Season 2 premiere date as well as the addition of two familiar faces.

Executive producers Ken Biller and Ned Nalle revealed at the San Diego Comic-Con on Friday that the new, 22-episode season of Seeker will arrive the weekend of Nov. 7. Production is already underway in New Zealand.

Get the latest from Comic-Con 2009 

Producers also said ...

Read More >...

People cannot get enough of crime dramas, whether they're scripted (the "CSI" series) or reality ("Cops"). CBS has ordered a pilot presentation of a reality show called "Missing You." On the show, a team of investigators investigate and try to solve different missing-persons cases each week.

The show's executive producers include "Girls Next Door" producer Ned Nalle and '70s teen sensation Shaun Cassidy, who has produced ABC's 2005 series "Invasion" and the CBS hit "American Gothic." If "Missing You" is picked up, it will be a crime reality show to counter CBS' two scripted crime hit dramas, "CSI" and "The Mentalist."

According to the Hollywood Reporter, CBS had a similar idea to develop a reality crime/police drama before. The network teamed with Mark Burnett in 2004 to develop "Recovery," a show about the search for kidnapped children.

Burnett's production team conceptualized and filmed "Recovery" for 18 months. The problem, however, was...

CBS might be extending its crime brand into the reality genre.

The network has ordered a pilot presentation of a procedural reality show called "Missing You," in which a team of investigators takes on a different missing-persons case each week.

One of the show's executive producers is '70s teen sensation Shaun Cassidy, who has since gone on to produce such scripted TV fare as ABC's 2005 series "Invasion" and the CBS cult fave "American Gothic."

If the project is picked up, "Missing" will provide a reality counterpoint to the network's scripted crime fare including "CSI" and "The Mentalist."

CBS has toyed with a similar idea before, teaming with Mark Burnett in 2004 to develop "Recovery," a show about the search for kidnapped children.

With CBS' dramas and comedies performing well, and reality competition veterans such as "Survivor" and "Big Brother" continuing to be strong on the unscripted side, the network has...

"Legend of the Seeker" is hoping to conjure up some ratings magic and revive a dormant genre when it debuts in syndication this weekend.

The weekly scripted epic fantasy, about a woodsman (Craig Horner) who discovers he has magical powers and sets out to stop a sinister tyrant, will become the first major action hour to bow in syndication in recent years with its two-hour premiere. The most recent effort, NBC/MGM's "She Spies," failed to generate much interest, lasting only two seasons (2002-04).

Many had left the genre for dead, as such big-budget first-run dramas as "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess" were considered to be part of another era. But "Seeker" distributor Disney-abc Domestic Television and producer ABC Studios believe the time is right for the weekly action hour to make a comeback.

"Entertainment and fantasy and escapism are very important in the world right now,...

Sam Raimi's scripted series "Wizard's First Rule" will debut the weekend of Nov. 1 in national syndication, Disney-abc Domestic Television and ABC Studios said Thursday.

The hourlong epic fantasy series, starring Craig Horner and Bridget Regan, will kick off with a two-hour premiere. Raimi exec produces with Rob Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and Kenneth Biller.

NEW ORLEANS -- Craig Horner and Bridget Regan have been tapped to star in Sam Raimi's syndicated series Wizard's First Rule, which launches in the fall.

The scripted series, an hourlong weekly from Disney-ABC Domestic Television and ABC Studios, is based on Terry Goodkind's book Wizard's First Rule and epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth.

Horner will star as woodsman Richard Cypher, who transforms into a magical leader and joins with a mysterious woman named Kahlan (Regan) to stop a bloodthirsty, sinister tyrant.

Horner, an Australia native, recently co-starred on the Australian series Blue Water High. Regan recently co-starred in the Broadway comedy "Is He Dead?"

Wizard's has been cleared in 95% of the country for its fall launch. Production on the 22 episodes begins this month in New Zealand.

Raimi is executive producing with Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and John Shiban.

LAS VEGAS -- Disney-ABC Domestic Television already has lined up clearances for its new syndicated series, Wizard's First Rule, from executive producer Sam Raimi.

Wizard -- a first-run, scripted, live-action weekly series -- has been cleared on Tribune Broadcasting's owned stations, representing 35% of the country, for its fall launch.

"We are enormously pleased to be bringing a network-quality product back to the syndication marketplace that will reinvigorate the weekly scripted, one-hour genre," Janice Marinelli, president of Disney-ABC Domestic Television, said Tuesday. "Tribune's stations are the ideal home for this series, and we couldn't have asked for a better launch partner."

Wizard is based on Terry Goodkind's best-selling epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth, which follows the transformation of woodsman Richard Cypher into a magical leader who joins with a mysterious, beautiful woman to stop a tyrant.

The hourlong show is being produced by ABC Studios. Raimi is executive producing alongside Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen and Ned Nalle.

LAS VEGAS -- Filmmaker Sam Raimi is looking to conjure up some syndication magic.

The "Spider-Man" director is teaming with Disney-ABC Domestic Television and ABC Studios on a new first-run, live-action weekly series targeted for a fall launch. The series, titled "Wizard's First Rule", is based on Terry Goodkind's best-selling epic fantasy series "The Sword of Truth".

"Sword" follows the extraordinary transformation of woodsman Richard Cypher into a magical leader who joins with a mysterious woman to stop a bloodthirsty tyrant.

Raimi is executive producing the hourlong series with Robert Tapert ("The Grudge"), Joshua Donen ("The Quick and the Dead") and "Xena: Warrior Princess" production executive Ned Nalle. Disney-ABC Domestic TV is distributing, and ABC Studios is producing.

Raimi called Goodkind a "brilliant author" and said he's a big fan of the books, which he read with his family.

"In discussing these incredible story lines and rich characters with my friends and partners Robert Tapert and Josh Donen, we agreed that 'Wizard's First Rule' would make an amazing television series -- one that could be produced with compelling, self-contained episodes," Raimi said.

LAS VEGAS -- Filmmaker Sam Raimi is looking to conjure up some syndication magic.

The Spider-Man director is teaming with Disney-ABC Domestic Television and ABC Studios on a new first-run, live-action weekly series targeted for a fall launch. The series, titled Wizard's First Rule, is based on Terry Goodkind's best-selling epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth.

Sword follows the extraordinary transformation of woodsman Richard Cypher into a magical leader who joins with a mysterious woman to stop a bloodthirsty tyrant.

Raimi is executive producing the hourlong series with Robert Tapert (The Grudge), Joshua Donen (The Quick and the Dead) and Xena: Warrior Princess production executive Ned Nalle. Disney-ABC Domestic TV is distributing, and ABC Studios is producing.

Raimi called Goodkind a "brilliant author" and said he's a big fan of the books, which he read with his family.

"In discussing these incredible story lines and rich characters with my friends and partners Robert Tapert and Josh Donen, we agreed that 'Wizard's First Rule' would make an amazing television series -- one that could be produced with compelling, self-contained episodes," Raimi said.