Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: HBO

  • SDCC: ‘House of the Dragon’ Screenwriter Teases the Dragons

    SDCC: ‘House of the Dragon’ Screenwriter Teases the Dragons

    Continuing our coverage of San Diego Comic-Con, Hall H continues with a panel on the upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff with the House of the Dragon. The first spin-off from the wildly popular adaptation of A Song Of Fire & Ice brings us to a time when the Lannisters were not in power, but rather explore the Targaryen empire. We heard these stories throughout Game of Thrones, but now we are going to see them play out on the small screen. One question that has popped up a ton as we are ready for the August premiere of House of the Dragon: how many dragons will we see?

    During the panel, screenwriter Ryan Condal was asked whether how dominant we’d see the symbol of the Targaryen and their rise to power. Given that Daenerys birthed three dragons in the original series, and we saw the skulls of dragons under Kings Landing, it does bode the question of how many would appear. He reveals that seventeen dragons are present throughout the HBO Max’s series runtime.

    Now, keep in mind that in Game of Thrones lore only a select few Targaryens can ride dragons. So, it is going to be interesting to see if there is this competitive nature between the various family members that can ride and the ones who can’t. Still, seventeen dragons are nothing to scoff at and would go a long way towards explaining the expensive budget the show is working with.

  • Former ‘Doctor Who’ Showrunner’s Adaptation of ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ Canceled After Only One Season

    Former ‘Doctor Who’ Showrunner’s Adaptation of ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ Canceled After Only One Season

    Sadly, it looks like the adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger‘s novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife, won’t be making a return after all. Deadline has just reported that Deadline has decided to cancel the series created by Doctor Who’s Steven Moffat. The series starred Rose Leslie and Theo James which explored what it means to face marital problems with a time-traveling twist.

    Though HBO will not be moving forward with a second season of The Time Traveler’s Wife, it was our privilege to partner with master storytellers Steven Moffat and David Nutter. We are so grateful for their passion, hard work and care for adapting this beloved book. We also thank Theo and Rose, and the rest of our brilliant cast for their heartfelt performances, which completely captivated audiences.

    It’s a shame they didn’t continue the story to fully develop the storyline, especially with how it explored a very unlikely marriage situation. Of course, it’s not the first time the novel was adapted as we also had the film back in 2009 starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams in the leading roles.

    HBO has been on a hunt for their next big show, especially with a lot of hope of seeing the prequel series for Game of Thrones take over that very spot. Romance stories don’t have a strong following nowadays and they may have had an issue keeping their audience throughout. So, even if it has an interesting sci-fi hook, there’s still too much attention to compete with out there at the moment.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Succession’ Season 4 Kicks Off Production With First Set Photo

    ‘Succession’ Season 4 Kicks Off Production With First Set Photo

    It was back in October that the HBO series Succession was renewed for a fourth season. Not much was known about the upcoming new season, which continues to follow the Roy family, a group of dysfunctional entrepreneurs in the media and entertainment world. Brian Cox plays the role of Logan Roy and is joined by a stellar cast that includes Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, Jeremy Strong, and more.

    Cox and Strong have been praised as the series went on to nab quite a few nominations, and it seems after quite a few months of waiting, production has finally started don the fourth season of Succession. The official Twitter account has shared a photo from the set, which sadly doesn’t include any of the cast but confirms that production has begun.

    HBO has continued to offer a powerhouse of productions, even as it expanded into streaming with HBO Max. With a stellar cast, Succession was surely to draw in an audience and it’s great to see a successful series enter the fourth season as most streaming alternatives sadly barely make it past a second season. Each one ran for around ten episodes, with only the third ending on a ninth episode. So, showrunner Jesse Armstrong might stick to that format moving forward. The above image also confirms that Mark Mylod is back in the directing chair after working on last season’s finale.

    Source: Twitter

  • Kit Harrington Creating ‘Jon Snow’ Spinoff, George R.R. Martin Consulting

    Kit Harrington Creating ‘Jon Snow’ Spinoff, George R.R. Martin Consulting

    In a shocking reveal, The Hollywood Reporter reported last week that HBO was developing a Jon Snow-centric Games of Thrones spinoff show. After the controversial ending to the critically-acclaimed show, it seemed unlikely that a sequel series would be considered. But, it’s now a reality that a post-Battle of Winterfell Westeros will soon be on the TV screen again.

    While the reveal of the Jon Snow show may have come as a surprise to most of the world, Harington’s co-star Emilia Clarke was already in the know. In an interview with the BBC, Clarke said:

    He has told me about it. And I know it exists. It’s happening. It’s been created by Kit as far as I can understand, so he’s in it from the ground up. So what you will be watching, hopefully, if it happens, is certified by Kit Harington.

    Emilia Clarke

    Clarke revealing that Harrington came up with the show’s concept is an interesting bit of information as it seemingly adds a layer of authenticity to the project. Some fans may have fear of this show being a straight cash-grab from HBO, but the series is an idea straight from the actor himself.

    Backing up Clarke was Games of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who confirmed the show’s existence in a blog post from June 23. Martin wrote that the show has the working title SNOW.

    It seems as though Emilia Clarke has already mentioned that SNOW was Kit’s idea in a recent interview. So that part is out. Yes, it was Kit Harrington who brought the idea to us. I cannot tell you the names of the writers/ showrunners, since that has not been cleared for release yet…but Kit brought them in too, his own team, and they are terrific.

    Various rumors are floating around about my involvement, or lack of same. I am involved […] Kit’s team have visited me here in Santa Fe and worked with me and my own team of brilliant, talented writer/ consultants to hammer out the show.”

    George R.R. Martin

    Martin also mentioned that the show is currently in the script stage. “Outlines and treatments have been written and approved, scripts have been written, notes have been given, second and third drafts have been written,” Martin wrote. So, not only has Harrington formulated the show himself, he has already consulted with Martin as well.

    The last time audiences saw Snow on the screen he was heading into the Haunted Forest with his beloved direwolf, Ghost, and the Wildings, after being exiled from Westeros. No plot details have been given yet, but it seems likely the series would start right around this time as Snow begins a new life.

    Source: Variety

  • J.J. Abrams’ ‘Demimonde’ No Longer Moving Forward at HBO

    J.J. Abrams’ ‘Demimonde’ No Longer Moving Forward at HBO

    Well, now it’s official. After being teased for some time that HBO has been unhappy with the lack of developments as part of their Bad Robot deal, it seems that Demimonde is now officially dead over at HBO. Budget issues are the main issue and creator J.J. Abrams did try to make a last-ditch plea with Casey Bloys, the lead behind HOB and HBO Max, but decided against it as he was seeking a budget that was upwards of $200M.

    Even Game of Thrones‘ upcoming spinoff House of the Dragon doesn’t have a budget of that size and the uncertainty of its success may be the reason they moved away. While they did cast Danielle Deadwyler in the main role but very little moved forward with the project. The series already changed showrunners early on after HBO got the rights to it from a bidding war with Apple.

    The project isn’t quite dead yet, as it seems that Warner Bros. Television is actively finding a new home for it. Apple and Netflix are seemingly the big choices, as they are also already the home for various projects by Abram‘s Bad Robot label. The move is also not too surprising as newly appointed CEO David Zaslav has been making some big changes while reworking Warner Bros. Discovery. So, the future of this project is currently still quite uncertain.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • J.J. Abrams’ DC Projects Future Uncertain Due to Warner Bros. Discovery’s Restructure

    J.J. Abrams’ DC Projects Future Uncertain Due to Warner Bros. Discovery’s Restructure

    In 2019, J.J. Abrams signed an overall deal with HBO Max that cost the streaming service $250 million. Since then, Abrams’ Bad Robot has yet to actually produce anything under the said deal, which is leading Warner Bros. Discovery to question what the holdup is.

    Ever since Discovery completed its acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T in April, WBD CEO David Zaslav has been going over projects in various stages of development to try and determine whether or not they are worth continuing. One project that has already received the axe is the recently announced Wonder Twins film. The project was originally announced in February, then the project cast its leads in April, only for the film to be halted in early May. Unfortunately, Wonder Twins looks to be only the start of Zaslav’s changes. It’s expected that the newly merged studio will continue to crack down on projects in development – potentially even those being developed through Abrams’ overall deal.

    One of many projects announced as part of Abrams’ overall deal was Demimonde, a science fiction drama set to star Watchmen alum Danielle Deadwyler. The project was expected to consist of 10 episodes, but it might now be on the bubble with Bad Robot reportedly eyeing a budget north of $200 million for the series. As if that isn’t bad enough, Abrams is also developing HBO Max’s DC Comics-based Justice League Dark franchise, which will include shows like Constantine and Madame X. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it is possible to even those projects could come under scrutiny from Zaslav.

    Part of the frustration is said to be that Abrams has “laid claim” to numerous DC characters but has yet to see a project through to fruition. While Warners has seen scripts for Constantine and the pilot of Madame X, the lack of movement could result in action from Zaslav as the streaming service is said to be dealing with a pipeline issue. As it stands, there is reportedly no delivery plan for any of the projects being developed under Abrams’ Bad Robot banner.

    It is of note that, along with producing a new Star Trek movie for Paramount, Abrams was just announced to be producing a Speed Racer series for Apple TV+ through his Bad Robot banner. That project is actually being produced as part of his overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, which is also producing the project.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • J. J. Abram’s ‘Demimonde’ on the Bubble Due to Budget Concerns

    J. J. Abram’s ‘Demimonde’ on the Bubble Due to Budget Concerns

    Not everything is going smoothly for J.J. Abrams with his new HBO deal, as it seems at the series Demimonde is facing some trouble. The series has been in production since 2018 and was part of Bad Robot’s deal with HBO. Yet, the issue seems to be that the project is looking at a budget beyond $200M, which is less than the upcoming Game of Thrones‘ spinoff, House of the Dragon. Naturally, as nothing of the $250M deal has come to fruition just yet over the years, it’s been becoming antsy over at HBO.

    The future of Demimonde is seemingly dependent on a decision by the end of this week. It recently cast Watchmen’s Danielle Deadwyler and eight of the ten episodes’ scripts are currently being supervised by Warner Bros. TV. It should be pointed out that the overall deal isn’t in jeopardy, but it could have a lasting effect on other projects, especially as HBO Max is getting impatient with the lack of output while Abrams seemingly makes external deals.

    Earlier, news hit that he was executive producing a series for Apple that would bring the classic anime Speed Racer to live-action once again. So, it’s not hard to see that HBO is starting to question how they truly benefit from the deal that was made in 2019 if they still haven’t seen anything produced since. So, there’s a lot riding on Demimonde and if they continue the production as planned, or decide to move away from it to lower risks.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • HBO Renews ‘Barry’ for Season 4, Bill Hader to Direct All Episodes

    HBO Renews ‘Barry’ for Season 4, Bill Hader to Direct All Episodes

    It is officially being reported by Variety that the hit HBO dark comedy Barry has been renewed for a fourth season. The Emmy-winning series is currently in the midst of airing its third season, airing on HBO and HBO Max. The series stars Bill Hader in the titular role as he also serves as the show’s co-creator with Alec Berg. The main ensemble of the cast is filled out by Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrigan, Stephen Root, Sarah Burns, and D’Arcy Carden. Making a statement on the renewal, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming Amy Gravitt spoke of the network’s praise for Barry.

    Bill, Alec and the entire cast and crew delivered an exquisite third season of ‘Barry,’ it’s a masterful blend of laughs and suspense. I’m so happy to announce that we are picking up the fourth season.

    Amy Gravitt

    The third season of Barry tells the story of Hader’s character in one of his darkest places following the end of Season 2. With that, the titular Barry is looking to finally move on from his life as a hitman and into one following his passions. But the process of moving on is a difficult one with this old life starting to bleed into the one he’s created for himself. The seeds are definitely planted for Barry’s life to reach another boiling point, with this one potentially having catastrophic ramifications.

    The fourth season’s production is set to begin in Los Angeles next month in June and Bill Hader is set to return to the director’s chair for all eight episodes. The quick turnaround between these seasons is refreshing for fans who had to deal with an extended wait on Season 3 due to the pandemic.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose Joins ‘Westworld’ Season 4

    ‘West Side Story’s Ariana DeBose Joins ‘Westworld’ Season 4

    Westworld has hit the jackpot, as they have added West Side Story actress and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose in the fourth season. The actress has been on a hot streak after winning a Golden Globa, a SAG Award, and an Oscar for her performance as Anita in the Steven Spielberg remake of the classic musical. So, it’s no wonder that any project is trying to get her to join and it seems Westworld won out.

    Sadly, details on her character remained undisclosed, but she will have a recurring guest star role throughout the series’ upcoming season. The news is also perfectly timed, as we just got the teaser trailer for the fourth season, which is given a vague description as “a dark odyssey about the fate of sentient life on earth.” The trailers highlight just how far the series came from its initial season of a robot-filled Western holiday park.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-0MwZPWKD4&feature=emb_title

    DeBose is a fantastic addition and it’ll be interesting to see how her character plays into the story. She joins an already stacked cast that includes Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Aaron Paul, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth, and Thandiwe Newton. We’ll see if we get more teases and cast additions as the show continues to build up to its upcoming season’s release.

    Source: THR, YouTube

  • EXCLUSIVE: J.J. Abrams and HBO’s ‘Demimonde’ Series Eyeing September Production Start

    EXCLUSIVE: J.J. Abrams and HBO’s ‘Demimonde’ Series Eyeing September Production Start

    Bad Robot has been busy with various projects as part of their deal with HBO and HBO Max. We’ve been recently hearing more rumblings on their adaptation of Constantine, but they also have quite a few original projects also lined up. Just recently, we got an update on the HBO sci-fi drama Demimonde, which is a French word meaning a part of society that is isolated with a bad reputation. It has found its leading role in Danielle Deadwyler and they hinted that the limited series, which was initially ordered straight-to-series all the way back in 2018, is still in early pre-production even though it was initially believed to start production next week. We can exclusively share that the production is currently eyeing a start in September.

    The production will start later this year and run from September until May of 2023. The production will be traveling the world, as they aim to film in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe. The series is still actively adding to its supporting cast and is currently casting under the production title “Contraband.” It’s interesting to note that producer J.J. Abrams hinted that they’ve already written the scripts for the sci-fi series back in May of 2019, but they may be rewriting elements of it.

    Kira Snyder, Rand Ravich, and Far Shariat are serving as showrunners on the project, which will follow Deadwyler’s Olive Reed. When she was torn away from her husband and daughter after a strange accident, she is left to her own devices to uncover the conspiracy and hopefully reunite with her family once again. Abrams and Ben Stephenson are producing the series for Bad Robot with Rachel Rusch Rich aboard as co-executive producer.