Entertainment News from Eye On Weho

Eye on Entertainment
Nathaniel Grey
Entertainment Editor
April 1, 2012

Swords, Sex and Sorcery

Though it's been a year since we were captivated by new episodes of Game of Thrones, which returns for a second season on HBO April 1st, it's cast was busy during the production hiatus. Gethin Anthony, who plays Renly Baratheon, the Gay brother of the late king co-stars with Evita star Jonathan Pryce in the poorly titled Dreck. It's story offers a cop of the future in a society where recreational drugs are legal. Isn't that called Amsterdam? Anthony's co-star Lena Headey stars in Universal's sci-fi thriller Vigilandia with Parenthood's Max Burkholder, Ethan Hawke and Home and Away's Rhys Wakefield. Dragon savior of the show, Emilia Clarke shares the screen with UK Misfits series vet Matthew McNulty and Elliott Tittensor of the UK Shameless in the 1990-set music drama Spike Island. Alfie Allen, brother of singer Lilly, joins another famous offspring, Daisy Lowe, daughter of Gaven Rossdale in the thriller Confine.

Before anyone gets lead astray, you should be aware that National Geographic Channel's April 1st premiere of the reality series Wild Tuna is not about a drag queen.

I find it ironic that Pana Hema Taylor who plays the Gay ex-slave Nasir in the violent STARZ series Spartacus: Vengeance, has been cast in a film called The Most Fun You Can Have While Dying. Currently filming in New Zealand for the delightfully named Chocolate Fish Pictures, the film is based on Steven Gannaway's novel Seraphim Blues. On a trivial note, some fans are unaware of the fact that Spartacus: Vengeance is produced by Michael Hurst who use to plays Kevin Sorbo's, close but totally platonic, sidekick Iolaus on the series Hercules.

The Devil Wears Prada script supervisor, Jennifer Getzinger, makes her directorial debut on the film version of Neil LaBute's play Some Girls. The cast includes Once Upon A Time's Jennifer Morrison, House of Lies star Kristen Bell and The OC vet Adam Brody.

American Horror Story's Taissa Farmiga has been cast with I Love You Phillip Morris star Leslie Mann and Harry Potter's Emma Watson in The Bling Ring. This is director Sofia Coppola's film version of the true story of teenagers who tracked the activities of celebrities in order to rob their homes. Sofia's brother Roman Coppola produces for daddy, Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope.

It's official, the next Doctor Who companion is Waterloo Road vet Jenna Louise Coleman was more recently seen in Captain America and appears in the upcoming Titanic mini-series for television.

Not quite the Noah's Arc reunion that many longed for but series creator Patrik-Ian Polk brought in Jennia Fredrique, Darryl Stephens and Wilson Cruz for The Skinny, which debuted at the recent Outfest Fusion - LGBT People of Color Film Festival Gala. The film offers a group of NYC friends who reunite a year after graduation. The screening hits the Egyptian Theatre at 8pm followed by Polk being presented the Fusion Achievement Award. Polk is also developing a Noah's Arc spin-off series.

Director Gregg Araki is currently working on his next project, titled The Womb and I can confirm is has nothing to do with Octomom. The film is being produced by New York based Parts and Labor Films, who, with Scott Rudin, will be filming Adam Rapp's play, Red Light Winter, this fall. Rapp was a writer on In Treatment and creative consultant on The L Word.

Araki film vet Johnathan Schaech (The Doom Generation & Splendor) joins Damian Lewis (Homeland) in the Civil War miniseries To Appomattox to air next year. The project takes a closeup look at the wars Generals and their families, featuring Rob Lowe as Ulysses S. Grant (can he even grow facial hair?) with Hugo star Helen McCrory as his wife, CSI star William Peterson as General Sherman and former Terra Nova costars Jason O'Mara and Steven Lang who plays Abraham Lincoln.

For those still mourning the loss of The L Word, here's what some of the cast have been doing. Kelly Lynch has joined the cast of Starz new 1959 Miami set series called Magic City. Watchmen's Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Steven Strait (The Covenant) and Danny Huston, Smash star Angelica Huston's brother, star in this period drama centered on a hotel manager and the mob. Natasha Henstridge joins In Plain Sight's Mary McCormack and Fashion Police's Kelly Osbourne in the comedy Should've Been Romeo. The story focuses on a selfish middle-aged ad-man who's forced to baby sit his grandfather, played by Ed Asner, while his mom goes on a cruise.

Will & Grace vet stars as Larry in The Three Stooges, which will have it's premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on April 7th. *** Modern Family's Sofia Vergara hosts Saturday Night Live later that same night. *** Showtime brings back new seasons of The Borgias, Nurse Jackie and The Big C with guest star Victor Garber on April 8. *** Fashion Police host Kelly Osbourne hosts The New Now Next Awards on LOGO April 9th and new episodes of Glee return on April 10th.

The L Word cast member Mia Kirshner is in Canada filming the horror film The Barrens with True Blood star Stephen Moyer. Lucky for her he's married to professed bisexual and True Blood co-star Anna Paquin. The film follows a couple who go on a camping trip only to encounter the legendary Jersey Devil. Isn't that another name for Snooki? Pam Greer stars in the Russell Crowe film The Man With the Iron Fist for Blade: Trinity director RZA. Eli Roth collaborated with the director on the screenplay about a feudal China weapons blacksmith who is forced to help defend his village. Filming in Shanghai, the Universal Pictures project features wrestler Dave Bautista, Southland's Lucy Lui, Jamie Chung of Sucker Punch, and the cute monk from 2012 Osric Chua.

Ira Levin’s edge-of-your-seat thriller, Death Trap comes to the LA Gay & Lesbian Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center on March 30 through May 6. Director Ken Sawyer and producer Jon Imperato have assembled top notch talent in cast, set design, lighting, costumes, etc. for a production that rivals work found at the Pantages or Mark Taper Forum. The impressive cast features Brian Foyster who appears in the upcoming comedy Two Jacks starring Sienna Miller and Boardwalk Empire’s Jack Huston. Carl J. Johnson who will be seen in this summer’s Men in Black III, Stephen Mendillo who was recently seen in The Artist and Burt Grinstead who is a rare contradiction in Hollywood. An actor who’s good looks and hunky body fall into the shadow of his immense acting talent. For tickets go to www.lagaycenter.org/theatre or call 323-860-7300.

For the latest in production, casting and release news, follow my Twitter account #Greyagenda

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