First Trailer of “Saving Hope” with Shanks, Durance

Michael Shanks as Dr. Charlie Harris in SAVING HOPE (CTV/BellMedia)
Michael Shanks as Dr. Charlie Harris in SAVING HOPE (CTV/BellMedia)

The first trailer of the new Canadian series “Saving Hope” is up now here at eonetv.com. Go watch it — it’s intriguing and demonstrates what a lead role Michael and Erica will have!

Thanks to Michael’s wife Lexa for the tip via her twitter, @LexaShmexa:

Check out the trailer for hubby’s new show! It might take a while to load, but worth it! bit.ly/zRFVF9 #SavingHope

Right now it’s a Canadian production that will be shown on a Canadian network, but we hope it will be purchased for airing in the US as well. In that vein, Lexa also said this:

I believe #SavingHope will be airing on NBC – keep an eye out for it

 

The pilot was shot in the Fall, and Michael has said the shooting for Season 1 starts in February. We’ll update you as more info arrives.

 

Reminder: Michael Shanks in "Flashpoint" on ION

MICHAEL SHANKS plays a significant role in the story told in tonight’s episode of Flashpoint on ION at 10 PM Eastern.

The episode “Blue on Blue,” which premiered in Canada on November 22 on the show’s home channel CTV, tells this story: “Spike responds to a distress call from Sam’s sister and finds himself in a hostile situation. The rest of Team One races to a call at the ultra-secure Metro Evidence Depot and finds a deadly connection between the two cases – one that puts Spike’s life on the line.” Shanks plays David Fleming, a major participant in Spike’s “hostile situation.”

Michael Shanks Online has several video clips from the episode in case you just want the highlights of his appearance.

Flashpoint is about The Strategic Response Unit, “a team of cops like no other – they’re the elite, the blueblood of the force. High risk is their business, and life-and-death stakes are their world.” One of its stars is Enrico Colantoni who guest starred in Stargate SG-1 as CIA Agent Burke in 7.12 “Evolution Part 2.” More about the show can be found at its CTV home page and its Facebook page.

Stargate Briefing: Bridges, Judge, McGillion, Momoa, Shanks

Update on Beau Bridges

Beau Bridges and George Clooney in THE DESCENDANTS
Beau Bridges and George Clooney in THE DESCENDANTS
Hardly a day goes by that we don’t get an alert about BEAU BRIDGES, so we’ve gathered just a few links here for your perusal:

Christopher Judge’s Filming Projects and Convention Appearances

CHRISTOPHER JUDGE’s The Dark Knight Rises finished principal photography on November 14, according to Super Hero Hype, who has monitored co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s social media comments. The movie stars Christian Bale as Batman in this final installment in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy. Super Hero Hype said, “In addition to India, the international shoot took place in England and Scotland and in the United States in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, New York and New Jersey.”

Speaking of filming projects, Judge canceled his appearance for the Official Stargate Convention in Los Angeles that was held this past weekend because “shooting his new movie prevents him from appearing at the show.” This new movie project might be To Have and To Hold, which Judge tweeted about starting on October 11. But given the time frame, this new movie project could be something else. We’ll let you know what we find out.

The next convention that Judge is scheduled to attend (that we know of) is the 2012 Emerald City Comicon, being held March 30 through April 1 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.

Paul McGillion in Christmas Magic

PAUL McGILLION stars as a widower who is just about to give up on life because his restaurant is failing. He’s saved through the workings of angels in this new Hallmark Christmas movie. We just received notice that it will be premiering Sunday, December 18, at 8/7c on Hallmark.

Jason Momoa is One of the “Sexiest Men Alive”

JASON MOMOA was just named No.9 as People Magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive”! Now, we already knew that Momoa is one fine-looking guy, even under his dreads as Ronon Dex, but it’s good to know that he’s finally getting noticed by the rest of the world! Congrats, Jason!

Momoa’s sword-wielding, well-built body is on display in Conan the Barbarian, which you’ll get to see on DVD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D when they are released Tuesday, November 22!

Update on Michael Shanks

Michael Shanks as Dr. Charlie Harris in SAVING HOPE (CTV/BellMedia)
Michael Shanks as Dr. Charlie Harris in SAVING HOPE (CTV/BellMedia)
MICHAEL SHANKS co-stars with Erica Durance in the new Canadian series Saving Hope, which will be broadcast on CTV, but might also make it to American television like Rookie Blue, which was also created by Ilana Frank. MSOL got a photo of Shanks in his new role as Chief of Surgery Dr. Charlie Harris, and we thought we’d just pass it along.

MSOL has also confirmed that Michael’s guest spot on Flashpoint will be aired Tuesday, November 22, on CTV at 8 PM Eastern. The storyline: “Spike responds to a distress call from Sam’s sister and finds himself in a hostile situation. The rest of Team One races to a call at the ultra-secure Metro Evidence Depot and finds a deadly connection between the two cases – one that puts Spike’s life on the line.” Shanks plays David Fleming, a major participant in Spike’s “hostile situation.” US viewers will probably be getting this episode on December 6, 2011, on ION.

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Stargate Briefing: Stargate Convention, Farscape, Judge, Ming-Na, Phillips, Picardo, Shanks

Official Stargate Convention, November 18-20

Creation Entertainment will be holding the “Final Los Angeles Official Stargate SG-1, Atlantis & Universe Convention” this weekend, starting Friday, November 18, and ending Sunday, November 20. Stargate stars attending include CHRISTOPHER JUDGE, CORIN NEMEC, PAUL McGILLION, TORRI HIGGINSON, JR BOURNE, ALEXIS CRUZ, DAN PAYNE, CLIFF SIMON, VANESSA ANGEL, ALEX ZAHARA, DAVID NYKL, MUSETTA VANDER, ERICK AVARI, TONY AMENDOLA, and PETER KELAMIS. There will also be a BEN BROWDER and Friends Sunday Breakfast and Charity Silent Auction event. Make sure to visit the convention’s website for more information.

Browder & Black: Farscape Blu-ray and Official Convention

Farscape Complete BRFarscape: The Complete Series, starring SG-1’s BEN BROWDER and CLAUDIA BLACK, is coming out on Blu-ray in the USA this Tuesday, November 15 (Amazon link)! Additionally, Creation Entertainment will be having its “5th Anniversary FINAL FRELLIN’ FAREWELL Official FARSCAPE Convention” this weekend in Los Angeles (coinciding with the Official Stargate convention). Browder is scheduled to be in attendance.

Judge’s Dark Knight Prologue Rated and Scheduled

Mania: Beyond Entertainment has gathered more information about the six-minute prologue that will be shown in IMAX theaters for The Dark Knight Rises. CHRISTOPHER JUDGE appears in this third installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy that stars Christian Bale:

A few weeks after it was revealed that director Christopher Nolan was planning the same type of prologue that he utilized for the Dark Knight back in December 2007—attached to I Am Legend IMAX showings—the MPAA has officially rated a similar block of video to be shown off when Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol arrives in IMAX theaters on December 16. As with the other Batman features under Nolan’s direction, the 6-minute prologue has been officially rated PG-13 for “some violence”.

A list of the theaters that will be screening the prologue is forthcoming.

Happy Birthday, Ming-Na!

SGU star MING-NA will be celebrating her birthday this coming weekend on Sunday, November 20! She’s on Twitter if you’d like to send your birthday wishes!

Lou Diamond Phillips an Honorary Wildlife Guardian

This announcement from Imperial Valley News:

San Diego, California – San Diego Zoo Global is expanding its conservation focus through the launch of its new Wildlife Conservancy. By bringing the worldwide conservation efforts of San Diego Zoo Global under a single umbrella, the Wildlife Conservancy provides people around the world an easy way to support and become involved with the organization’s efforts to save critically endangered species.

Although in its infancy, the Conservancy has already gained strong support from notable personalities and a sizable donation. Celebrities Lou Diamond Phillips and Jesse Tyler Ferguson have been named honorary Wildlife Guardians, helping to encourage others to become involved in this effort.

The Wildlife Conservancy is dedicated to bringing endangered species back from the brink of extinction by helping to preserve imperiled wildlife, bank crucial genetic resources, prevent wildlife disease, conserve habitat, restore nature, and inspire change. For nearly 100 years, San Diego Zoo Global has worked with rare and endangered species, managing them in both captive and wild settings, including more than 15 successful programs where species have been reintroduced into the wild. By sharing groundbreaking work on endangered species such as the giant panda, African elephant, Hawaiian crow, and California condor, and giving people a glimpse into these animals’ lives and the measures taken to preserve them, individuals will not only develop a better understanding of these species but will also be inspired to join the effort. With 100 conservation projects in 35 countries around the world, the Conservancy needs help from supporters like Phillips and Ferguson to grow its efforts.

More at the link.

Robert Picardo and The Great Allentown Comic Con

The Great Allentown Comic Con is coming this weekend (November 19-20), and Stargate star ROBERT PICARDO will be there. The weekend will be featuring an auction for Epilepsy Awareness, and Picardo has placed up for bids a dinner with him (“What is the Nature of the Dinner Emergency?”). The Epilepsy Awareness Fundraiser is “to support the Toteman Epilepsy Awareness Comic Book. All monies raised will go to cover the printing costs for the book, which will then be distributed to local hospitals, schools and youth groups to increase awareness of epilepsy in children.” For more on the guests and fundraiser, make sure to visit The Great Allentown Comic Con website.

The Pastor’s Wife Can Be Viewed Online

If you missed MICHAEL SHANKS in the Lifetime movie A Pastor’s Wife, you can watch it online! Visit My Lifetime or Hulu (expires soon).

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Stargate Briefing: Browder, Flanigan, Hewlett, Shanks, Tapping

Update on Ben Browder’s Projects

Here’s a new trailer for Bad Kids Go to Hell movie, BEN BROWDER’s most recent film project, which is to be released sometime in 2012:

The Naught for Hire webseries, for which Browder co-produces and stars, is still in “development.” We thought we were getting a premiere of it at July’s San Diego Comic Con, but a new contract with Paramount Digital has apparently caused the premiere to be delayed. In an interview conducted in August with fansite Naught P.I. Agency, producer/writer Jeffrey Berman stated, “Naught, obviously, has a completed script for the entire series and most of the cast is in place. What we are still working on is securing the funds to shoot the project. Since we’re aiming for a web telecast, the funding process is not traditional and as this is still new territory it’s taking longer than we had hoped.” The new launch is now slated to be sometime in 2012.

More on Joe Flanigan’s Metal Hurlant Chronicles

The Sun has a report on the Twitter updates from JOE FLANIGAN and co-star Kelly Brook as they filmed scenes together for the new series Metal Hurlant Chronicles. Flanigan tweeted, “Fighting Turtle Sapiens outside of Brussels with @IAMKELLYBROOK. Who said Halloween isn’t real? Call it Heavy Metal.” He also published a relevant page of the comic book series that is the foundation of this new TV series, which will debut in April 2012 (not yet in the US, though). Brook gave readers an idea of what they’re doing by posting a picture of her posing with two of the “Turtle Sapiens.”

David Hewlett Chooses His Favorites in a Pumpkin-Carving Contest

DAVID HEWLETT was honored by Blastr to be the judge in their sci-fi-themed pumpkin carving contest. Make sure to check out the results at the link.

Update on Michael Shanks’ Projects

MICHAEL SHANKS’ Lifetime movie The Pastor’s Wife premiered last night, but they’ll be airing repeats in case you missed it. Daemon’s TV described his performance, “Michael Shanks shines as the Pastor who is charming to the outside world, but a monster in his own home.” Check your local listings for the repeat schedule.

Saving Hope‘s home is Canada’s CTV, but it’s possible that American viewers will get to see the new show. The Hollywood Reporter recently posted, “Entertainment One and ‘Rookie Blue’ creator Ilana Frank will pitch the Erica Durance and Michael Shanks-starring medical drama in Los Angeles next week.” Rookie Blue, also a Canadian show that stars SG-1 guest star Ben Bass (Dr. Steven Rayner, 4.14 “The Curse”), airs on ABC in the United States.

New Project for Amanda Tapping

AMANDA TAPPING has a new film project! This news from Fans Share:

It appears that there is a new big screen, double team supreme developing as Smallville actress Kristin Kreuk and Lord Of The Rings star Billy Boyd are set to team up yet again.

[…] Now they have both signed up to star in the Armen Evrensel, sci-fi comedy movie Space Milkshake, which will begin filming early next year.

Space Milkshake centres around four space workers on a rundown orbital sanitation station, who run into a few problems when they salvage a strange device from a space ship wreckage. Director Armen Evrensel penned the screenplay for the movie, which will also star Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne. Space Milkshake is expected to be released late 2012 or early 2013.

Kreuk and Boyd aren’t the only pair doing another project together; Robin Dunne is Tapping’s co-star in her hit sci-fi series Sanctuary.

Visit the IMDb record for the movie for more information.

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Michael Shanks to Star in New TV Series on CTV

Michael ShanksCongratulations to Stargate star MICHAEL SHANKS, who now has a new television series, CTV’s Saving Hope! Also starring in the series is Smallville’s ERICA DURANCE, who guest starred on SG-1 in the Season Eight episode “Affinity.” Shanks also took a turn at guest starring with Durance a few years later as Smallville’s well-received character Carter Hall/Hawkman.

Here’s the press release from Bell Media PR of Canada:

CTV Orders New One-Hour Original Drama Series SAVING HOPE

Toronto, ON (November 2, 2011) – CTV announced today that it has ordered to series SAVING HOPE, a new, one-hour original drama starring Erica Durance (SMALLVILLE) and Michael Shanks (STARGATE ATLANTIS) from the acclaimed Gemini award-winning producers Ilana Frank and David Wellington (THE ELEVENTH HOUR, Of Murder and Memory, ROOKIE BLUE). CTV has ordered 12 one-hour episodes in addition to the pilot shot this summer.

In SAVING HOPE, when charismatic Chief of Surgery Charlie Harris (Shanks) at Toronto’s Hope-Zion Hospital ends up in a coma, he leaves the hospital in chaos – and his fiancée and fellow surgeon, Alex Reid (Durance), in a state of shock. Along with newly-arrived star surgeon, Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies,THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), Alex races to save Harris’ life. As the action unfolds, comatose Dr. Harris wanders the halls of Hope-Zee in “spirit” form, not sure if he’s a ghost or a figment of his own imagination. Reid, along with her fellow doctors, press on to save his life and those of their other patients, as they deal with the complicated and courageous decisions that are made in their daily struggle to keep hope alive.

“Tapping into the frenetic lives of medical professionals entrusted to make life and death decisions every single day, SAVING HOPE is a sexy, heart-pumping hospital drama with captivating storylines,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “We look forward to working with the talented actors and creative team behind this compelling new series.”

**Media Note** Photography for SAVING HOPE is available online at BellMediaPR.ca

SAVING HOPE also stars Huse Madhavji (COMBAT HOSPITAL, STAR DAILY), Julia Taylor-Ross (ROOKIE BLUE), and Kristopher Turner (ROOKIE BLUE, THE LISTENER).

SAVING HOPE, which is inspired by Ian Brown’s The Globe and Mail “Mount Hope” series based on stories from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, is executive produced by Thump Inc.’s Ilana Frank and David Wellington (THE ELEVENTH HOUR, Of Murder and Memory, ROOKIE BLUE). Co-created and written by Malcom MacRury (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, LIVES OF THE SAINTS) and Morwyn Brebner (ROOKIE BLUE). Lesley Harrison is also executive producer. David Wellington directs. Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Drama, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

[spoiler intro=”Remaining portion of the press release”]

About Bell Media Independent ProductionBell Media has produced some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming in partnership with Canadian independent producers, including, most recently, ratings success stories FLASHPOINT and THE LISTENER, Emmy Award-winning period drama THE BORGIAS, international hit DEGRASSI, Gemini Award-winning comedy TODD & THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL, sci-fi fan favourite SANCTUARY, critically acclaimed sketch comedy series PICNICFACE, as well as the upcoming drama HIGHLAND GARDENS, the upcoming special A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS, and the upcoming documentary series METAL EVOLUTION. In addition to SAVING HOPE, Bell Media recently announced series orders for mythological action/adventure series PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD and the original theatre docu-series BROADWAY BOOTCAMP (working title). The company has also ordered two-hour drama pilot, BOREALIS, and the television feature THE HORSES OF McBRIDE.

About CTVCTV, Canada’s Olympic Network, is also Canada’s largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada’s most-watched television network and lead broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at ctv.ca.

About Thump Inc.Thump Inc. was founded by Ilana Frank, one of Canada’s most celebrated and respected producers of long form drama. In 2007 Thump produced the powerful four-hour mini-series WOULD BE KINGS directed by David Wellington, starring Ben Bass, Currie Graham and Natasha Henstridge for which Natasha won a Gemini. In 2008, Thump produced OF MEMORY AND MURDER (aka MURDER ON HER MIND), a made for television movie starring Annabeth Gish (BROTHERHOOD, THE WEST WING) and Chandra West (JOHN FROM CINCINNATI, NYPD BLUE), for CTV and Lifetime. More recently Thump developed and produced the very successful series ROOKIE BLUE, now in its third season of production, distributed and available worldwide through Entertainment One. Thump, under Frank’s leadership, focuses on nurturing and developing the talents of up and coming and established writers and creators, and producers of long form drama for television and film. Frank’s talents were recognized as co-creator and executive producer of THE ELEVENTH HOUR, winning over fifteen Geminis in all major categories during its three year run. In 2007, the Writers Guild of Canada awarded Frank the Alex Barris Mentorship Award and Women in Film and Television honoured Frank with the Crystal Award for Creative Excellence.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television

Cast:
@MichaelShanks
@_DanielGillies
@HuseM

Producers:
@ilanacfrank
@dbwellington

Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv

[/spoiler]

Stargate Briefing: Black, Bridges, Nemec, Shanks

Claudia Black’s Uncharted 3 Gets Released Today

Uncharted 3 Cover Art

CLAUDIA BLACK reprised her role as Chloe Frazer in the latest edition of the Uncharted video game series, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. The PS3 game is being released today for the suggested retail price of $59.99. For a review and give-away, visit Geek Dad.

Beau Bridges Headed for Broadway

The Arts Beat of the New York Times is reporting that BEAU BRIDGES will be performing in the role of J.B. Biggley in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starting January 3, 2012, and ending July 1, 2012. He’s following John Larroquette in this ongoing production. Read more about it at the link.

Preview of Corin Nemec in Sand Sharks

CORIN NEMEC stars in the new Syfy movie Sand Sharks, which will premiere in 2012. Here’s a preview, provided by Bloody Disgusting (just to let you know, there is no show of blood in this preview):

By the way, Nemec is celebrating a birthday this weekend: Saturday, November 5!

Shanks DTV Tactical Force Now Available in UK

Tactical Force posterMICHAEL SHANKS and his wife and Stargate co-star LEXA DOIG are both in this direct-to-video movie, which was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK yesterday. Synopsis: “A training exercise for the LAPD SWAT Team goes terribly wrong when they find themselves pitted against two rival gangs while trapped in an abandoned hangar.”

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Stargate Briefing: Blue, Bridges, Flanigan, Judge, Shanks, Staite, Stargate Look-Alike

David Blue Tweets About Obama Sighting

DAVID BLUE’s tweet about seeing President Obama’s motorcade in New York on Tuesday made its own headline at The Hill website. The President was there to film a guest appearance on Tonight Show with Jay Leno. You can follow Blue’s Twitter in our Stargate Twitter Superfeed.

Busy, Busy Beau Bridges

BEAU BRIDGES is a busy man! He’s contemplating recording an album like his brother Jeff recently did and hoping to join his daughter Emily on Broadway in A Time to Kill. In other reports, he recently met with fans and had his photo taken with them in Fort Lauderdale and handed George Clooney the Hollywood Actor Award at the Hollywood Film Awards. Bridges co-stars with Clooney in the movie The Descendants, which opens November 18, 2011.

Judge’s The Dark Knight Rises Getting 6-Minute Prologue

Rumor has it that there will be a 6-minute prologue to The Dark Knight Rises showing in certain IMAX theaters this December! CHRISTOPHER JUDGE co-stars in the film, which is due to open July 20, 2012.

DVD Releases for Flanigan, Shanks and Staite

Now Available

JOE FLANIGAN
in
Good Day For It Movie PosterGOOD DAY FOR IT
R1 DVD

Now Available

MICHAEL SHANKS
in
Faces in the Crowd Movie PosterFACES IN THE CROWD
R1 DVD and Blu-ray

Now Available

JEWEL STAITE
in
MOTHMAN DVD Cover ArtMOTHMAN
R1 DVD

JOE FLANIGAN: Good Day for It was screened at several independent film festivals before making its way to DVD. It stars Stargate vet ROBERT PATRICK: “A man forced to abandon his wife and daughter years earlier must risk his life to settle an old score and reunite his family.”

MICHAEL SHANKS: Faces in the Crowd is a Direct-to-Video release that stars Milla Jovovich: “A horror-thriller centered on a woman living with ‘face-blindness’ after surviving a serial killer’s attack. As she lives with her condition, one in which facial features change each time she loses sight of them, the killer closes in.”

JEWEL STAITE: Staite stars in this Syfy Original Movie: “A group of friends band together to hide the truth about a mutual friend’s tragic death. They soon discover that an evil entity is in pursuit of them.”

Taiwan’s Building a Stargate Look-Alike

Visit Travel Blackboard Asia Edition: Taiwan’s Stargate-like tower to portal-in visitors to see concept drawings of a new structure that will be completed in 2017 that looks amazingly like a Stargate!

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Stargate Briefing: Bridges, Flanigan, Momoa, Shanks, Tapping

Beau Bridges’s Doodle in Charity Auction

BEAU BRIDGES can now add doodling to his many recognized talents as some of his work will be auctioned for charity! Here’s more from the NoHo Arts District’s website:

Valley Community Clinic (www.valleycommunityclinic.org) a private, non-profit, healthcare Clinic serving the underprivileged ‘Celebrates 40 Fabulous Years’ at the Sportsmen’s Lodge on Wednesday, October 19, 2011.

The evening begins with a red carpet surprise, a spirited cocktail reception and a silent auction at 6:30 pm. […]

Celebrity doodles, designer gift bags, X-Factor tickets, signed cast memorabilia and a wine connoisseur gift bundle are among the goodies featured during the evening’s silent auction. An online auction will take place Oct. 10-23 at www.biddingforgood.com/ValleyClinic. The online auction will feature the original scripts of ‘Guess who’s Coming to Dinner’ and ‘On the Beach’ both signed by American film director and producer Stanley Kramer. Also included in this auction Doodles by Celebrities Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges and Carl Reiner and a ‘Glee’ CD signed by all cast members. […]

Visit Bidding For Good’s page to see Bridges’s doodle, which has the opening bid of $500!

Update on Joe Flanigan’s International Sci-Fi Series

Metal Hurlant Chronicles is an upcoming international sci-fi series project that JOE FLANIGAN is a part of. Variety.com has some more information about its distribution schedule:

Earlier this year, Universal Pictures Germany picked up home video and VOD rights for the first two seasons (comprising 12 half-hours). Sony Pictures Television nabbed the series for distribution in various European territories, notably Germany, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland and Luxembourg via its pay TV network.

The first season will be delivered in April and the second will bow in November 2012. Each episode will adapt stories from the original graphic novels.

Created by comic artists Jean Giraud (aka Moebius) and Philippe Druillet in 1974, “Metal Hurlant” became a sci-fi phenom in the 1980s.

The level of Flanigan’s first-season involvement still isn’t known, but we’ll keep an eye out for more information. Hopefully, the busy actor will update his Twitter account soon!

In the meantime, we can enjoy this interview conducted earlier this month at the Entertainment Media Show in London. He talks about his recent projects and filming abroad.

Jason Momoa at New York Comic Con

There are loads of reports about JASON MOMOA’s appearance at the New York Comic Con held a little while back. Just recently, the notification for Huffington Post’s brief interview with the Conan the Barbarian star hit our inbox. Here’s a Stargate-mentioning snippet:

Q: With your characters on Stargate Atlantis like Ronan Dex and Game of Thrones, do you gravitate towards these warrior types or is that just something because you’re 6’4″ and huge?

JM: When I did Stargate Atlantis, I wanted to work and it was a great opportunity, four years of working on that.

I think when Drogo came along, that’s a once in a lifetime chance to play anything like that. I’ve never seen a character like him in the movies or on TV. He’s such a powerful, raw character. That role was the first time I’ve ever wanted a character in my life.

Because of that, the same casting director came on Conan so everything just kind of lined up that way.

I don’t know, we’ll see. Hopefully there’s a rom-com in there somewhere coming up.

Momoa’s most recent project is his movie with Sylvester Stallone, Bullet to the Head (aka Headshot).

Michael Shanks in Lifetime’s The Pastor’s Wife

Our COMING SOON feature has been updated with the premiere date of MICHAEL SHANKS’s television movie project for Lifetime, The Pastor’s Wife. We got the date of November 5, 2011, from this recent announcement about co-star Rose McGowan’s titular role at Monsters and Critics:

Lifetime is set to premiere the original movie The Pastor’s Wife, starring Rose McGowan and Michael Shanks in a film about the shotgun slaying of a small town minister and revelations of his dark secrets involving sex, lies and betrayal — shocking his God-fearing community and changing it forever.

The Pastor’s Wife will debut on Saturday, November 5, at 8 pm ET/PT.

Based on a true story that made national headlines, The Pastor’s Wife centers on the 2006 death of Matthew Winkler (Shanks), a beloved minister and community leader who was mysteriously shot and killed in his Selmer, Tennessee, home. During their investigation, the authorities soon zero in on Matthew’s wife, Mary (McGowan), as the crime’s prime suspect.

Make sure to visit the link for more on the project.

Amanda Tapping Sanctuary Interview

Season Four of Sanctuary is currently airing on Friday nights on Syfy and Space, and AMANDA TAPPING provides lots of interesting behind-the-scenes details concerning its story development and production in an in-depth interview published at The Morton Report. This season is comprised of 13 episodes, a reduction from last season’s 20, and Tapping commented on the benefits of a shortened season:

“There’s a whole trigger effect of what Helen has been doing, and, again, I think this season is highly ambitious and it sort of blows the lid off anything we’ve done before. It’s a beautifully shot and written season, and I actually don’t mind that we were taken back down to 13 episodes this year. I know that that’s kind of Syfy’s mandate right now- they’re not commissioning 20-episode series. They’re commissioning 13 and sometimes less, so when we found out that we got a 13-episode pick-up, some people said, ‘Oh, man, you guys got ripped off,’ and we were like, ‘No, it’s all good, because now we can make 13 really kick-ass episodes of television.’ We’re not spread too thin and we knew we could do that. Twenty episodes was a big order and we were thrilled to have it, but we have a really good solid season with these 13. Believe me when I tell you that there are no duds episode-wise.”

Tapping also talks about directing, sets, motion capture, and Stargate vets DAMIAN KINDLER and MARTIN WOOD, so make sure to visit the link for more.

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Stargate Briefing: Cooper, Huffman, Phillips, Shanks

Robert Cooper Writing New TV Project

Former Stargate executive producer ROBERT C. COOPER is writing for a new TV project! Here’s what Deadline posted:

Lifetime is developing a period drama series about The Hollywood Reporter founder William Wilkerson, which is being produced by Johnny Depp’s Infinitum Nihil and Graham King’s GK TV. The project, written by Rob Cooper (Stargate: Universe), chronicles the colorful life of Wilkerson, a compulsive gambler who started off as a film executive in New York; lost all his money on Black Friday; founded The Hollywood Reporter; launched a slew of Hollywood nightclubs, including Ciro’s; founded The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas; and got entangled with the mob and had to go into hiding in France.

Visit the link for more!

Alaina Huffman Added to Wizard World Austin Event

Newswire Today made the announcement that ALAINA HUFFMAN will be a guest at the Wizard World Austin convention being held November 11-13. Other Stargate vets attending include ADAM BALDWIN (Col. David Dixon, SG-1), JULIA BENSON (Lt. Vanessa James, SGU) and LOUIS GOSSETT, JR. (Gerak, SG-1).

Lou Diamond Phillips in Longmire

LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS is in the cast of the new A&E series that will be premiering in 2012, Longmire. The show is based off of a series of Walt Longmire books written by Craig Johnson, who is also heavily involved with the production. The Rapid City Journal article entitled “Author tells how his books are becoming new television series” focuses on an interview with Johnson conducted during one of his appearances in August. More information about the books, the television series, and the characters are at the link.

Update on Michael Shanks’s Pilot Saving Hope

MICHAEL SHANKS and Stargate alum ERICA DURANCE (Krista James, SG-1) filmed a TV pilot called Saving Hope. Durance mentioned the project in a recent interview with TVLine.com, “I’m still waiting to hear [where things stand]. We had some really positive feedback from some of the people we approached… so we’ll see what happens. That was a wonderful experience and a project I’m really proud of.” (Thanks to MSOL for the update.)

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