Welcome to another horror round-up! Hannibal fans have a big guest star to look forward to seeing in season three, the legendary Famous Monsters magazine is expanding with a comic book division, American Gothic Press, and Cinedigm and Wizard World have cult shows, beloved classics, and plenty of new content for viewers to enjoy with their just-launched CONtv digital network.
Hannibal Season 3: Entertainment Weekly reports that Zachary Quinto will star in a minimum of one episode in the upcoming third season of NBC's Hannibal. Quinto (NBC's The Slap, Spock in Star Trek: Into Darkness, American Horror Story: Asylum, Heroes) will play a "patient of Bedelia’s (Gillian Anderson)."
In other, previously announced Hannibal Season 3 casting news, it was revealed in late January that Glenn Fleshler (True Detective) will play Cordell Doemling, a familiar name to fans of Thomas Harris' books and the Hannibal Lecter movies. For those unfamiliar, Cordell Doemling is the verbally abused medical aid to the wealthy, wicked, and mutilated Mason Verger, who will now be played on the TV series by Joe Anderson in place of Michael Pitt. In the 2001 film, Hannibal, Doemling was played by Željko Ivanek.
It's also been announced that Rutina Wesley, whom True Blood fans know as Tara Mae Thornton, will play the recurring role of Reba McClane, a blind woman who becomes the romantic interest of Francis Dolarhyde, aka The Tooth Fairy serial killer, who in turn will be played by Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit films). Reba McClane is a key character in Thomas Harris’ 1981 novel, Red Dragon, and was previously played by Joan Allen in 1986’s Manhunter and Emily Watson in 2002’s Red Dragon.
Tony Award-winning actress Nina Arianda (Broadway’s Venus in Fur, Rob the Mob, Midnight in Paris) will play the recurring character of Molly. Readers of Red Dragon and viewers of the identically titled film, as well as Manhunter, will recognize Molly as Will Graham’s wife (previously played by Kim Greist in Manhunter and Mary-Louise Parker in Red Dragon).
Season three of Hannibal premieres on NBC this summer and will feature Gillian Anderson as a series regular in the role of Dr. Bedelia du Maurier, Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, and, of course, Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Famous Monsters Comic Book Division: Press Release - "March 3, 2015. Los Angeles, CA: Famous Monsters, the world’s longest-running entertainment fan magazine (est. 1958), announces that in 2015 it will expand its publishing division into original comic books.
Far from being a departure, comics have long been a part of FM’s history. In the 60s and 70s, the magazine shared the Warren imprint alongisde several monumentally influential black and white imprints: CREEPY, EERIE, and founding FM Editor Forrest J Ackerman’s very own VAMPIRELLA. In recent years, FM has dedicated multiple pages of every issue to articles about current comic book creators and their projects. The comic medium is naturally conducive to Sci-Fi, fantasy, horror, and all the themes that Famous Monsters prides itself in covering. By publishing original comics, FM is returning to its very roots.
“It has been a fun and successful seven years of covering some amazing talent while relaunching Famous Monsters back into the mainstream,” says FM Publisher Philip Kim. “But I remembered something equally exciting that Forrest Ackerman penned: his own stories. Though we celebrate all Famous Monsters, we are itching to make new ones. It’s time to tell our own stories again.”
This new comic book division, American Gothic Press, has an expansive slate to kick off in 2015, featuring such reknowned creators as Steve Niles, Paul Tobin, Nat Jones, Darick Robertson, and many more. The first series, set to debut in June, will be GUNSUITS, written by the Eisner-winning Paul Tobin (BANDETTE, COLDER), with art and cover by P.J. Holden (JUDGE DREDD, NUMBERCRUNCHER) and an alternate cover by Darick Robertson (TRANSMETROPOLITAN, HAPPY!). “When I was growing up, the only place I could grab a copy of Famous Monsters was at the comic store,” says Tobin. “They didn’t have them at the grocery store where I bought my Creepy magazine, and Eerie, and Savage Sword of Conan. For Famous Monsters, I needed a long drive to a neighboring city, where painted covers by Basil Gogos were waiting. His monsters always seemed to have secrets. Now, years later, I get to be one of the writers making those secrets, and it’s great fun.”
Coming in July will be BORNHOME, also scripted by Tobin and pencilled by Jeff Johnson (GREEN LANTERN, X-O MANOWAR) in the Cosmic Sci-Fi style of DRIFTER and BLACK SCIENCE. August will bring BROKEN MOON by Steve Niles (30 DAYS OF NIGHT, CRIMINAL MACABRE) and Nat Jones (SPAWN, ’68), an apocalyptic tale about creatures of legend and how they have come to control the fate of the world.
This is only the beginning for American Gothic, who have more exciting projects in the pipeline. Here is an exclusive first look at the cover to BROKEN MOON #1 by Nat Jones."
CONtv Digital Network: Press Release - "(Los Angeles, CA) March 3, 2014 – A revolution in fandom begins! Today marks the preview release of CONtv, the multi-platform digital streaming network available on iOS, Android and the web. CONtv gives Comic Con fans the immediate power to view thousands of hours of premium, fan-centric programming from their connected, mobile and preferred viewing devices. Both free and VIP accounts are available at CONtv.com, with CONtv VIP subscription packages providing the ultimate ad-free fan experience, access to exclusive content, first look and perks at Wizard World Comic Cons, including reserved seating and discounts. Download the CONtv app at the app store on iTunes, the Google Play store, and coming soon to Samsung and other platforms.
In addition to a huge offering of over 2,500 fan-centric, curated films and TV episodes, CONtv offers all-access to pop culture conventions nationwide anytime, anywhere, showcasing exclusive events, panels and talent from Comic Cons, including:
· Ongoing event coverage with exclusive series “Live @ the Con,” and “All Access Pass,” allowing fans to get up close to the action with celebrity panels featuring industry icons like William Shatner (“Star Trek”), Michael Rooker (“The Walking Dead”), and Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead), one-on-one spotlights with pop culture heroes like Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk”) and Manu Bennett (“Arrow”), artist and creator workshops with top-notch professionals like Joel Adams (“King of the Hill”) and Tom Hodges (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”), and expert Q&A’s with fan favorite talent like Sara Underwood (“Attack of the Show!”).
· After-hour fan events like the “Drink & Draw” where professional and amateur creators go head-to-head in drawing and writing competitions and “Cosplay LIVE,” where local and National Cosplayers compete for the best cosplay of the con. Planning a trip to the next con? “CON City,” dives into local culture with nightlife, geek culture, and unique offerings that makes each Comic Con distinct.
CONtv also boasts an expansive portfolio of acquired film and television content spanning cult television, sci-fi, horror and fantasy films, grindhouse classics, thrilling martial arts adventures, and much more.
A dynamic, interactive initiative bred from within the Comic Con fanspace, CONtv will debut new titles and programming on a weekly basis. The programming will evolve to meet viewer demands and the service will continue to grow as viewership data sheds light on fan preferences.
In the coming weeks, CONtv will debut the following original programming:
· On March 9th, fans will find full vindication for their hours of binge viewing with host and horror icon Bruce Campbell’s new pop-culture trivia game show “Last Fan Standing.” New episodes will release Mondays throughout the spring.
· On March 22nd, all 11 episodes of “Fight of the Living Dead”, the highly anticipated, genre-bending horror/reality series that follows top YouTube celebrities as they struggle to “survive” in a simulated zombie apocalypse, will release exclusively on CONtv.
· The explosive action continues into April with “My Morphing Life,” the pulse-pounding series that centers on the insane real-life adventures of original Green Power Ranger, Jason David Frank.
CONtv is a joint venture created by Wizard World (OTCBB:WIZD) and Cinedigm (NASDAQ:CIDM).
Visit CONtv.com for more details!
About CONtv
CONtv is a new digital entertainment network devoted exclusively to the fanspace that provides audiences access to thousands of hours of content showcasing an original slate of programming, as well as an eclectic catalog of over 1,200 must-watch titles. Everything from quirky original series, elusive cult films & television shows, celebrated genre movies encompassing sci-fi, horror, fantasy, anime, grindhouse, martial arts action, to exclusive live coverage of Comic Con events nationwide, all available on-demand either in a free, ad-supported format or a subscription-based model for premium content. CONtv is a partnership of Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM), one of the nation’s largest independent distributor of digital entertainment, and Wizard World, producers of the largest Comic Con Tour in the U.S. Together, they provide an unrivalled hub of content, community and conventions across the broad spectrum of devices including Android and Mac iOS, Samsung Smart TV, the web, and mobile and tablet devices. For more information, visit CONtv.com.
About Cinedigm
Cinedigm is a leading independent content distributor in the United States, with direct relationships with thousands of physical retail storefronts and digital platforms, including Wal-Mart, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon, as well as the national Video on Demand platform on cable television. The company’s library of films and TV episodes encompasses award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films®, next-gen Indies from Flatiron Film Company®, acclaimed independent films and festival picks through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Films and a wide range of content from brand name suppliers, including National Geographic, Discovery, Scholastic, NFL, Shout Factory, Hallmark, Jim Henson and more.
Additionally, given Cinedigm’s infrastructure, technology, content and distribution expertise, the company has rapidly become a leader in the quickly evolving over-the-top digital network business. Cinedigm’s first channel, DOCURAMA, launched in May 2014, and is currently available on iOS, Roku Players and Roku TVs, Xbox and Samsung, with additional platforms currently being rolled out. Cinedigm launched CONtv, a Comic Con branded channel in partnership with Wizard World, on March 3, 2015. The Company’s third OTT channel, DOVE MOVIE CHANNEL, will be a digital streaming subscription service targeted to families and kids seeking high quality and family friendly content approved by Dove Foundation. Adding to Cinedigm’s diversified portfolio of digital networks, the Company announced in early 2015 an OTT partnership with TV4 Entertainment and the planned launch of the BRIGHT EDUTAINMENT OTT channel.
Cinedigm™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Corp. www.cinedigm.com.
About Wizard World
Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, the Wizard World Film Festival, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more.
The 2015 Wizard World Comic Con schedule is available at: wizd.me/PRSchedule2015."
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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