HBO has announced it ordered House of the Dragon, a prequel series to the hit fantasy TV show Game of Thrones.
House of the Dragon
will be set about 300 years before events in the original series, which ended
its eight-season run earlier this year.
The cable channel’s announcement
came hours after another planned prequel, due to star Naomi Watts, was
reportedly canceled.
Game of Thrones
was HBO’s most popular series. The series won multiple Emmy awards and drew tens
of millions of viewers.
“It’s my pleasure to announce today that we are
ordering House of the Dragon straight to series for HBO,” said Casey Bloys, president of HBO programming, at a launch
event in Los Angeles for the HBO Max streaming platform.
“It tells the story of House Targaryen and the early
days of Westeros.”
In a tweet, Games of Thrones said House of the Dragon would be co-produced by Game of Thrones author George RR Martin,
Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik: “#HouseOfTheDragon, a #GameofThrones prequel is coming to @HBO.
The series is co-created by @GRRMSpeaking and Ryan Condal. Miguel Sapochnik will
partner with Condal as showrunner and will direct the pilot and additional episodes.
Condal will be writing the series.”
A pilot episode for an unnamed prequel starring Oscar nominee Naomi Watts
was filmed over the summer.
On October 29, sources quoted by The
Hollywood Reporter said executive producer Jane Goldman had emailed the
cast telling them that HBO had canceled the show.
The reasons behind the decision were not immediately clear and HBO did not
comment.
However, Deadline reported that
the pilot had not been well received by HBO.
That prequel, also co-created by George RR Martin, was reported to have been
set about 5,000 years before events in the original series.
On October 28, Game of Thrones
writers David Benioff and DB Weiss announced that they had left the next Star Wars trilogy, due to launch in
2022. The news came after the pair signed an exclusive deal with Netflix.
Game Of
Thrones returned for its 8th and final season on April 15 after a near
two-year absence.
HBO aired episode one simultaneously in the US and UK.
Secrets were revealed and families reunited as the battle for the Iron
Throne intensified, with the ‘undead’ army inching ever closer.
According to Variety , the Game of Thrones writers have done something new this time around: “Hitting the accelerator and delivering major plot developments, hurriedly, in its home stretch.”
One of the most eagerly-anticipated TV moments of the decade is expected to
have drawn a huge audience.
HBO said last month that 81 million people watched the trailer across all
online platforms (including Twitter, YouTube, Facebook) in just 24 hours.
Game of Thrones return lit up social media again on the premiere day.
Many of the stars stepped out on April 12 for a screening in Belfast, where
large parts of the series were filmed.
Maisie Williams, who has played Arya Stark since she was a teenager, was
there and she told the Observer she
has no intention of chasing more fame than she already has, once the show wraps
up at the end of the series.
The first episode of Game of Thrones,
starring Maisie Williams, Kit Harington as Jon Snow and Emilia Clarke as
Daenerys Targaryen, as well as Lena Headey’s Cersei Lannister, had a running
time of 54 minutes which is, apparently, the shortest of the whopping
big-sounding eighth season.
The third installment is set to be the longest, running to 82 minutes.
The channel said in statement if picked up, the prequel will chronicle “the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour”.
“From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East, to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.”
British author Jane Goldman, who wrote Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class and the Kingsman films, will serve as a showrunner for the as-yet-unnamed show.
Game of Thrones is HBO’s most popular series to date. It has won multiple Emmy awards and drawn tens of millions of viewers worldwide.
The HBO announcement to commission two more series of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, has ended rumors that the comedian may replace Jon Stewart on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.
John Oliver launched Last Week Tonight in 2014 after seven years as one of Jon Stewart’s sidekicks on The Daily Show.
He was mentioned as a possible new Daily Show host after Jon Stewart announced last week that he is to stand down.
The new HBO deal means John Oliver will present 35 episodes of Last Week Tonight per year in 2016 and 2017.
The announcement comes three days after his late-night chat show won the Writers’ Guild of America award for best comedy/variety series.
John Oliver rose to fame after joining The Daily Show as its Senior British Correspondent in 2006.
In 2013, John Oliver stood in for Jon Stewart for eight weeks while the host was shooting a film. John Oliver received positive reviews, with some critics suggesting he should eventually succeed Stewart.
Other possible contenders to replace Jon Stewart include Tina Fey, Jessica Williams and Amy Poehler.
“We are incredibly proud to have John as part of the HBO family,” HBO president Michael Lombardo said.
“His unique ability to deliver socially significant commentary week after week, along with his innate comedic brilliance, puts John in a class by himself.”
In the first season of Last Week Tonight, which ended last November, John Oliver covered topics including net neutrality, Uganda’s anti-LGBT laws, Miss America, climate change and civil forfeiture abuse by the police.
The second series of 35 episodes began earlier this month. The show is produced by the US arm of Britain’s Avalon Television.
Martin Scorsese’s planned HBO TV documentary on President Bill Clinton has been shelved indefinitely, according to reports.
The New York Times said the project – which was announced in December 2012 – had stalled over disagreements on control of the film.
The newspaper said Bill Clinton had wanted more say over the interview questions and the final cut.
A spokesman for the former president said the claim was “inaccurate”.
The documentary was partly shot over the past two years, and was to feature Bill Clinton making a philanthropic visit to South Africa.
According to unnamed sources working on the project, Bill Clinton’s aides had wanted to approve the questions he would be asked and the film’s final edit.
Martin Scorsese’s spokesman declined to comment on the dispute, but HBO said: “[The film’s] not happening soon but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen.”
When the documentary was first announced, Martin Scorsese described Bill Clinton as “a towering figure who remains a major voice in world issues”.
He added: “Through intimate conversations, I hope to provide greater insight into this transcendent figure.”
At the time, Bill Clinton also said he was pleased to become the subject of a “legendary director”.
Martin Scorsese is currently preparing for his next film, Silence, in Taiwan.
HBO’s Game of Thrones Season 4 finale drew 7.1 million viewers on Sunday, beating the 5.4 million who tuned in for the previous season’s last episode.
Once repeats were taken into account, the finale for the fourth season was seen by 9.3 million people.
Total viewing figures, including video on demand and mobile streaming have not yet been released.
Game of Thrones is now HBO’s most popular series, surpassing The Sopranos.
Game of Thrones Season 4 finale drew 7.1 million viewers
The average audience during series four, including catch-up services, has been 18.6 million per episode. The Sopranos’ audience peaked at 18.2 million in 2002, giving it the HBO record until now.
The show is engaged in a ratings war with zombie thriller The Walking Dead, which attracted 15.7 million viewers for its season finale in April.
However, broadcaster AMC said its audience jumped to 28 million once repeats and on-demand figures were taken into account.
The final Game of Thrones episode, The Children, saw many of the show’s leading characters making key decisions which will impact them in future episodes, while several met a typically grisly end.
Season five has already been confirmed.
Game of Thrones TV series is based on the books, A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, set in the mythical, medieval land of Westeros.
In the north, a massive wall of ice keeps out barbarian “wildlings” and zombie-like “white walkers”. South of the wall, there is a bitter war between rival claimants for the Iron Throne and rule of the seven kingdoms of Westeros.
Meanwhile, a princess exiled to distant lands with three dragons has rallied an army of freed slaves.
Game of Thrones is full of intense political intrigue, with war and its aftermath depicted in brutal detail. The show first aired in 2011 featuring actors including Peter Dinklage, Charles Dance, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams.
Game of Thrones will have two new series – Seasons 5 and 6 – producers have confirmed.
“Raise a glass of Dornish wine. Game of Thrones is renewed for seasons five and six,” the show posted on its official Facebook page.
The statement added: “Send a raven and spread the word across the realm.”
Game of Thrones Season 4 premiere gave HBO its top ratings since The Sopranos finale in 2007, it was announced earlier this week.
An average of 6.6 million watched HBO for the hit fantasy drama.
Game of Thrones is renewed for seasons five and six
The Sopranos drew 11.9 million viewers for its final episode, according to the cable channel.
George RR Martin, the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels on which the program is based, is also an executive producer on the show.
He has previously hinted at the possibility of a feature film to round-off the adaptation of his book.
Game of Thrones also holds the record for the most illegally downloaded TV program.
In 2012, one episode of Game of Thrones racked up 4,280,000 illegal global downloads, according to Torrentfreak. That was slightly more than its estimated US TV audience.
Earlier this week the digital service for television channel HBO was forced to apologize to customers, after the site crashed following high demand for the series four premiere.
HBO GO asked fans to wait for a later replay of the episode on the cable channel.
Last month, the service also crashed after demand to watch the finale of True Detective.
Olivia Wilde has joined the cast of Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger’s rock and roll pilot for HBO.
The unnamed drama about the drug and s**-fuelled music business in 1970s New York will start filming in the summer, based on an idea by Mick Jagger.
Bobby Cannavale will play record executive Richie Finestra, who tries to resurrect his label.
Olivia Wilde revealed on Twitter she “could not be more psyched” about landing the role of his wife Devon.
Olivia Wilde has joined the cast of Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger’s rock and roll pilot for HBO
Martin Scorsese will direct the pilot episode which is written by his regular collaborator Terence Winter – whom he worked with on Wolf of Wall Street and Boardwalk Empire – and George Mastras of Breaking Bad.
According to Variety magazine, all three will executive produce the project along with Mick Jagger.
The show will be seen through the eyes of Richie Finestra, the founder and president of American Century Records, who is struggling to find the next new sound as punk and disco begin to take over the music business.
Richie Finestra is then hit with a crisis of character when he is forced to make a life-altering decision, which sends his wife – a former actress and model – back to her old bohemian lifestyle.
The new drama will mark a return to TV for Olivia Wilde, who played Dr. Remy Hadley in House from 2007 to 2012.
Olivia Wilde recently appeared in Spike Jonze film Her and Ron Howard’s Formula One drama Rush.
Boardwalk Empire is to end after its upcoming fifth season, HBO has announced.
The decision comes three months after HBO renewed the prohibition-era drama for a fifth outing.
“We’ve decided to wrap up the series after such a great run and look forward to bringing it to a powerful and exciting conclusion,” creator Terry Winter said.
Boardwalk Empire is to end after its upcoming fifth season
Boardwalk Empire has won 17 Emmys since it first aired, including Martin Scorsese winning for his direction of the series’ big budget pilot that premiered in 2010.
“It has been an incredible honor to bring this powerful and groundbreaking series to our subscribers,” HBO programming president Michael Lombardo said.
“Terry Winter has created one for the ages.”
Boardwalk Empire Season 5 will return to TV screens in the autumn.
Game of Thrones Season 4 will premiere at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, with the two half-hour comedies following after.
The fourth season premiere will be followed by the third season of Veep and the premiere of the new Mike Judge series Silicon Valley.
Game of Thrones Season 4 will premiere on April 6
HBO will also premiere the first trailer for Games of Thrones Season 4 on Sunday, before the premiere of True Detective the new series starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as detectives trying to solve murders in rural Louisiana.
James Gandolfini’s final TV show Criminal Justice is unlikely to be screened, according to HBO.
James Gandolfini, who died of a heart attack in June aged 51, had filmed the pilot for Criminal Justice.
James Gandolfini’s final TV show Criminal Justice is unlikely to be screened
Programming president Michael Lombardo said he could not imagine the show airing because James Gandolfini would not continue with the drama.
Criminal Justice, an adaptation of the 2008 BBC series, saw James Gandolfini playing a New York lawyer.
Speaking to The Television Critics Association, Michael Lombardo said it was difficult to think of recasting that part and was unclear what the future was for the project.
The Sopranos star James Gandolfini had also finished two films before he died. Crime film Animal Rescue and the romance Enough Said are still awaiting release.
Enough Said, which also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Catherine Keener, will have its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September.
Watching television shows, movies, and Internet videos on your TV has never been easier thanks to Roku 3. This all-access device is starting to make cable, satellite, and even over-the-air stations a bit nervous. Check out the five ways Roku 3 will change your streaming experience.
5. Access to Content
Image via Flickr by thetechbuzz
With Roku 3, you’ll have access to a very broad range of channels and content providers. Unlike cable where you buy a channel bundle that may include several channels you never watch, Roku 3 lets you pick which channels you want. Channels include big names such as Netflix, Hulu, Major League Baseball TV, and HBO.
Beyond the well-known brands, have fun sampling other content providers. For example, some popular tourist destinations offer their own channels with fun videos. Think beyond TV show shows and movies. Use your TV to watch comedic material from Funny or Die, or enjoy listening to your favorite radio station, even if it’s in another city, with Tune In. Spend hours diving into the depth of content that’s available to stream through your Roku.
4. On Demand Viewing
Most content available through Roku 3 is on demand. That means you watch it on your schedule, not when it’s broadcast or shown on cable. This changes the way you watch television shows because you no longer have to view episodes in order. While you’ll probably still want to watch “Downton Abbey” episodes in sequential order, choose whichever episode of “How It Works” that piques your interest.
3. Watch, Listen, Play
Before the Roku, there weren’t many devices that allowed you to stream TV or movies, listen to music, and play games all with a single unit. However, Roku makes it possible to do all three using one device and one remote. This means you’ll spend less time switching between your equipment and more time watching or doing the things you love. This is one more reason Roku has developed such a strong following: It brings together many functionalities in a single device.
2. Put Your Content on Screen
When you have friends or family over to your home, enjoy showing off photos of the kids or the fun you had on your last vacation with a photo slide show on your TV. It’s simple to do with the Roku app for your smartphone that puts your photos on the flatscreen.
1. Stream Content Quickly
Make sure you have reliable, fast Internet access, such as the 4G from CLEAR internet plans, so you can completely enjoy the streaming experience of Roku 3. Earlier versions of this technology took a bit of time to load content, or even pull up a different channel, but the latest iteration of Roku is built for speed.
The speed of this device may deal a fatal blow to Redbox, the DVD rental’s last ditch effort to make a comeback. With many new releases available to rent from Vudu for viewing via Roku streaming, you may have just watched your last rented DVD.
As Roku keeps introducing better, faster devices, all other traditional distributors of content such as cable,satellite, and DVD rental companies should pay attention, and probably start to worry.
The TV premiere of Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas as flamboyant pianist Liberace and Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, was seen by 2.4 million people in the US.
The Nielsen Company said it was the HBO network’s biggest audience for one of its original movies since medical drama Something the Lord Made in 2004.
A further 1.1 million people tuned in for a repeat of the film that aired immediately after Sunday’s premiere.
The TV premiere of Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas as flamboyant pianist Liberace and Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, was seen by 2.4 million people in the US
Behind the Candelabra, Steven Soderbergh’s film, will be released in UK cinemas on June 7.
Based on Scott Thorson’s memoir Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, the film charts the life of the American pianist and the secret affair he had with the author, played by Matt Damon.
The drama received its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month.
ABC’s Dancing With the Stars remains the most-watched programme on US television with around 15 million viewers last week.
Beyonce appears to have found joy again after the painful miscarriage she suffered two years ago with daughter Blue Ivy in a leaked image from HBO documentary Life Is But A Dream, which is set to air on Saturday night.
Beyonce is shown gazing lovingly at the one-year-old baby girl, who turned one-year-old on January 7.
In the image from the film, Beyonce, 31, looks bare-faced and glowing, her signature blonde mane styled in tight braids.
Beyonce can be seen looking tenderly at her little tyke, who looks adorable with her brown curls and doe-eyed expression.
Life Is But A Dream, which Beyonce co-directed, is part of a return to performing after a year off since Blue Ivy was born.
The documentary offers an insider’s look at Beyonce’s career and family life. Part of the film shows footage of a sonogram, Beyonce’s growing bump and grainy video of the singer posing nude as she neared her due date.
Beyonce also opens up about the miscarriage kept secret from the public until Jay-Z referred to it in his song Glory, released after their daughter’s birth.
Beyonce appears to have found joy again after the painful miscarriage she suffered two years ago with daughter Blue Ivy in a leaked image from HBO documentary Life Is But A Dream
TV network HBO is being sued by Barbara Casey who claims she was unfairly dismissed from horseracing drama Luck.
Luck, which starred Dustin Hoffman, was axed after several animals died.
Barbara Casey, ex-director of the American Humane Association (AHA) film and production unit, says producers “engaged in ongoing, systematic and unlawful animal abuse”.
An HBO statement said precautions were taken “to ensure that our horses were treated humanely”.
Barbara Casey’s lawsuit also accuses the American Humane Association (AHA) of bending to pressure from the TV network “to allow the use of unsuitable horses”.
She said her employment was wrongfully terminated after she threatened to report animal mistreatment.
HBO added in its statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “Barbara Casey was not an employee of HBO, and any questions regarding her employment should be directed to the AHA.”
HBO is being sued by Barbara Casey who claims she was unfairly dismissed from horseracing drama Luck
The drama, in which Dustin Hoffman starred as a crime kingpin scheming to gain control of a racecourse, was cancelled last March during filming on its second season.
Several horses were injured and put down, and a statement at the time said it was “with heartbreak that HBO have decided to cease all future production”. It was shown in the UK on Sky Atlantic.
However, Barbara Casey claims the network engaged in efforts to “conceal and cover-up” animal safety violations while filming.
She said HBO “misidentified horses so that the humane officers and/or animal safety representatives could not track their medical histories, experience and/or suitability for use”.
Barbara Casey, who held her position with the AHA for 13 years, claimed officers witnessed horses being “drugged to perform” and “underweight and sick horses unsuited for work [being] routinely used”.
AHA said in a statement to movie website Deadline that it “is unable to comment on this pending legal matter”.
Republicans are calling for a boycott of HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones after the creator’s “despicable” decision to include former US President George W. Bush’s severed head in several scenes.
In the tenth episode of the first season, George Bush’s decapitated head is seen impaled on a wooden spike, covered in filthy long hair and slathered in dirt.
HBO and the show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, have apologized for the incident.
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who noted the appearance in the series’ DVD commentary, insist it wasn’t a political statement – just a prop they got from a production company.
But the image has provoked outrage from at least one Republican politician and a backlash on Twitter.
In the tenth episode of the first season of Game of Thrones, George Bush's decapitated head is seen impaled on a wooden spike, covered in filthy long hair and slathered in dirt
HBO called the scene “unacceptable, disrespectful and in very bad taste”.
“We made this clear to the executive producers of the series who apologized immediately for this inadvertent careless mistake. We are sorry this happened and will have it removed from any future DVD production,” HBO said in a statement.
The creators said the regret pointing out that one of their prosthetic heads looked like the former president. They said the rent prosthetic body parts in bulk and no on even noticed the head looked like George W. Bush’s until after they were done shooting the scene.
The finale of the first season of Game of Thrones, Fire and Blood, one of the series’ beloved characters Ned Stark is beheaded by new King Jeoffrey for treason.
In one brutal scene, King Jeoffrey brings his bride-to-be to gaze upon the severed head of her father.
Sansa Stark refuses at first, but then looks up to see not only her father, but also George W. Bush.
The surprise sighting went largely noticed until a user on Reddit pointed out the presidential prop.
When the show’s creators revisit the scene in the DVD commentary, they make sure viewers notice the former Head of State.
“People may not have noticed this but back up…the last head on the left is George Bush,” one says.
“George Bush’s head appears in a couple of beheading scenes,” the other adds.
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss say it was no condemnation of George W. Bush and his policies.
“It’s not a choice. It’s not a political statement,” one says.
“It’s just.. we had to use what heads we had lying around.”
Craig Eaton, chairman of the Brooklyn Republican Party, was disgusted by the former president’s “appearance” on the show.
“I think that it’s despicable. As a country, Democrats, Republicans, we have to have respect for the office and the individuals,” he said.
“Once we lose that respect, the United States looks weak.”
He continued: “Think about what people outside the country think when they see how Americans are disparaging their own former presidents.”
HBO has decided to cancel TV horse-racing drama Luck, which stars Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, after a third animal was injured and put down during production.
The series was filming its second season when the incident happened.
In a statement, HBO said it was “with heartbreak” that it was ceasing “all future production” on Luck.
Produced by Michael Mann and David Milch, the series looks at the seedy side of life in US horse-racing.
It sees Dustin Hoffman play a crime kingpin scheming to gain control of a racetrack and introduce casino gambling.
Luck debuted in the US in January and will see its first season finale broadcast on 25 March.
It is currently being shown in the UK on the Sky Atlantic channel.
HBO has decided to cancel TV horse-racing drama Luck, which stars Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, after a third animal was injured and put down during production
The decision to cancel the entire series came one day after filming was suspended pending an investigation into the horse’s death.
“It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series <<Luck>>,” HBO said in its statement.
“While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won’t in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision.”
On Tuesday the American Humane Association (AHA) issued the suspension order, pending a “thorough and comprehensive investigation”.
HBO said the horse was being led to a stable by a groom when it reared and fell back, suffering a head injury.
The animal was put down at the track in suburban Arcadia, California, where Luck was filming.
Although the AHA – which oversees Hollywood productions – noted the accident did not occur during filming or racing, it issued the demand “that all production involving horses shut down”.
On Tuesday, California Horse Racing Board vet Dr. Gary Beck said he had just examined the horse as part of routine health and safety procedures before it was to race later in the day.
“The horse was on her way back to the stall when she reared, flipped over backwards, and struck her head on the ground,” Dr. Gary Beck said in a statement.
A second vet determined that euthanasia was appropriate, he added.
Dr. Rick Arthur, medical director of the state racing board, said such injuries occurred in stable areas every year and were more common than thought.
During filming of the first series in 2010 and 2011, two horses were hurt during racing scenes and were subsequently put down.
The AHA called for a production halt at the Santa Anita Racetrack after the second horse’s death, and racing resumed in February after new protocols were put in place.
The first two horse deaths drew criticism from animal rights group PETA, which said the safety guidelines were “clearly inadequate” as they failed to prevent the deaths.
On Tuesday, PETA vice-president Kathy Guillermo said: “Three horses have now died and all the evidence we have gathered points to sloppy oversight, the use of unfit, injured horses, and disregard for the treatment of thoroughbreds.”
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