The Empire Podcast #2 Is Here Now!

John Carter, MIB III, Avengers & more!Because of everybody who took in to and downloaded the initial Empire Podcast following its debut a week ago. I was, although briefly, no. 1 podcast around the UKiTunes Store, and therefore are chuffed together with your reactions so far.And thus, with no further to-do, as Carlito Brigante may have it, ideas happily present the 2nd Empire Podcast! Now, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Nick p Semlyen and Phil p Semlyen (who might be considered a relation) dissect the week's large releases, including John Carter, The Raven and Bel Ami, as well as talk shop concerning the new Males In Black IIItrailer, Avengers Lego, and also the nominations for that JamesonEmpire Honours.Gleam kick-ass competition which will attract Hunger Games fans particularly, the most recent within our readers-made jingles, and enough uses from the word 'Jeddak' to create us believe that we may owe the Edgar Grain Burroughs estate some money.All podcasts are for sale to pay attention to on our Soundcloud funnel where it is also downloaded being an MP3 file. It will likewise be on iTunes in 2 shakes of the Thark's four arms.

Carla Gugino To Star Opposite Sigourney Weaver In USA Series Political Animals

Carla Gugino is positioned to co-star opposite Sigourney Weaver in Political Animals, USA Systems 6-episode drama series from Greg Berlanti and Laurence Mark, which premieres this summer season. Put together by Berlanti, the Washington Electricity-based series can be a imaginary think about a former first family that exposes a empire vulnerable by political ambition, lust and avarice. It concentrates on Elaine Barrish (Weaver), the divorced former First Lady and lately hired Secretary of Condition who throws herself to the job after recouping within the dissolution of her marriage and losing the presidential nomination. She attempts to keep her family together, while at the same time dealing with crises in the Condition Department together with a hungry Pulitzer Prize-winning Electricity journalist, Susan Berg (Gugino) bent on destroying her career. Also formerly cast inside the Warner Horizon-produced project are James Wolk as Elaine’s boy Doug who may serve as her chief of staff andBrittany Ishibashi as his fiance. Gugino, repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment, is coming initially from off a effective Broadway along the way to Mecca. Her recent screen credits include movie Sucker Punch as well as the Showtime series Californication.

Cheers & Jeers: Katy Perry Can't Keep Hope Alive

and Mike & Molly's Billy Gardell don't exactly appear like brothers and sisters - nonetheless they share the identical father! Actor Francis Guinan, who came out on That '70s Show since the father of Ashton's Kelso, been cast to see Mike's papa. With Mike and Molly's wedding nearby, the man who abandoned his family in the past reenters the look, which "will weigh heavily on Mike's large day," executive producer Chuck Lorre notifies me. Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Francis GuinanMike & Molly

Johnston reteams with 'Captain' thesp

Director Joe Johnston is reteaming together with his "Captain America" thesp Qq Feild, that has been cast in Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Prods.' low-budget thriller "Unsafe For Work" together with Tom Gallop and Emmy champion Christian Clemenson ("CSI: Miami").Brit scribes Adam Mason and Simon Boyes authored the script, which follows a youthful legal assistant held in a workplace having a killer on the secret pursuit to destroy files and anybody that stands in the path.Max Minghella ("The Social Networking") will star because the cunning protag, while Eloise Mumford (ABC's "The ForestInch) will have his girlfriend, who works in the same office together with Clemenson.Jason Blum ("Paranormal Activity") is creating the pic, which is professional created by Couper Samuelson. Bryan Brucks is placed to co-produce.Feild, who co-starred in Neil Marshall's "Centurion," is symbolized by UTA and U.K.-based Ken McReddie Affiliates. APA-repped Gallop is really a veteran TV thesp who lately made an appearance within the Paul Greengrass-directed sequels to "The Bourne Identity."Clemenson, who stars on "CSI: Miami" and won an Emmy for his guest switch on "Boston Legal," lately made an appearance in Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar." He's repped by Stone Manners Salners Agency and manager Mitch Clem Management and Marshak/Zachary. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Anthony Mackie in talks for 'Pain and Gain'

MackieThe muscled ensemble of Michael Bay's "Discomfort and Gain" grows, as "The Hurt Locker" star Anthony Mackie is at predicts join Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Manley since the third lead in Michael Bay's low-budget Vital pic.Vital did not have comment.With various true story first told inside an article within the Miami New Occasions, film follows several bodybuilders who in an offer of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida.Mackie is at discussions to see Adrian Doorbal, a sizable-hearted bodybuilder who computes with Wahlberg's character, Daniel Lugo. Doorbal has little to demonstrate for his effort, leading him to buy Lugo's plan.Erection dysfunction Harris will co-star as private agent Erection dysfunction Du Bois, while Make the most of Corddry may have John Mese, the prior accountant and notary who has a health club where Lugo works.Bay is creating with Jesse P Line and Ian Bryce. "Captain America" scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely written the script. Production is predicted to begin noisy . spring.With "Discomfort and Gain," Mackie continues his ascent just like a leading guy in studio films. Thesp is coming initially from off numerous strong supporting roles, including Universal's "The Adjustment Bureau," DreamWorks' "Real Steel" and Summit's "Guy around the Ledge," additionally to approaching turns in Fox's adaptation of "Abraham Lincoln subsequently subsequently: Vampire Hunter" and WB's "The Gangster Squad."Thesp recently wrapped charge inside the indie "Vipaka," which pairs him with Forest Whitaker.Mackie is repped by UTA and Inspire Entertainment. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Dear God, The Les Grossman Movie Is Real -- and It's 'Heartfelt'

I'm willing to give on-the-brink screenwriter Michael Bacall the benefit of the doubt based on what I've seen and heard of him so far, from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (which he co-wrote) to the Todd Phillips-produced teen party comedy Project X and 21 Jump Street (both of which he has scripting and story credits on), the latter of which is earning surprisingly glowing reactions from the blogoscenti. But I might have to draw some sort of line at the Tropic Thunder spin-off starring a fat, hairy Tom Cruise as slimy Hollywood exec Les Grossman, which apparently is not only really, seriously a thing but is, as Bacall describes, "a pretty heartfelt story." "I wrote it for R because we had precedent with Tropic Thunder," he told Collider recently, promising a script unhampered by PG-13 boundaries. "Its actually a pretty heartfelt story. I had a lot of meetings with Mr. Cruise and Mr. Stiller and it was crazy, it was a blast. I think we came up with some really fun stuff to give you an insight into who the guy is, so Im hopeful that thatll get up and running soon. Cruise, he admits, may be pretty busy with non-Les Grossman gigs for a good while, so it's hard to say when this insightful look at the man who won 8 Oscars, earned 400 million dollars at the box office, and saved Tugg Speedman's career will hit theaters. I can't imagine anything more exhausting than watching Cruise yell and dance to Flo Rida for the length of a feature film. Project X, meanwhile, captures the youth side of a dick-obsessed male culture if with an overabundance of sleaze, and 21 Jump Street is earning some of the most solid advance buzz I've heard in a while where high profile studio fodder is concerned. So maybe there's hope yet? Then again, Bacall is not only a scribe, he's an actor; while he most recently appeared in Inglorious Basterds, his appearance on the infamously terrible Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch: Make My Video Sega game actually makes me like him, although it proves that not all high concept projects built around macho gyrating personalities are good ideas. Screenwriter Michael Bacall Gives Update on Les Grossman Movie; Says Its A Pretty Heartfelt Story and it Was Written to Be Rated R [Collider]

BBC draws 640 buyers to Showcase

LONDON -- BBC Worldwide's annual U.K. sales market, Showcase, is expecting more than 640 international buyers to attend this year's event, a hike of almost 100 on last year's Showcase. Taking place in the English city of Liverpool for the first time, Worldwide is beefing up the market's appeal by staging a one-day talking shop focusing on the growing importance of digital distribution. The keynote speaker is Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. Other contributors include social TV specialist Miso's CEO Somrat Niyogi, IPTV combo Maxdome Germany's managing director Christoph Bellmer, and the CEO of IPTV company FetchTV Australia Scott Lorson. Steve Macallister, prexy and managing director, sales and distribution, BBC Worldwide, said: "With a significant increase in delegates from America and Asia, and many digital clients attending for the first time, including Hulu, Netflix, Yota, Onet, CME and FetchTV Australia, we have exceeded our expectations and look forward to welcoming a record breaking number of delegates to this iconic city." Showcase runs Feb. 26-29, and is expected to gross in excess of 50 million ($75.8 million) for Worldwide.Shows being pushed by Worldwide at Showcase include Sky TV dramas "Sinbad" and crime caper "Mad Dogs," ITV's detective skein "Whitechapel," and the BBC's Edwardian saga "Parade's End," plus the Corp.'s domestic new breakout hit "Call the Midwife." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com