Latest news with #TVDrama
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Top Drama TV Showrunners on Killing Off Beloved Characters, Mapping Out Multiple Seasons and the Trick to Not Becoming Overwhelmed
No, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann didn't kill Pedro Pascal. That was just one key messaging point delivered during Variety's A Night in the Writers' Room on Thursday night. Although this was the drama panel, many hilarious conversations came out of the discussion moderated by Variety's senior TV features editor Emily Longeretta. In addition to 'The Last of Us' creators, panelists included 'Severance' creator Dan Erickson, 'Paradise' creator Dan Fogelman, 'The Pitt' creator R. Scott Gemmill, 'Doc' creator Barbie Kligman, 'Yellowjackets' co-creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson and 'Cross' creator Ben Watkins. More from Variety Don't Forget 'Severance' Star Tramell Tillman This Emmy Season Why Nicola Coughlan Is the Soul of 'Bridgerton' and Deserves an Emmy Nomination 'Severance' Creator Dan Erickson Discusses the 'Depressing' Lumon Industries - While Touring Lumen, the Actual Name for Variety's Office Building While discussing the pressures of following a stellar first season with a second one — Mazin and Druckmann shed light on the ups and downs. 'There's this thing that happens when you're making the first season of something where you truly are just rolling down a hill on fire. If you stay alive, that's a huge achievement. If a show comes out, that's amazing,' Mazin said. 'The second season comes with so many expectations, and we did learn a lot of lessons. And the problem with learning lessons is then you have to be accountable to those lessons. And you're not allowed to make those mistakes anymore, which is tragic. You do feel pressure to somehow fulfill what people want but also surprise them. You're now a topic of discussion, whereas before you were just new and surprising. I mean, the bar for video game adaptations was pretty low. We had that going for us in Season 1 — now we kind of fucked ourselves.' Druckmann added that it 'can feel very scary' doing a second season, just like it did when creating a second chapter of the video game. 'People had very strong reactions to whatever controversial story decision we made,' he said, referring to the death of Pedro Pascal's Joel Miller in Season 2. 'He did a thing. Everyone lost their shit, and then I had to do that same thing, because he did the thing. I loved doing the thing, I thought it was great,' Mazin says of the death. 'The big complaint that I've gotten is, 'Why did you kill Pedro Pascal?' And I keep explaining, we didn't kill him! He's a man, he's alive. He's fine. And he's in literally everything else. So I don't know what the problem is!' The group also discussed planning ahead when pitching a season and knowing how many seasons their shows will last. Fogelman said he pitched 'Paradise' as a three-season show since he has a three-year plan — and always does that in the room — but the plans could always change. 'I know, generally, how many episodes I want to do, but then once you have those markers, you say, 'that's act one, that's act 2, that's act 3,' he said. 'If you set that, it's a really lucky place to be, but it can be really helpful, even if it's 10 seasons.' One of the bigger themes that the writers dove into was just how difficult it is to launch a successful show, continue a successful show and not become overwhelmed. However, Gemmill, who worked on 'ER' and showran 'NCIS: Los Angeles' before creating 'The Pitt' seemed to have it all figured out — much to the others' chagrin.'I've been doing it a long time, and I also think, at the end of the day, I'm not saving kids' lives. I'm making a fucking TV show. It's 'Gilligan's Island.' If it's still on the air 50 years after I'm dead, wonderful,' said Gemmill. 'I'm just so damn lucky to get paid not to have people shoot at me or run into a burning building.' When Nickerson noted that of Gemmill is right, he also had a follow up question: 'The thing that we need to know is how you hold onto that perspective and frame when the void that lives inside you is threatening to eat everything you ever thought you could be, would be or should be.' Gemmill had the perfect response: 'You've never tried ketamine?' Watch the full panel above. Best of Variety Emmy Predictions: Documentary Programs — Nonfiction Races Spotlight Pee-wee Herman, Simone Biles and YouTube Creators 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Hollyoaks star confirms exit as he breaks silence on shock goodbye just a year after returning
A HOLLYOAKS star has confirmed his exit as he addressed his character's shock goodbye. This departure comes just a year after the fan favourite made a shock return. 4 4 Charlie Clapham has again bowed out from playing Freddie Roscoe. Taking to Instagram following his final scenes, Charlie posted: "What a ride. "This isn't goodbye @hollyoaksofficial just a see you soon… Or maybe not, who knows!? Thank you for your kindness. Ciao 4 now." A fan commented: "What an absolute joy it's been having you back! Good luck with your next epic adventure Charlie!" Another shared: "Oh no and we'll miss you on our screens." Viewers watched as Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) cornered Freddie while armed with a gun. The gangster wanted revenge after Freddie ensured a letter he'd written to Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe) never reached her. Hollyoaks killer to return after three years in shock recast He proceeded to intimidate his love rival into writing a suicide note. Warren also taunted Freddie by saying everyone in his life would be better off without him. Ultimately, Freddie complied and wrote a goodbye letter to "soulmate" Mercedes - who was crushed over his apparent death. The actor originally played Freddie from 2013 until leaving in 2017. From Hollyoaks to Hollywood James Corden played a caretaker in the early days of the soap. The former American TV host doesn't have much positive to say about his time on the soap, claiming it was "hell on earth." Since his short-lived time on the show he has gone on to bigger things including smash hit comedy Gavin and Stacey. Rachel Shenton joined the soap as aspiring glamour model Mitzeee Minniver in 2010. Over two years her character was sent to prison, got pregnant and had a number of romantic affairs. Since leaving Hollyoaks she has won an Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child. Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady. Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent. Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Gangs of London and even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth. Hannah's eating disorder storyline was the first of it's kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away. Since leaving the soap in 2010 Emma has gone on to star in ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as the Red Queen. Other roles include guest appearances in Death In Paradise, Ripper Street and Fresh Meat Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry 'Newt' Newton. Nico's main storyline in the soap was developing schizophrenia which culminated in a suicide pact. He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village. Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America. He played one of the soap's resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 - when he was killed off at his wedding. After leaving the soap Ricky cracked America starring in teen drama The 100 and America Gods. He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt. His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off. After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, The Responder, Homefront and Good Cop. Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving. In 2021 Wallis won the role of Batwoman in DC's series, taking over from Ruby Rose. Earlier this year, The Sun revealed Charlie would be exiting the soap again. A source said at the time: 'Charlie has finished his stint filming. 'He's hugely popular and everyone's really sad to see him go but the storyline is great and it was all planned out before his return. 'There's going to be a big send off for Freddie as the soap ramps up for a huge summer leading to the 30th later this year.' 4
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sexy BBC drama star in the frame to play Elizabeth Taylor in blockbuster TV show about movie icon
RISING Brit star Marisa Abela is in the frame to play Elizabeth Taylor in a blockbuster TV drama charting the movie legend's sensational life. The actress won a Bafta for playing sexy financier Yasmin Kara-Hanani in three series of the BBC's bonking-and-banking drama Industry. 4 4 Marisa, 28, also won plaudits for her depiction of the late, hellraising singer Amy Winehouse in the 2024 movie Back to Black opposite Jack O'Connell as her boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil. An insider said: 'Bosses of the adaptation want someone who can capture the essence of the single-minded woman that married seven times and was said to have had a voracious sexual appetite. 'It's very early days for the project but the producers want to assemble formidable British talent with the aim of making this a blockbuster series.' Former EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins is developing the drama — called Elizabeth Taylor Vs The World — with his production company Happy Prince. The scripts are being written by Times columnist Caitlin Moran, a superfan who once said of her idol: 'She ate up life like a sexy glutton.' It is based on the book Erotic Vagrancy, written by Roger Lewis, about Liz's passionate love affair with husband Richard Burton. The London-born star of Cleopatra and Giant, who died in 2011 aged 79, was said to have had sexual needs as famous as her husband's. Legend has it that she once had a threesome with President John F Kennedy and actor Robert Stack. Producers Happy Prince made the racy adaptation of Jilly Cooper's saucy novel Rivals that was shown on Disney+ last year and became one of the streamer's biggest hits. The company is part of ITV Studios, which means the drama could end up airing on ITV. Seven divorces, health drama & a public affair - Elizabeth Taylor's controversial life revealed as doc shares her side But it may end up in a bidding war among streamers with a hunger for quality British drama. 4
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
TV child star Mason Vale Cotton is all grown up — and is super buff
An actor who starred in a huge TV drama looks unrecognisable 13 years after the show ended. Desperate Housewives ran from 2004 until 2012, making stars of the likes of Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman. But one person who is all grown up compared to their days on set is Mason Vale Cooper, who played MJ Delfino. MJ was the son of Susan Mayer [Teri Hatcher] and Mike Delfino [James Denton] and Mason, now 22, made his first appearance as the character in 2008. But it appears Mason has quit acting for now and is focusing on his studies. Recent snaps shared on Instagram show him playing football at his college in California. He also paid tribute to his girlfriend, sharing a series of photos to mark their one year anniversary. Mason's last credited TV acting role was in Mad Men in 2012 and he also voiced Arnold in Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie in 2017. Desperate Housewives remains a firm favourite with fans, but Eva, 50 – who starred as Gabrielle Solis – recently confessed a reboot with the show's original characters is very unlikely thanks to one major roadblock. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, she was asked what could stand in the way of new episodes featuring Gaby and her pals, and replied: 'Marc Cherry, our creator. 'He feels like we've exhausted the characters. It's unlike Sex and the City [where] it was only, like, 6, 8 episodes a year. We did 24 episodes a year for a decade.' In a nod to Gaby's many affairs during the show's run, Eva added: 'I can't sleep with any more people on that street! 'Like, I have slept with every single person on the street.' However it has been confirmed a spin-off, titled Wisteria Lane, is in the development with Disney, with the cast yet to be revealed.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
TV star who starred in huge drama unrecognisable 13 years after the show ended – can you guess who it is?
all grown up It's been confirmed a Desperate Housewives spin-off is in development AN actor who starred in a huge TV drama looks unrecognisable 13 years after the show ended. Desperate Housewives ran from 2004 until 2012, making stars of the likes of Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman. 5 5 But one person who is all grown up compared to their days on set is Mason Vale Cooper, who played MJ Delfino. MJ was the son of Susan Mayer [ Teri Hatcher ] and Mike Delfino [James Denton] and Mason, now 22, made his first appearance as the character in 2008. But it appears Mason has quit acting for now and is focusing on his studies. Recent snaps shared on Instagram show him playing football at his college in California. He also paid tribute to his girlfriend, sharing a series of photos to mark their one year anniversary. Mason's last credited TV acting role was in Mad Men in 2012 and he also voiced Arnold in Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie in 2017. Desperate Housewives remains a firm favourite with fans, but Eva, 50 - who starred as Gabrielle Solis - recently confessed a reboot with the show's original characters is very unlikely thanks to one major roadblock. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, she was asked what could stand in the way of new episodes featuring Gaby and her pals, and replied: 'Marc Cherry, our creator. 'He feels like we've exhausted the characters. It's unlike Sex and the City [where] it was only, like, 6, 8 episodes a year. We did 24 episodes a year for a decade.' In a nod to Gaby's many affairs during the show's run, Eva added: 'I can't sleep with any more people on that street! The feuds of Desperate Housewives 'Like, I have slept with every single person on the street.' However it has been confirmed a spin-off, titled Wisteria Lane, is in the development with Disney, with the cast yet to be revealed. 5
