Celebrate Your Geekdom
Duncan Lacroix (Murtagh) is a native of Welling in Kent, South East Greater London. His notable screen credits include HBO’s “Game of Thrones” Season 2, “VIKINGS” and Sky Television’s Series ‘Primeval.’ Lacroix is also passionate about theater acting. His credits include Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “Macbeth.”
From OUTLANDER:
New addition to the “Outlander” Clan today.
We are pleased to announce that Scotsman Graham McTavish will join the cast of Outlander as Dougal MacKenzie, the War Chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, secret supporter of the rebel cause against the British, and uncle to Jamie Fraser.
Graham McTavish (Dougal MacKenzie) is a familiar face in the film and television world, starring in titles such as “Rambo,” “24,” and “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” He has also appeared on stage in multiple leading roles in prestigious UK theaters and has performed voices for animated films like “Dante’s Inferno,” “Wolverine and the X-Men,” and “The Avengers”.
More news: Colum MacKenzie has also been cast. Scottish native Gary Lewis will tackle the role of the MacKenzie Laird, clan leader, and maternal uncle of Jamie Fraser.
Gary Lewis (Colum MacKenzie) is no stranger to show business either. He is known for high profile roles in “Billy Elliot” and “Gangs of New York.” His most recent work includes “Libertador,” “The Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich,” and the acclaimed BBC One drama “Case Histories.”
From STARZ:
You asked for casting news. We have just that:
Tobias Menzies will take on the dual roles of Frank Randall and Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall in the anticipated new Outlander series. Frank Randall is Claire’s 20th century husband and a professional historian with a deep interest in the 18th century and his own genealogy. Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall is Frank’s ancestor from the 18th century. A Captain in the English Army posted in Scotland during a time when rebellion was rife.
SHARE the news with your friends! #CantWaitForOutlander
Meet Tobias Menzies (Frank/”Black Jack” Randall):Menzies is best recognized for his roles in “Rome” and Casino Royale. He was seen most recently as Edmure Tully in HBO’s “Game of Thrones”. He is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
From Diana Gabaldon:
IT’S OFFICIAL!
SAM HEUGHAN CAST AS JAMIE FRASER IN STARZ & SONY PICTURES TV’S “OUTLANDER”
New Original Series Based on Diana Gabaldon’s International Best-Selling Novels
From “Battlestar Galactica” Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
Beverly Hills, Calif., July 9, 2013 – Starz in association with Sony Pictures Television has announced today that Sam Heughan will play the role of Jamie Fraser in the original series “Outlander,” adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books, which will premiere on STARZ in 2014. The chivalrous young Scottish warrior, Jamie Fraser, has been adored worldwide by fans of the seven-book series that has sold more than 20 million copies and has graced the New York Times best-sellers list six times.
Diana Gabaldon said, “Oh. My. God. That man is a Scot to the bone and Jamie Fraser to the heart. Having seen Sam Heughan not just act, but be Jamie, I feel immensely grateful to the production team for their painstaking attention to the soul of the story and c
haracters.”
“From the very beginning, I knew the part of Jamie Fraser would be difficult to cast,” said Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore. “I had no one in mind for the part. I knew that someone would just come into the audition and be Jamie Fraser. And that’s what Sam did.”
In “Outlander,” Jamie Fraser strikes up a passionate affair with Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743. Armed with sheer grit and enduring strength, he is a strapping young Scottish clan lord with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humor. He is intelligent, principled, and, by 18th century standards, educated and worldly, with a tenderness and compassion that stands out in contrast to his contemporaries. A natural leader of men, he has no political ambitions or desire for battlefield glories. Instead, he wishes to remove the price on his head and return to his family’s ancestral farm.
Sam Heughan is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he was a 2003 nominee for the Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Performance for his work in the program. Last year, he originated the role of Batman in the DC/Warner Brothers and Waterlane production of “Batman Live,” an international tour which opened at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles and went on to tour in South America and throughout Europe. In 2010, he was nominated for a British Soap Award for “Villain of the Year” for his role as Scott Neilson in the BBC soap opera “Doctors.” He has also had roles in a range of television series including, “River City,” “Island at War,” “The Wild West,” “Midsomer Murders,” and, most recently, “Any Human Heart” as Lieutenant McStay. His TV movie credits include, “Breaking the Mould” for BBC Television, “A Very British Sex Scandal” for Channel 4 and “First Light” for BBC2. He was nominated for a “Grace award” for his performance as Prince Ashton, the son of Sir Roger Moore, in “A Princess for Christmas” for Hallmark Channel. His film credits include the short film Small Moments, and the feature films Alexander the Great from Macedonia and Emulsion. He will also be seen in the upcoming film Heart of Lightness. On stage, Heughan has performed at a variety of theatres in such productions as “King John,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Vortex,” “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and more. At the Royal Scottish Academy, Heughan starred in productions including “Crime & Punishment,” “The Seagull,” and “Prometheus Bound.” He is repped by United Talent Agency in the US and United Agents in the UK.
The series adaptation for “Outlander” will be written by Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”). Ronald D. Moore and Jim Kohlberg are executive producers of “Outlander,” which is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining & Supply Company and Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television.
The series will begin filming in Scotland this fall.
“Outlander” Online
Facebook: www.facebook.com/outlandertvseries.starz
Twitter: @Outlander_Starz – join the conversation with#Outlander and #STARZ
The popular novel Outlander – TV Series is coming to a TV near you!
Today, STARZ and Sony Pictures Television announced plans for a new original series adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling books. Outlander is a grandiose tale of action, adventure, time travel, and romance. SHARE to spread this exciting news!
I can’t tell you how awesome this news is for fans of Diana Gabaldon’s series of books. A blend of history, time travel, magic, mythology and romance, OUTLANDER follows the adventures of nurse Claire Randall who finds herself bound to young Jamie Fraser after somehow traveling from 1946 to 1743. While I don’t care for romance novels in general, the main theme of the first two books is the Second Jacobite Uprising in Scotland that culminated in the battle of Culloden in 1745. A friend of mine who knew my family were Jacobites gave me the first book as a gift and I’ve been a fan ever since.
How could a card carrying geek like me like a ‘romance’ series? Well, how could I NOT love a series that was inspired by the Doctor Who episode “The Highlanders” in with The Doctor meets Jamie (played by actor Frazer Hinds), who went on to appear in more episodes than any other companion. Hopefully that will be enough geek cred to get skeptics to tune in along with the millions of fans who can’t wait for the premier.
With the backing of the Hutts and an army of the galaxy’s most vicious criminals –
including the Death Watch, Black Sun and the Pykes – Pre Vizsla and Maul lead an
attack on the planet of Mandalore. Conquest of Mandalore strains the tenuous
alliance between the Sith and Death Watch in “Shades of Reason,” airing this
Saturday, January 26th at 9:30am ET/PT on Cartoon Network.
Tickets now available
Star Wars Celebration Europe, the official Lucasfilm event for all things Star Wars, is coming to Messe Essen, Germany July 26-28, 2013. Tickets are now available at http://www.starwarscelebration.eu
The event, which is expected to draw between 25,000 and 30,000 Star Wars enthusiasts to Essen, marks only the second time Lucasfilm has presented an official Celebration in Europe, the first time being in 2007 in London.
“Essen is a perfect location for Celebration Europe,” says Mary Franklin, Sr. Events Lead at Lucasfilm. “The passion and enthusiasm for Star Wars and The Clone Wars is tremendous in Germany. Messe Essen offers an ideal meeting place for the fan community from all over Europe and a good setting for all the special Star Wars programming we are planning.”
Star Wars Celebrations feature live entertainment, celebrity appearances, and interactive events for adults and families, in addition to an exhibit floor with dealers and exclusive Celebration merchandise. Lucasfilm has been producing Star Wars Celebrations since 1999, with six being held in the United States, as well as one in Japan, and the first Celebration Europe in London. The most recent, Celebration VI, attracted more than 30,000 attendees to Orlando, Florida this past August.
Star Wars Celebration Europe will showcase milestones and personalities from the more than 35 years of Star Wars history as well as a glimpse into the future of the Saga. Star Wars: The Clone Wars Supervising Director Dave Filoni will be the first guest making the journey to Germany! Filoni’s panels at Celebrations in the US have been standing room only, and we can’t wait to see him and his trademark fedora in Europe. For more on the convention and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.starwarscelebration.eu.
This Saturday marks the last episode before the holidays for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. After a comet damages their shuttle, R2-D2, Colonel Gascon and the other droids crash on a desolate planet where they must make their way across a bewildering expanse of emptiness to carry out their mission in “A Sunny Day in the Void,” airing this Saturday, December 8th at 9:30am ET/PT on Cartoon Network.
The series will return with new episodes starting on January 5, 2013.
“Secret Weapons” Episode Featurette: The Droids You’re Looking For
The Clone Wars supervising director Dave Filoni discusses the droids of D-Squad.
Link: http://starwars.com/watch/secret-weapons-featurette.html
David Tennant, best known as the tenth doctor to play The Doctor on the hit seriesDoctor Who, will make his Star Wars: The Clone Wars debut this week in “A Test of Strength,” airing Saturday, November 10th at 9:30am ET/PT on Cartoon Network.
Tennant will voice the character Huyang, a droid who greatly impacts the journey of a group of young Jedi, who were just setting out to build their first lightsabers in last week’s episode. The famed actor will continue to appear in the series for the following two episodes, “Bound for Rescue” and “A Necessary Strength.”
“When I heard the Doctor himself, David Tennant, was a fan of Star Wars I knew I had to find a way to get in contact with him to see if he would perform on Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” said Dave Filoni, Supervising Director, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “The result was ‘Huyang,’ an ancient droid in the service of the Jedi Order, whose sole task in life has been overseeing the construction of lightsabers. I thought David was perfect for the part and he did not disappoint. He delivered a performance which impressed even the Master himself, George Lucas.”
Trivia:
This September, the Critically Acclaimed Series from Lucasfilm Animation Returns for Season Five, while Seasons One and Two Enter Syndication Across the Nation.
Following an impressive fourth season full of surprises, the spectacular action and riveting story of Star Wars: The Clone Wars intensifies in Season Five on Cartoon Network at a new day and time. Starting September 29, 2012 at 9:30 am, the classic heroes and villains of the world famous Star Wars Saga continue their adventures as The Clone Wars moves to Cartoon Network’s action series Saturday mornings.
The shadow of the dark side falls upon Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Five as the series moves closer to the grim events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. The big-screen action, unforgettable characters, and rousing adventure of the Star Wars Saga continue, as Jedi heroes face a galaxy of foes. With unparalleled visuals, sound, action and adventure, Star Wars: The Clone Wars continues the cinematic saga with the equivalent of a short animated Star Wars movie each week. Season Five is filled with explosive action, exotic worlds, intriguing characters and shocking turns as several major players face their destinies as the galaxy plunges into darkness.
In addition to its bold new episodes, the celebrated stories of the series’ first two seasons will premiere in domestic syndication, marking its first appearance ever on U.S. broadcast television. Now, Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be available to a whole new audience, as well as provide an additional destination for its already loyal viewers to relive the amazing saga from its beginning. For a listing of participating stations, visit www.starwars.com as the September launch approaches.
from Nerdist:
Saturday the 11th is Nerdist Day at San Francsisco’s festival of music, food, art and comedy.
For four years, the Outside Lands festival has brought Golden Gate Park the best in bands, food, art and more, but this year, Aug. 10-12, they top themselves with an entire day of Nerdist. In the Barbary, a tent with mirrored walls and a stained-glass ceiling, three days of comedy and variety include a Saturday presented by us.
Nerdist Day, August 11th (which we’d call “Sat-Nerd-Day” if BBC America hadn’t beaten us to it.) kicks off at noon with a session of soft rock and sweet ‘staches from Mustache Harbor. Then things really get into gear at 1 p.m. with a Nerdist stand-up cluster hosted by Jonah Ray, featuring Pete Holmes, David Koechner, Michelle Buteau, Jesse Elias and Caitlin Gill. If your weekend isn’t sufficiently magical after that, stick around at 2:10 p.m. for Justin Willman and his masterful Magic Meltdown.The Dork Forest‘s Jackie Kashian hosts a second stand-up cluster at 5 p.m. with Reggie Watts, Ron Funches, Michelle Buteau, Cory Loykasek and Mike Drucker, and then between 5 and 8 p.m. there’ll be back-to-back Nerdist variety shows featuring Chris Hardwick, Neil Patrick Harris, David Koechner, Justin Willman, Marcus Monroe, Jonah Ray, Pete Holmes, Ron Funches and Jackie Kashian. Holmes will also be hosting a live edition of You Made It Weird Sunday at noon with stars from Adult Swim.
So come and step “Outside” next weekend. In addition to our all-star line-up, some of the finest in food, beer and wine will be available, plus there’s an art show and of course some heavy-hitting bands like Metallica. But to quote one of their more famous tunes, when you’re hanging with the Nerdist gang at the Barbary, “Nothing Else Matters.”
Halo and Riese Webseries producer appointed by Retrofit to lead original content team.
Retrofit Films, an award-winning digital production company, announces that Ryan Copple has joined the executive management team as VP of Digital Development. Copple brings to the company an expertise in digital series development, strategy and production with partnerships at BBC Worldwide, Syfy, E One, Muse Entertainment and Content Media, among others.
“Ryan’s breadth of experience in interactive content development and monetization launches Retrofit Films into our next stage of growth,” says Retrofit’s co-founder Chris Hanada. “We’re very excited to expand our own stories by building on our experience creating digital, cross platform, branded entertainment for existing franchises with the studios and networks.”
Ryan’s background includes co-creating and executive-producing the critically acclaimed sci-fi webseries “Riese: Kingdom Falling” whose rights were picked up and licensed worldwide by the Syfy Network’s digital arm before the project crossed media boundaries with a spin-off iPhone game and prequel novel published by Simon & Schuster.
Most recently Ryan completed co-producing Microsoft’s highly-anticipated webseries “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” for Machinima before relocating from Vancouver to Los Angeles. “Innovative content coupled with equally innovative strategy is the future of traditional and new media companies,” say Copple. “A company with Retrofit’s pedigree is primed to bridge the gap between traditional and new media, and I’m thrilled to be a part of that evolution.”
“Ryan is here to really light the fire under our own intellectual properties,” says Retrofit co-founder Tanner Kling. “We’ve produced two original series in the past year, but bringing him into the fold signals a full-throttle dive into our development slate of original projects and our company’s continuing emphasis on creating strong strategic partnerships in the digital landscape.”
About Retrofit Films
Retrofit Films is an award-winning digital production company founded in 2004 by Chris Hanada and Tanner Kling. The company has a history of producing multi-platform stories and experiences for global brands, television networks and Hollywood studios with franchises such as FRINGE, HOUSE MD, HEROES, and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES.
For more information, please visit us at http://www.retrofitfilms.com