Roots
Night 4
Directed by Bruce Beresford
Written by Lawrence Konner
Based on the novel by Alex Haley
Starring Laurence Fishburne, Regé-Jean Page, Anika Noni Rose, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Mekhi Phifer, T.I., Erica Tazel, Anna Paquin, Sedale Threatt Jr., and Malachi Kirby
The History Channel | A&E | Lifetime
Air Date: Thursday, June 2nd, 2016, 9:00pm

The past 3 nights, A&E, The History Channel, and Lifetime have simultaneously aired the first 3 parts of the “Groundbreaking Series Reimagined” – Roots, based on Alex Haley’s 1976 novel. The original 1977 series starring Levar Burton and John Amos as warrior turned slave (but a warrior forever in his heart), Kunta Kinte, followed him and his generations of family through the brutal history of America. This week we cried and cringed and laughed and raged with these strong characters and brilliant actors. On Night 1, we met Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) ripped away from his happy life in Africa, to be whipped and chained as a slave in America, always trying to escape. On Night 2, Kunta loses half a foot for running, and settles down with his wife Belle (Emayatzy Corinealdi) and his daughter Kizzy (E’myri Lee Crutchfield), teaching her the ways of a warrior. Kizzy is sold to another, ripped from her parents loving arms. Night 3 was the story of Kizzy (Anika Noni Rose) and her son George (Regé-Jean Page), product from a rape by her new owner, Tom Lea (Jonathan Rhys Myers). As much as George tried to gain Tom’s approval and love, in the end Tom sold him for a debt, and George was ripped away from his wife, babies, and mother.

Spoilers below.

Roots, the epic tale of slave Kunta Kinte’s struggle, and the struggle of his family after him, will premiere on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th, airing for four consecutive nights. The series will be simulcast on The History Channel, Lifetime, and A&E.

Watch the official trailer below.

A new trailer has been released for Pandemic, yet another zombie flick added to the ocean of them that already exist. But if you’re like me and never really tire of the zombie sub-genre, it might be one worth checking out. This is especially true for fellow gamers, as the movie is presented mostly from the first-person perspective.

Basically the movie looks like that other first-person movie we’ve seen, Hardcore, with a zombie twist to it. You can read more about Pandemic and check out the trailer for the movie below.

Having ran out of remakes, reboots, and sequels to cover (for the week), the gang at Screen Junkies pull a totally random Honest Trailer out today with 8 Mile, the Curtis Hanson directed 2002 semi-biopic of Eminem starring the rapper himself, Mekhi Phifer, the late Brittany Murphy and Oscar winner, Kim Basinger. Narrator Jon Bailey immediately pokes fun at the “true story” nature by saying that since Rabbit has brown hair, it’s totally different. One thing for sure, no one expected Eminem of all people to make the successful music star – actor transition especially after critical and box office flops like Mariah’s Glitter, and Brittney’s Crossroads.

Watch the Honest trailer below.

Adaptation of YA Novels are a dime a dozen. So few of the ones that do launch find their way on the path of a sequel. How City of Bones did it is beyond me. But Summit Entertainment hopes that the adaptation of Veronica Roth‘s Divergent series is one of those to join the ranks of Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games.

The film is set in a futuristic Chicago where all of its citizens are separated into classes based on their personality. Shailene Woodley plays Tris, a special breed of human who cannot be identified by her personality, therefore she is seen as a threat to society by the government. Hit the jump to see both the trailer and the poster.

Fans of the best-selling novel Divergent got a first look at the film adaptation today at San Diego Comic Con in Hall H. Today’s panel featured writer Veronica Roth, director Neil Burger (Limitless), and actors Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Ansel Elgort, Mekhi Phifer, Ben Lamb, Amy Newbold, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Zoe Kravitz, and Christian Madsen. Chris Hardwick was on hand as the moderator for the panel.

If you’ve never heard of Divergent before, the story follows Beatrice Prior (Woodley) and her life in a dystopian Chicago where the world is split into different factions. In this world, everyone is divided into different societies based on qualities that they are looking for, such as bravery and selflessness. Beatrice, or Tris as she becomes known, chooses a different society than what the rest of her family belongs to. Based on the footage shown, the film looks to be part Harry Potter and part Hunger Games, while having its own personality.

The footage shown at the panel was the first time anyone had seen anything from the film. In fact, director Neil Burger explained that they had just finished principal photography had just wrapped two days ago. The footage shown was filmed just so they could show it here at Comic-Con.

<

The conclusion to Torchwood: Miracle Day has arrived, and finds the Torchwood team split into two groups – one heading to Shanghai, the other to Buenos Aires. They are tracking down the Triangle Families, and what they discover will lead them to the enigmatic Blessing.

Determined to remove their unethical hold on a newfound power, Torchwood makes their move against the Families – but the mission may cost them their lives this time, and for Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), the cost may very well be in blood.

During TARDISblend 38, we review the events of The Blood Line, and examine the outcome of Miracle Day for the Torchwood team, particularly the impact on Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer). We look into many unanswered elements of the series, including the mysterious Blessing, and how it may tie in to certain creatures below the surface of the Earth encountered in Doctor Who.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Cast members from Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood shared their thoughts on the new installment of the series Miracle Day currently airing on BBC and Starz during a panel discussion Friday at the San Diego Comic-Con.

John Barrowman, who plays the show’s star character Captain Jack Harkness, said he was delighted when he heard the news that Starz had picked up the show for another season. The actor told fans his character may have a possible love interest in episode 7 of the new series.

Continue reading for more, as well as a video from the panel and a special Comic-Con preview of Torchwood: Miracle Day.

After many months of waiting, the official trailer for Torchwood: Miracle Day has arrived online! You can view the preview at the bottom of this post.

Torchwood, a spin-off from Doctor Who, follows the adventures of Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) as they defend the world from alien threats.

The new series, Miracle Day, sends Harkness and Cooper beyond Cardiff, Wales, and into the United States, where they come across CIA Agent Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer) and others as they investigate a bizarre new problem facing the human race: nobody is dying. Also joining the cast for Torchwood: Miracle Day is Kai Owen, Alexa Havins, Bill Pullman, and Lauren Ambrose.

Starz USA has released a new online teaser video for the upcoming series of Torchwood: Miracle Day. John Barrowman and Eve Myles return as Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper respectively in this fourth season of Torchwood, which takes them from Cardiff and London to the United States in an adventure that may “change what it means to be human forever.” You can view the teaser video at the bottom of this post.

Joining the cast this year is Mekhi Phifer, who portrays CIA Agent Rex Matheson investigating a global conspiracy intertwined with the Torchwood institute. Bill Pullman will also be appearing in the new series.