PARADISE

Jack Bender is continuing his long-standing relationship with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, signing on to Fox’s upcoming mystery drama Alcatraz.

From executive producer Abrams and writer/exec producer Liz Sarnoff, Alcatraz revolves around the famed San Francisco prison and the police team investigating the mysterious reappearance of its 1960s inhabitants in the present.

Bender, repped by UTA, will executive produce and direct episodes of the series, from Warner Bros. Television, Bad Robot and Bonanza Productions.

Bender’s credits also include Abrams’ Lost, Alias and Felicity. This past pilot season, he directed Fox’s Weekends at Bellevue, the Lauren Ambrose starrer that did not get picked up at Fox.

STORY: Fox Picks Up Dramas ‘Alcatraz,’ ‘The Finder to Series

#LOST #Alcatraz exec producers also include Abrams, Sarnoff, Bryan Burk (Lost). Co-executive producers are Steve Lilien (Kyle XY) and Bryan Wynbrandt (Kyle XY), who both penned the pilot with Sarnoff.

Sarah Jones (Sons of Anarchy) stars as Rebecca Madsen, a detective who discovers a brutal murder was committed by a former Alcatraz prisoner who died decades ago. Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) as government agent Emerson Hauser and former Lost star Jorge Garcia plays Dr. Diego Soto, an Alcatraz expert and comic book fan who helps Madsen with her case. Parminder Nagra (ER) co-stars as Lucy Banerjee, a technician who works with Hauser.

Alcatraz will premiere midseason on Fox.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

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THE HOBBIT Casting Update Yikes! I can finally get back to some postings! We’ve finished our first block of shooting and moved straight into location scouting. More on that soon… But today, I’m thrilled to announce two new cast members who will be joining us for our second bloc…k of shooting. Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character—the Woodland Elf, Tauriel. Her name means ‘daughter of Mirkwood’ and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.) What is not a secret is how talented and compelling an actress Evangeline is; we are thrilled and excited she will be the one to bring our first true Sylvan Elf to life. I’m also highly excited that Barry Humphries will be portraying the Goblin King, in much the way Andy Serkis created Gollum. Barry is perhaps best known for his business and social connections as the long-time manager of Dame Edna Everage. He has also been an ardent supporter of the rather misunderstood and unfairly maligned Australian politician, Sir Les Patterson. However, in his spare time, Barry is also a fine actor, and we’re looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves. Evangeline and Barry, along with Welsh actor Luke Evans as Bard and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, just about rounds out the major casting. I cannot wait to get stuck into these new scenes! More soon, including a flurry of answers to your questions. Sorry for the delay! Cheers, Peter JSee MoreBy: Peter Jackson

I’m so happy #prettylittleliars is back. #PLL

lostgirlonfire:

Emily: So unless we’re saying Ian’s a zombie, someone moved the body.

Hanna: It’s probably stuffed in the trunk of A’s car.

Emily: It’s probably on its way to a meat grinder…

Aria: Oh, Em… Come on, you’ve got to quit watching those horror films.

hehehe

Matthew Fox Joins “World War Z” Bloody Disgusting is being told by strong sources that “Lost” vet Matthew Fox is signed on to star in World War Z, alongside previously announced Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Anthony Mackie and James Badge Dale. As reported exclusively on BD, Alicia Vikander is still in talks for the tole of “Segen”.

Set 10 years after a global zombie epidemic, Fox will be playing “Parajumper”.

Marc Forster is directing from J. Michael Straczynski and Matthew Carnahan’s script, which is adapted from Max Brooks’ popular novel, told in oral history form from various perspectives around the world.