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There are many fantasy TV shows that have a great run but ultimately have terrible endings. It is difficult to nail a fantasy TV show from beginning to end—continuity and logic must be consistent while pursuing compelling storylines for the characters and dynamics. It is even harder for TV shows that blend fantasy with another genre to keep up with everything and deliver an excellent narrative. Furthermore, just because a fantasy TV show has a great run does not necessarily mean it will stick the landing.

Plenty of fantasy TV shows have almost perfect endings, while other fantasy TV shows have wasted their potential altogether. As a TV show approaches its inevitable end, many questions arise depending on the circumstances. The stakes are even higher if the TV show is fantasy since it has multiple elements to get right for the conclusion. Unfortunately, too many fantasy TV shows fail to provide satisfying endings.

There's nothing worse than starting a TV show, getting invested in the rich plot and characters, and having it ruined by a bad final season. Ranging from rushing through the plot to destroying a beloved character's growth in the final seasons, many TV shows fall into the trap of being ruined because of unsatisfying and terrible endings. Sudden cancellations of TV shows and cutting down on the length of the final season are often the culprits behind messy final seasons.

Given more time to flesh out character motivations and intricate plotlines, a lot of shows that suffered a lackluster final season could have been improved with a few more episodes. While the addition of episodes can't fix mischaracterization issues and terrible plot twists, they can potentially make the final season feel more coherent, maintain the storyline's quantity, and provide a meaningful resolution.

Merlin (2008-2012) Season 5

The BBC's Merlin is...

Witness the inspirational true story of the father-son duo who revolutionalized the modern game of golf whenTommy’s Honour arrives on Digital HD June 30 and on DVD July 18 from Lionsgate. The compelling drama features standout performances from Peter Mullan and Jack Lowden who play the father-son golf champions who grow together in their fame, fortune, and misfortune. Also starring Golden Globe® nominee Sam Neill (1999, Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Merlin) and winner of the Best Feature Film at the 2016 British Academy Scotland Awards, the Tommy’s Honour DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98.

Tommy’s Honour is the inspirational, true story of “Old” Tom and “Young” Tommy Morris, the real-life father-and-son team that revolutionized the modern game of golf. Set against the early days of the sport, the film follows the challenging and complex relationship between...

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The dungeoneers on Citv’s Knightmare met a wide range of fantasy figures, from monks to mages to thieves. Here are 10 of the best…

“Mike, you’re in a room. There’s a cauliflower on the floor.”

Children aren’t very good at improv. That’s why there were never any on Whose Line Is It Anyway.

Basing Citv adventure game Knightmare around the improvised encounters of a temporarily blinded child guided on a parlous quest by three friends with a shaky grasp on the precise qualities that distinguish left from right, then, was a risky approach. You just couldn’t rely on early nineties kids to pull their weight in Knightmare’s improv scenes. It turns out a diet of Willy Wonka’s Dweebs and Vanilla Ice lyrics isn’t conducive to thinking on your feet.

That meant the weight of responsibility fell on the shoulders of Knightmare’s recurring actors.

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When to expect all the upcoming live action fairytale movies, including Dumbo, Beauty And The Beast and two Jungle Books…

You’ve probably noticed the influx of live action fairytales gracing cinemas in recent years. This isn’t about to stop any time soon, since re-spinning a recognisable fantastical yarn with real people instead of animated ones always makes big money for the studio behind it.

This process has become so popular that there are currently more of these live action fairytales in production than Marvel Studios, DC Entertainment or Star Wars movies. That’s a lot of films. (A whopping 21 by our count.)

Although it wadsn’t the first movie of this kind, Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland – and its worldwide gross of over a billion dollars – can surely take the credit for kick-starting this trend. Here are all the in-development movies trying to repeat its success,...

Michael Petroni's psychological thriller Backtrack will have its Australian premiere at Moonlight Cinemas after postive reviews at Tribeca Film festival earlier this year.

Starring Academy Award winner, Adrien Brody (The Pianist) and three time Australian Golden Globe nominee Sam Neill (Merlin), Backtrack will premiere December 6 in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

The Screen Australia backed film is directed by Michael Petroni; best known for his work on the Academy Award nominated film The Book Thief (2013), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) and Australian film Till Human Voices Wake Us (2002) starring Guy Peace and Helena Bonham Carter.

The film follows psychologist Peter Bower's (Brody) as his life is thrown into turmoil when he discovers that the patients he has been treating are ghosts..

Risking his own sanity, Peter delves into his past to uncover a terrifying secret which only he can put right.

Petroni...

Previously on TVLine… I quick-capped the extra-dark bombshell that came out of this Sunday’s first Once Upon a Time episode (of two). But the double-pump serves up a few other big twists and interesting moments — even though the second hour pretty much “Across the Sea‘d” us.

RelatedOnce Upon a Time Reveals Emma’s Dark, Dark Plan: Were You Surprised?

Here are the 20 or so total highlights from the evening:

♦ As we had already seen in a sneak peek, Dark Emma used Excalibur to save (or “save,” all things considered?) Hook — and then shared the morsel that all she...

This Sunday on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, Regina’s “Savior” secret had deadly consequences in Camelot, while in Storybrooke Hook put his honey where his mouth is, in hopes of saving Emma.

RelatedOnce Upon a Time: David Anders Set to Reprise Role as Dr. Whale

In Camelot Of Six Weeks Ago…. | After meeting Queen Guinevere, the heroes are shown where Merlin is — stuck inside an enchanted tree, and only the Savior’s magic can extricate him. Using the dagger, Regina silences Emma so that she can step forward and claim to be said Savior.

Later, as everyone preps...

Matthew Vaughn has become something of a go-to filmmaker for quality comic book movies, having worked on the well-received X-Men: First Class and the adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr's offbeat superhero adventure Kick-Ass.

Now he's back with Kingsman: The Secret Service, based on a concept he and Millar hatched together. Millar and Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons have already published the story as a comic book, and now Vaughn is working on the film version, which is less an adaptation than his own imagining of the original idea.

Vaughn has attracted a top cast, including Colin Firth and Mark Strong (who appeared together in a very different take on the spy genre, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as well as Samuel L Jackson, Michael Caine and newcomer Taron Egerton.

The film centres around council estate kid Eggsy (Egerton), a young tearaway bailed out of jail by his late father's...

Birthday shoutouts go to Joe Penny (above), who is 58, Mick Fleetwood is 67, Michele Lee is 72, Solange Knowles is 28, and Mindy Kaling is 35.

In ratings news, True Blood was actually up in its final season opener. Why?

Meanwhile, Teen Wolf returned on par with last season.

I probably should have included Tomas Berdych and his incredible Wimblebum in my hottest men of tennis post (Nsfw!)

Gay Men and the Presidents Who Loved Them

Jimmy Kimmel gives us what we want.

Here’s the new trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Needs more Vanilla Ice

Here’s the trailer for The Last of Robin Hood, with Kevin Kline as Errol Flynn, Dakota Fanning as the underage actress he becomes involved with, and Susan Sarandon as her mother. The trailer also features a glimpse of Bryan Batt.

When Chris Colfer met Hillary Clinton

And here’s The Weekly ShoutOUT™. Each week we’re...

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes release details for Inbred, Blood, and 4 Dead Girls, a trailer for The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue, featuring Robert Englund, details on a Jason Voorhees-inspired charity, an interview with Nick Basile, the director of Dark, and much more:

The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue Trailer and Release Details: “Two years ago, the Mugg Brothers, who have never worked a day in their lives, inherited a brownstone apartment building. In that short time, their slacker ways have run the building into the ground. Tenants are moving out, no one drinks at the bar downstairs, and the building’s pets are going missing. If all that isn’t enough to make them sit up and take notice, they soon discover a mysterious creature is hiding in the basement and trying to...

On TV this Friday: Fringe observes its series finale with two epic episodes, moles take their toll on Nikita, being Banshee‘s new sheriff isn’t as E-asy as it looks and Merlin must figure out what to do about his dead dad. As a supplement to TVLine’s original features (linked within), here are 10 programs to keep on your radar.

Related | Fringe Set Visit: A Spock Sighting and Other ‘Revealing’ Photos from Walter’s Lab!

8 pm Fringe (Fox) | Series finale: Our last night with Walter & Co. begins with Olivia embarking on a dangerous journey into the unknown. Then, in the series’ finale/100th episode,...

Nicol Williamson as Merlin in Excalibur (John Boorman, 1981, UK):

Turning in by far the best acting in Boorman’s epic, Williamson sets the bar for all other interpretations of the Merlin character. Best known as an acclaimed stage actor with a history of incredibly unprofessional behavior, this is Williamson’s most memorable film role and will have you chanting the “charm of making” in no time.

Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty in Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982, USA):

As an android seeking to prolong his short life, Hauer’s unique screen presence is perfectly utilized in director Scott’s atmospheric science fiction milestone. Hauer brings a sort of “alien” quality to the character Roy Batty and really makes this role a truly superior piece of casting.

Other notable Rutger Hauer performances: Nighthawks (Bruce Malmuth, 1981, USA), The Hitcher (Robert Harmon, 1986, USA).

Ricardo Montalban as Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (Nicholas Meyer,...

Over a glass of wine at a busy restaurant bar adjacent to a mall cinema on the west side of Los Angeles, British comic and actor Eddie Izzard shares his long-standing desire to be bald -- not permanently, mind you, but just for a role.

"I've been trying to shave my head in some role for eight years," he tells Zap2it. "I just thought it'd be an interesting take. ... To keep a comedic thing going and a dramatic thing, it's a tricky thing to do. If you can break a look, if you can make it so one is over there and one is, 'Oh, God, you look so different,' that really helps."

Izzard is at the cinema for a screening of the first half of his latest project, a new, four-hour version of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic "Treasure Island," airing all in one night Saturday, May 5, on Syfy.

It just over two weeks the verdict will be in for Wes Anderson's Cannes Film Festival opener "Moonrise Kingdom" and the fact that it's the director's first period film (taking place in the '60s) isn't the only major change fans can expect.

The official soundtrack details have finally been unveiled and unlike the pop and classic rock heavy tracklists of his previous films, this one is serving up a lot more classic music along with new pieces by Alexandre Desplat. As has been previously reported, Françoise Hardy's "Le Temps De L’amour" (the song featured in the trailer) and legendary country troubadour Hank Williams (who has three songs here) will be featured. But they are really the only two artists on board as the rest is filled out intriguingly with music performed by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic and pieces from composer Benjamin Britten (you...

There few other directors whose soundtrack is so heavily ingrained with their films as Wes Anderson and his works. With his upcoming Moonrise Kingdom on the cusp of release we finally have the full soundtrack details, including a piece of score from Alexandre Desplat. It was previously revealed that Devo front man Mark Mothersbaugh, who scored Anderson‘s first three films, had a hand in composing.

French singer Françoise Hardy and classical composer Benjamin Britten are also among the featured artists and featured in the film’s original trailer. Other music comes from country legend Hank Williams (who has three tracks, embedded below), Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. Check out the complete tracklist below, including a seven-part piece from Desplat and click the music player box to stream the first part, until an embed arrives.

01. Leonard Bernstein & the New York Philharmonic – “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,...

This Saturday, Syfy will be airing both parts of the very popular British TV updated adaptation of Treasure Island, produced by Rhi, the same company that brought us Tin Man, Alice, and Neverland. It ain’t no Disney version, that’s for sure:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood

And Donald Sutherland Lead All Star Cast In Syfy’S

New Adaptation Of Treasure Island

Premieres Saturday, May 5 From 7-11Pm In

Special One Night Movie Event

New York – March 21, 2012 – In a special, one night only movie event, Syfy will present a fresh, new spin on the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed will premiere Saturday, May 5 from 7-11Pm (Et/Pt) on Syfy.

Izzard (The Riches, Oceans 12) stars as Long John Silver,...

With such a great cast, I must admit my expectations are exceptionally and excitedly high. Syfy will be premiering its four-hour Treasure Island on one night, May 5, so make sure you have your evening clear. Starring Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit), Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games), , and Eddie Izzard (Mockingbird Lane), I really can’t wait to see this.

Here’s the press release:

Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood And Donald Sutherland Lead All Star Cast In Syfy’S New Adaptation Of Treasure Island

Premieres Saturday, May 5 From 7-11Pm In Special One Night Movie Event

New York – March 21, 2012 – In a special, one night only movie event, Syfy will present a fresh, new spin on the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed will premiere Saturday,...

So happy and yet so sad at the same time. Syfy has just announced its spring schedule, and surprise! The final season of fan favorite Eureka will premiere not in the summer as it usually does, but on April 16. The sooner the better, we say, and we can’t wait.

According to the announcement there are some great shows coming our way, including the second season of Lost Girl, a Treasure Island miniseries, the premieres of Monster Man, Dream Machines, and Total Blackout, the return of Ghost Hunters, Hollywood Treasure, and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, and of course some Saturday Original Movies. Here are the details:

Syfy’S Spring 2012 To Feature More Original Series And Original Hours Of Programming Than Any Spring Season In Channel’S History

February 16, 2012

Syfy’S Spring 2012 To Feature More Original Series And Original Hours Of Programming Than Any Spring Season In Channel’S History...

Actor whose unpredictability never undermined his electrifying talent

Nicol Williamson, whose death of oesophageal cancer at the age of 73 has been announced, was arguably the most electrifying actor of his generation, but one whose career flickered and faded like a faulty light fitting. Tall and wiry, with a rasping scowl of a voice, a battered baby face and a mop of unruly curls, he was the best modern Hamlet since John Gielgud, and certainly the angriest, though he scuppered his own performance at the Round House, north London, in 1969, by apologising to the audience and walking off the stage. The experience was recycled in a 1991 Broadway comedy called I Hate Hamlet, in which he proved his point and fell out badly with his co-star.

Williamson's greatest performance was as the dissolute and disintegrating lawyer Bill Maitland in John Osborne's Inadmissible Evidence at the Royal Court theatre in 1964. It was...

"Nicol Williamson, the British actor best known for his role as the wizard Merlin in the 1981 film Excalibur, has died of esophageal cancer," reports the AP. "Williamson had dozens of film credits to his name but won more plaudits for his stage acting. Playwright John Osborne once described him as 'the greatest actor since Marlon Brando.' He was nominated for a Tony Award in 1966 for his role in Osborne's Inadmissible Evidence and again in 1974 for Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. He also was nominated three times for acting honors at the British Academy Film Awards, Britain's equivalent of the Oscars."

"He made his professional stage debut at the Dundee Repertory Theatre in 1960, before appearing in Tony Richardson's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Court Theatre," notes the BBC. "He later teamed up with Richardson again, to star his Hamlet production at the Roundhouse. It was so successful,...

Stage and screen actor Nicol Williamson, who played Hamlet onstage and Merlin on screen, died of esophageal cancer on December 16 in Amsterdam, where he had been living since 1970. His son announced the death yesterday, January 25. Reports vary on Williamson's age; he was either 73 or 75. For those familiar only with Williamson's movie work, he was best remembered for his cocaine-addicted Sherlock Holmes in Herbert Ross' The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976) and for his campy Merlin in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981, photo). Based on Nicholas Meyer's novel, in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution Dr. Watson (Robert Duvall) entices Holmes to seek psychiatric help with none other than a pre-Viggo Mortensen Sigmund Freud: Alan Arkin. (Here's wondering if Shakespeare's shrink, as found in John Madden's Shakespeare in Love, was inspired by the Holmes-Freud relationship in Ross' movie.) Though made for a modest $4 million (about $16 million today), The Seven-Per-Cent Solution turned out to be...

As Sequels to X-Men: First Class and also Wrath of the Titans, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Blade Runner all begin to get moving, let's not forget that 2009's relaunch of Star Trek has also earned itself a follow-up.

And it may now have its villain in place. Benicio Del Toro (pictured) is expected to be offered the part - and it's a role so secret that even the actor doesn't know who he will be playing, reports Variety.

The fanboys are all guessing it will be Khan but hopefully we will boldly go where no other film or episode has gone before rather than rehash Ricardo Montalban's tyrant, who first appeared in the TV tale Space Seed and went on to star in the 1982 feature Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Jj Abrams returns to the director's chair for this untitled Star Trek follow-up,...

It seems that Hollywood is finally starting to wise up to a little fact that moviegoers have known for quite a while; Gary Oldman is simply put, a badass.

Oldman has already taken up some iconic roles with films like The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional, and Nolan’s Batman flicks to name a few. However it seems like his newest role as an M16 espionage specialist in Thomas Alfredson’s new Cold War drama, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, is generating quite a bit of awards buzz, as well as putting him in high demand for some studios.

According to Deadline one such studios, Warner Bros., is now linking Oldman to two of their upcoming 2013 releases. The first, will be alongside Helena Bonham Carter and Garrett Hedlund as the rugged Colonel Shikishima in the perhaps inescapably Americanized retelling of the classic Anime/Manga, Akira. More recently, Oldman has also signed...

Jaume Collet-Serra continues to go through names to fill roles for Warner Bros. live-action adaptation of Akira. So far Garrett Hedlund, Gary Oldman, and Helena Bonham Carter are all in talks to star with Hedlund taking the role of Kaneda, Goldman as the Colonel, and Carter as Lady Miyako. But a new name as entered the fray and she will take the role of a love interest.

Slashfilm (via ThePlaylist) is reporting that Keira Knightley has been offered to take the role of Kaneda’s love interest, Kei. Now this is just an offer. We have yet to see if Oldman and Carter will take their roles and we know Hedlund is already in negotiations to star. Looking at the cast if Hedlund is named as Kaneda, we could looking at another Tron: Legacy with the supporting cast being the true strength of the film.

So Gary Oldman is up for Colonel in Akira,...

[1] As Garrett Hedlund continues his negotiations [2] over the lead role of Kaneda in Warner Bros.' Akira remake, the studio and director Jaume Collet-Serra are wasting no time filling in the other roles as well. Buried in one report about Hedlund starring in the film was a tidbit about Keira Knightley being approached for the project. Though her possible role has not been revealed, I'm guessing she's up for the part of Kaneda's love interest Kei, member of an underground rebel group. Knightley's involvement is far from a done deal at this point, as she's yet to enter talks. Helena Bonham Carter and Gary Oldman, who were also given offers last month [3], apparently aren't any farther along in the process either. Still, the fact that they've been approached at all suggests the filmmakers are hoping for a certain caliber of talent for the movie. (Not to mention a certain level of British-ness.

With "The Dark Knight Rises" currently filming and "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" poised to bring awards attention, Gary Oldman's stock is on the rise at age 53, and now Deadline Hollywood is reporting that he is wanted for two more high-profile roles.

According to reports, Warner Bros., the studio behind the next Batman film, are after Oldman to join the live-action adaptation of Katsuhiro Ohtomo's "Akira," as the Colonel.

Reports from earlier in the week confirmed that "Tron: Legacy" star Garrett Hedlund was in talks to star as Kaneda in the film version directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Deadline states that Oldman is Warner Bros.'s number one choice for the role. It was also rumored earlier this week that Oldman's "Harry Potter" co-star, Helena Bonham Carter, was approached for the role of Lady Miyako, and additionally, the Hollywood Reporter mentioned that Keira Knightley was also offered a role.

If that wasn't enough,...

Akira

Keira Knightley has joined the list of actors being offered roles in Jaume Collet-Sera's live-action remake of "Akira" at Warner Bros. Pictures.

Garrett Hedlund is in negotiations to play Kaneda while Helena Bonham Carter and Gary Oldman are also said to have been offered parts. [Source: Heat Vision]

Arthur and Lancelot

Gary Oldman is apparently being courted to star in David Dobkin's "Arthur and Lancelot" at Warner Bros. Pictures.

Oldman is wanted for the role of Merlin. He'll star opposite Joel Kinnaman as Lancelot, while the role of Arthur is currently being screen tested. [Source: The Press Association]

Broken City

Natalie Martinez and Alona Tal have scored the two female lead roles in Allen Hughes' "Broken City" for New Regency and Emmett/Furla.

Brian Tucker's script centers on a cop-turned-private-investigator (Mark Wahlberg) who, in an attempt to turn his life around, is thrust into a murder investigation amid a mayoral candidate (Russell Crowe) involved in a corrupt election.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you love Gary Oldman. I can’t speak for you, but I do because he’s talented, charismatic, daring, and the owner of a killer brogue — which means that he’s also wanted by everyone in Hollywood. One production that’s recently started to seek him out is Jaume Collet-Serra‘s Akira; Garrett Hedlund looks to be the lead, and Helena Bonham Carter is being pursued as well.

Deadline says that Warner Bros. is indeed going after him for the remake, and they’re also trying to get the actor for Arthur & Lancelot, David Dobkin‘s reimagining of the King Arthur tale. Joel Kinnaman has already been cast as Lancelot, and an actor is being tested for King Arthur at the moment. They want Oldman to play the wizard Merlin; based on past King Arthur stories, I’m imagining...

Steven Soderbergh met with Joel Kinnaman, the Swedish star of Snabba Cash and lead of The Killing, to discuss the role of Illya Kuryakin in his adaptation of the 60s spy show The Man From U.N.C.L.E. that is being turned into a large scale blockbuster at Warner Bros. Upon the meeting, Soderbergh made it known he wanted to cast the rising star but in the end Warner Bros have slotted him into co-leading another of their big money potential franchise starters.

The Hollywood Reporter say Kinnaman will play Lancelot, the master swordsman and most trusted of King Arthur’s “Knights of the Round Table” in the upcoming fantasy blockbuster Arthur & Lancelot, that begins filming in March. Kinnaman beat out Game of Thrones star Kit Harington who had also screentested for the role a few weeks back.

Now as a big King Arthur junkie who once spent a few days exploring around Tintagel,...

We hold in our hands the covers for DC Comics this December. As a child of four can plainly see, these envelopes have been hermetically sealed. They’ve been kept in a #2 mayonnaise jar under Wikipedia’s porch since noon today.

Shall we? Surely!

As usual, spoilers may lurk beyond this point.

Justice League #4

Written by Geoff Johns

Art and cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams

1:25 Variant cover by Andy Kubert

1:200 B&W Variant cover by Jim Lee

On sale December 21 • 40 pg, Fc, $3.99 Us • Rated T

Combo pack edition: $4.99 Us

Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.

The superstar team of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee continue the origin of the Justice League as The World’s Greatest Heroes face the might of Apokolips – and find aid in an unlikely hero, as Cyborg is created!

Plus, Andy Kubert...

As Age Of The Dragons arrives on DVD and Blu-ray, Duncan takes a look at the history of dragons in the movies…

It's no wonder so many of us have grown up geeky, for dragons have been a strong mainstay of children's movies for decades now. With their inextricable link to the fantasy genre, many of us have been brainwashed into a fixation with them before we even knew what was happening. Well, that's a decent enough excuse, anyway, should you ever find yourself needing one in a dragon-based argument, which I'm sure there aren't nearly enough of.

Pity the children growing up from the mid-nineties onwards, as they've barely been able to make it through one whole year without a dragon movie being released, a trend which sees no sign of slowing. This year has already seen the release of Age Of The Dragons, starring Danny Glover and Vinnie Jones...

SyFy and Rhi Entertainment is taking on a new television adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, Treasure Island. This television movie is off to a great start with the casting of Elijah Wood (Wilfred, Lord of the Rings) as Ben Gunn, Donald Sutherland (The Pillars of the Earth, Dirty Sexy Money) as Flint, and Eddie Izzard (United States of Tara, Mystery Men) as Long John Silver.

Toby Regbo will play Jim Hawkins and Phillip Glenister, Rupert-Penry-Jones, David Harewood and Keith Allen have also been cast in Treasure Island. The project set to film in Puerto Rice and Ireland. Check out the press release for more details below:

“Treasure Island,” the special two-part movie event from Rhi Entertainment, will premiere on Syfy, the home of imagination-based entertainment, in early 2012. The production stars Eddie Izzard (“The Riches,” “Oceans 12,” “Oceans 13″) as Long John Silver. Elijah Wood (“The Lord of the Rings,” “Everything Is Illuminated...

Along with confirmation of our story from earlier today that Elijah Wood will appear in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, we’ve received a press release announcing that Wood will also star in the miniseries adaptation of Treasure Island. The 2-part/4-hour miniseries is being directed by Steve Barron (Merlin) and will air on Sky TV in the UK. Wood will play Ben Gunn in the adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure tale, which also stars Eddie Izzard. Hit the jump to read the full press release. Elijah Wood joins “The Hobbit” and “Treasure Island” Wood is confirmed to star in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” to be shot in New Zealand. In addition, he has signed on to play “Ben Gunn” in Stewart Harcourt’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island along side Eddie Izzard. The 2 part/ 4 hour miniseries will be airing on Sky TV in the UK.

This BBC version of the timeless classic anthology The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis would be really entertaining to me if it were a 6-12 year old in 1990. It mixes 2D animation with live action, animal characters in beaver and fawn costumes, and an over-the-top, fantastically theatrical evil White Witch (Barbara Kellrman) who you’d swear was Angelica Huston at first glance. It’s like a cross between 1998’s dramatic TV miniseries Merlin starring Sam Neil and Helena Bonham Carter and Zoobilee Zoo.

In the first installment which most of us are familiar with, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Precocious youngster Lucy and her siblings Edmund, Peter and Susan are sent to live in a countryside mansion during war time. The house is owned by the sage-like kook Professor Digory Kirk (Michael Aldridge) who welcomes them with whimsy and a wink. While exploring their new house, Lucy stumbles upon an old wardrobe,...

As a child my only real experience of Merlin was in Disney’s The Sword and the Stone, as a teenager it was in the Merlin TV mini-series starring Sam Neill, as an adult it looks like it’ll be at my local multiplex if Working Title have their way. The studio are reported to be developing a big screen adventure for the world famous Wizard, having picked up a pitch by author-screenwriter Jay Basu which brings Merlin forward to a modern day, contemporary setting.

Originating from the 12th Century Historia Regum Britanniae which itself is based on the far older Arthurian legend, Merlin is very possibly the oldest literary Wizard known to man and a character synonymous with all things mystical and magical. Originally more prophet than wizarding guardian to King Arthur, Merlin has entered popular culture in a way that only Robin Hood can compare with.

News broke...

There wouldn’t be a Gandalf the White, an Albus Dumbledore, or even an Obi-Wan Kenobi if it wasn’t for the original bearded wizard Merlin. The mystical character of Arthurian legend has been seen in countless depictions the world over: Disney’s animated epic The Sword And The Stone, the classic John Boorman film Excalibur, and the not so memorable Merlin TV-miniseries starring Sam Neill are just a few of the places he’s appeared over the years.

Read more on It’s magic! New feature film take on Merlin in the works…...

Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical

There's next to nothing to report aside from the title, the writer, and the basic premise, but any time the legendary magician Merlin makes a film appearance, it's just bound to be something magical. (Groan.) According to The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision, writer Jay Basu has sold his modern-day 'Merlin' pitch to the producers at Working Title and that "details are being kept under a cloak of invisibility." Cute, THR, very cute.

Author of a well-received novel entitled 'The Stars Can Wait,' Mr. Basu seems to be making some solid progress in Hollywood: THR indicates that he also has a crime thriller called 'Bad Traffic' in the early stages.

As for 'Merlin', he's certainly no stranger to the world of movies: in the past the legendary literary character has been played by Nicol Williamson, John Gielgud, Ron Moody, Donald Pleasance,...

Filed under: Movie News, Cinematical

There's next to nothing to report aside from the title, the writer, and the basic premise, but any time the legendary magician Merlin makes a film appearance, it's just bound to be something magical. (Groan.) According to The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision, writer Jay Basu has sold his modern-day 'Merlin' pitch to the producers at Working Title and that "details are being kept under a cloak of invisibility." Cute, THR, very cute.

Author of a well-received novel entitled 'The Stars Can Wait,' Mr. Basu seems to be making some solid progress in Hollywood: THR indicates that he also has a crime thriller called 'Bad Traffic' in the early stages.

As for 'Merlin', he's certainly no stranger to the world of movies: in the past the legendary literary character has been played by Nicol Williamson, John Gielgud, Ron Moody, Donald Pleasance,...

When I was a kid, NBC aired a three-part mini-series called Merlin, starring Sam Neill. While I can barely remember any distinct details from the series (I was only 11 and I haven't seen it since), I do remember that it was incredibly cool. Twelve years later, Working Title is now trying to bring the Arthurian legend to the big screen. THR reports that the studio has begun developing a film based on the storied wizard, only with a twist: he will be brought out of Camelot and into modern times. The take on the character was pitched by writer Jay Basu, though details are being kept hush-hush. Those with attention spans longer than four months may remember that they tried a wizard-in-the-modern-world movie back in July called The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Anyone remember how successful it was? Here's a hint: it made $63 million domestically on a $150 million budget. That's what we...

It's been confirmed Eddie Izzard is set to make a rare dramatic appearance for Sky 1/HD. The Emmy Award-winning comedian will star as Long John Silver in an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s literary classic Treasure Island. Written by Stewart Harcourt (Hearts & Bones, Poirot, Marple) and directed by Steve Barron (Merlin, Arabian Nights, Mike Bassett: England Manager) this new adaptation promises to take a fresh and bold approach to the classic tale of treasure hunting and skulduggery.

It's Cheyenne On Glee! Squeeeee!

I thought I'd start of this week's column with some fun new pics I found recently!

First, I've got the exclusive first look at Cheyenne Jackson's first appearance on Glee as Will Schuester's new rival Dustin Goulsby.

Don't you love a man in black!

Adam Rose/Fox

In case you don't remember, last month Glee creator Ryan Murphy told me that Jackson "...is going to sing. He is going to dance, of course. He is the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline. He’s a complete villain. He wears all black. He’s a handsome, villain who will become very intertwined in Will’s life."

And we can't wait for Cheyenne's appearance on Tuesday's ep!

Speaking of things I can't wait for is new Torchwood miniseries (Ha! Whoever threw the rotten cabbage at me missed!) so to tide us over are two new pics I spotted of John Barrowman.

This article may contain spoilers. The sorceress Morgause (Emilia Fox) returned with the Knights of Medhir to wreak havoc across the land and destroy Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head), even if it brought down Camelot in the process. But in order to do so, Morgause needed her sister Morgana.s (Katie McGrath) consent. She would not topple the House of Uther unless it was with Morgana.s blessing. Fresh on the heels of her wrath over the treatment of Alvarr (Joseph Mawle), Morgana was only too happy to give her blessing. However, she did not foresee the dire consequences. It was not only Uther who suffered, but also the whole kingdom of Camelot. Would Morgause have been content with only slaying Uther, or would she have slaughtered Arthur (Bradley James), Merlin (Colin Morgan), Gaius (Richard ...

Joseph Fiennes and Eva Green will travel back to Camelot, the Starz series that re-tells the story of King Arthur. Fiennes is Merlin, while Green will be Morgana. Solid casting with both, though I'm not certain that I'll ever be able to look at an Arthurian film or TV series without having to leap the hurdle of some of Excalibur's actors. Nicol Williamson and Helen Mirren are pretty difficult to top as Merlin and Morgana. In this Camelot Jamie Campbell Bower is Arthur, and Tamsin Egerton is Guinevere. [Reuters] After the break, the great Amy Ryan goes back to HBO and Madonna's possibly interesting new film finds its last major player. Amy Ryan will appear opposite Gabriel Byrne on the next season of HBO's In Treatment. She'll play the therapist to  Byrne's Dr. Paul Weston, also a therapist. Essentially, Ryan's character steps into the narrative position vacated by the departing Dianne Wiest.

Camelot

The Starz Network ("Spartacus: Blood & Sand," "Crash") has greenlit a contemporary series update of the King Arthur legend which will be produced by Graham King, Morgan O'Sullivan and Michael Hirst says The Hollywood Reporter.

"Torchwood" scribe Chris Chibnall will pen the 'romantic adventure' series which the network calls in the vein of Showtime's "The Tudors". The ten-episode first season will kick off filming in Ireland in June and premiere early 2011.

The project is not to be confused with the still running BBC series "Merlin" or at least three major Arthurian film projects in development with directors Sylvain White, Guy Ritchie and Bryan Singer.

Game of Thrones

Irish actress Michelle Fairley will replace Jennifer Ehle in HBO's new fantasy series based on George R.R. Martin's book series says Reuters.

Set in a mythical land, the story follows the court intrigue that unfolds when Eddard (Sean Bean), the patriarch of a noble family,...

The subject of vampires seems to be all the rage these days. Between the overwhelming success of Twilight and even the sweeping of yesterday’s People’s Choice Awards in the favor of all things vampire, they are a pretty sure thing these days. Hoping to continue in that success would be the folks involved in Daybreakers, which hits theaters today.

We recently got a chance to sit down with veteran actor Sam Neill (Jurrasic Park, Merlin) about his role and the film in general. While most people would consider this film a horror, Neill’s take is a bit different.

According to Neill, the film is “best described as a futuristic sci-fi thriller about an upside down vampire world. A lot of the vampire stuff that we’ve seen lately, their always the moody, pale-faced outsiders. In this film, everyone is a vampire, and the humans are a diminishing species,...

Director Bryan "Superman Returns" Singer is attached to remake director John Boorman's 1981 fantasy feature "Excalibur" retelling the legend of 'King Arthur'.

The original "Excalibur" screenplay was written by Rospo Pallenberg and Boorman, as an adaptation of Malory's "Morte d'Arthur" (1469-70), with 'Arthur' presented as a 'wounded king', whose realm becomes a wasteland, then reborn thanks to the 'Grail'.

"The film has to do with mythical truth, not historical truth," Boorman said. "The coming of Christian man and the disappearance of the old religions which are represented by 'Merlin'. The forces of superstition and magic are swallowed up into the unconscious."

Several new elements were added to the film's story including 'King Uther' wielding the 'sword of power' before the birth of Arthur and and the concept of the world as 'the dragon'.

Music soundtrack is by Trevor Jones, including works from Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" played during battle sequences.

FX has announced that both Campbell Scott and Martin Short are joining their popular drama Damages as series regulars. In other casting news, both Lily Tomlin and Keith Carradine will guest star during season three, which is set to premiere in January. Here is the official press release:

FX's award-winning legal thriller Damages is adding four superior actors to its cast with Campbell Scott and Martin Short signing on as series regulars, and Lily Tomlin and Keith Carradine joining as special guest stars for the upcoming season premiering in January. Production of the show's 13-episode third season begins tomorrow in New York.

For the second consecutive year, +Damages received seven Emmy Award nominations and Glenn Close won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Scott, Short, Tomlin and Carradine join returning stars Close, Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan. Close, who won her second consecutive Emmy for Lead...

Warner Bros. have clinched the rights to remake the 1981 fantasy film “Excalibur,” with “X-Men” director Bryan Singer signed to produce and develop the picture as a potential developing vehicle. According to Variety, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have been working for months to secure the rights to the film, which Singer will produce with Julie Yorn and “Superman Returns” producer Polly Johnsen (formerly Cohen).

Excalibur was the ultimate fantasy film based on the Arthurian legend of Merlin the wizard, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, it grossed $34,967,437 and was the 18th most successful film of that year. The film was directed by John Boorman and adapted from the Thomas Malory book by Rospo Pallenberg and Boorman. The film broke out some of today’s biggest stars and starred Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi, Nicol Williamson and Robert Addie.

No writer...

Merlin's beard! 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' finally hits theaters July 15, and the film's star trio -- Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint -- braved torrential rains on the U.K. red carpet for the film's world premiere! "It's completely [like] the heavens opened -- it's pouring here!" said Emma beneath her umbrella. "Every year it's like torrential rain; it's like magic." "The last premiere it was pretty rainy," agreed Rupert as he slogged through the soggy red carpet. "It must thunder as well. That sounds pretty horrible." "This is Brit spirit -- we got through two wars like this!" joked Daniel. "For the next time here I'm certainly thinking these shoes might not be so usable after this, but I'm having fun. This is great." In what could be the darkest, scariest and most exciting 'Potter' movie yet, the specter of the evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes...