FX Summer Comedies: ‘Louie’ Season 2; Elijah Wood on Board For ‘Wilfred’

Bolstering a heavy lineup with a little levity, the FX network has announced it will be bringing back the acclaimed Louis C.K. sitcom Louie and paring it with Wilfred—a new dark comedy series starring Elijah Wood. The half hour comedies are part of an hour-long block of comedy planned for this summer.

Famed comedian Louis C.K. will begin the sophomore season of his sitcom by continuing to blend elements and excerpts from stand-up routines with the droll imaginings of the world around him. Louie will again bring in Pamela Adlon of Californication fame as a guest star throughout the season. Like the first season, the series will air 13 episodes, many of which will be filmed on location in New York.

While Louie joins returning drama Justified on the 2012 FX schedule, the network plans to debut Wilfred, a dark comedy starring Elijah Wood that is based on an Australian series of the same name.

According to FX President John Landgraf, Wilfred is “really weird and really different and really original and really funny. And it also has heart, which is odd for a show that’s so different.”

How different, you ask? Wilfred is about a young man (Wood) and his imaginary dog, which is seen by him as a man in a dog suit. Co-creator of the original Australian series, Jason Gann, will play the dog—er, man in dog suit.

Gann commented on the differences between the American version and the Wilfred of down under by saying, “I would not have made another version of Wilfred if I didn’t think it could be better. Wilfred has had a Hollywood makeover. He’s had a fur job.”

Wood, meanwhile, is looking forward to working in a new genre: “[It is] a wonderful opportunity to do something different, to work in the realm of comedy and to be challenged in a way that I haven’t before.”

While both series have several months before their seasons begin, anticipation is likely to grow as publicity for each show increases. FX is likely to get a surge of acknowledgement for pairing unlikely fare like Wilfred with a proven success like Louie. The block of time the two programs will be sharing may very well become the next ‘must see’ television.

-

Louie and Wilfred premiere summer 2011, on FX

Source: E! Online, LA Times

View the original article here

Hasbro’s Ouija Board Says McG Will Be The Director

The executives at Universal gathered recently to discuss their choices in hiring a director for their upcoming film, Ouija. Stumped with making a decision they turned to the very thing that was the focus of their film -- the Ouija Board. That’s when one of the interns brought out his brand new Hasbro Ouija Board and they all gathered around to ask the dearly departed for guidance in choosing a director.

Recently the directorial choices for Ouija were down to Terminator Salvation’s McG and The Crazies’ Breck Eisner but it would seem the spirits from the great beyond have sent their recommendation and Universal is listening to their advice. Deadline is now reporting the planchette has landed squarely on the letter “G” – so of course this indicates spirits want McG as director. As a result, Universal has entered into negotiations with him to direct their upcoming supernatural action adventure film.

McG joins already hired writers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis (whose most recent work can be seen in TRON: Legacy) with Hasbro’s Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir along to produce. Deadline is also reporting that Michael Bay’s studio Platinum Dunes is attached to produce Ouija as well – although the report wasn’t specific to whether Bay would be involved with the project personally.

For those unfamiliar with an Ouija Board, it’s a tool first used by spiritualists to contact the other side and help people communicate with their deceased loved ones. Parker Brothers turned it into board game that was marketable to the masses. Hasbro purchased it in 1991.

I was "chosen" to direct this film!

There’s not a whole to playing the “game” of Ouija other than sitting in the dark (for effect) with your friends while everybody places their fingers on the planchette. Then everyone takes turns asking the spirits questions and supposedly they will answer by spelling out words or selecting “Yes” or “No”.  Inevitably there is always one person in the group who influences the direction of the planchette and ruins the game but everyone swears they aren’t moving it. Check out this old commercial for the game below to get a sense of how it works.

Hasbro obviously thinks Ouija will enjoy the same big screen success as their other games and toys although it’s not as popular an item as their other properties. Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon is sure to have another blockbuster opening this summer; G.I. Joe did well at the box office and they’re also turning the popular board game Battleship into a movie which is now filming with Peter Berg (Hancock) in the director’s chair.

Only the spirits know if McG can turn this one-dimensional game into a viable movie franchise but if you have any questions just put your fingers on the planchette and ask – hey stop moving it!

Ouija answers all your questions November 12th, 2012.

Follow us on Twitter for TV and Movie News @Walwus and @ScreenRant

Source: Deadline

View the original article here