People Are People: Six Things You May Not Have Heard About This Week

By Cindy Davis | Lists | September 29, 2013 |

By Cindy Davis | Lists | September 29, 2013 |

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6. A & E Snapped Up French Zombies for Immediate Americanization.

First came Robin Campilo’s 2004 film about a multitude of dead people returning to their hometown; They Came Back, aka Les Revenants aka The Returned. Fabrice Gobert turned the concept into an acclaimed French television series, and now we get the leftovers: A & E and Carlton Cuse. Oh, this ought to be good. (With the right people, could it be interesting?) The odd thing is, apparently French zombies don’t eat the living—they just want to hang out with their loved ones and be accepted for who they used to be. Um, okay?

5. And Now, Back to Your Regularly Scheduled Zombies; Here’s the Latest The Walking Dead Season 4 Teaser…

I’m pretty psyched to rejoin the gang now that Scott Gimple has taken over as showrunner. Along with the remaining regulars are new castmembers:

Alanna Masterson (rumored to be playing Tara Chalmers),

Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa,

Larry Gilliard Jr as former Army medic, Bob Stookey,

Kyle Gallner as Zach,

Danny Vinson as Don,

and Vincent Martella as Patrick, a character befriended by Carl.

And along with a Few Season 4 Photos, AMC Announced New Webisodes Will Premiere October 1st.

The Walking Dead returns October 13th.

4. Jane Adams Joined Gil Kenan’s Poltergeist Reboot.

Another week; another movie gets remade. This update of the classic ghosty-horror is being produced by Sam Rami and stars Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt as the parents, Touch’s Saxon Sharbino as their eldest daughter, and Kennedi Clements as the youngest. In a bit of perfect casting, Jane Adams has just signed on to play the parapsychologist who helps the family figure out just what sort of shenanigans are going on. Jared Harris also stars as the host of a cable Ghost Hunters type series. It could work…

3. Martin Freeman Joined FX’s Fargo.

In a simply delightful bit of television news, FX announced Sherlock’s Martin Freeman is taking on the role of “Lester Nygaard,” (based on William H. Macy’s character) in the Coen brothers television adaptation of their own film. Freeman joins Billy Bob Thornton, who stars as Lorne Malvo—“a rootless, manipulative man who meets the small-town insurance salesman and sets him on a path of destruction.” Though the series features film character, Nygaard, the storyline will be new.
Fargo is scheduled for a ten episode run in 2014.

2. Christoph Waltz Signed on as Villain to Alexander Skarsgård’s…Tarzan.

Did we know about this? Eric Northman is going jungle man? Color me befuddled and speechless. Harry Potter and State of Play director David Yates is gearing up the latest version of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ tale of the boy raised by apes. While you’re digesting the idea of a nearly naked Skarsgård swinging from tree to tree, I’ll add the news that Waltz has joined as his archetypal bad guy; he’ll play a Belgian military officer intent on capturing Tarzan. Warner Bros. is looking at Emma Stone and Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) as possible “Jane” contenders (Variety claims Stone may have already turned it down). I just don’t know about this—are people still interested in Tarzan?

1. And Finally, Here’s Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul Reading the “Felina” Script for the First Time.

Adios amigos.

Cindy Davis, (Twitter) is feeling a little zombieish this Sunday.