J.J. Abrams News

Welcome to #CastleRock. From Stephen King & J.J. Abrams, the Hulu Original Series based on the #StephenKing universe premieres July 25.

Today, during the Hulu 18 Presentation at the newly-named Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, executives took the stage to reveal the company's rapid growth, announce multiple original programming and exclusive acquisition deals that expand Hulu's content offering, and unveil new product and measurement innovations that will bring the future of television to the advertising business.

Following the show's recent season-two premiere, HBO has renewed the Emmy®-winning drama series WESTWORLD for a third season, it was announced today by Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming.

'For so many reasons this has been the single most challenging thing that I've ever done, but the most rewarding thing I've ever done.'  Joshua Jackson, who makes his Broadway debut this season, knows that his experience in Children of a Lesser God has been a special one. Watch below as he chats with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge about the challenges of delivering dialogue for two, learning a whole new language for this role, and the joys of sharing the stage with his remarkable co-star, Lauren Ridloff. 

According to Variety, S.J. Clarkson has been tapped to direct “Star Trek 4,” making her the first female to helm a film in the “Star Trek” franchise.

On Thursday, April 26 (1pm) join us at the Robin Williams Center (247 West 54th Street) for a Career Conversations Q&A with Joshua Jackson (The Affair, Dawson's Creek), current star of Children of a Lesser God, moderated by BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge of 'Backstage with Richard Ridge!'

The Emmy(R)-winning drama series WESTWORLD returns for its ten-episode second season SUNDAY, APRIL 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. A dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the birth of a new form of life on Earth, the show was created for television by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy, who are also executive producers.

The Emmy®-winning drama series WESTWORLD returns for its ten-episode second season SUNDAY, APRIL 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. A dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the birth of a new form of life on Earth, the show was created for television by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy, who are also executive producers.

Freeze all motor functions. In anticipation of the second-season debut of the Emmy®-winning drama series, HBO will host premieres of WESTWORLD in three cities across the country. Cast members Simon Quarterman and Shannon Woodward will join fans in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Boston for a special advance screening of the new season, followed by a Q&A session and an in-world after party styled as the Mariposa Saloon. 

Eric Bana (MUNICH and currently starring in THE FORGIVEN) is set to star opposite Connie Britton (NASHVILLE, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) in the first season of Bravo Media's scripted anthology series DIRTY JOHN, based on the articles and breakout true crime podcast of the same name from Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard. Marking his U.S. television debut, Bana will star as John Meehan, a handsome and romantic charmer who sweeps Debra Newell (Britton) off her feet and pulls her into his web of lies. The series chronicles the true story of how a romance with Meehan spiraled into secrets, denial and manipulation. DIRTY JOHN is produced by Universal Cable Productions (UCP), in association with Los Angeles Times Studios and Atlas Entertainment, and will be executive produced and written by Alexandra Cunningham (CHANCE, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES). Richard Suckle and Charles Roven will serve as executive producers for Atlas Entertainment; Mark Herzog, Christopher G. Cowen and Chris Argentieri will serve as executive producers for Los Angeles Times Studios; Britton and Bana will also serve as executive producers.

Eric Bana (MUNICH and currently starring in THE FORGIVEN) is set to star opposite Connie Britton (NASHVILLE, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) in the first season of Bravo Media's scripted anthology series DIRTY JOHN, based on the articles and breakout true crime podcast of the same name from Los Angeles Times reporter Christopher Goffard. Marking his U.S. television debut, Bana will star as John Meehan, a handsome and romantic charmer who sweeps Debra Newell (Britton) off her feet and pulls her into his web of lies. The series chronicles the true story of how a romance with Meehan spiraled into secrets, denial and manipulation. DIRTY JOHN is produced by Universal Cable Productions (UCP), in association with Los Angeles Times Studios and Atlas Entertainment, and will be executive produced and written by Alexandra Cunningham (CHANCE, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES). Richard Suckle and Charles Roven will serve as executive producers for Atlas Entertainment; Mark Herzog, Christopher G. Cowen and Chris Argentieri will serve as executive producers for Los Angeles Times Studios; Britton and Bana will also serve as executive producers.

The Geffen Playhouse will honor legendary stage and screen performer Dick Van Dyke and award-winning composer, lyricist and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda at its 16th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser. The event recognizes the accomplishments of leaders in the artistic community, supports the theater's mission to produce original, quality work and raises funds for its award-winning education and community engagement programs, which bring live theater to more than 15,000 disadvantaged youth, seniors and veterans annually.

What seemed like an impossible task, the Artemis Women In Action Film Festival (AWIFF) has chosen the winners from its staggering number of entries this year. Filmmakers who featured strong female characters entered this cause célèbre from around the world, an increasing record for the fast-rising festival, geared to honor female action and empowerment heroes to movie enthusiasts everywhere. With films about women overcoming great odds, saving lives, stopping wars, and other socially relevant themes, every film in the festival, ranging from dramas to documentaries offers their audiences something unique and engaging.

The Emmy®-winning drama series WESTWORLD returns for its ten-episode second season SUNDAY, APRIL 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. All ten episodes of the critically acclaimed first season of WESTWORLD are available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms. The pilot episode is also available for nonsubscribers to watch for free on ?HBO.com. In addition, fans and first-time viewers can catch up on ? hbo.com/Westworld with episode guides, character profiles, exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and more.

Saturday Night Live released a sketch on YouTube that was cut from last night's show for time. Introduced by J.J. Abrams, the clip is designed as a trailer for a (not real) Star Wars standalone film, The Mos Eisley Five, arriving in summer of 2019.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO's WESTWORLD is coming back for season two with the official name of the new park to be 'Shogun World'. The unofficial name until this time has been 'Samurai World'. The new world is set to expand the WESTWORLD universe in the forthcoming second season.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Angels in America begins previews at the Neil Simon Theatre, and more!

J.J. Abrams appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night, where he talked about the upcoming unnamed Star Wars film, and when he couldn't provide spoilers, he gave the audience a bit of compensation...

Westworld is coming to Austin! To celebrate the return of the hit series Westworld (Sunday, April 22, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), HBO is building an entire town from the ground up for an immersive experience exclusively for South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals badge holders. Open for three days only - Friday, March 9, through Sunday, March 11 - the Westworld-themed park will feature reproduced versions of iconic locations and elements from the hit HBO series, including the luxury hotel The Coronado and the Mariposa Saloon.

The Emmy®-winning drama series WESTWORLD returns for its ten-episode second season SUNDAY, APRIL 22 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. All ten episodes of the critically acclaimed first season of WESTWORLD are available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms. The pilot episode is also available for nonsubscribers to watch for free on ?HBO.com. In addition, fans and first-time viewers can catch up on ? hbo.com/Westworld with episode guides, character profiles, exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and more.