Masi Oka

Julia Stiles Joins NBC’s MIDNIGHT SUN Pilot; Alex O’Loughlin Takes Temporary Leave from HAWAII FIVE-0

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: March 2nd, 2012 at 6:37 pm

NBC has cast the lead in their drama/mystery pilot, Midnight Sun. Julia Stiles will play FBI cult specialist, Leah Kafka, as she leads an investigation into the disappearance of Midnight Sun, a cult-like, communal group living in Alaska. Stiles is joined by Emma Bell (Frozen) who plays Rory, the daughter of the cult’s leader (played by Titus Welliver of Lost). Daniella Pineda (Newlyweds) is also on board. From Deadline, the pilot, written by Lisa Zwerling (Awake), is the first series for Stiles, who has previously done a season-long guest starring arc on Showtime’s Dexter.

In other TV series news, star of Hawaii Five-O Alex O’Loughlin will be taking a short break from the CBS series reboot. Hit the jump to find out why.

Exclusive: Screenwriter Marti Noxon on THE DEFENDERS; Says John Hamburg is Now Involved and it’s a Sci-Fi Comedy

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 19th, 2010 at 12:37 pm

About a year ago we first covered a project called The Defenders.  The project was set up by Masi Oka (Heroes) at DreamWorks where he landed Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek, Transformers) as producers with D.J. Caruso possibly directing.  The story (from our original article):

“Centers on a group of mostly teenagers from around the world who are involved in a multiplayer video game, each unaware of who they really are behind the cover of their consoles and avatars. They are forced to come together for a real adventure, becoming inadvertent heroes in the process.”

Since posting the story, we haven’t had any updates. Until today.  That’s because an hour ago I got to speak with screenwriter Marti Noxon (I Am Number Four, Fright Night) and towards the end of the interview she revealed she’s writing the script.  The interesting news is she mentioned John Hamburg (writer/director of I Love You, Man) is also involved and she called it a sci-fi comedy.  More after the jump:

HEROES Creator Tim Kring Reaches Out to “45 Million” Fans About the Show’s Cancellation

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 18th, 2010 at 12:44 pm

When NBC cancelled Heroes last week, countless passionate fans were crestfallen at the loss of one their favorite series — at least in theory.  I mean, the latest season of the superhero saga did average under five million viewers per episode, right?  Yet, in a statement addressing the Heroes fanbase, creator Tim Kring cited “more than 45 million TV viewers around the world.” He lamented, “I certainly understand [NBC's] challenge of creating a business model around a show which arrived precisely as the audience was finding new ways to watch traditional content on multiple screens.”  So the news likely did depress millions upon millions; unfortunately, too few were 18-49-year-olds who watched the show (and its commercials) live within the U.S., as those are the eyeballs advertisers shell out for.

My condolences to the fans, but hold out hope for a rumored  Heroes movie in 2011 to tie up the loose ends, and check out the whole Kring’s statement after the jump.

6 Clips from the Premiere of HEROES Volume 5: Redemption

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: September 14th, 2009 at 10:00 pm

With NBC’s “Heroes” set to return next week with its season premiere, we’ve been provided with 6 clips from the two hour episode. So if you’ve been waiting all summer for the return of the show, after the jump you can see some new footage. Since I’ve already written about my thoughts on the show, I’m just going to leave you with the clips. Also, I’m in Toronto at the Film Festival and have got a lot to write about…but I’ll say it again, getting Ray Park on the show was a smart move. In one of the clips you can see his powers.

HEROES Volume 5 Premiere Synopsis

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: September 4th, 2009 at 10:37 am

While I have serious issues with NBC’s “Heroes”, I still watch every week. As I have said repeatedly on Collider, if you put people with super powers on TV, I’ll tune in. I know I have a problem.

Anyway, each season I always think this will be the year “Heroes” gets it right. They’ll finally write the show with some intelligence and come up with an interesting storyline. But then the show premieres, and I get mad that I still watch. So will this be the year “Heroes” turns it around? Probably not. But they have added Robert Knepper and Ray Park, so they’ve at least done something right. Anyhow, NBC has just released the synopsis for the two hour premiere airing September 21^st, so if you want to know what the premiere is about, click the jump. When NBC releases clips I’ll post them.

Masi Oka Sets Up MMORPG Movie THE DEFENDERS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 8th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Heroes” star Masi Oka has just set up “The Defenders” over at DreamWorks with “Star Trek” writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci producing, Gary Whitta (“The Book of Eli”) writing the script, and D.J. Caruso (“Eagle Eye”) potentially directing.  I’m not sure what role this leaves Oka since the story doesn’t say he’s acting in it, co-producing, co-writing, or if he’s active in any capacity other than developing the idea.

The idea: “The story centers on a group of mostly teenagers from around the world who are involved in a multiplayer video game, each unaware of who they really are behind the cover of their consoles and avatars. They are forced to come together for a real adventure, becoming inadvertent heroes in the process.”  Also, the teenagers who say they’re hot women and have a busty elf as their avatar should actually be ugly dudes.  Naw, I’m just kidding.  This is totally gonna play into a geek fantasy and some gorgeous chick is going to be a hardcore gamer*.

Honestly, it seems like a fun idea since Orci and Kurtzman want to make a film in the vein of the old Amblin movies like “The Goonies” and Oka asks the cool question of “What if you had to live up to the person you created in the virtual world?”  Cynically, I’d say you’d fail completely and be revealed for the failure that you are.  The movie will probably come to a different conclusion.

*Yes, I know there are hardcore gamers that are gorgeous women.  It’s just that the aforementioned hideous dudes are far more common.

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