Tag Archives: Frank Darabont

TV reminder: Frank Darabont’s ‘Mob City’ premieres on TNT

Image cache, News, Television, , , , , ,

Frank Darabont, the man who adapted The Walking Dead for television and ran it for two seasons, has a new series that debuted on TNT. Mob City, formally known as L.A. Noir and Lost Angels, is an adaptation of John Buntin’s novel L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City that tells the story of an epic battle between a determined police chief and a dangerous mobster inflames set in 1940s Los Angeles. Darabont reached out to the Walking Dead dearly departed Jon Bernthal (Shane) and Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale) to star in his new show. Neal McDonough, Ed Burns, Jeremy Luke, Gregory Itzin, Robert Knepper, Milo Ventimiglia, Simon Pegg, and Alexa Davalos round out the cast.

The pilot, written and directed by Darabont, premiered Wednesday, December 4. The series’ first season is being called a “three week event” due to its unorthodox rollout; the season will play across three two-hour episodes airing from Dec. 4 to the 18th. Eye the masterful poster imagined by famed artist Drew Struzan above and tune into Mob City Wednesdays 9-11PM.

[Image via EW]

First look: Frank Darabont’s TNT drama ‘Mob City’

News, Television, Video, , , , , ,

Here’s a first-look at Frank Darabont’s upcoming TNT drama Mob City, formally known as L.A. Noir and Lost Angels. It’s an adaptation of John Buntin’s novel L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City that tells the story of an epic battle between a determined police chief and a dangerous mobster inflames set in 1940s Los Angeles. This project is a bit of a Walking Dead reunion as it reunites the AMC series’ executive producer Darabont with stars Jon Bernthal (he played Shane) and Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale). Mob City also stars Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives), Ed Burns (Entourage), Jeremy Luke (Don Jon), Gregory Itzin (24), Robert Knepper (Prison Break), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and Alexa Davalos (Clash of the Titans). Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Elliot Webb (Alpha House) serve as executive producers with Darabont. An updated synopsis goes like this:

Mob City opens in post-war Los Angeles, home to glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads and returning war heroes. But it’s also a city caught between a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base. Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker (Neal McDonough) has made it his mission to free the city of criminals like Ben “Bugsy” Siegel (Ed Burns) and Mickey Cohen (Jeremy Luke), the ruthless king of the Los Angeles underworld. Parker also won’t hesitate to go after anyone from his own police force who sells out honor and duty for the sake of a big payout. To carry out his sweep of organized crime, Parker sets up a new mob task force within the LAPD. Headed by Det. Hal Morrison (Jeffrey DeMunn), the task force includes Det. Joe Teague (Jon Bernthal), an ex-Marine who holds his cards close to his chest.

The pilot, written and directed by Darabont, airs Wednesday, December 4 at 10PM. Mob City will play out its initial season across six episodes.

TNT picks up Frank Darabont’s period drama ‘L.A. Noir’ with six episode order

News, Television, , , , , , ,

Earlier this year Frank Darabont divulged his next TV project following his exit from AMC’s The Walking Dead. Today TNT greenlit the project ordering a total of six episodes that will comprise season one. For the uninitiated, here’s a newly released series synopsis.

This new series tells the true story of a decades-long conflict between the Los Angeles Police Department, under the determined leadership of Police Chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal elements led by Mickey Cohen, a one-time boxer who rose to the top of L.A.’s criminal world. The series is a fast-paced crime drama set in Los Angeles during the 1940s and ’50s. It’s a world of glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads, returning war heroes, a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base.

If you’re like me and following Darabont from Atlanta to Los Angeles, you’ll be happy to hear that he’s recruited not one but two stars from his acclaimed zombie drama. Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead’s Shane) stars as Joe Teague, an ex-Marine now working as an LAPD cop in an era rampant with police corruption. Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale) plays Det. Hal Morrison, who heads up the LAPD’s new mob squad. The series also stars Neal McDonough (Captain America) as Capt. William Parker, Teague’s boss who is determined to weed out corruption and bring down Mickey Cohen; and Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) plays Ned Stax, who fought alongside Teague during World War II but who now works as a lawyer with connections to the mob.

TNT president and head of programming Michael Wright on the pickup: “This series is an intense, exciting drama that takes viewers back to a truly fascinating time in the history of Los Angeles. Frank Darabont, Michael De Luca and Elliott Webb have delivered an outstanding opening episode that evokes the time and place in stunning detail. Together with a pitch-perfect ensemble cast and top-notch production crew, they have woven an engrossing tale of heroism in the face of greed and corruption. We’re very excited to be working with such talented storytellers in bringing this project to life.”

L.A.Noir, based on the book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City by John Buntin, will premiere in 2013.

[Via TNT]

Frank Darabont finds solace in new period project ‘L.A. Noir’

News, Television, , , ,

Frank Darabont is a name you should be familiar with. He directed movies like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Most recently he developed the TV adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s comic book series The Walking Dead. For reasons not made public, Darabont was sacked and replaced by writer Glen Mazzara at the AMC zombie show during the time between season 1 and 2. He moved on, clearly, and today his next project was revealed: L.A. Noir. TNT has ordered a pilot for Darabont’s next TV venture which is based on a book (not the Rockstar video game) by author John Buntin’s titled L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City. The story “chronicles the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen.” Also behind the project is Michael De Luca (The Social Network, Moneyball) and Elliot Webb (Tall Time Tales).

In a press release Darabont expressed his vigor in developing this new bold series. “Noir is a passion of mine, so I feel blessed to delve into a project that speaks in the hardboiled vernacular. John Buntin’s superb book, though non-fiction, is our touchstone and inspiration for the stories we’ll be telling, weaving fiction throughout the facts and facts throughout the fiction. The book provides elements that are irresistible, a big canvas with endless possibilities. The goal is to deliver on the tone that the title L.A. Noir promises: a smart, gritty, authentic, period noir drama. Also a blessing is the warm welcome we’ve gotten from Michael Wright and TNT, a great bunch of folks with huge enthusiasm for the source material. The best bonus of all is getting to work with my friend Mike De Luca. He’s terrific, a tremendously smart and talented producer, a gem. Partnering with him on this marvelous project after knowing him for so many years is an absolute treat for me.”

TNT’s Michael Wright had this to say about the cable channel’s latest pilot pickup. “The story of L.A. Noir is inspired by an incredibly dramatic period in the history of Los Angeles. This project is a sweeping tale of the battle for the soul of the city that was waged between the forces of the LAPD and the West Coast mob. We’re thrilled to be working with Frank Darabont and Michael De Luca, two award-winning storytellers behind some of the most entertaining films of the past two decades, as they to bring this intense and exciting crime-drama to TNT.”

If there’s anything we’ve learned from The Walking Dead, it’s that Frank Darabont knows how to develop, executive produce, and run a show. Keep L.A. Noir on your radar. Full PR after the break.

[Via Collider] Continue reading Frank Darabont finds solace in new period project ‘L.A. Noir’ →

First production stills from ‘The Walking Dead’ season 2

Images, Television, , ,

Remember when we got our first look at AMC’s The Walking Dead last June 12? Exactly one year later we get not one but two production stills from the zombie survival series’ second season (catch the other image after the break). The undead never looked so good. Executive producer/director/writer Frank Darabont shares his excitement over the new season. “At this moment, I’m standing on a stretch of post-apocalypse interstate in Georgia, littered with abandoned cars and blessing my good luck to be reunited with our amazing cast, and our fantastic directors and crew.” The 13-episode second season is set to premiere this October.

[Via IGN] Continue reading First production stills from ‘The Walking Dead’ season 2 →

Darabont confirms The Walking Dead season 2 [Update: Not so fast]

News, Television, , , , ,

I’m sorry I can’t contain myself. YES!  *Breath* Ok, that’s better.  Now where was I?  Oh, right…

Frank Darabount, showrunner/director/producer/writer of AMC’s upcoming horror drama The Walking Dead (based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman), told Fangoria magazine that a second season of the zombie apocalypse show is official.  Fans of the most anticipated new fall show must be teeming with excitement–The Walking Dead hasn’t even aired a single episode yet and the network gave it a green light to continue producing new content!  Filming for season 2 will begin February 2011.  Ready for some more good news?  Producer Gale Anne Hurd confirms that season 2 will expand the episode count.  While the first season will carry a short 6-episode arc, season 2 will contain 13 episodes.

Darabount hinted at what to expect in the second season.  Perhaps some of the “environmental elements” from volume two of Kirkman’s comics will play a pivotal role?  “It would be great not just to get out of the heat, but to present a different idea to the audience visually and tonally by having it be winter.  There’s some really cool stuff that Kirkman did, where they find the one zombie that’s frozen to the ground.  I’d never seen that before and that’s really cool.”

Yes, yes it is.  Darabont goes on to share his excitment about how the team plans on introducing a fan favorite from the comic book series.  “Or when Michonne shows up – and boy, is she a character I can’t wait to get to – when she comes striding out of the wasteland like a Clint Eastwood f***ing spaghetti western character cross-melded with some samurai movie, like the Baby Cart character with the f***ing sword, and there’s just a little drift of snow in the air.  I would love to put that on film.”

Hyped?  Me too.  The Walking Dead premieres October 31 at 10PM on AMC; it’s a two-hour episode so set your DVRs accordingly.

Update: Numerous sources say that Darabont spoke too soon.  According to AMC reps news of a second season is pure speculation and “rumor.”  Oh well.  It will be made official soon enough.

[Via ComicBookMovie; IGN]

Showrunners Robert Kirkman & Frank Darabont talk up AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’ (first BTS video!)

Television, Video, , , , , ,

Having followed the initial murmurs of the new AMC zombie program based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book of the same name, it’s very exciting to see the first behind-the-scenes video footage of  The Walking Dead coming together.  The show follows a group of survivors who are forced to deal with the aftermath of a devastating zombie apocalypse.  Kirkman serves as executive producer.  In the video above he gushes about how swimmingly the show is assembling as the season premiere looms in the near distance (this October).  Writer/director/exec producer Frank Darabont is also having a blast making this show.  “We’re going to following the Robert Kirkman narrative pretty closely,” Darabont reveals.  “We’re giving ourselves permission to veer off the path and find the interesting detours.”  So far, Kirkman has had no problem with Darabont’s methods.  We’ve seen production stills from the set, but there’s nothing like seeing these zombies in action.  And man do they look scary as hell.  But we should expect nothing less from makeup/special FX lead Greg Nicotero.  This show hasn’t even started yet and I’m hooked.  And that’s why I got so excited when I heard Darabont utter these words: “I’d like to do twenty years of zombie TV.”

[Via EW-Popwatch]