AMC Renews Western Series 'Hell on Wheels'

It's official: AMC has restored "Hell on Wheels" for any second season.Days after news leaked the Western starring Anson Mount and customary would earn a pickup, the network has formally introduced plans for any sophomore season."Hell on Wheels" stands because the second-greatest-ranked drama series around the network, calculating 3.two million total audiences and 1.5 million in grown ups 25-54 and originates from author-designers Joe and Tony Gayton.The storyline from the building from the first transcontinental railroad grew to become AMC's second-greatest original series premiere if this released in November behind the net's zombie hit "The Walking Dead," drawing 4.4 million total audiences, as well as an impressive 2.4 million within the key grown ups 18-49 demographic.The Western now marks the 5th of six original series to stretch beyond newcomer seasons as AMC is constantly on the find success with scripted fare, joining "Walking Dead," "Mad Males," "Breaking Bad" and "The Killing."The Growing Season 1 finale is placed for Jan. 15. The Hollywood Reporter

There is a Leaked Prometheus Trailer, and It Is Kind Of Awesome

Earlier today 20th Century Fox unveiled a shiny new look at Michael Fassbender in Ridley Scott’s 2012 Alien related event pic Prometheus (via Empire), all blond and space-suited. Exciting! As if that wasn’t enough to get your juices flowing, an unofficial version of the first trailer for the sci-fi thriller oozed onto the interwebs mere hours ago, and although it’s shaky-cammed with fuzzy audio and is even labeled “Leaked”… it’s kind of adrenaline-pumpingly awesome. So here comes the tricky part of it: Movieline does not embed leaked materials, so you’ll have to link out to find the video yourself. Consider the ambiguous Dragon Tattoo “leak” earlier this year; with studios increasingly seeking to hit viral status with their marketing campaigns, it’s more and more difficult to know which leaks are true and which are intentional. But this much is certain: If this is indeed Fox’s first Prometheus trailer (the studio’s been teasing a trailer premiere for days, to hit Apple iTunes on Thursday), and it looks this awesome on a shaky screen within a screen on your computer monitor, it should look amazing projected in theaters. Dark, ominous space cruisers, slick inky production design, the scope of the alien world, and that soundscape — all pulsing, pounding Inception “BROOOOOOOOM”s and hydraulic screams… I can’t wait to see this in HD, and I’m only talking about the trailer. (Much of the footage seen here can already be glimpsed in the two 30 second teasers-to-the-trailer premiere currently up at Apple, along with commentary from Ridley Scott.) The synopsis for Prometheus, in theaters June 8 2012: Ridley Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, returns to the genre he helped define. With Prometheus, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. [Vimeo]

Ellen DeGeneres Buys Kaira Pitts Malibu Home For $12 Million

First Launched: December 18, 2011 11:55 AM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Ellen DeGeneres, Kaira PittLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Ellen DeGeneres is putting lower roots where Kaira Pitt once laid his mind. The daytime host completed a deal to purchase Brads Malibu, Calif., home for $12 million on Friday, according to People. A seaside rental fees are split up into two separate houses, which boast ocean sights, lush gardens and beach access. Ellens new pad is substantially smaller sized in comparison to fifteen,000-sq foot . Beverly Slopes home she and wife Portia P Rossi recently put in the marketplace, calculating in at roughly 4,000-sq foot, in line with the mag. Ellen and Portias sprawling estate listed for just about any whopping $49 million was featured in Architectural Digest magazines October problem, where the funnywoman referred to her adoration for home buying and home design. We did not possess a home once i was maturing, Ellen mentioned. We always leased. But my father would dream, which we used to look at houses constantly. Id determine which mattress room might be mine and acquire all excited. The initial factor I did so once i made money was buy a house, she added. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Expendables 2' Trailer Light On Schwarzenegger, Heavy On Willis

Ongoing the recognition each week being the prettiest week inside the good status for the days for trailers (an exaggeration, sure, but let's opt for this), the first "Expendables 2" teaser trailer hit last evening, which is sure to make action enthusiasts weak within the knees. Yes, the "Ex2" trailer is light on Schwarzenegger. But whoa, when Arnie makes his appearance firing a device gun off at who-knows-what, it's enough to guarantee the Trench we're meeting here's a lot more pleased to flex his badass muscles in comparison to guy we'd inside the first "Expendables." Plus, just what the trailer lacks in Schwarz it greater than comprises for in Bruce Willis. The erstwhile John McClane is progressively searching like the villain in the piece against a Sly and Arnie team-up, which is simply too fantastic for just about any die-hard action fan (see a few things i did there?) to disregard. Furthermore for the "Expendables 2" trailer, Apple first demonstrated a plot description alongside the initial have a look at footage... and according to your interpretation, major spoilers lie ahead. The Expendables have came back and this time around around it's personal... Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Lee Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren),Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Caesar (Terry Deckie's) -- with latest people Billy the child (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) aboard -- are reunited when Mr. Chapel (Bruce Willis) enlists the Expendables to battle a apparently simple job. The task seems just like a simple salary for Barney and also the gang of old-school mercenaries. However, if things fail then one that goes for them is viciously destroyed, the Expendables are compelled to locate revenge in hostile territory in which the options stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, leading to havoc and shutting lower an unforeseen threat inside the nick of your energy -- six pounds of weapons-grade plutonium enough to change the quantity of one's in the world. But that's nothing in contrast for the justice they serve in the villainous foe who savagely wiped out their brother. That's done the Expendables way. So, uh, did the entire plot just get spoiled? Certainly now that we understand an Expendable will die. Are we able to start to see the formerly rumored Mickey Rourke bite the dust, or am i talking about another hero altogether -- probably the apparently easily expendable (see a few things i did again?) Toll Road or Hale Caesar? We'll see. But when we're here, let's just give a salute that Hemsworth's character is called Billy the child. If possibly Emilio Estevez happen to be frozen in 1988 ala Stallone's "Demolition Guy," they're factor relating to this crew. What can you consider the "Expendables 2" trailer? Reveal inside the comments section and also on Twitter!

Brad Pitt honored by Palm Springs fest

PittBrad Pitt will receive the Desert Palm actor award at the Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival. The thesp will be honored at the Jan. 7 awards gala for his work in "The Tree of Life" and "Moneyball."Pitt recently received top acting prizes from the NY Film Critics Circle for both pics and the Boston Society of Film Critics for the Bennett Miller-helmed baseball drama.Hosted by Mary Hart, the gala will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Previously announced honorees include "The Artist" helmer Michel Hazanavicius and thesps George Clooney, Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer and Michelle Williams. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Sadface Emoticon: Alec Baldwin Leaves Twitter

Alec Baldwin, one of our chirpiest and most opinionated tweeters, has apparently given up Twitter altogether. The 30 Rock star and Oscar nominee fled the site following an incident in which American Airlines booted him off a plane for playing Words With Friends and for being violent, abusive, and aggressive. All that remains of his Twitter is the handle name and the word “Deactivated.” Sad, sad day. Thrust your American flag at the sky and never forget his above-average GOP putdowns. [@AlecBaldwin]

UBS: Comcast executives talk up Verizon pact

Comcast executives Monday known as their multi-big pact with Verizon inked late a week ago a major event somewhat around the scale of obtaining of NBCUniversal."Discuss content, you have NBC. And wireless, you have this. In perpetuity," stated chief financial officer Michael Angelakis. "This can be a deal forever. We do not have to purchase creating a wireless network. We are really not going to get a wireless network. The correct answer is a substantial transaction," he told traders in the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference.The Comcast presentation was added late a week ago to some packed roster and came the expected crowd. A UBS repetition stated a couple of,000 were registered for that annual event.Time Warner Cable also presented a couple of days following the nation's two biggest cable companies together with more compact player Vibrant House Systems offered wireless spectrum to Verizon for $3.6 billion. The cable and telco companies will market each other peoples items and services and collaborate on new technology.Obviously in dollar terms there is a huge difference -- the NBCUniversal deal was worth about $30 billion. However the proper significance from the Verizon deal can not be overstated, executives stated.Besides finally ushering in the time of the quadruple play -- video, high-speed internet, landline and mobile phone -- Comcast and Verizon will take their heads together "and determine the easiest method to integrate wireless, broadband, Internet," stated Comcast Cable prexy Neil Smit. "Watching a relevant video in your wireless products, then returning to it in your house. New products together with your Comcast (subscription), new innovationswill emerge from that side from the deal."It might take up to and including year for government bodies to approve the purchase from the spectrum licenses.Additionally to offering the advantages of the Verizon pact, Angelakis offered an update on Comcast's look at its NBCUniversal acquisition because the deal approaches the main one-year anniversary of their closing the following month.InchWe now have run the (NBCU) for virtually 10 several weeks," he stated. "There is plenty of change, plenty of activity. It's gone very well, gone based on plan," noted Angelakis. He stated he's passionate concerning the biz -- especially amusement parks -- and also the professional team in position.But clearly, they'd be a great deal more happy if NBC wasn't last one of the top four tv stations.The NBC network and Telemundo -- a distant second to rival The spanish language-lingo broadcaster Univision -- "are challenges for all of us. (But) I believe we are trading at level where we are able to purchase success," he stated. Which includes original programming around the cable and broadcast side.Winning FIFA privileges -- two World Cups and 100s of soccer matches -- he stated, is really a "game changer" for Telemundo. Securing up Olympic games privileges with the 2020 games also solidifies NBC's hang on a vital franchise."NBCUniversal, from a marketing perspective, is supporting perfectly. There is a large first quarter using the Super Bowl approaching (and also the summer time) Olympic games. So NBC overall is feeling very good about advertising approaching," he stated.For Universal: "The film clients are popular driven business, we realize that,Inch he stated. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com