Australia takes over Middle-Earth

Not your parents’ Lord of the Rings; Amazon announces cast.Credit:AP

Three Australian actors will head the cast of the new Amazon Prime Video prequel to The Lord of the Rings. Though the streaming platform is yet to release firm details of characters and storiesthe series will feature, it has confirmed that Tom Budge (Bran Nue Dae, Judy & Punch), Markella Kavenagh (Romper Stomper, Picnic at Hanging Rock) and Tyroe Muhafidin (Two Sands, Caravan) will be among the leads. The series will also star Morfydd Clark (Dracula), Ismael Cruz Cordova (The Undoing) and Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones). The series, steered by showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, will be set in the "second age" of Middle-Earth, before the events depicted in the books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The first season will comprise eight one-hour episodes; production will commence in New Zealand in February.

Seven signs Oscars deal

The Seven Network has signed a deal to broadcast the 92nd annual Academy Awards. The deal follows a long tenure for the Oscars on the Nine Network. This year's awards also mark a shift in emphasis to streaming, with Netflix scooping 24 nominations for its cinema-first, streaming-second films The Irishman and Marriage Story. The DC Comics dark thriller Joker was the most nominated film, with 11 nods. Sam Mendes' 1917, Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Martin Scorsese's The Irishman each secured 10 nominations. Australia's Margot Robbie was nominated in the actress in a supporting role category for her performance in the film Bombshell. Seven will telecast the Oscars on Monday, February 10, from noon and will replay the telecast in prime-time on 7flix.

Thirtysomething sequel on the way

A sequel to the 1980s-90s character drama Thirtysomething is in development. The US network ABC is developing the follow-up with the working title Thirtysomething(else). It will focus on the grown-up children of the original characters as they enter their 30s. Four members of the original series have signed on for the sequel: Ken Olin, Mel Harris, Timothy Busfield and Patricia Wettig. The sequel is being steered by the two creators of the original series, Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, whose specific tone was seen as critical to the success of the series. The original aired between 1987 and 1991 and won wide critical acclaim, receiving 13 Emmy awards.

Ten boss promoted

The Ten Network's CEO Paul Anderson has been elevated to the position of executive vice-president of ViacomCBS Networks Australia and New Zealand. The new title confirms Ten's repositioning within the structure of the US studio CBS to the company's channels group. Anderson's portfolio now includes Ten and the pay channels Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. A statement from ViacomCBS said the combination of the company's free-to-air, pay TV and digital assets would "add value to our business". ViacomCBS has also named former ITV Studios International president Maria Kyriacou as president of ViacomCBS Networks Australia and New Zealand.

Vale Harry Hains

One of Australia's young rising stars, actor Harry Hains, has died. The 27-year-old Melbourne-born actor had a number of television credits to his name, including roles in the critically acclaimed US dramas The OA and American Horror Story. Hains was the son of American actress Jane Badler and her Australian husband Stephen Hains; Badler is best known for roles in the 1980s science-fiction series V and the soap opera Falcon Crest. "A brilliant spark shone bright too short a time, I will miss you Harry every day of my life," Badler said. Fuller House actor John Stamos also paid tribute to Hains. "Harry truly was one of the brightest, most charismatic, charming guys I've ever met," Stamos said.

Aquaman series swims upstream

Director James Wan is developing an animated Aquaman mini-series.Credit:AP

Malaysian-Australian producer/director James Wan is developing an animated mini-series featuring the DC Comics hero Aquaman for the streaming platform HBO Max. Wan is no stranger to the undersea icon; he directed the 2018 Aquaman film for Warner Bros. The three-part mini-series will be titled Aquaman: King of Atlantis and will explore Aquaman's first days on the throne in the kingdom of Atlantis. The series will also feature key characters from the Aquaman mythology, including his half-brother (and rival) Orm. HBO Max's head of content Sarah Aubrey said the character was a "fan-favorite rich with well-known characters and dynamic storylines". Wan is also working on the live-action sequel to the Aquaman film.

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