VIDEO: An Evening With'War Horse'

VIDEO: An Evening With'War Horse' By Jenelle Riley December 21, 2011 Jeremy Irvine Steven Spielberg's latest epic, "War Horse," was screened for an audience of Back Stage readers and SAG members at the Pacific Design Center on Dec. 11. Afterward, actor Jeremy Irvine told the crowd how he booked the lead role of Albert, a boy who enlists in World War I to find his beloved horse, Joey."It was a long process of auditions, but I understand," Irvine said. "They couldn't just hand the role over to someone who had never done a movie before." There were 14 horses who played Joey, he added, including one he met in an early audition: "I was trying to connect with this animal, and he stepped on my foot! There were tears streaming down my face, so I just used it in the scene. Maybe he was trying to help me." The film hits theaters on Christmas Day. VIDEO: An Evening With'War Horse' By Jenelle Riley December 21, 2011 Jeremy Irvine Steven Spielberg's latest epic, "War Horse," was screened for an audience of Back Stage readers and SAG members at the Pacific Design Center on Dec. 11. Afterward, actor Jeremy Irvine told the crowd how he booked the lead role of Albert, a boy who enlists in World War I to find his beloved horse, Joey."It was a long process of auditions, but I understand," Irvine said. "They couldn't just hand the role over to someone who had never done a movie before." There were 14 horses who played Joey, he added, including one he met in an early audition: "I was trying to connect with this animal, and he stepped on my foot! There were tears streaming down my face, so I just used it in the scene. Maybe he was trying to help me." The film hits theaters on Christmas Day.

Fox mulling second year of 'Terra Nova'

Jason OMara stars in Fox drama Terra Nova, which wrapped its first season Monday and awaits word on a possible soph season. The end of the first season of "Terra Nova" leaves a cliffhanger that has nothing to do with the plot: Will Fox renew the drama series?"Nova" ended its run Monday in typically solid but unspectacular fashion, averaging a 2.2 rating/6 share in adults and 7.2 million viewers overall. That put it above ABC and NBC but slightly below its season average (2.6 demo rating and 7.8 million).Those are respectable numbers but not necessarily good enough given the expensive production costs behind the dino spectacle and the pedigree of executive producers Steven Spielberg and Peter Chernin. 20th Century Fox Television is the studio behind the 13-episode run, which was never intended to earn a back-nine order.One indication of "Terra Nova" landing another 13 episodes is whether Fox will pick up the options on the skein's lead actors. But even if that happens before year's end, it doesn't so much guarantee a renewal as it does buy Fox more time to make a decision that may be made as late as the end of January, which is more or less the deadline to get the elaborate production back in operation.Ratings are far from the only factor in Fox's decision on "Nova." In addition to syndication sales in overseas markets and DVD or digital revenues, the network will also take into account that "Nova" boasts one of the bigger percentage increases among dramas in "live-plus-seven" DVR data -- from a 2.6 to a 3.7 in 18-49.This isn't the only drama whose fate will be mulled by Fox execs over the holidays, as a decision is expected soon on a possible ninth season for Universal Television's "House."Related: Ratings: Modest finish for 'Terra Nova' Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

'Vysotsky' Becomes Russia's Highest Grossing Movie of 2011

Getty Images ABC News said Sunday that its live coverage of Saturday's Republican presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa, was the most-watched GOP debate of the 2012 campaign so far.our editor recommendsDemocrats and Republicans' Favorite MoviesDonald Trump's GOP Debate: Rick Perry Becomes Fourth Candidate Who Won't Participate The Your Voice, Your Vote special, moderated by ABC News' Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos, averaged 7.6 million total viewers from 9-11 p.m. ET, according toNielsen's true fast national ratings. That makes it the most-watched program of the night among viewers. PHOTOS: Best Presidents in Film and Television ABC News also touted the fact that it stands as the most-watched GOP presidential debate of the 2012 campaign so far, passing Fox News' Sept. 22 special (6.1 million viewers) and CBS News' Nov. 12 telecast (5.5 million). The debate, which was sponsored by ABC News and Yahoo, also gave the network its best performance in the time slot with nonsports programming in more than seven months. PHOTOS: Actors Who've Played Politicians Six candidates took part in the debate: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. ABC News hosts another debate from 9-11 p.m. ET on Jan. 7. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Entertainers Democrats and Republicans Love to Hate ABC ABC News Politics Michele Bachmann Newt Gingrich Mitt Romney

Red Bull charges into theaters

While Red Bull Medias production company, Terra Mater Factual Studios, tends to focus on nonfiction TV, The Lazarus Protocol, which stars Peter Fonda, is a feature thriller. On the surface, a film described as a political thriller about 9/11 seems like a strange production choice for a company that presents itself as a supplier of nature, science and history programming.But there's a hybrid method to the narrative madness behind Vienna's Terra Mater Factual Studios, which has just wrapped principal photography on its first theatrical feature, "The Lazarus Protocol." The pic stars Peter Fonda, Travis Fimmel ("The Experiment") and Michael Desante ("The Hurt Locker").Terra Mater, a wholly owned subsidiary of Red Bull Media House, has a slate for the coming five years that focuses on 100 hours of factual programming for its dedicated weekly slot on Austria's Servus TV channel -- also owned by Red Bull. Also in the pipeline: 10 theatrical films on factual themes.While theatrical plans include docs such as "Mind Over Matter," a film following five Paralympic athletes, company chief Walter Kohler, former head of Austria TV network ORF's nature strand, Universum, is primarily interested in films that combine fact and fiction."The goal is to achieve a hybrid of the two genres where you don't perceive the border between them," he explains, citing two films prepping for production, "Cry of the Eagle" and "Lighthouse of the Orcas" where crews will spend up to a year in the wild shooting material that then becomes the basis for a dramatic story with actors.It's the hybrid element that drew Terra Mater to "Lazarus." Production partner Thomas Feldkircher, who brought the script to Kohler, calls the film a "factual thriller." Inspired by the events of 9/11, the film weaves news footage of the terrorist attack and its aftermath into a story of a Navy Seal intelligence agent, Lazarus Fell (Fimmel) who fakes his own death and drops off the grid to pursue a 10-year manhunt for an unnamed terrorist (Desante) responsible for 9/11.It all plays out as a three-man Kammerspiel -- or portrait of lower-middle-class life -- shot in 21 days in a disused ironworks outside of Vienna, which substitutes for an abandoned Nazi-era railway station Lazarus uses as his base of operations. The use of archival news material -- making up approximately one-third of the film -- functions not as illustration, but, as Kohler says, "a protagonist" in the story."When you see films that deal with social issues or political issues, they're couched in layers of fiction and metaphor," says writer-director Paul Finelli, "but we're using evidence from the real world, actual news reports, presidents' speeches, all the stuff that you know because you saw it on TV, and we're re-imagining the context."Kohler says he knew the film would be difficult to finance in the U.S. and the financing came from Terra Mater, Tomcat Prods. (Thomas Feldkirche) and some Austrian state subsidy money. Terra Mater would not be drawn on a budget, and they do their own international sales.Originally conceived as part of a theme evening for Servus TV for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Terra Mater execs ultimately decided the project would be better served as a feature film."Doing a thriller is a departure for us," says Sophokles Tasioulis, head of cinema and international sales at Terra Mater. "We are still focused on nature, but if we come across something driven by a strong element of reality, (that's) unusual, we will consider it. We are in a position to take a risk. That speeds up projects; you don't have to wait for decisions. n Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Patterson's 'Wives' set for film

James Patterson's thriller "Guilty Wives" is headed for the bigscreen, with Maven Pictures' Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler and James Patterson Entertainment onboard to produce. Leopoldo Gout will produce along with Maven; James Patterson and Steve Bowen of James Patterson Entertainment exec produce. "Guilty Wives," penned by Patterson and David Ellis and set to be published in March, is the story of a woman who had everything -- a handsome, successful husband; beautiful children; and cool, jet-set friends. But she steps into a terrible trap on a girls' weekend in Monte Carlo and wakes up sentenced to life in the treacherous French prison system and begins a quest to set things right again. The prolific Patterson's best known for his series centering on psychologist Alex Cross, with "Along Came a Spider," "Kiss the Girls" and the upcoming "I, Alex Cross" adapted into features. He is also the creator of detective series "The Women's Murder Club," from which the ABC drama series was adapted. Rattray and Styler said, "It's an ideal project for Maven as we expand into more commercial territory." Maven's first feature film, "Imogene," starring Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening and Matt Dillon, is currently in post-production, and Maven is in development with New Regency on "Second Act," with Julia Roberts set to produce and star, as well as "Cancer Vixen," with Cate Blanchett starring. Maven's also producing with Sarah Jessica Parker on "A Fair Marriage" as a potential starring vehicle for Parker through her Pretty Matches banner with partner Allison Benson (Daily Variety, Oct. 21). Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Lost's Mark Pellegrino Goes Noir for Castle

Mark Pellegrino Mark Pellegrino will give Castle and Beckett trouble... from half a century in the past! The Lost and Supernatural actor will guest-star in an upcoming episode of Castle, TVLine reports. A Lostie joins The Closer Pellegrino will play a cutthroat club owner from 1947 who might be involved in a murder that Castle and Beckett are looking into during the present day. Pellegrino's character, Tom Dempsey, isn't too thrilled with a local private eye and his best girl, whom Castle imagines to look like himself and Beckett. The noir-themed episode will run during the February sweeps season. Pellegrino is best known as Jacob from Lost and for playing Lucifer on Supernatural. He's also appeared on The Closer, Being Human and Breakout Kings.

Director Patty Jenkins Exits Marvels Thor 2

EXCLUSIVE: Director Patty Jenkins is departing Thor 2. Most broadly noted for pointing Charlize Theron to have an Oscar in Monster as well as the pilot of AMC’s The Killing, Jenkins happen to be set to helm the film in the finish of September. I’m told that Marvel Art galleries was already talking with agencies since it canvasses for just about any new director, something that's prone to happen quickly. Her exit had associated with creative versions, nevertheless the feeling is always that she’ll probably finish off concentrating on one of these brilliant superhero films, but possibly this really is this is not on a follow-up. Marvel will have to move fast since it must meet a November 15, 2013 release date for your follow-up, which returns Chris Hemsworth as the hammer-transporting superhero, and Thor co-author Don Payne is writing the script. The Kenneth Branagh-directed original made $448 million worldwide and launched the star of Hemsworth, who reprised Thor inside the Avengers after which it carried out the 2nd title role opposite Billy Burke and Charlize Theron in Snow White-colored as well as the Huntsman for Universal.

Hilary Swank Talks Chechnyan Debacle on Leno Claims She Would never know Country 'Was Outdoors Of Russia' (Video)

Disney Funnel reaches it again.our editor recommendsDisney Funnel Sets Premiere Date for 'Frenemies' TelepicDisney Funnel Renews 'A.N.T. Farm'Disney Funnel Renews 'Phineas and Ferb' for fourth SeasonDisney Funnel Slate Includes 'Zombies,' 'Super 8' Comedy The premiere of holiday television movie All The Best Charlie: It's Christmas, inspired with the cable network series All The Best Charlie, hit ratings gold Friday evening. The Christmas movie shipped nearly 7 million total audiences (6.9 million being more exact) at 8 p.m. All The Best Charlie: It's Christmas averaged 3.3 million among kids 6-11, 2.4 million among tweens and 1.4 million among grownups 18-49. The film is just about the best live-action cable film of year among total audiences. To check on, Lemonade Mouth -- which broadcast in April in addition to starred Bridgit Mendler -- averaged greater than millions of less audiences with 5.7 million audiences towards the premiere. The telepic's strong ratings performance elevated the launch of music comedy Austin & Ally at 9:30 p.m. The half-hour series came 5.7 million audiences, with 2.7 million falling inside the kids 6-11 demographic and two.millions of in tweens. Inside a couple of days is really a large test for Austin & Ally since it will premiere within the regular Sunday time slot at 8 p.m. Versus Friday's broadcast options, which have been not personalized to kids or teens, the Disney Funnel outdrew just about any program through the 8-10 p.m. period in viewership -- the exceptions being CBS' A Gifted Guy and CSI: NY. All The Best Charlie: It's Christmas devoted towards the Duncan family who get separated throughout a visit to Grandmother's house so on in the clock to reunite with time for Christmas. Austin & Ally follows Austin, an extroverted singer, and Ally, a great but shy songwriter in addition to their close buddies. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Disney Generation's New Rising Stars TV Ratings Disney Funnel