Max von Sydow Joins Showtime’s The Tudors

Max von Sydow has joined the cast of The Tudors for the Showtime series’ third season, reports Variety. Von Sydow will play Cardinal Von Waldburg, a German-born clergyman who tries to organize the defeat of Henry VIII. Von Sydow will be seen in four of the eight season-three episodes of The Tudors. The third season premieres next year on Showtime. Other recent additions to the series include British singer Joss Stone, who will play Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.

Showtime Crowns Joss Stone For The Tudors

British R&B singer Joss Stone is joining the cast of Showtime’s drama The Tudors for its third season. She will play Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of Henry VIII. A daughter of a German nobleman, Anne was betrothed to Henry in a marriage treaty between the Cleves Court and the king’s chancellor after Henry was shown a portrait of her. Upon Anne’s arrival to England, he was disappointed in her looks and soon finds a legal way to have the marriage annulled.

Josh Lucas Cast In Possible Side Effects

Josh Lucas has been cast to star in Possible Side Effects, the Tim Robbins’ drama pilot for Showtime says The Hollywood Reporter. The project, which Robbins wrote and will direct, centers on the Hunts, a dysfunctional family running a pharmaceutical company. It examines the political, scientific and bureaucratic machinery that makes up the drug industry. Lucas will play Max Hunt, who tries to keep the business and the family together in the face of controversy.

The casting of Lucas comes almost a year after Showtime greenlighted the pilot. Robbins is executive producing with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Daniel Thomas.

Showtime Fast-Tracking Edie Falco Pilot

Showtime is fast-tracking a dark comedy project starring Edie Falco says The Hollywood Reporter. The pilot is a single-camera comedy starring Falco as a strong-willed, iconoclastic New York City nurse juggling the frenzied grind of an urban hospital and an equally challenging personal life.

The pilot, co-produced by Showtime and Lionsgate TV, will go into pre-production immediately and will be shot in New York. The pilot was written by Evan Dunsky. Linda Wallem and Liz Brixius will serve as executive producers/show runners and writers. Caryn Mandabach is also an exec producer.

Showtime Gives Brotherhood A Third Season

Showtime has ordered a third season of Brotherhood. The cable network has ordered eight more episodes of the gritty political/crime drama starring Jason Isaacs, Jason Clarke and Annabeth Gish. Despite its strong critical acclaim, which includes a 2007 Peabody Award, Brotherhood wasn’t a sure-thing for renewal because of its modest ratings. However, the drama showed growth airing behind Showtime’s breakout ratings hit Dexter in the fall. The Showtime record-setting November 18 episode of Dexter gave Brotherhood the series’ largest audience ever.

Showtime Greenlights More Big Brother: After Dark

Showtime has greenlighted a second season of Big Brother: After Dark, an exclusive, live televised look inside corporate sibling CBS’ Big Brother house after the network primetime cameras have been turned off. Starting February 12, Big Brother: After Dark will feature a live feed from the Big Brother house on the cable network’s SHO2 multiplex channel.