PaleyFest 2013 news: 'Walking Dead', 'Newsroom', 'Revolution', 'Once Upon A Time'
The annual PaleyFest in Beverly Hills featured panels for several of TV's biggest shows. Here are some of the details we learned:
Credit: AMC
-Character development > Action: “I think there may be a wee bit less of the run and gun. And [we'll] get a little more into some of our characters,” said Executive Producer Greg Nicotero. “The challenge with a show like this, when you have a big ensemble, is you don’t want any of the characters to get lost; it’s important that we know what Carol’s story is and that we know what Beth’s story is. And when you’re trying to service a lot of characters, it becomes challenging. Watching the first season of Walking Dead and seeing how grounded it was, that’s really important to all of us. Andy Lincoln and I spent a lot of time going through the scripts and making sure we feel that they’re grounded. Because that’s what keeps our audience coming back. The walkers and the gore and the action and stuff, that’s fun, that’s the popcorn part of it. But if you don’t have characters that people are invested in, you lose your audience.”
-"Crazy" Rick won't be a permanent change: “I think you’ll see in the next episode, a turning point happens and he realizes his responsibilities. And hopefully he’ll come back from the brink," said star Andrew Lincoln. "But certainly since the death of Lori and the pressure imposed by The Governor, he is in a state of shock, grief, and stress, and he has had a breakdown. It’s tough times for Rick, but it’s always tough times for him, isn’t it? He never gets a day off, this guy.” Lincoln, agreeing with Carl’s criticism in last week's episode that Rick shouldn't be leader anymore, added, “He has a point. I have been making some terrible calls. So, you know, bless him. Parenting in the apocalypse.”
-Daryl doesn't want to be the leader: Actor Norman Reedus discussed his character's capacity for leadership. “I don’t think he wants to be the leader in any way. Like with Randall, remember Randall? There’s a whole episode about ‘what do we do with Randall’ and Daryl just kind of quietly went in there and beat the s— out of him and came back with bloody knuckles and was like ‘yeah, what’s up?’ He wasn’t like ‘look at me, look what I did!' I think if he had to lead, it would be reluctantly,” said Reedus. “He doesn’t want to talk about feelings or make you feel better about the future. He just does stuff. He gets it done.”
-Carl the Child Soldier: “I see a boy turning into a soldier, which is a terrifying thing," said Andrew Lincoln. "And I think that that story between the group, the family, and this seemingly wayward boy turning into a child soldier is a terrifying and very interesting arc that we follow in the last five episodes.”
Andrea's feelings for The Governor: “I think she thinks The Governor is disgusting at this point. She didn’t sleep with him because she was having a weak moment," Laurie Holden said, of her character. "She slept with him because she had every intention of doing what Carol suggested. But it’s not easy to just slit someone’s throat when they’re sleeping. She doesn’t have all the information. She doesn’t know about Maggie, but at this point it doesn’t matter. He’s gross to her.”
-On whether Carol and Daryl is ever going to happen: “I like these two damaged people gravitating towards each other," said Norman Reedus. "It might happen...I don’t want to make the first move.” The actor would go on to add, “I don’t think he has much game.”
-Andrea and Michonne's feud: “Andrea and Michonne are two adult women who wanted different things. Andrea did not choose a guy over her," said Holden. "After eight months she wanted a life and she wanted a community. I think this one [Michonne] could have ended up anywhere and she would have been unhappy,” going on to add, “I think that she didn’t want to share Andrea with anybody. She was happy when it was just the two of them. And I wish that they really had been able to have a deeper conversation before Michonne left those gates.”
-On the difference between season two's hopeful cliffhanger and season three's finale: “I would say [the Season Three finale] is the opposite of last year. In every way,” said Holden.
-Season Four is already shooting: "[The] writer’s room has cooked up the first eight episodes, and they’ll probably start writing next week," said Executive Producer Gale Ann Hurd, "And we start shooting May 6. We’re still finishing the season finale – editing and music.”
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Credit: Kevin Parry/Getty Images
On what we can expect in season 2: “If you’re a fan of Don and Sloan, I would definitely be watching,” said creator and executive producer Aaron Sorkin, before adding that season 2 will primarily follow the 2012 presidential election. In addition, the Trayvon Martin shooting and the budget crisis will be covered, though Sorkin admitted to be tentative about writing Sandy Hook into the series. “That’s a tough thing to write about without minimalizing it, exploiting it, spreading Cheez Whiz all over it,” he said. “Sorry for the bad metaphor, but there are so many land mines to step on. You want to make sure you don’t do it a disservice.”
On Will and Mackenzie's potential romance: “We’ve gotta be careful — if you have them dance up to the fire enough times, the audience is gonna leave,” said Sorking, before adding, “I do not believe a couple that’s together is any less fun or sexy than a couple that’s trying to get together.”
Olivia Munn on the "celebrification" of news: “I prefer to see Piers Morgan and Diane Sawyer just on the news and not a red carpet,” said the actress. “To make yourself newsworthy is so egotistical and self-absorbed. That’s the problem with so many news organizations — so many people trying to make themselves a celebrity.”
More: Entertainment Weekly
Credit: NBC
-On why the power went out: “We don’t get precious with the answers,” said creator Eric Kripke, implying that the mystery would be resolved not long after the series resumes its first season on March 25. Kripke stated that it became clear that the question of the power outage became unavoidable, and that Rachel (Elizabeth Mitchell) would have to tell the gang why the lights went out sooner rather than later. ”We find that out in episode 13 (airing April 8),” he says. “We deliver it, and [then] we ask a bunch more questions. And I think the mystery still continues, but it just keeps evolving and shifting.”
-On adopting a Game of Thrones approach to the show's geography: ”Wouldn’t it be fun to have that Game of Thrones kind of feel?” says Kripke, saying that the geographical landscape will come into play as the world of the show takes shape, and viewers get glimpses of the ”different kingdoms, different worlds” that occupy the map.
-On the mysterious Plains Nation and Georgia Federation territories: Kripke confirmed that the characters would be visiting the Plains Nation, made up of the Great Plains states. In addition, Kripke offered details on the characteristics of the Georgia Federation: “They’re more well-fed,” Kripke said, referencing how the climate of the area allows for greater crop yield, making the area more prosperous, as trade relations thrive. Also, Kripke talked a bit about Leslie Hope as Georgia Federation President Foster, saying she’ll be “badass” but with a “management style” all her own.
-On the character conflicts of this season: Actor J.D. Pardo confirmed that his character, Jason, would have a big confrontation with his father, Captain Neville (Giancarlo Esposito). “He’ll really come into his own,” Pardo said. In addition, we will learn what grudge Rachel is holding against Miles that compelled her to slap him across the face. Meanwhile, Sebastian Monroe and Nora Clayton will share at least one major scene with one another. Lastly, Kripke also answered questions about Aaron's abandoned wife. ”He sees her again, and they’re able to work out their issues, and they do have a face-to-face,” he says. “She’s in the present day and you catch up with what she’s been doing for the past decade or so.”
On what we can expect before the end of season one: Kripke promises we'll learn what caused the rift between Miles and Monroe, the fate of Charlie's romance with Jason, and the whereabouts of Grace.
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Credit: ABC
On Snow White's darker side: “What she’s going through is going to shake her self identity and self definition,” said actress Ginnifer Goodwin. “If she’s not the Snow White she read about in story books [while] in Storybrooke, then she doesn’t know who she is. But I think that does a lot for her. She can get in touch with a more involved way of protecting herself and her family.”
On new realms we'll visit this season: Executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz confirmed we’ll be getting a change of scenery soon, adding that once we travel to this new realm, there will be hints about an exciting new character to be introduced into the Once Upon A Time lore in Season 3. Neverland and Peter Pan, maybe?
On season 2's big flashback episode: The 17th episode of season 2, titled “Welcome to Storybrooke,” will take us back to 1983, during the first week of The Curse. “We’re going to get more insight into what it was like that very first week in 1983 and what it was like for the Evil Queen to win and to figure out modern clothing,” says Kitsis. The episode airs March 17 and will see the return of some familiar faces, chiefly Jamie Dornan as The Huntsman.
On Regina's quest for redemption: “Being good didn’t quite work out for Regina,” says actress Lana Parrilla of her character. “She was really trying to get back to that place, but circumstances kind of [made her] turn in a different direction. The evil queen is going to make a comeback in a different way.”
On rumors of a spin-off: Horowitz and Kitsis slapped down reports that they were planning a Mad Hatter spin-off in which they would recast Sebastian Stan as the titular madman. “We have no plans to recast anyone,” said Kitsis, although he confirmed that they are in the middle of brainstorming possible ideas for a spinoff, though the project wouldn't be ready in time for a fall 2013 premiere.
On Belle's alter-ego, "Racy Lacey": Kitsis discussed an upcoming Belle-centric episode that will provide insight into her cursed persona, jokingly called “Racy Lacey” during the panel. “Lacey’s very interesting,” said Emilie De Ravin, with Kitsis adding, “She’s the opposite of Belle.”
On Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin's vendetta against Henry: Rumpelstiltskin vowed to kill the boy that the Seer warned him would lead to his undoing, in the episode "Manhattan." Kitsis ambiguous about whether or not this means that Henry's life is in danger, instead offering, “When Rumple was last given the choice between love and power, he let his own son go. So the question is has he learned anything and what chance does his grandson have now?” said Kitsis. Adam Horowitz added: “[We also have to ask] is ‘undoing’ a bad thing?”
On the two-part season finale: Kitsis and Horowitz announced the titles of the final two episodes of the season: “Second Star to the Right” and “And Straight On ‘Til Morning.”
More: Entertainment Weekly
