CHAT WITH IAN SOMERHALDER ABOUT V-WARS AND MORE! →

December 2, 2019 @ArtShrian

Ian Somerhalder talks about V-Wars

We had a chat with Ian Somerhalder, here are some highlights:

“This has been such a passion such a legitimate journey for me and for my team and for my producers. From the beginning I mean this is 15 months of my life and the last 11 months in house production this fine-tuning I knew we make some special.”
Ian further said, “You guys know me I did 107 episodes of VAMPIRE DAIRIES it was my life. People always say I am an actor I pretend to be someone I make-believe all day I disagree I will say as an actor I try and tell truth all day because you cannot make-believe situation but you try to find truth whenever you say.”
As a producer and lead actor, and his involvement, Ian says, “It’s not just being an actor you're producing its part of your DNA it’s like your baby.”

Watch part of the interview here and also, listen to the whole conversation below:

SYNOPSIS:

Dr. Luther Swann (Ian Somerhalder) enters a world of untold horror when a mysterious disease transforms his best friend, Michael Fayne (Adrian Holmes), into a murderous predator who feeds on other humans. As the disease spreads and more people are transformed, society fractures into opposing camps pitting normal people against the growing number of these “vampires.” Swann races against time to understand what’s happening, while Fayne rises to become the powerful underground leader of the vampires.

V Wars” Launches Globally on Netflix on December 5, 2019

A doctor is pitted against his best friend after an ancient disease turns people into vampires. From the comics by Jonathan Maberry and Alan Robinson. Watch V Wars, Only on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80235931 SUBSCRIBE: https://bit.ly/29qBUt7 About Netflix: Netflix is the world's leading internet entertainment service with over 158 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages.

About Ian Somerhalder:

Ian Somerhalder is an actor, environmentalist, and humanitarian. Next up, Somerhalder will be seen starring in V-WARS on Netflix which will be released on December 5th, 2019. He will serve as an executive producer on the series and has also directed several episodes of the premiere season. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Somerhalder will star as Dr. Luther Swann, a scientist trying to save the world from a deadly outbreak that has fractured society. Previously, Somerhalder starred as Damon Salvatore in the CW hit television series THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, which ran for 8 seasons. In addition to acting in the show, Somerhalder also took on the role of director in both seasons 7 and 8.

Currently Somerhalder and his wife actress, Nikki Reed have a pod deal with Warner Bros TV to produce new content for the network under their production company RARE BIRDS PRODUCTIONS. Somerhalder also appeared in an episode of the groundbreaking and Emmy award-winning climate change documentary series, YEARS OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY.

From 2004 to 2010, Somerhalder starred as Boone Carlylye in ABC’s Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning drama, LOST which earned him a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice TV Breakout Performance.

Somerhalder’s television credits include SMALLVILLE, YOUNG AMERICANS and TELL ME YOU LOVE ME. His film credits include THE RULES OF ATTRACTION, THE TOURNAMENT and HOW TO MAKE LOVE TO A WOMAN.

Somerhalder is also the Founder/President of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation (ISF) which was established in November 2010. The purpose of the Foundation is to advance science; promote the conservation of natural resources for the benefit of the entire community; provide relief to the poor, distressed, and underprivileged; and support other organizations conducting activities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Somerhalder was born and raised in Louisiana, and he currently resides in Los Angeles.

For “V Wars” cast, trailer and first look, click here.

FAST FACTS:

SHOWRUNNERS: William Laurin & Glenn Davis
STARS: Ian Somerhalder (Dr. Luther Swann), Adrian Holmes (Michael Fayne), Jacky Lai (Kaylee Vo), Peter Outerbridge (Calix Niklos), Kyle Breitkopf (Dez), Laura Vandervoot (Mila Dubov), Kimberly-Sue Murray (Danika Dubov)
DIRECTORS: Brad Turner, TJ Scott, Kaare Andrews, Marita Grabiak, Bobby Roth, Ian Somerhalder
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: William Laurin, Glenn Davis, Brad Turner, Eric Birnberg, Thomas Walden, James Gibb, Ian Somerhalder, Lydia Antonini, Matthew McCluggage, Paul Harb, Ted Adams, Jonathan Maberry
PRODUCED BY : High Park Entertainment in association with IDW Entertainment
EPISODES: 10 episodes
GENRE: Horror/Thriller
FILMED: Toronto

Follow on:

Twitter: @iansomerhalder , #VWars
Instagram: @iansomerhalder
Ian Somerhalder Foundation

Also, don’t forget to follow mynewyorkeye for more such exclusive chat and more!

Netflix releases "V Wars" Official Trailer | Season-1 First Look Images | Ian Somerhalder

November 20, 2019 @ArtShrian

“V Wars” SYNOPSIS:

Dr. Luther Swann (Ian Somerhalder) enters a world of untold horror when a mysterious disease transforms his best friend, Michael Fayne (Adrian Holmes), into a murderous predator who feeds on other humans. As the disease spreads and more people are transformed, society fractures into opposing camps pitting normal people against the growing number of these “vampires.” Swann races against time to understand what’s happening, while Fayne rises to become the powerful underground leader of the vampires.

“V WARS” – SEASON 1 - CHARACTER SYNOPSES

LUTHER SWANN (Ian Somerhalder)

A quietly handsome, scholarly medical researcher whose expertise forces him into a world where epidemic disease, government corruption, and murder run rampant. The only man in the world with working knowledge of the illness that is destroying entire sections of society, Luther must dig deep to protect his son and his best friend from the results of the outbreak, causing him to go against his very nature to save those he loves. Pushed to the limits of his humanity, Luther’s struggle to do the right thing by his family is at war with his instinct to remain a decent human being. When he’s forced to break the law to shield his son and his best friend from certain death, Luther discovers that he’s navigating a whole new world where the old rules don’t apply. An everyman forced to become a hero, Swann learns to go against every natural instinct he has to save his loved ones and potentially, all of humanity.

MICHAEL FAYNE (Adrian Holmes)

Naturally fun and adventurous, Michael is a perfect foil for Luther’s steadiness. After discovering he’s Patient Zero for the disease, Michael is miserable and isolated at first but evolves to accept his new abilities and leadership role with ease. Reveling in becoming stronger, faster and smarter, Michael refuses to go back to his old life, forcing his best friends to choose sides against him. When Michael becomes the leader of an organization of others like him, he demands that the world acknowledges them as human beings and not as murderous criminals. His life has changed, and in his eyes, it’s for the better. He’s happy where he is in the new world, and he’s looking forward to his future. He refuses to go down without a fight and if that means sacrificing himself and others along the way, then that’s what it takes. Michael has found his purpose, and he’s willing to do whatever he can to ensure his survival.

DANIKA DUBOV (Kimberly-Sue Murray)

Sexy and self-centered, Danika Dubov is a successful realtor who does equally well with men. Motivated by the finer things in life, Danika is driven by the pursuit of fun and leisure. She loves her work, she loves her life and makes no apologies for her choices. When her world is drastically changed after intimate contact with Fayne, she embraces her new lifestyle and enjoys her newfound romance with the most powerful Blood in the country, Fayne. Nothing gets Danika down for long and her survival skills, along with her ability to go with the flow, are instinctual. Where others put the group’s best interests ahead of themselves, Danika is able to predict shifting tides and protects herself first. A natural strategist, Danika’s will to survive and thrive is an asset to Fayne’s long-term plans for the Bloods.

MILA DUBOV (Laura Vandervoort)

Danika’s younger sister and the polar opposite of Danika. Where Danika can be selfish, Mila is selfless. Danika is a high-profile and status-conscious realtor to the rich, and Mila is a quiet, creative photographer who puts others’ needs ahead of her own. Mila’s gentle nature is in opposition to her new life and she can’t adjust to her need to kill for survival. Mila’s personal struggle and self-hatred are heartbreaking and she has resigned herself to a life of loneliness and isolation. Channeling her frustration the only way she sees fit, Mila becomes an anti-Blood vigilante in the war between humans and Bloods. Her brand of justice doesn’t fix her problems, but it provides temporary relief from her rage and sadness. Even worse, her love for Danika turns to hatred and she swears revenge on her for turning her into a monster.

AVA O’MALLEY (Sydney Meyer)

A 19-year-old genius, Ava’s mind operates like the mind of someone much older. A natural leader and tactician, Ava is the one who convinces Fayne that his life has a purpose now that he’s become a Blood. Indeed, it is Ava who coins the term “Blood” and recruits others to operate as a collective. With Fayne’s protection and input, Ava leaves her old life as a rural farm girl without a backward glance and finds a dazzling future as the second-in-command of a powerful organization. Morally flexible, Ava is not opposed to laying waste to whoever stands in the way of the Blood organization and has to be reined in by Fayne from time to time, but everything she does, she does for the group. Laser-focused with the energy of a genetically enhanced teenager, Ava is an unstoppable force who has clear plans for her own future – even if it means hurting others to guarantee the survival of all Bloods.

KAYLEE VO (Jacky Lai)

Kaylee Vo, a young, Asian, millennial blogger lucks into the biggest story of her life and the world after she witnesses Michael Fayne single-handedly destroying a police station. Her dogged determination to bring the truth about the disease to the public causes her to run afoul of the law several times, but it’s worth it as long as she’s getting the whole truth out there. As the disease spreads, Kaylee discovers how far the government is willing to go to protect its citizens and learns that they’re not always the good guys. After a tragic incident affects Kaylee on a deeply personal level, she’s more determined than ever to make sure the public knows as much as she can uncover in order to survive the catastrophic events unfolding around them. Kaylee is unsure where she fits into the new scheme of things, but finds a way to thrive and survive in a society that she no longer recognizes.

JIMMY SAINT (Michael Greyeyes)

A far-from typical FBI agent. His ability to blend in with people on the fringes of society hides his loyalty to the Agency and the government, making him a perfect candidate for undercover work. When the prion outbreak starts its spread, Jimmy is embedded with bikers on a case but adjusts his mission target as the events surrounding their community becomes more dangerous. What began as a simple undercover case with bikers turns into a matter of life and death for the entire region, and later, the country. Jimmy is tasked with protecting Swann from harm and goes above and beyond the call of duty with no question. It’s his job, and he’s taken an oath to fulfill it to the best of his ability. Jimmy is not sure what his future holds, but for the moment, he honors his oath to the government, despite disagreeing with some of their policies. When called upon to step up, Jimmy is a true hero and carries out his duties to the letter.

CALYX NIKLOS (Peter Outerbridge)

A lethally smart and low-key member of the Department of National Security, Niklos is the ultimate puppet master who hides behind a reassuring and placid exterior. In reality, he’s a ruthless, meticulous planner who finds opportunities to engineer a power grab through manipulation and intimidation without anyone discovering his movements. As the prion outbreak rages, Niklos plays the role of a humble and concerned government official whose only goal is to contain and cure the spread of the disease. If he has to hold Swann against his will at a DNS black site to achieve that goal, that’s the price of success. Behind the scenes, however, Niklos instinctually sees the way the world is moving and carves out a place for himself before anyone knows what he’s done. Niklos’ greatest power is his ability to hide his power, with devastating results.

RACHEL THOMPSON (Nikki Reed)

Swann’s ex-wife, and Dez’s biological mother. Initially estranged from Dez and Swann, Rachel finds an opportunity to seize custody of her child after the world falls apart. Unpredictable and emotionally unstable, Rachel’s fear of the unknown makes her the perfect protector for Dez during the disastrous state of the world and she guides him to safety under catastrophic conditions. Her future is uncertain given the state of country and Swann’s distrust of her, but Rachel does the best she can with what she’s got in this world gone wrong.

Check out the first look images below and exclusive chat with Ian to follow!

V Wars Launches Globally on Netflix on December 5, 2019

VALPARAISO PICTURES & PERMUT PRESENTATIONS ACQUIRE COVETED DAILY BEAST ARTICLE

April 12, 2019 @ArtShrian

Story follows a Brinks Security Guard who Steals $1.85 million and Makes the Most Expensive Gay Porno of All-Time

In a competitive situation, Valparaiso Pictures has acquired the rights to Ashley and April Spicer’s highly sought-after article in the Daily Beast, “‘Centurians of Rome’: How a Bank Robber Made the Most Expensive Gay Porno of All Time.” Valparaiso’s David Carrico, Adam Paulsen, and Bobby Hoppey will develop the story into a feature film and produce alongside Academy Award Nominee David Permut (Hacksaw Ridge, Face/Off) at Permut Presentations, and Adam Blum under his Free Will banner. The team is looking to set a writer and filmmaker on the project.

The March 2019 story chronicles George Bosque, a Brink’s security guard who stole $1.85 million and disappeared into thin air. During his time on the run, he produced/financed Centurians of Rome, a classic 1981 gay pornographic film set during the Roman Empire made before being apprehended by police. A young aggressive attorney named Robert Mueller, prosecuted the case.

“Ashley and April wrote a compelling article – which carefully peels away to reveal the wildly unique character arc of George Bosque, who notoriously went from security guard, to bank robber to producer after he presented Centurians director John Christopher with a bag of cash. We knew how special this story was even before we finished reading the article,” said Valparaiso’s David Carrico.

“The complexities of George’s character set against the backdrop of the sexual freedoms of the late 1970’s before the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic creates a multi-layered tale of ambition, love, crime and despair. It’s Dog Day Afternoon meets Boogie Nights!” said David Permut. “I’m very much looking forward to collaborating with the team at Valparaiso and Adam Blum on this provocative project.”

Known by many as the PHD’s of porn, Ashley and April Spicer currently act as consultants on HBO’s “The Deuce” and are the founders of The Rialto Report, the authoritative online archive for oral history, audio recordings, and photographs documenting the Golden Age of Adult Film.

Valparaiso Pictures is quickly expanding its development and production portfolio. They are currently in pre-production on Ethan Berger’s coming-of-age thriller The Line, starring Alex Wolff, John Malkovich, Scoot McNairy, Jessica Barden, and Lewis Pullman; as well as developing the upcoming spy action comedy No Glory starring Kumail Nanjiani. The company recently premiered The Sound of Silence starring Peter Sarsgaard and Rashida Jones in competition at Sundance 2019 where it was recently acquired by IFC.

David Permut has always had a passion for true stories. Permut Presentations most recent productions include Hacksaw Ridge (Lionsgate) starring Andrew Garfield, and The Polka King (Netflix) starring Jack Black. The company is currently in production on a documentary that follows the creation of the famous nightclub Chippendales, which will serve as a companion piece for the feature film starring Ben Stiller and Dev Patel which is set to go into production later this year.

The Spicers’ are repped by Free Will and Murray Weiss of Catalyst Literary Management. Valparaiso Pictures is represented by Craig Emanuel of Paul Hastings. Permut Presentations is represented by John Tishbi at Pearlman & Tishbi, LLP. Adam Blum is represented Matt Wallerstein at Hirsch, Wallerstein, Hyum, Matlof, & Fishman.

About Valparaiso Pictures

Based in Beverly Hills, Valparaiso Pictures is a development, production and finance company for film and television, founded by David Carrico. Whether it’s finding untold stories to bring to the screen or enabling burgeoning writers and filmmakers to take creative risks, Valparaiso creates opportunities for distinct voices in drama, comedy and genre. The company is an incubator for edgy, eccentric and diverse content, enabling creatives to find their audience.

ABOUT PERMUT PRESENTATIONS

Permut Presentations was founded by Emmy and Academy Award Nominated Producer, David Permut. In the last 30 years, Permut has produced more than 40 movies and documentaries, crossing genre lines while working with major studios, TV networks and independent financiers. David has premiered films at all of the major film festivals including Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Sundance, SXSW and Tribeca.

DELHI CRIME TO PREMIERE EXCLUSIVELY ON NETFLIX ON MARCH 22 AROUND THE WORLD

January 29, 2019 @ArtShrian

Netflix Launch Follows World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival’s Indie Episodic Section for the Anthology Series

Delhi Crime, a seven-part series written and directed by award-winning Indo-Canadian filmmaker Richie Mehta, will be available to Netflix members worldwide from March 22, 2019. The police-procedural thriller, produced by Golden Karavan and Ivanhoe Pictures, will premiere worldwide at Sundance Film Festival on January 29 in the Indie Episodic category.

Season 1 of Delhi Crime is inspired by and follows the notorious December 2012 investigation by the Delhi Police into a devastating rape of a young woman that reverberated across India and the world. Throughout seven hour-long episodes, Delhi Crime captures the complexities of the scrutiny, the emotional toll on the investigating team, and their determination to bring the perpetrators to justice in a fraught environment.

The police officer (Vartika Chaturvedi in the series) is sensitively portrayed by Shefali Shah (Monsoon Wedding, Juice), who leads a critically-lauded cast that includes Adil Hussain (Life of Pi, Hotel Salvation), Denzil Smith (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Rasika Dugal (Qissa, Manto), Rajesh Tailang (Siddharth, Selection Day) and Yashaswini Dayama (Dear Zindagi, The Odds).

Over six years of research went into the making of the series, which was shot on location in New Delhi. Richie Mehta (Amal, Siddharth), conceived the show during a conversation with Neeraj Kumar, a former Commissioner of the Delhi Police, who introduced him to the investigating team, and offered access to hundreds of pages of legal documents that were prepared as part of investigation. Overwhelmed by the brutality of the incident, and determined to bring to light the details of the investigation, Mehta realized that the zeal and passion of the police in providing closure to a nation would be best portrayed in the form of a series.

Mehta said, “The making of Delhi Crime has been a personally transformative journey; speaking to every individual involved, retracing the paths that the police took during the course of the investigation, and hearing of the determination that it took for the case to be closed, despite severe limitations. I hope that we’ve been able to provide context, catharsis and open once again a difficult conversation that must be had about the forces that enabled this brutality.”

Simran Sethi, Director, International Originals, Netflix, said, “Delhi Crime is an important story told with sensitivity and responsibility, and we are honored to help bring this series to Indian and global members. It is honest and emotional and powerful. Shows like this bring a much-needed lens to the lived reality of women around the world. Watching this series is an affecting experience, and we are sure it will be as meaningful of an experience for Netflix audiences as it was for us.”

Serving as Executive producers for Golden Karavan are Aaron Kaplan, Jeff Sagansky, Florence Sloan, Apoorva Bakshi, Pooja Kohli and Sanjay Bachani. Executive producers from Ivanhoe Pictures are John Penotti, Kilian Kerwin, and Michael Hogan. Producing are Robert Friedland, Sidney Kimmel, and Brian Kornreich for Ivanhoe Pictures.

The deal was negotiated by Robert Jesuele on behalf of Golden Karavan and Brian Kornreich on behalf of Ivanhoe Pictures.

About Netflix

Netflix is the world's leading internet entertainment service with 139 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

ABOUT GOLDEN KARAVAN

Golden Karavan is the recently launched Asian focused television mini-major, a partnership between Jeff Sagansky, Florence Sloan, Aaron Kaplan, Apoorva Bakshi, Pooja Kohli and Sanjay Bachani. The production company will make a slate of 25 TV Shows over the next five years.

The mission of the mini-major is to be the new differentiator, a new-era TV studio that, through collaborative partnerships with strategic producing partners and creative filmmakers, will share engaging stories with the widest audiences possible, even if that means pushing boundaries and taking risks.

With a full development slate, the company will supply compelling content from the region for a straight-to-digital release on premium global streaming platforms and broadcasters across the world.

ABOUT IVANHOE PICTURE

Los Angeles, New York, and Beijing-based Ivanhoe Pictures is a motion picture and television financing and production entity. Ivanhoe develops, produces, and acquires content for a global audience, and now has local-language production deals in India, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Latin America, Vietnam and Indonesia.

In March 2017, Ivanhoe merged with the Los Angeles-based production/finance company Sidney Kimmel Entertainment to create SK Global, a new entity that produces and finances film and television projects globally. The venture, backed and co-founded by Sidney Kimmel (Jones New York) and Robert Friedland (Ivanhoe Mines), is led by President John Penotti, who has led companies including GreeneStreet Films, Ivanhoe Pictures, and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment. SK Global has retained the labels “Sidney Kimmel Entertainment” and “Ivanhoe Pictures” in their respective markets.

Past Ivanhoe projects include the enormously successful Golden Globe-nominated comedy Crazy Rich Asians, a co-production with Warner Bros. from director Jon Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation) and starring Constance Wu and Michelle Yeoh that has now grossed over $238M to date worldwide and is now the 6th highest grossing romantic comedy in the U.S. of all time; the South Korean hit The Wailing from director Na Hong-jin, which remains the second highest-grossing opening weekend for Fox in Korea behind Avatar; and the popular Hindi-language horror series Ghoul for Netflix India.

Ivanhoe’s upcoming projects include the Hindi-language family drama The Sky is Pink starring Priyanka Chopra, developed in partnership with India-based RSVP and Roy Kapur Films set for release in India mid-2019; the Spanish-language feature La Caja developed in partnership with Mexico City-based Lucia Films; an upcoming adaptation of Ryan Graudin's best-selling young adult action-adventure novel The Walled City set in China's fabled Kowloon City; and a slate of features developed for audiences in Indonesia.

Additionally, Ivanhoe has established a number of key partnerships to produce local-language films for global audiences, including a deal with Blumhouse Productions to develop local-language genre content in India.