Whenever a long-running series gets canceled, the first question fans of the cast ask is… what’s next? That was the question for MacGyver star Lucas Till needed to answer after the CBS procedural was cancelled in the middle of its fifth season. Only a few weeks after MacGyver aired its series finale, Till landed an answer in the form of a new TV series set to air on FX.

Following his run as Mac on MacGyver, Lucas Till will has joined FX's dramatic adaptation of the classic novel The Spook Who Sat by the Door. In the Lee Daniel-produced pilot, Lucas Till will take on a supporting role in portraying CIA agent Graham Renfroe, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The proposed series, which is set in the 1960s and 1970s, will be a shift for the actor as he goes from the comedy-laced action of MacGyver to a higher level of seriousness in Spook.

The move from a top-line role to a supporting role may come as a surprise to viewers. With MacGyver being a time slot winner due to decent ratings on Friday nights, one might think Lucas Till would have gone after another leading role instead of taking a side-seat, but the CBS drama did center on a larger ensemble than just the titular badass. This strategy may pay off for Till, also, especially given the shift in tone and the lack of behind-the-scenes drama that surrounded the CBS procedural. If the pilot gets a full series order, this series sounds like it could put Till in more awards conversations than MacGyver would have ever inspired.

The MacGyver star’s addition was another boost for the already anticipated Lee Daniels project. Lucas Till joined series lead and Insecure vet Y’lan Noel and Outsiders' Christina Jackson in the small-screen adaptation. Based on Sam Greenlee’s classic 1969 novel, The Spook Who Sat by the Door will follow Noel’s war veteran Dan Freeman and Jackson as his attorney wife Joy as they deal with Dan's dual life as the CIA’s first Black officer and a rising revolutionary.

Lucas Till isn’t the only new addition to the FX drama pilot, either. Black Lightning’s Nafessa Williams (whose CW series just wrapped as well after a disappointing cancellation) joined the cast along with BIllions' Nathan Darrow and The Morning Show's Tom Irwin. Williams will play high-class working girl Etta Henry, while Darrow and Irwin star as CIA assistant director Alfred Ames and director Jack Turner, respectively.

The FX pilot is being executive produced by Lee Daniels through his production company Inclusion Fund. Scream: The TV Series and Raising Dion writer/producer Leigh Dana Jackson will be penning the pilot’s script and will serve as showrunner as well as executive producer. Spook’s pilot is part of Daniel’s ongoing overall deal with 20th Television in addition to his Wonder Years reboot for ABC.

After the sudden cancellation of MacGyver, it’s nice to see Lucas Till moving on to the next project without much downtime. Hopefully, the Spook pilot will become a full series, allowing the actor to grace our television screens once more. If it takes a paperclip, a rubber band and a matchbook to make it happen, they found the right guy.

It’s always a major bummer when a beloved TV show gets canceled, which was a reality lived by fans of CBS’s high-tech and brainy MacGyver reboot. The April 30 episode was not only the Season 5 finale, but the last episode of the entire series. The unexpected network cancellation forced the creative team to change things up late into the final season, which was like adding a "more work" insult to a cancellation injury. The current showrunner Monica Macer was able to pull off that last-minute series finale without any disasters, but it was clear the writing team had more story cooking for Mac and the others, and Macer revealed where Season 6 probably would have gone if it had not been canceled.

It sounds like fans would have seen some kind of conclusion for MacGyver's nanobot plot if the drama's future on CBS was intact. When it comes to those nanobots that Mac and Riley still had in their systems, showrunner Monica Macer told TV Line that the two characters would have gone through a procedure in Season 6 that would attempt to remove them. Here is what she said about the would-be nanobot storyline we'll never see:

While it would have been cool to dig deeper into that storyline beyond what we got in Season 5, there was a lot more in the works than just nanobots. According to Monica Macer, we would have seen more action-packed subplots in Season 6, and even an episode meant to pay tribute to the book-turned-film Black Hawk Down. Here it is in her own words:

It already sounds like a sixth season of MacGyver would have totally been worth the renewal from a fan perspective, and that’s not all that was potentially in store for us if the show hadn’t been canceled. Because it can’t be action and thrilling drama all the time, there were also plans to bring a MacGyver baby into the story (although not actually Mac's kid). Rather, Monica Macer explained to TVLine that Russ and Sofia were set to have an unplanned child together:

After hearing what was in store for the next season of the most recent MacGyver iteration - the show is literally in the middle of an "is it a sequel or a reboot?" lawsuit right now - I’ve got to say that I’m even more bummed about the cancellation. It’s clear that Monica Macer and the show's cast feel the same way and had plenty more to add to MacGyver’s story, so it’s a shame those ideas will most likely never see the light of day. Unless Paramount+'s streaming service revives it.

Friday nights will be changing soon on CBS, what with the network having announced in the early days of April that its popular MacGyver reboot fronted by Lucas Till was cancelled, with the remaining Season 5 episodes being used to wrap the story up. Understandably, the stars were disappointed by this turn of events, while also grateful for the time they got to spend playing these characters. Now, CBS has revealed exactly what viewers can expect to see from the series finale, but it doesn't sound much like an overall conclusion.

Given that CBS chose to reveal MacGyver's cancellation news so late, the most recent showrunner and fellow producers didn't really have a way to figure out how to properly bring the network drama to a close in a proper fashion. Thus, the series finale will probably feel more like your average mid-season episode, or perhaps even a full season finale, just one that won't actually lead to any follow-ups. In any case, here's what the official episode synopsis has to say:

To be sure, even though this MacGyver plot doesn't sound specifically like one meant to cap off a five-season run on CBS, it still sounds like an exciting episode all around. Specifically, it sounds very much like the premise for an escape room, or a video game in that same mysterious realm. (How is there not a badass next-gen MacGyver video game at this point?) I think we can all very much expect Lucas Till's Mac and Tristan Mays' Riley to figure out their situation accordingly without anyone losing their lives over it.

The official images that CBS released from the episode depict a town carnival being held, with Mac and others seen among the rides and festival-goers. It's presumed that the festivities will take place after Mac and Riley figure out their situation, but perhaps something happens to them at the carnival itself, and they wake up in the same field after all of the rides and booths have been taken down and moved. Or maybe it'll be in a different field entirely.

However it goes, Henry Ian Cusick's Rusty looks like he's having a blast while doing some hat-oriented imbibing.

This isn't the first time that MacGyver is going into the end of a season with finale plans being upended. Season 4 was in the latter days of production when everything had to get shut down due to COVID-19, so that season's originally planned finale had to get shelved.

For fans' sakes, here's hoping MacGyver's series finale does such an outstanding job in the Friday night ratings showdown that CBS and others are convinced to bring Lucas Till's Mac back to audiences in some way, shape or form. Perhaps the network can find a way to shift the series over to become a streaming exclusive through Paramount+, though that announcement likely would have happened already if there was any promise there.

With just two episodes left to go, as well as an ongoing lawsuit, MacGyver airs Friday nights on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET.

It’s been a weird year for CBS fans. Some heavy hitters are going away, including NCIS: New Orleans as well as the long-running sitcom Mom. Now MacGyver is being added to the growing list. CBS dropped the news this week that the Lucas Till starrer is also being axed after five whopping seasons on the Eye Network, and now several of the show’s leads have reacted to the news.

Lucas Till has been in the acting business since he was a kid and had even been in X-Men: First Class before landing the lead in MacGyver. However, it’s worth noting that the CBS series is the one that made the actor a household name. Now that MacGyver has been officially cancelled by CBS it seems as if it’s difficult for Till to even know how to begin his post for the fanbase.

Serious eye roll about the getting cold in Georgia cutesy-ness, but I’m absolutely here for the rest of the post on Instagram, which also touches on "what it means to be a real cinema team" and how a post like his can't really do his experience "justice." He wasn’t the only series lead to respond, either, as Justin Hires -- who plays Wilt on the series -- also commented after CBS made the call. On Twitter, he also made sure to mention how well the show was doing in its current slot.

Let’s unpack that comment a little bit. MacGyver has been in a Friday slot on the calendar for a bit, where it’s done alright for Friday night TV. However, it’s worth noting that the show saw a reasonable drop in viewership between Season 4 and Season 5, averaging over five million total viewers an episode for Season 4 and averaging in the four million plus range for Season 5. So, even if it’s winning its timeslot, viewership is down. It’s also worth pointing out that the ratings have slowly bled off since George Eads exited MacGyver during Season 3.

It’s unclear what CBS’ plan for Friday nights will be in the wake of MacGyver, which only ever tied in OK with Blue Bloods and Magnum P.I. on Friday nights in my opinion. But the Eye Network has been making some intriguing moves both on its mainstay service and its parent streaming Paramount Plus. This has included working on new ideas for some longtime properties such as CSI and even Criminal Minds -- which only recently cancelled its flagship property.

For now, MacGyver still has a few weeks of episodes to air, so if you are a fan, there will be plenty of time to get adjusted to the idea of changing your TV schedule next season. In the meantime, get excited because the team is going to dive into Italian car culture this week. MacGyver will still air -- for a little while -- on Friday nights at 8 p.m. ET only on CBS. For more about what’s headed to TV this spring, check out our full TV schedule.

Nearly a whole decade ago, Fox unveiled X-Men: First Class, which followed the early adventures of the mutant-based superhero team. Featuring the rising talents of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, and Zoe Kravitz as our title-bearing X-Men, the early years of the Marvel property served as a great profile builder for its soon-to-be high profile cast, while also providing prominent supporting roles for Rose Byrne, Kevin Bacon, and January Jones. In the years following its release, the young ensemble has worked on several noteworthy projects, particularly following Lawrence's Oscar win. But what is the X-Men: First Class cast doing now? Let's find out!

James McAvoy (Charles Xavier/Professor X)

As Charles Xavier, i.e. Professor X, a telepathic mutant who becomes the founder of the X-Men, James McAvoy took on the lead role in Fox's superhero prequel blockbuster, X-Men: First Class. Most notably, McAvoy is known for his Golden Globe-nominated performance in Atonement. He's also recognized from Wanted, The Last King of Scotland, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Filth, Trance, Atomic Blonde, Split, and Glass. Additionally, McAvoy played Professor X in X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix, and Deadpool 2.

James McAvoy's other film credits include Penelope, Becoming Jane, The Last Station, Wimbledon, Swimming Pool, Starter for 10, and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby. Additionally, McAvoy starred in IT: Chapter Two. He's also heard in Gnomeo & Juliet, Sherlock Gnomes, and Arthur Christmas. Recently, McAvoy appeared in HBO's His Dark Materials. Next, the actor will be heard in the video game, Twelve Minutes. He'll also star in My Son and narrate The Bridge.

Michael Fassbender (Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto)

In the role of Erik Lehnsherr, i.e. Magneto, a mutant who can manipulate and generate electromagnetic fields and befriends Xavier before they become fierce enemies, Michael Fassbender played a formidable ally-turned-antagonist in Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class. Away from this film franchise, Fassbender was Oscar-nominated for Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave and his titular turn in Steve Jobs. He also starred in Hunger, Shame, The Counselor, Macbeth (2015), Assassin's Creed, Jane Eyre, A Dangerous Method, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Frank, Slow West, The Snowman, and Centurion. Additionally, the actor appeared in supporting roles in 300, Fish Tank, Inglorious Basterds, Jonah Hex, and Haywire. Also, Fassbender played Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix.

Next, Michael Fassbender stars in Kung Fury 2 and Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins. It was also recently announced that Fassbender will star in David Fincher's The Killer.

Jennifer Lawrence (Raven Darkholme/Mystique)

Playing the part of Raven Darkholme, a shape-shifting mutant who joins Erik's Brotherhood of Mutants, Jennifer Lawrence took on a chameleon of a character in X-Men: First Class. Most notably, Lawrence is an Oscar-winning actress for her leading role in David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook. She's also the star of The Hunger Games franchise. Her other notable film credits include Winter's Bone, American Hustle, and Joy, all for which she received Oscar nominations, as well as mother!, Serena, The Beaver, Like Crazy, and Passengers. She also reprised her role as Mystique in X-Men: Days of Future Past and Apocalypse. On TV, additionally, Lawrence starred in The Bill Engvall Show. The actress was also seen in Monk, Medium, and Cold Case.

Most recently, Jennifer Lawrence starred in Red Sparrow and Dark Phoenix. Following a brief acting break, Lawrence will next be seen in Adam McKay's Don't Look Up. She'll also star in Red, White, and Water, which she also produced. Additionally, the actress is attached to Mob Girl, which she'll produce as well.

January Jones (Emma Frost)

As Emma Frost, a mutant telepath who can change her body into a hard diamond, January Jones played a prominent supporting player in X-Men: First Class. Most notably, Jones is known for her Emmy-nominated performance in AMC's Mad Men. She also starred in Fox's The Last Man on Earth. Her other television credits include The Politician, Law & Order, Huff, and Get Real.

In film, meanwhile, January Jones appeared in Unknown, Seeking Justice, Sweetwater, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, American Wedding, Full Frontal, Bandits, Love Actually, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, We Are Marshall, Good Kill, The Glass House, Anger Management, Pirate Radio, and Taboo. Prior to acting, Jones worked as a professional model. Most recently, she was seen in Netflix's short-lived Spinning Out.

Nicholas Hoult (Hank McCoy/Beast)

In the role of Hank McCoy, a genius scientist whose mutant abilities turn him into a blue, hulking beast, Nicholas Hoult played a volatile character in X-Men: First Class. Most notably, Hoult is known for his breakthrough role in About a Boy. He also starred in Mad Max: Fury Road, A Single Man, Warm Bodies, Jack the Giant Slayer, The Favourite, Tolkien, Clash of the Titans, and Kill Your Friends. Additionally, Hoult played Beast in X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix. Additionally, on TV, he had a main role in Skins and he was heard in Watership Down.

Most recently, Nicholas Hoult starred in Hulu's The Great. He was also heard in Hulu's Crossing Swords, where the actor served as a consulting producer. Additionally, Hoult was seen in True History of the Kelly Gang and The Banker. Next, he'll appear in Those Who Wish Me Dead.

Rose Byrne (Moira MacTaggert)

Playing the part of Moira MacTaggert, a CIA agent who befriends our lead mutants, Rose Bryne had a prominent supporting role in Fox's X-Men: First Class. She's best known for Bridesmaids, the Insidious films, the Neighbors movies, 28 Weeks Later, Star Wars: Episode II —Attack of the Clones, and Peter Rabbit. Byrne's other film credits include Marie Antoinette, Sunshine, Troy, Get Him to the Greek, The Place Beyond the Pines, Annie (2014), Spy, Juliet Naked, Instant Family, and The Internship. She can also be heard in Jexi and I Am Mother. Additionally, Byrne returned for X-Men: Apocalypse.

Also, on TV, Rose Bryne starred in FX's Damages. Furthermore, she appeared in Portlandia, Angie Tribeca, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Most recently, Bryne was seen in Irresistible, Like a Boss, and FX's Mrs. America. Next, the actress stars in Peter Rabbit 2 and Seriously Red.

Kevin Bacon (Sebastian Shaw)

As Sebastian Shaw, also known as Dr. Klaus Schmidt, the leader of the Hellfire Club, Kevin Bacon plays our snarling villain in X-Men: First Class. Most notably, Bacon is known for Footloose, JFK, Apollo 13, Mystic River, Hollow Man, A Few Good Men, Animal House, Sleepers, Friday the 13th, Tremors, Wild Things, and Flatliners. His other film credits include The Woodsman, Diner, Crazy, Stupid, Love., Frost/Nixon, Black Mass, Stir of Echoes, Patriots Day, She's Having a Baby, The Big Picture, My Dog Skip, Death Sentence, Super, Beauty Shop, and Cop Car.

Additionally, on TV, Kevin Bacon starred in Fox's The Following. He also played a main role in Amazon Prime's I Love Dick, for which he was Golden Globe-nominated. Also, the actor appeared in Guiding Light, Frasier, and Will & Grace. Most recently, Bacon starred in You Should Have Left. Currently, he headlines Showtime's City on a Hill.

Caleb Landry Jones (Sean Cassidy/Banshee)

In the role of Sean Cassidy, i.e. Banshee, a mutant capable of emitting strong ultrasonic screams, sonic blasts, and sonic waves, Caleb Landry Jones played a loud personality in X-Men: First Class. Away from this superhero flick, Jones is best known for Get Out, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Last Exorcism. He also starred in Antiviral. His other notable film credits include No Country For Old Men, The Social Network, The Florida Project, American Made, The Dead Don't Die, and Superbad.

Additionally, on TV, Caleb Landry Jones appeared in Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, Victorious, and Twin Peaks' third season. Also, away from acting, Jones is a musician. Most recently, the actor was seen in The Outpost and Viena and the Fantomes. Next, Jones will star in BIOS, The Forgiven, and Nitram.

Zoe Kravitz (Angel Salvadore)

Playing the part of Angel Salvadore, a mutant who possesses acidic saliva, Zoe Kravitz provided a supporting turn in X-Men: First Class. She's also known for Mad Max: Fury Road, the Divergent series, Dope, Rough Night, and the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Additionally, Kravitz can be seen in The Brave One, Gemini, The Road Within, and Beware the Gonzo, as well as heard in The LEGO Batman Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. On TV, she starred in Big Little Lies and appeared in Californication.

Most recently, Zoe Kravitz starred in Hulu's High Fidelity, where she also worked as a writer and an executive producer. Additionally, the actress appeared in Viena and the Fantomes. Next, Kravitz plays Selina Kyle, i.e. Catwoman, in The Batman. Also, she'll star in Steven Soderbergh's KIMI.

Lucas Till (Alex Summers/Havok)

As Alex Summers, a mutant who can absorb energy, Lucas Till played an energetic guy in X-Men: First Class. He's also known for Hannah Montana: The Movie, The Spy Next Door, and Monster Trucks. Additionally, he reprised his role as Havok in X-Men: Days of Future Past and Apocalypse. His other notable film credits include Battle: Los Angeles, Stoker, Paranoia, Walk the Line, and All Superheroes Must Die, which he also produced.

Additionally, on television, Lucas Till can be seen in Medium, House, and Blue Mountain State. Also, Till is recognized for his appearance in Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" music video, as well as his cameo in Tony Oller's "Someone Like You" music video. Currently, he stars in CBS's MacGyver. Most recently, Till was seen in Son of the South.

Jason Flemyng (Azazel)

In the role of Azazel, a teleporting mutant, Jason Flemyng plays a transportive character in X-Men: First Class. The British actor is best known for Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Flemyng also appeared in From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Rob Roy, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, as well as Alive and Kicking, Seed of Chucky, The Death and Life of Bobby Z, Stardust, Mirrors, Kick-Ass, The Social Network, Hanna, and Military Wives. Additionally, his television credits include Jamestown, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and Doctor Finlay.

Currently, Jason Flemyng appears in Epix's Pennyworth. Next, he'll be seen in Creation Stories, Ire, and Viy 3: Travel to India. Also, Flemyng is attached to The Knife Thrower.

Edi Gathegi (Armando Munoz/Darwin)

Playing Armando Munoz, a mutant with the ability of "reactive evolution," Edi Gathegi is an evolving part in X-Men: First Class. Away from this prequel, Gathegi is known for his recurring roles in Fox's House and NBC's The Blacklist. He also starred in The Blacklist: Redemption. His other TV credits include Into the Badlands, Justified, Veronica Mars, CSI: Miami, Life on Mars, and Nikita. In film, additionally, Gathegi appears in Gone Baby Gone, the Twilight series, Crank, My Bloody Valentine 3D, and Aloha.

Most recently, Edi Gathegi starred in Caged. He was also seen in The Last Thing He Wanted and USA Network's Briarpatch. Next, Gathegi appears in The Harder They Fall.

Oliver Platt (Man in Black Suit)

As Man in Black Suit, a CIA agent and head of Division X, Oliver Platt plays a secretive authoritative character in Fox's X-Men: First Class. Most notably, Platt is an Emmy-nominated actor for his performances in Nip/Tuck, The West Wing, and Huff, the latter for which he was also Golden Globe-nominated. His other notable TV credits include The Big C, Fargo, The Good Wife, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Modern Family.

Away from television, Oliver Platt can be seen in Lake Placid, Bulworth, Bicentennial Man, Please Give, Pieces of April, The Ice Harvest, Frost/Nixon, 2012, Kinsey, A Time to Kill, Dr. Dolittle (1998), Benny & Joon, Beethoven, Working Girl, Postcards from the Edge, Flatliners, and Simon Birch. Currently, Platt stars in NBC's Chicago Med. He was also heard in Netflix's I'm Thinking Of Ending Things. Next, the actor will be seen in Emperor.

Stream X-Men: First Class on HBO Max here.

Son of the South is a movie written and directed by Barry Alexander Brown and executive produced by Spike Lee. It stars Lucas Till, Lucy Hale, Lex Scott Davis, Jake Abel, and Cedric the Entertainer. The film is a historical drama about the grandson of a klansman who decides to go against his upbringing and join the Civil Rights Movement. It’s based on Bob Zellner’s autobiography The Wrong Side of Murder Creek. The Son of the South cast has an impressive mixture of Hollywood vets, mid-career level stars, and newbies.

The cast alone may make this movie worth adding to your to-watch-list. If you’ve recently seen Son of the South, or plan to, you may be wondering where you’ve seen the cast before. Let’s take a look at where you’ve seen the Son of the South cast before.

Lucas Till (Bob Zellner)

Lucas Till plays the main protagonist in Son of the South. He sees all the injustice going on around him and decides to join the Civil Rights Movement. In 2009, Lucas Till was Taylor Swift’s unrequited crush in the “You Belong with Me” video. Prior to that, Till played a young Jack Cash in Walk the Line. He also played Travis Brody in Hannah Montana: The Movie. In 2011, Lucas Till joined the world of Marvel and the X-Men as Alex Summers in X-Men: First Class. He then reprised that role in X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men: Apocalypse.

CBS and MacGyver fans know him best as Angus MacGyver in MacGyver. He also appeared in episodes of House, Medium, and the films Monster Trucks, Bravetown, The Curse of Downers Grove, and The Spy Next Door.

Lucy Hale (Carol Anne)

Lucy Hale plays Bob Zellner’s girlfriend Carol Anne. She has some issues with Bob’s fight for civil rights. Lucy Hale was caught in a constant loop with A for seven seasons as Aria Montgomery on Pretty Little Liars. She also appeared in episodes of Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, Drake & Josh, The O.C, Wizards of Waverly Place, and How I Met Your Mother. And she had a main role on the quickly canceled Privileged. After Pretty Little Liars, Lucy Hale had another lead on a canceled-too-fast series, Life Sentence. Then she joined the Riverdale world in a spin-off series Katy Keene. It was canceled after one season.

Hale has dabbled in the horror genre quite a bit. First in Fear Island, then Scream 4, Truth or Dare, and Fantasy Island. Lucy Hale has also appeared in the films: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song, Dude, The Unicorn, and A Nice Girl Like You.

Lex Scott Davis (Joanne)

Lex Scott Davis plays Joanne. Bob and she become close as they work together during the Civil Rights Movement. Lex Scott Davis has been actively acting in film and television since 2014. In 2018, she appeared in the Joel Silver produced Superfly. Also in 2018, Lex Scott Davis played Nya in The First Purge. In the Lifetime movie Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart, she played Toni Braxton. She also had a series regular role on the canceled CBS show Training Day.

Lex Scott Davis had a recurring role on The L Word: Generation Q and appeared on an episode of All Rise.

Cedric The Entertainer (Ralph Abernathy)

Cedric the Entertainer takes on the role of real-life civil rights activist and Baptist minister Ralph Abernathy. He was a close friend and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr. Cedric the Entertainer is one of the most recognizable members of The Son of the South cast. He’s one of the original Kings of Comedy, so you may recognize him for his comedy specials. Cedric the Entertainer has also had many well-known roles, like being Steve Harvey’s sidekick Cedric Jackie Robinson in The Steve Harvey Show. He had a recurring role as Bobby Proud on The Proud Family and as Coop on Starz’s Power.

Cedric the Entertainer appeared in cult favorites and popular movies like Big Momma’s House, the Barbershop franchise, The Madagascar films, The Haunted House movies, and First Reformed. He currently stars opposite Max Greenfield, Tichina Arnold, and Beth Behrs in The Neighborhood.

Brian Dennehy (Grandfather)

The late Brian Dennehy plays grandfather, a klansman who is not happy with Bob’s decision. Brian Dennehy is another screen legend appearing in The Son of the South. The actor appeared in films and television series starting in the 1970s until his death in 2020. He appeared in Ron Howard’s sci-fi dramedy Cocoon. He also had roles in First Blood, Gorky Park, F/X, Presumed Innocent, Tommy Boy, and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.

Brian Dennehy’s final works included voicing Django in Ratatouille, and appearing in the movie The Seagull, Tag, Every Day, and The Song of Sway Lake. He also appeared in the TV films To Catch a Killer, The Burden of Proof, Murder in the Heartland, Shadow of a Doubt, Our Fathers, and Death of a Salesman. Brian Dennehy also had recurring roles on the series Just Shoot Me, Dynasty, The Blacklist, and Hap and Leonard.

Julia Ormond (Virginia Durr)

Julia Ormond plays real-life civil rights activist Virginia Durr. She was a close friend of Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt. Julia Ormond has appeared in some of your favorite movies of the '90s and 2000s, like Legends of the Fall, Sabrina, First Knight, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She also appeared in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, My Week with Marilyn -- where she played Vivien Leigh.

Julia Ormond appeared in the series Nurse Jackie, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Mad Men, and Witches of East End. In 2020, she joined the cast of The Walking Dead: World Beyond as Elizabeth Kubiek.

Jake Abel (Doc)

Jake Abel plays a klansman named Doc who fights civil rights at every turn. He’s one of the main characters that clashes with Bob. Jake Abel appeared in The Lovely Bones as Brian Nelson. The following year he joined the world of Percy Jackson as Luke Castellan in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Percy Jackson: Sea-of Monsters. He then appeared in the movies I Am Number Four, The Host, and Love and Mercy, where he played Mike Love.

Jake Abel also appeared in episodes of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Cold Case, CSI: Miami, and Grey’s Anatomy. He also had recurring roles on Supernatural (he played Adam Milligan) and Dirty John. He plays Sasha Harrison on Another Life.

Shamier Anderson (Reggie)

Shamier Anderson plays Reggie in Son of the South. Shamier Anderson is a Canadian actor who like most Canadian actors appeared on an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation. He also appeared on episodes of MTV’s attempt at making Skins, Lost Girl, Rookie Blue, The Tomorrow People, Constantine, and Pitch. From 2016-2018, Shamier Anderson had a main role on another cult-loved Canadian show Wynonna Earp. He played Xavier Dolls. Shamier Anderson also appeared in episodes of Dear White People, Goliath, and Soulmates.

He also played Malcolm in the film Love Jacked, and the movies Destroyer, City of Lies, and Endings, Beginnings.

Dexter Darden (John Lewis)

Dexter Darden plays civil rights activist and leader of the United States House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th congressional district. Dexter Darden made his film debut in My Brother, a 2006 film starring Vanessa Williams, Tatum O’Neal and Fredro Starr. He then appeared in the films Cadillac Records, Standing Ovation, and Joyful Noise. In 2014, Dexter Darden became part of the Maze Runner franchise as Frypan. He appeared in The Maze Runner, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, and Maze Runner: The Death Cure. In 2020, he appeared in the Hulu original film The Binge.

Dexter Darden has appeared in episodes of Cougar Town and Victorious. In 2020, he joined the main cast of the Saved by the Bell revival. He plays Devante.

Mike Manning (Townsend Ellis)

Mike Manning plays Townsend Ellis in Son of the South. Mike Manning made his introduction to the TV world as a cast member on The Real World: D.C. He appeared in 2009 when he was just 22. Mike Manning then appeared on episodes of Hawaii Five-0, Major Crimes, Teen Wolf, and The Haves and the Have Nots. In 2020, Mike Manning joined the cast of that daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. He plays Charlie Dale.

Mike Manning has appeared in several films, including

Cloud 9, eCupid, Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver, Love is All You Need?, M.F.A, Delirium, God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness, Lost in America, Jin, and The Call.

Sienna Guillory (Jessica Mitford)

Sienna Guillory plays Jessica Mitford in Son of the South. Sienna Guillory has had a consistent acting career since the mid-'90s, so she’s appeared in over 60 movies and television projects. She may be best known for her role as Jill Valentine in the Resident Evil films. Sienna Guillory has appeared in three Resident Evil movies: Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and Resident Evil: Retribution. She also appeared in the films Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang), Love Actually, The Time Machine, Eragon, and High-Rise.

Sienna Guillory has also appeared in episodes of Criminal Minds, Covert Affairs, Raised by Wolves, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She also played Mary Day in Luther, Natalie Yelburton in Fortitude, and Eve in Stan Lee’s Lucky Man.

Ludi Lin (Derek Ang)

Ludi Lin plays Derek Ang in Son of the South. Ludi Lin is best known for playing Zack Taylor/The Black Ranger in the 2017 Power Rangers reboot movie. He also played Captain Murk in Aquaman. Ludi Lin appeared in the Black Mirror episode “Striking Vipers'' as Lance. He also appeared in Netflix’s original series The Ghost Bride. In 2021, he’ll play Liu Kang in Moral Kombat.

Ludi Lin has also appeared in Marco Polo, Monster Hunt, In a New York Minute, and Lost in Hong Kong.

You can see Lucas Till, Lucy Hale, Cedric the Entertainer, and the rest of the Son of the South cast when the film is released in theaters and VOD on February 5.

CBS made a game-changing move earlier in July with the decision to fire Peter Lenkov after multiple behind-the-scenes complaints of inappropriate behavior. Lenkov had been the showrunner on three successful Friday night series, comprised of MacGyver, Magnum P.I., and Hawaii Five-0 before that series wrapped in the spring. Now, MacGyver star Lucas Till has spoken out about his treatment by Lenkov. The actor revealed that Lenkov's behavior made him "suicidal."

Lucas Till spoke with Vanity Fair just before the news broke that Peter Lenkov was out at CBS, and stated that despite Lenkov's frequent absence from the actual MacGyver set, he was responsible for the hostile work environment. Till said:

MaGyver has aired for four seasons so far, with the latest cut short due to abrupt production halts, and Lucas Till is slated to play Mac for the fifth season whenever CBS is able to give the go-ahead for production to restart in earnest. Executive producer Monica Macer replaces Peter Lenkov as showrunner, as was announced after the news that multiple complaints had led to the network cutting ties with the previously prolific showrunner.

Although the initial news of Peter Lenkov's firing didn't name any names regarding the sources of the complaints, Lucas Till was seemingly one of them. The actor's reported concerns evidently resulted in the HR inquiry that resulted in Lenkov leaving CBS, and Till sent a five-page letter to CBS TV's head of human resources will allegations of unprofessional behavior.

In the email to CBS' human resources department, Lucas Till detailed some of his complaints about Peter Lenkov, which were centered on his body and body shaming him. Till wrote:

Lucas Till's email to HR in May 2020 came 15 years after Peter Lenkov's first major project on CBS, when he worked as a co-executive and then executive producer on CSI: NY from 2005-2010, after which he created the Hawaii Five-0 reboot. Hawaii Five-0 ran for ten seasons despite generating some controversy over the departures of Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park.

Peter Lenkov expanded the TV universe of Hawaii Five-0 (which technically already connects with all things NCIS) by creating the MacGyver reboot, which launched in 2016. The new take on Magnum P.I. premiered in 2018. He was a fixture on CBS for a long time and on some of the network's biggest shows.

That said, the network has seemingly guaranteed that the transition behind-the-scenes should be as smooth as possible. Hawaii Five-0 has ended, and the replacement showrunners on both MacGyver and Magnum P.I. already worked on their respective shows. Hopefully Lucas Till and all of those who were uncomfortable under Peter Lenkov's management will feel some relief when the new seasons begin.

For now, the fall TV season is far from guaranteed, so be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV premiere guide for some viewing options now and in the coming weeks, and our 2020 Netflix premiere schedule for some streaming options.

To keep cast and crew safe, many TV productions have been suspending or shutting down production completely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Riverdale, The Flash, and the upcoming Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are among a few of many shows that have put a pause on production. Movie release dates have been postponed and studios have put a number of TV pilot productions on hold for the time being. Most recently, Lucas Till and Levy Tran have revealed that production on MacGyver Season 4 has shut down in “abrupt” ending to filming for the rest of the season.

In a shared video message, MacGyver’s Lucas Till and Levy Tran confirm that production on Season 4 of the show is done for the remainder of the season. While many other shows are being suspended until further notice due to rising coronavirus fears, MacGyver has officially wrapped its season, which is much earlier than expected. According to the actors’ Instagram post, the call to shut down was rather sudden. Here’s what Tran and Till had to say about the show being done for the season:

While it’s unclear how many episodes were left to film for MacGyver Season 4, it’s important to note that the production shutdown will only affect the rest of the season’s unfilmed episodes. However, there are more episodes left of the season that have yet to air and that were not affected by the abrupt halt in production, so I’d wager that fans will get to see those episodes as previously scheduled. You can watch the full video below:

It sure sounds like the actors have a great relationship with their crew and that they appreciate all the hours and hard work that they put in. In a separate post, Levy Tran shared the same video to her Instagram, including a long caption that revealed how emotional the MacGyver shutdown was and how thankful she is that the crew puts in so much effort on the show. In her words:

MacGyver airs Friday nights at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates on shifting TV schedules and more. In the meantime, be sure to check out our midseason schedule for more on what to watch.

MacGyver is finally coming back, everybody! After getting left off the fall schedule and leaving fans to wonder why it was not there, Season 4 is about to begin. Brace yourselves, though, because star Lucas Till has a warning about it.

During the wait for MacGyver’s return, series showrunner Peter M. Lenkov teased the action ahead with a behind-the-scenes picture of Lucas Till in-character as the titular hero experiencing an apparent blast from the past with a fellow nerd. Now, Lenkov shared a new tease from TV Guide (via Instagram) with a warning from Till. On the storyline surrounding Mac's family, Till says it is:

Lucas Till’s ominous foreshadowing about Season 4 and Mac’s family comes following confirmation that Mac’s dad, Jim (Tate Donovan), will return to MacGyver for the upcoming season. Nobody at the show has disclosed when Jim will show up, although fans now know something heartbreaking is on the horizon for the family. Could Jim's cancer be involved?

On a more uplifting note, MacGyver will reportedly kick off a month-and-a-half after where it left off. When Season 4 catches up with Mac, Lucas Till teases he is “pretty miserable,” having had to become a college chemistry professor. That is where Lost and The 100’s Henry Ian Cusick’s new character comes in.

Last year, news broke that the fan-favorite was coming to MacGyver in a significant role, which was soon followed by Henry Ian Cusick bidding a final farewell to The 100. As previously reported, Cusick will play Russ, a savvy salesman and former military man with supposed skills in detecting deception.

Now MacGyver fans have a better idea of how he gets tangled up with Mac and the team in Season 4. He buys the Phoenix, which will ultimately lead Russ to clash with the foundation’s former boss, Matty. It sounds like MacGyver introduce some new and exciting dynamics. If only there was not that sad tease about the MacGyvers!

In other (more hopeful) news, fans are still waiting to see if that Hawaii Five-0/Magnum P.I./MacGyver crossover ever happens. Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. crossed over this season, so you never know! Coming up on four seasons, MacGyver is definitely in a great place to cross paths with its fellow CBS series.

While crossover talk remains open, one thing is for sure, and that is MacGyver will see a lot more of Levy Tran’s Desiree "Desi" Nguyen. Levy Tran was upped to series regular status for Season 4! She and her character were introduced last season and will continue to be a part of the action moving forward.

The wait to seeing MacGyver back on CBS is almost over. Whatever the heartbreak ahead, fans are hopefully ready to shoulder it with the show’s cast of characters. Mac losing his dad would be a particularly tragic chapter for the series to explore. Not that television has shied away from death!

It all leads one to wonder: will MacGyver actually kill off Mac’s dad? CBS’ dramas have gone for the jugular before. For instance, NCIS: New Orleans dealt a jaw-dropping death during its current season. I could see the storyline with Mac’s dad going either way. Hopefully, Mac and the team can figure out some super-cure for his cancer, and he survives!

Anything can happen, and you can find out what's in store when Season 4 kicks off! MacGyver returns as one of this winter’s premieres. Season 4 starts on Friday, February 7, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Are you missing MacGyver and wishing Season 4 was airing right now? Yeah, join a large club. CBS could've done a better job updating fans on the fall 2019 schedule (Fox is in the same boat with Last Man Standing), but at least we know MacGyver Season 4 is filming and getting itself ready for its midseason 2020 premiere. Plus! Some fun sneak peek photos are showing these "great nerds" at work.

MacGyver Season 4 has actually been filming since the summer, including some photos with new addition Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, The 100) as master manipulator Russ. Just yesterday, show creator Peter M. Lenkov shared a cool shot from a scene showing "2 great nerds" -- Lucas Till's Angus MacGyver is one, but is the other guy ... Nikola Tesla?

Some fans have had time machines on the brain since July, when showrunner Terry Matalas shared this Season 4 sneak peek of the team:

As one fan asked, and Terry Matalas kinda sorta answered...

Here's another cool look at MacGyver Season 4 -- and am I reading into things or is that a 1920s flapper behind Lucas Till?

Feel free to speculate on the deeper meaning. The MacGyver cast and filmmakers have been sharing little tidbits behind-the-scenes for months -- sometimes funny Instagram Stories, and other times sharp-dressed photos like this one, with "James Blonde" MacGyver "about to do a little TV B&E":

Nice! The first three seasons of MacGyver all premiered in late September -- 2016, 2017, and then 2018 -- so you can't blame fans for getting confused when September 2019 rolled around and there was no MacGyver Season 4. (Sorry, Magnum P.I., but you're not quite the same.) Season 3 ended in May, but as the sun now stands fans will have to wait until some point in early 2020 for MacGyver Season 4. Same deal for Criminal Minds' final season, if you were searching the CBS schedule for it. Midseason 2020 should be solid.

The good news is that based on the little teases floating out from set, MacGyver Season 4 already looks like a perfect mix of intrigue and fun. Levy Tran is on board as a series regular for Season 4, in addition to Henry Ian Cusick's arrival, and don't forget about "Bad MacGyver."

As we wait for more MacGyver Season 4 updates -- including an official promo trailer and premiere date -- keep up with everything still airing on TV this year with our handy 2019 fall TV premiere schedule.

MacGyver is airing its Season 3 finale tonight (May 10) but CBS already renewed it for Season 4. We're expecting to see more of Peter Weller's new villain Mason -- aka "Bad MacGyver" -- but he's not the only one fans should get used to seeing.

Levy Tran joined MacGyver partway through Season 3 as Desiree "Desi" Nguyen. She was cast to at least partly fill the place left by George Eads. Eads chose to leave the show (after an on-set altercation), with his character Jack Dalton still alive but out on a mission after the February 1, 2019 episode. Desi joined the Phoenix Foundation in Season 3 to help protect Angus "Mac" MacGyver (Lucas Till) and his team, and it looks like she'll be upped to series regular status for Season 4.

That's the word per Deadline, which noted that the original plan was to bring in Desi as a recurring character in Season 3 and make her a regular in Season 4, if CBS renewed the show.

MacGyver was indeed renewed for Season 4, and CBS announced some changes behind-the-scenes. Terry Matalas (12 Monkeys) is jumping on board as executive producer/co-showrunner, replacing Craig O’Neill as co-showrunner alongside Peter Lenkov.

As for Levy Tran's Desi, she has quickly made some fans, with some viewers shipping her with Mac. Other viewers don't want Mac with Desi, in some cases because they like him with Riley Davis (Tristin Mays).

Whatever happens on that front in Season 4, actress Levy Tran is just happy to be along for the ride. Here's what she wrote when it was announced that CBS had renewed the show:

Season 3 of this reboot of the 1985 MacGyver averaged between 5-6 million viewers per Friday night episode, picking up between 1-2 million more with DVR viewing. CBS has yet to announce a Season 4 premiere date, or episode count, but Season 1 had 21 episodes, Season 2 had 23 episodes, and Season 3 had 22 episodes. All three seasons premiered in September, so there's a very good chance Season 4 will start airing its 2019-2020 season this fall.

In case you're reading this before the Season 3 finale airs (or it's after the finale and you want a reminder of the general outline of the episode), here's the logline per CBS:

That final episode of MacGyver Season 3 airs Friday, May 10 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Keep up with all the 2019 renewals and cancellations with our handy guide.

We've seen the "kid and their monster" trope play out on the big screen so many times by now that there's very little new material to be mined from it. Ultimately, the approach to said genre is where the difference matters for most films, and despite losing some points for creativity or even coherence, Monster Trucks manages to find a way to make its sub-par product into a breezy, and dare I say enjoyable, time at the movies. If you're a fan of Free Willy and *batteries not included, then you'll probably have tons of room in your heart for Monster Trucks.

Tripp (Lucas Till) is having some issues in his life, with a father whose left the family high and dry, and a local sheriff / step-father (Barry Pepper) who he doesn't like. Throw that onto the pile of issues that include being one of the only seniors not to have a car, and a Biology tutor that watches him like a hawk (Jane Levy), and you can see why he enjoys smashing cars at the local junkyard so much. That is, until a mysterious creature winds up making its way into town, and changing Tripp's life forever. He's big, he's slimy, but he's got an adorable personality and a heart of gold. He's Creech, and he's about to turn one North Dakota town into a battlefield of comedy and friendship.

Despite the negatives that Monster Trucks finds itself taking on throughout its storytelling process, it winds up being an extremely fun film. Most of that fun comes thanks to the relationship between Till's Tripp and Creech, the monster in his truck. Lucas Till's performance with the CGI creature is rather astounding, as their rapport is one of the highlights of this movie. The other highlight would be Jane Levy's Meredith, a role that showcases the range that Levy's been putting to work throughout her years in the business. In fact, the biggest compliment this film can be paid is that it knows what type of film it is, but everyone from the director to the stars on the set play the film with earnest charm, rather than detached irony.

Of course, for every beat that works in Monster Trucks, there's a couple that fall flat. This mostly comes from the vastly underused Thomas Lennon and Rob Lowe, as an oil company stooge and the CEO whose running the show. While Lennon manages to make the best of his time in the film, serving as the ever important scientific mentor who turns good, Lowe's character could have easily been excised from the film's running time, and not have hurt the films' content. Also, a note to Hollywood: give Holt McCallany something more to do than be the vicious heavy in films like these. Or if you're going to make him your villain, let him off the chain a little more, as he barely gets to have fun playing the main antagonist.

As a traditional narrative, or even as a kids' film, Monster Trucks fails on multiple levels. However, as a throwback to 90's children's fare, as well as a generally fun and kind-spirited time at the movies, it succeeds admirably. One would have hoped that Paramount could have programmed this in a decent slot to try and make a hit out of it, but sadly the studio seems to have lost confidence in the film. Which is a damned shame, because Monster Trucks serves as a perfect family film to take your kids out to, after they've already seen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or Sing, depending on how old they are, of course.

In a better world, Monster Trucks would be the sequel that gets a big budget, several pictures, and a team of screenwriters to punch up its stature, in order to become a cinematic universe of its own. Sadly, Transformers is the film that Paramount is keen on making into such a centerpiece, and it's a shame really. Films like Monster Trucks make us remember the movies we had so much fun with as a kid, and without a dependence on creepy or bathroom humor. It's safe for kids, but parents you might be pleasantly surprised how much you enjoy this movie.

There are spoilers for the X-Men series at play, so stop reading now if you do NOT want to know them!

Bryan Singer's X-Men: Apocalypse represented the middle of the road for the comic book genre when it hit theaters last summer. I mean that literally, as it holds a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It wasn't the worst superhero adventure, but it was also far from the cream of the crop. However, the film did manage to set itself apart for its willingness to kill Lucas Till's Havok -- a character who had been around since the series reboot in X-Men: First Class. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Till about his time as a mutant, and he seemed pretty pleased with his character's fate. The actor explained:

Lucas Till's Alex Summers represents the only core member of the X-Men ensemble to die in the conflict against Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) during the most recent mutant adventure, and that's apparently the way the actor likes it. Death has become such a rarity in the realm of comic book movies (particularly in the X-Men universe, where resurrections happen all the time) that Till ultimately appreciated the fact that 20th Century Fox was willing to send the character out in such explosive fashion. We certainly feel inclined to agree with Till on this matter, as Havok's death in the X-Jet explosion served as the perfect jumping off point to compel Tye Sheridan's Scott Summers to step up and embrace his newfound role as Cyclops in the fight against Apocalypse.

Havok's death marked a major blow to fans of the franchise. As a central member of Charles Xavier's (James McAvoy) first X-Men team in First Class, the character continued on a clear trajectory through X-Men: Days of Future Past until his death in Apocalypse. Although he never actually took center stage as a team leader, Lucas Till managed to capture the petulant spirit of the character perfectly and depict a solid arc throughout his three films in the series.

Check out Havok's awesome final moments below:

Of course, Lucas Till already knows that death is not always permanent in the world of comic book movies, so he made sure to temper his enthusiasm with the realization that the X-Men universe could always find a way to undo Havok's death. He said:

That's a point worth remembering; the character survived a ton of fiery moments over the course of his tenure in the franchise, so it's not impossible that he somehow managed to make it out alive. That said, based upon Lucas Till's comments it seems likely that he would not mind staying dead permanently. Few comic book movie characters have the opportunity to truly die these days, so his blaze of glory genuinely stands out as a unique moment for the genre as a whole. That's not a bad legacy to leave behind.

We will just have to wait and see what happens as the X-Men franchise moves into the future. For now, you can catch Lucas Till in Monster Trucks, which hit theaters this weekend on January 13.

If you’re anything like me, every time you look at a monster truck you think to yourself, "That needs more real monsters." Don't lie, you know you've thought that as well. It’s been quite some time since we’ve been able to report upon a good old-fashioned family film, and now it looks like Hollywood has caught on to that notion. A new trailer for the upcoming film Monster Trucks has just hit the web, and it looks completely fun for the whole family. Check it out below.

As you can see from the above trailer, Monster Trucks stars X-Men: First Class’ Lucas Till as a young man who comes encounters an odd, yet adorable, squid-like monster. Naming the creature Creat, the two develop a quick bond when the young man realizes that the monster can actually serve as an awesome engine for his beat up old pickup truck. However, the close bond between man and the monster soon becomes threatened when mysterious men enter town looking to take Creat away. What follows is a race against time to reunite Creat with his family and find a way to get all of these adorable monsters out of harm’s way before the mysterious men find them.

Monster Trucks doesn’t seem to do much to break new ground for the family film genre, but that also doesn’t seem like the intention in the first place. Overall the movie really does feel like a throwback to a bygone era of filmmaking. Playing out like a cross between E.T. and the Herbie films, it seems to showcase an incredibly wholesome story of friendship between a young man and a monster that just wants to get home.

The whole film doesn’t seem to take itself seriously at all, but that’s sort of the point. It’s a story full of physical humor, visual gags and a downright adorable monster, and in an era where everything’s trying to be mature, dark and gritty, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s abundantly clear that Monster Trucks is the sort of movie that families will want to flock to. Between its humor, its accessibility and its overwhelming sense of nostalgia for Spielberg-era family movies, this seems like a safe film to take the kids to.

We will keep you up to date with any updates related to Monster Trucks as they become available to us. The film will hit theaters on January 13, 2017.

CBS has been putting together a rebooted version of MacGyver that should be a lot like the classic, but with a few big changes. One of those changes happens to be the age of the lead. We knew CBS’ MacGyver project would feature a young man in his twenties, and it looks as if the network wanted to find someone who looks even younger than his actual age. X-Men franchise actor Lucas Till has landed the role.

Alright, so Till is 25 at this point and looking a little older than in his days on Hannah Montana: The Movie, but he’s still a decade younger than Richard Dean Anderson was when he started playing MacGyver back in 1985. Plus, while no one is going around accusing Richard Dean Anderson of looking younger than he actually is, the same cannot be said of Lucas Till. The real question relates less to his age and relates more to how he can pull off the MacGyver character, however.

The reboot is going to have other differences, too. THR is noting that it’s more of a "reimagining" than a straight reboot. Till’s character, MacGyver, will be asked to join a sort of secret society. There he will use the same sort of talents we’ve come to know and love from the original series so that bad things are kept from happening. Word is still out if this more youthful MacGyver will be able to use more than just a cable or other ordinary objects to solve complex problems. We do live in the age of the smart phone, after all.

MacGyver has been moving forward at CBS for a while, and should be getting off the ground soon. Lucas Till’s big upcoming film project, X-Men: Apolocalypse has already been filmed, so he should have time to work on the MacGyver pilot shortly. While CBS has retained Henry Winkler, James Wan and Michael Clear as executive producers, a lot has changed since last we wrote on MacGyver. Notably, writer Paul Downs Colaizzo is writing the script for the pilot.

About a year ago, we also learned that a "Next MacGyver" project looking to star a female lead was also in the works. If CBS’ MacGyver moves forward to series, that project will beat the female-oriented project to the punchline.

The news comes just as a new reimagining of Nancy Drew that’s practically nothing like the original is also in the works at CBS. We’ll let you know if either of these projects actually turn out to be halfway decent and make it to the air next TV season. Usually the networks make decisions about what new projects will join the lineup next season in May.

Hollywood is not always a place where the behavior is explainable, and Paramount Animation’s upcoming live action/CGI mash-up Monster Trucks is but one example of that madness. It’s not the head-shakingly simple subject matter I mean, but the fact that the pic already has a May 29, 2015 release date, even though it has yet to become officially greenlit. As such, the film can’t actually start casting its leads just yet, but if it could, the studio is looking at X-Men: First Class actor Lucas Till and Suburgatory’s Jane Levy to star. Can these young actors pull off a $100 million flick?

According to TheWrap, Paramount apparently isn’t happy with delaying the greenlight of one Monster Trucks film, but they’re already hoping this thing will turn into a franchise. It’s no surprise that they’ve got the Transformers series on their brains, as those are ridiculously lucrative movies, but they’re also hoping that it will have the heart of The Goonies. Way to keep your goals reasonable, guys.

Should they end up taking the roles, Till would play a character who is only described as a bad boy with a good heart, while Levy’s role is compared to what Tina Fey might have been like in high school. I’m really hoping both of these are human characters, as those would be inane descriptions for talking vehicles. Of course, they’re not much better when applied to real people, but I get that it’s early days and they can’t give a lot away just yet.

By the by, Till wasn’t the first to be looked at for this role. Paramount was also feeling out Prisoners’ Dylan Minnette and The Kings of Summer’s Nick Robinson. But Minnette signed up for Goosebumps and Robinson landed a part in Jurassic World, so Till it is, at least until he joins Star Wars: Episode VII or something.

Monster Trucks will be directed by Ice Age’s Chris Wedge, whose last film, Epic, sadly didn’t live up to its name. He’ll be working with a screenplay from writing partners Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, who are responsible for Monsters vs. Aliens, as well as the sequels to Alvin and the Chipmunks and Kung Fu Panda. These three guys could make a really funny movie, though I wish that monster trucks weren’t involved.

Till has a line of films coming out in the next year or so, including Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, where he’ll reprise the role of Havok. He’ll also be in a handful of thrillers like X-Men screenwriter David Hayter’s horror-iffic debut Wolves, Oliver Blackburn’s outcast horror Random, Gary Entin’s Sins of Our Youth and Derick Martini’s The Curse of Downers Grove, which was written by novelist Bret Easton Ellis.

Levy, who starred in last year’s Evil Dead remake, is still going strong as Tessa Altman four seasons into Suburgatory, with upcoming roles in the suicide-themed college drama About Alex and G. J. Echternkamp’s comedy Frank and Cindy.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to drive over a bunch of model cars while a giant fire-breathing robot walks around the yard.

Gun control is a hot button issue in this country, and it’ll probably be that way for the next hundred years without a clear resolution. And while I’m glad Hollywood has for the most part been keeping a wide berth around films that center on school shootings, the upcoming teen drama Sins of Our Youth is bound to get people uncomfortable in one way or another. Deadline reports it already has a full cast, including Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class), Joel Courtney (Super 8), and former Brat Packer Ally Sheedy, and will begin filming soon. So we’ll know sooner rather than later just what kind of reaction the film will get.

Sins of Our Youth will be directed by Gary Entin, based on a screenplay written by his twin brother Edmund Entin. (The duo worked on this year’s comedy Geography Club.) It is being produced by former Republican House Rep-turned-film producer Michael Huffington through his Huffington Pictures. Beyond the previously mentioned stars, the cast will also include Mitchell Musso (Hannah Montana), Grant Harvey (The Neighbors), Bridger Zadina (Terri), as well as former X-Factor contestant Dani Knights .

While the actual roles haven’t been disclosed, the film will revolve around four teenage boys who change their lives for the worse when they accidentally kill another young boy while off shooting assault rifles. If they just went to the police and confessed their crimes, this wouldn’t be a very interesting movie, so of course they resort to different tactics. Fearful that they’ll spend the rest of their lives in prison, or worse, the boys attempt to hide their crime, which only leads to more dangerous situations.

This isn’t exactly the most original plot, as most murders in movies see some form of cover-up. But it’s actually a similar storyline to two of my all-time favorite films (because I’m a mental masochist that way): David Gordon Green’s George Washington from 2000, and Jacob Aaron Estes’ 2004 drama Mean Creek, both of which contained the highly depressing aftereffects of a child’s death. But by adding guns to the equation, Sins of Our Youth hopefully won’t reflect the times too heavily.

Till is having a huge year, about to appear in Robert Luketic’s corporate thriller Paranoia and the adventure comedy Wet and Reckless. He’ll be reprising his role of Havok in X-Men: Days of Future Past as well as starring in screenwriter David Hayter’s directorial debut, the horror Wolves.

Courtney will take on the role of Tom Sawyer in Jo Kastner’s adaptation Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn later this year and will appear in the Stephen King adaption Mercy from director Peter Cornwell. He’ll co-star with Isabelle Fuhrman in both Giorgio Serafini’s wistful drama The Between and in Kevin Connolly’s Cuban Missile Crisis-set drama Dear Eleanor.

Sheedy, while far from the heyday of The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire, is still kicking it, and can be seen in Alfredo De Villa’s comedy Fugly!, which released earlier this year.

Sins of Our Youth is set to begin principal photography this week in and around Las Vegas.

Thus far the only stars from the main cast of Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class confirmed to reprise their roles in X-Men: Days of Future Past have been James McAvoy (as Charles Xavier/Professor X, Michael Fassbender (Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto), Jennifer Lawrence (Raven Darkhölme/Mystique), Nicholas Hoult (Hank McCoy/Beast), but today we learn that one of the other actors is set to return as well. As you can see above, director Bryan Singer has sent out his latest Tweet from the set of his new movie and confirmed that First Class' Lucas Till is reprising his role as Alex Summers a.k.a. Havok.

As seen in Vaughn's 2011 blockbuster, Havok's mutation allows him to generate an incredible amount of external energy that, if properly harnessed, can be used to form a focused concussion beam handy for battle. The character plays an interesting role in the timeline of X-Men films as he is actually the older brother of Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops, portrayed by James Marsden in the original X-Men trilogy. Strangely, Marsden is one of the few cast members from the first three movies in the franchise who is not yet confirmed to be a part of X-Men: Days of Future Past. Hugh Jackman, Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Ellen Page, and Daniel Cudmore will all be coming back in their previous roles.

But what exactly is going on in Singer's latest Twitter photo? It would appear that Summers has actually left Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and has enlisted in the Army. Give that most of the movie is set back in 1973, presumably this means that the pictured mutant is either in or soon to be on his way to the Vietnam War - subject matter that was previously confirmed to be a part of the story. The director included a poignant quote from one of our greatest presidents with the image, reading, "Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind." -JFK @lucastill #xmen #DaysOfFuturePast."

Scripted by Simon Kinberg and Matthew Vaughn, the new movie begins in an apocalyptic future where all mutants are hunted by giant government-created robots called Sentinels. In order to try and stop a cataclysmic event that led to the Sentinels being created, the surviving members of the X-Men send one of their own back in time to the early 1970s. New additions to the franchise include Peter Dinklage, Adam Canto, Omar Sy, Booboo Stewart, Evan Peters, Josh Helman, and Fan Bing Bing.

We will actually know a lot more about X-Men: Days of Future Past at the end of this week, as the movie is set to be a part of 20th Century Fox's plans for their Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con this Saturday. Given how many set photos Singer has been sending out recently, it would appear that they were working up until the last minute before they have deal with an endless sea of nerds packed into the San Diego Convention Center. Be sure to check back later this week for all of our SDCC 2013 coverage.

With pre-production expected to begin soon on Summit's feature adaptation of Divergent and the female lead already cast, fans of the Veronica Roth's young-adult novel are likely anxiously awaiting word on confirmation for the male lead. Right now, it's looking like Alex Pettyfer, Jeremy Irvine and Lucas Till are among the contenders for the part.

Just last week, we shared an update on the status of Divergent, which is expected to arrive in 2014 and will star Shailene Woodley as lead character Beatrice "Tris" Prior. The movie is confirmed to film in Chicago, which is where the story takes place - or rather, the story takes place in a futuristic/dystopian version of Chicago, where people are broken into five factions determined by their way of life. The story follows Tris as she chooses her faction and begins the training process in the hopes of securing a spot among them. Neil Burger will direct the adaptation, based on a script written by Evan Daugherty.

Variety posted word that Pettyfer, Irvine and Till are all reading for the male lead later this week. They don't mention the character by name, but I'm assuming they're referring to Four, Tris' instructor during her faction training. The book is told from Tris' perspective, and there are a few male characters, but Four is featured most prominently as Tris forms a connection with him during her training.

Of the three men reportedly in contention for the role, Pettyfer may be the most recognizable, with recent credits that include Magic Mike, In Time, Beastly and I Am Number Four. I'm not sure I picture him as Four, to be honest, though with darker hair and a few face piercings, it might be interesting to see him take on the part of Eric, one of the leaders of Tris' faction.

It sounds like Till may have the edge on the other two actors, as Variety's sources say he's already tested for the part. Among Till's credits are Battle Los Angeles and X-Men: First Class, in which he played Havok. British actor Jeremy Irvine's credits include War Horse and the role of Pip in Mike Newell's Great Expectations. All three actors turn twenty-three this year, so they're on even footing as far as their age goes.

We'll keep you posted on updates for the film. In the meantime, if you haven't already and you're a fan of young-adult dystopian stories, Divergent is worth a read. There's also talk of a possible video game based on the story.

Jason Momoa got his chance to play big screen hero last summer in Conan The Barbarian, but now it looks like he's on a bit of a villainous streak. He will be squaring off against Sylvester Stallone and Sung Kang in Bullet To The Head early next year and now he's going to be the baddie in Wolves.

The directorial debut of X-Men writer David Hayter, the thriller is about a young man who turns into a werewolf and finds himself falsely accused of murdering his parents. Going on the run to a village called Lupine Ridge, he discovers that he's not the only supernatural thing out in the world. THR says that Lucas Till, who starred in X-Men: First Class will star in the movie and says that Momoa will be "the badass werewolf patriarch of the town."

Momoa, of course, is no stranger to playing leader roles. In the first season of the hit HBO series Game of Thrones the actor portrayed the Khal Drogo, a warlord who ruled the Dothraki nomads.The actor is actually in the midst of making his own directorial debut at the moment, making a film titled Road to Paloma that he co-wrote with Robert Mollohan and Jonny Hirschbein.

Hayter, who also wrote the script for Wolves, wrote both X-Men and X2 as well as Watchmen and The Scorpion King. He is also known for his voice-over work, most notably for playing the character Snake in the Metal Gear Solid series of video games. Production on Wolves begins next month in Toronto.

Lucas Till has been acting steadily since 2003, playing young Johnny Cash in Walk the Line and nabbing a part in Hannah Montana: The Movie back in 2009. But he broke out last summer by playing Alex Summers (and Havok) in Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class. Now Till is parlaying that exposure into bigger roles.

Variety says Till is about to join the espionage thriller Paranoia, which would cast him opposite The Hunger Games heartthrob Liam Hemsworth. As we reported earlier, Paranoia follows a war between rival telecom companies. Robert Luketic (The Ugly Truth, Killers) is on board to direct, and Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman are reportedly circling roles. Till, according to Variety, would play Hemsworth’s friend and co-worker, though the Expendables 2 actor clearly is the picture’s lead.

No offense to either Till or Hemsworth, both of whom appear to be talents on the rise, but I’m far more interested in Paranoia if it manages to get Ford, Oldman or both attached to the script. Luketic might have started his career with the tart and clever Legally Blonde, but Ugly Truth was unwatchable and Killers (with Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl) isn’t inspiring much confidence.

We’ll keep you posted on Paranoia as it adds cast members. In the meantime, look for Till in a series of roles. He filmed Chan-wook Park’s horror-thriller Stoker with Nicole Kidman for Fox Searchlight. He has Crush in the can for Intrepid Films. And he’s expected to reunite with his X-Men castmates for the anticipated sequel at some point next year.

I hate to speak in hyperbole, but the X-Men: First Class posters that were released last night are two of the worst that I have ever seen. From the shoddy Photoshop to crotch-heads, just about everything about them is objectionable. As a result, the last 12 hours have been filled with folks laughing derisively at the new "artwork," which generally isn't great when you're trying to release a summer blockbuster that needs to make back its budget. So that's why we are getting a cool new picture today.

The X-Men Movies Facebook Page has posted a pretty awesome new still from the upcoming Matthew Vaughn comic book movie. In the picture, Havok, played by Lucas Till, is standing in what appears to be some kind of small hanger surrounded by fire. Why is the fire form perfect lines? Are the fires a result of Havok using a plasma blast? The photo doesn't really answer these questions, but it is pretty cool looking.

Check out the new still below and for more on X-Men: First Class, head on over to our Blend Film Database.

Though he isn't directing the film, Bryan Singer is still very much involved with the production of X-Men: First Class. In addition to serving as producer for the Matthew Vaughn superhero film, he also holds a story credit. With all of the casting news in recent weeks (I would link to them but, frankly there are just too many), speculation about the project has been running wild, but Singer has now taken a moment to clear some things up

AICN had a chance to speak with Singer and the X2 director spilled the following information:

• The story is a period piece that takes place during the early 1960s, when John F. Kennedy was president.
• The film will cover how Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr (played by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender) first met while in their late 20s.
• McAvoy will not start the film in a wheelchair, but we will see how he is paralyzed. He will also have a full head of hair
• They are not trying to adapt the X-Men: First Class comic, rather seeing the film as "a new beginning for X-Men"
• The technology is inspired by the James Bond tech of the time and the costumes "will be far more comic bookish than we've seen before"
• Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Jean Grey aren't in the film, but Alex Summers (a.k.a. Havoc, a.k.a. Scott's brother) will be there and played by Lucas Till
• The Hellfire Club will be present in the film with Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) and Emma Frost (January Jones) as members. The costumes will be similar to what they were in the original comics and Bacon may sport a ponytail with a ribbon
• The film will have a much more international feel, picking up with Xavier attending school at Oxford University. Shooting will take place in England and the US. Because this is the 60s, Russia will be represented.

It's a lot to take in, but also a lot to be excited about. They appear to be going for a more classic view of comics, which we have yet to see in film adaptations. I suspect that the one thing people will be upset about is that Xavier will have hair, but let's face facts here: you shave McAvoy's head and he's going to look like a cancer patient. Not everybody can pull off the Patrick Stewart.