Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Stars on screen
Heavenly huntress: Adapted from “The Mortal Instruments” novel series by Cassandra Clare, “Shadowhunters,” premieres Tuesday, Jan. 12, on ABC Family — though, by then, the family station will have undergone a rebranding and be known as Freeform.
The new fantasy series follows Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara, “The Fosters”), a girl born of angelic and human parents who has the ability to see demons on Earth, and dedicates her life to hunting them alongside other Shadowhunters.
To whet our appetites, the special “Beyond the Shadows: The Making of the Shadowhunters” airs Sunday, Dec. 6, on ABC Family. The stellar special effects that bring the demons and monsters to life will impress viewers, and this special will not only highlight the technical side of the show, but give fans a taste of the magic they can expect when it premieres.
Cast-wise, “Shadowhunters” has amassed a solid team. Alberto Rosende (“Blue Bloods”) plays Simon Lewis, Clary’s very human best friend who finds himself completely outside of his comfort zone as he stands by his friend’s side. The enigmatic Jace Wayland (Dominic Sherwood, “The Cut”) and warlock Magnus Bane (Harry Shum Jr., “Glee”) throw shade on the warriors’ crusade, while former Shadowhunter Luke Garroway (Isaiah Mustafa, “Anger Management”) always has Clary’s back. Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia, “Tattooed Love,” 2015) and Alec Lightwood (Matthew Daddario, “Delivery Man,” 2013) form a brothersister duo of demon slayers.
TV and film director and producer, McG — who brought us “Supernatural,” “The O.C.,” “Terminator Salvation” (2009) and more — is on board in both capacities for “Shadowhunters,” so we have an idea of what he can weave out of characters to thrill us. Be sure to attend the church of “Beyond the Shadows: The Making of Shadowhunters,” Sunday, Dec. 6, on ABC Family — then convert to the Tuesday, Jan. 12, dawn of the “Shadowhunters” world.
Horns up!: Some people imagine having divine power. Would you rather have powers of good, or the corrupting powers of evil? For those on the fence, “Lucifer” will make the flip-side look far more fun in this new Fox drama, premiering Monday, Jan. 25.
The premiere date was moved ahead into the new year, placing the first episode right behind the second episode of the new “X-Files” reboot, a move that may garner some crossover viewing. Loosely based on the DC Comics character from “The Sandman” series, Tom Ellis (“Miranda”) stars as Lucifer Morningstar. Yes, the biblical Lucifer. His power on Earth is the ability to tease the truth out of anyone, often with entertaining results. Surprisingly, the old trickster uses his powers for good instead of evil, though, alongside LAPD homicide detective Chloe Dancer (Lauren German, “Chicago Fire”).
Not everyone is a fan of Morningstar, though; Kevin Alejandro (“Arrow”) — as Chloe’s ex-husband, Dan — boils as his daughter, Trixie (Scarlett Estevez, “The Massively Mixed-Up Middle School Mystery”), warms up to the guy. Lesley-Ann Brandt (“Single Ladies”) is Maze, known as Mazikeen, and Lucifer’s closest confidante in the comics; and D. B. Woodside (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) is the angel Amenadiel, who is set on convincing Lucifer to go back to Hell.
Underworld rising: Ghost towns may seem like something out of a good movie or intense video game, but they are, in fact, real — and some are uninhabited for reasons that will make your skin crawl. Based on the real Pennsylvania town of the same name, new drama “Centralia” will premiere on NBC some time in 2016 or 2017. Though filming has not yet started, interest is high as the real-life town was also the inspiration for another impressive franchise: the Silent Hill films and video games. No matter how fantastic it may sound, the story of the town is true. The population of Centralia has dwindled from a few thousand people to a mere 10 hangers-on since 1962, when a fire ignited in the coal mine beneath the town — a fire that’s been raging ever since.
The drama is penned by the creator of “Star-Crossed,” Meredith Averill, who grew up in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, which is very near the doomed town. It is no wonder this small mining village became an inspiration — smoke still rises from the ground, massive furrows are rent into the pavement from the pressure, and, after evacuation, it truly became a ghost town.
Averill is not the only one to have had Centralia in mind when writing about some kind of hell on Earth. As mentioned, the film “Silent Hill” (2006) was based loosely on the quiet inferno under the town, and many sightseers travel there out of reverence for the film and associated video games. They also visit to experience the desolation, not to mention the colorful graffiti, left behind.
Simon Tatum (“The Last Freak Show”) knows of the devastation and resulting vandalism all too well. The filmmaker and documentarian is on board for the series, and what better choice, as he has spent a decade visiting the town to film.
“The place became more to me than just a film subject,” he said in an interview with The Huffington Post, “I’d take every opportunity I could to fly back out there. To this day, I still find the smell of the burning sulphur comforting.”