Q: I remember reading here that there was supposed to be another “Jurassic Park” movie, but I haven’t heard anything about it recently. Is that still happening? — Paula F., via email
A: It is indeed happening. “Jurassic World” — the fourth movie in the sci-fi dinosaur anthology — will make its world premiere on June 12, 2015. The new film takes place 22 years after the first movie, on the island of Isla Nublar, where the dinosaur park Jurassic World has reopened for business with a fully functioning dinosaur theme park. The movie stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard as staff members at the park. Attendance has been in decline for years, and an idea to put the place back on the theme-park map — genetically modifying and creating an entirely new dinosaur — massively backfires.
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Q: Two of my favorite shows, “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder,” haven’t been on for weeks. What’s going on, and when will they be back? — Frankie F., Biloxi, Miss.
A: Don’t worry, the hit ABC dramas are merely on winter hiatus. Olivia and Annalise will be back on Jan. 29, at 9 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET, respectively. “Murder” has its two-hour season finale on Feb. 26, with the 11-episode “American Crime” taking its time slot starting March 5.
“American Crime” — which stars Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton and Penelope Ann Miller — tells the story of a young couple in Modesto, California, who are brutally attacked in their home, leaving Matt Skokie, a war vet, murdered, and his wife, Gwen, unconscious, barely hanging on. The crime sends shock waves throughout the community, stirring up tensions across socioeconomic and racial lines in this gritty new drama told from the points of view of all involved.
Another new ABC drama, premiering Sunday, March 1, is the 10-episode “Secrets and Lies.” The story focuses on Ben, played by Ryan Phillipe, who is a person of interest in the death of a neighborhood boy, which is being investigated by Det. Andrea Cornell, played by Juliette Lewis.
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Q: I know season four just ended, but I have to know: Will my favorite show, “Hell on Wheels,” be back for another season? — Jane T., via email
A: The AMC Western period drama, which is about the construction of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States, will be back for its fifth and final season of 14 episodes, which will be split in half for its airing. The first seven episodes will premiere in summer 2015, with the final seven airing summer 2016.
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READERS: I reported a few months ago that NBC was developing a family sitcom starring Bill Cosby that was to possibly debut this summer. Well, in the midst of multiple rape allegations, the network has decided to pull the project, which was going to be a multigenerational family show with Bill as the patriarch, dispensing wisdom on relationships and parenthood.
Write to Cindy at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475; or e-mail her at [email protected].
© 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.