Halle Berry Producing 'Hannibal' Miniseries For History

Halle Berry is not only returning to television as the producer and star of 'Extant', a new CBS series that will launch in summer 2013, but the A-list actress has also signed on as executive producer of the upcoming 'Hannibal' mini-series for History.

Read more about the mini-series, co-produced by A+E Studios and Red Arrow, beneath:

History Channel is developing a Hannibal miniseries with Halle Berry.

The series, a co-production by A+E Studios and Red Arrow Entertainment, "will tell the story of the greatest generals in antiquity -- Hannibal Barca and his archrival Scipio Africanus -- who went head-to-head in the Second Punic War." Oscar-nominated writer Jeffrey Caine (The Constant Gardener, GoldenEye) will pen the script, with Berry serving as executive producer.

"Hannibal was not only the greatest African general to ever live,” said Berry in a statement, “he may have been the greatest general, period. His story is an intricate and captivating ride, and I’m thrilled to get this project off the ground with our partners at History.”

Hannibal kicks off in Carthage, in 264 B.C., at the beginning of his life in North Africa and goes through the second Punic War between Carthage and Rome. Hannibal and his archrival Scipio Africanus take a sacred vow to destroy the other and the nation he served. However, despite their firecely opposed allegiances, the two are brought together and grow to respect each other as brothers.

For Berry's part, this pact with History marks the Oscar winner's latest trek into television. It was announced earlier this year [2] that Berry will star in CBS' 13-episode summer series Extant from executive producer Steven Spielberg, and she inked a two-year first-look deal with CBS Television Studios. Berry starred in HBO's Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, for which she earned an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a SAG Award. She also snagged Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Oprah Winfrey's Their Eyes Were Watching God.

In addition to Berry, executive producers on the project are Steven Jensen, Vincent Cirrincione and Caine. Simon Maxwell will be an EP for Red Arrow, while History & H2's executive vp and general manager Dirk Hoogstra, Elaine Frontain Bryant and Julian P. Hobbs will be executives in charge of production for History.

Should History move forward with Hannibal (not to be confused with NBC's Hannibal, which is based on the character Hannibal Lecter from the Thomas Harris novels), this would mark the cable network's latest foray into scripted TV, where it has successfully launched the Emmy-winning Hatfields & McCoys miniseries, Vikings and The Bible. History also is developing a Roots remake [3] and has the four-hour Adrien Brody miniseries Houdini [7] on tap [7], as well as Bonnie & Clyde airing on multiple networks Dec. 8 and 9. [Source]

Halle Berry Reveals Unbelievable Post-Pregnancy Figure (Photos)

Stepping out for the first time since giving birth back in October, Halle Berry showed off her superhuman post-pregnancy figure at a live stage performance of 'The Lion King' at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood on Saturday, December 7th.

The Oscar winner, who looked fabulous in tight-fitting black trousers and a gray sweater, attended the show with her husband Olivier Martinez and her daughter, Nahla.

Halle Berry Stars In New 'X-Men: Days Of Future Past' Trailer

Fox has released the first trailer for 'X-Men: Days of Future Past', which features Halle Berry reprising her role as Storm. The stunning actress shot the film while pregnant with her son Maceo Robert Martinez, who was born on October 5th in Los Angeles.

At the time, Berry revealed that the production would have to shoot around her pregnancy and that her role would still be integral, despite her growing baby bump, saying: "Storm probably won’t be as badass as she was going to be because we won’t be able to do any fighting or flying or things like that. She’ll be different than we originally planned her to be but I still think she’ll be an integral part of this new X-Men movie."

Due in theaters on May 23, 2014, the forthcoming film picks up after Matthew Vaughn's 2011 prequel 'X-Men: First Class', which chronicled the mutant superheroes' origins as young people in the 1960s, discovering and learning to manipulate their powers.

Directed by Bryan Singer and written by Vaughn and Simon Kinberg, the latest film in the 'X-Men' series also stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore and Daniel Cudmore, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, and Michael Fassbender. Watch the official trailer beneath:

'Extant' News: Details Emerge About Halle Berry's Character & Plot

As Halle Berry continues to enjoy downtime with her newborn baby boy, reportedly named Maceo Robert Martinez, her next project, 'Extant', is shaping up with more details about her character Molly Watts and the plot of the series being revealed courtesy of IMDB.

Read the new details about the series, which is slated to air in the summer 2014, beneath:

After spending a year in space, where she lived and conducted strange experiments, astronaut Molly Watts (Halle Berry) tries to resume a normal life with her family consisting of her husband, John, a gifted scientist, and Ethan, their son, a boy like no the other. He is not their biological son as Molly is infertile. Ethan was designed by his father as the first prototype of a future line of "Humanichs", "human robots". But the return of Molly will have dramatic consequences for the entire planet and the fate of mankind.

Report: Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez Decide On A Baby Name

Halle Berry,47, and husband Olivier Martinez, also 47, have reported decided on a name for their tiny bundle of joy, whom they welcomed into the world on Saturday, October 5th, and it pulls from the 'Unfaithful' hunk's heritage.

The duo, according to numerous sources, have decided to name their son Maceo Robert Martinez. Maceo means "Gift of God" and Robert is a tribute to Martinez's father.

"This has been the biggest surprise of my life, to tell you the truth," she said in April upon revealing that she was expecting her second child. "Thought I was kind of past the point where this could be a reality for me. So it's been a big surprise and the most wonderful."

HALLE BERRY & OLIVIER MARTINEZ WELCOME A BABY BOY

On Saturday (October 5th), Halle Berry and her husband Olivier Martinez welcomed a healthy baby boy into the world at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Meredith O'Sullivan, her publicist confirmed the news, but offered no additional details concerning the newborn arrival, who joins Nahla Ariela, her 5-year-old daughter with her ex-boyfriend, Gabriel Aubry. This is the first child for Martinez. Congrats to the happy couple.

HALLE BERRY TEAMS UP WITH STEVEN SPIELBERG FOR 'EXTANT'

Halle Berry is returning to television. The Academy Award-winner, who previously turned down leading roles in 'Homeland' and 'Hostages', has signed on for the lead role in the forthcoming CBS drama series 'Extant', which has received a straight-to-series order from the network to be broadcast in the summer of 2014.

In the serialized series, which she will executive produce with Steven Spielberg, Berry will play "an astronaut who returns home from a year-long solo mission in space and tries to reconnect with her husband and son in their everyday life. Her experiences in space and home lead to events that ultimately will change the course of human history."

Academy Award winner Halle Berry will star in EXTANT, a serialized drama from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television and CBS Television Studios. In August, the CBS Television Network announced a straight-to-series order for EXTANT, to be broadcast in summer 2014.

In a thrilling drama, Berry will play an astronaut who returns home from a year-long solo mission in space and tries to reconnect with her husband and son in their everyday life. Her experiences in space and home lead to events that ultimately will change the course of human history.

“There's only one Halle Berry and we are incredibly honored that she has chosen EXTANT to expand her illustrious career,” said Steven Spielberg. “As she does with everything she touches, she will bring a deep authenticity to her role and I very much look forward to working with her.”

“Halle is the type of award-winning actress you dream of collaborating with for an event project such as EXTANT,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS. “Her talent and ability to immerse herself into every performance has created memorable roles that have resonated with audiences everywhere. It’s a big coup for CBS to have Halle star in her first television series, especially with such an exciting original concept and a role layered with mystery and humanity.”

“I'm always on the lookout for amazing roles and when you see material that contains this strong of auspices, nuance and complexity it compels me to run toward it no matter the medium. For five months a year I'll get to live with and play this incredibly intelligent and vulnerable woman, and for the remainder of the year I'll continue to look for other roles that move me as deeply as this one,” said Halle Berry. “I've found amazing partners in CBS's Nina Tassler and Les Moonves, and the incredible Steven Spielberg, along with his Amblin production team, whose vision and creativity in storytelling is unparalleled.”

In addition, Berry and her producing partner, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, have entered into a two-year, first look production deal with CBS Television Studios.

Berry won an Oscar in 2002 for her starring role in “Monster’s Ball.” Her additional feature film credits include playing Storm in the “X-Men” franchise, including the seventh installment, “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” to be released in 2014 and she also starred in the James Bond film “Die Another Day,” as Jinx. Berry started this year starring in the successful feature film thriller, “The Call”. Berry’s successes on television include her critically acclaimed and award winning role in HBO’s movie, “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,” which earned her an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award and her critically praised performance starring in the Oprah Winfrey produced "Their Eyes Were Watching God," which earned her Emmy and Golden Globenominations.

EXTANT is a co-production of CBS Television Studios and Amblin Television. Steven Spielberg, Greg Walker, Mickey Fisher, who wrote the script, Brooklyn Weaver, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank will serve as executive producers. Halle Berry will serve as co-executive producer. The series will be distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and worldwide by CBS Studios International. Berry is repped by Vincent Cirrincione and CAA. [Source]

'FRANKIE & ALICE' TO BE RELEASED BY CODEBLACK FILMS

After years in limbo, Halle Berry's critically-acclaimed and award-winning performance in 'Frankie & Alice' will finally be released in a theater near you. Codeblack Films, a Liongates company, has acquired North American distribution rights to the film about multiple personality disorder to be released on April 4, 2014. Press release beneath:

Codeblack Films, a Lionsgate (LGF) company, has acquired North American distribution rights to the film, "Frankie & Alice," starring Academy Award® winner Halle Berry , which will be released on April 4, 2014.

Inspired by a true story, the moving drama centers around a young woman with multiple personality disorder who struggles to cope with her disease.

Stellan Skarsgard (Thor: The Dark World, The Avengers), Emmy® nominee Phylicia Rashad (For Colored Girls), and Emmy nominee Chandra Wilson also star in the film. Berry also served as producer on the film along with Vincent Cirrincione (Lackawanna Blues, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge). Berry won an Academy Award for her riveting performance in Lionsgate's Monster's Ball and has starred in such films as X Men, X Men: The Last Stand, Die Another Day, Bulworth, Swordfish and the upcoming X Men: Days of Future Past.

"Halle Berry delivers a spellbinding performance in Frankie & Alice," said Codeblack Films President Jeff Clanagan . "Codeblack is thrilled to bring this important film to theaters nationwide delivering on our commitment to bring more quality films to the marketplace."

"We are very pleased to be working with Halle Berry and Codeblack Films/Lionsgate on the release of Frankie and Alice," said 37 Star Media Fund Chairman Robert Watts . "This is a career landmark for Halle as this is her first role as Producer. She has done a brilliant job and we anticipate that it will be very well received by diverse audiences both in North America and abroad."

Codeblack Films' General Manager Quincy Newell negotiated the film acquisition with David B. Strapko of 37 Star Media Fund Corp. and Stephanie Denton of New Cadence Entertainment.

ULTIMATE HALLE BERRY IS BACK IN ACTION

With it being such an exciting time in the professional and personal life of Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry, we felt there was no better time to end Ultimate Halle Berry's two year hiatus and once again began providing with the latest news about the actress.