Calabasas Classic 10K

Sean Astin ran his hometown Calabasas Classic 10K on November 10 with a finishing time was 1:01:18.7. He's run the race several times before, most recently in 2011.

Trailer for Cabin Fever: Patient Zero (German)

The German web site scary-movies.de has posted the trailer for "Cabin Fever: Patient Zero" (dubbed in German with English subtitles) as well as the box cover artwork. According to them, the movie will be released in that country in DVD/Blu-ray/3-D Blu-ray with an over-18 rating on February 6, 2014.

A bachelor party cruise in the Caribbean encounters a medical-research island where a deadly virus, carried by an asymptomatic Sean Astin, has been unleashed. The passengers must struggle to find a way to survive before their own demons and the flesh-eating bacteria consume them all.

Comic book artist Kaare Andrews directed the film based on a screenplay by Jake Wade Wall (The Hitcher). Currie Graham, Mitch Ryan, Jillian Murray, Brando Eaton, Lydia Hearst, and Ryan Donowho also star.

No word on a US release yet.

Update: UK DVD release date is March 17.

Be sure to turn on captioning when watching the trailer!

Press Release: "The Strain" official picked up as series

FX INFECTED BY THE STRAIN

Network Orders 13 Episodes of the Drama Series Based on the Best-Selling Novels by Oscar® Nominee Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan Who Are Executive Producers and Co-Wrote The Pilot Which Was Directed by del Toro.

Emmy® Award-Winning Writer/Producer Carlton Cuse Also Serves as Executive Producer, Showrunner and Writer.

Series Stars Corey Stoll, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Robert Maillet, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland and Miguel Gomez.

Production to Begin This Month in Toronto and the Series Debuts on FX in July 2014.

Los Angeles, November 19, 2013 – FX has placed a 13-episode order for the drama series The Strain from Academy Award® nominated Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, author Chuck Hogan and writer/producer Carlton Cuse, which is based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy of the same title written by del Toro and Hogan, it was announced today by Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, the Presidents of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions.

Sean Astin does Kickstarter

As part of his successful Kickstarter campaign, Sean Astin did numerous interviews and online chats, and took a few selfies to share with his backers. Here are a few fun pics and videos.

Sean did an interactive chat/interview with fans on October 29, hosted by Erica Pena Vest.

Sean Astin at Nuke the Fridge Con 2013

Sean Astin was a guest at the Nuke the Fridge Con in City of Industry, CA, November 16. This was just an autograph show, so no panels or formal photo ops. But that doesn't mean there weren't any photos!

Sean has the selfies down pretty well!

Sean Astin at the Alamo City Comic Con

Sean Astin attended the Alamo City Comic Con in San Antonio TX October 25-27, 2012, participating in the usual autograph signings, photo ops and Q&A session, also throwing in a quick run along the city's famed River Walk and an in-depth interview with Lisa Douglas. Let the many photos and videos commence!

Sean gives us a smoldering look!

Before the con started, Sean went for a run along San Antonio's River Walk.

More photos from Rudy Anniversary Celebration

Here are a few more photos from the Rudy 20th Anniversary Celebration held October 17, 2013, in Las Vegas. See more photos here.

Thoughtful Sean on the flight to Las Vegas.

What's this? The Eye of Sauron in the desert??? 

Sean Astin on Rob Paulsen's Talkin Toons

Sean Astin was a guest on Rob Paulsen's Talkin Toons at the Hollywood Improv on November 12, 2013. Also joining them was Nolan North, making for three Raphaels from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the stage together! As if that weren't enough, Sean and doppelgänger Starkid Dylan Saunders finally met for the first time!

Here are some photos and videos of the eventful evening!

After much confusion over who was who, a meeting proves Sean Astin and Dylan Saunders are separate individuals!

"A Long Run" narrated by Sean Astin premiering in December

"A Long Run" documents Runner's World Magazine founder Bob Anderson's effort to run 50 races, 350 miles at  under a 7 minutes/mile pace in one year. The film, narrated by Sean Astin, will premiere on Friday, December 20. 7:30pm at the Bal Theater in San Leandro CA. The first 500 runners to register for the Pleasanton Double (to be held December 23) will get one free VIP ticket.

Sean met Bob Anderson at the Indianapolis Double Road Race last August.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit alongrun.com

Release date set for Boys of Abu Ghraib

Sean Astin filmed this indie thriller in New Mexico over two years ago. He confessed it gave him "haunting nightmares for weeks afterwards." More information and release date are now available.

"A dramatic war thriller about the world’s most notorious prison: Abu Ghraib. Stationed there in 2003, American soldier Jack Farmer is tasked with guarding the Hard Site, a cell block for the Army’s top-priority suspected terrorists. But as a rookie for the Military Police, he has no idea what he’s doing. He’s shown the ropes by a guard named Tanner (Sean Astin), who demonstrates control of prisoners through violence and intimidation.

Farmer’s shifts are long and lonely, until he secretly befriends an English speaking prisoner named Ghazi. The two men pass time together and grow close, but Ghazi soon becomes the subject of harsh interrogations over his suspected engineering of a bomb that killed innocent civilians. As the interrogations increase and their friendship is unveiled, Farmer must choose a side. A decision that threatens to destroy him." Source

Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights;  with a theatrical release date of March 28, 2014. The film will be available on movies on demand February 25; check your local cable or satellite provider.

Santa Switch premiere set for December 7 on Hallmark Channel

Sean Astin stars as an elf in a business suit in "Santa Switch" premiering on the Hallmark Channel Saturday December 7, 8pm ET/7pm CT (check your local listings). Here are some promotional and behind the scenes photos, plus a trailer and short clip for this new family holiday movie. [Updated 11/19/14 with higher res images.]

Ethan Erickson, Sean Astin and Donavan Scott star.

Sean Astin at Wizard World Comic Cons in 2014

Sean Astin has signed up for several of the Wizard World Comic Cons scheduled for 2014.

• March 29-30 Louisville KY
• April 5-6 St. Louis MO
• May 3-4 Minneapolis MN
• June 21-22 Philadelphia PA

Schedule subject to change. For more information, visit the Wizard World web site.

Sean Astin discusses Kickstarter at FilmBreak's Fireside chat

On October 23, Sean Astin took part in a Fireside Chat hosted by FilmBreak to discuss his Kickstarter campaign to fund a second season of his political podcast, "Vox Populi: The Voice of the Occasionally Interested People." He honestly discussed the ins and outs of his Kickstarter project. Here are some photos and the video of the evening.

Sean Astin with another successful Kickstarter campaigner, Stephen Walden of Bosse Tools.

Producer talks about Sean Astin's role in The Freemason

Sean Astin is not only the star of the upcoming masonic murder mystery "The Freemason," premiering December 7 in Salt Lake City, he also has executive producing credits. Producer Joseph James explains why.

Sean Astin as Detective Leon Weed

The Naughty List Trailer

He may have been a hobbit in The Lord of the Rings, but Sean Astin voices the naughty elf, Winter, in the animated cartoon "The Naughty List," scheduled to be released on DVD November 12, and air on the Cartoon Network December 7. The movie also includes the voice talents of Drake Bell, Naya Rivera, Matthew Lilliard and Kyle Chandler. Here is a trailer for the program.



Note: Sean also plays a very different sort of elf in another upcoming Christmas special, Santa Switch.

Sean Astin in Stan Lee's Mighty 7

Sean Astin will star alongside Darren Criss, Christian Slater, Mayim Bialik, Teri Hatcher, Flea, Jim Belushi, Michael Ironside and Stan Lee himself in the upcoming trilogy of animated films "Stan Lee's Mighty 7."

In the story, Stan Lee is hired by Archie Comics to create a new group of superheroes. He finds himself stumped with writer’s block and heads to the desert to clear his mind. When seven aliens suddenly crash land near him and start demonstrating their various superpowers, he decides, “Perfect! They will be come my next superheroes!” But almost instantly, he realizes they are being chased by the military and aliens from their own planet, and he needs to act quickly. He makes the decision to have them move into his house in Malibu where he will teach them everything they need to know about being superheroes. Comedy and adventure ensue as the aliens try to adapt to life on earth, and their new roles as superheroes, all the while running for their lives! Source

Sean voices Kid Energy, a half-alien, half-human hybrid teen who was born on Earth to a Chinese woman. He’s an action junkie driven by the need for attention, and his crimes were always larger than life. He once stole a planet’s moon. He has a big crush on Silver Skylark. He’s drawn to games of chance and taking risks. He has a con artist’s mind and sees Strong Arm as a father figure. Source



More details on plot and characters here.

Update: The first of the films is scheduled to air on The Hub Network on February 1, 2014, 8pm EST. A 26-episode series is also planned.