While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon)  and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.

According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.

Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene,  Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.

WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?

Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”

The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”

MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE

In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.

Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.

So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

On Beyond the Gates, Andre Richardson’s (Sean Freeman) “happily” married life to Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) is about to be tested like never before on upcoming episodes of the CBS soap opera the week of August 17-21.

After the shocking reveal on the Friday, August 14 cliffhanger, viewers learned that the person who was sending Andre ominous text messages is none other than The Impaler herself, Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones). Clearly from the latest promo for the action at the Bowman hotel and in and around Fairmont Crest (see below), Andre knows Heather quite well, as she makes moves on him.

While all this is going down, Dani tries to diffuse the Dupree family for thinking there is anything going on between her and her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Dani’s behavior over Bill being in the hospital has been of someone who is still deeply in love with the guy (specially because of her very public outbursts) and as viewers know, she recently had sex with her ex in the elevator at the country club during a tornado!

Courtesy/CBS

HEATHER ARMSTRONG IS ON THE HUNT FOR ANDRE

Poor Andre has no idea about the elevator liaison, and recently visited Bill in his hospital room to tell him to stay away from his wife, when and if he gets out of his hospital bed! But now, the tables may be turned, if Heather gets her claws into Andre.

Take a look at the official Beyond the Gates spoilers for this week below.

Monday, August 17 
Andre is pulled down by his past. Tensions mount between Tomas and Naomi. Chelsea and Kat pair fashion with controversy. Vernon confronts Bill about his intentions with Dani.

Tuesday, August 18
Bill flirts with disaster. Hayley and Ashley clash. Eva’s words instigate Leslie. Carlton gives Ted a major update while Nicole does the same with Vanessa. Shanice fields an unanticipated request. Smitty disappoints Martin.

Wednesday, August 19
Nicole’s plan saves the night for Noah. Dani and Andre color outside the lines. Jacob enlists Grayson and Ashley to surprise Naomi. Vernon’s plans for Anita get interrupted.

Thursday, August 20 
Leslie’s forced to reckon with her past in order to move on with her future. Bill and Ted bond over their shared history. An unexpected reaction causes Nicole to self-examine in front of Kial. Eva and Izaiah divulge some hard truths with each other.

Friday, August 21
Chelsea is haunted by unresolved trauma while her father reaches his breaking point. Dani locks horns with Hayley. Randy tails Heather. Madison gets conflicting information from two adversaries. Andre issues a threat.

Now below, check out the CBS promo for all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates.

Then let us know, do you think Andre knows just how dangerous Heather is … or he has no idea? Will Heather blackmail him into sex, or will he go willingly? Is the end of Andre and Dani for good, or will he continue to be the upstanding guy in their relationship, even though he knows in his heart that he cannot compete with the pull of Dani towards Bill? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

Beyond the Gates scored 15 Daytime Emmy nominations, the best-ever showing for a series entering the Daytime Emmy race in history for the first time. Among those 15 nominations came the news of the well-deserved nod for Tamara Tunie as Outstanding Lead Actress for her role of Anita Williams Dupree.

Tunie is nominated in the Lead Actress category along with her TV daughter, Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree). For both actresses, this marks their first Daytime Emmy nominations.

However, one of the main actors on the show, Clifton Davis, who plays Anita’s husband, Vernon Dupree, did not make the list for the Lead Actor finalists.

Photo: CBS

CLIFTON DAVIS TOOK LEAD ACTOR OMISSION ‘LIKE A CHAMP’

In a talk with Gold Derby, Tunie addressed the omission by sharing, awards are a “dice roll from year to year.” She shared she hopes in 2027 Davis will get his due. Tamara offered up Clifton’s reaction to not being amongst the cast going for gold on October 30, the night of the Daytime Emmys in Hollywood.

“There were several other people who were overlooked, not just Clifton, and it’s all with a grain of salt, and it’s not a reflection on the work in any way, shape, or form,” the veteran actress explained. “Oftentimes, as we know in this business, there are other considerations and things that happen. Some votes may cancel out other votes, and it just doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t diminish that he’s a legend, and he always will be. He took it like a champ. He’s been doing this long enough to understand that it doesn’t reflect the work at all.”

JOY MIXED WITH SORROW AFTER THE PASSING OF AS THE WORLD TURNS’ SCOTT BRYCE

In addition to the joy of scoring her long overdue Emmy nomination, Tunie also experienced incredible sorrow. The night before the Daytime Emmy nominations were revealed for Lead Actress on Monday, July 13, came the news that Tamara’s longtime friend and As the World Turns co-star, Scott Bryce, has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 68.

It was gut-punch to Tamara’s soul. She recalled, “He was my brother. I was so heartbroken and low, and then the announcement came that I was nominated, and it lifted my spirits tremendously. At the same time, it was bittersweet and poignant, because I know that Scotty would have been the first one to pick up the phone and call me.”

Bryce appeared as Craig Montgomery on the CBS soap opera from 1982–1991, 1993–1994, and 2007–2008. Tamara Tunie played Jessica Griffin from 1987 to February 1995, 1999 -2007, and one final appearance in 2009.

To honor her beloved friend, while Tunie was not able to attend Scott’s Celebration of Life service in Connecticut on July 25, she did write a beautiful tribute that was read during the memorial to the attendees.

TAMARA TUNIE’S DAYTIME-EMMY NOMINATED REEL SCENE SELECTIONS

Tamara also shared what scenes were on her nominated reel which includes: “Anita doing a rap, Anita being her own female impersonator, and Anita in what I call my Michael Corleone moment, when Dani has shot up the wedding and she comes into the house and I say, ‘Is this my daughter I see before me? How dare you!'”

In addition, Anita’s cancer journey is also part of the reel. Tunie explained how she was able to play the story which suc poignancy. “I have loved ones who have been on that cancer journey. Some survived, some did not. I was able to pull a lot of emotional information because of my experiences with loved ones.”

So, do you feel Clifton Davis was a definite Lead Actor Daytime Emmy snub? Are you rooting for Tamara to pick up the gold statuette given the heartbreaking loss of Scott Bryce and the scenes on her nominated reel? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.