The 21st century is when everything changes.
British science fiction has been a lot of things. It was both cheesier and campier than its American counterpart, and yet also darker, grittier, and less afraid to tackle grown-up themes and bleaker outcomes. It had been a joke, and critically acclaimed, and it had all but died off except for some under-the-radar contenders.
And then something major happened: Doctor Who came back. It was always going to happen eventually – just look how many times The Tomorrow People has been remade. But Doctor Who didn’t just come back, it came back and became the biggest show in the country, on purpose.
Suddenly, the people in charge thought that maybe TV shows about ideas, and technology, and realities ahead of and besides our own could draw an audience, only this time they were taking it seriously and spending actual money on it. And...
British science fiction has been a lot of things. It was both cheesier and campier than its American counterpart, and yet also darker, grittier, and less afraid to tackle grown-up themes and bleaker outcomes. It had been a joke, and critically acclaimed, and it had all but died off except for some under-the-radar contenders.
And then something major happened: Doctor Who came back. It was always going to happen eventually – just look how many times The Tomorrow People has been remade. But Doctor Who didn’t just come back, it came back and became the biggest show in the country, on purpose.
Suddenly, the people in charge thought that maybe TV shows about ideas, and technology, and realities ahead of and besides our own could draw an audience, only this time they were taking it seriously and spending actual money on it. And...
- 4/5/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Global production giant Fremantle is still hungry. On Tuesday the Bertelsmann-controlled group signed a deal for another major acquisition, entering into a conditional purchase agreement to take control of Asacha Media Group, a private-equity-backed company that owns several high-profile production companies in the U.K., France, and Italy.
The acquisition of Asacha Media Group follows Fremantle’s recent deal to take an 80 percent stake in Singapore-based TV group Beach House Pictures. The investment in the two companies will cost Fremantle parent company Rtl Group $217 million (€200 million), Rtl Group said Tuesday.
Asacha’s production portfolio includes France’s Srab Films, producer of Venice winner Happening and official French Oscar contenders Les Misérables and Saint Omar; Picomedia, producer of hit Italian drama series The Sea Beyond; and British group Red Planet Pictures, known for such series as Death in Paradise and Life on Mars. Other Asacha-owned companies part of the Fremantle...
The acquisition of Asacha Media Group follows Fremantle’s recent deal to take an 80 percent stake in Singapore-based TV group Beach House Pictures. The investment in the two companies will cost Fremantle parent company Rtl Group $217 million (€200 million), Rtl Group said Tuesday.
Asacha’s production portfolio includes France’s Srab Films, producer of Venice winner Happening and official French Oscar contenders Les Misérables and Saint Omar; Picomedia, producer of hit Italian drama series The Sea Beyond; and British group Red Planet Pictures, known for such series as Death in Paradise and Life on Mars. Other Asacha-owned companies part of the Fremantle...
- 2/20/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rick Wakeman is hanging up his sequined cape after one final U.S. tour. “I always planned to stop touring by my 77th birthday,” the prog rock keyboardist said in a statement, “for those of you who wish to send me a card, it’s May 18th! — but there is so much to fit in before then that I’m having to make plans now, and so my final one-man shows will have to cease by that date.”
The first leg of the tour kicks off March 19 at the Ridgefield Playhouse,...
The first leg of the tour kicks off March 19 at the Ridgefield Playhouse,...
- 1/22/2024
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Dakota Johnson has talked about the experience of filming superhero spin-off Madame Web – in particular acting against a blue screen for its effects sequences.
In a relatively quiet year for superhero movies, Sony’s Spider-Man spin-off, Madame Web, is the first of 2024’s offerings to emerge – it’s out in February in the UK.
Dakota Johnson stars as Cassandra Web, the titular heroine whose psychic powers give her the ability to see into the future. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson describes the film as more “human and grounded” than most superhero fare, though that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its action set-pieces.
In fact, Johnson hints that she was quite perturbed by the CGI-heavy sections of the film in which she was asked to perform in front of a blue screen as people off-camera yelled stage directions.
“I’ve never really done a movie where you are on a blue screen,...
In a relatively quiet year for superhero movies, Sony’s Spider-Man spin-off, Madame Web, is the first of 2024’s offerings to emerge – it’s out in February in the UK.
Dakota Johnson stars as Cassandra Web, the titular heroine whose psychic powers give her the ability to see into the future. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson describes the film as more “human and grounded” than most superhero fare, though that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its action set-pieces.
In fact, Johnson hints that she was quite perturbed by the CGI-heavy sections of the film in which she was asked to perform in front of a blue screen as people off-camera yelled stage directions.
“I’ve never really done a movie where you are on a blue screen,...
- 1/22/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
This Monday at 8:00 Pm on Travel, “Mysteries of the Unknown” Season 3 Episode 107, titled “Life on Mars, Tunguska Incident, and Bay of Pigs,” promises a captivating exploration of enigmatic phenomena that have left the world puzzled. In this episode, viewers are taken on a journey that includes a cosmic communique that baffles a brilliant scientist, a mysterious blast that obliterates a Siberian forest in the Tunguska Incident, and a seemingly trivial event involving a hungry pig that brings two juggernauts to the brink of war during the Bay of Pigs incident.
The episode weaves together these seemingly disparate events, unraveling the mysteries behind each occurrence and providing viewers with an intriguing glimpse into the unknown. With a mix of scientific analysis and historical context, “Mysteries of the Unknown” continues to be a must-watch for those fascinated by the unexplained, offering a thought-provoking and immersive experience.
Release Date & Time: 8:00 Pm...
The episode weaves together these seemingly disparate events, unraveling the mysteries behind each occurrence and providing viewers with an intriguing glimpse into the unknown. With a mix of scientific analysis and historical context, “Mysteries of the Unknown” continues to be a must-watch for those fascinated by the unexplained, offering a thought-provoking and immersive experience.
Release Date & Time: 8:00 Pm...
- 12/4/2023
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
It’s fitting that Studio N is based in Seoul’s Hannam-dong. The neighborhood is one of the most affluent in South Korea, and it is home to some of the Korean celebrities who make their living starring in webtoon adaptations produced by the company. If you watch a high-profile K-drama in the U.S. this fall, there are good odds it will come out of Studio N. The company is a subsidiary of Naver storytelling platform Webtoon, and has become a go-to production partner for some of the biggest...
- 11/13/2023
- by Kayti Burt
- Rollingstone.com
Doona was released on October 20th, 2023 on Netflix. Netflix has done it again – this time it’s attempting to expand the K-Drama horizon by releasing ‘Doona!’ which comes as an adaptation of the popular webtoon ‘The Girl Downstairs’.
The Plot of the Debut Series Explained! Netflix
Directed by Jee Jeong Hyo, with the popular production team Studio Dragon.
The K-drama revolves around a college student Lee Won Joon, a boy next door who falls in love with his neighbor Lee Doo Na (A former K-pop star). However, this impossible relationship is challenged when viewers find out that Doo Na is actually hiding a secret that could potentially ruin their relationship.
Wondering what will happen to their extraordinary love story? Tune in to find out when Netflix releases the series – which is scheduled to happen on October 20th, so keep your popcorn ready for a heart-warming story that shows that love...
The Plot of the Debut Series Explained! Netflix
Directed by Jee Jeong Hyo, with the popular production team Studio Dragon.
The K-drama revolves around a college student Lee Won Joon, a boy next door who falls in love with his neighbor Lee Doo Na (A former K-pop star). However, this impossible relationship is challenged when viewers find out that Doo Na is actually hiding a secret that could potentially ruin their relationship.
Wondering what will happen to their extraordinary love story? Tune in to find out when Netflix releases the series – which is scheduled to happen on October 20th, so keep your popcorn ready for a heart-warming story that shows that love...
- 11/12/2023
- by Sumitra Ray
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
A Time Called You is a Korean romantic comedy series created by Choi Hyo-bi. The Netflix series is based on a Taiwanese series named Someday or One Day and it follows the story of Jun-hee, a woman who is still grieving the loss of her boyfriend but she somehow travels back in the body of an 18-year-old girl as she comes to term with her new reality she meets Si-heon, a guy who looks just like her lost love. So, if you loved A Time Called You here are some similar shows you could watch next.
See You in My 19th Life (Netflix) Credit – tvN
Synopsis: Ban Ji-eum can endlessly reincarnate. But when her 18th life gets cut short, she dedicates the next one to finding her now grown-up childhood love.
Life on Mars (Britbox & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – BBC
Synopsis: A fast-paced, suspenseful crime series with a twist. After a near-fatal car accident,...
See You in My 19th Life (Netflix) Credit – tvN
Synopsis: Ban Ji-eum can endlessly reincarnate. But when her 18th life gets cut short, she dedicates the next one to finding her now grown-up childhood love.
Life on Mars (Britbox & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – BBC
Synopsis: A fast-paced, suspenseful crime series with a twist. After a near-fatal car accident,...
- 9/9/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
When Is The Netflix K-drama Doona! Coming? Well, Doona! Is an upcoming South Korean Netflix Original romantic K-drama that fans are eagerly anticipating.
Based on the beloved webtoon of the same name, the series promises to captivate viewers with its heartfelt storyline and endearing characters.
Under the skilled direction of Lee Jeong Hyo, known for his work on other hit K-dramas like Crash Landing on You, Romance is a Bonus Book, and Life on Mars, audiences can expect a seamless and emotionally engaging viewing experience.
The production team behind the series is none other than Studio Dragon, a renowned studio responsible for Netflix hits such as Love Alarm, My Holo Love, and Sweet Home, proving their ability to deliver engaging and visually stunning productions.
Currently, Studio Dragon is hard at work on another Netflix adaptation, The Girl Downstairs. Starring the talented Bae Suzy as Lee Doo Na, Doona! Has recently wrapped up filming,...
Based on the beloved webtoon of the same name, the series promises to captivate viewers with its heartfelt storyline and endearing characters.
Under the skilled direction of Lee Jeong Hyo, known for his work on other hit K-dramas like Crash Landing on You, Romance is a Bonus Book, and Life on Mars, audiences can expect a seamless and emotionally engaging viewing experience.
The production team behind the series is none other than Studio Dragon, a renowned studio responsible for Netflix hits such as Love Alarm, My Holo Love, and Sweet Home, proving their ability to deliver engaging and visually stunning productions.
Currently, Studio Dragon is hard at work on another Netflix adaptation, The Girl Downstairs. Starring the talented Bae Suzy as Lee Doo Na, Doona! Has recently wrapped up filming,...
- 7/30/2023
- by Om Prakash Kaushal
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
Yungblud‘s greatest battles are both internal and external on his latest single “Lowlife.” Internally, both literally and figuratively, he can’t get out of the bed, out of the house, or out of his own head. Externally, he can’t get his name out of everyone else’s mouth. Finding himself lower than rock bottom, the British musician settles in there instead of crying to claw his way out.
“I wrote ‘Lowlife’ because I just didn’t want to leave my house. I was sick of people, of games,...
“I wrote ‘Lowlife’ because I just didn’t want to leave my house. I was sick of people, of games,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Life on Mars will not have another sequel series after all. The creators of the UK series have announced that the planned spin-off, titled Lazarus, will not be happening, per Deadline.
The original Life on Mars series aired for two seasons on BBC One between 2006 and 2007. Starring John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, and Marshall Lancaster, the sci-fi series follows a cop (Simm) from 2006 who finds himself thrown back in time to 1970s Manchester.
A spin-off series titled Ashes to Ashes, featuring Keeley Hawes as a police officer who is shot in 2008 and wakes up in 1981, ran for three seasons in the UK. ABC ran its own version of Life on Mars starring Jason O'Mara and Harvey Keitel. It was cancelled after one season but viewers still...
The original Life on Mars series aired for two seasons on BBC One between 2006 and 2007. Starring John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, and Marshall Lancaster, the sci-fi series follows a cop (Simm) from 2006 who finds himself thrown back in time to 1970s Manchester.
A spin-off series titled Ashes to Ashes, featuring Keeley Hawes as a police officer who is shot in 2008 and wakes up in 1981, ran for three seasons in the UK. ABC ran its own version of Life on Mars starring Jason O'Mara and Harvey Keitel. It was cancelled after one season but viewers still...
- 6/5/2023
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
There’s an elite tier of TV dramas that stay with you, vividly, for decades after they air, and seventies-set sci-fi crime drama Life on Mars was the perfect example. So fervent was the show’s fanbase, that even 15 years after it aired – introducing us to detective Sam Tyler (Grace’s John Simm), who has a car crash in 2006 and wakes up mysteriously trapped in 1973 – the news of a planned revival during a lockdown live tweet-along in 2020 was enthusiastically received.
This revival was later fittingly dubbed Lazarus – once again named after a David Bowie song, like Life on Mars and its sequel Ashes to Ashes – but we’ve now received the sad confirmation from the show’s creators that the reboot won’t be going ahead after all:
It is with a heavy heart that the creators of #LifeOnMars have confirmed that the highly anticipated revival show, #Lazarus, will no longer be moving forward.
This revival was later fittingly dubbed Lazarus – once again named after a David Bowie song, like Life on Mars and its sequel Ashes to Ashes – but we’ve now received the sad confirmation from the show’s creators that the reboot won’t be going ahead after all:
It is with a heavy heart that the creators of #LifeOnMars have confirmed that the highly anticipated revival show, #Lazarus, will no longer be moving forward.
- 6/5/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Life on Mars was one of the UK’s most popular dramas when it aired a decade and a half ago, and its many fans were geared up for the highly anticipated revival show Lazarus.
However, the show’s creators Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah have announced this will no longer be happening. The team took to social media on Saturday to report to fans:
It is with a heavy heart that the creators of #LifeOnMars have confirmed that the highly anticipated revival show, #Lazarus, will no longer be moving forward.
Many thanks to Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah for these past 3 years in your efforts to reunite Sam Tyler & Gene Hunt...
However, the show’s creators Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah have announced this will no longer be happening. The team took to social media on Saturday to report to fans:
It is with a heavy heart that the creators of #LifeOnMars have confirmed that the highly anticipated revival show, #Lazarus, will no longer be moving forward.
Many thanks to Matthew Graham & Ashley Pharoah for these past 3 years in your efforts to reunite Sam Tyler & Gene Hunt...
- 6/4/2023
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
In 1973, the killer of Welsh teenagers Sandra Newton, Pauline Flynn and Gwendoline Hughes was not caught, despite a high-profile and widespread investigation by South Wales Police. The girls’ families spent the next three decades not knowing who was responsible for brutally taking the lives of their loved ones, or whether he still lived alongside them in the local Neath and Port Talbot communities.
In 2002, a development in forensics changed everything. The cold case was reopened with much pared-down resources, and crime scene DNA was successfully used to identify Wales’ first recorded serial killer. Steeltown Murders is the story of the loss, guilt and suspicion that followed the 1970s murders, and of the perseverance of the officers who were eventually able to provide the victims’ families with the answers they’d been denied years before.
Here are the actors making up the cast behind Steeltown Murders‘ dramatisation of real-life figures and events.
In 2002, a development in forensics changed everything. The cold case was reopened with much pared-down resources, and crime scene DNA was successfully used to identify Wales’ first recorded serial killer. Steeltown Murders is the story of the loss, guilt and suspicion that followed the 1970s murders, and of the perseverance of the officers who were eventually able to provide the victims’ families with the answers they’d been denied years before.
Here are the actors making up the cast behind Steeltown Murders‘ dramatisation of real-life figures and events.
- 5/15/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Talent, relationships, and independence are the pillars Jane Featherstone is (again) betting her business on.
The veteran U.K. producer, and former CEO of Kudos, whose long list of credits include such groundbreaking, and global, shows as Broadchurch, Life on Mars, Spooks, Utopia, and Chernobyl, gave the keynote address at the MIPTV 2023, where she outlined the philosophy behind Sister Pictures, the company she runs with executive chair Elisabeth Murdoch and CEO Stacey Snider.
“When I set up Sister in 2015, it was about content and talent,” said Featherstone. “For me, that drives everything we do. It’s about working with the creatives we get to work with, and how we tell stories with people that innovate and break new ground. [It’s] always about the people. Everything in our business is about people and relationships.”
She noted that it was good to be back in person at MIPTV, “breaking bread with people and...
The veteran U.K. producer, and former CEO of Kudos, whose long list of credits include such groundbreaking, and global, shows as Broadchurch, Life on Mars, Spooks, Utopia, and Chernobyl, gave the keynote address at the MIPTV 2023, where she outlined the philosophy behind Sister Pictures, the company she runs with executive chair Elisabeth Murdoch and CEO Stacey Snider.
“When I set up Sister in 2015, it was about content and talent,” said Featherstone. “For me, that drives everything we do. It’s about working with the creatives we get to work with, and how we tell stories with people that innovate and break new ground. [It’s] always about the people. Everything in our business is about people and relationships.”
She noted that it was good to be back in person at MIPTV, “breaking bread with people and...
- 4/17/2023
- by Liza Foreman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Elizabeth Hubbard, who appeared 14 times on Broadway and had long runs as Dr. Althea Davis and the cutthroat Lucinda Walsh on the daytime soap operas The Doctors and As the World Turns, respectively, has died. She was 89.
Hubbard died Saturday of cancer at her home in Roxbury, Connecticut, her son, Jeremy Bennett, told The Hollywood Reporter.
On the big screen, Hubbard played the gynecologist girlfriend of Gene Hackman’s character in I Never Sang for My Father (1970) and appeared in The Bell Jar (1979), Ordinary People (1980), Cold River (1982) and Center Stage (2000).
She portrayed Dr. Althea on NBC’s The Doctors from 1964-82 and the manipulating mogul Lucinda on CBS’ As the World Turns from 1984 until the show’s conclusion in September 2010. (Lucinda and Larry Bryggman’s John Dixon headed off to Amsterdam at the end.)
“I’ve been so lucky playing Lucinda — a character who could do anything,” she told TV Guide in 2010. “She could lie,...
Hubbard died Saturday of cancer at her home in Roxbury, Connecticut, her son, Jeremy Bennett, told The Hollywood Reporter.
On the big screen, Hubbard played the gynecologist girlfriend of Gene Hackman’s character in I Never Sang for My Father (1970) and appeared in The Bell Jar (1979), Ordinary People (1980), Cold River (1982) and Center Stage (2000).
She portrayed Dr. Althea on NBC’s The Doctors from 1964-82 and the manipulating mogul Lucinda on CBS’ As the World Turns from 1984 until the show’s conclusion in September 2010. (Lucinda and Larry Bryggman’s John Dixon headed off to Amsterdam at the end.)
“I’ve been so lucky playing Lucinda — a character who could do anything,” she told TV Guide in 2010. “She could lie,...
- 4/10/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“As the World Turns” star Elizabeth Hubbard has passed away at age 89.
The actress, who nabbed eight Daytime Emmy nominations for her role as Lucinda Walsh on the hit show, passed away over the weekend.
Hubbard’s son Jeremy Bennett shared an emotional post on Facebook confirming the sad news.
“I’m sorry to say with a broken heart mi mum passed over the weekend,” he wrote, alongside a photo.
“Thank you for being an unmovable rock that guided me through life. I will try to honour your memory for as long as I live.”
As well as her “As the World Turns” Daytime Emmy noms, she also won two gongs for other roles — one in 1974 for playing Dr. Althea Davis on NBC’s “The Doctors”, and another in 1976 for the TV movie “First Ladies Diaries: Edith Wilson”.
Read More: S Club 7 Star Paul Cattermole Dies At Age 46
Over the years,...
The actress, who nabbed eight Daytime Emmy nominations for her role as Lucinda Walsh on the hit show, passed away over the weekend.
Hubbard’s son Jeremy Bennett shared an emotional post on Facebook confirming the sad news.
“I’m sorry to say with a broken heart mi mum passed over the weekend,” he wrote, alongside a photo.
“Thank you for being an unmovable rock that guided me through life. I will try to honour your memory for as long as I live.”
As well as her “As the World Turns” Daytime Emmy noms, she also won two gongs for other roles — one in 1974 for playing Dr. Althea Davis on NBC’s “The Doctors”, and another in 1976 for the TV movie “First Ladies Diaries: Edith Wilson”.
Read More: S Club 7 Star Paul Cattermole Dies At Age 46
Over the years,...
- 4/10/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
David Bowie was one of the most innovative and influential musicians of the 20th century.
He was truly a visionary, pushing the boundaries of music with his unique style and sound. He experimented with genres from rock ’n’ roll to glam rock to soul, often blending different styles into something new and exciting. His lyrics were full of wit, humor and social commentary, with a hint of surrealism.
Bowie left an indelible mark on popular culture, inspiring generations of musicians and fans alike. To truly appreciate the brilliance of Bowie’s music, you have to dive into his back catalog and explore his greatest songs. We will take a journey through Bowie’s greatest hits, examining why they remain so timeless and effective today.
Overview of Bowie’s Musical Career
David Bowie was a musical genius and icon whose influence is still present today, more than four years after his...
He was truly a visionary, pushing the boundaries of music with his unique style and sound. He experimented with genres from rock ’n’ roll to glam rock to soul, often blending different styles into something new and exciting. His lyrics were full of wit, humor and social commentary, with a hint of surrealism.
Bowie left an indelible mark on popular culture, inspiring generations of musicians and fans alike. To truly appreciate the brilliance of Bowie’s music, you have to dive into his back catalog and explore his greatest songs. We will take a journey through Bowie’s greatest hits, examining why they remain so timeless and effective today.
Overview of Bowie’s Musical Career
David Bowie was a musical genius and icon whose influence is still present today, more than four years after his...
- 4/6/2023
- by Music Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Music
Powerhouse producer Sister has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the Variety International Achievement in Television Award, to be presented at global content market MipTV in April.
The award is presented in recognition of leadership and innovation in the international television marketplace with co-founder and chief content officer Jane Featherstone accepting the award in Cannes for all three founders, including executive chair Elisabeth Murdoch and CEO Stacey Snider, and the wider company.
Featherstone is a pioneering producer responsible for some of the U.K.’s most ground-breaking and beloved TV shows. As the former chief executive of Kudos and co-chairman of Shine U.K., Featherstone helped to grow the company into one of the country’s most recognized independent outfits. Under her leadership, Kudos produced such acclaimed shows as “Broadchurch,” “Life on Mars,” “Spooks,” “The Hour” and “Utopia’, to the breakout BAFTA- and Golden Globe-winning drama sensation “Chernobyl” for HBO...
The award is presented in recognition of leadership and innovation in the international television marketplace with co-founder and chief content officer Jane Featherstone accepting the award in Cannes for all three founders, including executive chair Elisabeth Murdoch and CEO Stacey Snider, and the wider company.
Featherstone is a pioneering producer responsible for some of the U.K.’s most ground-breaking and beloved TV shows. As the former chief executive of Kudos and co-chairman of Shine U.K., Featherstone helped to grow the company into one of the country’s most recognized independent outfits. Under her leadership, Kudos produced such acclaimed shows as “Broadchurch,” “Life on Mars,” “Spooks,” “The Hour” and “Utopia’, to the breakout BAFTA- and Golden Globe-winning drama sensation “Chernobyl” for HBO...
- 3/28/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
On the JoBlo Movies YouTube channel, we will be posting one full movie every other day throughout the week, giving viewers the chance to watch them entirely free of charge. The Free Movie of the Day we have for you today is the comedy Toast, starring Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore. You can watch it over on the YouTube channel linked above, or you can just watch it in the embed at the top of this article.
Directed by S.J. Clarkson from a screenplay by Lee Hall, Toast is based on the memoir by Nigel Slater. The film has the following synopsis: Wolverhampton,1967: nine year old Nigel Slater loves his mother though she is a hopeless cook, her finest offering being toast whilst he has great culinary aspirations. When she dies of asthma Nigel is left with a distant father but worse is to come when the ‘common’ Mrs.
Directed by S.J. Clarkson from a screenplay by Lee Hall, Toast is based on the memoir by Nigel Slater. The film has the following synopsis: Wolverhampton,1967: nine year old Nigel Slater loves his mother though she is a hopeless cook, her finest offering being toast whilst he has great culinary aspirations. When she dies of asthma Nigel is left with a distant father but worse is to come when the ‘common’ Mrs.
- 3/17/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Prominent U.S. producer Christina Wayne, who shepherded “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad,” has been appointed managing director of Mbc Studios, the expanding production arm of top Middle East broadcaster Mbc Group.
Wayne will replace Peter Smith, the former president of NBCUniversal, who over the past four years has overseen a surge in the Saudi-owned broadcaster’s production activity while launching its Shahid VIP streaming service, alongside its linear channels. Mbc Studios is now pumping hundreds of millions of dollars in high-end productions in Saudi Arabia as part of the ongoing effort to help kickstart the kingdom’s nascent industry. To this end, Mbc significantly moved its headquarters from Dubai to Riyadh last year.
In her new role, Wayne will continue Mbc Studios’ “ongoing work in expanding the reach of its content to audiences around the world, leveraging the continuous trend for non-English-language television content to reach more global markets,...
Wayne will replace Peter Smith, the former president of NBCUniversal, who over the past four years has overseen a surge in the Saudi-owned broadcaster’s production activity while launching its Shahid VIP streaming service, alongside its linear channels. Mbc Studios is now pumping hundreds of millions of dollars in high-end productions in Saudi Arabia as part of the ongoing effort to help kickstart the kingdom’s nascent industry. To this end, Mbc significantly moved its headquarters from Dubai to Riyadh last year.
In her new role, Wayne will continue Mbc Studios’ “ongoing work in expanding the reach of its content to audiences around the world, leveraging the continuous trend for non-English-language television content to reach more global markets,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Veteran TV exec Peter Smith is stepping down as managing director of Mbc Studios, the production arm of top Middle East broadcaster Mbc Group.
Smith, a former president of NBCUniversal, had joined Saudi-owned Mbc in 2018 as it ramped up production while launching its Shahid VIP streaming service, alongside its linear channels. Over the following four years he oversaw a burst in production activity as Mbc Studios pumped hundreds of millions of dollars in high-end productions in Saudi Arabia as part of the ongoing effort to help kickstart the kingdom’s nascent industry. Mbc moved its headquarters from Dubai to Riyadh last year.
Smith has lead the production of many flagship Mbc Studios shows, including “Rashash, Rise of the Witches”; “The Devil’s Promise,” which is a series created by Tony Jordan (“Life on Mars”) helmed by British director Colin Teague; “Slave Market”; and big-budget Saudi actioner “Desert Warrior,” featuring an all-star...
Smith, a former president of NBCUniversal, had joined Saudi-owned Mbc in 2018 as it ramped up production while launching its Shahid VIP streaming service, alongside its linear channels. Over the following four years he oversaw a burst in production activity as Mbc Studios pumped hundreds of millions of dollars in high-end productions in Saudi Arabia as part of the ongoing effort to help kickstart the kingdom’s nascent industry. Mbc moved its headquarters from Dubai to Riyadh last year.
Smith has lead the production of many flagship Mbc Studios shows, including “Rashash, Rise of the Witches”; “The Devil’s Promise,” which is a series created by Tony Jordan (“Life on Mars”) helmed by British director Colin Teague; “Slave Market”; and big-budget Saudi actioner “Desert Warrior,” featuring an all-star...
- 1/26/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Released by David Bowie’s estate in 2022, Divine Symmetry, subtitled “An Alternative Journey Through Hunky Dory,” is a 4-disc collection chronicling the year’s work leading to David Bowie’s fourth studio album. Demos, previously unreleased tracks, and live recordings capture the sound of a vision in a state of flux.
As its lead single, “Changes,” makes clear, Hunky Dory, released on Dec. 17, 1971, presented a notable metamorphosis for the artist who would go on to define transformation. This worked against Bowie as his label, RCA Records, worried he would reframe his image again, and did not promote the single. Hunky Dory didn’t chart until after the release of Bowie’s 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.
Bowie had only landed one hit during his tenure at Mercury Records, and it would have marked him as a novelty singer. “Space Oddity” charted five days before the Apollo 11 launch in 1969. His third album,...
As its lead single, “Changes,” makes clear, Hunky Dory, released on Dec. 17, 1971, presented a notable metamorphosis for the artist who would go on to define transformation. This worked against Bowie as his label, RCA Records, worried he would reframe his image again, and did not promote the single. Hunky Dory didn’t chart until after the release of Bowie’s 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.
Bowie had only landed one hit during his tenure at Mercury Records, and it would have marked him as a novelty singer. “Space Oddity” charted five days before the Apollo 11 launch in 1969. His third album,...
- 1/10/2023
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
Netflix has commissioned Korean webtoon adaptation Doona!, to be directed by Crash Landing On You director Lee Jung-hyo, while revealing new figures on the global consumption of Korean content in 2022.
Set to star Suzy and Yang Se-jong, Doona! is a coming-of-age story revolving around the romance between a K-pop star and an ordinary college student. Suzy is a former member of K-pop group, Miss A, and has recently starred in web series Start-Up, Anna and Uncontrollably Fond. Yang’s credits include Temperature Of Love, Still 17 and Dr. Romantic.
Based on a popular Naver webtoon, Doona! is produced by Studio Dragon, Showrunners and Studio N. In addition to Crash Landing On You, one of Netflix’s most popular K-dramas, Lee has also directed Romance Is A Bonus Book and the Korean version of BBC drama Life On Mars.
Netflix announced the show along with figures revealing that more than 60 of global...
Set to star Suzy and Yang Se-jong, Doona! is a coming-of-age story revolving around the romance between a K-pop star and an ordinary college student. Suzy is a former member of K-pop group, Miss A, and has recently starred in web series Start-Up, Anna and Uncontrollably Fond. Yang’s credits include Temperature Of Love, Still 17 and Dr. Romantic.
Based on a popular Naver webtoon, Doona! is produced by Studio Dragon, Showrunners and Studio N. In addition to Crash Landing On You, one of Netflix’s most popular K-dramas, Lee has also directed Romance Is A Bonus Book and the Korean version of BBC drama Life On Mars.
Netflix announced the show along with figures revealing that more than 60 of global...
- 12/12/2022
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
A version of this story about “Moonage Daydream” first appeared in the Guild & Critics Awards/Documentaries issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
Brett Morgen’s previous documentaries have covered such notable figures as Kurt Cobain (“Montage of Heck”), Robert Evans (“The Kid Stays in the Picture”), Jane Goodall (“Jane”) and the Rolling Stones (“Crossfire Hurricane”). He tackles another titanic figure in “Moonage Daydream” for which he spent years venturing through the exhaustive archives of the late David Bowie.
Rather than following a standard biographical path, the film is structured as an assaultive and immersive IMAX-scaled fantasia. You’ll probably learn something about Bowie, but mostly you’ll experience him.
This is a documentary about David Bowie, but it’s not really a documentary about David Bowie. It’s an immersion into the world of David Bowie, I guess.
Yeah. Saying “a documentary about David Bowie” would be setting up a...
Brett Morgen’s previous documentaries have covered such notable figures as Kurt Cobain (“Montage of Heck”), Robert Evans (“The Kid Stays in the Picture”), Jane Goodall (“Jane”) and the Rolling Stones (“Crossfire Hurricane”). He tackles another titanic figure in “Moonage Daydream” for which he spent years venturing through the exhaustive archives of the late David Bowie.
Rather than following a standard biographical path, the film is structured as an assaultive and immersive IMAX-scaled fantasia. You’ll probably learn something about Bowie, but mostly you’ll experience him.
This is a documentary about David Bowie, but it’s not really a documentary about David Bowie. It’s an immersion into the world of David Bowie, I guess.
Yeah. Saying “a documentary about David Bowie” would be setting up a...
- 12/6/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Brad William Henke, the former NFL player known for his role as prison guard Desi Piscatella in “Orange Is the New Black,” has died. He was 56.
The actor died on Tuesday, according to a rep, but no cause was revealed.
Henke appeared in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” as Desi Piscatella, a gay corrections officer at Litchfield Penitentiary who served as the main antagonist of Season 4 and 5. He shared a SAG Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series in 2017.
He had a lead role in the series “Going to California,” which ran for one season, and also had recurring roles on “Justified,” where he played Coover Bennett, “Lost,” “October Road,” “Nikki” and “Dexter.”
Born on April 10, 1966, in Columbus, Neb., Henke played college football at the University of Arizona, where he was team captain. In 1990, he played on the defensive line for the Denver Broncos...
The actor died on Tuesday, according to a rep, but no cause was revealed.
Henke appeared in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” as Desi Piscatella, a gay corrections officer at Litchfield Penitentiary who served as the main antagonist of Season 4 and 5. He shared a SAG Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series in 2017.
He had a lead role in the series “Going to California,” which ran for one season, and also had recurring roles on “Justified,” where he played Coover Bennett, “Lost,” “October Road,” “Nikki” and “Dexter.”
Born on April 10, 1966, in Columbus, Neb., Henke played college football at the University of Arizona, where he was team captain. In 1990, he played on the defensive line for the Denver Broncos...
- 12/2/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Brad William Henke, a former NFL player who segued to acting and appeared in TV series including Orange Is the New Black, Justified and Lost and such films as Pacific Rim and World Trade Center, has died. He was 56. His family said Henke died in his sleep November 29, but no cause was given.
Born on April 10, 1966, in Columbus, Ne, and raised in Littleton, Co, Henke played college football at the University of Arizona, where he was team captain and an All-Academic student journalist. Drafted by the New York Giants in 1989, he went on to play on the defensive line for the Denver Broncos and appeared in Super Bowl Xxiv.
Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery Related Story 'From' Sci-fi Horror Series Renewed For Season 2 By Epix Related Story Kathryn Kates Dies: 'Many Saints Of Newark', 'Seinfeld' & 'Svu' Actress Was 73
After injuries forced him...
Born on April 10, 1966, in Columbus, Ne, and raised in Littleton, Co, Henke played college football at the University of Arizona, where he was team captain and an All-Academic student journalist. Drafted by the New York Giants in 1989, he went on to play on the defensive line for the Denver Broncos and appeared in Super Bowl Xxiv.
Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery Related Story 'From' Sci-fi Horror Series Renewed For Season 2 By Epix Related Story Kathryn Kates Dies: 'Many Saints Of Newark', 'Seinfeld' & 'Svu' Actress Was 73
After injuries forced him...
- 12/1/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Philip Glenister and Steffan Rhodri are to front a factual-based drama for the BBC.
Filming on Steeltown Murders (working title) has begun in and around South Wales, with Life on Mars and State Play actor Glenister and Gavin and Stacey and In My Skin‘s Rhodri in the lead roles as Dci Paul Bathell and Phil ‘Bach’ Rees. Ed Whitmore (Manhunt) is the writer.
Severn Screen, one of the co-producers on ITV’s high rating 2021 series The Pembrokeshire Murders, is producing in association with All3Media International.
The four part-drama is set in both 1973 and the early 2000s, contrasting the policing methods of the 1970s with the forensic breakthroughs of the early Noughties. It centers on the hunt to catch the killer of three young women in Port Talbot, Wales, and the how the mystery — the first case of its kind — was solved 30 years after the crimes thanks to pioneering DNA evidence.
Filming on Steeltown Murders (working title) has begun in and around South Wales, with Life on Mars and State Play actor Glenister and Gavin and Stacey and In My Skin‘s Rhodri in the lead roles as Dci Paul Bathell and Phil ‘Bach’ Rees. Ed Whitmore (Manhunt) is the writer.
Severn Screen, one of the co-producers on ITV’s high rating 2021 series The Pembrokeshire Murders, is producing in association with All3Media International.
The four part-drama is set in both 1973 and the early 2000s, contrasting the policing methods of the 1970s with the forensic breakthroughs of the early Noughties. It centers on the hunt to catch the killer of three young women in Port Talbot, Wales, and the how the mystery — the first case of its kind — was solved 30 years after the crimes thanks to pioneering DNA evidence.
- 11/8/2022
- by Jesse Whittock and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
In what is being hailed as a milestone, Egyptian director Mohamed Diab recently became the first Arab helmer to direct a Marvel project when he took the reins of the limited series “Moon Knight,” while Netflix launched its latest Arab original show, “Finding Ola,” toplining Cairo-based Tunisian star Hend Sabry. Sabry plays a happy divorcee who embarks on a journey of self-discovery, reflecting changing female roles in the region and the streamer’s thematically groundbreaking Middle East strategy.
Meanwhile, Egyptian producer Mohammed Hefzy, whose production company Film Clinic was behind Netflix’s first Egyptian original skein, “Paranormal,” became a member of the 2022 Intl. Emmy Awards jury.
Hefzy points out that “Moon Knight” “opens doors for other Arab directors in the international TV arena” and notes that Marvel has also hired other behind-the-camera Egyptian talents such as editor Ahmed Hafez and composer Hesham Nazih. But still, it’s a Hollywood show.
Meanwhile, Egyptian producer Mohammed Hefzy, whose production company Film Clinic was behind Netflix’s first Egyptian original skein, “Paranormal,” became a member of the 2022 Intl. Emmy Awards jury.
Hefzy points out that “Moon Knight” “opens doors for other Arab directors in the international TV arena” and notes that Marvel has also hired other behind-the-camera Egyptian talents such as editor Ahmed Hafez and composer Hesham Nazih. But still, it’s a Hollywood show.
- 10/15/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Hunky Dory, David Bowie’s classic album that yielded “Changes” and “Life on Mars?” will be the focus of an upcoming deluxe reissue that collects unreleased home demos, live recordings, radio sessions, and more from the rock legend’s fertile 1971.
Divine Symmetry (An Alternate Journey Through Hunky Dory), arriving Nov. 25 as a 4Cd/1Blu-ray set, features 48 unreleased tracks in total, including Bowie’s own home and hotel recordings for tracks that wound up on Hunky Dory, as well as unreleased songs like “King of the City,” “Tired of My Life...
Divine Symmetry (An Alternate Journey Through Hunky Dory), arriving Nov. 25 as a 4Cd/1Blu-ray set, features 48 unreleased tracks in total, including Bowie’s own home and hotel recordings for tracks that wound up on Hunky Dory, as well as unreleased songs like “King of the City,” “Tired of My Life...
- 9/28/2022
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The first thing you notice while watching Brett Morgen’s Moonage Daydream is David Bowie’s teeth. He smiles a lot. The Thin White Duke, and leader of the Spiders from Mars, is known as a serious artist. Yes, he sang “chubby little loser, national joke” to Ricky Gervais on Extras; mined Bikini Bottom humor for SpongeBob SquarePants; and was certainly happy to make lots of money dancing the blues in his red shoes, but the majority of Bowie’s works, both on screen and audio, are serious studies. Towards the end of the documentary, we hear Bowie say he always thought himself an adventurer, praying for the most exciting life one could have. Morgen shows the artist enjoyed himself immensely, possibly even more than Bowie fans.
Moonage Daydream is Morgen’s third pop-music documentary, following the Rolling Stones film Crossfire Hurricane (2012), and Montage of Heck, his 2015 dive into the...
Moonage Daydream is Morgen’s third pop-music documentary, following the Rolling Stones film Crossfire Hurricane (2012), and Montage of Heck, his 2015 dive into the...
- 9/16/2022
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
“Moonage Daydream” was reviewed by TheWrap out of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.
The David Bowie documentary “Moonage Daydream” begins with a quote in which Bowie talks about Friedrich Nietzsche’s late 19th-century proclamation that God is dead and that humans must become gods themselves. It’s an appropriate enough opening, considering that Bowie’s most famous character, Ziggy Stardust, flirted with Nietzsche-style notions of man and Superman.
But a more telling quote comes later in Brett Morgen’s film, when Bowie talks about his fascination with “an artistic language that deals with fragments and chaos.” Because if there was ever a documentary that embraces the idea of fragments and chaos as organizing principles, it’s “Moonage Daydream,” which abandons all thought of straightforward narrative in favor of an immersive and purposefully mysterious and chaotic Bowie experience.
Or is “purposefully chaotic” a contradiction in terms? Regardless, “Moonage Daydream” is a bracing,...
The David Bowie documentary “Moonage Daydream” begins with a quote in which Bowie talks about Friedrich Nietzsche’s late 19th-century proclamation that God is dead and that humans must become gods themselves. It’s an appropriate enough opening, considering that Bowie’s most famous character, Ziggy Stardust, flirted with Nietzsche-style notions of man and Superman.
But a more telling quote comes later in Brett Morgen’s film, when Bowie talks about his fascination with “an artistic language that deals with fragments and chaos.” Because if there was ever a documentary that embraces the idea of fragments and chaos as organizing principles, it’s “Moonage Daydream,” which abandons all thought of straightforward narrative in favor of an immersive and purposefully mysterious and chaotic Bowie experience.
Or is “purposefully chaotic” a contradiction in terms? Regardless, “Moonage Daydream” is a bracing,...
- 9/15/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Some 25 productions have shot in the region in Saudi Arabia over the past 18 months.
Neom, a futuristic megacity being built in northwestern Saudi Arabia, has announced its anticipated incentive for productions in the region that consists of a cash rebate of at least 40.
The rebate will apply to feature films, TV drama, reality series and documentaries as well as commercials, with producers able to secure a higher percentage based on their “industry development contributions”.
These contributions include elements such as hiring of local production crew and investment in infrastructure, such as set building that can remain behind for use on future projects.
Neom, a futuristic megacity being built in northwestern Saudi Arabia, has announced its anticipated incentive for productions in the region that consists of a cash rebate of at least 40.
The rebate will apply to feature films, TV drama, reality series and documentaries as well as commercials, with producers able to secure a higher percentage based on their “industry development contributions”.
These contributions include elements such as hiring of local production crew and investment in infrastructure, such as set building that can remain behind for use on future projects.
- 9/14/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Some 25 productions have shot in the region in Saudi Arabia over the past 18 months.
Neom, a futuristic megacity being built in northwestern Saudi Arabia, has announced its anticipated incentive for productions in the region that consists of a cash rebate of at least 40.
The rebate will apply to feature films, TV drama, reality series and documentaries as well as commercials, with producers able to secure a higher percentage based on their “industry development contributions”.
These contributions include elements such as hiring of local production crew and investment in infrastructure, such as set building that can remain behind for use on future projects.
Neom, a futuristic megacity being built in northwestern Saudi Arabia, has announced its anticipated incentive for productions in the region that consists of a cash rebate of at least 40.
The rebate will apply to feature films, TV drama, reality series and documentaries as well as commercials, with producers able to secure a higher percentage based on their “industry development contributions”.
These contributions include elements such as hiring of local production crew and investment in infrastructure, such as set building that can remain behind for use on future projects.
- 9/14/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Ten-part adventure-fantasy series is made by Mbc Studios.
Mbc Studios, the production arm of leading Saudi media company Mbc Group, has begun filming Rise Of The Witches – the biggest ever TV series to be made in the country.
The 10-part adventure-fantasy series is being shot on purpose-built sets at Neom, a 500bn megacity that is under construction in the northwest province of Tabuk, and holds the largest ever budget for special effects for a Saudi production, according to Mbc.
The series will feature a predominantly Saudi cast, led by local stars Ida AlKusay and Sumaya Rida, and tells the story...
Mbc Studios, the production arm of leading Saudi media company Mbc Group, has begun filming Rise Of The Witches – the biggest ever TV series to be made in the country.
The 10-part adventure-fantasy series is being shot on purpose-built sets at Neom, a 500bn megacity that is under construction in the northwest province of Tabuk, and holds the largest ever budget for special effects for a Saudi production, according to Mbc.
The series will feature a predominantly Saudi cast, led by local stars Ida AlKusay and Sumaya Rida, and tells the story...
- 8/9/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
It's been more than 25 years since the release of the first Toy Story film, and the franchise still continues to reach audiences of multiple generations to this day. Along with the four Toy Story films, Pixar and Disney brought new life to the film series with the spinoff film "Lightyear," which just hit theaters on Friday, June 17. With an incredible cast that includes Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Uzo Aduba, and Taika Waititi (and notably no Tim Allen), along with an amazing storyline and stunning animation, "Lightyear" is knocking fans of the Toy Story franchise's socks off to infinity and beyond.
The official trailer for "Lightyear" dropped on Feb. 8, and viewers everywhere instantly became curious about the song that perfectly accompanies Buzz Lightyear's space travels. While fans didn't know specific details about the movie's plot at this point, lyrics like "There's a starman waiting in the sky" seemed to perfectly fit the film's theme.
The official trailer for "Lightyear" dropped on Feb. 8, and viewers everywhere instantly became curious about the song that perfectly accompanies Buzz Lightyear's space travels. While fans didn't know specific details about the movie's plot at this point, lyrics like "There's a starman waiting in the sky" seemed to perfectly fit the film's theme.
- 6/22/2022
- by Alicia Geigel
- Popsugar.com
Quiver Distribution has acquired North American rights to festival sensation and audience-favorite Small Town Wisconsin, it was announced today. Directed by Niels Mueller(The Assassination Of Richard Nixon)and executive produced by Academy Award-winner Alexander Payne (Sideways), Small Town Wisconsin stars David Sullivan (Sharp Objects), Bill Heck (The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs), ,Tanya Fischer (Life On Mars), and Cooper J.Friedman (9-1-1: Lone Star). Here’s the trailer:
Small Town Wisconsin has garnered more than twenty Best Picture awards at film festivals around the world.Quiver will release Small Town Wisconsin wide on digital platforms on June 10, 2022, following a star-studdedpremiere and exclusive theatrical run at the iconic movie palace, Milwaukee Film’s Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, on June 3.
After losing a custody battle, perpetual teenager Wayne Stobierski steals his son away for one last father-son weekend to the city of their dreams-Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What’s supposed to be a light-hearted adventure,...
Small Town Wisconsin has garnered more than twenty Best Picture awards at film festivals around the world.Quiver will release Small Town Wisconsin wide on digital platforms on June 10, 2022, following a star-studdedpremiere and exclusive theatrical run at the iconic movie palace, Milwaukee Film’s Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, on June 3.
After losing a custody battle, perpetual teenager Wayne Stobierski steals his son away for one last father-son weekend to the city of their dreams-Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What’s supposed to be a light-hearted adventure,...
- 5/5/2022
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Exclusive: Quiver Distribution has acquired North American rights to the dramedy Small Town Wisconsin, starring David Sullivan (Sharp Objects), Bill Heck (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Kristen Johnson (3rd Rock from the Sun), Tanya Fischer (Life on Mars) and Cooper J. Friedman (9-1-1: Lone Star), slating it for wide release in theaters and on digital platforms on June 10th.
The film exec produced by Academy Award winner Alexander Payne (Sideways) watches as perpetual teenager Wayne Stobierski (Sullivan) loses a custody battle, stealing his son away for one last father-son weekend in the city of their dreams: Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What’s supposed to be a light-hearted adventure transforms into a journey of profound redemption. Niels Mueller (The Assassination of Richard Nixon) directed from a script by Jason Naczek. Mueller, Liu Hongtao, Scott K. Foley and Josh Rosenberg served as the film’s producers, with Payne and Jinhua Yang exec producing.
The film exec produced by Academy Award winner Alexander Payne (Sideways) watches as perpetual teenager Wayne Stobierski (Sullivan) loses a custody battle, stealing his son away for one last father-son weekend in the city of their dreams: Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What’s supposed to be a light-hearted adventure transforms into a journey of profound redemption. Niels Mueller (The Assassination of Richard Nixon) directed from a script by Jason Naczek. Mueller, Liu Hongtao, Scott K. Foley and Josh Rosenberg served as the film’s producers, with Payne and Jinhua Yang exec producing.
- 5/3/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Making its world premiere on Sunday in an Out of Competition slot at Canneseries (Oct. 8-13), the French-u.K. production of “Around the World in 80 Days” has been updated for the 21st century, as lead actor David Tennant (“Doctor Who”) explains.
In an interview on the Canneseries’ website, Tennant speaks with journalist Thomas Destouches about the new series, produced by Slim Film Plus Television and Federation Entertainment for France Télévisions, Zdf and Rai. Season 1 is composed of eight episodes of 52 minutes each.
Tennant responded to British screenwriter Ashley Pharoah (“Life on Mars”) and Caleb Ranson’s (“First Light”) update of the classic novel, written by Jules Verne.
First published in French in 1872, the original story follows an eccentric Englishman, Phileas Fogg (Tennant), who responds to a wager at his posh British Reform Club to circumnavigate the world in 80 days.
In this version, he’s accompanied by a female journalist,...
In an interview on the Canneseries’ website, Tennant speaks with journalist Thomas Destouches about the new series, produced by Slim Film Plus Television and Federation Entertainment for France Télévisions, Zdf and Rai. Season 1 is composed of eight episodes of 52 minutes each.
Tennant responded to British screenwriter Ashley Pharoah (“Life on Mars”) and Caleb Ranson’s (“First Light”) update of the classic novel, written by Jules Verne.
First published in French in 1872, the original story follows an eccentric Englishman, Phileas Fogg (Tennant), who responds to a wager at his posh British Reform Club to circumnavigate the world in 80 days.
In this version, he’s accompanied by a female journalist,...
- 10/10/2021
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
by Nathaniel R
Paul Thomas Anderson's ninth feature film is almost upon us. As one of America's most singular auteurs that's reason to celebrate whether or not this turns out to be top tier Anderson or his nadir. Licorice Pizza (which went by the equally odd title Soggy Bottom previously) is due to open on November 26th in select cities followed by a nationwide bow around Christmas. The trailer uses "Life on Mars" by David Bowie from 1971 as its primary soundtrack. The presence of hairdresser turned movie producer Jon Peters (Bradley Cooper) in his Barbra Streisand phase places us even more specifically in the mid 1970s during the peak of Bab's movie stardom when practically every film was a smash hit (Peters and Streisand started dating in '73 and he helped produce A Star is Born in 1976) so on the timeline we're sandwiched directly inbetween Anderson's Inherent Vice and...
Paul Thomas Anderson's ninth feature film is almost upon us. As one of America's most singular auteurs that's reason to celebrate whether or not this turns out to be top tier Anderson or his nadir. Licorice Pizza (which went by the equally odd title Soggy Bottom previously) is due to open on November 26th in select cities followed by a nationwide bow around Christmas. The trailer uses "Life on Mars" by David Bowie from 1971 as its primary soundtrack. The presence of hairdresser turned movie producer Jon Peters (Bradley Cooper) in his Barbra Streisand phase places us even more specifically in the mid 1970s during the peak of Bab's movie stardom when practically every film was a smash hit (Peters and Streisand started dating in '73 and he helped produce A Star is Born in 1976) so on the timeline we're sandwiched directly inbetween Anderson's Inherent Vice and...
- 9/28/2021
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Exclusive: Forced to halt production after just three weeks of shooting in South Africa when the Covid pandemic struck back in March 2020, and picking up again in Romania seven months later, Around The World In 80 Days is due to have its world premiere at Canneseries on October 10.
Star David Tennant, who plays English gentleman-turned-adventurer Phileas Fogg, is expected on the Riviera to unveil the first two episodes of this mega-adaptation of the Jules Verne classic. An airdate has yet to be set, but is likely around the holidays via such outlets as France Télévisions, PBS/Masterpiece, the BBC, Rai and Zdf. Check out the first-look teaser above.
Joining Tennant in the eight-part adventure are French actor Ibrahim Koma (Oss 177) as Fogg’s irrepressible valet, Passepartout, and Leonie Benesch (The Crown) as determined journalist, Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue.
A Slim Film + Television and Federation co-production for the European Alliance, the series boasts a new spin on Fogg.
Life On Mars creator and 80 Days head writer, Ashley Pharoah says, “We wanted Fogg yes to be a preposterously upper middle class over-educated Englishman, but I wanted to give him a sort of childlike sense of wonder because he’s never traveled, he’s never left London or his club. As soon as I hit on that, I thought it’s a love letter to the world, if that isn’t a bit pretentious. He goes to Paris and India and Hong Kong and Yemen and he’s so excited to see a camel, the different colors and cultures. It felt like resetting our relationship with traveling and seeing the world like that.”
In terms of scoring Tennant for the lead, former Kudos boss Simon Crawford Collins, who runs Slim Film + Television, says, “We wanted somebody who could believably do the action adventure, could play the stiff-upper-lip Englishman, but at the same time you never fall out of love with him and you really want to get under the veneer of that and go, ‘Wow, this is actually a complex man.’ David manages that so brilliantly.”
Pharoah, who is also an executive producer, hints at more Fogg adventures to come. “We are in the early stages of wondering — if this goes well — if we could do it again. Taking those three characters and doing a different adventure with them.” Hopefully not under the same conditions, however, which Pharoah recalls as “a really hard shoot.”
It was also expensive, as pandemic-related issues added about £4M in costs, Crawford Collins tells Deadline. “The first lockdown was a killer, but once we got going again we felt very blessed.” Production in South Africa was originally stopped in March 2020 and picked up again in November in Romania. “In an ideal world we would have carried on filming in South Africa where our sets were, but South Africa was coming out slowly so we did the big shift to Romania,” adds the executive producer. This year, production was able to move back to South Africa and the result is “very vibrant and cinematic.”
Around The World In 80 Days counts co-production partners Masterpiece in the U.S., Peu Communications in South Africa, and Belgium’s Be-films and Rtbf. Daro Film associate produces. Seven West Media has also backed the production and will broadcast in Australia. The series has further been acquired by the BBC in the UK and Rts in Switzerland.
While there are myriad partners on the series, Crawford Collins says development and production were “very straightforward.” France Télévisions “came back saying, ‘We love this and really want to make it and we don’t want to be the secondary broadcaster.’ They wanted to be lead, so immediately put in a sizable amount of money. It was a wonderful building block and they then brought the Alliance partners on board.”
The entire process (apart from the shutdown), “was incredibly stress free… We never had any big disagreements… The specter of Europudding still sort of lives heavily in our minds and we all know those days. But I think the trouble with that is when you have a project originated just to secure financing then it really shows through. The difference is that we had a clear vision of what we wanted to say, but just knew we needed a lot of people to help fund it.”
Also starring as series regulars in 80 Days are Jason Watkins (Des) and Peter Sullivan (Poldark). Guest actors include Lindsay Duncan (A Discovery Of Witches), Dolly Wells (Dracula), Richard Wilson (Merlin), Faical Elkihel (The Spy), Anthony Flanagan (The Terror), Gary Beadle (Patrick Melrose) and Giovanni Scifoni (Doc – Nelle Tue Mani).
Around The World In 80 Days is adapted by a team of writers led by Pharoah and Caleb Ranson (Child Of Mine). Steve Barron (The Durrells) directs with Brian Kelly (Downton Abbey) and the late Charles Beeson (The Mentalist).
Federation Entertainment handles distribution rights. Exec producers are Crawford Collins for Slim, Lionel Uzan and Pascal Breton for Federation, Winnie Serite for Peu and Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece.
Star David Tennant, who plays English gentleman-turned-adventurer Phileas Fogg, is expected on the Riviera to unveil the first two episodes of this mega-adaptation of the Jules Verne classic. An airdate has yet to be set, but is likely around the holidays via such outlets as France Télévisions, PBS/Masterpiece, the BBC, Rai and Zdf. Check out the first-look teaser above.
Joining Tennant in the eight-part adventure are French actor Ibrahim Koma (Oss 177) as Fogg’s irrepressible valet, Passepartout, and Leonie Benesch (The Crown) as determined journalist, Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue.
A Slim Film + Television and Federation co-production for the European Alliance, the series boasts a new spin on Fogg.
Life On Mars creator and 80 Days head writer, Ashley Pharoah says, “We wanted Fogg yes to be a preposterously upper middle class over-educated Englishman, but I wanted to give him a sort of childlike sense of wonder because he’s never traveled, he’s never left London or his club. As soon as I hit on that, I thought it’s a love letter to the world, if that isn’t a bit pretentious. He goes to Paris and India and Hong Kong and Yemen and he’s so excited to see a camel, the different colors and cultures. It felt like resetting our relationship with traveling and seeing the world like that.”
In terms of scoring Tennant for the lead, former Kudos boss Simon Crawford Collins, who runs Slim Film + Television, says, “We wanted somebody who could believably do the action adventure, could play the stiff-upper-lip Englishman, but at the same time you never fall out of love with him and you really want to get under the veneer of that and go, ‘Wow, this is actually a complex man.’ David manages that so brilliantly.”
Pharoah, who is also an executive producer, hints at more Fogg adventures to come. “We are in the early stages of wondering — if this goes well — if we could do it again. Taking those three characters and doing a different adventure with them.” Hopefully not under the same conditions, however, which Pharoah recalls as “a really hard shoot.”
It was also expensive, as pandemic-related issues added about £4M in costs, Crawford Collins tells Deadline. “The first lockdown was a killer, but once we got going again we felt very blessed.” Production in South Africa was originally stopped in March 2020 and picked up again in November in Romania. “In an ideal world we would have carried on filming in South Africa where our sets were, but South Africa was coming out slowly so we did the big shift to Romania,” adds the executive producer. This year, production was able to move back to South Africa and the result is “very vibrant and cinematic.”
Around The World In 80 Days counts co-production partners Masterpiece in the U.S., Peu Communications in South Africa, and Belgium’s Be-films and Rtbf. Daro Film associate produces. Seven West Media has also backed the production and will broadcast in Australia. The series has further been acquired by the BBC in the UK and Rts in Switzerland.
While there are myriad partners on the series, Crawford Collins says development and production were “very straightforward.” France Télévisions “came back saying, ‘We love this and really want to make it and we don’t want to be the secondary broadcaster.’ They wanted to be lead, so immediately put in a sizable amount of money. It was a wonderful building block and they then brought the Alliance partners on board.”
The entire process (apart from the shutdown), “was incredibly stress free… We never had any big disagreements… The specter of Europudding still sort of lives heavily in our minds and we all know those days. But I think the trouble with that is when you have a project originated just to secure financing then it really shows through. The difference is that we had a clear vision of what we wanted to say, but just knew we needed a lot of people to help fund it.”
Also starring as series regulars in 80 Days are Jason Watkins (Des) and Peter Sullivan (Poldark). Guest actors include Lindsay Duncan (A Discovery Of Witches), Dolly Wells (Dracula), Richard Wilson (Merlin), Faical Elkihel (The Spy), Anthony Flanagan (The Terror), Gary Beadle (Patrick Melrose) and Giovanni Scifoni (Doc – Nelle Tue Mani).
Around The World In 80 Days is adapted by a team of writers led by Pharoah and Caleb Ranson (Child Of Mine). Steve Barron (The Durrells) directs with Brian Kelly (Downton Abbey) and the late Charles Beeson (The Mentalist).
Federation Entertainment handles distribution rights. Exec producers are Crawford Collins for Slim, Lionel Uzan and Pascal Breton for Federation, Winnie Serite for Peu and Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece.
- 9/17/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Sky’s outgoing director of drama Cameron Roach has launched Rope Ladder Fiction, a Manchester-based independent production company.
The company’s focus will be on providing training and development opportunities to new talent and to create scripted content. It is already working with some of the industry’s most prolific broadcasters and commissioners on a range of projects, with the aim of production commencing in 2022.
Rope Ladder Fiction will also build upon Roach’s first solo project, curating Flip the Script, a training program to provide 12 paid placements for aspiring script editors in the U.K.’s Northwest run by social enterprise Sharp Futures.
Roach began his career in script and series editing on long-running drama series such as “Casualty,” before landing his first producing job on season 6 of the hit prison drama “Bad Girls” for Shed Productions. He went on to produce two seasons of “Footballers’ Wives.”
He joined...
The company’s focus will be on providing training and development opportunities to new talent and to create scripted content. It is already working with some of the industry’s most prolific broadcasters and commissioners on a range of projects, with the aim of production commencing in 2022.
Rope Ladder Fiction will also build upon Roach’s first solo project, curating Flip the Script, a training program to provide 12 paid placements for aspiring script editors in the U.K.’s Northwest run by social enterprise Sharp Futures.
Roach began his career in script and series editing on long-running drama series such as “Casualty,” before landing his first producing job on season 6 of the hit prison drama “Bad Girls” for Shed Productions. He went on to produce two seasons of “Footballers’ Wives.”
He joined...
- 9/16/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
At long last, Paul Thomas Anderson is ready to share the first look of his new film with the world—well, not the entire world yet. His Phantom Thread follow-up, which had a production title of Soggy Bottom, now has a fresh new name and a trailer that is making the rounds at repertory cinemas from London to LA.
Premiering in front of screenings of American Graffiti and Beavis and Butt-Head Do America at London’s The Prince Charles Cinema, the 35mm trailer then screened last night at LA’s New Beverly between the double feature of Kiss Me Deadly and Repo Man as well as at the American Cinematheque’s Loz Feliz 3 before a screening of Strangers on a Train and at the Aero before Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!.
The title was revealed to be Licorice Pizza, which references the record store chain founded in Southern...
Premiering in front of screenings of American Graffiti and Beavis and Butt-Head Do America at London’s The Prince Charles Cinema, the 35mm trailer then screened last night at LA’s New Beverly between the double feature of Kiss Me Deadly and Repo Man as well as at the American Cinematheque’s Loz Feliz 3 before a screening of Strangers on a Train and at the Aero before Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!.
The title was revealed to be Licorice Pizza, which references the record store chain founded in Southern...
- 9/10/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Jennifer Yu leads an all-star cast in “Forensic Psychologist,” a psychological crime series which starts shooting from September in Hong Kong.
The 12×30 minute explores the work of a forensic psychologist who must assess the mental state of alleged criminals to determine whether they are mentally fit to stand trial. The story explores the topic of mental health and its relation to criminal behavior.
The 12-episode series is helmed by various directors including showrunner Bizhan Tong (“Lockdown”) who is simultaneously developing an English-language version with Debbie Mason, co-founder of Kudos. “Forensic Psychologist” is produced by Amm Global and Phoenix Waters Productions, which was recently acquired by Coinllectibles.
Other cast include: Crisel Consunji (“Still Human”), Wiyona Yeung (“We Are Legends”), Locker Lam (“Zero to Hero”), Jason Wu, Bryant Mak (“My Prince Edward”), Gigi & Sabrina Cheung, Jai Day (“Chasing the Dragon”), Fat Cheong (“Who Sells Bricks in Hong Kong”), Ng Wing Sze (“The...
The 12×30 minute explores the work of a forensic psychologist who must assess the mental state of alleged criminals to determine whether they are mentally fit to stand trial. The story explores the topic of mental health and its relation to criminal behavior.
The 12-episode series is helmed by various directors including showrunner Bizhan Tong (“Lockdown”) who is simultaneously developing an English-language version with Debbie Mason, co-founder of Kudos. “Forensic Psychologist” is produced by Amm Global and Phoenix Waters Productions, which was recently acquired by Coinllectibles.
Other cast include: Crisel Consunji (“Still Human”), Wiyona Yeung (“We Are Legends”), Locker Lam (“Zero to Hero”), Jason Wu, Bryant Mak (“My Prince Edward”), Gigi & Sabrina Cheung, Jai Day (“Chasing the Dragon”), Fat Cheong (“Who Sells Bricks in Hong Kong”), Ng Wing Sze (“The...
- 8/31/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
If you had “Evan Peters and Frances Conroy singing karaoke” on your “AHS” Bingo card, you’re in luck. These two longtime cast members let loose during the August 25 season premiere with a tender rendition of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers‘ 1983 love ballad “Islands In the Stream.” Above, watch the “American Horror Story: Double Feature” video clip that everyone’s talking about.
Long-delayed because of Covid-19, the 10th season finally aired on Wednesday night with lots of former cast members returning to the fold. Peters takes on the role of playwright Austin Sommers while Conroy portrays famed author Sarah “Belle Noir” Cunningham. The unlikely duo comes to Provincetown, Massachusetts every year in order to get the juices flowing — both figuratively and literally. The mysterious black pills they take turn them into vampire-like monsters whose talent increases immensely when they drink human blood.
See Everything to know about ‘American Horror Story...
Long-delayed because of Covid-19, the 10th season finally aired on Wednesday night with lots of former cast members returning to the fold. Peters takes on the role of playwright Austin Sommers while Conroy portrays famed author Sarah “Belle Noir” Cunningham. The unlikely duo comes to Provincetown, Massachusetts every year in order to get the juices flowing — both figuratively and literally. The mysterious black pills they take turn them into vampire-like monsters whose talent increases immensely when they drink human blood.
See Everything to know about ‘American Horror Story...
- 8/27/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
“Now We’Re Sucking Diesel! If you don’t get it, you missed a great series.” Stephen King’s recent discovery of British police thriller Line of Duty – as relayed via a series of highly enthusiastic Tweets – was a delight to witness. King’s zeal is enough to make UK fans wish that he hadn’t binge-watched the BBC series from his home inside the sewers of Derry, Maine, but instead watched it at broadcast pace in the UK, where he would no doubt have made a sizeable contribution to the show’s Twitter larks. (King proved himself happy to join in with online TV show speculation when he correctly predicted the killer in HBO/Sky’s Mare of Easttown. You can bet he’d have had a take on the mystery identity of Line of Duty baddie ‘H’.)
Line of Duty isn’t alone in attracting King’s online...
Line of Duty isn’t alone in attracting King’s online...
- 7/24/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Sky Studios, the pay TV network’s production arm, has promoted Gabriel Silver – who oversaw the commissioning of “Chernobyl” – to the role of director of commissioning, drama in the U.K., overseeing a broad slate of ambitious projects.
Silver, who is currently senior commissioning editor and executive producer at Sky Studios, takes up his new role with immediate effect, reporting into chief content officer Jane Millichip.
Most recently Silver has overseen a critically acclaimed slate of Sky Original dramas that includes Emmy and BAFTA-winning series “Chernobyl” and global hit “Gangs of London,” plus returning franchises “Temple,” “Britannia” and “Cobra.” He is currently exec producing upcoming Sky Original dramas “Extinction,” starring Paapa Essiedu, and “The Baby,” a co-production between Sky and HBO.
Prior to joining Sky in 2017, Silver worked at a range of indies including as a development and executive producer at Left Bank Pictures and at Kudos, where he script...
Silver, who is currently senior commissioning editor and executive producer at Sky Studios, takes up his new role with immediate effect, reporting into chief content officer Jane Millichip.
Most recently Silver has overseen a critically acclaimed slate of Sky Original dramas that includes Emmy and BAFTA-winning series “Chernobyl” and global hit “Gangs of London,” plus returning franchises “Temple,” “Britannia” and “Cobra.” He is currently exec producing upcoming Sky Original dramas “Extinction,” starring Paapa Essiedu, and “The Baby,” a co-production between Sky and HBO.
Prior to joining Sky in 2017, Silver worked at a range of indies including as a development and executive producer at Left Bank Pictures and at Kudos, where he script...
- 4/13/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Two-time Grammy winner Randall Poster has served as music supervisor on more than 180 films and TV shows over 25 years, providing audiences with countless memorable moments.
Cultivating close relationships with directors and producers, he works to meld creativity with business, securing rights to license the music
audiences hear.
Late last year, Poster saw the music supervision company he founded in 2004, Search Party, merge with Josh Deutsch’s Premier Music Group, with Poster assuming the role of Premier’s creative director.
Listening to songs that were written and performed before he was born, and watching them come to life on 1973’s “American Graffiti,” suggested to Poster a way to lure people into another era. “I felt the music put me in that place,” he says. “At that age, I wasn’t familiar with those period pieces, and it allowed me to time travel.”
Below, Poster reveals the story behind some of his...
Cultivating close relationships with directors and producers, he works to meld creativity with business, securing rights to license the music
audiences hear.
Late last year, Poster saw the music supervision company he founded in 2004, Search Party, merge with Josh Deutsch’s Premier Music Group, with Poster assuming the role of Premier’s creative director.
Listening to songs that were written and performed before he was born, and watching them come to life on 1973’s “American Graffiti,” suggested to Poster a way to lure people into another era. “I felt the music put me in that place,” he says. “At that age, I wasn’t familiar with those period pieces, and it allowed me to time travel.”
Below, Poster reveals the story behind some of his...
- 4/9/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Back in January, Yungblud performed a cover of David Bowie’s Hunky Dory classic “Life on Mars?” as part of the virtual tribute concert, A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day! On Thursday, the British artist officially released the cover as a single, along with a performance video from the event.
Dressed in a red pinstriped jacket with slicked-back hair, Yungblud performed the song alone onstage while surrounded by footage of his backing band, each playing along to “Life on Mars?” remotely.
A month after the event, Yungblud’s version...
Dressed in a red pinstriped jacket with slicked-back hair, Yungblud performed the song alone onstage while surrounded by footage of his backing band, each playing along to “Life on Mars?” remotely.
A month after the event, Yungblud’s version...
- 3/18/2021
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Helado Negro has dropped a cover of David Bowie’s “Sound and Vision,” set to appear on a Bowie tribute album from Bbe Music.
“The cover I imagined was something living in between sleep and awake where sound and vision dominate,” Helado Negro says. “Residue from your dream state mixed in with waking up and stirring into what the day will be.”
The “Sound and Vision” cover follows We Are King’s rendition of “Space Oddity,” Bowie’s first major hit, also appearing on the Bbe Music compilation. The album,...
“The cover I imagined was something living in between sleep and awake where sound and vision dominate,” Helado Negro says. “Residue from your dream state mixed in with waking up and stirring into what the day will be.”
The “Sound and Vision” cover follows We Are King’s rendition of “Space Oddity,” Bowie’s first major hit, also appearing on the Bbe Music compilation. The album,...
- 2/25/2021
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
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