JULIO PENA AND ALESSANDRO BORGHI TO LEAD 16TH CENTURY HISTORICAL ADVENTURE THE CAPTIVE ON THE YOUTH OF DON QUIXOTE'S AUTHOR

 MIGUEL DE CERVANTES FILM 

THE CAPTIVE UNVEILS LEAD DUO

As Variety reports, Julio Pena and Alessandro Borghi will lead historical adventure THE CAPTIVE for director Alejandro Amenabar on the author of famous Don Quixote! The film is set in Algiers in 1575 when Cervantes, a wounded 28-year-old Spanish Navy soldier, is held prisoner by Ottoman corsairs. Faced with a ticking clock, a cruel death awaits him should his fellow countrymen fail to pay his ransom soon; but within the confines of his cell, Cervantes discovers a surprising refuge — the art of storytelling. Crafted from resilience and hope, his stories enthrall his fellow captives and capture the attention of Hasan, the enigmatic and feared Bey of Algiers, igniting a secret affinity between captor and captive. Suspicions rise amidst growing tensions in the city, and Cervantes, driven by an unwavering sense of optimism, devises a daring plan for freedom.

SEE HENRY CAVILL, HENRY GOLDING, ALEX PETTYFER, ALLAN RITCHSON, TIL SCHWEIGER IN MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE EPIC MOVIE

  HENRY CAVILL TRAILER  

FOR MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE HISTORICAL ACTION WAR MOVIE

Guy Ritchie has released first trailer for his movie adaptation of Damien Lewis book MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE which will hit theatres April 19th this year with an extremely hunky cast which includes Henry Cavill, Alex Pettyfer, Henry Golding, Allan Ritchson, Cary Elwes, Til Schweigeran and Hero Fiennes Tiffin! It is pretty much the same story we have seen in BBC series SAS Rogue Heroes but this time told for the big screens.

 

THIS HISTORICAL ACTION COMEDY

tells the story of the first-ever special forces organization formed during WWII by UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a small group of military officials including author Ian Fleming. The top-secret combat unit, composed of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks, goes on a daring mission against the Nazis using entirely unconventional and utterly “ungentlemanly” fighting techniques. Ultimately their audacious approach changed the course of the war and laid the foundation for the British SAS and modern Black Ops warfare. See the trailer below and tell us what you think:

GORGEOUS NEW IMAGES FROM PRINCESS OF MERCY 19TH CENTURY BALKANS SET RUSSIAN HISTORICAL TV SERIES WITH DENIS NURULIN

   PRINCESS OF MERCY   

NEW HISTORICAL MELODRAMA IMAGES

Straight from Russia we have some gorgeous new images from the sets of their new historical TV melodrama PRINCESS OF MERCY (Княжна милосердия) which is currently shooting for a 2024 release with our gorgeous Denis Nurulin in the lead role joined by Sofia Priss, Maria Poroshina, Alexander Baluev, Dmitry Ulyanov, as well as Turkish actors Aysun Güven, Edip Zeydan and Tolga Mendi. The series will air on Russian national broadcaster probably sometime towards the end of the year. After shooting in Russia and over on mountain Elbrus in the icy snow at an altitude of 1890 meters above sea level, the crew has moved down south and is currently shooting in Istanbul in Turkey and nearby villages.

THE SERIES IS SET IN 1878 

At the end of the Russian-Turkish War, Prince Alexei Raevsky (Denis Nurulin), who was fighting on the Balkan front with the rank of major, goes missing. His young wife, Princess Sophia (Sofia Priss), does not believe in the death of the prince. She takes an accelerated nursing course and goes to the front to find him. Having overcome many trials, Sophia rescues her husband from Turkish captivity and returns to Russia with him, but Raevsky’s enemies accuse him of betraying his homeland. Only Sophia can save the prince from hard labor. To do this, she will again, surrounded by true friends, have to go on a trip to the East.

EVERYTHING IS PINK IN FIRST THELMA THE UNICORN NETFLIX ANIMATED MOVIE ADVENTURE IMAGES

  THELMA THE UNICORN  

FIRST ANIMATED MOVIE IMAGES ARE HERE

Something animated for you, little kids, at the start of the new week: we have first images from upcoming animated movie adventure THELMA THE UNICORN which should arrive to Netflix May 17th this year with Jon Heder, Will Forte and Zach Galifianakis lending their voices to the animated characters based on the book by Aaron Blabey.

THIS ANIMATED MOVIE FOLLOWS

 Thelma who dreams of being a glamorous unicorn. Then in a rare pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma's wish comes true. She rises to instant international stardom, but at an unexpected cost. After a while, Thelma realizes that she was happier as her ordinary, sparkle-free self. So she ditches her horn, scrubs off her sparkles, and returns home, where her best friend is waiting for her with a hug. Hope we will get a trailer soon!

 

IT IS JANE AUSTEN ON HALLMARK ALL FEBRUARY: SEE THE FILMS AND COSTUME DRAMAS STARRING WILL KEMP, DAN JEANNOTTE AND OTHERS

 JANE AUSTEN ON HALLMARK 

PAGING MR. DARCY WITH WILL KEMP

Paging Mr. Darcy starts February 3rd

To celebrate the month of love this year, Hallmark has decided to fill February weekends with Jane Austen inspired romantic movies and they called it Loveuary, a whole month celebrating love through brand new films about Jane Austen featuring some of your favourite Hallmark stars like our dashing Will Kemp who leads the first movie that opens this Austen marathon. PAGING MR. DARCY launches this lovefest from February 3rd with Will Kemp and Mallory Jansen in lead roles. When an overly serious scholar attends a Jane Austen annual conference where she is asked to give a keynote speech, she strikes a deal with the man playing Mr. Darcy and finds her perspective, and her heart, changed. Check out the trailer below the post.

AN AMERICAN IN AUSTEN

An American in Austen starts February 17th

Yes, I spelled it right. This love drama will start on Hallmark, Saturday evening February 17th starring Eliza Bennett and Nicholas Bishop in  the lead roles, while the other members of the cast are for some reason still kept under wraps, but that is more or less usual for Hallmark. In this new love movie comedy  AN AMERICAN IN AUSTEN Eliza Bennett finds herself in the role of Harriet, a woman who thinks that no real man can really compare to Austen's famous romantic hero Mr. Darcy, and is by some miracle transported into Pride & Prejudice where she gets an unexpected chance to find out if that is really true or not.

 

HALLMARK'S SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

We will see Dan Jeannotte February 24th

It was strange that Hallmark kept the cast of this one hidden for a long time and we had almost no information about it other that it will be their movie adaptation of Jane Austen's famous work SENSE AND SENSIBILITY but now that they have finally unveiled first images it became clear why they kept it from the public: it will obviously be a completely blackwashed version of the classic story.

  The movie follows two women: Marianne struggles to choose between two men while Elinor longs for a men she cannot reach. It stars Deborah Ayorinde, Bethany Antonia and out beloved Hallmark and Star Trek hunk Dan Jeannotte who is looking good in tight breeches. The other costumes look colourful and lovely too, it seems they invested more in it and it had a bigger budget than most of their flicks. Does this mean we might get more costume dramas from Hallmark? This one closes the month of love on Saturday evening February 24th!

 

KIT HARINGTON TO PRODUCE AND LEAD NEW THRILLER MINI TV SERIES EMPIRE OF DIRT

    KIT HARINGTON    

TO LEAD EMPIRE OF DIRT SERIES

And he will not only star in it but is also producing it. Kit Harington will lead eight part thriller series EMPIRE OF DIRT which tells the story of City hotshot Jake Galloway who reluctantly returns to his

Kit Harington will star and produce the series

family farm in the Lake District for a distant cousin’s wedding only to be pulled headlong into a deadly criminal enterprise. Jake hasn’t been home in fifteen years, but following a tragic accident this prodigal son suddenly finds himself the unwilling head of his family. He must heal the toxic legacy of his tyrannical father, repair relationships with his estranged siblings and mother, and juggle his own demons all whilst fighting for the sprawling farm’s survival. But in doing so Jake discovers something unthinkable, his father’s darkest secret – a multimillion-pound drugs racket run from a hidden corner of the family land.

SISI EPIC TV SERIES ON AUSTRIAN IMPERIAL COUPLE RENEWED FOR SEASON 4 AFTER SEASON 3 BREAKS VIEWING RECORDS AGAIN!

   SISI EPIC TV SERIES   

RENEWED FOR SEASON FOUR

For the third year now, Germany's super popular imperial saga SISI has been breaking viewing records and now that the third season became best viewed series ever on RTL + streamer, the series has been renewed for the fourth run! It had big success on linear RTL channel too during the holidays.

IN THE FOURTH SEASON

of the series about a story that’s meant to be love but is yet full of obstacles, Dominique Devenport and Jannik Schümann reprise their roles as empress Sisi and emperor Franz, while Sven Bohse returns to direct, with head writers Elena Hell and Robert Krause returning as well. Shooting is set to begin in spring.

 AIRING AROUND THE WORLD

Beta Film's series has had very successful broadcasting runs on linear networks and digital platforms in Europe over the past three seasons as well sold to over 100 territories, among others France’s TF1, Italy’s Mediaset, Starz Entertainment for Latin America, Epic Drama Channels in Europe, BBC in Australia, and Canada’s public broadcaster CBC. It also airs on all RTL local channels around Europe with huge success for three years now. In USA it is available on PBS Masterpiece via Amazon Prime Video Channels, Comcast Xfinity X1 or Roku!

ARTURO PEREZ REVERTE'S HISTORICAL NOVEL ON MEXICAN REVOLUTION TO BE ADAPTED INTO AN EPIC ADVENTURE TV SERIES WITH KATE DEL CASTILLO

   MEXICAN REVOLUTION  

EPIC TV SERIES ANNOUNCED

Endemol Shine has acquired the adaptation rights to  Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s novel, REVOLUTION (Revolución) and Kate del Castillo will not only be the executive producer but will also star in it.  Published two years ago, the novel, as Variety reports, delves into the essence of human nature in an adventure that unfolds against the dramatic canvas of the Mexican Revolution in the era of Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa. It is the story of a man, three women, a revolution, and a treasure - fifteen thousand gold coins of twenty pesos that were stolen from a bank in Ciudad Juárez on May 8, 1911.

SEE FINAL TRAILER FOR FX AND HULU NEW EPIC TV SERIES SHOGUN WITH COSMO JARVIS AND HIROYUKI SANADA

   SHOGUN MINI SERIES   

SEE THE FINAL TRAILER

Cosmo Jarvis leads the series

Final trailer has just been released for mini TV series adaptation of James Clavell's famous historical novel SHOGUN which will stream on FX and Hulu from February this year starring Cosmo Jarvis and Hiroyuki Sanada. Set in the 17th Century, the series which will hit the streamer February 27th with a ten episode first season, has the story revolving around John Blackthorne, a sailor who rises from outsider to samurai, while being used as a pawn in Japanese leader Toranaga's struggle to reach the top of the ruling chain, or Shogun. The series was originally ordered back

It will be a ten episode series

in 2018, so it had a very long way to the small screens. Funny enough, although set in Japan, the series was shot in Canada.

 

NEW SERIES IS SET IN 

 the year 1600, Shōgun stars Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne, an risk taking English sailor who finds himself marooned in a fishing village in feudal Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him. He’s soon embroiled in a fierce civil war swirling around the besieged Lord Yoshii Toranaga (played by Hiroyuki Sanada),

The series starts February 27th

with only translator Toda Mariko (played by young Anna Sawai) - a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance - to bridge the gap between the two men. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father. Check out the final trailer from FX and tell us what you think, will you be watching and are you excited or not? Do you think it will be better than the original series with Richard Chamberlaine?

COLIN FIRTH TO LEAD SKY AND PEACOCK MINI SERIES ON LOCKERBIE AIRPLANE DISASTER

   COLIN FIRTH TO LEAD  

LOCKERBIE DRAMA FOR SKY

Sky and Peacock have set Colin Firth as the lead star of their new five part series LOCKERBIE as Dr Jim Swire, a man who tragically lost his daughter when Pan Am Flight 103 explodedover a

Colin Firth will lead the five part series

small town on December 21, 1988. Swire and his wife, Pam, have doggedly pursued justice ever since. The Lockerbie air disaster killed 259 passengers and crew, and a further 11 residents lost their life as the plane came down over the quiet Scottish town. The series will see Swire nominated spokesperson for the UK victims’ families in the wake of the disaster, as they unite to demand truth and justice. Travelling across continents and political divides, Swire embarks on a relentless journey that not only jeopardises his stability, family and life, but completely overturns his trust in the justice system. As the truth shifts under Jim’s feet, his view of the world is left forever sullied. Otto Bathurst is directing.

RAI REVEALS CAST FOR THEIR 18TH CENTURY SET COSTUME TV DRAMA BEL CANTO

 BEL CANTO COSTUME DRAMA

UNVEILS LEAD CAST AT RAI

RAI has unveiled today the lead cast for their expensive new costume series BEL CANTO which will probably stream on Netflix as well. It is set in 1798, as 14-year-old Carolina, her 17-year-old sister Antonia (Caterina Ferioli and

Andrea Bosca, Vittoria Puccini and Giacomo Giorgio

Adriana Savarese) and their mother Maria (Vittoria Puccini) seek refuge in the city of Milan after stabbing their violent father to death. The elder sister dreams of becoming a renowned singer, much as her mother once hoped for when she was the girl’s age. However, a well-respected singing teacher

Carmine Recano, Serena de Ferrari and Nicolo Pasetti

discovers that Maria’s youngest is the true talent in the family, and feelings of jealousy and competition arise. Giacomo Giorgio (as a young, inexperienced writer and revolutionary Enrico.) and Serena de Ferrari, Vincenzo Ferrera, Andrea Bosca, Nicolo Pasetti, Carmine Recano (as Maria’s lover) and Antonio Gerardi will also star.

SEE FIRST IMAGES FROM HULU'S WW2 SET TV SERIES WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES WITH LOGAN LERMAN AND HENRY LLOYD HUGHES

 WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES 

FIRST HULU WW2 SERIES IMAGES

After Shogun which arrives in February, Hulu will continue with historical shows in March as well launching WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES, a mini series adaptation of Gregory Hunter's best selling novel, from March 28th with three opening episodes and will then stream weekly.

THE SERIES DEPICTS
 the incredible true story of one Jewish family from Poland separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive and reunite separated by long years and whole continents. The story will take viewers from Poland to Siberia, to France, to West Africa and even Brazil. Hunter based his book partially on his own family's history. 

WHO IS IN THE CAST?

Logan Lerman leads the cast that also includes Hadas Yaron, Henry-Lloyd Hughes, Amit Rahav, Sam Woolf, Anita Adam, Michael Aloni, Moran Rosenblatt, Eva Feiler, Lior Ashkenazi, Robin Weigert and Ido Samuel! Julia's Erica Lipez is the showrunner.  You can also check out the trailer below and tell us what you think.

MARRIAGE IS NOT PERFECT FOR SAM NEILL AND ANNETTE BENING IN APPLES NEVER FALL PEACOCK TV SERIES TEASER

   APPLES NEVER FALL   

1ST PEACOCK SERIES TEASER

The series starts this March on Peacock

Peacock has released a teaser for their new limited series APPLES NEVER FALL which launches March 14th on the streamer with Sam Neill and Annette Bening in the lead roles. The seven episode series, based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel, centers on the seemingly picture-perfect Delaney family. Former tennis coaches Stan and Joy have sold their successful tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. While they look forward to spending time with their four adult children (Jake Lacy, Alison Brie, Conor Merrigan-Turner, Essie Randles), everything changes when a wounded young woman knocks on Joy and Stan’s door, bringing the excitement they’ve been missing. But when Joy suddenly disappears, her children are forced to reexamine their parents’ so-called perfect marriage as their family’s darkest secrets begin to surface. 

COLIN MORGAN, ANNABEL SCHOLEY, NIAMH WALSH TO LEAD NEW BBC THRILLER SERIES DEAD AND BURIED

  COLIN MORGAN TO LEAD 

NEW DEAD AND BURIED SERIES

From BBC arrives news that our dear Colin Morgan and Niamh Walsh will lead new four part thriller DEAD AND BURIED with Annabel Scholey. Outside the supermarket with her young son, Cathy (Scholey) encounters Michael (Morgan) - the man convicted of the brutal murder of her brother, 20 years earlier. Ignoring the advice of her best friend, Cathy takes to social media, uncovering the successful career and family life Michael has forged for himself since early release from prison, while she grieved for her brother. Re-traumatised by her past, Cathy instigates a clandestine relationship with the man she despises, embarking on a campaign of harassment and deceit. As Cathy’s obsession grows, dark fantasies of revenge and reality blur as she sets out on a campaign of psychological warfare to destroy Michael’s life. Kerri Quinn, Waj Ali, Owen Roe will also star.

WALKING DEAD PRODUCERS TO TURN ROBERT MCCAMMON'S POST APOCALYPTIC NOVEL SWAN SONG INTO NEW TV SERIES

   SWAN SONG NOVEL   

TO BE TURNED INTO TV SERIES

Swan Song is becoming a TV series

Another best selling post apocalyptic sf novel is getting a small screen adaptation as Monarch Media and Monster Agency Productions have teamed up on turning SWAN SONG novel by Robert McCammon into a television series.

  Greg Nicotero, who previously worked on The Walking Dead, will adapt and helm the story in which, following the U.S. government’s nuclear showdown with an unprecedented malevolent enemy, America as it was is gone forever. Now the remaining citizens must fight to stay alive in a wasteland born of rage and fear, populated by monstrous creatures and marauding armies. It is a story of survival in a world forever changed by political mistrust and international intrigue intertwined with a supernatural force! 

 

JULIANNE MORE AND NICHOLAS GALITZINE ARE SEDUCING KING TONY CURRAN IN NEW POSTERS FOR MARY AND GEORGE STEAMY COSTUME DRAMA

  MARY AND GEORGE SERIES  

SEE NEW ROYAL POSTERS

First teaser has been released for new historical mini series MARY AND GEORGE with Julianne Moore, Nicholas Galitzine and Tony Curran in the lead roles a few months ago and today you can also feast your eyes on the first character posters with all three of them. Previously made for AMC,

Nicholas Galitzine is The Secuder

the series has later on for some reason moved over to the popular home of historical dramas Starz,and will also air in Europe on Sky in a few months, so there is some fun and court shenanigans to await this spring! I mean who does not like horny kings and greedy aristocrats scheming against each other to the delight of plebs? Moore plays Mary Villiers who moulded her beautiful and charismatic son, George, to seduce King James I and become his  all-powerful lover. Also in the cast of the seven episode series based on Benjamin Wolley's book The King's Assassin, are our most favourite boy Laurie Davidson as Robert Carr, 1st Earl of

Juliane Moore is The Schemer

Somerset, Nicola Walker as Lady Hatton, Niamh Algar as Sandie, Trine Dyrholm as Queen Anne, Sean Gilder as Sir Thomas Compton and Simon Russell Beale as Sir George Villiers.

 

IN THE COSTUME SERIES

that begun shooting at the beginning of 2023, Moore plays Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, who in 17th Century England moulded her beautiful son, George, to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover. Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings

Tony Curran is the prize and the king

to become one of the richest, most titled, and influential mother and sons England had ever seen. And with England’s place on the world stage under threat from a Spanish invasion and rioters taking to the streets to denounce the King, the stakes could not have been higher. Sky will air the series in Europe, while Starz will cover the rest of the world. I am hoping we will get a longer official trailer soon when Starz reveals the official start date of the new series which will be sometime this spring. But until then beside the new posters you can also check out below the above mentioned first teaser released earlier this winter which gives us a peak into the English court filled with delightful orgies and other royal escapades of the fun kind.