BBC has released a trailer for two part Agatha Christie series MURDER IS EASY which will air December 27th and 28th. It follows young detective Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson) after meeting Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton) on a train to London, who tells him that a killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe. When Miss Pinkerton is found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Fitzwilliam travels to Wychwood to investigate, where he meets residents including Bridget (Morfydd Clark), Lord Whitfield (Tom Riley), Major Horton (Douglas Henshall), Dr Thomas (Mathew Baynton), Reverend Humbleby (Mark Bonnar), and others. Britbox will air it next year in Northern America.
After a lack of success with some of her previous adaptations, the queen of crime Agatha Christie is returning to BBC One who have finished shooting a two part series based on her MURDER IS EASY novel produced by Mammoth Screen.
THE STORY OF THE SERIES
is set in England, 1954. On a train to London, a man going by
the name of Luke Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson) meets Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton), who tells him that a
killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under
Ashe.
The villagers believe the deaths are mere accidents, but Miss Pinkerton
knows otherwise - and when she's later found dead on her way to Scotland
Yard, Luke feels he must find the killer before they can strike again.
Because for a certain kind of person, murder is easy. Morfydd Clarkstars as Bridget, Sinead Matthews as Miss Waynflete, Tom Riley as Lord Whitfield, Douglas Henshall as Major Horton, Mathew Baynton as Dr Thomas and Mark Bonnar as Reverend Humbleby! Previous BBC
adaptations And Then There Were None, The Witness For The Prosecution, Ordeal By Innocence, The ABC Murders and The Pale Horse were not overly successful.
After very secretive and mysterious first images this spring which showed us just glimpses of the main characters, Netflix has now released a series of set images from their THE LEOPARD historical series which will shoot till September as the adaptation of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's famous classic novel Il Gattopardo which was translated into more than 40 languages around the world. Tom Shankland
is directing the six episode saga which was previously adapted into a movie by famous Italian filmmaker Visconti! Thousands of extras and custom made costumes have been used in this ambitious production.
WHAT IS THE STORY?
While Sicily is struggling in the
turmoil of the Risorgimento in 1860, the Prince of Salina Fabrizio
Corbera (Kim Rossi Stuart) reigns over
his family and his possessions, convinced that even these disorders are
destined to pass. He hasn’t come to terms with the idealism of young
people like his nephew Tancredi (Saul Nanni), who joins the rebels risking his own
life, or the ambitions of men like Sedara, a vulgar man who rides
change by pandering to the nascent power of mafia criminal organizations
and intends to use his beautiful daughter Angelica (Deva Cassel) to get what he wants. At Don Fabrizio’s side remains Concetta (Benedetta Porcaroli),
his favourite daughter, who shares his intelligence and foresight. Her
happiness will eventually be sacrificed in an attempt to ensure the
survival of the power and of the name of the lineage.
BBC'S MURDER IS EASY
AGATHA CHRISTIE SERIES REVEALS LEAD CAST
BBC has announced cast for their mini TV series adaptation of Agatha Christie's MURDER IS EASY which will star Morfydd Clark as Bridget and David Jonsson as Fitzwilliam in the lead roles with Penelope Wilton as Miss Pinkerton, Sinead Matthews as Miss Waynflete, Tom Riley as Lord Whitfield, Douglas Henshall as Major Horton, Mathew Baynton as Dr Thomas and Mark Bonnar as Reverend Humbleby, also in the two part series. Officer Fitzwilliam meets Miss Pinkerton on a train to London in 1954, where she tells him that a killer is on the loose in the English village of Wychwood under Ashe.
The villagers believe the deaths are accidents, but Miss Pinkerton knows otherwise. When she's later found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Fitzwilliam feels he must find the killer before they can strike again.
One of the new projects that will be shopped at European Film Market this year is THE PRIMA DONNA with Toni Collette in the lead role. Nathan
Toni Collette will take the lead role
Silver's revenge thriller revolves around dysfunctional family dynamics, the dangers of ambition, and the lengths we will go to make our mark on the world.
Set in contemporary Rome, Collette will play a legendary opera diva who is about to step into the role of a lifetime just as her estranged daughter (Odessa Young) shows up at her doorstep, right out of rehab. An aspiring opera singer herself, the daughter summons up the courage to ask to be her mother’s understudy. When her mother callously dismisses the suggestion, she snaps and starts mulling the ultimate revenge, igniting a cut-throat battle of wills.
JIM BROADBENT TRAILER
FOR THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY MOVIE
And here is a rather exclusive first trailer for THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY
in which Jim Broadbent is an ordinary man who has passed through life, living on the side lines,
until he goes to post a letter one day… and just keeps walking. Fry
embarks on a 450-mile walk across the UK in the simple belief that his
journey will save the life
The movie should hit the cinemas late this April
of his old friend who is dying in a hospice. Step by step, a spark is
ignited in Harold’s hibernating soul as he rediscovers the majesty of
the world, reflects on his mistakes, and finally gains the strength to
face the unspoken grief that has driven him and his wife, Maureen (Penelope Wilton),
apart. The walk becomes a pilgrimage that inspires people far and wide
but, more importantly, transforms Harold into a man who embraces the
value of friendship, humility, self-forgiveness, and kindness.
WORLD WAR II FILM WITH COLIN FIRTH, MATTHEW MACFADYEN
Operation Mincemeat arrives January
SeeSawFilms is finally ready to release their new historical movie OPERATION MINCEMEAT in cinemas around Europe this month (April 15th in UK, Russia, India), after a long delay, and after that it should also arrive to Netflix, from May 11th but only for the audiences from the rest of the world. Colin Firth and MatthewMacFadyen play two intelligence officers who, during WWII, use a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops. Directed by John Madden, the film also stars Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, Jason Isaacs, JohnnyFlynn, Mark Bonnar, and Matthew's nephew Lorne MacFadyen, Simon Russell Beale, Alex Jennings, Hattie Morahan, Mark Gatiss and Paul Ritter whose final role this was before he died last year.The film is based on a book by Ben Macintyre. He is a well know historian who also helped write the script for the film. It is believed that James Bond's Ian Fleming was the original author of this operation during the Second World War. He is played in the film by Johnny Flynn.
THE STORY IS SET IN 1943
when the Allies were determined to break Hitler’s grip on
occupied Europe, the remarkable true story follows intelligence officers
Ewen Montagu (Firth)
Matthew MacFadyen, Colin Firth, Johnny Flynn
and Charles Cholmondeley (Macfadyen) who conjure
an inspired and improbable disinformation strategy centered on the most
unlikely of secret
January release was delayed when Netflix bought streaming rights
agents: a dead man. They would trick the Nazis into
thinking that Allied forces were planning to attack southern Europe by
way of Greece rather than Sicily.
The film is based on an extraordinary true story!
Their plan was to get a corpse, equip
it with misleading papers, then drop it off the coast of Spain where
Nazi spies would take the bait. It was a plan that helped turn the tide
of the whole war.
SeeSaw Films has published first photos from their new historical movie OPERATION MINCEMEAT which should arrive at the very beginning of January, to Netflix, possibly, as well. Colin Firth and MatthewMacFadyen play two intelligence officers who, during WWII, use a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops. Directed by John Madden, the film also stars Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, Jason Isaacs, JohnnyFlynn, Mark Bonnar, and Matthew's nephew Lorne MacFadyen, Simon Russell Beale, Hattie Morahan, Mark Gatiss and Paul Ritter.
THE STORY IS SET IN 1943
when the Allies were determined to break Hitler’s grip on
occupied Europe, the remarkable true story follows intelligence officers
Ewen Montagu (Firth)
Matthew MacFadyen, Colin Firth, Johnny Flynn
and Charles Cholmondeley (Macfadyen) who conjure
an inspired and improbable disinformation strategy centered on the most
unlikely of secret
Johnny Flynn is unrecognisable in the film as Ian Fleming!
agents: a dead man. They would trick the Nazis into
thinking that Allied forces were planning to attack southern Europe by
way of Greece rather than Sicily.
The film is based on an extraordinary true story!
Their plan was to get a corpse, equip
it with misleading papers, then drop it off the coast of Spain where
Nazi spies would take the bait. It was a plan that helped turn the tide
of the whole war.
NIGHT COURT MULTICAM
SITCOM ORDERED AT NBC
Speaking of first photo, here's one from a new multicam sitcom that NBC has just ordered into series: NIGHT COURT will be a follow up to the classic sitcom following an unapologetic optimist judge Abby Stone (Melissa
It is not known if the sitcom arrives midseason or next season
Rauch), the daughter of the late Harry Stone, who follows in her father’s footsteps as she presides over the night shift of a Manhattan arraignment court and tries to bring order to its crew of oddballs and cynics, most notably former night court prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette is reprising his role from the original).
VIKINGS: VALHALLA
1ST EPIC SERIES TRAILER
Netflix has released the first teaser for their epic series VIKINGS VALHALLA which is coming to the streamer next year! Set 100 years after the events of Vikings, Valhalla stars Sam Corlett as Leif Eriksson, the famed
Sam Corlett takes the lead role in the series
explorer who, according to Viking lore, sailed to North America five centuries before Christopher Columbus. It will also chronicle the adventures of other legendary Vikings from history, including Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida
Leo Suter is Harald Hadrada in the series
Gustavsson) Harald Hardrada (Leo Suter), and the Norman King William the Conqueror. Laura Berlin stars as the ambitious Emma of Normandy, Bradley Freegard as the Danish King Canute, Johannes Haukur
The series comes from Tudors' Michael Hirst
Jóhannesson as Harald’s half-brother Olaf; David Oakes as the English counselor Earl Godwin, Caroline Henderson as the Kattegat Jarl Haakon, Pollyanna McIntosh as the Danish Queen Ælfgifu, and Asbjorn Krogh Nissen as Jarl Kåre.
Earlier this year I told you that Jim Broadbent will lead heartwarming drama THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY and now Penelope Wilton has joined him as Maureen, the wife who is left bereft and bewildered when Harold doesn’t come home one day. Broadbent plays Harold, an ordinary man who has passed through life living on the sidelines until he
The movie will start shooting sometime later this Autumn
goes to post a letter one day…and just keeps walking. He embarks on a 450-mile walk across the UK in the simple belief that his journey will save the life of his old friend Queenie who is dying in a hospice. Step by step, a spark is ignited in Harold’s hibernating soul as he rediscovers the majesty of the world, reflects on his mistakes, and finally gains the strength to face the unspoken grief that has driven him and his wife apart.
THIS LITTLE LOVE OF MINE
COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT MONTH
Speaking of love couples, a romantic drama starring Spartacus Liam McIntyre, Craig Horner and Saskia Hampele arrives to Netflix July 7!
The movie arrives to Netflix July 7th
She plays Laura, a successful hardworking big city lawyer on the verge of being promoted to partner at her firm with a like minded fiancé. To seal her promotion, Laura must go back to her hometown, the island of Sapphire Cove to convince her childhood best friend Chip to sign a contract to take over his grandfather’s company. At first, Chip refuses to read the contract but Laura and Chip eventually reach an agreement that for every “fun and relaxing” event Laura does then Chip will read a page. As they reconnect, the chemistry between the two are immediate and Laura learns what is important that “home is where the heart is.”
According to Deadline, Netflix has just paid $15 million for World War 2 movie OPERATION MINCEMEAT from John Madden which has
Colin Firth will lead the Operation Mincemeat
a star studded cast lead by Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, Jason Isaacs, Johnny Flynn, Simon Russell Beale, Hattie Morahan, Mark Gatiss and Paul Ritter. Set in 1943 when the Allies were determined to break Hitler’s grip on occupied Europe, the remarkable true story follows intelligence officers Ewen Montagu (Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Macfadyen) who conjure an inspired and improbable disinformation strategy centered on the most unlikely of secret agents: a dead man. They would trick the Nazis into thinking that Allied forces were planning to attack southern Europe by way of Greece rather than Sicily. Their plan was
Matthew MacFadyen will play an intelligence officer in the film
to get a corpse, equip it with misleading papers, then drop it off the coast of Spain where Nazi spies would take the bait. It was a plan that helped turn the tide of the whole war.
PAUL MESCAL
TO LEAD BRING THEM DOWN
Breaking star Paul Mescal, who is currently finishing a movie adaptation of popular opera CARMEN down in Australia (a modern day reimagining directed by Benjamin Millepied in which he plays Don Jose),
Paul Mescal is currently shooting Carmen
will move over to his homeland of Ireland later this summer to shoot Irish thriller BRING THEM DOWN in which he and Tom Burke will visit the wild landscape of the West of Ireland, with the story following an Irish shepherd who is drawn into violent conflict with a neighbouring farm when his sheep are massacred by unknown men. Mescal is also starring in THE LOST DAUGHTER movie which Maggie Gyllenhaal directed and which also stars Peter Saarsgard, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, Jessie Buckley, and Oliver Jackson Cohen. The story of that one focuses on a woman's beach vacation which takes a dark turn when she begins to confront the troubles of her past.
Two British films are getting a release soon. From October 2nd Craig Robert's (he both wrote and directed it) comedy drama ETERNAL BEAUTY will be available in selected theatres and as video on demand in
The film will be available on VOD next month
United Kingdom, Ireland, United States and Canada, with Spanish internet release already done in August. The movie had its run on film festivals around the world last year.
ETERNAL BEAUTY follows Jane (Oscar winner Sally Hawkins) who, after
being left at the altar, had a breakdown spiralled into a chaotic
episode of schizophrenia lasting twenty years in which love (both real
and imagined) and family relationships collide. Things change when she
begins a darkly comic romance with Mike (David Thewlis), a failed
musician and fellow lost soul. Penelope Wilton, Billy Piper and
The movie was originally titled In My Oils
Morfydd
Clark are also a part of this ensemble movie. It is interesting that
Sally Hawkins performs a few songs from the movie's soundtrack.
'LX 2048' TRAILER
FACE YOUR REALITY!
The film is out later this month
If you are more in the mood for something more serious, there is also a science fiction movie LX 2048 both written and directed by Guy Moshe with British thespian James D'Arcy in the lead role. Gina McKee also stars in the film which has the story set in
the near future, in which the sun has become so toxic people can no longer leave their houses in daytime, and normal life is conducted mostly inside the virtual realm. Against this dystopian backdrop, a dying man seeks to ensure the future well-being of his family, while coping with what it means to be human in this new reality. This one is getting a US release September 25th!
Here it is finally, we've waited for it for quite a long time now: the first (and probably the only one) trailer for SUMMERLAND period set WW2 drama a directorial debut of Jessica Swale who also wrote the story of the
Summerland lands Julu 31st!
film in which Gemma Arterton plays a folklore
investigator, who from her cliff top study during World War II debunks
myths using science to disprove the existence of magic. The cast also
includes Penelope Wilton, Gugu Mbatha Raw (as Gemma's lesbian love interest) and Tom Courtenay. The movie is set to be released on VOD and selected theatres July 31st!
Summerland Follows
fiercely independent writer Alice who secludes herself in
her study: occupied by her work but also profoundly lonely, haunted by a
love affair from her past. When spirited young Frank, an evacuee from
the London Blitz, is dumped into her irritable care, his
Jessica Swale both wrote and directed the war drama
innocence and
wonder awaken Alice’s
deeply buried emotions. Bravely embracing life’s miraculous
unpredictability, Alice learns that wounds may be healed, hope and
second chances do exist, and any woman must defiantly be two things: who
and what she wants.
Tons of first photos from upcoming features today (stay tuned for part 2 later this week), starting with WILD MOUNTAIN THYME in which Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan are paired up as two star-crossed lovers in Ireland
Jamie Dornan and Emily Blunt lead the cast of the romantic drama
who get caught up in their family's land dispute. Also starring Jon Hamm and Christopher Walken, the movie is both written and directed by John Patrick Shanley.
TIMOTHY SPALL'S
THE OBSCURE LIFE OF THE GRAND DUKE OF CORSICA
There's also the first photo from period set comedy drama THE OBSCURE LIFE OF THE GRAND DUKE OF CORSICA which sees
Timothy Spall leads the cast in the new movie
Timothy Spall playing a cantankerous and brilliant architect, Alfred Rott, who embarks upon a highly unusual commission for 'The Grand Duke Of
The movie currently has a December release date
Corsica' (Peter Stormare). A deadly malaria epidemic sweeps Malta but Alfred remains to finish the job. The movie is set for a December release!
'SUMMERLAND'
A STELLAR WW2 DRAMA MOVIE
A woman during World War II opens her heart to an evacuee after initially resolving to be rid of him, is the story of SUMMERLAND war movie drama which has Gemma Arterton in the lead role. She plays a folklore
It is not clear whether the movie will retain its July release date
investigator, who from her clifftop study during World War II debunks myths using science to disprove the existence of magic. The cast also includes
British actress Gemma Arterton plays the lead role in the movie
Penelope Wilton, Gugu Mbatha Raw and Tom Courtenay. The movie currently has a July release date in UK and USA. It is a directorial debut of Jessica Swale who also wrote the story.
A whole slate of British actors has joined Colin Firth in new WW2 movie OPERATION MINCEMEAT which will now also have
Matthew Macfadyen, Penelope Wilton, Johnny Flynn and Tom Wilkinson, alongside Kelly Macdonald, Hattie Morahan, Simon Russell Beale, Paul Ritter and Mark Gatiss! Set in 1943, the story of the film revolves around two brilliant intelligence officers, Ewen Montagu (Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Macfadyen) who conceived a plan that was dubbed Operation Mincemeat. They would trick the Nazis into thinking that Allied forces were planning to attack southern Europe by way of Greece rather than Sicily. Their plan was to get a corpse, equip it with misleading papers, then drop it off the coast of Spain where Nazi spies would take the bait. John Madden is directing the adaptation of Ben McIntyre's book.
'LAST KNIGHT: ROOTS OF EVIL'
1ST EPIC SEQUELTRAILER
You can also check out a delightful trailer for the sequel for Disney Russia's adventure THE LAST KNIGHT: ROOTS OF EVIL (Последний
The movie arrives next year at Christmas
богатырь: Корень зла) the sequel of their ultra successful 2017 comedy adventure which earned almost 2 billion Russian roubles. The sequel is out December 24th next year! Peace and tranquillity rule in Belogorye, evil has been defeated, Ivan (Viktor Horinyak) enjoys his well deserved fame. With him are father Ilya, his beloved Vasilisa in pre wedding preparations, old friends Baba Yaga and Vodyanoy and little joys from the modern world: a generator, a microwave, a fan, a vacuum cleaner and other things to ensure a comfortable life - his sword makes it possible to regularly cut a hole between worlds and run for supplies. But longing for his native world burdens Ivan. And he is
Kiril Zaytzev plays famous Russian folk hero Finist
concerned about the inevitable beginning of the Athletic Games - the congress of all the knights of Belogorye, where good men will show boldness and strength. Ivan does not want to disgrace himself in front of his father and
Ekaterina Vilkova is Varvara in the sequel to the great hit
bride. And handsome hero Finist, who has a soft heart for his Vasilisa, has more than enough power and beauty. However, when in the midst of the competition the ancient evil awakens and the very existence of the wizarding
Elena Yakovleva is legendary Baba Yaga in the movie
world is in jeopardy, Ivan has to unite with both old friends and new enemies. They have to go on a long journey, beyond the boundaries of the known world, to discover the origins of evil, find a way to defeat enemies and learn how to restore peace to Belogorye.
(Penelope Wilton) on a train to London, who tells him that a killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe. When Miss Pinkerton is found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Fitzwilliam travels to 
Wychwood to investigate, where he meets residents including Bridget (Morfydd Clark), Lord Whitfield (Tom Riley), Major Horton (Douglas Henshall), Dr Thomas (Mathew Baynton), Reverend Humbleby (Mark Bonnar), and others. Britbox will air it next year in Northern America. 
(Penelope Wilton) on a train to London, who tells him that a killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe. When Miss Pinkerton is found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Fitzwilliam travels to 
Wychwood to investigate, where he meets residents including Bridget (Morfydd Clark), Lord Whitfield (Tom Riley), Major Horton (Douglas Henshall), Dr Thomas (Mathew Baynton), Reverend Humbleby (Mark Bonnar), and others. Britbox will air it next year in Northern America. 
