TONI COLLETTE & MONICA BELLUCCI IN MAFIA MAMMA MOVIE TRAILER! DAISY RIDLEY TO LEAD AGATHA CHRISTIE AFFAIR TV SERIES! SAM HAZELDINE REPLACES JOSEPH MAWLE IN THE RINGS OF POWER EPIC TV SERIES SEASON 2, PLUS SIX NEW CAST ADDITIONS

 THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR SERIES 

DAISY RIDLEY TO STAR

Miramax TV has cast Daisy Ridley in their new TV series THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR an adaptation of Nina de Gramont's murder mystery novel about the time when the famous detective novel writer Agatha Christie disappeared for two weeks. In 1926, when her husband’s affair became public, Agatha Christie vanished for eleven days. In this reimagining, told through the eyes of her husband’s mistress Nan O’Dea (Daisy Ridley), Nan and Agatha become entwined in each other’s lives in ways neither expected. 

 THE RINGS OF POWER SERIES 

SAM HAZELDINE REPLACES JOSEPH MAWLE IN SEASON 2

After the first season broke all records scoring astounding 100 million viewers from all corners of the world, the most expensive series ever and the most beautiful one of the year behind us THE RINGS OF POWER is preparing the second season and they have now replaced Joseph Mawle in the role of evil Orc leader Adar with Sam Hazeldine. The reasons are not known, but Mawle did not take part in promotional activities for the first season either. New faces joining the second season in undisclosed roles also include Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen ‘Zates’ Atour, Ben Daniels, newcomer Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, and Nicholas Woodeson! The show set thousands of years before the events from the Lord of the Rings movies, should, hopefully, return sometime next year. 

  MAFIA MAMMA TRAILER 

The film arrives April 14th!

WITH TONI COLLETTE AND MONICA BELLUCCI

Although it is not going to hit theatres until April 14th next year, a fun trailer has been released for Toni Collette's comedy movie MAFIA MAMMA in which she plays an insecure American woman who inherits her grandfather’s mafia empire in Italy. Guided by the firm’s trusted consigliere (played by Italy's own Monica Bellucci), she hilariously defies everyone’s expectations, including her own, as the new head of the family business. Check out the hilarious trailer below and tell us what you think:

MEET THE ROYAL ELVES OF LORD OF THE RINGS EPIC TV SERIES PREQUEL THE RINGS OF POWER: BENJAMIN WALKER'S HIGH KING GIL-GALAD, YOUNG ELROND AND CELEBRIMBOR OF EREGION

 THE RINGS OF POWER SERIES 

BEHOLD THE ROYAL ELVES

Yesterday, within our spotlight on epic and period set series we can expect next Autumn, I showed you exclusive new photos of High King Gil-Galad of Elves played by Benjamin Walker in LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER epic series that hits Amazon Prime Video September 2nd, and today we will visit the Elves a bit more as I have some new photos for you.  With the story set during the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the story we have seen in Peter Jackson's movies, there will be some familiar faces for example the immortal elves Galadriel and Elrond who are now young (although a few thousand years old which is very young for Elves). While Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) will go on an adventure as seen in the trailer for the series, Elrond (Robert Aramayo) is being mentored by Elven High King Gil-Galad (Benjamin Walker) to become the great king of the future! 

  GIL-GALAD, High King of the Elves of the West is someone that we have actually briefly seen in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, but he was played there by Mark Ferguson in the, as Winter Is Coming writes, opening sequence where the Last Alliance of Elves and Men battle against Sauron, and he died in the fight. Although we meet Gil-Galad in the first season in the time of peace, he’s got an elvish sense of the impending rebirth of evil, and he feels he has to protect his lands from it. Most of the Elves left

First look at Celebrimbor

Middle-earth for Elven heaven Valinor at the end of the First age, but Gil-Galad stayed because he needed to stand against Sauron who wants to become a new Dark Lord. Gil-Galad is a warrior, but also a politician who takes care of his people.

CELEBRIMBOR

We also have the first photos of Celebrimbor played in the series by Charles Edwards. He was the Elven smith who lived in Eregion, an Elf settlement close to Khazad-dûm, aka Moria, where he was learning ring lore from Sauron (under the guise of an Elf called Annatar)! In the first season, Celebrimbor is lord of the realm and is actively trying to turn Eregion into a place of excellence. And he is working with the Dwarves towards that end to try and capitalize on their talents and their creativity. He is vain, cautious, and yet gullible. His desire to create the greatest expression of craft, and surpass his father Fëanor’s legendary Jewels, opens the way for Sauron to tempt him with the secrets of ring lore. In the series he will send Elrond to the Dwarven court to court the Dwarves.

SEE ELVEN QUEEN GALADRIEL AND OTHERS ON THE RINGS OF POWER EPIC TV SERIES EMPIRE MAGAZINE COVERS! THE PRINCESS IS KICKING SOME NAUGHTY BUMS IN HULU'S NEW MEDIEVAL FANTASY ADVENTURE WITH JOEY KING, ED STOPPARD, DOMINIC COOPER, OLGA KURYLENKO!

 THE RINGS OF POWER 

GORGEOUS EMPIRE COVERS!

Empire has an epic treat for us in the form of new magazine covers dedicated to LORD OF THE RINGS prequel television series THE RINGS OF POWER

The series will feature young warrior Galadriel

which will arrive to Amazon Prime with its first eight episode season September 2nd! This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and

There will be creatures similar to Hobbits in it

new, as they confront the long feared re-emergence of evil to Middle Earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone! The cast led by Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, and Morfydd Clark as young Elven queen Galadriel will also include Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani. The shooting of the second season has already been granted over at Amazon. Read our spotlight here.

 

 THE PRINCESS TRAILER 

IS NOT WHAT YOU'D EXPECT

The Princess arrives July 1st on Hulu

Mostly so because it is the princess in it that kicks some naughty bums instead of waiting to be saved like a true damsel in distress. Hulu will stream their historical adventure movie THE PRINCESS on July 1st with the rather godawful Joey King in the lead role. But there are other great actors in it to cover up her lack of talent, namely the amazing Ed Stoppard and the everpresent Dominic Cooper alongside Olga Kurylenko. This action packed fight to the death set in a fairy tale world, stars Joey King as a strong

Ed Stoppard plays the king in the new movie

willed princess who refuses to wed the cruel sociopath to whom she is betrothed, and is kidnapped and locked in a remote tower of her father's

Dominic Cooper plays the lead villain the movie

castle. With her scorned, vindictive suitor intent on taking her father's throne, the princess must protect her family and save the kingdom.

BEHOLD IN WONDER: THE WILDLY MAGNIFICENT TEASER AND 1ST PHOTOS FROM AMAZON PRIME'S LORD OF THE RINGS EPIC TV SERIES RINGS OF POWER!

  THE RINGS OF POWER  

BEHOLD THE 1ST TRAILER!

Beside first beautiful photos published at Vanity Fair, Amazon Prime has now released the first magnificent trailer for the $500 million worth, and thus the most expensive ever in history, epic TV series THE RINGS OF

Morfydd Clark is Elven queen Galadriel in the new series

POWER a prequel to famous Lord of the Rings saga from Tolkien. The first eight episode season arrives September 2nd with the second one already

Ismael Cruz Cordova is Arondir

shooting in UK.

 

THE STORY OF THIS EPIC DRAMA

is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty

Robert Aramayo plays a young version of Elven king Elrond

Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map,

Galadriel and Elrond having a romantic moment in the series

these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone!

 

CHARACTERS OLD AND NEW

Beside younger versions of the characters we already grew to love or hate in Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, such as Elven queen Galadriel, Elrond and Sauron, the new series will also have some new heroes in the principal

Charlie Wickers is new character Halbrand!

ensemble cast which includes 22 actors. Morfydd Clark stars in the role of Galadriel, previously portrayed by Cate Blanchett, she is the commander of the Northern Armies,  Ismael Cruz Córdova as new character Arondir, a Silvan

Owain Arthur is Prince Durin IV!

elf. His forbidden love Bronwyn, a healer, is played by Nazanin Boniadi! Robert Aramayo plays Galadriel's love Elrond, a politically ambitions young Elven leader, while Charlie Vickers stars in the new original role of

Arondir is in a forbidden love with Bronwyn, human healer

Halbrand who is running from the past. Sophia Nomvete is dwarven princess, Disa! Owain Arthur stars as Durin IV, prince of the bustling subterranean realm of Khazad-dûm. Elven smith Celebrimbor whose skill with

Sophia Nomvete is Dwarven princess Disa!

metals and magic lead to the forging of the rings is portrayed by Charles Edwards. Maxim Baldry is a sailor named Isildur who will appear years before he becomes a warrior and cuts the soul-corrupting ring off Sauron’s

Nazanin Boniadi plays Bronwyn the human healer

hand, then falls victim to its powers himself. Hobbits will not appear in the show, but their ancestor species called the harfoots will. Lenny Henry plays

First look at Benjamin Walker in the new series

a harfoot elder in the series, while Megan Richards and Markella Kavenagh star as two harfoots who encounter a mysterious lost man.

The second season is already shooting over in UK

Benjamin Walker, Augustus Prew, Simon Merrells, Kip Chapman, Joseph Mawle, Peter Mullan, Daniel Weyman also star. 

 

THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM

Meanwhile, April 12th, 2024 has been set as a premiere date for LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM animated movie from Kenji Kamiyama, set around two centuries before The Hobbit

Variety has published the first image from the animated adventure

and the main trilogy and exploring the exploits of Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and the creation of Helm’s Deep!

BREAKING NEWS: SEE TEASER ANNOUNCING AMAZON'S THE RINGS OF POWER EPIC TV SERIES, PREQUEL TO TOLKIEN'S SAGA!

  THE RINGS OF POWER 

TEASER FOR AMAZON'S LORD OF THE RINGS SERIES

Amazon has revealed today first teaser announcing that the title of their LORD OF THE RINGS epic TV series will be THE RINGS OF POWER. Not overly creative, right? The most expensive series ever will start in

First season will stream September 2nd

September starring Benjamin Walker, Augustus Prew, Morfyd Clark, Peter Mullan, Maxim Baldry, Simon Merrells, Joseph Mawle, Lloyd Owen. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to

It will be the most expensive series ever with $500 million first season

Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone. 

BENJAMIN WALKER, PETER MULLAN, AUGUSTUS PREW, SIMON MERRELLS, MAXIM BALDRY AND OTHERS JOIN LORD OF THE RINGS EPIC TV SERIES AT AMAZON

   LORD OF THE RINGS SERIES  

 REVEALS NEW CAST MEMBERS

A whole new slate of people who will be moving down to the Elven woods has been announced today when Amazon confirmed actors who will be joining the cast of their LORD OF THE RINGS series which will be the most expensive the world has ever seen. Benjamin Walker, Lenny Henry,

Simon Merrells, Ben Walker, Augustus Prew, Lloyd Owen, Cynthia Addai Robinson and Peter Tait have joined the cast

Peter Mullan and August Prew are probably the most famous among the new names that also include Lloyd Owen, Peter Tait, Simon Merrells, Maxim Baldry, Ian Blackburn, Kip Chapman, Anthony Crum, Maxine Cunliffe, Trystan Gravelle, Thusitha Jayasundera, Fabian McCallum, Geoff

Kip Chapman, Maxim Baldry, Anthony Crum will also star

Morrell, Alex Tarrant, Leon Wadham and Sara Zwangobani. As you remember, earlier this year we've already announced Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia

Fabian McCallum, Leon Wadham, Alex Tarrant will also star

Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, and Daniel Weyman as the first cast members. The series which has already been renewed for the second season will depict new events before Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring.

AMAZON REVEALS THE MAIN CAST FOR LORD OF THE RINGS EPIC TV SERIES! SHOOTING STARTS NEXT MONTH!

  'LORD OF THE RINGS' SERIES

MAIN CAST OFFICIALLY REVEALED

Just a few days ago we announced Robert Aramayo as the lead hero Beldor in Amazon's LORD OF THE RINGS series, and now they've announced that Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan

Nazanin Boniadi and Daniel Weyman have joined the cast

Smith, Charlie Vickers and Daniel Weyman are rounding up the main cast. Mostly names we've never heard of. Amazon has already ordered the second season of the new epic show, the most expensive project ever seen on the small screens (the are rumours that the whole series will cost more than

Tom Budge and Charlie Vickers will also star in the epic saga

one billion dollars), but the production will go on a few months hiatus after filming first two episodes of season one so that the writers could map out the story and prepare it for season two as well. The only thing that is known of the plot so far is that it will be set in Middle Earth, exploring new storylines

Ismael Cruz Cordova and Dylan Smith will also take part in the new series

preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. We have already announced Maxim Baldry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh (as female lead Tyra), Joseph Mawle (as villain Oren) and Morfydd Clark (as Elven queen Galadriel) in the cast of the series that will have 20 episodes in the first season.

ROBERT ARAMAYO TO PLAY HERO BELDOR IN AMAZON'S LORD OF THE RINGS, MOST EXPENSIVE TV SERIES EVER!

  'LORD OF THE RINGS' SERIES

ROBERT ARAMAYO IS BELDOR

Earlier this winter everyone was shocked when Will Poulter left Amazon's LORD OF THE RINGS TV series which is currently in pre 

Robert Aramayo will be the male lead apparently

production, but it did not take them long to replace him. His role of young hero  Beldor will now go to Robert Aramayo, who starred in Harley and Davidson and Game of Thrones series. As Deadline reports, Amazon has already ordered the second season of the new epic show, the most expensive project ever seen on the small screens (the are rumours that the whole series will cost more than one billion dollars), but the production will go on a few months hiatus after filming first two episodes of season one so that the writers could map out the story and prepare it for season two as well. The only thing that is known of the plot so far is that it will be set in Middle Earth, exploring new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. We have already announced Maxim Baldry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh (as female lead Tyra), Joseph Mawle (as villain Oren) and Morfydd Clark (as Elven queen Galadriel) in the cast of the series that will have 20 episodes in the first season.

AMAZON'S LORD OF THE RINGS EPIC TV SERIES CASTS MORFYDD CLARK AS ELVEN QUEEN GALADRIEL! LUKE PASQUALINO, JULIAN KOSTOV, CALAHAN SKOGMAN JOIN SHADOW AND BONE EPIC TV SERIES

  'LORD OF THE RINGS' SERIES

FINDS ITS QUEEN GALADRIEL

The most expensive television production the world has ever seen, Amazon's small screen adaptation of Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS keeps on casting actors for its world of myths and legends, and the latest one

Photo by Mike  Blackett

is Morfydd Clark (she stars this year in BBC's current major flop His Dark Materials and also Dracula) who will play a younger (although not really young as she is thousands of years old) version of ethereal Elven queen Galadriel! Although the production hasn't even started yet, the series has already been ordered for more than one season and it already has Markella Kavenagh, Maxim Baldry, Emma Horvath and Joseph Mawle in the cast, with J.A. Bayona set as one of the directors. Will Poulter who was rumoured as one of the cast members before, has left the production for unknown reasons, although we cannot even imagine what could be more important than starring in such a historical project. As Variety reveals, the series will be set before the events in the famous film trilogy, back in the Second Age in which the Rings of Power, including Sauron’s One Ring, came into existence.

  SHADOW AND BONE SERIES ADS

LUKE PASQUALINO AND OTHERS

Meanwhile, another epic TV project, which already has Ben Barnes as its lead, SHADOW AND BONE, Netflix TV series adaptation of Leigh

Luke Pasqualino has scored one of the lead roles

  Bardugo's popular YA novels set in her Grishaverse, has added our dearest Luke Pasqualino to the cast, alongside  Calahan Skogman, Zoë Wanamaker, Kevin Eldon, Julian Kostov, Jasmine Blackborow and Gabrielle Brooks!

Shadow And Bone
is set in a world cleaved in two by a massive barrier of perpetual darkness, where unnatural creatures feast on human flesh. A young soldier uncovers a power that finally might unite her country, but as she struggles to hone her power, dangerous forces plot against her. Thugs, thieves, assassins and saints are at

Julian Kostov will be Fedyor in the series

war now, and it will take more than magic to survive.

Luke Pasqualino will portray David, a brilliant Fabrikator who feels most at ease with his nose buried in a scientific treatise. Calahan Skogman will play Matthias, a Fjerdan witch hunter raised to despise the Grisha and their magic. Zoe Wanamaker will be Baghra, a ruthless teacher and trainer, determined to hone the power of each of her charges. Kevin Eldon will be the Apparat, the mysterious spiritual adviser to Ravka’s royal family. Julian Kostov is

Newcomer Calahan Skogman will be witch hunter Matthias

Fedyor, a free spirited Heartrender and loyal follower of General Kirigan.  Jasmine Blackborow will play Marie, an Inferni who tries to teach Alina the social rules of the Little Palace.

LEE PACE TO PLAY EMPEROR OF GALAXY IN APPLE'S SF TV SERIES ADAPTATION OF ASIMOV'S FOUNDATION! JOSEPH MAWLE, MAXIM BALDRY JOIN AMAZON'S LORD OF THE RINGS EPIC TV SERIES

  'LORD OF THE RINGS' 

TV SERIES CASTS NEW ACTORS

I haven't given you any updates on Amazon's upcoming new epic TV series based on famous LORD OF THE RINGS, but now we have more casting announcements: two actors whom we've watched recently on BBC,

Maxim Baldry will take one of the roles

Joseph Mawle from Troy Fall of the City (as the villain called Oren) and Years and Years Maxim Baldry have joined Will Poulter (who will play a hero called Beldor) and Markella Kavenagh (as Tyra) in the series which will begin shooting soon at New Zealand. Set in Middle Earth the series will bring new stories dating from the time before Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring during the Second Age which was the time in which the Rings of Power, including Sauron’s One Ring, were created. J.A. Bayona has been set as the director of the series which is expected to have five seasons with the first two (with costs estimated to be close to $500 million) already ordered ahead of the shooting. The first season will have an unusually big number of twenty episodes! The producers will have to stick to

Joseph Mawle will take the role of the lead villain Oren

Tolkien's mythology faithfully as Tolkien's Estate, according to contract, can veto all the ideas that are not in keeping with it. The pilot episode should air sometime in 2021, so you will have to be very, very patient.

  LEE PACE TO LEAD 

ASIMOV'S FOUNDATION SAGA!

Speaking of massive fantasy sagas, Apple has just found lead stars for its TV series adaptation of Isaac Asimov's famous sf classic FOUNDATION

Lee Place will rule the Galaxy in the new series

The ten episode series will be toplined by Lee Pace and Jared Harris in a story about a band of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to defy it. As Deadline reports, Lee Pace will portray Brother Day, the current Emperor of the Galaxy, while Jared Harris will play Hari Seldon, a mathematical genius who predicts the demise of the empire. David Goyer (Da Vinci's Demons) is serving as the show runner and executive producer as well. This comes after rumours that Apple has already invested close to $250 million into their sf series SEE which launches their streaming service next week and has the second season already ordered!

PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON TOLKIEN BIOPIC ON THE AUTHOR OF LEGENDARY LORD OF THE RINGS SAGA WITH NICHOLAS HOULT, LILY COLLINS, DEREK JACOBI

'TOLKIEN' EPIC BIOPIC

 DEPICTS A LIFE OF LOVE, COURAGE AND FELLOWSHIP

Hoult previously played J.D. Salinger as well

A few months ago director Francis Lee found himself in a sort of a pickle when the family of famous fossil hunter Mary Anning refused to give any support to his film Ammonite in which she is played by Kate Winslet as the film portrays her as a lesbian and there are no real records or evidence that she ever was lesbian. Something similar is happening now to another biopic - TOLKIEN on the famous author of legendary Lord of the Rings saga. His family has also decided not to endorse the movie and hasn't been a part of

Tolkien will hit cinemas worldwide May 10th

its production in any way. But then again, they did not give support to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies either, but they did back the upcoming Amazon's TV series on the famous saga (for which they did get about $250 million for the rights - deservedly if I might say so). It seems that Fox movie studios did not even try to involve the family in the movie which depicts the early years in the extra ordinary life of J.R.R. Tolkien which influenced his later writing. His son Christopher Tolkien said that the commercialization of his father's work has reduced the aesthetic and philosophical impact of the creation to nothing! With or without the family's support, Dome Karukoski's movie in which Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Hoult takes the role of the father of LOTR

plays famous story teller is ready to hit theatres around the world next month.

THE STORY OF TOLKIEN explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the "fellowship" apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-Earth novels.The movie also sees Lily Collins playing his wife, with Derek Jacobi, Patrick Gibson, Colm Meaney, Anthony Boyle also in the cast.