Yesterday we had Leopold II of Belgium, and today here's another shamelessly ruthless tyrant that hoarded undeserved wealth by exploiting and enslaving the brutally oppressed people in the humiliated colonies. British queen Victoria in VICTORIA AND ABDUL, a new period set drama coming from director Stephen Frears (Queen, Philomena, Dangerous Liaisons) with Dame Judi Dench playing the queen for the second time, twenty years after she played the greedy monarch in Mrs. Brown. The movie should arrive in theatres around Europe, Australia and America mid September.
A MOST UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP The movie tells the extraordinary true story of an unexpected
friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s long rule. When Abdul
Karim, a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s
Judi Dench is actually much older than Victoria was when she died
Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favour with the Queen herself.
As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the
two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another
Dench also played queen Elizabeth on the big screens
that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the
friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new
eyes!
HUNDREDS OF COSTUMES
The movie was shot in Scotland and England
Bollywood actor, whom you've seen in Furious 7, Ali Fazal takes the second lead role alongside Dame Judi, as the Indian clerk Abdul. Eddie Izzard joins the cast as Bertie, Prince of Wales who disapproved of the relationship and tried to drive Karim out of the Royal Household. Also joining the cast are Tim Pigott Smith as Sir Henry Ponsonby (it was his last role), Michael Gambon as Lord Salisbury, Olivia Williams as Baroness Churchill and others. Oscar nominee, costume designer Consolata Boyle had prepared more than 600 colourful costumes for Abdul, out of which only the best ones were chosen for the actual shooting to depict
Frears and Dench already worked together on Philomena
the fashion of the 19th century, while Victoria's wardrobe was even more numerous in items and richness. It took many months for the costumes to be prepared. When Abdul, after studying the etiquette for many months, arrived to English court, because the snobbish monarch
The movie was based on Shrabani Basu's book
was curious about her subjects in India as one might be about some exotic pets, he was actually made to kiss her feet, but later on he became her official clerk and trusted confidante.
Two British movie trailers for you today, first a delightful one for PADDINGTON 2 a sequel to the 2014 hit movie which now boasts an exquisitely strong thespian cast with Hugh Bonneville, Hugh Grant, Imelda Staunton, Julie Walters, Brendan Gleeson, Sally Hawkins, Jim Broadbent and Ben Whishaw! It is out November in Europe, January 2018 in USA.
PADDINGTONis happily settled with the Brown family in Windsor
Gardens, where he has become a popular member of the community,
spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes. While searching for the
Julie Walters plays crazy aunt Lucy
perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, Paddington
spots a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber's antique shop, and embarks
upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it's
up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.
'VICTORIA AND ABDUL' TRAILER
JUDI DENCH GOES ROYAL AGAIN
There is also a rather nice first trailer for September historical drama VICTORIA AND ABDUL in which Judi Dench plays one of English queens for the fourth or fifth time, methinks. Directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena) it also stars Olivia Williams and Michael Gambon.
MOST UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP The extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later
years of Queen Victoria’s (Judi Dench) remarkable rule. When Abdul
Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in
the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favour with the
Judi Dench first played Victoria exactly 20 years ago in Mrs Brown
Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held
position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty
to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to
destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing
world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity.
Believe it or not, dame Judi Dench will play Queen Victoria again after MRS. BROWN! She will play her in Stephen Frears' BBC Films' movie VICTORIA AND ABDUL, the true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of her dark and violent rule. When Abdul Karim, a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favour with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity.
STEVEN LUND JOINS
'REIGN' EPIC SEASON FOUR Meanwhile, over at CW they've continuing casting for the fourth
season of their REIGN epic series about Mary Queen of Scots which will,
now, be set on three courts, the one in Scotland, Elizabeth's in London
and the one in France. I've told you that one of the new male roles will
be the role of lord Narcisse's (Craig Parker) son and it just went to
Steven Lund. He will be Luc, a sexy, highborn rogue who is also a plain
speaking realist. He’s a good guy who happens to have a morally
compromised and very powerful father: Lord Stephan Narcisse. But he is his own man, eyeing his own future, even as his
father pressures him to make lasting and permanent inroads with the
French royal family. Specifically, Narcisse wants his son at Princess
Claude’s (Rose Williams) side. His arrival will complicate Claude’s life
in ways she could never have imagined!
'ANTHROPOID' WW2 TRAILER
JAMIE DORNAN & CILLIAN MURPHY
Your trailer for the end of the week comes from World War 2 action thriller ANTHROPOID which arrives into cinemas this August starring Jamie Dornan, Harry Lloyd and Cillian Murphy! Based on the extraordinary true story of Operation Anthropoid, the WWII mission to assassinate SS General Reinhard Heydrich, the main architect behind the Final Solution and the Reich's third in command after Hitler and Himmler.
