SHOCKINGLY CHILLING TRAILER FOR SERBIA'S OSCAR CANDIDATE DARA OF JASENOVAC IS HERE REVEALING THE WW2 ATROCITIES IN ONE OF WORLD'S WORST NAZI CAMPS

  DARA OF JASENOVAC  

CHILLING TRAILER RELEASED!

Out of the ashes of hate comes the untold story of the indomitable human spirit. The first trailer for the shocking and deeply moving film DARA OF JASENOVAC, which will represent Serbia in the best foreign movie race at this year's Oscars and Golden Globes, is finally here. The film tells story of little Serbian girl Dara (Biljana Cekic) who comes face to face with the horrors of the Holocaust era after she, her mother and siblings are sent to the concentration camp complex known as Jasenovac. Considered one of the most overlooked parts of history, Jasenovac is run by the Croat fascist Ustase who brutally murdered Jews, Serb and Roma people, which included dozens of thousands of children, close to 100,000 victims in total (although many believe the number could be as high as one million). As unspeakable atrocities start to unfold, Dara must summon tremendous courage to protect her infant brother from a terrible fate while she safeguards her own survival and plots a precarious path towards freedom. Read more about the film here.

A VISIT TO 15TH CENTURY DENMARK IN MARGRETHE QUEEN OF NORTH TEASER ON THE QUEEN WHO UNITED SCANDINAVIAN KINGDOMS INTO ONE REALM! NIKOLAJ COSTER WALDAU, CHARLES DANCE IN PERIOD SET SURVIVAL MOVIE AGAINST THE ICE

  MARGRETHE QUEEN OF NORTH 

FIRST ROYAL TEASER IS HERE

Proving our status of web's most resourceful place for period set projects, we have something very fresh for you: a very atmospheric teaser

The film will arrive sometime this year

released today for Danish epic movie MARGRETHE QUEEN OF NORTH starring Trine Dyrholm (from Erna At War) as their 15th century queen. Søren Malling, Morten Hee Andersen, Jakob Oftebro also star in the film out later this year.

  The year is 1402. Margrethe has achieved what no man has managed before. She has gathered Denmark, Norway and Sweden into a peace oriented union, which she single handedly rules through her young, adopted son, Erik. The union is beset by enemies, however, and Margrethe is therefore planning a marriage between Erik and an English princess. An alliance with England should secure the union's status as an emerging European power but

Margethre crowning Eric as her successor

a breathtaking conspiracy is under way that can tear Margrethe and all she believes in apart.

DEZZY'S HISTORY LESSON

The Kalmar union of Denmark, Norway and Sweden kept Scandinavian kingdoms joined for over a century. Margrethe, the founder of that union, was also known as the Semiramis of North and Lady King. She died aboard her royal ship when she was trying to recover Finland for the Union as well. She was succeeded by her great nephew Eric of Pomerania as her son King Olaf II of Denmark (whom she had with her husband King Haakon VI of Norway) died before her.  

 

  AGAINST THE ICE MOVIE  

NIKOLAJ COSTER WALDAU TO LEAD PERIOD SET MOVIE

Nikolaj Coster Waldau leads the cast

Speaking of Denmark, Netflix is producing Baltasar Kormakur's AGAINST THE ICE survival movie set in 1909, when Denmark’s AlabamaExpedition led by Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen (Nikolaj Coster Waldau) was attempting to disprove the United States’ claim to North Eastern Greenland, a claim that was rooted in the idea that Greenland was broken up into two different pieces of land. Leaving their crew behind with the ship, Mikkelsen sleds across the ice with his inexperienced crew member, Iver Iversen (Joe Cole). The two men succeed in finding the proof that Greenland is one island, but returning to the ship takes longer and is much harder than expected. Battling extreme hunger, fatigue and a polar bear attack, they finally arrive to find their ship crushed in the ice and the camp abandoned. Charles Dance and Heida Reed also star in the film.

MEET WORLD'S FIRST SQUIRREL SUPERHERO IN DISNEY + FAMILY ADVENTURE FLORA AND ULYSSES

   FLORA & ULYSSES TRAILER  

BRINGS A SQUIRREL SUPERHERO!

The film will stream February 19th

Your Monday dose of sugar comes today in the form of a squirrel superhero in the trailer for FLORA & ULYSSES movie which will stream on Disney + February19th based on the Newbery Award winning book by Cate DiCamillo about 10 year old Flora (Matilda Lawler), an avid comic book fan and a self avowed cynic, whose parents (Alyson Hannigan and Ben Schwartz)  have recently separated. After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses, Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora's life and her outlook forever. 

FRENCH PERIOD SET SERIES AND MOVIES TO EXPECT IN 2021: GERMINAL, DIANE DE POITIERS, ADVENTURES OF YOUNG VOLTAIRE TV SERIES, EIFFEL AND DELICIEUX MOVIES

  2021 FRENCH EPIC PROJECTS 

GERMINAL TV SERIES

French TV is preparing Germinal series

In our insanely popular Mega Massive spotlight on all the period set and epic TV series and films to expect in 2021, I mentioned that the only period set series scheduled to launch this year in France is GERMINAL but we will have two more. This mall screen adaptation of Emile Zola's famous novel will see Louis Peres leading the series as our late 19th century hero Etienne Lantier, a miner in love with a young woman courted by a brutal worker, who will push his comrades to strike when the mining company lowers wages. Alix Poisson, Guillaume de Tonquédec, Sami Bouajila and Thierry Godard also star in the six episode series that will also air on Italian RAI.

DIANE DE POITIERS SERIES

France 3 is, meanwhile, bringing us a two episode mini series on Diane de Poitiers (Isabelle Adjani), who, endowed with insolent beauty and daring manager intermingling with politics,  shares with Henri II (Nicolas

Isabelle Adjani will return to costume drama after Queen Margo

Duvauchelle), twenty years her junior, the most burning passion in the history of France. In so doing, she defeated two dangerous rivals: the sovereign whose name was to associate her name with the bloody Saint Bartholomew and a royal favorite educated in the art of poisons. Jean Reno and Mathie Amalric also star in this 16th century historical saga. 

ADVENTURES OF YOUNG VOLTAIRE

France 3 will also grace is with this four episode saga on famous 18th century philosopher and writer Voltaire in his youth. How do you become Voltaire? The giant of thought, the master of blasphemy, whose battles will

Adventures of Young Voltaire will have four episodes

give birth to the French Revolution? If we know the venerable philosopher, we know less about the young Voltaire. Thomas Solivérès will lead the cast as

Thomas Soliveres leads the cast in the lead role of young Voltaire

the young Voltaire himself, committed philosopher and pamphleteer who left his mark on the Age of Enlightenment, always gorgeous Victor Meutelet will

Christa Teret takes the lead female role in the costume drama

portray Duke de Richelieu, Christa Théret will portray actress Adrienne Lecouvreur, while Bernard Le Coq plays the older version of the writer. The Château de Chantilly was used as a filming location for the reconstruction of the Château de Versailles.

DELICIEUX PERIOD SET MOVIE

When it comes to period set movies coming from France this year, we have DELICIEUX which has already been sold to most European countries, Canada and Australia. Set to be released this March, it stars Grégory

The film was directed by Eric Besnard

Gadebois as a talented chef who sets up France’s very first restaurant in the 18th century after he is dismissed by an aristocratic employer on the eve of the French Revolution. Isabelle Carré also features in the cast of Eric Besnard's movie.

Eiffel should hit French cinemas in March

EIFFEL MOVIE

Currently scheduled for March 10th cinematic release, it follows Romain Duris as Gustave Eiffel who, having just finished his collaboration on the Statue of Liberty, is at the peak of his career. The French government wants him to create something spectacular for the 1889 Universal Exhibition in Paris, but Eiffel is only interested in the metropolitan project. Everything changes when he crosses paths with his youthful love (Emma Mackey). Their forbidden relationship inspires him to change the Paris skyline forever. Our favourite French boo Pierre Deladonchamps also stars.

1ST PHOTOS FROM PERIOD SET DRAMA SEACOLE ON THE FAMOUS 19TH CENTURY NURSE WITH GUGU MBATHA RAW, SAM WORTHINGTON, RUPERT GRAVES

   SEACOLE PERIOD SET MOVIE  

FIRST GUGU MBATHA RAW PICS

Two years ago your trusted spy announced a movie project on a true life story of Mary SEACOLE, the pioneering Jamaican nurse who became known during the Crimean War for her care of wounded British soldiers, and now we

The movie should premiere in USA sometime this year

have the first photos of Gugu Mbatha Raw in the lead role. Sam Worthington, Rupert Graves and Padraic Delaney also star! Seacole’s self-sacrifice on the front lines and fierce, adversarial relationship with Florence Nightingale during the war made her famous in her time.

The movie was directed by Charlie Stratton

Spiderman's Numan Acar will play The Pasha, a high ranking officer in the Turkish army, a lover not a fighter, who helps Mary build her hotel. Sylvia Hoeks and Sean Delaney will also star in the film directed by Charlie Stratton in UK and Romania.

DEZZY'S HISTORY LESSON

Seacole was born in 1805 to a free Jamaican woman and a Scottish officer. She followed in her mother's footsteps and became a nurse versed in traditional Caribbean and African herbal remedies. When the Crimean War

Gugu Mbatha Raw returns to costume drama after Belle

broke out, she applied to be a nurse for the British government, but her request was denied. She paid her own passage to the Crimean Peninsula and set up a hotel for soldiers.

DISNEY'S EPIC ADVENTURE THE LAST WARRIOR: ROOT OF EVIL IS CURRENTLY BREAKING RECORDS IN RUSSIAN CINEMAS IN THE MIDDLE OF PANDEMICS

   THE LAST WARRIOR  

BREAKS RECORDS IN RUSSIA

While cinemas in the West are dying, Russia actually had successful hits in their theatres this winter and after Silver Skates, currently breaking records there is THE LAST WARRIOR: ROOT OF EVIL which has already earned

Last Warrior hit their cinemas January 2nd

$22 million and is their first pandemics release to cross one billion ruble. It has already surpass the earnings of the original movie.

    Peace and tranquility have set in Belogorie. The evil was defeated and Ivan (Viktor Khorinyak) is now enjoying his well deserved fame. He is surrounded by his family, friends and small wonders from the modern world that help him lead a comfortable life. Luckily, he has his Magic Sword to cut a gap between the worlds to get some supplies quite regularly. But when an ancient evil rises and the existence of the magic world is put to danger, Ivan has to team up with his old friends and his new rivals. They will set out on a long journey beyond the known world to find

The sequel has already surpassed the earnings of the first film

a way to defeat the enemies and to return peace to Belogorie. Our dear Kirill Zaytsev also stars as legendary hero Sokol Finist, while Elena Yakovleva is Baba Yaga.

A SAGA OF GUNPOWDER AND WIZARDRY IN JOSEPH MALLOZZI'S EPIC TV SERIES ADAPTATION OF BRIAN MCCLELLAN'S FANTASY BOOK SERIES THE POWDER MAGE!

  THE POWDER MAGE TRILOGY  

TO BECOME EPIC TV SAGA

It was published seven years ago and has been sold in over 700,000 copies and now THE POWDER MAGE fantasy saga from Brian McClellan will be adapted into a TV series by Joseph Mallozzi (Utopia Falls) with No Equal Entertainment and Frantic Films companies. As Deadline reports, the drama series will take place in the Nine Nations, a

The Powder Mage saga has been sold in 700,000 copies so far

fictional world in which magic collides with 18th century technology against the backdrop of political and social revolution. At the heart of the story are Powder Mages, unique individuals who gain magical abilities from common gunpowder. The series is a fight for survival as mythical gods return to battle for a world that has changed in their absence. It will feature epic battles, gritty magic, heart-stopping duels, cunning political maneuvers, intrepid investigators, and shocking betrayals.

EPIC TV SERIES UPDATES: AMAZON PRIME RENEWS EL CID SPANISH HISTORICAL SAGA FOR SECOND SEASON, STARLINGS TELEVISION PREPARING ALEXANDER THE GREAT, RED WINTER ROMANOVS' SERIES AND SHERLOCK'S DAUGHTER

   EPIC TV SERIES NEWS 

NEW SHOWS ON ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND THE ROMANOVS

With the news that Amazon Prime has greenlit their El Cid Spanish epic TV series for a second season, also comes info from Starlings Television (they're producing Pandora for CW) that they are

Greek Antena and German ZDF will coproduce

currently in advanced stages of developing historical series on ALEXANDER THE GREAT and spy thriller series RED WINTER about the imperial family of Romanovs! The pilot for Alexander the Great, which will be shot in Greece, is being written by Tudors and Vikings creator Michael Hirst, while the Romanovs series, written by Stephen Kronish, is being done in the collaboration with Russia's national broadcaster Russia 1 and German ZDF. Together with Brendan Foley, they are also preparing SHERLOCK'S DAUGHTER series, a new take on the world’s greatest detective, following a young American woman who, after the mysterious

El Cid will be getting another season after the first aired last month

murder of her mother, travels to London to track down her biological father – the legendary Sherlock Holmes. But Holmes is not the mythical figure Amelia has come to expect.

FIRST SET PHOTO OF ALICIA VON RITTBERG AS ELIZABETH I IN STARZ NEW EPIC TV SERIES BECOMING ELIZABETH ON THE VIRGIN QUEEN

  1ST BECOMING ELIZABETH 

PIC WITH ALICIA VON RITTBERG

Earlier this weekend all the world talked about was Hollywood Spy's mega massive spotlight on all the epic and period set TV shows arriving in 2021 in

Photo by Jason Bryant of Alicia at the set

which, among other shows, we also mentioned BECOMING ELIZABETH which Starz is currently shooting in Somerset, and now wehave the first photo of Alicia Von Rittberg at the set in the costume of the future queen of England from Daily Mail. 

 

  BECOMING ELIZABETH The 16th century series follows Elizabeth Tudor, an orphaned teenager who becomes embroiled in the political and sexual politics of the English court on her journey to secure the crown. With no clear heir, the death of King Henry the VIII sets into motion a

One of the men at the set in a photo by Jason Bryant

dangerous scramble for power. His survivingchildren find themselves pawns in a game between the great families of England and the powers of Europe who vie for control of the country.Elizabeth struggles to control her own destiny and take real power as people around her attempt to claim her sovereignty. Her fascinating and factual journey to secure the crown is filled with scheming, betrayal and illicit relationships that threaten to bring forth her demise at a time in which every man or woman of the court is on the wheel of fortune, which may take them to a position of great power one moment, or the executioner’s block the next. Elizabeth ultimately ascended to the throne and ruled for 45 years. You've watched Alicia in Genius Einstein series. Stay tuned for other casting news for the eight episode series. We currently don't know who else is in the series cast but this man in the photo looks awfully like out deary Tom Cullen from Knightfall! Is he Henry himself?.

MOVING TRAILERS FOR PENGUIN BLOOM TRUE STORY WITH NAOMI WATTS AND ANDREW LINCOLN AND COWBOYS DRAMA WITH STEVE ZAHN, ANN DOWD

  PENGUIN BLOOM TRAILER  

AN INSPIRATIONAL TRUE STORY

We've been announcing this one for at least half a decade and now we finally have a trailer for PENGUIN BLOOM true story movie with Andrew

Penguin Bloom arrives later this month

Lincoln and Naomi Watts. Coming to Netflix January 27th, it is based on the best selling book of the same name, and it tells the story of Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts) a young mother whose world is turned upside down after a shocking, near fatal accident leaves her paralyzed. Sam's husband, (Andrew Lincoln), her three young boys and her mother (Jacki Weaver), are struggling to adjust to their new situation when an unlikely ally enters their world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin. The bird's arrival is a welcome distraction for the Bloom family, eventually making a profound difference on Sam's life, teaching her how to live again. 

 

  COWBOYS MOVIE TRAILER  

WITH STEVE ZAHN & ANN DOWD

Cowboys arrives this spring!

Speaking of deeply moving stories, check out the first trailer for drama movie COWBOYS which arrives to cinemas April 15th starring Steve Zahn as a troubled but well intentioned father who has recently separated from his conservative wife and who runs off with his trans gender son into the Montana wilderness after his ex-wife's refusal to let their son live as his authentic self. Meanwhile police detective (Ann Dowd) pursues them, but her resolve about the case is tested the more she learns about Joe's family. The tale of rescue, family betrayal and a father and son on the run was written and directed by Anna Kerrigan.