DISNEY + NEW EPIC TV ADVENTURES 'WILLOW' WITH WARWICK DAVIS, CHRISTIAN SLATER, JOANNE WHALLEY, 'NATIONAL TREASURE: EDGE OF HISTORY' WITH JUSTIN BARTHA, CATHERINE ZETA JONES, HARVEY KEITEL

   WILLOW TV SERIES  

THE NEXT GREAT ADVENTURE

I have to admit that I have never watched anything from Disney +, I did try Mandalorian and almost died from boredom, but this week they launched Tim Allen's

Willow arrives November 30th!

The Santa Clauses festive series and November 30th they are bringing adventure with WILLOW epic fantasy TV series set in an enchanted land of breathtaking beauty! The story began with an aspiring magician from a Nelwyn village and an infant girl destined to unite the realms, who together helped destroy an evil queen and banish the forces of darkness. Now, in a magical world where brownies, sorcerers, trolls, and other mystical creatures flourish, the adventure continues, as an unlikely group of heroes set off on a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home, where they must face their inner demons and come together to save

It will have a two episode premiere

their world.

 

  SEQUEL 

to the 1988 cult movie, will star Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn sorcerer who leads a party to rescue the twin brother of a princess. Joanne Whalley as Sorsha, an accomplished warrior and daughter of the defeated Queen Bavmorda. Ruby Cruz as Kit, a princess and daughter of Sorsha who sets in motion a quest to rescue her twin brother. Erin Kellyman as Jade, a knight-in-training and Kit's best friend who joins in the quest. Ellie Bamber as Dove, a kitchen maid. Tony Revolori as Graydon, a young scholar and member of the quest. Amar Chadha-Patel as Boorman, a thief and swordsman who is offered freedom from prison if he joins the quest. Dempsey Bryk as Airk, a prince and son of Sorsha and Kit's twin brother. Ralph Ineson has been cast as Commander Ballantine and Christian Slater as Allagash!

 NATIONAL TREASURE SERIES 

EDGE OF HISTORY

Also launching this season on Disney + is another series made out of a film. NATIONAL TREASURE: EDGE OF HISTORY will stream from December 14th! The ten episode adventure will see Lisette Olivera staring as

National Treasure starts December 14th

Jess Valen- zuela, an adventurous 20-year-old dreamer who, along with the help of her friends, sets off on a journey to recover lost Pan-American treasures from around the globe, while uncovering family secrets along the way! The more famous names in the cast include Catherine Zeta-Jones as Billie Pearce, Justin Bartha as Riley Poole and Harvey Keitel as Peter Sadusky! Nicholas Cage who led the movie version, is not appearing in this new series. 

JACK LOWDEN, GARRY OLDMAN, KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS ARE BACK THIS DECEMBER WITH SLOW HORSES TV SERIES SEASON 2! SEE NEW TRAILER AND POSTER

  APPLE'S SLOW HORSES  

SEASON TWO SERIES TRAILER!

I will be presenting you with some of the shows arriving next month this weekend, starting with the second season of Apple's SLOW HORSES which returns December

Slow Horses return December 2nd

2nd with two episodes and the other four airing weekly after that. The second season is adapted from Mick Herron’s sequel novel “Dead Lion”: when exposure of previously concealed Cold War secrets creates tension between Russia and Britain, the spies are again tasked with protecting society from inevitable catastrophe. The series is set at a headquarters known as the dumping ground for members of the intelligence service who've screwed up! All the stars from the first season return, including Garry Oldman as Jackson Lamb, Jack Lowden as River Cartwright, Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner, Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish, Freddie Fox, Jonathan Pryce and others. 

JASON MOMOA HAWAI SET EPIC TV HISTORICAL SERIES CHIEF OF WAR SETS FULL CAST

 JASON MOMOA'S CHIEF OF WAR 

EPIC TV SERIES ADS NEW CAST

I have already told you that Apple is preparing nine episode epic TV series CHIEF OF WAR which, written and toplined by Jason Momoa, follows the epic and unprecedented telling of the unification and colonization of Hawaii from an indigenous point of view. And now they have added a cast of regulars:

Te Kohe Tuhaka, Jason Momoa and Brandon Finn

Te Ao o Hinepehinga portrays Kupuohi, the wife of Ka’iana (Momoa). Kaina Makua is Kamehameha, the prophesied king who is destined to unite the warring kingdoms of the Hawaiian Islands. Moses Goods plays Moku, Chief Advisor to Kamehameha of Hawai’i and Ka’ahumanu’s (Luciane Buchanan) father. Siua Ikale’o portrays Nahi,’ Ka’iana’s (Momoa) youngest

Mainei Kinimaka, Siua Ikale'o and Te Ao o Hinepehinga

brother. Brandon Finn plays Prince Kūpule, the son of King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison). James Udom is Tony, a runaway slave who befriends Ka’iana and finds a new home in Hawaii. Mainei Kinimaka portrays Heke, Kupuohi’s younger sister. Te Kohe Tuhaka plays Namake,’ one of Ka’iana’s younger brothers and an elite warrior.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S PICK OF BEST 2022 CHRISTMAS MOVIES: THREE WISE MEN AND A BABY, THE HOLIDAY SITTER, SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY'S, A TALE OF TWO CHRISTMASES, THE ROYAL NANNY

 2022 CHRISTMAS TV MOVIES  

THREE WISE MEN AND A BABY

The movie is out this Saturday on Hallmark

And the spy is back this year as well with a selection of festive movies to look out for these holidays, starting with our top pick - THREE WISE MEN AND A BABY which features three of Hallmark's favourite TV boys: Andrew W. Walker, Tyler Hynes and Paul Campbell. Airing this weekend, November 19th, this delightful festive comedy movie will see the three hunks playing three brothers who are surprised when they find themselves forced to care for a baby during the holidays! During this journey they begin to rebuild their relationships as brothers while rediscovering their love for Christmas. You can check out the delightful trailer below too and be sure not to miss the movie on Hallmark this Saturday.

 

  THE HOLIDAY SITTER

Holiday Sitter arrives December 11th

Another of our absolute top pics is probably the reason why that vile bigot Cameron Candace Bure (what is that sulfur smell?) has left Hallmark: THE HOLIDAY SITTER is their first gay couple holiday romance movie with Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa in the lead roles. Airing on Hallmark a week before Christmas, December 11th, this delightful movie comedy sees Bennett playing a guy named Sam who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays, and when he recruits help from their handsome neighbor Jason, played by Krissa, he finds himself in an unexpected romance. Matthew James Dowden and Chelsea Hobbs also star. The trailer will probably be available a week ahead of the premiere.

 

SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY'S

The movie will stream from December 9th

Prime Video also has a few holiday movies scheduled for the release during the festive days. Their romantic Christmas comedy movie SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY'S will be available for streaming from December 9th based on a novel of the same name from Melissa Hill. The cast is led by Zoey Deutch and dashing Kendrick Samson. Our gorgeous boys Connor Hines and Michael Roark also star. Deutch plays a woman whom the story of the film follows as her life gets upended when an engagement ring that was for someone else leads her to the person she's meant to be with. The streamer has already issued a trailer so you can check it out below and tell us what you think. 

 

 

A TALE OF TWO CHRISTMASES

The film arrives November 26th

Another of our favourite of the Hallmark's irresistible hunks, Chandler Massey is back bringing romance and festive spirit with him from November 26th in A TALE OF TWO CHRISTMASES also starring Marissa Leong and Evan Roderick. This romantic drama set during the holidays sees Leong playing  a woman named Emma who experiences two different Christmases: one where she stays in town and celebrates with a new crush, and one where she returns home to her family and Drew. She will finally discover what will really make her happy in life and in love.

 

THE ROYAL NANNY

Royal Nanny is already out on Hallmark

This one is already available on Hallmark, as of November 12th, but it has something special for all of you Reign series fans: our boo Dan Jeannotte, who played Marry's brother, and Rachel Skarsten, who played queen Elizabeth I, reunite in this lovely royal festive comedy that also stars Greta Scacchi and Robbie Nock! Skarsten plays Claire who is an MI5 agent who goes undercover as the royal nanny. She must overcome the challenges of her assignment, like resisting the charms of Prince Colin, while keeping the family safe at Christmas. Check out the trailer below:

SEE MONICA BELLUCCI AND GIACOMO GIANNIOTTI IN NEW DIABOLIK SPY ADVENTURE MOVIE TRAILER AND CHARACTER POSTERS

  DIABOLIK MOVIE TRAILER  

STARRING MONICA BELLUCCI

Diabolik is out tomorrow in Italy

We continue our cinematic travel through Europe by moving from sweet mother Russia to charming Italy where November 17th, which is tomorrow, has been set as the premiere date for highly stylized comic book adaptation movie DIABOLIK: GINKO ATTACKS! (Diabolik - Ginko all'attacco!) with Giacomo Gianniotti in the title role of the charming master thief Diabolik, and Monica Bellucci as Altea di Vallemberg. Our dearest Beta Film is handling world sales for the adventure movie directed by Antonio and Marco Manetti. You can check out the dynamic

This is a sequel to the 2021 movie

and glitzy trailer below it has English subtitles.

 

IN THE  BRAND NEW MOVIE, DIABOLIK

and his accomplice Eva Kant lead a new adventure, set in the fictional state of Clerville in the late 1960s, fighting against Inspector Ginko who is now more combative than ever before. They nearly get caught in Inspector Ginko’s trap. While on the run, Eva gets hurt and Diabolik, mercilessly, abandons her. In an unexpected twist, a very furious and dangerous Eva proposes to Ginko to collaborate in the capture of Diabolik. 

WHO IS IN THE CAST?

Miriam Leone plays Diabolik's accomplice, gorgeous Eva. Meanwhile, Valerio Mastandrea plays inspector Ginko himself. This is the second part of the successful big screen adaptation of the popular classic comic that has been sold in more than 150 million copies around the world so far. The first film was released last year and was nominated for a lot of awards in the homeland. The movie has already been sold for distribution around Europe, in Canada, China and South America.

 

ALL BOW! HER IMPERIAL HIGHNESS SISI RETURNS WITH THE SECOND SEASON OF THE LAVISH HISTORICAL SAGA THIS DECEMBER!

  SISI EPIC TV SERIES  

TO RETURN THIS DECEMBER!

Sisi will again have six episodes

Just as I suspected and told you as much before Germany's ultra successful historical saga SISI is returning to the small screens at the end of the year: it will be available on RTL+ streamer from December 16th and will then launch on mother channel RTL on December 27th and 28th as the part of Christmas programming. The series which also aired on ORF in Austria, Canal Plus, Epic Drama Channels, many national broadcasters around the world and on Disney in USA, will be taking us back to the imperial court in Vienna with Dominique Devenport as

Dominique Devenport returns as the empress

Empress Elisabeth and Jannik Schumann as emperor Franz Joseph. 

 

  THE BIRTH OF THE SON

of Sisi and Franz should perfect the marital bliss, but instead the young heir to the throne is a cause for serious power struggles in Europe. This also begins a phase of private challenges for Sisi and Franz. Otto von Bismarck threatens war, Sisi uses her diplomatic instincts, but she cannot find happiness in their relationship. She feels like a bird in a golden cage. Then she has to travel to Hungary for political reasons and there she encounters Count Gyula Andrássy (Giovanni Funiati), who fascinates her

Jannik Schumann returns as the emperor

immensely. Standing between the rebel leader and her husband Franz, she has to make a decision.

THE SECOND SEASON CAST

will also include Murathan Muslu as the Hungarian rebel leader Ödön Körtek, Romy Schroeder as Marie, the daughter of Sisi's maid Fanny, who was hanged for treason in Season one, Amanda Da Gloria as Countess Emanuelle Andrássy, Count Andrássy's sister, and Bernd Hölscher as Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor from 1871! Sisi will also have a lavish coronation in Hungary and Franz will now maybe sport a longer hairdo to the delight of ladies. Rival series The Empress, which arrived to Netflix this Autumn, broke into most of top ten charts around the world and will be also getting a second season. See first Sisi season 2 trailer here.

MINDBLOWING PETER I: THE LAST TZAR, THE FIRST EMPEROR EPIC MOVIE TRAILER! SEE THE ARTIST IN CRIME IN NEW RUSSIAN WORLD WAR TWO SET HISTORICAL TV SERIES HUDOZHNIK

 PETER I: THE LAST TZAR 

& THE FIRST EMPEROR TRAILER

Another massive project currently in Russian cinemas is a mix of a documentary movie and historical live action epic PETER I: THE LAST TZAR AND THE FIRST

The movie is out in cinemas since November 3rd

EMPEROR (Петр I: Последний царь и первый император) which is out in their cinemas since November 3rd! The figure of Emperor Peter the Great (Aleksei Lukin), as well as the era of his formation and reign, still excites the minds of people all over the world. The creators answer questions about how to take the throne when you are the fourteenth child in the family; how to win access to the sea when there is no professional army and navy in the country; how, in a few decades, to bring to the world leaders a country that no one had considered before, and many others. Andrei Kravchuk directed this epic movie.

 

  HUDOZHNIK TV SERIES  

THE ARTIST IN CRIME

Since our From Russia With Love weekend brought us a massive increase in visitors, I figured we could stay one more day in Russia as I have THE ARTIST (Hudozhnik) series to present to you. The sixteen episode historical series, which already started airing back in September on Russia 1 national

The series has sixteen hourlong episodes

broadcaster, stars Andrey Smolyakov, Aleksandr Gorbatov, our dear Catherine the Great Marina Aleksa- ndrova, and our sweet boo Kirill Zaytsev (be still our hearts). 

MARCH 1944 

At the front, the Red Army is conducting a confident offensive. The Allies are about to open a second front, and it seems that the final defeat of Nazi Germany is very close. However, the joy of the coming victory is overshadowed by a series of daring and brutal murders. No one has ever managed to see the bandits up close. According to the scanty testimonies of random eyewitnesses, the composition of the attackers is constantly changing. And every time at the crime scene they leave portraits of the dead. For these drawings and cruelty, the gang was nicknamed "Dead Head", and its leader - the Artist.

VISIT IMPERIAL RUSSIA OF 1816 IN THE PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON UNION OF SALVATION: TIME OF WRATH SPECTACULAR EPIC HISTORICAL TV SERIES BASED ON THE LEGENDARY MOVIE

   UNION OF SALVATION   

TIME OF WRATH SERIES

New series started earlier this September

After our spooky visit to the Gothic Boarding House on a remote island in the Baltic Sea, we are closing our From Russia With Love weekend today with another stunning historical Russian television series UNION OF SALVATION: TIME OF WRATH (Союз спасения. Время гнева) for which you can see a trailer below the post, but I must warn you - it is wildly epic and utterly breathtaking, but after all, no one does historical shows like the country that had a rich history filled with war, honour, love and glory. Those who have been with us for years, probably remember that four years ago your trusted spy introduced you to UNION OF SALVATION movie about the imperial guard officers of the Russian army during the Patriotic War of 1812, who defeated Napoleon's army. The movie was so popular that the fans begun to demand a series as well from the movie creators and their national television even starting a petition. Their requests have been granted and now, season one of TIME OF WRATH series partially includes materials from the film directed by Andrey Kravchuk in 2018, but specially for this new series which was shot during the pandemic years 2020–2021, directors Nikita Vysotsky and Ilya Lebedev filmed some completely new episodes as well. The cast remains the same with the addition to some new heroes. Such famous actors as Leonid Bichevin, Maxim Matveev, Pavel Priluchny, Ivan Yankovsky, Artem Tkachenko, Ivan Kolesnikov, Alexei Guskov, Alexander Domogarov and others play in the serial historical drama. The series whichis available on Russia 1 national broadcaster and also on their streamer Kion, has the story revolving around the famous uprising of the Dekabrists.

First season features eight episodes

They are sure that justice and freedom will come here and now. And for this, many are ready to sacrifice not only love, but also life! 

 

THE STORY OF TIME OF WRATH

Young officers of the Russian Empire return home after defeating Napoleon. The winners, the guards officers are too energetic and patriotic, so they believe that they can change Russia. In 1816, a secret political society was created, the first Dekabrist organization called the Union of Salvation. Its creators are the military and Soviet elite of the Russian Empire. They do not want to live the same life, because they are sure that the people deserve better. For the sake of changing Russia, young officers are ready to sacrifice everything, and even their lives... The Patriotic War is far behind, the empire is about to wake up from sleep, ready to carry out reforms and abolish serfdom. However, while the autocracy is in no hurry to loosen the reins, the wind of change, along with the word "Revolution", brings a time of anger: a group of nobles is planning a coup d'état. Their ambitions and dreams of the future will become a springboard for the events that soaked the white snow of December 1825 with scarlet blood.

PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON NEW RUSSIAN GOTHIC HORROR PERIOD SET MINI SERIES THE BOARDING HOUSE SET ON A REMOTE ISLAND IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE OF YEAR 1905!

  THE BOARDING HOUSE  

NEW GOTHIC HORROR SERIES

Boarding House is streaming from November 1st

I have a couple of new period set delights coming from the Eastern empire to share with you, so I am launching our From Russia With Love weekend today with a spotlight on their brand new four part period set Gothic horror mini series THE BOARDING HOUSE (Пансион) coming from Svyatoslav Podgaevsky! Already streaming on Russia's streamer Ivi, this atmospheric and suspenseful TV series speaks about the horrors of sexual abstinence! In the mystical detective horror mini series filled with forbidden lesbian passions, Stasya Miloslavskaya plays a brave lady of the early 20th century who arrives at a boarding school to find her missing sister. 

  STORY OF THE SERIES IS SET

in the Russian Empire, 1905. The general's daughter Apollinaria (Stasya Miloslavskaya) arrives on an island in the Baltic Sea, on which there is a boarding house for women cut off from the world, run by a strict mentor Zakharova (Victoria Tolstoganova). It is not immediately clear what kind of mysterious institution Madame opened - a boarding school for young ladies or a hospital-prison for objectionable daughters who wealthy men want to re-educate. Five pupils spend the whole day praying, cooking, cleaning, washing and working in the garden, sometimes being distracted by gloomy studies - a mixture of fine arts and patriarchal lectures about the true destiny of women. Their only fun is a fresh volume of Baudelaire's "Flowers of Evil", but it is not clear where it came from on the island as Zakharova considers books to be vulgar and useless entertainment. It soon turns out that in fact Apollinaria arrived to find her sister Sophia, who disappeared without a trace from the boarding house a year ago. The girl quickly realizes that Zakharova encourages violence, and a toxic atmosphere has formed in the team: during the break between classes, the girls hate, bully, humiliate and harass each other, trying to give vent to suppressed emotions and sexual desires. Moreover, soon the girls begin to go absolutely aggressively crazy one after another. The first to get possessed is Anya (Ekaterina Novokreshenova), who is in love with the local retarded gardener Serafim (Dmitry Chebotarev). First, she seduces the man with enthusiasm unusual for her, and then, having received a cruel flogging from Zakharova, she runs away from the boarding house. Having found Anya's lifeless corpse on the seashore with signs of a violent death, Polina realizes that anything could have happened to her sister on the cursed island.

HEAR LUKE EVANS SINGING IN NETFLIX FESTIVE ANIMATED ADVENTURE SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL TRAILER! KATE DICAMILLO'S FANTASY BESTSELLER THE BEATRYCE PROPHECY GETS MOVIE ADAPTATION

 THE BEATRYCE PROPHECY 

GETS A MOVIE ADAPTATION

Amazon Studios are to make a movie out of Kate DiCamillo's THE BEATRYCE PROPHECY fantasy book with Brad Copeland penning the script.  In a time of war, a mysterious child appears at the monastery of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing. Gentle Brother Edik finds the girl,

Amazon Studios is adapting the book

Beatryce, curled in a stall, wracked with fever, coated in dirt and blood, and holding fast to the ear of Answelica the goat. As the monk nurses Beatryce to health, he uncovers her dangerous secret, one that imperils them all, for the king of the land seeks just such a girl, and Brother Edik, who penned the prophecy himself, knows why. And so it is that a girl with a head full of stories, powerful tales-within-the-tale of queens and kings, mermaids and wolves, ventures into a dark wood in search of the castle of one who wishes her dead. But Beatryce knows that, should she lose her way, those who love her, a wild-eyed monk, a man who had once been king, a boy with a terrible sword, and a goat with a head as hard as stone, will never give up searching for her, and to know this is to know everything.

 SCROOGE: CHRISTMAS CAROL 

NETFLIX ANIMATED TRAILER

Speaking of tales for kids, Netflix has released a trailer for their new festive animated adventure SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL which will stream from December 2nd with Luke Evans leading the voice cast of this

Scrooge will sing December 2nd

supernatural, time-travelling, musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's cult Christmas story, which also features voices from Jessie Buckley, Jonathan Pryce, Johnny Flynn! Charles Dickens’ ageless legend is reborn in this supernatural, time-travelling, musical adaptation of the definitive Christmas story. With his very soul on the line, Scrooge has but one Christmas Eve left to face his past and build a better future. Featuring re-imagined songs from the legendary and two-time Academy Award winner Leslie Bricusse, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol is one for a new generation to sing.