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Exclusive: Catherine Tate, the beloved British comedy queen and actress best known for Doctor Who, The Office and her scorching eponymous television show, will top the bill at this year’s London Palladium Pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

Her casting is a fitting way for the festive extravaganza to celebrate its 10th anniversary since being revived at the Palladium.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate in ‘Doctor Who’

Tate will play the role of panto baddie Carabosse, the wicked fairy that puts the curse on the princess that if she pricks her finger, she’ll die. Palladium panto standout Julian Clary will star as King Julian.

Both leading lights will contribute to the show’s book that’s written by Ed Curtis and Michael Harrison, who oversees the enterprise as director and producer.

Tate caught last season’s panto Robin Hood starring Clary, Jane McDonald...

In its heyday, "The Crown" represented every shiny thing that streaming-era TV could be. With precise and powerful storytelling, a cast full of stars-in-the-making, and cinematic flair, the historical drama from "The Queen" writer Peter Morgan was as aesthetically masterful and emotionally potent as it was bingeable. The show's early seasons were an awards season powerhouse and a clear-cut case of must-watch TV in an increasingly crowded programming slate.

If this sounds like a eulogy, it's because the best parts of "The Crown" seemed to die with its subject. Where the show's ambitious earlier seasons revealed shattering truths and scathing critiques through restrained performances and symbolic imagery, its later chapters often flailed under the pressure of approaching the present day. In its old age, the show reused its original tricks in increasingly obvious and unconvincing ways, becoming as obsolete to the streaming landscape as its monarch did to the modern world.

The Harry Potterfranchise has plenty of villains to hate. The antagonists range from Hogwarts bully Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to the Dark Lord himself, each presenting a different challenge to Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). But, despite his crucial role, even Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) isn't the worst the series has to offer. With antagonists like Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), whose self-righteous, sickly sweet attitude earns her a place among the most hated characters, and Fenrir Greyback (Dave Legeno), whose unique brand of violence is especially dark, it's hard to see Voldemort as the worst. He may be the central antagonist of Harry Potter, but Voldemort isn't the most evil character in the story. That honor goes to Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), the dedicated Death Eater, who, while not the leader of the organization, does the dirty work, unlike Voldemort himself.

Since its inception, Apple TV+ has become an increasingly popular streaming service, boasting highly reviewed movies and series like Severance, Ted Lasso, and Blitz. But, one of the service’s best shows is an overlooked dramedy centered on a young British couple in Camden.

Trying focuses on Nikki and Jason — played by Esther Smith and Rafe Spall, respectively — as they realize that they will not be able to have children biologically, and instead decide to pursue adoption. While the plot may sound like a bit of a snooze-fest, the show manages to be both endearing and funny, with a variety of chaotic developments and supporting characters.

Trying Explores Alternative Ways to Start a Family

Many films and shows highlight people who are endeavoring to have children by going through procedures like IVF. In Trying, though, viewers quickly realize that Nikki and Jason have already explored these methods unsuccessfully. This provides...

Exclusive: UK drama producer Fictionhouse, founded by Dominic Cooke and Kate Horton, is closing its doors with the pair both pursuing their own theater projects.

The pair set up Fictionhouse in 2020 with a remit to work up projects across film, stage and TV. They had previously worked together during a prolific spell at the Royal Court Theatre, and both were also at the UK’s National Theatre.

Fictionhouse is ultimately part of Newen Studios, the production and distribution group owned by French broadcast giant TF1. Newen, which is about to be rebadged as Studio TF1, confirmed to Deadline that Fictionhouse is shuttering.

Newen’s investment in Fictionhouse was originally made through Ringside Media, an investment arm of Gub Neal and Kate Bennetts’ Newen-backed Ringside Studios label, which made Liaison for Apple.

Neither Cooke or Horton would comment when contacted by Deadline. It is understood the former will focus on freelance directing.

John Wick: Chapter 4 will open in China on March 14 through Huahua Media, two years after the fourth entry in theKeanu Reeves action vehicle went on release in North America and other markets.

This is the first time a film from the franchise will release in the territory, andScreen understands the R-rated action thriller film has passed local censors without any cuts.

John Wick 4 has grossed more than $440m worldwide to date, of which $253m comes from international markets and $187m from North America.

Chad Stahelski directed the Thunder Road Films and 87eleven Entertainment production in which Wick discovers...

Actor Imelda Staunton, director Sally El Hosaini and composer Nainita Desai are among key UK industry figures taking part in Cinesisters Women’s Day Film Festival, taking place on March 8 at London’s All Is Joy Studios.

Cinesisters is a grassroots collective of female-identifying directors, founded in 2017. The event, open to all genders, includes workshops, panels and short film screenings.

The Swimmers director El Hosaini will be joined in a discussion on filmmaking with Isabelle Sieb, Debs Paterson, Jennifer Sheridan and Miranda Bowen.

An exploration of the legal considerations for composers will encompassFor Sama composer Desai, alongside Aisling Brouwer, Carly...

Actor Imelda Staunton, director Sally El Hosaini and composer Nainita Desai are among the key industry figures taking part in Cinesisters Women’s Day Film Festival, taking place on March 8 at London’s All Is Joy Studios.

Cinesisters is a grassroots collective of female-identifying directors, founded in 2017. The event, open to all genders, includes workshops, panels and short film screenings.

The Swimmers director El Hosaini will be joined in a discussion on filmmaking with Isabelle Sieb, Debs Paterson, Jennifer Sheridan and Miranda Bowen.

An exploration of the legal considerations for composers features For Sama composer Desai, alongside Aisling Brouwer, Carly...

We have ourselves a race! The Oscar contests for Best Actor and Best Actress got especially interesting at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday because the winners disagreed with another industry peer group honor, the BAFTA Awards. But who tends to win the Oscar under those circumstances, the SAG winner, the BAFTA winner, or someone else entirely?

SEE2025 Oscars race scorecard: 'Conclave,' Timothée Chalamet pull off SAG Awards wins while Demi Moore rebounds

Let's start with Best Actress, where Demi Moore (The Substance) won the SAG Award while Mikey Madison (Anora) won BAFTA. This is the fifth year in a row that the two awards diverged. Let's break down all those disagreements year by year.

2023: Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) won SAG, Emma Stone (Poor Things) won BAFTA — Oscar went to the BAFTA winner.

2022: Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) won SAG,...

Between 2001 and 2011, eight "Harry Potter" movies hit theaters, with the final movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," split into two parts. After being cast in the lead role at an extraordinarily young age, Daniel Radcliffe played the titular Boy Who Lived beautifully throughout the entire franchise. Still, if you ask him, he wasn't always great, which is to say that he's not a particularly big fan of one specific installment.

Speaking to The Daily Mail back in 2014 about his career up until that point, Radcliffe said that he's not an especially big fan of watching his own performances, which certainly isn't unusual for performers ... but he also made sure to give a shoutout to the sixth "Harry Potter" movie in a pretty negative way. "I never liked watching myself on film but I do make myself sit through it," Radcliffe began. "I think it comes from not actually realizing...

Quick LinksErnie Macmillan's Boar Successfully Defends Hogwarts Against DementorsGinny Weasley's Horse Patronus Is A Symbol Of Her Strength And ResilienceUmbridge's Persian Cat Patronus Is Great At Keeping Dementors AwayKingsley Shacklebolt's Lynx Is Used To Send Messages From AfarLupin's Wolf Patronus Helps Him Teach A 13-Year-Old Harry To Cast Expecto PatronumTonks' Wolf Is Testament To Her Strength And Bravery As An AurorSnape's Doe Represents His Powerful Love For Lily PotterAberforth Dumbledore Can Cast His Goat Patronus Non-VerballyAlbus Dumbledore's Patronus Represents A Symbol Of Power, The PhoenixHarry Potter's Stag PatronusIs Awe-Inspiring, Considering Harry's Lack Of Positive Memories To Draw Upon

It's important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. Cbr supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love, and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find Cbr's continuing coverage of Rowling here.

After an extremely successful series of movies, the Harry Potterfranchise is pivoting to another medium: TV. HBO is currently developing a show, and it is promising a faithful and charming adaptation of the original books. After the box office dominance of the movies, it will certainly need something to set it apart.

Fortunately, some significant elements were never depicted on-screen. Many of them happen to have been some of the darkest scenes in the books. Despite often lacking the whimsy of the books, the movies still never fully depicted the true horror of Harry's world.

Umbridge Confesses That She Sent Dementors After Harry The Move Was Shocking, Even For Her Image via Warner Bros.

Dementors are one of the most horrifying concepts in Harry Potter. It is hard to fathom the true cruelty of ghastly creatures designed to suck all hope from their targets. They are the very things that...

There are a lot of characters to keep track of in the magical "Harry Potter" universe, but it's impossible to forget about Neville Longbottom, the shy and forgetful boy (played in the films by Matthew Lewis) who gets sorted into Gryffindor along with Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) himself. When we first meet Neville in both the book and film of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (or "Philosopher's Stone," if you live abroad), he's lost track of his toad Trevor, and his sweet, bumbling behavior persists throughout the story. Unfortunately, during "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Harry learns something genuinely devastating about Neville's parents ... and the movies don't actually include all of the tragic details.

On the surface, Harry and Neville have very similar stories. Both of them were the only sons of Aurors, and Harry's parents Lily and Alice, alongside Neville's parents Frank and Alice, were members...

Many may complain that the third installment of the Paddington franchise, Paddington in Peru, pulls at the heartstrings so blatantly that it feels manipulative. However, I contend that this is precisely why we love this Andean Spectacled Bear so much. Our affection has only grown from these moments and is in full bloom.

This franchise is so positive that one might argue it’s stickier and sweeter than a citrus preserve. Yet, Paddington in Peru maintains the love and levity that has become the trilogy’s signature. It’s a fun family film that knows its audience and keeps them coming back for more.

Paddington in Peru Review and Synopsis

Paddington in Peru’s story is relatable, as Paddington (Skyfall’s Ben Whishaw) receives word that his relative is acting strangely. That relative is his Aunt Lucy (Vera Drake’s Imelda Staunton), the sweet woman who raised him in the Peruvian Amazon.

Exclusive: Bankside Films has announced additional cast, pre-sales and new producers for & Sons, director Pablo Trapero’s adaptation of the novel by David Gilbert.

Imelda Staunton (Downton Abbey), Johnny Flynn (Ripley), Dominic West (The Affair), Anna Geislerová (Anthropoid) and Arthur Conti (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) are new additions to the project, for which current pre-sales include Airlines (Penny Black Media), Australia & New Zealand (Transmission), Bulgaria (Beta), Eastern Europe Ptv (HBO), Former Yugoslavia (McF), Hungary (Cinetel), Middle East (Front Row) and Spain (Divisa Red).

Elevation Pictures’ Christina Piovesan and Emily Kulasa have joined as co-producers, with Tricky Knot and Maven Screen Media boarding as executive producers. As previously announced, Bill Nighy, Noah Jupe and George MacKay also star.

In & Sons, Nighy plays Andrew — or A.N. Dyer, as he is known to the world — a famous novelist whose first novel became an instant classic and created a cult following around its elusive author.

Paddington in Paddington In Peru.

Although there are still a few weeks before most kids get their much anticipated Spring breaks, another “family-friendly” franchise flick arrives which hopes to give a bit of warmth to the chilly last weeks of Winter. Now December, and 2024, finished up with two such films, Mufasa: The Lion King which is a rare sequel/prequel in Disney’s series, and another adventure of the video game superstar, Sonic The Hedgehog 3. Like the latter, this new release is the third outing, and it also mixes a CGI-animated character in a live-action world. However, it also shares its origins with the current (for the last two weeks) box office champ Dog Man, which is based on a beloved series of children’s books. Now can the filmmakers score a rare “hat trick’ as the first sequel is so admired that it was ‘name-checked” at the end...

Paddington in Peru, the third film in the Paddington series due for release on February 14th, won't be the last adventure for the lovable bear. As revealed in a new piece published by Deadline, StudioCanal has plans to continue to expand the world based on the series of popular children's books written by Michael Bond. The franchise has found plenty of success with it's first two movies, and with a whole host of positive reviews for the newest film, it's no surprise that the studio is looking to continue Paddington's story on the big screen, while also making the transition to other forms of media.

In this new interview with Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh, the executive talked about the various strides that the production company and distributor has made this past year with its feature films. When the topic of the Paddington franchise was brought up, Marsh dropped exciting...

Paddington fans are in for a treat with another sequel getting the green light. StudioCanal's CEO confirmed even bigger plans with more projects in development.

"There will be a fourth film," Anna Marsh told Deadline. That's great news for fans of the movie series, but Marsh teased more Paddington sequels ahead. The franchise is also expanding to theater and TV. "We're thinking about the next movies, and we're working on a new TV series as well as the stage show musical with [producers] Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley," she added. The first two Paddington films were massive hits, while Paddington in Peru performed beyond expectations, especially in the U.K. box office.

RelatedThis Unexpected Franchise Is the Perfect Template for DC’s Superman

While DC struggles to try and make Superman relevant in the modern day, a charming little film series already offers the perfect solution.

Paddington Bear is a beloved British icon,...

Paging Sam Wilson! “Captain America: Brave New World” flies to cinemas over the weekend, and Marvel’s latest adventure hopes to thaw an icy box office.

“Captain America: Brave New World,” in which Anthony Mackie’s Avenger takes over the star-spangled shield from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, is targeting $80 million to $85 million over the traditional weekend and $90 million to $95 million through the Presidents Day holiday. The tentpole, which cost north of $180 million before marketing, is landing in roughly 4,100 North American theaters.

The film is expected to add another $110 million at the international box office, though it’ll contend in China with “Ne Zha 2,” which has become the highest-grossing release in the country’s history with $1.1 billion and counting, and “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” which is going straight to Peacock in the U.S. but playing theatrically in the rest of the world.

Considering there’s been no stateside competition,...

Whether watching solo, with friends, or with a partner, there's a movie worth watching for every occasion. Many streaming services offer immediate satisfaction, not only from Disney or DreamWorks. For those who like to view things with the entire family, there's an abundance of movies that have come out recently that are sure to win the hearts of everyone, from the kids to the parents, and possibly even the pets.

From stop-motion to iconic musicals, like Wicked, family movies can be visually stunning, appealing to older audiences for whom kid-friendly stories might be old hat. Other films, like Flow, can wow just about anyone at any age. This modern era of family-friendly films pushes the genre into exciting new directions.

Updated by Arthur Goyaz on February 11, 2025: It's still February and there are great 2025 movies for the entire family to check out. Fan-favorite characters like Paddington and Captain America are...

Plot: When Paddington discovers his beloved aunt has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears, he and the Brown family head to the jungles of Peru to find her. Determined to solve the mystery, they soon stumble across a legendary treasure as they make their way through the rainforests of the Amazon.

Review: There is no way that any person can dislike the Paddington films. Beautifully made and whimsically appealing for all ages, the first Paddington was a treat when it hit screens a decade ago, and the sequel was a nearly perfect movie in every way. Seven years have passed since Paddington 2 was released, and the world has survived a pandemic and societal shifts aplenty. Having a rousing adventure that the whole family can enjoy together is a welcome respite from all the other things going on, and Paddington in Peru is up to the challenge. With...

Full of Paddington’s signature blend of wit, charm, and laugh-out-loud humor, Paddington in Peru finds the beloved, marmalade-loving bear lost in the jungle on an exciting, high-stakes adventure. When Paddington discovers his beloved Aunt Lucy has gone missing from the Home for Retired Bears, he and the Brown family head to the wilds of Peru to look for her, the only clue to her whereabouts a spot marked on an enigmatic map. Determined to solve the mystery, Paddington embarks on a thrilling quest through the rainforests of the Amazon to find his aunt…and may also uncover one of the world’s most legendary treasures.

The third Paddington film stars Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Carla Tous, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, and Ben Whishaw returning as the voice of Paddington.

Paddington In Peru Opens in Theaters Friday, February 14th.

https://paddingtonmovie.

The beloved Paddington Bear franchise continues its international success with the third installment, “Paddington in Peru,” approaching the $100 million mark in overseas ticket sales. The film has already earned $93.2 million across 51 international territories, even before its North American release on February 14.

Despite currently tracking below the previous films’ $249 million international revenues, industry analysts see significant potential. Several major markets, including France, South Korea, Italy, Spain, and Japan, are yet to premiere the film.

Directed by Dougal Wilson, the new adventure follows Paddington’s journey to visit his Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears. The plot takes an unexpected turn when the Brown family becomes entangled in a mystery through the Amazon rainforest and Peruvian mountains.

The film features returning voice talents Ben Whishaw as Paddington and Imelda Staunton as Aunt Lucy, alongside live-action stars Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas, and Olivia Colman.

The weekend also saw interesting developments for other new releases.

“Paddington in Peru,” the third tale about the marmalade-loving bear, is nearing the $100 million milestone at the international box office.

The film, which doesn’t open in the U.S. and Canada until Feb. 14, has collected $93.2 million from 51 overseas territories. Those are promising ticket sales for the family film, though the two prior “Paddington” adventures each earned $249 million in their international runs. So, the threequel has a ways to go to match those revenues. There’s time, however, since “Paddington in Peru” has yet to open in major markets like France (Feb. 5), South Korea (Feb. 19), Italy (Feb. 20), Spain (Feb. 21) and Japan (May 9).

The first two films in the “Paddington” trilogy, all based on the children’s series by British author Michael Bond, have generated more than $500 million at the global box office. StudioCanal developed and fully financed the third as well, with Sony handling distribution in select territories such as the United States,...

Paddington is back, and this time, he’s off to explore Peru! Everyone’s favorite marmalade-loving bear returns in Paddington in Peru, hitting theaters in 2025.

The Paddington movies are now family-favorite classics. They’re not just fun—they’re comfort films that make you smile regardless of age. And after a long wait (and a few production delays), the bear in the big red hat is ready for his next quest.

Ben Whishaw in Paddington (Credits: StudioCanal)

What’s so special about this movie? For one, Paddington and the Browns are ditching London for Peru’s jungles! Plus, there’s a fresh director, some cast changes, and epic filming spots. Ready for the scoop? Let’s dive in!

Story details of Paddington in Peru Ben Whishaw in Paddington (Credits: StudioCanal)

In the third installment, directed by Dougal Wilson, Paddington heads to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy in a retirement home!

Not every villain in the "Harry Potter" franchise is an evil Death Eater — or, in "Muggle" terms, a follower of the evil Dark Lord Voldemort (played by Ralph Fiennes in the films). Take Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), for example, who first shows up in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" as a Ministry of Magic plant who comes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ostensibly to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts ... but who's really there to spy on and censor the leadership of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Umbridge is unquestionably vile and evil, and as series author Joanne Kathleen Rowling explained in the Harry Potter encyclopedia Wizarding World, the character is firmly meant to show that "good" and "evil" aren't always what they seem.

After describing a woman with whom she once worked whom Rowling described as a "bigot" who also loved pictures of...

Tony Slattery, star of Channel 4‘s Whose Line Is It Anyway? and contemporary of Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, has died. He was 65.

In a statement given to the BBC on behalf of Slattery’s partner, Mark Michael Hutchinson said: “It is with great sadness we must announce actor and comedian Tony Slattery, aged 65, has passed away today, Tuesday morning, following a heart attack on Sunday evening.”

The British actor and comedian was famed for his quick wit and improv on the popular comedy show, but also featured in films like Peter’s Friends (1992), alongside his Cambridge University peers Thompson, Laurie and Fry, and The Crying Game (1989).

Slattery received an Olivier Award nomination for best comedy performance for his role as Gordon in Tim Firth’s Neville’s Island.

Slattery with Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Imelda Staunton and Hugh Laurie on the set of Peter’s Friends.

Perhaps we should call it the “Queen Elizabeth rule.” The Television Academy has unveiled a few new Emmy Awards rules tweaks, including one that should impact the guest performer categories. Under the new rule, any performer who had previously been nominated or has won in a lead or supporting category can no longer shift to one of the guest performer races in the same role in future years.

That has become a more common occurrence in this prestige TV age, when actors often play a high-profile role for a few years before departing — with the promise of still making short guest appearances in subsequent seasons.

A good example is Claire Foy, who won the lead drama actress Emmy in 2018 for “The Crown.” She left that show after two seasons (as her role as Princess Elizabeth/Queen Elizabeth was transferred to Olivia Colman and then Imelda Staunton). But Foy would continue...

After the revelation of the Caped Crusader's Dilf like physique in Creature Commandos, I was literally one hundred percent sure Alan Ritchson was going to be cast as Batman. I wrote an article which you can read here in which I definitely wasn’t speculating for fun about who Batman could be cast as, but truly believed I was speaking to you as a messenger from our savior, James Gunn himself. Amazingly, what I reported as definitive fact, was somehow wrong.

It’s now being reported that the deceased actor Brian Dennehy is absolutely going to play the Dark Knight! This will either be accomplished through the wonders of AI or through ominous necromancy. Time can only tell if Gunn will recruit Chat Gpt to bring us a tasteful CGI Brian Dennehy or if he will be able to harness dark forces to bring Mr. Dennehy back from the dead.

Because the Golden Globes shouldn’t have all the fun the first weekend of the new year, the National Society of Film Critics presented its annual film awards this Saturday, with critics gathering in New York and Los Angeles to vote on 2024’s best movies and performances.

This year’s 59th annual award for Best Picture was presented to RaMell Ross’ “Nickel Boys,” with Sean Baker’s “Anora” and Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine As Light” serving as runners-up. Kapadia also managed to score Best Director, with Ross and Baker serving as runners-up in that category, as well as Best Foreign-Language Film.

Another highlight from this year’s crop of awards recipients is Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s win for Best Actress, making her one of five actresses to earn the critics association trifecta, the others being Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake”), Sally Hawkins (“Happy-Go-Lucky”), Cate Blanchett (“Tar” and “Blue Jasmine”), and...

Audiences often generate their own assumptions about certain movies before they even watch them, but some movies surpass all expectations and become classics. A troubled production is often an indicator that a movie will end up as a flop, but behind-the-scenes drama doesn't always derail a movie. Classics like The Godfather and Dirty Dancing were almost shut down, and it's a wonder that they ever got finished.

In other cases, audiences can form opinions about a movie before watching it, only for the movie to pack a surprising punch. For example, Titanic was seen as an expensive gamble by a director with no experience making period romances, and Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy was initially derided as an ill-judged attempt to film Tolkien's unfilmable novels. Ultimately, movies shouldn't be judged before people watch them, because some of them can overcome the odds.

Paddington 2 (2017) Not Many People...

David Corenswet as Superman in ‘Superman,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. (Photo © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent.)

2025 will be a year of sequels and live-action reimaginings of blockbuster animated films. Marvel and DC are feeding comic book fans’ appetites with a handful of 2025 theatrical releases. Wicked wraps up, we’ll finally get a look at the world 28 years after Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s came up with their version of a zombie apocalypse, and Mission: Impossible serves up its first direct sequel of the franchise with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Ana de Armas slips into the John Wick world, horror fans will be treated to The Bride and Wolf Man, and Edgar Wright takes on a new adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man with Glen Powell in the lead. Theaters will also be filled with fans of James Cameron’s Avatar franchise with the December release of...

There is no one quite as uniquely qualified as the King of Horror to crown the greatest villain, so when Stephen King gives a character that title, we listen, no matter how ludicrous it may initially seem. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, King proclaimed a certain character as the "greatest make-believe villain to come along since Hannibal Lecter." Between being praised by King and being compared to the infamous, brilliant, and cannibalistic Hannibal, this character must be truly twisted and wicked — we can only imagine the kind of monster he is referring to. What we don't imagine is the prim and proper, clad in ghastly pink and constantly spurious Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Despite this instinctive shock, the more we think about Umbridge, the more our stomach curdles, making us realize maybe King does...

The Crawleys’ return to the big screen in the third “Downton Abbey” movie next September will be bittersweet, as the producer of the hit ITV/PBS series says they will pay homage to the late Maggie Smith, who played the family matriarch Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham.

“We will never see the like of Dame Maggie Smith ever again,” producer Gareth Neame told TVLine on Tuesday.

Smith, who won three Emmys, four SAG Awards and a Golden Globe for her “Downton” work, died this past September at age 89. As Violet, Smith won over fans on both sides of the Atlantic with her cutting wit and her verbal sparring with Lady Maud Bagshaw, played by fellow “Harry Potter” star Imelda Staunton.

Her passing came two years after the passing of the Dowager Countess in “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” in which more about Violet’s past was revealed as...

Trigger Warning! This article contains discussions of abuse.

Harry kept a secret in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix book that made Dolores Umbridge even worse than she was in the movies. Umbridge has long been considered the true villain of Harry Potter since her sickeningly sweet cruelty had a more profound impact on readers and viewers than even Lord Voldemort. Actor Imelda Staunton did the role spectacular justice, making herself just as despicable as the toad-like character found on the page. However, some subtle changes to the Harry Potter movies lessened the overall effect of Dolores Umbridge.

In the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie, Umbridge introduced Harry to her Black Quill during his very first detention with her. When Harry wrote lines with this particular quill ("I must not tell lies"), it magically wrote across the page without the necessity for any ink.

This article is part of ScreenRant's Exclusive 2025 Movie Preview. Keep an eye out for the full feature later this week!

A new Paddington in Peru image unveils more about the sequel. The movie, which is the third installment in the franchise adapting the Michael Bond children's book series of the same name, follows the anthropomorphic bear Paddington (Ben Whishaw) as he and his adoptive family visit his beloved Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) in Peru, only to discover that she has gone missing. The upcoming Paddington in Peru also features returning stars Hugh Bonneville, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Julie Walters, and Jim Broadbent, as well as newcomers Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, and Emily Mortimer (replacing Sally Hawkins as Mary Brown).

ScreenRant can now share an exclusive first-look image from Paddington in Peru, which is the feature-length debut of music video director Dougal Wilson. The image depicts a distressed-looking Paddington standing...

Matthew Warchus (Matilda: The Musical) is set to direct the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reimagining in the works from Amazon MGM Studios and Eon Productions, Amazon said Thursday.

Warchus will work from a script by Enda Walsh (Small Things Like These). The film, which Deadline told you about first, is in early stages of development and builds on Eon and Amazon MGM’s partnership on the James Bond franchise.

Originally conceived by Bond author Ian Fleming as a bedtime story for his son Casper, his 1964 novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was previously adapted into a 1967 film directed by Ken Hughes off a script by Roald Dahl, Hughes and Richard Maibaum. The story is a whimsical family adventure following inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke), his two children and Truly Scrumptious (Sally Anne Howes) — daughter of candy factory owner Lord Scrumptious (James Robertson Justice)— as they restore an old car, which...

Perhaps the most underrated, star-studded Christmas movie, Arthur Christmas, is now streaming on Paramount+. When concerning the best Christmas movies of all time, Arthur Christmas is not one that would commonly appear on every list alongside the likes of It's A Wonderful Life, Elf, or Home Alone. For this reason, Arthur Christmas can certainly be classed as underrated despite having a 92% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as many would agree it is the stark opposite of the worst Christmas movies ever made.

Another reason for Arthur Christmas' status as an underrated movie is its box office. Rather than be ranked among the highest-grossing Christmas movies of all time, Arthur Christmas was only moderately well received. The film earned a worldwide total of only $147 million, which many would agree is not reflective of its critical reception. Now, though, Arthur Christmas has a second chance at redemption. Along with the many Christmas movies streaming on Netflix,...

Studiocanal’s Paddington In Peru has been set for release in mainland China on January 1.

Bona Film Group, one of China’s leading studios, will handle distribution of the family adventure feature in the territory. The studio released the previous instalment, Paddington 2, which grossed more than $30.4m (RMB200m) after opening in China on December 8, 2017, taking nearly double the first Paddington film’s gross.

China represented the third highest global box office takings for Paddington 2, following the US and UK.

The China release of the third film in the franchise will come six weeks ahead of the US,...

In the past 96 years of the Academy Awards, there have only been two years in which two Black women were nominated for Best Actress in the same year. That ignominious statistic could very well change for the better this year, as performers Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”) are both closing in on nominations.

Erivo’s star turn as Elphaba, a role which won the Best Musical Actress trophy at the 2004 Tony Awards for Idina Menzel, currently ranks fifth in our combined Oscar odds. It would mark her second nomination in the category, following her breakout film role as Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” (2019). The actress earned two nominations that year, also receiving recognition for the song “Stand Up,” which she wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell. The Tony winner for “The Color Purple” currently has 80% of experts and 40% of Gold Derby editors predicting her for the nom.

See Oscar...

Exclusive: It’s quite something when Andrew Lloyd Webber, the West End’s biggest theater owner, taps you on the shoulder and says he has something to tell you. Even more so when he leads you from the London Palladium’s orchestra seats, up a couple flights of stairs where a beaming Madeleine Lloyd Webber is waiting to greet you, because they’ve designed a new lounge and dedicated it in your name.

That’s what happened to Michael Harrison, the 44-year-old producer behind Imelda Staunton’s triumph in Hello, Dolly! at the Palladium and her celebrated turn as Rose in a revival of Gypsy, the Sunset Boulevard now on Broadway starring Nicole Scherzinger, The Drifters Girl and countless other musicals, directing three pantomimes — one in his native Newcastle, Birmingham and the annual Palladium Pantomime, now in its ninth year with Robin Hood opening there tonight. Plus he oversees 22 pantos...

The Crown season 5, episode 2, "The System", doesn't feature Queen Elizabeth (Imelda Staunton) in as important a role, but as the title of the episode implies, it's her system in the royal household that everyone must constantly work within to whatever degree they are able. Queen Elizabeth of The Crown season 5 has seen quite a bit in her decades as the monarch. She is sharper, more attuned to court politics and the media, but in other ways, she's lost a bit of a sense of who she is, which is problematic considering her late-blooming nostalgia.

While Elizabeth frets and worries, internally that is, not an emotion ever crosses her face, the mice play. In the premiere of season 5, Charles (Dominic West) and Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) make a sad attempt to reinvigorate their marriage with a second honeymoon, but Charles decides to invite his friends the Knatchbulls and their daughter Leonora (Clara Graham...

The Crown season 5, episode 6, "Ipatiev House", is another Philip-centric episode in the series, though Queen Elizabeth has plenty to contend with regarding her family's past and her own troubles in the present. The Crown season 5 sees a new actress as Queen Elizabeth as the timeline moves into the 1990s. This is a slightly different Queen Elizabeth than viewers were used to seeing. She's wiser and stronger, but at the same time, increasingly nostalgic and perhaps more human as she looks back on her life and the history of her family, warts and all.

As season 5 progresses, The Crown's question of where the Monarchy fits in the modern world becomes even more urgent. In the previous episode, The Crown season 5, episode 5, "The Way Ahead", Elizabeth (Imelda Staunton) has just finished the unpleasant business of formalizing Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) and Charles' separation. In the next episode, it's Elizabeth and Prince Philip...

Exclusive: The Emma Thompson-penned musical adaptation of fantasy movie Nanny McPhee, about a witch who possesses magical powers wielded through her walking stick, is being primed to hit London’s West End in 2026, Deadline can reveal.

Oscar-winner Thompson, songwriter Gary Clark and Working Title’s stage division have been developing the production, based on the 2005 film directed by Kirk Jones, which starred Thompson in the title role, on and off for over a decade.

Olivia Colman played the snaggle-toothed nanny at an early workshop in London of the musical in 2018. This was confirmed to me at the time by Thompson, who praised Colman’s “wonderful” performance. Lily James and Rory Kinnear also took part in the original workshop. Sophie Thompson participated in later test-runs.

Colman has not been involved in subsequent run-throughs, but that doesn’t rule out her possible involvement in the West End.

My sources, who declined...

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This December, Tubi is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the supernatural thriller drama series Haven to the historical drama series Black Sails. However, for this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Tubi in the next month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the five best films that are coming to Tubi in December 2024 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Die Hard (December 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% Credit – 20th Century Studios

Die Hard is an action thriller film directed by John McTiernan from a screenplay co-written by Jeb Stuart and Steve E. de Souza. Based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp, the 1988 film follows a New York City police detective in Los Angeles to make up with his wife. Still, when terrorists take over his wife’s office building,...

Paddington in Peru has just been delayed. Although the CG/live-action movie is already in theaters across the pond, Sony has just pushed the United States release date back, meaning that the threequel will not hit theaters as originally planned on Jan. 17, 2025.

Per Deadline, Paddington in Peru will now open on Feb. 14, 2025, over Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day weekend. It's arguably a smart move on Sony's part as the Paddington threequel will now be the only family film in the marketplace until Disney releases its live-action Snow White remake on March 21. Paddington's release date delay comes less than a month after the Dougal Wilson-directed movie notched the best UK opening for a British production since 2021's No Time to Die, which featured Daniel Craig's final outing as James Bond. Paddington in Peru grossed £9.65M ($12.4M) over its first three days, the highest opening weekend ever for...

Sony has moved back the US release of Paddington In Peru from January 17 to February 14, 2025, pitching Studiocanal’s family film against Captain America: Brave New World.

While opening on the same day as a Marvel Studios release sounds daunting, it is likely Sony executives were more eager to avoid clashing with holdover business from Wicked, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, and Mufasa: The Lion King.

Paddington In Peru has already earned more than $30m after three weekends in the UK.Studiocanal developed and fully financed the family adventure and distributes directly in the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, Poland, Australia and New Zealand,...

Paddington in Peru was released in the UK earlier this month, with a US release set for the new year. However, fans will have to wait a little longer as Sony Pictures has pushed the release back by a month.

The film was set to hit US theaters on January 17, 2025, but will now debut on February 14, 2025. The Paddington sequel has given StudioCanal its biggest-ever opening with a 3-day total of £9.65 million. The first film opened to £5.1 million, and the sequel grossed £8.2 million in its debut. Seems that audiences can’t get enough of that marmalade-loving bastard. While the reactions to the sequel weren’t nearly as glowing as the first two films (which are damn-near perfect), there’s still a lot of fun to be had. StudioCanal is already developing Paddington 4 as well as a new TV series.

Paddington in Peru “follows Paddington and the Brown family as they visit Aunt Lucy in Peru.

Paddington in Peru is still well on its way to theaters across the U.S., but fans of the family-friendly franchise will have to wait longer than originally expected. Starring Ben Whishaw reprising his leading role, the long-awaited Paddington sequel will feature fresh faces joining the beloved film series, filling in for new and old characters. While many expected it to bow out in theaters domestically in January, fans will have to wait another month before Paddington in Peru arrives at its destination.

Paddington in Peru is now set to be released nationwide on Feb. 14, 2025, just under a month after its original release date, Jan. 17. The wholesome family film may not be the most obvious choice for a Valentine's Day movie date, but it's hard to beat an adventure featuring the lovable speaking bear. Meanwhile, those in the U.K. have been able to go to the cinema to see Paddington 3 since Nov.

2025 is set to be a thrilling year for fans of book-to-film adaptations, with a wide array of novels making their way to the big screen. From family-friendly adventures to gripping dramas, these films promise to bring favorite stories to life with star-studded casts and visionary directors. Audiences can revisit familiar characters like Paddington in Paddington in Peru and Toothless in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, or explore compelling new narratives like The Housemaid and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Each adaptation will offer its own unique take on the source material in 2025's promising book adaptations lineup.

Next years lineup spans genres from romance and fantasy to thriller and comedy, ensuring there is something for everyone. Fans of magical storytelling will be enchanted by Wildwood and The Twits, while thought-provoking dramas like The Midnight Library and Frankenstein delve into deeper themes. Whether youre looking for heartwarming family tales,...