News

The National Theatre production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” starring Ncuti Gatwa, has unveiled a trailer ahead of its cinema release on Feb. 20.

The trailer begins with Gatwa, dressed to the nines in a pink gown and matching gloves, playing a piano riff before leaning back to give viewers a sassy wink. Various clips of the filmed performance then tease the show’s offbeat humor, glamorous costumes and talented cast.

The “Doctor Who” and “Sex Education” star plays Algernon Moncrief, a witty yet idle bachelor, alongside Hugh Skinner’s Jack Worthing in the production reimagined by Max Webster.

The play’s provided synopsis is as follows: “While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack (Skinner) lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy (Gatwa) adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves...

A long-running British staple is coming to an end as ITV’s Vera, which is viewable on Roku and BritBox, will conclude with its upcoming 14th season. The news comes as titular star Brenda Blethyn reveals her exit from the title, announcing that it’s time to “be saying Cheerio.” Based on Ann Cleeves’ bestselling Vera Stanhope novels, Vera originally debuted on ITV in May 2011, and filming on the 14th and final season is slated to take place this summer in Northumberland and North East England, according to Variety. ©ITV / courtesy Everett Collection The last season will reportedly consist of two 120-minute episodes and will mark the end of a 14-year era for Blethyn who is also known for her roles in 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, Little Voice, and Secrets & Lies, the latter two of which earned her Oscar nominations. “Working on Vera has been a joy from beginning...

Leonard Soloway, whose six-decade career as a stage general manager and producer included 59 Broadway shows that won more than 40 Tony Awards, died Saturday in Palm Springs, California. He was 93.

His death was announced on Facebook by his nephew Jeffrey Lesser. “He was a huge presence in my life and so many others,” Lesser wrote. “With him goes an era of old Broadway that is dying out. He lived an amazing and full life and brought so many of us along for the ride.”

Soloway, whose life and career was chronicled in the 2019 documentary Leonard Soloway’s Broadway, had a hand in dozens of Broadway’s most notable productions since the 1960s, from his job as house or general manager for 1961’s How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 1967’s one-woman show Marlene Dietrich, the 1976 revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? starring Colleen Dewhurst and Ben Gazzara and...

Exclusive: Miramax TV has teamed with Dominic Treadwell-Collins’s Happy Prince on a series adaptation of Jim Cartwright’s award-winning play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which inspired the 1998 Miramax film Little Voice.

Cartwright is writing the TV series adaptation, which is part of Miramax’s strategy of mining the company’s IP library to create new international series.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice tells the story of shy, working-class Lv, who has the extraordinary ability to mimic the great singing divas of the 20th Century. When a small-time talent agent forces her into the spotlight, a battle between Lv and her abusive, boozing mother erupts.

Miramax TV is co-producing with London based Treadwell-Collins’s drama label, Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios.

“Jim Cartwright’s classic, big-hearted play is a timeless and uplifting tale about finding your voice in a noisy world and standing your...

In today’s TV news roundup, Apple TV Plus released a teaser for drama series “Little Voice,” and HBO’s “Insecure” is releasing a podcast episode called “Looking for Latoya.”

First Looks

Apple TV Plus has released a teaser for its new drama series, “Little Voice,” premiering July 10. In the clip, co-creator and executive producer Sara Bareilles performs the show’s original theme song while shots from the show are interspersed throughout. “Little Voice” follows struggling performer Bess King, played by Brittany O’Grady, who is trying to make it in New York City while navigating rejection, relationships and family issues. “Little Voice” is produced by J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Abrams, Bareilles, Jessie Nelson and Ben Stephenson serve as executive producers. Watch the teaser below.

Specials

ABC will air an hour-long father’s day celebration hosted by John Legend on June 21 at 8 p.

Apple has unveiled the first look at coming-of-age drama series ‘Little Voice’, from the award-winning team of J.J. Abrams, Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson, that will premiere globally on Apple TV+.

A love letter to the diverse musicality of New York, the story follows Bess King, (Brittany O’Grady) a uniquely talented performer struggling to fulfill her dreams while navigating rejection, love, and complicated family issues. It’s a story about finding your authentic voice—and the courage to use it and is described as an intensely romantic tale.

The new series stars Brittany O’Grady, Sean Teale, Colton Ryan, Shalini Bathina, Kevin Valdez, Phillip Johnson Richardson and Chuck Cooper. It is produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. J.J. Abrams, Sara Bareilles, Jessie Nelson and Ben Stephenson executive produce. Nelson also wrote and directed the first episode.

Also in news – Joe Alwyn...

Michael Caine celebrates his 87th birthday on March 14, 2020. The two-time Oscar winner shows no signs of slowing down, amassing dozens of credits in the span of over 50 years. But how many of those titles are classics? In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 20 of Caine’s greatest films, ranked worst to best.

The English-born thespian first came to the attention of movie audiences with a prominent role in the historical epic “Zulu” (1964). He earned his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor just two years later for “Alfie” (1966), playing a devil-may-care ladies man who starts to face the consequences of his actions. The role made Caine an international star, providing him with leading roles both in the UK and the Us.

He won his first Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for playing a man desperately in love with his wife’s sister in “Hannah and Her Sisters...

Today, City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases, announced the spectacular line-up of talent confirmed to take the stage at its Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group’s 2019 Spirit of Life Gala, which will honor Epic Records chairman and CEO, Sylvia Rhone.

Award-winning recording artists Alicia Keys and Sara Bareilles will join together for a one-of-a-kind duet performance in honor of Rhone. Yolanda Adams will also perform at the event, while Eric H. Holder Jr., 82nd attorney general of the United States will present Rhone with the prestigious award. The event will feature a very special surprise performance from one of Rhone’s most iconic groups. The gala will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

“We are deeply grateful to these talented artists for lending their voices to support City of Hope’s delivery of...

The streaming wars are about to have a new combatant: Apple is launching its own streaming service, Apple TV+. Like so many developments at the tech giant, some of the precise details about Apple TV+ are still under wraps, but the company has already generated huge buzz with announcements of the big-name projects that will be on their way. Here's everything we know so far about how Apple TV+ will work and what original content you can expect to find there.

What Is Apple TV+?

In short, Apple TV+ is a streaming service similar to Netflix, Hulu, and so on. According to CNET, the service will be completely ad-free and will include content available in over 100 countries around the world. It connects to the Apple TV app, which means it will sit as a "channel" alongside other subscription-based platforms that are available on Apple TVs, such as premium cable channels like HBO.

Oscar-nominated Brenda Blethyn is set to star in the new sitcom “Kate and Kolo” for ITV, the U.K. broadcaster announced at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Blethyn takes on the title role of Kate in the comedy alongside theater and film actor Jimmy Akingbola as Kolo. Blethyn is a popular star with ITV audiences after having starred as police detective Vera Stanhope since 2011 in long-running crime drama “Vera,” which is currently in production on its 10th season, due to air in 2020. The acclaimed actress has twice been Oscar-nominated, as best actress for Mike Leigh’s 1996 film “Secrets & Lies” and as supporting actress for Mark Herman’s “Little Voice” two years later. She won both Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for her role in “Secrets & Lies.”

Akingbola previously appeared as villain Baron Reiter in the CW’s adaptation of DC Comics’ “Arrow.” His British credits include comedy “Rev” and long-running medical drama “Holby City.

Happy 48th birthday to that great Scot, Ewan McGregor! From sci-fi epics to family films to musical comedies, McGregor seems capable of doing it all in a career that has encompassed celebrated work on the stage, on screen and in television.

In a career that has lasted more than two decades, McGregor is no stranger in the awards world. He won a Golden Globe for his work in the TV series of “Fargo” and earned two nominations for his film work in “Moulin Rouge!” and “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.” For television, he received three Primetime Emmy Award noms for acting in “Fargo” and “ER,” as well as a nomination for narrating the documentary “Highlands: Scotland’s Wild Heart.” And for film, he has garnered three Screen Actors Guild ensemble nominations for his work in “Little Voice,” “Moulin Rouge!” and “August: Osage County.”

SEENicole Kidman movies: 14 greatest films ranked from...

Michael Caine celebrates his 86th birthday on March 14, 2019. The two-time Oscar winner shows no signs of slowing down, amassing dozens of credits in the span of over 50 years. But how many of those titles are classics? In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 20 of Caine’s greatest films, ranked worst to best.

The English-born thespian first came to the attention of movie audiences with a prominent role in the historical epic “Zulu” (1964). He earned his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor just two years later for “Alfie” (1966), playing a devil-may-care ladies man who starts to face the consequences of his actions. The role made Caine an international star, providing him with leading roles both in the UK and the Us.

SEEOscar Best Supporting Actor Gallery: Every Winner in Academy Award History

He won his first Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for playing a man desperately...

David Morrissey, Luke Treadway and Charles Dance have been cast in “The Singapore Grip,” an ITV drama adaptation of the J.G. Farrell novel. Oscar winning screenwriter and playwright Christopher Hampton (“Dangerous Liaisons”) is adapting the book, which is set during World War II and follows a British family living in Singapore at the time of the Japanese invasion.

“As a great admirer and, eventually, a friend of J.G.Farrell, I was delighted to be invited to adapt The Singapore Grip, a panoramic account of the disastrous loss of Singapore to the Japanese invaders in 1942,” Hampton said.

Luke Treadaway (“Ordeal By Innocence”) will star as the reluctant hero of the piece and innocent abroad Matthew Webb. Morrissey (“The Walking Dead”) will play a ruthless rubber merchant, Walter Blackett, who is head of British Singapore’s most powerful firm alongside his business partner Webb, played by Charles Dance (“Game of Thrones...

Fiona Crombie.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite won seven prizes at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ awards in London on Sunday, including original screenplay for Tony McNamara and Deborah Davis and production design for Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton.

So the momentum builds for all four, who have been nominated in their respective categories at the Academy Awards.

Crombie’s work on The Favourite had already been recognised as it was named best period film at the Art Directors Guild’s Excellence in Production Design Awards in Los Angeles.

In the past five years, the winner of the Adg’s period film category went on to win the Oscar in production design three times: The Great Gatsby (2014), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2025) and The Shape of Water (2018), which also won best picture.

Alfonso Cuarón’s Netflix film Roma took home the BAFTA Awards for best film, director, cinematography and...

Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley, the producers of such films as “Carol,” “Their Finest” and the recent “Colette” starring Keira Knightley, will receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the BAFTA Film Awards.

The prolific pair run Number 9 Films and have a long list of credits. They will pick up their accolade at the awards ceremony on Feb. 10, joining a roster of previous winners who include Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, and Ridley and Tony Scott.

“Elizabeth and Stephen are two of the U.K.’s leading producers, whose contribution to the British film industry over the last four decades is outstanding,” Marc Samuelson, chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee, said. “Their commitment to producing independent films in the U.K. which breaks down barriers and connects with audiences internationally is an inspiration to us all.”

Woolley’s film career stretches back to the 1970s. He ran the legendary...

The producers of Carol and Colette will receive the honour at the 2019 Bafta film awards.

Producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley, co-founders of Number 9 Films, will receive the outstanding British contribution to cinema award at the 2019 Bafta film awards (February 10).

The husband-and-wife producing duo founded independent powerhouse Number 9 in 2002. Known as makers of taste-driven, quality UK cinema, Karlsen and Woolley’s films include Todd Haynes’ Carol, which was nominated for six Oscars in 2016, On Chesil Beach, Their Finest, Made In Dagenham and Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth (as co-producers).

Upcoming Number 9 projects include So Much Love starring Gemma Arterton as Dusty Springfield,...

Carol and Colette producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley, co-founders of Number 9 Films, are to receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 72nd BAFTAs on Sunday 10 February in London. Previous recipients of the prestigious BAFTA award include Mike Leigh, Kenneth Branagh, Ridley and Tony Scott, Working Title, John Hurt and BBC Films.

Producing duo Woolley and Karlsen are among the most prolific indie film producers working in the UK today. Woolley began his career in the mid-70s before owning and running iconic repertory cinema, the Scala. Alongside Nik Powell, he founded Palace Pictures, distributing more than 250 films from the likes of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach as well as international hits like Paris, Texas, When Harry Met Sally and The Evil Dead. On the production side, 1983 marked the beginning of his collaboration with Neil Jordan. The Company of Wolves was their first film together, which was nominated for four BAFTAs.

Apple is singing a new tune, with a key assist from Sara Bareilles. The tech giant has given a straight-to-series, 10-episode order to the half-hour dramedy Little Voice, featuring original music by the Jesus Christ Superstar Live headliner.

Executive-produced by J.J. Abrams, Little Voice is described as “a love letter to the diverse musicality of New York” and an exploration of “the universal journey of finding your authentic voice in your early 20s.” Feature scribe Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam, Stepmom) will write and direct the first episode. She will also serve as showrunner.

Bareilles — who played Mary Magdalene in...

Actor Hugh Grant and pop sensation Britney Spears are among the stars re-voicing the BBC's festive cartoon Robbie The Reindeer for American television. The original version was shown in the UK in 1999 and was voiced by British stars including Little Voice actress Jane Horrocks and singer Robbie Williams as the narrator. But they are reportedly being replaced in the American version by a decidedly more A-list cast including Spears, Grant, and actors Ben Stiller, James Woods and Jim Belushi. The US version will be shown by CBS on December 13. A spokesperson for the network says, "I think this cast rivals that of a feature film. "Ben Stiller is your romantic comedy lead (Robbie), Britney Spears as the ultimate reindeer next door, Hugh Grant is the reindeer you love to hate."...

Little Voice (1998) star Jane Horrocks has revealed how she managed to get into the character of the women she mimics on her new CD. The Yorkshire actress, 36, is working on an album - "The Further Adventures of Little Voice" - sung in the voices of such stars as Marilyn Monroe and Billie Holiday. To stop herself getting confused and to help her get the voices just right, Jane and her singing teacher came up with key words to help her focus on each character. "For Monroe...'Big t**s'. Also, 'Pout' and 'Sexy lips'." For Judy Garland, Jane used the words, 'On the edge'. "That's what I had to do for Garland. You have a feeling that she's going to burst into tears at any moment."...

Actress Brenda Blethyn was chased down the street when she tried to sell drugs to a total stranger - but it was all for the sake of her new movie. The Oscar-nominated Little Voice (1998) actress plays the lead role in her new film Saving Grace (2000), which centers around a middle- aged mother, forced to turn her green thumb to growing and then selling marijuana after her husband's death leaves her penniless. But when Blethyn had to film a scene where she deals drugs on the streets of London's trendy Notting Hill district, she nearly got arrested. She says, "The film's directors introduced me to around 40 extras but I couldn't remember who they all were and it was a busy shopping day... So they mingled with 500 other total strangers in Notting Hill and I couldn't see who they were and it got a bit tricky on one occasion... Somebody chased me down the street after I did a scene where I had to sell drugs to total strangers. They couldn't see the movie's cameras and thought I was a real-life dealer. I was saying, 'No I'm an actress, get off you brute.'"...

A working-class British actress has accused the British film industry of being a haven of the bourgeois. Jane Horrocks, who co-starred with Michael Caine in Little Voice (1998), backed his comments that people are left on the fringes of showbusiness because of their backgrounds. She says, "If you have made it to the top table, then you've made it, fine, but it happens a lot that the middle and upper-classes in the profession get hailed when those from working class backgrounds don't. " Bob Hoskins added to the debate, saying that "in a funny way, we get more respect in the US". He said, "In Hollywood I can walk into an office and be regarded as a classical thespian. It isn't like that here." And about his friend Michael Caine, he said "No great lover had ever worn glasses, no great hero had ever come from the Elephant and Castle, but he changed all that. Doors which had been locked and bolted for centuries were opened by him for people like me. " However, JAMES BOND veteran Roger Moore was a dissenting voice, saying, "I don't think Michael's undervalued at all - He's just a bloody good actor." The comments came at a charity lunch held in the SAVOY HOTEL, London.