News

A glimpse at upcoming UK DVD and Blu-ray release dates well into 2025: here’s what’s coming to disc and when.

Here, then, are a few of the upcoming dates for new movies on DVD and Blu-ray that may not yet have been officially announced. Note that all dates are for the UK.

Also: We’ve started adding affiliate links. If you click on those, we benefit, and can spend more money paying more people to write more things for this website. No pressure, just hugely obliged.

Obviously in the current climate everything is subject to change, of course…

Just released

First Time On UK Blu-ray: No Way Out (Film Stories Blu-ray #2)

First Time On UK Blu-ray: Bull Durham (Film Stories Blu-ray #3)

Scroll to the bottom of the this list for more releases over the last few weeks.

Last two weeks

7th April: Signora Volpe season 1-2

7th April:...

Exclusive: Kevin Proctor, a British producer involved in making the Brian Epstein biopic Midas Man, appeared in court Wednesday to face a charge of stalking an actress.

The 46-year-old was present today at the Tameside Magistrates’ Court in the north of England, where he was accused of “stalking involving serious alarm/distress.” The charge relates to his treatment of Nicola Holt, an actress and model who has appeared in series including Viewpoint and Hollyoaks.

Proctor was due to enter a plea but applied for an adjournment on medical grounds. The court agreed to reschedule the plea hearing for May 30 at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court.

Proctor, who spoke to confirm his name and address, has been remanded on conditional bail until the hearing. To prevent witness interference or the obstruction of justice, the producer cannot contact Holt or enter Bolton, a town in Greater Manchester. Deadline has contacted Proctor for comment.

New casting picks have just been announced for the third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Actor Jamie Campbell Bower, best known for playing Vecna in Netflix's hit series Stranger Things, is one of two additions newly revealed to be coming into The Rings of Power for Season 3. Bower will be playing a series regular role, described as a "handsome high-born knight" who's being referred to under the code name "Arlen." It's believed that he could be a new love interest for Morfydd Clark's Galadriel after her fallout with Charlie Vickers' Halbrand/Sauron.

Per Deadline, another newcomer for The Rings of PowerSeason 3 will be actor Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan). He will be featured in a recurring role, and the code name being used for the character in the casting information is "Dromm." All that's known about this character is that he "has a brother,...

Jamie Campbell Bower and Eddie Marsan are about to get in the ring...of power, that is. The acclaimed British actors are no strangers to fantasy and genre fare, given the former's time on Stranger Things and the latter's time appearing in, well, seemingly everything else, but neither have played in the acclaimed and beloved universe of author J. R. R. Tolkien — until now.

That's right, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has upped the star power ante in season three, tapping Bower and Marsan to join the cast for the series' next installment. The show is currently in pre-production in England, working out of a new home in Shepperton Studios. According to Prime Video, Bower will be a series regular, while Marsan will appear in a recurring capacity. Further details are currently being kept under lock and key, too precious for this world as it currently...

This is a match made in genre heaven — Jamie Campbell Bower, star of Netflix’s blockbuster supernatural drama Stranger Things, is joining one of biggest fantasy franchises of all time. Bower has been tapped as a series regular for the upcoming third season of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Additionally, Ray Donovan alum Eddie Marsan is set to recur on the new season, which is currently in pre-production.

As usual, details about the role are being kept under wraps but I hear Bower plays Rings of Power’s biggest new cast addition, a character described as a handsome high-born knight (code name Arlen) in casting information that has been circulated around. He could be a new love interest for Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) who spent the second season facing the reality of her Season 1 love interest Halbrand’s (Charlie Vickers) true identity as arch-villain Sauron.

Jay Leno is once again looking back at the time of his famous interview with Hugh Grant in 1995. This time he has some interesting backstories to share. The Tonight Show host is talking about the infamous scandal of Hugh Grant who got arrested for picking up a sex worker.

Jay Leno and Hugh Grant in The Tonight Show | Credit: The Tonight Show/NBC

Shortly after the incident, Grant appeared in the late-night show tackling the fiery question “What the hell were you thinking?” The question prompted a generous amount of laughter in the hall, however, it remained a viral moment in television history for a whole decade.

Fast forward to 2025, Jay Leno’s reflections on that interview continue to circulate online. Thanks to journalist Kjersti Flaa as she shared her conversation with Leno who opened up about the heartwarming backstory of the incident in a recent interview.

Jay Leno recalled...

For better or worse, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are forever linked in television history. And while it hasn't always been roses between the two former Tonight Show hosts, that isn't keeping Leno from weighing in on O'Brien's upcoming Oscars gig.

It's been 15 years since NBC created the Tonight Show debacle that ensnared Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, and even Jimmy Fallon. The network promised the iconic late-night show to O'Brien, only to pull the rug out from under him in less than a year.

Thankfully, O'Brien landed on his feet and remains as busy as ever. Meanwhile, Leno has remained active on the stand-up circuit (injuries and all) and even has a movie role upcoming. He'll play another late-night legend, Ed Sullivan, in Midas Man.

On the topic of movies, the New York Post caught up with Leno and asked his opinion on O'Brien hosting the 2025 Academy Awards.

"I think he’ll be great,...

Midas Man attempts to tell the ambitious tale of one of the greatest rock bands ever to exist, The Beatles, which, surprisingly enough, is not as prolific a feat as you might think. As any Beatles fan knows, the music, rights, and image of the "Fab Four" are fiercely protected and preserved to this very day, with even the most powerful movie studios and production companies struggling to get even one of their songs included let alone half a dozen. Some movies like Across the Universe and Yesterday have managed to break through the mold largely thanks to their creative takes on the music rather than the people behind them. In regards to an official big-budget biopic, it's failed to come to fruition for decades, but it may finally become a reality should Sam Mendes' ambitious quadrilogy of Beatles films become a reality.

If any backstage pop institution deserves a biopic of his or her own, it would be Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ tragic manager, champion, and supporter through rough and giddy times alike. Epstein has been portrayed here and there in films, but Midas Man (available on streaming services starting today) is the first full feature devoted to him. According to a report in Variety, the making of the film was fraught, encompassing multiple directors, distribution issues, and a bigger budget than expected. But in light of music-biopic mania and the ongoing...

Almost anyone who grew up with the Beatles knows a few key things about their manager, Brian Epstein, the subject of the new biopic “Midas Man.” You might know that he ran a popular record store in Liverpool when he first saw the Beatles perform at the Cavern Club and realized that it was his destiny to manage them. You almost surely know that it was Epstein who made over the Beatles’ image, taking four scruffy working-class rockers in black leather jackets, dressing them in collarless gray suits and giving them those fabled moptop haircuts — the look that launched a thousand screams. Or the visionary way he spearheaded the Beatles’ international career, cutting the deal for them to appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Or the fact that Epstein was gay, something he kept well-hidden.

If you’ve ever seen footage of Brian Epstein, you also know the most resonant and,...

The Sundance Film Festival remains the largest independent film festival in the United States, and as was the case in both 2023 and 2024, the 2025 edition will be in a hybrid format, with screenings in Park City and Salt Lake City, Ut, along with limited selections available online for viewers across the United States. This provides cinephiles ample opportunity to check out some of the most exciting indie cinema that will be coming your way this year.

FandomWire is delighted to again be covering the Sundance Film Festival, but this year, for the first time in person in Park City, Utah! We will be reviewing many of the films we see on the ground, but for now, we wanted to let you know about some of the films we have gotten the opportunity to see early and you won’t want to miss.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear in One to One: John & Yoko...

Although Beatlemania typically refers to the initial hype around the iconic band, one could argue that it’s had a second coming recently with a slew of other Beatles-focused media from filmmakers like Peter Jackson and Martin Scorsese. With a conventional screenplay and many limitations because of its budget, Midas Man is charming nonetheless thanks to a strong lead performance and a bountiful helping of nostalgia for one of the most iconic bands in the world.

Midas Man Review

Midas Man tells the story of Brian Epstein, the entrepreneur who — despite no experience in the music industry — discovered The Beatles in a Liverpool bar and became their manager, launching them into superstardom. While this claims not to be a Beatles biopic, it sure focuses a lot on Epstein’s time with the band, although who can blame the filmmakers? That’s what sells tickets.

To get the obvious out of the way,...

In late November 2019, a few months before Covid-19 hit Europe, the producers of a biopic about the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein threw a party at BAFTA’s central London headquarters. The event was ostensibly for investors and “people who had shown an interest [in investing],” producer Perry Trevers told Variety last summer. While tribute act The Upbeat Beatles played, guests – described by one attendee as “a very eclectic mix” that included manicurists, fashion bloggers and writers – danced, posed for photos and nibbled on canapés.

“The drink was flowing everywhere and everybody got very, very silly,” sculptor Steve Bicknell, who attended that night and subsequently sunk $12,400 into the movie, told Variety.

The evening, described variously by guests as a “gala” and a “party,” was primarily a sales pitch, with the film’s producers — among them Trevers, CEO of U.K. production company Studio Pow — on hand to hawk the project. They even hired a cameraman,...

Jay Leno may not be Donald Trump’s biggest fan, but he’s praising the election as “a great day for democracy.”

During an appearance Wednesday morning on “The Talk,” the comedian addressed Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris. “The nice thing about this election is, it was fair, it was honest. Ok, I was not a fan, but that’s Ok, it’s the President of the United States — let’s all get together, thank you very much,” he said as the crowd applauded.

“You know, my fear is they’re going to be watching this, and there are 1,100 votes out of 300 million between, and it’s going to be name calling about, ‘Ok, here’s the answer, Ok? This is the thing.’ And it was done professionally — there was no cheating. Everybody says it was honest. I mean, it’s a great day for democracy,” Leno added.

In a recent conversation with HeyUGuys, rising star Blake Richardson shared insights about his role as Paul McCartney in Midas Man, the new Amazon Prime Video biographical film that delves into the life of legendary music manager Brian Epstein.

The film, directed by Joe Stephenson and penned by Brigit Grant and Jonathan Wakeham, explores Epstein’s influence on the music world in the 1960s, especially his role in shaping the Beatles’ careers. Playing one of the most iconic figures in British popular music history, Richardson discussed the pressures and excitement of embodying McCartney, describing how he prepared to capture not only McCartney’s mannerisms but also who person he was then.

Richardson opened up about his admiration for Epstein’s contributions to music and his approach to playing McCartney alongside an impressive cast. The film stars Jacob Fortune-Lloyd in the lead role of Brian Epstein, with other notable actors like Emily Watson,...

How does one honor the legacy of a man who helped shape music history? Such was the ambitious task undertaken by the makers of Midas Man in recounting the story of Brian Epstein. Known as the “fifth Beatle” for his crucial role in the band’s success, Epstein spotted musical talent like few others. Behind bright eyes and a disarming smile lay a quietly complex soul, and navigating the turbulent currents of the 1960s music industry demanded drive, flair, and nerves of steel.

Epstein first glimpsed possibilities beyond small-town Liverpool after discovering a ragtag foursome called the Beatles. Charmed as much as impressed, he resolved to share their gift with the world against all odds.

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd brings our hero to life with warmth and subtlety, inviting us into Epstein’s hopes, doubts, and inner fortitude. We cheer his triumphs alongside sorrow over challenges that, even decades later, remain deeply unfair.

Alongside his career of all-time great narrative movies, Martin Scorsese has been a chronicler of music in documentary form – whether it’s his Bob Dylan works No Direction Home and Rolling Thunder Revue; his Rolling Stones concert movie Shine A Light; his legendary The Band film The Last Waltz; or his George Harrison documentary, Living In The Material World. Now, as producer, he’s turning his attention to the full complement of the Fab Four with Beatles ’64 – an all-new feature film documentary coming to Disney+, capturing the band’s first trip to the States.

Beatles ’64 is directed by longtime Scorsese collaborator David Tedeschi, and features never-before-seen Beatles footage. Their 1964 trip to the USA saw them make their legendary TV performance on The Ed Sullivan Show and swelled the eruption of Beatlemania – which the documentary looks to capture, alongside behind-the-scenes footage of John, Paul, George and Ringo. “Spotlighting this singular cultural...

Biopic of The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein Midas Man needed a lot of Help! to get over the finish line. Here’s the trailer.

Rock biopics, it seems, are a difficult genre to navigate. Bohemian Rhapsody originally had Bryan Singer at the helm before Dexter Fletcher finished the film, for instance.

A similar fate has befallen Midas Man, a biopic of The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein. It began production in 2021 with Jonas Åkerlund directing, only for Sara Sugarman to take over later that year. When Sugarman departed, Joe Stephenson eventually took the reins to finally get the film over the finish line. In each case, the directors are said to have left over “creative differences”.

Midas Man wrapped production in 2023, and just over a year later, the once troubled movie is only a few weeks away from release.

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd stars as Epstein, Ed Speleers as Tex Ellington, Jay Leno as Ed Sullivan,...

Who, exactly, is the ‘Fifth Beatle’? Many have had that title bestowed upon them, deemed the essential but just-out-of-frame counterpart to Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. There’s producer George Martin, who worked extensively with the band in the studio, or road manager Neil Aspinall, and press officer Derek Taylor. But one of the top contenders for that title has always been Brian Epstein – the man who discovered the Fab Four in Liverpool, helped usher them into the spotlight, and died at the tender age of 32. Now, his story – and a slice of music history – is being told in biopic Midas Man, starring The Queen’s Gambit’s Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Epstein.

Empire has been working eight days a week to bring you an exclusive first-look clip from the film – featuring not just one but two ‘Fifth Beatles’, depicting a pivotal point in Beatles history: the...

After a tumultuous production, the long-awaited Brian Epstein biopic is finally ready for viewing. Midas Man endured a long road to success with two directors departing the project before Joe Stephenson finally settled in as the man who would helm it to the finish line. The Queens Gambit star Jacob Fortune-Lloyd plays Epstein, the man renowned for masterminding the meteoric rise of The Beatles into one of the greatest music bands ever. Midas Man will peel back the curtains on Epstein's career as a music manager as well as shed light on his private life. Ahead of its anticipated release this fall, Prime Video has released its first trailer teasing what to expect.

"What I saw on that stage – I shall never forget it." Signature Ent. in the UK has revealed an official trailer for the film titled Midas Man, a British biopic about the music manager & entrepreneur Brian Epstein. This isn't the first film about him - there's also The Hours and Times - this is more of a straightforward look at his short life. On Thursday, November 9th in 1961, a man named Brian entered a cellar in Liverpool and changed the world forever. The film tracks how Brian Epstein rose to prominence by managing a series of popular artists including The Beatles, Cilla Black and Gerry and the Pacemakers before his sudden death in 1967 at the age of 32. The movie stars Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Epstein, Ed Speleers as Tex Ellington, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno (!!) as Ed Sullivan, with Eddie Marsan, Emily Watson, Blake Richardson as McCartney, Jonah Lees as Lennon, Leo Harvey-Elledge as Harrison,...

Midas Man and One Hand Clapping are just the latest in a stream of movies telling a story we seemingly can’t get enough of

The Beatles broke up in 1970 but – as far as the film industry is concerned – they are more current than ever, with a flood of Beatles-related films in cinemas and on streaming platforms. The band’s final film Let It Be was restored and released on Disney+ in May; Midas Man, a biopic of their manager Brian Epstein is to be released in October; and One Hand Clapping, long-lost footage of Paul McCartney in the studio in the early 70s with Wings will get an airing in cinemas across the world starting next week. Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville is readying another McCartney documentary, Man on the Run, about his post-Beatles career. And on the horizon is Sam Mendes’ mammoth Beatles tetralogy – one film each for John Lennon,...

Amazon Prime Video has announced the release date for its biopic, “Midas Man,” which explores the life of The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein. The film is scheduled to premiere on October 30, 2024. “Midas Man” looks at Epstein’s significant influence on music history. From his humble beginnings managing a record store in Liverpool to guiding […]

Prime Video’s Brian Epstein Biopic “Midas Man” Set for October 30 Premiere...

We spoke with British filmmaker Joe Stephenson amid the release of his new Hammer Films release Doctor Jekyll, which sees the great Eddie Izzard tackling the famed dual role in modern perfection. Stephenson has kept busy with another buzzy British-centric project of late: Midas Man, the highly anticipated biopic about Beatles manager Brian Epstein.

"The cast is fantastic," Stephenson told MovieWeb. "We have Emily [Watson] and Eddie [Marsan] playing Brian's parents, and we have Jacob [Fortune-Lloyd], who's a star in the making. I don't know how much people know; Jacob has been in some great stuff, on some terrific shows and things, and he's really wonderful. His performance [as Brian] is outstanding and so beautiful... It was a joy to be around everybody. They were all fantastic."

Jay [Leno] has a really cute cameo. He just pops in. We have that sort of little moment of Brian with Ed Sullivan [played by Leno].

Stephenson also detailed his...

“Midas Man,” an upcoming drama about Brian Epstein, the visionary manager who helped turn the Beatles into the biggest thing in pop culture, has sold North American distribution rights to Briarcliff Entertainment. The company will distribute the movie in collaboration with Studio Pow and American Entertainment Investors. It stars Jacob Fortune-Lloyd of “The Queen’s Gambit” as Epstein. The film is directed by Joe Stephenson (“Doctor Jekyll”).

Briarcliff plans to release the film in more than 800 theaters nationwide in the fall. “Midas Man” is set against the backdrop of the 1960s, and explores Epstein’s genius and talent, as well as his ambition and his personal struggle for self-acceptance. Born into a family of furniture retailers, Epstein’s passion for music and ability to spot talent led him to discover the Fab Four and helped launch them into the musical stratosphere. The film’s ensemble also includes Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan,...

On the eve of Cannes, film financing and sales outfit Mister Smith Entertainment has made several key promotions as well as adding a new hire to its team.

Shane Kelly, who has been with the company since 2019, is being promoted to senior vice president, international sales and acquisitions. In this new role, he will continue to oversee sales and distribution efforts while formalizing the addition of project acquisitions as part of his purview, continuing to report to Mister Smith CEO David Garrett. In his previous role as VP international sales and distribution, Kelly has been instrumental in helping manage the company’s slate through sales, financing, marketing and distribution.

In addition, Emma Mason is being promoted to vice president, international marketing and publicity and will continue to lead the marketing and publicity team and oversee festival strategy for the Mister Smith slate.

Katie Hogan is being promoted to distribution and marketing executive,...

Exclusive: Gilles Bannier, the director of the first seasons of hit series Blue Lights and Trigger Point is opening up a new drama indie, Alef UK. The London-based label will be a subsidiary of Alef One, Nora Melhli’s Paris-based prodco that counts Flight MH370 and doc Carlos Ghosn The Last Flight among its credits.

French born writer-director Bannier has been based in England for a decade and will be Creative Director of the new UK drama business. His directing credits include iconic dramas Spiral and Les Beaux Mecs as well as The Tunnel, which is where he first collaborated with Melhli, who was a producer on the Kudos drama. The duo also worked together on Tim Roth-starrer Tin Star.

Melhli worked at Endemol and Altice before teaming with Jacques Arthur Essebag to create Alef One in 2018. She told Deadline that working with Bannier during Covid – and the problem-solving...

Suzy Eddie Izzard (“Stay Close”) and Ed Speelers (“Outlander”) are the new additions to the cast of “Midas Man,” the delayed film on The Beatles manager Brian Epstein that has now wrapped filming.

The film began production with Jonas Akerlund (“Lords of Chaos”) as director, who departed the project for unknown reasons. Sara Sugarman (“Vinyl”) was attached to the project for a year before Joe Stephenson (“Doctor Jekyll”) stepped in. Stephenson has just wrapped the shoot, canning what will be 95% of the completed film, Variety understands.

Written by Brigit Grant, the film follows Epstein, manager of The Beatles from 1962 until his untimely death at the age of 32 in 1967. Epstein’s impact extended beyond the Fab Four, encompassing British Invasion acts such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (“The Queens Gambit”) plays Epstein. The ensemble cast includes Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan and Jay Leno as Ed Sullivan.

Exclusive: It’s been a long and winding road but Beatles manager movie Midas Man has finally reached post-production having recently taken on a third director to get it over the line.

UK director Joe Stephenson (Doctor Jekyll) quietly took the reins earlier this year from previous filmmaker Sara Sugarman (Vinyl) who left after what sources described to us as creative differences and scheduling issues.

Sugarman herself took over in late 2021 from filmmaker Jonas Åkerlund (Polar) who also left during shoot after not seeing eye to eye with producers.

The Queen’s Gambit actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd stars in the biopic as The Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Also starring are Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Lukas Gage, Bill Milner, Rosie Day as Cilla Black and Jay Leno as Ed Sullivan.

Portraying the Fab Four are newcomers Jonah Lees as John Lennon, musician Blake Richardson as Paul McCartney, Leo Harvey Elledge as George Harrison,...

Hey, did you hear this one, folks? Just under six months after suffering severe burns during an accident while filming his titular reality show, Jay Leno has detailed his continued pain even as he continues to work.

Speaking with People, Jay Leno said of recovering from his accident, “I’m alright, I’ve got a broken collar bone and two broken ribs and a couple cracked knee caps, but I’m okay…There’s a little pain, but it’s not bad…Pain is constant, so if it’s constant you’re okay. Pain from a burn, after a while you get used to it and eventually it goes away, but it’s not terrible.”

Despite the pain, Jay Leno has tried to give his accident and the reactions to it a little perspective. “They were just accidents…Real people have accidents every day. When you’re in show business people fawn all over you.

Exclusive: Sebastian de Souza, Eddie Marsan and Rich Sommer have boarded the Chloe Domont-directed finance world thriller opposite Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich.

The MRC and T-Street emerging filmmaker label movie, which Deadline first told you about, is already in production.

de Souza stars as Leo in Hulu and MRC Television’s The Great from Oscar-nominated Tony McNamara. Prior to this, he starred as Gareth in the critically acclaimed adaptation of Normal People, for Hulu and the BBC, directed by the Oscar-nominated Lenny Abrahamson. He was seen in the iconic role of Sandro Botticelli in the second season of Medici, opposite Sean Bean, Daniel Sharman and Bradley James on Netflix. Prior to this, he played a guest lead in the feature Pixie, opposite Alec Baldwin and Olivia Cooke, directed by Barnaby Thompson. He also played Edmund in Claire McCarthy’s feature Ophelia, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival,...

If Ted Lasso were a film executive, he’d probably resemble someone like Marc Goldberg, the CEO of U.K. producer-distributor Signature Entertainment.

Goldberg’s favorite football team since he was a kid has been West Ham United, and — in a cosmic alignment befitting the popular Apple TV Plus series — the club’s owner, David Sullivan, happens to be a stakeholder in Signature.

In Goldberg’s early career as a DVD salesman, he managed to convince a corporate client that buying an executive box at West Ham would come in handy when entertaining customers. In 2010, when Sullivan bought the team, the new owner asked for feedback from corporate members on ways to improve the club, which super-fan Goldberg readily provided in an off-the-cuff email.

The pair developed an unlikely friendship — “I was the envy of all my family and friends,” says Goldberg — and eventually their business paths crossed when Goldberg...

Principal photography has wrapped on “He Went That Way,” the true crime thriller starring Jacob Elordi (“Euphoria”) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek franchise).

Mister Smith Entertainment have revealed a first look image and will be showing the first footage to buyers at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin.

Set in 1964, “He Went That Way” is based on the true crime story of celebrity animal trainer Dave Pitts and his famous TV chimp, Spanky, centerpiece of the traveling entertainment show The Ice Capades in the 1960s, and his fateful three-day encounter with the serial killer Larry Lee Ranes. The film is inspired by Conrad Hilberry’s book “Luke Karamazov” and the real life account from Dave Pitts, the sole survivor of Ranes killing spree, and follows the trio as they set off on a crazy three-day road trip down Route 66 together.

Elordi portrays serial killer Bobby Falls, based on Ranes and Quinto portrays Jim Goodwin,...

In upcoming biopic “Golda,” Helen Mirren plays former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, when Israel was invaded by a coalition of Arab states on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

While Mirren is not Jewish, “Golda” is directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guy Nattiv (“Skin”), who is both Jewish and Israeli, and written by British screenwriter Nicholas Martin (“Florence Foster Jenkins”), who has previously worked with the organization U.K. Jewish Film.

But in the U.K., where production wrapped last month, Mirren’s casting as one of history’s most heroic Jewish women has caused some disquiet. Actor Maureen Lipman (“The Pianist”) highlighted the discussion about what has been termed “Jewface” when she told a newspaper she “disagreed” with Mirren’s casting “because the Jewishness of the character is so integral. I’m sure she will be marvellous, but it would never be...

Exclusive: Filming on Beatles manager movie Midas Man did not restart last month as planned.

The plan was for filming to recommence in late November but the restart has been pushed to late January as new director Sara Sugarman gets acclimatized and the production has a planned pause over Christmas. The film’s original director Jonas Akerlund left the project in mid-November. Some of the original crew also left.

The independent movie will have had a three-month break from filming by the time cameras roll again and multiple people working on the film have now expressed concern to us about the project’s funding. We understand the feature has not been bonded.

However, the production tells us there are no funding or scheduling issues: “There is no delay. Midas Man filming remains very much on schedule to complete the movie. The new production team is now on board. U.S.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr paid tribute to George Harrison today on the 20th anniversary of their Beatles bandmate’s death.

“Hard to believe that we lost George 20 years ago,” McCartney posted on Instagram along with a Beatles-era photograph of the two in a recording studio. “I miss my friend so much.”

Starr posted a photo on Instagram from even earlier Beatles days, with himself and Harrison in mop tops, tuxedoes and smoking cigars. “Peace and love to you George,” Starr writes. “I miss you man.”

Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, posted a short, psychedelic video clip of Harrison’s song “Within You, Without You,” along with a simple message of “We love you, George.”

See all three messages below.

Harrison died of lung cancer on Nov. 29, 2001, at the age of 58, becoming the second Beatle to pass away.

Interest in...

Afternoon International Insiders, Max Goldbart here. It’s been another busy week but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with all the latest news and analysis. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.

American Film Market Trends

Solid packages: It’s hard to recall an AFM that had as many solid packages as this one. The emergence from Covid lockdowns and the lack of a market in Toronto this year have helped boost the offering. Since we were last in your inbox, we’ve also broken news of buzzy new projects from Martin McDonagh, Daisy Ridley (pictured) and Mathieu Kassovitz, and Guy Ritchie and Jake Gyllenhaal. Yesterday, we announced a new UK road trip from arthouse director Carol Morley which has Jane Campion aboard as an exec-producer. AFM has traditionally been known for its brawn, and while that is available this market, what stands out is the number of prestige dramas. Buyers we’ve spoken to have been particularly high on the scripts for movies like Firebrand and Lee.

Who runs the world?: As the market draws to a close, that leads us to another interesting – and positive – trend, which also counters the AFM norm: the number of strong female-fronted packages. Between Lee, Firebrand, MindFall, Ballerina, Role Play, Beth And Don, Everything Everywhere All At Once, and Mamma Mafia, rarely can there have been as many female-fronted projects leading the slates of the major sellers. Now we wait for the deals to drop.

Climate Content Pledge

Cop-in: David Attenborough may have been appearing on TV screens for nigh on seven decades, but until now the question of what television can do to help combat global warming was on the fringes. That all changed at this week’s Cop 26 in Glasgow, as 12 UK networks signed up to a Climate Content Pledge, which includes an uprooting of commissioning processes to consider climate themes and a doubling down on shows that help audiences understand how the world can reach net zero.

‘Collective responsibility’: Signatories to the pledge include the heads of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 along with Discovery and Sky in the UK. Speaking at Cop, C4 CEO Alex Mahon said broadcasters have a “collective responsibility” and can use their different programming strengths to reach more audiences. Those strengths equate to quiz shows and entertainment for ITV, sport for Sky and, according to former scientist Mahon, Celebrity Trash Monsters for C4. UK TV truly is the home of plurality.

Middle Eastern In The Spotlight

Strike while the Irons is hot: Andreas had the exclusive on production wrapping on Cello this week, a Jeremy Irons and Tobin Bell horror that is the first in a new wave of English-language projects looking to film in Saudi Arabia, which has been ramping up its film and TV ambitions. Only a handful of sizable English-language movies have shot in the country in recent decades. The Russo Brothers’ Cherry was the biggest back in 2019 but the number of productions is growing as investment increasingly flows in and out of the controversial state, which remains a lightning rod for debate due to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and human rights abuses. Oh and something about a UK football team.

Growing interest: Among productions to shoot in the country recently are a Discovery Channel documentary on the AlUla region, narrated by Irons, and an AlUla brand campaign commercial directed by Bruno Aveillan. National Geographic is due to film two programs on the region and the area has seen multiple travel programs. This month, production is due to get underway on the Gerard Butler action-thriller Kandahar from Thunder Road, which will be one of, if not the biggest, English-language movies to shoot in the country. It’s all happening. At the Cannes Film Festival this year, Saudi officials were touting the striking AlUla valley, new production facilities and the country’s film and TV tax rebate of 35%. The nation is due to host its first major film festival next month, the Red Sea International Film Festival. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

Midas Man on ice

Help!: Another hot one from Andreas this week, who had the scoop on one of the most talked about films of the moment, Midas Man, pausing production, with director Jonas Åkerlund unlikely to continue. Åkerlund is “taking a break”, according to the production, with sources indicating he is unlikely to return. More likely to come on this one as the Brian Epstein biopic seeks a new director.

New Look BBC Comedy Team

Petrie Dish: BBC Comedy Director Jon Petrie (pictured), the most powerful person in UK comedy commissioning, unveiled his new-look team this week, picking producers from some of the nation’s biggest shows in his first major intervention since taking over from Shane Allen in September. In comes Trying’s Emma Lawson, E4’s Navi Lamba and Stath Lets Flats producer Seb Barwell (temporarily), as the seven-strong team is firmed up. Petrie’s move reassembles a team that was decimated last year with a spate of departures, as his predecessor Allen, Head of Comedy Kate Daughton and Commissioning Editors Sarah Asante and Alex Moody all departed within a few weeks of each other.

Russian Out Of Space

The Challenge: Don’t miss Diana Lodderhose’s exclusive sit-down with Russian director Klim Shipenko and actor Yuliya Peresild, who last month became the first film crew to shoot scenes in Outer Space for upcoming film The Challenge. Well worth your time.

Essentials...

Production for “Midas Man” is set to continue next week despite director Jonas Akerlund (pictured above left) potentially departing the film, Variety can confirm.

The film, a biopic of legendary music manager Brian Epstein, started shooting two weeks ago, with first look images revealed of Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (“The Queen’s Gambit”) and “Outlander” star Rosie Day as 1960s pop singer Cilla Black.

Akerlund, a Grammy-winning auteur, has directed numerous music videos for artists including former Beatle Paul McCartney and Madonna as well as the black metal feature “Lords of Chaos.” He is said to be “taking a break” from the film but sources indicate it is unlikely he will continue with the project.

While production in Liverpool has been shut down for this week, a source close to the production confirmed to Variety that, contrary to reports, shooting is set to re-start as soon as next week, with a new director...

Exclusive: Midas Man, the biopic of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, has shut down mid-shoot with director Jonas Akerlund unlikely to continue, we can reveal.

Filming on the project began last month in Liverpool with cast including The Queen’s Gambit star Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Epstein, Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Lukas Gage, Rosie Day and Bill Milner.

The production has issued us with the following statement: “The director of Midas Man Jonas Akerlund is taking a break from the film. Until some matters become clearer we are not able to add any further comment to this statement. In the meantime we can confirm that filming of Midas Man will continue in London in November before breaking for Christmas. Filming will restart in early January in Los Angeles.”

Sources close to the production have told us it is unlikely Swedish filmmaker Akerlund returns to direct the project and we understand there are...

Exclusive: Son Of Rambow and X-Men: First Class actor Bill Milner has joined Brian Epstein biopic Midas Man as Brian’s brother Clive Epstein who assumed control of his brother’s music store business.

Filming is underway in Liverpool on the movie about the visionary music manager Brian Epstein, who famously discovered the Beatles.

Starring are The Queen’s Gambit actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as the movie’s titular character, Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Lukas Gage, Charley Palmer Rothwell, and Rosie Day as Cilla Black, the singer who was also managed by Epstein.

Jonas Åkerlund is directing from a screenplay based on a screen story by Brigit Grant and written by Jonathan Wakeham.

Producers are Kevin Proctor and Perry Trevers at StudioPOW, with Trevor Beattie and Jeremy Chatterton at Trevor Beattie Films. Mister Smith Entertainment is handling sales and has closed a raft of international deals.

Milner is in post-production on movie thriller Burial.

“Midas Man,” the biopic about legendary music manager Brian Epstein, has begun shooting in Liverpool, U.K., giving fans the first look at Jacob Fortune-Lloyd’s transformation into the title role (above left).

The actor, who has starred in “Medici” and “The Queen’s Gambit,” will portray the always dapper Epstein in the StudioPOW and Trevor Beattie Films production alongside Emily Watson (“Everest”) as Epstein’s mother, Eddie Marsan (“Ridley Road”) as his father Harry, Lukas Gage (“Euphoria”) as his lover Tex Ellington and Charley Palmer Rothwell (“Jack Ryan”) who will play The Beatles’ record producer George Martin

The film has also cast “Outlander” star Rosie Day as another one of Epstein’s acts, singer Cilla Black. Jonas Åkerlund (“Lords of Chaos”) directs.

The film will shoot across Liverpool, London and the U.S. this fall.

Epstein, who died of an overdose at the age of 32, was responsible for discovering and...

Rosie Day (Outlander) has boarded the cast of Midas Man, the biopic of visionary music manager Brian Epstein, who famously discovered the Beatles. Day will play Cilla Black, the singer who was also managed by Epstein.

Producers StudioPow and Trevor Beattie Films have today unveiled a first look at The Queen’s Gambit actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as the movie’s titular character.

Also starring are Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Lukas Gage and Charley Palmer Rothwell. The project will shoot on location in Liverpool, London and the U.S. this fall for release in 2022.

Producers are Kevin Proctor and Perry Trevers at StudioPOW, with Trevor Beattie and Jeremy Chatterton at Trevor Beattie Films. Jonas Åkerlund is directing from a screenplay based on a screen story by Brigit Grant and written by Jonathan Wakeham.

As a writer, Rosie Day’s debut feature film Pixie Dust was also produced by StudioPow.

Exclusive: We have learned that Zachary Quinto, Lukas Gage, Simon Rex, Judith Light and Audra McDonald are set for FilmNation Entertainment’s Rightor Doyle feature directorial debut Down Low.

The news comes in the wake of Rex receiving a Gotham Award nomination in the Lead Performance category for A24 and FilmNation’s Red Rocket and Gage’s HBO series The White Lotus receiving a nomination in the Breakthrough Series – Long Format slot.

Newcomer Sebastian Arroyo also rounds out the cast of the comedy feature written by Gage and Phoebe Fisher.

Pic, produced by FilmNation Entertainment’s Ashley Fox and Lucas Wiesendanger and Sui Generis Pictures’ Ross Katz, centers around a deeply repressed man, the uninhibited young man that gives him a happy ending, and all the lives they ruin along the way. FilmNation Entertainment is also handling global sales for the film.

Said Fox and Katz, “Lukas and Zachary are...

Production begins this month in Atlanta, Georgia.

UK sales outfit Mister Smith Entertainment has boarded worldwide sales on Rachel Feldman’s Lilly, set to star Patricia Clarkson.

Shooting will begin this month in the US state of Georgia on the film which is based on the real-life Lilly Ledbetter, a family woman from a small Alabama town who fought for equal pay for equal work in the American courts. Her activism led to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2009, the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama.

The cast also includes Josh Lucas and Thomas Sadoski. Veteran...

Cast is rounding out on Midas Man, a feature film telling the story of visionary music manager Brian Epstein.

Joining the previously announced Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Epstein are Emily Watson, who will play his mother, Eddie Marsan as his father, and It’s a Sin breakout Omari Douglas as Lonnie Trimble, Epstein’s ever-trusted confidant and friend.

Jonas Akerlund (Lords Of Chaos) is directing the pic, which comes from producers Kevin Proctor and Perry Trevers at StudioPOW and Trevor Beattie and Jeremy Chatterton at Trevor Beattie Films.

Jonathan Wakeham wrote the screenplay based on a story by Brigit Grant. The plot tracks how Epstein shot to fame at the age of 25 by discovering a series of artists including The Beatles, Cilla Black and Gerry and The Pacemakers, before his life ended tragically at just 32.

Peter Dunne, Nicola Pearcey and Mark Borkowski are executive producers. Twickenham Studios Chairman and co-owner Sunny Vohra...

Exclusive: Brisk business has been concluded on Midas Man, the feature about the life of The Beatles manager Brian Epstein, by sales outfit Mister Smith Entertainment.

Signature Entertainment has picked up rights for UK and Ireland following the recent Cannes virtual market. Deals have also been concluded for Australia/Nz (Transmission Films), Baltics (Acme), Benelux (WW Entertainment), Cis (Exponenta), Ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz), France (Metropolitan), Italy (Eagle Pictures), Poland (Monolith Films), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), Scandinavia (Mislabel), Spain (Tripictures), Switzerland (Ascot Elite).

The project will shoot in Liverpool and London for release in 2022. Jonas Akerlund (Lords Of Chaos) is directing. Starring are The Queen’s Gambit’s Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Epstein, with further cast to be confirmed.

The screenplay has been written by Jonathan Wakeham from a story by Brigit Grant. It will follow Epstein’s tumultuous life which saw him shoot to fame at the tender age of 25 but ended in tragedy...