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Which Royal Is Benedict Cumberbatch Is Related To? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Benedict Cumberbatch has that classic British charisma. The actor has a profound voice and razor-sharp cheekbones, and he maintains himself like a secret duke. And funnily enough, his family tree isn’t too far off from that!

Nope, he’s not a secret royal or about to inherit a crown. But his family history? It’s filled with enchanting connections, including ties to actual royalty. His ancestors go way back, rubbing shoulders with some of the most influential folks in history. So, who’s Cumberbatch actually related to? And how did his ancestors leave their mark on his family’s tale? Let’s dive into his impressive roots.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Rich Family Ties

The Doctor Strange star’s family history dates back to the 1700s. It starts with his 7th-great-granddad, Abraham Cumberbatch (a wealthy plantation owner in Barbados...

“I couldn’t possibly comment,” laughs Dame Pippa Harris when Deadline asks the British producer if she recognizes any colleagues among the hideous and hilarious characters in her latest series, The Franchise. Armando Iannucci’s HBO satire, going behind the scenes of a stodgy superhero franchise known as Tecto, has something for everyone who feels even slightly disenfranchised working inside the film and TV content machine.

There’s Richard E Grant’s Peter, an anti-woke thesp who is equal parts pompous and tempestuous as he embodies Tecto’s nemesis. Or what about Eric? Daniel Brühl’s deep-thinking director, who says things like, “The day hath come when the suits flutter down from the trees,” when executives visit set. Talking of whom, Pat Shannon (Darren Goldstein) is a sharply observed monster of a studio boss, who has no shame in intimidating toiling underlings at the alter of a washroom urinal.

‘The Franchise...

Sam Worthington (Under The Banner Of Heaven) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle) have signed on to join Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven: The Hunter) and Theo James (The Gentlemen) in Fuze, directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water).

Shooting on the pic began this week in London. Rounding out the cast are Elham Ehsas (Homeland) and Honor Swinton-Byrne (The Souvenir).

Written by Ben Hopkins, Fuze is described as a “time-ticking thriller” about a long-buried WW II bomb found in central London, sparking a citywide evacuation.

The film is produced by Gillian Berrie (Outlaw King) and David Mackenzie for Sigma Films, Sebastien Raybaud (The End We Start From), and Callum Grant (Jackdaw) for Anton.

Giles Nuttgens is director of photography. Further creatives include hair and makeup by Christine Blundell (Topsy Turvy), costume design by Nigel Egerton (The Hollow Crown), and production design by Amanda McArthur (See How They Run). The casting director was Des Hamilton.

“Fuze is the first feature I’ve shot in London and I’m thrilled to be here. The cast and crew are the cream of British talent and I’m excited to roll the camera,” said Mackenzie.

Producer Gillian Berrie added: “I’ve never felt more excited or in better shape to start principal photography. The script is rocking and our team are on fire. What a cast!! This movie is going to blow your socks off.”

Anton is fully financing the film. UTA Independent Film Group and WME Independent will co-rep the US rights with Anton. Sky will release the film theatrically in the UK and Ireland.

Let the Levy family fireworks commence!

The Morning Show has cast Oscar winner Jeremy Irons as Martin Levy, father of Jennifer Aniston’s Alex, TVLine has learned.

More from TVLineThe Sandman Season 2: Game of Thrones' Jack Gleeson, Pose's Indya Moore, The Nevers' Ann Skelly and More Join CastColin From Accounts' Patrick Brammall to Lead The Dispatcher for Apple TV+Presumed Innocent Midseason Poll: Who Do You Think Is the Killer on the TV Series? Vote!

In June, TVLine exclusively broke the news that the Apple TV+ series was looking to bring Alex’s dad into the action for Season 4. At the time,...

Filming has begun on Outrageous, a six-part series about the Mitford sisters, with a cast including Bessie Carter, Joanna Vanderham, Anna Chancellor, and James Purefoy.

The brand-new drama, created and written by Sarah Williams and based on Mary Lovell’s definitive biography The Mitford Girls, is made by Firebird Pictures and co-commissioned by BritBox International (for North America) and UKTV.

Photo courtesy of BritBox; Credit: Kevin Baker

Outrageous is the story of six aristocratic sisters who refused to play by the rules, their often scandalous lives making headlines worldwide. Set against the gathering storm clouds of the 1930s, masked by the decadence, frivolity, and lavishness of British high society, Outrageous will bring the full, uncensored story of the Mitford sisters to the screen for the first time – a story of family bonds and betrayals, public scandal, political extremism, love, heartache, and even imprisonment.

The show explores how and why these women,...

Benedict Cumberbatch shines in Netflix's Eric, receiving positive reviews for his performance as Vincent. The intricate design of the Eric puppet mimics New York's cityscape, making the monster visually connected to its setting. Cumberbatch's voice for Eric adds depth to the character, with a gruff New York lilt that links to Vincent's emotional journey.

For their new show Eric, Netflix had to work hard to bring a giant puppet to life. The eponymous Eric refers to the monster living under the bed of a young boy named Edgar. When Edgar goes missing, his terrified and grieving father Vincent turns to Eric for support and guidance as he embarks on a harrowing journey to find the truth behind his sons disappearance.

Protagonist Vincent is elegantly played by former Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch. Cumberbatchs performance in Eric is getting positive reviews, with critics praising how the star navigates the challenging role in a jam-packed series.

There’s a reason “Wicked Little Letters” lured the A-list cast that British comedian and TV scribe Jonny Sweet (“Chickens”) and theater/film director Thea Sharrock (“The Hollow Crown”) dreamed about, including Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.

Sweet pitched the idea to StudioCanal’s Nicola Shindler, who took him on as a film writer even though he’d only done TV. His first movie script was so funny that when Shindler sent it to Colman, the Oscar-winner (“The Favourite”) signed on right away to play Edith, a proper village spinster living at home who goes to the police after receiving a series of scatologically creative hate letters in the post. Who could resist language like “you foxy-ass piss-country whore?”

That got the ball rolling: Soon, Timothy Spall joined the cast as Edith’s misogynistic father, steeped in old-school patriarchal ways, along with Jessie Buckley as Rose, Edith’s brash, Irish,...

Tom Hiddleston captivates audiences with his exceptional performances across stage, television, and film, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Hiddleston's TV roles range from comedic to dramatic, with highlights including his hilarious portrayal in Suburban Shootout and his nuanced performance in The Hollow Crown adaptation of Shakespeare's plays. Hiddleston's portrayal of Loki in Disney+'s Loki series is his best TV role to date, blending humor, action, and depth in an epic and creative show that has garnered critical acclaim.

Tom Hiddleston has made a name for himself in Hollywood primarily through his movie roles, but the actor has also made waves through his compelling TV show performances. Tom Hiddleston's movie roles span everything from charming comedies to period romances, indie dramas to suspenseful thrillers, and, of course, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor has ventured into the realm of television less frequently, with both minor roles before his breakthrough and leading roles since.

Coriolanus (2014)Caius Martius Coriolanus is a war hero, banished from his home, seeking to come back.Rating: 8.5/10Stars: Tom Hiddleston (Caius Martius Coriolanus), Rochenda Sandall (First Citizen), Mark Stanley (Second Citizen), Dwane Walcott (Third Citizen), Mark Gatiss (Menenius)Avengers: Endgame (2019)After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins.

Graphic: Images: IMDBCoriolanus (2014)

Caius Martius Coriolanus is a war hero, banished from his home, seeking to come back.

Rating: 8.5/10

Stars: Tom Hiddleston (Caius Martius Coriolanus), Rochenda Sandall (First Citizen), Mark Stanley (Second Citizen), Dwane Walcott (Third Citizen), Mark Gatiss (Menenius)

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins.

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 9:00 Pm, BBC Four will air “Sir Simon Russell Beale Remembers? The Hollow Crown.” In this program, actor Simon Russell Beale will reflect on “The Hollow Crown,” a series of Shakespearean adaptations produced by the BBC in 2012. These adaptations include “Richard II,” “Henry IV Part 1,” “Henry IV Part 2,” and “Henry V.”

During the show, Simon Russell Beale, a renowned actor, will share his memories and insights about this critically acclaimed series. He will discuss the significance of these history plays and their adaptation for television.

This program offers viewers a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s works and their impact on the world of entertainment. It is a chance to explore the historical and literary aspects of these iconic plays.

If you have an interest in Shakespearean drama or simply want to learn more about the creative process behind adapting classic works for television,...

Ben Whishaw now has a BAFTA hattrick after winning Best Actor at this year’s BAFTA TV Awards for his superb, fourth-wall-breaking performance in the Hulu medical mini-series “This is Going to Hurt.”

Based on the book of the same name by author Adam Kay, who also created and wrote the show, the series follows Whishaw as Kay himself working in an NHS hospital in mid-noughties England. As timely as it is tragic, as searing as it is blackly comic, the show is an utter triumph. In his performance as a flawed, overworked doctor struggling with the pressures and responsibilities of his role, Whishaw soars — he switches from witty fourth-wall-breaking one-liners to moments of intense vulnerability and desperation in a performance that once again shows what a terrific actor Whishaw is.

And BAFTA agrees — this is his third triumph (all for TV) from six nominations. He previously won Best Actor...

Exclusive: Universal and Amblin Entertainment have rounded out their Twisters cast with the addition of Maura Tierney (The Affair), Harry Hadden-Paton (Downton Abbey), Sasha Lane (American Honey), Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men), Nik Dodani (Atypical), David Corenswet (Pearl), Tunde Adebimpe (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Katy O’Brian (The Mandalorian).

The actors join an ensemble for the disaster pic, following on the heels of the 1996 storm-chasing blockbuster Twister, that also includes Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea and Daryl McCormack, as previously announced. No character details have been disclosed.

Details as to the plot of the new film are also under wraps. The original starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton was written by Michael Crichton and directed by Speed‘s Jan de Bont, with Steven Spielberg on board as an EP. Twister was lauded for its groundbreaking special effects and scored $494M+ at the worldwide box office.

Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) is...

The BAFTA TV Awards concluded on Sunday, May 14 at the Royal Festival Hall in Southbank, London, with “Bad Sisters,” “This is Going to Hurt,” and “Derry Girls” the big winners with two awards each. You can take a look at the full list of winners here but read down further below for a number of interviews that happened backstage at the BAFTAs in the winners’ press conference room.

Ben Whishaw — Best Actor for “This is Going to Hurt” and BAFTA Must See Moment award for Paddington Bear meeting The Queen in “Platinum Jubilee: Party at the Palace”

Whishaw won his third BAFTA award for “This is Going to Hurt” by beating fellow nominees Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”), Taron Egerton (“Black Bird”), Martin Freeman (“The Responder”), Cillian Murphy (“Peaky Blinders”), and Chaske Spencer (“The English”). He previously won two other TV awards — Best Actor in 2013 for “The Hollow Crown” and Best...

Catherine and Peter are the leads in The Great cast, and the funny fictional re-telling of Russian political history continues to impress audiences and critics alike. The Hulu series did the impossible. It took a real-life coup and the overthrow of power in a major nation and turned it into a dark comedy of manners. Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult took on the roles of Catherine the Great and Peter III, and the show took the coup Catherine successfully pulled and stretched things out by presenting a romantic comedy mixed with a political satire.

Somehow it worked. The Great has been a huge success for Hulu, picking up three Golden Globes nominations, including individual acting nominations for Hoult and Fanning. Hoult also received a Screen Actor's Guild nomination while Fanning won a Satellite Award for her performance. They were not the only great members of The Great cast, though. There...

Netflix’s Lockwood & Co. includes a cast of renowned stars and talented newcomers whose performances seamlessly create a believable universe ridden with ghosts. Lockwood & Co.’s story is based on the first two books of the series of the same name by Jonathan Stroud. Set in 2022’s London, the show follows an alternative timeline where the Problem happened. Ghosts started appearing, haunting the places where their violent deaths took place.

Elite teams of teenagers from detective agencies work to contain ghosts, as only the youngest people can use their peculiar abilities to identify and fight them. Lockwood & Co. soon becomes the protagonist Lucy’s place of employment. With a tone similar to a season of Netflix’s dark fantasy Locke & Key, Lockwood & Co. season 1 follows Lucy, Anthony, and George as they try to keep their psychic private investigator firm afloat while fighting against powerful ghosts,...

Paramount+ has set the lead cast for its upcoming drama series Sexy Beast, the prequel to the 2000 cult British gangster movie, which is set to premiere in 2023.

The series will track the origin story of the Gal Dove, Don Logan and Teddy Bass characters, played in the movie by Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley and Ian McShane, respectively. It will explore Gal and Don’s complicated relationship as Gal finds himself descending into the seductive madness of the London criminal world during the vibrant and volatile 1990s, while falling in love with DeeDee.

James McArdle (Mare of Easttown) leads the cast as Gal Dove, with Emun Elliot (The Gold) starring as Don Logan, Gal’s best friend. The pair are small-town thieves living the good life in ‘90s East London.

Sarah Greene (Normal People) is Deedee, an adult film star with the potential to turn Gal’s whole life upside down.

The Marvel star on his new TV spin-off, Loki, growing up watching Blackadder, and the need to ration your news intake

Tom Hiddleston, 41, became a household name as part of the Marvel universe, playing the god of mischief, Loki. Alongside many high-profile film roles, his TV credits include The Hollow Crown and The Night Manager, for which he received two Emmy nominations. In 2021, he began starring in the Disney+ spin-off series Loki.

What was it like to make the transition from the big screen to the small screen in your first Marvel spin-off?

I was just really honoured to be asked. We all wanted to retain the integrity of the character – I wanted to make sure we didn’t lose the bits that people loved, while doing something new. I also hope Loki coming out as bisexual was meaningful to people who spotted it. It was a small step, and there’s further to go.

Keenly anticipated film sequel “Downton Abbey: A New Era” has shifted its release dates forward.

Focus Features, Universal Pictures International and Carnival Films revealed on Wednesday that the film, previously dated for March 18, 2022, will now release in U.K. cinemas on Apr. 29 and in the U.S. on May 20.

Created by Julian Fellowes, the sequel reunites the cast as they go on a journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the Dowager Countess’ newly inherited villa. The original principal cast, including Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt and Penelope Wilton return alongside new additions Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West.

The film, based on the Emmy and BAFTA winning TV series, is a sequel to 2019 film “Downton Abbey.”

The screenplay is written by Fellowes, with Emmy and BAFTA-winning Gareth Neame and Emmy Award-winning Liz Trubridge producing. BAFTA and Emmy-nominated Simon Curtis...

Screenwriter Graham Moore, who won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar in 2015 for “The Imitation Game,” has enlisted Mark Rylance and Dylan O’Brien to star in his directorial debut, “The Outfit.” Set in gangster-ridden Chicago, the film is set for release by Focus Features in February. Below, find the first trailer for the film.

The Oscar-winning Rylance (“Bridge of Spies”) plays Leonard, an English tailor who used to craft bespoke suits on London’s famed Savile Row. He heads to Chicago after a personal tragedy, where he operates a tailor shop in a rough part of town, making beautiful clothes for the only people in the neighborhood who can afford them: a family of gangsters.

Also starring are O’Brien (“The Maze Runner”), Zoey Deutch (“Set It Up”), Johnny Flynn (“Emma”), Simon Russell Beale (“The Hollow Crown”), and Nikki Amuka-Bird (“Nw”).

Moore co-wrote the script with Jonathan McClain. It marks the feature screenwriting debut for McClain,...

Harris takes over from Greg Dyke.

Bafta has named Neal Street Productions co-founder Pippa Harris as its vice president for television, taking over from former director general of the BBC Greg Dyke, who served from 2016-21.

Harris has been closely involved with Bafta for over 10 years. She joined the board of trustees as deputy chair of the film committee in 2011 and was made chair of the film committee in 2015, and chair of the academy in 2018.

She has supported Bafta’s programme of learning and new talent initiatives including the Bafta Scholarships programme, Bafta Breakthrough and Bafta Elevate. Harris also chaired...

BAFTA has appointed Dame Pippa Harris, co-founder of Neal Street Productions, as its VP for television.

She takes over for Greg Dyke, who occupied the role from 2016 until this year. Other VPs for television in the past have included Lord Michael Grade (2004-2010) and former Endemol Shine boss Sophie Turner Laing (2010-2015).

Harris has been closely involved with BAFTA for over 10 years and joined the board as deputy chair of the film committee in 2011. She was made chair of the film committee in 2015, and chair of the Academy in 2018.

BAFTA can appoint up to three VPs, one in each of the three sectors of film, games and television, who serve for up to six years. James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli currently serves as BAFTA’s VP for film, while David Gardner is VP for games.

Said Harris: “I am hugely honoured to have been asked to take on this role...

Focus Features has set a moderate release for The Outfit on Feb. 25, 2022.

The pic reps Oscar winner Graham Moore’s directorial debut, and follows Leonard, played by Oscar winner Mark Rylance, an English tailor who used to craft suits on London’s world-famous Savile Row. But after a personal tragedy, he’s ended up in Chicago, operating a small tailor shop in a rough part of town where he makes beautiful clothes for the only people around who can afford them: A family of vicious gangsters. Maze Runner actor Dylan O’Brien also stars.

Moore, who won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for The Imitation Game, co-wrote the screenplay with actor/writer Johnathan McClain (Mad Men). The cast also includes Zoey Deutch (Set It Up) Johnny Flynn (Emma), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Nw) and Simon Russell Beale (The Hollow Crown). Producers are Scoop Wasserstein, Ben Browning and Amy Jackson.

Focus currently has Paul Schrader...

BAFTA and Golden Globe Award winner actor Bill Nighy and BAFTA Rising Star award-winning actor Micheal Ward (Top Boy, Small Axe- Lovers Rock), will lead the cast of ‘The Beautiful Game’, a new Netflix Film from director Thea Sharrock.

Joining Nighy and Ward are Valeria Golino on the cast are, Callum Scott Howells (It’s a Sin), Kit Young (Shadow & Bone), Sheyi Cole (Small Axe – Alex Wheatle), Robin Nazari (Snabba Cash), Tom Vaughan – Lawlor (Avengers Infinity War, The Infiltrator), Susan Wokoma (Chewing Gum, Enola Holmes), Layo-Christina Akinlude (The End of the F**king World) and Cristina Rodlo (No One Gets Out Alive).

The film follows a team of English homeless footballers, led by their coach Mal (Bill Nighy), who travel from London to Rome to compete in a global annual football tournament – The Homeless World Cup. At the last minute, they decide to bring with them a talented striker...

Exclusive: BAFTA winner Simon Russell Beale (The Hollow Crown) and BAFTA-nominee Nikki Amuka-Bird (Nw) have joined the cast of The Imitation Game scribe Graham Moore’s directorial debut The Outfit.

As we previously revealed, starring in the film are Oscar winner Mark Rylance (Bridge Of Spies), Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner), Zoey Deutch (Set It Up) and Johnny Flynn (Emma).

The crime-drama, which recently wrapped production in London, follows Leonard (Rylance), an English tailor who used to craft suits on London’s world-famous Savile Row. But after a personal tragedy, he’s ended up in Chicago, operating a small tailor shop in a rough part of town where he makes beautiful clothes for the only people around who can afford them: a family of vicious gangsters.

Oscar-winner Moore is directing from his own screenplay which is co-written with actor-writer Johnathan McClain (Mad Men).

Producers are Ben Browning for FilmNation Entertainment,...

Their relationship may have been, um, cut short, but Jodie Turner-Smith’s Anne Boleyn and Mark Stanley’s Henry VIII look pretty cosy in the first image of the pair from the upcoming Channel 5 drama.

In Variety’s exclusive first look, Turner-Smith’s Tudor queen is nestled against the formidable Henry VIII, played by “White House Farm” actor Stanley, when times were, presumably, better.

Boleyn is the most notorious of Henry VIII’s six wives, best known for her untimely demise by execution. The three-part psychological thriller “Anne Boleyn” for ViacomCBS-backed U.K. broadcaster Channel 5 will explore the final months of Boleyn’s life from her perspective, as she struggles to secure a future for her daughter and challenge the powerful patriarchy closing in around her.

The series will depict the key moments that cause Anne to topple, reflecting her strength, fatal vulnerabilities and determination to be an equal among men.

The expansion of the Game of Thrones franchise is not slowing down soon.

George R.R. Martin is set to unveil the true story behind an event mention in his Song of Ice and Fire novels that was omitted from the HBO adaptation, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The event in question is The Great Tourney at Harrenhal, meaning that some beloved characters will be resurrected to bring the project to fruition.

“The play will for the first time take audiences deeper behind the scenes of a landmark event that previously was shrouded in mystery,” according to the production’s official description.

“Featuring many of the most iconic and well-known characters from the series, the production will boast a story centered around love, vengeance, madness and the dangers of dealing in prophecy, in the process revealing secrets and lies that have only been hinted at until now.”

The Great Tourney at Harrenhall...

George R.R. Martin plans to pull back the curtain — quite literally — on a mysterious piece of Westeros history.

The fantasy author is developing a Game of Thrones stage production, which will depict an event mentioned in Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire novels, but never seen in HBO’s series: The Great Tourney at Harrenhal.

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Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Thursday, March 18.

Apple TV+ has set Vera Farmiga is set to star in the highly anticipated Apple Original limited series Five Days at Memorial from creators John Ridley and Carlton Cuse.

The limited series from Academy Award-winner John Ridley and Emmy Award-winner Carlton Cuse.

Farmiga will play the role of Dr. Anna Pou.

Based on the acclaimed National Books Critics Circle Award-winning non-fiction novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Sheri Fink, the series chronicles the first five days in a New Orleans, LA, hospital after Hurricane Katrina made landfall.

When the floodwaters rose, the power failed, and the heat climbed, exhausted caregivers were forced to make life-and-death decisions that haunted them for years to come.

Meanwhile, Game of Thrones alum Lena Headey is headed back to the small screen.

The actress has boarded the previously announced Spectrum Originals...

Looks like Tom Hiddleston won’t be taking much of a break from the small screen after Loki. The actor has joined Claire Danes in the forthcoming Apple TV+ period drama The Essex Serpent, TVLine has learned.

Based on the bestselling novel by Sarah Perry and set in Victorian England, the series centers on Cora (Danes), a widow recovering from an abusive marriage who moves from London to the small village of Aldwinter and becomes “intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area.” Hiddleston will play Will Ransome, the...

Tom Hiddleston will star alongside Claire Danes in the series adaptation of the Sarah Perry novel “The Essex Serpent” at Apple, Variety has learned.

The one-hour drama series follows newly widowed Cora (Danes) who, having being released from an abusive marriage, relocates from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex, intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area. Hiddleston will star as Will Ransome, the trusted leader of a small rural community. A first-look of Hiddleston in the series can be seen above.

Hiddleston is best known for playing Loki in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe films. He will also reprise the role in the forthcoming “Loki” Disney Plus series, which will debut in June. His other feature credits include “Crimson Peak” and “I Saw the Light,” while he has starred in TV shows like “The Night Manager” and “The Hollow Crown.

You’ve Got Mail: Cooke Leaves the Cold War on Ice in Sluggish Spy Thriller

Director Dominic Cooke, revered for his stage work before commencing on high profile Shakespearean adaptations in the series “The Hollow Crown” and making his debut in mounting Ian McEwan with 2017’s On Chesil Beach, steps outside of his wheelhouse with The Courier.

The ‘based on true events’ account of Greville Wynne, a British working-class salesman recruited by MI6 and the CIA to act as a messenger with high profile Gru mole Oleg Penkovsky, gets the glossy melodrama treatment seemingly fashioned for intimate performance work rather than a historical overview.…...

There’s a new queen in town.

Variety can reveal the first look of “Queen & Slim” actor Jodie Turner-Smith as Tudor queen Anne Boleyn — the most notorious of Henry VIII’s wives, best known for her untimely demise by execution — in three-part psychological thriller “Anne Boleyn” for ViacomCBS-backed U.K. broadcaster Channel 5. The show wrapped production on location in Yorkshire in December, and is set to air later this year.

Produced by Fable Pictures and Sony Pictures Television, “Anne Boleyn” garnered headlines last year for Turner-Smith’s casting, which marks one of a handful of times a Black actor has portrayed a major royal figure on a British terrestrial broadcaster. More recently, Sophie Okonedo played Queen of England Margaret, who was married to Henry VI, in the BBC’s “The Hollow Crown.” She starred opposite Benedict Cumberbatch.

“Anne Boleyn” — which is gearing up to be Channel 5’s...

Geoffrey Palmer, the prolific British film and TV actor, has died at the age of 93.

His death was confirmed by the BBC, which was home to As Time Goes By, the comedy in which he starred alongside Judi Dench. Palmer’s agent told the BBC that he died peacefully at home.

As Time Goes By ran for more than a decade on the BBC, but Palmer appeared in a huge number of other TV shows and movies throughout a career that began in the 1950s.

He was reunited with Dench in James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, while his range is demonstrated in other credits including Doctor Who, The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, Parade’s End and The Hollow Crown. More recent roles included appearing in Paddington.

In 2004, Palmer was honored by Queen Elizabeth II with an Order of the British Empire.

Below is a selection of tributes paid to Palmer:...

Netflix has put together its ensemble cast for Munich, which will be led by Jeremy Irons. The World War II movie is set to be directed by Christian Schwochow and is based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Robert Harris. The ensemble cast will feature a mix of British and German actors.

According to a new report, the cast also includes George MacKay (1917), Jannis Niehwohner (Mute), Lisa Fries (Babylon Berlin), Erin Doherty (The Crown), Sandra Hüller (Toni Erdmann), August Diehl (A Hidden Life), Robert Bathurst (Downton Abbey) and Marc Limpach (Bad Banks). Also of note, Martin Wuttke will be taking on the role of Adolf Hitler, Wuttke previously played the part in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. The movie takes place in 1938 as Europe was on the brink of WWII. A synopsis for the novel reads as follows.

"Hugh Legat is a rising star of the British diplomatic service,...

“Watchmen” actor Jeremy Irons is headlining Netflix original film “Munich,” an adaptation of the bestselling 2017 novel by Robert Harris (“Fatherland”).

The film is set in the fall of 1938 when Europe stands on the brink of war. Adolf Hitler is preparing to invade Czechoslovakia and Neville Chamberlain’s government desperately seeks a peaceful solution. With the pressure building, British civil servant Hugh Legat and Paul von Hartmann, a German diplomat, travel to Munich for the emergency conference. As negotiations begin, the two old friends find themselves at the centre of a web of political subterfuge and very real danger.

Irons plays Chamberlain, while “1917” actor George McKay portrays Legat. The cast also includes Jannis Niehwöhner (“The Turncoat”), Liv Lisa Fries (“Babylon Berlin”), Erin Doherty (“The Crown”), Sandra Hüller (“Toni Erdmann”), August Diehl (“A Hidden Life”), Robert Bathurst (“Downton Abbey”), and Marc Limpach (“Bad Banks”). Martin Wuttke, who played Hitler in “Inglourious Basterds,...

Jeremy Irons will play Neville Chamberlain in Netflix’s Munich, an adaptation of Robert Harris’s acclaimed novel.

Also in the cast are George McKay, Jannis Niehwöhner, Sandra Hüller, Liv Lisa Fries, August Diehl, and Erin Doherty, with Martin Wuttke as Adolf Hitler. Christian Schwochow (The Crown) is directing from a script by Ben Power (The Hollow Crown). Andrew Eaton is producing through his outfit Turbine Studios.

Set in 1938, as Europe stands on the brink of war, the film follows Hugh Legat, British civil servant, and Paul von Hartmann, German diplomat, who travel to Munich for an emergency conference. As negotiations begin, the two old friends find themselves at the centre of a web of political subterfuge and very real danger.

The film is now underway in Germany and will also shoot in the UK. Netflix will release in 2021.

Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you have not yet watched “Ratched” or Season 2 of “Criminal: U.K.,” streaming now on Netflix.

Tony Award winner Sophie Okonedo has spent her whole career appearing on stage and notes she does a play every year. In that medium she has ample rehearsal time to study the script and utilize secondary sources to get into character.

When it comes to her on-screen work, though, she tells Variety she has only been apart of two projects that had the luxury of extensive rehearsal: BBC’s “The Hollow Crown,” which was a 2016 series of film adaptations of William Shakespeare’s historical plays, and the 2014 Tom Harper-directed feature film “War Book.” Both of those projects, she notes were “very wordy” and therefore called for sitting with the material for a decent amount of time before cameras rolled.

By contrast, she didn’t even know the...

Sony Pictures Television has announced an overall development deal with British historian Dan Jones, author of bestsellers such as “The Plantagenets,” “The Hollow Crown” and “The Templars.”

The deal will see Jones develop adaptations of his works for option by Sony Pictures Television’s stable of international scripted production companies, including Left Bank Pictures and Eleven. He will also act as a consultant for other productions across the group.

Jones’ books have sold more than a million copies. He collaborated with Brazilian artist Marina Amaral for “The Colour of Time” and “The World Aflame.” He has written and presented more than 60 hours of TV documentaries including Channel 5 show “Elizabeth I,” the BBC’s “Henry VIII and His Six Wives” and Netflix/Channel 5 series “Secrets of Great British Castles.”

Wayne Garvie, president of international production for Sony Pictures Television, said, “Dan has written some of the most popular histories of our time.

Dominic Cooke says he is stepping away from directing next year’s Get Up, Stand Up – The Bob Marley Musical after recent conversations on race changed his mind about helming the stage project.

Taking his place will be Clint Dyer, the actor and director whose credits include Death Of England at the UK’s National Theater, and Cooke has lent his full support to his replacement.

“In recent weeks the conversation about race has changed in theatre, as it has across society. With that in mind, and after much reflection, I have decided to step aside from my role to make way for Clint Dyer to lead the project,” said Cooke, whose credits include the play Follies and its planned film adaptation, as well as On Chesil Beach, The Hollow Crown, and the upcoming The Courier (previously Ironbark).

“Clint is a brilliant theatre-maker and an inspiring leader. I can’t...

North American rights to Benedict Cumberbatch’s civilian spy thriller “Ironbark” have been acquired by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate out of the Sundance Film Festival, insiders close to the deal told Variety.

Roadside, the specialty label currently behind Oscar contender “Judy,” and partial owner Lionsgate emerged out of a competitive, days-long bidding process and won the title. UTA Independent Film Group repped filmmakers in the sale for domestic rights, with FilmNation handling international.

Spokespeople for Roadside and Lionsgate had no immediate comment on the matter. “Ironbark” previously sold out international territories at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Lionsgate grabbed U.K. rights during those sales.

The movie was one of the most anticipated sales titles headed into the annual Park City event, and serves as confirmation that the sales marketing is heating up after days of premieres and overnight negotiations. The world premiere was held on Friday night at the Eccles Theater.

Ironbark

For his sophomore film, the UK’s Dominic Cooke tackles the Cold War in Ironbark, produced by Adam Ackland, Rory Aitken, Ben Browning, and Ben Pugh. Lensed by Sean Bobbitt (who has served as Dp on all of Steve McQueen’s films), the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel Brosnahan, and Jessie Buckley. BAFTA nominated for his work on the 2016 television series “The Hollow Crown,” Cooke’s first feature, the 2017 adaptation of the Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach (review), starring Saoirse Ronan, premiered at Tiff.

Gist: Written by Tom O’Connor, Cumberbatch stars as a spy working in conjunction with his Russian source to prevent the Cuban Missile Crisis.…...

Hail to The King, baby! The new trailer for the Netflix flick that revisits the rise of Prince Hal to his reign of King Henry V features plenty of sword-swinging and shield-bashing combat alongside a more character-focused narrative for the young ruler. Curiously, there's no shared writing credit for ol' Billy Shakespeare on this one despite having written the tetralogy on which many adaptations have been based. (See Tom Hiddleston's swoon-worthy performance in 2012's The Hollow Crown.) Maybe The King is more historically based, or maybe Shakespeare is just so 16th century these …...

Ben Whishaw couldn’t help but blush when hearing he’s favored by many to win the Golden Globe for “A Very English Scandal.” While promoting “Mary Poppins Returns” with co-star Emily Mortimer the actor proclaimed he “loved” working on the Amazon limited series, which brought him a nomination for Best TV Supporting Actor. Watch him discuss “Scandal” above.

See Hugh Grant Interview: ‘Paddington 2’ and ‘A Very English Scandal’

Directed by Stephen Frears, “Scandal” stars Hugh Grant as disgraced Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe, who tried to have his secret lover (Whishaw) murdered. In addition to Whishaw, the show received Globe nominations for Best Movie/Limited Series and Best Movie/Limited Actor (Grant). It also picked up a SAG Award nom for Grant and Critics’ Choice bids for both Grant and Whishaw.

Whishaw had “a great time” working with Grant, an actor he considers to be unfairly “overlooked … because he does comedies.

When Rob Marshall first contacted Emily Mortimer about “Mary Poppins Returns” she recalls that it was a film “he felt was necessary in this moment that we’re in now. He wanted to bring back Mary Poppins as a sort of antidote to life.” For that reason, she was “totally swept up in the idea of needing to be part of it.” Watch our exclusive video interview with Mortimer and her co-star Ben Whishaw above.

SEEEmily Blunt Interview: ‘Mary Poppins Returns’

This followup to the 1964 classic finds the title nanny (Emily Blunt) once again floating into the lives of the Banks family and teaching them some valuable life lessons with the help of a little magic and a few catchy songs. Whishaw takes on the role of the now-adult Michael Banks, who’s struggling to raise his three children after the death of his wife. His sister, Jane (Mortimer), tries to help,...

Exclusive: Two of the bosses of Downton Abbey producer Carnival Films have launched a new NBCUniversal-backed venture aimed at financing and distributing third-party scripted projects on a global basis.

I hear that David O’Donoghue and Nigel Marchant, who are joint managing directors of NBCU-backed producer Carnival, have established Proponent Pictures to attract producers keen to tap into the Hollywood studio’s global production and distribution mechanism.

The pair, who will remain in their current roles at the Jamestown producer, have revealed details of the new venture to a handful of producers in the UK and are looking to work on both English-language series and foreign language dramas.

It’s understood that Proponent Pictures will be housed within Universal Media Studios International, which registered the company with the UK’s Intellectual Property Office. It will come under the purview of Jeff Wachtel, who took over as President of...

This middling crime comedy, starring Sam Rockwell, is overly pleased with itself but has colourful turns by an assortment of British character actors

For those few unfortunate souls who may have seen the painfully unfunny black comedy Mr Right, in which the always watchable Sam Rockwell starred as a lovable, semi-hunky hitman opposite Anna Kendrick, this film offers a traumatic trigger. Once again, Rockwell stars as a tough guy for hire – not a hitman, exactly, though he ends up killing lots and lots of people. This time he plays opposite up-and-coming actor Phoebe Fox (The Hollow Crown), who is also, like Kendrick was, a good actor trapped in a middling to poor film. And once again, it is a story seemingly meant to be funny but only fitfully successful in this mission, and way too pleased with its own brand of deadpan wisecracking.

Rockwell’s Eddie is an ex-con working...

Focus Features and Carnival Films today announced the start of principle photography is due to begin on the Downton Abbey movie. Already confirmed to return are the original principal cast from the acclaimed television series. Joining the all-star cast will be Academy-Award&#174 nominee and multi-award winning actress Imelda Staunton, starring alongside Geraldine James, Simon Jones, David Haig, Tuppence Middleton, Kate Phillips and Stephen Campbell Moore, amongst others.

Academy-Award&#174 winner Julian Fellowes who created Downton Abbey and wrote the film's screenplay will produce alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge. Brian Percival, who directed the series' pilot, will now executive produce the movie, with Michael Engler returning to direct. Nigel Marchant will also return to executive produce.

The television series Downton Abbeyfollowed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country home. Over its 6 seasons, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards,...

Amazon Studios has released the first photo from their upcoming feature film The Aeronauts, which stars Felicity Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Eddie Redmayne (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). The two previously worked together on The Theory of Everything, and this next project looks and sounds great!

The story revolves around a young widow and a scientist who embark on a journey to fly higher in a hot air balloon than anyone ever has.

The film is being directed by Tom Harper from a script written by Jack Thorne. Here's the synopsis:

Set in 1862, The Aeronauts follow wealthy young widow Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) and ambitious scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) as they mount a balloon expedition to fly higher than anyone in history. This is a journey to the very edge of existence, where the air is thin and the chances of survival are slim.

Credit: Amazon Studios

Amazon Studios announce that principal photography has begun across the UK and in London for the feature film The Aeronauts.

The film reunites Felicity Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Eddie Redmayne following their successful collaboration on The Theory of Everything, where Jones received an Oscar nomination and Redmayne went onto win the Oscar for his performance of Stephen Hawking.

The Aeronauts is directed by BAFTA nominee Tom Harper and is written by BAFTA winner Jack Thorne.

Set in 1862, The Aeronauts follow wealthy young widow Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) and ambitious scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) as they mount a balloon expedition to fly higher than anyone in history. This is a journey to the very edge of existence, where the air is thin and the chances of survival are slim. As their perilous ascent reveals their true selves, this unlikely pair discover things about...