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Exclusive: The 2025 edition of the Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa’s (Hacsa) Sankofa Summit will take place in London, at the UK Parliament, with headline guests including President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and veteran actor Hugh Quarshie.

This year’s summit, the first held in London, will run from June 19 to 20. Alongside President Mahama and Quarshie, other guests and speakers set for the summit include Diane Abbott, actor Clarke Peters, Cartier Vice President Bijou Abiola, and Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, UK MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, who will open the event.

The overall theme will be “Honouring the Past, Empowering the Present, Inspiring the Future” with a focus on spotlighting Africa’s burgeoning youth population. Key discussion points across the summit will include inter-generational learning, leveraging the creative economy for job creation, technology-enabled capacity building, and strategies for uniting Africans on the continent and in the diaspora to expand opportunities in finance,...

One of the most critically acclaimed thrillers to hail from the BBC in the past few years, The Capturehas taken audiences by storm and delivered pulse-racing, breathless thrills across two seasons to date. Following the desperate cliffhanger that left millions on edge just over two years ago, fans have been waiting patiently for news of what is to come next for Holliday Grainger's Rachel Carey and co. Well, that news has finally arrived. As announced via Radio Times, The Capture will be returning for a third season, and it seems this one is going to be the biggest of the lot.

Season 3 will see the ever-brilliant Grainger return to her lead role, one she is joined in by returning starsIndira Varma, Ben Miles, Lia Williams, Ginny Holder, Ron Perlman, Nigel Lindsay, Tessa Wong, and Daisy Waterstone. However, the biggest cast news comes in a new arrival, with Grainger's fellow...

There's a lot of magic that goes into the art of making movies, but it's rare that all the performers in a movie don't meet before cameras start rolling. Nevertheless, things get complicated on big-budget sets, especially when you factor in Covid-19 restrictions, reshoots, and actors who refuse to work with each other. 

With all that in mind, it's not uncommon that some co-stars aren't always on set at the same time during production. A lot of times, pivotal characters never meet in movies, meaning the only opportunities that actors get to interact would be at the table read or during the film's promotional period. Take, for instance, Tom Holland and Tom Hiddleston, whose characters never interact in "Avengers: Infinity War," despite the actors frequently appearing in interviews together. 

Surprisingly, for these 12 films we're about to cover, not only was there limited contact between co-stars at times, but some actors...

Vanessa Kirby is all set to romance Pedro Pascal in the upcoming Marvel film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Fans sincerely hope that their chemistry as Reed Richards and Sue Storm works out well in the film. Kirby earlier starred in a 2022 film with another Marvel star and their chemistry was awful, to say the least. Kirby was cast opposite Hugh Jackman in the film, The Son.

Hugh Jackman and Vanessa Kirby as Peter and Beth in The Son | Credits: Sony Pictures Classics

Kirby and Jackman’s pairing wasn’t the only problem in the drama film directed by Florian Zeller. The filmmaker failed to put forth a convincing film that dealt with the theme of teenage depression. The overly melodramatic film also featured Laura Dern, Zen McGrath, Anthony Hopkins, and Hugh Quarshie besides Kirby and Jackman.

What went wrong with Vanessa Kirby and Hugh Jackman’s The Son? Hugh...

On Tuesday 4 February 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

I Believe in Love… Part 2 Season 28 Episode 10 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “I Believe in Love… Part 2,” promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats. The Lyell team is back, diving into another complex case that involves a gruesome murder. With their usual dedication and expertise, the team will work to uncover the truth behind this shocking crime.

In this episode, the investigation takes a turn when the identity of a shooter at a local restaurant comes to light. This revelation leads to an unsettling discovery that could change everything the team thought they knew about the case. As they dig deeper, the layers of the mystery begin to unfold, revealing connections that may be more personal than professional.

Viewers can expect the usual mix of tension, drama, and emotional moments that “Silent Witness” is known for.

On Monday 3 February 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

I Believe in Love… Part 1 Season 28 Episode 9 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “I Believe in Love… Part 1,” promises to be a gripping installment for fans of the series. Set to air on BBC One, this episode dives into a chilling case that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

In this episode, six innocent people fall victim to a brutal shooting by an unknown gunman. The atmosphere is tense as Nikki and Jack are called to investigate the shocking crime. With a race against time, they must gather evidence and piece together the clues to identify the shooter before more lives are lost. The pressure is high, and the stakes are even higher as they navigate through the aftermath of the tragedy.

As the investigation unfolds, viewers can expect a mix of suspense and emotional moments.

On Tuesday 28 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

Vanishing Point – Part 2 Season 28 Episode 8 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Vanishing Point – Part 2,” promises to be an intense continuation of the gripping storyline. As the episode airs on BBC One, viewers will see the stakes rise even higher for Nikki and the Lyell team.

In this episode, the situation on the plane worsens as more passengers become infected. With time running out, Nikki and her team must dig deep to uncover the truth behind the outbreak. The pressure is on as they race against the clock to find a cure and prevent further chaos.

The episode will explore themes of urgency and teamwork, showcasing the dedication of the Lyell team as they face this critical challenge. With twists and turns, “Vanishing Point – Part 2” is set to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Fans of the series...

On Monday 27 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

Vanishing Point – Part 1 Season 28 Episode 7 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Vanishing Point – Part 1,” promises to be an intense and gripping installment. Set to air on BBC One, this episode takes viewers on a thrilling journey as Dr. Nikki Alexander confronts a dire situation.

The story begins when a mysterious contagion breaks out on a flight from Mumbai. As panic spreads among the passengers, Dr. Alexander must act quickly to understand the nature of the illness. With the plane soaring at 30,000 feet, time is of the essence. The stakes are high, and the pressure is on as she races to contain the deadly contagion before it spreads further.

This episode highlights not only the challenges of dealing with a medical crisis in a confined space but also the emotional toll it takes on those involved. Dr. Alexander’s expertise...

On Tuesday 21 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

Broken – Part 2 Season 28 Episode 6 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Broken – Part 2,” promises to be gripping and filled with unexpected twists. As the story unfolds, Nikki will take on a challenging post-mortem that is unlike any she has faced before. This unusual examination could reveal crucial details that may change the course of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the team will encounter a disturbing discovery that shakes them to their core. This revelation is sure to add tension and urgency to their work, as they strive to piece together the clues surrounding the case. The pressure will mount as they navigate the complexities of the evidence and its implications.

In a surprising turn, DNA evidence will lead Lyall to seek guidance from an unexpected source. This decision may bring new insights but could also complicate matters further. The dynamics within the...

On Monday 20 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

Broken – Part 1 Season 28 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Broken – Part 1,” promises to deliver intense drama and suspense. This episode will air on BBC One and continues to explore the complexities of the legal world through the eyes of Faith Oscott.

The story begins with a flashback to 2022, where Faith Oscott gives a passionate speech during the barrister’s strikes. Her dedication to justice is clear, but two years later, she faces a challenging situation. A crucial case she is defending falls apart when a key witness fails to show up. This setback weighs heavily on her, adding to the stress of her professional life.

As Faith drives home, she tries to reach out to her wife, Lucy. Their conversation reveals tension, as Lucy expresses frustration about Faith being late for their young son once again. This moment...

On Tuesday 14 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

Homecoming – Part 2 Season 28 Episode 4 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Homecoming – Part 2,” promises to be a gripping continuation of the story. This episode will air on BBC One and follows the intense events that unfolded in the previous installment.

In this episode, the Lyell team faces a new challenge after another hammer attack occurs. The team quickly realizes that this attack is not an isolated incident. As they dig deeper, they start to uncover links to a larger conspiracy involving local government. The investigation takes unexpected turns, revealing layers of deception and hidden motives.

Viewers can expect suspense and intrigue as the team works to piece together the clues. With each revelation, the stakes get higher, and the pressure mounts. The episode will explore themes of justice and accountability, as the Lyell team navigates a complex web of connections.

In the gripping continuation of Silent Witness Season 28, Episode 6, titled “Broken – Part 2,” airing at 10:00 Pm on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, viewers are in for a thrilling ride as Nikki performs an unusual post-mortem that uncovers shocking truths. As the investigation progresses, a terrifying discovery leaves the team on edge, further intensifying the mystery at hand.

Meanwhile, DNA evidence plays a pivotal role, leading Lyall to seek advice from an unexpected source. The episode continues to build on the tense atmosphere, with dark secrets and complex cases unfolding before the team’s eyes. As always, the show excels in blending scientific precision with emotional depth, offering viewers a unique look at how forensic experts tackle difficult and often chilling cases.

If you’re a fan of suspenseful crime dramas, Silent Witness delivers another compelling episode filled with twists, unexpected revelations, and gripping moments that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

On Monday, 20th January 2025, BBC One will air a gripping new episode of Silent Witness at 10:00 Pm. In the first part of the two-part storyline titled “Broken,” Faith Oscott finds herself in the midst of a personal and professional crisis. The episode opens with Faith delivering a passionate speech during the barristers’ strikes in 2022. Fast forward two years, and she is defending a case that falls apart when a crucial witness fails to show up.

As Faith drives home, she calls her wife, Lucy, who is frustrated with her being late for their young son. The tension is palpable, but things take a darker turn when Faith is suddenly forced off the road by a moped rider. As she confronts them, terror spreads across her face. Days later, the unsettling discovery of a woman’s hand in a canal leads to a mystery that will challenge Faith in unexpected ways.

On Monday 13 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

Homecoming – Part 1 Season 28 Episode 3 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Homecoming – Part 1,” promises to be a gripping installment in the series. Set to air on BBC One, this episode begins with a shocking discovery. A man is found bludgeoned to death with a hammer, and the Lyell team is called in to investigate the troubling case.

As the investigation unfolds, the team quickly realizes that this murder is not just a random act of violence. They find themselves drawn into a complex conspiracy involving local government. This twist adds layers of intrigue and tension to the storyline, as the team must navigate through political ties and hidden agendas to uncover the truth.

Viewers can expect the usual blend of forensic science and emotional storytelling that “Silent Witness” is known for. The episode will likely explore the personal impact of...

On Tuesday 7 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

Exodus 20 Season 28 Episode 2 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Exodus 20,” promises to deliver another gripping storyline. In this episode, Benjamin is on a frantic quest to find Gloria. His determination highlights the emotional stakes at play, as he navigates through the challenges that come with such a desperate search.

Meanwhile, Nikki makes a troubling discovery that could change everything. Her findings seem to connect various pieces of the puzzle, suggesting that there is more to the situation than meets the eye. This development adds an extra layer of intrigue, as viewers will be eager to see how her insights impact the ongoing investigation.

Additionally, a new team member joins the Lyell team. This introduction could bring fresh dynamics and perspectives to the group, potentially shifting the team’s approach to the case. The combination of Benjamin’s search, Nikki’s discoveries,...

In the upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Homecoming – Part 1,” the gripping drama continues with a chilling case that pulls the Lyell team into a web of conspiracy. Set to air on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 10:00 Pm on BBC One, this episode promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

The story begins when a man is discovered bludgeoned to death with a hammer. This shocking crime scene leads the Lyell team to uncover connections that reach deep into local government. As they dig deeper, the investigators find themselves entangled in a complex situation where nothing is as it seems. The episode explores themes of power, corruption, and the lengths some will go to protect their interests.

With the tension rising and the stakes higher than ever, the Lyell team must navigate through layers of deceit to reveal the truth. “Homecoming – Part 1” sets the stage for a...

On Monday 6 January 2025, BBC One broadcasts Silent Witness!

Exodus 20 Season 28 Episode 1 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Silent Witness,” titled “Exodus 20,” promises to delve into another gripping mystery. The story begins with the discovery of an elderly woman’s body in a cave, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding her death. The Lyell team is faced with the challenge of understanding what could lead someone to harm a person so vulnerable. This investigation will likely explore themes of compassion, desperation, and the darker sides of human nature.

As the team works to uncover the truth, they will also have to navigate changes within their own ranks. A new boss arrives at the Lyell, and this figure is set to create tension, particularly with Jack. The dynamics between the team members may shift as they adjust to the new leadership style, adding an extra layer of drama to the episode.

Viewers...

The anticipation builds for the next episode of “Silent Witness,” as Season 28 Episode 2, titled “Exodus 20,” prepares to air on BBC One. Set to be broadcast at 10:00 Pm on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, this gripping episode promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

In this episode, Benjamin is deep in a desperate search for Gloria. His quest is filled with tension and urgency, as he follows every lead in hopes of finding her. The stakes are high, and viewers will feel the weight of his determination. Meanwhile, Nikki makes a disturbing discovery that connects various pieces of the puzzle. Her findings could change everything, and the implications of her work are sure to be significant.

Adding to the intrigue, a new team member joins the Lyell team. This fresh face brings new dynamics and potential challenges, which could impact the ongoing investigations. As the story unfolds, the interactions between the characters will be crucial,...

“Silent Witness” returns with a powerful season opener, “Exodus 20,” airing at 10:00 Pm on Monday, January 6, 2025, on BBC One. In this gripping episode, the Lyell team is called in to investigate the mysterious death of an elderly woman found in a cave. As they dig deeper into the case, they are left questioning what could possibly drive someone to murder such a vulnerable individual.

The investigation takes a personal turn when the team encounters a new boss at the Lyell, whose presence riles up Jack, one of the team’s key members. As tensions rise within the team, they must work together to unravel the truth behind this tragic crime, all while navigating the challenges brought on by the leadership change.

This episode promises a mix of intense forensic investigation and emotional drama, as the Lyell team confronts the complexities of vulnerability, trust, and justice. Fans of “Silent Witness” can...

House of the Dragon star Eve Best and The Penguin‘s Carmen Ejogo will lead a new BBC drama from Nicôle Lecky, Wild Cherry.

Following the success of Lecky’s BAFTA-winning Mood, the BBC and production firm Firebird Pictures (Wilderness, The Jetty) on Wednesday unveiled the cast for the new six-part series. Imogen Faires (Goldie’s Oldies, Marcella) and newcomer Amelia May, Sophie Winkleman (Peep Show, Sanditon) and Lecky (Mood, Sweetpea), who also serves as an executive producer, have also joined the project.

Lorna, played by Ejogo, is a self-made, successful black businesswoman from south London who has worked hard to be where she is. Her best friend, Juliet (Best), is a woman born into the privileged gated community they both call home. Daughters Grace (Faires) and Allegra (May) are also best friends and live a life other teenagers can only dream of. A plot synopsis reads: “Until, that is,...

Exclusive: Double-bafta winning Mood creator Nicôle Lecky has cast her BBC thriller series, which has been given the title Wild Cherry.

House of the Dragon star Eve Best and The Penguin’s Carmen Ejogo are leading Wild Cherry, which has rolled cameras in south England after being teased at last year’s Edinburgh TV Festival. Lecky is creator, star and producer.

Ejogo is Lorna, a self-made, successful Black businesswoman from South London who has worked hard to get to where she is. Best plays her closest friend Juliet, a woman born into the privileged gated community they both call home. The safe haven is a place where bad things never happen until their kids are implicated in a shocking scandal at their exclusive private school and Juliet and Lorna are forced to take sides. The show is described as a “provocative and deliciously honest look at mother/daughter relationships in a haze of social media,...

Actor Deborah Ayorinde has signed with Range Media Partners.

The British-Nigerian actress most recently starred in the Lyric Hammersmith theater production of “Wedding Band,” directed by Monique Touko, which earned her a Stage Debut Award nomination for her performance. Set in the deep south of the U.S. in 1918 when interracial marriage was illegal, Julia (Ayorinde), a black seamstress, and Herman, a white baker, defy all odds with their secret love.

Up next, Ayorinde will star in the limited series “Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue” for MGM+, created and executive produced by Anthony Horowitz.

This past spring, Ayorinde led the second installment of Little Marvin’s limited anthology series for Prime Video, “Them: The Scare.” She also led the first installment “Them: Covenant,” which released in April 2021 and premiered at the SXSW, where it won an audience award for “Best Episodic Premiere.” The series explores terror in America with...

While promoting the new Harry Potter Audible exclusive book, From the Wizarding Archive, Evanna Lynch revealed her fascinating relationship with the Harry Potter films, while hilariously admitting she at times forgets she was in them.

Lynch began her acting career playing fan-favorite character Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, and has been a tremendous ambassador of the wizarding world for many years. Famously, she was a Harry Potter super-fan at an early age, making her an incredible choice to partake in the immensely popular film adaptations. Her latest project in the Harry Potter universe is an Audible exclusive audiobook titled, From the Wizarding Archive, a collection of 80 articles written by J.K. Rowling that were published on the original Pottermore website. Lynch lends her voice as a narrator for the Audible exclusive book alongside Hugh Quarshie, Finlay Robertson, and Lara Sawalha.

Related Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkabans Time Traveling,...

Enjoy an exclusive first listen to Evanna Lynch's foreword from the upcoming audiobook From the Wizarding Archives. Lynch also did an interview discussing her passion for Harry Potter and desire to return to the world in this way. Collecting universe-expanding pieces from the now-gone website Pottermore, From the Wizarding Archives delves into character backgrounds, relationships, and more.

From the Wizarding Archives is an audiobook collection of Harry Potter side stories, and Screen Rant has a first listen to the project. The collection contains 80 articles written by J.K. Rowling for the Pottermore website (now wizardingworld.com), each of which expands the world of Harry Potter with deeper dives into specific characters, spells, and more. The articles themselves have never been published in audio format, making From the Wizarding Archives something of a franchise first.

Screen Rant is happy to offer an early listen to the From the Wizarding Archives foreword,...

After making his inordinately stylish and often hilarious slasher film Stagefright, Dario Argento protégé Michele Soavi teamed up with the maestro for 1987’s The Church, a hallucinatory gothic concoction that was originally intended as the third entry in the Demons series before Lamberto Bava passed the directorial torch to Soavi. Although vastly different in tone and atmosphere than the Bava films, The Church still bears distinct traces of their core idea: Ravening demons are inadvertently let loose to run gruesomely amok within a confined space, in this instance a gothic cathedral located somewhere in Germany.

Where the Demons films take visual media as their primary mode of representation, Soavi and co-writers Argento and Franco Ferrini imbue The Church with a literary bent, which is apt for a story that centers around the interpretation of medieval texts. What’s more, the film overtly references works as disparate as M.R. James’s...

For his second feature film—and first full collaboration with co-writer/producer/mentor Dario Argento—writer-director Michele Soavi unleashes a “mind-blowing” (Bloody Disgusting), “breathtaking” (Slant), “masterwork” (DVD Drive-In), now in Uhd for the first time ever: In a Gothic cathedral built on the mass grave of a Teutonic purge, an ancient discovery by the new librarian will release an unholy maelstrom of madness, violence, and demonic vengeance. Tomas Arana (The Sect), Feodor Chaliapin (Inferno), Hugh Quarshie (Nightbreed), Barbara Cupisti (Cemetery Man), and Asia Argento co-star in this Italian horror milestone co-written by Franco Ferrini (Phenomena), with a Soavi-approved 4K scan from the original negative and over three hours of special features—including new interviews with Soavi and Argento.

The Church is available on 4K Uhd on April 30.

Enter for your chance to win a 4K Uhd of The Church, courtesy of Severin Films. Three (3) winners will be selected at random.

The bigger the studio movie, the more moving pieces you have to contend with. You've got myriad departments toiling away on set design, set construction, costume design, sound design, stunts, visual effects, ladder storage and so much more. There's also the nettlesome matter of wrangling actors.

We kid actors because, for the most part, we love them. They're extraordinarily inventive creatures who can vanish into a part via Method burrowing or subtle, barely perceptible adjustments. They can get precious about their choices and throw a tantrum or ten, but if you earn their trust early on and talk to them like actual human beings they're marvelously directable. Hit the jackpot, and they'll make you look like a genius.

Oftentimes, the biggest problem with actors, especially on big productions, is availability. You book them for a certain chunk of time, and then they're off to the next gig. This can prove...

Part of the beauty of the "Star Wars" universe is how big and populated it is. Not only did the original trilogy deliver groundbreaking visual effects, but George Lucas wrote enough backstory and worldbuilding while working on the first film to sustain decades' worth of "Star Wars" movies. That worldbuilding also resulted in hundreds of smaller background characters that became overnight fan favorites once the movies — and the merchandise — started arriving. Even the most inconsequential one-off characters suddenly became beloved by audiences despite there being little to no official information available about them — at least, until we got entire novels and books devoted to every Glup Shitto and Max Rebo out there.

Of course, not every character gets that treatment. In fact, there is one character we only know the name of because the actor decided to take matters into his own hands during shooting — Quarsh Panaka. You remember that guy,...

Hugh Jackman’s “Locked Lips” With Male Co-Star Stemmed Rumors That He’s Gay!(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman was happily married to Deborra-Lee Furness for over two decades. They unfortunately called it quits in September 2023 to “pursue individual growth.” One rumor lingering throughout their marriage was whether the actor was gay and had been hiding in the closet. But where did it all start? Scroll below for all the details!

The news of divorce sent shockwaves across the Hollywood industry. Hugh and Deborra-Lee Furness met on the sets of Australian TV show Correlli. Many wouldn’t know, but he personally designed her engagement ring. They tied the knot in April 1996. There could be a thousand reasons why the duo called it quits, but sexuality isn’t one of them!

Hugh Jackman’s lingering smooch with male co-star!

In 2003, Hugh Jackman played the role of gay singer-songwriter Peter Allen...

Riches will not be returning for a second season. Prime Video has cancelled the British drama that was released on the streaming service in December 2022. Six episodes were produced.

Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Hugh Quarshie, Sarah Niles, Adeyinka Akinrinade, Ola Orebiyi, Nneka Okoye, and Emmanuel Imani, the drama follows the very successful Richards family. As the adult children deal with the death of their father, they also try to figure out who will take control of the family business.

Read More…...

Prime Video is not proceeding with a second season of drama series Riches. Series creator/executive producer Abby Ajayi on Friday shared the news of the show’s end on Instagram.

“This time last year we launched,” she wrote, referring to the Riches Dec. 2, 2022 premiere on Prime Video. “Much love to this incredible ensemble of actors and our fabulous crew. Thank you to everyone who supported. So proud we got to make this show.”

Ajayi went on to tease the second season she had prepped, as evident by the Reaches 2 notebook in one of the photo accompanying the post.

“I still had many more stories to tell… And, it was gonna be...

Prime Video is fresh out of Riches.

The British drama will not return for Season 2 at the streaming video service, TVLine has confirmed. Creator Abby Ajayi announced that the show wouldn’t be coming back in a social media post Friday.

More from TVLineChuck Lorre Weighs In on the End of Young Sheldon and Bob Hearts Abishola - Which Decision 'Was Not My Call'?Swagger Cancelled After Two Seasons - Star O'Shea Jackson Jr. Speaks OutBob Hearts Abishola to End With Season 5, Series Finale Date Set at CBS

“This time last year we launched,” Ajayi wrote in an Instagram post.

From riding boats in Venice to landing in Tuscany in a helicopter, “Book Club: The Next Chapter” star Jane Fonda had quite the adventure in Italy with Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen.

Her favorite memory there? “When we went to see the Sistine Chapel at night, and there was nobody else there,” Fonda told Variety at the New York premiere on Monday night. “And we had the whole ceiling explained to us by a great guide. That was a real treat.”

Although the sequel was filmed nearly five years after the original, Fonda never lost contact with her “Book Club” co-stars.

“We’ve seen each other ever since we made the first movie,” Fonda said. “We go to each other’s houses for dinner, we text each other, we email each other, we do Zoom together. It’s not like we were apart and then suddenly reunited.”

Based...

So this Summer movie season is fully upon us as we get yet another example of a staple of the warmer months, mainly the other “s” word, the sequel. Sure we expect it with the big “franchise” flicks like last weekend’s MCU blockbuster. However, this one expands on a rather modest “niche” comedy that found a very receptive audience five years ago. They are probably eager to revisit their old friends, but the story needs a “hook” to increase that fan base. For this, the producers harkened back to sequel ideas of the past in which the familiar face would be in new locations (think Gidget Goes Hawaiian or Tarzan Goes To India). Hey, it works for the more recent series of The Trip flicks. And like that comic duo, this quartet is packing their bags in Book Club: The Next Chapter.

After a brief “flash-forward” (just a hint...

It’s beyond obvious that women deserve a movie that portrays and celebrates them in their sixties and seventies reveling in the joys of romantic adventure and uninhibited sex. It’s not so obvious that they deserved “Book Club,” the 2018 comedy about four hale, hearty, and prosperous senior friends who read “Fifty Shades of Grey” in their monthly literary white-wine klatsch, only to discover that E.L. James’s S&m princess fantasy jump-starts their hibernating libidos and/or their desire to commit to the men who are courting them. You could use a whole Thesaurus paragraph of withering descriptives to evoke the sort of movie “Book Club” was. It was prefab, it was cookie-cutter, it was paint-by-numbers, it was broad enough to play to the peanut gallery, it was four glorified sitcoms jammed into one overly synthetic package.

And yet…the movie, in its story-parts-falling-into-place-far-too-neatly “Look how bawdy we’re being!

If the opening sequence of Bill Holderman’s “Book Club: The Next Chapter” is any indication we might have officially turned the page on psychological “lockdown despair” narratives and entered the (somewhat cringey) era of lighthearted “lockdown nostalgia.”

That’s what the leading ladies of 2018’s lovely, if not a tad underwhelming, friendship comedy “Book Club” signal in the sequel’s opening moments, reuniting for a similarly boozy and moderately engaging adventure soaked in deep Italian reds, but not enough laughs.

It’s probably easy to feel a little nostalgic for the days of lockdown. Halcyon days for those who were financially privileged, healthy and could afford to take up new interests during that low-key downtime, like pickling, playing the accordion or caring for a new pet parrot. The fabulous (and evidently wealthy) quartet consisting of Jane Fonda’s perennially independent Vivian, Mary Steenburgen’s fretting Carol, Diane Keaton’s...

Focus Features has the right idea in releasing the new sequel, Book Club: The Next Chapter just in time for Mother’s Day. Reuniting four genuine movie icons – Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen – whose first film in this senior franchise, 2017’s Book Club, was a surprise hit making over $100 million worldwide, there was proof positive that older female audience was eager for a night or matinee out at the multiplex if the idea and cast were right. Since then the pandemic hit and changed moviegoing habits for the older crowd, a group that is hard to get back into theatres (although not impossible – witness The Lost City and Ticket To Paradise). My guess is that with this quartet back in fine form, and now all over 70 (!), this could again play with the usual Hollywood conceit that women of a certain age are not boxoffice. Throw in Italy...

Signed, sealed and delivered, Book Club: The Next Chapter is an unabashed love letter to four great movie stars. As a vehicle for their talents, it’s less of a sure thing. If you can see past the clunky plot contrivances, strained hijinks and one-liners that don’t land, and focus on the Italy-set comedy’s Mediterranean glow and the dazzling quartet of go-getters at its center, the movie might fit the bill as a celebratory pairing with Mother’s Day brunch.

The tagline on the key art encapsulates the sequel’s problems: “Slightly Scandalous. Totally Fabulous.” That qualifying “slightly” signals the softer cadence of this reunion. In the 2018 hit, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen transcended the often tepid humor with their rat-a-tat delivery; here, returning director Bill Holderman, again working from a screenplay he wrote with Erin Simms, struggles to find a rhythm, and flat...

Since Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist came out in 1988, it’s obtained an almost apocryphal status that it’s bound to never outgrow. The book, which concerns an Andalusian shepherd on a journey to find out what his destiny is, has been acclaimed less as a gift of great literature than as a fount of self-help. Given that it’s an affirming and, especially, digestible tale of discovery and hope, it makes for an apt early reference point for Bill Holderman’s Book Club: The Next Chapter: Though its main characters don’t carry on an official reading series in this sequel, each points to Coelho’s book as something of a north star in their lives.

The film is cinema as affirmation, asking us to think of it as a ticket to a far-flung locale, where love might be birthed alongside conversations with good friends about innocuous barriers that we pretend are insurmountable.

Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, the stars of 2018’s “Book Club,” reunite and travel overseas in the trailer for “Book Club: The Next Chapter.”

The comedy from Focus Features will follow the quartet of lifelong friends Diane (Keaton), Vivian (Fonda), Sharon (Bergen) and Carol (Steenburgen) as they take their book club overseas to Italy. But their relaxing getaway turns into a wild adventure when the trip goes off the rails at a bachelorette party, bringing secrets to light.

“The older the vines, the sweeter the fruit,” Diane says in the trailer, which you can watch at the top of this post. “My solo act is finally coming to a close,” Vivian added.

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Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, Craig T. Nelson, Giancarlo Giannini, Hugh Quarshie and Vincent Riotta also star in the sequel.

The first “Book Club...

"What's the protocol here – where do I stuff the dollar bills?" Focus Features has revealed the full-length official trailer for Book Club: The Next Chapter, following up the teaser from last December. The highly anticipated sequel to the hit comedy Book Club from 2018 brings back screen icons Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen as best friends on a trip to Italia. They are joined by Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, Craig T. Nelson, Giancarlo Giannini, Hugh Quarshie, and Vincent Riotta. This one follows the four best friends as they take their "book club" to Italy for the fun girls trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure. Yet another cliche "what if these friends got into trouble on a wild trip to Europe" story but it looks like a ton of fun anyway,...

Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen are back for Book Club: The Next Chapter, but that's not the only exciting detail about the anticipated sequel film, as it's set with a release date, exciting cast information, and a sun-soaked trailer promising a joyous romp of a plot. The original movie, 2018's Book Club, saw the four women reading Fifty Shades of Grey while trying to get the most out of dating, love, and sex in older age. In Book Club 2, they're reading The Alchemist, and the book's message of pursuing dreams leads them on some wild adventures.

Book Club 2's talented returning cast should be a big enough draw for the movie to find financial success. It certainly was for the original, which grossed over $100 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). When Book Club released in 2018, Grace and Frankie, the Netflix sitcom starring Fonda and Lily Tomlin,...

Sarah Niles is a British actress. She is best known for her roles in The Crucible (2014), Ted Lasso (2021) and Riches (2022).

Sarah Niles Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education

Sarah Niles was born on June 17, 1987 (Sarah Niles’ age: 35), in London, England. In the late 50s, her parents, an electrician, and a care nurse, moved from Barbados to Britain. Niles is the youngest of three children. She studied at the Manchester School of Theatre, a branch of the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Sarah Niles Biography: Career

Niles started her career on the stage in the National Theatre, The Old Vic, The Bush Theatre and The Royal Court. In 2014 she played as Tituba in The Crucible to a sold-out crowd at The Old Vic, which was later streamed to movie theaters. Other movies Niles had a role in include Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), Rocks (2019) and This is Christmas (2022). Niles also spent some time on the television screen...

Respectability has been a pillar of Black American culture since Emancipation. Since Black people arrived on the shores of America, we have been subjected to hardships and cruelties based solely on our skin color. For centuries we’ve combated horrible stereotypes in our everyday lives and American popular culture. For Black women, in particular, being anything other than docile and likable meant that you could be seen as masculine, mean, overly sexual, asexual, and conniving. These terms were weaponized against Black people by outsiders and insiders like W.E.B Dubois, who touted his talented tenth, the most educated of the race, as the epitome of “good” Blackness and the embattled Bill Cosby with his “perfect” portrayal of the Black family in “The Cosby Show.”

Though respectability has been lauded as a tool for full citizenship in the Black community, it’s a falsehood. More than that, the performance of likability is exhausting.

Vera really likes to keep us waiting. Series 11 of this beloved British detective series began broadcasting back in summer 2021, and after four episodes were released between then and January 2022, there’s been a year-long unexplained wait for the last two feature-length episodes of the series, which finally began airing on ITV1 on Sunday 15th January.

But like buses, you wait for one series of Vera and two arrive at once, as straight after Series 11 finishes we’ll be getting four more weekly episodes making up Series 12 as well, starting on 29th January.

Not only that, there’s another Vera instalment, The Rising Tide, on the way later this year, based on Ann Cleeves’s latest Vera novel of the same name.

So what can we expect from the upcoming episodes of Vera? More gruesome murders, of course, and more stunning Northumberland scenery, but there’s also going to be more...

Before Andrew Garfield broke out as Peter Parker in the Amazing Spider-Man movies, and before he bagged a few Oscar nominations, the English-American actor appeared in the TV series Doctor Who. This was in 2007 when David Tennant was playing the titular doctor and Garfield was a relatively unknown actor with just limited screen credits on British television. He played a supporting role in just two episodes, yet the appearance still foreshadowed early hints of his dramatic prowess. And for diehard fans of both the actor and the British sci-fi show, the role serves as an amusing blast from the past.

As a Doctor Who actor, he shared screen space with Tennant's Tenth Doctor and other classic characters, such as the Doctor's companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) and a handful of evil Daleks. While Garfield never returned to the Doctor Who universe after his post-Amazing Spider-Man stardom in Hollywood, he seems...

Itvx, U.K. broadcaster ITV’s new, free, ad-funded streaming service, had a robust launch month delivering a 55 increase in ITV’s streaming hours in the first month after its launch compared to the same period last year.

ITV’s previous streaming service was known as ITV Hub.

During the launch month ITV’s online users increased by 65 compared to the same period last year. The latter stages of the soccer World Cup were big draws while Itvx’s new exclusive content also performed strongly, attracting new viewers, ITV said in a statement on Friday.

New content driving users to the service included “A Spy Among Friends,” a cold war drama starring Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce; family drama “Riches,” starring Deborah Ayorinde and Hugh Quarshie; natural history documentary “A Year on Planet Earth,” presented by Stephen Fry; thriller “Without Sin,” starring Vicky McClure; game show “Loaded in Paradise”; and “Litvinenko,...

Every streaming service has that blockbuster high-fantasy property that it’s milking into a dried-out husk. Now has the world of Westeros, while Amazon has Middle-Earth. Netflix, meanwhile, has been piling money into adaptations of Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series of novels (better known in their video-game form). And so, naturally, after a year that has seen dragons and magic rings dominating television, the lore of The Witcher returns this Christmas with a prequel, set a millennium before Henry Cavill’s Geralt (soon to be Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt) walked these lands. This is The Witcher: Blood Origin.

The action is introduced using a clumsy conceit involving Jaskier (Joey Batey), a familiar face from the first two seasons of the show, and Minnie Driver’s mysterious magic elf. “I slip between worlds and times collecting forgotten stories,” she tells him. “I bring them back to life when the world needs them.

Do decent people become real bastards when they acquire wealth?” For Hugh Quarshie, that’s the central question in the soapy new drama, Riches, in which he plays the CEO of a family-run Black haircare company. For reasons that quickly become clear, Quarshie doesn’t end up having much screen time – but his impact is felt throughout the entire show. Over six episodes, the debut season follows the Richards family as they figure out how to save their business from financial ruin.

Taking the role in Riches was not a difficult decision for Quarshie. Since his first professional credit in 1979, the 68-year-old’s career has ranged widely, from medical procedural Holby City to the title role in Othello for the RSC. Earlier this year, he was Bafta-nominated for best actor in Stephen, a miniseries about the aftermath of Stephen Lawrence’s murder. When he first spoke to Riches showrunner Abby Ajayi,...

ITV’s new VOD offering Itvx has grown the broadcaster’s streams by more than 130 year on year.

Newly released figures from the “Love Island” broadcaster reveals that Itvx marked 66.5 million streams in the first week after its Dec. 6 launch (Dec. 8-14). This represents an increase of 138 compared to the same period in 2021 when ITV Hub — ITV’s former VOD imprint, which was more of a catch-up service — drew just 28 million streams.

The FIFA World Cup quarter- and semi-finals and premium dramas such as “A Spy Among Friends” performed well for the streamer, said ITV. The launch week also included ITV’s biggest ever day for streaming, with 30 million streams on Dec. 10, driven by ITV’s coverage of two World Cup matches: England versus France and Morocco versus Portugal.

ITV’s biggest week for streaming was Nov. 22-28, which attracted 106.4 million streams and covered the last week of “I’m...