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Amanda Seyfried is singing the praises of just how “crazy” — in a good way — Mona Fastvold’s upcoming “Ann Lee” musical is. Seyfried stars in the title role of the historical film, which centers on the religious leader Ann Lee, who founded the Shaker Movement in the late 1770s. Lee’s followers deemed her the female Jesus Christ, and her worshippers prayed through song and dance, hence her story getting the musical biopic treatment.

The film is co-written by Fastvold and her “The Brutalist” collaborator and real-life partner Brady Corbet. The pair are currently nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for their work on the film, which is also nominated for Best Picture and in a slew of other categories.

Seyfried told Vanity Fair that shooting Fastvold and Corbet’s secret indie film after wrapping the upcoming Peacock limited series “Long Bright River,” was tough. “I went to hell and back,...

With just a week to go until Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, ranking quite highly on our best films of 2024, arrives in theaters, we’re getting new details on what the filmmaker has up next. Although it took six years for him to get his latest off the ground, thankfully it doesn’t look like the wait will be as long for his next project.

First up, he’s co-written Ann Lee with his partner and collaborator Mona Fastvold, who directed the film, which has already wrapped production. Deadline reports the musical stars Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Christopher Abbott, Tim Blake Nelson, Stacy Martin, Matthew Beard, Scott Handy, Viola Prettejohn, David Cale, and Jamie Bogyo. With a score by The Brutalist composer Daniel Blumberg, the “epic fable” follows the “founding leader of the Shaker Movement, who was proclaimed by her followers as the female Christ and went on...

After missing out on playing Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked,” Amanda Seyfried is teaming up with the makers of another buzzy 2024 film for a musical: “The Brutalist” co-writer Mona Fastvold directs the musical “Ann Lee,” which she wrote with “Brutalist” co-writer and director, and her partner, Brady Corbet.

Seyfried stars in the title role in the historical film, which shot in Hungary right after “The Brutalist” and features original songs by Golden Globe-nominated “The Brutalist” composer Daniel Blumberg. Choreography comes from Celia Rowlson Hall, the dancer who played the adult Sophie in “Aftersun.” The secret indie film has already wrapped production and is looking for a 2025 premiere, with sales and distribution yet to be set. Deadline first reported the news. IndieWire confirmed the project.

“Ann Lee” centers on the religious leader Ann Lee, who founded the Shaker Movement in the late 1770s. Lee’s followers deemed her the female Jesus Christ,...

Exclusive: The team behind seven-time Golden Globe nominee The Brutalist have been quietly working on a starry musical called Ann Lee, which has now wrapped, with Oscar nominee Amanda Seyfried (Mank) in the lead role.

Mona Fastvold (The World To Come), Golden Globe-nominated co-writer of The Brutalist, serves as director, co-screenwriter, and producer. Venice Silver Lion winner Brady Corbet co-wrote with his Brutalist collaborator and partner, Fastvold. Golden Globe-nominated composer Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist) wrote and produced the original music.

The film, inspired by real events, is described to us as “an epic fable” about religious leader Ann Lee, the founding leader of the Shaker Movement, who was proclaimed by her followers as the female Christ and went on to build one of the largest utopian societies in American history. Lee–one of the rare female religious heads at the time– and her followers worshipped through exuberant song and dance.

Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Rupert Everett, Mark Bonnar, Paul Rhys, Ben Miles, Riana Duce, Ludivine Sagnier, Edouard Philipponnat, Miles Jupp, Scott Handy, Youssef Kerkour | Written by David Scarpa | Directed by Ridley Scott

“When the legend becomes fact, print the legend” – one of cinema’s most famous quotes from John Ford’s 1962 classic western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. That quote can be used to describe how Ridley Scott has chosen to approach the story of Napoleon. Scott has chosen to ignore much of the historical accuracy in this historical biopic and that has caused historians to be irate and critics to be torn.

Joaquin Phoenix is Napoleon and throughout the film we get to witness his rise and fall across 32 years, from the beginning of the French Revolution to the eventual death of Napoleon in 1821. The first instance we get to see what Napoleon is all...

While speaking to Empire about his upcoming film, Napoleon, star Joaquin Phoenix opened up about his "nostalgic" reunion with the film's director Ridley Scott. Phoenix previously worked with the Alien director more than two decades ago on the 2000 action movie Gladiator which saw the Joker star play the villainous Commodus.

Now, Phoenix and Scott have teamed up again for the upcoming historical drama Napoleon. The film, which is directed by Scott, examines the origins of military commander Napoleon Bonaparte (played by Phoenix). The upcoming movie also stars Vanessa Kirby, Ben Miles, Ludivine Sagnier, Tahar Rahim, Catherine Walker, Paul Rhys, Youssef Kerkour, Matthew Needham, John Hollingworth, Scott Handy, and Edouard Philipponnat.

While talking to the outlet about working on the project, Phoenix said...

"The truth is, there was just a very nostalgic idea of working with Ridley again. I had such an incredible experience working with Ridley on Gladiator, and I was so young.

On TV dramas, there often are figurative minefields. But, once in a while, there are the real kind.

The heroes of TNT’s The Last Ship (airing Sundays at 9/8c) are currently facing the latter, having sailed straight into the heart of a very deadly trap where they are surrounded by no less than “very special” mines, says series lead Eric Dane, whose Cno Tom Chandler has had to reclaim command of the titular Nathan James.

RelatedThe Last Ship EPs Explain the Rachel Scott Decision

Here, Dane previews the “perfectly executed” episode to come, weighs in on original cast...

Super spy Sam Hunter was once Byzantium’s greatest asset – her deadly skill set and disarming beauty made a lethal combination. But now the upper echelons of London’s top private security firm have joined the queue of those wishing her dead.

Secretive colleague Aidan Marsh (Adam Rayner) was once Sam’s best ally – their close working relationship giving way to something altogether more intimate. The liaison offered her a chance for a new life far from the high adrenalin, higher risk, confidence tricks Byzantium tasked her with daily. Sam’s survival instinct kept her alive when she was hunted and vulnerable and protected her when she bolted underground to recover. Now she is deliberately breaking cover to draw out her pursuers. Her return to the heart of Byzantium will force the hand of her foes. Which of them will be first to draw?

Melissa George (Alias, Triangle) takes the...

Now that Sam (Melissa George) is back with Byzantium, she’s back to work as the espionage agency’s lead undercover field agent.

In Hunted Episode 2, “Lb,” Sam begins to monitor Jack Turner’s clandestine activities from within his home, all the while undercover as an innocent tutor for Edward (Oscar Kennedy). Expect more secrets to be revealed regarding the truth behind Sam’s shooting over a year ago.

Who do you think is involved in the conspiracy?

“Lb” was written by Frank Spotnitz and directed by Sj Clarkson.

Photos feature George, Neil Finnighan, Patrick Malahide, Scott Handy, Campbell Moore, Morven Christie, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Lex Shrapnel and Adam Rayner.

Hunted airs Fridays at 10Pm E/P on Cinemax.

In this clip from Episode 2, “Lb,” Sam watches a struggle outside of Jack Turner’s estate, while her surveillance monitors.

In this clip, Sam shows us what happens to anyone who tries...

"Colditz", the R-rated, 2005 two-part miniseries, produced by Granada Television for ITV, will be available on DVD, April 19, 2011, from eOne.

Written by Peter Morgan and directed by Stuart Orme, the BAFTA Television Craft Award winner is based on author Henry Chancellor's book "Colditz (aka "Colditz: The Definitive History") and the UK Channel Four TV series "Escape from Colditz".

"...'Colditz' tells the story of a British Pow, during World War II, who successfully escapes to Britain only to steal the girlfriend of a fellow prisoner who was not able to escape with him.

"Once in Britain, he is rewarded with a position at 'MI9', which he uses to try to prevent his fellow Pow from returning and reclaiming his girlfriend..."

Cast includes Damian Lewis ("Band Of Brothers") as 'Cpl/Lt. Nicholas McGrade', Tom Hardy ("Inception") as '2nd Lt. Jack Rose', Sophia Myles as 'Lizzie Carter',...

Chicago – There are few things more excruciating to sit through than a botched adaptation of Shakespeare. The Bard’s language is so intricately textured and poetically structured that it must be fully understood in order to be adequately delivered. An audacious mess like Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet” recalls memories of amateur high school productions where students raced through the dialogue in order to sound naturalistic.

Luhrmann’s film is also a prime example of an oft-failed stunt: Shakespeare in modern dress. Adaptations that stick to the script while changing the scenery run the risk of distancing the audience even further from the material. The modern period detail in the sets and costumes leap out like distractions whenever the audience attempts to concentrate on the words. Yet Rupert Goold’s 2010 made-for-tv version of “Macbeth” is the rare production that actually manages to pull off the stunt, albeit with mixed results.