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The BBC has announced that its crime drama This City is Ours will return for a second season. The decision comes after strong viewer engagement and critical attention, with the show becoming the most-viewed new drama launch on BBC iPlayer this year.

Set in Liverpool, the series is centered around the operations of the Phelan family and their entanglement in a web of drug trafficking, betrayal, and fractured loyalties. It features James Nelson-Joyce as Michael Phelan, a rising figure in a criminal network whose close relationship with gang leader Ronnie, played by Sean Bean, is tested when their control over a key cocaine pipeline begins to fracture. The show’s backdrop includes both urban Liverpool and sun-drenched Marbella, reflecting the cross-border nature of their criminal enterprise.

The series has struck a chord with audiences, with BBC data showing that its opening figures tripled through streaming. Viewership per episode averaged 6.6 million...

Steven Spielberg collaborator Caroline Goodall and “This City Is Ours” star Hannah Onslow have signed on to lead new short film “The Second Time Around.”

Directed by Jack Howard, the fantasy-drama short follows a waitress (Onslow) who, while closing a café on a rainy night in London, is confronted by a mysterious older woman (Goodall). Genevieve Lewis (BBC’s “Doctors”) and David Ashton (“The Last King of Scotland”) feature in supporting roles.

“The Second Time Around” marks the debut of Nottingham-born Howard, who is the co-founder of the U.K. comedy duo Jack & Dean. The short marks a step toward dramatic filmmaking for the writer-director and was funded via a crowdfunding campaign with over 500 contributors. The short will serve as proof-of-concept for a feature film.

Ash Horne and Max Marlow are producing “The Second Time Around” with 42 Management & Production. Horne, a former creative director at the Oscar-winning Slick Films, is...

Can we watch This City Is Ours online in India? ( Photo Credit – BBC )

Around a month back, the widely acclaimed BBC One crime drama series This City Is Ours started airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, but it was not available on Indian Ott at the time of its release.

Where to Stream This City Is Ours in India

In a fantastic piece of news for fans of the crime drama genre, we are delighted to inform you that This City Is Ours is now streaming in India. You can watch the show in India on the SonyLIV Ott platform. The series consists of eight episodes with a runtime of just under one hour each, and all eight episodes are now available for streaming on SonyLIV. Read on to get a better idea about the show, its plot, and why you should check it out.

This City Is Ours...

This City Is Ours emerges as a gritty, noir-tinged exploration of Liverpool’s underworld, centered on the Phelan crime family. Set in a world of shifting loyalties, familial rivalries, and tense power struggles, the series is both a crime thriller and a family drama, offering a compelling narrative that stretches beyond traditional gangster tropes.

At the heart of the series is Ronnie Phelan (Sean Bean), a seasoned drug kingpin looking to pass on control of his empire. His potential successor is Michael Kavanagh (James Nelson-Joyce), the loyal right-hand man with aspirations of a quieter life with his girlfriend, Diana (Hannah Onslow). Meanwhile, Ronnie’s impulsive son, Jamie (Jack McMullen), challenges his father’s wishes, driving a wedge between family ties and ambition.

The series unfurls a dynamic portrait of power, loyalty, and moral compromise within the murky landscape of organized crime. It’s a tense, slow-burn drama where personal stakes...

This City Is Ours is a crime drama epic filmed in Liverpool and Spain that comes with creative pedigree. The series stars Sean Bean and comes from The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures. All episodes will become available on the BBC iPlayer streaming service from 6 a.m. London time Sunday, with the series beginning to air on BBC One in its weekly 9 p.m. time slot that night. Sony Pictures Television is distributing the series internationally.

The eight-part show was created and written by Stephen Butchard (The Good Mothers, The Last Kingdom, Five Daughters) and directed by Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings, The Sixth Commandment) and John Hayes (Nightsleeper, Dublin Murders).

Bean (Marriage, Time) plays crime gang leader Ronnie Phelan, with James Nelson-Joyce (Bird, A Thousand Blows) portraying Ronnie’s friend Michael Kavanagh. Hannah Onslow (Empire of Light, This Is Going to Hurt) plays Diana Williams, Michael’s partner, while Jack McMullen (Hijack,...

BBC One brings us a new crime drama set in the heart of Liverpool, a city pulsating here with both vibrant life and a dark undercurrent of criminal activity. “This City Is Ours” follows the intertwined fates of Michael Kavanagh (James Nelson-Joyce), a man caught between his love for Diana Williams (Hannah Onslow) and his […]

This City Is Ours: Series Premiere...

The BBC has revealed the first official images from This City Is Ours, an ambitious new crime drama set in Liverpool, with Sean Bean taking centre stage as gang leader Ronnie Phelan. Created by Stephen Butchard, the writer behind The Last Kingdom and The Good Mothers, and directed by BAFTA-winner Saul Dibb, the eight-part series promises an intense exploration of loyalty, love, and betrayal within a world of organised crime.

Filmed on location in Liverpool and Spain, the series follows Michael Kavanagh, played by James Nelson-Joyce, a lifelong criminal whose devotion to the underworld starts to unravel when he falls in love. After years of working under Ronnie Phelan’s leadership, Michael begins to contemplate leaving the business behind, dreaming of a future with Diana Williams, played by Hannah Onslow. But with tensions brewing within the gang and Ronnie hinting at retirement, Michael soon finds himself battling for survival.

The...

‘This City Is Ours’ is an upcoming BBC One crime drama set in Liverpool. The eight-episode series was created by Stephen Butchard and is produced by Left Bank Pictures.

Sean Bean has been confirmed as the lead actor, with a cast that includes James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Onslow, and Laura Aikman. Filming started in May 2024 in locations like Liverpool and Spain.

In ‘This City Is Ours,’ the story follows Michael, a seasoned member of organized crime, who unexpectedly falls in love with a woman named Diana. This relationship makes him question his life choices and consider leaving behind his criminal past for a better future.

However, his love for Diana creates a complicated situation, as it not only drives him to change but also puts both of them at risk, making his love a source of both motivation and potential danger.

Related: 20 Best Soccer Movies on Netflix To Stream Right Now...

Turns out, even Middle-earth has its struggles! One of the most iconic lines from The Lord of the Rings wasn’t just tough to deliver—it was a real memory nightmare for Sean Bean. Yep, even Boromir himself had a hard time keeping track of those epic lines. The best part? He found a hilariously sneaky solution that fooled everyone on set.

Sean Bean in Patriot Games | Paramount Pictures

Instead of mastering the script, Bean came up with a clever trick to keep things rolling without anyone noticing. Curious how he pulled it off? Let’s just say, next time you watch that legendary scene, you might spot his sneaky strategy in action. Spoiler: You’ll never look at it the same way again!

Sean Bean’s Sneaky Trick: How Boromir Delivered the Iconic ‘Mordor’ Line with a Script on His Knee Sean Bean As Ned Stark in Game of Thrones...

The BBC has announced the cast of its new Liverpool-based drama series, “This City Is Ours”, which includes Sean Bean, James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Onslow, and Jack McMullen. The eight-part series is written by Stephen Butchard and will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. “This City Is Ours” is an epic crime drama that tells […]

BBC Announces Star-Studded Cast for Its New Liverpool-Based Drama Series, “This City Is Ours”...

Sean Bean is among the ensemble for epic new BBC crime drama This City Is Ours. Here are the details.

Stephen Butchard has been a consistent presence on British TV screens since the early 2000s, creating the underrated Ray Winstone crime thriller Vincent and Warren Brown police drama Good Cop.

His latest series is the epic crime drama This City Is Ours, which is currently filming in Liverpool and Spain.

The synopsis reads as follows:

Set and filmed in Liverpool, This City is Ours is the story of Michael, a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime, working for his friend and the gang leader Ronnie. When Ronnie begins to hint at retirement, Michael too begins to imagine another life. Because, for the first time in his life, Michael is in love. For the first time in his life, he sees beyond the day-to-day,...

Sean Bean is to star as a gang leader in Stephen Butchard’s epic Liverpool-set crime series This City is Ours [working title] from The Crown producer Left Bank.

The two-time BAFTA winning Game of Thrones alum will play Ronnie Phelan in the series, which will also feature James Nelson-Joyce as Ronnie’s friend, Michael Kavanagh, Hannah Onslow as Diana Williams, Michael’s partner, and Jack McMullen as Ronnie’s son, Jamie Phelan. Also joining the cast are Laura Aikman as Rachel Duffy, Kevin Harvey as Bobby Duffy, Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Cheryl Crawford, Mike Noble as Banksey, Bobby Schofield as Bonehead, Darci Shaw (Judy, A Thousand Blows) as Melissa Phelan, and Stephen Walters as Davy Crawford.

Network: MGM+

Episodes: Eight (hour)

Seasons: One

TV show dates: January 14, 2024 -- March 10, 2024

Series status: Ended

Performers include: Harriet Slater, Benjamin Wainwright, Edward Bluemel, Toby Regbo, Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson, Claude Perron, Sophie Winkleman, Elaine Cassidy, Alice Eve, and Richard Goulding.

TV show description:

A Victorian period drama series, the Belgravia: The Next Chapter TV show was created by Helen Edmundson and is a sequel to Belgravia, created by Julian Fellowes.

The story picks up three decades after the original series, in 1871. It revolves around the love story of Frederick Trenchard (Wainwright), the third Lord Trenchard, and his new love interest, Clara Dunn (Slater), who is a newcomer to London society.

Read More…...

The season finale of Belgravia: The Next Chapter airs this Sunday, featuring Clara grieving and Frederick confronting his past. The emotional family drama showcases Clara and Davison adapting to life in the North, with Frederick receiving a revealing letter. Creator Helen Edmundson brings focus to the women in the Trenchard and Dunn family, with a talented cast led by Harriet Slater and Benjamin Wainwright.

The season finale of Belgravia: The Next Chapter airs this Sunday, March 10th, and we have a sneak peek! The sequel series is set in 1871, three decades after Julian Fellowes' 2020 hit show, Belgravia, and is a romantic and emotional family drama that fans of period pieces have latched onto. The eighth and final episode of The Next Chapter has Frederick grieving the loss of Clara, and Enright receiving a letter that pushes Frederick to confront his past. Meanwhile, Clara and Davison adapt to life in the North,...

The story of Belgravia continues in Belgravia: The Next Chapter. The sequel series, which debuted on January 14 on MGM+, is set 30 years after the events of the original limited series created by Julian Fellowes, and it stars Benjamin Wainwright as the grown Frederick Trenchard, Harriet Slater as Clara Dunn, Toby Regbo as Reverend James Trenchard (Frederick’s younger brother), and Hannah Onslow as Emily Dunn, Harriet’s sister. The Reverend pays a visit to the Dunn household in the TV Insider exclusive clip from Belgravia: The Next Chapter Episode 3, coming out on Sunday, January 28 at 9/8c on MGM+. In it, the grieving widow Mrs. Dunn (Sophie Thompson) takes a special interest in who James will marry, embarrassing her daughter in front of her crush. But here’s the kicker: Emily doesn’t trust her sister, Clara’s, relationship with Frederick Trenchard, but she has no idea that James is Frederick’s brother.

Vulture Watch

Frederick and Clara must fight for their happy ending. Has the Belgravia: The Next Chapter TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on MGM+? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Belgravia: The Next Chapter, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

A Victorian period drama series on the MGM+ channel, the Belgravia: The Next Chapter TV show stars Harriet Slater, Benjamin Wainwright, Edward Bluemel, Toby Regbo, Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson, Claude Perron, Sophie Winkleman, Elaine Cassidy, Alice Eve, and Richard Goulding. The story picks up three decades after the original Belgravia series, in 1871. It revolves around the love story of...

"Belgravia: The Next Chapter" continues the story with a new cast and fresh characters, picking up 30 years later. Drama and charm abound. The series stars Harriet Slater as Clara Dunn and Ben Wainwright as Frederick Trenchard, two characters whose romance creates quite a stir in England's Belgravia. The new cast includes talents like Hannah Onslow, Edward Bluemel, and Toby Regbo, bringing life to lively and conflicted characters in high society.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter continues the story of the 2020 miniseries Belgravia but with a whole new cast and some fresh characters. The original series followed a high-society family full of secrets in 19th-century Belgravia, England. It was based on the novel of the same name by Julian Fellowes, who was also the creative mind behind the hit series Downtown Abbey and The Gilded Age. Belgravia contained all the drama and charm of Fellowes' other works, so it's no surprise that...

Signature Entertainment has acquired the U.K. and Irish rights to “Unicorns,” the romance drama co-directed by BAFTA nominee Sally El Hosaini (“The Swimmers”) and her long-standing collaborator James Krishna Floyd, who starred in both “The Swimmers” and her directorial debut “My Brother the Devil.”

From a script written by Floyd, “Unicorns” is described as a “visually daring and heartfelt portrayal of modern masculinity” and follows a queer South Asian club performer living a double life who meets a straight, single-father mechanic, with whom unexpected sparks begin to fly. The film stars Ben Hardy (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Love at First Sight”), newcomer Jason Patel, Nisha Nayar (“Buddha of Suburbia”), Hannah Onslow (“Empire of Light”) and Sagar Radia (“Industry”).

“We are thrilled to have Signature bring ‘Unicorns’ to U.K. and Irish cinemas where we know audiences will enjoy our unique, timely, but above all entertaining film,” said El-Hosaini and Floyd.

“Unicorns,...

Will the truth come out in the first season of the Belgravia: The Next Chapter TV show on MGM+? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Belgravia: The Next Chapter is cancelled or renewed for season two. MGM+ isn't part of the Nielsen system. If you've been watching this TV series, we'd love to know how you feel about the first season episodes of Belgravia: The Next Chapter here.

An MGM+ Victorian period drama series, the Belgravia: The Next Chapter TV show stars Harriet Slater, Benjamin Wainwright, Edward Bluemel, Toby Regbo, Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson, Claude Perron, Sophie Winkleman, Elaine Cassidy, Alice Eve, and Richard Goulding. The story picks up three decades...

With Downton Abbey over and The Gilded Age wrapping up its freshman season, MGM+ will host the creative teams' next show.

As previously reported, Belgravia: The Next Chapter premieres on Sunday, January 14, 2024.

While the series is dubbed the next chapter in the Belgravia franchise, the show starts with a new crop of characters that makes it easy to tune in without watching the original.

TV Fanatic scored an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip that showcases what life's like in 1871 for the characters and even hints at some links to the original series.

We won't spoil what the clip reveals, but there are sentiments from the new cast members and writer Helen Edmundson.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter tells the love story of Frederick Trenchard (Benjamin Wainwright), the third Lord Trenchard, and his new love interest, Clara Dunn (Harriet Slater), a beautiful newcomer to London society.

Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother,...

Belgravia: The Next Chapter is coming to MGM+ (formerly Epix) later this year. The streaming service has announced the cast of the sequel series, which is set in 19th-century London. The original series, from Julian Fellowes, took place 30 years earlier and aired in 2020.

Harriet Slater, Ben Wainwright, Edward Bluemel, Claude Perron, and Elaine Cassidy will star in the series with Toby Regbo, Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson, and Sophie Winkleman in recurring roles. The limited series will have eight episodes.

Read More…...

Exclusive: MGM+ has set cast for Belgravia: The Next Chapter, Julian Fellowes’ sequel series to the hit historical drama. Harriet Slater, Ben Wainwright, Edward Bluemel, Claude Perron and Elaine Cassidy are set as series regulars in the drama series executive produced by Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant. Additionally, Toby Regbo, Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson and Sophie Winkleman will recur in the eight-part series. Filming is underway in the UK with premiere set for winter 2023.

The Next Chapter is a continuation of Belgravia, named for and set in the affluent London district that became synonymous with the upper echelons of London society in the 19th century.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter picks up in 1871, three decades after the events depicted in the 2020 limited series, which was written by Fellowes and based on his novel of the same name. Developed and written by playwright and screenwriter Helen Edmundson, the series tells the love story of Frederick Trenchard (Wainwright), who has grown up as the third Lord Trenchard, and his new love interest, Clara Dunn (Slater), who is a newcomer to London society. Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother Susan and the scoundrel John Bellasis, a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure, which challenges his courtship of and marriage to Clara.

Slater’s Clara Trenchard (née Dunn) is a young, smart, and striking woman, and a fresh face amongst the society of Belgravia, Clara is thrilled by her marriage to the enigmatic Frederick … but as she comes to learn more of her husband and the trauma he carries, Clara finds her marriage will not be as smooth as she first thought and is something she must fight for.

Wainwright’s Frederick Trenchard, the young and handsome third Lord Trenchard, Frederick takes after his grandfather with a ferocious work ethic, having built a large business empire. Immediately smitten with Clara, he marries her after a whirlwind romance, but brings with him traumas from his past that threatens his newfound happiness.

Hannah Onslow, Sophie Thompson, Sophie Winkleman and Toby Regbo

Bluemel plays Dr. Stephen Ellerby. An idealistic, charming, and attractive young doctor, Stephen is brought into the society of Belgravia as he cares for Peter, son of the Duke of Rochester—a far cry from his life amongst the bohemians of Bloomsbury. He is quickly captivated by Clara after meeting her and starts to gain her trust as their lives interweave.

Regbo plays Rev. James Trenchard, Frederick’s estranged brother. A gentle, kind and religious man, James is haunted by both the separation from his brother and a private battle he is determined to keep hidden.

Onslow portrays Emily Dunn, Clara’s older sister. Emily responds to her sister’s swift marriage with a hint of jealousy as she is desperate to make her own match. But when she throws herself into charity work at her new church, she is instantly attracted to the Reverend James Trenchard.

Thompson plays Mrs. Dunn, Emily and Clara’s devoted mother. Mrs Dunn is a nervous, giddy, and chatty widow who has moved to Belgravia with her daughters and is thrilled by Clara’s new marriage and the security in social standing it brings.

Perron plays The Marquise D’Étagnac, a glamorous and highly unconventional French businesswoman, who is introduced to Belgravia by the Duke and Duchess of Rochester. Offering a wealth of business opportunities, Frederick sees a chance to expand into new areas of industry.

Winkleman portrays Duchess of Rochester. The queen of Belgravia, the Duchess and her husband stand at the top of Belgravia’s social hierarchy – but privately, she struggles to reconcile the Duke’s feelings towards their unwell, eldest son Peter with her own wishes for his care.

Cassidy plays Davison. Clara’s newly appointed lady’s maid, Davison grows to protect her mistress with a fierce devotion, recognizing Clara’s youth and need for love. Davison has experienced hard times in her own past and is intent on supporting Clara through her struggles.

Led by Neame, the series reunites Carnival’s award-winning creative team behind the original series. Neame and Marchant will serve as executive producers with Fellowes and Joanna Strevens. Helen Edmundson serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series will be directed by John Alexander, Paul Wilmshurst and Marisol Adler. Colin Wratten (Killing Eve) who produced the original series, will return as producer.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter is a Carnival Films co-production with MGMPlus Studios and will be distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution. Carnival Films is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Slater, best known as Sandra Onslow in the HBO Max DC origin series Pennyworth, she recently wrapped filming the lead role in Sony Screen Gems’ Horrorscope as well as True Haunting, alongside Jamie Campbell Bower and Erin Moriarty. Slater is repped by The Artists Partnership in the UK and Untitled Entertainment in the U.S.

Wainwright’s recent credits include great roles on Sky Atlantic’s Gangs of London, and a guest lead on BBC One’s The Split. He also has a multi-episode arc on the BBC One series World on Fire, starring opposite Sean Bean and Lesley Manville. Wainwright is represented by Insight Management & Production.

Bluemel is currently filming a leading role in Amazon’s My Lady Jane, starring Emily Bader. He’ll next be seen in Hulu miniseries Washington Black, set for premiere this year. Bluemel is repped by Epilogue.

Regbo is known for his leading roles in CW’s Reign and The Last Kingdom. He also starred in Netflix’s Medici and his film work includes Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and One Day. Regbo can most recently be seen in Series Three of A Discovery of Witches and Channel 4’s Chivalry. Regbo is repped by Independent Talent Group and Authentic Talent and Literary Management.

Onslow recently finished shooting Sally El Hosaini’s feature film Unicorn and The Doll Factory for Paramount+. Her other credits include Ridley Road for Red Productions, Sister/BBC’s in This Is Going To Hurt and director Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light. She’s repped by Gordon and French.

A six-time Olivier Award nominee and winner of the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Thompson most recently starred in Present Laughter at The Old Vic. Her television credits include Everything I Know About Love, Sandylands and a recurring role in BBC’s The Detectorists. Thompson is represented by Independent Talent Group.

Perron was most recently seen in the play Tartuffe at the Royal Haymarket of London. She’ll next appear in the anticipated Spanish Balenciaga series biopic produced by Disney+. She’ll also be seen on screen in a French comedy that will be released in Christmas 2023. Perron is represented by As Talents.

Winkleman’s TV credits include regular roles in Peep Show and Two and a Half Men; her most recent work includes leading roles in ITV’s Sanditon and Strike for the BBC. For film, Sophie’s credits include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Suzie Gold and the leading role in Mike Figgis’s Love Live Long. She’ll next be seen on the big screen in Wonka, directed by Paul King. Winkleman is repped by Hamilton Hodell.

Cassidy stars in the new Sebastián Lelio film The Wonder, which premiered at Telluride Film Festival in September. Her television work includes CBS’ Harper’s Island, BBC miniseries Fingersmith, BAFTA-nominated police procedural No Offence and BBC’s Emmy nominated The Paradise and A Room with A View, adapted by Andrew Davies. She’s repped by Arg.

Empire of Light is a drama movie written and directed by Sam Mendes starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward and Colin Firth.

Sam Mendes is the absolute star of a movie that is photographically marvelous and which is a tribute to film-making, a tribute to real movie making of a kind of movies we have all started to forget.

About the Movie Empire of Light (2022)

This is a love story in many senses, the physical, metaphorical, psychological, photographic… Empire of Light is a genuine delight…

Out of fashion, delightfully demodé.

Sam Mendes proves that not all stage directors are useless when it comes to the silver screen. This is a movie that knows how to perfectly combine “film making” perfectly, meticulous care of the scenes, elaboration of the scenes, the editing, sets… with that “theatrical” shot in interpretation and evolution of the characters.

A movie that knows how to take the best of both worlds,...

Olivia Colman has reflected on filming sex scenes with co-star Micheal Ward in the new movie Empire of Light.

The romantic drama from 1917 director Sam Mendes is set in Margate in the 1980s, and stars Colman, 48, as a cinema manager, Hilary, who develops a relationship with a ticket-seller, Stephen, played by Ward, 25.

Speaking in a new episode of The Graham Norton Show that will be broadcast on New Year’s Eve, Colman said: “There was one particular moment when I was astride Micheal in a compromising and slightly embarrassing situation and he said, ‘It’s my mum’s birthday today.’ When he said she was 43, I was like, ‘Ok, stop talking!’”

Ward, whose break-out role came in the 2018 crime drama Blue Story, said of working with Colman: “It was an amazing experience. It was incredible just to share the same space. I learnt so much about being a real person...

Searchlight Pictures has launched a brand new trailer for Sam Mendes’ drama ‘Empire of Light.’

Set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, the story is a compelling and poignant drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times.

Hilary (Olivia Colman), a woman with a difficult past and an uneasy present, is part of a makeshift family at the old Empire Cinema on the seafront.

When Stephen (Micheal Ward) is hired to work in the cinema, the two find an unlikely attraction and discover the healing power of movies, music and community.

Directed by Mendes, the film stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth.

Also in trailers – Life is fabulous at 80 in trailer for ’80 for Brady’

The movie hits cinemas on January 9th, 2023

The post “I do feel a bit numb, I suppose…” New trailer...

Nostalgia. Romance. Mental illness. Racism. The magic of the movies. Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light contains all of these elements, each of them gently sidling next to — and occasionally colliding clumsily into — each other. Any one of these subjects would be enough on their own to power a movie, especially one dedicated to looking back at the early years Thatcher’s bulldog-eat-bulldog Britain with equal emphasis on the good, the bad, and the ugliness. Weave them together, and you could emerge with an Altmanesque tapestry piece that views a certain...

As festival flicks finally make their way to big screens, romance drama “Empire of Light” is a must-see this holiday season.

Hailing from Oscar-winning “American Beauty” and “Skyfall” director Sam Mendes, the film centers on the Empire, a movie palace that lights up a quiet British coastal town. The Empire employs Hilary (Olivia Colman) and her boss, Mr. Ellis (Colin Firth) who have been having an illicit affair.

While Hilary’s struggles with mental health — which has not been helped by her relationship with Mr. Ellis — a refreshing outsider enters the picture and promises hope for the future.

If the film’s nostalgia getting you excited about the moviegoing experience, here’s everything you need to know about how to watch “Empire of Light.”

Is “Empire of Light” streaming or in theaters?

“Empire of Light” opens exclusively in theaters on Dec. 9, but only in select theaters. Check your local listings.

From its triumphant world premiere (with seven-minute standing ovation) at the Venice Film Festival, A24 opens Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale in theaters this weekend amid a whirl of Oscar buzz around star Brendan Fraser. The former action star carries the psychological drama as Charlie, a reclusive and severely obese English teacher trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.

Deadline critic Damon Wise said Fraser’s “all-in performance… makes adjectives such as ‘brave’ and ‘fearless’ seem almost meaningless” and that The Whale is “cutting the line to put a never-better Brendan Fraser at the front of the Best Actor race.” See full review.

It opens on six screens total in NYC and LA and plans to hold there next week, expanding in a limited national footprint on Dec. 21 for the holidays.

The Whale looks set to do...

This review originally ran September 4, 2022, in conjunction with the film’s world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival.

For a movie that’s supposed to be a love letter to cinema, among other things, it’s surprising how little the magic of movies genuinely registers as a vibe in Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light,” a frustratingly uneven and often meandering period drama written by Mendes, loosely drawing remembrances from his own formative years.

And he pulls from “a lockdown mindset,” too, as the director put it before his ’80s-set film’s world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, a melancholic state of being marked by feelings of loneliness and even fear that things we love (like movie theaters) would be lost forever in a post-pandemic world.

Perhaps because his inspirations seem to be so extensive here, it often feels like Mendes is searching for a story within a bottomless well...

(L-r:) Micheal Ward and Olivia Colman in Empire Of Light Image: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures The opening montage of Empire Of Light includes a gasp-worthy demonstration of the power of, well, light. Writer-director Sam Mendes is capturing the faded beauty of the Empire Theatre, a cinema on England’s southern coast,...

Empire of Light Review — Empire of Light (2022) Film Review, a movie written and directed by Sam Mendes and starring Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, Micheal Ward, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Monica Dolan, Ron Cook, Sara Stewart, Justin Edwards, Roman Hayeck-Green, Dougie Boyall and Spike Leighton. Sam Mendes [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Empire Of Light (2022): Sam Mendes Creates a Thoughtful but Slow-Moving Look at Ordinary Characters...

Searchlight Pictures has debuted the full trailer for Sam Mendes’ drama ‘Empire of Light.’

Set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, the story is a compelling and poignant drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times.

Hilary (Olivia Colman), a woman with a difficult past and an uneasy present, is part of a makeshift family at the old Empire Cinema on the seafront.

When Stephen (Micheal Ward) is hired to work in the cinema, the two find an unlikely attraction and discover the healing power of movies, music and community.

Directed by Mendes, the film stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth.

Also in trailers – “You’re going to die…” Trailer lands for ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’

The post Full trailer lands for Sam Mendes’ ‘Empire of Light’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Colman is ready to bring the house down in Searchlight Pictures‘ Empire of Light trailer. The film hails from American Beauty and Skyfall director Sam Mendes, who travels back to the ’80s for this emotionally-charged drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times.

Set in and around a faded old cinema in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, it follows Hilary (Olivia Colman), a cinema manager struggling with her mental health, and Stephen (Micheal Ward), a new employee. He longs to escape this provincial town in which he faces daily adversity. Hilary and Stephen find a sense of belonging through their unlikely and tender relationship and experience the healing power of music, cinema, and community.

The Empire of Light trailer previews a powerhouse performance by Colman, with Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, and Crystal Clarke rounding out the cast.

Searchlight Pictures has released a trailer for its new film “Empire of Light” from writer/director/producer Sam Mendes ahead of its December 9 theatrical release. The heartfelt charmer tells the story of a fledgling English cinema during the 1980s that aspires to reach the greatest of its early years. “This whole place is for people who want to escape, people who don’t belong anywhere else,” declares Toby Jones‘ Norman, the theater’s perfectionist projectionist, as the camera settles on Olivia Colman‘s Hilary, an introverted front-of-house manager longing for so much more in life than to sell stale popcorn. Watch the “Empire of Light” trailer above.

Of course, awards prognosticators have been wondering since the Telluride Film Festival whether “Empire of Light” will be the vehicle that brings Colman back to the Oscars. The English performer staged a massive upset four years ago when she won the 2018 Best Actress...

"Here's to getting back up, and here's to coming home." Searchlight Pictures has debuted the main official trailer for Empire of Light, the latest film from Sam Mendes. It's described as an intimate love story about cinema set at an English coastal movie theater during the 1980s. Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward star in this poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, captured by iconic cinematographer Roger Deakins. "Ward gives an exceptional performance opposite Colman, who realizes another remarkable character, equal parts sweet and shocking, as a woman filled with emotions that are considered socially inappropriate to express." The film's cast also includes Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke. With music by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. After premiering at Telluride and Toronto, with screenings in Woodstock, Vancouver, and London, the film is opening in limited US theaters starting in early December.

The ‘love letter to the movies’ genre is revived in this poignant, wonderfully acted drama about love, life and films

The “love letter to the movies” is a tricky genre, teetering on maudlin industry indulgence; my own rule is that any film, on any subject, if it is any good, is already a love letter to the movies. The template tends to be melancholy and bittersweet, a ruin-porn lament for nearly empty theatres and nearly lost youth. Maybe in the future there will be films that are love letters to streaming: sad films showing people watching TV screens that are blank except for the single title card declaring that the streamer has gone broke due to unsustainable debt … before thoughtfully wondering what is on at the cinema.

But Sam Mendes, making his first solo outing as a writer as well as director, has taken the style and substance of this...

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With only his second produced screenplay, after 1917, Sam Mendes delves into the territory of his formative years and a mood of nostalgia. The story he tells in Empire of Light isn’t strictly autobiographical, but it draws upon the music and movies and political climate that informed his coming-of-age — the movies especially. It’s not cinema with a capital “C” that Mendes is celebrating, but the kinds of popular features that shape memories and are indelibly associated with life passages. A valentine to celluloid that doesn’t entirely avoid self-consciousness, it’s a handsome film set mainly in a vintage gem of a movie palace on England’s southeastern coast. In the role of the troubled, dazzlingly resilient, poetry-loving manager of the theater, Olivia Colman delivers a stirring performance and some of her most affecting screen work to date.

As the story opens,...

Empire of Light Trailer — Sam Mendes‘ Empire of Light (2022) movie trailer has been released by Searchlight Pictures. The Empire of Light trailer stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth. Crew Sam Mendes wrote the screenplay for Empire of Light. Plot Synopsis Empire of Light‘s plot [...]

Continue reading: Empire Of Light (2022) Teaser Trailer: Sam Mendes’ Love Story set in the early 1980s at a Local Cinema House...

Searchlight Pictures just launched a gorgeous teaser trailer for Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light. The 2022 release marks Mendes’ first feature film solo screenwriting credit and is described as “a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema.”

Empire of Light‘s cast includes Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite) as Hilary, Oscar winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) as Mr. Ellis, Micheal Ward (Small Axe: Lovers Rock) as Stephen, Toby Jones (First Cow) as Norman, Tanya Moodie (A Discovery of Witches) as Delia, and Crystal Clark (The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain) as Ruby. Tom Brooke (The Crown) plays Neil and Hannah Onslow (Call the Midwife) is Janine.

“I’m really thrilled to be working with so many wonderful collaborators across both cast and crew on such a personal project,” said Sam Mendes when production on the film got underway in February 2022. “It’s a particular...

Searchlight Pictures has released the teaser trailer for the upcoming Sam Mendes film Empire of Light. The film will be in theaters on December 9, 2022.

Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Empire of Light is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, from Academy Award®-winning director Sam Mendes.

Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward in “Empire of Light.” Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

Empire of Light features a stellar cast led by Academy Award® winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite and The Lost Daughter), BAFTA winner Michael Ward (Blue Story and Top Boy) and Academy Award® winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech and A Single Man). The film also reunites Mendes with Academy Award®-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (1917 and Skyfall).

About The Film

Genre: Drama, Romance Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, Colin Firth...

It's practically a rite of passage in this business: A widely acclaimed prestige filmmaker, after decades of success in developing award-winning hits and attracting the most talented collaborators to his productions, finally dispenses with all subtlety and makes a movie that's all about the magic of movies and may or may not be based on his own life experiences. How can any lover of film not feel romantic about that?

The latest director to get in on this time-honored trend is none other than Sam Mendes, the man behind classics like "American Beauty," the brilliant "Road to Perdition," and arguably one of the best "James Bond" films ever in "Skyfall." Three years after turning the technically ambitious war film "1917" into an Oscars darling, Mendes is reteaming with some of the best and brightest in the entire industry for "Empire of Light." If the idea of a sweeping 1980s romance...

Sam Mendes is set to be honoured by the Toronto International Film Festival following the Canadian premiere of his latest fil, “Empire Of Light”.

The first look at the trailer arrived online on Wednesday, showcasing a love story set in and around a beautiful old cinema on the South Coast of England in the 1980s.

Starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, with Toby Jones and Colin Firth, the film is described as “a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema.”

Last week, TIFF announced that the “1917” director will receive the festival’s Ebert Director Award as part of the TIFF Tribute Awards gala on Sept. 11.

Read More: Hillary Clinton Coming To TIFF Industry Conference To Present Docuseries

Mendes made his TIFF debut with “American Beauty” in 1999, which won the Audience Choice Award, and went on to win...

"Film. An illusion of life." Searchlight Pictures has revealed the first teaser trailer for the new Sam Mendes film titled Empire of Light, his intimate love story about cinema set at an English coastal movie theater during the 1980s. It's premiering at the Toronto Film Festival and will likely show up in Telluride, before opening in theaters this December. Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward star in this poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, directed by Sam Mendes and captured by iconic cinematographer Roger Deakins. I'll watch it just for Deakins' shots. "Ward gives an exceptional performance opposite Colman, who realizes another remarkable character, equal parts sweet and shocking, as a woman filled with emotions that are considered socially inappropriate to express." The film's cast also includes Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, & Crystal Clarke. With music by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. Well this looks amazing!

Following up his World War I epic 1917, director Sam Mendes is jumping about 70 years in the future for Empire of Light, a 1980s-set tale about the power of cinema. Led by Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth, the first teaser trailer has now arrived.

Featuring a reunion with cinematographer Roger Deakins, as well as a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the story follows a romance in an English seaside town. Set to premiere at Toronto International Film Festival, it’ll be interesting to see how this ode to movie-going stacks up to another film this fall, Steven Spielberg’s ode to movie-making, The Fabelmans.

See the teaser trailer below.

Empire of Light opens on December 3.

The post Olivia Colman Believes in the Power of Cinema in First Teaser for Sam Mendes' Empire of Light first appeared on The Film Stage.

Sam Mendes is paying tribute to cinema in the teaser trailer for “The Empire of Light,” which dropped Wednesday.

Set in a seaside town in the 1980s, the teaser opens on a solitary figure seated in a movie theater, while the curtains pull back on a blank screen.

“Film: it’s just static frames with darkness in between,” says the projectionist (Toby Jones) as he loads a roll of film into a projector. “But there’s a little flutter in your optic nerve, so if I run the film at 24 frames per second, it creates an illusion of motion, an illusion of life, so you don’t see the darkness.”

Also Read:

Sam Mendes to Receive Directing Award at Toronto Film Festival

The moviegoer in question appears to be Hilary (Olivia Colman), who is shown staring out at the window at Empire Cinema between shots of her at a “Welcome Home” party and a carnival.

Academy Award winner Sam Mendes tackles the subject he knows best in “Empire of Light”: a meditation on the powerful emotions cinema can reflect — and inspire — in audiences.

Set in a seaside English town in the 1980s, the upcoming drama stars Oscar winners Olivia Colman and Colin Firth, as well as Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, and Toby Jones, who plays a film projectionist and narrates the teaser.

“Film: It’s just static frames with darkness in between,” the character begins in a remarkably meta moment of marketing that still doesn’t reveal much about the movie’s secretive plot. “But there’s a little flaw in your optic nerve. So if I run the film at 24 frames per second, it creates an illusion of motion, an illusion of life. So you don’t see the darkness. Out there, they just see a beam of light.

British filmmaker Sam Mendes, who is known for films like ‘1917,’ ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Road to Perdition’ will be feted with the Ebert Director Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The award has been named after the late film critic Roger Ebert, and recognises filmmakers who have achieved greatness in their profession and have a phenomenal body of work.

In the past, it was awarded to the likes of Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Ava DuVernay, Wim Wenders and Agnes Varda. The award is an evolution of the festival’s Roger Ebert Golden Thumb Award.

TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey announced about conferring the honour upon Sam on Tuesday (Pacific Standard Time), reports Variety. “From his first appearance at TIFF with ‘American Beauty’, director Sam Mendes brought his exacting and lyrical vision of cinema to Toronto,” Bailey said. “We are delighted to honour his unique voice and body of...

Sam Mendes, whose latest movie from Searchlight, Empire of Light, is making its Canadian premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, will be receiving the event’s TIFF Ebert Director Award.

“From his first appearance at TIFF with American Beauty, director Sam Mendes brought his exacting and lyrical vision of cinema to Toronto,” said Toronto International Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey. “We are delighted to honour his unique voice and body of work with this year’s TIFF Ebert Director Award.”

The TIFF Ebert Director Award recognizes filmmakers who have exemplified greatness in their careers, named after film critic Roger Ebert. The Award marks an evolution of the Festival’s Roger Ebert Golden Thumb Award, which in past has gone to celebrated filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Ava

DuVernay, Wim Wenders, and the late Agnès Varda. Past recipients who received the Award since the TIFF Tribute Awards were...

Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes has been named the recipient of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Ebert Director Award. The “1917” and “American Beauty” filmmaker will be honored for his life’s work, but especially for his upcoming film “Empire of Light,” which makes its Canadian premiere at the festival. For this prestigious TIFF honor, Sam Mendes follows in the footsteps of past recipients like Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Ava DuVernay, Wim Wenders, and the late Agnès Varda. Mendes will be honored during a TIFF fundraising gala at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on September 11.

Mendes cut his teeth as a filmmaker at TIFF in 1999 with the world premiere of the iconic suburban satire “American Beauty,” which won the TIFF People’s Choice Award. That’s often a bellwether for the Best Picture Academy Award, which “American Beauty” went on to win in early 2000.

“From his first appearance at TIFF with ‘American Beauty,...

Sam Mendes will receive the Ebert Director Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey announced Tuesday.

The award, which recognizes filmmakers who have exemplified greatness in their careers, was named after legendary film critic Roger Ebert and is an evolution of the festival’s Roger Ebert Golden Thumb Award. Past recipients of the award include Denis Villeneuve, Chloé Zhao and Taika Waititi. The TIFF Tribute Awards, presented by Bvlgari, will hold a gala fundraiser during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 11 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

Toronto will also see the Canadian premiere of Mendes’ most recent film, “Empire of Light.” Mendes, who has been behind such hits as “1917,” “Skyfall” and “Road to Perdition,” wrote, directed and produced the film. Mendes made his feature film debut at TIFF in 1999 with the world premiere of “American Beauty,” which went on to...