News

Rogue Heroes will return for another season. MGM+ has renewed the period drama for a third season. Season two premiered on the network in January. Production has already begun on the new episodes.

Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sofia Boutella, Dominic West, Amir El Masry, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Corin Silva, Jacob Ifan, Dónal Finn, Jacob McCarthy, César Domboy, Michael Schaeffer, and Miles Jupp star in the series, which is a dramatization of the British Special Air Service Unit during World War II. Season three will take place during the summer of 1944.

MGM+ revealed the following about the series’ renewal:

“Today, premium linear channel and streaming service MGM+ announced...

MGM+ has given the green light to a third season of the series Rogue Heroes (aka “Sas: Rogue Heroes”), which takes place at a critical stage of World War Two. The series is based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name.

Rogue Heroes was created by Steven Knight and made by Kudos (a Banijay UK company) and the BBC.

Stephen Woolfenden is returning as director and Stephen Smallwood as producer. The new season is executive produced by Karen Wilson, Emma Kingsman-Lloyd, and Martin Haines for Kudos, and Nick Lambon for the BBC.

The third season continues the dramatized story of the world’s greatest Special Forces unit,...

Sas: Rogue Heroes, the WWII series from Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight, has nabbed a season 3 renewal. Debuting in October 2022 and based on the best-selling book by Ben Macintyre, the acclaimed drama kicks off by introducing viewers to the origins of the British Army Special Air Service, known as Sas, during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II.

With the Sas: Rogue Heroes cast being led by Sinners star Jack O'Connell, alongside Connor Swindells, Alfie Allen, Dónal Finn, Jacob Ifan, Amir El-Masry, Corin Silva, Sofia Boutella, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Stuart Campbell, Jacob McCarthy, Jack Barton, Bobby Schofield, and Dominic West, among several others, the war saga has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes for both seasons.

It seems that the world is itching for a bit of WWII-based action these days, with titles like Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare toppling the charts over at HBO Max. But, for those in need of something that will last a bit longer than a feature-length telling, they’re flocking to the streamer’s episodic offerings where Sas: Rogue Heroes is finding a new global audience. Right now, the star-studded BBC One production is making waves in more than a dozen countries, including Croatia, Greece, Norway, Serbia, and more, where, according to FlixPatrol, it’s toppling the platform’s Top 10 chart.

Set during the darkest and dismal days of WWII, Sas: Rogue Heroes centers on the true story surrounding how the British Army Special Air Service (known as Sas) got its start. The title follows closely with the tale outlined in Ben Macintyre’s 2016 novel of the same name and,...

The Raindance Film Festival in London has unveiled the lineup for its 33rd edition, its biggest post-covid pandemic edition. It will feature 70 fiction features and documentaries, which organizers said marks a 90 percent increase over the 2024 fest.

The festival will open on June 18 with the world premiere of Christopher M. Anthony’s boxing drama Heavyweight, starring Nicholas Pinnock, Jason Isaacs and Jordon Bolger. “Other highlights,” as called out by the organizers, include Kenya’s Oscar submission child marriage drama Nawi: Dear Future Me, which THR just featured as an “unsold gem” in Cannes, Burham Qurbani’s crime thriller No Beast. So Fierce., loosely based on William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Richard the Third, Elena Manrique’s black comedy The Party’s Over, and closing night film The Academy, directed by Camilla Guttner, about an art student who “discovers the microcosm of an art academy.”

Raindance has also teamed up with Netflix...

After two weeks since making its return, BBC One’s TV series Rogue Heroes Season 2 has already garnered very promising reviews from critics. Prior to the latest installment’s premiere, fans had a two-year waiting period, after the World War II drama had wrapped up Season 1’s 6-episode run on BBC One.

Per review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Rogue Heroes Season 2 has officially received a perfect Tomatometer score, based on five reviews. As Jack Seale of the Guardian said, “With its sober view of sacrifice and its clever use of extreme adversity to bring out different facets of the male psyche, Rogue Heroes earns its stripes, but be reassured that with all that groundwork in place it is, primarily, a right old romp.” Directed by Stephen Woolfenden from a screenplay written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the first four episodes of Season 2 are now available for streaming on the BBC iPlayer in the U.

The psychological toll of war takes center stage in this week’s “Sas Rogue Heroes.” Reg Seekings (Theo Barklem-Biggs), already teetering on the edge, finds his internal struggles amplified by an unexpected friendship with a young Italian boy. While the bond between Seekings and the boy offers a flicker of humanity amidst the brutality of war, […]

Sas Rogue Heroes: Series 2 Episode 4...

Box Office

Gross box office in the European Union (EU) and the U.K. grew by 70% in 2022 compared with 2021 – from €3 billion ($3.27 billion) to €5.1 billion ($5.57 billion), down by 28% on pre-pandemic levels. The numbers were revealed in the 2023 edition of Focus – World Film Market Trends, a report which is prepared each year for the Cannes film market.

Three U.S. films, “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru” topped the European charts in 2022, selling 34.4 million, 30.6 and 30.2 million tickets throughout the calendar year respectively. Cinema attendance in the EU and the U.K. increased by 63% from 403 million tickets sold in 2021 to an estimated 657 million in 2022, representing 67% of the average pre-pandemic admission level registered between 2017 and 2019.

European films also performed well and market share for European films increased year-on-year from 26.8% to 28.4% in 2022, the report recorded. It also notes that film production in the EU and the U.

As part of the Television Critics Association’s 2023 Winter Press Tour, MGM+ (still known as Epix until Jan. 15) chief Michael Wright unveiled a programming lineup and development slate that includes premiere dates for several shows including “A Spy Among Friends,” Season 2 of “From,” and “Murf the Surf.”

“It’s a new beginning for our service, as we introduce MGM+ and its distinctive brand promise to viewers on January 15. MGM+ will deliver on its iconic and beloved studio legacy, with cinematic, sophisticated, and transportive storytelling that audiences love,” said Wright in a statement. “We are growing our rich library of content, comprised of original television series and blockbuster films that celebrate the MGM brand.”

The newly rebranded premium linear channel and streaming service will launch on Jan. 15 with the Season 3 premiere of “Godfather of Harlem.” Created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, the drama series stars and is executive produced by Forest Whitaker.

An outrageous but true story unfolds in the first season of the Rogue Heroes TV show on Epix. As we all know, Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Rogue Heroes is cancelled or renewed for season two (this appears to be a close-ended mini-series). Epix and other streaming platforms, however, collect their own data. If you've been watching this TV series, we'd love to know how you feel about the first season episodes of Rogue Heroes here. *Status Update Below.

An Epix historical drama series, the Rogue Heroes TV show stars Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sofia Boutella, Dominic West, Amir El Masry, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Corin Silva, Jacob Ifan, Dónal Finn, Jacob McCarthy, César Domboy, Michael Schaeffer, and Miles Jupp. The story is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special...

The team is getting back together. The Rogue Heroes TV series has been renewed for a second season by BBC One. The first season is currently airing on Sunday nights on Epix (soon to be rebranded MGM+) in the United States and concludes on December 18th.

A historical drama series, the Rogue Heroes TV show stars Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sofia Boutella, Dominic West, Amir El Masry, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Corin Silva, Jacob Ifan, Dónal Finn, Jacob McCarthy, César Domboy, Michael Schaeffer, and Miles Jupp. The story is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two. The series centers on David Stirling (Swindells), an eccentric young officer, who is hospitalized after a training exercise gone wrong. Convinced that traditional commando units don’t...

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s Sas Rogue Heroes has been renewed for a second season by the BBC.

The wartime drama, which was picked up for season one by Epix in the U.S., ended in the past few minutes with a “To Be Continued” caption as Jack O’Connell’s character Paddy Mayne took over the Rogue Heroes.

Series one followed David Stirling (Connor Swindells), Jock Lewes (Alfie Allen) and Paddy Mayne (O’Connell) in a dramatized account of how the Sas was formed in the darkest days of World War Two, with fellow cast members including Dominic West, Sofia Boutella, Tom Glynn-Carney and Theo Barklem-Biggs. Series two will show viewers what comes next for the Sas, following a dramatic turn of events.

The show’s launch became one of the BBC’s top five drama launches of the year with 3.8M viewers, beating all UK launches for Netflix, Amazon...

Vulture Watch

Sometimes, radical plans are just what's needed. Has the Rogue Heroes TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on Epix? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Rogue Heroes, 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 historical drama series airing on the Epix cable channel, the Rogue Heroes TV show stars Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sofia Boutella, Dominic West, Amir El Masry, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Corin Silva, Jacob Ifan, Dónal Finn, Jacob McCarthy, César Domboy, Michael Schaeffer, and Miles Jupp. The story is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest...

Network: Epix

Episodes: Ongoing (hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: November 13, 2022 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Allen, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sofia Boutella, Dominic West, Amir El Masry, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Corin Silva, Jacob Ifan, Dónal Finn, Jacob McCarthy, César Domboy, Michael Schaeffer, and Miles Jupp.

TV show description:

A historical drama series, the Rogue Heroes TV show was created by Steven Knight and is based on the book by Ben Macintyre.

The story is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two.

Read More…...

Sas: Rogue Heroes is one of autumn’s most anticipated British TV dramas. Based on the bestselling book by Ben Macintyre, and created by Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight, it tells the fascinating true story of how the famed Sas (Special Air Service) was formed during the darkest days of World War Two.

Sas: Rogue Heroes Release Date

The swaggering historical drama begins airing on BBC One this Sunday 30th October at 9pm and will air weekly until Sunday the 4th of December. Even better news for binge-watchers: the full six-part box set will also be available on BBC iPlayer once the first episode finishes.

In the US, you’ll be able to watch the series on Epix starting on November 13th.

Here’s the trailer:

What’s Sas: Rogue Heroes About?

The official BBC synopsis tells us:

Cairo, 1941. David Stirling (Connor Swindells) – an eccentric young officer, hospitalised after a...

"I have an idea that might move the war in our favor." BBC & Epix has revealed two official trailers for the upcoming mini-series titled Sas: Rogue Heroes, about the original creation of the Special Forces unit, the Special Air Service ("Sas") during World War II. This is kind of a more realistic (based on a true story) version of The Kingsman series, about a secret British unit of elite specialists whose goal was to disrupt the German war efforts before they got any worse. The Sas was the brainchild of David Stirling, a young, gadabout aristocrat whose aimlessness in early life belied a remarkable strategic mind. The six-part drama is based on Ben Macintyre's book, which charts the creation of the famed Special Forces unit. "More rebels than soldiers, Stirling's team is every bit as complicated, flawed, and reckless as it is brave and heroic." Starring Connor Swindells as Stirling,...

US network Epix has become the first international buyer of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s BBC1 drama Sas: Rogue Heroes.

Epix struck the deal with distributor Banijay Rights for the six-parter, which is produced by Banijay-backed Kudos alongside Knight’s indie Nebulastar and tells the story of how the Sas was formed under extraordinary circumstances in World War Two.

Developed for TV by Knight from a book penned by Ben Macintyre, the series stars Dominic West, Jack O’Connell, Sex Education’s Connor Swindells and Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), with Swindells leading as a founder Sas member who becomes convinced that traditional commando units don’t work and creates a radical plan that flies in the face of accepted rules of modern warfare.

The deal was negotiated by Matt Creasey, Banijay Rights’ EVP Sales, Co-Productions and Acquisitions, and marks the show’s debut international sale.

Creasey said: “Sas: Rogue Heroes...

The Forgotten Battle Trailer — Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.‘s The Forgotten Battle (2020) movie trailer has been released by Netflix. The Forgotten Battle stars Gijs Blom, Jamie Flatters, Susan Radder, Jan Bijvoet, Tom Felton, Coen Bril, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Scott Reid, Marthe Schneider, Justus von Dohnányi, Joep Paddenburg, Mark van Eeuwen, Pit Bukowski, and [...]

Continue reading: The Forgotten Battle (2020) Movie Trailer: A Dutch Boy, English Pilot, & Zeeland Girl’s Lives Become Intertwined During WWII...

The Power, Corinna Faith’s haunted hospital creeper, hinges on such a richly atmospheric historical context that it’s a wonder it hasn’t been used as the backdrop for more horror. Set in 1974 London, the action takes place during a period known as The Three-Day Week––a time when the government-mandated power outages (and imposed other restrictions) to combat the lack of resources caused by widespread mine strikes. Faith’s film leverages both the physical realities of these blackouts and the class-based anger of the moment for maximum effect. It eventually resorts to well-intentioned but inelegant info dumps to reach its climax, but the tactile environments and direct filmmaking separates it from most films of its ilk.

The story centers around Valerie (Rose Williams), a first day nurse who’s been having nightmares related to an unclear trauma, and has a comically unlucky fear of the dark. Raised in an orphanage,...

The Power Trailer — Corinna Faith‘s The Power (2021) movie trailer has been released by Shudder. The Power trailer stars Rose Williams, Charlie Carrick, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Emma Rigby, and Shakira Rahman. Crew Corinna Faith wrote the screenplay for The Power. Elizabeth Bernholz and Max de Wardener created the music for the film. Laura Bellingham [...]

Continue reading: The Power Trailer: Nurse Rose Williams works in an Infirmary when a Evil force strikes in Corinna Faith’s 2021 Movie...

Shudder has unveiled a new trailer for the upcoming horror from Corinna Faith, ‘The Power’.

London, 1974. As Britain prepares for electrical blackouts to sweep across the country, trainee nurse Val (Rose Williams) arrives for her first day at the crumbling East London Royal Infirmary. With most of the patients and staff evacuated to another hospital, Val is forced to work the night shift, finding herself in a dark, near-empty building. Within these walls lies a deadly secret, forcing Val to face both her own traumatic past and deepest fears in order to confront the malevolent force that’s intent on destroying everything around her.

Written and directed by Corinna Faith, the film stars Rose Williams, Shakira Rahman, Charlie Carrick, Diveen Henry, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Nuala McGowan, Emma Rigby, Theo Barklem-Biggs.

Also in trailers – “Who shot Biggie Smalls?’ Forest Whitaker and Johnny Depp star in trailer for ‘City of Lies’

The film...

A trainee nurse battles demons from her past while monitoring the haunted halls of a decrepit London infirmary circa 1974 in the official trailer for Corinna Faith's The Power, coming to Shudder on April 8th.

Written and directed by Corinna Faith, The Power stars Rose Williams, Shakira Rahman, Charlie Carrick, Diveen Henry, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Nuala McGowan, Emma Rigby, and Theo Barklem-Biggs.

Synopsis: "London, 1974. As Britain prepares for electrical blackouts to sweep across the country, trainee nurse Val (Rose Williams) arrives for her first day at the crumbling East London Royal Infirmary. With most of the patients and staff evacuated to another hospital, Val is forced to work the night shift, finding herself in a dark, near empty building. Within these walls lies a deadly secret, forcing Val to face both her own traumatic past and deepest fears in order to confront the malevolent force that’s intent on destroying everything around her.

The BBC has announced the cast for Sas: Rogue Heroes, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s dramatized account of how Britain’s Special Forces unit was formed in the darkest days of World War Two.

Connor Swindells (Sex Education) will play David Stirling, with Jack O’Connell (The North Water) as Paddy Mayne, Alfie Allen (Game Of Thrones) as Jock Lewes, and Sofia Boutella (Modern Love) as Eve. Dominic West (The Wire) will play Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke.

Produced by Banijay-owned Kudos, the series also features Amir El Masry (Industry), Theo Barklem-Biggs (Carnival Row), Corin Silva (The Bay), Jacob Ifan (Bang), Dónal Finn (Cursed), Jacob McCarthy (The Last Summer), Michael Schaeffer (Chernobyl), and Miles Jupp (The Great).

Sas: Rogue Heroes centers on Stirling, an eccentric young officer, hospitalized after a training exercise went wrong. Convinced that traditional commando units don’t work, he creates a radical plan that flies in...

"It's not about what it looks like, it's how it makes you feel." Artificial Eye in the UK has released an official trailer for an indie psychological drama titled Make Up, marking the feature directorial debut of English filmmaker Claire Oakley. This initially premiered at the London Film Festival last year, and it also played at the Rotterdam, Göteborg, and Glasgow Film Festivals this year. While at a remote holiday park in Cornwall, a young woman is drawn into a mysterious obsession when she suspects her boyfriend has cheated on her. The official synopsis adds: "Transforming her remote coastal setting into an intangible labyrinth of creeping intrigue, Claire Oakley inventively flirts with genre conventions to weave a singular tale of self-acceptance and sexual awakening." I'm intrigued. Molly Windsor stars as Ruth, with a cast including Joseph Quinn, Stefanie Martini, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Lisa Palfrey, and Elodie Wilton. This looks very moody and hauntingly atmospheric,...

Two magpies are fighting to the death outside Damon Beesley’s window. The violence is distracting him from the task in hand. “It’s just too much to ignore,” he tells Den of Geek, breaking off from an anecdote about the filming of new BBC football sitcom The First Team.

“Very Partridge that, by the way,” says his writing partner Iain Morris. “Super Partridge.”

Joining us on the call from La, Morris doesn’t have to contend with magpies; he’s dealing with a more existential struggle. The idea for The First Team arrived in 2009. “A decade ago – oh God, I’m so old.” Back then, the pair were pondering their next move after the second season of The Inbetweeners, the E4 schoolboy comedy that grew into a massive hit and two successful movies.

Beesley and Morris had found a groove, they realised, “writing about male insecurity. That’s what...

Stars: Joe Thomas, Hammed Animashaun, Claudia O’Doherty, Jemaine Clement, Hannah Tointon, Kurt Yaeger, Noel Fielding, Nick Frost, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Leigh Williams, Lizzy Connolly | Written by Keith Akushie, Joe Parham | Directed by Iain Morris

[Note: With the film out on DVD and Blu-ray now, here's a reposting of our review of The Festival, from the people behind The Inbetweeners]

The team behind the enormous British cultural phenomenon The Inbetweeners returns to screens with The Festival after multiple dips in form with sizeable stabs at original content in both cinema and television, with little to no acclaim or success in either medium.

Revisiting the Inbetweeners franchise has been a mixed bag for writer and directors Iain Morris and Damon Beesley. In 2011 they launched a cinematic event with a feature film that stirred an impressive success earning $88,025,781 worldwide. Three years later they turned to the well of predictability, already dry and running on empty with a sequel that ultimately neglected any common sense contextually that angered fans and led...

Stars: Joe Thomas, Hammed Animashaun, Claudia O’Doherty, Jemaine Clement, Hannah Tointon, Kurt Yaeger, Noel Fielding, Nick Frost, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Leigh Williams, Lizzy Connolly | Written by Keith Akushie, Joe Parham | Directed by Iain Morris

The team behind the enormous British cultural phenomenon The Inbetweeners returns to screens with The Festival after multiple dips in form with sizeable stabs at original content in both cinema and television, with little to no acclaim or success in either medium.

Revisiting the Inbetweeners franchise has been a mixed bag for writer and directors Iain Morris and Damon Beesley. In 2011 they launched a cinematic event with a feature film that stirred an impressive success earning $88,025,781 worldwide. Three years later they turned to the well of predictability, already dry and running on empty with a sequel that ultimately neglected any common sense contextually that angered fans and led to a reduced box office reception and incredibly tepid reviews.

The Inbetweeners’ Joe Thomas crowdsurfs a weekend of misadventures and self-abasing nudity in Iain Morris’s likable comedy

Director Iain Morris first enlivened this quiet-to-dead corner of the cinematic silly season with the astonishingly successful Inbetweeners diptych. Having packed those boys off with a happy ending (stop sniggering), he now attempts something only slightly different: bussing Joe Thomas – perhaps the most immediately available ’Tweener – and a grab bag of emergent talent to the Leeds music festival to recreate this muddily parochial rite-of-passage for an audience too young, too late or too worldly-wise to snap up day passes for this year’s festivities. Chasing the youth pound this flagrantly is always a risk, as those who suffered The Bad Education Movie can attest, yet The Festival’s pursuit remains broadly likable, and Morris again backs it up with real comedy nous.

This film-maker is now so confident that he can toss...

Here we present our exclusive interviews from the red carpet of new British comedy film The Festival, starring The Inbetweeners’ Joe Thomas and Nick Frost. It is released in the UK on the 14th of August, 2018.

Attending the premiere were Joe Thomas, Hammed Animashaun, Hannah Tointon, Nick Frost, Big Narstie, Emma Rigby, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Hugh Coles, Lizzy Connolly and the director Iain Morris.

Also attending were Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell, David Baddiel, Blake Harrison, Simon Bird and Greg Davies, Mel Giedroyc (Great British Bake Off presenter), Dermot O’Leary, Charlotte Ritchie, Zawe Ashton, Matt Richardson, Rachel Shenton, Arielle Free, Lauren O’Rourke, Laura Anderson, Paul Knops, Alex Miller, Dr. Alex George, Samira Mighty, Frankie Foster (Love Island 2018).

Colin Hart and Scott Davis were our men knee deep in mud on the carpet, here’s how they got on. The Festival is released tomorrow…

The Festival Premiere Interviews

The Festival Synopsis...

Writer-director Claire Oakley makes feature debut on project.

Screen can unveil a first look at Molly Windsor (a TV Bafta winner for BBC series Three Girls) in writer-director Claire Oakley’s feature debut Make Up, which has now wrapped following a five-week shoot in Cornwall, UK.

The film is produced by Emily Morgan of Quiddity Films (I Am Not A Witch) and was developed through Creative England’s iFeatures initiative - which has previously produced features including Lady Macbeth and Apostasy - in partnership with the BFI, BBC Films and Creative Skillset.

In Make Up, Windsor portrays a young woman...

Film London, global film streaming platform We Are Colony and Edge Hill University have announced the latest phase of an innovative research project which explores ways to capitalize on digital film releases, empower filmmakers and satisfy audiences’ appetite for exclusive content. Don't you wish you were British so you could partake in this project with your film?

Made possible by the Digital R&D fund for the Arts, the project examines the rapidly-evolving world of video on demand, and how the We Are Colony platform can engage fans who are keen to unlock exciting additional content such as deleted scenes, interviews, scripts and trailers. The seven titles selected for the year-long research project are the critically-acclaimed "Appropriate Behavior," Benedict Cumberbatch road movie "Third Star," feted Alternative Miss World documentary "The British Guide To Showing Off," Agyness Deyn’s breakout performance in "Electricity," uncompromising British drama "We Are Monster," high-concept thriller "Containment," and award-winning short film "Some Candid Observations on the Eve of the End of the World."

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission , said: “Film London exists to help connect ideas, finance and talent at every stage of the filmmaking process, so a project which helps our industry capitalize on new technologies while exploring innovative ways to engage audiences is a perfect fit for us. By bringing together industry nous, entrepreneurial instincts and academic excellence this partnership is proving to be extremely exciting, and I’m looking forward to see how it develops and benefits the seven films we have selected.”

Sarah Tierney, founder of We Are Colony, comments: “We are pleased to be working with a group of forward-thinking and innovative producers, distributors and sales agents, keen to interrogate the potential of new digital models to engage an audience early and through additional content. In addition, with content being delivered to registered account holders in over 100 countries, We Are Colony is looking forward to sharing data from the beta launch, and the results of a significant user survey looking at viewing behaviors and attitudes to content.”

Working with a range of budgets and varying international appeal, the slate aims to reflect the reality of independent production in the UK. As Leeshon Alexander, writer, producer and star of "We Are Monster," comments: “'We Are Monster' is a truly independent film. As such, we feel it’s not only important to be a part of such a study, but a fantastic opportunity to work closely with a progressive screen agency such as Film London and a sector innovator such as We Are Colony.”

Cecilia Frugiuele of Parkville Pictures, producer of "Appropriate Behavior" and short film "Some Candid Observations on the Eve of the End of the World" also comments: “The international reach of the platform is also a way for producers and Sales Agents to be in control of their film’s destiny offering new ways to exploit a title without a traditional distributor.”

Core to We Are Colony’s unique place in the VOD market is the release of ‘special edition bundles,' releasing quality films with a range of (often exclusive) additional and behind-the-scenes content. Franki Goodwin of Western Edge Pictures, who produced "Third Star," adds: “For us, the opportunity to partner with We Are Colony to bring additional content to our fans, and in turn to support a fantastic new VOD platform, was a no-brainer. This is a huge opportunity for film makers to offer their audiences more than just a movie.”

In addition, the platform works hands-on with licensors in a marketing role, delivering content and creative, plus organic and paid marketing. Cecilia Frugiuele states: “We Are Colony is an empowering tool for filmmakers. It encourages them to think of audience engagement earlier in production, helping them shape their future distribution strategy.”

Lastly, as part of the research phase, the We Are Colony platform will be trialing new windows, including an innovative pre-sale model where users pay early in exchange for instant fulfillment on extra content, ahead of general release. One title currently in pre-sales in the UK is Containment, and producer Christine Hartland states: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with We Are Colony for the release of 'Containment.' We will be able to offer audiences a deeper experience of the film and a chance to engage in its world in innovative ways. As independent filmmakers we’re very aware of the crowded marketplace for indie British thrillers, and are excited about the possibilities of offering our audience more than just a conventional cinema experience. By connecting with audiences early and building their investment in the film, we intend to build a fanbase even ahead of release”.

The report, lead by Prof. Philip Drake of Edge Hill University and researcher Michael Franklin, co-authored by the project partners, is due to release in Q4 2015.

About the seven films selected for the project:

"Appropriate Behavior," the sexually-frank romantic comedy written, directed and starring Desiree Akhavan ("Girls"), produced by Cecilia Frugiuele, nominated in the Independent Spirit Awards 2014. The film was licensed from Peccadillo Pictures (UK), Gravitas Ventures (North America) and Transmission Films (Australia and New Zealand).

"The British Guide To Showing Off," the critically-acclaimed documentary which pays homage to the eccentric universe of the Alternative Miss World Show, directed by Jes Benstock and produced by Dorigen Hammond.

"Third Star," the critically-acclaimed British road movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Imitation Game," "Sherlock"), Tom Burke ( The Musketeers"), Jj Feild ("Captain America"), Adam Robertson and Hugh Bonneville ("Downton Abbey"), re-released internationally through the We Are Colony platform. The film was licensed from Independent Film Sales.

"Electricity," the startling 'Alice in Wonderland' tale with a breakout performance by Agyness Deyn, directed by Bryn Higgins and produced by Clare Duggan. Licensed from Soda Pictures (UK).

"We Are Monster," the critically-acclaimed, uncompromising British drama written, produced and starring Leeshon Alexander, directed by Antony Petrou, with producers including Noel Clarke ("Adulthood, Kidulthood"). The film was licensed from Metrodome Distribution (UK).

"Containment," the high-concept British thriller with an ensemble cast including Lee Ross ("The English Patient," "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") and Louise Brealey ("Sherlock"), directed by Neil Mcenery-West and produced by Christine Hartland, Casey Herbert and Pete Smyth. The film was licensed by Vision Films (international sales).

And "Some Candid Observations on the Eve of the End of the World," the award-winning short film starring Theo Barklem-Biggs ("KIngsman: The Secret Service," "The Inbetweeners Movie") and Adrian Scarborough ("The King’s Speech," "Les Misérables").

For more information visit Here...

Get a first look at the final episodes of BBC Three's Tatau - only on Digital Spy.

The supernatural drama, starring Joe Layton and Theo Barklem-Biggs, will wrap this Sunday night with a double-bill.

In a new excerpt, Kyle (Layton) experiences another unsettling vision - and has a serious out-of-body experience.

Tatau - written and created by Richard Zajdlic - follows best friends Kyle and Budgie (Barklem-Biggs) as they embark on a holiday from hell.

Sucked deeper and deeper into a world of Maori myths, Kyle and Budgie begin to lose track of what's real and what's a hallucination.

The final two episodes air this Sunday (May 17) on BBC Three, with episode 7 airing at 10pm and the series finale following at 10.40pm.

What is Tatau? Meet the stars of BBC Three's new mystery series

The stars of BBC Three's Tatau talk birds, bad dreams and holiday disasters...

Watch an exclusive clip from the next episode of BBC Three's Tatau - only on Digital Spy.

In a new excerpt from the supernatural drama's fifth episode, Budgie (Theo Barklem-Biggs) is in a bad way after being struck by a car.

Wracked with guilt and haunted by visions, his friend Kyle (Joe Layton) makes a shocking discovery.

Tatau - written and created by Richard Zajdlic - follows these two best friends as they embark on a holiday from hell.

Sucked deeper and deeper into a world of Maori myths, Kyle and Budgie begin to lose track of what's real and what's a hallucination.

Tatau continues this Sunday at 10pm on BBC Three.

What is Tatau? Meet the stars of BBC Three's new mystery series

The stars of BBC Three's Tatau talk birds, bad dreams and holiday disasters...

Want to get to know the stars of BBC Three's Tatau a little better?

Digital Spy caught up with Joe Layton and Theo Barklem-Biggs to quiz the pair about birds, bad dreams and holiday disasters.

Layton and Barklem-Biggs play Kyle and Budgie in Tatau - two best friends on a holiday from hell.

The duo begin to lose track of what's real and what's a hallucination as they are sucked deeper and deeper into a world of Maori myths.

Tatau continues this Sunday at 10pm on BBC Three.

What is Tatau? Meet the stars of BBC Three's new mystery series

BBC Three's Tatau: Get a sneak peak at episode 4...

Watch an exclusive clip from the next episode of BBC Three's Tatau - only on Digital Spy.

Kyle (Joe Layton) comes to the aid of pal Budgie (Theo Barklem-Biggs) in a new excerpt from the supernatural drama's fourth episode.

Tatau - written and created by Richard Zajdlic - stars Layton and Barklem-Biggs as two best friends on a holiday from hell.

The pair begin to lose track of what's real and what's a hallucination as they are sucked deeper and deeper into a world of Maori myths.

The series launched on April 12, with its premiere episode attracting a final consolidated audience of 1.4m viewers.

Tatau continues this Sunday at 10pm on BBC Three.

What is Tatau? Meet the stars of BBC Three's new mystery series...

Watch an exclusive clip from the next episode of BBC Three's Tatau - only on Digital Spy.

Kyle (Joe Layton) is caught up in a violent confrontation - and experiences another vision - in a new excerpt from the supernatural drama's third episode.

Tatau stars Layton and Theo Barklem-Biggs as Kyle and Budgie, two best friends on a holiday from hell.

The pair begin to lose track of what's real and what's a hallucination as they are sucked deeper and deeper into a world of Maori myths.

Written and created by Richard Zajdlic, the series launched on April 12 with an overnight audience of 560,000 viewers.

Tatau continues this Sunday at 10pm on BBC Three.

For the Love of Cars: Channel 4, 8pm

Possible Top Gear presenter Philip Glenister gets an opportunity to show off his love of classic cars as he tours the country restoring worn-down motors.

Along with renowned car designer Ant Anstead, the Life on Mars star gets the chance to restore an Aston Martin Dbs - the same model from On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Poldark: BBC One, 9pm

Ross (Adrian Turner) struggles to keep his newly founded smelting company afloat, and matters aren't helped by George's (Jack Farthing) determination to run him out of business.

Meanwhile, Mark (Matthew Wilson) is given a shock when he returns home early, and George finds a new ally.

Indian Summers: Channel 4, 10pm

In the final episode of the series, Ramu's (Alyy Khan) fate is left in Ralph's (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) hands, as he uncovers the truth behind the murder.

Meanwhile Alice (Jemima West...

Two episodes were provided for review purposes prior to broadcast.

Maori myth is at the heart of Tatau, BBC America’s curiously trippy new drama about two British tourists who become embroiled in a maze of hallucinatory visions, murder plots and local secrets while vacationing in the Cook Islands. It’s an intriguing and unusual subject for the channel to tackle, and the resultant oddness of the show as a whole is what immediately sets it apart from the network’s previous supernatural dramas In the Flesh and Being Human (though Tatau, with its photogenic cast and fast-paced plot, is certainly geared toward the same teenage demographic).

Whether the show’s peculiarity will make it something truly worth watching down the road, though, is a question unanswered after the uneven first two episodes. The pilot is really an extended intro for leads Kyle (Joe Layton) and Budgie (Theo Barklem-Biggs), twentysomething...

Tatau is coming to BBC Three this Sunday night - but what's it all about?

Digital Spy spoke to stars Theo Barklem-Biggs and Joe Layton to find out more about the "fast-paced mystery crime thriller".

Shot in the Cook Islands, Tatau follows Kyle (Layton) and Budgie (Barklem-Biggs) - two best friends on a holiday from hell.

The pair begin to lose track of what's real and what's a hallucination as they are sucked deeper and deeper into a world of Maori myths.

The show's two leads spoke to DS about playing it cool, sabotaging auditions... and even took a little test. After the series shoot, how many of the Cook Islands can they name?

Tatau begins tomorrow night (April 12) at 10pm on BBC Three.

BBC Three announces interactive mystery series Murder in Successville

Watch the trailer for Tatau below:...

New BBC Three supernatural drama Tatau starts this Sunday. We spoke to its stars, Joe Layton and Theo Barklam-Biggs, about what to expect…

As this chat with Tatau’s lead actors, Joe Layton and Theo Barklem-Biggs, took place before the press screening for BBC Three’s new supernatural drama, the pair were given the responsibility of describing the series to me: Unique. Mysterious. Fast-paced. Energy-fuelled. A hurricane. A typhoon. (Before long, they're just listing weather systems.)

“It’s a teen show, accessible for young people” cuts in Barklem-Biggs as his co-star brings up the otherworldly, occult palette of True Detective, “even around all this darkness there will be moments that make you laugh as well. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.”

Layton gets back on message and agrees, “I think it really suits BBC Three.”

That it does, as a youth-oriented story of two twenty-something backpackers, Kyle and Budgie,...

BBC America’s trippy new series “Tatau” debuts on April 18th at 10/9c, right after the premiere of “Orphan Black” Season 3, and a new sneak peek has dropped online. “Tatau” follows Kyle (Joe Layton) and Budgie (Theo Barklem-Biggs), two twenty-something… Continue Reading →

The post Start Trippin’ on this Sneak Peek of BBC America’s Tatau appeared first on Dread Central.

BBC Three has announced the cast of upcoming eight-part drama series Tatau.

Joe Layton (New Worlds, Father Brown) will play Kyle Connor, and Theo Barklem-Biggs (The Inbetweeners Movie, Silk) has been cast as his friend Paul 'Budgie' Griffiths.

Written by Richard Zajdlic, Tatau is co-produced by Being Human creators Touchpaper TV in partnership with New Zealand's South Pacific Pictures.

Layton said: "I'm thrilled to be part of this original British drama. With such a talented production team behind it I can't wait to help bring Richard's fantastic scripts to life."

Barklem-Biggs added: "I'm so excited to be a part of this unique project. The script is based on real Maori mythology, it has everything in it - romance, comedy, smuggling, mystery.

"I'm also really looking forward to working with such a great team - everyone from the producers to the directors, right down to the cast are spot on. Not...

A teenage delinquent and his misery guts victim come together in this unorthodox take on the traditional British urban drama. Unpopular London teen Kevin (Theo Barklem-Biggs) makes the mistake of breaking into the home of fiery old duffer Philip (Phil Davis) with the intention of burglary... but finds he has more in common with his intended victim than his family and friends.

Comedy drama, which raised most of its P&A through Kickstarter, could be the UK’s first on-demand theatrical screening through crowdsourcing platform Tugg - if it sells enough tickets.

Borrowed Time, a cross-generational comedy starring Phil Davis and shot on a micro-budget, could be the first UK release to use Tugg, a crowdsourcing platform that empowers individuals and organizations to host screenings in local cinemas.

The film will screen at the Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End on Oct 29 if at least 100 tickets are bought on its Tugg page by Oct 21. The move could mark the advent of ‘cinema on demand’ as a model for small independent theatrical releases.

The Tugg screening is hosted by one of the backers of Borrowed Time’s Kickstarter campaign.

The film was the first in the UK to part-raise its distribution budget via the crowd-sourcing platform with the amount matched in turn by the BFI via their “New Models...

Release of the week

From Up on Poppy Hill

Film

Like Studio Ghibli’s best work, From Up on Poppy Hill is driven by the intimate and beautifully realised relationships between the characters. In addition, there’s a wonderful cast of supporting characters, who while not quite as strange as those that inhabit Spirited Away’s bath house, are certainly as well rounded.

It’s also driven by the soundtrack, much more than most Ghibli movies. The studio have always had recognisable themes, but much of the incidental music, beautiful though it can be, is left to recede into the background. Here almost every cue comes to the fore, giving the movie a sense of musicality that’s rather appealing.

In spite of being insubstantial by Ghibli standards, the movie is far from vapid, and it’s certainly entertaining. The dialogue used on the English language dub works well, and the voice cast,...

A teenage delinquent and his misery guts victim come together in this unorthodox take on the traditional British urban drama. Unpopular London teen Kevin (Theo Barklem-Biggs) makes the mistake of breaking into the home of fiery old duffer Philip (Phil Davis) with the intention of burglary... but finds he has more in common with his intended victim than his family and friends.

★★★☆☆ Borrowed Time (2012), the debut feature from Jules Bishop, is a warm-hearted micro-indie that cleanses the palate of all those overdone, dank and dull British kitchen sink dramas. It's topped off with a gleeful performance from Phil Davis as an agoraphobic curmudgeon, and Theo Barklem-Biggs (of The Inbetweeners Movie fame) as a down-on-his-luck hoodie with a heart. This character-driven drama concerns Kevin, a gormless teen living on a council estate in Stratford, who finds himself in trouble with a local drug-dealer, the utterly barmy "Ninja" Nigel (Warren Brown), having managed to lose a stash of cannabis.

Ordered to pay back the cash equivalent, Kevin decides to burgle a pensioner's house, only to find himself face to face with Philip (Davis), a blunderbuss-toting grouser, whose abode is populated with Norman Bates-style stuffed animals. Surprisingly, the pair strike up an unlikely friendship proving that, as different as they seem, they may have more...

A British debut about a debt-laden burglar has a low-key charm but feels over-familiar

London Film School graduate Jules Bishop's debut rearranges the usual geezer plot mechanics into a makeshift urban fairytale, more Children's Film Foundation than Kidulthood. Theo Barklem-Biggs is the tracksuited drip coerced into burglary to settle his debts; Phil Davis the property's owner, possessed of an 18th-century blunderbuss and various tatty life lessons – and it's only Davis's unsentimental fleshing out of this whiskery, Steptoe-esque coot that saves the film from total familiarity. Boosted by colourful East End location work, i t exudes a certain low-key, pootling charm, but often gets sloppy: who casts Perry Benson as a middle-class snob?.

Rating: 2/5

CrimeMike McCahill

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As far as independent British flicks go, there won’t be many with more heart this year than Borrowed Time – in a film that depicts the unlikeliest of friendships, between a troubled juvenile, and an old age pensioner, in Jules Bishop’s directorial debut.

We had the great pleasure of talking to both lead roles, catching up with actors Theo Barklem-Biggs and Phil Davis, respectively, as we discuss one of the surprise gems this year.

Borrowed Time is released on September 13th, and you can read our review here.

The post The HeyUGuys Interview: Theo Barklem-Biggs and Phil Davis Talk Borrowed Time appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Though following a somewhat archetypal narrative arc, of a blossoming friendship between two contrasting personalities, Jules Bishop’s directorial debut Borrowed Time manages to avoid cliché and stereotype, in what proves to be a sweet and original drama. Leaving you smiling long after the credits roll, this charming picture manages to make light of severe themes, creating an amiable atmosphere amidst the dark, naturalistic occurrences – where British cinema so often excels.

Theo Barklem-Biggs plays Kevin, a hapless juvenile with no hope for the future, settling on a job selling drugs to make ends meet. However when his first deal goes wrong, his new ‘boss’ Nigel (Warren Brown) gives him just a mere matter of days to return the money to him. To avoid the violent repercussions, Kevin decides to rob elderly pensioner Philip’s (Phil Davis) house to make up some of the money owed – however he lands himself in...