News

Homeland and Star Wars actor Rupert Friend reveals the reason he originally passed on the opportunity to play James Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale. Based on the 1953 Ian Fleming novel of the same name, Casino Royale marked Daniel Craig’s first outing as the famous British spy. Prior to Craig’s casting, over 200 actors were reportedly considered for the role, including Henry Cavill and Outlander star Sam Heughan. After a grueling selection process, Craig was officially announced as the sixth actor to play James Bond in October 2005.

However, in a recent interview with Variety, Friend reveals that audiences might have been introduced to a very different, and much younger Bond. According to the actor, producers had approached him at 22 years of age with plans to reboot the Bond franchise with the main character “basically straight out of college.” Suggesting that he felt as though he lacked the experience at the time,...

Rupert Friend, star of the Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi, has revealed he intends to begin campaigning for the coveted role of James Bond. Making his film debut in Johnny Depp’s 2004 period drama The Libertine, Friend recently brought the animated Star Wars villain known as the Grand Inquisitor to life in the Disney+ series opposite Ewan McGregor. He is also best known for his role as CIA black ops officer Peter Quinn in the espionage thriller series Homeland.

During a recent interview with Variety, Friend revealed that as a young actor he was first approached to audition for James Bond before Daniel Craig was selected for the role. While he ultimately declined the offer, the actor now feels as though he has the experience necessary to do the character justice. Revealing that his High Desert co-star Patricia Arquette recently encouraged him to talk to his agent about the role,...

Thanks to his legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard, it has been about three years since Johnny Depp has been part of any cinema projects. Now he is back and starring in a significant role in the French biographical drama film Jeanne du Barry. He will play the male lead, King Louis Xv (former king of France), and star alongside Maiwenn. With his comeback to his acting career, fans were hoping (albeit expecting) for him to portray Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean again. There could still be a chance for that in the future.

For right now, let’s put our focus on what is bringing Depp back onto the big screen. Jeanne du Barry is about a young woman named Jeanne Vaubernier, a working-class woman who uses her intelligence to climb the social ladder. She hungers for culture and pleasure, and as she continues to rise,...

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a Bridgerton spinoff series that shows us how life was in the Ton during the early days of Queen Charlotte and King George’s marriage. We get to see how they meet and fall in love, how her reign leads to social change in the Ton, and how she became the strong and influential Queen that we see in Bridgerton’s first two seasons. But just because this series introduces us to younger versions of familiar characters doesn’t mean that it’s stuck in the past. Queen Charlotte also features an arc set in the “present day” Regency era of the original series that focuses on Charlotte, Lady Danbury, and Violet Bridgerton’s friendship.

Between both eras, Queen Charlotte has a massive cast full of new and familiar faces. If you want to be as up to date on the hot gossip of the ton as Lady Whistledown,...

With its list of new releases for May 2023, Hulu is relying on an acclaimed original and a whole lotta FX.

The acclaimed original in question in The Great season 3. Premiering on May 12, this historical black comedy with continue the story of Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) and her pal Peter III (Nicholas Hoult). The other Hulu original series of note this month is The Clearing on May 24. Based on the best-selling crime novel In the Clearing this story will follow a story inspired by the real life events behind Australian cult “The Family.”

For its other TV options in May, Hulu is turning to its cable partner FX. Class of ’09, an FBI thriller starring Kate Mara and Brian Tyree Henry, premieres on May 10. That will be followed by The Secrets of Hillsong, a docuseries investigating the controversial church on May 20.

Hulu’s list of original movies this month is...

As an avid moviegoer, I have always been fascinated with the life and career of John Malkovich. His versatility as an actor is truly remarkable, having portrayed various characters in both theatre and Hollywood. In this blog post, I will take a closer look at Malkovich’s early years in theatre, his big break in Hollywood, his notable performances in theatre, his contributions to the fashion industry, and the future of his career. Let’s begin.

Malkovich’s Early Years in Theatre

John Malkovich was born in Illinois in 1953 and grew up in a family of conservationists. He attended Eastern Illinois University, where he initially studied environmental science, but later changed his major to theatre. Malkovich moved to Chicago after college and became a founding member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He established himself as a talented stage actor in the 1970s and 1980s, earning critical acclaim for his roles...

“The Great” returns to Hulu for Season 3 on May 12. Elle Fanning portrays Catherine the Great, desperate to turn Russia into an enlightened nation, while Nicholas Hoult plays Peter III, her libertine husband. Despite marital problems, including Catherine’s attempt to murder him, Peter now claims to be in love with his wife. The show, loosely based on history, takes a snarky, sexy, and irreverent ride through 18th-century Russia. Catherine was the longest-running female ruler in the nation’s history.

Check out “The Great” Season 3 trailer:

FX’s suspense thriller “Class of ’09” streams May 10 on Hulu. A class of FBI agents at three points in time face changes in the U.S. criminal justice system, which has been altered by AI. The series takes a deep dive into the nature of justice and the choices we make.

Watch the trailer for “Class of ‘09”:

Also returning to the Disney-owned...

I don’t believe I have any more power now than I did at 22,” says Samantha Morton. “And I didn’t have any power then.”

That’s a startling statement to process after watching the 45-year-old’s regal performance in The Serpent Queen, during which she wields power with terrifyingly casual control and cruel smirks, as heads roll on her command. She stars as Catherine de Medici, the Italian merchant’s daughter who became queen of France in 1547, gradually acquiring a reputation as one of the most brutal and calculating European rulers of the period.

The crisp and witty feminism of the new Starz series highlights the misogynistic myths that history has spun around the “Medici Bitch” (who wasn’t conventionally pretty or submissive and did not conceive a child in the first decade of her marriage). But it doesn’t patronise its heroine by attempting to reinvent her as a misunderstood goody.

“Anatomy of a Scandal” star Rupert Friend has signed on to star as famed Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache in “The Yellow Tie,” an upcoming biopic of Celibidache’s life, Variety can exclusively reveal.

Friend will have a central role in the feature, playing the young Celibidache. As Variety revealed last year, John Malkovich is also signed on to play an older version of the conductor.

The duo last appeared on screen together in 2004’s “The Libertine,” in which Johnny Depp also starred as the Duke of Rochester. Friend has also appeared in features including “Hitman: Agent 47” and “The Death of Stalin.” He will next be appearing in “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” alongside Benedict Cumberbatch.

Serge Ioan Celebidachi, the conductor’s son, will direct “The Yellow Tie” based on a screenplay he co-wrote with James Olivier.

Robert W. Cort has also boarded the biopic as an executive producer.

Most actors keep their awards in their homes or offices, but not Rosamund Pike. During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres this week (via The Independent), the “Gone Girl” and “I Care A Lot” actress confirmed she buries her acting trophies in her home garden because the thought of displaying them inside is too awkward to bear. Pike just won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her performance in “I Care A Lot” (now streaming on Netflix). The actress’ other awards include a Primetime Emmy for “State of the Union” and a British Independent Film Award for “The Libertine,” among other prizes.

“It’s probably [something] deeply psychological…if you’ve got any psychiatrists or therapists in your audience, maybe they’ll say it’s probably some deep lying imposter syndrome,” Pike said about burying her awards. “I find it an uneasy thing to...

Sneak Peek new images of Oscar nominated "Gone Girl" actress Rosamund Pike in the December/January 2019 issue of "Town & Country" magazine, wearing Dior, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and a whole lot more:

Pike made her screen debut in the TV film "A Rather English Marriage" (1998)...

...followed by roles in "Wives and Daughters" (1999) and "Love in a Cold Climate" (2001).

She played 'Bond' girl 'Miranda Frost' in "Die Another Day" (2002), won acting awards for The Libertine (2004) and portrayed 'Jane Bennet' in "Pride and Prejudice" (2005). 

For her performance in "Gone Girl", she was nominated for the Academy Award for 'Best Actress'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Rosamund Pike...

Hello and welcome back to our roundup of news stories from theatre, film, and television. Film Glastonbury has barely begun but already the bands have been overshadowed by Johnny Depp’s mention of an assassination attempt on U.S. President Donald Trump. The actor was introducing a screening of his film “The Libertine” when he asked, “Can you bring Trump here?” After boos from the crowd, he said, “You misunderstand completely. When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” Alluding to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by the actor John Wilkes Booth in 1865, Depp acknowledged at the time that this might get him in hot water with the press, especially back home. We’ll have to see what the media fallout is but, after the reputational damage of his recent marriage breakdown, chances are that news outlets won’t give him an easy ride. From one festival to another now,...

Johnny Depp is apologizing for his comments about President Donald Trump.

The actor issued a statement exclusively to People apologizing for the remarks he made Thursday in England at the Glastonbury Festival, during which he asked the crowd, “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”

“I apologize for the bad joke I attempted last night in poor taste about President Trump,” he said. “It did not come out as intended, and I intended no malice. I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone.”

The actor was on hand to introduce a screening of his 2004 film...

This post has been updated with new information. Johnny Depp did not mince words when talking about President Donald Trump during the Glastonbury Festival in England on Thursday. The Pirates of the Caribbean star, who was on hand for a special screening of his 2004 film The Libertine, brought up the president while addressing the crowd. "Can you bring Trump here?" he asked. The crowd began booing, to which Johnny continued, "No, no, no, you misunderstood completely. I think he needs . . . help." The actor went on to reference the 1865 assassination of Abraham Lincoln by actor John Wilkes Booth. "When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?" When the audience cheered and clapped, Johnny said, "I want to clarify, I'm not an actor. I lie for a living." In response to Johnny's comments, the White House issued a statement on Friday. "President Trump has condemned violence in all forms and it's sad that others like Johnny Depp have not followed his lead. I hope that some of Mr. Depp's colleagues will speak out against this type of rhetoric as strongly as they would if his comments were directed to a Democrat elected official." Johnny has since apologized for the remark. "I apologize for the bad joke I attempted last night in poor taste about President Trump," Johnny said in a statement to People. "It did not come out as intended, and I intended no malice. I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone." Back in February 2016, Johnny famously portrayed Trump in a hilarious Funny or Die spoof about his book, The Art of the Deal.

The White House has officially responded to Johnny Depp‘s remarks against President Donald Trump.

In a statement to ABC News, the White House condemned Depp’s comments made at the Glastonbury Festival in England on Thursday, where — after referencing Trump onstage — he asked, “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” as he seemingly alluded to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination by John Wilkes Booth.

“President Trump has condemned violence in all forms and it’s sad that others like Johnny Depp have not followed his lead. I hope that some of Mr. Depp’s colleagues will speak...

Actor Johnny Depp appeared to joke about assassinating President Donald Trump while speaking to crowd at the Glastonbury music and arts festival in the south of England on Thursday. While giving the opening remarks to a screening of his 2004 film The Libertine, Depp first asked the audience, “Can you bring Trump here?” After the crowd booed, Depp […]

Source: uInterview

The post Johnny Depp Jokes About Assassinating Donald Trump At Glastonbury appeared first on uInterview.

Johnny Depp is coming under fire for his remarks about President Donald Trump.

The actor appeared at the Glastonbury Festival in England on Thursday, where he alluded to a presidential assassination.

While on stage to introduce a screening of his 2004 film The Libertine, Depp, 54, asked the crowd whether Trump could attend the festival. When the crowd started booing, he said, “No, no, no, you misunderstood completely. I think he needs … help,” and added: “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”

Depp was likely alluding to President Lincoln’s assassination in 1865 at the hands of actor John Wilkes Booth.

Johnny Depp needs to go on an extended hiatus. Fresh off the record-low totals for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” the actor appeared at the Glastonbury Festival in southern England on Thursday for a screening of his 2004 drama “The Libertine,” and he only had Trump on the brain while making his introduction.

Read More: Johnny Depp Rejected an Early Draft of the Upcoming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Sequel Because it Had a Female Villain

“Can we bring Trump in?” Depp asked the crowd during his opening remarks. “I think Trump needs help. There are a lot of dark places he could go. I’m not insinuating anything – by the way this will be in the press and it will be horrible – but when was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”

We’re not positive Depp knows the answer to that question (the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by actor John Wilkes Booth), but we do know that Depp probably shouldn’t be making assassination jokes abroad. He has every right to crack this kind of joke with his friends and family, but doing it on a global stage in a foreign country isn’t in good taste at all. Remember what happened when the Dixie Chicks joked about Bush?

“Don’t worry, I’m not an actor, I lie for a living,” Depp said after his joke, but that didn’t prevent it from leaving a bad taste in many people’s mouths.

Watch Depp’s Glastonbury appearance below.

The White House has made an official statement in reaction to Depp’s remarks.

Wh official sends this response to Johnny Depp comments –> pic.twitter.com/571ELQqo9t

— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) June 23, 2017

Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.

Related storiesHow VFX Turned Javier Bardem Into the Creepiest 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Ghost Villain Ever'Murder On the Orient Express' Trailer: Johnny Depp and A Star-Studded Cast Bring Agatha Christie Back to the Big Screen'Pirates' Disappoints and 'Baywatch' Sank: Why This Is the Wrong Kind of Record-Setting Memorial Day Weekend...

Johnny Depp jests with the Glastonbury crowd about killing Donald Trump. The actor asks his audience: ‘When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?’, a reference possibly to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Depp is at the festival to promote his film The Libertine

Johnny Depp jokes about killing Trump in Glastonbury appearance

Continue reading...

Johnny Depp is joining the league of celebrities who’ve made controversial comments about President Donald Trump.

The 54-year-old actor spoke out about Trump on Thursday at the Glastonbury Festival in England.

Exclusive: Johnny Depp Gushes Over Daughter Lily-Rose's Blossoming Career -- 'She's a Perfect Creature'

Depp was attending a screening of his 2004 film, The Libertine, when he addressed the crowd saying, “Can we bring Trump here?”

When some audience members started booing, he added,...

Update: Actor expresses contrition after White House condemns remarks as ‘sad’.

Update: Johnny Depp has apologised after he made comments on the assassination of a Us president at Glastonbury Festival on Thursday.

The actor told People magazine his remarks were in poor taste after the White House issued a statement condemning his words.

“It did not come out as intended, and I intended no malice,” Depp said on Friday. “I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone.”

The day before, as he appeared on stage prior to a screening of his 2004 film The Libertine, Depp had said: “Can you bring Trump here?”

After sections of the crowd booed, the actor went on to say: “You misunderstand completely. When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”

Depp then added: “I want to clarify…I’m not an actor. I lie for a living [but] it’s been a while. Maybe it’s about...

Update: Actor apologises after White House condemns comments as ‘sad’.

Update: Johnny Depp has apologised following he commented on the assassination of a Us president at Glastonbury musical festival on Thursday.

The actor told People magazine his remakes were in poor taste after the White House condemned his remarks regarding Us president Donald Trump.

Appearing on stage prior to a screening of his 2004 film The Libertine last Thursday, Depp said: “Can you bring Trump here?”

After receiving boos from the crowd the actor went on to say: “You misunderstand completely. When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”

Depp seemed aware that his comments would cause controversy, adding: “I want to clarify…I’m not an actor. I lie for a living [but] it’s been a while. Maybe it’s about time.”

“This is going to be in the press and it’ll be horrible,” he continued. “It’s just a question, I’m not insinuating...

During an appearance Thursday at the annual Glastonbury music and arts festival in Southern England, Johnny Depp had some harsh words for Donald Trump — and along with them a historical joke even he realized might end up backfiring on him: “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” Depp’s joke is of course a reference to John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln who was an actor, from a famous family of actors. The actor made the comments while introducing “The Libertine,” his 2004 film directed by Laurence Dunmore, as part of the festival’s film component.

Johnny Depp ignited controversy with some new comments about President Donald Trump.

The Pirates of the Caribbean actor was onstage at the Glastonbury Festival in England on Thursday when he brought up the president.

“Can you bring Trump here?” Depp, 54, asked the audience, who was there for a screening of his 2004 film, The Libertine. The crowd immediately began booing, and Depp followed up, saying, “No, no, no, you misunderstood completely. I think he needs… help.”

He continued, “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”

The crowd cheered and clapped, but Depp continued speaking, saying, “I want to clarify,...

Johnny Depp certainly didn't disguise his feelings for the Donald Trump Thursday evening during an appearance at Glastonbury 2017. While on stage in front of a sold-out crowd, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor asked, "Can we bring Trump here? I think he needs help." Depp, who was at the music festival to present his 2004 film The Libertine, continued, "It is just a question—I'm not insinuating anything. By the way, this is going to be in the press. It will be horrible. I like that you're all part of it. But when was the last time an actor assassinated a president?" The actor received mixed reviews from concertgoers and proceeded to explain his comments about the 45th...

Exclusive: Depp to be first guest of honour at Julien Temple’s Cineramageddon event next week.

Johnny Depp will be the inaugural guest of honour at Glastonbury’s new film event Cineramageddon next week.

Depp will introduce three of his favourite movies (two of which he also starred in) at the music festival: Withnail & I, Dead Man and The Libertine.

Five day film event Cineramageddon is the brainchild of director Julien Temple and is designed by artist Joe Rush. It is presented by film producer Stephen Malit, with technical supervision by Michael Denner.

Movies will be projected onto the biggest cinema screen in the UK with the nocturnal audience seated in seventy mutated vintage British and American cars, repurposed funfair rides and a Lear jet.

Depp’s selected movies will screen consecutively on Thursday 22 June with the actor introducing them in conversation with Temple.

“No film has ever made me laugh more”

The Pirates of The Caribbean...

Mega producer Brett Ratner and Imax CEO Rich Gelfond will be among the industry heavyweights at the inaugural Immersive Summit in Cannes.

The event, hosted by Winston Baker in cooperation with The Hollywood Reporter, will be held on Friday, May 19, during the Cannes Film Festival.

Ratner, whose credits as a director include the Rush Hour franchise and the upcoming The Libertine, starring Johnny Depp, and as a producer, Oscar winner The Revenant, will hold a keynote conversation with industry veteran P. John Burke. Ratner is expected to address innovations in film financing — he has been a pioneer in...

The Libertine, a movie about French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn starring Johnny Depp, and was once described as Who’S Afraid Of Virginia Wool? meets The Wolf Of Wall Street, sounds like too tantalizing a project not to be interested in. Well for those of you who are you’ll just have to wait like good boys and girls, because Virginia Woolf isn’t meeting anybody as the project has... Read More...

Sneak Peek new images of Oscar-nominated actress Rosamund Pike ("Gone Girl") in the 2016 Fall/Winter issue of "Dior Magazine", photographed by Camilla Akrans:

Pike made her screen debut in the TV film "A Rather English Marriage" (1998)...

...followed by roles in "Wives and Daughters" (1999) and "Love in a Cold Climate" (2001).

She played 'Bond' girl 'Miranda Frost' in "Die Another Day" (2002), won acting awards for The Libertine (2004) and portrayed 'Jane Bennet' in "Pride and Prejudice" (2005).

For her performance in "Gone Girl", she was nominated for the Academy Award for 'Best Actress'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Rosamund Pike...

Dominic Cooper stars in Stephen Jeffreys' sexually charged masterpiece The Libertine this autumn. Directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winning Terry Johnson, the play continues its limited run at Bath Theatre Royal until 17 September as part of the theatre's 2016 summer season, prior to a West End engagement at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 22 September to 3 December with opening night for press on 27 September. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below...

Dominic Cooper returns to the stage this year to play debauched 17th Century rake the Earl of Rochester in The Libertine. This sexually charged masterpiece by award-winning playwright Stephen Jeffreys will play a limited run as part of the 2016 summer season at Bath Theatre Royal from tonight 31 August to 17 September prior to the West End's Theatre Royal Haymarket from 22 September to 3 December with opening night for press on 27 September.

Despite his personal turmoil, Johnny Depp will move forward with his plans to star in a film about sexual assault loosely based on the 2011 Dominique Strauss-Kahn scandal, People has confirmed. Director Brett Ratner said he is moving forward with his decision to cast Depp, 52, in the upcoming film The Libertine, amid the actor's ongoing divorce battle with Amber Heard. "Johnny is absolutely still attached. Brett is very excited to work with him," a rep for Ratner told People. The Libertine is inspired by the 2011 Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault scandal involving a New York hotel maid. Criminal charges were filed and...

Despite his personal turmoil, Johnny Depp will move forward with his plans to star in a film about sexual assault loosely based on the 2011 Dominique Strauss-Kahn scandal, People has confirmed. Director Brett Ratner said he is moving forward with his decision to cast Depp, 52, in the upcoming film The Libertine, amid the actor's ongoing divorce battle with Amber Heard. "Johnny is absolutely still attached. Brett is very excited to work with him," a rep for Ratner told People. The Libertine is inspired by the 2011 Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault scandal involving a New York hotel maid. Criminal charges were filed and...

Randomness

Film School Rejects it's all about talking animals who sound just like celebrities this year

Towleroad ABC rejects a TV ad for Carol because (Gasp) naked lesbian shoulders

John August shares depressing box office stats on why we get so many sequels

Guardian picks 5 best moment of Jane Fonda in the movies - bizarre choices beyond her Oscar winning roles

Guardian investigation of why movie posters are so terrible in comparison to their aged counterparts

The Wrap TV adaptation of American Gods (a must read from Neil Gaiman) has cast Ricky Whittle (the 100) in the leading role

Mnpp ...goes all out with an endless gratuitous post celebrating Whittle

Awards Daily Awesome crusading Senator Elizabeth Warren loves The Big Short

New Projects

Tracking Board Chan-wook Park to direct the adapation of sci-fi novel Genocidal Organ about homemade nuclear devices

Coming Soon Oscar winning director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal...

Rosamund Pike nearly stole the show in David Fincher's "Gone Girl" but he stole the hearts of the Palm Springs International Film Festival's committee members. The actress is getting the Breakthrough Performance Award! Last year, "12 Years A Slave's" Lupita Nyong'o received the same award and walked all the way to Oscar glory!

Pike is joining recently announced recipients Eddie Redmayne, Julianne Moore, and J.K. Simmons. Here's the press release:

Palm Springs, CA (November 21, 2014) . The 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) will present Rosamund Pike with the Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress at its annual Awards Gala. The Gala will also present awards to previously announced honorees Julianne Moore, Eddie Redmayne and J.K. Simmons. Presented by Cartier, and hosted by Mary Hart, the Awards Gala will be held Saturday, January 3 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The Festival runs January 2-12.

.Rosamund Pike perfectly taps into Gillian Flynn.s...

Rosamund Pike, the star of the highly anticipated film, Gone Girl, is about to get a lot of attention for her standout role as Amy Elliott Dunne, a disillusioned housewife who suddenly disappears on her fifth wedding anniversary. The part is one intense (and showy) role, and will surely stick with audiences well after the end credits stop rolling.

With all the buzz coming her way, it’s a good time to get to know the 35-year-old English actress making a big splash Stateside.

She’s a Bond Girl

While this is definitely her biggest role, it’s hardly her first. The actress’ first big screen part was Miranda Frost, a villainous Bond Girl in Pierce Brosnan’s final James Bond film Die Another Day. She was the 68th actress to be featured as a woman who finds herself entangled with the famed British spy.

And She Can Act

She...

Rosamund Pike, the star of the highly anticipated film, Gone Girl, is about to get a lot of attention for her standout role as Amy Elliott Dunne, a disillusioned housewife who suddenly disappears on her fifth wedding anniversary. The part is one intense (and showy) role, and will surely stick with audiences well after the end credits stop rolling.

With all the buzz coming her way, it’s a good time to get to know the 35-year-old English actress making a big splash Stateside.

She’s a Bond Girl

While this is definitely her biggest role, it’s hardly her first. The actress’ first big screen part was Miranda Frost, a villainous Bond Girl in Pierce Brosnan’s final James Bond film Die Another Day. She was the 68th actress to be featured as a woman who finds herself entangled with the famed British spy.

And She Can Act

She...

We learned a couple of months ago Mark Strong will play Sacha Baron Cohen's brother in the upcoming spy spoof Grimsby, and now THR is reporting Ian McShane (Hercules, Deadwood), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), David Harewood (Blood Diamond, Homeland) and English comedian Johnny Vegas (The Libertine) have joined the project as well. Director Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me, Clash Of The Titans) will be behind the camera for Grimsby, and it is based on a script by Sacha Baron Cohen, Phil...

As problems go, it’s a pretty First World one to be saddled with. You’re a movie star pocketing obscene paychecks to appear in Hollywood blockbusters. But something is missing. Fame and box office success alone aren’t why you started making movies. You are an actor If only your fans could see just how cool and fearless and devoted to the craft you really are. What to do? Worry not. There’s a well-trod path laid out that will put this plight behind you once and for all: You will make a boldly uncommercial art film. The weirder,...

Homeland star to take over videogame adaptation after death of Fast and Furious actor, while James Marsden to take The Best of Me lead

• Paul Walker died after crashing at over 100mph, coroner's report reveals

The unexpected death of actor Paul Walker ina high-speed road accident has left film producers scrambling to recast movies that the Fast and Furious star had planned to take on.

According to the Wrap, Homeland star Rupert Friend is set to step into the lead role of Agent 47, which Walker was due to act in straight after finishing Fast and Furious 7. Agent 47 is a remake of the successful 2007 film Hitman, starring Timothy Olyphant, which was itself based on a popular videogame of the same title. Though clearly a good fit for Walker, the role of a lethal assassin would appear to be more of a stretch for Friend, who is better known for his work...

Fast & Furious 7 wasn’t the only project that Paul Walker was working on before his unfortunate passing. The actor was poised to follow up the seventh Fast & Furious film with the actioner Agent 47, but THR reports that producers have now tapped Homeland star Rupert Friend to take over the role. The Fox International film is a reboot/sequel of sorts to the 2007 film Hitman and revolves around an elite, bald-headed assassin who sports a barcode on the back of his head. In Agent 47, the titular character is tasked with protecting a waitress targeted by a group known as the Syndicate, though she may be more than she seems. Commercials director Aleksander Bach is taking the helm from a script by Kyle Ward, Skip Woods, and Michael Finch. Friend has been shining recently as CIA operative Peter Quinn on the Showtime series Homeland, but his feature credits include Pride & Prejudice,...

Homeland star Rupert Friend is in negotiations to replace the late Paul Walker in 20th Century Fox's Hitman reboot Agent 47.

Paul Walker had been attached to the project since February, and he had planned to shoot the project after he wrapped production on Fast & Furious 7. The actor tragically passed away in late November from injuries sustained in a car crash.

Aleksander Bach is making his feature directorial debut, working from a script by Michael Finch and Skip Woods, who wrote the 2007 video game adaptation Hitman, which made $100 million worldwide and starred Timothy Olyphant. No story details have been released, although the original movie and the video game follow an assassin known only as Agent 47, who has a barcode tattooed to the back of his head. The Square Enix video game series has sold more than 20 million units since the franchise was launched.

Rupert Friend's big screen credits include Pride & Prejudice,...

Transforms the beloved “People’s Princess” into a drippy, unappealing rom-com heroine, sort of like Bridget Jones with bodyguards. I’m “biast” (pro): loved Hirschbiegel’s Downfall

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

I have not read the source material

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

I’m no fan of the British royals, but if I were, I think I’d be fairly cheesed off that this wet blanket of a flick transforms the beloved Diana, Princess of Wales, into a drippy, unappealing rom-com heroine, sort of like Bridget Jones with bodyguards (whom she can’t stand cuz they just won’t let her be herself *stamps foot*). As a big fan of good storytelling, I absolutely am cheesed off that Diana cannot seem to decide what it’s aiming to do with the final few years of her life. If it wanted to show...

From the use of Jacques Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas" (twice) to choice morsels of quotes such as, "Wherever you are, death will find you, even if you hide yourselves in firmly constructed towers" (from the Koran), the specter of death haunts "Diana." While that's not a surprise, given that the story tracks her life in the two years leading up (and including) her passing, it's just one of many elements the script by Stephen Jeffreys ("The Libertine") isn't quite sure how to handle. Set against a chronicle of Princess Diana's last and most meaningful relationship with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan, it's a fine balance between tragedy and ghoulishness, and sadly, the film never finds it. Graceless, clumsy and uncertain, "Diana" is the result of what happens in trying to honor the late Princess by engaging in the very tabloid speculation that marred her life. In the slight defense of the film,...

Naomi Watts brings Princess Diana's story to the silver screen in the first domestic trailer for Diana, following the two international trailers that debuted earlier this summer. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) from a script by Stephen Jeffreys (The Libertine), this drama delves inside the last two years of Princess Di's life, following her romance with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan (Naveen Andrews). Take a look at the latest footage from this upcoming biopic, arriving in theaters November 1.

Diana comes to theaters November 1st, 2013 and stars Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews, Douglas Hodge, Geraldine James, Charles Edwards, Daniel Pirrie, Cas Anvar, Juliet Stevenson. The film is directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel.

Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave is leading the 2013 awards season bustle after a strong reception from the festival circuit; meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum is the Princess Diana of Wales memoir/biopic, simply titled Diana. The latter film employs the tried-and-true approach of casting a lead who’s not yet been recognized by the Academy for their impressive body of work (Naomi Watts, in this case), married together with a screenplay that promises to expose the hard truth (warts and all) about a famous historical public figure.

Stephen Jeffreys’ (The Libertine) Diana script is based upon the international best-selling book Diana: Her Last Love written by Kate Snell, which focuses heavily on the whirlwind romantic relationship that formed between Diana and Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan (played by Naveen Andrews in the movie adaptation) during the last two years ...

Click to continue reading ‘Diana’ U.S.

I'm really looking forward to Spike Lee's Oldboy remake, largely out of curiosity, but also now for another reason, the work of composer Michael Nyman who took over scoring duties from Lee's Red Hook Summer composer, Bruce Hornsby. Nyman is best known for his work on The Piano, Gattaca and The End of the Affair, all of which earned him a Golden Globe nomination, but it has been some time he scored anything mainstream with the likes of the documentary Man on Wire and the little-seen Johnny Depp starrer The Libertine as the most recognizable titles in his filmography since 99's End of the Affair. I don't know if Nyman's score was used for this new trailer and I'm inclined to believe it isn't, or at least expect the actual score will be toned down a bit because I can't imagine an aggressive score will match some of the...

Briefly: Following the most recent international trailer for Diana, director Oliver Hirschbiegel's biopic of the Princess of Wales, Entertainment One has finally given the drama a release date here in the United States. While the film is already slated to arrive internationally in October, the film will get an awards season run starting in limited theaters on November 1st this fall, with a wider release in the weeks following. The film written by Stephen Jeffreys (The Libertine) focuses on the secret two-year love affair Princess Diana (Naomi Watts) had in the mid-1990s with heart surgeon Dr. Hasnat Kahn (Naveen Andrews) that wasn't revealed until 2008. We'll see if the film ends up getting awards love down the road.

In September of 1997, seemingly the entire world reeled with shock over the news of Princess Diana of Wales’ death in a car accident. Even after she ended her supposedly fairy-tale marriage to Prince Charles, Diana remained a beloved world figure and an active proponent of various humanitarian causes.

Nonetheless, Diana was such a ubiquitous media draw that she spent much time hounded by and attempting to avoid paparazzi – especially when she began romantic relationships with heart surgeon Dr. Hasnat Khan and Egyptian billionaire Dodi Fayed. Her struggles with the effects of fame on her life and relationships during the final two years of her life are chronicled in the upcoming biopic Diana, which has released a new preview.

Diana is directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) from a script by Stephen Jeffreys (The Libertine). Naomi Watts (The Impossible) headlines the project as ...

Click to continue reading ‘Diana’ International Trailer: Last Days...

Today we have a full international trailer for the upcoming Princess Diana biopic, called "Diana," which stars Naomi Watts in the title role. Check it out below. Plot: The film is a compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales during the last two years of her life. It charts how finding true personal happiness for the first time allowed her to achieve her defining successes evolving into a major international campaigner and humanitarian. The new movie is directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) from a script by Stephen Jeffreys (The Libertine). A Us release date has yet to be revealed, but it will likely hit theaters at the end of the year in order to be eligible for the Oscars. Trailer:...