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Bright Pictures founder Sarah Sulick has been hired as course leader for the London Film School’s new masters in film producing.

The course is due to start in September 2025 and responds “to the evolving needs of the global screen industries“, according to the Lfs. Applications are now closed.

Sulick’s projects at Bright Pictures include 2023’s The Trouble With Jessica starring Shirley Henderson, Alan Tudyk and Olivia Williams, which saw Henderson earn a Bafta Scotland nomination.

Before setting up Bright Pictures, Sulick worked in acquisitions and development on films such as Roger Michell’s The Mother and Shona Auerbach’s Dear Frankie.

Why do we like Gerard Butler? As of the publishing of this piece, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is performing as expected, looking to become yet another reliable, mid-budgeted programmer hit for the movie star. It’ll round out nicely in theaters, then do well with VOD and home sales. This kind of success is exceedingly rare these days; even Liam Neeson actioners underperform after years of semi-reliability. So: what is it about Butler?

There is a scene somewhere in the middle of Pantera in which “Big Nick” O’Brien (Butler) and Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson) are sitting outside a bar in the south of France, sipping beers on the come down from a night of hard-partying. Los Angeles cop Big Nick has both “gone gangster” and gone international, turning to a life of crime and following Donnie into a heist-laden world of intrigue. The two frenemies proceed to...

How does every Gerard Butler Action Movie rank beside each other, with Den of Thieves hitting theaters in 2025? Butler trained initially to become a lawyer before a change of heart saw him pursue acting inside. Oddly, his breakthrough role came as the titular bloodsucker in Dracula 2000, a movie that didn't win over audiences or critics. He always seemed on the cusp of stardom without entirely tipping over. That changed significantly thanks to Zack Snyder's 300 in 2007, where his mega turn as King Leonidas instantly propelled him to the A-list.

Over the years, Butler has made everything from tender dramas like Dear Frankie to rom-coms with P.S. I Love You or animation with the Watchmen horror spinoff Tales of the Black Freighter. However, action has become Butler's stock-in-trade, whether fantasy blockbusters or gritty cop thrillers. The star has cornered the market in terms of fronting modestly budget, R-rated action...

Butler's career skyrocketed after 300, solidifying him as a leading action star in Hollywood with international acclaim. Inspired by 300's success, Butler continued in the action genre, starring in multiple box office hits throughout his career. Despite being typecasted as an action star, Butler's iconic performance as King Leonidas in 300 remains his greatest to date.

The classic action movie 300 transformed Gerard Butler's Hollywood career and just may be the peak of his extensive filmography. 300 was released in the United States on March 9, 2007, and became the tenth highest-grossing movie of that year, earning $456 million worldwide against a production budget of $60 million. The epic action film was only Zack Snyder's second feature directorial effort following his breakout 2004 horror film Dawn of the Dead. The success and cultural impact of 300 led Snyder to take on other massive blockbusters such as Watchmen (2009), Man of Steel (2013), and Justice League...

Exclusive: Silver Tree is set to direct and executive produce on the upcoming Paramount+ series Fatal Attraction.

The project is a reimagination of the classic 1980s psychosexual thriller film in which the two central characters were played by Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.

Written by Alexandra Cunningham from a story she co-wrote with Kevin J. Hynes, the Paramount Television Studios and Amblin Television series explores the timeless themes of marriage and infidelity through the lens of modern attitudes towards strong women, personality disorders, and coercive control.

Lizzy Caplan portrays Alex, who becomes obsessed with her lover after a brief affair. The object of her affection Dan is played by Joshua Jackson.

Cunningham serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside Hynes as well as Amblin Television presidents Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.

Previously, Tree served as the executive producer and director on the second season of The Flight Attendant...

Grace and Frankie may have ended its seven-season run on Netflix, but that doesn’t mean the laughs have to stop. Following the show’s final episodes arriving on the streamer, Netflix is unveiling a special peek behind the curtain in an over five-minute blooper reel. The video sees stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin crack up over lines, swear between scenes, and share in sweet moments that will certainly warm fans’ hearts. (Credit: Suzanne Tenner/Netflix) For those less familiar with the long-running comedy, when Grace (Fonda) and Frankie (Tomlin) were first introduced, they were merely acquaintances through their lawyer husbands Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol (Sam Waterston). Their lives were flipped upside down when they discovered that Robert and Sol were in love and leaving them in order to be together. What followed was a tale of sparring partners and partners in crime for opposites, Grace and Frankie...

Fox’s upcoming anthology series “Accused” is rounding out its cast. Rhea Perlman, Baron Vaughn, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Sean Kleier will guest star in the episode led by Whitney Cummings.

The episode follows Cummings as Brenda Kramer, an acerbic stand-up comic who is forced to confront public opinion and courtroom biases after she reports being sexually assaulted.

Rajskub, known best for her role in “24,” is playing Tess Richards, who befriends Brenda quickly after her assault and isolates Brenda from her other friends. Her fierce loyalty reveals the damaged psychopath beneath. Vaughn (“Grace and Frankie”) fills the role of Chad Jackson, a regular at Joyce’s club and Brenda’s close friend and fellow struggling comic.

Kleier (“9-1-1”) will guest star as Zeke Thompson, a comic whose career has taken off while his friends still wait for their big break. Perlman (“Cheers”) will play Joyce Golden, a former...

The final “Ozark” episodes, which dropped on April 29, topped Netflix’s No. 1 English language show of the week globally.

“Ozark,” which stars Laura Linney, Jason Bateman and Julia Garner, amassed 78.4 million hours viewed across the week. “Ozark’s” total was just about double the hours seen of the No. 2 show — “Selling Sunset” Season 5 (34.31). Meanwhile, “Anatomy of a Scandal,” which was last week’s No. 1, came in third with 30.17 million hours viewed for the week of April 25 – May 1.

“Bridgerton” Season 2, starring Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley, fell to No. 4 globally (29.74 million hours), while LGBTQ love story “Heartstopper” took the No. 5 slot with 23.94 million hours viewed.

“Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacey Tapes” took No. 6 with 20.91 million hours. Viewers were also eager for the last go-round of “Grace and Frankie.” The final episodes of its seventh season landed, appropriately, at No. 7 with 15.47 million hours viewed.

“The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On” took the No.

Grace and Frankie were soulmates after all. After seven hilarious seasons, Grace and Frankie has finally met its end. As Netflix's longest-running original series, the show shed light on two mature female characters who were both approaching 80 years old when the show began. Meanwhile, the premise of "starting over" at this age was explored in a way that made it relatable and fun.

Related: 10 Best Guest Stars On Grace And Frankie 

Beyond the title characters, however, the show also focused on other main characters, including their respective ex-husbands Robert and Sol, and their kids Brianna, Mallory, Bud, and Coyote. The final episodes nicely wrapped up the stories for each of them, though for some, questions still remain about the future.

Spoiler Alert! Do not read until you’ve binged the seventh and final season of Grace and Frankie on Netflix.

As promised, Dolly Parton joined her 9 to 5 co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as a guest star in the series finale of Grace and Frankie — and she behaved like an absolute angel!

Actually, Parton’s Agnes is more of a “working class angel” in heaven who hasn’t “had a promotion in 250 years.” She was the one who greeted Grace (Fonda) and Frankie (Tomlin) at the proverbial Pearly gates after they lost their lives in a freak accident involving booze and a mic. But a clerical error was inadvertently made on Gracie’s behalf; her time on earth was not meant to be over. Frankie, however, was right where she belonged — until Agnes granted her stay and sent both women back to the land of the living.

In the meantime,...

Exclusive: Netflix has opted not to renew Greg Daniels and Steve Carell’s comedy series Space Force for a third season.

The decision on the series, which starred John Malkovich and Ben Schwartz alongside Carell, comes two and a half months after Season 2 was released February 18. It did not break into the overall Nielsen streaming weekly Top 10 ranking but made a brief appearance on the streaming originals Nielsen charts, debuting at No. 8 and rising to No. 7 the following week. It also had a short presence in Netflix’s Daily Top 10 raking, peaking at around No. 5 after Season 1 had had a lengthy stay at No. 1.

TV Cancellations Photo Gallery: Shows Ending In 2022 & Beyond

Viewership (along with critical acclaim) vs. cost is a key factor in Netflix’s pickup decisions, so for an expensive show like Space Force, the ratings renewal bar is high. The streamer also recently canceled Raising Dion, which...

Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you have not watched the final episodes of “Grace and Frankie,” now streaming on Netflix.

It’s the end of the road for “Grace and Frankie.” The longest-running Netflix original series dropped its final 12 hours on Friday, bringing the total count to 94 episodes. The comedy, created by Marta Kauffman, followed Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda’s Grace Hanson and Frankie Bergstein who became friends after their husbands revealed they were in love with each other.

During the last episode, Sol (Sam Waterston) helped Robert (Martin Sheen) through his memory loss, bringing him back to the hotel where they shared their first kiss in the elevator. Meanwhile, after getting electrocuted during a hug, Grace and Frankie landed in heaven; while Frankie is Ok with that, Grace is not. So, who better to talk to than an angel in heaven, Agnes, played by Dolly Parton herself.

Editor’s note: The Deadline Watchlist is a feature spotlighting small-screen specials, events and can’t-miss episodes of ongoing series each week.

1. NFL Draft 2022: “And with the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select…” If you’re interested in how Commissioner Roger Goodell will finish that sentence, the National Football League’s annual re-staffing event starts tonight. There’s an extra bit of juice this year in that there’s no consensus on which collegiate standout will be picked first overall. The two New York teams – the Jets and Giants – pick fourth and fifth, respectively, but the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams won’t make a selection until late in the third round. ESPN and NFL Network will cover Thursday’s first round starting at 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 beginning at 4 p.m. Pt/7 p.m. Et on Friday and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday,...

Grace and Frankie may be ending but that doesn't mean we've seen the last of Brianna. June Diane Raphael confirmed she and co-creator Howard Morris are writing a spin-off series centered around her character, Brianna Hanson, the daughter of Jane Fonda's Grace. Describing Brianna as "unapologetically powerful," the actress told The Hollywood Reporter that the show will explore "what it means to be a middle-aged woman without children or a husband." June Diane explained that she and Howard began discussing a potential spin-off during the height of the pandemic. "We spent months, honestly, just talking through the idea that women's currency is devalued to...

When Grace and Frankie drops for its seventh and final season April 29, fans will have to bid farewell to more than just good laughs about yam lubricant and hydraulic-assisted toilet seats. The comedy from Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris is one of the last remaining series that features golden agers who actually address golden age topics. For all the talk in Hollywood about inclusion, there remains an astonishing lack of shows that both cast — and provide authentic depictions of — older Americans.

Just one year ago, there were actually two such shows and they both streamed on Netflix — Grace and Frankie, which follows two 80-something roomies whose husbands left them to marry each other, and The Kominsky Method, about a 70-something actor (Michael Douglas) whose close connection with his agent-pal Norman (Alan Arkin) was more relatable than most TV marriages. Kominsky, from the mind of the prolific Chuck Lorre, lasted...

Exclusive: Steven Pasquale (American Crime Story: The People v Oj Simpson), Stephanie Szostak (A Million Little Things) and Tony Curran (Your Honor) are set for key recurring roles in David E. Kelley’s The Missing, Peacock’s eight-episode series based on Israeli crime writer Dror A. Mishani’s international bestselling novel The Missing File. Details of their characters are being kept under wraps.

Written by Kelley, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer, and directed by Barry Levinson, The Missing tells the story of Detective Avraham (Jeff Wilbusch), whose belief in mankind is his superpower when it comes to uncovering the truth. Guided by a deep sense of spirituality and religious principles, Avraham is left to question his own humanity when a seemingly routine investigation turns upside down.

In addition to Wilbusch, they join previously announced series regulars Juliana Canfield, Karen Robinson and Michael Mosley.

Executive producing alongside Kelley are Levinson,...

Premiering on Netflix on April 29, Grace and Frankie’s final season will officially make history as Netflix’s longest-running Netflix original series. Seven years ago, Grace and Frankie’s lives turned upside down when their longtime husbands left them for… each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, Grace and Frankie formed an unlikely and unbreakable bond as […]

The post Netflix Releases ‘Grace and Frankie’: Season 7B Trailer appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

“It was a crazy ride but I’d rather take a crazy ride with you than a normal ride with anybody else.”

So says Grace (Jane Fonda), as she and best roomie Frankie (Lily Tomlin) prepare for the end of Grace and Frankie, Netflix’s longest-running original series. By the time it’s all over this season, the comedy from Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris will have made a whopping 94 episodes.

The trailer for the seventh and final season that returns April 29 looks back at the good times, and those memorable moments when Grace dropped the F-bomb to make an important point. For those who haven’t sampled the laugher that also stars Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston (and seriously why have you not?), the comedy is about a pair of divorcées (masterfully played by Fonda and Tomlin) whose husbands left them to marry each other.

Grace and Frankie...

“Grace and Frankie” are contemplating the end in the trailer for the final run of episodes for the Netflix series.

In the trailer, which dropped Thursday morning, Frankie (Lily Tomlin) offers up the suggestion of the two of them doing a “‘Thelma & Louise’ thing,’ which I’m open to,” she tells Grace (Jane Fonda).

“I’m not,” Grace replies.

The show is quickly coming to an end with the second and final set of Season 7 episodes dropping April 29 on Netflix.

“It was a crazy ride, but I’d rather take a crazy ride with you than a normal ride with anyone else,” Grace tells Frankie at one moment.

As Netflix dropped the trailer, the streamer also shared a variety of fun and memorable facts about the show, including that by its end, “Grace and Frankie” will become the longest-running Netflix original series to date, spanning 94 episodes.

Frankie has had...

The TV series “Grace and Frankie”, starring Lily Tomlinson and Jane Fonda, has been canceled, with the final season streaming April 29, 2022 on Netflix:

“…two women’s lives are turned ‘upside down’ when their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, ‘Grace’ and ‘Frankie’ form an unlikely and unbreakable bond and face their uncertain futures head-on, hand-in-hand.

“Together with their ex-husbands and children, they discover the true definition of family with laughter, tears, and plenty of mood enhancers along the way…”

Click the images to enlarge…

Outube...

Audiences are finally getting a glimpse at the final season of Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie.”

The series is set to end later this month, when the second installment of the final season debuts on the streamer. On Monday, Netflix released a series of images from Season 7 Part 2.

One shot promises shenanigans, with Jane Fonda’s Grace and Lily Tomlin’s Frankie several margaritas deep at a Mexican restaurant. Or, in Grace’s case, just one jumbo margarita.

Cr. Suzanne Tenner/Netflix

Of course, the friends are bound to share some heartfelt moments too. The pair appear to comfort each other in several moments, shown in both the featured image above and the one below.

Cr. Suzanne Tenner/Netflix

There will also be tender moments from Sam Waterson’s Sol Bergstein and Martin Sheen’s Robert Hanson, whose love affair launched the series. In the image below, they hold hands...

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are partying like it’s 1999 in the first images released from the final season of Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. The comedy premieres April 29.

From Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris, Grace and Frankie follows the titular divorcées whose husbands (played by Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston) left them to marry each other. Grace and Frankie formed an unlikely and unbreakable bond as they faced uncertain futures head-on, and hand-in-hand. They’ve laughed together, cried together, did shrooms together, and twice over became successful entrepreneurs together.

After 94 episodes, Grace and Frankie continue to show themselves, their families and their fans what it means to live life to the fullest, fearlessly and unapologetically.

In the last of the four episodes that dropped in August, Nick (Peter Gallagher) was released from prison and placed on house arrest, much to the chagrin of Grace, who was hoping he...

The final 12-episode season of the now canceled TV series “Grace and Frankie”, starring Lily Tomlinson and Jane Fonda, streams April 29, 2022 on Netflix:

“…two women’s lives are turned ‘upside down’ when their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, ‘Grace’ and ‘Frankie’ form an unlikely and unbreakable bond and face their uncertain futures head-on, hand-in-hand.

“Together with their ex-husbands and children, they discover the true definition of family with laughter, tears, and plenty of mood enhancers along the way…”

Click the images to enlarge…

Outube...

Grace and Frankie will soon be coming to an end, but they will certainly be going out with style! The hit Netflix comedy will premiere the second half of its final season on Friday, April 29, making history as the streamer’s longest-running original series to date (with seven seasons). “Seven years ago, Grace and Frankie’s lives turned upside down when their longtime husbands left them for… each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, Grace and Frankie formed an unlikely and unbreakable bond as they faced uncertain futures head-on, and hand-in-hand. They’ve laughed together, cried together, did shrooms together, and twice-over became successful entrepreneurs together,” reads the season description. “A history-making 94 episodes later, Grace and Frankie continue to show themselves, their families, and their fans what it means to live life to the fullest, fearlessly and unapologetically. Here’s to seven seasons of laughs, tears, mood-enhancers, and good vibes.

The final episodes of “Grace and Frankie” will premiere April 29, Netflix announced Tuesday.

Created by Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris, “Grace and Frankie” stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as the title characters, two very different women who have disliked each other for years, even though their husbands Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol (Sam Waterston) are law partners. When their husbands announce they’re in love and plan to divorce them to be together, Grace and Frankie find themselves roommates, and overcome their mutual animosity to become best friends navigating romances, business ventures and family drama together.

The longest-running show currently on Netflix, “Grace and Frankie” originally premiered in 2015 and has since run for seven seasons. The show was originally renewed for a 16-episode seventh and final season in 2019. Last August, Netflix surprise released the first four episodes of the final season, and announced the remaining episodes will debut...

Michael Showalter has made quite a name for himself over the years thanks to the many hilarious and heartfelt projects he has worked on in the film and television industry. As a writer, producer, actor, and director, Showalter has over 150 various IMDb credits in total. Showalter's many credits span across multiple mediums, so naturally, there are plenty of projects that he has contributed to more than others.

Related: Mike White's 10 Best Projects, Ranked By IMDb

Some of his more minor works include directing episodes of television shows such as Grace and Frankie, or guest starring in shows like Bob's Burgers. However, Showalter often takes on multiple roles in his productions both in front of and behind the camera. Of all his IMDb credits, it is clear which projects he has contributed to the most, as well as which ones are more successful than others, according to the site's users.

BBC Studios Productions has expanded its factual leadership team with the appointment of Nicola Pinn as director of production, and hiring ICM Partners’ Ian Moffitt in the new role of director of commercial and business development.

The roles will work closely with Tom McDonald, MD of factual, BBC Studios Productions.

Pinn will be responsible for production management as well as contributing to strategy across the three factual production units – the Natural History Unit, the Science Unit and the Documentary Unit. She has worked in senior factual programming at the BBC for the past 15 years, and has most recently been working within the Natural History Unit as head of production.

Moffitt joins from the London arm of Los Angeles-based talent agency ICM Partners where for the last four years he has been an agent representing U.K. and European production companies as well as documentary directors. His remit is to grow...

BBC and Netflix series Attenborough’s Life In Colour sets out to explore the wonder of nature and its kaleidoscope of colors, but for producers at Humble Bee Films, filming the natural history show was far from black and white.

Executive producer Stephen Dunleavy tells Deadline that soon after production got underway on the project, which unites Netflix and the BBC for the first time on a wildlife show, the pandemic ravaged filming plans.

A trip to Costa Rica with the great naturalist, David Attenborough, was in the can, but it was during a visit to the Cairngorms in Scotland early last year that Covid-19 began to rear its ugly head in the UK.

Up to 10 shoots were wiped out by the pandemic, with producers having to abandon travel plans to Italy among other locations, while 95-year-old Attenborough safely ensconced himself at home in leafy south-west London.

Dunleavy toyed with the idea of delaying production,...

Netflix announced Sunday that it is starting development on seven new shows that will be filmed in the U.K., with Andy Serkis, Rowan Atkinson and “1917” director Sam Mendes among the attached talent.

The shows will be developed by the streamer’s vice president of U.K. Original Series, Anne Mensah and will be produced alongside upcoming seasons of shows like “The Crown” and “Sex Education.”

“Setting up a team entirely based in the U.K. was always about being able to better connect to the fantastic program makers we have here — to provide a space for writers, producers, directors and actors that feels local, friendly and familiar but also provides talent the opportunity to make shows that will impact on a global scale. U.K.-made stories really do speak to the world,” Mensah said in a statement.

Among the upcoming projects are: “Man vs. Bee,” a slapstick...

Netflix has announced that it will produce seven new original scripted series in the UK, ranging from horror to science fiction, love stories to physical comedy.

All of the shows will be written and produced in the UK. The Original Series team is led by VP UK Anne Mensah.

“Setting up a team entirely based in the UK was always about being able to better connect to the fantastic program-makers we have here,” Mensah said. “To provide a space for writers, producers, directors and actors that feels local, friendly and familiar but also provides talent the opportunity to make shows that will impact on a global scale. UK-made stories really do speak to the world.

“I couldn’t be more excited by the mix of people who are now producing for Netflix. Alongside these new commissions, we have projects in development with a range of amazing creators including Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu,...

Netflix has added seven new series to its original content slate out of the U.K., working with the likes of former “Mr. Bean” star Rowan Atkinson, Sam Mendes and Andy Serkis, along with new writing talent including Sarah Dollard and Sophie Petzal.

The shows, commissioned by the Original Series team as part of the streaming giant’s continued investment in the U.K., will all be written and produced domestically.

From Mendes and his Neal Street Productions is a six-part show called “The Red Zone,” which mysteriously teases “a comedy about football, but also not about football.” Meanwhile, Atkinson will star in short-form, 10-part comedy series “Man vs Bee,” which finds him housesitting a luxurious mansion while duking it out with a pesky bee.

Elsewhere, in a project executive produced by Serkis, “Giri/Haji” creator Joe Barton is on board to adapt Sally Green’s “Half Bad” trilogy of books,...

1966: Constance went into labor on Peyton Place.

1981: General Hospital's Susan was in the hospital after having baby Jason.

2009: Guiding Light's Lillian visited Maureen Bauer's grave.

2010: One Life to Live's Dorian threw water on Bo and Nora."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1936: NBC debuted Frank and Anne Hummert's radio soap opera John's Other Wife. The story revolved around John Perry (Hanley Stafford), the owner of a department store, his wife Elizabeth, and an assistant secretary named Annette. John got more than he bargained...

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this new episode of The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we examine movies from established movie stars that have flopped at the box office, been forgotten by time, or remain hidden gems. These aren’t the films that made them famous or kept them famous. These are the other ones. Today, in honor (?) of Angel Has Fallen, we discuss Scotland’s own Gerard Butler. Following his star-making turn in Zack Snyder’s 300, Butler headlined a slew of projects, mostly action programmers and romantic comedies.

In 2011 & 2012, he released four unsuccessful movies that ran the gamut of available genres: the misguided awards push Machine Gun Preacher, the Ralph Fiennes-directed Coriolanus, the based-on-a-true-story surfer drama Chasing Mavericks and the soccer rom-com family dramedy (?) Playing For Keeps.

We talk about the modes where Butler’s rugged good looks are best utilized, the controversies that surrounded Machine Gun Preacher upon its release,...

When Rob Marshall first contacted Emily Mortimer about “Mary Poppins Returns” she recalls that it was a film “he felt was necessary in this moment that we’re in now. He wanted to bring back Mary Poppins as a sort of antidote to life.” For that reason, she was “totally swept up in the idea of needing to be part of it.” Watch our exclusive video interview with Mortimer and her co-star Ben Whishaw above.

SEEEmily Blunt Interview: ‘Mary Poppins Returns’

This followup to the 1964 classic finds the title nanny (Emily Blunt) once again floating into the lives of the Banks family and teaching them some valuable life lessons with the help of a little magic and a few catchy songs. Whishaw takes on the role of the now-adult Michael Banks, who’s struggling to raise his three children after the death of his wife. His sister, Jane (Mortimer), tries to help,...

Author: Guest

To celebrate the release of Philippa Lowthorpe’s adaptation of Swallows and Amazons on Blu-ray and DVD we are privileged to have an inside view on the film’s production.

In this guest editorial screenwriter Andrea Gibb takes us on her journey bringing the beloved book to the big screen.

I first got involved with ‘Swallows and Amazons’ in 2007. Nick Barton, one of the producers, had seen my film ‘Dear Frankie’ and liked it. That had a child at the centre and, as the most important characters in ‘Swallows’ are the kids, Nick felt I could write them for the screen.

I hadn’t read the book as a child but the minute he gave it to me, I fell in love. I was struck by its power as an evocation of childhood and by the simple truth of its message; children love to play, explore and imagine.

Behold a time before helicopter parenting, when children roamed free, ate cake for dinner, and played with fire. A delightfully old-fashioned treat. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

I have not read the source material

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

Gather round, kiddies, and behold a time before videogames — before television, even — when children roamed free and were forced to relieve their boredom with nothing more than a couple of sticks and their imaginations… and they relished it. Gather round, parents, and marvel as a mother grants permission for her four children to go sailing and camping on their own recognizance, with no adult supervision at all, for days. Because, as that mother says, “I don’t want them frightened of the world,” so they have to learn how to deal with it on their own. Imagine that!

Not only...

At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.

New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital Only

"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies"

The final chapter of Bilbo Baggins' "Hobbit" adventure is airing August 8 on HBO as part of its Saturday Night Movies. It'll be on HBO Now, the network's standalone streaming service, on the same day. So if you don't already have HBO as part of your cable package but want to watch the TV shows ("Game of Thrones," "True Detective," etc.) and movies, you can just order HBO Now to stream the content.

"Difficult People"

Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner star in this new Hulu Original series, which premieres August 5. Julie and Billy play more annoying and less successful versions of themselves -- aspiring comics living, working and struggling in NYC...

It’s almost August and that means Netflix is about to give their content a refresh. Some of the notable titles leaving include: Family Ties: Season 1-7, Unbreakable, and Titanic. So if you haven’t seen some of these titles, plan your nights accordingly. We of course can look forward more than a few new titles including The Hurt Locker, White God (pictured above), and Girl Meets World season 1.

Available August 1

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999)

In this animated adventure, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore revel in their new gig at a movie theme park by wandering the grounds after hours. Among the attractions is the spooky Frankenstein’s Castle, where a real mad scientist is bringing the monster to life. But when the boys cross paths with the creature (Frank Welker), they soon learn that appearances can be deceiving, and Frankenstein is more misunderstood than malevolent.

Asylum (2005)

A...

Curious to know what movies are coming to Netflix Watch Instantly over the next few weeks? Get a head start and mark your calendars using the list below, just released to us by Netflix.   Note: Listed below are just the movies, not the television shows (except where noted). Starting August 1st Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999) Asylum (2005) Back in Time/ Cong Cong Na Nian (2014) Beneath the Helmet (2014) Breakup Buddies/ Xin Hau Lu Fang (2014) Bride and Prejudice (2004) Casting By (2012) Dear Frankie (2004) Dogs on the Inside (2014) Electric Slide (2014) Enemy at the Gates (2001) Flex is Kings (2013)  Lost and Love/ Shi Gu (2015) November Rule (2015) Outcast (2014) Pants on Fire (2014) Russell Brand: End the Drugs War...

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Read More: 9 Indie Tearjerkers Now Streaming on Netflix August can be quite the sluggish month at the movie theater, but Netflix is offering some acclaimed remedies thanks to a handful of new additions that shouldn't be missed. From a pulse-pounding Best Picture winner to quite a few foreign masterpieces, check out all of the new titles hitting the streaming platform next month below: Available 8/1 "Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein" (1999) "Asylum" (2005) "Beneath the Helmet" (2014) "Bride and Prejudice" (2004) "Casting By" (2012) "Dear Frankie" (2004) "Dogs on the Inside" (2014) "Electric Slide" (2014) "Enemy at the Gates" (2001) "Flex is King" (2013) "November Rule" (2015) "Outcast" (2014) "Pants on Fire" (2014) "Sorority Row" (2009) Indiewire Pick: "The Hurt Locker" (2008)Winner of six Academy Awards -- including...

New on Netflix in August: The original series "Narcos," about Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, starring Wagner Moura of "Elysium;" and the site's first Spanish-language original series, "Club de Cuervos," about a brother and sister who inherit a soccer team.

You'll also be able to stream the critically acclaimed film "White Dog," Best Picture Oscar winner "The Hurt Locker," the Kristin Wiig dramedy "Welcome to Me," and Simon Pegg as an assassin in "Kill Me Three Times."

There are also new episodes of "Doctor Who," "Revenge," "Once Upon a Time," "Transporter: The Series," and "GIrl Meets World." Happy binging!

Here's a full rundown of what's new on Netflix in August 2015, provided by Netflix. As always, all titles and dates are subject to change. We've also go you covered in terms of what's leaving Netflix in August 2015, in case you were wondering.​

Available August 1

"Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein" (1999)

"Asylum...

Principal photography underway in the UK on book adaptation.

Cast and crew have set sail for the big-screen adaptation of the film update of Arthur Ransome classic Swallows and Amazons.

Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Jessica Hynes (Shaun of the Dead) and Harry Enfield (Kevin and Perry Go Large) have joined Rafe Spall and Kelly Macdonald in Philippa Lowthorpe’s (Call the Midwife) feature debut, adapted by Andrea Gibb (Dear Frankie).

The Walker and Blackett children will be played by Dane Hughes, Orla Hill, Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen, Bobby McCulloch, Seren Hawkes and Hannah Jayne Thorp.

Principal photography got underway in the Lake District on June 21.

Nick Barton of Harbour Pictures Productions, Nick O’Hagan, and BBC Films’ Joe Oppenheimer, are producers.

Swallows and Amazons follows four children dreaming of an escape from the tedium of a summer holiday with their mother. When finally given permission to camp on their own on a remote island in the middle of a vast...

Exclusive: Iconic UK book series sails to production with Rafe Spall, Kelly Macdonald in lead roles.

StudioCanal has snapped up UK rights to the upcoming feature version of UK classic book series Swallows and Amazons from HanWay Films, which has launched world sales at Cannes.

Boardwalk Empire star Kelly Macdonald has newly joined the Harbour Pictures’ (Calendar Girls) production alongside Rafe Spall (Get Santa) who will lead the cast as the enigmatic Captain Flint.

Philippa Lowthorpe (Jamaica Inn) will direct from a screenplay by Andrea Gibb (Dear Frankie).

Production on the film version will begin in the Lake District this summer. BBC Films and the BFI developed the project and are on-board for production finance.

The film is set over an idyllic English summer holiday where the Walker children and their sailing rivals, the Blacketts, run amok in their boats against the impressive backdrop of the Lake District. But when the Walker’s uncle Jim is revealed...

Ben Child watches thirty minutes of Pixar's first fairytale and finds a courageous story with a feminist and Scottish twist

You might expect a studio with films of the quality of Up, Wall-e, Ratatouille and Toy Story 3 to be excused for making the odd turkey, yet there are still those who haven't forgiven Pixar for churning out the distinctly average Cars 2 last year. They're the studio that are often seen as the antidote to bland Hollywood commercialism, so Cars 2's vapidity stuck in the craw of critics almost as much as the sudden availability of entire fleets of branded merchandise. The good news is that the Emeryville-based production company's latest offering, Brave, has the feel of a stout-hearted return to form, one that doesn't look like a strong candidate for a cynical marketing drive.

On paper, the movie appears an easy target for cynics. It began life under a different director,...

I was sort of split going into my interview with Larry the Cable Guy (Daniel Lawrence Whitney) and Emily Mortimer.

My wife and I are huge fans of Emily’s work in such films as “Dear Frankie”, “City Island” and her hilariously brilliant stint on NBC’s “30 Rock”. On the other end is comedian Larry the Cable Guy, who I only know because of his involvement in these Pixar films and that his catchphrase “get ‘er done” was quite popular for a time.

As actors they have very different bodies of work so I was extremely curious how they would interact with each other during the press questions. In the film, Mater and Holley Shiftwell (Mortimer) spend most of their time on screen together trying to foil the bad guys. However, most people are aware that voicing animated characters doesn’t allow a whole lot of face time between actors,...

That's right people! We hinted about this last week. Not Dimension but Lionsgate will release the first three Scream movies on Blu-ray. The Scream Trilogy will hit store shelves on March 29th which is two weeks before the fourth installment arrives theaters. From the Press Release:

The Fan Favorite Horror Franchise Celebrates 15 Years With Its Premiere Blu-ray Release

Scream

Scream 2

Scream 3

Street Date: 3/29/11

Blu-ray Disc Srp: $19.99 each

Program Description

Celebrating 15 years in horror, the Scream franchise has a brand new film, Scream 4 – hitting theaters April 15th – as well as the Scream trilogy arriving on Blu-ray Disc for the first time ever! Horror fans will scream like never before as Lionsgate debuts Miramax’s Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 3 in 1080P High Definition and 5.1 DTS-hd Master Audio. From the master of horror, Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street), these horror fan favorites feature an all-star cast...

One of the great virtues of Shakespeare's material is its remarkable adaptability. His themes and characters are obviously universal and have resonated with audiences for centuries. One of the favorite tricks of a Shakespearian director is to modernize the setting of the play in order to capture something fresh in the verse. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's necessary. The best live production I ever saw was a fully ruffed, doubleted and hosed "Hamlet." It is interesting, however, to see how a director manages to fit Elizabethan verse in an updated setting. To see how far you can bend the Bard before you break him.

Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut, Coriolanus, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday to rave reviews. While maintaining the original verse, Fiennes has updated the setting from pre-imperial Rome to an anonymously modern civil war-torn state. Coriolanus is a story of blood, violence,...

Open Call Casting For TV Drama

We are currently casting for a 4-part drama for Channel 4.

We are holding an open call on Saturday 15th January between 12pm – 5pm at The Brix at St Matthews, St Matthews Church, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1Jf

At present, we are looking for the following:

Boy – 14-16 yrs old, Black, working class Londoner.

Boy – 14-16 yrs old, of Turkish descent, working class Londoner.

We cannot stress enough that;

No Previous Acting Experience Is Necessary

(just a willingness to come along and try out, nothing ventured nothing gained.) At this stage it will just be a short informal chat on camera, and we can tell you more about the process.

For those who go on to be in the series this will be fully paid work.

Des Hamilton Casting are known in the film industry for launching the careers of kids and adults who have never acted before,...

Open Call Casting For TV Drama

Des Hamilton Casting are currently casting for a 4-part drama for Channel 4:

They are holding an open call This Saturday 4th December between 12pm – 5pm at The Tabernacle, 35 Powis square, off Portobello road, London W11 2Ay.

At present, they are looking for the following:

Boy - 14 yrs old, of Turkish descent, working class Londoner.

Boy -14 yrs old, of Afro Caribbean descent, working class London boy.

Girl - 14-16 yrs old, of Afro Caribbean descent.

No Previous Acting Experience Is Necessary

(just a willingness to come along and try out, nothing ventured nothing gained.)

At this stage it will just be a short informal chat on camera, and we can tell you more about the process.

For those who go on to be in the series this will be fully paid work.

Des Hamilton Casting are known in the film industry for...

Casting For TV Drama

Des Hamilton Casting are currently casting for a 4-part drama for Channel 4:

At present, we are looking for the following:

Boy -14 yrs old, Black, working class London boy.

Boy - 14 yrs old, of Turkish descent, working class Londoner.

Girl - 14-16 yrs old, Black.

We cannot stress enough that;

No Previous Acting Experience Is Necessary

(just a willingness to try out, nothing ventured nothing gained.)

For those who go on to be in the series this will be fully paid work.

For a chance to be in the series just a send photo of yourself and your phone number to rachael@deshamilton.com.

Des Hamilton Casting are known in the film industry for launching the careers of kids and adults who have never acted before, most notably Thomas Turgoose in ‘This is England’ and Jack McElhone in ‘Dear Frankie’. Other recent credits include...