The Girls on the Bus is a political comedy-drama series created by Amy Chozick and Julie Plec. Inspired by Chozick’s 2018 memoir Chasing Hillary, the Max series follows the story of 4 journalists on different sides of political isles as they follow a parade of flawed presidential candidates while bonding with each other. The Girls on the Bus stars Melissa Benoist, Carla Gugino, Christina Elmore, and Natasha Behnam in the lead roles with Brandon Scott, Griffin Dunne, Hettienne Park, Mark Consuelos, Scott Cohen, Kyle Vincent Terry, and P.J. Sosko starring in supporting roles. If you loved all the political satire and friendships in The Girls on the Bus here are some similar shows you could watch next.
Veep (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – HBO
Veep is a political satire and dark comedy series created by Armando Iannucci. The HBO series follows the political career of Selina Meyer as she goes from...
Veep (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – HBO
Veep is a political satire and dark comedy series created by Armando Iannucci. The HBO series follows the political career of Selina Meyer as she goes from...
- 5/12/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
An intense and often funny drama starring the best fake news anchor and created by the guy who has made too many legal dramas and all of them are brilliant. A Man in Full is a drama miniseries created by David E. Kelley. Based on a 1998 novel of the same name by Tom Wolfe, it follows a real estate mogul Charlie Croker as he faces bankruptcy and his enemies circle him to gain something from his misfortune. A Man in Full stars Jeff Daniels in the lead role with Sarah Jones, Diane Lane, Lucy Liu, Tom Pelphrey, Evan Roe, Jon Michael Hill, Josh Pais, and Jerrika Hinton starring in supporting. So, if you loved Daniels’ incredible performance and the story of a man’s fall from grace and too much arrogance in A Man in Full here are some similar shows you could watch next.
Dynasty (Netflix & Rent on Prime...
Dynasty (Netflix & Rent on Prime...
- 5/3/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Apple TV’s “Slow Horses” has quickly become one of television’s most exciting shows. Based on the book by Mick Herron, the show combines razor-sharp writing (from showrunner Will Smith of “The Thick of It” fame) with masterclass acting from the likes of Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas.
The series follows the lives of those working at Slough House, a division of MI5 where disgraced agents who have made mistakes are exiled. It’s full of wit and humor, as one would expect from a show created by an alum of “The Thick of It,” but it’s also a genuine thriller, too, as all the best spy stories are. And critics have fallen for it since its inception, continuing to heap praise on this third season.
Fran Hoepfner (Slate) noted: “Part ‘Killing Eve’, part John le Carré lite, ‘Slow Horses’ continues to stand head and shoulders above...
The series follows the lives of those working at Slough House, a division of MI5 where disgraced agents who have made mistakes are exiled. It’s full of wit and humor, as one would expect from a show created by an alum of “The Thick of It,” but it’s also a genuine thriller, too, as all the best spy stories are. And critics have fallen for it since its inception, continuing to heap praise on this third season.
Fran Hoepfner (Slate) noted: “Part ‘Killing Eve’, part John le Carré lite, ‘Slow Horses’ continues to stand head and shoulders above...
- 4/5/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
I’ll tell you who’s boring: astronauts. Show me an astronaut and I’ll show you someone who’s only ever made sensible choices in life. Study hard, work out, eat right. When you’re driving somebody else’s 10 billion dollar space van, you can’t afford to get creative. That’s why there’s no such thing as a maverick astronaut; the insurance would never cover it. Put an astronaut in a TV show and create an instant vacuum of dull, reliable excellence.
Unpredictable losers in TV shows are much more entertaining. Unpredictable losers whose nihilistic fug conceals a brain sharper than several tacks are even more entertaining than that. And unpredictable losers who’d be just as likely to emit a long and noxious fart as they would to step out of a fourth-floor window or foil a multi-pronged Russian intelligence operation, are the most entertaining of all.
Unpredictable losers in TV shows are much more entertaining. Unpredictable losers whose nihilistic fug conceals a brain sharper than several tacks are even more entertaining than that. And unpredictable losers who’d be just as likely to emit a long and noxious fart as they would to step out of a fourth-floor window or foil a multi-pronged Russian intelligence operation, are the most entertaining of all.
- 3/12/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Criminal Record Review Out ( Photo Credit – Apple TV+ )
Criminal Record Review: Star Rating:
Cast: Peter Capaldi, Cush Jumbo, Zoë Wanamaker, and Charlie Creed-Miles
Creator: Paul Rutman
Director: Jim Loach
Streaming On: Apple TV+
Language: English
Runtime: 8 Episodes, Around 1 hour each
Criminal Record Review Out ( Photo Credit – Apple TV+ / YouTube ) Criminal Record Review: What’s It About
There is nothing like a good mystery, and Paul Rutman, who has served as writer of many intense mystery thrillers like Inspector Lewis and Vera, comes around once again with a new show and a new mystery to unveil; this is the case of Criminal Record a new series developed by Rutman that sees two detectives as they work on a case from different angles, one is trying to reveal the truth while the other is trying to suppress it for his selfish reasons, creating a very compelling moral conflict.
Criminal Record Review:...
Criminal Record Review: Star Rating:
Cast: Peter Capaldi, Cush Jumbo, Zoë Wanamaker, and Charlie Creed-Miles
Creator: Paul Rutman
Director: Jim Loach
Streaming On: Apple TV+
Language: English
Runtime: 8 Episodes, Around 1 hour each
Criminal Record Review Out ( Photo Credit – Apple TV+ / YouTube ) Criminal Record Review: What’s It About
There is nothing like a good mystery, and Paul Rutman, who has served as writer of many intense mystery thrillers like Inspector Lewis and Vera, comes around once again with a new show and a new mystery to unveil; this is the case of Criminal Record a new series developed by Rutman that sees two detectives as they work on a case from different angles, one is trying to reveal the truth while the other is trying to suppress it for his selfish reasons, creating a very compelling moral conflict.
Criminal Record Review:...
- 2/7/2024
- by Nelson Acosta
- KoiMoi
This episodes one and two review contains plot details but is largely spoiler-free.
In eight-part crime thriller Criminal Record, Peter Capaldi’s Dci accuses Cush Jumbo’s DS of unconscious bias. Has she – a woman of colour – automatically believed a tip-off about a West African-British prisoner’s wrongful conviction because she’s primed to see racist conspiracy everywhere? Or is Jumbo’s character simply seeing racist conspiracy because she’s looking right at it?
That mystery is at the centre of this new drama from the makers of ITV’s Vera. Two episodes of writer Paul Rutman’s series are out now on Apple TV+, with the rest to follow weekly on Wednesdays until February 21. Has Jumbo’s DS Lenker stumbled on a corrupt ring of racist cops led by Capaldi’s Dci Dan Hegarty, or is she putting two and two together to make five?
Your take on the ‘Is Hegarty a baddie?...
In eight-part crime thriller Criminal Record, Peter Capaldi’s Dci accuses Cush Jumbo’s DS of unconscious bias. Has she – a woman of colour – automatically believed a tip-off about a West African-British prisoner’s wrongful conviction because she’s primed to see racist conspiracy everywhere? Or is Jumbo’s character simply seeing racist conspiracy because she’s looking right at it?
That mystery is at the centre of this new drama from the makers of ITV’s Vera. Two episodes of writer Paul Rutman’s series are out now on Apple TV+, with the rest to follow weekly on Wednesdays until February 21. Has Jumbo’s DS Lenker stumbled on a corrupt ring of racist cops led by Capaldi’s Dci Dan Hegarty, or is she putting two and two together to make five?
Your take on the ‘Is Hegarty a baddie?...
- 1/10/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
When Peter Capaldi flickers into view on the Zoom call, I half expect him to tell me to “F** Off!”
For TV viewers of a certain age, the 65-year-old Scottish actor will forever be Malcolm Tucker, the supremely sweary spin doctor in Armando Iannucci’s pre-Veep Brit political satire The Thick of It.
“It’s The Thick of It and Doctor Who,” says a charming (and clean-mouthed) Capaldi, about the roles he’s most recognized for (he played the twelfth incarnation of the Doctor in the cult sci-fi series from 2013 to 2017). “Surprisingly, The Thick of It is still incredibly popular [the series wrapped in 2012]. People, generally very cool, smart young people, recognize me from that a lot. They generally just ask me to swear at them.”
Of course, there’s a lot more to Capaldi than Tucker and the Doctor. His scores of film and TV appearances include playing alongside Burt Lancaster in Bill Forsyth’s 1983 classic Local Hero,...
For TV viewers of a certain age, the 65-year-old Scottish actor will forever be Malcolm Tucker, the supremely sweary spin doctor in Armando Iannucci’s pre-Veep Brit political satire The Thick of It.
“It’s The Thick of It and Doctor Who,” says a charming (and clean-mouthed) Capaldi, about the roles he’s most recognized for (he played the twelfth incarnation of the Doctor in the cult sci-fi series from 2013 to 2017). “Surprisingly, The Thick of It is still incredibly popular [the series wrapped in 2012]. People, generally very cool, smart young people, recognize me from that a lot. They generally just ask me to swear at them.”
Of course, there’s a lot more to Capaldi than Tucker and the Doctor. His scores of film and TV appearances include playing alongside Burt Lancaster in Bill Forsyth’s 1983 classic Local Hero,...
- 1/8/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A star and a title of Armando Iannucci’s next film project have both emerged, according to World Of Reel.
Ever a busy bee, The Thick Of It creator Armando Iannucci, currently experiencing a late-career shift into playwriting, is apparently working on a new film.
According to World Of Reel, the film’s name is Growth, with Riz Ahmed attached to star. The synopsis apparently reads as follows:
“A tech drama following the founder of a Snapchat-like social media platform, who races to deal with the company’s exponential growth and devastating leak of users’ private content.”
Iannucci’s first foray into playwriting, Pandemonium, opened at the Soho Theatre in London on the 1st of December. Charting the last few years of calm and uneventful government in the UK, the satirist is also working on a stage adaptation of Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove for a West End debut in 2024.
His last two films,...
Ever a busy bee, The Thick Of It creator Armando Iannucci, currently experiencing a late-career shift into playwriting, is apparently working on a new film.
According to World Of Reel, the film’s name is Growth, with Riz Ahmed attached to star. The synopsis apparently reads as follows:
“A tech drama following the founder of a Snapchat-like social media platform, who races to deal with the company’s exponential growth and devastating leak of users’ private content.”
Iannucci’s first foray into playwriting, Pandemonium, opened at the Soho Theatre in London on the 1st of December. Charting the last few years of calm and uneventful government in the UK, the satirist is also working on a stage adaptation of Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove for a West End debut in 2024.
His last two films,...
- 12/4/2023
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
. Cush Jumbo in “Criminal Record,” premiering January 10, 2024 on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ has revealed the trailer for “Criminal Record,” the new eight-episode, one-hour crime thriller starring Academy Award winner Peter Capaldi and Critics Choice Award nominee Cush Jumbo as detectives in a tug of war over a historic murder conviction. “Criminal Record” will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, followed by new episodes weekly, every Wednesday through February 21. From BAFTA Award nominee Paul Rutman, “Criminal Record” is a powerful, character-driven thriller set in the heart of contemporary London. An anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case – one a young woman in the early stages of her career, the other a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy.
“Criminal Record” stars Capaldi as Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Hegarty, Jumbo as Detective Sergeant June Lenker,...
“Criminal Record” stars Capaldi as Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Hegarty, Jumbo as Detective Sergeant June Lenker,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Horror Director Christopher Smith is getting ready to unleash arachnophobia-inducing horror-comedy madness in Spider Island. The project was announced today by Protagonist Pictures’ CEO Dave Bishop.
Spider Island “follows a group of social media influencers going to the launch party of a new luxury resort on a beautiful island. With deadly spiders.”
The film is written by Christopher Jolley (The Price We Pay) and David Quantick. Vertigo Films will produce the film, and Protagonist Pictures is handling worldwide rights, launching sales ahead of the upcoming American Film Market.
While the specifics behind these lethal spiders remain under wraps, we at least know that they’ll be handled via VFX.
From the press release: “The state-of-the-art VFX will be handled by Automatik VFX, the visual effects studio responsible for the brilliant creature design on Monsters Dark Continent, ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘The Wheel Of Time.’ Seb Barker will serve as VFX supervisor.
Spider Island “follows a group of social media influencers going to the launch party of a new luxury resort on a beautiful island. With deadly spiders.”
The film is written by Christopher Jolley (The Price We Pay) and David Quantick. Vertigo Films will produce the film, and Protagonist Pictures is handling worldwide rights, launching sales ahead of the upcoming American Film Market.
While the specifics behind these lethal spiders remain under wraps, we at least know that they’ll be handled via VFX.
From the press release: “The state-of-the-art VFX will be handled by Automatik VFX, the visual effects studio responsible for the brilliant creature design on Monsters Dark Continent, ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘The Wheel Of Time.’ Seb Barker will serve as VFX supervisor.
- 10/18/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Apple TV+ unveiled a glimpse at “Criminal Record,” its upcoming eight-episode crime thriller starring Academy Award and BAFTA award winner Peter Capaldi, and Laurence Olivier Award and Critics Choice Award nominee Cush Jumbo as detectives in a tug of war over a high-profile murder case. “Criminal Record” will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, January 12, 2024, followed by new episodes every Friday through February 23.
From BAFTA Award nominee Paul Rutman, “Criminal Record” is a powerful, character-driven drama set in the heart of contemporary London. An anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case – one a young woman in the early stages of her career, the other a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy. The series touches on issues of race, institutional failure and the quest to find common ground in a polarized Britain.
Academy Award...
From BAFTA Award nominee Paul Rutman, “Criminal Record” is a powerful, character-driven drama set in the heart of contemporary London. An anonymous phone call draws two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case – one a young woman in the early stages of her career, the other a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy. The series touches on issues of race, institutional failure and the quest to find common ground in a polarized Britain.
Academy Award...
- 10/5/2023
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
No Spaced. No The League of Gentlemen. No Smack the Pony or Goodness Gracious Me or The Royle Family or Brass Eye, or Red Dwarf or Father Ted or anything that belongs to the last century (side note: the late 90s were an incredible time for UK comedy). These are the 40 finest British comedy TV shows that have arrived since the year 2000, as nominated by our writers. Add in your favourites below, and it’s a party.
What’s cheering about this lot, apart from the fact that as comedies, they should all technically cheer us up, is how different they are. There’s the surreal chaos of Year of the Rabbit, and the sweet warmth of Lovesick, the Pythonesque bonkersness of Yonderland, the satirical might of The Thick of It and much more. Something for everyone, you might say.
And to make sure there was enough space to include a wide enough selection,...
What’s cheering about this lot, apart from the fact that as comedies, they should all technically cheer us up, is how different they are. There’s the surreal chaos of Year of the Rabbit, and the sweet warmth of Lovesick, the Pythonesque bonkersness of Yonderland, the satirical might of The Thick of It and much more. Something for everyone, you might say.
And to make sure there was enough space to include a wide enough selection,...
- 9/1/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Succession creator Jesse Armstrong has talked up the benefits of writers rooms for shows of “scale and length” as he threw his support behind the ongoing writers strike.
Armstrong was in conversation with journalist Marina Hyde on the final day of the Edinburgh TV Festival on Friday in the UK, and offered his analysis of writers rooms, which is one of the key sticking points for the AMPTP and WGA negotiations in the U.S.
“If budgets are available and we can get supported, they’re a great way to run some shows of scale and length, so I’m very supportive of the strike,” he said, adding that residuals and AI were issues the WGA was right to be concerned over.
“It’s not like a training program when my fellow writers are on set with me. It’s to make the show better,” he added.
Armstrong famously led...
Armstrong was in conversation with journalist Marina Hyde on the final day of the Edinburgh TV Festival on Friday in the UK, and offered his analysis of writers rooms, which is one of the key sticking points for the AMPTP and WGA negotiations in the U.S.
“If budgets are available and we can get supported, they’re a great way to run some shows of scale and length, so I’m very supportive of the strike,” he said, adding that residuals and AI were issues the WGA was right to be concerned over.
“It’s not like a training program when my fellow writers are on set with me. It’s to make the show better,” he added.
Armstrong famously led...
- 8/27/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Sopranos” was a very perfect TV show to introduce us to the 21st century. Down the line, the silver screen has witnessed some of the most captivating stories ever told, like “Breaking Bad,” “The Wire,” “Brass Eye,” and “The Game of Thrones.”
In the 21st century, big brands such as Netflix, Amazon, and HBO have evolved as pacesetters in the entertainment and streaming space. In this article, we take a trip back in time (more like time traveling) as we highlight some of the best TV shows that have been aired across different streaming platforms.
Related: Top 10 Best TV Series of All Time, Ranked by Viewers
This list of the 25 best TV shows of the 21st century was curated from a 2019 article by The Guardian highlighting the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century (as seen on IMDb).
25. ‘Black Mirror’ (2011-)
“Black Mirror” is a British Anthology Series that...
In the 21st century, big brands such as Netflix, Amazon, and HBO have evolved as pacesetters in the entertainment and streaming space. In this article, we take a trip back in time (more like time traveling) as we highlight some of the best TV shows that have been aired across different streaming platforms.
Related: Top 10 Best TV Series of All Time, Ranked by Viewers
This list of the 25 best TV shows of the 21st century was curated from a 2019 article by The Guardian highlighting the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century (as seen on IMDb).
25. ‘Black Mirror’ (2011-)
“Black Mirror” is a British Anthology Series that...
- 8/24/2023
- by Dee Gambit
- buddytv.com
The Thick of It creator will collaborate with actor Sean Foley on first authorised adaptation of director’s 1964 apocalyptic comedy
Stanley Kubrick’s classic film Dr Strangelove is to be adapted for the stage for the first time.
The 1964 apocalyptic comedy, about a rogue US general who triggers a nuclear crisis and puts the world on the verge of catastrophe when he orders an attack on the Soviet Union, will be adapted by Armando Iannucci, the writer and broadcaster known for political satires including the TV series The Thick of It and the film In the Loop, and the Olivier award-winning actor Sean Foley. Foley will also direct.
Stanley Kubrick’s classic film Dr Strangelove is to be adapted for the stage for the first time.
The 1964 apocalyptic comedy, about a rogue US general who triggers a nuclear crisis and puts the world on the verge of catastrophe when he orders an attack on the Soviet Union, will be adapted by Armando Iannucci, the writer and broadcaster known for political satires including the TV series The Thick of It and the film In the Loop, and the Olivier award-winning actor Sean Foley. Foley will also direct.
- 7/15/2023
- by Dahaba Ali Hussen
- The Guardian - Film News
There’s a British invasion happening at Comcast! British-specialty streaming service BritBox has signed a multi-year with Comcast that will make the platform available in 20 million households in the United States via Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, and Xumo TV.
7-Day Free Trial $7.99 / month via Amazon Prime Video
Xfinity subscribers will be able to add BritBox to their subscription plans at $7.99 per month, or $79.99 per year, the same as other markets, including Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Roku. However, the benefit of signing up through Comcast is that the subscription will be included in the customers’ cable and internet bills.
“BritBox is a great addition to our entertainment platforms…all seamlessly integrated in one experience alongside their other entertainment,” Comcast VP Sudhir Muralidhar said.
The BBC Studios and ITV Studios streamer has had a strong start since its U.S. launch in 2017, reaching 3 million global subscribers in the U.S., United Kingdom,...
7-Day Free Trial $7.99 / month via Amazon Prime Video
Xfinity subscribers will be able to add BritBox to their subscription plans at $7.99 per month, or $79.99 per year, the same as other markets, including Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Roku. However, the benefit of signing up through Comcast is that the subscription will be included in the customers’ cable and internet bills.
“BritBox is a great addition to our entertainment platforms…all seamlessly integrated in one experience alongside their other entertainment,” Comcast VP Sudhir Muralidhar said.
The BBC Studios and ITV Studios streamer has had a strong start since its U.S. launch in 2017, reaching 3 million global subscribers in the U.S., United Kingdom,...
- 6/15/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Russell T. Davies addressed the U.S. writers strike for the first time at the London Screenwriters Everywhere protest this afternoon.
Speaking with Deadline on the ground, the Doctor Who showrunner said he believes the issues around the strike haven’t been created by producers or executive producers but by the ignorance of executives at the higher boardroom level “who I’m not even sure are listening.”
“That’s the problem. We need to get rid of them,” Davies said.
When asked what he thinks needs to change to end the strike, Davies said terms between writers and the studios “just need to be humane.”
Davies added that he turned up today to show solidarity with the WGA and predicted that the issues writers face in the U.S. will eventually plague the UK industry.
“I know that what happens in America happens here. These problems will be coming this way.
Speaking with Deadline on the ground, the Doctor Who showrunner said he believes the issues around the strike haven’t been created by producers or executive producers but by the ignorance of executives at the higher boardroom level “who I’m not even sure are listening.”
“That’s the problem. We need to get rid of them,” Davies said.
When asked what he thinks needs to change to end the strike, Davies said terms between writers and the studios “just need to be humane.”
Davies added that he turned up today to show solidarity with the WGA and predicted that the issues writers face in the U.S. will eventually plague the UK industry.
“I know that what happens in America happens here. These problems will be coming this way.
- 6/14/2023
- by Max Goldbart and Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: This post contains details of tonight’s Succession series finale.
In the end, heavy is the sycophantic head that wears the crown, as the series finale of Succession proved tonight.
“You f*ckin’ grabbed the crown, the two of you,” proclaims Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) as she sticks another blade into her hapless brothers in the “With Open Eyes” episode of the Jesse Armstrong-created satire. “Dad died and you f*cking grabbed the crown, and you pushed me out, so I don’t know why I’m the (expletive) here,” she tells the still scheming Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and bruised Roman (Kieran Culkin) with a beautiful Caribbean sunset in the background.
“So, f*ck off, okay? I won and I’m sorry for winning, but I did …I played it better.”
Not really, at least not in the way Snook’s character thought.
For all the gloating,...
In the end, heavy is the sycophantic head that wears the crown, as the series finale of Succession proved tonight.
“You f*ckin’ grabbed the crown, the two of you,” proclaims Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) as she sticks another blade into her hapless brothers in the “With Open Eyes” episode of the Jesse Armstrong-created satire. “Dad died and you f*cking grabbed the crown, and you pushed me out, so I don’t know why I’m the (expletive) here,” she tells the still scheming Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and bruised Roman (Kieran Culkin) with a beautiful Caribbean sunset in the background.
“So, f*ck off, okay? I won and I’m sorry for winning, but I did …I played it better.”
Not really, at least not in the way Snook’s character thought.
For all the gloating,...
- 5/29/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Jesse Armstrong will reveal the secrets of Succession in a talk at the Edinburgh TV Festival this year.
The HBO show’s creator will feature in an In Conversation session with journalist Marina Hyde. He’ll discuss all things Roy family, career highlights and what he’ll do next. Succession ends this Sunday on HBO after four seasons and numerous Emmy and BAFTA Awards.
Besides creating Succession, which tells the story of media mogul Logan Roy and his ambitious but incapable children, Armstrong is the co-creator of cult British comedies Peep Show, The Thick of It and Fresh Meat. He also received an Academy Award nomination for scripting satire In the Loop and was a co-writer on Chris Morris comedy Four Lions.
Succession has been dominating the news narrative this week ahead of the finale. Logan Roy actor Brian Cox yesterday told a BBC program his character was written...
The HBO show’s creator will feature in an In Conversation session with journalist Marina Hyde. He’ll discuss all things Roy family, career highlights and what he’ll do next. Succession ends this Sunday on HBO after four seasons and numerous Emmy and BAFTA Awards.
Besides creating Succession, which tells the story of media mogul Logan Roy and his ambitious but incapable children, Armstrong is the co-creator of cult British comedies Peep Show, The Thick of It and Fresh Meat. He also received an Academy Award nomination for scripting satire In the Loop and was a co-writer on Chris Morris comedy Four Lions.
Succession has been dominating the news narrative this week ahead of the finale. Logan Roy actor Brian Cox yesterday told a BBC program his character was written...
- 5/25/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the best ways a TV show can distinguish itself from the pack is by developing a vocabulary and cadence that’s completely its own. “Seinfeld” turned long, rambling conversations about nothing into an artform. “Gilmore Girls” had viewers struggling to keep up with the leads’ motor-mouthed wordplay. And every Aaron Sorkin show has the signature grand speeches, and the almost musically precise line readings that made “The West Wing” a pioneering force in prestige TV.
Now, in an age when too many shows and movies have the same strained, pop culture heavy snark leaving their characters lips, there is “Succession.” Created by Jesse Armstrong, HBO’s juggernaut series about the power plays of the media mogul Roy family carries much of the same DNA from the British writer’s prior work on series like “Peep Show” and “The Thick of It.” The latter series, especially, has the same kind of colorful,...
Now, in an age when too many shows and movies have the same strained, pop culture heavy snark leaving their characters lips, there is “Succession.” Created by Jesse Armstrong, HBO’s juggernaut series about the power plays of the media mogul Roy family carries much of the same DNA from the British writer’s prior work on series like “Peep Show” and “The Thick of It.” The latter series, especially, has the same kind of colorful,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Wilson Chapman and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
The BBC first announced it was making six-part comedy thriller Black Ops back in June 2021 – and boy is it worth the wait.
Created by Famalam’s BAFTA-winning duo of Gbemisola Ikumelo and Akemnji Ndifornyen, it follows two inexperienced Community Support Officers – Ikumelo plays Dom alongside The Wheel of Time’s Hammed Animashaun as Kay – who get recruited into a perilous undercover Met Police operation infiltrating a London drug gang.
There are so many elements that combine to make Black Ops a joyous must-watch:
1. You’ll Instantly Love The Characters
The sibling-like partnership between Dom and Kay makes us feel immediately at ease in their world. So when the enigmatic Di Clinton Blair covertly approaches them to join his “off the books” undercover operation in episode one, we’re invested in their story from the off.
Dom is smart, quick-thinking but also ultimately immature and quite spoiled – she lives at home...
Created by Famalam’s BAFTA-winning duo of Gbemisola Ikumelo and Akemnji Ndifornyen, it follows two inexperienced Community Support Officers – Ikumelo plays Dom alongside The Wheel of Time’s Hammed Animashaun as Kay – who get recruited into a perilous undercover Met Police operation infiltrating a London drug gang.
There are so many elements that combine to make Black Ops a joyous must-watch:
1. You’ll Instantly Love The Characters
The sibling-like partnership between Dom and Kay makes us feel immediately at ease in their world. So when the enigmatic Di Clinton Blair covertly approaches them to join his “off the books” undercover operation in episode one, we’re invested in their story from the off.
Dom is smart, quick-thinking but also ultimately immature and quite spoiled – she lives at home...
- 5/12/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Adaptation
“Tabby McTat,” the lively children’s story by writer Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, is set to get the BBC treatment with a new adaptation by longtime Donaldson/Scheffler collaborators Magic Light Pictures. “Doctor Who” star Jodie Whittaker will narrate the tale about a cat who gets separated from his owner while Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú (“Gangs of London”) will voice Tabby. Other stars lending their voices to the short include Rob Brydon (“Gavin and Stacey”), Cariad Lloyd (“Peep Show”), Joanna Scanlan (“The Thick of It”) and Susan Wokoma (“Enola Holmes”).
“Superworm” directors Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman will helm the project, which was written by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang. Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures will produce. BBC chief content office Charlotte Moore and BBC drama commissioning editor Nawfal Faizullah acquired the film for the BBC. Red Star Studio will provide animation services.
Disney Season...
“Tabby McTat,” the lively children’s story by writer Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, is set to get the BBC treatment with a new adaptation by longtime Donaldson/Scheffler collaborators Magic Light Pictures. “Doctor Who” star Jodie Whittaker will narrate the tale about a cat who gets separated from his owner while Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú (“Gangs of London”) will voice Tabby. Other stars lending their voices to the short include Rob Brydon (“Gavin and Stacey”), Cariad Lloyd (“Peep Show”), Joanna Scanlan (“The Thick of It”) and Susan Wokoma (“Enola Holmes”).
“Superworm” directors Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman will helm the project, which was written by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang. Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures will produce. BBC chief content office Charlotte Moore and BBC drama commissioning editor Nawfal Faizullah acquired the film for the BBC. Red Star Studio will provide animation services.
Disney Season...
- 5/11/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
‘Doctor Who’ Unveils Jonathan Groff First Look
Jonathan Groff has begun filming his Doctor Who scenes and the BBC has unveiled a first look. The BBC is keeping details about Groff’s character close to its chest but the images show him dressed in Victorian-style clothing flanked by the new doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, and Millie Gibson, who is playing companion Ruby Sunday. Groff, who shot to fame in Glee and has since starred in the likes of Knock at the Cabin, Mindhunter and The Matrix Resurrections, is one of the most high profile stars to have landed a role in the new season, which will air later this year. The likes of Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney and RuPaul star Jinx Monsoon have also boarded, while David Tennant and Catherine Tate are returning for anniversary specials. Upon the Groff news last week, showrunner Russell T Davies called his signature “an incredible coup.
Jonathan Groff has begun filming his Doctor Who scenes and the BBC has unveiled a first look. The BBC is keeping details about Groff’s character close to its chest but the images show him dressed in Victorian-style clothing flanked by the new doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, and Millie Gibson, who is playing companion Ruby Sunday. Groff, who shot to fame in Glee and has since starred in the likes of Knock at the Cabin, Mindhunter and The Matrix Resurrections, is one of the most high profile stars to have landed a role in the new season, which will air later this year. The likes of Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney and RuPaul star Jinx Monsoon have also boarded, while David Tennant and Catherine Tate are returning for anniversary specials. Upon the Groff news last week, showrunner Russell T Davies called his signature “an incredible coup.
- 5/11/2023
- by Jesse Whittock and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The BBC is considering a U-turn on closing BBC4 as a television channel amid solid ratings and a backlash against cuts at the corporation.
The BBC said last year that it would shut down BBC4’s linear channel and move the brand online from 2025 as part of plans to become a “digital first” broadcaster.
Deadline hears, however, that the BBC’s content team is considering maintaining the channel given its relatively low running costs and popularity with viewers.
Sources said no decision has been made, but there is growing confidence it could be rescued. “Tim [Davie] is minded to save BBC4,” said one source familiar with the Director-General’s thinking.
Another BBC insider said the position has not changed since last May, when Davie announced that BBC4 would move online alongside children’s channel Cbbc.
BBC4 has been hollowed out to become largely an archive service, where highbrow comedy and...
The BBC said last year that it would shut down BBC4’s linear channel and move the brand online from 2025 as part of plans to become a “digital first” broadcaster.
Deadline hears, however, that the BBC’s content team is considering maintaining the channel given its relatively low running costs and popularity with viewers.
Sources said no decision has been made, but there is growing confidence it could be rescued. “Tim [Davie] is minded to save BBC4,” said one source familiar with the Director-General’s thinking.
Another BBC insider said the position has not changed since last May, when Davie announced that BBC4 would move online alongside children’s channel Cbbc.
BBC4 has been hollowed out to become largely an archive service, where highbrow comedy and...
- 3/31/2023
- by Jake Kanter and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK owes many of its proudest creations to other countries. Our national dish is chicken tikka masala, the Romans gave us everything from plumbing to underfloor heating, and let’s not even get started on the Royal family.
So it should come as no surprise that some top UK TV shows are based on original series from around the world. Some of these are obvious, like Drag Race UK and Law & Order being imported from the US, or The Masked Singer originating in South Korea, but some UK remakes are less up front about their international origins.
Hullraisers
Lucy Beaumont developed this Hull-based sitcom about the lives of three hilarious, bawdy and chaotic women, which debuted on Channel 4 in spring 2022 and has already been commissioned for a second series. But despite being a gorgeous and all-too-rare depiction of working-class British wit, Hullraisers is actually based on an Israeli sitcom called Little Mom,...
So it should come as no surprise that some top UK TV shows are based on original series from around the world. Some of these are obvious, like Drag Race UK and Law & Order being imported from the US, or The Masked Singer originating in South Korea, but some UK remakes are less up front about their international origins.
Hullraisers
Lucy Beaumont developed this Hull-based sitcom about the lives of three hilarious, bawdy and chaotic women, which debuted on Channel 4 in spring 2022 and has already been commissioned for a second series. But despite being a gorgeous and all-too-rare depiction of working-class British wit, Hullraisers is actually based on an Israeli sitcom called Little Mom,...
- 3/14/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Michael Caine has lashed out at the claim one of his films might inspire possible terrorists.
The actor questioned the 1964 film Zulu’s recent labelling as a “key text” for “white nationalists and supremacists”.
Zulu depicts the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, which occurred during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.
According to William Shawcross’ research into the counter-terrorisim programme Prevent, the film could provide inspiration for members of the far-right.
Alongside Zulu, war film The Dam Busters was also named by Shawcross as well as political sitcoms Yes Minister and The Thick of It. The complete works of William Shakespeare were flagged, too.
Caine, who turns 90 on Tuesday (14 March), condemned Zulu’s placement to The Spectator, calling it the “biggest load of bulls***”.
The actor said in the new interview he has no career regrets, stating: “There are no films I wish I hadn’t made. I got paid for all of them.
The actor questioned the 1964 film Zulu’s recent labelling as a “key text” for “white nationalists and supremacists”.
Zulu depicts the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, which occurred during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.
According to William Shawcross’ research into the counter-terrorisim programme Prevent, the film could provide inspiration for members of the far-right.
Alongside Zulu, war film The Dam Busters was also named by Shawcross as well as political sitcoms Yes Minister and The Thick of It. The complete works of William Shakespeare were flagged, too.
Caine, who turns 90 on Tuesday (14 March), condemned Zulu’s placement to The Spectator, calling it the “biggest load of bulls***”.
The actor said in the new interview he has no career regrets, stating: “There are no films I wish I hadn’t made. I got paid for all of them.
- 3/9/2023
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - Film
For the past month, news in the tabletop space was dominated by the battle between Wizards of the Coast and "Dungeons & Dragons" creators over the Open Game License (or Ogl). That controversy has come and gone (at least for the time being), leaving us space to once more discuss other tabletop news that intersects with popular culture. It doesn't have to be all "Dungeons & Dragons" all the time around these parts! We are equal-opportunity cardboard lovers.
In the latest edition of Cardboard Cinema, we're looking at an update to the much-beloved roleplaying game "Alice Is Missing" and a few movie-inspired RPGs in February's ZineQuest celebrations. We also share distressing news about everyone's favorite board game brawler, and the latest and greatest "Star Wars" game to grace our tables.
Alice Is Missing Gets Bigger
If you've read any tabletop coverage at /Film, you already know we're big fans of "Alice Is Missing,...
In the latest edition of Cardboard Cinema, we're looking at an update to the much-beloved roleplaying game "Alice Is Missing" and a few movie-inspired RPGs in February's ZineQuest celebrations. We also share distressing news about everyone's favorite board game brawler, and the latest and greatest "Star Wars" game to grace our tables.
Alice Is Missing Gets Bigger
If you've read any tabletop coverage at /Film, you already know we're big fans of "Alice Is Missing,...
- 2/24/2023
- by Matthew Monagle
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Vertigo Releasing has set a January 20th North American release for BAFTA winner After Love, marking the company’s first stateside theatrical release.
Aleem Khan’s well-received debut stars Joanna Scanlan (The Thick of It), Nathalie Richard and Tali Ariss in the story of a widow who discovers her husband’s secret family after his unexpected death.
Scanlan plays Mary, a white English woman who converted to islam when she married her Pakistani husband, Ahmed, and they settled in Dover, England. Following Ahmed’s unexpected death, Mary discovers that her late husband had a secret life just twenty-one miles away across the Channel in Calais, France. The shocking discovery compels her to go there to find out more, and as she grapples with her shattered sense of identity, her search for understanding has surprising consequences.
UK distributor and producer Vertigo will release the film on at least 20 screens stateside,...
Aleem Khan’s well-received debut stars Joanna Scanlan (The Thick of It), Nathalie Richard and Tali Ariss in the story of a widow who discovers her husband’s secret family after his unexpected death.
Scanlan plays Mary, a white English woman who converted to islam when she married her Pakistani husband, Ahmed, and they settled in Dover, England. Following Ahmed’s unexpected death, Mary discovers that her late husband had a secret life just twenty-one miles away across the Channel in Calais, France. The shocking discovery compels her to go there to find out more, and as she grapples with her shattered sense of identity, her search for understanding has surprising consequences.
UK distributor and producer Vertigo will release the film on at least 20 screens stateside,...
- 12/22/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO’s comedy pilot about the making of a franchise superhero movie has set its main cast, Variety has learned.
Billy Magnussen, Jessica Hynes, Darren Goldstein, Lolly Adefope, and Isaac Powell have been cast as series regulars, while Daniel Brühl and Richard E. Grant have been cast in recurring guest star roles in the pilot, which is titled “The Franchise.”
Per the official logline, the project follows “a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?”
The pilot was originally commissioned at HBO in August. According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Sam Mendes came up with the original idea for the show and put the project together. Jon Brown...
Billy Magnussen, Jessica Hynes, Darren Goldstein, Lolly Adefope, and Isaac Powell have been cast as series regulars, while Daniel Brühl and Richard E. Grant have been cast in recurring guest star roles in the pilot, which is titled “The Franchise.”
Per the official logline, the project follows “a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?”
The pilot was originally commissioned at HBO in August. According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Sam Mendes came up with the original idea for the show and put the project together. Jon Brown...
- 12/16/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Former Heyday President Tom Winchester’s Pure Fiction Staffs Up
Former Heyday Television President Tom Winchester’s fledgling See-Saw Films-backed indie Pure Fiction Television has signed Euston Films and Urban Myths Films execs in its first major play. Euston’s Laura Klimke joins as Executive Producer and former Urban Myth Development Exec Yolanda Lee becomes Development Executive. Past credits for the pair include ITV’s The Sister, BBC Three’s Wreck and War of the Worlds. Pure Fiction has also hired Development Coordinator Musanna Ahmed. The trio will work on a slate focused on “prestige commercial content,” seeking IP and original ideas. The company was launched earlier this year by Winchester, backed by Power of the Dog producer See-Saw and talent agency Hamilton Hodell. Winchester spent three-and-a-half years as President of David Heyman’s Heyday, overseeing the likes of Netflix’s Clickbait and hiring teams in London and LA.
Former Heyday Television President Tom Winchester’s fledgling See-Saw Films-backed indie Pure Fiction Television has signed Euston Films and Urban Myths Films execs in its first major play. Euston’s Laura Klimke joins as Executive Producer and former Urban Myth Development Exec Yolanda Lee becomes Development Executive. Past credits for the pair include ITV’s The Sister, BBC Three’s Wreck and War of the Worlds. Pure Fiction has also hired Development Coordinator Musanna Ahmed. The trio will work on a slate focused on “prestige commercial content,” seeking IP and original ideas. The company was launched earlier this year by Winchester, backed by Power of the Dog producer See-Saw and talent agency Hamilton Hodell. Winchester spent three-and-a-half years as President of David Heyman’s Heyday, overseeing the likes of Netflix’s Clickbait and hiring teams in London and LA.
- 11/3/2022
- by Max Goldbart, Zac Ntim and Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
One of Amazon Prime’s most recent releases, The Devil’s Hour premiered on 28th October, and is a twisty, high-concept thriller that will keep you guessing all the way through its six episodes.
The series is written by Tom Moran, and comes from the team behind Sherlock and Dracula, including former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat. The plot centres on a troubled woman who wakes up every night at 3.33am – the so-called devil’s hour – and sees terrifying visions, which get her caught up in a series of brutal murders and a disappearance from many years ago.
The show boasts an impressive lineup of acting talent – so let’s meet the cast of The Devil’s Hour:
Peter Capaldi as Gideon Shepherd
Capaldi plays the reclusive Gideon, an apparently murderous obsessive on a mission, and a mysterious, enigmatic figure. We’ve recently rounded up Peter Capaldi’s best roles, but...
The series is written by Tom Moran, and comes from the team behind Sherlock and Dracula, including former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat. The plot centres on a troubled woman who wakes up every night at 3.33am – the so-called devil’s hour – and sees terrifying visions, which get her caught up in a series of brutal murders and a disappearance from many years ago.
The show boasts an impressive lineup of acting talent – so let’s meet the cast of The Devil’s Hour:
Peter Capaldi as Gideon Shepherd
Capaldi plays the reclusive Gideon, an apparently murderous obsessive on a mission, and a mysterious, enigmatic figure. We’ve recently rounded up Peter Capaldi’s best roles, but...
- 11/1/2022
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Not only the Twelfth Doctor, but also an Oscar-winnning writer-director for his short film Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life, Peter Capaldi’s career spans almost four decades of impressive, inventive performances. Capaldi first truly captured the nation’s heart when he became sweary spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It in 2005, a role that could only be eclipsed for some by his stint in the Tardis.
After three glorious years of his Doctor, a terrific turn in The Personal History of David Copperfield, and popping up in the comic book world of The Suicide Squad, Capaldi’s latest venture – thriller The Devil’s Hour – is out now on Prime Video and reminding us what makes him so captivating on screen. Let’s revisit some of Peter Capaldi’s finest performances.
Local Hero (1983)
Capaldi was just 25 when he landed one of his first roles in Local Hero, a warm,...
After three glorious years of his Doctor, a terrific turn in The Personal History of David Copperfield, and popping up in the comic book world of The Suicide Squad, Capaldi’s latest venture – thriller The Devil’s Hour – is out now on Prime Video and reminding us what makes him so captivating on screen. Let’s revisit some of Peter Capaldi’s finest performances.
Local Hero (1983)
Capaldi was just 25 when he landed one of his first roles in Local Hero, a warm,...
- 10/29/2022
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
"Andor," if you will forgive me for being forward, is readily the best live-action "Star Wars" show made to date (with no offense intended to our beloved helmeted himbo Din Djarin and his son Grogu). But more than that, it's a streaming series that's actively redefining what a Star War can even be, now that George Lucas' mega-successful creation is residing under the watchful eye of Sauron Mickey Mouse.
Created by credited "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" co-writer Tony Gilroy, who was heavily involved in the film's reshoots, "Andor" might give off the impression of being a typical origin story for its namesake, "Rogue One" lead Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). In motion, however, it plays far less like your average "Star Wars" adventure tale offering something for viewers of all ages, and more like an adult sci-fi drama. Moreover, with its focus on the mundanities of Imperial bureaucracy and...
Created by credited "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" co-writer Tony Gilroy, who was heavily involved in the film's reshoots, "Andor" might give off the impression of being a typical origin story for its namesake, "Rogue One" lead Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). In motion, however, it plays far less like your average "Star Wars" adventure tale offering something for viewers of all ages, and more like an adult sci-fi drama. Moreover, with its focus on the mundanities of Imperial bureaucracy and...
- 10/25/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
On Thursday, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss announced her intention to resign as leader of the Conservative Party, with a leadership election set for next week.
Truss’ exit was swift — she served as Pm for 44 days, 10 of which were dedicated to public mourning for Queen Elizabeth II — but the decision was unsurprising to many, including Scottish satirist and writer Armando Iannucci, who appeared to respond to the news on Twitter by immediately posting a scene from his television series “The Thick of It.”
https://t.co/7rIba8iyQV
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) October 20, 2022
“The Thick of It,” which began in 2005 and ran until 2012 (four series and two specials for a total of 23 episodes), was a brutal satire of the British government, focusing on the employees of the fictional Department of Social Affairs as they contend with constant media controversies and power plays. The clip Iannucci shared comes from the third series,...
Truss’ exit was swift — she served as Pm for 44 days, 10 of which were dedicated to public mourning for Queen Elizabeth II — but the decision was unsurprising to many, including Scottish satirist and writer Armando Iannucci, who appeared to respond to the news on Twitter by immediately posting a scene from his television series “The Thick of It.”
https://t.co/7rIba8iyQV
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) October 20, 2022
“The Thick of It,” which began in 2005 and ran until 2012 (four series and two specials for a total of 23 episodes), was a brutal satire of the British government, focusing on the employees of the fictional Department of Social Affairs as they contend with constant media controversies and power plays. The clip Iannucci shared comes from the third series,...
- 10/20/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
A 100th anniversary is a milestone in the history of any institution. In the case of the BBC, the centenary of its founding on 18 October 1922 triggers a rush of memories, a landslide of couch-bound nostalgia. But whether it’s Doctor Who’s Dalek battles, David Attenborough striking up a bromance with a family of gorillas, or Line of Duty’s Ted Hastings invoking “Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey”, the sweep of the corporation’s output across the past century is impossible to condense into a few paragraphs. Still, we’ve tried to pull together some of the most iconic shows of those 10 decades, from drama and documentary to comedy via arts, music and science fiction. All are iconic in their own right. Together they are a portrait of a time, a country, and a belief in broadcasting as a force for good in the world.
20. Line of Duty (2012 – 2021)
Mother of God,...
20. Line of Duty (2012 – 2021)
Mother of God,...
- 10/18/2022
- by Ed Power
- The Independent - TV
In the near future, cruises might not be exclusively on the ocean. Some of them could be in outer space. Of course, everything becomes way more complicated inspace if something goes wrong, as it does on the eight-week cruise of the luxury ship Avenue 5. The HBO series "Avenue 5" stars Hugh Laurie as the (sort of) captain of the vessel, which is knocked off course in season 1 and faces a three-and-a-half-year journey home. But now it's increased to eight years, and things are only getting worse!
If you haven't seen this show that launched days before the pandemic lockdown in 2020, you simply must catch up. It's not only funny enough that I recommend waterproof mascara, but it's the perfect encapsulation of what life was like in isolation. "Avenue 5" may put you off space travel, but it's got one of the best comedy casts on television, with Josh Gad ("Frozen"), Zach Woods...
If you haven't seen this show that launched days before the pandemic lockdown in 2020, you simply must catch up. It's not only funny enough that I recommend waterproof mascara, but it's the perfect encapsulation of what life was like in isolation. "Avenue 5" may put you off space travel, but it's got one of the best comedy casts on television, with Josh Gad ("Frozen"), Zach Woods...
- 10/10/2022
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
TV show creator Armando Iannucci has opposed those who have labelled the casting choices of Doctor Who as “woke”.
Iannucci, who is behind programmes such as The Thick of It and Veep, recently spoke at the MacTaggart Legacy panel as part of the Edinburgh International TV Festival.
Joined by writer and producer Jack Thorne, British historian and broadcaster David Olusoga OBE, and Channel 4's former Head of News and Current Affairs Dorothy Byrne, the writer discussed making programmes and films that feel representative of the UK.
“British television is great, we want it to be even better, and it can only be better if it’s much more reflective of who we are, as a country and as an audience,” he explained.
In Iannucci’s 2019 film The Personal History of David Copperfield, Dev Patel played the title role – a move that the creator described as “colourblind casting” and something...
Iannucci, who is behind programmes such as The Thick of It and Veep, recently spoke at the MacTaggart Legacy panel as part of the Edinburgh International TV Festival.
Joined by writer and producer Jack Thorne, British historian and broadcaster David Olusoga OBE, and Channel 4's former Head of News and Current Affairs Dorothy Byrne, the writer discussed making programmes and films that feel representative of the UK.
“British television is great, we want it to be even better, and it can only be better if it’s much more reflective of who we are, as a country and as an audience,” he explained.
In Iannucci’s 2019 film The Personal History of David Copperfield, Dev Patel played the title role – a move that the creator described as “colourblind casting” and something...
- 8/25/2022
- by Nicole Vassell
- The Independent - TV
Click here to read the full article.
The conservative U.K. government has “weaponized” the word “woke,” Veep creator Armando Iannucci told the Edinburgh TV Festival on Wednesday.
Events like the festival’s prestigious MacTaggart Lecture, which tend to focus on big issues that deserve attention, make “what we make better,” the writer and producer known for The Thick of It and The Death of Stalin said via Zoom, during a panel featuring four previous Edinburgh Festival MacTaggart keynote speakers.
“My worry is that there is now this word ‘woke’ that the government has weaponized to try and stop all of that,” he added. “With Boris Johnson exiting as U.K. Prime Minister in early September, he talked about foreign secretary Liz Truss, the favorite to succeed him. “I want someone to ask Liz Truss if she wants Doctor Who to just be a white man.”
He added: “If she can be...
The conservative U.K. government has “weaponized” the word “woke,” Veep creator Armando Iannucci told the Edinburgh TV Festival on Wednesday.
Events like the festival’s prestigious MacTaggart Lecture, which tend to focus on big issues that deserve attention, make “what we make better,” the writer and producer known for The Thick of It and The Death of Stalin said via Zoom, during a panel featuring four previous Edinburgh Festival MacTaggart keynote speakers.
“My worry is that there is now this word ‘woke’ that the government has weaponized to try and stop all of that,” he added. “With Boris Johnson exiting as U.K. Prime Minister in early September, he talked about foreign secretary Liz Truss, the favorite to succeed him. “I want someone to ask Liz Truss if she wants Doctor Who to just be a white man.”
He added: “If she can be...
- 8/24/2022
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Armando Iannucci is returning to HBO once again.
The network has ordered a pilot for “The Franchise,” a new satire which will see the “Veep” creator turn his eye for institutional dysfunction toward an industry that has no shortage of it: Hollywood. The series will follow the behind-the-scenes drama on the set of a “dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making,” as the cast and crew of a fictional franchise wonder if their jobs have any meaning, per the announcement.
The script was written by Jon Brown and Keith Akushie, with Iannucci collaborating with them on the pilot story. Iannucci will serve as an executive producer alongside Sam Mendes, who is also directing the pilot. Pippa Harris, Nicolas Brown, and Julie Pastor are also producing.
The pairing of Iannucci and Mendes is an exciting one for fans of British film and television. The two have never collaborated before, but...
The network has ordered a pilot for “The Franchise,” a new satire which will see the “Veep” creator turn his eye for institutional dysfunction toward an industry that has no shortage of it: Hollywood. The series will follow the behind-the-scenes drama on the set of a “dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making,” as the cast and crew of a fictional franchise wonder if their jobs have any meaning, per the announcement.
The script was written by Jon Brown and Keith Akushie, with Iannucci collaborating with them on the pilot story. Iannucci will serve as an executive producer alongside Sam Mendes, who is also directing the pilot. Pippa Harris, Nicolas Brown, and Julie Pastor are also producing.
The pairing of Iannucci and Mendes is an exciting one for fans of British film and television. The two have never collaborated before, but...
- 8/8/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
HBO has ordered a comedy pilot about the making of a superhero movie, Variety has learned.
The half-hour pilot is titled “The Franchise.” It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?
According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Sam Mendes came up with the original idea for the show. The pilot story was written by Jon Brown, Keith Akushie and Armando Iannucci, with Brown and Akushie writing the pilot. Brown will also serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner, with Akushie executive producing and writing. Marina Hyde is attached as writer and executive producer. Iannucci will executive produce via Dundee Productions. Mendes is attached to direct the...
The half-hour pilot is titled “The Franchise.” It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?
According to an individual with knowledge of the project, Sam Mendes came up with the original idea for the show. The pilot story was written by Jon Brown, Keith Akushie and Armando Iannucci, with Brown and Akushie writing the pilot. Brown will also serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner, with Akushie executive producing and writing. Marina Hyde is attached as writer and executive producer. Iannucci will executive produce via Dundee Productions. Mendes is attached to direct the...
- 8/8/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Having already seemingly landed a winner in Slow Horses, Apple TV+ has added another London-based thriller to its growing stable.
The streamer has made an eight-episode series order for Criminal Record, a new one-hour thriller starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo as detectives in a tug of war over a historic murder conviction. From BAFTA Award nominee Paul Rutman (Vera, Indian Summers), the series is currently in production in London and is produced for Apple TV+ by Tod Productions and Stv Studios.
Described by Apple as a “powerful, character-driven thriller set in the heart of contemporary London,” the show sees an anonymous phone call draw two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case: one a young woman in the early stages of her career; the other, a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy. The series touches on issues of race,...
Having already seemingly landed a winner in Slow Horses, Apple TV+ has added another London-based thriller to its growing stable.
The streamer has made an eight-episode series order for Criminal Record, a new one-hour thriller starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo as detectives in a tug of war over a historic murder conviction. From BAFTA Award nominee Paul Rutman (Vera, Indian Summers), the series is currently in production in London and is produced for Apple TV+ by Tod Productions and Stv Studios.
Described by Apple as a “powerful, character-driven thriller set in the heart of contemporary London,” the show sees an anonymous phone call draw two brilliant detectives into a confrontation over an old murder case: one a young woman in the early stages of her career; the other, a well-connected man determined to protect his legacy. The series touches on issues of race,...
- 6/20/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
United Talent Agency has acquired the legacy UK literary and talent agency Curtis Brown Group, UTA announced Monday.
Curtis Brown Group, which was founded in 1899, will continue to operate under its current name and management, including CEO Jonny Geller (pictured above at center). But the deal expands UTA’s international footprint and this structure will allow both Curtis Brown Group and UTA to continue their longstanding relationships with other agency partners in the UK and U.S.
Curtis Brown has more than 240 employees and is expected to continue to grow as a result of this deal. No staffing reductions are anticipated due to this transaction. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Also Read:
UTA Acquires Analytics Firm MediaHound
The alliance provides Curtis Brown Group with resources to continue to build out its business, and the benefit of UTA’s expertise across a wide range of capabilities in such areas as brands,...
Curtis Brown Group, which was founded in 1899, will continue to operate under its current name and management, including CEO Jonny Geller (pictured above at center). But the deal expands UTA’s international footprint and this structure will allow both Curtis Brown Group and UTA to continue their longstanding relationships with other agency partners in the UK and U.S.
Curtis Brown has more than 240 employees and is expected to continue to grow as a result of this deal. No staffing reductions are anticipated due to this transaction. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Also Read:
UTA Acquires Analytics Firm MediaHound
The alliance provides Curtis Brown Group with resources to continue to build out its business, and the benefit of UTA’s expertise across a wide range of capabilities in such areas as brands,...
- 6/13/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
United Talent Agency (UTA) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire U.K. literary and talent agency Curtis Brown Group.
Under the terms of the deal, London-based Curtis Brown Group, founded in 1899, will continue to operate under its current name and management, including CEO Jonny Geller. The structure will allow both parries to continue their longstanding relationships with other agency partners in the U.K. and U.S.
“The union is driven by a shared desire to ensure greater opportunities for clients across an increasingly global entertainment and culture landscape, in which traditional buyers and distributors such as studios and streaming services are expanding far beyond their home markets. The alliance provides Curtis Brown Group with resources to continue to build out its business, and the benefit of UTA’s expertise across a wide range of capabilities in such areas as brands, podcasts, digital talent, endorsements, media rights, data analytics and more,...
Under the terms of the deal, London-based Curtis Brown Group, founded in 1899, will continue to operate under its current name and management, including CEO Jonny Geller. The structure will allow both parries to continue their longstanding relationships with other agency partners in the U.K. and U.S.
“The union is driven by a shared desire to ensure greater opportunities for clients across an increasingly global entertainment and culture landscape, in which traditional buyers and distributors such as studios and streaming services are expanding far beyond their home markets. The alliance provides Curtis Brown Group with resources to continue to build out its business, and the benefit of UTA’s expertise across a wide range of capabilities in such areas as brands, podcasts, digital talent, endorsements, media rights, data analytics and more,...
- 6/13/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
In the run up to Annecy festival, Netflix has unveiled a powerful slate of talent-driven animated films and series, including “That Christmas” based on BAFTA winner Richard Curtis’s children’s books, and “Ember,” Sergio Pablos’ follow-up to the Oscar-nominated “Klaus.”
Netflix’s roster of animated features also boasts the musical “Scrooge: A Christmas Carol” which features songs by Leslie Bricusse; an untitled animated film by Steve Box, the Oscar-winning “Wallace & Gromit” alumni. Netflix has also boarded new original series productions including “Bad Dinosaurs” from Snafu Pictures and Able & Baker; “Mermaid Magic” from Rainbow, “The Seven Bears” from Folivari, as well as “Wereworld” which is based on the series of fantasy novels by Curtis Jobling and is produced by from Lime Pictures.
“Ember” is a hand-drawn epic adventure tale of humankind’s quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika who embarks on an impossible race...
Netflix’s roster of animated features also boasts the musical “Scrooge: A Christmas Carol” which features songs by Leslie Bricusse; an untitled animated film by Steve Box, the Oscar-winning “Wallace & Gromit” alumni. Netflix has also boarded new original series productions including “Bad Dinosaurs” from Snafu Pictures and Able & Baker; “Mermaid Magic” from Rainbow, “The Seven Bears” from Folivari, as well as “Wereworld” which is based on the series of fantasy novels by Curtis Jobling and is produced by from Lime Pictures.
“Ember” is a hand-drawn epic adventure tale of humankind’s quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika who embarks on an impossible race...
- 6/9/2022
- by K.J. Yossman and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Ahead of this month’s Annecy Film Festival, Netflix has unveiled a slate of new animated films and series from creatives across Europe.
The eight-strong list includes Ember, Sergio Pablos’ follow-up to his BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated Klaus, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, featuring songs by Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse, That Christmas, based on the children’s books by Richard Curtis and from Ron’s Gone Wrong studio Locksmith Animation, and an untitled animated feature by Oscar winner Steve Box, who was a key animator on Chicken Run and co-wrote and co-directed Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
These projects join a growing list of animated titles from Europe, including My Father’s Dragon from Cartoon Saloon and Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey and will debut on Netflix this fall, as well as Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and an untitled Wallace & Gromit project from Aardman out of the U.
Ahead of this month’s Annecy Film Festival, Netflix has unveiled a slate of new animated films and series from creatives across Europe.
The eight-strong list includes Ember, Sergio Pablos’ follow-up to his BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated Klaus, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, featuring songs by Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse, That Christmas, based on the children’s books by Richard Curtis and from Ron’s Gone Wrong studio Locksmith Animation, and an untitled animated feature by Oscar winner Steve Box, who was a key animator on Chicken Run and co-wrote and co-directed Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
These projects join a growing list of animated titles from Europe, including My Father’s Dragon from Cartoon Saloon and Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey and will debut on Netflix this fall, as well as Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and an untitled Wallace & Gromit project from Aardman out of the U.
- 6/9/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
An animated Christmas Carol, follow-up to Academy Award-nominee Klaus, adaptation of Richard Curtis’ That Christmas and untitled project from Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit’s Steve Box feature on an eight-strong slate of Netflix animated films and TV series.
The streamer is taking the projects from the UK, Spain, Italy and France to Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week as it doubles down on animated projects.
Scroll down for the full list but leading the slate is Ember from Klaus creator Sergio Pablos and The Spa Studios, an epic adventure tale of humankind’s quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika, who embarks on an impossible race to a distant volcano to retrieve the precious spark that will save her tribe.
Next comes the latest Scrooge: A Christmas Carol adaptation, directed by Stephen Donnelly, with the ageless classic reborn as a musical adaptation...
The streamer is taking the projects from the UK, Spain, Italy and France to Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week as it doubles down on animated projects.
Scroll down for the full list but leading the slate is Ember from Klaus creator Sergio Pablos and The Spa Studios, an epic adventure tale of humankind’s quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika, who embarks on an impossible race to a distant volcano to retrieve the precious spark that will save her tribe.
Next comes the latest Scrooge: A Christmas Carol adaptation, directed by Stephen Donnelly, with the ageless classic reborn as a musical adaptation...
- 6/9/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Abacus Media Rights Parent Amcomri Entertaiment Buys Flame Media Program Assets For 2.4M
Amcomri Entertainment has paid C3M (2.4M) for the assets of UK-Australian factual TV distributor Flame Media’s assets. The library comprises around 2,200 hours and more than 500 titles. Flame will be integrated into Amcomri’s TV sales arm Abacus Media Rights, with its staff reporting to Abacus Managing Director Jonathan Ford. The deal comes 15 months after Flam founder John Caldon passed away. Flame’s key titles include Outback Truckers and Outback Opal Hunters from Prospero Productions, The Moors Murders from Map TV, and Life in Colour with David Attenborough from Humble Bee Films and SeaLight Pictures. Upcoming titles including New Zealand from a Train from Making Movies and Ningaloo with novelist Tim Winton from Artemis Productions. “We have the utmost admiration for the high-quality business and senior management team that Mr. Caldon assembled over the previous 12 years,...
Amcomri Entertainment has paid C3M (2.4M) for the assets of UK-Australian factual TV distributor Flame Media’s assets. The library comprises around 2,200 hours and more than 500 titles. Flame will be integrated into Amcomri’s TV sales arm Abacus Media Rights, with its staff reporting to Abacus Managing Director Jonathan Ford. The deal comes 15 months after Flam founder John Caldon passed away. Flame’s key titles include Outback Truckers and Outback Opal Hunters from Prospero Productions, The Moors Murders from Map TV, and Life in Colour with David Attenborough from Humble Bee Films and SeaLight Pictures. Upcoming titles including New Zealand from a Train from Making Movies and Ningaloo with novelist Tim Winton from Artemis Productions. “We have the utmost admiration for the high-quality business and senior management team that Mr. Caldon assembled over the previous 12 years,...
- 6/9/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Sarah Condon, who has exec produced series including HBO’s Bored To Death and USA Network’s Dare Me, has struck a development deal with Fremantle and has set her sights on her first couple of projects.
Condon, via her Fair Harbor Productions banner, will work with the American Gods and The Mosquito Coast producer to adapt two international series – British police dramedy No Offence and Israeli comedy Matchmaker – for the U.S. market.
No Offence comes from Shameless creator Paul Abbott.
The series follows an iron-willed cop with a tough love approach to leading her team of detectives. After uncovering links between a murder, a drowning, and a disappearance, the team must work to identify the assailant before more vulnerable young women fall victim, while continuing to solve their day-to-day cases.
Set in Manchester and starring Joanna Scanlan, best known for her role in Armando Iannucci’s The Thick Of It,...
Condon, via her Fair Harbor Productions banner, will work with the American Gods and The Mosquito Coast producer to adapt two international series – British police dramedy No Offence and Israeli comedy Matchmaker – for the U.S. market.
No Offence comes from Shameless creator Paul Abbott.
The series follows an iron-willed cop with a tough love approach to leading her team of detectives. After uncovering links between a murder, a drowning, and a disappearance, the team must work to identify the assailant before more vulnerable young women fall victim, while continuing to solve their day-to-day cases.
Set in Manchester and starring Joanna Scanlan, best known for her role in Armando Iannucci’s The Thick Of It,...
- 5/12/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
A star-studded cast is set to breathe life into the upcoming comedy limited series The Pentaverate. Created by SNL alum Mike Myers, who will also be starring in the show, The Pentaverate tells the story of a secret society that has been influencing world events for the greater good. The show is written by Myers, alongside Roger Drew and Ed Dyson. Drew is best known for his previous work on The Thick of It and Veep, for which he won an Emmy award. Ed Dyson previously worked on Deutschland and Urban Myth. The Pentaverate is a spinoff of So I Married an Axe Murderer, a
Meet The Cast Of “The Pentaverate”...
Meet The Cast Of “The Pentaverate”...
- 5/2/2022
- by A.E. Oats
- TVovermind.com
As anyone who’s even fleetingly dipped into the vast, storied genre of the British spy thriller can attest, there are a few different games afoot in “Slow Horses.” What looks at first like a story of restless, demoted spies finding their purpose gets quickly twisted up in MI5 politics. Then, a couple of hours into the six-episode season, the show tries to turn everything we thought we knew inside out. With its starry cast, handsome budget, and slick cinematography, the new Apple TV Plus drama (based on a Mick Herron novel and executive produced by Graham Yost) works hard to differentiate itself from every other MI5 narrative we’ve seen before. By season’s end, “Slow Horses” feels more familiar than truly innovative, albeit with some sharper acting and jokes than most others it’s following.
Case in point is the show’s choice to cast Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb,...
Case in point is the show’s choice to cast Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb,...
- 3/31/2022
- by Caroline Framke
- Variety Film + TV
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