Keanu Reeves will play Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, according to The Hollywood Reporter. By voicing Sonic’s black-furred counterpart, the John Wick star joins an already star-studded cast comprised of Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey.
The news follows Paramount showcasing snippets of the upcoming film (due out in theaters December 20th) at a CinemaCon last week. Reportedly, the teaser featured a depressed Dr. Robotnik (Carrey) looking to gain back his spark by creating Shadow, a darker foil of his greatest nemesis, Sonic.
Sega has also fittingly declared 2024 to be the “Year of Shadow,” celebrating the movie and the Sonic X Shadow Generations video game with lego sets, motorcycles, and general fanfare.
The first two films in the franchise garnered a mixed critical reception, though performed quite well at the box office. Pulling in over $700 million combined, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic 2...
The news follows Paramount showcasing snippets of the upcoming film (due out in theaters December 20th) at a CinemaCon last week. Reportedly, the teaser featured a depressed Dr. Robotnik (Carrey) looking to gain back his spark by creating Shadow, a darker foil of his greatest nemesis, Sonic.
Sega has also fittingly declared 2024 to be the “Year of Shadow,” celebrating the movie and the Sonic X Shadow Generations video game with lego sets, motorcycles, and general fanfare.
The first two films in the franchise garnered a mixed critical reception, though performed quite well at the box office. Pulling in over $700 million combined, Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic 2...
- 4/15/2024
- by Jonah Krueger
- Consequence - Film News
We’ve known that Shadow the Hedgehog would be appearing in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for some time but didn’t know who would be voicing the character… until now. First reported by John Campea and confirmed by THR, Shadow the Hedgehog will be voiced by none other than Keanu Reeves.
The audience at CinemaCon got a glimpse of Shadow during Paramount’s panel, during which a first-look trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was screened. The character first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2 as a dark version of Sonic who does whatever it takes to achieve his goals. The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has included some unexpected voice actors, such as Idris Elba as Knuckles, so it should be fun to see what Keanu Reeves does with Shadow.
Related Sonic the Hedgehog: A producer of the films wants the franchise to be cinematic events on “Avengers-level”
James Marsden reprises...
The audience at CinemaCon got a glimpse of Shadow during Paramount’s panel, during which a first-look trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was screened. The character first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2 as a dark version of Sonic who does whatever it takes to achieve his goals. The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has included some unexpected voice actors, such as Idris Elba as Knuckles, so it should be fun to see what Keanu Reeves does with Shadow.
Related Sonic the Hedgehog: A producer of the films wants the franchise to be cinematic events on “Avengers-level”
James Marsden reprises...
- 4/15/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Younger comic-book fans might be surprised to learn that there was once a time when Marvel Comics was on its last legs and willing to do anything to keep the company afloat. Before underdog blockbusters like the X-Men and Blade films put Marvel heroes back on the map, they were desperately trying to experiment with their comics in order to attract a wider audience.
One such experiment was the Marvel Knights imprint, a collection of stand-alone stories that initially focused on less-marketable heroes and gave artists free-reign to tell unique and more adult-oriented stories unshackled by decades of garbled continuity issues. While these stories didn’t always succeed in revitalizing characters for a new generation (and often contained the worst kind of late-90s/early 2000s edge), they were almost always incredibly stylish and memorable.
That’s why I think it’s very appropriate that Neveldine & Taylor’s film Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance...
One such experiment was the Marvel Knights imprint, a collection of stand-alone stories that initially focused on less-marketable heroes and gave artists free-reign to tell unique and more adult-oriented stories unshackled by decades of garbled continuity issues. While these stories didn’t always succeed in revitalizing characters for a new generation (and often contained the worst kind of late-90s/early 2000s edge), they were almost always incredibly stylish and memorable.
That’s why I think it’s very appropriate that Neveldine & Taylor’s film Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance...
- 4/8/2024
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
Some of the biggest names in the world of British film have showered praise on the “game-changing” new 40% British indie film relief.
Announced earlier today by UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt following lobbying from the BFI and Pact for months, the relief will apply to movies made for less than £15M ($19M). Today’s move was coupled with a 5% increase in tax relief for UK VFX costs in film and high-end TV, and business rates relief of 40% for major studios.
Sixteen Films producer and Ken Loach collaborator Rebecca O’Brien joked that the “genuine game changer” has prompted her to rethink whether to stop making movies.
“It’s extraordinary,” she told Deadline shortly after the credit was announced. “It just gives me confidence and means if I can raise the money more easily, I can spend more time helping the production and making a good film rather than spending all my time...
Announced earlier today by UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt following lobbying from the BFI and Pact for months, the relief will apply to movies made for less than £15M ($19M). Today’s move was coupled with a 5% increase in tax relief for UK VFX costs in film and high-end TV, and business rates relief of 40% for major studios.
Sixteen Films producer and Ken Loach collaborator Rebecca O’Brien joked that the “genuine game changer” has prompted her to rethink whether to stop making movies.
“It’s extraordinary,” she told Deadline shortly after the credit was announced. “It just gives me confidence and means if I can raise the money more easily, I can spend more time helping the production and making a good film rather than spending all my time...
- 3/6/2024
- by Zac Ntim and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Actor Idris Elba got one of his breakthrough roles starring in the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire. But Elba was once under the impression that he’d last on the show a bit longer than he did.
How Idris Elba reacted to his character’s ending Idris Elba | Samir Hussein/WireImage
Initially, Elba owed a lot of his success to his character on The Wire. Back then, fans knew the actor as Stringer Bell, who had a mind for how business worked in the drug business. Stringer Bell seemed like a character who’d stick around for the long haul. But the character served his purpose pretty early on the show.
Elba didn’t get the news until he was handed the script for the episode. Speaking on What Now? with Trevor Noah, he even panicked a little bit.
“I didn’t know my character was gonna die until we got the episode…...
How Idris Elba reacted to his character’s ending Idris Elba | Samir Hussein/WireImage
Initially, Elba owed a lot of his success to his character on The Wire. Back then, fans knew the actor as Stringer Bell, who had a mind for how business worked in the drug business. Stringer Bell seemed like a character who’d stick around for the long haul. But the character served his purpose pretty early on the show.
Elba didn’t get the news until he was handed the script for the episode. Speaking on What Now? with Trevor Noah, he even panicked a little bit.
“I didn’t know my character was gonna die until we got the episode…...
- 3/3/2024
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ever since Daniel Craig bid his farewell to James Bond in No Time to Die (2021), everyone has been looking forward to finding out who the next James Bond will be. From Henry Cavill to Tom Hiddleston to Jamie Dornan, a lot of names have popped up in the discussion. In fact, fans even believed that the next Bond could be female.
Henry Cavill in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
While no official confirmation has been made about the actor lucky enough to play the British secret agent, bookies’ odds reveal the name of several contenders and where they stand in the race. While Henry Cavill’s name is unfortunately nowhere to be found, two popular actors have been mentioned by the bookies and are even on track to become the next Bond villain – Tom Hardy and Idris Elba.
Suggested“It’s a world that I didn’t know”: James Bond...
Henry Cavill in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
While no official confirmation has been made about the actor lucky enough to play the British secret agent, bookies’ odds reveal the name of several contenders and where they stand in the race. While Henry Cavill’s name is unfortunately nowhere to be found, two popular actors have been mentioned by the bookies and are even on track to become the next Bond villain – Tom Hardy and Idris Elba.
Suggested“It’s a world that I didn’t know”: James Bond...
- 2/27/2024
- by Mishkaat
- FandomWire
Clockwise from left: Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and Anne Hathaway; Atmosphere inside the Shrine Auditorium during the ceremony; Lily Gladstone; Idris Elba and Hannah Waddingham (All photos: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)Graphic: The A.V. Club
Of all the awards shows on the calendar, the SAG Awards has a special place,...
Of all the awards shows on the calendar, the SAG Awards has a special place,...
- 2/25/2024
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
After a rather tame show last month, the freewheeling Golden Globes are kind of back. Only now they go by the name the 30th annual SAG Awards, which had a whole lot of the Globes and the Emmys in their bloodstream Saturday.
Finally on Netflix proper after being relegated to the streamer’s YouTube channel last year, the 2024 SAG Awards is yet another shiv in the side of broadcast TV by Team Sarandos as the first awards show to stream live on the global streamer.
In fact, that is likely why everyone from SAG-AFTRA boss Fran Drescher, de facto host Idris Elba, Beef star and now SAG Awards winner Ali Wong and more thanked the streamer and the co-ceo — cause that’s why they call it show business not show friends. A major player, if not the major player, in last year’s contract negotiations with the striking actors guild,...
Finally on Netflix proper after being relegated to the streamer’s YouTube channel last year, the 2024 SAG Awards is yet another shiv in the side of broadcast TV by Team Sarandos as the first awards show to stream live on the global streamer.
In fact, that is likely why everyone from SAG-AFTRA boss Fran Drescher, de facto host Idris Elba, Beef star and now SAG Awards winner Ali Wong and more thanked the streamer and the co-ceo — cause that’s why they call it show business not show friends. A major player, if not the major player, in last year’s contract negotiations with the striking actors guild,...
- 2/25/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Many James Bond fans were once excited by the idea of actor Idris Elba possibly playing 007. Although that ship seems to have sailed, there may still be hope Elba might one day find himself in the Bond franchise. But only as an enemy.
Idris Elba told a close friend he’d make a better Bond baddie Idris Elba | David M. Benett/Getty Images
There has been very little update on who might pick up the 007 mantle when James Bond is inevitably rebooted. What rumblings there have been about the new James Bond is that it’s likely a younger actor will inherit the role. With Elba being too old, this would automatically rule him out of the running. But there may be other options for the actor yet.
English musician John Newman claims to be a very good friend of Elba’s. The two had a private conversation about...
Idris Elba told a close friend he’d make a better Bond baddie Idris Elba | David M. Benett/Getty Images
There has been very little update on who might pick up the 007 mantle when James Bond is inevitably rebooted. What rumblings there have been about the new James Bond is that it’s likely a younger actor will inherit the role. With Elba being too old, this would automatically rule him out of the running. But there may be other options for the actor yet.
English musician John Newman claims to be a very good friend of Elba’s. The two had a private conversation about...
- 2/17/2024
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
"People are dying! We need a plan!" Survive - that's the plan! That's all there is! Vertical has revealed an official trailer for an action thriller movie called Prey, the latest from South African filmmaker Mukunda Michael Dewil. Back in 2022, he collaborated with the same two actors on other projects - Ryan Phillippe in Collide and Emile Hirsch in The Immaculate Room. This time they take on wild animals while fleeing in Africa. After their lives are threatened by an extremist militant group, a young couple must flee from their missionary post in the Kalahari Desert. But when their aircraft crashes into an animal preserve, they must battle man and beast in a fight for their lives. Taking on lions, leopards, and hyenas and more. Prey stars Ryan Phillippe, Emile Hirsch, Mena Suvari, Dylan Flashner, Jeremy Tardy, Michaela Sasner, Tristan Thompson, and Mohamed Hakeemshady as Scar.. This reminds me of...
- 2/16/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Back in Die Hard 2, John McClane uttered the legendary line: “How could the same shit happen to the same guy twice?” Foiling one terrorist plot is something – but getting tangled up in a second one? That’s seriously bad luck. Well, Idris Elba’s Sam Nelson is about to find himself in McClane mode: after navigating a high-stakes plane hijacking in Apple TV+’s Hijack, he’s going to be taking on another suspenseful situation in an upcoming Season 2. The streamer has confirmed that the show will be back for more, with Elba returning too.
Little is known about what the next season will entail. Will Nelson somehow find himself on another hijacked plane? Will it be another mode of transport altogether? Or will it sidestep the whole hijacking thing, and simply pit him in another generally hostage-based negotiation? Whatever it entails, Elba promises more excitement to come. “I...
Little is known about what the next season will entail. Will Nelson somehow find himself on another hijacked plane? Will it be another mode of transport altogether? Or will it sidestep the whole hijacking thing, and simply pit him in another generally hostage-based negotiation? Whatever it entails, Elba promises more excitement to come. “I...
- 1/31/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - TV
Leah Sava Jeffries, who plays Annabeth Chase in Percy Jackson And The Olympians, reveals the combat training the cast underwent.
With the first two episodes dropping on Disney+ on 20th December, the Percy Jackson And The Olympians series is off to a great start. Adapted from Rick Riordan’s books about a young boy who discovers he’s the son of a Greek god, the show stars Walker Scobell as the titular character. Starring alongside him are Aryan Simhadri as Percy’s Satyr protector Grover, and Leah Sava Jeffries as fellow Demigod Annabeth Chase.
There’s a fair amount of action in the series, with the leading trio facing off against various monsters from Greek mythology. At a recent roundtable, Jeffries got talking about the combat training they underwent to prepare for the show. It sounds like a challenging experience made enjoyable by the fact that the crew weren’t...
With the first two episodes dropping on Disney+ on 20th December, the Percy Jackson And The Olympians series is off to a great start. Adapted from Rick Riordan’s books about a young boy who discovers he’s the son of a Greek god, the show stars Walker Scobell as the titular character. Starring alongside him are Aryan Simhadri as Percy’s Satyr protector Grover, and Leah Sava Jeffries as fellow Demigod Annabeth Chase.
There’s a fair amount of action in the series, with the leading trio facing off against various monsters from Greek mythology. At a recent roundtable, Jeffries got talking about the combat training they underwent to prepare for the show. It sounds like a challenging experience made enjoyable by the fact that the crew weren’t...
- 12/21/2023
- by Lauren Miles
- Film Stories
In Her Perfect Life, Onajite Johnson-Ibrahim (played by Pearl Thusi) appears to have it all. She’s a 39-year-old entrepreneur with the perfect Instagram profile — a fantastic career, a loving husband (played by Ahmed Ibrahim), and two bright and beautiful children — but Onajite is secretly suffering from depression. She’s contemplating suicide.
Iyawo Mi (My Wife) follows the story of Eniola (Bolaji Ogunmola). Economically, she’s on the other end of the scale to Onajite, living in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Lagos. Her husband, Kunle (Lateef Adedimeji) works as a driver. One night he returns home to find his wife in the throes of madness, hallucinating, screaming at their children and threatening to kill them. With little understanding of mental illness and no access to a support system, he decides to take matters into his own hands, with tragic results.
These are two stories of women on the edge.
Iyawo Mi (My Wife) follows the story of Eniola (Bolaji Ogunmola). Economically, she’s on the other end of the scale to Onajite, living in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Lagos. Her husband, Kunle (Lateef Adedimeji) works as a driver. One night he returns home to find his wife in the throes of madness, hallucinating, screaming at their children and threatening to kill them. With little understanding of mental illness and no access to a support system, he decides to take matters into his own hands, with tragic results.
These are two stories of women on the edge.
- 12/16/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The past 24 hours have been awash in headlines about Netflix’s What We Watched report: an information dump that many analysts considered the most transparent accounting of user data that the streamer has ever released.
The report tracked user engagement using an “hours watched” metric – meaning how many hours a piece of content was viewed, as opposed to how many individual users watched it. The report is heavy with TV series because, as the company noted, the amount of hours in a TV program are much greater than that of a standalone feature. But some movies clawed to the top of the ranking, which helps indicate how films travel on the platform.
Here are the top ten films – eight of which Netflix developed or financed — that appear in the report, which tracked hours watched from January to June of 2023:
“The Mother”
Jennifer Lopez can ride into 2024 knowing she was the queen of Netflix film,...
The report tracked user engagement using an “hours watched” metric – meaning how many hours a piece of content was viewed, as opposed to how many individual users watched it. The report is heavy with TV series because, as the company noted, the amount of hours in a TV program are much greater than that of a standalone feature. But some movies clawed to the top of the ranking, which helps indicate how films travel on the platform.
Here are the top ten films – eight of which Netflix developed or financed — that appear in the report, which tracked hours watched from January to June of 2023:
“The Mother”
Jennifer Lopez can ride into 2024 knowing she was the queen of Netflix film,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now in production and a first look at Shadow the Hedgehog has now been revealed.
In a new post on social media from the movie’s official account, a new image was dropped showing off Shadow’s look.
“Off and Running,” reads the post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be hitting theaters on December 20, 2024.
The appearance of Shadow in the third installment of the popular film franchise comes as the character was teased in the sequel as Sonic’s new villain.
Off and Running. #SonicMovie3
Only in theatres December 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) November 29, 2023
Sonic the Hedgehog is an action comedy film based on the video game franchise published by Sega. Jeff Fowler directs the film from a script by Pat Casey and Josh Miller. Ben Schwartz voices the titular character...
In a new post on social media from the movie’s official account, a new image was dropped showing off Shadow’s look.
“Off and Running,” reads the post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be hitting theaters on December 20, 2024.
The appearance of Shadow in the third installment of the popular film franchise comes as the character was teased in the sequel as Sonic’s new villain.
Off and Running. #SonicMovie3
Only in theatres December 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) November 29, 2023
Sonic the Hedgehog is an action comedy film based on the video game franchise published by Sega. Jeff Fowler directs the film from a script by Pat Casey and Josh Miller. Ben Schwartz voices the titular character...
- 11/29/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
If you smell chili dogs on the wind, it’s likely because Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is racing into production! Ramping up after the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes ended, Paramount Pictures teased a show start image on Twitter. The pic features a striking new logo for the sequel on a clapper. The logo appears to shorten the title to Sonic 3 instead of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Standing next to the clapper with clenched fists is a mysterious-looking character. At first, you might think it’s Sonic. Still, upon closer inspection, the intimidating figure is indeed Shadow the Hedgehog, who was teased in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 during an after-credits sequence.
Off and Running. #SonicMovie3
Only in theatres December 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) November 29, 2023
Paramount has yet to reveal how Shadow fits into the Sonic 3 plot. However, fans suspect the anti-hero hedgehog could replace Dr. Robotnik as...
Off and Running. #SonicMovie3
Only in theatres December 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) November 29, 2023
Paramount has yet to reveal how Shadow fits into the Sonic 3 plot. However, fans suspect the anti-hero hedgehog could replace Dr. Robotnik as...
- 11/29/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Chris Evans and Idris Elba teamed up for another comic book movie long before they worked in Marvel. While on set, Elba couldn’t believe the phobia his co-star had.
Why Idris Elba couldn’t stop laughing at Chris Evans on the set of ‘The Losers’ Chris Evans | Cindy Ord/WireImage
The Losers was Elba’s 2010 adaptation of the comic book of the same name. It saw the actor team up with Chris Evans and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as mercenaries on a dangerous mission. As one of the first comic book movies Elba starred in, he admitted he felt quite nervous doing the project.
“It’s a hard line to follow, because comic books are followed because of their, brilliance, and detail in their story line. You can live in this world and not share it with anyone else,” Elba once said according to Hey U Guys. “Ultimately there is...
Why Idris Elba couldn’t stop laughing at Chris Evans on the set of ‘The Losers’ Chris Evans | Cindy Ord/WireImage
The Losers was Elba’s 2010 adaptation of the comic book of the same name. It saw the actor team up with Chris Evans and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as mercenaries on a dangerous mission. As one of the first comic book movies Elba starred in, he admitted he felt quite nervous doing the project.
“It’s a hard line to follow, because comic books are followed because of their, brilliance, and detail in their story line. You can live in this world and not share it with anyone else,” Elba once said according to Hey U Guys. “Ultimately there is...
- 11/28/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Actor Idris Elba and media mogul Tyler Perry once collaborated for the feature Daddy’s Little Girls. But Elba’s time on set didn’t seem to change the actor’s mind on some of Perry’s work.
Idris Elba once criticized Tyler Perry’s ‘buffoonish’ characters Idris Elba | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Elba was already very familiar with Perry’s work. In 2007, he co-starred alongside Gabrielle Union in the Perry picture Daddy’s Little Girls. There, he played a blue-collar worker trying to make ends meet for his family. Union was already on board the project before Elba was cast. Both Perry and Union agreed emphatically that he was the right actor for the movie.
“We screen-tested a few men, and the only man on both our lists – I made a list and Tyler made a list – the only man on both our lists was Idris. It was a no-brainer,” Union once told MovieWeb.
Idris Elba once criticized Tyler Perry’s ‘buffoonish’ characters Idris Elba | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Elba was already very familiar with Perry’s work. In 2007, he co-starred alongside Gabrielle Union in the Perry picture Daddy’s Little Girls. There, he played a blue-collar worker trying to make ends meet for his family. Union was already on board the project before Elba was cast. Both Perry and Union agreed emphatically that he was the right actor for the movie.
“We screen-tested a few men, and the only man on both our lists – I made a list and Tyler made a list – the only man on both our lists was Idris. It was a no-brainer,” Union once told MovieWeb.
- 11/14/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
This post contains spoilers for "Extraction" and "Extraction 2."
Back when everyone was stuck inside during the global pandemic, we apparently did nothing but stream the heck out of Netflix's 2020 actioner "Extraction." Starring Chris Hemsworth as black market mercenary Tyler Rake, the film became the most-streamed original movie on the platform, making a sequel all but certain. And wouldn't you know, Netflix churned out a follow-up in no time, debuting "Extraction 2" in 2023 and doubling down on the unrelenting action sequences of the first movie. Whereas the first film delivered a 12-minute "one-take" sequence, the sequel featured a full 21 minutes of unbroken action as Rake battled his way out of a Georgian prison, taking down innumerable thugs and a few helicopters on his way.
Despite the fact that "Extraction 2" was an exhausting and dour return to the world of Tyler Rake, it clearly managed to rake in (sorry) the...
Back when everyone was stuck inside during the global pandemic, we apparently did nothing but stream the heck out of Netflix's 2020 actioner "Extraction." Starring Chris Hemsworth as black market mercenary Tyler Rake, the film became the most-streamed original movie on the platform, making a sequel all but certain. And wouldn't you know, Netflix churned out a follow-up in no time, debuting "Extraction 2" in 2023 and doubling down on the unrelenting action sequences of the first movie. Whereas the first film delivered a 12-minute "one-take" sequence, the sequel featured a full 21 minutes of unbroken action as Rake battled his way out of a Georgian prison, taking down innumerable thugs and a few helicopters on his way.
Despite the fact that "Extraction 2" was an exhausting and dour return to the world of Tyler Rake, it clearly managed to rake in (sorry) the...
- 11/1/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Big 'Dris is getting back in the big chair. Following on from a short film, some TV work and, of course, his feature directorial debut with 2018's :a[Yardie]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/yardie-review/' }, Idris Elba has locked in his next directing project. In this case, though, it's a co-directing gig as Elba will be working alongside The Loneliest Boy In The World's Martin Owen on astronaut survival thriller Above The Below, which is set to shoot at Pinewood Studios.
Above The Below, which is based on an idea by Owen and was turned into script form by Elizabeth Morris, Matt Mitchell and Vicki Sargent, follows a tight-knit trio of astronauts as they survive a chaotic and destructive re-entry to Earth, only to find themselves off course and completely cut off from the world.
As their capsule begins to sink into the unknown depths of the ocean,...
Above The Below, which is based on an idea by Owen and was turned into script form by Elizabeth Morris, Matt Mitchell and Vicki Sargent, follows a tight-knit trio of astronauts as they survive a chaotic and destructive re-entry to Earth, only to find themselves off course and completely cut off from the world.
As their capsule begins to sink into the unknown depths of the ocean,...
- 10/30/2023
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers for the season finale of “Hijack,” which dropped on Aug. 4 on Apple TV+.
“Will Kingdom Airlines Flight 29 land safely?” is the question that “Hijack” fans have been asking since the moment arch negotiator Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) first spotted a suspicious-looking toiletry bag being passed from one passenger to another in the aircraft’s plush first class cabin.
Now, after five nail-biting weeks, audiences will finally find out whether Nelson has managed to outwit the hijackers. To mark the season finale, “Hijack” executive producer Hakan Kousetta sat down with Variety to discuss fan reactions, that nerve-wracking ending and whether Elba is likely to return as Nelson for a second season.
Firstly, what has the reaction been like to the series so far?
It’s a very bingeable series, and the weekly release strategy of Apple is obviously wonderfully brilliant in terms of creating that watercooler conversation thing.
“Will Kingdom Airlines Flight 29 land safely?” is the question that “Hijack” fans have been asking since the moment arch negotiator Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) first spotted a suspicious-looking toiletry bag being passed from one passenger to another in the aircraft’s plush first class cabin.
Now, after five nail-biting weeks, audiences will finally find out whether Nelson has managed to outwit the hijackers. To mark the season finale, “Hijack” executive producer Hakan Kousetta sat down with Variety to discuss fan reactions, that nerve-wracking ending and whether Elba is likely to return as Nelson for a second season.
Firstly, what has the reaction been like to the series so far?
It’s a very bingeable series, and the weekly release strategy of Apple is obviously wonderfully brilliant in terms of creating that watercooler conversation thing.
- 8/4/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Actor Idris Elba has recently settled down with his current wife Sabrina Dhowre. But before finding his life partner, he felt that finding love was especially hard because of his celebrity.
Idris Elba felt inaccessible to women because of his fame Idris Elba | Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
For Elba, being a famous actor was a catch-22. Although it may have attracted many women his way, his growing star-power made sustaining a relationship difficult. He asserted that it might have been much easier being in a relationship when he still had anonymity.
“Look, you probably think I’m getting lucky all the time. But there’s no way,” he once said according to News 24. “They’re all my fans. I miss the days when me and my boys could go to a barbecue, and go, ‘Who’s that shorty girl over there?'”
With his private relationships being made public due to his profession,...
Idris Elba felt inaccessible to women because of his fame Idris Elba | Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
For Elba, being a famous actor was a catch-22. Although it may have attracted many women his way, his growing star-power made sustaining a relationship difficult. He asserted that it might have been much easier being in a relationship when he still had anonymity.
“Look, you probably think I’m getting lucky all the time. But there’s no way,” he once said according to News 24. “They’re all my fans. I miss the days when me and my boys could go to a barbecue, and go, ‘Who’s that shorty girl over there?'”
With his private relationships being made public due to his profession,...
- 8/4/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Sam Nelson, played by Idris Elba, is a character that will go down as one of Elba’s best because of his nuanced performance and the highly gripping nature of the series. Hijack, told its story in a ‘real time’ format through the seven episodes, and Idris got to essay the role of the master negotiator Sam Nelson. We have all fantasized at some point or another about what we would do if we were the ones who had to fight off hijackers.
Spoilers Ahead
The character of ‘Sam Nelson’ is our own fantasy depicted on screen. He tries every trick in the book to manipulate the hijackers and manages to save the day. It was no easy task. He wasn’t prepared for his plane to be hijacked. I mean, who is? Yet, keeping his calm in unbearably tense situations, he manages to get the better of the hijackers.
Spoilers Ahead
The character of ‘Sam Nelson’ is our own fantasy depicted on screen. He tries every trick in the book to manipulate the hijackers and manages to save the day. It was no easy task. He wasn’t prepared for his plane to be hijacked. I mean, who is? Yet, keeping his calm in unbearably tense situations, he manages to get the better of the hijackers.
- 8/2/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
Amid clamor from fans, Idris Elba has said he is open to a second season of his Apple TV+ drama series Hijack, but he has some requirements in mind. The series stars Elba as top corporate negotiator Sam Nelson, who finds himself thrust into the hero role when a group of ruthless terrorists hijacks a plane he’s on. Created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith, the seven-part mini-series debuted on June 28 and is set to conclude this Wednesday, August 2. But if the show were to return for a second season, Elba has said he would want it to focus on something other than a hijacking. In an interview with Variety, The Wire alum spoke about the show’s success and the difficulties with bringing his character back for a second outing. “What would be the acceptable scenario that [Sam] comes back?” Elba said. “Because we’ve thought about this,...
- 7/31/2023
- TV Insider
Idris Elba recently opened up about his experience of being held at gunpoint. He was trying to defend a woman who was being threatened by a man outside of a club.
In a new interview with the Daily Mail, the Hijack actor recounted the traumatic event.
“I nearly lost my f—ing life,” he explained. “A guy was whaling on his missus, screaming in her face, ‘I’ll f—ing kill you,’ and so on. I come around and I go, ‘Look how beautiful she is. Why would you talk to this beautiful princess like that?'”
Elba’s attempt to diffuse the situation only made matters worse.
“He pulled out a gun, stuck it right in my face, and goes, ‘You talking about my girl?’ He thought I was trying to hit on her,” Elba said. “I remember thinking, ‘Don’t play negotiations like that… Consequences, man.'”
>Celebrity...
In a new interview with the Daily Mail, the Hijack actor recounted the traumatic event.
“I nearly lost my f—ing life,” he explained. “A guy was whaling on his missus, screaming in her face, ‘I’ll f—ing kill you,’ and so on. I come around and I go, ‘Look how beautiful she is. Why would you talk to this beautiful princess like that?'”
Elba’s attempt to diffuse the situation only made matters worse.
“He pulled out a gun, stuck it right in my face, and goes, ‘You talking about my girl?’ He thought I was trying to hit on her,” Elba said. “I remember thinking, ‘Don’t play negotiations like that… Consequences, man.'”
>Celebrity...
- 7/30/2023
- by Ava Lombardi
- Uinterview
Idris Elba is speaking out about a terrifying situation he once found himself in.
The “Luther” actor recalled once being held at gunpoint in the U.S. while trying to protect the gunman’s girlfriend.
“I nearly lost my f**king life after attempting to stop a man threatening his girlfriend outside a club,” Elba told the “SmartLess” podcast, according to the Daily Mail.
Read More: Idris Elba Was Dismayed By ‘Disgusting And Off-Putting’ Reactions To James Bond Casting Rumours: ‘It Became About Race’
Elba went on: “A guy [was] wailing on his missus, screaming in her face, ‘I’ll f**king kill you,’ and so on. I come round and I go, ‘Look how beautiful she is. Why would you talk to this beautiful princess like that?’
“He pulled out a gun, stuck it right in my face, and goes, ‘You talking about my girl?’ He thought I was trying to hit on her,...
The “Luther” actor recalled once being held at gunpoint in the U.S. while trying to protect the gunman’s girlfriend.
“I nearly lost my f**king life after attempting to stop a man threatening his girlfriend outside a club,” Elba told the “SmartLess” podcast, according to the Daily Mail.
Read More: Idris Elba Was Dismayed By ‘Disgusting And Off-Putting’ Reactions To James Bond Casting Rumours: ‘It Became About Race’
Elba went on: “A guy [was] wailing on his missus, screaming in her face, ‘I’ll f**king kill you,’ and so on. I come round and I go, ‘Look how beautiful she is. Why would you talk to this beautiful princess like that?’
“He pulled out a gun, stuck it right in my face, and goes, ‘You talking about my girl?’ He thought I was trying to hit on her,...
- 7/26/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
London, July 26 (Ians) English actor Idris Elba, who is well known for his roles in films such as ‘The Suicide Squad’, ‘Pacific Rim’, ‘Mandela: Walk to Freedom’ and the detective series ‘Luther’, has revealed that he once nearly lost his life in the US as he was held nearly at gunpoint while trying to protect a woman.
According to ‘The Mirror’, the actor recalling the terrifying incident said: “I nearly lost my f***ing life. A guy (was) whaling on his missus, screaming in her face, “I’ll f***ing kill you,” and so on. I come round and I go ‘Look how beautiful she is. Why would you talk to this beautiful princess like that?’ “
“He pulled out a gun, stuck it right in my face, and goes, ‘You talkin ’bout my girl?’ He thought I was trying to hit on her. I remember thinking, ‘Don’t play negotiations like that…...
According to ‘The Mirror’, the actor recalling the terrifying incident said: “I nearly lost my f***ing life. A guy (was) whaling on his missus, screaming in her face, “I’ll f***ing kill you,” and so on. I come round and I go ‘Look how beautiful she is. Why would you talk to this beautiful princess like that?’ “
“He pulled out a gun, stuck it right in my face, and goes, ‘You talkin ’bout my girl?’ He thought I was trying to hit on her. I remember thinking, ‘Don’t play negotiations like that…...
- 7/26/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Idris Elba in “Hijack,” now streaming on Apple TV+. Idris Elba’s latest project is the Apple TV+ miniseries Hijack, a drama that unfolds in real time aboard a hijacked flight. There are no gimmicks, Elba says, and they’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. But what the series does extraordinarily well, he told us, is entertain you and keep you at the edge of your seat. (Click on the media bar below to hear Idris Elba) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Idris_Elba_Hijack_.mp3
Hijack is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
The post Idris Elba Believes ‘Hijack’ Is Just Plane Fun appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
Hijack is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
The post Idris Elba Believes ‘Hijack’ Is Just Plane Fun appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 7/5/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Idris Elba in “Hijack,” now streaming on Apple TV+. Even as his film career continues to grow, five-time Emmy Award nominee Idris Elba remains committed to television, as well. Elba, who starred in five series of the crime drama Luther, is now starring in Hijack, a thriller that finds his character, a businessman, using his negotiating skills to try and end a hijacking. Elba, who is also an executive producer on the miniseries, explained to us why doing another TV show was important to him. (Click on the media bar below to hear Idris Elba) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Idris_Elba_Hijack-.mp3 Hijack is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
The post Idris Elba Circles Back To TV With ‘Hijack’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post Idris Elba Circles Back To TV With ‘Hijack’ appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 6/28/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
When two British-born powerhouses get together — Idris Elba, an actor-director-producer of Sierra Leone, Creole and Ghanaian descent, and Nigerian-rooted Mo Abudu, largely considered the go-between for African content to the rest of the world — they have a powerful chemistry. Remarkably, though, they’ve never made anything together.
This is about to change. In March, the two quietly announced they would join forces to empower and uplift talent from Africa through their respective companies: Elba’s Green Door Pictures and Abudu’s EbonyLife TV. It’s a subject of shared passion for both. Throughout Elba’s prolific career, he’s continued to be involved in stories that are related to the African diaspora, from his early work on TV drama Sometimes in April, or The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, to his upcoming untitled Ghana project, which he will direct and star in. He’s long championed under-heard voices, and in...
This is about to change. In March, the two quietly announced they would join forces to empower and uplift talent from Africa through their respective companies: Elba’s Green Door Pictures and Abudu’s EbonyLife TV. It’s a subject of shared passion for both. Throughout Elba’s prolific career, he’s continued to be involved in stories that are related to the African diaspora, from his early work on TV drama Sometimes in April, or The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, to his upcoming untitled Ghana project, which he will direct and star in. He’s long championed under-heard voices, and in...
- 5/19/2023
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Luther and Hobbs & Shaw star Idris Elba is set to star in, produce and direct action-thriller Infernus, which Millennium Media will also produce and shop at next week’s Cannes market.
Elba will play Donovan Kamara, a U.N. human rights activist sent to investigate reports of refugees being illegally detained inside a U.S. black site prison. A seemingly simple task turns deadly when the world’s most dangerous inmates break free. Kamara must work to safely extricate the refugees, all while going head-to-head with a brilliant criminal mastermind.
Based on a story by Tom Boyle and screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen, the film is due to go into production on October 9th in London.
While most filming will be done in London, additional principal photography will take place in the new Td Akuna Studios in Ghana, a venture Elba — who has both Ghanaian and Sierre Leonean lineage...
Elba will play Donovan Kamara, a U.N. human rights activist sent to investigate reports of refugees being illegally detained inside a U.S. black site prison. A seemingly simple task turns deadly when the world’s most dangerous inmates break free. Kamara must work to safely extricate the refugees, all while going head-to-head with a brilliant criminal mastermind.
Based on a story by Tom Boyle and screenplay by Robert Mark Kamen, the film is due to go into production on October 9th in London.
While most filming will be done in London, additional principal photography will take place in the new Td Akuna Studios in Ghana, a venture Elba — who has both Ghanaian and Sierre Leonean lineage...
- 5/12/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Idris Elba in ‘Hijack,’ premiering June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+
Idris Elba, the Emmy Award-winning star of Luther, stars in and executive produces the new thriller Hijack, which will premiere on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The seven-episode drama, created by George Kay (Lupin) and Jim Field Smith (Criminal), has just released the first set of photos from the upcoming season.
In addition to Idris Elba, Hijack stars Emmy Award winner Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife), Christine Adams (Black Lightning), Max Beesley (Jamestown), Eve Myles (Torchwood), Neil Maskell (Peaky Blinders), Jasper Britton (Anonymous), Harry Michell (Devils), Aimee Kelly (This England), Mohamed Elsandel, and Ben Miles (Andor).
George Kay writes and executive produces, with Jim Field Smith directing and executive producing. In addition, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta and Kris Thykier executive produce, and 60Forty Films, Idiotlamp Productions, and Green Door Pictures produce.
Apple TV+ released the following synopsis of the thriller:
“Told in real time,...
Idris Elba, the Emmy Award-winning star of Luther, stars in and executive produces the new thriller Hijack, which will premiere on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The seven-episode drama, created by George Kay (Lupin) and Jim Field Smith (Criminal), has just released the first set of photos from the upcoming season.
In addition to Idris Elba, Hijack stars Emmy Award winner Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife), Christine Adams (Black Lightning), Max Beesley (Jamestown), Eve Myles (Torchwood), Neil Maskell (Peaky Blinders), Jasper Britton (Anonymous), Harry Michell (Devils), Aimee Kelly (This England), Mohamed Elsandel, and Ben Miles (Andor).
George Kay writes and executive produces, with Jim Field Smith directing and executive producing. In addition, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta and Kris Thykier executive produce, and 60Forty Films, Idiotlamp Productions, and Green Door Pictures produce.
Apple TV+ released the following synopsis of the thriller:
“Told in real time,...
- 5/5/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Are you ready for Idris Elba and Archie Panjabi to share the small screen?
Apple TV+ on Friday unveiled photos and a premiere date for the exciting new thriller.
Hijack will debut globally with the first two episodes on Wednesday, June 28, on Apple TV+.
The series was created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith (Criminal Truth Seekers), who also wrote and directed the series, respectively.
Told in real-time, Hijack is a tense thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked plane as it makes its way to London over a seven-hour flight, and authorities on the ground scramble for answers.
Elba will star as Sam Nelson, an accomplished negotiator in the business world who needs to step up and use all his guile to try and save the lives of the passengers — but his high-risk strategy could be his undoing.
Panjabi will play the role of Zahra Gahfoor, a...
Apple TV+ on Friday unveiled photos and a premiere date for the exciting new thriller.
Hijack will debut globally with the first two episodes on Wednesday, June 28, on Apple TV+.
The series was created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith (Criminal Truth Seekers), who also wrote and directed the series, respectively.
Told in real-time, Hijack is a tense thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked plane as it makes its way to London over a seven-hour flight, and authorities on the ground scramble for answers.
Elba will star as Sam Nelson, an accomplished negotiator in the business world who needs to step up and use all his guile to try and save the lives of the passengers — but his high-risk strategy could be his undoing.
Panjabi will play the role of Zahra Gahfoor, a...
- 5/5/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Hijack, a seven-episode Apple TV+ thriller starring Idris Elba and Archie Panjabi, has set a time of departure.
Created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith (of Netflix’s Criminal franchise), the real-time drama will release its first two episodes on Wednesday, June 28, followed by weekly drops. Check out the first photos above and below.
More from TVLineSilo Recap: 'I Want to Go Out!' -- Grade the Apple TV+ Drama PremiereEmmys Nix Schmigadoon! Category Change for Season 2Silo Stars and EPs Share a Look at Life in Apple TV+'s Dystopian Drama, Weigh In on Snowpiercer Comparisons
Hijack follows...
Created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith (of Netflix’s Criminal franchise), the real-time drama will release its first two episodes on Wednesday, June 28, followed by weekly drops. Check out the first photos above and below.
More from TVLineSilo Recap: 'I Want to Go Out!' -- Grade the Apple TV+ Drama PremiereEmmys Nix Schmigadoon! Category Change for Season 2Silo Stars and EPs Share a Look at Life in Apple TV+'s Dystopian Drama, Weigh In on Snowpiercer Comparisons
Hijack follows...
- 5/5/2023
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Idris Elba may be one of the internet's several husbands, but he's very much off the market. The "Luther: The Fallen Sun" star is married to model, activist, and beauty mogul Sabrina Dhowre Elba, having tied the knot in 2019. The couple recently celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary with heartfelt social media posts dedicated to each other.
On April 26, Elba shared a romantic photo of himself kissing his wife on the cheek as they enjoyed a private dinner on the beach. The table was covered with rose petals, and lanterns led the way to their table. "Happy Anniversary… You You," he captioned the post. His wife wasn't about to let the special day pass either. Dhowre Elba posted an Instagram video of them walking at dusk on the beach and running away from the waves. "Happy 4th anniversary baby, thank you for always helping me try to conquer my fears," she wrote as the caption.
On April 26, Elba shared a romantic photo of himself kissing his wife on the cheek as they enjoyed a private dinner on the beach. The table was covered with rose petals, and lanterns led the way to their table. "Happy Anniversary… You You," he captioned the post. His wife wasn't about to let the special day pass either. Dhowre Elba posted an Instagram video of them walking at dusk on the beach and running away from the waves. "Happy 4th anniversary baby, thank you for always helping me try to conquer my fears," she wrote as the caption.
- 4/27/2023
- by Alicia Geigel
- Popsugar.com
Who could be the next 007? Which director could helm the next Bond movie? Both of these are worthy discussions to have but now it’s time for my personal favorite topic when it comes to Bond… the villains! The villains, for this writer, are always the most interesting part of a Bond movie. From Christopher Lee and Christopher Walken to Mads Mikkelsen and Javier Bardem, the quality of Bond villain is always a good measure of how good the Bond movie is itself. With that in mind, here are 10 actors we think would make terrific Bond villains.
Idris Elba
This one may be a controversial choice given how many people want Elba for Bond but the actor is likely too old for the main role and has already ruled himself out of the running anyway. So how fun would it be to see this twist with Elba as the villain?...
Idris Elba
This one may be a controversial choice given how many people want Elba for Bond but the actor is likely too old for the main role and has already ruled himself out of the running anyway. So how fun would it be to see this twist with Elba as the villain?...
- 4/27/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
For better or worse, the next big bet in Hollywood right now is video games. "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" is the biggest film of 2023 so far. "The Last of Us" earned strong reviews from television critics, although some game critics were more skeptical. Even the anime series "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners" -- a spin-off of "Cyberpunk 2077" -- sniped anime of the year at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Leading the charge was 2020's "Sonic the Hedgehog," which survived terrible initial press to score the best opening weekend box office ever for a video game film at the time of its release. A committed performance by Jim Carrey helped, as did a Sonic redesign led by Tyson Hesse and a hard-working team of visual effects artists. Its sequel, "Sonic the Hedgehog 2," made even more money.
Next up we've "Knuckles," a Paramount+ television series featuring everybody's favorite grumpy echidna voiced by Idris Elba.
Leading the charge was 2020's "Sonic the Hedgehog," which survived terrible initial press to score the best opening weekend box office ever for a video game film at the time of its release. A committed performance by Jim Carrey helped, as did a Sonic redesign led by Tyson Hesse and a hard-working team of visual effects artists. Its sequel, "Sonic the Hedgehog 2," made even more money.
Next up we've "Knuckles," a Paramount+ television series featuring everybody's favorite grumpy echidna voiced by Idris Elba.
- 4/23/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
Whether it’s as an R&b singer, a professional kickboxer, or a world class DJ (mixing under the name DJ Big Driis), Idris Elba has become quite the renaissance man. And, oh we almost forgot, he’s also an award-winning actor.
From his first major gig in a 1995 episode of “Absolutely Fabulous,” Elba began his celebrated career working steadily on television, work which lead to two iconic roles — as drug dealer Stringer Bell on HBO’s “The Wire” and as dogged police detective John Luther in BBC’s “Luther,” which earned Elba both the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as four Primetime Emmy nominations. He reprises the role in a 2023 Netflix feature film, “Luther: The Fallen Sun.”
SEENetflix Top 10 (Week of March 6): ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ tops the English language film charts
Elba soon moved over to films, first making a splash with audiences...
From his first major gig in a 1995 episode of “Absolutely Fabulous,” Elba began his celebrated career working steadily on television, work which lead to two iconic roles — as drug dealer Stringer Bell on HBO’s “The Wire” and as dogged police detective John Luther in BBC’s “Luther,” which earned Elba both the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as four Primetime Emmy nominations. He reprises the role in a 2023 Netflix feature film, “Luther: The Fallen Sun.”
SEENetflix Top 10 (Week of March 6): ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ tops the English language film charts
Elba soon moved over to films, first making a splash with audiences...
- 4/18/2023
- by Tom O'Brien
- Gold Derby
The casting director for the James Bond franchise has claimed that younger actors showed they “didn’t have the mental capacity” for the role during the auditions process.
Debbie McWilliams, who has worked on the popular spy series since 1981, revealed that younger actors had originally auditioned for the lead role in 2006’s Casino Royale.
The part of Bond eventually went to Daniel Craig, who was 38 years old at the time.
“When we started [work on Casino Royale], it was a slightly different feel,” McWilliams recalled to Radio Times.
“We did look at a lot of younger actors. and I just don’t think they had the gravitas, they didn’t have the experience, they didn’t have the mental capacity to take it on, because it’s not just the part they’re taking on, it’s a massive responsibility.”
She explained: “So we kind of scrubbed that idea and went back...
Debbie McWilliams, who has worked on the popular spy series since 1981, revealed that younger actors had originally auditioned for the lead role in 2006’s Casino Royale.
The part of Bond eventually went to Daniel Craig, who was 38 years old at the time.
“When we started [work on Casino Royale], it was a slightly different feel,” McWilliams recalled to Radio Times.
“We did look at a lot of younger actors. and I just don’t think they had the gravitas, they didn’t have the experience, they didn’t have the mental capacity to take it on, because it’s not just the part they’re taking on, it’s a massive responsibility.”
She explained: “So we kind of scrubbed that idea and went back...
- 4/11/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - Film
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has joined the cast of 'Heads of State'.The 40-year-old actress is to star alongside Idris Elba and John Cena in the Amazon Studios action movie.Plot details are being kept under wraps but the film has been described as 'Air Force One' meets 'Midnight Run'.Ilya Naishuller is directing from a script by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec. The initial draft was written by Harrison Query and is based on his idea.Filming on the movie will begin in May.Peter Safran and John Rickard are producing for the Safran Company with Elba, Cena and Marcus Viscidi serving as executive producers.Priyanka enjoyed huge success in her native India before making the switch to Hollywood and explained that she left Bollywood because she had "beef with people" in the industry.Speaking on the 'Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard' podcast, Priyanka explained: "I was being...
- 4/6/2023
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is going from Agbo‘s Citadel to Amazon Studios for Heads of State, an upcoming action film starring John Cena and Edris Elba. Action fans should get excited about this project, given that it comes from Nobody director Ilya Naishuller. Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec wrote the script based on a draft by Harrison Query. Plot details remain a mystery, but sources say the project combines Air Force One with Midnight Run. DC Studios co-head Peter Safran produces with John Rickard. In addition to their starring roles, Cena and Elba will executive produce with Marcus Viscidi.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas will star alongside Richard Madden (Eternals) and Stanley Tucci in the Prime Video series Citadel, premiering on April 28, 2023. The global spy agency Citadel has fallen in the show, and agents have had their memories wiped clean. Now the powerful syndicate, Manticore, is rising in the void. Can the...
Priyanka Chopra Jonas will star alongside Richard Madden (Eternals) and Stanley Tucci in the Prime Video series Citadel, premiering on April 28, 2023. The global spy agency Citadel has fallen in the show, and agents have had their memories wiped clean. Now the powerful syndicate, Manticore, is rising in the void. Can the...
- 4/5/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Prior to the global debut of the Agbo spy series Citadel, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is getting into business with Amazon Studios again, this time with the John Cena and Idris Elba movie, Heads of State. Cameras roll in May.
Nobody filmmaker Ilya Naishuller is directing off a script by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, with an initial draft by Harrison Query. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the film, which we first told you about, is being described as Air Force One meets Midnight Run.
Producers are the Safran Company’s Peter Safran and John Rickard. EPs are Cena, Elba and Marcus Viscidi.
Chopra Jonas is a multi-faceted talent and the recipient of numerous awards as an actor and producer with more than sixty international and Hollywood films to her credit. In February 2021, she became a New York Times bestselling author with her memoir Unfinished. She’ll...
Nobody filmmaker Ilya Naishuller is directing off a script by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, with an initial draft by Harrison Query. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the film, which we first told you about, is being described as Air Force One meets Midnight Run.
Producers are the Safran Company’s Peter Safran and John Rickard. EPs are Cena, Elba and Marcus Viscidi.
Chopra Jonas is a multi-faceted talent and the recipient of numerous awards as an actor and producer with more than sixty international and Hollywood films to her credit. In February 2021, she became a New York Times bestselling author with her memoir Unfinished. She’ll...
- 4/5/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Taron Egerton doesn’t think he fits in the James Bond mold.
The “Tetris” actor reacted to the rumors that he’s in the running to be the next 007 in the famed franchise following Daniel Craig’s final appearance.
“I don’t think I’m the right choice for it,” the “Rocketman” star Edgerton told The Telegraph. “You have to be consistently statuesque to be that guy. And that’s something that I am still striving for. I’ve always struggled with my weight.”
Edgerton added that playing Bond “is a bit like being a brand ambassador as well as being an actor. And that could be really fun in microcosm, but I’m sure I read that [producer] Barbara Broccoli said that it’s a 15-year commitment.”
The “Blackbird” star continued, “It’s sort of irrelevant how I feel about it, anyway, because I can tell you there have been zero phone calls.
The “Tetris” actor reacted to the rumors that he’s in the running to be the next 007 in the famed franchise following Daniel Craig’s final appearance.
“I don’t think I’m the right choice for it,” the “Rocketman” star Edgerton told The Telegraph. “You have to be consistently statuesque to be that guy. And that’s something that I am still striving for. I’ve always struggled with my weight.”
Edgerton added that playing Bond “is a bit like being a brand ambassador as well as being an actor. And that could be really fun in microcosm, but I’m sure I read that [producer] Barbara Broccoli said that it’s a 15-year commitment.”
The “Blackbird” star continued, “It’s sort of irrelevant how I feel about it, anyway, because I can tell you there have been zero phone calls.
- 3/23/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
“Luther” sequel film “The Fallen Sun” opens like many of the episodes from the Idris Elba detective drama: with someone getting murdered. In the film’s case, the victim is Callum Aldrich (James Bamford), who is kidnapped and killed by wealthy serial killer David Robey (Andy Serkis). But in the film’s first draft, Callum was a woman before creator Neil Cross made a rewrite — at the request of Netflix.
Cross revealed the change in a recent interview with The Independent. The writer, who created the original series and penned every episode in addition to “Fallen Sun’s” screenplay, said that the first victim was female in the original script in part because he believes violence against women is more “frightening” for viewers.
“For reasons I fear to interrogate too deeply, the female victims resonate and scare more deeply,” Cross told The Independent. “So, there was a defiant part of...
Cross revealed the change in a recent interview with The Independent. The writer, who created the original series and penned every episode in addition to “Fallen Sun’s” screenplay, said that the first victim was female in the original script in part because he believes violence against women is more “frightening” for viewers.
“For reasons I fear to interrogate too deeply, the female victims resonate and scare more deeply,” Cross told The Independent. “So, there was a defiant part of...
- 3/22/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Netflix has released its weekly Top 10 global streaming charts for the week of March 13, which includes both original productions and other films and series airing on the streamer across the globe.
Idris Elba‘s “Luther: The Fallen Sun” remained atop the charts of English-language films with another 69.5 million hours viewed. That comes to 62 million views over the film’s first two weeks on the streamer, dividing the 135.5 million hours viewed by the film’s 2.2-hour runtime. The movie remained in the Top 10 for 93 countries and was #1 in a good amount of them, showing the global appeal of Elba’s character.
Vanessa Jopp‘s dramedy “Faraway” was once again in second place with 14.8 million hours viewed, while Netflix’s animated film “The Magician’s Elephant,” based on Kate Dicamillo‘s novel, entered the charts in third place with 13.7 million hours viewed, both of those in the Top 10 for 70+ countries. Meanwhile, maybe it...
Idris Elba‘s “Luther: The Fallen Sun” remained atop the charts of English-language films with another 69.5 million hours viewed. That comes to 62 million views over the film’s first two weeks on the streamer, dividing the 135.5 million hours viewed by the film’s 2.2-hour runtime. The movie remained in the Top 10 for 93 countries and was #1 in a good amount of them, showing the global appeal of Elba’s character.
Vanessa Jopp‘s dramedy “Faraway” was once again in second place with 14.8 million hours viewed, while Netflix’s animated film “The Magician’s Elephant,” based on Kate Dicamillo‘s novel, entered the charts in third place with 13.7 million hours viewed, both of those in the Top 10 for 70+ countries. Meanwhile, maybe it...
- 3/22/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Idris Elba and Cynthia Erivo attend the UK World Premiere for Luther: The Fallen Sun at BFI IMAX on March 01, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by StillMoving.Net for Netflix) Though the series Luther has come to an end, the character’s stories have not — the first movie based on the character, Luther: The Fallen Sun, was recently released. Idris Elba (as the title character) and Dermot Crowley are the only cast members from the series who carry over to the new film; Cynthia Erivo is a new addition, playing a new Detective Chief Inspector trying to track down Elba’s character. Getting to work with Elba, Erivo told us, was everything she’d hoped it would be. (Click on the media bar below to hear Cynthia Erivo) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Cynthia-_Erivo_Idris_.mp3 Luther: The Fallen Sun is currently streaming on Netflix.
The post New ‘Luther...
The post New ‘Luther...
- 3/10/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Hot on the heels of leaving Netflix for Amazon, horror creator Mike Flanagan already has his next big project lined up. The creator of spooky TV favorites like “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Midnight Mass,” and “The Midnight Club” has acquired the rights to adapt Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” book series.
Flanagan revealed the news in a Deadline interview with his producing partner Trevor Macy about their jump from Netflix to Amazon, where they recently inked an overall deal.
“Predating our deal with Amazon, we acquired the rights to ‘The Dark Tower,’ which if you know anything about me, you know it has been my Holy Grail of a project for most of my life,” Flanagan told Deadline. “We actually have those rights carved out of our Amazon deal, which doesn’t mean that they can’t or won’t get behind it at some point — you don’t know.
Flanagan revealed the news in a Deadline interview with his producing partner Trevor Macy about their jump from Netflix to Amazon, where they recently inked an overall deal.
“Predating our deal with Amazon, we acquired the rights to ‘The Dark Tower,’ which if you know anything about me, you know it has been my Holy Grail of a project for most of my life,” Flanagan told Deadline. “We actually have those rights carved out of our Amazon deal, which doesn’t mean that they can’t or won’t get behind it at some point — you don’t know.
- 12/8/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Amazon Studios has tapped actors Idris Elba and John Cena to star in a new action-comedy film titled "Heads of State." The film is being helmed by Russian-born director Ilya Naishuller (via The Hollywood Reporter), who previously worked on "Nobody," starring "Better Call Saul" star Bob Odenkirk. The film is being produced by Peter Safran and John Rickard via The Safran Company and was greenlit during what is being described as a "competitive Zoom presentation" in October 2020. Major details surrounding the film are still being kept under wraps since it seems to be in the early stages of development. Here's all we know about it so far.
What Is Heads Of State About?
As per THR, the film is being described as a "'90s style two-hander" that is a mix of the Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman starrer "Air Force One" and Dwayne Johnson buddy-cop movie "Hobbs and Shaw.
What Is Heads Of State About?
As per THR, the film is being described as a "'90s style two-hander" that is a mix of the Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman starrer "Air Force One" and Dwayne Johnson buddy-cop movie "Hobbs and Shaw.
- 10/27/2022
- by Fatemeh Mirjalili
- Slash Film
“Nobody” director Ilya Naishuller has been tapped to direct Idris Elba and John Cena in “Heads of State” for Amazon Studios.
The studio won the pitch package consisting of the “Suicide Squad” co-stars and an original draft by Harrison Query in 2020. Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, the writing partners behind “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and more are handling rewrites.
Though plot details are being kept under wraps, the film has been described as “‘Air Force One’ meets ‘Midnight Run.'”
Also Read:
Lakeith Stanfield and Omar Sy to Star in ‘The Book of Clarence’ From Director Jeymes Samuel
Peter Safran and John Rickard are producing on behalf of The Safran Company. Cena and Elba will executive produce.
Naishuller’s last film was 2021’s “Nobody,” the gritty action thriller starring Bob Odenkirk. His 2015 film “Hardcore Henry,” fronted by Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth and Haley Bennett won...
The studio won the pitch package consisting of the “Suicide Squad” co-stars and an original draft by Harrison Query in 2020. Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, the writing partners behind “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and more are handling rewrites.
Though plot details are being kept under wraps, the film has been described as “‘Air Force One’ meets ‘Midnight Run.'”
Also Read:
Lakeith Stanfield and Omar Sy to Star in ‘The Book of Clarence’ From Director Jeymes Samuel
Peter Safran and John Rickard are producing on behalf of The Safran Company. Cena and Elba will executive produce.
Naishuller’s last film was 2021’s “Nobody,” the gritty action thriller starring Bob Odenkirk. His 2015 film “Hardcore Henry,” fronted by Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth and Haley Bennett won...
- 10/26/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
Exclusive: We hear that the Nobody director is helming the duo in the Peter Safran produced movie at Amazon. Ilya Naishuller will be steer the Idris Elba and John Cena film Heads of State.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the film is being described as Air Force One meets Midnight Run.
Josh Applebaum & André Nemec (from an initial draft by Harrison Query) wrote the script.
Despite Safran being named the Co-head of DC Studios with James Gunn yesterday, this project is going forward at his Safran Company where he’ll produce with the label’s President of Production John Rickard.
Elba and Cena are EPs.
The Russian filmmaker helmed Universal’s R-rated Nobody during the pandemic turning Better Call Saul actor Bob Odenkirk into a fierce action star.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the film is being described as Air Force One meets Midnight Run.
Josh Applebaum & André Nemec (from an initial draft by Harrison Query) wrote the script.
Despite Safran being named the Co-head of DC Studios with James Gunn yesterday, this project is going forward at his Safran Company where he’ll produce with the label’s President of Production John Rickard.
Elba and Cena are EPs.
The Russian filmmaker helmed Universal’s R-rated Nobody during the pandemic turning Better Call Saul actor Bob Odenkirk into a fierce action star.
- 10/26/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
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