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Warning: The following contains minor spoilers from George R.R. Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg novels

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is the latest spinoff of George R.R. Martin's beloved world that promises to be closer in style to what made Game of Thrones special in its prime: excellent storytelling and fascinating characters. With fewer special effects and a sharper focus on character development, this show might deliver exactly what Game of Thrones fans have been missing in House of the Dragon.

Martin visited the sets during filming and couldn't contain his enthusiasm. He raved about the performances and how faithfully the showrunners stayed true to his novella. He expressed particular delight in seeing these two protagonists — characters very close to his heart — brought to life with such care and authenticity. Below is a guide to the most important characters and their roles in...

Who needs Netflix and Prime? BBC iPlayer has a terrific collection of films to watch – here’s our updated list of what to watch right now (and when they’re leaving the service).

Whilst all eyes tend to be on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime when it comes to movie updates, on the quiet the BBC iPlayer service continues to play host to a limited, diverse selection of films. What’s more, a good number of them you can download to your tablet to watch on the move.

So, without further ado, welcome to the weekly updated iPlayer film list. This list will be updated every week with the test available data from the BBC, in order of how long you have left to watch (so you can prioritise your viewing pleasure)

New! – denotes all new movies this week!

Brand-new This Week: In the Loop, The Ipcress File,...

Michael Hirst is getting back into the world of Vikings. Variety has learned that Michael and Horatio Hirst have set up the epic historical drama “Bloodaxe” at Amazon Prime Video.

The series is said to tell the true story of famous Viking warrior Erik Bloodaxe and his wife, Gunnhild, Mother of Kings.

This will be the latest series set in this world for the Hirsts. Michael previously created the hit History Channel series “Vikings” and served as an executive producer on the Netflix followup “Vikings: Valhalla.” Horatio, meanwhile, appeared in multiple episodes of “Valhalla.” “Bloodaxe” will mark Horatio’s series writing debut.

“I feel blessed and deeply excited that Amazon has given me the opportunity to return to the fantastic world of the Norse Sagas and the men, women and gods of the Viking world who have come to mean so much to me,” said Michael Hirst. “Horatio and I...

Christopher Nolan’s next big epic at Universal, The Odyssey, has added Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin and Samantha Morton.

For Patel, Page and Irwin, it’s a reteam with the 2x Oscar-winning filmmaker. Patel starred in Nolan’s 2020 Tenet, Page in 2010’s Inception, and Irwin in 2014’s Interstellar. For 2x Oscar nominee Morton, it’s her first time working with Nolan.

The foursome join a booming ensemble that counts Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie and Charlize Theron.

Nolan’s mythic action epic, shot with new Imax cameras, is based on the ancient Greek poem by Homer which follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. The classic explores themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning and the struggle against divine will. The tale includes iconic stories like Odysseus’ encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens and the witch-goddess Circe,...

Starz has announced the movie and TV titles that will be available on the service in January. The Starz January 2025 schedule includes the last two episodes of Outlander Season 7, setting the stage for the upcoming final season, and the U.S. premiere of The Couple Next Door.

The month also brings a diverse selection of films, including Freedom Hair, Once in a Valentine, Trim Season, Advanced Chemistry, and several other notable titles. You can also kick off the new year with the “Day of the Dinos!” marathon on New Year’s Day, featuring Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, and Jurassic World Dominion: Extended Cut.

Outlander Season 7 Part 2 Starz Highlights

Outlander Season 7 Part 2

The land the Frasers call home is changing – and they must change with it. To protect what they’ve built, the Frasers have to navigate the perils of the Revolutionary War. They learn that sometimes,...

Three top production designers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with movie contenders. They will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Monday, November 18, at 4:00 p.m. Pt; 6:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Marcus James Dixon and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.

RSVP today to our entire ongoing contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.

Emilia Perez

Synopsis: In Mexico, a lawyer receives an unexpected offer to help a feared cartel boss retire from his business and disappear forever by becoming the woman he’s always dreamed of being.

Bio: Emmanuelle Duplay’s career has included “By the Grace of God,” “Aline,” “Forever Young,...

If you want to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design, it’s best to pick a project for which you can create frilly dresses from a bygone era. Since its introduction at the 1948 Academy Awards, this category has favored period pictures, including the 2024 winner “Poor Things.” (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2025 Oscar predictions for Best Costume Design.)

Voters love to reward the creative forces behind such films, especially those that are about the aristocracy including recent champs “Marie Antoinette” (2007), “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2008), “The Duchess” (2009), “The Young Victoria” (2010), and “Anna Karenina” (2013). By the way, none of those films even competed for Best Picture. Indeed, only 20 Best Picture champs also won this award; the last to do so was “The Artist” in 2012.

Among the other double dippers was “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004). Fantasy films such as this often boast Oscar-winning costumes, including 2022 champ “Cruella,...

Disclaimer presents Catherine Ravenscroft, a famous journalist with the perfect life a brilliant career and a happy family. Stephen Brigstocke, on the other hand, has lost his job, his wife and his son and blames Catherine for everything. Ravenscroft's status, relations, and sanity are threatened when she receives a book from a familiar voice, one with a thirst for revenge, and knowledge of Catherine's deepest secret.

Critically acclaimed Mexican screenwriter and director Alfonso Cuarn unites an all-star cast of veterans and newcomers for his television debut. Apple TV's seven-part series is set to offer a cinematic experience told by the best of the best. Early Disclaimer reviews are already praising its leads, and the show's smart manipulation of narrative. By clashing several characters' points of view, the 2024 drama knows where it's taking you, but will not reveal it too soon.

Cast of Disclaimer

Picture

Actor

Character

Cate Blanchett

Catherine Ravenscroft...

Saoirse Ronan is getting some of the best reviews of her career for “The Outrun,” an intense drama about a woman battling her addiction to alcohol. No surprise then that she ranks among the top 5 on our Best Actress chart. She also has a featured role in Steve McQueen‘s upcoming “Blitz” as a mother in search of her missing boy in war-torn London. Currently we have her on the cusp of reaping a bid in Best Supporting Actress as well. Expect Ronan to crack the top 5 after “Blitz” drops at the London Film Festival on Wednesday (Oct. 9).

This Irish actress, who has already racked up four Oscar nominations to date, would join these dozen performers who pulled off this double play (the seven winners are in gold.)

1. Fay Bainter (1939)

Best Actress, “White Banners”

Best Supporting Actress, “Jezebel”

2. Teresa Wright (1943)

Best Actress, “The Pride of the Yankees”

Best Supporting Actress,...

A limited series adaptation of the book “A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii” is in development at Amazon MGM Studios, Variety has learned exclusively.

The book was written by Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, Eliza Knight, Sophie Perinot, and Vicky Alvear. Michael Hirst and Horatio Hirst are set as writers, executive producers, and showrunners. Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Clayton Krueger, and Sharon Hughff executive produce for Scott Free Productions. Amazon MGM Studios will produce.

The book takes place in the lead up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which utterly destroyed Pompeii and killed many of its residents. It tells a series of overlapping stories of people living in Pompeii and what their lives were like before fire rained down from the sky.

Scott Free’s upcoming TV slate includes “Blade Runner 2099” at Amazon Prime Video and “Alien: Earth” at FX.

Michael Hirst is known...

Exclusive: Dave Stewart, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with Eurythmics partner Annie Lennox, reveals to Deadline that Elizabeth, What’s Love Got to Do With It? director Shekhar Kapur will shoot feature film musical Ebony McQueen, a 1960s-early ’70s coming-of-age story inspired by the rock legend’s teen years in the North East of England and the discs and soundtracks that sparked his journey to becoming a musician.

The film will feature songs ( music and lyrics) by Stewart and garlanded South Asian composer A.R. Rahman is partnering with Stewart to compose the Ebony McQueen’s musical score.

The production will be located in Stewart’s hometown in the once-mighty shipbuilding city of Sunderland, with plans for filming to start in the spring. The actual streets where Stewart grew up have been redeveloped, though there are areas nearby with buildings that match...

Cate Blanchett opened up about a very unexpected request that she received from a key member of the Royal Family.

The 55-year-old Borderlands actress appeared on Watch What Happens Live, where she was asked if she’d ever met the late Queen Elizabeth.

She confirmed that she was once invited to lunch at the Palace, where another Royal asked for help with their DVD player. She explained why they wanted her help and if she was able to provide it.

Keep reading to find out more…

The Royal in question was the late Prince Phillip, who was the Queen’s husband.

“Prince Phillip just asked if I could help him with his DVD player. Because I was an actress,” she recalled.

Did she help out? “No, I did not,” she said, adding, “I’m not technical.”

Cate said that she was not sure why she had been invited, though she...

Borderlands features beloved characters from the franchise who may be a bit different, all while maintaining the game's spirit. Lilith, Roland, Tiny Tina, Krieg, and Claptrap form a rag-tag team on a mission filled with action and comedy. Notable actors like Blanchett and Black bring their charm to the ensemble, teasing a successful romp.

Even though much of the footage seems game-accurate, Eli Roth's Borderlands movie boasts characters who differ from their video game counterparts in some significant ways, all while retaining the singular spirit of the source material. Based on Gearbox's hugely popular game series of the same name, Borderlands is a sci-fi action-comedy romp that centers on Lilith (Cate Blanchett), an infamous outlaw who returns to her homeworld of Pandora on a mission. However, unlike the first Borderlands game, Lilith isn't just a Vault Hunter. Atlas (Edgar Ramrez), the universe's most powerful person, wants her to find his daughter.

Acclaimed filmmaker Shekar Kapur has been named festival director for the International Film Festival of India (Iffi).

Kapur will oversee the 55th and 56th editions of the country’s biggest government-run festival, according to a statement from India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The festival is held annually in Goa and will take place this year from November 20-28.

Responding to the announcement on social media, Kapur said: “It’s an Honour. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility. Thank you for considering me worthy of your trust.”

Kapur began his filmmaking career in 1983 with family drama Masoom in...

Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been appointed as the new director of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi).

Kapur will head the festival, held annually in Goa, for the 55th and 56th editions, India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry announced with a statement this morning.

“With the approval of the Competent Authority, it has been decided to appoint Shri Shekhar Kapur as the Festival Director for the 55th and 56th editions of the International Film Festival of India, Goa,” the statement read.

Kapur welcomed the news with a post on social media.

“It’s an Honour. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility. Thank you for considering me worthy of your trust,” he wrote.

It’s an Honour. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility. Thank you for considering me worthy of your trust @MIB_India https://t.co/bVEmIjBu9p

— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) July 25, 2024

Kapur is...

Cate Blanchett has been named jury president of the main competition at the 32nd edition of the EnergaCamerimage International Cinematography Film Festival, which will take place Nov. 16-23 in Toruń, Poland.

“Films are lightning in a bottle, and I have had the profound creative privilege of working with some of the great lightning catchers – cinematographers who have forever changed the way I work and the way I look at the world. To be at EnergaCamerimage in their midst en masse is a fever dream come true,” said Blanchett.

Many films that the two-time Oscar-winnning actress has been involved with have figured prominently at Camerimage over the years. She earned her first Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in the film “Elizabeth,” for which Dp Remi Adefarasin took home the Camerimage Golden Frog in 1999.

In 2008 she received two Oscar nominations, for best actress for “Elizabeth: The Golden Age...

Starz has announced the movie and TV titles coming to the service in June. The Starz June 2024 schedule includes the season four premiere of Power Book II: Ghost.

On the film front, Bros, Ticket to Paradise, How I Learned to Fly (featuring Cliff “Method Man” Smith), Get On Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Billy Madison, Carlito’s Way, How High, Jarhead, Law Abiding Citizen, and several other notable titles join the Starz app this month.

You can also celebrate The Karate Kid‘s 40th anniversary with a movie marathon on Starz Encore, beginning Saturday, June 22, at 2:50 p.m. with the classic The Karate Kid (1984) and The Karate Kid Part II.

Starz June 2024 Highlights

Power Book II: Ghost Season 4

The fourth and final season of “Power Book II: Ghost” debuts on Friday, June 7, at midnight Et on the Starz app, which also coincides with the 10th Anniversary of “Power’s” debut on Starz.

2023 was a miraculous year for German actress Sandra Huller. Not only did she receive critical acclaim for her riveting portrayal of a woman on trial for murdering her husband in France’s “Anatomy of a Fall,” she was also praised for her role as the wife of a Nazi commander in the United Kingdom’s German-language “The Zone of Interest.” Indeed, there was much interest in Huller and her two films. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for “Anatomy.” And both “Anatomy” and “Zone” landed slots for Best Picture, as well as Best Director bids for Justine Triet and Jonathan Glazer, respectively.

As I was speaking to academy members ahead of last Sunday’s ceremony, I detected a surprisingly robust amount of support for Huller. And many of those who had voted for her mentioned her work in “The Zone of Interest.” It really did seem...

Graphic: Images: The A.V. Club, Focus Features, Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images, Vittorio Zunino CelottoFamous epic loot collector Cate Blanchett might star in the Borderlands moviePhoto: Getty Images (Getty Images)

If there’s one thing we know about two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (other than the fact that she’s...

English royalty has been a global fascination, perhaps driven by Britain's political influence in the world in the 19th and 20th centuries, but also for its dramatic personal stories. This fascination has provided material for films and television shows such as The Madness of King George, which explores the reported mental illness experienced by George III during his later years, and The Tudors, which follows the dramatic life of perhaps the most famous of the monarchs, Henry VIII, and his infamous marriages. Television series like The Crown capture what goes on in the modern-era monarchy, focusing on Elizabeth II's long reign. Among the monarchs, there is a fascination by filmmakers with Elizabeth I, earning her portrayal dominant screentime in movies such as Elizabeth and its sequel Elizabeth: The Golden Age, as well as series like teen drama Becoming Elizabeth and the acclaimed multiple Emmy Award-winning HBO miniseries Elizabeth I.

Tom Hollander and Tom Holland may share 95% of a name, but what they don’t share is a massive Marvel paycheque.

While appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Tom Hollander revealed that he was once mistakenly sent a box-office bonus meant for Tom Holland. “People in the account’s department of my agency got confused. We were with the same agents briefly. And it was a terrible moment,” Hollander said. “I went to see my friend who was doing theater in England. I sat smugly in the audience just having done a BBC show for $30,000 … the interval came and I checked my email and I got one from the agency saying, ‘Payment slip for first box office bonus for ‘The Avengers.’”

Hollander was curious, but upon opening the email, he was left shaken by just how much it was. “It was an astonishing amount of money,” Hollander said. “It was not his salary.

Cate Blanchett is the only actress to be nominated twice for playing the same character in different movies. Only six actors in total have achieved this feat, with the other five being men. Sylvester Stallone has the largest gap between nominations, with nearly 40 years between his first and second nominations for playing Rocky Balboa.

Cate Blanchett became the first and only actress to achieve one specific record with her fourth Oscar nomination 16 years ago. Throughout her decades-spanning career, Blanchett has given top-tier performances in some phenomenal movies. The Australian native is one of the most talented actors working today and has been widely recognized by the Academy for her film work.

In total, Cate Blanchett has eight Oscar nominations to her name, including two wins. She is also among only 12 actors to receive two Oscar nominations in the same year and remains the only Australian actor with two Oscar wins.

Only six actors in Oscar history have been nominated for playing the same character in different movies, with Bing Crosby and Paul Newman being the only two to win an Oscar for their performances. Cate Blanchett is the only actress on the list, receiving two Oscar nominations for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in "Elizabeth" (1998) and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007). Sylvester Stallone has the largest gap between Oscar nominations for playing the same character, receiving his first nomination for playing Rocky Balboa in "Rocky" (1976) and his second nomination for reprising the role in "Creed" (2015), nearly 40 years later.

In the Oscars' 94-year history, only six actors have ever been nominated for playing the same character on separate occasions. It’s not uncommon for different portrayals of the same character to be nominated or even win an Oscar. However, in these instances, the character is played by different actors, typically in remakes of the original movie.

Cate Blanchett is the only actor to win an Oscar for playing a real-life Oscar-winning actor in a movie. Martin Landau previously held the record for winning an Oscar for playing a real-life movie star in general. Renée Zellweger won an Oscar for playing Judy Garland, but Garland's Academy Juvenile Award is not considered the same as a competitive award.

When Cate Blanchett won her very first Academy Award in 2005, she set an Oscars record that has yet to be matched by any other actor. A phenomenal talent, the Australian actor has starred in countless acclaimed films and has been recognized widely by the Academy. She received her first Oscar nomination in 1999 for Best Supporting Actress for the titular role of Queen Elizabeth I in Shekhar Kapur's biographical period drama Elizabeth. She was nominated again for the same role in the sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, in 2008.

In total,...

Just before he reaches the age of 28, Timothée Chalamet will very likely achieve his third Golden Globe (and first Best Comedy/Musical Actor) nomination for “Wonka.” Following his previous bids for “Call Me By Your Name” and “Beautiful Boy”, this notice would make him the youngest man to have ever vied for all three possible film Golden Globes, smashing a record set by 35-year-old James Caan in 1976. He would also make history due to the fact that he would be the third actor recognized by this organization for playing Willy Wonka, thus putting the fictional chocolatier on a very short list of film characters that have inspired at least three Golden Globe nominations.

Directed and co-written by Paul King (“Paddington”), “Wonka” serves as an origin story for its title character, who was first introduced in the 1964 Roald Dahl book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Chalamet puts a relatively youthful spin...

Peter Jackson‘s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy amassed 28 Oscar nominations and 17 wins between the three films while the prequel “The Hobbit” series garnered a further seven nominations. Out of those 35 Academy Award bids, however, only one came for acting. That was for Sir Ian McKellen when he was nominated in 2002 for Best Supporting Actor for “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” It was Jim Broadbent who won that category that year, for “Iris,” so Middle Earth performers have been overlooked somewhat for their part in the huge success of the fantasy film series. However, a handful of thespians who have appeared in either “The Lord of the Rings” or “The Hobbit” (or both) have found Oscar success elsewhere in their career. Here’s the rundown.

Cate Blanchett — Eight nominations and two wins

Cate Blanchett played Galadriel in all six of Jackson’s Middle Earth movies,...

Update 8.05Am Pst: UK network Gb News has now also suspended host Dan Wootton for his part in last night’s interview in which Laurence Fox denigrated a female journalist by saying that no “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed” with her.

Wootton sniggered at Fox’s comments on-air but followed up with multiple apologies on social media before Fox was suspended. Per our previous story below, Fox today reacted to Wootton’s online apologies by posting a text thread that seems to show that Wootton sent him ‘crying with laughter’ emojis after the on-air exchange about female journalist Ava Evans.

Gb News said it is carrying out “a full investigation”.

Gb News has suspended Dan Wootton following comments made on his programme by Laurence Fox last night.

This follows our decision earlier today to formally suspend Mr Fox.

We are conducting a full investigation.

— Gb News (@Gbnews) September 27, 2023

Original...

Samantha Morton takes on a haunting role as reverend Jack Brooks in Paramount+'s new horror thriller, The Burning Girls. The series follows a reverend and her daughter as they move to Chapel Croft in search of a fresh start, only to uncover dark secrets that turn their lives into a nightmare. Morton's extensive career in film and television includes acclaimed films and memorable roles, establishing her as a British actress with a powerful legacy.

Samantha Morton plays reverend Jack Brooks in the first look trailer for The Burning Girls, the new horror thriller from Paramount+, which premieres on October 19.

As she prepares to return as Catherine de' Medici in the second season of The Serpent Queen, Morton puts royalty aside to become a haunted vicar in the new series from Hans Rosenfeldt and Camilla Ahlgren. Based on the novel by C.J. Tudor, the story follows a reverend and her daughter,...

If you want to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design, it’s best to pick a project for which you can create frilly dresses from a bygone era. Since its introduction at the 1948 Academy Awards, this category has favored period pictures, including the 2021 winner “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Voters love to reward the creative forces behind such films, especially those that are about the aristocracy including recent champs “Marie Antoinette” (2007), “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2008), “The Duchess” (2009), “The Young Victoria” (2010), and “Anna Karenina” (2013). (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2023 Oscars Best Costume Design predictions.)

By the way, none of those films even competed for Best Picture. Indeed, only 20 of the most recent 73 Best Picture champs also won this award. Among these was “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004). Fantasy films such as this often boast Oscar-winning costumes, including 2022 champ “Cruella,” 2019 winner “Black Panther” and its...

Shetland is a gripping Scottish crime drama set in the eponymous Scottish archipelago, known for its darker and more sinister edge. The Shetland cast has seen changes over the years, but the performances continue to impress, with the show remaining a critical darling. The show reinvents the small-town crime genre with each passing year, making it one of the best shows set in Scotland.

Even though the Shetland cast has grown and changed over the course of its near-decade on the air, the featured players never fail to deliver in the gripping Scottish crime drama. Debuting in 2013 on BBC One, Shetland is set on the eponymous Scottish archipelago and follows the men and women of the local police force who investigate crimes that disrupt the sleepy community. With its distinctly Scottish environs and small-town crime aspects, Shetland is a unique specimen among other British crime dramas because of its darker and more sinister edge,...

Colman Domingo is having a moment. The veteran actor has been nominated for two Tonys in his career, but lately it’s his on-screen work that has brought him the most attention. He won his first Emmy in 2022 for guesting on “Euphoria.” He received numerous plaudits for his role in the independent film “Zola.” And he has had additional film credits including Oscar winners “If Beale Street Could Talk” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Next he could become the 13th performer ever nominated for two Oscars in the same year.

As of this writing, based on the combined predictions of thousands of Gold Derby users, Domingo ranks fourth in our odds for Best Actor for playing the unsung civil rights hero Bayard Rustin in “Rustin.” And he places fifth in our odds for Best Supporting Actor for playing Mister in the upcoming musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.” But we...

Actress Cate Blanchett, poses for the Armani floral fragrance 'Sì', photographed by Tom Munro:

"The definition of iconic holiday elegance, Cate Blanchett captivates in the gold and red 'Armani' beauty holiday universe..."

Blanchett came to international attention portraying 'Elizabeth I' in the drama feature "Elizabeth" (1998). Her portrayal of 'Katharine Hepburn' in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" (2004) earned her the 'Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress'. She won a second Oscar for the comedy-drama "Blue Jasmine" (2013). Her other Oscar-nominated roles include "Notes on a Scandal" (2006), "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007), "I'm Not There" (2007), and "Carol" (2015).

Blanchett's films include "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999), Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (2001–2003), "The Hobbit" trilogy (2012–2014), "Babel" (2006), "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008), "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008), the "How to Train Your Dragon" film trilogy (2014–2019), "Cinderella" (2015), "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017) and "Ocean's 8" (2018).

Click the images to enlarge.

Mumbai, July 22 (Ians) Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is known for films like ‘Bandit Queen’, ‘Elizabeth’, ‘Masoom’, is set to work on the sequel of ‘Masoom’.

Shekharis currently busy with working around the score for the ‘Masoom: The Next Generation’.

Currently based in London for the past two weeks, the filmmaker was recently honoured with the Lifetime Contribution to UK-India Relations award at the Igf’s UK-India Awards.

According to sources, the director’s visit to London holds more significance than the accolades.

“He has been collaborating with a renowned music producer from England, on the music for the movie. The director will also be working with one of the most sought after music composers in India for another soundtrack for ‘Masoom: The Next Generation.’ He is also scouting locations while he’s in London to finalise the setting for the movie,” the source said.

The original film, ‘Masoom,’ directed by...

Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur (“Bandit Queen,” “Elizabeth”) is planning a sequel to his 1983 directorial debut “Masoom,” Variety can reveal.

The film is titled “Masoom… The New Generation.” Details of the plot, studio and cast are under wraps at the moment.

Written by Gulzar (Oscar winner for “Slumdog Millionaire”), “Masoom” was an adaptation of Erich Segal’s 1980 novel “Man, Woman and Child.” It followed a happily married couple and their two daughters whose lives are disrupted with the arrival of a boy who is the man’s son from an earlier affair. The cast included Naseeruddin Shah (“Taj: Divided by Blood”), Shabana Azmi (“Halo”), Jugal Hansraj (“Nri Wives”), Supriya Pathak (“Tabbar”), Saeed Jaffrey (“The Man Who Would Be King”) and Urmila Matondkar (“Rangeela”).

The film was warmly received upon release in India and won Filmfare awards for best actor for Shah, Gulzar’s lyrics, Rahul Dev Burman’s music, Aarti Mukherji...

Actress Cate Blanchett, poses for the Armani floral fragrance 'Sì', photographed by Tom Munro:

"The definition of iconic holiday elegance, Cate Blanchett captivates in the gold and red 'Armani' beauty holiday universe..."

Blanchett came to international attention portraying 'Elizabeth I' in the drama feature "Elizabeth" (1998). Her portrayal of 'Katharine Hepburn' in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" (2004) earned her the 'Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress'. She won a second Oscar for the comedy-drama "Blue Jasmine" (2013). Her other Oscar-nominated roles include "Notes on a Scandal" (2006), "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007), "I'm Not There" (2007), and "Carol" (2015).

Blanchett's films include "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999), Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (2001–2003), "The Hobbit" trilogy (2012–2014), "Babel" (2006), "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008), "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008), the "How to Train Your Dragon" film trilogy (2014–2019), "Cinderella" (2015), "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017) and "Ocean's 8" (2018).

Click the images to enlarge.

Cate Blanchett has received Oscar nominations for a variety of roles in movies ranging from critically panned duds to universally praised gems. Throughout her career, Blanchett has earned eight Academy Award nominations, including five nods for Best Actress and three for Best Supporting Actress. At the 2008 ceremony, Blanchett received a nomination in each of these categories, making her one of the few actors to be nominated twice in the same Oscars ceremony. Along with Paul Newman and Al Pacino, Blanchett is also one of the few actors to be Oscar-nominated twice for the same role, with her dual nods for the Elizabeth movies.

While costume designer and art director Catherine Martin holds the title of most-awarded Australian artist at the Oscars, Blanchett is the most-nominated Australian. Blanchett is a rare case of an actor who can switch seamlessly between high-grossing blockbuster franchises like the MCU and award-worthy arthouse fare like...

Apx Group, a New York-, Los Angeles- and London-based film, media and entertainment fund owned by a group of private financiers from the U.S., Italy, Spain and the U.K., has acquired a 50 percent stake in London-based Twickenham Film Studios, where the likes of The Italian Job, Beatles feature A Hard Day’s Night, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Iron Lady and Elizabeth: The Golden Age were made.

A price tag was not disclosed.

The move follows recent news of businessman Sunny Vohra, chairman of Twickenham Film Studios, acquiring a 6.95 percent stake in Apx. The deal for the stake signals a 950 million pound ($1.14 billion at Thursday’s exchange rate) market capitalization for Apx, led by global CEO Shelley Hammond, which is planning a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange later this year, the company said.

The Twickenham acquisition is the latest addition to Apx’s network of studios. In recent months,...

The films in contention for the 2023 Best Costume Design Oscar are “Babylon,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Elvis,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.” Our current odds show “Elvis” (10/3) to be the frontrunner, followed in order by “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (37/10), “Babylon” (9/2), “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (9/2), and “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” (9/2).

Jenny Beavan’s nomination for “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” is her 12th and could result in her fourth win, as she previously bagged trophies for “A Room with a View” (1987), “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2016), and “Cruella” (2022). She would be only the fifth costumer to achieve as many victories, after Edith Head, Irene Sharaff, Milena Canonero, and Colleen Atwood. Her other eight bids came for “The Bostonians” (1985), “Maurice” (1988), “Howards End” (1993), “The Remains of the Day” (1994), “Sense and Sensibility” (1996), “Anna and the King” (2000), “Gosford Park” (2002), and “The King’s Speech” (2011).

Catherine Martin (“Elvis”) is seeking...

The 2023 Oscar nominees for Best Actress are Cate Blanchett (“Tar”), Ana de Armas (“Blonde”), Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”), Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”), and Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”). Our current odds indicate that Yeoh (82/25) will take the prize, followed in order by Blanchett (18/5), Williams (9/2), Riseborough (9/2), and de Armas (9/2).

Blanchett, who triumphed here in 2014 for “Blue Jasmine,” is the only past Oscar winner in this lineup. She now belongs to a group of 20 women with at least five Best Actress nominations apiece, with her previous unsuccessful bids having come for “Elizabeth” (1999), “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2008), and “Carol” (2016). She also has a supporting victory to her name for “The Aviator” (2005) as well as two more notices in that category for “Notes on a Scandal” (2007) and “I’m Not There” (2008). Her overall nomination total of eight is the one of the highest for an actress, behind Meryl Streep (21), Katharine Hepburn (12), and Bette Davis...

Following a 16-year hiatus from feature filmmaking, “In the Bedroom” and “Little Children” writer-director Todd Field reemerged in 2022 to unleash his first original creation on the world (his previous films were adaptations). “TÁR” — an engrossing fictional character study and a deep analysis of how and why power is abused — is now up for six Oscars, including Best Picture. Since he was previously nominated for producing “In the Bedroom,” he could follow Jim Burke (“Green Book”) and Dan Janvey and Peter Spears (“Nomadland”) as the fourth person in five years to take the academy’s top prize on his second bid.

SEE2023 Gold Derby Film Awards ceremony: Watch 20 exciting acceptance speeches by Michelle Yeoh, Colin Farrell, Austin Butler …

“TÁR” primarily takes place in modern day Germany, where central character Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) serves as chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. The highly-decorated artist initially appears to enjoy the seemingly perfect...

Amazon Prime Video has popped off with plenty of new content for March 2023 with original shows and some great catches for films to stream. “Top Gun: Maverick” will arrive March 24, and Jordan Peele’s “Nope” before that on March 21. For those anticipating “Creed III,” the first two films starring and directed by Michael B. Jordan will become available at the beginning of March along with all of the “Rocky” films as well as “Cinderella Man” for the broader boxing buff community. A theatrical release from 2022, “The Silent Twins,” starring Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrence arrives March 7.

Friday March 3 will see “Daisy Jones & The Six” rock the world when the band’s epic limited series comes out. Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Suki Waterhouse, and more will bring Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best-selling novel to life. Other shows to look forward to on the streamer are Donald Glover’s horror series...

With its list of new releases for March 2023, Amazon Prime Video might be rolling out its most impressive monthly lineup yet.

We know that sounds like something straight out of a press release but in this case, it’s actually true! Prime Video, bless it, has some excellent original titles like The Boys and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but its monthly release updates have often been less inspiring than its TV peers. That’s certainly not the case with March 2023 though.

Prime Video gets its streaming party started early by premiering the first three episodes of Daisy Jones & The Six on March 3. This series, based on a book of the same name, tells the fictional Behind the Music-esque story of an equally fictional band. Then, on March 17, Amazon’s partnership with Donald Glover bears its first fruit with the series about obsessive fandom called Swarm. Reggie Jackson documentary Reggie premieres...

‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ and ‘Broker’ also open in top 10.

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Feb 24-26) Total gross to date Week 1. Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (Disney) £3.05m £14.65m 2 2. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (Universal) £1.76m £20.5m 4 3. Cocaine Bear (Universal) £1.58m £1.58m 1 4. What’s Love Got To Do With It? (Studiocanal) £1.03m £1.08m 1 5. Magic Mike’s Last Dance (Warner Bros)

£470,000 £4.9m 3

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.20

Universal’s Cocaine Bear led the weekend’s new titles at the UK-Ireland box office, taking £1.58m from February 24-26.

The comedy thriller, directed by Elizabeth Banks, landed third on the...

‘Cocaine Bear’ hunts for a fast start; ‘Joyland’, ‘Broker’ hit cinemas.

Shekhar Kapur’s cross-cultural romantic comedy What’s Love Got To Do With It? sets a record for widest Studiocanal UK-Ireland opening this weekend, starting its run in 630 locations.

The film, which debuted at Toronto Film Festival in Septemer last year, tops the 607-site opening of Paddington 2 from November 2017.

Set in London, What’s Love Got To Do With It? follows Kazim, a young Pakistani-British man who is having an arranged marriage to a bride from Pakistan; and his childhood friend Zoe, a filmmaker documenting the process.

Shazad Latif and...

March is still winter, no matter which animal you ask, which means it’s still completely acceptable to cancel all plans and curl up under a blanket in front of the TV. Prime Video’s movie library updates throughout the month, with most of its new additions on March 1 — including the “Rocky” saga, multiple “Carrie” adaptations, “12 Angry Men,” and more.

For Prime users who love books and TV, March means the highly-anticipated premiere of “Daisy Jones & the Six,” based on the best-selling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The eponymous Daisy (Riley Keough) and Billy Dunne’s band (Sam Claflin) make a mean match, starting with a hit single and leading to what seems like endless fame and glory. But where there is success there is peril, and both the band’s rise and an electric connection with Daisy threaten Billy’s marriage and everyone’s personal lives. James Ponsoldt,...

Cate Blanchett, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s honoree for outstanding performer of the year, sat down for a wide-ranging conversation on Friday, spanning her early acting beginnings to her current eighth Oscar nomination for her starring role in Tár.

In front of a sold-out crowd at Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre, Blanchett looked back at some of her standout roles from the last 25 years with The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg, who served as moderator. Of 2006’s Notes on a Scandal, for which she received one of her Oscar noms, the star shared fond memories of working with co-star Judi Dench, recalling in the film (where Dench’s character is obsessed with hers), “We have a violent episode where Judi was actually looking like a Ninja Turtle — she had to have this back brace on because I had to slam Judi Dench into a dresser. And I said to Richard Eyre,...

There’s surely no feeling in the world quite like winning an Oscar– that heady, unfiltered hit of professional validation that so many actors desperately crave.

But what of those who aren’t so lucky? For every Oscar winner, there must be a handful of losers, deserving or sometimes undeserving also-rans whose work was collectively deemed to have fallen short.

While actors are often skilled at disguising their disappointment – this is show business, after all – sometimes they let their real feelings slip through.

Whether it’s via side-eye glances that seem to throw shade on the winner, or simply muttering expletives, there have been many Oscar losses that prompted reactions which live on in infamy.

These aren’t the sorest losers, necessarily, but rather actors who didn’t adhere to the staid conventions of dignified loserdom.

Sometimes, as in the case of Holly Hunter, or Cate Blanchett, the reactions seem entirely lighthearted; others,...

There’s surely no feeling in the world quite like winning an Oscar– that heady, unfiltered hit of professional validation that so many actors desperately crave.

But what of those who aren’t so lucky? For every Oscar winner, there must be a handful of losers, deserving or sometimes undeserving also-rans whose work was collectively deemed to have fallen short.

While actors are often skilled at disguising their disappointment – this is show business, after all – sometimes they let their real feelings slip through.

Whether it’s via side-eye glances that seem to throw shade on the winner, or simply muttering expletives, there have been many Oscar losses that prompted reactions which live on in infamy.

These aren’t the sorest losers, necessarily, but rather actors who didn’t adhere to the staid conventions of dignified loserdom.

Sometimes, as in the case of Holly Hunter, or Cate Blanchett, the reactions seem entirely lighthearted; others,...

In the two dozen years since she received her first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, Cate Blanchett has become one of the most-recognized performers in the organization’s history. With her 2023 lead notice for “Tar,” she ties Meryl Streep’s record for most film SAG Award bids. If she prevails on her 18th general nomination, she will follow Daniel Day-Lewis, Renée Zellweger, and Viola Davis as only the fourth person to ever take home three SAG trophies for individual film acting.

On her fifth Best Film Actress outing, Blanchett faces three category newcomers and one heavily-feted veteran. The one whose SAG Awards resume most closely rivals hers is Davis, who is seeking her third win here for “The Woman King” following victories for “The Help” (2012) and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (2021). The other three categories she has conquered are Best Film Ensemble (“The Help”), Best TV Drama Actress, and Best Film Supporting Actress.

If you want to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design, it’s best to pick a project for which you can create frilly dresses from a bygone era. Since its introduction at the 1948 Academy Awards, this category has favored period pictures, including the 2021 winner “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Voters love to reward the creative forces behind such films, especially those that are about the aristocracy including recent champs “Marie Antoinette” (2007), “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2008), “The Duchess” (2009), “The Young Victoria” (2010), and “Anna Karenina” (2013). (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2023 Oscars Best Costume Design predictions.)

By the way, none of those films even competed for Best Picture. Indeed, only 20 of the most recent 73 Best Picture champs also won this award. Among these was “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004). Fantasy films such as this often boast Oscar-winning costumes, including 2022 champ “Cruella,” 2019 winner “Black Panther,” and recent picks...