Paramount Pictures has released the first trailer for Better Man, a biopic of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. The movie will play out as a fairly straightforward retelling of Williams' life and career... with the former Take That member depicted as a CGI chimpanzee.
Why the ape? You'll find out more in the accompanying featurette below, but director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) got the idea from speaking to Williams about how he perceives himself.
Love him or hate him, there's no denying how popular Williams was back in the day. Though he may not be as familiar to U.S. fans, Williams was inarguably one of the biggest stars in the U.K. at one point.
By all accounts, Better Man is a very good watch (it holds an impressive 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews).
Check out the trailer for yourselves and be sure to let us...
Why the ape? You'll find out more in the accompanying featurette below, but director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) got the idea from speaking to Williams about how he perceives himself.
Love him or hate him, there's no denying how popular Williams was back in the day. Though he may not be as familiar to U.S. fans, Williams was inarguably one of the biggest stars in the U.K. at one point.
By all accounts, Better Man is a very good watch (it holds an impressive 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews).
Check out the trailer for yourselves and be sure to let us...
- 10/3/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Paramount Pictures has released the first trailer for Better Man, a biopic of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. The movie will play out as a fairly straightforward retelling of Williams' life and career... with the former Take That member depicted as a CGI ape.
Why the monkey? You'll find out more in the accompanying featurette below, but director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) got the idea from speaking to Williams about how he perceives himself.
Love him or hate him, there's no denying how popular Williams was back in the day. Though he may not be as familiar to U.S. fans, Williams was inarguably one of the biggest stars in the U.K. at one point.
By all accounts, Better Man is a very good watch (it holds an impressive 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews).
Check out the trailer for yourselves and be sure to let us...
Why the monkey? You'll find out more in the accompanying featurette below, but director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) got the idea from speaking to Williams about how he perceives himself.
Love him or hate him, there's no denying how popular Williams was back in the day. Though he may not be as familiar to U.S. fans, Williams was inarguably one of the biggest stars in the U.K. at one point.
By all accounts, Better Man is a very good watch (it holds an impressive 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews).
Check out the trailer for yourselves and be sure to let us...
- 10/3/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
The teaser trailer (above) and “Why the Monkey” featurette (below) for the new film Better Man have both been released.
Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.
About The Film
Genre: Docudrama, Biography, Drama, Music Starring: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvaney, Frazer Hadfield, Tom Budge, Anthony Hayes Director: Michael Gracey Screenplay: Simon Gleeson,...
Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.
About The Film
Genre: Docudrama, Biography, Drama, Music Starring: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvaney, Frazer Hadfield, Tom Budge, Anthony Hayes Director: Michael Gracey Screenplay: Simon Gleeson,...
- 10/3/2024
- by Editor
- CinemaNerdz
Leave it to Robbie Williams to inspire the strangest musical biopic to date. The Better Man teaser trailer shows a reimagined version of Williams, with a CGI monkey in his stead.
“Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit,” reads the official synopsis. “It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.”
The cast includes Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, and Raechelle Banno. Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvaney, Frazer Hadfield,...
“Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit,” reads the official synopsis. “It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.”
The cast includes Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, and Raechelle Banno. Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvaney, Frazer Hadfield,...
- 10/2/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
A new biopic of British pop star Robbie Williams is on the way in which he’s portrayed as a monkey. No, really, a monkey. Watch the trailer below.
Entitled Better Man, the upcoming film tells story of the rambunctious rise of Williams. The artist voices himself, though is visually presented as a CGI monkey for the duration of the teaser trailer and, the entire film as well.
“I asked you if you were an animal, how would you see yourself? In your own words, you would refer to being dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey,” director Micheal Gracey said in a featurette, addressing Williams directly. “I immediately thought portraying you not as we see you, but how you see yourself… I am going to see you and relate to you in a way that is going to be more engaging than yet another musical biopic.”
Directed by Gracey,...
Entitled Better Man, the upcoming film tells story of the rambunctious rise of Williams. The artist voices himself, though is visually presented as a CGI monkey for the duration of the teaser trailer and, the entire film as well.
“I asked you if you were an animal, how would you see yourself? In your own words, you would refer to being dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey,” director Micheal Gracey said in a featurette, addressing Williams directly. “I immediately thought portraying you not as we see you, but how you see yourself… I am going to see you and relate to you in a way that is going to be more engaging than yet another musical biopic.”
Directed by Gracey,...
- 10/2/2024
- by Jonah Krueger
- Consequence - Music
A new biopic of British pop star Robbie Williams is on the way in which he’s portrayed as a monkey. No, really, a monkey. Watch the trailer below.
Entitled Better Man, the upcoming film tells story of the rambunctious rise of Williams. The artist voices himself, though is visually presented as a CGI monkey for the duration of the teaser trailer and, the entire film as well.
“I asked you if you were an animal, how would you see yourself? In your own words, you would refer to being dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey,” director Micheal Gracey said in a featurette, addressing Williams directly. “I immediately thought portraying you not as we see you, but how you see yourself… I am going to see you and relate to you in a way that is going to be more engaging than yet another musical biopic.”
Directed by Gracey,...
Entitled Better Man, the upcoming film tells story of the rambunctious rise of Williams. The artist voices himself, though is visually presented as a CGI monkey for the duration of the teaser trailer and, the entire film as well.
“I asked you if you were an animal, how would you see yourself? In your own words, you would refer to being dragged up on stage to perform like a monkey,” director Micheal Gracey said in a featurette, addressing Williams directly. “I immediately thought portraying you not as we see you, but how you see yourself… I am going to see you and relate to you in a way that is going to be more engaging than yet another musical biopic.”
Directed by Gracey,...
- 10/2/2024
- by Jonah Krueger
- Consequence - Film News
With all these musical biopics being released, many are questioning how many of these life stories can be told in a more refreshing way without falling into the traps that Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story parodied. Well, Robbie Williams and the creatives behind Better Man have attempted a slightly different approach. The film inspired by Williams’ life has him being portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee. Our own Chris Bumbray loved the movie at TIFF, saying in his review, “The craziest thing about Better Man isn’t the fact that Robbie Williams is presented as a CGI chimpanzee but rather that this risky conceit works quite well. […] While I went into Better Man with a raised eyebrow, wary of the chimpanzee aspect, to my delight, it worked wonderfully. As far as big-screen biopics go, this is a pretty deliriously entertaining one, and I had a blast watching it. It’s...
- 10/2/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
- 10/2/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Paramount Pictures has revealed the teaser trailer for the anticipated Robbie Williams movie Better Man, which will open in select theaters on December 25, 2024, and nationwide on January 17, 2025.
The studio has also brought online a featurette in which director Michael Gracey explains why Robbie Williams is a monkey in the biographical film.
Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey, the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit.
The film follows Robbie’s journey from childhood to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.
In addition to Robbie Williams,...
The studio has also brought online a featurette in which director Michael Gracey explains why Robbie Williams is a monkey in the biographical film.
Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey, the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit.
The film follows Robbie’s journey from childhood to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.
In addition to Robbie Williams,...
- 10/2/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Michael Gracey’s somewhat unconventional Robbie Williams biopic Better Man has just debuted its first trailer and you can watch it here.
“I’ve always seen myself as little less… evolved.”
These words are heard in the first trailer for Better Man in the voice of Robbie Williams. That makes sense, since Better Man is a biopic of Williams and how he became as famous as he is. Nothing new or unexpected there, really. Hollywood loves a biopic.
But Michael Gracey’s biopic has a big surprise up its sleeve.
Take a look at the first trailer to find out what it is.
That’s right, Williams is portrayed here as a CGI monkey. Hey, you can’t accuse Gracey of playing it safe, at least. The news of such a biopic did land all the way back in 2021, so you’d be forgiven if you forgot all about it.
“I’ve always seen myself as little less… evolved.”
These words are heard in the first trailer for Better Man in the voice of Robbie Williams. That makes sense, since Better Man is a biopic of Williams and how he became as famous as he is. Nothing new or unexpected there, really. Hollywood loves a biopic.
But Michael Gracey’s biopic has a big surprise up its sleeve.
Take a look at the first trailer to find out what it is.
That’s right, Williams is portrayed here as a CGI monkey. Hey, you can’t accuse Gracey of playing it safe, at least. The news of such a biopic did land all the way back in 2021, so you’d be forgiven if you forgot all about it.
- 10/2/2024
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
How do you top “The Greatest Showman”? Well, for writer/director Michael Gracey, that meant turning to the apes…literally.
Gracey directs the musical biopic “Better Man” based on British pop star Robbie Williams. The only catch? Williams is portrayed by a computer-generated monkey. The Paramount film is billed as being an “extraordinary visual spectacle” that embraces Gracey’s “expansive vision.” Gracey enlisted Weta FX and Jonno Davies in motion-capture suit to bring Williams as a monkey to life.
Jonno Davies voices the monkey as Williams. Steve Pemberton and Raechelle Banno also appear in the feature.
Gracey co-wrote the film with Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson. “Better Man” debuted at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, where IndieWire critic David Ehrlich wrote in the review that having Williams portrayed by a computer-generated monkey makes “Better Man” a better film.
“You will see a monkey bleach its hair. You will see a monkey party with Oasis.
Gracey directs the musical biopic “Better Man” based on British pop star Robbie Williams. The only catch? Williams is portrayed by a computer-generated monkey. The Paramount film is billed as being an “extraordinary visual spectacle” that embraces Gracey’s “expansive vision.” Gracey enlisted Weta FX and Jonno Davies in motion-capture suit to bring Williams as a monkey to life.
Jonno Davies voices the monkey as Williams. Steve Pemberton and Raechelle Banno also appear in the feature.
Gracey co-wrote the film with Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson. “Better Man” debuted at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, where IndieWire critic David Ehrlich wrote in the review that having Williams portrayed by a computer-generated monkey makes “Better Man” a better film.
“You will see a monkey bleach its hair. You will see a monkey party with Oasis.
- 10/2/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Robbie Williams fans will go bananas over the trailer for “Better Man” — literally.
Paramount released the first trailer for the musical biopic from Michael Gracey, director of “The Greatest Showman,” which uses a CGI monkey as a stand-in for the British pop singer. Yes, really.
“I know what you’re thinking. What’s with the monkey? I’m Robbie Williams. I’m one of the biggest pop stars in the world. But I’ve always seen myself a little less evolved,” Williams narrates in the trailer. The first look at the musical film appears to be like any other musical biopic about a superstar, but every scene with Williams replaces him with a “Planet of the Apes”-like monkey double.
The trailer shows Williams’ early life growing up and playing soccer, where he’s shown as a monkey wearing clothes. It then gives a highlight reel of Williams performing on...
Paramount released the first trailer for the musical biopic from Michael Gracey, director of “The Greatest Showman,” which uses a CGI monkey as a stand-in for the British pop singer. Yes, really.
“I know what you’re thinking. What’s with the monkey? I’m Robbie Williams. I’m one of the biggest pop stars in the world. But I’ve always seen myself a little less evolved,” Williams narrates in the trailer. The first look at the musical film appears to be like any other musical biopic about a superstar, but every scene with Williams replaces him with a “Planet of the Apes”-like monkey double.
The trailer shows Williams’ early life growing up and playing soccer, where he’s shown as a monkey wearing clothes. It then gives a highlight reel of Williams performing on...
- 10/2/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Michael Gracey’s Better Man was sparked by a conversation with Robbie Williams in which the singer reportedly told the Greatest Showman filmmaker that he often views himself as a dancing monkey. The film presents the British pop bad boy as an anthropomorphized CG primate, who looks as if he walked out of one of the new Planet of the Apes movies. Walking a dizzying line between the stupid and the profound, this exuberant, positively unique biopic is as hard to resist as it is to believe that it got made in the first place.
Beginning with his youth in Staffordshire in the center of England, Better Man traces Williams’s career trajectory from his early days in youth theater, to his time as one-fifth of the boy band Take That, to his eventual emergence as a solo artist. Along the way, he grapples with the burden of fame, music...
Beginning with his youth in Staffordshire in the center of England, Better Man traces Williams’s career trajectory from his early days in youth theater, to his time as one-fifth of the boy band Take That, to his eventual emergence as a solo artist. Along the way, he grapples with the burden of fame, music...
- 9/28/2024
- by Rocco T. Thompson
- Slant Magazine
Academy Award winner Brie Larson (Room) has signed on to make her West End debut in a new revival of Sophokles’s Elektra, translated by Canadian poet Anne Carson.
Directed by Daniel Fish (Oklahoma), performances will begin at Theatre Royal Brighton from January 13 – 18, 2025, before the production moves to Duke of York’s Theatre in London for a strictly limited 11-week season from January 24, 2025.
The production will mark the first major revival of Sophokles’s Greek tragedy in over a decade. Director Fish is best known for his production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in 2019 on Broadway before transferring to the West End where it won the Oliver Award for Best Musical Revival in 2023. Fish was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2019.
Joining Daniel on the creative team are Annie-b Parson (Choreography), Jeremy Herbert...
Directed by Daniel Fish (Oklahoma), performances will begin at Theatre Royal Brighton from January 13 – 18, 2025, before the production moves to Duke of York’s Theatre in London for a strictly limited 11-week season from January 24, 2025.
The production will mark the first major revival of Sophokles’s Greek tragedy in over a decade. Director Fish is best known for his production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in 2019 on Broadway before transferring to the West End where it won the Oliver Award for Best Musical Revival in 2023. Fish was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2019.
Joining Daniel on the creative team are Annie-b Parson (Choreography), Jeremy Herbert...
- 9/17/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Charlie Chaplin’s family have collaborated on official documentary Spirit of the Tramp, and here’s the trailer for the film.
Charlie Chaplin is one of those film stars who are so iconic, he is almost a genre unto himself. With his hat and toothbrush moustache, Chaplin’s mastery of physical clowning mixed with his pioneering directorial skills means that his films are still delighting audiences a hundred years on. From his feature debut The Kid to The Great Dictator and sharing the screen with fellow silent comedy icon Buster Keaton in Limelight.
Many of Chaplin’s descendants have also found their way into the film and television industry. Daughter Geraldine Chaplin played her grandmother Hannah Chaplin. His granddaughter Oona Chaplin is also an actor: Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton cast her in their silent Inside No 9 episode A Quiet Night In as an in joke.
Chaplin’s life...
Charlie Chaplin is one of those film stars who are so iconic, he is almost a genre unto himself. With his hat and toothbrush moustache, Chaplin’s mastery of physical clowning mixed with his pioneering directorial skills means that his films are still delighting audiences a hundred years on. From his feature debut The Kid to The Great Dictator and sharing the screen with fellow silent comedy icon Buster Keaton in Limelight.
Many of Chaplin’s descendants have also found their way into the film and television industry. Daughter Geraldine Chaplin played her grandmother Hannah Chaplin. His granddaughter Oona Chaplin is also an actor: Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton cast her in their silent Inside No 9 episode A Quiet Night In as an in joke.
Chaplin’s life...
- 9/17/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey’s The Greatest Showman earned much love from audiences when it debuted seven years ago, and his return might just be one of the most ambitious movie musicals in years. Better Man swings for the fences, for better or worse, and while its intentions are noble, its execution is mixed at best.
Better Man Review
Better Man is a musical telling the story of British musician Robbie Williams, following him from his days in the boy band Take That to later branching out into a successful solo career in the late ‘90s. Although Williams is not as notable as some other British musicians who have recently gotten this treatment, like Freddie Mercury and Elton John, his story (at least as it is told here) follows pretty much the same beats.
The ensemble features solid performances from actors like Damon Herriman, Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany, and Karina Banno.
Better Man Review
Better Man is a musical telling the story of British musician Robbie Williams, following him from his days in the boy band Take That to later branching out into a successful solo career in the late ‘90s. Although Williams is not as notable as some other British musicians who have recently gotten this treatment, like Freddie Mercury and Elton John, his story (at least as it is told here) follows pretty much the same beats.
The ensemble features solid performances from actors like Damon Herriman, Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany, and Karina Banno.
- 9/16/2024
- by Sean Boelman
- FandomWire
Plot: The life of international pop star Robbie Williams, from his early days as a member of Take That to his breakthrough as a solo artist and his struggles with addiction.
Review: There’s one way that Better Man is completely different from any music-based biopic you’ve ever seen. The director, Michael Gracey, depicts Robbie Williams as a CGI chimpanzee, with cutting-edge VFX from Weta, with actor Jonno Davies playing him in a mo-cap performance (although they use Williams’s distinctive eyes). The singer himself provides the narration. It’s risky and a big swing, but here’s the thing. The craziest thing about Better Man isn’t the fact that Robbie Williams is presented as a CGI chimpanzee but rather that this risky conceit works quite well.
Here’s the thing – when an iconic person is impersonated in a biopic, we get caught up over various surface-level things,...
Review: There’s one way that Better Man is completely different from any music-based biopic you’ve ever seen. The director, Michael Gracey, depicts Robbie Williams as a CGI chimpanzee, with cutting-edge VFX from Weta, with actor Jonno Davies playing him in a mo-cap performance (although they use Williams’s distinctive eyes). The singer himself provides the narration. It’s risky and a big swing, but here’s the thing. The craziest thing about Better Man isn’t the fact that Robbie Williams is presented as a CGI chimpanzee but rather that this risky conceit works quite well.
Here’s the thing – when an iconic person is impersonated in a biopic, we get caught up over various surface-level things,...
- 9/11/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
It is sometimes amazing to see what directors who have made a successful movie can get away with. One hit, and studios are willing to hand these people a fortune for their dream projects. Heaven’s Gate comes to mind as one archetypal example, but there are many other misfires from award-winning filmmakers. A few years ago director Michael Gracey scored a surprise smash with an original musical, The Greatest Showman. And now he has a new musical film about British pop star Robbie Williams — with a CGI monkey in the leading role.
That’s right, a monkey. This fact was kept under wraps before the first Telluride screening of Better Man. But I guess now the ape is out of the bag. Good luck to Paramount, who will release the movie in December.
In the past there have been classic movies with monkeys as central characters — King Kong, of course,...
That’s right, a monkey. This fact was kept under wraps before the first Telluride screening of Better Man. But I guess now the ape is out of the bag. Good luck to Paramount, who will release the movie in December.
In the past there have been classic movies with monkeys as central characters — King Kong, of course,...
- 9/3/2024
- by Stephen Farber
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Michael Gracey’s wildly inventive musical biopic of superstar British entertainer Robbie Williams rolls the dice on a unique star casting decision to play Williams that separates it from every showbiz biopic that has come before. A CGI monkey (actor Jonno Davies) plays the singer in what is otherwise a recognizable cradle-to-comeback story so familiar to those who rise to the top, only to fall and rise again. This is the equivalent to casting Lassie to play Frank Sinatra.
Ok, maybe not that crazy, but close enough. So guess what? It really works, even if in America the subject of this major studio film (Paramount picked up the independently produced production) is not widely known, but an icon who has sold over 80 million albums across the rest of the globe, and was recently the subject of a four-part Netflix docu series. It had its world premiere this weekend at the Telluride Film Festival.
Ok, maybe not that crazy, but close enough. So guess what? It really works, even if in America the subject of this major studio film (Paramount picked up the independently produced production) is not widely known, but an icon who has sold over 80 million albums across the rest of the globe, and was recently the subject of a four-part Netflix docu series. It had its world premiere this weekend at the Telluride Film Festival.
- 9/2/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Ladies and gents, this is the moment you’ve waited for (woah woah!): “The Greatest Showman” director Michael Gracey has returned from whatever alien planet he comes from, and he’s brought another electrifyingly demented musical biopic along with him. This one’s a long-overdue corrective to the wave of fully authorized, insufferably generic rise-fall-recover stories that have turned celebrity estates into every film critic’s greatest threat.
“Better Man” tells the story of Robbie Williams, the bad boy of British pop, and it’s a story you’ve heard a thousand times before. A big-eyed kid dreams of becoming a star in order to fix the hole in his heart; he achieves more success than he ever dared to imagine; it affords him the money to make his problems so much worse at the expense of his personal relationships; and then he snaps out of it before it’s too late.
“Better Man” tells the story of Robbie Williams, the bad boy of British pop, and it’s a story you’ve heard a thousand times before. A big-eyed kid dreams of becoming a star in order to fix the hole in his heart; he achieves more success than he ever dared to imagine; it affords him the money to make his problems so much worse at the expense of his personal relationships; and then he snaps out of it before it’s too late.
- 9/2/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
When Robbie Williams told an interviewer that he felt like a performing monkey, he didn’t mean it literally. But that’s exactly how “The Greatest Showman” director Michael Gracey interprets the remark in “Better Man,” an off-the-wall musical biopic that surely would have seemed banal — as opposed to downright bananas — had it featured a flesh-and-blood actor in the Robbie Williams role.
Gracey takes audiences through all the expected beats of Williams’ career, from his breakthrough as a member of Take That to his record-breaking solo concert at Knebworth, but does so with a CG chimpanzee standing in for the Britpop bad boy. Against all odds, that gimmick works, distinguishing the project from so many other cookie-cutter pop-star hagiographies. If you want to fawn over this boy-band backup singer-turned-solo superstar for four hours, check out the “Robbie Williams” doc series on Netflix. But if you want to see a chimp doing coke with Oasis,...
Gracey takes audiences through all the expected beats of Williams’ career, from his breakthrough as a member of Take That to his record-breaking solo concert at Knebworth, but does so with a CG chimpanzee standing in for the Britpop bad boy. Against all odds, that gimmick works, distinguishing the project from so many other cookie-cutter pop-star hagiographies. If you want to fawn over this boy-band backup singer-turned-solo superstar for four hours, check out the “Robbie Williams” doc series on Netflix. But if you want to see a chimp doing coke with Oasis,...
- 9/2/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Any bozo can watch TV. It takes nothing to plonk your butt down, jab at a remote, and spill Dorito crumbs on your neck while the pretty people on your box fight alien invaders.
To be a true TV fan requires homework. You have to learn the extra stuff that makes you somebody that’s hard to watch TV with – somebody who knows the behind-the-scenes reason why that character’s hair looks weird in that Christmas special cameo (they’re wearing a wig after shaving their head for a Marvel role), why there are only 12 episodes in that season (writers’ strike), or why two main characters barely feature in the same scene for eight seasons despite both mostly living in the same Westerosi castle (acrimonious break-up).
True TV fans know about Easter Eggs and running gags and fourth-wall-breaking references. They know to look in the back of shot for aliens in South Park,...
To be a true TV fan requires homework. You have to learn the extra stuff that makes you somebody that’s hard to watch TV with – somebody who knows the behind-the-scenes reason why that character’s hair looks weird in that Christmas special cameo (they’re wearing a wig after shaving their head for a Marvel role), why there are only 12 episodes in that season (writers’ strike), or why two main characters barely feature in the same scene for eight seasons despite both mostly living in the same Westerosi castle (acrimonious break-up).
True TV fans know about Easter Eggs and running gags and fourth-wall-breaking references. They know to look in the back of shot for aliens in South Park,...
- 8/6/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
BritBox is back with new titles this August! After adding the first two seasons of the Emmy Award-winning espionage series “Killing Eve” starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, the British streamer will add the junior and senior seasons throughout the month.
Multiple acclaimed United Kingdom dramedies will have their North American and United States premieres this month, including the first season of Channel 4’s “The Change,” created and written by and starring Bridget Christie, and the second season of “Avoidance,” written by and starring Romesh Ranganathan.
Whether you’re looking for a docuseries on King Charles or a multi-part crime thriller, find out everything coming to BritBox in August, including The Streamable’s top picks for the month!
7-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month BritBox.com What are the 3 Best Shows, Movies, and Specials Coming to BritBox in August 2024? “The Change” Season 1 | Thursday, Aug. 1
Award-winning stand-up Bridget Christie leads the cast as Linda,...
Multiple acclaimed United Kingdom dramedies will have their North American and United States premieres this month, including the first season of Channel 4’s “The Change,” created and written by and starring Bridget Christie, and the second season of “Avoidance,” written by and starring Romesh Ranganathan.
Whether you’re looking for a docuseries on King Charles or a multi-part crime thriller, find out everything coming to BritBox in August, including The Streamable’s top picks for the month!
7-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month BritBox.com What are the 3 Best Shows, Movies, and Specials Coming to BritBox in August 2024? “The Change” Season 1 | Thursday, Aug. 1
Award-winning stand-up Bridget Christie leads the cast as Linda,...
- 7/30/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
The BBC has revealed exclusive first-look images and announced a stellar cast for the upcoming third series of the popular comedy The Cleaner. Greg Davies returns as crime scene cleaner Paul ‘Wicky’ Wickstead, and he’s joined by an impressive lineup of guest stars, including Steve Pemberton (Inside No 9), Sharon Rooney (Barbie), Ben Willbond (Ghosts), […]
First Look at Series 3 of Greg Davies Comedy The Cleaner...
First Look at Series 3 of Greg Davies Comedy The Cleaner...
- 7/5/2024
- by Noah Masire
- MemorableTV
Die britische Version der preisgekrönten Comedyserie „Der Tatortreiniger“ wird um eine dritte Staffel verlängert.
Greg Davies ist „The Cleaner“ (Credit: Shuk)
„The Cleaner“ geht in die Verlängerung. Wie die Studio Hamburg Produktion Gruppe, deren britischer Ableger Studio Hamburg UK die britische Version von Mizzi Meyers preisgekrönter Comedyserie „Der Tatorreiniger“ mit Bjärne Mädel in der Hauptrollefür BBC One und BBC iPlayer produziert, heute mitteilt, wird es eine dritte Staffel geben, die Tom Marshall inszenieren wird. Als Produzent fungiert Sam Ward, ausführende Produzentin ist Vivien Muller-Rommel.
In der Hauptrolle des Tatortreinigers Paul „Wicky“ Wickstead steht erneut Greg Davies, der auch das Drehbuch geschrieben hat, vor der Kamera. Er erklärt: „Ich bin sehr froh endlich wieder durch Blut stapfen zu dürfen. Wir haben es geschafft, dass Wicky in dieser Serie mit einigen skurrilen Figuren zu tun haben wird. Ich freue mich darauf, in einem Tatort-Anzug zu schwitzen und den Ohrring zu tragen, den meine Nichten so schrecklich finden.
Greg Davies ist „The Cleaner“ (Credit: Shuk)
„The Cleaner“ geht in die Verlängerung. Wie die Studio Hamburg Produktion Gruppe, deren britischer Ableger Studio Hamburg UK die britische Version von Mizzi Meyers preisgekrönter Comedyserie „Der Tatorreiniger“ mit Bjärne Mädel in der Hauptrollefür BBC One und BBC iPlayer produziert, heute mitteilt, wird es eine dritte Staffel geben, die Tom Marshall inszenieren wird. Als Produzent fungiert Sam Ward, ausführende Produzentin ist Vivien Muller-Rommel.
In der Hauptrolle des Tatortreinigers Paul „Wicky“ Wickstead steht erneut Greg Davies, der auch das Drehbuch geschrieben hat, vor der Kamera. Er erklärt: „Ich bin sehr froh endlich wieder durch Blut stapfen zu dürfen. Wir haben es geschafft, dass Wicky in dieser Serie mit einigen skurrilen Figuren zu tun haben wird. Ich freue mich darauf, in einem Tatort-Anzug zu schwitzen und den Ohrring zu tragen, den meine Nichten so schrecklich finden.
- 7/5/2024
- by Jochen Müller
- Spot - Media & Film
Warning: contains spoilers for Inside No. 9 “Plodding On”.
Look carefully at the end credits for Inside No. 9 finale “Plodding On” and in among the names of the many, many previous guest stars who came back to send the anthology show on its way is one puzzling entry. Between Denis Lawson from “A Quiet Night In” and Rula Lenska from “The Devil of Christmas” is the name: Europa Lepus. You won’t find them on IMDb because Europa Lepus is not an actor but a form of Latin for the European Hare. That’s right, not content with hiding a statue of a hare inside every one of its 55 episodes, Inside No. 9 also hid a hare in its finale end credits.
That level of commitment to Easter eggs went even further for the finale. Visit the cryptic crossword published by The Guardian newspaper on the day the finale...
Look carefully at the end credits for Inside No. 9 finale “Plodding On” and in among the names of the many, many previous guest stars who came back to send the anthology show on its way is one puzzling entry. Between Denis Lawson from “A Quiet Night In” and Rula Lenska from “The Devil of Christmas” is the name: Europa Lepus. You won’t find them on IMDb because Europa Lepus is not an actor but a form of Latin for the European Hare. That’s right, not content with hiding a statue of a hare inside every one of its 55 episodes, Inside No. 9 also hid a hare in its finale end credits.
That level of commitment to Easter eggs went even further for the finale. Visit the cryptic crossword published by The Guardian newspaper on the day the finale...
- 6/13/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Warning: this Inside No. 9 review contains spoilers.
Rip our hearts out, why don’t you, Inside No. 9.
Who saw that twist coming? The one in which Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton stomped right past all the glittering possibilities for their series finale – a musical ep, a properly live one, a sequel – and instead, for the purposes of drama, chose to offer up… themselves.
The setting was a swanky club hosting the Inside No. 9 wrap party. The guest stars were a night sky’s worth of real Inside No. 9’s guest stars from across the years. And the story was about a break-up between a villain and a victim.
These are characters Shearsmith and Pemberton are playing, let’s be clear, as part of a light satire on the self-serving showbiz world. The fictional plot saw Steve dump Reece and their next BBC project in favour of a shit-but-lucrative Amazon fantasy epic.
Rip our hearts out, why don’t you, Inside No. 9.
Who saw that twist coming? The one in which Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton stomped right past all the glittering possibilities for their series finale – a musical ep, a properly live one, a sequel – and instead, for the purposes of drama, chose to offer up… themselves.
The setting was a swanky club hosting the Inside No. 9 wrap party. The guest stars were a night sky’s worth of real Inside No. 9’s guest stars from across the years. And the story was about a break-up between a villain and a victim.
These are characters Shearsmith and Pemberton are playing, let’s be clear, as part of a light satire on the self-serving showbiz world. The fictional plot saw Steve dump Reece and their next BBC project in favour of a shit-but-lucrative Amazon fantasy epic.
- 6/13/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Warning: this Inside No. 9 review contains spoilers.
The curse of the ninth. What could be a more fitting inspiration for one of these demonically clever stories? If it hadn’t already existed, they’d have had to invent it.
Inside No. 9’s creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith didn’t invent this superstition but they used it to make perhaps their most elegant story yet.
The plot was a trap, avoided. Composer Nathaniel Burnham (Eddie Marsan) had taken his own life after being haunted by a curse that struck artists upon reaching their ninth symphony. Years later, his cash-strapped widow Lillian (Natalie Dormer) ensnared piano tuner Jonah (Reece Shearsmith) to first grave-rob and then complete Nathaniel’s unfinished work, intending to sacrifice him to the fatal curse so that she could profit from the final product. Instead, Jonah turned the tables on Mrs Burnham and, in a sequence beautifully presented by director Guillem Morales,...
The curse of the ninth. What could be a more fitting inspiration for one of these demonically clever stories? If it hadn’t already existed, they’d have had to invent it.
Inside No. 9’s creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith didn’t invent this superstition but they used it to make perhaps their most elegant story yet.
The plot was a trap, avoided. Composer Nathaniel Burnham (Eddie Marsan) had taken his own life after being haunted by a curse that struck artists upon reaching their ninth symphony. Years later, his cash-strapped widow Lillian (Natalie Dormer) ensnared piano tuner Jonah (Reece Shearsmith) to first grave-rob and then complete Nathaniel’s unfinished work, intending to sacrifice him to the fatal curse so that she could profit from the final product. Instead, Jonah turned the tables on Mrs Burnham and, in a sequence beautifully presented by director Guillem Morales,...
- 6/5/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
James Nesbitt & Matt Willis Board Netflix’s Next Harlan Coben Series
Further cast has been unveiled for Netflix’s next Harlan Coben adaptation from Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street. James Nesbitt (Stay Close, Bloodlands) and Love Is Blind host and former Busted singer Matt Jay-Willis have joined previously-announced Rosalind Eleazar, Jessica Plummer, Richard Armitage, Ashley Walters, Lenny Henry and Steve Pemberton in Missing You, which comes off the back of the smash success of Coben’s Fool Me Once. The series, which was revealed by Deadline several months back, follows Detective Kat Donovan (Eleazar), whose fiancé Josh disappeared and hasn’t been heard from since. Now, swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again. Stay Close scribe Coben’s Netflix deal has proved lucrative for the streamer and he is working on another show, Run Away. In keeping with previous Coben adaptations,...
Further cast has been unveiled for Netflix’s next Harlan Coben adaptation from Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street. James Nesbitt (Stay Close, Bloodlands) and Love Is Blind host and former Busted singer Matt Jay-Willis have joined previously-announced Rosalind Eleazar, Jessica Plummer, Richard Armitage, Ashley Walters, Lenny Henry and Steve Pemberton in Missing You, which comes off the back of the smash success of Coben’s Fool Me Once. The series, which was revealed by Deadline several months back, follows Detective Kat Donovan (Eleazar), whose fiancé Josh disappeared and hasn’t been heard from since. Now, swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again. Stay Close scribe Coben’s Netflix deal has proved lucrative for the streamer and he is working on another show, Run Away. In keeping with previous Coben adaptations,...
- 6/5/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Ashley Walters (Top Boy, Bulletproof), James Nesbitt (Stay Close, Bloodlands) and Matt Jay-Willis (Wolves of War, Love is Blind) are the latest additions to Netflix’s adaptation of Harlan Coben’s Missing You.
They join the likes of Rosalind Eleazar, Jessica Plummer, Richard Armitage, Lenny Henry, Steve Pemberton, and Mary Malone in the limited thriller series.
Missing You is one of its two upcoming Coben novel adaptations following the success of his latest Netflix hit series, Fool Me Once, which starred Michelle Keegan and premiered globally on Jan. 1.
The five-episode program is about Detective Kat Donovan (Eleazar) whose fiancé Josh (Walters) disappeared 11 years ago, and she’s never heard from him since. “Now, swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again,” according to a plot description. “Josh’s reappearance will force her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her...
They join the likes of Rosalind Eleazar, Jessica Plummer, Richard Armitage, Lenny Henry, Steve Pemberton, and Mary Malone in the limited thriller series.
Missing You is one of its two upcoming Coben novel adaptations following the success of his latest Netflix hit series, Fool Me Once, which starred Michelle Keegan and premiered globally on Jan. 1.
The five-episode program is about Detective Kat Donovan (Eleazar) whose fiancé Josh (Walters) disappeared 11 years ago, and she’s never heard from him since. “Now, swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again,” according to a plot description. “Josh’s reappearance will force her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her...
- 6/5/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The grand finale of Taskmaster is almost here, and in this episode airing Thursday 30 May on Channel 4, the competitors give it their all to impress the Taskmaster, Greg Davies. In “Ambience and Information,” viewers can expect a range of entertaining tasks and challenges. Sophie Willan showcases her keyboard skills, while Steve Pemberton encounters […]
Taskmaster Season 17 Finale: Ambience and Information...
Taskmaster Season 17 Finale: Ambience and Information...
- 5/30/2024
- by Izzy Jacobs
- MemorableTV
Prepare to be captivated by the eerie and enthralling world of “Inside No. 9” as Season 9 Episode 5, titled “Curse of the Ninth,” airs at 10:00 Pm on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, on BBC Two. In this spine-tingling installment, viewers will be transported back to the Edwardian era as they witness a tale of suspense and supernatural intrigue unfold.
The episode centers around a talented piano-tuner who finds himself ensnared in the sinister machinations of a centuries-old curse. As he navigates the eerie halls of a grand country house, he must confront the malevolent forces that lurk within, all while contending with the enigmatic owners and servants who harbor dark secrets of their own.
With its atmospheric setting and chilling storyline, “Curse of the Ninth” promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. As the tension mounts and the mysteries deepen, audiences will be drawn deeper into the web of intrigue,...
The episode centers around a talented piano-tuner who finds himself ensnared in the sinister machinations of a centuries-old curse. As he navigates the eerie halls of a grand country house, he must confront the malevolent forces that lurk within, all while contending with the enigmatic owners and servants who harbor dark secrets of their own.
With its atmospheric setting and chilling storyline, “Curse of the Ninth” promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. As the tension mounts and the mysteries deepen, audiences will be drawn deeper into the web of intrigue,...
- 5/30/2024
- by Posts UK
- TV Everyday
Warning: This Inside No. 9 review contains spoilers.
He woke up, right? He opened his eyes, the light went from red to green and the door noise sounded, which means that he woke up. Didn’t he? Jason opened his eyes, the exit light went from red to green and the door noise sounded, which means that he definitely, definitely woke up. For absolute clarity, what we just watched in the final moments of that tense episode was Jason awaken from his coma to reunite with his family, and what we absolutely didn’t watch was his brain making desperate attempts to cling on to life while his devastated loved ones unwittingly killed him. Right?
Good. Phew. Imagine! The alternative would have been so sad. Who’d write something as dark as that?!
Inside No. 9’s Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton would, of course, and would likely crack a rib laughing about it too.
He woke up, right? He opened his eyes, the light went from red to green and the door noise sounded, which means that he woke up. Didn’t he? Jason opened his eyes, the exit light went from red to green and the door noise sounded, which means that he definitely, definitely woke up. For absolute clarity, what we just watched in the final moments of that tense episode was Jason awaken from his coma to reunite with his family, and what we absolutely didn’t watch was his brain making desperate attempts to cling on to life while his devastated loved ones unwittingly killed him. Right?
Good. Phew. Imagine! The alternative would have been so sad. Who’d write something as dark as that?!
Inside No. 9’s Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton would, of course, and would likely crack a rib laughing about it too.
- 5/29/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Get ready for a thrilling episode of “Inside No. 9” airing this Wednesday at 10:00 Pm on BBC Two. In Season 9, Episode 4 titled “Ctrl, Alt, Esc,” viewers are invited into the world of Jason, Lynne, and their two teenage daughters as they embark on a nail-biting adventure at their local escape room, The Killer’s Lair.
For Jason, solving puzzles and following clues is a passion, but for his daughters, the escape room experience is not exactly their idea of fun. However, their love for their dad outweighs their reluctance, and they reluctantly join him for an evening of mystery and suspense.
As the family delves deeper into The Killer’s Lair, tensions rise, and secrets are revealed as they race against the clock to escape. With each puzzle becoming more challenging than the last, viewers are kept on the edge of their seats as they follow the family’s...
For Jason, solving puzzles and following clues is a passion, but for his daughters, the escape room experience is not exactly their idea of fun. However, their love for their dad outweighs their reluctance, and they reluctantly join him for an evening of mystery and suspense.
As the family delves deeper into The Killer’s Lair, tensions rise, and secrets are revealed as they race against the clock to escape. With each puzzle becoming more challenging than the last, viewers are kept on the edge of their seats as they follow the family’s...
- 5/23/2024
- by Posts UK
- TV Everyday
Warning: this Inside No. 9 review contains spoilers.
Alfred Hitchcock and co. needed just shy of two hours for Rear Window; Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and director Al Campbell nailed their version in under 29 minutes and got a great gag in at the end.
Inside No. 9 perfection? I’d argue so. Show me one second wasted in this expertly constructed half hour. From Larry’s “best to use a brick” introduction, all the way to the Netflix punchline, this was pretty unassailable storytelling. It had comedy, tension, surprise, very decent guest stars and a formal experiment that was no gimmick, but integral to the story’s suburban satire.
Less Rear Window than Front Door, “Mulberry Close” was told almost entirely through the static frame of a video doorbell. Val and Damon (Vinette Robinson and Shearsmith) were newcomers to the close, having just moved into No. 9 next door to Larry...
Alfred Hitchcock and co. needed just shy of two hours for Rear Window; Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and director Al Campbell nailed their version in under 29 minutes and got a great gag in at the end.
Inside No. 9 perfection? I’d argue so. Show me one second wasted in this expertly constructed half hour. From Larry’s “best to use a brick” introduction, all the way to the Netflix punchline, this was pretty unassailable storytelling. It had comedy, tension, surprise, very decent guest stars and a formal experiment that was no gimmick, but integral to the story’s suburban satire.
Less Rear Window than Front Door, “Mulberry Close” was told almost entirely through the static frame of a video doorbell. Val and Damon (Vinette Robinson and Shearsmith) were newcomers to the close, having just moved into No. 9 next door to Larry...
- 5/22/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
“Inside No. 9” returns with another thrilling installment in Season 9, Episode 3, titled “Mulberry Close,” airing on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 10:00 Pm on BBC Two. This episode brings viewers into the seemingly ordinary life of a new couple who have just moved into number 9 Mulberry Close. However, as with all things “Inside No. 9,” nothing is quite as it seems.
As the couple settles into their new home, strange and sinister sounds begin to emanate from within, sparking curiosity and concern among their neighbors. The unsettling noises raise suspicions and lead to a tense atmosphere in the otherwise quiet neighborhood. The episode expertly blends suspense and dark humor, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they try to unravel the mystery behind the eerie happenings.
Known for its clever storytelling and unexpected twists, “Inside No. 9” continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of horror and comedy. “Mulberry...
As the couple settles into their new home, strange and sinister sounds begin to emanate from within, sparking curiosity and concern among their neighbors. The unsettling noises raise suspicions and lead to a tense atmosphere in the otherwise quiet neighborhood. The episode expertly blends suspense and dark humor, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they try to unravel the mystery behind the eerie happenings.
Known for its clever storytelling and unexpected twists, “Inside No. 9” continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of horror and comedy. “Mulberry...
- 5/16/2024
- by Posts UK
- TV Everyday
Warning: this Inside No. 9 review contains spoilers.
After all this time, another first. Having blasted through the guest star budget on last week’s stunning five-star opener, “The Trolley Problem” is Inside No. 9’s sole story to feature only Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith on screen..
A two-hander powered by tension, it was a performance showcase for the creators, and would make an impressive calling card – as if one were needed at this stage – to any casting directors watching. Straight drama? No problem. Intense, emotional showdown? Watch us go. These two could slot in to any primetime or hit streaming show and act rings around everybody else, no question. Ideally though, they’d have a stronger script to perform than this one.
The action took place in a remote country home, against the driving rain of a noisily dramatic storm. Therapist Blake Chambers (Pemberton) had played the good...
After all this time, another first. Having blasted through the guest star budget on last week’s stunning five-star opener, “The Trolley Problem” is Inside No. 9’s sole story to feature only Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith on screen..
A two-hander powered by tension, it was a performance showcase for the creators, and would make an impressive calling card – as if one were needed at this stage – to any casting directors watching. Straight drama? No problem. Intense, emotional showdown? Watch us go. These two could slot in to any primetime or hit streaming show and act rings around everybody else, no question. Ideally though, they’d have a stronger script to perform than this one.
The action took place in a remote country home, against the driving rain of a noisily dramatic storm. Therapist Blake Chambers (Pemberton) had played the good...
- 5/15/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Warning: this Inside No. 9 review contains plot spoilers.
Nine characters! And we knew them all in what, under three minutes? That has to be some kind of screenwriting record. You can watch hours and hours of other shows and come away barely on nodding terms with the lead roles. Here, inside a few lines of dialogue, it was easy to imagine the “Boo to a Goose” ensemble – Gerry, Edith, Elena, Wilma, Cleo, Harold, Raymond, Finn and Mossy – walking off the screen and into their lives.
Well, until that final reveal it was easy to imagine. After that, things turned excitingly unfamiliar.
What began as a morality play about prejudice and compassion twisted into a dystopian sci-fi based on that most Inside No. 9 of Inside No. 9 things – a pun. What if, asks the episode, the “replacement service” sent to the trapped passengers on a Liverpool underground train wasn’t replacing the train,...
Nine characters! And we knew them all in what, under three minutes? That has to be some kind of screenwriting record. You can watch hours and hours of other shows and come away barely on nodding terms with the lead roles. Here, inside a few lines of dialogue, it was easy to imagine the “Boo to a Goose” ensemble – Gerry, Edith, Elena, Wilma, Cleo, Harold, Raymond, Finn and Mossy – walking off the screen and into their lives.
Well, until that final reveal it was easy to imagine. After that, things turned excitingly unfamiliar.
What began as a morality play about prejudice and compassion twisted into a dystopian sci-fi based on that most Inside No. 9 of Inside No. 9 things – a pun. What if, asks the episode, the “replacement service” sent to the trapped passengers on a Liverpool underground train wasn’t replacing the train,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton are bringing their anthology show Inside No 9 to the West End stage, it’s been announced.
Wednesday will see the start of the ninth and final series of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s much-loved anthology show, Inside No 9. In the meantime, West End play called Stage/Fright has been announced. Written by and starring Pemberton and Shearsmith, the play will be directed by Simon Evans, and will run at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London from the 18th January to the 5th April 2025.
The play will not be an adaptation of any existing episodes, with Pemberton and Shearsmith penning an original tale which takes full advantage of the live setting. The description reads as follows:
Welcome to a world of intrigue, as we invite you to step Inside No 9 for a theatrical experience like no other. Expect the unexpected as the...
Wednesday will see the start of the ninth and final series of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s much-loved anthology show, Inside No 9. In the meantime, West End play called Stage/Fright has been announced. Written by and starring Pemberton and Shearsmith, the play will be directed by Simon Evans, and will run at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London from the 18th January to the 5th April 2025.
The play will not be an adaptation of any existing episodes, with Pemberton and Shearsmith penning an original tale which takes full advantage of the live setting. The description reads as follows:
Welcome to a world of intrigue, as we invite you to step Inside No 9 for a theatrical experience like no other. Expect the unexpected as the...
- 5/3/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Get ready for a gripping night of suspense with the Season 9 premiere of “Inside No. 9,” titled “Boo to a Goose,” airing on BBC Two at 10:00 Pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. In this thrilling episode, late-night passengers find themselves stranded in a tunnel when their train breaks down.
As the stranded passengers patiently wait for the replacement service, tensions escalate when a nurse’s purse is stolen. With tempers flaring and suspicions running high, the situation quickly spirals out of control, leading to a gripping tale of suspense and intrigue.
Written by and starring Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, “Inside No. 9” has become known for its clever storytelling and unexpected twists. In “Boo to a Goose,” viewers can expect to be kept on the edge of their seats as the mystery unfolds and secrets are revealed.
Don’t miss out on the suspenseful Season 9 premiere of “Inside No. 9.
As the stranded passengers patiently wait for the replacement service, tensions escalate when a nurse’s purse is stolen. With tempers flaring and suspicions running high, the situation quickly spirals out of control, leading to a gripping tale of suspense and intrigue.
Written by and starring Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, “Inside No. 9” has become known for its clever storytelling and unexpected twists. In “Boo to a Goose,” viewers can expect to be kept on the edge of their seats as the mystery unfolds and secrets are revealed.
Don’t miss out on the suspenseful Season 9 premiere of “Inside No. 9.
- 5/2/2024
- by Posts UK
- TV Everyday
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s anthology show Inside No 9 will begin broadcasting its final series on 8th May, here are the details.
You have to take your hat off to Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. By the end of the next series, The League Of Gentlemen stars will have written 55 completely new, original comedy dramas, complete with shocks, surprises and twists aplenty. We’re talking about the majestic Inside No 9.
From the silent shenanigans of the wonderful A Quiet Night In (which featured Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter Oona Chaplin) to the astonishing drama of The Twelve Days Of Christine and, arguably the greatest episode, beautiful ode to double acts Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room, if you’ve never had the pleasure, it is a series well worth delving into.
Perhaps appropriately, the upcoming series will be the last.
The BBC has revealed that the ninth and final...
You have to take your hat off to Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. By the end of the next series, The League Of Gentlemen stars will have written 55 completely new, original comedy dramas, complete with shocks, surprises and twists aplenty. We’re talking about the majestic Inside No 9.
From the silent shenanigans of the wonderful A Quiet Night In (which featured Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter Oona Chaplin) to the astonishing drama of The Twelve Days Of Christine and, arguably the greatest episode, beautiful ode to double acts Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room, if you’ve never had the pleasure, it is a series well worth delving into.
Perhaps appropriately, the upcoming series will be the last.
The BBC has revealed that the ninth and final...
- 4/25/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Jedi galore. A dark, murderous mystery plot. A Wookiee with a lightsaber. Star Wars is back with a series like no other – get ready for The Acolyte, exploring a brand new era of the galaxy, 100 years before The Phantom Menace. The new issue of Empire takes a world-exclusive deep dive into the show with creator Leslye Headland and her sprawling ensemble cast – and you can pick it up on newsstands from Thursday 11 April.
For now, take a sneak peek inside the issue and see what’s in store…
The Acolyte
An even longer time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there were Jedi everywhere – and an unseen enemy in the shadows. Empire delves into an all new era of Star Wars with The Acolyte creator Leslye Headland, speaking to the likes of Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Carrie-Anne Moss, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Rebecca Henderson, Joonas Suotamo, Manny Jacinto, and...
For now, take a sneak peek inside the issue and see what’s in store…
The Acolyte
An even longer time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there were Jedi everywhere – and an unseen enemy in the shadows. Empire delves into an all new era of Star Wars with The Acolyte creator Leslye Headland, speaking to the likes of Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Carrie-Anne Moss, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Rebecca Henderson, Joonas Suotamo, Manny Jacinto, and...
- 4/10/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Netflix has commissioned an eclectic variety of shows in the UK, and details of its new dramas are right here.
Netflix has commissioned a raft of new shows in the UK. Without further ado, the details are as follows:
First up is House Of Guinness, a new drama from the pen of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. Read the synopsis below:
House Of Guinness will tell the story of one of Europe’s most famous and enduring dynasties – The Guinness Family. Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, it will focus on the consequences of the death of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the far-reaching impact of his cunning will on the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, as well as on a group of Dublin characters who work and interact with the growing juggernaut that...
Netflix has commissioned a raft of new shows in the UK. Without further ado, the details are as follows:
First up is House Of Guinness, a new drama from the pen of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. Read the synopsis below:
House Of Guinness will tell the story of one of Europe’s most famous and enduring dynasties – The Guinness Family. Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, it will focus on the consequences of the death of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the far-reaching impact of his cunning will on the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, as well as on a group of Dublin characters who work and interact with the growing juggernaut that...
- 3/15/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Netflix unveiled on Thursday that Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses, Harlots), Jessica Plummer (EastEnders, The Girl Before), Richard Armitage (Fool Me Once, Obsession) and Lenny Henry (Fear the Walking Dead, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) will star in Missing You, one of its two upcoming Harlan Coben novel adaptations following the success of Coben’s latest Netflix hit series, Fool Me Once, which stars Michelle Keegan and premiered globally on Jan. 1.
Eleazar will portray protagonist Kat Donovan; Plummer will play Stacey Embalo; Armitage was cast as Ellis Stagger, and Henry portrays Clint Donovan.
Earlier in the year, the streamer had said that it would make limited series based on the author’s novels Missing You and Run Away, produced by Quay Street Productions. The casting news was announced at the annual Next on Netflix event at central London’s Picturehouse Central.
Missing You is about Detective Kat...
Eleazar will portray protagonist Kat Donovan; Plummer will play Stacey Embalo; Armitage was cast as Ellis Stagger, and Henry portrays Clint Donovan.
Earlier in the year, the streamer had said that it would make limited series based on the author’s novels Missing You and Run Away, produced by Quay Street Productions. The casting news was announced at the annual Next on Netflix event at central London’s Picturehouse Central.
Missing You is about Detective Kat...
- 3/14/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix has revealed a slew of commissions out of the U.K., including a political thriller series starring Julie Delpy and Suranne Jones, the reality show “Buying London” and a TV adaptation of Marian Keyes’ bestselling novel “Grown Ups.”
As reported by Variety exclusively earlier, Netflix has also commissioned the Jamie Dornan crime noir series “The Undertow,” which will go into production in Scotland this year and premiere on the platform in 2025.
Also set for 2025, “The Choice” stars Jones and Delpy as the British Prime Minister and French President, respectively, in what is being described as a high-stakes political thriller.
Jones plays “Abigail Dalton, the recently elected British Prime Minister fighting for office thanks to a healthcare crisis. Vivienne Toussaint, played by Julie Delpy, is the first female French President campaigning for re-election no matter what — including tackling France’s borders. A summit between the two women could be the answer to their prayers,...
As reported by Variety exclusively earlier, Netflix has also commissioned the Jamie Dornan crime noir series “The Undertow,” which will go into production in Scotland this year and premiere on the platform in 2025.
Also set for 2025, “The Choice” stars Jones and Delpy as the British Prime Minister and French President, respectively, in what is being described as a high-stakes political thriller.
Jones plays “Abigail Dalton, the recently elected British Prime Minister fighting for office thanks to a healthcare crisis. Vivienne Toussaint, played by Julie Delpy, is the first female French President campaigning for re-election no matter what — including tackling France’s borders. A summit between the two women could be the answer to their prayers,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Jessica Plummer (The Girl Before), Richard Armitage (The Hobbit), Lenny Henry (The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power), Steve Pemberton (Happy Valley), Paul Kaye (Sexy Beast), Samantha Spiro (Sex Education), Lisa Faulkner (Archie) and Mary Malone (Doctor Who) are among cast to have joined Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses) in Netflix’s Harlan Coben adaptation Missing You, which is currently filming in the UK.
Rounding out the cast are Charlie Hamblett, Oscar Kennedy, Brigid Zengeni, Catherine Ayers, Felix Garcia Guyer and Jo Martin.
Drama Missing You (5×60 mins) tells the story of detective Kat Donovan who stumbles across her estranged fiancé on a dating app, forcing her to delve back into the mystery surrounding her father’s murder.
The official synopsis reads: “Eleven years ago Detective Kat Donovan’s fiancé Josh – the love of her life – disappeared and she’s never heard from him since. Now, swiping profiles on a dating app,...
Rounding out the cast are Charlie Hamblett, Oscar Kennedy, Brigid Zengeni, Catherine Ayers, Felix Garcia Guyer and Jo Martin.
Drama Missing You (5×60 mins) tells the story of detective Kat Donovan who stumbles across her estranged fiancé on a dating app, forcing her to delve back into the mystery surrounding her father’s murder.
The official synopsis reads: “Eleven years ago Detective Kat Donovan’s fiancé Josh – the love of her life – disappeared and she’s never heard from him since. Now, swiping profiles on a dating app,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Taskmaster will return to Channel 4 on the 28th March, and a new trailer for Taskmaster series 17 has landed.
Taskmaster has run for a whopping 16th series and several Champion of Champions specials since 2015, according to the British Comedy Guide, the 17th series is due to be broadcast this month.
The line up for the new series is as follows:
Comedians Joanne McNally, John Robins and Sophie Willan, Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed and The League Of Gentlemen’s Steve Pemberton.
And it doesn’t stop there. Not only can you buy Taskmaster clothing, books, a board game via the official store, a few weeks ago, it was announced that the show was being turned into a VR game by indie developer Scallywag Arcade – it’s due out in 2024 for Meta Quest 2 and 3. You can add it to your wishlist on Steam now.
There is also set to be...
Taskmaster has run for a whopping 16th series and several Champion of Champions specials since 2015, according to the British Comedy Guide, the 17th series is due to be broadcast this month.
The line up for the new series is as follows:
Comedians Joanne McNally, John Robins and Sophie Willan, Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed and The League Of Gentlemen’s Steve Pemberton.
And it doesn’t stop there. Not only can you buy Taskmaster clothing, books, a board game via the official store, a few weeks ago, it was announced that the show was being turned into a VR game by indie developer Scallywag Arcade – it’s due out in 2024 for Meta Quest 2 and 3. You can add it to your wishlist on Steam now.
There is also set to be...
- 3/13/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
The line-up for Taskmaster series 17 has been revealed, with The League Of Gentleman’s Steve Pemberton among the large names. More within:
Now that we’ve had the joy of both the Taskmaster New Year Treat – with Deborah Meaden, Kojey Radical, Lenny Rush, Steve Backshall and the third Champion of Champions – with Sarah Kendall, Dara O’Briain, Sophie Duker, Morgana Robinson and Kiell Smith Bynoe, who stood in for Mae Martin – we now look forward to the seventeenth series.
The line up for the new series is as follows, according to the British Comedy Guide:
Joanne McNally, John Robins, Sophie Willan, Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed and The League Of Gentlemen’s Steve Pemberton.
And it doesn’t stop there. Not only can you buy Taskmaster clothing, books, a board game via the official store, a few weeks ago, it was announced that the show was being turned into a VR...
Now that we’ve had the joy of both the Taskmaster New Year Treat – with Deborah Meaden, Kojey Radical, Lenny Rush, Steve Backshall and the third Champion of Champions – with Sarah Kendall, Dara O’Briain, Sophie Duker, Morgana Robinson and Kiell Smith Bynoe, who stood in for Mae Martin – we now look forward to the seventeenth series.
The line up for the new series is as follows, according to the British Comedy Guide:
Joanne McNally, John Robins, Sophie Willan, Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed and The League Of Gentlemen’s Steve Pemberton.
And it doesn’t stop there. Not only can you buy Taskmaster clothing, books, a board game via the official store, a few weeks ago, it was announced that the show was being turned into a VR...
- 1/15/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
We’ve had a marvellous run of Taskmaster series lately, so when a new line-up announcement is on the horizon, it’s easy to wonder whether the winning streak will continue or if we’re due a dud.
Never fear – Alex Horne and co. have delivered once again, although the series 17 Taskmaster line-up might not be quite what you’re expecting. Instead of the now-traditional Taskmaster family line-up, this time they’ve gone for a veteran from outside the world of stand-up comedy, plus four rising stars with slightly less mainstream recognition than normal. As ever with this show though, anybody you’re not familiar with at the start, you’ll almost certainly love by the end of the series.
The Taskmaster series 17 line-up is: Steve Pemberton, Sophie Willan, Nick Mohammed, John Robins and Joanne McNally! And here they are appearing in the very first trailer for the new run:...
Never fear – Alex Horne and co. have delivered once again, although the series 17 Taskmaster line-up might not be quite what you’re expecting. Instead of the now-traditional Taskmaster family line-up, this time they’ve gone for a veteran from outside the world of stand-up comedy, plus four rising stars with slightly less mainstream recognition than normal. As ever with this show though, anybody you’re not familiar with at the start, you’ll almost certainly love by the end of the series.
The Taskmaster series 17 line-up is: Steve Pemberton, Sophie Willan, Nick Mohammed, John Robins and Joanne McNally! And here they are appearing in the very first trailer for the new run:...
- 1/14/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
As Reece Shearsmith just announced, it’s the beginning of the end for Inside No. 9. Filming on the horror-comedy anthology’s ninth and final series began in late 2023, which means a wrap on one of the BBC’s most consistently entertaining and inventive shows is imminent.
Oh it's the beginning of the end. #insideno9
— Reece Shearsmith ❄️ (@ReeceShearsmith) January 8, 2024
Series nine is expected to air in spring 2024, and will add a final six episodes to the existing 49 stories in Shearsmith and co-creator Steve Pemberton’s back catalogue. Barring the first look image above, which shows Pemberton in drag at an underground train station (platform no. nine?), we don’t know anything about the stories, settings or characters yet, but we do know who’ll be joining the pair as guest stars… and it’s a deep bench.
One of Britain’s greatest working actors, Eddie Marsan will appear. As will the brilliant Siobhan Finneran,...
Oh it's the beginning of the end. #insideno9
— Reece Shearsmith ❄️ (@ReeceShearsmith) January 8, 2024
Series nine is expected to air in spring 2024, and will add a final six episodes to the existing 49 stories in Shearsmith and co-creator Steve Pemberton’s back catalogue. Barring the first look image above, which shows Pemberton in drag at an underground train station (platform no. nine?), we don’t know anything about the stories, settings or characters yet, but we do know who’ll be joining the pair as guest stars… and it’s a deep bench.
One of Britain’s greatest working actors, Eddie Marsan will appear. As will the brilliant Siobhan Finneran,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.