A glimpse at upcoming UK DVD and Blu-ray release dates until early 2025: here’s what’s coming to disc and when.
Here, then, are a few of the upcoming dates for new movies on DVD and Blu-ray that may not yet have been officially announced. Note that all dates are for the UK.
Also: We’ve started adding affiliate links. If you click on those, we benefit, and can spend more money paying more people to write more things for this website. No pressure, just hugely obliged.
Obviously in the current climate everything is subject to change, of course…
Just released
First Time On UK Blu-ray: No Way Out (Film Stories Blu-ray #2)
First Time On UK Blu-ray: Bull Durham (Film Stories Blu-ray #3)
16th September: Michael Palin in Nigeria
16th September: Michael Powell: Early Works
16th September: Belgravia: The Next Chapter
16th September: Recipes For Love & Murder series...
Here, then, are a few of the upcoming dates for new movies on DVD and Blu-ray that may not yet have been officially announced. Note that all dates are for the UK.
Also: We’ve started adding affiliate links. If you click on those, we benefit, and can spend more money paying more people to write more things for this website. No pressure, just hugely obliged.
Obviously in the current climate everything is subject to change, of course…
Just released
First Time On UK Blu-ray: No Way Out (Film Stories Blu-ray #2)
First Time On UK Blu-ray: Bull Durham (Film Stories Blu-ray #3)
16th September: Michael Palin in Nigeria
16th September: Michael Powell: Early Works
16th September: Belgravia: The Next Chapter
16th September: Recipes For Love & Murder series...
- 10/2/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
The stage and screen director, who filmed Smith in The Lady in the Van, recalls her unblinking wit at work on stage in A German Life
• Smith dies aged 89
• Appreciations by Peter Bradshaw and Mark Lawson
• A life in pictures
• Obituary
• Her 20 best films
• Michael Palin, Mike Newell and Ol Parker remember Smith
• Share your tributes
Maggie Smith seemed in her performances to care nothing about being loved, but she was as widely adored as an actor can be. The two things were connected; everyone who watched her knew that there was an unswerving honesty behind her ruthless wit and her ability, in the blink of an eye, to shine a light on the most terrifying abysses of the human condition.
She found life hysterically funny and unbearably painful. Her company was exhilarating – she was even sharper and wittier than her legions of fans imagined her to be. But since the death of her husband,...
• Smith dies aged 89
• Appreciations by Peter Bradshaw and Mark Lawson
• A life in pictures
• Obituary
• Her 20 best films
• Michael Palin, Mike Newell and Ol Parker remember Smith
• Share your tributes
Maggie Smith seemed in her performances to care nothing about being loved, but she was as widely adored as an actor can be. The two things were connected; everyone who watched her knew that there was an unswerving honesty behind her ruthless wit and her ability, in the blink of an eye, to shine a light on the most terrifying abysses of the human condition.
She found life hysterically funny and unbearably painful. Her company was exhilarating – she was even sharper and wittier than her legions of fans imagined her to be. But since the death of her husband,...
- 9/27/2024
- by Nicholas Hytner
- The Guardian - Film News
In a career that began in the 1950s, her roles ranged from Desdemona to Miss Jean Brodie, Virginia Woolf and Minerva McGonagall
• Appreciations by Peter Bradshaw and Mark Lawson
• A life in pictures
• Obituary
• Her 20 best films
• Michael Palin, Mike Newell, Ol Parker and Nicholas Hytner on Smith
• Share your tributes
Maggie Smith, the prolific, multi-award-winning actor described by peers as being “one of a kind” and possessed of a “sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent”, has died aged 89.
Her work, which ranged from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie to Harry Potter to Downton Abbey, brought her global recognition, as well as two Oscars and eight Baftas.
• Appreciations by Peter Bradshaw and Mark Lawson
• A life in pictures
• Obituary
• Her 20 best films
• Michael Palin, Mike Newell, Ol Parker and Nicholas Hytner on Smith
• Share your tributes
Maggie Smith, the prolific, multi-award-winning actor described by peers as being “one of a kind” and possessed of a “sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent”, has died aged 89.
Her work, which ranged from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie to Harry Potter to Downton Abbey, brought her global recognition, as well as two Oscars and eight Baftas.
- 9/27/2024
- by Andrew Pulver and Kevin Rawlinson
- The Guardian - Film News
The writer of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel remembers working with an actor impossible to separate from her withering but warm screen persona
• Smith dies aged 89
• Appreciations by Peter Bradshaw and Mark Lawson
• A life in pictures
• Obituary
• Her 20 best films
• Michael Palin, Mike Newell and Nicholas Hytner on Smith
• Share your tributes
This one hurts. I knew she was ill, but I always believed she was immortal. And, of course, her work is. But it’s hard to accept that all that piss and vinegar didn’t give us just a few more years of the extraordinary pleasure of her company.
That’s if she liked you. If she didn’t – and the list is long – then her company was downright terrifying. You don’t get to be Maggie Smith on screen without being Maggie Smith off screen, and the acerbic wit, the putdowns, the total lack of fucks...
• Smith dies aged 89
• Appreciations by Peter Bradshaw and Mark Lawson
• A life in pictures
• Obituary
• Her 20 best films
• Michael Palin, Mike Newell and Nicholas Hytner on Smith
• Share your tributes
This one hurts. I knew she was ill, but I always believed she was immortal. And, of course, her work is. But it’s hard to accept that all that piss and vinegar didn’t give us just a few more years of the extraordinary pleasure of her company.
That’s if she liked you. If she didn’t – and the list is long – then her company was downright terrifying. You don’t get to be Maggie Smith on screen without being Maggie Smith off screen, and the acerbic wit, the putdowns, the total lack of fucks...
- 9/27/2024
- by Ol Parker
- The Guardian - Film News
Before she reached a new level of celebrity in the 21st century, Smith had a remarkable big-screen career, channelling her stage presence into the camera whether as Jean Brodie or her tragic, absurd ‘aunt’ persona
• Appreciations by Michael Billington and Mark Lawson
• A life in pictures
• Her 20 best films
• Memories from Michael Palin, Mike Newell and Nicholas Hytner
• Share your tributes
Maggie Smith thought she was famous after The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, in 1969; she gave a glorious, Oscar-winning performance in her mid-30s in the movie based on the Muriel Spark novel, and no actor ever intuited Spark’s world more brilliantly. Smith became the Edinburgh schoolmistress. Her Miss Jean Brodie is imperious, haughty, vulnerable, sexually attractive, prone to admiring fascism and terribly lonely. Her delicate, open face registered a kind of wounded and delusional idealism and poignantly absurd conceit, a complicated, funny portrayal that went above and...
• Appreciations by Michael Billington and Mark Lawson
• A life in pictures
• Her 20 best films
• Memories from Michael Palin, Mike Newell and Nicholas Hytner
• Share your tributes
Maggie Smith thought she was famous after The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, in 1969; she gave a glorious, Oscar-winning performance in her mid-30s in the movie based on the Muriel Spark novel, and no actor ever intuited Spark’s world more brilliantly. Smith became the Edinburgh schoolmistress. Her Miss Jean Brodie is imperious, haughty, vulnerable, sexually attractive, prone to admiring fascism and terribly lonely. Her delicate, open face registered a kind of wounded and delusional idealism and poignantly absurd conceit, a complicated, funny portrayal that went above and...
- 9/27/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Dame Maggie Smith passed away today at the age of 89, after giving the world decades' worth of indelible, beloved performances. A star of stage and screen since the 1950s, the highly decorated actress was best-known to a generation as Hogwarts' stern but heroic Professor McGonagall, while others loved her best as the Dowager Countess of "Downton Abbey."
Smith may have only become a household name to younger generations in the past two decades, but she did much of her best work in the 20th century, winning Oscars for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and "California Suite" in the '60s and '70s and a Tony Award for her role in the satirical play "Lettice and Lovage" in 1990. While her TV, film, and stage work was prolific and wide-ranging, only three Smith movies were ever universally embraced by critics, according to Rotten Tomatoes. One is a James Ivory classic,...
Smith may have only become a household name to younger generations in the past two decades, but she did much of her best work in the 20th century, winning Oscars for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and "California Suite" in the '60s and '70s and a Tony Award for her role in the satirical play "Lettice and Lovage" in 1990. While her TV, film, and stage work was prolific and wide-ranging, only three Smith movies were ever universally embraced by critics, according to Rotten Tomatoes. One is a James Ivory classic,...
- 9/27/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Saturday Night Live just announced the first batch of hosts for its 50th season, which includes some pretty huge names like Jean Smart, Nate Bargatze, John Mulaney and Ariana Grande. Although the news probably came as a huge disappointment to those SNL fans who were pulling for Glen Powell and/or the ghost of Robert Blake.
Also hosting one of the first five shows of the season is the great Michael Keaton, who will appear at the end of October, just in case you needed reminding to dress up as Beetlejuice this Halloween — or, depending on your budget, “Juice Demon.”
This show will mark the fourth time that the Multiplicity star has hosted SNL. Which is amazing considering how absolutely terribly the first outing went – not because of Keaton’s performance, but because of how he was treated by the show’s producer at the time.
Back in 1982, Keaton, fresh...
Also hosting one of the first five shows of the season is the great Michael Keaton, who will appear at the end of October, just in case you needed reminding to dress up as Beetlejuice this Halloween — or, depending on your budget, “Juice Demon.”
This show will mark the fourth time that the Multiplicity star has hosted SNL. Which is amazing considering how absolutely terribly the first outing went – not because of Keaton’s performance, but because of how he was treated by the show’s producer at the time.
Back in 1982, Keaton, fresh...
- 9/20/2024
- Cracked
As his daughter predicted, John Cleese's self-imposed exile from Twitter/X didn’t last long. To be fair, the Monty Python star managed to stay silent (save for a couple of retweets) for nearly nine days before deciding to fire new shots at archenemy and former comedy compatriot Eric Idle.
The latest grenade lob continues a social media feud from earlier this year. Idle publicly complained that the group’s relative lack of riches was due to mismanagement by Terry Gilliam’s daughter, Holly, who runs the company that steers Monty Python projects. Cleese, Michael Palin and (surprise) Terry Gilliam came out in support of Holly at the time. Cleese said that he found her to be “very efficient, clear-minded, hard-working and pleasant.”
What sparked the flames again? Deadline reports that Idle created “a fresh post on X (once Twitter),” accusing Cleese of firing former manager Jim Beach and installing Holly.
The latest grenade lob continues a social media feud from earlier this year. Idle publicly complained that the group’s relative lack of riches was due to mismanagement by Terry Gilliam’s daughter, Holly, who runs the company that steers Monty Python projects. Cleese, Michael Palin and (surprise) Terry Gilliam came out in support of Holly at the time. Cleese said that he found her to be “very efficient, clear-minded, hard-working and pleasant.”
What sparked the flames again? Deadline reports that Idle created “a fresh post on X (once Twitter),” accusing Cleese of firing former manager Jim Beach and installing Holly.
- 9/19/2024
- Cracked
John Cleese and Eric Idle are continuing to duke it out on social media.
The Monty Python legends exchanged barbs earlier this year, locking horns over their estrangement after Idle complained that he still had to work because Python’s earnings had dried up.
Idle blamed the mismanagement of the Python brand on Terry Gilliam and his daughter, Holly. The latter runs Hdg Projects, which manages Python and helped stage Monty Python Live (mostly) – One Down Five to Go, the group’s 2014 reunion shows at the O2 in London.
Cleese, along with Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, later made clear that they endorsed Holly’s management. “I find her very efficient, clear-minded, hard-working, and pleasant,” Cleese said.
Now, in a fresh post on X (once Twitter), Idle has accused Cleese of firing former manager Jim Beach and installing Holly. He said this was the reason their relationship was “over.”
I...
The Monty Python legends exchanged barbs earlier this year, locking horns over their estrangement after Idle complained that he still had to work because Python’s earnings had dried up.
Idle blamed the mismanagement of the Python brand on Terry Gilliam and his daughter, Holly. The latter runs Hdg Projects, which manages Python and helped stage Monty Python Live (mostly) – One Down Five to Go, the group’s 2014 reunion shows at the O2 in London.
Cleese, along with Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, later made clear that they endorsed Holly’s management. “I find her very efficient, clear-minded, hard-working, and pleasant,” Cleese said.
Now, in a fresh post on X (once Twitter), Idle has accused Cleese of firing former manager Jim Beach and installing Holly. He said this was the reason their relationship was “over.”
I...
- 9/19/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple TV+ won’t reset the clock on Time Bandits.
The tech giant’s streaming service has canceled the series, an adaptation of a 1981 feature film by Terry Gilliam, after a single season. The news comes less than four weeks after Time Bandits completed its 10-episode first season on Aug. 21.
As is the case with most streaming series, viewing figures for Time Bandits aren’t publicly available. The show didn’t break into Nielsen’s top 10 original streaming series in the first four weeks of its run (Apple TV+ released two episodes per week). Critics were largely positive on the show; The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg wrote that particularly in the second half of the season, Time Bandits is “actively funny and clever and just a little bit emotional.”
Like the film, the series follows a young history buff (Kal-El Tuck) who’s recruited to join a band of...
The tech giant’s streaming service has canceled the series, an adaptation of a 1981 feature film by Terry Gilliam, after a single season. The news comes less than four weeks after Time Bandits completed its 10-episode first season on Aug. 21.
As is the case with most streaming series, viewing figures for Time Bandits aren’t publicly available. The show didn’t break into Nielsen’s top 10 original streaming series in the first four weeks of its run (Apple TV+ released two episodes per week). Critics were largely positive on the show; The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg wrote that particularly in the second half of the season, Time Bandits is “actively funny and clever and just a little bit emotional.”
Like the film, the series follows a young history buff (Kal-El Tuck) who’s recruited to join a band of...
- 9/17/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
While most news about Monty Python these days tends to involve bitter financial disputes and long-simmering tensions blowing up on social media, there’s at least one recent Python-centric story that’s unquestionably heartwarming. And no, we don’t mean John Cleese’s decision to quit Twitter.
There’s currently a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to pay for a statue honoring Terry Jones, which is to be erected on the promenade in Colwyn Bay, Wales where the late Monty Python member lived until he was nearly five. Jones, of course, passed away in 2020 due to complications of a rare form of dementia, which he was diagnosed with in 2015 — although his death still hasn’t stopped him from booking acting jobs.
The GoFundMe campaign, dubbed “A Python on the Prom,” seeks to raise £120,000 for the bronze sculpture. Run by Jones’ family and the Conwy Arts Trust, the campaign was...
There’s currently a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to pay for a statue honoring Terry Jones, which is to be erected on the promenade in Colwyn Bay, Wales where the late Monty Python member lived until he was nearly five. Jones, of course, passed away in 2020 due to complications of a rare form of dementia, which he was diagnosed with in 2015 — although his death still hasn’t stopped him from booking acting jobs.
The GoFundMe campaign, dubbed “A Python on the Prom,” seeks to raise £120,000 for the bronze sculpture. Run by Jones’ family and the Conwy Arts Trust, the campaign was...
- 9/12/2024
- Cracked
It’s certainly not uncommon for filmmakers to tell autobiographical stories in their work, such as how Steven Spielberg has used dinosaurs, aliens, ancient Biblical relics and aliens a few more times to process his parents’ divorce.
One movie that most people likely don’t tend to think of as autobiographical is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. After all, it’s not like any of the Pythons ever survived any bovine catapult attacks or bloodthirsty bunny rabbit skirmishes.
But an autobiographical reading of The Holy Grail has just been floated — and not by some unhinged fan, but by Eric Idle.
In a new interview with The New Yorker, Idle chatted about a number of different topics, including his apparent financial difficulties, and the state of his relationship with fellow Python John Cleese. But much of the discussion was focused on Idle’s upcoming tour, as well as his newest book,...
One movie that most people likely don’t tend to think of as autobiographical is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. After all, it’s not like any of the Pythons ever survived any bovine catapult attacks or bloodthirsty bunny rabbit skirmishes.
But an autobiographical reading of The Holy Grail has just been floated — and not by some unhinged fan, but by Eric Idle.
In a new interview with The New Yorker, Idle chatted about a number of different topics, including his apparent financial difficulties, and the state of his relationship with fellow Python John Cleese. But much of the discussion was focused on Idle’s upcoming tour, as well as his newest book,...
- 9/9/2024
- Cracked
In the captivating conclusion of “Michael Palin in Nigeria,” airing on Friday, September 13, 2024, at 9:00 Pm on Channel 5, viewers join Michael as he wraps up his adventurous journey through Nigeria. This episode takes a thrilling turn as Michael travels through regions known for their challenges, including bandit attacks, showcasing the resilience and spirit of the local communities.
As he navigates these areas, Michael’s curiosity and empathy shine through, providing insights into the complex realities faced by the people living there. The episode captures not just the beauty of the landscape but also the rich culture and history of Nigeria. After facing these challenges, Michael then sets off on an exploration of the serene River Ethiope, known for its stunning scenery and biodiversity.
With his trademark humor and warmth, Michael Palin offers a unique perspective on a country that is often misunderstood. This episode promises to be both educational and entertaining,...
As he navigates these areas, Michael’s curiosity and empathy shine through, providing insights into the complex realities faced by the people living there. The episode captures not just the beauty of the landscape but also the rich culture and history of Nigeria. After facing these challenges, Michael then sets off on an exploration of the serene River Ethiope, known for its stunning scenery and biodiversity.
With his trademark humor and warmth, Michael Palin offers a unique perspective on a country that is often misunderstood. This episode promises to be both educational and entertaining,...
- 9/7/2024
- by Ashley Wood
- TV Everyday
‘Dune’ and ‘Mission: Impossible’s’ Rebecca Ferguson has been set to join the cast of the Enid Blyton adaptation ‘The Magic Faraway Tree.’
Ferguson will play the story’s terrifying headmistress, Dame Snap, one of Blyton’s most iconic villains.
Ferguson joins the cast which, as previously announced, includes two-time Academy Award-nominee, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Winner Andrew Garfield and Golden Globe and two-time Emmy Award-winner Claire Foy. Also previously announced cast are Jennifer Saunders as the kids’ ruthless Grandma, Nicola Coughlan who is cast as the beloved woodland fairy Silky, and British icons Sirs Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale.
Based on The Faraway Tree series of novels for children, the story follows Polly and Tim Thompson and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants.
Ferguson will play the story’s terrifying headmistress, Dame Snap, one of Blyton’s most iconic villains.
Ferguson joins the cast which, as previously announced, includes two-time Academy Award-nominee, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Winner Andrew Garfield and Golden Globe and two-time Emmy Award-winner Claire Foy. Also previously announced cast are Jennifer Saunders as the kids’ ruthless Grandma, Nicola Coughlan who is cast as the beloved woodland fairy Silky, and British icons Sirs Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale.
Based on The Faraway Tree series of novels for children, the story follows Polly and Tim Thompson and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants.
- 8/28/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Rebecca Ferguson, star of the Dune films and The Greatest Showman, has joined the cast of The Magic Faraway Tree, as production moves from the UK to Malta.
The Swedish actor plays Dame Snap, the villainous headmistress in Enid Blyton’s classic children’s story of the same name on which the film is based.
Ferguson completes the cast, which includes Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield, Nicola Coughlan, Nonso Anozie, Jessica Gunning, Lenny Henry, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale and Jennifer Saunders. Shooting has been taking place this summer in the south of England and at Shinfield Studios.
Ben Gregor directs the UK project,...
The Swedish actor plays Dame Snap, the villainous headmistress in Enid Blyton’s classic children’s story of the same name on which the film is based.
Ferguson completes the cast, which includes Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield, Nicola Coughlan, Nonso Anozie, Jessica Gunning, Lenny Henry, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale and Jennifer Saunders. Shooting has been taking place this summer in the south of England and at Shinfield Studios.
Ben Gregor directs the UK project,...
- 8/28/2024
- ScreenDaily
Eric Idle and John Cleese’s recent social media feud garnered a lot of attention from fans, but it’s far from the first time that the two Monty Python members squabbled. As one resurfaced interview clip illustrates, their behind-the-scenes tension goes back decades, and once involved an argument over drinking urine.
One of the most infamous lost Python sketches is “Wee-Wee Wine Tasting,” which was filmed for the Season Three episode “E. Henry Thripshaw's Disease” but ultimately cut from the broadcast. As Idle recalled in the 1990 documentary Life of Python, the sketch, which he wrote with Michael Palin, found a refined gentleman visiting a wine cellar, and taking guesses as to the contents of his glass (Pouilly Fumé? Médoc?) only to be constantly informed that the wine is, in fact, “wee-wee.”
While most members of the Pythons got behind the “very silly” sketch, Cleese was vehemently opposed to it and,...
One of the most infamous lost Python sketches is “Wee-Wee Wine Tasting,” which was filmed for the Season Three episode “E. Henry Thripshaw's Disease” but ultimately cut from the broadcast. As Idle recalled in the 1990 documentary Life of Python, the sketch, which he wrote with Michael Palin, found a refined gentleman visiting a wine cellar, and taking guesses as to the contents of his glass (Pouilly Fumé? Médoc?) only to be constantly informed that the wine is, in fact, “wee-wee.”
While most members of the Pythons got behind the “very silly” sketch, Cleese was vehemently opposed to it and,...
- 8/22/2024
- Cracked
Although somewhat tame by today’s standards, when Monty Python’s Life of Brian was released in 1979, it was considered to be among the most offensive — and blasphemous — films ever made. While no strangers to controversy, Monty Python faced a backlash like never before with their third film, in which they relentlessly mocked organized religion via a biblical epic parody about a man named Brian who is mistaken for the messiah just because he’s Jesus’ neighbor.
Forty-five years after its initial release, Life of Brian is still regarded as a classic, and many consider it to be the best, most sophisticated work the Pythons ever did. Here’s how it all came about, how angry it made everybody and why it’s stood the test of time…
45 Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory
Life of Brian was first conceived when the Pythons were on the publicity tour for Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Forty-five years after its initial release, Life of Brian is still regarded as a classic, and many consider it to be the best, most sophisticated work the Pythons ever did. Here’s how it all came about, how angry it made everybody and why it’s stood the test of time…
45 Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory
Life of Brian was first conceived when the Pythons were on the publicity tour for Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
- 8/18/2024
- Cracked
I think it's fair to say that Monty Python movies, much like the TV show from which they sprung, are all great. The absurdist brilliance of "Monty Python's Flying Circus," which ran on the BBC from 1969 to 1974, saw comedians John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam rewrite the rules of comedy. Alongside regular collaborators Carol Cleveland and Connie Booth, the Monty Python troupe established themselves as true comedic geniuses, leading to a run of feature films that remain just as beloved to this day as the "Flying Circus" itself.
Chief among those films is 1975's "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," a deconstruction of the British national identity by way of an irreverent retelling of Arthurian legend. The film was and is much more than its oft-quoted catchphrases would suggest, with the Python boys turning their subversive eye towards British history and sending up...
Chief among those films is 1975's "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," a deconstruction of the British national identity by way of an irreverent retelling of Arthurian legend. The film was and is much more than its oft-quoted catchphrases would suggest, with the Python boys turning their subversive eye towards British history and sending up...
- 8/17/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
British icon Jennifer Saunders has joined the star-studded cast for the film adaptation of Enid Blyton‘s beloved children’s book, The Magic Faraway Tree.
Hiran Abeysekera (The Life of Pi, The Father and the Assassin) and Pippa Bennett-Warner (Gangs of London, See How They Run, Chloe) will also feature alongside the previously announced cast of Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan and Jessica Gunning.
From Neal Street Productions, Elysian Film Group and Ashland Hill Media Finance, The Magic Faraway Tree is currently shooting.
Based on the Faraway Tree series of novels for children, the film follows Polly (Foy) and Tim Thompson (Garfield) and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. “There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants,” a plot synopsis reads.
Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous, Shrek 2) has been cast in the role of the children’s ruthless Grandma.
Hiran Abeysekera (The Life of Pi, The Father and the Assassin) and Pippa Bennett-Warner (Gangs of London, See How They Run, Chloe) will also feature alongside the previously announced cast of Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan and Jessica Gunning.
From Neal Street Productions, Elysian Film Group and Ashland Hill Media Finance, The Magic Faraway Tree is currently shooting.
Based on the Faraway Tree series of novels for children, the film follows Polly (Foy) and Tim Thompson (Garfield) and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. “There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants,” a plot synopsis reads.
Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous, Shrek 2) has been cast in the role of the children’s ruthless Grandma.
- 8/8/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders, The Life Of Pi’s Hiran Abeysekera and See How They Run’s Pippa Bennett-Warner have joined the cast of Ben Gregor’s The Magic Faraway Tree, which is currently filming in the south of England and at Shinfield Studios.
The film follows the Thompson family as they relocate to the remote English countryside, where the children discover a magical tree.
Saunders stars as the Thompson children’s ruthless grandmother, with Bennett-Warner as her assistant, while Abeysekera plays Angry Pixie, one of the inhabitants of the Faraway Tree.
Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon and Phoenix Laroche play the children.
The film follows the Thompson family as they relocate to the remote English countryside, where the children discover a magical tree.
Saunders stars as the Thompson children’s ruthless grandmother, with Bennett-Warner as her assistant, while Abeysekera plays Angry Pixie, one of the inhabitants of the Faraway Tree.
Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon and Phoenix Laroche play the children.
- 8/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
Jennifer Saunders (“Absolutely Fabulous”), Laurence Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (“The Life of Pi”) and Pippa Bennett-Warner (“Gangs of London”) have joined the cast of the film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s “The Magic Faraway Tree,” which is currently in production.
The film, based on Blyton’s beloved “The Faraway Tree” series, follows the Thompson family as they move to the English countryside and discover a magical tree. The fantastical tree’s residents transport visitors to distant lands, setting the stage for a series of whimsical adventures.
Saunders has been cast as the children’s grandmother, Abeysekera as the Angry Pixie, and Bennett-Warner as the grandmother’s assistant, Hannah. Newcomers Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon and Phoenix Laroche will play the Thompson children.
These actors join previously announced cast members Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, Jess Gunning, Nonso Anozie, Dustin Demri Jones, Mark Heap, Oliver Chris, Lenny Henry, Simon Russell Beale and Michael Palin.
The film, based on Blyton’s beloved “The Faraway Tree” series, follows the Thompson family as they move to the English countryside and discover a magical tree. The fantastical tree’s residents transport visitors to distant lands, setting the stage for a series of whimsical adventures.
Saunders has been cast as the children’s grandmother, Abeysekera as the Angry Pixie, and Bennett-Warner as the grandmother’s assistant, Hannah. Newcomers Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon and Phoenix Laroche will play the Thompson children.
These actors join previously announced cast members Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, Jess Gunning, Nonso Anozie, Dustin Demri Jones, Mark Heap, Oliver Chris, Lenny Henry, Simon Russell Beale and Michael Palin.
- 8/8/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Pat Heywood, the veteran Scottish actress who made her film debut as Olivia Hussey’s nurse and confidant in Franco Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has died. She was 92.
Heywood died June 26, the Scottish Daily Mail reported.
During her four-decade career, Heywood portrayed the maid in the manor at the center of Freddie Francis’ horror comedy Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny and Girly (1970) and the wife of British serial killer John Christie (Richard Attenborough) in the Richard Fleischer-directed 10 Rillington Place (1971).
Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet (1968), which also starred Leonard Whiting alongside Hussey and featured narration from Laurence Olivier, was a hit at the box office as it introduced a new generation to Shakespearean tragedy. Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and Anjelica Huston had been among those considered for the top roles.
The film won Oscars for cinematography and costumes and was nominated for best picture and director, and Heywood...
Heywood died June 26, the Scottish Daily Mail reported.
During her four-decade career, Heywood portrayed the maid in the manor at the center of Freddie Francis’ horror comedy Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny and Girly (1970) and the wife of British serial killer John Christie (Richard Attenborough) in the Richard Fleischer-directed 10 Rillington Place (1971).
Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet (1968), which also starred Leonard Whiting alongside Hussey and featured narration from Laurence Olivier, was a hit at the box office as it introduced a new generation to Shakespearean tragedy. Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and Anjelica Huston had been among those considered for the top roles.
The film won Oscars for cinematography and costumes and was nominated for best picture and director, and Heywood...
- 7/26/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warning: contains spoilers for Time Bandits (1981) & (2024) episodes one & two.
“Strong language, self-harm references & violence. This programme isn’t suitable for younger viewers,” is the warning from Channel4.com to anybody currently wishing to stream Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy adventure film Time Bandits in the UK. Despite the film’s “G” (all ages admitted) rating, the streamer asks viewers to confirm that they’re over the age of 16 before it will play.
An overreaction, or fair dos, in light of the film’s meaty battle scenes and famously bleak ending?
The Original Time Bandits Ending
In the film’s final scenes, 11-year-old Kevin (Craig Warnock) awakens in his own bed following a series of perilous adventures through history with a band of time-travelling wannabe thieves played by actors with dwarfism.
After romping through Napoleon’s battlefields, having a hand in the killing of the Minotaur, experiencing the sinking of the Titanic,...
“Strong language, self-harm references & violence. This programme isn’t suitable for younger viewers,” is the warning from Channel4.com to anybody currently wishing to stream Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy adventure film Time Bandits in the UK. Despite the film’s “G” (all ages admitted) rating, the streamer asks viewers to confirm that they’re over the age of 16 before it will play.
An overreaction, or fair dos, in light of the film’s meaty battle scenes and famously bleak ending?
The Original Time Bandits Ending
In the film’s final scenes, 11-year-old Kevin (Craig Warnock) awakens in his own bed following a series of perilous adventures through history with a band of time-travelling wannabe thieves played by actors with dwarfism.
After romping through Napoleon’s battlefields, having a hand in the killing of the Minotaur, experiencing the sinking of the Titanic,...
- 7/26/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
A couple of years ago, Taika Waititi slid into Lisa Kudrow’s Instagram DMs with a once-in-a-lifetime proposition: How would she feel about visiting New Zealand for the first time and filming a fantasy show — a genre she had yet to explore — for six months?
It was an offer that Kudrow, who was born and raised in Los Angeles and doesn’t particularly love to travel for long stretches of time, couldn’t pass up. The show in question was Time Bandits — Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris’ series adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy classic. The original film starred Gilliam’s Monty Python co-stars John Cleese and Michael Palin, as well as Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall and Ian Holm.
In the new Apple TV+ series, which premiered Wednesday, Kudrow stars as Penelope, the de facto leader of a ragtag group of thieves who is forced to journey through time and space with an 11-year-old,...
It was an offer that Kudrow, who was born and raised in Los Angeles and doesn’t particularly love to travel for long stretches of time, couldn’t pass up. The show in question was Time Bandits — Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris’ series adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy classic. The original film starred Gilliam’s Monty Python co-stars John Cleese and Michael Palin, as well as Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall and Ian Holm.
In the new Apple TV+ series, which premiered Wednesday, Kudrow stars as Penelope, the de facto leader of a ragtag group of thieves who is forced to journey through time and space with an 11-year-old,...
- 7/25/2024
- by Max Gao
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
To a generation of Brits, Iain Morris may forever be known as half of the duo that created “The Inbetweeners,” the wildly rude sitcom about a group of mostly unpopular teenage boys that ran from 2008-2010 and was followed by two hugely successful films.
But the multi-talented creative has been prolifically busy since then, reuniting some of the “The Inbetweeners” lead cast for BBC comedy series “White Gold,” creating another BBC comedy “First Team,” working on FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows,” helping write Taika Waititi’s soccer comedy “Next Goal Wins” and recently being tapped to direct Netflix rom-com feature “My Oxford Year.”
For the last few years, he’s also been hard at work on “Time Bandits,” Apple TV+’s small-screen reimagining of Terry Gilliam’s cult 1981 fantasy comedy about a young boy taken on an adventure through time with a band of thieves (mostly played...
But the multi-talented creative has been prolifically busy since then, reuniting some of the “The Inbetweeners” lead cast for BBC comedy series “White Gold,” creating another BBC comedy “First Team,” working on FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows,” helping write Taika Waititi’s soccer comedy “Next Goal Wins” and recently being tapped to direct Netflix rom-com feature “My Oxford Year.”
For the last few years, he’s also been hard at work on “Time Bandits,” Apple TV+’s small-screen reimagining of Terry Gilliam’s cult 1981 fantasy comedy about a young boy taken on an adventure through time with a band of thieves (mostly played...
- 7/24/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
When Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement team up, good things tend to happen. From “Flight of the Conchords” to “Wellington Paranormal,” and “What We Do in the Shadows” (the movie) to “What We Do in the Shadows” (the series), the two on- and off-camera talents have shown a knack for elevating mundane situations through fantastic creativity. “Conchords” heightens its band members’ everyday struggles for renown and romance with hysterical musical interludes. “Wellington” disrupts the humdrum duties of New Zealand cops by serving up cases with a supernatural twist. Stories in “Shadows” emerge from the perpetual boredom of vampire roommates who’ve grown tired of immortality’s tedium.
Much of the humor in their writing relies on characters reacting to extraordinary events with little more than a shrug, so adapting “Time Bandits” into a TV series seems like a good fit. Based “in part” on Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin’s 1981 film of the same name,...
Much of the humor in their writing relies on characters reacting to extraordinary events with little more than a shrug, so adapting “Time Bandits” into a TV series seems like a good fit. Based “in part” on Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin’s 1981 film of the same name,...
- 7/24/2024
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Streaming on: Apple TV+
Episodes viewed: 10 of 10
On paper, it looks like the perfect comedy storm: a cult-classic post-Monty Python adventure from Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, adapted and updated by the dudes behind What We Do In The Shadows and The Inbetweeners. But, for all its pedigree and Apple-funded VFX budget, this 21st-century Time Bandits doesn’t deliver the swag.
The main culprits are the titular gang. Portrayed in the original by dwarf performers including David Rappaport, Kenny Baker and Jack Purvis, the Bandits were an engagingly energetic crew, whose fractious antics powered much of the action-comedy (when the big-star cameos weren’t happening) — as loveable as they were amoral. Here, the noticeably ganglier likes of Lisa Kudrow, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva and Charlyne Yi fail to measure up.
The extended running time doesn’t do the concept any favours
This is mostly down to the new troupe’s oddly low-energy shtick,...
Episodes viewed: 10 of 10
On paper, it looks like the perfect comedy storm: a cult-classic post-Monty Python adventure from Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, adapted and updated by the dudes behind What We Do In The Shadows and The Inbetweeners. But, for all its pedigree and Apple-funded VFX budget, this 21st-century Time Bandits doesn’t deliver the swag.
The main culprits are the titular gang. Portrayed in the original by dwarf performers including David Rappaport, Kenny Baker and Jack Purvis, the Bandits were an engagingly energetic crew, whose fractious antics powered much of the action-comedy (when the big-star cameos weren’t happening) — as loveable as they were amoral. Here, the noticeably ganglier likes of Lisa Kudrow, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva and Charlyne Yi fail to measure up.
The extended running time doesn’t do the concept any favours
This is mostly down to the new troupe’s oddly low-energy shtick,...
- 7/24/2024
- by Dan Jolin
- Empire - TV
If you had a superpower, what would it be? You could read people’s thoughts – but isn’t that a bit invasive? Teleportation would be nice — fly without the Tsa. And, for the really adventurous, there’s time travel. You could hang out with anyone from Vlad the Impaler to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Of course, there’s the question that haunts the invisible man as well: Do your clothes travel with you?
With “Time Bandits,” a ten-part Apple TV+ fantasy series aimed at the YA audience and the young at heart, clothes, backpacks, a magic map of the universe and loot can make it through the portals between say, the Pleistocene Era and the Harlem Renaissance. Inspired by the manic and maniacal 1981 movie of the same name from Monty Python duo Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin and starring John Cleese, Sean Connery and the late Shelley Duvall, this TV adventure...
With “Time Bandits,” a ten-part Apple TV+ fantasy series aimed at the YA audience and the young at heart, clothes, backpacks, a magic map of the universe and loot can make it through the portals between say, the Pleistocene Era and the Harlem Renaissance. Inspired by the manic and maniacal 1981 movie of the same name from Monty Python duo Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin and starring John Cleese, Sean Connery and the late Shelley Duvall, this TV adventure...
- 7/23/2024
- by Thelma Adams
- The Wrap
Thanks to Steven Spielberg and his various acolytes, ’80s kids didn’t lack for entertainment made directly for us. But that doesn’t mean we weren’t periodically traumatized by a Gremlins or Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom or, in the case of my younger brother, The ‘Burbs.
Nobody, though, specialized in making movies that were ostensibly for kids but definitely weren’t for all kids like Terry Gilliam. One of my first moviegoing memories is abruptly leaving a revival screening of Jabberwocky because it wasn’t the movie my parents thought it was. Audiences experienced similar unease with The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and, before that, 1981’s Time Bandits, a frequently playful juvenile romp that’s also nonstop dark imagery and narrative jagged edges. The film replicates the chaotic weirdness of childhood dreams, but resists any of the pat moralizing that often anchors kid-friendly storytelling.
Most of...
Nobody, though, specialized in making movies that were ostensibly for kids but definitely weren’t for all kids like Terry Gilliam. One of my first moviegoing memories is abruptly leaving a revival screening of Jabberwocky because it wasn’t the movie my parents thought it was. Audiences experienced similar unease with The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and, before that, 1981’s Time Bandits, a frequently playful juvenile romp that’s also nonstop dark imagery and narrative jagged edges. The film replicates the chaotic weirdness of childhood dreams, but resists any of the pat moralizing that often anchors kid-friendly storytelling.
Most of...
- 7/23/2024
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In 1981, as the Monty Python sketch comedy troupe approached the end of its most fertile period, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin co-wrote the feature film Time Bandits, which Gilliam also directed. Though Monty Python’s Flying Circus and some segments of their various movies would be entertaining to kids and adults alike, Time Bandits was pitched at a younger audience and, according to an essay by Bruce Eder at Criterion.com, became “the most critically well-received children’s film in nearly two decades.”
For some Gen Xers who saw it as children, Time Bandits was a formative event: a fantasy story that didn’t hold back on physical or emotional violence, and (spoilers ahead for a 40+-year-old movie) had no compunction about giving the young protagonist’s terrible parents an unambiguously punitive ending.
Now Time Bandits is getting a revival in streaming TV series form. I can’t speak to how 2024 kids will receive it,...
For some Gen Xers who saw it as children, Time Bandits was a formative event: a fantasy story that didn’t hold back on physical or emotional violence, and (spoilers ahead for a 40+-year-old movie) had no compunction about giving the young protagonist’s terrible parents an unambiguously punitive ending.
Now Time Bandits is getting a revival in streaming TV series form. I can’t speak to how 2024 kids will receive it,...
- 7/23/2024
- Cracked
In what has become the Drake-Kendrick feud for the AARP crowd, John Cleese just keeps beefing with his old Monty Python pals. Even after the dust seemingly settled on his social media spat with Eric Idle, Cleese recently took a random shot at Michael Palin for being “boring” — big talk from the co-star of George of the Jungle 2 and Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure.
Palin fired back at his old A Fish Called Wanda co-star, pointing out that his so-called “boring” qualities are what made Cleese’s over-the-top characters funny. “You had to have someone selling the parrot, or someone in the argument sketch to play off,” Palin argued.
Because these legendary comedians keep talking to journalists instead of, say, some sort of group therapist, Cleese recently sat down for an interview with BBC Radio 2 presenter Romesh Ranganathan, and once again found a way to dunk on his colleague.
Palin fired back at his old A Fish Called Wanda co-star, pointing out that his so-called “boring” qualities are what made Cleese’s over-the-top characters funny. “You had to have someone selling the parrot, or someone in the argument sketch to play off,” Palin argued.
Because these legendary comedians keep talking to journalists instead of, say, some sort of group therapist, Cleese recently sat down for an interview with BBC Radio 2 presenter Romesh Ranganathan, and once again found a way to dunk on his colleague.
- 7/22/2024
- Cracked
Despite the film having been shot in 2016 prior to Donald Trump’s electoral college win, at the time of its premiere in 2017 at the Toronto International Film Festival “The Death of Stalin” was immediately hailed as a finger-on-the-pulse political satire. How could it not be? Coming from Armando Iannucci, one of the great humorists of his generation, known for capturing government in all of its obscene clumsiness in the U.K. with “The Thick of It” and “In the Loop,” as well as across the pond in the U.S. with the hit TV series “Veep,” “The Death of Stalin” marked the first time the writer/director took on actual history.
Based on the French graphic novel, “La Mort de Staline,” the film is a comedic interpretation of the social and political power struggle that followed the death of Russian leader Joseph Stalin in 1953. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Steve Buscemi,...
Based on the French graphic novel, “La Mort de Staline,” the film is a comedic interpretation of the social and political power struggle that followed the death of Russian leader Joseph Stalin in 1953. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Steve Buscemi,...
- 7/21/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Back in 1981, director Terry Gilliam and his Monty Python cohort Michael Palin brought the world the cult classic fantasy adventure film Time Bandits – and now, Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi has teamed with his frequent collaborators Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris to create an Apple TV+ series version of Time Bandits. The first two episodes of the ten-episode first season will premiere on Wednesday, July 24th… and while doing the press rounds for the show, Clement revealed that season 2 is already being written!
Produced for Apple TV+ by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios, and MRC, Time Bandits is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin. Together, they set out on a thrilling quest to save the boy’s parents — and the world. The eccentric crew of...
Produced for Apple TV+ by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios, and MRC, Time Bandits is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin. Together, they set out on a thrilling quest to save the boy’s parents — and the world. The eccentric crew of...
- 7/19/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
There’s been a lot of discussion lately about the interpersonal conflicts within Monty Python, even despite the fact that they haven’t performed as a group in 10 years, two of them are dead and the surviving members are old enough to join up with Hell’s Grannies.
It all started with a back-and-forth social media feud between John Cleese and Eric Idle, which led to Cleese stating that they have “always loathed and despised each other.” While he later claimed to be joking, Cleese, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam then celebrated Palin’s 81st birthday without Idle. This was soon followed by Cleese randomly calling Palin “boring,” forcing Palin to defend himself on national television.
All of which seems like a lot of drama for four octogenarians.
While promoting his Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Live! Tour, Idle was asked by Now to Love about his friendship with his fellow Pythons.
It all started with a back-and-forth social media feud between John Cleese and Eric Idle, which led to Cleese stating that they have “always loathed and despised each other.” While he later claimed to be joking, Cleese, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam then celebrated Palin’s 81st birthday without Idle. This was soon followed by Cleese randomly calling Palin “boring,” forcing Palin to defend himself on national television.
All of which seems like a lot of drama for four octogenarians.
While promoting his Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Live! Tour, Idle was asked by Now to Love about his friendship with his fellow Pythons.
- 7/18/2024
- Cracked
The origin story of Fawlty Towers has become the stuff of comedy legend, stemming from a 1970 Monty Python tour that took the troupe to the English seaside town of Torquay. There John Cleese was “fascinated” by the manager of a local hotel, who treated guests as if they were a “nuisance.”
The business in question was the Gleneagles Hotel, and the real-life proprietors were Donald Sinclair and his wife Beatrice. While the Pythons were guests, Sinclair allegedly chastised Terry Gilliam’s American table manners and tossed Eric Idle’s briefcase outdoors because he “thought it might be a bomb” (it “actually contained an alarm clock”).
Cleese’s wild stories have been corroborated by Michael Palin’s diaries. He recorded that “Mr. Sinclair, the proprietor, seemed to view us from the start as a colossal inconvenience.” So all the Pythons moved to another hotel after just one night, except for Cleese,...
The business in question was the Gleneagles Hotel, and the real-life proprietors were Donald Sinclair and his wife Beatrice. While the Pythons were guests, Sinclair allegedly chastised Terry Gilliam’s American table manners and tossed Eric Idle’s briefcase outdoors because he “thought it might be a bomb” (it “actually contained an alarm clock”).
Cleese’s wild stories have been corroborated by Michael Palin’s diaries. He recorded that “Mr. Sinclair, the proprietor, seemed to view us from the start as a colossal inconvenience.” So all the Pythons moved to another hotel after just one night, except for Cleese,...
- 7/16/2024
- Cracked
Shelley Duvall, the saucer-eyed, rail-thin waif who starred in seven films directed by her mentor, Robert Altman, and avoided the ax wielded by an unhinged Jack Nicholson in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, died Thursday. She was 75.
Duvall died in her sleep of complications from diabetes at her home in Blanco, Texas, Dan Gilroy, her life partner since 1989, told The Hollywood Reporter.
“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,” Gilroy said.
In November 2016, a disheveled Duvall appeared on an episode of the syndicated talk show Dr. Phil and revealed that she was suffering from mental illness. “I am very sick. I need help,” she said. Four years later, THR‘s Seth Abramovitch visited her for a memorable story.
Before she fled Hollywood for her native Texas in the mid-1990s, Duvall had a thriving career as a versatile,...
Duvall died in her sleep of complications from diabetes at her home in Blanco, Texas, Dan Gilroy, her life partner since 1989, told The Hollywood Reporter.
“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,” Gilroy said.
In November 2016, a disheveled Duvall appeared on an episode of the syndicated talk show Dr. Phil and revealed that she was suffering from mental illness. “I am very sick. I need help,” she said. Four years later, THR‘s Seth Abramovitch visited her for a memorable story.
Before she fled Hollywood for her native Texas in the mid-1990s, Duvall had a thriving career as a versatile,...
- 7/11/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Because Hollywood won’t rest until it’s turned every Terry Gilliam movie into a TV show, Apple TV+ will soon be releasing a Time Bandits series, starring Lisa Kudrow as a temporal plunderer.
While recycling ‘80s films for modern audiences doesn’t always work (I’m looking at you 2014’s RoboCop), this show is produced by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, and judging from the recently-released trailer, it looks like a lot of fun.
Gilliam’s original 1981 Time Bandits was a box-office success when it first came out, and it’s generally regarded to be one of the best children’s fantasy films of its era. But, like much of Gilliam’s work, it was a huge pain in the ass to get made.
As Monty Python fans are well aware, George Harrison put up his own money to fund Life of Brian, mortgaging his home and office when...
While recycling ‘80s films for modern audiences doesn’t always work (I’m looking at you 2014’s RoboCop), this show is produced by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, and judging from the recently-released trailer, it looks like a lot of fun.
Gilliam’s original 1981 Time Bandits was a box-office success when it first came out, and it’s generally regarded to be one of the best children’s fantasy films of its era. But, like much of Gilliam’s work, it was a huge pain in the ass to get made.
As Monty Python fans are well aware, George Harrison put up his own money to fund Life of Brian, mortgaging his home and office when...
- 7/10/2024
- Cracked
Back in 1981, director Terry Gilliam and his Monty Python cohort Michael Palin brought the world the cult classic fantasy adventure film Time Bandits – and now, Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi has teamed with his frequent collaborators Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris to create an Apple TV+ series version of Time Bandits. The first two episodes of the ten-episode first season will premiere on Wednesday, July 24th… and with that date right around the corner, a trailer for the show has arrived online. You can check it out in the embed above.
The two episode premiere will be followed by two new episodes every Wednesday through August 21st.
Produced for Apple TV+ by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios, and MRC, Time Bandits is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin.
The two episode premiere will be followed by two new episodes every Wednesday through August 21st.
Produced for Apple TV+ by Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios, and MRC, Time Bandits is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin.
- 7/9/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Forty-three years after the feature film of the same name, the Time Bandits are back, with Apple TV+ releasing the first trailer for its updated take on the concept introduced in Terry Gilliam’s 1981 comedic fantasy.
The 10-episode series, premiering Wednesday, July 24, comes from longtime collaborators Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows), both of whom have on-camera roles and who serve as creators alongside fellow Flight of the Conchords alum Iain Morris.
More from TVLineWhat’s New on Netflix in July — Plus: Disney+, Max, Amazon and OthersThe Best Streaming Services in 2024: Disney+, Hulu, Max...
The 10-episode series, premiering Wednesday, July 24, comes from longtime collaborators Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows), both of whom have on-camera roles and who serve as creators alongside fellow Flight of the Conchords alum Iain Morris.
More from TVLineWhat’s New on Netflix in July — Plus: Disney+, Max, Amazon and OthersThe Best Streaming Services in 2024: Disney+, Hulu, Max...
- 7/9/2024
- by Eric Goldman
- TVLine.com
While it may have been hell to film Monty Python and the Holy Grail on location in Scotland (John Cleese has frequently complained that it was a “miserable experience” due to the lack of hot water), that commitment to dank medieval realism is arguably what made the comedy work so well.
Because it wasn’t shot on sets that likely would have just ended up in a dumpster, a lot of Python fans are able to make pilgrimages to the real-life locations used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, including Scotland’s historic Doune Castle, which the group sneakily used over and over and over again.
But the specific geographic location where one memorable scene was filmed was never properly documented — which became a problem when two Pythons later tried to track it down.
For the film’s 25th anniversary DVD, Michael Palin and Terry Jones made a short...
Because it wasn’t shot on sets that likely would have just ended up in a dumpster, a lot of Python fans are able to make pilgrimages to the real-life locations used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, including Scotland’s historic Doune Castle, which the group sneakily used over and over and over again.
But the specific geographic location where one memorable scene was filmed was never properly documented — which became a problem when two Pythons later tried to track it down.
For the film’s 25th anniversary DVD, Michael Palin and Terry Jones made a short...
- 7/9/2024
- Cracked
The city of London is punctuated with world-famous sights like the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and Tower Bridge. And while you absolutely have to tour as many museums as you can (they’re all free!) and cross off all the main attractions, every side street and street corner has the potential to hold centuries of history and secret treasures waiting for curious travellers and locals to come across them. Ready to see more of London? Here are eight incredible places to add to your itinerary.
Little Venice
Beyond the ironwork and white stucco of the townhouses and towering modern skyscrapers, there’s an affluent neighbourhood called Little Venice that is more reminiscent of the still canals and quaint houseboats of the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. Located just a short 500-metre walk from busy Paddington Station, you can spend a few hours walking along the Grand Union and Regent canals,...
Little Venice
Beyond the ironwork and white stucco of the townhouses and towering modern skyscrapers, there’s an affluent neighbourhood called Little Venice that is more reminiscent of the still canals and quaint houseboats of the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. Located just a short 500-metre walk from busy Paddington Station, you can spend a few hours walking along the Grand Union and Regent canals,...
- 7/2/2024
- by James Smith
- Nerdly
For years after Friends, Lisa Kudrow has admitted she could not bring herself to watch reruns of the beloved NBC sitcom, explaining she didn’t want to risk not liking her work on the show. But in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote her upcoming Apple TV+ series Time Bandits, Kudrow — who became a household name in the mid-’90s as the endearing and idiosyncratic Phoebe Buffay — says that she has begun to revisit old Friends episodes, in large part to keep the memory of her late co-star Matthew Perry alive.
Perry died Oct. 28, 2023, at age 54 from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, his tragic passing sending ripples around the world. A criminal investigation into how he died is ongoing.
“Honestly, I wasn’t able to watch it because it’s too embarrassing to watch yourself. But if I make it about Matthew, then that’s Ok,...
Perry died Oct. 28, 2023, at age 54 from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, his tragic passing sending ripples around the world. A criminal investigation into how he died is ongoing.
“Honestly, I wasn’t able to watch it because it’s too embarrassing to watch yourself. But if I make it about Matthew, then that’s Ok,...
- 6/26/2024
- by Max Gao
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
While most of the surviving members of Monty Python seem to be spending their golden years engaging in petty squabbles and/or desperately trying to convince the world that they’re a victim of persecution, Michael Palin appears to be a chill guy who just enjoys writing books and starring in travel programs. That view of Palin likely won’t be shattered by his recent appearance on Good Morning Britain, which is like Good Morning America but with more tea and less handguns (I assume).
During the interview, Palin talked a lot about the loss of his wife Helen, who died last year. Palin revealed that, after 57 years of marriage, he still hears her voice on occasion. “Sometimes I will have done something, and I’ll get back and tell her about it,” Palin revealed to the hosts. “Although she’s not there, I know her reply and it makes me smile.
During the interview, Palin talked a lot about the loss of his wife Helen, who died last year. Palin revealed that, after 57 years of marriage, he still hears her voice on occasion. “Sometimes I will have done something, and I’ll get back and tell her about it,” Palin revealed to the hosts. “Although she’s not there, I know her reply and it makes me smile.
- 6/24/2024
- Cracked
In a scene worthy of one of his animated works, Terry Gillam took to a stage covered in crashed paper planes at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Sunday to receive its honorary Cristal award and give a masterclass about his animated works.
Gilliam was last in Annecy, where its audience has a tradition of bombarding the stage with paper planes, in 1975 with Miracle of Flight. The anarchic comedy about mankind’s different attempts to fly debuted in the shorts competition but did not win a prize.
“Do you know how long it’s taken me to get this f**king award… They’ve finally let me in… I think they know I might not be around next year,” joked the director as he received the trophy.
The French lakeside animation festival, running from June 9 to 15, is set to welcome close to 16,000 animation professionals this year, many of them...
Gilliam was last in Annecy, where its audience has a tradition of bombarding the stage with paper planes, in 1975 with Miracle of Flight. The anarchic comedy about mankind’s different attempts to fly debuted in the shorts competition but did not win a prize.
“Do you know how long it’s taken me to get this f**king award… They’ve finally let me in… I think they know I might not be around next year,” joked the director as he received the trophy.
The French lakeside animation festival, running from June 9 to 15, is set to welcome close to 16,000 animation professionals this year, many of them...
- 6/10/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Sony is rolling out Bad Boys: Ride Or Die at 643 locations to make it the widest release in the UK and Ireland this weekend.
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles as two renegade cops standing in the way of a Miami drugs cartel, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directing.
It is the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise following the most recent, Bad Boys For Life, opening to £3.8m in January 2020, surpassing the £866,215 opening of 1995’s Bad Boys and the £3.2m of 2003’s Bad Boys II.
The Watched, known outside of UK-Ireland as The Watchers,...
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles as two renegade cops standing in the way of a Miami drugs cartel, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directing.
It is the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise following the most recent, Bad Boys For Life, opening to £3.8m in January 2020, surpassing the £866,215 opening of 1995’s Bad Boys and the £3.2m of 2003’s Bad Boys II.
The Watched, known outside of UK-Ireland as The Watchers,...
- 6/7/2024
- ScreenDaily
Jessica Gunning and Nicola Coughlan have joined the cast of 'The Magic Faraway Tree'.The stars of 'Baby Reindeer' and 'Bridgerton' respectively are to feature in an all-star ensemble of the new film that is based on the novels by Enid Blyton.'The Magic Faraway Tree' tells the story of how Polly (Claire Foy) and Tim Thompson (Andrew Garfield) and their children Beth, Joe and Fran find themselves forced to locate to the English countryside where "they discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants".Coughlan and Gunning will star as Silky and Dame Washalot – two inhabitants of the tree that can transport visitors to fantasy far-off lands.Sir Lenny Henry, Sir Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale have also been cast and are to play "a trio of mystical wise men from the Land of Know-Alls".The movie is being directed by...
- 6/7/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Nicola Coughlan, Nonso Anozie and Jessica Gunning have joined the cast of the upcoming film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s classic, ‘The Magic Faraway Tree.’
Based on The Faraway Tree series of novels for children, the story follows Polly and Tim Thompson and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants.
The inhabitants of the tree, capable of transporting visitors to fantastical far-off lands, will be played by Coughlan who is cast as beloved woodland fairy Silky, Nonso Anozie as self-appointed group leader Moonface, Jessica Gunning as Dame Washalot and Dustin Demri-Burns as Saucepan Man. Rounding out the cast of the magical denizens of the woodlands will be Mark Heap as Mr. Oom Boom Boom and Oliver Chris as Mr. Watzisname.
Also in news – Cillian Murphy...
Based on The Faraway Tree series of novels for children, the story follows Polly and Tim Thompson and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants.
The inhabitants of the tree, capable of transporting visitors to fantastical far-off lands, will be played by Coughlan who is cast as beloved woodland fairy Silky, Nonso Anozie as self-appointed group leader Moonface, Jessica Gunning as Dame Washalot and Dustin Demri-Burns as Saucepan Man. Rounding out the cast of the magical denizens of the woodlands will be Mark Heap as Mr. Oom Boom Boom and Oliver Chris as Mr. Watzisname.
Also in news – Cillian Murphy...
- 6/6/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Simon Farnaby’s upcoming Magic Faraway Tree cast continues to grow – and it sounds like there’s a sale on at the national treasure store…
The Magic Faraway Tree adaptation is gearing up to production with a whole bunch of cast announcements for the story’s more magical inhabitants.
Simon Farnaby (him what co-wrote Paddington 2 and Wonka) has written the script for the film, which follows Polly and Tim Thompson and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants.
But who are these extraordinary and eccentric occupants, you may ask? There’re a lot of them, take a deep breath…
Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls) is playing woodland fairy Silky; Nonso Anozie (Ted Lasso) is the group’s self-appointed leader, Moonface; Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer) is Dame Washalot...
The Magic Faraway Tree adaptation is gearing up to production with a whole bunch of cast announcements for the story’s more magical inhabitants.
Simon Farnaby (him what co-wrote Paddington 2 and Wonka) has written the script for the film, which follows Polly and Tim Thompson and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants.
But who are these extraordinary and eccentric occupants, you may ask? There’re a lot of them, take a deep breath…
Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls) is playing woodland fairy Silky; Nonso Anozie (Ted Lasso) is the group’s self-appointed leader, Moonface; Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer) is Dame Washalot...
- 6/6/2024
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
Nicola Coughlan, Nonso Anozie and Jessica Gunning have joined the cast of the upcoming adaptation of Enid Blyton’s “The Magic Faraway Tree.”
Coughlan (“Bridgerton”) will portray the woodland fairy Silky, joined by Anozie (“Ted Lasso”) as Moonface. Gunning (“Baby Reindeer”) takes on the role of Dame Washalot, with Dustin Demri-Burns (“Slow Horses”) as Saucepan Man. Mark Heap (“Friday Night Dinner”) will play Mr. Oom Boom Boom, and Oliver Chris (“Trying”) Mr. Watzisname.
The film, based on Blyton’s beloved “The Faraway Tree” series, follows the Thompson family as they move to the English countryside and discover a magical tree. The fantastical tree’s residents transport visitors to distant lands, setting the stage for a series of whimsical adventures.
Adding to the star-studded cast, British icons Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale will portray mystical wise men from the Land of Know-Alls. Previously announced cast members include Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield.
Coughlan (“Bridgerton”) will portray the woodland fairy Silky, joined by Anozie (“Ted Lasso”) as Moonface. Gunning (“Baby Reindeer”) takes on the role of Dame Washalot, with Dustin Demri-Burns (“Slow Horses”) as Saucepan Man. Mark Heap (“Friday Night Dinner”) will play Mr. Oom Boom Boom, and Oliver Chris (“Trying”) Mr. Watzisname.
The film, based on Blyton’s beloved “The Faraway Tree” series, follows the Thompson family as they move to the English countryside and discover a magical tree. The fantastical tree’s residents transport visitors to distant lands, setting the stage for a series of whimsical adventures.
Adding to the star-studded cast, British icons Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale will portray mystical wise men from the Land of Know-Alls. Previously announced cast members include Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield.
- 6/6/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan, Sweet Tooth’s Nonso Anozie and Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning have joined the cast of the film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s children’s classic book, The Magic Faraway Tree.
Coughlan, Anozie and Gunning will play the inhabitants of a magical tree that can transport visitors to far-off lands, with Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale starring as a trio of wise men. Dustin Demri-Burns, Mark Heap and Oliver Chris round out the cast.
As previously announced, Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield will play the parents of a family who relocate to the...
Coughlan, Anozie and Gunning will play the inhabitants of a magical tree that can transport visitors to far-off lands, with Lenny Henry, Michael Palin and Simon Russell Beale starring as a trio of wise men. Dustin Demri-Burns, Mark Heap and Oliver Chris round out the cast.
As previously announced, Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield will play the parents of a family who relocate to the...
- 6/6/2024
- ScreenDaily
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