Doctor Who star David Tennant is going behind the screens to narrate an hour-long special Shrek: Once Upon A Time this Christmas on BBC3 at 9:00 pm on Friday 23rd December.
"David Tennant narrates a celebratory look at how an ogre with a Scottish accent single-handedly changed the face of animation. It features exclusive interviews with the creative geniuses behind the award-winning animation and the voices that brought the story to life, including Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Saunders and Shrek himself, Mike Myers."
You can see Shrek the Musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where it is booking until October 21st 2012.
After the success of Death Race and Death Race 2, Universal 1440 Entertainment is preparing production on the third instalment in the remake's saga. Filming is underway down in Cape Town, South Africa for this third entry, tentatively titled Death Race 3, forcing Death Race superstar Frankenstein to compete in the deadly terrain to save himself and his pit crew.
The cast will once again be well-rounded, comprised of Luke Goss (Death Race 2, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Blade 2), Danny Trejo (Death Race 2, Machete, "Sons of Anarchy"), Ving Rhames (Death Race 2, Mission: Impossible franchise, Pulp Fiction), Fred Koehler (Death Race 1 & 2, "Lost"), Robin Shou (Death Race 1 & 2, Mortal Kombat) and Tanit Phoenix (Death Race 2, "Femme Fatales"). New to the series are Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible II, "Heist") and Hlubi Mboya (How to Steal 2 Million).
Jack the Giant Killer Official Teaser Trailer HD The first trailer for Bryan Singer’s JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER, a “fresh” take on the fairytale ‘Jack and The Giant Beanstalk” which centers on a young Prince that accidentally unlocks the gateway between our world and a world of giants. When they take his Princess, he sets out to rescue her, battling the giants along the way. So to be clear; the title refers to Jack as a killer of giants, not necessary “giant” killers.
The film stars Nicholas Hoult (Beast, from X-MEN: FIRST CLASS), Ewan McGregor, Ian McShane, Stanley Tucci, Warwick Davis, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan Bremner and Eddie Marsan. The epic fairytale film hits theaters on June 15th, 2012.
First Trailer for 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' The first trailer for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, an adaptation of Paul Torday's novel of the same name has made its way online, and while the music and the title cards make it feel a bit hokey, it does seem like there's some great chemistry between Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor along with an interesting story about bringing a sport to a region where science says it cannot be done. Watch below!
Here's the first trailer for Lasse Halstrom's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen from Yahoo! Movies:
Lasse Halstrom (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Dear John) is directing the adaptation of Paul Torday's novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, written for the screen by Academy Award winning writer Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire). The story follows fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish that just might prove the impossible, possible. Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas also star in the film which CBS Films will bring to theaters on March 2nd, 2012. Source: FirstShowing
Here's the first shot of Amy crossing the Pond, as Karen Gillan takes time out from the Tardis to take on the role of 60s fashion icon Jean Shrimpton.
Gillan stars alongside Aneurin Barnard, as photographer David Bailey, in BBC4 drama We'll Take Manhattan, charting their "explosive love affair" in New York.
The one-off drama centres on a week-long photoshoot Bailey did with Shrimpton in 1962 for Vogue magazine.
Gillan said both Shrimpton and Bailey approved of the project.
"[Jean] left a lovely message saying she really enjoyed it," said Gillan. "David Bailey loved it, too. And they're really honest people so that means something to me."
The star admitted she had been concerned about playing a real person.
"I guess there is more pressure because part of me thinks I should stay true to what this person actually was," said Gillan. "And they're still alive, which is quite a significant thing as well, because they're going to see how you portray them." We'll Take Manhattan is expected to screen on BBC4 in January
Douglas Henshall began work last week on The Snipist a short, 30 minute film for Sky Arts. Dougie says that it is a ‘great script’ and he is looking forward to working on the film
“Nothing Human Left” by Simon Ashe-Browne is the winner of the 2011 Dundee International Book Prize. The £10,000 cash prize also sees the book published by Cargo. A pulsating psychological thriller, Hollywood actor Brian Cox (Troy, The Bourne Supremacy) reads from the first chapter.
A modern retelling of The Wizard of Oz, due to air in the UK this Christmas, has been picked up by four other broadcasters across Europe.
The Witches of Oz is produced by Palace Imaginarium in the US and distributed by MarVista Entertainment.
The UK’s Channel 5 will show the miniseries as part of its Christmas line-up. MarVista has also sold the show into Italy (Fox), Germany (RTL) and France (France 4), and to AXN across Central Europe.
The story follows a children’s writer named Dorothy who discovers the world of Oz featured in her books is real and must stop the Wicked Witch of the West when she comes to New York City.
The cast includes Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings, The Goonies) and Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings).
The writer/director is Leigh Scott, with Christopher Campbell of Palace Imaginarium exec-producing and producing together with Eliza Swenson.
The List Award 2011 shortlist includes David Greig, Karla Black, Aidan Moffat and David Mackenzie
The List has launched two end-of-year cultural awards to complement the annual creative talent list The Hot 100, the 2011 edition of which is published on 14 December.
The List Award is a prize honouring an exceptional contribution to Scottish arts. There is also a Best Newcomer Award. Artists from all creative fields (music, theatre, film, art, books, fashion etc), as well as groups, organisations and venues are eligible. There is no application process and the shortlist is picked from The List's annual Hot 100 countdown of creative talent.
The award is chosen by a panel of experts from across Scottish culture including BBC producer Pauline Law, Turner Prize judge Katrina Brown and Errors band member Steev Livingstone. Winners of the 2011 Awards will be announced at the Hot 100 Party at the refurbished Scottish National Portrait Gallery on 15 Dec.
List editor Jonny Ensall says: 'The List Award is for someone who has pushed the boundaries of their art-form in radical, but thoughtful, ways, has produced something that's both unique to Scotland and unique within Scotland, and has shown exciting promise for the future. Above all, the winner must have fed into the country's cultural lifeblood in a meaningful way.' Shortlist: The List Award 2011
King Creosote - musician David Greig - playwright Found - band and arts collective Karla Black - artist Aidan Moffat - musician SWG3 - Glasgow venue David Mackenzie - film director Tracer Trails - gig promoter Shortlist: Best Newcomer Award 2011
Cargo Publishing - publishing house Anthony Baxter - documentary filmmaker Summerhall - Edinburgh venue Detour Scotland - gig promoter Conquering Animal Sound - band Judges on the 2011 Awards panel
Pauline Law, BBC producer of the Culture Show Katrina Brown, director of Glasgow International and The Common Guild Milo McLaughlin, blogger behind clearmindedcreative.com Mark Fisher, Scotland theatre critic for The Guardian Steev Livingstone, member of the electronica band Errors Jonny Ensall, editor of The List magazine
Robin Hodge, publisher of The List, said 'The List is dedicated to celebrating and publicising the diverse range of Scotland's cultural life. These new awards will recognise outstanding creative talent among the many world-class artists working in Scotland today.'
Jonny Ensall, editor of The List, says: 'The List is in a unique position to survey Scottish arts, and to pinpoint where brilliant things have happened in the past year. This Award is unlike any other in its scope and will be an incredibly clear seal of approval on a worthwhile artistic project. The Award also represents another step up that The List is taking in terms of its cultural authority in Scotland.'
The List magazine is Scotland's bestselling arts and entertainment guide, published every four weeks, and covering events in Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond. Each issue features a range of authoritative reviews, previews and features, as well as 29 days' worth of listings for everything from clubs to theatre shows. The List also produces a number of guides, including well-regarded Edinburgh Festival and Edinburgh City Guides, and an annual Guide to Scotland's Festivals.
Mo 12/19: Regis Philbin, Goo Goo Dolls Tu 12/20: Robin Wright, Parker Young We 12/21: Jason Lee, Felicity Jones, Black Dub Th 12/22: Kyra Sedgwick, Frankie Ballard Fr 12/23: Christmas Email Spectacular
Mo 12/26: Seth Rogen, Judy Greer (R 9/30/11) Tu 12/27: Carey Mulligan, Paula Poundstone (R 10/18/11)
"Much Ado About Nothing" starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate, is now available for viewing online and/or for digital download from Digital Theatre
Single Father - North American Premiere TVO kicks off the New Year with a lineup of eye-opening new documentaries and dramas. Highlights include “Single Father” starring David Tennant
Sundays January 8 to 29, 2012 at 10 pm ET 4 / 50 minutes A Red production for BBC
David Tennant (Doctor Who) stars in this touching and humorous four-part drama about a man struggling to raise his four children after the death of his partner. When Rita dies suddenly, Dave faces the daunting prospect of bringing up their children on his own, as well as coping with his own and his children's grief.
Things get even more complicated when Dave begins to fall in love with Rita's best friend. Is Dave betraying Rita by falling in love again so quickly, or will he be walking away from happiness if he ignores his feelings? With his children at the centre of his world, Dave worries what will happen when they find out. Single Father asks how soon is too soon to fall in love again?
After announcing the release of Much Ado About Nothing on DVD, Amazon have now withdrawn it from sale but they've set up a pre-ordering facility. See Amazon for details, and DavidTennantOnTwitter for more information
Stage and screen star John Barrowman and his dogs recently took part in a promotional video for Virgin Atlantic's pet travel service. Click below to check out the promo!
A brand new international poster for 'Haywire', Steven Soderbergh's film starring Ewan McGregor, has been released.
Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas and professional MMA fighter Gina Carano also star in the action thriller.
The official synopsis reads: Mallory Kane (Carano) is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who knew her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive.
'Haywire' is released on January 12, 2012. See screenshots and trailer at Entertainment Wise
Ewan McGregor Leaves Terry Gilliam’s ‘Don Quixote’ While the documentary "Lost in La Mancha" drew many comparisons between Terry Gilliam and Cervantes' classical hero, who featured in the director's film "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote," the aborted making of which 'La Mancha' followed, it's perhaps not the most appropriate literary comparison. Instead, the project seems to be closer to Gilliam's white whale from "Moby Dick," an obsession that won't let go of the filmmaker, even if he wanted to.
We spoke to the director this week at the Marrakech Film Festival, where he was one of a number of figures being paid tribute to, and the director filled us on the latest on the project, which is still pushing forward, but unfortunately without one of the stars recently attached to it. When asked if the project was a dream, Gilliam quipped, "No, it's a punishment, it's a nightmare. Because it won't go away and at the same time we don’t have the money to make it yet. In a way, I’ve decided to not talk about Quixote, because everytime I talk about it and say, ‘I’m going to be doing it next year,’ it doesn’t happen.”
As Gilliam says, funding continues to be the issue on the project. "Well, we're always waiting for money. Everything is about money, and until you get the money…That’s the problem with films, the things that I’m trying to do cost $20 million dollars, maybe more. And if they’re made in Hollywood they would cost $80 million dollars. Big visions cost money, you have to create them and they cost money. So I’m in that very difficult financial slot. If you make a film for $10 million you get the money like that [snaps], or even 15. $20 million starts getting to a dangerous point."
Nevertheless, Gilliam did update us on 'Don Quixote,' saying that, sadly, Ewan McGregor is no longer involved in the project. "But Robert Duvall is! But we've got to hurry, because he's 82," Gilliam joked. Looking more optimistic right now is his Paul Auster adaptation "Mr. Vertigo," a project that's only eight months old, a fraction compared to the decade-long gestation of 'Don Quixote.' And the good news is, it seems to have reached the stage of Gililam trying to find his lead. "That's with a certain actor who is reading the script. There's always certain actors out there..." he told us, cryptically.
Mo 12/5: Justin Long, Noomi Rapace Tu 12/6: Valerie Bertinelli, Henry Cho We 12/7: Trace Adkins, Michael Palascak Th 12/8: Pierce Brosnan, Laura Lippman Fr 12/9: Richard Lewis, Needtobreathe
David Tennant will appear on Catherine Tate’s Laughing At The Noughties at 10 pm on Saturday 17th December (Channel 4) Read more at Comedy
David Tennant will be a guest on The Nerdist Christmas Eve TV Special on December 24th, 9/8c. Other guests are Simon Pegg Wil Wheaton, Nathan Fillion, and Kumail Nanjiani. Read more at Nerdist
2011 Broadway World UK Award Winners Announced!
Best Leading Actor in A Play - David Tennant - Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing also won: Best Leading Actress in a Play (Catherine Tate) Best Direction of a Play (Josie Rourke) Best Featured Actor in a Play (Tom Bateman) Best Play Best Revival of a Play - Wyndham's - Much Ado About Nothing Best Scenic Design - Robert Jones - Much Ado About Nothing More information at Broadway World
What’s On Stage Theatre Goers Awards 2012 nominations
David Tennant has been nominated for Best Actor in a Play (Much Ado About Nothing at Wyndham’s) and for the AKA Theatre Event of the Year (David Tennant & Catherine Tate reuniting on stage in Much Ado About Nothing). Much Ado About Nothing also nominated for Best Shakespearean Production and Best Director. More information, and voting opportunity, at What's On Stage
The Much Ado About Nothing DVD is now available to pre-order on Amazon Source: Amazon
Fans of genetically enhanced beings should rejoice: Fox is confirming the sequels to two highly successful Fox-released movies, "X-Men: First Class" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."
Speaking to Comingsoon.net at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, Tom Rothman (co-chairman and chief executive of Fox Filmed Entertainment) revealed that the studio were keen to bring back directors Matthew Vaughn and Rupert Wyatt to continue work on their respective franchises," reported Total Film on the future plans of Fox Filmed entertainment regarding the two franchises.
Rothman exclaimed that both movies had excellent scripts and they are doing their best to ensure that the forthcoming scripts will be even greater. The statement given by Rothman is well-supported by James McAvoy, who played Charles Xavier. McAvoy believes that the character of Xavier should be built more, in relation to the recent loss of his locomotive state.
"It's kind of defined at the end of the film that he's [Erik Lehnsherr] a bad guy. I can't really speak for him, but I know that with Charles, you either have to write him out of the movie or give him an interesting story. He's lost his best friend, essentially, and he's just been paralyzed from the waist down, which is just a huge, huge blow to his considerable ego. So he's got to deal with that," said James McAvoy when asked about the role of Michael Fassbender, in an interview reported by Total Film.
McAvoy is talking to Matthew Vaughn, the director of "X-Men: Origins" regarding his role, but he refuse to disclose any details that may or may not be part of the oncoming sequel.
It has been quite some time now since it was announced that the Armen Evrensel science fiction comedy movie Space Milkshake was set to be made. Now it seems that they are making quite some positive progress, with filming underway. Thankfully, there have been a number of pictures released from the set of Space Milkshake, from building the set to the stars involved.
Space Milkshake centres around a group of space workers who are on a rundown orbital sanitation station, when they come into some trouble after salvaging a peculiar device from the wreckage of the space ship. As well as directing Space Milkshake, Armen Evrensel also wrote the screenplay for the movie, which has developed quite some interest among fans.
Space Milkshake stars former Smallville actress Kristin Kreuk, Lord Of The Rings actor Billy Boyd and Stargate actress Amanda Tapping. All three of the movies stars can be seen in the pictures that have been released. It is expected that Space Milkshake will be aiming to be released sometime next year.
The National Theatre of Scotland unveiled its trump card for the 2012 season yesterday, with actor Alan Cumming – currently a star of American TV show The Good Wife – playing a one-man Macbeth.
It is the NTS’s first production of Shakespeare, six years after the theatre was founded. Cumming will star in the multi-media show in Glasgow in June before taking it direct to New York.
“I’ve always wanted to do Macbeth,” the actor said yesterday. “I’ve been obsessed with the play all my life.”
Other projects unveiled yesterday for 2012 included Glasgow Girls, a new production by award-winning director Cora Bissett, described as a “feelgood musical” about the true-life Glasgow teenagers who campaigned for a family of asylum-seekers. Bisset’s last production, Roadkill, was a major Fringe hit.
The first behind-the-scenes still from the new latest flick in the franchise, Death Race: Inferno, has just made its way online courtesy of writer Tony Giglio, and we have it for ya here!
Ewan McGregor Moves to TV for HBO’s “The Corrections”
Ewan McGregor is set to star in HBO’s The Corrections, which is based on the Johnathan Franzen novel of the same name.
McGregor joins the pre-existing cast of Dianne Wiest and Chris Cooper, who will be playing his parents. The plot centers on elderly Midwestern couple and their three adult children and follows their lives from the mid 20th century right up until their last Christmas together near the turn of the millennium. McGregor’s role is Chip, the middle son, a Marxist who works for a Lithuanian crime boss after being fired from his professor job because he had an affair with a student. The roles of the other two children remain to be cast.
It’s not the usual petrolhead fare, but an Isle of Man company is hoping a new documentary about the TT will be as groundbreaking as the bikes it's based on. Charge is directed by Mark Neale and puts the zero emission racing centre stage as it follows electric bike teams.
Narrated by Ewan McGregor, the movie is finally getting a DVD release in Britain thanks to Tromode-based Duke Marketing.
Charge is released on December 19 and you can find out more about it at dukevideo.com
From Rain Dog: Robert Carlyle - A very nice article about Robert and the film Summer in which he starred, in 2008. Comes with two videos with Robert:
Sometimes, as an entertainment journalist with a bit of a readership, you just feel the urge to advocate for a particular project. You want everyone possible to see a gem of a film, read a book, or listen to that CD that’s never had much of a distribution network to speak of, even if that hidden jewel has been out for a few years. Actor Robert Carlyle (currently starring in Once Upon a Time as Rumpelstiltskin) has a long history of making little, low-budget, but incredibly well-made films. (The Full Monty, featuring Carlyle’s breakout performance as Gaz began as one of those little films).
Lamenting a couple of years ago about the state of independent film in the U.K., Carlyle noted the difficulty of finance and distribution for the well-made, low-budget fare that has been always been his passion. Case in point is the understated 2008 British film Summer, a wonderful, gorgeously shot and flawlessly-acted character study, that, as Carlyle has noted, has only been seen by a handful of people. Not even available on DVD in the North America, it is a terrible shame that the movie has been seen by so few.
Director Kenneth Glenaan’s quiet and introspective film is the story of friendship, guilt, the costs of terrible childhood mistakes, and ultimately redemption. The film unfolds through Shaun’s (Carlyle) sad, soulful eyes as we learn why he has become the caregiver of his childhood best friend, the bitter, wheelchair-bound Daz (Steve Evets). Sharing a flat in run down working class area along with Daz’s teenage son Daniel (Michael Socha), they have nothing to live on by Daz’s disability check and Shaun’s earnings as a petrol station clerk.
When we meet them, Daz is dying of liver cirrhosis and acute kidney failure with only weeks to live. Shaun attends to Daz’s many needs, from cleaning house to bathing him; he also looks after Daniel, trying to keep him out of trouble. How Shaun and Daz get to this place in their lives is revealed as Shaun reflects on life and on the terrible mistakes of youth that cost him so much. It is a lifetime of regret, played out through flashbacks of Shaun’s best—and most tragic—Summer as a teen. We catch him gazing through the years—and one Summer in particular—as if through a picture window, longing to go back, but stuck here on the other side. As the movie unfolds often through Shaun’s memories of his youth, you understand the heartbreaking toll one mistake can take on the lives of two men. But it is not only their error.
Shaun (Sean Kelly, playing him as a teenager) is an intelligent, sensitive, but slightly wild kid in love with Katy (Joanna Tulej, as the teenage Katy), the smartest girl in his class. Dyslexic, Shaun is constantly frustrated in school by what he cannot accomplish and a writing hand he cannot properly control with his brain. Classified as “slow,” with a low IQ, Shaun slips through the cracks in a system that has no clue what to do with him—or the means (or desire) to help him. Tormented by his classmates, Shaun’s frustration builds until it boils over into an act that marks the bullied Shaun as the bully. And as time goes on, he turns his frustrated destructiveness on himself. A series of events unfold over one Summer that leads both Shaun and Daz to the place we find them so many years later. Daz is now a bitter, broken man, whose had enough with life; Shaun cannot escape the past, but part of him lives within its best moments: hanging around with his best friend and girlfriend; discovering love, and enjoying friendship. It was, as he acknowledges so many years later to Katy (Rachael Blake), the best Summer of his life.
Carlyle has played many down-on-their luck men throughout his distinguished career, some of whom seek redemption, and others clinging to violence and mayhem. His BAFTA (Scotland)-nominated portrayal of Shaun is beautifully understated and heartbreaking, particularly in his reaction to Daz’s death. The other performances are also brilliant.
Winner of the 2008 BAFTA (Scotland) Best Picture Award, Summer is an incredibly moving film. Although it would seem to be bleak (yes, tissues are not optional), it is an ultimately redemptive portrait. Unfortunately, Summer is not readily available in the U.S.; however, you can find the DVD at Amazon’s U.K. store (but only in a Region 2 version).
It is available for streaming on MovieBerry (as are many other difficult to find films). It is the sort of movie that might pop up on IFC or Sundance, and perhaps, with Carlyle’s U.S. fanbase growing (with the recent Stargate Universe series, and now with Once Upon a Time), who knows? We might eventually see a release of Summer on our shores.
A huge steel mural of Billy Connolly has been unveiled on a wall in Glasgow as part of a £50m regeneration project.
The 20ft (6m) by 16ft (4.8m) mural has been created by artist Andy Scott.
It is near the comedian's birthplace, overlooks the shipyards where he once worked as a welder and can be seen from the Kingston Bridge.
Connolly said he was "humbled" by the artwork. "It is an unexpected honour for which I am extremely grateful," he said.
Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association commissioned the 500kg (79st) mural which formally completes phase 1 of the regeneration project.
"This iconic mural looking out across the shipyards where Billy worked is a fitting tribute to one of the world's most recognised, living Glaswegians”
Councillor Bob Winter Glasgow Lord Provost
Connolly, 68, said: "I consider myself a citizen of the world, but I was born and raised in Glasgow - it is where my first children were born - where I learnt to play the banjo - where I served my apprenticeship as a welder, and where I first performed in public.
"My heart beats to the rhythm of Glasgow - it is in my blood.
"I am happy and humbled that Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association commissioned a mural of me, to be erected in my home city, and thrilled that it was so skillfully created by artist and master craftsman Andy Scott."
Mr Scott said: "We're delighted Mr Connolly likes the mural as it's been a long and challenging commission.
"It's been interesting capturing a living legend but Mr Connolly never interfered and very quickly gave the finished artwork his blessing."
He said he had tried to capture the comedian in his early days to reflect his roots in the city.
Mr Scott's early sketches were hand-drawn in pencil on a giant timber wall in his workshop, which replicated the gable end in Anderston.
Once he was happy with the drawing, it became the template for the steel mural. Read more at BBC
The first two episodes of The Crews: The Dutch Connection and The Old Firm are now available online by clicking on the links below, as is SANDWICH the short film on which it was based.
The Crews follows the exploits of two seasoned underworld figures Tommy Granger (Robert Harrison) and Mick Turner (Jim Sweeney) and the police who are trying to convict them.
The series features cameos from renowned Scottish actors David Hayman, Stephen McCole, and World Snooker Champion John Higgins.
A new episode will be posted each week so stay tuned.
Greys Gabble gives a McKidd-centric commentary on the Blu-ray release of Trainspotting, due out on 29 November
Trainspotting takes place in Scotland and follows Marc Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his gaggle of misfit friends; Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle), Tommy (Kevin McKidd) and Spud (Ewen Bremner). Each one of them is a far cry from what one would consider a respectable human being and nearly all of them, save for Begbie, is addicted to heroin.
Mo 11/28: Aisha Tyler, Justin Moore, Tom Lennon as the voice of Geoff Tu 11/29: Margaret Cho, Michael Connelly, Tom Lennon as the voice of Geoff We 11/30: David Sedaris, Needtobreathe, Jeff Cesario, Tom Lennon as the voice of Geoff Th 12/1: Kristin Chenoweth, Ken Tucker Fr 12/2: Ana Gasteyer
Mo 12/5: Justin Long, Noomi Rapace Tu 12/6: Valerie Bertinelli, Chris Pratt We 12/7: Trace Adkins
New portraits of some of Scotland’s most famous faces are to be unveiled at the refurbished Scottish National Portrait Gallery, when it re-opens next month. Photographs of Scots including actors Sir Sean Connery, David Tennant and Karen Gillan and singer Paolo Nutini are among the images to be displayed in the gallery when it opens to the public on December 1.
The collection, called Hot Scots, a display of 18 works recently acquired for the national collection, will feature well-known Scottish names from TV, film and music including Hollywood stars James McAvoy and Gerard Butler.
Among the other new portraits are images of the writer Armando Iannucci, Michelin star chef Tom Kitchin and artist and playwright John Byrne.
The portraits have been taken by a series of noted photographers including Eva Vermandel and Albert Watson.
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery has been redeveloped in a £17.5 million project.
Hot Scots will be shown in the new Contemporary Gallery on the ground floor. Source: Herald Scotland
Merida’s wild red hair takes over her tiny frame in the new trailer for Brave.
Brave summary: Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).
Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.
Wales Online has several pictures of David Tennant, taken during the filming of Nativity 2 in mid-Wales last week Source: Wales Online. Also reported by Scottish Sun
DVD Review: Doctor Who: The Complete David Tennant Years Blog Critics have an in-depth review of the DVD box set, released in October Read more here
Two of Scotland's top actors, Billy Connolly and Brian Cox, will star in a Christmas Day radio drama.
The pair will play brothers who join forces in a journey across Scotland to trace a childhood sweetheart.
The drama, The Quest of Donal Q by Scots writer David Ashton, is loosely based on the classic Cervantes tale Don Quixote.
It will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland on 25 December and repeated on BBC Radio 4 in the new year.
Connolly will play Donal while Cox will star as Sandy, brothers who were separated as children in an orphanage.
Donal is adopted by a rich couple and brought up in California; Sandy remains in Dundee.
Ten years after falling out in a fierce row, Donal returns to ask his brother for help tracing Jeanette, a fellow orphan they both loved, now said to be in dire straits and in need of a "knight in shining armour".
Head of BBC Radio Scotland Jeff Zycinski said it was "fantastic news" to have two of the biggest stars in Scotland coming together.
"This is a lovely Christmas gift for our BBC Radio Scotland audience to enjoy as one of the highlights of this year's fantastic festive line-up of programmes," he said.
Next year BBC Scotland's drama department will deliver about 65 hours of commissions to Radio 4, Radio 3 and Radio 4 Extra as well as BBC Radio Scotland.
Highlights include a Victorian detective drama, McLevy, starring Brian Cox and Siobhan Redmond.
Also planned are productions of two classic American novels, John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
Douglas Henshall (South Riding, The Silence) will play award-winning journalist, Sean Langan, who was kidnapped and held hostage by the Taliban in 2008, in BBC Four’s gripping and intense single drama, Hotel Taliban, co-written by Norman Hull and Sean Langan.
Currently in production for transmission in 2012, Hotel Taliban will dramatise the events as told in Sean’s diaries, as well as Sean’s testimony to the film producers in which he described the ordeal he and his interpreter Sami went through during their three-and-a-half months in captivity.
In early 2008, documentary filmmaker Sean Langan was ready for his next assignment – to gain access to the Taliban training camps in the tribal areas of Pakistan, despite being a no-go zone for foreign journalists. After months negotiating access to key Taliban leaders via his fixer, Sami, Sean crossed the border into Pakistan. But things didn’t go to plan. Kidnapped and accused of being a spy, Sean and Sami were held hostage for three-and-a-half months, awaiting their fate – death or release. During his captivity, Sean’s survival instinct found him befriending the family holding him hostage, and from a difficult and dangerous situation, Sean discovered a central common humanity, as well as bizarre moments of cultural misunderstanding.
Richard Klein, Controller, BBC Four, says: "It’s a mad, mad, mad world - that's the sentiment I got when Sean Langan told me of his astonishing three-and-a-half month kidnapping by the Taliban. Not just terrifying, though it truly was, but also absurd, moving and funny: Sean's story is really a story of our times, how a journalist obsessed with getting his story finds himself instead locked in a game of words with captors who have as far removed a view of the Western world as Martians. And yet what Sean discovered was that these people were in many ways just like him. Hotel Taliban tells a gripping, terrifying and thrilling story that has a happy ending, thank goodness.”
Key cast also include: Jimi Mistry (Strike Back, East Is East) as Sami; Ramon Tikaram (EastEnders, This Life) as Mr C; Kate Ashfield (Diary Of Anne Frank, Collision; Line Of Duty) as Anabel Langan; Matthew Marsh (Hidden) as Kane; and Andreas Karras will play Gul Jan.
A Garden Production for BBC Four, Hotel Taliban is co-written by Norman Hull and Sean Langan. The director is Norman Hull. The producer is Flavia Taylor; and the executive producers are Stephen Wright and Jamie Laurenson for the BBC and Magnus Temple for Garden.
Hotel Taliban was commissioned by Richard Klein, Controller, BBC Four and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning. Source: BBC Also reported by The Stage and ATV Today
With director Steven Sodebergh‘s spy-action flick Haywire opening January 20th, Relativity Media has provided us with two exclusive images from the film. Staring MMA fighter Gina Carano as a burned spy who takes revenge against her handlers, Haywire also stars Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Angarano, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, and Bill Paxton. I caught Haywire last week at the AFI Fest in Hollywood and thought it was great. Especially the action scenes. While Carano’s acting still needs a bit of work, whenever she’s punching or killing, she’s fantastic. Haywire should definitely be on your radar. Read more at Collider You can also check out the latest trailer here.
A soccer mom comedy doesn't exactly scream out "Must See" to us, but in this case, we're keeping our minds open. Granted, the Gerard Butler comedy filmography isn't exactly the most compelling argument in this movie's favor, but with a cast featuring a bevy of beautiful women -- Uma Thurman, Jessica Biel, Judy Greer, Catherine Zeta-Jones -- and a draft of the script penned by "The Kids Are All Right" writer Stuart Blumberg, our interest is piqued.
A few new stills from the movie have landed online, and yeah, they aren't exactly the most revelatory, but it's nice to see Zeta-Jones back in action. Directed by Gabriele Muccino (”Seven Pounds,” “The Pursuit of Happyness”), the film centers around Butler, who plays a troubled father and former pro soccer player who tries to make up for lost time by coaching his son’s team. He ends up in trouble when he gets involved with some of the local soccer moms. Biel will play Butler’s ex-wife who is engaged to be married, while Thurman will play a woman on the prowl for Butler. Zeta-Jones plays a hot newscaster, while Greer takes on the role of a lathered-up housewife.
The movie was first conceived as a story set in the world of baseball, but given those increasingly important foreign dollars these days, the sport was changed to soccer. FilmDistrict will get the film into theaters on March 9, 2012. [via Blackfilm] Source: Indie Wire
GERARD BUTLER AND SIR RIDLEY SCOTT SET TO MAKE FACT-BASED MERCENARY THRILLER With Machine Gun Preacher currently winning over the critics in the cinemas comes the news that Gerard Butler is being tipped to lead a fact-based mercenary thriller for iconic Hollywood director Ridley Scott.
Robert Edwards has been hired to pen the film which will be based on the misadventures of former army officer Simon Mann, and while there isn't a studio attached just yet, with Scott and Butler on board it's only a matter of time before a deal is done.
While Simon Mann might not ring many bells, he was instrumental in gathering a group of mercenaries in an attempt to launch a coup against the president of Equatorial Guinea in 2004. Upon traveling Zimbabwe to pick up weapons for the job, he was arrested and spent five tough years in prison. After his release, he was sent to Guinea and sentenced to a further 34 years, only to be freed via presidential pardon and cited Mark Thatcher as one of his backers.
Sir Ridley Scott is currently putting the finishing touches on Prometheus which stars Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce and Patrick Wilson and hits UK screens on June 1, as for Butler, he will next be seen in Ralph Fiennes directorial offering Coriolanus on January 20. Source: The Fan Carpet. Also reported by The Guardian
Mo 11/21: Robin Williams, Johnny Galecki Tu 11/22: Jason Segel, Eliza Coupe We 11/23: Ty Burrell, Wilford Brimley Th 11/24: Tim Meadows, Lauren Graham (R 9/13/11) Fr 11/25: Dancers from the Moulin Rouge, Danny DeVito, Olivia Munn (R 9/14/11)
Mo 11/28: Aisha Tyler, Justin Moore, Tom Lennon as the voice of Geoff Tu 11/29: Mindy Kaling, Michael Connelly, Tom Lennon as the voice of Geoff We 11/30: David Sedaris, Needtobreathe, Jeff Cesario, Tom Lennon as the voice of Geoff Th 12/1: Kristin Chenoweth, Ken Tucker Fr 12/2: Ana Gasteyer
"Was there any other character created this year that surpassed David Tennant's great heights of douchebaggery as Fright Night's magician, Peter Vincent? There's a reason the Fright Night 2 rumors hinted at an all-Tennant sequel — because he's hilarious. Now here's a glimpse at some additional Vincent material in a special behind-the-scenes feature about his Criss Angel-inspired character."
i09 have a small clip from the special features that will be accompanying Fright Night's Blu-ray & DVD release, on December 13th.
Alan Cumming is returning to his native Scotland to put on a free show in honour of the country's performance history.
The X-Men star, who now lives in New York, will front an event celebrating traditional Scottish pantomimes, music halls and variety shows.
And Cumming is convinced Scotland's rich history of entertaining has helped shape him as an actor.
He says, "Being away from Scotland makes you question what it is that makes you Scottish, and when it comes to acting I realise that my performance style is very different to my colleagues elsewhere in the world.
"Our whole way of breaking through the fourth wall is all derived from our culture that is steeped in variety and music hall and panto.
"My Staging The Nation event is an attempt to demonstrate that and to look back atwhere it might all have come from and to see its impact on theatre in Scotland today".
The show, one of the the National Theatre of Scotland's Staging The Nation events, will take place at The King's Theatre in Glasgow on 26 November
Legendary Scottish comedian Billy Connolly has announced dates for his 2012 'The Man' UK Tour.
Having enjoyed a long-standing career, Billy "The Big Yin" Connolly has toured relentlessly and is regarded as one of the world’s best-loved comedians. His live shows have been entertaining audiences around the world for over thirty years and he has become a familiar sight on many big television talk shows both in the UK and in America.
Despite his colourful language, boisterous, animated style and off-the-cuff routines, Billy Connolly is loved by audiences in the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand — all locations where he has made successful “world tour” documentaries.
Billy Connolly 'The Man' UK Tour Dates are as follows:
January 2012
15th Jan - Leicester De Montfort Hall 16th-17th Jan - Sheffield City Hall 19th-20th Jan - Newcastle City Hall 21st-22nd Jan - Scarborough Futurist Theatre 24th-25th Jan - Doncaster The Dome 27th-28th Jan - Blackpool Opera House 30th-31st Jan - Liverpool Empire Theatre
February 2012
3rd-4th Feb - Llandudno Venue Cymru 6th-7th Feb - Bradford St. Georges Hall 8th Feb - Huddersfield Town Hall 10th-11th Feb - Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 13th-14th Feb - Ipswich Regent 15th-16th Feb - Southend Cliffs Pavilion 18th-19th Feb - Bristol Colston Hall 22nd-23rd Feb - Plymouth Pavilions 24th-25th Feb - Birmingham Symphony Hall 27th-28th Feb - Manchester 02 Apollo
March 2012
2nd-3rd March - Wolverhampton Civic 4th March - Southampton Mayflower 7th-8th March - Bournemouth BIC 11th-12th March - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 15th-16th March - Brighton Centre
Billy Connolly Tickets are on sale from 9am on Friday 11th November.
John Barrowman is to present an edition of the BBC's comedy musical quiz show Never Mind The Buzzcocks, to be recorded on 30th November; though the broadcast date is unknown at present, it seems likely to be the tenth episode of the series due the following week on 5th December.
HOollywood star John Hannah is set to play late crimelord Tam "The Licensee" McGraw in a movie about former gangster Paul Ferris.
The Four Weddings and a Funeral actor, 49, was desperate to land the role as Ferris's arch enemy.
And he was hooked on the gripping story which charts convicted gun-runner Ferris's brutal rise to power in Glasgow's murky underworld.
The film's director Ray Burdis, who also made The Krays movie, revealed: "John read the script and asked for a meeting. It was obvious that he was enthralled and wanted in.
"He is a sublime actor of international repute at the peak of his powers. We are all delighted to have him on board."
The movie chronicles the bust-ups between Ferris — played by Sweet Sixteen star Martin Compston — and a string of major gangland figures, as well as his run-ins with the cops.
Patriot Games star Patrick Bergin is set to star as Glasgow godfather Arthur Thompson with veteran actress Rita Tushingham as his wife Rita.
Their son Arthur Jnr will be played by Stephen McCole, from TV's High Times.
And Local Hero's Denis Lawson will play Ferris's bank robber dad Willie, while River City actress Laura McMonagle also appears as Ferris's ex-girlfriend Anne Marie.
We told on Saturday how filming for the movie has had to be moved to London because Strathclyde Police did not want it shot in Ferris's home city of Glasgow.
Last night 46-year-old Ferris, below — who insists he has now turned his back on crime — said: "I didn't pick the cast list, but it is absolutely top class. I have met with Martin Compston, who is highly professional and has done his research.
"I am delighted to hear that John Hannah is going to play McGraw. McGraw was pretty sinister. His driving forces were greed, money and power.
"And Patrick Bergin will be spot on to play old Arthur, who was considered the guy who solved problems.
"He had a quiet way about him but he was also very sinister."
