Douglas Henshall: Doors Open and other updates

Doors Open

Stephen Fry and Douglas Henshall are to star in new ITV drama Doors Open.

‘Not only a crime with no victims but one that appears never to have been committed’

A self-made millionaire, an art professor and a banker come together to undertake an audacious art heist in Doors Open, a fast paced, warm and witty drama set in the underbelly of Edinburgh’s world of corporate banking and fine art. Filming begins on April 23rd.

Read more here. 

Also reported in more detail by Inside Media Track

Hotel Taliban / The Kidnap Diaries

According to imdb, Hotel Taliban, in which Douglas Henshall stars as Sean Langan is now known as The Kidnap Diaries. 

Meanwhile here are some stills from Hotel Taliban.

The Snipist

There is now a gallery for The Snipist, taken from The Snipist video trailer.

The Snipist starring Douglas Henshall is to be broadcast on Sky Arts 1 HD on May 24th 2012 at 9pm. Read more about the drama here.

Source: DouglasHenshall-LiveJournal 

David Tennant: new TV drama, United news, TV appearances

David Tennant to star in TV drama 'The Spies Of Warsaw'
 
Former Doctor Who star David Tennant will play a French spy in a new two-part Second World War-era drama by Likely Lads writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.
The actor will appear with Merlin star Janet Montgomery in the BBC Four show The Spies Of Warsaw based on the best-selling novel by Alan Furst.

Tennant's character is drawn into the murky world of espionage in the story which is set in Poland, Paris, London and Berlin in the years leading up to the outbreak of war.
BBC Four controller Richard Klein described the show as "a tense, passionate and sexy love story set against the increasingly strident clang of coming war".

He said: "Spies Of Warsaw is an entertaining, thrilling and insightful drama with a very different take on the Second World War, seen through the eyes of characters who know from the start that they and their fellow countrymen will face the brunt of the horrors to come: this is top class drama, and perfect for BBC Four."

Clement and La Frenais have written some of the most popular British television shows of the last 40 years including The Likely Lads, Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
Filming will start next month in Poland.

Source: The Independent


Also reported by Hollywood Reporter  Televisual ATVToday TheaterMania, and many more!

Regular updates on The Spies of Warsaw can be found at David Tennant On Twitter 

Netflix Sign Up BBC United Drama For Streaming

Netflix are said to be one of several international buyers of the rights to BBC’s English direct-to-TV film United, a feature starring David Tennant and Dougray Scott, based on the true story of the tragic 1958 Munich air disaster that killed many of the Manchester United football team of that season.

The crash, which saw 21 people (including 8 players) lose their lives (out of a total 45 people on-board the plane), shocked the world of football (in particular in England), and tributes are still made to this day, most notably on its 50th anniversary in 2008. The 90-minute long film, written by Chris Chibnall and directed by James Strong, was first aired over three years later.
A year after it was premièred on BBC Two, the production is now being licensed abroad through Content Television, with online streaming giant Netflix snapping up the broadcasting rights in both USA and Canada.

Other multiple rights holders now include Universal Pictures Pty for Australia & New Zealand, Tele-Munchen Group for ‘German-speaking Europe’, and subscription HBO for a number of countries throughout Asia. European nation-wide broadcasters picking up rights include TV2 (Denmark), RTE (Ireland), NRK (Norway), ITI Neovision (Poland), and SVT (Sweden), and ITI Neovision (Poland). Paradiso hold all rights to United in Japan, whilst M Pictures hold a similar arrangement in Thailand, and a number of other providers such as Sundance Global Channel and Carmen Film have also signed deals, the culmination of an impressive session in Cannes (France) for Content Television.

Source: World TV PC
 
Also reported by Virtual Press Office and C21 Media

This week's TV appearances

• Thurs 12 April - The Minor Character, Sky Arts channel at 9pm.

• Fri 13 April - Episode Three of the David Tennant narrated comedy Twenty Twelve, BBC Two at 10pm.

• Sun 15 April - Discovering Hamlet at 9.40pm on Sky Arts 2 HD.

Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Sky Arts announces a range of new commissions

Sky Arts has boosted its investment in original content with a range of ambitious new commissions, innovations and initiatives for 2012, both on and off screen.

A host of British national treasures will feature in Playhouse Presents – a new series of original comedy and drama productions airing from April.

Building on Sky Arts’ Playhouse Live and Theatre Live series, which were executive produced by Sandi Toksvig, Playhouse Presents is a series of diverse productions which recreate famous moments in history. They span universal themes and genres and showcase acting, directing and writing talent in the UK.

Playhouse casts will include Emma Thompson as the Queen and Sir Tom Jones in his first acting role. Will Self is writing for David Tennant. Other high profile actors to feature include Brenda Blethyn, Trevor Eve, Stephen Fry, Richard E. Grant, Sheila Hancock, Douglas Henshall, John Hurt, Geraldine James, Tom Jones, Eddie Marsan, Gina McKee, Paul O’Grady, Will Self, Martin Shaw, Harry Shearer, Stellan Skarsgård, Alison Steadman, David Tennant, Emma Thompson, Russell Tovey, Zoe Wanamaker and Olivia Williams.

Read more at Televisual 

Also reported by Deadline and The Stage 

More details of The Snipist starring Douglas Henshall 

More details of The Minor Character starring David Tennant (and here)

Karen Gillan: Doctor Who convention, new TV project, movie news

Karen Gillan to attend Official Doctor Who Convention 

BBC Worldwide confirmed today that Karen Gillan will be joining her co-stars Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill at the Official Doctor Who Convention taking place on the 24th and 25th March at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre. 

The Amy Pond actress said: “I'm really looking forward to the Convention and meeting all of the wonderful Doctor Who fans!”  

Karen Gillan joins a full contingent of professionals ready to give fans an unrivalled glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of Doctor Who. Everyone from the Production Designer Michael Pickwoad, responsible for the show's visuals to Casting Director Andy Pryor revealing what it takes to find a Doctor will be gathering in one place to celebrate the creativity (and elbow grease!) that goes into the series. The Convention brings the makers of the Doctor Who together for a full day, in-depth event designed to reveal the inner workings of the series. On the main stage live pyrotechnic demonstrations will thrill attendees, while in detailed prosthetics masterclasses fans will see a monster made flesh in front of their eyes. Throughout these sessions the secrets of their craft will be revealed by masters of the trade including Danny Hargreaves, SFX Supervisor and Neill Gorton co-director of Millennium FX, Europe’s leading supplier of cutting edge prosthetics, animatronics and special make-up FX. 

Source: Blogtor Who

Also reported by Doctor Who News 

Official Convention Website: Doctor Who Convention

 

Karen Gillan, Stephen Fry for Dickens, Wilde, Coward 'In Love' series  

Karen Gillan and Stephen Fry are among the stars who will feature in Sky Arts' series of programmes celebrating the works of Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Noel Coward. The In Love With series, which will air in February and March, will feature stars of stage and screen performing readings of the authors and playwrights' finest works. 

Doctor Who's Gillan - who will tackle the voiceover from Brief Encounter - Patricia Hodge, Celia Imrie, Robert Sheehan and Sheila Hancock will appear in the Noel Coward show. 

Read more at Digital Spy

 

Cash plea for star Karen’s debut film 

North businesses are being offered a chance to back glamorous Inverness-born Doctor Who girl Karen Gillan in her first big-screen venture. Flame-haired Miss Gillan, who plays the doctor’s sidekick, Amy Pond, will take the lead in Not Another Happy Ending, billed as a “charming romantic comedy”. Miss Gillan, who is due to leave Doctor Who during the next series, will star alongside up-and-coming Scottish star Emun Elliot. 

Film producer Claire Mundell said: “Emun and Karen are two of the hottest Scottish stars in a generation. Source: The Press and Journal