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Harriet Walter is Margaret Thatcher in upcoming Channel 4 two-parter Brian and Maggie.

Trailer can be viewed above of the buzzy series from James Graham and Stephen Frears.

Starring the Succession alum opposite Steve Coogan, Brian and Maggie (previously Brian and Margaret) tells the story of when interviewer Brian Walden and the Iron Lady came together for her last ever TV interview. Little did they know they were about to embark on one of the most famous political exchanges of all time. The 45-minute showdown became a national talking point and helped set in train a series of events that ended with Thatcher’s resignation.

With shades of Frost/Nixon, the show will launch soon and comes from Coogan’s Baby Cow Productions. It was the first drama commissioned by Ollie Madden, Channel 4’s new head of drama and film.

The series will “ask whether the slow death of full-length...

Fiction can be a creator's best friend, allowing far more possibilities to flourish. With endless options, audiences can be taken on a journey never thought possible. However, with the additional layer of truth, a story can gather even more captivation in its narrative. Warranting viewers to question whether or not they'd make the same decisions in certain scenarios, spectators are brought deeper in. This is why mini-series based on true stories are so captivating.

Recently, the docudrama limited-series niche has been gaining some edge in popularity on television. Utilizing real-life crime and heartache to their advantage, these shows capture moral quandaries that force a sense of self-questioning. Heavily focused on the dynamics between characters, many of these stories bend in unusual ways, inevitably leading toward shocking twists and turns. Not having a basis in truth can largely dampen a narrative, and that's why the best-limited series always do.

Updated on...

Paul Bettany has experienced a ton of success over the last couple of years working under Marvel for the Iron Man and Avengers sagas. However, the 53-year-old veteran is back at it again with a brand new movie coming out on November 1, 2024, called Here. What’s more exciting about this movie is that it will star the legendary Tom Hanks, who will be reuniting with the iconic Robin Wright, who played his love interest in Forrest Gump.

Paul Bettany in “A Very British Scandal” | Credits: @paulbettany via Instagram

This project isn’t the first time Bettany has worked with Hanks either. They previously worked together on the set of The Da Vinci Code, which grossed just over $760 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo), thus solidifying itself as one of the most successful movies of the 2000s. While this movie helped the two get a good amount of recognition thrown their way,...

Hot on the heels of an impressive showing at the Emmys, FX is hoping its newest anthology series, the uniquely American drama “American Sports Story,” will capture viewers’ attention in much the same way. The first installment is based on the podcast “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.” from The Boston Globe’s award-winning Spotlight team and Wondery. It traces Hernandez’s (Josh Rivera) rise and fall, from his days as a high school standout in Bristol, Conn., to his death in prison in 2017, two years after being convicted of murder.

Across 10 riveting episodes — the first two of which are streaming on Hulu — the series explores Hernandez’s troubled life and career, and the issues that influenced and came to define it, including the commodification of brown and Black athletes and the reckless disregard for player safety. It’s an indictment of one of America’s biggest cultural institutions, and...

Amazon enthusiastically announced the Sept. 19 release date for A Very Royal Scandal with the declaration, “The critically acclaimed A Very … Scandal anthology is back!”

My primary questions include: Was “Scandal” included so that nobody would think A Very Royal Scandal was, in some way, a part of a franchise that perhaps started with 1996’s A Very Brady Sequel? Does your average television viewer even accept the existence of the A Very Dot Dot Dot Scandal franchise? And, perhaps most sincerely, even if we acknowledge that the A Very Dot Dot Dot Scandal franchise exists, what does it mean? What are the unifying characteristics between 2018’s A Very English Scandal, 2021’s A Very British Scandal and now A Very Royal Scandal, a trio of limited series without an overlapping character, star, writer or director?

The first two installments focused on pre-Internet kerfuffles stirred up by the British press, while A Very Royal Scandal...

Today, BritBox and the BBC announced the cast of Riot Women, the brand-new drama series from the multi-bafta award-winning writer Sally Wainwright.

Leading the cast and the Riot Women band are Joanna Scanlan as Beth, Rosalie Craig as Kitty, Tamsin Greig as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore as Yvonne.

Anne Reid (The Sixth Commandment) will play Nancy, Holly and Yvonne’s mother, with Sue Johnston (The Royle Family) as Jess’s Aunt Mary. Peter Davison (Doctor Who), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), and Angel Coulby (Merlin) also join the cast.

In Riot Women, we dive headfirst into the world of five women who, along with two riotous backing singers, come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest, but in writing their first original song, soon discover that they have a lot to say – and this is their way to say it.

Joanna Scanlan and Tamsin Greig have been confirmed to star in Sally Wainwright’s new BBC and Britbox drama “Riot Women.”

“Riot Women” is the new drama from “Happy Valley” creator Wainwright, about a group of middle-aged women who decide to enter a talent contest by forming a punk-rock band. After writing their first song, however, they realize they have plenty to say and now, the means to say it.

Scanlan, who is currently appearing in “Slow Horses” and “A Very Royal Scandal,” will play Beth while Greig, who’s known for “Black Books” and “Sexy Beast,” plays Holly. Joining them will be Rosalie Craig (“Moonflower Murders”) as Kitty, Lorraine Ashbourne (“Sherwood”) as Jess and Amelia Bullmore (“The Buccaneers”) as Yvonne.

The six-part series is produced by Drama Republic, the Mediawan-owned banner behind “One Day,” and has been commissioned by the BBC and BritBox. The project was originally announced...

Sally Wainwright, creator of TV hits Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, and Gentleman Jack, is turning her attention to a new BBC project, Riot Women.

The six-episode series, from Drama Republic, on Thursday unveiled its cast as filming continues in West Yorkshire, England.

Joanna Scanlan (After Love, The Thick of It) will lead the cast as Beth, along with Rosalie Craig (Moonflower Murders, Serpent Queen) as Kitty, Tamsin Greig (Sexy Beast, The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin) as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood, Alma’s Not Normal) as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore (The Buccaneers, Vienna Blood) as Yvonne.

In Riot Women, “we dive headfirst into the world of five women who, along with two riotous backing singers, come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest,” a plot synopsis reads. “But in writing their first original song, they soon discover that...

By now, a huge portion of the world’s population knows about the close friendship of Prince Andrew with the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. But in 2019, that knowledge was little more than a scandal waiting to happen. “A Very Royal Scandal,” which premieres on Prime Video on Thursday, Sept. 19 will shed further light on the explosive interview between the English royal and journalist Emily Maitlis which exposed the prince’s relationship with sex traffickers to the world, including the leadup and the aftermath of the historic hour of television. Stream the series with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video.

How to Watch ‘A Very Royal Scandal’ Premiere When: Thursday, Sept. 19 TV: Prime Video Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video. 30-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com About ‘A Very Royal Scandal’

“A Very Royal Scandal” is based on the true story of the earth-shattering 2019 interview...

Michael Sheen and Ruth Wilson star in a dramatisation of Emily Maitlis’ infamous interview with Prince Andrew. Here’s our A Very Royal Scandal review.

Prime Video’s A Very Royal Scandal is the second dramatisation of Emily Maitlis’ interview with Prince Andrew we’ve seen in a year. We found the previous one, Netflix’s Scoop, to be a little lacklustre, but thankfully, A Very Royal Scandal is a much more entertaining affair.

A Very Royal Scandal follows A Very English Scandal and A Very British Scandal – we’re sensing a pattern here – as a fictional look at events in British history. A Very Royal Scandal presents a much more modern case, one that most of us remember very well. That comes with its own difficulties, but for the most part, A Very Royal Scandal excels at what it sets out to do.

Ruth Wilson plays Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis...

There are very few interviews over the last 20 years that caused as much of a scandal as the one between a BBC journalist and Prince Andrew several years ago. The interview was meant—for the Prince’s team—to be a way to clear his name from any wrongdoing with Jeffrey Epstein. But what ended up happening was the exact opposite, leading to the new series, “A Very Royal Scandal.”

Read More: Fall 2024 TV Preview: 40 Must-See Series To Watch

A spiritual successor to 2018’s “A Very English Scandal” and 2021’s “A Very British Scandal,” “A Very Royal Scandal” details the events that took place leading to the fateful interview, as well as the fallout that occurred immediately afterward.

Continue reading ‘A Very Royal Scandal’ Trailer: Ruth Wilson & Michael Sheen Star In Prime Video’s Drama Series at The Playlist.

It only feels a minute ago that Netflix’s Scoop movie was bedecking advertising hoardings in Times Square but the Prince Andrew interview projects are coming thick and fast and here are first looks at Michael Sheen as the prince and Ruth Wilson as Emily Maitlis in Amazon’s A Very Royal Scandal.

The Prime Video retelling, which launches September 19, is across three episodes and will revisit the 2019 interview that effectively brought down the prince and ended his role in public life.

Sheen is the prince and Wilson plays Maitlis, whose BBC Newsnight interview about the scandalous accusations Andrew faced regarding his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre sent shockwaves around the world. A Very Royal Scandal follows the action of Maitlis and Andrew in the lead-up to the interview, the ground-breaking event itself and the many questions left in its wake that would change their lives forever. It...

It’s an episode Prince Andrew would no doubt wish to be forgotten, but his car-crash “Newsnight” interview is set to enthral viewers yet again in Prime Video’s upcoming dramatization.

“A Very Royal Scandal,” which stars Michael Sheen as the disgraced prince and Ruth Wilson as arch interviewer Emily Maitlis, has been set for release on the streaming platform on Sept. 19, Variety can confirm.

Ruth Wilson as Emily Maitlis in ‘A Very Royal Scandal’ (Courtesy of Prime Video)

The streamer has also debuted a series of first-look images from the series, showing “Good Omens” star Sheen’s transformation into the British royal, who was widely criticized for his defense of his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his failure to mention Epstein’s victims during the 2019 interview.

Wilson suits up as BBC anchor Maitlis, whose cool performance and professionalism during the interview was highly praised.

“One night. One hour.

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Anne Sewitsky is an executive producer and director of the hit Apple TV show, Presumed Innocent. Sewitsky spoke with MovieWeb's Greg Archer about the series, its shocking finale, how the cast was kept in the dark about the killer's identity, and how Jake Gyllenhaal made her cry.

Anne Sewitsky is a Norwegian American filmmaker, currently living in Norway. Sewitskys debut film "Happy, Happy" won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2011, and was Norways Academy Award entry the same year. Her two next films "Homesick" and "Sonja: The White Swan" also premiered in main competition in Sundance in 2016 and 2019, respectively.

Sewitsky was co-creator and showrunning director of NRKs most ambitious and expensive show to date, psychological thriller Monster." Sewitsky directed the critically acclaimed season 2018 finale of"Black Mirror," starring Miley Cyrus, as well as the pilot of Mary Laws Monsterland," starring Kaitlyn Dever.

Streaming on: Apple TV+

Episodes viewed: 7 of 8

Fresh from routinely beating up dozens of violent idiots in the riotously entertaining Prime Video remake of Road House, Jake Gyllenhaal now dips his toe into the world of long-form prestige TV drama for the first time in what is ostensibly a more cerebral role as public prosecutor Rusty Sabich (rhymes with “savage”) in this new adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1987 bestseller.

The book was previously turned into a hit movie with Harrison Ford in the lead role in 1990, but while Ford’s performance was suitably enigmatic, never giving much away, Gyllenhaal depicts Sabich as a charming family man and principled public servant who also has major anger and honesty issues beneath his slickly handsome exterior. The more we get to know him, there’s an increasing sense that Gyllenhaal’s version of the character is desperately trying to keep a lid on his emotions.

Disney and the BBC really don’t want any spoilers revealed for today’s debut of the latest season of Doctor Who. Fair enough, but I’m here to tell you that you will hear some of the worst music ever in these opening episodes of Ncuti Gatwa’s hopefully long run as the famed Time Lord.

Crossing timelines and absent granddaughters aside, that’s the point.

Since Rwandan-born Gatwa’s debut in December last year, his Doctor Who has already flipped a lot of scripts on what the Tardis travelling Doctor is and should be. Yes, the Fifteenth Doctor is the first Black and the first openly Queer incarnation of the Gallifreyan since the iconic British series debuted in 1963, as well as the first person not born in the UK to play the Time Lord Both those representations are long overdue and wonderful, but the real thing about this...

The legal thriller is back!

That’s the message sent by the new teaser for “Presumed Innocent,” Apple TV+’s limited series adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1987 novel, which was previously adapted in 1990 as a film starring Harrison Ford.

The eight-part series hails from superproducers David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams, with Kelley serving as writer and showrunner. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Rusty Sabich, a Chicago deputy prosecutor whose life gets thrown into chaos when he’s suspected of murdering Carolyn (Renate Reinsve), a colleague with whom he had an affair. Per Apple, “The series explores obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.” Throw death in there, and you’ve got every major theme covered!

The ensemble cast also includes Academy Award nominee Ruth Negga as well as Bill Camp, O-t Fagbenle, Chase Infiniti, Elizabeth Marvel,...

Paul Bettany has joined Sky’s upcoming limited series “Amadeus,” which tells the story of famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

“The White Lotus” star Will Sharpe was previously announced in the role of Mozart. Bettany will play Italian composer Antonio Salieri, Mozart’s longtime rival. The limited series hails from “Giri/Haji” collaborators Joe Barton and Julian Farino and is reimagined from Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play.

According to a press release, “Barton’s adaptation will expand and interrogate the mythic rivalry of the two composers. Hero of his own story but villain to history, Salieri’s envy turns vengeful as he uses any means necessary to thwart Mozart and protect his position in the establishment.”

“Amadeus” follows 25-year-old Amadeus (Sharpe) as he arrives to the bustling musical hub of Vienna at the end of the 18th century. “Recently unemployed and without the management of his father, Amadeus finds an...

Paul Bettany is set to star opposite Will Sharpe in Sky’s limited series about composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The WandaVision and A Very British Scandal star will portray renowned composer Antonio Salieri in Amadeus, with Sharpe playing Mozart, as we previously revealed.

It is a reimagining of Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play, and will expand and interrogate the mythic rivalry of the two composers. Hero of his own story but villain to history, Salieri’s envy turns vengeful as he uses any means necessary to thwart Mozart and protect his position in the establishment.

Giri/Haji and The Lazarus Project scribe Joe Barton is writing the series, with Julian Farino directing. Stv Studios-owned Two Cities Television is producing in association with Sky Studios. Megan Spanjian is executive producer for Sky Studios. Michael Jackson (Patrick Melrose) and Stephen Wright (Blue Lights) are EPs for Two Cities Television,...

Paul Bettany (A Very British Scandal, WandaVision) will star in Sky original series Amadeus, portraying composer Antonio Salieri opposite Will Sharpe (Giri/Haji, The White Lotus) in the titular role of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The series is described as a “playfully reimagined limited event series” from writer Joe Barton (Giri/Haji, The Lazarus Project) and director Julian Farino (Giri/Haji). “Deftly reimagined from Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play, Barton’s adaptation will expand and interrogate the mythic rivalry of the two composers,” according to a description. “Hero of his own story but villain to history, Salieri’s envy turns vengeful as he uses any means necessary to thwart Mozart and protect his position in the establishment.”

On stage, Bettany most recently starred in the Broadway production of Anthony McCarten’s drama The Collaboration as Andy Warhol.

“I can’t wait to work with Julian Farino, Joe Barton, Sky and Will Sharpe who,...

Prolific British writer Sarah Phelps, whose television credits include A Very British Scandal, Dublin Murders and long-running BBC soap drama Eastenders, encouraged an audience of writers at Dublin’s Storyhouse festival not to get discouraged by trolls or hate mail for their work.

In a frank and impassioned session at the screenwriters festival, Phelps recalled a time when she received hate mail for a plot line she had written into Eastenders and imparted advice on how she dealt with someone aggressively putting down her work.

“One thing I would say to all of you, as creators and makers is that, if and when that happens to you, you want to put it away and not look at but you should look at it,” she said. “Do something to it that robs it of its power. Put it in a frame. Shine a light on it and stare at it until...

In 2019, England’s Prince Andrew agreed to sit down with BBC Newsnight to talk about his alleged friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The ensuing interview went so poorly for the prince that it spawned not one but two upcoming dramatizations.

The first to come out, Netflix’s Scoop, released its teaser trailer Monday. In the video above, you can see The X-Files‘ Gillian Anderson — as BBC reporter Emily Maitlis — kick off the historic chat with Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat), who plays the royal.

More from TVLineJon Stewart Returns to The Daily Show: Watch His First Episode BackThe White Lotus...

Prime Video’s A Very Royal Scandal has its stars!

The limited series will be based on Prince Andrew‘s infamous 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight reporter Emily Maitlis.

A Very Royal Scandal follows Prime Video’s A Very English Scandal, released in 2018, and A Very British Scandal, released in 2021.

Keep reading to find out more…

As for the stars of A Very Royal Scandal, Michael Sheen will star as Prince Andrew, and Ruth Wilson will play Emily, Variety reports.

According to the outlet, production is underway in the U.K. The series’ official description states that it will follow “Emily Maitlis’ professional and personal journey as a Newsnight journalist, leading up to her acclaimed interview with Prince Andrew.”

Also starring in A Very Royal Scandal are Joanna Scanlan as Amanda Thirsk, Alex Jennings as Sir Edward Young, and Éanna Hardwicke as Stewart Maclean.

If you’re wondering how rich the British royal family really is,...

Another Scandal is heading to Prime Video: Michael Sheen and Ruth Wilson will star in the streamer’s A Very Royal Scandal which will chronicle Emily Maitlis’ revealing interview with Prince Andrew. The news was first reported by our sister site Variety Monday.

According to the official description, the three-part limited series will follow “Emily Maitlis’ (Wilson) professional and personal journey as a Newsnight journalist, leading up to her acclaimed interview with Prince Andrew (Sheen).”

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Amazon is making a limited series about Prince Andrew’s disastrous interview with Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis, Variety has learned.

Production is underway in the U.K. on the three-part series, titled “A Very Royal Scandal.” Michael Sheen will star as Prince Andrew, while Ruth Wilson will play Maitlis.

According to the official description, the series will follow “Emily Maitlis’ professional and personal journey as a Newsnight journalist, leading up to her acclaimed interview with Prince Andrew.”

Along with Sheen and Wilson, the series will star Joanna Scanlan as Amanda Thirsk, Alex Jennings (“Your Christmas or Mine?”) as Sir Edward Young, and Éanna Hardwicke (“The Sixth Commandment”) as Stewart Maclean.

The series follows on Amazon’s past successes with “A Very English Scandal” starring Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw and “A Very British Scandal” starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany.

Jeremy Brock is writing “A Very Royal Scandal” with Julian Jarrold directing.

David Yates Set For Raindance Icon Award

David Yates is set to receive the Raindance Film Festival’s Icon Award. The Harry Potter filmmaker will receive the award at the festival’s Opening Gala party on October 25. Yates grew up in St. Helens, Merseyside. He won his first BAFTA Award for the BBC miniseries The Way We Live Now, starring Matthew Macfadyen and Shirley Henderson. Yates went on to helm the last four of the blockbuster Harry Potter films. “The Raindance Festival has been part of our filmmaking landscape for over thirty years, championing and showcasing the work of emerging writers, producers, and directors, from all over the world,” Yates said. “Elliot and his team have encouraged, inspired, and helped educate so many along the way, including me, and it’s an honor to be the recipient of a Raindance Icon Award as we celebrate and enjoy the work of...

Britbox's thrilling line-up of content from across the Atlantic.

The streaming service will debut The Sixth Commandment on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

TV Fanatic scored an exclusive first look at the premiere.

The Sixth Commandment tells the story of an inspirational teacher, Peter Farquhar (Timothy Spall), and a charismatic young student, Ben Field, who meet and bond over their love of books and involvement with the Church of England.

However, their friendship soon takes a deadly turn that comes to light after Ben turns his attention to Peter's deeply religious neighbor, Ann Moore-Martin.

The result is a series of stunning revelations, culminating in a high-profile trial.

This series, written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings), is inspired by the critically acclaimed and BAFTA-nominated documentary Catching A Killer: A Diary From The Grave.

The cast also includes Annabel Scholey, Sheila Hancock, and Ben Bailey Smith. 

The cast...

Exclusive: The After, the debut short from photographer Misan Harriman, best known for his portraits of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, will debut on Netflix on October 25 after screening at the London Film Festival.

The Oscar-qualified short stars David Oyelowo and comes from a story by Harriman, with a screenplay by writer John Julius Schwabach. The story follows Dayo (Oyelowo), a Londoner who has to reconnect with himself and society after witnessing a devastating random attack in the capital.

Si Bell Bsc served as DoP while Nicky Bentham of Neon Films, and Oyelowo via his Yoruba Saxon Productions produced.

The After is Harriman’s first narrative film project. A self-taught photographer, he is the first black person to shoot the September cover of British Vogue. His photography work has also been featured in Vanity Fair,...

Exclusive: BritBox International is stacking the shelves with more high-profile UK drama series.

The streamer has acquired North American rights to The Sixth Commandment and U.S. rights to This England. Both series, which are based on real events, have made significant noise in the UK and their acquisition follow on from BritBox’s July captures of cop series Granite Harbour and psychological drama The Ex-Wife.

The Sixth Commandment will play as a BritBox Original. The series, written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings), is inspired by the BAFTA-nominated documentary Catching A Killer: A Diary From the Grave.

It follows one of the most complex criminal cases in recent British history and tells the story of inspirational teacher Peter Farquhar (Timothy Spall), and charismatic young student Ben Field (Éanna Hardwicke), who meet and bond over their love of...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2023 Emmy Predictions:

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie Dahmer. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. (L to R) Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Jenkins as Lionel Dahmer in episode 108 of Dahmer. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Cr. Courtesy Of Netflix © 2022

Weekly Commentary: There...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2023 Emmy Predictions:

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Weekly Commentary: Brett Goldstein may have won this category back-to-back for his turn as Roy Kent in Apple’s “Ted Lasso,” but his co-star Phil Dunster, who plays the young Jamie Tartt, made quite the impression this season. With Goldstein...

Fly on the wall? Pah! The wall is all the way over there! These days, viewers want to be flies buzzing right around the noses of the people making the headlines, close enough to tell what they had for breakfast. And thanks to true story TV dramas, they can.

It’s been a long time since ropey Lifetime Movies were as good as it got for true story TV. In recent years, British production companies have stepped up in a big way to serve a growing appetite for fact-based drama, but all too often the real-life TV dramas of today focus on haunting tales of history’s most gruesome murders. If you’re sick of serial killers, there are plenty of non-murder true stories to enjoy in drama form, from very public scandals to ordinary people doing extraordinary things, to the kinds of tragedies it’s important that we never forget.

Sabina Smitham has joined Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin’s Blueprint Pictures, the producer of “Banshees of Inisherin,” as head of development.

Reporting to head of film, Ben Knight, the new role will see Smitham manage the company’s development team and take the lead on expanding the company’s development slate.

Smitham, an alumnus of the U.K.’s prestigious National Film and Television School’s master in producing program, joins from Disney+, where she oversaw the development of a range of projects for the Europe, Middle East and Africa Original Productions team. Prior to Disney she was a development producer at Faye Ward’s Fable Pictures.

To support the expansion of the slate, development executive Martha Hood has been promoted to senior development executive with immediate effect.

Blueprint’s upcoming releases include “Strangers” for Searchlight Pictures, written and directed by Andrew Haigh, and starring Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal,...

Just as limited and anthology series based on real events have taken over the TV landscape, they have taken over the Emmys. But how well have programs of this particular genre actually gone over with the academy throughout the past few years?

Let’s take a look back at all nominations earned by limited and anthology series starting in 2015; that’s the year in which the rules were tweaked to require that a program can only compete as a limited series if it has a minimum of two episodes with a total running time of at least 150 minutes, tells a complete, non-recurring story, and doesn’t have an ongoing storyline and/or main characters in subsequent seasons.

This rule change came just a year after limited series (referred to as “miniseries” at the time) and TV movies were once again split up into separate program categories, undoing a three-year-old change that consolidated the two awards.

Norman Scott has condemned his portrayal in the BBC’s A Very English Scandal.

The English model was played by Ben Whishaw in the 2018 miniseries. Whishaw won an Emmy, Bafta, and Golden Globe for his performance.

A Very English Scandal saw Hugh Grant play former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, who was acquitted of conspiring with a hitman to kill his alleged ex-lover Scott. Homosexuality was illegal at the time.

Scott appeared on the podcast British Scandal: Jeremy Thorpe, and praised Whishaw’s performance but admitted that he was “very cross” over his portrayal in the drama.

Scott, 83, said: “Ben was being a very good actor, he had met me, he knew me, and I hoped that he would be me…

“I think it was very – I can say it because it’s what I believe – it was a black comedy. It was very unkind. But Ben played me very well.

Exclusive: Christina Malach, most recently a senior development executive at Amazon Studios, has joined independent studio Media Res as senior vice president of development. She will report to President of Scripted Series Lindsey Springer.

During her more than four years at Amazon Studios, Malach developed and oversaw drama series, including The Terminal List, The Wilds, ZeroZeroZero, The Pursuit of Love, With Love, The Outlaws, A Very British Scandal, Chloe, The English and upcoming series Dead Ringers and Harlan Coben’s Shelter.

Prior to joining Amazon in 2018, Malach served as a vice president at Heyday Television, where she supervised development and production of scripted television projects and was a producer on NBC’s The In-Between, and previously was a creative executive at Amblin Television. She started her career in publishing where she worked for nearly a decade, eventually as an Editor-at-Large, at Random House.

“Christina’s reputation within the industry is reflective of her exceptional taste,...

‘House Of Gucci’, ‘Spencer’ and ‘The Lost Daughter’ are also nominated.

Belfast, No Time To Die and House Of Gucci are among the titles nominated for the fifth annual UK and Ireland’s Casting Directors’ Guild’s (CDG) Casting Awards 2023.

The three titles are all nominated for best casting in a film, along with Spencer and The Lost Daughter.

The winners will be announced at the CDG Awards on February 22.

Scroll down for nominations

The nominees for best casting in an independent film includes Philip Barantini’s Boiling Point starring Stephen Graham and Sophie Hyde’s Good Luck To You,...

Shane Allen’s Boffola Pictures Names Comedy Head

Shane Allen’s Boffola Pictures has hired Ladhood producer Joe Nunnery as its Head of Comedy. Established by former Channel 4 and BBC Comedy boss Allen and Kate Daughton in 2021, the indie is behind Daisy May Cooper BBC comedy thriller series Am I Being Unreasonable? and is shooting Undoing Martin Parker for BBC One. It is written by Sian Gibson and Paul Coleman, and stars Conleth Hill, Gibson and Rosie Cavaliero. Allen said Nunnery, known for developing BBC Three comedy Ladhood into a TV series after its radio run and Alexi Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar, was “a class act; beloved by talent, agents and broadcasters alike.”

‘Sex Education’, ‘House of the Dragon’ Among Casting Awards Nominations

The UK and Ireland’s Casting Directors’ Guild has unveiled the nominees for the 2023 CDG Casting Awards. Sex Education, House of the Dragon, Bad Sisters,...

Truth really is stranger than fiction — just ask Matthew Macfadyen and Kevin R. McNally, stars of the new Britbox limited series, Stonehouse, based on the wild true story of an MP’s attempts at evading the law. Hailing from A Very British Scandal writer John Preston, the series is a dramatized take on what happens when one man in power attempts to disappear…but isn’t much good at it at all.

Stonehouse, the new true crime series debuting on BritBox, tells the bizarre story of John Stonehouse, a member of the British Parliament in the 1970s. Most true crime stories feature murder, but Stonehouse’s story is about a man whose desire for success, fame, and power turned him into a spy who faked his own death. It sounds serious, but Stonehouse is actually a hilarious story that has disturbing parallels to our modern politics. With a stellar cast of actors and top-notch creators, this is a unique three-episode limited series worth checking out (read our review).

I got the chance to discuss Stonehouse with the cast and creators of the series. Writer John Preston (A Very British Scandal) talked to me about the inspiration for the story and how he adapted it when the stars were cast. Director John S. Baird talked about the approach to telling this insane story...

Exclusive: The BBC has mined the 1960s and 1970s for its award-winning A Very English Scandal strand but, for the next one, viewers could be treated to a modern-day saga they are slightly more familiar with.

Deadline can reveal that a retelling of the Wagatha Christie drama is in early stage development as the potential third instalment of the hit series and Paramount+’s Flatshare scribe Rose Lewenstein is attached. The show once again comes from Sony-backed Blueprint Pictures and was initially rumored to be penned by Poldark writer Debbie Horsfield before Lewenstein came on board.

The as-yet-untitled latest in the Scandal series, which Deadline understands is one of a number of stories being considered and may not be greenlit at all, will cover one of the hottest British legal disputes of the past few years and comes fresh off the back of a Channel 4 factual drama titled...

Claire Foy wants a safe work environment.

The “Women Talking” star was on the latest episode of Entertainment Weekly‘s “Happy Sad Confused”, and she shared her frustrations about a scene she once shot with an elephant.

Read More: Claire Foy Says She’s ‘Very Honoured To Have Been A Teeny Tiny Part’ Of The Queen’s Story By Playing Her On ‘The Crown’

“One thing that does really, really get on my nerves is things not being safe,” she said.

“Stunts — I can’t tell you the amount of situations I’ve been like, ‘No, it’s alright! You’re about to meet an elephant!'” she continued. “‘Doesn’t matter! You don’t need to meet the elephant before — just drive at it at high speed and get out of the car and meet the elephant!'”

Foy was referring to the 2017 period epic “Breathe”, co-starring Andrew Garfield and directed by Andy Serkis,...

Ruth Negga, the Oscar and Tony-nominated “Passing” actress, has joined Apple TV+’s limited series “Presumed Innocent,” to star alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, who is in final negotiations for the project.

The murder-thriller, inspired by Scott Turow’s acclaimed novel, hails from David E. Kelley, Dustin Thomason and executive producer J.J. Abrams. Turow’s work was adapted into the 1990 film of the same name, starring Harrison Ford.

“Presumed Innocent” is billed as a courtroom thriller that follows the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. Kelley, the multi-Emmy award winner behind the likes of “Big Little Lies” and “L.A. Law,” reimagines “Presumed Innocent,” exploring obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.

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David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams to Adapt...

When we caught up last Spring, Claire Foy was thoroughly engaged and enthusiastic about her work in “A Very British Scandal.” But when I asked her about her then-upcoming role in Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking” her eyes lit up like fireworks on the river Thames. And we certainly know why now. Polley’s critically acclaimed drama has already been honored by AFI, the National Board of Review and will land the Robert Altman ensemble honor from the Spirit Awards next year.

Continue reading Claire Foy: “Very, Very Rare” That Something Like ‘Women Talking’ Comes Your Way [Interview] at The Playlist.

The queen lives! Well, sort of. The three talented actresses who’ve portrayed (or will portray) Queen Elizabeth II on Netflix’s award-winning royal drama “The Crown” are set to be everywhere this awards season.

Claire Foy, who played the late monarch in the first two seasons of the historical (but not always historically accurate) drama series and won two Emmys, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Golden Globe (2017) for her performance, stars in Sarah Polley’s newest film, “Women Talking.” Adapted from Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel of the same name, the movie follows a group of women from an isolated religious community as they grapple with the realization that they’ve been repeatedly drugged and raped. Slated for a limited theatrical release in December, it has been making the festival rounds since premiering at the Telluride Film Festival in early September. Critics have praised Polley’s direction, as well...

Vision is eyeing his own TV series: Marvel is developing a WandaVision spinoff for Disney+ with Paul Bettany set to reprise his role as Vision, according to our sister site Deadline.

The series — tentatively titled Vision Quest, with a writers’ room reportedly starting up next week — will be about Vision “trying to regain his memory and humanity” after the events of WandaVision. (Viewers will remember that Vision, after his death in Avengers: Infinity War, was resurrected as part of his wife Wanda’s sitcom dream world, while the original Vision was reconstructed and reactivated by S.W.O.R.D.

“Vision Quest,” a new Marvel Studios series focusing on Paul Bettany’s title android superhero character, is in the works at Disney+, TheWrap has learned. The series, along with “Agatha: House of Harkness,” marks the second spinoff show based on the popular “WandaVision.”

The show is set to open a writers room next week, and will focus on Vision’s attempts to regain his memory and humanity. The character made his last appearance in the eponymous “WandaVision,” which was set after his death in “Avengers: Infinity War” and showed him as a projection of Wanda Maximoff’s (Elizabeth Olsen) grief.

Toward the end of “WandaVision,” the so-called White Vision was employed as a weapon to destroy Wanda, the fake Vision and their creation of the Westview anomaly. Given the fact that the character has experienced a “rebirth” of sorts, the series is likely to pick up in the aftermath of the show’s finale,...

Paul Bettany has signed up to star in Robert Zemeckis’ feature ‘Here,’ opposite Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.

Based on Richard McGuire’s graphic novel, The movie is described as a breathtaking and revolutionary odyssey through time and memory. The innovative film is centred around a single geographic location in New England — starting as wilderness and later becoming the site of a home – where a story of love, loss, struggle, hope and legacy play out between couples and families over generations.

Zemeckis is directing from a script by Eric Roth who worked with Zemeckis alongside Hanks and Wright on ‘Forest Gump.’

Also in news – Saoirse Ronan joins Steve McQueen’s World War II epic ‘Blitz’

Zemeckis and Jack Rapke’s ImageMovers will produce alongside Miramax’s Bill Block. Sony Pictures will release the film in theatres in the U.S., with Miramax holding international rights.

Bettany, was most recently seen...

Paul Bettany has joined Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in Miramax’s “Here,” to be directed by Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis and written by Academy Award winner Eric Roth, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

Sony Pictures will theatrically release the film in the United States, and Miramax holds international rights. Zemeckis and Jack Rapke’s ImageMovers will produce alongside Miramax’s Bill Block.

The project will be adapted from Richard McGuire’s graphic novel, which tells the story of a journey through time and memory. The film is centered around one geographic place in New England — which develops from wilderness to a residential property. Love, loss, struggle, hope and legacy thread through generations of couples and families.

Also Read:

‘Pinocchio’ Composer Alan Silvestri on His ‘Almost Telepathic’ Connection to Director Robert Zemeckis

“Here” reunites Hanks, Wright, Zemeckis and Roth, who last collaborated on “Forrest Gump,...

Exclusive: Paul Bettany his set to join Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in Miramax’s Here, with Robert Zemeckis directing and Eric Roth adapting the script. Zemeckis and Jack Rapke’s ImageMovers will produce alongside Miramax’s Bill Block. Sony Pictures will release the film in theaters in the U.S., with Miramax holding international rights.

Based on Richard McGuire’s graphic novel, Here is described as a breathtaking and revolutionary odyssey through time and memory. The innovative film is centered around a single geographic location in New England — starting as wilderness and later becoming the site of a home – where a story of love, loss, struggle, hope and legacy play out between couples and families over generations.

The project came together earlier this year, becoming one of the bigger packages to hit the market given that it would reunite the Forrest Gump team of Hanks, Zemeckis, Wright and Roth...