In this clip, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, and Dixie Egerickx, director Marc Munden, and producer David Heyman talk about bringing Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel to life.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the story, here’s the official synopsis:
Set in England during a new time period in 1947, the film follows a young orphan girl who, after being sent to live with her uncle, discovers a magical garden on the grounds of his estate.
‘The Secret Garden’ will be available on demand on August 7.
The brutality of war is on full display in the first trailer for “1917” from director Sam Mendes.
The movie, which features a star-studded cast of just about every acclaimed British actor around, centers on on two young British soldiers on a single day at the height of WWI.
The two soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s own brother among them.
This is Mendes’ first film since directing 2015’s James Bond movie “Spectre.” He is reuniting with legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins; the pair previously worked together on “Skyfall,” “Jarhead,” and “Revolutionary Road.”
“1917” opens in limited release December 25 and in wide release January 10.
The “Kingsman” universe is expanding rapidly, with a planned prequel film and potential spinoff flick and TV series in the works for the franchise. But a third entry in the original series is indeed still on the docket, and in a new interview, the film’s director has teased some key details about plans for its plot and production.
But Vaughn told Digital Spy that once that film is finished, it will be full steam ahead on “Kingsman 3.” Echoing previous comments he made about the movie’s plot, the director confirmed that it will officially close the book on Eggsy (Taron Edgerton) and Harry’s (Colin Firth) story.
“We’ve got to finish off the Eggsy and Harry relationship,” Vaughn explained to Digital Spy. “The final chapter of their relationship needs to be told, which we’ve got ready to do, and I’m hoping to shoot that later this year or the beginning of next year.”
Stay tuned to see when “Kingsman 3” is slated to make its debut. In the meantime, prequel “The Great Game” will hit theaters on February 14, 2020.
Colin Firth is reuniting with his “Shakespeare in Love” director John Madden for the WWII drama “Operation Mincemeat” in the real-life story of how a dead man helped trick the Nazis into expecting an invasion on the wrong front.
It’s based on the best-selling book by Ben Macintyre of the same name. (If the story sounds familiar, it’s because it also inspired the 1956 British film “The Man Who Never Was.”)
Firth will play British intelligence officer Ewen Montagu, who devised the clever scheme to plant a dead man with false invasion plans.
“In the context of WW2 narratives, the story of ‘Operation Mincemeat’ is unique — a bizarre and seductive cinematic blend of high-level espionage and ingenious fiction, where the stakes could hardly be higher,” Madden said in a statement.
“It tells a richly human story of the soldiers we seldom see, who fight a different kind of war in shadows and deception, haunted by the knowledge that certainty and guarantee of success are nowhere to be found,” the Oscar-winning director added.
Michelle Ashford (“Masters of Sex,” “The Pacific”) adapted the screenplay, and the film is expected to go into pre-production later this year.]
The movie follows young British soldiers on a single day at the height of World War I.
This is Mendes’ first feature film since his Bond outings “Skyfall” and “Spectre.” He has passed 007 directing duties on to Cary Fukunaga.
Cumberbatch can next be seen in “Avengers: Endgame.” Firth most recently appeared in “Mary Poppins Returns.” Strong is next in “Shazam!” And “Game of Thrones” alum Madden recently received acclaim for the series “The Bodyguard.”
Filming is set to begin April 1 and the release date has been set for December 25.
Excellent. Mark your calendar for November 8, 2019. (So far, that date also holds the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie, and “Midway.”)
You may recall reading the updates from ThatHashtagShow last month, saying “Kingsman 3” was looking to cast a couple of key roles and would start filming in the United Kingdom this January. It was reportedly planning to film back-to-back with the planned prequel movie, “Kingsman: The Great Game,” following the organization in the early 20th Century. There was speculation that two actors being cast for “Kingsman 3” might have direct ties to “The Great Game.”
According to Empire, there’s also meant to be an eight-hour “Kingsman” TV show in the works, and a “Statesman” film following the world of Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, and Halle Berry’s American agents.
But so far all we have is a release date for “Kingsman 3,” so stay tuned for more on “The Great Game,” the TV series, and the “Statesman” film.
Disney dropped the latest”Mary Poppins Returns” trailer this week, giving viewers some much-anticipated new insights into the world of the Banks family years after the magical nanny flew out of their lives. And if this preview is any indication, we won’t need a spoon full of sugar for this medicine to go down.
In the spring of 2017, Moviefone was invited to the set at Pinewood Studios in London, England. We were able to speak with producer Marc Platt, production designer John Myhre, costume designer Sandy Powell, actress Emily Blunt, and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda to learn exciting details about the new twist director Rob Marshall is putting on the old classic. Here are 11 must-know facts from our visit across the pond:
1. “Mary Poppins Returns” Is a True Sequel in Every Sense
The follow up takes place over 20 years after the original film, and pulls story elements from several of the seven follow-up books in the P. L. Travers “Mary Poppins” series. Despite the cheery nature of the film, it takes place in Depression-era London, following a grown-up Jane and Michael Banks (Emily Mortimer & Ben Whishaw), and Michael’s three children.
Michael’s life further mirrors his father’s, working at Fidelity Fiduciary Bank under Mr. Dawes, Jr. (Dick Van Dyke) and the bank’s president, William Weatherall Wilkins (Colin Firth). When Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) reenters their lives, she has not aged since we last saw her. She herself “lives outside of time” as explained by Marc Platt. Poppins returning via kite follows the opening events of the second book “Mary Poppins Comes Back.”
2. The New Banks Kids Will (Mostly) Be The Focus
Yes, Michael Banks is down on his luck, but Mary Poppins is truly there to take care of the new Banks batch (twins Annabel and John Banks, as well as youngest brother Georgie Banks, played by Pixie Davis, Nathanael Saleh, and Joel Dawson). Their adventures are aided by friendly neighborhood lamplighter Jack (Lin Manuel Miranda), and takes them everywhere from the animated “Royal Doulton Music Hall” inside a ceramic bowl to deep beneath the sea via bathtub.
The producers described it as a “healthy dose of childhood.” Not to say that the film won’t follow the escapades of it’s supporting characters, which include….
3. Meryl Streep Basically Plays Ms. Frizzle
Well, not really, but the aesthetic is definitely there. Meryl Streep joins this epic story as Topsy, the wacky cousin of Mary Poppins.
Her flowing dress and necklace made of colored pencils accentuate a zaniness best exemplified in “Topsy’s Upside Down Room,” a living space that defies gravity. They execute this in the most literal sense. The whole room was built right side-up with everything secured to the floor, then completely flipped. Its taxidermy, ancient statues, and other vintage hardware make the whole thing feels like an antique store on steroids. We’re very much here for it.
Similar to the kite entrance, most of Topsy’s story is pulled from the second “Mary Poppins” novel.
4. There’s More Practical Effects Than You Might Think
In addition to “Topsy’s Upside Down Room,” many of the street and set pieces were built physically as well, with the hope of creating “a world within a world.” The vibrant colors of their clothes during the animated sequences were actually achieved in part by costume designer Sandy Powell directly painting onto white clothing. They attempted to match the same visual of Cherry Tree Lane, all the way up to Admiral Boom’s nautical home.
While paying homage to the style of the first film (they built out a full animation map for the park sequence), the film stands apart with a well executed and fun vision.
5. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Character Is A “Protégé” of Bert
Despite the jokes surrounding Dick Van Dyke’s previous attempt at a British accent, “Hamilton” star Lin-Manuel Miranda will be giving it a go as Jack, a local lamplighter (sometimes called a “leerie”) who is a “protégé” of Bert from the previous film. He is aware of the existence of Mary Poppins, and thus is the perfect companion for her and the Banks children.
While Bert and Jack have similarities (they’re both public servants with a propensity for song and dance), Miranda’s take will likely involve a subtle touch of what made “Hamilton” so popular (maybe even a little rapping?). Miranda was a huge fan of Rob Marshall’s “Chicago,” and the actor’s charismatic charm shined both on and off camera.
6. Don’t Worry, There’s Plenty of Dance Numbers
We were fortunate enough to watch the “Mary Poppins Returns” team film a dance number for the song “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” and it was, well, fantastic.
The soundstage was dressed for a foggy London evening, with a collection of streetlights for the rag-tag leeries to swing and dance from. The upbeat song also featured ladder tricks and zipping lamplighter bicycles for good measure. And if you looked closely, you saw a dash of modern flare in the dance choreography. Rob Marshall was heavily involved with the choreography of the film, and his meticulous approach was ever present during the several rehearsals and takes we witnessed.
7. They Built Their Own Big Ben
While it would have been great to shoot at the real Great Bell, the iconic clock tower at the Palace of Westminster is under renovation. But even if it were available, as Production Designer John Myhre pointed out, it’s not as though one can “shut down Big Ben” for weeks of filming. So the crew was tasked with building a replica of it (to scale and all) on a soundstage, with some small help on the background from the Visual Effects department.
The setting is critical to one of the climactic scenes of the movie. Both the VFX team and the set team were able to visit the tower several times to get the proper measurements. Even while knowing their Big Ben was a phony (fun fact: it’s actually a fully functional clock!), it’s size and accuracy was humbling in person.
8. Dick Van Dyke Isn’t The Only Hollywood Vet in the Cast
In addition to Van Dyke lending his talents to the role of Mr. Dawes, Jr. (very meta considering he played Mr. Dawes Sr. in the original film, along with his principle role), “Mary Poppins Returns” will be graced with the presence of Angela Lansbury playing The Balloon Lady. Another original character from the novel, Lansbury helps to fill out an already stellar cast which boasts a swath of Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, Golden Globes, and an Oscar to boot.
9. Emily Blunt May Have Been A Perfect Choice
From the get-go Blunt stated that she was not trying to “outdo Julie Andrews,” which makes her performance that much more genuine. Instead of copying the character, she was afforded the opportunity to recreate it, singing and dancing to original songs that ultimately her version of Poppins will own.
Everyone we met sang her praises, and despite the demanding nature of the job (acting, singing, and dancing ALL while sporting crazy costumes) she seemed more than up for the challenge.
10. The Props Are No Joke
In addition to the practical effects, many of the props were meticulously crafted. The advent of 3D printing makes itself apparent with the design of the bird umbrella, and polka dots are a motif that run rampart throughout Mary Poppins’ style.
They also have to account for the wear and tear some of the props experience. At the time of our visit, they had already gone through eight versions of Mary Poppins’ magical bag, which — given its detail — make recreating the design quite the task. The overall look is played at a reasonable level, as the team bridged the gap between staying true to the time frame while not turning it into a “BBC period drama.”
11. The Movie’s Aim Is To Bring You Joy
Throughout the visit and the countless conversations we had with the filmmakers (and, of course, Emily Blunt herself), the one word that was spoken over and over was “joy.” They are aiming to bring a familiar yet new happiness to what some consider a tumultuous and dark time in our own lives. The dreariness of the time period serves as a metaphor for the era we’re in now, with the presence of Mary Poppins speaking to the need for finding something lovely and optimistic despite whatever negativity is swirling around us.
No one emulates that exuberant joy more than Miranda, who Marshall described as “a bright pure spirit.”
All in all, we are more than excited for the next iteration of Mary Poppins. Be sure to check out the film when it hits theaters December 19th.
Firth’s wife of 20 years, Livia Giuggioli, confirmed that she had an affair with the man she now says is stalking her.
Giuggioli, who is a film producer, accused Italian journalist Marco Brancaccia of harassing her after their brief romance. According to British newspaper The Times, Brancaccia has denied those claims, saying Giuggioli merely wants to cover up their relationship of a few years ago.
Per a statement sent to the Times, Firth and Giuggioli were separated during the time of the affair: “Livia briefly became involved with former friend Mr. Brancaccia. The Firths have since reunited. Subsequently, Mr. Brancaccia carried out a frightening campaign of harassment over several months, much of which is documented. For obvious reasons, the Firths have never had any desire to make this matter public.”
The statement attributes the news becoming public to a “leaked court document.”
Firth’s reps did not respond to People for comment.
Per The Daily Beast, Firth became an Italian citizen last year. The couple lives in Umbria most of the year with their two teenage sons.
Colin Firth just joined the growing list of actors who vow to never work with director Woody Allen again.
The Oscar winner, who starred in Allen’s 2013 film “Magic in the Moonlight” with Emma Stone, told The Guardian that in light of sexual abuse allegations from Allen’s daughter Dylan Farrow, “I wouldn’t work with him again.”
Farrow has alleged that Allen, her adoptive father, sexually abused her when she was 7 years old. Allen has repeatedly denied the charges.
Several actresses, including Rebecca Hall, Mira Sorvino (who won an Oscar for her role in Allen’s “Mighty Aphrodite”), Rachel Brosnahan, Ellen Page, and Greta Gerwig, have recently issued statements saying they now regret working with Allen and that they believe Dylan Farrow.
There have been fewer actors who have shared the same sentiment, although among the first to express his regrets last year was Griffin Newman, who is in Allen’s upcoming film “A Rainy day in New York.”
Earlier this month, “Numbers” star David Krumholtz issued a statement saying, “I deeply regret working with Woody Allen on ‘Wonder Wheel.’ It’s one of my most heartbreaking mistakes. We can no longer let these men represent us in entertainment, politics, or any other realm. They are beneath real men.”
A few days ago, “Call Me By Your Name” star Timothée Chalamet announced via Instagram that he will be donating his salary from “A Rainy Day in New York” to three charities: TIME’S UP, The LGBT Center in New York, and RAINN (The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).
One of the few actors siding with Allen: Alec Baldwin, who’s worked with Allen in three films, tweeted that he thinks people are being “unfair” to the “Annie Hall” director.
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