Moviefone Editorial

Tag: david thewlis

  • ‘The Thing with Feathers’ Interview: Benedict Cumberbatch

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    Opening in theaters on November 28th is the new drama ‘The Thing with Feathers’, which is based on the book ‘Grief Is the Things with Feathers’ by author Max Porter and was directed by Dylan Sothern (‘Meet Me in the Bathroom’) starring Benedict Cumberbatch (‘Doctor Strange’).

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Benedict Cumberbatch about his work on ‘The Thing with Feathers’, his first reaction to the screenplay, how he emotionally prepared for the role, collaborating on set with director Dylan Sothern, and the challenges of working with young actors on a film like this.

    Benedict Cumberbatch stars in 'The Things with Feathers'.
    Benedict Cumberbatch stars in ‘The Things with Feathers’.

    You can watch the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    Related Article: Benedict Cumberbatch Talks Marvel Studios’ ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    (L to R) Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Boxall and Henry Boxall in 'The Things with Feathers'. Photo: Vue Lumière.
    (L to R) Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Boxall and Henry Boxall in ‘The Thing with Feathers’. Photo: Vue Lumière.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to reading the screenplay and the way Dylan Southern adapted Max Porter’s book about dealing with grief.

    Benedict Cumberbatch: I thought it was extraordinarily magical. It’s a kind of unadaptable book because of its nonlinear narrative, they’re unreliable bits of narration in it where the boys are suddenly old men looking back in time and then there’s a Crow, and the way the words are spaced and how that whole thing is, and he did it. It was this incredible read, and so much of the flavor of the book was there that I forgot that the book wasn’t what I was reading. I was sold on that, and then I was like, who’s Dylan Southern? I watched his documentaries, and I’d seen ‘Meet Me in the Bathroom’ before the LCD Sound System movie (‘Shut Up and Play the Hits’). The point is, it became a friendship and a trusting one and the collaboration came thick and fast after that and away we went.

    MF: What was Dylan Southern like as a director to collaborate with on set?

    BC: Unfazed in the inevitable onslaught of compromise that a small independent, low-budget film has with children involved, with an animatronic head that went wrong, with a small set, with the crowded crew, and the limited time to shoot. I mean, he just meant it all with a smile. He was a problem solver; he was a best friend and a wonderful first audience behind the camera and he was someone I could trust with my concerns or anxieties about what I was doing and know that he’d be able to create a space for me to get to these vulnerable places. He’s a great director. I’m very excited to see where he goes next.

    (L to R) Richard Boxall, Henry Boxall and Benedict Cumberbatch in 'The Things with Feathers'. Photo: Vue Lumière.
    (L to R) Richard Boxall, Henry Boxall and Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Thing with Feathers’. Photo: Vue Lumière.

    MF: You have many vulnerable places that you must go to emotionally in this film. As an actor, how do you prepare for those scenes?

    BC: Interesting. I just built the world that’s not there. You know, this is a very iterative piece. I’m called Dad. They’re called Boys. Crow is called Crow, and Mum is Mum, and she’s not in it. She’s just a figure in it, a silhouette and a body at one point, but you don’t see her face and that’s the whole point. When she does appear and she’s got a voice, she’s in a ghost costume, which is kind of an irony of that moment because it’s a Halloween scene, a flashback to happy times. The point is, I had to build this world that I could see, that I could access, and the set was helpful for that. Also, we had the boys recording of their voiceover for their section of the film, which comes in and to have that sense of loss from these extraordinary non acting children. You know, they’d never been on a set before, Richard and Henry Boxall, they’re twin brothers. It was an immediate trigger into the space of grief and loss and pain to hear those voices talking about their mum and what they missed, and how they learned their dad had changed and how it was warping him. Then other things would just floor me unexpectedly because they’re so universal, folding boxes of clothes away, taking them off a hanger, the empty space where once a person’s artifacts existed and that thing of holding on and then letting go, just grieving all over again. They were interesting moments, and that was that was one of them, you know, lots of scenes where dad breaks down and weeps, dad howls, and dad cries. You must try and ignore those stage directions and find it. But I often dive deep into my psyche to get something of myself and this one, I was just looking after myself and just making sure I could put it to bed at night.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about the challenges of working with children on a film as dark as this one? How did you navigate working with them?

    BC: Challenging as a parent, as a producer as well, and as a fellow actor, but that’s what I was for them. I was also a friend and a playmate. It was making sure they had the experiences that seven-year-old children should have on an adult set with adult themes and all the safeguarding, and all the usual things were in place, and having a sense of play. Reiterating that this is just pretend, and “I might get quite angry now, but I adore you guys.” I don’t know what you think about me, you probably hate me, but anyway, I don’t care. “I really like you and I just need to get angry as dad right now, so just be prepared,” you know, that kind of thing. Sometimes, because they are kids, they just didn’t want to do it. Then it was about how do we coaxed them out of that lethargy or that disinterest or boredom or whatever it might have been. Dylan is an incredible director, and as one of the compromises he said, “I can understand you don’t want to get dressed up in your Mum’s clothes, put lipstick on and her earrings and do that hat dressing up thing. Okay, but if I do something that I don’t really want to do, you could do something to me if I if I get that from you, what would you do?” So, they got the lipstick, and they wrote “Poo” on his forehead and called him “Weak Man” in front of the crew. Then we got this extraordinary powerful scene in the film. They turned up with the goods and I’m so fond of them. There was lots of levity and there was lots of gameplay and fun off set as well. There were football and cricket matches, and Lego building and all sorts of fun. They’re terribly sweet children. I’m very fond of them.

    'The Things with Feathers' opens in theaters on November 28th.
    ‘The Things with Feathers’ opens in theaters on November 28th.

    What is the plot of ‘The Thing with Feathers’?

    Left to raise two young sons after the unexpected death of his wife, Dad’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) life begins to unravel. Grief is messy and chaotic enough as it is, but when it takes the form of an unhinged and unwanted house guest—Crow—taunting him from the shadows, things start to spiral out of control… but maybe that’s exactly what Dad needs.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Thing with Feathers’?

    (L to R) Benedict Cumberbatch, and Leo Bill in 'The Things with Feathers'. Photo: Vue Lumière.
    (L to R) Benedict Cumberbatch, and Leo Bill in ‘The Thing with Feathers’. Photo: Vue Lumière.

    List of Benedict Cumberbatch Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Thing with Feathers’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Benedict Cumberbatch Movies On Amazon

  • ‘KAOS’ Trailer Starring Jeff Goldblum

    Preview:

    • Netflix has dropped the teaser trailer for ‘KAOS’.
    • The show, dark comedy about Greek Gods in the modern world, stars Jeff Goldblum.
    • This new series was created by Charlie Covell.

    Jeff Goldblum as a powerful, yet slightly confused, godlike figure? Well, if it worked for Taika Waititi in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, then it can surely work again. And in the case of ‘KAOS’, he’s less god-like and more actual God.

    Yes, here, the man who will forever be chaotician Ian Malcolm from ‘Jurassic Park’ gets to unleash a potentially darker side of himself, albeit one clad in a sweatsuit and sporting a gold digital watch like a total boomer.

    And at a time when the Greek Gods have recently been given new lease on life via the Disney+ adaptation of the first ‘Percy Jackson’ book, this promises to be something more for the grownups.

    Related Article: Jeff Goldblum will be the Wizard of Oz in the two-part ‘Wicked’ Movie Adaptation

    What’s the story of ‘KAOS’?

    Jeff Goldblum as Zeus in 'Kaos.'
    Jeff Goldblum as Zeus in ‘Kaos.’ Photo: Justin Downing/Netflix. Copyright: © 2022 Netflix, Inc.

    Having long enjoyed his status as King of The Gods, Zeus’ (Jeff Goldblum) reign has never been truly threatened. That is until he wakes up one morning and discovers a wrinkle on his forehead. Believing it to be the harbinger of an ancient prophecy which foretells his destruction, neurosis sets in: Zeus becomes convinced his fall is coming. As his paranoia takes hold, the God of Gods –– seeing signs everywhere –– starts to dangerously self-destruct.

    And he’s right to be worried. Zeus’ one time friend and now prisoner, Prometheus, is orchestrating a plan to bring him down. The plan involves three disparate humans, all of whom are totally unaware of their cosmic significance or the part they must play in saving the world. No pressure. (Some pressure).

    Who else is in ‘KAOS?’

    David Thewlis as Dr. John Dee in Netflix's 'The Sandman.'
    David Thewlis as Dr. John Dee in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

    The series also stars David Thewlis as Hades, Janet McTeer as Hera, Cliff Curtis as Poseidon, Nabhaan Rizwan as Dionysus, Killian Scott as Orpheus, Aurora Perrineau as Riddy, Misia Butler as Caneus, Leila Farzad as Ari, Rakie Ayola as Persephone and Stanley Townsend as Minos.

    Billie Piper and Suzy Eddie Izzard join the cast in cameo roles.

    Who created ‘KAOS’?

    'The End of the F***ing World.'
    ‘The End of the F***ing World.’ Photo: Netflix.

    This new comic spin on gods (and surely monsters too) comes courtesy of Charlie Covell, who last made comedy drama series ‘The End of the F***ing World’ for Netflix.

    Originally, his first casting plan (when the show was first announced way back in 2022) was for Hugh Grant to play Zeus, and while we can certainly see Grant’s dryly sarcastic voice coming out of a new version of the god character, we’re certain Goldblum will bring his inimitable take to it.

    When will ‘KAOS’ be on Netflix?

    Netflix has yet to confirm when ‘KAOS’ will begin its reign on the streaming service.

    Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster in Marvel Studios' 'Thor: Ragnarok.'
    Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster in Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor: Ragnarok.’

    Other Jeff Goldblum Movies:

    Buy Jeff Goldblum Movies on Amazon

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  • New ‘Enola Holmes 2’ Trailer

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    In 2020, Millie Bobby Brown proved she was more than just Eleven from ‘Stranger Things’ for Netflix, playing the character of Enola Holmes in the first movie named for her. It was a big success for the streaming service, and we already knew that a sequel was on the way.

    At this year’s big TUDUM virtual event, Netflix offered the first full trailer for the new movie.

    The first movie found Enola taking her first steps in her detective brothers’ path, using her genius intellect to figure out why her mother went missing and how it all ties into a conspiracy around a mysterious young lord.

    Here’s the plot for this one… Fresh off the triumph of solving her first case, Enola Holmes (Brown) follows in the footsteps of her famous brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill), and opens her own agency — only to find that life as a female detective-for-hire isn’t as easy as it seems.

    Not only are there the sexist bores who don’t believe a young woman can run such a business, there are all the customers who show up hoping that she can connect them with Sherlock.

    Resigned to accepting the cold realities of adulthood, she is about to close shop when a penniless matchstick girl offers Enola her first official job: to find her missing sister.

    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix's 'Enola Holmes 2.'
    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’

    But this case proves to be far more puzzling than expected, as Enola is thrown into a dangerous new world — from London’s sinister factories and colorful music halls to the highest echelons of society and 221B Baker Street itself. Since the case appears to intersect with one that has been vexing her sibling.

    As the sparks of a deadly conspiracy ignite, Enola must call upon the help of friends — and Sherlock himself — to unravel her mystery. The game, it seems, has found its feet again!

    The cast this time includes the returning likes of Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge (as Tewkesbury), Susan Wokoma (as Edith) and Adeel Akhtar (as Lestrade). New the ensemble are ‘Dune’s Sharon Duncan-Brewster and ‘Sandman’s David Thewlis, who, from the looks of the trailer is a police chief not all that pleased to learn of Enola’s new status as a detective.

    Behind the camera is the same team as the 2020 movie – director Harry Bradbeer and writer Jack Thorne, once again adapting Springer’s ‘Enola Holmes’ book series. And, of course, some credit goes to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created the Sherlock Holmes characters from which ‘Enola’ draws its inspiration.

    This sequel promises to be just as packed with action and comedy, with more of the to-camera asides from Enola as she makes her way through this latest adventure.

    ‘Enola Holmes 2’ will debut on Netflix on November 4th.

    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix's 'Enola Holmes 2.'
    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’
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  • First Photos From ‘Enola Holmes 2’

    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, and Louis Partridge as Viscount Tewkesbury in Netflix's 'Enola Holmes 2.'
    (L to R) Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, and Louis Partridge as Viscount Tewkesbury in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’

    Roughly two years ago, Netflix cemented its association with ‘Stranger Things’ star Millie Bobby Brown by having her star in and produce ‘Enola Holmes’, in which she plays Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister.

    Co-starring Henry Cavill as Sherlock, Sam Claflin as eldest brother Mycroft and Helena Bonham Carter as her troubled mother Eudoria Holmes, it was a hit for the streaming service and naturally spawned talk of a sequel, not least because the movie adapted Nancy Springer’s book series, which meant other stories were available.

    The first movie found Enola taking her first steps in her detective brothers’ path, using her genius intellect to figure out why her mother went missing and how it all ties into a conspiracy around a mysterious young lord.

    Here’s the plot for this one… Fresh off the triumph of solving her first case, Enola Holmes (Brown) follows in the footsteps of her famous brother, Sherlock (Cavill), and opens her own agency — only to find that life as a female detective-for-hire isn’t as easy as it seems.

    Resigned to accepting the cold realities of adulthood, she is about to close shop when a penniless matchstick girl offers Enola her first official job: to find her missing sister.

    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix's 'Enola Holmes 2.'
    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’

    But this case proves to be far more puzzling than expected, as Enola is thrown into a dangerous new world — from London’s sinister factories and colorful music halls to the highest echelons of society and 221B Baker Street itself.

    As the sparks of a deadly conspiracy ignite, Enola must call upon the help of friends — and Sherlock himself — to unravel her mystery. The game, it seems, has found its feet again!

    The cast this time includes the returning likes of Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge (as Tewkesbury), Susan Wokoma (as Edith) and Adeel Akhtar (as Lestrade). New to the ensemble are Sharon Duncan-Brewster and David Thewlis, the latter of whom is currently creeping audiences out in ‘The Sandman’.

    Behind the camera is the same team as the 2020 movie – director Harry Bradbeer and writer Jack Thorne, once again adapting Springer’s ‘Enola Holmes’ book series. And, of course, some credit goes to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created the Sherlock Holmes characters from which ‘Enola’ draws its inspiration.

    Netflix and the filmmakers will, of course, be hoping to avoid the legal troubles that followed the release of the original. The Conan Doyle estate brought a lawsuit claiming that the “warmer” Sherlock as portrayed by Cavill is drawn from stories that are still under copyright. The case was eventually dismissed, though in a way that points to a settlement being paid. With luck, that’ll ensure that Enola stays out of the courtroom this time – at least, off the screen.

    ‘Enola Holmes 2’ arrives on Netflix on November 4th.

    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix's 'Enola Holmes 2.'
    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’
    Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes in Netflix's 'Enola Holmes 2.'
    (L to R) Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’
    Sharon Duncan-Brewster in Netflix's 'Enola Holmes 2.'
    Sharon Duncan-Brewster in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’
    Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes in Netflix's 'Enola Holmes 2.'
    Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’
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  • TV Review: ‘The Sandman’

    Tom Sturridge as Dream in 'The Sandman.'
    Tom Sturridge as Dream in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2021.

    Arriving on Netflix August 5th, ‘The Sandman’ is the culmination of years of efforts to bring Neil Gaiman’s classic graphic novel series to screens.

    Filmmakers including Joseph Gordon-Levitt (‘Inception’), Roger Avery (‘Pulp Fiction’) and Eric Heisserer (‘Arrival’) have all tried to crack the code and bring Gaiman’s story to theaters. But in all the years of trying, no one has gotten close to making it happen. And Gaiman has gone on record as saying that one or two of the scripts he’s written (not by those listed above) are among the worst he’s ever read, let alone adaptations of his work.

    You can imagine, then, the pressure on the team looking to bring it to Netflix. Fortunately, Gaiman is fully involved this time, and while he isn’t running the show as he did with Prime Video’s ‘Good Omens’, he’s had a lot of say in what ends up on screen, including co-writing the first episode with fellow executive producers David Goyer and Allan Heinberg (the latter of whom took the lion’s share of the work).

    And, with the longer time permitted by a season of television and the hefty budget/credibility provided by Netflix, it’s a relief to say that the show really works – for the most part, at least.

    Tom Sturridge as Morpheus / Dream and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death in Netflix's 'The Sandman.'
    (L to R) Tom Sturridge as Morpheus / Dream and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

    The focus of the comics’ series (co-created by artists Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg) is the titular Sandman, called Dream, but also known as Morpheus, among other titles. He is one of the seven Endless, a family of anthropomorphic godlike beings. The other Endless are Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium (formerly Delight), and Destruction (also called ‘The Prodigal’).

    Adapting the first couple of volumes of the comics, the show kicks off with Dream (played by Tom Sturridge) unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for over a century by magician Roderick Burgess (Charles Dance) through the use of an incantation.

    Once Dream is able to finally free himself, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.

    That’s a very basic summary, especially for the sprawling source material, which has generated reams of stories and spin-offs. The show doesn’t try to squeeze everything into these initial 10 episodes, but there is plenty to see, including a trip to Hell, a convention of serial killers, a beautiful visit with one of Death’s siblings and one terrible night for the customers in a diner.

    Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian in Netflix's 'The Sandman.'
    Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

    Like the comics before it, the series functions as almost a set of short stories, linked by the overarching characters of Dream, his family and various attendants/creations/humans. There’s an episodic feel to many installments, which means that if you’re not a fan of one, the next is likely to offer something you’ll enjoy instead.

    Early on, the story is burdened by the need to set itself up, to introduce the world to newcomers (and not frustrate those who have feverishly consumed the comic across the years) and offer a briefing on Dream’s tough situation.

    It helps that you have the likes of Charles Dance in the early going, bringing gravitas and grit to roles that could so easily be cartoonish, and if Sturridge takes a little while to warm up to playing such a tricky character as Dream, he does find his stride.

    Dream could be a massive cliché, the sort of whispering goth guy who looks like a young Robert Smith (of The Cure). In Sturridge and the writers/directors’ hands, he’s a complicated, conflicted creation, rocked by his entrapment and thrown off balance by the changes to his dreaming realm upon his return.

    Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar in Netflix's 'The Sandman.'
    Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

    His quest to reacquire his magical tools – a bag of sand, a helm that looks like gas mask affixed to a spine and a ruby with terrifying powers – is sometimes the least interesting story, feeling like watching someone play a video game and collect items while battling level bosses, but it’s still filled with enough of Gaiman and co.’s creativity and creatures to make it watchable.

    One particularly disappointing aspect is the fourth episode, ‘A Hope in Hell’. Despite boasting ‘Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer, it ends up a ridiculous, poorly executed (several big effects shots look like a 1990s TV drama) battle of wills where the outcome is never in doubt.

    That, however, is entirely balanced out by the sixth episode, ‘The Sound of Her Wings’, which features one of ‘Sandman’s most iconic and beloved characters, Dream’s older sister Death.

    Eschewing the usual cloaked skeleton or otherwise imposing figure, Gaiman instead imagines her as an impish young woman, with a cheery face and a kind word to guide humans from the land of the living to “the sunless lands” once they die. Brought to life on screen by ‘The Good Place’s Kirby Howell-Baptiste, she’s a show highlight, a charming and effusive counterpoint to Dream’s gloomy, wet-eyed meandering.

    Tom Sturridge as Morpheus / Dream and Stephen Fry as Fiddler's Green / Gilbert in Netflix's 'The Sandman.'
    (L to R) Tom Sturridge as Morpheus / Dream and Stephen Fry as Fiddler’s Green / Gilbert in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

    Yet even he gets some real moments to shine in that same episode, with the other half of the running time given over to the story of Dream’s encounters with Hob Gadling (Ferdinand Kingsley), whom he first meets in 1389. The subject of a bet between Death and Dream, Hob gets his wish to become immortal and meets Dream every hundred years in the same tavern.

    We watch Hob’s fate rise and fall and Kingsley imbues him with real, deep emotion, crafting a character who watches the world change around him, sometimes using that to his advantage, other times suffering for it. It’s a magnificent performance and elevates the show around it.

    Other elements to recommend include Matthew the Raven, who aids Dream in his missions. A winning combination of superb digital effects and real birds, Matthew also benefits from a charming voice performance by Patton Oswalt.

    David Thewlis, meanwhile, brings pathos and cold sociopathy all at once to John Dee, whose ownership of Dream’s ruby goes very, very wrong. Thewlis is, in fact, like Kingsley, one of the actors whose performance is superior to the source material.

    David Thewlis as Dr. John Dee in Netflix's 'The Sandman.'
    David Thewlis as Dr. John Dee in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

    ‘The Sandman’ may never please every fan in exactly the way they hope – this is an adaptation, don’t forget – but it’s faithful where needed, spirited and fantastical. It also doesn’t shave away the more brutal ruminations on the darker side of humanity.

    Faithful fans have waited many years to see the series realized; this might be as close to correct as it’s possible to get in the visual medium.

    ‘The Sandman’ receives 4 out of 5 stars.

    Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death and Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine in Netflix's 'The Sandman.'
    (L to R) Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death and Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

  • ‘The Sandman’ Teaser Finally Confirms a Release Date

    Jenna Coleman as Johanna, Tom Sturridge as Dream in 'The Sandman.'
    (L to R) Jenna Coleman as Johanna, Tom Sturridge as Dream in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2022.

    Netflix is running its annual “Geeked Week” this week, making announcements, and releasing trailers for a host of shows and movies all themed around genre.

    One of the most exciting pieces of news is word that the long-awaited adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s classic comic series ‘The Sandman’ will launch its first season on the streaming service this coming August.

    To boil it down to the basics, the story is this: “When the Sandman, aka Dream (Tom Sturridge) — the powerful cosmic being who controls all our dreams — is unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for over a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.”

    Of course, this being Neil Gaiman, there is a lot more to it than that. A lot more.

    ‘Sandman’, for those who might be unfamiliar, was a 75-issue DC/Vertigo comics series published in the 1990s. Gaiman’s own one-line synopsis was: “The lord of dreams learns that one must change or die, and makes his decision,” yet the sprawling series takes in pantheons and mythologies from across the globe, via threads about fantastical quests, serial killers, road trips, and short stories only tangentially connected to the core narrative. Many tales featured Dream’s siblings, the Endless: Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Desire, and Delirium. There are some characters – such as members of his own family – who are happy to see Dream return, while others are not so sure this is a good thing.

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    Gaiman himself has noted that the first, 10-episode season of the Netflix show only covers to the end of ‘The Doll’s House’, the second collected trade paperback of the comics. There are 10 in all, and that doesn’t even include the many spin-off stories.

    Attempts have been made in the past to turn this one into a movie, though the streaming series format (not to mention the budget and scope afforded by the likes of Netflix) most certainly feels the natural home for something so sprawling. It’s hard to imagine a film franchise even the size of, say, ‘Harry Potter’ doing justice to what Gaiman and his various collaborators brought to the page.

    Though the writer has directly overseen adaptations of his work before (‘Good Omens’ particularly), here he was more of a consultant, with Allan Heinberg and David S. Goyer developing the series with Gaiman and then running the show.

    Alongside Sturridge, the cast includes a batch of reliable performers, genre stalwarts and new faces: Boyd Holbrook, Patton Oswalt, Vivienne Acheampong, Gwendoline Christie, Charles Dance, Jenna Coleman, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Vanesu Samunyai, John Cameron Mitchell, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joely Richardson, Niamh Walsh, Sandra James-Young, Razane Jammal and, announced as part of the news on this one, Mark Hamill, who voices fan-favorite character Merv Pumpkinhead.

    ‘The Sandman’ will return to his kingdom on August 5th via Netflix.

    Tom Sturridge as Dream in 'The Sandman.'
    Tom Sturridge as Dream in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2021.
    Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar in 'The Sandman.'
    Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix © 2022.
    Charles Dance as Roderick Burgess in 'The Sandman.'
    Charles Dance as Roderick Burgess in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Ed Miller/Netflix © 2022.
    Stephen Fry as Gilbert in 'The Sandman.'
    Stephen Fry as Gilbert in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Courtesy Of Netflix © 2022.
    Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian in 'The Sandman.'
    Boyd Holbrook as The Corinthian in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2022.
    Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne in 'The Sandman.'
    Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix © 2022.
    Tom Sturridge as Dream in 'The Sandman.'
    Tom Sturridge as Dream in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Courtesy Of Netflix © 2022.
    Jenna Coleman as Johanna, Tom Sturridge as Dream in 'The Sandman.'
    (L to R) Jenna Coleman as Johanna, Tom Sturridge as Dream in ‘The Sandman.’ Photo: Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2022.
  • Toni Collette, David Thewlis Join Charlie Kaufman Netflix Thriller

    Toni Collette, David Thewlis Join Charlie Kaufman Netflix Thriller

    A24

    Offbeat filmmaker Charlie Kaufman (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Synecdoche, New York,” “Adaptation”) has assembled an eclectic cast for his latest feature, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” which just added three stars in key roles.

    Variety broke the news that Toni Collette (“Hereditary“), David Thewlis (better known to “Harry Potter” fans as Professor Remus Lupin), and Jessie Buckley (“Taboo”) have just signed on for the Netflix thriller, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Ian Reid. They join the previously-announced lead, Jesse Plemons (“Fargo”).

    Here’s the film’s synopsis, per Variety:

    “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” follows Jake (Plemons), a man going on a road trip to meet his parents on their secluded farm with his girlfriend (Buckley), who is thinking of terminating their relationship. When Jake makes an unexpected detour leaving her stranded, a twisted mix of palpable tension, psychological frailty, and sheer terror ensues.

    When the project was first revealed late last year, Brie Larson was originally attached to star as Jake’s girlfriend (who doesn’t have a name in Reid’s novel, and we’re assuming won’t have a name in the film, either). We’re guessing Larson’s busy Marvel schedule — and the red-hot success of “Captain Marvel” — ultimately made her participation a no-go.

    But even without the Oscar winner attached, this flick certainly sounds intriguing, and the new cast members seem like a good fit for Kaufman’s unique filmmaking style. Look out for “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” on Netflix in the coming months.

    [via: Variety]