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Tag: greg kinnear

Best Football Movies To Watch On Super Bowl Sunday

Best Football Movies of All Time.

“Are you ready for some Football?”

Super Bowl LX is scheduled for Sunday, February 8th and it promises to be an unforgettable game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
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However, if you still need your football fix, Moviefone has compiled a list of 30 of the best football movies of all time for you to watch after the game.

These football movies cover what happens both on and off the field, and best of all, every movie here is streaming right now, so you can get started watching any of them immediately.

Let’s begin!

Related Article: Tyriq Withers Talks ‘HIM’ Digital Release and Working with Marlon Wayans

30. ‘The Blind Side‘ (2009)

(L to R) Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock in ‘The Blind Side.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

The story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman (Sandra Bullock) and her family
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29. ‘American Underdog‘ (2021)

American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is.
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28. ‘Radio‘ (2003)

High school football coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) befriends Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a mentally-challenged man who becomes a student at TL Hanna High School in Anderson South Carolina. Their friendship extends over several decades where Radio transforms from a shy tormented man into an inspiration to his community.
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27. ‘Gridiron Gang‘ (2006)

Under the leadership of their counselor (Dwayne Johnson), teenagers at a juvenile detention center gain selfesteem by playing football together.
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26. ‘All the Right Moves‘ (1983)

Sensitive study of a headstrong high school football star (Tom Cruise) who dreams of getting out of his small Western Pennsylvania steel town with a football scholarship. His equally ambitious coach (Craig T. Nelson) aims at a college position resulting in a clash which could crush the players dreams.
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25. ‘The Underdoggs‘ (2024)

(L to R) Snoop Dogg as Jaycen “2 J’s” Jennings and Mike Epps as Kareem in director Charles Stone III’s ‘The Underdoggs,’ an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Jacob Kemp. © 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Jaycen ‘Two Js’ Jennings (Snoop Dogg) is a washed-up former pro football star who has hit rock bottom. When he is sentenced to do community service coaching the Underdoggs, an unruly pee-wee football team in his hometown, he sees it mostly as an opportunity to rebuild his public image. But in the process, he may just turn his life around and rediscover his love of the game.
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24. ‘The Longest Yard‘ (2005)

Pro quarterback Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) and former college champion and coach Nate Scarboro (Burt Reynolds) are doing time in the same prison and are asked to put together a team of inmates to take on the guards. Crewe enlists the help of Scarboro to coach the inmates to victory in a football game fixed to turn out quite another way.
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23. ‘The Program‘ (1993)

Several players from different backgrounds try to cope with the pressures of playing football at a major university. Each deals with the pressure differently some turn to drinking others to drugs and some to studying.
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22. ‘The Best of Times‘ (1986)

A smalltown loser (Robin Williams) determines to have one more shot at the big time by winning a football game.
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21. ‘Varsity Blues‘ (1999)

In small-town Texas, high school football is a religion, 17-year-old schoolboys carry the hopes of an entire community onto the gridiron every Friday night. When star quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) suffers an injury, the Coyotes are forced to regroup under the questionable leadership of John Moxon (James Van Der Beek), a second-string quarterback with a slightly irreverent approach to the game.
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20. ‘The Longest Yard‘ (1974)

Burt Reynolds in 1974’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

A football player-turned-convict (Burt Reynolds) organizes a team of inmates to play against a team of prison guards. His dilemma is that the warden (Eddie Albert) asks him to throw the game in return for an early release but he is also concerned about the inmates lack of self-esteem.

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19. ‘The Waterboy‘ (1998)

Bobby Boucher (Adam Sandler) is a water boy for a struggling college football team. The coach (Henry Winkler) discovers Boucher’s hidden rage makes him a tackling machine whose bone-crushing power might vault his team into the playoffs.
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18. ‘Jerry Maguire‘ (1996)

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) used to be a typical sports agent willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients plus a nice commission for himself. Then one day he suddenly has second thoughts about what he’s really doing. When he voices these doubts he ends up losing his job and all of his clients save Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) an egomaniacal football player.
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17. ‘Invincible‘ (2006)

Inspired by the true story of Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a man with nothing to lose who ignored the staggering odds and made his dream come true. When the coach of Papale’s beloved hometown football team hosted an unprecedented open tryout, the public consensus was that it was a waste of time – no one good enough to play professional football was going to be found this way.
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16. ‘Leatherheads‘ (2008)

A light hearted comedy about the beginnings of Professional American Football. When a decorated war hero (George Clooney) and college all star (John Krasinski) is tempted into playing professional football. Everyone see the chance to make some big money, but when a reporter digs up some dirt on the war hero… everyone could lose out.
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15. ‘HIM‘ (2025)

Marlon Wayans is Isaiah (back, pointing) and Tyriq Withers is Cam (foreground) in ‘HIM’, directed by Justin Tipping. Photo: Universal Pictures.

After suffering a potentially career-ending brain trauma, Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) receives a lifeline when his hero, legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife. But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker.
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14. ‘Necessary Roughness‘ (1991)

When the Texas Southern Armadillos football team is disqualified for cheating and poor grades, the University is forced to pick from a team that actually goes to school. Will they even win a single game?
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13. ‘North Dallas Forty‘ (1979)

A semi-fictional account of life as a professional football player. Loosely based on the Dallas Cowboys team of the early 1970s.
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12. ‘80 for Brady‘ (2023)

Inspired by the true story of four best friends (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Field) living life to the fullest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their hero Tom Brady play.
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11. ‘Draft Day‘ (2014)

At the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner) has the opportunity to rebuild his team when he trades for the number one pick. He must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with NFL dreams.
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10. ‘The Replacements‘ (2000)

Keanu Reeves in ‘The Replacements’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Maverick old-guard coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) is hired in the wake of a players’ strike to help the Washington Sentinels advance to the playoffs. But that impossible dream hinges on whether his replacements can hunker down and do the job, including washed up Quarterback Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves). So, McGinty dusts off his secret dossier of ex-players who never got a chance (or screwed up the one they were given) and knits together a bad-dream team of guys who just may give the Sentinels their title shot.
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9. ‘Brian’s Song‘ (1971)

Based on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying.
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8. ‘Heaven Can Wait‘ (1978)

Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty) is a quarterback preparing to lead his team to the Super Bowl when he is almost killed in an accident. An overanxious angel plucks him to heaven only to discover that he wasn’t ready to die, and that his body has been cremated. A new body must be found, and that of a recently-murdered millionaire is chosen. His wife and accountant—the murderers—are confused by this development, as he buys the L.A. Rams in order to once again quarterback them into the Super Bowl.
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7. ‘Wildcats‘ (1986)

Molly (Goldie Hawn) is a high school track coach who knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet. When a football coach’s position becomes vacant, she applies for the job, despite snickers from fellow staff members and her former husband.
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6. ‘We Are Marshall‘ (2006)

When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team’s new coach (Matthew McConaughey) and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.
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5. ‘The Last Boy Scout‘ (1991)

(L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in ‘The Last Boy Scout’. Photo: Warner Bros.

When the girl (Halle Berry) that detective Joe Hallenback (Bruce Willis) is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend (Damon Wayans) of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of a pro football team.
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4. ‘Rudy‘ (1993)

Rudy (Sean Austin) grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of five people and has set his sights upon joining the team.
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3. ‘Friday Night Lights‘ (2004)

A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles (Derek Luke), is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town’s dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) to instill in the other team members — and, by proxy, the town itself — a sense of self-respect and honor.
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2. ‘Remember the Titans‘ (2000)

After leading his football team to 15 winning seasons, coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) is demoted and replaced by Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) – tough, opinionated and as different from the beloved Yoast as he could be. The two men learn to overcome their differences and turn a group of hostile young men into champions.
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1. ‘Any Given Sunday‘ (1999)

(L to R) Jamie Foxx, Al Pacino and Denis Quaid in ‘Any Given Sunday’. Photo: Warner Bros.

A star quarterback (Dennis Quaid) gets knocked out of the game and an unknown third stringer (Jamie Foxx) is called in to replace him. The unknown gives a stunning performance and forces the ageing coach (Al Pacino) to reevaluate his game plans and life. A new co-owner/president (Cameron Diaz) adds to the pressure of winning. The new owner must prove herself in a male dominated world.
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February 8, 2026
TV Review: ‘Smoke’
Taron Egerton in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

‘Smoke’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

Released on Apple TV+ on June 27th with its first two episodes, ‘Smoke’ marks the reunion of ‘Black Bird’ creator Dennis Lehane and star/producer Taron Egerton for a new drama adapted from the Truth Media podcast ‘Firebug’.

The cast for the new crime drama also includes Jurnee Smollett (‘The Order’), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (‘The Lincoln Lawyer’), Hannah Emily Anderson (‘Jigsaw’), Rafe Spall (‘The Big Short’), John Leguizamo (‘Encanto’) and Greg Kinnear (‘Little Miss Sunshine’).

Related Article: Taron Egerton Investigates Arson in First Images from TV Drama ‘Smoke’

Initial Thoughts

Taron Egerton in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

When Egerton and novelist/screenwriter/showrunner Lehane last teamed up, it was for the aforementioned ‘Black Bird’, an adaptation of James Keene’s and Hillel Levin’s book book ‘In with the Devil’, which saw a prisoner (Egerton) tasked with gathering intel on a serial killer fellow inmate (Paul Walter Hauser).

The result was a critical success, and won several awards, including both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Hauser.

Hopes are therefore high for the reunion of writer and star, with the pair this time targeting Truth Media podcast ‘Firebug’ as the inspiration for a new limited series set in the world of serial arsonists. But can it live up to the pressure of prior expectations?

Script and Direction

Taron Egerton in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

‘Smoke’ features Lehane running the show again, sharing script duties with fellow writers Adriane McCray (‘War for the Planet of the Apes’) and Molly Anne Miller (‘Long Slow Exhale’).

Here’s the big problem with writing about the limited series: it’s hard to get into its exact issues without diving into spoiler territory. If you’ve heard the podcast or the case that it follows, you’ll know what actually happens, though Lehane and his team have only used the real-life story as loose inspiration, moving the narrative from California to the Pacific Northwest and inventing plenty to supplement it.

In keeping with much of prestige TV, this is a slow burn story, one that initially coasts on the sheer charisma of Egerton and Smollett, and only hinting at the darker story to come. It takes a while to really come to life, but once the plot kicks in around episode five (of nine), things take a more satisfying turn.

Greg Kinnear in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

This is certainly moody and thoughtful, and goes to some shocking places later on, but it requires some patience.

“Dark” might also describe the directorial style of the show, which opts for shadowy interiors and misty, dreary treescapes and industrial sites (despite its Pacific Northwest setting, it was shot in Vancouver).

But directors Jim McKay, Joe Chappelle and Kari Skogland do manage to fan the flames of interest, and guide the cast towards some memorable performances.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Initially, this feels like the Taron and Jurnee show (with a few supporting turns, more on them below), but as the limited series opens out, the rest of the cast get their chance.

Egerton is naturally strong in this sort of conflicted, dramatic role, showing the same chops as he did in ‘Black Bird’ (and some of his movie performances), and playing Gundersen also allows him to have a little fun in a warped sort of way.

He’s just as good whether he’s giving egotistical speeches about how fires can spread as when he’s trying to knuckle down into domestic life with his wife and step-son. One moment that will sear itself into your brain involves Egerton’s character dancing in his underwear to a David Bowie song.

As cop Michelle Calderone, Smollett is easily his equal, her own conflicted personal life spilling into her professional world. She brings a seething, quiet power to the part, and when she launches an investigation later in the series, it feels like the performance really kicks in.

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine is excellent as Freddy Fasano, one of the fire-starters on the loose. While his story initially seems to be siloed from the rest of the cast, it doesn’t diminish his pure dramatic power. And an interaction with Egerton is memorable for its chaos.

(L to R) John Leguizamo and Anna Chlumsky in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Elsewhere, there’s the likes of John Leguizamo, who is fantastic as Esposito, Dave’s bitter former partner who has an axe to grind against him, while Greg Kinnear offers plenty as Harvey Englehart, Dave’s boss. He’s both convinced that Dave is an ace arson, but also somewhat checked out, planning his retirement.

Hannah Emily Anderson as Ashley, Dave’s wife, has less to do but does enjoy a few decent moments.

Finally, Rafe Spall likewise has a smaller role (at least in the early going), but is superbly snippy as Calderone’s boss/boyfriend and in his antagonistic professional relationship with Englehart.

Final Thoughts

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine in ‘Smoke’, premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

‘Smoke’ is a show that might end up severely testing the patience of some, but if you stick with it, the series catches fire in a way that, while many will predict how, is still worth watching.

It may not be on the level of ‘Black Bird,’ but it still works.
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What’s the plot of ‘Smoke’?

‘Smoke’ follows a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists.

Taron Egerton stars as Dave Gudsen, the man with the talent for digging into fire crimes, while Jurnee Smollett is police detective Michelle Calderone.

Who stars in ‘Smoke’?
- Taron Egerton
- Jurnee Smollett
- Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine
- Hannah Emily Anderson
- Rafe Spall
- John Leguizamo
- Greg Kinnear
Taron Egerton in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

List of Taron Egerton Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Testament of Youth‘ (2015)
- ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service‘ (2014)
- ‘Legend‘ (2015)
- ‘Eddie the Eagle‘ (2016)
- ‘Sing‘ (2016)
- ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle‘ (2017)
- ‘Billionaire Boys Club‘ (2018)
- ‘Robin Hood‘ (2018)
- ‘Rocketman‘ (2019)
- ‘Sing 2‘ (2021)
- ‘Black Bird‘ (2022)
- ‘Tetris‘ (2023)
- ‘Carry-On‘ (2024)
Buy Taron Egerton Movies on Amazon
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July 1, 2025
‘Smoke’ Exclusive Interview: Taron Egerton
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Premiering on Apple TV+ beginning June 27th is the new series ‘Smoke’, which is based on the popular podcast, ‘Firebug’. Created by Dennis Lehane (‘Mystic River’), the show stars Taron Egerton (‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’), Jurnee Smollett (‘Birds of Prey’), John Leguizamo (‘John Wick’), and Greg Kinnear (‘As Good as It Gets’).

Related Article: Taron Egerton Talks ‘Tetris’ and Playing Video Game Designer Henk Rogers

Taron Egerton stars in ‘Smoke’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Taron Egerton about his work on ‘Smoke’, the podcast it is based on, what fascinated him about the character, and working with actress Jurnee Smollett.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Egerton, Jurnee Smollett, Greg Kinnear, Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, and series creator Dennis Lehane.

Taron Egerton in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Moviefone: To begin with, what was it about the podcast, ‘Firebug’, that made you think this would make an interesting series?

Taron Egerton: Well, I think the podcast ‘Firebug’ that you mentioned, it is such an intriguing, unnerving, and arresting story. It has this kind of central conundrum to it, which is what is going on with this guy? The real guy is called John, although my character in this is called Dave Goodson. He defies figuring out, really, and that, of course, is a hugely interesting and fertile territory to spin a drama out from. I remember when Kary (Antholis), the host of that podcast and the producer of ‘Black Bird’ and this, when he and Dennis first started discussing things, it was amazing to watch Dennis ignite his creativity over it and start spinning it off in different directions and suddenly to create these other characters, some of whom are rooted in real people, but very greatly expanded on. I think in answer to your question, he’s just such a mad, fascinating character. Why would somebody do this?

(L to R) Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

MF: Finally, what was it like working with Jurnee Smollett and building the relationship between those two characters?

TE: A delight. Acting is always a very cyclical thing, so you give and receive energy. The best actors are the ones that are most alive to each other, I think. Jurnee does an incredible job of playing a character with tremendous weight and trauma, but also staying very available, alive and creative and bringing lightness to that in the moment. We had a time building this bizarre relationship, because it’s very complicated. On the one hand, I think, certainly in the first instance, they are intrigued and charmed by one another, and then it becomes competitive, and then it becomes very charged and adversarial. By the end of the show, it’s strange and bitter and dark. I can’t imagine anyone better or more talented to have done that with. It was great to have such a great, talented partner in Jurnee.

Editorial Note: James White conducted this interview and contributed to this article.
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What is the plot of ‘Smoke’?

A detective (Jurnee Smollett) and an arson investigator (Taron Egerton) work together to stop two serial arsonists in the Pacific Northwest.

Who is in the cast of ‘Smoke’?
- Taron Egerton as Dave Gudsen
- Jurnee Smollett as Detective Michell Calderon
- John Leguizamo as Esposito
- Rafe Spall as Steven Burk
- Greg Kinnear as Harvey Englehart
- Ntare Mwine as Freddy Fasano
- Hannah Emily Anderson as Ashley Gudsen
- Adina Porter as Brenda Cephus
- Dakota Daulby as Lee
- Michael Buie as Gerard
Taron Egerton in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

List of Taron Egerton Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Testament of Youth‘ (2015)
- ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service‘ (2014)
- ‘Legend‘ (2015)
- ‘Eddie the Eagle‘ (2016)
- ‘Sing‘ (2016)
- ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle‘ (2017)
- ‘Billionaire Boys Club‘ (2018)
- ‘Robin Hood‘ (2018)
- ‘Rocketman‘ (2019)
- ‘Sing 2‘ (2021)
- ‘Black Bird‘ (2022)
- ‘Tetris‘ (2023)
- ‘Carry-On‘ (2024)
Buy Taron Egerton Movies on Amazon
June 26, 2025
First Images of Taron Egerton in Crime Drama ‘Smoke’
(L to R) Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Preview:
- Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett feature in the first images from new Apple TV+ drama ‘Smoke.’
- Dennis Lehane is writing the show.
- It adapts the acclaimed podcast ‘Firebug.’
Taron Egerton continues to be a busy man, and has been adding more projects where he’s a producer as well as star.

He’s also back with Apple TV+, where he found success with ‘Black Bird,’ and this time he’s found a project that is –– pun entirely intended and unapologetically deployed –– hot.
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‘Smoke’ is a new crime drama that will see Egerton in a lead role alongside ‘The Order’s Jurnee Smollett.

The eight-episode new series will see them digging into a complicated arson case (more on that below).

Related Article: Taron Egerton Talks ‘Tetris’ and Playing Video Game Designer Henk Rogers

What’s the story of ‘Smoke’?

Greg Kinnear in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

‘Smoke’ follows a troubled detective and an enigmatic arson investigator as they pursue the trails of two serial arsonists.

Egerton stars as the man with the talent for digging into fire crimes, Dave Gudsen, while Smollett is police detective Michelle Calderone.

Perhaps most excitingly, especially to crime genre fans, the show has writing legend Dennis Lehane crafting all the episodes. Lehane, of course, already worked on ‘Black Bird’ with Egerton.

And like that, this is inspired by a true story. Here, it’s a fictional tale inspired by truth.media’s acclaimed ‘Firebug’ podcast, which was hosted by Oscar and Emmy-winner Kary Antholis.

On the directing side of things, Kari Skogland (who produces alongside Egerton and Lehane), Joe Chappelle, and Jim McKay will call the shots.

Who else appears in ‘Smoke’?

(L to R) John Leguizamo and Anna Chlumsky in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

The cast of also features Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Anna Chlumsky, Adina Porter, Greg Kinnear and John Leguizamo.

What else is Taron Egerton working on?

Taron Egerton in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Egerton is typically in demand at the moment –– he was last on screens in Netflix airport thriller ‘Carry-On’ and has a few projects on the go in addition to ‘Smoke.’

He recently shot director Nick Rowland’s movie ‘She Rides Shotgun,’ about a girl who is marked for death and must fight and steal to stay alive, learning from the most frightening man she knows: her father.

The film, an adaptation of Jordan Harper’s award-winning novel, will see Egerton as Nate the father figure, a former gang member whose old cohorts put a hit on his family when he gets out of prison.

There’s also a new action movie from filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur called ‘Apex’, with Charlize Theron as an adrenaline junkie who sets out to conquer a menacing river, only to discover that nature isn’t the only thing out for blood. Egerton is filming that one right now, with Eric Bana also in the cast.

And finally, we have the ever-present possibility of a third ‘Kingsman’ movie, with Matthew Vaughn aiming to wrap up his spy trilogy with ‘Kingsman: The Blue Blood.’

Yet following some financial flops for the director, the 20th Century Studios team seemed to indicate that we might not see the final ride for Egerton’s Eggsy and Colin Firth’s Harry Hart.

But Egerton has been more positive on the subject, saying this to Screen Rant:

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to speak out of school, but I don’t think that necessarily means that we won;t do it. I think Matthew and I very much want to do one more. I want to do one more. And so while, you know, we don’t have a shoot date yet, I think it could still happen.”

That said, we’ve yet to see real forward movement, so file this under “maybe” for now.

Where else can we see Jurnee Smollett?

Jurnee Smollett in ‘Smoke,’ premiering June 27, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Smollett, who was most recently found in another law enforcement role, this time with the FBI, in ‘The Order.’

Coming up, she is preparing to work on ‘Sunflower,’ a new thriller about two women struggling to escape from a college professor who holds them hostage on a prison-like sunflower farm.

Scott Speedman is co-starring in that movie, which comes from writer/director Misha Green, who worked with Smollett on ‘Lovecraft Country.’

When will ‘Smoke’ arrive on the Apple TV+ service?

Apple has confirmed that the first two episodes will launch on Friday, June 27th, with a new episode weekly until the finale on August 8th.

Taron Egerton stars in ‘Tetris,’ premiering March 31, 2023 on Apple TV+.

List of Taron Egerton Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Testament of Youth‘ (2015)
- ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service‘ (2014)
- ‘Legend‘ (2015)
- ‘Eddie the Eagle‘ (2016)
- ‘Sing‘ (2016)
- ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle‘ (2017)
- ‘Billionaire Boys Club‘ (2018)
- ‘Robin Hood‘ (2018)
- ‘Rocketman‘ (2019)
- ‘Sing 2‘ (2021)
- ‘Black Bird‘ (2022)
- ‘Tetris‘ (2023)
- ‘Carry-On‘ (2024)
Buy Taron Egerton Movies on Amazon
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April 16, 2025
‘Sight’ Exclusive Interview: Greg Kinnear
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Opening in theaters on May 24th is the new medical drama ‘Sight’, which is based on the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, a Chinese immigrant to the United States who became a renowned eye surgeon.

The film was directed by Andrew Hyatt (‘Paul, Apostle of Christ‘), and stars Terry Chen (‘Almost Famous’) and Ben Wang (‘American Born Chinese’) as Dr. Wang, Oscar-nominee Greg Kinnear (‘As Good as It Gets’) as Dr. Misha Bartnovsky and Fionnula Flanagan (‘Yes Man’) as Sister Marie.

(L to R) Terry Chen and Greg Kinnear in ‘Sight’. Photo: Angel Studios.

Related Article: ‘American Born Chinese’ Star Ben Wang Cast in new ‘Karate Kid’

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Greg Kinnear about his work on ‘Sight’, his first reaction to the screenplay and the true story it is based on, his approach to his character, Misha and Ming’s friendship, working with Terry Chen, collaborating on set with director Andrew Hyatt, the message of the movie, and being the real Dr. Wang’s favorite actor.

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

Greg Kinnear talks ‘Sight’.

Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and learning about Dr. Ming Wang and his incredible story?

Greg Kinnear: Well, timing is a funny thing, and I was in the middle of COVID, as many of us were, and I got sent this script by a producer that I had worked with before. He was like, “Now listen, I’m sending this to you, but I have to tell you if you want to do it, we’re shooting it up in Canada and you have to go live in a house that you can’t leave for two weeks.” So, it took me a while to pick this up off the coffee table. But I did, and I, of course, was obviously quite taken with the story and I think it put things in perspective very quickly of my woe-is-me moment. So, a little quarantine and then straight to work on this film that I thought was quite powerful. Certainly Dr. Wang’s story is incredible in the sense of true adversity. I don’t think a lot of people can imagine the kind of poverty and difficulty that he sustained. The Cultural Revolution, which I knew nothing about, in China is quite amazing. Plenty of books to read about that too, but it’s told nicely in Andrew’s movie in a way that I don’t know how they did it. Everybody you see in this movie had a mask on prior to shooting any scene that was shot, and it’s quite amazing to me. I was taken with it and just thought, “Wow, this is a hell of an immigrant story,” and there’s not a lot of Asian American stories told cinematically, so I was happy to join.

MF: Can you talk about your approach to playing Dr. Misha Bartnovsky and your research into the medical work that he and Dr. Wang are doing?

GK: Well, that’s all fake. I’m an actor and I know nothing. Fortunately, Ming was on set periodically, and what a great, incredible, invaluable resource he was. This is a relatively small movie, and to try to sell a lot of the sense that these guys are really doing the work that he was doing, there’s a kind of a trick to that. More than anything, I think it’s just making it feel true and accurate, and he was a great resource just in terms of, both for Terry, who plays him, and myself, of kind of giving us a sense of not only the technical side of what they do and what they’re doing, the science of that, but also of their relationship. Listen, in a romantic comedy, I’m the goofy friend who’s just off on the side. It really is a through line of Ming’s story, and Terry does a great job of it. But I mean, it starts from childhood. It takes you through China and the Cultural Revolution before coming to the United States. He faced all sorts of adversity, financial difficulty, racism and a lot of stuff that is chronicled in this movie. But in the part that I’m in, he’s struggling with this surgery, that he is kind of being haunted by his past to perform. I mean, Misha Bartonovsky, his friend, is basically a springboard and maybe a silent guide and a mirror for him to work off, but it’s really his story.

(L to R) Terry Chen and Greg Kinnear in ‘Sight’. Photo: Angel Studios.

MF: Can you talk about Misha and Ming’s friendship and the way your character really supports and encourages him?

GK: I think you’re right. That is basically what the through line is, and I feel like when you’re facing a friend whose kind of crippled with doubt, it’s cheerleading and its confidence building. I’m playing Tony Robbins. He’s basically trying to invigorate his own confidence and his own belief in himself. So strangely, it’s a friendship, maybe a father-ship traditionally as well in a way, but he’s a difficult subject because, at least in the story we’re telling, he doesn’t give himself a lot of breaks, and so that was the challenge of it.

What was it like working with actor Terry Chen?

GK: Well, as I said, we were kind of locked up for a couple of weeks before we ever met, and so this was the first thing I had done. This was early on, when doing a movie was kind of impossible. I mean, to be fair, I would’ve loved seeing any human being at that point, but it was particularly nice to meet Terry who has just a lovely disposition and really cared about the story. When your character’s based upon a relationship, obviously, and you don’t know who that person is, you never know what you’re going to get, but it was quite easy working with him. He was wonderful, and I hope he feels the same way.

(L to R) Mia SwamiNathan, Fionnula Flanagan and Terry Chen in ‘Sight’. Photo: Angel Studios.

MF: You’ve worked with some legendary filmmakers throughout your career, what was your experience like collaborating with director Andrew Hyatt on this film?

GK: Andrew was great. I started talking to him about it. I mean, I think the thing we probably worked on a little bit was just adding some levity to their relationship, and at the same time zeroing in on what sort of guideposts there were in terms of the story, in terms of how Misha is affecting Terry on any of the journey. I hadn’t worked with him before. I had worked with one of the producers before. I mean, I guess part of the job is you hope to get there and feel like whatever the set is or whatever the situation is that you’re working in, that it feels real, and it feels truthful. I mean, this movie spans his time in China, his time through MIT, and most of what I’m doing with him is in this laboratory. There’s a little bit of expanse outside of that, but it’s a small portion of the story. But you want it to feel real and you want it to be set up with other actors and sets and environment that feels real. In a world where every scene you see in the movie, people were wearing masks right up to the point they said, “Action.” I thought he did a really nice job.

MF: Is it nice being a part of a project that also has an important message at its core?

GK: I think it is. I try not to pick movies for message, but I do think that the underlying idea of this was certainly inspiring to me when I read it as a guy who was moaning and bitching about COVID. Suddenly you read what this guy went through and the story that he went through, and I thought, “Wow, that’s a story worth telling.”

Ben Wang as Young Ming in ‘Sight’. Photo: Angel Studios.

MF: Finally, is true that you are the real Dr. Wang’s favorite actor? Is that how you got cast in this movie?

GK: I don’t know if that’s true or not. I think one of the producers told me that. I’m elated to hear that. I don’t know what it was. I’m not sure what movie, but for whatever reason, yes, I guess he liked me being in the movie. So, he didn’t reject me when my headshot flew across his desk, I guess.
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What is the plot of ‘Sight’?

‘Sight’, follows the inspiring true story of Ming Wang (Terry Chen and Ben Wang), an impoverished Chinese prodigy who flees Communist China to become a pioneering eye surgeon in America. When tasked with restoring the sight of an orphan (Mia SwamiNathan) who was blinded by her stepmother, he must confront the trauma of living through the violent uprising in his youth, the Cultural Revolution.

Who is in the cast of ‘Sight’?
- Terry Chen as Dr. Ming Wang
- Greg Kinnear as Dr. Misha Bartnovsky
- Ben Wang as Young Ming
- Fionnula Flanagan as Sister Marie
- Wai Ching Ho as Alian
- Danni Wang as Anle
- Raymond Ma as Zhensheng
- Mia SwamiNathan as Kajal
- Jeffrey Pai as Lao Bin
Ben Wang as Young Ming in ‘Sight’. Photo: Angel Studios.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Sight’:
- ‘Awakenings‘ (1990)
- ‘Scent of a Woman‘ (1992)
- ‘Article 99‘ (1992)
- ‘Malice‘ (1993)
- ‘Extreme Measures‘ (1996)
- ‘At First Sight‘ (1999)
- ‘John Q‘ (2002)
- ‘Extraordinary Measures‘ (2010)
- ‘Contagion‘ (2011)
- ‘Side Effects‘ (2013)
- ‘The Ticket‘ (2016)
- ‘All I See Is You‘ (2017)
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May 22, 2024
Apple TV+’s ‘Black Bird’ Interview: Paul Walter Hauser
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Golden Globe winner Paul Walter Hauser has also been nominated at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series, along with his co-star Taron Egerton, for their work on the Apple TV+ miniseries ‘Black Bird.’

What is the true story behind ‘Black Bird’ and what is the miniseries about?

‘Black Bird’ is based on the true story of Larry Hall, who in 1995 was sent to prison for the kidnapping of a 15-year-old girl who went missing in 1993, although he was suspected multiple murders the police could not prove.

In 1998, former football star Jimmy Keene was arrested in a drug and firearms case and sentenced to ten years in prison. The FBI makes Jimmy an offer, befriend Larry in a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane and get him to confess to the murders, and Jimmy’s sentence will be commuted, or don’t and he will be forced to serve his full sentence.

Who stars in ‘Black Bird?’

‘Black Bird’ stars Taron Egerton (‘Rocketman’) as James “Jimmy” Keene, and Paul Walter Hauser (‘Richard Jewell’) as Lawrence “Larry” Hall. In addition, the cast includes Sepideh Moafi (‘The Killing of Two Lovers’), Greg Kinnear (‘As Good as It Gets’), Robert Wisdom (‘Motherless Brooklyn’), and Ray Liotta (‘Goodfellas’).

How many 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards was ‘Black Bird’ nominated for?

Both Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser were nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Paul Walter Hauser about his work on ‘Black Bird,’ as well as his SAG award nomination and the true story the series is based on.

Paul Walter Hauser stars in ‘Black Bird,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Hauser about ‘Black Bird.’

Moviefone: To begin with, you recently won a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award for this series, and have now been nominated for a SAG Award. How does it feel to be nominated for this award from your peers?

Paul Walter Hauser: It feels really good. It’s the kind of award show that you hope you get to attend or be nominated for because you’re voted on by your peers, some of your heroes, and some of your collaborators. We really are a big community, so the fact that I’ve been nominated alongside these other guys it means more to me than an Academy Award. It’s amazing.

MF: Can you talk about your approach to playing real life character Larry Hall in this series?

PWH: In a way, playing real characters can be easier than playing entirely fabricated ones because you have materials, you about their backstory, you have photographs, sometimes you have video footage, and that can be very helpful. What’s difficult about it is you really have to get it accurate. You have people judging it a bit differently than if it were just some made up character. So there’s a lot of pressure, and it’s also really scary.

The fear I have with some characters, like the racist idiot that I played in ‘BlacKkKlansman’ or the serial killer Larry Hall, you never want it to enter into a lane of unbelievability and have it be almost too crazy, and become comedic or hard to ground. So the key really is trying to be specific, ground the character in a sense of reality, and then commit to that.

Paul Walter Hauser in ‘Black Bird,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

Related Article: Taron Egerton Talks ‘Black Bird’

MF: What was the most challenging aspect of playing this character?

PWH: Keeping the voice is difficult. There were days I did it better than others, and there are moments in the show where I look at it and go, I wish I would’ve done that a little bit differently. But I would say that, and having to think the thoughts of Larry. Some of the things Larry says about his crimes are just so dark and disgusting, and disturbing that I have to think those thoughts. I have to imagine him, me doing that, or it isn’t going to be real in the eyes. You can always tell if an actor’s full of crap by looking at their eyes, and I had to own that and that was not fun. That was very difficult.

MF: Was this a difficult character for you to shake after the production was over?

PWH: I guess I just am able to differentiate myself from the character. I have better hygiene than him. I had a better childhood than him. I have faith in a God that I can’t see, but I may as well because of the belief I have. These are all things Larry didn’t have. I had a mass amount of friends growing up. Larry probably could have used some friends. He could have used some people that grounded him and made him feel seen. Who knows, he may have went a whole different path. So I think I just have the cognizance of mine to know that you’re Paul, not Larry and I have a million flaws too, but they’re not Larry’s flaws, that’s for sure.

MF: Finally, what was it like for you to work with Taron Egerton on this project?

PWH: Now I’ve worked with some great actors. I’ve gotten to work alongside Vince Vaughn and Sam Rockwell, and Emma Thompson and Marisa Tomei. Taron really is one of the greats right now, and between ‘Rocketman’ and ‘Black Bird,’ he’s just a must see for me. I’m always going to want to watch whatever he’s doing, because I want to see what he does with it. He’s a brilliant actor and a really kind man, and I’m proud to call him a friend.

(L to R) Paul Walter Hauser and Taron Egerton in ‘Black Bird,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

Movies Similar to ‘Black Bird:’
- ‘The Crossing Guard‘ (1995)
- ‘All Good Things‘ (2010)
- ‘Prisoners‘ (2013)
- ‘Dark Places‘ (2015)
- ‘BlacKkKlansman‘ (2018)
- ‘Richard Jewell‘ (2019)
- ‘The Little Things‘ (2021)
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February 20, 2023
Taron Egerton Talks ‘Black Bird’

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Premiering on Apple TV+ beginning July 8th is the new six-part miniseries entitled ‘Black Bird,’ which is based on the book “In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption’ by author James Keene.

Created by novelist Dennis Lehane (‘Mystic River’), the series follows James Keene (Taron Egerton), who is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum-security prison but cuts a deal with the FBI to befriend a suspected serial killer for an early release. Now, Keene has to elicit a confession from Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) to find the bodies of as many as eighteen women.

The series also features Greg Kinnear, Sepideh Moafi, and the late Ray Liotta.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Taron Egerton about his work on ‘Black Bird.’

Taron Egerton in “Black Bird,” premiering globally July 8, 2022 on Apple TV+.

You can read our full interview with Taron Egerton below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Egerton, Greg Kinnear, Sepideh Moafi, and Dennis Lehane.

Moviefone: To begin with, were you aware of the true story the series is based on before shooting, and what was your initial reaction to the screenplay?

Taron Egerton: I was aware of the story actually, but only in relation to the prospect of me playing it. I think there’ve been conversations between the producers, especially Bradley Thomas, and one of my representatives in the couple of years in the run up to me being offered it.

It’s just an undeniably great bit of writing. Of course, Dennis’ name is enough to peak your interest, because of everything he’s done. When I read it, I was just completely engrossed and compelled, and wanted to know what happened. I also recognized an opportunity for me to do something that I hadn’t really done before with the character.

Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser in “Black Bird,” premiering globally July 8, 2022 on Apple TV+.

MF: Finally, you have played real-life people in the past, most recently as Elton John in ‘Rocketman.’ What type of research do you do when you are playing a real-person, and do you feel a sense of responsibility when you are playing a living person as opposed to a fictional character?

TE: Yes, I do. Of course, you don’t want that person to be unhappy with what you do. But also, my primary responsibility is to the script and to serve the script rather than to serve the person I’m playing. It’s always got to be that I’m playing the character that’s on the page before the person in real life, because those things are different. Personally, I feel that we get a little bit preoccupied with the idea of factual accuracy, or a carbon copy of playing someone who’s real, because it’s always you. It’s always as if you had lived a different life. You can’t really play someone else. You can only bring your own experiences to a role, but it was such an exciting story, ‘Black Bird.’

I suppose I recognized things in the character that were less like me, but also elements of it that I did recognize in myself. I just thought it was a brilliant opportunity, to do something that was such a counterpoint to Elton, with his sparkly shoes that are seven inches off the ground, flamboyance and sure charisma. This guy’s much more grounded. He’s hyper masculine, I suppose, whereas Elton was played with the idea of masculinity with what he wore and how he behaved. Yeah, it’s just a joy to be able to do something so different after the Elton John movie, ‘Rocketman.’

Taron Egerton in “Black Bird,” premiering globally July 8, 2022 on Apple TV+.

July 7, 2022
Courteney Cox and Greg Kinnear Talk ‘Shining Vale’

(L to R) Greg Kinnear and Courteney Cox in Starz’s ‘Shining Vale.’

Premiering March 6th on Starz is the new horror comedy series ‘Shining Vale,’ which stars Courteney Cox (‘Friends’) and Greg Kinnear (‘As Good as It Gets’). The series also features Oscar winner Mira Sorvino (‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion’), Rob Morrow (‘Quiz Show’), Sherilyn Fenn (‘Wild at Heart’), Dylan Gage (‘Stranger Things’), Gus Birney (‘Jessica Jones’), Merrin Dungey (‘Greenland’), and Judith Light (‘tick, tick…BOOM!’).

The series follows a dysfunctional family that moves from the city to a small town after Patricia “Pat” Phelps (Cox), a former “wild child” who became famous through writing raunchy female empowerment novels, is caught cheating on her husband (Kinnear). The house the family moves into is a place where terrible atrocities have taken place. But nobody seems to suspect anything odd except for Pat, who’s convinced she’s been possessed by a demon.

Moviefone recently had the opportunity to speak with both Courteney Cox and Greg Kinnear about their work on ‘Shining Vale.’
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You can read our interview with Courtney Cox and Greg Kinnear below, or click on the video player above to watch all of our interviews for ‘Shining Vale’ with Cox and Kinnear, as well as Mira Sorvino, Merrin Dungey, Dylan Gage, Gus Birney, and Judith Light.

Moviefone: To begin with, Courteney, what was your first reaction when you read the screenplay for ‘Shining Vale?’

Courteney Cox: I thought how lucky I would be to get this part. So, I could play all of those different facets of Pat’s personality and what she’s going through, from the depression, to the mental illness, to the possession, a mom of a teenage daughter, which I have, to marital strife. The whole thing, it just was a character that I’ve never experienced before, and never played. I was so excited.

MF: Greg, what was your first reaction to the script?

Greg Kinnear: I loved it. I wasn’t sure what it was, truthfully. I didn’t know if it was comedy with horror or horror with comedy. And a mystery with both. It’s a lot of different things. But at the end of the day, it seemed like a family in peril and if we could kind of tap into that and make that real, I felt like the show could have a really interesting tone. I think it does.

Listen, I hadn’t worked with Courteney before and it was wonderful. She’s wonderful in this role. I knew she was going to be. I just knew it was going to work. It was going to be great and kind of effortless working with her. I guess that could have surprised me, but it didn’t. I had a blast and we had some spooky times doing it too, which was great.

(L to R) Greg Kinnear, Gus Birney, Dylan Gage, and Courteney Cox in Starz’s ‘Shining Vale.’

MF: Courteney, can you talk about Pat’s writer’s block and why she has been unable to write her second novel for 17 years?

CC: I think that she got depressed. She just felt lonely. She felt trapped. Every day was the same for her. She stopped drinking so she her life is just you’re going through that phase where you’re having a midlife crisis and menopause, all of it. Probably the menopause got the midlife crisis going, but I think that she just was just dried out.

MF: Finally, Greg, can you talk about the family’s move from the city to the country? Does Terry think the move will help improve his marriage?

GK: It’s a Hail Mary pass. He’s a man whose wife has had an indiscretion and I think he’s trying to heal all these wounds. It’s interesting, right? In the middle of COVID, I think that also the show is very timely. There’s a lot of families in big cities that have said, “I’m going to go. We’re just getting out of here. We’re getting out.” They move out to these far and away places. I tend to think your problems follow you. If anything, I think the problems that follow the Phelps are bigger than they started with. So that’s a problem. But ultimately, I think he’s trying to find salvation in another place.

‘Shining Vale’ premieres March 6th on Starz.

March 2, 2022
New ‘House of Cards’ Photos Put Spotlight on Robin Wright, Diane Lane, Greg Kinnear

David Giesbrecht/Netflix

Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) has assumed her place as the new head of the White House, but nothing ever really goes according to plan on “House of Cards.” And a batch of photos from the Netflix show’s upcoming sixth and final season introduce some new characters who are surely about to put up some major roadblocks for the new POTUS.

The images feature a first look at new characters played by Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear, who star as Annette and Bill Shepard, a pair of siblings who’ve just inherited their influential family’s massively wealth industrial conglomerate, Shepard Unlimited. According to Netlfix, the sister and brother are “powerful behind-the-scenes force in the American political landscape [who] share a vision for the future of America, as well as a complicated past with the Underwoods.”

David Giesbrecht/Netflix

David Giesbrecht/Netflix

David Giesbrecht/Netflix

David Giesbrecht/Netflix

Considering who the Underwoods are, that “complicated past” language may be a bit redundant. Still, their addition — along with Cody Fern (“American Crime Story,” “American Horror Story”), who’s playing Annette’s “ambitious and devoted son, who represents the next generation of DC power players” — should inject some juicy drama into the streaming series.

“House of Cards” has already weathered its fair share of behind-the-scenes drama during production of season six, which saw star Kevin Spacey fired from the show late last year. The actor was accused of sexual misconduct by fellow actor Anthony Rapp when Rapp was only 14, and many members of the “House of Cards” crew soon came forward with tales of their own harassment and abuse at the hands of Spacey. It was later announced that Wright would assume the mantle of the show’s leading character, and the series would wrap with a shortened sixth season.

That final outing debuts on Netflix on November 2.

[h/t Vulture]

August 27, 2018