Moviefone Editorial

Tag: orlando-bloom

  • ‘The Cut’ Interview: Orlando Bloom and John Turturro

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    Opening in theaters on September 5th is the new boxing thriller ‘The Cut’, which was directed by Sean Ellis (‘The Cursed’), and stars Orlando Bloom (‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’), John Turturro (‘The Batman’) and Caitríona Balfe (‘Belfast’).

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    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” and John Turturro as “Boz” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” and John Turturro as “Boz” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Orlando Bloom and John Turturro about their work on ‘The Cut’, Bloom’s first reaction to the screenplay and his approach to his character, Turturro’s character’s motivations, the relationship between their characters, and working with director Sean Ellis.

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

    Related Article: Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed Talk ‘Deep Cover’

    Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    Moviefone: To begin with, Orlando, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and what were some of the aspects of this character that you were excited to explore on screen?

    Orlando Bloom: It was originally an idea that the producer, Mark Lane had brought to me, and we’d worked together on a film called ‘Retaliation’ years before, and I just thought it was a fantastic, fresh take on a boxing genre movie, which I’m a huge fan of I love. I’m very physical, both in life and as an actor. It’s one of my ways in. I just thought it would be an opportunity to really, burn the book, and just go for it. Like take what was written and what was required was for me to drop this weight. I wanted to do it as believably as possible. I dropped from about 185 pounds to 150 pounds, so I’d lost about 30 pounds. It was almost like no acting required because of what it did to my mind and my body. In fact, we had to shoot the movie in reverse chronological order for me to have any kind of brain capacity to do it. Thankfully, with remarkable actors like John and Caitríona, I had an amazing support network and people to perform off, which was just a real gift.

    (L to R) John Turturro as “Boz” and Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) John Turturro as “Boz” and Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    MF: John, can you talk about your approach to playing Boz, his questionable training methods and what he’s willing to do to achieve his goals?

    John Turturro: Well, that’s in the script, but there’s a lot of people who have questionable training methods in sports as we read and discover, in a variety of sports. But I thought it was an interesting exploration and descent into what a person is willing to do to have a second shot. When I got to the set, I knew Sean’s work, and I’m a big fan of Caitríona’s, but to see the battle that is within Orlando, bringing it and putting himself through that, the acting is easy then, because you see where the person is. The whole idea is to get them to understand what that is, to seduce them. The most dangerous people are seductive to get what they need and what they want. You know, that’s the reason they’re hired. I’m always actually very skeptical of people who are seductive initially. I have a real sort of aversion to it. I don’t want to be too friendly in real life, and I know what that is, so that was the job. He really brought it, and he had a vulnerability to him that is easy to step inside. To me, that’s when working on something is interesting, because then you’re like, “Wow, the ball is going to go back and forth.” He really had the big burden on his shoulders, and he did a beautiful job. So, when you see that, you go, “Okay, I want to feed that.”

    (L to R) Caitríona Balfe as “Caitlin” and Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) Caitríona Balfe as “Caitlin” and Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    MF: Orlando, your co-star Caitríona Balfe has described the film as a love triangle, with her character competing with Boz for your character’s love. Do you agree with that and how would you describe in your own words the relationship between these three characters?

    OB: I mean, honestly, that’s credit to the way John took the script and ran with it, because I had read it, it felt a bit more like it was a drill sergeant of a character initially. But John really came in with this fresh take on it that totally transformed the whole movie, I think in such a beautiful way. Obviously, Caitríona plays my life partner and my training partner, and we have this insane codependent relationship. It’s a crazy codependent relationship and you can see where that comes from when you look at the backstory of the Boxer. John’s character Boz, came in and he just seduces Boxer away. As a trainer he understood what the psychology of the character was, and he just takes that and it’s like he waves his magic wand over it and takes him away and then gets him to do anything he can do to get that second shot. It’s like to me, you’re nothing but a poker chip, you know? She loves him too much and the script was brilliantly written. We had the premiere in London and just listening to the lines again, and the way he delivered them, it’s so well-articulated. It’s such a fresh take for a boxing movie. We all love boxing movies, don’t we? I think most people do. At least we do. that’s why we did it. But this is a fresh take on a boxing movie, because the fight’s happening in his head. That’s what it is for most fighters, any athlete, it’s all happening up here. Can I win? Can I overcome, whether it’s tennis, boxing, golf or any sport? It’s all happening up here and that to me, is so unique. That’s where the fight happens. That’s where we win. That’s so transferable to people in life. You know, we’re all battling with our demons, and doing the weight loss did that to my brain. It was almost like no acting required and it required that we shoot the movie in reverse order, because I wouldn’t have been able to think straight let alone act, but I didn’t need to because I was in that headspace, which was a gift.

    Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    MF: Orlando, was this role both physically and mentally exhausting for you to play, and how did you deal with that on set?

    OB: I was out of it. It was all the things the Boxer was feeling and going through. I’m not a method actor. I don’t think of myself as a method actor. I just commit, you know? That’s what we do. We love what we do, and we all commit, and in committing to what was required, it was a lot.

    (L to R) Orlando Bloom, Director Sean Ellis and John Turturro on set of the psychological thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) Orlando Bloom, Director Sean Ellis and John Turturro on set of the psychological thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    MF: Finally, John, what was it like collaborating with director Sean Ellis on set?

    JT: Well, we basically blocked everything out. We talked things through, and he was also shooting it at the same time. But it felt like it was a very collaborative experience all around and a team atmosphere where we were all on the same team. Sean’s carrying a camera at the same time. He’s not sitting at video village, so he’s involved physically in what’s going on, and that’s a very different experience to have that, and it’s a team effort. It really is.

    Director Sean Ellis on set of the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    Director Sean Ellis on set of the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    What is the plot of ‘The Cut’?

    Determined to win a championship title after coming out of retirement, a Las Vegas fighter (Orlando Bloom) begins a grueling training and weight loss regimen under a demanding, unorthodox boxing coach (John Turturro).

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Cut’?

    • Orlando Bloom as the Boxer
    • Caitríona Balfe as Caitlin
    • John Turturro as Boz
    (Center) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (Center) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    List of Boxing Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Cut’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Boxing Movies On Amazon

     

  • ‘Deep Cover’ Interviews: Bryce Dallas Howard and Cast

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    Premiering on Prime Video beginning June 12th is the new action comedy ‘Deep Cover’, which was directed by Tom Kingsley (‘The Darkest Universe’), and stars Bryce Dallas Howard (‘Jurassic World’), Orlando Bloom (‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’) and Nick Mohammed (‘Ted Lasso’).

    Related Article: Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard Talk Sequel ‘Jurassic World Dominion’

    (L to R) Nick Mohammed, Bryce Dallas Howard and Orlando Bloom star in 'Deep Cover'.
    (L to R) Nick Mohammed, Bryce Dallas Howard and Orlando Bloom star in ‘Deep Cover’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed about their work on ‘Deep Cover’, Howard’s first reaction to the screenplay and experience working with director Tom Kingsley, Bloom’s character’s dedication to his craft and if Bloom would want to act opposite him in real life, and how improv comedy helps Mohammed’s character grow and change.

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

    Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in 'Deep Cover'. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.
    Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Bryce, what was your first reaction to the screenplay, the situation the characters find themselves in, and did it read funny on the page?

    Bryce Dallas Howard: Oh yeah. So, the script is written by two brilliant improv comedians. Some of the best, honestly. So, it was hilarious, but it was also truthful. I really related to the characters and all the characters were very different. You know, it’s fun because this is a true ensemble. So, I had heard about the movie for years from Colin (Trevorrow) because we worked together on ‘Jurassic World’. I’d heard of it as a British action comedy, and I didn’t think that there would be any room for an American but then very luckily I got invited into it.

    Orlando Bloom as Marlon in Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in 'Deep Cover'. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.
    Orlando Bloom as Marlon in Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Orlando, can you talk about your character’s dedication to his craft and is Marlon someone that you would want to work with on a movie set? What do you think he would be like to have as a scene partner?

    Orlando Bloom: I don’t think so. He’d be somebody you’d poke fun at. I think that was the low hanging fruit, the layup for the character was that I think historically and hilariously actors can and have and maybe some do or have taken themselves too seriously. Me, I’ve never done that. As a guy who’s just desperate and thirsty for that shot at life, he sees this opportunity to sort of go deep method, if you like, instead of deep cover. He’s creating this weird world. I kind of based the character on Liam Gallagher a little bit because he was written as a Northerner and I thought, well, that’s the most swag because I grew up with the band Oasis. I saw this guy as this, and it informed the whole Roach aspect of the character even down to the costume and some of the physicality and the attitude that I think was right for the role. You know, the writing being so well done, the humor was on the page, and I just had to play the truth of all those moments. I’ve not done a lot of straight comedy as it were, but that’s what I’ve kind of realized that when there’s heart and truth in it, if the writing is good, then the humor lands.

    Nick Mohammed as Hugh in 'Deep Cover'. Credit: Lara Cornell / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.
    Nick Mohammed as Hugh in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Lara Cornell / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Nick, why does your character join this improv group, what he is hoping to get out of it, and how does his life change as a result?

    Nick Mohammed: Well, you know, he’s at crossroads in his life like all the characters really, but Hugh works in an office. He doesn’t have an acting background or an improv background or anything. He quite fortuitously just stumbles into Kat’s class, likes what he sees, feels like he might have maybe found his people or at least found a way to improve his confidence. Little does he know that very quickly things spiral out of control and obviously he ends up on these undercover missions. I mean, he is truly out of his depth, goes on a big journey, including having that fleeting relationship with Shosh. But by the end, he does have his confidence built. He’s sort of found these confidence soulmates in in Marlon and Kat. He’s just feels like a better person, more of his own person, more comfortable in his in his own skin, I guess, by the end. His journey is kind of like that.

    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as Marlon, Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat, Nick Mohammed as Hugh in 'Deep Cover'. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as Marlon, Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat, Nick Mohammed as Hugh in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, Bryce, can you talk about working on the set with filmmaker Tom Kingsley, and as an actress, has your approach to working with directors changed since you became a director yourself?

    BDH: No, because I’m a third-generation actor. So, my dad (Ron Howard) grew up on sets, and I grew up on sets and whether that’s an inappropriate thing, we’ll leave that to other people to debate. But because of that, I’ve always viewed things more from an outside perspective. I see the process more through the director’s eyes and then acting is like something fun that I feel like I’m getting away with. Where I’m like, “Oh my God, I get to go in front of the camera. That’s crazy.” So, it’s such a joy getting to see how other directors direct, because that’s often the challenge when you’re directing full time. You’re doing your stuff, but you’re not actually getting to see how other people do it. You know, you always learn so much and, my God, Tom is such a gentle, lovely, open minded and encouraging director. He really wants us to all feel a sense of ownership over the work that we’re doing, and just no ego whatsoever. I just really loved getting to be around him and getting to work with him.

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    What is the plot of ‘Deep Cover’?

    Set in the London criminal underworld, three improv-actors (Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed) are recruited by the police for sting operations, in which they must “yes, and…” their way into a criminal gang.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Deep Cover’?

    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Marlon,” Bryce Dallas-Howard as “Kat,” and Nick Mohammed as “Hugh” in the action comedy 'Deep Cover'. Photo courtesy of Peter Mountain/ Metronome Film.
    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Marlon,” Bryce Dallas-Howard as “Kat,” and Nick Mohammed as “Hugh” in the action comedy ‘Deep Cover’. Photo courtesy of Peter Mountain/ Metronome Film.

    List of Bryce Dallas Howard Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Bryce Dallas Howard Movies on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘Red Right Hand’

    Orlando Bloom in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Orlando Bloom in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    In theaters and on VOD February 23rd is ‘Red Right Hand,’ starring Orlando Bloom, Scott Haze, Andie MacDowell, Garret Dillahunt, Brian Geraghty, and Chapel Oaks.

    Related Article: Garret Dillahunt Talks ‘Red Right Hand’ and Working with Orlando Bloom

    Initial Thoughts

    Directing duo Ian and Eshom Nelms’ previous outing, ‘Fatman,’ was a flawed yet original – and often amusing – reinvention of the Santa Claus myth, shot through with humor and cynicism. The Nelms play it straight this time around, telling a grim story of a family fighting to stay alive in a town overrun and corrupted by a psychotic drug lord. The movie overcomes its ‘direct-to-VOD’ imprimatur by being both surprisingly heartfelt and anchored by a strong performance from Orlando Bloom.

    Story and Direction

    Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, co-directors of 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    (L to R) Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, co-directors of ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Cash (Orlando Bloom) is a former criminal who has worked to escape that life while also staying sober and taking care of his recently widowed, still-grieving brother Finney (Scott Haze) and his niece Savannah (Chapel Oaks). The three live quietly on Finney’s late wife’s farm, which Finney has unfortunately kept afloat by taking a loan from Big Cat (Andie MacDowell), a ruthless local drug lord.

    Big Cat has an iron grip on their rural Kentucky community, including its banks and law enforcement, as well as the meth labs buried deep in the woods around the area. She’s also Cash’s former employer, and in an attempt to settle Finney’s account before Cat comes after the farm and his family, Cash agrees to perform three tasks for Cat that pull him back into his previous life. But Cash also knows that Cat won’t stop there, and he’s forced to make his own plans to save the farm and his family without raising Cat’s suspicions.

    ‘Red Right Hand’ spins out this tight if somewhat predictable story in lean, economical fashion, and directors Ian and Eshom Nelms (‘Small Town Crime’) manage to pull off both some strikingly lovely images of the landscape in which the story is set – where natural beauty sits right next to grinding poverty – as well as a steadily building sense of dread. You know where this story is going for the most part, but the Nelms still tighten the screws in suspenseful fashion and add a few unpredictable wrinkles to the story that raise the stakes even higher.

    Garret Dillahunt in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Garret Dillahunt in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    We’ve seen the story before – reformed bad guy gets pulled back into his old life against his wishes, with his soul in the balance – but there is enough detail about Cash and his family, and the community in which they live, to make one care about what happens and make the violent payoff feel earned. While one could question the morality of seemingly pious if troubled folks like Cash, his family, and a surprise ally – whose third-act involvement in the proceedings, to be fair, feels a bit forced and out of the blue – engaging in vigilante justice, that’s an argument for another movie.

    ‘Red Right Hand’ touches on that idea, and also touches on the social conditions that set up rural communities like this for destruction at the hands of the drug trade, but only glancingly. This is a B-movie crime thriller, a bit of a throwback to movies like this that proliferated in the ‘70s, and on that level it works pretty well.

    Playing Against Type

    Orlando Bloom in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Orlando Bloom in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Whatever happened to Orlando Bloom? Coming off ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchises in the 2000s, he was being positioned as the next big action star and dream hunk at the same time. But his career has sputtered since, exemplified by a disappointingly stiff turn in last year’s ‘Gran Turismo.’

    ‘Red Right Hand,’ however, is another matter. From his accent to his grizzled appearance, the British actor pulls off a character that could have been a Southern stereotype but ends up showing more range and depth of feeling than a movie like this usually provides. The boyish charm of his Legolas is long gone, and Cash’s conflicted nature – he knows what will happen once he gets mixed up with Cat again but is resigned to do what he must do – is believably portrayed. Bloom also sells the action scenes quite well, fighting with rugged determination yet still vulnerable to pain and injury.

    Andie MacDowell in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Andie MacDowell in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    While Bloom’s work is more subtle than one might expect, Andie MacDowell – long a presence in rom-coms and ensemble dramas – goes for all-out villainy here with a big performance that borders on camp, and occasionally dips into it. But she also provides a wildly sinister complement to the more grounded work done by Bloom, Scott Haze as Finney, and the remarkable Chapel Oaks as Savannah. The tone of her performance sometimes clashes with the overall atmosphere of the movie, but she also brings a malevolent, sadistic, and even seductive streak that keeps Big Cat unpredictable and dangerous.

    Final Thoughts

    Orlando Bloom in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Orlando Bloom in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Let’s make no mistake: ‘Red Right Hand’ is very much what they used to call a B-movie, and is now the kind of picture that may get a cursory, limited theatrical release before showing up on your favorite VOD and streaming platforms. But there’s no shame in that: films cut from the same cloth, like ‘Rolling Thunder’ or ‘Walking Tall,’ became cult classics long after they played the drive-in circuits of the 1970s.

    And ‘Red Right Hand’ is as earnest as it can be, even if its mix of family values and vigilante violence doesn’t always sit well. You come to care about Orlando Bloom’s Cash and his family, and there’s a real sense of the stakes as they go up against Big Cat and her organization. The film may hurtle too quickly toward its conclusion and end on a pat note, but ‘Red Right Hand’ is an effective thriller nevertheless.

    ‘Red Right Hand’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the Plot of ‘Red Right Hand’?

    Cash (Orlando Bloom) is trying to live an honest and quiet life taking care of his recently orphaned niece Savannah (Chapel Oaks) in the Appalachian town of Odim County. When the sadistic kingpin Big Cat (Andie MacDowell) who runs the town forces him back into her services, Cash learns he’s capable of anything – even killing – to protect the town and the only family he has left. As the journey gets harder, Cash is drawn into a nightmare that blurs the lines between good and evil.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Red Right Hand’?

    • Orlando Bloom as Cash
    • Andie MacDowell as Big Cat
    • Scott Haze as Finney
    • Garret Dillahunt as Wilder
    • Mo McRae as Deputy Duke Parks
    • Brian Geraghty as Sheriff Hollister
    • Chapel Oaks as Savannah
    • Kenneth Miller as The Buck
    • Nicholas Logan as The Doe
    Andie MacDowell and Brian Geraghty in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    (L to R) Andie MacDowell and Brian Geraghty in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Other Orlando Bloom Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Red Right Hand’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Orlando Bloom Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Red Right Hand’ Exclusive Interview: Garret Dillahunt

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    Opening in theaters and on digital February 23rd is the new action thriller ‘Right Hand Man,’ which stars Orlando Bloom (‘Black Hawk Down’), Andie MacDowell (‘Hudson Hawk’), Scott Haze (‘Venom’) and Garret Dillahunt (‘No Country for Old Men’) and was directed by Ian and Eshom Nelms (‘Fatman’).

    Garret Dillahunt in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Garret Dillahunt in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with veteran actor Garret Dillahunt about his work on ‘Red Right Hand,’ his first reaction to the screenplay, his approach to playing a preacher, his character’s struggle with his faith, why he helps Cash, working with Orlando Bloom, Andie MacDowell’s villain, and working with the Nelms brothers, as well as taking a look back at his work on the groundbreaking short-lived series ‘Life’ starring Damian Lewis.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Dillahunt, Scott Haze, and Ian and Eshom Nelms.

    Related Article: Andie MacDowell and Sadie Laflamme-Snow Talk ‘The Way Home’ Season 2

    Garret Dillahunt in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Garret Dillahunt in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to be part of this project?

    Garret Dillahunt: Well, this was one of those cool ones where someone just gives you a call and says, “Hey, you want to be in this thing?” That saves us all a lot of time and eases a poor actor’s mind when he is wondering what’s next. I’d heard of the Nelms brothers, I’d seen a few of their movies and I’ve had some friends work with them. John Hawkes, who I knew from ‘Deadwood,’ worked with them and Walton Goggins did. They both had really nice things to say about them, Ian and Eshom. I was looking forward to it and I liked this character. I thought he was complex. I thought it was weird, and I was a little scared to play a preacher who preaches, so that was very nerve wracking. I had to talk to a few of those guys. He’s also a guy that does some violence and that’s a hard thing to reconcile. What are we saying here? Are we trying to justify this violence? I thought it was a good challenge to play this guy who’s flawed. This could be a mistake he’s making, but it’s still part of the old person he was. His main goal was to protect his flock, and I was anxious to see if I could pull that off in a human manner.

    Garret Dillahunt in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Garret Dillahunt in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about your approach to playing the character?

    GD: I’ve always been drawn to themes of shame, guilt and redemption. I don’t know what that says about me, maybe I need some kind of therapy. I’m always excited when people get another shot, and they get a chance and often fail again. But it’s about the getting up, isn’t it? I think this guy has failed a lot in his life, but if there’s one thing you could say about him, it’s that he takes care of his friends. He probably had a drug problem. He probably was a real addictive personality. He certainly had a rage problem and a violence problem, but he’s trying to be a different person. The way that he is doing that is through religion. A lot of people find religion and become a different person. I don’t know that it would work for me, but you must find something to hang your hat on to keep your demons at bay, don’t you? Sometimes this guy’s demons come out still, but that’s interesting to me.

    Garret Dillahunt in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Garret Dillahunt in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: While not a lot is said about your character’s backstory in the movie, his history and personality does come across in your performance. Did you create an extensive backstory for your character or just go off what was written in the script?

    GD: Well, certainly I look to the script for most of the clues but it kind of depends on the parts. Some people you just know what to do, you’re like, “I know this guy.” I always try to make a chronological outline of what happens to me, so I know what I know and what I don’t know in each scene because you don’t want to play the end. There are some people I never meet, so I can’t pretend I know something that’s not in my character’s orbit. For this one, like I said, I did work with a few preachers, more Pentecostal kind of preachers, just to learn the way they think and the way they talk to their people. I tried to draw on my own childhood. I remember different churches my family would go to and how it would make me feel or the tone they would take when they talk to us. There are some scenes that were cut that were very informative to me as a character. Just for time I’m sure, you never know why things don’t make it in, and you can’t worry about it. But those, even though they’re not there, I’m sure inform what is. It just depends on the project. Usually if there’s a scene, there’s just one incident maybe you need to come up with on your own that will just be reflective in your eyes, just to have something else going on that makes him a rounded person and not just some kind of cutout.

    Andie MacDowell in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Andie MacDowell in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about the power that Big Cat has over this town, as well as Andie MacDowell’s surprising performance?

    GD: Yeah, it was a nice departure for her. I think she was nervous about it a little bit. I didn’t get to work with her as much as I hoped, but there was obviously that one section where we all meet. You asked about her grip on this whole community, and particularly on Cash. I think Cash was very special to her. Cash is Orlando Bloom’s character. You saw what happens to us all when we leave her service. She marks us with the red right hand. That’s a bond that Orlando and I share in the movie is we’re both former employees. I think his character is one that she really misses having around because he was capable, he was scary, he was good at his job, and so she’s doing anything in her power to get him back in the fold, including blackmailing him with the safety of his own family. But he won’t put up with that, so he calls his friends, and we go get them.

    Garret Dillahunt in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Garret Dillahunt in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about Wilder’s struggle with his own faith and why he ultimately decides to help Cash?

    GD: I don’t know if it would hold up in a court of law. He puts on a ski mask and kidnaps. It’s not any kind of behavior that we would ever put up with outside of a movie, is it? But for some reason we like this kind of thing in our entertainment. I’m justifying it in the way that it’s a mistake in a lot of ways. This is not the way to go about it probably, but he’s a simple man by his own words. He’s an Old Testament kind of preacher, and he’s not afraid to throw a punch or a kick or pick up a gun. I think he’s also really upset that he failed. He failed in protecting this girl. He failed in protecting his friend’s family. That’s something he prides himself on, so he’s determined to go get them back. Cash is like, “I like your plan”, which is no plan at all. I think he’s one of those people. There’s a little bit of the zealot in him, isn’t there, which is dangerous because they’re not afraid to die. He’s like an old Ford pickup. He’s not a Ferrari but are you ready to redline your Ferrari because I’m ready to redline my Ford truck. He’s a hammer. In his world if he stands before the maker I don’t know if he’ll have good words to say about his actions, but I know he believes he’s doing what’s right.

    Orlando Bloom in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Orlando Bloom in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: What was it like working with Orlando Bloom?

    GD: Orlando’s great. I’d never met him before, but I found him to be really kind and really welcoming. Look, I work all the time and I get recognized plenty, but I don’t have to alter my life really. I can walk down the street; I can eat in a restaurant. I don’t know what it must be like for him and Katy (Perry) to move through the world. Two people, just massive stars, who everyone knows their names and their faces, and knows an awful lot about them. For him to still be patient, kind and giving with everybody else, it was cool. We talked a lot about the accent. He’s British, and so he’s playing a Kentucky guy, and he’s just the best kind of star to work with because he wants you to be good. He wants the whole thing to be good, and he surrounds himself with good people to make that happen. He doesn’t care where the good idea comes from, just that it’s a good idea and that it helps the film, and that just takes a lot of pressure off everybody else. We don’t have to change our behavior around him. We just got to be good at our jobs because he’s bringing it, so we better bring it too. He’s a good number one.

    Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, co-directors of 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    (L to R) Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, co-directors of ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: What was it like collaborating on set with the Nelms brothers and watching them execute their vision for this film?

    GD: I really liked them. I work a lot and sometimes I’m a workaholic a bit. There’s a downside. Not only you don’t see your own family a ton, but you’re such a pro that you start to feel alone in a way, almost like you don’t need anything else. It’s a mistake, but it’s how you start feeling. You start feeling like, “Ah, what’s this? Okay, got it. Roll it. Let’s go. I got to be on a plane at 2:00pm for the next on.” It becomes this thing, and you don’t know everybody’s name. I expect the worst sometimes when I show up, which is unfair but there’s a lot of actors that don’t know what they’re doing. There’s a lot of directors that don’t know what they’re doing. You develop a thick skin, calluses and techniques so that you can survive and thrive even if you have no help. Sometimes you get to a place where you start expecting to have no help, and you’re like, “Okay, I’m on my own here. If I don’t want to show my ass public on this thing, then I better come up with a good idea.” It’s a great relief and reminder to sometimes let other people in and maybe you don’t know everything and let a new idea in. There was something about these two guys that I just trusted immediately. I don’t know if it’s because there’s two of them and they seemed like their strengths were both parts of my own personality, I thought. They’re very different, Ian and Eshom, but they’re great together. I think I like working with brother combos. The Cohen brothers were kind of similar. You have two minds. It’s like there’s this extra brain on set also coming up with ideas. They’re like comic book nerds who are also kind of jocks. Eshom is this incredible, almost pro-level paintballer. All the gunfight sequences make sense, and he knows about finding cover, so that was a load off. Ian was a former MMA fighter, so he did all the hand-to-hand stuff. He has a good eye. He’s got good things to say. But on top of that, they love making movies. They’re like cinephiles. They’re always watching movies. They’re always talking about movies. They’re excited about movies. I was like, “Oh yeah, this is fun. They’re having fun, aren’t they?” And they are. It makes you want to please them. It makes you want to do good for them. I just found myself totally at ease. You want to come up with ways to help them solve a problem, and they’re receptive to that. I look forward to working with them again.

    Adam Arkin, Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Donal Logue and Brent Sexton on 'Life.'
    (L to R) Adam Arkin, Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Donal Logue and Brent Sexton on ‘Life.’ Photo: NBC Universal Television Studio.

    MF: Finally, you had a pivotal role in a groundbreaking, yet short-lived TV series called ‘Life’ starring Damian Lewis, where you played the main villain, a Russian gangster named Roman Nevikov. What are your memories of making that series and working with Lewis and the rest of the cast?

    GD: It’s funny. That’s one of my wife’s favorite characters. I’m a shy person, especially when I was younger, and that came along at a time where I still was a little uncomfortable playing people with power. I always say, “I’m a good first mate. I’m not sure I’m a good captain.” Then when someone finally gives you an opportunity to lead, you’re like, “Oh, I don’t know if anyone’s going to buy this”, because you have an opinion of yourself that no one else has, but you believe that. It was a real breakthrough moment for me to play someone powerful like that. He was evil, but he was powerful, assured and calm. I had a style that I’d never had with this white outfit, but I had a good dialogue coach, and I felt good about the Russian accent. Some Russians were asking me where I was from on set, and I was like, “I’m from Yakima, Washington.” They’re like, “Oh, I thought you were Russian.” That made me feel good. But for just having a few episodes, a lot of people remember that and Damian Lewis, he’s a great actor. I haven’t seen him in a long time, but I really like him. I’ve stayed in touch with Sarah Shahi, probably the most gorgeous person on the planet, and we keep trying to work together and find something else to do, but it hasn’t worked out yet, but I hope we can. I think that was a good show.

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    What is the Plot of ‘Red Right Hand’?

    Cash (Orlando Bloom) is trying to live an honest and quiet life taking care of his recently orphaned niece Savannah (Chapel Oaks) in the Appalachian town of Odim County. When the sadistic kingpin Big Cat (Andie MacDowell) who runs the town forces him back into her services, Cash learns he’s capable of anything – even killing – to protect the town and the only family he has left. As the journey gets harder, Cash is drawn into a nightmare that blurs the lines between good and evil.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Red Right Hand’?

    Orlando Bloom in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Orlando Bloom in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Other Garret Dillahunt Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Red Right Hand’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Garret Dillahunt Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Gran Turismo’ Interview: Director Neill Blomkamp

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    Opening in theaters on August 25th is the biographical sports drama and video game adaption ‘Gran Turismo,’ which was directed by Neill Blomkamp (‘District 9’).

    What is the plot of ‘Gran Turismo’?

    Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won him a series of Nissan-sponsored video game competitions to become an actual professional race car driver.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Gran Turismo’?

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Neill Blomkamp about his work on ‘Gran Turismo,’ adapting the video game while telling Jann Mardenborough real life story, why Archie Madekwe was the right actor to play Mardenborough, the VFX he used to simulate the game, and shooting the race car driving scenes.

    Neill Blomkamp director of 'Gran Turismo.'
    Neill Blomkamp director of ‘Gran Turismo.’

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Blomkamp, Archie Madekwe and Jann Mardenborough.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about the idea of adapting the ‘Gran Turismo’ video game by telling Jan Mardenborough’s real life story. Was that the key for you in making this movie?

    Neill Blomkamp: Yeah, totally. I mean, the thing about the movie that I thought was unique and a different way to approach video game films was this totally unusual approach of it being a biography. His life is very interesting and this combination of real world racing and the drama of the real world where we’re not in the narrative of a video game, but the video game is so integral to his journey and to the movie. I thought that was a really cool and unusual way of approaching a video game movie.

    The real Jann Mardenborough on the set of Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story.'
    The real Jann Mardenborough on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen.

    MF: Why was Archie Madekwe the right actor to play Jann Mardenborough and bring his real life story to the big screen?

    NB: I mean, there’s a host of different factors that make Archie perfect. One of the things that we spoke about a lot was just that Jann is a very grounded and sort of warm person. He’s like a really good guy. There’s something in Archie that naturally seems grounded and similar to him. They’re very similar in terms of charisma, but they’re physically totally different. Archie’s 6’6, or some crazy height and he’s not optimal for being a race car jockey, that has to be squeezed into small, lightweight race cars. So physically, he’s cool in the movie, because he kind of lurches over everyone, but he’s very different to Jann in that respect. But I met so many actors for this role and even the first time that I had a Zoom with him, I could just tell that he was the right person. Then I went to London and I met him in person and I just totally loved him. I loved working with him as well. I loved his performance and I also loved the process of actually working with him.

    Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough in 'Gran Turismo.'
    Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough in ‘Gran Turismo.’

    MF: Can you talk about the VFX you used to simulate the game within the movie?

    NB: Yeah, I mean that idea came from this concept that in the PlayStation or any video game computational device, that it’s running some kind of game engine. It’s calculating in 3D space everything correctly. So when you’re driving it, it’s projecting an approximation onto a screen of roughly what the track looks like. But in reality, it’s genuinely computing like an eight-kilometer long track where the size of the car is correct, all of the mathematics are in fact correct. I wanted to just project that in 3D space and let the audience see what the PlayStation is actually computing. Visually, I thought it was interesting, but the real thing about it that’s cool is, it’s kind of how a real professional sim driver experiences and sees Gran Turismo. So it felt very personal to Jann, even though it’s a cool visual motif, it’s actually how he sees the world. So any place that I could put it that didn’t feel gratuitous or too much of a gimmick, I wanted to include it.

    A race from Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    A race from Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about the challenges of shooting the race car driving sequences and making those seem as authentic as possible?

    NB: I mean the goal with the race sequences was to make it as much of an experiential thing as I could. I wanted to put the cameras in positions that really let you feel like you were on the track, feeling it in a visceral way, almost like you were there as much as I could. A huge portion of that was sound design and also how the sound design would change depending on where the camera’s placed. Then also showing the internal mechanics of the car and the idea with that was, if this is how all the mechanics work, then there’s sort of a G-force or physical stress that’s applied to the driver. It all came back to this idea of trying to feel it through the screen. Then the other thing was for everything to just be real as opposed to using tricks or visual effects. I don’t really want to say visual effects, because we used visual effects, but we used visual effects to amplify what was real. So the basis for everything was always real. Anytime you see one of the actors in the cockpit, they’re really on the track doing that. None of that is fake. It’s a hundred percent real.

    Director Neill Blomkamp (center) and the real Jann Mardenborough (right) with additional crew on the set of Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.
    Director Neill Blomkamp (center) and the real Jann Mardenborough (right) with additional crew on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo. Photo: Gordon Timpen.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Gran Turismo:’

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    ‘Gran Turismo’ is produced by PlayStation Productions, 2.0 Entertainment, and Columbia Pictures. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on August 11th, 2023.

  • Movie Review: ‘Gran Turismo’

    Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough in 'Gran Turismo.'
    Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough in ‘Gran Turismo.’

    Opening in limited release in theaters on August 11th and wide on August 25th, ‘Gran Turismo’ is the latest attempt to bring a video game –– sorry, driving simulator as the movie’s characters are at pains to remind us –– to screens. And it’s a mostly successful effort, partly because it has a compelling true story/underdog tale to tell rather than trying to force a narrative onto a title that doesn’t have one.

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    What’s the story of ‘Gran Turismo’?

    Archie Madekwe stars in Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    Archie Madekwe stars in Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen. ©2023 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Gran Turismo is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

    The movie follows Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a gamer living in the UK who is obsessed with the PlayStation-based driving simulation ‘Gran Turismo’. He’s become a highly proficient driver, rising up the ranks of top players and saving money to buy new gaming equipment even as his parents –– particularly former professional footballer Steve (Djimon Hounsou) –– don’t understand his ambitions.

    Jann’s life changes forever when he wins an invite-only GT race, gaining him entry to an exclusive academy set up primarily as a marketing deal between Nissan (driven by ambitious PR executive Danny Moore, played by Orlando Bloom) and Sony. Whoever succeeds at the academy will score a contract –– subject to also securing a racing license by finishing at least fourth in one race –– to drive in Nissan’s professional team for races in Europe and the United Arab Emirates.

    After making it through as the champ, Jann faces the toughest test of his life… since racing with trained drivers who have been behind the wheel of real vehicles for years is no mean feat. And he faces snobbish backlash from both pit crews and the drivers he’s competing against. Aided by former driver-turned-mentor Jack Salter (David Harbour), Jann will have to prove he has what it takes on actual tracks such as the legendary Le Mans in France.

    Related Article: Orlando Bloom Joins David Harbour in the ‘Gran Turismo’ Movie

    Who else is in ‘Gran Turismo?’

    David Harbour stars in Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    David Harbour stars in Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen. ©2023 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Gran Turismo is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

    ‘Gran Turismo’s cast also includes Geri Horner, Darren Barnet, Takehiro Hira, Joshua Stradowski, Daniel Puig, Maeve Courtier-Lilley, Pepe Barroso, Thomas Kretschmann and Lindsay Pattison.

    Does ‘Gran Turismo’ make the winners’ circle?

    A scene from director Neill Blomkamp's 'Gran Turismo.'
    A scene from director Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Gran Turismo.’

    In a world where video game adaptations have finally started to see real success (e.g., ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ and ‘Mortal Kombat’), the pressure is on for new titles to stand out. ‘Gran Turismo’, which has been in development for years (at one point, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski was in the directing driver’s seat), has an advantage thanks to its hooky roots in Mardenborough’s real-life story, which means it doesn’t have to go the ‘Need for Speed’ route and try to layer a fictional idea over a game that doesn’t have a narrative.

    The result is much more effective than that benighted 2014 movie, though it still suffers from a few issues.

    Neill Blomkamp was an interesting choice to direct: he’s more known for the sci-fi likes of ‘District 9’, ‘Elysium’ and ‘Chappie’ and more recently took a side-step into shorts and horror. He certainly has a grasp on how to meld the effects with real-world footage seamlessly, aside from the moments where he actually wants to call attention to them (such as Jann’s car breaking apart to put him back in his bedroom before reforming all in one shot to show him channeling his virtual racing experience in a key moment during an actual event), and he knows how to shoot a kinetic racing scene.

    Madekwe, previously seen in movies such as ‘Midsommar and ‘Voyagers’ does a decent job of bringing Jann to life, the script from ‘American Sniper’s Jason Hall and ‘King Richard’s Zach Baylin, portraying him as quietly confident but never overly cocky (there’s a stock American fellow driver for that purpose). He’s believably a young man still looking for his place in the world when he discovers this extension to his obsessions.

    Yet the person truly deserving of a place on the acting podium is David Harbour, who has spent years perfecting the grumpy veteran dealing with a bunch of younger people on ‘Stranger Things’. His Jack is a highlight of the movie, a former racer himself tinged with tragedy who is grimly unconvinced that any of these “sim” kids can cut it in an actual car before Jann proves he has real potential, and a bond begins to form. Harbour is also the anchor for an amusing montage where Jack washes out one simulator candidate after another.

    Oh, and this is likely to be the only video game/sports movie where the hero chills out to Enya and Kenny G.

    Where does the movie lose traction?

    'Gran Turismo' video game from PlayStation.
    ‘Gran Turismo’ video game from PlayStation.

    Which isn’t to say ‘Gran Turismo’ is totally free of issues. Despite the pacey racing scenes, no amount of sweeping drone/helicopter shots and camera positions near wheels can help the fact that an awful lot of what happens on the track is repetitive. There are several moments where Jann is trying to get past his competition, only for them to swerve to block him. It makes for less excitement more checking of the watch as you wonder if there is ever going to be anything else happening.

    And even when Jann suffers an accident that shakes him to the core, the fallout seems less than realistic, him refusing to see his mother and father when you know any real parent would have rushed to the young person’s side, no matter their feelings.

    In fact, emotion is a big issue for a film as a whole, coldly bringing the story to life with little in the way of heartfelt human reactions. Again, only Madekwe and Harbour moving the needle in any real direction on that front.

    And while the cars are running on gas, the film’s plot –– real as it might be –– is solely powered by cliches. There are the family misunderstandings, the wilder sportier brother (played by Daniel Puig, who ironically looks more like the real-life Mardenborough), the rivalry on the track and the snobbish professionals, one of whom drives a gold car. There’s also an entirely unnecessary subplot about Jann’s flirtation/relationship with a girl from his hometown who he follows on Instagram that adds nothing to the story and could have been excised, shortening the bloated 2hr and 15-minute running time.

    Yet ‘Gran Turismo’, while it might not be in pole position, has enough entertainment value and certainly skirts around some of the bigger potholes of game adaptations past.

    ‘Gran Turismo’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

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    Orlando Bloom stars in Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    Orlando Bloom stars in Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen. ©2023 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Gran Turismo is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

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    ‘Gran Turismo’ is produced by PlayStation Productions, 2.0 Entertainment, and Columbia Pictures. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on August 11th, 2023.

  • Orlando Bloom Races To ‘Gran Turismo’ Adaptation

    Orlando Bloom in Prime Video's 'Carnival Row.'
    Orlando Bloom in Prime Video’s ‘Carnival Row.’ Photo: Jan Thijs. Copyright: Amazon Studios.

    News broke back in May that ‘District 9’ director Neill Blomkamp was in talks to direct a movie based on the long-running game franchise ‘Gran Turismo’.

    Given the checkered (and not as in flag) history for the development of this one – see more on that below – we cautioned to wait until there was further momentum. But this version certainly appears to be gearing up, as ‘Stranger Things’ David Harbour, ‘Midsommar’s Archie Madekwe and now ‘Lord of the Rings’ veteran Orlando Bloom are all aboard to star.

    The game itself doesn’t have a strict story, so the script from ‘American Sniper’s Jason Hall and ‘King Richard’s Zach Baylin isn’t set within its speedy world. Instead, as Deadline reports, it’ll chronicle the ultimate wish-fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver. Madekwe, we’d guess, will be the young driver, while Harbour is a retired wheelman who helps him master some finer techniques of driving. Bloom’s character has yet to be revealed.

    Created by Polyphony and Kazunori Yamauchi in 1997, ‘Gran Turismo’ was hailed as one of the most authentic driving simulators in its class for its focus on precise graphics, driving physics and attention to detail of its cars, which players would build and race. The series has sold more than 85 million copies, with the most recent edition, ‘Gran Turismo 7’, hitting shelves this past March for PS 4 and PS 5.

    David Harbour as Jim Hopper in 'Stranger Things.'
    David Harbour as Jim Hopper in ‘Stranger Things.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

    The idea of a movie based off ‘Gran Turismo’ is hardly a new concept. In fact, when ‘Need For Speed’ was headed towards screens in 2013, Sony saw an opportunity to drift off the potential demand for that movie and launch a competing car project.

    ‘Watchmen’ movie writer Alex Tse was the first person hired to start finding a way to turn the game – which is not based off a story and features no human characters – into a film. Yet ‘Need For Speed’ spun out at the box office following terrible reviews in 2014, and Sony hit the brakes on ‘Gran Turismo’. Yet it seemed to be gaining traction again in 2015 when Joseph Kosinski was brought on to develop a potential new take on the idea, before departing for other, and extremely successful work with planes (‘Top Gun: Maverick’) instead of cars.

    You can see why Sony might still be interested, even beyond the success of ‘Uncharted’. Video game adaptations are having a moment right now, what with ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’s sequel speeding to solid returns, the most recent ‘Mortal Kombat’ spawning its own follow-up and ‘Borderlands’ as just one title on the way.

    Sony is clearly feeling confident about this one at last, setting a release date for August 11th next year. Start your engines!

    'Gran Turismo' video game from PlayStation.
    ‘Gran Turismo’ video game from PlayStation.
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  • Orlando Bloom Thinks He’s Too Old to Be in Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series

    Orlando Bloom Thinks He’s Too Old to Be in Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series

    New Line

    Don’t expect to see Orlando Bloom notching arrows as Legolas in Amazon’s upcoming “Lord of the Rings” series.

    While speaking to reporters about his new Amazon series “Carnival Row,” Bloom hinted that he’s too old to reprise his elegant elf character from the original trilogy and “The Hobbit” films.

    “I remember being on set with Peter [Jackson] … 20 years ago now? And he was saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny to think about when they’ll want to do a remake of Lord of the Rings?’” the actor recalled.

    “We were in the midst of this remarkable shoot and I said, ‘No! That’s never going to happen.’ And here I am, working for Amazon and they’re redoing it. It’s great.”

    However, if fans are hoping Bloom will be back as Legolas — well, it’s unlikely due to the series’ time period. It takes place during the Second Age and while J.R.R. Tolkien never gave an age for the character, the prevailing theory is that he was born in the latter part of that era.

    “I mean look, I don’t know how they’re going to approach it. I haven’t had any conversations about this. I fell that I have done everything…Coming back to be on ‘The Hobbit’ was a really wonderful little tip from Peter that he wanted me to come into that and it made a lot of sense,” Bloom noted.

    “I like to think of myself as ageless but I don’t know where I would fit into that world. If you’re saying as Legolas, they’ve probably got some 19-year-old kid who is ready to go.”

  • ‘Carnival Row’ Teaser: See Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne in Neo-Noir Fantasy Series

    ‘Carnival Row’ Teaser: See Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne in Neo-Noir Fantasy Series

    Carnival Row teaser still
    Amazon Prime Video/YouTube

    Amazon’s Victorian fantasy series starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne arrives in August, and in the meantime, the official “Carnival Row” teaser is here.

    The video debuted Monday, and it introduces the world in which their characters live. There are humans and faeries living alongside each other, but the humans fear the faeries and have forbidden them to live, love, or fly with freedom. In the midst of all that, there is a string of mysterious murders in the city.

    Bloom portrays Rycroft Philostrate, a human detective, while Delevingne’s character is a faerie named Vignette Stonemoss. The two explain the tense situation in the teaser, describing “a rift in the city” and the threat of “something inhuman.” It seems the humans and faeries may have to band together. Watch below.

    “Carnival Row” comes from René Echevarria and Travis Beacham and is set for eight episodes. The series will premiere Aug. 30 on Amazon Prime Video.

  • Orlando Bloom Compares Emma Stone’s ‘Maniac’ Photos to Legolas: ‘Elf Stole My Look!’

    One wig to rule them all…

    Oscar winner Emma Stone‘s new role in the new series “Maniac” pairs her again with Jonah Hill. According to Deadline, the half-hour dark comedy — based on a Norwegian series — follows a man who lives a fantasy life in his dreams but his reality is locked in an institution. Both Hill and Stone reportedly playing patients at the institution.

    Stone was photographed not too long ago in “Maniac” attire — wearing a long platinum wig/extensions and looking very much like Orlando Bloom‘s “The Lord of the Rings” elf, Legolas.

    Bloom noticed the resemblance, and had some fun with it on Instagram:

    Haha. Now people are going to think Emma Stone is playing Legolas’ mom in Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings” prequel series. Not happening.

    Orlando Bloom did recently land his first TV series, though, for Amazon. “Maniac” is Stone’s first starring TV role, too, and her first TV producer credit. The episodes are being directed by Cary Fukunaga.

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