(L to R) Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Natasha McElhone and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
You may be frustrated waiting for a third ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movie from filmmaker Guy Ritchie (at this point, you really shouldn’t hold your breath), but he’s no doubt hoping to tide you over with a new ‘Young Sherlock’ that spins the clock back to the detective’s days at college
Script and Direction
(L to R) Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Colin Firth and Max Irons in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Daniel Smith.
Series creator Matthew Parkhill has found a decent basis for the new series, seeing him team up with an equally fresh-faced James Moriarty, and spinning a tale of the Holmes family that forms part of the mystery.
Directorially, Ritchie brings something of his Sherlock-focused movies to the style of the show, though it also settles down from time to time.
Cast and Performances
Joseph Fiennes in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Daniel Smith.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin is a solid Sherlock, though sometimes overshadowed by co-stars Dónal Finn and Zine Tseng.
Tiffin at least escapes concerns of nepo baby casting, providing some charm and wit to the role, even if the family history angle isn’t completely helped by the addition of his uncle, Joseph Fiennes, playing his father. As his mother, meanwhile, Natascha McElhone is a little sidelined to begin with, but has a chance to shine later.
If there’s one performer with a reason to complain, it’s Colin Firth, who for the most part is reduced to being a blowhard, officious type you can tell is up to no good.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Zine Tseng and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
The new show might not really satiate those looking for the combination of Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and the visual trickery of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock outings, but one out of three isn’t too bad.
And if we truly must have a Sherlock Holmes prequel, at least it has some spirit and offers decent entertainment value.
‘Young Sherlock’ receives 68 out of 100.
(L to R) Max Irons and Natasha McElhone in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
What’s the plot of ‘Young Sherlock’?
‘Young Sherlock’ follows the origin story of the beloved detective in an explosive re-imagining of this iconic character’s early days. Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man –– raw and unfiltered –– when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty.
Who stars in ‘Young Sherlock’?
Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes
Zine Tseng as Princess Gulun Shou’an
Dónal Finn as James Moriarty
Joseph Fiennes as Silas Holmes
Natascha McElhone as Cordelia Holmes
Colin Firth as Sir Bucephalus Hodge
Max Irons as Mycroft Holmes
Hero Fiennes Tiffin in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
(L to R) Rachel McAdams as Barbara Simon and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon in ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’ Photo Credit: Dana Hawley.
11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara (McAdams), who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates), who isn’t happy they moved away and likes to remind them every chance she gets.
An uptight, conservative businesswoman (Sarah Jessica Parker) accompanies her boyfriend (Dermot Mulroney) to his eccentric and outgoing family’s annual Christmas celebration and finds that she’s a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.
A woman (McAdams) is kidnapped by a stranger (Cillian Murphy) on a routine flight. Threatened by the potential murder of her father (Brian Cox), she is pulled into a plot to assist her captor in offing a politician.
There is a new criminal mastermind at large, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) and not only is he Holmes’ (Robert Downey Jr.) intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil and lack of conscience may give him an advantage over the detective.
After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her (Tilda Swinton) wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.
(L to R) Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams in ‘Game Night’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie’s (McAdams) weekly game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) arranges a murder mystery party — complete with fake thugs and federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it’s all supposed to be part of the game. As the competitors set out to solve the case, they start to learn that neither the game nor Brooks are what they seem to be. The friends soon find themselves in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn over the course of one chaotic night.
When a congressional aide is killed, a Washington, D.C. journalist (Russell Crowe) starts investigating the case involving the Representative, his old college friend (Ben Affleck).
Happy young married couple Paige (McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) are, well, happy. Then a car accident puts Paige into a life-threatening coma. Upon awakening she has lost the previous five years of memories, including those of her beloved Leo, her wedding, a confusing relationship with her parents, or the ending of her relationship with her ex-fiance (Scott Speedman). Despite these complications, Leo endeavors to win her heart again and rebuild their marriage.
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.
Two small-town aspiring musicians (Will Ferrell and McAdams) chase their pop star dreams at a global music competition, where high stakes, scheming rivals and onstage mishaps test their bond.
(L to R) Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana in ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Due to a genetic disorder, handsome librarian Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) involuntarily zips through time, appearing at various moments in the life of his true love, the beautiful artist Clare Abshire (McAdams).
John (Owen Wilson) and his buddy, Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) are emotional criminals who know how to use a woman’s hopes and dreams for their own carnal gain. Their modus operandi: crashing weddings. Normally, they meet guests who want to toast the romantic day with a random hook-up. But when John meets Claire (McAdams), he discovers what true love – and heartache – feels like.
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year’s party, Tim’s father (Bill Nighy) tells his son (Domhnall Gleeson) that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. They can’t change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus begins the start of a lesson in learning to appreciate life itself as it is, as it comes, and most importantly, the people living alongside us.
Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett), the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George (McAdams).
Eccentric consulting detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Doctor John Watson (Jude Law) battle to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy England.
Two colleagues (McAdams and Dylan O’Brien) become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it’s a battle of wills and wits to make it out alive.
Billy “The Great” Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal), the reigning junior middleweight boxing champion, has an impressive career, a loving wife (McAdams) and daughter, and a lavish lifestyle. However, when tragedy strikes, Billy hits rock bottom, losing his family, his house and his manager. He soon finds an unlikely savior in Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker), a former fighter who trains the city’s toughest amateur boxers. With his future on the line, Hope fights to reclaim the trust of those he loves the most.
A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple (Owen Wilson and McAdams) forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.
The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.
(L to R) Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in ‘The Notebook.’ Photo: New Line Cinema.
An epic love story centered around an older man (James Garner) who reads aloud to a woman (Gena Rowlands) with Alzheimer’s. From a faded notebook, the old man’s words bring to life the story about a couple (Ryan Gosling and McAdams) who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths.
(L to R): Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
Preview:
The first images from Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock’ series are online.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin is playing the younger take on the sleuth.
Guy Ritchie is the main director and executive producer.
He may not have been able to bring us a third outing of the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies that saw Robert Downey Jr. as the famous detective and Jude Law as faithful sidekick Dr. Watson yet (not for want of trying), but director Guy Ritchie is at least keeping the door to Holmes open via a new Prime Video series that turns the clock back to the younger days of the character.
(L to R): Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Natasha McElhone and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
‘Young Sherlock’ follows the origin story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective in an explosive re-imagining of this iconic character’s early days. Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man –– raw and unfiltered –– when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty.
His first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy that changes his life forever. Unfolding in 1870s Oxford and adventuring abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.
Here’s what Ritchie had to say when the show was announced:
“In ‘Young Sherlock’ we’re going to see an exhilarating new version of the detective everyone thinks they know in a way they’ve never imagined before. We’re going to crack open this enigmatic character, find out what makes him tick, and learn how he becomes the genius we all love.”
Who else is appearing in the new show?
(L to R): Max Irons and Natasha McElhone in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
Colin Firth in ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Preview:
Colin Firth has been cast in a series about Sherlock Holmes younger days.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin is leading the cast, with Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone and Zine Tseng also aboard.
Guy Ritchie is producing the series.
If you’re a frustrated fan of Guy Ritchie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movie duo (which starred Robert Downey Jr. as the title character and Jude Law as sidekick Doctor Watson), the wait for an oft-talked-about, but not-yet-made third entry still rankles.
So perhaps you’ll be happy to lean that the director has since pivoted in a new ‘Holmes’ direction, setting up a young Sherlock series. The show now counts ‘Kingsman’ veteran Colin Firth among its cast. And no, it has nothing to do with 1985’s Barry Levinson movie about the character’s younger days.
The new show, picked up by Prime Video, will adapt Andy Lane’s ‘Young Sherlock Holmes’ book series. Eight books were published between 2010 and 2015, which means plenty of potential storylines.
Lane’s books follow a teenage Holmes in the 1860s and 1870s and are officially described as “the action-packed origin story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective in an explosive re-imagining of this iconic character. At age 19, Sherlock Holmes is disgraced, raw, unfiltered, and unformed, when he finds himself caught up in a murder mystery at Oxford University which threatens his freedom. Diving into his first-ever case with a wild lack of discipline, Sherlock manages to unravel a globe-trotting conspiracy that will change his life forever.”
Here’s what Ritchie had to say when the show was announced:
“In ‘Young Sherlock’ we’re going to see an exhilarating new version of the detective everyone thinks they know in a way they’ve never imagined before. We’re going to crack open this enigmatic character, find out what makes him tick, and learn how he becomes the genius we all love.”
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Who Will Appear in the ‘Young Sherlock’ Series?
Hero Fiennes Tiffin in ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’. Photo: Daniel Smith.
Joseph Fiennes –– yes, Hero’s uncle –– will be Silas Holmes, Sherlock’s father, who is described as a scientist, explorer and self-made businessman. Natascha McElhone will play Cordelia Holmes, his devoted mother, artist and matriarch of the Holmes clan.
Zine Tseng has an unannounced role, while Firth will play a character named Sir Bucephalus Hodge; details on the character have yet to be announced. We’re going to go with either wise mentor or utter cad, and honestly, we’d love to see Firth break bad.
In addition to Ritchie (who is so far listed as an executive producer but will likely direct at least a few episodes), the show has Matthew Parkhill, writer of small screen dramas such as ‘Deep State’ and ‘Rogue’ on board to write and run it.
When will the ‘Young Sherlock’ Series Premiere?
Prime Video has not yet announced when the show might arrive.
(L to R) Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law in 2011’s ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.’
(L to R) Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis in ‘Due Date.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Peter Highman (Downey Jr.) must scramble across the US in five days to be present for the birth of his first child. He gets off to a bad start when his wallet and luggage are stolen, and put on the ‘no-fly’ list. Peter embarks on a terrifying journey when he accepts a ride from an actor (Zach Galifianakis).
Air America was the CIA’s private airline operating in Laos during the Vietnam War, running anything and everything from soldiers to foodstuffs for local villagers. After losing his pilot’s license, Billy Covington (Downey Jr.) is recruited into it, and ends up in the middle of a bunch of lunatic pilots, gun-running by his friend Gene Ryack (Mel Gibson), and opium smuggling by his own superiors.
Awkward teenager Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) has trouble fitting in at a new high school. Charlie needs some friends fast, and decides that the best way to find them is to appoint himself the resident psychiatrist. He becomes one of the most popular guys in school by doling out advice and, occasionally, medication, to the student body.
A successful lawyer (Downey Jr.) returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral only to discover that his estranged father (Robert Duvall), the town’s judge, is suspected of murder.
(L to R) Joe Pantoliano, Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘U.S. Marshalls.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) is accompanying a plane load of convicts from Chicago to New York. The plane crashes spectacularly, and Mark Sheridan (Wesley Snipes) escapes. But when Diplomatic Security Agent John Royce (Downey Jr.) is assigned to help Gerard recapture Sheridan, it becomes clear that Sheridan is more than just another murderer.
Celeste Talbert (Sally Field) is the star of the long-running soap opera “The Sun Also Sets.” With the show’s ratings down, Celeste’s ruthlessly ambitious co-star, Montana Moorehead (Cathy Moriarty), and the show’s arrogant producer, David Seton Barnes (Downey Jr.), plot to aggravate her into leaving the show by bringing back her old flame, Jeffrey Anderson (Kevin Kline), and hiring her beautiful young niece, Lori Craven (Elisabeth Shue).
Following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ Peter Parker (Tom Holland), with the help of his mentor Tony Stark (Downey Jr.), tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City, with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges.
Two unpopular teenagers, Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith), fail at all attempts to be accepted by their peers. Their desperation to be liked leads them to “create” a woman via their computer. Their living and breathing creation is a gorgeous woman, Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), whose purpose is to boost their confidence level by putting them into situations which require Gary and Wyatt to act like men.
Many loosely connected characters cross paths in this film, based on the stories of Raymond Carver. Waitress Doreen Piggot (Lily Tomlin) accidentally runs into a boy with her car. Soon after walking away, the child lapses into a coma. While at the hospital, the boy’s grandfather tells his son, Howard (Bruce Davidson), about his past affairs. Meanwhile, a baker starts harassing the family when they fail to pick up the boy’s birthday cake.
Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Iron Man 3.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
When Tony Stark’s (Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
When Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner, he is left to figure out what’s next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara), his friend (Downey Jr.) and his son (Emjay Anthony) to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen — and zest for life and love.
Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron,’ the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.
After losing her job, making out with her soon to be ex-boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) has to face spending the holiday with her family. She wonders if she can survive their crazy antics.
Self-made millionaire Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) decides to get a better education and enrolls at his son Jason’s (Keith Gordon) college. While Jason tries to fit in with his fellow students, Thornton struggles to gain his son’s respect, giving way to hilarious antics.
When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
Two victims of traumatized childhoods (Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis) become lovers and serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.
On the verge of bankruptcy and desperate for his big break, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) concocts a crazy plan to make his ultimate dream movie. Rallying a ragtag team that includes a starry-eyed ingenue, a has-been diva and a film studio gofer, he sets out to shoot a blockbuster featuring the biggest star in Hollywood, Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) — only without letting Ramsey know he’s in the picture.
Grady (Michael Douglas) is a 50-ish English professor who hasn’t had a thing published in years—not since he wrote his award winning ‘Great American Novel’ 7 years ago. This weekend proves even worse than he could imagine as he finds himself reeling from one misadventure to another in the company of a new wonder boy (Tobey Maguire) author.
As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos (Josh Brolin). A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Zodiac.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
A cartoonist (Jake Gyllenhaal) teams up with an ace reporter (Downey Jr.) and a law enforcement officer (Mark Ruffalo) to track down an elusive serial killer.
Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Less Than Zero.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
A college freshman (Andrew McCarthy) returns to Los Angeles for Christmas at his ex-girlfriend’s (Jami Gertz) request, but discovers that his former best friend (Downey Jr.) has an out-of-control drug habit.
(L to R) Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Sherlock Holmes.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Eccentric consulting detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and Doctor John Watson (Jude Law) battle to bring down a new nemesis (Mark Strong) and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy England.
Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Chaplin’ Photo: TriStar Pictures.
An elderly Charlie Chaplin (Downey Jr.) discusses his autobiography with his editor (Anthony Hopkins), recounting his amazing journey from his poverty-stricken childhood to world-wide success after the ingenious invention of the Little Tramp.
Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
After the devastating events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Tropic Thunder.’ Photo: DreamWorks Pictures.
Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Downey Jr. lead an ensemble cast in ‘Tropic Thunder,’ an action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the most expensive war film. After ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.
(L to R) Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
A petty thief posing as an actor (Downey Jr.) is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who’s been training him for his upcoming role…
Jaume Collet-Serra is on to direct a new action thriller called ‘Kate Warne’.
Emily Blunt is considering starring in the film as the title character, with Dwayne Johnson producing.
The script has been re-written but will still have to wait until the actors’ strike is over.
It looks like we have a ‘Jungle Cruise’ reunion in the works. No, the sequel has not chugged forward much given the dual strikes (though you can bet Disney will be looking to move this one along now that at least the writers’ action is over).
Instead, ‘Cruise’ director Jaume Collet-Serra is boarding the in-development detective thriller ‘Kate Warne’, which is being produced by Dwayne Johnson (who, of course, starred in the Disney ride adaptation).
And the ‘Jungle’ connections continue as Emily Blunt has been considering starring in this one for a couple of years now –– she was first mentioned as circling back in 2021 –– but, as Deadline reminds us, the actors are still on strike, so she has yet to make a formal acting deal.
She’ll be back to negotiating to star when the industrial action is over, but there is no sign of that just yet. Even if she doesn’t end up in the main role, she’s also a producer on the film, alongside Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions.
The Amazon-owned MGM is hoping that with Collet-Serra’s attachment, it’ll move forward once anything can shoot.
What’s the story of ‘Kate Warne’?
Emily Blunt in ‘The English’ which premieres November 11th on Prime Video.
‘Kate Warne’ is described as a propulsive action adventure built around Warne, a real life female Sherlock Holmes in a male dominated industry whose singular sleuthing skills paved the way for future women in law enforcement and forever changed how detective work was done.
Gustin Nash wrote the first draft of the script, but it has since seen a re-write (before the strike) with ‘Godmothered’s Melissa Stack taking over screenplay duties.
This feels more in Collet-Serra’s wheelhouse –– he’s been known for the likes of Liam Neeson thrillers ‘Non-Stop’, and ‘The Commuter’, while he last made ‘Black Adam’ with Johnson in the title role –– than even ‘Jungle Cruise’ though he’s proved to be adaptable through his career so far.
He’s also been behind movies such as horror pic ‘Orphan’ and shark thriller ‘The Shallows’.
Next up for the director is ‘Carry On’, which sees Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek, a young TSA agent who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to allow a dangerous package through security and on to a Christmas Day flight.
From ‘Sherlock Holmes’ to ‘Aladdin’ to ‘Wrath of Man’, director Guy Ritchie is no stranger to large-scale productions filled with action. In his latest movie ‘The Covenant’, he delivers a movie that packs a punch in both emotions and action.
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The official synopsis for ‘Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant’ is below:
“’Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant’ follows US Army Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Afghan interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim). After an ambush, Ahmed goes to Herculean lengths to save Kinley’s life. When Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family were not given safe passage to America as promised, he must repay his debt by returning to the war zone to retrieve them before the Taliban hunts them down first.”
‘Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant’ opened in theaters on April 21, 2023. The movie received an 83% score from the critics and a 98% score from audiences, making this Ritchie’s highest-ranked movie on the aggregator website.
Jake Gyllenhaal And Dar Salim Makes A Dynamic Team
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the best actors of his generation. On top of having experience with war movies, his resume is filled with a wide variety of roles – from crime videographer Louis Bloom (‘Nightcrawler‘) to Mysterio (‘Spider-Man: Far From Home‘), Gyllenhaal is a fantastic choice to play Sergeant John Kinley. Playing opposite Gyllenhaal is Dar Salim, as Afghan interpreter Ahmed. The two characters did not like each other at the beginning but were forced to work together. Through the movie, the bond strengthens as they learn to trust each other.
Salim talks about the key to playing Ahmed:
“He’s someone that you can relate to. He’s a guy who will do anything to keep his family safe. He just wants to give his children the opportunities that he doesn’t have himself. But even a man like that, when he’s faced with the ultimate choices, it’s a reminder that most of us have good in us and that we will do what’s right in that moment. That’s the mirror of the relationship between those two men. So that was the key to playing Ahmed, I think.”
Guy Ritchie Takes A Different Screenplay Process With This Movie
For this movie, director Guy Ritchie had a slightly different approach in the ways of the screenplay. It wasn’t a completely finished script but the director knew what story he wanted to tell and where he was going to go with it. Each morning, he would discuss the scenes with the actors – how to work on them, bouncing ideas off them. From there, the director would write scenes, making necessary edits or changes as they come up.
Jake Gyllenhaal talks more about his experience on-set and the different process:
“Then when we got there, it was a process of, “Okay, come to set. Here’s the scenes today. How do we start working on them? What are your ideas?” Then he would write in the morning. He writes very quickly. He’d write in the morning and write us the scene. He’d either change the scene or edit it, or sometimes write the whole thing out based on his thoughts from the night before or our discussions. Then we’d go out there and we’d play it. The next day we would add on to the board. As the board got bigger, he’d be able to have more to play with and references that we had done. Then we’d start telling the story that once existed as a foundation of a home.”
The film was released theatrically in the United States on April 21, 2023. While the movie is available to rent on digital, you can still enjoy it in the theater so be sure to check Moviefone‘s listings below for showtimes in your area. ‘The Covenant’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes.
Watch the official trailers for ‘The Covenant’ below:
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Can’t make it out to the theater? You have the option to rent the movie on VOD. Services such as Amazon Prime Video, Direct TV, Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft, YouTube, AppleTV, and Redbox allow you to rent the movie for $19.99.
As for as streaming goes, an official date hasn’t been confirmed by MGM, since the film is still in theaters, but you will be able to purchase the movie digitally on June 20. For those looking to purchase a physical copy, DVD and Blu-ray will also be available on June 20.
We have clearly reached an age where no film, no matter its classic status, is safe from a studio deciding to dip into its back catalogue and decide that a new version could work.
With the studio –– like several others –– raiding its existing title list for new content, the plan is to have ‘Peaky Blinders’ and ‘See’s Steven Knight (who also just jumped into the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy) write a fresh take on the original story.
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What was the original ‘Vertigo’ about?
Directed and produced by Hitchcock, ‘Vertigo’ was based on the 1954 novel ‘D’entre les morts’ (‘From Among the Dead’) by Boileau-Narcejac and adapted by screenwriters Alec Coppel and Samuel A. Taylor.
The film stars Stewart as former police detective John “Scottie” Ferguson, who has retired after an incident in the line of duty caused him to develop acrophobia (an extreme fear of heights) and vertigo, a false sense of rotational movement.
Scottie is hired by an acquaintance, Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore), as a private investigator to follow Gavin’s wife Madeleine (Kim Novak), who is behaving strangely.
Of course, as Scottie digs into the case, he comes to learn there is far more to it than that, and his life could be at risk…
(L to R) James Stewart and Kim Novak in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo.’
It’s still early days, but Robert Downey Jr. has expressed an interested in starring, taking on the Stewart role. He’s also aboard to produce via his Team Downey company, alongside Davis Entertainment’s John Davis and John Fox.
The Hitchcock estate controls the rights to the movie and has granted Paramount the go-ahead to make this new version, but the bigger question might be how it’ll work in the shadow of the original.
Other Hitchcock movies have been remade with varying levels of success, but few if any are regarded as highly as the originals.
And let’s not forget, the last time Robert Downey Jr. starred in and produced a remake, we got ‘Dolittle’. We’re naturally hoping for better things this time around –– assuming the new film goes ahead.
Downey Jr. has taken his foot off the gas on the acting front somewhat since finishing up his tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Besides ‘Dolittle’, he’s only appeared in ‘Sr’, the documentary about his father, Robert Downey Sr. Yet he will be back on our screens this year in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, due in theaters on July 21st.
Behind the scenes, he’s been much more active, producing all manner of TV shows in particular, including HBO’s ‘Perry Mason’ and ‘Sweet Tooth’ on Netflix.
Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Oppenheimer,’ written and directed by Christopher Nolan.
(L to R) Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, and Louis Partridge as Viscount Tewkesbury in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’
Co-starring Henry Cavill as Sherlock, Sam Claflin as eldest brother Mycroft and Helena Bonham Carter as her troubled mother Eudoria Holmes, it was a hit for the streaming service and naturally spawned talk of a sequel, not least because the movie adapted Nancy Springer’s book series, which meant other stories were available.
The first movie found Enola taking her first steps in her detective brothers’ path, using her genius intellect to figure out why her mother went missing and how it all ties into a conspiracy around a mysterious young lord.
Here’s the plot for this one… Fresh off the triumph of solving her first case, Enola Holmes (Brown) follows in the footsteps of her famous brother, Sherlock (Cavill), and opens her own agency — only to find that life as a female detective-for-hire isn’t as easy as it seems.
Resigned to accepting the cold realities of adulthood, she is about to close shop when a penniless matchstick girl offers Enola her first official job: to find her missing sister.
Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’
But this case proves to be far more puzzling than expected, as Enola is thrown into a dangerous new world — from London’s sinister factories and colorful music halls to the highest echelons of society and 221B Baker Street itself.
As the sparks of a deadly conspiracy ignite, Enola must call upon the help of friends — and Sherlock himself — to unravel her mystery. The game, it seems, has found its feet again!
Behind the camera is the same team as the 2020 movie – director Harry Bradbeer and writer Jack Thorne, once again adapting Springer’s ‘Enola Holmes’ book series. And, of course, some credit goes to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created the Sherlock Holmes characters from which ‘Enola’ draws its inspiration.
Netflix and the filmmakers will, of course, be hoping to avoid the legal troubles that followed the release of the original. The Conan Doyle estate brought a lawsuit claiming that the “warmer” Sherlock as portrayed by Cavill is drawn from stories that are still under copyright. The case was eventually dismissed, though in a way that points to a settlement being paid. With luck, that’ll ensure that Enola stays out of the courtroom this time – at least, off the screen.
Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’(L to R) Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’Sharon Duncan-Brewster in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes 2.’
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Walt Disney Pictures’ 1997 animated film, ‘Hercules.’
Eyebrows were understandably raised when Disney hired Guy Ritchie to direct its live action take on ‘Aladdin‘. He was, after all, better known for his crime dramas and comedies, and aside from his ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies, his attempts at bigger franchise films – ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ and ‘live. – either hadn’t won much praise (Arthur) or stumbled at the box office (U.N.C.L.E.).
Yet the results speak for themselves, and ‘Aladdin’ ended up being Ritchie’s most successful movie at the box office, with more than $1 billion in the bank. Everyone is naturally inclined to show a little more confidence then, upon learning that the director is now on board the studios’ planned new take on ‘Hercules’.
The 1997 cartoon version followed the recognizable Greek myth-based narrative of Hercules (Tate Donovan), the son of Zeus and Hera, who is stripped of his immortality as an infant and must become a true hero to reclaim it.
It was, per Disney custom at the time loaded with songs and sidekicks, and there’s every chance that the studio is looking to replicate that, albeit with real people and a hefty effects budget.
This ‘Hercules’ has been in the works for a while, with ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors Joe and Anthony Russo producing via their AGBO company. ‘Shang-Chi’ and ‘Expendables’ writer Dave Callaham has worked on a draft of the screenplay, but Disney is in the process of hiring other writers to take a crack, and we’d imagine Ritchie, who has a writing credit on ‘Aladdin’ alongside John August, will have his own input.
Will Smith in Guy Ritchie’s ‘Aladdin.’
Ritchie is a busy man of late. He followed ‘Aladdin’ with the sort of chatty criminal caper that helped launch his career in ‘The Gentlemen’, then pivoted into action thriller territory with ‘Wrath of Man’, starring Jason Statham.
The director stuck with his old pal Statham for upcoming action comedy ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’ which also stars Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Hugh Grant, and Eddie Marsan in the story of a Hollywood actor recruited to help take down the sale of a deadly weapon. ‘Operation Fortune’ is due in theaters this year.
And he’s followed that with ‘The Interpreter’, in which Jake Gyllenhaal plays Sergeant John Kinley, a soldier in Afghanistan whose life is saved by the local interpreter (Dar Salim’s Ahmed) with whom he’s teamed when a mission becomes violent. After his return to the States, John learns that Ahmed and his family haven’t been granted passage out of Afghanistan, so he heads back to help them escape before local militia fighters can close in.
Finally, there’s the small matter of a sequel to ‘Aladdin’, which Disney has in development, but is likely to be overtaken by any movement on ‘Hercules’, assuming Ritchie is interested in coming back to that world. And any discussion about an ‘Aladdin; follow-up naturally includes the question of whether Will Smith would be asked back to play the genie again.
Next up for the company in terms of movies adapted from its animated output is ‘Pinocchio’, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, due on Disney+ on September 8th.
