Moviefone Editorial

Tag: the-kings-speech

  • ‘The NeverEnding Story’ Reboot in the Works

    1984's 'The NeverEnding Story.'
    1984’s ‘The NeverEnding Story.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    Preview:

    • ‘The NeverEnding Story’ will return to screens in a new adaptation.
    • The 1984 original is a cult classic that many grew up with.
    • See-Saw Films, which made ‘The King’s Speech’ among others, is developing it.

    Most famous for being a key part of eighties’ kids childhood (who among us can forget the heart-rending image of a horse drowning in a swamp as part of a movie designed to entertain children?), ‘The NeverEnding Story’ might also be famous for the joke about someone threatening legal action because it, you know, ended.

    But now, because every piece of pop culture somehow comes spinning back around on the giant wheel of remakes (and because there was added renewed interest thanks to the use of its music in ‘Stranger Things’), the rights to adapt Michael Ende’s original novel are now in the clutches of See-Saw Films, the team behind ‘The King’s Speech’ on the big screen and ‘Slow Horses’ on the small, and they have big plans going forward.

    Related Article: Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden Talk Apple TV+’s ‘Slow Horses’ Season 3

    What’s the plot of ‘The Neverending Story’?

    1984's 'The NeverEnding Story.'
    1984’s ‘The NeverEnding Story.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    Michael Ende’s 1979 kid-friendly fantasy novel became a bestseller in Germany and ended up translated into 45 languages, selling millions of copies worldwide.

    We’re introduced to shy but imaginative child Bastian Balthasar Bux who, while escaping from bullies, discovers the mysterious, titular tome about the heroic Atréyu and his mission to save the magical realm of Fantastica — a world of dragons, giants and deadly swamps — and its ruler, the Childlike Empress, from being destroyed by force known as “The Nothing.”

    Yet the more he reads, the more Bastian realizes he’s not simply an uninvolved spectator and he soon finds himself transported into Fantastica himself, flying atop the luckdragon Falkor.

    The movie version (directed by Wolfgang Petersen) was not to Ende’s taste, though his disapproval didn’t stop production of two sequels and a couple of short-lived TV adaptations.

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    Who is working on the new ‘The Neverending Story’?

    1984's 'The NeverEnding Story.'
    1984’s ‘The NeverEnding Story.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    Right now, all the film has is rights holders and producers; the process of finding filmmakers and cast to bring it to life, and a distribution home, is only now starting.

    Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw are working with Roman Hocke and Ralph Gassmann, who run Michael Ende Productions, the estate of the author.

    Here’s what Canning told Variety about the appeal:

    “The story is both timely and timeless, and really has an opportunity to be told in a fresh way. And part of the specialness of the book is that you can go back to it at different ages in your life and find different levels of meaning. So how wonderful that we have this opportunity to do a fresh perspective that will have new layers and meanings. We just believe that every generation deserves their own journey into Fantastica.”

    When will the new ‘Neverending Story’ be on screens?

    There is no release date for the movie yet.

    1984's 'The NeverEnding Story.'
    1984’s ‘The NeverEnding Story.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The NeverEnding Story’:

    Buy ‘The NeverEnding Story’ On Amazon

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  • Actor Michael Gambon Dead at 82

    Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'
    (L to R) Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    Michael Gambon, a veteran British actor who drew a brand new generation of fans when he stepped into the role of ‘Harry Potter’s wise, mysterious Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, has died. He was 82.

    A jovial actor in the classic British style, he once said that he preferred playing villains, and indeed put in some memorable turns as menacing characters, including a Satanic crime boss in Peter Greenaway’s ‘The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover.’

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    Michael Gambon: Early life and career

    Born in Dublin on October 19th, 1940, Gambon was raised in London and originally trained as an engineer, following in the footsteps of his father. He made his theater debut in a production of ‘Othello’ in Dublin.

    In 1963 he got his first big break with a minor role in ‘Hamlet,’ the National Theatre Company’s opening production, under the directorship of the legendary Laurence Olivier.

    Gambon soon became a distinguished stage actor and received critical acclaim for his leading performance in ‘Life of Galileo,’ directed by John Dexter. He was frequently nominated for awards and won the Laurence Olivier Award 3 times and the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards twice.

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    Michael Gambon: TV work

    On the small screen, Gambon played the central role in the BBC’s ‘The Singing Detective’, and also portrayed a sleuth in an early ‘90s adaptation of Georges Simenon’s ‘Maigret’ novels.

    He starred as Prior Walter in HBO’s adaptation of ‘Angels in America’, appeared in the miniseries adaptation of ‘Potter’ creator J.K. Rowling’s ‘The Casual Vacancy’, and had a recurring role in psychological horror series ‘Fortitude’. He also, notably, appeared on cult UK car series ‘Top Gear,’ taking a corner so quickly in the ‘Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car’ segment that it was subsequently named ‘Gambon’ in his honor.

    Related Article: Watch ‘Harry Potter’ Movies in Order Including the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Prequels

    Michael Gambon: film work

    Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.'
    (L to R) Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    Though he gained worldwide recognition for taking over the role of Dumbledore following the death of Richard Harris (who had played the character in the first two ‘Potter’ outings), he also had a long and successful movie career in a variety of roles.

    Through his long stint on the big screen, Gambon worked with several notable directors – starring in Tim Burton’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’ in 1999, Robert Altman’s ‘Gosford Park’, Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Layer Cake’, Wes Anderson’s ‘The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou’ and ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’, Robert De Niro’s ‘The Good Shepherd’, and Tom Hooper’s ‘The King’s Speech’. Recently, he narrated the Coen Brothers’ ‘Hail, Caesar!’, and lent his voice to ‘Paddington’ and ‘Paddington 2’ as the titular bear’s Uncle Pastuzo. One of his final film roles was playing theatre impresario Bernard Delfont in 2019’s Judy Garland biopic ‘Judy’.

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    Gambon family statement

    Gambon’s wife and son released a statement on his passing via his publicist:
    “We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82. We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”

    Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'
    (Right) Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    Michael Gambon Movies:

    Buy Michael Gambon Movies On Amazon

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  • Best Movies About Queen Elizabeth II

    Photo of Queen Elizabeth II courtesy of Reuters YouTube channel.
    Photo of Queen Elizabeth II courtesy of Reuters YouTube channel.

    Sad news out of London today as word of the Queen’s passing has been confirmed.

    Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, Elizabeth II served as Queen of England for 70 years, beginning her reign in February of 1952. She served the longest of any British monarch and the second-longest verified reign of any monarch in history.

    Over the years, there have been countless movies, TV shows and documentaries about Queen Elizabeth and her family. In honor of her passing, Moviefone counts down the top ten movies about Queen Elizabeth II.

    For this list, we are not including TV shows like ‘The Crown,’ but will include documentaries and films that feature a character based on her majesty.

    Without further ado, let’s begin … and “God Save the Queen!”

    The Majestic Life of Queen Elizabeth II (2015)

    Produced in High Definition, with rare archive footage. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for 60 years as the Queen of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. The Queen, who has witnessed incredible social, political and cultural changes in her reign, has retained the purpose and dignity of the British Monarchy. From the death of her father King George VI, to the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, this is the true story of how the young Princess became a great Queen.

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    The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

    This fascinating documentary reveals the behind the scenes story of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, drawing on rare archive footage and made using eyewitness accounts of participants and historical experts.

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    Queen Elizabeth II: Reign Supreme

    This documentary examines the extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth II, highlighting her enduring reign, as well as her public and private world.

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    Queen Elizabeth II: Her Glorious Reign (2022)

    Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. While her service to her country is legendary, she has become a figure of strength, endurance, and dignity the world over and indeed we all feel connected to her. Through triumph, loss, scandal, and celebration, witness the story of how a young Princess became Queen to the people of the world.

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    The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

    Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin in 1988's 'The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!'
    Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin in 1988’s ‘The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!’

    When the incompetent Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) seeks the ruthless killer of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.

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    Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)

    The duke of York, nicknamed Bertie (James Wilby), was born as royal ‘spare heir’, younger brother to the prince of Wales, and thus expected to spend a relatively private life with his Scottish wife Elisabeth Bowes-Lyon (Juliet Aubrey) and their daughters, in the shadow of their reigning father, George V (Alan Bates), and next that of his elder brother who succeeded to the British throne as Edward VIII (Charles Edwards). However Edward decides to put his love for a divorced American, Wallis Simpson (Amber Rose Sealey), above dynastic duty, and ends up abdicating the throne, which now falls to Bertie, who reigns as George VI.

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    Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s) (2022)

    Elizabeth is an archive-based documentary film about the Queen. A celebration. A truly cinematic mystery-tour up and down the decades: poetic, funny, disobedient, ungovernable, affectionate, inappropriate, mischievous, in awe. Funny. Moving. Different. The Queen as never before.

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    Spencer (2021)

    The marriage of Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) and Prince Charles (Jack Farthing) has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. Spencer is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days.

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    The King’s Speech (2010)

    The King’s Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI (Colin Firth), the father of Queen Elizabeth II (Freya Wilson). After his brother abdicates, George (“Bertie”) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country into war.

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    The Queen (2006)

    Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in 2006's 'The Queen.'
    Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in 2006’s ‘The Queen.’

    The Queen is an intimate behind the scenes glimpse at the interaction between HM Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) and Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) during their struggle, following the death of Diana, to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal family and the public’s demand for an overt display of mourning.

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