Film
First Poster For ‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom’ – Starring Idris Elba & Naomie Harris
May 17th
The Weinstein Company has debuted this first poster for the film of Nelson Mandela’s life based on his autobiography ‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.’ The film is directed by Justin Chadwick (The First Grader, The Other Boleyn Girl) and produced by Anant Singh. Golden Globe winner Idris Elba (Luther, The Wire, Prometheus, Pacific Rim) plays Nelson Mandela and Naomie Harris (Skyfall) his wife, Winnie. ‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom’ also stars Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Zolani Mkiva, Jamie Bartlett, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Deon Lotz and Terry Pheto.
Anant Singh began communicating with Nelson Mandela about making a film based on his life while he was still in prison and acquired the film rights to Mandela’s book at the time of its publication in 1996 and development on the film began immediately when Academy Award Nominee, writer William Nicholson (Les Miserables, Gladiator, Shadowlands) signed on. The film tells the story of the legendary South African freedom fighter, spanning over seventy years, including his struggle against apartheid, 27 years in jail and his rise to prominence as a political leader and head-of-state. Expect a teaser trailer shortly. ‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom’ arrives in cinemas on November 29th.
Joss Whedon Speaks On Iron Man’s Role In ‘The Avengers 2′ & Confirms Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch
May 17th
In a recent chat with IGN, writer-director Joss Whedon spoke briefly on his enormously anticipated sequel to ‘The Avengers.’ Whedon had previously alluded to a brother/sister duo being in ‘The Avengers 2,’ which EW later said was indeed Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. When IGN brought up the duo to the filmmaker, he confirmed they were the characters in question, explaining, “You know, they had a rough beginning. They’re interesting to me because they sort of represent the part of the world that wouldn’t necessarily agree with The Avengers. So they’re not there to make things easier. I’m not putting any characters in the movie that will make things easier.”
Colin Firth Moving Forward With An Adaptation Of ‘A Foreign Country’
May 17th
Silver Reel Partners has joined forces with Raindog Films, the new production company set up by Oscar winning actor Colin Firth and former Sony UK Chairman Ged Doherty. The two companies are partnering on the $30 million spy thriller ‘A Foreign Country.’ Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2012 for Best Thriller of the Year, ‘A Foreign Country’ is the first installment of a trilogy of novels written by Charles Cumming about a disgraced MI6 officer called Thomas Kell. The film will see Firth returning to the spy genre following his success in ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.’ Expect more news soon. The synopsis for the novel is as follows. Source: Screen Daily.
Six weeks before she is due to become the first female head of MI6, Amelia Levene disappears without a trace. Disgraced ex-agent Thomas Kell is brought in from the cold with orders to find her – quickly and quietly. The mission offers Kell a way back into the secret world, the only life he’s ever known. Tracking her through France and North Africa, Kell embarks on a dangerous voyage, shadowed by foreign intelligence services. This far from home soil, the rules of the game are entirely different – and the consequences worse than anyone imagines…
Awesome New Fan Poster For ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’
May 17th
The Mad Butcher has put together this great poster for Disney and Lucasfilm’s ‘Star Wars: Episode VII,’ which will be directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Michael Arndt and is scheduled for a 2015 release. The Mad Butcher’s description for the poster is as follows: “Done in more or less the same style as my previous poster, this one is part of a triptych that will include the returning characters from the original movies, the first being Luke Skywalker. Full disclosure: A part of the moutain scenery was taken from the Mondo poster of “John Carter”. I try not to use official artwork as often as possible. However, I used the John Carter art in a temporary capacity, before adding in my own background. After working on it for while, I realized it worked beautifully as it was and decided to leave it like that. A lot of hours were still spent on the rest of the image, I assure you.” The Mad Butcher’s previous poster for ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ can be viewed below.
Olga Kurylenko, Luke Bracey & Bill Smitrovich Join Pierce Brosnan In ‘November Man’
May 17th
Word out of the Cannes Film Festival is that Olga Kurylenko, Luke Bracey and Bill Smitrovich have joined Pierce Brosnan’s longtime passion project, ‘November Man,’ The film, being directed by Roger Donaldson from a script by Michael Finch and Karl Gajdusek, will shoot in Europe. It stars Brosnan as an ex-CIA operative hunting for a woman (Kurylenko) who has the key to an international conspiracy.
Pierce Bronson has called the project, which is based on Bill Granger’s novel ‘There are No Spies,’ part of a series of bestselling espionage novels, a “labor of love.” Roger Donaldson is not only reuniting with Bronsan, who he worked with on ‘Dante’s Peak,’ but also with Bill Smitrovich, who was in ‘Thirteen Days.’ Filming commences on ‘November Man’ from May 20th.
Image Entertainment Acquires ‘Last Love’ – Starring Michael Caine, Clémence Poésy & Gillian Anderson
May 17th
Image Entertainment send word that they’ve acquired all US rights to the romantic drama ‘Last Love,’ which is based on Francoise Dorner’s French novel “La Douceur Assassine.” Starring Oscar winner Michael Caine, who recently signed on to star in ‘Interstellar’ – his 6th Christopher Nolan film, ‘Last Love’ is written and directed by Sandra Nettelbeck (Mostly Martha), and co-stars Clémence Poésy (In Bruges, 127 Hours), Justin Kirk (Goats, Showtime’s “Weeds”), Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”) and Jane Alexander (Dream House, Terminator Salvation). The film will be released via ultra VOD in October and then theatrically in markets across the country. Expect a confirmed worldwide release schedule shortly.
‘Last Love’ stars Michael Caine as a lonely American widower who learns to love life again after a chance meeting with a young woman (Clémence Poésy) while living in Paris. The film, scored by Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer, was filmed entirely in Paris, France. “The legendary Michael Caine delivers an outstanding performance in this film,” said Bill Bromiley, chief acquisitions officer for Image Entertainment. “His versatility and presence on screen command respect from peers and audiences alike. We are proud to distribute another great work from one of the greatest actors of all time.”
