Sony Pictures Classics’ Wicked Little Letters grossed an estimated $1.5+ million in a big second week expansion for the R-rated British period comedy to 1,000 screens from five. The Thea Sharrock-directed film starring Olivia Colman (also a producer) and Jessie Buckley, no. 8 at the domestic weekend box office, has a $1.6+ million cume.
Colman and Buckley have been out actively promoting the film, based on an actual scandal, about a police investigation into the anonymous author of crude letters sent to the residents of a British seaside town.
The number is on the high end of SPC’s expectations, and the Sunday estimate may be conservative.
Audiences for Wicked Little Letters are 60% female, 40% male, with a range of women age 30-plus, unusual for a period film as they skew older. It’s playing especially well in major cities and college towns but also popping in smaller markets like Seattle. Word of mouths is terrific,...
Colman and Buckley have been out actively promoting the film, based on an actual scandal, about a police investigation into the anonymous author of crude letters sent to the residents of a British seaside town.
The number is on the high end of SPC’s expectations, and the Sunday estimate may be conservative.
Audiences for Wicked Little Letters are 60% female, 40% male, with a range of women age 30-plus, unusual for a period film as they skew older. It’s playing especially well in major cities and college towns but also popping in smaller markets like Seattle. Word of mouths is terrific,...
- 4/7/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Although some may find the new mystery Wicked Little Letters a bit lax in actual mystery, an incredibly strong cast, led by Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley manages to elevate the film to a wickedly clever piece that makes up for its shortcomings with unabashed enthusiasm and excitement.
Based on an allegedly true story, Wicked Little Letters tells the tale of two women: Edith Swan (Colman) and Rose Gooding (Buckley) who, after Rose is accused of sending Edith and several of the town’s residents several profane letters, set about investigating the crime themselves to prove that Rose is innocent.
Director Thea Sharrock – whose previous feature work includes The One and Only Ivan (2020) and Me Before You (2016) – works from a script that was penned by Jonny Sweet, an actor who has also written scripts for several episodes of the television programs Gap Year (2017), Together (2015), and Chickens (2011). The result is a...
Based on an allegedly true story, Wicked Little Letters tells the tale of two women: Edith Swan (Colman) and Rose Gooding (Buckley) who, after Rose is accused of sending Edith and several of the town’s residents several profane letters, set about investigating the crime themselves to prove that Rose is innocent.
Director Thea Sharrock – whose previous feature work includes The One and Only Ivan (2020) and Me Before You (2016) – works from a script that was penned by Jonny Sweet, an actor who has also written scripts for several episodes of the television programs Gap Year (2017), Together (2015), and Chickens (2011). The result is a...
- 4/7/2024
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
Olivia Colman as Edith Swan in ‘Wicked Little Letters’ Image: Parisa Taghizadeh. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Wicked Little Letters is one of those truth-stranger-than-fiction tales that remind us that people are weirder than we might think. Director Thea Sharrock opens her comedy/mystery tale with text informing us “more of this is true than you might think,” a comic mystery about on the sudden appearance of anonymous obscene letters sent to various residents of a quiet of early 1920s little British seaside town. The first victim is Edith Swan (Olivia Colman), prim and proper religious spinster who still lives with her parents, and who embodies the last-gasp of the Victorian era ideal of a quiet obedient woman against those uppity women demanding the vote. Suspicion quickly falls on Edith’s neighbor, a foul-mouthed new arrival from Ireland, Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley), who has a daughter Nancy (Alisha Weir), and...
Wicked Little Letters is one of those truth-stranger-than-fiction tales that remind us that people are weirder than we might think. Director Thea Sharrock opens her comedy/mystery tale with text informing us “more of this is true than you might think,” a comic mystery about on the sudden appearance of anonymous obscene letters sent to various residents of a quiet of early 1920s little British seaside town. The first victim is Edith Swan (Olivia Colman), prim and proper religious spinster who still lives with her parents, and who embodies the last-gasp of the Victorian era ideal of a quiet obedient woman against those uppity women demanding the vote. Suspicion quickly falls on Edith’s neighbor, a foul-mouthed new arrival from Ireland, Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley), who has a daughter Nancy (Alisha Weir), and...
- 4/5/2024
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
There’s a reason “Wicked Little Letters” lured the A-list cast that British comedian and TV scribe Jonny Sweet (“Chickens”) and theater/film director Thea Sharrock (“The Hollow Crown”) dreamed about, including Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.
Sweet pitched the idea to StudioCanal’s Nicola Shindler, who took him on as a film writer even though he’d only done TV. His first movie script was so funny that when Shindler sent it to Colman, the Oscar-winner (“The Favourite”) signed on right away to play Edith, a proper village spinster living at home who goes to the police after receiving a series of scatologically creative hate letters in the post. Who could resist language like “you foxy-ass piss-country whore?”
That got the ball rolling: Soon, Timothy Spall joined the cast as Edith’s misogynistic father, steeped in old-school patriarchal ways, along with Jessie Buckley as Rose, Edith’s brash, Irish,...
Sweet pitched the idea to StudioCanal’s Nicola Shindler, who took him on as a film writer even though he’d only done TV. His first movie script was so funny that when Shindler sent it to Colman, the Oscar-winner (“The Favourite”) signed on right away to play Edith, a proper village spinster living at home who goes to the police after receiving a series of scatologically creative hate letters in the post. Who could resist language like “you foxy-ass piss-country whore?”
That got the ball rolling: Soon, Timothy Spall joined the cast as Edith’s misogynistic father, steeped in old-school patriarchal ways, along with Jessie Buckley as Rose, Edith’s brash, Irish,...
- 3/29/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
“Wicked Little Letters” is a Brit-produced comedy mystery feature, directed by Thea Sharrock, starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins, and Timothy Spall, opening March 29, 2024 in theaters:
“…based on a true scandal that stunned 1920’s England, the story centres on neighbours ‘Edith Swan’ and ‘Rose Gooding’ in the seaside town of Littlehampton.
“One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and the other residents, with suspicion falling upon Rose. As the outrageous letters continue to escalate, Rose risks losing both her freedom and custody of her daughter.
“Police Officer ‘Gladys Moss’ is determined to find the real culprit, and along with a group of other women, seeks to solve this perplexing mystery…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…based on a true scandal that stunned 1920’s England, the story centres on neighbours ‘Edith Swan’ and ‘Rose Gooding’ in the seaside town of Littlehampton.
“One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and the other residents, with suspicion falling upon Rose. As the outrageous letters continue to escalate, Rose risks losing both her freedom and custody of her daughter.
“Police Officer ‘Gladys Moss’ is determined to find the real culprit, and along with a group of other women, seeks to solve this perplexing mystery…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 3/29/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
“Wicked Little Letters” is a Brit-produced comedy mystery feature, directed by Thea Sharrock, starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins, and Timothy Spall, opening March 29, 2024 in theaters:
“…based on a true scandal that stunned 1920’s England, the story centres on neighbours ‘Edith Swan’ and ‘Rose Gooding’ in the seaside town of Littlehampton.
“One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and the other residents, with suspicion falling upon Rose. As the outrageous letters continue to escalate, Rose risks losing both her freedom and custody of her daughter.
“Police Officer ‘Gladys Moss’ is determined to find the real culprit, and along with a group of other women, seeks to solve this perplexing mystery…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…based on a true scandal that stunned 1920’s England, the story centres on neighbours ‘Edith Swan’ and ‘Rose Gooding’ in the seaside town of Littlehampton.
“One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and the other residents, with suspicion falling upon Rose. As the outrageous letters continue to escalate, Rose risks losing both her freedom and custody of her daughter.
“Police Officer ‘Gladys Moss’ is determined to find the real culprit, and along with a group of other women, seeks to solve this perplexing mystery…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 3/23/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Exclusive: Heartstopper breakout Sebastian Croft has signed for representation with Anonymous Content.
The British actor has signed with the agency in all areas. He continues to be represented by Greg Herst at UK-based Cvgg and attorney Lucy Popkin at Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
Croft is best known for playing Ben Hope in Netflix smash Heartstopper. His character in Alice Oseman’s coming-of-age rom-com has a clandestine relationship with the show’s lead, Charlie (Joe Locke), at the start of the show, but it becomes clear that he is using Charlie and he is often antagonistic towards him.
Heartstopper has made huge stars of the likes of Locke and Kit Connor, who have also landed major agency representation.
Croft is also leading Prime Video’s upcoming rom-com movie How to Date Billy Walsh, in which he will play the lead role of Archie opposite Tanner Buchanan when the movie airs in April.
The British actor has signed with the agency in all areas. He continues to be represented by Greg Herst at UK-based Cvgg and attorney Lucy Popkin at Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
Croft is best known for playing Ben Hope in Netflix smash Heartstopper. His character in Alice Oseman’s coming-of-age rom-com has a clandestine relationship with the show’s lead, Charlie (Joe Locke), at the start of the show, but it becomes clear that he is using Charlie and he is often antagonistic towards him.
Heartstopper has made huge stars of the likes of Locke and Kit Connor, who have also landed major agency representation.
Croft is also leading Prime Video’s upcoming rom-com movie How to Date Billy Walsh, in which he will play the lead role of Archie opposite Tanner Buchanan when the movie airs in April.
- 2/27/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
This evening we met the cast and crew of Wicked Little Letters on the red carpet of the film’s European Premiere in Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square, London. Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley star alongside Anjana Vasan, BAFTA Nominee Timothy Spall, BAFTA winner Joanna Scanlan, Hugh Skinner, BAFTA winner Malachi Kirby, Gemma Jones, Lolly Adefope (Ghosts), Eileen Atkins (The Crown), and Alisha Weir (Matilda!).
Wicked Little Letters will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on 23 February 2024. Scott Davis, Colin Hart and Ethan Hart were on the red carpet, here are their interviews.
Wicked Little Letters Premiere Interviews
Plot:
Based on a true story, a 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, the feature follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When...
Wicked Little Letters will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on 23 February 2024. Scott Davis, Colin Hart and Ethan Hart were on the red carpet, here are their interviews.
Wicked Little Letters Premiere Interviews
Plot:
Based on a true story, a 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, the feature follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When...
- 2/13/2024
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The BBC is celebrating the art of the literary adaptation by screening a variety of classics on BBC Four. More details here.
The BBC is quite rightly celebrated for its rich history of book to screen adaptations, such as the iconic 1995 version of Jane Austen’a Pride And Prejudice to Cbbc’s hugely successful adaptation of Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker series.
It has now put together a season of 14 adaptations from the BBC archive, some of which have rarely been seen since their original broadcast.
The dramas are:
The Great Gatsby
Toby Stephens, Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd lead the cast in this 2000 BBC adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel on the American dream in the jazz age.
Small Island
Naomie Harris, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ashley Walters star in this 2009 TV version of Andrea Levy’s novel focusing on the lives and...
The BBC is quite rightly celebrated for its rich history of book to screen adaptations, such as the iconic 1995 version of Jane Austen’a Pride And Prejudice to Cbbc’s hugely successful adaptation of Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker series.
It has now put together a season of 14 adaptations from the BBC archive, some of which have rarely been seen since their original broadcast.
The dramas are:
The Great Gatsby
Toby Stephens, Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd lead the cast in this 2000 BBC adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel on the American dream in the jazz age.
Small Island
Naomie Harris, Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ashley Walters star in this 2009 TV version of Andrea Levy’s novel focusing on the lives and...
- 2/6/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Network: Netflix
Episodes: 60 (hour)
Seasons: Six
TV show dates: November 4, 2016 -- December 14, 2023
Series status: Ended
Performers include: Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Eileen Atkins, Jeremy Northam, Victoria Hamilton, Ben Miles, Greg Wise, Jared Harris, John Lithgow, Alex Jennings, Lia Williams, Anton Lesser, Matthew Goode, Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Daniels, Jason Watkins, Marion Bailey, Erin Doherty, Charles Dance, Josh O'Connor, Emma Corrin, Gillian Anderson, Stephen Boxer, Emerald Fennell, Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Dominic West, Elizabeth Debicki, Jonny Lee Miller, Olivia Williams, Claudia Harrison, Natascha McElhone, Marcia Warren, Salim Daw, Khalid Abdalla, Bertie Carvel, Ed McVey, Luther Ford, and Meg Bellamy.
TV show description:
Based on the award-winning play called The Audience, this dramatic TV show revolves around the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II....
Episodes: 60 (hour)
Seasons: Six
TV show dates: November 4, 2016 -- December 14, 2023
Series status: Ended
Performers include: Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Eileen Atkins, Jeremy Northam, Victoria Hamilton, Ben Miles, Greg Wise, Jared Harris, John Lithgow, Alex Jennings, Lia Williams, Anton Lesser, Matthew Goode, Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Daniels, Jason Watkins, Marion Bailey, Erin Doherty, Charles Dance, Josh O'Connor, Emma Corrin, Gillian Anderson, Stephen Boxer, Emerald Fennell, Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, Dominic West, Elizabeth Debicki, Jonny Lee Miller, Olivia Williams, Claudia Harrison, Natascha McElhone, Marcia Warren, Salim Daw, Khalid Abdalla, Bertie Carvel, Ed McVey, Luther Ford, and Meg Bellamy.
TV show description:
Based on the award-winning play called The Audience, this dramatic TV show revolves around the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II....
- 12/15/2023
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Palm Springs International Film Festival programmers have set this year’s lineup.
The desert festival, which runs Jan. 4 to 15, will open with the U.S. premiere of Thea Sharrock’s Wicked Little Letters on Jan. 5. Based on a 1920s English scandal, the film follows neighbors Edith Swan and Rose Gooding in the seaside town of Littlehampton. One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and others as suspicions fall on Rose. As the situation escalates, Rose risks losing her freedom and custody of her daughter. Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Malachi Kirby, Eileen Atkins and Timothy Spall star in the film.
Though the opening screening happens on Jan. 5, the festival really kicks off the night before with the Film Awards, a starry ceremony that will shine a spotlight on Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things star Emma Stone, Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy,...
The desert festival, which runs Jan. 4 to 15, will open with the U.S. premiere of Thea Sharrock’s Wicked Little Letters on Jan. 5. Based on a 1920s English scandal, the film follows neighbors Edith Swan and Rose Gooding in the seaside town of Littlehampton. One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and others as suspicions fall on Rose. As the situation escalates, Rose risks losing her freedom and custody of her daughter. Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Malachi Kirby, Eileen Atkins and Timothy Spall star in the film.
Though the opening screening happens on Jan. 5, the festival really kicks off the night before with the Film Awards, a starry ceremony that will shine a spotlight on Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things star Emma Stone, Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired rights in North America and China to mystery-comedy Wicked Little Letters from Studiocanal, for a 2024 theatrical release.
The film is directed by Thea Sharrock (Me Before You) from a screenplay by Jonny Sweet (Greed). Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley co-star in the period comedy-drama which world premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
Additional cast include Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall, Hugh Skinner, Malachi Kirby, Gemma Jones), Lolly Adefope), Eileen Atkins and Alisha Weir.
The deal was negotiated between SPC and Studiocanal, which financed the film with Film4. Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films previously acquired additional international rights.
The film is produced by Blueprint Pictures alongside South of The River Pictures and Jo Wallett.
It is executive produced by Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern, and Joe Naftalin for Studiocanal and Daniel Battsek, Ollie Madden, and Farhana Bhula for Film4. In addition to writing the screenplay,...
The film is directed by Thea Sharrock (Me Before You) from a screenplay by Jonny Sweet (Greed). Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley co-star in the period comedy-drama which world premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
Additional cast include Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall, Hugh Skinner, Malachi Kirby, Gemma Jones), Lolly Adefope), Eileen Atkins and Alisha Weir.
The deal was negotiated between SPC and Studiocanal, which financed the film with Film4. Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films previously acquired additional international rights.
The film is produced by Blueprint Pictures alongside South of The River Pictures and Jo Wallett.
It is executive produced by Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern, and Joe Naftalin for Studiocanal and Daniel Battsek, Ollie Madden, and Farhana Bhula for Film4. In addition to writing the screenplay,...
- 11/3/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Delivering some late deal-making momentum to the American Film Market, Sony Pictures Classics snatched up North America and China distribution rights to the British black comedy mystery film Wicked Little Letters, starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.
Sony acquired the rights from StudioCanal and will release the film theatrically in 2024.
Directed by Thea Sharrock (Me Before You) from a screenplay by Jonny Sweet (Greed), Wicked Little Letters is based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England. The story centers on neighbors Edith Swan (Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Buckley) in the seaside town of Littlehampton. One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and others, and when suspicion falls on Rose, the women of the town suspect something is amiss and decide to investigate.
Wicked Little Letters recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film’s cast is rounded...
Sony acquired the rights from StudioCanal and will release the film theatrically in 2024.
Directed by Thea Sharrock (Me Before You) from a screenplay by Jonny Sweet (Greed), Wicked Little Letters is based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England. The story centers on neighbors Edith Swan (Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Buckley) in the seaside town of Littlehampton. One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and others, and when suspicion falls on Rose, the women of the town suspect something is amiss and decide to investigate.
Wicked Little Letters recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film’s cast is rounded...
- 11/3/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony Pictures Classics just picked up the distribution rights in both North America and China for “Wicked Little Letters.” The StudioCanal film, directed by Thea Sharrock (“Me Before You”) and penned by Jonny Sweet (“Greed”), stars Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley and made its premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The film is expected to open theatrically in 2024.
“Wicked Little Letters” takes place in a 1920s English seaside town which gets turned upside down when the residents begin receiving mysterious letters filled with profanities. The scandal, based on true-life events, creates a national uproar as the town’s women take it upon themselves to deduce the culprit.
StudioCanal’s Head of International Sales Chloe Marquet said, “We are thrilled to partner with SPC on ‘Wicked Little Letters’ and closely following the fantastic reception in TIFF. We know that SPC is the ideal partner to bring this very...
“Wicked Little Letters” takes place in a 1920s English seaside town which gets turned upside down when the residents begin receiving mysterious letters filled with profanities. The scandal, based on true-life events, creates a national uproar as the town’s women take it upon themselves to deduce the culprit.
StudioCanal’s Head of International Sales Chloe Marquet said, “We are thrilled to partner with SPC on ‘Wicked Little Letters’ and closely following the fantastic reception in TIFF. We know that SPC is the ideal partner to bring this very...
- 11/3/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American rights to “Wicked Little Letters,” a stranger-than-fiction mystery comedy starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley. The movie, directed by “Me Before You” filmmaker Thea Sharrock, had its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
“Wicked Little Letters” will debut in theaters sometime in 2024.
Set in a 1920s English seaside town amid a “dark and absurd scandal,” the film follows the true story of two neighbors: the deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Colman) and the rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, fouth-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues — but as the town’s women start to investigate, they suspect that Rose may not be the culprit after all.
“’Wicked Little Letters’ not only showcases great...
“Wicked Little Letters” will debut in theaters sometime in 2024.
Set in a 1920s English seaside town amid a “dark and absurd scandal,” the film follows the true story of two neighbors: the deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Colman) and the rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, fouth-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues — but as the town’s women start to investigate, they suspect that Rose may not be the culprit after all.
“’Wicked Little Letters’ not only showcases great...
- 11/3/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Studiocanal has revealed the brand spanking new red band trailer for ‘Wicked Little Letters’, the razor-sharp British comedy from director Thea Sharrock.
Based on a true story, a 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, the feature follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and her fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town’s women – led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) – begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit after all.
Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley star. Supporting cast includes Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts,...
Based on a true story, a 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, the feature follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and her fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town’s women – led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) – begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit after all.
Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley star. Supporting cast includes Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Trolling isn’t just a 21st century phenom.
Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley star in the wild true story of a series of harassing letters that threatened to ruin the lives of two women in Britain back in the 1920s. “Wicked Little Letters” is directed by Thea Sharrock from a script by Jonny Sweet. The film debuted at TIFF.
Based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England, the story centers on neighbors Edith Swan (Colman) and Rose Gooding (Buckley) in the seaside town of Littlehampton. One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and others, with suspicion falling upon Rose. As the outrageous letters continue to escalate, Rose risks losing both her freedom and custody of her daughter. Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) is determined to find the real culprit, and along with a group of other women, seeks to solve this perplexing mystery.
The logline reads: Small town.
Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley star in the wild true story of a series of harassing letters that threatened to ruin the lives of two women in Britain back in the 1920s. “Wicked Little Letters” is directed by Thea Sharrock from a script by Jonny Sweet. The film debuted at TIFF.
Based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England, the story centers on neighbors Edith Swan (Colman) and Rose Gooding (Buckley) in the seaside town of Littlehampton. One day, a series of obscene letters begin to target Edith and others, with suspicion falling upon Rose. As the outrageous letters continue to escalate, Rose risks losing both her freedom and custody of her daughter. Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) is determined to find the real culprit, and along with a group of other women, seeks to solve this perplexing mystery.
The logline reads: Small town.
- 10/26/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
As opening gambits for a trailer go, “Dear Edith, you foxy-ass old whore, you really are a tricksy fucker” is certainly one of the more colourful introductions to a film. And there’s plenty more where that came from in Thea Sharrock’s Wicked Little Letters, which sees :a[The Lost Daughter]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-lost-daughter/' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} co-stars Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley reunited and going toe-to-toe as two women at the centre of a profanity-filled, missive-based comedy-mystery. Check out the sweary trailer below.
Thank goodness nobody in this teaser has a swear jar – they’d all be broke! Written by actor and screenwriter Jonny Sweet, and based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, the 1920s set Wicked Little Letters centres around neighbours Edith Swan (Colman) and Rose Gooding (Buckley). Whilst Edith is something of a prudish busybody, Rose is a rowdy,...
Thank goodness nobody in this teaser has a swear jar – they’d all be broke! Written by actor and screenwriter Jonny Sweet, and based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, the 1920s set Wicked Little Letters centres around neighbours Edith Swan (Colman) and Rose Gooding (Buckley). Whilst Edith is something of a prudish busybody, Rose is a rowdy,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Jordan King
- Empire - Movies
It’s been more than 15 years since Oscar-nominated cinematographer and director Lajos Koltai helmed his last film, “Evening” (2007), a poignant meditation on mortality, regret and womanhood that featured a star-studded ensemble cast, including Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, Eileen Atkins and Meryl Streep, and was released domestically by Focus Features.
For his return to the director’s chair, the Hungarian-born filmmaker also returns closer to home with “Semmelweis,” a period biopic drama about a Hungarian doctor who turns the medical establishment on its head in 19th-century Vienna. The film opens the 21st Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles, which runs Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 at the Laemmle Monica Film Center.
“Semmelweis” is set in 1847, as a mysterious epidemic is raging in a maternity clinic in Vienna. The film follows the Hungarian-born doctor Ignác Semmelweis, played by rising Hungarian actor Miklos H. Vecsei, in a race against the clock to solve the mystery...
For his return to the director’s chair, the Hungarian-born filmmaker also returns closer to home with “Semmelweis,” a period biopic drama about a Hungarian doctor who turns the medical establishment on its head in 19th-century Vienna. The film opens the 21st Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles, which runs Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 at the Laemmle Monica Film Center.
“Semmelweis” is set in 1847, as a mysterious epidemic is raging in a maternity clinic in Vienna. The film follows the Hungarian-born doctor Ignác Semmelweis, played by rising Hungarian actor Miklos H. Vecsei, in a race against the clock to solve the mystery...
- 10/22/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Editor’s Note: This review originally published during the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Sony Pictures Classics will release “Wicked Little Letters” in U.S. theaters on March 29, 2024.
Before social media, you had to troll people the old-fashioned way: poison-pen letters. The new period comedy “Wicked Little Letters” follows just one such incident, chronicling one of the most notorious cases of trolling in British history. The film, directed by Thea Sharrock, is a playfully raunchy story about women behaving badly to break out of their conservative feminine roles.
Based on true events, “Wicked Little Letters” tells the story of two women who couldn’t be more different and scandal that linked them in 1920s England. Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) is an unmarried woman living with her domineering father Edward (Timothy Spall) and her gentle, meek mother Victoria (Gemma Jones) in a close-knit English village. But just right next door is her polar opposite,...
Before social media, you had to troll people the old-fashioned way: poison-pen letters. The new period comedy “Wicked Little Letters” follows just one such incident, chronicling one of the most notorious cases of trolling in British history. The film, directed by Thea Sharrock, is a playfully raunchy story about women behaving badly to break out of their conservative feminine roles.
Based on true events, “Wicked Little Letters” tells the story of two women who couldn’t be more different and scandal that linked them in 1920s England. Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) is an unmarried woman living with her domineering father Edward (Timothy Spall) and her gentle, meek mother Victoria (Gemma Jones) in a close-knit English village. But just right next door is her polar opposite,...
- 9/14/2023
- by Jourdain Searles
- Indiewire
You’ve seen Women Talking, welcome to Women Swearing: Wicked Little Letters, Thea Sharrock’s fantastically funny feature puts Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman together in the filthiest pairing since Derek met Clive in the late 1970s. Set in 1920, it’s based on a story that, per the credits, is “more true than you’d think”, which, when you get to the end of it, is quite a claim. Think what a hip, modern and actually funny Carry On spoof of Call the Midwife might look like, scripted by the Coen brothers, shot with a little visual nod to Wes Anderson, and dictated by a screenwriter with Tourette Syndrome.
Throw in a bit of St. Trinian’s moral anarchy (Launder and Gilliatt version only) and you have the runaway British comedy of the year, a sometimes cry-laughing four-letter smackdown that might well benefit from the awards-season envelope currently being pushed...
Throw in a bit of St. Trinian’s moral anarchy (Launder and Gilliatt version only) and you have the runaway British comedy of the year, a sometimes cry-laughing four-letter smackdown that might well benefit from the awards-season envelope currently being pushed...
- 9/10/2023
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
As of this writing, all of Gold Derby’s Experts (our savvy pundits from major media outlets) and Editors (our staffers who write about awards year-round) are in agreement that Jennifer Coolidge (“The White Lotus: Sicily”) will win at the 2023 Emmys in Best Drama Supporting Actress. This would be her second consecutive Emmy Award for playing fan-favorite socialite Tanya McQuoid on the HBO show. However, her trophies would be in different categories, as “The White Lotus” is making a Tanya-esque leap this year (just use the ladder!) from a limited series to a drama series.
Amazingly enough, there is recent precedent for this exact scenario at the Emmys. Maggie Smith (“Downton Abbey”) won in the same supporting actress categories for playing Violet Crawley both before and after her PBS show swapped genres.
See‘The White Lotus’: What are its Emmy chances now that it’s competing as a drama series?...
Amazingly enough, there is recent precedent for this exact scenario at the Emmys. Maggie Smith (“Downton Abbey”) won in the same supporting actress categories for playing Violet Crawley both before and after her PBS show swapped genres.
See‘The White Lotus’: What are its Emmy chances now that it’s competing as a drama series?...
- 3/17/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Wicked Little Letters
For her third feature film, Thea Sharrock lassoed powerhouses in Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley along with Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall, Joanna Scanlan, Hugh Skinner, Malachi Kirby, Gemma Jones, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins and Alisha Weir to essentially play a game of clue. The dramedy is apparently based on a true story. An accomplished English theatre director, directed television before landing on Me Before You (2016) and The One and Only Ivan (2020), Wicked Little Letters is going to be a major calling card for the director. Veteran cinematographer (The Banshees of Inisherin) Ben Davis is onboard.…...
For her third feature film, Thea Sharrock lassoed powerhouses in Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley along with Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall, Joanna Scanlan, Hugh Skinner, Malachi Kirby, Gemma Jones, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins and Alisha Weir to essentially play a game of clue. The dramedy is apparently based on a true story. An accomplished English theatre director, directed television before landing on Me Before You (2016) and The One and Only Ivan (2020), Wicked Little Letters is going to be a major calling card for the director. Veteran cinematographer (The Banshees of Inisherin) Ben Davis is onboard.…...
- 1/9/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
It was 2004 and Martin Clunes was ready for a change. As the star of riotous Nineties sitcom Men Behaving Badly, he was still widely regarded as the face of floppy-fringed, shirt-hanging-out lad culture. But Clunes was eager to show a different side: to prove he could do serious as well as frothy. At which point Dr Martin Ellingham, an emotionally repressed small-town Gp with a tight smile and a big heart, walked into his life. Doc Martin had entered the building.
“It was a leap,” Clunes would reflect of the character he has portrayed for the past 18 years and to whom he says farewell with a Christmas special on ITV tonight (the series proper having wrapped in October). “I need something to act, someone to act, or something to pin someone on, rather than just open a script and a nice guy says some kind of nice things.”
Doc Martin,...
“It was a leap,” Clunes would reflect of the character he has portrayed for the past 18 years and to whom he says farewell with a Christmas special on ITV tonight (the series proper having wrapped in October). “I need something to act, someone to act, or something to pin someone on, rather than just open a script and a nice guy says some kind of nice things.”
Doc Martin,...
- 12/25/2022
- by Ed Power
- The Independent - TV
Exclusive: Production is underway in the UK on feature Wicked Little Letters, which reunites Oscar winner Olivia Colman with her Oscar-nominated Lost Daughter co-star Jessie Buckley (Chernobyl).
Based on a true story, the comedy-drama will see the in-demand Brit and Irish actors play very different neighbours who come together to solve a mystery.
Joining the cast are Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts), BAFTA nominee Timothy Spall (Mr Turner), BAFTA winner Joanna Scanlan (After Love), Hugh Skinner (Fleabag), BAFTA winner Malachi Kirby (Small Axe), Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones trilogy), Lolly Adefope (Ghosts), Eileen Atkins (The Crown), and Alisha Weir (Matilda!).
Thea Sharrock (Me Before You) is directing from a script by British actor and writer Jonny Sweet. French powerhouse Studiocanal developed the project, is fully financing with Film4, and is releasing in the UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Benelux, as well as handling remaining sales.
Three Billboards Outside...
Based on a true story, the comedy-drama will see the in-demand Brit and Irish actors play very different neighbours who come together to solve a mystery.
Joining the cast are Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts), BAFTA nominee Timothy Spall (Mr Turner), BAFTA winner Joanna Scanlan (After Love), Hugh Skinner (Fleabag), BAFTA winner Malachi Kirby (Small Axe), Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones trilogy), Lolly Adefope (Ghosts), Eileen Atkins (The Crown), and Alisha Weir (Matilda!).
Thea Sharrock (Me Before You) is directing from a script by British actor and writer Jonny Sweet. French powerhouse Studiocanal developed the project, is fully financing with Film4, and is releasing in the UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Benelux, as well as handling remaining sales.
Three Billboards Outside...
- 9/29/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
When she was 23, Sonia Friedman was—to use her expression—thrown into a rehearsal room with Harold Pinter at London’s National Theatre. She was his deputy stage manager during production for the premiere of his one-act play Mountain Language starring theatrical royalty Michael Gambon and Eileen Atkins.
“I was the person sitting right next to [Pinter],” she recalls. “He would whisper into my ear all the way through,” about how he wanted it to look, where’d there’d be a cue. She says the playwright would make almost no changes to his script. “Though he did at one point add a pause and asked me to write that into the script,” she says, smiling at the memory. It was a life-changing moment for her, working with playwrights who directed their own work. “I fell in love at that point, particularly with new work, watching actors mine something that no...
“I was the person sitting right next to [Pinter],” she recalls. “He would whisper into my ear all the way through,” about how he wanted it to look, where’d there’d be a cue. She says the playwright would make almost no changes to his script. “Though he did at one point add a pause and asked me to write that into the script,” she says, smiling at the memory. It was a life-changing moment for her, working with playwrights who directed their own work. “I fell in love at that point, particularly with new work, watching actors mine something that no...
- 5/18/2022
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Timothée Chalamet will not be traveling the 3,462-odd miles from New York to London to make his West End debut.
The “Dune” star was slated to lead the Pulitzer Prize finalist play “4,000 Miles,” written by Amy Herzog, back in 2020. However, the play has now been canceled due to scheduling conflicts ahead of its intended premiere at the Old Vic.
The postponement of “4,000 Miles” was announced on March 18, 2020, per The Guardian. Immediately the play starring Chalamet and Eileen Atkins was one of the top-selling shows for the Old Vic and was fully rehearsed before the Covid-19 lockdown started.
The official synopsis reads: “After suffering a major loss while he was on a cross-country bike trip, 21-year-old Leo (Chalamet) seeks solace from his feisty 91-year-old grandmother Vera (Atkins) in her West Village apartment. Over the course of a single month, these unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately reach each other. ‘4,000 Miles’ looks...
The “Dune” star was slated to lead the Pulitzer Prize finalist play “4,000 Miles,” written by Amy Herzog, back in 2020. However, the play has now been canceled due to scheduling conflicts ahead of its intended premiere at the Old Vic.
The postponement of “4,000 Miles” was announced on March 18, 2020, per The Guardian. Immediately the play starring Chalamet and Eileen Atkins was one of the top-selling shows for the Old Vic and was fully rehearsed before the Covid-19 lockdown started.
The official synopsis reads: “After suffering a major loss while he was on a cross-country bike trip, 21-year-old Leo (Chalamet) seeks solace from his feisty 91-year-old grandmother Vera (Atkins) in her West Village apartment. Over the course of a single month, these unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately reach each other. ‘4,000 Miles’ looks...
- 5/5/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The only problem with British TV is that there isn’t more of it. The seasons are often shorter than their American counterparts, ensuring that audiences are always left wanting another episode.
Enter BritBox. The BBC and ITV streaming service boasts some of the more famous British imports in its catalog, alongside a deep library of English greats that might not have gained the same notoriety on this side of the pond. We’ve put together the best of the best shows to watch on BritBox in all genres, from meaty murder mysteries (the most popular category on BritBox) to the perfectly understated British comedies.
1. “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans”
Based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans” is a perky and playful 1930s murder mystery packed with twists, turns, and sizzling banter. Will Poulter is Bobby Jones, a wayward naval...
Enter BritBox. The BBC and ITV streaming service boasts some of the more famous British imports in its catalog, alongside a deep library of English greats that might not have gained the same notoriety on this side of the pond. We’ve put together the best of the best shows to watch on BritBox in all genres, from meaty murder mysteries (the most popular category on BritBox) to the perfectly understated British comedies.
1. “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans”
Based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans” is a perky and playful 1930s murder mystery packed with twists, turns, and sizzling banter. Will Poulter is Bobby Jones, a wayward naval...
- 3/30/2022
- by Kristina Grosspietsch
- Indiewire
“Gosford Park,” Robert Altman’s 2001 murder mystery that scored seven Academy Award nominations (and won Best Screenplay for Julian Fellowes), boasts a cast of British acting royalty, from Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren to Eileen Atkins and Derek Jacobi. But it was the sole American in the cast, Ryan Phillippe, who helped the film even get made, according to a new Town & Country oral history of the film’s making.
Phillippe, fresh off the success of “Cruel Intentions,” was a last-minute addition to the cast, replacing the previously announced Jude Law, whose departure threatened the film’s financing. “Jude Law was going to play my role. He was going to be pretending to be an American who was discovered to be British,” Phillippe recalled. “He dropped out, and ‘Gosford Park’ was about to fall apart because they needed that financing relevancy. Jude had more than I did, but I had...
Phillippe, fresh off the success of “Cruel Intentions,” was a last-minute addition to the cast, replacing the previously announced Jude Law, whose departure threatened the film’s financing. “Jude Law was going to play my role. He was going to be pretending to be an American who was discovered to be British,” Phillippe recalled. “He dropped out, and ‘Gosford Park’ was about to fall apart because they needed that financing relevancy. Jude had more than I did, but I had...
- 1/9/2022
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
From council estate in Tottenham to West End stage, the veteran actor and screenwriter tells her life story in a funny and honest new memoir. She was, she says, always determined to shine…
Think back, just for a moment, to the first series of The Crown. It is 1952. The king, George VI, is dead and the new queen, Elizabeth, has flown home to Britain from Africa. At Sandringham, where her father’s body rests, everything is the same and yet irredeemably changed: a paradoxical state signified most powerfully by the arrival of the king’s mother, Queen Mary. In a corridor lined with servants, the old queen, in black crepe and a mourning veil, advances slowly towards the new queen. Will these grieving women embrace? No. As Queen Mary has already informed her granddaughter by letter, if the crown is to survive, duty must come before personal indulgence, a credo...
Think back, just for a moment, to the first series of The Crown. It is 1952. The king, George VI, is dead and the new queen, Elizabeth, has flown home to Britain from Africa. At Sandringham, where her father’s body rests, everything is the same and yet irredeemably changed: a paradoxical state signified most powerfully by the arrival of the king’s mother, Queen Mary. In a corridor lined with servants, the old queen, in black crepe and a mourning veil, advances slowly towards the new queen. Will these grieving women embrace? No. As Queen Mary has already informed her granddaughter by letter, if the crown is to survive, duty must come before personal indulgence, a credo...
- 9/26/2021
- by Rachel Cooke
- The Guardian - Film News
Editor’s note: British director Roger Michell died this week at the age of 65. Here, Sony Pictures Classics co-president Michael Barker, who distributed several of Michell’s films — including the upcoming “The Duke” — remembers his colleague.
Life stopped for many of us this week when writer/director Roger Michell passed away suddenly at the age of 65. He was a gentle, warm, soft-spoken, eloquent, witty, beautiful human being, in addition to being a strong, uncompromising artist of range and brilliance.
Only three weeks ago, he was in Telluride with us accompanied by Helen Mirren and producer Nicky Bentham to present his latest wonderfully rich picture, “The Duke.” He was seen zipping up and down the streets of Telluride on his rented bicycle, his fifth time there (three of them with us), introducing his film, enjoying the company of locals whose friendships he had continued with each visit, at dinners trading legendary...
Life stopped for many of us this week when writer/director Roger Michell passed away suddenly at the age of 65. He was a gentle, warm, soft-spoken, eloquent, witty, beautiful human being, in addition to being a strong, uncompromising artist of range and brilliance.
Only three weeks ago, he was in Telluride with us accompanied by Helen Mirren and producer Nicky Bentham to present his latest wonderfully rich picture, “The Duke.” He was seen zipping up and down the streets of Telluride on his rented bicycle, his fifth time there (three of them with us), introducing his film, enjoying the company of locals whose friendships he had continued with each visit, at dinners trading legendary...
- 9/25/2021
- by Michael Barker
- Indiewire
“Notting Hill” director Roger Michell’s last film — a documentary about Queen Elizabeth II — was completed before he died on Wednesday.
“Roger’s feature documentary about The Queen — ‘Elizabeth’ — will be out in the first half of 2022,” the film’s producer, Kevin Loader, told Variety. “We have a few technical processes to complete, but Roger supervised the final mix.”
In his director’s statement, published on a website for the film, Michell wrote: “She is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch. Ever. She is the longest-serving female head of state in the history of the world, the world’s oldest living monarch, the longest-reigning current monarch, and the oldest and longest-serving current head of state. More people dream about the Queen than any other living person.”
“She’s the Mona Lisa, instantly recognisable, and yet elusively and perpetually unknowable. She’s more famous than The Beatles. She’s a Queen...
“Roger’s feature documentary about The Queen — ‘Elizabeth’ — will be out in the first half of 2022,” the film’s producer, Kevin Loader, told Variety. “We have a few technical processes to complete, but Roger supervised the final mix.”
In his director’s statement, published on a website for the film, Michell wrote: “She is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch. Ever. She is the longest-serving female head of state in the history of the world, the world’s oldest living monarch, the longest-reigning current monarch, and the oldest and longest-serving current head of state. More people dream about the Queen than any other living person.”
“She’s the Mona Lisa, instantly recognisable, and yet elusively and perpetually unknowable. She’s more famous than The Beatles. She’s a Queen...
- 9/24/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man), Emmy nominee Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), BAFTA winner Eileen Atkins (The Crown), BAFTA winner Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), IFTA nominee Aidan Turner (The Hobbit), Endeavour star Roger Allam and Pitch Perfect star Brittany Snow are set to lead cast in feature comedy Mr. Shaw Goes To Hollywood, which is being launched for the TIFF market.
Set in 1933, the movie will chart how celebrated playwright, George Bernard Shaw (Jacobi), visited Hollywood with his formidable wife, Charlotte (Atkins). The idea of turning Shaw’s most successful play, Pygmalion, into a film was a hot topic of conversation as the great and the good of Hollywood vied for his attention, desperate to be part of the next big motion picture. How would the Irish-born writer and social reformer rub along with the Hollywood elite and, perhaps more importantly, did he have any intention of selling the rights...
Set in 1933, the movie will chart how celebrated playwright, George Bernard Shaw (Jacobi), visited Hollywood with his formidable wife, Charlotte (Atkins). The idea of turning Shaw’s most successful play, Pygmalion, into a film was a hot topic of conversation as the great and the good of Hollywood vied for his attention, desperate to be part of the next big motion picture. How would the Irish-born writer and social reformer rub along with the Hollywood elite and, perhaps more importantly, did he have any intention of selling the rights...
- 9/8/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Photo: ‘Vita & Virginia’/Thunderbird Releasing Warning: this article contains spoilers for ‘Vita & Virginia’. The real-life relationship between writers Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West is rendered a love letter to love in ‘Vita & Virginia’, which vividly presents how love ensnares us, enriches us, and devastates us. An arthouse biopic directed and co-written by Chanya Button, the film depicts only a sliver of both of these women’s lives in the 1920s—yet it’s an important one. Set in the intellectual and creative world of London’s bohemian art scene, Button’s film spans a condensed version of the period in which Sackville-West and Woolf met, became involved, and ended their affair. Related article: ‘God’s Own Country’: One of the Most Beautiful Love Stories Ever Told - A Gay Love Story That Wins Related article: Did you see the hidden messages in ‘Call Me By Your Name...
- 1/26/2021
- by Claire L. Wong
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
With young actors there’s just a little something that makes them stand out, and it’s often hard to put into words quite what that is, but all the great stars have it, a spark of some sort. With Philippine Velge it’s there for all to see, with an impressive turn in prolific French auteur Francois Ozon’s latest film Summer of 85, as a promising career in the industry beckons for the young Belgian-British performer.
We had the pleasure of speaking to her via Zoom to mark the release, and to discuss what it was like to collaborate with the director, and also how important it is for her at this stage in her career to show off her ability to work both in France, as well as in England in her native tongue. We discuss her lockdown and on future projects. She’s playing a big...
We had the pleasure of speaking to her via Zoom to mark the release, and to discuss what it was like to collaborate with the director, and also how important it is for her at this stage in her career to show off her ability to work both in France, as well as in England in her native tongue. We discuss her lockdown and on future projects. She’s playing a big...
- 10/21/2020
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Blame the coronavirus for this year’s drastically reduced roster of eligible Tony Award nominees, and Tony nominators for overlooking at least a few possibilities. Even with only 18 Broadway productions in the running for a 2020 award, feelings were bound to be hurt.
Let’s start with the good news: The list of nominees for the 74th Annual Tony Awards is a solid one, with no noticeable contenders – at least to my eye – sneaking in due to the decreased competition. Good luck to voters parsing their choices for one castmate over another – Sea Wall/A Life‘s Jake Gyllenhaal or Tom Sturridge? Slave Play‘s Ato Blankson-Wood or James Cusati-Moyer, and Chalia La Tour or Annie McNamara? Jagged Little Pill‘s Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding or Lauren Patten?
Of course we’ll never know how the list would be different if Six, West Side Story...
Let’s start with the good news: The list of nominees for the 74th Annual Tony Awards is a solid one, with no noticeable contenders – at least to my eye – sneaking in due to the decreased competition. Good luck to voters parsing their choices for one castmate over another – Sea Wall/A Life‘s Jake Gyllenhaal or Tom Sturridge? Slave Play‘s Ato Blankson-Wood or James Cusati-Moyer, and Chalia La Tour or Annie McNamara? Jagged Little Pill‘s Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding or Lauren Patten?
Of course we’ll never know how the list would be different if Six, West Side Story...
- 10/15/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Tony Awards nominations are always tricky to predict, but this year’s shortlist of Broadway’s best and brightest proves even more challenging to wrangle thanks to the coronavirus-shortened season, eligibility confusion, changed numbers of slots per category, and even questions about whether the two-person Actor in a Musical category will get nixed. Despite these unique hurdles, conventional Tony wisdom will still help to foresee some unexpected nominations. Below, see a list of just a handful of potential upsets that could shock theatre fans when the shortlists are announced.
A “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” surge
The Tony nominating committee often favors spring productions, leaving a lot of summer and fall works underrepresented in the nominations. Though this season got unfortunately shortchanged due to Covid-19, some of those shows from the very start of the season now have a chance at recognition, like the beautiful revival of...
A “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” surge
The Tony nominating committee often favors spring productions, leaving a lot of summer and fall works underrepresented in the nominations. Though this season got unfortunately shortchanged due to Covid-19, some of those shows from the very start of the season now have a chance at recognition, like the beautiful revival of...
- 10/15/2020
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
The 2020 Tony Awards may represent a shortened Broadway season, but there is a wealth of contenders to consider for the play categories. Fall and winter on the rialto was full of non-musical dramas, which will make for plenty of tense races at this year’s ceremony. Nominations will be announced October 15 with a virtual ceremony sometime later this fall. To help you predict which productions and performers might come out on top this year, take a read of the potential nominees for the play categories below.
See 2020 Tony Awards: Every eligible contender from the shortened 2019-2020 Broadway season
Best Play
There are 10 eligible dramas from the 2019-2020 season, which should give us five nomination slots. The two biggest conversation starters of the fall were “The Inheritance” by Matthew Lopez and “Slave Play” by Jeremy O. Harris. Both should easily land a spot. I’m also betting that Adam Rapp grabs...
See 2020 Tony Awards: Every eligible contender from the shortened 2019-2020 Broadway season
Best Play
There are 10 eligible dramas from the 2019-2020 season, which should give us five nomination slots. The two biggest conversation starters of the fall were “The Inheritance” by Matthew Lopez and “Slave Play” by Jeremy O. Harris. Both should easily land a spot. I’m also betting that Adam Rapp grabs...
- 10/12/2020
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
If you’re confused as to who is actually able to compete for the newly announced virtual Tony Awards this fall, you’re not alone. The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced a new cut off date of February 19, 2020. That means that the 2019-2020 Broadway season was cut incredibly short.
Musical races are most heavily affected by the shortened season. “West Side Story” will have to wait until next year to compete as it opened after the February 19th eligibility cutoff date. Other scheduled revivals of “Caroline, or Change” and “Company” were postponed due to the Broadway shutdown. As such there will be no Revival of a Musical category this year. Other categories, like Best Musical and Director of a Musical, will likely see their number of nominees reduced to three due to a limited number of contenders.
Luckily, there are plenty of plays in contention since many of these non-musical outings premiere in the fall.
Musical races are most heavily affected by the shortened season. “West Side Story” will have to wait until next year to compete as it opened after the February 19th eligibility cutoff date. Other scheduled revivals of “Caroline, or Change” and “Company” were postponed due to the Broadway shutdown. As such there will be no Revival of a Musical category this year. Other categories, like Best Musical and Director of a Musical, will likely see their number of nominees reduced to three due to a limited number of contenders.
Luckily, there are plenty of plays in contention since many of these non-musical outings premiere in the fall.
- 8/29/2020
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Jodie Comer, Martin Freeman, Tamsin Greig, Kristin Scott Thomas and Imelda Staunton are among the stars lined up for new BBC One adaptations of playwright Alan Bennett’s acclaimed “Talking Heads” monologues, which start filming Tuesday.
Ten of the original pieces are being remade, having first aired on BBC Television in 1988 and 1998, winning two BAFTA awards. Two new monologues, written by Bennett last year, are also being filmed.
The contained nature of Bennett’s monologues means they are one of the very few dramas that can be produced while following guidelines on safe working practices during Covid-19. Filming is taking place at BBC Elstree Studios using existing sets.
They are produced by former National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner’s London Theatre Company and ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ producer Kevin Loader.
Lead director Hytner, whose film credits include “The Madness of King George” and “The History Boys,” said:...
Ten of the original pieces are being remade, having first aired on BBC Television in 1988 and 1998, winning two BAFTA awards. Two new monologues, written by Bennett last year, are also being filmed.
The contained nature of Bennett’s monologues means they are one of the very few dramas that can be produced while following guidelines on safe working practices during Covid-19. Filming is taking place at BBC Elstree Studios using existing sets.
They are produced by former National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner’s London Theatre Company and ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ producer Kevin Loader.
Lead director Hytner, whose film credits include “The Madness of King George” and “The History Boys,” said:...
- 4/28/2020
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC has dusted off British playwright Alan Bennett’s famous series of Talking Heads monologues and is remaking them for the coronavirus age with a head-turning cast.
Killing Eve actress Jodie Comer, Sherlock‘s Martin Freeman and the soon-to-be star of The Crown Imelda Staunton are among those attached to the project, which will breathe new life into the BAFTA-winning show that ran for two seasons in 1988 and a decade later in 1998.
Talking Heads will be produced by London Theatre Company for BBC One, and overseen by Bennett’s long-time collaborator Sir Nicholas Hytner, who staged shows including The History Boys. The plan is to make 12 episodes, 10 of which will be monologues filmed for the original series and two new stories Bennett sent Hytner last year.
Auditions and rehearsals have taken place over Zoom but the series will be filmed on ready-made sets at Elstree Studios, with a slimline...
Killing Eve actress Jodie Comer, Sherlock‘s Martin Freeman and the soon-to-be star of The Crown Imelda Staunton are among those attached to the project, which will breathe new life into the BAFTA-winning show that ran for two seasons in 1988 and a decade later in 1998.
Talking Heads will be produced by London Theatre Company for BBC One, and overseen by Bennett’s long-time collaborator Sir Nicholas Hytner, who staged shows including The History Boys. The plan is to make 12 episodes, 10 of which will be monologues filmed for the original series and two new stories Bennett sent Hytner last year.
Auditions and rehearsals have taken place over Zoom but the series will be filmed on ready-made sets at Elstree Studios, with a slimline...
- 4/28/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Nabhaan Rizwan (1917) and Philippine Velge (Ete ’85) are set as series regulars in HBO Max’s Station Eleven, a 10-episode post-apocalyptic limited drama series based on the international bestseller by Emily St. John Mandel, from Maniac creator Patrick Somerville and Paramount TV Studios.
Written and executive produced by Somerville, Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic saga spanning multiple timelines. It tells the stories of survivors of a devastating flu as they attempt to rebuild and reimagine the world anew while holding on to the best of what’s been lost.
Rizwan will play Frank Chaudhary, a successful war correspondent, who is struggling with his own demons when the flu strikes.
Velge will portray Alexandra, a member of the Traveling Symphony too young to remember what the world was like before the Georgia Flu.
They join previously announced series regulars Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, David Wilmot and Matilda Lawler.
Somerville also will serve as showrunner.
Written and executive produced by Somerville, Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic saga spanning multiple timelines. It tells the stories of survivors of a devastating flu as they attempt to rebuild and reimagine the world anew while holding on to the best of what’s been lost.
Rizwan will play Frank Chaudhary, a successful war correspondent, who is struggling with his own demons when the flu strikes.
Velge will portray Alexandra, a member of the Traveling Symphony too young to remember what the world was like before the Georgia Flu.
They join previously announced series regulars Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, David Wilmot and Matilda Lawler.
Somerville also will serve as showrunner.
- 3/10/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Stage and screen acting legend Max Von Sydow, who starred in The Seventh Seal and appeared in The Exorcist, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Flash Gordon, and Game of Thrones, died on March 8 at the age of 90, according to Variety.
“It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow,” his wife, the producer Catherine Brelet, said in a statement.
Von Sydow made his Hollywood debut as Jesus in the 1965 Biblical epic The Greatest Story Ever Told. This gave him the authority to observe “if Jesus were alive today and saw what they are saying in his name, he would never stop throwing up” in Woody Allen’s 1986 film Hannah and Her Sisters. Von Sydow had the power to compel Satan as Father Merrin in William Friedkin’s 1973 horror classic The Exorcist and Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), directed by John Boorman.
“It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow,” his wife, the producer Catherine Brelet, said in a statement.
Von Sydow made his Hollywood debut as Jesus in the 1965 Biblical epic The Greatest Story Ever Told. This gave him the authority to observe “if Jesus were alive today and saw what they are saying in his name, he would never stop throwing up” in Woody Allen’s 1986 film Hannah and Her Sisters. Von Sydow had the power to compel Satan as Father Merrin in William Friedkin’s 1973 horror classic The Exorcist and Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), directed by John Boorman.
- 3/9/2020
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Max von Sydow, the tall, tragic-faced Swedish actor whose name was virtually synonymous with the films of Ingmar Bergman, has died. He was 90.
Variety has confirmed that the actor died on Sunday.
Von Sydow, who became Bergman’s symbol for the modern man in such films as “The Passion of Anna” and “Shame” after making his Bergman debut as the errant knight in “The Seventh Seal,” also had an unusually prolific career in Hollywood and international films.
He made his American debut in the role of Jesus Christ in George Stevens’ turgid 1965 epic “The Greatest Story Ever Told” and went on to make strong impressions with audiences in “The Exorcist,” Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters,” David Lynch’s “Dune,” “Three Days of the Condor,” “Hawaii,” “Conan the Barbarian” and “Awakenings.”
Von Sydow worked for other Scandinavian directors as well, drawing an Oscar nomination for his role in Bille August...
Variety has confirmed that the actor died on Sunday.
Von Sydow, who became Bergman’s symbol for the modern man in such films as “The Passion of Anna” and “Shame” after making his Bergman debut as the errant knight in “The Seventh Seal,” also had an unusually prolific career in Hollywood and international films.
He made his American debut in the role of Jesus Christ in George Stevens’ turgid 1965 epic “The Greatest Story Ever Told” and went on to make strong impressions with audiences in “The Exorcist,” Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters,” David Lynch’s “Dune,” “Three Days of the Condor,” “Hawaii,” “Conan the Barbarian” and “Awakenings.”
Von Sydow worked for other Scandinavian directors as well, drawing an Oscar nomination for his role in Bille August...
- 3/9/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Searchlight Pictures has closed a deal with Ford V Ferrari helmer James Mangold to direct Going Electric. Timothee Chalamet is attached to play Bob Dylan during the period when he was poised to become folk music’s most seminal figure. When Dylan instead embraced rock n roll and traded his acoustic guitar for an amp and an electric guitar, it created a huge outcry. And it cemented the status of rock music. Dylan is working actively with Searchlight and Mangold on the film.
Negotiations are underway with Chalamet, who has gotten strong reviews for Little Women, and who next will make his London stage debut opposite Eileen Atkins in 4,000 Miles, the Old Vic production of Amy Herzog’s Pulitzer-nominated drama. The play bows April 16 and closes May 23rd. It is expected he will do Going Electric after that. Chalamet this year has the Wes Anderson-directed The French Dispatch...
Negotiations are underway with Chalamet, who has gotten strong reviews for Little Women, and who next will make his London stage debut opposite Eileen Atkins in 4,000 Miles, the Old Vic production of Amy Herzog’s Pulitzer-nominated drama. The play bows April 16 and closes May 23rd. It is expected he will do Going Electric after that. Chalamet this year has the Wes Anderson-directed The French Dispatch...
- 1/6/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Broadway box office mostly held steady last week, even as many shows might not have overmuch to cheer about during the pre-holiday week. In all, the 35 productions took in $32,015,929, down just 2% from the previous week’s 36-production roster.
Total attendance for the week ending Nov. 24 was 278,056, off about 4% from the previous week.
On the plus side, two of the more recent arrivals – David Byrne’s American Utopia and Tina – The Tina Turner Musical – continued their strong b.o. performances, with Utopia, at the Hudson, grossing $932,781 (a big 117% of potential) and Tina, at the Lunt-Fontanne, taking $1,607,079 (97% of potential).
Among the underperformers were Betrayal, Slave Play, The Lightning Thief. Jagged Little Pill did better at the Broadhurst, where the previewing musical grossed $902,144 (73%), with opening night set for Dec. 5.
Two holiday shows had yet to really catch fire: With press comps and opening night freebies,...
Total attendance for the week ending Nov. 24 was 278,056, off about 4% from the previous week.
On the plus side, two of the more recent arrivals – David Byrne’s American Utopia and Tina – The Tina Turner Musical – continued their strong b.o. performances, with Utopia, at the Hudson, grossing $932,781 (a big 117% of potential) and Tina, at the Lunt-Fontanne, taking $1,607,079 (97% of potential).
Among the underperformers were Betrayal, Slave Play, The Lightning Thief. Jagged Little Pill did better at the Broadhurst, where the previewing musical grossed $902,144 (73%), with opening night set for Dec. 5.
Two holiday shows had yet to really catch fire: With press comps and opening night freebies,...
- 11/25/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Timothee Chalemet is set to take to the London stage for the first time, appearing next spring in Amy Herzog’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated play “4000 Miles.”
Matthew Warchus will direct the production at The Old Vic, which will also star Eileen Atkins.
The play opens April 2020. It turns on the story of Leo (Chalamet), a 21-year-old who sets out on a cycling trip across the U.S. After weeks of radio silence, he makes a surprise appearance on the Manhattan doorstep of his 91-year-old grandmother (Atkins). With his life just starting and hers nearly ended, their griefs collide.
Chalamet is hot property after his Oscar-nominated performance in Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name.” He can currently be seen as King Henry V in “The King,” on Netflix. His upcoming film roles include in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” and “Call Me by Your Name” sequel “Find Me.”
“4000 Miles” played Off...
Matthew Warchus will direct the production at The Old Vic, which will also star Eileen Atkins.
The play opens April 2020. It turns on the story of Leo (Chalamet), a 21-year-old who sets out on a cycling trip across the U.S. After weeks of radio silence, he makes a surprise appearance on the Manhattan doorstep of his 91-year-old grandmother (Atkins). With his life just starting and hers nearly ended, their griefs collide.
Chalamet is hot property after his Oscar-nominated performance in Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me by Your Name.” He can currently be seen as King Henry V in “The King,” on Netflix. His upcoming film roles include in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” and “Call Me by Your Name” sequel “Find Me.”
“4000 Miles” played Off...
- 11/20/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name) will make his West End debut at the Old Vic next spring in Amy Herzog’s Pulitzer-nominated 4000 Miles.
Eileen Atkins will co-star in the play directed by Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus (currently repped on Broadway with A Christmas Carol). Performances begin April 6, 2020, with the limited run ending May 23.
Herzog’s play ran Off Broadway in both 2011 and 2012, and was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
As the Old Vic describes the play: At the beginning of the summer 21-year-old Leo set out from the West Coast cycling across America with his best friend. After weeks of radio silence, no one is more surprised than his 91-year-old grandmother, Vera, when Leo turns up on her Manhattan doorstep in the middle of the night. His life just starting, hers nearly ended, in a faded Greenwich Village apartment their griefs collide.
Eileen Atkins will co-star in the play directed by Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus (currently repped on Broadway with A Christmas Carol). Performances begin April 6, 2020, with the limited run ending May 23.
Herzog’s play ran Off Broadway in both 2011 and 2012, and was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
As the Old Vic describes the play: At the beginning of the summer 21-year-old Leo set out from the West Coast cycling across America with his best friend. After weeks of radio silence, no one is more surprised than his 91-year-old grandmother, Vera, when Leo turns up on her Manhattan doorstep in the middle of the night. His life just starting, hers nearly ended, in a faded Greenwich Village apartment their griefs collide.
- 11/20/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tony Awards Administration Committee met for the first time during the 2019-2020 Broadway season to discuss eligibility of six productions for the 2020 American Theatre Wing’s 74th Annual Tony Awards.
The six discussed shows were: “Betrayal,” “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” “The Great Society,” “The Height of the Storm,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” and “Sea Wall/A Life.” The Tony Awards Administration Committee will meet a total of four times throughout the season.
The following determinations were made:
Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo will be considered eligible for Lead Actor/Actress in a Musical for their respective performances in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”
Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Cox, and Zawe Ashton will be considered eligible for Lead Actor/Actress in a Play for their respective performances in “Betrayal.”
Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins will be considered eligible for Lead Actor/Actress in a Play for their respective...
The six discussed shows were: “Betrayal,” “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” “The Great Society,” “The Height of the Storm,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” and “Sea Wall/A Life.” The Tony Awards Administration Committee will meet a total of four times throughout the season.
The following determinations were made:
Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo will be considered eligible for Lead Actor/Actress in a Musical for their respective performances in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”
Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Cox, and Zawe Ashton will be considered eligible for Lead Actor/Actress in a Play for their respective performances in “Betrayal.”
Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins will be considered eligible for Lead Actor/Actress in a Play for their respective...
- 10/24/2019
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Two legendary actors come together in one unforgettable story of a shared life and all of its complexities. Two-time Olivier and Tony Award winner Jonathan Pryce 'Game of Thrones', Miss Saigon joins three-time Olivier Award winner Eileen Atkins 'The Crown', Doubt to bring the acclaimed West End sensation by Florian Zeller, and translated by Christopher Hampton Mtc's The Father, to Broadway.
- 10/3/2019
- by BWW Contests
- BroadwayWorld.com
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