The late Queen is set to make a small cameo in Paddington 3 (Picture: BBC) Queen Elizabeth II is set to make an appearance in the third Paddington movie, following her death two years ago. The longest-reigning monarch died at the age of 96 in […]
FilmThe Cliffhanger reboot has a new lead star… (Picture: Studio Canal; Getty) In an unlikely casting, Lily James has replaced Sylvester Stallone in the reboot of Cliffhanger. The 78-year-old action legend was set to reprise his role as Ranger Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Walker in the remake […]
FilmIf you’re still in the Halloween spirit – let these films help you embrace Christmas (Pictures: Shutterstock) It’s November, which means we’ve shifted fears from all things spooky to all things jolly as the Christmas countdown begins. At just one minute past midnight after Halloween […]
FilmThe late Queen is set to make a small cameo in Paddington 3 (Picture: BBC) Queen Elizabeth II is set to make an appearance in the third Paddington movie, following her death two years ago. The longest-reigning monarch died at the age of 96 in […]
FilmQueen Elizabeth II is set to make an appearance in the third Paddington movie, following her death two years ago.
The longest-reigning monarch died at the age of 96 in September 2022, having ascended to the throne at just 25.
Our late Queen was first associated with the beloved Paddington Bear during the celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee, which saw them form an unlikely bond in a heartwarming sketch.
Then, when she died and as the nation grieved, stuffed Paddington toys appeared everywhere in tribute, with mourners leaving his famous marmalade sandwiches outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.
So, it probably seems fitting that the late royal has a cameo in Paddington in Peru.
The family adventure movie, which opens in cinemas on November 8, also stars Olivia Colman and Ben Whishaw, who, of course, reprises his voice-acting role as the adorable bear.
The plot of the movie centres around Paddington and his adopted family, the Browns, as they visit his aunt Lucy in Peru.
However, in typical Paddington style, circumstances lead them towards misadventures in the mountains and Amazon rainforest.
As for the Queen’s minor appearance, this will be a photograph of her having afternoon tea with Paddington, which was given the green light by the Palace.
Ron Halpern, the head of global productions at StudioCanal, the film’s distributor, said the Queen’s cameo was done ‘with the consent and agreement of the royal household’.
Co-producer Rosie Alison told Variety: ‘[The royal family] were actually very happy for it to happen.
‘But we don’t like to make a big deal of it because Paddington’s obviously a very modest fellow.’
The original sketch between the Queen and Paddington aired in June 2022, just months before she died.
In the week leading up to the milestone, millions hosted street parties up and down the country before tuning in for a special concert on the BBC.
Prince William gave a heartfelt speech, while the likes of Sam Ryder, George Ezra, Sir Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, Alicia Keys, and Diana Ross performed.
Perhaps the most talked about moment, however, came from the pre-recorded comedy segment, which showed the Queen offering tea to Paddington and pulling a marmalade sandwich from her handbag.
Removing his hat from his head, the bear pulled out his own sandwich and professed his love for them, with Her Majesty replying: ‘So do I,’ prising open her bag to say: ‘I keep mine in here.’
Chaos then ensued as Paddington was his usual clumsy self and squirted the cream from his chocolate eclair over a footman.
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The segment ended with her showcasing her fun spirit, tapping her teacup to the beat of We Will Rock You before Queen and Adam Lambert opened the show in real time.
Paddington in Peru is the third instalment in the live-action franchise, following Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017).
Other cast members include Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters, plus Emily Mortimer who replaces former Mary Brown actress Sally Hawkins.
Paddington in Peru lands in cinemas on November 8.
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The Cliffhanger reboot has a new lead star… (Picture: Studio Canal; Getty) In an unlikely casting, Lily James has replaced Sylvester Stallone in the reboot of Cliffhanger. The 78-year-old action legend was set to reprise his role as Ranger Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Walker in the remake […]
FilmIn an unlikely casting, Lily James has replaced Sylvester Stallone in the reboot of Cliffhanger.
The 78-year-old action legend was set to reprise his role as Ranger Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Walker in the remake of the 1993 action thriller.
However, this week it was confirmed that Lily, 35, and former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan, 71, will now lead the movie.
The cast also includes Nell Tiger Free, Franz Rogowski, Shubham Saraf, Assaad Bouab, Suzy Bemba and Bruno Gouery.
Jaume Collet-Serra is taking over to direct the flick, meaning Ric Roman Waugh is no longer taking the helm.
Pierce will portray mountaineer Ray Cooper and Lily is his daughter Naomi, who has to ‘save her family’ and ‘fight for survival in the Italian Dolomites’.
The synopsis reads: ‘In this reboot of Cliffhanger, seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper (Pierce Brosnan) and his daughter Sydney run a mountain chalet in the Dolomites.
‘During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s older daughter Naomi (Lily James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes.’
The first pictures from the movie have also been shared, showing Lily scaling a mountain just like Stallone did.
The Darkest Hour actress underwent real training to learn how to climb to achieve the epic shots.
Filming is currently underway in Austria, Germany and Italy.
Collet-Serra said in a statement: ‘Shooting our movie on location in the Dolomites using large format cameras was imperative for us to show the scope and scale of the story we’re telling.
‘We’re going to bring the audience a truly thrilling and visceral, premium theatrical experience. Lily in particular has gone above and beyond for the role, putting in real training and learning to climb.
‘Her dedication has allowed us to capture some incredible shots we couldn’t have achieved otherwise, and the whole crew is blown away by her commitment.’
The original movie achieved major success, with its $70million (£54m) budget grossing $255million (£197m) at the box office.
Cliffhanger was also nominated for three Oscars for best sound, best sound effects editing, and best visual effects, but lost out on them all to Jurassic Park’.
The film was based on a concept by climber John Long and followed Gabe (Stallone), a mountain climber who becomes embroiled in a heist of a US Treasury plane flying through the Rocky Mountains.
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If you’re still in the Halloween spirit – let these films help you embrace Christmas (Pictures: Shutterstock) It’s November, which means we’ve shifted fears from all things spooky to all things jolly as the Christmas countdown begins. At just one minute past midnight after Halloween […]
FilmIt’s November, which means we’ve shifted fears from all things spooky to all things jolly as the Christmas countdown begins.
At just one minute past midnight after Halloween ended, Mariah Carey – aka the queen of Christmas – posted her annual festival video announcing ‘it’s time’ to get into the Yuletide spirit.
But with the veil still thin after the ghostly gatherings of Halloween, many of us just aren’t quite ready to get our Christmas trees from the attic and begin practising our carolling.
If you can’t choose between a gory slasher or a snowy box office smasher, we have some of the perfect picks to ease you into your advent calendar this year.
With Terrifier 3 still in cinemas blending our love for horror with Xmas extravagance, we have 7 festive flicks that aren’t TOO Santa-centric to bridge the gap between Halloween and Christmas.
If you’re not quite ready to bust out Elf or The Muppets Christmas Carol – or can’t bare sinking your teeth into some terrifying festive movies just yet – these offerings are the perfect in-between.
If you imagine High School Musical meets Dawn Of The Dead – you’ve basically got Anna and the Apocalypse.
The 2017 Christmas comedy horror musical (what a mouthful), follows the titular Anna Shepherd (Ella Hunt) who is about to finish school and take a gap year travelling – much to the displeasure of her father Tony (Mark Benton)
But as a zombie infection begins to ravage her sleepy hometown – at Christmas, no less – Anna and her friends must fight their way through the undead and put a stop to the chaos.
Where to watch: Shudder via Prime Video.
From one apocalypse to another, Keira Knightley’s devastating Silent Night adds a whole new layer of trauma to Christmas family gatherings.
The 2021 film, directed by Camille Griffin, begins with Nell (Knightley), Simon (Matthew Goode), and their son Art (Roman Griffin Davis) hosting a Christmas dinner for their school friends and their respective families.
However, it soon becomes apparent that this is their own last supper as a cloud of poisonous gas is heading their way and they plan to ingest their government-issued suicide pills at the end of the evening before the world as they know it ends.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
Speaking of devastating, The Lodge is a psychological horror film that might have you thinking twice about booking that cosy log cabin break this Christmas.
Starring Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Alicia Silverstone, and Richard Armitage, it tells the story of Grace Marshall (Keough), the sole survivor of a cult’s mass suicide.
She embarks on a Christmas family vacation to a remote cabin with partner Richard (Armitage) and his children Aiden (Martell) and Mia (McHugh). When Richard must leave abruptly to work, Grace and the children begin experiencing unusual and terrifying phenomena in the lodge which leads them to believe they are all dead.
Where to watch: Channel 4.
If you’re planning on driving home for Christmas this year, maybe don’t watch the 2004 psychological horror film Calvaire first.
Fabrice Du Welz’s first full-length film follows Marc Stevens (Laurent Lucas), a travelling musician making his way to his next gig, a Christmas special.
But while travelling, his van breaks down in a forest in a deserted mountain region. He is taken in by innkeeper Mr Bartel (Jackie Berroyer), but he soon learns the reasons for his hospitality are far from innocent.
Where to watch: Prime Video and Shudder via Prime Video.
The Paranormal Activity films are a staple watch for many at Halloween, and this instalment in the found footage franchise brings in the holiday season.
Set mostly after the events of Paranormal Activity 4, The Ghost Dimension follows Ryan (Chris J Murray) and Emily Fleege (Brit Shaw) with their daughter Leila (Ivy George) as they prepare for Christmas in their new home.
While getting settled in they find a mysterious camcorder which Ryan discovers can capture strange apparitions and spirits that are invisible to the naked eye.
Where to watch: Paramount Plus.
Okay, The Nightmare Before Christmas can very much be considered an out-and-out Christmas film rather than just dancing with the festivities.
But it sparks the debate of whether it is indeed a Christmas film or a Halloween watch every single year as Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman/Chris Sarandon) discovers the wonder of Christmas after stumbling through a magical door.
The Pumpkin King returns to Halloweentown intent on bringing Christmas cheer to one and all, teaching his fellow spooky residents all about Yuletide and plots to take control of the holiday by kidnapping Santa Claus.
Where to watch: Disney Plus.
Nothing will shock you – both into the Christmas period and out of your mind – quite like Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s New French Extremity classic Inside.
The film is set on Christmas Eve, where four months after surviving a car crash which killed her husband, expectant mother Sarah Scarangella (Alysson Paradis) prepares for her child’s birth the following day.
However, she soon finds herself in a fight for survival after she is tormented by a mysterious knife-wielding woman (Béatrice Dalle) who turns up unannounced at her door.
Where to watch: Available to rent via Prime Video and Apple TV.
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Netflix’s new 00s high school slasher film Time Cut has just outraged fans who grew up at this awkward time in teen history.
If you were in high school in the 00s, you will likely look back red-faced at the concealer lips, bodycon skirts, frosted hair tips, rat tails, heavy eyeliner, Dream Matte Mousse foundation – and the mother of them all: the inexplicable popularity of the bobby-pinned hair pouf.
It was a time not to be romanticised, but to be appreciated in hindsight with a hearty sympathetic chuckle, followed by: ‘What were we thinking?’
But now Generation Z have reimagined 00s culture into this fun boob-tubed, crop top era, where people wore low-rise combat pants and were so goddamn Brat.
We weren’t Brat: we were cake-faced, clumsy losers, who hadn’t yet discovered the joys of a YouTube make up tutorial, or been guided by curated Instagram aesthetics.
So those who remember strutting our stuff in 3/4 length leggings – no combat trousers in sight, fyi – took a bit of offence at Netflix’s new film Time Cut, which seems to have romanticised this particularly destitute cultural time.
Directed by Hannah Macpherson the new flick stars Madison Bailey, Antonia Gentry and Michael Shanks, and follows a teen who goes back in time, and decides to stop the serial killer who murdered her sister.
Netflix posted a tease clip of the film on X to buzz their followers up, and in the caption promised: ‘Spend a day in 2003!’
The trailer however begged to differ, as it followed the time-travelling teen through a corridor of very rose-tinted 00s school life.
Not one bad hairstyle – see: razor-straight bangs coupled unfortunately with wet-look curly hair, and the reign of the extreme side fringe – graced our screens. There is not one concealer lip in sight.
They got the Ugg boot and disc belt memo, but as viewers pointed out, this was not coupled with any true dedication to 00s makeup and hair.
In a viral post, one viewer @honeybunwife shared the trailer and wrote: ‘You can have the actors wear all the Uggs and tracksuits your heart desires, but putting zero effort into period accurate hair and makeup means it was all for nothing.’
They continued: ‘The problem with most period pieces set in the 90s and 00s is that they’re too afraid to make everyone a little ugly (by 2024 standards)
‘No show or movie will be (or needs to be) 100% accurate but imagine how much funnier the fish out of water time displacement comedy would be if the cast was dressed a tiny bit more exaggerated.’
@RissaRambles asked: ‘Where are the chunky tri-color highlights? Where are the halter tops? Culotte pants?! Jeans under dresses?!?’
‘It’s super lazy too. The internet existed then – we have plenty of images and footage from that era!’ added @fresafresca3000.
Many people agreed, with others holding up Mean Girls and Clueless as a good example of exaggerated 00s high school culture, with their varied cliques of emos, sporty kids, girl gangs, and so on.
‘The fact that there’s no diversity in the wardrobe is what bothers me like it never looked like a scene from clueless or mean girls everyone wore they own styles etc,’ commented @professor_peon.
‘This doesn’t feel 2003-ish to me, where the goth girls and emo boys at?’ added @iamnaaomixx, while @Schl0tterbeck said: ‘Righttttt where are the no eyebrows and the eyeliners and the straight hair and bangs huhhhhh.’
‘No frosted tips, no rattails….they’re even scared to style the boys,’ said@realonx1, while @hyunnie_hunny asked: ‘where did the blue eyeshadow go, along with the dream matte mousse and the curled hair with straight bangs?’
No fear, true 00s fashion will live on in our collective memories, albeit at the very, very back…
Time Cut is available to watch on Netflix now.
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Pierce Brosnan is one of the most popular and recognisable James Bonds of the modern age (Picture: Rex Features) Daniel Craig may have been the longest-serving James Bond actor in history but, according to bookies, he’s not the most desirable. The nation has spoken and […]
FilmDaniel Craig may have been the longest-serving James Bond actor in history but, according to bookies, he’s not the most desirable.
The nation has spoken and deemed Pierce Brosnan the most desired 007 of all time based on a few factors like social media popularity, attractiveness and even facial composition according to research conducted by Betway.
Of course, Brosnan, 71, is one of the most recognisable Bonds of modern times having starred in four blockbuster movies in the franchise between 1995 and 2002. His final instalment, Die Another Day, grossed a staggering $431million (£324million) at the box office.
Even with Craig’s lengthy tenure as Bond – 15 years, to be precise – Brosnan still notches up an impressive annual search volume of almost three million and an attractiveness rating of eight out of 10.
Brosnan’s social media presence is also hot property, boosting his attractiveness rating with 2.1million followers. His selection of four Bond movies may not have the highest ratings of them all but they still score above average at 6.6/10 on IMDb.
Following behind as the second most desired Bond is the late Sir Sean Connery, who starred in a whopping seven movies for over 20 years. He boasts an attractiveness rating of 7.6/10 and, while his social media following pales in comparison to Brosnan’s, he still boasts 43,000 fans across platforms.
His iconic films, which include Goldfinger and From Russia With Love, have an average star rating of 7/10.
Alas, Craig has managed to sneak into a top spot at number three; the most recent Bond holds the record for the most Reddit mention (16,018) and the highest overall film star rating of 7.3 out of 10. The 56-year-old played the British spy in five movies, including Skyfall, Casino Royale and his last appearance in 2021’s No Time to Die.
Coincidentally, it was recently the third anniversary of Craig’s final film as Bond, which had been significantly delayed due to the Covid pandemic at the time.
Barry Nelson, who was the first actor to play Bond in a 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale, ranks third for the highest attractiveness rating with an impressive 7.4 while George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton both scored 6.7/10 for the IMDb star ratings.
The spot for Bond is currently vacant with studio bosses yet to announce which actor will replace Craig.
Hollywood heartthrobs such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, and Theo James, 39, are among the favourites to snag the coveted role, but it was recently said that it could be two years before we learn who has been signed up.
According to industry experts, we’re looking at 2026 ‘at the earliest’ so we may just have to keep reminiscing about Bonds gone by to keep us warm.
This article was originally published on September 23, 2024.
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Heretic is Hugh Grant’s hard launch into horror as Mr Reed (Picture: A24) Hugh Grant’s horror reinvention is finally here with the release of Heretic, a psychological thriller that ruminates more on the complex aspects of religion than most fright flicks. For those unconvinced by […]
FilmHugh Grant’s horror reinvention is finally here with the release of Heretic, a psychological thriller that ruminates more on the complex aspects of religion than most fright flicks.
For those unconvinced by the movie’s horror pedigree from its tense but ungory trailer, rest assured that the film’s third act involves mutilation, death and creepy revelations about villain Mr Reed’s maze-like house. It’s just a refreshing take on the genre unlike most others.
And while Heretic is an intriguing prospect with its approach to debate and engaging Mr Reed (Grant) in a confined cat-and-mouse chase with two Mormon missionaries, it does have a few stumbling points for me.
However, the headline inclusion of Grant’s Mr Reed is what fans are most attracted by – and the British star delivers yet another bravura performance in a career now less and less defined by his bumbling rom-com persona from the 90s.
Interestingly though, it’s not a complete departure from that in the way that his performance was in, say, Cloud Atlas (the movie that inspired Heretic’s filmmakers to cast him) or as a grumpy Oompa Loompa in Wonka. Grant as Mr Reed is still blinky, British and a little awkwardly charming – that’s how Sister Paxton (Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) are first lured into his home.
He deliberately disarms them with his chatter and openness, despite a passing reference to metal in the walls and ceilings when they enter – a first red flag for me in immediately thinking that it’s offputtingly weird and will also impact on mobile reception… But it passes without comment.
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Sister Paxton, earnest and bubbly, is keen to get her first baptism into the church and hopes Mr Reed will be the right candidate, while Sister Barnes – cooler and more reserved, with her background shrouded in mystery – is there to support.
What Heretic does very well is offer a more modern take on Mormonism for cinemagoers who may be unversed. Yes, the two young women are passionate about their religion, but they are also aware of the stereotypes surrounding them, with references to their ‘magic underwear’ as well as a brief discussion of the famously raucous and profane stage musical, The Book of Mormon.
The movie also disarms the viewer almost instantly by opening with the two having a pretty frank – and very funny – conversation about condoms and porn. With Sister Paxton’s nervous titters around ‘elephant trunks’ and use of the verb ‘sexing’, it’s also a clear way of showing the difference in their backgrounds.
This light relief is also something Grant enjoys playing with, so when Mr Reed’s nefarious plan begins to become apparent to the Sisters, his relaxed manner takes on an extra level of creepiness. The Four Weddings and a Funeral actor’s use of the term ‘mucky pup’, for example, must be a first for the horror genre – and has also never before this sent chills down my spine.
Grant’s casting is Heretic’s ultimate coup, but East and Thatcher prove more than able co-stars in a battle of wills and survival between their characters.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods have also crafted an intelligent script that I can understand tempting Grant into his next unexpected choice of role. However, it does start to unravel a little as the stakes heighten and Mr Reed’s obsession with finding the one true religion is fully revealed and (sort of) explained.
As the audience learns of his methods and he tries to get Sisters Paxton and Barnes involved, we enjoy moments of shock and one especially grisly section involving Grant and Barnes where I had to turn my face from the screen in revulsion. But the dialogue and revelation that come straight after had me struggling to suspend my disbelief and took me right out of Heretic’s tense storytelling for a moment. I think it might be the same for other female film watchers too, perhaps.
Nevertheless, Heretic is a must-watch for any Grant or horror fans and probably a should-watch for others too. It just doesn’t quite stick the landing for me – but not at the expense of the intrigue that comes before.
Heretic is in UK cinemas from today.
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Elliott Heffernan and Saoirse Ronan star as a mother and son facing bombing raids in London’s East End in Steve McQueen’s Blitz (Picture: Apple/PA Wire) Sir Steve McQueen’s latest film, Blitz, is both a moving love letter to London and those communities devastated on home […]
FilmSir Steve McQueen’s latest film, Blitz, is both a moving love letter to London and those communities devastated on home soil during World War Two and a stark reminder today of conflict’s impact on children.
With Blitz, the director has perfected lump-in-throat filmmaking courtesy of the movie’s urgency and underlying sense of dread.
This is beautifully reflected by Hans Zimmer’s masterful score that blends in with the cacophony of war and warns the audience of the ever-present threat to all those living in the East End during Nazi Germany’s brutally consistent bombing campaign of 1940-41.
It also inspires constant pricks of panic over the fate of its nine-year-old protagonist, George (played by newcomer Elliott Heffernan), as he defiantly fights against being evacuated to the country and tries to find his way home to Stepney Green and mum Rita (Saoirse Ronan, nailing the accent).
But it’s no simple task for the youngster, who must contend with the dangers of both wartime machinery and how it impacts desperate people – there are many who have no interest in George’s survival, let alone his wellbeing.
The faceless threat may be Nazi Germany, but there are myriad closer to home too, chief among these is the terrifying gang of crooks led by a menacing Stephen Graham. But there’s also railways, geography and most other adult authority figures.
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The reality of World War Two is brought chillingly near in Blitz, also written by McQueen and inspired by his own time as a war artist in Iraq in 2004, through both its narrative and hugely evocative production design.
It examines both the cohesion and camaraderie these conditions can bring among neighbours, as well as the hostility and outright racism Black, Asian and Jewish Londoners often faced at the time.
Heffernan is gorgeously naturalistic as the bolshy but vulnerable George, who feels guilty for lashing out and telling Rita he hated her as he boarded the evacuee train. As Rita, Ronan is as seamlessly authentic as ever, working a trying job in a munitions factory and raising her son with the help of her father (Paul Weller); we learn that George’s father was deported, breaking apart the family.
She remains one of her generation’s greatest performance talents, and also displays a lovely singing voice for the new but period-authentic song Winter Coat. Co-written by McQueen and his 12 Years A Slave musical collaborator Nicholas Britell, it slots in perfectly with the mood and style of the songs that Londoners sang to soothe themselves in the air raid shelters.
McQueen also displays an impressive knack for casting rawer acting talent among adults, with both mod and music legend Weller and singer-songwriter Benjamin Clémentine, who takes on the inspired-by-real-life role of Nigerian Air Raid Precautions warden, Ife. He is one of Blitz’s brightest sparks.
The film’s careful accuracy also encompasses the government’s initial reluctance to allow sheltering in all tube stations, as well as the terrifying danger of firefighting during the Blitz.
We’ve all seen many good war films, but Blitz more than holds its own in the genre by taking a look at a specific time and through a specific lens that hasn’t been done with such devastating consequences before – I’m convinced it’s another major awards contender for Oscar-winner McQueen and co.
It’s also as relevant as ever when images of destruction on a massive scale are something we still see splashed across the papers every day.
Blitz is in select cinemas from November 1, and its streaming release on Apple TV+ is from November 22.
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A new Lord of the Rings movie has been praised by fans for the way it’s decided to use a late actor who starred in the original film franchise.
The Lord of The Rings trilogy directed by Peter Jackson included The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, which were released in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
The ensemble cast included Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett and Christopher Lee, who played Saruman, the wizard leader of the Istari.
He then went on to reprise the role in The Hobbit film trilogy, which was released between 2012 and 2014.
Lee, who had a career spanning six decades and had also appeared in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun and as Count Dooku in three Star Wars films, died in 2015 at the age of 93.
But nearly a decade on, he is set to feature in the latest Lord of The Rings movie.
The War of Rohirrim, an anime film, is due to be released on December 13 and takes place before the events of the original Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
The character of Saruman will appear in the film using archival recordings of Lee’s line readings.
The way this was achieved was described by Philippa Boyens, a longtime collaborator of Peter Jackson’s and co-writer of The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films.
Speaking to TheOneRing.net at New York ComicCon, she explained how they used recordings of Lee from when he was alive, with no AI assistance at all.
‘We went into his [recordings], I got to go back and hear his voice, not just doing his lines, but talking to us as we were recording him,’ she said.
‘We based [his performance on The War of Rohirrim] on a line from The Hobbit, which is “are you in need of assistance my lady?”, a version of that line.
‘We can see how many takes he did of that, can we use it, can we find a new read on it, and change it up a little bit… but it is an authentic bit of Christopher Lee performance.’
The team behind the movie also sought permission from Lee’s widow Gitte, who has since died, to include the old recordings.
Addressing possible backlash to the decision, or suggestions an actor could have replicated Lee’s voice, Boyens said: ‘Now I know the internet’s going to say there’s a million people who could have done Chris Lee’s voice, but you know what? I don’t think so. I’m so glad we used his own voice.’
Many fans of the franchise also applauded the approach taken and said it respectfully ‘honoured’ the late star too.
‘This is how you use a deceased actor. Unused dialogue or cut takes and find a way to work around it. There’s been a few movies that have done this pretty effectively over the years, and it also uses no AI,’ MEdwardsVA posted on X.
‘Given how much he loved Tolkien, having even met him himself, I think he’d have been okay with this. It’s not AI, it’s unused recording of him as Saruman. Getting to hear Christopher Lee again in this iconic role, with new lines, will be so emotional for many. I’m so excited 💜’ Alice Thoren shared.
‘I was expecting that announcement to end with a mention of them using AI what a pleasant surprise that was to find they used archived recordings,’ WozAction added.
However, others had different opinions.
‘Archival recordings of deceased actors >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AI voice of a deceased actor. Cannot overstate that enough. I do wish they recasted though. Give other actors a shot at iconic characters,’ JacobKolvVA wrote.
‘Everyone in the comments talking about how cool LOTR is for not using AI but like…it feels really weird to use archive audio of a dead man to keep his role going,’ Spellmaiden added.
Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original film trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan, and his family as they defend their kingdom against an army of Dunlendings.
It stars Brian Cox, as well as Gaia Wise, Luke Pasqualino and Miranda Otto, Laurence Ubong Williams, and Shaun Dooley.
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This is So Chic, Very Chic, PAPER’s examination of Bravo’s sprawling cohort of fashion obsessives. From haute couture to TJ Maxx, they’ve literally worn it all. Sometimes they stunt, sometimes they turn the look, and sometimes they burn holes in retinas my ophthalmologist says might […]
film-tvThis is So Chic, Very Chic, PAPER’s examination of Bravo’s sprawling cohort of fashion obsessives. From haute couture to TJ Maxx, they’ve literally worn it all. Sometimes they stunt, sometimes they turn the look, and sometimes they burn holes in retinas my ophthalmologist says might never heal.
I’d like to take a trip down memory lane, as the year comes to an end, back to a time when mob wives got up in arms about suburbanites and zoomer city dwellers alike stealing their swag.
Perhaps this has been forgotten, as 2024’s been jam packed with Brat drops and presidential assassination attempts, but there was actually a time when so-called mafioso heiresses and culture writers got up in arms, deservedly or not, over the “cultural appropriation” angle. I’m serious! There is like, an entire few pages of Google search results to peruse through, from back around when this week’s “mob wives” themed RHOSLC episode would have been filmed.
Like any good Real Housewives star, Angie K stays posted up in my Instagram DMs. She’d have obviously been on trend, considering her savvy branding with the shield glasses last season.
It just seems so banal now, doesn’t it? Outrage over fur coats and Big Ang memes, when “Kamala is Brat” and “somebody was arrested at the Timmy Chalamet Lookalike Competion” were just over the horizon. So banal, in fact, that I’ve convinced myself the entire fiasco is somehow responsible for every bad thing that’s happened this year — small domino being “the viral mob wife aesthetic is actually problematic” and big domino being “a second Pitchfork review has hit Halsey’s X timeline.”
Shall we get into it?
Meredith Marks and Whitney Rose
This week, Angie K threw the women a “mob wives” themed anniversary party for her marriage to that hot hairstylist. Twenty five years is a long time, about as long as it took Whitney’s glam team to chisel away at the block of stone they made this wig from. I mean, how on earth does one even get it in that shape, besides sleeping in a roller set that’s been installed incorrectly and then standing in one of those fan-tube machines that blow fake money around at Chuck E. Cheese or contests at the local radio station?
That said, she later recycled this dress for her confessionals, which is ecoconcious of her on a show that somewhat demands the opposite. Meredith, meanwhile, kept the glasses on. I won’t speculate as to why, but sometimes, when I have too many things bopping and banging around in my system, I also like to keep the sunglasses on. That said, the wine won’t help, sister, nor will that expertly installed fake ponytail that looks about ready to scalp her!
Meredith entered the party with a comically large clutch, like Gia Gunn. I have tried about 15 different variations on a “boom boom” joke but have come up completely short. I ask for forgiveness and understanding in this difficult time, please.
Whitney, meanwhile, wore this rather comical sweater to her earlier sit-down with Meredith. The minivan bob and the tented menu specials don’t help the allegations that Salt Lake City isn’t a city at all, but a glorified suburb with one too many Applebees for my liking. That said, isn’t this hunter green just beautiful on her?
Angie Katsanevas and Bronwyn Newport
Look at this fabulous ice witch and her clown friend, who entertains her during the long winter months in her palace of frost. For what it’s worth, I quite like this rather demure dress on Angie (demure here being used in the context of Angie’s entire wardrobe aesthetic). On the rest of us, it’d look like we were stuck in those viral prom season posts about kids these days.
As for Bronwyn, it’s interesting how she refuses to dress in a way that plays by the established norms of this cast. She’s bringing pulls to a show generally not known for glamour. This blue Dolce & Gabbana top with the sequined skirt is gorgeous against the spooky white interior of Angie’s home, and that coat is absolutely fabulous, like, literally. It’s a set piece from Absolutely Fabulous.
I know a Christian Siriano special when I see one. He said she’s one of the only Real Housewives that pay, which means we have her to thank for his continued ability to terrorize red carpets internationally with Pierpaolo’s scrapped designs. Love you, Christian! I’m a big fan of your ability to put something like this on television. Again, fabulous.
Mary Cosby
When one is consistently accused of being a cult leader, or a Christ-like figure to her humble church followers, it doesn’t help to come onto television in something a Final Fantasy villain would wear. I mean, doesn’t she look like the rebirth of Yunalesca in the scrapped Final Fantasy X-3? Or maybe the secret alternate form of Ultimecia, if they ever remake Final Fantasy VIII for modern systems. Can’t you see it now?
Gina Kirschenheiter
Dear Gina, I try and I try and I try with you. Every week, I wake up hopeful — hopeful that this is the week, hopeful that things will change, hopeful that we can find some common ground between us and build a future together based on understanding and trust and respect. But, it’s become increasingly clear to me you are unwilling to see reason or hear my side of the story. I forgave the knock-off Donatella drag. I forgave the hair, but most importantly, I forgave you. But this? This is unforgivable. It’s the final straw, and I will no longer extend an olive branch to you in your time of sartorial need. I wish you nothing but the best on this path you’ve chosen for yourself and fear you will need more than my prayers can accomplish. Xoxo, a bitter ol’ bitch.
Tamra Judge
Tamra wants to see herself as both threatening and threatened, the victimizer and the victimized, the hunter and the hunted. It’s a fascinating psychological cocktail that works quite well on television, and for better or worse, made her an interesting fixture in the Bravo academic canon. That said, my best advice to her is: When wanting to play the victim card at the end of the night, try to frame yourself in camera without the large black fur coat or menacing glass of champagne. You look like a villain of the week of The Bold and the Beautiful.
Wendy Osefo
I tried to get the intel on this top from Wendy’s confessional this episode and came up completely short! I could have done without the butterfly appliqués, which feel more craft store than couture, only because I do think the top is beautifully constructed and deserves to shine on its own. Also, this is not the energy her castmates bring to the booth, and their lack of a serve makes her attempt at a serve seem goofy, rather than glamorous. And she deserves to be glamorous!
That said, she should pay her glam team twice as much as she does currently because the makeup and hair are glowing.
Jassi Rideaux
Jassi has a proper confessional! Unless I forgot, in which case, I’m sorry Jassi. I was not familiar with your game! The newcomer and friend-of has been a general breath of fresh air in this show’s totally stifled cast dynamic. That she has the confessional chops to hold her own are an added bonus. We’ve seen this printed corset dress look before, but I think the matching scarf and elegant bob elevate it. Her cut crease is also worth writing home about! Kevyn Aucoin, you will literally always be famous.
Photos courtesy of Bravo/NBCUniversal
Marlon Brando ‘possessed’ Billy Zane for this biopic (Picture: Torino Film Festival) We’re overrun with biopics at the moment, from Elvis Presley to Amy Winehouse – now it’s Marlon Brando’s turn and things are looking promising. A first look at Billy Zane as the iconic […]
FilmWe’re overrun with biopics at the moment, from Elvis Presley to Amy Winehouse – now it’s Marlon Brando’s turn and things are looking promising.
A first look at Billy Zane as the iconic actor in Waltzing With Brando has been shared and the resemblance is uncanny.
In the eerie snaps Billy, 58, poses as Brando in his legendary role of Vito Corleone in The Godfather, for which he won the Oscar for best actor.
The Titanic star is unrecognisable from his usual self as he morphs effortlessly into Brando, ‘possessed’ by the late star.
Waltzing With Brando is set to be the closing film at Torino Film Festival, depicting the Julius Caesar actor in his most prolific era covering The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris.
‘You won’t believe it: he is possessed by Marlon Brando,’ Torino’s artistic director Giulio Base told Variety of Billy’s performance.
The biopic, directed by Bill Fishman, is based on a memoir written by Brando’s famed architect Bernard Judge.
Taking a slightly different approach to other biopics, the film is based on the Viva Zapata! star’s discovery of Judge, who he convinced to build the world’s first ecologically perfect retreat on the tiny Tahitian island, Tetiaroa.
Fans on X couldn’t believe how similar the first-look picture was to actual stills of Brando in The Godfather.
‘The hair and makeup team are getting Oscars because WOW,’ praised Ruby Naldrett.
‘You’re telling me that’s NOT an old picture of Marlon Brando????’ asked RensFlower as Illy joked: ‘When yall gonna show Billy Zane?!’
‘JESUS CHRIST 😳…the makeup department went tf OFF! Genuinely thought this was a still from The Godfather.’ Griffin Schiller said.
Keaton added: ‘This is the perfect argument against de-ageing actors or using AI to recreate them. We don’t need it. This looks better.’
‘From what I’ve seen no actor has ever looked even close to this much like the character they were playing what the hell,’ Lala added, referencing the recent biopic influx.
This praise comes after fans slammed the underwhelming transformation by Jeremy Allen White into musician Bruce Springsteen for his biopic.
Similar middling responses have been levied at Timothee Chalamet in his Bob Dylan movie – although his ping pong player film appears to have hit the mark.
Billy is best known for his role as Caledon Hockley in Titanic but recently starred in the acclaimed TV show The Boys as himself for three episodes.
His first acting credit was in Back to the Future, where he played Biff Tannen’s high school friend Match O’Malley, originally unnamed in the film.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.