Death of a Unicorn is undoubtedly one of the more imaginative and gory films you’ll see in 2025, silly and savage in equal measure – even if it can’t quite live up to the promise of its juicy premise.

The A24 comedy–horror, written and directed by Alex Scharfman in his feature-length debut, has attracted a star-studded cast led by Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega thanks to its wacky tale of corporate greed and magical unicorns.

When Elliot (Rudd) and his teenage daughter Ridley (Ortega) accidentally injure a unicorn foal on the way to the estate of Elliot’s sickly but pharmaceutically wealthy boss Odell Leopold (Richard E Grant), they discover the healing properties of its blood spatter, which fixes her acne and his allergies and long-sightedness.

Ridley is also left with a mental link to the unicorns after she touches the foal’s horn and experiences visions on a cosmic level, causing her to worry over its treatment.

However, the cancer-stricken Odell and his grotesque family – luxury wife Belinda (Téa Leoni) and their vacuous son Shepard (Will Poulter, having the best time of anyone) – very quickly see how they can benefit thanks to the medicinal power of these mythical beasts.

Or as Shepard crows: ‘They’re going to hate us on the non-profit circuit – nice knowing you, cancer charities, am I right?’

Death of a Unicorn is reminiscent of both Jurassic Park and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in its approach to its unbelievable central creatures and the intoxicating level of their extreme desirability to humans, despite imminent threat.

It has lashings of Spielberg in its nostalgic monster approach – we know the greedy baddies will have their comeuppance and that tension will be built by sound, shadow and our hero being charged in a car at some point – but there’s a frivolous edge to it all.

After all, Leoni’s Belinda utters the immortal line, ‘Not to be a size queen, as they say, but that horn was rather girthsome’, with undisguised lust, while one of Shepard’s most resolute lines in the whole film is that ‘gloss is gauche’ when it comes to printing photographs.

The movie’s carnage is unexpectedly graphic and disgusting, even with Ridley’s warning ringing in our ears that unicorns are a ‘bloodthirsty and vengeful beast’ after she digs up historical research.

We are then shown that this is very much the case, as these massive creatures snarl and growl, bare their fangs and curl their ominous grey tongues while disembowelling and destroying the humans who have done them wrong.

Although there is humour in the deaths, I would have welcomed a little more variety away from people being impaled on unicorn horns – although there a head is cracked under a hoof like a coconut, while someone else is literally torn in two.

There’s also plenty of literal guts, with one hole left by a horn in a body so big Elliot can peer right through it before the victim’s intestines start falling out.

It is satisfying to see the morally bankrupt answer for their crimes in a world right now where this seems more like a fantasy, even if the payoff isn’t quite the slam-dunk expected.

Death of a Unicorn is unsubtle if entertaining in its social commentary, but ultimately none of the characters have the depth required – even Ortega’s Ridley spends most of her time wavering between pouting and panicking.

Although it’s somewhat refreshing to demonstrate such a clearly broken family dynamic, Elliot is so spineless that it’s hard to root for him in the relationship he’s supposed to be rebuilding with his daughter.

Grant regurgitates the eccentric flavour he provided in Saltburn although with more of a vicious, unicorn steak-eating edge, thanks to his instincts for comedy – although there’s less of a reward, character-wise, to work with here.

Meanwhile Poulter is weirdly lovable as Shepard, who’s always ready to provide buzzword salad (his ‘diversified portfolio of entrepreneurial activities’, for instance) as he struts around in his chino shorts offering nothing else of value.

Death of a Unicorn is also particularly evocative of its clear inspirations when one irritated unicorn is prowling around outside, its fearsome jaws shown in silhouette against the tent Odell’s employees set up on site (The Lost World: Jurassic Park), while a hunting party later traipses through the misty woods in search of their creatures (E.T.).

Although it’s unlikely to enter the cinematic canon next to such greats, Death of a Unicorn is still an entertainingly silly romp if not as sharp as you’d hope to truly stick the satirical landing.

Death of a Unicorn is in UK cinemas on Friday April 4. It’s in US cinemas now.

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The James Bond franchise will reportedly return with an ‘origins’ movie and a ‘very young’ new star, according to actor Daniel Mays.

The search for a new actor to play the superspy is stepping up following the exit of longtime Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and the takeover by Amazon MGM Studios.

Now reports suggest 007 will be getting a massive shake-up, taking the character back several decades.

The rumour was shared by actor Daniel Mays who revealed he’d heard some details about what Amazon could be planning for Bond.

During an appearance on the We’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast, he said: ‘Bond is a big deal right, that going to Amazon … I heard a rumour they’re going to cast someone very young and go sort of back to the origins.

‘They’re going to sort of ’60s, you’re going to have all the retro cars and that sort of stuff – and start again. I think that would be kind of cool.’

The hunt has been on for another actor to take over from Daniel Craig, 57, who stepped away from the franchise following the release of 2021’s No Time To Die, which ended with 007’s death.

Who is making the next James Bond film?

It was recently revealed Amazon Studios have selected David Heyman – best known for his work on the Harry Potter films – and Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal to take charge of the next 007 film.

In a joint statement, the pair said: ‘James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema.

‘We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who made so many extraordinary films and honored and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure.’

As well as Spider-Man, Pascal also worked on the 007 films Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall, all of which starred Craig as the titular spy.

Amazon MGM Studios’ head of film, Courtenay Valenti said in a statement given to The Hollywood Reporter: ‘We are approaching every creative decision with James Bond, which Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have so masterfully steered, with the greatest sense of responsibility.

‘Part of an elite group of producers who have developed and managed massive film franchises to box office success and critical acclaim, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are two of the most accomplished, experienced, and respected film producers in our industry.’

Pascal will produce the film via Pascal Pictures, while Heyman will produce via Heyday Films, and this marks the first time that anyone outside the Broccoli family has taken creative control of the franchise.

Who will be the next James Bond actor?

Aaron Taylor-Johnson has long been considered the favourite for the role, though a source firmly denied his involvement.

Since, Coral Bookmakers have tipped Barbie and Ghandi star Mike Dickman is a new favourite to don Bond’s famous tuxedo in the next film.

Dickman, who is the long-term partner of Heather Mills, is best known for starring in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny as an uncredited protestor.

The Monkey and The Gentleman star Theo James is the 5-2 favourite, followed by James Norton.

Dickman, meanwhile, currently has odds at 5-1, the same as Challengers’ Josh O’Connor.

Other favourites in the running include Callum Turner, Henry Cavill, Jack Lowden, Rege-Jean Page, and Adolescence’s Stephen Graham.

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Rachel Zegler is ‘exceptionally beautiful’ but a ‘spoiled, ungrateful and disconnected brat’.

When I woke up to headlines that John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, had said that about Rachel Zegler, I felt a renewed sense of bone deep conviction that we let too many men be famous.

Your dad wrote Imagine so you get to give your unsolicited opinion on the hotness of women you’ve never met? You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one absolutely sick of this s***. 

Lennon’s social media remarks are just the latest in what has been a firestorm of controversy surrounding Disney’s Snow White remake – and nepo babies like Sean have been right in the centre of the action.

To catch everyone up, Zegler, 23, stars as the titular princess in the controversial new film, while Gal Gadot appears as the Evil Queen. But despite high hopes, Snow White had a dismal start at the box office, amassing just $45million (£34.8m) in the US and $100m (£77.3m) worldwide in its opening weekend.

Then, Variety released a piece on that some fans felt unfairly blamed Zegler’s views about President Donald Trump and Palestine for the poor performance.

Not long after, Sean Ono Lennon chimed in with his two cents. In a now-deleted tweet, Lennon, 48, whose bio reads: ‘Mega Nepo Baby’ wrote: ‘Both Gal Gadot AND Rachel Zegler are exceptionally beautiful women. Some of y’all are bugging.’

An X user replied to Lennon defending Zegler, as they said: ‘Both actresses are good performers, yet Zegler does not deserve the vilification that Variety and a lot of Disney “fan boys” are constantly giving her.’

Then Lennon added: ‘I agree the vilification went too far. But she also acts like a spoiled, ungrateful and disconnected brat. So it’s no surprise.’

Not only is there nothing more grating than a man snidely explaining, ‘Sorry, how women look actually does matter!’ but it’s bitterly funny for a man born into the kind of wealth and privilege Lennon was to call someone else ‘disconnected.’ 

He joins another nepo baby – Snow White producer Mark Platt’s son, Jonah – in taking up too much space in a cultural conversation.

After Zegler tweeted ‘always remember, free Palestine’ in August last year, Variety reported that producer of the film, Marc Platt, flew to New York to meet with Zegler in an attempt to get her to take the post down, which she allegedly refused. 

So how did Jonah Platt get involved?

In the aftermath of the report, a social media commenter posted on Platt’s Instagram saying : ‘Your dad flew to NYC to reprimand a young actress about this? Any words on this? Cuz that’s creepy as hell and uncalled for. People have the right to free speech, no? Shame on your father.’

Jonah penned a fiery response, which he later deleted, but according to The Hollywood Reporter it read: ‘Yeah, my dad, the producer of enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20 year old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract to get paid and do publicity for.’

He added: ‘This is called adult responsibility and accountability. And her actions clearly hurt the film’s box office.’

Between Lennon and Platt, one has to wonder why these men are qualified to share their opinions at all. 

Lennon’s X post has hundreds of interactions and is being widely discussed online, while Platt’s statement has been published in nearly every major publication.

And make no mistake, what Platt so condescendingly called shirking ‘adult responsibility’ and Lennon labelled acting like a ‘spoiled brat’ is free speech, plain and simple. 

Platt is correct that ‘free speech does not mean you’re allowed to say whatever you want’ without ‘repercussions’, but it looks to me like a mega-corporation attempting to shut down an actress’ ability to advocate for causes she believes in.

What Platt implied in his post is that Zegler should take the money she was given to play Snow White and keep her mouth shut to avoid putting Disney’s investment in jeopardy. 

Lennon seems to feel similarly, acting as though it’s somehow ‘ungrateful’ for Zegler to use her platform to express her politics. 

Neither Lennon nor Platt mentioned that Zegler has weathered her share of ugliness, with controversy surrounding the film beginning nearly four years ago when Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, faced racist backlash after she was cast as Disney’s original princess, most famous for having ‘skin as white as snow.’

But this didn’t receive as much of the blame for the film’s failure as Zegler’s refusal to just shut up and look pretty, as it seems men like Platt and Lennon would prefer she do.  

As I prepared to write a piece about this pair of Daddy’s boys and their bad online takes, I couldn’t help but feel hesitant to further platform their opinions. 

They have a right, as much as Zegler, to share their views on anything they see fit. But the only reason we even know about them is their famous and powerful parents.

What makes a culture interesting is diversity: Diversity of lived experience, diversity of opinion, and diversity of intersectional identity. 

If nepo babies like Lennon and Platt think Rachel Zegler – an accomplished artist who has every right to use her platform as she sees fit – doesn’t deserve the influence she has, how can they possibly justify their own loud voices? 

Maybe it’s time we let the nepo babies shout into the void until they can prove they have something valuable to say. Unfortunately, that day is not today.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Fans of The Beatles woke up to a surprise announcement this morning.

After a year of rumours about who will play the Beatles in the upcoming Song Pictures biopic about the Fab Four, the cast has officially been announced.

Star of Blitz and Where the Crawdads Sing Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon in the four-film ‘cinematic event’, while Normal People star Paul Mescal will take up the role of Sir Paul McCartney, Masters of the Air’s Barry Keoghan will portray Sir Ringo Starr, and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn will be George Harrison.

It’s a star-studded line-up of actors, with Paul and Barry rumoured to be playing Sir Paul and Sir Ringo in the Sir Sam Mendes-directed films for months.

While the four films will not be released until April 2028, many fans have expressed their confusion at the casting,confessing that they can’t see the resemblance between the actors and the Hey Jude hitmakers.

Reactions to The Beatles biopic casting

‘That man is not George Harrison in any way lol,’ wrote @kboldens, while @maculvein said: ‘If these are any good at all the hair and makeup team need to be awarded the nobel prize.’

‘Even if I squint, I don’t see The Beatles,’ said @Road2Oscars as @LSN_Frantz asked: ‘They don’t look anything like The Beatles. There were no no-name up and coming actors that looked like the band? ‘

‘No way it’s real i thought twas April fools post,’ commented @avterhour.

‘It’s horribly miscast. Only thing in common is they’re both vaguely weird looking,’ said LedOverlord, talking about Ringo’s choice in reply to @maxmax024, who called the it ‘god mode casting’.

‘Obviously the studio saw something in the casting room we haven’t… I’m excited to see what they bring!!!’ commented nolanmcbean on Instagram.

‘Couldn’t find any actors that at least resemble them slightly?’ asked idpreferyoudead.

However, others defended the casting.

‘People moaning about resemblance for the umpteenth time as if they hadn’t been shown time and time again that acting talent is way more important than who looks like who,’ commented @lucashedgess.

@kathypaz felt nothing but excitement, writing, ‘The upcoming four biopics for The Beatles may just be THE cinematic event of the 2020s. I am SO excited for these films,’ while @nikkimeagher said: ‘This is what you call a showstopper.’

When will The Beatles biopic be released

Others were miffed that they will have to wait three whole years to see the films, while some speculated that no one has the time or money to go to the cinema four times in one month.

‘I love The Beatles, but idk how many people are gonna go to the cinema 4 times in one month for one interconnected project,’ said @Scooped_Mids.

What we know about The Beatles biopic

The multi-movie project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and the Beatles – Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.

Speaking at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas on Monday, which the cast also attended, Sir Sam called the films the ‘first binge-able theatrical experience’.

‘I’ve been trying to make a story about The Beatles for years,’ he added.

It was already announced that Sir Sam will produce the films under his Neal Street Productions banner alongside its co-founder Dame Pippa Harris, the former chairwoman of Bafta, and Julie Pastor.

Sir Ringo previously appeared to let slip that Saltburn star Keoghan had taken on the role.

He told Entertainment Tonight: ‘I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many.’

When Sir Ridley Scott was promoting his second Roman epic Gladiator II last year, he revealed star Paul was joining the Beatles project, telling an industry event that the actor was ‘actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next’ so he may not be able to join him on his next film.

There have been previous films about the Beatles, including Nowhere Boy, about Lennon growing up in Liverpool, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

This isn’t the first time that moviemakers have been inspired by the lives of The Beatles for their films.

Midas Man, Nowhere Boy, and Yesterday are all films inspired by The Beatles, but don’t claim to be entirely accurate portrayals.

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Jason Momoa may have just found himself in hot water after dropping a major bombshell about an upcoming film.

The 45-year-old has commanded huge roles in a string of franchises, including Aquaman, Fast and Furious and Dune – he played Duncan Idaho in the latter, alongside Zendaya, Timothee Chalamet, Oscar Isaac and Rebecca Ferguson.

Despite dying at the end of the first instalment, in 2021, he has now confirmed that his character will actually stage a surprise return in Dune 3, aka Dune: Messiah.

During an appearance on the Today show this morning, to promote his Minecraft flick, talk turned to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi series.

‘Your character died in the first Dune movie… But in the books, he comes back as a clone,’ presenter Craig Melvin probed. ‘Dune: Messiah is set to start production later this year. Have you got a call?’

‘Well, I’m not sure if I’m going to get in trouble or not,’ Jason said, trying to figure out how much he was allowed to say.

‘But it’s the same thing like Game of Thrones, you know what I mean? If you didn’t read the books, it’s not my fault, right?’

‘Yeah, I’m going to be coming back.’

‘Duncan Idaho is making a comeback?,’ Craig clarified, to which he added: ‘I’m making a comeback. You heard it here first.

‘You got me in trouble!’

Dune hit the big screen four years ago, with John Brolin, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem and Stellan Skarsgård also joining the star-studded cast.

Jason’s Duncan served as a mentor to Paul Atreides (Timothee), but died at the end of the film in a bid to protect him.

While the character didn’t return for the 2024 sequel, all eyes will be on how Denis and co incorporate his arrival in Dune: Messiah – which is slated to be released next year.

In the books, via Collider, Duncan is resurrected as a genetically engineered clone, and will have a pivotal part to play in a conspiracy against his mentee.

Shedding light on the third movie, Denis insisted that it is ‘not a trilogy’, vowing that all three projects have their own ‘identity’.

‘First, It’s important that people understand that for me, it was really a diptych,’ he told Vanity Fair last year. ‘It was really a pair of movies that will be the adaptation of the first book.

‘That’s done and that’s finished. If I do a third one, which is in the writing process, it’s not like a trilogy. It’s strange to say that, but if I go back there, it’s to do something that feels different and has its own identity.’

‘Listen, if Dune: Messiah happens, it will have been many years for me on Arrakis, and I would love to do something else,’ he added of future projects beyond the third flick.

‘I think that it would be a good idea for me to make sure that, in Messiah, there are the seeds in the project if someone wants to do something else afterwards, because they are beautiful books.

‘They are more difficult to adapt. They become more and more esoteric. It’s a bit more tricky to adapt, but I’m not closing the door. I will not do it myself, but it could happen with someone else.’

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A movie labelled ‘one of the best of the 21^st century’ is now available to watch on Netflix.

Released in 2016, Manchester by the Sea starred Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges.

It follows Lee Chandler (Affleck), a depressed and anti-social janitor living in Boston.

One day he receives a call informing him that his brother Joe, who lives in Manchester-by-the-Sea has suffered a heart attack, but he dies before Lee makes it to the hospital.

With his brother’s funeral delayed, Lee decides to stay in the small town and act as the legal guardian of his nephew, Patrick (Hedges).

As the pair both navigate their grief, it also emerges that Lee is dealing with the ongoing guilt about being responsible for a house fire that killed his three children.

The film received critical acclaim and won Oscars for best actor for Affleck and best original screenplay. It was also nominated for best picture, best director, best supporting actor (Hedges) and best supporting actress (Michelle Williams as Lee’s ex-wife Randi).

It was also nominated for five Golden Globes and six Baftas.

Grossing $79 million ($61 million) worldwide against a budget of $9 million (£6.9 million), the movie was critically acclaimed too.

‘Manchester by the Sea is heartbreaking and exhausting, and a shining cinematic study of individual suffering,’ Metro wrote in its review.

‘A wrenching family tragedy is dramatised with the depth of a high-quality American stage piece in Manchester by the Sea,’ The Hollywood Reporter wrote.

‘[A] beautifully textured, richly enveloping drama about how a death in the family forces a small-town New Englander to confront a past tragedy anew,’ Variety added.

In an interview with Deadline, Affleck spoke about the effect the script had on him when he first read it.

‘Almost immediately I was just absorbing it like it was some piece of nonfiction; some complete piece of writing that was, in and of itself, a thing. Not a blueprint to be built upon. It was complete,’ he said.

‘The emotions really snuck up on me. I was crying at the end, and I had been laughing throughout.’

Manchester by the Sea is streaming on Netflix.

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A Norwegian horror thriller film described as ‘legitimately shocking’ and ‘unsettling’ is coming to Amazon Prime Video.

Good Boy, released in 2022, is directed by Viljar Bøe and had its UK premiere at London’s FrightFest the following year.

The warped and sinister tale follows Sigrid (Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen), who feels she’s hit the jackpot when she meets charismatic millionnaire Christian (Gard Løkke) on a dating app.

As their relationship goes from strength to strength she soon discovers there is one unusual catch that comes with Christian – he lives with a man, Frank (Nicolai Narvesen Lied), who pretends to be his dog.

Sigrid tries to be open-minded but soon unearths the seemingly sinister undertones of their relationship.

Good Boy went down a storm during its run on the festival circuit, and it will soon be available to watch from the, uh, comfort of your home as it arrived on Shudder via Amazon Prime Video on April 7.

It currently sits at a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with many critics hailing its ‘disturbing’ premise and ‘shocking’ revelations.

‘Genuinely uncomfortable and a fantastic portrayal of abusive relationships, both within kink-focused relationships and more mainstream ones, with a closing scene guaranteed to disturb to the core,’ Moving Pictures Film Club said in their review.

CBR wrote: ‘Norwegian horror flick Good Boy features a shocking storyline and plenty of jaw-dropping twists.’

HorrorBuzz surmised Good Boy is a ‘fiendish flick about relationships and power dynamics that leaves the viewer chilled to the bone.’

‘The first two-thirds of the film built up the potential for an ending that both shocks and satisfies its audience, but we get the easy way out,’ Spectrum Culture began.

‘Still worth a watch if you’re into psychological horror, and it’s sure to become a much-barked-about film.’

Strong Female Antagonist added: ‘Part rom-com, part quirky drama, part torture porn, Good Boy pulls us into a bright and unsettling world of ethical depravity, twisting and turning the knife well past the limits of what we think we can endure.’

Speaking to Screen Rant, director Bøe opened up on the unlikely inspirations behind the film, including Audition, 50 Shades of Grey, and Beauty and the Beast.

‘Those three are definitely huge inspirations especially Audition and 50 Shades of Grey,’ he explained.

‘We’re kind of like a mix between those two. When they call for inspiration for the concept, I’m not really sure how it started. I for several years just thought it was fun imagery, a person in a dog costume.’

He continued: ‘Especially movies like Audition and Gone Girl kind of inspired me to make something that kind of twisted with genres and mixed genres. Because a human in a dog costume can be so many things, it can be scary, it can be funny.

‘I thought it would be fun if it was all those things in one movie. So that was kind of what I was going for.’

Good Boy is available to watch via Shudder on Amazon Prime Video on April 7.

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Adolescence has captured the hearts and minds of viewers around the world in a stunning way, provoking debate among parents, teenagers, teachers and the Government alike.

While it tells a truly horrifying story of the murder of a 13-year-old girl, exposing the toxic darkness of the manosphere and incel culture online along the way, it’s also proven a gripping drama for Netflix fans.

Featuring Stephen Graham, who co-conceived Adolescence with writer Jack Thorne, the four-part series also stars Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty and Faye Marsay – as well as a stunning debut turn from young actor Owen Cooper – and is directed by Phillip Barantini.

However, it’s not just the story that the urgent piece of TV tells but the way it’s told that has engaged audiences so thoroughly: Adolescence is four single-take episodes, which together tell the story of the show.

That’s four one-hour long instalments, filmed in one shot with the cameras rolling and following the actors around as the action unfolds in real-time each episode.

It’s a conceit that requires incredible focus from both the cast and crew to work together smoothly and keep shooting no matter what, but Adolescence is not the first project to use this ambitious approach, with several films below suggested for you to explore if you want to see more of this type of contained storytelling.

Boiling Point (2021)

Also starring Graham and directed and co-written by Adolescence’s Barantini, Boiling Point is a British thriller set in a restaurant kitchen.

Initially based on a 2019 short film they’d made together, Boiling Point filmed the movie four times before selecting the take that would be released.

Also starring Vinette Robinson, Alice Feetham, Hannah Walters, Malachai Kirby, Taz Skylar and Jason Flemyng, the action unfolds over one fraught evening as the restaurant copes with having its hygiene rating downgraded as well as an allergic reaction and multiple conflicts between staff and guests.

Making waves upon release, it became one of the most famous examples of this method of filmmaking and was followed up with a 2023 BBC TV drama sequel.

Streaming for free now on Channel 4

1917 (2019)

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, 1917 was directed by Sir Sam Mendes, who co-wrote the film with Krysty Wilson-Cairns from stories his grandfather told him about serving in WW1.

Taking place after the Germans retreated to the new Hindenburg Line in France, it follows two young lance corporals, Will and Tom (George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman), who are tasked with delivering a crucial message to the front line to call off a doomed offensive attack after field telephone lines are cut.

Using clever filming and editing techniques, cinematographer Roger Deakins and editor Lee Smith manipulated long shots to have the entire film appear as though it were filmed as two continuous shots with one break in the middle, where the screen goes black as one of the heroes loses consciousness.

1917 also boasts a star-studded supporting cast including Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong and Richard Madden.

Streaming now on Netflix

Birdman (2014)

Birdman won the Oscar for best film – as well as director, original screenplay and cinematography – at the 2015 Academy Awards.

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu conceived of the film as being presented in one continuous take right from the start, bar one brief exception.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) to use its full title, is about a washed-up superhero actor attempting to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.

Riggan Thomson is best known for playing the character Birdman, just like his real-life counterpart Michael Keaton was linked to his time as Batman in a meta piece of casting, which earned the star an Oscar nod too.

However, Birdman wants Riggan to return to blockbuster cinema and torments him with visions and a mocking internal monologue.

The movie also stars Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Andrea Riseborough and Naomi Watts.

Streaming now on Disney Plus

Silent House (2011)

Silent House is another film which uses the one-shot illusion, in reality being a series of shots lasting between 10 to 15 minutes which are sewn together to look the movie was in the can after one single take.

The 2011 psychological horror focuses on a woman (Marvel star Elizabeth Olsen) who is terrorised while cleaning her family’s vacation home alongside her father and uncle after a young woman turns up on the doorstep claiming to be her childhood friend.

It was a remake of the 2010 movie La Casa Muda, which claims to be based on a real-life incident that occurred in a Uruguayan village in the 1940s.

As with all of these films – and Adolescence’s episodes – the action unfolds in real time.

Available for rent on Apple TV Plus and Amazon Prime Video

Rope (1948)

Perhaps one of the first and most famous to do it, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1948 film Rope unfolds in real time and was edited so as to appear like four long shots, back to back.

Based on Patrick Hamilton’s 1929 play of the same name, Rope’s action all takes place in one room after two young men strangle their former classmate to death in their penthouse apartment in pursuit of committing the ‘perfect murder’.

They then invite friends around for a dinner party – including their former housemaster, who they think will approve of their act – which takes place in plain view of the antique chest their victim’s body is stuffed in.

Rope starred James Stewart alongside Farley Granger, John Dall and Joan Chandler.

Available for rent on Apple TV Plus and Amazon Prime Video

Medusa Deluxe (2022)

Medusa Deluxe, written and directed by Thomas Hardiman, is a murder mystery film set in the world of competitive hairdressing.

As the synopsis continues: ‘Extravagance and excess collide, as the death of a contestant sows seeds of division in a community whose passion for hair verges on obsession.’

The film stars Clare Perkins, Harriet Webb, Anita-Joy Uwajeh and Luke Pasqualino, as well as Kae Alexander as the model who does her best to get to the bottom of the scalped hairdresser backstage.

Medusa Deluxe takes place as all those involved with the competition are waiting to be interviewed backstage by the police (who we never see), speculating wildly, as the camera explores the building and its inhabitants in what is edited together to appear like one continuous take.

Streaming now on Mubi

Victoria (2015)

For Victoria, we return to the realm of the genuine single-take, one-shot film, with a 12-page script to work from and cast improvising dialogue during a 2.5 hour filming window on April 27, 2014.

The German crime thriller, directed by Sebastian Schipper, follows a wild string of events a young Spanish woman (Laia Costa) is sucked into after encountering a group of young men while exiting a Berlin nightclub and forming a friendship following a rooftop drinking session.

Her flirtation with one of the local men, Sonne (Frederick Lau), then turns potentially deadly as she leaves to open up the café she works in and a dangerous secret is subsequently revealed.

Victoria also stars German breakout star Franz Rogowski, Max Mauff and Burak Yiğit.

Available for rent on Apple TV Plus and Amazon Prime Video

Utøya: July 22 (2018)

Utøya: July 22 is a bold and affecting Norwegian film directed by Erik Poppe and based on the real-life tragedy of the Utøya summer camp massacre that took place on July 22, 2011.

The movie features fictional characters but was created thanks to close work between writers Anna Bache-Wiig and Siv Rajendram Eliassen and over 40 survivors.

It follows Kaja (Andrea Berntzen) from a third-person perspective before and throughout the 72-minute attack, and mostly consists if a single take shot in real time.

As its intention was to promote understanding of the victims and focus on their stories, the terrorist who was responsible for the deaths of 77 people on that day is only shown briefly twice.

Available now on Amazon Prime Video via a free 7-day Viaplay trial or to rent on Apple TV Plus

Lost in London (2017)

Lost in London can claim not only the distinction of being a genuine single-take, one-shot movie – but it was also the first film to ever be broadcast live in cinemas in January 2017.

Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson wrote and starred in the film, his directorial debut, alongside Owen Wilson, Eleanor Matsuura and Louisa Harland, as well as a series of cameos from the likes of country star Willie Nelson, Daniel Radcliffe and Bono as themselves.

Billed as a biographical comedy-drama, Lost in London was based on Harrelson’s real-life experience of a night out in Soho club Chinawhite in 2002, when he broke an ashtray in a London taxi, was pursued by police in another cab and ended up spending a night in jail. As you do.

Rehearsed ahead of time before it was shot on the streets of central London at 2am, beamed simultaneously into more than 500 US cinemas as well as Picturehouse Central in Piccadilly, Lost in London was praised as ‘edge-of-the-seat, seat-of-the-pants film-making’ by The Guardian.

‘He didn’t just jump in at the deep end: he did so into shark-filled waters,’ added critic Ryan Gilbey.

Available now on Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus

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Amazon Prime Video has added one of the greatest films of all time, which has been hailed a ‘masterpiece’ by viewers, to its library.

Subscribers can now watch Steven Spielberg’s 1993 historical drama film Schindler’s List for free on the global streaming platform.

The movie is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, a German industrialist who saved thousands of Jewish people from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during the Second World War.

After its release, Schindler’s List won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and bagged numerous other awards, including seven Baftas and three Golden Globes.

In 2004, the movie was deemed ‘culturally, historically or aesthetically significant’ by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.

Three years later, the American Film Institute ranked Schindler’s List 8th on its list of the 100 greatest American films.

On Reddit, viewers have continued to recommend the classic, which has a near-perfect score of 98% on reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

Among them is WillieMaysHayes, who said: ‘Spielberg at his peak doing his best directing job. Working with by far the best, most serious and meaty script he’s ever had. Production Design that puts you in the era. Black and white cinematography that makes every frame gorgeous to look at. Acting performances that make every major and minor character feel like living breathing people. It’s up there for the best-made movie ever.

‘The harrowing subject matter is obviously hard to watch, but it’s so well done that it demands your attention. Impossible to take one’s eyes off of. It leaves you with a pit in your stomach and mouth hanging like it should. ‘

Echoing their sentiment, SanDiablo shared: ‘I watch it every few years. It’s a damn near perfect film and I’m riveted every moment, not an ounce of fat. One of the few masterpieces in cinema. It’s most likely my most favorite movie of all time.’

FatherPascal also added: ‘Brutal movie, but I went in expecting it be sad and that be that, instead, this was one of the most brilliant and masterful “films” ever. So good from start to finish, an absolute masterpiece.’

Schindler’s List also starred acting greats Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley.

Earlier this month, Amazon Prime added what viewers declared ‘one of the greatest British films ever made.’

They have now been re-watching the 2000 movie Snatch from Guy Ritchie.

The blockbuster follows the criminal goings-on in London’s underworld – including the hunt for a missing diamond, and the fixing of various boxing matches. 

Jason Statham led the star-studded cast as Turkish, beside Stephen Graham, Benicio del Toro, Mike Reid, Vinnie Jones, Lennie James, and a scene-stealing turn from Brad Pitt.

Despite being released more than two decades ago, it has remained an absolute favourite of film fans all over the world – and sparked a spin-off series with Luke Pasqualino, Rupert Grint, Lucien Laviscount and Phoebe Dynevor.

On Rotten Tomatoes, David B wrote: ‘One of the greatest British films made. Actors, script, direction .. everything SPOT ON. It’s worth watching more than once, which I very, VERY rarely say. Well done, Guy Ritchie!’

Midwest G agreed: ‘Guy Richie’s absolute best work. This is the platonic ideal of the genre that many movies have attempted to recreate but have not surpassed.’

Schindler’s List is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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The Labour party are reportedly chasing Idris Elba to replace Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London.

The Hollywood star, 52, is best known for playing dogged detective Luther in the hit BBC crime drama, and as hotheaded hedgehog Knuckles in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

However, it’s his work away from the screen which is said to have caught the government’s eye.

Last year, Idris joined forces with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to tackle the issue of knife crime in the UK.

Officially called The Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, the taskforce aims to commission research into what drives knife crime in the country, specifically where it concerns young people.

Following his work on the project, the actor is said to be top of Labour’s wish list to replace Sadiq Khan as mayor.

Speaking to The Sun, a senior Labour source said: ‘Idris has star appeal — but he is also a thoughtful political campaigner.

‘Labour have a choice about who we choose to run in London. We can pick a Labour insider and try to make them famous.

‘Or we can pick someone famous aligned with Labour. Idris would be at the absolute top of our wish list.’

With the next London Mayoral elections set to take place in 2028, Khan is expected to stand down at the end of this, his third term as Mayor.

However, others have described Idris’s appointment as unlikely, saying: ‘Idris is a long shot — but some in the party have talked about him.’

Last year, the Suicide Squad star launched a campaign which called for the immediate banning of machetes and so-called ‘zombie knives.’

Unveiling the Don’t Stop The Future campaign, Idris oversaw as clothes and shoes were laid out on the grass in front of Westminster, each representing a victim of knife crime.

To raise awareness he also released the rap song Knives Down. The video for this depicted Idris in The House of Commons, reprimanding a Rishi Sunak-lookalike as he and rapper DK Maz demanded solutions to the problem.

This followed the tragic murder of 15-year-old Elianne Andam, who was stabbed in the neck while on her way to school in September 2023.

The teenager responsible, 18-year-old Hassan Sentamu, was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison for the crime.

In a post to Instagram at the time, Idris wrote: ‘Sending my condolences to the family of Elianne Andam at this very sad time.

‘It is a shame that out country still mourns the deaths of children at the hands of knives.

‘We NEED to enforce tougher deterrents and punishments to carrying these weapons.’

The star has previously spoken out in support of those affected by knife crime, addressing his own upbringing in Hackney, East London.

In an impassioned 2019 video, he spoke of the violence he witnessed in his own community, explaining: ‘Knife crime is not new. I grew up in the ’80s and there was knife crime back then, between blacks and whites, and now it’s definitely between young black men in small, tiny communities, and it’s affecting everyone. We all look stupid.

‘If you’ve got a knife, or you know someone that’s got a knife, tell them to stab themselves right now, trust me. Because you’re just going to stab your future if you go and stab someone else.’

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A legendary movie director’s ‘disgusted’ thoughts on AI have resurfaced after the recent Studio Ghibli-inspired AI trend in recent days.

Across social media, users have been generating images of real-life events but depicted in the iconic style of the famous Japanese animation company.

The images have, by and large, been created by AI bots, with ethical and moral debates raging once more on websites like X and TikTok over the use of AI.

Inspired by the arguments made on both sides, the thoughts of legendary animator and director Hayao Miyazaki have resurfaced, with the 84-year-old having spoken out against using AI in the past.

Over a career that has spanned several decades, Miyazaki has been responsible for some of the best-loved animated films to come from Japan.

Films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle are beloved across the world, noted for their beautiful hand-drawn art style and imaginative storytelling.

Back in 2016 – during filming for a documentary on his life and work – Miyazaki, 84, was shown an AI-generated video of a zombie dragging itself forward by its head.

In response, Miyazaki told the documentary-makers a story, beginning: ‘Every morning, not in recent days, I see my friend who has a disability.’

He continued: ‘It’s so hard for him just to do a high five; his arm with stiff muscle can’t reach out to my hand. Now, thinking of him, I can’t watch [AI-generated content] and find it interesting.

‘Whoever creates [these videos] has no idea what pain is whatsoever. I am utterly disgusted and I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.’

The trend has made its way across social media in recent days, especially on X, with the official account for the White House using the filter – developed by OpenAI – even joining in.

Users on X have been using the filter to depict events from the sporting world, to recreate memes in the famous style of Studio Ghibli, and to redesign personal pictures from their own lives.

The filter has since been restricted, with a statement saying: ‘OpenAI has restrictions on generating images in the style of specific artists, including Studio Ghibli. This is due to copyright and intellectual property concerns.’

Studio Ghibli is based in the Japanese capital of Tokyo and was founded in 1985 by filmmakers Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma.

The first film released under the name of Studio Ghibli was 1986 movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky, which was largely inspired by Miyazaki’s trip to Wales during the mid-80s miners’ strikes.

Studio Ghibli’s next film, My Neighbor Totoro, became internationally famous and has since been adapted into a stage production by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The animation house became internationally renowned through the 1990s and Miyazaki’s 2001 film Spirited Away became just the second film to win the Academy Award for best animated feature.

Until 2023, Spirited Away was the only non-English language film to win the award, when Miyazaki’s most recent film The Boy and the Heron took the award.

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Hollywood actors are frequently required to change their accents on screen, and sometimes they do such a terrible job that we are compelled to remember it years afterwards.

American actors frequently get a bad rap for appearing in British films with some of the most bizarre accents ever heard on God’s green earth.

With so many accents across the UK, it can be a real challenge to pick up some of the more niche dialects, but it’s not just the American actors that struggle.

Unfortunately, so many of the best Hollywood actors have had some performances where they have spoken with an accent that can only be described as diabolical – and in some cases, almost offensive.

From Dick Van Dyke’s cockney accent in 1964’s Mary Poppins to Anne Hathaway’s Yorkshire accent in the 2011 film One Day, there are so many talented stars who have flubbed accents in great films.

Here are some of the best worst accents that have ever graced the silver screen…

Dick Van Dyke – Mary Poppins

Famously – or maybe infamously – Dick Van Dyke’s cockney accent in the 1964’s Mary Poppins was something that upset the people of Britain.

The actor has previously revealed that at the time of filming, he was unaware how terrible his accent really was.

‘People in the UK love to rib me about my accent, I will never live it down,’ he once said. ‘They ask what part of England I was meant to be from, and I say it was a little shire in the north where most of the people were from Ohio.’

‘I was working with an entire English cast and nobody said a word, not Julie [Andrews], not anybody said I needed to work on it so I thought I was alright.’

In 2017, the actor was chosen by Bafta to receive the Britannia Award for excellence in television. He took the opportunity to apologise to the people of the UK for his awful English accent.

‘I appreciate this opportunity to apologise to the members of Bafta for inflicting on them the most atrocious cockney accent in the history of cinema.’

Keanu Reeves -Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Despite giving a fabulous performance as Jonathan Harker in the 1992 film, Keanu Reeves’ diabolical English accent remains the thing that fans remember most about this gothic horror film.

The director, Francis Ford Coppola, reflected that he thinks the accent went so awry because the actor was trying so hard.

‘We knew that it was tough for him to affect an English accent,’ Coppola told Entertainment Weekly. ‘He tried so hard. That was the problem, actually – he wanted to do it perfectly, and in trying to do it perfectly, it came off as stilted.

‘I tried to get him to just relax with it and not do it so fastidiously. So maybe I wasn’t as critical of him, but that’s because I like him personally so much. To this day, he’s a prince in my eyes.’

Anne Hathaway – One Day

While playing Emma Morley in the 2011 film One Day opposite Jim Sturgess, the American actress gave a good go at a Yorkshire accent.

The film was still applauded, but her accent was not, with the accent claiming she watched a certain soap to help her tap into the dialect.

‘It was really hard,’ she admitted to the BBC. ‘I worked with a dialect coach and in the evenings I watched Emmerdale a lot.’

‘It was certainly helpful with the accent, that’s for sure.’

Anne later gave a much better RP English accent while in The Hustle with Rebel Wilson.

‘I found out I had to do it a week before we started shooting. I thought if I didn’t do it, it wouldn’t make a difference, but the director insisted,’ she told The Graham Norton Show while promoting the 2018 comedy film.

She then alluded to One Day: ‘I’ve done it before and it hasn’t always gone well, and it is so stressful to see someone struggle through an accent, so I got a dialect coach and made the best of it.’

Mischa Barton – St Trinian’s

The OC star Mischa Barton received a lot of flak for her posh English accent as she appeared as JJ French in St Trinian’s.

The actress has a strong American accent that found it’s way into her dialect as she played the’former Head Girl of St Trinian’s turned PR guru’.

Making matters worse for the actress, there was no reason for her to not have a perfect English accent, considering she was born (and raised until the age of six) in Hammersmith, London.

She also has an English father and Irish mother, suggesting she spent a fair bit of her upbringing around Brits.

Gerard Butler – P.S. I Love You

The Irish accent from the Scottish actor in P.S I Love You is one that baffled various Irish people who watched the 2007 romantic comedy.

The actor, who has been praised for many of his projects over the years, was mercilessly slammed by critics because of his dodgy accent, leading him to swear off ever speaking with the accent again.

Speaking to The Sun in 2016, Gerard joked: ‘After all those wonderful reviews and glorious feedback.’

He then indicated that he will never try an Irish accent again, saying: ‘I’ve ticked that box.’

In an interview with Irish host Paul Byrne of Movies Ireland, he apologised to all of Ireland for his accent.

‘I was hoping maybe they’d be quite forgiving of me, being a little Scottish boy whose whole family is Irish – ’cause they really are – my family is from all over Ireland.

‘I thought I’d just go in there and try my best, I notice that people when they bring it up – I get the feeling it wasn’t that great,’ he then added: ‘I’d like to apologise to the nation of Ireland for completely abusing your accent, I realise it’s a lot more beautiful accent than what I did.’

Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond

The American actor was apparently aiming for a Rhodesian (Zimbabwean) accent with a touch of South African when he appeared in Blood Diamond – but sadly missed the mark for a lot of fans.

In 2023, on an episode of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah slammed Leo’s African accent, saying that he sounded like a ‘drunk Australian’.

The actor himself, didn’t seem to think he did such a bad job.

‘I’m pretty good at imitating people. I interviewed a number of different people in South Africa and honed in on the one guy I wanted to sound like. Then it was a process where [dialect coach] Tim Monich and I recorded him and tortured him (laughs) by making him say sentences in varying ways and different energies and different tempos.

‘Those recordings became a kind of mantra I’d listen to over and over again,’ the actor told Time in 2006.

Brad Pitt – Meet Joe Black

Brad Pitt telling an old Jamaican woman ‘Everything gonna be irie’ in a Patois accent in Meet Joe Black was divisive to say the least, with some saying he nailed the tourist-y expectation, and others saying he missed the real thing by a long shot.

This accent had to be included as it’s just so unexpected in the film, and a highlight for anyone who sees the film, which earned Pitt a Razzie nomination for worst actor.

The actor later said of the film to Entertainment Weekly: ‘That was the pinnacle of my loss of direction and compass.’

Don Cheadle – Ocean’s 11

The American actor Don Cheadle played munitions expert Basher Tarr in the Ocean’s 11 franchise that was incredibly questionable.

Speaking about the accent to The Guardian, the star said that the director Steven Soderbergh told him he didn’t have to do the accent, but he insisted.

‘Steven said: “You don’t have to do it.” I said, “Well, that’s how you wrote him. I’ll try it.”‘

He joked that he could now claim that his character was simply undercover and doing a fake accent.

‘Now I can say “he was an American doing a British accent – you guys missed that?”‘

Russell Crowe – Robin Hood

Russell Crowe played Robin Hood in 2010 and was critiqued for his attempt at a Nottingham accent.

The Australian actor addressed his accent in 2018 when he replied to a tweet that read: ‘Of all the great showbiz mysteries that remain unsolved …. possibly the greatest ….what the f**k is Russell Crowe’s accent in Robin Hood ?’

The actor replied: ‘A child born in Barnsley, on his father’s death, taken to France at age 6, travels across Europe to the Middle East on foot, fights in the Third Crusade for Richard I.

‘Alongside men from all parts of Britain, Ireland and France & finally returns to England a man in his 40s.’

He also joked that Michael Parkinson inspired the accent: ‘Michael was the principal influence. At the time, he was the only person I knew from Barnsley and he certainly had travelled.

‘He kindly let me spend some hours in his company and record his voice.’

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Denis Arndt, who starred opposite Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, has died at 86.

The Washington-born actor’s death is believed to have been unexpected, but no cause has been given.

An obituary shared online by his family confirmed Arndt died earlier this week at his home in Oregon.

‘It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of our dad, Denis Leroy Arndt,’ it read.

‘He died peacefully in his bed in his beloved cabin home of almost 50 years in Ashland, Oregon; he wouldn’t have had it any other way.’

Arndt’s loved ones added: ‘In his own way, Dad lived his life as a full and generous performance, known for his incredible wit, charm, rebel spirit, irreverence, sense of humour, grittiness, and passion for his art.

‘His legacy, both on and off stage, will live on in the hearts of family, friends, and community members.’

It was reported by the local outlet Ashland News that he suffered a stroke in 2019 but made a full recovery.

Arndt is survived by his wife of 45 years, Magee Downey, and their three adult children: Bryce, McKenna, and Tanner.

He also had four adult children—Scott, Tammy, Laurie, and Kirsten—from a previous marriage and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As per his wishes, no services will be held in the wake of his death.

Additionally, in lieu of flowers, his family wrote that Arndt ‘would request you go grab life by the balls and follow your passion.’

‘As the final curtain falls, we bid farewell to our Dad, knowing he has earned a standing ovation for the remarkable life he led,’ their tribute concluded.

Prior to making his movie debut in The Magical World of Disney in 1974, Arndt served in the Vietnam War as a United States Army helicopter pilot, earning himself a Purple Heart and Commendation Medal.

Upon graduating from the University of Washington, he joined the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where he completed 15 seasons.

Arndt forged a majorly successful career in the world of theatre, perhaps being best known for his role as Alex Priest in the play Heisenberg.

He received glowing praise for his performance, with a New York Times review writing that Arndt ‘makes what has to be the most unlikely and irresistible Broadway debut of the year’.

His one and only Broadway role at the age of 77 earned Arndt a Tony nomination for best actor in a play in 2017, which he lost out on to Kevin Kline for his role in Present Laughter.

He secured guest roles on many TV shows, including The Good Fight, Grey’s Anatomy, Supernatural, and Vanished, and had recurring roles on Picket Fences and L.A. Law.

Film-wise, he appeared in How to Make an American Quilt and, in 1992, played Lieutenant Phillip Walker in Basic Instinct.

Paul Verhoeven’s erotic thriller catapulted lead actress Stone, now 67, to superstardom thanks to her portrayal of femme fatale Catherine Tramell.

Lieutenant Walker was one of two cops interrogating her in the famous scene where Tramell seductively uncrosses her legs, exposing herself to them.

One of Arndt’s last film roles was in 2018’s Mr. Mercedes, in which he played Merrill D. Shields.

Then, in 2023, according to IMDB, he played Lou in the short drama Do Over, starring alongside Melanie Hutsell.

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Laurence Fishburne says Francis Ford Coppola was ‘disappointed’ by his lack of sexual experience, which was evident in his Apocalypse Now performance.

Fishburne, 63, is best known for his performances in The Matrix, John Wick, and Hannibal, and first came to prominence as a teen in Apocalypse Now.

The film was released in 1979 and saw the actor play the cocky 17-year-old South Bronx-born crewmember, Tyrone ‘Mr. Clean’ Miller.

The actor was just 14 when he took part in the film and revealed that his lack of sexual experience became an issue during one scene of the film that had to be cut.

‘There’s a scene in Apocalypse Now that got cut from the original film, and then it’s been put back in the redux,’ he revealed.

‘I was 14, 15, whatever, trying to do this scene talking about sex, and I had no sexual experience. Like, none,’ he said in Apple TV+’s new documentary Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood.

He said the director ‘couldn’t figure out how to get me to be any more experienced than I am, but he kept asking me to do it over and over again.’

He revealed that even though the scene was cut, he was asked to shoot it dozens of times, and could tell the director was ‘disappointed’.

‘I did something like 40 takes. It was really bad. And I could tell that he was disappointed. So I was feeling really, really down, really dejected.’

Despite this negative interaction, the incident clearly didn’t tarnish their relationship, as Laurence went on to appear in several of Coppola’s other films such as Rumble Fish, The Cotton Club, Gardens of Stone, and most recently, Megalopolis.

The synopsis for Apocalypse Now reads: ‘A US Army officer serving in Vietnam is asked to kill a rogue colonel who has established himself as a god among the tribals in Cambodia.’

The film had a $31.5 million budget (£24.3 million) and smashed the box office, making $104.8–150 million (£80 – £116 million).

The film is jam-packed with talent and stars Harrison Ford,  Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, and Sam Bottoms.

Coppola is widely considered one of the best directors of all time, but his comeback film Megalopolis – a Roman-inspired epic set in an imagined modern America – was met with excruciating reviews when it premiered at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

The film starring Adam Driver was dubbed the ‘worst film of 2024’ and lost tens of millions at the box office.

Metro has reached out to Francis Ford Coppola’s representatives for comment.

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If you need a new thrill following the end of Severance season two, here are some of the best films to sink your teeth into this weekend.

The second season of the dystopian workplace drama cost $200,000,000 (£159.9million) to make or $20m (£15m) per episode, according to Bloomberg – and it was worth every penny.

Starring Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, and Patricia Arquette, the series focused on a group of employees who had their brains ‘severed’ so they would have a complete split in their home self and their work self.

The extreme version of a work-life balance of course, led to some disastrous outcomes, with Lumon – their employer – becoming more suspicious in every episode.

The finale thrilled fans and made them all the more desperate for Severance season 3, with hopes that they won’t have to wait for years (again) between seasons.

But for those who can’t wait for another thrill-ride in the form of a third season, here are some films to stream this weekend instead.

The Truman Show

The Truman Show is a psychological comedy-drama film starring Jim Carrey as a man named Truman Burbank who is living on a film set, the catch? Truman has no idea his life is a televised show.

The twisty psychological film follows Truman as he begins to question his friends and family, and the illusion begins to crumble as he grows more and more suspicious.

The film earned a 94% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and was a smash at the box office with people who loved the original concept.

The Truman Show is available to stream on Paramount and Amazon Prime.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stars Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey as Joel and Clementine, a couple who undergo an operation to remove the memories of their past relationship after a breakup.

The film picks up a variety of themes from Severance, including the important question: do memories make us who we are?

The movie is a surrealist science fiction romantic drama film that was a box office smash and earned Kate Winslet an Academy Award nomination for best actress.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is available to stream on Netflix.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Starring Ben Stiller, the creator and director of Severance, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty follows a negative assets manager at Life magazine who is a chronic daydreamer.

The story follows his quest to find a missing negative print and its elusive photojournalist.

This film is also directed by Ben Stiller and shares the same comedy-drama tone, exploring the same questions about existence and finding a balance between work and life.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is available to stream on Disney.

Being John Malkovich

Being John Malkovich is a 1999 film that blends comedy and fantasy and stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, and Catherine Keener, with John Malkovich as a satirical version of himself.

The film follows a puppeteer who finds a portal that leads into John Malkovich’s mind and decides he can exploit the portal for a profit.

The surreal film received widespread acclaim, with many praising the cast and director Spike Jonze for his original vision.

Being John Malkovich is available to stream on Now.

Memento

Memento is a psychological thriller from Christopher Nolan that follows Leonard Shelby (played by Guy Pearce), a man who is attempting to find the person who killed his wife.

The catch? Leonard has anterograde amnesia following the death of his wife and has short-term memory loss and is unable to form new memories. This means he is using tattoos, photographs, and notes to help him try to uncover the killer.

The film was a hit at the box office and was met with huge critical acclaim, earning a 94% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.

Memento is available to stream on Channel 4.

They Cloned Tyrone

Starring John Boyega as Fontaine, this 2023 American science fiction comedy mystery film follows a trio who accidentally stumble upon a concerning government-led conspiracy.

The drug dealer (Boyega), pimp (Jamie Foxx), and sex worker (Teyonah Parris) must work together to understand the secret lab under their city and top-secret cloning experiment that has something to do with mind-control and racism in their town.

The film has a 95% ranking from Rotten Tomatoes and rave reviews from critics who loved this original and well-executed concept.

They Cloned Tyrone is available to stream on Netflix.

Before I Go To Sleep

Starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth, Before I Go To Sleep focuses on Christine Lucas (Kidman), a woman with severe brain trauma who wakes up next to a man she doesn’t know.

The man is her husband,d and she learns that a car accident left her unable to make new memories.

Each day as Christine tries to piece her life back together, she becomes more suspicious about her surroundings as gaps and lies begin to unfold.

The psychological thriller was released in 2014 and received very mixed results from critics. The critics’ consensus suggests that although the film falls into some thriller cliches it is a stylish, fast-paced, and well-acted watch.

Before I Go To Sleep is available to stream on Netflix and ITVX.

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Yes, Dame Helen Mirren thinks James Bond is ‘drenched’ in sexism. But she doesn’t think the next 007 should be a woman.

The Oscar-winning actress 79, stars in new Paramount+ drama series MobLand, alongside one of the most famous Bonds in history – Pierce Brosnan.

But that didn’t stop the Gosford Park star from speaking her mind about the spy franchise, which is currently being reborn under the creative direction of Amazon Studios.

Chatting to The Evening Standard, Helen said she was against a female Bond, which some have suggested could be a way to rectify the spy’s womanising history.

Instead, Helen suggests we should be telling real stories about women in espionage – of which there are a lot, she says.

‘The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism,’ she began.

‘Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they’re amazingly, unbelievably courageous,’ she said.

‘So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world.’

Helen also looked back at the sexism she was subject to as a young actress, with one moment in particular standing out to her fans.

In a Sir Michael Parkinson interview from 1975, he asked whether Helen’s ‘equipment’ got in the way of her career – meaning her breasts – and the actress, in her first ever TV interview appearance, famously retorted: ‘Because serious actresses can’t have big bosoms, is that what you mean?;

She’s often praised for the response, but Helen recalled to the publication: ‘Well, half a century ago, the only person who got criticised for that interview was me.’

MobLand, by Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett, follows Helen as a crime ring matriarch, Maeve Harrigan, who is married to Brosnan’s character Conrad Harrigan. It also stars Tom Hardy as her ‘fixer’ and Paddy Condidine as her son.

It will be available to stream on Paramount+ on March 30.

The search is still on for the next 007 after Daniel Craig, 57, completed his last assignment in 2021 with No Time to Die.

Yesterday Brosnan, who starred in four Bond films from 1995 to 2002, including Die Another Day, has ruled out a return in the next movie as an older model, saying it’s ‘another man’s job’ now.

Discussing rumours of his comeback on The Jonathan Ross Show, Pierce said: ‘No one’s spoken to me about it. I’ve heard all of the rumours. Listen, they know where to find me. Let’s see where the wind takes us.

He later clarified: ‘It’s going to be another man’s job. I’m not looking to go there. I’m quite happy with my career. I’ve done it, it was wonderful. Delightful kind of notion to contemplate.

‘He’s with me for life [Bond]. It was great. A magical time in my life. It opened a lot of doors and allowed me to go off and form my own company and make my own movies – The Thomas Crown Affair, The Matador – it gave me access to a whole other world as an actor, employment.’

The current bookies’ favourite to become the next James Bond is Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden, 43.

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Journalists across the world have signed a petition in defence of Snow White star Rachel Zegler after intense backlash.

Zegler, 23, stars as the titular princess while Gal Gadot appears as the Evil Queen in Disney’s live-action reimagining of the 1937 original.

But despite the iconic status of the 30s film, the latest Snow White had a dismal start at the box office amassing just $45million (£34.8m) in the US and $100m (£77.3m) worldwide in its opening weekend.

Variety then released a piece – titled Inside Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Fiasco: Death Threats, Beefed-Up Security and a Social Media Guru for Rachel Zegler – on March 25 exploring the latest controversy surrounding the film.

The article was met with backlash from film fans and critics alike for seemingly attributing Zegler’s views on President Donald Trump and Palestine as the reason Snow White has performed so poorly.

Caspar Salmon, a UK-based film writer, has launched an open letter that has been co-signed by more than 160 journalists so far.

Sharing the letter to Instagram, it reads: ‘We, the undersigned, wish to express our strong condemnation of the Variety article “Inside Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Fiasco: Death Threats, Beefed-Up Security and a Social Media Guru for Rachel Zegler”.

‘As film journalists and steadfast supporters of the Palestinian cause, we are shocked by this attack on Rachel Zegler and her activism, masquerading as a piece of insider news, in what is considered our industry’s leading trade magazine.

‘Blaming a box office failure on a young actor’s messages of solidarity with Palestine is particularly objectionable when Israel has drastically resumed its attacks on Gaza. This week, Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning No Other Land, was seriously injured in an attack by Israeli settlers and detained by Israeli forces.’

Salmon continues: ‘Also this week, our press colleagues Hossam Shabat and Mohammed Mansour were killed in Israeli airstrikes, taking the number of journalists killed to over 170. Our industry should have more urgent lines of enquiry than bullying an actor at this time.

‘Coming after the same publication’s hit-piece on the actor Melissa Barrera for similar reasons, this article adds to a dismaying suspicion that Variety is editorially partisan to Israel.

‘Amnesty International has found that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip. Free Palestine.’

Here, we look at what Zegler said that sparked Variety’s piece, Disney’s actions, and how journalists have banded around the actor.

What did Rachel Zegler say?

A resurfaced social media post from last year is what has sparked the latest Snow White controversy.

Writing on X on August 13, West Side Story actor Zegler ended a post with ‘And always remember, free Palestine.’

According to Variety, the tweet allegedly sparked death threats towards her Israeli co-star Gadot, 39, forcing Disney to pay for additional security.

An insider told the publication: ‘She didn’t understand the repercussions of her actions as far as what that meant for the film, for Gal, for anyone.’

Zegler also criticised President Donald Trump during the US elections, which allegedly saw Disney take action.

Taking to X three months later, she wrote ‘F*** Donald Trump’ and ‘May Trump supporters … and Trump himself never know peace.’

How did Disney reprimand her?

Variety reports that a Disney executive ‘raised the studio’s concerns’ with Zegler’s team, and Snow White producer Marc Platt flew to New York to speak to the actor.

Zegler reportedly ‘stood her ground’ during discussions and did not delete the post, but agreed to see a social media guru to vet posts ahead of Snow White’s release.

She later issued a statement, saying: ‘Hi everyone, I would like to sincerely apologize for the election post I shared on my Instagram last week.

‘I let my emotions get the best of me. Hatred and anger have caused us to move further and further away from peace and understanding, and I am sorry I contributed to the negative discourse.’

Platt’s son, Jonah Platt, responded to a now-deleted Instagram comment defending his father’s actions, which have been widely criticsed.

‘My dad, the producer of (an) enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20-year-old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract to get paid and do publicity for,’ he wrote.

‘This is called adult responsibility and accountability. And her actions clearly hurt the film’s box office.

‘Free speech does not mean you’re allowed to say whatever you want in your private employment without repercussions.

‘Tens of thousands of people worked on that film and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires at the risk of all the colleagues and crew and blue-collar workers who depend on that movie to be successful. Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged.’

What is the controversy over the media coverage?

Many have blasted media coverage and Platt’s Instagram comments for conflating the dismal box office opening of Snow White and Zegler’s social media posts.

Critics and cinema fans alike have taken to social media to condemn some media outlets and trolls for seemingly ‘blaming’ Zegler’s condemnation of Trump and support of Palestine for the film’s failure.

‘LOL at that Rachel Zegler hit piece backfiring and showing she is incredibly principled and authentic. it’s in fact the industry that needs to change,’ Tylerllewtaing wrote on X.

Jillianchili added: ‘It’s weirdo behavior for a mega billion dollar corporation to pin their failures on a 23 year old woman of color and every single major trade falling in line with that narrative, Rachel Zegler doesn’t deserve this and if I was her I wouldn’t give these outlets the attention.’

Theoceanblooms commented: ‘I don’t think it’s a good sign that Variety are publishing hit pieces against Rachel Zegler blaming her for the underperformance of what by all accounts is a mediocre to bad movie.’

‘Rachel Zegler had one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood fly out specifically to ask her to delete a tweet in support of Palestine and she refused,’ TheJackeChristie wrote.

In a piece for SlashFilm, BJ Colangelo wrote: ‘Rachel Zegler is being set up to take the fall for a multimillion-dollar loss, and the people setting her up for it are banking on racist, misogynistic hatred on the internet to do the dirty work for them.’

‘More backbone and integrity at 23 than 99% of powerful people in this country. A queen.’

Similarly, many have pointed out that Gadot, who has shared pro-Israel posts in regard to the ongoing Israel-Palestine war, has reportedly not received the same treatment.

Following the October 7 attack by Hamas in Israel, she wrote in an Instagram post: ‘I stand with Israel and you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening.’

She also signed an open letter to Joe Biden about the ongoing conflict, and organised a screening of the film Bearing Witness which includes footage from the October 7 attack.

HorrorHijabi wrote on X: ‘ Its not lost on me that Gal Gadot is allowed to give a lengthy speech about israel and zionism but Rachel Zegler writing “Free Palestine” is immediately too political and should be looked down upon. like obviously we know the bias exists but these articles are brutal.’

Poyopoppin agreed, adding: ‘Seeing the scapegoating of Rachel Zegler is so gross because while disney wants to protect gal gadot due to harrassment over her alignment with Israel, Rachel has endured so much harrassment due to being associated with this film at all.

‘Even if she wasnt pro-Palestine, Rachel had a lot of misogyny and racism levied towards her for years due to being Snow White, this just happened to be a perfect opportunity for the company to throw her under the bus.’

Metro has contacted representatives for Rachel Zegler and Disney for comment.

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An Oscar-winning horror film described as ‘unforgettable’ and ‘one of the most original and refreshing’ releases in years is available to stream right now for free.

Jordan Peele’s directorial debut Get Out was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, quickly becoming one of the most profitable films of the year.

The psychological horror film follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), an African-American man meeting his Caucasian girlfriend Rose’s (Alison Williams) parents during a weekend getaway.

He has uncomfortable conversations with her parents, Dean (Bradley Whitford), a neurosurgeon, and Missy (Catherine Keener), a psychiatrist, though they seem perfectly normal if slightly awkward.

When he observes unnatural and eerie behaviour from the family’s Black servants, Chris quickly begins to uncover the unbelievable horrors taking place on the estate.

Get Out is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer, while Peele’s follow-up film Us can be found on Netflix, and Nope is available to rent via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and the Sky Store.

The film won numerous accolades at the time of its release, including the Academy Award for best original screenplay and nominations for best picture, best director, and best actor for Kaluuya.

It was widely praised for its exploration of liberal racism in America and internalised racism, subverting the idea of the ‘white saviour’ trope.

Get Out also garnered nods from the Golden Globes, the Critics’ Choice Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards among others.

It was cited on numerous film-of-the-year lists in 2017 and is still often named as one of the best films of all time eight years later.

Get Out boasts an impressive 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus reading: ‘Funny, scary, and thought-provoking, Get Out seamlessly weaves its trenchant social critiques into a brilliantly effective and entertaining horror/comedy thrill ride.’

In their review, IndieWire said: ‘Peele seduces, subverts and manipulates audience expectations – as the masters Alfred Hitchcock, John Carpenter, and Stanley Kubrick did before him.’

Time Magazine wrote: ‘Peele succeeds where sometimes even more experienced filmmakers fail: He’s made an agile entertainment whose social and cultural observations are woven so tightly into the fabric that you’re laughing even as you’re thinking, and vice-versa.

Sight and Sound Magazine asked ‘Is it too early to call this a modern genre classic?’, and Vulture dubbed it ‘the satirical horror movie we’ve been waiting for.’

The Observer commented on the film’s awards success, writing: ‘Following Oscar’s pomp and self-importance, viewing Jordan Peele’s fiercely entertaining thriller offers the perfect awards hangover cure. Audiences leave the theater shaken and stirred.

InSession Film said Get Out was ‘unforgettable’, while the CineExpress Podcast said it was ‘one of the most original and refreshing films to hit the cinema in years.’

‘Witty, trenchant, very topical, sometimes utterly bloodcurdling but always with plenty of polemical points to make,’ The Independent summarised.

Get Out is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer with a licence fee required.

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Love Actually was actually a family affair as Hugh Grant discovered during filming that one of his co-stars was a relative.

The Richard Curtis flick, starring Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Andrew Lincoln, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson and Martine McCutcheon, first hit the big screen on November 14, 2003.

The film became a festive classic over the years, with families falling in love with the various storylines and the all-star cast.

Adding to the lore surrounding the film, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, 34, who played Liam Neeson’s love-struck stepson Sam, who fell in love with an American classmate, revealed that he is related to Hugh Grant.

‘His grandmother and my great-grandmother are sisters… [Hugh] didn’t know,’ the actor told ITV’s Lorraine in November.

He revealed that he told Hugh about their ties on set, and earned a sweet nickname from the star.

‘I said, “Apparently, you are my uncle or my cousin or something”. Then he kind of remembered my mum and uncle. 

‘So, for the rest of the shoot, he went round saying “Hello cousin”. That felt quite cool.’ 

He added: ‘He referred to me as “little cousin” while filming. He’d come and ruffle my hair.’

Thomas was 13 when the film was released in November 2003, while KieraKnightley was 18 when she was playing the newlywed character Juliet.

The five-year age gap between the characters has baffled fans who couldn’t believe that the actors were so close in age but looked so different in the series.

Thomas went on to appear in several films and TV shows, including Game of Thrones, Nanny McPhee, The Queen’s Gambit, the Maze Runner franchise, and The Artful Dodger.

He played Paul McCartney in Nowhere Boy and was also the voice of Ferb in the popular TV series Phineas and Ferb.

In June 2024, the actor married fellow actor Talulah Riley, 39, best known for her work in St Trinians, Inception, Pride and Prejudice and The Boat That Rocked.

The couple is believed to have met when they starred together in the 2022 biographical series Pistol, with Thomas playing Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and Talulah depicting fashion legend Vivienne Westwood.

Talulah was previously married to Tesla CEO and X chair Elon Musk, with the former couple marrying twice before their second divorce was finalised in 2016.

Announcing her engagement on X, Talulah said: ‘Very happy to share that after two years of dating, Thomas Brodie Sangster and I are engaged!’

Her ex-husband Elon reacted to the news replying ‘Congratulations!’ along with a red heart.

When Thomas announced his engagement to Talulah, he quoted Love Actually in a sweet post on social media: ‘Happy to announce that Talulah and I are engaged. Love is all around X.’

The pair tied the knot in a private ceremony in St George’s Church in Anstey, Herts.

Following the wedding it was reported that the couple bought a Grade II-listed manor house.

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The latest trailer for Final Destination Bloodlines broke a huge record months before its release.

The upcoming sequel to the iconic franchise will be released on May 16, following a new batch of victims as they attempt to avoid Death’s vengeful ways after a pesky premonition.

A trailer, released earlier this week, gave horror fans a glimpse at the creative and hair-raising deaths they can expect from the latest film, quickly becoming the second most-watched horror trailer of all time.

There was an incredible reaction from fans, with Deadline reporting that it boasted more than than 178million global views in the first 24 hours – behind Stephen King’s It which sits at 200million.

The flick, directed by Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky, will serve as Tony Todd’s final film following his death last year.

While Devon Sawa confirmed he will not be reprising his role, Kaitlyn Santa Juana is leading the cast beside Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Anna Lore and Rya Kihlstedt.

In the teaser, a flashback shows the moment a woman narrowly avoided her grisly demise, unwittingly sparking a sequence of events that altered Death’s plan.

‘Death is coming for us because we were never supposed to exist,’ her family realize, leading to a worrying number of close calls.

We then see ominous close-ups of a shard of glass camouflaged in an ice tray, a child jumping on a dodgy trampoline and a lawnmower mishap that will put you off gardening ever again.

Attempting to offer clarity to the latest group who find themselves fighting for their lives, Todd’s William Bloodworth explains: ‘Only by embracing death will it pass you by.’

It’s fair to say that the Final Destination franchise has made us all think twice about ever tanning again, getting laser eye surgery, driving behind a logging truck, or even daring to visit a fairground – and it looks like we can add ‘iced drinks’ to that long list.

Unpacking the trailer on social media, fans revealed that the two-minute footage has already left them rethinking their lives.

Twitter user Iwasbtw posted: ‘The way this movie is about to unlock a whole new set of fears for a generation already traumatized by a semi truck carrying logs…. #FinalDestination #FinalDestinationBloodlines.’

‘Childhood trauma is back,’ Mr Pongen agreed.

Dessan penned: ‘OMG, it literally has the same effect it did when I was a child. I am so ready.’

‘Oh great now I have to be scared of ice as well as log trucks,’ Ex0rCyst quipped.

Niallnochill posted: ‘Honestly these films are a guilty pleasure, I can’t wait to be traumatised by small insignificant things again.’

Rogue commented: ‘Final Destination has taught me to fear roller coasters, highways, airplanes and basically existing.’

As Maissa tweeted: ‘Final destination coming to ruin the adult me after it ruined child me.’

The first look at Bloodlines dropped earlier this year, ahead of the May 16 release date – and teased that we may get more of an understanding over the premonitions.

‘The newest chapter in New Line Cinema’s bloody successful franchise takes audiences back to the very beginning of Death’s twisted sense of justice – Final Destination Bloodlines,’ the official synopsis reads.

‘Plagued by a violent recurring nightmare, college student Stefanie heads home to track down the one person who might be able to break the cycle and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all.’

Final Destination Bloodlines is released in cinemas on May 16.

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Pierce Brosnan has confessed to a shocking injury he sustained while on set for the James Bond movies.

The franchise hit headlines recently when Amazon took over control, with the next movie to be produced under Amazon MGM Studios.

Consequently, past Bonds have been opening up about their experiences and placing bets on who will take over as the next 007 after Daniel Craig, 57, completed his last assignment in 2021 with No Time to Die.

Reflecting on his stint as the secret agent, Pierce, who starred in four Bond films from 1995 to 2002, including Die Another Day, has revealed it wasn’t all glamour in front of the camera.

Appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show, the 71-year-old recalled sustaining an injury to his face while filming a boat chase scene down the River Thames.

He said: ‘[The boat] goes off the river into a restaurant, drives into a restaurant, wood sliced my face open. So, went off to the hospital, stitched up.’

It’s clear he took any physical injuries in his stride, merely accepting them as part of the incredibly sought-after role.

Pierce added: ‘You live with the injuries. Daniel [Craig] threw himself at everything. He was truly magnificent. His courage to do that and to endure so much was really impressive.

‘Playing that role, you will get hurt; there’s no question about it. You have to have stamina.’

However, if you’d like to see the silver fox return to the screen as Bond, well, don’t get your hopes up.

The Irish actor has firmly shut down claims he could be playing an older version of 007, insisting it should be ‘another man’s job’ now.

Asked about rumours of his comeback on the talk show, Pierce responded: ‘No one’s spoken to me about it. I’ve heard all of the rumours. Listen, they know where to find me. Let’s see where the wind takes us.’

He later clarified: ‘It’s going to be another man’s job. I’m not looking to go there. I’m quite happy with my career. I’ve done it; it was wonderful. Delightful kind of notion to contemplate.

‘He’s with me for life [Bond]. It was great. A magical time in my life. It opened a lot of doors and allowed me to go off and form my own company and make my own movies—The Thomas Crown Affair, The Matador—it gave me access to a whole other world as an actor—employment.’

However, his remarks contradict earlier comments Pierce made to GQ in which he said he would be ‘interested’ in returning as Bond, although he conceded it would be better for ‘fresh blood’ to lead the franchise.

‘Of course, how could I not be interested? But it’s a delicate situation now. I think it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie, really. I think so,’ he told the publication, admitting that it was ‘a rather romantic notion and idea’.

But while noting that ‘everything changes, everything falls apart’, the Black Adam star stated: ‘I think that it’s best left to another man, really.’

As for who he reckons should don the suave suit and shiny shoes next, Pierce is rooting for Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who has long been the frontrunner.

The Mamma Mia star described Aaron, 34, as ‘impressive’ and said he would ‘make a very fine Bond’.

‘He was actually in one of the movies I made called The Greatest. This young man we cast as The Greatest.’

On working together, he continued: ‘He was so impressive then. He just had this charisma; he had this presence … so he would be good. But there are many men on the list, I’m sure.’

Indeed, there’s a long list of hot stars reportedly in the running for the part. Despite Aaron, known for roles in Kick Ass and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having pretty much signed on the dotted line, no official announcements have been made.

Therefore, the likes of James Norton, Idris Elba, Theo James, and René-Jean Page could still be in with a chance, as could Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden, 43, whose odds currently sit at 3/1, shooting up the list after previously sitting at 8/1.

Meanwhile, Margaret Qualley, Saoirse Ronan, Marisa Abela, and Sydney Sweeney have been eyed as possible new Bond Girls.

Fans are still awaiting an ETA on confirmation of the next leading actor, as well as a date for the release of the next instalment under Amazon.

Until then, the likes of Pierce will keep us entertained with their tales, as this is not the first time he has weighed in on the future of Bond.

Earlier this month, he issued a plea after longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson agreed a billion-dollar deal with Amazon, giving the firm creative control.

Pierce told The Telegraph: ‘I thought it was coming for some time, I guess, but I think it was the right decision for Barbara and Michael.

‘It takes great courage for them to let go. They will still have a say in matters. I hope that [Amazon] handles the work and the character with dignity, imagination, and respect.’

The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.20pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.

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This week, Marvel fans were on the edge of their seats as a live streamed video revealed which cast members are set to star in the upcoming blockbuster Avengers: Doomsday.

At least, I was. But it wasn’t unanimous. I saw comments from naysayers claiming that the Marvel Cinematic Universe was done and dusted and should have been snapped into oblivion years ago.

For years, some fans have felt as though the cinematic franchise was on a downward spiral that it had no chance of recovering from, claiming it reached its peak in 2019 with Avengers: Endgame.

And despite how strongly I’ll defend the franchise, I will admit that there was cause for concern.

Over the past few years, the MCU has suffered a few big misses.

2021’s Eternals, starring acting heavyweights including Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek, received a measly Rotten Tomatoes score of 47% from critics, while the 2023 release Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania achieved a similar score of 46%.

The TV series Secret Invasion – which saw Samuel L Jackson return as the formidable Nick Fury – received a low audience score of 43%, while the show also faced a valid backlash for using artificial intelligence to create its title sequence.

But, to all the people claiming that the end is nigh for the MCU, that it should have ended ages ago, that its attempts to restore its former glory are futile – it’s time to put those worn arguments to rest.

We’ve heard them all before, and in my opinion, they’re just plain wrong.

Are those anti-MCU naysayers forgetting the spate of TV shows and films that have been released between 2019’s Endgame and now that were flat-out brilliant?

In 2021, the launch of WandaVision marked the MCU’s first foray into TV, and it’s widely regarded as one of the franchise’s best and most experimental releases to date.

And on the big screen, there have been plenty of hits too.

One of my personal favourite Marvel films ever is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, with its heartfelt story, stunning visuals and thrilling fight sequences.

Simu Liu’s return being confirmed in Avengers: Doomsday has been a long time coming.

Four years ago, Spider-Man: No Way Home did the unthinkable – former Peter Parker actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield uniting with Tom Holland to reprise their roles.

A year later, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever delivered an absolutely stunning tribute to the late, great Chadwick Boseman, while his on-screen sister Letitia Wright stepped up to take up the mantle of the masked protector and superhero.

In 2023, I went to watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in the cinema on my own when I had a day off work. I was sat there at midday bawling my eyes out, popcorn in hand.

Last year, Deadpool & Wolverine became a cultural moment and grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide, while Agatha All Along proved the enormous appetite that Marvel fans have for stories that are raucously camp and fun.

And far from my enthusiasm dimming, looking ahead to the future, some of the greatest dreams of Marvel fans who’ve read the comics since childhood are finally being realised.

Having been founded in 1939, Marvel has 86 years of content that serves as inspiration for the films and TV shows of the cinematic universe.

That’s why the MCU is bringing the Fantastic Four back after the last attempt at a standalone blockbuster with the team ended in disaster.

Mahershala Ali’s Blade is in the works… and the X-Men, including original stars Sir Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and Rebecca Romijn are finally going to cross over with the Avengers.

I’m not going to deny there have been roadblocks and turmoil. Blade alone experienced its fair share of obstacles, with fans fearing if it’ll ever see the light of day.

Jonathan Majors’ being fired from his role as Kang the Conqueror after being found guilty of assault and harassment in a New York domestic violence trial threw the next phase of the franchise into chaos, with Robert Downey Jr taking his place as the supposed big baddie the Avengers will face.

Downey Jr’s return, as Victor Von Doom rather than Iron Man, sparked fears that the MCU was out of ideas, and bringing back the Oscar winner was simply a desperate attempt to bring fans back on side, while also a massive money grab.

But I have faith – faith that he and the Russo Brothers, also returning for the first time since Endgame, wouldn’t take this huge gamble if they didn’t think it wasn’t in service to the story, even if they will also end up earning millions in the process.

Downey Jr cares about the fans, and I believe he’ll do his utmost not to let them down.

There is also concern among the fandom that Avengers: Doomsday is going to be rushed, considering its due to come out in May next year, and has only just started production and is due to be released on May 1, 2026.

While I would much rather the studio take its time, let’s not forget that filming for Infinity War and Endgame took six and five months respectively before post-production began.

With the same big names in front of and behind the camera, it’s possible.

The rest of the line-up for Doomsday is shaping up beautifully.

Aside from the fact that the lead cast list has far fewer women than men – something that hopefully will be rectified – this combination of characters has me feeling like a kid again, with the freshness of stars like Simu Liu interacting with legends of the genre like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, it’s exciting.

As long as the story and the fans are the top priority – and not the billions that the studios are guaranteed to inevitably make anyway – then I see no reason why the MCU has to die.

So with Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe underway, I for one can’t wait.

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The iconic diamond necklace worn by Julia Roberts with the red dress actually arrived on set with two bodyguards.

This week marks the film’s 35th anniversary which stunned the world and was Disney’s highest-grossing R-rated movie, grossing $463 million (£357 million) at the global box office.

Roberts, 57, stars as Vivian Ward, a young prostitute working Hollywood Boulevard who ends up spending the week with rich millionaire Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) after giving him directions.

One iconic moment in the film shows Vivian dressed in a stunning red gown for a night at the opera and being presented with a beautiful ruby and diamond necklace from Gere.

Varying reports suggest that the cost of the necklace was around $150,000 to $250,000 (£116,000 – £193,000) at the time, making its cost today rather a lot more.

Speaking to Metro, Dan Lester, who worked as the costume supervisor on the film, revealed that the stunning piece had to be ushered onto set with two bodyguards.

‘That necklace that she wore with the red dress, that was from a jewelry store called Fred’s, I think in Beverly Hills. I think the studio had reached out to them.

‘That day that she wore it we had to go to pick up the jewelry, and I had to sign for it, and then two security guards with me, and they spent the entire day on the set.’

‘And then at the end of the draft, they took them back to the store.’

When asked about the cost at the time, Dan guessed: ‘I don’t but I want to say, like, $150,000, something like that.’

‘It was a lot of money at the time, and I’d already worked on loan movies, and I’d never spent time with security guards before, so that was just interesting.’

Famously, when Edward presents Vivian with the necklace, he playfully snaps her fingers in the box, which results in a huge laugh from Julia, who was caught off-guard by this moment.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight many years ago, Garry Marshall commented: ‘She’s kid, so she goes out and parties, and sometimes she parties late and she comes to work and she’s a little sleepy. I said, ‘Richard, you gotta wake her up a little, so when she reaches for the box, slam it.”‘ …”

‘When she laughs, the whole world lights up. So it was a prank, we’d use it for the gag reel, but everyone who saw the gag reel and said, “that was really good.”

‘It was that last minute we put it in the movie and it became the trademark of the movie.’

Dan also debunked a rumour that several different colour dresses were made in place of the famous red dress in the scene.

He explained that the costume designer, Marilyn Vance, received push back about the red dress, so they camera tested swatches, not entire dresses.

‘We didn’t make dresses in a bunch of colors. What we did do was bring in fabrics in silks. We dyed them in a range of colors that Marilyn liked, and we camera tested them on Julia.

‘We just put the fabric, wrapped it around her, and did a camera test.’

He explained that while there was an argument for a shade of blue or a different shade of red, the costume designer was certain the bold red was the right move.

‘Marilyn fought for that shade of red. There were some blues, like bold ones. But we camera tested quite a lot, mostly, but Marylin wanted red.’

Dan also revealed that, thankfully, there were barely any costume mistakes in the film.

‘I watched the movie a year or so ago. It looks good. There aren’t too many mistakes. There were some mismatches on set.

‘I think it was with Richard, like the top button was done, and then it was undone, something like that in one of the scenes.’

He explained it was likely when he was back from lunch, and something that should have been caught by the various people working on set.

‘I mean, there are a lot of people looking at stuff and on every movie that happens somewhere, and you don’t really notice till dailies!’

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The most famous horror movie of all time is finally coming to Netflix in just a few days, ready to scare us all silly.

Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, was released in 1960, with Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin and Janet Leigh making up the cast.

The slasher film, based on the novel of the same name by Robert Bloch, followed secretary Marion Crane (Janet) who goes on the run after stealing $40,000 – she spends the night at the Bates Motel, run by Norman Bates (Anthony).

In one of the most noted scenes in cinema history, she is stabbed by a mysterious figure while showering, leading to an investigation into her creepy death.

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the shower once again, the scare-fest will be arriving on Netflix on April 1 – just in time for some terrifying April Fools’ Day hijinks.

Although the flick hit the big screen more than six decades ago, it is still widely referenced in other films today, and currently commands a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Heaping praise on the platform, Vitor O wrote: ‘There isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about this film. It is the most important horror film in the history of cinema.’

‘I had in my mind before I watched it that it was going to be good, but it more than just good, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! The is one of the most essential films you need to watch,’ Matty C agreed.

James B said: ‘The master of horror has done it again and made the best the first and the most iconic slasher movie of all time. Every performance is amazing and the characters are so well developed. Perfect.’

‘Now I understand why this is considered one of the best horror movies of all time. Impeccable script, direction, cast and soundtrack solidified Psycho into the foundation of the best films not only of the genre, but in the history of cinema,’ Carlos H commented.

‘Alfred Hithcock was a genius and, for me at least, he is a great inspiration. What an amazing movie! Everyone should watch it [sic].’

As Audience M added: ‘Psycho is an unparalleled triumph in the world of cinema, standing the test of time as one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever made.

‘From its chilling score by Bernard Herrmann to its unforgettable twist ending, every frame of this film is a masterclass in suspense and storytelling.’

Psycho was met with huge acclaim in the 60s, and sparked three sequels following Hitchcock’s death – as well as a Bates Motel prequel series starring Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga.

Leigh previously reflected on the success of the film in a chat with Woman’s World in 1984, quipping that she was never able to shower calmly again.

‘I stopped taking showers and I only take baths,’ she said of the iconic death scene. ‘And when I’m someplace where I can only take a bath, I make sure the doors and windows of the house are locked.

‘I also leave the bathroom door open and shower curtain open. I’m always facing the door, watching, no matter where the shower head is.’

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Nicole Kidman’s unsettling new thriller is now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, as the incredibly busy star’s latest release.

Added today, Holland — which Oscar-winner Kidman also produced — calls itself ‘wildly unpredictable’ and premiered at SXSW in early March as an original movie for the streamer.

It co-stars Matthew Macfadyen and Gael García Bernal, and tells the story of meticulous Nancy Vandergroot (Kidman), a teacher and homemaker who shares a picture-perfect life with her community pillar husband (Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan.

However, things take a turn into more twisted territory after Nancy and her colleague (Bernal) become suspicious of a secret, only to discover nothing in their lives is what it seems.

Holland, which comes hot on the heels of movies like Babygirl, A Family Affair and Spellbound, as well as Expats and The Perfect Couple on TV for Kidman, has had something of a bumpy ride with critics so far.

It’s only managed to muster a score of just 35% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with IndieWire claiming: ‘There’s a decent movie in here somewhere, but you’d be digging up a lot of tulips to get to it.’

Matt Donato for Daily Dead added: ‘It’s baffling how such a talented cast and crew can be attached to such a wreck, but here we are. The award for 2025’s most disappointing release has a clear frontrunner.’

Elsewhere the Mimi Cave-directed film was also called ‘deadly dull’ and ‘a massive disappointment’.

But some critics disagreed, pointing to a twist at the end and the movie getting to some ‘squirmy places’.

‘The big reveal will be seared into my brain for years to come — and I will never look at a Pomeranian the same way again. A slowburn, but that moment is absolutely worth the wait,’ insisted critic Tessa Smith.

Kidman’s ‘zany’ performance is also praised elsewhere, with Variety calling the film’s point of view ‘fun one for those who like teetering in that is-she-crazy-or-is-she-the-only-sane-person-here zone’.

‘Holland is one of those films that refuses to be placed in a box — and takes a special, sadistic pleasure in putting the audience through it,’ suggested The Standard’s review.

Audience views trickling in have also been equally divided, with David S calling it a ‘very elaborate psychological thriller with good acting’ in a five-star reaction.

‘Many good twists and it’ll stress you out in a good way. I’d rate it 85/100,’ he suggested.

Meanwhile Demise L complained that ‘scene after scene was ridiculous’ and added: ‘Throughout the movie I laughed out loud at how absurd each scene played.’

Holland is streaming now on Prime Video.

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Jason Statham is on LinkedIn and is Open To Work as part of a campaign for his upcoming movie, A Working Man.

The actor, 57, is set to take on a new action-packed role in A Working Man, an action thriller film directed by David Ayer, and co-written by Sylvester Stallone.

The synopsis reads: ‘Levon Cade left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life of working construction.

‘However, when human traffickers kidnap his boss’s daughter, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.’

The Taken-esque style movie has created a lot of excitement online, and in a new marketing campaign move, a LinkedIn page has been made for Jason Statham’s character.

The profile is in Jason’s name with his current role described as ‘A Working Man/ Solider of Fortune at Self Employed)

The profile nods to some of the actors most famous former roles such as The Beekeeper and The Transporter : ‘Open to work: Construction Foreman, Transporter, Mechanic, Secret Agent and Beekeeper roles.’

The profile continues: ‘I’m a working man looking for a new employment opportunity. I keep my head down and my nose clean, but when the powerful hurt the powerless, I can’t stand by and do nothing.

‘That’s when my shadowy past and extensive military training come into play, and I prove to be an exceptionally skilled killer, uniquely qualified to take down whatever underworld organization or villainous bureaucrat gets in my way.

‘I’m Jason Statham and I am #OpenToWork.’

His top skills are listed as: ‘Weapons handling, hand-to-hand combat, construction management,driving very fast, and protecting the hive.’

Fans loved the marketing ploy and took to social media to joke about the profile.

‘Had no idea that Jason Statham was #OpenToWork but he’s got a LinkedIn page now 😂 I can vouch for him. His past experience as a beekeeper, transporter, and mechanic has made him uniquely qualified for his new role as #AWorkingMan,’ said TheJonathanSim.

‘This is so cool and hilarious especially with the beekeeper roles,’ said JKLM0521.

‘Wow, I just thought he was an Actor!’ joked PogDigital.

A Working Man is set to hit cinemas on Friday, March 28.

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Fans are totally baffled by the revelation that the Passion of Christ is coming back for a sequel.

Directed and co-written by Mel Gibson, the 2004 film The Passion of Christ was a smash hit that made $612.1 million (£473.7 million) at the box office against a budget of $31 million (£30 million).

The film starred Jim Caviezel as Jesus and focuses on the hours leading to Jesus’ crucifixion and ending with a brief description of his resurrection.

It has just been announced that filming for the new film will begin in August, with many fans only just learning that the film was getting a sequel.

Despite the first film being a total smash hit, many expressed major concern about a sequel.

Namely questioning how on earth the story could be continued with the same cast 21 years after the first film.

‘I can’t understand why part 2. What are they trying to explain if the whole story was told in the original movie,’ said cubanmom_8997.

‘He already got resurrected once, what’s the plot this time?’ said debayo_xx.

‘There ain’t no way, what more to the story could you possibly need to put into a film,’ said CouchesLLC.

Other fans rightly speculated that the film would be focusing on Jesus’s resurrection, but with many asking how this would work with a significantly older cast, considering the resurrection took place three days after the crucifixion.

‘After more than 23 years, will he still look the same. Jim Caviezel will have to pull this off one way or the other because he’ll surely look older now,’ said MrChikay.

‘Dang! Took them a lot longer than 3 days to make a sequel,’ said colin_gladman.

‘I know it’s about the resurrection, but…. I just struggle to understand what the entertainment factor would be in that part of the story?’ said MovieMediaX.

Fans also pointed out that another glaring problem was that Jesus was still being played by a white actor.

‘Why is he not Arab. Jesus is Arab,’ said Micky1_Bang.

‘Why is there a white man portraying Jesus? (Who was born in the Middle East btw)’ said andrygr7ve.

‘They still refuse to make Christ the way he’s supposed to look lol,’ said AWALBAYAREA.

The star-studded original cast included Maia Morgenstern as Mary, the mother of Jesus, Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, and Christo Jivkov as John.

As Caviezel has been confirmed to return to the role, it is speculated that the rest of the cast is set to follow suit for this blockbuster.

Speaking to Joe Rogan on his podcast, Gibson spoke about the upcoming sequel and hopes for a 2026 release date.

‘I’m hoping next year sometime. There’s a lot required because it’s an acid trip. I’ve never read anything like it,’ he said.

‘It’s about finding the way in that’s not cheesy or too obvious,’ he said. ‘I think I have ideas about how to do that and how to evoke things and emotions in people from the way you depict it and the way you shoot it. So I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. It’s not going to be easy and it’s going to require a lot of planning and I’m not wholly sure I can pull it off to tell you the truth, it’s super ambitious. But I’ll take a crack at it because that’s what you got to do, right, walk up to the plate, right?’

Speaking to ComicBook.com, he also teased how he could bridge a gap between both films after more than two decades.

‘I have ways of dealing with that, because 20 years ago is [supposed to be] three days later,’ he coyly shared. ‘So it has its own peculiar set of problems, which I think I can solve.’

Since the release of the Passion of Christ, Gibson has gone on to direct Apocalypto, Hacksaw Ridge, and Flight Risk – which was torn to shreds by critics after its release earlier this year.

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Clive Revill, the Star Wars icon who originally voiced Emporer Palpatine in The Empire Strikes Back, has died at age 94.

The stage and screen actor died on March 11 after a battle with dementia at a care facility in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.

His daughter, Kate Revill, confirmed the sad news to the Hollywood Reporter.

In 1980, Star Wars: Episode V director Irvin Kershner called Revill, who he worked with on A Fine Madness (1966), to record some menacing lines for his new film.

‘There is a great disturbance in the Force,’ says the evil hologram of Darth Sidious or Emperor Palpatine to Darth Vader in a pivotal scene.

This line was still much quoted to Revill, despite his voice being swapped out for Ian McDiarmid’s in 2004 as he played the character in Return of the Jedi.

Speaking in an interview with The Spectrum in 2015, the esteemed actor shared: ‘They come up to me, and I tell them to get close and shut their eyes.

‘Then I say [in the emperor’s haunting voice], “There is a great disturbance in the Force.” People turn white, and one nearly fainted!’

Revill was spotted by Laurence Olivier and worked extensively for the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing on Broadway seven times.

He was nominated for two Tony Awards; the Bar-des-Inquiets proprietor Bob-Le-Hotu in 1961’s Irma la Douce and as Fagin in 1963’s Oliver!.

In 1950, after a chance meeting with Olivier, Revill moved to London and starred in numerous Shakespearian productions.

Two years later, he made his Broadway debut, then began appearing in various British films as a comedic actor throughout the 60s.

He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as hotel manager Carlo Carlucci in Avanti! (1972).

Palpatine was not the only voice acting Revill is known for as he can also be heard in cartoons like Transformers and DuckTales or video games like Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.

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A noughties advertising legend has claimed a role in one of the highest-profile cinema releases of 2025 so far.

In 2003, a US-owned directory enquiry service with the number 118 118 launched its wildly popular advertising campaign in the UK featuring two male runners clad in red and white running gear with matching moustaches and shaggy 70s hairstyles.

They would race around and over things, announcing ‘got your number!’ to passers-by, in a series of adverts that have been truly hard to forget even decades later, finishing in 2010.

Now one of those famous runners, Colin Carmichael, has appeared in Disney’s $250million (£194m) live-action remake of Snow White – if you managed to spot him without that iconic facial hair.

Carmichael appears in the role of bandit Farno, one of the seven gang members that live in the forest with Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) as supporters of Snow White’s father, the King.

It was these actors who were spotted filming on set in the UK and erroneously reported as being the ‘magical creatures’ replacing the seven dwarfs in this version of the 1937 classic Disney animated feature.

They are, in fact, a different group of characters altogether, who Snow White (Rachel Zegler) and the CGI-rendered dwarfs end up encountering further into the story as she flees her villainous step-mother, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot).

It’s not the only major release Carmichael has been in recently either, as the actor also appeared as Doctor Nidik, the human professor who replaces goat teacher Doctor Dillamond at Shiz under troubling circumstances, in the massively popular movie adaptation of smash-hit musical Wicked.

Since getting his first big break as an actor thanks to the 188 188 commercials, reportedly at the age of 26 according to Isle of Wight County Press, Carmichael has enjoyed a varied career.

As well as appearing in other adverts for brands like Carling, Belvita, Go Compare and Captain Morgan, he has also popped up in episodes of Coupling, The Bill, Outlander and Black Mirror.

He’s acted in Worzel Gummidge, Detectorists and Secret Diary of a Call Girl, as well as films St Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold and Hot Fuzz.

Snow White was the number one film globally after hitting cinemas on Friday and claiming $87.3m (£67.7m) over its opening weekend.

However, it has fallen short of hopes and estimates that were planning for $100m (£77.6m) after a series of controversies around the much-delayed film kept its title in the headlines for years ahead of release thanks to sustained backlash.

While reviews were mixed to negative, Snow White has attracted some praise – especially for leading lady Zegler – and has manged a healthy 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from fan scores compared to a more dubious 42% from 210 critics’ reactions.

Disney’s Lion King live-action prequel, Mufasa, also managed to pull in a respectable $717m (£556m) worldwide after flopping during its first weekend with just $37.6m (£29.1m).

However on IMDb, Snow White is currently sitting on just 1.7/10 from over 145,000 ratings in the five days since it came out.

Snow White is in cinemas now.

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Marvel bosses surprised fans on Wednesday by opting to unveil the sprawling, star-studded cast of Avengers: Doomsday, headed by Robert Downey Jr, in a rolling livestream – but not everyone was satisfied.

Lasting over five hours, with a new actor announced every 10-15 minutes, the studio kicked off by revealing Chris Hemsworth’s return to the MCU, before the likes of Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright and Paul Rudd were confirmed.

Many fans were thrilled to also have the nostalgic additions of Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden onboard as their mutant characters who first appeared in the X-Men films back in 2000, with Cumming along for the sequel as Nightcrawler in 2003.

Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Simu Liu and Florence Pugh were also revealed as names on the back of chairs, alongside Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman and Danny Ramirez.

Kirby’s Fantastic Four co-stars Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Pedro Pascal, as well as David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston and Channing Tatum all had their seats added to the line-up too.

However, despite 26 actors being announced, some fans were unhappy to see that Elizabeth Olsen hadn’t been named among the cast.

‘Not now honey, mommy is waiting for a chair to reveal Elizabeth Olsen’s return as Wanda,’ quipped @itsjustanx on X as the livestream was underway, while Chris Del Ray wrote: ‘Elizabeth Olsen please I am begging on my knees.’

When no Olsen return as Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, was forthcoming, a lot of upset was shared online, with fans saying they’d been ‘robbed’ and vowing to boycott the film.

‘No elizabeth olsen? no one’s watching,’ claimed Kyla, while @Prince_Akpolo added: ‘All that cast and no Elizabeth Olsen. We’ve been robbed.’

‘If elizabeth olsen is not returning I don’t want to watch it,’ said Riri while another fan shared: ‘Like how do they have Channing Tatum but not Elizabeth Olsen I’m just NOT UNDERSTANDING!!!’

Tatum is returning as Gambit, a role he first played in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine after years of trying to get a solo movie off the ground ultimately failed.

Olsen’s Wanda was last seen in 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where she supposedly died but no body was shown.

‘No Tom Holland, No Chris Evans, no Benedict Cumberbatch, no Charlize Theron, No Famke Janssen, No Halle Berry, No Hugh Jackman or Ryan Reynolds, No Elizabeth Olsen…’ @WandaxCoven also pointed out on social media.

However, sources claim that Marvel isn’t quite finished revealing the Avengers: Doomsday cast just yet, according to The Hollywood Reporter, so there could be hope yet.

The footage ended with Downey Jr – whose return to the MCU was confirmed last year – taking his place in his seat at the very end of the line-up.

In the final seconds of the video, which aired for much of the day, he could be seen sitting down before shushing the audience.

Despite claims that interest is waning in all things Marvel, more than 7.5million X users have tuned into the stream on the platform, with thousands more watching on YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.

That means millions of people were sat staring at a row of chairs, waiting for the next name to drop, leaving them somewhat baffled.

Twitter user Jack begged: ‘Marvel please hurry up I don’t have all day to stare at this chair I need to see the big announcement.’

James Viscardi observed: ‘Marvel making fans stare at a Chris Hemsworth chair for five minutes is a weird kind of psyop to make sure “they still got it.”’

Leyton agreed: ‘The fact that Marvel has 2 million people on here alone watching CHAIRS… this is literally just a flex to show they’ve still got it I kinda respect it [sic].’

Ale added: ‘Marvel is the only franchise that can get a million people in a livestream looking at chairs for 20 minutes this is so unserious.’

Avengers: Doomsday is due to be released on May 1, 2026 – while little else is known about the flick, RDJ confirmed he would be returning to the MCU in the new role of villain Doctor Doom.

He famously played Iron Man and made his debut as the superhero in 2008, before going on to star in eight more films.

Appearing at San Diego Comic-Con last year, Joe Russo previously teased the huge name that was lined up to tackle the evil character.

‘As proof of the unimaginable possibilities in the Marvel multi-universe, we give you the one person who could play Victor von Doom,’ he announced.

Ever the showman, Robert then unmasked himself to gasps from the huge crowd, quipping: ‘New mask, same task.

‘What did I tell you? I like playing complicated characters.’

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