Banijay Entertainment is offering an exclusive early look at its jam-packed Mipcom lineup, featuring plenty of crime dramas, historical epics, popular formats and non-fiction projects from Eva Longoria and Sarah Jessica Parker.

“Our dynamic line-up for this year’s Mipcom truly highlights the continued growth and global appeal of our catalog,” said Banijay Rights CEO Cathy Payne. “From riveting dramas such as ‘Bergerac’ and ‘Wolf Hall’ to high-end factual series like ‘Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain,’ we are eager to present a diverse and competitive slate that celebrates the power of storymaking and the outstanding talent behind our IP.”

Banijay Chief Content Officer, Development James Townley and Chief Content Officer, Operations Lucas Green added: “Our offering of distinctive and fresh formats coming from the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, U.K. and the U.S., underscores our commitment to creating popular IP like ‘Three Are The Champions,’ and evolving classic favorites like ‘By Land,...

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One of the coolest and most beloved sub-genres for thriller, action, and drama fans is the spy genre and there’s a good reason. In a spy film or series, we get complicated and cool characters who put their lives on the line by going against numerous people and instead of always letting their guns talk they use more covert tactics, which are always thrilling to watch. So, Prime Video being what it is, it has a large library of content and also some of the best spy shows you can find and that’s what inspired us to compile a list of the best spy shows you can watch on Prime Video right now.

Chuck Credit – NBC

Chuck is a spy action comedy-drama series created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The NBC series follows the story of Chuck Bartowski,...

At the San Diego Comic-Con today, Peacock took attendees behind the scenes of the gladiator epic Those About to Die. All ten episodes of the series are now streaming on Peacock.

The behind-the-scenes video dives into the Roman Empire’s explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties, as featured in Those About to Die. You can watch the video here.

If you are at the San Diego Comic-Con, you can immerse yourself in the glory of Ancient Rome with Those About to Die: The Chariot Race. Step inside the betting tavern, join one of the coveted factions and experience the adrenaline thrill of the chariot race itself.

Inspired by the new Original series, Peacock’s in-world activation will bring the ancient “Circus Maximus” to life right in the Gaslamp District. Upon entry, guests will be divided into the 5 factions from the show and given the chance to whip a pair...

Those About to Die is an epic sword-and-sandal historical drama series created by Robert Rodat. Based on the 1958 novel of the same name by author Daniel P. Mannix, the Peacock series revolves around the lives of the gladiators and citizens of the Roman Empire in Ancient Rome, where violence, greed, and lust run rampant. Those About to Die stars Anthony Hopkins, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins-Court, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, and Emilio Sakraya. So, if you loved the epic fights, brutal violence, and historical drama in Those About to Die here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Rome (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO

Rome is a historical drama series created by John Milius, William J. MacDonald, and Bruno Heller. The HBO series is set in the 1st century BC during Ancient Rome’s transition from Republic to Empire,...

Rome is starving. Early into Those About to Die, as the Roman Empire reels from civil war and rebellion in Judea, running its grain stores scarce, the people’s hunger for food swells into an appetite for revolt. Rome’s rulers turn to entertainment to pacify their citizens, eventually enlisting Tenax (Iwan Rheon), the rare self-made man who’s managed to claw his way toward the city’s elite, to orchestrate arena spectacles for the public. “I grew up in those stinking stands. I know what the mob wants to see,” Tenax tells his crew toward the end of the show’s first season. “Remember: Enough is good. More is better. Too much is perfect.”

Tenax’s directive encapsulates the ethos of Those About to Die, which treats viewers to excess and indulgence befitting ancient Rome. Created by Robert Rodat and based on Daniel P. Mannix’s book of the...

Set at the height of the Roman Empire, Those About To Die is historical drama series from director Roland Emmerich. Created by Robert Rodat, and inspired by the nonfiction book of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix, the series will immerse viewers into the spectacular, complex, and corrupt world of chariot racing and gladiatorial fights in ancient Rome.

The cast includes multi-award winning cinema legend Sir Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian, Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones) as Tenax, Tom Hughes as Titus Flavianus, Sara Martins as Cala, and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Game of Thrones) as Viggo, Jojo Macari (Sex Education) as Domitian, Gabriella Pession (Crossing Lines) as Antonia, Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus, Emilio Sakraya as Xenon, Moe Hashim Kwame, Rupert Penry Jones (Whitechapel) as Marsus.

HeyUGuys chatted to the cast about their experience working on the hotly anticipated series on set in Italy and about how much they all knew about that particular era.

Plot: An epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

Review: The recent release of the Gladiator II trailer proves that the spectacle and grandeur of the Roman Empire make for fascinating storytelling. Influenced by epics like Spartacus, Cleopatra, and Ben-Hur, the arenas and gladiatorial combat have rarely been as good as they have been on the big screen. Returning to the book that inspired David Franzoni’s initial script for Ridley Scott’s 2000 Best Picture-winning feature film, Those About To Die takes a deeper dive into the politics and machinations of Rome during the first century.

Peacock invites you to take a behind-the-scenes look at Roland Emmerich’s Those About to Die and an exclusive Sneak-Peek at Atomic Monster’s Teacup to take place during Peacock’s Back-to-Back Panel Block on Thursday, July 25 in Ballroom 20!

Thursday, July 25 – Sunday, July 28:

Those About To Die: The Chariot Race

Immerse yourself in the glory of Ancient Rome at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 with Peacock’s “Those About To Die: The Chariot Race.” Step inside the betting tavern, join one of the coveted factions and experience the adrenaline thrill of the chariot race itself. Inspired by the new Original series, Peacock’s in-world activation will bring the ancient “Circus Maximus” to life right in the Gaslamp District. Upon entry, guests will be divided into the 5 factions from the show and given the chance to whip a pair of reins to power their team’s chariot to victory.

The activation...

In the epic new Peacock show Those About To Die, Dimitri Leonidas plays Scorpus, one of Rome’s top charioteers, and Gabriella Pession plays Antonia, a Patrician pulling many strings in this criminal underworld of ancient Rome.

We at FandomWire got to speak with Leonidas and Pession about their roles in Those About To Die, what the show has to say about ancient Rome, and filming the show using virtual production technology (like we’d seen in The Mandalorian and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania). Check out the full interview here:

Those About To Die — Episode 101 — Pictured: Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus — (Photo by: Reiner Bajo/Peacock)

Those About To Die Interview

FandomWire: We’ve seen plenty of movies and shows about gladiators and charioteers, but I think what makes Those About To Die stand out is that it shows us a side of this that we’ve not really seen before.

"Enough is good. More is better. Too much is perfect." Peacock has unveiled the second official for an epic Roman Empire series Those About To Die, a riff on the classic Roman phrase "Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you" or "Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant." It'll be streaming on Peacock starting in a few more weeks. The series chronicles the world of gladiators in Ancient Rome. It may not be connected to Ridley Scott's Gladiator movie, or its upcoming sequel Gladiator 2 due out later this year (huzzah!), but it's definitely something they want you to feel is connected. Some of the episodes are directed by Roland Emmerich and it was shot at the Cinecittà studio in Rome. Anthony Hopkins stars as the Roman Emperor Vespasian, with a massive cast: Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins-Court, Moe Hashim, David Wurawa,...

Prime Video has debuted the trailer for the historical drama series ‘Those About To Die.’

Panem et Circenses – Bread and Entertainment; Rome in 79 A.D.: The centre of the Roman Empire is the wealthiest city in the world, and there is a heavy influx of slave labourers from the growing empire to take over the work. The Roman population—bored, restless, and increasingly violent—is kept in line mainly by two things: free food and spectacular entertainment, in the form of chariot racing and gladiator fights.

The series delves into the world of the games—a world characterized by bloodlust, greed for money, the pursuit of power, and corruption. The races at Circus Maximus are controlled by four Patrician-owned corporations, the Blue, Red, White, and Green factions, and shares in the four factions are the most valuable things in Rome. As the taste in entertainment of the populace becomes more jaded and bloodthirsty,...

With House Of The Dragon Season 2 right around the corner (and Season 3 just confirmed) over at Sky, and Shōgun armouring up for future series on Disney+ too, Peacock is preparing to enter the prestige epic fray with sprawling gladiator drama Those About To Die. Based on Daniel P. Mannix's same-named non-fiction book, the new series, created by Saving Private Ryan writer Robert Rodat, has some serious heavyweight talent behind it too. Blockbuster veteran Roland Emmerich is directing the show, whilst Sir Anthony Hopkins and Game Of Thrones star Iwan Rheon lead a heavyweight ensemble as Roman Emperor Vespasian and Master of Games Tenax. Check out the spectacular first trailer for the show below;

Chariot races? Check. Arena battles? Check. Plotting, scheming, uprisings, and downfalls? Check, check, check, and check. Are you not entertained? Oops, wrong franchise! Anywho, inevitable Gladiator comparisons aside, Rodat and Emmerich's swords-and-sandals epic certainly looks to...

Noch etwas mehr als ein Monat, dann startet Roland Emmerichs zusammen mit Marco Kreuzpaintner inszenierte Gladiatorenserie „Those About to Die“: Jetzt hat Prime Video den ersten Trailer des aufwändigen Serienevents veröffentlicht.

Mit Spannung fiebern die Fans der in Rom gedrehten Serie „Those About to Die“ entgegen, die am 19. Juli bei Prime Video in ausgewählten Ländern Europas sowie in Australien, Neuseeland, Kanada, Indien und Subsahara-Afrika vom Stapel laufen wird, nur einen Tag nach der US-Premiere. Jetzt gibt es den ersten Trailer! Roland Emmerich und Marco Kreuzpaintner führten Regie bei dem epischen Unterfangen, das zehn Folgen umfasst und von Robert Rodat, der mit Emmerich bereits bei „Der Patriot“ zusammengearbeitet hatte, inspiriert von dem gleichnamigen Sachbuch von Daniel Mannix geschrieben wurde.

„Those About to Die“ (Credit: Peacock)

In den Hauptrollen sieht man Anthony Hopkins als Kaiser Vespasian, Iwan Rheon als Tenax, der deutsche Star Emilio Sakraya als Xenon, Tom Hughes als Titus Flavianus,...

Are you not entertained? You will be when you watch Peacock’s Those About to Die trailer. The new series revolves around gladiatorial combat, political upheaval, and deception lurking around every piss-soaked corner of an evolving empire. Peacock‘s Those About to Die series hails from director/executive producer Roland Emmerich, who details his passion for the project in today’s press release and shares its origin.

“I have always been fascinated by the history of the Roman Empire. So much still seems relevant for our society today – from the entanglement of politics and sports to the disciplines of the competitions, which haven’t changed much either over the last 2000 years. The most electrifying spectacles for the masses still involve two men in an arena, beating each other up, and the chariots of today are called race cars whose drivers still crash and often pay with their lives,” Emmerich writes.

"I know what they crave... And I can devise entertainment that will feed that craving." Sounds like a studio exec talking. Peacock has revealed the main official for an epic Roman Empire series called Those About To Die, a riff on the classic Roman phrase "Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you" or "Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant." The series chronicles the world of gladiators in Ancient Rome. It may not be connected to Ridley Scott's Gladiator movie, or its upcoming sequel Gladiator 2 due out later this year, but it's definitely something they want you to feel is connected. Some of the episodes are directed by Roland Emmerich and it was shot at the Cinecittà studio in Rome. Anthony Hopkins stars as the Roman Emperor Vespasian, with a massive cast: Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins-Court, Moe Hashim, David Wurawa,...

NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock has revealed the first photos from Roland Emmerich’s epic drama series Those About to Die, set in ancient Rome. Emmerich directs the series and serves as executive producer.

Those About to Die stars two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins and a cast that includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, and Moe Hashim. All ten episodes of the series will launch on July 18.

Those About to Die is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition. It explores a side of ancient Rome never before told—the dirty business of entertaining the masses and giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport.

The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

“I have always been fascinated by the history of the Roman Empire.

Anthony Hopkins once again proves that retirement is not on his to-do list. The 86-year-old legendary actor has recently starred in Matthew Brown’s drama Freud's Last Session showing Hopkins in the role of the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud.

Now, after a very short break, the actor will be back again bringing to the screens a bloody action drama about Rome’s infamous gladiator fights.

The upcoming sword-and-sandal show Those About to Die will get its release on Peacock with all 10 episodes coming to the streaming service on July 18. The fresh teaser trailer shows Hopkins as Roman emperor Vespasian amid the on-going rising popularity of the gladiator fights which results in a harsh competition for the dirty business built on the bloody sport.

Except for Anthony Hopkins, the cast also includes Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones,...

The fourth and final season of “Evil” will premiere Thursday, May 23, on Paramount+, the streamer announced Monday. Production recently began in New York City on the previously announced four bonus episodes. Season 4 will include 14 episodes premiering weekly.

The series is a psychological thriller that investigates the origins of evil and the church’s unexplained mysteries including demonic possession. The official description of the upcoming season reads: “Kristen, David and Ben continue to assess cases that involve wayward technology, possessed pigs, demonic oppression and infestation, a dance muse conjured by alleged witches and an evil relic.”

The series stars Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson, Kurt Fuller, Andrea Martin, Christine Lahti, Brooklyn Shuck, Skylar Gray, Maddy Crocco and Dalya Knapp.

“Evil” is produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions. Robert King, Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, Rockne S. O’Bannon and Sam Hoffman serve as executive producers.

Watch the official trailer below.

Those About to Die finally has a premiere date. The new drama series about a gladiator competition will arrive on Peacock in July. All ten episodes will be released at once.

Starring Anthony Hopkins, Sara Martins, Dimitri Leonidas, Iwan Rheon, Liraz Charhi, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Kyshan Wilson, and Alicia Edogamhe, the series is based on the nonfiction book by Daniel Mannix and shows the complicated times of Ancient Rome.

Read More…...

"The telling of history is but a history of war." How often do you think about the Roman Empire? Peacock has unveiled a first look teaser trailer for an epic new streaming series landing this year titled Those About To Die, a riff on the classic Roman phrase "Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you" or "Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant." The series chronicles the world of gladiators in Ancient Rome. It may not be connected to Ridley Scott's Gladiator movie, or its upcoming sequel Gladiator 2 due out later this year, but it's definitely something they want you to feel is connected. Some of the episodes are directed by Roland Emmerich and it was shot at the Cinecittà studio in Rome. Anthony Hopkins stars as the Roman Emperor Vespasian, with a massive cast: Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins-Court,...

Those who know who Roland Emmerich is will probably know that the director is known for his epic films, a lot of which are also major disaster films. Some of these major titles include Universal Soldier (1992), Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996) and its sequel Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), Godzilla (1998), The Patriot (2000), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 10,000 BC (2008), 2012 (2009), White House Down (2013), Midway (2019), and Moonfall (2022). But, Emmerich is now shifting to television, as his new project is about to be released on Peacock this summer. Ahead of the premiere, a teaser trailer has been released.

The project in question is the epic sword-and-sandal series Those About to Die, which is set in Ancient Rome. The series will be based on the book of the same name by writer and journalist Daniel P. Mannix; interesting enough, the same book served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s epic classic, Gladiator.

The series will star acting legend...

Independence Day and Moonfall director Roland Emmerich heads to ancient Rome for the TV series, Those About To Die. Here’s a trailer and some other things.

Whether he makes sci-fi disaster films or somewhat more grounded dramas, writer-director-producer Roland Emmerich’s work is seldom dull. For a recent example, just take a look at Moonfall.

Emmerich is heading to ancient Rome for his latest opus – the 10-part TV series Those About To Die. It’s based on the book by Daniel P Mannix, and is all about the scheming and political intrigue that goes into the staging of gladiatorial contests. It’s probably no coincidence that the series will stream in July – a matter of months before Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated Gladiator 2 emerges in November.

Anthony Hopkins leads the ensemble cast, and stars as Emperor Vespasian. You’ll also find Dimitri Leonidas as Flavius Scorpus (who was a...

NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock revealed the teaser for Those About to Die during WWE WrestleMania Xl and announced a July 18 premiere date. Roland Emmerich directs the series and serves as executive producer.

Those About to Die stars two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins alongside a cast that includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, and Moe Hashim.

Those About to Die is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport.

The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

All ten episodes of Those About to Die launch July 18, just in time for viewers to also watch the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Peacock has set the premiere date and released the first trailer for gladiator epic Those About To Die, starring Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins. All ten episodes of the series will drop Thursday, July 18 on the streamer.

Written by Robert Rodat, based on Daniel P. Mannix’s nonfiction classic of the same name, the series stars Hopkins as Emperor Vaspasian during the height of the Roman Empire. The epic drama is set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

The ensemble cast also includes Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Tom Hughes, Jojo Macari, Moe Hashim, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones,...

Amazon Prime has given Roland Emmerich’s Those About To Die the thumbs up, taking rights to the upcoming gladiator action series across most of Europe. Anthony Hopkins stars as Roman emperor Vespasian in the 10-part series, inspired by the nonfiction book of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix.

Amazon picked up exclusive rights to Those About To Die for its services in the five largest territories in Europe (Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Spain) as well as in Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Andorra, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Amazon will have exclusive rights for the show in those territories, with free-tv rights negotiated separately. Servus TV has secured the free TV window for Austria for the show, which will go out on Peacock in the U.S.. NBCUniversal’s streaming platform gave a straight-to-series order for the show.

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan...

Nine actors have joined the cast of the upcoming Those About To Die series. The Peacock series, inspired by the nonfiction book by Daniel Mannix, is set in the time of gladiators and follows the “complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition.” The book was previously used as the basis for the Gladiator feature film.

Iwan Rheon, Liraz Charhi, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Kyshan Wilson, and Alicia Edogamhe have been cast in the show. Anthony Hopkins, Sara Martins, and Dimitri Leonidas have already been cast for key roles. Filming is underway in Rome.

Read More…...

Do you like movies about gladiators?

Hollywood is betting you do.

There are a trio of sword-and-sandal epics in the works, including a long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning 2000 movie Gladiator and a reboot of Starz’ groundbreaking TV series Spartacus.

The curious surge of Ancient Rome titles in the pipeline seems to be purely coincidental, but it also makes sense given that studios have been searching for the next genre title that might break out — particularly since the end of HBO’s Game of Thrones — and given the revival of another muscular old-time Hollywood genre, the Western, following the explosive popularity of Yellowstone. Each project has roots in a different take on the material, and two of the projects had major casting news within the past week.

The gladiator genre actually has cinema roots dating all the way back to the 1913 silent film The Last Days of Pompeii. The...

Roland Emmerich’s large-scale gladiator series “Those About to Die,” starring Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian, has started shooting at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios.

Several new cast members have been announced, including “Game of Thrones” alumn Iwan Rheon.

Rheon, who in “Thrones” played the villainous Ramsay Bolton – and can currently be seen in Emmerich-produced film “The Magic Flute” – will replace Lorenzo Richelmy who has exited the Peacock show due to scheduling conflicts.

Also joining the “Those About to Die” cast are Liraz Charhi (“Tehran”) who will play Berenice, Queen of the conquered Judeans; and Rupert Penry-Jones (“The Batman”) as retired general Marsus who aspires to succeed Vespasian on the imperial throne (they are pictured above).

Other new cast additions to the swords and sandals series shot at Cinecittà are Johannes Haukur Johannesson (“Vikings”) as Norse gladiator Viggo; Eneko Sagardoy (“Elite”) as talented chariot driver Andria; Pepe Barroso (“45 rpm”) as Fonsoa...

Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon is one of nine joining the cast of Peacock’s epic gladiator drama Those About to Die, as principal photography on the Roland Emmerich show kicked off at Rome’s historic Cinecittà Studios.

Rheon, best known as Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones, has has been cast as ambitious crime boss Tenax and will replace Lorenzo Richelmy, who dropped out over scheduling conflicts. Rheon is appearing in The Magic Flute and has appeared in the BAFTA-winner Misfits and Netflix’s The Dirt.

Related: 2023 Peacock Series & Pilot Orders

Also joining the cast are Liraz Charhi, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, Gonçalo Almeida, Kyshan Wilson and Alicia Edogamhe.

Inspired by Daniel Mannix’s nonfiction book, Those About to Die is billed as an epic drama set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition. AGC Television is the studio,...

Roland Emmerich is filling out his Colosseum, with a new troop of actors to complete the cast of Those About to Die, a gladiator action series which the Independence Day director has begun shooting in Rome.

Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon, Vikings actor Johannes Haukur Johannesson and Alicia Edogamhe, best-known for Netflix series Summertime, are among the new additions to the ensemble cast, as well as Tehran actress Liraz Charhi, Britain’s Rupert Penry-Jones (Mi-5), Elite actor Eneko Sagardoy, Gonçalo Almeida (Amor Amor), Kyshan Wilson (Viola) and Pepe Barroso (Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming Gran Turismo).

They join two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins headlines the series as Roman emperor Vespasian. Previously-announced cast include Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas, and Moe Hashim.

Rheon has been cast as ambitious crime boss, Tenax. He replaces the previously announced Lorenzo Richelmy, who was unable to participate in the series due to scheduling conflicts.

Make no mistake: filmmaker and theater director Carrie Cracknell is a Jane Austen super-fan. Like many Brits, she spent her teenage years consuming the beloved author’s work, first at school — her first Austen, assigned by a beloved teacher: “Pride and Prejudice” — followed by a self-assigned journey through the rest of Austen’s oeuvre, plus the requisite repeated watchings of iconic cinematic adaptations. The Jennifer Ehle- and Colin Firth-starring “Pride and Prejudice” miniseries? Cracknell estimates she watched it “seven times, back to back” as a teen.

“I’ve always found the combination of this proto-feminism, of these women trying to make sense of the world that they’re trapped in, but also the romanticism and the kind of utter joy and the warmth of her storytelling, to be a really compelling combination,” Cracknell said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “It was one of the backdrops of growing up for me.

Thanks to shows like “Bridgerton” and “The Gilded Age” (not to mention this year’s Met Gala theme), it seems that we’re entering a bit of a Jane Austen-inspired renaissance — not that fans of the renowned novelist went anywhere. Next up on the list of Regency-era projects is Netflix’s highly anticipated cinematic adaptation of the author’s final novel, “Persuasion,” starring Dakota Johnson.

In late April, the streamer released a set of first-look photos featuring Johnson as heroine Anne Elliot, an overlooked middle daughter who is nonetheless incredibly insightful and clever — if only easily persuaded. Surrounded by her entitled and self-involved relatives, she is once again on her own when faced with the return of the dashing, self-made Captain Frederick Wentworth (Cosmo Jarvis), with whom she broke off her engagement nearly a decade prior at the behest of those around her deeming it a degrading match.

Also...

Much has already been written about The Batman‘s biggest surprise. In fact, Warner Bros. even let the clown out of the bag early in the film’s theatrical run, revealing that director Matt Reeves had shot not just one scene with Barry Keoghan‘s new take on the Joker but two. The second scene was cut for time, though, and who could blame the director? This film is already just shy of three hours long, a superhero epic that, while excellent, isn’t exactly as jovial or action-packed as other comic book flicks fighting at that weight, and the extra scene is very talk-y and might have slowed down the movie just a tad too much.

But if you want to watch the scene anyway, you’re in luck. WB released the deleted scene ahead of the movie’s drop on HBO Max, giving us a deeper look into...

Spoiler Alert: Do not read this story if you haven’t watched Episode 4 of “Our House.”

As London’s Machiavellian property market continues to feel like a real-life thriller, U.K. broadcaster ITV’s drama “Our House” capitalizes on every buyer’s worst fear of losing their hard-earned home.

Starring Tuppence Middleton (“Downton Abbey”) and Martin Compston (“Line of Duty”), the four-part Hitchcockian thriller from “Sanditon” producers Red Planet Pictures is adapted from Louise Candlish’s 2018 novel of the same name, and may actually be the only thing more anxiety-inducing than closing on anything larger than a garden shed within the M25.

Middleton stars as Fi Lawson, a woman who returns home after a weekend away to discover strangers moving into her house — and her husband Bram (Compston) and children nowhere in sight. The new owners insist that Bram and Fi have been across every part of the sale, but...

The Batman Review — The Batman (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Andy Serkis, Peter Sarsgaard, Barry Keoghan, Jayme Lawson, Gil Perez-Abraham, Peter McDonald, Con O’Neill, Alex Ferns, Rupert Penry-Jones, Kosha Engler and Janine Harouni. One of director [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: The Batman (2022): Matt Reeves’ Reboot is a Unique, Terrifically Cast Wild Ride...

Robert Pattinson as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “The Batman,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley/ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Matt Reeves goes noir for The Batman, the latest in a long line of Batman reboots, and this time featuring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader. Reeves, whose previous work includes Cloverfield, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes and its sequel, gives us a dark world, where it always seems to be raining, where corners are dimly lit and gritty streets are littered. The imagery suggests The Joker or even Blade Runner, but this film is not as high-concept as either of those films. While the film noir style is gorgeous and the supporting cast strong, Pattinson’s one-note brooding, a plot with too many villains and not enough focus, and a nearly three-hour running time keep the film from truly soaring.

Stars: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, Jayme Lawson, Max Carver, Charlie Carver, Rupert Penry-Jones | Written by Matt Reeves, Peter Craig | Directed by Matt Reeves

Director Matt Reeves reboots DC’s signature superhero franchise with this new start-from-scratch Batman adventure, starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader. Conceived as the first instalment of a new trilogy, it’s a comics-savvy Bat-thriller that gets almost everything right.

Taking inspiration from classic Batman story The Long Halloween, The Batman begins two years into billionaire Bruce Wayne’s (Pattinson) “Gotham Project”, whereby he patrols the streets of Gotham City at night, dishing out vigilante justice while dressed as a bat. In doing so, he’s earned the trust of Police Lieutenant James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), who fires up the Bat-signal whenever there’s a crime requiring The Batman’s attention.

One such case...

Where do you go after “The Dark Knight”? Ben Affleck blew it, and even Christopher Nolan, who brought unprecedented levels of realism and gravitas to that franchise-best Batman saga, couldn’t improve on what he’d created in his 2012 sequel. So what is “Cloverfield” director Matt Reeves’ strategy? Answer: Go darker than “The Dark Knight,” deadlier than “No Time to Die” and longer than “Dune” with a serious-minded Batman stand-alone of his own. Leaning in to those elements doesn’t automatically mean audiences will embrace Reeves’ vision. But this grounded, frequently brutal and nearly three-hour film noir registers among the best of the genre, even if — or more aptly, because — what makes the film so great is its willingness to dismantle and interrogate the very concept of superheroes.

Sure, that’s been done before — “Who watches the Watchmen?” Alan Moore memorably asked, influencing decades of spandex-clad savior stories — though Reeves does something relatively unique here,...

Distribution

Beyond Rights has kept the momentum going in distributing the popular property show “Love It or List It,” announcing two new versions being produced in Finland and France. In France, M6 licensed the format and is now in pre-production on its own version, while Finland’s Rabbit Films is producing an initial 10-episode run for broadcaster Nelonen, set to premiere Aug. 26. The Scandinavian broadcaster also scooped season four of “Love It or List It: Australia” and “Love It or List It: Brilliant Builds.” Beyond Rights also closed deals on more than 1000 hours of “Love it or List It” franchise programming in the UK (Channel 4), Norway (TV2), Netherlands (Talpa TV), Turkey (Discovery), Portugal (Sic), Spain (Mediaset), Poland, New Zealand (Discovery), Australia (Foxtel) and Latin America (Discovery).

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Dubai-based distribution and production company SynProNize has picked up a pair of Arabic drama series, “Beirut Bride” and “Al Nihaya,” and will distribute...

Exclusive: ITV’s adaptation of Louise Candlish’s Sunday Times best-selling real-estate novel Our House has cast Martin Compston (Line Of Duty), Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey), and Rupert Penry-Jones (The Drowning) in headline roles.

Our House tells the four-part story of Fi Lawson (Middleton), who arrives home one day to find a family of strangers moving into her house and her husband, Bram (Compston), has disappeared. As the nightmare takes grip, both Bram and Fi try to make sense of the events that led to a devastating crime and how they each are going to survive the chilling truth.

Produced by Death In Paradise outfit Red Planet Pictures, Penry-Jones features as the enigmatic Toby, who is in a relationship with Fi. Buket Komur (Honour) plays Bram’s new partner, the mysterious and alluring Wendy. Also joining the cast is Weruche Opia, who broke out in Emmy-nominated BBC/HBO series I May Destroy You,...

Crown Media announced that the Hallmark Channel will bring back its annual “Christmas in July” programming schedule, starting with the new original movie “Crashing Through the Snow,” which premieres on July 10 at 9 p.m.

In “Crashing Through the Snow,” Amy Acker and Kristian Bruun star as Maggie and Jeff, who are ex-spouses but friends first. When Jeff’s new girlfriend, Kate (Brooke Nevin), spontaneously invites Maggie along to their Christmas getaway in Aspen, she jumps at the chance to spend a Yuletide holiday away with her two daughters. Although Maggie feels like a third wheel crashing their Christmas, she’s not alone, as Kate’s hapless brother, Sam (Warren Christie), shows up unannounced. Always seeming to live in Kate’s shadow, Sam, for once, wants to come out ahead, and he convinces Maggie that, together, they can compete with Kate and make this Christmas the best one ever. Neither of...

Christmas in July will return to Hallmark bringing Crashing Through The Snow, starring Amy Acker and Warren Christie, to the lineup.

The annual summer movie celebration will kick off Friday, July 9 and will run until Sunday, July 31. Crashing Through The Snow will make its Hallmark debut Friday, July 10 at 9 p.m. The film centers on Maggie (Acker), who joins her ex-husband Jeff (Kristian Brunn) and his girlfriend Kate (Brooke Nevin) for a Christmas getaway in Aspen, where she meets Kate’s brother, Sam (Warren Christie).

Crashing Through the Snow is from Through the Snow Pictures Inc. Stan Spry, Eric Woods and Ryan M. Murphy are executive producers. Anthony Fankhauser is co-executive producer.

This year’s lineup will also include a 2020 Movie Marathon, Soap Sunday and Countdown to Christmas Greatest Hits, which will feature holiday movies including The Christmas Ring and Crown for Christmas.

See highlights from the Christmas In July lineup below.

Get ready to dash through the snow during the heat of summer when viewers are treated with the annual programming event, Christmas in July.

It's worthwhile to experience the magic of Christmas any time of the year, and in 2021, you will be treated to a brand-new movie and fun theme nights throughout July to make this mid-year holiday celebration extra special.

Hallmark Channel and sister network Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, the destination for holiday viewing, continues its tradition of feel-good entertainment and experiences that keep fans returning year after year with the annual Christmas in July programming.

About 100 days before 24/7 holiday programming stars on the networks, the Christmas in July celebration has some of their best ready and waiting. Here's your first look at the Christmas in July festivities!

The best news is that for ultimate Hallmark Christmas fans who have seen every movie (probably more than once), there is a...

Acorn/Sundance Acquire ‘The Drowning’

AMC Networks streamers Acorn TV and Sundance Now have swooped for the U.S. and Canadian rights to four-part identity thriller The Drowning. Produced by Noel Clarke and Jason Maza’s All3Media-backed Unstoppable Film & Television, the series will premiere on the streamers on May 6 after becoming a hit in the UK, where it premiered to 2.8 million viewers on Channel 5. Starring Jill Halfpenny, Jonas Armstrong, and Rupert Penry-Jones, it follows Jodie, who is convinced that a teenage boy is her missing son. Sold by All3Media International, other deals include C More, Sky Network Television (New Zealand), and Hellenic Telecommunications (Greece). Dazzler Media has also secured DVD rights for UK and Eire. Written by Tim Dynevor, Francesca Brill, and Luke Watson, The Drowning is directed by Carolina Giammetta (Vera) and produced by Mary McCarthy. Executive producers are Clarke (Bulletproof), Maza (Bulletproof), Alexandra Stone,...

‘Ach Du Scheisse!’ is the feature debut for Lukas Rinker.

Arri Media International will handle world sales for writer/director Lukas Rinker’s feature debut, the “confined space” comic thriller Ach Du Scheisse! (working title), which began shooting in Offenbach near Frankfurt on Monday (March 1).

The action takes place in real time over 90 minutes, as architect Frank (Thomas Niehaus) regains consciousness in a locked portaloo – known in German vernacular by local brand name Dixi Klo – on a building site where a detonation is being prepared.

As he seeks to escape this prison in a race against time before being blown to smithereens,...

AMC Networks’ streaming service Sundance Now has snapped up the rights to Playmaker Media’s The Commons for the US and Canada, to premiere December 3.

It is the fourth Aussie drama the streamer has picked up this year, with the thriller to sit alongside other acquisitions Bad Mothers, The Secrets She Keeps, and Upright.

Distributed by Sony Pictures Television, the somewhat prophetic series, created and written by Shelley Birse and originally commissioned by Stan, is set in a Sydney of the near future, one that is at “the crossroads of climate change and the cutting edge of biotechnology”.

Joanne Froggatt leads the cast as Eadie, a neuropsychologist who longs to have a child her vector biologist husband, Lloyd (David Lyons). However, multiple unsuccessful IVF treatments have put her dreams of motherhood on hold. Meanwhile, the world around her is in chaos, as global warming and parasitic diseases have made the...

Exclusive: Here’s the first look at Prisoners Of Paradise, a period romance starring Ellie Bamber (The Trial Of Christine Keeler) and Mehdi Dehbi (Messiah) that is now shooting in Mauritius.

Set on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius in 1925, the pic is a coming-of-age love story following a 17-year-old orphan, Lucy, who is sent from England to live under the guardianship of her uncle. Once there, she finds herself as odds with the ways of his world and his plans of an arranged marriage for her. When Lucy meets Krishna, a passionate young man working as a labourer on a nearby plantation with dreams of one day owning his own land, they both fall deeply and dangerously in love. The cast also includes JJ Feild, Amy Beth Hayes, Rupert Penry-Jones, Rhona Mitra and Edward Akrout.

Mitch Jenkins is directing from a screenplay by Alan Govinden and Jason Wingard. Govinden...

Sarah Snook, the Emmy-nominated actress from HBO’s hit drama “Succession,” has signed on to star in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s final novel, “Persuasion.”

The movie, from Searchlight Pictures, will be directed by Mahalia Belo. Published in 1817 after Austen’s death, “Persuasion” centers on Anne Elliot, a 27-year-old whose family moves to lower their expenses. In the meantime, they rent their home to an Admiral and his wife. The wife’s brother, a Navy captain, had been engaged to Anne Elliot (who will be portrayed by Snook), but they have had no contact in more than seven years when they meet again.

Jessica Swale, whose credits include “Summerland,” will pen the screenplay.

Alison Own and Debra Hayward are producing the film through their Monumental Pictures banner. BBC Films is co-financing the drama. Katie Goodson-Thomas is overseeing the project for the studio, as well ass Pete Spencer and manager Apolline Berty.

Exclusive: The Last Ship and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans star has boarded Mitch Jenkins’ independent feature Prisoners of Paradise.

Set in 1925, Prisoners of Paradise follows 17-year-old orphan Lucy Gladwell (Ellie Bamber) who is sent from England to live under the guardianship of her uncle George Huyton (Rupert Penry-Jones). Initially seduced by the sumptuous beauty of her surroundings, Lucy finds herself at odds with her violent uncle who is not the benign influence he pretends to be, and she soon falls in love with Krishna (Mehdi Dehbi), a laborer working on a nearby plantation. The production is aiming to shoot from late September on location in Mauritius.

Mitra will play the role of ‘Betty’, Lucy’s (Bamber) aunt.

Jenkins is directing from an original screenplay by Alan Govinden and Jason Wingard.

Most recently, Mitra wrapped the NBC pilot Debris opposite Jonathan Tucker, which was recently ordered to series at NBC...

Exclusive: Nocturnal Animals and The Trial Of Christine Keeler star Ellie Bamber, Messiah and London Has Fallen actor Mehdi Dehbi and The Strain and Vita & Virginia star Rupert Penry-Jones are set to lead cast in feature Prisoners Of Paradise, which is aiming to shoot from late September on location in Mauritius.

The coming-of-age love story, set in 1925, follows 17-year-old orphan Lucy Gladwell (Bamber) who is sent from England to live under the guardianship of her uncle George Huyton (Penry-Jones). Initially seduced by the sumptuous beauty of her surroundings, Lucy finds herself at odds with her violent uncle who is not the benign influence he pretends to be, and she soon falls in love with Krishna (Dehbi), a labourer working on a nearby plantation.

Edward Akrout (Killing Eve) is also among cast. Mitch Jenkins (The Show) will direct from an original screenplay by Alan Govinden and Jason Wingard. Producer is Alan...