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It's been just over two months since 'Downton Abbey' ended for UK viewers, while the US still has the sixth and final series to complete. So what have all the main cast members been up to and where are we going to see them next? Some are sticking to the UK, but others are broadening their horizons.

But what's Maggie Smith up to?

Many of the 'Downton Abbey' stars were already well-established in their own right, but for others the show has been a stepping stone to bigger things. Hugh Bonneville is of the former category, and he's looking pretty busy this year what with the new 'Hollow Crown' series coming up in which he stars as the Duke of Gloucester. He's also finished filming the UK/Indian drama 'Viceroy's House' with Michael Gambon and Gillian Anderson.

Continue reading: What's Next For The Stars Of 'Downton Abbey'?

Neill Blomkamp's new film Chappie held its world premiere this week in New York, just a day before before it opened around the world. Blomkamp (who previously made District 9 and Elysium) was present along with stars Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Sharlto Copley and Dev Patel.

Photos - World film premiere of 'Chappie' at AMC Loews Lincoln Square - NYC

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Chappie And Cinderella Premiere In New York And L.A., Ethan Hawke Is Snapped On-Set, And New Trailers Arrive For Movies Starring Veterans Ian Mckellen, Ben Kingsley And Maggie Smith.

What better way to encourage cinema-goers to see the forthcoming live-action 'Cinderella' movie, than the promise of more 'Frozen'? Disney announces short film 'Frozen Fever' to precede the film when it hits movie theaters on March 13th 2015.

'Frozen Fever' set to screen before 'Cinderella'

Hollywood is going fairytale mad this year, what with 'Frozen' becoming such an enormous worldwide hit and several adaptations making waves in the media such as 'Maleficent' and the forthcoming 'Into The Woods'. 'Cinderella', starring Lily James, Helena Bonham Carter and Cate Blanchett, is the next big thing for film folklore, but it seems people are still stuck on the Oscar winning animation featuring Anna, Elsa and friends.

Continue reading: 'Frozen Fever' Short To Screen Before Disney's 'Cinderella' In March 2015

Former Doctor Who Matt Smith has signed on to star alongside Lily James, Sam Riley and Jack Huston in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the adaptation of the Seth Grahame-Smith novel.

Matt Smith has signed on to star in 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'

The project has been in development for years and will finally go into production on September 24. A comedy-horror spin-off of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice, Zombies stars Liz Bennett (James) who is pressurised by her family to marry into a wealth home but rebels against the social requirements of Victorian England. Instead, she sets out to help defend the English countryside against a plague of horrifying zombies.

Continue reading: Matt Smith Signs On For 'Pride And Prejudice And Zombies'

Cannes Panning: We'd love to say we were starting the round-up on a high with the Cannes Film Festival but unfortunately for new royal biopic Grace of Monaco, there is no good news to be found. The Nicole Kidman-starring true story dramatization has been almost universally crushed by Cannes critics who found the acting wooden, the script trite and the entire picture worse than the much-slated Diana pic. You can watch the trailer here though - it's worth it for the beautiful costumes and idyllic tax-haven setting.

Baldwin Busted: Alec Baldwin should probably sneak off to some meditation resort in the mountains for the next few months until this latest debacle blows over. The hot-headed actor and TV host, who is known for his many altercations with paps, had a run-in with police this week when he was caught riding his bicycle the wrong way down a busy New York street and flew into a rage when the cops asked to see his ID. It didn't end well for the 30 Rock star: read about all the drama here.

Continue reading: A Week In News: Batman Revealed, Baldwin Busted, An Elevator Bust-Up

Downton Abbey will return to PBS for a fourth season this Sunday, 5 January, and anticipation for the quintessentially English period drama couldn't be higher in the United States. The early 20th century-set story of British aristocracy couldn't be further from the days spent by the modern Americans who will sit down in their droves to check out the new season, but can the escapist piece move America once again?

The big bad boys of Downton will be back

The Americanisation of the show, it's preoccupation with popular culture intertwined with the prevalent and glaring theme of British social history, is what has made it such a success on both sides of the Atlantic, and this American distinction will only increase in season four. In particular, one of the integral story lines of the season involves the Earl of Downton's niece and her courting of an African-American man, one that obviously hold higher implications not just because he is American.

Continue reading: Downton's Back, Alright! Downton Abbey Returns To US Screens

Downton Abbey came to a close in the UK last night (10 Nov.) on ITV and even though it won't air in the US (on PBS) until January, producers of the show and bosses at the UK station have already agreed to bring the show back for a fifth run. ITV and co-producer Carnival Films announced Sunday (10 Nov.) that the Crawley family will be back for at least one more time, as the channel continues to capitalise on its most successful export.

Hugh Bonnevile and co. keeping the grounds of Downton Abbey reputable

According to ITV, the program brings in an average of at least 24 million viewers each week when it airs in the US, making it the most-watched drama in PBS' history. Understandably, both ITV and PBS want to continue capitalising on the immense success of the series and a fifth season seems like the most logical step fo producers to take. The hit series has already been sold to over 220 territoires and has an estimated global audience of 120 million people.

Continue reading: 'Downton Abbey' Green-Lit For Fifth Season

Downton Abbey is moving through the years with gusto, and already we're seeing some of the effects of time play havoc with the lives of some of the landed gentry trying to keep up with the break neck pace of the Roarin' Twenties. In the latest episode there were taboos of yesteryear broken at every turn. We look back at episode six of the current (fourth) season and try and keep up with the changing face of the 20th century along with the cast. The rest of this article contains spoilers.

I say sir!

One thing that did become clear early on in the episode was that, with the season hitting the half way mark, plot devices were being shoved in here there and everywhere to gear up the season for its final episode, which will air around Christmas time. The first little glimpse of the season closer came when the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) received a letter from Uncle Harold in America, stating that he had gotten himself into “a proper fix” over oil leases. The letter will make Paul Giamatti's entrance into the series at Christmas just that little less surprising now, but chances are you've already heard about his special guest spot by now anyway.

Continue reading: 'Downton Abbey' Recap: Season Four, Episode Six

Disney’s first live action feature – an adaptation of Cinderella, starring Downton Abbey star Lily James has been attracting buzz for several months. Today, the studio announced the start of principle photography on the film, which is directed by Award-nominee Kenneth Branagh (Jack Ryan, Thor) and will also feature a star-studded cast in the supporting roles. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (The Aviator) and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) have both signed on to play the stepmother Lady Tremaine and the Prince, respectively. Helena Bonham Carter, playing against type this time, will portray the Fairy Godmother.

The film will be a reimagining of the classic Disney animation.

It seems that Disney are throwing all their resources behind their first live-action feature effort and have enlisted Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class, Elysium), Allison Shearmur (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), David Barron (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Jack Ryan) to produce the film, based on a screenplay by Chris Weitz (About a Boy, The Golden Compass).

Continue reading: Production Begins On 'Cinderella' - Disney's First Ever Live Action Feature

Downton Abbey isn’t returning to the screen for a while now, but the show is keeping viewers on their toes, having just released stills of Gary Carr filming scenes for series four. Carr has been announced as the new addition to the cast, playing the show’s first black character. His character, American jazz singer Jack Ross, will join the previously all white cast this fall.

The stills are hinting at a close friendship or a possible romance beween Jack Ross and Lady Rose.

In the stills released, Ross is scene rowing down the river with Lilly James’s Lady Rose MacClare, hinting at a possible romance between the rebellious young woman and the still rather mysterious new character. The stills were released, courtesy of the Daily Mail. 26-year-old Carr, who is currently best known for his role as the inept policeman Fidel Best in BBC’s Death in Paradise, will be only one of a few upcoming additions to the cast. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Nigel Harman will also be joining the programme. Carr’s casting came following a statement from programme creator Julian Fellowes saying he wanted to diversify Downton for series four.

Continue reading: First Stills Of Gary Carr In Downton Abbey Hint At Possible New Romance Plot

Why Baby Why: The country music world lost a true legend in the shape of George Jones last week. The musician was dubbed No Show George for his unpredictability throughout his touring career though he never failed to entertain and certainly had a tale to tell. The musical luminaries turned out en masse for his funeral too.

The Slipper Fits: Lily James landed the biggest role of her short career this week, filing the part of Cinderella in Kenneth Branagh's new big-budget movie for Disney. You may remember that Emma Watson turned down the role earlier this year - could that be a movie that comes back to haunt her? 

Continue reading: A Week In News: Tributes Paid To George Jones, Tyler The Creator Finds Controversy, Lily Collins Goes Zombie-Hunting

Downton Abbey starlet Lily James has found a new outlet for her talents, as the star of Disney’s upcoming live action adaptation of Cinderella. We’ve already witnessed James’s ability to portray dainty, elegant characters in her role as Lady Rose on Downton, but it will be interesting to see what the actress brings to the role of Cinderella. Particularly because the recent string of fairy tale adaptations haven’t done too well at the box office (see: Jack The Giant Slayer or Red Riding Hood). This one has been in the works for a while, though, reportedly ever since the release of Tim Burton’s wonky retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Then again, that movie was nothing to rave about either, so are we to expect anything different from this go-around?

Well, some pretty notable people have completed drafts for the script for this one: Twilight: New Moon’s Chris Weitz and The Devil Wears Prada’s Aline Brosh McKenna. In addition to James, Cate Blanchett is set to co-star as Cinderella’s evil step mom. Ok, we know it all sounds pretty low-brow so far. Add to all this the fact that Emma Watson turned down the part, before it was offered to James and the full picture starts to clear up – namely, another fairytale adaptation we won’t be paying to see.

We can definitely picture James fitting into that little glass slipper. 

British actress Lily James, best known for playing Lady Rose MacClare in ITV period drama Downton Abbey, has landed one of the biggest female roles in Hollywood – that of Cinderella in Disney’s Kenneth Branagh helmed movie. It was well documented how the studio had Emma Watson at the top of their list, though the Harry Potter star rebuffed their advances. Now, it shall be Lily who lines up alongside Cate Blanchett (The Evil Stepmother) in the latest movie version of the classic Brothers Grimm tale.

It’s a heavyweight project from Disney, who hired Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada) to pen the first draft of the script, suggesting the movie will perhaps be featuring contemporary themes and fashions. “Just announced: Actress Lily James will play Cinderella in the live-action interpretation of the beloved classic tale,” became the tweet from Disney on Tuesday evening, announcing the casting.

Born Lily Thompson, the actress from Surrey, England, began her education at the Arts Educational School in Tring because going on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, graduating in 2010.

Continue reading: Say Hello To British Star Lily James, Disney’s Cinderella [Pictures]

The Downton Abbey actress Lily James has landed the role of Cinderella in Disney's live-action retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy-tale, reports Variety. Kenneth Branagh will direct the project, based on a script by Chris Weitz. Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett co-stars as the evil stepmother.

James is a name that's hardly been mentioned throughout the casting process, with Disney originally offering the role to Harry Potter star Emma Watson. On that occasion - Variety's Marc Graser (who broke news of Lily James' casting) - reported how negotiations had broken down, with Watson instead choosing to focus on Guillermo del Toro's planned Beauty and the Beast movie, over at Warner Bros. The film is still in development at the studio, though there's no production start date or release date yet.

Lily James began her career in several notable theatre roles, including alongside Dominic West in a production of Othello at the Crucible in Sheffield. She went onto star in Vernon God Little at the Young Vic Theatre. She landed a movie roles in Noel Clarke's 2012 film Fast Girls about a group of young female athletes competing in the World Championships before appearing in Wrath of the Titans, alongside Rosamund Pike, Sam Worthington and Liam Neeson. Her television credits include Secret Diary of a Call Girl and season three of Downton Abbey. 

Continue reading: The Slipper Fits! Lily James Snags Role As Disney's Cinderella: Who Is She?

Lily James, who found fame as Lady Rose MacClare in Downton Abbey, has been chosen by Disney to play Cinderella in their upcoming live-action reboot of the fairy tale. The English beauty has beaten off competition from the likes of Saoirse Ronan, Bella Heathcote and Emma Watson for the sought after role, with filming set to begin on the project later this year.

Lily James should make a fitting Cinderella

Kenneth Branagh has already been signed on to direct the live action take, with Cate Blanchett playing the evil stepmother. Disney have been planning on bringing a live-action version of Cinderella to cinemas since 2010, following the success of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland, but have only now gotten round to filling in all the gaps in the project. Blanchett was confirmed to take on the evil stepmother role at the end of last year, but since then the producers have been in a mad dash to sign their lead actress, with many of the would-be Cinderellas, most notable Watson, declining the part due to other commitments.

Continue reading: Lily James Chosen To Play Cinderella In New Disney Flick