Ben Kingsley Page 5

The BBC has teamed up with Netflix to announce a televisual re-make of children’s favourite 'Watership Down', which will feature an all-star cast including new Star Wars actor John Boyega, Nicholas Hoult and James McAvoy among others.

The new four-part animation was announced by the BBC in conjunction with streaming giant Netflix on Wednesday (April 27th), and with a reported budget of nearly £20 million, represents the biggest joint venture between the two organisations to date. Using state of the art animation, it will apparently be broadcast on BBC1 in late 2017, with Netflix giving it its premiere throughout the rest of the world.

John Boyega is to voice 'Bigwig' in a re-make of 'Watership Down' for BBC and Netflix

Continue reading: John Boyega, James McAvoy And Ben Kingsley To Star In BBC / Netflix 'Watership Down' Re-Make

Ben Kingsley has joined the cast of Jon Favreau’s live-action adaptation of the classic Rudyard Kipling novel, The Jungle Book, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Ben Kingsley at The Prince's Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards

Kingsley will play the role of Bagheera, the friendly, caring panther that acts as a surrogate father figure for the orphaned Mowgli. His recent projects include the high profile blockbusters Ender's Game and Iron Man 3, while his upcoming projects include Autobahn, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Exodus: Gods and Kings.

Continue reading: Ben Kingsley Is The Wise And Caring Bagheera In Jon Favreau's 'Jungle Book'

The trailer for the latest film to come from Laika, Phil Knight's Hillsboro animation studio, has hit the web. ‘Boxtrolls’ tells the story of a group of goblins that live underground, feeding off grubs and various bugs, and using boxes to appear greater than the sum of their parts. 

He's not a boxtroll, but he sort of is, is Eggs

The trailer gives us a further look at the beautifully crafted, almost dickensian world that the talented guys at Laika have created. The fantastical setting is intriguing as soon as we see the cobbled roof tiles, and becomes even riper for exploring the further we go down, even below the street, where those adorable (yet thoroughly disgusting) Boxtrolls. 

Continue reading: Hidden Below The Streets Are The 'Boxtrolls' [Trailer + Pictures]

The big story this week is that Wonder Woman will make her long-awaited big-screen debut in the upcoming Batman vs Superman movie starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. Israeli actress Gal Gadot has nabbed the key role; she's best known as Gisele in the last three Fast & Furious movies. 'Batman vs. Superman' has found its Wonder Woman, but who is Gal Gadot?

It was also announced that Rita Ora has joined the cast of Fifty Shades of Grey, which is currently filming in Vancouver with Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in the lead roles, and Sam Taylor-Wood directing. Others joining the cast include Marcia Gay Harden and Jennifer Ehle. We take a closer look at the appointment here.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Wonder Woman Is Coming, Walker's Hours Hits American Cinemas, And A Glimpse Of The Next Spider-man

Ender’s Game was a risky project from the outset. Not only is Orsen Scott-Card’s novel one of the most revered sci-fi works of all time, but the author’s forthright and controversial views on homosexuality have polarized fans of the franchise and the gay community alike.

But there is a crossover between the two – the gay community and fans of Ender’s – which lead to a campaign to boycott the movie remake of Scott-Card’s timeless book.

Continue reading: 'Ender's Game' Is A Worthy Adaptation - Boycott The Book, Scott-Card Isn't Getting Paid

Ender's Game, due to be released in the US today (1st November), has received a series of mediocre reviews from critics.

Ender's Game is released in US cinemas today.

The film, based on Scott Orson's book of the same name, is set in the future after an alien-human war. Ender Wiggin is a talented young boy studying at a military space academy where the students prepare for the next alien invasion of Earth. 

Continue reading: 'Ender's Game', Released In US Today, Receives Mixed Reviews

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is to be adapted into a film, due out later this year. In a Huffington Post blog, Jamie McGonnigal, pointed out how the author of Ender' Game Orson Scott Card has been extremely vocal in emphasising his anti-gay marriage stance. All Out (a LGBT organisation) have created a petition addressing DC with the hopes they will change their decision in employing Card.

Harrison Ford stars in Ender's Game.

DC Comics hired Card in order to adapt his book Ender's Game into a film. All Out's petition addresses DC Comics saying that "by hiring Orson Scott Card despite his anti-gay efforts you are giving him a new platform and supporting his hate". 

Continue reading: 'Ender's Game' Boycott Due To Author's Homphobic Comments

The Hollywood red carpet premiere for one of the most anticipated films of the year, Iron Man 3, takes place tonight (April 24, 2013) and ahead of the big evening, several of the cast's stars gave their thoughts on what has still be a largely-guarded secret. There's well over half an hour of footage for you tuck into below, including interviews with Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall and, of course, Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr and his shady nemesis for the third instalment, Sir Ben Kingsley - who plays The Mandarin. 

Robert Downey talks Iron Man 3

Continue reading: Stars Talk Iron Man 3 Ahead Of Hollywood Premiere [Video]

Cinemas are now fully in the grip of blockbuster season, with Tom Cruise's Oblivion and Gerard Butler's Olympus Has Fallen expanding their reach into new countries this week. 

And next week sees Iron Man 3 begin its global assault. Stars Robert Downey Jr, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley and Don Cheadle were in London this week for the film's premiere. Director Shane Black even took time out to do a stand-up routine with cowriter Drew Pearce to introduce the first UK press screening.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Cruise's Oblivion & Butler's Olympus Have Their Worldwide Release & The Lone Ranger, The Hunger Games & Man Of Steel Launch New Trailers

Robert Downey Jr, Rebecca Hall and Stanley Tucci were among the high profile attendees at the Iron Man 3 premiere in London on Thursday (April 18, 2013). After an initial postponement following the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the premiere went ahead and was a typically star-studded affair. Of course, most of the crowd had turned out to catch a glimpse of Downey Jr, the Hollywood star who reprises his role as Tony Stark for the third time in the latest movie. Speaking to Sky News at the premiere, the actor said he was unsure if he will play the role again. "Right now the future is uncertain, but I think it's very important that we end this first Marvel phase in a way that is definitive and has people asking questions," he said.

Robert Downey Jr Wearing His Signature Sneakers At The Iron Man 3 Premiere

Downey's contract is up with Marvel, though it would be unthinkable for the studio to let him go without a fight. His co-star Don Cheadle, who plays War Machine, said he would do his best to persuade the actor to don the metallic suit again. "I'm going to threaten him that I'll let all his secrets out and then maybe we'll see if he can come back!" he joked.

Continue reading: Robert Downey Jr, Rebecca Hall, Stanley Tucci Among Guests At 'Iron Man 3' Premiere [Pictures]

The movie casting rumour mill has gone into overdrive this week when Carrie Fisher seemed to confirm that she will indeed be back for Star Wars Episode VII. And then George Lucas chimed in to say that all three stars - Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill - are on board to reprise their iconic characters 30 years after 1983's Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Nothing is official yet, but we can probably expect a big announcement soon.

Meanwhile, Ford has joined the cast of the comedy sequel Anchorman: The Legend Continues, which is currently filming with Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Christina Applegate. And Halle Berry has officially rejoined the X-men for Days of Future Past, along with her original trilogy costars Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman and Anna Paquin, plus the cast of First Class.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Star Wars Episode VII Shapes Up, Harrison Ford Joins Anchorman: The Legend Continues And Oz The Great And Powerful Hits Theatres

We look at Oscar-nominated animated romp Wreck-it Ralph and Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren in Hitchcock

Awards season continues to crank up with Argo taking the lead in the homestretch. Ben Affleck's true 1970s thriller has won the top prizes at the actors, producers and directors guilds, which makes it the favourite to win Best Picture on Oscar night February 24th, even though Affleck isn't nominated as Best Director. On the other hand, he is up for director, as well as film and actor, in this Sunday's British Academy Film Awards, better known as the Baftas.

This weekend also sees the release of the season's final awards-contending titles in the UK, including Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren in Hitchcock and the Oscar-nominated animated romp Wreck-it Ralph. There are also two acclaimed foreign films: Pablo Larrain's inventive Oscar-nominated political black comedy No, and the gorgeous Japanese drama I Wish.

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: Wreck-It Ralph, No And Hitchcock Hit Cinemas While A Good Day To Die Hard, Fast & Furious 6 And Iron Man 3 Trailers Hit The Web

Hooray for another new Iron Man 3 trailer! Admittedly it seems to re-tread much of what the last trailer was hinting at, but it’s nevertheless another chance to see some big explosions, a load of action, and – most importantly of all – Ben Kingsley’s gloriously gung-ho jungle of a beard. He’s still got it y’know.

Check out the new trailer below!

Continue reading: New Iron Man 3 Trailer Set To Leave Us Guessing (Trailer)

The Thunderbirds remake has been given the green-light, with ITV and The Hobbit studio in New Zealand teaming up to work on a new instalment of the classic children's television series. A 2015 release date has been earmarked, some 50 years after Thunderbirds was first launched.

According to The Guardian, Parker, Lady Penelope and Tracy Island will return for 'Thunderbirds Are Go!' made by ITV with the same New Zealand special effects studio that worked on Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The best-loved show first appeared on the British channel in 1965, with Gerry Anderson's famous puppetry techniques. Anderson - whose other shows included Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and Space 1999 - died in December last year, aged 83. 

The new 26-part series will feature a "unique mix of CGI animation and live-action model sets," and will "deliver a whole new level of action-adventure animation for today's audience." ITV Studios UK managing director Denise O'Donoghue said: "Thunderbirds is a highly respected brand that continues to hold recognition around the world."

Continue reading: Thunderbirds Are Go! ITV To Remake Classic Children's TV Series

Robert Downey Jr returns as Tony Stark in Iron Man 3 and if the Super Bowl trailer is anything to go by, it’s going to be one hell of a thrill-ride. And probably not terribly comfortable viewing for anyone with a fear of flying. The trailer shows Iron Man rescuing a slew of innocent air-travellers as they plummet through the air to their doom.

The extended trailer goes a little further, showing snippets of other scenes from the movie, yet still giving little away. An Iron Man abandoned in the snow, bodies launched across a room in an explosion. “I’ve got a lot of apologies to make,” you hear Downey Jr say, before it cuts to the same shots of him rescuing the air passengers. Iron Man 3 introduces a new villain into the Marvel story: the Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley. He’s the leader of a terrorist group known as The Ten Rings – a “technology-crazed criminal,” as MTV describe him. 

Watch the Super Bowl trailer
 

Continue reading: Tony Stark Returns: Iron Man 3 Super Bowl Teaser Reveals Airborne Thrill-Ride

“Rule number one: there is no such thing as heroes” so says a voice in the middle of the new Iron Man 3 trailer and you can’t help but recognize a familiar comic book narrative coming into play.

Released in April of next year, Iron Man 3 focuses Robert Downey Jr’s superhero on a new villain: the Ben Kingsley-playing Mandarin. His voice lights up the new two minute trailer, explaining that “some people view me as a terrorist, I view myself as a teacher” whilst numerous grim things happen on screen such as Gwyneth Paltrow being abducted in the middle of the night and a load of explosions which cause nervous faces all round. Then you see Kingsley himself, possessing a thick beard and looking grizzled and bitter, truly a worthy adversary on appearance alone. 

The familiar narrative, though, would appear to lie with Downey Jr, who starts the trailer very much as the fallen hero, explaining that a lot of people want to kill him that he has a lot of apologizing to do. Poor Iron Man. We’ve seen it before plenty of times before of course, in Marvel Comics themselves and resultant films, and it’ll be interesting to see how they keep it fresh in Iron Man 3. That’s if that’s what they’re intending at all; the studios have been largely cryptic on the actual plot, though we’ll be expecting a huge fight scene between The Mandarin and Iron Man at some point. In the meantime, the following trailer is a glimpse of what we might expect:

Continue reading: Watch! Regret, Beards And Explosions In New Iron Man 3 Trailer (Video)

Kenneth Branagh has received his knighthood from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to drama and the community of Northern Ireland. The Oscar-nominated actor, director and screenwriter, is best known for his Shakespearean works though most recently played Swedish detective Wallander in the BBC series of the same name.

Sir Kenneth joins the likes of Sir Michael Caine, Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Laurence Olivier in becoming a thespian knight. Branagh - who recently starred in the Marilyn Monroe movie My Week With Marilyn - told Sky News that he felt "humble, elated and incredibly lucky," to have received the award, adding, "When I was a kid I dreamed of pulling on a shirt for the Northern Ireland football team. I could only imagine how proud you might feel. Today it feels like they just gave me the shirt and my heart's fit to burst." Branagh spent his early years in Northern Ireland though moved to Reading with his family at the age of nine. 

In today's ceremony, two British servicemen were awarded the Military Cross for bravery. Corporal Carl Taylor from Birmingham ran 80 feet across open ground under Taliban fire to rescue three young Afghan children. Bombardier Mark Carpenter of the Royal Artillery was also honoured, as were four fire-fighters from Nottinghamshire who received the Queen's Gallantry Medal for acts of bravery. 

Continue reading: Kenneth Branagh? That's Sir Kenneth Branagh To You!

After this year's smash-hit film The Avengers, it's no surprise that the third instalment of the Iron Man franchise has rallied such huge anticipation and interest. The trailer is still very much a teaser, and gives little away about a plot line beyond what we all expect from a superhero move: resident hero (Tony Stark AKA Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr) comes under attack by an inevitable foe. Nevertheless, enough is revealed to excite the senses and to incite powerful suspense.

The trailer sees a montage of scenes from the film; a weakened, perhaps even defeated Iron Man, de-masked to reveal Tony Stark's face bloodied; the interminable enemy, Mandarin (Ben Kingsley); damsel, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), in distress; Stark's house being blown up; Stark's Iron Man suits seemingly self-combusting, and most intriguingly, the appearance of a second masked figure that looks suspiciously similar to Iron Man himself. Any idea what's going on? No? Nor us!

Ben Kingsley will make a brilliant villain, as Mandarin's dark, gravelly voice tells us: "Some people call me a terrorist. I consider myself a teacher. Lesson No. 1: Heroes. There is no such thing." The LA Times gave a brief background on the character: "In the comics, the Mandarin was an exiled orphan who discovers a crashed spaceship. He mastered the alien science he found there and kept 10 powerful rings used to drive the ship. He used the rings' power in his schemes for world domination...  the big-screen Mandarin's back story won't follow the comics, focusing in technology instead of magic." Iron Man 3 includes a fantastic supporting cast including Javier Bardem, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Jon Favreau and Don Cheadle, and is directed by Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang).

Continue reading: "Rule Number 1: Heroes. There's No Such Thing"- Iron Man 3 Trailer Arrives

A brief but effective teaser trailer of the upcoming 3rd installment of the Iron Man series of movies has been released online.

Those cheeky devils at Marvel certainly do know how to tickle our movie-going-tastebuds. The 18 second trailer sees various scenes from the film, utterly rife with drama and intrigue. Tony Stark AKA Iron Man being harassed by the press, Pepper Potts in hysterical tears, overcome by fear as we see her trapped in something metal, somewhere dark, and Ben Kingsley who plays the hero's arch nemesis The Mandarin, loading a gun. None of it's surprising, but nothing could excite us more. As yet, the film is a long way off, but tomorrow (23rd Oct 2012) sees the release of the official full length trailer, which is just enough to keep us satisfied until the release of the movie.

Robert Downey Jr. again stars as the eponymous hero, and Gwyneth Paltrow returns to her role as his love interest, but this film will also include newbies Guy Pearce (Memento) and Rebecca Hall (Frost/Nixon), as the creators of a virus. ABC News reports a brief synopsis for the film, which reads: "With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: Does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?" A question everyone wants to know the answer to, but even with the trailer released tomorrow, we'll have to wait another 6 and a half months to find out! Iron Man 3 is set for release May 3rd 2013.