Ben Whishaw Page 5

Production has commenced on the highly anticipated Mary Poppins Returns and Walt Disney Studios have finally revealed some exciting plot details.

Filming is currently underway at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England and the musical is scheduled for release on December 25, 2018.

Emily Blunt stars in Mary Poppins Returns

Continue reading: Here's What We Know So Far About 'Mary Poppins Returns'

The Oscar-nominated star of 12 Years A Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor, is likely to become the next James Bond villain, according to Variety. The trade magazine says the British star is the top name on producers' wish list for the 24th official James Bond movie, which will once again be directed by Sam Mendes as well as starring Daniel Craig.

Chiwetel Ejiofor Could Be The Next Bond Villain

Bond 24 is due to begin filming in the summer for a November 2015 release date. Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris are also set to return as M, Q and Moneypenny respectively. 

Continue reading: '12 Years A Slave' Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor Set For Bond Villain Role

With his latest film The Zero Theorem, Terry Gilliam returns to the ramshackle future he first visited in his now-classic 1985 film Brazil and then again in 1995's Twelve Monkeys.

Ben Whishaw in 'The Zero Theorem'

Known for his flights of fancy in movies like Life of Brian, Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Gilliam's rampant imagination is well-suited to stories set in the chaos of a future dystopia where society seems to be crushing the independent spirit of the central character.

Continue reading: The Zero Theorem: Is Terry Gilliam Back To 'Twelve Monkeys' Form?

Terry Gilliam's latest effort The Zero Theorem follows a computer hacker and his ultimate goal to discover the reason for human existence. A shadowy organisation known only as The Management are keen to interrupt his work and send a lusty love interest to distract him from his potentially ground-breaking work.

Christoph Waltz [L], Peter Stormare [Centre] and Ben Whishaw [R] in 'The Zero Theorem'

It all sounds very...Gilliam...though from the polarizing critical reception, we're no clearer as to whether the 73-year-old has made his finest movie yet, or another scatty missed opportunity.

Continue reading: 'The Zero Theorem': Terry Gilliam Trapped In His Own Fantasy? [Trailer + Pictures]

Remember Stars in Their Eyes? That was good wasn’t it, and while it may have provided an incredibly cheap platform on which to build this story – surrounding Ben Whishaw’s upcoming turn as Freddie Mercury in a biopic of the mercurial singer – we maintain its validity and quality. But that’s enough nostalgia now; it’s time to step back into 2013.

Ben Whishaw clasping his Bafta

Whishaw has replaced Sacha Baron Cohen - reports the BBC -  who pulled out of playing the late Queen star because of creative differences with the band. He wanted to portray every facet of Mercury’s life included the more debauched and unsavoury times, as well as the creative entertainment powerhouse that he was. The remaining Queen members on board, though, wanted a family friendly exposition of his life, and ties were cut.

Continue reading: Tonight Matthew, I'm Going To Be Freddy Mercury - Ben Whishaw

'Fifty Shades' Saved: The movie adaptation of the bestselling erotic trilogy has been beset by issues, not least the walk-out of frontman Charlie Hunnam. After plenty of speculation in the media, Irish The Fall actor  has stepped in and it looks as though the movie's ready to begin filming with Dornan and Dakota Johnson from November. Learn more about Jamie Dornan.

A Future King Christened: All eyes were on the UK's royal family once again for the christening of Prince William and Duchess Catherine's three month old baby, Prince George. The tiny ceremony was attended by just 22 guests, which included the highest members of the royal family, Kate's family and George's 7 godparents. Find out who was picked.

Continue reading: A Week In News: Jamie Dornan To '50 Shades' Rescue, A Royal Baptism & Pearl Jam Rock To Top Of Charts

Actor Ben Whishaw has reportedly stepped in to play legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury after the recent departure of Sacha Baron Cohen. The 33 year-old Skyfall actor has landed the role in the upcoming biopic charting the fame of the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' rocker, The Mail on Sunday claims to have confirmed.

Ben Whishaw Is The Queen Favourite For The Role.

Baron Cohen dropped out over the summer over quarrels with the remaining Queen members regarding the film's plot. Sacha was said to be gunning for a bare-all, gritty portrayal of the singer who died in 1991 whereas the band preferred a more family-friendly storyline that celebrated Queen's music.

Continue reading: Ben Whishaw Lands Freddie Mercury Role, Replaces Sacha Baron Cohen

Ben Wheatley has been handed the enviable task of helming the first two episodes of the new Dr. Who series, which will feature a new Timelord in the shape of Peter Capaldi, who was unveiled as the new Doctor when Matt Smith hung up his Sonic Screwdriver. The director – known for his feature films – has worked on TV, and with the BBC before.

Ben Wheatley has been a big fan of the sci-fi series

He directed 14 episodes of the Johnny comedy Ideal. He was also behind The Editors’ music video for Formaldehyde, but it was his movies, Down Terrace, Kill List and most recently, the critically acclaimed A Field in England, that thrust him to prominence.

Continue reading: Ben Wheatley To Usher In Peter Capaldi's Dr Who Generation With First 2 Eps

When it comes to representing the gay community via popular characters, TV is way ahead of film, according to GLAAD, who have released a rather interesting studio ranking, based on leading homosexual characters in movies.

The list sees Universal performing at an ‘adequate’ level, with 25% of their films featuring LGBT character appearances. Sony and Paramount were also adequate, while Fox, with 0%, and Disney, with 7.7% are ‘failing’.

Javier Bardem's role as Silva "plays into some old cinematic cliches of bisexual people being duplicitous or unbalanced."

Continue reading: Hollywood Is "Behind The Curve" When It Comes To Gay Characters, GLAAD Announce

Ben Whishaw, the British actor who began his role as gadget guru Q in the latest James Bond movie Skyfall, has confirmed he is gay and married to boyfriend Mark Bradshaw. Whishaw, 32, tied the knot with Bradshaw 30, in Sydney last August though has only just gone public with the details.

A spokesperson for the actor said: "Ben has never hidden his sexuality, but like many actors he prefers not to discuss his family or life outside of his work.

"Due to speculation, I can confirm that Ben and Mark entered into a civil partnership in August 2012. They were proud to do so and are very happy."

Continue reading: Ben Whishaw Confirms He Is Gay. And Married. So There.

With Matt Smith's time as the Universe's most famous time altering, Tardis-flying hero, Doctor Who, coming to an end, we've all been scratching our heads over the prospect of his potential successor. Could it be a man, a woman, a lime-green half-man-half-woman? The possibilities are limitless, however the reality will be made apparent sooner than some might expect, as the BBC intends on revealing the 12th Doctor during a live show being aired this Sunday (4 August) on BBC1.

Current Doctor Matt Smith with his sidekick Jenna Coleman and the show's head, Steven Moffat

The show, which will be presented by Zoe Ball, will feature some in-depth Doctor Who discussion, as well as interviews with current Time Lord Matt Smith and executive producer and head writer Steven Moffat, with the new Doctor's unveiling serving as the main attraction for the Who-filled evening. According to reports from the BBC, the mystery person has already been chosen following a series of rigorous screentests, organised incognito by the Beeb under the codename 'Houdini.’

Continue reading: The New Dr Who Will Be Revealed This Sunday, But Who Will It Be?

The new Doctor Who will be revealed in a special live show on Sunday (August 4, 2013) with 'The Thick of It' star Peter Capaldi the clear favourite with the bookmakers.

According to the BBC, the half-four show will be presented by Zoe Ball and is set to feature an interview with the current Doctor Who Matt Smith and executive producer Steven Moffat. The casting remains shrouded in secrecy, with only a handful of those working on the long-running BBC show privy to the selection.

"The decision is made and the time has come to reveal who's taking over the Tardis," Moffat said. "For the last of the Time Lords, the clock is striking twelve."

Continue reading: Peter Capaldi To Be Announced As 'Doctor Who' In Special Live Show?

Rupert Grint, AKA Ron Weasley, will be putting his Potter days behind him as he makes his stage debut on the West End. The prestigious theatre circuit will be a baptism of fire for the 24 year-old actor who has never performed on stage before, having captured the attention of the Warner Bros. producers when he submitted a rap, aged 11, proclaiming how much he wanted the part of Harry Potter's best friend, Ron.

Grint: Eyeballing A West End Role.

It has been confirmed to BBC News that Grint will star alongside Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, The Hour) in a gritty play entitled Mojo that was originally performed at the Royal Court in 1995, followed by a film adaptation in 1998. Opening at the Harold Pinter theatre in October, black comedy Mojo will be set in a seedy 1950s Soho nightclub with Grint playing 'Sweets' who has a penchant for amphetamines and dark humour. The Thunderpants actor will star alongside Whishaw, Downton Abbey's Brendan Coyle and Made in Dagenham's Daniel Mays.

Continue reading: Rupert Grint To Make West End Debut Alongside Ben Whishaw

Ever fancied yourself behind the controls to the TARDIS? This could be your chance: the audition script used by the BBC on the hunt for a new timelord has been published in Doctor Who magazine, giving us a glimpse of life after Matt Smith.

The BBC Are On The Hunt For A Matt Smith Successor.

It could be safe to say that producers aren't on the lookout for a female Doctor Who. Although no indication is given whether the regenerated doctor's gender is the same or not, Jenna Lee Coleman's Clara's lines aren't half as surprised as they would have been had producers planned for the Doc to reappear with boobs and the Doctor doesn't react to a more feminine sounding voice. Sorry Olivia Colman and Helen Mirren; it's probably not going to be you.

Continue reading: Calling All Timelords! Doctor Who Audition Script Released By Steven Moffat

Ben Daniels is the latest name to become the favourite to inherit the role of Doctor Who in the long-running BBC series. Very soon there'll be very few British male actors who haven't been rumoured to be taking over the controls to the TARDIS as the Merlin actor now has the most favourable odds at 6/1. With previous odds of 16/1, Chiwetel Ejiofor (Salt, American Gangster) now closely follows Daniels at 7/1.

Could Ben Daniels Take Over From Matt Smith As The New Doctor?

However, chances are the new Who may not be a male actor at all; there have been calls for the new Doctor to be female, which would mark a first for the series which has run since 1963.

Continue reading: Ben Daniels Is New Favourite For 'Doctor Who' Job: Could He Be The One?

Rory Kinnear, 35, has apparently been offered the titular role in BBC's long-running sci-fi drama Doctor Who,causing betting agents Ladbrokes to close down bets after an influx of bets caused his odds to rise to 2/1.

The Telegraph have stoked the flames of this most recent rumour, reporting that their insider DW source confirmed Kinnear has been offered the role and is quoted saying "he is the perfect choice" to follow current Doctor, Matt Smith - who is soon to retire.

Will Rory Kinnear Be The Next Doctor Who?

Continue reading: Rory Kinnear, A Time Lord? Apparently He's Been Offered Doctor Who Role...

Matt Smith hasn't even given up his role as the Doctor in the BBC's Doctor Who yet but speculation is already rife over who will take over command of the TARDIS as the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor is set to step down this Christmas, having debuted in January 2010.

William Hill have drawn up a list of odds; the most favourable, surprisingly, is for the next Doctor to be played by a female actor.

The bookies current favourite, at 10/1, is 31 year-old Russell Tovey, best known for his roles as werewolf, George Sands, in BBC drama Being Human and the character, Rudge, in both the stage and screen adaptations of The History Boys. Tovey took to Twitter to lament the stepping down of Smith in a statement that has fuelled speculation he might be in talk to be the next Doctor: "Sad to hear of Matt Smith's doctor departure, he truly is a superb actor and made the Doc proper.. Who's next tho eh? Who's next.. Hmmm x" Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise, jointly ranks alongside Tovey with 10/1 odds. William Hill spokesman, Rupert Adams says he thinks Grint, 24, would "be perfect for the role."

Continue reading: WHO Will Be Next Doctor Who? Place Your Bets Now!

John Logan’s new 90 minute play Peter & Alice, directed by Michael Grandage features stellar performances from Dame Judi Dench and Ben Whishaw, who were last seen on screen together in the latest James Bond movie Skyfall. A rather different proposition than the action packed spy movie, Peter & Alice tells the tale of the real life people who inspired the characters of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and JM Barrie’s Peter Pan. The two people met, in real life in a bookshop in 1932, though much of the play’s narrative is imagined.

Dench is praised by The Guardian, for her “ability to combine ecstasy and melancholy, witnessed in abundance here” and her “features flicker between delight and regret at the thought of opportunities missed.” Similiarly, Whishaw is received a positive response from the paper’s reviewer, who rearks that his performance is “equally memorable,” adding “There is a haggard intensity about his straggle-bearded features that tell you, from the first second when you see him uneasily prowling the London bookshop, that he is a man marked for tragedy.” The Telegraph reviews reveals that both Whishaw and Dench “give beautiful, heart-catching performances in this haunting play that sounds profound notes of loss and grief.

It’s not all good news for Whishaw though, who is described by the Daily Mail as being “so irredeemably wet he could do with sponging.” 

Continue reading: Impressive Performances From Skyfall Co-Stars Judi Dench And Ben Whishaw In Peter And Alice

Skyfall star Ben Whishaw, who plays a youthful incarnation of gadget expert Q in the latest Bond film, has hinted that the follow-up to the massively successful 007 movie may be ready to begin filming as early as this year.

Speaking to The Radio Times, the actor revealed that the next instalment of the Bond franchise could begin filming in as little as 'about ten months’ from now, should everything continue to go to plan. Whishaw was quick to cover his tracks though, should things fall behind schedule with the film, adding, ‘Well, hopefully. Let’s hope so!’

Whishaw and 007 himself, Daniel Craig, have confirmed their place in the follow-up Bond film, with Craig signed on to appear in at least three more Bond films. One person who is yet to commit to the follow-up, but has voiced interest, is Skyfall director Sam Mendes, who admitted at last weeks BAFTAs that he would 'certainly consider' stepping behind the camera again, but wont commit until he has seen a script.

Continue reading: Skyfall Star Ben Whishaw Insists: 'New Bond To Film This Year'

Ben Whishaw, who plays MI6 technical expert Q in Skyfall, has managed to relight the 007 fire just a week before The Oscars are set to celebrate the franchise’s 50 year anniversary, by hinting at a filming date for the 24th Bond film.

Speaking to The Radio Times, who were keen to find out if he had been in touch with Daniel Craig, Wishaw said, "we know that we'll probably be back together again in about ten months." Then, realising he’d possibly let the cat out of the bag, he quickly said, "Well, hopefully. Let's hope so!" Too late Ben, too late. Whishaw also talked about the reality of Craig doing more Bond films: "I know that he’s doing the next three so I’m not thinking beyond that. We’ve got to just get through those first," he said before opening up his character as the infamous Q. "Well obviously I would like just for him to be in it more!" he joked.

Lots of talk has surrounded Craig’s return as Bond, with some reports suggesting he wouldn’t be happy with a quick turnaround to make another film. Idris Elba was then mooted to take over as 007, becoming the first black James Bond in the process. As for the director, it looks as if Mendes has done enough to stay in the driver’s seat. He recently indicated he would be open to a second Bond film, saying: "we would want to make a better movie next time around".

BBC Two has decided against renewing newsroom drama The Hour for a third series, the corporation has confirmed. The show, starring Dominic West and Ben Whishaw, followed the lives of fictional BBC journalists at the Old Lime Grove studios in London, and despite showing early promise in its first run, failed to pull in the viewers for its sophomore season. Whishaw's performance as idealistic reporter Freddie Lyons was no doubt instrumental in his casting of Q in Sam Mendes' James Bond movie Skyfall.

The show, penned by Shame and The Iron Lady writer Abi Morgan, received multiple award nominations and drew around 2.2 million viewers for its first season. However, its second run pulled in just 1.47 millions on average, despite getting nods at the BAFTAs, Emmys and the Golden Globes. Broadcast magazine reported that Jane Fatherstone - chief executive of Kudos which produced the show - was "sad and disappointed," by the decision, as the original aim had been to produce three series. A BBC spokeswoman said, "We loved the show but have to make hard choices to bring new shows through."

Though it's bad news for The Hour cast and crew, it's hard to conceive its lead stars will be short of work in the near future. In fact, it was recently announced that Dominic West would play Welsh acting legend Richard Burton in a BBC Four drama charting his relationship with Elizabeth Taylor. Whishaw recently completed filming Terry Gilliam's computer hacker drama The Zero Theorem with Christoph Waltz and Matt Damon.

Continue reading: On Borrowed Time: BBC Two Axes Dominic West Starring 'The Hour'

Dominic West and The Hour returned to television screens in the UK last night (November 14) as the show continued to struggle to move away from comparisons to US drama Mad Men.

Set around the fictional news show The Hour, series two episode one saw Dominic West reprise his arrogant character Hector Madden, whose levels of self-confidence had gone through the roof since finally being made presenter of the show. The first episode sees him as a full blown national celebrity, hanging out in West End clubs and being snapped cavorting with an array of girls; this is set against a back drop of rising crime rate and political unrest, with a government under spending on the police and effectively leaving people to fend for themselves. Truly the environment is ripe for a man of Madden’s callousness to rise to the top.

A new addition to the cast though has potential to steal the limelight in future episodes, with Peter Capaldi joining the team as the new head of news Randall Brown, with many hoping he can bring about change in a news room that’s seen Madden’s ego take precedent. His character’s chemistry with foreign desk editor Lix Storm certainly suggested there was more to come from those two and offered a break away from the scene setting taking place with Madden. There was a lack of Ben Whishaw as Freddie Lyon though; he was fired at the end of the last season as The Hour was taken off air and for the first half of the episode he isn’t involved at all.

Continue reading: RECAP: The Hour Series 2, Episode 1, Dominic West Returns

Ben Whishaw isn't exactly a household name yet, though you may recognise him from films such as Perfume: Story of a Murderer, or BBC dramas The Hour and Criminal Justice, but he soon will be in his new role as Q in the new Bond movie 'Skyfall' with Daniel Craig.

2012 is the 50th anniversary of the iconic British movie franchise and as such excitement for the new film is higher than ever. Adele's theme for Skyfall (of the same name) was released last week and the coming fortnight will no doubt prove to heighten the energy surrounding the film.

Whishaw, speaking to ShortList, spoke about his version of Q and said: "I deliberately didn't [study the actors]...What I did do was watch all the early [Bond films] that Q isn't in. It felt like a chance for a fresh start so I didn't want to be bogged down in [previous Q performances]... He's slicker this time. He's still an eccentric, jovial English chap but, because of the genius he has, there's a lethal, powerful side to him. Although he does make a mistake I can't tell you about."

Continue reading: Ben Whishaw: Slicker Version Of Q, Or Just Nerdier?

Adele’s ‘Bond’ theme will see the London songstress follow in the footsteps of singing greats Shirley Bassey and Nancy Sinatra, both of whom are responsible for recording some of the most recognizable 007 tunes in the secret agent’s 50 years in film.

The multiple Grammy award winner had long been rumoured to be handed the prestigious role for Sam Mendes’ forthcoming ‘Skyfall’ – again starring Daniel Craig – and Total Film.com confirmed the speculation this week. Adele’s single, named after the new movie, will be the first release from the star since ‘Turning Tables’ from her much-feted ‘21’ album. Given her phenomenally successful couple of years, Adele will certainly be a popular choice for the job and she boasts the kind of heavyweight soulful voice synonymous with the theme tune. One thing’s for sure: it’s almost certain to be an improvement on the poorly received tune ‘Another Way to Die’ by Jack White and Alicia Keys from 2008’s ‘Quantum of Solace’.

‘Skyfall’ – set to open in the UK on October 26 – stars Daniel Craig, alongside Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw.