Kenneth Branagh Page 2

Kenneth Branagh’s live action reboot of Cinderella, starring ‘Downton Abbey’s’ Lily James looks set to rule the US box office this weekend, after taking $23 million on Friday. The film, which also stars Helena Bonham Carter and Cate Blanchett has earned positive reviews from critics and currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 84%.

Lily James as Cinderella

Cinderella will easily beat its only competition this weekend, which came from Liam Neeson action flick Run All Night, which looks on track to take just $11million, according to Variety. The film, which stars Neeson as a hit man who’s forced to betray his boss to save his son, is the actor’s weakest opening in some time, with his last outing Taken 3 having opened to $39.2 million in January.

Continue reading: 'Cinderella' Eyes $70 Million Opening Weekend After Taking $23 Million On Friday

Richard Madden opens up about just how Cinderella and her Prince Charming get together, and how they rely on each other to free them from the restrictions in their lives in the forthcoming adaptation by director Kenneth Branagh and screenwriter Chris Weitz.

Richard Madden stars as Prince Charming in Cinderella

It's nice to see modern big screen fairytale re-tellings looking at relationships in a much more equal way. Rather than princesses of late being swept of their feet by proverbial knights in shining armour, they're coming together while fighting for justice in their own lives. You had 'Snow White and the Huntsman', which saw a clear romance forming between the two title characters as they worked together to lead an army, and then there is, of course, 'Frozen' which saw bravery on the part of both Anna and her faithful quest companion Kristoff. Now 'Cinderella' brings together two souls, who must help each other escape the prison of their families.

Continue reading: Richard Madden Opens Up About Cinderella And Prince Charming's Equal Partnership

Cate Blanchett talks about her exploration of the female superhero within Cinderella, ahead of the March 2015 release of Kenneth Branagh's vibrant re-telling of the Disney fairytale in which she stars as the title character's terribly wicked stepmother Lady Tremaine.

Cate Blanchett is the wicked Lady Tremaine in Cinderella

Everyone loves a good fairytale; a timeless classic that will never cease to have meaning in a person's life no matter how old they get. Nowadays, they're providing much needed relief from male role models in cinema, with numerous feisty heroines that we already all know and love taken over the screen, from Kristen Stewart's vision of Snow White in 'Snow White And The Huntsman' to Angelina Jolie's misunderstood character in 'Maleficent' - not to mention the more original arrivals of Elsa and Anna in 'Frozen'.

Continue reading: 'Cinderella' Villain Cate Blanchett Says Big Screen Fairytales Are Bringing Heroines To The Fore

Fairytales have certainly been going through a bit of a rebirth as of late, thanks to films like Maleficent, so logically next in line for the 21st century treatment was Cinderella, who has just been brought back to life on the big screen by a Shakespearian actor. Yes Kenneth Branagh has gone behind the camera to breathe new life into the classic tale, which first got the Disney treatment in 1950. But is this Cinderella really much different?

Lily James meets her Prince in Cinderella

Starring ‘Downton Abbey’s’ Lily James (that’s Lady Rose) as the titular princess and Cate Blanchett as her very wicked stepmother, Cinderella’s impressive cast list also includes Helena Bonham-Carter as the Fairy Godmother and Richard Madden as Prince Charming.

Continue reading: Kenneth Branagh's 'Cinderella' Premieres At Berlinale Film Festival, But What Did The Critics Think Of The Re-booted Fairytale?

There's been astronomical success in modern fairytale reboots recently, with 'Cinderella' being the next to be released starring Lily James from 'Downton Abbey'. However, according to her, this movie presents a lot more modern themes than you might think.

Lily James and Richard Madden star in 'Cinderella'

'Cinderella' seems to have become a particular favourite in recent months, with the exceptionally well-received Broadway show having recently played and not to mention the story's appearance in Rob Marshall's cinematic adaptation of Stephen Sondheim musical 'Into The Woods'. The forthcoming new movie directed by Kenneth Branagh is a live action rendition of the Oscar nominated 1950 Disney animation, with all the vibrancy and magic multiplied tenfold. 

Continue reading: Lily James Admits Cinderella Is Not 'Swept Off Her Feet' In Live Action Re-Boot

Robb Stark has been resurrected! But, alas Game Of Thrones fans, not in the capacity that you may have all been hoping. Instead, the Scottish actor, Richard Madden, who played the GOT character from 2011 - 2013, has popped up in a different fantasy ... this time as Prince Charming in Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Cinderella.

Richard Madden plays a convincing Prince Charming in Cinderella

Madden’s Prince stars opposite Lily James’ titular heroine as shown in the recent release of Disney’s Cinderella trailer.

Continue reading: Game Of Thrones Star Richard Madden Takes A Turn In Disney's Cinematic Cinderella

After the world premiere in London last week, this week saw the cast of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 walking the red carpet in Los Angeles just before the film arrived in cinemas. Cast members in attendance included Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Moore, Donald Sutherland, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Wright, Natalie Dormer and Elden Henson.

Photos - Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 LA Premiere

Continue reading: A Week In Movies: World Premieres For Lawrence, Cumberbatch And Jolie And New Trailers Arrive For Fifty Shades And Cinderella

Finally, Disney has unveiled the first full trailer for Kenneth Branagh's live action rendition of one of the world's most beloved fairytales: Cinderella. And it looks to be one of the most visually stunning fantasy flicks of the coming months.

Lily James stars as the troubled Cinderella

The movie industry has been going crazy with its throwback Grimm adaptations, and it doesn't look like anyone's had enough of it yet. While many movies have opted for the spin-off, original stories - such as 'Sleeping Beauty' adaptation 'Maleficent' and 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' comeback 'Snow White and the Huntsman', not to mention forthcoming fairytale omnibus 'Into The Woods' - director Kenneth Branagh and screenwriters Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz have gone for the more traditional approach with 'Cinderella'. 

Continue reading: Lily James Finds Her Prince Charming In The Latest 'Cinderella' Trailer [Trailer + Pictures]

Disney has revealed the first teaser trailer for the upcoming live action reimagining of the classic fairytale, Cinderella. Starring Lily James in the titular role, Cinderella is set for release in April 2015 and will also feature Cate Blanchett, Hayley Atwell, Helena Bonham Carter, Stellan Skarsgard, and Richard Madden.

A New Teaser Trailer Heralds Disney's Upcoming Reimagining Of The Classic Tale Of 'Cinderella.'

Disney's 1950 animated take on the tale is probably the most well-known version of the story, which has its roots in 17th century folklore, and the studios is set to reimagine the legend for a modern audience with actors instead of animation.

Continue reading: Disney Reveal 'Cinderella' Live Action Reimagining: How Dark Will It Be? [Trailer]

Henning Mankell has announced that he has cancer via an article in today's Göteborgs-Posten, a Swedish newspaper. The Swedish author, who is famous for his Inspector Kurt Wallander detective novels, described how he'd learned of his cancer two weeks ago on a visit to his orthopaedic surgeon in Stockholm.

Henning Mankell hat Krebs. In GP will er künftig darüber schreiben. Aus der Perspektive des Lebens, nicht des Todes. pic.twitter.com/WFfJq6srXq

— Dagmar Lieder (@DagmarLieder) January 29, 2014

Continue reading: 'Wallander' Author Henning Mankell Reveals Advanced Stage Cancer

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is the fifth Jack Ryan film to be released since Tom Clancy's fictional CIA badass first made the leap to the big screen in Hunt For Red October 23 years ago. The film was directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh and stars Chris Pine and Keira Knightley, with Branagh and Kevin Costner also appearing in the picture.

Chis Pine (R) and Kevin Costner (L) keep things confidential in the new film

The film differs from past 'Ryan' outings, going back to the very beginnings of Ryan's career when he was a young CIA analyst trying to juggle his high octane profession and his marriage to Cathy (Knightley), who he met three years ago and who is completely oblivious to what he does for a living. Things take a turn for the unexpected with Ryan when he finds himself as the target in an assassin attempt, at which point he discovers a devious plot involving Russian terrorists to launch a major attack across the globe, invariably damaging various major cities in the world in a bid to destroy the US economy.

Continue reading: Chris Pine & Keira Knightley Head Star-Studded Cast In New Jack Ryan Film: Shadow Recruit [Trailer]

The trailer for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit has been released; the first film in the series to bear simply the name of the character that has sewn all previous released together. The film takes on another level of pertinence as celebrated author Tom Clancy – the creator of the Ryan adventures – passed away on October 1st, three days ago.

Chris Pine as Jack Ryan in Shadow Recruit

In Playing Jack Ryan, Star Trek’s Chris Pine follows in the footsteps of Alec Baldwin (The Hunt for Red October) Harrison Ford (Patriot Games/Clear and Present Danger) and Ben Affleck (The Sum of All Fears). Billed as a sort of origins story, Pine has to adopt the high-profile actors that have played the role before him, but effectively see them off in his own, unique performance as the freshly minted CIA analyst.

Continue reading: Jack Ryan's Origins Explored In Adaptation Of Tom Clancy's 'Shadow Recruit' [Trailer + Pictures]

Oh Kenneth Branagh, you get so deep into your roles, you’ve forgotten what’s real and what’s acting! The 52-year-old actor managed to injure one of the cast of Macbeth in a choreographed fight scene, by hitting him with a real sword. Notice we said hitting and not stabbing, lawyers.

Kenneth Branagh filming in Manhattan

“There is enormous concentration,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on the perilous nature of the battle scenes. “It is impossible to say that it is without danger. Metal clashes, sparks literally fly.” In a statement, the Manchester International Festival (MIF) said: "An actor was hurt during one of the fight scenes in a performance of Macbeth on Wednesday night. MIF has qualified medics on site during each performance and the actor was assessed and told he was fine to continue on with the evening's performance. The actor was taken to hospital afterwards as a precaution."

Continue reading: Kenneth Branagh Takes It Too Far, Injuring Fellow Macbeth Cast Member

Sir Kenneth Branagh cemented his reputation as one of Britain's finest actors with a debut performance as Macbeth, at a 281-capacity deconsecrated church in Manchester for the city's international festival. The mud-bath stage ran the entire length of the church and played host to a battle scene in heavy rain to open the production, reports BBC News.

Branagh is noted for his Shakespearean acting, though hasn't appeared in one of the playwrights plays for 11 years. The Guardian's Michael Billington said: "The highest compliment I can pay him is that at times he evoked golden memories of Olivier in the role."

Ahead of the performance, spectators were warned not to wear their "best, light coloured, dry-clean only," clothes and the seating area - close the action - left them open to mud spatters from the earthy, natural staging. Billington added: "We seem to be in the thick of the rain-soaked, mud-spattered opening battles," adding, "This is an exciting production that shows why Branagh is such a fine Shakespearean actor.He can do the soaring vocal cries but he is also sensitive to the minutiae of language."

Continue reading: Sir Kenneth Branagh Brings Manchester To A Standstill With 'Macbeth'