Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Emily Henry fans had a field day last week when the author shared a St. Patrick’s day selfie of “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri and “Normal People’s” Paul Mescal. While Edebiri posted the original image to her Instagram, it was reposts from Henry and screenwriter Yulin Kuang that made fans start to assume that the actors may have been cast in one of the films being adapted from Henry’s romance books: “People We Meet on Vacation,” for which Kuang is writing the screenplay; “Beach Read,” with Kuang writing and directing; or “Book Lovers,” being developed by the company that produced Mescal’s “Aftersun.” The posts came just months after Mescal said in an interview that he hoped to star in a rom-com with Edebiri sometime in the next five years.
‘Grand Theft Hamlet’: Altitude Boards SXSW Doc About Actors Who Staged Hamlet Production Inside ‘Grand Theft Auto’ Video Game
08.03.2024 - 17:23 / deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Altitude Media Group has boarded a documentary shot entirely inside the Grand Theft Auto video game world.
Grand Theft Hamlet will follow the story of out-of-work theater actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen, who had the idea to stage a full production of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ within Grand Theft Auto 5 during the dull days of the third Covid-19 lockdown in the UK three years ago.
Indie studio Altitude has taken worldwide rights and will release the film in UK and Irish cinemas later this year after striking a deal for the “hilarious and profoundly moving” film, which Crane and Pinny Grylls wrote and directed. The doc gets its worldwide premiere at SXSW on Sunday (March 10) and will get a European premiere at CPH:DOX.
“We are extremely proud and excited to be partnering with Pinny, Sam and the whole team on Grand Theft Hamlet and cannot wait for audiences to experience this singular and masterful piece of machinima filmmaking,” said Altitude Film Sales Managing Director Mike Runagall. “Grand Theft Hamlet is like nothing you have seen before.”
The full synopsis for the film reads: “January 2021. The UK is in its third lockdown and all entertainment venues remain closed. For theatre actors Sam and Mark, the future looks bleak. As the pandemic drags on, Mark — single and childless — is increasingly socially isolated, while Sam panics about how he is going to support his young family. They spend their days in the online digital world of Grand Theft Auto and when they stumble across a theater, they suddenly have an idea to stage a full production of Hamlet within the game. This film charts their ridiculous, hilarious and moving adventure as they battle violent griefers and discover surprising truths about life,
Inside Michael McIntyre's 'rocky' early romance with wife who has famous sister
Michael McIntyre has been entertaining the masses for over a decade now. The funny man is one of the most popular stars on the UK comedy circuit and regularly appears on screen - and stages near you in sold out live shows.
‘Doctor Who’ Trailer: Ncuti Gatwa Meets Dinosaurs and Travels Through Time as the New Doctor
Jack Dunn Disney+ has released the first trailer for its series reboot of the classic sci-fi adventure series “Doctor Who,” lead by “Sex Education” star Ncuti Gatwa as the titular time jumper and Millie Gibson as his traveling partner Ruby Sunday. The premiere will stream on Disney+ on May 10 and release simultaneously worldwide (excluding the U.K.). In the United Kingdom, the series will premiere at midnight GMT on May 11 on the BBC iPlayer.
Eddie Vedder joined The Who on stage at Royal Albert Hall last night for TCT
Eddie Vedder joined The Who on stage during the band’s Teenage Cancer Trust show in London last night (March 20) – check out the footage below.The group played their second orchestral show of the week at the historic Royal Albert Hall after kicking off the 2024 TCT concert series on Monday (March 18).To begin the third and final part of yesterday’s gig, frontman Roger Daltrey introduced Pearl Jam‘s Vedder to join The Who on a collaborative rendition of ‘The Punk And The Godfather’ from their 1973 album ‘Quadrophenia’.Daltrey and Vedder traded lines throughout the energetic performance before embracing in the closing moments. Watch a fan-shot video here:The Who and Vedder have teamed up numerous times previously, including at a private cancer benefit show in Los Angeles in 2022 and a charity event in Chicago in 2015.Additionally, Vedder joined The Who on stage at their inaugural Teenage Cancer Trust concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2000, and guested with the group at Wembley Stadium in 2019 (also on ‘The Punk And The Godfather’).This Sunday (March 24), Vedder will participate in a special closing night event for the 2024 TCT gig series, dubbed ‘Ovation’.
8 Celebs Who Follow Zero People on Instagram, Plus 5 Stars Who Only Follow One Person
Being followed by a celebrity on Instagram is often a fan’s biggest wish, but that’s never going to happen with certain stars as they don’t follow anyone on the social media app.
Ariana Grande reflects on “overwhelmingly loving response” to new album
Ariana Grande has reflected on the “overwhelmingly loving response” to her new album ‘Eternal Sunshine’.The record was released earlier this month (March 8) and marks the singer’s seventh full-length project, following on from 2020’s ‘Positions’. It features the singles ‘Yes, And?’ and ‘We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)’.‘Eternal Sunshine’ earned Grande her sixth Number One album on the Billboard 200 in the US, and her fifth in the UK (via Official Charts).Writing to her fans in a post on Instagram last night (March 18), the pop star said she “just wanted to thank you from the bottom of [her] heart” as she reflected on the success and response to the LP.“It’s impossible to put into words what I’ve been feeling this week.
Coma on Channel 5: What it's about, how many episodes and who's in the cast
Channel 5's big new drama Coma follows an ordinary man who makes a split-second decision that has life-changing consequences. Family man Simon Bamford (Jason Watkins) finds himself at breaking point when his neighbourhood is terrorised by a group of teenagers.
BBC Doctor Who series starring Scots actor Ncuti Gatwa air date confirmed
The new series of Doctor Who starring Scottish actor Ncuti Gatwa has been confirmed to begin from May 11, the BBC have announced.
“Was My Tape Fake?”: The Question Panicked British Actors Are Asking Casting Directors About Audition Invites — And Why It Matters
EXCLUSIVE: “Quite a can of worms,” observed a British casting director of a scandal that, until February, was unknown to his profession. The 30-year industry veteran was talking about the practice of agents sending clients fake invitations to record self-tape auditions.
Irish bands tell SXSW: “Sponsorship from defence contractors is an act we find reprehensible”
Cardinals, Chalk, Enola Gay, Gurriers and NewDad, gathered at downtown Austin’s Velveeta Room to show solidarity with Palestine amid the ongoing war in Gaza. This came after it was revealed last week that the US Army was a “super sponsor” of the music, film, culture and tech festival as well as defence contractor RTX (Raytheon), which has supplied weapons to Israel.The venue was previously set to host the Music For Ireland showcase, while as per a report from Nialler9, Belfast’s Enola Gay were booked to play a separate, UK-led event via PRS funding.
Alex Garland Brings SXSW the Already Controversial ‘Civil War,’ an Anti-War Film About How ‘Journalists Are Getting Shat On’
Selome Hailu In Alex Garland‘s “Civil War,” the Western forces of Texas and California hardly remember what they’re fighting for. At least, Garland doesn’t say outright what they’re fighting for. The film, which had its world premiere at SXSW on Thursday, depicts a near-future U.S.
Who Is Rose Hanbury? Inside The Prince William Affair Allegations
It seems Prince William‘s alleged affair is back in the spotlight! So we guess it’s time to reheat this royal tea and get to serving…
Netflix Takes UK Rights To Parvinder Shergill & Juggy Sohal’s ‘Kaur’, About British South Asian Woman Who Wears Turban Against Her Father’s Wishes
EXCLUSIVE: Netflix has picked up UK rights to Kaur, a short film that debuted last year on British streamers ITVX and BritBox.
All Irish bands booked have now pulled out of SXSW 2024 in solidarity
SXSW showcase have now pulled out of the festival in solidarity with Palestine.Kneecap, Sprints, Soda Blonde, Gavin James, Robert Grace, Mick Flannery, Chalk, Gurriers, Cardinals and NewDad all pulled out from the annual music, culture and arts showcase which takes place in Austin, Texas. This came after it was revealed that the US Army was a “super sponsor” of the event as well as defence contractor RTX Corporation, which has supplied weapons to Israel.Northern Irish-funded artists Enola Gay and Conchur also pulled out, joining the likes of their fellow Irish peers.UK funding channels (PRS Funded) booked the Northern Irish artists and were set to play various UK-led events that were different from the Music From Ireland showcases.
NewDad, Cardinals, Enola Gay and Rachel Chinouriri issue statements on SXSW 2024 boycott: “Support victims of war”
NewDad, Cardinals, Enola Gay and Rachel Chinouriri have become the latest artists to boycott this year’s SXSW festival.The artists join the likes of Kneecap, Sprints, Lambrini Girls, Scowl, Gel, Okay Shalom and Squirrelflower in pulling out of performing at the festival due to the event’s association with the US army and weapons companies amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.The annual music, culture and arts showcase takes place in Austin, Texas from March 12-14.In a joint post on social media, Cardinals, Enola Gay, Gurriers, NewDad and Sprints wrote:“To be clear, we, as ‘Music From Ireland’ bands will be partaking in any official SXSW shows. We stand in complete solidarity with Palestine and others who have spoke out against, and boycotted SXSW.“Sponsorship of the festival from the US army as well as defence contractors/those sending arms to destroy innocent lives is an act we find disgusting and reprehensible.
‘Grand Theft Hamlet’ Review: To Be Or Not To Be Shot While Staging A Shakespeare Classic – SXSW
For the most recent precedent for Grand Theft Hamlet, you’d probably have to go back nearly 20 years, to a 2006 episode of South Park. Titled “Make Love, Not Warcraft,” it found Cartman marshalling his friends to take on a super-advanced rogue player with a posse of killer crabs who has taken to killing everyone in his path in the Tolkienesque greenfields of Azeroth. This virtual psychopath sends shivers down the spines of the programmers at WoW’s corporate HQ (“Gentleman, we are dealing with someone who has absolutely no life…”).
Kneecap and Sprints join list of artists boycotting SXSW 2024
Kneecap and Sprints are the latest artists to announce their withdrawal from this year’s South By Southwest Festival in solidarity with Palestine.The Irish artists join the likes of Lambrini Girls, Scowl, Gel, Okay Shalom and Squirrelflower in pulling out of performing at the festival due to the event’s association with the US army and weapons companies amid the Israel-Palestine conflict.The annual music, culture and arts showcase takes place in Austin, Texas from March 12-14.Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap shared in a statement yesterday (March 10) that their decision to not perform was made “in solidarity with the people of Palestine”.They also highlighted the “unacceptable deep links” the festival had to the US army – which is a “super sponsor” of the event – and defence contractor RTX Corporation, which has supplied weapons to Israel.The group added that the US military and other platformed weapons companies who are “at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population”.The band continued that their decision would have a “significant financial impact” on them, but that it wasn’t “an iota of hardship when compared with the unimaginable suffering being inflicted every minute of every day on the people of Gaza”.A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)Kneecap also cited the platforming of collins Aerospace and BAE Systems as a reason for their boycott, adding that collectively with RTX, the companies were selling the weapons that have “murdered 31,000 Palestinians, over 21,000 of them women and children”.Sprints made their own statement this morning (March 11) in which they announced their withdrawal, writing: “In solidarity with the Palestinian people and as a stand against the US Army
Ant & Dec's 'misogyny' to CBB 'punching' incident – inside TV's most-complained about moments of all time
In February 2022, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly's drag act on their hit show Saturday Night Takeaway received 59 Ofcom complaints.The hosting duo returned for the first show of the 18th series as they donned wigs and sparkly dresses to perform in drag. While the End Of The Show Show was celebrated by many, some viewers were outraged and claimed the performance was 'misogynistic'.The UK's broadcasting regulator Ofcom said it received 59 complaints related to a drag routine and eight complaints related to a prank made against Jeremy Clarkson.
Lucy Lawless’ Sundance & SXSW Entry ‘Never Look Away’, About CNN Combat Camerawoman Margaret Moth, Sells To North America & UK
EXCLUSIVE: Sundance documentary Never Look Away, the directorial debut of actress Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), has been sold by XYZ to Greenwich Entertainment for all rights in North America, and to Kaleidoscope for all rights in UK.
Rainmaker Content Bags SXSW Feature Doc ‘Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis Of Microplastics’
EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of its world premiere at SXSW on Saturday (March 9), feature doc Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics has found an international distributor in the UK’s Rainmaker Content.