Michael Winterbottom Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have resigned on Thursday in the hours after dozens of staffers quit, but that won’t change the ending of Sky Original series “This England,” TheWrap has learned.The series, which stars Kenneth Branagh as the British leader (who is unrecognizable in the photo above), only covers the first wave of the pandemic. The series will trace the impact of COVID-19 on the nation during its first wave, and while the country and the PM was dealing with Brexit.“This England” is co-written and directed by Michael Winterbottom.

Manori Ravindran International EditorIf you thought Kenneth Branagh was heading back to make-up to shoot scenes as a belligerent Boris Johnson fighting for his premiership against a government uprising, think again.Sources tell Variety that the highly anticipated Sky drama series “This England” won’t be filming any more scenes despite the last chaotic 48 hours for U.K. government, which have culminated in Johnson’s resignation.

video snippet of the series.The Sky Original drama is co-written and directed by Michael Winterbottom. The series, first named “This Sceptered Isle,” is based on Boris Johnson’s first months as UK Prime Minister, showing how the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit Britain.Alongside Branagh, who won the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for “Belfast” this year, Ophelia Lovibond will star as Carrie, and Andrew Buchan will play Matt Hancock.Highlights of the plot include Johnson’s dealing with COVID-19, Brexit, and the overlapping of his personal and political lives.

How soon is too soon for a COVID-centric miniseries? For Sky Atlantic, not soon enough, as their series on Boris Johnson and the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic “This England” hits small screens this Fall. READ MORE: Michael Winterbottom To Direct A TV Seris About UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s COVID-19 Response Kenneth Branagh stars as the blonde, mop-headed Prime Minister in the five-episode series.

This England, starring Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson.The series, co-written and directed by Michael Winterbottom, is based on Johnson’s first months as prime minister and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK.A synopsis reads: “The drama takes us inside the halls of power, as Johnson grapples with COVID-19, Brexit, and a personal and political life wracked by controversy.“The events in government are interwoven with first-hand testimonies from around the UK, from the experts and scientists racing against time to understand the virus; the doctors, nurses and care-home workers on the frontline working tirelessly and heroically to contain and overcome it; and ordinary people whose lives were thrown into turmoil.”Alongside Branagh, the show stars Ophelia Lovibond (Feel Good) as Carrie Johnson and Andrew Buchan (The Crown) as former Health Secretary Matt Hancock.While an exact release date is yet to be announced, This England is scheduled to be released on Sky Atlantic and NOW later this year.Branagh was recently cast in Christopher Nolan’s next film Oppenheimer, alongside Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh and Rami Malek.The film follows theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Murphy) and his contributions to the Manhattan Project which led to the creation of the atomic bomb.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentBritish director Michael Winterbottom will start shooting his long-gestating “Promised Land,” a thriller set during the leadup to the 1948 partition of Palestine and the subsequent creation of the state of Israel, this fall in Italy.U.K. actors Douglas Booth (“The Dirt,” “That Dirty Black Bag”) and Harry Melling (“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”) and Russia’s Irina Starshenbaum, who was in Cannes in 2018 with Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Leto,” are attached as the pic’s main cast. Italy’s Vision Distribution, which is headed by veteran sales agent Catia Rossi, is launching pre-sales on “Promised Land” in Cannes.Based on real events, “Promised Land” is a political thriller that unfolds during the British Mandate in 1930s Tel Aviv.

Naman Ramachandran British critic, writer, producer, commissioner and director Catherine Bray and film acquisitions executive and festival program advisor Paul Ridd have launched a weekly podcast dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” “Not Another F**King Elf” is a character guide podcast that takes an hour-long deep dive into each “The Lord of the Rings” character, with clips from different adaptations of the work from films to audiobooks to radio adaptations. Each episode begins with a recap of the character arc of the chosen subject.

Steve Coogan has spotlighted his and Sarah Solemani’s use of comedy to tackle the #MeToo debate in upcoming Channel 4 show Chivalry and talked openly about playing Jimmy Savile, stating: “Things are better talked about than not talked about.”

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentFremantle has sold out most major territories worldwide on the Martin Freeman-led BBC One smash hit “The Responder,” consolidating the acclaimed crime drama’s contention, even at this early stage, to become one of Europe’s top series of 2022. Banner deals take in France (Canal Plus), Italy (Disney Plus), Germany’s (Magenta TV). Spain (Movistar Plus) and Russia & CIS (Viasat), all leading pay/SVOD operators.

Naman Ramachandran Leading British independent filmmakers expressed some frank views on gatekeepers acting as a barrier to independent cinema at a BFI London Film Festival panel discussion on Tuesday.The panel consisted of Palme d’Or winner Mike Leigh (“Secrets & Lies”), Oscar winner Asif Kapadia (“Amy”) and Golden Bear winner Michael Winterbottom (“In This World”).

Michael Winterbottom has temporarily stepped back as director on his COVID-19 TV drama This Sceptered Isle due to ill health, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Michael Winterbottom has temporarily stepped back from his directing duties on Sky’s Boris Johnson series This Sceptred Isle for health reasons.

Naman Ramachandran Prolific filmmaker Michael Winterbottom (“The Trip”) has temporarily ceased directing duties on Sky drama “This Sceptred Isle” due to poor health, Variety has confirmed.Sky has said that Winterbottom will continue working remotely as he recovers. His duties will be taken over during this time by Julian Jarrold (“The Crown”).

It's Kenneth Branagh as you've never seen him before. For an actor who has donned insane mustaches (as detective Hercule Poirot) and a wide array of Shakespearean costumes, the first still of him as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Michael Winterbottom's TV drama This Sceptred Isle is perhaps Branagh at his most unrecognizable.

Sky has released a first-look image of Kenneth Branagh as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in its upcoming Michael Winterbottom series This Sceptred Isle.

Kenneth Branagh is set to play U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Michael Winterbottom's upcoming limited series charting the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boris Johnson in Michael Winterbottom’s new coronavirus TV series, it has been confirmed.The show, which is called This Sceptred Isle, will chart the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be told across five episodes.According to Variety, the show will look at the events that took place during the country’s first wave, including Johnson’s hospitalisation after contracting the virus in March.In a statement, Winterbottom said: “The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic will be remembered

Manori Ravindran International EditorKenneth Branagh will play U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a new Sky TV series detailing Britain’s muddled response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Henry V star Kenneth Branagh is to play British Prime Minister in Sky drama This Sceptred Isle.

BAFTA-winning filmmaker Michael Winterbottom and his Revolution Films production company have signed an exclusive first-look deal with TV giant Fremantle.

Naman Ramachandran Fremantle has announced an exclusive first-look deal with BAFTA-winning filmmaker Michael Winterbottom’s Revolution Films, starting with U.K. political drama series “This Sceptred Isle.”Under the terms of the deal, Revolution Films will develop and produce scripted series and films with Fremantle co-producing and distributing the projects worldwide.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorMichael Winterbottom, the BAFTA-winning director behind The Trip and 24 Hour Party People, has signed a first-look deal with Fremantle after collaborating with the producer on a project about Boris Johnson’s time as UK prime minister.Winterbottom and his company Revolution Films will develop films and TV shows with Fremantle, which in turn will co-produce and distribute the projects around the world.

Without a doubt, the way that Donald Trump and his administration has been handling the COVID-19 pandemic response has been horrific. But he’s not the only leader that has done a, uh, less-than-desirable job responding to the global health crisis.

Michael Winterbottom is turning his lens on the hottest button topic in the U.K. today (and, probably, for some time): Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Fernando Sulichin is used to doing things differently. The veteran producer and CEO of New Element Media has established a reputation for working with maverick auteurs — Oliver Stone, Sean Pean, Abel Ferrara, Michael Winterbottom, Larry Clark, Harmony Korine — and finding creative ways to get films made that don't fit the industry's cookie-cutter models.

coronavirus crisis in England will be dramatised for television, in a new series from Michael Winterbottom.The filmmaker will be teaming up with production house Freemantle, as well as True Detective producer Richard Brown via his company Passenger.

Manori Ravindran International Editor“The Trip” helmer Michael Winterbottom is set to direct a series depicting the U.K.’s muddled response to the coronavirus crisis under Prime Minister Boris Johnson.Producer-distributor Fremantle is partnering with “True Detective” executive producer Richard Brown’s nascent production outfit Passenger and Winterbottom’s Revolution Films on the project, which will have a keen focus on Johnson, who was admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 in late March and

Jake Kanter International TV EditorUK prime minister Boris Johnson’s handling of the coronavirus crisis and his own crippling battle with the disease are to be the subject of a new TV series helmed by BAFTA-winning director Michael Winterbottom.Deadline understands that deals were done to develop the drama this week, with the project being housed at Fremantle in partnership with True Detective executive producer Richard Brown’s Passenger and Winterbottom’s Revolution Films.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has revealed the home release details for Greed, the Michael Winterbottom-directed Steve Coogan starring comedy satire which we absolutely loved. The movie will come to download from 15th June and then he physical formats from 29th June.

Set aside the fact that present circumstances may make viewers resentful of a film motivated by its makers' urge to see exotic tourist destinations and eat in expensive restaurants that are closed now. The format of Michael Winterbottom's Trip series, in which Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon take luxurious foodie vacations together, has served up various pleasures for moviegoers in the past, and there was no way of knowing how tone-deaf it might appear upon its mid-lockdown release.

By Dave McNary

Steve Coogan has said that his “heart goes out” to Caroline Flack’s family after she took her own life.

Sony Pictures has delivered one final trailer for their upcoming release Greed, the new Steve Coogan-led satire from filmmaker Michael Winterbottom. The movie is an absolute hoot and I can’t wait for audiences to see it.

We’ve just received word that both Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are to return to screens later this year for the latest instalment in their popular ‘The Trip’ series. This time, Steve and Rob head to the islands of Greece for The Trip To Greece in a new six-parter.

The "fourth and last" series will premiere next month