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Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

Helena Bonham Carter Joins Cinderella As The Fairy Godmother

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helena-bonham-carterDisney’s live action version of Cinderella already has its title character (Lily James), wicked stepmother (Cate Blanchett), a couple of nasty stepsisters (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera) and a prince (Richard Madden), but it’s only just got its fairy godmother.

THR reports that Helena Bonham Carter has signed up for the role, and she’ll be ensuring the Cinderella does indeed get to the ball.

Aline Brosh McKenna (Annie) and Chris Weitz (About a Boy) provided the screenplay, although there’s still no info on whether this will be a traditional take or something a little more modern. Kenneth Branagh is set to direct, with filming kicking off later this year.

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Downton’s Sophie McShera Going Evil Stepsister In Cinderella

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sophie-mcsheraKenneth Branagh and Disney have obviously been watching a lot of Downton Abbey, as he’s already cast Lily James in the title role of his live action take on Cinderella, and now they’ve got another star of the series in talks for the film, Sophie McShera.

Just yesterday we reported that Holly Grainger was set to play one of the evil stepsister, and now THR says McShera will play the other one..

Game of Thrones star Richard Madden is playing the prince who Cinderella falls for, with Cate Blanchett as her wicked stepmother. But while the cast is coming together, there’s still no news on whether Disney is planning a revamp of the traditional story to make Cinderella more of a modern female.

Kenneth Branagh is directing from a screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz. Shooting is scheduled to begin this autumn in London.

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Holliday Grainger Up For Disney’s Live-Action Cinderella

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holliday-graingerIf you’re going to make a Cinderella movie, you need some evil stepsisters. Now Disney’s live action take on the legend has got one, as TheWrap reports that Holliday Grainger (Great Expectations) has signed up to play the role.

Kenneth Branagh is set to direct the movie, with Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother and Downton’s Lily James in the title role. Game Of Thrones star Richard Madden is set to take on the duties of the dashing prince.

Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz came up with the script, but there’s still no info on how this version will deviate from the original story – although the presumption is that elements will be updated to make Cinderella less passive and more of a modern girl in charge of her own destiny.

The film is due to shoot this autumn.

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Game Of Throne’s Richard Madden To Be Cinderella’s Prince

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richard-maddenLast week, Disney found its live action Cinderella in the form of Downton Abbey’s Lily James. Now she’s got her prince, as THR reports Game of Thrones star Richard Madden has joined the cast.

The studio announced, “Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) has been cast as the Prince in Disney’s upcoming live-action Cinderella. As previously announced, the film is being directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, stars Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother and features Lily James in the title role.”

Richard Madden is best known for playing Robb Stark in Game of Thrones. He also stars in director Patrice Leconte’s upcoming World War II drama A Promise, alongside Rebecca Hall and Alan Rickman.

Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz wrote the screenplay for Cinderella, although it’s not known if it will be a traditional take on the tale or something more revisionist.

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Downton’s Lily James To Be Disney’s Live Action Cinderella

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lily-jamesAfter an exhaustive casting search, Disney has finally found their live action Cinderella in the form of Downton Abbey star Lily James, according to Variety. Last November, actresses Saoirse Ronan, Alicia Vikander, and Gabriella Wilde were said to be in contention for the role. Then, in February, Emma Watson was offered the role, although she passed just a few weeks later.

Now the studio has announced, ‘Actress Lily James (Downton Abbey) has been cast as Cinderella in Disney’s upcoming live-action interpretation of the beloved classic tale. The film is being directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh and stars Cate Blanchett as the iconic evil stepmother.

Additional announcements regarding Cinderella are expected in the coming weeks.’

Aline Brosh McKenna and Chris Weitz wrote the screenplay. No specific story details have been released as to the exact take on the classic tale this film will follow.

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Emma Watson Not Slipping Into Cinderella’s Slippers

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Emma-WatsonA few weeks ago it was revealed that Emma Watson was in early talks to play the title role in Disney’s live action version of Cinderella. However it appears she’s now passed on the part, at least according to a tweet from Variety’s Marc Graser.

It was recently reported that Saoirse Ronan, Alicia Vikander (The Seventh Son), and Gabriella Wilde (Carrie) were trying out for the lead role, but it’s not known is Disney will now offer the role to one of them, or if they’ll look elsewhere.

Kenneth Branagh is set to direct the film, with Cate Blanchett already set to be the wicked queen. Aline Bosh McKenna’s wrote the script, which was recently rewritten by Chris Weitz. No specific story details have been released as to whether this take departs from the classic story, although the studio hopes to make a big-budget, live-action spectacle in the same vein as Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

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Emma Watson In Early Talks For Disney’s Live-Action Cinderella

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Emma-WatsonEmma Watson has been pretty smart about her post-Harry Potter life, initially taking supporting roles in the likes of My Week With Marilyn and The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. It’s allowed her to show her talents outside Hogwarts without the pressure of having the whole movie resting on her back.

However she may now be diving back into the world of mega-budget moviemaking, but this time in the title role, as Variety reports she’s in very early talks for Disney’s live-action Cinderella, which Kenneth Branagh is set to direct.

It was recently reported that Saoirse Ronan, Alicia Vikander (The Seventh Son), and Gabriella Wilde (Carrie) were trying out for the lead role, but it seems Disney is erring towards Watson. Cate Blanchett is already set to play the wicked queen.

Aline Bosh McKenna’s wrote the script, which was recently rewritten by Chris Weitz. No specific story details have been released as to whether this take departs from the classic story, although the studio hopes to make a big-budget, live-action spectacle in the same vein as Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

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Kenneth Branagh May Take On Disney’s Live-Action Cinderella

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kenneth-branaghThor certainly opened a lot of doors for Kenneth Branagh, including rebooting the Jack Ryan franchise with Chris Pine and Kevin Costner. Now he’s in talks for another huge project, as Vulture reports that Branagh is in talks to take over Disney’s planned live-action version of Cinderella from the recently departed Mark Romanek.

Cate Blanchett is still attached to play the wicked stepmother, although the production has still not found its title character yet. Back in November actresses such as Saoirse Ronan (The Host), Alicia Vikander (The Seventh Son), and Gabriella Wilde (Carrie) were said to be in contention for the role, but it’s not known if they’re still in the running.

If a deal is finalided, Branagh will direct from a screenplay by Chris Weitz, who rewrote the original draft by Aline Brosh McKenna. The studio hopes to start shooting in London this autumn.

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First Image Of Chris Pine As Jack Ryan Arrives

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It’s not often the first image for a film arrives before an official title has been announced, but that’s what’s happened with Paramount’s reboot of the Jack Ryan franchise, which has started shooting with Kenneth Branagh directing and Chris Pine playing the lead role.

The image shows Pine zooming along the Mahattan streets on a motorbike, although the main plot sees the young Jack Ryan heading to Moscow, looking at his life before he became a CIA operative. Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner and Branagh also star, with a Christmas 2013 release date set. (Image via Coming Soon)

UPDATE: Over the weekend another image was released, giving us out first look at Kevin Costner in the movie. Costner portrays William Harper, Ryan’s mentor, with the plan being that if this film is a success, Costner will get his own spin-off, Without Remorse.

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Keira Knightley Gets Female Lead in Jack Ryan Reboot

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A few days ago, it was revealed that Keira Knightley was high on the shortlist for the female lead in Paramount’s planned Jack Ryan reboot, which has Chris Pine attached for the lead and Kenneth Branagh directing. Now Keira’s been chosen after Branagh auditioned several actresses and has gone into negotiations for the part.

Pine will play Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, an ex-Marine who now works as a financial analyst in Moscow, in a tale that takes the character back to his early days, before he joined the CIA. When he discovers his employer’s plan to finance a terrorist attack on the American economic system, Jack Ryan races to save the country and his future wife (Keira Knightley). Director Kenneth Branagh is also starring as the villain.

David Koepp wrote the most recent draft of the screenplay, from an original draft by Adam Cozad. Production is slated to begin next month. (Source: THR)

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