I may be completely wrong, but I’m finding it difficult to believe this new take on the classic Ben-Hur is going to be a hit. Indeed, it’s difficult to see why they thought a new version was necessary or desired, or indeed the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’s Timur Bekmambetov was the man to helm it. Even so, it’s coming and a new trailer has now arrived.
Here’s the synopsis: ‘BEN-HUR is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. Based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Also starring Morgan Freeman and Rodrigo Santoro.’
At least Toby Kebbell has suggested the homoerotic undertones between Messala and Ben-Hur may make it across into this new version, which were present in the 1950s take. The film will be in cinemas in August. [Read more…]
The first trailer for Disney’s new take on the part-animated family film Pete’s Dragon was keen to show us this was going to be a very different movie to the original, while also only teasing us about what the dragon would look like. Now a full trailer has arrived, which underlines this is a movie that only shares a title and vague concept with the original, although it does give us a much better look at the now very furry beast..
After taking us into a city of talking animals with Zootopia – which recently hit a truly impressive $1bn worldwide at the box office – Disney is heading back into the world of princesses with Moana. However, rather than a chilly fantasy like Frozen, this one is set in Polynesia. The first teaser trailer has been released, with Auli’i Cravalho’s Moana, not being impressed with Dwayne Johnson’s demi-god, Maui.
Lorenzo Vigas’ had huge success at last year’s Venice Film Festival, picking up the Golden Lion for its tale of a man who uses money to try to get company, but ends up discovering a complicated relationship to the the power and inequality that money brings with it. That’s just in terms of sex, but also politically in the South American country where they live.
The Real O’Neals star Noah Galvin has had to do a pretty quick apologising act following the publication of an interview in which he threw major shade at the likes of fellow gays Colton Haynes and Bryan Singer. It would appear he wasn’t quite used to how widely his words would spread and the comment they’d cause that now he’s the star of a network TV show, and that his intention completely backfired.
With Hamilton breaking records and become a breakout cultural phenomenon on the Broadway stage, it’s helped breath life back in plans to make a film based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s earlier Tony-winning hit musical, In The Heights. Those plans are now gathering pace, with 
Last November, Kenneth Branagh signed up to direct and star in a remake of Agatha Christie’s classic Murder on the Orient Express. Now he may have found his first co-star, as 
A few days ago we reported that Cate Blanchett is in talks to join Sandra Bullock in the planned Ocean’s 11 spin-off, which will revolve around a group of female thieves. Now it seems director Gary Ross is filling out the other central roles, as 
Synopsis: ‘An intense examination of desire that will take you to the edge, The Chambermaid Lynn follows a woman recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital. Employed by a plush hotel, she also has to care for her ailing and cantankerous mother.
Until recently Orry-Kelly was Australi’s most prolific Oscar winner, having picked up three Academy Awards for Costume Design. He was behind some of the most iconic outfits in cinema, from Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis’ dresses in Some Like It Hot, to Ingrid Bergman’s outfits in Hollywood. He was also pretty much the only person Bette Davis wanted to dress her, working with the legend on more than 30 movie.