Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers for “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” now playing on London’s West End.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” a prequel play to Netflix’s hit sci-fi series, officially opened on London’s West End on Thursday night. Coming straight from the “Stranger Things” creative team — with a script by series writer and co-executive producer Kate Trefry from an original story by Trefry and show creators Matt and Ross Duffer — the play is a direct link to the Upside Down viewers know and love. Except this time, the audience is transported back to the 1950s to bear witness to the antics of a different group of teenagers: The Party’s parents.
Directed by Stephen Daldry, “The First Shadow” focuses on Joyce Maldonado (Isabella Pappas), a spunky teen known for dating bad boys like Lonnie Byers but whose true passion is theater; James Hopper Jr. (Oscar Lloyd...
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” a prequel play to Netflix’s hit sci-fi series, officially opened on London’s West End on Thursday night. Coming straight from the “Stranger Things” creative team — with a script by series writer and co-executive producer Kate Trefry from an original story by Trefry and show creators Matt and Ross Duffer — the play is a direct link to the Upside Down viewers know and love. Except this time, the audience is transported back to the 1950s to bear witness to the antics of a different group of teenagers: The Party’s parents.
Directed by Stephen Daldry, “The First Shadow” focuses on Joyce Maldonado (Isabella Pappas), a spunky teen known for dating bad boys like Lonnie Byers but whose true passion is theater; James Hopper Jr. (Oscar Lloyd...
- 12/15/2023
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is teaming up with Sonia Friedman Productions to produce the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which is “rooted in the mythology” of the hit streaming series Stranger Things and officially opens at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End tonight, December 14th. According to Deadline, if this one is well received, it might be the first in a trilogy of Stranger Things stage plays!
Deadline hears Stranger Things: The First Shadow “will be the first instalment in a trilogy exploring the dark underbelly of Hawkins, Indiana. Breaking Baz can reveal parts two and three are set to follow the inaugural play in two or three year intervals, according to insiders associated with the production. The stage sequels will launch in London first. Meanwhile, there are already plans for Stranger Things: The First Shadow to transfer to Broadway.” Of course, this all depends on the reviews and box office receipts,...
Deadline hears Stranger Things: The First Shadow “will be the first instalment in a trilogy exploring the dark underbelly of Hawkins, Indiana. Breaking Baz can reveal parts two and three are set to follow the inaugural play in two or three year intervals, according to insiders associated with the production. The stage sequels will launch in London first. Meanwhile, there are already plans for Stranger Things: The First Shadow to transfer to Broadway.” Of course, this all depends on the reviews and box office receipts,...
- 12/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: The Stranger Things stage show, an unbelievably brilliant new blueprint for theatricality that premieres in London’s West End tonight, will be the first installment in a trilogy exploring the dark underbelly of Hawkins, Indiana.
Breaking Baz can reveal that parts two and three are set to follow the inaugural play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, in two- or three-year intervals, according to insiders associated with the production. The stage sequels will launch in London first.
Meanwhile, there are already plans for Stranger Things: The First Shadow to transfer to Broadway.
None of that’s official yet, of course. Producers and backers will study reviews out on Friday and across the weekend and the box office receipts before green-lighting any further productions.
The Stranger Things play is set in the late 1950s — a time when a young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won...
Breaking Baz can reveal that parts two and three are set to follow the inaugural play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, in two- or three-year intervals, according to insiders associated with the production. The stage sequels will launch in London first.
Meanwhile, there are already plans for Stranger Things: The First Shadow to transfer to Broadway.
None of that’s official yet, of course. Producers and backers will study reviews out on Friday and across the weekend and the box office receipts before green-lighting any further productions.
The Stranger Things play is set in the late 1950s — a time when a young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won...
- 12/14/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix is teaming up with Sonia Friedman Productions to produce the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which is “rooted in the mythology” of the hit streaming series Stranger Things and is set to officially open at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on December 14th. The show will then run through next August. (Tickets are available Here.) With the opening date right around the corner, Netflix has shared a batch of images from the show’s previews that give a look at what it’s going to be like to experience this Stranger Things story as it plays out on the stage. The images can be seen at the bottom of this article.
Written by Stranger Things writer and co-executive producer Kate Trefry from an original story she crafted with the Duffer Brothers and Jack Thorne, Stranger Things: The First Shadow has the following synopsis: Hawkins,...
Written by Stranger Things writer and co-executive producer Kate Trefry from an original story she crafted with the Duffer Brothers and Jack Thorne, Stranger Things: The First Shadow has the following synopsis: Hawkins,...
- 12/1/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Netflix expands upon the “Stranger Things Universe” with the brand new “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” a live stage play that’s headed to London for the holidays.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is said to be a “new story live on stage,” and it’s set in Hawkins, 1959. “The First Shadow” takes place “before the world turned upside down.”
The World Premiere takes the stage December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End, with previews beginning November 17. Check out your first look above!
Netflix has also revealed the first act title of the play: “Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere.”
The cast includes Louis McCartney (Silent Roar, Hope Street, Game of Thrones) as Henry Creel, Ella Karuna Williams (The Equalizer) as Patty Newby and Patrick Vaill (Oklahoma!, Macbeth, Dash & Lily) as Dr. Brenner.
Oscar Lloyd (The 47th, Hotel Portofino, 4 O’Clock Club) takes on the role as Jim Hopper,...
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is said to be a “new story live on stage,” and it’s set in Hawkins, 1959. “The First Shadow” takes place “before the world turned upside down.”
The World Premiere takes the stage December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End, with previews beginning November 17. Check out your first look above!
Netflix has also revealed the first act title of the play: “Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere.”
The cast includes Louis McCartney (Silent Roar, Hope Street, Game of Thrones) as Henry Creel, Ella Karuna Williams (The Equalizer) as Patty Newby and Patrick Vaill (Oklahoma!, Macbeth, Dash & Lily) as Dr. Brenner.
Oscar Lloyd (The 47th, Hotel Portofino, 4 O’Clock Club) takes on the role as Jim Hopper,...
- 11/17/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Hawkins, Indiana, stage show just got a little creepier and a little nearer to launch.
The Stranger Things stage play has unveiled a first look production image and the name of its first act, as a public preview kicked off today in London. We first told you about the play last year and you can now check out the image below.
The original stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow officially opens next month on December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End, and will be a prequel to the Netflix sci-fi drama set in Hawkins in 1959.
The first act will be titled ‘Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere,’ it was revealed today. The play features several characters who play key roles in the TV series, which is set in the 1980s.
Stranger Things co-creators the Duffer Brothers, His Dark Materials scribe Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry are writing the play,...
The Stranger Things stage play has unveiled a first look production image and the name of its first act, as a public preview kicked off today in London. We first told you about the play last year and you can now check out the image below.
The original stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow officially opens next month on December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End, and will be a prequel to the Netflix sci-fi drama set in Hawkins in 1959.
The first act will be titled ‘Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere,’ it was revealed today. The play features several characters who play key roles in the TV series, which is set in the 1980s.
Stranger Things co-creators the Duffer Brothers, His Dark Materials scribe Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry are writing the play,...
- 11/17/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
The team behind Stranger Things: The First Shadow has released a new image of the stage production and the title of its first act.
In the latest incremental update on the show, which was released the same day as previews for The First Shadow are set to begin at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End, the title of the play’s first act was revealed as being “Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere.”
The new image of the production — the first major still of the play outside of previously released cast portraits and key art — features a teen Henry Creel (Louis McCartney), surrounded by a mix of smokey yellow, orange, purple and black light, which only somewhat obscures the presence of a familiar threat: a demogorgon.
During Netflix’s Geeked Week, the production released a light teaser of the upcoming show set to open Dec. 14, offering a few...
In the latest incremental update on the show, which was released the same day as previews for The First Shadow are set to begin at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End, the title of the play’s first act was revealed as being “Chapter One: The Girl From Nowhere.”
The new image of the production — the first major still of the play outside of previously released cast portraits and key art — features a teen Henry Creel (Louis McCartney), surrounded by a mix of smokey yellow, orange, purple and black light, which only somewhat obscures the presence of a familiar threat: a demogorgon.
During Netflix’s Geeked Week, the production released a light teaser of the upcoming show set to open Dec. 14, offering a few...
- 11/17/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel play to the Netflix hit drama Stranger Things, is headed to London’s West End this month. In honor of “Stranger Things” Day, or the day Will Byers went missing in Hawkins back in 1983, Netflix released a new clip previewing Stranger Things: The First Shadow, with key creatives and cast behind the play describing the on-stage plot and special effects.
Matt and Ross Duffer, who both created the Netflix series, collaborated with writer Kate Trefry and screenwriter Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the...
Matt and Ross Duffer, who both created the Netflix series, collaborated with writer Kate Trefry and screenwriter Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the...
- 11/6/2023
- by Kalia Richardson
- Rollingstone.com
Netflix is teaming up with Sonia Friedman Productions to produce the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which is “rooted in the mythology” of the hit streaming series Stranger Things and is set to have its world premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on December 14th. The show will then run through next August. (Tickets are available Here.) With the premiere date swiftly approaching, a promo video that goes behind the scenes of the stage play has arrived online, and you can check it out in the embed above!
Written by Stranger Things writer and co-executive producer Kate Trefry from an original story she crafted with the Duffer Brothers and Jack Thorne, Stranger Things: The First Shadow has the following synopsis: Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his...
Written by Stranger Things writer and co-executive producer Kate Trefry from an original story she crafted with the Duffer Brothers and Jack Thorne, Stranger Things: The First Shadow has the following synopsis: Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his...
- 11/6/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Duffer Brothers and ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ Team Tease Henry Creel Origins in Stage Play
Stranger Things: The First Shadow — the stage play based on the hit Netflix series — promises to be a “cinematic” experience that lays the groundwork for the series biggest villain, Henry Creel.
In a new three-minute featurette released Monday for the streamer’s annual “Stranger Things Day” (the annual event marks the day when Will Beyers, in 1983, went missing in Hawkins, Indiana), Stranger Things co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer were joined by the production’s creative team and cast, including director Stephen Daldry, as they teased what fans can expect out of the upcoming live stage show.
According to Matt, the show came about after hearing “Stephen Daldry was interested in doing a play — he’s a director of all these movies and he’s an incredibly accomplished theater director.”
Ross recalled, “We were in the middle of breaking season four with our writers. We started going, ‘Ok, well, there’s...
In a new three-minute featurette released Monday for the streamer’s annual “Stranger Things Day” (the annual event marks the day when Will Beyers, in 1983, went missing in Hawkins, Indiana), Stranger Things co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer were joined by the production’s creative team and cast, including director Stephen Daldry, as they teased what fans can expect out of the upcoming live stage show.
According to Matt, the show came about after hearing “Stephen Daldry was interested in doing a play — he’s a director of all these movies and he’s an incredibly accomplished theater director.”
Ross recalled, “We were in the middle of breaking season four with our writers. We started going, ‘Ok, well, there’s...
- 11/6/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A new look at “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” a prequel play based on the blockbuster Netflix series that begins previews on stage in London this month, has been released.
The promotional video – which includes numerous backstage looks at the production, as well as some new interviews with “Stranger Things” creators Ross and Matt Duffer – debuted on Monday as part of “Stranger Things Day.”
Here’s the logline for the new play, which takes place in 1959 and focuses on the origins of Henry Creel (who later becomes the villainous Vecna and is played by Jamie Campbell Bower in the Netflix series):
Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his...
The promotional video – which includes numerous backstage looks at the production, as well as some new interviews with “Stranger Things” creators Ross and Matt Duffer – debuted on Monday as part of “Stranger Things Day.”
Here’s the logline for the new play, which takes place in 1959 and focuses on the origins of Henry Creel (who later becomes the villainous Vecna and is played by Jamie Campbell Bower in the Netflix series):
Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his...
- 11/6/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Netflix is kicking off “Stranger Things Day” this morning with a first look at “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” a live stage play that’s headed to London later this month.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is said to be a “new story live on stage,” and it’s set in Hawkins, 1959. “The First Shadow” takes place “before the world turned upside down.”
The World Premiere takes the stage December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End, with previews beginning November 17. Go behind the scenes in the video below!
The cast includes Louis McCartney (Silent Roar, Hope Street, Game of Thrones) as Henry Creel, Ella Karuna Williams (The Equalizer) as Patty Newby and Patrick Vaill (Oklahoma!, Macbeth, Dash & Lily) as Dr. Brenner.
Oscar Lloyd (The 47th, Hotel Portofino, 4 O’Clock Club) takes on the role as Jim Hopper, Jr., Isabella Pappas (Finding Alice, The Villains of Valley View,...
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is said to be a “new story live on stage,” and it’s set in Hawkins, 1959. “The First Shadow” takes place “before the world turned upside down.”
The World Premiere takes the stage December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End, with previews beginning November 17. Go behind the scenes in the video below!
The cast includes Louis McCartney (Silent Roar, Hope Street, Game of Thrones) as Henry Creel, Ella Karuna Williams (The Equalizer) as Patty Newby and Patrick Vaill (Oklahoma!, Macbeth, Dash & Lily) as Dr. Brenner.
Oscar Lloyd (The 47th, Hotel Portofino, 4 O’Clock Club) takes on the role as Jim Hopper, Jr., Isabella Pappas (Finding Alice, The Villains of Valley View,...
- 11/6/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
While much time still stands before the conclusion to the Duffer Brothers’ “Stranger Things” Netflix series, with Season 5 awaiting a deal for its actors, the prequel play — “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” — will give audiences a glimpse further into the past and the origins of the Upside Down.
Set in 1959 Hawkins, the play will focus on the arrival of Henry Creel to “a regular town with regular worries.” Teenage Jim Hopper, Bob Newby and Joyce Maldonado also star, as does a younger Dr. Martin Brenner (Patrick Vaill), who began the cruel experiments on Young Henry.
As with any new iteration of “Stranger Things,” there’s a new crucial character — this time, it’s Patty Newby (Ella Karuna Williams). There is also a Principal Newby (Matthew Pigeon), but that figure is of less importance to the plot.
“The main thrust of the story is Patty and her little budding romance with Henry,...
Set in 1959 Hawkins, the play will focus on the arrival of Henry Creel to “a regular town with regular worries.” Teenage Jim Hopper, Bob Newby and Joyce Maldonado also star, as does a younger Dr. Martin Brenner (Patrick Vaill), who began the cruel experiments on Young Henry.
As with any new iteration of “Stranger Things,” there’s a new crucial character — this time, it’s Patty Newby (Ella Karuna Williams). There is also a Principal Newby (Matthew Pigeon), but that figure is of less importance to the plot.
“The main thrust of the story is Patty and her little budding romance with Henry,...
- 11/6/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Fans of “Stranger Things” can now get a close look at the process behind “The First Shadow,” the stage adaptation that’s soon hitting London’s West End.
In time for what Netflix calls “Stranger Things” Day — the date that Will Byers (Noah Schnapp in the TV series) went missing in Season 1 — the streamer released a video giving a preview into “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” This comes after Netflix’s recent reveal of the first images from the play, which showed Henry Creel (Louis McCartney) standing off with Dr. Brenner (Patrick Vaill), Lonnie Byers (Chase Brown) holding Joyce Maldonado (Isabella Pappas) and more.
In the featurette, key creatives discuss how the “The First Shadow” came together and what it entails, including playwright Kate Trefry, who teases, “There are so many Easter eggs. It’s Easter morning.”
“The main thrust of the story is Patty [Newby, played by Ella Karuna Williams] and her little,...
In time for what Netflix calls “Stranger Things” Day — the date that Will Byers (Noah Schnapp in the TV series) went missing in Season 1 — the streamer released a video giving a preview into “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” This comes after Netflix’s recent reveal of the first images from the play, which showed Henry Creel (Louis McCartney) standing off with Dr. Brenner (Patrick Vaill), Lonnie Byers (Chase Brown) holding Joyce Maldonado (Isabella Pappas) and more.
In the featurette, key creatives discuss how the “The First Shadow” came together and what it entails, including playwright Kate Trefry, who teases, “There are so many Easter eggs. It’s Easter morning.”
“The main thrust of the story is Patty [Newby, played by Ella Karuna Williams] and her little,...
- 11/6/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Pain Hustlers is a crime drama film directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by Wells Tower and Evan Hughes. The Netflix film follows the story of a single mother Liza, who joins the sales team of a bankrupt pharmaceutical company after losing her and because of her, the sales go through the roof. This helps her to reach the high life but what she doesn’t know is that she is putting herself right in the middle of a federal conspiracy. Pain Hustler stars Emily Blunt and Chris Evans in the lead roles with Andy García and Catherine O’Hara starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the Netflix film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Thank You For Smoking (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Fox Searchlight Pictures
Synopsis: Based on Christopher Buckley’s acclaimed 1994 novel of the same title and adapted for the screen by Jason Reitman,...
Thank You For Smoking (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Fox Searchlight Pictures
Synopsis: Based on Christopher Buckley’s acclaimed 1994 novel of the same title and adapted for the screen by Jason Reitman,...
- 10/27/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
We’re getting the first look at Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a live stage show based on the hit Netflix series. Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions have released some rehearsal images for the stage show that opens at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on Dec. 14, with previews beginning Nov. 17.
The First Shadow is set in Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.
Written by Kate Trefry, and directed by Stephen Daldry, with co-direction by Justin Martin, the cast includes Shane Attwooll (Chief Hopper), Kemi Awoderu...
The First Shadow is set in Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.
Written by Kate Trefry, and directed by Stephen Daldry, with co-direction by Justin Martin, the cast includes Shane Attwooll (Chief Hopper), Kemi Awoderu...
- 10/25/2023
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Stranger Things’ Play Unveils Intense First Look at Cast Rehearsals, Sets Discounted Ticket Lottery
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is shaping up to replicate the high stakes of the Netflix drama, as demonstrated by photos released from rehearsals of the West End stage play.
Among the first looks are images of Henry Creel and Dr. Brenner (played by Louis McCartney and Patrick Vaill) in an intense face-to-face standoff and Lonnie Byers sitting with and holding Joyce Maldonado (played by Chase Brown and Isabella Pappas), as well as of the larger company and “Stranger Things” creators Ross and Matt Duffer.
Additionally, the production has set a discounted ticket initiative titled “Shadow Seats” in partnership with TodayTix. For each performance of the show’s run, there will be 11 pairs of tickets available for £19.59 per seat, with some located in the front row of the stalls. Shadow seats will not be visible on the main booking page, instead appearing for sale via the lottery on the TodayTix...
Among the first looks are images of Henry Creel and Dr. Brenner (played by Louis McCartney and Patrick Vaill) in an intense face-to-face standoff and Lonnie Byers sitting with and holding Joyce Maldonado (played by Chase Brown and Isabella Pappas), as well as of the larger company and “Stranger Things” creators Ross and Matt Duffer.
Additionally, the production has set a discounted ticket initiative titled “Shadow Seats” in partnership with TodayTix. For each performance of the show’s run, there will be 11 pairs of tickets available for £19.59 per seat, with some located in the front row of the stalls. Shadow seats will not be visible on the main booking page, instead appearing for sale via the lottery on the TodayTix...
- 10/25/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Ahead of “Stranger Things 5,” set to be the final season of the Netflix series, the saga will be taking to the stage in London for the upcoming “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.”
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is said to be a “new story live on stage,” and it’s set in Hawkins, 1959. “The First Shadow” takes place “before the world turned upside down.”
The World Premiere takes place on December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon. Previews begin November 17.
Rehearsals are now underway and the cast has been officially announced by Netflix. Many of the actors will be playing younger versions of beloved “Stranger Things” characters.
The cast includes Louis McCartney as Henry Creel, Ella Karuna Williams (The Equalizer) as Patty Newby and Patrick Vaill as Dr. Brenner.
Oscar Lloyd takes on the role as Jim Hopper, Jr., Isabella Pappas...
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is said to be a “new story live on stage,” and it’s set in Hawkins, 1959. “The First Shadow” takes place “before the world turned upside down.”
The World Premiere takes place on December 14 at the Phoenix Theatre on London’s West End, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon. Previews begin November 17.
Rehearsals are now underway and the cast has been officially announced by Netflix. Many of the actors will be playing younger versions of beloved “Stranger Things” characters.
The cast includes Louis McCartney as Henry Creel, Ella Karuna Williams (The Equalizer) as Patty Newby and Patrick Vaill as Dr. Brenner.
Oscar Lloyd takes on the role as Jim Hopper, Jr., Isabella Pappas...
- 9/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Netflix is teaming up with Sonia Friedman Productions to produce the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which is “rooted in the mythology” of the hit streaming series Stranger Things and is set to have its world premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on December 14th. The show will then run through next August. (Tickets are available Here.) With just a few months to go before the premiere, Variety has learned that the full cast for Stranger Things: The First Shadow has been assembled, including the actors who will be playing younger version of characters from the series like Joyce, Hopper, Dr. Brenner, Bob Newby, and Henry Creel!
Here’s the cast: Shane Attwooll (Chief Hopper), Kemi Awoderu (Sue Anderson), Chase Brown (Lonnie Byers), Christopher Buckley (Bob Newby), Ammar Duffus (Charles Sinclair), Gilles Geary (Ted Wheeler), Florence Guy (Karen Childress), Max Harwood (Allen Munson), Michael Jibson (Victor Creel), Oscar Lloyd,...
Here’s the cast: Shane Attwooll (Chief Hopper), Kemi Awoderu (Sue Anderson), Chase Brown (Lonnie Byers), Christopher Buckley (Bob Newby), Ammar Duffus (Charles Sinclair), Gilles Geary (Ted Wheeler), Florence Guy (Karen Childress), Max Harwood (Allen Munson), Michael Jibson (Victor Creel), Oscar Lloyd,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” announced its full cast Wednesday ahead of its worldwide opening live on stage at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End.
Playwright Kate Tefry’s stage production will take viewers back to Hawkins, Indiana, in 1959 before the events of “Stranger Things” Season 1 and any inkling of The Upside Down. Directed by Stephen Daldry with codirection from Justin Martin, the theatrical installment premieres Dec. 14.
“With rehearsals now underway, it’s a joy to discover the world of ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ with our ferociously talented cast and watch the alchemy amongst our entire company grow as we together explore this new play,” Daldry and Martin said in a statement. “They’re an extraordinarily gifted group of actors, and we can’t wait to share this origin story with audiences.”
Full cast of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” (Netflix)
Shane Attwooll will portray Chief Hopper,...
Playwright Kate Tefry’s stage production will take viewers back to Hawkins, Indiana, in 1959 before the events of “Stranger Things” Season 1 and any inkling of The Upside Down. Directed by Stephen Daldry with codirection from Justin Martin, the theatrical installment premieres Dec. 14.
“With rehearsals now underway, it’s a joy to discover the world of ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ with our ferociously talented cast and watch the alchemy amongst our entire company grow as we together explore this new play,” Daldry and Martin said in a statement. “They’re an extraordinarily gifted group of actors, and we can’t wait to share this origin story with audiences.”
Full cast of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” (Netflix)
Shane Attwooll will portray Chief Hopper,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Preview
London’s upcoming stage production of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” has announced its full cast, including who will play young Hopper, Joyce, Dr. Brenner and Henry Creel (who will later turn into Vecna) — characters from the show played by David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Matthew Modine and Jamie Campbell Bower, respectively.
From Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” acts as a prequel to the Duffer Brothers’ hit series, beginning in 1959 Hawkins, Ind.
With production on the upcoming fifth and final season of “Stranger Things” paused indefinitely until the writers and actors strikes are settled, this West End stage production will have to tie fans over in the meantime.
(L-r) Oscar Lloyd, Isabella Pappas (Joyce Maldonado), and Christopher Buckley (Bob Newby)
“The cast of ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ is nothing short of phenomenal,” said the Duffer Brothers in a statement. The “Stranger Things” series creators...
London’s upcoming stage production of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” has announced its full cast, including who will play young Hopper, Joyce, Dr. Brenner and Henry Creel (who will later turn into Vecna) — characters from the show played by David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Matthew Modine and Jamie Campbell Bower, respectively.
From Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” acts as a prequel to the Duffer Brothers’ hit series, beginning in 1959 Hawkins, Ind.
With production on the upcoming fifth and final season of “Stranger Things” paused indefinitely until the writers and actors strikes are settled, this West End stage production will have to tie fans over in the meantime.
(L-r) Oscar Lloyd, Isabella Pappas (Joyce Maldonado), and Christopher Buckley (Bob Newby)
“The cast of ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ is nothing short of phenomenal,” said the Duffer Brothers in a statement. The “Stranger Things” series creators...
- 9/20/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
The London stage production based on Stranger Things has announced its cast and set dates for the beginning of previews and its formal opening.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel to the Netflix hit that’s set in 1959, will begin previews Nov. 17 at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End, with an opening date set for Dec. 14. Rehearsals for the play, written by Kate Trefry and directed by Stephen Daldry with co-director Justin Martin, are underway.
“It’s a joy to discover the world of Stranger Things: The First Shadow with our ferociously talented cast and watch the alchemy amongst our entire company grow as we together explore this new play,” Daldry and Martin said in a statement. “They’re an extraordinarily gifted group of actors, and we can’t wait to share this origin story with audiences.”
The First Shadow stars Shane Attwooll, Christopher Buckley, Michael Jibson,...
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel to the Netflix hit that’s set in 1959, will begin previews Nov. 17 at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End, with an opening date set for Dec. 14. Rehearsals for the play, written by Kate Trefry and directed by Stephen Daldry with co-director Justin Martin, are underway.
“It’s a joy to discover the world of Stranger Things: The First Shadow with our ferociously talented cast and watch the alchemy amongst our entire company grow as we together explore this new play,” Daldry and Martin said in a statement. “They’re an extraordinarily gifted group of actors, and we can’t wait to share this origin story with audiences.”
The First Shadow stars Shane Attwooll, Christopher Buckley, Michael Jibson,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"It's not – having or not having compassion, my role is to discover. The truth is always revolutionary." Yep. Kino Lorber has revealed an official trailer for a documentary film titled Radical Wolfe, a compelling profile of the iconic writer / journalist Tom Wolfe. It will be opening in select theaters first in September, in art house cinemas this fall. This looks like a very smart doc! From a beat reporter at the Washington Post, to the leader of the New Journalism movement, Tom was at the forefront of reshaping how American stories are told. Throughout his career, he fused a conservative upbringing in Virginia with a cultural antenna from Yale's American Studies PhD program to write some of the most culturally impactful stories of the 20th century: The Right Stuff, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and A Man in Full. This doc features conversations and interviews with those who knew him best,...
- 8/25/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
“Radical Wolfe,” the first documentary about American author and journalism pioneer Tom Wolfe, will open at the IFC Center in New York on Sept. 15 and the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles on Sept. 22. Kino Lorber, which acquired the film in April, also announced a nationwide expansion set after the platform debut.
“Radical Wolfe,” based on a Vanity Fair article by Michael Lewis, chronicles Wolfe’s career from a beat reporter at the Washington Post to his becoming a leader in the “New Journalism” movement. Featuring readings from Jon Hamm, the picture details how Wolfe helped reshape how American stories were told, including recognizing the importance of overlooked subcultures and communities. This meant everything from rural stock car drivers to hippies in Haight Ashbury to the Apollo Astronauts.
The film is directed by Richard Dewey (“Burden”) and executive produced by David Light and Nathan Epstein and co-produced by Andy Fortenbacher. The...
“Radical Wolfe,” based on a Vanity Fair article by Michael Lewis, chronicles Wolfe’s career from a beat reporter at the Washington Post to his becoming a leader in the “New Journalism” movement. Featuring readings from Jon Hamm, the picture details how Wolfe helped reshape how American stories were told, including recognizing the importance of overlooked subcultures and communities. This meant everything from rural stock car drivers to hippies in Haight Ashbury to the Apollo Astronauts.
The film is directed by Richard Dewey (“Burden”) and executive produced by David Light and Nathan Epstein and co-produced by Andy Fortenbacher. The...
- 8/3/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to the documentary about “The Right Stuff” and “The Bonfire of the Vanities” writer Tom Wolfe titled “Radical Wolfe,” the company announced on Wednesday.
The documentary is an official adaptation of the 2015 Vanity Fair article “How Tom Wolfe Became … Tom Wolfe” by Michael Lewis, best-selling author of “Moneyball” and “The Big Short” and a longtime personal friend of Wolfe.
Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical release later this year followed by a digital and home video release on all major platforms.
Also Read:
Kino Lorber Hires Former AMC Executives Ed Carroll and Lisa Schwartz to C-Suite
The film is directed by Richard Dewey (“Burden”) and executive produced by David Light and Nathan Epstein and co-produced by Andy Fortenbacher.
The synopsis is as follows: From a beat reporter at the Washington Post, to an overnight sensation as the leader of the New Journalism movement,...
The documentary is an official adaptation of the 2015 Vanity Fair article “How Tom Wolfe Became … Tom Wolfe” by Michael Lewis, best-selling author of “Moneyball” and “The Big Short” and a longtime personal friend of Wolfe.
Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical release later this year followed by a digital and home video release on all major platforms.
Also Read:
Kino Lorber Hires Former AMC Executives Ed Carroll and Lisa Schwartz to C-Suite
The film is directed by Richard Dewey (“Burden”) and executive produced by David Light and Nathan Epstein and co-produced by Andy Fortenbacher.
The synopsis is as follows: From a beat reporter at the Washington Post, to an overnight sensation as the leader of the New Journalism movement,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Exclusive: The Right Stuff and The Bonfire of the Vanities scribe Tom Wolfe is the subject of new documentary Radical Wolfe, an adaptation of a 2015 Vanity Fair article by Moneyball and The Big Short author Michael Lewis who was a longtime personal friend of Wolfe.
Kino Lorber has acquired all North American distribution rights to Richard Dewey’s under-the-radar film, which is currently in post-production and set to be released theatrically later this year.
Talking heads include Michael Lewis, Jann Wenner, Gay Talese, Lynn Nesbit, Terry McDonell, Tom Junod, Christopher Buckley, Niall Ferguson, and Alexandra Wolfe.
From a beat reporter at the Washington Post, to an overnight sensation as the leader of the New Journalism movement, Wolfe is one of America’s most celebrated journalist-turned-novelists of the latter 20th Century. His books included The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, The Right Stuff, The Bonfire Of The Vanities, and A Man in Full.
Kino Lorber has acquired all North American distribution rights to Richard Dewey’s under-the-radar film, which is currently in post-production and set to be released theatrically later this year.
Talking heads include Michael Lewis, Jann Wenner, Gay Talese, Lynn Nesbit, Terry McDonell, Tom Junod, Christopher Buckley, Niall Ferguson, and Alexandra Wolfe.
From a beat reporter at the Washington Post, to an overnight sensation as the leader of the New Journalism movement, Wolfe is one of America’s most celebrated journalist-turned-novelists of the latter 20th Century. His books included The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, The Right Stuff, The Bonfire Of The Vanities, and A Man in Full.
- 4/5/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
By now, you've probably already heard about "Labor Day" and that infamous pie scene. But believe it or not, Jason Reitman's new movie isn't just about baked goods. So what else is it about?
Based on Joyce Maynard's coming-of-age novel and set in small-town New England in the late 1980s, the film stars Josh Brolin as Frank, an escaped convict who convinces a reclusive single mother (Kate Winslet) and her young son Henry (Gattlin Griffith) to let him hide out in their house. What's originally only supposed to be a few hours turns into an entire long weekend, as Frank becomes the stand-in man of the house both mother and son had been missing, fixing loose floorboards, teaching Henry how to play baseball, and yes, bake a peach pie.
Following the movie's premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival, Reitman, Brolin and Griffith held a press conference to discuss their new film.
Based on Joyce Maynard's coming-of-age novel and set in small-town New England in the late 1980s, the film stars Josh Brolin as Frank, an escaped convict who convinces a reclusive single mother (Kate Winslet) and her young son Henry (Gattlin Griffith) to let him hide out in their house. What's originally only supposed to be a few hours turns into an entire long weekend, as Frank becomes the stand-in man of the house both mother and son had been missing, fixing loose floorboards, teaching Henry how to play baseball, and yes, bake a peach pie.
Following the movie's premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival, Reitman, Brolin and Griffith held a press conference to discuss their new film.
- 1/30/2014
- by Rick Mele
- Moviefone
ComingSoon.net has been talking to second-generation filmmaker Jason Reitman for many years, going back to his very first movie, an adaptation of Christopher Buckley's Thank You for Smoking that quickly got him out from under the shadow of his famous filmmaking father. Reitman jumped right from that into his first teaming with Diablo Cody for Juno , then continued his run of successful adaptations with Up in the Air , starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. Ever since then, Reitman has bounced between adapting novels for his own films and working closely with Cody, directing her script Young Adult as well as producing the horror film Jennifer's Body , but it's always something special when he goes back to one of his adaptations. Following suit, Reitman...
- 1/28/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Son of Ghostbusters. director Ivan Reitman, Jason Reitman made a name for himself in 2005 with his directorial feature debut Thank You For Smoking, adapted from the darkly comedic novel of Christopher Buckley. Since then, Reitman has been pushing the envelope on comedy with the quirky, Academy Award-winning Juno, the bittersweet and six-time Oscar-nominated Up in the Air, and the devotedly dark comedy Young Adult, which starred Charlize Theron as an overgrown Mean Girl. But Reitman is leaving comedy behind for his latest release, Labor Day, as you might have gathered from the gritty clip above. Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet stars as a reclusive single mom named Adele. Based on the Joyce Maynard novel, Labor Day follows an unexpected adventure that rattles her and her son.s life forever. Looking forward to the long Labor Day weekend, Adele and her son Henry (Gattlin Griffith) pick up a hitchhiker called Frank who...
- 9/9/2013
- cinemablend.com
Ahead of the release of his latest film, Damsels In Distress, Michael met with writer and director Whit Stillman to talk about his work...
Whichever way you look at it, 14 years is a long time in the film business - and that is how long it’s been since writer-director Whit Stillman (Metropolitan, Barcelona, The Last Days Of Disco) last graced us with a slice of dry-humoured, acutely-satirical comedy.
His new film, the East Coast college flick Damsels In Distress, is both a return to and a break from form. The budget is still low, and the characters still wrestle with toe-curling lapses in self-awareness, but this time around there’s a new generation of pitch-perfect performers (Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody) giving voice to Stillman’s dialogue.
The night before I was due to chat with the director, I caught one of his three London Q&A appearances, where he...
Whichever way you look at it, 14 years is a long time in the film business - and that is how long it’s been since writer-director Whit Stillman (Metropolitan, Barcelona, The Last Days Of Disco) last graced us with a slice of dry-humoured, acutely-satirical comedy.
His new film, the East Coast college flick Damsels In Distress, is both a return to and a break from form. The budget is still low, and the characters still wrestle with toe-curling lapses in self-awareness, but this time around there’s a new generation of pitch-perfect performers (Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody) giving voice to Stillman’s dialogue.
The night before I was due to chat with the director, I caught one of his three London Q&A appearances, where he...
- 4/25/2012
- Den of Geek
Here's Whit Stillman's schedule for the next few days: This evening, following a screening of Barcelona (1994), he and Chris Eigeman will be chatting at the Museum of the Moving Image. Tomorrow, he'll be at the Museum again to introduce his new film, Damsels in Distress, before heading over to BAMcinématek for a Q&A with Eigeman and Lena Dunham following a screening of The Last Days of Disco (1998). And then on Friday, following its premiere in Venice (see the roundup) and screening in Toronto (see Dan Sallitt's take), Damsels, Stillman's first feature in 14 years, finally opens in theaters.
Let's take this more or less chronologically, beginning with Colin Beckett, writing for Moving Image Source:
The three films that Whit Stillman made in the 1990s are neither the paradigmatic indie comedies they would appear in summary nor the traditionalist allegories his conservative fans have claimed. Though Stillman released these formally unambitious,...
Let's take this more or less chronologically, beginning with Colin Beckett, writing for Moving Image Source:
The three films that Whit Stillman made in the 1990s are neither the paradigmatic indie comedies they would appear in summary nor the traditionalist allegories his conservative fans have claimed. Though Stillman released these formally unambitious,...
- 4/7/2012
- MUBI
Charlie: Do you know the film, "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoise?" When I first saw that title, I though, "Finally, someone is going to tell the truth about the bourgeoisie." What a disappointment. It would be hard to imagine a less fair or accurate portrait.
Cynthia: Well of course, Bunuel is a surrealist. Despising the bourgeoisie is part of their credo.
Nick: (disgusted) Where do they get off?
Charlie: The truth is the bourgeoisie does have a lot of charm.
Nick: Of course it does, the surrealists were just a bunch of social climbers.
- Whit Stillman, "Metropolitan"
Famously dubbed the “the Wasp Woody Allen” and the “Dickens of people with too much inner life” by reviewers and critics when his comedy-of-manners indie pictures arrived in the early 1990s, Whit Stillman’s ironic, clever and urbane examinations of upward and downward social mobility and the shallow concerns and preoccupations of the young,...
Cynthia: Well of course, Bunuel is a surrealist. Despising the bourgeoisie is part of their credo.
Nick: (disgusted) Where do they get off?
Charlie: The truth is the bourgeoisie does have a lot of charm.
Nick: Of course it does, the surrealists were just a bunch of social climbers.
- Whit Stillman, "Metropolitan"
Famously dubbed the “the Wasp Woody Allen” and the “Dickens of people with too much inner life” by reviewers and critics when his comedy-of-manners indie pictures arrived in the early 1990s, Whit Stillman’s ironic, clever and urbane examinations of upward and downward social mobility and the shallow concerns and preoccupations of the young,...
- 4/6/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
After a 14-year absence from feature filmmaking, Whit Stillman -- the beloved chronicler of preppy, privileged and highly literate youth -- makes his comeback this Friday with the release of "Damsels in Distress." Despite his time away from the big screen, Stillman hasn't been resting on his laurels. He tried (and failed) to get a number projects off the ground, including an adaptation of Christopher Buckley's political satire "Little Green Men" and "Dancing Mood," a period piece about the Kingston, Jamaica church music scene (he told Indiewire he still hopes to get that last one made). In addition, he also penned the novel "The Last Days of Disco, with Cocktails at Petrossian," based on his last film to hit theaters, "The Last Days of Disco." Those familiar with Stillman's brand of wordy quirk and knack for doing wonders with ensemble casts will no doubt respond well to "Damsels." The film finds.
- 4/4/2012
- by Nigel M Smith
- Indiewire
The director of Juno and Up in the Air tells Catherine Shoard why his latest film, Young Adult, about an alcoholic, embittered ghostwriter, is far darker than his previous movies
Jason Reitman knows he needs to work on his drinking problem. Specifically: develop one. It's a long road ahead. He was an abstemious teen, an undebauched student. At 34, he's yet to try a gin and tonic – "two things I haven't been able to get my mouth around" – but thinks he maybe should. "I'm a total cliche – the compensating for growing up a rich kid in Beverly Hills, the compensating for being the son of a famous director [Ghostbusters' Ivan]. The one break is I don't have an alcohol or drug addiction. Then I would be the complete picture. And I think it's beautiful that we're all cliches, I really do."
He's been making progress. "Three years ago, I started drinking, and I...
Jason Reitman knows he needs to work on his drinking problem. Specifically: develop one. It's a long road ahead. He was an abstemious teen, an undebauched student. At 34, he's yet to try a gin and tonic – "two things I haven't been able to get my mouth around" – but thinks he maybe should. "I'm a total cliche – the compensating for growing up a rich kid in Beverly Hills, the compensating for being the son of a famous director [Ghostbusters' Ivan]. The one break is I don't have an alcohol or drug addiction. Then I would be the complete picture. And I think it's beautiful that we're all cliches, I really do."
He's been making progress. "Three years ago, I started drinking, and I...
- 1/20/2012
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
Thank You For Smoking
Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Jason Reitman, based on the book Thank You For Smoking by Christopher Buckley
imdb, USA, 2005.
Juno
Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Cody Diablo
imdb, USA, 2007.
Up in the Air
Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, based on the book Up in the Air by Walter Kim
imdb, USA, 2009, Kenneth Broadway’s SoundOnSight Review, Simon Howell’s SoundOnSight Review
Young Adult
Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Diablo Cody.
imdb, USA, 2011, Simon Howell’s SoundOnSight Review
Groundhog Day
Directed by Harold Ramis
Written by Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin, based on a story by Danny Rubin
imdb, USA,1983.
*****
He falls in love with his reflection in the glass
He can’t resist who’s staring back
-Narcissist, Hedley
Narcissus and Echo are a doomed couple from Greek mythology. One version of the story is that Echo,...
Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Jason Reitman, based on the book Thank You For Smoking by Christopher Buckley
imdb, USA, 2005.
Juno
Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Cody Diablo
imdb, USA, 2007.
Up in the Air
Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, based on the book Up in the Air by Walter Kim
imdb, USA, 2009, Kenneth Broadway’s SoundOnSight Review, Simon Howell’s SoundOnSight Review
Young Adult
Directed by Jason Reitman
Written by Diablo Cody.
imdb, USA, 2011, Simon Howell’s SoundOnSight Review
Groundhog Day
Directed by Harold Ramis
Written by Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin, based on a story by Danny Rubin
imdb, USA,1983.
*****
He falls in love with his reflection in the glass
He can’t resist who’s staring back
-Narcissist, Hedley
Narcissus and Echo are a doomed couple from Greek mythology. One version of the story is that Echo,...
- 1/2/2012
- by Michael Ryan
- SoundOnSight
Every pundit that has tried to make a point, throw a punch, or declare victory should pause today to salute Christopher Hitchens.
He burst on the U.S. media scene first on William F. Buckley Jr.'s television series Firing Line, then on CNN's Larry King Live and Crossfire in the early Reagan Presidency. He (along with now presidential candidate Newt Gingrich) knew immediately that cable television was the new media play for serious public policy combat. The "disruptors," as our web friends say now. Hitchens didn't talk to the empty chairs each night on C-span as Gingrich did to make his points and show the American people that he was still at work, he just swung for the rafters with every comment on the only two cable shows.
Pat Buchanan, a great verbal brawler in his own right, is the only person I ever saw who could anticipate the blows.
He burst on the U.S. media scene first on William F. Buckley Jr.'s television series Firing Line, then on CNN's Larry King Live and Crossfire in the early Reagan Presidency. He (along with now presidential candidate Newt Gingrich) knew immediately that cable television was the new media play for serious public policy combat. The "disruptors," as our web friends say now. Hitchens didn't talk to the empty chairs each night on C-span as Gingrich did to make his points and show the American people that he was still at work, he just swung for the rafters with every comment on the only two cable shows.
Pat Buchanan, a great verbal brawler in his own right, is the only person I ever saw who could anticipate the blows.
- 12/16/2011
- by Tammy Haddad
- Aol TV.
Less than two years after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer, the fiery polemicist and public intellectual Christopher Hitchens died last night, at the age of 62.
His dominance in the age of the internet leaves us with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of in memoriams -- there's Hitchens on "Politically Incorrect," calling Mos Def "Mr. Definitely" as they spar over the ethics of nuclear armament, Hitchens "improving" Joe Scarborough as a host, Hitchens as a natural on "The Daily Show" and a regular on Fox, a Hitch-centric talk beamed to his bedside at the first sign the end could be near, led by Stephen Fry, Sean Pean, Salman Rushdie, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Buckley, Martin Amis, and the rest of the elite crowd he included among his closest friends, Hitchens drinking while discussing Youtube, Hitchens smoking while discrediting Mother Teresa, Hitchens sick and Hitchens well. There is also of course the work Hitchens...
His dominance in the age of the internet leaves us with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of in memoriams -- there's Hitchens on "Politically Incorrect," calling Mos Def "Mr. Definitely" as they spar over the ethics of nuclear armament, Hitchens "improving" Joe Scarborough as a host, Hitchens as a natural on "The Daily Show" and a regular on Fox, a Hitch-centric talk beamed to his bedside at the first sign the end could be near, led by Stephen Fry, Sean Pean, Salman Rushdie, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Buckley, Martin Amis, and the rest of the elite crowd he included among his closest friends, Hitchens drinking while discussing Youtube, Hitchens smoking while discrediting Mother Teresa, Hitchens sick and Hitchens well. There is also of course the work Hitchens...
- 12/16/2011
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Young Adult opens in a limited release this weekend and Patton Oswalt has given a gazillion interviews in the last couple of weeks.
On the news front, last week Patton was nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Album for "Finest Hour" - big congrats! - and, this week, Deadline included him among the frontrunners for an Oscar in the best supporting actor category, along with - brace for a holy frak - Ben Kingsley, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Spacey, Max von Sydow and Christopher Plummer. From the article:
Patton Oswalt, Young Adult
Perhaps best known as a stand-up comedian and the voice of the lead rat in Pixar’s Ratatouille, Oswalt is quickly establishing his credentials as a serious actor, first in the critically acclaimed indie film The Big Fan and now on a larger scale as a lonely man whose life was defined by an unfortunate incident in high school.
On the news front, last week Patton was nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Album for "Finest Hour" - big congrats! - and, this week, Deadline included him among the frontrunners for an Oscar in the best supporting actor category, along with - brace for a holy frak - Ben Kingsley, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Spacey, Max von Sydow and Christopher Plummer. From the article:
Patton Oswalt, Young Adult
Perhaps best known as a stand-up comedian and the voice of the lead rat in Pixar’s Ratatouille, Oswalt is quickly establishing his credentials as a serious actor, first in the critically acclaimed indie film The Big Fan and now on a larger scale as a lonely man whose life was defined by an unfortunate incident in high school.
- 12/11/2011
- by fanshawe
- CapricaTV
The man behind Super Size Me has made a documentary about product placement – and funded it by featuring a fruit juice. Here, he reveals the murky world of movie sponsorship
Two years ago, Morgan Spurlock rang Abercrombie & Fitch to offer them his services as a model. The response wasn't wholly positive. "Have you looked in the mirror?" the company's press agent asked. "You're pale. You're out of shape. You're not very good-looking. You have a moustache. You're going bald." That offending 'tache shakes with laughter at the memory. "She broke down every flaw for me. She said I was an ugly person. She was very, very offended by my offer."
So Spurlock – pale skin quickly thickening – returned to his phone book and called more companies hoping to cut a deal; 600 in all, of which he scored with 15. This 2% success rate left him with a "tremendous sense of despair", a heightened...
Two years ago, Morgan Spurlock rang Abercrombie & Fitch to offer them his services as a model. The response wasn't wholly positive. "Have you looked in the mirror?" the company's press agent asked. "You're pale. You're out of shape. You're not very good-looking. You have a moustache. You're going bald." That offending 'tache shakes with laughter at the memory. "She broke down every flaw for me. She said I was an ugly person. She was very, very offended by my offer."
So Spurlock – pale skin quickly thickening – returned to his phone book and called more companies hoping to cut a deal; 600 in all, of which he scored with 15. This 2% success rate left him with a "tremendous sense of despair", a heightened...
- 10/14/2011
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
Damsels in Distress
Opens: 2011
Cast: Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Ryan Metcalf
Director: Whit Stillman
Summary: The story revolves around a group of style-obsessed college girls who take in a new student (Gerwig) and teach her their misguided ways of helping people at their grungy university.
Analysis: The first film in a decade from arthouse darling Whit Stillman, a filmmaker's filmmaker whose three Manhattan-based, yuppie-themed mannerist comedies - "Metropolitan," "Barcelona" and "The Last Days of Disco" - were a big influence on the likes of auteurs such as Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach. Stillman says this film varies somewhat from his previous trilogy of sorts, telling First Things that "This film is different, Completely different. Okay, not completely different, but it’s different".
Independently financed by Castle Rock CEO Martin Shafer, the project recently wrapped filming in Manhattan where Stillman returned to last year after having spent much...
Opens: 2011
Cast: Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Ryan Metcalf
Director: Whit Stillman
Summary: The story revolves around a group of style-obsessed college girls who take in a new student (Gerwig) and teach her their misguided ways of helping people at their grungy university.
Analysis: The first film in a decade from arthouse darling Whit Stillman, a filmmaker's filmmaker whose three Manhattan-based, yuppie-themed mannerist comedies - "Metropolitan," "Barcelona" and "The Last Days of Disco" - were a big influence on the likes of auteurs such as Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach. Stillman says this film varies somewhat from his previous trilogy of sorts, telling First Things that "This film is different, Completely different. Okay, not completely different, but it’s different".
Independently financed by Castle Rock CEO Martin Shafer, the project recently wrapped filming in Manhattan where Stillman returned to last year after having spent much...
- 12/28/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Damsels in Distress
Opens: 2011
Cast: Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Ryan Metcalf
Director: Whit Stillman
Summary: The story revolves around a group of style-obsessed college girls who take in a new student (Gerwig) and teach her their misguided ways of helping people at their grungy university.
Analysis: The first film in a decade from arthouse darling Whit Stillman, a filmmaker's filmmaker whose three Manhattan-based, yuppie-themed mannerist comedies - "Metropolitan," "Barcelona" and "The Last Days of Disco" - were a big influence on the likes of auteurs such as Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach. Stillman says this film varies somewhat from his previous trilogy of sorts, telling First Things that "This film is different, Completely different. Okay, not completely different, but it’s different".
Independently financed by Castle Rock CEO Martin Shafer, the project recently wrapped filming in Manhattan where Stillman returned to last year after having spent much...
Opens: 2011
Cast: Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Ryan Metcalf
Director: Whit Stillman
Summary: The story revolves around a group of style-obsessed college girls who take in a new student (Gerwig) and teach her their misguided ways of helping people at their grungy university.
Analysis: The first film in a decade from arthouse darling Whit Stillman, a filmmaker's filmmaker whose three Manhattan-based, yuppie-themed mannerist comedies - "Metropolitan," "Barcelona" and "The Last Days of Disco" - were a big influence on the likes of auteurs such as Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach. Stillman says this film varies somewhat from his previous trilogy of sorts, telling First Things that "This film is different, Completely different. Okay, not completely different, but it’s different".
Independently financed by Castle Rock CEO Martin Shafer, the project recently wrapped filming in Manhattan where Stillman returned to last year after having spent much...
- 12/28/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Icm is reorganizing its literary department, hiring Nick Harris to co-head the books-to-film division, which he'll run with freshly promoted Josie Freedman.
Harris is a catch for the agency, as the agent has spent the last decade amassing rights experience. He began at AP Watt Literary Agency based in London before jumping across the pond in 2006, joining Rabineau Wachter Sanford Harris (Rwsh) as a partner. He was most recently at Mosaic, where he has represented several authors, graphic novelists and comic book creators.
Harris negotiated film rights for Fox Searchlight's "The Last King of Scotland," as well as "The Men Who Stare at Goats," co-produced by and starring George Clooney. He also negotiated film rights for Fox's upcoming family drama "We Bought a Zoo."
Freedman worked at Gersh before joining Icm in 2001. Her notable deals include "He's Just Not That Into You," based on the New York Times best-selling book; "The Illusionist,...
Harris is a catch for the agency, as the agent has spent the last decade amassing rights experience. He began at AP Watt Literary Agency based in London before jumping across the pond in 2006, joining Rabineau Wachter Sanford Harris (Rwsh) as a partner. He was most recently at Mosaic, where he has represented several authors, graphic novelists and comic book creators.
Harris negotiated film rights for Fox Searchlight's "The Last King of Scotland," as well as "The Men Who Stare at Goats," co-produced by and starring George Clooney. He also negotiated film rights for Fox's upcoming family drama "We Bought a Zoo."
Freedman worked at Gersh before joining Icm in 2001. Her notable deals include "He's Just Not That Into You," based on the New York Times best-selling book; "The Illusionist,...
- 10/15/2010
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tom Vaughan ("What Happens in Vegas," "Extraordinary Measures") is set to direct the romantic comedy "Boomsday" for GreeneStreet Films reports Yahoo.
An adaptation of Christopher Buckley's novel, the story follows a young Washington DC publicist who suggests via her blog that all of the senior citizens in the United States commit suicide to solve the Social Security Crisis.
A handsome politician decides to take up her cause, leading to many complications both romantically and politically.
Ronald Bass and Jen Smolka will adapt the screenplay. No actors are yet locked.
An adaptation of Christopher Buckley's novel, the story follows a young Washington DC publicist who suggests via her blog that all of the senior citizens in the United States commit suicide to solve the Social Security Crisis.
A handsome politician decides to take up her cause, leading to many complications both romantically and politically.
Ronald Bass and Jen Smolka will adapt the screenplay. No actors are yet locked.
- 10/8/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
What Happens in Vegas helmer Tom Vaughan will direct Boomsday, an adaptation of the Chris Buckley novel. Ron Bass and Jen Smolka wrote the script. GreeneStreet Films is fully financing and producing with Das Films. Production begins mid-2011. Buckley, who wrote the satiric Thank You For Smoking, this time focuses on a DC publicist who uses her blog to vent her frustrations, and who makes a humorous suggestion that senior citizens voluntarily commit suicide to solve the Social Security crisis. A handsome politician champions her "cause," and the young publicist finds herself over her head, romantically and politically. Sriram Das is producing with GreeneStreet's John Penotti, and Glen Basner's FilmNation is selling foreign rights through its partnership with GreeneStreet. It's the second go project for Das Films and GreeneStreet, which is teamed with Sidney Kimmel on an apaptation of the Craig Clevenger novel The Contortionist's Handbook, which will star Channing Tatum.
- 10/7/2010
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Tom Vaughan has come aboard to direct the film adaptation of Christopher Buckley's satiric novel "Boomsday," which GreeneStreet Films and Das Films are producing.
Ron Bass and Jen Smolka have written the screenplay about a Washington D.C. publicist and blogger who jokingly suggest that senior citizens should voluntarily commit suicide to solve the social security crisis -- only to see a politician, with whom she becomes romantically involved, take up the cause.
GreeneStreet is financing the project, which will begin production next year during the second quarter.
Glen Basner's FilmNation is selling international rights through its partnership with GreeneStreet.
Vaughan, repped by CAA, most recently directed "What Happens in Vegas" and "Extraordinary Measures." Buckley and Bass are both repped by Icm.
Ron Bass and Jen Smolka have written the screenplay about a Washington D.C. publicist and blogger who jokingly suggest that senior citizens should voluntarily commit suicide to solve the social security crisis -- only to see a politician, with whom she becomes romantically involved, take up the cause.
GreeneStreet is financing the project, which will begin production next year during the second quarter.
Glen Basner's FilmNation is selling international rights through its partnership with GreeneStreet.
Vaughan, repped by CAA, most recently directed "What Happens in Vegas" and "Extraordinary Measures." Buckley and Bass are both repped by Icm.
- 10/7/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tom Vaughan has signed on to direct Boomsday , based on the novel by Thank You for Smoking 's Christopher Buckley, reports Variety . The novel, published in 2008, tells the story of Cassandra Devine, a late-night blogger who counters the impending financial crisis (caused by Baby Boomers, hence the titular Boomsday) with a posting that satirically suggests that senior citizens kill themselves. The post quickly gains more exposure than Devine had intended and becomes the focus point for Massachusetts Senator Randy Jepperson's political campaign, which also has the effect of drawing Devine in romantically. Ron Bass and Jen Smolka will adapt the novel with production aimed to begin in in spring of 2011.
- 10/7/2010
- Comingsoon.net
It is about damn time that we heard something new from Whit Stillman.
After directing two fantastic films, Metropolitan and The Last Days of Disco, the filmmaker (who also directed 1994’s Barcelona), has been rather silent on what he would be helming for his next project. Now, 12 whole years later we may have some sort of movement on his next project.
According to OpenCastingLive (via Production Weekly/The Playlist), the film, known as both Damsels In Distress and Diorissimo, is set to start in mid July, and should shoot for five weeks in New York. Here’s the synopsis:
[The picture] centers on a group of college girls who take in a new student and teach her their own misguided ways of helping people. Lily, a new student at Seven Oaks University, winds up filling in with a dynamic and highly individualistic group of girls, addicted to the elegance of the past: Heather,...
After directing two fantastic films, Metropolitan and The Last Days of Disco, the filmmaker (who also directed 1994’s Barcelona), has been rather silent on what he would be helming for his next project. Now, 12 whole years later we may have some sort of movement on his next project.
According to OpenCastingLive (via Production Weekly/The Playlist), the film, known as both Damsels In Distress and Diorissimo, is set to start in mid July, and should shoot for five weeks in New York. Here’s the synopsis:
[The picture] centers on a group of college girls who take in a new student and teach her their own misguided ways of helping people. Lily, a new student at Seven Oaks University, winds up filling in with a dynamic and highly individualistic group of girls, addicted to the elegance of the past: Heather,...
- 6/3/2010
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
It’s been a while since Whit Stillman actually stepped behind a camera – his last produced feature was 1998’s The Last Days Of Disco. But now, after years of projects stomping through development hell only to vanish into nothing, it looks like he’s finally going to get something new made with “ultra-low-budget” comedy Damsels In Distress."It's a college comedy," Stillman tells Variety. "It's about four stylish, perfume-obsessed college girls who revolutionize the social life at their grungy university. There are no names, but at our budget level it doesn't have to be a name cast.” Which might be how he’s managed to get this one moving closer to production than anything he’s been attached to before now.Back in 2006, he was lining up an adaptation of Thank You For Smoking author Christopher Buckley’s political farce Little Green Men, which would have seen a talk radio...
- 6/3/2010
- EmpireOnline
Indie filmmaker Whit Stillman ("The Last Days of Disco," "Metropolitan") looks to be finally returning after a decade-plus absence with "Damsels In Distress" (aka. "Diorissimo") for Westerly Films reports The Playlist.
The story follows a dynamic group of college girls who take in a new student and teach her their own misguided ways of helping people which are used as a coping mechanism for their various failed college romances.
A five-week shoot kicks off mid-July in New York City. Stillman himself has spent much of the past decade trying to get several projects going including a spiritual Jamaican music film called "Dancing Mood", and an adaptation of Christopher Buckley's "Little Green Men" which he eventually abandoned.
The story follows a dynamic group of college girls who take in a new student and teach her their own misguided ways of helping people which are used as a coping mechanism for their various failed college romances.
A five-week shoot kicks off mid-July in New York City. Stillman himself has spent much of the past decade trying to get several projects going including a spiritual Jamaican music film called "Dancing Mood", and an adaptation of Christopher Buckley's "Little Green Men" which he eventually abandoned.
- 6/2/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
For some film directors, being nominated for an Academy Award is the culmination of a long career of blood, sweat and tears. Martin Scorcese only won his award after years of excellent work and brutal defeats after promising nominations, and he’s not alone in that journey. While receiving an Oscar in the category of best direction shouldn’t be seen as a validation of a terrific filmmaker, it’s a symbol of years of accumulated talent.
If you’re like 33-year-old Jason Reitman, however, you’re an anomaly. It hasn’t taken the man fifty years for an excellently crafted film like Up in the Air to get Academy accolades, only an adept hand at working with other people’s written material, a fine eye for social commentary and dialogue, and perhaps the slight leverage of bearing the last name of one of comedy’s most renowned filmmakers, Ivan Reitman.
If you’re like 33-year-old Jason Reitman, however, you’re an anomaly. It hasn’t taken the man fifty years for an excellently crafted film like Up in the Air to get Academy accolades, only an adept hand at working with other people’s written material, a fine eye for social commentary and dialogue, and perhaps the slight leverage of bearing the last name of one of comedy’s most renowned filmmakers, Ivan Reitman.
- 3/7/2010
- by John Cooper
- ReelLoop.com
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