For the most part, working on the Harry Potter movies sounds like a dream. Can you imagine being one of those kids who grew up making those movies? It must have felt like they were actually going to Hogwarts. Plus, the cast of professors and such were played by prestigious and acclaimed actors that must have been a joy to work alongside. But, that doesn't mean everyone involved with the franchise treasures being asked about the experience.

In this instance, I’m talking about Emma Thompson, who played Professor Sybill Trelawney across three of the film adaptations. Here’s what the Oscar-winning actress said when recently asked about her role in the movies:

Thompson’s Harry Potter is often thought of one of the underrated characters in the movies, but since they are so beloved and rewatched, of course she gets prompted about the role all the time. Most recently, she was on the Smartless podcast and host Sean Hayes pointed out how he’s a Potterhead, and loved her in the quirky role of Hogwart’s professors of Divination.

As she pointed out, she doesn’t share the same enthusiasm fans have for those films because she really didn’t spend much time working on them. 30 days, she says. That wouldn't even be a full time gig on a single movie, much less spread across three of them.

And, this isn’t the first time she’s been honest about her feelings about the Harry Potter movies. Last year, she also made a comment about the fantasy films being “not really an important part” of her “creative endeavor” as an actress in her career. She’s also commented before on getting “bored” about signing merchandise connected to her role along with saying years ago that she hasn’t “enjoyed” being part of studio films like Harry Potter because they “could be described as formulaic for money”.

Emma Thompson may be very much beloved and recognized for her incredible depiction of the J.K. Rowling character, but she’d more likely be interested in talking about some of her other roles in the likes of Sense of Sensibility, Nanny McPhee or Saving Mr. Banks. As she she also summed up in a comment in the new interview, she's “fatigued” about the topic, and hey, that’s totally her right.

Sure, you'd expect a Harry Potter story to flow out of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson or Rupert Grint since they were on those sets throughout their upbringing, but Emma Thompson had a different experience. Hey you gotta love and respect the honesty here!

I'd argue that a lot of the magic that emanates from the Harry Potter movies is due to the stellar cast. British veteran actors brought J.K. Rowling’s characters to life in stunning fashion for the big screen, which made them all the more memorable to fans. As the years go on, franchise alums share insight into their work on the blockbuster series. Now, I’m laughing at Jason Isaacs’ story about how some of those actual Oscar winners sat around bored while Voldemort delivered those lengthy monologues.

To call the Harry Potter cast talented would be an understatement, as Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and more all either won or were nominated for Oscars before joining the fantasy franchise. So, you can imagine what a riot I had when hearing Isaacs speak at Liverpool Comic Con 2024 and share his recollection of seeing Fiennes as Voldemort performing his soliloquies. I would've found it compelling but, apparently, it was a different story, as Isaacs explained:

The idea of Jason Isaacs wondering how much longer Ralph Fiennes was going to go on with Voldemort’s famed speeches is hilarious. On that same token, I guess this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, as the Peter Pan actor previously spoke about the Harry Potter movies being “boring” to make due to how special effects-heavy they were. Still, I never considered how Voldemort’s monologues could contribute to the long hours on set.

Still, it's hard to deny that Voldemort knew how to make an entrance. With the Harry Potter antagonist being the ultimate evil of the series, of course, he was going to boast about “killing” The Boy Who Lived and try to gain new followers. Fiennes -- a Royal National Theatre alum and Tony winner -- also owned the role. Nevertheless, as Isaacs further stressed, Fiennes' Academy Award-winning co-stars were just tired after a while:

I'm suddenly getting mental images of people on set looking at their watches. Just think of the frustration of waiting for your cue, just so you can say your three lines and call it a day. I'd say one big thing to pick up from this story is that even Oscar winners and veteran actors can get impatient while on set. And, honestly, I love how relatable that is.

Make no mistake, though, as the stars didn't take issue with Ralph Fiennes' actual performance, which continues to receive praise to this day. It's because of the high standard set by Fiennes that the next actor to play Voldemort will have some big shoes to fill. And I wonder if his eventual co-stars will have the same level of patience that Jason Isaacs and co. had for Fiennes.

If you want to revisit Voldemort’s famed monologues, the Harry Potter movies are available for streaming with an HBO Max subscription or a Peacock subscription.

This was supposed to be an article about how much I hate The Sheep Detectives, but I don’t really want to write that article. It’s not because I changed my mind and think The Sheep Detectives is good. I haven’t. I hate it. I might even say I really hate it. I’ll die on that hill too. It’s just that, also, in addition to hating it, I appreciate what it’s trying to do and respect the hustle.

I see a lot of movies every year, and the sad truth is that most of them are barely seasoned white meat. There’s a handful I really like or even love, a handful I absolutely hate, and then a bunch of mediocrity in the middle that I can’t make myself feel strongly about one way or another. Maybe I’m dead inside, or maybe an overwhelming majority of movies these days are sanitized and workshopped and edited and focus-grouped to the point they become soulless and bland and without a point of view.

Not The Sheep Detectives though. It's about a shepherd who reads detective stories to his flock every night. He dies (not a spoiler), and those same sheep decide to take it upon themselves to investigate his murder... and also to ask really profound questions about what it means to be alive and to be a sheep and to be part of a community.

There’s no way someone pitched this idea to a focus group, and they passively gave it a thumbs up. There’s no way a team of studio executives looked at some of the plot points and creative choices this movie makes and didn’t start nervously pulling their wool out. It’s utterly bizarre in a deeply affecting way that is impossible to be neutral about.

Now, once again, to be clear, in my case, it deeply affected me in a deeply negative way. I hated the contrast in tone between the bumbling human characters and some of the more philosophical animals. I hated one of the movie’s biggest moments, which felt like unearned emotional blackmail. I hated the murder, the investigation and the big reveal. From start to finish, I pretty much hated it all, except the basic idea and the vigor of the execution.

But that level of hate only happens when a movie takes a big swing, and The Sheep Detectives is one big swing after another. It has the guts to explore really dark subject matter and juxtapose that emotional depth with really sophomoric humor. It has the guts to make bold and uncomfortable choices with key characters and fully stand by the consequences. It has the guts to be its own movie at a time when very few movies have unique hoofprints.

Outside of this unhinged rant, The Sheep Detectives has gotten a mostly great response from critics. It’s currently sitting at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. I think you should see it, not because they liked it or because I hated it. You should see it because it’s the type of movie worth having a strong opinion about. It’s strange and bold and messy and everything most movies these days don’t dare to be. Maybe it’ll work for you. Maybe it won’t. Either way, it’ll definitely make you feel something, and in an age of C+ retreads and flavorless dramedies, that’s worth your time.

The holiday season is a time when a lot of people rewatch their favorite holiday films, and one movie that has stood the test of time, while also being a lightning rod of controversy, is one of the best Christmas movies ever: Love Actually. While most of the debate around the film today surrounds whether one of the characters might be a creepy stalker, there’s a new question about the movie that has shocked the world. Does Timothée Chalamet get it?

Not rocking his recent dapper orange method dressing, Chalamet was recently a guest on The Graham Norton Show alongside two stars of Love Actually, Emma Thompson and Rowan Atkinson. Love, Actually is apparently a favorite Christmas movie of the young actor, though his comments about the film have fans scratching their heads and wondering if he’s actually seen it, as he said to Thompson:

Thompson plays a woman married to a man played by Alan Rickman, who, at the very least, considers cheating on his wife with his secretary. This causes Thompson’s character to break down when she realizes the situation and again when she confronts Rickman’s character. In the couple’s final scene, set a year later, the exact state of the relationship is unclear, other than the fact that things are clearly still strained between them.

The fact that Timothée Chalamet seemingly doesn’t realize this has blown away the commenters who have responded to the clip on TikTok. To most everybody replying, it’s very clear that nothing has been resolved, and they’re a bit shocked that the actor seems to read the scene so differently than everybody else. Comments include:

• Timmy doesn’t understand the complexity of real relationships yet… - @Eastwoodz
• How could ANYONE think that Alan and Emma resolved their issue?! - @mackeylee3
• how can Tim seem so complex and intelligent in one clip and then miss something blindingly obvious in the next - @Hotter in Person
• Timmy not getting the point of that scene makes so much sense. I wonder if he think dune is set on long beach - @huhhuh720
• Emma telling Timmy his perspective is wrong😳😂😂😂❤ - @Boo-boo

Some aspects of the married couple's relationship are left ambiguous. Are they still married? Separated? The one thing that seems pretty clear from the awkward interaction between them after they meet him at the airport is that the issue has not been, in Chalamet’s words, “resolved.” There is, at best, an indication that they may be on a path toward reconciliation. Check out the scene and see what you think.

Maybe Timothée Chalamet is just a hopeless romantic who chooses to believe that everything is resolved easily because he can’t handle the idea that Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson can’t have a happy ending.

Hugh Jackman is having a big month. There’s his upcoming 2025 release, Song Sung Blue, with Kate Hudson, of course, but also a first look at his character in The Death of Robin Hood movie broke. Now, we’re getting a look at another 2026 movie release, and this one sounds wilder than anything I’ve seen from Hugh Jackman in a while, and yes, I did watch those over-the-top scenes in Deadpool & Wolverine.

I guess I could give you a wool...er, a full rundown of the new movie starring Jackman and a slew of other major names, but really all you need to know is that Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, and many more are starring in a movie about sheep solving a murder. Yes, they are literal Sheep Detectives, and also, yes, that is the title of the upcoming Amazon/MGM Studios film.

Having seen the first look trailer for the flick, there are two things I love already about The Sheep Detectives:

1. The cast is absolutely stacked. I mean stacked, stacked, stacked.
2. The CGI on all the animals looks fantastic.

When I say stacked cast, I mean it. Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Regina Hall, Nicholas Galitzine, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The Bear’s Molly Gordon, Brett Goldstein, Chris O’Dowd and Succession’s Nicholas Braun are all in this movie, and it’s coming to theaters at the start of summer moviegoing season in May, so it seems Amazon is at least a little confident about the project’s ability to perform, despite having what objectively is just outrageous subject matter.

That said, the cast is so good that I'm already sympathetic for the ovines' plight, and can't imagine it'll be very easy to solve a mystery without phones or big clue boards or even opposable thumbs.

When I saw the early trailer for The Sheep Detectives earlier this year at CinemaCon, it was rolling with the title Three Bags Full, and even swapped out the MGM lion with a baa-ing sheep, (Not sure why they swapped that out for the lion here, since it was so on-brand.) This is the name of the actual book by Leonie Swann the movie is based on, but honestly The Sheep Detectives really rolls off the tongue more easily, so I’m pretty happy with the change. If it does well, there’s a second book in the series as well.

I’m a little, erm, sheepish saying this, but The Sheep Detectives is maybe one of my most- anticipated upcoming book adaptations thus far for 2026. We’re obviously early in the game, but it doesn’t look baaa-d in the least. Stay tuned, as I plan to continue covering this movie and making as many sheep puns as possible.

There are some roles that are so big that an actor can never shake them, and that’s certainly the case for many stars of the Harry Potter movies — Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, to name a few. For others like Emma Thompson, who portrayed Professor Trelawney in three of the eight films, the franchise wasn’t as significant in their overall career. Still, some were shocked when Thompson claimed to be “bored” with signing Harry Potter merchandise, although it seems like she might have had a good reason.

A viral video circulating on social media shows Emma Thompson stopping to sign some autographs before getting into her car. When she sees the items being held toward her, she appears to bristle a little before telling the crowd:

Some people were taken aback by the comment, questioning if that meant she thought she was too good for Harry Potter or even possibly making a statement about J.K. Rowling’s controversial comments.

However, several people came to Emma Thompson’s defense, noting that she realized that it wasn’t fans asking for her autograph, but dealers who planned to sell the items she signed. Comments included:

• They are just trying to sell it on eBay, that's why she said the signatures were not for the real fans. – amandaappleblossom
• She said one each meaning probably a bunch of people showed up with like ten copies of Harry Potter stuff to clearly sell it on eBay and if you think about it from her perspective she'd just be signing free money away instead of signing for someone that would give it a sentimental meaning which is I think something she would much rather do – vicenteperdomo
• She was acturally very nice to these vultures – k_e_a_p
• They're doing it to sell on. – heathjmac

This seems to make sense, especially because you can see people handing her multiple items, including empty Funko boxes. Check out the video below:

Honestly, I love how she handled this. The fact that she clocked the people who could be autograph dealers and still agreed to sign items for them was a pretty classy move, and I like that she called them out for it.

Fans on TikTok were saying the same thing, saying her seemingly harsh words probably didn’t have anything to do with her opinion of Harry Potter fans or the franchise as a whole. They wrote:

• I think she means “not real” like not for sentimental reasons, they are to sell – northernfunnymummy
• Right! 100% not fans. The blue tape, the multi boxes all together. I guess the argument would be, they are trying to make a living. BUT it comes at the expense of genuine fans. These professional autograph hunters spoil it for the fans. – bonbond007
• Yes, she is talking about them being for people who sell them on! That’s why they use that pen too - it transfers the sig onto other things. – gr3019
• It’s cause they are just gonna sell it – highchemicalfidelity
• She’s bored of autograph dealers getting stuff signed – kellyma4884

I think it’s safe to say fans of Professor Trelawney need not worry about shade being thrown at the Wizarding World by the actress. In fact, her comments about being “bored” with the merch were probably more in service of real fans than anything.

If you want to relive all of the movie magic, the Harry Potter series is available to stream with either a Peacock subscription or an HBO Max subscription.

October comes to an end, and November gets underway. While there’s a surprising lack of new content arriving on Hallowen itself, there’s plenty of great horror material already streaming on your favorite platforms, and then November 1 will bring the usual upheaval of content libraries. Here’s a look at what’s worth giving a look at this week.

Hedda - October 29 (Prime Video)

One of the most talked-about movies coming out of the Toronto International Film Festival was Nia DaCosta’s Hedda. The film, based on a classic play, gets a new twist from DaCosta and star Tessa Thompson. The film is already among the conversation for major awards consideration, and following a brief theatrical release, the movie will be available with a Prime Video subscription this week.

Star Wars: Visions, Volume 3 - October 29 (Disney+)

There are a lot of opinions about how the Star Wars franchise has fared under Disney but one of the unique and special creations we have seen in that time has been Star Wars: Visions. The series hands over the elements of the franchise to creators in Japanese anime to create original short films that put a visual and cultural twist on the story. The third batch of Visions shorts arrives this week as part of your Disney+ subscription.

Down Cemetery Road - October 29 (Apple TV+)

A major new streaming series release comes from your Apple TV+ subscription this week. Down Cemetery Road stars Emma Thompson as a private investigator hired after a small town suffers an explosion and the disappearance of a young girl on the same night. It looks dramatic, but also with a dose of humor that could make it quite a fun watch.

Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation - October 29 (Disney+)

In the second case of Disney being given an anime twist this week comes Disney Twisted Wonderland. In one of the stranger roads to Disney+, the series is based on a popular mobile game, and takes a little inspiration from Harry Potter is a story that sees the main character drawn into the world of Night Raven College, a boarding school with dormitories based on Disney Villains.

The Witcher, Season 4 - October 30 (Netflix)

The Witcher remained one of the most popular shows to watch with a Netflix subscription for three seasons, but the long-awaited new season will change things up in a big way with Liam Hemsworth taking over the lead role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill. Fans are not likely to go easy on the new actor, but if the show is good enough, it’s difficult to imagine people will be disappointed for long.

Jurassic World: Rebirth - October 30 (Peacock)

A lot of fans were surprised when we got the fourth film in the Jurassic World franchise so quickly, but based on its box office it may be shouldn't have been that surprising. If you missed the film in theaters you’ll need a Peacock subscription to see it this week. Jurassic World: Rebirth showed that even seven total movies in, the dinosaur franchise is still incredibly popular. Scarlett Johansson starred in this newest reboot of the series that already has a sequel rumored to be in development.

November is going to be a solid month for streaming content. Music fans will see an updated Beatles Anthology coming to Disney+. Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated Frankenstein will make its streaming debut. The first Christmas movies of the season will also arrive.

Based on memorable moments in HBO’s 20th Anniversary reunion special, the fantasy franchise meant a lot to the Harry Potter cast. However, for some of the actors who had smaller parts in the Harry Potter movies, there seems to be a different story. Emma Thompson, who had a minor role in the series as Professor Trelawney, gets real with what filming was actually like for her.

Compared to Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, whose childhoods were spent in Harry Potter, perhaps those who had small-yet-memorable roles were easily able to go back to being Muggles. Thompson isn't the first person to be ho-hum about the series, either. Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout, said Harry Potter “wasn’t important” to her, as she only had a few minutes of screen time.

During a recent talk at the Locarno Film Festival (via THR), Emma Thompson got real about her time playing Professor Trelawney and what her short time in the franchise meant to her:

I believe Emma Thompson when she says she’s not trying to be “rude.” Since her Hogwarts professor character was primarily featured in Prisoner of Azkaban, with brief screen time in Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows: Part 2, it makes sense that her connection to the franchise isn’t a particularly personal one. It actually gives me echoes of Harry Melling, who played Dudley Dursley. His experience filming Potter was also a blip in which he filmed short scenes, then went back to school.

Even though Professor Trelawney didn’t have a big role in the Harry Potter series, you can’t fail to recognize her importance. The underrated Divinations instructor deserved more credit in the book series for her single coolest thing: delivering the prophecy to Dumbledore that doomed the Potters. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, the slightly aloof professor also unknowingly told Harry in a trance that the one who betrayed his parents would return, even though Harry originally assumed she meant Sirius Black and not Peter Pettigrew.

Not only was Professor Trelawney such a memorable character, but so was the actress who played her. Emma Thompson, who’s given transformative performances in the Nanny McPhee movies and Sense and Sensibility, was completely unrecognizable as the Hogwarts teacher. The way she portrayed her character’s unpredictability and eccentricities with such humor made the minor character totally unforgettable -- at least to me, apparently.

Emma Thompson’s time in Harry Potter may not have been “an important part” of her career, but she said she did feel “grateful” for the experience. While it’s too early to know yet who will be the next actress to take on Professor Trelawney for the Harry Potter TV series, I’ll never forget that Thompson will always be the first one who brought the beloved character to life.

When Deadpool & Wolverine was hitting the movie release schedule last year, I did wonder what Hugh Jackman would do next. Unsurprisingly, he headed back to his theater roots for From New York, With Love, which is expected to keep running until October 2025. But on the movie front his next project is a movie about some sheep solving a murder, and I can't stop thinking about it.

Amazon showed up for the first time this year at CinemaCon 2025, and during CinemaBlend's live blog of the whole event, there was a lot of hope we might get some Bond news. The closest thing we got to that was that some work has “started” in London, but to be honest, it didn’t really matter because the movie I am still thinking about days later actually had to do with Hugh Jackman and the sheep solving a murder.

Amazon announced Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie – a movie literally about some sheep who are devastated and try and figure out whodunnit after their shepherd dies –and the vibe in the crowd was audibly giving a “what is this?” sort of bent.

But then we got footage from the studio, and to be honest, the movie looks delightful. I’d still argue Three Bags Full reads more like a Hallmark movie title than a big screen venture, but Amazon is committed to bringing this one to the big screen, and after seeing the first look, it doesn’t look half baaaa-d. I know, I couldn't help myself.

Hugh Jackman theatrical follow-up after Deadpool & Wolverine with a little movie from none other than Kyle Balda, who helmed a bunch of Despicable Me franchise projects for Universal. Chernobyl and The Last of Us’ Craig Mazin wrote the script and some major talent is involved, and when I say major I mean it:

• Hugh Jackman
• Bryan Cranston
• Emma Thompson
• Nicholas Galitzine (Heartstopper)
• Patrick Stewart
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• Regina Hall
• Nicholas Braun (Succession)
• Molly Gordon (The Bear)
• Chris O’Dowd

But talent alone does not necessarily make for a good movie, and Three Bags Full will likely rise or fall based on its tone, which seems both amusing and engaging. As for its title, the movie is actually based on the book of the same name by Leonie Swan, a book you can purchase on Amazon and is called a “clever spin” and an “offbeat yarn” (yes those are both wool nods) on the detective genre.

Three Bags Full isn’t expected to come to theaters until 2026, but it’s part of a new move from Amazon to work toward reinvigorating the theatrical business. Amazon has committed upwards of 15 movies for full theatrical runs in the coming years so that audiences can continue enjoying movies on the big screen. And hey, at least Jackman won't have to worry about peeing in the Wolverine suit for this one...

The studio really had a big win with Red One last year (though less so at the box office), and it was a big move to see the studio show up at CinemaCon this year, and alongside properties like Bond, it’s nice to see Amazon also investing in some originals (and maybe selling a few books on the side in the meantime).

I didn’t have this on my bingo card when it came to Hugh Jackman’s upcoming roles, but the premise is so wacky it just might work, and it certainly made for one of the most interesting moments at CinemaCon this year. Along with Three Bags Full, Jackman will also be starring in Apostle Paul, The Death of Robin Hood, and Song Sung Blue, which is also in post-production.

And in the meantime, there's always that 8-hour video of Jackman breathing if you need a quick fix.

As with many years prior, several upcoming films will bring us tales of joy and woe with animated adventures, heartfelt family films, people overcoming horrific circumstances, fun comedies and more. But, something that many people love to see is a story that focuses either on people who do intriguing work or who have some true magic in their lives. As such, let’s take a look at 32 famous actors who’ve given us that by playing a wizard, witch or magician in some popular movies. 

Nicole Kidman (Practical Magic, Bewitched)

An Oscar winner who’s notably portrayed a witch twice in her big screen efforts is Nicole Kidman. Seeing as how Practical Magic 2 is now being worked on in earnest, you probably remember her 1998 hit with Sandra Bullock easily. But, do you recall her turn as a real witch hired to play a fictional one in the 2005 comedy, Bewitched?

Hugh Jackman (The Prestige)

We actually don’t get as many magicians on screen as one might think, but Hugh Jackman did us all a solid when he starred as one in the 2006 Christopher Nolan movie, The Prestige. If you somehow still haven’t seen this Edwardian London-set thriller, do yourself a favor and track it down. You won’t regret it.

Ian McKellen (The Lord Of The Rings And The Hobbit Trilogies)

This list would be nothing without mentioning maybe the most famous wizard in all of literary history, who made his major motion picture appearances courtesy of Sir Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings movies, as well as The Hobbit trilogy. Gandalf the Grey cannot be ignored, and not just because he’s so much taller than most of his traveling companions!

Neve Campbell (The Craft)

Fledgling teen witches count just as much as those who’ve been witchin’ for decades, which is why Neve Campbell’s eventual power-hungry sorceress, Bonnie, is on this list. The Craft is a teen horror classic that’s worth a watch.

Bette Midler (Hocus Pocus)

Here’s another classic movie witch who’s hard to forget. Bette Midler really dialed it up for her performance as Winifred Sanderson in 1993’s Hocus Pocus (along with fellow witchy Sanderson sisters Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker), and the results were so memorable that a Disney+ sequel was made nearly 30 years later.

Jesse Eisenberg (Now You See Me)

We’ve come to another magician, but Jesse Eisenberg’s modern-day character, Atlas, is an illusionist who works in Las Vegas in a popular group…who are really teamed up to steal lots and lots of money. It was so popular that a sequel followed.

Alexandra Daddario (Mayfair Witches)

If anything, we could trust late horror author Anne Rice to pen an intriguing tale that keeps us glued to the pages of a book. It also turns out that White Lotus star Alexandra Daddario can help turn that story into a can’t-miss TV show, as she’s done by playing witchy lead Rowan on Mayfair Witches.

Cher (The Witches Of Eastwick)

Cher has excelled in pretty much every role she’s ever had, and that includes widowed mother/witch Alex in The Witches of Eastwick. This one gets wild but you’ll never regret watching her (or her co-stars Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jack Nicholson) as things go from weird to worse.

Nicolas Cage (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice)

We all know that Nicolas Cage has played a multitude of roles during his decades-long career, so it should be little surprise that he’s portrayed as a user of magic. Before you get too deep into wondering whether or not there’s a real difference between a wizard and a sorcerer, just know that Cage played the latter in this 2010 film that takes some inspiration from a segment in Disney’s animated classic, Fantasia.

Tia And Tamera Mowry (Twitches)

Sure, there have already been people on this list who played witches along with other really famous people, and those co-stars weren’t listed as the main star, but guess what: none of those other people starred with their twin, which is the case with Tia and Tamera Mowry in the beloved Disney Channel original film, Twitches. Did this one get a sequel? You bet it did!

Meryl Streep (Into The Woods)

No one can deny the prowess or ability of 21-time Oscar nominee (and three-time winner) Meryl Streep to deliver an amazing performance. The same can be true for when she played the character known simply as The Witch in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Into the Woods (and, yes, got an Academy Award nomination for her work).

Steve Carell (The Incredible Burt Wonderstone)

And here we have another Las Vegas magician in Steve Carell’s Burt Wonderstone. Instead of watching him steal money, we follow along in this comedy as Burt attempts to reunite with his former partner (Steve Buschemi) so they can gain more traction than a competing magician (Jim Carrey) whose “tricks” mostly involve odd feats of endurance and real pain.

Edward Norton (The Illusionist)

You’d be forgiven for confusing this film with the above-mentioned The Prestige, as they’re both about old-timey magicians and released in 2006. However, this film stars Edward Norton as our…illusionist, and is more of a romantic mystery than Nolan’s thriller.

Lucy Lawless (Salem)

So many evil witches, so little time. The WGN TV series, Salem, was loosely inspired by the Salem witch trials, and focused on a lead who was trying to bring the Devil to earth. But, that wasn’t even the character played by Xena actress Lucy Lawless, as her Countess Palatine Ingrid von Marburg was simply a different and far more evil witch. Can’t anyone use magic to just like, keep everyone’s house clean so we can all have more free time?

Guy Pearce (Death Defying Acts)

It’s actually rather surprising that we’ve gotten this far into the list without coming to someone who portrayed a famous real-life magician, so we can thank Guy Pearce for that. His 2007 supernatural romance, Death Defying Acts, saw him play Harry Houdini.

Angela Bassett (American Horror Story: Coven)

Even for those who don’t follow along with the amazing antics on every season of the anthology series, American Horror Story, it would probably be a little shock to find out that the show has cast several witches during its long run. The subtitle of this 2013 season tells you that it was dedicated to witchy goings-on, and double Oscar nominee Angela Bassett had a notable guest role as real historical figure/Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau.

Sebastian Stan (The Covenant)

The actor who would come to be known as Bucky “Winter Soldier” Barnes, Sebastian Stan, played a very different type of super-powered character in 2006, when he played teen warlock Chase Collins in the fantasy film The Covenant. It also features stars like Taylor Kitsch and Chase Crawford, who also get their magic on in the film.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Stardust)

As we’ve seen from the entry on Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer had already played a witchy woman by the time she appeared in the 2007 movie Stardust, as an evil (of course) witch looking to retrieve a fallen star to have ever-lasting beauty and youth.

Debbie Reynolds (Halloweentown)

Here’s another Disney Channel classic, which follows a young witch who realizes she has powers on her 13th Halloween, only to be transported to the titular town where supernatural creatures can live without human interference. The late Debbie Reynolds plays her grandmother (also a witch), and returned for all three sequels.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange)

This 2016 MCU entry stars Benedict Cumberbatch as an injured doctor who involves himself in the business of fighting evil with sorcery after losing the use of his hands and heading to a mysterious enclave to look for healing. Cumberbatch has appeared as the character in a number of Marvel franchise films now, including a 2022 sequel to his original solo film.

Mila Kunis (Oz The Great And Powerful)

Here’s a movie filled with magical beings that’s often forgotten. Oz the Great and Powerful saw Mila Kunis, along with Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz, play witches of, yes, that Oz who have to determine if the Kansas magician who’s turned up in their realm is really the “great” wizard they’ve been waiting for.

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone)

This is another actor and portrayal that this list would basically be pointless without. Though Daniel Radcliffe has gone on to portray a wide variety of good and bad guys in the past decade or so of his career, for many he will always be known as the boy wizard, Harry Potter.

Selena Gomez (Wizards Of Waverly Place)

What? Did you forget that Selena Gomez, the Grammy-nominated singer and star of the Hulu hit show Only Murders in the Building, got her first taste of fame on a Disney Channel series? Well, shame on you for not being able to remember that Gomez led Wizards of Waverly Place through a magical four-season run as the supernaturally gifted teen, Alex Russo.

Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision)

Do we have yet another MCU stalwart for you? You bet we do! Elizabeth Olsen first took on the role of Scarlet Witch during the post-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, later starring in several more of the franchise films and the critically lauded Disney+ series, WandaVision, for which she received an Emmy nomination.

Sam Neill (Merlin)

While there have certainly been a number of movies and shows that have given us versions of the mythical wizard known as Merlin, NBC’s two-part, 1998 miniseries saw Sam Neill use his recent Jurassic Park stardom to show us an adventurous tale of Merlin’s life before the birth of King Arthur.

Rosamund Pike (The Wheel Of Time)

Many of the portrayals we’ve discussed (and will continue to discuss below) have dealt with book-to-screen adaptations that are based on already incredibly popular novels, and The Wheel of Time is certainly one of those. The Amazon series, which takes its story from the 14-book franchise by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, stars Rosamund Pike as powerful magic user Moiraine Damodred, who takes a group of young adults on a journey to save the world.

Julia Ormond (Witches Of East End)

This Lifetime series, which ran for two seasons from 2013 to 2014, followed the women of the Beauchamp family, witches in a small, fictional seaside town who are led by their mother, Julia Ormond’s Joanna, and have to fight to save themselves and the people of their town from dark magical forces.

Emma Thompson (Beautiful Creatures)

This 2013 Gothic fantasy romance focuses on a teen who will learn on her 16th birthday whether or not her witch tendencies will be for good or ill. Two-time Academy Award-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson plays her mother, Sarafine, who didn’t raise the girl but wants her on that dark side really, really badly.

Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Suspiria)

Considering that Tilda Swinton has played everything from a gender-switching hero in Orlando to the MCU’s version of the Ancient One in the aforementioned Doctor Strange and the archangel Gabriel in Constantine, is anyone surprised to know that she’s played some witches? In both The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe and Suspiria she was very good at playing magical ladies who wanted (or already had and wanted to continue) to do some very bad things, but the latter film has WAY more serious and bloody fun for those who watch.

Jack Black (The House With A Clock In Its Walls)

Frequent funny man Jack Black as a warlock? That’s what the 2018 fantasy The House With A Clock In Its Walls delivers, as the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle star portrays a boy’s magic uncle who lives in the house of a dead evil wizard and is trying to discover the location and purpose of a clock the previous dastardly owner hid in the walls.

Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald)

While much of the Harry Potter franchise featured either actors Richard Harris or Michael Gambon as the beloved Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, when the prequels were made, a younger Albus Dumbledore was needed and they called in Jude Law to fill the wizard’s very important and legendary shoes.

Julianne Moore (Seventh Son)

Last but certainly not least on our list of famed actors who’ve brought wizards, witches and magicians to life is lauded talent Julianne Moore. The Academy Award winner starred in 2015’s Seventh Son as the evil witch Mother Malkin, who escapes after many years imprisoned and looks to restore her full power by any means necessary.

As you can see, many of our most beloved stars have portrayed wizards, witches and magicians!

Over 20 years after the release of Bridget Jones’s Diary, it’s still one of the best romantic comedies of all time. So, it brought us a ton of joy when we learned a few months back that another one of Helen Fielding’s novels from the series was being adapted! Ahead of the rom-com joining the 2025 movie schedule, the production has finished rolling cameras, and now they're celebrating.

Working Title Films, which has been responsible for all the hilarious Bridget Jones movies, took to Twitter on Thursday to share an exciting photo from set to celebrate the production finishing up filming. Take a look:

How exciting! The post features an image of what we’d assume is Renée Zellweger’s chair on set alongside some monitors set up on the location of the new Bridget Jones movie. The company shared with audiences that we’ll see what they’ve made on Valentine’s Day. What a perfect date to venture back into the love life of the beloved British character who is inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

As we previously learned, Renée Zellweger will be playing Bridget Jones for the fourth time in an adaptation of Helen Fielding’s 2013 book, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. It will also see the return of Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver for the first time since 2004’s Edge of Reason. He didn’t want to be in the third movie, Bridget Jones’s Baby, but this time is a different story. Plus, the end of the 2016 movie showed Bridget finding out Daniel is alive, after all.

Emma Thompson is also reprising her role as Dr. Rawlings (from the third movie), plus Chiwetel Ejiofor and One Day and White Lotus’ Leo Woodall will make their debuts in the film series. Colin Firth is not expected to return, and as fans of the book may know, Mark Darcy actually tragically dies in the Mad About The Boy novel. Even so, we’re hoping the actor finds himself in the movie somehow. Firth has turned down a Bridget Jones movie before, only to change his mind, so who knows!

The Mad About The Boy novel, which is being adapted by Fielding herself alongside Abi Morgan and Dan Mazer and director Michael Morris, will follow Bridget as a 51-year-old single mother and widow who is navigating a sexual relationship with a younger man (who we imagine will be played by Woodall). This time Bridget also uses social media a lot more to express her feelings rather than an analog diary.

Unfortunately for American audiences, the new Bridget Jones movie is only going to those with a Peacock subscription on February 14th, whereas international fans will have the ability to check it out in theaters. However, we can't help but be thrilled about this film.

I don’t know about you, but seeing Bridget and Daniel’s reunion in Mad About The Boy just made the first draft of my 2025 New Year’s resolution.

Forget the body doubles, merkins and modesty socks. There are plenty of high-profile movie stars so committed to a project, punchline, or character that they’ll happily stand before the cameras wearing only their birthday suit. Over the decades, full-frontal nudity has become increasingly normalized in mainstream movies. It's no longer the exclusive domain of NC-17-rated indies or art house movies by provocative European directors.

As our selection of 10 actors who were fully nude in a movie illustrates, major celebrities are now far less reluctant to put their privates on display, baring all in everything from R-rated comedies to award-winning dramas. Hell, given the awards pedigree of the films on this list, it might even up their odds of gaining industry accolades. Their willingness to drop their pants is often a sign of a fearless commitment, and can be employed to signify a character’s state of mind, challenge social taboos, and foster greater acceptance of the human body in its various guises.

Michael Fassbender (Shame) 

Michael Fassbender bared body and soul for his role as Brandon Sullivan, a New York executive in the grip of sexual addiction. Released in 2011, Shame’s opening moments frankly convey Brandon’s compulsive routine of sexual activity. We’re presented with a succession of post-coital moments in which Fassbender awakes after another one-night stand, wandering naked around his empty apartment in a series of unflinching long-takes. Shame takes a cold, hard look at one man’s isolating and self-destructive urges. And as Fassbender commented of the film’s frequent nudity to The Guardian,

Barry Keoghan (Saltburn)

This 2023 psychological thriller stars Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick, an Oxford scholarship student eager to assimilate into the university’s wealthy milieu. After befriending the handsome Felix Catton, he’s invited to spend the summer at his family’s manor of Saltburn. But could there be a darker motive for Oliver’s infatuation with Felix?

Well - *spoiler alert* - yes. The film’s audacious coda finds Keoghan dancing starkers through his newly inherited home of Saltburn as “Murder on the Dancefloor” plays – a wickedly bravura moment filmed in one eyebrow-raising long-take. Explaining the significance of his character’s nude revelry, Keoghan explained to EW: 

Emma Thompson (Good Luck To You, Leo Grande) 

Joining the growing ranks of actors who were fully nude for a movie, Emma Thompson bared all as former teacher Nancy Stokes in the 2022 comedy-drama, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. Having never experienced pleasurable sex and ashamed of her body, Nancy hires the handsome Leo Grande to action a kinky itinerary on which the missionary position is just a stopover on the way to Climaxistan.

After enjoying her first orgasm, the film’s final moments see Nancy disrobe in front of the hotel mirror. Candidly appraising her reflection – her lumps, bumps, and lolling breasts – a permissive smile graces her face. It’s a powerful moment, indicating that Nancy’s finally gained a degree of compassionate self-acceptance.

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is one of the best sexually explicit movies on Hulu, and it's available to stream now with a Hulu subscription.

Jennifer Lawrence (No Hard Feelings)

Although Jennifer Lawrence first bared all in Red Sparrow, it’s her iconic performance in 2023’s No Hard Feelings that had people choking on their popcorn. Lawrence plays 32-year-old Uber driver Maddie Barker. Threatened with bankruptcy after her car is repossessed, she finds work wooing the socially awkward son of two rich parents in exchange for a Buick Regal.

J-Law’s nude beach scene is the highlight of this R-rated comedy. As Maddie tries to seduce Percy by taking him skinny-dipping, their clothes are stolen by a group of obnoxious teens. Without thinking, Maddie storms out of the water, whooping their asses as the Hall & Oates’ song “Maneater” plays. Lawrence – who turned down a body double – approaches the scene with gutsy aplomb, hilariously conveying Maddie’s brash, devil-may-care character.

Scarlett Johansson (Under the Skin)

Known briefly as “Scarlett Johansson’s nude movie,” the actress was breaking into Marvel territory when she accepted a distinctively different role in Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 masterpiece. She’s barely recognizable as a female-presenting extraterrestrial, who stalks the Scottish highlands to kidnap and harvest unsuspecting male prey.

Johansson’s big reveal comes three-quarters of the way through the film. Lit only by the red glow of an electric heater, and observing her limbs in a vertical mirror, flickers of cognition animate her otherwise impassive face to suggest a burgeoning consciousness. Gradually identifying with this human form, the otherworldly being interrogates the curve of her neck, the mechanics of a knee, and the undulations of bone beneath skin.

Under the Skin is an unforgettable viewing experience. You can stream it now when you sign-up for an HBO Max subscription.

Gary Cole (Blockers) 

When three young women plan to lose their virginity on prom night, their overprotective parents do everything to stop them. But it’s the adults that get into the most trouble in Blockers, the 2018 comedy from Kay Cannon.

With Ron (Gary Cole) withholding the adolescents' whereabouts, Mitchell breaks into his house to find the texts confirming their location. But to do so he has to evade Ron and his wife as they play a sex game blindfolded. Cannon amusingly parodies the velociraptor scene from Jurassic Park as Ron stalks through the kitchen towards a cowering Mitchell, before he lurches into shot and flashes audiences worldwide an eyeful of his… meat and two veg.

It's a hilariously orchestrated scene, that, thanks to Gary Cole’s game performance, helps level the playing field between male and female nudity onscreen: promoting what Fandom catchily dubbed #Ballsforboobs.

Daniel Craig (Love Is The Devil) 

Daniel Craig made waves exiting the Atlantic like a chiselled Adonis in Casino Royale. But he’d already bared it all in the 1998 biopic Love is the Devil, in which Craig portrays George Dyer, the lover and muse of painter Francis Bacon whose volatile relationship ends in tragedy.

During a scene of strained intimacy, there’s a prolonged shot of Craig’s 007. Taking a soak in the tub, Dyer anxiously asks if he’s still invited to Bacon’s Paris exhibition. “Of course you’re coming. You are the exhibition” the artist retorts. Then the film cuts to an aerial shot of Craig – and there’s no mound of bubbles to obscure his manhood. It’s a moment that foregrounds the film’s queer gaze, echoing the artist’s infatuation towards his troubled muse.

Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power Of The Dog) 

Director Jane Campion is known for her poetic treatment of the male nude. And for this acclaimed, 2021 drama, she turned her camera towards Benedict Cumberbatch as the gruff Montana cowboy Phil Burbank. The Power of the Dog is still one of the best movies on Netflix, garnering 11 Oscar nominations.

Brimming with toxic masculinity, Burbank relentlessly torments his brother’s wife and her teenage son. But, away from the ranch, Phil embraces moments of sensual pleasure. Ensconced in nature, we watch him find peace with himself and his desires as he cakes his entire body in mud before plunging headlong into the water. Subsequently, he retires to a glade, where he can indulge in the remembered touch of Bronco Henry – his former mentor and, it’s implied, lover – without any shame.

Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary)

Making her reputation for being one of those actors who went fully nude in a movie, Maggie Gyllenhaal broke into the Hollywood limelight with her acclaimed performance in 2003’s kinky rom-com Secretary.

As Lee Holloway, her character finds personal transformation through a BDSM relationship with boss Edward Grey. And the ultimate expression of her fidelity is when she sits stock still for three whole days until he eventually returns.

Taken with her obedience, her dom partner tends to Lee with complete devotion. Gyllenhaal’s subsequent nudity in these final scenes reflects her character’s awakened physical and emotional openness. As the camera pans out from her face, she narrates how he traced every inch of her body while she divulged the history of each of her self-harm scars. It’s a moment of awestruck intimacy, as Lee experiences being seen and accepted in both body and soul.

Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat)

It’s one of the most daring scenes in cinema history: Kazakh reporter Borat and his producer Azamat engaging in a balls-out brawl that erupts out of their San Diego hotel room and into a packed mortgage conference. This 2006 black comedy has no shortage of provocations, but what makes this scene work so well is Sacha Baron Cohen’s willingness to push things to their extremes. It’s a wildly chaotic two minutes as Borat ruts against his producer’s ample behind while throttling him, before the 250lb Azamat tries to asphyxiate Borat between his butt cheeks. It’s shockingly funny as personal boundaries and rules of public decorum are blithely transgressed, and the chaotic scene ends when the naked duo are apprehended by hotel security.

Interested in discovering other A-list actors who were fully nude in a movie? Check out our round-ups of the best sexually explicit movies on Netflix and sexually explicit HBO Max movies.

There is no genre more near and dear to my heart than comedy. The skills necessary to make others laugh -- whether live and in-person or through a screen -- are a unique and beautiful combination that should be protected at all costs. Some artists are able to do so without leaning in to touchy subjects or cursing, while others go all the way to really earn that R rating. The tactics may differ, but the end goal is the same, to bring others joy through jokes. 

Many comedians see movies as the apex of a potential career, but most don't start out their careers in Hollywood. Many grow first through either stand-up comedy or sketch comedy. This list honors them. Here's a look back at famous actors who started in either the stand-up or sketch comedy world and went on to bigger screens.

Rainn Wilson

Known as arguably one of the best characters on the hit show The Office, Rainn Wilson got his start in the arts in New York City where he studied acting at NYU. He went on to do theater both off and on Broadway as well as sketch comedy. He even did a post-modern clown show before getting his big break on the show Six Feet Under in 2001. 

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg got her start by studying drama in New York, where she landed a few stage performances before trying her hand at stand-up comedy. Like many others on this list, her comedy routine -- "The Spook Show" -- caught the attention of Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols, who helped get the young comedian to Broadway. She eventually landed her first film in Steven Spielberg's film The Color Purple, for which she earned an Oscar nomination in 1986. 

Steve Buscemi

The veteran character actor made his acting debut in 1985, but also tried his hand at stand-up comedy. Eventually, Busemi decided he "wasn't funny enough," and switched to acting instead. Buscemi has since starred in popular movies including Fargo, Resevoir Dogs, and the hit HBO Max show Boardwalk Empire.

Emma Thompson

If you're looking for a stand-up with some serious credentials, look no further than Emma Thompson. Winner of two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, a British Academy Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, the talented actor got her start in stand-up while in Cambridge. 

John Candy

Arguably one of the greatest comedy legends to ever live, John Candy led a fascinating life, getting his big break after joining the ensemble of SCTV — which is, essentially, the Canadian equivalent to SNL. In 1989, the star even added radio personality to his resume. The LA Times did a whole write-up of his syndicated, two-hour program, Radio Kandy, which sounds wild and apparently included rock music and comedy sketches featuring some of his former SCTV co-stars.

Mo'Nique

Mo'Nique started her comedy career with stand-up, heading to It's Showtime at the Apollo and Def Comedy Jam before eventually landing a leading role on TV's The Parkers. The comedian took her acting to the next level in 2009's Precious, for which she won an Academy Award.

Steve Carell

A versatile actor with numerous groundbreaking performances in both television and film, Steve Carrell was once a legend at Second City in Chicago who went on to land his dream job working on the ill-fated Dana Carvey Show, which you can learn about in Too Funny To Fail, one of the best comedy documentaries to date. Known best for his role as Michael Scott in the U.S. adaptation of The Office, Carell eventually went on to become a leading man in both comedies and dramas. 

Michael Keaton

To put himself through college where he studied acting, Michael Keaton worked as a cab and ice cream truck driver, and it wasn't until 1975 that he officially debuted on television. He did some stand-up comedy in his early 20s, which he recounted in an interview with Ellen, but he eventually found the right calling with movies.

Tina Fey

Known for her work on the smash hit show 30 Rock, Tina Fey got her start in acting at Second City which quickly led to a job at Saturday Night Live as notably one of the only female writers at the time. She got her break co-hosting Weekend Update and later went on to be a huge star in Hollywood. 

Jamie Foxx

It all started with a dare from a girlfriend to try his hand at an open mic. Flash forward some years and that performance led Jamie Foxx to multiple awards, including two Academy Awards, double digit Grammys, and three Golden Globe Awards, all while showing a versatile ability to crush performances across multiple genres and artistic art forms.

John Cleese

Coming from the United Kingdom, John Cleese is a British comic actor best known for his television work on Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers. Cleese began writing and performing in comedy revues at Clifton College in Bristol, England, and was a member of the renowned Footlights Club while a law student at the University of Cambridge. He is best known for his work with Monty Pythion, namely Monty Python And The Holy Grail. 

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais went to school at Ashmead Comprehensive School before going on to study at University College, London, where he gained a degree in Philosophy. After university, Gervais attempted to pursue a pop career with Seona Dancing, a synth-pop duo he formed with a fellow student. After forming a writing partnership with Stephen Merchant, he would go on to land his breakout role on The Office, premiering in 2001. In between all his acting gigs, he's performed plenty of stand-up and has multiple Netflix specials. 

Eddie Murphy

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, SNL star Eddie Murphy began performing his own comedy routines at 15. In 1980, the work of the soon-to-be comedy legend caught the attention of Saturday Night Live producers. In 1982, Murphy landed his first leading role in the film, 48 Hrs, which led to multiple leads in classics such as Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America. He went on to earn an Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls and truly set the bar by playing six characters in the 1996 smash hit, The Nutty Professor. His '80s comedy specials are still discussed today. 

Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer is certainly better known these days for her work in numerous films including the fantastic Trainwreck, but most of those career opportunity doors opened through her stand-up comedy. She built a name for herself through her work on the live mic before mostly switching to movies.

Chris Rock

An SNL vet, Chris Rock's comedy career began in 1984 at 19 when he took the stage in the New York City club Catch a Rising Star. His performance ended up catching the eye of future comedy legend Eddie Murphy, who had been watching his act. Murphy would become a huge presence in Rock's life and served as a mentor, giving him his first break with a role in Beverly Hills Cop II.

Ron Perlman

Known for very courageous roles such as Clay Morrow on the FX show Sons Of Anarchy, Ron Perlman said his ventures as a stand-up comedian ended after a heckling exchange in the Bronx escalated and he retreated out of the venue through the back door, which seems like a strange move for such an intimidating man. 

Robin Williams

Arguably one of the best comedians of all-time, Robin Williams studied acting at the Juilliard School, which he later dropped out of to devote himself entirely to stand-up comedy before making the leap to television and movies. Known for his high energy and skillful impressions, he himself has inspired other actors to reenact some of his most dramatic real-life moments in honor of the late comedian. 

Patton Oswalt

The Prince of Queens, Patton Oswalt went from struggling in the comedy world to writing for the sketch comedy show MADtv and earning his own comedy special on HBO. He continued to impress critics and fans alike, with roles such as the voice of the lead character Remy the Rat in the Pixar film, Ratatouille. 

Richard Pryor

Unfortunately, tragedy and comedy often go hand-in-hand. Such is the case with arguably one of the genre's biggest icons, the late, great, Richard Pryor. The legend had a tough life growing up and eventually joined the military before playing nightclubs as both a musician and comedian at age 23. His comedy career was populated with milestones and achievements, as well as struggles and substance abuse before passing away in 2005 due to complications from M.S..  

Bette Midler

Bette Midler landed her first Broadway role in Fiddler on the Roof by 1966, four years before trying her hand at stand-up comedy. In 1972, she released the album The Divine Miss M, which earned her a Grammy Award, and she started making frequent appearances on late-night television shows and eventually a huge acting career. Along the way, she performed live comedy and even released an album.

Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald's first job was writing for The Dennis Miller Show and then Roseanne. While writing on the show, he was noticed by Lorne Michaels, who liked Norm's stand up so much that he offered the young comedian a job on Saturday Night Live in 1993.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey, who is easily considered one of the greats, was himself taken under the wing of another comedy legend, Rodney Dangerfield, who spotted the young comic in a Toronto nightclub. Carrey eventually made it to The Tonight Show which led to his role on In Living Color and parts in many comedy classics that we know and love today, such as Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, and Ace Ventura. 

Tim Allen

Tim Allen started his career as a comedian in 1975 in a pretty peculiar way. On a dare from one of his friends, he participated in a comedy night at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, outside of Detroit. Following his release from prison in 1981 for a drug-related crime, he returned to comedy and went on to lead the hit show Home Improvement on ABC. 

Steve Martin

From community theater, to Disneyland, to the big screen, Steve Martin began his showbiz career as a teenager. After writing his own comedy routines, plays, and music, he went on to study philosophy and poetry before winning his first Emmy Award for comedy writing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the young age of 23.

Lily Tomlin

Initially studying biology at Wayne State University, Lily Tomlin decided to audition for a play which led to her changing her major to theatre and diving into stand-up comedy. Her stand-up was so impressive that it attracted the attention of the producers of Laugh-In, the notorious 1960s sketch comedy show. Tomlin went on to snag an Oscar nomination for her acting work.

Dana Carvey

One of SNL's most talented and beloved alumni, Dana Carvey absolutely dominated during his six seasons on Saturday Night Live, creating some of the show's most memorable characters. He never drifted far from stand-up though and has continued to take the stage and release specials.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks took the weirdest route to stand-up of anyone on this list. He was already in Hollywood and establishing a nice career when he decided to audition for a movie about stand-up comedy called Punchline. As part of that process, he developed his own stand-up routine and performed in clubs. There's even footage of it that trends every now and again.

Bob Odenkirk

Starting out as a D.J. in Illinois, Bob Odenkirk got his start in local improv workshops in Chicago, where he also did open-mic stand-up comedy for several years. In Chicago, he became friends with Robert Smigel, who would later help him become a writer for Saturday Night Live.

Larry David

Starting out in stand-up comedy, Larry David befriended Jerry Seinfeld and later went on to co-create Seinfeld. He also wrote for Friday's and Saturday Night Live and famously went on to create the all-time ridiculous show Curb Your Enthusiasm. 

Ed Helms

Ed Helms was studying improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade when he got his big break as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He later moved on to the hit NBC show The Office where he played Andy Bernard. From there, Helms went on to star in The Hangover trilogy. More importantly, he also acted in Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.

Mel Brooks

There aren't many names in the world of comedy that stand larger than Mel Brooks. The legend started his career in stand-up before working as a writer for Sid Caesar's variety show Your Show of Shows from 1950 to 1954. After that, he, of course, took over Hollywood, winning an EGOT and directing classics like Blazing Saddles, The Producers and Robin Hood: Men In Tights.

Simon Pegg

A comedic force to be reckoned with in the U.K. before dropping smash hits like Sean of the Dead in the U.S., Pegg once told The Hollywood Reporter “I went into stand-up because comedy was something I enjoyed but also because it offered me a certain autonomy that I wouldn’t have if I was sitting and waiting for the phone to ring as an actor.”

Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd started performing comedy at 17 and later joined the main casts of Second City in Toronto and Chicago. Later, it was his work in the sketch comedy powerhouse Saturday Night Live that turned him into a huge name and opened the door for him to start in classics like The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters.

And those are some of the actors who also took the stage to perform stand-up or sketch comedy at some point during their careers!

For quite some time, there have been actors who not only bring movies to life by acting on the big screen but also play a major role in crafting the stories. Over the years, multiple Best Picture winners have been written by talented thespians, who also happen to be accomplished wordsmiths. From stars who've pieced together films that would earn them their first Academy Award nominations to those penning passion projects, here are 32 successful actors who are also hit screenwriters.

Ben Affleck

In early 1998, Ben Affleck became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood after he and Matt Damon won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting. The movie made the longtime friends -- who didn't always work together -- into overnight sensations. Since then, he’s written four additional films: Gone Baby Gone, Live by Night, The Town and The Last Duel, which he co-wrote with Damon.

Matt Damon

As mentioned, Matt Damon took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting in 1998. The movie, of course, also featured his Academy Award-worthy performance as a troubled young genius. Since then, he’s co-written two additional Gus Van Sant-directed scripts – Gerry in 2002, Promised Land in 2012 – as well as the Ridley Scott historical epic, The Last Duel, which he penned with Ben Affleck.

Jordan Peele

After finding success with Key & Peele, Jordan Peele turned to more behind-the-scenes work, serving as both a director and screenwriter. From his 2016 comedy, Keanu to 2022’s Nope and Wendell & Wild, Peele has cemented his legacy as one of the strongest voices in Hollywood. He won an Oscar for his Get Out screenplay in 2018 and produced two of the best horror movies in recent memory: Us and Candyman.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey will forever be remembered as one of the best Saturday Night Live cast members, and that experience allowed her to fine-tune her writing and acting skills. In addition to starring in movies like Baby Mama, Date Night and Muppets Most Wanted, Fey famously wrote the screenplay for Mean Girls, which is one of the best movies of the 2000s.

Sylvester Stallone

A handful of the best action movies of all time were written by none other than Sylvester Stallone, who has flexed his muscles in front of the camera and behind the scenes. All of the Rocky films (as well as Creed II) were written by Stallone, as were the Rambo flicks and pretty much most of his best big-screen ventures.

George Clooney

George Clooney has plenty of notable movies like Ocean’s Eleven, Syriana, Michael Clayton and even the over-the-top Batman & Robin. But the Academy Award-winning actor has also penned quite a few screenplays over the years, including the ones for Good Night, and Good Luck, The Ides of March, Leatherheads, The Monuments Men and Suburbicon.

Kristen Wiig

Two of the funniest movies of the past decade-and-a-half – Bridesmaids and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar – not only featured the Saturday Night Live legend Kristen Wiig's on-screen talents, they were also co-written by the actress. And penning those screenplays alongside her was co-star Annie Mumolo.

Tyler Perry

In addition to being a committed philanthropist and all-around great guy, Tyler Perry is also an incredibly successful actor, movie producer, and screenwriter. Throughout his career, Perry has written multiple entries in the Madea film franchise as well as other films like A Jazzman’s Blues, Acrimony, and Why Did I Get Married?, to name a few.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig has become famous for her Barbie screenplay (which was co-written by Noah Baumbach), but that's only one of the great scripts written by the talented actress. In addition to starring in several dozen movies over the years, Gerwig also penned modern gems like Frances Ha, Lady Bird, Mistress America and Little Women.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

In addition to being a talented actress with multiple scene-stealing performances in movies like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Solo: A Star Wars Story, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a talented writer. She created and penned the shows Fleabag and Killing Eve and received a partial writing credit for her contributions on No Time to Die.

Justin Theroux

Throughout his career, Justin Theroux has starred in movies like Mulholland Drive, Miami Vice and American Psycho. However, he also has some impressive screenwriting credits to his name. With work on Iron Man 2, Tropic Thunder, Rock of Ages and Zoolander 2, he has quite the body of work.

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson is an actress with a great filmography, through which she's worked both in front of and behind the camera. In fact, Thompson has Academy Awards for  Best Actress (for Howards End) and Best Adapted Screenplay (for Sense and Sensibility). She’s also penned movies like Bridget Jones’s Baby, Last Christmas and the Nanny McPhee films.

Billy Bob Thornton 

Billy Bob Thornton is another actor who has won an Academy Award for writing, having scored a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for his work on Sling Blade, which he also starred in and directed. Over the years, some of Thornton's best movies -- like One False Move, A Family Thing, The Gift and Daddy and Them were also written by the actor himself.

Emerald Fennell 

After finding success with acting roles in movies like Albert Nobbs, Anna Karenina and The Danish Girl, as well as shows like Call the Midwife and The Crown, Emerald Fennell turned her attention to writing and directing. Her feature film debut, Promising Young Woman, earned her a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. She also crafted the script for the drama film Saltburn.

Tom Hanks 

Tom Hanks is another Oscar winner with a number of screenwriting credits to his name. In addition to leading some of the best movies of all time, Hanks has also penned the screenplays for That Thing You Do, Larry Crowne and the 2020 World War II thriller Greyhound.

Kumail Nanjiani 

Kumail Nanjiani has starred in all kinds of movies over the years, with Eternals, Stuber and The Lovebirds being just a few of them. But Nanjiani also wrote the screenplay for The Big Sick, the 2018 romantic comedy inspired by the battles he and wife Emily V. Gordon faced early in their relationship.

Paul Rudd 

Paul Rudd not only starred in one of the best Marvel movies such as Ant-Man, he was also one the writers given credit for its screenplay (alongside Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, and Adam McKay). But that wasn’t his first or last script, as Rudd contributed to Role Models and Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Ethan Hawke 

Throughout his career, Ethan Hawke has starred in movies like Reality Bites, Boyhood, First Reformed and The Black Phone, among many others. However, the actor has also written his fair share of screenplays as well, with everything from the second and third installments in the Before film franchise to the gripping biopic Blaze featuring his handiwork. 

 Angelina Jolie 

Over the years, Angelina Jolie has become an instantly recognizable face and name thanks to a number of wonderful performances. The actress has also a few screenwriting credits, including In the Land of Blood and Honey, First They Killed My Father and By the Sea.

Kenneth Branagh 

To some Kenneth Branagh is arguably better known as a screenwriter than actor. That's because he won Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the semi autobiographical coming-of-age drama Belfast and received a nomination for his adaptation of Hamlet back in 1995. The Christopher Nolan collaborator has also written other films like Much Ado About Nothing, In the Bleak Midwinter, Listening and The Magic Flute.

Steve Coogan 

Steve Coogan is famous for his performances in the Night at the Museum movies, Tropic Thunder, 24 Hour Party People, and The Trip, but he’s also a talented writer. Over the years, Coogan has written movies like Philomena, The Lost King, The Parole Officer and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

Sarah Polley 

After making a name for herself as an actress with roles in movies like Go, The Weight of Water and the underrated Dawn of the Dead remake, Sarah Polley turned her jumped into the writer/director seat. One of her most well-known scripts is probably 2022's Women Talking, which earned her an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Seth Rogen 

Seth Rogen has written some of the comedies that defined the 2000s, such as Pineapple Express and Superbad, as well as more recent hits like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. This is on top of appearing in all three of those movies, as well as other classics like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which totally deserved its R rating.

Taylor Sheridan 

Taylor Sheridan is mostly known for crafting Sicario, Wind River, Hell or High Water and other riveting dramas. But the Yellowstone co-creator also had a decent acting career before making the big shift over the past decade. He appeared on shows like Sons of Anarchy and Veronica Mars.

Lake Bell 

In addition to appearing in movies like No Escape, No Strings Attached, It’s Complicated and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Lake Bell has also written and directed a few projects throughout her career. There are the shorts Worst Enemy and El Tonto, which she followed up with feature-length films, In a World… and I Do… Until I Don’t.

Owen Wilson 

When talking about Wes Anderson's collaborators, few names come to mind as quickly as Owen Wilson, who has appeared in a number of the director’s films throughout his career. But on top of appearing in seven of Anderson’s movies, Wilson also helped write three of them: Bottlerocket, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Jason Segel 

When it comes to the movie sphere, Jason Segel is probably best known for his portrayal of Peter Bretter in the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but some might not know he also wrote it. After that, Segel penned three additional feature films: The Muppets, The Five-Year Engagement and Sex Tape.

Ricky Gervais

On top of creating and starring on TV shows like the original version of The Office, Episodes and Extras, Ricky Gervais has also written some popular movies throughout his career. The British actor and comedian has crafted The Invention of Lying, Special Correspondents, Cemetery Junction and David Brent: Life on the Road.

Woody Allen 

Throughout his career, which goes back the mid 1950s, Woody Allen has written, directed, and starred in dozens of movies, many of which are incredibly well-received. Over the years, Allen has won four Academy Awards, three of which were for Best Original Screenplay – Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Midnight in Paris – on top of all kinds of other accolades. However, Allen has only appeared in four of his own movies the past 20 years.

John Cusack 

Not only did he star in some of the most iconic comedies of the 1980s, some all-time great ‘90s movies, and experience a great deal of success, John Cusack has written a handful of films throughout his career. This short list also happens to include some of his Cusack's best movies like High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank. His other writing credits include War, Inc. and We Are Not Animals.

Rashida Jones 

Rashida Jones is perhaps best known for her roles on NBC comedy hits The Office and Parks and Recreation, but the actress has also written a few screenplays throughout her career. This includes Celeste and Jesse Forever, the 2018 documentary, Quincy, which is about her dad -- music legend Quicy Jones. She also has a story credit for Toy Story 4 and wrote “Nosedive,” one of the best Black Mirror episodes.

Tom McCarthy 

Tom McCarthy is best known for writing and directing Spotlight, the riveting journalism movie that won Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 88th Academy Awards. But while he was in the process of becoming an award-winning filmmaker, McCarthy put together a decent acting resume that included a memorable turn on The Wire (during the final season), Meet the Parents, Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana and Michael Clayton.

Each of these nearly three-dozen actors has quite the resume, both in terms of on-screen performances and written work, making them more than deserving of any and all praise.

Unfortunately, it’s well-documented that Hollywood has a tendency to be sexist and ageist as told by various women in the industry over the years. As we continue to observe Women’s History Month this year, we’re looking at the actresses across movies and television currently working today that have carved out a place for themselves despite the status quo favoring younger actresses, whilst it's the norm for the male actors to enjoy careers well into their 60s, 70s and beyond. 

It was reported a few years back by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media that while characters over 50 make up a fifth of characters on television, only a fourth of them are played by women (via Buzzfeed). With that in mind, there’s a gender gap with opportunities being favored for older men much more than women. Thankfully, these actresses have found a way to thrive in Hollywood after turning 50.  

Michelle Yeoh 

Recently, at the 2023 Oscars, the ceremony actually celebrated numerous actresses that are thriving after 50, including Best Actress winner, Michelle Yeoh. The Everything Everywhere All At Once lead accepted the award not only as the first Asian actress to win in the category, but as a “beacon” of hope for more women her age to be seen in major roles. As she accepted the trophy, she said: "Ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are past your prime." 

Yeoh has been over 50 in Hollywood for over a decade now, and is enjoying an exciting era in her career by finding key roles in successful movies like Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, or finding empowering roles in recent TV series like Star Trek: Discovery and The Witcher: Blood Origin. 

Jamie Lee Curtis

Yeoh’s Everything Everywhere co-star Jamie Lee Curtis also took home an Oscar for the movie in the Best Supporting Actress category after over 45 years working in Hollywood. Curtis was a teenager when she found her breakout role in Halloween, but decade after decade she has continued to be cast in exciting roles, especially after turning 50. In Curtis’ fifties and sixties the actress has revived her role as Laurie Strode in a new Halloween trilogy, starred in Knives Out and has a wealth of roles on the horizon, including Borderlands and Haunted Mansion. 

Angela Bassett 

Curtis’ fellow nominee in the Best Supporting Actress category in 2023 was Angela Bassett, for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, who also remains a working icon into her mid-sixties. Aside from starring as Queen Ramonda in the Marvel franchise, the actress continues to lead the network series 9-1-1 along with appearing in multiple seasons of American Horror Story and recently being part of the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Helen Mirren

One of the most iconic actresses to consistently nab interesting roles for herself following turning 50 is Helen Mirren. The British talent hit the milestone in 1995, before she’d made some of her most beloved and best movies, like 2001’s Gosford Park, 2003’s Calendar Girls or her 2006 Oscar-winning performance in The Queen. Mirren has continued to play leading roles in the past decade, such as starring in the Red films, her incredible role in the Fast and the Furious movies along with leading 1923 and Shazam! Fury of the Gods within the past year. 

Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin

While I could certainly talk about Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in their own right, the fact that this pair got themselves their own hit comedy series, Grace and Frankie, in their late seventies (across seven seasons, no less) deserves to be celebrated. These two have modeled, brought life to and joked about the lives of older women who are best friends, and we’re so blessed it exists. The pair hit 50 in the late ‘80s and thrived, remaining booked and busy. Among the 2023 new movie releases, they are in back-to-back movies together, too, 80 For Brady and Moving On. 

Rita Moreno

One of Rita Moreno’s first roles was in 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain. Seventy years later her career is still very much popping, between starring in Netflix’s sitcom, One Day At A Time, and voicing the role of Carmen Sandiego for the original animated series. This year, Moreno also starred in 80 For Brady and has joined the Fast and the Furious franchise as Dominic Toretto’s grandma. 

Sally Field

Speaking of 80 For Brady leads, Sally Field has continued to remain relevant and very much respected in Hollywood at the age of 76. From being nominated for an Oscar for her role in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln to bringing new life to Aunt May in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, or starring in critically acclaimed movies like Hello, My Name Is Doris and Spoiler Alert, Field has continued to impress after a massive first half of her career. 

Emma Thompson

In the nearly 15 years that Emma Thompson has been over 50, she has accomplished a lot. She gave a powerful performance as P.L. Travers in the sweet Saving Mr. Banks' movie alongside Tom Hanks, she gave Cruella a formidable foe of her own in the titular 2021 Disney prequel, and tackled the usually taboo topic of exploring sexuality past one’s “prime” and filmed nude scenes for Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. 

Ming-Na Wen

When Ming-Na Wen turned 50 back in 2013, she was just getting her start playing Melinda May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, a badass and highly-skilled operative she continued to play for over 100 episodes. Since finding success with that series, which is now her most famous role outside Mulan, Wen has joined the Star Wars universe as Fennec Shand, a female bounty hunter and master assassin. 

Catherine O’Hara

Catherine O’Hara is well-known to an entirely new generation than those who grew up seeing her in movies like Best In Show, Beetlejuice or Home Alone, thanks to her beloved role in Schitt’s Creek as Moira Rose. O’Hara will go down in history as playing one of the funniest TV characters in a big role she found well after 50. 

Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch booked her most popular role of Sue Sylvester on Glee right as she was turning 50 and played the character for six seasons before finding all sorts of work in showbiz otherwise. She notably voices the role of Calhoun in the Wreck-It Ralph movies, along with having major roles in the hit shows The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Party Down and with hosting 75 episodes of the original celebrity game show, Celebrity Game Night. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

The Seinfeld star not only found herself a whole other well-loved TV show to lead and produce after 50 with HBO’s Veep, which she also won nine consecutive Emmy awards for, but she’s a major player in the Marvel universe now. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been consistently quick on her feet on the comedy front and proved to be an impressive dramatic actress as well, with roles in films like Enough Said. 

Jennifer Coolidge

Then, there’s Jennifer Coolidge’s recent comeback for The White Lotus that has the actress literally everywhere right now. Along with the 61-year-old recently winning her first Emmy for her hilarious role as Tanya McQuoid, Coolidge has had loads of projects she has stolen the show in, in the past couple of years in particular, like Promising Young Woman, The Watcher and Shotgun Wedding alongside Jennifer Lopez.

Jessica Lange 

Four decades after Jessica Lange became a star for roles like her Oscar-nominated work in Tootsie and Frances, she is still a huge name, particularly thanks to her move to TV in collaboration with Ryan Murphy on his numerous shows. Lange always provides strong performances in her ever-changing American Horror Story roles, along with portraying Joan Crawford in Feud. 

Allison Janney 

Allison Janney is another actress who got wide recognition for being in one of the best-regarded TV shows of all time, The West Wing. After starring in 155 episodes of the drama, Janney has continued to explore all sorts of interesting characters across her career, especially after 50, whether it be in the sitcom Mom, winning an Oscar for her chilling mother role in I, Tonya or her booked 2022 that put an additional three movies under her belt. Janney is even more famous now than she was when she was a younger actress. 

Julianne Moore 

A new role from Julianne Moore is never too far away these days. The 62-year-old actress has accomplished a lot over 50 and has even been in with the kids because of her key role in the Hunger Games franchise or starring alongside Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard in the recent indie, When You Finish Saving the World. Moore has starred in so many great movies just within the past decade that it can be hard to recall she’s also the same actress from Boogie Nights and Far From Heaven. 

Tilda Swinton 

We don’t have enough female character actors in the world, but Tilda Swinton embodies someone new so frequently that we can barely imagine what she’s like in real life. The majority of Swinton’s best roles have occurred since she turned 50, such as We Need To Talk About Kevin, or her numerous times working with Wes Anderson and Bong Joon-Ho. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis is one of the most acclaimed actors of our time right now and it feels like she’s also just getting started. Recently, the actress did just about every stunt as a warrior and leader in The Woman King and has become the most-nominated Black actress in Academy Awards history. 

Meryl Streep 

I mean, it’s Meryl. What else do we have to say? The 73-year-old actress has always been magnificent on screen no matter her age and has proven her great talent and ability to be a chameleon on the screen again and again. Since turning 50, Streep has starred in all-time great movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia, and Iron Lady, and looking forward, she's about to guest star in Only Murders In the Building. 

It’s great to see so many women have broken through and found roles for themselves after 50 in the industry. It really comes down to great roles being written for women of all ages for their opportunities to exist. 

Love Actually has become a holiday viewing tradition for many and stands as one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, thanks to its ensemble cast, multiple interconnecting storylines, and eternally quotable dialogue. There’s one scene that lives in infamy probably more than any other, however, and that’s the one where David the Prime Minister celebrates his verbal bashing of the US president with an impromptu dance party. It turns out that Hugh Grant hated that scene — a fact that stands true as the beloved movie it set to celebrate its 20-year anniversary. The actor will, however, take credit for one “genius” addition to the number.

Hugh Grant was one of several Love Actually actors who spoke with Diane Sawyer for The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later. The actor’s grumpiness was well-documented by writer and director Richard Curtis, co-star Emma Thompson, and even Grant himself, particularly when it came to that dance. Grant told Sawyer: 

Hugh Grant has had 20 years to ruminate on the popular dance number to “Jump” by The Pointer Sisters, which his character broke into after publicly dismantling Billy Bob Thornton’s United States president. It’s obvious from the way Grant can immediately point out the scene’s flaws that he’s given it some thought over the past two decades. At least there’s one part of the scene he can take pride in, and he definitely should, because the Prime Minister being caught in the middle of his celebration is such a classic moment.

That doesn’t make his overall feelings about it any warmer, as he said on the ABC special:

Richard Curtis seemed to know people would like it, and despite Hugh Grant’s initial refusal to do the scene, the director stood his ground, ultimately pulling rank on the actor. Curtis recalled: 

Longtime fans of the movie would likely say it was well-worth the director’s fight, but Richard Curtis did admit to thinking it was “agonizingly embarrassing” when he saw Hugh Grant filming the dance number.

Love Actually doesn’t seem to be losing popularity anytime soon, and unfortunately for Hugh Grant, that dance may stick with him for another two decades. You can check out the actor in these great performances by Grant that you probably missed, and If you want to give the classic rom-com a rewatch, Love Actually can be streamed with a Peacock Premium subscription.  

Among the many things actors get to play make believe with on movie and TV sets is sex, which can become quite uncomfortable for some actors if it's not approached with care. In recent years, intimacy coordinators have become more prominent in productions such as Netflix’s regency romance Bridgerton, and they also became part of Outlander’s latest season. Game Of Thrones actor Sean Bean recently made comments against intimacy coordinators, saying it can “spoil the spontaneity” on set, leading to a ton of backlash. The latest response to his comments comes from Cruella and Love, Actually actress Emma Thompson. 

Thompson filmed nude and sex scenes for the movie Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, which is about a widow who hires a sex worker. The actress previously opened up to CinemaBlend about the importance of the “right atmosphere” for her and Daryl McCormick to feel good about getting intimate on a set following previous negative experiences on sets. In light of her recent experience, the actress was caught up on Sean Bean’s controversial statements and asked about her own thoughts. In her words: 

The conversation occurred on the Australian Fitzy & Wippa radio show (via Variety), where one of the hosts brought up how Sean Bean “didn’t really appreciate the work of the intimacy coordinator because he said that it spoiled the spontaneity.” While Emma Thompson had not heard his comments nor knew who Sean Bean was, she did not agree and pointed out how the presence of intimacy coordinators can really contribute to the safety actors feel on set. She continued with the following: 

Sean Bean was part of one of the most sex-heavy shows in HBO’s Game Of Thrones, where he played Ned Stark until the character’s death in Season 1. Bean's comments about intimacy coordinators on set were given early this month to The Times, and he also said that turning sex into a “technical exercise” would make the natural way lovers behave “ruined.” However, Bean's statements were challenged by his own Snowpiercer co-star Lena Hall, as in his experience, she had been “up for anything.” 

Lena Hall took to Twitter after his comments went viral to clarify she is not up for anything, but shared that her experience with Sean Bean was positive and he made her feel “comfortable.” Hall also said that while she felt like she didn’t need an intimacy coordinator in the context of Snowpiercer scenes they shot, she finds them to be a “welcome addition to the set.”  

Other actresses who have chimed in on this topic include West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler, who shared being grateful for having one on set of the musical, and Amanda Seyfried, who recently recalled being placed in uncomfortable positions earlier in her career and perhaps would have appreciated one on set at the time. 

As this conversation in Hollywood continues to be talked about by more actors, you can check out Emma Thompson’s latest film Good Luck To You, Leo Grande with a Hulu subscription. 

SPOILERS are ahead for the ending of Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, now streaming with a Hulu subscription. 

1990’s Pretty Woman featured a sex worker and her customer forming a relationship outside the transactional, and it is considered one of the best romantic comedies of all time. So when the critically-acclaimed Good Luck To You, Leo Grande follows a widowed school teacher (Emma Thompson) who hires a sex worker (Daryl McCormack), we can’t blame ourselves for half expecting the movie to become a love story, but it never does. There’s a powerful reason why that CinemaBlend spoke to the director about. 

The new Hulu release Good Luck To You, Leo Grande is helmed by Australian filmmaker Sophie Hyde. When CinemaBlend spoke to the director about the movie's ending, she spoke of playing with the rom-com expectations with Nancy and Leo’s dynamic, but ultimately not making it a romantic movie. In Hyde’s words: 

With Leo Grande, the filmmakers sought to depict a relationship that is about intimacy rather than it being a romantic story. When Nancy meets Leo Grande, she has only had one sexual partner in her late husband, and her experiences with sex have been unenjoyable. As the movie progresses and they meet for multiple sessions in a hotel room, Nancy is able to have a sexual awakening and even orgasm for the first time in her life. Leo Grande helps her feel empowered in her body and gives her the space to finally get comfortable within her sexuality after a lifetime of being shamed and even shaming her classes about it. Hyde continued to speak on the ending: 

Rather than playing into romantic themes, the movie instead aims to explore a different dynamic with both Nancy and its sex worker character, Leo Grande. For example, Emma Thompson has a powerful nude scene in the film (which she spoke to CinemaBlend about filming too) that speaks to its message of promoting body positivity, especially in a woman’s second act of life. As Nancy learns through her time with Leo Grande, she’s placed so much shame and low worth to her own sexuality and self image. 

Also, Leo Grande depicts a fleshed-out character who doesn’t feed into sex worker stereotypes. Daryl McCormack spoke to sex workers for the role and told CinemaBlend how it informed his character. At the end of Leo Grande, both Nancy and Leo go their separate ways and the movie shows, as Sophie Hyde shared, within that how powerful some relationships can be focused on intimacy for a season, and as an experience that was valuable to the both of them, rather than making it yet another rom-com. Watch Pretty Woman for that story. 

For many years, sex work has been depicted in a very stereotypical sense in movies and television. In many cases, this particular line of work has been portrayed as being grimy and often only performed because the person providing the service had no other options. However, new Hulu release Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, provides a fresh take on the subject. One of the bright spots of the film is Daryl McCormack, who plays the titular role. The actor's work is very impressive and, as he explained, his character was improved with some help from real-life sex workers.

In the movie, Daryl McCormack plays the compassionate, sensitive, yet striking Leo Grande, a sex worker hired by a widowed school teacher played by Emma Thompson. In time, the unlikely pair help one another get in touch with different parts of their intimate selves. 

While speaking to CinemaBlend about his role in the new comedy, the actor, known for starring in the recently-concluded Peaky Blinders, explained that he learned a lot by listening to the experiences of real sex workers. He said: 

Director Sophie Hyde made sure that sex workers were consulted through every stage of the production of the comedy, and she also did “a lot of research” about the current state of the industry. As Daryl McCormack also said, via the movie’s production notes, he didn’t seek to represent all people within the profession, since they are so diverse. Still, it helped him to learn more about how to portray Leo Grande to the best of his ability. 

Co-star Emma Thompson also gave a great performance. The film establishes her character as having been without her husband for a couple of years and, as a result, she's feeling uncomfortable with her lack of experience in the sex department. This is due to the fact that he was her only partner ever and the sex was never very good. For the role, Thompson and co-star took part in nude and intimate scenes, which the actress found “challenging” at the age of 62. 

However, the director made them comfortable by disrobing with them before any other crew came on set and allowing them to create their “own space” before shooting the sequences. Thompson and McCormack talked to CinemaBlend about her experience doing these intimate scenes along with other topics.

Good Luck To You, Leo Grande premiered at Sundance early this year to high critical praise, and CinemaBlend also gave it a glowing review. Audiences seem to be equally enjoying the film too overall, per Rotten Tomatoes, and it is now available to stream with a Hulu subscription. Not only does the movie portray a sex worker in a new light, but it also sparks a necessary conversation regarding how society and sex are often disruptive of each other and share themes of empowerment and body positivity. 

With 40 years of acting experience under her belt, the incomparable Emma Thompson has been on a ton of film sets throughout the years. Four of those earned her Oscar nominations, and in many others she delivered memorable performances in the fabric of Hollywood. In the actress’ latest movie, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, Thompson gets especially vulnerable, emotionally and physically, and she got candid about how her recent experience compares to years prior. 

In the new Hulu release, Emma Thompson plays Nancy, a 60-something school teacher and widow who decides to hire a sex worker to get some and maybe finally orgasm for the first time in her life. For the film, the actress bares her skin to empower Leo Grande’s message of reminding women to love their own bodies at whatever age and not be afraid of sexual pleasure. When speaking to CinemaBlend about her experience, Thompson shared how the production made her and her co-star Daryl McCormack feel comfortable when baring it all. In her words (and also in the video above): 

Going nude in front of a camera sounds like a daunting task, but it comes down to how a set handles these scenes to distinguish between a positive or harmful experience. When talking about being on the Leo Grande set, Emma Thompson also recalled her previous relations with showing skin on a set: 

Emma Thompson has previously talked about it being “challenging” to be nude at the age of 62. It’s not often Hollywood depicts leading women of this age, and certainly not in a movie focused on sexual awakening, but this is the beauty of Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. The critically-acclaimed indie explores something that feels fresh and rare in the Hollywood landscape. 

Thompson has spoken out before about how “unbalanced” it is when it comes to double standards in Hollywood and age. She’s talked about how someone like George Clooney can star alongside someone decades younger than him, and yet for women, it’s not deemed as acceptable. In Leo Grande, the actress stars alongside 29-year-old Daryl McCormack, who plays the sex worker Nancy hires. McCormack also spoke to CinemaBlend about the positive experience of being nude in the film:  

McCormack’s character of Leo Grande is just as three-dimensional as Thompson’s character as the movie becomes the stage to discuss intimacy and sex in the modern age, and some of the misconceptions when it comes to this topic, along with depicting sex workers without the usual stereotypes. Good Luck To You, Leo Grande is now available to stream with a Hulu subscription. 

When it comes to the depiction of life over 50, Hollywood has provided the message again and again that men can hold exciting lives and still even be action stars, from James Bond to John Wick to Arnold Schwarzenegger, often alongside heroines decades younger than them. Yet for women, it’s been deemed profusely boring to be in one’s skin once you reach the middle ages. Now mind you, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande is nothing like the aforementioned movies, but it is a rare (and grounded) approach to a woman in her second act of life, taking the lead and finally getting some action with a much younger gent opposite her. 

In a somewhat of a Pretty Woman role-reversal, a widowed Nancy (Emma Thompson) hires an upscale, and strikingly handsome sex worker who goes by Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) for a couple hours, but she suddenly doesn’t know how to go through with it. Her nerves take over and she tells him the whole thing “feels controversial all of a sudden.” Charming immediately with Thompson’s usual razor-sharp comedic timing and the soft and calming presence of McCormack by her side, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande gets realistic about how difficult it can be for a generation of women to become empowered in sex when its often been a subject of so much shame and restraint to own one’s power over finding pleasure in it. 

Good Luck To You, Leo Grande has a small, intimate feel to it that compliments its story. 

The British comedy, which premiered at Sundance and will become available exclusively on Hulu, takes place entirely in the nondescript hotel room where Nancy meets Leo Grande after a life of routine and unsatisfying sex with one man throughout her life, her late husband, who died two years prior. Nancy is a school teacher who nervously scoffs at Leo’s question of “what her fantasy is” upon entering, responding anxiously that her expectation was simply the bare minimum of getting some. Yes, the comedy starts off incredibly awkward as Leo Grande attempts to set the mood and Nancy’s insecurities flood the air of the fancy hotel room. Not every single beat works, and sometimes it feels like a moment drags, but at its core, there’s a tightly focused perspective both on Nancy and Leo Grande. 

And throughout the film by newcomer director Sophie Hyde, Leo Grande is an intimate and focused concept. In its simplicity, it feels like a two-hander play at times that, with its players rising to the weight in the film they must hold, and aside from a bit of confusing tension in the middle of the film, hold attention. The development of their characters and their growing dynamic keeps one on their toes, and its pacing remains thoughtful throughout. 

Emma Thompson gives an especially great and vulnerable performance that is perfect for her usual charms.

Emma Thompson is often the best part of any movie she’s in, though often as the supporting role or right alongside another leading role. In 2021's Cruella, she was the villain to Emma Stone’s wild turn to evil Disney royalty. Then there’s the classic example of Love, Actually, where she broke all our hearts during the massive ensemble holiday classic. In Leo Grande, it feels like a rare occasion for Thompson to fully take the stage and help say something meaningful and special, and in the comedy, she does just that. Aside from the actress literally baring it all physically, her performance itself matches this in vulnerability, and even bravery. If there’s one thing you take away from Leo Grande, it’s how on top of her game Thompson continues to be, and perhaps you'll wonder how underutilized she’s also been in the past. But that’s certainly not all there is to take away from it. 

With Nancy, Emma Thompson is able to dive into a storyline women of her caliber, age or really any for that matter have had the opportunity to express. What Leo Grande illustrates is unique because it’s just not a topic we’ve seen pulled apart the way this movie, and Katy Brand’s script, does that with a grounded and realness that feels rebellious to the typical Hollywood ideal.  

Leo Grande is surprisingly sexy, and distinctively forwards the conversation around sex and body positivity. 

Through Nancy’s character, there’s an expression of stigma that comes with asking for what one wants in sex, especially through the eyes of a middle-aged woman who came from a religious and slut-shaming background. But through her eyes comes the topic that not only speaks to her age or situation particularly, but one of women being taught to be ashamed of their bodies, their sex appeal and ability to ask for more, both in the bedroom and their larger visions in life. 

The movie is not only about empowerment of Nancy either; it also has a sharp perspective for its sex worker, Leo Grande. Between Nancy attempting to get all fixed up and ready in the bathroom before things get hot and heavy, there’s also little moments focused on Leo as he fixes his shirt and position in bed. As the movie progresses, Leo is also given a full scale arc that shows attention to the complexities of sex workers and more realistic depictions of these people that also defies stereotypes. Leo Grande empowers its sex worker character just as much as his customer throughout its delicately handled story. With that, the way the unique dynamic of Nancy and Leo is approached is with authenticity rather than fantasy. 

When it comes to the sex scenes and nudity in Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, there’s a natural tension the movie builds that feels natural to the story and in complete service of it. And when Leo Grande gets sexual, it's sensual and naturally seductive thanks to incredible chemistry, build up (foreplay if you will) and payoff. In other words, Leo Grande knows what it's doing.

Many people would probably rather poke out their own eyes than do pretty much anything in front of strangers, and that would certainly include being fully naked. And yet, while we’ve seen a number of actors go fully nude on camera, that should not be taken as a sign that it’s ever really an easy thing to do for many of them. The same can be true for Emma Thompson, who’s recently revealed why it was so challenging for her to go nude in her new film as a 62-year-old actress.

In her upcoming movie, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Emma Thompson plays widowed school teacher Nancy Stokes, who decides to take charge of her sexual life by hiring a male escort for a date, in the hopes of having her first orgasm. Part of Nancy’s journey in the movie involves her learning to embrace and come to terms with her body, leading to Thompson’s full frontal nude scene. 

Why Was It Difficult For Emma Thompson To Do The Nude Scene In Her Upcoming Movie?

While chatting with Entertainment Weekly, Thomspon spoke about the extensive preparations she, her co-star, Daryl McCormack, and their director, Sophie Hyde, went through to prepare for the sex scenes in the dramedy, and why it was such a challenge for her to go nude, saying:

WOW. If anything, some might see this as over-preparing, seeing as how we are used to hearing about actors who are about to film sex scenes / nude scenes only talking things over with an intimacy coordinator so that everyone is clear on what’s being shown and done, as well as being aware that they’re free to change their boundaries on what they’ll do at any time. 

The idea of Thompson, McCormack, and their director going fully nude for rehearsals sounds like a radical one, but they only had 19 days to film the entire movie. The Oscar winner noted that they wanted to make sure that she and McCormack could quickly achieve the needed level of comfort with each other, their own bodies, and each other’s bodies so that they could accurately portray their character’s intimacy on screen, so their nude rehearsal time was born.

As you might imagine, even though Thompson is a practiced pro at doing things like having an emotional breakdown on camera, she did have some tough moments while working in the nude. Not only is being naked on camera a challenge in and of itself, but we rarely see women of Thompson’s age baring all in movies, or even being shown as vibrant, sexually explorative characters, which she would likely see as part of the “completely shit” sexism of the industry that she’s talked about before. 

Like she said during her interview, there’s very much still pressure to be as thin as possible, to the point where Thompson once threatened to quit a movie after hearing a producer ask another actress to lose weight. I’m sure that even those with thin bodies can still be seen as less-than by some if they don’t also look as young as possible. As we all know, our bodies can (and usually do) change a lot as we age, and Thompson said that “we’ve got to be able to see real bodies on the screen” that haven’t been “worked on” so that they’re deemed socially acceptable. 

Being able to simply stand in front of a mirror naked without doing anything (like sucking in her stomach) to make her body look different isn’t something that Thompson had done before, and she said that she doesn’t believe that she would have been able to do it earlier in her career, even though her current age also made the process harder.

While teasing her work on this movie in early 2021, Thompson spoke about the very common disparity we so often see in movies (and on TV), where a male actor will be paired with a female love interest who’s many decades younger than him. This “completely and utterly unbalanced” standard, in turn, leads to older actresses like Thompson playing roles with no love interests, or with actors, as she joked, “they have to exume.”  

Emma Thompson also noted that this rehearsal process started almost immediately, and added that the “intensity” of their work on the movie went basically through the end of filming. But, she also said it was “a sort of very pure experience,” because even while filming it was just the three of them.  

We don’t know exactly when Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, will debut just yet, but it is poised to be yet another wonderful addition to the 2022 movie releases and could easily become one of the best movies on Hulu when it does premiere on the streamer! 

SPOILERS are ahead for Cruella, which is streaming on Disney+.

Earlier this year, Disney fans were reintroduced to Cruella de Vil, and it was absolutely fabulous. Emma Stone starred as the villain before the events of 101 Dalmatians, at a time when she was the hero of her own story. And as it turned out, Cruella’s own villain was the Baroness, who was dryly and exquisitely played by Emma Thompson. With a sequel now on the way, we do wonder if the Baroness will return or not.

Not long after the release of Cruella, reports barked that it wouldn’t end with the character’s inheritance of Hell Hall. Now that it’s official, director Craig Gillespie, who will once again helm Emma Stone’s villainess, has shared where the team behind Cruella 2 is at right now with developing the sequel. In his words to Comicbook.com:

Tony McNamara previously wrote The Favourite and Hulu’s The Great, and came onto the first Cruella movie to add to the script also written by Dana Fox. McNamara be penning the sequel's script too, but as Craig Gillespie has disclosed, it’s just getting started being formulated by Disney. The studio likely decided it would wait to greenlight a sequel until it saw audience reaction to the film. As soon as Cruella movie came out, it was highly praised, especially for Emma Stone’s performance and its distinct style.

Emma Stone is confirmed to reprise her role as Cruella, but it’s unclear whether Emma Thompson will return for the sequel. When Craig Gillespie was asked about that, here was his reply:

Hmm… even though he didn’t answer the question, I’m inclined to believe the director would like to see Emma Thompson back in her role after those comments. It would be a “shame,” because she was amazing in the role. As we learn at the end of the flick, the Baroness is, in fact, Cruella’s real mother, but a mother who wanted her child to be killed shortly after her birth. When she had the chance at the end of the film, the Baroness attempted to murder her daughter once and for all, but she was not successful. The movie ends with the Baroness being sent off to jail for killing Estella, Cruella’s alter ego.

Could there be more bad blood for the mother and daughter to air out in a sequel? Personally, I’m not sure yet what I expect from the next Cruella movie, but I’m very happy it’s happening. Thompson was obviously brilliant, so why not?

Alright, so we all know about Disney’s live-action films at this point. We’ve seen some of the good ones like 2015’s Cinderella, and we’ve seen some meh ones (looking at you, Lion King). Disney has also stepped into the live-action market when featuring some of their villains, with Maleficent and its sequel being a smashing success among fans. However, the one villain I never thought Disney would adapt would be Cruella de Vil.

But who would want to feel bad for someone who literally kidnaps puppies and use them for their fur. I know that as a child, I hated Cruella probably more than any other Disney villain besides Scar from Lion King. But, Disney decided to make the live-action Cruella, featuring the origin story of one of Disney’s oldest villains. In Cruella, we see amazing cast members like Academy-Award winning Emma Stone, all the way to some familiar faces from Game of Thrones – and you might have seen them around as well. Here’s where you might have seen Cruella cast before they donned those black and white coats.

Emma Stone (Estella “Cruella” de Vil)

If you haven’t heard of Emma Stone at this point in your life, I don’t know where you’ve been. Emma Stone took on the intense role of playing the titular villain in Cruella, showing just how many layers there truly are to this villain, one we never thought we would see before. But I mean, who else would be the perfect choice to show those layers off than Emma Stone herself?

The Hollywood actress has been in plenty of big-time roles and TV shows that you might have seen. Stone played the lead role in La La Land, for which she won the award for Best Actress at the Oscars. But she also gained acclaim for her roles in other dramas, including Battle of the Sexes, The Help, and Birdman – another role that she was nominated for an Oscar for.

As great as she is in dramas, Emma Stone is just as good in comedy as well. She’s had plenty of roles in some of the best comedic movies out there, including the hit Superbad, the apocalypse movies Zombieland and Zombieland 2: Double Tap, the memorable lead role in Easy A, and so many more. Even besides that, Stone has also stepped into the television world a little, having a lead role in the Netflix miniseries Maniac alongside Jonah Hill, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

With how much she has done, I can’t wait to see what she does in the coming years. The future is bright for this one.

Emma Thompson (Baroness von Hellman)

My God, Emma Thompson. Truly an actress for our generation, the one before us, and so on. I think the moment we saw that both Emma Stone and Emma Thompson had signed up for Cruella, we were all on board. Baroness von Hellman, the head of the prestigious fashion house and Estella’s boss, is almost like a catalyst for the character of Cruella, and Emma Thompson takes on that role with pride and did a fantastic job.

Emma Thompson herself has done so much in the Hollywood industry, I would be stunned if you hadn’t seen her in something. She got her start in the '80s and rose to further success and fame in the '90s with films like Sense and Sensibility and Much Ado About Nothing, and in the last twenty years, she has given us some of the best performances, in my opinion.

In terms of comedy, Thompson has done plenty, including the popular Christmas film Love, Actually, the Mindy Kaling led comedy Late Night, and recently in 2019 Last Christmas, in which she starred alongside Emilia Clarke. Emma Thompson has also had plenty of experience in fantasy roles as well, having the main role in Nanny McPhee, as well as portraying Professor Trelawney in the Harry Potter movies.

Emma Thompson has done plenty of drama as well, with starring roles in films like Saving Mr. Banks and A Walk in the Woods adding to the impressive list of genres that she can tackle. Thompson herself has already had practice in a Disney movie before, starring as Mrs. Potts in the Disney remake of Beauty and the Beast, so it’s not a surprise that she rocked this other Disney roll as well.

Joel Fry (Jasper Badun)

To every villain, there is always the henchmen that stick around and try to help as much as possible, and that is where Jasper Badun comes in with Cruella (along with his other half but we’ll get into him later), played by Joel Fry.

Fry has done plenty of work in the industry, but you might recognize him the most from his recurring role on Game of Thrones during Season 5 as Hizdahr zo Loraq. Besides the popular HBO series, Joel Fry has done a lot of work in television, with a main part in Trollied, a British sitcom, as well as another main role in White Van Man, yet again another British sitcom. Joel Fry also had a prominent role as Rocky in the popular movie Yesterday back in 2019, showing his versatility as an actor. I’m eager to see what he has coming up soon, following his role as Jasper in Cruella.

Paul Walter Hauser (Horace Badun)

In Cruella, Jasper didn’t work alone, and because of that, he had his brother, Horace, by his side as his second thief, another accomplice to Estella. Paul Walter Hauser is the man behind the other half of the classic thieves, showing off that continued change to the comedic characters, giving them more depth than any of us were expecting.

Hauser has done many films, despite only being in the business since 2005. You might have seen him in the Academy-Award nominated drama film I, Tonya as Shawn Eckhardt – or, you might have seen him as Richard Jewell himself in the titular film Richard Jewell, another critically-praised film. It seems historical characters are a great option for this amazing actor.

But it doesn’t stop there. Hauser has also had parts in drama movies as well, taking on the part of Ivanhoe in the comedy-drama BlacKkKlansman, as well as portraying Simon in the Neflix drama Da 5 Bloods, so it’s clear that Paul Walter Hauser had some range.

Hauser has also been featured on the small screen, with plenty of guest appearances. Along with that, he had a main role in the American drama series, Kingdom, as Keith, as well as portraying Raymon “Stingray” in the popular Netflix series, Cobra Kai. Cruella is only an addition to the amazing films this actor has done, so it’s not a shocker that he rounded out the Badun brothers perfectly.

Emily Beecham (Catherine de Vil)

You know, I don’t know what it is, but in my opinion, when it comes to villains, there always seems to be that one person in their family lives that either makes them or breaks them, and that was what Catherine de Vil was, Estella’s impoverished mother who works as a laundrywoman. Emily Beecham took on that new role with flair, creating a great experience and a refreshingly original character to Cruella amongst the familiar faces from the original 101 Dalmations.

Beecham has a diverse portfolio of films and TV that she has done, including a role in the horror movie 28 Weeks Later, portraying the titular Daphne in the film Daphne, and a part in the British romantic-comedy anthology film Berlin, I Love You. But television is where Beecham has really shined.

While she’s had plenty of guest roles across several shows like Merlin and The Musketeers, she’s also had recurring roles like Caro Allingham on The Village, as well as portraying The Widow on the popular AMC television series, Into the Badlands. It’s always a pleasure to see new characters introduced to flesh out a well-known character, and fortunately, that was the case with Beecham’s Catherine de Vil.

Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Anita Darling)

I think we all appreciated Anita in the original film just because of how amazing her willingness and skills are to somehow take care of their dalmatians, but in Cruella, we really get to see a different side of her and see that friendship that she and Estella once had when they were children. Kirby Howell-Baptiste brings that charm to the big screen.

In terms of movies, Kirby Howell-Baptise, hasn’t done as much as some of her other costars on here, with some notable roles in A Dog’s Purpose as Maya and Maude in the 2021 black comedy thrilled Happily, so Cruella is a great way for her to really break out into the film scene a bit more.

However, she’s been in plenty of TV shows over the years, having several main, guest, and recurring roles, including shows like Comedy Bang! Bang!, the Netflix original House of Lies, Beth on the Netflix show Love, Nicole Malloy on Season 4 of Veronica Mars, Simone Garnett on The Good Place, Elena Felton on the popular series Killing Eve, and Taylor Harding on the dark comedy Why Women Kill. Now that’s a lot of TV shows. I wonder if she’s going to be on any of the 2021 TV shows. I wouldn’t be shocked.

While we do love a versatile TV actress, I’m waiting with bated breath to see what she does in movies after her great role in Cruella.

Mark Strong (John)

As our last entry on this list, John was a mysterious figure, someone who you didn’t really know if you could trust or not, even if he was just the valet for the Baroness. That sense of mystery was portrayed by Mark Strong, a veteran actor who has done plenty in Hollywood.

For the film, you have probably seen Mark Strong in plenty of movies. He had a role as Lord Henry Blackwood in one of the latest adaptions of Sherlock Holmes, portrayed the character George in Zero Dark Thirty, an Academy-Award nominated film, portrayed Stewart Menzies in The Imitation Game, and had a role in the series Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle, both playing Merlin. Mark Strong also had a villainous role in the superhero movie Shazam! as Doctor Sivana, as well as portraying a captain in the war film 1917, as Captain Smith.

Strong has also had plenty of recurring and guest spots on TV shows, too many to write down here, as his voice is very prominent, including a voice role in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. It’s not a shocker that he got a role in Cruella with how much he has done, and I can’t wait to see what else he has up his sleeve for the future.

Cruella was a great addition to the 2021 new movie releases, and it'll be exciting to see what these amazing actors and actresses have coming up soon in the next couple of years. It almost makes me want to go back and watch Cruella again just to see them once more. What did you think of the Disney villain film?

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Everyone, hide your puppies. That’s right, Cruella is almost here. The live-action adaptation about a young Cruella de Vil, played by Emma Stone, arrives in just a few days. Rounding out the cast is Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Mark Strong, and the picture was directed by Craig Gillespie.

Cruella follows Estella, a clever girl determined to become a fashion designer. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, and their relationship sets in motion a course of events that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the notorious Cruella de Vil. Cruella will release this Friday, May 28, in theaters and simultaneously on Disney+ with Premier Access. We already saw reactions to the movie on social media, and now critics are releasing their reviews. Let’s check out what they're saying about Disney’s latest blockbuster.

Let’s start, as always, with the home team. Sarah El-Mahmoud rated Cruella a 3.5 out of 5 stars. She highly praised Stone’s performance as the titular character, calling her “chillingly good.” El-Mahmoud also enjoyed Gillespie’s directing style and the fashion styling of the movie, noting that the love for fashion in this movie could be another main character all by itself. But she criticized the too-familiar formulaic habits by Disney, noting an “emptiness” about this origin story. She said:

Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter also highly praised the “exquisite” costuming of Cruella, commending costume designer Jenny Beavan for providing such vivid style to the film. She also enjoyed Stone’s performance as the main character, noting her charisma and dedication. But she criticized the script and noted that the comedy-drama missed an opportunity to use London’s punk rock revolution movement to deepen the vision. Gyarkye said:

Critics really seem to enjoy the fashion of Cruella (and I mean, is anyone surprised?) Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly applauded Beavan’s costumes, as well as the soundtrack of the film. But while acknowledging the positives of the movie (including Stone’s and Thompson’s performances), Greenblatt criticized “hectic” aspects of the story, saying:

If you can believe it, the costuming was also applauded in another critic’s review. Kate Erbland of IndieWire argued that Beavan should be nominated for her costuming in Cruella. Erbland noted that the movie is definitely messy and silly, but still fun, saying:

Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair also commended Beavan’s costuming, calling it “exquisite,” (definitely sensing a pattern here), but that’s about where his praises end for Cruella. He called the script confusing and criticized Gillespie’s too-familiar direction. He describes the movie as a “Tim Burton knockoff,” saying:

Well, if there's one thing we can be sure of, it's that the fashion in Cruella is going to be awesome. Will audiences have similar reactions to the crime comedy-drama as these critics? We'll have to wait and see when the movie debuts in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access this Friday, May 28.

In the meantime, check out the rest of the summer movies with our release guide.

Hollywood has always indirectly held up a mirror up to society, reflecting our values and views of different aspects of life over the years. Sadly. when it comes to opportunities for men versus women, the industry has notoriously been a male-dominated one that allows its actors to pull off a lot more (under less scrutiny) than their colleagues. Cruella star Emma Thompson recently weighed in on the ongoing conversation about sexism with an apt comparison to George Clooney.

The fact of the matter is the longevity of a male actor is much, much longer than it is for a woman, on average. Think about how many times male actors have been given the time of day as 60-year-old leads, when their female co stars have been moved to the shadows. Emma Thompson talked about the subject candidly with these words:

While talking on the CultureBlast podcast, Emma Thompson was teasing her work on an upcoming film called Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, which will have her playing a 55-year-old widow who seeks out a 20-something sex worker after realizing she’s lived a life devoid of good sex. She shared her interest in how the film might be received once it comes out because, while it’s common for older men/younger women relationships to play out in movies, there is a double standard and taboo around the roles being reversed.

Thompson brings up a solid point here, and she’s apparently been dealing with some heightened misogyny in Hollywood regarding this exact issue since she was in her 40s. After she wrote and starred in 2005’s Nanny McPhee, she apparently started being passed roles made for much older actresses such as portraying Mother Teresa and the mother of a character played by Bradley Cooper, who is just 16 years younger than her by the way.

It’s a shame because it perpetuates this idea that once women reach a certain age, they are invaluable or uninteresting, when men’s lives are conversely explored in Hollywood at every stage of their lives in unique and interesting ways. Thompson also has a solid perspective about Hollywood’s recent focus on employing more female leads:

As she explains, there’s a sometimes troubling trend happening in Hollywood where women are being given opportunities that are literally just female versions of male roles. That can be said about George Clooney’s Ocean franchise, which was given a new spin with the female-led Ocean’s Eight in 2018. As Thompson said, it’s “changing, but not nearly fast enough.”

Emma Thompson will star next with Emma Stone in Cruella, coming our way on May 28. Check out what other movies are set for this year with CinemaBlend’s 2021 release schedule.

Robert Downey, Jr. surrounds himself with a supporting cast of animals, with whom his physician character possesses the ability to speak to, in Dolittle. The animal characters are brought to life by, of course, CGI trickery and an A-list ensemble voice talents.

In his first role outside of the MCU sandbox in years, Robert Downey, Jr. clearly owns much of the spotlight as the title role of the adventure fantasy based on Hugh Lofting’s novels. However, we believe the animal cast of Dolittle, now playing in theaters, deserve just as much attention. In that spirit, who are these animals and who is voicing them?

Barry (Ralph Fiennes)

In comparison to previous sinister roles, such as Lord Voldemort or Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List, Barry may be one of the more lighthearted villains Academy Award-nominee Ralph Fiennes has played. Despite making friends with most of the animals he meets, Dr. John Dolittle finds an adversary in the gold-fanged tiger who eyes the physician for his next meal when he finds himself locked in a dungeon with him.

Betsy (Selena Gomez)

Easily the tallest of Robert Downey Jr.’s onscreen animal friends, Betsy is a giraffe voiced by former Disney Channel star and current pop star, Selena Gomez. The actress and singer, who made a recent surprise turn in Jim Jarmusch’s horror-comedy The Dead Don’t Die last year, has also lent her voice to Sony Animation’s Hotel Transylvania trilogy as Count Dracula’s daughter, Mavis.

Chee-Chee (Rami Malek)

You have heard of the Cowardly Lion - now, meet the Cowardly Gorilla. Oscar-winner Rami Malek, who will also appear as James Bond’s next villain in No Time to Die, goes from portraying a larger than life rock star in Bohemian Rhapsody to a larger than life jungle beast in Dolittle. However, despite his size, Chee-Chee is far meeker and more anxious than one would expect a gorilla to be, but that does not stop Robert Downey, Jr.’s Dr. John Dolittle from selecting him as his right-hand man.

Dab-Dab (Octavia Spencer)

Octavia Spencer, the titular antagonist of last year’s thriller Ma, plays an absent-minded duck named Dab-Dab in Dolittle. This is the third time the Oscar-winning actress has voiced an animal, after playing a snake in Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters and an otter in Zootopia, and her second voice role in 2020, along with playing the Manticore in Pixar’s upcoming fantasy Onward.

Dragon (Frances de la Tour)

Of all the creatures in Dolittle’s ensemble, none is more “fantastic” than the fire-breathing dragon that the film’s trailer sees Robert Downey Jr. and his pals awkwardly crossing paths with. Dragon is voiced by Tony-winning English actress Frances de la Tour, who is no stranger to fantasy, having played half-giant Madame Maxime in Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and a full giant in Into the Woods.

James the Dragonfly (Jason Mantzoukas)

In addition to a dragon, Robert Downey Jr. also interacts with a (much smaller) dragonfly named James in Dolittle. Providing the voice of James is Jason Mantzoukas, a comic actor of Greek descent known best as co-host of the How Did This Get Made? podcast, the impeccably crass fan-favorite Rafi on the long-running FX comedy The League, and his surprisingly earnest turn as the ominous Tick Tock Man in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.

Jip (Tom Holland)

How fitting for Tom Holland, whose Peter Parker follows Tony Stark like a dog in Spider-Man: Homecoming, stars in Dolittle, alongside MCU co-star Robert Downey Jr., as a dog. Playing Dr. John Dolittle’s house pet, Jip, also allows Holland the unusual opportunity to use his natural British accent, unlike his other big voice acting role this year in Pixar’s Onward, alongside fellow Dolittle animal star Octavia Spencer.

Kevin (Craig Robinson)

Like his co-star Octavia Spencer, Craig Robinson also provided the voice of a talking snake in Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, but in Dolittle, he and Spencer do not have animals in common. The former Office actor who recently starred in the Golden Globe-nominated Netflix biopic Dolemite Is My Name is the voice of a rambunctious squirrel named Kevin.

Plimpton (Kumail Nanjiani)

After playing a dog named Rusty in the animated HBO series Animals., Kumail Nanjiani is once again lending his voice to a talking animal character, this time an ostrich named Plimpton in Dolittle. Plimpton is the second CGI character in a live action movie voiced by the Pakistani-born comedian after playing pint-sized alien Pawny in Men in Black: International. The Academy Award-nominated co-star and writer of 2017’s The Big Sick just starred in the sixth and final season of HBO’s hit comedy Silicon Valley and is set to make his MCU debut later this year in Eternals.

Poly (Emma Thompson)

Polynesia (“Poly” for short) is a parrot with a far more sophisticated vocabulary than the typical squawk of your average tropical bird. In Dolittle, she is often seen going toe-to-talon with Robert Downey, Jr.’s character as to who should be considered the alpha of the group. Voiced by Academy Award-winner Emma Thompson, whose performance in the comedy Late Night recently earned her a Golden Globe nomination, Poly’s British accent gives her a heartwarming classiness that rivals most humans.

Tutu (Marion Contillard)

It is not very often that foxes are depicted as French, but French-born Marion Contillard’s performance as the voice of Tutu must be a unique turning point for the animal in cinema. Dolittle is the first English-language voice acting role for the actress, best known as a Christopher Nolan regular and for her Oscar-winning performance in La Vie En Rose, which depicts the life of French singer Edith Piaf.

Yoshi (John Cena)

After playing a kind bull in Ferdinand, John Cena once again plays a walking contradiction to nature in Dolittle as Yoshi, a polar bear who cannot stand to be cold. The wrestling star began his onscreen career as the title role of the WWE-produced action flick The Marine in 2006 and has gone on to play a variety of roles, such as an overprotective dad in Blockers and a hostile government agent in the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee. He is set to star in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and also recently followed in his WWE colleague Dwayne Johnson’s footsteps by joining the cast of Fast and Furious 9.

It seems that Robert Downey Jr. has an impressive zoo of talent to back him up in Dolittle. Be sure to check back for more updates on the family adventure and its large cast here on CinemaBlend.

Much of the widespread acclaim Scarlett Johansson has received in the past year has come from both her lead performance in Marriage Story and her supporting role in Jojo Rabbit. The Academy seems to agree with the acclaim, nominating the actress for both roles in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories for the 2020 Oscars.

While this may seem like an unusual circumstance for awards shows, Scarlett Johansson is not the first actress to receive dual nominations simultaneously. In fact, several performers have had the honor of being nominated for an Oscars in a leading role and a supporting role in the same year without breaking any of the rules the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been known to be quite stern about.

With that in mind, what other actors and actresses have impressed the Academy enough to earn nominations in both acting categories in the same year? Has any actor ever taken home two Oscars in one night? We shall provide the answers here.

Scarlett Johansson

2020 - Best Actress: Marriage Story, Best Supporting Actress: Jojo Rabbit

Starting with the woman of the hour, Scarlett Johansson had quite a year in 2019 from the emotional, pre-solo-movie send-off of her MCU character, Black Widow, in Avengers: Endgame to her engagement to Saturday Night Live star and “Weekend Update” anchor, Colin Jost. Receiving nods in both the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress category (her first ever Oscar nominations) for the 2020 Academy Awards puts a nice cap on things, so far.

Scarlett Johansson shares top billing with her onscreen husband Adam Driver in the Netflix original movie Marriage Story, director Noah Baumbach’s darkly comedic tale of a marriage falling apart, and in Taika Waititi’s Holocaust-era satire Jojo Rabbit, she plays Rosie, a woman hiding a Jewish girl in her home, despite her young son’s devotion to the German Army. Both are roles of a challenging nature that exist in even more challenging worlds and either of which could finally see the illustrious actress taking home the gold for the first time in her decades-long career.

Cate Blanchett

2008 - Best Actress: Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Best Supporting Actress: I’m Not There

Cate Blanchett has the bragging rights of winning Oscars for Best Actress for 2014’s Blue Jasmine and for her supporting role as Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator in 2006. She also can claim to have been nominated in both of those categories at the same time.

The Australian actress has earned an Oscar nomination for playing Queen Elizabeth I twice, first for leading the 1998 biopic Elizabeth and the second for its sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, in 2008, the same year in which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for playing Jude, a controversial male musician and one of the many characters inspired by different points in Bob Dylan’s life in Toddy Haynes’ experimental biopic I’m Not There. Cate Blanchett walked away without an award for either category that year, but at least can say she is one of only two women to be nominated by the Academy for playing a man, alongside Linda Hunt.

Jamie Foxx

2005 - Best Actor: Ray, Best Supporting Actor: Collateral

Jamie Foxx is the kind of multi-talented entertainer whose luck at awards shows is no surprise to anyone. Therefore, learning the Academy honored him with Oscar nominations for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in 2005 is, in retrospect, nothing too mind-blowing either.

Jamie Foxx’s Oscar-nominated supporting role in Michael Mann’s thriller Collateral, as a cab driver taken hostage by Tom Cruise’s cold contract killer Vincent, was seen as a major turning point in the former stand-up comedian’s acting career, but it was his transcendent performance as blind music legend Ray Charles in the biopic Ray that earned him the top prize in the Best Actor category that year. Fun fact: Foxx was also nominated in 2005 for those same roles at the Golden Globes, as well as a third nomination for the made-for-TV biopic of a Crips member-turned-Nobel Peace Prize-nominee, Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story.

Holly Hunter

1994 - Best Actress: The Piano, Best Supporting Actress: The Firm

Georgia-native and The Incredibles star Holly Hunter has been an Oscar darling since her first nomination for 1988’s Broadcast News. However, she became Oscar royalty in 1994 when two different films earned her Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress nominations.

While she took home the Best Actress Oscar for her role as a mute New Zealand mother in an abusive arranged marriage in The Piano, Holly Hunter did not win for her supporting role alongside Tom Cruise in the John Grisham-novel inspired legal drama, The Firm. She must have been happy, at least, to have lost to her onscreen daughter from The Piano, a then 11-year-old Anna Paquin.

Julianne Moore

2003 - Best Actress: Far From Heaven, Best Supporting Actress: The Hours

Before winning her first Oscar in 2015 as a woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in Still Alice, Julianne Moore had been nominated by Academy four times prior. Two of these nominations both occurred in 2003 for each respective actress category.

Coincidentally, both films that Julianne Moore had been nominated for that year involve LGBTQ+ themes. Her lead role in Todd Haynes’ Far From Heaven is that of a 1950s housewife who starts an affair with a black man (Dennis Haysbert) after discovering her husband’s (Dennis Quaid) closeted homosexuality. And in The Hours, she stars opposite Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep as another 1950s housewife and one of three women of differing generations whose lives are all dramatically affected in some way by Virginia Woolf’s novel, Mrs. Dalloway, which is famous for its allusions to lesbianism.

Al Pacino

1993 - Best Actor: Scent of a Woman, Best Supporting Actor: Glengarry Glen Ross

His career was already the stuff of legend early on with two nominations for playing Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s Best Picture-winning The Godfather films, as well as nominations for playing real people in crime dramas Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon. However, Al Pacino would not win his only Academy Award for Best Actor until 1993, the same year he was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for another, which must be why he has been playing close variations of those same characters ever since.

Al Pacino was nominated for playing one of an ensemble cast of desperate businessmen feeling the pressures of the real estate industry in David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross, but took home the Oscar that year for his role as a blind retired army colonel aided by a young Chris O’Donnell in Scent of a Woman. Pacino would not receive another nomination until this year for his supporting role as Jimmy Hoffa in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman.

Emma Thompson

1994 - Best Actress: The Remains of the Day, Best Supporting Actress: In the Name of the Father

In 1996, Dame Emma Thompson received two Oscar nominations for the film Sense and Sensibility: one for Best Actress and the other for adapted screenplay, the latter of which she ended up winning. Two years earlier, she earned a nomination in each of the acting categories for two separate films.

Emma Thompson was nominated for Best Actress for playing a housekeeper in love with the head butler (Anthony Hopkins) of a Nazi sympathizer in the World War II-era Britain-set The Remains of the Day and for Best Supporting Actress as the attorney for a man falsely accused or being IRA bomber (Daniel Day-Lewis) in In the Name of the Father. She ended up going home empty-handed for either category in 1994, but, of course, it was not the beginning or the end of her Oscar glory.

Sigourney Weaver

1989 - Best Actress: Gorillas in the Mist, Best Supporting Actress: Working Girl

Sigourney Weaver’s relationship with the Academy began in 1987 when she earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for reprising her role as Ellen Ripley in James Cameron’s action-packed sci-fi sequel, Aliens. She lost to Marlee Matlin for Children of a Lesser God, but got even more attention two years later with double acting nominations.

In 1989, Sigourney Weaver was nominated for playing murdered primatologist Dian Fossey in the biopic Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey as well as playing Melanie Griffith’s overbearing boss in Working Girl. While she did not receive the Oscar for either role, she won for both at the Golden Globes that year and even tied for Best Actress with Shirley MacLaine and Jodie Foster.

Scarlett Johansson could become the latest person (alongside Fay Bainter, Teresa Wright, Barry Fitzgerald, and Jessica Lange and others previously mentioned) to take home an Oscar after receiving nominations for both categories in the same year or, better yet, be the first to win both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in one night. What are her chances of pulling off such an unprecedented achievement? Check back for more updates on the Oscar race before the ceremony airs on February 9, 2020, here at CinemaBlend.

Director Paul Feig has had a long career in TV and film, having entertained audiences for decades. And he's back in theaters this holiday season with Last Christmas. The holiday romantic comedy stars the talents of Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding, although Feig did have to fight for the latter actor to get into the movie. And it turns out that he was convinced by Emma Thompson herself to direct the project.

Emma Thompson actually wrote the screenplay for Last Christmas, in addition to playing Emilia Clarke's mother Adelia. I had the chance to speak with Paul Feig ahead of the upcoming movie's release, where he revealed how he got involved. Simply, because Thompson asked him. When I asked why he decided to helm a Christmas movie he told me:

Well, that was easy. It turns out all that it took was the great Emma Thompson's request to convince Paul Feig to make his second Christmas movie, more than a decade after his last one.

Emma Thompson and her husband came up with the idea for Last Christmas, and she eventually signed on to-write the screenplay with Bryony Kimmings. It took a whopping eight years for Thompson and her husband to write the original story, even meeting with the late George Michael about it before his death. And when the time finally came to find a director, Thompson personally sent Paul Feig the script.

And it does make sense that Paul Feig would agree to helm the project, given the talent behind Last Christmas. There's a strong cast involved, notably Game of Thrones fan favorite Emilia Clarke as protagonist Kate. Crazy Rich Asians' Henry Golding plays leading man Tom, and they're joined by the likes of Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson, with a quick cameo by Patti Lupone.

Related: How Last Christmas Director Paul Feig Incorporated So Many George Michael Songs

In our conversation, Paul Feig mentioned his 2006 movie Unaccompanied Minors. This was Feig's second time directing a movie, and the family-friendly comedy failed to really perform when it hit theaters. Based off a true story, the movie follows kids in an airport on the Christmas, and the adults who try to wrangle them. The movie starred Wilmer Valderrama, and was a box office bomb, making $21.9 million on a $26 million budget. Feig mentions that put him in "movie jail", but luckily he was able to get out and craft some really fresh and exciting projects.

Last Christmas is in theaters now, and you can read my review here. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies. Plus, our 2020 premiere list to plan your movies for the New Year.

With Halloween in the rear view, the time has come to look forward to the Holiday Season. And with each new year comes new Christmas-themed content, including big movie releases. This year's feel good comedy hitting theaters in Paul Feig's Last Christmas, named after the George Michael song of the same name. But that Christmas classic isn't the only song from Michael's catalogue in the new holiday classic. In fact, he's the soundtrack to the entire movie, and Paul Feig recently explained exactly how that came to be.

I had the chance to speak with Paul Feig ahead of the release of Last Christmas, and peeled back the curtain of the holiday romantic comedy. The movie's soundtrack is killer thank to the tracks by George Michael, so I asked Feig what the process of selecting the songs was like. And it turns out Last Christmas wasn't always going to have so much music. As he explained:

Emma Thompson wrote the script for Last Christmas, in addition to having an onscreen role as Emilia Clarke's mother. And throughout the screenplay, she indicated places that a George Michael song might fit. But it wasn't actually part of the plan to have so many tracks from his catalogue in theatrical cut. But that changed when Paul Feig watched a documentary about the musician ahead of filming.

Related: Did Emilia Clarke's Real-Life Health Struggles Inspire Her To Sign On For Last Christmas?

Paul Feig told me how the documentary George Michael: Freedom opened up his eye to the iconic singer's life, as well as his songs that might not have become iconic singles. After watching that doc, he was inspired to put more of Michael's songs into Last Christmas. As Feig put it:

Well, that's certainly fascinating. Paul Feig's comments show how movies develop and grow over time. That includes the Emilia Clarke-led Last Christmas, which slowly became a love letter to the late George Michael. Having seen the final cut, every single song in the movie is from Michael's discography. What's more, the music is a real high point of the moviegoing experience of the romantic comedy.

Last Christmas hits theaters on November 8th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

These days, it seems every celebrity who wants to be in Star Wars can do it. Daniel Craig got to be a Stormtrooper in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and even the Princes William and Harry got to cameo in The Last Jedi, though their scene got cut. However, it seems that it wasn't always so easy to get into a Star Wars movie, as Emma Thompson says she once tried, and got turned down.

Playing a game for Wired alongside her Late Night co-star Mindy Kaling, the pair answered questions created by Google autofill queries. One of the answers people apparently have been searching for is whether or not Emma Thompson was in Star Wars. In response the actress revealed that, while she's not in the franchise, it's not for lack of trying...

It's not entirely clear from Emma Thompson's comments exactly when she tried to be in Star Wars, when referring to "the last Star Wars" she could be talking about a previous film in the recent series, but the reference to the "last people" might mean she's actually talking about the prequel era. It doesn't really matter. One thing is clear, if somebody told Emma Thompson they didn't need her in a Star Wars movie then clearly somebody is out of their damn mind. 

I feel like, whatever movie you're making, if Emma Thompson is interested, you figure out a way to make it work. If I'm David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the pair currently working on the next Star Wars movie following The Rise of Skywalker, then I'm figuring out which role in my new movie is best for Emma Thompson and penciling in her name right now. If there isn't a good role for her, write one, there's plenty of time.

Emma Thompson could make for an excellent Imperial/First Order officer. She'd also be a fantastic elder Jedi. Who wouldn't want to see Emma Thompson in a lightsaber duel? She'd totally kick ass. 

Check out Emma Thompson's complete comments on Star Wars in the video below.

The good news is that, while the Star Wars franchise will be taking a bit of a break on the big screen, we're certainly not going to be lacking for opportunities anytime soon. Between new movies and Disney+ series and animated shows and whatever else Lucasfilm can come up with, there will plenty of chances for Emma Thompson, or anybody else who's interested, to become part of the galaxy far, far, away.

After witnessing their combustible comedic chemistry on display in the ludicrously creative Thor: Ragnarok, I swore I’d watch any movie constructed around Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. I stand by this mission statement, though I pray a repeat viewing of F. Gary Gray's shapeless, pointless Men In Black International isn’t in the cards anytime soon.

Not that Hemsworth and Thompson are to blame for this misfire, which tries to reignite the Men In Black franchise after seven years on the Hollywood backburner. Quite the opposite, as the twosome ensures Men In Black International stays at least watchable throughout its clunky, muddled runtime, though the sequel never quite unravels its various story points into a streamlined thread that makes any sense.

The power couple’s merely doing all that they can with a jumbled script by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway that keeps throwing Hemsworth and Thompson’s Men In Black agents into assorted global missions – London! Paris! Marrakesh! – which are loosely connected by a vague MacGuffin that ends up adding very little value to the overall story. But hey, at least the franchise isn’t limited to New York City anymore, right?

It's puzzling that a movie brimming with aliens, and existing in a science-fiction environment that’s ripe for wild extraterrestrial exploration, can end up being so unimaginative. But Men In Black International feels staid and flat, even as Hemsworth (doing his familiar “polished dunce” act) tries to inject levity opposite Thompson’s patient rookie agent.

What is this movie about? You’d think it’s an origin story for Molly (Thompson), a young girl who witnessed her parents being neuralyzed by the Men In Black at an early age, then committed her life to unearthing the top-secret organization. She succeeds, eventually earning a face-to-face recruitment meeting with Agent O (Emma Thompson) and eventually winning an assignment to MIB’s London branch.

That’s where Molly, code named Agent M, pairs with Hemsworth’s Agent H… and the movie starts to wobble right off of the rails. The story isn’t sure what to do with M and H once they are together, so it basically shoehorns its magnetic leads into unusual situations, then hopes that their inherent chemistry can carry us through. Sometimes that happens, but many times, it does not, and Men In Black International merely shuffles along to the next uninspired set piece.

Speaking of, International is a blockbuster that looks cheap. At one point, M and H are dropped in the middle of a vast desert, and it looks exactly like they filmed on a backlot that’s about the size of a preschool sandbox. There’s a chase through the alleys of Marrakesh, and the Moroccan city looks more like Burbank, California than an African hub.

Hemsworth’s Agent H also ends up being a real problem, one the movie doesn’t solve. He’s part of an early scene that sets up a twist that’s so blatantly obvious, you pray that the easy answer isn’t really the secret that the movie thinks its hiding. Spoiler: It is. But then for the rest of the movie, his loose-cannon antics basically force us to question why he’d ever be employed by Men In Black in the first place. H trusts his gut in virtually every scenario, and it’s played for laughs. But he’s a terrible agent who’d barely qualify for an entry level gig at the TSA, let alone the highest ranks of the MIB. Hemsworth remains funny, though he's flirting with the fact that his approach to comedy is getting a little repetitive.

Thompson, on the other hand, continues to show that she’s a movie star in any Hollywood galaxy. Though she’s tasked with playing the straight suit to Hemsworth’s fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants renegade, Thompson breathes attitude and mischievous glee into Agent M. Despite this dud of a mission, I’d actually line back up to see more MIB with these two, if the franchise were placed in the hands of a screenwriter and filmmaker who showed genuine interest and curiosity in exploring the alien realms that should go hand-in-hand with the Men In Black property.

Reviving a franchise after an extended break can be tough. For every Halloween 2018, we endure another Terminator, or Ridley Scott’s next Alien installment. These reboots can work if the people responsible have real passion for the source material, and a rock-solid idea for the next steps in the overall story. Sadly, Men In Black International really feels like someone pitched “Hemsworth and Thompson are the new Men In Black!” at a studio meeting, and everyone applauded, but no one could be bothered to develop any concrete details beyond that initial selling point.

Every year at the Sundance Film Festival there is always one movie that people can't stop talking about. This year, that movie was director Nisha Ganatra's Late Night: a comedy written by and co-starring Mindy Kaling. Now the rest of us finally get to see what all the fuss was about in Park City, and, delightfully, it turns out the hype, at least mostly, is justified.

Katherine Newberry (Emma Thompson) has been the queen of late night television for over 30 years. The only female late night show host on the air, the woman is an icon. However, after three decades, her show has become predictable, and is largely viewed as out of touch with the more hip, younger demographic. In a last ditch effort to save the show (and more importantly to Newberry, her job), the show takes a chance on newcomer Molly Patel (Mindy Kaling) as a new writer. She becomes the sole woman of color in a writer's room that is otherwise entirely white and entirely male. So clearly, no problems there.

Of course, Molly actually has all of the problems. She doesn't actually have any experience in a writer's room, and has no idea how to handle herself in a professional setting. When her boss asks her what she thinks, she answers honestly - which doesn't go over well given that Newberry expects her staff to simply tell her what she wants to hear and then shut up. All of her new co-workers hate her for being a "diversity hire," with the lingering ideology being that every door is wide open for minorities in Hollywood (something Paul Walter Hauser's Mancuso even says outright at one point).

Late Night isn't subtle with its messaging, but you don't need to be subtle to be good (or right), and this comedy about two women at two very different points in their lives life fighting for success in a man's world is actually quite good... and also right. While the points it makes are clear, it never lets those points get in the way of the laughs. The script is whip smart, and has an energy that keeps you engaged. It elevates what would otherwise be a fairly standard by-the-numbers comedy to something worth attention.

As part of that smart writing come two very smartly-written characters. One would expect Mindy Kaling to write to her own strengths, and she certainly does that. Kaling clearly feels equally at home playing awkward and in over her head as she does when she's standing her ground and getting in the face of the men who continually overlook her. Perhaps Molly was a diversity hire, but she's got the job the now, and it's up to her to do it well enough to keep it - and it's an energy Kaling projects well.

Kaling is easily relatable. While the struggle to be successful writing jokes on a late night comedy show might not be something we all understand, the larger struggle for respect certainly is.

All that being said, Kaling has written an even better part for Emma Thompson in Late Night. While we've certainly seen Thompson be funny (she got her start in television comedy), seeing her be this funny will probably come as a shock to many. Thompson's delivery is so dry you could watch it while pouring a glass of gin and get the perfect martini. Her character arc is also compelling, and it's the one place that takes Newberry in directions that may surprise you.

There are a few places where Late Night doesn't quite stick the landing. There's a minor subplot involving Molly's romantic life that just gets in the way of the good stuff. While I suppose it's important to see a woman fight for her career and find the love life as well, it's not given enough time to be relevant in the larger story being told, and feels like it's only shoehorned in because it thinks it needs to be there.

I never would have predicted that Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson would make for one of the better comedy duos in recent memory, but there you go. Late Night isn't the second coming of the workplace comedy on the big screen, but it's an admirable addition to the genre. The jokes are funny, and more of them land than don't. This will hopefully earn Mindy Kaling proper attention as a feature writer, and, if there is a movie god, it will lead to more opportunities for Emma Thompson to be hilarious.

Well, Chevy Chase might not be happy with Saturday Night Live anymore, but the show still has tons of fans who eagerly await news of the comedy staple, and Season 44 is already promising to deliver some surprises. We already know, for instance, that Alec Bladwin's lauded impression of President Trump will be back this season, but potentially not as frequently as before. This is also yet another season where longest-running cast member Kenan Thompson will add his unique brand of humor to weekly laugh fest, along with some players who have recently been upgraded to repertory status.

Obviously, covering politics has been huge for SNL the past few seasons, but Leslie Jones, for one, would like to see the show cut back on that a bit, if possible, and bring the laughs with more old fashioned silliness whenever it can. If the Season 43 blooper reel is any indication, you can be sure that pretty much everyone involved in the new season will be able to do just that on a weekly basis. While I'm sure a good number of guest hosts have to deal with at least a bit of stage fright before hitting the live stage, they usually mange to pull off fantastic performances nonetheless. Season 44 of Saturday Night Live is still going strong, and every fan wants to know who will be hosting the show and appearing as musical guest on a weekly basis. Luckily, we've got that for you, right here!

May 18 - Paul Rudd With Musical Guest DJ Khaled

Actor Paul Rudd, fresh off his appearance in one of the biggest movies of all time, Avengers: Endgame, will host for the fourth time on SNL's last episode of the season. DJ Khaled will make his debut as musical guest that night to promote his new album, Father of Asahd. In addition, the show will welcome several other musical guests for the season finale. John Legend, Sza, Lil Baby, Jeremih, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, Big Sean and J Balvin will also appear that night.

Recently Aired

September 29 - Adam Driver With Musical Guest Kanye West

The Season 44 opener will have Kylo Ren himself, Adam Driver, once again step up as guest host. Driver first hosted SNL back in Season 41, which led to some rather well-known sketches that ended up going viral after his episode aired, so it's no big surprise that he's been asked to return. He most recently appeared in the Spike Lee film BlacKkKlansman, but has several projects in various state of production right now, including The Man Who Killed Don Quixote and Star Wars: Episode IX. Kanye West will make his sixth appearance as musical guest for the opening, with many assuming he's about to release Yeezus 2, even though that hasn't been confirmed yet.

October 6 - Awkwafina With Musical Guest Travis Scott

Taking on hosting duties for the first time during SNL's second week back will be rapper/actress Awkwafina. She's had a breakout year, with roles in Ocean's 8 and the mega hit romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians. She's also had parts in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and Future Man, and has several new projects in various states of production right now. Rapper Travis Scott will be appearing to promote his third studio album, "Astroworld," which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in August.

October 13 - Seth Meyers With Musical Guest Paul Simon

Former SNL head writer and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers will return to the show in October. Meyers, who's been hosting Late Night with Seth Meyers since 2014, will be back as host for the first time. Music legend Paul Simon will hit the stage in support of his recently released 14th album, "In the Blue Light."

November 3 - Jonah Hill With Musical Guest Maggie Rogers

Jonah Hill will hit the SNL stage the first weekend of November. The Oscar nominated actor appears in the recent Netflix series Maniac with Emma Stone, and his directorial debut, Mid90s, is in theaters right now. Singer Maggie Rogers is making her first appearance on the show in support of her upcoming album "Heard It in a Past Life."

November 10 - Liev Schreiber With Musical Guest Lil Wayne

Actor Liev Schreiber is making his hosting debut on the comedy for the November 10 show. Schreiber stars in the Showtime drama Ray Donovan, which is currently in its sixth season. He'll be joined by musical guest Lil Wayne, who recently released his 12th album, "Tha Carter V."

November 17 - Steve Carell With Musical Guest Ella Mai

Funny man Steve Carell will host SNL for the third time on November 17. While he's still fondly remembered for his time playing goofy boss Michael Scott on The Office, he's made great strides in dramatic movies since then. Carell can be seen this year in the movies Beautiful Boy, Welcome to Marwen and Vice. Singer/songwriter Ella Mai will hit the sketch show's stage for the first time when she appears. Her debut album was released in October, and features the multi-platinum hits "Boo'd Up" and "Trip."

December 1 - Claire Foy With Musical Guest Anderson .Paak

The Crown star and Golden Globe winner Claire Foy will host December's first SNL this season. While she came to prominence because of her role as Queen Elizabeth II on the Netflix drama, she's also known for Wolf Hall, Unsane, The Girl In the Spider's Web and First Man. Grammy nominee Anderson .Paak will make his debut on the show the same night.

December 8 - Jason Momoa With Musical Guest Mumford & Sons

After December 8 you might have visions of Khal Drogo dancing in your head for the holidays, because that's when Jason Momoa will hop onto the Saturday Night Live stage for the first time to play host. Momoa also starred as Aquaman in Justice League and is leading his own film as the character, which is due out December 21. Folk rock band Mumford & Sons will perform to promote their latest album, "Delta."

December 15 - Matt Damon With Musical Guests Mark Ronson And Miley Cyrus

Matt Damon will hit the stage in mid-December to host for the first time. In the past year, he's made surprise appearances in several films, like Thor: Ragnarok, Deadpool 2 and Unsane. Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus will perform their new single "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart."

January 19 - Rachel Brosnahan With Musical Guest Greta Van Fleet

The first show of 2019 will see actress Rachel Brosnahan give SNL hosting duties a try for the first time. Brosnahan has made a name for herself recently with her Golden Globe winning performance in the Amazon comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Up and coming rock band Greta Van Fleet will appear as musical guest to promote their debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army.

January 26 - James McAvoy With Musical Guest Meek Mill

James McAvoy will step in to host SNL for his first time on January 26. The actor is getting rave reviews for his work in Glass, and will also be seen later this year in X-Men: Dark Phoenix and IT: Chapter Two. Rapper Meek Mill is also making his Saturday Night Live debut on the same night, and will be appearing to promote his new album, Championships, which hit number one upon its release last November.

February 9 - Halsey With Musical Guest Halsey

That's right, singer Halsey will act as host and musical guest when she comes to Saturday Night Live in February. The Grammy-nominee is a multi-platinum selling artist, with several singles having ranked high on the Billboard charts.

February 16 - Don Cheadle With Musical Guest Gary Clark Jr.

Oscar nominee Don Cheadle will make his hosting debut when SNL has its second live February episode. The actor is currently starring in Black Monday on Showtime and will also be seen in the upcoming blockbuster Avengers: Endgame. Grammy-winning musician Gary Clark Jr., who's best known for his fusion of blues, rock, soul and hip hop, will hit the stage in support of his new album, This Land, which comes out on March 1.

March 2 - John Mulaney With Musical Guest Thomas Rhett

Former SNL writer and comedian John Mulaney will return to the show for his second stint as host on March 2. Mulaney, who's one of only three non-cast member writers to return and host the comedy, lent his voice to last year's Oscar winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Country music hit maker Thomas Rhett will perform that night to debut music from his forthcoming album.

March 9 - Idris Elba With Musical Guest Khalid

Idris Elba will make his debut as SNL host on March 9. The actor can be seen later this year in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Cats and the TV series Turn Up Charlie. Best-selling R&B/pop singer Khalid will appear in support of his second album, Suncity, which was released last October.

March 30 - Sandra Oh With Musical Guest Tame Impala

Making her hosting debut on SNL at the end of March will be Killing Eve actress, and Golden Globe winner, Sandra Oh. Oh, who's also known for her many seasons on Grey's Anatomy, is gearing up for the second season of her hit BBC America show. Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala will also debut on the stage that night to perform in support of their most recent album, Currents.

April 6 - Kit Harington With Musical Guest Sara Bareilles

Game of Thrones star Kit Harington will stop by for hosting duties just a few days before the final season of the acclaimed HBO fantasy series premieres. Appearing as musical guest will be singer / songwriter Sara Bareilles, who will be releasing her sixth studio album, Amidst the Chaos, this year.

April 13 - Emma Stone With Musical Guest BTS

Hitting the stage for the fourth time will be host Emma Stone, who was recently Oscar nominated for The Favourite. Stone will be seen later this year in Zombieland: Double Tap. K-pop superstars BTS will perform to support their new album, Map of the Soul: Persona.

May 4 - Adam Sandler With Musical Guest Shawn Mendes

The first weekend in May will see another former SNL cast member come back to host, but for the first time. That's right, Adam Sandler, despite all his movie success, hasn't hosted the show that brought him to the attention of comedy lovers everywhere until now. Sandler will join second time musical guest Shawn Mendes on the episode.

May 11 - Emma Thompson With Musical Guest Jonas Brothers

Two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson will step up to the SNL stage to host for the first time on May 11. Thompson has the films Late Night, Men in Black: International, Last Christmas and How to Build a Girl all coming this year. The musical guest for the evening will be the newly reformed Jonas Brothers, who will appear to promote their upcoming album, Happiness Begins.

Be sure to bookmark this guide, as we'll keep it updated throughout the season as hosts and musical acts are added to the Saturday Night Live schedule!

Some of Disney’s recent live action adaptations have been relatively straightforward remakes of their animated predecessors, while others have been taken more drastic creative liberties. The upcoming Cruella movie will fall into the latter category, presumably because we already got a 101 Dalmatians remake in 1996. We’ve know for years that Emma Stone will play a younger version of Cruella de Vil, but it looks like another Emma could join this prequel project, this one having the last name Thompson.

Fresh off Emma Thompson’s Saturday Night Live hosting stint and ahead of the release of her next movie, Late Night, Variety is reporting that the actress is in early talks to star in Cruella. However, details regarding who she would play are being kept under wraps.

Assuming a deal is reached, this would be the latest entry in Emma Thompson’s extensive Disney resume. Back in 2002, she voiced Captain Amelia in Treasure Planet, and in more recent years, she’s played P.L. Travers in Saving Mr. Banks and Mrs. Potts in the live action Beauty and the Beast remake. As far as what else she has coming up, along with Late Night, Thompson can be seen later this year in Men in Black: International and Last Christmas, and beyond 2019, she’s attached to The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle and How to Build a Girl.

All we know about Cruella so far is that it will be an origin story depicting how Cruella de Vil developed her obsession with dog fur, specifically the dalmatian variety, although it still hasn’t been specified where in her timeline this movie will take place. Cruella was voiced in the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians animated movie by Betty Lou Gerson, and Emma Stone would be the third actress to portray the character in a live action on-screen project, following behind Glenn Close, Victoria Smurfit and Wendy Raquel Robinson.

For now, I’m guessing that Emma Thompson is being eyed to play Cruella de Vil’s mentor in this prequel. Unless Cruella was just born with the impulse to want to turn dogs into clothing, she had to have absorbed such malevolence from someone, and that’s where Thompson’s character would fit into the picture. Alternatively, maybe Thompson could be playing a fashion mogul that the younger Cruella clashes with during this story.

Originally Mozart in the Jungle co-creator Alex Timbers was set to direct Cruella, but due to scheduling conflicts he later dropped out and now I, Tonya’s Craig Gillespie is helming the picture. Tony McNamara penned the most recent draft of the script.

Cruella is set for release on December 23, 2020, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on the movie as pre-production continues. If you’re curious about what other live action Disney offerings are coming down the pipeline, look through our handy guide.

Rather than reboot the Men in Black film series following 2012's Men in Black 3, Sony Pictures opted to keep the next movie in the franchise set in the same continuity, just like how Universal spun Jurassic World out of the Jurassic Park trilogy. So in the Men in Black spinoff, Agent J and K's exploits all happened in the past, but until today, only new characters had been announced for the upcoming movie. However, it's now being reported that at least one familiar face will be present, as Emma Thompson is reprising Agent O.

Agent O was introduced in Men in Black 3 as the new chief of the Men in Black organization following Agent Zed's (Rip Torn) passing. After the timeline was changed by Boris the Animal, O was able to deduce from Will Smith's Agent J, who was the only person who retained memories of the original timeline, that there were temporal shenanigans afoot, and she pointed him in the right direction on how to go back in time to fix everything. While in 1969, J also encountered O's younger self, who was played by Alice Eve. Since specific plot details for Men in Black spinoff are still being kept under wraps, THR didn't provide any information on how O will fit into the movie, but presumably she's still the head honcho at MIB. Well, stateside at least, as Liam Neeson is reportedly playing the leader of MIB's U.K. division.

Since Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones' time with the Men in Black franchise appears to be over (though perhaps that will change someday), Agent O makes the most sense to bring back for this spinoff (though I'm still crossing my fingers that the worm guys return). Assuming she's still leading MIB, then she's the best connective thread between the original trilogy and this new adventure, similar to how Dr. Henry Wu was used in Jurassic World. Emma Thompson's recent cinematic credits include Beauty and the Beast, The Meyerowitz Stories and The Children Act, while her other upcoming appearances include Johnny English Strikes Again, The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle and Late Night.

Along with the previously mentioned actors, the Men in Black spinoff stars Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall and Les Twins, a.k.a. Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois. The Fate of the Furious' F. Gary Gray is directing the spinoff, which is said to be more global in scale than its predecessors, and Iron Man duo Art Marcum and Matt Holloway penned the script.

The Men in Black spinoff will be released in theaters on June 14, 2019, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on its progress. in the meantime, don't forget to look through our 2018 release schedule to find out what movies are coming out later this year.

Richard Curtis' 2003 film Love Actually is a modern Christmas classic and a widely loved, feel-good film. Most of its various narratives have happy and upbeat conclusions, affirming the power of love and that there's someone for everyone. But, it's easy to forget that the story of Alan Rickman's Harry and Emma Thompson's Karen does not have a happy ending. This story delivered an emotional gut punch when Karen realizes on Christmas that the necklace she found in her husband's jacket was not meant for her. She retreats to her bedroom and breaks down into tears. The scene comes off as incredibly raw and emotional, and that's because it was, as Emma Thompson explained:

Like many great actors, Emma Thompson was drawing from personal experience to inform her performance. In this case, as she told Yahoo Movies UK, she knew what it was like to have her heart broken by an unfaithful spouse. Emma Thompson was once married to actor/director Kenneth Branagh, who cheated on her with Helena Bonham Carter. So in this scene, she knew exactly how her character felt and simply had to think of her own experience to conjure the emotion necessary for the scene. It is, of course, unfortunate that Emma Thompson went through such heartbreak in her own life, but that is just one of the many ways that art imitates life, which is why this is the most real-feeling moment in a largely sugar-sweet film. It is something people can relate to, and therefore they feel Karen's pain. You can watch the scene from Love Actually below to see the Oscar-winning actress deliver some impressive method acting.

What is so powerful about this scene is that Karen leaves her family by the tree and steals away for a brief moment to be vulnerable and let her emotions out, letting the tears flow that couldn't be held back a moment longer. Then after her breakdown, she wipes her eyes, collects herself and goes back to her family, bearing the burden of her unhappiness alone so that her family could remain intact. The use of the Joni Mitchell song Both Sides, Now, which is both story and soundtrack, also adds to the emotional weight of the scene.

The Love Actually story got something of a sequel in the charity short film Red Nose Day Actually. However, due to the passing of the marvelous Alan Rickman, the Karen and Harry story was not continued, and sadly, it sounds like pure happiness was not in the cards for those two characters. At least Karen still had her family, unlike Andrew Lincoln's character Mark, who was left holding a bunch of signs. There are plenty of movies hitting the theater this year, and with any luck, many of them will also have the kind of brilliant performances like the one Emma Thompson gave in Love Actually. You can check them out in our release schedule.

While moviegoers and film fans are essentially walking IMDB databases, the same can't always be said for the actors in the films. Performers accrue a ton of credits if they've been working for years, so the memory of certain films can get a bit hazy. Case in point: the always delightful Stanley Tucci. Tucci has a lengthy filmography from his decades in the business, so I guess we can forgive the fact that not every film is etched into stone in his memory. Because on a recent talk show appearance, he completely forgot that he had worked with actress Emma Thompson in Disney's recent Beauty and the Beast remake. And it's all on film, check it out at the 3:16 point.

Woops. If memories about Beauty and the Beast was the Witch's test for Tucci, it's safe to say he's be rocking some hooves and horns at this point. Because he totally forgot that both he and Emma Thompson voiced enchanted objects in the live-action remake.

And while it's enjoyable to poke fun at Stanley Tucci for his momentary lapse of memory, you can't really blame him for forgetting the actors who voiced the various characters. Voice over work is a famously solitary experience, so it's not like he was physically working with Emma Thompson. And while he would have easily recalled certain members of the cast who he had scenes with, it looks like Emma Thompson slipped his mind. But after all, they were likely only on set together for the final scene, where the objects come back to life. And Tucci wasn't actually working with Thompson in this scene.

Stanley Tucci recently appeared on the British talk show Lorraine, to promote his various film projects. In particular, Tucci discussed his upcoming drama The Children Act, which is based off of the novel of the same name. When discussing how psyched he was to work with Emma Thompson, he falsely claimed it was their first time working together. Although to be fair, The Children Act is indeed the first time the duo got to share scenes with each other in the flesh, so it no doubt feels like the first time all over again. The film will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival this September, so we'll get some more information about Tucci and Thompson's big screen meeting soon.

In Beauty and the Beast, Stanley Tucci played the newcomer character Maestro Cadenza, who isn't really in the first feature film. He's the Beast's court composer, and is transformed into a harpsichord when The Enchantress puts the entire castle under her spell. Throughout the film he and Audra McDonald's wardrobe lament how their bulky size keeps them from each other in the castle, and they get a glorious reunion during the film's happy ending. Emma Thompson played the iconic Mrs. Potts, and was more of a main character than Tucci.

You can purchase your own copy of Beauty and the Beast now, complete with Stanley Tucci and Emma Thompson. In the meantime, check out our 2017 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Emma Thompson has been in the acting business for quite a long time, and has taken on a slew of different movie roles during that time. Recently, the actress appeared on the Norwegion-Swedish show Skavlan to promote Beauty and the Beast, revealing there was one memorable movie role she almost quit on the spot. While on the set of Brideshead Revisited one producer said something about another actress' body, leading Emma Thompson to come to her aid. Thompson said:

So, what we can take from this quote is that Emma Thompson has always been a plucky lass, and had no problems whatsoever with telling a Brideshead Revisited producer off when she had some unkind things to say about her coworker's size. She also has rather a lot of class while telling the story, giving us details about what happened on the set without outing the rather rude producer or the poor actress who had to deal with the comments. Brideshead Revisited had several memorable ladies on the set, including Hayley Atwell, Felicity Jones, Anna Madeley, Greta Scachi and Sarah Crowden. She doesn't specify whether it was one of the newcomer or veteran actress who dealt with the drama, but the comments were enough that Emma Thompson nearly left the movie.

The story came up when Emma Thompson was speaking about never feeling desirous to live in Hollywood, as she feels too old and too fat every time she goes to the California city. This led her to open up about the Brideshead Revisited experience and the daily issues women are having to deal with in relation to their weight to stay in the movie business. She also noted:

It's safe to say that there are becoming roles out there for women of different shapes and sizes. It's also safe to say that a lot of the major action films are focusing more on training and being in shape rather than being rail thin. But being a certain size certainly still persists in a lot of corners of celebrity---and it's not always the ladies who have to deal with the drama. We all know the camera adds ten pounds, but most of us also know that skinny doesn't always equate to healthy. Emma Thompson, at least, seems to make it a point to champion that.

Hopefully there was less drama on the set of Beauty and the Beast, where Emma Thompson plays Mrs. Potts. Catch it in theaters now, and see what leading ladies are heading to theaters in the coming months with our movies premiere schedule.

When you think of must-watch Christmas movies, Love Actually most likely falls somewhere on that list. The 2003 movie is an annual re-watch for many people, a rom-com perfectly suited to the holidays. In honor of the Comic Relief charity event Red Nose Day, a mini-sequel of sorts will be making its way onto television with most of the huge cast returning to their roles. There are a few exceptions, however, and Emma Thompson will not be coming back. Thompson's character was married to Alan Rickman's and both she and director Richard Curtis felt that it was simply too soon after Rickman's passing.

In Love Actually, Emma Thompson played a woman named Karen, whose husband (Alan Rickman) begins pursuing another woman. Thompson's role was directly tied to Rickman, who sadly passed away last year from cancer. It'd be next to impossible to include Thompson without explaining Rickman's absence, and that was something no one was ready to do yet. As Emma Thompson told Reuters on the red carpet UK premiere of Beauty and The Beast (Thompson is playing Mrs. Potts), she had discussed coming back with Richard Curtis -- the writer and director of Love Actually who is returning for the sequel -- but both of them felt it would be too sad given Rickman's still recent passing.

While we all might prefer a complete reunion of the cast of Love Actually, we can all agree that this is the appropriate call. The 10-minute sequel is supposed to be for fun and one can hardly blame Curtis and Thompson for not wanting to broach what's still such a sad topic. It would have been nice to see what Karen's been up to since 2003, but there's nothing stopping one of the other characters in the sequel from giving a quick line about what she's doing these days.

There will be no shortage of characters available when Red Nose Day Actually rolls around; the cast includes Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Colin Firth, Lucia Moniz, Olivia Olson, Bill Nighy, Marcus Brigstocke, and Rowan Atkinson. The sequel will be written and directed by Richard Curtis, who will once again weave a number of separate stories about love and romance together.

Red Nose Day Actually will air as part of the Red Nose Campaign, which uses a variety of comedy performances and sketches to spread awareness about children in poverty all over the world. We've gotten everything from a Game of Thrones musical to Margo Robbie in a bathtub, so you definitely won't want to miss the show when it airs on May 25 on NBC or, if you're in the U.K., a little earlier, thanks to the BBC premiere on March 24.

Years of watching movies and studying the entertainment industry reveal certain patterns suggesting a feature's path towards victory or failure, and director Sharon Maguire's Bridget Jones's Baby is a film entering theaters chock full of warning signs. Just being a comedy sequel is bad enough -- with the success rate in that area historically being incredibly small-- but the romantic comedy also has the serious stigma that comes with A) following-up a poorly-received entry in the series (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) and B) being more than 10 years in the making.

All signs have pointed towards the latest Bridget Jones movie being a total disaster -- but that's not the narrative that is ultimately written. Instead, it's simple proof that all a film needs is a strong script, smart filmmakers, and engaging performers to find success - and it's those three things that make Bridget Jones's Baby a legitimate early fall surprise.

Off the bat, it's important to mention that the movie does require a bit of suspension in disbelief, given that the whole story is a fantasy on the same level as any superhero blockbuster that came out this past summer. The film begins with Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) living a modestly-fulfilling but lonely life -- in her mid-40s, still single, and working as a producer on a television news program. This all changes very quickly, however, when -- following back-to-back flings with an internet matchmaking millionaire (Patrick Dempsey) and her old flame, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) -- she discovers that she's pregnant and unclear on the identity of the dad. While this would be a serious crisis for a normal person in the real world, Bridget instead finds that both handsome, well-to-do men want to be the father of the child -- leaving the titular protagonist torn about the man with whom she wants to spend her future.

The high-class nature of Bridget's problems do admittedly make the stakes feel pretty low in the film (particularly combined with the fact that she doesn't get fired no matter how monumentally she screws up at her job), but what keeps you engaged and entertained is the character work and performances. Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Patrick Dempsey are all tremendously likable and charming in their individual roles, and have a clicking chemistry that generates a special kind of audience investment as the baby's due date draws closer and the daddy mystery finds an answer. But the script by Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer and Emma Thompson also creates wonderful opportunities for the movie's fantastic and funny ensemble -- including both returning castmembers like Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, and Sally Phillips, and series newcomers like Thompson herself (as Bridget's smartly blunt OB-GYN), Kate O'Flynn (as Bridget's strange, strict new boss) and Sarah Solemani (as Bridget's outgoing friend/co-worker, who steals most of her scenes).

Clearly, Bridget Jones's Baby isn't without its fair share of romantic comedy tropes, with the love triangle at the forefront being the most obvious, but what weirdly gives the film a particular edge is what can only be described as its cheekiness. Without ever being excessive, the movie takes wonderful advantage of the freedom that comes with skewing more towards adults -- throwing around profanity and plenty of sexuality/innuendo for humor without being obscene or overly blue. Not only does it make the comedy feel fresh, but it also weirdly makes the personalities and interactions more grounded and real -- which is key in a genre that is typically filled to the brim with plastic characters.

As someone who watched Bridget Jones's Baby having seen neither of the first two films, I didn't have any expectations going into the theater, and found myself both pleasantly surprised, and understanding what's appreciated about the series. While the plot is ludicrous, it's a movie that perfectly understands its strengths and capitalizes on them, crafting a fun story for a fun ensemble.

Amid all of the intertwining storylines throughout Richard Curtis' Love Actually, one of the stories that didn't really get the warm and fuzzy closure treatment of all the others is that of Richard and Karen. After all of these years of the definitive truth eluding audiences, writer/director Curtis has finally revealed the fate of the embattled couple. Spoiler alert: the couple winds up staying together, but it's not pretty.

Curtis, who was watching the film at a midnight screening this weekend, hadn't seen the film since its 2003 premiere. But the distance of time hasn't dimmed his memory of the decisions he made involving his revolving door of characters – especially Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson's dramatically charged married couple. THR found the scoop on their fate, as it was revealed in a tweet from Curtis' partner, Emma Freud, as follows:

While it wasn't said in so many words in the film, you could tell that this was the reality of Richard and Karen's lives together. Though, to be fair, Rickman's Richard making overtures towards his secretary, and Thompson's Karen trying to cope with a slowly growing sense of abandonment could have very easily ended their marriage. Even in the end, when the two reunite at Heathrow Airport, their meeting is tinged with tension. It feels like the two of them could have been seeing each other for the holiday, post hypothetical divorce. The fact that the two didn't split is a credit to their character, even after learning the answer to another important question left in the wake of Love Actually's events: Did Richard ever sleep with his secretary?

In another tweet, Emma Freud confirmed that despite her protestations, Richard Curtis considers it Love Actually canon that Richard did in fact sleep with Mia, his tempting secretary. As if Colin Firth's girlfriend cheating on him in the beginning, or Laura Linney's choice to forego a romantic relationship to take care of her family weren't sad enough, we end up learning that Richard really is the heel he lead us, and his wife, to believe he was. Though when you think about it, Curtis' decision to include this fate depicted a type of love we don't see enough of in films: the love that keeps it together for the kids.

With every sort of love, from casual flings to that of a father and a son, with a couple romantic interludes in-between, Richard and Karen's relationship is one of the more complicated scenarios on display. There's no easy answers when someone you love betrays you, especially when children are involved, so it wouldn't be a shock to have the two characters break up. However, if you know Richard Curtis' style, you already know that he doesn't cheap out when it comes to emotional punches. It's for this reason that Love Actually is a much deeper film than most people give it credit for, and it's also why we can never listen to Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" the same way again.

Love Actually is available on DVD and Blu Ray, as well as Netflix Streaming. Try watching it again, or for the first time, with this knowledge in mind.

There have been several blunt opinions about superhero movies expressed as of late. It seems that the most important question any major Hollywood star can be asked is, "What do you think of all the superhero movies?" Well, it’s Emma Thompson’s turn to answer the question now, and while she doesn’t hate the genre as a whole, she does have it out for one particular tights-wearing super human: Spider-Man.

Vulture interviewed Thompson about a variety of topics, and asked her feelings on the superhero genre. While she says she is getting a bit cynical about the whole thing, she also called out your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man by name. She said:

To be fair, Thompson isn’t saying anything that the most die hard supporter of superhero films isn’t also saying. In fact, that same die hard fan might take issue with her statement that "they’re all marvelous." At this point, the wall-crawler is really batting under .500. She doesn’t say anything about the fact that they are about to make the franchise again. We really hope she knows about it, or we may have to put her on suicide watch in the summer of 2017.

Thompson does say she was a fan of the original Christopher Reeve Superman film, and that she is also looking forward to the eventual Wonder Woman movie. It’s clear that she’s not making her comments from an "old Hollywood" position that these movies are bad or bad for film, rather she maybe wishes there weren’t as many of them, as they always own the box office.

Thompson’s comments follow on the heels of director Steven Spielberg being asked the same question just the other day. Spielberg didn’t say there was anything wrong with the movies either, just that a day will come when they won't be as popular. The internet, of course, really appreciated his nuanced position. We fully expect Emma Thompson will now be painted as the J. Jonah Jameson of Hollywood, trying to take down Spider-Man. If anything she’s anti-rebooting franchises 10 minutes after the last one ended, and we can get behind that.

We really hope Emma Thompson doesn’t hang herself after she goes to see Captain America: Civil War next summer. She’s a fantastic actress and the world would be a sadder place without her. Even if it is a world that can’t ever seem to stop making Spider-Man movies.

With the topic of sexism in the movie industry continuing to become more prevalent than ever, an increasing number of prominent voices are speaking up on the matter. Veteran actress Emma Thompson recently contributed to the conversation, publicly condemning the astonishingly sparse state of female film roles, holding little back.

In an interview with Radio Times, Thompson wastes no time in letting it be known that she thinks very little of what the industry is currently offering female actresses. Oddly, as much as attitudes towards women have evolved over the years, she says things have worsened in this particular arena. According to Thompson:

Thompson’s comments are rooted in the idea that actresses continue to find themselves fighting for roles that are primarily dependent upon how their exterior comes across. Whether that image pertains to an aesthetic of beauty or even something unflattering, the prevalent idea is that the movie industry rarely casts women for roles based primarily on the qualification of their actual ability to effectively play the part in question. Thus, for women, the idea of even a generic role is a rare phenomenon. For example, an ass-kicking femme-fatale character CAN’T be anything but stunningly sexy. Even a seemingly innocuous female character role like, say, a scientist, is more likely to be filled by a leggy twenty-something starlet.

Consequently, the industry creates very few options for actresses old enough to have spent time evolving their craft, since such actresses would not fit Hollywood’s superficially sexualized mold of how a woman is supposed to look. As Emma Stone recently learned with the controversy surrounding Aloha, that can manifest in race, as well.

For the 55 year-old Thompson, this aspect of the industry is actually far worse than it was when she was a young up-and-coming actress. Solidifying this claim is the recent public conversation surrounding the age gap between male leads and female love interests, which has come into focus in a number of instances. In fact, an annual report conducted by San Diego State University provided statistical proof across Hollywood that the number of male leads increase as they get older, while their female counterparts are, oddly enough getting younger.

Maggie Gyllenhaal allegedly learned this lesson the hard way. She recently revealed how she lost a part due to the rather shocking reason that the 37-year-old actress was believed to be too old to play the love interest for the film’s 55-year-old leading man. While she declined to divulge details on the context of that particular role, it is nevertheless a rather vexing situation. Helen Mirren also reiterated that point, identifying the continually younger love interests provided for the "more geriatric" lead of the James Bond franchise as a primary offender.

For Thompson, the phenomenon has left her altering her process for picking roles, as she has publically stated that she tends to avoid big studio productions, lest she fall into the trap that plagues aging actresses who have invested themselves into a craft that, over years, seems structured to yield little in return. However, having added powerful thoughts to the conversation, her known gravitas has surely contributed positively.

Emma Thompson made a not-so-subtle quip about the Harry Potter franchise during her speech at the British Independent Film Awards in London on Sunday evening. The legendary English thespian made her somewhat controversial comments after picking up the Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution to British film.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, as she clasped the gong in her hand, Emma Thompson decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to voice her exact thoughts on the mistakes that she has made in her career.

Looking back on Emma Thompson’s rather fabulous career there really is only one franchise she could be talking about. The 55-year-old actress portrayed Professor Sybill Trelawney in three Harry Potter films, which included Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. But how can she not have enjoyed playing such an adorably aloof character? Just look at her.

However there is also an outside chance that she could have been talking about her appearance in another of her films. Maybe she was chastising her brief turn in Men Black 3, or her un-credited portrayal as Dr Alice Krippin in the opening scene of I Am Legend or even her performance as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s love-interest in 1994’s Junior. There’s even a suggestion that her portrayals as Nanny McPhee in the 2005 fantasy film and its sequel, Nanny McPhee Returns were the intended recipients of her "attack." But the fact that she also wrote the latter two films means that she would only have herself to blame if she didn’t like the character she portrayed.

Really it doesn’t matter which of the "large studio films" Emma Thompson was talking about because either way I’m a tad disappointed in the always amicable and loveable British national icon. It just seems beneath her to have attacked these films in such a public place, several years after they were originally released, when no one else associated with the film would have a chance to respond. I don’t doubt for a second that she was only trying to be self-deprecating in lieu of collecting the award. But by basically attacking the Harry Potter franchise she has only really ended up criticizing the millions of fans that adore each of the films. And that’s just plain mean.

Surely she should have apologized for Maybe Baby or The Love Punch, instead.

"She has to get away from their clutches." What is wrong with Effie? That's the question that plays at the center of the biopic Effie Gray. And from the look of its first trailer, the simple answer is that it wasn't easy being a woman in the Victorian age, where sex and desire were four-letter curse words.

The Telegraph premieres Effie Gray's debut trailer ahead of its world theatrical debut in the U.K. on October 10th. Dakota Fanning stars as its title character, a woman who caused quite a scandal in Victorian England when she cheated on her art critic husband John Ruskin (Greg Wise), with the painter John Everett Millais (Tom Sturridge). Emma Thompson co-stars alongside David Suchet, Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters, but it was her screenwriting credit that has caused the film's modern-day scandal.

Indie Wire reports that director Richard Laxton completed production on Effie Gray 18 months ago, but from there copyright claims proved obstacles to the biopic's release. Though best known as an actress, Emma Thompson is an acclaimed screenwriter, having won an Academy Award for her adapted script of Jane Austen's Sense And Sensibility. Effie Gray marks her first produced screenplay since the pair of family friendly romps Nanny McPhee and Nanny McPhee Returns. But while the inspiration for her latest period piece might understandably be assumed to be the life of Euphemia "Effie" Gray herself, two separate writers have sued Thompson and the production over copyright claims.

The first was Eve Pomerance, who has written two scripts inspired by the life of Effie Gray. One of these has been produced as a play, but by December of 2012, a judge dismissed her claims. Next, playwright Gregory Murphy sued because he had penned a play and screenplay about Effie Gray. This second suit delayed release plans until it was settled in March of 2013. But plans to open in October of 2013 fell through, perhaps because of Murphy's public claims of seeking an appeal.

With accusations of plagiarism behind it, Effie Gray can now focus on the accusations of indecency launched at its heroine, who married a childhood friend -- only to find him to be a cold lover. The Telegraph laments that the Gray and Ruskin's first night as man and wife included no consummation. And according to Effie's writings, that was all on her reluctant groom. She explained:

Some historians have posited that Ruskin had expected a nude woman to look like those in the paintings he'd seen, so the reality provided a shock instead of a thrill. Regardless of his reasons, it's little wonder that Effie Gray sought love elsewhere.

Effie Gray has not yet secured a U.S. release date.

This story sounds like the result of a movie-themed party game, where you fill a hat with names of talented Hollywood players not currently at the top of their game, and then you pick five and make up a movie plot around them. Maybe I’ve stumbled upon some kind of ancient movie producer secret just now. Deadline reports The Raven director James McTeigue’s next project will be the thriller Survivorand it has already locked up Milla Jovovich, Angela Bassett, Emma Thompson and Pierce Brosnan to star in the Millennium Films production. It’ll be the first feature written by novelist Phil Shelby. Let’s hope the sum of the film is equaled to its quality parts.

For Survivor, Jovovich will be playing a State Department employee working a new position in London’s American embassy, tasked with diverting terrorists from making it to the U.S. For this, she becomes targeted by someone and framed for a series of crimes. She then has to go on the run to try and prove her innocence, on top of trying to stop a huge terrorist attack in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. There’s no word on what any of the other cast members will be doing here, but it would be nice to see either Bassett or Thompson playing the evildoer in this situation, rather than the stereotypical foreign villain. Regardless of who gets chosen, I can only hope the only person seriously injured in the film will be Ryan Seacrest, hosting New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.

McTeigue, who also helmed 2009’s Ninja Assassin and 2005’s V for Vendetta, is planning on rebooting the Jean-Claude Van Damme’s fighting flick Bloodsport at some point, but it looks like Survivor is coming along a lot quicker.

Jovovich, who has built a career out of her Alice role in the Resident Evil franchise, is currently filming the all-star action fest The Expendables 3 for Patrick Hughes, and Michael Almereyda’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline.

Staring Wednesday, October 8, you can see Bassett as voodoo queen Marie Laveau in what is hopefully her juiciest role in years for FX’s American Horror Story: Coven. She’ll also be seen in Kasi Lemmons holiday drama Black Nativity and Greg Araki’s disappearance thriller White Bird in a Blizzard.

Oscar winner Thompson recently starred in the YA adaptation Beautiful Creatures and Joel Hopkins’ comedy Love Punch (which also starred Brosnan). She’ll also be starring as author P.L. Travers in the Walt Disney-centered Saving Mr. Banks, as well as starring in Richard Laxton’s historical drama Effie Gray, which she also wrote. She also penned the upcoming adaptations of Paddington and Annie.

Brosnan, who had a great bit part in Edgar Wright’s The World’s End a few months ago, will be seen next year in the Nick Hornby adaptation A Long Way Down from Pascal Chaumeil, and the Roger Donaldson thriller November Man.

Originally set to star Clive Owen and Katherine Heigl, Survivor is set to begin production in London on January 20, 2014.

Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. If you need another selling point on seeing Saving Mr. Banks, you've clearly gotten way too far away from your childhood. But just in case, here's the first trailer for Saving Mr. Banks (via AOL), which ought to give you a million other reasons to see the movie-- Emma Thompson as the uptight Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers, a classic conflict between an amiable American and a stuffy Brit, a trip to old-school DIsneyland, and appearances from basically every character actor you like-- Bradley Whitford! Paul Giamatti! B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman playing the piano! Go buy your tickets now, boys and girls!

OK, sure, the movie looks a little sentimental, drifting in the second half into emotional music and vague promises about how much the character of Mary Poppins means for Travers, who had refused over and over again to let the character be adapted for film. But this is a Disney about a Disney movie, and a classic one at that-- they wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't try to get you to tear up just a little. And as we discussed yesterday when the film's first official image was released, Tom Hanks is a human nearly as iconic as Disney himself at this point. Just the sight of him smiling-- and on a carousel!-- is enough to give you the warm fuzzes.

And warm fuzzes is exactly what Disney is promising, in spades, with the planned December 13 release of Saving Mr. Banks, a contender both in the Oscar race and the crowded holiday movie season. For more, here's the film's official synopsis. Let us know what you think of Hanks's transformation into Uncle Walt in the comments.

Let's make a list of straightforward, warm-hearted, lovable American men who we want to be our adoptive fathers. Tom Hanks is totally at the top of it, right? Our modern-day answer to Jimmy Stewart, Hanks has spent decades embodying pretty much everything good about American identity, from fearless World War II soldiers to history-changing Alabamans to a kid who just wants to make better toys. And while Hanks has created his share of American icons already-- Apollo 13 hero Jim Lovell, Woody, fictional Da Vinci Code sleuth Robert Langdon-- he's got two huge ones on deck for later this year. His role as the heroic Maersk Alabama Captain Phillips ought to be stirring when that film arrives October 11, but the real challenge arrives December 25, when Hanks is given the challenge of turning into Walt Disney.

How will he pull it off? We're getting our first hint in the image above, which debuted at Time Magazine of all places, from Saving Mr. Banks, the film that goes behind-the-scenes of Disneys 1964 adaptation of Mary Poppins. Standing next to Hanks is Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers, the British Mary Poppins author who was just as difficult and sour as she looks in that photo. They're walking down Main Street of Disneyland, and Travers looks like a schoolmarm scolding a bunch of second-graders! This is clearly not a woman who was in tune with Disney's version of The Happiest Place on Earth. In fact, Thompson tells Time that "She's the most difficult person I've ever played," and digs into the ways that Travers, while stern and determined, was also totally confusing compared to other characters Thompson has played over the years:

(Side note: Maybe playing crazy Professor Trelawney in the Harry Potter movies helped Thompson gear up for this?)

This image from Saving Mr. Banks technically isn't our first look at Hanks in costume-- there were some sneaked set photos from the Disneyland shoot last fall, which included a photo of Hanks that was meant to directly mimic a famous portrait of Disney that hung in Disneyland. But now, of course, the next step is to actually see Hanks in action, walking and talking as Disney did. Walt Disney himself died in 1966, but his face and voice remained incredibly familiar to kids who watched The Wonderful World of Disney or other relics from our parents' own childhoods. Check out this clip from Disney's final filmed appearance, in October of 1966 (it starts around the 3-minute mark), and let us know if you think Hanks can capture Disney beyond the mustache and slicked-back 60s hair. Hanks is already an American icon himself, so does that give him an edge in playing another one?

The cast of Beautiful Creatures has been growing seemingly exponentially in the past couple weeks. It began when Viola Davis, nominated for Best Actress this year for her performance in The Help, signed on and just yesterday it was revealed that Jack O’Connell and Alice Englert have joined on. Today they've added a two-time Oscar winner.

Emma Thompson, according to THR, is the newest actress to join the ranks of Beautiful Creatures. The film is based on the novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and is being both written and directed by Richard LaGravanese. Described as a "supernatural coming-of-age story," the story follows a young boy and girl who investigate a curse that has been haunting the girl's family for generations. Thompson is set to play a dual role in the movie, portraying the character of Mrs. Lincoln - described as being "small town religious firebrand" - and the witch that possesses Mrs. Lincoln, named Sarafine. The book is from a series called The Caster Chronicles and the fourth book is due out this year.

Thompson has a number of titles due out this year including Barry Sonnenfeld's Men in Black III (in which she plays the new head of MIB), Terrence Malick's Voyage of Time (which she is narrating), Pixar's Brave (where she is voicing the mother of the main character), and Richard Laxton's Effie (based on an original script she wrote).

While I can't say I've seen anything from O'Connell or Englert, having Davis and Thompson in supporting roles is a good sign for any project. Casting seems to be developing quickly, so keep checking back for more about Beautiful Creatures.