Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh are teaming up for a movie that flips the concept of classic Cold War films and throws in a bit of Top Gun and Misery. While the Soviets still largely seem to be the villain in Mayday, an American behind enemy lines finds a friend in an Uncle Sam-loving Russian.

As if I needed another reason to renew my Apple TV subscription, Branagh and Reynolds had me cackling with this trailer that shows an American-loving ex-KGB citizen attempting to get a downed pilot back to the United States. When this movie was first announced, I wasn't sure how to feel about it, but I can firmly say after seeing the trailer I'm on board.

I'm Already Loving The Chemistry Between Kenneth Branagh And Ryan Reynolds

Kenneth Branagh is not someone I regularly associate with comedy, and you won't find one listed amongst his best movies. That said, I totally vibe with Ryan Reynolds' Troy playing the straight man to the America-obsessed Nikolai, whose passion for describing things like McDonald's had me cackling even in this short trailer.

It also seems like Mayday features a good deal of action, which I'm also on board with. Overall, it feels like a cool take on the usual spy thriller genre, and putting someone with the star power of Ryan Reynolds as the star has me optimistic this movie will get a lot of attention. Here's hoping the whole movie is as entertaining as the trailer.

When Does Mayday Come Out?

Fortunately, we don't have to wait long for Mayday to hit the upcoming 2026 movie releases. The film hits Apple TV+ on September 4th, and while I'm happy to see it sooner rather than later, I fear it missed a big opportunity. They could've gone full tilt with the Cold War theme, and timed it to the anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall in November!

In any case, it'll be a good appetizer for another Ryan Reynolds appearance potentially on the way. There's been a lot of speculation that he'll reprise his role as Deadpool in Avengers: Doomsday, though that is still unconfirmed at the moment. The good news is if that doesn't happen, at least we'll get to see him kick some butt in Mayday, which hails from the same producers of Deadpool & Wolverine. It's not quite the Marvel fun folks may be used to, but I can see the similarities in the action.

As mentioned, make sure that your Apple TV subscription is up to date for the upcoming release of Mayday on September 4th. Honestly, I think it's a good one to have on a monthly basis anyway, as I find myself watching more and more quality shows and movies on the platform.

If you can believe it, it’s been 15 years since audiences were introduced to Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder via the first Thor movie! The actor is now set to reprise his role in Avengers: Doomsday and theoretically, Secret Wars. On top of that, Hemsworth previously said he was already kicking around Thor ideas for beyond that. While many are excited about what's to come, the franchise's OG director, Kenneth Branagh, is reflecting on Hemsworth's fitness and eating habits while making that first movie.

Branagh directed Marvel Studios' Thor and, as the British filmmaker told Business Insider, he fought hard to land that gig. To mark the film's 15th anniversary, Branagh recently shared considerable insight into the making of his sole MCU entry. While talking about working with Chris Hemsworth, Branagh was sure to highlight how the actor built muscle for his role, and I'm tired just hearing about the whole chickens that were involved:

For a little context here, a whole chicken is about 1500 calories on average – which is crazy to me, because that’s personally around how much I eat in a day. In terms of Chris Hemsworth’s fitness regimen for playing a superhero, he was probably eating something like 4,000 calories, and that's the amount one of his stuntmen ate to transform for the role too, per Centr.

Eating that much chicken sounds exhausting to me, but the actor had to keep his bulky physique intact for the shoot. Food consumption was just part of the process, though, as copious amounts of push-ups were also involved, as Branagh recalled:

It’s funny, because many people may not think about all the methods actors like Hemsworth utilize to stay fit, but it must have been pretty incredible to witness. 200 pushups? I get tired doing just a few – but I’m also not someone who plays a Marvel hero, of course. What’s even wilder is this is something that Hemsworth has had to somewhat maintain since he’s been playing Thor every few years since then.

Hemsworth has had to fluctuate his weight too for the other roles he’s played in between. For example, he recently talked about having to lose “a lot of weight” right after the first Thor movie to star in Ron Howard’s Rush in order to “fit into the race car”. Given it's been over a decade since Hemsworth worked with Branagh on that first film, I'd imagine that actor and his fitness team have all of this down to a science at this point. So I wonder how many chickens he might've eaten and how many push-ups he may have performed for his latest outing as Thor.

On that note, when Chris Hemsworth starts promoting Avengers: Doomsday, I hope he discusses his current fitness habits for filming. In the meantime, know that Hemsworth will be seen in that aforementioned superhero movie alongside Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Tom Hiddleston, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, Channing Tatum and many more big stars. on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one that consistently releases new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. There are a number of highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies, but fans are also curious if Chris Hemsworth's Thor will get a fifth solo movie. Kenneth Branagh, who directed the 2011 original movie, has an idea to return to the franchise... and he's inspired by one of the best superhero movies ever.

Fans who have watched the Marvel movies in order have seen as the Thor franchise changed over the years. Taika Waititi's pair of movies leaned into comedy and color, while Branagh's original was quite serious. In a conversation with Business Insider, the actor/filmmaker revealed his A+ idea for a return to the property, saying:

Honestly, sign me up. Before Hugh Jackman returned in Deadpool & Wolverine, James Mangold's Logan was meant to be his final bow as everyone's favorite clawed mutant. The movie was universally acclaimed, earning an Oscar nomination for its screenplay. And Logan's ending provided a moving and beautiful ending for the beloved character, who finally died while saving X-23.

I would love to see what Branagh might do with Chris Hemsworth's signature character if he took a Logan-esque approach to Thor 5. Of course, it's unclear if the studio is planning on doing a fifth movie; most heroes only get trilogies of solo flicks. The exceptions are Thor, Spider-Man, and Captain America, although the latter is unique because Brave New World was about Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson rather than Steve Rogers.

Of course, we're going to have to wait and see if Thor actually lives through the next two Avengers movies first. Some fans think that the God of Thunder might be killed off in Doomsday or Secret Wars, with even Chris Hemsworth putting doubt as to whether or not he'll continue his tenure as the hero. If he ends up perishing in the battle against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, then Kenneth Branagh might not get his chance to return to the MCU.

Logan was a game-changer for superhero projects, and is arguably the best of the X-Men movies. Its gritty approach and emotional story managed to get one of the genre's first Oscar nominations, opening doors for other projects like Black Panther to follow suit. I'd love to see Thor get this treatment, but it remains to be seen what the studio has planned for Chris Hemsworth's character.

Thor will return to the big screen in Avengers: Doomsday, which will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. His solo movies are all streaming now on Disney+, including Kenneth Branagh's original.

Kit Harington became a star thanks to the beloved fantasy series, Game of Thrones. Now, he’s joined another beloved fantasy series, Harry Potter. The actor is voicing Professor Lockhart in the new full-cast audiobooks, and he’s doing it with great excitement, too, because he’s “an absolute Potter nerd.”

Along with releasing The Family Plan 2 on the 2025 movie schedule (you can stream it with an Apple TV+ subscription), Kit Harington also plays a part in Audible’s Harry Potter: The Full Cast Audio Editions. That’s right, you can hear him now in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. So, in celebration of that, Andrew Freund asked him about joining the Wizaring World. In response, the Game of Thrones star said:

All good points! I read the books for the first time in fifth grade, and it was a transformative experience that made me fall in love with reading. I also got to know so many iconic actors – like Kenneth Branagh, who played Lockhart on screen – because of the Harry Potter movies. Now, a whole new generation of readers, watchers and listeners will get to experience both things by way of these new audiobooks and HBO’s Harry Potter show.

The audiobooks specifically have a stacked cast. Along with Harington, who plays Lockhart, the self-obsessed author and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in Chamber of Secrets, Matthew Macfadyen is voicing Voldemort, Hugh Laurie is Dumbledore, and Riz Ahmed is playing Snape. The Hogwarts staff will also feature Keira Knightley as Professor Umbridge, Iwan Rheon as Professor Lupin and Mark Addy as Hagrid, among many others.

Meanwhile, the leading trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione will be voiced by Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, and Arabella Stanton (who will also play Hermione in the show), respectively, for the first three books.

So, truly, this project has continued to pull in “great actors,” and it will likely enthrall new audiences, too.

Now, Harington doubled down on his own love for Harry Potter in a funny way, too. When asked if he did this project for his kids, the actor said “no,” and then explained:

Whether he was being sarcastic or not, this response does reiterate his passion for the project. And that kind of enthusiasm makes me very excited about the books. I also hope it makes his kids excited someday, too, because he really is playing a part in an iconic story.

With all that being said, to hear Kit Harington as Lockhart, you can listen to the full cast versions of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on Audible now. The other books will be released every month between now and May 2026. You can also go back and stream the movies with an HBO Max subscription, which is where you’ll be able to find the new series too when it eventually comes out.

2025 was a monster year for Michael B. Jordan. Sure, he was only in one movie, but that just happened to be one of the biggest movies of the year. Now, with Jordan's only credit on the 2026 movie schedule a voice role in the animated movie Swapped, we're looking forward to early 2027 when his next sure-fire hit, a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, will be released. Not only is Jordan starring in the movie, but it is his second time in the director's chair as well.

Of course, Jordan won Best Actor at the 2026 Oscars for his role in Sinners, which you can catch with an HBO Max subscription, but as someone who adores the 1999 version of The Thomas Crown Affair, this is one of my most anticipated Hollywood releases in the next year or so. The original Thomas Crown Affair, released in 1968, starred Steve McQueen as the titular thief and Faye Dunaway as the investigator trying to bust him. An excellent remake starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo was a hit in 1999. Both of those are available to watch with a Prime Subscription. Dunaway played a supporting role in that one, as well.

We're learning more and more about the 2027 release of The Thomas Crown Affair. Jordan talked about it a lot during awards season as he made the rounds, and every time he did, I couldn't help but get more excited.

When Is The Thomas Crown Affair Scheduled To Be Released?

The Thomas Crown Affair is still scheduled to be released on March 5, 2027, by Amazon MGM. It is also expected to be released in IMAX. If that seems like a while off, I agree, but considering that this movie was first announced in 2016, it now feels like it's just around the corner.

Filming wrapped in November, according to Jordan, in an interview with Vanity Fair. Filming took place in England and Italy, starting in July 2025. The film is in post-production, so it sounds like everything is on schedule for its release in about 11 months!

The Thomas Crown Affair Cast

Some of the cast of The Thomas Crown Affair has been revealed, but outside of Jordan playing Thomas Crown, we're still a little in the dark about who is playing whom. We can make some educated guesses about what characters some of the actors will be playing, though at this point, it's all conjecture.

Michael B. Jordan

Of course, Michael B. Jordan will be starring in the lead role, art thief Thomas Crown. In the 1999 version, the character is also an art thief who commits his crimes for the adrenaline rush, as he is already as wealthy as a man could be. In the original 1968 version, Crown is a bank robber in Boston looking for the same kind of thrill. That doesn't mean this version of Crown will be the same, as Jordan highlighted in a recent interview with the Awards Circuit podcast (via People):

That's certainly intriguing and could add some serious weight to the role. One of the great things about the previous versions of the character is Crown's aloofness; it's also something that makes the stakes low. Upping the ante, so to speak, could be thrilling.

Adria Arjona

6 Underground and Andor star Adria Arjona was named to the cast in July, replacing Taylor Russell, who left the production over creative differences. Arjona is thought to be playing an insurance investigator playing a cat-and-mouse game with Crown, while falling in love with the dashing thief. A similar role was played by Faye Dunaway in the original, and Renee Russo in the 1999 remake. It's worth noting that Dunaway also played a small role as Crown's psychiatrist in the later film.

Kenneth Branagh

One actor I'm always excited to see in any cast is the great Kenneth Branagh. His role in The Thomas Crown Affair has yet to be announced, though Deadline hinted that it would be a "villainous role." Perhaps a business rival to Crown? With Jordan teasing that the stakes would be higher, maybe this is the character that provides that.

Lily Gladstone

Lily Gladstone made her biggest mark on Hollywood thus far in Killers of the Flower Moon, and she's been announced as a member of the cast in The Thomas Crown Affair. Like most of them, we don't know anything about her role yet, and frankly, I'm having trouble even making a guess, but you can be sure that she will be fantastic.

Danai Gurira

While I eventually lost interest in The Walking Dead, one of my favorite characters in the early seasons I did love was Michonne, played by the wonderful Danai Gurira. She's also well known for starring as Okoye in The Black Panther films in the MCU, though she's not in the cast for any upcoming MCU films as of this writing.

Aubrey Plaza

In January 2025, it was announced that Aubrey Plaza would be joining the cast. 2025 was a tragic year for the White Lotus star, as her husband Jeff Baena died in January. The Thomas Crown Affair will likely be her first major role on screen (after a voice role in 2027's Animal Friends), after that tragedy, so I'm sure excited to see her return after being somewhat disappointed by 2025's Honey Don't.

Pilou Asbæk

Game of Thrones veteran Pilou Asbæk, who played Euron Greyjoy in the popular HBO show, has been announced as part of the cast, but again, we don't have much info on his character. Asbæk is Danish, so the rumors about the movie being set broadly across Europe make some sense with this casting, perhaps as an Interpol agent hunting the titular character.

Aiysha Hart

Aiysha Hart, who is best known for her role as Ariadne in the BBC show Atlantis. More recently, she starred in We Are Lady Parts, which can be streamed with a Peacock subscription. Hart's character is a wildcard to me, but I do wonder if she will play a forger, much like the Anna Knudsen role in the 1999 remake, as played by Esther Cañadas.

Paapa Essiedu

Paapa Essiedu, who is probably best known for his roles in The Lazarus Effect and his Emmy-nominated turn in I May Destroy You, is also part of the cast in another yet-to-be-named character.

What Will The Thomas Crown Affair Be About?

The plot is expected to be similar to the 1999 film, with Jordan playing a wealthy man who gets his thrills by stealing expensive art. It is expected to be set in London (or possibly more broadly across Europe), after being set in New York City in the Brosnan version. The original was set in Boston.

I'm glad that writer Drew Pearce seems to have stuck with art theft. It adds such a cool, elegant element to the remake that was a little lacking in the original version with a standard bank heist. There is something classier about an art thief than a bank robber. Jordan has also said that he loves the 1999 version, telling the Awards Circuit (via Variety) podcast:

He added that he also was struck by the original:

There is something to art theft that really lends itself well to heist movies. There is an elegance to it, and that hopefully means it will look incredible too. Jordan is confident that it will be. While on one of the many red carpets the Sinners star has found himself on this winter, he told The Hollywood Reporter:

Say no more, Mr. Jordan, we're sold! Let's steal some art!

Michael B. Jordan Is Directing And Drew Pearce Is Writing The Movie

The Thomas Crown Affair will be Michael B. Jordan's second turn behind the camera after he made his directorial debut with 2023's Creed III. Jordan had a clear vision of what he wanted it to be early on, once again telling the Awards Circuit podcast:

In January 2026, Jordan spoke to Deadline about the process. The film was in the editing process, and it seems like he's really been enjoying the whole process, saying:

Jordan also expanded on the film, and how it fits in with the previous versions of the story:

The movie is being written by Drew Pearce, whose previous films include The Fall Guy, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3, and Hotel Artemis, which he also directed. Pearce is also set to pen the upcoming Dredd film.

I'm sure we'll hear a lot more about the movie in the coming months, and I can't wait for new details!

Years have passed since Michael B. Jordan’s remake of The Thomas Crown Affair was first announced, and I’m still amped to know that it’s finally happening. News has come out that the film will start shooting next week, not too long after Jordan’s hit 2025 movie Sinners lit the box office up. As his acting/directing duties on the Amazon-MGM picture continue to align, some A+ casting has taken place - and a reported story detail has me just a little bit concerned.

Michael B. Jordan’s Thomas Crown Affair Remake Just Added An A+ Cast

Yes folks, The Thomas Crown Affair is a remake! Not only that, but it’s the second remake of the 1968 original, which starred Steve McQueen. The previous take from 1999 starred Pierce Brosnan as the New York based billionaire with a taste for the finer crimes in life; with Jordan stepping into that character for a planned March 5, 2027 release date. Which leads to that THR report that gave us these details:

Before we go any further, I need to express some excitement for this roster; especially when Ms. Gladstone is one of two cast members serving a mysterious purpose. Also, the Belfast director’s agent deserves a raise, especially after Branagh’s The Devil Wears Prada sequel casting.

Digging into the characters we have heard details on, a Black Panther reunion is underway, as Ms. Guirira and her former MCU nemesis will now be on the same side for once. Meanwhile, it already sounds like Michael B. Jordan and Russell will be the respective mouse and cat of this game.

Following in the footsteps of Faye Dunaway and Rene Russo, our Bones and All star just might be chasing her prey across the continent. I'm speculating here, but why else would the vague setting of "Europe" be invoked in these initial reports?

If that’s the case, this could be a great change to the original plot through current writer Drew Pearce. Yet with that thought in the air, there’s one thing about this still secretive story that I wish they’d changed for modern audiences who may have caught one or both versions of The Thomas Crown Affair through their Prime Video subscription.

I Really Wish Thomas Crown Was Stealing Something Other Than Art

As you look at the jump between the 1968 and 1999 incarnations of Mr. Crown’s affairs, you’ll notice that the object of his larcenous desire changed over time. Steve McQueen’s Thomas was after almost $3 million in cash in Boston, while Pierce Brosnan was the first to try and purloin a special Monet painting.

Going on its third round of snatch and grab is the perfect time for The Thomas Crown Affair to chase something else; rather than just stick to art. Even one of the two unmade Brosnan sequels understood that, as MI6-HQ reported 1964’s Topkapi as a supposed influence for the project. That concept would have swapped art for jewels, and Michael B. Jordan’s remake could have done something really different with that.

It’s still early days for this mysterious ball game, and sticking to art isn’t a deal breaker for a fan like me. At the same time, there are so many new things one could steal in the 21st century; including the realm of digital assets. Bitcoin may be intangible, but the stakes could still be sexy. If we're sticking to physical objects, vintage cars might have been something worth considering.

Just ask Dominic Toretto and his Fast Saga family, as they’ve nabbed everything from cherry autos and TV-VCR combos to weapons of mass destruction. Ok, now that I’ve said that out loud, maybe The Thomas Crown Affair’s decision to stick to art isn’t that bad of a move after all. We’ll have to wait and see, as Michael B. Jordan and company won’t hit the screen until March 6, 2027.

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer was that rare movie that was both a box office hit and a serious award winner. It also had one of the most incredibly stacked casts in recent memory. Jack Quaid was but one member of the Oppenheimer cast, and even he was stunned by the actors involved as well as his accomplished director.

Quaid has a relatively small role in Oppenheimer as physicist Richard Feynman. His most notable scene in the film may be his character playing the bongos (something Feynman actually did) at a Los Alamos Christmas party. Quaid told Men’s Health that while he’s a “glorified extra” in the scene, it was still one of his favorite moments because of everything he got to witness. Quaid said…

Christopher Nolan movies are almost always stacked with amazing actors because they all want to work with the accomplished director. The Odyssey cast is already looking incredible. Having said that, the Oppenheimer cast was even more incredible than most considering the quite massive number of actors that were needed to play all the key roles. In this one scene, as Quaid notes, the number of amazing actors is just nuts.

It’s no surprise that Jack Quaid was a bit in awe of the cast that he was part of. Still, even in this simple scene, Jack Quaid still did enough to catch the eye of Christopher Nolan. Quaid said that the director specifically complimented him on his performance in the scene. Quaid continued…

Quaid may have felt like he was somebody on the outside looking in at all the other stars, but he has since become friends with some of them. Much of the Oppenheimer cast still talk via text in a group chat that’s being called the Oppenhomies.

Quaid's career has been going quite well since Oppenheimer. At this rate, it won't be long before somebody else is really happy to have shared a scene with him.

For more than 400 years the works of William Shakespeare have inspired and entertained us. The movie industry has looked to those same works to produce some of the best adaptations of his work almost from the beginning of the medium. There are dozens of excellent examples of almost all of The Bard's plays. Some are modern re-interpretations of his work, but for this list, we are going with the adaptations that include Shakespeare's original words.

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

You can't make a list like this and not include some of Kenneth Branagh's films. For more than 30 years, the classically trained actor has been bringing Shakespeare's work to the big screen as both a star and a director. Much Ado About Nothing is one of the brilliant comedies by Shakespeare and the play is brought vividly to the life on the big screen with Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, and a slew of other stars.

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

If Shakespeare had an "A-tier," Macbeth would certainly be ranked in it. It's one of the most famous works by the most famous playwrights. Director Joel Coen, breaking from his brother to direct this one solo, captures all the darkness and despair of the Scottish Play, in this black-and-white adaptation with Denzel Washington earning an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the titular king and Frances McDormand as his conniving wife, Lady Macbeth.

Romeo and Juliet (1968)

Romeo and Juliet is the most famous love story of the English language and the 1968 film is a worthy adaption of such a title. Director Franco Zeffirelli and stars Leonard Whiting (Romeo) and Olivia Hussey (Juliet) tell the story exactly as it should be told and the film was bestowed with multiple Oscars for it.

Othello (1995)

Shakespeare's Othello is a complicated play that features two of the Bard's greatest characters, the Moorish King Othello, played here by Laurence Fishburn,e and the plotting Iago, played by Kenneth Branagh. Those two performances alone make the film a worthy endeavor.

Hamlet (1990)

You might scoff at Mel Gibson playing perhaps the most famous character in Shakespeare's canon, but he does a decent job and direct Franco Zeffirelli, who has made some of the best adaptions of Shakespeare's work, is masterful in this somewhat underrated version of the most famous play of all time, Hamlet.

William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (1953)

Some of the greatest actors of the 20th Century played Mark Antony in film adaptions of Julius Caesar and in 1953 audiences were treated to Marlon Brando in the role that makes one of Shakespeare's most famous speeches on the steps of the Roman Senate.

Romeo + Juliet (1996)

It's always a little dangerous to add modern pop sensibilities to classic works of literature. It's a bold decision, but when it's done correctly, as in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, it introduces yet another new generation to the great works of Shakespeare. It takes a moment for a viewer to adjust to the Elizabethan language in a modern world, but once you do, it's a great ride.

The Taming Of The Shrew (1967)

Director Franco Zeffirelli is responsible for some of the best adaptations of William Shakespeare's work and 1967 The Taming Of The Shrew is a very fun version of a very fun play. It's easy to see why it's a classic, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Richard III (1955)

Shakespeare's historical plays about the Plantagenet kings are not always the most approachable works, but when you have a master like Sir Laurence Olivier playing the last of them in Richard III, it makes it much easier to understand why they are so great.

The Merchant of Venice (2004)

It's hard to believe that the proper film adaptions of Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice didn't happen until 2004. Al Pacino plays the titular Italian merchant in the classic comedy.

Hamlet (1996)

Kenneth Branagh took on Shakespeare's most famous character in 1996 when he starred in and directed Hamlet in 1996. Branagh took no shortcuts. Not only is the film the first version of a completely unabridged version of the classic tragedy, it was filmed on location in Denmark on 70mm film. Though it was a box office bomb, likely due to its 4-hour plus runtime, it's a masterpiece.

As You Like It (2006)

Usually, when Kenneth Branagh adapts a work of Shakespeare's, he also stars in it. 2006's As You Like It is an exception as the English star only directs the movie. It was a bold choice of his to set the play in 19th-century Japan, but it somehow works okay. It's not his best work, but it's worthy of watching, for sure.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968)

1968's A Midsummer Night's Dream is a very "'60s" take on the classic romantic comedy. With a blockbuster cast including Dame Judy Dench, Ian Holm, Helen Mirren, the late Diana Rigg, and more, it's a... weird version of the play, but totally worth checking out for that reason.

Macbeth (1971)

Macbeth is Shakespeare's darkest play and Roman Polanski's 1971 version of the Scottish play is the darkest adaptation for the big screen. It is a wild ride and while not the best version of the play, it is an incredible, over-the-top take on the play. It came on the heals of the Manson Family murders and it's easy to see Polanski working out the loss of his wife and child in this work.

Antony And Cleopatra (1972)

1972's Antony and Cleopatra is a pretty tame and traditional take on the classic historical play. Charlton Heston plays Mark Antony and Hildegarde Neil, one of the great Shakespearian actresses of her day, plays the Egyptian queen. It's still a great movie, though at times it's a little silly.

Henry V (1989)

Kenneth Branagh's first attempt at bringing The Bard's work to the big screen was 1989's Henry V and it was an immediate classic. Branagh plays the young, brash kind and his take on the famous St. Crispian's Day speech is one of the best moments in all of Shakespeare's moments on screen and one of Branagh's best films.

Cymbeline (2014)

Cymbeline is not one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, but a 2014 movie asks the question, what if you set a classic Elizabethan play in the 21st century? It doesn't do a great job answering that, or really anything else, but it is the only adaptation of this particular work, so it's worth a watch if you're a completist.

King Lear (1971)

King Lear is a study in madness, as audience members watch the titular king descend into mental illness. The 1971 movie version starts crazy and only gets darker and crazier as it goes on. It's not the best movie on this list by a long shot, but it is an interesting take on the classic play.

Henry V (1944)

While Kenneth Branagh's more modern version of Henry V might be the standard bearer these days, Sir Laurence Olivier's version from the 1940s should not be discounted, as it is also an excellent version of the classic history. The costumes and sets are wonderful, and it's a classic big Hollywood production of the era with hundreds of extras and huge set pieces.

Othello (1951)

While Orson Welles' version of Othello, first released in 1951 and restored and released again in 1992 isn't the most faithful adaptation of the great play, it's a movie that shows the brilliance of Welles at every turn. It may have bombed upon its release, but it's considered a masterpiece now.

Coriolanus (2011)

2011's Coriolanus, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes is a modern version of a lesser-known Shakespeare play. Set vaguely in the Yugoslavian Civil War (or a fictional version of it), it is a completely under-appreciated movie that more people should see.

Much Ado About Nothing (2012)

Director Joss Whedan's take on Much Ado About Nothing gets a little overshadowed by Kenneth Branagh's version from two decades before, but this version, set in modern times, is actually very good too. Though it didn't do well at the box office, critics generally praised it for good reason.

Love's Labour's Lost (2000)

Despite the brilliant Kenneth Branagh starring in and directing this modern-day version of Love's Labour's Lost, and a stellar cast, the film didn't quite meet the lofty expectations of audiences and critics. That's too bad because it's a wonderful play and if you love The Bard and you love his romantic comedies, you'll still probably like this take on the classic.

Julius Caesar (1950)

Three years before Marlon Brando's brilliant take on Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, Charlton Heston took on the same role in a 1950 adaptation of the film. Though the Brando version is better known, this one is also very good.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most approachable and beloved romantic comedies and there have been many adaptions over the years. 1999's version, with an all-star cast including Kevin Kline, Calista Flockhart, Rupert Everett, Christian Bale, and others is a very fun version. It might not be the best version, but with this cast, it's sure to entertain everyone.

Richard III (1995)

1995's Richard III is a wonderful take on the classic historical play re-imagining the story to be set in 1930s Britain before the outbreak of World War II. Ian McKellen, who plays Richard, is simply brilliant.

As You Like It (1936)

Any Shakespeare-based movie starring the great Sir Laurence Olivier is worth anyone's time. As You Like It is a faithful version of the classic play and Olivier is, as always, brilliant as Orlando. It's a timeless classic from the 1930s of a timeless classic from the 17th Century.

Macbeth (1948)

While Orson Welles' version of Macbeth was first released in 1948, it's the 1980 fully restored version including many scenes cut from the original that modern audiences should check out. Like so much of Welles' work, it's brilliant and challenging and worth the effort.

Julius Caesar (1970)

Charlton Heston played Mark Antony three times in Shakespeare adaptions in his career. His final performance as the Roman statesman came in the 1970 version of Julius Caesar. This version is a slicker production, with a much bigger budget than his previous performance in the same role in 1950. It also stars Jason Robards as Brutus.

King Lear (1999)

Okay, we'll admit this isn't the best movie on this list, but anytime you have a chance to see the great Brian Blessed play a Shakespeare character, especially one like the mad King Lear, it's worth checking out. The movie might be uneven, but Blessed is a delight.

Titus (1999)

Titus Andronicus is another of Shakespeare's lesser-known works on this list, but that doesn't mean this film should be ignored. Sir Anthony Hopkins plays the lead as a general in the Roman army, in a surreal modern version of the play and while the film was a box office bomb, that means it's bad because it's very good!

Hamlet (1948)

Laurence Olivier, one of the greatest actors of all time plays Hamlet, one of the greatest characters of all time. Do we need to say more? This is the most traditional approach to Hamlet on the silver screen and for that, it deserves high praise.

While the list of A-listers who have joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe is long and diverse, another list that’s worth looking into is the wild group of actors, performers and others who have said yes to doing cameos. So, in celebration of those folks, here are the 32 best cameos in the MCU. 

Harry Styles As Eros In The Eternals 

Big names pop up in the MCU all the time, however, they’re almost always well-known actors. While Harry Styles has had a few acting roles, it’s not his primary profession, so yes, it was shocking when the singer showed up as Eros, Thanos’ brother, in the post-credits scene of The Eternals. However, since the film’s release in 2021, Styles’ future in the MCU has remained unknown, leaving his role as simply a cameo and nothing more.  

Blake Lively As Lady Deadpool In Deadpool & Wolverine 

Leading into Deadpool & Wolverine’s release, the speculation about who would play Lady Deadpool was running rampant. However, it wasn’t all too shocking when it was revealed that Ryan Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively was playing the female variant of her partner’s merc with the mouth.  

Sam Neill As Odin’s Actor In Thor: Ragnarok 

While the Thor: Ragnarok cast is stacked with legends like Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Ruffalo, Jeff Goldblum and more, Taika Waititi also assembled quite the ensemble of cameos to play a troupe of actors in Asgard who put on a play about Thor and his family. This included Jurassic Park’s Sam Neill, who portrayed Anthony Hopkins’ King of Asgard, Odin.  

Stan Lee As Various Characters 

While future MCU projects sadly won’t have any in-person Stan Lee cameos, we can always re-watch the Marvel movies in order to see the legendary comic writer. Before his death in 2018, Stan Lee made cameos in just about every Marvel project, whether it was from Marvel Studios, Fox or Sony. 

Some fan-favorite cameos from him included his role as a security guard in Captain America: The Winter Solider, a New York resident being interviewed on the news in The Avengers and an astronaut telling a story to the Watchers in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, among many, many, many others. 

Matt Damon As Loki’s Actor In Thor: Ragnarok 

In the play Loki orchestrated in Thor: Ragnarok that tells the (not so true) story of him and his family, Matt Damon was cast to play the role of Tom Hiddleston’s God of Mischief. Which honestly, is inspired casting. Damon also popped in the non-MCU Deadpool 2. 

Kevin Bacon As Himself In Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Bringing a joke from Guardians of the Galaxy full circle almost eight years later, Peter’s hero Kevin Bacon finally appears. However, it’s kind of against his will, because Drax and Mantis decide to go to Earth and steal the Footloose actor to give to Chris Pratt’s character as a gift of holiday cheer.  

Miley Cyrus As Mainframe In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we see a group of Ravagers approach The Guardians. One of them is a robot head named Mainframe, and it's voiced by Miley Cyrus.

Trevor Noah As Griot In Black Panther

Much like how Paul Bettany voiced J.A.R.V.I.S., Trevor Noah voiced Griot, Shuri’s artificial intelligence she uses at her lab in Wakanda in Black Panther. 

Melissa McCarthy As Hela’s Actress In Thor: Love and Thunder 

Adding to the mix of A-listers playing actors who are playing Thor characters (try saying that five times fast), Melissa McCarthy took on the role of Cate Blanchett’s Hela – the goddess of death – in Thor: Love and Thunder. She joined the theatrical company that already featured Sam Neill, Matt Damon and Luke Hemsworth to reenact the events of Thor: Ragnarok in Taika Waititi’s second movie about the God of Thunder.

Kenneth Branagh As Asgardian Distress Call In Avengers: Infinity War

You probably know that Kenneth Branagh directed the first Thor movie. However, what you might not know is he provided a meaningful Easter egg for Avengers: Infinity War. He voiced the Asgardian Distress Call that was played after Thanos attacked their ship. 

Luke Hemsworth As Thor’s Actor In Thor: Ragnarok 

Who else could play Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in an Asgardian play about the adventures of the God of Thunder and his family? Truly, picking Luke Hemsworth to play his real-life brother’s character was fantastic! The added bonus that makes all this even better is their other brother, Liam Hemsworth also auditioned to play the god back in the day. 

Bruce Campbell As Pizza Poppa In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw director Sam Raimi’s return to the superhero genre. With him came his The Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell, who played Pizza Poppa in the Doctor Strange movie. 

Bill Maher As Himself In Iron Man 3

During a montage of news clips in Iron Man 3, Bill Maher pops up as they’re talking about War Machine’s rebrand into The Iron Patriot. 

Charlie Cox As Daredevil In Spider-Man: No Way Home

If you saw Spider-Man: No Way Home in theaters on opening night, you likely heard applause when Charlie Cox made his big-screen MCU debut as Matt Murdock. While he played Daredevil for three seasons on his Netflix show, and he has returned as the character since this cameo where he was giving Peter Parker legal advice, this was the first time we’d seen Cox back in action in years. 

Tom Morello As Gaurd In Iron Man

Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello made one of the first cameos in the MCU when he popped up for a quick second in Iron Man. In the movie, he played a guard in the Ten Rings camp that Tony Stark was being held at. 

Joan Rivers As Herself In Iron Man 3

Along with Bill Maher and a bunch of other TV personalities, Joan Rivers popped up to rib on War Machine’s rebranding in Iron Man 3. 

Harry Dean Stanton As Security Guard In The Avengers

In The Avengers, there’s a security guard who finds Bruce Banner after he crashes into the Earth as Hulk. That guard is played by Harry Dean Stanton, who is best known for his roles in classic films like Alien, The Green Mile, Paris Texas and Repo Man. 

Justin Theroux As Police Officer In Iron Man 2

Not only did Justin Theroux write Iron Man 2, but he also had the smallest blink-and-you-’ll-miss-it cameo, per CBR. He played one of the police officers who arrested Justin Hammer and escorted Pepper Potts off the premises toward the end of the film. 

Rob Zombie As Ravager Navigator In Guardians of the Galaxy

In many of James Gunn’s movies, Rob Zombie makes a cameo. After doing that for Slither and Super, he lent his voice to his friend's first Marvel movie by voicing a Ravager Navigator in Guardians of the Galaxy. 

Megan Thee Stallion As Herself In She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

We can thank Jameela Jamil for Megan Thee Stallion’s incredible cameo in She-Hulk. The rapper appeared in an episode of the Disney+ show during a courtroom scene, and then she popped up one more time to twerk with the titular attorney. 

David Hasselhoff As Himself In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

When Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill was a kid he’d pretend that David Hasselhoff was his dad. So, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Hasselhoff was part of one of the songs on the soundtrack – “Guardians Inferno” –  and it plays during the end credits. And at the very end of those credits, you can see his face pop up as he says the final words of the song. Talk about an epic cameo.

Brett Goldstein As Hercules In Thor: Love and Thunder

In the post-credit scene for Thor: Love and Thunder, Brett Goldstein appeared as Hercules. In his brief scene, he was shown speaking with Russell Crowe’s Zeus. It was thrilling to see the Ted Lasso star show up as the son of Zeus, however, it’s been years since that happened, and he hasn’t shown up again. 

Ken Jeong As Security Guard In Avengers: Endgame

Before the Russo Brothers were making big fancy Marvel movies, they worked on Community. So, it’s always fun to see actors from that show pop up in the MCU. For example in Avengers: Endgame, Ken Jeong appeared for a quick cameo as a security guard who is watching over the storage unit that Ant-Man’s van is in. 

Nathan Fillion As Monstrous Inmate In Guardians of the Galaxy And Headpool In Deadpool And Wolverine

You can see Nathan Fillion (looking like himself) as a major member of the supporting cast in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, as he plays Master Karja. However, before that, he had a cameo in James Gunn’s first Guardians movie, because he voiced “Monstrous Inmate.” After that, he voiced Headpool during the Deadpool variant fight in Deadpool and Wolverine. 

Brad Pitt As The Vanisher In Deadpool 2

Now, I fully realize Deadpool 2 wasn’t technically in the MCU, but Deadpool and Wolverine is, so this counts. One of the most fun cameos maybe ever came when Brad Pitt appeared for a split second in the Ryan Reynolds-led sequel to play The Vanisher right as he gets electrocuted. 

Joe Russo As Grieving Man In Avengers: Endgame

Joe and Anthony Russo are best known as the guys behind the camera who led some of the best Marvel movies, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and, of course, Avengers: Endgame. So, in this big finale for the MCU’s Infinity Saga, Joe Russo made a cameo as part of Steve Rogers' support group. 

Yvette Nicole Brown As S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent In Avengers: Endgame

The Russo Brothers didn’t forget their roots, and included multiple members of the Community cast in their Marvel movies. This included Yvette Nicole Brown, who played a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that Tony Stark and Steve Rogers run into when they go back in time to steal Pym Particles. 

David Bradley As Tower Keeper In Captain America: The First Avenger

David Bradley is a legendary British character actor, and you’ll likely recognize him for his role as Filch in the Harry Potter cast or as The Doctor in various episodes of Doctor Who. He also notably played a small role as the Tower Keeper protecting the Tesseract in Captain America: The First Avenger.

Danny Pudi As Com Tech #1 In Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The Russo Brothers adore their Community cast, so in their first Marvel movie, they gave Danny Pudi, Abed himself, a little cameo. For a brief minute, you can see him as Com Tech #1 during the beloved Captain America sequel. 

Garrett Morris As Car Driver In Ant-Man

While Ant-Man himself is played by a comedy legend, that actor being Paul Rudd, there’s another hilarious icon in this cast. Yep, original Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris (who actually dressed up as the superhero on the sketch comedy show back in the day) appeared in this movie as a man driving a car that Ant-Man fell onto, and it’s fantastic!

Matthew McConaughey As Cowboypool In Deadpool and Wolverine

When all the variants of Deadpool appeared to fight Deadpool and Wolverine, one of them was Cowboypool. Fittingly, the Western Merc with the Mouth was voiced by Matthew McConaughey.

Henry Cavill As Cavillrine In Deadpool and Wolverine

When Wade Wilson was looking for a Wolverine to bring back to his universe, he came across one version of Logan who was played by Henry Cavill. After seeing fanart of the former Superman as the X-Man, it was clear he was a good fit for the part, and it was incredible to see Deadpool and Wolverine act on the fans’ wishes. 

As you can see the range of these cameos is wide, and frankly legendary. And we’re sure that as Marvel continues to release movies and TV shows, the iconic cameos will keep coming. 

Acting and directing are two very different skills, and for someone to be able to do both is a mark of a hard-working and talented person. It doesn't always work out for actors, but it's remarkable how often it does. Here are 32 such examples of great actors who became great directors as well. 

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood's career has lasted an unbelievable eight decades. He started humbling with small roles in the '50s and as the decades have gone on, he's only gotten bigger and bigger. After directing his first movie, 1971's Play Misty for Me, he's gone on to helm a remarkable 39 more and has won 2 Best Director Oscars, for 1993's Unforgiven and 2005's Million Dollar Baby.

Ron Howard

Ron Howard has been in the lives and living rooms of Americans since he was just a kid as an actor on The Andy Griffith Show. He went on to star in Happy Days in the 1970s before directing his first low-budget film, Grand Theft Auto, in 1977. He's since gone on to direct such classics as Splash, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and many others. 

Bradley Cooper

If the start of Bradley Cooper's directing career is any indication, you can expect huge things. So far, the actor-turned-director has only helmed two movies, A Star Is Born and Maestro and both have been nominated for Best Picture Oscars. Not a shabby record. 

Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall got her first big break on the sitcom The Odd Couple but became a household name as Lavern in Lavern & Shirley. She didn't stay in TV though, instead, she started directing and made two of the most beloved Gen X movies of all time, Big and A League of Their Own. 

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck might not have been the first actor you picked to become a director, but his stellar career as an actor is matched by his work as a director. In fact, though he's never won an acting Oscar (something that should be remedied), he did win Best Director for Argo. 

Robert Redford

By the time Robert Redford directed his first movie, Ordinary People, in 1980, he was already one of the most legendary film stars ever. The second half of his career is as known for his directing as it is for his acting, with movies like Quiz Show and A River Runs Through It.

Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau's acting career started humbling with supporting roles in movies like Rudy and PCU. After he wrote and starred in Swingers, his star shined a little brighter. That was only the beginning though. Favreau has the honor of directing the movie that launched the most successful film franchise of all time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Iron Man and its sequel. He's since moved on to Disney live-action remakes with The Lion King and The Jungle Book. Oh, and he also directed one of the most beloved holiday movies ever with. Elf.

Mel Gibson

The controversial career of Mel Gibson began with a small movie that made huge waves in his native Australia. Mad Max made him famous and by the late late-'80s, he was one of the biggest stars in the world. He then moved into directing and reached his pinnacle early with Braveheart for which he won Best Director. 

Richard Attenborough

As an actor, Richard Attenborough starred in massive hits across generations with movies like The Great Escape and Jurassic Park. As a director, he helmed some of the best biopics of all time, like Gandhi, A Cry Freedom, and Chaplin as well a the legendary war flick, A Bridge Too Far. 

Regina King

Regina King's directorial career is only getting started, but judging by her first movie, One Night In Miami, the future is bright. So far, the Academy Award-winning actress has mostly directed TV shows, but you can be sure more films will be coming her way.

Denzel Washington

What can we say about Denzel Washington that hasn't already been said? He's a living legend at this point, as a multiple Oscar winner and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's also one heck of a director with movies like Fences and The Great Debaters.

John Krasinski

John Krasinski became part of our collective family as Jim on The Office. Who would have thought from that role, his career in Hollywood would reach the point that he is a major power player? Now that he's moved into directing, the sky is truly the limit. The first movie Krasinski directed, The Hollars, made for a humble beginning, but his second, A Quiet Place established him as a force to reckon with and it's since become a franchise.

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks might not have been an actor you'd have guessed would go into directing, like others on this list, but she has in a big way. She has shown she can direct blockbusters like Pitch Perfect 2 and indie darlings like that one about the bear who indulges in some, uh, white powder he finds, and goes on a rampage.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig is quickly becoming a voice of a generation. Her direction and writing of Barbie has been praised far and wide for its snappy dialog and heartfelt message. Gerwig's acting career started in the mid-'00s when she was mostly in smaller, supporting roles. Since moving into directing, she's become a huge star.

Jordan Peele

Key & Peele was a huge hit for Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, and made them both stars. No one expected Peele to turn to directing horror movies, but that's exactly what he did and we should all be grateful for it. With massive hits like Get Out, Nope, and Us, the future is bright for Peele and for all of us too, who will get to watch his work.

Rob Reiner

Though he had a leg up coming from a Hollywood family, Rob Reiner has staked out a claim all his own in the entertainment business. First as an actor on the hit show All in the Family, then as the director of some of the most loved movies of all time. Starting with his first movie, This is Spinal Tap, and running through the '80s and early '90s, he had an unbelievable run that included The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Misery. Wow!

George Clooney

Not only is George Clooney one of the most bankable movie stars ever, he's also a fantastic director. His acting career is legendary and his directing career, while not quite at the level of his acting, is still fantastic. He's directed TV (Catch-22) and movies (The Boys In The Boat, The Midnight Sky, Good Night, and Good Luck, among others) and you can be sure there will be more from him.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's directing career hasn't always gotten the best reviews, but I'd say her movies are very underrated. The talented actress has an eye for behind the camera as well, and movies like Unbroken and First They Killed My Father are powerful movies.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton's acting career came on as a slow burn to fame, but his directing career started with a band. His first film was a masterpiece called Sling Blade. he followed that up with the underrated All The Pretty Horse and a few others, though his pace has slowed over the last couple of decades. Let's hope he finds that directing bug again. 

Ben Stiller

There was a time in the '90s and '00s when it seemed like Ben Stiller was in every movie released. Not only was he working hard in front of the camera, he was killing it behind the camera as well. Starting really with Reality Bites, and moving on to great movies like the controversial but hilarious Tropic Thunder, and the Zoolander movies. 

Jodie Foster

The great Jodie Foster has been an acclaimed actor and star since her teenage years and of course, that talent has translated to directing. Though lately she's done mostly TV work like directing episodes of Black Mirror and Orange is the New Black, she's done a few movies too, like Little Man Tate and Money Monster.

Kevin Costner

In addition to being one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Kevin Costner has never shied away from making epic films. Though he's only directed four movies in his career, they have all been big films. Starting with Dances With Wolves in 1990, he's since directed The Postman, Open Range, and 2024's Horizon: An American Saga.

Tim Robbins

The directing bug caught Tim Robbins in the early '90s and he directed a couple of great movies with Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking. He's directed a smattering of movies and TV shows more recently, but he's mostly stuck to acting over the last few years. 

Sean Penn

Since the early 1980s, Sean Penn has been wowing moviegoers with his impressive acting chops and diversity. In the '90s he dipped his toe into directing with his first film, The Indian Runner and has directed a good handful of movies since, with his best being Into The Wild in 2007. 

Zach Braff

Acting-wise Zach Braff's big break came as a regular cast member of the hit sitcom Scrubs. As a directed, he burst onto the scene with his very first movie, Garden State in 2004. He's continued directing here and there over the last 20 years, including the great movie about getting older, Going In Style, and a few others, in addition to some TV work. 

Warren Beatty

In the 1970s, there was no bigger movie star than Warren Beatty. By the end of the decade, he had moved into directing as well, starting with 1978's Heaven Can Wait and continuing the '80s and '90s with acclaimed movies like Red and maybe his most remembered, Dick Tracy in 1990.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is a force of nature. For decades she's been one of the best and most popular actresses in Hollywood, and though she's only dipped her toes into directing, mostly in TV, she's on this list for one important reason. Keaton directed the music video for "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and that is a stone-cold Gen X classic. 

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh might be as well known for his directing as he is for his acting, and that's really saying something. Not only has he directed some of the best Shakespeare adaptions for the silver screen, but more recently he's been killing it with his Agatha Christie adaptations. 

Leonard Nimoy

Appropriately, Leonard Nimoy's first foray into feature film direction came in the Star Trek franchise when he directed both Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Outside of the iconic franchise he helped make famous he also directed the beloved Three Men and a Baby. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone has always been a self-starter. His work to get the original Rocky made is legendary and after it made him a huge star, he wasted no time getting into directing, starting with Rocky II and adding Rocky III, Rocky IV, and 2006's Rocky Balboa as well. Of course, he's also directed in two other franchises he was at the center of with 2008's Rambo and the first Expendable movie. 

Helen Hunt

This one might surprise you, but Helen Hunt has had an impressive career as a director. Most of her work has been on television on shows varying from her own Mad About You and This Is Us. She also has two feature films under her belt with 2007's Then She Found Me and 2014's Ride. 

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton is seemingly everywhere these days, popping up in all kinds of movies and TV shows from Star Wars stuff to Dark Matter. He's also started directing, but his output is limited, with 2015's underrated The Gift and 2018 Boy Erased. Let's hope he finds more time to direct in his busy schedule. 

From its earliest days, Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a work in progress. Studio president Kevin Feige will admit that they didn’t have the ability to kick off with one of its strongest characters – no one knew who Iron Man was prior to Jon Favreau’s origin film – and the first few films in the MCU endured a period of trial and error as Feige and his team figured out what worked, and what didn’t. Certainly, the studio trusted in the source material, and believed that if they adhered to their principles, they’d create some of the best superhero movies in the world. But hindsight shows that some of the creative powers behind the scenes wanted to take big swings with the material, and only Feige was able to keep them in their place. 

Sir Kenneth Branagh lent the MCU a major prestige boost when he agreed back in 2011 to helm the introduction of Thor, the God of Thunder. Branagh deserves proper credit for fighting for the casting of both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, two actors who’d become bedrocks of the Marvel experiment. He also helped to lure the likes of Anthony Hopkins by filtering Marvel through the lens of Shakespeare. But in the acclaimed book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, it has been revealed that Branagh wanted to make a major change to the Thor legacy. As is stated by Thor co-screenwriter Zack Stentz:

This complaint is totally understandable. There are probably a number of Marvel fans who continue to struggle with the proper pronunciation of ‘Mjölnir. They’ll just call it “Thor’s hammer,” and be done with it. Thor has even upgraded over the years, designing the magnificent Stormbreaker in Avengers: Infinity War. And he watched Jane Foster wield the hammer (and comment on how heavy it was) in the most recent Thor sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder.

As you might imagine, cooler heads prevailed. Kevin Feige stepped in during this pivotal stage of the development process and informed Sir Kenneth Branagh it had to stay. As Stentz recalls:

Good on Branagh for understanding which battles to fight, and which to retreat from. The first Thor easily could have tumbled, trying to offer mainstream audiences a taste of Asgard just as they were getting comfortable with a billionaire playboy philanthropist – who just won an Oscar, by the way – and an American icon who had been frozen in a block of ice. Instead, Thor established a strong corner of the MCU, and continues to be important to the studio’s future moving forward.

Pick up a copy of MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios if you don’t already have one. It’s loaded with fascinating tidbits about the studio, its movies, and the culture that embraced comic book movies for the past decade.

Stories about Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses have long been a Hollywood favorite. Sure, there are amazing fictional kings and queens like T’Challa in Black Panther and Abe Froman, the Sausage King of Chicago in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but this list is about the real ones. Historical depictions of some of the greatest, and worst, monarchs in world history. Kings like Henry VIII and Louis XIV. Queens like Elizabeth II and Victoria. Sure, the movies they appear in are not always the most historically accurate, but that doesn’t diminish the portrayals of royalty by these fine actors. 

Patrick McGoohan As King Edward I - Braveheart

Braveheart is far from the most historically accurate movie of all time, but one character that Mel Gibson and company at least got close to correct is Edward I, or Edward Longshanks, as he was known in the movie and at the time. He was a brutal, remorseless leader, and fought with the Scots for most of his reign. Patrick McGoohan’s performance of Edward is great, one of the real highlights of the movie. 

Judi Dench As Queen Elizabeth I - Shakespeare In Love

To be sure, Shakespeare In Love isn’t as loved today as it was when it was released in 1998. Its upset win for Best Picture at the 1999 Oscars over Saving Private Ryan is still questioned and the movie is often maligned unfairly. One reason it's unfair is Judi Dench’s fantastic performance as Queen Elizabeth I. 

Emily Blunt As Queen Victoria - The Young Victoria

Most of the images we see of Queen Victoria come from later her in her long reign, after Prince Albert died and the older queen was seen wearing black and looking dour. The Young Victoria is a fresh take, showing the queen, played by Emily Blunt, as young and vibrant. It wasn’t a huge hit in the United States, but it’s a really good movie, with a great performance by Blunt. 

Kenneth Branagh As King Henry V - Henry V

Kenneth Branagh has done more for Shakespeare in the modern age than anyone in Hollywood and the prime example is his portrayal of the titular king in Henry V. His delivery of the famous St. Crispin's Day speech is worth the price of admission alone. 

Colin Firth As King George VI - The King's Speech

Colin Firth’s performance and King George VI in The King’s Speech is as close to perfect as possible and well deserving of the Oscar he was awarded for it. Firth brilliantly plays both the reluctant king’s vulnerability and his strength. It’s a fine line to walk, as both are completely necessary to understand King George VI in full. 

Kirsten Dunst As Marie Antoinette - Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is one of the most infamous royals of all time. The French queen is notorious in history for her aloof attitude towards the revolting French peasants during the French Revolution. The film Marie Antoinette starring Kirsten Dunst as the titular queen, did wow audiences at first, but has since become one of Sofia Coppola’s most respected films, and with good reason. It’s a very modern movie telling an old story and Dunst’s performance enhances that perfectly. 

Elizabeth Taylor As Cleopatra - Cleopatra

Elizabeth Taylor’s performance in Cleopatra is one of the most iconic in Hollywood history. Though it deserves some criticism from more enlightened modern audiences, it doesn’t diminish the performance. Taylor is amazing and only a star like her could carry a movie on the scale and scope of Cleopatra. It’s a true Hollywood epic from the Golden Age of Hollywood and Taylor is as glamorous as any actor could be. 

Timothée Chalamet As King Henry V - The King

It’s not easy for any actor to step into one of Shakespeare’s best characters like Henry V in Henry V. This is a character that Laurence Olivier played on the silver screen for goodness sake!  Timothée Chalamet took the risk and it paid off for the actor and audiences in The King. The movie is a new take on Shakespeare’s plays,  taken from his four plays about historical English kings, so the pressure was on. Chalamet kills it in the movie, playing the role quite differently as others have, but it works for the updated version. 

Cate Blanchett As Queen Elizabeth I - Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a wonderful movie, anchored by a wonderful performance by Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I. Blanchett returned for a sequel, Elizabeth: A Golden Age which was a less-than-wonderful movie, but Blanchett was once again great. The performances in both set a new standard for the historical figure who has been portrayed often on film. 

Janet Suzman As Tsarina Alexandra - Nicholas And Alexandra

One of the most pivotal moments of the 20th Century was the overthrow and execution of Tsar Nicolas of Russia and his family by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. It’s a story that has rarely been told on film in the West, but Nicholas And Alexandra is the rare exception. It’s a good movie, with a great Oscar-nominated performance by Janet Suzman.

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi As King Cetshwayo - Zulu

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi is not a professional actor, and the great 1964 film Zulu is his only appearance. His role as King Cetshwayo is also not a large one, but he makes this list because one, he was an actual Zulu chief in South Africa, and two, he was the son of the man he plays. King Cetshwayo who led the Zulu Kingdom at the time of the war depicted in the movie, so while the part was not big, it’s important to have it on this list. 

Jonathan Rhys Meyers As King Henry VIII - The Tudors

One of the most popular depictions of royalty on screen in the last couple of decades has to be Jonathan Rhys Meyers As King Henry VIII in The Tudors. Meyers plays a young, dashing version of the king that most people know from his later portraits, looking less healthy than the king was as a young man. Henry VIII is one of the most notorious kings in English history and Meyers shows why, but also plays him as anti-hero we all kind of love. 

Helen Mirren As Queen Elizabeth II - The Queen

Helen Mirren's performance as Queen Elizabeth in the Queen is everything you would expect, as the The Dame plays the role with respect, but with with a toughness that the queen was known for behind closed doors. 

Sean Connery As King Richard - Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

We couldn’t make this list without one of the most famous cameos of all time. It’s one of the shorter roles on the list, but Sean Connery’s surprise appearance as King Richard at the end of Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves shocked and delighted audiences. In real life, King Richard spent almost none of his time on the island of Great Britain, preferring to remain in Aquitaine in France, so it’s a bit of a stretch that he would be at a wedding in England, but no matter, he makes everyone smile. 

Trine Dyrholm As Queen Margrete - Margrete: Queen Of The North

Margaret I of Denmark is one of the most important monarchs in European history, to say nothing of her being a woman in power in the Middle Ages, which was very rare. Her story is well known in Scandinavia, but less known in the United States. That’s even more reason to watch the Danish movie Margrete: Queen Of The North, along with Trine Dyrholm’s performance of the queen. 

Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton As Queen Elizabeth II - The Crown

How do you put only one of the three women who played Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown with such aplomb on this list? You can’t, so all three, Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton all make it. Each one brought their own panache to the role of the now-legendary queen who we lost in 2022. Foy and Coleman both won Emmys for the role and Staunton was nominated in 2023. It’s three fantastic performances by three wonderful actresses. They even got to act together at the end. 

Nigel Hawthorne As King George III - The Madness Of King George

King George III is most famous in the United States for being the king we fought a revolution against. While he is considered one of the greatest kings in English history, he also had a severe undiagnosed mental illness that affected him later in life. It’s that part of his life that The Madness Of King George is about. It’s a hard role to play, but Nigel Hawthorne nails the role. 

Leonardo DiCaprio As King Louis XIV - The Man In The Iron Mask

There are surprisingly few portrayals of King Louis XIV of France in English-language cinema, despite the Sun King being one of the most consequential monarchs in European history. The most notable one is a fictionalized version of King Louis by Leonardo DiCaprio in The Man In The Iron Mask.

Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, and Lesley Manville As Princess Margaret - The Crown

One of the best achievements of The Crown (among many) was the show’s casting. The three actors who played Princess Margaret, Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, and Lesley Manville, all did an amazing job. You can’t pick one of the next because they all simply nailed the tragedy and triumph of the princess in the shadow of her older sister, Queen Elizabeth II. 

Olivia Coleman As Queen Anne - The Favourite

Olivia Coleman is great at playing royalty on screen, even when it’s a wildly fictionalized and weird version of Queen Anne like she does in The Favourite. The movie is very loosely based on history but is very much representative of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ style. So while Coleman may not be playing Queen Anne exactly as she was, it’s still a downright amazing performance. 

Natalie Dormer As Anne Boleyn - The Tudors

Natalie Dormer is perfectly cast as Anne Boleyn in The Tudors. She’s beautiful, yet vulnerable, coy, yet determined, and sweet, yet conniving. Boleyn is one of the most tragic queens in English history and it’s hard to picture anyone but Dormer playing her after she starred in this show. 

Richard Harris As King Arthur - Camelot

We could argue all day about how “real” King Arthur was. More myth than man in English folklore, there isn’t even consensus on whether he existed at all. But no matter, Richard Harris’ portrayal of the legend in Camelot is still worthy of mention on this list because it’s so darn good and so darn iconic. 

Oliver Dimsdale As King Edward VIII - Downton Abbey

In the finale of Season 4 of Downton Abbey, audiences meet Edward VIII when he is still Prince of Wales, before becoming king and before his abdication shocked the world. Though it’s not the biggest role, Oliver Dimsdale instantly gives you a sense of exactly who the future Duke of Windsor was, a conniving womanizer who really wasn't fit to be king. 

Katharine Hepburn As Eleanor Of Aquitaine - The Lion In Winter

It’s hard to understand why The Lion In Winter isn’t as remembered as other movies from the late ‘60s, because Katharine Hepburn's performance as Eleanor Of Aquitaine, the queen of England in the 12th Century, is amazing. She even took home an Oscar for it. 

Sean Bean as Odysseus - Troy

In the original theatrical version of Troy, Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, played by Sean Bean, doesn’t have all that big of a role. He’s a scene-stealer though. In the director’s cut, which makes for a much better movie, the role is expanded. Plus, it's a rare movie that Sean Bean doesn’t die in. 

Sigourney Weaver as Queen Isabella I - 1492: Conquest Of Paradise

There’s no way around this: 1492: Conquest Of Paradise is not a good movie. It’s historically inaccurate and celebrates Christopher Columbus a little too much while ignoring a lot of his atrocities. Still, Sigourney Weaver, while slightly miscast, does a phenomenal job with what she’s given to do as Queen Isabella I of Spain, Columbus’ benefactor. 

Tadanobu Asano As Genghis Khan - Mongol

If this was a list of the worst performances of royalty, John Wayne’s offensive and terrible version of Genghis Khan in The Conqueror would be at the top of the list. On the flip side, we have the Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano as the Mongolian king in Mongol. It’s not the most widely-known movie, as it’s a Russian production in Mandarin and Mongolian. It’s worth your time and effort to seek it out though, it’s fantastic. 

Judi Dench As Queen Victoria - Mrs. Brown

Is there a role out there that Dame Judi Dench doesn’t nail? That’s a rhetorical question, of course, and her performance as Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown is certainly no exception. Though the actual history in the movie is dubious at best, putting that aside and enjoying the movie is easy with Dench as the recently widowed queen. 

Gerard Butler As Leonidas - 300

Of all the movies in this movie that stretch the true stories to their max, 300 wins in that category. Still, Gerard Butler’s portrayal of Leonidas is a fan-favorite for good reason. Sure, it’s mostly because he looks so darn good, but the movie is fun, exciting, and completely unique, so we’ll allow for a little historical nonsense. 

Richard Harris As Marcus Aurelius - Gladiator

Another movie on this list that takes a lot of liberties with its historical accuracy, Gladiator basically changes everything about Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and Commodus’ (Joaquin Phoenix) real-life father/son relationship. But both Phoenix and Harris are fantastic in their roles, so again, we’ll allow it. 

Peter O'Toole As Henry II - The Lion In Winter

The Lion in Winter has a few excellent portrayals of royalty. Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Timothy Dalton as King Philip of France, and Anthony Hopkins as a young Richard The Lionhearted. Of course, the lead in the film, Peter O’Toole as Henry II is the lead for a reason. In a career filled with amazing performances, this is one of O’Toole’s best and resulted in one of his eight Best Actor nominations. 

Chris Pine As Robert The Bruce - Outlaw King

Robert The Bruce has been portrayed in a few films, probably most famously by Angus Macfadyen in Braveheart. While that performance is great, Outlaw King, with Chris Pine in the lead role, is a more historically accurate version of the story of Robert fighting the English and rising to King of the Scots. 

Audiences have always been fascinated by the lives of monarchs worldwide, and that is not likely to change anytime soon. We’ll continue to see great portrayals of royalty in entertainment for a long time to come. 

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.

How well do you really know yourself? Perhaps you have become well-acquainted with the person you are now, but what about the person you may have been before? Whether or not you believe in reincarnation, you cannot deny it is an intriguing concept, and Hollywood certainly seems to agree based on how many movies about past lives there are. The following are some of our favorites that you can watch right now on streaming or as a digital rental or purchase.

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Warren Beatty stars in this Oscar-winning, romantic fantasy dramedy as a professional football player who is accidentally taken into the afterlife too early and given the chance to return to Earth in the body of a recently murdered millionaire. Also helmed by Beatty and Buck Henry, Heaven Can Wait is actually the second adaptation of Harry Segall’s 1938 stage play, and it would also serve as the basis of Chris Rock’s 2001 comedy, Down to Earth. 

Stream Heaven Can Wait on Paramount+.
Rent or buy Heaven Can Wait on Amazon.

Made In Heaven (1987)

As the title suggests, this romantic fantasy dramedy from director Alan Rudolph brings literal meaning to the phrase “a match made in heaven,” in reference to a drowned young man (Timothy Dutton) who finds love with an unborn soul (original Top Gun star Kelly McGillis). However, when she is sent to Earth for the first time, he desperately searches for a way to reunite with her in his next life.

Rent or buy Made In Heaven on Amazon.

Chances Are (1989)

Reincarnation has been suggested as a potential explanation for deja vu, which is reflected in the experience of Robert Downey Jr.’s character in the charming comedy, Chances Are. The future Marvel actor plays a recent college graduate who begins to realize the young woman who has fallen for him (Mary Stuart Masterson) is the daughter of his past self after meeting her mother (Cybill Shepherd), whom he remembers was once his former wife.

Rent or buy Chances Are on Amazon.

Dead Again (1991)

The strange familiarity that could come with reincarnation might also act as a warning, which is how Emma Thompson’s character feels in the star-studded Neo-noir thriller from director Kenneth Branagh, Dead Again. Branagh also stars as a private eye helping Thompson’s amnesiac figure out her identity, but when evidence suggests their respective past lives were in an ill-fated relationship from the 1940s, she begins to fear him.

Stream Dead Again on Amazon Prime.
Stream Dead Again on Paramount+.

Defending Your Life (1991)

Writer and director Albert Brooks reimagined the concept of reincarnation as a right that a soul must earn in this unique, fantastic take on the courtroom movie genre. A much-overlooked ’90s movie gem, Defending Your Life also stars Brooks as a recently deceased man whose past lives are currently under evaluation, but his chances to return to Earth are threatened when he falls in love with Julia (Meryl Streep).

Rent or buy Defending Your Life on Amazon.

Fluke (1995)

For some, reincarnation could be seen as a second chance, which is what Matthew Modine’s character is given in the heartwarming family drama, Fluke, but it's in a very unexpected way. The Stranger Things cast member plays a workaholic who passes away in a car crash, but is reborn as a dog who becomes the new house pet for his wife (Nancy Travis) and son (Brian Johnson).

Stream Fluke on Tubi.
Rent or buy Fluke on Amazon.

Birth (2004)

They say that love is eternal, but what if you discovered that phrase had a more literal meaning and that your deceased partner was trying to reach you from beyond the grave and through a new body? Nicole Kidman’s Anna becomes convinced that is happening when a 10-year-old boy (Cameron Bright) claims to be her late husband Sean in Birth — a beautifully shot and often disturbing drama from co-writer and director Jonathan Glazer.

Rent or buy Birth on Amazon.

Reincarnation (2006)

In this mind-bending, terrifying thriller, a young actor (Yûka) is cast in a film based on a brutal mass murder from years earlier, which seems to trigger bizarre and horrifying visions and leads her to question if these hallucinations are memories. As part of 2006’s annual After Dark Horror Fest, Reincarnation is another unsettling descent into madness from Japanese horror movie master, Takashi Shimizu.

Rent or buy Reincarnation on Amazon.

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Author David Mitchell took the concept of reincarnation into a very complex and symbolic direction with his 2004 novel Cloud Atlas, which is essentially a collection of stories that each take place in a different time period and are told from multiple perspectives, but each set of characters are bound by the same soul. Lana and Lilly Wachowski (the creators of the Matrix movies) teamed with Tom Tykwer to write and direct a visually stunning adaptation of the book featuring a star-studded cast including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, and more in (technically) multiple roles.

Rent or buy Cloud Atlas on Amazon.

I Origins (2014)

Of course, there is no scientific proof that can allow us to say with any certainty that reincarnation exists, but what if a person who has devoted their life to science suddenly found the evidence they never thought they would? Such is the story of writer and director Mike Cahill’s I Origins — also one of Steven Yeun’s best movies — which stars Michael Pitt as a biologist whose relationship with a beautiful woman (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey) and unbelievable discovery by him and his lab partner (Brit Marling) changes his life forever.

Stream I Origins on Max.
Rent or buy I Origins on Amazon.

Becoming Who I Was (2016)

Proof of reincarnation could potentially be found in this award-winning documentary from directors Moon Chang-Yong and Jeon Jin. Becoming Who I Was follows a young Buddhist boy’s journey, with the help of his supportive grandfather, to reclaim his past life as a monk who lived in Tibet centuries earlier.

Rent or buy Becoming Who I Was on Amazon.

A Dog's Purpose (2017) 

Even though director Lasse Hallström’s A Dog’s Purpose is told over the course of several decades, it is, at its core, the story of one loving canine and his relationship with the human who found him (played by Dennis Quaid). This adaptation of W. Bruce Cameron’s novel is told from the point of view of a dog (voiced by Josh Gad, who referenced the role in Strays) whose soul is repeatedly reborn in the body of a new furry friend. 

Rent or buy A Dog's Purpose on Amazon.

Infinite (2021)

Director Antoine Fuqua re-teamed with his Shooter star, Mark Wahlberg, for this high-concept sci-fi thriller based on the novel, The Reincarnationist Papers, by D. Eric Maikranz. Also starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Cookson, and Jason Mantzoukas, Infinite is about a man who discovers that the hallucinations that have plagued him his entire life are actually memories of his previous lives.

Rent or buy Infinite on Amazon.

Death merely being the end of one life before crossing over into a new one is actually a pretty comforting idea, regardless if it is true or not. At least we have these movies about past lives to explore the concept with.

As A Haunting in Venice continues to introduce the world to a new interpretation of Agatha Christie’s work, the third Hercule Poirot film from director Kenneth Branagh is sure to surprise loyal readers. Taking the source novel Hallowe’en Party and turning it into a vastly different mystery from what was contained in its pages, this 2023 movie release is a surprise after adaptations of more familiar books like Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile.

For the creative team behind Venice, this opportunity represented an uncharted frontier. That excitement was reflected by several participants I spoke with for 20th Century Studios’ press day for the movie. Starting with Agatha Christie’s great-grandson, and CEO of her estate, James Pritchard shared this outlook on the new spin on Hercule Poirot’s case files with CinemaBlend: 

As Pritchard approved of changes to the source, the setting and tone of A Haunting in Venice were allowed to be shaped to the vision of the team he’s trusted since the beginning. With that change in approach also came a shift in the creative team that signed on to make Poirot’s latest adventure into something truly unique. 

One such party was 2020 Academy Award winner and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who stepped in to provide Venice’s score. After two films saw frequent Branagh collaborator Patrick Doyle serving those duties, this fresh take gave the composer behind Joker and Tár the chance to engage with the world of Hercule Poirot.

Speaking with CinemaBlend, here’s how Hildur saw A Haunting in Venice’s departure from tradition: 

Hildur Guðnadóttir has a particular interest in the adaptation of Agatha Christie’s works, though her viewpoint comes from that of a near and dear fan. Sharing a love of Christie and her novels with her mother, Guðnadóttir seemed just as pleased with how A Haunting in Venice adapted the original as James Pritchard was. 

Once again, the novelty of innovation wins out, which just might point to why this Haunting’s critical acclaim stands as a sign that something went dreadfully right. In the final testimonial gathered during this day of discussion, I spoke with returning cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, the man who shot both Murder on the Orient Express as well as Death on the Nile.

Another loyal member of Team Poirot's initial roster, Zambarloukos’ highlighted the fact that filming Haunting with digital cameras made for a healthy switch-up this time around. Rather than the celluloid medium used for the previous films, the opportunity to shoot in low-light environments with the same lenses used for Ben Hur marked how Haris diverged in his work for this new picture. 

That choice definitely mirrors his thoughts on the freshness of A Haunting in Venice, which he shared with CinemaBlend in the following context:

No matter who you speak to in the crew of A Haunting in Venice, the same sort of happiness seems to present itself. With what feels like a brand new Agatha Christie mystery arriving in the world, all involved are quite proud of how they contributed to this fresh take on a classic sleuth. Should this case be as much of a windfall for 20th Century Studios as the previous two seemed to be, then perhaps there's more room for even the most obscure case file to become a fresh hell for Hercule Poirot's powers of deduction. 

Aficionados of Hercule Poirot's exploits are about to be blessed in the month of October. As A Haunting in Venice continues its box office run, Death on the Nile is still available for streaming through the use of a Hulu subscription. But for those of you who are up on everything new on Hulu, you're probably counting down the days until Murder on the Orient Express joins the library yet again. 

Happy haunting, mystery buffs; and don't forget the "chocky chocky" pastries before you settle in. Hercule wouldn't want you to watch without some sort of sweetness to offset the darkness in the hearts of his suspects.

It seems like a drop in the bucket when you compare the three Hercule Poirot movies Kenneth Branagh has made to the volume of stories written about the famed sleuth. With 35 tales penned by Agatha Christie herself, and even more written by other authors, the potential success of A Haunting in Venice could indicate the public’s hunger for more adaptations. Should that be the case, Christie's great-grandson, James Pritchard, has some ideas on the next potential moves.

As I spoke with the CEO of Agatha Christie’s estate in anticipation of this weekend’s reintroduction to the world of Poirot, I wondered if there were any immediate plans for a potential follow-up. It’s a question that’s only made more valid when you think back to how 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express spiked booksales by calling out the next shot in the franchise. 

Contrary to what you might think, there doesn’t seem to be a “master plan” at work when it comes to Hercule Poirot’s fate. Or at least that’s what it feels like, as James Pritchard shared these forward thinking thoughts with CinemaBlend: 

Admittedly, 2022’s Death on the Nile didn’t end with a line promising Evil Under The Sun, and it’s not a spoiler to admit that A Haunting in Venice (which can appeal to even non-horror lovers) doesn’t either. Which is perfectly fine, because as we’ve seen with this latest installment, James Pritchard is ok with reinventing Agatha Christie stories. Provided, of course, that the team he trusts finds a novel way to spin the material; which is exactly what happened with writer Michael Green’s third turn at bat.

Quite frankly, it’s nice to know that there isn’t a set plan when it comes to Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot. The possibilities are endless, and Pritchard’s wait and see approach is a pretty exciting one for Agatha Christie fans. Not knowing which Hercule Poirot mystery could be next on the docket is just as exciting as learning who’s going to be part of the all-star ensemble this time out.

I can remember how excited I was when A Haunting in Venice’s fall 2022 announcement not only came so quickly after Death on the Nile’s release, but also learning that Hallowe’en Party was going to be the template for the story. So this is genuinely one of those cases I’m happy to be in the dark for as long as possible.

If the critical reaction to the third Poirot movie is any indication, this could be another stealthy success story that keeps Hercule in pastries for another go. At this point, the only information I need is whether or not a fourth Kenneth Branagh entry is on its way, and that's news we'll definitely have to wait for. 

Just as James Pritchard trusts the team that's been behind his great-grandmother's cinematic revival, I trust all involved to deliver a good time. With that in mind, I'm glad to revisit A Haunting in Venice at some point in the future, as it's just that much fun to watch. 

Luckily for you, dear readers, the time for you to partake in is nigh, as Hercule Poirot's return to cinemas is currently underway. And for those of you who want to either catch up with or revisit Death on the Nile in the meantime, you can currently stream that film with access to a Hulu subscription. 

This week Disney and 20th Century Studios are finally releasing A Haunting in Venice, the third outing in Kenneth Branagh’s series of Hercule Poirot mysteries, based on the works of Agatha Christie. Given the actors and WGA strikes and other events going on in the world, the movie hasn’t seemingly been pushed a ton, but I’m here to say give it a chance, as you should absolutely adore it.  And I’m saying this as someone who doesn’t love seeing new horror movies. 

One thing you’ll find if you write about movies or television regularly is that you’ll fall into certain beats. If you write extensively on a JLo rom-com, for example, you might eventually find yourself writing about great rom-coms or maybe even Hallmark Christmas movies to boot. If you like indie movies, you might find yourself hopping from Lars Von Trier to Damien Chazelle’s latest. We have other people who love horror movies at CinemaBlend, so I’ve never really had to push hard into that genre (I do try to see a few entries each year), but this movie ended up falling squarely into my wheelhouse. So, let’s talk about why Kenneth Branagh’s offbeat A Haunting in Venice should work for such a wide swathe of audiences. 

It’s Legitimately Eerie, But It’s Never Overly Gross Or Bloody

One of the major problems I tend to have with horror movies is how gratuitous they can be.  Yet, every once and awhile a movie will come along that has all of the major hallmarks of a horror film but keeps things PG-13 in a way that’s designed to be scary but not gross. That’s this movie. 

To be clear, there are some disturbing deaths in this movie, some jump scares and some moments that seem to defy Hercule Poirot’s logical mind; so if you enjoy the grotesque, this movie should still have appeal. Yet for those of use who don’t,  it’s not going to keep us up at night – here’s looking at you Saw 2's needle pit. This all has to do with how the movie deftly blends a supernatural bent with a more traditional murder mystery. 

The Genre-Bending Mystery Is Just As Exciting As The Supernatural Stuff

Look, I am an absolute sucker for a good mystery, and anything created by Agatha Christie is usually in my wheelhouse, so I am biased in that I doubtless would have seen this film whether or not it had tilted fully into the horror genre. However, unlike the two traveling Poirot films that came before it, Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, A Haunting in Venice is not an action-adventure film.

Instead, the audience is stranded with the cast in an eerie old mansion and asked to follow a series of clues that are seemingly supernatural. It’s genre-bending and it really, really works. In fact, critics. including CinemaBlend’s own A Haunting in Venice review, have been much more positive about this new movie than either of Branagh’s other two Poirot films-- though Orient Express and DOTN were loosely liked too. That probably shouldn't be the case given the ending is not among Christie’s finest and the movie takes pains to rework Hallowe'en Party's twists. But I think it’s because this movie really gets all of the pieces right. The performances in these movies have always been stellar and the mysteries have always been solid, but A Haunting really tries for something different and it nails the landing. Give it a watch.  

It’s Release Date Came At The Perfect Time 

I was actually kind of annoyed that Disney released Haunted Mansion over the summer. It seems that was done so that the LaKeith Stanfield and Tiffany Haddish starrer hit Disney+ over the Halloween holiday. However, my apologies to Disney because I now think holding A Haunting in Venice for October was the right call, and I totally see why the studio wouldn't want two movies competing in theaters during spooky season, even if one was more geared toward families than the other. 

Haunted Mansion is funny but not particularly well put together; A Haunting in Venice is actually a superbly crafted film. Is it awards worthy? I'm not sure the Academy will care, though the performances are quite meaty; regardless, it’s certainly a well-crafted story and it’s certainly what I want to be watching during spooky season. I can’t wait to see it again, and see if there were any clues I missed the first time around that would have helped me to nail the movie’s ending.  

Catch it in theaters now. 

SPOILER WARNING! Spoilers for A Haunting in Venice are in play. If you haven’t seen this chilling thriller just yet, you’ve been warned! 

With A Haunting In Venice, the famed deductive skills of Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot are put to the ultimate test. In a case that involves potential supernatural threats and very real deaths, Agatha Christie’s Belgian sleuth has to determine what’s truth, what’s fiction, and who’s to blame for all of it. It’s perhaps the man’s most challenging case, and the ending is treat for the audience to see unfold on the big screen.

But just in case you wanted to check your facts and walk through the solution to the third Poirot film, never fear. We’re about to dig into all of the dangerous details and uncover the truth behind what was going on at this perilous palazzo. So if you’re already read into this case, then feel free to proceed. All who haven’t experienced what I called a “gorgeously claustrophobic” film in CinemaBlend’s A Haunting in Venice review are officially warned that spoilers are very much on the way. Now let’s reach out to the past, and see what happened on that Halloween night in Venice, 1946... 

The Solution To A Haunting In Venice’s Heinous Crimes

The mystery at the heart of A Haunting in Venice stems from a death that takes place prior to the spooky gathering at the center of the story. Famed opera singer Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly) lost her daughter to one of two causes. If you’re a skeptic, Alicia Drake (Rowan Robinson) committed suicide in a fugue of illness. Or if you’re more superstitious, Alicia was driven mad by the curse on her family’s palazzo, which is allegedly haunted by the spirits of children left to burn in the plague hospital that the building used to be. 

In actuality, Alicia Drake was accidentally driven to death, though that was only because the circumstances were primed by Rowena herself. Alicia died because she was secretly being poisoned by her mother in order to stop her from running off with young chef/fortune hunter Maxime Gerard (Kyle Allen).

Lacing her daughter’s tea with a poisoned honey, Rowena Drake wanted to keep her daughter close to her by a means of Munchausen by proxy. However, one horrific night when Alica Drake’s illness seemed its worst, caretaker Olga Seminoff (Camille Cottin) served her the usual tea – only with an accidentally extra potent dose of honey. That accidental murder set off a chain of events that would come home to roost in 1946 when a seance turns deadly. 

The Victims And Survivors Of A Haunting In Venice

While Rowena didn’t necessarily mean to kill her daughter, she did personally influence the murder of two other people. By flat out murdering famed medium Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh) and coercing party guest/admirer Dr. Leslie Ferrier (Jamie Dornan) into suicide, her secret was supposedly safe. If only Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) and Vitale Portfoglio (Riccardo Scamarcio) hadn’t conspired to try and scheme Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) into experiencing an encounter with the dead!

Luckily, the murders only add up to three corpses among A Haunting in Venice’s cast, as the rest of the party’s guests survive. The now orphaned Leopold Ferrier (Jude Hill) is going to live with Olga Seminoff, even though he had his own part in the wrongdoings that led to the night’s events. As Leopold was blackmailing Rowena Drake with the knowledge of her deeds, his father’s death in A Haunting in Venice came from Rowena being convinced it was the lovesick Dr. Leslie Ferrier pulling the strings. 

In their final encounter, Hercule Poirot tells the young Leopold to atone for acts through kindness. That in turn inspires the boy to use some of the money he took from Rowena to send Nicholas and Desdemona Holland (Ali Kahn & Emma Laird) to America –fulfilling the dream that helped them survive World War II. 

As for Rowena... well, her fate was death no matter how you look at it. However, whether it was a result of clumsiness on a rain soaked night or the ghost of Alicia pulling her off of that balcony is up for debate. Which only opens the door to another big question:

Are There Really Ghosts In A Haunting In Venice?

The answer to this A Haunting in Venice query is very vague, as we first see Hercule Poirot debunking the fraud that is Joyce Reynolds. Even after all of the visions and encounters with Alicia Drake’s ghost plaguing him, Poirot technically writes it all off as the side effects of being poisoned by the same honey that killed Alicia. However, by the time Hercule leaves with the survivors of A Haunting in Venice, he doesn’t seem as dismissive of some sort of spectral presence as he was in the beginning.

While not fully convinced of the phenomenon that only he seemed to see or hear, conversations with Leopold Ferrier about these encounters don’t seem to end with Hercule Poirot totally turning a cold shoulder to the ghosts of the past. It’s not definitively answered whether or not there are ghosts; as with all good stories, some things need to be left up to the mind of the viewer. 

Could A Haunting In Venice Serve As Hercule Poirot’s Last Case?

We’ve officially reached the end of what could be called the Hercule Poirot trilogy. Three films starring Kenneth Branagh as the beloved detective are now in the books, and this last case sees Poirot coming out of retirement to solve yet another murder. But could Kenneth Branagh’s sleuth return to his life of gardening and pastries, leaving crime solving behind for good? 

Well, yes and no. At the end of A Haunting in Venice, we see that Hercule has indeed returned to consulting the public on their various problem solving needs. So while this movie could be seen as a perfect end to the career of Hercule Poirot, it doesn’t need to be the final time we see him in action on the big screen. 

If anything, “old friend” Ariadne Oliver could come back for some more fun as well. While she does deceive Poirot for the sake of inspiring a new bestseller, her handful of Agatha Christie adventures with our dessert-loving detective do leave the door open for her return. And seeing as the timeline of this trilogy spans from 1934’s Murder on the Orient Express to the new 1946 setting in the altered narrative of this latest chapter, there’s room to go back in time to an earlier adventure too.

As Agatha Christie’s great-grandson James Pritchard was ok with the vast changes made to A Haunting in Venice’s story, there’s always room for anything to happen. Provided, of course, that there’s a good reason for making such a change and if the team behind these movies is willing.

In the case of this latest cinematic whodunnit, the audience is given a novel reinvention of Hallowe’en Party’s shocking story. It just so happens that the setting and the crime have been tweaked for maximum horror-thriller excitement. Even if you've spoiled the movie for yourself, you can still see enjoy A Haunting In Venice, which is in theaters now. And for those of you who missed out on Death on the Nile, you can currently stream that caper with the use of a Hulu subscription.

The latest Poirot murder mystery has come to theaters, and the cast of A Haunting in Venice is full of stars that you’ve surely seen before. 

Many of the best mystery movies are told from the perspective of Hercule Poirot, created by famed mystery author, Agatha Christie. From Murder on the Orient Express to Death on the Nile, these stories have captured audiences everywhere, and they made people that much more interested in the world of murder mysteries, where everyone is a suspect until proven innocent. 

Now, the latest film in this world has arrived in theaters, A Haunting in Venice, based on the book Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie. Today, we are going to talk about the whodunnit's star-studded cast and where you might have seen them before, including Kenneth Branagh. Let's get into it. 

Kenneth Branagh (Hercule Poirot)

First off on this list is Kenneth Branagh, an actor who has been in the business for a long time and has continued to reprise his role of Hercule Poirot in A Haunting in Venice, whom he played in Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. The actor also directed the film. 

Branagh has been in many movies, which have brought him critical acclaim. These include but aren't limited to Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, As You Like It, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, My Week With Marilyn, Tenet, and the acclaimed Belfast, which he also directed. 

He was also a part of the Dunkirk cast and was recently featured in the Oppenheimer cast since he frequently collaborates with Christopher Nolan. 

Branagh has appeared in TV shows too, including Shackleton, Warm Spring, Fortunes of War, and more. 

Kyle Allen

Next up is Kyle Allen from A Haunting in Venice cast, and he's relatively new to Hollywood. He's appeared in movies such as One Night, XX, All My Life, Rosaline, and The Greatest Beer Run Ever on Apple TV+. He also played a Jet in the West Side Story cast. 

Camille Cottin

Moving on, we take a look at Camille Cottin. The actress is primarily known in France, having appeared in many French films such as Les gazelles, Les Gorilles and even did the French dubbing for the emotional Pixar film Soul, among other titles. She did have a role in House of Gucci, where she began to show off her talents to America. 

Cottin has also been active in French television, appearing in Scènes de ménages, Connasse, Call My Agent! and more. She also had a significant role in the hit TV series Killing Eve. 

Jamie Dornan

Next up is Jamie Dornan, a man who has been making his name known the last decade in the world of Hollywood and who is also a part of the main cast of A Haunting in Venice. Dornan is primarily known for his co-starring role in the risqué movie series Fifty Shades of Grey, where he played Christian Grey.

Aside from that, he has appeared in films such as Belfast, Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar, Heart of Stone, Trolls World Tour, Marie Antoinette, and more. The actor also had a recurring guest role on Once Upon A Time and parts on the shows The Fall and The Tourist.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey has some great movies and TV shows under her belt, and it makes sense she would be in a film like A Haunting in Venice with her resume. The comedian is known for her iconic prominent role on Saturday Night Live, but she has since moved on to bigger and better things, including her iconic TV show, 30 Rock, where she was the lead of the 30 Rock cast. 

Aside from that, Fey has appeared in movies such as Mean Girls (which she also co-wrote), Baby Mama, Date Night, Megamind, Sisters, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and Wine Country. She was one of the leading voice talents of the cast of Soul too. The actress also has had a recurring guest role on Only Murders in the Building, a great Hulu TV show, and she created and guest starred on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. 

Jude Hill

Jude Hill is a young actor, so his part in A Haunting in Venice is going to be one of his first significant movie appearances. However, he's also appeared in Branagh's Belfast, as well as held a minimal role in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (which was honestly great). Hill also appeared in the British TV series Magpie Murders.

Ali Khan

Ali Khan, another part of the main cast of A Haunting in Venice. The actor appeared in a few films before this, namely Pin Cushion, 6 Underground, and the Netflix movie The School for Good and Evil. He also had roles in the television shows Red Rose, Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything, Halo, and Everyone Else Burns.

Emma Laird

A Haunting in Venice will be Emma Laird's first major movie appearance. However, she was a part of the Mayor of Kingstown cast, and she had a prominent role on the Apple TV+ show The Crowded Room. 

Kelly Reilly

Along with A Haunting in Venice, Kelly Reilly has appeared in films such as Dead Bodies, Pride & Prejudice, Eden Lake, Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Bastille Day, Flight, Russian Dolls, and more. 

Reilly also had a prominent role in the British series Above Suspicion, and she held a primary role in both Black Box and Britannia. These days, she's probably best known for playing Beth Dutton on Yellowstone.

Riccardo Scamarcio

Riccardo Scamarcio is an Italian actor primarily known for many movies in the Italian film industry, but he's also appeared in a decent amount of American films. These include the John Wick franchise and To Rome with Love. 

Michelle Yeoh

Last but certainly not least, we need to talk about Michelle Yeoh, the last person in the main cast of A Haunting in Venice. The actress made headlines for her Academy Award-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once in 2022 (which her mother was very emotional about), but she has also done so much in the film industry that we must discuss it. 

In terms of movies, she's had roles in films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Heroic Trio, Holy Weapon, Tomorrow Never Dies, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Lady, and more. She also held a supporting role in the modern-day Christmas film Last Christmas, and she played a significant role in Crazy Rich Asians. 

Yeoh has stepped into television more lately, with a central role in The Witcher: Blood Origin, and she appeared in the Disney+ series American Born Chinese. She also held a recurring part on Star Trek: Discovery and was a part of Season 2 of Marco Polo (which is a great show to watch if you love Benedict Wong). 

There are so many amazing actors here who have done so much. So, if you see A Haunting in Venice, and you want to stay up to date with these performers, be sure to check out these films and television shows.

Halloween is just around the corner and, while Hercule Poirot probably isn’t the first name you think of when spooky season hits, Kenneth Branagh is throwing his hat into the supernatural ring with his third turn as the uber-observant detective. A Haunting in Venice is set to premiere on Friday, September 15, and the book-to-screen adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party boasts a solid cast for the latest murder mystery, with Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey and Kelly Reilly amongst the key players to be scrutinized during Poirot’s investigation.

First reactions to the Hercule Poirot movie were promising, with many who attended an early screening calling it the best yet of the three adaptations that Kenneth Branagh has directed and starred in. Our own Mike Reyes praises the effort in CinemaBlend’s review of A Haunting in Venice, calling Branagh’s turn at horror “both riveting and disturbing.” It can also be enjoyed without having seen Murder on the Orient Express or Death on the Nile, Reyes notes, rating it 4 out of 5 stars and writing: 

Neil Smith of GamesRadar also rates A Haunting in Venice 4 stars out of 5, writing that there are both tingles and laughs, as Kenneth Branagh weaves an old-school whodunnit out of an eerie Halloween spook-fest. In Smith’s words: 

Siddhant Adlakha of IGN says the movie flips back and forth between humor and horror, with its doom and gloom complemented by “some of the most wackadoo horror filmmaking from any major contemporary director.” The critic rates A Haunting in Venice a “Great” 8/10, writing: 

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting calls Kenneth Branagh’s latest adaptation a “stylish Halloween whodunnit,” rating the movie 3 out of 5 skulls. Navarro says this may be the mustachioed detective’s least-engaging mystery yet, but that critique is offset by the spooky, claustrophobic atmosphere. The critic continues: 

Not all of the critics share such positive opinions, however. Christian Zilko of IndieWire grades the movie a B-, saying that it’s getting harder to ignore what Rian Johnson is doing to the genre with his Knives Out movies — particularly because Kenneth Branagh’s co-stars don’t seem to be having much fun. Zilko continues: 

Overall, the critics seem to say that the actor/director has done it again, delivering a fun murder mystery from Agatha Christie’s collection, albeit with an appropriate twist for the Halloween season. A Haunting in Venice has accrued an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 26 critics so far, and those who want to check out Hercule Poirot’s latest case can do so starting Friday, September 15. Be sure to also check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to see what else is headed to the theater soon. 

Actor/director Kenneth Branagh has his cinematic muses, and Agatha Christie seems to have joined William Shakespeare as another presence that holds much sway over his storytelling heart. And with the filmmaker already having two entries from the famed author’s series of Hercule Poirot mysteries on his filmography, A Haunting in Venice is the right film coming at the right time to mix things up.

Branagh and screenwriter Michael Green infuse this latest outing featuring the aforementioned Belgian detective with an atmosphere that borders horror, and the change of pace is both riveting and disturbing. The reinterpretation of the novel Hallowe’en Party delivers the literary deep cut with an exciting, dangerous energy.

We catch up with a retired and world weary Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) shortly after the conclusion of World War II in A Haunting In Venace. The veteran-turned-sleuth has given up detective work and moved onto his passions of gardening and pastry consumption. At least until until old friend Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) drags him into a scenario that’s too good to pass up. With famed medium Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh) set to try and contact the dead on Halloween night, a group of participants will be gathered in a supposedly haunted palazzo in Venice, and Hercule is intent on exposing this happening as a charade.

What starts as an attempt to connect with another realm turns into a murder mystery that taxes Poirot’s deductive reasoning as well as his sanity. For him, it’s a bad time all around;– but for us the audience, it makes for a fantastic hat trick that proves that Kenneth Branagh is once again tapped into something he’s got a voracious artistic appetite for with A Haunting in Venice.

A Haunting in Venice is a gorgeously claustrophobic thriller that borders on gothic horror.

Trading in the traveling suspense of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, this latest case breaks from its England-set source material by opting to take place in the dark beauty of post-war Venice. While a lush cast of characters is still employed, A Haunting in Venice confines itself to the tortured dwelling of Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly) and her Halloween party of the damned. It’s a change in scope, but not in effectiveness, as this whodunnit  goes darker than either of its predecessors chose to do. 

Adding up to a gorgeously claustrophobic exercise in detective work, watching Branagh’s Poirot investigate heinous crimes of the past and present is just as exciting in a singular location as it is while he's sailing on the Nile. It’s an opportunity that also compliments the shift in genre and tone that A Haunting in Venice takes on, as the legends surrounding this central location provide a gothic horror taste. 

Humor and heartbreak are still happily offered throughout Michael Green’s screenplay, and the performances Kenneth Branagh brings out of his cast is on par with his stellar efforts with previous ensembles. We still have moments where Hercule Poirot in particular gets to be both glib and haunted, with melancholy again tying everything together. But be warned: you might find it a little hard to know when to laugh or scream, as those moods tend to go hand in hand with the game at play.

Assembling yet another murderer’s row of talent, Poirot’s latest adventure is the detective’s most personal and mind bending.

It’s a tradition to bring together a group of performers both fresh and familiar when crafting an Agatha Christie whodunnit. Varying the talent at hand tends to help shuffle the deck of expectations, as you never know if the franchise player, the Academy Award winner, or the relative industry newcomer is going to be the victim that sets things in motion. A Haunting in Venice understands that brief rather well, right down to its marketing campaign of freely cast suspicion on anyone who isn’t Kenneth Branagh.

As per usual, not a role is wasted, with the entire cast deliciously walking the line between suspect behavior and emotional motivation. Just as one would expect, though, there are standout MVPs.

Adding to the humorous qualities of the movie, Tina Fey’s fast-talking transatlantic rendition of Ariadne Oliver is one of the most delightful additions to the big screen mystery series. With her character appearing in other literary adventures alongside Poirot, there’s a potential for future sequels to reuse her character, and that will hopefully come to pass, as the first act of A Haunting in Venice pairs Fey with Kenneth Branagh so well that it makes the expository setup a breeze. 

Credit must also be given to Jamie Dornan and Jude Hill, both returning members of the Branagh Repertory Company after their father/son performance in Belfast. Once again teamed up in those familial roles, Dornan’s tortured Dr. Leslie Ferrier gives the actor yet another chance to swim in unfamiliar dramatic waters. And as for Hill, his portrayal of Leslie’s son Leopold is another sterling credit to the young man’s resume. In A Haunting in Venice’s constellation of impressively bright stars, these actors in particular burn the brightest, which only lifts the rest of the cast.

Then there’s Hercule Poirot, the perennial “smartest man in the room.” Kenneth Branagh is still sinking his teeth into this role from both sides of the camera, and his passion is still readily apparent in every interrogation and every baked good consumed. That being said, A Haunting in Venice’s case is one that pushes our protagonist’s analytical mind to a point we haven’t previously seen. His attempts to reconcile cold hard reason with supposedly unexplained and supernatural forces make for fresh material within this storied character, and offer some rewarding ties and references to the past that loyalists will find fascinating.

Fans of Michael Green and Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie adaptations will undoubtedly be thrilled again.

I’ve gone on record several times stating that so long as Michael Green and Kenneth Branagh want to keep making Hercule Poirot movies, I’ll keep returning to see them. A Haunting in Venice has not dulled that promise one bit, as this lean and mean tale of terror shows just how versatile Agatha Christie’s signature sleuth is when it comes to reinvention. The ability to scale this franchise into a setting as open or closed as the creators would want, and in any tone that they choose to paint it, is a skeleton key to delightful possibilities. 

It’s because of that reinvention that A Haunting in Venice might have the ability to surprise even the most die hard of fans who enjoy Hercule’s scrutiny on display. More horrifying and morbid themes are presented in this anthological threequel, but the picture that develops from these changes is still very much in the old school Hollywood vein that Branagh loves to tap into every time he plays the classics. 

A Haunting in Venice might even win some new fans to the table, as the lack of required viewing is something that makes this chapter accessible to pure thriller/horror fans. This could be the best asset this series has to offer, as impressed viewers may be inspired to track down Kenneth Branagh’s previous entries, as well as the varied adaptations and literary sources that give the name of Hercule Poirot its iconic pop culture standing. All movie-goers have something to look forward to, as the latest Christie case closes with a solution so satisfying that it’ll inspire audiences to wish for more.

Kenneth Branagh has provided some of the best mystery movies in recent years with his adaptations of Agatha Christie classics, and now he’s back for a third time with A Haunting in Venice. Branagh again will direct and star as Hercule Poirot, with the murder this time being committed in the midst of a séance. It sounds like the perfect time for one of the most beloved fictional detectives' adventures to take a spooky turn, with Halloween just around the corner, and now that A Haunting in Venice has screened, people are hitting social media to share their first reactions.

In addition to Kenneth Branagh as the mustachioed sleuth, A Haunting in Venice boasts a stacked cast that includes Jamie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey and Kelly Reilly, to name just a few. The movie is an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe'en Party, and those who attended a screening seem to be in agreement that this is Branagh’s best Hercule Poirot film yet. CinemaBlend’s own Mike Reyes calls the “gorgeously claustrophobic” mystery a perfect kickoff to the spooky season: 

Jessica Rawden of CinemaBlend reminds us that this is a Hercule Poirot movie first and foremost fits right in with the creepy offerings we’re accustomed to this time of year. She tweets: 

Carson Timar of the Clapper podcast says A Haunting in Venice is “easily” the best of Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie trilogy. With any murder mystery, how the story wraps up is of utmost importance, and this movie lover calls the conclusion “satisfying,” with the potential to become an annual Halloween tradition. In Timar’s words: 

Critic Manning Franks echoes that sentiment, as he calls this third offering not just Kenneth Branagh’s best effort in front of the camera, but behind it as well. He writes: 

While many are singing the praises of the movie’s star and director, other members of the cast have gotten shout-outs too, with Variety’s Katcy Stephan writing that Tina Fey adds a needed playfulness. She tweets:

Michelle Yeoh also gets a mention, with critic Ashley Saunders praising the Academy Award winner’s turn as the medium in A Haunting in Venice: 

With many who have seen A Haunting in Venice calling this the best of director and star Kenneth Branagh’s adaptations, fans of the previous two movies will likely want to head to the theaters when this hits the big screen on Friday, September 15. In the meantime, if you need to watch or rewatch the first two Hercule Poirot mysteries, Murder on the Orient Express is available to rent or purchase on Amazon’s Prime Video, while Death on the Nile can be streamed with a Hulu subscription. Be sure to also check out our 2023 movie schedule to see what other new releases are coming soon. 

Kenneth Branagh has been spending a lot of time within the world of Agatha Christie with many of his most recent cinematic ventures. The multi-hyphenate has directed two murder mystery films from the author, Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, with A Haunting in Venice set to be released in September. Branagh also stars as Hercule Poirot, a detective who seeks to solve the whimsical mysteries at the center of the Christie stories, acting as a throughline that connects the movies. While the latest Poirot film has yet to hit theaters, fans are already wondering if Branagh has a follow up film in the works. 

In a recent interview with our sister-site Total Film, producer James Prichard revealed if the studio would be looking to Kenneth Branagh for another film after A Haunting in Venice. The previous movies have been well received, with many loving the highly stylized versions of the classic tales and the ensemble casts. When asked if mystery fans have another Christie adaptation to look forward to, Prichard said:

This makes me wonder what other novels the team could be interested in adapting. Some of Christie’s most notable works are up for grabs, like The Mousetrap and The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and many of her lesser-known works also deserve to be explored. I could see this film series carrying on for quite a while if the creative team remains interested in reimagining these titles on the big screen. Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express were sneaky moneymakers and reportedly had very strong streaming viewerships, so there is seemingly an audience for these kinds of mysteries. Each film brings something new to the source material and have great casts, making for really fun watches. 

While there is potential for a fourth film, it has yet to be announced. In the meantime, genre fans have A Haunting In Venice to look forward to. It’s adapted from the novel Hallowe'en Party, and the trailers have teased another spooky mystery perfect for the fall. The globetrotting detective Poirot is once again investigating another crime, this time one of supernatural proportions at a palazzo in Venice, Italy. A Haunting in Venice boasts additional performances by Jamie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey and Yellowstone’s Kelly Reilly, and exciting haunts for our favorite mustachioed sleuth to delve into. 

Brangah always has something up his sleeves with these adaptations, so hopefully A Haunting In Venice lives up to its predecessors and does well enough to warrant a sequel. It is a world worth exploring and updates classic literature to make it more accessible for new modern audiences. There are so many Christie novels to work with, so we’ll just have to wait and see what the Belfast director may be interested in for his next installment. 

A Haunting in Venice is set to hit theaters nationwide on September 15th, so check it out when you can. Additionally, Kenneth Brangah’s most recent Poirot work, Death on the Nile, is available to stream now with a Hulu subscription. For more information on other films heading to cinemas and streaming in the upcoming months, consult our 2023 movie release schedule. 

Christopher Nolan's name has become cemented in film history because of his movies. From some of his earlier films to his most recent, Oppenheimer, Nolan has continued to show his prowess with storytelling, visual effects, and more. One other area that he tends to be excellent in is casting each film.

Every Nolan movie has had a fantastic cast, and Dunkirk is no exception. One of the best war movies of all time, this 2017 thriller featured cast members such as Barry Keoghan, Harry Styles, Cillian Murphy, and more. Today, we will talk about the Dunkirk cast and where they are now. 

Fionn Whitehead (Tommy)

First up on the list is Fionn Whitehead, who played Tommy in Dunkirk. The actor has appeared in a few movies since then, including the exhausting Black Mirror: Bandersnatch in the lead role, The Duke and Voyagers. He also had a central role in Great Expectations on television and a guest role on Queers. 

Right now, Whitehead doesn't have anything coming up, but judging from his experience so far, I'm sure it won't be long before you see him again. 

Tom Glynn-Carney (Peter Dawson)

Next up is Tom Glynn-Carney, who played Peter Dawson. The actor has appeared in movies such as Tolkien, The King, and Rialto. 

However, Glynn-Carney has since made his mark on television by playing Aegon Targaryen II in House of the Dragon, a role he will continue to play in Season 2. He also had a prominent role in The Last Post and appeared in Mayflies. 

Coming up, Glynn-Carney is going to appear in The Book of Clarence movie, along with Season 2 of House of the Dragon.

Jack Lowden (Collins)

Jack Lowden played Collins and has since appeared in several movies. Some of his most known films have included Mary Queen of Scots, Calibre, England is Mine, and Capone. He also had a role in Fighting with My Family alongside star Florence Pugh, and Benediction. 

On television, Lowden also had a part in Small Axe, a miniseries, and a primary role in Slow Horses, among other guest roles. He doesn't have anything coming out soon, but with his resume, I'm sure there will be plenty to look forward to. 

Harry Styles (Alex)

Dunkirk was Harry Styles' acting debut, and what a movie to start on. He is mainly known for his singing, as he was a part of the boy band One Direction and then expanded into his own solo career. But now, we've seen him more in the acting world. 

Since his part of Alex, Styles has stepped into film more, appearing in movies such as the infamous Don't Worry Darling, and My Policeman. He also had a minor cameo in Eternals, but the role is most likely going to appear more within the MCU. 

Styles has also appeared as a musical guest/hosted Saturday Night Live a few times and guest-hosted The Late Late Show with James Corden. 

While he doesn't have anything acting-wise coming up, I'm sure it won't be long before he releases a new album after the success of his two-year tour. Film has never been his go-to, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing plenty more of him in the next few years. 

Aneurin Barnard (Gibson)

Aneurin Barnard played Gibson in Dunkirk, who has appeared in plenty of films since his time in the war movie. Some are The Goldfinch, Radioactive, Bigger, and The Personal History of David Copperfield. Barnard has also been in several TV shows, including a prominent role on 1899 on Netflix, a central role on The Catch, and a guest role on Peaky Blinders, among many other appearances. 

Coming up, Barnard will appear in Series 14 of Doctor Who and will be in the TV film Men Up, as well as another movie called Timestalker. 

James D’Arcy (Colonel Winnant)

James D'Arcy played Colonel Winnant in Dunkirk, and since his role, he has appeared in various movies and TV shows. He was part of the vast Oppenheimer cast and appeared in films such as The Snowman, Six Minutes to Midnight, Life Like, and more. He also had a recurring role on Homeland and a big role on Deadline. Coming up, he will be in a new series called Constellation. 

Barry Keoghan (George Mills)

Barry Keoghan has had quite the career explosion since playing George Mills. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin and appeared in such films as Eternals, the King Arthur adaptation The Green Knight, Calm With Horses, and more. 

Keoghan has also had experience on television, with a small recurring guest role on Chernobyl and the series Top Boy on Netflix. He will be in several new films called Saltburn, Bring Them Down, The Bird, and the upcoming Gladiator 2. He will also be in a TV series called Masters of Air. 

Kenneth Branagh (Commander Bolton)

Another famous face from Dunkirk is Kenneth Branagh, who plays Commander Bolton. Since its premiere, Branagh has appeared in several films, including Murder on the Orient Express and its sequel, Death on the Nile. He also had roles in Fireheart, Tenet, and Oppenheimer, continuing his trend of collaborating with Nolan. 

He also had a leading role on a TV series called England and had a guest role on Upstart Crow. Coming up, he will star in A Haunting in Venice, where he will again reprise his role of Hercule Poirot. 

Cillian Murphy (Shivering Soldier) 

Cillian Murphy played the Shivering Soldier in the war film. The actor has appeared in various movies since, such as Anna, The Delinquent Season, and A Quiet Place: Part II, but most are hearing about Murphy from his starring role in Oppenheimer, where he plays – you guessed it – Oppenheimer himself. 

Besides that, he wrapped up his leading part on the hit show Peaky Blinders in 2022. Soon, he'll be in a new film called Small Things Like These and appear in the horror film 28 Months Later.

Mark Rylance (Mr. Dawson)

Mark Rylance played Mr. Dawson, and has since appeared in several films. These include Waiting for Barbarians, Ready Player One, Don't Look Up, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Bones and All, and more. Regarding television, he appeared in a role on Wolf Hall and The Undeclared War. The next time you'll see him is in the movie, The Way of the Wind. 

Tom Hardy (Farrier) 

Tom Hardy is another excellent example of an actor who has continued to grow immensely in Hollywood. He played Farrier in Dunkirk and has appeared in many recent films, including the Venom movies, where he plays the main character, Eddie, and the movie Capone. 

He also had a supporting role on Peaky Blinders and was part of a nature series called Predators. Soon, he will be starring in the third Venom film and the Netflix movie, Havoc, as well as a film called The Bikeriders. 

Michael Caine (Voice) (Fortis Leader)

Last but not least, we have Michael Caine. While he was not featured physically in the movie, Caine's voice was used as a cameo when he voiced Fortis Leader. 

The actor has appeared in movies such as Dear Dictator, King of Thieves, Tenet, Best Sellers, and more, and will appear in The Great Escaper. 

With so many outstanding cast members, one can only wonder what they will do next. And now, I will see Oppenheimer again for the umpteenth time to find all the cast members from this list in there. 

Like the great directors who came before and several of his contemporaries, Christopher Nolan is a filmmaker who likes to reuse certain creative elements in each of his movies. From messing with time to structuring nonlinear narratives to focusing on paradoxes (all three are present in his latest box office success, Oppenheimer), he seems to have some favorite techniques and he knows when to use them. At the same time, Nolan also appears to like to work with the same actors time and time again.

Similar to what we did with Wes Anderson’s go-to stars following the release of Asteroid City, today we’re going to break down 12 actors who show up in the most Christopher Nolan movies. With easy guesses and surprises alike, there’s a lot to go over, so let’s break down the director’s most prolific on-screen collaborators. 

Michael Caine - 8 Movies

Though Michael Caine does not appear in Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan told CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend podcast that he was with the production in spirit before saying he and the two-time Academy Award winner have “had the most wonderful collaboration” over the years.

Together, Nolan and Caine have collaborated eight times over the course of the past 18 years. This started with the actor’s iconic portrayal of Alfred Pennyworth in Batman Begins (he would return for The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises), continued with The Prestige, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Tenet. 

Cillian Murphy - 6 Movies

Having first entered each other’s orbits when Cillian Murphy auditioned for Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, the actor-director duo have worked together a staggering six times, putting the versatile actor just two movies behind the legendary Michael Caine.

Prior to landing the lead role in Oppenheimer, some of Murphy’s best performances have been in Nolan’s movies like the Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, and Dunkirk, his take on a shell-shocked WWII soldier in the 2017 all-time great military drama being one of the most harrowing of his career. 

Russ Fega - 5 Movies 

The first pair of names on this list are two of the most well-known actors in Hollywood. Though Russ Fega might not be as recognizable as Caine or Murphy, the Hollywood location manager and occasional actor has more appearances in Christopher Nolan movies than just about anyone else.

Starting with his appearance in the Memento cast, Fega has popped up in five of Nolan’s movies, including The Prestige, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and Interstellar. 

Christian Bale - 4 Movies

Christian Bale, who has worked with Christopher Nolan since first falling for the director’s vision for Batman Begins, has appeared in a total of four Christopher Nolan movies throughout his career.

After appearing in the 2005 superhero origin story, Bale gave an incredible performance in The Prestige, which he followed up with The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Interestingly enough, Bale hasn’t appeared in a Nolan movie in more than a decade, but hopefully that changes whenever the auteur starts planning out his next film. 

John Nolan - 4 Movies

John Nolan, not to be confused with Christopher Nolan’s brother and collaborator Jonathan, has appeared in just as many of his nephew’s movies as actors like Christian Bale and Gary Oldman (more on him next).

After landing a small role as a police officer in Christopher Nolan’s directorial debut, Following, in 1998, John Nolan would go on to land the role of Wayne Enterprises board member Douglas Fredericks in Batman Begins (he would reprise the role in The Dark Knight Rises) and then later on as a blind man in Dunkirk. 

Gary Oldman - 4 Movies

One of the dozens of Hollywood stars in the Oppenheimer cast, Gary Oldman, who plays U.S. President Harry S. Truman in a heated scene with Cillian Murphy’s titular character, has worked with Christopher Nolan a total of four times over the course of his career.

Prior to landing the brief yet impactful role in the 2023 book-to-screen adaptation, Oldman famously played Jim Gordon as “a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended” in Batman Begins, the Gotham PD commissioner in The Dark Knight Rises, and a guilt-stricken cop in The Dark Knight Rises. 

Kenneth Branagh - 3 Movies

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kenneth Branagh is another actor that Christopher Nolan has brought in for his movies more than once, as the Belfast writer and director has appeared in all three of Nolan’s most recent films in varying capacities.

From his stoic portrayal of Commander Bolton in Dunkirk, to his time-jumping villain Andrei Sator in Tenet to physicist Niels Bohr in Oppenheimer, Branagh has become one of Nolan’s go-to actors, and hopefully that trend continues.

Morgan Freeman - 3 Movies

Morgan Freeman is another actor who’s appeared in three Christopher Nolan movies, and unlike the rest of the list, all three are in the same franchise. 

From 2005 to 2012, Freeman portrayed Wayne Enterprises Executive Vice President Lucius Fox, a.k.a., one of Bruce Wayne’s closest confidants in Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. 

Tom Hardy - 3 Movies

If you were to look at the list of Tom Hardy’s must-watch movies, some of the titles near the top would all be collaborations with Christopher Nolan. In fact, one of the roles that started Hardy’s ascent was that of Eames in Inception.

Since then, he’s portrayed Bane in The Dark Knight Rises and Farrier in Dunkirk, bringing his total to three movies, even if his face was largely obscured throughout the latter two roles.

Larry Holden - 3 Movies

Larry Holden was a prominent player in some of Christopher Nolan’s earlier work and appeared in three movies in a row for the director in the early 2000s. From his portrayal of the drug dealer Jimmy in Memento to a cop named Farrell in Insomnia to Gotham City District Attorney Carl Finch in Batman Begins, he was one of Nolan’s go-to guys.

Sadly, Holden passed away at the age of 49 in 2011 after a battle with cancer, according to his obituary.  

Josh Stewart - 3 Movies

Josh Stewart has been a part of three Christopher Nolan movies throughout his career, but only physically appeared in one of those. You will probably recognize him from his portrayal of Bane’s right-hand man, Barsad, in The Dark Knight Rises, the first of three collaborations with the filmmaker.

Stewart provided the voice of CASE, one of the four robots that assisted Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) and his team in Interstellar, which he followed up with another vocal role in Tenet. 

Jeremy Theobald - 3 Movies

And then there is Jeremy Theobald, whose work with Christopher Nolan goes back to the director’s earliest productions. This includes the lead role in the director’s film debut, Following, a small part as a Gotham City worker in Batman Begins, and a brief appearance in Tenet.

It should also be noted that Theobald also appeared in Nolan’s first two short films – 1996’s Larceny and Doodlebug – prior to working with him on feature films. 

These are just the actors who have appeared in three or more of Christopher Nolan’s movies over the years, as Anne Hathaway, Tom Conti, Matthew Modine, Casey Affleck, David Dastmalchian, and multiple others have appeared in two of his previous efforts. If you want to go back and watch all of these actors’ performances, you can do that right now by checking our breakdown of how to watch Christopher Nolan’s movies streaming. 

Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are four men who are all doing quite well at the moment. Reynolds is one of the biggest stars thanks to hits like Deadpool and Free Guy; Branagh is a few months away from seeing the release of his third Hercule Poirot film; and Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley just wrote and directed Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which was hailed by critics and earned over $200 million at the global box office. The four men have heat, as they say, and now they are combining forces for a new action feature for Apple Original Films.

The Hollywood Reporter has gotten word that Apple is teaming with Skydance (producers of the Mission: Impossible franchise) to make Mayday with Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley attached. Goldstein and Daley wrote the script prior to the start of the on-going WGA Writers Strike, and they are going to direct the movie as their follow-up to Game Night and the aforementioned Dungeons & Dragons film.

Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh are going to star in Mayday, but the trade report doesn't mention anything about their characters nor what to expect from their dynamic – which makes sense when you also realize that there is no information presently available about the movie's plot.

One might not think that Reynolds could add yet another project to his packed slate of developing projects, but that's evidently what he's doing (perhaps he has access to time travel technology?). The actor is currently working on Deadpool 3 (which is shooting during the aforementioned strike), but he's also still trying to get his new Clue movie going, he's working on the developing comedy Boy Band, Netflix wants him back for Red Notice 2, and he is coming off of working on writer/director John Krasinski's IF. Where Mayday fits into all of the scheduling of those features is unclear.

Kenneth Branagh isn't quite as busy as Ryan Reynolds, but he has some big stuff coming up in what remains in 2023. He is part of the endless and endlessly talented cast of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer (a reunion with the director after Dunkirk and Tenet), and his latest directorial effort, A Haunting In Venice, will be out in September. The movie is based on the Agatha Christie mystery of the same name, and it will mark Branagh's third time playing heroic detective Hercule Poirot after Murder On The Orient Express and Death On The Nile.

Exactly how fast Mayday will move through development is unclear due to the Hollywood labor disputes, but we'll continue to provide you with updates on the project as it gets closer to release. In the meantime, you can enjoy Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley's brand of comedy and action by streaming Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which is available to watch instantly with a Paramount+ subscription.

In the past, we’ve seen Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot solve mysteries that dive into some of the darkest corners of humanity. However, his third adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famed Belgian sleuth looks way different-- and in a really exciting manner. With our first look at the 2023 new movie release A Haunting in Venice, we now have a glimpse into a case that sees Poirot potentially facing off against the supernatural.

20th Century Studios released this first look today, more than likely connected to the studio’s presentation at this week’s CinemaCon. With Hercule Poirot not even showing up until the end of the reel, we’re treated to a handful of moments that showcase Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh trying to contact a spirit for a room full of eager watchers. And, as one could assume, things get a bit intense, with the ghosts of the past, real or not, looming over all.

That scrutiny of whether this spectre of a young girl is an actual spirit or a fabrication is par for the course with Agatha Christie mysteries, and it definitely fits with Hercule Poirot’s skepticism. However, this is where A Haunting in Venice starts to differentiate itself from surprise box office success Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, as the tone for this latest mystery appears to be leaning in hard on the horror movie vibes.

Solving a murder is one thing, but proving or disproving the existence of the afterlife is a pretty huge theme to be tackled. At the same time, what we know about A Haunting in Venice also reinforces that some of the factors that have brought this series success are back in action; ghosts or not. In addition to Hercule Poirot’s tragedy inspired mustache, another all-star cast of performers has come out to play on this next caper. 

In addition to Michelle Yeoh’s presence, this haunting includes Belfast co-stars Jamie Dornan and Jude Hill, as well as comedy mastermind Tina Fey in the mix. Always a deft hand at diversifying his casts with actors from all disciplines, Kenneth Branagh’s third Poirot picture shows that he hasn’t lost his touch. 

Arriving almost a year after A Haunting in Venice’s fall 2022 announcement, our next case with Hercule Poriot might be his most deadly yet. Even the logo for the film has evolved into something that invokes more than the usual sleuthing we’ve seen in the Branagh Poirot saga. 

The occasion certainly calls for it though, as fighting against physical forces concealing a crime is one thing, but taking into account a ghost that might be trying to seek vengeance is another. And this time, Hercule Poirot doesn't seem to have a trusty sidekick along for the ride, upping the stakes further. 

A Haunting In Venice summons audiences to a theater near them on September 15th. If you’ve happened to either missed Death on the Nile, or feel the urge to return to the world of Hercule’s cinematic antics, those with a Hulu subscription won’t need to kill for the privilege.

Where does a world-famous detective go when he’s solved a Murder on the Orient Express as well as a Death on the Nile? Kenneth Branagh apparently has that answer for us now, as the director and star of the recent Hercule Poiriot adaptations has chosen his next Agatha Christie mystery for the screen. You may know it as Hallowe’en Party, but with the help of Jamie Dornan and another stacked cast, it’s about to hit the schedule of 2023 new movie releases as A Haunting in Venice.

Freshly announced by 20th Century Studios, the third Poirot movie already has me pumped! Not only does the star-studded cast of A Haunting in Venice include Branagh’s Belfast stars Dornan and Jude Hill, but there's a wide assortment of enticing new suspects. Here's who we know is on the guest list so far: 

• Kenneth Branagh
• Kyle Allen
• Camille Cottin 
• Jamie Dornan
• Tina Fey
• Jude Hill
• Ali Khan
• Emma Laird
• Kelly Reilly
• Riccardo Scamarico
• Michelle Yeoh

With the likes of SNL veteran Tina Fey, Yellowstone’s Kelly Reilly, and Everything Everywhere All At Once star/legend Michelle Yeoh also coming to play, it’s a party I wouldn’t dream of missing. Of course, a murder mystery is only as good as its atmosphere. As it turns out, Kenneth Branagh and company have that based covered as well, as this third Poirot mystery has been described thusly:

Shadows and secrets are certainly nothing new for Agatha Christie’s legendary sleuth, as he’s been tangled in murderous mysteries for over a century of literature and other media. Part of what makes A Haunting in Venice so exciting is the same thing that’s kept previous iterations of Hercule Poirot relevant: amazing all-star ensembles. Just looking at Death on the Nile’s cast shows you how important a good roster of performers can be; albeit that bunch did have some controversial figures playing on the team.

While Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of the Belgian brainiac is the centerpiece, him being surrounded by a cast like the one described above is what helps turn every adventure into a fresh thrill. It’s probably part of the reason why audiences are still turning out for this particular franchise. Though it's absolutely essential that writer Michael Green, who's been along for the ride on both previous installments, is returning as the scribe for A Haunting in Venice.

The results speak for themselves, as 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express made Poirot into a sneaky moneymaker throughout its theatrical release. Even in the pandemic depressed box office market, the delayed release of Death on the Nile was top dog in its opening weekend. The fact that its opening was on the weekend adjacent to Valentine’s Day, and included Jennifer Lopez’s rom-com Marry Me as competition, kind of makes that feat even more Herculean. 

I'm not the only one pumped to see A Haunting in Venice introduce Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, and Michelle Yeoh to some dangerous deduction either. In his own statement commenting on the announcement, Kenneth Branagh is clearly jazzed to dive into another adventure with Hercule Poirot. Here's what he had to say: 

Knowing that A Haunting in Venice is on its way, and that it’ll be heading to theaters instead of being a Hulu original, is indeed news to die for. Perhaps the inclusion of Hallow’een Party as an easter egg in Belfast wasn’t just a sly nod to Kenneth Branagh’s work but also a clever signpost for what was ahead. Leave it to the man who inhabits Hercule Poirot’s tragically mythical mustache to potentially play the crowd with such a clever ploy. 

A Haunting in Venice is set to start production in November, with an unspecified 2023 release date for its theatrical debut. However, if one were to make an educated guess, an opening weekend as close to Halloween as possible would probably be the best bet. 

Meanwhile, if you want to catch up with or revisit Kenneth Branagh’s latest Hercule Poirot mystery, you’re in luck! At the time of this publication, a Hulu subscription is all you need to watch Death on the Nile. Be sure to check the listings carefully though, as you wouldn’t want to miss the important clues that will allow you to enjoy the fun. 

Every person (or, at least, every film enthusiast, I really should say) can, typically, name the one actor whose talent never ceases to dazzle them. In addition, they can also, likely, name a certain filmmaker whose work and directorial style they admire over anyone else. Sometimes, a movie fan’s choice of a favorite actor and a favorite director can end up being the same person, such as in the case of Sir Kenneth Branagh.

The Northern Ireland native came to prominence in the late 1980s and early ‘90s as one of the most acclaimed and respected actors of his generation for giving performances in movies that, many of which, he also helmed himself. He is still known to juggle both talents at once with some recent favorites (such as his second Agatha Christie adaptation, Death on the Nile), while sometimes taking a moment to focus on one duty at a time and, often, with wonderful results either way. See for yourself by taking a look at our picks for Kenneth Branagh’s best movies on streaming, available for a digital rental, or for purchase on physical media, starting with one of his definitive efforts from both behind and in front of the camera.

Henry V (1989)

After facing ridicule from the French King Charles VI (Paul Scofields), the young, vengeful ruler of England (Kenneth Branagh) aspires to conquer the country of France for himself, resulting in horror on the battlefield and turmoil in his own soul.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Kenneth Branagh earned Academy Award nominations both for directing and playing the lead of Henry V - the first of several adaptations of the work of William Shakespeare that he would star in (and often helm himself), and his directorial debut, as well.

Buy/Rent Henry V on Vudu.
Get Henry V on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Belfast (2021)

An imaginative young boy (Jude Hill in his debut role) and his working class mother (Catríona Balfe) and father (Jamie Dornan) struggle with the decision of abandoning their home or staying to endure the violent, politically fueled strife affecting their Northern Irish town in the late 1960s.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: After more than 30 years in the business, Kenneth Branagh earned his first Academy Award win for penning his semi-autobiographical screenplay for Belfast - a beautiful, inspirational, star-studded family drama set against the backdrop of an otherwise tumultuous period in history.

Buy/Rent Belfast on Amazon.
Get Belfast on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

A young woman (Kate Beckinsale in her film debut) and her soon-to-be husband (future House cast member Robert Sean Leonard) conspire to play matchmaker for a conceited curmudgeon (Kenneth Branagh) and his frequent sparring partner (Emma Thompson).

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: For his next Shakespeare-inspired film after Henry V, screenwriter and director Kenneth Branagh leads an A-list ensemble (also including Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, and Keanu Reeves) in Much Ado About Nothing - a wonderfully told rendition of one of the Elizabethan writer’s most lighthearted and romantic plays.

Buy/Rent Much Ado About Nothing on Amazon.
Get Much Ado About Nothing on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)

An ambitious scientist (Kenneth Branagh) achieves his dream of defying human mortality by creating an original being (Academy Award winner Robert DeNiro) with the use of spare body parts and successfully giving it life, but quickly comes to loathe his creation and leaves it to fend for itself.  

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: A year after Much Ado About Nothing, Kenneth Branagh tried his hand at directing and leading the cast of another film inspired by a groundbreaking author’s literary classic, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - a comparatively more accurate adaptation of the seminal novel than Universal’s 1931 monster movie from a screenplay by co-written by Frank Darabont.

Stream Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on Amazon.
Get Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

A renowned private investigator with a thick French accent and an even thicker mustache (Kenneth Branagh) boards a train where he is soon and unexpectedly called into action when one of its passengers suddenly turns up dead, leaving the the surviving travelers in suspicion.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Much later in his career, Kenneth Branagh tried his hand at directing an adaptation of one of the most iconic novels by Agatha Christie, as well as assuming the role of the influential mystery writer’s most famous character, Detective Hercule Poirot, with the star-studded Murder on the Orient Express, which was enough of hit to spawn Branagh’s dream follow-up, Death on the Nile, in 2022.

Buy/Rent Murder On The Orient Express on Amazon.
Get Murder On The Orient Express on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Othello (1995)

An accomplished war general (Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne) is manipulated by a scheming Ensign (Kenneth Branagh) into believing that his secret marriage to a senator’s daughter (Irène Jacob) is threatened by her infidelity with his lieutenant (Nathaniel Parker).

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: While not writing, directing, or having any noted input from the behind the camera in this Shakespeare adaptation, Kenneth Branagh gives one of his best and most chilling performances as Iago, the villain of Othello - the thrilling debut of screenwriter and director Oliver Parker.

Buy/Rent Othello on Amazon.
Get Othello on DVD on Amazon.

My Week With Marilyn (2011)

A film student (Eddie Redmayne) strikes up an unexpected and intimate relationship with American movie star Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) while working on the set of her new production, The Prince and the Showgirl, in late 1950s London.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Years after directing and leading adaptations of Shakespeare plays that were also previously directed by and led on film by fellow knight Laurence Olivier (namely Henry V and Hamlet), Kenneth Branagh portrayed the Academy Award winning actor himself (and to Academy Award-nominated acclaim) in My Week with Marilyn - director Simon Curtis and screenwriter Adrian Hodges’ adaptation of two memoirs by filmmaker Colin Clark.

Stream My Week With Marilyn on Tubi.
Rent My Week With Marilyn on Amazon.
Get My Week With Marilyn on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Road To El Dorado (2000)

A pair of fortune-seeking con artists (Kenneth Branagh and Academy Award winner Kevin Kline) stumble upon the chance the find the score of their lives when they come into possession of a map that leads to a legendary and rich city in 16th-Century South America.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Kenneth Branagh made his feature-length animated film debut with Dreamworks’ cult favorite adventure story, The Road to El Dorado - a fun throwback to the old school adventure films with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby that also features original songs by Elton John.

Stream The Road To El Dorado on Peacock Premium.
Buy/Rent The Road To El Dorado on Amazon.
Get The Road To El Dorado on Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)

Ignoring the warnings of his house elf (Toby Jones), a young wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) returns for a second year of studying the art of magic at his prestigious boarding school, where a series of eerie and dangerous events begin to happen.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: As it was an unofficial rite of passage for most British actors at the time, Kenneth Branagh joined author J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World for the first and last time as the arrogant, fame-seeking Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - the second installment of the phenomenal Harry Potter fantasy franchise from director Chris Columbus.

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Dunkirk (2017)

In the early years of the second World War, hundreds of thousands of British, Belgian, and French soldiers struggle to survive when they are left stranded on the coast of a port town in France where the German army threatens them at every turn.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: In his first collaboration with writer and director Christopher Nolan, Kenneth Branagh plays a Royal Navy commander named Bolton who is tasked with rescuing the endangered soldiers at the titular French town in Dunkirk - one of Nolan’s most ambitious and technically marvelous efforts yet. 

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Thor (2011)

A godly and arrogant warrior (Chris Hemsworth) is stripped of his powers and banished to Earth by his father (Anthony Hopkins), where he falls in love with an astrophysicist (Academy Award winner Natalie Portman) and, meanwhile, his adoptive brother (Tom Hiddleston) vengefully conspires to assume control of their heavenly kingdom.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Among Kenneth Branagh’s most notable directorial efforts in which he does not appear onscreen is Thor - the fun, visually stunning, mythological tale that introduced the titular God of Thunder and the world of Asgard into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and skyrocketed Chris Hemsworth onto the A-List.

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Cinderella (2015)

Constantly ridiculed and taken advantage of by her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett), a meek young woman (Lily James) receives a chance to break free of her dreary life when, with help from her fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter), she attends a royal ball held by a charming prince (Richard Madden) she met once before.

Why it’s one of Kenneth Branagh’s best movies: Another time that Disney enlisted Kenneth Branagh’s directorial talents with fun and visually stunning results was a live-action retelling of its own classic animated adaptation of Cinderella, which launched Lily James onto the A-List (when she was best known from the Downton Abbey cast) and gave moviegoers another great princess to root for.

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Next in the pipeline for Kenneth Branagh is This Sceptered Island, a miniseries in which he will play British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also joined the Oppenheimer cast, for what will be his third collaboration with Christopher Nolan.

Typically when a movie ends, the credits roll, the lights come on, and you go about your business as you are transported from the magical world of the cinema back into the real world. But there are certain situations where we go back and revisit the transfixing piece of art and step back into the world the creator has crafted for the moviegoing audience. This just so happens to be the case with Kenneth Branagh’s coming of age drama Belfast, which upon its home release on Blu-ray and Digital, took audiences back to 1969 Northern Ireland with a small treasure trove of special features that only add to the movie and make the filmmaker’s love of his native land and family all the more noticeable.

The piece of bonus content that stands out the most, and one that literally adds to the movie, is the Belfast alternate ending, which features a brief coda that serves more as an extension of the film than anything else. Below, I will break down what happens in the original theatrical cut, the alternate ending, and what those few extra minutes add to this beautiful and personal movie that has since received a total of seven Academy Award nominations.

How The Theatrical Cut Of Belfast Ends

The original Belfast ending offers an emotional yet hopeful conclusion for Kenneth Branagh’s drama and sees Buddy (Jude Hill) and his family finally making the difficult decision to leave everyone and everything they know behind in hopes of finding a better life in England, a life far away from the sectarian violence and poor economic prospects of their hometown. In these final moments, “Granny” (Judi Dench), Buddy’s loving grandmother stays behind and watches what’s left of her family slowly depart on a bus, offering this heartbreaking line:

And then, the movie cuts to modern-day Belfast (fully in color just like the film’s opening shots) with the following text running across the screen: “For the ones who stayed. For the ones who left. And for all the ones who were lost.”

What Happens In The Belfast Alternate Ending

The Belfast alternate ending doesn’t really serve as a replacement to the theatrical cut, but serves almost as a continuation of the story Kenneth Branagh is trying to tell. In this ending, we see an older Buddy (Branagh) as he returns to modern-day Belfast for an undisclosed reason.

Upon leaving the airport, Buddy’s driver shows him around the city, pointing out all the major landmarks like the Titanic museum and the studio where “every episode of Game of Thrones” was shot. Buddy, however, is only interested in one thing: seeing his childhood home. During the drive, he asks the driver to turn down a random street that eventually leads to the row of houses seen throughout the earlier parts of the movie. He walks and takes in the sights and sounds as he is taken back to that oh-so-familiar block where he played football, stole chocolate, and fell in love with movies long ago.

During this sequence, Buddy has a conversation with one of his old neighbors who tells him it’s okay to get sentimental about coming home before saying:

As Buddy’s driver tells him they should be going, he looks up to her and says he can make his way back as he knows which road to take (a callback to a younger buddy’s reaction to his pastor’s sermon about coming to a fork in the road earlier in the movie) before yelling out:

The scene ends with Buddy walking away from the camera, passing by the various characters from the movie who then join him in a slow march with the sounds of Belfast playing in the background before the screen fades to black.

What The Belfast Alternate Ending Adds To The Story

Even though the original Belfast ending does a tremendous job of tying a nice bow on Kenneth Branagh’s highly personal story, there was something about the alternate ending that struck a nerve. As someone who left their childhood home for a better prospect of a future, the visual of an older Buddy coming back to his old stomping grounds made me a little misty-eyed and left me thinking about the people, places, and memories that are still very much a part of me despite having been gone all these years.

But, beyond my personal feelings and experiences, the alternate ending also does a fantastic job of wrapping up some of the major points of the movie, especially when it comes to the effect the pastor’s sermon had on a younger Buddy all those years earlier. Throughout the movie, the young boy obsesses over making the right decision at the proverbial fork in the road, and in the final moments of the alternate ending, it’s clear that his family’s decision to leave home was the right path for Buddy.

Now, this is not to say you can’t go home again, as for Buddy, home is a state of mind; a feeling, so to speak. He holds those memories -- both good and bad -- near and dear to his heart, and Kenneth Branagh’s upbringing in the conflicted Belfast is still very much a part of him over 50 years after leaving “home.”

It should also be noted that this alternate ending was originally how the movie was supposed to conclude, but as Branagh explained in a conversation with Collider, he felt the movie worked better as a more trimmed-down version, saying that certain elements didn't work. Who knows, maybe there will be an extended director's cut featuring the alternate ending with all the deleted scenes left on the cutting room floor.

If you want to see the Belfast alternate ending, as well as other great bonus features, pick up a copy on Blu-ray and Digital and at various retailers. And, if you want to know where you can watch all the Best Picture nominees, don’t worry, because we have you covered. Oh, and don't forget to take a glance at all the other new DVD and Blu-ray releases you can expect to see this year.

There are spoilers in this article, though not about the murderous and dastardly plot itself. Your mileage with these spoilers in advance of seeing the film may vary. 

Hercule Poirot’s mustache has had many famous iterations over the years, from Albert Finney’s neat take on the ‘stache, to David Suchet’s much more finicky and perfectly sculpted look. Across two movies, Kenneth Branagh’s look has been the brashest and most masculine of the three, taking over a large portion of his face. Now, we know why, as Death on the Nile actually gives Branagh’s Poirot a mustache origin story. 

In its opening scene, Death on the Nile strays furthest from Agatha Christie’s source material. We’re taken as viewers to the trenches of World War 1, where Hercule Poirot is a much younger man and, in fact, a much younger man with no mustache. He’s also deeply interested in the details, even at this point, and his success at simply paying attention helps his fellow men to cross No Man’s Land and mount a successful attack.

They gain victory on the other side and all seems to be well when Poirot’s (also mustachioed) Captain doesn’t think before he steps and accidentally hits a tripwire, leading to his death. Poirot is nearby when this happens and the shrapnel from the explosion cuts up his face. Later, we learn that Poirot is wooing a woman, who visits him in the hospital though is in a sour mood. Unabashedly, she shares her love and cheers him up, telling him he’ll simply have to grow a mustache and that she loves him anyway! And this is where the origin story begins, though there’s more to the tale to come. 

In Agatha Christie’s novels, Poirot is very finicky about the state of his facial hair. At one point in her writings we learn he uses “curling tongs” to land the notable shape. At another point, it’s warm out and Hercule Poirot laments his mustaches were becoming “limp.” But there is some evidence for a large mustache, particularly in Murder on the Orient Express, in which he has trouble with soup. It’s only fitting then that that Murder on the Orient Express was where a new generation of fans are introduced to Hercule Poirot and this unwieldy mustache. 

This version of Poirot seems to have take that note and run with it. This Hercule Poirot still has a memorable mustache, and perhaps even a great one, but in Death in the Nile this Poirot is less vain about that mustache. It is there to conceal more than anything else. 

Of course, this version of the famous Belgian detective may not be exactly the same as other versions, but one thing Hercule Poirot always is is a bachelor, and Death On the Nile does not change those beats. As the twisted murder plot unfolds, we learn from Poirot that the love of his life, the woman who stood by him after his face was rent apart, died trying to see him while he was still recuperating in the hospital at Christmas. Afterward, Poirot did not return home to live a quiet life as a farmer. He grew a mustache; he concealed his scars; he became a great detective of some fame. 

Lest you think Kenneth Branagh’s mustache is less “fastidious” than that of Suchet or even John Malkovich, who also occupied the role for TV, the director of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile did say the Hercule Poirot facial hair takes a lot of time to get right. 

While it may be bushier and bolder than what Agatha Christie considered in her own written works, I daresay what Kenneth Branagh achieved in this addition to the original tale is emotionally satisfying. Besides, it offers one other cool tie-in to the director’s career, in that he employed black and white footage for the World War I scenes, which is a tact he also used in the awards darling film Belfast that came out in 2021. (Our Belfast review.) These additions are noteworthy along with some of the other changes from the novel. 

What Kenneth Branagh has brought to life on the big screen is obviously not the version of Poirot Agatha Christie wrote. There’s too much action that Poirot is involved in and he frankly doesn’t look the part. But I’m personally pleased for the trailer and movie to bring something a little newer, a little more thrilling, a little more emotionally resonating for the big screen. I’m not sure that one can improve on the original version, or should even try, but I do think there's room to keep making these movies, and I'm happy they are trying something new. 

Now if only I knew what David Suchet himself thinks...

Ever since Murder on the Orient Express released back in 2017, creating a spike in interest for Agatha Christie books everywhere, it was only a matter of time before another movie adapting the stories of Hercule Poirot would be made. Now, Death on the Nile is out in movie theaters and making splashes with an intensely talented ensemble cast. 

But with so many stars, you might be wondering where you’ve seen them before. From long-time stars in the industry to younger actors and actresses making their way, here is where you’ve seen the Death on the Nile cast before.  

Kenneth Branagh (Hercule Poirot)

Returning from the first movie is Kenneth Branagh, playing the main character of Death on the Nile, Hercule Poirot. Branagh has been in the industry for some time, in both movies and TV, so it’s not a surprise that you might have seen him before. 

Some of his biggest works in film include, Henry V, the excellent fantasy movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, My Week With Marilyn, the war film, Dunkirk, Tenet, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, the Disney live-action adaptation of Cinderella, and 2021’s Belfast. 

While Branagh keeps his talents mainly to film, he’s also had a career in television as well. He had a main role in the series Lunar Jim, as well as recurring roles in shows such as Wallander, Thompson, Fortunes of War and more.

Tom Bateman (Bouc)

Also returning from the previous film is Tom Bateman, playing Bouc in Death on the Nile. Starting off his career in theatre, Bateman has appeared in a variety of movies and TV. While he also appeared in Murder on the Orient Express, he had roles in the movies Creditors, Snatched, Cold Pursuit and more. 

He’s also had a successful career in television, including roles in shows such as Da Vinci’s Demons, a lead role in Jekyll and Hyde, and parts in miniseries like Vanity Fair, Beecham House, Behind Her Eyes and more. 

Annette Bening (Euphemia)

Playing Euphemia in Death on the Nile is Annette Bening, an iconic actress who has been around for some time, appearing in huge films that have won many awards. One of her most known roles was starring in American Beauty, but some of her other big roles include The Grifters, Being Julia, The Kids Are All Right, Mrs. Harris, 20th Century Woman, Rules Don’t Apply, Captain Marvel and more. 

Bening has kept more of her talents towards movies, but she has appeared in some great TV shows and miniseries. Besides a couple of guest roles, she had a recurring voice role in the show, Liberty’s Kids, as well as an award-nominated performance in Mrs. Harris, where she played Jean Harris in a television movie. 

Russell Brand (Linus Windlesham)

Popping up next in Death in the Nile is Russell Brand, playing Linus Windlesham. While Brand is mainly known for his stand-up comedy, including several TV specials he has done, he’s been in plenty of movies and TV shows. Some of his biggest roles in film include Get Him to the Greek, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the Despicable Me series, Hop, Trolls, Minions and more. 

Brand has definitely appeared many times as himself in TV, including shows like Saturday Night Live, Big Time Rush, and others. Among his many guest roles on television, he has been in shows like Ballers, playing Lance, as well as a guest role in Hospital People, playing Tyler Watt. 

Ali Fazal (Andrew Katchadourian)

Next up is Ali Fazal, playing Andrew Katchadourian in Death on the Nile. Fazal has been in many popular Indian films, including Fukrey, Always Kabhi Kabhi, 3 Idiots and more, but he’s also appeared in a couple of American films as well. These include Furious 7 and House Arrest on Netflix. 

Fazal has mainly kept his talents to movies when it comes to television, only having a couple of guest roles in Bollywood shows. He also had a recurring role in Bollywood Hero, and a role in the miniseries Bang Baaja Baaraat. 

Dawn French (Mrs. Bowers)

Playing Mrs. Bowers in Death on the Nile is Dawn French. Mainly known for her comedy sketch show, French and Saunders, French has had a pretty active career in television, including roles in Girls on Top, The Vicar of Dibley in which she led, Wild West, Psychoville, Delicious and more, as well as judge stints and hosting gigs on shows such as Little Big Shots and Australia’s Got Talent.  

French has also appeared in many popular movies as well. Some of her most-known roles were the stop-motion animated movie, Coraline, Love and Other Disasters and Animals United. 

Gal Gadot (Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle)

In Death on the Nile, Gal Gadot plays Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle. I’m sure at some point you’ve heard of who Gal Gadot is in the last couple of years. One of her biggest roles thus far has been playing the legendary superhero, Wonder Woman, in two standalone films, Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman: 1984, as well as appearing in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and both versions of Justice League. 

Some of her other big roles in movies include the record-breaking Netflix film, Red Notice, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Triple 9 and more - and will soon be playing the Evil Queen in the upcoming Snow White adaptation. While she hasn’t had a main role in any TV shows, she has guest-starred on several television series’, like Entourage, The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live. 

Armie Hammer (Simon Doyle)

Moving on, we have Armie Hammer, who plays Simon Doyle in Death on the Nile, the husband of Gal Gadot’s character. Armie Hammer has appeared in many movies and TV shows. Some of his biggest roles were being a part of The Social Network cast, The Lone Ranger, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Call Me By Your Name, On The Basis Of Sex and more. 

He’s also had roles in many TV shows, including but not limited to the CW series, Gossip Girl, Reaper, and guest roles on many other shows like Veronica Mars or Desperate Housewives. 

Rose Leslie (Lousie Bourget)

Up next is Rose Leslie, who plays Louise Bourget in Death on the Nile. Leslie has appeared in some great roles in movies, including The Last Witch Hunter, The Last Dance, Morgan and more, but television is where she really shines. 

For three seasons, Leslie starred as Ygritte on Game of Thrones. Besides that, she’s also had main roles in shows like Downton Abbey, where she played Gwen Dawson during the first season, portrayed Emma Lane in Luther, played Maia Rindell in The Good Fight, and played Kirsten Longacre in the miniseries, Vigil. 

Emma Mackey (Jacqueline de Bellefort)

Playing Jacqueline de Bellefort in Death on the Nile is Emma Mackey. While she’s younger than many of her other co-stars on this list, Mackey has been making strides in Hollywood through her roles. 

In terms of movies, she’s appeared in the films The Winter Lake and Eiffel, but her biggest role this far is being a part of the Sex Education cast, playing Maeve Wiley in the popular Netflix series.  

Sophie Okonedo (Salome Otterbourne)

Next up is Sophie Okonedo, who plays Salome Otterbourne in Death on the Nile. With a career that has spannwd decades, Okonedo has almost done too many roles to list them all, but rest assured, you’ve probably seen her before. 

Some of her biggest roles in movies have been starring in Hotel Rwanda (which got her a nomination for an Academy Award), Martian Child, The Secret Life of Bees, Skin, Hellboy, Christopher Robin and more. 

Okonedo has also appeared in a variety of TV shows. These include The Governor, Starting Alive, In Defence, Clocking Off, Tsunami: The Aftermath, Criminal Justice, Flack, the Ryan Murphy-created series, Ratched, the Amazon Prime original series, Modern Love and Wheel of Time, His Dark Materials, and many, many other roles. 

Jennifer Saunders (Marie Van Schuyler)

Second to last is Jennifer Saunders, who plays Marie Van Schuyler in Death on the Nile. Saunders is most known for her sketch comedy show, French and Saunders, which she hosted with her comedy partner, Dawn French (as previously seen on this list). However, Saunders has had quite the career in both movies and TV. 

In terms of movies, Saunders has appeared in roles that include Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2, Coraline, Minions, Sing and Sing 2, Patrick, and more.

Saunders has also had quite the TV career. Besides her popular sketch shows with her partner, including Absolutely Fabulous, Parkinson, Dead Boss, Blandings, Josh, The Stranger miniseries and more, alongside many guest appearances in reality and talk shows, examples being Richard Osman’s House of Games and The View, among others. 

Letitia Wright (Rosalie Otterbourne) 

Lastly, we have Letitia Wright, who plays Rosalie Otterbourne in Death on the Nile. Wright has been making her name known these last couple of years with her big appearance as Shuri in the popular Marvel film, Black Panther, a role that she reprised again in both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, and is reprising once more in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Besides her character in the MCU, Wright was also a part of the Sing 2 cast, and appeared in movies such as Guava Island, The Commuter, and Ready Player One. 

Wright has also had a pretty big career in television, including roles in shows like Banana, Cucumber, Top Boy, Humans, the Netflix original series, Black Mirror and the miniseries, Small Axe. 

With so many stars in this movie, it’s no wonder they’ve been in so many movies and TV shows, but now, they can all add Death on the Nile onto their resume as well. And I for one can’t wait to see what they do next.  

With Oscar nominations right around the corner, CinemaBlend is taking a look at which films and performances are likely to be in contention for nominations. Let’s look at the Best Director race. 

Locked In

The director’s branch has dealt some brutal snubs in the past, but if there’s one candidate who is immune, it’s Jane Campion for The Power of the Dog. Her thoughtful, meticulous direction has earned her more critics awards than any director this season by far.

Denis Villeneuve is likely to find himself in the director race again with Dune. It’s perhaps the most stunning looking and sounding big budget film of the year, and one that will be supported with nominations in just about every tech category.

Paul Thomas Anderson solidified himself in this category after a DGA nomination for Licorice Pizza. The Academy was the only major awards body to nominate him for Phantom Thread, so it’s hard to imagine he’ll miss for his latest, which will easily show up in Best Picture and Original Screenplay as well.

Likely Bets

This branch of the Academy is no stranger to nominating directors from international films, even ones that don’t make the Best Picture lineup like Cold War and Another Round. Ryusuke Hamaguchi has a great shot at being that sort of nominee with Drive My Car. The film is a frontrunner in International Feature, and is one of the most acclaimed of the year. BAFTA nominations in Screenplay and Directing add a lot of confidence to this pick.

Nearly every year, this category produces a shocking snub or two. Should Hamaguchi make it in, it’ll likely be Steven Spielberg or Kenneth Branagh who misses. Films with strong visual craftsmanship excel here, so it’s baffling to imagine Spielberg missing for West Side Story. However, Spielberg isn’t always nominated alongside his films, and a weak performance from BAFTA makes me skeptical of his nomination. I think West Side Story is a weaker contender overall than Belfast, so shockingly, I am predicting Spielberg misses for Branagh and Hamaguchi. 

Dark Horses

Adam McKay seems likely on paper to be nominated for Don’t Look Up, but he hasn’t received support with precursors like DGA and Critics Choice the way he did for his previous two awards contenders. Guillermo del Toro and Joel Coen have certainly made some of the most eye-popping films of the year with Nightmare Alley and The Tragedy of Macbeth, respectively. However, their films are weaker contenders overall. 

Perhaps there’s another international contender we should consider like Julia Ducournau for Titane or Joachim Trier for The Worst Person in the World, but Hamaguchi is more likely to be that candidate.

You can check out our other category breakdowns for Lead Actor, Lead Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay.

Kenneth Branagh is back, directing and starring in another Agatha Christie book-to-movie adaptation with Death on the Nile. Following 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express, which Branagh also helmed and starred in, Death on the Nile will see private detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) back in action to solve the murder of a vacationer aboard the S.S. Karnak. Critics have seen the movie, and the reviews are in. 

Death on the Nile features another ensemble cast. In addition to Kenneth Branagh, the murder mystery also returns Tom Bateman as Poirot’s friend Bouc, and features some big names including Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright. Let’s see what the critics are saying about Death on the Nile, starting with our own CinemaBlend review. Mike Reyes rates the film 4 stars out of 5 and says while this second Agatha Christie adaptation delves more into Poirot’s backstory, it expertly keeps the crime he’s tasked with solving. 

Siddhant Adlakha of IGN rates the movie 7 out of 10, saying the first half flounders but leads to an intense and personal second half. It takes patience, Adlakha says, but it’s worth the wait. 

Not all of the critics are willing to be so patient, however. Owen Gleiberman of Variety likes Death on the Nile better than Kenneth Branagh’s previous venture, but says it still feels like a relic and pales in comparison to the modern murder myster — or “Agatha Christie 2.0” — Knives Out.

That isn’t the review that compares Death on the Nile unfavorably to Knives Out, as SlashFilm’s Josh Spiegel says he’s already looking ahead to Knives Out 2. He and other critics mention that the real-world assault and rape allegations against Armie Hammer make for some awkward scenes between him and his two romantic partners. Spiegel calls the movie an “absolute misfire” and rates it a 2 out of 10. 

The ensemble and pacing of the film is also knocked by David Rooney of THR, who rather than looking at the updated version of a murder mystery compares this adaptation to the 1978 version of Death on the Nile. He notes that Kenneth Branagh’s version is outshined in terms of supporting cast and writing. However, its faults aren’t bad enough that audiences unfamiliar with the previous adaptation will be bothered.

Kyle Anderson of Nerdist agrees with other critics that the film is strongest when focusing on the murder, which apparently doesn’t happen as early as in the source material. 

Death on the Nile doesn’t please all the critics, and it seems like some of their critiques aren’t about the movie at all. Whether it’s the off-camera scandals of its cast or comparisons to either past adaptations or the revamped version of the whodunit genre, Death on the Nile is fighting a lot of battles before it even starts. 

Death on the Nile is set to hit theaters on Friday, February 11. Check out our 2022 Movie Release Calendar to see what other films are coming soon. 

The arrival of 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express may have felt like a bit of a fluke to outsiders who watched Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie movie rack up a surprise box office victory. A classic tale that had already seen itself adapted several times over, Branagh’s modern incarnation of Hercule Poirot wowed audiences enough to prompt the relatively quick development of a sequel that would become Death on the Nile. It’s enough to make some wonder if the director is pushing his luck, even after making a name for himself through many a Shakespeare adaptation – but the results on display prove that Branagh hasn’t merely stumbled on a fluke, but rather another literary legacy in cinema that allows him to show off his charms, both in front of and behind the camera. 

As teased in the end of his previous adaptation, Death on the Nile sees Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot taking a trip to solve a murder on the Nile river. Unintentionally roped into a love triangle that involves a couple of newlyweds (Gal Gadot and Armie Hammer) and the woman that would seemingly challenge their happiness (Emma Mackey), the Belgian detective is presented with another murder to solve. 

Showcasing yet another all star cast of colorful suspects, this new mystery is a comfortable return to those who have loved Hercule’s methodology in classic and modern contexts. Most beautifully, Death on the Nile gives viewers even more of a window into the enigmatic detective’s personal life, while exploring this new case in equally effective form.

Returning to the world of Hercule Poirot, this new mystery allows us to get up close and personal with the sleuth himself.

Though Agatha Christie wrote several iconic detective characters throughout her impressive career, the real highlights have been the stories told through the usage of characters like Poirot. Death on the Nile, much like many of Christie mysteries, has always been appreciated for the mystery itself, rather than a character building tale that develops its protagonist as a full-fledged character. Kenneth Branagh, along with writer Michael Green, build out Poirot’s personal backstory in such a way in the film adaptation that it allows us to get up close and personal with the sleuth while also watching him solve yet another cinematic mystery.

With the usage of a World War I flashback to young Poirot’s military service, the sequel gives the audience more pieces to the mystery behind the mystery solver. It’s especially pertinent to Death on the Nile’s story, as the personal depths of our detective’s love life fuel his efforts to untangle a love triangle that’s proven deadly. For Branagh and Green’s Hercule Poirot, being a mythical mind of mystery isn’t enough, as we see him wrestle with solving more than just a simple whodunnit. 

The intimate narrative pairs well with the story of Emma Mackey's Jacqueline de Bellefort, as her obsessive nature gives Poirot a brilliant foil to explore his tragic past. At the same time, Mackey separates herself from an impressive cast of all stars that includes Russell Brand, comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, and Annette Benning, as her Jacqueline brilliantly rides the line between lethal romantic and a cunning potential suspect.

Navigating through a maze of motives and suspects confined to the corridors and staterooms of a boat sailing down Egypt's most famous river, the movie adding the detective’s very personal subplot helps make Death on the Nile more than just another procedural. Watching our hero grapple with his feelings while working out the scenario makes for a more approachable angle when it comes to the well-known literary gumshoe, and allows Kenneth Branagh to infuse his character with oodles of charm and stubbornness. It’s the very vital pulse to a story that’s almost a century old, and it couldn’t be in better hands this time around.

Kenneth Branagh truly excels at making the mystery the star of the show.

No matter if your murder mystery is a whole cloth creation, or a well-tailored re-skin of a tale like Death on the Nile, showing the process of deducing and solving such a case can be tough. It’s a cerebral process, and without the right lens, the movie that results can be dry and full of static close ups of its central detective pulling a series of "thinking" faces. Much as he did with Murder on the Orient Express, Branagh excels at making the murder plot at the heart of this new installment the star of the show. 

Of course, it helps that a good portion of the earlier acts of the film showcase stunning settings like Egyptian ruins and the nightclub scene of London. Audiences get quite an eyeful of those places as the building blocks to the case ahead are laid out in beautiful detail. But by time the body count starts to pile up and the sleuthing intensifies in this time tested tale, the epic scale of earlier scenes gives way to the more enclosed portion of the ride. 

Done incorrectly, Death on the Nile could be stuffy, but by bombarding the viewer with lush scenery and some choice set pieces ratcheting tension throughout the earlier scenes of the film, Kenneth Branagh sets the story up so well that the confinement works beautifully in the favor of the movie. Well-versed Poirot fanatics and newcomers will once again be glued to the man’s process and how it plays out on the screen thanks to the visual language of mystery solving remaining a strong and intriguing exercise this time out. 

After many Shakespeare adaptations, Kenneth Branagh has found another literary muse.

Much as he’s done in the past with Shakespeare adaptations like his iconic Hamlet, Kenneth Branagh has written a love letter to another literary muse of which he can’t get enough. Death on the Nile proves that the actor/director’s talents are just as sharp as ever, with a deadly tale of obsession giving him a conduit to indulge in his personal tastes. Thankfully, Branagh’s love doesn’t lead to a murder; rather, it gives the world another fresh take on classic source material. 

Once again shooting on 65mm film, Branagh and cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos invoke an old Hollywood style with a very modern storyline, and it’s as much of a meal as the beloved Murder on the Orient Express. The results prove the previous movie’s success wasn’t just a flash in the pan. 

Like any good storyteller, Kenneth Branagh revitalizes the classics in Death on the Nile. There are enough changes to keep people guessing, with enough clever reinvention brought to the basic pillars of the story to nail home the important components. What results is a thrill ride that might even surprise Agatha Christie devotees.

Whether you’re well-versed in this ship bound saga, or are a relatively new fan ready to follow Hercule Poirot anywhere after his previous caper, this journey is a delicious ride that’s as sexy as it is deadly. While a traditional mystery by formula, Kenneth Branagh's retelling experiments with modern twists and flare that make it compelling viewing, and a can't miss cinematic experience. 

As we move towards the beginning of 2022, we’re starting to see more films delayed from the pandemic re-schedulings of 2020 finally show up in theaters. Director/star Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile is one of those that have been shuttled around the calendar several times, but finally next February will be Hercule Poirot’s time to shine once more. Celebration is in order thanks to a new trailer, which shows us more murder and intrigue, but also much less of star Armie Hammer. 

20th Century Studios delivered this beautiful holiday present to the internet’s doorstep, as the oft-delayed Death on the Nile will see Poirot returning early in the new year. Another all-star cast, including the likes of Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Russell Brand, and Annette Bening, among others, is on hand for murder most foul. The heat is on, the bodies are adding up, and Poirot's wit is as sharp as his trademark mustache.

While one could presume that the avoidance of lingering glimpses at Armie Hammer might be due to recent events in his personal life, such a huge ensemble as the one in Death on the Nile could make it feel like any singular member is being given a little less time. With Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot having to make his way through a literal boatload of suspects in the name of the truth, it’s not like he can casually chat with everyone on board. Even with that in mind, the edits feel just a little sharper around those moments where we do see Armie Hammer’s Simon Doyle; and while it’s noticeable, it doesn't sink the atmosphere the trailer is selling its audience. 

Originally slated to set sail last October, the follow-up to the surprise smash Murder on the Orient Express steamed into various slots, before landing on its final destination. While we may not have gotten as many trailers for this film as we did for other delayed 20th Century Studios projects, like Free Guy and The King’s Man, the peeks behind the curtain have been continually enticing. This latest trailer for Death on the Nile strikes a perfect balance of showing us what we’ve seen before, but with just enough new details to keep us guessing. It’s honestly what Agatha Christie would have wanted. 

Should this latest Poirot adventure score a win for Kenneth Branagh and his studio partners, the Christie Cinematic Universe could find itself expanding even more. All that’s left to ponder is what the forces behind Death on the Nile have chosen the next adventure to name drop in the finale, which is exactly what sent book sales skyrocketing the last time the Belgian detective set foot in a movie theater. This may be a murder mystery, but that subject we’ve just mentioned may be the greater unknown for those looking forward to this next case.

Death on the Nile finally sets sail into theaters on February 11, 2022; just in time for Valentine’s Day. Murder and intrigue aren't always tastes shared by couples going to the movies, which is why you should probably check the 2022 release schedule carefully before making plans. Don't worry, the alternate options definitely sound more traditional, and one of them is even a J-Lo rom-com!

2021 was probably the worst year in the Golden Globes’ 77 year history. They were rightfully called out earlier this year for a total lack of Black members, as well as other unethical practices, resulting in NBC refusing to air their ceremony for 2022. 

The HFPA is currently in the process of making reforms to their organization, and has recruited 21 new members this year (their total prior was about 86). It was uncertain if the HFPA would even announce nominees and winners for the films of 2021, but on October 15th they confirmed they would hold a ceremony in some capacity, with nominations to be announced December 13th at 6 A.M. PST. 

A consequence of the chaos this year for prognosticators is that we don’t actually have confirmation on what films will be campaigned in comedy or musical, making predicting films like CODA much more difficult. So in my predictions below I’m also predicting category placements.

Motion Picture Drama

If Belfast, Dune, King Richard, and The Power of the Dog don’t all show up here, I’d be shocked. In my mind that leaves open one slot for a wildcard to sneak in. Part of the challenge predicting this year is that we don’t know which films will be slotted in comedy or drama. If CODA is in drama, I think it has a shot here. Despite underwhelming reviews, we shouldn’t underestimate Nightmare Alley or Being the Ricardos either. Spencer and The Tragedy of Macbeth could certainly contend, as could either of Ridley Scott’s films: House of Gucci and The Last Duel. Right now I’m hesitantly predicting CODA, but I expect to be swapping out this slot up until nomination morning.

Drama Actor

Will Smith (King Richard), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), and Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth) are near-locks in this category. The remaining two slots are tricky, as much of the competition they’ll face at the Oscars is on the comedy/musical side. Joaquin Phoenix has a shot for his understated performance in C’mon C’mon (assuming that’s in drama), and though it's a long shot, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nicolas Cage sneak in for Pig. For now, I’m predicting Javier Bardem for his portrayal of Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos, and Bradley Cooper for Nightmare Alley.

Drama Actress

Don’t bet against these four: Kristen Stewart (Spencer), Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye), Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos) and Lady Gaga (House of Gucci). As for that final slot, Penélope Cruz and Olivia Colman are certainly in the conversation for their roles in Parallel Mothers and The Lost Daughter respectively, but those films could be a little under the radar for the Globes. They love actors who play musical icons (see Andra Day’s shocking win last year), so I’m predicting they’ll nominate Jennifer Hudson for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Respect. 

Motion Picture Comedy / Musical

This was the best year for musicals in recent memory, and unlike some years, the Globes have plenty of riches to pick from in this category. West Side Story, Tick, tick… Boom!, Cyrano, and In the Heights all have a great shot to make it into this lineup. But they’ll be competing with comedies Licorice Pizza and Don’t Look Up. I expect the lineup will be pulled from these six films. In the Heights and Cyrano are probably the most vulnerable of the musicals. Though recency bias would favor Cyrano, I’m predicting it to miss, as it’s the least acclaimed the bunch. Or maybe both will show up at the expense of Don’t Look Up, whose divisive reactions could work against it.

Comedy / Musical Actor

There are four actors in this lineup that no one should be betting against: Andrew Garfield (Tick, tick… Boom!), Peter Dinklage (Cyrano), Leonardo DiCaprio (Don’t Look Up), and Anthony Ramos (In the Heights). The final slot is keeping me up at night. I would love for them to go with Simon Rex for Red Rocket, but that’s probably wishful thinking. I could honestly see them going for Ansel Elgort in West Side Story, but in a year where the organization is on thin ice, I think they’ll know better than to bring that sort of controversy their way. I’m perhaps optimistically going with Cooper Hoffman for Licorice Pizza. Although he is young and hasn’t been as seriously in the awards conversation as his co-star Alana Haim, it certainly helps that he is part of a bigger overall contender. 

Comedy / Musical Actress

The two no-brainers here are Alana Haim for Licorice Pizza and Rachel Zegler for West Side Story. I also expect Emma Stone may pretty easily get a nomination for Cruella, considering that things start to get a little thin beyond here. If CODA is in comedy, Emilia Jones will be nominated. And if Haley Bennett is lead for Cyrano, I’d say the same. If not, the most realistic options in my mind are Melissa Berrera (In the Heights), Jennifer Lawrence (Don’t Look Up), and Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World). I am far too cynical to pick the latter, but I would jump for joy if it happened. I’m settling for Berrera and Lawrence for now.

Supporting Actor

I’m expecting both Ciaran Hinds and Jamie Dornan will make it in for Belfast and Belfast respectively. Jared Leto has a shot here for House of Gucci, especially considering he was surprise nominated for The Little Things last year. For the remaining two slots there are a lot of options. Jon Bernthal has a great shot at coat-tailing off of King Richard. And I’d love to see Robin de Jesus in for Tick, tick… Boom!, a film I expect they’ll adore. I’m predicting those two for now. Kodi Smit-McPhee has been garnering lots of critics awards, but I’m skeptical he’ll perform as well with certain major precursors. Troy Kotsur has been gaining steam for CODA, but like Yuh-Jung Youn or Paul Raci last year, he may be too unknown for the HFPA. I’m also watching out for Mike Faist (West Side Story), Bradley Cooper (Licorice Pizza), and Ben Affleck (The Tender Bar). Unfortunately I don’t have much hope for Jason Isaacs (Mass).

Supporting Actress

Four performances widely expected to be nominated here are Ariana Debose (West Side Story), Caitriona Balfe (Belfast), Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard), and Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog). Fighting for that last slot we have Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley), Meryl Streep (Don’t Look Up), Ruth Negga (Passing), and Ann Dowd (Mass). I am also considering Rita Moreno for West Side Story. Though this is somewhat of a long shot, it could be a great moment for the Globes to pick a veteran all-star for what will likely be their favorite musical there. But considering how CODA seems like it’s starting to take off, I’m going with Marlee Matlin.

Director

The contenders who seem most likely here are Steven Spielberg (West Side Story), Kenneth Branagh (Belfast), Denis Villeneuve (Dune), and Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog). Many are predicting Paul Thomas Anderson for Licorice Pizza. I am skeptical. The director has never been nominated for a Golden Globe before. We can’t count out Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up), who was nominated for Vice and The Big Short. Nor should we underestimate Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard) or Guillermo del Toro (Nightmare Alley). However, I’m going with Lin Manuel Miranda for Tick, tick… Boom! Some would call this a long-shot, but I think the film is stronger than many are assuming and this feels like just the kind of celebrity actor-director nomination they’re notorious for embracing.

Screenplay

To make up for the director snub, I’m predicting Paul Thomas Anderson will land his first Golden Globe nomination in screenplay for Licorice Pizza. I also feel confident writer-directors Jane Campion and Kenneth Branagh will be nominated for their widely celebrated films. Despite Being the Ricardos’ lackluster reviews I cannot in good conscience underestimate 7-time nominee, 3-time winner Aaron Sorkin in this category. I’ve got my eye on Don’t Look Up here, as well as King Richard. But I feel the love for West Side Story will be so strong that Tony Kushner will take a nomination.

With the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations both taking place Monday the 13th, there will surely be a lot to discuss in terms of how it shapes the Oscar race. Check back here on Cinemablend for more awards analysis in the coming weeks.

There is a magic at play in Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast that speaks directly to the young man Branagh was, and the seasoned professional he has become. Though the intimate film set in Northern Ireland embraces the conflicts of the time between the Catholics and the Protestants, there’s a sidebar subplot regarding a pure love of cinema that can’t be (and shouldn’t be) overlooked. I was lucky enough to speak with the Belfast cast, all brimming with folks who know too well how movies get made, and asked them if they still can connect to that magical love of cinema. You will love Jamie Dornan’s answer, above. 

Like so many of us who have grown and had kids of our own, Jamie Dornan explains that he now appreciates things through their eyes… and that includes the movies. Dornan’s been involved in so many memorable films, either as part of the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise or stealing scenes in the recent comedy Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar. So he did understand the hard truth that when you become someone who makes the movies, it gets harder to let yourself go and fall head over heels in love with a movie. But when Dornan thought deeper on it, he did go on to explain:

It helps that the character on screen who’s enamored with the movies is young Buddy (Jude Hill), an Irish lad with a crush on his school mate who loves escaping the bombast in this neighborhood by ducking into the cinema. In one deliriously beautiful scene, the entire family featured in Belfast attends a screening of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the colors calling to the family up on the screen forces the members -- and the audience -- to lean forward and hope to fall in. 

Jamie Dornan loves that his movie captures some of what’s possible at the movies, telling CinemaBlend:

He’s right, and Belfast absolutely is one of those very special movies that does exactly what he says. It reminds us how incredible a night at the movies can be. So make sure that you head out and see it while it’s available at an auditorium near you.

Filmmaker Kenneth Branagh joins the show to chat about one of our favorite movies of the year, Belfast, starring Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, and Judi Dench. This film has immediately jumped to the top of our lists for this season’s race to the Academy Awards. Branagh talks with us about his lens choices, a very intimate moment of reading the script to Dame Judi Dench for the first time, and the film’s connection to his childhood and family. 

Stick around for our reviews on Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut Passing, Sean’s thoughts on Red Notice (starring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds) now that he’s had the chance to see it, and of course our rave reviews for our movie fo the week Belfast. 

Timestamps (Approx. Only)

00:04:35 - Weekly Poll

00:12:11 - Kenneth Branagh Interview

00:33:55 - This Week In Movies

00:35:00 - Passing Review

00:41: 59 - Red Notice Review

00:44:18 - Belfast Review

00:54:10 - Our Favorite Hans Zimmer Scores

01:04:17 - Outro

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We’re heading to awards season yet again, which means projects like Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast are about to fill the theaters in a bid for votes towards year-end honors. However, not all Oscar contenders are created equal, as some are clearly designed for the task, while others organically fit the bill. Branagh’s film fits the bill of the latter rather nicely, as he melds personal memories with historical events to create a top notch family drama that can both heal and wound the audience’s hearts with sincere humanity.

Loosely based on Kenneth Branagh's own childhood, Belfast centers around a boy named Buddy (newcomer Jude Hill) who is growing up in Ireland during the notoriously dangerous time known as The Troubles. While we see Buddy’s neighborhood start to become torn apart by those aggressions, the writer/director doesn’t focus solely on historical events. Rather, we’re treated to the reactions of Buddy's parents, Ma (Caitríona Balfe) and Pa (Jamie Dornan) and grandparents Granny (Dame Judi Dench) and Pop (Ciarán Hinds), which shape Buddy’s perspective of the period. 

A semi-autobiographical drama, Kenneth Branagh doesn’t get too personal with Belfast.

The reactions of Belfast’s central family provide the overarching narrative to which Kenneth Branagh limits the film’s scope. In a sense, the closest spiritual cousin that this movie has is writer-director Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma, as both projects are a mix of semi-autobiographical memories and historic turmoil. The big difference being is that Belfast, while having its share of frightening and bittersweet moments, comes off as a much lighter affair than its thematic predecessor. That's not to belittle Roma in any way, but while Cuaron's film was more of a catharsis, Belfast is more of a loving ode to history and family.

It may be because we’re following Buddy as a child protagonist throughout Belfast, but the tone of the film never gets too dour, nor does it go too personal. It certainly helps if you know at least a brief overview of The Troubles before going in, because there’s not a lot of explanation provided. Rather, the audience is given enough details to understand the situation, as historical and cultural touchstones are woven together with character moments and pop culture easter eggs. And smack dab in the center of it all is a performance so impressive, it justifies Buddy as being the heart and soul of Belfast.

Jude Hill’s introductory film role is a vital component to why Belfast’s story and ensemble work so beautifully.

As Belfast’s Buddy, Jude Hill makes quite an introduction as an actor, and it’s a role that absolutely demands a young performer that can do just that. Present in nearly every shot and every moment of the film, Hill’s protagonist is our eyes on the world of Kenneth Branagh’s childhood. No time is wasted establishing this fact either, as roughly five minutes into the film, the young star is made to react to hell breaking loose on his street, with Belfast erupting into a total riot as its opening gambit. 

Though he orbits around charming and heartfelt cast mates like Jamie Dornan, Caitríona Balfe, Dame Judi Dench, and Ciarán Hinds, the focus on Jude Hill is intense and deservedly so. Love, loss, and history are all presented in Belfast, and it’s a hard enough equation to land when you’ve got an adult character as your focus. With an emotional intelligence that’s quite keen for an actor of his age, Hill squares up with his seasoned adult co-stars, and never falls into cliché. 

It must also be said that the adult cast of Belfast is a spectacular ensemble in and of itself. The core group of actors that play Buddy’s family present a warm and loving household that’s trying its best to weather a storm that they don’t know will take decades to end. Love is key to survival of the family, but is also very important for the interpersonal relationships, as two romances play out during Buddy’s own coming-of-age antics. The equally charming pairs of Caitríona Balfe and Jamie Dornan and Dame Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds establish a beautiful humanity that helps Belfast tackle tough historical issues without having to stoop to manufactured dramatics. 

Belfast establishes itself as an awards contender through a balance between technical precision and character driven stakes.

Belfast could have very easily been either a standard historical biopic or merely a riff on the formula of autobiographical narrative. Those sorts of movies are absolutely gorgeous to look at, but don’t always translate into identifiable stories audiences want to see told. Watching Belfast feels more like screening home movies and rifling through photographs, as the experiences on display are told with amazing detail in sound and image, transporting the audience into those moments.

Kenneth Branagh balances both his technical prowess and his personal experiences to establish a story in Belfast that works with history and memory. Gorgeously captured in crisp black and white by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, the audience is treated to an artistic triumph, as well as an emotional success. 

Dedicating his film to those who left, those who stayed behind, and those we lost along the way, Branagh delivers a call for peace by showing us all what it’s like to be a kid again. Better still, he does so in a film that's not locked to any politically solvent issues of the time it was made, nor of the time it's depicting. Rather, Kenneth Branagh presents a story that can be fondly remembered for generations to come, with the smiles and frowns that any era of human history has to offer. 

Earlier this year, Fifty Shades of Grey heartthrob Jamie Dornan showed off a skill new to the world: singing. All it took was a hilarious musical number in Barb and Star go to Vista del Mar for the man to lodge himself into the public’s minds yet again-- this time as a song and dance man. Now it looks like he’ll be using those skills in the world of drama, alongside Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe, Dame Judi Dench, and Ciarán Hinds, in writer/director Kenneth Branagh’s latest film, Belfast.

As seen in the trailer released by Focus Features, Belfast is a slice of life film that takes place in the Irish city that it takes its name from. Set in 1969, and looking to tackle the subject of living during the 1969 Northern Ireland Riots, the story looks to be following a little boy named Buddy (newcomer Jude Hill) and how he and his family are changed by this moment in history. With that first look in mind, it feels like Belfast will definitely have some heartwarming family energy. Though at the same time, you just know you’re going to need tissues for when it gets to the sadness that lies underneath what this trailer has to offer.

Throughout the trailer for Belfast, two different movies come to mind. At first, the film looks like it could be Kenneth Branagh’s spin on what Alfonso Cuarón did with his Academy Award winning picture Roma. Both are very personal stories about living through times of massive upheaval, and the slick black and white look to Belfast matches that of Roma to a tee. So again, you’re probably going to cry as much as you will laugh while watching it.

But then another film, coincidentally another Academy Award candidate from the past, comes into frame: 2015’s Saoirse Ronan starring drama, Brooklyn. This is especially true as Belfast seems to be teasing a thread where Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan’s characters are considering leaving Ireland, potentially for the United States, in hopes of a better future. That’s not to say that Belfast is derivative, but rather that it’s another film that fits into the mold of memory pieces from a time not so long ago, reflecting on the sweet and the sad in equal measure.

There’s a great sadness that feels like it’s waiting to spring out around every corner of Belfast’s seemingly idyllic reflections. As Kenneth Branagh has once again assembled an all-star cast to tell a story he’s obviously thrilled to engage in, this trailer is enough to suck in anyone who’s remotely interested in these sorts of films. And for everyone else, there’s Jamie Dornan, singing and dancing his heart out, with so much charm that you can practically ignore the heartache that will undoubtedly be presented at one point or another.

You’ll get your chance to see your spirits soar, and have your heart broken, when Belfast is released in theaters on November 12th. That’s just in time to spur the tears and awards talk that come with such a lofty film, but you’ll probably want to check out what other contenders will be in theaters around that time. So head over to the 2021 release schedule, where the only crying you’ll be doing is when you notice that Top Gun: Maverick has moved into 2022.

Many actors lament the roles that got away. It’s far more rare for an actor to happily turn a huge role down, especially if it’s in a well-established franchise. But The Good Wife’s Alan Cumming is very honest about the fact that he once turned down a huge role in Harry Potter. In fact, he doesn’t seem to have any regrets at all, as he didn't mince words when explaining why he turned it down.

Over the span of eight movies, hundreds of actors appeared in the Harry Potter series. While the films center around the students at Hogwarts, many adult actors also filled key roles in the ensemble. Some characters, like Alan Rickman’s Severus Snape were present for the length of the series, while others only showed up for a film or two. Still, even if a character was a one-off performance, many actors likely coveted those roles. Alan Cumming was not one of them, as he told The Telegraph that he was given the chance to audition for the role of Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the second film in the series. But due to the circumstances surrounding the casting process, his response to the opportunity was less than positive:

That may be surprising to some, given what a big deal Harry Potter was. But Cumming explained what made him so resistant to join the franchise:

With that context, it makes sense why Cumming wasn’t keen to hop on the Hogwarts Express. Knowing that your work is valued less than another actor’s can’t be a great feeling. It’s hard not to wonder what Gilderoy Lockhart would have been like had he been played by Cumming, though.

Kenneth Branagh -- who almost ended up directing a Harry Potter film as well -- did well portraying the celebrity wizard-turned-Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher as the smarmy jerk fans of the books know him to be. Yet Alan Cumming could have brought a slightly sinister edge to the role and made it feel completely different. Nevertheless, fans of the actor did still get a chance to see him play opposite Daniel Radcliffe. The two actors co-starred in a production of the play Endgame in 2020, so they'll always have that connection, at least.

When it comes to breakthrough roles, Tom Hiddleston becoming Loki was one of Marvel’s best castings. Not only did Hiddleston graduate from indie films to blockbusters overnight, but he got to work with Anthony Hopkins. But even a two-time Oscar winner can get starstruck while filming a Marvel epic. Hiddleston admitted even Hopkins and other veterans occasionally fanboy out on the Marvel sets.

No matter how big a celebrity gets, there’s someone for them to geek out over. This happened to Tom Hiddleston while shooting Thor. But it wasn’t just him, as two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins and Thor director Kenneth Branagh had the same feeling while on set. The Loki star revealed how he served as a bridge for the director and the Oscar winner’s reciprocal fanboying.

The behind-the-scenes fanboying between all three was a weird juxtaposition against the emotional levity of Tom Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins’ emotional scene. You wouldn’t think someone of Hopkins or Kenneth Branagh's caliber would still be starstruck at this point in their careers. But it was nice to know that both were comfortable enough with Hiddleston to share their mutual admiration.

During his GQ interview, the Loki star delved more into the dynamic on the set of the first Thor film. Despite Thor and Loki’s relationship souring on screen, Tom Hiddleston revealed he and Chris Hemsworth formed a friendship while filming the movie. Hiddleston mentioned he and Hemsworth could relate to the pressure of filming such a big-budget franchise. So Thor built bonds and mutual respect that still can be felt a decade later.

Knowing of Anthony Hopkins and Kenneth Branagh’s mutual fanboying made the two even more relatable. Tom Hiddleston’s story gave some insight into the mutual respect and admiration behind the scenes. That said, the Loki star carried that spirit into the Disney+ series. If you want to see Hopkins and Hiddleston’s emotional father-son scene, you can stream Thor on Disney+.

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The early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were a time of great uncertainty, and quite a bit of panic. After Iron Man kickstarted Marvel Studios’ fortunes, the not-so-rosy performance of The Incredible Hulk seemingly gave MCU executives pause. Which meant that there was extra pressure on a film like director Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, and part of that response came from a simple request: Thor couldn’t look anything like Fabio.

I would never connect Chris Hemsworth with Fabio, but Branagh reminisced with Yahoo recently about Thor’s production, and it seems there was a concern with Thor as a character being too Fabio-esque. With the concept of Thor Odinson already occupying a world of magic and spanning across the mystical realms of the MCU, Kevin Feige and his team felt they needed someone to ground the character, so they could fit into the overall picture of Marvel’s Phase 1. Kenneth Branagh explained the importance of not making Thor Fabio-like, remarking:

Sure, thinking about that particular worry in Thor feels pretty silly after watching the entire history of the character as we know it. But it was a serious concern! In those crucial moves during Phase 1’s production, the image of a blonde dreamboat with long flowing hair and luxurious muscles still very much invoked the image of Fabio -- who may have peaked in the '80s or '90s but was very much still a pop culture figure in the early 2000s. It’s not hard to identify with how the Marvel Studios brass would want to avoid those comparisons, because could you take the image of Fabio as one of Earth’s mightiest heroes seriously? Didn’t think so.

Part of keeping Thor grounded was naturally the approach to the material, which saw Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespearian tendencies finding a rather nice home in Marvel’s burgeoning universe. While it was partially a fish-out-of-water movie, the 2011 origin story of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor did also provide some royal drama and familial betrayal that even The Bard himself would have nodded in approval of. Though if you don’t want your Thor to look (or act) like Fabio you have to cast him very carefully.

While the look of Thor’s central Avenger has changed throughout his appearances, there’s been only a consistent level of growth and professionalism out of Chris Hemsworth’s handling of the character. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame in particular saw Thor showing some hidden depths behind his normally happy-go-lucky nature. But even in Kenneth Branagh’s introduction to the character, where Hemsworth’s prince was cockier than he was wise, the fun was tempered by a serious story that didn’t just act as a romp through Earth’s realm.

It really can’t be understated that without Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, the Marvel Cinematic Universe may not have been allowed to become the juggernaut that it is today. Were a sillier, Fabio-esque adventure to have taken its place, the entire gamble could have folded more quickly than you could say Asgard. But now, after history proved Branagh’s hiring to be the right choice, we’re ready to see where the future takes this son of Odin.

We’ll get that chance when Thor: Love and Thunder marks the fourth chapter in Thor’s big screen history on May 6, 2022. That’s a little under a year away, so perhaps it’s a good time to revisit those early Thor adventures? If you happen to agree, Disney+ is the place to be, as they have all of Thor’s MCU escapades available for viewing. If you don’t have a subscription yet, check out the subscription bundle offer that’ll grant you access to that platform, as well as Hulu and ESPN+, with one convenient sign-up.

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There was once a time, back in those early wild west days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that the road was uncertain. Iron Man’s surprise hit status helped revitalize Robert Downey Jr.’s career, but also put into motion the machinery that would see Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios become the powerhouse that they are today. But if you ask Zack Stentz, one of the screenwriters who worked on Thor in those Phase One days, he’d tell you that Kenneth Branagh deserves more credit than he gets in helping make that universe possible. And it’s all thanks to his eye for casting intriguing leads.

Reflecting on the casting process that saw both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston becoming MCU fixtures/household names, Stentz shared his thoughts in a very insightful Twitter thread. Kicking off his thoughts was the fact that without Branagh’s casting of either of those actors, in a race that apparently saw other big names in the mix, Thor wouldn’t have been as good as it was. Zack Stentz credited that decision, and shared the following reason why:

It would have been easy to play Thor as a straight up superhero movie, where the hero is flawless and the villain is despicable. But were that the case, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki wouldn’t nearly be as exciting. Extending those thoughts into more recent happenings, there’s no way that Bro Thor would have happened if he was a perfect hero, and the Loki TV show on Disney+ would have probably never happened.

While both have gotten either dashing hero moments, or have committed atrocities they still have to answer for, Thor’s pair of brothers needed the right actors to give them life. Director Kenneth Branagh’s decision to go with Chris Hemsworth as the Odinson and Tom Hiddlston as his adopted brother is one of those earliest decisions that’s paid off, even in the post-Disney acquisition era. It’s a point that’s importance is further fleshed out in Zack Stentz’s reflection on the “mixed bag” that was the Paramount/Universal years:

Sure enough, the decisions behind Thor as well as Captain America: The First Avenger ended up delivering hits that eclipsed the stumbling block that was Universal’s The Incredible Hulk. And when that trailer for The Avengers showed up at the tail end of Chris Evans’ MCU debut, history was about to be made. While Marvel Studios is now a juggernaut, and its casting gambles now certified leads, it’s only fair to remember that the fruits of today came from the seeds of decisions that Kenneth Branagh and others planted in the past.

The orchard of movies and TV known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be harvested as often as you’d like, as the entirety of that lineup is currently on Disney+. Should you not be a subscriber just yet, there’s a fantastic offer that bundles that platform, as well as Hulu and ESPN+, into one convenient package. It’s not Thor’s hammer, but it packs quite the punch.

Agatha Christie's great detective Hercule Poirot hasn't been portrayed on the screen quite as often as say, Sherlock Holmes, but like Homes, it is a role that has been played by some of the world's finest actors. And each one comes at the character in a slightly different way and bringing something unique and interesting to the role. The most recent Poirot on screen is Kenneth Branagh, who played the character in the film Murder on the Orient Express, and will again, eventually, in Death on the Nile. But iconic actor David Suchet hasn't seen this new version yet.

David Suchet has the longest tenure as Poirot, playing the character in a collection of TV episodes and TV movies beginning in 1989 and running until 2013. As such, it's probably his face more than any other that modern audiences associate with the character of Hercule Poirot. However, it turns out the most prolific Poirot has never seen the newest incarnation. Suchet told the Radio Times (via the Independent) that he's made a specific point to avoid seeing Kenneth Branagh's version simply because everybody wants to know what he thinks, and he doesn't want to say anything bad. According to Suchet...

You would expect a guy who played Hercule Poirot for so long to have a very logical reason for avoiding seeing another actor play the role he spent so many years with, and it honestly makes sense. David Suchet is constantly asked what he thinks of Kenneth Branagh's performance, and if Suchet had seen Murder on the Orient Express, then he'd actually have an opinion and he could speak about. Although, I'm sure he's seen that mustache, and he must have an opinion about that.

David Suchet does feel confident that he would be mostly complimentary of Kenneth Branagh's performance. But as somebody who knows the Hercule Poirot character better than most, he almost certainly would have some criticism. Maybe it's something that he felt Branagh did wrong, or at the very least, not as well as he could have. After all, nobody is perfect. Fans would want to know what character choices Suchet disagrees with.

And let's face it, if David Suchet said a hundred good things about Kenneth Branagh's Poirot and one bad thing, it's the bad thing that I'd probably be writing about right now. That tends to be what people are more interested in reading about, so it's probably a good thing that Suchet simply gives himself no opinion by never being able to form one.

Major Hollywood studios despise scandals. Opening a blockbuster film in this marketplace is hard enough, and when a scandal casts a shadow over a production, or a member of a sprawling cast, that threatens to be a massive distraction from the movie at hand. Which brings us to a piece regarding Armie Hammer, his ongoing negative publicity, and the attempts by Walt Disney to postpone having to address the issue because Hammer happens to be a male lead in the studio’s oft-delayed Agatha Christie adaptation Death on the Nile.

Variety tackles these concerns in a column that follows up news that Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile feature shifted all the way back to Quarter One of 2022 as Walt Disney studio shuffles release dates and plans for theaters to reopen. This is just the latest in a series of delays for Death on the Nile, though the previous ones were due to production issues and then COVID restrictions. Those delays, however, have put the massive murder mystery on a collision course to a publicity nightmare thanks to the headlines Armie Hammer is getting.

Hammer, as you may or may not know, is the center of an LAPD investigation regarding claims of a violent rape from 2017. He has been outed on social media as someone who might be involved in domination and sexual cannibalism, claims that are unverified and he has mostly denied. He’s engaged in a public custody battle with his ex-wife, Elizabeth Chambers, who was married to the actor for 10 years. And he has been losing professional gigs in the wake of these allegations, stepping away from the Lionsgate RomCom Shotgun Wedding with Jennifer Lopez, then being dropped from The Billion Dollar Spy, a Cold War drama with Mads Mikkelsen.

Which brings us to Death on the Nile, and Disney’s difficult situation. The studio can’t fire Armie Hammer from the movie. The movie’s done, and according to sources who spoke to Variety, he has a significant part that can’t just be removed. There’s precedent for that, as when Christopher Plummer replaced Kevin Spacey in the Ridley Scott drama All the Money in the World. The late actor actually ended up getting a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Academy Awards for his work.

Other analysts suggested to Variety that Walt Disney simply bite the bullet and take the stance that hundreds of talented people worked on Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile, and they’re not going to let the alleged actions of one cast member sink the whole ship. But Variety astutely notes that any press needs to be protective of Armie Hammer’s female co-stars, including Gal Gadot and Letitia Wright, because of the violent nature of the allegations leveled at the actor.

The release date buys Disney some time on Death on the Nile, and we will continue to see how the Armie Hammer story plays out. Eventually, though, Kenneth Branagh’s movie is going to see the light of day, and we’ll figure out if Hammer’s alleged actions overshadow the director’s accomplishments.

There’s been much news about the life and times of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard as his two major court cases brought new stories to the forefront. In fact, his role in Pirates of the Caribbean came to the forefront as one story about himself and Amber Heard’s relationship occurred while one of those franchise movies was filming. Now a new story has reportedly come to light showing Depp had become less reliable by the time he had filmed Murder on the Orient Express in 2017.

A new report detailing Johnny Depp’s legal cases and career has highlighted how on the set of Murder on the Orient Express the actor’s behavior had become a bit more erratic. This began to mean he’d show up late for filming, which is never fun for those who are waiting around, particularly when one happens to be a part of a big ensemble set like that Agatha Christie adaptation was. It seems like Kenneth Branagh managed to get things under control as an unnamed Disney executive allegedly revealed to Business Insider.

At the time the movie was filming, the reportee notes that Johnny Depp was really going hard with the partying. The filming of Murder on the Orient Express occurred after Amber Heard had filed for divorce in 2016; the divorce would be finalized the same year he ultimately decided to play Edward Ratchett for Kenneth Branagh’s film.

If the story is accurate, it sounds like Kenneth Branagh was able to keep the situation in hand enough to help the movie stay on the rails. However, it does reveal more about what Johnny Depp’s state of mind was at that time. It would be a couple of years later before he pursued the libel case against The Sun’s parent company and the defamation case against Amber Heard herself, but things were seemingly not copacetic in the actor's personal life well before then.

It’s also worth noting that 2017 was the year a lot of Johnny Depp’s money woes were front and center in the news cycle. At one point in 2017, the news broke the actor had been using new movies to help him pay old debts. He was also reportedly spending upwards of $2 million dollars on expenses every single month, with another report mentioning that a few years prior he'd spent $5 million to shoot his pal Hunter S. Thompson's ashes out of a cannon. Yes, a cannon.

Johnny Depp has been open about issues with drugs and alcohol recently as part of the libel case in the U.K., but this story further lays bare the frame of mind Johnny Depp was in when he was struggling particularly hard. He's since been let go from the Fantastic Beasts franchise and only has some smaller radar projects in the works like next month's Minamata. This hasn't stopped the actor from continuing to make headlines though.

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe may bring to life one of TV’s greatest romances on-screen, but off-screen the two co-stars are also supportive of each others’ careers—at least when they aren’t joking about them. Case in point: News broke recently that Balfe would be starring opposite another rom-com great, Jamie Dornan, in an upcoming movie. Sam Heughan was nothing but excited for his Outlander partner.

Taking to Twitter, Caitriona Balfe first shared the news about the project, which will also feature Judi Dench, Ciarin Hinds, Dornan and now Balfe. Plus, it’ll loosely be based on the life of Sir Kenneth Branagh, who both wrote and will be directing the project. Of course, Sam Heughan had his own thoughts.

Adorable, and very gracious if I do say so myself. The movie, Belfast, will be loosely based on Kenneth Branagh’s growing up experience. The actor and director previously told Sunday Life that shooting during the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic have been challenging, but the movie is full steam ahead. He noted:

I know I’ve mentioned the fact that both Sam Heughan and Jamie Dornan have made careers out of being in steamy romance franchises with very active fanbases, but one fan also took Heughan’s supportive post further with a great comment I really wish I had thought of.

Both Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have risen in profile thanks to Outlander, landing movie gigs like Bloodshot and The Spy Who Dumped Me for Heughan and Ford v Ferrari for Balfe. Plus, Balfe got to do The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and Heughan got to film Men in Kilts with Graham McTavish. With lots of additional good stuff on the horizon – the Sassanach whiskey, anyone? – it’s easy to see there are plenty of reasons to be supportive of one another.

Balfe also seems thankful for the Outlander experience and what it has brought herself and her co-star, recently sharing:

Meanwhile, Belfast had plans to get off of the ground quickly. Kenneth Branagh had mentioned he hoped to get the movie into production by the end of summer—aka just a few weeks after that interview. In addition, Outlander is prepping to get back to work. And from the sounds of things, it seems as if the cast is ready to get back. Lots of good things coming on the entertainment front and to see what movies will still -- hopefully -- be coming out before the end of the year, check out our full premiere schedule.

I wouldn’t call Sir Kenneth Branagh and Christopher Nolan frequent collaborators, but they did work together on Dunkirk before the director and actor joined Nolan’s latest theatrical jaunt Tenet. The story behind how he got involved in that endeavor is pretty fitting, actually, and Branagh shared how it happened in the recent interview.

Christopher Nolan’s known for being a bit of a meticulous and mysterious creator and apparently one day he just showed up on Kenneth Branagh’s doorstep to convince him to join Tenet. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think a little time inversion might be involved. Speaking to Digital Spy, Branagh revealed exactly how Nolan convinced him to sign on.

Look, all I’m saying is that in Tenet people tend to know things they shouldn’t know -- and minor spoilers -- like Neil understanding the protagonist likes Diet Coke, thanks to time inversion. I can neither confirm nor deny that time inversion exists in our every day life, but does it shock me to know Christopher Nolan randomly just ascertained Kenneth Branagh’s exact location on the exact day he needed to ask him about a major movie project? No, not it does not.

On a more serious note, though, Christopher Nolan probably has excellent assistants and it is fortuitous that he figured out how to get Kenneth Branagh back to play Andrei Sator in the movie. Some of the finest time inversion scenes in Tenet are, in fact, given to Branagh in the movie and it’s been pretty fun for fans to see Branagh go from playing the morally upstanding and rather oddball Hercule Poirot to the over-the-top aggressive villain Sator recently.

As a bonus, what Kenneth Branagh is doing in Tenet is also a far cry from his Dunkirk character, which saw the actor playing a commander and someone who sticks around after the major battle to handle stuff--and did it with barely any script. Tenet may be a little less emotional than Dunkirk, but it's also got a twistier and more complex plot and doubtless that was a totally different sort of challenge. If you don't believe me, just look into Elizabeth Debicki's comments on the script.

The good news is that if Christopher Nolan wants to work with Sir Kenneth Branagh again in the future, he now knows where to find him! Tenet is currently in theaters globally. To see what else is coming up, take a look at the movies release schedule for the rest of the year.