Movies
Stephen Fry filmed for one day and ‘treated like the King’ on Red, White and Royal Blue | Films | Entertainment
Stephen Fry only filmed for a single day on the set of Red, White and Royal Blue – but he was still treated like royalty.
Express Online recently sat down with first-time filmmaker Matthew Lopez about bringing the bestselling novel by Casey McQuiston to screen on Prime Video.
Starring Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz and Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry, the film follows the US president’s son and the heir to the throne of Great Britain going from sworn enemies to secret lovers.
“I got lucky in that [their chemistry] was innate,” Lopez shared.
“We did a chemistry read over Zoom with the two of them and it was evident over Zoom.
“And then we had about two weeks of rehearsals prior to the beginning of production. We realised the chemistry was already there, but those two weeks were allowing those two actors to build some sort of vocabulary together.
“Like, ‘we trust each other implicitly. Now, how do we actually work together and what are our shorthands together?’
“It was like the three of us learning who each other is. So when we got on set we knew how to work together.”
Alongside two up-and-coming lead stars, Red, White and Royal Blue also features Uma Thurman as Alex’s mother President Ellen Claremont and Stephen Fry as Prince Henry’s grandfather, fictional monarch King James III.
Although the film’s two leads were given plenty of time to workshop their on-screen relationship, Fry has over 40 years of experience on the stage and screen.
“We had him for a day,” Lopez revealed. “And I got him before I got Uma [Thurman].
“So, Stephen Fry was the first big star I’ve ever directed. And I was really nervous.
“Not only is he a legend, but he’s also someone I genuinely, personally look up to. And my greatest fear was that I was going to let him down professionally, or he was going to let me down personally.”
Thankfully, not only did the iconic actor and presenter deliver a scene-stealing performance, he was also the perfect gentleman during his limited time on set.
“Neither of us let each other down, I’m very happy to report,” Lopez said.
“We had such a fun day. It was funny because he was Stephen Fry, and we were shooting in England.
“The second he walked on set in that double-breasted suit with that huge height he possesses, everyone on set just treated him like he was the King!
“It was hilarious. There was very little pretending that needed to happen on set. He was a great pro, he was just a lovely, lovely man that everybody was really happy to have join them for a day.”
RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE will premiere globally on 11 August, exclusively on Prime Video
Movies
Next James Bond release leaks with major franchise producers ‘in talks’ for 007 | Films | Entertainment
Heyman produced the Harry Potter and Paddington films, which famously retained their Britishness. He was also behind Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Barbie, and Wonka. Meanwhile, Pascal is a Sony producer best known for helming the Spider-Man movies.
According to The Sun’s sources, a writers’ room has been assembled at Amazon MGM Studios with a broad array of plot and reboot ideas. The insider shared: “I’m told the sale has prompted a fast track of creative meetings to build a new script, officially sign the new 007 and land a director.”
The source added: “They want filming to be done on Bond 26 by the end of next year so that it can be out in 2027. The wheels are in motion. The budget of £250million has been allocated and the desire is for them to start earning back the revenue of their investment.” Presumably, this means Bond 26 and a new 007 star will be announced later this year and shoot in 2026; as the insider said Amazon want the movie in cinemas by the end of 2027.
Snow White: Rachel Zegler stars in Disney trailer
The highly anticipated Disney remake of Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler, has been met with harsh criticism as it hits cinemas on 21st March.
This reimagining of the 1937 animated classic sees Zegler take on the iconic role of Snow White, a beautiful princess forced into servitude by her wicked stepmother, the Evil Queen, played by Gal Gadot.
Upon discovering Snow White’s growing beauty, the Queen orders her assassination, but a sympathetic huntsman (Ansu Kabia) spares her life, alerting her to the Queen’s sinister plans.
Finding refuge with a group of seven dwarfs, Snow White joins forces with them to topple the tyrannical Queen.
Despite its promising premise, this modern retelling has disappointed fans and critics alike, boasting a meagre 46 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the audience score yet to be revealed.
Rachel Zegler’s ‘much better’ musical roles now streaming as Snow White slammed (Image: DISNEY)
However, Zegler’s portrayal of Snow White has been widely praised as the film’s redeeming quality, with The Independent stating: “Rachel Zegler deserves better than the lazy, visually repellent Snow White.”
While her latest big-screen outing has been panned, two exceptional showcases of her singing and acting abilities are currently streaming and well worth watching.
West Side Story
Director Steven Spielberg‘s reimagining of the iconic Broadway musical and its 1961 film adaptation is hailed by some as one of the acclaimed filmmaker’s finest works in two decades.
Featuring a blend of stunning choreography and memorable musical numbers, West Side Story chronicles the tragic and poignant love story of Tony and Maria, two young lovers caught in the midst of a dangerous gang rivalry in 1950s New York City.
Zegler shines as María, the sister of the Sharks’ leader, a Puerto Rican gang locked in a bitter feud with the Jets, a gang of white teenagers, in this timeless romance inspired by Romeo and Juliet.
Disney’s Snow White remake hasn’t been a hit with critics (Image: DISNEY)
María finds herself torn between her loyalty to her own kind and her blossoming feelings for Tony (Ansel Elgort), a Jet, with whom she dreams of escaping the poverty and violence of 1950s New York.
Enthusiasts have flocked online to sing the film’s praises. A glowing five-star Google review declares: “THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE MOVIE!
“West Side Story was beautifully made. It was a huge step up from the original […] in 1961. Those who liked the original or Broadway version, I highly recommend this new version.”
Meanwhile, a fan on Letterboxd raves about Zegler’s performance: “Rachel Zegler is a revelation. Not only does she have the voice of an actual angel, but she’s also simply INCREDIBLE at internalizing María’s innocence and expressing her earnest love of life itself, lighting up the screen any time she takes center stage.
“It’s already been said a billion times, but this girl is going places – she has that tremendous movie star magnetism you can’t teach.”
West Side Story is available to stream on Disney+.
Rachel Zegler is a ‘revelation’ in Steven Spielberg’s version of West Side Story (Image: 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS)
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
2023 welcomed the release of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – a prequel to the original quartet, drawn from the books by Suzanne Collins, which delighted both fans and critics. In the gripping dystopian saga, America has been reborn from the ruins of a nuclear conflict, forcing its citizens into a deadly televised contest—a fight to the death for the nation’s twisted entertainment.
A decade after the inaugural Hunger Games, interest is waning, but the man destined to become president, Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), alters destiny when he mentors the tuneful Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler) in her quest to triumph in the savage competition.
Although not a musical in the traditional sense, this sci-fi sensation features several standout musical moments from Zegler, including a rendition of the series’ haunting anthem The Hanging Tree, showcasing her extraordinary vocal talent.
The Snow White star gave an ‘incredible’ performance in the Hunger Games prequel (Image: LIONSGATE)
One Google review praised Zegler’s portrayal: “Her acting as Lucy Gray literally felt like she ripped her straight off of the paper. She was the most perfect Lucy Gray and I don’t think anyone else could have done her as much justice as Rachel did.
“Even more than Rachel’s acting, is her INCREDIBLE singing. We all know Rachel is a fantastic singer, but her voice in this movie is her voice like I have never heard it before.”
Meanwhile, an avid Letterboxd user confessed: “Gonna be honest with y’all this film is all that has been going through my head since the first time I watched it.”
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is available to stream on Prime Video.
An action-packed epic that blends Viking mythology with brutal realism is set to grace our TV screens tonight.
The Northman (2022), considered by some to be one of the best action films of the 21st century, is airing tonight on Channel 4’s Film4.
Directed by Robert Eggers, known for his previous works like The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019), The Northman is a visceral, heart-pounding saga set in the brutal world of Norse warriors.
The film takes viewers on a journey of revenge, bloodshed, and betrayal, all set against the backdrop of ancient Nordic landscapes. It stars Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, a Viking prince who embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance after his father, King Aurvandil (played by Ethan Hawke), is murdered by his uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang).
Amleth’s quest for revenge takes him to Iceland, where he must confront his own demons while battling enemies and facing the harsh realities of Viking society.
The film’s plot draws inspiration from the legendary Norse story of Amleth, a supposed (but likely fictional) Viking prince most famous today as the basis for William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The Northman, though, takes the legend and reimagines it through a brutal, historical lens.
Along the way, Amleth enlists the help of others, including slave-woman Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy) and mysterious sorceress played by iconic Icelandic singer Björk.
The film’s action sequences are both brutal and beautifully choreographed, as Amleth’s journey is one of both physical and emotional transformation.
The Northman has aggregated a score of 90% or film reviewing platform Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus reads: “A bloody revenge epic and breathtaking visual marvel, The Northman finds filmmaker Robert Eggers expanding his scope without sacrificing any of his signature style”.
It was also nominated for two Critics’ Choice Super Awards: Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie and Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie, for Alexander Skarsgård – as well as multiple local awards.
Watch The Northman tonight, on Channel 4’s Film4, at 9 pm.
How Iran arms, trains and directs Yemen’s Houthi rebels to challenge t | World | News
Brits denied entry to Spain under new rules unless they show 1 documen | Travel News | Travel
Jack Draper speaks out after humbling Jakub Mensik Miami loss – ‘I couldn’t hear the ball’ | Tennis | Sport
Bangladesh3 weeks agoDHS Autos Introduces Deepal S07 and L07 Electric Vehicles in Bangladesh
- Fashion3 weeks ago
Sign up to our Royal Style newsletter for the world of royal fashion | Royal | News
- Sports4 weeks ago
F1 LIVE: Lewis Hamilton dealt Ferrari ‘difficulty’ as Max Verstappen ban discussed | F1 | Sport
- Sports4 weeks ago
Dan Ashworth lands new job after Man Utd exit as he works freelance | Football | Sport
- Entertainment4 weeks ago
Phil Collins says he’s ‘very sick’ and ‘can’t hold drumsticks properly’ | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV
- World4 weeks ago
The little African country building a huge new massive city to end traffic chaos | World | News
- Top Stories4 weeks ago
Imran Khan Blamed For Pakistan’s Downfall After Champions Trophy 2025 Exit By Najam Sethi
- Entertainment4 weeks ago
Rod Stewart’s top ten biggest selling albums | Music | Entertainment
