W.E. - update on Madonna's take on Wallis & Edward

I presume W. E. stands for both Wallis & Edward and Wally & Evgeni, the two love stories that are featured in Madonna's upcoming film.

Sounds like this film will have a definite slant, one that has been described already as blurring fact and fiction. Alastair Bruce, who was the historical advisor for Downton Abbey, reportedly turned Madonna down as an advisor for her film since he felt uncomfortable with the inaccuracies of the script. It sounds like Madonna is set on glorifying Wallis Simpson, a person she's been fascinated with for some time, and in vilifying Queen Elizabeth, wife of King George VI.

From Daily Mail:
One source close to the project said: ‘The portrayal is so far removed from reality they’re almost unrecognisable to anyone who knows the facts. The film may work as entertainment but it certainly doesn’t work as history.’

Natalie Dormer has said of her role, "This country tends to remember the Queen Mother as a rather wrinkly 97 year-old, but I am playing her when she was quite an enchanting, engaging twenty and thirtysomething. She was quite a savage and savvy game player." [Hollywoodnews.com]

More information on W.E.

Natalie Dormer (The Tudors) will be portraying Queen Elizabeth

Andrea Riseborough as Wallis Simpson
Photo: Charles Ruby/WENN.com

Hmmm, I'm not feeling very enchanted or serene about this film...

Treasure Island (2012)

Sky is filming a major adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate novel, Treasure Island, with Eddie Izzard as Long John Silver and Philip Glenister cast as Captain Alexander Smollett.

The broadcaster wants to retell the coming-of-age tale in a modern, “muscular” way that will appeal to a broad family audience.

This is the first period drama by the network "with a Sky feeling of modernity,” a source said.

Phil Glenister, Rupert Penry-Jones, Donald Sutherland, Shirley Henderson, Elijah Wood
Keith Allen, David Harewood, Toby Regbo, Nina Sosanya, Daniel Mays

Characters:
Elijah Wood - Ben Gunn
Donald Sutherland -Flint
Toby Regbo - Jim Hawkins
Shirley Henderson - Jim's mother
Nina Sosanya - wife of Long John Silver
Phil Glenister - Capt. Smollet
Rupert Penry-Jones - Squire Trelawney
Daniel Mays - Dr. Livesey
David Harewood & Keith Allen - pirates Bones & Pew

From tv.fopii.com: The two part drama follows the story of Jim Hawkins who's unexpectedly drawn into the world of piracy when he discovers Flint’s treasure map. However, Long John Silver (Izzard) will stop at nothing to get hold of the gold for himself. As they set sail for Treasure Island, Jim embarks on an action adventure that will change his life forever.

With Silver preparing to lead a mutiny who will be the first to find Flint’s buried booty? Who will keep control of the ship? And who will leave the island alive?

Silver and Jim explore the true meaning of loyalty and betrayal as they battle it out for the treasure and ultimately their own survival.

Pyke commented: “I am thrilled that Sky drama is going on this extraordinary adventure to reinvigorate this classic story. With the unique and multi talented Eddie Izzard in the iconic role of Long John Silver, we’re set to deliver a hugely exciting, morally complex and compelling story of pirates, heroes, friendship and treachery. We’re delighted to be working with renowned producer Robert Halmi Sr. of RHI Entertainment in addition to, MNG Films, Parallel Films and Kindle Entertainment in what promises to be a stunning new production of a timeless family favourite."

According to PhilipGlenister.com: "Filming is already underway in Ireland with locations in Cork and Dublin. The production moves to Puerto Rico after Christmas."

Source: broadcastnow.uk

Idina Menzel in new musical drama?!

She's well known in the Broadway community and after appearing on Glee, it seems that Idina Menzel is becoming better known! So pleased to hear of this upcoming television series!

ABC is planning a new hourlong musical series starring Idina Menzel, described as "a mother-daughter relationship drama in the vein of Gilmore Girls. It will star the Broadway actress as the single mother of a teenager who, to make ends meet, waits tables and performs at weddings and bar mitzvahs, odd jobs that Menzel herself worked early on while pursuing a Broadway career." [Deadline]

Idina shown with Kristin Chenoweth in Wicked

The King's Speech - additional movie posters

The Evolution of a movie poster...
There are various movie posters continuing to appear for this film. I adore the first one shown which is a UK quad poster. The rest should try to approximate the grandeur of that one in my opinion! The King's Speech stars Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter.

British quad poster (my favourite one!)
source: Lovefilm

Poster for U.S.A. ?

Promo US.A.


Latest poster Dec. 2, found on Yahoo

promo poster?
(It states"in cinemas January 7" but it seems not everywhere!)



2 different poses...

Bedlam Productions

Italy

The original that circulated

Director Tom Hooper, when asked about the original poster [shown on left] that has circulated, said: “I hate it. I hate it. And it is not going to ever be on any cinema walls. It will be replaced. It’s a train smash. It’s a train smash.”

More links for THE KING'S SPEECH

Game of Thrones - preview videos

Sean Bean, Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
as seen in HBO's upcoming Game of Thrones
based on George R.R. Martin's novels to air in 2011.

More info at HBO
Photos can be found at Entertainment Weekly

Mildred Pierce (2011)

Kate Winslet stars in the title role of the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce, along with Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood , Brían O’Byrne , James LeGros , Melissa Leo, Mare Winningham and Hope Davis. Directed by Todd Haynes, Mildred Pierce is the epic story of a proud single mother struggling to earn her daughter’s love during the Great Depression in middle-class Los Angeles. The five-part miniseries, produced in association with MGM, will follow the story laid out by James M. Cain in his 1941 novel of the same name.

Cinderella - A Modern Musical Extravaganza

I posted about this earlier and since I love most things to do with fairytales, I wish I was in California to see this "traditonal London panto". Running from now until December 19, 2010 at the El Portal Theatre.

"In the style of the outrageous British holiday pantos, the Lythgoe Family (the people responsible for So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol) bring this wild, wacky and interactive holiday event to the States. The age-old fairytale of Cinderella is set to modern music, including Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway," Michael Buble's "Just Haven't Met You Yet," and Jennifer Lopez' "Let's Get Loud." This U.S. premiere panto has a comical twist and incredible magic such as a pumpkin turning into a carriage with real live ponies right before your very eyes! "

Cinderella: A Musical Extravaganza from Countdown Los Angeles on Vimeo.

Tweeted on Twitter ( Nov 28 update)

Topics that caught my eye on Twitter and elsewhere: The King's Speech, Sherlock Holmes 2, Water for Elephants, Marilyn, Royal Weddings, "Two Sirs with Love", Upstairs, Downstairs and a video for Downton Abbey...

I loved reading about the close friendship that developed between Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush while filming A King' Speech: "Apparently, their closeness continued after the cameras stopped. Firth, 50, confesses to being in mourning after Rush, 59, whose scenes were shot first so he could run off to another commitment, left him in the lurch. "Yes, Geoffrey had to go do some meaningless play, which is his true calling," he says. Even Bonham Carter could not console him. "Helena, who I adore, was constantly going, 'Well, I'm not Geoffrey.' " [source]

Promo pics of the charming Claire Foy in Upstairs, Downstairs
[ClaireFoy.org]

New promo image for Water for Elephants
with Rob Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz

New image for Sherlock Holmes 2
(Noomi Rapace, Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law)

New image of Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe for My Week with Marilyn


Marie Antoinette, Queen Alexandra, Grace Kelly
Slide show: Expat Royal Brides (with a commentary rating the success or lack of...)


L-R: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip (1947)
Prince William at Prince Andrew's wedding (1986)
Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly (2008)
See Royal Wedding Slide show at Bridesmagazine.co.uk


I'm a fan of fashion which features black and white so...
had to stop and admire these dresses on Kate Middleton.


"Two Sirs, with Love" wished for William & Kate
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tom Jones when questioned, have both said
they would be honoured to provide music for the impending royal nuptials.


And last but not least, I loved this great tribute video
made by Emily Roberts of Downton Abbey
[watch till the end to see Maggie Smith's weekend quote!]

Any Human Heart - more pics

Here are more promo images from Any Human Heart
currently airing on Channel 4 in UK
to be shown on PBS in February 2011

Matthew Macfadyen


Hayley Atwell

Holly Grainger


Kim Cattrall


Love this pic of Gillian and Tom - for some reason

I get the feeling that they're trying to keep a straight face.

More on ANY HUMAN HEART

The Many Faces of Wallis Simpson

"I am so anxious for you not to abdicate and I think the fact that you do is going to put me in the wrong light to the entire world because they will say that I could have prevented it."
~ Wallis Warfield Simpson

Some have described it as one of the greatest love stories, since the man in question was the reigning king of England, who chose to give up his throne for the woman he loved. The king was Edward VIII and he would forfeit all claim to the throne for American divorcée, Wallis Simpson, later to be known as the Duchess of Windsor. Many others would be less generous in describing their relationship since it caused quite the scandal at the time, creating a constitutional crisis for England and forcing Edward's younger brother Albert to take over the throne. Albert would become King George VI, father of the current Queen Elizabeth II.

Whatever one thinks of Wallis, she lives on as reflected in various films of the past

and she will be portrayed in four different dramas soon to be released...

Upcoming dramas featuring Duchess of Windsor

Gillian Anderson (Any Human Heart)

Eve Best (The King's Speech)
photo: Laurie Sparham/The Weinstein Company

Emma Clifford (Upstairs, Downstairs)

Andrea Riseborough (W. E.)
photo: Charles Ruby/WENN.com

Previous films portraying Duchess of Windsor

Wallis and Edward (aka Her Royal Affair) (2005)
Joely Richardson and Stephen Campbell Moore

Bertie and Elizabeth (2002)
Charles Edwards and Amber Sealey

The Woman He Loved (1988)
Tom Wilkinson (Mr. Simpson) Jane Seymour & Anthony Andrews (as the Windsors)

Edward and Mrs. Simpson (1978)
Cynthia Harris and Edward Fox

[Edward Fox portrayed King Edward and his own brother James Fox
portrays Edward's father King George V in W. E.]


The Woman I Love (1972)
Faye Dunaway and Richard Chamberlain

Abbie Cornish and Andrea Riseborough? on set of W.E.
photo: Brian Flannery/FlynetPictures.com

Interesting to note: In W.E. Abbie's character becomes fixated on the Duchess of Windsor by working at Sotheby's and in November of 2010, at Sotheby's there is currently an auction of some of the jewellery belonging to the Duchess of Windsor (see more at Sotheby's website)

"The Duchess of Windsor's shoes and evening bags are beautiful items which were given to the late David Campbell, who was the Duke of Windsor's valet in the 1950's, and who passed them on to his young niece to 'play dressing up with.' ''She has treasured them for all these years and has now decided she should let someone else have the pleasure of owning them.''

More articles:
Harper's Bazaar: The Duchess of Windsor's Fashion Moments

Daily Mail: Bewitched by Mrs Simpson
"As Madonna makes a film about her life and her jewellery goes up for auction, Tony Rennell explains our enduring fascination with the woman who almost brought down the monarchy"

Daily Mail: Madonna is accused of rewriting history in Abdication movie

Wallis is all smiles in the following picture but don't you just hate
when you show up to a party and someone else is wearing the same dress?

The Duchess of Windsor talking to Aileen Plunket at a party in Paris in June 1966.
(Photo by Lichfield/Getty Images).