Director Rob Marshall's Mary Poppins Returns is a movie with a whole lot of whimsy and heart, featuring some great music and performances, but when I think back on the 2018 film, my brain immediately goes the brief role played by Dick Van Dyke. Having previously played Bert the chimney sweep and Mr. Dawes Sr. in the original Mary Poppins, the actor's appearance in the film is delightful in and of itself – but it's what he ends up doing in his turn that makes it one of the best cameos in recent memories, and it apparently had all of his castmates on set in tears.

Emily Blunt is currently doing the press circuit promoting her new 2025 movie The Smashing Machine with Dwayne Johnson, but she took a quick trip down memory lane recently during a recent interview with People. The actress looked back on her experience playing the role originally made famous by Julie Andrews, and her standout memory from the making of the movie was watching the then-93-year-old Dick Van Dyke perform a dance number (which reduced everyone to tears). Said Blunt,

I think registering the amazingness of Dick Van Dyke's cameo in Mary Poppins Returns comes in two stages. When you're first watching the film, you're impressed how seamlessly he is able to get on top of his desk to dance, and you marvel at the movie magic that must have been executed to make it happen. And then you're bowled over when you read about the making of the movie and read about how he was able to pull of the choreography all by himself. It's remarkable, and it's wholly unsurprising that it got everyone on set to start crying.

And yes, just in case you were wondering, even the famously stiff-upper-lip Colin Firth was emotionally moved by the moment. Emily Blunt added:

In Mary Poppins Returns, Dick Van Dyke makes a special appearance as Mr. Dawes Jr. – and he is technically portraying his own son given that he played Mr. Dawes Sr. in Mary Poppins. He ends up saving the day, as he makes the decision to dismiss Colin Firth's William Wilkins for corrupt practices and the Banks family saves their house.

If it's been a minute since you last had the experience of watching Mary Poppins Returns – also featuring the lovely talents of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters and Meryl Streep – the film is currently available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

Mamma Mia just became available for those with a Netflix subscription again, which means a lot of people are going to be rewatching the beloved musical, and talking about it. As a longtime fan of both Mamma Mia movies, I want to get into the ongoing dad debate, because my blunt take is that it just doesn’t matter, despite people loving to argue about it.

I Need To Talk About The Ongoing Dad Debate In Mamma Mia

If you’re out of the loop here, Mamma Mia revolves around Amanda Seyfried’s Sophie finding her mom Donna’s diary from when she was a young woman. There she finds out that she had flings with three men around the same time right before she got pregnant with her. As Sophie gets ready to get married, she decides to invite all three of them to her big day in Greece, and they all come! As you can imagine, Donna is incredibly surprised to see them all again, and hijinks ensue.

The three possible fathers are Pierce Brosnan’s Sam, Colin Firth’s Harry and Stellan Skarsgard’s Bill (ugh, I still can’t get over how good the Mamma Mia cast is!). By the time the first movie and the sequel ends, we still have no idea which one is Sophie’s biological father, and it’s never been officially revealed. Pierce Brosnan recently shared that a third movie could finally divulge this information as chatter continues for Mamma Mia 3 – including questions about how the heck Meryl Streep would come back, but I honestly don't want to know.

Look I get why it’s interesting to people to theorize who Sophie’s actual dad is. I just read a Reddit thread that attempted to math it all out down to the day, but the more I’ve watched it I’ve personally given up on it, because I think knowing who the dad is actually missing the point of the movies.

I Think Something Else Is More Interesting Than Which One Her Dad Is

So technically if the movie was actually interested in telling us about Sophie’s dad, they’d have all the men take DNA tests, and there the answer would be, but notice how that’s never happened? I think it’s because the writers know that it’s more interesting that Sophie bringing Donna’s flings together to Greece and them all becoming this weird found family is way more interesting. I love how Bill ends up with Donna’s friend Rosie, and Donna and Sam end up falling back in love as a result of the whole thing. And, Harry might have a thing with Petros?

I think one of the reasons why I love this movie so much, is how it handles its three dads. The movie actually celebrates Donna being sexually adventurous and having multiple lovers when she was young, and her life turning into this dreamlike musical ride even though she was single and without a partner for most of her life.

It’s very rare for a piece of media to turn a young woman’s sexual coming-of-age this way. While sure, each of the men must be curious about which one of them it is, I love more how they become good friends with each other and everyone in Donna’s circle, and they all kind of mentally adopt Sophie because they were each charmed by Donna so much in their younger years. It totally defies the common trope of men walking out on women they randomly get pregnant, and it just makes for such a fun storyline. None of them actually raised Sophie anyway, but knowing they all stepped up when she needed them kind of make them all her dads, and that's sweeter to me than one of them being the dad.

Anyway, I’m sure I’ll be watching Mamma Mia again for the millionth time soon, and not bothering with this dad debate.

SPOILERS are ahead for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, now streaming with a Peacock subscription. No reading ahead in the diary until you’ve seen it yourself!

2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary is not only one of the best romantic comedies I’ve ever seen, it’s also such a comfort movie for me. While the quality of the sequels have certainly been debatable, I was very excited to see Renée Zellweger back in the role after nearly a decade. I was, however, unprepared to learn that the premise of the movie includes Bridget coping with the death of Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy after having two kids together. But, I really wasn’t prepared for Mr. Darcy to be done dirty like this – especially for what is likely the conclusion to the franchise. Lucky for the movie, I really enjoyed it, and I’m beginning to forgive it for the lack of Darcy for a few key reasons.

Now, for some context, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is based on the 2013 novel of the same name from Helen Fielding. Just like the movie, it takes place two decades after the events of the first Bridget Jones storyline, where she is in her 50s and has been a widow for four years. It should also be noted that the events of the story are inspired by Fielding’s own experiences dealing with the death of her partner, TV writer Kevin Curran, who died at the age of 59 of cancer. They had two children together as well.

Between Fielding's motivations and the execution of Mad About The Boy, it’s not so much that I’m upset that Mark Darcy died at all, but more so the lack of Colin Firth. Here, I’ll share my complete thoughts on the subject.

How Do You Hire Colin Firth To Play Mark Darcy Again, And Give Him Zero Lines?

So, here’s my main issue with how Mark Darcy was handled. It’s one thing to make a plot decision to kill off a character in order to tell the story about grief and moving forward amidst it – which, by the way, I think Mad About The Boy does tell well. But it’s another to literally hire Colin Firth and bring him on the set of the movie alongside Renée Zellweger after 20 years of legacy with the beloved rom-com character, and not give him a single line.

I understand the character is dead, but even awarding audiences one more flashback sequence of the last year of their life or some funny quippy line to break the tension would have been most welcome. Instead, all we get is him standing next to her for a moment and then clapping from across the room later in the movie. Don’t get me wrong, his presence was effective, but it feels a bit wasteful for the Oscar winner, doesn’t it?

I’m Making Peace With The Blunder For One Big Reason

The main reason I can think of to forgive the movie for having Firth’s Mr. Darcy only being seen and not heard in his last appearance in the franchise is pretty heartbreaking. From a story perspective, if it’s been four years since the death of Darcy. So perhaps having him not talk to her from the other side is there to symbolize that at this point in the loss she only imagines and misses his presence rather than it being so vivid that she imagines him talking to her.

I’m also not necessarily fond of those movies where the dead character talks to them from the other side, or the widow and dead person have full-on conversations in one’s imagination – especially since it’s become such a cliché. That goes back to the frustration I have over there not being a little flashback scene with dialogue to at least give fans more closure on the character.

And, I Wouldn't Trade One Emotional Scene For A Bigger Darcy Moment

Another reason why I’m starting to make peace with Darcy being majorly short-sighted comes back to a scene in between Bridget and her father, Colin (played by Jim Broadbent). In the scene early in the movie, Bridget looks at a picture of herself and her late father, and looks back to a time when he was in the hospital and he asked her to promise him to “live.” I think it’s the scene that made me tear up the most because I could relate to my own experience with my grandfather imparting his own wisdom on me before passing away.

There was something powerful about Bridget’s flashback scene that inspired her to move forward in her life being from her father rather than from Darcy, so I wouldn’t necessarily choose a Darcy scene over that if I had to pick between the two. It makes me think that maybe there was a flashback scene with Darcy that was filmed, but the filmmakers cut it in order to balance out the emotions of the movie, which could lean heavy sometimes. But I also can't imagine poor Colin Firth being cut from a Bridget Jones movie!

At Least The Movie Dealt With Darcy’s Death In A Careful Way

While I’m still upset that Darcy didn’t get his own last word in the franchise, I was happy to see the storyline carefully handle Bridget and her kids’ grief in a way that felt true to life. Because it was four years after his death, it made sense to be somewhat removed from the characters being so in the middle of it that it turns into a drama film. I was especially touched by the ways in which the movie handled the kids’ storylines. I am not surprised at all that Fielding was pulling from experience considering the conversations within the movie about keeping Darcy alive within the family.

And, Hugh Grant Clearly Had A Blast Adding Some Humor To It All

Then, there is what we did get out of the romance of Mad About The Boy. I did really enjoy the movie keeping the lighthearted fun of a Bridget Jones movie as the character navigates online dating and attempts to put herself out there in the ways of love and romance. I was totally in regarding Bridget Jones’ love story with Chiwetel Ejifor’s Mr. Walliker. When she kissed him in the snow, my heart fluttered, and Ejifor's character was so sweet and earnest. But I especially loved seeing at least Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver get to have some memorable scenes throughout! Another Bridget Jones just wouldn’t have been the same without one of them interacting with Bridget. I got such a kick out of Daniel coming over to babysit and teach the kids to make a “Dirty Bitch”.

All in all, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is one of my favorite 2025 movies thus far. I just wish I wasn’t so mad about the piping hot lack of Mr. Darcy.

When I saw Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy on the 2025 movie schedule, I wanted to do my homework and watch its predecessors. However, while my colleague Mike Reyes did go back and watch the Bridget Jones movies, I did not. That didn’t stop me from giving Mad About the Boy a chance, though. Now, I’m pleased to report that you can have a splendid time watching Renée Zellweger’s latest outing as her beloved character with little to no knowledge about what happened in the three movies that came before it.

Now, obviously, you’ll probably have a more meaningful experience if you’ve seen the great rom-com Bridget Jones’s Diary and its sequels, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Bridget Jones’s Baby, first. However, if you don’t have that kind of time and just want to watch a sweet film with your Peacock subscription, I can almost guarantee you won’t be lost or uninterested in this story without prior knowledge of Ms. Jones’s love life.

Personally, before I watched Mad About the Boy, all I remembered was that Colin Firth and Hugh Grant played Zellweger's love interests. Honestly, that’s all I needed to know too, to have a grand old time with the series' fourth film, and here’s why:

The Love Story In Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy Is Totally New

This isn’t a spoiler, it’s established in the Mad About the Boy trailer, Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy – Bridget Jones’s love interest through the first three films – died before the events of this movie. So, this fourth installment follows Bridget as she handles her grief, learns to live without her love and moves forward.

Part of that moving forward is her getting back into the dating game, which is where Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mr. Wallaker and Leo Woodall’s Roxster come in. They’re completely new characters in this universe, who are learning about and falling for Bridget in this film.

Like these two men, I was also essentially learning about Bridget for the first time. So, it was easy to follow along, because most of the main characters were also just getting to know Zellweger’s character.

By having this story focus on two new love interests and a completely new chapter of Bridget’s life, it separated itself from the first three films – which all feature Firth in a starring role. While Mark was still essential to this fourth installment, knowing his and Bridget’s full story was not 100% necessary. And thankfully, the flick also did a marvelous job of cluing this clueless viewer into the necessary lore needed from the past to understand the present.

While There Are References I’m Sure I Missed, This Bridget Jones Movie Does A Wonderful Job At Explaining The Necessary Lore

While I’m fully aware that knowing all the best Bridget Jones quotes and scenes would have made this viewing experience even better, I also want to scream from the rooftops that I loved Mad About the Boy and was so emotionally invested in it without that knowledge.

That was because the film gave us everything we needed to know. Without spoiling anything, I was so emotional because I could clearly see how much Bridget and her kids love and adore Firth’s late character. They talk about him all the time, and we get to see Bridget’s other old love interest, Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver in all his flirty and sassy glory.

I was immediately connected to both these old characters and understood why Bridget loves them. That was because the movie meaningfully worked them and their pasts into the plot without it overtaking everything or being boring exposition.

Therefore, as she explored relationships with Mr. Wallaker and Roxster, I knew the bare minimum lore needed to understand just how big a deal it was that she was moving forward.

Overall, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a lovely tale about a woman learning how to live with a devastating loss, trying to be a single parent and working to find love again. It’s a joyous tale that feels like a great continuation of this series. However, it also stands boldly, proudly, and lovingly on its own, making for a film I think anyone can watch and adore.

Almost nine years after having a baby, and nearly 25 years since she started her diary, Bridget Jones is returning to the world in a 2025 movie. As Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is set to debut for Peacock subscription holders this weekend, Renée Zellweger will be reuniting with fans of that adore Ms. Jones and her antics.

After watching Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy’s trailer, I was reminded how much I actually enjoyed Bridget Jones’s Diary when I first saw it. But seeing as this is the fourth picture in the lot, that reminded me of a deep dark secret: I had never seen either of the previous sequels to one of the best rom-coms known to humanity.

This meant I needed to run through both 2004’s Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby in short order. Now that I’ve done just that, there are some things we definitely need to discuss before Movie 4 jumps in front of our eyeballs.

Renée Zellweger Doesn’t Get Enough Credit As A Rom-Com Ace

The world has always known that Renée Zellweger is an actor of great accomplishment, but what I think we’ve forgotten over time is just how talented she is in the field of romantic-comedies. Even though I didn’t like either of these sequels nearly as much as Bridget Jones’s Diary, my admiration of Ms. Zellweger’s craft has not waned. Which reminds me, you people need to go watch Down With Love! That’s a vastly underrated gem of hers.

Bridget Didn’t Nearly Deserve The Fat Jokes These Flicks Lob At Her

Oh, I was hoping this would be improved upon in the sequels. My vague remembrance of Bridget Jones’s Diary did include the often cited fat-phobia that’s present in the films based on author Helen Fielding’s creation. The back-to-back cocktail of The Edge of Reason and Bridget Jones’s Baby certainly dug its heels a little deeper into this unfortunate trench.

I Draw The Line At Two Montage Needle Drops, Ms. Jones

In one short “Gotta Get Him Back!” sequence in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’s final act, we hear three different needle drops. Going from “Everlasting Love” to “You're the First, the Last, My Everything,” and landing on a “Crazy In Love” finale, it’s a bit much. So unless it’s a longer sequence or there’s more significance besides padding the soundtrack, let’s try to keep the jukebox to two needle drops max in a montage, ok?

How Does Bridget Distrust Mark, But Keep Letting Daniel Play Her For A Sucker?

I’d say 85-90% of the Bridget Jones series involves our modern woman protagonist presuming that Mark is cheating on her. Now I get that a number of factors inspire that, but after The Edge of Reason, Bridget should have realized this man, even after marrying and divorcing someone else in the process, does love her! My guess is because it keeps Mark Darcy in fighting shape since he's beat the ass of any guy who's tried to push him aside.

Bridget Should Have Considered Dating Rebecca

Speaking of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, there’s a reveal towards the end that Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett), the woman thought to be an admirer of Mark, actually fancies her. The two kiss, and Bridget actually doesn’t seem to mind in a very progressive moment for a 2004 rom-com. After seeing that, I think Ms. Jones should have at least considered trying a relationship outside of her heteronormative routine.

Bridget Jones’s Baby Really Doesn’t Feel The Same Without Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant’s reasons for ditching Bridget Jones 3 were absolutely valid, especially in light of my criticism of how Bridget loves to dive into temptation every time she and Mark break up. That being said, the temporary death fake-out was just as awkward as not having Grant’s Daniel Cleaver in the cast. So seeing back for Mad About The Boy makes me rather happy, while also giving me concern.

Mamma Mia Helped This Three-quel Go Into Production, Didn’t It?

Who doesn’t love a rom-com involving a case of uncertain paternity? Seriously, it feels like Mamma Mia’s hit status in 2008 helped get this one onto the board. Which, in turn, must have helped 2018’s Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again come into being eventually. Either way, I’m glad to see Colin Firth working - even at the risk of my own sanity.

Patrick Dempsey And Colin Firth Need To Work Together Again

One of the bright spots of Bridget Jones’s Baby has to be the fact that Mark Dempsey and Colin Firth were a lot of fun to watch as squabbling suitors. Though I still missed Firth’s fights with Hugh Grant from the first two movies, his tussle with the Grey’s Anatomy cast alum was definitely magical. Perhaps they should be a couple in a future rom-com instead of just pretending.

Mark Darcy Should Have Run Off With Dr. Rawlings

I know it’s a moot point by the time we get to Bridget Jones’s Baby, but I’m sorry - Mark and Dr. Rawlings (Emma Thompson) felt like more of a match than he ever did with Bridget. If you’d have ended the story in Bridget Jones’s Diary, then maybe it would have made sense. And trust me, I’m not done arguing that point just yet.

These Sequels Are Awkwardly Topical For Rom-Coms

Bridget Jones’s Diary wasn’t a simple frothy rom-com, as she definitely needed to learn to stand up for herself and stop trusting the wrong man. So for The Edge of Reason to include a ridiculous moment where Bridget giving an entire women’s prison in Thailand wonderbras and chocolate as parting gifts was… a choice.

So was inventing a Pussy Riot facsimile for Mark to defend in court, as well as a storyline involving Bridget’s workplace evolving into a tabloid in Bridget Jones’s Baby. If it was worked better into the plot, I might have dug it, but here we are.

I Kind Of Wish Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy Was The Only Sequel

My final criticism is purely from a plot standpoint, as I know that Helen Fielding's decision to kill off Mark Darcy was inspired by the untimely death of her own husband. That being said, I really wish that Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy was the only sequel in the group, as this unfortunate real-life twist makes those middle chapters feel unintentionally redundant.

It’d be the rom-com version of Sylvester Stallone’s preferred method for how to watch Rocky, in which you start with the original, and then skip to Rocky Balboa. We get the poignance of Bridget Jones losing Mark Darcy automatically and wouldn’t have to live through her constantly being fat shamed and seduced into farce.

With all of that in mind, I’m still hopeful for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. It’s not going to be long before we’re all read into the next chapter of this romantic comedy legacy, as it will be streaming on Peacock starting February 13th. Though if you're in an international territory, theaters should running the picture the next day.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to re-watch Kingsman: The Secret Service and pretend that Mark Darcy escaped his life to become a super spy. I don’t know how I’ll head canon him to not be a deadbeat dad, but I’ve got time.

Anytime Steven Spielberg releases a new movie, it's a reason for excitement and celebration. When Disclosure Day hit the 2026 movie schedule, it led to exactly that. Over the decades, Spielberg has given audiences some of the most unforgettable alien movies (on top of some must-watch sci-fi flicks), and he'll be adding to that canon in just a few short weeks.

Many of us here at CinemaBlend have been obsessing over it for the past couple of years, and now it’s almost here. That said, come along with us if you want to learn everything we know about Disclosure Day, including its release date, cast, and a breakdown of that epic trailer that has had everyone talking for a while now.

What Is The Disclosure Day Release Date?

Disclosure Day is June 12, 2026. That is the day the movie will be released in theaters, and that comes in the middle of a crowded June.

The film is sandwiched between Masters of the Universe, the weekend before, and the double-whammy that is Toy Story 5 and Supergirl the following weekend. There’s going to be a lot of competition come June, and that’s just a precursor of what’s to come in July, when the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and several others hit the big screen.

Still, this is Speilberg were talking about, so even though it's not based on an existing IP like many of the summer blockbusters, we have all the confidence that it'll will be one of the most popular movies of the season.

The Disclosure Day Cast

Over the years, Steven Spielberg has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood (we’re talking multiple generations), and he’ll add even more names to that long list when his latest big-screen adventure comes out there. That said, here’s a quick breakdown of everyone confirmed to be a part of the Disclosure Day cast:

• Emily Blunt as meteorologist Margaret Fairchild
• Josh O’Connor as Daniel Kellner
• Colin Firth as Noah Scanlon
• Colman Domingo as Hugo Wakefield
• Eve Hewson Jane Blankenship
• Wyatt Russell
• Elizabeth Marvel
• Henry Lloyd-Hughes
• Michael Gaston
• Elliot Villar as Agent Diaz
• Mckenna Bridger
• Gabby Beans

On top of all these actors, PW Insider reported in early 2025 that AEW wrestlers Brian Cage and Lance Archer would be appearing in a wrestling scene, as would the legendary Chavo Guerrero Jr., who is set to play a referee in a match. This makes it sound like we can add Disclosure Day to the list of movies with random wrestling scenes.

The Disclosure Day Trailer

After going the better part of a couple of years not knowing what the movie was going to be called (or be about), Universal Pictures finally released the Disclosure Day teaser in December 2025. In March, the first full trailer was released:

If this doesn't get you excited and a little freaked out, I don't know what to say!

What Is Disclosure Day About?

Through the aforementioned teaser and trailer, we’re starting to learn more and more about Disclosure Day and the adventure Steven Spielberg will be taking us on this summer. Though we don’t know exactly what the aliens look like, what they want, or how long they have been here, Universal Pictures has given us some hints at what the movie is about:

What is that truth? Is this going to be a more polished and less cynical take on They Live? Or is this all some kind of misdirection? Either way, Spielberg’s filmography speaks for itself, especially when it comes to his output of great alien films.

Steven Spielberg Teamed Up With Longtime Collaborator David Koepp

The acclaimed filmmaker may have come up with the original idea behind Disclosure Day, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, Spielberg’s longtime collaborator David Koepp penned the script. Koepp, one of the director’s most prolific collaborators, previously worked with Spielberg on Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Despite that long professional partnership, it was a challenging assignment for Koepp. In fact, it took 42 drafts of the Disclosure Day script for Spielberg to sign off and start production. Koepp told Vanity Fair:

With the success of their previous collaborations, for the most part, it’s going to be exciting to see what these two icons of the industry have cooked up for audiences. It certainly sounds promising.

John Williams Composed The Disclosure Day Score

Few directors and composers’ careers have been tied to one another more than Steven Spielberg and John Williams. The two have worked with each other dozens of times over the past half-century. From bringing tension to Jaws to the wonder of Jurassic Park and E.T. to the tear-jerking music in Schindler’s List, these two have made one iconic movie moment after another. Well, these two got back together once again for Disclosure Day.

As seen and heard in the movie’s trailer, the prolific composer, who just can’t stop making music, crafted what is sure to be an intense, exciting, emotional, and transfixing soundtrack to the wonder and action on screen. Considering these two worked hand-in-hand for Spielberg’s other alien movies, it seems only fitting…

The day is almost upon us; let's hope we all survive!

Some actors excel in dramas, others in action flicks; but there are also others whose best work happens to be in some of the best romantic comedies of all time. Nothing against Hugh Grant, Meg Ryan, or Colin Firth’s more dramatic or action-oriented work, but let’s be real for a second and admit that Four Weddings and a Funeral, When Harry Met Sally, and Bridget Jones’s Diary, as well as their other work in the genre, is why they’re so beloved.

That said, here are 32 actors whose best roles are rom-coms…

Hugh Grant

With movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and Bridget Jones’s Diary to his name (and many, many more), it’s no wonder Hugh Grant’s name comes up rather frequently when discussing the best rom-coms ever made. Sure, his work in Paddington 2 and Remains of the Day is great, but the man knows how to anchor a romantic comedy with that signature charm and wit.

Renée Zellweger

Sure, Renée Zellweger won her two Oscars in dramas – Cold Mountain and Judy – but that doesn’t mean those were her best roles. Again, they were both great, but don’t hold a candle to her work as the titular character in Bridget Jones’s Diary or her star-making performance in Jerry Maguire. More than 20 years after first playing those iconic characters, Zellweger’s work is still received with heaps of praise.

Julia Roberts

One of the queens of the ‘90s rom-com, Julia Roberts bookended the final decade of the 20th century with legendary performances in Pretty Woman and Notting Hill. Those roles, which should be revisited annually if we’re being honest, helped pave the way for Roberts’ stellar career.

Meg Ryan

It’s impossible to put together a list of Meg Ryan’s best movies and not include the likes of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, to name a few. The rom-com mainstay, who shared the screen with Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, and Kevin Kline over the years, has given us unforgettable moments and more beloved characters than just about anyone.

Cameron Diaz

My Best Friend’s Wedding, There’s Something About Mary, The Holiday, The Sweetest Thing, and countless other romantic comedies made Cameron Diaz one of the biggest stars of the past 30 years. The actress has shown off her more dramatic roles in everything from Any Given Sunday and Being John Malkovich, but her performances in those rom-coms can’t be touched.

Drew Barrymore

Long before Drew Barrymore became one of the premier names in the world of daytime talk shows, she held it down in the rom-com circuit. Fever Pitch, Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates, and The Wedding Singer are just some of Barrymore’s best romantic comedies. And while she does have a killer scene in the opening minutes of Scream, these are her most memorable performances.

Colin Firth

As much as we love watching Colin Firth play Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, his more modern take on the character in Bridget Jones’s Diary is the stuff of legend. Firth, a tremendous dramatic actor in his own right, has been a staple of the romantic comedy over the years thanks in part to those Bridget Jones movies, Mamma Mia!, and Love Actually. However, don’t let this take away from the greatness of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or The King’s Speech.

Billy Crystal

When Harry Met Sally is one of the first movies to come to mind whenever the topic of hilarious Billy Crystal movies comes up. Filled with some of the funniest lines (and others filled with heartbreak and emotion), Crystal’s work in the rom-com genre is absolutely fantastic, be it movies like America’s Sweethearts or Forget Paris. And The Princess Bride sort of counts, right?

Cary Grant

Few Hollywood leading men have a resume as great as Cary Grant, an actor who appeared in dozens of romantic comedies over the years. Charade, The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, and so many others have long cemented Grant’s place in the annuls of rom-com history, and those hilarious and heartfelt performances are still cherished many years after his death.

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was the king of the silent film and an actor who could do anything from drama to slapstick to romantic comedy better than just about every single one of his contemporaries. Chaplin’s 1931 rom-com, City Lights, helped define the genre and has been a benchmark for nearly 100 years.

Nia Long

Nia Long has so many great movies to her name, including Friday, Boyz n the Hood, Big Momma’s House, and Soul Food. This also includes some all-time great romantic comedies from the ‘90s like Love Jones, The Best Man, and Hav Plenty. Though her name doesn’t come up as much as it should, Long is still in a league of her own.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton won an Oscar for her titular in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, but the talented actress has several other iconic rom-coms to her name. Something’s Gotta Give, Manhattan, The Family Stone, and Baby Boom all show off the incredible skill and nuance of this once-in-a-generation actress. And this is coming from someone who thinks The Godfather is one of the top five movies of all time.

Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Charade, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, and My Fair Lady are all some of the funniest movies of the 20th century, and all happen to feature the unmatched talent of Audrey Hepburn in iconic roles. The late actress had a great number of dramatic roles over the years, but her charm and charisma seen in these rom-coms made her one of the all-time greats.

Constance Wu

Constance Wu has all kinds of great film and TV roles on her resume, but for some, she’ll always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians. The massively popular romantic comedy about a Chinese-American NYU professor learning her boyfriend is a member of the richest and most powerful family in Singapore still hits more than a half-decade after its release.

Richard Gere

Though Richard Gere has killed it in dramas like An Officer and a Gentleman and musicals like Chicago, those performances don’t hold a candle to, at least culturally, to his role as Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman. Gere and co-star Julia Roberts would rekindle that spark less than a decade later with another great rom-com, Runaway Bride.

Reese Witherspoon

The Importance of Being Earnest, Sweeet Home Alabama, and Legally Blonde all allowed Reese Witherspoon to show off comedic skills in romantic comedies, and those roles remain some of her best. Sure, she won an Oscar for Walk the Line, but there’s no touching Elle Woods.

Henry Golding

Henry Golding had already had some success by the time he was cast as the uber-wealthy Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians, but his performance in the 2018 romantic comedy sent him to the next level. He’s found success in movies like The Gentlemen and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare since then, but his rom-com performance is still his best.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes has long killed it in comedies, romance movies, and romantic comedies. Take Hitch for example. The 2005 rom-com starring Will Smith as a professional “date doctor” who meets his match in Mendes’ character was so much fun and allowed the actress to show off all of her skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Sandra Bullock

While You Were Sleeping, Hope Floats, The Proposal, and Two Weeks Notice are just a few of Sandra Bullock’s all-time great romantic comedies. The Academy Award-winning actress has long been one of the best to attempt the genre, and she’ll have a long-lasting legacy because of those strong, vulnerable, and incredibly relatable characters.

Michael Ealy

Over the years, Michael Ealy has put together a crazy good filmography, one that is filled with medical dramas and thrillers, action flicks and comedies, etc. But let’s not forget all the great work he’s done in the world of romantic comedies. Kissing Jessica Stein, Think Like a Man, and About Last Night have all shown what the talented actor is working with.

Adam Sandler

Though not the prototypical romantic lead, there are so many great Adam Sandler rom-coms out there. From The Wedding Singer to Punch-Drunk Love and 50 First Dates to Spanglish there’s so much variety and fun to be had with his stellar filmography.

Jennifer Garner

13 Going on 30, anyone? Jennifer Garner became one of the queens of the rom-com with the release of her 2004 comedy about a young girl who is transformed into a 30-year-old magazine editor and undergoes a massive transformation (both physically and emotionally). She’s also appeared in other great comedies of the era like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Love, Simon, to name a few.

Woody Allen

Woody Allen’s monologue in the opening minutes of Manhattan is honestly one of the best cinematic moments of the ‘70s and features some of Allen’s best writing. That’s saying something considering the writer-director-actor has been a part of so many great rom-coms over the years. Annie Hall, Midnight in Paris, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Hannah and her Sisters have made us laugh, cry, and feel everything in between over the past 50-plus years.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway’s name doesn’t come up in the rom-com discussion as much as it should, which is a shame considering the Oscar-winning actress has killed it in movies like The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, Love & Other Drugs, and so many others. Yeah, she was great in Interstellar and Les Misérables, but there’s no denying her performances in these romantic comedies.

Morris Chestnut

Okay, Morris Chestnut was AMAZING in Boyz n the Hood with his portrayal of Ricky Baker, but the man has become a legend in the rom-com game over the past few decades. Two Can Play That Game, The Best Man, The Brothers, The Perfect Holiday, Breakin’ All the Rules are all classics, thanks in no small part to Chestnut’s performances.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams’ career has been full of swirling tales of romance like The Notebook, The Vow, and Disobedience, but some of her best work has been in romantic comedies. Wedding Crashers and Midnight in Paris quickly come to mind, but her best performance can be found in About Time, an incredibly emotional and hilarious story of love, loss, and second chances.

John Cusack

Look at the best John Cusack movies and you’ll see iconic rom-coms like High Fidelity, Say Anything, Serendipity, Better Off Dead, and America’s Sweethearts. The vulnerability and likeability of the Hollywood star have made those movies, and the beloved characters he plays in each of them, such gems over the years.

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson is amazing when it comes to roles in romantic comedies, and few could come close to her batting average in the early-to-mid 2000s. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Best Friend’s Girl, Something Borrowed, and A Little Bit of Heaven all come to mind in this regard.

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs has done it all, but he’s excelled tremendously in the rom-com world. Movies like The Wood, The Best Man, Brown Sugar, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back have shown just how charming and funny the classically trained actor can be.

Ben Stiller

Though an unlikely leading man in the realm of romantic comedies, Ben Still has long excelled in the genre. Over the years, we’ve had sensational comedies like There’s Something About Mary, Along Came Polly, Keeping the Faith, and even Reality Bites that have allowed the comedian-actor-writer-director to show off what he’s working with, and it’s been great all along.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Green on Friends, but let’s not forget that she has also been a longtime staple of the romantic comedy genre. The Break-up, Wanderlust, Just Go With It, The Switch, Rumor Has It, and several others have been perfect movies for Aniston to show off her skills.

Patrick Dempsey

From Can’t Buy Me Love to Made of Honor and everything in between, Patrick Dempsey has been a tour de force in the world of romantic comedies. He’s done great work on TV and in big-screen dramas over the years, but he particularly excels in the rom-com genre.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most popular fictional characters ever created. There have been numerous Sherlock Holmes movies and TV shows based on the character, and more stories written about him than original author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ever penned. It’s been a few years since we’ve seen a major Sherlock Holmes adaptation, which means we’re due, and the next one is gearing up and just added Kingsman’s Colin Firth to the cast.

Variety reports that Colin Firth has become the latest to join Prime Video’s Young Sherlock. The series is based on books written by Andrew Lane which follow Holmes starting at the age of 14 years old. The series will see the character as a 19-year-old. Hero Fiennes Tiffin, star of the After romantic drama series, is set to play the young version of the future consulting detective in a series produced and directed by Guy Ritchie.

Who Colin Firth Will Play In Young Sherlock 

Firth will play a character named Sir Bucephalus Hodge. Nothing else about the character is known at this time. Firth joins Joseph Fiennes, the lead's uncle, and Natascha McElhone, who are set to play Sherlock's parents. Zine Tseng is also set to appear as Princess Gulun Shou’an.

Colin Firth has played some iconic English roles in his career. He’s been Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice and played a former King of England in The King's Speech. He was never James Bond, but he did play a secret agent with plenty of gadgets in the Kingsman movies. It’s fitting to see him become part of the Sherlock Holmes world as well.

Young Sherlock Brings Guy Ritchie Back To The Franchise

Young Sherlock will see Hero Fiennes Tiffin reunite with Guy Ritchie, who previously directed him as part of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare cast. It will also see Ritchie’s return to Sherlock Holmes after he directed Robert Downey Jr. in two big-screen Sherlock adventures. A third Sherlock movie in that franchise has been continually teased, but has yet to materialize. If the movie does happen, Guy Ritchie won't direct it.

With a name like Sir Bucephalus Hodge, Colin Firth could be playing anybody. That could easily be the name of some upper-class villain that Sherlock must battle against. However, we also know the new show will deal with a murder mystery at Osford, and since it’s unclear how big a role Firth will play, he could easily be playing the victim who dies at the end of the first episode. He could also be some sort of mentor, as he was in the Kingsman movies.

As a big Sherlock Holmes fan who has read all the original stories, I’m always excited about new takes on the character. The original books the series is based on are officially endorsed by the Conan Doyle estate, so while they might not be officially “canon” for Sherlock Holmes, they are as close to it as we’ll ever get.

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. 

Spoilers for the Barbie movie are ahead. If you haven’t checked out the 2023 movie schedule’s smash hit, you can go see it in theaters. 

Greta Gerwig really didn’t hold back when it came to throwing in some brutal jokes into Barbie that targeted specific films and shows with very passionate fans. While many were sucker punched by the Zack Snyder joke, others were hit right where it hurts with a hilarious jab at The BBC’s 1995 Pride & Prejudice. However, there was no real harm done as the network responded to the fun little moment about the miniseries starring Colin Firth in the best way. 

In Barbie, after Margot Robbie’s doll falls into a depression, the movie cuts to a fake ad for Depression Barbie. In that commercial it shows her scrolling aimlessly on her phone, eating a whole pack of sour candy, and of course, watching 1995’s Pride & Prejudice. Many fans quickly pointed out that this joke hit very close to home, however, most got a good laugh out of it, including The BBC as it posted on Instagram:

I’m obsessed with this reaction! Not only did the network get the joke, but they also took it one step further by Barbie-fying Mr. Darcy and his beloved lake scene. Even the caption is A+ as they wrote:

So, before Beach was a job, Lake was apparently the profession of choice, and I love that for everyone involved. 

Along with this video, fans of both Barbie and Pride and Prejudice have been posting jokes about the two properties. Notably, some have poked fun at Mr. Darcy’s house, saying it's an example of a mojo dojo casa house, which is truly iconic. Also, both Mr. Darcy and Ken are pining over women, and that’s the thing that seems to be taking up a lot of their thoughts. So, I get why people are claiming that Colin Firth’s character walked so Ryan Gosling’s could run. 

I think a reason all these jokes have hit so hard is because Pride and Prejudice has been a beloved and comforting property for decades. I know so many women who adore the story, and as someone who only recently came around to 2005’s Pride and Prejudice, I must admit, I get the love now. No matter what mood you’re in, if you like Regency romance, then Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s story is bound to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. 

I think one of the reasons Barbie’s reviews have been so good is because of its quick-witted and heartfelt script. Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach didn’t hold back, and they made sure to throw in some excellent pop culture jokes that were bound to hit fans right in the heart. 

If you want to go back and see exactly what I’m talking about, you can catch Barbie in theaters now. However, if you are in need of a good cry, or you just want to relive the masterpiece that is Pride and Prejudice, you can stream the 1995 miniseries with a Hulu subscription. 

“Empire of Light” stars Olivia Coleman, Colin Firth, Michael Ward, Toby Jones, Tanya Moodie and writer/director Sam Mendes discuss their new film in this interview with CinemaBlend's Sean O'Connell. They chat about the making of Mendes' semi-autobiographical love letter to cinema and more.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:10 - The 'Empire of Light' Movie Theater Set Is A Character Of Its Own
04:33 - Director Sam Mendes On “Being There’s” Inclusion In The Film
07:08 - How Movies Played A Key Role In Tanya Moodie’s Own Relationship
08:20 - Collin Firth Talks “Love Actually” Turning 20

It’s that time of year when some of the best movies tend to come out. We have big Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar: The Way of Water, or ones that are always talked about as Academy Award contenders, like The Whale or The Fabelmans. This year, we have another film with a smaller cast, but who are just as talented, and that’s the stars of Empire of Light. 

The romantic drama is directed by Sam Mendes, a director who has done some outstanding work with amazing actors. If you’re wondering where you may have seen the Empire of Light cast before, we're here to help. 

Olivia Colman (Hilary)

Starting off with the star of Empire of Light, we have Olivia Colman, an actress who has been around for many years in the industry, and plays Hilary in the movie. She has done many movies and television shows, so it’s probably not that surprising if you’ve seen her in multiple projects. 

In terms of television, Colman starred in several shows, including Seasons 3 and 4 of The Crown, as well as many other TV shows like 2022’s Heartstopper (which is getting a Season 2), the Amazon Prime original series, Fleabag, Flowers, Rev., Beautiful People, Peep Show, Broadchurch and more. She was also in the miniseries, The Night Manager.

With film, Colman has certainly been in many notable ones. She got an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Anne, Queen of Great Britain, in The Favourite, but has been in many other movies, like The Father, The Lost Daughter, The Iron Lady, Murder on the Orient Express, Locke, The Michells vs. the Machines, and so many more. Really, a brilliant actress. 

Micheal Ward (Stephen)

Next up on the list, we take a look at Micheal Ward, who plays Stephen in Empire of Light. In terms of movies, Ward has appeared in a few, namely the Netflix original film The Old Guard, and has appeared in other movies like Blue Story, Beauty, and Brotherhood. 

In television, he’s appeared in main roles on shows like The A List and Top Boy, and was in the anthology series installment, Small Axe: Lover’s Rock. 

Tom Brooke (Neil)

Moving on, we take a look at Tom Brooke, who plays Neil in Empire of Light. Brooke has appeared in several big-time moves. To name a few, he’s had roles in films like Bridget Jones’s Diary, The Death of Stalin, The Boat That Rocked, and Say Your Prayers. 

Brooke has also had experience in television, appearing in a few shows as major characters. He played Fiore in the popular AMC series, Preacher, and played Bill Wiggens in Sherlock. He also appeared in shows such as Game of Thrones, The Hollow Crown, Electric Dreams, and The Crown. He also played Andy Apsted in Bodyguard.  

Tanya Moodie (Delia)

Next up is Tanya Moodie, who played Delia in the film. Other than Empire of Light, Moodie is relatively new to the movie world and has only appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker so far. However, she has done a lot on television. 

Besides multiple guest roles on shows, she’s appeared in bigger roles in shows such as The Clinic, Dicte, Absentia, Motherland, The Feed, and more. She also had a main role on the show A Discovery of Witches, a fantasy show that was a lot of fun (before it was unfortunately cancelled).

Hannah Onslow (Janine)

Hannah Onslow plays Janine in Empire of Light, and out of everyone, she’s the newest addition to the world of film. Prior to her role in Empire of Light, she only had small appearances in shows such as Ridley Road, This Is Going to Hurt, and Call the Midwife. But, I have a feeling that after this, we’ll be seeing a heck of a lot more of her.

Crystal Clarke (Ruby)

Ruby is played by Crystal Clarke in Empire of Light, and she’s been in a few projects that you might recognize her from. Clarke was in both the recent Star Wars movies, specifically Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. She was also in the films Assassin's Creed, and The King’s Daughter. 

In terms of television, Clarke also appeared in the miniseries Ordeal by Innocence, and has a main role in the historical drama, Sanditon. 

Toby Jones (Norman) 

Toby Jones portrays Norman in the film, and boy do I have a lot to tell you about this man. He has been all over the place in terms of movies and television and I can assure you that at some point, you’ve either heard or seen him. In terms of movies, what I know Jones the most from was when he played Dobby the House Elf in the Harry Potter series, but he’s been in so many other amazing films. 

Some of his biggest roles in movies thus far have included Naked, the 1998 version of Les Miserables, Mrs. Henderson Presents, Infamous, Amazing Grace, Frost/Nixon, W., My Week with Marilyn, Journey’s End, Dad’s Army, The Hunger Games movies, and so much more. He also played Arnim Zola in the first two Captain America films in that trilogy. 

Jones has also had a very prominent career in television, as well, having appeared in series such as Doctor Who, Agent Carter, Wayward Pines, and the unfortunately cancelled, The Dark Crystal: The Age Of Resistance. Talk about a packed resume. 

Colin Firth (Mr. Ellis) 

Last but not least, we must talk about Mr. Colin Firth, who plays Mr. Ellis in Empire of Light. Firth is an amazing actor who has appeared in God knows how many movies, so let’s get into some of them right now. 

If we’re talking about his most acclaimed roles, there are two – A Single Man, which he got an Academy Award nomination for, and The King’s Speech, where he played King George VI and won the Academy Award for Best Actor. 

Other than those two, Firth has done so many other awesome films, including appearing in the Mamma Mia! movies, starring in the Kingsman spy franchise, and having roles in films like Love Actually, A Month in the Country, The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Importance of Being Earnest, and more. He has also worked with Sam Mendes before, in 1917. 

In terms of television, Firth is mainly known for taking part in television films, including a television adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, as well as being in Conspiracy. However, he received critical acclaim for his part in The Staircase cast in 2022. 

With such a stellar cast list, it’s no wonder you’ve seen these actors somewhere before. Maybe now, you just might have found something new to enjoy them in after this great movie. 

The world cannot seem to get enough of true crime - be it a feature-length drama, a series, a documentary, or a docuseries to get every last detail out of the case of the week. It also appears that some stories are more obsessed over than others, such as that of Michael Peterson, whose long-debated case involving of his wife, Kathleen - who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in 2001 - has been the subject of a feature-length Lifetime movie, a docuseries on Netflix, and now an eight-episode HBO Max original drama called The Staircase.

Whatever your opinion is regarding the shocking trial, I think few can argue that creator Antonio Campos’ miniseries - available to stream on HBO Max Thursday, May 5 - doesn't look like a gripping representation of the events that took place. See for yourself by taking a look at who is playing whom in The Staircase cast.

Colin Firth (Michael Peterson)

Playing novelist Michael Peterson - convicted of murder in 2003 before charges were reduced to manslaughter in 2017 - is Colin Firth, whose last true crime title was 2013’s Devil’s Knot. The British actor is better known for literary costume dramas like 1995’s Pride and Prejudice miniseries, biopics like The King’s Speech (for which he won an Oscar), rom-coms like Bridget Jones’ Diary, musicals (namely when he joined the Mamma Mia! cast), or even cartoonish spy thrillers like the action-packed Kingsman movies. 

Firth more recently played Stanley Tucci’s partner in Supernova, a British Naval officer in 2022’s Operation Mincemeat, and (speaking of war dramas) will reunite with 1917 director Sam Mendes for Empire of Light.

Toni Collette (Kathleen Peterson)

Playing Kathleen Peterson - whose mysterious death is the main focus of the story - is Toni Collette, whose previous experience with true crime includes Netflix’s Unbelievable and Imperium. The Australian actress’ eclectic filmography ranges from horror movies like The Sixth Sense (for which she received an Oscar nomination) and Hereditary (for which she should have received an Oscar nomination), to dysfunctional family dramedies like Little Miss Sunshine, the Showtime series United States of Tara (which earned her an Emmy), or more fun mystery thrillers like Knives Out. Collette recently starred in Netflix’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things in 2020 and Guillermo del Toro’s Best Picture Oscar nominee, Nightmare Alley, the following year.  

Michael Stuhlbarg (David Rudolf)

As Michael Peterson’s lawyer, David Rudolf, we have Michael Stuhlbarg, who (in addition to recently starring on another legal drama, Showtime’s Your Honor) has played a lot real people in fact-based titles. He joined Hulu’s Dopesick cast as former Purdue Pharma president Richard Sackler, gave an Emmy-nominated performance as national security expert Richard Clarke on The Looming Tower, was crime boss Andrew Rothstein on Boardwalk Empire, and sparred with Michael Fassbender in the title role of Steve Jobs as software engineer Andy Hertzfeld, to name just a few. 

He also led Joel and Ethan Coen’s A Serious Man in 2010, played an alien in Men in Black 3, played a human afraid of aliens in Arrival, and is reprising his Doctor Strange role in its sequel in 2022.

Parker Posey (Freda Black)

As Freda Black - the prosecuting attorney in the Michael Peterson case - we have Parker Posey, who first broke into the mainstream (like many of her co-stars in the 1993 classic) as Darla in Dazed and Confused, before becoming a recurring cast member of Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy's mockumentaries after first appearing in 1996’s Waiting for Guffman. 

She is also known for classic rom-coms like You’ve Got Mail, horror movies like Scream 3, and comic book movies like Blade: Trinity and Superman Returns. Posey has also had recurring roles on many notable series (such as The Good Wife), starred on Netflix’s Lost in Space reboot, and will appear in AMC’s upcoming anthology Tales from the Walking Dead.

Dane DeHaan (Clayton Peterson)

Playing Michael Peterson’s son, Clayton, is Dane DeHaan, who has a few credits in common with his The Staircase co-stars - namely Devil’s Knot with Colin Firth and Lincoln with Michael Stuhlbarg. He is even better known as Andrew Detmer in the acclaimed 2012 found footage thriller Chronicle, Harry Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Lockhart in A Cure for Wellness, and the title character of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. 

Other notable miniseries credits for DeHaan (who recently joined Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast) include the suspenseful The Stranger (formerly a Quibi exclusive) and Apple TV+’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story.

Patrick Schwarzenegger (Todd Peterson)

Playing Michael Peterson’s son, Todd, is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Patrick Schwarzenegger - who made his acing debut in the 2006 comedy, The Benchwarmers, before reuniting with David Spade and Rob Schneider in 2013’s Grown Ups 2. Before playing the title role of 2019’s Shudder exclusive movie, Daniel Isn’t Real, his first horror efforts were Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse and an episode of Scream Queens in 2015 and, in the years in between, he played a soldier on National Geographic’s The Long Road Home and shared a romance with Bella Thorne in Midnight Sun (not to be confused with the Twilight spin-off book). 

Schwarzenegger has since shared the screen with Michael Shannon in Echo Boomers, Amy Poehler in Netflix’s Moxie, and Thomas Jane and more in the dystopian ensemble drama, Warning. 

Sophie Turner (Margaret Ratliff)

Playing Michael Peterson’s adoptive daughter, Margaret Ratliff, is Sophie Turner, although she goes by the last name Jonas since her marriage to Joe Jonas in 2019. Like some of her fellow The Staircase cast members, the English actress has starred in comedic spy movies (2015’s Barely Lethal), Marvel movies (as the X-Men’s Jean Grey), and Quibi original thrillers (Survive from 2020). Of course, Turner (who more recently leant her voice to HBO Max’s animated comedy, The Prince) is best known for her Emmy-nominated performance in the Game of Thrones cast as Sansa Stark. 

Odessa Young (Martha Ratliff)

Playing Michael Peterson’s adoptive daughter, Martha Ratliff, is Odessa Young, who previously worked with Colin Firth in 2022’s Mothering Sunday and Michael Stuhlbarg in Shirley two years earlier. Following her starring roles on the Australian dramas Tricky Business (also starring The Boys cast member Antony Starr) and Wonderland, the actress made her feature-length debut in 2015’s The Daughter and later starred in A Million Little Pieces and played the lead of Sam Levinson’s coming-of-age satire, Assassination Nation, in 2018. In 2020, she joined Paramount+’s The Stand cast.

Olivia DeJonge (Caitlin Atwater)

As Caitlin Atwater - Kathleen Peterson’s daughter from a previous marriage - we have Olivia DeJonge, who, like some of her fellow The Staircase cast members, has starred in found footage thrillers and worked with M. Night Shyamalan (2015’s The Visit), in Shakespearean costume dramas (TNT’s short-lived series, Will), and dystopian supernatural TV shows (Netflix’s The Society). The Australian actress made her feature-length debut in 2014’s teen mystery The Sisterhood of Night, later starred in the 2016 holiday horror movie Better Watch Out, and will soon appear in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis as Priscilla Presley.

Rosemarie DeWitt (Candace Zamperini)

As Candace Zamperini - Kathleen Peterson’s sister - we have Rosemarie DeWitt, who last played Toni Collette’s onscreen sister on the aforementioned United States of Tara. Also like some of her fellow The Staircase cast members, she has starred in dysfunctional family stories (Rachel Getting Married and Your Sister’s Sister), period TV shows (a recurring role in the Mad Men cast), horror movies (2015’s Poltergeist remake), musicals (La La Land), and modern satirical dramas (Men, Women & Children). DeWitt also tried dystopian sci-fi with one of the best Black Mirror episodes from Season 4 (“Arkangel”) and was part of Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere cast in 2020.

Tim Guinee (Bill Peterson)

Playing Michael Peterson’s brother, Bill, is Tim Guinee, whose last role on a fact-based miniseries this year was on Netflix’s Inventing Anna, after previously starring in the 2019 biopic Harriet, and playing John Denver in the 2002 TV movie Warning: Parental Advisory. His lengthy, versatile filmography also includes vampire movies (John Carpenter’s Vampires and 1998’s Blade - also his first Marvel movie before appearing in the first two Iron Man movies), and a couple other appearances alongside Rosemarie DeWitt (The Odd Life of Timothy Green and Promised Land). He also has recurring roles on several hit series - such as The Good Wife, Hell on Wheels, Elementary, and Homeland. 

Vincent Vermignon (Jean-Xavier de Lestrade)

As Jean-Xavier de Lestrade - the Oscar-winning documentarian behind the docuseries also called The Staircase - we have Vincent Vermignon. Originally from the French-Caribbean island of Martinique, the actor is best known for the 2016 drama Gangs of the Caribbean, the interactive series Cut, and lending his voice to the spooky animated French film Little Vampire in 2020. English-speaking audiences may also recognize the actor from an episode of the Idris Elba-led crime series, Luther, in 2019.

Juliette Binoche (Sophie Brunet)

Playing Sophie Brunet - Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s editor who become romantically involved with Michael Peterson during the making of The Staircase docuseries - is Juliette Binoche, who last starred opposite Colin Firth in the Best Picture Oscar winner The English Patient, for which she also won an Academy Award. Like Firth, the French actress is also known for literary romance dramas (1992’s Wuthering Heights), rom-coms (2007’s Dan in Real Life), and big budget blockbusters (2014’s Godzilla), to name a few. The Chocolat star is also known for Michael Haneke’s thriller, Caché, the romantic anthology Paris, je t’aime, and two unique thrillers opposite Robert Pattinson (2012’s Cosmopolis and High Life from 2018).

Murder. Mystery. Romance. Family drama. A talented cast. What more could you ask for from a true crime series like The Staircase on HBO Max?

You want to talk about one of my favorite modern musicals? Let’s talk about Mamma Mia!

From the brilliant songs that will surely make your head bop from side to side and get up out of your seat to dance to the fun romance that makes me smile each time, Mamma Mia! is a comfort movie at its finest, and one that I can get behind. But with a movie that’s almost fourteen years old (yes, you read that right, fourteen), one might be wondering where the cast is. 

Besides most of these actors appearing in the sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! in 2018, everyone has been up to so many things, from starring roles in other musicals to major dramas and award-winning portrayals. Here is everything the cast of Mamma Mia! has done since their iconic roles. 

Meryl Streep (Donna Sheridan-Carmichael)

You want to talk about an icon, let’s talk about Donna in Mamma Mia!, played by an icon herself, Meryl Streep. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to her version of the very song, “Mamma Mia." Even so, Meryl Streep, of course, has been up to her knees in amazing movies and shows for years now.

In terms of movies, one of her highlights has been playing the legendary prime minister of England, Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, for which she won an Academy Award. Some of her other major roles that you might have seen her in are Julie & Julia, the musical film, Into the Woods ,the romantic comedy, It’s Complicated, the Netflix original film, The Laundromat, the biographical movie The Post (alongside Tom Hanks), the 2021 Netflix film, Don’t Look Up, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and many, many more. 

While she focuses a lot of her talent on movies, Meryl Streep also appeared in some major TV shows, her biggest being a part of the Big Little Lies cast during Season 2. Coming up, she'll be appearing in a new TV series called Extrapolations, a new series at Apple TV+.

Amanda Seyfried (Sophie Sheridan)

The daughter of Donna, Sophie was a young woman who just wanted answers about her mother’s past in Mamma Mia!, and who could forget the sweet duet she shared with Donna in “Slipping Through My Fingers” together? Amanda Seyfried portrayed Sophie in the film, and has been quite active in movies. 

Amanda Seyfried did for a time appear in Big Love on HBO, but has mainly kept her talents to movies. Some of the highlights of her career so far include a starring role in Les Miserables, the horror film, Jennifer’s Body, The Art of Racing in the Rain, the Scooby-Doo film, Scoob!, the Netflix original film, Mank, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and her most recent entry, A Mouthful of Air. 

Soon, she'll be appearing in The Dropout, an upcoming miniseries on Hulu, playing the lead character, Elizabeth Holmes. 

Christine Baranski (Tanya Chesham-Leigh)

Next up, we have Tanya, one of Donna’s former bandmates and a bit of a vixen herself with sass for days in Mamma Mia!, played by the amazing Christine Baranski. This legendary actress has been active in both movies and TV, with some big roles in the latter. 

For movies, Baranski's popped up in films like Into the Woods, A Bad Moms Christmas, Christmas on the Square, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and more. 

But some of her biggest roles have been in television. While she’s had plenty of guest and recurring roles, one of her biggest parts thus far was portraying Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife, as well as on The Good Fight, for several episodes, and a role that she has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award numerous times. 

Coming up, Baranski has a starring role in The Gilded Age, a new HBO series, as well a role in the movie, Bad Moms' Moms, which was announced in 2019, though no new news has come out since. 

Julie Walters (Rosie Mulligan)

Next up, we have Rosie Mulligan, another one of Donna’s former bandmates who comes to Greece for this destination wedding in Mamma Mia!. Played by Julie Walters, the actress has made her way into the hearts of both movie-goers and TV lovers alike. 

With film, Walters portrayed Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter series for several years, becoming the family’s matriarch and everyone’s favorite mom. Besides that, she’s had roles in several movies like the Paddington series, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, the Pixar film, Brave, Brooklyn, Mary Poppins Returns, The Secret Garden and more. 

In television, she’s appeared in several limited series, including The Jury, The Hollow Crown, Indian Summers, National Treasure and more. She’s also used her lovely voice to narrate several documentaries, like Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport and For the Love of Britain.  

Walters doesn't seem to have anything in the works as of right now, but I'm sure it won't be long until we see her talented acting on the screen once more. 

Pierce Brosnan (Sam Carmichael)

Next up, we have Pierce Brosnan, who played Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!, one of the three lovely men from Donna’s past. Brosnan has, of course, been up to his knees in work. This is one of the former James Bonds we’re talking about. 

In movies, Brosnan has starred in The Ghost Writer, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lighting Thief, Love Is All You Need, A Long Way Down, The Foreigner, the Amazon original movie, Cinderella, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and many others. 

Brosnan has also had success in television since his appearance, appearing in the miniseries, Bag of Bones, adapted from the Stephen King book, and The Son.  

Coming up, Brosnan is going to be appearing in a variety of movies, including DC's Black Adam, The Medusa, The Last Rifleman and more. 

Colin Firth (Harry Bright)

Moving on, we have Harry Bright, another love from Donna’s past life, played by the lovely Colin Firth. Firth, like Meryl Streep, has had quite the career after his appearance in Mamma Mia!, mainly in movies. 

Two of his biggest roles thus far in film were portraying King George VI in The King’s Speech, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as a main role in The Kingsman spy series as Harry Hart. 

Other big roles of his in the last fourteen years have included Dorian Gray, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Devil’s Knot, Bridget Jones’s Baby, 1917, Supernova, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and many more. He did appear in the romantic comedy television short, Red Nose Day Actually on television, but other than that, he has mainly stuck to the big screen.  

Firth is set to appear in a new miniseries, The Staircase, as well as appear in two new movies called Kill the Light and Empire of Light.

Stellan Skarsgard (Bill Anderson)

Next up, we have the final man from Donna’s past life in Mamma Mia!, Bill Anderson, played by Stellan Skarsgard. He has been active in Hollywood for quite some time, and has only continued to prove how much of a powerhouse he is. 

In movies, one of Skarsgard’s biggest roles was being a part of the Thor world for some time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Erik Selvig and appearing in both Thor and Thor: The Dark World, as well as The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Some of his other big roles in movies since his appearance have been Angels & Demons, Frankie and Alice, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Romeo and Juliet, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!,  Disney’s live-action Cinderella, 2021’s epic sci-fi film, Dune, and much more. 

Skarsgard has also had quite the career in television as well, appearing in shows such as Entourage, Quarry, River, and the HBO miniseries, Chernobyl. 

He’s also going to be a part of the upcoming Disney+ series set in the Star Wars universe, Andor. Alongside that, Skarsgard is set to appear in the sequel to Dune, as well a new movie titled What Remains, so you'll surely see him again soon enough. 

Dominic Cooper (Sky Ramand)

Moving on, now we have Dominic Cooper, who played Sky Ramand, the care-free guy that Sophie was in love with and wanted to spend the rest of her life traveling around the world with, even after their wedding was a bust in Mamma Mia!. Dominic Cooper has also had a crazy career, both movies and television. 

Like Skargard, Cooper also went into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the role of young Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger. He would go on to reprise this role in both the short film, Agent Carter and the series it was based on, and voice the role again for What If…?, one of the latest Marvel series on Disney+. 

In terms of other movies, Cooper has popped up in a variety of genres, such as An Education, My Week With Marilyn, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Need for Speed, Warcraft, The Escape, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, and more. 

Cooper, however, has kept a lot of his talent to television as he had a hit AMC show, Preacher, that he starred in for four seasons, acting a priest who gets insane powers and gives him the opportunity to find God. Besides his big role here, he’s also appeared in many other shows like The Grand Tour, Spy City and others. 

The actor is set to star in the series The Dirty Black Bag as Arthur McCoy, as well as pop up in some new movies as well, including The Duchess of Malfi, Peacock, and Nightfall.

Niall Buggy (Father Alex)

While he wasn’t in Mamma Mia! for long, Father Alex was a priest who was literally just there to get someone married and wanted to get the heck out of there as soon as possible, and he was played by Niall Buggy. 

Buggy has appeared in a variety of projects with both movies and TV. In movies, he popped up in Mr. Turner, A Girl from Mogadishu and the TV film As Luck Would Have It. He’s had many appearances in television as well, having guest roles in shows such as Jack Taylor, Will, Cobra and others.  

Buggy doesn't seem like he has anything lined up just yet to work on, but hopefully it won't be long before we see him appear on our TV screens or movie screens again. 

Philip Michael (Pepper)

Last but not least, we have Pepper, the saucy bartender who was heavily hitting on Tanya and the center of the song, “Does Your Mother Know?” in Mamma Mia! Philip Michael portrayed the role, and ever since he’s kept a relatively low profile in Hollywood, appearing in independent films or the occasional guest role in TV shows. 

This includes, but is not limited to, The Londoners, Prank Lab, Major Crimes, Luke Cage, Things Eternal, and others. He’s also had appearances in movies like The Black Hole, Trees of Peace and more. His biggest role was playing Joshua Udenze in Fair City, a long-lasting Irish TV drama. 

But it seems Michael has a lot of work coming up, including a miniseries titled Southbank, and a couple of movies titled Pride of the Fist and Ulysses Coyote, so hopefully we’ll get to see more of him soon. 

I think we need another Mamma Mia! movie, but only that happens, I can at least rewatch this films and feel happy all over again. Great, now that song is stuck in my head.  

Prestige war dramas from acclaimed British filmmakers can often seem like a dime a dozen. While the stories they tell are certainly important, as it's always good to remember the wars and battles that define our countries and world, it can be hard to stand out compared to many other dramas in this packed genre.

To the credit of Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Jarhead, Skyfall), 1917 most certainly stands out. Shot as though it were one long, arduous continuous take (well, technically two, but let's not get into technicalities), this sweeping, exhilarating drama adamantly aims to make you feel as though you're caught in the action with these hapless and often helpless soldiers, experiencing each and every little moment of intense panic and dismay as our young protagonists hustle vigorously for their lives, particularly as they attempt to share the message that might save their country and finally put a long and tension-filled war to rest in the midst of heated panic.

Receiving 10 Oscar nominations at this year's Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and walking away with three wins for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound Mixing, it can be easy to forget how much the acting makes such an intensely visceral movie like 1917 work. (For all its nominations, the actors were overall ignored.) Certainly, in a commendable cast that includes both up-and-comers and established talents, this high-grade ensemble shouldn't ultimately be ignored. Now that it's been nearly a year since the movie made its way into theaters, what's the 1917 cast up to now? Well, let's take a look and find out!

George MacKay (Lance Corporal William "Will" Schofield)

As our central protagonist, Lance Corporal William "Will" Schofield, the solider who must travel to great lengths to send the message that might save the lives of thousands, George MacKay serves as our guide throughout this long, expansive wartime action-drama-thriller. While this leading role in this Oscar-winning prestige movie was certainly the actor's most well-known role, MacKay has been demonstrating his talents in a number of projects in the past few years. Most notably, he was seen in Captain Fantastic, Hulu's 11.22.63, The Outcast, Johnny and the Bomb, Tsunami: The Aftermath, Pride, Marrowbone, Ophelia, Sunshine on Leith, How I Live Now, Defiance, and Hunky Dory.

Most recently, George MacKay played the lead role in True History of the Kelly Gang and starred in Nuclear and the mini-series, Ataraxia. He also just filmed a role in Wolf and he's currently in production for Netflix's Munich.

Dean-Charles Chapman (Lance Corporal Thomas "Tom" Blake)

Playing the part of Lance Corporal Thomas Blake, i.e. Tom, who's ordered alongside William Schofield to deliver the all-important message to Colonel Mackenzie, Dean-Charles Chapman plays the second most prominent role in 1917, and a tragic one to boot. Best known for his role as Tommen Baratheon in Game of Thrones' final three seasons, Chapman was also the title role in West End's production of Billy Elliot: The Musical and he appeared in Into the Badlands, The White Queen, The Revolting World of Stanley Brown, Cuckoo, Before I Go To Sleep, Man Up, Will, Casualty, The Commuter, Blinded by the Light, The King, Breathe, Glue, Ripper Street, and Fungus the Bogeyman.

Most recently, Dean-Charles Chapman played the lead in Here Are the Young Men, alongside Anya-Taylor Joy and Travis Fimmel, earlier this year. He doesn't have any additional titles coming up at this time.

Colin Firth (General Erinmore)

In the role of General Erinmore, the commanding officer who sends our two small-scale soldiers on their very perilous mission seen throughout the film, Colin Firth played a key expository role in 1917's opening moments. An Oscar winner for The King's Speech, the English actor is also known for the Bridget Jones trilogy, The English Patient, Love Actually, Shakespeare in Love, the Kingsman movies, A Single Man, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Mary Poppins Returns, 1995's Pride and Prejudice, 1997's Fever Pitch, and the Mamma Mia movies. Firth was recently seen in The Secret Garden earlier this year.

Next, Colin Firth stars in Supernova, which comes out in the U.S. in January of next year. He'll be seen in Mothering Sunday next year as well. And he'll go from WWI to WWII with the upcoming war-based drama, Operation Mincemeat, which is expected to come out next year, too.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Colonel Mackenzie)

As Colonel Mackenzie, the commanding officer whom Will tells his urgent life-or-death message, Benedict Cumberbatch plays a small-but-critical role in this movie's rousing climax. Best known for playing the title role in BBC's Sherlock, Doctor Strange in the MCU, Smaug in The Hobbit franchise, and Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness, the Oscar nominee is also prominent for The Imitation Game, Patrick Melrose, Parade's End, The Fifth Estate, War Horse, The Current War, 2018's The Grinch, The Last Enemy, and 12 Years a Slave.

Most recently, Benedict Cumberbatch starred in The Courier, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Its wide release comes in February. His other upcoming roles include Prisoner 760, The Power of the Dog, and Louis, which are all expected next year. And he's reprising the role of Doctor Strange in MCU's Spider-Man 3, which is now filming, and Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.

Mark Strong (Captain Smith)

In the role of Captain Smith, a British officer who offers some world-weary advice to our traveling soldiers, Mark Strong is one of a series of starry cameos seen throughout 1917. An accomplished British actor with several prominent roles in his resume, Strong is best known for the Kingsman movies, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Kick-Ass, Sherlock Holmes (2009), Stardust, Zero Dark Thirty, The Imitation Game, RocknRolla, The Eagle, The Guard, The Young Victoria, Body of Lies, Sunshine, Revolver, Fever Pitch (1997), Syriana, Tristan & Isolde, Robin Hood, Grimby, Green Lantern, Our Friends in the North, Low Winter Sun, Temple, and Shazam! He also narrated Who Do You Think You Are? and voiced a role in Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Next, Mark Strong stars in Disney's Cruella, which is slated for May 2021. He'll also play Captain Thomas Wade in the video game, Squadron 42.

Andrew Scott (Lieutenant Smith)

As Lieutenant Smith, an experienced war veteran who gives our lead characters some key bits of advice, Andrew Scott provides a charismatic turn in Sam Mendes' 1917. The charming Irish actor is best known for playing Jim Moriarty in BBC's Sherlock, for which he won a BAFTA, and the Priest in the second season of Fleabag. His other notable credits include Black Mirror, Modern Love, Band of Brothers, My Life in Film, Longitude, Locke, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Spectre, Victor Frankenstein, A Dark Place, Saving Private Ryan, Pride, Jimmy's Hall, John Adams, and Denial.

Most recently, Andrew Scott was seen in Three Kings. He also returns for a new season of His Dark Materials. His latest projects include Ripley, which he'll also produce, The Pursuit of Love, Oslo, and the short film, Cognition. Additionally, Scott lends his voice to an animated adaptation of Heart of Darkness.

Richard Madden (Lieutenant Joseph Blake)

Playing the part of Lieutenant Joseph Blake, the older brother of Will's companion, Lance Corporal Thomas Blake, Richard Madden's cameo provides an emotional coda to 1917's long and harrowing journey. Primarily best known for his role as Robb Stark in the first three seasons of Game of Thrones, the Scottish actor later gained notice and acclaim for his lead role in the BBC mini-series, Bodyguard, which resulted in a Golden Globe win for Best Actor — Television Series Drama. He was also notably seen in Disney's live-action Cinderella remake and last year's Elton John biopic, Rocketman. His other credits include Medici: Masters of Florence, Bastille Day, Sirens, Hope Springs, and Barmy Aunt Boomerang.

Next, Richard Madden stars in Marvel's upcoming The Eternals, which is scheduled to hit theaters on November 5th, 2021. He's also slated to star in the new drama mini-series, Citadel, alongside Priyanka Chopra.

Claire Duburcq (Lauri)

In the role of Lauri, a French woman with a baby whom our always-on-the-go protagonist temporarily bunkers with during a briefly quiet moment in the action, first-time actress Claire Duburcq made her screen debut in Sam Mendes' award-favorite war drama. Gotta say, this intense movie certainly isn't the most... stress-free film to kick off your acting career, though it's certainly a notable debut nonetheless. When your first movie is one of the most award-recognized movies of the year, you're bound to get some notice as your career advances forward. Nevertheless, it's still very early in Duburcq's career and 1917 is the only thing American audiences have seen her in thus far.

Earlier this year, Claire Duburcq made her acting follow-up with the drama film, Gold for Dogs, which premiered at a few film festivals. She currently doesn't have any additional roles lined up in the near future.

Were you a fan of 1917? Who was your favorite character or cast member? Be sure to let us know in the comment section below!

On Friday, the shocking news dropped that Johnny Depp, who had been set to reprise his role of Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3, was out of the movie. Following a ruling against Depp in a U.K. libel lawsuit, in which a judge found allegations of abuse by Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard to be credible, Warner Bros. apparently asked the actor to leave the production, and he agreed to do so. This decision has also pushed back the release, and therefore the production, of the new film, giving the studio some time to find a new lead villain for the Harry Potter spinoff franchise.

So who should it be? Where should the production of Fantastic Beasts 3 look for a new Grindelwald? Considering that the vast majority of actors in the franchise are English, and the Harry Potter movies already used basically all of them at one time or another, the pickings feel slim, but there are still some names worth considering. What does seem certain is that the film will want to replace a name like Johnny Depp with another big name. Here a few people to think about that could do the job well.

Ewan McGregor

It's almost hard to believe that Ewan McGregor made his way through the entire Harry Potter franchise without finding a role, but he did, and so perhaps its his time to join the larger Wizarding World by becoming the new Grindelwald. McGregor is several years younger than Johnny Depp, but he's only a couple years older than Jude Law, and considering that Dumbledore and Grindelwald are supposed to be contemporaries, this actually works out better. The biggest hurdle to this choice might be that Ewan McGregor has his own high profile project, the Obi-Wan Disney+ series, and with so much about both projects currently up in the air, scheduling might not allow this to happen. But if it did, it could be amazing.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch hasn't been part of the Harry Potter franchise as of yet. However, he has played a sorcerer capable of great magical ability. Isn't Grindelwald really just an evil Doctor Strange? Well, maybe not exactly. And maybe, because Cumberbatch is already playing a wielder of magical abilities in another franchise, he won't be interested in this one, but he could probably do it. And Cumberbatch is almost always the good guy. He hasn't played a lot of really evil characters, and seeing him play the bad guy could be a lot of fun. Similar to Ewan McGregor, Benedict Cumberbatch is much younger than Johnny Depp, but he's not so young that it should be a deal breaker.

Joseph Fiennes

In the original Harry Potter movies, the big bad, Lord Voldemort, was played by Ralph Fiennes, and that worked out pretty well, so maybe the solution to recasting Grindelwald is to keep things in the same family. Ralph was a great Voldemort, so let's bring in brother Joseph Fiennes to play the villain of the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Age wise, he's actually slightly older than Johnny Depp, but that shouldn't be a deal breaker, he doesn't look all that old. Fiennes has been making a solid career for himself on television in recent years, but it's been far too long since he had a solid film role, and this could be it.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

This one might be one of the longer shots as the youngest name on the list. At 43 Jonathan Rhys Meyers is more than a decade younger than Johnny Depp, and about four years younger than Jude Law. That wouldn't be a deal breaker, but the bigger strike against Jonathan Rhys Meyers, which is usually a good thing for him, is that he looks even younger than he is. Here, the Tudors star would look like a kid compared to the older Jude Law when they're supposed to be around the same age. Still, it's not like this couldn't be worked around. Make-up is a thing, as is magic, which is sort of a big part of these movies. Maybe Grindelwald just wanted to look younger. Normal people get face lifts, wizards just drink a potion and get younger.

Colin Firth

Colin Firth is another great English actor that we still can't believe wasn't in the Harry Potter franchise and yet, he wasn't (I double checked). He's got the opposite problem of Jonathan Rhys Meyers in that he's the oldest person on this list. Can you put Colin Firth and Jude Law on screen together and make people believe they might have been in school together? I'm not sure, but if anybody could make you buy it with acting skill alone, it's Colin Firth. He's great at what he does and he would be great as Grindelwald. And he's another actor who doesn't get to play the bad guy nearly often enough.

Colin Farrell

And then finally we have what is either the longest shot of them all or possibly the choice so obvious that all others should be pushed to the side. I'm honestly not sure which. Colin Farrell played the role of Percival Graves in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He's the Auror on the hunt for the Obscurial that turns out to be Ezra Miller's Credence. However, in the end we learn that Graves has actually been Gellert Grindelwald in disguise the entire time. So if Grindelwald transformed out of being Colin Farrell once before, let's change him back. Why would this happen in the story? I have no idea, but there's a poetry to it that makes it feel right. And honestly, Colin Farrell was a better antagonist in the first movie than Grindelwald was in the sequel anyway.

With Fantastic Beasts 3 now looking at a summer 2022 release date, the movie will likely start filming in the late spring or early summer of 2021. That gives the filmmakers some time to find a replacement for Johnny Depp. Having said that, I would expect that we could still get an announcement very soon. Warner Bros. would probably prefer people stop talking about the guy who is no longer part of the movie and instead focus on the new person who is, and the faster that new person is found, the better.

Who do you think should play Grindelwald in the next Fantastic Beasts, one of these names, or somebody else? Let us know in the poll below.

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For stories such as Little Women, Emma or Alice in Wonderland, there is a certain expectation among audiences for modern retellings with the arrival of each new generation. They are classics after all, and their ability to be plopped into new contexts and remain universal speaks to their lasting appeal as beloved literature. A release such as Marc Munden’s The Secret Garden should show off why it was time for Hollywood to dust the title off the shelf again and kindle the fire for the source material. The 2020 version of The Secret Garden, however, is a perfectly adequate retelling of the famed children’s story, but it's also not compelling enough for one to appreciate it more than before.

Written by Jack Thorne, who penned 2017's Wonder and the Harry Potter stage play The Cursed Child, his Secret Garden does make some changes from the original written in 1911 by Frances Hodgson Burnett – such as being set after WWII instead of earlier in the 20th century. But the backbones are the same as a young girl named Mary (Dixie Egerickx) is sent to live with her estranged uncle Archibald Craven (Colin Firth) after the tragic death of her parents. Mary is stubborn and spoiled, but as she spends more time among the manor and its surrounding greenery, she and her family come to terms with the losses they’ve endured.

The visual and technical approach in The Secret Garden is inviting from start to finish.

The highest praise one can give The Secret Garden is its overall sensory experience. It’s beautiful to look at as its unique cinematographic vision pulls the eye in from its opening shots. The movie cleverly adjusts its camera to tell the tale from Mary’s young eyes. An interaction with a soldier or male figure feels intimidating from the audience’s perspective while her time spent around the titular garden is picturesque, inviting and wondrous. The Secret Garden has the incomparable Dario Marianelli as its composer on its side, who’s emotional notes swelled your heart in Atonement, Paddington 2 and Pride and Prejudice.

CGI is obviously in a completely different place today than it was for the 1993 version. Not only does the movie make good use of this, it goes to some impressively imaginative places with it throughout the manor and with Mary’s traumatized memory as she processes the emotions that come with them throughout the film’s journey. Because of the expert use of the film technically, one is transported to an emotional place by the end of the film in a light and delicate way. The Secret Garden is nostalgic material for some and depending on how the book or story has influenced you throughout the years, that may just do the trick.

There’s just not enough Colin Firth, ok?

Sadly the character development in The Secret Garden was not tended to with as much love and care as its look emotes. Many of its jokes fall flat and they are not very memorable. Perhaps so much energy was placed into the visuals that some weaknesses in the script were pushed under the rug? If you’d just read the book before watching it, you’d be able to follow along, and the story is simple enough to go in blind and understand the purpose of the film or already find attachment to its characters. If only The Secret Garden had dug a little deeper, mainly with its greatest asset, Colin Firth’s Lord Archibald Craven.

As mentioned, The Secret Garden is clearly from Mary’s point of view and yes that is beautifully done, but it's not enough to make the story whole. Colin Firth’s Craven is going through much of what Mary is throughout the movie and especially considering the actor’s huge appeal there was room there to allow the actor to show off his talent and charm. Instead, he’s only given a couple of moments. The entire film rides on the shoulders of a couple young actors with not a ton of great dialogue to work with.

The Secret Garden doesn’t add much of anything fresh to the classic.

The Secret Garden does a good job of presenting the material, and audiences will come out of the film either remembering the classic from their childhood or remember it as an introduction to its timeless tale. What The Secret Garden lacks is something particularly special about this adaptation today that invigorates and inspires it to live up to its status as a classic. I don’t imagine many of us are going to watch this and run to their nearest bookstore to relive Frances Hodgson Burnett's story. Recent films like Greta Gerwig’s Little Women and Autumn de Wilde’s Emma from earlier this year set a new precedent for retellings and Secret Garden isn’t on the same wavelength.

As remakes dominate the family film, one has to ask when they feel necessary. The Secret Garden is lovely, elegant and endearing but it's the kind of field of flowers you’ll appreciate, breeze right through and forget about later.

Beloved novels have often been adapted for the screen, helping to keep traditional alive and tell the story to a new generation. Greta Gerwig had great success with her non-linear approach at Little Women, and next up we'll get a new version of The Secret Garden. Based off the beloved 1911 novel of the same name, this latest film version really amps up the magic, and has a strong cast that includes Colin Firth and Harry Potter fan favorite Julie Walters.

The Secret Garden is directed by Marc Munden, in perhaps his biggest profile gig yet. Written by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playwright Jack Thorne, the movie will tell the iconic tale of Mary Lennox, who is sent to live with her stern uncle during a cholera outbreak. She eventually finds the titular secret garden, and the magic within. Check out the first trailer below.

This trailer opens up with a bit of narration, presumably from an adult version of Dixie Egerickx's Mary Lennox. She indicates she's got a story to tell, all about the magical adventures she has as a young girl. After being orphaned she was sent to live with her Uncle, and things soon got out of hand.

Like the Secret Garden novel, Mary arrives in the giant home of her Uncle Archibald Craven, played by the always delightful Colin Firth. But she soon finds the entrance to the titular garden, after a dog goes through a tunnel. She climbs a tree to get over, with the branches of said plant helping to push her up and above the topiary walls.

From there we meet some of the other characters that will make up The Secret Garden's cast. Edan Hayhurst plays Colin Craven, Mary's cousin. His Dark Materials actor Amir Wilson also appears as Dickon Mary's friend who adventures with her in the garden. And then there's Julie Walters (Harry Potter, Momma Mia!) as Mrs. Medlock. Coincidentally, her Harry Potter co-star Maggie Smith played the very same role in a previous film adaptation of The Secret Garden.

The titular garden itself looks stunning, and no doubt has magical capabilities that will effect the story of The Secret Garden. That setting in stark juxtaposition to the cold Yorkshire Estate that Colin Firth's character rules over with an iron fist. As such, any childlike shenanigans and the magic of the garden must be kept secret. This includes Mary's plan to bring her cousin outside for the first time in years.

It looks like the joy that Mary and the garden bring end sup being transformative to the entire household. One sequence in particular shows she and Dickon running, as new plants and flowers bloom around them. She wants to help Colin get better, which fuels a conflict between she and Uncle Archibald. And as you can probably guess, Colin Firth's character needs saving as well.

The Secret Garden will arrive in theaters across the pond on April 10th. It doesn't currently have a release date in the U.S., with the trailer simply stating that the movie is "coming soon." In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Throughout every frame of director Sam Mendes’ award winning World War I epic 1917, we follow two young soldiers on a race against time to prevent the deaths of numerous soldiers on the front lines. Played by relative newcomers George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman, those young men and their journey is an electrifying experience that sees them crossing paths with some familiar faces throughout.

While some might worry that bringing in A-List talent such as Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Mark Strong would distract from the film’s story, Mendes revealed some very specific reasoning as to why he wasn’t concerned at all.

During his recent appearance on ReelBlend, the director filled our team in with this specific rationale:

Ultimately, when Sam Mendes is casting people to play the parts in one of his films, he wants them to be the best choice for the job. So having a star studded supporting cast, flanking two extremely talented up-and-comers, was the perfect recipe for Mendes to execute the specific vision he and writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns had for 1917’s intense narrative.

This only enhances the specific casting choice of pegging George MacKay as Lance Corporal Schofield and Dean-Charles Chapman as Lance Corporal Blake, the two young men 1917 focuses its’ story around. Sam Mendes’ intent was for the audience to be able to form a unique relationship with these characters, while also keeping people on their toes in terms of their fates.

With fresh faced actors in the leads, you’re never 100% sure what’s going to happen to 1917’s young protagonists. And with established leads like Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch cast as commanding officers throughout the film, you can get lost in the stakes of the missions they’re calling the shots on.

And in the case of Mark Strong’s appearance in 1917, his character offers not only a convenient shortcut to speed up some of the film’s action, he also acts as an anchor of humanity that keeps the film from getting too isolated and despondent. All of the A-Listers cast in 1917 have their own moments to shine, but they’re singular incidents that enhance the journey being taken by the leads they were cast against.

The combination is a potent one that makes this awards contender, and Golden Globe winner, all the more of an adrenaline rush for those who choose to experience it. And if you’re curious to hear more about how Sam Mendes put together 1917, you can listen to his appearance on ReelBlend in the embed below:

If you’re looking forward to when you can see 1917 in a theater near you, it’s suggested you check your local listings to see if you’re near one of the locations showcasing the film’s currently limited theatrical release. Should you not be blessed with such availability, don’t fret, as the film goes into wide release this Friday.

Spy franchises are a dime a dozen. There are the top dogs in James Bond and the Mission: Impossible series. There are the ones that poke their heads up every couple of years, like the Bourne series. But few of them are anything like the Kingsman series that was created by graphic artist Mark Millar (who wrote the comic The Secret Service) and Layer Cake director Matthew Vaughn.

Vaughn started working early on with Guy Ritchie, producing both Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels before beginning to direct his own films. He helmed a killer X-Men movie, produced a brilliant fantasy epic in Stardust, and has been busy lately producing Rocketman for his frequent collaborator, Taron Egerton.

At the same time, Matthew Vaughn has been dedicated to developing his Kingsman series, which has two chapters so far and will likely cap off its trilogy with \ between Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Harry (Colin Firth). Before that happens, Vaughn is making a Kingsmen prequel set during World War I, and while appearing on the ReelBlend podcast, Vaughn talked about how different this new one will be from The Secret Service and The Golden Circle. Vaughn said:

The Kingsmen movies amplify what is expected from a James Bond movie, ratcheting up the sexual innuendos, the high-tech weaponry, and the comical villains. They do it all with a tongue planted firmly in a cheek, to the point where The Golden Circle concluded with robotic dogs programmed to kill Elton John. Yeah, it got kind of nuts.

So far, we know that the Kingsman prequel stars Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes as early versions of the legendary spies. They will be joined by an incredible ensemble, from Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Gemma Arterton to Charles Dance, Daniel Bruhl, Matthew Goode and Djimon Hounsou (to name just a few).

Because it’s set during World War I, that automatically makes this movie different from the two existing Kingsmen movies. When we pushed him for more details, he just emphasized how “different” this is going to be.

From there, Matthew Vaughn expects to head back to his existing Kingsmen timeline with Taron Egerton and Colin Firth, because as he tells CinemaBlend:

That’s a great tease. You can listen to our entire conversation with Matthew Vaughn about Rocketman, the X-Men, the Kingsmen franchise, and more on the latest ReelBlend episode:

Rocketman is in theaters as we speak, while Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman prequel is expected to reach multiplexes on February 14.

It's no secret that nostalgia has been a massively popular trend in the entertainment industry. As such, plenty of reboots and long-awaited sequels have arrived, bringing in tons of money at the box office in the process. Disney has certainly been following suit, largely through live-action adaptations of beloved animated blockbusters. Now the House of Mouse is going the sequel route with Rob Marshall's Mary Poppins Returns.

I recently had the chance to speak with Rob Marshall and the cast of Mary Poppins Returns. In my conversation with the director, I asked why he decided to add Colin Firth's villainous character Mr. Wilkins into the narrative. After all, the franchise has never had an antagonist. Marshall told me,

It looks like Colin Firth's new character, as well as the film's setting, truly helped to ground Mary Poppins Returns. Because although there will be plenty of flying, magical bubbles baths, and musical numbers, the story also had to be grounded in the Banks family's reality.

From the trailers for Mary Poppins Returns, you quickly learn that the beloved Banks children have fallen upon hard times in their adulthood. Michael and his children are mourning the loss of their wife/mother, while financial issues give the family and Mary Poppins a goal to overcome. Michael is in danger of losing the iconic house on Cherry Tree Lane, with the backdrop of The Great Depression making the story very real.

In Mary Poppins Returns, Colin Firth's character Mr. Wilkins is the current president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank-- the same place that Mr. Banks worked in the original film. And with hard times falling on Michael and his family, he'll have to appeal to the Bank to let him keep his home. It's still a mystery as to how Dick Van Dyke's Mr. Dawes Jr. also factors into this narrative, but it's clear that Firth is going to provide an antagonist for the sequel.

In my same chat with Rob Marshall, he spoke to the fun of having Colin Firth play against character. After all, he rarely plays villains. Marshall said,

While Mary Poppins focused on Mr. Banks' sense fulfillment and relationship with his children, Mary Poppins Returns will give adult Michael a new issue. Loss manifests itself in many ways, including financial hardship. So how will Mary solve this problem?

You can check out my conversation with Rob Marshall below.

It should be interesting to see how it all plays out. Mary Poppins Returns has some very adult themes in it, in addition to the magic Emily Blunt's title character will breathe into Cherry Tree Lane. Luckily, fans won't have to wait much longer to see it for themselves.

Mary Poppins Returns will arrive in theaters on December 19th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

We're exactly one month away from the big screen debut of Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Inspired by the comic book series by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, The Golden Circle continues the adventures of Taron Egerton's Eggsy and, in a surprise move given the character's death in the 2015 original, Colin Firth's Harry Hart. Speaking together while promoting the new film, Firth and Egerton explained that Hart's return was not something that was decided on during the making of the first film, and that the decision to bring back Harry instead found an organic way into The Golden Circle's storyline. As the two actors put it:

The Obi-Wan Kenobi parallel that Taron Egerton mentioned to EW is particularly interesting given that the Star Wars character was also killed off in its franchise's first big screen chapter, only to reappear in subsequent films. While we shouldn't expect Colin Firth to reappear before Eggsy as a Force ghost in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, it's quite possible that Harry Hart's apparent death at the hands of Samuel L. Jackson's Valentine has left him changed in unpredictable ways (beyond the loss of his left eye). The spoiler-adverse Matthew Vaughn has made the point clear that Firth will be reprising the Harry role, but Firth's character has barely spoken in any of the footage released so far. Whatever the full rationale for Harry's survival turns out to be, there's probably going to be a lot more to the story than "he didn't actually die."

Kingsman: The Golden Circle isn't the first time that Colin Firth has returned for a big screen sequel. He reprised his Bridget Jones's Diary role as Mark Darcy in both sequels, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and, released just last year, Bridget Jones' Baby. He's also slated to bring back a very different cinematic Harry, as he's confirmed to reprise his Mamma Mia! role, Harry Bright, in the upcoming sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! He's likely to have both of his eyes in that one.

It's also worth nothing that Harry Hart's codename within the Kingsman organization was Galahad. In Arthurian legend, Sir Galahad becomes the only knight to recover the Holy Grail and is ultimately granted the ability to choose when his own death occurs. Could that end up tying to Hart's survival in some way?

Whatever mysteries lie behind Colin Firth's return in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, we're going to have to wait until the film hits theaters September 22 to see them fully revealed.

The fact that Colin Firth is in Kingsman: The Golden Circle is definitely a surprise. After all, the guy didn't just die off screen in the first movie -- he was shot point blank right in the face. This would be an incident that most of us couldn't recover from, but Firth's Harry Hart managed to, and we recently had the chance to speak with him about his why he's back in Kingsman 2. Said Firth,

Colin Firth was down at San Diego Comic-Con this morning for the Kingsman: The Golden Circle presentation in Hall H, and while the actor couldn't say much about his role in the sequel while on stage, we managed to learn a bit about him while speaking to him on a press line after. The panel. We asked the actor about the teases that we've seen for his part in the movie, and he firmly confirmed that he is most absolutely not playing his own evil twin in the upcoming film.

So fans shouldn't be anticipating the big screen debut of Garry Hart, taking one possibility off the table -- but our curiosity is still piqued. How exactly does one survive getting shot right in the eye with a pistol? We do know that Colin Firth has a new look in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (sporting a spiffy new eyepatch), and he clearly hasn't traveled very far (it looks like he hasn't left Kentucky since we last saw him), but we're still anticipating the explanation for exactly how the hell he isn't dead.

You can watch Colin Firth discuss his mysterious role in Kingsman: The Golden Circle by clicking play on the video embed below!

We clearly still don't know how Harry Hart survived Kingsman: The Secret Service, and probably won't until the film is finally ready to hit the big screen... but the good news is that we don't have much longer to wait for it. Kingsman: The Golden Circle, which also stars Taron Egerton, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, and Pedro Pascal, will be in theaters on September 22nd. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more updates about the movie, and stay tuned for more of our interviews with the film's stars. In the meantime, hit the comments section below to share your own theories on why and how Colin Firth is returning in the sequel!

This story will contain mild spoilers for the original Kingsman: The Secret Service movie. So stop reading now if you haven't yet seen that film.

The cat, officially, is out of the bag... and it's wearing an eye patch! After months of loose speculation about Colin Firth's involvement in Matthew Vaughn's sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle, we now know that Harry Hart, aka Galahad, will be back in action. And why is that weird? Because Harry was shot in the face, point blank, by the villainous Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) in the first movie.

This opens the door to a wealth of possibilities, all of which I believe could be on the table for Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Colin Firth might not be playing Harry at all, but rather a twin, or a distant relative. There's the easier, more soap-opera-esque plot twist that Harry somehow faked his death, though explaining that one would be very difficult (though not impossible in the exaggerated world of the Kingsman spies). To better understand how Harry might be resurrected, we have to revisit how he died.

Harry's murder took place after the celebrated church shootout, where a mind-controlled version of the lethal agent assassinated an ensemble of equally mind-controlled -- but innocent -- people. Harry confronts Valentine after the fight, but gets a bullet in the face for his troubles. "Is he dead?" Valentine actually asks after pulling the trigger, prompting his lethal sidekick, Gazelle (Sofia Boutella) to reply, "That tends to happen when you shoot someone in the head."

Only, he isn't dead. Or Matthew Vaughn is playing some mind games of his own on us. Don't remember how it played out? Watch it again:

The photo below shows us Colin Firth at the very end of the latest Kingsman: The Golden Circle trailer, and clearly this has not been a devious tactic by the Kingsman, to hide Harry out until the best time to unveil him. How can we tell? Because Harry's trainee, Eggsy (Taron Egerton), and his former colleague Merlin (Mark Strong) seem genuinely stunned to see their "dead" friend on whatever screen they're looking at.

We can't make out a ton about Harry's return, outside of the fact that he doesn't look like a proper Kingsman. This man, with his tussled hair and half-shaven face, needs an immediate trip to the Kingsman tailor shop to pick up a proper suit... though by the looks of the latest trailer, that shop is going to disappear. But what do we see in the background of this image? Harry is in a sterile environment, with a desk (and a massive magnifying glass) and ... butterflies on the wall? Where is Harry hiding? Is this Harry at all?

Knowing the way the Kingsman universe operates, I'm willing to bet that Matthew Vaughn has a curveball in his arsenal, and Colin Firth is NOT playing the Harry Hart we know from the original movie. Maybe Harry trained his twin in case he should be killed off? Or maybe there's a robotic clone being kept somewhere, in case the Kingsmen need him?

All answers will be revealed when Kingsman: The Golden Circle opens in theaters on September 22. And go here for more information on all 2017 Movie Release Dates.

It was a little more than two years ago that Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Secret Service arrived in theaters and took everyone by surprise. Equipped with a tremendously effective use of an R-rating, the film wound up being one of the most fun and thrilling spy thrillers in recent memory -- introducing the world to some wonderful new big screen heroes. With a sequel gearing up almost immediately after big box office numbers started rolling in, we've been waiting for Kingsman: The Golden Circle for a while now... but the first-look footage we saw this week definitely suggests that the follow-up will be worth the wait.

I was on hand for the preview of Kingsman 2 yesterday when 20th Century Fox showed off their slate during their studio presentation at CinemaCon -- the annual convention for theater owners held in Las Vegas. Showcasing plenty of fun action, exciting new characters, and a nice plot preview, it definitely looks like it will be one of the great highlights of the fall season.

Beginning with scenes from the first movie featuring Eggsy's (Taron Egerton) first tour through Kingsman headquarters with Harry Hart (Colin Firth), the footage then immediately cut to a fast paced car chase with Eggsy being hotly pursued by three vehicles through city streets. As the villains open fire on our hero's vehicle, Eggsy gets in contact with Merlin (Mark Strong), who is at his computer and navigating him away from danger. When in a safe open area, the hood of Eggsy's car slides open, and we watch from an aerial view the launching of three missiles that completely destroy the attackers.

It happens that this conflict is no random incident, as we learn in voice over that there is an underworld organization that is swiftly working to specifically take out Kingsman agents. As we see a creepy robot assassin in action, it becomes clear that this group is highly technologically advanced, with members distinguishable by their lack of fingerprints and a circle tattoo made of 24 carat gold (hence the movie's subtitle). It's also clear that their tactics are wildly successful, as a montage shows some massive explosions -- including the haberdashery that guises the Kingsman headquarters.

It seems that these events leave Eggsy and Merlin all but completely out of resources, and while the former is panicked, the latter tells him to remember his training. Initiating "Doomsday Protocol," Merlin reveals a safe, and explains that the answers to their problems rest within. What they are surprised to discover, however, is that the only thing inside is some bourbon labeled Statesman Whiskey. They drink until they hit the bottom of the bottle, and it's there that they discover what they need to do next: the printing of "Distilled in Kentucky" with a circled, counter-clockwise-turned "K" tells them they have to head to the Bluegrass State.

With the sound of "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" by Elton John queuing up, Eggsy and Merlin make the 3000 mile journey across the Atlantic - and in another montage of awesomeness, we not only meet a couple of the fantastic actors joining the franchise as members of the Statesman (including Channing Tatum and Jeff Bridges), but also learn that Harry Hart is still alive and sporting a spiffy new eyepatch (you may remember he was shot in the eye while in Kentucky in the first Kingsman).

From there, the footage sped up considerably, as we were treated to the sight of a robot dog in a bowling alley, our first look at Halle Berry (who proclaims to "like them geeky"), as well as the preferred weapon of Channing Tatum's character: a laser lasso that we see him use to cut a dude cleanly in half. The big showstopper at the end featured a ride on a ski lift going incredibly wrong for our heroes with the cable snapping and plunging the car down the side of a mountain. Fortunately, it's a pod that is outfitted with a giant American flag parachute (a clear reference to The Spy Who Loved Me). The first look ended with Eggsy saying, "That's very American," and Tatum's Statesman agent laughing and enthusiastically replying with a thick Kentucky accent, "Fuck yeah!"

I had the opportunity to see a lot of exciting footage at CinemaCon this week, but the material from Kingsman: The Golden Circle definitely stands out as some of the best, and it's immediately solidified as one of my most anticipated films for the rest of 2017. Even though he only appeared briefly, it looks like Channing Tatum's performance is going to be equally as memorable and hilarious as his turns in the Jump Street movies, and just the weird style that Matthew Vaughn brings to the table should make the action sequences standout. Plus it's just weirdly exciting to see some of these characters back on the big screening.

Unlike the first film, which was a winter release, Kingsman: The Golden Circle is going for a different release strategy and is set to come out this fall -- specifically on September 29th. Because of this, we'll probably have to wait a few more months before any footage arrives online (perhaps tied to Fox's release of Alien: Covenant in late May?), but I hope all of you are now properly hyped up for the trailer to debut.

When you think of dignified British actors, does Colin Firth come to mind? Of course he does! For more than 30 years, the man has starred in a number of acclaimed dramas, like The King's Speech, but he's also had opportunities to show off his sense of whimsy and fun, like in 2015's Kingsman: The Secret Service. So to hear that he's boarding the upcoming Mary Poppins sequel is fitting, as it sounds right up his alley.

According to Variety, Colin Firth is currently in negotiations to join Mary Poppins Returns, the follow-up to the 1964 movie. Once the ink is dry, he will play William Weatherall Wilkins, president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank. He will join a cast that consists of Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins, Lin Manuel-Miranda as Jack the street lamplighter, Meryl Streep as Mary's cousin Topsy, Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks and Emily Mortimer as Emily Banks.

For those who haven't seen the original Mary Poppins movie in a while, Fidelity Fiduciary Bank is the same bank where Michael and Emily Banks' father George worked. After his children caused a scene at the bank when Michael didn't follow his father's wishes to invest his money there, George was let go, but by the end of the movie, he had re-obtained his position as junior partner. Mary Poppins Returns takes place around the Great Depression, so it looks like several decades after that first tale, Colin Firth's William Weatherall Wilkins will be managing the financial institution. It's unclear whether Mr. Wilkins be a villainous figure or someone more benevolent, but if Firth has been cast, you can almost guarantee it will be a substantial role.

Although the majority of Colin Firth's have been geared towards older audiences, he's no stranger to family films. In 2005, he played patriarch Cedric Brown in Nanny McPhee, another movie about a strange au pair who comes into a family's life and uses her unusual methods to bring them closer together. Mary Poppins Returns will be another way for him to participate in a story that folks of all ages can enjoy. All that's been revealed about the sequel so far is that it will involve Mary Poppins returning to London to reunite with Michael and Emily Banks as adults following a personal tragedy in the family. While in town, Mary will look after Michael's three children and help them rediscover the joy in life. Rob Marshall will direct the movie, David Magee is handling script duties, and Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will write original songs.

Mary Poppins Returns will be released on December 25, 2018. Meanwhile, Colin Firth can currently be seen in Bridget Jones's Baby, and he'll return to the big screen on June 16, 2017 for Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains massive spoilers for Bridget Jones's Baby. If you have not yet seen the film, and don't wish to know any major details before you've had the chance, we recommend clicking away to another one of our wonderful articles!

At the end of Bridget Jones's Baby, all seems right with the world. After years of sustaining an on-again-off-again relationship, Renee Zelwegger's Bridget Jones and Colin Firth's Mark Darcy finally finds a sense of permanence, as they are not only married, but have a child together. It feels like a natural ending, but it wasn't always the one that was in place. In fact, according to Firth, the way the film ended was actually determined by test audiences and how they felt about the conclusion.

The Academy Award-winning actor discussed the end of the film with me while we were diving into spoiler territory during a phone interview earlier this month, and explained that the end of Bridget Jones's Baby could have gone any number of ways. Ultimately, the filmmakers and studio decided the best way to choose an ending was to try to get a handle on what it was that people wanted from the finale of the third Bridget Jones movie, and that's what they went with for the theatrical cut. Colin Firth explained,

Given it is Mark Darcy who walks away the big winner in the end -- leaving Patrick Dempsey's Jack Qwant to hold his and Bridget's baby while he walks down the aisle -- I followed up with by asking if he was particularly satisfied with the film's end. Being perfectly and hilariously blunt, Colin Firth explained that it didn't really affect him one way or the other -- and in fact he wouldn't have minded a less satisfying ending. Said the actor,

It seems we know how Colin Firth would have voted if he were a participant in the test screenings for Bridget Jones's Baby - but what do you think? Do you think that Bridget needed to wind up with Mark, or would you have liked to see a twist more in line with what Firth proposed? Hit the comments section below with your thoughts!

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

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

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

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

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

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

This weekend, audiences will once again be able to see Colin Firth reprise his role as Mark Darcy, with the third Bridget Jones movie - Bridget Jones's Baby - arriving in theaters. The actor has walked a 15 year road with the character, first playing the part in 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary... but it may surprise you to learn that he originally turned the part down.

I recently had the pleasure of jumping on the phone with Colin Firth to talk about his part in Bridget Jones's Baby, and during the interview the actor explained why he initially had no interest in the character of Mark Darcy. I asked him about the franchise's roots in the work of Jane Austen, and if Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice was still an influence on his approach, and Firth used it as a jumping off point to talk about the particular inaccessibility of Mr. Darcy and why didn't want to make Bridget Jones's Diary at first. Said the Oscar winner,

If that rejection had been the final word, the Bridget Jones movies as we know them would potentially be very different -- but Colin Firth wasn't entirely able to let the idea of playing Mark Darcy go after he first said "no." He continued to consider the part, and eventually realized that what he didn't like about the characterization actually made him appealing from a performance angle. Firth explained,

Taking that into consideration along with the fact that Jane Austen never wrote from the perspective of men, Colin Firth found an opportunity to really craft the inner-workings of the character himself -- ultimately playing him as he felt the role should be played:

Given how successful the Bridget Jones franchise has been, Firth's decision to change his mind about Mark Darcy is surely one that he's happy with -- which is perfectly evident in the fact that a new sequel is coming out this week. You can see Bridget Jones's Baby in theaters this Friday, and be sure to stay tuned for more from my interview with Colin Firth!

SPOILER WARNING: If you have not yet had the opportunity to see Kingsman: The Secret Service, you may want to click away to another one of our wonderful articles, as this one goes deep into spoiler territory!

The fact that Colin Firth's Harry Hart died in Kingsman: The Secret Service - murdered by Samuel L. Jackson's Valentine - suggested that the character would be unavailable to return in the upcoming sequel... but we know that's somehow not the case. Back in April, it was teased that the agent known as Galahad would be coming back for Kingsman: The Golden Circle, with a message featuring the old Mark Twain quote, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." We don't know exactly how the whole thing will work, but Firth did tell us this morning that we are all in for quite a treat.

With Colin Firth starring in the upcoming Bridget Jones's Baby, I had the pleasure of talking with him over the phone this morning -- and while most of the conversation was about his latest feature, I saved a Kingsman 2 question for the very end. Given that Kingsman: The Secret Service was such a big surprise hit when it arrived in theaters early last year, I asked if there was a notable difference in the atmosphere on the set of the sequel. Being up-front and telling me that he was going to artfully dance around my question, Firth confirmed that he will indeed be in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and that director Matthew Vaughn has a bombastic, original adventure in store for audiences. Said the Oscar winner,

For those that don't remember, Colin Firth's Harry Hart took a notable early exit from Kingsman: The Secret Service, as the character is killed very shortly after the movie's notorious church-set murder-fest. Hart confronts the film's central antagonist about losing control over himself, and while his young protégé, Eggy (Taron Egerton), watches on a computer monitor, Hart is shot in the head. It definitely looked like he died -- as we basically see the bullet go through his head, but this social media post from a few months ago has us wondering if what we saw was entirely real:

How do you think Matthew Vaughn and co-writer Jane Goldman will be resurrecting Colin Firth for Kingsman: The Golden Circle? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, stay tuned for more from our interview with the actor, and get ready to see him back on the big screen in Bridget Jones's Baby on September 16th.

Warning: spoilers for Kingsman: The Secret Service below

It goes without saying that Kingsman: The Secret Service was a major hit that came packed to the brim with memorable characters. From Samuel L. Jackson’s delightfully campy Valentine, to Taron Egerton’s breakout performance as Eggsy, the James Bond spoof provided some of the best spy caricatures in recent memory. One of the best characters came in the form of Colin Firth’s Harry Hart, who tragically died at the hands of Valentine prior to the film’s conclusion – or so we thought. A new photo has hit the web indicating that Harry may very well resurface in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Check it out below.

As you can see from the above image – tweeted by the film’s star Taron Egerton – it features Harry Hart’s trademark pair of glasses with one of the eyes missing. Anyone who has seen the film will be able to tell you that the lens is likely missing because Harry very clearly met his demise from a bullet to the head at the end of the film’s second act. However, below the glasses are the iconic words of Mark Twain stating "reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." We’re no experts, but it seems like we’ll be seeing more of Harry Hart at some point during Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

This raises one very important question: how the hell could Harry Hart come back to life? It seems like it won’t be a dream or a hallucination, because the image seems to point to the fact that he did indeed take a bullet to the head. Seriously, just watched Harry’s death scene from the original Kingsman and try to tell us that he didn’t get shot.

If this image isn’t a bluff, and Harry does in fact return, the film may take steps to retcon that moment from the original Kingsman and show the bullet only grazing his eye; Colin Firth consistently showed himself to be quite the agile man during the course of Kingsman: The Secret Service, so it's possible he may have dodged the worst of the attack.

As perplexing as this hint is, we have to say we’re incredibly excited about the possibility of Colin Firth potentially returning as Harry Hart. His charisma elevated the original Kingsman, and he could undoubtedly provide the same level of gravitas to the sequel.

We will keep you up to date with all of the latest and greatest Kingsman news as it becomes available to us. Kingsman: The Golden Circle will hit theaters on June 16, 2017. Stay tuned for more details!

It’s been over 10 years since we’ve had a run in with Bridget Jones. Renee Zellweger played the title role in two films from the early 2000’s. The first film Bridget Jones’ Diary was a massive hit, and the sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason... wasn’t a total failure. While it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Bridget Jones, we can guess what she’s been up to from the title of the new film Bridget Jones’ Baby. Check it out.

If you were a fan of the first two films, there’s quite a bit to enjoy here in the trailer, courtesy of Ellen. There was a charm to the previous films, the first one especially, that was undeniable and at least some of that is on display here. Is Renee Zellweger’s English accent ridiculous? Of course it is, but it’s a special sort of ridiculous that you only find in the Bridget Jones movies. It’s very much its own sort of charming. Colin Firth is back as Bridget's on-again / off-again love interest, who appears to be both off again and on again in this film as well. As you can guess from the title, Bridget Jones becomes pregnant, but the question of the day is, "Who’s the father?" It’s not the most original of script ideas, but if you go to romantic comedies expecting original ideas you’ll be disappointed every time. This one is about spending time with fun characters.

If there’s anything that feels amiss in Bridget Jones’ Baby it’s the character who’s missing. Hugh Grant will not be returning to his role as Daniel Cleaver. One of the things that actually was unique about the Bridget Jones films in the annals of romantic comedy history was the way they cast Hugh Grant completely against type. Normally, Grant is the bumbling guy who eventually gets the girl. Here, he was the asshole that you hope the girl doesn’t end up with. Although, it was Hugh Grant, so he was still fairly endearing. Grant decided not to do the film, mostly because the plot diverges fairly significantly from the novel.

But this is also a return for the lead character as well. We haven’t actually seen Renee Zellweger in a movie since 2010 so I think we can officially dub this a "comeback." As a comeback, it’s fitting that Zellweger uses her most popular, and successful, character in order to do so. The only question will be, are audiences interested in welcoming her back?

Bridget Jones’ Baby is set for a September 16 release. Are you looking forward to this sequel, or is this a series you had actually forgotten existed?

Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Secret Service was one of the biggest surprise hits of the last year. Combining humor with over-the-top violence, the film did for the spy genre what Kick-Ass did for the superhero genre – provide perfect parody, whilst completely honoring its inspiration. Part of what made Kingsman work so well was the pitch perfect performance by Colin Firth as Agent Galahad; while most assumed the character would not come back for a sequel, Mark Millar – who penned the comic upon which Kingsman is based – admits it could still happen. WARNING: KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE SPOILERS.

In a recent interview with IGN, Millar explained that working Galahad back into the story – despite his untimely demise in the original Kingsman – has become a primary concern for the creative team behind the sequel:

So while the team has not figured out a specific way to bring Firth back into the fray, Millar assures that the decision will make sense within the universe. It could range from bringing Firth back as a twin character, to flashback sequences. Kingsman: The Secret Service took no issue with including some fairly absurd elements into its plot, so we can expect Galahad to be brought back through some fairly outlandish means.

It speaks to the effect that star power can have on the release of a movie. As Millar observes in the interview, Colin Firth played an integral role in the success of the first Kingsman, so a sequel would benefit from his return – provided that bringing him back does not compromise the integrity of the story. Given the fact that Galahad had essentially accomplished his goal of serving as a mentor foe Eggsy (Taron Egerton) by the time he died in the first film, smart money is on Firth’s return to the franchise to take a more villainous turn, making it more personal and difficult for the protagonist.

Only time will tell if Firth even decides to return for a Kingsman sequel. One thing that is for sure: fans of the original would most certainly clamor to see him back in his suit and spectacles kicking ass. Kingsman 2 is expcted to his theaters sometime in 2017.

Yes, even Kingsman: The Secret Service, one of the most surprisingly entertaining movies of the past year, is not without its faults. And that’s the job of this new video, to dissect the film and pinpoint everything that didn’t make sense, was just plain silly, or was too close of a Fifty Shades reference. Without further adieu, here’s everything wrong with Kingsman in under 11 minutes. Be warned of SPOILERS from the film.

This video from CinemaSins points out all the flaws a missteps. We ignored all of these grievances at the time because the film was straight-up fun to watch. A movie about a group of British teens vying for a spot on a super suave team of secret agents could’ve been a drag, but Matthew Vaughn delivered an action film that was unique and inappropriately, hilariously funny.

Taron Egerton played Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, a street kid with a troubled home life, as depicted through the cliches of his widowed mom looking for solace in the arms of trashy men and his wailing baby sister left to sob in the crib. He soon meets a man named Harry Hart (Colin Firth), who sees potential in him. Hart needs to find a new recruit to become a Kingsman, a member of an elite, secret society of agents who wield tricked out umbrellas and look classy as hell drinking whiskey in their holographic meetings. The film also stars Samuel L. Jackson as the villain, Valentine, Michael Caine as fellow Kingsman, Arthur, Mark Strong as Merlin, Mark Hamill as Professor Arnold, and Sofia Boutella as the blade-for-feet baddie Gazelle. 

According to CinemaSins, the biggest problem with the film is how it recycles old material. There are far too many references and similarities to Men in Black for their comfort, like when Merlin says, "this is mine," when Eggsy reaches for his gun. "Can we all just admit that the screenwriter started with a literal copy of the Men in Black screenplay?" the narrator asks, pointing to how the basic premise is the same: a team of new recruits, one succeeds through his ingenuity while the others succeed through the traditional methods, multiple new recruits competing for one spot, etc. Then there’s a reference later on in the film where a jet rises up from the Kingsmen mansion, harking back to Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class. 

Perhaps the biggest sin of all, which may or may not have been intentional, is the giant panda art hanging on the wall in Valentine’s office. As CinemaSins points out that they would’ve let this one slip by pre-Fifty Shades of Grey, but now all that comes to mind is the black-and-white panda art hanging in Christian’s office building. 

Matthew Vaughn’s 007 homage, Kingsman: The Secret Service, was a surprise hit. Even fans of the stylish director – those of us who knew he’d deliver quality – likely were caught off guard by the mainstream appeal of the bawdy thriller. At last count, Kingsman had banked more than $400 million worldwide, and strong rumors swirled about an inevitable sequel. But would one of the film’s biggest stars return?

We have to talk openly about Kingsman, so please stop reading if you haven’t seen the film yet. The film's available on Digital HD as we speak. See it immediately!

So, if you are still reading, then you know that Colin Firth’s mentor spy character, Harry Hart, bites the dust in the movie. Following the eye-popping church-fight scene, Harry confronts the maniacal Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) and is shot in the head at point-blank range for his troubles. You’d assume that takes Firth out of Kingsman 2, when those plans solidify, but the actor’s headstrong co-star – Taron Egerton – has other plans. I got Egerton on the phone to talk all things Kingsman, and I asked him just how "dead" Harry actually is. People die in movies all of the time, only to return. (Marvel movies, especially.) How dead is Harry? Egerton told me:

We wouldn’t even be entertaining the concept of Colin Firth returning for a possible Kingsman 2 if not for comments made by director Matthew Vaughn after it appeared that Kingsman was going to be a big hit. The director told USA Today at the time:

Well, Mr. Vaughn. People bought enough tickets. The audience wants Firth back. Your lead actor, Taron Egerton, wants Firth back. Tell us: what do you have planned?

Kingsman: The Secret Service reaches DVD on June 9. The producers are trying their best to get Kingsman 2 in order. We can only hope Colin Firth will somehow be involved.

Colin Firth has successfully become the next great aging action star in Kingsman: The Secret Service. Though we’re still waiting to see if 20th Century Fox will give the official green light for a sequel, director Matthew Vaughn already has some plans for it just in case. But for those of you who have seen the film this past weekend, you probably won’t see this curveball coming.

[Spoiler Alert: We discuss one massive spoiler from Kingsman below, so proceed with caution.]

Despite being a sartorial badass, Colin Firth dies near the end of the movie. Some viewers were understandably upset because, you know, he’s friggin’ Colin Firth. As it turns out, though, Vaughn already has plans to bring him back from the dead should Fox move forward with Kingsman 2. Speaking with USA Today, he said:

The epic church fight was one of the best moments of the film. Firth’s Harry Hart comes under the influence of Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) and his supervillain technology, which essentially causes everyone to beat the shit out of each other through mind control. After laying waste to a church full of people, Valentine puts a bullet through Harry’s head and we see him collapse. What we don’t see, however, is a body or a funeral for this beloved character. We would love to see how Vaughn plans on resurrecting this guy, so here’s hoping for a sequel.

Kingsman opened in theaters against Fifty Shades of Grey. While its competition led the box office, the secret agent flick earned more than $35 million, which is pretty impressive. Considering that and the rave reviews the film has been getting, there’s seems to be a good chance that a sequel could be coming. We’ll have to wait and see if word of mouth plays its part effectively.

Aside from Vaughn’s Firth plans, the director also revealed that the potential sequel would focus primarily on Eggsy, played to great effect by newcomer Taron Egerton. He explained that the sequel would be about the "modern-day gentleman spy," which Harry Hart is not. Eggsy is brought in to the Kingsmen to introduce some "new blood into this system," and that’s what Eggsy is.

Egerton was rumored to be up for the role of young Cyclops in X-Men: Apocalypse, a part that ultimately went to Ty Sheridon. But if audiences accept Kingsman for all its glory, this franchise could be Egerton’s crowning achievement.

Super agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth) finds himself behind enemy lines. He has infiltrated a hateful church community in rural Kentucky, where he is supposed to observe a test run of a broadcasting-signal scheme launched by the evil Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson). Except, the signal affects Harry, leading to one of the most memorable fight sequences we are destined to see on screen this year.

Yet, here’s the funny part. Kingsman: The Secret Service director Matthew Vaughn tells me that Firth almost never made it into the scene in the first place. He almost got cut. Why? We’ll discuss, but will have to use spoilers from Kingsman. You have been warned!

Vaughn jumped on the phone with me prior to Kingsman opening to an impressive $35.6 million over the weekend. The director was unsure if audiences were going to embrace his comically violent spy-spoof thriller… and we talked about his unusual decision to cast the dapper Colin Firth in a role usually reserved for the likes of Daniel Craig or Matt Damon. But Vaughn said he knew that Firth was physically and mentally prepared to tackle the demanding needs of the film’s action – specifically the church sequence – because the director tested his leading man multiple times during the shoot.

The way he explains it, Vaughn says:

Reading the reactions to the church scene has been interesting this weekend. Many audience members who came back to CinemaBlend for post-screen chatter praised the action choreography of the church fight. Some, however, did admit to being turned off to the violence in the sequence, with several members of the church dying violently at the hands of Firth’s temporarily brainwashed lethal agent. Listen to Colin Firth and Matthew Vaughn discuss the breakdown of the scene in this MTV interview:

What did you think of the scene? Did Firth convince you that he’s a total badass? Or should Matthew Vaughn have gone in a different direction?

Imagine this scenario. You hire Samuel L. Jackson to play the lead villain in your new spy thriller. You are expecting the gravitas of Nick Fury, the dominance of Jules from Pulp Fiction, and perhaps a sliver of the over-the-top insanity Jackson brought to Snakes on a Plane. But then he brings his interpretation of the character to you… and it’s not what you expected at all.

This is how Matthew Vaughn spins it while telling me about his new film Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Sam Jackson’s sinister turn as Valentine. The megalomaniac is cut from the cloth of classic James Bond villains, with an evil plan to rid the world of – well, I don’t want to reveal that. However, when Jackson brought his ideas to Vaughn during pre-production, they included such unusual choices as a lisp, and an extreme aversion to blood. As Vaughn remembers, he didn’t take to the ideas too well, saying:

But the Oscar-nominated actor had a perfectly good reason for wanting to saddle Valentine with a speech impediment, and when Matthew Vaughn heard it, he realized that it fit the character to a tee. Vaughn explained:

You can get a sense of Valentine’s signature lisp in the following clip.

Kingsman: The Secret Service introduces a badass new team of super agents who, according to legend, have been around for decades. Colin Firth plays the mentor to upstart spy Taron Egerton, and the two must join forces to stop Sam Jackson’s maniacal Valentine. The film opens in the States on Friday, February 13, and if you are smart, you’ll be in a theater on opening day.

The upcoming teen spy thriller, Kingsman: The Secret Service will be dropping an ass-kicking-intense trailer for the Super Bowl, which makes its point with the adrenaline-soaked subtlety of a secret Zippo hand grenade. Explosions, machine guns, bodies dropping from inappropriately high altitudes, hot women, breaking glass, shoe shivs and Samuel L. Jackson… doing stuff! It’s a colossal collage of carnage that effectively drives home the point to a coveted demographic that this is a movie you will NEED to see.

The trailer comes to us from Yahoo Movies. Seeing as Super Bowl spots are reportedly running at $4.5 million for 30 seconds of footage, this latest Kingsman trailer isn’t here to baby you with things like exposition, plot points or a generalized picture of where this film fits in the action/spy genre. Instead, it’s a montage of madness, doing its best to convey what kind of a thrill ride is in store for potential moviegoers unfamiliar with the property. (Which is likely in the 99.9% range.)

The film has been floating out there in the ether, with the first theatrical trailer having dropped sometime nearly a year ago. Despite its relatively low-key PR campaign, the film has been making its presence known for quite a while. While it does seem to come across as a generic amalgam of teenage team films and the James Bond franchise, there are actually some intriguing elements that might help the film shake loose any perception of unoriginality.

It's based on the 2012 comic book series The Secret Service by Mark Millar, the eccentric mind behind Marvels "Ultimate" series of titles and Kick-Ass. The series carried Millar’s signature brand of over-the-top, often sarcastic, sometimes meta humor that seems to differentiate it from the myriad of teenage team titles that grace the shelves of comic book stores. And speaking of teenage teams, the film will also serve to reunite X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn with a Mark Millar property. Vaughn, of course, received a huge status boost for his directorial work on the first Kick-Ass film in 2010. Besides occupying the director’s chair, Vaughn has also co-written the screenplay with Jane Goldman. (With whom Vaughn collaborated on the Kick-Ass and First Class scripts.) Thus, the film is in good hands.

A solid cast of established actors will buttress with Britishness for this bunch of emerging adolescents. Colin Firth (whose presence makes me call this film, "Kings-Speech-Man"), Michael Caine, Mark Strong, Jack Davenport, Samuel L. Jackson and even Mark Hamill (who was portrayed in the original comic) fill the roster as the film focuses on a young protagonist played by Taron Egerton. The 25 year-old Brit takes his first step into the cinematic spotlight as the ne’er-do-well nephew of Firth’s character not living up to his potential, who discovers that his uncle is not the mild-mannered tailor he once thought. Rather, he’s the mastermind of a secret MI-6-like government agency that recruits young people like him and turns them into physics-defying fighters of evil.

Kingsman: The Secret Service "offers you the opportunity" to experience classy British intensity when it hits theaters on February 13.

It’s been 11 since the second installment of Bridget Jones and since then we’ve been awaiting a third film. We’ve had teases of a screenplay, even before the third book was released, but there has not been definitive answers on whether or not the film will go into production. But, hope is not lost. Colin Firth thinks it’s finally time to get moving on the third story, and teases a strong maybe for the film.

While promoting his upcoming movie, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Firth was naturally asked about future projects, including Bridget Jones’s Diary 3 becoming a reality. He told The Independent:

In 2013, when the rumored third project was up in the air, Firth had told fans it may be a long wait, and wait we did, it is now 2015, and it looks like Firth is ready to go. The two previous films were huge box office hits, grossing over $540 million worldwide. The third movie has seemingly been in the works since 2009. But, the real question is will the other stars of the movie return?

Last October, Hugh Grant told Free Radio that he dropped out of the third film. He continued:

And in response, Renee Zellweger made comments that she would love to do the project. Claiming it "would be fun" but she had no idea of any progress, claiming she hasn’t been in the loop on the hold up. The original third installment was title Bridget Jones’s Baby and was apparently going to tell the story of Bridget in her 40s and desperate for a baby while still torn between Grant’s Daniel and Firth’s Mark Darcy. But without Grant, how exactly can a story like this be effective?

It would be an interesting story, a new generation that Firth hints upon, but since audiences were less enthused with the 2004 sequel, Bridget Jones: The the Edge of Reason this new film will need an impressive new quality. It’s been over 10 years now, so if there’s not going to be a fresh new story, it is pretty much pointless. Sequels, prequels, etc. have been dominating the film industry lately, so to really stick out and make a point, the quality has to stand up. Firth adds:

We’ll keep an eye out for any more Bridget Jones updates, but for now, you can see Colin Firth in his new action-comedy Kingsman: The Secret Service hitting theaters February 13, 2015.

When I sit on the edge of my son’s bed and read him Paddington bear books, the two of us just love pausing on every swear word and subtle sex reference. That dirty bear! Such a foul mouth, with a mind that’s constantly in the gutter. Oh, Paddington. What shocking thing will come out of your raincoat next?!

OK, no one thinks that about Paddington, except maybe the filmmakers behind the strangely controversial Paddington film, due in theaters next year. The British Board of Film Classification has labeled the supposed family affair with a PG classification, stating it includes "dangerous behaviour, mild threat, innuendo, [and] infrequent mild bad language." As if that wasn’t enough, the Daily Mail adds that the BBFC found "mild sex references" in the movie, leading to the Parental Guidance rating.

Paddington author Michael Bond, 88, has a cameo in the film. He spoke with the Daily Mail about this rating, and stated:

Just… what? What kind of movie is this? The Paddington movie has been shellshocked by a number of controversies leading up to this release. There was the viral meme that turned Paddington from a gentle bear into a horror-movie stalker.

And then there was the surprising reveal that Oscar winner Colin Firth had departed the project because the bear "simply doesn’t have my voice." Meaning Firth didn’t want to work blue. Ben Whishaw had no problems with it, apparently, so he took over and filled Paddington with all of the filthy jokes he could muster.

Maybe we are missing something? Are there jokes in this trailer that stand out? Or is this a mistake by the ratings board?

See for yourself when Paddington opens in theaters on January 16. But leave the kids at home, first. To protect their virgin eyes and ears.

Who is essential, as an actor, to Bridget Jones 3? Surely, Renee Zellweger would be looked at to reprise her role as the central character. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant also should be deemed necessary if a third Bridget Jones is going to try to get off the ground. Well, Grant’s out, and he just told the media why he officially has decided to pass.

"I decided not to do it," Hugh Grant admitted to Free Radio in an interview (snagged by The Telegraph UK) when asked if he would be up for reprising his role of Daniel Cleaver in an adaptation of Helen Fielding’s latest Bridget Jones novel, Mad About the Boy. Said Grant:

Empire adds that Hugh Grant had put in for script rewrites a while back, but that it now appears that "no common ground could be found," so he officially has removed his name from the project… which is still in some form of development hell.

This all sort of begs the question: Has too much time passed since the last Bridget Jones movie, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, opened in 2004? The movies based on Helen Fielding’s novels made money at the box office, though the $40 million domestic take of Edge of Reason was far less than the $71 million earned by the initial Bridget Jones movie in 2001. And should they even be trying to do a third movie if the whole crew isn’t going to get back together? Maybe Hugh Grant’s exit from the project will be the large pinprick that starts to deflate the balloon of Bridget Jones’s third film?

The changes in the script probably have to do with the handling of Colin Firth’s character, Mr. Darcy. SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t read Mad About the Boy yet. Fielding kills Darcy off, then follows Bridget as she tries to recover. Rumors suggested that Firth’s character would be spared in the third film, and maybe that’s the element with which Grant disagreed? We may never know. While Colin Firth remains a major movie star, Renee Zellweger hasn’t been in anything of note since 2005’s Cinderella Man. Can she make a comeback without Grant? We may find out.

Normally we're used to Colin Firth starring in films that are either politely funny (like Bridget Jones' Diary or Love Actually) or blisteringly dramatic (such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or, more recently, Devil's Knot.) However, there comes a time in an actor's career when they decide it's time to switch things up a bit and get a little more action-y. Which means that the trailer to Kingsman: The Secret Service marks Colin Firth's entry into the "later career badass" phase that Liam Neeson has been occupying as of late.

20th Century Fox's official YouTube channel dropped the latest trailer to Matthew Vaughn's latest directorial venture into the world of comic books last night, and it's even more stylish than the first trailer we received earlier this year. Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of Harry Hart (Firth,) a top spy for a secret branch of the English government who's tasked with recruiting new operatives in a war against villains like Samuel L. Jackson's Valentine.

Besides the typical "humanity is a virus" plotline that's been done frequently enough that its vitals need to be checked, Kingsman: The Secret Service looks like it's going to be a hell of a ride. Vaughn's action visuals are polished and impressive, with the audience being able to see what's going on. Of course, there's the minor side effect of a couple of dodgy shots of CGI, particularly this likely candidate for post-production retouching.

However, as Samuel L. Jackson is implied to have said in this trailer, it's hard to give a shit. Kingsman The Secret Service looks like it takes the deadly serious spy game that James Bond has finally become again and turns it loose in a playground of action and one liners. In a Bond film, that could be trouble; but in Kingsman it looks like it's going to make for a great night out at the movies. Better still, it looks like Colin Firth is taking a load off and becoming more comfortable with projects that look like a vacation from his typically more grounded fare. Fingers crossed that this film becomes a franchise and Firth gets to keep this up!

20th Century Fox has had a pretty good year in 2014, with Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes and X-Men: Days Of Future Past bringing in some impressive figures in an overall dismal summer. Kingsman: The Secret Service could be a record breaker in its Valentine's Day weekend slot of February 13th, 2015. Seeing as 50 Shades Of Grey is its only competition, it'll be an interesting weekend to say the least. But don't be surprised if Christian Grey ends up being the one that gets punished at the box office.

For many of us the name Paddington Bear brings to mind a cuddly yet adventurous teddy with a rain slicker and big floppy hat. Yet when Studio Canal revealed their computer generated version of this lovable bear for their upcoming children's movie Paddington, they gave us a version that proved shockingly creepy. And now this chilling little visitor has gotten ever creepier with news he's lost his voice.

EW reports Colin Firth has left Paddington and will no longer be lending his voice to the bathroom-wrecking bear. Or as the celebrated English actor put it, "After a period of denial, we’ve chosen ‘conscious uncoupling,’" offering news along with a cheeky reference to the divorce of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin.

While we'd love to speculate Firth bailed because of the largely negative attention Paddington is getting online--where he is being photoshopped alongside some of horror's most iconic creeepers--Firth insists this is an amicable break, explaining:

Likewise Paddington director Paul King is quite polite in his statement about Firth's departure:

With Paddington opening on December 25th, 2014, this change-up in casting is unexpected. However, it's not unprecedented--especially when it comes to animation or voice-over work. EW notes Ty Burrell replaced Robert Downey Jr. as the voice of the brainiac dog in Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Albert Brooks took over for William H. Macy as the fretful clownfish of Finding Nemo, and -- with Her completely in postproduction -- Scarlett Johansson was brought in to voice the lovestruck A.I. Samantha, while Samantha Morton's track was cut. Just last year Disney dropped Jon Cryer for Dane Cook shortly after their Planes got upgraded to a theatrical release.

Firth's departure--while a new obstacle to Paddington's crew--is not expected to delay the film's Christmas release. For now, Paddington's makers are not hinting at who they might be pursuing to replace Firth. But considering the following photoshop as inspiration, please weigh in with your suggestions in the poll below.

This poll is no longer available.

What happened to eight-year-old Arkansas natives, Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers is pure nightmare fuel. Sparing the ghoulish details, the three young friends went missing on May 5th, 1993. The following afternoon, an abandoned boy's sneaker was found floating in a creek in the Robin Hood Hills of West Memphis. This led police to the boys' naked and mutilated bodies in a ditch. It was a discovery that caused untold grief and outrage in the surrounding community. Suspicion soon fell on three teenagers, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. And this is the beginning of The Devil's Knot.

Vulture has unveiled the first trailer for the film based on the non-fiction book Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three. With a screenplay by Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman, director Atom Egoyan looks to investigate the controversial trial that brought rumor, prejudice and fear of satanic rituals into the courtroom. This was the beginning of a case that would be in appeal for years to come.

Rather than focusing on the West Memphis Three, whose story has been told in the documentary series Paradise Lost, Devil's Knot appears to explore the community dynamic that allowed for the miscarriage of justice seen here. Reese Witherspoon stars as Pam Hobbs, one of the grieving mothers of the murdered boys. Colin Firth co-stars as Ron Lax, a detective dedicated to making sense of the bizarre clues of the murder case.

Development on the production began in the summer of 2011, just hours after The West Memphis Three were freed from prison after 18 years. By December of that year, he'd cemented Witherspoon to star, and Firth, who previously fronted the Egoyan drama Where the Truth Lies followed soon thereafter.

More casting notices came, and by the time Egoyan began production in the summer of 2012, Egoyan, the two-time Academy Award-nominated writer-director, has pulled together a supporting cast of such notable performers as Dane DeHaan, Kevin Durand, Elias Koteas, Stephen Moyer, Bruce Greenwood, Amy Ryan, and Alessandro Nivola. The Devil's Knot made its world premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival and is expected to open theatrically in the US early next year. But for now, we're waiting on a release date announcement.

For more on the West Memphis Three, check out this news report:

Up until today we knew next to nothing about Woody Allen's next project, which will follow this summer's release of Blue Jasmine - probably in 2014. We don't know its title, its plot or even its setting. The only information we have had to go on about the movie (outside of the fact that Allen is writing and directing it) is its growing cast. Last week we learned that Emma Stone had entered talks to play the female lead in the mystery film, and now it appears that the Annie Hall director has found the star he wants to play opposite her.

According to Deadline, Allen has set his sights on Colin Firth as his next leading man, and the actor and the production have entered negotiations to make that happen. What's more, the site has also learned that the title will be one to add to the filmmaker's ever-growing list of European set stories, and will be filmed in the South of France.

This is actually the second Firth casting story we've seen today. Just a little while ago we learned that the Oscar-winning star has signed on to play the lead role in Matthew Vaughn's comic book adaptation The Secret Service, which is on track for a November 2014 release date. The film will have him starring as an elite spy who works to train his wayward nephew in his business.

Firth has been away from the big screen since the 2011 release of Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, but returned to limited theaters last weekend with the dramedy Arthur Newman.

As a director, Matthew Vaughn hasn’t really given us any great movies so much as he’s created some pretty great moments within okay movies. Layer Cake is the most rewatchable of his four films, and mostly for the acting. The actors are generally what keep his films alive, and there’s no denying that truly great performers keep working with him. Now that casting has begun on The Secret Service, Vaughn’s upcoming adaptation of Mark Millar and Dave Gibbon’s comic series, the first example of his killer casting abilities has shown itself.

Latino Review reports Colin Firth will lend his Oscar winning thespianism to The Secret Service in one of the film’s lead roles. Firth, who is currently starring in the BitTorrent-sponsored dramedy Arthur Newman, is usually the quintessential Brit in the films he stars in – genially stoic and romantic without bullshit attached – so this will be a welcome step or two outside his wheelhouse.

The Secret Service, scripted by Vaughn and frequent co-writer Jane Goldman, will follow Firth as a British MI6 spy of the Bond variety who enrolls his slacker nephew from the hood into a spy school in an effort to clean him up and set his life straight. And his effort includes quite a bit of an iron fist. Obviously, the story involves Mark Hamill getting kidnapped, as well as a Ridley Scott cameo and a whole host of other wacky shit. While Hamill confirmed his appearance long ago, there’s still no word on Scott, but that’s hardly a real issue. With Firth up front, Vaughn really needs to find a solid young actor to complement the character. If only Aaron Paul were a few years younger.

Filming is set to begin in August for The Secret Service, with a scheduled release date of November 14, 2014. For your next Firth fix, he will be starring in the West Memphis Three drama Devil’s Knot.

Sometimes the fiercest enemies figure out a way to become friends.

Which explains why Cinedigm, according to the Los Angeles Times, is turning to BitTorrent – the service many in the industry equate with online piracy – to help promote the independent film Arthur Newman, starring Emily Blunt and Colin Firth. In an unprecedented deal, BitTorrent will offer to its users the first seven minutes of Dante Ariola’s drama-comedy. Why on Earth would they do such a thing? Oh, maybe it’s because BitTorrent boasts 170 million users, and if Hollywood can figure out a way to turn them into paying customers, this will be a major step.

In theory, yes. And if BitTorrent is to be believed, this is the latest movement in an ongoing process to legitimize the company’s software and shed the label of “pariah” that has plagued BitTorrent since its earliest days … when users used the system to pirate movies and television shows. “Our job is to move files as fast as we can,” says Matt Mason, VP of Marketing for the software company. And if they can benefit an indie film in the process, all the better.

Arthur Newman, meanwhile, has been banging around the film festival circuit for a while, debuting at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival before gearing up for an April 26 limited release. In the film, based on Becky Johnston’s screenplay, Firth is cast as a man who fakes his own death and assumes a new identity, only to fall for a woman (Blunt) who’s also trying to leave demons in her past.

Who is Arthur Newman? That is the very question at the center of Dante Ariola's directorial debut Arthur Newman. Penned by Seven Years in Tibet scribe Becky Johnson, this original dark comedy stars Colin Firth as Arthur Newman, formerly Wallace Avery. See, Avery was a man who'd lost much of his assets and forward momentum. A divorced golf pro thought to be past his prime, he's an annoyance to his girlfriend, a has-been on the circuit, and a disappointment to his son. So, Avery opts out of this floundering life by faking his own death. Firth describes his character and his drastic decision thusly:

Newly minted as Arthur Newman, Avery sets out on a road trip to become a new force in pro golf. But when his path crosses with a beautiful but mysterious young woman named Mike Fitzgerald (Emily Blunt), he slips further and further into crimes and misdemeanors that range from identity theft to breaking and entering. And is sex in a stranger's bed a crime? Because if so, it looks like Mike and Arthur are guilty of that one too from the look of the EW's exclusive trailer

Together these two damaged people running from their pasts try to forge a bold new future. And as you might suspect from the casting of its affable stars, romance begins to bloom as they vacation in the lives and vacant homes of others. But with a premise like this, it's a far from typical love story. ”It’s not the inevitable romance, it’s not the inevitable failure to have romance,” Firth explains. “I found it followed a very truthful path about an ordinary person.”

Arthur Newman opens April 26th.