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Sally Hawkins to Star in Irish Indie Drama ‘Maudie’
Oscar nominated Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) is set to star in ‘Maudie’, directed by Irish writer/director Aisling Walsh, best known for her 2003 feature film ‘Song for a Raggy Boy’.
The romantic drama is inspired by the life story of folk artist Maude Lewis – a disfigured woman who gets hired as a housekeeper for an ornery man in Nova Scotia in the 1950s and 60’s and ends up becoming his client as she develops as a folk artist. The true story will be shot in Newfoundland in August. Hawkins and Walsh previously worked together on the 2005 movie ‘Fingersmith’.
The Canada-Ireland co-production is produced by Bob Cooper of Los Angeles-based Landscape (John Tucker Must Die), Mary Young Leckie of Solo Productions and Susan Mullen from Parallel Films. Heather Haldane of H Is4 Productions, Mary Sexton of Rink Rat Productions, Landscape’s Tyler Mitchell and Parallel’s Alan Moloney and Johanna Hogan are executive producers on the new film. Mongrel International recently picked up the worldwide rights to ‘Maudie’.
Walsh is currently in pre-production on ‘An Inspector Calls’, a 90-minute drama adaption for a BBC1 season of early 20th century British novels and plays. Casting is currently under way and shooting is due to begin later this year.
Victoria Smurfit Filming UK Thriller ‘The Taking’
Shooting is underway in West Yorkshire on ‘The Taking’, a new UK thriller movie starring Victoria Smurfit (Dracula).
Directed by Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk), the film tells the story of two women who turn the tables on a vicious loan shark. Smurfit will feature alongside Joanne Mitchell (Emmerdale) and Jonathan Slinger (A Knight's Tale). UK sales outfit Metrodome International, which co-produces with Mitchell-Brunt Films, will be shopping the project to buyers at Cannes. ‘The Taking’, which is due to wrap on May 18, is produced by Brunt, Jezz Vernon, Joanne Mitchell, Michael Lacey, Jennifer Handorf and Helen Grace. Executive producers are Martin Campbell and Kwesi Dickson.
Caroline Couret-Delègue, Head of Sales and Acquisitions at the film's co-producers, Metrodome International, said; "The Taking is a powerful female lead movie that tackles the zeitgeist issues of debt and class warfare in a violent, thrilling auteur project."
New ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Trailer
Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael are back with a brand-new ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ trailer.
The film stars Alan Ritchson (Raphael), William Fichtner (The Shredder), Whoopi Goldberg (Bernadette Thompson), Jeremy Howard (Donatello), Pete Ploszek (Leonardo), Danny Woodnburn (Splinter) and Megan Fox (April O’Neil). The story follows all four of our pizza-loving heroes as they rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick to save the city and unravel Shredder's diabolical plan.
Director Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans), the film was written by Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) and Evan Daugherty (Divergent). ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ is produced by Nickelodeon Movies and Michael Bay's production company Platinum Dunes, and is set for distribution by Paramount Pictures in Irish cinemas on October 24, 2014. You can check out the new trailer below:
