Role Call: Making Music and Singing Praises
It’s a short Role Call this week as we find a few Potter cast and crew members receiving high praise all over London, find out when the music for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be composed, get our first look at Voldemort’s latest role, and check in on exactly what James Potter is up to these days. Take a look at the latest projects our cast have taken on and when you can expect to see them!
Sir Kenneth Branagh is receiving yet another honor before the year is through! Film London announced last week that the multi-talented Branagh was named the patron for their Shakespeare on Screen program, which will produce events and projects all year as part of the 400-year celebration of the lauded bard. Branagh had this to say of his involvement with Film London as the new patron:
Much of my work has involved bringing Shakespeare to the stage and the screen, so I’m looking forward to working with Film London as their patron for Shakespeare on Screen. Storytellers at every stage of their careers continue to draw from the playwright’s work, so it is fitting that this project – through an ambitious series of brand new commissions – showcases emerging and established talent alike. It is a pleasure to be involved with a project which aims to bring his work to countless new audiences, inspiring as many people as possible along the way.
A full list of the upcoming projects and events through Film London can be found here.
Additionally, it was announced Monday that Branagh has also taken a cinematic role in Dunkirk, a WWII film surrounding the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 during Operation Dynamo. The film is set to release in 2017.
Deadline reports that Goblet of Fire director Mike Newell is set to helm an Amazon pilot, The Interestings. The drama is set in 1974 and follows a group of friends who meet at an art camp. Here’s the synopsis of the project, based on the book by Meg Wolitzer:
The series chronicles their relationships throughout the next three decades dealing with the great expectations of youth juxtaposed with the realities life hands you as you get older.
No word yet on when production will begin, as the pilot was contingent on hiring the right director. Newell also received recognition recently when a university building was named after him!
The University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield opened up buildings dedicated to two members of the film industry, including Newell. The Mike Newell Soundstage commemorates the director for his many years of work in the film industry and he was presented with a certificate at the dedication of the building. Take a look at his photo here:
We previously told you about Jim Broadbent taking part in the mini-series, London Spy. The series recently aired in the UK, but now we have word that fans in the US will also be able to see it! London Spy is set to air in the US on BBC America beginning January 21. Take a look at the teaser BBC America posted via Instagram below:
We finally have a first look at Ralph Fiennes in his stage role for The Master Builder, thanks to photographer Manuel Harlin! As we previously reported, the opening of the play is just around the corner, slated to begin at the Old Vic on February 3, 2016. Take a look at the photos of Ralph here:
Downton Abbey fans in the UK may have said their goodbyes to the Crawley family, but US fans won’t even have seen the first episode of the final season until the new year. However, we’ll share a few photos we’ve snagged from the final episode thanks to the Mirror, who revealed the behind-the-scenes emotion of Dame Maggie Smith as she wrapped her final lines as the Dowager Countess. Once her final words were spoken, Smith was presented with flowers and a moving speech from executive producer Liz Trubridge. Take a look at photos below, and check out the entire article for all the photos of the cast.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child composer Imogen Heap is to be featured on the television series London Real, and earlier this week a trailer for her episode was released. Take a look here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA0aPzz9Eow
The full episode is also now available via the London Real website, here, where she very briefly discusses when she will begin creating music for the play, sometime in February.
Finally, Adrian Rawlins is taking on the world of Charles Dickens for his latest role as Edward Barbary in Dickensian, a 20-part series that takes characters from many of Dickens’s novels and puts them in the same story.
Rawlins describes the series as a mash-up, saying,
Basically, it’s nicking characters from various Dickens novels and shoving them together. It’s an opportunity to see these people from a new angle, someone like Miss Havisham, who is of course an iconic figure from ‘Great Expectations’, we see the trials and tribulations of her as a young lady.
Rawlins also touched momentarily on his experience with Harry Potter, specifically the sets, saying,
It felt like going to Disneyland every day.
Dickensian, starring Adrian Rawlins, is now available on BBC iPlayer.
That’s it for this week’s Casting News! We sincerely hope you enjoyed your Christmas holiday with loved ones and look forward to continue to bring you all the latest projects and casting news for our Potter alumni in 2016. See you next year!
