#FIRSTLOOK: “THE GENTLEMEN” SERIES TRAILER | RAY WINSTONE JOINS CAST

Crime meets caviar! It’s time to meet a new class of criminals in the official teaser for THE GENTLEMEN, a new drama series from Guy Ritchie inspired by the original Miramax film.

Debuting today, the teaser for THE GENTLEMEN also reveals veteran actor Ray Winstone will star in the series. Ray plays Bobby Glass, a career criminal from the East End of London who founded an industrial cannabis empire.

LOGLINE:

THE GENTLEMEN sees Eddie Horniman (Theo James) unexpectedly inherit his father’s sizable country estate – only to discover it’s part of a clandestine cannabis empire. Moreover, many unsavory characters from Britain’s criminal underworld want a piece of the operation. Determined to extricate his family from their clutches, Eddie tries to play the gangsters at their own game. However, as he gets sucked into the world of criminality, he begins to find a taste for it.

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Ray Winstone joins a host of on-screen talent, led by Emmy-nominated The White Lotus 2 star James as The Duke of Halstead, Eddie Horniman, who finds himself embroiled in criminality after inheriting his father’s estate, and Kaya Scodelario (Crawl, The Pale Horse) who plays Susie Glass, Bobby’s effortlessly stylish and steely daughter who runs the day-to-day business of the empire.

The series also stars Daniel Ings (I Hate Suzie), Joely Richardson (Lady Chatterley’s Lover), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor Vinnie Jones, Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Chanel Cresswell (This is England), Michael Vu, Max Beesley (Hijack), Jasmine Blackborow (Marie Antoinette), Harry Goodwins (In His Hands: The Emergence), Dar Salim (The Covenant), Pearce Quigley (Detectorists), Ruby Sear and Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick).

Multi-talented and award-winning Guy Ritchie is at the helm of the production, serving as creator, co-writer, and executive producer. Ritchie has also directed the first two episodes.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “BACKSTABBERS FOR BEGINNERS”

Filmed right here in Toronto, we were beginning to wonder what happened to this Movie! Check out the new Trailer for BACKSTABBING FOR BEGINNERS starring Theo James and Ben Kingsley.

Synopsis:
Based on a true story, an idealistic young employee working at the UN investigates the grisly murder of his predecessor and uncovers a vast global conspiracy, that may even involve his own boss, in this gripping and timely thriller.

 

See the Trailer:

 

eOne Films release BACKSTABBING FOR BEGINNERS, coming soon.

 

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

#INTERVIEW: MEKHI PHIFER + JAI COURTNEY ON “THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT”

The Black and Blue Carpet was rolled out tonight at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre as Mekhi Phifer and Jai Courtney, Stars of Veronica Roth Adaptation The Divergent Series: Insurgent, flew-in for the grand occasion. Filled with Selfie-aspiring Fans and eager Television and Digital Media, the Carpet was adorned in blue lit-panels depicting the five Factions known so well by Fans of  the Franchise. After strong Reviews and grossing over $150 million in North America, expectations are high of this second Installment.

Many know Phifer for his work on long-running, celebrated TV Series ER and  a string of popular Films he made in his early 20s, including O, 8 Mile and Honey. Australian-born Courtney‘s star is emerging quickly with high-profile Roles in Unbroken, A Good Day to Die Hard and recent news of his casting in DC Comics’ Suicide Squad, to film in Toronto next month with a Cast of Heavyweights.

INSURGENT picks-up where Divergent left-off in a futuristic dystopian Chicago. We witness Tris (Shailene Woodley), Four (Theo James), (Miles Teller) and (Ansel Elgort) on-the-run from ruthless Erudite Faction Leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet), who is determined to capture and test the limits of potentially destructive Divergents (those not belonging to any one particular personality type) at all costs – sparing no lives, placing them through a grueling and deadly set of simulations. Jeanine is in possession of a box containing secrets which Tris‘ Parents lost their lives in the name of protecting.  Tris finds herself having to face Jeanine, risking her life for the protection of her People once she is captured. What is the secret which Jeanine is so set on keeping it hidden from Tris and the Population?  And how will Tris survive Jeanine‘s fatal Regime?

At the heart of The Divergent Series are some strong Female Characters.  Legions of  young Women look-up to Tris and we ask Phifer who plays Dauntless Leader Max, about his own Female Role Models. “My Mom first of all”, he says without hesitation, “She was a single Parent who raised me in Harlem. She was a School Teacher who loved the Community – a Choreographer and Dancer. My Mom was definitely an inspiration.”.

Courtney, who just turned 29 this week, thinks likewise, crediting “My mother of course, I think.”.  He adds, “My Sister too. There a lot of strong Women in my life, including some friends of mine.”.

Phifer recounts his transition from a young impoverished Actor, overcoming the odds to make it in Hollywood with a Career spanning 20 years.  We ask what’s changed from then till now for him.  He says, “I’m 40-years-old, a Dad of two and married.  I mean, it’s inevitable.”.  “That’s the beauty of acting – there’s no age limit.  As long as you can remember lines and read, that’s all you need.”.

Our Justin Waldman asks Courtney about his physically-intensive role as Dauntless Leader Eric, who like Phifer‘s Max, reports to Winslet‘s Jeanine. His Character is menacing, in hot pursuit of Tris and Four, playing a Key Role in her eventual surrender to Jeanine. “I was working on Terminator Genisys at the same time as Insurgent”, he reveals.  “It was a lot of Cardio and Circuit Work – boring stuff. It’s what I have to do to prepare for work. It’s like reading or researching for a role, but you have to become a bit of an Athlete.”. “It gets old.”.

And for those curious, Courtney remains tight-lipped about his return soon to the City for the star-studded Suicide Squad with the likes of Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne and Joel Kinnaman.  “What am I gonna tell you? We haven’t started yet, but we’re getting ready”, he says before hinting “I’m gonna get to use my Australian accent. I can tell you that much.”.

 

Watch our Video Chats with Phifer and Courtney:

eOne Films release THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT on Friday, March 20, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#INTERVIEW: MR. WILL CHATS WITH SHAILENE WOODLEY & THEO JAMES OF “DIVERGENT”

The irony of tonight’s Divergent Toronto Advance Screening is that Fans were anything but unalike.  Whether they call themselves Initiates or Priorities, they were united in their ardent support for what has been pegged the next breakout Young Adult Franchise. Following in the footsteps of The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games Series, this first Adaptation of Veronica Roth‘s best-selling Trilogy, not only is led by two of Hollywood’s brightest Rising Stars in Theo James and Academy Award Nominee Shailene Woodley, but it also boasts an impressive Supporting Cast which includes Tony Goldwyn, Miles Teller, Jai Courtney, Maggie Q, Ansel Elgort and the always phenomenal Kate Winslet.

Taking place at Scotiabank Theatre, tonight’s Premiere saw a multitude of Media and Fans waiting on Divergent‘s two Stars in a later scheduled start time than normal. After flying-in from the Chicago leg of their Press Tour, both James and Woodley were greeted with a cool, collective cheer amidst this pestering Extreme Cold Alert.   The former brought forth pure British sophistication to this side of the Atlantic in a smart three-piece Suit, while the latter sported proudly her new Pixie locks, pairing a green sweater over a button-down and shimmery black pants – reminding us indeed we were at a Red Carpet Affair.  Fans demanded hugs from their Hero and Heroine and some were lucky enough to get theirs!

Divergent centers around 16-year-old Tris Prior (Woodley), who like all others her age must choose which Faction she wishes to belong to, living in a Society divided by personality types. Tris decides she wants to join the Dauntless Faction, known for its bravery, but of course with this comes dangerous risks.  She then learns that she’s actually Divergent, meaning she’ll never purely belong to any one distinct Faction and this could cause an issue or two.

I ask Woodley, what it is that she looks for when she chooses a role. She says, “It’s a physical reaction when I read a script. If I get butterflies, then I know it’s something to fight for”.  We learned also that her Pal, Jennifer Lawrence, actually encouraged her to sign aboard the Franchise after some hesitations initially.  “She definitely encouraged me to take this on – she said ‘There’s lots of beautiful things which could come from a Franchise like this!'”.

On Toronto, which she last visited in 2011 for the Toronto International Film Festival with eventual Academy Award-winning The Descendants, she tells me that this actually is a City she’s quite fond of, drawing parallels to the Big Apple.  “I love Toronto and one of my Best Friends is from Ontario”, she tells us, “I spent some time here as a Child”.  “The City feels like a clean New York. There’s something refreshing about it.”.

Hailing from Oxford, James with his refined talent and good looks is on the verge of major recognition stateside.  On the decision to cast him in the coveted Four role opposite Woodley, he walks me through the day he discovered the news which could well change his life forever. “Well, I was working in Florida.  I heard the news and looked around and there was no one to celebrate with, so I went to a bar with no one to celebrate with but myself”, he remembers.  “It was Rock ‘n’ Roll!”.  Things aren’t stopping any time soon for the Actor, who appears alongside Johnny Depp in London Fields and Richard Gere in Franny next.

Watch Mr. Will‘s Chats with James and Woodley below:

eOne Films release DIVERGENT on Friday, March 21, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Christina Miguel)

#FIRSTLOOK: OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “DIVERGENT”

“The future belongs to those who know truly who they are.”.

Not that we really needed to be sold on DIVERGENT, but now that we’ve seen this brand new Trailer for it, we’re sold on it completely!  Pure adrenaline!

Directed by Neil Burger, the Action-Fantasy centers around Beatrice Prior, a Teenager with a special mind, finds her life threatened when an authoritarian Leader seeks to exterminate her kind in her effort to seize control of their divided Society.

DIVERGENT stars Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Theo James, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Tony Goldwyn, Zoë Kravitz and Ansel Elgort.

See the amazing Trailer below:

Official Artwork:

eOne Films releases DIVERGENT on Friday, March 21, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

#FIRSTLOOK: STILL FROM “DIVERGENT” STARRING SHAILENE WOODLEY

No, she would not like a fork with that!  This first Still from Divergent is just intense.  See burgeoning Star Shailene Woodley basically narrowly escape death. Fear not as Woodley clarified they were made of rubber!  The Fantasy-Fiction Film based Veronica Roth‘s Novel is currently filming still, with Neil Burger directing.

Its Story centers on Tris Prior (Woodley) who is listed to be offed when it is determined that she is “divergent”, living in a World where people are divided into groups by their personalities.  She must learn why it is those who are “divergent” pose a threat before she is executed.

Divergent features an talented Cast including the likes of: Kate Winslet, Theo James, Ray Stevenson, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller, Zoë Kravitz, Tony Goldwyn and Ansel Elgort, whom we met in Toronto last Summer making his debut in the upcoming Carrie Remake.

eOne Films releases Divergent on March 21, 2014.  Lookin’ good!

Entertainment Weekly got the first look.  Click here for more.

 

(Photo credit: Summit Entertainment)