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The Casual Vacancy Mini Series Available for Pre-Order in US & UK
Posted by Megs

The Casual Vacancy Mini Series that aired on HBO earlier this year is now available for pre-order on Amazon in the US and UK! It will be released on August 4th 2015 in the US and you can get it on DVD or Blu-Ray. UK fans can get their hands on the DVD or Blu-Ray a bit earlier, June 15th.

The Casual Vacancy centers on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty facade, however, is a town at war: rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils. The story begins with the death of beloved Parish Councillor Barry Fairbrother, leaving a seat on the council vacant. Those running for a place soon find their darkest secrets revealed on the Parish Council online forum, ruining their campaign and leaving the election in turmoil.

Filed Under: Michael Gambon, The Casual Vacancy
Michael Gambon to Play Winston Churchill for ITV
Posted by Megs

Digital Spy is reporting that Michael Gambon will be taking on the role of Winston Churchill in ITV’s feature film, Churchill’s Secret. The project will focus on the late Prime Minister’s health problems during his second term in 1953. A few more details may be read below:

The story will be told from the point of view of the Prime Minister’s young nurse Millie Appleyard, who cared for him after he suffered a life-threatening stroke.

The drama is based on Jonathan Smith’s recently published book The Churchill Secret: KBO, and will be adapted for the screen by Stewart Harcourt.

ITV’s Director of Drama, Steve November, said: “Churchill’s Secret is the extraordinary and compelling story of how one of our country’s most famous political figures battled back from life-threatening illness to hold on to power.

“We’re delighted to commission Churchill’s Secret from Daybreak Pictures and to be working with Michael Gambon as Sir Winston Churchill and Lindsay Duncan as his wife Clemmie.”

Filed Under: Michael Gambon
Michael Gambon Retiring from Stage Acting; New ‘Casual Vacancy’ Clip
Posted by Megs

In a new interview in The Sunday Times, Michael Gambon revealed he will no longer be doing any stage acting due to his failing memory and inability to remember lines.

The 74-year-old, who as a young actor trained with Sir Laurence Olivier, now avoids roles with “lots of words”, he admitted in an interview.

He finally took the decision to bow out from stage work after an experiment involving lines read to him via an audio headset proved a failure.

Sir Michael explained: “There was a girl in the wings and I had a plug in my ear so she could read my lines. And after about an hour I thought, ‘This can’t work. You can’t be in theatre, free on the stage, shouting and screaming and running around, with someone reading your lines.

He added: “You know, when you’re there in front of an audience, that you’re not as good as you could be.

“It’s a horrible thing to admit, but I can’t do it. It breaks my heart. When the script is in front of me and it takes me forever to learn, it’s frightening”.

He will continue to act in television and films.

But Sir Michael said he has no plans to put his film and screen career on hold, he announced, amid glowing reviews for his work on hit polar drama Fortitude.

He appears as Private Godfrey in a forthcoming cinematic remake of television’s Dad’s Army. And he is booked to spend two weeks filming in New York and Canada after agreeing to take on “whatever comes along”.

The project, Gambon said, is directed by an unnamed Frenchman “who was talking to me on the phone the other day

“I didn’t understand a word he said. I kept saying, ‘Oh yeah, yeah – that’s great, alright, see you then. Bye.’

“I don’t know what it’s all about. I expect my agent will tell me”.

Additionally, BBC has released a new clip from The Casual Vacancy which will begin airing on BBC One next Sunday, February 15th at 9pm GMT. It will also air in the US on HBO from April 29th through the 30th.

Filed Under: Michael Gambon, The Casual Vacancy
Video: First Trailer for The Casual Vacancy; Plus HBO Air Date Announced
Posted by Megs

BBC has released the first trailer for J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy miniseries, which will be airing on February 15th in the UK. The show stars Harry Potter’s Michael Gambon.

Also, HBO announced that it will be airing the miniseries at the end of April.

HBO has confirmed the debut dates for the HBO Miniseries/BBC adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s global bestseller THE CASUAL VACANCY, with parts one and two scheduled to debut back-to-back WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), followed by the debut of part three the next night, THURSDAY, APRIL 30 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT).

THE CASUAL VACANCY centers on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty façade, however, is a town at war: rich vs. poor, teenagers vs. parents, wives vs. husbands, teachers vs. pupils.

The cast includes Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan and Julia McKenzie, and introduces Abigail Lawrie.

HBO Miniseries presents in association with BBC a Bronte Film and Television Production; executive produced by Neil Blair, Paul Trijbits and Rick Senat; directed by Jonny Campbell; written by Sarah Phelps; produced by Ruth Kenley-Letts.

Filed Under: Michael Gambon, Other Potter Related, The Casual Vacancy
Cast Members; Programming Details Announced for 2015 ‘Celebration of Harry Potter’
Posted by Megs

Universal has put out a press release announcing the cast members who will be attending 2015’s Celebration of Harry Potter and Universal Studios in Orlando. Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps and Evanna Lynch are scheduled to attend. It will be James, Oliver and Evanna’s second time at the event. The also revealed the panels slated to take place!

Harry Potter film talent Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps and Evanna Lynch are slated to appear at the second annual “A Celebration of Harry Potter” – a special event hosted by Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment. The event allows fans to celebrate all of Harry’s adventures, from the beloved books to the feature films.  Creative talent also set to appear includes Paul Harris, the world’s only Wand Combat choreographer, Kazu Kibuishi, illustrator of Scholastic’s re-imagined Harry Potter book covers, and Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina of MinaLima, who established the visual graphic style of the Harry Potter films.

“A Celebration of Harry Potter” will take place from January 30February 1, 2015 at Universal Orlando. Fans will enjoy three days of incredible experiences, including Q&A and autograph sessions with Harry Potter film talent, special discussions and demonstrations with creative talent, and access to the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo – where fans can enjoy the Sorting Hat experience, pose for a photo in a recreation of the iconic Great Hall set and celebrate their Hogwarts house pride in an interactive Pottermore exhibit.

Guests can also experience Harry Potter’s world for themselves by visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and the all-new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Vacation Package guests and those with a park-to-park ticket will also be able to board the iconic Hogwarts Express and enjoy a unique journey as they travel between King’s Cross Station and Hogsmeade Station.

Access to “A Celebration of Harry Potter” is included with regular theme park admission or with an annual pass, with admission to certain activities being granted on a first-come, first-served basis. While most of the activities for “A Celebration of Harry Potter” will be open to all Universal Orlando park guests, guests who purchase the exclusive event vacation package will enjoy certain special benefits and reserved sections for the discussions and demonstrations.

Event details are below:

“A CELEBRATION OF HARRY POTTER” DISCUSSIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Discussions and Q&A sessions will be available featuring Harry Potter film talent and crew, with special demonstrations and discussions for kids. Admission into discussions and demonstrations will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Specific times will be released at a later date.

  • Behind the Scenes: Harry Potter Film Talent Discussion
    Enjoy a fascinating and interactive Q&A session featuring some of your favorite actors from the Harry Potter films. Discover what it was like to work on the most successful film franchise in history.
  • Duelling Demonstration & Wand Combat Masterclass with Paul Harris
    Pick up your wand and take part in a live duelling masterclass, hosted by Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, featuring the world’s only Wand Combat choreographer, Paul Harris. Paul choreographed the epic battle scenes in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and will be on hand to teach you the technique behind wielding a wand.
  • Creating The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
    Alan Gilmore, Art Director for the Harry Potter films, will explain how he and his team brought the world of Harry Potter to life from the fiction to the films, and eventually in the two lands of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort. In addition, hear firsthand from Universal Orlando’s Entertainment team how live shows in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley were created, as well as some of the hidden “secrets” and innovative interactive elements contained within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
  • Graphic Design for the Harry Potter Films with MinaLima
    Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, from the graphic design studio MinaLima, will share insights into their role as Graphic Prop Designers for more than a decade on the Harry Potter movies.  They will discuss and show some of the iconic props they created for the Harry Potter films, including the Marauder’s Map, the Daily Prophet and The Quibbler, amongst others.  Still immersed in all things Harry Potter, they will also talk about their recent involvement in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
  • Illustration of Harry Potter with Kazu Kibuishi
    Award-winning illustrator Kazu Kibuishi, who reimagined the Harry Potter book covers for Scholastic, will be drawing some of your favorite Harry Potter characters live on-stage in this interactive panel for all ages.

This year’s “A Celebration of Harry Potter” will also include kids’ discussions and interactive experiences such as a special duelling demonstration and wand combat masterclass with Paul Harris, an interactive ‘Dance Like a Beauxbatons and Battle Like a Durmstrang’ experience, as well as Harry Potter film trivia.

“A CELEBRATION OF HARRY POTTER” EXPO
The Expo will be held inside a Universal Orlando soundstage and will be open to guests throughout the weekend.  The expo will include the following booths and exhibits that will give guests deeper insight into the global phenomenon that is Harry Potter:

  • Harry Potter: The ExhibitionSorting Hat Experience
    Do you think you are a Gryffindor, or a Slytherin? A Hufflepuff? Perhaps a Ravenclaw? At the beginning of each school year the Sorting Hat sorts new Hogwarts students into the appropriate house, and you’ll have the opportunity to get sorted in a Hogwarts-inspired setting…sponsored by Harry Potter™: The Exhibition.
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
    The production home of the Harry Potter film series, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London gives visitors the chance to step on to the actual sets used during filming. ‘A Celebration of Harry Potter’ visitors will get a chance to pose for a photo in a recreation of the iconic Great Hall.
  • MinaLima
    Graphic designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima created countless pieces of unforgettable artwork, some of which will be on display including iconic pieces such as the Marauder’s Map, Daily Prophet and Hogwarts school books.  Exclusive to the Celebration, they will be launching their brand new range of Harry Potter stationery, featuring original film graphic artwork. Limited edition prints based on the original prop designs will also be displayed.
  • Pottermore from J.K. Rowling
    Show your Hogwarts house colors and celebrate your pride with Pottermore from J.K. Rowling. For the millions of fans who have participated in the exclusive Sorting Hat quiz devised by J.K. Rowling herself, here’s an amazing chance to take part in Pottermore’s Proudest House Contest.  Also, relive the excitement of a year in Pottermore.com and get an exclusive chance to have your say on what is to come.
  • Scholastic
    Celebrate Harry Potter and share your message about what Harry Potter means to you. Meet award-winning illustrator Kazu Kibuishi, who re-imagined the Harry Potter book covers and will be signing posters on Saturday, January 30, and enter for a chance to win a box set of all seven Harry Potter books.
  • Warner Bros. Entertainment
    Do you have what it takes to defend yourself against a Dementor or soar above Hogwarts castle on Buckbeak?  Step into some of your favorite scenes with this magical photo experience while surrounded by authentic movie props from the Harry Potter films.
Filed Under: Celebration of Harry Potter, Evanna Lynch, James and Oliver Phelps, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Universal Orlando Resort, Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton Cast In Paddington
Posted by Megs

Potter alums Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton are the latest actors added to the Paddington cast. They will be playing Paddington Bear’s Uncle Pastuzo and Aunt Lucy. The film, produced by Potter’s David Heyman, also stars their Harry Potter colleagues Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters. After some recent casting changes, Colin Firth has been replaced by Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington.

The film will be released on November 28, 2014 and the world premiere will be held at Odeon Leicester Square on November 23.

Filed Under: David Heyman, Imelda Staunton, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Michael Gambon
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