4 h. ago Ian McKellen forced to cancel film premiere appearance after doctors' warning

The Lord of the Rings star was set to attend the premiere of Steven Soderbergh’s new film The Christophers

Events

8 h. ago Sir Ian McKellen, 86, forced to pull out of Toronto premiere on doctor's orders as he's warned he shouldn't fly

The celebrated actor confirmed his 'medical advisers' had told him he shouldn't fly, adding 'Better safe than sorry', as he explained why he had skipped the premiere.

Events

11 h. ago The Christophers review – Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel spar in smart Soderbergh original

Toronto film festival: the actors play off each other beautifully in an intimate London-set comedy drama about art, commerce and the mess in-betweenIt seems like Steven Soderbergh might have developed a late case of anglophilia, the retirement-teasing director situating himself in London for three films within the last two years. The first was a needless, throwaway Magic Mike sequel, but then this spring he gave us the delicious spy caper Black Bag, a juicy riff on both John le Carré and Agatha Christie that dared to imagine a monogamous and supportive marriage as the epitome of sexiness. Unlike Woody Allen, who cursed us with a string of London-set clunkers after Match Point (Cassandra’s Dream, a film that cast Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor as cockney brothers, easily the most heinous), Soderbergh seems to be sticking around for reasons other than a nice holiday, his second offering of 2025 also feeling notable. It’s a quieter project than his last, a delicate two-hander closer t...

Politics

19 h. ago Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen to reflect on careers at National Theatre

The event will be hosted by Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter.

Politics

19 h. ago Dust to Dreams review – a baffling short film from director Idris Elba

Toronto film festival: The actor recruits Seal for a Lagos-set 19-minute misfire that inelegantly stuffs in far too muchOn the face of it, there’s a formidable aggregation of talent and media firepower on display in this lively but faintly baffling short film set in Lagos, with an original story credit for its producer, the Nigerian super-producer Mo Abudu; it is written and directed by Idris Elba and stars Seal. Within its 19-minute running time it appears to try summarising the action of an entire 90-minute feature film. There isn’t a moment to really relax and explore any relationship in any satisfying and plausible way; the line-readings are rushed and uncomfortable and, most bewilderingly, Seal doesn’t actually get to sing all that much, although as an actor he has a strong and confident address to the camera.The premise is that Millicent (played by Nse Ikpe-Etim) runs a vibrant and hugely successful club in Lagos, but she is very ill, and the question of who is to inherit this...

Politics

25 h. ago Ageing stars including Dame Helen Mirren lead calls for new assisted dying bill

Ageing acting veterans including Dame Helen Mirren and Sir Ian McKellen are leading calls for the government to pass the assisted dying bill

Events

33 h. ago ‘The energy is infectious’: why Bride and Prejudice is my feelgood movie

The latest in our series of writers highlighting their go-to comfort films is an ode to Gurinder Chadha’s 2004 spin on the Austen classicWe’ve never been short of Jane Austen film adaptations. In fact, it seems a new one arrives every decade – two were announced recently, including Netflix’s spin on Pride & Prejudice. Yet, one adaptation has been shamefully overlooked: Gurinder Chadha’s Bride & Prejudice.A cross-cultural, British-and-Bollywood-meets-Hollywood take on Austen’s most famous novel, the film is pure joy – a riot of original musical numbers, colourful costumes, chaos, culture clashes and, of course, romance. Continue reading...

Science

41 h. ago Dame Helen Mirren and Sir Ian McKellen lead stars' pleas to Lords on assisted dying ahead of decisive 'end of life' vote

Dame Helen Mirren and Sir Ian McKellen are urging peers to 'show the world Britain can lead with empathy and courage' on assisted dying.

Politics

3 d. ago Netflix fans can discover 'original Hunger Games' before remake releases

The updated version is hoped to put some things right the classic title got wrong

Sport

4 d. ago Star Wars lightsaber used by Darth Vader fetches £2.7m at LA auction

Prop from first in franchise series one of several from science fiction and fantasy films to sell for large sumsThe lightsaber used by Darth Vader in the original Star Wars film has sold for £2.7m at auction in Los Angeles.The prop, which also featured in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, was sold on Thursday, and is one of more than 400 authentic film props auctioned by Propstore, a movie memorabilia outlet, as part of their “entertainment memorabilia live auction”. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago Roger Allam and Ian McKellen to Bring London Stage Hit Frank and Percy to the Big Screen

Roger Allam and Ian McKellen to Bring London Stage Hit Frank and Percy to the Big Screen  Broadway Shows

Events

5 d. ago Darth Vader’s lightsaber among movie props up for auction in Los Angeles

Weapon valued up to $3m and items from movies including Alien and Armageddon for sale in three-day online auctionIconic movie props from a galaxy far, far away, and from a search for the Holy Grail much closer to home, are for sale in a blockbuster auction in California featuring a trove of silver screen history.Darth Vader’s lightsaber from the final two films of the original Star Wars trilogy is the most valuable lot in the three-day online auction hosted by Propstore, a Los Angeles company specializing in movie memorabilia. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Liam Neeson action sequel 'way better than the first' now streaming on Prime Video

The original film was released on Netflix but has switched platform for UK users

Politics

5 d. ago Jumanji review – startling 90s game fantasy adventure with Robin Williams in winning form

Williams is exuberant but controlled as elephants trample the town and a waterfall crashes down the stairs in bizarre Kiplingesque fantasy that still holds upThe Jumanji franchise has been enjoyably revived in the last few years, but the new reboot films don’t have the purely startling quality of the original fantasy-surreal adventure from 1995, now rereleased for its 30th anniversary. Adapted from a 1981 children’s picture book by Chris Van Allsburg, it starred Robin Williams in an exuberant, winning but notably controlled lead performance. This is an entertainment in the broad Hollywood tradition of Capra and Spielberg, with a boisterous touch of Peter Pan in that the stern father figure and the scary villain are both played by the same actor. But there’s something else, too, a dash of something that, if it were played straight, would be genuinely creepy. And actually, even played just the way it is, it’s still pretty creepy.Williams plays Alan Parrish, a guy who in his childhood ...

Politics

6 d. ago 'Amazing' 2025 family film that viewers say is 'as good as the original' arrives on Disney+

The film is the highest grossing movie around the world to release this year

Politics

8 d. ago Warwick Davis to reprise Professor Flitwick role in Harry Potter TV series

He is the first member of the original films’ cast to join the show.

Events

8 d. ago Original Harry Potter film star to reprise role in TV series

He’s the first movie cast member to sign up for new HBO show

Culture

9 d. ago Harry Potter director rules out Cursed Child film with original cast for one reason

Harry Potter director Chris Columbus has revealed that a film adaptation of the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will "never" happen - and he's blamed JK Rowling for it

Politics

1 week ago Coronation Street's Vicky Myers confirms Lisa and Carla's proposal drama as fans make same observation

The actress has confirmed the latest proposal drama for her character as fans were left making the same observation

Economics

1 week ago David Strathairn: ‘Authoritarianism is a very frightening concept when it comes to the arts’

Oscar-nominated actor, known for Good Night, and Good Luck and the Bourne franchise, talks about his new filmWhen George Clooney brought Good Night, and Good Luck to the stage earlier this year, it set a record for the highest-grossing play in Broadway history. Clooney, making his Broadway debut, was nominated for a Tony award for his portrayal of Edward R Murrow, a giant of broadcast journalism.But for diehard fans of the original 2005 film of the same name, which was made in response to US involvement in the Iraq war, something was missing. In that version, Murrow was played by David Strathairn, one of the US’s most perceptive, subtle and compelling character actors. Why did he not reprise the role on stage? Continue reading...

Culture