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BBC announces new Harry Potter 20th anniversary documentary featuring JK Rowling

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BBC announces new Harry Potter 20th anniversary documentary featuring JK Rowling

A brand new Harry Potter documentary is set to air on BBC Two to mark the 20th anniversary of the books.

It has been two whole decades since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released and, to celebrate the occasion, the BBC is airing a documentary about the dearly beloved series.

And that’s not all. Potterheads will be thrilled to hear that the documentary will also feature an interview with the one and only J.K. Rowling.

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The one-off special will air on BBC Two in conjunction with the British Library’s upcoming Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition, which takes place between October 20, 2017 and February 28, 2017. The exhibition will feature ancient texts and artworks, as well as manuscripts and personal objects donated by the author herself.

Two new Harry Potter books will accompany the exhibition, titled Harry Potter: A History of Magic – The Book of the Exhibition, and Harry Potter: A Journey Through A History of Magic.

No official air date has been announced as of yet, but we do know that the BBC film will share a behind-the-scenes look at the HP exhibition, delving into the stories behind the objects on display.

The British Library’s Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition opens October 20, 2017 – February 28, 2017.

The Harry Potter 20th anniversary documentary will air soon on BBC Two.

Toy Story 4 release date revealed

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Toy Story 4 release date revealed

Disney fans, get your diaries at the ready because the release date for Toy Story 4 has officially been confirmed!

The conclusion to the third Disney Pixar film made it seem like we would be saying goodbye to the Toy Story characters forever, but we’re delighted to hear a fourth movie is definitely in the makes.

This time around, Woody and Buzz will be going on an adventure to find Bo Peep; a character who was noticeably missing from the gang in Toy Story 3…

The release date for the sequel has now been announced, and unfortunately fans are going to have to wait a little while to be reunited with the beloved Disney crew.

The official release date is set to be two years from now, on June 21 2019.

John Lasseter, who directed the first Toy Story movie in 1995, is returning to work on the fourth instalment, and has talked about what we can expect from the next film.

“We love these characters so much; they are like family to us,” he said. “We don’t want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses what’s gone before.

“Toy Story 3 ended Woody and Buzz’s story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another Toy Story movie.

“But when Andrew, Pete, Lee, and I came up with this new idea, I just could not stop thinking about it. It was so exciting to me, I knew we had to make this movie—and I wanted to direct it myself.”

Disney’s announcement said the new movie will “open a new chapter in the lives of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the Toy Story gang.”

Toy Story 4 lands in cinemas June 21 2019.

A first look at Tina Fey’s Mean Girls musical has arrived

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A first look at Tina Fey’s Mean Girls musical has arrived

Fans have been given a sneak preview of Tina Fey’s new Mean Girls theatre adaptation… and it looks “sooo fetch!”

The Mean Girls musical will be debuting on Broadway next month, and ahead of the big premiere Entertainment Weekly have released a photo of the new Plastics.


Playing the ditzy Karen Smith we have Kate Rockwell (left), Ashley Park will be filling Lacey Chabert’s boots as Gretchen Wieners (right), and taking on the role of the infamous Regina George will be Taylor Louderman (middle).

Introducing the new Mean Girls cast, creator Tina Fey told EW: “Taylor Louderman not only has this giant voice and great comic timing, but she instinctively understood the idea of Regina George, that there’s power in making people come to you.

“She knows exactly when to play things really small, and there’s so much power in it, and I think she’s at times so wonderfully scary but so funny. Kate Rockwell so quickly found the zone of the sweetness that’s at the core of Karen.

“And Ashley has this incredible, beautiful voice, but also this nice timing and this fragility of Gretchen, because Gretchen’s, like… just barely hanging on to her status and her sanity.”

The production is directed by Casey Nicholaw, who was also responsible for the hugely popular The Book of Mormon, and Legally Blonde’s Nell Benjamin has written the score with Richmond.

It’s sounding as though the musical might just do the legendary original justice… We can’t wait to find out!

REVIEW: Horror Channel’s Chernobyl Diaries demonstrates how far a great premise can take a film

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REVIEW: Horror Channel’s Chernobyl Diaries demonstrates how far a great premise can take a film

Travelling around Europe is a right of passage for any 20-something-year-old but when a group of tourists decide to abandon their planned route and spontaneously partake in some extreme tourism, let’s face it, they probably were asking for trouble.

With hopes of adventure off the beaten track, the travelers hire an ex-military tour guide who takes them to the Ukrainian town of Prypiat, which was abandoned after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster. Although the sightseers are initially thrilled by the eerie and desolate ghost-town, all excitement disappears when the group soon becomes stranded.

But what will they do when they discover they are not alone?…

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The brilliant Chernobyl Diaries (2012) makes its UK premiere this weekend on Saturday, July 1 at 9pm on the Horror Channel. From Oren Peli – who first wowed audiences with his terrifying and original thriller, Paranormal Activity – this American disaster film stars Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski, Devin Kelley, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Nathan Phillips, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, and Dimitri Diatchenko.

Chernobyl Diaries is an excellent reminder of how far a genuinely cool concept can carry a film, as Peli succeeds once again in captivating (and scaring the living daylights out of) his viewers with minimal production values and a genius premise.

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The creator’s signature documentary-style camera shots, featuring hand-held shaky-cam visuals, creates that creepy sense of realism as the tourists embark upon their journey. And the sinister build up is balanced out wonderfully by the acting of Berdal, Sadowski and Kelley, who capture the youthful silliness of the three lead explorers really well.

I would advise any thrill-seekers watching to wait the film out until its second half, as the subtle build-up of the first thirty minutes makes the hellish descent thereafter all the more satisfactory. It is when the group’s van refuses to start up that events really begin to spiral out of control.

Overall, Chernobyl Diaries is a movie driven by an interesting concept and is sure to get you screaming in terror this Saturday night. Oh, and did I mention there’s a random(/petrifying) appearance by a bear? Keep an eye out for that one.

Chernobyl Diaries (2012) premieres Saturday, July 1 at 9pm on Horror Channel.

REVIEW: Haunting coastal scenes of Scotland take centre stage in Horror Channel’s Retreat

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REVIEW: Haunting coastal scenes of Scotland take centre stage in Horror Channel’s Retreat

When Kate (Thandie Newton) and Martin (Cillian Murphy) leave London to go to the remote Blackholm Island, off the west coast of Scotland, the couple hope the getaway will provide them with the opportunity to recover from a personal tragedy and get their dying marriage back on track.

However, the island brings them more troubles than they could have imagined. Cut off from the outside world, any wishes of recovery are dashed when an injured soldier (Jamie Bell) is washed ashore with news of an airborne killer virus that’s sweeping over the entire world. But the question is: Can he be trusted?

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Even from Retreat‘s opening credits, featuring shots of cloud-obstructed sea views accompanied by a magnificent orchestral piece, I could tell I was in for a skilfully shot and visually appealing horror-thriller movie. Fans of the genre will certainly enjoy the thoughtful and imaginative way Carl Tibbetts directs what could be a pretty predictable “home invasion” thriller.

The location takes centre stage and, if nothing else, the film is worth watching for the stunning yet equally haunting coastal scenes alone. More importantly, however, the isolated Scottish island adds to the story’s claustrophobic and confined feel which creates a real tension when news of the virus arrives.

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Excellent performances from Newton and Murphy elevate the story further, both of whom capture the silent tensions of a failing marriage perfectly. Billy Elliot‘s Bell is also excellent as the eerie and compelling intruder and together the three leads create the ideal dynamic.

And for those of you who are more concerned about getting your scare fix for the evening, do not worry. Tibbetts is careful to keep the viewer guessing and plays with tension to offer up some truly thrilling moments.

UK TV premier of Retreat (2011) airs Saturday, June 24 at 9pm on Horror Channel.

Gal Gadot says Wonder Woman is a “true” role model for young females

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Gal Gadot says Wonder Woman is a “true” role model for young females

Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot has claimed she was “born to play” a strong female character that girls can look up to.

Speaking to The Mirror, the fierce superhero explained: “I feel I was born to play Wonder Woman. Boys have always had a figure to look up to, whether it’s Superman, Batman or Spider-Man.

“For girls, it was always the princess being saved. Now we have Wonder Woman – she’s fearless, proactive, she believes in herself and she believes she can do everything. That’s a true woman for me.”

It seems fitting, then, that a film promoting girl power so strongly has also managed to score the highest ever preview night box office for a movie directed by a woman. Wonder Woman has already raked in $250 million less than a week after release and also joined Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as the third 2017 movie with a $100 million-plus opening.

The film earned an impressive $103.1 million during opening weekend, making Wonder Woman the second-highest June opening for a Warner Bros. film behind only Man of Steel with $128 million. It has also outdone the previous record set by female director Sam Taylor-Johnson for Fifty Shades of Grey, which enjoyed a $85.6 million opening.

The movie has overtaken a number of Marvel movies as well, such as the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

So, here’s to females absolutely bossin’ it in 2017!

New Mary Poppins Returns images have been released

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New Mary Poppins Returns images have been released

Brand new pictures of Mary Poppins Returns have been unveiled ahead of the film release in 2018.

The sequel to one of the most dearly loved Disney classics will land in cinemas in December 2018 and the follow-up film will see the practically perfect nanny return to the Banks children for a second time. However, set more than 20 years after their first adventure, Jane and Michael are no longer children any more and now have families of their own.


Written by Life of Pi‘s David Magee, the film sees Mary Poppins come to the Banks’ rescue once again as she helps the family rediscover joy after Michael suffers a personal loss.


Emily Blunt will be following in the footsteps of Julie Andrews as the film’s lead and the pictures show her holding hands with the new Banks children – Annabel (Pixie Davies), Georgie (Joel Dawson) and John (Nathanael Saleh) – and Jack the lamplighter (Lin-Manuel Miranda) for the big musical number, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic”.


Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, director Rob Marshall said: “The bar is so high for this.

“But to be able to walk in the footsteps of this beautiful story about a woman who brings magic to this family that’s looking for wonder and hope and joy in their lives, I feel a great responsibility and reverence every day.

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“We all feel it. We’re just lifting it up to get there with the right intentions behind it.”

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The star-studded cast also includes Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer, who’ll play the older versions of Jane and Michael Banks, and Colin Firth, who will take on the role of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank boss William Weatherall Wilkins. Julie Walters is playing loyal housekeeper Ellen and Mary Poppins’ cousin Topsy will be none other than Meryl Streep.

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Mary Poppins Returns will land in cinemas December 2018.

Wonder Woman sets record for female directed films after $100 million opening

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Wonder Woman sets record for female directed films after $100 million opening

Wonder Woman is set to become the highest opening film directed by a woman in Hollywood history after raking in $100 million.

The Patty Jenkins-directed film grossed $35.6 million from 4,156 screens on Saturday, and is now expected to join Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as the third 2017 movie with a $100 million-plus opening.

The Warner Bros./DC film has overtaken the previous record set by female director Sam Taylor-Johnson for Fifty Shades of Grey, which enjoyed a $85.6 million opening.

The weekend is estimated to have totalled $103.1 million, making Wonder Woman the second-highest June opening for a Warner Bros. film behind only Man of Steel with $128 million.

It has overtaken a number of Marvel movies as well, such as the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Last week, Lebanon banned showings of Wonder Woman due to the lead actress, Gal Gadot, being Israeli.

A six-member Ministry of Economy committee placed the ban approximately two hours before its debut in Lebanon and after the regular censorship procedures, according to reports. The country is at war with Israel and has introduced laws boycotting Israeli products and forbidding Lebanese citizens from travelling or having contact with Israeli citizens.

The ban was announced on the official Twitter feed of Lebanon’s Grand Cinemas chain, alongside other sources confirming the news. The group Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon have applauded the ministry’s call for the ban, having launched a campaign against the film themselves due to the fact Gadot served in the Israeli army and publicly supported Israeli forces as the country led a military offensive against Gaza.

Wonder Woman is out in cinemas now. 

Wonder Woman banned in Lebanon over Israeli lead Gal Gadot

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Wonder Woman banned in Lebanon over Israeli lead Gal Gadot

Lebanon has banned Wonder Woman because due to the lead, Gal Gadot, being Israeli.

A six-member Ministry of Economy committee placed the Wonder Woman ban approximately two hours before its debut in Lebanon and after the regular censorship procedures, according to reports.

The country is at war with Israel and has introduced laws boycotting Israeli products and forbidding Lebanese citizens from travelling or having contact with Israeli citizens.

The ban was announced on the official Twitter feed of Lebanon’s Grand Cinemas chain, alongside other sources confirming the news. The group Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon have applauded the ministry’s call for the ban, having launched a campaign against the film themselves due to the fact Gadot served in the Israeli army and publicly supported Israeli forces as the country led a military offensive against Gaza.

Famous Lebanese blogger Elie Fares has given her opinion on the matter, saying: “Resist what? A movie about an iconic superhero who’s been part of pop culture for over 70 years.

“A movie in which the lead actress happens to be Israeli or has served in the IDF or who is part of an apartheid state, but who’s not portraying ANYTHING related to her ‘country’ in any way whatsoever.

“You’d think if they want their ban to make the least of sense, they’d have done it a year ago when the movie’s first trailer was released, not in the week of its release after it’s been given a green light, handling massive financial losses to the Lebanese company that won its distribution rights.”

“What’s next, though? Banning every single movie that dares to be associated in any way with Israel? Banning every actor or actress who’s set foot in Israel? Deciding not to show any feature film that has any entity that remotely agrees with anything Israel does?”

Wonder Woman is in UK cinemas now.

First Murder on the Orient Express trailer reveals star-studded cast

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First Murder on the Orient Express trailer reveals star-studded cast

The first trailer for Murder on the Orient Express has arrived and it has revealed one hell of a cast.

Sir Kenneth Branagh stars in and directed the 2017 film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous novel and he has gathered together one of the most impressive casts of the year.

The movie features (prepare yourself) Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Dame Judi Dench, Tom Bateman, Lucy Boynton, Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Josh Gad, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Sir Derek Jacobi, Marwan Kenzari, Leslie Odom Jr and Michelle Pfeiffer.

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The plot follows “greatest detective in the world” Hercule Poirot (Branagh) as he investigates the murder of Depp’s character Edward Ratchett, and the brand new trailer unveils each person on the long list of suspects as the camera moves slowly along the train carriage.

“Everyone is a suspect”, we hear Poirot conclude before the advert reveals November as the month of release.

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Last month, Branagh went into detail about what went on behind-the-scenes during the filming process and confessed that certain cast members came down with motion sickness.

He said: “All these people were passengers on a train that travelled for a mile up and down the leafy lanes of Surrey pretending to be the former Yugoslavia.

“It was curious that on the first day we used our gimballed train sets and our LED screens with footage that we’d gone to great trouble to shoot for the various environments – the lowlands and then the Alps, etc – after a day, people really did feel quite sick.”

Murder on the Orient Express lands in UK cinemas on November 3 and US cinemas on November 10.

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