‘Normal People' Actor Say He'd Prefer No Sequel For Hit Drama Starring Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones
Since its release, there has been clamor for a sequel to the hit TV drama Normal People, which made breakthrough stars of its two leads Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones when it was released during lockdown in April 2020.
But one of the cast, Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke, has shared he doesn't like the idea of a sequel, as he's 'not a fan of rehashing things.'
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BBC News reports that the actor was speaking at a pre-Oscars party in Los Angeles Thursday evening.
The BBC drama was adapted by writer Sally Rooney from her own bestselling novel and followed the on-off relationship of Irish teenagers Marianne and Connell.
Hardwicke played Rob, a schoolfriend of Connell's, in the series. He told BBC News: 'It's nicer to leave it in people's imagination, and leave it as it was.'
There was excitement last year when the two leads, who have remained close friends, posted on Instagram with an apparent tease at a sequel. However, the 'reunion' turned out to be a hosting of the show for charity.
Edgar-Jones previously said she'd be interested in going back. She told BBC News in 2024:
'I love those characters. It would be wonderful to explore them again.' She added: 'If [Rooney] is up for writing a new story, who knows… Keeping it open. Always open.'
She also recognised the boost it had given to both her and Mescal's careers: 'It introduced Paul and I to a lot of people and film-makers.'
Edgar-Jones has gone on to star in Under the Banner of Heaven on TV, and films Where the Crawdads Sing and Twisters, while Mescal has been Oscar-nominated for Aftersun and recently took the lead in Ridley Scott's big-budget Gladiator sequel.
Hardwicke starred as real-life murderer Ben Field in the acclaimed BBC drama The Sixth Commandment.
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Forbes
35 minutes ago
- Forbes
Guillermo Del Toro's ‘Frankenstein': What Are Chances Of A Theater Run?
Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac in "Frankenstein." Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein is coming to Netflix later this year, but will it also play in theaters? The answer is fairly simple, but it comes with a huge caveat. The Oscar-winning director behind the creature feature The Shape of Water and the stop-motion version of Pinocchio was on hand with Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth at Netflix TUDUM 2025 on Saturday to unveil the first trailer for his adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic monster tale. Jacob Elordi, who is playing Frankenstein's Monster in the film, wasn't present, but was featured in short video prior to del Toro, Isaac and Goth's arrival on stage. While introducing the trailer to fans at the Netflix event, del Toro spoke of how important Frankenstein was to his life and filmmaking career, noting, 'I first read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as a kid and saw Boris Karloff in what became for me a religious state," del Toro said. 'Monsters have become my personal belief system,' the filmmaker added. "There are strands of Frankenstein throughout my films — Cronos, Blade, Hellboy, big time on Pinocchio and a long, long, et cetera." Netflix released the Frankenstein trailer on YouTube immediately after its TUDUM 2025 debut on Saturday and to date the 2-minute, 23-second teaser has amassed more than 5.1 million views as of this publication. Neither del Toro nor the teaser indicated an exact release date for the film. Only one word — 'November' — appears at the end of the trailer. That one word, however, is up for interpretation. Will the film only debut on the streaming service in November or will it have a theatrical run first? Whatever the case may be, there seems to be a fairly common denominator among the 8,200-plus comments that accompany the trailer on YouTube: Fans think the film needs to be shown in theaters. So, the short answer of whether Frankenstein will be shown in theaters is without a doubt, 'Yes,' but that doesn't mean every one of del Toro's fans will get an opportunity to see the film on the big screen. There's a reason Netflix is being cryptic with its release date. As a longtime awards season voter who tracks the races for movie honors annually — I've been a member of the Critics Choice Association's Film Branch since 1999 — there's no doubt in my mind that Netflix is going to assemble a full-fledged awards season run for the film with its November placement. It's even reasonable to think that the streamer is probably already at work on putting together a campaign for the Oscars and other big awards shows and the date it releases the film is a huge part of that strategy. For one, no studio wants to release its film too early, only to be forgotten when another major contender comes along. The next question that needs to be answered is whether Netflix deems the film as 'Oscar worthy.' The trailer alone already seems to make Frankenstein a shoo-in for production design and cinematography Oscar nominations, and that's only based on 2 and half minutes of footage. Once the makeup for Jacob Elordi's Frankenstein's Monster is unveiled, the buzz will likely begin for that category the Oscars, too. Plus, given Guillermo del Toro's Oscars pedigree — he's been nominated for six Academy Awards and won three — Frankenstein will likely be a contender beyond the technical categories. As if The Shape of Water's four Oscar wins — including Best Picture and Best Director for del Toro — isn't enough reason for Netflix to give the celebrated filmmaker awards season support for Frankenstein, then the streamer doesn't have to look back any further than 2022. That's when del Toro and his late co-director Mark Gustafson released their acclaimed stop-motion adaptation of Pinocchio on Netflix, which won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: (L-R) Oscar Isaac, Guillermo del Toro, and Mia Goth speak onstage ... More NETFLIX TUDUM 2025: THE LIVE EVENT at The Kia Forum on May 31, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo byfor Netflix) Of course, to qualify for the Oscars, Netflix is bound to abide by the rules of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences if its to have a chance of securing Oscar nominations. The rules state in part that a film must be available 'for paid admission in a commercial motion picture theater in one of the six qualifying U.S. metro areas: Los Angeles County; City of New York [five boroughs]; the Bay Area [counties of San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo and Contra Costa]; Chicago [Cook County, Illinois]; Miami [Miami-Dade County, Florida]; and Atlanta [Fulton County, Georgia].' Furthermore, per AMPAS rules, a film must have a 'theatrical qualifying run of at least seven consecutive days in the same commercial motion picture theater, during which period screenings must occur at least three times daily, with at least one screening beginning between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.' So, the good news is, as long as Netflix backs an awards season campaign for Frankenstein, fans in one of the six qualifying cities listed in AMPAS' rules of eligibility will get to see the film in theaters. But where does that leave audiences outside of those markets? Again, using Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio as an indicator, Frankenstein should get some sort of limited release that goes beyond the qualifying theatrical run for the Oscars. After all, at the end of Pinocchio's official trailer in 2022, it reads, 'In Select Theaters November and on Netflix December 9.' As such, it would be a shock for the streamer to not extend the same opportunity for Frankenstein. Keeping its promise, Netflix released Pinocchio in theaters on Nov. 9, 2022, per The Numbers, but since the streamer doesn't report its box office information, the actual number of screens it played on domestically and how much the film grossed in its 'select' run remains a mystery. One other hopeful scenario is that del Toro uses his clout and pushes for a larger theatrical run. It's something director Zack Snyder was able to accomplish before, when, per Variety, Netflix released his zombie epic Army of the Dead in 600 theaters on May 14, 2021. After that, Army of the Dead played for a week in five theater chains, including Cinemark, before it arrived on the streaming platform on May 21. With that undead movie precedent and the broad cultural appeal of Mary Shelley's classic tale. Netflix won't need a mad genius to figure out that Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein needs to be brought to life on the biggest screen possible.
Los Angeles Times
40 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Thai superstar MILLI punches above her weight at Head in the Clouds
MILLI wants to fight. We are talking about stepping in the ring, with boxing gloves and mouth guards — the real deal. She has, after all, been training in Muay Thai boxing for the past two years. 'So I told my company,' the 22 year-old artist begins. She speaks from inside the sweltering media tent at 88rising's 10th Head in the Clouds Festival in Pasadena this past weekend. 'And they were like, 'No, we're not gonna let our artists do that, you know you're gonna hurt yourself. So I planned out the song 'One Punch,' and then [that led] to my second album, 'Heavy Weight.' 'They agreed with me, I can have a real fight, because it might be good for the album too. You know, it's perfect. I'm using my career to do whatever.' That kind of tenaciousness seems to be a signature trait for the performer whose birth name is Danupha Khanatheerakul. Rising from a young girl in an ordinary family in Thailand, she has become arguably the country's most famous female musician, notwithstanding Lalisa Manobal, otherwise known as Lisa from Blackpink. Back in 2022, at just 19, MILLI made both history and headlines by becoming the first female Thai solo artist to perform at Coachella. She ended her set by eating a bowl of mango sticky rice, aptly, during her song 'Mango Sticky Rice.' Clips of that performance went viral while back in Bangkok, orders of the delectable South Asian treat skyrocketed. That performance was one of the reasons she landed on BBC's 100 Women list that year, the only Thai woman to do so. With an eclectic range, high-energy performances, and history of addressing social and political topics in her lyrics, MILLI quickly endeared herself to Thailand's Gen Z. 'Phak Khon,' her 2020 debut tackling school bullying with lyrics in Thai, Isan dialect, Lu and English, helped catapult her to fame. The track, released by homegrown label Yupp! and produced by fellow Thai rapper and producer Nino, resonated with audiences for its takedown of toxic boy-loving mean girls. To date, the song's video has racked up over 96 million views. Ice Boonyiamtanad flew to Head in the Clouds from Boston with her boyfriend to catch MILLI's set Sunday evening at the 88rising main stage. The 27-year-old marketing student from Thailand has been following the artist since she appeared on the Thai competition show 'The Rapper 2,' where even then precocious teen MILLI showed performance prowess and a flow reminiscent of Nicki Minaj, one of her major influences. 'I feel like all of my generation listens to her,' she says. 'I'm actually a fan because of [all of her] talents, her voice … she sings so great,' says Boonyiamtanad, also citing MILLI's relatability to Thai youth, especially women as a factor in her fandom. But her voice is another draw. MILLI is a self-taught vocalist. Her stage name, she said, refers to a milliliter, a way to measure water. And like water, she sees herself as able to flow, changing form without losing her core alchemy — equally comfortable spitting fire rap verses as delivering sultry R&B riffs. On stage at Head in the Clouds she debuted 'Menace,' showing off her slightly smoky tone. Neo-soul lyrics call out a toxic man as a thudding baseline hits. Combined with her vocal cadence, it's a little reminiscent of 'Baduizm'-era Erykah Badu. For many fans, her stage theatrics, often connected to culture, are far from performative. Via Mariano, a 20-something from Burbank who works for Hulu, first discovered MILLI in 2020 during the pandemic. 'I was an Asian studies major in college,' she says while waiting for MILLI to begin her set. ' I wanted to learn more about music from around the world and when I got to Thailand I was like 'Who's the best spokesperson for Thailand?' For me it was MILLI. 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After her set, we caught up with Sean Miyashiro, who along with Jason Ma co-founded the label (then under a different name) in 2015. Miyashiro, who grew up in San Jose and is in his mid-40s, could be mistaken for a skater or surfer decades younger if not for his long, gray hair. 'To this day I don't think I've met anyone like her,' he says of MILLI. 'She's this crazy, talented genius, but it's the energy and the feeling she gives you when you interact with her. … She's super special, that comes through with her lyrics and her stage performance too.' Although 88rising has become more impactful on the music industry, carving out a crucial space for artists like MILLI to expand, Miyashiro still sees his company as in a position to grow. 'The major labels run s— when it gets to a certain level, you know,' he says. 'And I think that we always try to punch above our weight, we are the underdogs … and we like that.' He adds, 'It's not necessarily a barrier to me, it's a great responsibility … we have an opportunity to wake up every day and pop some s— off.' Things were definitely popping off earlier during the performance of 'One Punch,' her first single to drop from the new album. ''One Punch,' released in collaboration with the popular game 'Valorant' for VCT Masters Bangkok, is a hard-hitting rap anthem with a chorus begging to 'lemme get that punch.' For her Head in the Clouds set, MILLI — clad in a boxer's robe — brought Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek onstage, with her backup dancers deftly ducking his kicks. As fearless as she is, the main thing she has to fight is herself. 'My enemy is myself,' she confesses. 'I still see myself in the mirror and say 'You're not pretty enough, you're not smart enough, you're not good enough.' But with 'Heavyweight' the gloves are off. 'I'm a fighter, and I have to prove that I can do whatever I want, even if I'm a girl.' It's a fighting spirit that continues to work in her favor. That fight she wanted? She got it.
Geek Girl Authority
40 minutes ago
- Geek Girl Authority
Our Favorite Timey-Wimey Quotes From the DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Finale
It's hard to believe that the Fifteenth Doctor's time has come and gone. It feels like yesterday when we watched Ncuti Gatwa being pulled out of David Tennant's body in an act of bi-generation. Gatwa has been a breath of fresh air — a much-needed shot in the arm for Doctor Who . His vibrant energy and boundless joy as our titular Time Lord are infectious. Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War,' sees the Fifteenth Doctor and his friends fight tooth and nail to thwart the Rani's (Archie Panjabi) grand plan. It's also Fifteen's swan song. Let's dive into our favorite timey-wimey (because that'll never go out of style) quotes from the Season 2 finale. RELATED: Doctor Who : 5 Jaw-Dropping Moments From the Season 2 Finale Doctor Who, 'The Reality War' DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf THE DOCTOR: 'How dare you? I have been in the halls of the Goblin King — I have stood in the Palaces of the Daleks. I have entered the caves of Satan himself. But what has happened here in this tiny little bedroom in the middle of suburbia is bigger than anything.' Firstly, I would've killed to see Ncuti Gatwa go toe-to-toe with Daleks. Or Cybermen. Or the Weeping Angels. I get it; having the Doctor square off against the same foes can become repetitive. However, the classics are classics for a reason. I digress. Anyway, I love how much the mundane matters to the Doctor. He cares so deeply about humanity and will do everything in his power to protect their home. THE RANI: 'I could tilt you on your side and serve olives in those dimples.' Conrad Clark (Jonah Hauer-King) is a simple man. A compliment on his appearance is enough to make him move mountains for the Rani (Panjabi). Granted, I, too, would fold if the Time Lady herself complimented me. Jonah Hauer-King does have incredibly adorable dimples, though. RELATED: TV Review: Doctor Who Season 2 Premiere Hopes and Dreams and Wishes DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf THE RANI: 'She's not real. She's made of hopes and dreams and wishes.' THE DOCTOR: 'That is every child.' He's not wrong. All children are comprised of hopes, dreams and wishes. May every kid out there cling tightly to their childlike wonderment for as long as possible. We could use a hefty dose of idealism right about now. THE RANI: 'I know you haven't arrived with a weapon. Only a speech, some dazzling words, maybe a pun, and then some lachrymose little tug-the-heartstrings, mimosa-scented platitudes about the power of love.' Look at the Rani and her lexicon! As a writer, this line scratches that specific itch in my brain for well-constructed, poetic dialogue so well. The Rani can read the Doctor like a book. Sure, this is his modus operandi, but damn, if it doesn't work (almost) every time. The power of love, baby. RELATED: Doctor Who : 11 Easter Eggs in 'Boom' You've Redecorated DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf THIRTEENTH DOCTOR: 'Don't go in fear. Go with that lovely smile.' I now demand an audio adventure or a miniseries featuring the Fifteenth and Thirteenth (Jodie Whittaker) Doctors. Their chemistry in that brief scene aboard the TARDIS is *chef's kiss*. I'm also reminded of how much I love Whittaker as Thirteen, despite the inconsistent, occasionally bloated, sometimes subpar writing during her tenure. Thirteen offers Fifteen sage words before the latter regenerates. She encourages him not to leave in fear, but with that 'lovely smile.' Her words brim with affection and understanding. Change is hard. The unknown is terrifying. But the Doctor is bigger than all that. THE DOCTOR: 'That's our lives, Belinda. We travel in and out of the slipstreams of time. Beautiful things can be forgotten and gone. But they still happened somewhere.' This line to Belinda (Varada Sethu) profoundly resonates with me. Perhaps it's because the older I get, the more spotty my memory is, but the Doctor's quote is unequivocally true. Beautiful things happen. They come and go. We'll inevitably forget them. However, that doesn't negate their existence somewhere in the universe, whether in this timeline or another. RELATED: Read our Doctor Who recaps Joyous DOCTOR WHO Season 2 Episode 8, 'The Reality War.' Photo credit: James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf THE DOCTOR: 'Joy to the world! And that is exactly the word. This has been an absolute joy.' I love that Fifteen's regeneration is bursting with joy. I wouldn't expect anything different from this iteration of our favorite Time Lord. He's embracing his fate with positivity and verve (and as the objectively hottest Doctor — well, male Doctor, that is) before transforming into Billie Piper (whoever she might be here). Seasons 1 and 2 of Doctor Who are now streaming on Disney+. DOCTOR WHO: Our Favorite Easter Eggs From 'Lux' Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
