Latest news with #JamesMcAvoy
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Deeply unsettling' thriller now available to stream at home
Horror fans are in for a treat as a star-studded film that leaves you 'barely able to breathe' is ready to watch at the click of a button 'An absolutely fantastic thriller' is now ready to stream with a recognisable cast bringing this 'creepy' story to life. Coming from the director of The Woman In Black, Speak No Evil was released in cinemas in September 2024, with Split actor James McAvoy leading the way as the terrifying Paddy. Joined by Tully actress Mackenzie Davis and The Nightingale's Aisling Franciosi, Speak No Evil sees a dream holiday transformed into a living nightmare as an American couple and their daughter spend the weekend at a British family's country estate. While everything initially appears to be normal upon the family's arrival, things soon take a dark turn and they begin to question who they're really staying with and how they can escape. And from today, Friday, 9th May, fans will be able to watch Speak No Evil whenever they want as it has been released on Sky Cinema and Sky's streamer NOW. Viewers have taken to TV and film aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to sing Speak No Evil's praises since its release. One critic labelled it as a 'genuinely unsettling film', with another writing: 'A rare psychological horror film that quietly chills to the bone without too much gore or creep chords, while cleverly relying on the implied and imagination to effectively do the heavy lifting.' A third commented: 'This is an absolutely fantastic thriller. 'It will keep you on the edge of your seat and the tension in the third act grabs you and you can barely breath at times.' While someone else agreed: 'When the plot of Speak No Evil kicks into high gear, and the secret behind this overly friendly country couple is revealed, the thrills and horror go into overdrive.' Speaking about what attracted him to star in Speak No Evil and his character Paddy's marriage to Ciara (Franciosi), McAvoy told Comic Book Resources: 'They're arguably very bad people, but they've got a f****** great relationship, even though it's violent and there's been grooming going on in their relationship and all that, they're capable of great happiness. 'Maybe you could argue she isn't, it's not fair to say whether she's happy or not because she's been so conditioned, but he is and he is capable of joy. 'And that was like, 'Whoa, that's messed up.' 'To play such a malevolent person who's capable of being happy was like, 'Wow, that's a really interesting, messed up person to play.''
The Courier
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
5 films shot in Tayside, Fife and Stirling that are set to be released
Hollywood has come to Tayside, Fife and Stirling over recent months to shoot a series of films. Crews have descended on the region for a number of upcoming major productions. Stars including James McAvoy, Christoph Waltz, Brian Cox and Alan Cumming are involved in the new releases. Similar film and TV projects have brought millions of pounds to the area in the last year. The Courier has taken a look at films recently shot in Tayside, Fife and Stirling that are set to be released in the near future. Hollywood star James McAvoy was in Dundee in November as the Hilltown offered a backdrop for his upcoming movie California Schemin'. The film tells the true story of two Dundee students who pretended to be American rappers to get a record deal. Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, who called themselves Silibil N' Brains, went on to support Eminem and his group D12 before their hoax was uncovered. Filming took place on Dudhope Street and Hilltown before moving inside the Hilltown Court multi – with actors seen hanging out a window. Scenes were also filmed in the streets outside Tannadice Park, home of Dundee United. Although it is still to be confirmed how the movie will be released, Bankside Films says it will be introducing the title to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Film crews descended on St Andrews in October to shoot scenes for an upcoming adaptation of Jay Parini's 'novelised memoir' Borges and Me Crews were spotted on the town's Hope Street shooting scenes using classic cars and on West Sands Beach, where they filmed horses galloping along the sand. The movie, starring Fionn Whitehead, Luis Gnecco and Alan Cumming, follows Parini's journey chauffeuring blind Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges through Scotland in 1970. Borges and Me also filmed on location in Gartmore in Stirlingshire. A release date for the film has not been announced. Filming for the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein was rumoured to have taken place in Arbroath in September. Production vans and staff were spotted in the grounds of Hospitalfield House. The film is set to star two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz, who was spotted walking around Dundee city centre the same week. Guillermo del Toro is directing the production while Dune and Star Wars actor Oscar Issac is taking on the role of Victor Frankenstein. Meanwhile, Saltburn star Jacob Elordi is playing his monster. Frankenstein is set to be released on Netflix in November. Brian Cox and Alan Cumming were in Gartmore in Stirlingshire in September as filming began for the Dundee actor's directoral debut. Glenrothan, set in a fictional town of the same name, follows the story of two brothers – played by Cox and Cumming – who must reunite to save their family's distillery. The Dundonian and Perthshire actors also spent time in the nearby village of Kippen. Cox, renowned for playing media mogul Logan Roy in Succession, has been developing the film with Scottish writer David Ashton. A release date is yet to be announced. American model and actress Caprice Bourret filmed scenes for her new Christmas movie in Perthshire. The former supermodel visited Aberfeldy and Pitlochry to shoot The Scottish Christmas Secret. Film crews transformed The Watermill bookshop and cafe in Aberfeldy into a festive movie set, while an estate house in Pitlochry was also used. The movie stars Caprice as book publisher Tiffany, who must travel to Scotland after the disappearance of reclusive author Nathan McAllister. Perthshire jewellery designer Sophie McGown spoke to The Courier about her surprise role in the festive flick. The film is expected to be released later this year.
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC's forgotten 'masterpiece' series with Hollywood A-lister and Walking Dead star now free to watch
The political thriller was a binge-worthy hit Viewers are urged to rediscover a neglected BBC series that's now completely free to stream online. This six-part, addictive show debuted prior to the era of streaming services, premiering on the BBC back in 2003. The political thriller begins with the death of an MP's assistant and the theft of a briefcase, which prompts the bereaved politician to enlist the help of his former campaign strategist and a reporter pal to unravel the murky deaths, reports Surrey Live. From the get-go, audiences were strapped in for a wild ride as the programme has maintained an impressive 8.3/10 rating on IMDb. The drama features an impressive lineup including big screen star James McAvoy, David Morrissey from The Walking Dead, Bill Nighy known for Love Actually, Kelly MacDonald of Trainspotting and Boardwalk Empire fame, John Simm who starred in Life on Mars and Doctor Who, and Philip Glenister, also of Life on Mars renown. Additionally, there were cameos from a pre-Game of Thrones Rory McCann (known better as The Hound), Polly Walker from Bridgerton, Benedict Wong of Marvel cinematic fame, and Tom Burke, who would later headline the detective series Strike. State of Play made such a splash that it sparked a Hollywood adaptation in 2009 featuring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Dame Helen Mirren, and Rachel McAdams, though many argue that the film doesn't hold a candle to the original series. On IMDb, fans have lauded the series, with one user commenting: "This BBC political thriller mini-series is far superior to the American remake. "If you like newsroom dramas, and films involving investigative journalism then you'll love this." One ecstatic reviewer gave a 10/10 score, sharing: "What makes a good political thriller? Some things are obvious. Firstly, strong believable characters. Secondly, a fast-paced, complex, dazzling plot. "But the plot must resolve into something comprehensible - there may appear to be one hundred mysteries, but beneath the smoke and mirrors, there must be one story. "Anyone can write an infinite collection of coincidences and conspiracies - but a strong story makes simple sense in the end." Another thrilled viewer exclaimed: "What a trip watching this masterpiece. "It's a fast moving intelligent thriller that had me glued to the couch... more addictive than Crack!". "The acting is convincing, the plot is thick, the script is delicious and the characters are vivid." You can now catch State of Play streaming at no cost whatsoever on the spanking new platform U, which also boasts a reboot of Bergerac, Louis Theroux's L.A. Stories, the stylish Mad Men, crime drama Annika, as well as vintage episodes of EastEnders, The Shield, and Holby City. This service provides your gateway to UKTV's no-cost channels like UandDave, UandDrama, UandW, and UandYesterday. Boot up U online by heading over to sign up without spending a penny, and you're set to bask in thousands of hours of gratis telly. While U doesn't charge a fee, it does feature ads throughout its content.
The Independent
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
David Tennant's Bafta 2025 highlights from kilt-clad rendition of The Proclaimers to Donald Trump gag
Watch David Tennant 's Bafta 2025 highlights as the Doctor Who star returned to host the star-studded ceremony for a second time. The 53-year-old delighted the audience and viewers at home on Sunday (16 February) with his kilt-clad rendition of The Proclaimers 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)', which featured appearances from James McAvoy, Anna Kendrick and Selena Gomez. The actor also made fun of new US President Donald Trump, when he likened him to ' Beetlejuice '. Here, The Independent takes a look at Tennant's highlights from the show.
New York Times
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
At the BAFTAs, Fans Have a Say Who Wins This Award
'It's nice that the audience are getting to have a say in Britain's biggest award-giving ceremony,' James McAvoy said at the 2006 British Academy Film Awards, known as the BAFTAs. The Scottish actor, then 26, had just been named the inaugural winner of BAFTA's Orange Rising Star Award. Introducing the newly minted prize, the British actor Patrick Stewart explained that it was presented to 'a young actor or actress of any nationality who has demonstrated exceptional talent and ambition' and that it was the only accolade of the evening voted on by the British public. Sunday's ceremony marks the 20th anniversary of the prize, now known as the EE Rising Star Award, which the British public has bestowed on an entire generation of up-and-coming actors and actresses, including Tom Hardy, Eva Green, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya and Kristen Stewart. This year's nominees include Marisa Abela, the star of the Amy Winehouse biopic 'Back to Black,' David Jonsson, who plays a sympathetic android in 'Alien: Romulus,' and Mikey Madison, the star of Sean Baker's 'Anora,' who is also in the running for a leading actress award. (Many Rising Star Award contenders have been nominated in a BAFTA performance category as well, but none has managed the feat of winning both, so far.) 'I think that the Rising Star Award has been very smart,' Xan Brooks, a film critic for The Guardian, said in a phone interview. Especially in today's influencer-social media culture of effervescent fame, Brooks contended that 'there is a place for a Rising Star Award in the British awards firmament.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
