Latest news with #JohnGoreStudios
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
First look at Joan Collins as Wallis Simpson in The Bitter End revealed
Directed by Mike Newell, the movie will follow Simpson, the American divorcee who became the Duchess Of Windsor after marrying King Edward VIII, and will also star Conclave actor Isabella Rossellini. In the new pictures, the 91-year-old can be seen wearing a green floral dress and sunglasses while peering out from behind a flowerbed, alongside Rossellini in a dark blue coat as French lawyer and confidante of Simpson, Suzanne Blum. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire actor Miranda Richardson, Game Of Thrones actor Charles Dance, His Dark Materials actor David Langham, Happy Valley's Jill Baker, Downton Abbey's Philippe Spall, and Pride And Prejudice's David Bamber are among those recently announced to join the duo in the film. Producer John Gore said of the casting: 'We are thrilled to announce the exceptional cast and creative team joining Joan Collins and Isabella Rossellini in The Bitter End. 'It's an exciting project for John Gore Studios as we commit to producing distinctive British stories for global audiences.' The film will tell the true story of the complex relationship between Blum and Simpson, and how, as a result, Simpson's once-glamorous life spiralled into 'terror and desperation' in the last years of her life. The Bitter End will be produced by Gore, Richard Holmes and Francis Hopkinson and executive produced by Hilary Strong and Michael Foster, with its screenplay written by screenwriter and novelist Louise Fennell. After marrying in June 1937, Edward and Simpson lived the rest of their lives in exile in France, with the king dying in May 1972, while Simpson died in Paris in 1986 at the age of 89. Dame Joan, who is known for playing Alexis Carrington Colby in US show Dynasty, previously said of the film: 'I am thrilled about the challenge of playing this iconic woman in a previously untold story and to be in John Gore Studios' initial roster of what I'm sure will be a very successful endeavour.' Simpson has previously been portrayed by May 33rd star Lia Williams in hit Netflix royal drama The Crown, Nip/Tuck star Joely Richardson in TV film Wallis & Edward, Faye Dunaway in The Woman I Love, and Nurse Jackie star Eve Best in The King's Speech.
CNN
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Joan Collins set to star as Wallis Simpson in biopic
Joan Collins is to play Wallis Simpson in a biopic about the American socialite whose relationship with the British King led to his abdication. The 91-year-old actress revealed that the cameras will soon start rolling for the film, entitled 'The Bitter End.' She posted a split panel of two black and white images on Instagram of herself and Simpson, who became the Duchess of Windsor after she married King Edward VIII following his abdication. Collins said: 'I'm delighted to be playing #wallissimpson the #duchessofwindsor in an untold story about her final years, to start shooting soon in London and Paris.' The news was greeted with much excitement from Collins' Instagram followers. One wrote: 'This is going to be great – I've always been so curious about those final years for her.' Another said: 'This will be extraordinary! And no one could play the role more exquisitely than you @joancollinsdbe ! Just phenomenal!' Filming is set to begin in May of this year, when the actress, who famously played the scheming Alexis Colby in '80s soap 'Dynasty,' turns 92. Edward VIII scandalized British society in 1936 when he stepped away from the throne in order to marry Simpson, an American divorcée. Simpson was born Bessie Wallis Warfield in Pennsylvania in 1896. She lived in London in the 1930s with her second husband, Ernest Simpson. It was during this period that she met the prince, who became King on the death of his father, George V, in 1936. Edward abdicated after just 10 months on the throne, sparking a constitutional crisis that led to the coronation of his younger brother, George VI – father of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Edward and Wallis, who went on to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, were married in France in 1937, and spent most of the rest of their lives there. In 1953, they moved into Villa Windsor, a 14-room mansion, in the Boulogne woods of western Paris. The duke died in 1972, while his wife continued to live there in increasing isolation and declining health until her death in 1986. The film promises to tell 'the shocking untold story of the last years of Wallis Simpson,' according to production firm John Gore Studios. Currently in pre-production, the film's script has been written by Louise Fennell, the mother of actress and screenwriter Emerald Fennell, who played Camilla Parker Bowles in Netflix's 'The Crown.' 'The Bitter End' is set to be directed by Mike Newell, whose previous credits include 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.' CNN royal commentator Kate Williams contributed to this article.
CNN
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Joan Collins set to star as Wallis Simpson in biopic
Joan Collins is to play Wallis Simpson in a biopic about the American socialite whose relationship with the British King led to his abdication. The 91-year-old actress revealed that the cameras will soon start rolling for the film, entitled 'The Bitter End.' She posted a split panel of two black and white images on Instagram of herself and Simpson, who became the Duchess of Windsor after she married King Edward VIII following his abdication. Collins said: 'I'm delighted to be playing #wallissimpson the #duchessofwindsor in an untold story about her final years, to start shooting soon in London and Paris.' The news was greeted with much excitement from Collins' Instagram followers. One wrote: 'This is going to be great – I've always been so curious about those final years for her.' Another said: 'This will be extraordinary! And no one could play the role more exquisitely than you @joancollinsdbe ! Just phenomenal!' Filming is set to begin in May of this year, when the actress, who famously played the scheming Alexis Colby in '80s soap 'Dynasty,' turns 92. Edward VIII scandalized British society in 1936 when he stepped away from the throne in order to marry Simpson, an American divorcée. Simpson was born Bessie Wallis Warfield in Pennsylvania in 1896. She lived in London in the 1930s with her second husband, Ernest Simpson. It was during this period that she met the prince, who became King on the death of his father, George V, in 1936. Edward abdicated after just 10 months on the throne, sparking a constitutional crisis that led to the coronation of his younger brother, George VI – father of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Edward and Wallis, who went on to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, were married in France in 1937, and spent most of the rest of their lives there. In 1953, they moved into Villa Windsor, a 14-room mansion, in the Boulogne woods of western Paris. The duke died in 1972, while his wife continued to live there in increasing isolation and declining health until her death in 1986. The film promises to tell 'the shocking untold story of the last years of Wallis Simpson,' according to production firm John Gore Studios. Currently in pre-production, the film's script has been written by Louise Fennell, the mother of actress and screenwriter Emerald Fennell, who played Camilla Parker Bowles in Netflix's 'The Crown.' 'The Bitter End' is set to be directed by Mike Newell, whose previous credits include 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.' CNN royal commentator Kate Williams contributed to this article.
CNN
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Joan Collins set to star as Wallis Simpson in biopic
Joan Collins is to play Wallis Simpson in a biopic about the American socialite whose relationship with the British King led to his abdication. The 91-year-old actress revealed that the cameras will soon start rolling for the film, entitled 'The Bitter End.' She posted a split panel of two black and white images on Instagram of herself and Simpson, who became the Duchess of Windsor after she married King Edward VIII following his abdication. Collins said: 'I'm delighted to be playing #wallissimpson the #duchessofwindsor in an untold story about her final years, to start shooting soon in London and Paris.' The news was greeted with much excitement from Collins' Instagram followers. One wrote: 'This is going to be great – I've always been so curious about those final years for her.' Another said: 'This will be extraordinary! And no one could play the role more exquisitely than you @joancollinsdbe ! Just phenomenal!' Filming is set to begin in May of this year, when the actress, who famously played the scheming Alexis Colby in '80s soap 'Dynasty,' turns 92. Edward VIII scandalized British society in 1936 when he stepped away from the throne in order to marry Simpson, an American divorcée. Simpson was born Bessie Wallis Warfield in Pennsylvania in 1896. She lived in London in the 1930s with her second husband, Ernest Simpson. It was during this period that she met the prince, who became King on the death of his father, George V, in 1936. Edward abdicated after just 10 months on the throne, sparking a constitutional crisis that led to the coronation of his younger brother, George VI – father of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Edward and Wallis, who went on to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, were married in France in 1937, and spent most of the rest of their lives there. In 1953, they moved into Villa Windsor, a 14-room mansion, in the Boulogne woods of western Paris. The duke died in 1972, while his wife continued to live there in increasing isolation and declining health until her death in 1986. The film promises to tell 'the shocking untold story of the last years of Wallis Simpson,' according to production firm John Gore Studios. Currently in pre-production, the film's script has been written by Louise Fennell, the mother of actress and screenwriter Emerald Fennell, who played Camilla Parker Bowles in Netflix's 'The Crown.' 'The Bitter End' is set to be directed by Mike Newell, whose previous credits include 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.' CNN royal commentator Kate Williams contributed to this article.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
European Film Industry Heavyweights Call for Regulation of Tech Giants in Trump Era
Some of the biggest names in the European film industry have joined a call for more regulation of global tech platforms in wake of Donald Trump's presidential inauguration and vocal support of his new government by tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. An online petition titled 'Defend Our Democracies Against Tech Giants' launched on Jan. 24 has gathered more than 1,000 signatures from European industry professionals, including such bold-faced names as Oscar winners Juliette Binoche and Volker Schlöndorff, two-time Palme d'Or winners Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and arthouse directors Marjane Satrapi, Rebecca Złotowski and Jessica Hausner. More from The Hollywood Reporter Meet Hollywood's New It Boy John Gore Studios Launches With Hilary Strong as CEO and Joan Collins, Luke Hemsworth Projects David Tennant, Robert Carlyle Lead 'The Hack', ITV Drama on U.K.'s Notorious Phone-Hacking Scandal Other prominent film and cultural figures in Europe, including Venice film festival director Alberto Barbera and Nobel Prize-winning Austrian writer Elfriede Jelinek, are among the names on the petition. 'How much longer will we tolerate that digital giants from the USA, Russia and China openly defy European laws and challenge our democracies?' reads the petition, in part, decrying what it calls an unprecedented offensive against European digital regulations being waged by U.S. tech giants with 'only one goal: To allow the unrestricted spread of disinformation, the most dangerous hate speech, calls for violence and the most deceitful conspiracy theories.' The petition calls out various digital platforms for their alleged violations of European regulations, including alleged non-compliance with European Union (EU) regulations by Musk's X; Zuckerberg's Meta, which recently ended its fact-checking program in the U.S. (it still complies with mandatory fact-checking in Europe); data security issues with Chinese-owned TikTok; and illegal content circulating on Telegram, the social media platform created by Russian programmer Pavel Durov. Unlike the U.S. where there are few legislative guardrails for digital players, the EU has a number of laws on the books designed to enforce European laws on data protection and illegal content, including hate speech. Many in Europe see a new threat from digital platforms being weaponized to undermine or destabilize their democratic systems. Musk has been vocal in his support of far-right groups in the U.K. and Germany and tweeting against government politicians. Over the weekend, Musk took part in the official campaign kickoff for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party — joining the event via live video link. 'Only massive civic mobilization will ensure fair, balanced and protective digital regulation for all European citizens,' the petition concludes. 'Together, let's demand a digital space that aligns with our values and rights.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2024: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and More
