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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's very daunting': Luke Kirby on taking the lead in ‘Étoile' after playing ‘vampire' Lenny Bruce in ‘Mrs. Maisel'
The last time we saw Luke Kirby on our screens, he was admittedly in not great shape, playing Lenny Bruce on the downward slope of his career in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Luckily, Kirby is now officially a member of the Palladino-verse — and the husband-and-wife creative team of Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino centered him in their new ballet dramedy Étoile, which debuted last month on Prime Video. Kirby stars as Jack MacMillan, the head of a New York ballet company who engages in a talent swap with a Paris troupe in a bid to revive interest in both. Naturally, hilarity, romance and plenty of dance ensue. 'I'm really happy with how people are responding to the dynamism of the story, the kinetic energy of it, how different it is from our last endeavor,' Kirby tells Gold Derby. 'And I think the biggest thing is just people saying the show grows as the episodes go on, that it does work as a big movie where things are revealed episode to episode where by the end, you have this very rich tapestry of information for these characters and this endeavor to keep their art alive.' More from GoldDerby 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' star Charles Edwards on his tragic death scene: 'He did single-handedly withstand Sauron' 'It keeps me on my toes': 'St. Denis Medical' star Allison Tolman on walking a fine line between zany and 'incredibly heartfelt' Creating a world for Helperbots: Dane Laffrey on the scenic design of 'Maybe Happy Ending' (exclusive images) Here, Kirby tells Gold Derby what it means to step into the spotlight, who he thinks Jack should end up with, and what he wants to see next season. Gold Derby: This may be the first show in the Palladino-verse that has a male lead. Luke Kirby: Well, you know, I'm a womanish man. What did it mean to you to have them write this part with you in mind? It's very flattering. And it's very daunting. The biggest comfort that I get from it is that alongside me, they managed to cull together this incredible group of actors to work with. The show does feel like an ensemble piece, and there is nothing better than finding a unit and becoming a kind of organism in a way where you're together rising as a company. That's the best thing that you can hope for. SEE'Étoile' cast and creators on fast-talking, mean drunks, and what they learned from 'Gilmore Girls' How much did you know about Jack's arc when you first signed on? With Amy and Dan, I don't really ask questions. I mean, it's funny with television. If you're not in the writers' room, you have to be selective as an actor as to when you make suggestions or even ask questions. Obviously, there's important things to know, but the biggest thing that I find helps me is that it relates to real life in that you don't know what's coming. And so just putting your faith in that, the unknown and then being richly surprised every time a new episode comes out is kind of a great adventure. How much research did you have to do? How familiar were you with the ballet world? I would say, in an adjacent orbit. I started studying theater in high school, and I really became quite passionate about it after ninth grade. I really felt compelled by this world and decided as a teenager that it was a world that I could endeavor into. I didn't know if I had talent; all I knew is that everybody I met told me it was going to be really hard. I put this room in my mind where I would have a hot plate and some ramen noodles and a cot. And I said, I'll be good with that. … And then my cousin was studying ballet, and so we were kind of like two trains running side by side in our endeavors. So I was familiar with just how much dedication was required and how competitive, the heartbreak that comes with injury, and rejection and everything else. But this was a wholly new big education. Is it harder to play Jack or Lenny Bruce? Is it easier to invent somebody? With Lenny, all I had to do was open the window at night and then invite the vampire in. I really got to get out of the way at a certain point, something was really happening where it was just time travel and I got to smoke cigarettes. With Jack, it felt like it was more coming out of the mud. It felt a little closer to home in some ways. I'd say I spent more time with Jack in his boyhood than I did with Lenny. I really feel like I understand Jack's childhood in a way that is representative of the man he is today. With both of those characters, I do feel a drive that I do think is similar to that vision of a door closing. Lenny clearly felt that something needed to get done quickly, and I do feel like Jack has the same sensation. It's not that the wolves are at the door per se, but that there's something of a purpose that he needs, a job needs to get done that he needs to do. And if he doesn't do it, Rome will fall. SEE'Étoile' star Gideon Glick: 'I've made a career out of playing strange, interesting people' Did you invent your own backstory for him, or did you have conversations with Amy and Dan about him? We didn't have a lot of conversations about it. It's funny how with them, there's something about the way they are working in the way that a lot of things kind of match up. Maybe we talked a little bit about Jack's father and his influence in the city and where did he go to school, little things like that. But I was amazed as the season progressed and I would get these scripts where we'd be with my mom and my uncle and they would talk about me as a kid, where there were things that were coming alive in the script that had resonated with the work that I had done in kind of imagining this guy's upbringing. It's just, what do they call it, synchronicity! It just sort of happens. That does happen when a group works together the way that Amy and Dan work. I do think that that bleeds out into the whole crew. And I think that synchronicity does just start to bubble up in a really kind of pure and beautiful way. Yes, it serves them well that they have actors and crew that they've worked together for so many years. Even though the characters may be different from show to show, they know how to write to you and you know how to perform to them. As an actor, I think the biggest thing is just finding a way to get out of your own way. Their work is athletic, especially when Amy's directing. A lot of the time it is like a dance. It requires great precision and specificity. As long as you arrive ready to mark that and have as much work done prior to showing up, you can find a rhythm that makes the day feel very heightened and smooth. I don't mean easy, because it's not easy, but just kind of rising to the occasion, because they're aspirational. It's like ballet, what they do. So what's your take on the love triangle between Jack, Cheyenne (Lou de Laage) and Genevieve (Charlotte Gainsbourg)? Who do you think should Jack end up with? I have very strong feelings about this, but I do not know that they're for anybody to know but myself. I will say this — I feel like both of those relationships feel so authentic and I feel that the respect and affection that Jack has with both Cheyenne and Genevieve and the relationship that Genevieve and Cheyenne have together are lifeblood friendships so they're obviously really rolling the dice when things get more intimate. But, you know, it's the ballet! There's no great surprise that this is happening. Is Crispin (Simon Callow) going to pay for the wedding? That's the more important question! And should there be a season two, what would you like to see for Jack and the show overall? I'd like to meet at least one of Jack's ex-wives. I think that would be interesting. Jack does mention having a horse. I'd like to see the horse at least, or maybe even see Jack on the horse. I mean, this me just dropping wishes in the wishing well at this point! Best of GoldDerby 'I do think that I burned down the cabin': How 'Yellowjackets' star Steven Krueger pulled off Coach Ben's mental and physical decline 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' star Charles Edwards on his tragic death scene: 'He did single-handedly withstand Sauron' 'It keeps me on my toes': 'St. Denis Medical' star Allison Tolman on walking a fine line between zany and 'incredibly heartfelt' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet the A-List Ballet Dancers at the Heart of ‘Étoile' — and the Choreographer Who Hired Them
Étoile, Prime video's new ballet dramedy is — like the meaning of its French title — full of star power. Sure, the creators have won Emmys. The actors have, too. But the dancers are what's center stage, and for good reason. Étoile's end credits might as well be a list of the ballet world's most elite: an A-list lineup of names from New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Boston Ballet, the Paris Opera and more. More from The Hollywood Reporter For Luke Kirby, 'Étoile' Was a History Lesson 'Étoile' Review: Amy Sherman-Palladino's Amazon Ballet Dramedy Pirouettes Gracefully Before Stumbling in the Final Act 'The Amateur' Star Rachel Brosnahan Insists She Still Feels Like an Amateur 'What I really love is the class, the artful choices,' Robbie Fairchild, a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet and now freelance artist, tells The Hollywood Reporter of the series. Fairchild plays Larry in Étoile — you can spot him rehearsing a duet by Tobias Bell (Gideon Glick) in episode one. Étoile, from Amy Sherman-Palladino and husband Dan Palladino of Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (and Bunheads!) fame, follows two ballet companies in New York and Paris that swap their most talented stars in an attempt to boost ticket sales. Luke Kirby and Charlotte Gainsbourg lead the main cast. 'It felt like somebody from Lincoln Center was like, 'This is what you should do the show about,'' Fairchild says. 'It was highbrow. It felt like, relatable highbrow.' So how did the Palladinos pull it off? In part, by choosing a good choreographer — Marguerite Derricks. And, by naming Derricks as a producer. 'Choreographers, we do so much without credit,' Derricks says. 'It's something we're used to doing anyway, but Amy is so dialed into everything. She really embraced me into this project, even before pen went to paper. That was really nice. It doesn't happen very often.' Derricks then pulled it off by hiring all those real dancers — more than 100 of them. 'The biggest thing that made me really interested in doing [the show] was that they really stressed they were truly committed to making it as realistic as possible,' says Brooklyn Mack, an international principal guest artist who plays a dancer in the New York company — he dances Don Quixote with Alicia (Wanting Zhao) in the first episode. 'The casting was tricky,' Derricks says. At both New York and Paris open calls, she saw hundreds of dancers in single days, most of whom didn't have enough serious training to make the cut. 'I realized the dancers we wanted were dancing in companies,' she says. 'I was like, 'We have to go after these dancers that are willing to break their contracts and come and do a TV show.'' For months, Derricks sat in her New York office watching thousands of audition videos, sorting clips, sending requests and fielding emails. Her hard work shines in nearly every frame of Étoile, which sparkles with footage of dancers in company studios and hallways, stretching and chatting and, well, dancing. 'It became like that Madonna documentary where she had the cameras following all the dancers around,' Derricks says. 'The cameras were always there and after a while, we forgot.' 'One of my favorite things in the first episode is when one of the dancers comes in with a bag with a dog in it,' Tiler Peck, a principal dancer at New York City Ballet who plays Eva Cullman, says — Eva is also part Tobias Bell's rehearsal piece in episode one, and she performs Black Swan later in the season. 'That's so us,' Peck says. 'We all bring our dogs to class, then there's somebody that's practicing a lift. People stretch, people talk, people try things. I don't think any of that was choreographed. That's just how dancers hang out.' The credits at the end of each episode play over more b-roll of these scenes. 'I love that Amy and Dan decided to use that footage in the credits,' Derricks says. 'We really wanted to keep it real.' With real dancers also comes the ability to perform real repertoire, and when the time came to decide how to introduce Paris company star Cheyenne Toussaint (Lou de Laâge, with Constance Devernay as dance double), Derricks says Sherman-Palladino requested the balcony pas de deux from Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo & Juliet. MacMillan's 1965 adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy, set to Sergei Prokofiev's score, is widely revered as one of the most famous works of the 20th century. 'Who wants to touch MacMillan?' Derricks says, laughing. 'It's just so beautiful.' In the final cut of episode one, the dancers perform MacMillan's original choreography, and the show is complete with real costumes and sets from the MacMillan estate. Balletomanes can also look out for choreography from George Balanchine and Christopher Wheeldon, in addition to pieces from Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle and Sylvia. 'I wanted to honor all the ballet greats,' Derricks says. 'I just really wanted to be respectful to this community, I wanted them to see that we were doing a ballet show that was real, it was really going to honor their world.' But gaining access to real-world stuff can be a challenge, as most pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries are protected by choreographers' estates or trusts, many of which have high standards regarding who is allowed to perform the work. 'It wasn't always easy,' Derricks says, and part of the puzzle involved making these esteemed stage ballets fit for the camera. 'I really got to know and become friends with the camera guy, Jim, the steadicam operator,' Peck says. 'It really was a duet. It didn't matter if I hit it perfectly, if he didn't, or vice versa, [it didn't work].' 'It was fun watching the estates watch me protect their work,' Derricks says. 'They were realizing what a film choreographer can bring to a piece.' Dancers also sing the praises of Étoile's on-set experience. 'There were a bunch of camera rehearsals, which were great,' says Unity Phelan, a principal dancer at New York City Ballet who plays Julie — you can spot her dancing with Fairchild in episode one, during the Tobias Bell rehearsal. 'Amy and Dan were super specific with their camera crew about the fact that we are dancers, and we can't repeat things a million times to get the shot.' Phelan has worked on other sets with less understanding crews, where she was asked to repeat complicated dance steps over and over again. 'I was doing fouettes at 4 in the morning,' she says. 'That was a much harder situation. This, they really thought about the dancers and our wellbeing.' Étoile shines, for this reason, with a clear respect for the art form. 'A lot of the company life and conversations that happen [on the show], it's really fun to watch because it feels very real,' Phelan says. 'At one point when I had scenes with Gideon and Luke I was like, 'You guys are doing such a good job that it almost feels like I'm at like my normal job right now.'' Mack compares it to the way he watches procedural shows for a glimpse of worlds different from his own. 'I love The Resident because it has so much realism,' he says. 'My mom's a nurse, and she was like, 'Oh my god, this is the best show I've ever seen because it's really what goes on [at a hospital].' I love that [Étoile] went this route and really committed to bring [ballet] to the forefront.' Of course, all this happens without losing quintessential Palladino humor — dancers and non-dancers alike offer big personalities that bounce off one another with irreverent jokes and fast-delivered dialogue. But the dancers say this is the opposite of being unrealistic. 'The ballet world is quirky,' Fairchild says. 'It's really quirky. There's a bunch of weirdos in a building wearing tutus and standing on their tippy toes. They captured that and they respected it at the same time.' *** All eight episodes of Etoile season one are now available on Prime Video. Read THR's interview with Luke Kirby. *** Best of The Hollywood Reporter 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise 'Yellowstone' and the Sprawling Dutton Family Tree, Explained
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
The creators of Gilmore Girls debut new show—How to watch ‘Étoile' for free
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. An ambitious plot is at the center of Prime Video's newest original, set in the high-stakes world of professional ballet. 'Étoile' is a new series from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino (who also created 'Gilmore Girls' and 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel') featuring 'Maisel' star Luke Kirby and award-winning French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. In the show, Kirby and Gainsbourg lead ballet companies in New York City and Paris, and in order to save both of their institutions, they create a bold plan: swapping their biggest stars. Given a two-season order before the cameras even started rolling, 'Étoile' is not to be missed, especially for fans of 'Gilmore Girls' and Sherman-Palladino's 2012 ballet dramedy 'Bunheads.' Here's how to tune in to the new series for free. When does 'Étoile' come out? All eight episodes of 'Étoile' Season 1 were released on Prime Video today, April 24. How to watch 'Étoile' for free: 'Étoile' is an Amazon Original, meaning you'll need an Amazon Prime membership with a Prime Video subscription to tune in. Not a Prime member yet? No problem — you can still watch 'Étoile' for free! Amazon Prime comes with a 30-day free trial before payment begins. After one month, the subscription costs $14.99/month or $139/year. There are ways to save, too. All 18-24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you'll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price — just $7.49/month — for up to six years. How many episodes are in 'Étoile' Season 1? 'Étoile' Season 1 has eight episodes, all of which were released today. Will there be an 'Étoile' Season 2? Yes! Prime Video announced in 2023 that the series was given a two-season order, so it's guaranteed that at least eight more episodes of 'Étoile' are on the way. Who is in the cast of 'Étoile'? The cast of 'Étoile' is led by Luke Kirby, who won an Emmy for his portrayal of Lenny Bruce in 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' and acclaimed French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. Broadway talents Gideon Glick ('Spring Awakening') and David Alvarez (Spielberg's 'West Side Story') will also appear in the series, alongside Ivan du Pontavice, Taïs Vinolo, David Haig, LaMay Zhang, and Simon Callow. Here's who they'll all play: Luke Kirby as Jack McMillan Charlotte Gainsbourg as Geneviève Lavigne Lou de Laâge as Cheyenne Toussant Gideon Glick as Tobias Bell David Haig as Nicholas Leutwylek Ivan du Pontavice as Gabin Roux Taïs Vinolo as Mishi Duplessis LaMay Zhang as SuSu Li David Alvarez as Gael Simon Callow as Crispin Shamblee Of course, it wouldn't be a show from the Palladinos without Kelly Bishop. Emily Gilmore herself, who also appeared in 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' and 'Bunheads' will appear in 'Étoile' in a recurring role. Another 'Gilmore Girls' star, Yanic Truesdale, is also set to recur in the series. 'Étoile' trailer: Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post's streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she's also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
How to watch the 'Étoile' season 1 premiere on Amazon Prime: Date, streaming, cast
"Étoile," a new dance-centered series by the creators of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and "Gilmore Girls," is set to premiere this week with some familiar faces among the cast. Set in New York City and Paris and described by Amazon MGM Studios as a "dance-world comedy," the series follows the dancers and artistic staff of two world-renowned ballet companies on an "ambitious gambit" to save their institutions by swapping their most talented stars. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino and executive produced by the couple alongside Dhana Rivera Gilbert, the cast includes several members who worked on previous projects of the Palladinos', including Luke Kirby of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and Yanic Truesdale of "Gilmore Girls." When does 'Étoile' Season 1 premiere? "Étoile" Season 1 premieres on Prime Video on Thursday, April 24. All eight episodes of the season will drop at the same time for your binge-watching pleasure. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. How to watch 'Étoile' Season 1 "Étoile" is a Prime original that members of Prime Video can stream for free. Non-prime members can sign up for one week of Prime for just $1.99 to watch Prime membership, which includes free shipping and some "Included with Prime" video titles, currently runs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. A Prime Video membership is $8.99 per month. Watch "Étoile": Get Prime Video 'Étoile' Season 1 cast Luke Kirby as Jack McMillan Yanic Truesdale as Raphaël Marchand Gideon Glick as Tobias Bell Charlotte Gainsbourg as Geneviève Lavigne LaMay Zhang as Susu Li Simon Callow as Crispin Shamblee Lou de Laâge as Cheyenne Toussaint David Alvarez as Gael Rodriguez Kelly Bishop as Clara McMillan Ivan du Pontavice as Gabin Roux Taïs Vinolo as Mishi Duplessis David Haig as Nicholas Leutwylek Lala Cholous as Pianiste Tiler Peck as Eva Cullman Watch 'Étoile' Season 1 trailer We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
How to watch the 'Étoile' season 1 premiere on Amazon Prime: Date, streaming, cast
How to watch the 'Étoile' season 1 premiere on Amazon Prime: Date, streaming, cast Show Caption Hide Caption The most anticipated TV shows of 2025 USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler shares her top 5 TV shows she is most excited for this year "Étoile," a new dance-centered series by the creators of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and "Gilmore Girls," is set to premiere this week with some familiar faces among the cast. Set in New York City and Paris and described by Amazon MGM Studios as a "dance-world comedy," the series follows the dancers and artistic staff of two world-renowned ballet companies on an "ambitious gambit" to save their institutions by swapping their most talented stars. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino and executive produced by the couple alongside Dhana Rivera Gilbert, the cast includes several members who worked on previous projects of the Palladinos', including Luke Kirby of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and Yanic Truesdale of "Gilmore Girls." When does 'Étoile' Season 1 premiere? "Étoile" Season 1 premieres on Prime Video on Thursday, April 24. All eight episodes of the season will drop at the same time for your binge-watching pleasure. How to watch 'Étoile' Season 1 "Étoile" is a Prime original that members of Prime Video can stream for free. Non-prime members can sign up for one week of Prime for just $1.99 to watch Prime membership, which includes free shipping and some "Included with Prime" video titles, currently runs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. A Prime Video membership is $8.99 per month. Watch "Étoile": Get Prime Video 'Étoile' Season 1 cast Luke Kirby as Jack McMillan Yanic Truesdale as Raphaël Marchand Gideon Glick as Tobias Bell Charlotte Gainsbourg as Geneviève Lavigne LaMay Zhang as Susu Li Simon Callow as Crispin Shamblee Lou de Laâge as Cheyenne Toussaint David Alvarez as Gael Rodriguez Kelly Bishop as Clara McMillan Ivan du Pontavice as Gabin Roux Taïs Vinolo as Mishi Duplessis David Haig as Nicholas Leutwylek Lala Cholous as Pianiste Tiler Peck as Eva Cullman Watch 'Étoile' Season 1 trailer We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
