Latest news with #Étoile
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3 days ago
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Janelle James on Ava's challenging year on ‘Abbot Elementary': ‘They kind of threw everything at me this season'
Tough and sassy Ava Coleman was put through the wringer in Season 4 of Abbott Elementary, but Janelle James can look back at her onscreen persona and confidently say, 'They kind of threw everything at me this season and I feel like I delivered.' And then some! On the positive side, Ava may have fought it at first, but she eventually eased into a mature romance with chill I.T. guy O'Shon (Matthew Law), a relationship that helped balance out the bigger story arcs that were the opposite of happy. First, Ava reluctantly faced her estranged father Frank (Keith David), and then took a major career punch when she was fired as principal of Abbott for accepting bribes in the form of new computers for the budget-challenged elementary school. "I'm just honored that the writers trust me with the material that they've been giving me," James says. More from GoldDerby 'Death Becomes Her' costume designer Paul Tazewell on creating show's spectacular outfits: 'Theater-making is about the impossible' (exclusive images) Jamie Lee Curtis eyes historic back-to-back Emmy win as Comedy Guest Actress race heats up 'Étoile' creators on writing a show for 'genius' Luke Kirby Given all those compelling story arcs this year, James, who's scored three Best Comedy Supporting Actress Emmy nominations for the ABC sitcom, is closer than ever to landing the trophy that's eluded her thus far. Here, the St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands native talks about how Ava has evolved since the show's first season, how she approached working with veteran actor David as her father, and her take on how Ava felt about her Abbott colleagues coming to her aid to help her get her job back. Gold Derby: It's been a nice, slow evolution for Ava since season and the audience has gotten to know her better and better. How has that been for you over the last four years? Janelle James: It's been very satisfying. I like that you said that because it really has been such a build and such a true character arc. And, for me, satisfying in the not only fan reaction, but character world-building for her. The satisfaction of seeing people come around to her in such a way has been amazing. It's always a testament to the writing, but I always thought she was much more complex than she seemed in the beginning [of the series], and those are my favorite kind of characters and those are my favorite type of humans. Back in the first season, Ava was always coming at Janine (Quinta Brunson) so hard and she had her flirt on with Gregory (Tyler James Williams). Did you ever worry that maybe audiences wouldn't like her when those first episodes are rolling out? I didn't worry, but I also knew for a fact that some people didn't like her, so I didn't even have to worry about it. Of course, in the pilot, she did a horrible thing of taking money from the school, but we all have to introduce our characters as the most heightened version of themselves, and then after that, not immediately, they started her arc. SEE Abbott Elementary bosses on subverting finale expectations, 'the season of Ava,' and their dream crossover A lot has happened to Ava in the back half of Season 4, like the "Rally" episode where she's been fired and everyone comes together to help her get her job back. How you were playing that as Ava with all these people coming to help her, which probably wouldn't have happened in Season 1? I think she was surprised. She's not used to anyone stepping up for her with her whole abandonment issues. She was shocked, and even in the episode when people are coming in the different doors [to help her], I'm playing it as, "What? I can't believe it." Even when she got fired, she kind of took it on the chin and moved on, so she was very surprised that all these people came together to rally for her. Keith David came on this season to appear as Ava's father Frank, who she doesn't have the closest relationship with. How has that been to play that arc, given it's revealed even more layers of Ava? I mean, what amazing casting. First of all, he could totally be my dad. We do look related! And they did a great job for all the guest relatives for each character that we've had on the show. And [Keith is] a legend, and then also someone with such gravitas in voice and standing is amazing. It's also flattering that he would want to come on our show and portray this character and act alongside me. I always try to convince myself that I will rise to the occasion, so I wasn't nervous. I'm more honored to be in the same space as these people. Like, "Oh, this person being here is going to just elevate me to rise" because I'm never going to embarrass myself. For me, it's been gratifying to show that I do have these skills and that I can go toe to toe with these actors that have been around for so long. Disney/Gilles Mingasson There's a moment in the "Rally" episode where Frank sincerely says, "I'm proud of you. I'm here for you." Was that a hard scene for you to shoot? I don't know how that relationship is going to go, but based on the information I have now and how I think of Ava, a couple of visits is not going to repair this relationship. While she was surprised that he said that, she's not entirely convinced, and I also don't think that that was some sacred sacrament moment for them. That's how I played it. He says, "You've got to give me another chance. You always get other chances." And I forget the line, but I say, "Well, I did a good job the first time, and that's why I got a second chance." I love how Quinta and the writers are playing that and giving it nuance. It's not the cliché sitcom thing that would be for me to be like, "Oh, daddy!" and then we hug. In real life, that's not how it works. No one changes overnight. No one defrosts overnight. Ava has ice around her heart for this man and it's warranted, so she's not gonna let him off that easy. It's always fun to see a character go through a romantic relationship since you see different shades of them. How has it been to play Ava's romance with O'Shon? There's also a nice chemistry between the characters, which can be tough to make happen! If anything, I was nervous about that because, like you said, it doesn't happen a lot. That's what I've heard. I'm confident in my skills of pretending we have chemistry, but it's always great when it's already there. Mutually, we just really just put each other at ease. He's a great actor and although he's not as known as Keith David, he came in with the same professionalism and skill. "Oh, this guy is for real!" So I had to match him. And what we know about Ava is that all her relationships seems to be pretty superficial, and here is a guy that's completely different than what she's used to, so that's just been fun to play. But I'm really proud of that relationship because he's also not in every episode and we've told a whole story in such a short time. When he is there, we're onscreen maybe four minutes, so for it to be a fully realized thing and have people making fan videos about us and all of that from such a short interactions is amazing. SEE Abbott Elementary director Randall Einhorn on capturing Ava's 'moment of humility' and the 'surreal' crossover with It's Always Sunny The season finale is always in Philly and this year it was at the Please Touch Museum. Is there a field trip feel to it for you all since you're on location in Philadelphia, where the show is set? This was my first time going to Philly and just to be on the plane with everyone, like, "Well, this plane can't go down." It's like our school bus in the sky and we even had some of our kids from L.A. come on location as well so that was cool. And then, as famous as I am, I'm super famous in Philly, so that was awesome. [Laughs] The show has done so well the last couple years and you're still out there doing stand-up. Is there a difference in how audiences receive you or how hard or not hard you have to work for the audience? I don't know if it's changed based on the audience. I'm approaching it differently in that my goal for myself now is to separate myself from the character and introduce me as a real person. I'm doing something else, and that's been the challenge for me. And when I say challenge, not that it's hard, but that's the assignment I've given myself. I am a separate person and I am also hilarious in a totally different way, so that's been fun. And what has changed audience-wise is I have a wider audience now, and who can complain about that? I have a bigger audience coming out now, so I love it. Best of GoldDerby 'Étoile' creators on writing a show for 'genius' Luke Kirby How 'The Handmaid's Tale' series finale sets up 'The Testaments' TV Visual Effects supervisor roundtable: 'Black Mirror,' 'The Boys,' 'The Wheel of Time' Click here to read the full article.
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3 days ago
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‘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
3 days ago
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‘Étoile' creators on writing a show for ‘genius' Luke Kirby
Kelly Bishop. Alex Borstein. Milo Ventimiglia. Liza Weil. Emily Bergl … and Luke Kirby. When it comes to casting, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino are nothing if not loyal, and their ensembles inevitably feature more than one familiar face from series past. So after his Emmy-winning turn in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, it comes as little surprise that they would put Kirby center stage in their latest series, Étoile. In this installment of the Dream Team: Étoile series, the creators talk with their leading man about his first audition, the 'lifetime' commitment he made to them, and finally fulfilling his costume wish. More from GoldDerby 'The Thursday Murder Club' trailer slays, the cast of 'Hamilton' reunites, and more of today's top stories How 'The Penguin' transformed real NYC locations into Gotham's criminal underworld (see the exclusive concept art) Janelle James on Ava's challenging year on 'Abbot Elementary': 'They kind of threw everything at me this season' Gold Derby: Luke, how did you first find your way into the Palladino-verse? Luke Kirby: I had an audition. My agent called me and said, "You have an audition," and it was for Lenny Bruce. And he said, "You could actually maybe get this role because you kind of look a bit like him." I thought, "Wow, that's the nicest thing you've said to me in 10 years." They sent me a YouTube video of Lenny doing his bit on Steve Allen and a recording of his airplane glue bit. I just went over it and over it and over it. Then I stepped into a room with these two geniuses, and I guess they felt sorry for me. My plan worked! SEE'It's very daunting': Luke Kirby on taking the lead in 'Étoile' after playing 'vampire' Lenny Bruce in 'Mrs. Maisel' Amy and Dan, what was it about that audition that made you fall in love with Luke? Dan Palladino: We had actually cast all of the Maisel cast — we had found Rachel [Brosnahan] and then it was like, "Sh-t, we have to find a Lenny Bruce, because he's so important in the pilot." And by the way, it was originally conceived that we were not going to see Lenny Bruce necessarily past the pilot. A couple of guys came in. The first guy looked like him and did well, and we thought, "Good, we're going to get this guy. Let's see who this next guy is." So Luke walks in and we were just immediately smitten. Luke really studied, Luke knew Lenny Bruce, he knew his stuff, and he just absolutely nailed it. We could have told him in the room that his agent was right, that he's probably going to get the part. Amy Sherman-Palladino: We had the discussion — Lenny was going to be a one-off. And we said, "If we just want to do the one-off, maybe you go with the guy who basically did a Lenny Bruce impression. But if we ever want Lenny Bruce to act, to do something other than his standup, to be a fully fleshed-out person, we have to go with Luke Kirby." So we went with the guy who's going to give us some options in the future. And he came in and it was just so obvious. The more that we worked with him and especially when we got into that scene with him and Rachel at the end, we wanted him to be the first person that put in her ear, this idea of this future of mine can work. It just became, well, that's going to be the guardian angel, that's the muse, that's the weird, twisted, guiding light, if you will, of Midge Maisel's career. That is the genius of Luke Kirby. And he's a delightful man to be around. Kirby: I'm just a vessel. Luke, when you sign on for a Dan and Amy show, you end up becoming a part of a troupe that they take with them from show to show. Did you realize that you were going to be making a lifelong commitment? Kirby: No, I had no clue. All I knew was that in all likelihood that I'd be told to speak faster. And so I arrived on set very, very ready for that note. And it came very quickly. But I didn't know that when I arrived on set, I'd also be immersed into this world designed by all of these different departments that come together and make the transition into the make-believe just seamless. I couldn't believe how fun and transported I felt that first day on set. I just was looking around the street. I was looking at the props. I was looking at the matchbooks. Everything was there to make us feel enmeshed in this make-believe. I thought, "Oh, these people really like to raise the bar and everybody in every department is trying to land on the same island together." That really made an impression. It made me say a little prayer that I would be invited back in some capacity. It took no groveling. I just had to pay a certain piper in the ether. Sherman-Palladino: Now he's just trying to figure out how to get away from us. Palladino: Now he's calling that agent saying, "Wait, was it a lifetime thing? Is there fine print that I did not read?" Kirby: It all felt very seamless. Working in that space and environment was really enjoyable, Early on in my education, I was given the mantra of just do it and show up, and I found myself in a track with Amy and Dan that made sense. So to be invited now into this new adventure, it's great. Dan and Amy, did you always have Luke in mind for ? Sherman-Palladino: Yes. We wanted to put him front and center because he's so great and he can do so much. Lenny was such a great character, but Lenny comes with his own confinement because it's a real person and there was a real end to Lenny and there was a real sad track that he went down. So we couldn't take so many liberties with him and expand him out into everything that Luke can do. We had to stay in the Lenny wheelhouse. So what we wanted to do is make sure that we put him A number one on that call sheet, put him front and center, and tried to write something for him that let him paint with all of the colors in his very strange toolbox. We're just big Kirby fans, and he's got all the stuff that we look for. He's a great actor. He's got that training and that grounding, but he's got a very specific quirk and he can be funny and he's not afraid of being a d--k and he's not afraid of f--king up. There's some actors that have this and some actors that don't. Some actors, you just innately love them even if they're doing something completely stupid on screen. And that's a gift. To get a leading man handed to you who can do all that, it means as writers, you can write him anything and you can let the story go anywhere you want the story to go because you don't have to worry, (a) that he can't handle it or (b) that he's not going to take it one or two steps beyond even where you thought it was going to go. And that's the greatest kind of gift for a writer. Luke, what was your response when you got the pitch? Kirby: Does this mean I have to come in in the morning? [Laughs.] I was really thrilled. I was thrilled more than anything because I felt so sad to say goodbye when Maisel wrapped. I felt like I'd gotten a good taste of the experience with them, a really enriching one, but I felt like I missed out on the daily grind especially with Amy and Dan and with the crew and just being more involved in the conversation. And so to know that we were going to try to venture out into a new experiment together was really just very exciting. And given the themes of the show and the subject matter, the dance world is something that's always been very attractive to me and has a lot of appeal and just felt ripe for picking away at the imagination. I knew already that it was going to mean trying to raise the bar and do something new and different and dynamic. And what about dance lessons? Kirby: I took a little. Jack's not a dancer, I'm sure Jack made efforts to see if he had any talent. Jack certainly is not known in his family as the one with any degree or modicum of talent, but I wanted to know about the language of ballet specifically. And I thought what better way than to take ballet lessons. It did help me understand how a person who lives in that world observes a dancer's body, observes elegance, grace, the things that they're looking for in natural talents and also in a dancer's dedication and determination. In that way, it was very insightful. And I'm here to announce that I'm going to retire from acting because my dance teacher told me that I had a body made for ballet and it's not too late. Dan and Amy, knowing Luke as well as you do, how much are you able to write to him? How much of Jack's quirks come from Luke? Kirby: Can I just say, there is a line where Crispin [Shamblee, played by Simon Callow] says to Jack, 'You were always crying,' and he remembers me crying in my striped overalls. My mother called me after watching the episode and she said, 'How did they know?' I don't know that you talked to anybody, but I feel like they were pulling from some kind of memory that lingers in the air. Palladino: You get to know people. We don't tend to pick a lot of like specifics from people's lives like we did make him a runner that's unusual for us because Luke is a runner but unconsciously you get to know people and you build their quarks in naturally. That's what we always try to do with every actor that we work with, just get to know them as soon as possible and kind of get to know what they can do. Sherman-Palladino: We're vampires. We just leech and hover and hide behind coffin lids. Kirby: Yes, and my neck is always at the ready. Luke, what have you learned working with Dan and Amy besides talking fast? Kirby: It asserts some things that I thought I was discovering early on in doing this work for a living. I had a teacher a long, long time ago, when I was studying Shakespeare, who said, 'You don't do the text, the text does you.' It's very simple advice, but it landed in that regard, but it's carried on, and it has carried on into working with Amy and Dan. When writing is as good as theirs is, it's a really good idea, I think, to get out of your own way. Having a kind of faith in the words can really bring you into new worlds that you don't expect. Their writing is very, very nuanced. I think it's to be deeply felt. Sherman-Palladino: So basically he's saying we're as good as Shakespeare. Kirby: I didn't say that. But I'll say it. Palladino: Now I have to Google Shakespeare to see who this guy is. So I've read in a few interviews that Luke wants a cape. Can we get a commitment from you, Amy and Dan, that he can get a cape in his next role? Sherman-Palladino: Yes, sure, whatever you want. Kirby: Thank you. Wow, look at that. It's just that easy! I was so jealous of Tony [Shalhoub]'s cape. Not a short cape, by the way — it's got to have some length to it, you know. Sherman-Palladino: A full cape — yeah, yeah, we get it. This article and video are presented by Prime Video. Best of GoldDerby How 'The Handmaid's Tale' series finale sets up 'The Testaments' TV Visual Effects supervisor roundtable: 'Black Mirror,' 'The Boys,' 'The Wheel of Time' 'The Wheel of Time' VFX supervisor Andy Scrase: 'I always think of visual effects as the magic of filmmaking' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
5 days ago
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‘Étoile' cast and creators on fast-talking, mean drunks, and what they learned from ‘Gilmore Girls'
'I was 4 and handed a tutu — that's the gateway drug!' That's how Amy Sherman-Palladino explained her introduction to the world of ballet, which she celebrates in her new Prime Video comedy series, Étoile, cocreated with her husband, Daniel Palladino. More from GoldDerby 'Agatha All Along' star Joe Locke on learning from Kathryn Hahn, musical theater goals, and the 'Heartstopper' movie with Kit Connor TV casting directors roundtable: 'The Diplomat,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Only Murders in the Building,' 'Paradise,' 'Doctor Odyssey' How 'Overcompensating' cast one of its writers as its co-lead 'I trained as a dancer all the way until becoming a writer. I do think that if you love something like dancing, it gets inside of you. It affects everything about you. And if you love it, it never quite leaves you.' The creator-writer-directors shared insights into their creative process alongside their stars at Tuesday night's FYC event for their Prime Video comedy, alongside stars Luke Kirby (who plays Jack), Gideon Glick (Tobias), Ivan du Pontavice (Gabin), David Alvarez (Gael), Yanic Truesdale (Raphael), Simon Callow (Crispin Shamblee), and Tais Vinolo (Mishi). (Paris-based stars Charlotte Gainsbourg [Genevieve] and Lou de Laage [Cheyenne] were unable to attend. 'They're home in France being French,' quipped Kirby.) Fans of the Palladino-verse know that this series isn't the couple's first foray into dancing — Bunheads ran for one season in 2012. 'That was a small taste of what it was like to write and incorporate dance into drama and use physicality to move story along,' said Sherman-Palladino. 'Ten years later, I'm still angry that it doesn't exist — so vengeance will be mine!' Daniel Palladino admitted that casting for the show was a bit of a challenge, given their need for actors who could dance, dancers who could act — not to mention the ability to speak both French and English. 'We tend to write parts for which there is one actor out there,' he said. 'There was one Lorelai Gilmore. There was one Midge Maisel.' But when it came to Etoile: 'We knew we wanted Luke to be in it — he had no choice,' said Sherman-Palladino, calling him their 'hostage.' 'Call the police,' joked Kirby. 'I'm not a strong swimmer.' Kirby had worked with the Palladinos before on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, starring alongside Rachel Brosnahan as tortured comedian Lenny Bruce. 'I thought [Jack] was going to be a really cool guy,' said Kirby. 'And I was really looking forward to that. Turns out that the world has other plans for him.' Quipped Sherman-Palladino, 'You already played Lenny Bruce — you played the coolest guy!' Glick said he found his way into the eccentric choreographer Tobias through the writing. 'Tobias is someone who sees the world very clearly in his head, but is not able to communicate that to anybody,' he said. 'But when it's not the way he sees it, he's inherently sick.' He also credited choreographer Margueritte Derricks for inspiration. 'The way she goes through all of the dancers and tracks them like an animal, I stole from that her,' he says. Sherman-Palladino took every opportunity to praise the rest of the assembled cast as well — du Pontavice ('he takes it so much to heart'), Vinolo ('she plays a mean drunk'), and Callow ('we couldn't stop watching him'). Truesdale, who had worked with the Palladinos for seven years on Gilmore Girls, said they're the same 'vibrant, creative, crazy, caring, passionate couple' — but now they're more grounded. 'We look at each other, and very few words are needed,' he said. 'When we were doing Gilmore Girls, it was a runaway train,' recalled Sherman-Palladino. 'It was my first hour-long. The only thing I knew about an hour-long is, I guess, there's more pages in a script. I just wrote what I wrote, but more. I knew what I wanted, but I'd never done it before. So people didn't think I knew what I wanted. So I was in a weird panic; there was just a lot of panic going on. We never had the time to sit and reflect. We never had the time to work in a way that was thoughtful and contemplative and sit and laugh as friends, because we were all just literally throwing up, constantly. [Now] it's nice to be able to work in a thoughtful, calm way, and to be able to be people together. It was like working with him for the first time. And now we could enjoy it.' And as a summa cum laude graduate of Palladino University, Truesdale recalled the advice he shared early on with the rest of the cast. 'The first thing I told everybody at the table read was, 'Get ready,'' he said. 'The first note you're going to get over and over is: 'Faster.'' The irony is, though, the French actors actually talked too quickly — even for the Palladinos. 'The French naturally talk fast, so fast that we had to slow them down sometimes, which was shocking to our Gilmore people that were around us,' said Palladino. 'They don't believe in punctuation. There's no stopping a sentence,' said Sherman-Palladino. 'I believe all the actors lied to us at every point. I don't think they said anything that we wrote.' Best of GoldDerby How Charlie Cox characterizes Matt Murdock through action scenes in 'Daredevil: Born Again' 'Agatha All Along' star Joe Locke on learning from Kathryn Hahn, musical theater goals, and the 'Heartstopper' movie with Kit Connor TV casting directors roundtable: 'The Diplomat,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Only Murders in the Building,' 'Paradise,' 'Doctor Odyssey' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everything to know about HBO's ‘Harry Potter' TV series — including the cast and controversy
Years in the making, HBO's planned Harry Potter series adaptation is closer than ever to coming to the small screen. First revealed as a possibility in early 2021, the upcoming television show is expected to last for several years, with each season adapting one of the seven Harry Potter novels written by J.K. Rowling. More from GoldDerby 'Harry Potter' TV series casts its Harry, Hermione, and Ron Dream Team: 'Étoile' creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino on the secrets of their partnership: 'You want to be jealous of something someone has done' 'Have I said too much?' David Chase and Alex Gibney on revisiting 'The Sopranos' for 'Wise Guy' doc - and, yes, that finale 'The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much-loved characters, and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years,' Warner Bros. Discovery said in a press release in 2023. 'Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic, and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.' In a statement released at the time, Rowling seemed pleased with the concept. 'Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series,' the author said. (When it was first announced, the series was going to be produced exclusively for Max. However, as part of a corporate strategic shift made public this year, the project will now debut as an HBO property.) Ahead, everything to know about the Harry Potter TV series, including its cast, potential release date, and why the controversy about Rowling continues to hang over the project. On May 27, 2025, HBO announced the three child stars of the series: Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter, Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger. HBO held a casting call in October 2024 to fill the parts, with thousands of kids auditioning. Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann are the show's primary casting directors. Bevan has worked on several hit projects, including Barbie, The Batman, Belfast, and Cruella. "After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron," showrunner and executive producer Francesca Gardiner and director and executive producer Mark Mylod said in a statement. "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there." On April 14, 2025, HBO confirmed the long-rumored casting choices for several members of the faculty staff at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, among other students, go to school. John Lithgow was cast as school headmaster Albus Dumbledore, the famed wizard and Harry's mentor. Richard Harris originally played the character in the Potter film franchise. After Harris died following Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the late Michael Gambon took over the part. Janet McTeer is set to star as Minerva McGonagall, the character originally played by the late Maggie Smith in the movies. Paapa Essiedu was hired to play Severus Snape, the complicated antagonist originally played by the late Alan Rickman. Nick Frost, meanwhile, was chosen to star as Rubeus Hagrid, the school's gamekeeper. The late Robbie Coltrane played the part in the movies. Lithgow, McTeer, Essiedu, and Frost will be series regulars on the show for the life of its run. For Season 1, which will adapt Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Luke Thallon was cast as key character Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, the school's caretaker. Respectively, those roles were played in the film franchise by Ian Hart and David Bradley. 'We are happy to announce the casting of John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse to play Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, Quirrell and Filch,' said Francesca Gardiner (Killing Eve, Succession), the Harry Potter series showrunner and executive producer, and Mark Mylod (Succession, The Last of Us), director of multiple episodes and executive producer. 'We're delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can't wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.' HBO has not yet set a date for the show. However, the expectation is that the series will premiere in 2026, potentially in the second half of the year, depending on when production starts. The series itself isn't necessarily controversial, although there has been a strong response to Essiedu playing Snape (more on that below). However, Rowling is a polarizing figure because of her frequent comments about gender views and transgender community. When the series was first announced in 2023 with Rowling listed as an executive producer, many online critics spoke out against the choice to include the author in the adaptation. Asked then about the author and her views on transgender rights, Bloys declined to discuss the issue. 'I don't have a comment on that today,' he said. 'No, I don't think this is the forum [to discuss that]. That's a very online conversation, obviously very nuanced and complicated and not something we're going to get into.' 'Our priority is what's on the screen,' Bloys added. 'Obviously, the Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive and about love and self-acceptance. That's our priority — what's on screen.' Rowling has been a lightning rod for controversy for years due to her comments. Film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson (who played Hermione), and Rupert Grint (who played Ron) have all distanced themselves from her views on the transgender community. This decision has drawn the ire of Rowling. More recently, after Rowling celebrated the United Kingdom's Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex and not gender, celebrities like Pedro Pascal, whose sister identifies as trans, and Nicola Coughlan, who has supported transgender rights, have blasted Rowling and the HBO adaptation. Commenting on an Instagram post critical of Rowling this month, Pascal wrote, 'Awful disgusting SH-T is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behavior.' 'Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole,' Coughlan, who stars on Bridgerton, wrote on social media. The backlash to Rowling has also reached the new cast members of the HBO adaptation. In an interview published this month, Lithgow said he was surprised when people took offense to his participation in the show. 'I thought, 'Why is this a factor at all?' I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it,' he told the U.K. The Sunday Times. 'I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her, and I'm curious to talk to her.' When asked in the same interview if the criticism had made him reconsider his choice to star on the show, Lithgow said no. Beyond Rowling, the series was also criticized for casting Essiedu, who is Black, as the character of Snape. The character is white in Rowling's books, and so some racist Potter fans took offense to the choice to race-swap the character for the series. However, the decision to cast a Black actor as Snape also drew concern from progressive fans of the franchise. 'I actually am not really bothered by this new Hollywood trend of race-swapping actors at all. A black Commissioner Gordon in Batman, Nick Fury in the MCU etc were all casting choices I fully supported. With Snape, however, I feel it is a different situation,' wrote a fan on Reddit. 'Snape being portrayed by a Black actor, I think, has potential for several of Snape's decisions and experiences to be now attributed to racial issues instead of simply who he is.' Best of GoldDerby 'The Pitt' star Supriya Ganesh on Mohan 'reworking' her trauma and when she'll realize Abbot is flirting with her Dream Team: 'Étoile' creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino on the secrets of their partnership: 'You want to be jealous of something someone has done' TV sound editors roundtable: 'Adolescence' and 'Secret Level' Click here to read the full article.
