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Philipp Humm’s journey to filmmaker is an unusual one. Having been chief executive of Vodafone Europe, T-Mobile USA and in senior roles at other firms, including Amazon, he left the upper echelons of the corporate world for more artistic pursuits and is now making “The Last Faust.”

The first and second parts of Goethe’s “Faust” have never been filmed and are rarely staged, not least because of the 14-hour performance time. But Humm has adapted the German classic, with intertwining stories linking the first two parts, into a 120-minute film set in contemporary times. It centers on the CEO of Silicon Valley firm Winestone Inc., played by Martin Hancock. His character is hellbent on emulating God and creating life, and enters a pact with Mephisto (Glyn Dilley), who comes in the form of a hedge fund trader. Gretchen (Yvi Mai) is a young intern at Winestone’s tech firm.

He used to broker billion-dollar deals with telecom giants. Now he’s making a pact with the devil. We go behind the scenes of Philipp Humm’s AI take on Goethe’s damnation epic

In studio six, an actor has stripped to his pants and is waiting to be smeared with blood by two female dancers: one in a black leotard, the other in a white one. He is playing Mephistopheles, the women are interpreting the child-devouring Lamia of Greek myth, and I’m watching day 13 of an unlikely and wildly ambitious film shoot.

We’re on a dismal industrial estate in north-west London where Faust, Goethe’s drama of damnation, sexual betrayal, witchcraft and freeform philosophic meditation, is being adapted by Philipp Humm – a man who until three years ago was CEO of Vodafone Europe. Martin Hancock, a former star of Coronation Street, is playing the title role, while...

Review Gem Wheeler 27 Apr 2014 - 19:42

Endeavour wraps up its second series with this impressive episode. Here's Gem's review...

This review contains spoilers.

2.4 Neverland

All Arthur’s knights were brought down by earthly vices in the end: Lancelot by desire, Gawain by his pride and anger. Even the best of men had their price – all save one, Galahad. His destiny was to find the Grail, and to die as soon as he did so. No ties of love or family could bind him to this world for long. He saw men’s deeds with an outsider’s eye, and paid the outsider’s price in loneliness for doing so. It was the path forecast for him before his birth; there was none other open to him.

How appropriate, then, to be reminded of Galahad as we observe Morse at worship in the opening scenes of Neverland, the devastating final episode...

Former Coronation Street star Martin Hancock has signed up for a guest role on Doctors, Digital Spy can reveal. The actor, best known for playing Weatherfield's Spider Nugent, will play a homeless man on the BBC One daytime drama. Hancock's character Beano has spent 20 years on the streets across various cities, having dropped out of university and turned to alcohol. Homelessness is now a way of life for Beano, and show bosses have billed him as "intelligent, wily with a good sense of humour" and "rather expert at spotting lucrative opportunities". Hancock's appearance on Doctors will air next year. Digital (more)...