News

The excitement builds as “Pointless Celebrities” reaches a milestone with its 2,000th episode. This special installment airs on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 7:30 Pm on BBC One. Fans of the show can look forward to a star-studded lineup featuring Suzie Lee, Shaun Williamson, Phil Tufnell, Steve Pemberton, Kelli Young, Helen Lederer, Charlie Higson, and Cariad Lloyd. Each celebrity will aim to provide the most unusual answers that no one else could think of, making for an entertaining evening.

As always, the format remains the same, with contestants trying to find the most obscure answers to trivia questions. The celebrities will be competing for a chance to win money for their chosen charities. With such a diverse group, viewers can expect plenty of laughs, surprising moments, and perhaps a few unexpected answers that could leave everyone scratching their heads.

The 2,000th episode promises to celebrate the show’s legacy while bringing fresh energy with its beloved celebrities.

When it was announced that Denis Villeneuve would be the next director to tackle the James Bond franchise, fans were pretty thrilled. When Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli stepped down some months back, many worried about the direction the franchise would take, especially now that Amazon owns the rights. Hardcore Bond fans feared the streamer—desperate for valuable IP—might exploit the series by churning out too many movies and, God forbid, too many bad spinoffs. It brought back memories of how Disney all but killed off goodwill for Star Wars with an exhausting barrage of subpar content. Would we end up with something as inane as a series centered on Q or Miss Moneypenny? Or The Felix Leiter Chronicles? But with the hiring of Denis Villeneuve—one of the biggest directors on the planet—Amazon MGM Studios seemed to be promising that 007 would stay where he belongs: on the big screen.

These days, Film Noir is mostly associated with cynical private detectives and obnoxious narration, but these movies are actually deeply rooted in the horrors of German Expressionism. In fact, many of the genre’s pioneers fled directly from Germany to Hollywood during World War II, where a growing fascination with True Crime journalism combined with wartime anxieties led to the creation of a new breed of crime thriller. These dimly lit movies told stories of murder and betrayal in nightmarish cityscapes populated by morally grey characters, so it’s only natural that these stories are at their best when presented with a touch of horror.

And while you’ll find your fair share of terrifying moments in films like Sin City or even Chinatown, today I’d like to discuss a quintessential example of horror-adjacent cinema, Stuart Gordon’s criminally underseen King of the Ants – a grimy little gem that...

HBO just filled up the faculty at Hogwarts with talented actors. Harry Potter has finalized John Lithgow in the role of Albus Dumbledore and Janet McTeer in the role of Professor McGonagall. The casting for the three main leads, the characters of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, is still underway.

Francesca Gardiner, the showrunner, and Mark Mylod, the director, have also announced actors in the crucial roles of Professor Snape and Rubeus Hagrid. Paapa Essiedu plays Snape, while comedian Nick Frost has been roped in to play the gentle giant Hagrid. Lithgow, McTeer, Essiedu, and Frost are confirmed as regulars in the series.

In the recurring role of Argus Filch, the series has cast senior Welsh actor Paul Whitehouse. HBO has also confirmed that theater actor Luke Thallon will play Professor Quirrell in the first season of the series. More cast members from the series will be announced in the coming days.

The Oscars paid tribute to the James Bond franchise with a musical montage, but many fans found they were left unshaken but definitely stirred as they slammed the production for being "pointless," "cringey," and "completely unnecessary."

Many fans had been hoping that the tribute would involve the unveiling of a new James Bond...and were left frustrated when that did not happen. The montage was opened by The Substance star Margaret Qualley, who channeled her character from the movie, Sue, and took part in a dance number performed to the James Bond theme. Qualley danced with more than a dozen Bond-esque dancers before giving way to musical performances from Doja Cat, Blackpink's Lisa and Raye, who sang "Diamonds Are Forever," "Live and Let Die," and "Skyfall," respectively. While the performances were perfectly adequate, and praised by the respective fans of the stars involved, Bond fans were left cold by the whole thing.

Get ready to shake your martinis to the iconic sounds of James Bond theme songs, as the longtime producers of the seminal cinematic franchise are set to be honored with a musical tribute at the 97th annual Academy Awards. According to reports, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will be honored on the main stage after receiving their own Honorary Oscars at the Governors Awards.

In a new report from Variety — though the Academy Awards themselves have not yet commented on the matter — it was confirmed that Wicked will not be the only musical moment to take place during Sunday's Oscar ceremony. Though details on specifics remain scarce, Variety had this to say about what they did know about the musical moment:

"It is unclear whether the tribute will focus solely on Oscar-winning and nominated songs or take a broader approach to celebrating all 26 Bond themes. However, according to sources,...

Following the shocking and concerning news that Amazon will take over creative control of the James Bond franchise, a new frontrunner for the coveted role of 007 has now emerged. And he’s a real slow horse. The latest name favored to lead the iconic franchise is none other than Scottish actor and Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, who has seen his odds improve in the wake of the behind-the-scenes overhaul.

The 34-year-old actor, who is also best-known for roles in the likes of '71, Calibre, Fighting with My Family, Capone, Benediction, and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, has seen his odds rise to 8/1, according to Oddspedia, putting him alongside other 007 favorites Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, and Theo James.

RelatedAmazon CEO Finally Breaks Silence on 'James Bond' Takeover, Reacts to Possible AI Use in the Franchise

The 'James Bond' franchise is heading into a new era, and Amazon's Andy Jassy has...

Despite Christopher Nolan successfully rebooting the Batman franchise with Batman Begins, it seems that the previous producers of James Bond were not comfortable giving him control over the iconic franchise. Nolan has made no secret over the years how much James Bond films affected him as a young filmgoer. Many of Nolan's films, from The Dark Knight to Inception to Tenet, are heavily inspired by the Bond films and feel like the director's unique spin on the 007 franchise. Nolan had previously mentioned that he had always wanted to make a Bond film, but it never seemed to work out, and now we know why.

According to Variety, Christopher Nolan was interested in directing a Bond movie as his follow-up to Tenet, which would have been the 007 entry that followed Daniel Craig's tenure as James Bond in No Time to Die. However, long-time franchise producer Barbara Broccoli told...

Something always thought impossible has happened as long-time James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson relinquished creative control of 007 to Amazon. Now that this has happened (and we’ve all had time to react), fans of the franchise have taken to social media to reveal what spin-off projects they would most like to see. And bringing back a former star as an aged version of the iconic spy is currently sitting at the top of the list.

Now that Daniel Craig has departed the role following 2021’s No Time to Die, and with Amazon now taking the reins and likely steering the franchise in a direction we’ve never seen before, many are calling for GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies star Pierce Brosnan to return as an aged James Bond. “You know you want it. And you want Amazon to give it to you,” says X/Twitter user...

The fallout from the news that Amazon will take creative control of James Bond is still settling, with reports revealing various new insights from behind the scenes of the shocking decision. One such insight is that, yes, some of the ongoing rumors were true, and longtime 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson did meet with one of the bookies’ favorites, Kraven the Hunter and Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, about taking over the iconic role from Daniel Craig. However, according to this insider, he was never in serious contention. And nor was anyone else.

“[The meeting was] just as kind of an ongoing, keeping your eye out on who’s around, but keeping in touch. But I definitely don’t think that there was any frontrunner. They wanted to know what they wanted to do next before they thought of the right person for it.”

Following the fatal finale of 2021’s No Time to Die,...

Yesterday saw the shock announcement that Amazon MGM Studios would be taking over the James Bond franchise from long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. And now it's been revealed the amount of money the studio may have paid for that control.

Per Deadline, the streamer had to pay $1 billion to have full control over James Bond, following years of trying to develop the next movie without star Daniel Craig. While Amazon wanted to grow the franchise into something similar to Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, Broccoli and Wilson didn't want that, opting to keep most of the creative control the family had for decades. That kept the potential of a Christopher Nolan or Quentin Tarantino from stepping in to direct.

In March 2022, Amazon paid around $8.5 billion to acquire MGM, which brought James Bond, Rocky, and other IPs into the fold. Deadline mentions that the value of the studio was closer to $4 billion,...

Much like Star Wars and the MCU before it, the James Bond franchise has now fallen into the clutches of a major corporation and streaming platform as Amazon takes over creative control of 007. And Jeff Bezos has already started crowdsourcing major creative decisions, taking to social media to ask fans, “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?” Amazing as it is that such frivolous treatment of the beloved franchise could happen so quickly, a certain actor has emerged as the clear favorite, with Man of Steel star Henry Cavill seemingly being the actor that many want to see slip into the iconic tuxedo.

Fans of the actor, who is also known for previously leading the Netflix series The Witcher and for doing battle with Hollywood icon Tom Cruise (and patenting the crowd-pleasing “arm reload”) in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, swarmed the replies and called for Cavill to finally...

Daniel Craig is not only the last man to play the role of James Bond, but, it seems, the last to play the super spy under the creative control of long-time producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli as Amazon MGM take full charge of the franchise. Now the actor has added shared thoughts in a statement in which he acknowledged the legacy of the character, and his unchanged feelings for Wilson and Broccoli despite the unexpected turn of events.

In a statement published by Variety, Craig said:

“My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished. I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well deserved) retirement and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular and I hope I can be part of them.”

The Future of the 'James Bond' Franchise Is Getting Its Biggest Shake-Up Ever

The news broke earlier today that,...

Just hours after it was announced that Amazon MGM is gaining total creative control over the James Bond franchise, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is now outsourcing the casting process online. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, stewards of the James Bond franchise for decades, have stepped aside from the franchise their family has overseen for 60 years. James Bond was one of the last franchises not owned outright by a major corporation, but now 007 will answer not only to M but also to Jeff Bezos. The new corporate owner is already making some moves on the franchise that likely won't go over well.

Jeff Bezos took to Instagram to share that Amazon MGM is now in control of the 007 franchise. The post, featuring a photo of previous James Bond actor Daniel Craig, was accompanied by a simple caption: "Who would you pick as the next Bond?" The post (see below) has already generated over 5,000 likes,...

The list of actors who could play James Bond post-Daniel Craig is a who’s who of Hollywood’s finest. But despite rumors, “insider” confirmations, and yo-yoing betting odds constantly featuring the likes of Idris Elba, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and the not-going-to-happen Henry Cavill, there is a lesser known name back in “serious contention” for the role. And, just like the original Bond, Sean Connery, he is a born-and-bred Scot.

Stuart Martin is currently best known as a Zack Snyder alum, after making appearances in several of the director's Netflix features, including Rebel Moon and Army of Thieves, but he has also built up an extensive resume since appearing in British TV show Taggart in 2009 and having a blink-and-you-miss-it role in Russell Crowe’s 2010 version of Robin Hood. One of his biggest projects was the 2020 PBS series Miss Scarlet, in which he played the Duke of Wellington in 24 episodes.

Although...

Ever since Daniel Craig bowed out of the role of James Bond after 2021's No Time to Die, the media and 007 fans have debated and speculated about which actor will portray the next Bond. The most recent research shows Tom Hardy as a popular frontrunner, but other much-discussed contenders have included Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Josh O'Connor, and James Norton. However, according to Martin Campbell, the great director behind the first Pierce Brosnan Bond film (GoldenEye) and the first Daniel Craig one (Casino Royale), all of this is "rubbish." As Campbell told MovieWeb in an interview, basically, if you've heard a rumor that an actor will be cast as the next Bond, then they probably won't be.

"You know, I don't believe any of the publicity," said Campbell, who was there when Craig was first chosen for the role. "They always do this, they always come up with names, and it's this,...

Change can be scary. Change can be exhausting. Change can be a lot of things often necessary and good. But one thing that's not changing 'round these parts any time soon: Bond. James Bond. The secret agent man whose sexy and thrilling cinematic adventures have lit up screens for decades, is on the cusp of having his new face announced.

And for anyone worrying about who might be taking up the mantel, have no fear: it's still going to be a man.

In a new interview with franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and her brother Michael G. Wilson in The Independent, the daughter and step-son of late James Bond producer Albert "Cuddy" Broccoli have shared their views on what's to come and how they're handling the changeover from Daniel Craig to whomever comes to carry the gun and gadgets next.

For the siblings, James Bond has always been about change and a new perspective.

The studio behind the James Bond franchise, Eon Productions, is reportedly getting close to finding the right director to bring the iconic adventures of 007 back to the big screen following the departure of Daniel Craig in 2021s No Time to Die. While much of the speculation has been around who will be cast as Bond, the filmmaker chosen to take the helm is equally important and will indicate the kind of approach (comedic/action-based/gritty?) the studio will take as the beloved franchise heads into its latest era.

According to The Telegraph, Eon has now started meeting with potential directors, with the Academy Award-winning Edward Berger top of the list. Berger is best known for 2022s All Quiet on the Western Front, which won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, among others. His next project is the psychological thriller Conclave starring No Time to Dies Ralph Fiennes alongside Stanley Tucci,...

While we have already made a list of the best of the best movies coming to Prime Video in August, those are not the only films you should look out for as the Amazon-owned streaming service is also bringing you a lot of original and licensed new content in the upcoming month, from an animated Batman series to the highly anticipated new season of Prime Video’s flagship fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. So, we picked out the 7 best new movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video in August 2024.

Batman: Caped Crusader (August 1)

Batman: Caped Crusader is an animated action-adventure superhero series created by J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Bruce Timm. The upcoming Prime Video series is set in what looks to be the 1930s or 1940s and it follows the story of the Dark Knight in a crime-filled Gotham, as he fights...

Prime Video debuted the official trailer and key art for The Mallorca Files Season 3 today. The all-new season will launch on August 8 exclusively on Prime Video, including the U.S., UK, Germany, Australia, and Mexico.

All eight episodes will be available on premiere day. The first two seasons are currently available on the free streaming service Amazon Freevee in the U.S., the UK, and Germany. Starting August 1, select Prime Video customers will also be able to watch Seasons One and Two.

Set on the sun-drenched and glamorous Spanish island of Mallorca, The Mallorca Files centers around ambitious British detective Miranda Blake and her laid-back German partner Max Winter, who make up the perfect team – if only they could see it.

In Season Three, amid high-stakes adventures, treasure hunts, arson, kidnappings, and murders, Max and Miranda’s personal tensions and odd-couple partnership are put to the test. Overseeing their cases...

Bond's problematic past was addressed and revised in a later novel to provide a more heroic explanation. Authors like Charlie Higson have modernized Bond, focusing on bravery and honor over troubling traits. The success of Young Bond novels proves a modern "Young James Bond" story could provide a positive role model.

The first James Bond novel was published way back in 1953, and, as such, the series features numerous examples of things that would be considered somewhat problematic by modern readers. One such instance of this is the questionable reason Ian Fleming gave for Bond being kicked out of school, which was, thankfully, revised in a later 007 work. Ian Fleming's James Bond books have not only been immensely popular in their own right, but they also served as the basis for a hugely successful movie franchise. However, despite their popularity, some aspects of the Bond novels haven't aged very well.

The Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.

King of the Ants

While Stuart Gordon cemented himself as a master of horror with early works like Re-Animator and From Beyond, his later output is also worthy of exploration. 2003’s King of the Ants kicked off a trio of intense thrillers (alongside Edmond and Stuck) that would end up being Gordon’s final features. It was also one of the first productions from The Asylum, who would go on to create Sharknado, Z Nation, and Black Summer.

Based on the 1992 novel by Charlie Higson, who also wrote the screenplay, the film’s unusual structure makes it unpredictable. Struggling to make ends meet,...

Deadline reports that Hero Fiennes Tiffin of the After film series has signed on to star in the Young Sherlock series that has been ordered by Prime Video – and to clear up any possible confusion before it can arise: no, this is not a series reboot or continuation of the 1985 film Young Sherlock Holmes, which came to us from director Barry Levinson, screenwriter Chris Columbus, and producer Steven Spielberg. Rather, this is an adaptation of the Young Sherlock series of novels that author Andrew Lane started writing in 2010. That series was a response to the success Charlie Higson was having with his series of Young James Bond novels. Guy Ritchie is on board to direct and executive produce all eight episodes of Young Sherlock‘s first season. Ritchie, of course, has prior Sherlock Holmes experience, having directed Robert Downey Jr. as the iconic character in the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes and...

Finalists have been announced for the 2024 British Animation Awards, which will take place on March 7 at London’s BFI Southbank.

Contending for best feature film are “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” “A Cat Called Dom,” “Kensuke’s Kingdom,” “Puffin Rock and The New Friends” and “The Amazing Maurice.”

“Christopher at Sea,” “The Debutante” and “All Gucci My Broski” are nominated in the short film category.

Adjoa Andoh, Benedict Cumberbatch, Emilia Clarke, Idris Elba, Claire Foy, Tom Hollander and Hugh Laurie are among the ensemble cast members nominated for best voice performance for “Mog’s Christmas” “The Amazing Maurice” and “The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse.”

Baa also acknowledges achievement in television, with “Tweedy & Fluff,” “The Sound Collector – Harp Strings,” “The Rubbish World of Dave Spud – Moonbreaker” and “Lloyd of the Flies” nominated for best children’s series.

For best original music, composer David Arnold is nominated for “Mog’s Christmas...

1990s sketch series The Fast Show is hitting the road for a 30th anniversary tour around the UK, and here are the details.

When talking about British comedy in the 1990s, it is impossible to overstate the impact of The Fast Show. With a plethora of characters that have successfully stood the test of time, the series itself stands up remarkably well to repeat viewings.

Although many of the characters were well known for their catchphrases – has anybody ever been measured up for a suit in the last thirty years without being able to resist the temptation to say “suits you sir! – there was a darker edge to the writing.

A good example is Rowley Birkin, a Paul Whitehouse character who is usually played as a babbling alcoholic. The final episode of series two features an unusually restrained performance, where the audience stops laughing and are stunned into silence as...

RadioTimes.com is launching a new video and podcast series The Best Ever – with guests from the worlds of TV, film, sport, gaming and entertainment tackling some of pop culture’s biggest conversation points – from action movies to TV detectives – asking: which truly was the best ever?

Hosted by Morgan Jeffery, Executive Editor, RadioTimes.com, The Best Ever sees a different panel of guests each week go head-to-head to compete for The Best Ever trophy.

Morgan Jeffery says: “Expect strong opinions, fiery debate and big laughs each week as the panel compete to pick up the coveted The Best Ever trophy. The first episode sees me joined by Nicholas Briggs, voice of the Daleks and Cybermen; Beth Axford, author and super-fan, and RadioTimes.com's Sci-Fi and Fantasy Editor Louise Griffin to debate the best ever Doctor Who story. It’s a hotly contested question and a lively panel – the end...

Zack Snyder had made his career and reputation — however you perceive it — on adapting other peoples’ properties. From zombies to superheroes to Spartans, Snyder has hit an array of pre-existing entities. And there is yet another one that Zack Snyder may be interested in, showing a curiosity in perhaps trading in 300 for 007 by making a call for a young James Bond movie.

Speaking with The Atlantic, Zack Snyder said that despite there being 25 entries in the franchise, there is still so much to explore in the world of James Bond, especially if they delve into his roots. “It’d be cool to see, like, 20-year-old James Bond…The humble roots that he comes from. Whatever trauma of youth that makes you be able to be James Bond…There has to be something there.”

Zack Snyder may be onto something with this Bond prequel idea. 2006’s Casino Royale effectively served this function,...

Mbc Studios is developing a series adaptation of popular Saudi writer Osamah Almuslim’s best-selling debut horror novel Khawf (Fear).

It is the second work by Almuslim to be adapted by the high-end production arm of Riyadh-based media giant Mbc Group, after his fantasy Rise Of The Witches about two rival covens in ancient Arabia.

The work revolves around a studious young man who is given a book about the existence of a second world by a mysterious sheikh, the reading of which sets in motion a series of terrifying events.

Zeinab Abu Alsamh, who is general manager of the Saudi arm of Mbc Studios, announced the project in an industry panel on different aspects of developing IP at the Red Film Festival.

“It’s a very exciting project and has a very, very, very big fan base. That’s what make it exciting and scary at the same time,...

James Bond's iconic film Dr. No has been reimagined as a Pixar-style animated movie, showcasing the classic spy in a new light. The animated images depict Bond in 3D animation, along with other characters from Dr. No. The idea of creating a Young Bond animated TV series is raised, which could capitalize on the brand's recognition and keep production costs low.

James Bond’s first big-screen adventure Dr. No has been reimagined in a series of images depicting the classic spy movie as a Pixar film on par with The Incredibles. Based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming, 1962’s Dr. No introduced the legendary British spy who became an intergenerational phenomenon and one of the most widely recognized characters in modern cinema. Marking Sean Connery’s initial outing as 007, Dr. No sparked the creation of a long-lived action franchise that would spawn 24 official sequels and a slew of imitators.

Former special-operations sniper critiques Tom Cruise's sniper skills in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, questioning the authenticity of his disguised rifle. While the rifle may be accurate enough for the range, Cruise's character has the worst position compared to the other snipers in the scene. Despite the lack of realism, the Mission: Impossible franchise excels in providing entertainment through its fantastical elements and outlandish stunts.

A former special-operations sniper has weighed in on Tom Cruise’s questionable sniper skills in 2015’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. The fifth installment in Cruise’s long running Mission: Impossible franchise, the events of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation see Imf Agent Ethan Hunt and his team disavowed by the US Government and are forced to pursue a clandestine organization known as the Syndicate on their own. One key scene in the movie sees Cruise arm himself with a sniper rifle disguised as a flute,...

Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy are set to play a married couple in an animated adaptation of beloved British children’s book “Mog’s Christmas.”

Cumberbatch and Foy will lend their voices to the Channel 4 adaptation of Judith Kerr’s book, playing Mog’s owners Mr and Mrs Thomas.

Joining them are “Bridgerton’s” Adjoa Andoh as the narrator, Miriam Margolyes (“Harry Potter”) and Maggie Steed (“Paddington 2”) as the Aunts, Zawe Ashton (“Fresh Meat”) as Mog’s neighbor Mrs Gaynor, Charlie Higson (“The Fast Show”) as the Jolly Uncle, comedian Gareth Berliner (“Dr Who”) as the Chestnut Seller and newcomers Amelie Law (age 11) and Teddy Skelton (age 9) as The Thomas’s children Debbie and Nicky.

Mog’s miaows and purrs will be provided by Kerr’s daughter Tacy Kneale.

The “Mog” books were based on Kerr’s own family cat and the first in the series was published...

Benedict Cumberbatch & Claire Foy To Lead Channel 4’s ‘Mog’s Christmas’ Adaptation

Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy are leading the voice cast for Channel 4’s latest Judith Kerr Christmas animation, Mog’s Christmas. The pair, who combined for 2021’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, will play Mr and Mrs Thomas and feature as part of a stellar cast that includes narrator Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton), Miriam Margolyes, Maggie Steed, Zawe Ashton and Charlie Higson. Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films’ adaptation follows the Thomas’s attempts to rescue their cat from the top of a tree. Despite everyone’s fears, Mog has a magical night in the snow with a cat-themed Christmas dream. “This festive, family-friendly tale has huge cross generational appeal and is the perfect literary classic to adapt for the whole family to come together to watch,” said Ruth Fielding, Lupus Films Producer and Co-Founder. The...

After Daniel Craig's farewell as the 007 in No Time To Die, James Bond fans are waiting for the arrival of a new actor to take on the responsibility to play the legendary character. There is still a long way to go before audiences get to know the new face of the secret agent, since MGM and its new ally Amazon Studios are in no hurry to find the new face for the franchise.

Created by Ian Fleming in 1953, James Bond has become one of the most popular characters in pop culture, having his own saga of films starring various actors, animated adaptations, comic books, and much more. One of its best-known iterations in addition to the cinematographic ones is the literature YA Young Bond, by writer Charlie Higson. However, the author seems unsure about the possibility of his story making it to the screen.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Higson...

Charlie Higson, creator of the Young Bond book series, does not think his stories featuring a teenage James Bond will ever be adapted into films. Set in the 1930s and following a younger version of Ian Fleming’s famous spy, Higson’s series begins with 2005’s Silverfin in which the future 007 finds himself attending his first year at Eton College. The author would go on to pen four more books in the series, culminating in 2008’s By Royal Command which featured Bond’s eventual expulsion from Eton. Six years later, author Steve Cole picked up from Higson and continued the best-selling series with four more books.

Speaking with RadioTimes.com, Higson recently discussed the possibility of his Young Bond books being made into films. Suggesting that the original release of his novels coincided with attempts to relaunch the Bond franchise with Daniel Craig, producers likely did not wish to “muddy...

Author Charlie Higson, who launched the Young Bond series in 2005, is shaking and stirring things up in the 007 universe, saying that the franchise has lost its way and that the best Bond movies now feature a man who goes by Hunt, Ethan Hunt.

Speaking with The Times, Higson gave his thoughts on what he thinks is the best Bond movie…and it’s not even a Bond movie. Citing one key gripe, Higson explained, “They overcomplicate him…The best ‘Bond films’ now are the Mission: Impossibles. There is no inner life, it’s just, ‘Woah! Look at that building — I’d love to climb it and blow things up.’” That might be oversimplifying Ethan Hunt (just a bit), but Higson does hit the proper point: sometimes we just want to see action–and lots of it–on the big screen. Obviously this is a huge draw for many Mission: Impossible fans,...

James Bond author Charlie Higson responds to recent casting rumors surrounding the coveted 007 role. Bond has been played by numerous actors over the years, starting with Sean Connery in 1962's Dr. No. The suave super spy has also been portrayed by George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Craig's recent tenure as Bond ended with 2021's No Time to Die, opening the doors for a new actor to take on the part, with rumors surrounding some of Hollywood's top talent.

Higson, who Ian Fleming's estate commissioned to continue writing the James Bond novels, now responds to the recent casting rumors that have swirled around the part (via The Telegraph). According to the author, there is a very simple way to work out who has been passed over. Check out Higson's comments on the James Bond casting process below:

As soon as the papers say so-and-so...

No Time To Die gets a scathing review from James Bond author Charlie Higson, who thinks the Mission: Impossible movies have now exceeded 007. After first taking up the role of Bond in 2006's Casino Royale, the Craig era of 007 came to an end with 2021's No Time To Die. Directed by Cary Fukunaga, the film earned mostly positive reviews from critics and performed well at the box office, earning over $774 million.

In a recent interview with The Sunday Times (via Express), Higson, writer of the Young James Bond series of novels, shares a few choice words regarding No Time To Die. The author takes issue with some of the decisions made during the Craig era, arguing that Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible franchise is now closer to what Bond should be. Check out Higson's full comment below:

"I went to see No Time to Die with my oldest boy,...

Ian Fleming Publications has commissioned Young Bond series author Charlie Higson to write a new James Bond adventure to celebrate the coronation of King Charles.

The new 007 story, “On His Majesty’s Secret Service,” brings Bond into the present day. It is May 4, two days before the coronation of King Charles III. Bond is sent at the last minute to thwart an attempt to disrupt the coronation by the wealthy, eccentric and self-styled Athelstan of Wessex, who is on a deadly mission of his own to teach the United Kingdom a lesson. Bond must dismantle his shady plans and defeat his privately hired team of mercenaries.

“On His Majesty’s Secret Service” will be published on May 4, ahead of the coronation on May 6 and 60 years after the publication of Fleming’s 10th novel, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” in 1963. All royalties from sales of the book will support the...

Click here to read the full article.

“It used to be cool to hate us, and now it’s become cool to like us.”

So says Paul Bales, COO of The Asylum, the B-movie flag-bearers who have cornered — in somewhat notorious fashion — one of the most beloved, derided, schlocky and, well, inexpensive rungs of Hollywood’s lower echelons.

This year, The Asylum has its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of super-prolific, low-budget filmmaking, unashamed studio piggybacking and some of the most comically ludicrous concepts (and posters) ever made. And sharks. Truck loads of sharks (so many it’s difficult to actually pin down an exact figure).

And it’s a birthday the company — whose vast library includes the likes of Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus, Avengers Grimm, Asteroid-a-Geddon and, of course, the six-strong Sharknado franchise — is celebrating not simply with a huge party on Santa Monica Pier during the American Film Market,...

Ten-part adventure-fantasy series is made by Mbc Studios.

Mbc Studios, the production arm of leading Saudi media company Mbc Group, has begun filming Rise Of The Witches – the biggest ever TV series to be made in the country.

The 10-part adventure-fantasy series is being shot on purpose-built sets at Neom, a 500bn megacity that is under construction in the northwest province of Tabuk, and holds the largest ever budget for special effects for a Saudi production, according to Mbc.

The series will feature a predominantly Saudi cast, led by local stars Ida AlKusay and Sumaya Rida, and tells the story...

Dubai-based broadcaster and streamer Mbc is ramping up production with several new high-end shows.

These include “Rise of The Witches,” being touted as the biggest-budget Saudi Arabian TV series to date, “The Devil’s Promise,” created by U.K. writer Tony Jordan, and crime thriller “1001 Nights.”

Mbc Group CEO Sam Barnett in an interview said Mbc Studios now has 65 projects in various stages and reiterated the the Saudi-owned company is committed to serve as a driver to help kickstart the kingdom’s nascent industry.

“Rise of The Witches” is based on a Saudi novel described by Barnett as “a fantasy novel set 1,500 years ago in a time of witches” with a strong female empowerment theme.

The storyline of the show, written by British actor and writer Charlie Higson (the “Young Bond” novel series), who worked in tandem with two female Saudi writers on “Witches,” tracks the rise of two...

BBC family comedy “Dodger,” which launched on children’s channel Cbbc and migrated to the flagship BBC One channel, has gotten an official soundtrack release.

Universal International Studios and Back Lot Music released the official soundtrack, which features original music written by Joel Cadbury and Will Harper. You can stream the soundtrack now via all major global digital streaming platforms. The BBC series is inspired by Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” and takes place before the events of the classic novel and proposes a backstory for The Artful Dodger and Fagin’s gang in 1830s Victorian London.

“Dodger” is written by Rhys Thomas and Lucy Montgomery, with Charlie Higson guest writing an episode. Thomas directs alongside Hildegard Ryan. Executive producers include Thomas and Montgomery. Mark Freeland is executive producer for Universal International Studios.

Said Thomas: “The music Joel and Will composed for ‘Dodger’ is more than just a soundtrack. It’s...

Young Bond author highlights how much the spy has changed since Ian Fleming created him in 1953

He’s the brooding bad boy who drives luxury cars, jumps through windows and wrestles on top of moving trains, all while having an array of beautiful women on his arm. But the one thing James Bond has never been is “woke” – until now.

Charlie Higson, the author of the Young Bond novels, says Daniel Craig – who plays cinema’s most famous spy for the fifth and final time in upcoming film No Time to Die – has “given us woke 007, who’s tender, cries and gets into the shower in his tuxedo to comfort a woman”.

Soon we’re going to be watching Zack Snyder leave behind the quest for a “grown-up” superhero movie and return to his old playground, the zombie movie. Army of the Dead looks like a huge amount of fun and leaves us wondering why nobody has made a zombie heist movie before, but one of the plot details that has leaked about the film is that Area 51 plays a significant role.

This suggests that the zombie plague may be extraterrestrial in origin. Like most subversions of the zombie apocalypse genre (although Army of the Dead promises a much smaller and more contained “apocalypse” so that all that cash they steal is still worth something) this is actually a plot twist you can trace back to the earliest roots of the genre.

In Night of the Living Dead, the zombie apocalypse is the result of strange radiation emerging from a probe that has returned from Venus.

In today’s Global Bulletin, the BBC unveils “Dodger,” a new Dickens-inspired drama series with an all-star cast; U.K. comedy royalty recognizes Jenna Al as the head of the next generation of writer-performers with the Screenshot award; Keshet Productions in Israel and Twickenham Film Studios in the U.K. get makeovers with new rebrandings; Canada’s Black Screen Office and Telefilm Canada unite to improve the quality of minority representation in the country’s screen industries; Channel 4 commissions an anti-vaxx documentary; English soccer favorite Peter Crouch and the BBC prep a daily European Championship entertainment program; All3Media International deals “Too Close” abroad; Spanish golfing great Severiano “Seve” Ballesteros Sota gets the documentary treatment; and Warner Bros. International Television Production appoints Bruno Henriquet to lead operations in France.

Series

Christopher Eccleston (“Doctor Who”), David Threlfall (“Shameless”), Billy Jenkins (“The Crown”) and Saira Choudhry (“Hollyoaks”) are set to star in “Dodger,...

Christopher Eccleston will lead the cast of Dodger, a new story set in the world of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. The series, produced by NBCUniversal International Studios, is a ten-part family adventure that will air next year on Cbbc and BBC iPlayer.

Eccleston will play Fagin, with David Threlfall cast as the chief of police, Billy Jenkins as the titular Dodger, and Saira Choudhry as Nancy. Filming is underway in Manchester. Aabay Ali, Ellie-May Sheridan, Mila Lieu, Connor Curren, Sam C Wilson, Tanya Reynolds, Lucy Montgomery, Frances Barber, Javone Prince and Rhys Thomas are also in the cast.

Set before the events of Oliver Twist, the show will follow the exploits of the infamous pickpocket, the Artful Dodger, and Fagin’s gang as they find ingenious ways to survive the grim and exploitative conditions of early Victorian London in the 1830s.

The series is written by Rhys Thomas and Lucy...

Writer Rhianna Pratchett, known for video games including the Tomb Raider reboot and the Overlord series, returns to an early staple of role-playing gaming with Fighting Fantasy. Pratchett’s book, Crystal of Storms, takes players into a fantasy police procedural on a floating island.

She’s one of only two guest writers for the franchise, and the first woman to put her stamp on it. With a strong career of her own and the legacy of her father Terry’s Discworld series, her quirky take on the fantasy procedural is part of Scholastic’s revitalization of Fighting Fantasy.

Developed in the 80s, Fighting Fantasy works as an introduction for kids to fantasy roleplaying. Players can use dice or flip the pages to roll different outcomes for their characters. Items, stat trackers, and alternate origin stories make Fighting Fantasy more complicated than a choose-your-own-adventure book but still easy to play solo.

The fact that Christopher Eccleston is doing more Doctor Who for Big Finish productions, is exciting stuff. Considering Eccleston had a mixed time on Doctor Who – loving the character and the response of the younger audience especially, but playing the part while ill and disagreeing with the production team – it is also unexpected.

Having appeared at a few conventions and bumping into some of his successors recently, Eccleston seems more at peace with his legacy. It was a difficult time for him personally, but what an impact he has had on Doctor Who. As mentioned here, casting an actor of Eccleston’s reputation and stature immediately suggested this show was a serious proposition, disconnecting it from a variety of baggage.

As there was no guarantee Doctor Who would survive for more than one series, Eccleston’s departure meant that the Ninth Doctor had a complete character arc. His stories often led into one another,...

Filmmaker and theater director Stuart Gordon passed on March 24, as his family confirmed to Variety. The cause of death was not released as of press time. Gordon was 72.

Best known for his directorial debut Re-Animator, as well as indie horror favorites From Beyond and Abel Ferrara’s Body Snatchers, the latter of which he wrote, Gordon was also the co-creator of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise. He wrote the first film with an eye to direct, and he would go on to produce the sequel Honey, I Blew Up the Kid and write on the TV series.

Gordon was born in Chicago on Aug. 11, 1947. He apprenticed as a commercial artist before majoring in theater at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In March 1968, Gordon produced The Game Show on the Play Circle stage of the school’s Wisconsin Union Theater. During the play, the audience was locked in the...

Charlie Higson, British writer and actor, known for his “Young Bond” novel series, has boarded “Curse of the Kohinoor,” a recently announced Anglo-Indian heist series, as its co-writer. He will join Farrukh Dhondy (“Mangal Pandey: The Rising”), screenwriter and former Channel 4 commissioning editor for multicultural programming, on the project.

The thriller recounts a plot to steal the Kohinoor diamond, centerpiece of the British Crown Jewels. Featuring many of the biggest names from the Indian entertainment industry, “Curse” intertwines the history of the iconic diamond with the story of an incredible robbery attempt.

The series will be directed by Colin Teague, director of the BAFTA-winning BBC series “Dr Who” and ITV’s “Beowulf.” “Curse” will be shot on location in India and the U.K. from March 2020. Executive producers are Padma Galla for Amara Raja Media & Entertainment, Rahul Aggarwal for Star Entertainment Worldwide, and Bobby Bedi for Contentflow Studios.

Charles Thompson,...