News

UK distributor Verve Pictures has picked up a trio of titles for theatrical release, including BFI Flare world premiere A Night Like This.

Two men cross paths one night and join forces in a quest around London to find a meaning to their miserable lives, to find their connection takes a deeper turn. Liam Calvert directs A Night Like This, which is written and produced by Diego Sceratti, and co-produced by Reece Cargan and James Heath, of Scottish production company Randan. Alexander Lincoln, Jack Brett Anderson and David Bradley star.

Also joining Verve’s slate is Sheffield Doc Fest title Where Dragons Live,...

Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s Dreamers and Brian Durnin’s Spilt Milk are among the nine feature films and documentaries taking part in the fourth edition of the BFI London Film Festival works-in-progress showcase.

Dreamers is the directorial debut of Gharoro-Akpojoto, producer of Blue Story and Boxing Day and is in post-production. Ronkę Adékoluęjo stars in the love story set in a detention centre, produced by Emily Morgan’s Quiddity Films, with backing from BBC Film and the BFI. The Yellow Affair by Newen Connect represents sales.

Spilt Milk is Dublin filmmaker Brian Durnin’s first film. It follows an 11 year-old boy...

Jack Brett Anderson is set to play the male lead in upcoming feature film “The Insect Life.”

The project marks the feature debut of writer/director James Hughes and his production banner Sunset Aperture. Hughes previously directed various award-winning shorts starring the likes of Georgina Campbell and Tobias Menzies.

“The Insect Life” is set to tell the emotional story of two lost souls — Levi and Céleste — who both suffer from mental health issues and romantically cling to one another until addiction tears them apart into two parallel journeys of metamorphosis that contrast their chances of survival. Anderson will play Levi, the first confirmed casting on the film.

“There are few times in life when you read a script that completely immerses you like ‘The Insect Life,’ and it is visually stunning,” Anderson said in a statement. “Levi and Céleste, for me, are like the shining of one soul and in turn,...

Kitty Laing will step down as head of comedy at United Agents after an investigation into social media reposts and shares highly critical of Israel. She will, however, remain with the U.K. talent agency to represent her clients.

“Following the statements made earlier this week, it has been agreed that Kitty Laing will step away from her leadership roles as head of comedy and as a member of the executive committee of United Agents, effective immediately. Kitty will continue to work with her clients and the team at United Agents,” the talent agency said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

United Agents on Oct. 24 opened an investigation into Laing, one of its senior agents, after she shared posts on X, formerly Twitter, that were highly critical of Israel as it mounts a campaign in Gaza against Hamas after the deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in southern Israel.

United...

Kitty Laing, head of comedy at United Agents, is under investigation by the top U.K. talent agency after social media reposts and shares highly critical of Israel as that country fights a war with Hamas.

On Tuesday morning, United Agents said on its X account and in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter: “We have been made aware of social media posts by one of our senior agents this morning. These are not the views of United Agents Ltd. We are conducting a full and thorough investigation into this immediately.”

Laing represents comedy writers and actors and sketch comedy artists like Michelle Asante, Jamie Demetriou, Jack Brett Anderson, and Dan Harry and Ollie King. United Agents has clients working in film, TV, theater, radio and digital, as well as representing them in concert touring.

Laing’s reposts have been taken down and are no longer available for viewing on X.

"To me, she was a mystery!" Lies and deceit and dark pasts aplenty. Lionsgate has debuted one final trailer for the third film in the Intrigo Anthology, a series of mystery thrillers adapted from novels by Håkan Nesser. This final one is called Intrigo: Samaria, following up Intrigo: Death of an Author and Intrigo: Dear Agnes previously. Years after the murder of Vera, her friend from college, Paula is driven to make a documentary about the case and asks a professor to help. But as the two draw closer to the shocking truth behind the slaying, Paula's deceitful ways and Henry's dark past explode into a dangerous, heart-stopping confrontation. Sounds scary? Starring Phoebe Fox as Paula, with Millie Brady, Andrew Buchan, Jeff Fahey, Luka Peros, Scott Alexander Young, and Jack Brett Anderson. Even though in text this film may not sound that interesting, this is quite an enticing trailer with heaps of twists and turns.

Stars: Jessica Arterton, Leslie Mills, Liam Kelly, Jack Brett Anderson, Robert Lowe, Dean Maskell, Andrew Lee Potts, Anna Nightingale | Written and Directed by James Crow

It would seem that British horror is on something of a roll at the moment. Film after film it seems filmmakers from these shores have stepped up their game tenfold, be it in an attempt to compete with their American counterparts or be it that more home-grown horror is finally seeing the light of day (a few years ago British-made product would really struggle to find distribution outside of a few small DVD labels here in the UK). Whatever it may be, it’s safe to say British horror is back with a vengeance. And James Crow’s House of Salem is a perfect example of that.

Screened Frightfest in London back in 2016, House of Salem is the latest horror film from Kent-based writer/director James Crow,...

Here's a first look at award-winning Cbbc show Wolfblood which returns for a fourth series on Tuesday 4th March, with a new urban backdrop. Jana, played by Leona Vaughan is back with new characters Tj, played by Louis Payne, Matei, played by Jack Brett Anderson and Emilia, played by Sydney Wade.

Former wild wolfblood Jana (Leona Vaughan) takes centre stage, having left the security and seclusion of rural Stoneybridge and moved into the city where she forms a new pack.

The wolfbloods who play a pivotal role in her adventures include corporate boss Imara (Michelle Gayle), her son Tj (Louis Payne), Matei (Jack Brett Anderson), his sister Emilia (Sydney Wade), and martial arts enthusiast Selina (Rukku Nahar). Familiar returning characters include Katrina (Gabrielle Green), who has opened a new Kafe in town, Kay (Shorelle Hepkin) and their old teacher Mr Jeffries (Mark Fleischmann).

In a world of CCTV, social networks,...

Now in post-production, James Crow's House of Salem stars Andrew-Lee Potts, Anna Nightingale, and Robert Lowe. Also in this round-up: a look at the short horror film called Santa and details on the Pay the Ghost Blu-ray.

House of Salem: Press Release: "Independent film company Last British Dragon has just wrapped filming its second feature-length horror film after “Curse of the Witching Tree”. Written, Produced and Directed once again by James Crow, the film promises to build upon its success in the USA and the UK with another film entering the realms of demonic forces, gothic imagery, and eerie undead spirits.

A group of kidnappers become a child’s unlikely protectors, after finding out they have unwittingly been set up to take part in a deadly game of human sacrifice. As they start to uncover the truth of the safe house they find themselves trapped, they must battle demonic...

Leona Vaughan's Jana will be centre-stage in Wolfblood series 4 as the series moves from Stoneybridge to the city...

Update: Here's a link to Wolfblood creator Debbie Moon's blog on series 4 casting and more.

The supermoon couldn't have come at a more apt time. Cbbc's superb Wolfblood (here are our love letters to series one, two, and three if you needed catching up) is currently filming its fourth series in Newcastle and Gateshead.

It's all-change for the new series, according to the latest press bumf, which tells us that Wolfblood will be moving out of rural Stoneybridge and to the city.

There's been a shake-up in personnel too, as formerly wild Wolfblood Jana (Leona Vaughan) takes centre stage and forms an urban pack comprising a new gang. New Wolfblood characters include corporate boss Imara (Michelle Gayle), her son Tj (Louis Payne), Matei (Jack Brett Anderson), Emilia (Sydney Wade) and...