Role Call: Christmas Carrots, Ax Murderers, and Comic Book Villains
In this week’s Casting News, our Potter cast tells us a variety of tales: the little Christmas carrot who could, a comic book villain brought to life through motion capture, a new (maybe?) character appears in the Star Wars franchise, and finally someone puts Aunt Petunia out of her misery! All that and more in this week’s MuggleNet Role Call!
His face may not be all that recognizable to readers because of the heavy latex and makeup prosthetics used to transform him into Aberforth Dumbledore, but here’s your chance to get to know him a bit better! Actor Ciarán Hinds was recently announced as the latest villain in the new Justice League movie, which follows the Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice film starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. Hinds’s character, Steppenwolf, will appear in the film using motion capture, according to the Wrap. Production on the film recently wrapped, with the premiere date set for November 17, 2017. To learn more about Steppenwolf and the role he plays in Justice League, click here.
We previously revealed that Warwick Davis (Professor Filius Flitwick/Griphook) would be returning to his Star Wars roots, and now a new behind-the-scenes photo from Rogue One has hit the web! While the character he will portray is still being kept tightly under wraps, one could speculate from the leaked photo that he might not be slipping back into his role as a beloved Ewok as many believed and may take on a whole new character. Take a look!
Additionally, his new show Tenable will air Monday, November 14 in the UK on ITV. Davis tells What’s On TV about the show as well as his upcoming projects, saying,
I’ve done a Christmas episode of ‘Jonathan Creek’. I love TV detectives, and I play a character who enjoys helping Jonathan. I have also got another Christmas show on BBC2 called ‘The Entire Universe’ with Eric Idle, Professor Brian Cox, and Noel Fielding. It’s ridiculous but also educational about space. Then I’m in ‘Rogue One’, the next ‘Star Wars’ film, which is out in December. ‘Star Wars’ was where it started for me in 1981, so I have come full circle. When I’m in the studio, I’m like a fan and stand there looking at the props!
Based on the acclaimed book ‘Denial: Holocaust History on Trial’, ‘Denial’ recounts Deborah E. Lipstadt’s (Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz) legal battle for historical truth against David Irving (BAFTA nominee Timothy Spall), who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. In the English legal system, in cases of libel, the burden of proof is on the defendant, therefore it was up to Lipstadt and her legal team led by Richard Rampton (Academy Award® nominee Tom Wilkinson), to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred.
As if the holiday season weren’t already coming fast enough, holiday music has been sneaking onto the radio and ads have been popping up everywhere. You might notice a familiar Slytherin voice in one such Aldi ad, starring a tiny carrot trying his best to see Santa. Should we spoil it for you? We think not! Check out the ad below to see which Hogwarts professor narrates Kevin the Carrot’s plight to reach Santa:
While David Heyman is set to tackle Roald Dahl’s wacky Willy Wonka, the Potter and Fantastic Beasts producer was quick to clarify that the new film would not be a mere reboot of the children’s classic, telling SlashFilm,
It’s not a remake. They’ve done two films, quite different. But it’s possibly an origin story. We’re just in the early stages of it, working with a writer called Simon Rich, which is wonderful. I’m a huge Roald Dahl fan. I’ve been trying to work on Dahl material for quite some time, but they’re all tied up. So when this was suggested, I didn’t take a moment to pause and want to jump right in.
Despite the flack he received for his “bag lady” comments at last year’s BAFTAs, Stephen Fry (audiobook talent for UK Harry Potter series) has been invited back as host of the UK award show. The fiasco following his comment did seem to cause him a bit of stress, considering he temporarily deleted his Twitter account, but it seems everyone is over the whole thing. This will be Fry’s twelfth time hosting the ceremony, with the ceremony taking place February 12 at the Royal Albert Hall.
We also revealed last month that Fry was very much interested in returning to FOX’s Bones as it comes into its final season, and then last week it was revealed that he had been brought back for the final season! While the hit show’s last season will begin to air January 3, you can expect to see Fry’s Gordan Wyatt re-emerge on episode nine. No air date has yet been given for this episode.
John Cleese (Sir Nicholas De Mimsy-Porpington a.k.a Nearly Headless Nick) will re-team with his Python costar Eric Idle for a comedy tour this week, titled “Together At Last … For the Very First Time”. Says Idle of the show,
It’s an unexpected delight [to be] over 70 [years old] on the road with an old friend talking about old times and performing material. It’s a big, big tour. Thirty-four dates, and we end up in New Orleans … This is a nice excuse to dip in and see places. I’m looking forward to the Arlington. I think it’s a nice theater. And I hope that everybody that John owes money to comes out in Santa Barbara.
To learn more about the show and how to purchase tickets, click here.
If you love British history, especially surrounding the monarchy, then you’ll love the new Netflix series The Crown. The series follows the rise of Queen Elizabeth II and explores the royal family, scandals and all. You might also recognize a familiar face in episodes six and ten. Paul Thornley (Ron Weasley, Cursed Child) has a small role in the series as Bill Mattheson, a journalist who breaks the story of Princess Margaret and her divorcee love interest, Peter Townsend. The Crown is available for streaming on Netflix now, but you can check out the trailer below.
Finally, Fiona Shaw (Petunia Dursley) is set to star in a film about Lizzie Borden, the famed accused ax murderer who was tried and released in the murder of her parents. Shaw recently spoke with the Sunday Times, stating,
I’m about to begin shooting in America, and it’s a very interesting film. Borden murdered both her parents, and I play one of them.
No word yet on the title of the film or the release date, but we will keep you informed as more details are released.
That’s all for this week’s MuggleNet Role Call! Let us know how you feel about these new projects by commenting below. If you have a news tip you think we should know about, feel free to send us an owl!