Role Call: Spectre of Christmas

by · December 12, 2014

In this week’s Role Call, we find a Kickstarter campaign from one of our MuggleNet Live! Expo Patronum special guests, catch Voldemort getting a college degree, the new Bond film finally gets a title, and we find Father Christmas with a gun?!? All that and more as we check out what our favorite cast members are up to this week!

Helena Bonham Carter has joined a new drama series for HBO directed by Steve McQueen, titled Codes of Conduct. She will play opposite newcomer Devon Terrell as Esther Kaufman, a psychiatrist from a well-known Jewish family whose life changes when she meets Terrell’s character, Beverly Snow.

For those who have been waiting what seems like ages for news on the next Bond film, we finally have a title! The next film, starring Ralph Fiennes as the new ‘M’, will be called Spectre. Filming began this week and the official Twitter for James Bond posted a picture from filming, which you can see below:

Ralph was also presented this week with an Honorary Associateship of the London Film School on December 8. You can view pictures from the event below:

New images have been released from Unbroken, due for release this Christmas. You can view the pics, featuring Domhnall Gleeson, below:

In addition, Domhnall’s film Brooklyn has been announced as part of the Sundance Film Festival lineup beginning January 22 through February 1. This will be the world premiere for the film which also stars Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn) and Julie Walters (Molly Weasley). Domhnall continues to keep busy with more than just films, having just finished filming his role as Andrew Henry in The Revenant – the actor has begun rehearsals for The Walworth Farce with his father Brendan (Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody) and brother Brian. The play will open at the Olympia Theatre in Ireland, beginning with preview shows in January. Tickets are now available via Ticketmaster. Domhnall gave his thoughts on performing with his family in Ireland during a recent interview:

The Olympia was a really special place for me as a kid. I saw my dad perform there so many times so it means a lot come back. And it is such a beautiful and historic building. I have always loved it.”

Speaking of projects outside of films, two other Potter actors are expanding their time on stage. Imelda Staunton‘s Mama Rose in Gypsy will begin a seven month run at the Savoy Theatre this March through November after a successful run at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Harry Melling‘s play Peddling is now debuting at London’s Arcola Theatre, which we reported in September. The play, written by Melling (Dudley Dursely), was also reviewed by MuggleNet in April, along with an interview exclusively for MuggleNet fans, which you can read here. Tickets to Peddling are available for purchase here.

Jon Campling, one of MuggleNet Live! Expo Patronum‘s special guests, created a video to help promote his Kickstarter for a new sci-fi web series, Kosmos. They are only £5628 shy of their £30,000 goal. Check out his video and then visit the Kickstarter page here!

Stephen Fry‘s Marked, with Kiefer Sutherland, will debut December 18 on Sky Arts 1. A behind-the-scenes look at the production and an image from the film have been released ahead of the premiere, which you can view below. Stephen plays Father Christmas opposite Sutherland’s character James, trying to show him the error of his ways.

Stephen Fry Marked still 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Vm3WTq-ow

An Oscar roundtable was held by The Hollywood Reporter with actors who are considered to have given the best performances of the year. Included in this list is Timothy Spall for his potrayal of artist J.M.W. Turner in the already award-winning Mr. Turner. You can watch the roundtable below as the actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, also starring David Thewlis) discuss their roles and acting in general.

As reported previously, Alan Rickman was on hand at the Marrakech Film Festival as part of the jury selecting the winners. At the festival press conference on December 6, the jury discussed the films as well as the city hosting the festival. When asked what it was like to be in Marrakech, Rickman responded:

Being here is a bit of strange country and a new experience for me. I was here many years ago as a student, when I had no money and slept on roofs. So I’m now returning in very different circumstances. I’m always open to new films and hope that they will invade my sensibilities.”

A video also surfaced of Alan explaining why the festival and the awards are so important to filmmakers, which you can view here. Winners for the festival’s Golden Star awards will be announced at the close of the festival on December 13.

Warwick Davis will be playing a special game this holiday season! He has joined a Catchphrase Christmas Special, airing December 14 on STV. Take a look at a preview below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqTykbRqFAY

In addition, it was announced that Warwick will also narrate a new series called Planet’s Got Talent. The six-part television show will look at acts from across the world. Here’s what Warwick had to say about the talent he’ll be introducing viewers to:

Each week, I’ll be treating viewers to the top-pick clips from Got Talent shows from across the globe – some funny, some odd, some awe inspiring… all brilliant!”

Weasley fans of Indianapolis, get ready! As part of Wizard World’s first trip to the city, some very special guests from the Harry Potter universe will be in attendance. Both James and Oliver Phelps will be on hand at the Indianapolis Convention Center beginning February 14-15. To learn how you can purchase admission and meet those twin troublemakers, check out the website here!

Finally, David Tennant returns to the series Broadchurch, which will begin its second season January 5. The official trailer for the series was just released, which you can view below:

That’s all for this week! Make sure you return every week to check out the projects the former cast members of Harry Potter are involved in and let us know what you think about the roles they’ve chosen.