TIFF: Noémie Merlant in ‘Baby Ruby’

By Abe Friedtanzer

 

It’s only been a few years since Portrait of a Lady on Fire, that visually stunning and deeply engaging French romance starring Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant. The latter had a starring role in a low-key film that showed at AFI Fest in 2020, Jumbo, and she’s sure to become even more well-known with Tár which next shows at the New York Film Festival ahead of its October release. But Merlant is in Toronto this week to debut another film, which marks her second English-language role, the parental horror film Baby Ruby… 

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Patricia Clarkson and Kristin Scott Thomas will be in a movie together

Murtada here. Iconoclastic British filmmaker Sally Potter (Orlando, The Man Who Cried, Ginger & Rosa) started shooting her new movie The Party, this week. The film, which unfolds in real time, revolves around a drinks party held by a London couple to celebrate the wife’s promotion to minister in the Shadow Cabinet. It is described by its producers like so:

a comedy wrapped around a tragedy. It starts as a celebration and ends with blood on the floor.”

Intriguing.

The cast includes Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Timothy Spall, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones and two TFE favorites Kristin Scott Thomas and Patricia Clarkson. One of whom might be playing the lead role of the celebrated minister. Since the movie is set in London we are guessing Scott Thomas. Not that we don't think Clarkson can rock an English accent...

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Westeros Comes to Hollywood: Casting News for Game of Thrones Actors

Margaret here to talk about Hollywood casting directors' collective infatuation with the actors on Game of Thrones. HBO's fantasy epic is a ratings juggernaut and has been Emmy-nominated a hundred times over. Its enormous cast (more series regulars than any other show on television) is getting a lot of attention, and many of them are landing high-profile movie roles. The prestige cable effect, so often noted for its ability to bring movie stars to TV, seems to be working in the other direction for Game of Thrones. 

Let's check in on the upcoming projects from our Westerosi friends: 

Carice van Houten

GoT Role: Melisandre, spooky red-headed priestess

Recently Booked: the Jesse Owens biopic Race. The Dutch actress will play legendary German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl.

Aidan Gillen

GoT Role: Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, slippery schemer.

Recently Booked: Recently greenlit sequel The Maze Runner Chapter II: The Scorch Trials. It's reported that he'll be playing the villain, Janson. 

Gwendoline Christie

GoT Role: Brienne of Tarth, lady warrior

Recently Booked: Star Wars: Episode VII. Her role is top-secret, but the movie is about as high-profile as they come. Her combat experience and 6'3" frame are likely to feature. She's also booked a small part in the final Hunger Games film, as a military commander.

More Westerosi movie news after the jump..

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Get Linky

Housekeeping Note: I'm running very late today so if you're planning to join us for tonight's "Hit Me" on The Bad and the Beautiful, you have extra time. My post probably won't go up until tomorrrow at noon.

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