Connect with us

Published

on

Eddie Redmayne says he nearly ended up in hot water off-set whilst filming new Sky Atlantic show The Day of the Jackal.

Speaking to Sky News about the challenges of modernising Frederick Forsyth’s acclaimed novel, the Oscar-winning actor said it took months of intensive preparation to play a character that assumes a range of different ages and nationalities.

“What’s interesting about the Jackal is in some ways he is an actor and this whole series was a kind of actor’s playground,” he explained.

“I am a sucker for process… so it was languages, it was prosthetics, different costumes… and then all the gun work as well… I had about three or four months prepping, and it was pretty fun.”

From the first episode, the actor was required to casually be able to construct a gun out of the internal workings of a wheelie case. While he’d already been given advanced weapons training, his eagerness to take props home to practice could have nearly ended in his arrest.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Eddie Redmayne’s kids want him to play a ‘goodie’.

“There is a moment at which the Jackal constructs this rifle…it is a beautiful bit of prop design…and I’m a really shoddy prop actor, so in Budapest, I asked the prop master if I could take home this case with me to work on it in the hotel,” he said.

“I was in the midst of eating some goulash and I suddenly went ‘Argh’ as I realised that I had left this gigantic sniper’s rifle – and the hotel was basically the equivalent of Trafalgar Square – pointing out a window and it was about to be the turndown service.

Pic: Sky
Image:
The Jackal getting out of one of his disguises. Pic: Sky UK

An unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, (Eddie Redmayne) makes his living.carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a.tenacious British intelligence officer (Lashana Lynch) who starts to track down the Jackal in a.thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake. Pic: Sky UK/ Carnival Film & Television Limited 2024
Image:
Pic: Sky UK/ Carnival Film & Television Limited 2024

“I remember running down the corridor and the person that works in the hotel pushing down the towels [trolley] and some extra little toiletries and I just barged through the door and deconstructed this thing… otherwise that could have been a moment because it looked pretty persuasive.”

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Keeping the action mostly contained onscreen, the star acknowledges it is a risky gamble to attempt a modern reboot of a much-loved classic.

He explained: “I loved it since I was a kid and so when the scripts arrived in my inbox there was definitely a moment of trepidation.”

Pic: Sky
Image:
Lashana Lynch plays an intelligence officer hunting down the Jackal. Pic: Sky UK

Forsyth’s acclaimed novel has had many lives since it came out in the early 70s, but the 1973 film version is how most people will remember the cat and mouse thriller, including its leading man.

“The original film was very much a binary sense of good and evil,” Redmayne said.

“We live in a world now, certainly in social media, in which things dictate that there is a right and a wrong and the grey territory is harder to navigate, I suppose… the series makes some sort of gestures towards that.”

Eddie Redmayne as The Jackal & Úrsula Coberó as Nuria in Day Of The Jackal. Pic: Sky UK/ Carnival Film & Television Ltd 2024
Image:
Redmayne alongside co-star Ursula Cobero. Pic: Sky UK/ Carnival Film & Television Ltd 2024

In the 10-part TV Sky Atlantic series, viewers will see that the Jackal is still an elite assassin carrying out a seemingly impossible hit. But, in this version, James Bond star Lashana Lynch plays an intelligence officer hunting him down.

The show takes in the rise of right-wing extremism, tech megalomaniacs and themes of assassination.

With the attempt on the life of Donald Trump, and a terrifying cycle of violence and assassination in the Middle East, there is something that feels eerily prescient about the timing of the modern reboot.

“What the series does [show] is that there’s ambiguity in everyone and I feel that that’s kind of where we’re at slightly in the world,” Redmayne said.

(left to right) Sule Rimi, Chukwudi Iwuji, Jon Arias, Nick Blood, Ursula Corbero, Lashana Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Charles Dance, Lia Williams, Ben Hall, Jonjo O'Neill and Richard Dormer attending the Day of the Jackal UK premiere at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. Picture date: Tuesday October 22, 2024.
Image:
The Day Of The Jackal cast at the London premiere. Pic: PA

Read more:
Eddie Redmayne says his dad told him not to ‘screw up’ role
The film opening the conversation about sex work

For the actor, the final pulse-raising moment will be finding out what fans and his family make of the drama, not that he’ll be tuning in personally.

“Truth be told, nothing would pain me more than watching myself on screen, so I won’t be doing that… but I will be encouraging my family to watch it… it was my dad’s favourite film,” he said.

The Day of the Jackal is out on Sky Atlantic and NOW on 7 November.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Crocodile from hit film Crocodile Dundee dies peacefully, zoo says

Published

on

By

Crocodile from hit film Crocodile Dundee dies peacefully, zoo says

The iconic crocodile who starred in hit film Crocodile Dundee has died, his zoo has announced.

Crocosaurus Cove, where Burt had been kept since 2008, said he passed away “peacefully” over the weekend.

He was estimated to be over 90 years old, well over the usual life expectancy.

“Burt was truly one of a kind. He wasn’t just a crocodile; he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures,” the zoo said.

“While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years.

“Visitors from around the globe marvelled at his impressive size and commanding presence, especially at feeding time.”

Burt was captured for the first time in the 1980s, the zoo said, and he appeared in Crocodile Dundee just before Christmas in 1986.

He starred alongside Paul Hogan in the film, helping to “shape Australia’s image as a land of rugged natural beauty and awe-inspiring wildlife”.

Known for his “independent nature”, the zoo said Burt was a “confirmed bachelor” with a “fiery temperament”, which earned him the respect of caretakers and visitors.

“As we mourn his loss, we are reminded of the vital role wildlife plays in our shared history and the importance of preserving it for future generations,” the zoo added.

Read more:
The notable deaths of 2024
What to know for new Lion King

The average saltwater crocodile usually lives up to 70 years.

Crocosaurs Cove said it plans to install a commemorative sign to celebrate his “extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park”.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

What texts and messages Blake Lively’s legal complaint against It Ends With Us co-star show

Published

on

By

What texts and messages Blake Lively's legal complaint against It Ends With Us co-star show

Documents from actress Blake Lively’s legal complaint about her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni claim to show how his PR team deliberately “planted pieces of how horrible Blake is to work with” in the press and on social media.

The legal complaint, filed to the California Civil Rights Department on Friday, contains pages of text messages allegedly sent between Baldoni and his PR team.

Lively, 37, claims that Baldoni, 40, who is also the director of the film, hired crisis PR management to engage in a “multi-tiered” plan to damage her reputation after she and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, complained of “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behaviour” on set of the movie.

Lively at the UK gala screening for the film on 8 August. Pic: AP
Image:
Lively at the UK gala screening for the film on 8 August. Pic: AP

A lawyer representing Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios says the allegations are “completely false, outrage and intentionally salacious”.

He adds that the studio and its PR team “did nothing proactive nor retaliated” against Lively – and that it hired crisis PR managers “due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms Lively during production”.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Blake Lively on being an actor and producer

The text messages, which Lively says she acquired through a subpoena, involve exchanges between Jennifer Abel, of PR firm RWA Communications, Melissa Nathan, of The Agency Group PR, and Baldoni.

They include:

  • Details of two quotes of PR packages – one costing “£175k” for a “3-4 month period” including “full reddit, full social account take downs”;
  • Another PR package costing “$25k per month” for “min 3 months” that includes “creation of social fan engagement to go back and forth with any negative accounts, helping to change the narrative and stay on track”;
  • Baldoni asking Ms Abel “What is the TikTok strategy” and saying “I’d like you guys to start posting me ONLY talking about domestic violence and clips and why this movie is so important”;
  • Ms Abel telling Ms Nathan she was “having reckless thoughts of wanting to plant pieces this week of how horrible Blake is to work with”;
  • Ms Abel saying: “The narrative online is so freaking good and fans are still sticking up for Justin” and telling Ms Nathan “you did such amazing work”;
  • Ms Nathan telling Ms Abel: “The majority of socials are so pro Justin and I don’t even agree with half of them lol”;
  • Ms Nathan replying to Ms Abel: “Narrative is CRAZY good”;
  • Ms Nathan telling Ms Abel: “We can’t write it down to him… We can’t write we will destroy her”;
  • Ms Nathan adding: “you know we can bury anyone”;
  • Ms Nathan saying to Ms Abel: “Don’t worry, I didn’t kill her and send her in a box to your house”, to which Abel replies: “DAMNIT”;
  • Ms Nathan telling Ms Abel socials are “really really ramping up”, to which Ms Abel adds: “It’s actually sad because it just shows you have people really want to hate on women”.

The text messages appear to date between 15 May and 18 August this year. It Ends With Us was released on 9 August.

In one other exchange, Baldoni expresses concerns his PR team may have been deploying fake “bots” to “take her [Lively] down” on social media, to which Ms Nathan replies: “I can fully confirm we do not have bots.”

The legal documents also include the alleged list of conditions Lively submitted for her “returning to production” after she alleged sexual harassment on set.

They include “no one entering… BL’s trailer while she is in a state of undress” and “no discussions of personal experience with sex or nudity”.

Lively’s legal complaint claims Baldoni “abruptly pivoted away from” the film’s marketing plan and “used domestic violence ‘survivor content’ to protect his public image” after the sexual harassment allegations came out.

Justin Baldoni at the world premiere in New York on 6 August. Pic: AP
Image:
Baldoni at the world premiere in New York on 6 August. Pic: AP

Baldoni brands Lively’s claims ‘shameful’

Mr Freedman, representing Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, says in his statement: “It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.

“These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media. Wayfarer Studios made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film, to work alongside their own representative with Jonesworks employed by Stephanie Jones, due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production which included her threatening to not showing up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.

“It was also discovered that Ms. Lively enlisted her own representative, Leslie Sloan with Vision PR, who also represents Mr. Reynolds, to plant negative and completely fabricated and false stories with media, even prior to any marketing had commenced for the film, which was another reason why Wayfarer Studios made the decision to hire a crisis professional to commence internal scenario planning in the case they needed to address.

“The representatives of Wayfarer Studios still did nothing proactive nor retaliated, and only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and factual reporting and monitored social activity. What is pointedly missing from the cherry-picked correspondence is the evidence that there were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals.”

Lively says in a statement to the New York Times: “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”

The August release of It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, was shrouded by speculation over discord between the lead pair.

Baldoni took a backseat in promoting the film while Lively took centre stage along with Reynolds, who was on the press circuit for Deadpool & Wolverine at the same time.

Sky News has contacted Jessica Abel and RWA Communications for comment.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Blake Lively accuses It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment in legal complaint

Published

on

By

Blake Lively accuses It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment in legal complaint

Actor Blake Lively has accused her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the film in a legal complaint.

Lively, 37, also claims 40-year-old Baldoni and the studio behind the movie embarked on a subsequent “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation.

The complaint, which was filed on Friday with the California Civil Rights Department, according to the New York Times, precedes a lawsuit and names Baldoni, the studio and Baldoni’s publicists among the defendants.

In the papers, Lively claims the attempt to damage her reputation was launched after she and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, addressed “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behaviour” by Baldoni and a producer on the movie.

According to the complaint, the plan included a proposal to plant theories on online message boards, engineer a social media campaign and place news stories critical of Lively.

A lawyer representing Justin Baldoni denies the claims. Pic AP
Image:
A lawyer representing Justin Baldoni (pictured) denies the claims. Pic AP

It also claims Baldoni “abruptly pivoted away from” the film’s marketing plan and “used domestic violence ‘survivor content’ to protect his public image”.

Bryan Freedman, a lawyer who represents Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its representatives, said in a statement: “These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”

He said the studio “proactively” hired a crisis manager “due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms Lively during production”.

Mr Freedman also said Lively threatened to not appear on set and not promote the film “if her demands were not met,” although those demands were not specified.

Read more from Sky News:
Ferne Cotton shares update after tumours removed
Chris Packham resigns from RSPCA

Lively denied planting or spreading negative information about Baldoni and the studio to the New York Times.

“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” she told the paper.

The August release of It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, was shrouded by speculation over discord between the lead pair.

Baldoni took a backseat in promoting the film while Lively took centre stage along with Reynolds, who was on the press circuit for Deadpool & Wolverine at the same time.

Continue Reading

Trending