Weekly Rewind | 23 June 2017

What's the hot gossip? What's the 411? Well, look no further, folks, because I, indeed, have the 4-1-1. In this new series, Weekly Rewind, I will be recaping the hottest goss from the week in British film, television, and theatre. From production news to trailers releases, I will be tackling the news that I find most intriguing from the past week and giving my personal feelings on what has been happening in the world of British entertainment. 

Daniel Day-Lewis Announces Retirement

Legendary actor Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting this week. Considered by many as the greatest actor of his generation, Day-Lewis has won three Oscars for his roles in Lincoln, There Will Be Blood, and My Left Foot. Day-Lewis is acclaimed for his shape-shifting performance and method practices. He is known for going to extreme lengths to preserve the realism of his roles by remaining in character at all times, even in his personal life. Day-Lewis has one final film to be released later this year: an untitled drama set in the dog-eat-dog world of high fashion, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. 
---
This is such a shock to the world of acting. At only 60 years old, Day-Lewis, one of the greatest artists of the craft, is leaving the profession. Day-Lewis has completely revolutionized what it means to be an actor; he has created a powerful and demanding new way of living a character. He has taken "method" to a new extreme, but it has given us (the unworthy) the gift of stunning acting. His talent will be missed, but it will live on in the characters and performance we have already been given.  

Downton Abbey Movie in the Works; Production to Start in 2018

Downton Abbey is back, ya'll. A movie, based on the hit ITV television series, is in the works to bring the famous Crawley family to the big screen. A recent announcement made by NBCUniversal stated that the production for the project is set to being next year. The script for the movie is currently being penned by the series' writer and creator Julian Fellows and will be produced by the show's producers, Carnival Films, as well as NBCUniversal. The cast of the original series is yet to be confirmed as returning for this movie adaptation. 
---
Personally, I feel this is a bit overkill. Downton Abbey had its time, and, quite frankly, overstayed it's welcome. The show dragged on through six series when it should have ended after three. A movie adaptation is excessive and is simply just a way for the studios to drain a couple more bucks out of an already dried up franchise. 

1984 Opens on Broadway

The Almeida's chilling production of 1984 makes it way across the pond to Broadway in its official opening this week. The show, based off of George Orwell's classic novel, was adapted for the stage by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan. The pair, serving as directors for the new production, are reviving their hit London show on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre. The play stars Tom Sturridge as Winston Smith, Tony winner Reed Birney as O'Brien, and Olivia Wilde in her Broadway debut as Julia. The original production of 1894 was produced in the U.K. by Headlong, Nottingham Playhouse, and the Almeida Theatre. 
---
I was lucky enough to see this production last year in London, and, let me tell you, it actually messed me up psychologically and physically. Icke and Macmillan's production is provocative, intense, psychological, and, quite frankly, woke as hell. It couldn't be a more apt time for a production of 1984 to come to America. It is an absolutely stunning production that will leave you contemplating what is real and who is watching. 

Newest Trailers

Goodbye Christopher Robin

Goodbye Christopher Robin brings the audience behind the pages for a look at the life of author A.A. Milne and the creation of the Winnie the Pooh stories, inspired by his son, C.R. Milne. The movie stars Margot Robbie, Domhnall Gleeson, and Kelly MacDonald, and is directed by Simon Curtis. 
---
Upon first watch, this trailer gave me major Finding Neverland vibes. Well, it sort of is Finding Neverland, but with Winnie the Pooh instead. Either way, the trailer seems promising enough, and I am a major sucker for costume dramas, so I will definitely be putting this on my "To Watch" list for this year. I am also quite a fan of Simon Curtis's work, in particular My Week with Marilyn, so I do have some high expectations for this film.