This time, we’ve got a close-up of the man and his iconic Riddick goggles (Riddick sees in the dark, the goggles make life a lot easier for him in the daylight). He also looks like he’s hiding from something, and possibly injured, implying that life as the king isn’t working out quite as well as he’d probably hoped.

The Riddick films are serious sc-fi, and they seem honed enough by super-geek Diesel to really make it big if he can ditch some of the niggles people had with The Chronicles Of Riddick and go back to the originality and the mastery of dark sci-fi that came through so well in Pitch Black.

So, with the two images here plus the one we’ve already seen (one up top, one just above this bit), I’m really looking forward to how it pans out – Vin Diesel’s an actor I enjoy watching, even if his actor-dial is permanently set to “grinning, cocky, badass motherf******”. More photos as they appear!

[source: Empire]

Rehearsals for the film start on Monday, and joining the Hollywood stars will be two of the original cast from the stage show.

Hollywood actors, including Hugh Jackman (X-Men ) Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries ) Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen (Hugo), will be joined by theatre stars, Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle.

Wilkinson played the original Jean Valjean – a Frenchman who was in Bagne prison for 19 years after stealing bread – while Ruffelle played the role of Eponine – the destitute daughter of the crooked Thénardier family.

Russell Crowe will be playing Inspector Javert, Hugh Jackman is taking the role of Jean Valjean, Anne Hathaway has been cast as Fantine and Amanda Seyfried is playing Cosette.

We will also see Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier – a corrupt innkeeper – with his larger than life wife played by Helena Bonham Carter.

Cameron Mackintosh – who produced the stage show – is also involved with the cinematic remake, with award-winning film maker Tom Hooper directing the picture.

Hooper, who used to direct Eastenders and Byker Grove, has already spent three weeks with Jackman in order to perfect his character for the role.

Wilkinson was reported saying that his journey with Les Miserables has ended ‘and I have come full circle’.

Les Miserables was first staged almost 30 years ago and it still remains a sell out show in the West End and Broadway.

Around 23 years ago, Alan Parker (Angela’s Ashes) planned to direct a movie adaptation but for various reasons, it fell through.

The film will try and keep true to the musical by incorporating direct scenes from the show. Some of the scenes will be filmed at Pinewood Studios, with other parts shot on location in the UK.

We are looking forward to seeing this star-studded film – we will keep you updated on the latest news.

It is one of the most anticipated British film releases for some time. The Iron Lady, a biopic about Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher is going to have an exclusive gala screening on Thursday 15th December at Manchester Town Hall to celebrate it’s impending release. The hall was used as a double for the Houses of Parliament, the key location in the film.

The event is the next in line of Volkswagen’s ‘See Film Differently‘ series, which has been providing fans with an intimate and unique experience for the past six years. They have hosted screenings of some of the most iconic British films in their most iconic filming locations in support of independent film-making and to give audiences a bigger and more involved experience.

To date they have successfully held screenings of: An American Werewolf in London inside ZSL London Zoo, Trainspotting at the Royal Scottish Academy and a 40th anniversary screening of  A Clockwork Orange at Brunel University – all classic locations from the films.

The latest offering of The Iron Lady, will allow fans to watch the film, which stars Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher and Jim Broadbent as her husband Denis,  almost a month before its UK theatrical release in January 2012.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the biopic is a complete departure from her first collaboration with Streep, Mamma Mia. The Iron Lady is a compelling and intimate portrayal of Thatcher’s battle through the male dominated world of politics to become the most infamous, longest reigning and only female Prime Minister in Britain’s long history.

The Iron Lady co-stars Richard E. Grant and Anthony Head.

The screening is held 15th December 2011, or you can catch it after its UK release on 13th January 2012.

I’d like to say this is the first time this has happened, but sadly it’s not true. Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double was severely injured during the filming of one of the last Harry Potter films, someone was almost killed in a set mishap during the Transformers 3 shoot, and Dungeon Siege 2 suffered six injured parties after an explosion. But it’s rare that someone is actually killed.

The crew member in person was in the process of helping to dismantle the set with the aid of a scissor-lift. Some theorise it may have been resting on ground that wasn’t completely level, which may be true, as the scissor left then tipped over, the injuries from the fall proving fatal for the poor individual involved.

Those who (apparently – such is the nature of comments threads) work in the industry are keen to infer that sets, and set tear-downs, are dangerous environments, no different to a construction site. Regardless, it is a rare and shocking event nonetheless, and one that will no doubt colour many people’s experiences of the film’s production.

It’s an incredible shame to see this happen to anyone, and the black banner is simply because there isn’t anything appropriate to use as an image given that finding any such media is unlikely. Our condolences go out to their family, as it’s hard to imagine how they must feel, given the freak accident nature of the incident. Our thoughts are with you.

Dozens of dedicated Twilight fans had camped for days outside the theatre and yesterday they finally got a glimpse of Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Jamie Campbell.

The stars walked down a black carpet to promote the fourth instalment of the saga, which are based on the best selling vampire fantasy books by Stephenie Meyer.

Kristen Stewart ( who plays Bella Swan), vamped up in a long elegant purple sequinned dress with a thigh high split, while her on-screen and real life partner Robert Pattinson (the vampire Edward Cullen) wore a fitted grey suit.

Twenty-five-year old Pattinson (Water for Elephants) was reported by MTV as saying, ‘it’s like an alternate reality. My everyday life is so boring, and then you go to these things and everyone thinks something cool is happening’.

He went on to say that even though the film was edited down to fit a PG-13 audience, a R rated ‘harder, bloodier version would be way better’.

The UK première takes place tomorrow (Wednesday 16 November) at the new Westfield shopping centre in Stratford City. Sitting in the 5.45pm screening will be director Bill Condon, as well as other VIP guest stars. The film is released in the UK on Friday 18 November.

Breaking Dawn Part 1 sees Bella and Edward get married and begin their life together, but when Bella falls pregnant her life is put in danger as the vampire baby begins to overpower her body.

Breaking Dawn Part 2 is not expected to hit the cinemas until November 2012, but record numbers of tickets are thought to be sold for the final two instalments.

Tom Hanks and Halle Berry will be in the city later this month filming Cloud Atlas. Based on a novel by David Mitchell, the story won the Literary Fiction award at the British Book Awards and the Richard & Judy Book of the Year award.

Now it is being made into a film and apparently the Scottish city has the right attitude. Filmed mostly in Germany, the producers have said that they are coming to Glasgow due to the great example it set during the filming of World War Z. As well as its positive welcome to film-makers, the architecture of the city is being praised. If this continues, the film-making future looks bright for Glasgow.

Scottish city welcomes Philadelphia and zombies

Major excitement was created in the city of Glasgow when it was announced that it had landed a starring role in the film adaptation of World War Z, a book by Max Brooks. The city was transformed into Philadelphia for the dramatic crash scenes that have been filmed here. While it has been a great boost for Glasgow, emphasizing its place on the map of high-profile film locations, the question on many people’s lips is why are the scenes being filmed here and not Philadelphia?

Basically, the reason is financial, with uncertainty over the availability of tax breaks for film makers in Philadelphia. So, the producers of the film were left with a choice of where looks most like the US city, and apparently that is Glasgow. The Scottish city is described as looking visually similar to the US one, making it an ideal replacement.

While natives of both the cities may not see the resemblance, the film producers have definitely made a good effort. With Philadelphia emergency service vehicles, road signs and even newspaper stands appearing around the place, the similarities can be seen.

Whether or not it is a successful replacement, the action scenes are sure to be exciting. And even if it wasn’t possible to film in Philadelphia, Glasgow has had a good injection of publicity and the residents got the chance to do some celebrity spotting.

Fans of the classic movie, and two other Ealing comedies Hue & Cry and Passport to Pimlico, are in for a treat. To coincide with the re-release on July 22nd, three exclusive bike tours around some of the most iconic London locations used in the films have been created  by Tally Ho! Cycle Tours and British cinema expert Richard Dacre.

That’s not all though, participants get to ride a 1920s-style British-made bike and each tour will end with a screening of one of the films at Vintage at Southbank Centre.

Vintage at Southbank Centre is a three day festival celebrating the style of the 1920s to the 1980s, and presents an exciting mix of music, fashion, film, art, design and dance.

If this sounds like your cup of tea visit Vintage Festival section of the Tally Ho Cycle tours site for tickets and more details.

In the meantime take a look at our favourite clip from The Lavender Hill Mob. It features the one and only Audrey Hepburn who was unknown at the time. It was reported that after filming the scene Alec Guinness, who plays Henry Holland in the film, called his agent and said:

“I’ve just filmed a scene with a girl, I’ve no idea who she is or even if she can act…but I know she’s going to be a star! Someone should sign her up quick.”

Black Gold, which also stars Freida Pinto and Tahar Rahim, is one of the biggest films to date to be made about the Arab world.

It is directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud (Enemy at the Gates) and is an adaptation of Hans Ruesch’s novel The Great Thirst. It has been co-written by Jean-Jacques Annaud and Alain Godard.

The story is of the rivalry between two emirs in Arabia and takes place in 1930s just as oil is being discovered in the area. One young dynamic leader takes it upon himself to unite the various tribes of the kingdoms.

Filming began back in October in Tunisia and has now moved to Qatar, where it is the first major, international project that has been filmed there.

Black Gold, which is being co-produced by the Doha Film Institute and Quinta Communications its epic storyline, a $55 million budget and a focus on the Arab world all mean its already making waves.

So, what do you think of the pictures? It does look pretty epic doesn’t it?

Pictures from David Koskas and Quinta. Antonio Banderas picture from the set of Black Gold in Qatar, co-produced by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and Quinta Communications.
Desert picture from the set of Black Gold in Qatar, co-produced by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and Quinta Communications.

Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes

“I actually petitioned the court and said, ‘This is a PG-13 movie. Let’s just refer to these peripherally.’ So at one point, Watson says, ‘What are you doing, that’s for eye surgery’,” he told MTV.

We’ve got to wait more six months for the release, but there’s already talk of a sequel – from Rob anyway; “I feel like there’s going to be a Sherlock Holmes 2,” he added in his interview. We’ll just have to see, but I’m sure Guy is crossing his fingers – he could do with a hit. At least without out ex Madge cast in a role, he’s in with a bit more of a chance.