Ray Stevenson, the Northern Irish actor who played the villainous British governor in RRR, Volstagg in the THOR films and a main antagonist in the upcoming STAR WARS series Ahsoka, has died aged 58. Representatives for Stevenson said he had died on Sunday, four days before his birthday. The Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported he had been hospitalised with a sudden illness on the island of Ischia, while in production on the film CASSINO in Ischia.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN NORTHERN IRELAND is a new five-part documentary about the Troubles that combines personal accounts with archive footage to tell the stories of people and communities dealing with violence and conflict on a daily basis. Series director James Bluemel said his experience directing the Bafta and Emmy award-winning ONCE UPON A TIME IN IRAQ inspired him to take on the task of telling the story of a conflict closer to home. Now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
PEAKY BLINDERS star Charlene McKenna plays a woman with a dark past in gripping new Irish drama CLEAN SWEEP. There’s some good writing in this twisty drama which follows the interconnecting stories of the large cast, including teen son Derek (Rhys Mannion) who is developing a fondness for reefer, daughter Caitlin (Katelyn Rose Downey) on the edge of adolescence, and precocious and sickly Niall (Aidan McCann), who is wiser than his tender years.
As he graces the cover of Rolling Stone UK, the PEAKY BLINDERS star remains driven by his craft, bringing an intensity to every part, including his latest as J Robert Oppenheimer, inventor of the atomic bomb. Here, he discusses starring in and producing a film depicting the dark story of Ireland’s MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES, as well as the prospect of reprising his role as Tommy Shelby on the big screen.
Barry Keoghan and Brian Gleeson will be starring on screen together later this year after the Irish actors both joined the cast of TOP BOY. Netflix has confirmed season three of its hit drama will be coming out in September 2023, with Keoghan and Gleeson playing new characters. The final chapter of the show’s third and final season will feature regular cast members Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson, Simbi Ajikawo, Jasmine Jobson, Saffron Hocking and Araloyin Oshunremi. Keoghan and Gleeson will be playing new characters Jonny and Tadhg.
Pierce Brosnan talks to Jimmel Kimmel about wanting to be an artist since childhood, his many paintings, coming to LA for the first time in 1982, his first solo art show here in Hollywood, and he judges portraits members of our studio audience painted of him. Season 1 of HISTORY’S GREATEST HEISTS, hosted by Brosnan, is now available via The History Channel.
Conor McGregor has revealed new details about his upcoming Netflix sports documentary series. Titled McGREGOR FOREVER, the Irish UFC star took to Twitter on Tuesday to unveil a trailer for the show. In the clip, McGregor talks about breaking his ankle during a 2021 fight with Dustin Poirier, an injury he says he thought was a career-ender. On Tuesday, however, he said of the series: “You heard it here first. My brand new documentary series McGREGOR FOREVER is coming to Netflix on 17 May. The only place to hear my true story, which is only getting started!”
The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced the Screen Ireland – IFTA Rising Star nominees for 2023 ahead of the IFTA Awards in Dublin next month. The five Rising Star nominees are: Kathryn Ferguson (Director – NOTHING COMPARES), Danielle Galligan (Actor – LAKELANDS), Éanna Hardwicke (Actor – LAKELANDS), Aoife McArdle (Director – SEVERANCE) and Daryl McCormack (Actor – BAD SISTERS, GOOD LUCK TO YOU LEO GRANDE). Áine Moriarty, Chief Executive of IFTA, said: “These five superb individuals are a true reflection of the brilliant new wave of Irish talent who are proving themselves to be world-class screen professionals.”