Annette Bening, Bill Nighy to Star in Family Drama ‘Hope Gap’

VARIETY
Davy McNary

Annette Bening and Bill Nighy will star in the independent family drama “Hope Gap,” with William Nicholson directing from his own script.

Protagonist Pictures is handling international sales with North American sales co-repped by CAA and Protagonist. Protagonist and CAA will introduce “Hope Gap” to buyers at the American Film Market, which opens Wednesday in Santa Monica, Calif. Principal photography is set to begin in the summer.

Bening and Nighy will portray a couple married for 29 years. The story follows their son’s weekend visit to their seaside home, when Nighy’s character informs him that he plans to leave his wife the following day. “Hope Gap” tracks the unravelling of three lives, through stages of shock, disbelief, and anger, to a resolution.

“Ever since ‘Shadowlands,’ I’ve been obsessed by the collision of love and pain: ‘Hope Gap’ is the most intense, most painful, and most loving story I’ve ever told. I’m so proud to have Annette Bening and Bill Nighy to tell it for me,” producer David M. Thompson of Origin Pictures said.



READ MORE HERE: http://variety.com/2017/film/news/annette-bening-bill-nighy-1202603166/

Dame Judi Dench: Benedict Cumberbatch is a true gentleman

TELEGRAPH
Tim Walker. Edited by Katy Balls
7:30AM BST 18 Sep 2014




Dame Judi Dench agreed to star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC's Richard III after the Sherlock actor propositioned her during a Shakespeare masterclass at the Hay Festival. However, Mandrake can disclose that the pair are in fact old friends.

“I knew him when he was a little boy at prep school before he went on to Harrow," Dame Judi tells me. "His mother, Wanda Ventham, was at the Royal Central School of Drama a year ahead of me.”

“He is a true gentleman and a thoroughly good actor, which helps,” she says. “We start on Monday and it’s a huge project, six months in filming.”

Meanwhile, the actress says it is unlikely she will attend the Oscars next year. Despite being nominated for the Best Actress award, Dame Judi Dench was notably absent at this year’s awards after filming in India for the sequel to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel clashed with the ceremony. Now, the actress, who turns 80 this year, confides that she is in no hurry to make an appearance.

“No, I don’t think I’ll attend,” she tells me. “I don’t imagine so.”


READ MORE HERE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11102811/Dame-Judi-Dench-says-Sherlock-actor-Benedict-Cumberbatch-is-a-true-gentleman.html

Judi Dench hitches a ride on the Indian set of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2

MAIL ON LINE
By HANNA FLINT
PUBLISHED: 02:56 EST, 16 January 2014 | UPDATED: 04:19 EST, 16 January 2014

 

Dame Judi Dench gave the Golden Globes a miss this year, despite her nomination, because she was back on set to film the sequel to British-Indian comedy The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

The award-winning actress was given a ride on to the Jaipur set where she got ready to film scenes as hotel resident Evelyn, with returning cast members Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle.

But soon Judi, 79, will be welcoming American actor Richard Gere, who was recently announced as the latest addition to the cast.

But with only one vacancy left in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, Richard's character is pit against another would-be guest, played by Tamsin Greig, for the room.

John Madden returns to the director's chair with Bill Nighy also set to reprise his role.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2540397/Judi-hitches-ride-Indian-set-The-Best-Exotic-Marigold-Hotel-2.html#ixzz2qfPRQNRM 

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Dame Judi Dench Admits To Being An 'Avid Fan' Of Downton Abbey

E.
BY DEEPIKA RAJANI ON OCTOBER 30, 2013

She's a seasoned actress of the screen and stage and now Judi Dench has revealed that she is an "avid fan" of the hit ITV drama Downton Abbey. Revealing that she likes to watch the show which stars her friend and fellow actress Dame Maggie Smith, Dench told the Metro in an interview: "I am an avid fan of Downton Abbey [featuring her fellow dame and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel co-star Maggie Smith]".

Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan bring glamour on the London Film Festival red carpet for Philomena Premiere 

Meanwhile, the 78 year-old also admitted that her family were "uncool" on the red carpet of the Oscars one year.

Recalling the experience of rubbing shoulders with some of Hollywood's greatest stars who were also walking the red carpet, Dench said:

"We had a wonderful time at it, my husband, when he was alive, and my daughter Finty, who nearly fainted when she met Antonio Banderas. We were all like children going: “Oh look, who’s there?” We were very, very uncool."


READ MORE HERE: http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/130973/Dame-Judi-Dench-Admits-To-Being-An-Avid-Fan-Of-Downton-Abbey

Paul Bhattacharjee, wonderful British actor from 'Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' & Casino Royale found dead

'Casino Royale' actor found dead near English cliffs, by

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper  Today

Paul Bhattacharjee, who had roles in "Casino Royale" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," has been found dead at age 53. Bhattacharjee's body was found near the Splash Point cliffs in Seaford, East Sussex, England on July 12, the BBC reports.

(Amazing how beautiful Shakespeare can sound, when it's done right!  Paul Bhattacharjee and Meera Syal in Much Ado About Nothing)

Bhattacharjee had last been seen leaving rehearsal for the London play "Talk Show" on July 10. His death is not being treated as suspicious, although authorities would not reveal the cause of death.

Paul Billington, theater critic for the London Guardian, wrote that "Bhattacharjee was one of those actors whose name on a programme gave you the reassuring sense that you were in safe hands."

Bhattacharjee is survived by his son and his mother.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.today.com/entertainment/casino-royale-actor-found-dead-near-english-cliffs-6C10678564

Maggie Smith Likely For BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD Sequel BWW MOVIES WORLD

Friday, Mar, 1, 2013; 4:36 PM; - by Pat Cerasaro

Surprise recent Brit hit THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is getting a sequel and screenwriter Ol Parker has confirmed that it is more than merely likely that multi-award-winning acting icon Maggie Smith will return in her role of Muriel Donnelly for the next chapter.

"[W]e're getting the old team back together. The very old team," Parker amusingly told Vulture in a new interview. "They were all genuinely up for it, which was really cool. Even Maggie, and that's a scary call to make!"

Why so? Well, he hilariously comments before letting out a laugh, "Because she's f*cking terrifying!"

Read more:http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Maggie-Smith-Likely-For-BEST-MARIGOLD-Sequel-20130301

WATCH: 'Judi Dench Was A Police Officer': Will Ferrell And Kristen Wiig Go Crazy At Golden Globes. Comedians leave audience in stitches in joke filled presentation (E.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c9OxMmVJKFQ#!

BlakeElijah youtube


Read more: http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/101204/WATCH-Judi-Dench-Was-A-Police-Officer-Will-Ferrell-And-Kristen-Wiig-Go-Crazy-At-Golden-Globes-

EXCLUSIVE: Colin Firth Will Join “Exotic Marigold” Sequel 12/02/12 2:10pm Roger Friedman (SHOWBIZ 411)

Exclusive: The most popular home run of a film this year before Oscar season got into full swing? John Madden’s “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” The film is certainly a contender for Best Picture in Oscar world, one that could easily be in the top ten. It made a fortune here and abroad with stars Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel, and Bill Nighy leading an enchanting cast.

Now I’m told that a sequel is in the works. My sources say that both Helen Mirren and Colin Firth are likely additions to the cast. Also, they say that director John Madden and writer Ol Parker are looking for an American actress possibly to round out the cast. My vote is  for Jane Fonda, but no one asked me. The search is on!


READ MORE: http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/12/02/helen-mirren-colin-firth-will-join-exotic-marigold-sequel

We give thanks for...Judi Dench and Maggie Smith (Old Friends)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi2ZJ668Ajg

Maggie Smith words of wisdom to Judi Dench from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (MOVIEFONE)

READ THE ARTICLE:  http://news.moviefone.com/2012/04/18/best-exotic-marigold-hotel-maggie-smith-judi-dench_n_1435079.html?just_reloaded=1