Downton Abbey Season 2 press release, production stills, new interview with Penelope Wilton, and more!

"What is a weekend?" All these jam-packed full of Downton Abbey fab ITV DA press release and preview for Season 2 that is!

UK's ITV has just released its international hit series, Downton Abbey (Series 2) Press Release with tons of goodies and preview for season 2 to whet our appetites (especially for us, US fans who will have to wait a while longer to see season 2!) including Downton Abbey cast and their character images features our as Isobel Crawley, widowed mother of Dan Stevens' Matthew Crawley, heir to the large estate of Downton Abbey and production stills for season 2, season 2 synopsis, The world of Downton Abbey companion book info and image, soundtrack CD info, DVD artwork, cast interviews including Penelope Wilton (which you can read below), and more! So much info all at once, I can't hardly wait and is eagerly anticipating season 2 of DA!!! January 2012 can't come fast enough!

Unfortunately, for us U.S. fans, we'll have to wait 6 months before we can see Downton Abbey on PBS' Masterpiece Classic, as Season 2 will premiere January 8, 2012 (USA) while lucky UK fans will get to see it just a lil' over a month from now on September 18, 2011 on ITV channel (UK).

Anyway, here are some Downton Abbey's season 2 press release, promo still, new Interview with Penelope Wilton and more...

Three new Keira Knightley 'A Dangerous Method' production stills

Keira Knightley's new film, A Dangerous Method (with Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen) is one of the most anticipated films of this year and is set to make its festival debut and premiere in both The Venice Film Festival (August 31st-Sept. 10th), which is in competition and Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 8th-18th), which it'll have its gala North American premiere.

Here are three new production stills of Keira Knightley as Sabina Spielrein in A Dangerous Method.

First Look: Carey Mulligan in 'Shame' with Michael Fassbender

Just after being added in the stellar festival line-ups for both the upcoming Toronto Film Festival (Keira Knightley's 'A Dangerous Method' and Carey Mulligan's 'Drive' and 'Shame' films set to premiere at TIFF 2011) and Venice Film Fest (A Dangerous Method, Shame, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to debut and compete at 2011 Venice Film Festival), some production stills for Shame starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan has just been released as well. The Playlist has the First Look: Michael Fassbender And Carey Mulligan In Steve McQueen’s ‘Shame’, including two stills of Carey (one with Michael Fassbender who plays her older brother in the film), which you can see below...

Keira Knightley's 'A Dangerous Method' and Carey Mulligan's 'Drive' and 'Shame' films set to premiere at TIFF 2011

The 36th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) just announced this morning their stellar line-up of Galas and Special Presentations. Three of the many films in the line-up are:  Keira Knightley's new film, A Dangerous Method (with Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen) for a Gala/North American premiere, and two new Carey Mulligan films: Drive (with Ryan Gosling) for a Special Presentation/Canadian premiere, and Shame (with Michael Fassbender) for a North American premiere.  

TIFF 2011 runs from Sept. 8th-18th. 

A Dangerous Method, Shame, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to debut and compete at 2011 Venice Film Festival

Updated 7/28/11: Full Line-Up Announced for 2011 Venice Film Festival (via Collider)

The line-up for the 2011 Venice Film Festival has just been announced or rather revealed (via Variety and Collider). The official full line-up will be announced this Thursday. Three of the films premiering and competing at the festival are: Keira Knightley's new film, A Dangerous Method (with Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen), Carey Mulligan's other new film, Shame (with Michael Fassbender), and one of Colin Firth's new films, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.    

The 68th Venice Film Fest runs Aug. 31-Sept. 10. 

In competition...

Top 12 Favorite Pride & Prejudice Fanmade Videos

There are many amazing Pride & Prejudice fanmade videos made in YouTube that it's hard to pick just one favorite, let alone 10, which now ended up being 12, lol. I even have a few more on my original list that didn't make it here in the top 12 as those videos either got blocked/removed, or the music had been changed due to copyrights issues (of songs and video clips used), unfortunately. So, I couldn't include them here, especially if the videos either no longer exist or are not allowed to be embedded. I settled for the following top 12 that I loved and enjoyed watching the most. These videos were all awesome and made beautifully matching the songs perfectly to the clips from the 2005 P&P film.I love all of these videos. I ranked them based on how much I love the songs at the moment (the order could change at anytime) and how the song matches the clips from the movie...so perfectly and beautifully.

Anyway, here are my top 12...what are yours?

Watch the trailers for 'Main Street' and "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' films starring Colin Firth

Magnolia Pictures' film Main Street stars Colin Firth and is scheduled to be on demand everywhere on August 5th and in theaters on September, 9th.

Set in Durham, North Carolina, a mysterious stranger arrives with a controversial plan to revitalize an economically depressed rural community...but at what cost to the residents?

Main Street stars Oscar Winner Colin Firth, Oscar Winner Ellen Burstyn, Oscar Nominee Patricia Clarkson, Amber Tamblyn, Andrew McCarthy and Orlando Bloom.

Photos | Video: Carey Mulligan at San Diego's Comic-Con 2011

Carey Mulligan just attended the Film District Photo Op Panel Press Line (at Comic-Con 2011) to promote her new film, Drive at The Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel on July 21, 2011 in San Diego, California.  

Drive (Watch the red band trailer here!) starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Christina Hendricks and Oscar Issac. Drive opens in U.S. theaters September 16th and is directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.

Check out new photos of Carey posing at Comic-Con's red carpet and doing Q&A at Film District's Drive Panel. Looks like she went back to her  bleach blonde do! Also, watch a brief EW's video interview with Carey Mulligan and Drive's director Nicolas Winding Refn below...

Watch the red band trailer for 'Drive' starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan

Making its big debut at this year's San Diego Comic-Con 2011, IGN has the red band trailer for Drive starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Christina Hendricks and Oscar Issac also co-star. Drive is directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Valhalla Rising), who took home Best Director for the film at the recent Cannes Film Festival. Drive opens in U.S. theaters September 16th and in UK Cinemas on September 23rd.


Here's Drive's official synopsis:

“Drive” is the story of a Hollywood stunt driver by day (Gosling), a loner by nature, who moonlights as a top-notch getaway driver-for-hire in the criminal underworld. He finds himself a target for some of LA’s most dangerous men after agreeing to aid the husband of his beautiful neighbor, Irene (Mulligan). When the job goes dangerously awry, the only way he can keep Irene and her son alive is to do what he does best—Drive!

FilmDistrict had released the red band trailer for Drive, which premiered today at Comic-Con. Collider.com has the Comic-Con 2011: DRIVE and DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK Panel Recap with Carey Mulligan, Ryan Gosling, Nicolas Winding Refn, and Ron Perlman, and Christina Hendricks in attendance, had done a Q&A and shown the trailer! Pics of Carey from Comic-Con will be posted here as soon as they're available. Stay tune!
   

Watch the Red Band trailer for Drive

(source: IGN)

Drive related links of interest

• See a First Look at DRIVE Posters
• Comic-Con 2011: DRIVE Review 
• Comic-Con 2011: Nicolas Refn Interview DRIVE     

DVD News: Joe Wright's 'Hanna' film coming to DVD and Blu-ray September 6th!

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just announced the DVD and Blu-ray disc release date of September 6th for 's recent theatrical released, action/suspense thriller film, Hanna starring an outstanding and talented cast in Saoirse Ronan (leading the cast in the title role) with Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, and Olivia Williams. The film, according to Box office Mojo, did very well and debuted at #2 in the U.S. domestic's box office grossing $12 million (JW's biggest opening weekend!) during the Easter weekend (with an estimated $30 million budget) and now a total domestic gross of $40+ million (over 2 million more than P&P movie's total domestic gross, which was $38.4 million, but that's because it started off as a limited release while Hanna was already in wide release) with an additional $18.2+ million foreign box office gross and a worldwide total gross of $58.7+ million in its 13 weeks theaters run.

DVD Active has the following DVD and Blu-ray details and loaded with extras features as well as DVD cover artwork below...

Happy Birthday Kelly Reilly!

Today (July 18th) is Kelly Reilly's (aka P&P's Caroline Bingley) 34th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Kelly Reilly!!!


Here are Kelly's upcoming TV & Films projects for 2011 (via imdb.com)

1. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (post-production) Mary Morstan (December 16, 2011)   
2. Edwin Boyd (post-production) Doreen Boyd (2011) 
3. Above Suspicion: Silent Scream (TV series) DC Anna Travis (2011) 
4. The Castle Marrz Hudson  (2011)
5. Meant to Be Amanda  (2011)
   

Happy Birthday Donald Sutherland!

Today, (July 17th) is Donald Sutherland's (aka P&P's Mr. Bennet) 76th birthday!

Happy 76th Birthday Donald Sutherland!

Here are his current/upcoming TV and Film projects for 2011/2012 (via imdb.com):
The Hunger Games (filming) President Snow (2012)
Treasure Island (TV movie) (post-production) Flint (2012)
Jock (post-production) Narrator (voice)  (2011)
My Life As an Experiment (TV movie) (post-production) Sam Bobkin (2011)

Sofia (post-production)  (2011)
Horrible Bosses Jack Pellit (2011)

Man on the Train The Professor (2011)
Moby Dick (TV series) (2011)
Father Mapple

– Part 2 (2011) … Father Mapple

– Part 1 (2011) … Father Mapple

The Eagle Uncle Aquila  (2011)

The Mechanic Harry McKenna (2011)

The Three Musketeers: Character Poster featuring Matthew Macfadyen as Athos

(source: Rope of Silicon)

The international character posters for The Three Musketeers film has just been released and it features Matthew Macfadyen as Athos. See the poster above and click it to enlarge! The Three Musketeers 3D opens in wide release October 21st!

See the rest of The Three Musketeers' character posters HERE!

Updated 7/15/11

Athos Poster #2

Another character poster for MM's Athos character! It is said to be the German version:

(source: Darcylicious and MM UK)

Downton Abbey, The Pillars of the Earth, and Any Human Heart nominated for 2011's Primetime Emmy Awards

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Nominations has just been announced today and the following period dramas/miniseries (starring a few of our favorite P&P actors) are nominated such as Downton Abbey (Penelope Wilton) with 11 nominations, The Pillars of the Earth (Matthew Macfadyen and Donald Sutherland) with 7, and Any Human Heart (Matthew Macfadyen and Tom Hollander) with 4 nominations. The Primetime Emmy Awards will be handed out September 18th!

Here are the following categories they are nominated...

Watch the trailer for 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Kelly Reilly

The first trailer for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Kelly Reilly, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, and Stephen Fry has just debuted on Entertainment Tonight and released online as well earlier tonight! Also, two teaser posters and Five New Pics from 'Sherlock Holmes 2' has been released by Warner Bros. Unfortunately, neither the teaser posters nor the production stills (released so far) has featured Kelly Reilly's returning character Mary Morstan, but she does appear briefly on the trailer in a wedding scene with Jude Law's Dr. Watson character (as well as the First Look: Kelly Reilly in 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' I previously posted here last February!), which I made a couple screen captures below!

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows opens in theaters nationwide December 16th!   

The official synopsis for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows:

Guy Ritchie helms a new action-packed adventure, following the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.), and his longtime trusted associate, Dr. Watson (Law), as they match wits with their arch-nemesis, the criminal genius Moriarty (Harris).”

Click over to Apple to see the trailer in HD or watch it below...

Photos: Talulah Riley at 2011 BAFTA Brits To Watch Event - Red Carpet

Talulah Riley arrived at the Red Carpet at last night's inaugural gala of BAFTA Brits To Watch event held at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

As previously posted here last week, Talulah Riley made BAFTA's '42 Brits To Watch' list.


William & Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were the guests of honor at BAFTA Brits to Watch on Saturday, July 9th, held at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles. 
   
See Talulah's new pics as she arrived at the red carpet below! She looks gorgeous, does she not?

The Pride & Prejudice Novel Top 10

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an ardent lover of Pride and Prejudice must be in want of a great novel to read. So here is our top ten to help you get started! :)


#10) Mr. Darcy's Obsession by Abigail Reynolds:

A sweet, simple story about what would have happened if Mr. Bennet had died before the Hunsford proposal, leaving Lizzie to become a governess for her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner's children. Despite Mr. Darcy's knowledge of Lizzie's now even lower connections, his fascination with her leads him to constantly seek her out and eventually surrender to his affection to her. It's slightly lacking in romance, but still very very sweet. And extremely interesting and well -written! It would definitely be a great book to be your first P&P novel.

In Theaters Today: Horrible Bosses

In wide theatrical release today is Horrible Bosses starring an ensemble cast: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland, and Julie Bowen.

Synopsis:

For Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day), the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses (Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston) into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con (Jamie Foxx), the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers…permanently. There’s only one problem: even the best laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them.

Watch trailer #2 for 'Johnny English Reborn' starring Rowan Atkinson and Rosamund Pike

The First Trailer was released a few months ago for Working Title Films (Atonement and Pride & Prejudice)'s Johnny English Reborn starring Rowan Atkinson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic West, and Gillian Anderson. Now, the international trailer (or trailer #2) has just been released, which you can watch below!

Johnny English Reborn, the sequel to the hit comedy spy/spoof film, Johnny English opens in U.S. theaters September 16th and October 7th in the UK Cinemas. See more JER release dates around the world here!

Check out the and watch the trailer #2 below. The second trailer features a bit more of Rosamund Pike (see a few LQ screen caps below...)!

Keri Russell to star in 'Austenland' film adaptation

According to Hollywood Reporter, there's a new Jane Austen related independent rom-com film titled Austenland (based on the novel of the same name by Shannon Hale) starring Keri Russell (Felicity, The Magic of Ordinary Days, August Rush) currently in production and about to start filming this week in the UK. It will be financed and produced by Stephenie Meyer, the best-selling author of the Twilight series.

Here's a breakdown of the Austenland cast who are playing the following characters (via Shannon Hale's website):

Jane - Keri Russell
Nobley - JJ Feild
Martin - Bret Mckenzie
Miss Charming - Jennifer Coolidge
Colonel Andrews - James Callis
Mrs. Wattlesbrook - Jane Seymour
Mr. Wattlesbrook - Rupert Vansittart 

Updated 7/11/11
Lady Heartwright - Georgia King 
Molly (Jane's best friend) - Ayda Field
George East - Ricky Whittle

Updated 7/6/11: Georgia King (via her official Twitter) said that she's in the Austenland movie too!

Interesting, I have previously mentioned her and her character Harriet in one of my old posts here about her movie Wild Child (with Emma Roberts) and it's P&P references (read it, it's hilarious!) here: Pride & Prejudice References in Pop Culture (Part 3) The actress herself has P&P connections! She appeared in a small role with P&P '05's Keira Knightley in The Duchess, co-starred with Matthew Macfadyen in Little Dorrit and Talulah Riley in the film St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold.

And here's the Austenland article (via Hollywood Reporter):

Judi Dench honored at Czech film festival

According to BBC News, Judi Dench has just been honored by the Czech Republic's film festival with the Crystal Globe award for her outstanding contribution to world cinema.

Read the article below (via BBC News):

Dame Judi Dench honoured at Czech film festival

Veteran British actress Dame Judi Dench is to be honoured by the Karlovy Vary film festival as the annual event gets underway in the Czech Republic.

The 76-year-old Oscar winner is in the picturesque spa city to introduce the opening night film, a new adaptation of Jane Eyre, in which she appears.

Dench will receive the Crystal Globe award for her outstanding contribution to world cinema at a ceremony later.

Talulah Riley makes BAFTA's 'Brits To Watch' list

According to Deadline, BAFTA announced today and names its first annual Brits to Watch list. P&P's own Talulah Riley (Mary Bennet) made the list of 42 Brits to Watch, who will be the focus of the inaugural BAFTA Brits to Watch. They will each be in attendance in the black-and-tie event on July 9th, where BAFTA's President, The Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) and his new wife The Duchess of Cambridge (Catherine Middleton) will attend the event as part of their visit to California.

Read the press release (via Deadline) below, (which includes Talulah's name in the full Brits to Watch list with a couple other familiar names: Jessica Brown Findley, who played the youngest daughter of the Earl of Grantham, Lady Sybil Crawley in Downtown Abbey with  and Juno Temple, who appeared in Notes on a Scandal with Judi Dench and Atonement with Keira Knightley will be seen next in The Three Musketeers 3D with Matthew Macfadyen)...