Michael Winterbottom Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

When it was announced that Michael Winterbottom would be making a series about the first pandemic lockdown in the spring of 2022, many assumed—or perhaps hoped—that the politically committed director would be holding the British government to account. However, speaking to Deadline at the 38th Sarajevo Film Festival, 25 years after his acclaimed war drama Welcome To Sarajevo screened there, Winterbottom revealed that, in common with many of his fictionalized but factual feature films, the six-part Sky series This England , which debuts 21 September, will be an ensemble piece, taking a bird’s-eye view of the British authorities’ initial response to COVID.

Christopher Vourlias British filmmaker Michael Winterbottom says he has “no regrets” that the events depicted in his upcoming Sky series “This England,” which follows the COVID-19 response of outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government, did not include the turbulent period that led to Johnson’s resignation in July.Speaking to Variety at the Sarajevo Film Festival, where the director will be giving a masterclass on Friday, Winterbottom said it was his intention from the start to end the six-part limited series after the first wave of the pandemic, a decision that didn’t change with the dramatic events that forced Johnson to step down.“There are limitations in ending it there, but I still think that was the best idea,” the director said.

Naman Ramachandran Fremantle has scored a raft of sales on “The Trip” director Michael Winterbottom’s drama on outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, “This England.”The 88 territories closed for “This England” include Movistar+ (Spain), Viaplay (Nordics and Baltics, Poland and the Netherlands), Cosmote (Greece), OSN TV and OSN+ (MENA), M-Net (South Africa), BBC First (Australia) and TVNZ (New Zealand).

Sky’s Kenneth Branagh-starring Boris Johnson drama This England has been sold to 88 territories worldwide by distributor Fremantle.

Naman Ramachandran As the race to choose his successor heats up, broadcaster Channel 4 has revealed plans for a documentary series on outgoing U.K. prime minister Boris Johnson.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have resigned on Thursday in the hours after dozens of staffers quit, but that won’t change the ending of Sky Original series “This England,” TheWrap has learned.The series, which stars Kenneth Branagh as the British leader (who is unrecognizable in the photo above), only covers the first wave of the pandemic. The series will trace the impact of COVID-19 on the nation during its first wave, and while the country and the PM was dealing with Brexit.“This England” is co-written and directed by Michael Winterbottom.

Manori Ravindran International EditorIf you thought Kenneth Branagh was heading back to make-up to shoot scenes as a belligerent Boris Johnson fighting for his premiership against a government uprising, think again.Sources tell Variety that the highly anticipated Sky drama series “This England” won’t be filming any more scenes despite the last chaotic 48 hours for U.K. government, which have culminated in Johnson’s resignation.

video snippet of the series.The Sky Original drama is co-written and directed by Michael Winterbottom. The series, first named “This Sceptered Isle,” is based on Boris Johnson’s first months as UK Prime Minister, showing how the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit Britain.Alongside Branagh, who won the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for “Belfast” this year, Ophelia Lovibond will star as Carrie, and Andrew Buchan will play Matt Hancock.Highlights of the plot include Johnson’s dealing with COVID-19, Brexit, and the overlapping of his personal and political lives.

This England, starring Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson.The series, co-written and directed by Michael Winterbottom, is based on Johnson’s first months as prime minister and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK.A synopsis reads: “The drama takes us inside the halls of power, as Johnson grapples with COVID-19, Brexit, and a personal and political life wracked by controversy.“The events in government are interwoven with first-hand testimonies from around the UK, from the experts and scientists racing against time to understand the virus; the doctors, nurses and care-home workers on the frontline working tirelessly and heroically to contain and overcome it; and ordinary people whose lives were thrown into turmoil.”Alongside Branagh, the show stars Ophelia Lovibond (Feel Good) as Carrie Johnson and Andrew Buchan (The Crown) as former Health Secretary Matt Hancock.While an exact release date is yet to be announced, This England is scheduled to be released on Sky Atlantic and NOW later this year.Branagh was recently cast in Christopher Nolan’s next film Oppenheimer, alongside Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh and Rami Malek.The film follows theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Murphy) and his contributions to the Manhattan Project which led to the creation of the atomic bomb.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentBritish director Michael Winterbottom will start shooting his long-gestating “Promised Land,” a thriller set during the leadup to the 1948 partition of Palestine and the subsequent creation of the state of Israel, this fall in Italy.U.K. actors Douglas Booth (“The Dirt,” “That Dirty Black Bag”) and Harry Melling (“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”) and Russia’s Irina Starshenbaum, who was in Cannes in 2018 with Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Leto,” are attached as the pic’s main cast. Italy’s Vision Distribution, which is headed by veteran sales agent Catia Rossi, is launching pre-sales on “Promised Land” in Cannes.Based on real events, “Promised Land” is a political thriller that unfolds during the British Mandate in 1930s Tel Aviv.

Naman Ramachandran British critic, writer, producer, commissioner and director Catherine Bray and film acquisitions executive and festival program advisor Paul Ridd have launched a weekly podcast dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” “Not Another F**King Elf” is a character guide podcast that takes an hour-long deep dive into each “The Lord of the Rings” character, with clips from different adaptations of the work from films to audiobooks to radio adaptations. Each episode begins with a recap of the character arc of the chosen subject.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentFremantle has sold out most major territories worldwide on the Martin Freeman-led BBC One smash hit “The Responder,” consolidating the acclaimed crime drama’s contention, even at this early stage, to become one of Europe’s top series of 2022. Banner deals take in France (Canal Plus), Italy (Disney Plus), Germany’s (Magenta TV). Spain (Movistar Plus) and Russia & CIS (Viasat), all leading pay/SVOD operators.

Naman Ramachandran Leading British independent filmmakers expressed some frank views on gatekeepers acting as a barrier to independent cinema at a BFI London Film Festival panel discussion on Tuesday.The panel consisted of Palme d’Or winner Mike Leigh (“Secrets & Lies”), Oscar winner Asif Kapadia (“Amy”) and Golden Bear winner Michael Winterbottom (“In This World”).

Michael Winterbottom has temporarily stepped back as director on his COVID-19 TV drama This Sceptered Isle due to ill health, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Michael Winterbottom has temporarily stepped back from his directing duties on Sky’s Boris Johnson series This Sceptred Isle for health reasons.

Naman Ramachandran Prolific filmmaker Michael Winterbottom (“The Trip”) has temporarily ceased directing duties on Sky drama “This Sceptred Isle” due to poor health, Variety has confirmed.Sky has said that Winterbottom will continue working remotely as he recovers. His duties will be taken over during this time by Julian Jarrold (“The Crown”).

It's Kenneth Branagh as you've never seen him before. For an actor who has donned insane mustaches (as detective Hercule Poirot) and a wide array of Shakespearean costumes, the first still of him as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Michael Winterbottom's TV drama This Sceptred Isle is perhaps Branagh at his most unrecognizable.

Sky has released a first-look image of Kenneth Branagh as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in its upcoming Michael Winterbottom series This Sceptred Isle.

Kenneth Branagh is set to play U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Michael Winterbottom's upcoming limited series charting the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manori Ravindran International EditorKenneth Branagh will play U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a new Sky TV series detailing Britain’s muddled response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Henry V star Kenneth Branagh is to play British Prime Minister in Sky drama This Sceptred Isle.

Naman Ramachandran Fremantle has announced an exclusive first-look deal with BAFTA-winning filmmaker Michael Winterbottom’s Revolution Films, starting with U.K. political drama series “This Sceptred Isle.”Under the terms of the deal, Revolution Films will develop and produce scripted series and films with Fremantle co-producing and distributing the projects worldwide.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorMichael Winterbottom, the BAFTA-winning director behind The Trip and 24 Hour Party People, has signed a first-look deal with Fremantle after collaborating with the producer on a project about Boris Johnson’s time as UK prime minister.Winterbottom and his company Revolution Films will develop films and TV shows with Fremantle, which in turn will co-produce and distribute the projects around the world.

Without a doubt, the way that Donald Trump and his administration has been handling the COVID-19 pandemic response has been horrific. But he’s not the only leader that has done a, uh, less-than-desirable job responding to the global health crisis.

Michael Winterbottom is turning his lens on the hottest button topic in the U.K. today (and, probably, for some time): Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic.