Latest news with #Emmy-winner
UPI
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Eddie Karanja calls 'Washington Black' a story he had to tell
1 of 5 | Eddie Karanja stars in "Washington Black," premiering Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Hulu NEW YORK, July 23 (UPI) -- Halo and Sandman actor Eddie Karanja says he hopes audiences feel inspired and see themselves in his epic new miniseries, Washington Black. "First of all, I want them to think Wash is awesome because he is," Eddie told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. "Even though I can't predict, I think young viewers are going to really love a lot of the characters that we meet along the way and they're going to find identity within the show," he said. "It's such an amazing story to hear being told from my character's perspective and through the eyes of an 11-year-old, enslaved boy who goes on this whirlwind journey. It was something that I knew that I had to tell." The eight-episode series premieres on Hulu Wednesday and co-stars Sterling K. Brown, Ernest Kingsley Jr., Tom Ellis, Iola Evans, Billy Boyd, Rupert Graves, Edward Bluemel and Ntare Mwine. The adaptation of Esi Edugyan's best-selling novel follows the titular, 19th-century hero, who was born a slave on a Barbados sugar plantation, but whose brilliant scientific mind enables him to go on extraordinary adventures. "It started with the book, then went to the script, and my amazing dialect and acting coach really helped me zone in on the internal conflict in Washington," Eddie said. "You really begin to feel the emotion inside before you show it outside. And, then, it was [listening to] music, as well. All those things really helped create this character that I really love." Eddie said playing chess helped him bond with Kingsley Jr., the actor who played the adult version of Wash. "There were conversations had and there were subtle things," Eddie explained. "Hanging out with each other, we really picked up similar mannerisms, so it was almost as if the same person was portraying this character at different points in his life." The project also afforded Eddie the opportunity of working with Emmy-winner Brown, who was a producer in addition to a cast member on Washington Black. "Sterling was an amazing collaborator. He really made you feel like an active part of the collaboration," Eddie said. "It was good to have him around." The actor said the period-accurate costumes and locations in Mexico, Iceland and Nova Scotia where the series was shot helped him immerse himself in this world. "It really did a lot of the work in the character circumstances," he added. "There was never a moment that I felt the set was taking me out of [the story] in any way." Showrunner Selwyn Seyfu Hinds said he and executive producer Kimberly Ann Harrison tried to create a "safety net" so the cast and crew had what they needed to make the most authentic and emotionally rewarding series possible. "They were forces throughout the show in really cultivating and honing in on this story," Eddie said. "Selwyn really took a lot of himself and his own culture and really put that into the show. Kim really honed in on those ideas, as well, and, really, the finished product speaks for itself." Hinds felt immediately drawn to the beloved novel. "I love the core of what the book is about -- the idea that the best of us can come from the worst of places, right?" he said. "If that's not emblematic of Wash's journey, I don't know what else you can say," Hinds added. "Once we got that sort of core idea of this kid who was going to go on a journey that will metaphorically and literally lead to him flying, everything else became: 'Well, what best supports that? How do we challenge that journey? How do we make it more interesting? How do we take some of the clues in the book and what sort of secret chambers are here to explore?'" Hinds thinks the tale will resonate with 2025 viewers unsettled by real-world division and unrest. "When the world's on fire, it'd be nice to find some wings and flowers," he said. "An evergreen journey for humans is to find hope and find kindness and joy, and it just feels extra-relevant in times that feel tough," Hinds added. "It's not just empty-calorie escapism. It's sort of like escapism with a thematic purpose."
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Unforgivable start date, cast, plot and how to watch chilling BBC drama
Unforgivable is BBC's new powerful drama that is about to hit screens - and we've got all the detail on how to tune in The BBC is readying to launch a brand new drama that is likely to pull at your heartstrings, given the nature and difficult subject matter at the centre of the harrowing story plot. Unforgivable, is a powerful new drama penned by the legendary Cracker and Time screenwriter Jimmy McGovern and stars Line of Duty actress Anna Maxwell Martin, Emmy-winner Anna Friel and A dolescence child star Austin Haynes. The drama is set to arrive on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Thursday 24 July, with episodes kicking off on BBC Two, from 9pm that same evening. What is Unforgivable about? Set in Liverpool, the production follows the lives of the Mitchell family who have been dealing with the aftermath of grooming and sexual abuse. After serving a two-year jail sentence, Bobby Schofield, the person who committed the disturbing crimes, is released from prison. Bobby is ordered to carry out a residential rehabilitation programme upon his release, to understand through therapy what may have led him to conduct such an awful crime. The series aims to understand all viewpoints and how abuse can impact every single person within a family setting. "Unforgivable examines the extensive ripple effect of abuse from multiple perspectives and how those involved can try to move forwards in the midst of the devastation," explained the BBC. Its synopsis reads: "Having served his prison sentence, Joe (Bobby Schofield) arrives at St Maura's, an institution which offers him a home and rehabilitation after his release. With the support of Katherine (Anna Maxwell Martin), an ex-nun, Joe undertakes therapy sessions in the hope of understanding what led him to commit the abuse." The overview further states: "Simultaneously, his sister, Anna (Anna Friel), is dealing with the enormous impact that Joe's crime has had on her family - her sons, Tom (Austin Haynes) and Peter (Finn McParland), and her father, Brian (David Threlfall)." Who is in the cast of Unforgivable? Line of Duty star Anna, plays the role of Katherine, a former nun who is working at the rehabilitation institution as a therapist and supporting Joe. Anna Friel, of Brookside fame and best known for her role as Beth Jordache on the soap, plays Joe's sister Anna, who is desperately trying to move on with her life while fiercely guarding her two sons. David Threlfall stars as Anna's angry father, who is furious that she has instigated contact with her brother Joe. Other members of the star-studded cast include Adolescence actor Austin Haynes, Fin McParland, Mark Womack, Paddy Rowan and Phina Oruche. With a stellar cast and compelling script, Unforgivable is certainly not going to be a BBC drama you'd want to miss.
UPI
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
'General Hospital' legend Tristan Rogers battling cancer
Tristan Rogers from 'General Hospital' has announced he is battling cancer. Photo courtesy of Todd Wawrychuk/ABC July 19 (UPI) -- Daytime Emmy-winner Tristan Rogers, the actor who has played dashing Robert Scorpio on the soap opera General Hospital since the 1980s, is battling cancer. "While he remains hopeful and is working closely with his medical team on a treatment plan, this is a challenging time for Tristan and his family," Rogers' representative said in a statement this week. "As they face both the emotional and physical burdens that come with this diagnosis, the family kindly asks for privacy and understanding. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and love from their friends and family." Rogers, 79, has also appeared on Studio City, The Bay and The Young and the Restless.
International Business Times
14-07-2025
- International Business Times
Who Was Samuel Bond Haskell IV? Son of Top Hollywood Agent Who Killed, Dismembered His Wife and Her Parents Commits Suicide in Jail
The son of a top Hollywood executive, who killed and dismembered his wife and her parents, has reportedly committed suicide in jail shortly before a scheduled court appearance, according to authorities and sources. Samuel Bond Haskell IV was found dead just hours before he was set to appear in court Monday for a preliminary hearing related to his murder charges, Lt. Michael Modica of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told KABC. The suspect was found dead in his jail cell on Saturday morning in what appeared to be a suicide, law enforcement sources told NBCLA. It is still unclear how he committed suicide as authorities have launched an investigation. Killed Self Before Proven Guilty Samuel Haskell Jr X Haskell's father is a Hollywood agent and Emmy-winning producer, Samuel Haskell Sr., who has represented major stars such as George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg, Dolly Parton, and Kathie Lee Gifford. In 2023, Haskell was charged with the murders of his wife, Mei Li Haskell, 37, and her parents—Gaoshan Li, 72, and Yanxiang Wang, 64,—at their home in the Los Angeles suburb of Tarzana. Police believe the headless torso could be that of Mei Haskell X According to police, Haskell tossed the dismembered bodies by placing them in a trash bin in Encino, where his wife's remains were eventually found. The bodies of his in-laws were never found. All three victims were last seen alive on November 6, 2023. The next day, Haskell hired four day laborers to haul away several large black plastic garbage bags from his home, according to the Los Angeles Police Department at the time. "One of the laborers opened one of the bags and allegedly observed human body parts," the LAPD statement read. "They called 911 and reported the incident." Mei Haskell and her parents are still missing X Authorities said the laborers returned both the bags and the payment before leaving, but by the time police arrived, the bags had vanished. Police also said that Haskell was caught on surveillance footage disposing of an item in a dumpster in Encino on November 7. The next day, on November 8, a person searching through the trash found a woman's torso, prompting a police investigation that led to Haskell's arrest, according to prosecutors. Haskell had entered a not guilty plea and was being held without bail as he awaited trial. Father, a Star His father, Samuel Haskell Sr., was a prominent agent affiliated with William Morris, representing notable clients such as Dolly Parton, George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg, and Prince Edward, the brother of King Charles. The two workers hired by Samuel Haskell IV seen tossing the bags before realizing that they contained human body parts X Samuel Haskell Sr. retired from William Morris in 2005. In 2009, he published a memoir titled 'Promises I Made My Mother.' Described by publishers as a "deeply personal and spiritually-enriching story about living a principled life in unprincipled times." Mei Haskell X In 2012, the multiple Emmy-winner Samuel Haskell Sr. co-founded Magnolia Hill Productions with Dolly Parton, producing many of her television specials. However, his tenure as the CEO of the Miss America organization from 2015 to 2017 ended in resignation after private emails surfaced where he had criticized some contestants, ridiculing one for gaining weight and describing another as promiscuous. Samuel Haskell Sr. is married to Mary Donnelly Haskell, a former Miss Mississippi and his college sweetheart. The couple has a daughter, Mary Lane, and a son, Sam IV.
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC reveals first-look images of Anna Maxwell Martin in harrowing new drama
Unforgivable, from Time creator Jimmy McGovern, follows one family as they try to come to terms with the devastating impact of grooming and sexual abuse The BBC has unveiled the first-look images for its new hard-hitting drama Unforgivable, showcasing actors Anna Friel, Bobby Schofield and Anna Maxwell Martin in their latest roles. Penned by Time writer Jimmy McGovern, the intense original drama delves into the consequences of grooming and sexual abuse on a family unit. First-look stills reveal Emmy-winner Anna Friel portraying a character also named Anna, Anne actor Bobby as Joe, Bafta-winners Anna Maxwell Martin as Katherine and David Threlfall playing Brian, with Adolescence actor Austin Haynes cast as Tom. Located and shot in Liverpool, Unforgivable casts the spotlight on the fictive Mitchell family as they grapple with the shattering impact of a vile act of abuse committed by one of their kin. Joe makes his way to a rehabilitation centre after completing his prison term, which provides him accommodation and help post-release, reports the Liverpool Echo. He takes on therapy sessions in the hope of understanding what led him to commit the abuse, and to face the consequences of his actions, while supported by ex-nun Katherine. At the same time, Joe's sister Anna is dealing with the effects his crime had on her family, including her sons Tom and Peter (Fin McParland) and her father Brian. The BBC has hinted: "The drama examines the extensive ripple effect of abuse from multiple perspectives and how those involved can try to move forwards in the midst of the devastation." Joining the line-up are Mark Womack, Paddy Rowan and Phina Oruche. BBC Drama Director Lindsay Salt previously offered an insight into what viewers can expect from the upcoming drama, stating: "Jimmy McGovern is one of our greatest dramatists, and a master at writing about today's world. "His new film sensitively examines the pain of abuse and how it affects not only the victim but ripples out across the whole family. To see it brought to the screen with such a high calibre cast and creative team is further testament to the quality of Jimmy's writing." Writer Jimmy expressed his enthusiasm as well: "I can't believe the cast and crew that have been assembled for this production. It's a challenging film, yes, but I can't wait for it to be shown." LA Productions' Executive Producer Colin McKeown also added his thoughts: "This is a profoundly challenging and sensitive subject, tackled with intelligence and care by Jimmy McGovern. It's a privilege to be working with him again following the success of our previous collaborations on single dramas: Common, Care, Reg and Anthony."
