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Tom's Guide
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'I've played a lot of untrustworthy and villainous characters': Ben Barnes on breaking his villain streak in 'The Institute'
Ben Barnes is no stranger to playing dark, enigmatic characters. From the troubled Logan in 'Westworld' to the brooding Billy Russo in 'The Punisher,' he's often found himself drawn to roles that lean into the morally ambiguous (or downright villainous). But in his latest project, 'The Institute,' Barnes is stepping into somewhat unfamiliar territory. If you're new to Stephen King's stories, 'The Institute' follows the chilling journey of a gifted young boy named Luke who's kidnapped and taken to a secretive, high-security facility. There, he finds himself among other children who, like him, possess unusual psychic abilities, and none of them are there by choice. Blending elements of 'Stranger Things' and 'Firestarter,' the series taps into King's signature themes of government control, manipulation, and the exploitation of young minds. It's one you'll want to catch when it lands on MGM Plus on July 13. Barnes plays Tim Jamieson, an ex-cop turned small-town night-patrol officer hoping for a fresh start. He becomes the town's moral anchor, using his law enforcement skills and compassion to help Luke (Joe Freeman). A natural protector and leader, Tim is the kind of character King envisions as a hero. I had the chance to sit down with Barnes to talk about his role in the upcoming adaptation, and why it marks a significant shift from the darker characters he's known for. During the interview, I asked Barnes what it was like playing Tim, who is a more internal character, and one quite different from the roles he's taken on in the past. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'I was looking for a character with a real sense of decency or a moral compass, and Tim has this quiet, redemptive arc,' Barnes said. 'I've played a lot of untrustworthy, psychotic, or villainous characters over the last few years, so it was refreshing to find someone who genuinely wants to be a good man. I think he's searching for ways to prove himself, and that made him a really interesting character — one I haven't played before.' After portraying morally complex figures like Billy Russo in 'The Punisher,' Logan in 'Westworld,' General Kirigan in 'Shadow and Bone,' and even the manipulative Nathan in 'Dorian Gray,' Barnes is no stranger to playing characters with a dark edge. But Tim is a different story entirely. He's a gentler, more introspective man who carries quiet guilt and strives to do the right thing. 'It's not necessarily a flashy role in an acting sense, but I was really interested in exploring that kind of man. I think a lot of Stephen King's stories are infused with hope — they're about challenging systems that often go unchallenged, and that, at times, exploit the vulnerable. This story, I think, is quite literally about that.' Barnes is also a huge fan of sci-fi and fantasy, which naturally drew him to 'The Institute.' He added: 'I just love sci-fi, fantasy, and all that genre stuff, so this was an opportunity to do something quite grounded and quiet.' For an actor often cast in shadowy or morally complex roles, Barnes portrayal of Tim in 'The Institute' marks a meaningful departure. Instead of chaos or menace, this character is about calm control and quiet strength, all qualities that reveal a different dimension of his craft. 'The Institute' premieres with two episodes on July 13, 9pm ET/PT on MGM Plus.
Evening Standard
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
The Prodigy at Glastonbury review: 'band dedicate set to Keith Flint'
Tonight, the maestro behind the music Liam Howlett brought the noise and Maxim proved capable of holding a crowd without his old ally, Flint. After opening with Voodoo People, the energy was up and stayed up throughout songs like Omen, Radiate and Firestarter. The latter was an immediate Glastonbury 2025 highlight, with a sea of people on shoulders, more flares than perhaps any other crowd, and the song remixed without its usual vocal, instead using snatches of Flint's voice as an animation of him played on the screens. 'That went out to our brother, he's here with us tonight,' Maxim said.
Glasgow Times
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Legendary British 90s band announced Glasgow concert
The Prodigy will perform at the city's OVO Hydro on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The English electronic music group, which formed in 1990, is currently made up of Liam Howlett and Maxim. They are known for their megatunes, including Breathe, Firestarter, Omen, and Voodoo People. At their gig at the West End venue, the band will be joined by the 'iconic' Carl Cox, who will be playing a two-hour set. READ MORE: Brit band to host one of its 'biggest' gigs in Glasgow to celebrate anniversary READ MORE: 'One of the UK's biggest bands' announced Glasgow gig ANNOUNCED 📣 The Prodigy are coming back to the OVO Hydro on 15 April 2026... this time joined by the iconic Carl Cox who will be playing a 2 hour set from doors 🤩 #OVOLive presale | 9am, 25 June Tickets on sale | 12pm 27 June ➡️ — OVO Hydro (@OVOHydro) June 23, 2025 Tickets for the band's Glasgow show will go on sale from 12pm on Friday, June 27. However, fans will be able to grab presale tickets for the concert from 9am on Wednesday, June 25.
Tom's Guide
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'The Institute' brings Stephen King's dark and suspenseful thriller series to life in first trailer
Stephen King has been my favorite author for as long as I can remember, so the moment I heard 'The Institute' was getting a TV adaptation, I was instantly on board. MGM Plus gave us a few first-look images last year, but now the streamer has dropped the official trailer along with a release date: July 13, 2025. For those who aren't familiar with King's work, 'The Institute" centers around a brilliant teenager who's abducted from his home and wakes up in a mysterious facility. There, he discovers he's not alone since dozens of other kids have been taken just like him, all of them gifted with strange, supernatural powers. It's part 'Stranger Things,' part 'Firestarter,' and classic King in its exploration of power and the abuse of authority. This is definitely one worth adding to your watchlist next month. The trailer introduces us to Luke (Joe Freeman) as he wakes up inside the mysterious facility known as the Institute, where he discovers he's not alone — other kids with strange abilities are being held there too. He quickly crosses paths with the cold and calculating Ms. Sigsby (Mary-Louise Parker), who tries to convince him that the purpose of the Institute is for the greater good. As Luke endures disturbing experiments, he learns the other kids are quietly planning a way out. Meanwhile, a separate storyline follows Tim (Ben Barnes), a former cop digging into something suspicious. The rest of the trailer builds toward a powerful turning point, with Luke emerging as a leader among the kidnapped kids. He begins to unite the group, encouraging them to stand up to their captors and take control of their fate. Along with the trailer we also got an official synopsis, which reads: 'The Institute follows the story of teen genius Luke Ellis (Freeman), who is kidnapped and awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson (Barnes) has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won't last, as his story and Luke's are destined to collide.' The series is helmed by director and executive producer Jack Bender, known for his work on 'Lost' and 'From' (one of my favorite shows ever), with the script penned by Benjamin Cavell, who previously wrote for 'Justified' and 'The Stand.' Both bring plenty of Stephen King experience to the table, having tackled his haunting stories before. Stephen King is on board as an executive producer, joining forces with Bender, Cavell, Gary Barber, Sam Sheridan, and Ed Redlich to bring the series to life. With King involved behind the scenes, fans can expect the show to hold true to the novel's intense, unsettling tone. Joining Freeman, Barnes, and Parker are joined by other strong talents including Simone Miller as Kalisha, Fionn Laird as Nick, Viggo Hanvelt as Avery, Arlen So as George, Julian Richings as Stackhouse, Robert Joy as Hendricks, and Hannah Galway as Wendy. In the TV adaptation, Luke's age has been increased by a few years compared to the original novel, and the same change applies to several other characters as well. During the panel at Content London (h/t Variety), Bender said: 'We were very aware of not wanting this to be as awful as it can be, what these kids go through. We didn't want it to be a sadistic experience. There's a fine line and, god knows, as storytellers we didn't want to go there.' MGM Plus has been drawing plenty of attention with its recent horror-thriller lineup, especially with hits like 'From,' which quickly became one of their standout series. They're also familiar territory when it comes to Stephen King adaptations, having worked on a limited series based on 'Jerusalem's Lot,' a prequel story to King's 'Salem's Lot.' The streaming service plans to release new episodes of 'The Institute' on a weekly basis to build anticipation and keep viewers coming back regularly. There will be eight episodes in total to enjoy. No matter if you've been reading King for decades or are just stepping into his universe for the first time, 'The Institute' is shaping up to be one of the most unmissable TV releases of summer 2025. 'The Institute' premieres with two episodes on July 13, 9pm ET/PT on MGM Plus.
NBC News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Sarah Michelle Gellar reveals next 'chosen one' in 'Buffy'
Ryan Kiera Armstrong has staked the role of the new slayer in town in the upcoming 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' revival. The 15-year-old actor will co-star with original series lead Sarah Michelle Gellar. The two actors shared the news May 15 in a joint Instagram post featuring a video that showed Gellar breaking the casting news to Armstrong. 'How do you feel about helping me save the world?' 48-year-old Gellar asked Armstrong in the clip. 'Good,' responded Armstrong, who appeared unsure of Gellar's meaning. 'Do you want to be my Chosen One'?' Gellar asked her, which prompted Armstrong to cover her mouth as she burst into tears. 'Will you stand by my side and save the world with me?' Gellar asked while Armstrong, sobbing still, nodded her head. 'Ryan, we all love you,' Gellar said, 'and from the second we all saw your (audition) tape, there was nobody else in our eyes that could do it, that we wanted to do it with, and I am so excited to stand by your side and have you be my partner on this journey.' 'This is so exciting. Oh my gosh,' said Armstrong, looking around the room in disbelief. 'Yes, yes. For sure, yes. Um, thank you. I'm so excited.' 'Welcomed to New Sunnydale,' Gellar told Armstrong, who then called her dad into the room. 'What do you think? Are you ready for this journey?' Gellar asked Armstrong's father. 'I know this is exactly where she's supposed to be right now,' the proud dad responded. Gellar wrote in the caption of her post, 'I want to introduce you to @ryankarmstrong. From the moment I saw Ryan's audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side. 'To have that kind of emotional intelligence , and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room. Welcome to #NewSunnydale #btvs,' she added. Armstrong's Instagram bio now reads, 'slayer.' 'I'm so beyond thankful and excited to share that i am going to be apart of the BTVS universe!!! i am so excited for this journey with you @sarahmgellar i am in awe of you,' Armstrong wrote in a separate post on Instagram. The teen went on to thank others involved in the upcoming series as well as her 'amazing parents' who, she wrote, 'have allowed me to do my dream.' 'I WONT LET YOU GUYS DOWN!!' she added. At 15, Armstrong already boasts an impressive acting resume. She played the lead role in the 2022 horror flick 'Firestarter' (a remake of the 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore) and portrayed the daughter of Nicolas Cage's gunslinger character in the 2023 Western 'The Old Way.' Armstrong also appeared in the feature films 'Wildflower,' 'The Art of Racing In the Rain' and 'Black Widow' and appeared as a regular on the television series 'Anne with an E' and Season 10 of 'American Horror Story.' Gellar, who has long resisted the idea of a 'Buffy' spinoff, confirmed in February that she was involved in a reboot, helmed by Oscar-winning 'Nomadland' director Chloé Zhao. The original 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' which also starred Alyson Hannigan, Michelle Trachtenberg, David Boreanaz, Emma Caulfield and Anthony Head, aired from 1997 to 2003 and told the story of a teenage girl in the fictional Sunnydale, California, whose destiny was to fight vampires and other demons in order to save the world. The 'Buffy' series, which was created by Joss Whedon, was based on the 1992 movie of the same name, starring Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens and Luke Perry.
