Latest news with #LetitiaWright
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where does Ironheart fit in the Marvel timeline?
The Marvel universe is expanding with another Disney+ TV series, this one centred on tech genius (and Iron Man's successor) Riri Williams. Dominique Thorne first debuted in the role back in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, joining Shuri (Letitia Wright) as she faced new adversary Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and tried to protect Wakanda whilst also navigating her grief over the death of King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman). The new series follows Riri in the aftermath of her time in Wakanda as she tries to find her place in the world and continues her work to build the most advanced suit of armour since Iron Man. But with a dozen or so Marvel projects to come out since Wakanda Forever, even MCU fans would be forgiven for getting a little confused over where new shows and films take place. Here is everything that you need to know about Ironheart's placement in the overall timeline. Wakanda Forever is set during the Spring of 2025, and Ironheart has been confirmed to begin in "the days after" the film. It follows the character in the weeks after, and examines how she was impacted by the events of Wakanda Forever. Marvel's synopsis for the show sheds more light on where the series fits in the timeline: "Set after the events of 'Wakanda Forever,' Ironheart follows Riri as she returns to her hometown of Chicago, determined to build a state-of-the-art iron suit and make her mark on the world. Her time in Wakanda has left her more eager than ever to pursue her dreams, and her quest entangles her in a dangerous world of science and magic." This means that Ironheart is set in the first half of 2025, making it the first Marvel project to actually be released at the same time it takes place. It also means, rather confusingly, that Ironheart is set before many of the recent Marvel movies and TV series to have come out since Wakanda Forever. So why is Ironheart set so far apart from recent Marvel projects? Well, it could be because the series was filmed between May and November 2022 and production wrapped before Wakanda Forever even landed in cinemas. The show's close proximity to Wakanda Forever might be surprising given that the show is seen as the conclusion of Phase 5 in the MCU, whereas Wakanda Forever was the conclusion of Phase 4. Phase 5 has featured a number of films, the last of which was Thunderbolts and includes the likes of Captain America: Brave New World, The Marvels, and Deadpool and Wolverine. While on the TV side of things Marvel's Phase 5 includes Daredevil: Born Again, Loki, and Agatha All Along. There are some Disney+ series set during the same year as Ironheart, including Echo which is set in the first half of 2025 and Daredevil: Born Again, which takes place between late 2025 and early 2026. But on the movie front, many of Marvel's films have jumped well ahead — Captain America: Brave New World takes place between November 2026 and the first few months of 2027, and the newest film in the franchise, Thunderbolts, is set shortly after that in 2027. If you're wondering why there was such a long wait between Ironheart being filmed and its release, Marvel TV boss Brad Winderbaum revealed to ComicBook's Phase Zero podcast in March 2024 that it was so Marvel spread out its Disney+ content. He explained: "Frankly, in all honesty, there was a mandate to kind of create as much as we could for Disney+ as quickly as we could. And then there was a shift, and all of a sudden we have to start spreading our release dates out. So, that really accounts for a lot of the delays. "Now, we're using that time, we're not sitting idle. So, it stays in the oven. You can bake certain things a little more. It's actually, I think, ultimately, it's only going to make things better. But most of it's just frankly shrapnel from the business." Ironheart premieres with its first three episodes on Wednesday 25 June on Disney+, with the next three episodes being released the next week.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Letitia Wright on Overcoming Impostor Syndrome for Directorial Debut, Ryan Coogler Prophecy
Actress and producer Letitia Wright (Black Panther, Death on the Nile, Black Mirror, Small Axe) recently premiered her directorial debut, the short Highway to the Moon, which she also wrote, during the South London Film Festival. On Wednesday, she shared that she had to overcome 'impostor syndrome' and 'humble myself' to be ready for the directing reins. And she had to 'team up with people with the experience willing to teach me,' from the directing lingo to technical aspects, she told the inaugural SXSW London on Wednesday. More from The Hollywood Reporter Death of "Grassroots" Live, Electronic Music Venues Gets U.K. Parliament Review: SXSW London 'Thus Spoke the Wind' Trailer Hints at a Vivid, Metaphysical Ride in the Armenian Drama (Exclusive) Animated Werewolf Movie 'Dog of God' Debuts Wild Trailer With Hitler Look-Alike Getting Tortured (Exclusive) In front of an excited crowd, Wright recalled that Black Panther director Ryan Coogler told her one day: 'You will be directing soon.' She said her reaction was: 'You are mad!' But his 'prophecy' was repeated by a famous actor, whom she didn't name, within days, and it ended up coming true. In her SXSW London appearance and a wide-ranging discussion, Wright recalled how she discovered cinema and a shy teenager. 'I became a cinephile at age 13,' she shared. I watched all these films from Limewire. … I was kind of a loner.' What are her career ambitions? 'It's about legacy and purpose,' the star shared about how she approaches 'quote, unquote fame.' And she added: 'I want to leave an impact, and I want you to have a great time.' Speaking of fame, Wright highlighted that 'it takes a very strong person' to handle the tougher parts of fame, given that not all people are always respectful. 'They don't give us the grace to be human,' she said. Does Wright have any favorite movies in her career so far? 'I am grateful for the catalogue I have been able' to create in film, she said. But she mentioned her role in Danai Gurira's stage play The Convert at the Young Vic Theatre in London, where she played the character of Jekesai/Ester, as one of her favorite work experiences so far. Nigerian singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage also spoke on the panel, entitled 'Women in the Room,' at the Truman Brewery in the Shoreditch neighborhood of the British capital that was part of the festival's first-ever European edition. SXSW London runs through June 7. Penske Media, the parent company of The Hollywood Reporter, is the majority stakeholder of SXSW. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Letitia Wright's directorial debut will show the devastating toll of knife crime
Black Panther actress Letitia Wright's directorial debut is a "love letter" to young Black men in response to the knife crime crisis in London and her personal experiences and loss Emmy-nominated actress Letitia Wright is set to make her directorial debut with Highway to the Moon, a new coming-of-age fantasy drama. Wright was inspired to create the short film in response to the devastating impact of knife crime in London and has called the project a 'love letter to young Black men all over the world '. Wright wrote, directed and produced the short film which was inspired by the killing of her friend's brother and the death of model Harry Uzoka. Actors Kenyah Sandy and Lamar Waves star in the fantasy film, which follows the experiences of young Black men after their lives are tragically cut short. Sandy portrays the character Micah, a young man journeying through the liminal space between life and death, guided by a group of other young men. Together the men confront what it means to be a Black boy in today's society, empowering each other to embrace empathy and self-worth. In a statement, Wright shared that Highway to the Moon veers away from stereotypes in favour of recognising the unique emotional, social and mental health struggles and strengths of young Black men. She said: 'The film is my way of exploring joy, love, and unity, and I want to show these boys in a way that is not connected to a stereotype, but instead explores their emotions, complexities, hopes, dreams, disappointments and fears, and allows them to see themselves as worthy, with lives that have meaning.' The global premiere of the film will be on Saturday, May 31 at the South London Film Festival. Wright said that the setting for the film's premiere was particularly important to her. 'I felt it was crucial to premiere the film at a festival that supports emerging filmmakers in our community," she explained. "The South London Film Festival's target audience aligns with the young people I aimed to reach with this film, and I hope it resonates with them.' In response to those who might criticise her for highlighting knife violence, Wright told The Guardian: 'There is not a single knife that you see in this film. It's just the actions of it. It's just the aftermath.' She also noted that in many stabbing cases, gangs were not involved at all. The short film was commissioned through WeTransfer's arts platform, WePresent. Holly Fraser, VP of content at WeTransfer, is an executive producer on the film, alongside Alex Mattinson and Damian Bradfield at WeTransfer. As reported by Variety, Fraser shared: 'Being able to commission important stories and work with artists that are driven to use creativity as a tool for progress has always been the cornerstone of WePresent's mission as a platform. 'Letitia exemplifies this and through the production of Highway to the Moon we've seen the love, care and dedication that she has poured into the film at every turn. We're excited to see the journey that 'Highway to the Moon' now goes on, and we hope that it starts much needed conversations amongst its audiences moving forward.'
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Letitia Wright describes ‘huge burden' of representation on black artists
The actor Letitia Wright has spoken about the 'huge burden' of representation for black film-makers telling stories about black lives, as she prepares to unveil her directorial debut. The 31-year-old Black Panther star steps behind the camera for Highway to the Moon, a short film inspired by the killing of her friend's brother and the death of the model Harry Uzoka. The short film – written, directed and produced by Wright – will have its world premiere on Saturday at the South London film festival. Kenyah Sandy and Lamar Waves star in the coming-of-age fantasy that explores the lives of young black boys whose futures have been violently cut short. Wright described the film as a spiritual and visual journey rooted in themes of black youth joy, love and unity. It imagines what happens to the souls of young black boys after death, whether through violence or mental health struggles, across three realms: Earth, the 'in-between' and space. 'It came from that place of shock that people that I knew, particularly my friend's brother Junior, weren't here any more and it was over a disagreement,' she said. 'His life is gone and just seeing that pain of my friend and her family and her mum processing it and how nobody would want to come forward to say who did it. Justice hasn't come to that household.' The short film, commissioned through WeTransfer's arts platform, WePresent, is Wright's response to the knife crime crisis in London. But she is clear that it deliberately avoids tired stereotypes, noting that in several stabbing cases, gangs were not involved at all. 'It just made me intrigued about their spirits and wanted to write about it and do it from a different lens, a different angle than what we're used to seeing,' Wright said. Speaking to the Guardian, Wright reflected on the pressure placed on black film-makers to speak for an entire community and to meet everyone's expectations. She said: 'I felt that from just even my acting career, the particular roles I want to take and the particular roles that I do take. I do weigh it up – I know how much representation means and the power of image, the power of what you see and what you hear, and how it can influence. So that has been something that has been a challenge for me. Whether it's writing it, whether it's directing, whether it's producing, whether it's the casting of it all. '[There's] that thing in the back of your mind feeling like, dang, is someone's going to misinterpret my intentions?' Wright added. 'And that has already happened. But I also have to let go of it because it's a huge burden to bear and I cannot control everybody's feelings. That's the one thing that I've been able to look at just in a mature way and just say, I cannot control how everyone's going to take this. All I can do is focus on my intention.' For this film, that intention is to amplify a message of love and unity. Wright said: 'I want this to really hit home with our boys when they watch it. It's like, dang, I'm meant to be here. He's meant to be here. We're meant to have a good quality of life.' To those who may criticise her for highlighting knife violence, she said: 'There is not a single knife that you see in this film. It's just the actions of it. It's just the aftermath of it.' Wright admits she was scared about stepping into directing, describing it as a steep learning curve. 'It had its difficult moments. Some days I wanted to give up, but the boys, honestly, it's the young boys and this story that just kept me going.' To prepare, she enrolled in directing and producing courses, all while continuing her acting work. 'Overall, it was a great experience, but I was definitely in the trenches,' she joked. 'But in the end, I made something that I'm really proud of.'
Express Tribune
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
National Theatre taps Paul Mescal, Monica Barbaro, and Nicola Coughlan for new season
Paul Mescal, Letitia Wright, Monica Barbaro, and Nicola Coughlan are set to make their debuts at London's prestigious National Theatre, marking a major moment in their stage careers. The announcement comes as part of new artistic director Indhu Rubasingham's fresh lineup of productions, emphasizing global talent and diverse storytelling. Mescal will lead a repertory company at the Lyttelton Theatre in 2027, starring in A Whistle in the Dark and playing Biff in Death of a Salesman. Rubasingham highlighted that the Gladiator II star was selected not for his celebrity status, but for being "a proper theatre actor." Monica Barbaro will join Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, directed by Marianne Elliott. Meanwhile, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan will headline The Playboy of the Western World from December 4. Black Panther actress Letitia Wright will star in The Story, a new play tackling racism and media culture. Other major announcements include James McArdle, Clare Perkins, and Ukweli Roach starring in Bacchae, and Hiran Abeysekera leading a new Hamlet production in 2025. Rubasingham also announced partnerships with The Shed and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, aiming to take productions from London to international stages and schools. The National Theatre's evolving mission, Rubasingham said, is to create "state-of-the-world" plays that resonate across cultures, signaling a shift towards a more global, inclusive future for British theatre.
