Film

World premiere of Apple Original Films’ Blitz to open the 68th BFI London Film Festival

The opening night gala of Steve McQueen’s Second World War drama will be hosted at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, with screenings around the UK.

1st June 2024

The 68th BFI London Film Festival (9 to 20 October) in partnership with American Express is excited to announce that this year’s opening night gala will be the world premiere of the Apple Original Film, Blitz, directed, produced and written by Academy Award and BAFTA winner Steve McQueen.

Blitz follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to Rita and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in east London, ensues on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.
The film stars Academy and BAFTA Award-nominee Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliott Heffernan, with Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, CJ Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire, Hayley Squires, Erin Kellyman, and Sally Messham rounding out the cast.

McQueen’s Lammas Park produces alongside Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer for New Regency, with producers Anita Overland and Adam Somner.
The world premiere of Blitz marks a return to the LFF by the London-born director, who has opened the festival twice before with Widows in 2018 and Mangrove in 2020, and has a long-standing relationship with the LFF, also premiering Hunger, 12 Years a Slave, Shame, Lovers Rock and Occupied City at the festival. McQueen was awarded the BFI’s highest honour, the BFI Fellowship, at the BFI London Film Festival in 2016 for his outstanding contribution to film and moving image culture.

Blitz is a tale of resilience and humanity in the face of adversity, with the city of London forming the tapestry of the film. The 68th BFI London Film Festival opening marks a homecoming for the film and its director and is a true celebration of British excellence in cinema.

McQueen reunites with production designer Adam Stockhausen (12 Years a Slave, Widows), costume designer Jacqueline Durran (Small Axe) and composer Hans Zimmer (12 Years a Slave), with cinematographer Yorick Le Saux (Little Women) and makeup designer Naomi Donne (No Time to Die).

“Blitz is a movie about Londoners,” says McQueen. “It honours the spirit of what and how Londoners endured during the blitz, but also explores the true representation of people in London, while at its core is the story of a working-class family desperate to be reunited during times of war. I could not be more thrilled that the BFI London Film Festival have invited us to open this year’s festival, and to celebrate the world premiere of Blitz in my hometown.”
Steve McQueen

“Blitz is a film of incredible scale,” says Kristy Matheson, BFI London Film Festival Director. “Steve McQueen infuses the film with nuance at every turn; the depth of character and texture of the city are all peerless and make this subject feel completely new. It’s an astounding production that will leave audiences in awe of the director, his cast and creative collaborators. We are honoured to share this film with audiences in London and across the UK and can think of no better way to open the 2024 BFI London Film Festival.”

Blitz will premiere in select cinemas on 1 November, 2024 prior to streaming globally on Apple TV+ on 22 November, 2024.

In The Works

Full Cast Revealed for Jo Nesbø’s ‘Harry Hole’

Bridget Jones is back and ready for the next chapter

Netflix Announces New Romantic Comedy Series ‘Too Much’ From Award-Winning Writer, Director, Producer and Actor Lena Dunham

In The Works:

Full Cast Revealed for Jo Nesbø’s ‘Harry Hole’ Bridget Jones is back and ready for the next chapter Netflix Announces New Romantic Comedy Series ‘Too Much’ From Award-Winning Writer, Director, Producer and Actor Lena Dunham

Film

Full Cast Revealed for Jo Nesbø’s 'Harry Hole'

1st April 2024

Joining previously announced leads Tobias Santelmann (Exit, The Arctic Convoy), Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, Suicide Squad) and Pia Tjelta (Made in Oslo, State of Happiness), the star-studded cast for Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole (outside of the Nordics the title is Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole) has been revealed. Director Anna Zackrisson (Deliver Me, The Helicopter Heist) also joins the production.

Casting News
• Peter Stormare (Fargo, The Big Lebowski)
• Anders Baasmo (Power Play, La Palma)
• Kåre Conradi (Norsemen, Billionaire Island)
• Simon J. Berger (Exit, Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves)
• Fridtjov Såheim (Ragnarok, Troll)
• Eili Harboe (Thelma, Succession)
• Atle Antonsen (Dag, Kjære landsmenn)
• Manish Sharma (Power Play, Billionaire Island)
• Henriette Steenstrup (Ragnarok, Pørni)
• Jesper Christensen (Casino Royale, SPECTRE)
• Kristoffer Joner (War Sailor, The Quake)
• Ingrid Bolsø Berdal (Westworld, La Palma)
• Linn Skåber (Midsummer Night, Staying Alive)
• Jonas Strand Gravli (Ragnarok, The Lørenskog Disappearance)
• Sonny Lindberg (The Rain, Next of Kin)
• Agnes Kittelsen (Dag, Exit)
• Nader Khademi (Power Play, Beforeigners)
• Ellen Helinder (Exit, Gåsmamman)
• Agot Sendstad (Neste sommer, Exit)
• Maja Christiansen (Julestjerna, Rådebank)
• Frank Kjosås (Exit, Kampen om tungtvannet)
• Kelly Gale (Plane, Deep Water)
• Oddgeir Thune (Billionaire Island, Pørni)
• Ravdeep Singh Bajwa (A Storm for Christmas, Jordbrukerne)
• Henrik Mestad (Occupied, Pørni)
• Ingar Helge Gimle (The Lørenskog Disappearance, Norsemen)
• Helge Jordal (Orion’s Belt, Kadaver)
• Eirik Hallert (Midsummer Night, Headhunters)

Created by one of the greatest storytellers in crime fiction, Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole is a whodunnit serial killer mystery led by famed anti-hero Harry Hole. Underneath the surface, this series is a nuanced character drama about two police officers – and supposed colleagues – operating on opposite sides of the law. Throughout the first season, Harry goes head-to-head with his long-time adversary and corrupt detective Tom Waaler. Harry is a brilliant but tormented homicide detective who struggles with his demons. As the two navigate the blurred ethical lines of the criminal justice system, Harry must do all he can to catch a serial killer and bring Waaler to justice before it is too late.

Tobias Santelmann, actor: “I am incredibly grateful for the trust I have been shown in getting to play Harry Hole . I am very much aware of the huge global fan base and the millions of readers who love the character. For me, it is about creating a Harry that people can both recognize and be surprised by. I can’t wait for the shoot to start. It will be a true pleasure to work with everyone.”

Jo Nesbø, author and creator: “I’m guessing that all readers of the book series have their own vision of what Harry Hole would look like, and they should be allowed to keep that. We will create a Harry that is based not only on the books but someone based on the actor Tobias Santelmann and everyone involved in this project – both in front and behind the camera. For me, storytelling isn’t about serving people what they think they want, but what they didn’t know they wanted. We will try to create something fresh, exciting and surprising with respect to the book version of Harry.”

Eric Fellner, Executive Producer, Working Title: “Working Title is thrilled to be working with Jo Nesbø and Øystein Karlsen to bring the legendary detective Harry Hole to life. To
have assembled such an incredible cast of actors and crew is a testament to Jo’s storytelling skills. Through the collaboration with our partners at Netflix, we’re excited to share Jo and Øystein’s vision not just in the Nordics, but around the world.”

Detective Hole airs on Netflix in 2026.
Read more on Netflix

In The Works

World premiere of Apple Original Films’ Blitz to open the 68th BFI London Film Festival

Bridget Jones is back and ready for the next chapter

Netflix Announces New Romantic Comedy Series ‘Too Much’ From Award-Winning Writer, Director, Producer and Actor Lena Dunham

In The Works:

World premiere of Apple Original Films’ Blitz to open the 68th BFI London Film Festival Bridget Jones is back and ready for the next chapter Netflix Announces New Romantic Comedy Series ‘Too Much’ From Award-Winning Writer, Director, Producer and Actor Lena Dunham

Film

Netflix Announces New Romantic Comedy Series 'Too Much' From Award-Winning Writer, Director, Producer and Actor Lena Dunham

1st February 2024

Netflix has announced Too Much, a new rom-com series created by talented power couple Lena Dunham and Attawalpa. Too Much will be produced by Working Title Television and Lena Dunham’s Good Thing Going. Featuring original music by Attawalpa, Luis Felber’s band with musical collaborator Matt Allchin.

The ten-episode show follows Jessica, portrayed by comedian Megan Stalter, a New Yorker who heads to London in the wake of a painful breakup. There, she meets Felix, played by White Lotus’ Will Sharpe. The pair build a connection that surprises Jessica… but is impossible to ignore.

“This is a show that is very close to my heart — created with my husband Luis, cast with my favourite actors — the geniuses that are Meg and Will, along with a bevy of friends — and partnering again with Working Title, who are behind the romantic comedies that formed me,” Dunham told Netflix in December 2023. “Netflix has been so deeply supportive of the vision, which is to create a romantic comedy that makes us root for love, brings joy but also has the jagged edges of life.”

Stalter and Sharpe lead as Too Much’s romantic heroes. The rest of the cast includes:
• Adèle Exarchopoulos (Passages)
• Adwoa Aboah (Top Boy)
• Andrew Rannells (GIRLS5EVA)
• Daisy Bevan (The Alienist)
• Dean-Charles Chapman (1917)
• Emily Ratajkowski (Gone Girl)
• Janicza Bravo (Sharp Stick)
• Kaori Momoi (The Brightest Roof in the Universe)
• Leo Reich (Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!)
• Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
• Prasanna Puwanarajah (The Crown)
• Rhea Perlman (Cheers)
• Richard E. Grant (Saltburn)
• Rita Wilson (Sleepless in Seattle)
• Stephen Fry (The Dropout)

About the Show

Jessica is a New York workaholic in her mid-thirties, reeling from a broken relationship that she thought would last forever and slowly isolating everyone she knows. When every block in New York tells a story of her own bad behaviour, the only solution is to take a job in London, where she plans to live a life of solitude like a Bronte sister. But when she meets Felix – who is less Hugh Grant in Notting Hill and more Hugh Grant’s drunken roommate – she finds that their unusual connection is impossible to ignore, even as it creates more problems than it solves. Now they have to ask themselves: do Americans and Brits actually speak the same language? From the creator of Girls and the producers of Love Actually, Too Much is an ex-pat rom-com for the disillusioned who wonder if true love is still possible, but sincerely hope that it is.