Explore the latest buzz in the entertainment world, featuring snooker legend Jimmy White’s upcoming TV role, the renewal of the Gladiators series, and exciting new film deals.
Snooker Legend Cues Up TV Role
EXCLUSIVE: Snooker legend Jimmy White is set to make a cameo in the series Write To Kill, created by author and producer David P. Perlmutter. The series follows an aspiring author plagued by writer’s block and financial struggles, who is offered a substantial sum to commit a heinous crime. Charlotte Kirk is part of the cast, with Lillee Jean Trueman directing. Discussions are ongoing for the male lead. The project is currently in development, and White will portray the director of an estate agency tasked with firing the main character in a snooker hall.
Gladiators Renewed for Season 3 & Celeb Special at BBC
The Gladiators are gearing up for a third season. The BBC has approved another run of its immensely popular Saturday night entertainment show, along with a new celebrity special, both set to air next year. Hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh, Gladiators features members of the public competing against the likes of Apollo, Diamond, and Viper in a series of challenging contests. After a 15-year hiatus, the show returned in 2024 and quickly became a Saturday night staple, captivating millions weekly. Produced by Hungry Bear Media and MGM Alternative UK, a division of Amazon MGM Studios, this year’s first celebrity edition included Rob Beckett, Joel Dommett, Louise Minchin, and Ellie Taylor. Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, stated, “Audiences have loved gathering to watch our mighty Gladiators take on contenders from all across the UK, with younger fans especially excited to cheer on their Saturday night superheroes.”
Fox Strikes CEE Deals
Fox Entertainment Global has secured a wave of content sales across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In the Czech Republic, FTV Prima has acquired a package of films. HRT Croatia has obtained rights to Yellowstone to Yosemite with Kevin Costner and Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints, which will have a second season soon. Regional SVOD platform Pickbox NOW and channel Pickbox TV have acquired a pan-CEE package of films, along with the scripted series The Chicken Sisters. Poland’s Media4fun has renewed a multi-title package.
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Swipe Films Deals
Frank Mannion’s UK outfit Swipe Films has sold the documentary A Sip of Irish to Ascot Elite for German-speaking territories, Gate 23 for North American airline rights, and Spafax and Aer Lingus for UK and Irish airline rights. The film will be released by Swipe Films’ theatrical distribution arm in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on June 23rd, and on digital platforms from July 14, with a US release in cinemas and on VOD on October 24th. This cinematic exploration of Ireland’s culinary and drinks legacy features Jurassic Park actor and winemaker Sam Neill, dancer Michael Flatley, Banshees of Inisherin actor Pat Shortt, and the Muff Liquor Company, where Russell Crowe is a strategic investor.
BTS Fan Movie Unveils Premiere Date
Forever We Are Young, a feature-length documentary about BTS’s fandom, has announced its premiere date. The theatrical release from Trafalgar Releasing, which premiered at SXSW, will begin on July 30. Directed by Grace Lee and Patty Ahn, and produced by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville, Forever We Are Young follows the fandom of BTS, known as ARMY (Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth), which is estimated to number 90 million worldwide. The documentary highlights the passionate fandom that propelled the Korean band to stardom. “There is no BTS without ARMY and no ARMY without BTS. We’re excited for audiences to embark on an emotional journey and meet a fandom that has made us laugh, cry, and think,” said Lee and Ahn.
