All writers

Alex Ritman

variety.com
30
articles (90 days)

Recent articles

‘Top Boy’ Star Micheal Ward Found Not Guilty of Rape and Sexual Assault
Micheal Ward, the BAFTA-winning British star of “Top Boy” and “Eddington,” has been found not guilty of rape and sexual assault in a London court. The 28-year-old was accused of raping a woman in t...
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Neon Circling U.K. Distribution Launch
Indie distribution darling Neon is said to be eyeing a launch in the U.K. According to sources, the U.S company — which also has an international sales operation — is considering planting a flag ac...
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From ‘Kneecap’ to a Karlovy Vary Hit to Mia Hansen-Løve’s Next Film: Ireland’s Wildcard Makes Instant Splash as Producer
When setting up a production company, most filmmakers hope that the first feature out of the gate at least makes a little bit of noise. Thankfully for Dublin-based Wildcard, “Kneecap” didn’t do any...
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Michael Fassbender’s Production Company DMC Expands in Ireland Following Investment From Fine Point Films
Two of the production companies behind Irish breakout hit “Kneecap” are doubling down on their relationship. DMC, founded by Michael Fassbender (who had a supporting role in “Kneecap”), Conor McCau...
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‘Hope’ Trailer: Giant Alien Monsters, Crashing Spaceships and Wild Gun Battles Create Carnage in Neon’s Insane Korean Sci-Fi Action-Thriller
The full trailer for Na Hong-Jin’s “Hope” is finally here ahead of its Sep. 9 U.S. release with Neon and it’s got a little something for everyone. Well, at least everyone who enjoys their films wit...
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U.K.’s National Film and Television School Partners With Angels Costumes on New Sandy Powell-Backed Costume Design Course (EXCLUSIVE)
The U.K.’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) has unveiled a new partnership with Angels Costumes and John Gore Studios to support the renowned college’s new costume course. The two-year co...
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David Beckham and U2 Team With Street Child United Charity for Short Film to Air During Final World Cup Games (EXCLUSIVE)
Despite having retired from soccer years ago, David Beckham has noticeably been one of the most visible faces of this World Cup, fronting numerous commercials. That’s not set to change anytime soon...
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Lauren McQueen to Lead Michael J. Long’s British Psychological Drama ‘Crack’d’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Lauren McQueen, recently seen as Maid Marian in the MGM+/Lionsgate series “Robin Hood,” is set to lead upcoming British psychological drama “Crack’d.” A first-look for the film has been unveiled. C...
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‘The Odyssey’ World Premiere Sees Stars Including Zendaya, Matt Damon and More Praise Christopher Nolan’s Epic: ‘This Was His Magnum Opus’
“The Odyssey” has begun its grand voyage. Christopher Nolan’s major adaptation of Homer’s nearly 3,000 year-old Greek poem and arguably history’s most famous epic splashed down in London on Monday ...
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Tilly Norwood to Lead New Movie ‘Misaligned,’ Marking Feature Debut for AI ‘Actor’
Tilly Norwood, the AI “actor” who sparked a frenzy of anger in Hollywood and across the wider industry in late 2025, is set to front her first feature film. “Misaligned,” announced by Particle 6, t...
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Lauryn Ajufo to Lead Revival of Michaela Coel’s Landmark Debut Play ‘Chewing Gum Dreams’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Lauryn Ajufo, the British actress who landed a British Independent Film Award nomination for “Boiling Point,” is set to step into the role that first launched Michaela Coel’s career in an upcoming ...
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Laura Jackson Returns to Host CNN’s Global Culture Show ‘Seasons’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Laura Jackson is set to return as host of CNN’s global culture show “Seasons” for four new episodes. The British TV broadcaster and entrepreneur — who joined the show last year for its second insta...
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Neon Closing in on Luca Guadagnino’s Sam Altman Open AI Movie ‘Artificial’ After Amazon Drops Controversial Film
“Artificial,” Luca Guadagnino’s movie about Sam Altman and OpenAI, is about to get a new home. Neon is closing in on a deal to acquire the nearly-completed $40 million film — set during the tumultu...
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Chris Martin’s ‘Not Very Good’ Attempt to Write a James Bond Theme Song Goes on Auction
A lost 27-year-old demo recording that Chris Martin and Coldplay reportedly intended for a James Bond theme — and later admitted wasn’t good enough — is going up for auction. According to the lot d...
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Josh O’Connor-Led Revival of ‘Golden Boy’ at London’s Almeida Theatre Rounds Out Cast, Unveils Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
The London revival of Clifford Odets’ classic American play “Golden Boy” at the Almeida Theatre has bulked out its cast while revealing a trailer of Josh O’Connor in the lead role. Joining the prod...
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Colin Farrell, Steve Coogan, Charlie Heaton, Domhnall Gleeson and More Join Emilia Jones and Alison Oliver in Netflix’s Irish Period Thriller ‘Bad Bridgets’
“Bad Bridgets,” the Irish period thriller from “Kneecap” director Rich Peppiatt, has added a starry ensemble of names as it gears up to start filming in Northern Ireland in July. Joining its two le...
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European Heatwave Fires Up the Box Office as Audiences Seek Indoor Activities, Air Conditioning
When schools across the U.K. closed early last week as record-breaking temperatures touched on 100 F, marking the hottest June on record, there was one noticeable benefactor. Reports from cinemas u...
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Stephen Poliakoff to Return to Major TV Drama With Epic Historic Political Thriller ‘The Order’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Stephen Poliakoff, the acclaimed multi-BAFTA and Emmy-winning writer, is set to return to large-scale television with the newly-announce “The Order,” an international political thriller set in the ...
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U.K. Ratings Body Used AI for First Time to Classify HBO Max’s Entire Library
The British Board of Film Classification, the U.K.’s primary ratings body, has revealed that it developed and deployed a bespoke AI tool for the first time to support the classification of HBO Max’...
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‘Culpables’ and ‘My Fault’ Author Mercedes Ron Signs First-Look Deal With Amazon MGM
Amazon MGM has signed a first-look deal with Mercedes Ron, doubling down on an already hugely successful partnership with the bestselling author behind some of the biggest global hits on Prime Vide...
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Alexis Alexiou Completes Third Feature ‘Sea of Glass,’ Unveils First Look and Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
Greek writer/director Alexis Alexiou has unveiled his third feature and his first since 2015’s award-winning “Wednesday 04.45.” “Sea of Glass,” now complete, is a country noir road movie following ...
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‘Coffin Confessor’ TV Series in the Works at Fifth Season, Based on True Story of Man Paid to Crash Funerals and Reveal Secrets of the Dead (EXCLUSIVE)
The wild true story of an Australian man whose unique profession sees him hired by people to fulfil their final requests after they have died — a job that sometimes involves crashing their funerals...
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Anthony Boyle, Sam Claflin, Tom Hollander and Josh Finan Among Ensemble Joining Keira Knightley and Alicia Vikander in Dark Comedy ‘The Worst’ (EXCLUSIVE)
With shooting now underway in the south of France on dark comedy “The Worst,” the production has added a major cohort of names to its already buzzy cast. Sam Claflin (“F.A.S.T.,” “Daisy Jones and t...
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Mubi to Publish Lost ‘Faust’ Bible on Centenary of F.W. Murnau’s Silent Cinema Classic (EXCLUSIVE)
Arthouse distributor, streamer, production company and — since 2015 — publisher Mubi is set to release a book about the silent era classic “Faust” containing material that was until recently though...
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Inside Kyle University, the Manosphere-Baiting Parody That’s Amassed 30 Million Views (And Is Actually a Covert Movie Campaign)
Mononymously-named and bodybuilding-sculpted, Kyle — the tanned and chiseled face of Kyle University (tagline: “Teaching boys how to be men”) — looks and sounds like many of those populating the so...
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Variety Teams With Edinburgh Film Festival to Launch Variety Lounge at 2026 Edition
The Edinburgh Intl. Film Festival and Variety have announced a new partnership to deliver the first-ever Variety Lounge in the U.K. at this year’s EIFF, supported by VisitScotland. The Variety Loun...
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German Actor Jonathan Berlin Sets Directorial Feature Debut ‘Mio’ With Taddeo Kufus, Barbara Auer and Godehard Giese to Star (EXCLUSIVE)
German actor and director Jonathan Berlin (“The Forger”) is set to write and direct his first feature “Mio”, a queer coming of age drama about a teenager who must embark on a journey into the unkno...
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Eamon Farren, Arlo Green, Miranda Otto and Sacha Horler Join Hugo Weaving in Australian Legal Drama ‘The Great White’ From ‘Slow Horses’ Banner See-Saw (EXCLUSIVE)
“The Great White,” ABC Australia’s upcoming legal workplace drama series from See-Saw Films, has bolstered its cast with filming now underway in Sydney. Alongside the previously announced Hugo Weav...
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‘Unchosen’ Star Molly Windsor Signs With Anonymous Content (EXCLUSIVE)
BAFTA-winning British actress Molly Windsor has signed with Anonymous Content. The rising star currently leads Netflix’s psychological thriller series “Unchosen” as a woman living in a strict, isol...
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Ansel Elgort, Halle Bailey, Ludacris and Alan Ritchson Among Voice Cast for Animated Movie ‘Groove Tails’ (EXCLUSIVE)
“Groove Tails,” the upcoming animated feature from “Twilight” producers Imprint Entertainment and “The Lego Ninjago Movie” writer/director Bob Logan, has attracted a starry voice cast. Leading the ...
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