Naomie Harris Nabs Lead Role Opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor In Showtime’s Sci-Fi Series ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth’

A series reboot of the David Bowie sci-fi film The Man Who Fell To Earth finally landed at Showtime after moving from Paramount+ and there is news of another high-profile casting addition. According to Deadline, Oscar-nominee Naomie Harris (Moonlight) is taking the role of Justin Falls opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor, a brilliant engineer and scientist.

Based on the Walter Tevis novel of the same name and the iconic film that starred David Bowie, The Man Who Fell to Earth will follow a new alien character (Ejiofor) who arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution and must confront his own past to determine our future.

Harris isn’t a stranger to genre projects playing Moneypenny in three Daniel Craig era Bond movies and Callisto in Disney’s Pirates of The Caribbean franchise.

Alex Kurtzman is co-writing/co-showrunning and will also direct multiple episodes. 

THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH – Thomas Jerome Newton (David Bowie) is an alien who has come to Earth in search of water to save his home planet. Aided by lawyer Oliver Farnsworth (Buck Henry), Thomas uses his knowledge of advanced technology to create profitable inventions. While developing a method to transport water, Thomas meets Mary-Lou (Candy Clark), a quiet hotel clerk, and begins to fall in love with her. Just as he is ready to leave Earth, Thomas is intercepted by the U.S. government, and his entire plan is threatened.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Margot Robbie Comments On Involvement With Disney’s ‘Pirates of The Caribbean’ Franchise – “We’re Really Excited About The Prospect”

I first reported back in August 2018 that Disney was looking to kick the tires of the Pirates franchise for a sixth untitled installment which could possibly move away from Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow. Disney then hired a handful of screenwriters to tackle Pirates of The Caribbean 6 which was said to be a reboot. Most recently writers Ted Elliott and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl, The Last of Us) had been hired by the studio to work on the project’s script.

Over the summer it was reported by The Hollywood Reporter that Aussie actress Margot Robbie and her Birds of Prey screenwriter Christina Hodson might be reuniting for a second Pirates project that would see Robbie attached for the lead role.

This week Margot Robbie (The Suicide Squad, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) is making the press rounds to promote her upcoming film Dreamland and while speaking with Josh Horowitz on his podcast Happy Sad Confused revealed Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl is one of her comfort films along with a brief comment on the report she is being considered for a role in a new movie from Disney.

HOROWITZ: There is talk you may be involved with a future Pirates film…

ROBBIE: “Wait and see. Early days, early days, I shan’t say anymore.”

Margot also revealed to Collider that she will not be producing the film and that while development seems to be happening at the moment, it doesn’t sound like a done deal at Disney.

ROBBIE: “A lot of girl power. No, it’s too early to talk about it…I’m not a producer on Pirates so I’ll sit back and wait for the process…I don’t have to stress about it. But no, we’re really excited about the prospect of adding, obviously, a very key female element to that world.”

If you’re not familiar with updates at theme parks concerning Pirates of The Caribbean they’ve revamped the character Redd, who is now a female pirate at the park. Redd is not only part of the ride but also had her own park character as well. She seems like a strong contender for the role that Disney is looking place Robbie in.

Johnny Depp was recently forcibly removed from the Fantastic Beasts franchise by Warner Bros. and could possibly be replaced with Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale, Hannibal, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story). There has been expectations that Johnny will not reprise the iconic pirate in either of these two projects but hasn’t been made official.

SOURCE: HAPPY SAD CONFUSED PODCAST & COLLIDER

Margot Robbie and ‘Birds of Prey’ Screenwriter Christina Hodson Attached To A Second ‘Pirates of The Caribbean’ Film – Will She Play Redd?

It looks like Disney is putting a lot of energy into their Pirates of The Caribbean franchise.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed Disney is now developing a second film alongside the reboot they’re working on. This second project would star Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey actress Margot Robbie in an undisclosed leading role with screenwriter Christina Hodson writing this new film.

Hodson is likely best known for her work on the DC Comics films such as Birds of Prey, Batgirl, and most recently with rewrites on The Flash.

Robbie being Australian might be a good excuse to shoot at the various sea-side locations and studios down under. I’m also curious if they’re planning on giving her the role of Redd, the updated attraction character from the parks that is now a female pirate.

This female project is said to be featuring new/original characters. Also, would separate from the Pirates reboot that writers Ted Elliott and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl, The Last of Us) had been working on recently for Disney.

It certainly sounds like the studio is planning on expanding on the franchise without Jack Sparrow as both the films aren’t being pegged as sequels or a continuation of the previous installments.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER