Kevin Conroy To Play Bruce Wayne In New Arrow Crossover

Voice actor Kevin Conroy has provided the voice for animated version of Batman for many years and now the CW has confirmed that he will be officially playing an older Bruce Wayne form the future in the crossover episode of the Arrowverse shows.

The upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover will see Arrow, The Flash, Legend of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Black Lightening and new show Batwoman crossing over.

As this season sees Arrow finally bowing out of the shared universe the series helped launch it’s intended that this final crossover will be something uniquely epic and game changing. The run of episodes is due to being in early December running across the various series until mid-January.

Scorsese drama The Irishman Closes London Film Festival 2019

The 63rd BFI London Film Festival will close this year with the international premiere for Martin Scorsese’s crime dram The Irishman on 13th October.

The film stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci with the cast and director all set to attend. The London premiere will follow shortly after the world premiere in New York

The film charts the course of organised crime in post-world war two America through the eyes of veteran turned hustling hitman Frank Sheeran (De Niro).

Adapted from a novel by Charles Brandt the film is a long gestating passion project for the director and some of his most famous muses. With many fans hoping for a return to greatness, particular for the twin acting titans of De Niro and Pacino.

The London Film Festival runs from 2-13 October 2019.

Venice Film Festival Line Up Announced

The Venice film festival which launches in late August has announced its official line up for 2019. Brad Pitt’s space drama Ad Astra and Robert Pattinson’s Shakespearean drama The King are among those set for world premieres.

Meryl Steep and Gary Oldman’s Steven Sodenberg drama The Laundromat is also included in this year’s line-up.

In a controversial move director Roman Polanski, currently locked in a legal battle over his recent expulsion from the American Academy, will screen his latest film An Officer and a Spy at the festival.

Marriage story featuring Scarlett Johansson and Adam driver also features this year as does Joaquin Phoenix much anticipated comic book movie Joker.

Overall the line-up is considered to potentially have fewer Oscar front runner compared to last year’s selection which launched The Favourite, First Man and A Star Is Born with world premieres.

Dickens Drama Opens London Film Festival 2019

This year’s BFI London Film Festival will officially open with the premiere of director Armando Iannucci’s Charles Dickens adaptation The Personal Life Of David Copperfield.

The film has attracted attention for the casting of Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel in the lead role, deliberately ignoring the racial expectations of a character traditionally portrayed by white actors due to the historical and cultural setting.

Iannucci himself commented on the deliberate move towards so called colour-blind casting.

“ You shouldn’t have to bat an eyelid and you don’t. Because the best people are cast for the parts. I’ve noticed it’s something that’s been happening in theatre for a long time… Dev has the potential to flit in seconds form being vulnerable and gawky and funny to being quite dramatic and strong.”

The rest of the cast includes Benedict Wong, Peter Capaldi, Tilda Swinton and newcomer Rosalind Eleazar.

The period drama will also have a more modern and pointedly diverse take on the famous novel with director Iannucci asserting he wanted to give the costume drama a more contemporary feel.

The film is set to have its official European premiere opening night of the 63rd London Film Festival which runs from 2 to 13 October 2019.

TIFF 2019 Announces First Line Up Details

The Toronto International Film Festival announced its first wave of movies set to be included in this year’s line-up.

Renee Zellweger’s Judy Garland Biopic and Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker origin story are among the prominent Oscar hopefuls included in this year’s typically sensational collection of films.

Other films in the initial line up include Taika Waititi’s black comedy Jojo Rabbit starring Scarlett Johansson and Tom Hanks Mr Rodgers biopic A Beautiful day In The Neighbourhood.

Just Mercy, Le Mans ’66, The Goldfinch, The Two Popes, Bad Education, Marriage Sotry, Uncut Gems, The personal History of David Copperfield and Meryl Streep drama The Laundromat also get high profile premiere’s at this year’s festival attracting awards buzz of their own.

Significantly this year more than half the gala presentations are director or co-directed by women. A landmark achievement proudly acknowledged by the festival’s artistic director Cameron Bailey.

This year’s TIFF festival runs from 5-15 September.