New movie The Critic, starring Ian McKellen as the West End’s most feared theatre critic in 1930’s London, has confirmed a UK date for its theatrical release.
The new film will play in cinemas from 13 September 2024, produced by the late Bill Kenwright’s BK Studios, and distributed by True Brit Entertainment.
The Critic – Watch the trailer
The film’s all-star cast is headlined by Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings, X-Men), who announced today that he is dropping out of the UK tour of Player Kings, based on Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, following a fall from the stage of the West End’s Noel Coward Theatre last month.
McKellen is joined in The Critic by Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man, Funny Woman), Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone), Alfred Enoch (Pericles, How To Get Away With Murder, The Couple Next Door), Romola Garai (Giant, One Life, Scoop), Lesley Manville (Oedipus, Phantom Thread, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris), Nikish Patel (Starstruck, The Devil’s Hour) and Mark Strong (Oedipus, 1917, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).
The movie is based on Anthony Quinn’s novel Curtain Call, and is directed by Anand Tucker (Shopgirl, Hilary & Jackie), and adapted by Oscar-winning screenwriter, playwright and directed Patrick Marber (What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank, Notes on a Scandal, Nachtland).
The Critic got mixed reviews when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) – read a reviews round-up here, and is distributed by True Brit Entertainment, the new theatrical distributor founded by Zygi Kamasa, who was recently Group CEO of Matthew Vaughn’s Marv Studios.
According to Deadline, following feedback at Toronto, Patrick Marber has gone back into the editing studio to make some major changes to the movie ahead of its UK premiere, restructuring and boosting McKellen’s presence in the film. Despite the fact that Ian McKellen is currently recuperating from a fall from the stage of the Noel Coward Theatre during a performance of Player Kings, which led him to drop out of the show, he will be back in the studio in a few weeks completely some additional voice-over work for the movie.
It was revealed back in February that The Critic would get a UK cinema release.
The movie’s music is by Craig Armstrong, Cinematographer is David Higgs, Editor Beverley Mills, Production Designer Lucienne Suren, Costume Designer Claire Finlay-Thompson, and also produced by Jolyon Symonds for Fearless Minds.
The Critic is a thrilling story of ambition, blackmail, and desire. Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) is the most feared theatre critic of the age. His newspaper’s new owner, David Brooke (Mark Strong), stands for patriotism and family values. It’s not long before Brooke fires Erskine for his outrageous behaviour and opinions, in particular a savage review of actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton). Erskine picks up on this cue and exploits the opportunity to get his job back. He writes a glowing review for Nina, promises her a glittering career, but in return she must do him a favour which has devastating consequences.
Lesley Manville and Mark Strong are set to also star together on the London stage in Autumn 2024, starring in Oedipus at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London.
Also this autumn, Romola Garai is set to star in Giant at the Royal Court with John Lithgow, directed by Nicholas Hytner.
Alfred Enoch is starring in the RSC’s new production of Pericles runs at The Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 26 July to 21 September 2024, which then transfers to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
UPDATES: First published 1 July 2024; Updated with information from Deadline on 5 July 2024.
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