Tom Hiddleston is in talks to play the lead in the ‘Ben-Hur’ remake: ugh or amazing?

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My father loved Charlton Heston and Kirk Douglas as actors, and he loved all of those sand-and-sword epics, like Ben-Hur, Spartacus, The Greatest Story Ever Told, etc. But for me, even today, all of those films kind of blur together. If you asked me flat-out (without time to research) what the difference is between Spartacus and Ben-Hur, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. Well, anyway, Hollywood is going to remake Ben-Hur, the Heston classic beloved by millions of people. And they want little Tommy Hiddleston to play Judah Ben-Hur. Um… okay?

MGM, Paramount and Timur Bekmambetov set a February 26, 2016, release date on an epic remake of Ben-Hur; have they found their chariot driver in Tom Hiddleston? I hear that he’s the one the studios are courting to play Judah Ben-Hur in the adaptation of the 1880 Lew Wallace novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ, which was the biggest-selling novel of its time until it was eclipsed by Gone With The Wind.

Hiddleston isn’t being fitted for a toga just yet. He has other projects vying for his services, including the MGM pic Me Before You. Keith Clarke, who scripted the Peter Weir-directed The Way Back, wrote the script that MGM pounced on after that company got ambitious following its emergence from bankruptcy and huge hits in Skyfall and The Hobbit. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey joined Sean Daniel and Joni Levin as producers, with Clarke and Jason Brown exec producing. Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave scribe John Ridley wrote the last draft.

[From Deadline]

Translation: MGM was flush with cash, they spent too much money on a script they didn’t even like by Keith Clarke and they hired newly-minted Oscar-winner John Ridley to punch up the script and make it more palatable for a modern audience. And now they’re going to spent a fortune remaking a film that most people consider a classic. But I guess this is good news for the Dragonflies – Tom Hiddleston is being openly pursued for a lead role in a major Hollywood production. A film that will probably cost $100 million-plus to make will rest on Tommy’s delicate dragonfly shoulders. He has arrived, I guess.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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359 Responses to “Tom Hiddleston is in talks to play the lead in the ‘Ben-Hur’ remake: ugh or amazing?”

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  1. Froop says:

    Ugh ugh ugh. I like him, but nope.

    • Mike says:

      Seems like very bad idea to me too. Unless it is brilliant everybody will be comparing it to the original classic movie.

    • Zwella Ingrid says:

      ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Why does Hollywood insist on remaking classic films? Answer, they can’t come up with a single original idea. Totally wrong, totally bad, no way I would go see a remake of this wonderful classic film. Get a clue Hollywood.

      • Maria of MD says:

        You said it. They should only try to remake films that didn’t work out the first time around. The remake of Ocean’s Eleven comes to mind. But not Ben-Hur. It’s just too great of a classic.

      • icerose says:

        not only remakes but sequels and prequels.

      • Dara says:

        @Maria – spot on. Regardless of how campy it is considered now – in its day Ben-Hur won multiple Oscars. That to me is the threshold. Has there ever been a re-make of a Best Picture Oscar winner? If there has been, did it even come close to matching the original?

        How about this – on a whim I looked up Casablanca in IMDB, looks like it was tried as a television series…twice. Last time was in the early 80’s and David Soul was Rick, Hector Elizondo was Renault and Ray Liotta was Sacha. Scatman Crothers was Sam. Anybody remember it?

      • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

        @Zwella

        “ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why does Hollywood insist on remaking classic films? Answer, they can’t come up with a single original idea. Totally wrong, totally bad, no way I would go see a remake of this wonderful classic film. Get a clue Hollywood.”

        Totally spot on!! It’s a no-no-no-no…. I hope Hiddles politely says NO too.

  2. Mia4S says:

    Oh dear, umm no. I’m not sure this is such a good idea. It may not happen, he was rumoured for the Crow and that movie was never even made.

    • Lindy79 says:

      Thank Jaysus!

    • jammypants says:

      I’m kind of glad about that.

    • bella says:

      Mia4S:

      And I’m very grateful for that. The Crow is that kind of movie that no remake will get the level of the original. Till today, Brandon Lee is ‘the crow’ to everyone who watched this movie. No remake, please!!

    • 'P'enny says:

      luke evans is filming it – apparently

      • Lilacflowers says:

        But hasn’t that been put on indefinite hold? Wasn’t that why he was able to film High-Rise?

      • M.A.F. says:

        I like to think me going around saying I would hold a one woman protest had something to do w/it (although probably not).

        Neither movie should be remade.

  3. QQ says:

    Right, Just what we Need..MOAR REMAKES!

  4. Freebunny says:

    He’s talented but he’s not Ben Hur.

    • 'P'enny says:

      he’s not Charlton Heston.

      I’ve not read the book to determine if he is or isn’t, have you?

      • jammypants says:

        good point

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I haven’t read the book, which I’m considering rather strange because it was published in 1880 and was one of the best-selling books of all time up until the film re-make in 1959 and i’ve read most classic 19th century English language novels.

      • icerose says:

        In the circles I run in Ben Hur was considered fun but a bit of a joke so I am quite surprised at seeing the reaction here and elsewhere.Acting wise Tom should be able to walk all over Heston. But the success will probably depend on the quality of the script, originality of the focus and overall production values.

        The Empire article also mentions another film which he is being considered for Me Before You which is a romance being directed Thear Sharrock who directed him in the Hollow Crown which sounds equally as promising.

      • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

        @icerose

        It’s not about acting, it’s about ‘screen charisma for that kind of role”. I’ve seen the 1959 movie countless times (my mum was a C. Heston fan) and I’ve to say that acting or not acting, I don’t think anyone in movie business today could fill those shoes without sounding ‘ridiculous’.
        If it was Chris Hemsworth or Henry Cavill or Channing Tatum chosen for that, they would appear ridiculous as well. Just my two cents, of course.

        Bad move on Hiddles’ part if he says yes.

      • Freebunny says:

        I think he would be miscast, can I have an opinion?
        When I think modern Ben Hur I see someone like Russel Crow or Ralf Fiennes, not Tom Hiddleston.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Freebunny, good choices, talent-wise, but they might be a bit old for the part. Ben-Hur is supposed to be close in age to Christ. But I agree with the sentiment below that all three would be miscast and that Hollywood needs to stop white-washing.

      • icerose says:

        @Lady Macbeth Heston It is true that back ten many actors were chosen for charisma as opposed to acting. Charlton Heston was pretty wooden in it. Many of today’s actors including Tom have charisma and talent. Loki oozes charisma and his Coriolanus had great presence.
        Agree that Crowe and Fiennes are on the old sider side but someone like Fassbinder could carry the part and give it a much needed facelift.

      • Innie Outie says:

        The reports say that the film will focus on Ben-Hur’s younger days, so Fiennes and Crow really do not fit =/ I also think that, even if Crow were younger, he wouldn’t have accepted the role because it would be way too close to his Gladiator role, and as for Fiennes… I get very different vibes off him. Don’t see him in this role at all, even if he were younger. My two cents 😉

  5. MaddieH says:

    Spartacus is about the War of Spartacus. How can it be confused with Ben-Hur?

  6. Erinn says:

    NO.
    Just no.
    Leave it be. I really really don’t get the Hiddle’s love. I just find him soooo thirsty.

    • Josefa says:

      Same. I don’t have a problem with him – he’s a talented actor and is totally harmless. But I don’t see where this massive hype around him comes from.

    • Innie Outie says:

      … and for the umpteenth time I am asking here on CB: what has Hiddleston being thirsty got to do with his acting skills? 😀 Does Loki, Adam, Coriolanus, dunno, Edward come across as needy?

      @Erinn, it’s not a personal thing aimed at you by the way, it’s just that whenever somebody says something in this vein on a Hiddleston thread and i ask if they have seen his films and if his characters come off as needy – i never get an answer lol.

      • jammypants says:

        I doubt he has time to be thirsty. The only press he gets circles around film projects. No dancing, singing, or mimicking. Although that may happen next year when he promotes his three films =)

      • Erinn says:

        Has nothing to do with his acting ability. He’s obviously holding his own as far as jobs go. I just can’t get behind him as a person whatsoever. He’s so needy, and always on. He’s grating.

        Overall though, I just don’t want a remake of the movie. I don’t care who would star in it, it just isn’t necessary at all, and there’s no way it’d keep to the original – they’re going to alter it to appeal to the masses, and unfortunately, the masses aren’t that bright.

        Either way, finding HIM needy has nothing to do with his characters being needy or not. I’m discussing Hiddleston, not Loki, not Adam, etc.

      • jammypants says:

        It’s ok, Erinn. He’s not for everyone. His neediness works for me =D

      • Innie Outie says:

        Thanks for your answer, @Erinn! I can totally understand your attitude ^_^

        There were several Hiddleston threads where people dismissed him as an actor on the premise of his needy public persona; that’s where my question is coming from. Cheers!

      • Erinn says:

        Cheers to you both!

        I have no issues with his acting, whatsoever, I just do my best to ignore his interviews and videos at this point.

      • joe spider says:

        I don’t know why but I have a feeling that his perceived neediness may start disappearing as his career progresses.

      • jammypants says:

        The man has to hustle for those jobs 😛

      • icerose says:

        @joe spider joe spider perceived is a wonderful word or in the words of great thinke

        “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” C.G. Jung

      • icerose says:

        @Jimmy pants -his thirstiness works for me as well. I shall quite happily sit there with a pitcher of lemonade insuring he does not hydrate whilst deciding which scripts to choose. I may even whisper in his ear “” the Sidney Carton role”” and if you must do Ben Hur I want three erotic Roman bath scenes, and another three scenes of Ben Hur in chains having an intensely personal conversation with the protagonist who is admiring your naked body.

      • Innie Outie says:

        Tom in chains.. preferably straining against said chains.. *gulp* Well, @icerose, you just gave me a nice picture to ponder on during our 12-hour drive home 😛

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @icerose, he has said he makes his decisions on roles while running – Thea Sharrock went running with him to talk him into Henry V, so you may have to run ahead of him, waving that pitcher of lemonade and shouting “Sidney Carton! Naked! Sidney Carton naked in chains in the Conciergerie! ”

        Thea’s probably texting him to arrange a run when he gets back to London. She needs to cast “Me before you”

    • Lilacflowers says:

      @jammypants, I too can handle his neediness.

      • jammypants says:

        He can need me as much as he likes!

      • Janeite says:

        LOL! This whole neediness thing reminds me of Sally Field’s exclamation when she won an Oscar. “You like me! You really like me!”

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        And Tom would be there nodding enthusiastically at Sally, then would pass her a note during the interval asking if she liked him back…

      • Innie Outie says:

        Bwaahahaha Secret Squirrel, WIN! 😀 😀

      • icerose says:

        @Secret Squirrel best comment on needy to date. And please can he friend me back I feel do needy today and my facebook page needs a at least another 50,000 followers.

    • 'P'enny says:

      So why read his interviews? If u can’t take them anymore? If people want to snide at least choose something more interesting & get some detail? Thirsty?? Yep he’s an over enthusiastic actor! Could be worse, prefer the James Franco’s or whatever? Honest feel free to snide but make it funny , original & poignant😍

      • Erinn says:

        As I stated above, 3 hours before you posted this, I DON’T read his interviews. Like I said, it’s not his acting I have issues with. I don’t like him as a person. He’s too ‘on’ all the time. It’s a tiring shtick. Not sure why you’re so up in arms that someone doesn’t like him.

        Same to you. Feel free to make your snide comments amusing. Also, feel free to read all of my posts linked to my thread before commenting.

      • 'P'enny says:

        you said, “i can’t read his interviews, anymore.” so which is it? you don’t read or you do read, but not anymore?

        i don’t care whether people like him or not, i get bored of reading the same old moans 24 months later.

      • icerose says:

        P’enny I do agree that needy gets a bit boring but giving every actor a needy rating after personal appearances might improve the overall conversation and help to qualify what is meant but needy when discussing celebrities and not relationships. And then we need to decide if we are using the oxford dictionary definition of needy or the urban dictionary.

        Needy – requires his manager on hand at major events/interviews
        Needy -requires a handler to help him find the toilet at major events
        Needy -needs to appear superior in interviews and comic con appearances
        Needy -needs to have people laugh at his jokes in interviews etc
        Needy -needs someone to dress him for public events
        Needy-needs the interviewer to tell him how great he in in interviews
        Needy-needs to be praised so he can feel pleased at how deprecating he can be
        Needy -needs to show of his talents in interviews through poetry readings,
        dancing ,or telling everyone how much he had to re write his dialogue
        Needy needs to show people he is just a regular guy when in reality he is worth millions
        Needy -needs to be liked by fans
        Needy- needs to be like by his cohorts
        Needy -needs to be seen with beautiful women to help establish his A list status
        Needy -needs to be liked so much he hides it behind a façade of indifference
        Needy -needs to travel with a 5+ person entourage to insure his A list status

      • 'P'enny says:

        So that makes him about 3 out of 14? about 20% on the needy scale?

      • Katie says:

        Hard to tell, you wouldn’t know about all of this for sure.

        I’d ignore ‘Needy -needs someone to dress him for public events’ because if you’re borrowing designer clothes, they’re dressing you whether you like it or not LOL. They don’t want you wearing their clothes wrong.

      • icerose says:

        @P’enny and Katie my point was that all actors pretty much come into the needy category if you look for behaviour which you can perceive as needy . Sure Tom meets some of the criteria but so do many others. Tom may tick some of the boxes as do others and I could go on for pages adding to the criteria which would allow for shifting percentages.
        I love research it teaches you how to shift the outcome of just about everything if you have a mind to.

  7. Leaflet says:

    I don’t really care for Ben-Hur movies, but if the directors strap Hiddles in some loin cloth, I’m on board. 😉

  8. Lilacflowers says:

    Ben Hur does not need to be movie for the fifth time! That said, he would probably do a great job but this one is being produced by Roma Downey and her husband and they aim to punch up the Jesus story, which was not so heavy in the Charlton Heston versions, and are aiming for the Christian audience. So, skip it, Tom and take another offer! Will somebody please give this man a good, smart dark comedy?

    • Secret Squirrel says:

      Hi Lilac!
      OLLA was a great smart dark comedy and he worked it beautifully.

      Hollywood is lazy in remaking the big classics and rarely has an original idea these days.

      • Innie Outie says:

        I still regret JJ cutting the “I am… independently wealthy” scene from the final version. Lmao.

  9. Beth says:

    I don’t know anything about the original and I don’t care, but I do think Tom can rise to any challenge. I guess that makes me a Dragonfly or whatever.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      The original film version was in 1907. The novel from the 19th century has been made into a film four times, most recently only four years ago. The best known version was the 1959 one, starring Charlton Heston, which won Best Actor and Best Picture Oscars.

      • icerose says:

        Not sure about the Christian slant? My impression was that they were going to focus more on his early Hur’s early life and the overlaps with Jesus within the story. To be honest Oscars and not it is nota film I rate that highly. For me it was always block buster fodder for the holidays.
        I think the film could be improved upon but for preference id he is going to go down the Roman film something new and more innovative would be better, I am guessing Coriolanus has played a part in the potential casting.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @icerose, I always found the Heston version to be a bit campy, but the producers involved in the proposed version are into making predominantly religious fare.

      • Janeite says:

        Yeah, I think the involvement of Roma Downey and Mark Burnett pretty much guarantees some religious overtones to it. They were the producers of The Bible miniseries that aired here in the US a year ago this spring and it got great ratings. I think that inspired them to try and put more religious-themed movies on the big screen.

  10. allheavens says:

    If it wasn’t bad enough that Christian Bale was casted as Moses and Joel Edgerton as the Pharaoh Ramses in Exodus: Gods and Kings now their considering Hilddles for Ben Hur?

    I know they need stars to draw and audience but could you for once cast a person of color? Tired of seeing white Jesus, white Pharaohs and white Moses.

    Please don’t tell me that’s why they call it acting because there ain’t enough acting in the world that can overcome the whitewashing of Egyptian history.

    • Maggie says:

      @ allheavens

      I totally agree. Ben Hur was a middle eastern prince and casting Tom would be whitewashing.

      Joel Edgerton looks ridiculous in the new Exodus with the bronzing and the eye make-up.

    • M.A.F. says:

      I agree 100% This type of casting needs to stop. Hollywood needs to learn how to read a map.

    • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

      completely agree!!

  11. Mia4S says:

    So the director on this? His last film was Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. In other words? The usual A list leading men would not have come near this. I get wanting a leading man role but, just, damn. Run dragonfly run!

    • Innie Outie says:

      Bekmambetov is truly a scary choice lol. Why, MGM, WHY?

    • Mel says:

      He also directed Wanted. So I think this will be a flashy 300 type movie, with a lot of topless, backlit men screaming.

    • jammypants says:

      I question MGM’s taste in directors.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Did MGM make the choice or was it the producers? I question Roma Downey’s taste in just about everything.

      • jammypants says:

        possibly the producers! Mind Ridley Scott would have been great for this like ten years ago. I haven’t seen a good film from that man in years.

      • icerose says:

        @agree re the director but it is John Ridley “12 years a Slave” who updated the script

    • Miss Jupitero says:

      My take exactly. I would not call this a sign of “arriving.” Run, Hiddles, run!

    • Janeite says:

      Eh, it may never happen. No use fretting about something that may never actually come to fruition. (I’m talking about Hiddleston being the lead.)

    • icerose says:

      The director is dubious but the script has been updated by the John Ridley who wrote 12 Years A Slave so that is a plus point.
      But if he has a choice I hope he gets the UK/USA FILM which Thea Sharrock is directing.

  12. BW says:

    Ben Hur (1907 film), a one-reel silent version
    Ben-Hur (1925 film), an MGM silent film starring Ramon Novarro
    Ben-Hur (1959 film), an MGM sound film starring Charlton Heston
    Ben Hur (2003 film), an animated direct-to-video film featuring the voice of Charlton Heston
    Ben Hur (TV miniseries), a 2010 adaptation.

    How many remakes do we really need?

    • pierce.mn1 says:

      I agree with you. It doesn’t need a remake. Wyler did a magnificent film in 1959. Enough is enough!

    • Camil says:

      @BW

      You read my mind, there are several versions. This tendency of making biblical movies or based on novels with biblical subject is weird.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      And this one is being produced by Roma Downey and her husband who want to focus more on the religious aspects and Jesus.

    • icerose says:

      I am guessing in the USA it may be sacrosanct but in the UK I doubt it would make the top 500 films list.

      • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

        In my original country, everybody saw the 1959 version. Maybe because the majority of people in Southern Europe are R. Catholics.

    • icerose says:

      You could say the same thing about Batman and Superman films

  13. Ashdown says:

    I’ve never watched Charlton Heston’s Ben Hur, but understand it to be sacrosanct to many, so perhaps dear Tommy should pass on this little endeavor. It’s always risky to remake a classic, no matter how well you do, some people will hate it.

    • Janeite says:

      I’ve never seen it either and I agree with you about remakes, especially of films that are considered to be classics.

  14. InvaderTak says:

    Why remake Ben hur anyway? That’s pointless and I hope TH doesn’t do it. Keep doing smaller, more creative movies.

    But if they ever remake Robin Hood, men in tights….

    • jammypants says:

      I would LOVE that!

    • Erinn says:

      You know what,
      I could see me MAYBE liking him in a men in tights reboot. I think that’s about the only kind of role I can see me really becoming fond of him.

      • jammypants says:

        He would need to play up the theatrics, which he can do in abundance (at least from what I’ve seen and heard him do). This is one reboot I do not mind seeing.

      • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

        that could be abolsutely interesting!

      • icerose says:

        Men in tights was reliant on a satirical humour with a bit of slapstick thrown in and that kind of satire never really works twice. And Robyn Hood has been done to death recently. It would have to be a satire of some other film to work.Ben Hur might be just the vehicle for a satirical take. Like Chariots and Cherubs or all the Row Row Row the Boat,

    • koko says:

      +1000 for Men in Tights remake

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        The ultimate Robin Hood remake!! Tom would be great in the lead of that if Cary wasn’t available again!

    • M.A.F. says:

      That does not need a remake for crying out loud. Sweet Jesus. Put in him a similar type movie sure, slap stick comedy, whatever but something original.

  15. Sixer says:

    Honestly, I can’t imagine why actors who are serious about their craft consider going near Hollywood even with a bargepole these days. The output is just so yawnsome. CGI bangs and crashes or endless reboots. It can only be wealth and fame, can’t it? Films are just so uninspiring. All the cool people are looking at TV and theatre.

    No offence to Tommy (well, he can take offence if he likes, I’m not bothered either way).

    • Isadora says:

      Yes. These days it’s a lot more about Independent films, European & Asian cinema, TV and theatre. Hollywood these days is a big money machine but the artistic value has suffered…

      • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

        Yes. Yesterday my mum was saying that she can’t name a single talented actor or actress under 30…. because all movies are the same and they distract the masses with a cr@pload of CGI.. Who’s playing any role is, very often, completely irrelevant and they could easily be replaced by someone else…….

    • Innie Outie says:

      Probably said actors are eager to make themselves a name which in turn would make them visible for bigger and better projects – including TV and theatre.

      That said, i so agree – about TV in particular since not every serious actor has a serious theatre education. Don’t understand why Hiddles has stopped doing TV. A nice and original TV show based in contemporary world and exploring contemporary issues or something of the kind would have been so awesome for him.

      • 'P'enny says:

        I don’t think he has stopped doing TV, Innie, it’s just that he’s kind of had his plate full. Hollow Crown was TV that was 2012. I would love him in mini-series, I much prefer that format to films.

        I like to see him in a contemporary criminal thriller, the kind that gets offered to Kevin Spacey. [non-American though]

        but, I guess at the end of the day, he’s still starting out and TV can be a later life endeavour for him. If he can grab the film roles and get an Oscar nom, for something, under his belt – I think its cherry these guys are ultimately after, in a way. :-/

        I think he will mix film and theatre for a while. i can see the Broadway on offer somewhere on his table too at the moment.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I think he stopped doing TV because, other than Wallender, he said he was being offered repeated variations of background characters in Austen/Dickens/Return to Cranford-type pieces and it was getting boring. He left Wallender because filming of the third season conflicted with filming for The Avengers, otherwise he would have been in the third Wallender season. He was lured back to TV for THC, so, if the part is juicy enough and the commitment short enough, he would probably do TV again.

      • 'P'enny says:

        @lilac

        i think you and me are the only ones praying for Tom to be in the next Wallander.

        “i’l get that shall, I?” my t-shirt quote. 🙂

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @’p’enny, my t-shirt quote is “because murder is exhausting.”

      • M.A.F. says:

        I’m for him returning to Wallander as well.

      • 'P'enny says:

        @lilacflowers

        that actually, is my favourite scene in the whole series, he just delivers it so dry.
        “He put a chair in his boot so he could sit down because murder is so exhausting…” I would love to see Kenneth and Tom act together again in this, please Ken make it happen! even if he is all sandals and toga’s, squeeze a weekend of filming in with him.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @’p’enny, I want to see Kurt Wallender and Magnus go on a road trip. They would end up at one another’s throats at some point after being trapped in a car together for hours.

      • Innie Outie says:

        I truly want him back in Wallander, but only if he has a fleshier role. His Magnus is painfully underwritten – and there’s a great potential in Wallander/Martinsson conflict: conflict of generations, of approach to work, of values. Since Hiddleston is a much bigger name these days, maybe the writers could pen a bigger presence for him? Otherwise i just honestly don’t see him doing it other than out of loyalty to Branagh.

      • Isadora says:

        “if the part is juicy enough and the commitment short enough, he would probably do TV again.”

        I totally agree, Lilacflowers!

        And yes, a return to Wallander would be nice – either for a bigger presence of Magnus or just a cameo.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I would like to see Magnus, having been promoted during one of Wallender’s many absences (seriously, the guy went out on a serious number of administrative leaves), react to one of Wallender’s directives by handing him a laptop and telling him to do his own database searching, once he learns how to log into the computer network.

      • joe spider says:

        @ Lilacflowers:

        SPOILER ALERT

        In the latest Wallander stories shown in the UK he is diagnosed with Alzheimers so I doubt he will be doing his own database searching at work. (ps it wasn’t a Branagh series it was in the original Swedish). 😥

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @joe spider, so, Wallender is gets even darker! He never did database searching, that’s why he had Magnus. In one episode, he couldn’t figure out how to open his email and Magnus had to do that for him.

      • joe spider says:

        @ Lilacflowers. Yes it does I’m afraid in the Swedish ones, which Branagh will probably follow.

    • jammypants says:

      Hollywood no longer has an ounce of originality sadly.

    • bella says:

      Well said. Who among them doesn’t want fame and fortune? Or having the ego inflated every day? Or be treated like a god with lots of privileges everywhere??

      • Anne tommy says:

        Penny and lilac, I want hiddles to be in Wallander too, my favourite Magnus line was when the team found out that a colleague had dated a ladyboy, and Magnus sensitively exclaimed “(colleague’s name) was shagging a tranny!” Great stuff…

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Anne Tommy, I loved that one too! Of course, that’s the episode in which Magnus saves Wallender’s daughter and Wallender never thanks him. We also get to hear Magnus throw up, a very special moment in television.

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        Can I just add that Tom/Magnus’ gun handling was very comical! I wouldn’t like him to be saving me!

      • Dara says:

        @Squirrel! – Hey look everybody, it’s Squirrel! Sorry – just giving you the proper welcome, I was just thinking to myself that I havent’ seen (read) you in ages. Glad you’re here.

        I thought Magnus/Tom did alright, but my only experience with handguns is watching actors on television. He did a damn sight better than some British/European shows I’ve seen where they wave guns around one-handed and can’t get them out (or back in) of the holster properly. Wait, that sounded less dirty in my head…

    • icerose says:

      Sixer my thoughts exactly. There was a time when in produced some pretty great films but so much of today is repetitious and formula driven.
      On the other hand isn’t Ben Hur the film in which in which the director and the actor playing opposite Heston colluded behind Heston’s back to give some of their scenes a wonderful erotic tone. Mind you that could possibly apply to Spartacus. I always loved the bath house scene in that film.
      I do not mind predictable block busters if they have an undercurrent of subversion.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Well, Hollywood has always put out films that were repetitious and formula driven – all those early musicals and most children’s fare immediately come to mind and the monster movies but there were always some good ones in the mix. But lately, the overall product seems to be in decline and the good ones are rarities. There also seems to be a drought of genuinely amusing films that aren’t based on gross-out scenes or raunch. I see at least one film a week in the theaters with an elderly relative and she has been complaining that she hasn’t seen a decent film with a happy ending in a long, long time. (I did remind her that she loved Grand Budapest Hotel but in general, she’s right.)

      • icerose says:

        I feel the same about films as I do about TV, There are some brilliant and innovative productions but the numbers are dwindling.
        The theatre is pretty exciting at the moment with a lot of actors re turning to the stage to stretch their acting muscles. Some how the theatre seems to make the same old plays in a range of tone and staging.
        When you think of the number of actors chasing good scripts it is not surprising that they appear in a lot of franchises remakes and sequels

    • Josa says:

      It’s just not easy to be a respectable actor nowadays. Hiddles has been working on indie projects and there are naysayers saying that is all he can get because he is not catching big wigs’ eyes. He’s only doing indies because he’s unable to get big projects. Now he is being offered a lead role in a big budget film and some think serious actors shouldn’t bother with Hollywood. If he takes it, it must be fame and greed. And there are another group suggesting that MGM is only offering this to him because it’s obviously a crap project and no one else will want. Hiddles, do whatever you want, because apparently, whatever you do, you can’t win.

      • joe spider says:

        Beautifully put, it’s his life and his career – not ours.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        As you say, Josa, he can’t win with some people.

      • jammypants says:

        Well, we know who the naysayers are, so just have to look past that. They obviously can’t put him down for his character, so lets put down his career instead! or if they get really overboard, talk about his receding hairline because he’s just like most 30+ white men on earth (if he shaves his hair off and goes skinhead, I’m pretty positive he’ll still get put down). Some people just enjoy that kind of stuff I suppose.

        You do you Hiddles.

      • icerose says:

        Josa that just about sums up his roles, feeling needy ,PR work and his relationship with women. Dammed whichever way he turns.

      • Janeite says:

        My favorites are when someone claims to like him then goes on and on and on about his bad career choices/personal life choices/looks/etc. Not sure what exactly you like about someone if you find just about everything about their existence annoying.

      • Josa says:

        @Janeite. What you said! One of those “fan” blog I read and it’s on and on about all those bad choices of everything Hiddles made. One day someone said to the blog owner – with fans like her, Tom doesn’t need enemy. So true. These “fans” think if they criticize everything Tom does, then they are somehow better than the fans that love everything Tom does. Bias for Tom, and in their case bias against Tom, are the same, it’s still bias, just in different direction. Unless they are all successful actors themselves, they are not qualify to give advices. Only people too full of themselves would think they know better than Tom how he should live his life and manage his career.

      • Innie Outie says:

        Personally, I have never been bothered by a critical approach to everything any actor does – as long as it’s critical and not subjectively negative (which I haven’t really seen on this thread) AND if it applies to all actors equally without cutting your favs some slack while being exceedingly critical of other actors. I also do not think that in order to criticise an actor’s career choices we need to be successful actors ourselves 😉 As long as it’s done in a non-condescending manner and by a person who is well-acquainted with the actor’s body of work – why not? I think we’ve done a fair share of this on CB, too 😀

  16. MexicanMonkey says:

    No please, no more remakes! I really do hope they sign Tom up for Me before you instead, Thea Sharrock is set to direct it (Female director: Wohoo!) And she already worked with Tom on the Hollow Crown and it was spectacular and the book is amazing and had me crying like crazy!

    • Lilacflowers says:

      The same article is saying that MGM has offered him that part as well. Thea must have enjoyed working with him on Henry V. MGM seems to want him in something, anything. After the past six months of filming away from home with more time ahead film ISTL in Louisiana, he may want to make a film close to home where he can stay in own house. But again, the guy needs to do a comedy.

      • MexicanMonkey says:

        I would really love to see him in a nice light hearted role, and I think he would be perfect in a smart comedy but there aren’t a lot of those around. I just wanna see him in something contemporary for a change!

      • icerose says:

        Just saw a podcast where all the panel gave him varying degrees of thumbs up but raised doubts about the production team. One guy said he should make it despite the production issues just because it would be great to see him exercise his acting chops. Another said that so far we have scratched the surface of what he has to offer and this would at least add to the picture.

    • Tig says:

      Have to respectfully disagree with you here- I don’t want him in Me Before You. Tho given the director’s history with him-professionally speaking- I’m afraid that’s going to happen. And I love that book-oh well.

      And no to a Ben Hur re-boot, regardless of who is Ben Hur.

      • Dara says:

        @Tig – Wondering why you wouldn’t want Tom to play Will. I think the book affected me the way it did in large part because Will seems so similar to Tom, the character is even a foreign film buff (subtitles and everything). What did I miss?

    • Dara says:

      Yes to Me Before You! That’s the part of the article that had me hyper-ventilating. It will never be classified as great literature, but I also cried rivers of tears…

      Pros to Me Before You: Set in present day. It’s a love story (of sorts). There are bigger issues to explore such as quality of life, family dynamics, control over one’s destiny, the nature of love. It’s directed by Thea Sharrock.

      Cons to Me Before You: Timing – set for Aug 2015 release so not sure there’s enough room in Tom’s schedule. Character might be too similar to others he’s recently played (Adam’s melancholy, Hank Sr.’s health issues). Role might be too similar to others his peers will have recently played – Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking.

      So I vote maybe for Me Before You… but I vote definitely not to Ben-Hur, for all of the reasons others have mentioned above and so many more.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Dara, I’m casting my vote the same way as you for all those same reasons. Additionally, some aspects of the Will character would be type-casting for him – he could play smart, posh boy in his sleep because, well, he is smart, posh boy but the challenge to him would be the physical nature of the role. He is so physical and seems to need to move that playing someone who can’ would intrigue him but would also be difficult for him. Also, he went running with Thea almost daily while making Henry V, so they could go running together again just so he can get the need to move out of his system.

      • Dara says:

        @Lilac – absolutely agree, posh and smart probably don’t push his creative buttons, but the physical restrictions just might. The character of Will is so similar to how (I think) Tom approaches life, I’m frankly curious about his thoughts on the premise of the book. Would you or could you continue to embrace life if you had a sound mind but not a sound body? I’ve known people in my own life who have answered that question in radically different ways.

      • Tig says:

        @ Dara- to me, Will was never posh- rich and upper class, yes but not posh- to me anyway. I’m just afraid Tom would adopt the approach he took to the officer in War Horse and then thrown in the anger bit from that God awful movie he did with Rachel Weitz. And to me, that’s missing Will. That being said, I think that ship has sailed- he’s going to be in the movie. Will be interested to see who they cast as Clark- given that the director has said it’ll be a British cast, any thoughts? Would love to
        see Miranda Richardson as Will’s mom. I do think Tom would be great in The Girl He Left Behind- if that gets made into a movie.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Tig, when I read it, I had an image of Miranda Richardson as Will’s mother so I agree that would be good casting. And Bill Nighy or Alan Rickman as the father. I can’t get a grasp on an actress for the Clark character. All the British actresses I can think of are too old for the part.

      • Dara says:

        @Tig – at some point, someone is going to have to define posh for me – as an American, I consider anyone with money and a certain lifestyle as ‘posh’ but I’m probably missing the finer points.

        Agree on Freddie in Deep Blue Sea – that’s not Will at all. I don’t know my British actresses well enough to pick a Clark, let me get back to you on that. How about Alan Rickman for Will’s dad? Miranda Richardson might be a good Camilla. Who should be Nathan?

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Dara, my Nathan is very rugged with good, strong hands that need to perform physical therapy on my neck and upper back.

      • joe spider says:

        ignore this, posted in the wrong place.

      • joe spider says:

        and this 😳

      • icerose says:

        @Tig Thea has said she sees it as having a strong focus on class so Tom would be ideal for me. In the two other pictures you mentioned he is playing a rich/upper class in a different era with a very specific focus.I think the Tom in this would be very different.
        @Lilac flowers I agree re the physicality the appeal of the challenge.

        Definitions of posh seem to focus on fashionable lifestyles of the rich (smart, stylish, upmarket, fancy, high-class, fashionable, chic, luxurious, luxury, deluxe, exclusive, select, sumptuous, opulent, lavish, grand, rich, elegant, ornate, ostentatious, showy;)

    • 'P'enny says:

      I’d prefer he takes jo-jo’s Me Before You. But, this film could really make him some big bucks, but we know he isn’t motivated by money and his Loki is, I am sure, bringing in the money if not on the same level as Hemsworth and co. But, after seeing him as Coriolanus he can pull this off, and I think that is why he’s being offered it. They want that part of him, as Coriolanus, i bet. his look, build etc.

      He would bring intelligence to the character, and not the wooden yawn fest of Charlton Heston. I think it will really be a great character/classic-driven film and not the big spectacular epic style chariot madness, which on today’s budgets probably be nearly impossible and a waste of an emotional and brilliant actor, because it will be all CGI and no story. I have my ears peeled for more news.

      But, well exciting though.

      i am sure there will be plenty I am naked under a white sheet moments too 🙂

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Actually, ‘p’enny, given who the producers are and what they want to achieve, I think the naked under white sheet/naked rowing in the slave galley shots would be kept to a minimum.

      • joe spider says:

        Jammypants, it always amazes and somewhat offends me when you get these soandso has a net worth. How the hell do they know? Yes they may guess how much they have been paid but they don’t know how much they have spent do they?

      • Dara says:

        Not to mention that figure hasn’t been updated in at least a year (maybe two). It pre-dates Thor II, Crimson Peak, High Rise and I Saw the Light. Not that the last two would move the needle – I’m assuming both have smallish budgets which mean smallish paychecks. Coriolanus was probably done for scale or close to, yes? There is the Jag campaign to factor in – but even that probably wasn’t a huge windfall. Access to some stupendous wheels is a big perk but it doesn’t translate to the balance sheet.

        Calclulating the overhead on an entertainment career is fascinating – you have to pay the agent, the manager, the lawyers who work out your contract, your PR firm (assuming the studio doesn’t), the accountants to handle the taxes and such – the list goes on and on. No wonder most actors take back- to-back projects (if they have the opportunities). I expect it’s more hand to mouth that most realize – unless you are truly A-list and get points on the box office of a blockbuster – ie RDJ.

      • Miss Jupitero says:

        I used to do prospect research at an Ivy League– there are many, many ways to get this information. It is an estimate, but these estimates have a way of being very accurate. Bear in mind that this figure includes real estate.

      • icerose says:

        @Dara I read that most of the actors got points for The Avengers just lower points that RDJ but the article did not include Tom specifically. Marvel pays very healthy bonus to the lead actors if a film does well.

        @Miss Jupitero Tom also has shared family property on top of his London house. Add investments and inheritance to this and 8 million does not sound to far off .

      • joe spider says:

        Where did you get that info from icerose?

      • icerose says:

        @Joe Spider -property register. There was an argument going on another sight about where he lived at some point so I checked the it on a public sight which tells you who was living where and I happen to notice there is property in Suffolk (where his grandparents used to live) registered to the three of them. It is not unusual for grandparents to leave property to the grandchildren and it then gets used as a holiday home or rental place. I know it happened with my ex and it was something to do with minimising death duties.

      • joe spider says:

        @icerose, thanks for that.

        Re inheritance tax (death duties) if you gift a property to someone and survive for 7 years after then it is free of inheritance tax. If you die too soon it is classed as part of the estate and inheritance tax is due on the value.

        Sorry if you already know that.

    • Lindy79 says:

      Here’s hoping Me Before You ends up better than One Day did.
      I loved that book (yes I know it’s not classic literature), the film not so much.

      • 'P'enny says:

        One Day, was awful and i think Thea has gone on record to say she won’t make the same mistakes.

      • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

        I didn’t like the One Day book much, but the movie was godawful 🙁

  17. Dancinnancy says:

    I would watch Tom make a Mac and Cheese commercial, but I agree – DO NOT REMAKE THIS MOVIE. This movie does not need to be remade!! Neither does Lawrence of Arabia. Or Casablanca.

    And I agree ALLHEAVENS – stop whitewashing. I thought it was offensive the first time around. No need now!!

    PS – cast Oded Fehr in all the things!

    • Lilacflowers says:

      Oded Fehr in everything!

      • Tig says:

        Back to Clark casting from a bit earlier- how about Samantha(??) Banks- the doomed young love interest in Les Miz movie.

      • Dara says:

        @Tig – Oh, that’s interesting! I love her – her Eponine killed me – one of the best I’ve seen. But can her acting hold up if she’s doesn’t sing?

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Samantha Banks certainly looks the part I formed in my imagination but, along the lines of Dara’s question, has she been in anything that didn’t require singing?

      • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

        Oded yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Evie says:

        YESSS! Oded was terrific in The Mummy movies. And is it just me or did he look an awful lot like George Harrison of the Beatles?

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Ewie, yes, Oded definitely looks a lot like George Harrison. Let’s make a George Harrison bio with Oded!

    • Dara says:

      +1000! Oded for all the things!

    • Leah says:

      +1000+1 to Oded Fehr!

      • icerose says:

        I have not got a clue who he is any good hopefully he was/is considered ? but if it is just about colour then I think it becomes a bit predictable.Best actor for the job is my reasoning, That way you cannot argue whites for white roles ,Greeks for Greeks, Russians for Russians and the list gets endless. I am going to see a female Hamlet next month and why not .We have had an all female Julius Caesar. The more we diversify who plays any roles the more likely minorities will be cast across the board.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @icerose, he’s an Israeli who was in The Mummy movies with Brendan Fraser and he is absolutely stunning.

      • Lady Macbeth (Hiddles F.) says:

        @lilacflowers
        Oded looks perfect for the part 🙂

  18. t.fanty says:

    While I wholeheartedly agree with the “no” sentiment, let’s all just take a moment and think about Hiddles in a teeny tiny toga.

  19. BetsyC says:

    As I dislike him intensely I really hope he makes this film.

    • jammypants says:

      Why do you dislike him intensely and why wish him ill?

    • Janeite says:

      All we need now is a comment or two about Cumberbatch and a comment about Tommy’s personal life and this thread will have all the components of a usual Hiddleston thread. 😐

      • joe spider says:

        Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

      • 'P'enny says:

        naughty, JA and BC bombing! that’s double trouble! LOL

        wouldnt catch me doing that.

      • jammypants says:

        Cumberbatch fans cause a stir in the theatre elite community! Hiddleston is hiding his secret lover once again! :p

      • icerose says:

        Can I throw in a Cumberbatch comment—like can Benny play the protagonist who does the dirty on our poor Hiddle Hur so I can hiss and boo in true pantomime style!!

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @icerose, but he already got him killed in War Horse.

      • Innie Outie says:

        I would actually like to Cumby-bomb! I have so far seen only two show-related pictures – those of children dressed up. And… they didn’t tell me much. I am really curious about the production’s concept art, but perhaps we’ll have to wait for awhile. I mean, we don’t even know any other cast except Cumberbatch!

      • icerose says:

        @Lilac flowers War horse was not so much Benny’ fault as following orders -the protagonist is Ben Hur is a shifty bit of villain so much better for the hiss/boo scenario.

    • icerose says:

      @Innie Outie I got the feeling the publicity stuff for Hamlet was pretty random, It may be too early for people to commit themselves to a 12 week production. It is set up as star vehicle so so whilst some actors may feel it will bring them increase attention others may feel that it will be too focussed on the star.
      I felt that happened a bit in the Freeman production. The way it was cut seriously impacted on the role Gina McKee played. It was cut to pieces and lost a lot of it’s impact. The Donmar and Globe seem to be a bit better at keeping the balance when they use high profile actors in Shakespeare.

      • Innie Outie says:

        @icerose, you’re making an interesting point about casts in star-driven vehicles. Especially since no-one but Cumby – and possibly Dench – was announced and the shows are already sold out, as far as I understand. I only saw Ben in Frankenstein (the version with him as Frankenstein and Lee Miller as the Creature), and while both he and JLM were awesome and their dynamic brilliant, the rest of the cast was imo woefully wooden and OTT, except for the actor who played that blind old man, de Lacey =/ I understand that their roles were underwritten, but still it was almost painful to watch. I certainly expected more of Boyle. So, I am really hoping Turner (she directed Chimerica, right?) will do a better work with Hamlet. There’s so much to dig your teeth into!

        In this respect, I was very happy with Coriolanus’ cast (lol I really hope no-one is gonna come and accuse me of building Tom up at Ben’s expense). They were all excellent (except perhaps Martius’ son who was utterly unconvincing, but his role was so tiny it’s safe to just ignore it) – which was also noted by the critics.

        Have you see Freeman’s Richard III at the theatre then? If yes – what did you think of it?

  20. Miss M says:

    Love me some Hiddles, but I cannot stand remakes.
    What will be next? Gone with the wind? Casablanca? Singing in the rain?

    • allons-y alonso says:

      SHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Don’t give them any ideas Miss M. Back away slowly from the questionable remake, Hiddleston!!!

    • 'P'enny says:

      Cleopatra i think is also on MGM’s list. Angelina Jolie as Cleo.

      • Janeite says:

        For some reason, I kind of like the idea of that!

      • Innie Outie says:

        Me, too! I would so watch it because Jolie has a perfect kind of presence for it. In addition, I find the old Cleopatra to be waaaaay toooooo slooooooow. I hope i won’t be banished to Helheim for this blasphemy 😀

  21. Altariel says:

    Poor guy, even though he may not be in this particular film, critique about his leading man choices/roles are always going to follow him. Many big stars have many big flops, but they still work because they are talented. Hiddles just has that “thing” about him….we’re all watching (many of us anyway) every move he makes, hoping they are the right moves. Maybe, ultimately, we are looking out for him because we know there are those who are waiting for him to fail. Why this guy? Why do we care so much for this guy? I guess Tom is just too unique, too nice…just too Hiddles. I love many actors but could not care less if they take some roles not meant for them….we just go back to the movies we did enjoy seeing them in. I wish the same were true for Tom! lol

    • Lilacflowers says:

      So far, his choices have been quite good. He was in three small independent films that did not get wide release (the Hogg films) but he garnered good reviews for all of them. His other films: Muppets Most Wanted, OLLA, TDW, Avengers, The Deep Blue Sea, War Horse, Midnight in Paris, and Thor have all either done very well at box office or were critically acclaimed and two were Oscar-nominated for Best Picture. He has not had a flop and there are no “Leprechaun IV” or “Texas Chainsaw VIIs” or teenage sex romps on his resume.

      • 'P'enny says:

        “or teenage sex romps on his resume”

        Unrelated was the classy version of this type of film. 😉

      • joe spider says:

        Suburban Shootout?

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Suburban Shootout went two seasons and that was Anna Chancellor’s show. Ruth Wilson and Tom had relatively minor parts.

      • icerose says:

        Surburban shootout was an adult satire, Tom’s thread was just an off shoot story and was more of a plot device than a teenage sex romp

      • Isadora says:

        His good CV is probably one of the reasons why people are so anxious about possible future projects. If he had some truly awful films under his belt, people would probably complain about another stinker, but it wouldn’t be the first.

        (And I know some people didn’t like TDBS, but it was still a very prestigious project and not comparable to the likes Lilacflowers mentioned.)

  22. browniecakes says:

    Last August we were talking about how TH had nothing going movie-wise. ‘Capa’ had fallen apart. All he had to do the rest of 2013 was promote ‘Thor TDW’ and perform ‘Coriolanus’ at home. He didn’t get ‘Crimson Peak’ until Sept. when Cumby dropped out. What a difference a year has made. Good for him.

    • Camil says:

      IKR! I’m so happy for him and I hope the same for the next year

    • 'P'enny says:

      i think last year was a frustrating coordinating diary of a mess for him. – Marvel screwed him up last year. Good or bad, it doesn’t matter anymore. Thor 2 was a lot better for it.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Well, he does seem to have a rather diverse pile of scripts being tossed in his direction, doesn’t he? Nice to see he has choices and they are not all variations of Loki. Drat, I wish we didn’t have to wait so long for Crimson Peak! That said, as I hoped, a local arthouse cinema has added OLLA to repertory. Going to see it on a large screen again this weekend!

    • Janeite says:

      Yeah, I agree. Just goes to show how things can happen quickly and trying to figure out the trajectory of an actor’s career choices and options can be a bit unpredictable.

  23. Camil says:

    I’d love to see him in an epic role, a greek hero perhaps, something like Jason and the argonauts. I believe he would be perfect for this kind of roles but I’m not sure about Ben-Hur. I haven’t seen the movie but I know it is a classic…

    Well, I’ll be waiting for news 🙂

  24. MissMary says:

    Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii… no. Gods bless the man and I hope he finds a good, solid vehicle for his stardom sooner rather than later (or just commits to being ‘known’ and not super duper famous), but a Roma Downey produced remake is not the way to go…

    • Lilacflowers says:

      Exactly, Better to be touched by some other angel.

      • Janeite says:

        LOL! She does seem to spend a lot of time talking about Jesus. She seems like a perfectly nice lady-don’t get me wrong-but every interview I see with her usually involves quite a bit of Jesus talk.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @janeite, she has found a market where she can prosper and she is going to promote it for all it is worth.

  25. lunchcoma says:

    This doesn’t need to be remade, and Tom doesn’t need to be in it. I’m sure it feels good for him to be pursued for a major film, but this thing is coming out in February. I mean, it hasn’t even been made yet and it’s scheduled for the death slot? Stay away, Tom. You don’t need the money that badly.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      The producers are aiming more for the “Easter is coming soon Christian” crowd than for typical film-goers. They want this to be a religious message film and for those reasons alone, Tom should stay away.

      • lunchcoma says:

        Oh dear. Don’t get me wrong. Those films have their audience and an actor looking to carve out a niche doing them could be quite successful, but that doesn’t fit at all with the direction Tom seems to want to take his career in.

    • Janeite says:

      True. Some high profile actors and actresses have done religious movies but I think it’s always a bit risky if you want to avoid typecasting. There’s enough of a risk for Hiddles of Loki typecasting.

    • 'P'enny says:

      Feb is probably the best time, Easter 2016 will be bombarded with Cap America and Batman and Superman – no other film will stand a chance in the cinemas around Spring.

      • M.A.F. says:

        February is where movies go to die ‘P’enny. January & February are not good months for movies. Now, February might be a wide-release date if they were to release it as a limited run in December for awards but seeing how this is remake I highly doubt it.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        February is bad movie month but lately, February and March have become the time for release of Christian movies with heavy religious messages, which this will likely have, given the producers.

    • icerose says:

      I think you could produce something infinity superior to the 1959 version -it is just a question of whether this production team could do it.

  26. SamiHami says:

    I adore Hiddleston, but just like everyone else I don’t see this being a good idea for him.

    How about a Loki movie instead? I would watch that a hundred times!

    • Camil says:

      I love Loki, of course, but Tom needs something different.

      Yesterday I read that Thor 3 will be released in 2016 that means the next year he will spend six months with Marvel… no, I want him in another role 🙁

      I hope it’s just a rumor

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Where did you read that? Is there a solid release date yet?

      • 'P'enny says:

        Really 2016?? Nah, not know It’s 2017- judging by chris’s recent comments & Geiger still hoping to kick of dr strange /cap America for 2016.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @’p’enny, true and if Marvel is going to follow the pattern Feige recently discussed of two sequels and a new franchise each year, well, 2016 already has its two sequels with Captain America and Guardians of the Galaxy scheduled, leaving he third slot for Dr. Strange or another new franchise, and pushing Thor 3 to 2017. I think Thor 3 will be the last phase 3 film before Avengers 3.

      • jammypants says:

        @Lilac, I think Phase 3 actually kicks off with Cap 3 and Ant-Man, unless they swapped.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Yes, jammypants, Ant-Man is the first film of phase 3 but it will be released next summer after Avengers 2. Marvel plans to release just 2 films in 2015 and moves to 3 films a year in 2016 with Capt America scheduled for May (DC blinked with Batman/Superman and moved it) and Guardians later that summer (July I think) and a November date for a third film, which would be a new franchise if Feige is to be believed.

    • icerose says:

      no more Loki apart from Thor 3.It served a purpose but now he needs to move on and diversify

  27. 'P'enny says:

    Oh £@)@ stupid phone – just typed big thought out link between WMA Hiddles agency and the director/producer can’t remember which but their is a link between the two. Truth is WMA is leaking – for good negiotation fun of course😜 I think this is a serious offer 😃 though.

    • Isadora says:

      There’s also another link: Roma Downey does charity for Operation Smile – the same organisation fellow Christian Zachary Levi supports every year with his Nerd HQ panel. I don’t know just how many celebrities do things for Operation Smile, so I don’t know if there is really a connection, but as Zach and Tom seem to like each other and Tom did the Nerd HQ thing for Zach, it’s a possibility..

  28. joe spider says:

    @Dara says:
    August 13, 2014 at 1:25 pm
    “@Tig – at some point, someone is going to have to define posh for me – as an American, I consider anyone with money and a certain lifestyle as ‘posh’ but I’m probably missing the finer points.”

    It’s not just about being rich, it’s about being classy and elegant too. But many “old money” families have run out of money but are still posh because of their upbringing, manners (knowing how to behave) and that elegance. You can be very rich without being posh (think Kardashian – may be rich but will never be posh in a million years).

    Hope that helps.

    • Dara says:

      @Joe – got it, maybe. Someone check my American equivalents:
      The Kennedys – posh. The Kardashians – not.
      Bill Gates – posh. Donald Trump – not. (Ivanka Trump – potentially posh)
      Diane Sawyer – posh. Katie Couric – not (imho).
      Stephen Spielberg – posh. Michael Bay – not.
      Gwyneth Paltrow – posh, but trending toward not. Blake Lively – not, but wants to be.
      Taylor Swift – potentially posh. Justin Bieber – no chance, ever.

      • joe spider says:

        Don’t know all those people 😳 but certainly the first two examples would be right.
        Gwynny I would say posh.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Actually, to me, the Kennedys aren’t posh, simply because my own family and thousands of others in this area had the exact same start with immigration and didn’t rise to the Senate and White House repeatedly. Their wealth, influence, and power only go back a few generations. To me, American posh are the families who go back much farther, like the Adams family (two presidents), who are still very much around, other founding families and other very wealthy, powerful families that go back much more, such as the Vanderbilts or even the Bush family.

      • joe spider says:

        The Adams Family !!!! 😯 didn’t know Morticia was posh.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @joe spider, of course she was! And so was Abigail.

      • koko says:

        As an American I never found the Kennedy’s posh, just troubled.

  29. kri says:

    Okay, so I like the way Tom looks. Gingers are my catnip, but when I saw this I was like “f8ck no’. then I saw that clip on Lainey of his screen test for Loki. And I watched it about 10 times. And I looked at that ballet-type, lightly muscled, defined body and now I’m onboard with Tom. Like First Mate onboard. meow.

  30. joe spider says:

    I’ve just thought of an incongruity; here we are getting worried about Tom possibly starring in a remake of Ben Hur 55ish years after the original when he has starred in Coriolanus, Othello, the Hollow Crown, which have been getting remade regularly for the past 400 years! 😀

    • Lilacflowers says:

      So very true, but, while I really don’t think we need a fifth version of Ben-Hur, my worry about his possible involvement isn’t so much his performance. I do believe he would bring something to the role Heston lacked simply because he is a much better actor. The overall quality of the production itself based upon the director, whose track-record is pretty bad, and especially based upon the producers and the message they wish to convey with this film concerns me. I don’t need to go to the movies to have somebody else’s interpretation of the Bible preached at me. As I said above, so far, his choices have been very good and I hope that pattern continues.

      • Innie Outie says:

        @Lilacflowers and also @icerose re: your comment up the thread about Cheston’s Ben-Hur being considered a bit of a joke: i agree, and it’s not the remake per se that i am worried about, either. The old-school, often OTT acting style is something that turns me off so many golden classics. That is probably why i am not averse to their remakes. Imo people in their 30’s – like me – and older can if not enjoy, then at least cut old-school acting some slack, but younger people – from teenagers to those in their early 20’s – are way too weirded out by it. I am judging by my university students here. Some watch classics occasionally, but the majority are o_O about them.

        So, the very idea of a remake doesn’t bother me at all – especially since it’s not exactly a film remake but a new cinematic adaptation of a novel. It’s the f*$&ing director and then the possible enhanced biblical undertones that bother me. The former much more than the latter, actually.

    • pixie-stix says:

      Agreed, there’s nothing much new under the sun. 🙂

      Last night I was excited about Tom as Judah Ben-Hur – it’s a good story and I’m a fan of the 1925 and 1959 versions – but in the clear light of day, I think I just miss him as Coriolanus. All I can think of is him striding around in leather armor, riding a four-horse chariot or getting sweaty rowing a ship in loin cloth and chains. At any rate, I’m glad his dance card has been full this year and there’s promise in the air…

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Let us all reflect on Tom getting sweaty while rowing a ship in a loin cloth and chains.

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        @Lilac – Will he have Tahiti tan whilst said sweating and said rowing and said loinclothing??

        (and now the thread is complete!).

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Secret Squirrel, I gladly volunteer as tribute to take him back to Tahiti to restore that tan and I will be sure that it is even with no burning but he will have to do the same for me since we seem to have similar fair anglo skin.

      • pixie-stix says:

        @ Lilacflowers, I need a martini at the mere thought of him putting his back into it, muscles rippling. Perhaps we can organize a schedule (over Mai Tais), what days we help him get that tan…glistening.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @pixie-stix, I love mai tais!

    • icerose says:

      @Joe Spider so true -in theatre no one worries about remakes -they just go for the challenge of making something more inventive. Mind you two many Hamlets in a season and people start to moan.
      I have just fallen in love with Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones-so can we work him in to Hiddles Hur as well.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Tyrion Lannister the character or Peter Dinklage the actor playing Tyrion? Either is fine by me.

  31. Annaliese says:

    I don’t see the point in remaking Ben-Hur either, but I have a confession: I would LOVE to see him playing Newt Scamander in the new Jo Rowlings movies. Talk about combining my own personal best-of-both-worlds!

    And it’s interesting to see people are still criticizing Hiddleston for things he hasn’t done for what, at least a year, probably more? Since Coriolanus, he’s been too busy working to do interviews or dance on talk shows or walk red carpets. But people are still sneering at him for it. Looks to me like he’s moved on, but the critics haven’t.

    • icerose says:

      Sometimes sneering becomes a bit of a habit and sometimes its just people trying to troll.

      “What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.”
      C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

      • Miss Jupitero says:

        I get what you are saying ice rose, but really the forced march of positivity is much worse inmy eyes. I don’t think it is useful to tell people what to think or feel, or to imply they have bad character because of their point of view. I cast my vote for emotional and intellectual honesty. Be who you are, say what you feel, and let in some reality.

      • icerose says:

        @Miss Jupitero There is nothing wrong with criticism when it is substantiated by a logical argument, witty snark or well thought out statement but to often it is just a statement of fact as if saying as if saying it makes it true. My experience has taught me that people who label as opposed to discussing specific behavioural events often do it from a very personal perspective.”It also depends on what sort of person you are.” does not mean you are a bad person but is making a statement that our criticism comes from our upbringing, life experience, intellectual capacity and emotional intelligence and understanding.
        I do see the comments on here as a march of positivity but a kind of humorous, snarky ,silly discussion without resorting to labelling and name calling. The views regarding Tom being in Ben Hur have been quite diverse, funny and interesting.
        I am not suggesting we tell people what to think or accuse them of bad character but I do think people have a right to question opinions they find different to their own especially if they are repetitive. I am all for emotional and intellectual honesty can it also be used to present an intransient views, mob mentality and in the worse case scenario bullying and bigotry.

    • jammypants says:

      It’s ok. His best friend down the street has gladly relieved him of his circus duties. No one flinches.

    • Innie Outie says:

      Imo many people do not follow his career closely and have no idea that he has kept very quiet since winter. They see oldish bits and pieces of his interviews and various appearances on Youtube and conclude that this is still the way he is. I am not blaming them.

      Come next year, we will see what kind of PR game he’ll be playing. If he keeps lower-key – his new persona will overtake his older one pretty quickly in everyone’s eyes.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        He will have quite a bit to promote next year, at least three films and whatever he works on early next year, and his return to Comic-Con has already been announced.

      • jammypants says:

        I honestly saw nothing wrong with him when he was a dancing circus bear. A bit eager, yes, but he’s a showman and an extrovert. It’s just who he is.

      • icerose says:

        @Innie Outie I think you are right and it will be interesting to see what his PR format will be, I just hope it does not become to boring or predictable and we still se a bit of Little Hiddle’s fun loving, unpredictable and mischievous ego shining through.

      • Isadora says:

        He should stay himself. And that’s the thing in my eyes: I think he is both – the serious thespian and the eager dancing bear. It’s just two sides of one person. And while the dancing bear made probably more appearances due to Marvel I think he will and should keep both sides of him, just in a more balanced fashion. As his new projects aren’t Marvel and a lot more serious (esp. High-Rise and Hank), I think he will find that balance.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Isadora, very true. There was no dancing bear in sight for OLLA or TDBS and the only appearance the dancing bear made for The Hollow Crown was the cookie monster clip for PBS and he played the straight man in that.

      • Innie Outie says:

        @Isadora, I agree (and by the way glad to see you back on CB!)

  32. Allegra says:

    Check this video. Great point of views.

    Tom Hiddleston The Front Runner To Star In BEN-HUR – AMC Movie News:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQ5r05AISU#t=279

    • icerose says:

      that is the video I was talking about earlier, They all seem to respect his talent in varying degrees but expressed concern about the production team.

  33. M.A.F. says:

    If he was smart he would say no. There is no need to remake the movie. It is a classic.

  34. Ally8 says:

    UGH!

    What a plan: let’s deliberately make an inferior remake of one of the best-told, most cinematic films of all time, doing reasonable justice to a Biblical story to boot.

    21st century Hollywood, you suck.

  35. joe spider says:

    How confident is everyone that Thor 3 will get made?

    • 'P'enny says:

      99.9%

      Chris Yost posted on twitter his post-it note with ‘Thor 3 on it,’ for me. it’s how much of a big role will Loki be, if he’s barely in it, I won’t bother with it. Two hours of Thor and Jane protecting earth again and i will fall over with boredom. To be honest, If he starts hitting it big with biblical epics, God! he may feel like he’s moved on and wants out. Who knows? he could do Spartacus and Moses next.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Actually, Jane would be the iffy one since Portman tried to get out of her contract the last time around. But yes, I’m sure it will get made too. Too many pieces of the Thor and Loki story tie into where they are going with the Thanos story and the infinity gauntlet. Loki has the tesseract and is under a death threat from Thanos. That’s why I think it will be the last one before Avengers 3. Thor2 met all Marvel’s trigger points for a sequel and they are all still under contract for it, unlike Downey who has no contractual obligations to do another stand alone Iron Man.

      • Secret Squirrel says:

        @Lilac – Legend says that Thor and Syph marry, so having “Jane” step aside could allow that storyline to develop. There are already allusions to it in Thor and Thor 2 (longing looks from Syph at Thor, Syph’s coolness to Jane during the rescue etc). Jane has always been an interloper in the storyline according to the Norse legend (I don’t read the comics so not sure if Thor had other squeezes from that).

        Loki’s wife Sigyn has not made an appearance in the movie versions (yet) but I think Marvel/Hollywood would do well to not overload the storylines with multiple love interests. Focus on one but not both.

        @’P’enny – I am Spartacus…

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @Secret Squirrel, so true. And they picked up more on the Lady Sif – Thor storyline on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D when she referred to Lorelei having interfered in her relationship with a man and Coulson guessed it was Thor. Sif was ordered to return Lorelei alive to Odin (Loki) and Lorelei is the sister of The Enchantress, Loki’s partner/foe in mischief and mayhem and adultery so they are setting up something involving those players for Thor 3.

        I am Brian.

      • Isadora says:

        I have no idea about Marvel and comics and all that but they can hardly leave Loki sitting on the throne of Asgard and pretending to be Odin. So yes, there will be at least one more Loki performance.

  36. Innie Outie says:

    I don’t awww that much at celebrities, and i have said several times here that i try and limit my exposure to Hiddleston interviews and similar stuff, but isn’t this fan’s account of meeting Hiddles at a cinema theatre awesome?

    “The cinema was basically empty, about 16 people there and not by choice (but divine freakin’ intervention) he ended up sitting beside us. After the movie was over and everyone was waiting for the after credits scene (including Tom) I psyched myself up to talk to him. It was as everyone was getting their stuff (he had his hood up and no-one recognised him) I went over and said “Hey, sorry i don’t mean to bother you but I just wanted to say I really like your work!” and he did the polite, obligatory thank you very much and went on his way.

    But as soon as my SO and I had left the screen and everyone else had moved on I saw he had been waiting outside and he came over and apologised saying that he was trying to remain under the radar and didn’t want to come across as rude. Then stayed for about 10 minutes and chatted with us!

    Literally the nicest man alive.

    P.S Guardians was amazing!”

    http://www.reddit.com/r/Marvel/comments/2d6u09/went_to_see_guardia%20ns_of_the_galaxy_tonight_with

    • 'P'enny says:

      it seems so weird that one of the leading actors in the Marvel Universe ends up in a pokey cinema with 16 people watching GotG , hood up, and no one has a clue. So jealous I could poke their eyes out.

      Shame he doesn’t text so much, i find his stories of visiting the movies very funny., “that’s thor and loki -daddy,,,”

      And the best, of all, when he gave the ending away for Avengers, and end up have conversation on twitter about orgasms.

      In a few years time the kids could be saying, ‘it’s Ben Hur, Mommy” “Yes, darling, I noticed, run up grab his leg for a selfie and introduce us”

    • sigh((s)) says:

      That’s adorable.

    • icerose says:

      saw that and thought how nice of him to apologise later on. He was with some American guy in a second account. Also two people said they had recognised him and went over and sat behind him and he got up and moved further back, Mind you he might have just been a nice guy who knowing how tall he is moved to the back to allow people to see. How I wish more tall people would do that sometimes, .It is usually me who ends up having to move when some 6 foot person sits in front of me.

      • sigh((s)) says:

        This never fails to happen to me. I’m barely over 5 ft and it’s always the tallest guy in the place that has to plop down right in front of me.

    • Janeite says:

      That’s a nice story. Hope it’s true!

  37. Allegra says:

    Talking about HR, Mr Andy Gotts who works as Celebrity photographer tweet this monday:
    Nice shoots lined up this week on my little jaunt to Ireland; Sienna Miller, @TheRealLukevans and @twhiddleston
    Now I am really curious to see the pics.

  38. joe spider says:

    M.A.F did you get my link to the old interview a couple of Tom threads ago – it took me a while to get it on so don’t know if you missed it – the one where he said he wouldn’t like to spend a lot of time in Ystadt?

  39. 'P'enny says:

    Jojo moyles has tweeted in reply to a cinema tweet about tom offered the lead in her book- she says ‘hah! I’m nuzzing’ no idea wtf she means.

    Keep an on her twitter page see if she follows Tom over the next few weeks. She’s on the scriptwriting team. I’d expect she has an indirect say in casting.

    • DahliaDee says:

      Penny, she actually wrote “Hah! I know nuzzing…”, which I take to mean she supposedly knows nothing about it…
      No, not a stalker, just one of her surprisingly few followers.

      • 'P'enny says:

        i looked up the word on google [urban dictionary HAHAA] and it said this,

        “a greeting between good friends, generally involving hair touching and a lot of awkwardness.
        Ex. Look, Kenny and Caitlin are nuzzing! They love each other!”

        but i think you’re right and i was over thinking LOL!

        i am going to get my coat – I’m losing my marbles very tired today.

        oh and

        And Tom has favoured a tweet about him playing Hiddle-Hur, which means it is a pretty close done deal or he finds it hilarious and not going to happen. i’m not sure where to put my money. LOL

      • joe spider says:

        I thought that was nuzzLing.

      • DahliaDee says:

        I’m torn too, ‘P’enny (my apologies for spelling your name wrong in the previous comment). On the one hand, I got excited for the script writer, and I confess I vaguely remember liking “Touched by an Angel”. (I was 12, OK?!? )
        My snootiness completely dismissed the idea of “Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter”, based on the title alone, and I wasn’t all that impressed with “Wanted” either, but “Night Watch” and “Day Watch” are different beasts. Also, I didn’t even know “Ben-Hur” was an Oscar winner. I grew up watching it on TNT, along with “Spartacus” and many others, but as mentioned above, as a foreigner, I found them campy, and if someone had told me back then that it, along with Charlton Heston, had won Oscars, I would’ve thought it was a joke. Go ahead, clutch them pearls 😉 So really, I wasn’t all that fussed about the remake. That is, until I came on here.
        On the other hand, my own biggest issue, I suppose, has more to do with the story itself, and I understand it goes back to the source (surprisingly absent from my countless highschool period reads). And it is this: no matter whether you believe it to be true or not, and perhaps regardless of whether you have faith or not, or what that faith is in, the figure of Jesus Christ as portrayed in the Bible, is a representation of love, kindness, forgiveness and self-sacrifice. Why even would anyone draw a parallel between that figure and a man bent on revenge? To me, it’s mind boggling.

      • 'P'enny says:

        @joe

        so did i, but i thought it maybe some kind of new twitter-speak i wasn’t aware of. It’s hard keeping up with the cool kids.

        And, yep i am shocked that IMBD has posted it – this really could all be pie in the sky. But, it’s good fun.

        I think one High Rise is done, we may get a confirmation of it .

        oh and DAhliaDee no worries about the name, i put them ‘p’ because there is another penny on here too.

  40. joe spider says:

    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1089991/

    Check the filmography – didn’t take long.

    • Isadora says:

      I was wondering why this is there and the other film (about the wheelchair guy) not. Is it any indication? (And yes, I know I’m reaching for straws here.. *g*)

      Edit: Oh, I just saw he favourited on twitter some report about the casting rumor! Oh wow… he would hardly do that if he isn’t taking the role, right?

    • Dara says:

      Could it be (as someone mentioned above) a negotiating tactic for the Me Before You film or another, yet unnamed, project? You know, something along the lines of the agent saying, “If you don’t want him badly enough to pay what we’re asking for then I’ll just send Tom out to be fitted for that toga and we’ll call it a day.” Or, it’s the reverse, and MGM is playing hardball with the actor they really do want and hinting around that Tom is a decent second choice if they can’t agree on a contract in short order.

      Of course that tactic only ever works if you are seriously willing to walk away and not look back. And if the interested party wants/needs you badly enough not to risk it all being a bluff. There’s no business like show business… and at the end of the day it is a business.

  41. joe spider says:

    Hemsworth bombing; according to the Forbes rich list he was the 5th highest paid actor in Hollywood last year on $37m. Which rather surprised me.

    • Allegra says:

      Yes, I know. Surprised me too.
      I really want know how much they paid him for each movie.

    • Innie Outie says:

      It *is* surprising, given that basically he hasn’t yet turned in any big roles other than Thor and Huntsman – and Blackhat aka Cyber and Heart of the Sea are yet to be released. Don’t get me wrong, I love Chris and the whole Thor/Loki dynamic – not just Loki – is what makes Thor films watchable for me lol, but… It’s just weird. Or maybe not. I bet people can make fortunes off Marvel franchises alone 😀 And Snow White and the Huntsman didn’t hurt either 😉

  42. Allegra says:

    Wow, autumn in Louisiana is going to be great.

    George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Gerard Butler, Tom Hiddleston pack bags for Louisiana film projects.
    link: http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2014/08/george_clooney_sandra_bullock.html

  43. Allegra says:

    From Mr Andy Gotts twitter account :
    ” Its a wrap in Belfast for my 5 shoots. A highlight was Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) what a lovely guy!”

    • DahliaDee says:

      He always is, isn’t he? That’s one of the things that made me sit up and pay attention a few years ago. That no one, whether industry peer, interviewer, photographer, friend or fan, can help falling a little for the guy. And I’ve said it over and over again, charm can only get you so far. Charm works best from a distance. But close-up, if it’s not backed up by something deepar and genuine, it often goes “poof”, right up in smoke.

      • icerose says:

        I knew he had something when I heard he was voted house captain at Eton, Part of the role is to help new boys settle in and feel part of the college. That takes people skills, genuine warmth and making people feel special as well as accepted which is partly what charm is about.

    • Isadora says:

      He really dazzels people all the time, doesn’t he? *g*

  44. Ellen says:

    Thomas. Stay away from Ben Hur. He probably would be better than Charlton Heston but he would forever be compared with him in that role. Classic remakes aren’t doing that well so I’m suprised that they are thinking of it

  45. joe spider says:

    Don’t want you girls to get too excited but a/the leather jacket has made an appearance in NI.

    • Ellen says:

      @Joe Spider he looks hot in it. I love it when he dresses casual and has a bit of facial fluff.

      Anyone heard the Alexabdra Burke story? Personally I don’t think there was anything wrong with what Alexandra said but some fans are so keen on the story he’s totally in love with another that he keeps her hidden in dungeon with Sean Bean and Bunny. 😉

      • joe spider says:

        Ha, I know where you’ve been Ellen ! tut tut.

      • Ellen says:

        @Joe Spider Mary Poppins might of looked in but didn’t stop to argue. 😉
        I think we might be on to something with Hiddles epic romance. After his vacation he and his new wife have three children with another on the way. you know we don’t believe a man can’t have no strings fun on vacation with a good female friend.

      • joe spider says:

        Hope it isn’t twins!

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I confess. Yes, I am having twins. Conceived during the filming of the jag commercial. The British government was correct; that commercial was unsafe at any speed.

      • Ellen says:

        The eldest daughter is called Elle after the magazine that has brought rights to this epic love story and has so much influence on his life he rings them up to ask them when he can visit the bathroom.Hiddles and his wife called them the moment she was conceived and straight after she was born.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      The leather jacket should feel free to make as many appearances as it wants. The leather jacket makes me happy.

  46. Allegra says:

    I just got this from my Twiiter feed. New pic with Tom and it´s from Maureen Coleman who works as freelance journalist:

    On the set of High Rise today with the lovely and super talented @twhiddleston can’t wait to see the film now.

    link: https://twitter.com/MaureenColeman1/status/500267503520866304

  47. Allegra says:

    Change the subject, I listened this funny interview months ago and today founded these nice pics.

    Tom Hiddleston, Passenger , Roger Taylor and James Corden on BBC Radio 2

    Interview with Tom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pkycn0czQ8
    Passenger covers Dancing In The Dark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGkNjQs1Omc

    Blog with the pics: http://hatie123.tumblr.com/post/94729881691

    • Lilacflowers says:

      That’s an interesting cover, especially since it probably sounded like that in its original drafts before Springsteen added in all the other instruments.

  48. TotallyBiased says:

    @Allegra–btw, LOVE that radio session! Many Dragonflies/Hiddlestoners were online chatting and listening to the livestream of that simultaneously. Grand reason to stay up all night.
    (Don’t judge me–ROGER TAYLOR WAS THERE, TOO!)

    • Allegra says:

      @TotallyBiased

      Don´t worry.
      I would do the same if given the chance.
      Glad to hear that you enjoyed as much I did.

    • Janeite says:

      What the heck?? That’s just bizarre! :-\

      • Ellen says:

        @Janeite Bizzare? It’s more than Bizzare. It looks like Luke is doing so much overtime and is losing the plot now.

        The strange roles could mean two things;

        A) Luke is trying to divert our attention away from something else like an actual role or whatever

        B) what most PR people do is attach their clients name to a role to drum up interest in that said person. This is usually done if person has been out of the spotlight for a while, trying to correct a thing they have done wrong or they aren’t getting enough offers for movie roles.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      That’s hilarious! And beyond ridiculous!

    • Innie Outie says:

      WUT? O__O

      I mean… Er.. *frantically grabs at words* I can see him in a Rambo film, but it depends on the kind of role he’ll be playing. Surely not some younger version of original Rambo??? >_O

      I went and looked through Millennium Studios’ Shreveport FB page and they did a number of posts on I Saw the Light and Tom starring in it – all quite positive – but I thought that was mainly due to them filming at the same location. Didn’t find a single mention of Hiddles actually joining Rambo V cast. Maybe that Film Combat Syndicate site just misread something?

      • icerose says:

        @Innie Outie this is getting really weird. If it is true he must be sifting through a lot of scripts.I just wonder sometimes if Tom is being used for publicity fodder. I cannot se him as a Rambo type perhaps a villain or ally. But Rambo 5 is worse than Ben Hur in terms of remakes and sequels. I wanted more fil offers but not this.
        I am still voting for the Thea project-it is original and I trust her direction.

      • Innie Outie says:

        @icerose and Lilac, I don’t understand this mess lol. I am of the opinion that this is some sort of misunderstanding because it would otherwise have been reported by more than one site.

      • Isadora says:

        They already cleared it up – it’s like you said Innie, Tom is just in town at the same time when Rambo V is happening. Film Combat Syndicate made the rest up. 😉 That’s quite some click bait, isn’t it?

      • Innie Outie says:

        @Isadora, phew.. *wipes forehead*

        At least this is fascinating. I am already wondering what casting humour will come next lol. Hiddleston as T-24436475959037 in Terminator 5?

      • 'P'enny says:

        thank god! for that!!!!!!

        the thought of him in Rocky V had me laughing off my chair this morning, there is no way on earth he would do it. But, I had this nagging doubt that he would be stupid enough for a laugh.

        [this post is still open 🙂 ]

      • Lilacflowers says:

        @’p’enny, well, we all have been saying that he needs to do a comedy!

  49. joe spider says:

    Are you not allowed to post links to people’s twitter pages on here? Or is it that it had a youtube link in it that made my post disappear?

    • jammypants says:

      I never succeeded in posting twitter links either.

      • joe spider says:

        Thanks jammypants, think it goes for youtube as well.

        But go to Tom’s twitter and view the conversation he has with @NeilMcGFilm who posts a link to a youtube film he has done.

        I’m terrified of heights and even in cartoon form it spooked me out!

        Anyway I’m off to bed now because it’s gone 1a.m over here. 🙂

      • Lilacflowers says:

        That High-Rise animation was really cool.

  50. Allegra says:

    Ice water challenge for ALS

    Now is Tom turn :
    http://www.whosay.com/status/nathanfillion/968362

  51. Smyling says:

    I don’t know if anyone knows about the ALS Ice bucket challenge – if challenged, you must dump a bucket of ice water over your head, or donate to fight ALS within 24 hours. Nathan Fillion did it, and challenged Tom. Plus RDJ did it, and challenged Chris Hemsworth. Will they do it? (Nathan’s video is on his WhoSay page, and RDJ’s on his twitter).

    • Ellen says:

      I hope Hiddles does do this. I bet he would be wetting himself laughing at the same time! 🙂

      I wonder who he would nominate? Benny is too obvious so he might go for Luke Evans or Chris Hemsworth. Fanboy Jim is another bet as is Emma Watson. I don’t think he would be brave enough to nominate RDJ but he is known to of played pranks on him during the Avengers

  52. TotallyBiased says:

    So Mr. WetnWhippy BROKE whosay this morning when he tweeted his response to Nathan Fillion’s ALS Ice Challenge.
    Love his pass-it-on challenges:
    Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans, and Helena Bonham Carter!
    (Is it wrong of me to want her to do it in a corset and white silk knickers? )
    http://www.whosay.com/status/twhiddleston/969449

  53. Ellen says:

    For some reason the latest Hiddles thread closed early.
    So lets take the oppunity to talk about a certain white tee and a challenge.
    That’s either is running gear or his swim shorts and it looks like he is home too.

    I bet the reason @ ‘p’enny hasn’t posted yet is because she’s watching the video on loop! 😉