I’m kind of a dragonfly for John la Carre. He writes a lot of espionage/international intrigue books, many of which are made into solid-to-excellent films. My favorite is probably The Constant Gardener (an extremely underrated film), but I also enjoyed the last version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Anyway, another le Carre book is being adapted for the screen… the small screen. The Night Manager is going to be made into some kind of multi-episode TV project (it sounds like a miniseries, I guess) and your cuddlebear Tommy Hiddleston is going to be in it. Release the dragonflies!
Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston are coming to TV in an espionage drama. The duo is set to star in a TV adaptation of John le Carre’s The Night Manager, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter, with WME fielding multiple offers from U.S. networks for a straight-to-series pickup. The drama is being developed in partnership with the BBC, which will air the series in the U.K. Ink Factory (A Most Wanted Man) is producing. David Farr (Hanna, Spooks) will pen the adaptation.
Published in 1993, le Carre’s Night Manager follows Jonathan Pine, a British soldier turned luxurious hotel night auditor. Pine crosses paths with a French-Arab woman named Sophie with ties to Richard Onslow Roper, an English black marketer who specializes in weapons. The woman provides Pine with incriminating documents, which he forwards to a friend in British intelligence. After Sophie winds up dead, Pine works with intelligence operatives and goes undercover as part of a sting against Roper to avenge Sophie’s death.
For Laurie, the series would mark the in-demand actor’s return to TV following his Emmy-nominated run on Fox’s House. The show also will mark Hiddleston’s largest U.S. TV role to date. The Thor and Avengers star previously featured in British black comedy Suburban Shootout, Wallander and more recently had voice roles on Robot Chicken and Family Guy.
I’m guessing Tommy wanted to do some big, splashy TV project so he too could win an Emmy, just like his BFF Benedict Cumberbatch. No, it’s far more likely that Tom is just doing what so many British actors do, which is bounce around from film, TV and theatre projects because they don’t really give a crap about the American elitism of “movie stardom.” British actors just like to work and they don’t care about the medium. Plus, this sounds like a very prestigious project and it’s always nice to see Hugh Laurie getting interesting work. I’m assuming Hiddles would play Pine?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I think this is great news for Tom and a pleasant change to see him play an “up to date” part. I think he will play a really good Pine in this. It is also nice to read that the networks are all chasing this (unless that is PR hype).
Hopefully it will get him known to a wider audience in the States.
well two things about US’s “movie stardom elitism”:
-US successful movies are not character oriented so real talented actors won’t find it interesting and challenge enough if not for the money. The meaty roles, every industry insider will tell you, are on tv right know, specially for women (real talent is on tv : Viola, Vera, Robin, even Cate blanchett is producing tv now, and Fincher, Spacey, MacCoughnahey, Harrelson….the list has no end)
-British actors have a cheaper fee than americans so they tend to accept movies, theatre and films as they come, they need to work more than americans to make the same kind of money. This of course doesn’t include superstars like Benedict, that got their fee equal to US actors the same range.
how do you know how much Benedict was offered for roles and what do consider as the ‘same range?’
There is a lot of criticism on the site sometimes about hiddlejacking of Benny threads but here we have cumberjacking (like lumberjacking without the checked shirts?) …frankly I am cool with it, It’s free speech and know lots of you ladies are Tom fans but maybe a bit of leeway the other way round…looking forward to TV Tom…
@Anne, it’s actually even funnier because some people left comments under the posts about Laurie and Hiddleston being together in this new TV series saying that Cumberbatch had to be cast in it too 😛
Personally, I don’t mind when Hiddleston threads are sprinkled with mentions of any worthy actors – which usually happens anyway.
@Anne tommy does not bother me as long as everyone gets a chance to respond
@Innie, I’m also seeing the same remarks about the new Tommy Jaguar ad tomorrow. Honestly, I think it’d be a great idea! I wouldn’t function properly if it happens 😀
“saying that Cumberbatch had to be cast in it too ”
I haven’t gotten far down the thread, but damn that’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard since someone wondered why Benedict didn’t thank Tom in his GQ acceptance speech. Jeez. Enough! They aren’t joined at the hip! Although it is kinda funny when this happens in reverse, because it always seems to happen the other way around.
Back to Tom, is he taking everything and anything that’s being offered? Wow.
@delorb, trust me I dislike the joining of the hip as well.
Also, I think this is a great offer. It’s not like Skull Island, which, to me, is just a blockbuster type of film. This actually seems interesting. Espionage, Le Carre, BBC, and Hugh Laurie! 🙂
And he can’t be taking everything offered if he turned down Ben Hur.
@delorb
I’ve mentally given you a permanent avatar that bears a surprisingly strong resemblance to Grumpy Cat.
When Tom doesn’t have so many projects lined up, you seem the type to cast aspersions on his CV/ability to get work (“What has he done?”) When he’s busy, you presume he’s “taking everything and anything that’s offered.” (And I’ll add that we know of at least one very high profile gig he turned down in Ben Hur.)
As for the idea that they must be included in projects the other one is doing–well, that is definitely personal perspective! My BIASED memory recalls only that some folks thought it would be great if Tom was in Jungle Book, but that was more because of Tom’s professed love of the movie. Whereas I’ve seen Cumberfans wanting Benny in the Jag commercials with Tom since the first one appeared. Cumby has a Jag contract, granted. Pretty sure that if he’d WANTED to do this campaign, he’d be in.
Even way back when Hollow Crown finally played on PBS, there were Cumbercookies wondering why BC wasn’t in the series. Tom on Doctor Who (rumoured, unsurprisingly, during Coriolanus)? Only if Benny gets to do the episode with him! Admittedly, Mark Gatiss’ snarky but not unkind reply to the ONE fan who asked about Tom on Sherlock went rather viral…
And BC only fanned the flames himself for these pairings with his reddit AMA bombshell re ‘cheek-bone polishing parties.’
Further down you also comment that the premise wasn’t very promising. That REALLY stumps me. You are certainly in the minority there, as the entertainment media is LOVING this (Hugh and LeCarre? That’s enough for them to salivate, Tom is a Tumblr-busting, talented bonus.) The networks are scrapping over rights, and it’s not even in pre-production yet!
So I have to ask (getting back to our biases and perceptions) if this was an announcement about Hugh Laurie and Benedict Cumberbatch starring in LeCarre’s Night Manager,
what would your reaction be then?
well it was Benny who brought Tom up in his Time out article. But yes the idea that because one appears in something the other has to is becoming a bit of a cliché. Mind you up until the announcement of this film I thought it was focussed on Sherlock.
@Jimmypants and according to rumours the Me Before You as well.
@Delorb,
1. I’m not the one claiming BC gets paid at superstar rates. Frankly, I suspect he pulled less than Kevin Bacon for Black Mass and Bacon’s role is tiny.
2. Why do you think Tom should have turned down Night Manager? Actors jump at the chance to play a LeCarre role and this one gives him the opportunity to work with Hugh Laurie AND work from home, something he hasn’t been able to do since February. He turned down Ben-Hur and Me Before You and that is just two we know about.
3. BC is under contract with Jaguar. If Jaguar had wanted him in that Super Bowl commercial or the follow-up, Jaguar would have had him in those commercials. Jaguar chose not to do so.
4. I have not seen anyone say BC should have mentioned Tom in any speech. Other than you.
@debore.”Back to Tom, is he taking everything and anything that’s being offered? Wow. ”
Seems like it. Thank goodness he’s been offering great stuffs lately. And I see that you are still throwing shade at him every turn you can. We know you dislike him with a vengeance, you demonstrate it as much every time you comment on his threads, (he took crappy projects, he’s a sell-out, he’s mediocrat, his works unimpressive, his fans can’t give more than 2 projects that they like of his, blah blah). Did I miss anything? Aren’t you tired of the same old stuff from yourself all the time? I’m not tired of getting excited for Tom’s projects, because it makes me happy. What is your excuse for shading him at every chance? that’s what float your boat? Seems so.
Actually a person on Hiddleston’s IMDb board who’s a long-term user and who I have no reason not to trust wrote a couple of days ago that when she saw Snowpiercer at the theatre, Bong Joon-ho (the director) was there and he told the audience that before Chris Evans landed the role of Curtis, he’d offered it to Hiddleston and Fassbender but both had to pass on it.
@Intro Outro
Yeah, I read that comment and TBH I found it very interesting. I liked Snowpiercer but I prefer OLLA xD.
wow I am surprised he turned down Snowpiercer he is pickier than I thought
Seems my original post got tossed.
@TotallyBiased,
Some people on the Benedict board would agree that I should be the grumpy cat, because I do the same thing with his choices, if I disagree.
The conversation that led to my comment of ‘what has he done’ was specific to that conversation. I must have hurt quite a few feelings because its constantly being brought up here, even when it doesn’t relate.
I have very little patience for those Benedict fans who also complained about Benedict not being in the Jaguar commercial. So stupid, IMO.
The premise, IMO, sounds like a Liam Neeson movie. That’s not a good thing. IMO of course.
@Josa,
This blog was created for people to give their opinions.
@lilac,
I don’t think he got paid all that much for Star Trek either. So to compare his pay with Depp’s, who is the lead is a bit much. He’s not A-list. He’s not getting A-list money.
The reason I’m not liking this is because of its premise. If I’m reading it correctly, it sounds run of the mill. Only the LeCarre name gives it cache’. If his name weren’t on it….
Someone did say that they wished he’d thanked tom. Not here and not today, but a couple of days ago, I read it. And it was very sad.
@delorb, you seem to relish the idea that you hurt feelings because you keep claiming you did. Sorry to disappoint you but no hurt feelings here. I am not the one who claimed BC was receiving superstar pay so I suggest you direct your comments at that person. You have stated your dislike of Tom and disdain for his past work, which you haven’t seen and disinterest in his future projects. Tom’s career is doing well enough without your career advice, which would probably involve immediate retirement.
I’m sure The Night Manager would sound more enticing if someone other than Tommy was involved 😉
@jammypants,agreed. Different casting would alter Her opinion considerably
@delorb, I didn’t say you shouldn’t express your opinion on here. Read my post again and you will find I did not object your opinion nor ask you to not give them. I asked if you ever get tired of expressing the same opinions again and again. Rhetorical question, we all know the answer. All these opinions has the same agenda. A daily dose of shading Tom is like an addiction.
I’m sorry but the Clooneys, Pitts, Depps, Cruises, and, God only knows why, Willises are superstars in the US. Benedict Cumberbatch is nowhere near that level. The Christian Bales and Matthew McConaugheys and Liam Neesons are on the next tier and Cumberbatch isn’t on that level either. No idea what Cumberbatch is making but he definitely didn’t get the same amount Depp did for Black Mass. That is no insult or slur against him, it is just the reality.
The only british star on that level of Clooneys, Pitts, Depps and cruises is Simon Pegg. “wink” Depp won’t get out of bed for less than $20m,
in the old days, we had the Sean Connery’s and Michael Cain’s but i can’t imagine any british actor commanding the salaries of the Pitt’s and Ford’s today. Even Colin Firth or Hugh Grant who can demand an audience for the most awful rubbish. The Harry Potter gang, may get big salary because they have fan bases the size of the moon. And, then there is Robert Pattison, ‘rolls eyes’
Brit actors do better salary wise [i think] in successful american TV series, [i think] Damien Lewis, Charlie Hunnam, and of course Hugh Laurie who broke the TV salary bank for House.
I think DDL is up there. Studios know his name attached confers prestige. And Caine went the Laurence Olivier route – anything for a paycheck because I have children to support. And they both admitted that’s what they were doing. Caine has gotten more selective in his later years. And my great aunt and mother still insist on seeing every film he is in on opening weekend.
The reaching when it comes to Cumberbatch’s fame always annoyed me. He’s talented and getting exposure, but no way in hell is he up there with those actors as you mentioned. I agree. It’s just reality.
@jammy and Lilac, that’s the power of the Weinstein award-lusting machine in action 😉
@Lilacflowers,
I’m not gonna lie, I insist on seeing every movie that Michael Cain is in. 😉
@Lilac,
His role in Black Mass, is supporting, so of course he’s not going to get the same amount.
@Abby J, I don’t protest when they demand I take them. My great aunt already has the opening date of Interstellar on her calendar because … Michael Caine! We do love him.
And an Emmy is JUST AS prestigious as an Oscar. Totally.
“This of course doesn’t include superstars like Benedict, that got their fee equal to US actors the same range.”
But which actors are considered superstars? I don’t know, the term “superstars” is pretty confuse to me. There are popular actors, acclaimed actors, talented actors. Superstars? I’m not sure.
I just wonder how much Benedict was paid for his supporting roles in films, His leads have only been in indies films and to be honest I think McKellen and some of the other UK stars would command more than BC and lets face it Laurie was the highest paid TV actor at one point and easily would have surpassed the cucumber.
Mind you Benny and Tommy do seem to swap their positions. Tom appears in a comic book film and then Benny does.Tom goes back on stage and earns an Olivier nomination and then Benny decides to do the same .Tom stars in the Olympiad production of the Hollow Crown and Benny follows suit. Ben is in an Emmy awarded TV show and now Tom stars in a show which has the potential to be both prestigious as well as having a wider circulation in the USA. Perception is a marvellous tool you can twist it any way you like. The truth is ““The more I see, the less I know for sure.” Lennon
But in reality both have always criss crossed media Seems to me they are just following a similar career path and choosing roles which forward their careers and offer them something to exercise their acting chops. But I agree that UK actors are probably less focussed on stardom/money with some exceptions. Mark Ruffalo I salute you.
Seconding salute for Ruffalo. And a second salute for Danny Glover.
Sixer! Sixer! Sixer! Ruffalo sat near me at a Red Sox game a week and a half ago. He’s in Boston filming “Spotlight.”
Love Ruffalo, too. He seems such a genuine guy, and he’s also an excellent actor.
Gah @ Lilac!
Ruffalo! Oh, I’d die, for sure. Lilacflowers, so jealous, here . . .😻
Superstar?? Well BC is good but wouldn’t say superstar. I don’t think he can get a film made based solely on him being in it. Well not yet I could be wrong .
@Ag-UK
BC is not a superstar but he is building a solid career 🙂
This is tremendous news! Hiddles and Hugh!
in a LeCarre!
Yessssssssss!
Tommy’s on my David Tennant list of guys I want to spend hours making out with, but am not sure if I could go through with the boning. I’d fear the quoting of Shakespeare afterwards. My man is an actor/theatre-lifer, so the Shakespearean quoting is already a reality post-boning and otherwise.
Maybe I just need to go watch that video where he pants heavily again….
I’d risk the quoting of Shakespeare afterwards. 😉
I would quote Shakespeare right back at him and throw in some Voltaire as well.
@Charlotte-so sorry you have to suffer the after boning of slings and arrows and such, but really…I am jealous of you. I am single, and some of the men I have met (and rejected stat) have never even read Shakespeare. One guy proudly told me “All my books are on my Kindle”. Depressing. ANyway this project sounds like wonderful TV, and I have adored Hugh since I saw his (original) Grumpy Cat face in Pride And Prejudice.
@kri. Do you mean Sense and Sensibility?
Hey don’t knock it kri:
on the Amazon website:
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (37 plays, 160 sonnets and 5 Poetry Books With Active Table of Contents) [Kindle Edition]”
77p – about $1.20 🙂
I LOVE my Complete Works on Kindle! I’ve read more plays and sonnets in the 12 months I’ve had it than I did in the past 10 years while the 2 (or 3?) paper copies have been sitting on my bookshelves collecting dust. The classic literature genre is surprisingly affordable on Kindle – Victor Hugo, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens. Modern technology is wonderful, until you go camping without a place to recharge…then you’re stuck reading the cereal box out of desperation.
Dara you should have bought a Nook – they last weeks without needing a charge and mine has a “glowlight” so you can read it in the darkness of your tent. (if you have nothing better to do) 😉
@joe – the Kindle was a gift from a few years ago and I keep it for sentimental reasons (only recently did I purchase the Complete Works) and it does last quite a long time, if you remember to charge it fully before leaving home… in the immortal words of Homer Simpson, “Doh!”
i love how people think this will reach a wider audience in the states? he was in three marvel movies and one the third biggest selling movie of all time and never off the DVD chart list.
Actually, i know what people mean when they say it because it will break it way from Loki thing and people can see him in TV-spy oomph. 😀
I think this is exactly what they mean, ‘P’enny. Comic book films are still only comic book films, although without a (very) negative connotation. They are still aimed at a certain audience. And Hiddles wasn’t even one of leads in those films, especially in TDW. TV in general and a good old espionage thriller in particular have potentially a much wider audience than comic book blockbusters.
That’s really what I meant ‘P’enny – exactly how well known is Tom outside of people who follow the Marvel films?
@ Kyra:
“British actors have a cheaper fee than Americans so they tend to accept movies, theatre and films as they come, they need to work more than Americans to make the same kind of money”
If the British actor has a US agency which Tom does – WME – then they should be getting him the same level of fee as American actors. I sometimes wonder why he left his old US agents – did they not get him any work (because we know he got Loki through Branagh) or did they get him a crap deal for the 5/6 movie deal?
Thoughts?
@joe. i don’t think there is much room for sentiment in entertainment business, and i think i read something that his original american agent left that agency and expected to take Tom with him to what ever his new agency was. That didn’t happen, I think, and he went to WME instead. i wouldn’t have a clue whether it was a good move or not. He has stuck with his UK agency from the beginning, who knows. Maybe he needed an agency with more experience of handing Marvel and bigger studios.
But, what i have noticed, that all the last projects he has signed too, are mostly independent film producers, Bron Studios, Ink Factory, and RPC and he is the lead actor in all their productions next year. I suspect, that even with Hugh Laurie, the title character is the name of the book and Hiddles will still be considered the lead. Legendary may be a bigger studio, but it is looking to differentiate and take on new talent, like Luke Evans and Tom Hiddleston, I don’t think its just because they are cheaper [but yep they are], but i think they realise what’s hot to trot. Casting that brilliant guy from Breaking Bad in Godzilla! wow. I recognise that Crimson Peak the lead in the film is Mia W, but already the marketing is drumming up around Tom, it will be interesting to see what happens next October. Legendary will want to push Tom now, big time.
i don’t think it’s his american agents that are getting him offers, it’s the critical applaud he has been receiving and the hard work and WOM and networking. It didn’t go unnoticed that he carried Thor 2, that he matched the acting big-guns in Avengers, working brilliantly with Tilda Swinton. [An acting Godess.] And Coriolanus, caught the interest of Bron Studios guy [i think, i read somewhere]
Thomas Tull CEO from Legendary was charmed from his performance in Crimson Peak. I think the introduction to Ben Wheatley, came around the time of TIFF last year and Jeremy Thomas hook-up.
I sometimes wonder if his American agents are getting him great supporting roles, but i wonder if he is turning them all down. He’s just going for broke and snapping up lead roles in riskier films at the moment. I can imagine every period drama and role for a posh english accent ends up on his and Dan Stevens desk. lol.
This spy drama has come out his UK agents, judging by Hugh Laurie tied to the same agency and it being a BBC led production with Ink Factory.
Joe – as a rule of thumb, the BBC spends £750k on each hour of original drama it produces. Other UK networks (although I’m not sure about Sky) spend a bit less.
The BBC’s highest paid drama actor a few years back was Trevor Eve, who was getting £700k per series of Waking the Dead. But he was a total outlier even at that time and the BBC have reduced salaries since then (post financial crash – their funding hasn’t gone up in real terms since 2010).
If this is a BBC show, the actors will be paid a pittance in Hollywood terms.
Perhaps Tom just doesn’t want to get tied to a long term deal any time soon like the Marvel one, though it has served its purpose for him.
Regarding CP I have wondered if it started out as Mia’s film but GT
realised during filming that it was Tom who was carrying it, because it is certainly Tom he is giving the publicity to.
Another point, Tom sold up in London and went to LA and had a really rough time of it for a year. He bought his current London property whilst filming of The Avengers was going on. Perhaps he just isn’t prepared to move to the States like such as Dan Stevens has done, and is happy to take the risk.
that’s why i think they want american TV partner to boost the finance. i don;t think either actor will do it less than £1m and there some yachts and filming at sea involved.
Benedict said he was on a 6 figure for Sherlock, but he didn’t say what end.
The initial paycheck may be a pittance, but depending on how it plays out residuals and related for the US broadcasts could add quite a bit. All depends on how the contracts were structured, and as WME is really in on the ground floor of this (by the THR account), I expect a very beneficial arrangement was made. Certainly at least for HL. But I’m sure they are both SAG-AFTRA members.
@joe spider, during the TDW press, both Chris H and Tom pointed out that living in Los Angeles is not necessary for a strong film career because very few films are actually made in Hollywood any more (Chris seems to have a really good understanding of how state tax breaks translate into where movies are made – I was impressed) and electronic communications make it so much easier to stay in touch with managers/agents/studios. Tom seems to really enjoy being in London, which allows better opportunities at theater work than California does and being close, when he’s not on location, to family and friends. Also, Marvel has pretty much moved its major filming to England for three of its last four films.
@joe, re: CP being Mia’s film: from the tweets I read after the recent CP screening I gathered that, if if is indeed centred around one of the two female leads, Chastain is more likely to be in the limelight than Mia. Personally, I don’t really care who’ll be the focal point – Mia, Jessica or Tom – because I happen to love ALL of them. Which really makes CP a very special kind of project for me ^_^
The same here. From what I read, Mia is the protagonist and Jessica is the scene stealer 😉
@joe spider: “Regarding CP I have wondered if it started out as Mia’s film but GT
realised during filming that it was Tom who was carrying it, because it is certainly Tom he is giving the publicity to.”
I think iGDT just knows who his crowd is at SDCC and with internet press. Because while Mia Wasikowska is a great actress imho and critics love her and everything, she doesn’t have the rabid (internet) fanbase that Tom has – especially among comic geeks like at SDCC. So it’s probably “Tom’s film” for the younger/comic con audience, “Mia’s film” for film festivals and “Jessica’s film” for the award show US audience and “Charlie’s film” for the US TV audience. 😉 No, in all earnest, I think it really is more of an ensemble film.
@Isadora, I think you’re right both re: del Toro shilling it differently to different audiences, and re: ensemble film. Del Toro is very good at this kind of thing, too.
GDT is shilling to different audiences, i agree, but Charlie Hunnam is also a big draw for the Comic – Con crowd, with Pacific Rim and he is awfully popular due to Guns of Anarchy. I expect both Charlie and Tom on the panel next year. Especially is Charlie is in Pacific Rim 2, but i think Legendary have a lot riding on Skull Island financially, and they are going to want to really build Tom for this. In the same way they are throwing Luke Evans at every interview and show that exists at the moment.
.
‘p’enny, it will attract a different type of audience. There are many in the states who just don’t go to movies at all but watch television and there are many who are interested in LeCarre type spy thrillers but would never watch a comic book film. By doing this, he will broaden his audience here.
I was one of those people, and that’s how I meant it, ‘P’enny. I think most people are very familiar with him as Loki, but I don’t think mainstream audiences have seen his subsequent work playing other kinds of roles.
Yep, excellent news! Some of the best films I’ve seen in the past couple of months are all TV (and I picked a couple of them right here on CB, including Happy Valley and The Honourable Woman. Trying to get into Peaky Blinders now but it reminds me too forcefully of The Godfather moved across the Atlantic so I am not sure I’m interested in watching a reprise of that topic. Perhaps I will, if only for Murphy and McCrory and now Hardy). So, a huge YES to Laurie and Hiddleston!
I think Tom will play Pine, Roper is a much older guy if I am not mistaken. Also, as I said on the other thread, it’ll be (yet again) a very different role for Hiddles, this time action-oriented. Good luck to everyone involved! Also please hurry up and deliver this to the small screens ASAP, thank you.
Think it is confirmed that Tom will be Pine and Hugh will be Roper.
Entertainment Weekly confirmed he is playing Pine.
@ Intro
Update on Sixer viewing for you: 1) Glue – fab E4 murder drama aimed at the youth market. Super – looking at traveller racism and has one of the guys from Rizzle Kicks in it. 2) Marvellous – TV film, not series, about a real-life guy with special needs who became a kit man at a big football club and a greeter at a university. Could have been awful and sentimental but really, really wasn’t. Toby Jones was just great in it. 3) Detectorists – comedy drama written by Mackenzie Crook and also with Toby Jones. Daft and funny.
2 and 3 are for if you want something quirky and very British.
Over and out for the Sixer update.
Oh, I do hope Detectorists gets picked up over here somewhere!
Lilac – that might be unlikely as it’s a BBC4 minority viewership thing. I think you guys really only get the bigger ticket BBC1 or BBC2 stuff. You might have to do some naughty streaming or something?
@Sixer, true. We only get the bigger productions. There is just no justice in a world in which I am denied MacKenzie Crook. Just the thought of him makes me laugh. Even his role in GOT made me laugh and that wasn’t a comical part.
I love him, too (and Toby Jones). Crook is much cleverer than I’d realised, going by the script. It’s just a daft little thing about a pair of geeky metal detectorists but it was one of those scripts that have so many sneaky little references that you could watch a dozen times and find something new to laugh at on each subsequent go.
Glad you’ve told me about this they are running repeats of the programme on Mondays here so I have set it to record.
When they get it right the BBC do great quirky shows as well as the more pretentious stuff and E4 is earning a great reputation as well/
Some BBC 3/4 shows end up o BBC America if there is enough support. Torchwood moved from BBC 3 TO BBC 2 and then to BBC 1.It could have gone further if RTD had not sabotaged his own show by turning it into a Starz failure.
@Intro Outro Loved the shows you mentioned,
@Sixer, thanks a lot! I definitely love meself something quirky and very British from time to time, so these recs are very welcome.
@icerose, I literally couldn’t tear myself away from Happy Valley. I had a huge localisation project on my hands and I still got glued to the screen (which nearly had me miss the deadline but I regret nothing lol).
@ Intro – welcome! Happy Valley had the best-written female characters and interaction I’ve seen in forever.
@Sixer just watched Toby Stephens in Marvellous and it was great and Toby was excellent
Emmy nominated House? Hugh Laurie never won an Emmy for House? Inconceivable!
I’m excited for this. Very excited.
I know this TV series will be pretty entertaining to watch, and most likely not an Emmy winner, this is spy man -fodder. I am working my way through the book and at the moment, and I am struggling with the corny written conversation. However, if they modernise it, i will be glued to it like a pig in muck.
But, i am really worried…I love Spooks, i really love Spooks, watch them over and over again, but I hate James Bond – really hate James Bond. Please don’t let this be a TV Bond thing. I don’t want this to be Hiddles audition for the Big J, like Daniel Craig flexed his interview muscles for JB through Layer Cake. The continual script troubles James Bond seems to have under Sam Mendes does make wonder if the Power of Be may reboot, i don’t think Daniel Craig wants to do another despite his contract for another. He just seems grumpy and unhappy all the time – come back to my indie film world Daniel.
Given the LeCarre pedigree, it will probably get Emmy-nominated. Six episodes puts it in the mini-series category.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t want Tom to be the next JB – that franchise is dying on its feet.
I feel a bit uncertain also. I like my spy thrillers to be cerebral, like the most recent Tinker Tailor film. But with the Spooks guy in the driving seat, it sounds as though it’ll be given more of a Bond treatment – which isn’t up my alley. Hope not, but we’ll see.
Is he from earlier spooks or more recent spooks? Until about season 6 it was more cerebral. After that it kind of jumped shark and went bond-ish. I didn’t even watch the last season.
@Sixer I was reading the Amazon reviews and some people were claiming it was too convoluted. I think the difference is not in complexity.According to some very old newspaper reviews it the book has more of a James Bond happy ending feel about it as opposed to the down beat ending od tinker. And if we are talking James Bond it will be more of the earlier style Bond. Well that my hope anyway.
Min you I guessed the outcome of Tinker from the moment I saw the look Strong gave Firth.
@icerose – I think you caught the crux of my reservation in your comment below. I don’t want chases, gadgets, fights and things being blown up. As Sighs says, that’s how Spooks ended up and it’s just not my bag. If this was a purely BBC affair, I’d not expect that, but if it’s a BBC partnership with lots of American money AND a Spooks scriptwriter, then I’m going to worry a bit.
I don’t mean to suggest it will be BAD – just not to my taste if it goes the action route. I’d guess you’d be pretty much the same?
@sixer I understand your fears. The so called Torchwood collaboration between BBC worldwide and Starz was a good example of more money does not equate to better equability and likewise some of the pretty boy period collaborations , as I call them, like Henry v11, The White Queen and the recent 3 Musketeers have done nothing to improve my confidence. But the Hollow Crown , Honorable Women and the Fall even though they are European collaborations do indicate that collaborations can work so I keep my fingers crossed.Turks & Caicos was a masterpiece collaboration in conjunction with NBC although the filming was mainly UK company based
@Sixer I think this is Ink factory UK -I just took this off their website
“One of those collaborators is the author, John le Carré. Our company has a unique association with the writer and his work. Over a fifty-year career, le Carré has consistently achieved the twin goals that we strive for: his work reaches a wide audience while remaining uncompromising – in its values, its artistic intent and its narrative technique. We are proud to be producing a number of films and television dramas based on his work, and his artistic imprint can be seen in other areas of our activity.
They just finished A ,Most Wanted Man and are currently working on Le Carre’s Our Kind of Traitor with Ewan McGregor and Damien Lewis so not a bad pedigree.
RE The Night Manager they say”Major six-part television drama Developed with the BBC which gives me more hope, They also have a third bbc/le Carre film/TV series in the pipeline
Interesting arguments and info, ladies! Personally, I would be happy if TNM turned out to be somewhere in the middle between Tinker Tailor and James Bond. Something that would be BOTH cerebral and action-filled (if that is possible at all). Hiddleston has had his fair share of cerebral roles, I really want to see more physicalness from him as Pine. BUT. Don’t want it to turn into a macho fest, either. Hopefully, with him and Laurie the project will manage to maintain the right balance.
I have to say – and I know most reviews raved about it- I thought the Oldman tinker tailor film was a total snooze fest, made Exhibition ( which I’ve praised on here before) look frenetic by comparison. I would watch Tom in anything I have to confess, fairy pirate and all.
The first thing I ever saw Daniel in was a Francis Bacon film. Then the next time I saw him was as Bond. Huge jump, at least for me :p
Have you seen LAyer Cake – it is good.
I have! very much enjoyed it.
I wouldn’t actually be all that surprised if this gets some Emmy attention. Spy man-fodder with a cerebral overlay is exactly what the sort of older white dude who thought Modern Family was the best comedy of last year tends to vote for.
I don’t think this is at risk of being too Bond-ish. It’s the most action-oriented of the Le Carre books I’ve read, but it’s not zany and cheery enough to get that full treatment, and it has the same screenwriter as Hanna, a fairly unconventional action movie about a young girl.
The one with Saoirse Ronan? Oh, nice one! Haven’t seen it yet, but it received good reviews!
I think when the critics refer to James Bond they mean that the character is less of Smiley bureaucrat and more of a proactive agent. I think with a good script it could be quite prestigious. It’s an adaption so dialogue can be improved. My only wish is no gadgets and no long drawn out action scenes and if it is witty that will help.
@Jimmy pants I loved the Bacon film
I loooove spy films, I also like James Bond (yeah.. sorry. As long as it’s not as incredibly stupid as Die Another Die). So I’m just totally happy about this project. Like squealing and dancing happy.
Well this sounds intriguing. His role choices seem diverse enough, maybe this is what holds his interest. I love tv right now, it’s become so much more entertaining then some movies. The accomplished actor I believe enjoys all mediums. Cheers for him.
Really diverse. He’s really exploring all avenues instead of playing the same things over and over. I’m glad he’s not doing roles similar to Loki.
His choices are pretty good indeed. High Rise is my biggest interest right now. Crimson Peak sounds amazing too, but my main reason to watch CP is because I love Gothic Literature
@Camil, so far the visuals for CP seem extraordinary. I’m hoping the story holds up as well as the costumes and imagery.
Espionage, Laurie and Hiddleston!?!? Best. Day. Ever!
Totally!!!
Fabulous book, excited about the casting.
I don’t think British actors have as much of a twitch about doing t.v. as American ones do, at least that’s what it seems like (I could be very wrong). I know there’s a lot of “ha ha, look at his career fail” going on in some quarters but really, it’s a solid move, it seems. Not only is it a paycheck, it’s keeping his name in the public eye and in the casting agents’ books.
British television is also very different than American Network television – it has far fewer episodes per year, and gives its actors much more flexibility.
Also true. I’ve read several British actors say they wouldn’t do American t.v. since you are locked in to so many episodes whether you want to be or not, and it’s not as flexible in terms of what you can and can’t do with your career outside the show. I figure that’s why so many American actors quit t.v. shows when they pursue movies–they can’t do both in the American t.v. system due to time constraints.
@MissMary:
“I know there’s a lot of “ha ha, look at his career fail” going on in some quarters”
LOL really? Who and where can be saying that? I could understand people dissing I Saw the Light in advance for example, but this is obviously a HQ kind of project.
@Intro, I haven’t seen that anywhere either and his career is going quite well at the moment.
@Lilac, exactly, what I *am* seeing is quite a lot of buzz, nice diversity, steady flow of projects and some really gutsy choices (Hank Williams). It seems like a pretty exciting period in Tommy’s career.
Oh, a lot of twitter and some tumblr blogs are taking this move to a tv series, even a limited one, as “Look how desperate he is!”. Personally, I just see it as a career move and maybe something he’s interested in doing, not a “Lifetime movie of the week desperation flail” thing.
There is only one tumblr blog I know that is dishing his career and nothing it says is worth repeating.
Having just signed on for Skull Island, he is hardly likely to be desperate either!
@MissMary
Haters gonna hate and there’s nothing we can do. I believe this is a good project for Tom: a new experience, something to add to his CV and a networking opportunity. We are going to watch him in three movies next year, Coriolanus was a success, Skull Island aims to be a huge blockbuster. I’m not blind, I know he isn’t a “superstar” but he is doing an excellent job picking these diverse characters.
@missmary
is it that stupid gossip on THAT tumblr site, again? which is made up of anon’s with an IQ of 3. Take no notice, how can it be desperate! He has just landed the lead in Skull Island! A possible new mega-buck franchise. He could settle for that next year and put his feet up until Thor 3. And throw a play or two in there. Hiddleston is far from desperate, him choosing this project is purely satisfying his boyish goal of playing a spy by a No1 author. He is ticking off his wish list and he’s an actor who is lucky to do so.
And,.he’s obviously turned down some juicy stuff this year as well.
Yeah… totally desperate. He’s practically Lindsay Lohan! *gg*
The old thinking was that if someone took TV work it meant that their movie career had stalled. Think Christian Slater. That’s not true today. In some instances TV is better than a movie. But having said that, the premise isn’t promising, IMO.
Yes, if he was really desperate he wouldn’t have turned down Ben Hur would he?
@delorb, I will literally eat a cake if I actually see you like anything Tommy does. Really. A whole cake.
@’P’enny: No idea if it’s “that” tumblr site (TOBY? THat one?) but I’ve seen it pop up on some various HIddleston-related tumblrs and posts. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was on “that” site though–last time I looked at it (months ago? Around Bora Bora gate, lol) it seemed to attract that kind of talk.
Like I said, I personally don’t see this as a desperate move (just remarking on the type of gossip going around now that this was announced). It is what it is, and it seems like what it is, is an actor taking a role in an interesting project. Back in the day (*cough* oh so long ago, lol, back when I was younger), actors went to t.v. when times were tough on their career so that’s likely where a lot of people who are espousing this talk are getting the idea from but just looking at the host of cable and some network projects that’ve been on recently, that’s hardly the case anymore. Many movie actors do t.v. now and it’s not a “bad” thing–it’s just another venue to tell a story.
@jammypants
+10000000000000000000 😀
@Camil so true. I have seen very few negative posts on tumblr apart from the Toby sight but I do have a habit of hitting the ignore button regularly.
@Delorb LeCarre has the cache but like anything a lot depends on the production values but from what I have read on the companies sight and looking at their other projects plus the BBC involvement it has a strong potential for success
@P’enny so true and 3 is generous
@delorb, you do not have to watch it.
@missmary, British actors have always played by different rules as far as television is concerned. Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith and others have always done television.
@jammypants, cakes for everyone if that ever happens. With ice cream.
@MissMary, yep, I got you’re not being negative at all! And it’s also true that those views you speak about are quite dated. Either people who expound them live under a rock and know nothing about recent developments, or they’re being deliberately negative.
Personally, I’d look at the issue from another perspective. I think that TV is becoming more and more attractive to high profile actors because big screen big studio projects are steadily becoming less creative and more about making even at the box office. If we look at what Hollywood is doing these days, the biggest money makers are FRANCHISES: comic book franchises, YA franchises etc etc. Oh and cartoons lol. I can predicts that in the next couple of years, even big American actors will start appearing in TV films AND indie projects more and more often because that’s where the creativity will still be allowed.
I’m really dumbfound that some of you suggest this is a desperate move. These days, I haven’t heard too many people not saying that TV is great. All people talk about is Breaking Bad even if it’s over, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and many more. True Detective is one of the most prestigious project last season, 1 season off format is good. People get excited just to talk about which movie star will be heading the 2nd season. Big stars do TV now, Matt Damon, Matthew McConaughey, They all say the best writers are now in TV because it gives them more room to develop script to make it good. I think that’s precisely why Tom took this project. A mini series that is not too tied up his time but gives him room to develop a character to the fullness. That is ideal.
@Josa, in all fairness I haven’t seen anyone here suggesting it, and certainly not MissMary herself. Well, delorb may have hinted at it, but that’s delorb 😉
@Intro Outro, I jump the gun, pardon me. I was skimming while watching The Good Wife, which by the way is a Ridley Scott production. Yes, delorb surely did, always so subtly though.
@delorb, oh wow, one Josa who immediately apologised for jumping the gun suddenly turned into “us all jumping down MissMary’s throat”. And, in case you misinterpreted what Lilac, jammy and icerose were saying, they were not answering your comment about TV, but your statement that the premise of this future TV series doesn’t look promising. All the other comments about TV vs. film on this particular thread were not aimed at anyone here.
@delorb, oh and as for my words that you might have hinted at Hiddleston being “desperate” – you didn’t do it here, but you did mean it when you wrote up the thread that he’s taking anything and everything that’s being offered to him, did you not?
@intro,
I think her response came after my response. His choices leave a lot to be desired, IMO. If that reads desperate to you, then so be it. He’s desperate. Shouldn’t take everything that’s offered, go and ask Jude Law.
He turned down Ben Hur and Me Before You. If he was desperate, he would have taken those offers. Taking this tv role is not desperate. In fact, it’s a brilliant move. You said before he should be getting a lot more offers but he was not. Now that he is, you call him desperate. I don’t mind Jude Law’s choices. If we are talking about desperate and taking anything and everything, the award goes to Nic Cage 😀
@delorb: Of course a lot comes down to personal taste, so while you think his choices leave to be desired, personally I think his choices are great because so much is right up my alley. I understand that other people might find his future projects meh. But even from a more objective, professional point of view I don’t really see how working with Steven Spielberg or Jim Jarmusch and Tilda Swinton is something that is a bad choice. So I guess that even to the most critical person with a most specific taste, not ALL of his choices leave to be desired. I also think his latest choices are quite clever. Personally I’m extremely looking forward to High-Rise because I think the story is very interesting and Ben Wheatly a very promising director. And really, even without Hiddleston – seeing Jeremy Irons nail Anthony Royal’s character will be great. ISTL might appeal more to country music buffs but even if you abhor Americana you cannot deny that it is a very new and challenging role for Tom. So from an actor’s point of view it’s a very gutsy and also very good choice if he can do it (not so much if he fails) – the rest is personal taste.
Regarding The Night Manager it’s a bit similar: he has never done this genre before, so it’s something new = challenging for him and building his CV as a diverse actor. John le Carré = one of the most prestigious in this genre. Hugh Laurie as co-star = working with great actors and people who are well known to the audience is always a plus. So from a professional point it’s not a bad choice I’d say.
I’m rather curious, I have to say, what kind of project you’d like him to do? I mean, maybe he just doesn’t get the projects offered you’d prefer, but if we play dream project/dream casting – let’s hear! 🙂
@delorb, you aren’t going to watch no matter what he does. His career is doing well and no, he isn’t desperate. As you have now been told repeatedly on multiple threads, he is turning lead parts down.
Wouldn’t it be easier to outright say you don’t like an actor no matter what he does with his career choices than to dance around it all the time with subtle shade?
@delorb, please tell us why turning down Ben Hur and, apparently, Me before You and Snowpiercer (and maybe Ivory’s Richard II… and maybe Kyriakides… and maybe that Minutes to Midnight project…) doesn’t count and Hiddleston is still “taking everything and anything”.
@jammy, sorry but that’s far from subtle imo 😉
@Innie, you’re right, then we wouldn’t be having these very thorough conversations. Maybe it’s a good thing then, subtlety that is.
Delorb has the same opinion as that troll bike website, funny isn’t it.
I am beyond excited about this–the idea that multiple networks are salivating and fighting over this like dogs over a bone is entirely believable to me. They gave Hugh Laurie CRAZY money on his last House contract, the show was that popular/profitable, and he still quit as soon as he could saying he wouldn’t do another tv series.
(Perhaps living in NA wasn’t to his taste.)
But a mini-series filmed (presumably) in the UK is perfect, though I am concerned about how they’ll get on. I could hope for another bromance of the century but actually expect HL’s real life level of snark will immunize him from the Hiddlestunning effect. Will be interesting to see, in either case!
I think Tom and Hugh have a lot in common from their education, scottish family background, both their fathers being scientists and their brit humour. I think they will get on brilliantly, if Hugh is on form. If Hugh is in bad-spot i’m not sure, he is known for getting into deep depressions. I love Hugh;s look on life.
Hugh Laurie has said the 22 episode per year schedule of American TV was too punishing, and that it completely burned him out.
@’Penny
Exactly! Tom has implied he doesn’t fully understand depression before (at least he’s honest about it, if perhaps lacking self-awareness. I remain convinced EVERYONE on the Wallander set was depressed half the time) and if Hugh has some of his dark days, I can see him getting more than his fill of the excitable puppy side. Having said that, Tom is also a consummate professional where necessary. Also, he’s shown some ability to rein in the over-the-top positivity for the right roles (see Traveling by Night doc on making of OLLA.)
Mostly I’m excited at what he can learn from HL.
@Bridget
I do remember that now, so a limited (three? Six?) series ought to be just the ticket.
Six! And perhaps Tom’s inability to understand the depression surrounding the Wallender set contributed to Magnus’s constant state of exasperation. He has said he found it really difficult.
I thought h said he had never reached a point which would make him want to commit suicide which I think is more understandable, Equally he admitted that he has the type of personality which allows him to let the clouds pass (my wording).That can be very different from not understanding or empathising with depression which happens on many levels and is experienced in may different formats.
Alternatively for all we know he might have what is termed by mental heath professionals as “a smiling depression”. LOL
Now before the gossips get their teeth into this I should say that going on my 25 yrs plus experience and my knowledge of his public personae he does not have the underlying symptoms and presentation to make this a realistic option
“Having said that, Tom is also a consummate professional where necessary.” This. I think he can be very professional and even low-key (no pun intended) compared to his Marvel PR puppy dog persona. Remember this is the guy who shot THC with the likes of Jeremy Irons (who doesn’t seem to suffer fools/anyone lightly *cough*) and I think he also got along very well with all the other acclaimed actors/directors from TDBS, OLLA etc. I think he’s not always a goofball and he knows very well how to handle people.
@Isadora and Iron’s had some very nice things to say about him on Times Talk in fact for Jeremy it was almost gushing. I think he and Hugh will get on great once Tom comes down from working wit another of his heroes,
@icerose: Haven’t seen Jeremy’s Time Talk (never knew it even existed), but him almost gushing, I definitely have to see this. 😉 Thanks for the heads up!
Google Times Talk Madrid Jeremy Irons and the youtube upload (?) is there .
Start at about 31’40” – He can take as long to answer a question as Tom can!! But he talks about Tom in the Hollow crown then about actors doing tv now as opposed to in the past. You may find this interest bearing in mind our discussions on this thread.
it’s here if this post stays put.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsCkvSyGXTQ
Hugh is actually a really nice guy. My friends have met him and said he’s really cool.
He certainly treated the cast and crew of House VERY well. He chartered a big jet and flew EVERYBODY to New Orleans for the end of series wrap party.
Also, I think he has the clout to only work on projects with whomever he likes. Given the odds that they’ve previously met, i’m fairly certain if HL didn’t like or at least reasonably respect Tom, he wouldn’t be on this project.
Now I have the BEST THOUGHTS!!!
HUGH CAN INTRODUCE TOM TO TOUSSAINT AND NEW ORLEANS!!!
How cool would THAT be!!!
((Runs off headless again…)
that would be amazing indeed! Hugh loves New Orleans
@TotallyBiased, very interesting bit about Laurie. I know he made tons from House, and probably still collecting tons through Syndication now and doesn’t need to work if he doesn’t want it.
@ sixer – yes BBC have cut down on salaries but if this is a joint venture being peddled to the US network now, maybe the pay will be better?
Of course doing US tv series doesn’t seem to have hurt David Morrissey, Idris Elba, Damien Lewis. Dominic West, Hugh himself…..
There’s a difference in cable series and network t.v. series though, in terms of budget, time constraints, etc. I think many actors are prefering the cable series route since they are like multi-installment movies in a lot of cases and are not as strictured as being on network t.v. (and the pay is better in some cases, I think).
And the cable networks can do more in the terms of language, action, and nudity. Regular networks are constrained by the FCC.
but at the moment we do not know who will pick it up and it dioes say 6 episodes and I doubt either of them would tie themselves into anything longer. They might go down the Sherlock line i.e one mini series a year but not the USA never ending series
This. Even a “non premium” cable network like FX can get away with more in terms of those aspects than network (Like they did with Fargo).
Also, don’t negate the effect a BBC involvement has. Auntie Beeb has a mahousive budget (£5bn a year) but it has to do an awful lot with it. It has to stick to its Charter and produce content for everyone – and that includes even within categories such as drama. It has to produce a range of dramas aimed at all demographics. This is another reason for shorter runs for shows – it’s not just the budget; it’s fulfilling the Charter it has to think of. There are advantages and disadvantages to that of course, but the upside is that once commissioned, writers can tell their stories as they want to as there are no advertisers to satisfy.
I have been looking at the Ink factory web site and this is a project developed in collaboration with the BBC and looking at their last two productions they made they are using actors of substance like the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright, Ewan McGregor and Damien Lewis so Tom is in good company
@ icerose, well there is only the one Le Carre story about Pine so I doubt it would be more than one mini series. Unless you know something I don’t!
You never know if the tv show takes of they might script another story based on the same character .It would not be the first time that has happened. Having said that The Ink factory have 3 Le Carre projects on at the moment and there does not seem to be a shortage of books,
@joe spider and icerose: The only thing I can think of is to do it True Detective style, with a different cast every year. Even that’s tricky – lots of Le Carre’s works have already been adapted, and the ones before the fall of the Berlin Wall would need to be done as historical pieces, which might not be what they’re looking for. That being said…Our Kind of Traitor is a reasonably good book that I think might adapt fairly well, and Le Carre is still writing.
@lunchcoma it is being filmed at the moment with Ewan, Damien and Naoimi Harris. The production company seems to have cornered the market on LeCarre books
@icerose: Wow, I completely missed the news, though I’m amused that someone else agrees with me that it’s very filmable! That movie has quite the cast with those you listed plus Mark Gatiss and Stellan Skarsgård.
@lunchcoma They are a company which is attracting good uk actors which is a good sign
I love that all his posts lately are about his career and less on the gossip end. Such a change from last year!
I do wonder how much he’s benefited from WME as opposed to his UK agents.
Re the agent thing: I know there’s been a lot of scuttlebutt about the change on some of his fan sites and such, people thinking it was a bad move since he wasn’t getting the parts his UK agents seemed to be getting him.
Yes, last year was a bit of a disaster projectwise, Tom must have wondered what he had done wrong. But it has certainly picked up again – working solidly from last October through to this Christmas with two projects already, -presumably for next year then probably Thor 3 in 2016?
Well, there is no gossip really, is there? He had two projects fall through one right after the other. People seem to forget that. And he did do several small bits in small things.
That’s what I meant Lilacflowers, two projects which fell through late on through no fault of his.
I meant the whole JA gossip thing last year. If it’s career-related, I consider that speculation instead.
@Jammy we’re not allowed to talk about the Isadora-‘p’enny-Hiddles live triangle. Apparently Benny got upset because he was left out.
@Ellen, I’m sure Ben sulked in the corner with Bunny for a bit. He’ll recover I’m very sure of it.
@Jimmypants I do think it has much to do with his agents. Most of his work seems to have come through directors/producers/companies he has worked with before and this one sounds like combination of both UK/USA as they are both involved with Tom and Hugh and the production form is UK/USA based
I noticed that as well. He’s doing wonderful at building these types of relationships.
Have any of you been following @JaguarUSA on Twitter? Evidently they’re releasing the next installment of their #GoodToBeBad Villain ads tomorrow morning, and for advance hyping they’ve been engaging the Hiddlestoners/Dragonflys in double (no, TRIPLE) overtime mode!
Definitely bringing a bit of the naughty to some of their replies (but then, seriously, who flirts with a CAR COMPANY!?)
That said, after all of this there had BETTER be a Tom appearance in said ad, or pitchfork-carrying mobs may descend on their NJ offices. 😀
Tommy makes a lot of people happy.
Jaguar USA seems to be going absolute nuts on its Twitter feed. Whatever they are doing, it premieres tomorrow at 10 AM Eastern time (I’ll be at work, sorry Jag). They are hinting that “Tom has some help; guess who it is?” and they did post a picture of Mark Strong from the first ad, so I’m hoping it is Mark and Tom. Or Alan Rickman. Because I need some Alan Rickman.
Correction to myself, 10 AM Pacific time. I’ll still be at work, sorry, Jag.
Alan Rickman and my Tommy in a commercial, or better yet, a three part 10 hour movie? Lets make this happen, people.
Jaguar fooled me, but the ad is still quite brilliant! So Hoult plays a Q-type character (except on the dark side).
yes and they are doing a great marketing job by including @twhiddleston in the first tweets to insure his fans pick it up and it goes viral.and yes to pitch forks
They tweeted Hiddlestoners ” And we know what you want”
Somebody said it might be Benny but I am hoping for someone new as well as Strong -maybe Spacey or Eccleston
Look well if it is Tom doing something nasty to Anthony Hopkins!
@icerose
More than just including @twhiddleston–when they began this, they actively solicited by sending tweets directly to some of the fan accounts with the most followers, such as HiddlestonersFB. Since then, they’ve been replying to just about every single tweet relating to #GoodToBeBad, Jags, or TomandJags!
I’m thinking Strong, since they’ve posted a shot of him from the first one. Eccleston would be a great addition. I doubt Spacey because they seem to be going with the “Brits make the best villains” line.
Damien Lewis is on jag payroll – if it’s benedict I’ll be fit to be tied tues morning.
Is Tom’s second ad still being shown in the US (the garage one) is it just here in the UK where it is banned?
yea it’s just the UK
The first one is still getting heavy play during NFL games. I can’t tell you how many times in the past month I’ve been in a bar or restaurant and been distracted by the sight of Tom in a helicopter on the bar’s TV.
I think it’s humorous that people on here still sound “concerned” about what Tom’s being paid. The guy is LOADED with family money in the first place.
Excited to watch this. Big fan of Hugh.
Yeah, he’s not exactly hurting for money. I’m sure he could take a year off and still not feel the financial hit.
But that doesn’t mean he has to undersell himself, although of course it may help him be a bit choosy.
@kate the conversation is more about how much british actors get paid compared to american ones, it’s not really personal assessment of concern about Tom’s personal bank balance.
yea it’s more about his worth or bankability in the business he works in, not necessarily personal investments
I don’t think he has high bankability (yet) but I don’t think he’s bargain basement for the budget-minded directors/producers. He has a pretty solid box office presence at least when it comes to ensemble movies, and is a known or getting-known indie presence (Joanna Hogg’s movies, OLLA, etc). I don’t know if his aim is to be a huge box office draw or just do “good movies” he wants to be in, but I think he’s in the realm of ‘safe bet’ for a lot of movie producers who want someone who has a fanbase but isn’t in the realm of “obscenely famous”.
Pardon me, then. I’ll just shut up.
@Kate
Really don’t think anyone is squelching your voice, simply pointing where they feel you’ve misinterpreted their words. You’d probably want the same courtesy. I know I always appreciate it.
@Kate, funny how you first made a rather confident statement (including use of CAPITAL LETTERS) and when people actually answered you (in a polite way and without any capital letters) you decided to sulk.
And I always wonder why people sound like Tom doesn’t even need a paycheck because his family is loaded. Yeah, maybe they are, but so what? I doubt he want’s to get money from his daddy for the rest of his life. If he falls on hard times I’m quite sure they won’t let him starve, but his family’s money is first and foremost their money, not his.
He probably still didn’t squander all his Marvel money, I guess. He certainly didn’t use it for a bucketload of designer clothes.
Isadora not his daddy who was a self made CEO salaried man -the old money is on his mum’s/grandmother’s side and although I doubt it is as much as people think at one point all the Vestey direct heirs got a very healthy lump sum when they turned 21.
But agree apart from his house ,holidays and travel there is no evidence to suggest he squanders his Avenger’s money on designer clothes or extravagant tech.
It can’t be clothes as he only has 3 suits, 4 shirts, 2 pants, 2 jackets, 2 cardigans, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 tees and 1 nasty horrid blue cap.
In fact I don’t think he actually wears designer clothes. In an interview he sounded too please to actually own an Armani Suit! The jimmy Choos he’s auctioning are probably a freebie he got sent to him but never worn. Remember he only has 2 pairs, the black ones and the grey slip ons
Ellen I think he probably gets his dinner suits as gifts from the labels. The one at Cannes – of the champagne mishap was Alexander McQueen and I know the Armani one was given to him after WarHorose nd it has Captain Nicholls monogrammed (?) on the inside.
Re the money he is 4 generations down from the Vesteys and on the female side – his mother being one of 5……………
@joe spider the Lord Vestey family business is worth £750 and comes it at 101 on this years UK’s rich list but how much comes down through the family in terms of shares and property is any one’s guess. And in Tom’s case I could not even speculate.The business ended up being run by Edward (Tom’s side) but descendants of both the brothers will have inherited shares/property etc. In their hey day they were something like the 5th richest family in the world worth billions. But money does not the actor make and the talent is down to Tom
Couple of things about the Vestey riches:
First, the family business lost STAGGERING amounts of money when their South American lands were “nationalized.” Plus they lost a bunch of monopolies on cold beef shipping and fulfillment.
Second, the whole “descendants check” thing was a tax avoidance mechanism. It’s complicated (I certainly don’t understand it all) but if you Google Vestey, taxes, and trust funds you will see some very scholarly papers on it.
Thirdly, it’s direct Vestey descendants, primarily from the Baron and then from his younger brother the baronet. Tom is a cousin several steps away from the present Lord Vestey, as his mother is descended from younger children in the line of descent from the Baronet (who is NOT the Lord). Thus he’s not actually in the direct inheritance line, if that’s a criteria for getting a check from the trust fund. But since they’re so secretive, no-one actually knows the cut-off OR the amount.
Someone did the math once and figured out that this generation of Vesteys , if extended out to Tom’s twig on the family tree, would have something like 256 cousins in all. I mean, if you’re using cousin logic then isn’t Dick Cheney related to Barack Obama. 😀
While I’m certainly not implying Tom isn’t well off, or that his family isn’t, remember that he has made a point of saying that he went to Dragon School and then Eton because his FATHER felt strongly about having been successful enough to pay for his son’s education at such places (well, and the sisters as well.) His former ship-building father, who put himself through university, became a scientist, and then got a top-paying STEM corporate position.
So the implication is that Vestey money certainly didn’t pay for his youth or education. That said, the family appears to have properties in various parts of southern England that must have been inherited from his mother’s side. And his own house in London is evidently up there in value (although ALL London property seems hecka expensive to me.)
Okay, that is as stalkerish/gossipy as I’m going to get at the moment. But the idea of Tom’s theoretical wealth (which is totally separate, in my mind, from aristocratic ancestry) has had a certain fascination for me, when I watch how people apply it to his day-to-day actions.
The leather jacket is Armani and he got it for doing a photoshoot.
@TotallyBiased, for a moment I thought I was reading George Martin 😛
@Innie Outie
Er, whut?
George “Winter is Coming” RR Martin?
Or Arranger of Beatles Albums SIR George Martin?
(meanders off confused, clutching genealogy albums and Vestey Family Documents website printouts.)
@Intro – I think you’ve invented a new game. Just to get things going, would @Totally’s research indicate that Tom is a Lannister?
I don’t think Tom needs to pay for any of his suits, or other expensive outfits. Luke Evans on his press tour said the first time he went to Cannes, he walks into his hotel room and there was a full rack of designer suits on it. His agent said it’s all his if he wants them, for free, he has no obligation to wear, only if he wants to. He said he is still feeling a bit amazed by all those freebies they gave him.
Sorry TB it was Tom’s grandfather (dad’s dad) who was in shipbuilding. Don;t think his dad ever was, although I stand to be corrected.
at TotallyBiased His grandmother I am pretty sure was descended from one or Edward’s off spring so he is a direct descendent i,e blood descendent as that has been reported on several sights and is evident within the peerage register. But I have thrown out the family tree and may need to check on this so you might be right. I think it was Percy they came from but I do remember thinking at one point he was descendent from Edwards brother William (they were joint partners in the business) but his only son died in the WW2 and the other was a daughter. All those children from both brothers will have inherited even if they did not take part in the running of the firm and the money trickles down from their. And of course the sums handed out to descendants was tax based it is a common practice for wealthy families in this country. As I stated in 2014 he company is still worth millions as opposed to billions. They sold both the butchers business and other bits off and gave the UK something like £300 million to make up for past tax avoidance schemes they had been involved in
But you are right as the family tree widens the proximity to the Edward lines diminishes and they are now probably second cousins or something like that. One of them was Eton when Tom was there.
No one was suggesting that his dad who was a CEO did not pay for Eton but my suggestion was that the money on his mothers side would have been pretty substantial even four generations down.
This whole family history stuff is very interesting. I was thinking more about Rosamunde Pilcher South West England kitchy romance stories with a somewhat aristocratic background than Game of Thrones, but still… Just imagine: Thomas William, the cousin twice removed (or something) of an old, aristocratic rich family with some skeletons in the closet (there always are in this type of story – we could use the struggling multi billion family business and tax stuff here) falls in love with Rose, the ordinary, but pretty daughter of a local horse breeder. Or something. 😀
But in all earnest – no matter who owns how much money, I doubt he wants to be financially dependent from his direct or extended family. Therefore he has to work and earn his own money.
The trusty old black knitted sweater/cardigan is Armani too, btw. But I guess it was a gift too and not his own purchase. The one really expensive thing he bought, his house, is actually a sound investment. I mean, you have to do something with your money if you don’t want to lose a significant amount to inflation, so you can’t just have it lying at the bank, especially not with nowadays interest rates. On the other hand real estate prices in London won’t crash in the forseeable future. So yes, good decision, that one.
Diana Hiddleston’s father [Tom’s grandfather], who settled in East England and got involved in the music festival was an retired admiral in the navy. According to his obituary, which is easy to find. He reportedly married Patricia [ I think] and took a job as an administrator to support his family. Now if Patricia had money, they may had reported the obit differently. Patricia though, I think, owned the Westminster property. [this is all conjecture] we really do need that BBC Who Do Think You Are, to take on Tom’s family. Diana now lives in a modest, but very nice house. [ I found that out via an building application] worth a modest £1m -£2m So there is money there, no doubt about it. But, they have no call on today’s Vestey millions.
When the press talk about the Vestey inheritance, and all those brats, its all about the Sir Paul Vestey, very under the radar, but he is on Tom’s family side and the big showy Lord Samuel Vestey who are the Royal suck-ups and full of screw-ups and pretentious spoilt brats. Who are always getting into trouble. It’s their kids that are the inheritors to wealth, esp the Lords side side who own Stowell Park.
Interesting to note, there was no one from Diana Hiddleston’s line [her brothers, two trendy polo playing daughters] or Tom featured in Tatler during the big society William Vestey wedding. If they were there, it was well under the radar. Tatler normally pick this stuff. William is not even a close cousin, he is about ten removed!
I do think Tom’s family is interesting, there is so much stuff to poke about around, so BBC get him on! Because even his grandfather Admiral Serveas was really interesting, forget the Vestey’s he’s related to some Belgium artist and his interesting European family, I’d take a guess.
@’P’enny – I love your description of a house worth 1-2 million GBP as ‘modest’! I know it’s all relative, but that kind of cash would buy a superlative house anywhere here in the states, aside from a handlful of the most exclusive zip codes.
I’ll accept that Tom and family are ‘comfortable’, but I’ll wager that money is not the primary motivating factor in his career (aside from it being an arbitrary measure of ‘success’) , and I hope he never has to take on a project simply for the paycheck.
@P’enny my understanding was that his grandfather took that job because of his interest in music and Benjamin Britton. It is difficult to say how much she might have been worth. If I am right Edward Vestey had 7 children and I think 6 of them had grand children and one of those was Patricia Tom’s grandmother. My bet is the grand children would have inherited something when Vestey died but the bulk would have gone to her dad -so who really knows -money gets lost and that gets divided up again Tom’s mother and then again. So you are talking many relatives. He certainly is not part of the rich spoilt brat cousins but the Edward Vestey (2) who took over the management was well respected and publicity shy and quite retiring . He is known for having restored the Vestey’s reputation by paying the tax that was owed from avoidance scheme’s.
But yes Tom is probably are the poorer end of the family but 1/ to 2 million dollar homes do require the money to up keep it. One of the reasons aristocratic families have opened their house to the public is because as the generations pass the money gets more dissipated as it is spread across family members and they no longer have the money to maintain them.
@Dara I am pretty sure money is not Tom’s motivating factor but that is not unusual for some people who come from wealthy families and anyway he is relatively wealthy from his own earnings now so it all becomes irrelevant
And speaking of his clothes Ellen, he certainly does not appear to squander his cash on underwear….
I hope I can see this serie because my cable package doesn’t include Hiddles ¬¬
I haven’t watched The Hollow Crown (because I don’t have Film&Arts channel u_u)
Fortunately Only Lovers Left Alive has a release date in my country this month, that means I will be able to buy my DVD/Bluray next year.
It is possible to get the Hollow Crown on dvd and blue ray.
In Mexico THC DVD costs 70 dollars xD
I don’t buy online but I will try it 🙂
Camil there are alternative ways of seeing it. 😉
Camil, I don’t know if you can get Amazon instant video where you are but you can watch it online if you do.
@joe spider and @Lilacflowers
Thank you! I’m going to search some information about Amazon instant video 🙂
Hi Camil – I think it’s on iTunes as well, or at least it was.
Is the rumours of Sean bean in the book and the delious Mark Strong returning to the jag commercials true? One person who distracts me from Hiddles is Mark Strong and that voice! *sigh*
I love the bit in the ad where Tom says “and we’re obsessed with power” and Mark Strong just looks at the camera and raises his eyebrows.
yes I love that look
I recently watched Tom’s interview again on popcorn taxi. Part 1 and 2. It made me really love his work ethic and how he approaches both life and his career. Anyway, he talks about how he chooses his roles and the reason behind his choices. Some people above were talking about why he would choose tv etc. A good explanation and interview if you have the time. Link to part 1 is at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSYKHpRgi7M
I watched this and loved his diving analogy and it pretty much fits with what I have suspected. If loves the script he will take it on no matter how dark and deep the water is or the risk of a belly flop. Pretty much explains Hank and that is why I find his choices so interesting because he takes the risks and surprises you.
OK – some important semi-gossipy questions… when will it film and where? Can we assume it will go into production before Skull Island? Did someone say at least part of it is based in Switzerland? If they need snow, Is it too much to ask for filming in the early part of 2015? I need to see this come to life pronto – maybe even more than Crimson Peak!
As for TV vs. film – at least here in the states, the stigma of ‘doing television’ has all but disappeared – assuming the project is of good quality. And the true artistic prestige is now with cable and alternative channels like Netflix – they have more creative freedom and can push the limits in ways the traditional broadcast networks can’t. Even the networks are recognizing it’s difficult (and expensive) to do 22 episodes a season – especially dramas. We are starting to see more 13 episode runs. Kind of sucks for the people that get paid per episode, but I think the overall quality is better and the time commitment is lower, which may attract actors who couldn’t make a full-season commitment before.
No schedule or filming location for either yet.
he’s doing something in Ireland in next Spring, which I am putting my money on Ireland, where legendary did all the filming for Dracula Untold. And I reckon they will take over the Island that star wars crew have been on.
@delorb ‘awww’ squeezy hug. I am going to arrange a big group hug and sit you down and make you watch loads of Hiddles stuff until you go – ‘I get it.’ It will be torture for you in the extreme but we will brainwash you eventually 😀
LOL ‘P’enny, and then jammy will eat her cake. And peace will come to planet Earth. And there’ll be no more greenhouse gas emissions, misogyny and Transformers sequels.
Sadly I think the Transformers movies will still be made til kingdom come. The last one made an insane amount of money, which boggles my mind.
I don’t remember him in Suburban shootout. Loved that show. Going to find and rewatch.
Also, look at that suit!! He truly deserves to be on every best dressed list.
You’ve forgotten Bill Hazeldine and his Eco-Friendly Love Pod? Jewel? “Africa Boy” Enjoy getting reacquainted!
Bill’s running shorts? How could anyone forget that scene?
and the golden poodle curls
I loved S/Shootout, not for Hiddles but the great cast of female comedians and actresses. However, Tom is ridiculously cute.
Well this thread has been interesting and informative and I’ve learned quite a bit about how things work in the film industry. So thanks a lot folks.
Now I have to wait until around 6pm our time to (hopefully) see the latest Jag advert – they’ve been showing the helicopter one quite a lot lately (hope he get paid by the view!)
Up thread, in case people can’t be bothered I’ve put in a post about Jeremy Irons talking about Tom and about actors doing TV and how their attitudes changed.
And this morning he is challenging Josie Rorke, Emma Watson, and Keeley Hawes to some UNICEF thing involving Syria, along with a picture of himself wearing a hoodie with his hair standing on end.
I can’t tell if he is high, just woke up, and/or couldn’t give a f**k how he looked. His hair looked darker though.
the more scruffy and unkempt he looks the more I love him for posting that picture and yes his hair is darker and straighter as well
Ready for filming Hank.
His hair looks dark red. Yes, it is the wake up challenge. That picture is truly lacking in vanity.
They are supposed to look like they just wake up. Like Keeley Hawes’ response: “you’re on! Going straight to bed in anticipation… xxx”
Is this the new wake up call selfie? I’ve got to say I love it. I wonder if he’s still in the States?
Tom’s NOT in the new Jag advert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😥
I got suckered into it as well. It looks like they’re really going for the whole Bond thing, except with bad guys. Nicholas Hoult is evil Q 😀
It was boring
Yes, It was realy boring.
To much talk, few action and lack of charisma.
I actually liked it. He was cute, the right amount of nerdy, and the right amount of naughty.
And no Mark Strong or Sean Bean in the boot as consolation.
We’ve been Fan-baited! 🙁
AGREED!
Bugger! I will now cancel my order for an incredibly expensive jaguar, that’ll teach them. Nicholas Hoult indeed…
And to think I was fangirling over a 64plate (ie brand new) WHITE jaguar in the car park today.
What villain has Nicholas Hoult ever played? I just don’t get it.
He played Dr. Hank McCoy in X-men movie.
But as far I know from the comics , he is not bad, right?
I feel a bit used and abused by JaguarUSA. Plus their replies on Twitter have rather lost their wittiness.
On the plus side this morning, the new photo challenge #WakeUpCall, for UnicefUK’s Syria appeal, is pretty appealing!
https://twitter.com/twhiddleston/status/519131314126327808
TotallyBiased :
Jaguar really left Tom´s fans down.
Maybe this could cheer you up a litlle bite:
” So I was at the Paris Motor Show today and I was at the Jaguar stand and … TOM H. commercial came out every 10 minutes”:
http://lokisgloriouskingdom.tumblr.com/post/99303288757/hiddleston-daily-so-i-was-at-the-paris-motor
HAH! I think they get that they may have misstepped a little. That Nicholas Hoult vid is impressive ONLY for its SFX and the cars. Plus–what villain has he played? All the rest have villainous creds.
Not to mention, they are just CONVINCING as villains, whereas NH is not.
Oh, and THANK YOU @Allegra!