Dame Maggie Smith, ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ star, dies at 89
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Maggie Smith, the venerable British actress whose career on stage, film and television spanned more than 60 years, has died. She was 89.
Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, confirmed she had died in a statement to the Press Association.
Having appeared in more than 50 films, Smith was considered one of Britain’s best-known actresses and was beloved by recent generations for her roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films and the Dowager Countess of Grantham on television’s Downton Abbey.
In addition to winning two Academy Awards, Smith earned five BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Tony Award. In 1990, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Filmmaker James Wan, best known as the co-creator of the Saw and The Conjuring movies, is attached to helm a spin on the classic Creature from the Black Lagoon, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Wan’s take is described as “a grounded, modernized retelling that will lean into visceral horror, while still paying respect to the original,” per the outlet …
Lynn Whitfield, who joined Showtime’s The Chi in the recurring role of Alicia in season 6, has been upped to a regular cast member, according to Deadline. The drama centers around four Chicago men at different points in their lives navigating school in a city so violent there’s no guarantee you’ll grow up. Jason Mitchell, Tiffany Boone, Alex Hibbert, Jacob Latimore, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr. and Michael V. Epps star …
Neon has dropped a first-look trailer for its adaptation of Stephen King‘s 1980 short story The Monkey. The movie follows brothers Bill and Hal — played by Theo James — who witness a string of deaths after they find their father’s vintage toy monkey. After discarding the monkey and moving on with their lives, the brothers reconcile years later and embark on a mission to permanently eliminate the cursed toy. The Monkey is set to hit theaters Feb. 21, 2025 …
Ángel Salazar, known for his role as Chi Chi in Scarface alongside Al Pacino, passed away in his sleep, according to his rep and friend Ann Wingsong. He was 68. A cause of death was not revealed. Salazar’s other credits included the movies Punchline opposite Tom Hanks and Carlito’s Way, also with Pacino. He also starred in a number of HBO comedy specials and appeared on Last Comic Standing …
Variety reports Leslie Uggams, Merritt Wever and Andrea Martin are among eight new actors added to HBO’s The Gilded Age for the show’s third season. They join returning cast members Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Denée Benton, Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon for season 3, set in “a period of immense economic change, of great conflict between the old ways and brand-new systems, and of huge fortunes made and lost,” according to the premium cable channel …
Varietyis reporting that Prime Video is developing a spin-off of its hit Reacher series. The trade speculates it will center on Frances Neagley, who is played by Maria Sten in the hit adaptation of Lee Childs‘ JackReacher books …
The ‘Burbs, a new TV adaptation of the 1989 movie of the same name, has been given a straight-to-series order from Peacock. Keke Palmer is set to star and executive produce, with Brian Grazer and Seth MacFarlane also on board as executive producers. The show follows a young couple who encounter new next-door neighbors with dark secrets …
The sci-fi film The Assignment, starring Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Olsen, has been scooped up by Prime Video, Deadline is reporting. The movie centers on a resources-strapped future where the government decides who is allowed to have a baby — and the invasive, psychologically horrifying interview Olsen’s character must endure to prove she’s worthy. The film, which also stars Minnie Driver, will debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, which is just getting underway …
L-R: Abova, Manganiello, writer Matt Owens, co-star Jeff Ward – Netflix
During Netflix’s live Geeked Week send-off event in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday night, host — and out and proud geek — Joe Manganiello announced he has stepped up his nerd cred even more.
The Magic Mike star will be joining the cast of One Piece, Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the beloved and bestselling manga, for its second season.
The actor will play the iconic villain Mr. 0; also joining the show will be Bumper in Berlin alumna Lera Abova playing Miss Sunday.
The series stars Iñaki Godoy as straw hat-wearing swashbuckler Monkey D. Luffy, who sets off with his crew —Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp and Taz Skylar as Sanji — to find the fabled article of treasure that shares the series’ title.
One Piece managed to avoid the pitfalls of other adaptations, like Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop, by becoming a smash out of the gate.
The live-action version of Eiichiro Oda‘s pirate saga debuted on Aug. 31, 2023, at #1 on the streaming service’s English language TV chart and the top 10 in 93 countries. In its first four days, it racked up 140.1 million hours of viewing time, right up there with the debuts of massive hits like Stranger Things season 4 and Wednesday.
