Francis Ford Coppola apparently gives his own ‘Megalopolis’ a 5-star review

The bombshell Prince Andrew interview about Jeffrey Epstein that caused Andrew to step back from his royal duties is the subject of the limited series A Very Royal Scandal, which started streaming Thursday on Prime Video.

Michael Sheen plays the prince, opposite Ruth Wilson as Emily Maitlis, the former BBC Newsnight anchor whose hard-hitting questions sent shock waves through the U.K. and beyond. Wilson remembers that interview vividly and tells ABC Audio that like the rest of the nation, she was left “gobsmacked.”

“My takeaway from that was, ‘How on earth did this happen? … Why did he put himself in that scenario?’ And now, you know, having done this drama, we’ve interrogated that and we’ve got all the answers on that. Or not,” she laughs.

The fallout came as no surprise to Sheen, who tells ABC Audio that the interview checked a lot of boxes when it comes to the kinds of things that fascinate the British people.

“There’s both the kind of media frenzy, the tabloid fodder kind of nature of it. … And then also, of course, underlying it all was this much darker, more serious, more disturbing issue that it was dealing with about, you know, the exploitation of young women and the relationship with Epstein and all that kind of stuff.”

Sheen had to gain a bit of weight for the role and tried to portray Andrew as this former military stud who was far removed from his glory days.

“The aging process, losing your looks, putting on a bit of weight, all of that stuff, the media no longer being interested in you as being kind of, you know, tabloid fodder. … It’s getting, moving further and further away from the center of power and all that kind of stuff. … It was that sort of trajectory.”

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

George Clooney‘s Broadway debut as Edward R. Murrow has dropped a movie-looking trailer. 

As reported, the Oscar winner will star as the legendary journalist in the drama Good Night, and Good Luck, starting March 12 at the historic Winter Garden Theatre, with an opening night set for April 3.

In the black-and-white sneak peek, Clooney speaks to camera, as the controlled chaos of TV journalism plays out.

“There are a certain kind of people wired a certain kind of way who know there’s a story behind the story, if you’re bold enough to search for it, if you’re passionate enough to speak out, if you’re brave enough to stand up to the forces determined to keep you silent, no matter the consequences,” Clooney says in character.

He continues, “There are a certain kind of people who are the lifeblood of democracy. Never wavering. Never faltering. Never straying in their pursuit of what matters,” he continues. “And what matters? Honesty. Facts. Integrity. Accuracy. Truth.”

He closes with Murrow’s traditional sign-off, “Good night, and good luck.”

Co-written by Clooney and his longtime creative partner Grant Heslov, the play will be based on their Academy Award-nominated 2005 film of the same name that had actor David Strathairn portraying Murrow.

The theatrical production will be directed by Tony winner David Cromer.

The producers tease, “Tune in to the golden age of broadcast journalism and … Murrow’s legendary, history-altering, on-air showdown with Senator Joseph McCarthy. As McCarthyism casts a shadow over America, Murrow and his news team choose to confront the growing tide of paranoia and propaganda, even if it means turning the federal government and a worried nation against them.”

General ticket sales begin Friday at 4 p.m. ET at www.telecharge.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Apple TV+ is sweet on Sugar, its crime drama starring and executive produced by Colin Farrell: The show has been renewed for season 2.

This comes as Farrell’s other crime drama, The Penguin, continues to score for Max.

Unlike Penguin, however, Farrell is quite recognizable in the Apple series. 

Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+, trumpeted, “Since its premiere, audiences have been gripped by the mysteries and twists of Sugar, with an incredible performance by Colin Farrell at the center.”

Cherniss adds of the show’s producers, “Colin, Simon Kinberg, Audrey Chon and the entire team behind this series have brilliantly blended genres to create a compelling, can’t-miss series that keeps viewers guessing, and we cannot wait to see where Detective John Sugar finds himself in season two.”

According to the streamer, “Sugar is a contemporary, unique take on one of the most popular and significant genres in literary, motion picture and television history: the private detective story.”

The producers add that “season two will see Sugar back in Los Angeles, taking on another missing persons case as he continues to look for answers surrounding his missing sister.”

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.