Don’t trust Mads Mikkelsen with your script.
“‘Casino Royale’ was the first screenplay with my name on every single page. Which also means that if you lose it, it’s on you. I got on a plane, started to read it and I fell asleep. Then I got out and just left it there,” he told the stunned audience at the Zurich Film Festival.
“I was lucky some cleaning person threw it away and didn’t know what it was. That could have been the end of my career, right then.”
In Martin Campbell’s 2006 smash that marked Daniel Craig’s debut as 007, Mikkelsen went on to play Le Chiffre.
“The ‘smartest’ Bond villain? He lost $100 million to a man who couldn’t play poker. Not that smart.”
“I had never watched a Bond movie up to that point and of course I lied about it. I only...
“‘Casino Royale’ was the first screenplay with my name on every single page. Which also means that if you lose it, it’s on you. I got on a plane, started to read it and I fell asleep. Then I got out and just left it there,” he told the stunned audience at the Zurich Film Festival.
“I was lucky some cleaning person threw it away and didn’t know what it was. That could have been the end of my career, right then.”
In Martin Campbell’s 2006 smash that marked Daniel Craig’s debut as 007, Mikkelsen went on to play Le Chiffre.
“The ‘smartest’ Bond villain? He lost $100 million to a man who couldn’t play poker. Not that smart.”
“I had never watched a Bond movie up to that point and of course I lied about it. I only...
- 10/7/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
When you think of Mads Mikkelsen, your brain probably locks onto the captivating villains he's played on screen, be it Le Chiffre from "Casino Royale," Hannibal Lecter in "Hannibal," or even Jürgen Voller in "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." What you may not think about is Mikkelsen the dancer.
It's true: after studying at the world-famous ballet academy in Gothenburg, Sweden (aka. the Balettakademien), the Danish actor spent a decade as a professional dancer before getting into acting. He would go on to put his ballet skills to incredible use in the opening fight in "Hannibal" season 2, as well as the memorable drunken dance scene that went viral from director Thomas Vinterberg's Danish dramedy "Another Round." With his physical grace and screen charisma, it was probably inevitable somebody would have the idea to cast Mikkelsen as the protagonist in a post-"John Wick" assassin thriller (of which...
It's true: after studying at the world-famous ballet academy in Gothenburg, Sweden (aka. the Balettakademien), the Danish actor spent a decade as a professional dancer before getting into acting. He would go on to put his ballet skills to incredible use in the opening fight in "Hannibal" season 2, as well as the memorable drunken dance scene that went viral from director Thomas Vinterberg's Danish dramedy "Another Round." With his physical grace and screen charisma, it was probably inevitable somebody would have the idea to cast Mikkelsen as the protagonist in a post-"John Wick" assassin thriller (of which...
- 8/6/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Vanessa Hudgens will join Mads Mikkelsen to headline the action spy thriller ‘The Black Kaiser’, directed by Derrick Borte.
Borte has replaced Jonas Akerlund, who was previously announced as director. The film is written by Jayson Rothwell, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel ‘Polar’ by Victor Santos. It is set to shoot this fall, reports ‘Variety’.
In the film, the Black Kaiser (Mikkelsen), the world’s most lethal hitman, uncovers a deadly conspiracy protecting a powerful syndicate of killers, and becomes their No. 1 target.
‘The Black Kaiser’ is a Constantin Film, Jb Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment production, and will be produced by Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer, two of the producers behind the ‘Resident Evil’ franchise.
As per ‘Variety’, Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Entertainment are also producing, and Martin Moszkowicz and Mikkelsen are executive producing.
XYZ Films will executive produce and will continue to...
Borte has replaced Jonas Akerlund, who was previously announced as director. The film is written by Jayson Rothwell, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel ‘Polar’ by Victor Santos. It is set to shoot this fall, reports ‘Variety’.
In the film, the Black Kaiser (Mikkelsen), the world’s most lethal hitman, uncovers a deadly conspiracy protecting a powerful syndicate of killers, and becomes their No. 1 target.
‘The Black Kaiser’ is a Constantin Film, Jb Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment production, and will be produced by Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer, two of the producers behind the ‘Resident Evil’ franchise.
As per ‘Variety’, Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Entertainment are also producing, and Martin Moszkowicz and Mikkelsen are executive producing.
XYZ Films will executive produce and will continue to...
- 5/19/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Vanessa Hudgens will join Mads Mikkelsen to headline the action spy thriller “The Black Kaiser,” directed by Derrick Borte (“Unhinged”).
Borte has replaced Jonas Akerlund, who was previously announced as director. The film is written by Jayson Rothwell, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel “Polar” by Victor Santos. It is set to shoot this fall.
In the film, the Black Kaiser (Mikkelsen), the world’s most lethal hitman, uncovers a deadly conspiracy protecting a powerful syndicate of killers, and becomes their No. 1 target.
“The Black Kaiser” is a Constantin Film, Jb Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment production, and will be produced by Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer, two of the producers behind the “Resident Evil” franchise. Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Entertainment are also producing, and Martin Moszkowicz and Mikkelsen are executive producing. XYZ Films will executive produce and will continue to sell worldwide rights at...
Borte has replaced Jonas Akerlund, who was previously announced as director. The film is written by Jayson Rothwell, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel “Polar” by Victor Santos. It is set to shoot this fall.
In the film, the Black Kaiser (Mikkelsen), the world’s most lethal hitman, uncovers a deadly conspiracy protecting a powerful syndicate of killers, and becomes their No. 1 target.
“The Black Kaiser” is a Constantin Film, Jb Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment production, and will be produced by Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer, two of the producers behind the “Resident Evil” franchise. Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Entertainment are also producing, and Martin Moszkowicz and Mikkelsen are executive producing. XYZ Films will executive produce and will continue to sell worldwide rights at...
- 5/19/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Pulsar Content and XYZ Films have partnered to handle sales on the Fantastic Fest and Sitges sci-fi drama Tropic, directed by Edouard Salier who also co-wrote with Mauricio Carrasco.
The film follows Lázaro and Tristán (19), twin brothers and best friends, who are training together for the Astronaut Academy entrance tests. One day, Tristán is contaminated with some mysterious residue which makes him monstrous physically and weakened mentally. This disaster forces Lázaro to let go of how he remembers his brother and learn to love him as he is now, in a world where there is no room for monsters.
The French-language feature stars Pablo Cobo, Louis Peres, Marta Nieto, and Marvin Dubart, and was produced by Rezo Productions, Ninon Chapuis, and Jean-Michel Rey. Above is a first-look clip.
The pic will world premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 23 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar and will screen at Sitges...
The film follows Lázaro and Tristán (19), twin brothers and best friends, who are training together for the Astronaut Academy entrance tests. One day, Tristán is contaminated with some mysterious residue which makes him monstrous physically and weakened mentally. This disaster forces Lázaro to let go of how he remembers his brother and learn to love him as he is now, in a world where there is no room for monsters.
The French-language feature stars Pablo Cobo, Louis Peres, Marta Nieto, and Marvin Dubart, and was produced by Rezo Productions, Ninon Chapuis, and Jean-Michel Rey. Above is a first-look clip.
The pic will world premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 23 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar and will screen at Sitges...
- 9/20/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
XYZ Films Picks Up North American Rights To Beyond Fest Cannibal Horror Film “Feed Me”: "XYZ Films announces it has acquired North American rights to Feed Me, directed by Adam Leader and Richard Oakes. The film stars Neal Ward, Christopher Mulvin, Hannah Al Rashid and Samantha Loxley. It was produced by Ed Polgardy (The Wretched) along with Adam Leader, Richard Oakes and Neal Ward and will receive its world premiere next month at Los Angeles’s pre-eminent film festival, Beyond Fest, produced by Javier Diaz. XYZ Films has dated the release for October 27th on all digital and on demand platforms. XYZ Films’s EVP of US distribution, James Emanuel Shapiro, negotiated the deal directly with the film’s four producers.
Feed Me follows Mulvin’s character Jed, whose life is shattered when his wife, played by Loxley, suddenly dies and Jed feels directly responsible. Spiraling into an abyss of depression,...
Feed Me follows Mulvin’s character Jed, whose life is shattered when his wife, played by Loxley, suddenly dies and Jed feels directly responsible. Spiraling into an abyss of depression,...
- 9/15/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Exclusive: Naomie Harris (Moonlight) and Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) have been tapped to lead the psychological thriller The Wasp, which BAFTA winner and two-time nominee Guillem Morales (Inside No. 9) is directing for XYZ Films.
The film based on Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s play of the same name, which ran in 2015 at London’s Hampstead Theatre, follows Heather (Harris) and Carla (Dormer), who agree to meet after having not spoken in years. Over tea, Heather presents a very unexpected proposition that will change their lives forever.
Malcolm adapted the screenplay for the film, slated to enter production in Bath, UK in November. Nate Bolotin and Maxime Cottray will produce for XYZ Films, along with James Harris and Leonora Darby of Tea Shop Productions, Sean Sorensen of Royal Viking Entertainment, and Matthew B. Schmidt of Paradise City Films. XYZ is financing, in association with Ipr.Vc, and handling worldwide sales at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival.
The film based on Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s play of the same name, which ran in 2015 at London’s Hampstead Theatre, follows Heather (Harris) and Carla (Dormer), who agree to meet after having not spoken in years. Over tea, Heather presents a very unexpected proposition that will change their lives forever.
Malcolm adapted the screenplay for the film, slated to enter production in Bath, UK in November. Nate Bolotin and Maxime Cottray will produce for XYZ Films, along with James Harris and Leonora Darby of Tea Shop Productions, Sean Sorensen of Royal Viking Entertainment, and Matthew B. Schmidt of Paradise City Films. XYZ is financing, in association with Ipr.Vc, and handling worldwide sales at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival.
- 9/1/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Tessa Thompson (Westworld) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Super Pumped) are attached to star in the sci-fi thriller Ash, which the Grammy-winning musician and filmmaker Flying Lotus — otherwise known as Steven Ellison — will direct as his sophomore feature, as we first reported in January. Neill Blomkamp (District 9) has since then come aboard to exec produce the pic, which its financier XYZ Films will rep for worldwide sales at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival.
While at TIFF to meet with key buyers for Ash, Flying Lotus will appear in support of his segment of V/H/S/99, which is having its world premiere in the Midnight section of the festival.
The new film, for which the multi-hyphenate will also compose an original score, watches as a woman (Thompson) wakes up on a distant planet and finds the crew of her space station viciously killed, and must then decide if she can trust...
While at TIFF to meet with key buyers for Ash, Flying Lotus will appear in support of his segment of V/H/S/99, which is having its world premiere in the Midnight section of the festival.
The new film, for which the multi-hyphenate will also compose an original score, watches as a woman (Thompson) wakes up on a distant planet and finds the crew of her space station viciously killed, and must then decide if she can trust...
- 8/29/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: XYZ Films has acquired worldwide rights to the English-language horror-thriller Sound of Silence, directed by Alessandro Antonaci, Daniel Lascar and Stefano Mandala — the Italy-based filmmaking trio otherwise known as T3. The independent studio has slated the film for a domestic release next spring.
T3’s first feature follows Emma (Penelope Sangiorgi), who returns to her home in Italy to find out what happened to her parents, and must then unlock the mystery of an old radio that brings back spirits from the past.
T3, Raffaele Rinaldi and Riccardo Scalva produced the pic, which also stars Rocco Marazzita, Lucia Caporaso, Daniele De Martino, Chiara Casolari, Alessandra Pizzullo and Peter Stephen Wolmarans. The project comes on the heels of T3’s horror short The Crying Boy, which was an Official Selection at Screamfest 2019.
“XYZ is thrilled to come aboard this uniquely terrifying ghost story and to continue our tradition of supporting international talent,...
T3’s first feature follows Emma (Penelope Sangiorgi), who returns to her home in Italy to find out what happened to her parents, and must then unlock the mystery of an old radio that brings back spirits from the past.
T3, Raffaele Rinaldi and Riccardo Scalva produced the pic, which also stars Rocco Marazzita, Lucia Caporaso, Daniele De Martino, Chiara Casolari, Alessandra Pizzullo and Peter Stephen Wolmarans. The project comes on the heels of T3’s horror short The Crying Boy, which was an Official Selection at Screamfest 2019.
“XYZ is thrilled to come aboard this uniquely terrifying ghost story and to continue our tradition of supporting international talent,...
- 8/24/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: XYZ Films has acquired North American distribution rights to thriller Dash, a “one-take feature” about an adulterous rideshare driver navigating the streets of Hollywood.
Written and directed by Sean Perry and starring Alexander Molina, the film follows Milly (Molina), a rideshare driver who leads a double life. Over the course of one night shift behind the wheel, he attempts to sell drugs to his unassuming passengers. As the night progresses, his life takes a turn for the worse as he desperately tries to take the secret of his nefarious double life to the grave. The film’s locations included Hollywood Boulevard with shooting taking place in real time.
The deal was negotiated by XYZ’s Executive VP of U.S. Distribution, James Emanuel Shapiro and Spam Pictures. XYZ plans to release the film domestically late this fall.
Molina also serves as executive producer and is co-creator of Spam Pictures.
Written and directed by Sean Perry and starring Alexander Molina, the film follows Milly (Molina), a rideshare driver who leads a double life. Over the course of one night shift behind the wheel, he attempts to sell drugs to his unassuming passengers. As the night progresses, his life takes a turn for the worse as he desperately tries to take the secret of his nefarious double life to the grave. The film’s locations included Hollywood Boulevard with shooting taking place in real time.
The deal was negotiated by XYZ’s Executive VP of U.S. Distribution, James Emanuel Shapiro and Spam Pictures. XYZ plans to release the film domestically late this fall.
Molina also serves as executive producer and is co-creator of Spam Pictures.
- 8/18/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Screen is rounding up the key packages launched before and during this year’s Cannes Marche du Film (which runs May 17-25).
Screen is rounding up the key packages launched before and during this year’s Cannes Marche du Film (which runs May 17-25).
Refresh the page for latest updates.
May 18 Stone Mattress
Julianne Moore and Sandra Oh have signed on to star in Lynne Ramsey’s new thriller. The project is based on a short story by Margaret Atwood and is produced by John Lesher and JoAnne Sellar. Amazon are handling domestic rights. Studiocanal and Film4 are in final negotiations to board the project.
Screen is rounding up the key packages launched before and during this year’s Cannes Marche du Film (which runs May 17-25).
Refresh the page for latest updates.
May 18 Stone Mattress
Julianne Moore and Sandra Oh have signed on to star in Lynne Ramsey’s new thriller. The project is based on a short story by Margaret Atwood and is produced by John Lesher and JoAnne Sellar. Amazon are handling domestic rights. Studiocanal and Film4 are in final negotiations to board the project.
- 5/18/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
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