August 30, 2000
UPDATE:On further investigation (calling the management of the Crucible Theatre) we have now managed to get confirmation that "the major star Joseph Fiennes" is indeed listed to play Edward II March of next year! We are awaiting written confirmation of same the next days.
- Some alarming news about Edward II:
Contrary to earlier announcements it seems that it is not definite yet that Joe is going to play Edward II in the theatre play in March 2001. The Crucible Theatre told by phone that maybe he won't be there. We will only know for sure when the cast list will be out, which could take some months. So all we can do is wait and cross our fingers! We will keep you posted.
August 27, 2000
- Seems Joe has signed the contract for KMS now (note: filming seems to start a month earlier now):
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Arts & Entertainment Section, page 7:"Joseph 'I'm the only guy who didn't get an Oscar nomination and I WAS Shakespeare in love' Fiennes has been cast opposite Heather Graham in Killing Me Softly, an erotic thriller (research scientist falls for dangerous mountaineer! ) that marks the English-language debut of Chinese director Chen Kaige. Fiennes, Graham and the Farewell My Concubine auteur plan to get things going in London late next month, anticipating a fall 2001 release."
If you want to know more about the book or want to buy the UK version, turn to our Find It Page or to Amazon.com for the US version.
August 24, 2000
- More movie news:
We've heard of Joe being in talks for "Uprising" before, but it seems to be confirmed now that he signed up for it. There is still no date stated when the filming will begin though.
According to info on the 4 filmmakers site, "Uprising" has Joe and Chloë Sevigny signed to star; it will be directed by Jon Avnet and will be released by Universal Pictures. The picture is listed as "in development."
August 23, 2000
- Allocine.fr has this about "Killing me Softly" (thanks to Christiane for the translation):
Joseph Fiennes as a mountaineer
Tournages, August 23, 2000English actor Joseph Fiennes might play a mountaineer in Chen Keige's next movie, "Killing Me Softly."
After his big success in "Shakespeare in Love," many people were wondering how the young actor's career was going to develop. The answer is: pretty well. In fact, the 30-year old has plenty of projects.
One of the most interesting is "Killing Me Softly," the new movie of Chen Kaige, the Chinese director of "Farewell, My Concubine." Joseph Fiennes is in negotiations with MGM to play in this erotic thriller surrounded by mystery. The actor will interpret a mysterious mountaineer who has an obsessive relationship with a young woman. Fiennes will have as leading lady for this production the delicious Heather Graham, who will find herself in a completely different universe from that of "Austin Powers, the spy who shagged me" in which she participated in 1999.
"Killing Me Softly" will be Chen Kaige's first movie in English. Shooting is set to start in London on October 29 with release predicted to happen around fall 2001.
Joseph Fiennes' biggest hit so far is for sure "Shakespeare in Love"' (1999 Oscar for Best Movie). But he also appeared in Bernando Bertolucci's "Stealing Beauty" and Nick Hamm's "Martha Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence." He will also have the honor to play one of the leads in the upcoming Jean-Jacques Annaud's "Enemy at the Gates" along with talented Jude Law. Ralph Fiennes ("The English Patient") should be proud of his little brother. Kaige's movie also promises to be successful."
- Upcomingmovies.com has this about "Killing me Softly":
Release Date: Fall, 2001Language: This film will mark the English-language debut of Chinese director Chen Kaige.
Distributor: MGM (picked up after DreamWorks, which has a first-look deal with Montecito, passed on the project)
Production Company: The Montecito Picture Company (Road Trip, Evolution)
Cast: Heather Graham (Alice), Joseph Fiennes (Adam) (in talks); other cast not announced yet.
Director: Chen Kaige (The Emperor and the Assassin, Farewell My Concubine, Temptress Moon)
Screenwriter: Kara Lindstrom (debut)
Based upon: The novel of the same title by Nicci French, the pen name of wife-husband team Nicci Gerard and Sean French. Premise: Alice (Graham), a research scientist living in London meets the mysterious Adam (Fiennes; in talks) one day while crossing a street, and soon heads back to his apartment for some furious lovemaking, dumping her safe relationship with her boyfriend, drawn instead to this strange mountaineer... with a secret.
Filming: Production is scheduled to start on this movie on October 29th, 2000 in London.
Greg's Preview Thoughts: Brits are none-too-happy with Hollywood these days, as they're vilified in The Patriot, had historical WWII deeds swiped from them as being done by Yanks (U-571), and heard that one of the most distinctively British characters of the 1990's, Bridget Jones, played by Renee Zellweger. Brits play Yanks and vice versa, but it only takes a few instances in a row for a popular grudge to be formed (though it will probably soon forgotten), and so the news that Heather Graham will be playing a British research scientist in London in this film may also be lumped into the same discussion of protest. We'll see. This film is more relevant as the first American film by Chen Kaige, marking a first not only for him, but for any of his generation of post-1970's Chinese filmmakers (who shouldn't be confused with Hong Kong helmers).
August 22, 2000
- Joe considers new movie role!
Yahoo/Reuters news from today: Joseph Fiennes Considers "Killing Me Softly"
By Claude Brodesser
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Joseph Fiennes is in negotiations to star opposite Heather Graham in "Killing Me Softly", the first English- language picture from Chinese director Chen Kaige ("Farewell My Concubine").
The erotic thriller, based on the novel by Nicci French, spins the tale of a London research scientist (Graham) who opts out of her comfortable but ordinary relationship with her boyfriend and into a dangerously obsessive bond with a handsome and mysterious mountaineer.
"Killing" is set to start shooting in London on Oct. 29, with an eye to release in fall 2001. MGM earlier this month paid about $10 million for North American distribution rights on the $25 million picture. Overseas deals are pending.
Fiennes ("Elizabeth", "Shakespeare in Love") will next appear with Jude Law in Jean Jacques Annaud's "Enemy at the Gates".
Variety.com: FIENNES IS CULLED FOR CHEN’S "KILLING"
"Concubine" helmer delves into English with erotic thriller
By CLAUDE BRODESSER, PAUL F. DUKE
Joseph Fiennes is in negotiations to star opposite Heather Graham in "Killing Me Softly," the first English-lingo pic from Chinese helmer Chen Kaige ("Farewell My Concubine").
Fiennes ("Elizabeth," "Shakespeare in Love") will next appear with Jude Law in the Paramount/Mandalay production of Jean Jacques Annaud's "Enemy at the Gates."
MGM had picked up U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to the $25 million-budgeted "Killing Me" in a negative pickup deal worth close to $10 million earlier this month (Daily Variety, Aug. 10).
The Montecito Picture Co., the production shingle of ex-Universal topper Tom Pollock and helmer Ivan Reitman, is exec producing. Producers are Michael Chinich, Dan Goldberg, Joe Medjuck and Lynda Myles.
The erotic thriller, based on the novel by Nicci French, spins the tale of a London research scientist (Graham) who opts out of her comfortable but ordinary relationship with her boyfriend and into a dangerously obsessive bond with a handsome and mysterious mountaineer. Production designer turned writer Kara Lindstrom penned the script.
Deals for worldwide distribution are in the works. Pollock and Reitman have a deal with DreamWorks, but that studio passed on handling the pic, in part, apparently, because of the frankly sexual nature of the material.
"Killing" is set to start lensing in London on Oct. 29, with an eye to release in fall 2001.
Pic reps the first English-lingo effort by any of China's famed Fifth Generation helmers, who include Zhang Yimou and Zhou Xiaowen. Chen's most recent film is "The Emperor and the Assassin." His pic "Farewell My Concubine" won both the Palme d'Or and the Intl. Critics Prize at Cannes.
Fiennes is repped by CAA and by attorney Barry Hirsh in North America, and by Ken McReddie Ltd. in London. He is managed by Parseghian/Planco.
August 20, 2000
- Some mag alerts:
Joe is on the cover of TV & Satellite Week, issue August 19 - 25, 2000, which announces that SiL will be shown on satellite TV in the UK: "To be or not to be... Will Gwyneth and Joseph make a couplet? Shakespeare in Love, Sky Premier"American September edition of "Cosmopolitan" page 118, has a picture of Joe nicely dressed in a dark suit wearing a silver-gray tie. He is holding a small blue bag and his right hand in on his pocket. It is a small picture but full body. The article is entitled "Your Fashion Style Finder" and under Joe's picture is written: "You prefer a dapper dude like Joseph Fiennes."
British September edition of "Company" has a small (and old) note about "Dust." It says: "Joseph Fiennes is in Macedonia at the moment filming a love story-cum-thriller called "Dust." There is a BAFTA picture of Joe with the note where it says: "Lust in the Dust with Joe? Us first!"
August 14, 2000
- Sad, sad EATG news:
According to upcomingmovies.com and hollywood.com the release date has been pushed back a month from November 10 to now December 22. That sucks :-(
August 13, 2000
- From the "Just for Fun" Department:
From today's Mail on Sunday YOU Magazine, about the Versace show Joe attended awhile back"Many celebs have been flown in - Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Patsy Kensit and Liam Gallagher - and they are prominently placed in the front row to watch the show; 39 is the last dress, and it is a show-stopper. Joseph Fiennes raises an eyebrow."
August 12, 2000
- Two little previews about EATG:
Entertainment Weekly (August 18/25, 2000), fall preview section:
Enemy at the Gates
Starring: Jude Law, Ed Harris, Joseph Fiennes
Screenplay by: Jean-Jacques Annaud, Alain Godard
Directed by: Jean-Jacques AnnaudWhat's the big deal? Big battles, hot romance, and major hunks
War is hell. But sex, that's even tougher, at least when Annaud (The Lover) is behind the camera. "We shot scenes of troops crossing the Volga River with explosives going off everywhere, and that was no problem," the director says. "But when Jude and Rachel [Weisz] have to make love inside a tunnel in the bunker amidst a group of sleeping soldiers, that's a real test of nerve." The true story of a W.W.II duel between a Russian shepherd-turned-sniper (Law) and a refind German officer (Harris) sent to kill him, the film costars Fiennes as the Soviet propagandist who builds Law's skilled-marksman character into the hope of all Russia. The movie, set against the epic Battle of Stalingrad, is based on a book of interviews with real-life survivors on both sides, which lent a certain gravity to the production. Of course, it wasn't exactly somber on set. "It's interesting to film a movie with such exquisitely polite and good-looking men," says Annaud, who also directed Brad Pitt in Seven Years in Tibet. "I got the feeling that women were falling for these guys wherever we went." Da, baby!
Good Sign: Could be this year's The Talented Private Ryan.
Then Again: Oscar nominee Law hasn't been tested as a leading man.
Premiere - Fall Movie Preview:
The Pitch:During the Siege of Stalingrad on World War II, a pair of world-class snipers, a Russian (Jude Law) and a German (Ed Harris) can't seem to get out of each other's sights. Meanwhile, a love triangle develops in a Russian bunker involving Law's character, a commissar (Joseph Fiennes) who is exploiting him for propaganda value, and a girl forced to fight in the trenches (Rachel Weisz).
The Big Picture:
Based on William Craig's account of actual historical events - the super rivalry is true, the romantic entanglement isn't - the epic was shot over four months in Germany on sets that re-created the Russian city, which was devastated by the Nazi invasion in 1942. 'The young man played by Jude Law became such an icon that the Germans sent their best man to get rid of him,' says director Jean-Jacques Annaud, who interviewed survivors of the siege. 'The two men hunted each other in the ruins of that huge city in the middle of this gigantic battle.' Fiennes felt the scale of the siege when, in one scene, his character 'plays dead with hundreds of his soldiers, and the Germans tanks rain down bullets to make sure everyone is dead. The tanks rolled by, and on top of the tanks were machine guns shooting - I found it genuinely terrifying.' For Weisz, the greatest challenge was in staying clean. 'The makeup trailer was called the makedown trailer because they made us look like shit,' she says. 'We looked gaunt and gray, with red blotches. We called it Stalingrad chic.' There was a down-to-dirty love scene with Law on the front lines. 'You don't have any privacy with 40 soldiers burping and farting,' she says. 'You have to make love very quietly. It's quite sexy, really.' (Paramount, November 10)"
August 11, 2000
- US TV alert:
The American cable network "E! Entertainment" has a show called "Fashion File" and last night they covered the Versace couture show in Paris (where Joe was photogaphed standing next to Bai Ling). There's a quick clip of the interviewer asking Joe what brought him out to the show and Joe responding that he was at the one in Milan and found Donatella's work so "witty and sexy " that he "just had to come back for more."
The show airs again tomorrow (Saturday, August 12) at 10am E/P, 9am Central for anyone who has access to the cable channel.
August 7, 2000
- This comes from today's Toronto Star paper (in a gossip column thing):
"Juice for Life's two locations are attracting a celeb following - for vegetarian food in addition to the squeezed stuff. Recent Juice for Lifers include Eric Stoltz (a regular), Cicely Tyson, Brooke Shields, Sandra Bernhard, Willem Dafoe, Alanis Morrisette, and Joe Fiennes, who is especially partial to their Bionic Brain Tonic."
August 3, 2000
- We might get a photo story about Joe soon according to the mention in this article:
The column is provocatively titled "After spending an evening at Joseph Fiennes's flat, Liz Jones began to long for marriage"Sunday Times, "Style Magazine", 30 July 2000
By Liz Jones, Editor of Marie Claire"On Friday, I went to Joseph Fiennes's flat on a shoot for Marie Claire. He has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. He actually bats them in slow motion. If you married him you'd have Ralph Fiennes as a brother-in-law."
