PREMIUM SPOTLIGHT ON 'HOLLOW CROWN: THE WARS OF THE ROSES' EPIC MINI SERIES WITH JUDI DENCH, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, KEELEY HAWES, HUGH BONNEVILLE, TOM STURIDGE

HOLLOW CROWN: WAR OF ROSES

2ND SERIES OF THE EPIC SAGA

Are you in the mood for some Will Shakespeare this spring? Because the second series of HOLLOW CROWN epic saga this time titled THE WARS OF THE ROSES is about to start at BBC 2 in UK this April and some time later next summer at PBS in USA. Just like the first series, which featured names such as Jeremy Irons, Ben Whishaw and Tom Hiddleston playing crowned heads, this one will also consist of three TV movies. They will be the small screen adaptations of the bard's HENRY VI drama (in two parts) and RICHARD III!

400 YEARS FROM BARD'S DEATH
Describing numerous historical events that marked the rule of Henry VI and Richard III, such as rebellion in France, Civil War in England, rise and fall of Joan Of Arc, HOLLOW CROWN: THE WARS OF THE ROSES boasts a stellar cast which includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Tom Sturidge, Hugh Bonneville, Keeley Hawes and Sally Hawkins! The series airs as a part of BBC's Shakespeare festival  celebrating the 400th anniversary of the bard's death!

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, JUDI DENCH, KEELY HAWES, TOM STURRIDGE LEAD THE CAST

In the first two TV movies on English monarch HENRY VI young star Tom Sturridge plays the king himself, Sophie Okonedo is Queen Margaret of Anjou,  Hugh Bonneville is Duke of Gloucester with Sally Hawkins as his wife Duchess of Gloucester! In the last part, the TV movie on RICHARD III Benedict Cumberbatch plays the evil King Richard who plots his path to rule and layers that path with bodies of friend and foe alike, always wonderful Keeley Hawes is Queen Elizabeth (the star of WHITE QUEEN series from two years ago), her Cinematic Highness Judi Dench is King's mother Cecily Duchess of York, while Phoebe Fox is Queen Anne. Michael Gambon will appear as Sir Edmund Mortimer, Andrew Scott as King Louis XI of France and Samuel West as Bishop of Winchester!

'HOLLOW CROWN: WAR OF ROSES' TEASER WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, JUDI DENCH! STEVEN SPIELBERG'S 'BIG FRIENDLY GIANT' GETS BRAND NEW POSTER!

STEVEN SPIELBERG'S 'THE BFG'

 GETS BRAND NEW POSTER!

Today you can check out the very first and rather delightful poster for Steven  Spielberg's THE BFG or THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT with little Ruby Barnhill and Mark Rylance (or his massive foot). Out this July, the adventure is set in a world where little orphan Queen Sophie and her tall friend have to wrangle rampaging giants.

HOLLOW CROWN: WAR OF ROSES

  FIRST TEASER WITH JUDI DENCH, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH 

In video department, BBC Two has released the first teaser for the new series in their HOLLOW CROWN saga, this time THE WAR OF ROSES coming soon to the small screens. As the part of Shakespeare festival, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the bard's death, the three part series will bring new adaptations of  HENRY VI in two TV films and RICHARD III as one, describing rebellion in France, Civil War in England, rise and fall of Joan Of Arc! Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Tom Sturidge will be wearing crowns together with the supporting cast which includes Hugh Bonneville, Keeley Hawes and Sally Hawkins!

#TheHollowCrown, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench & many more, returns soon to BBC Two #bbcshakespearehttps://t.co/VE0zT2QfH3

— BBC Two (@BBCTwo) January 21, 2016

1ST PHOTOS FROM 'HOLLOW CROWN: WAR OF ROSES' WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, JUDI DENCH! BBC TO MAKE 'HOWARD'S END' MINI SERIES! MILO VENTIMIGLIA, MANDY MOORE, JUSTIN HARTLEY IN 'BIRTHDAY' NBC DRAMEDY

'HOWARD'S END'

TO BECOME BBC MINI SERIES

Just some TV news for you today, people! Just when we thought we're done with early 20th century England on TV with the end of DOWNTON ABBEY, the era will return to the small screen through BBC's latest order: a new TV drama based on HOWARD'S END novel by E. M. Forster! As 'Deadline' reports, Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award nominated screenwriter and playwright Kenneth Lonergan is penning the series which explores the changing landscape of social and class divisions in early 20th century England through the prism of three families: the intellectual and idealistic Schlegels, the wealthy Wilcoxes from the world of business, and the working class Basts.

HOLLOW CROWN: WAR OF ROSES

FIRST PHOTOS WITH JUDI DENCH, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH  
You can also check out the first photos from BBC's and PBS second season of THE HOLLOW CROWN TV series, the adaptations of Shakespeare's works! This time titled THE WAR OF THE ROSES it will bring lavish adaptations of 'Henry VI', Parts I and II, and 'Richard III' describing rebellion in France, Civil War in England, rise and fall of Joan Of Arc! Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Tom Sturidge will be wearing crowns together with the supporting cast which includes Hugh Bonneville, Keeley Hawes and Sally Hawkins!

NBC'S 'BIRTHDAY' SERIES

CASTS JUSTIN HARTLEY, MANDY MOORE, MILO VENTIMIGLIA

Over in USA, NBC is rounding up the cast for Dan Fogelman's (GALAVANT) so called BIRTHDAY dramedy series following eight leading characters who were all born on the same day! As 'Variety' reports the pilot of the potential one hour series has already gathered up some well known young faces for the cast including HEROES' and GILMORE GIRLS' Milo Ventimiglia, pop star Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Sterling Brown and Ron Cephas Jones. Ventimiglia and Moore will be a couple just moved into their new home in Pittsburg and expecting triplets. REVENGE's Hartley will be handsome and successful television actor with an underlining boredom in his ultimate bachelor life.

MONDAY VISUAL TREATS: FIRST PHOTOS OF BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH AS 'DOCTOR STRANGE' AND MICHAEL FASSBENDER IN 'ASSASSIN'S CREED'

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

IN THE FIRST PHOTO AS MARVEL'S 'DOCTOR STRANGE'

Only a couple of visual treats for you for the beginning of the last week this year! This week's cover of Entertain- ment Weekly gives you the first look at Benedict Cumber -batch as DOCTOR STRANGE! We probably should not expect a trailer any time soon since the shooting is still on! This film will be somewhat different from others in the Marvel Universe with Cumberbatch playing a surgeon who turns into a powerful sorcerer! The unusual cast also includes Tilda Swinton (as the female Ancient One), Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Scott Adkins and Mads Mikkelsen (as the main villain whose name is yet to be revealed)!

MICHAEL FASSBENDER IN

NEW 'ASSASSIN'S CREED' PHOTO  
We also have a new photo of Michael Fassbender in the adaptation of famous video game ASSASSIN'S CREED revealing more of his hooded costume. In a film opening in a year's time, he will play both the modern assassin and his 15th century ancestor whose memories he can use through technology. Marion Cotillard, Brendan Gleeson and Jeremy Irons also star.