Interview Magazine: In The Bikeriders, a movie pumped up with ostentatious displays of masculinity, it’s Jodie Comer who steals the show. As Kathy, wife to Austin Butler’s character Benny, the Liverpool native transforms into a pugnacious Midwesterner who brings pathos and vulnerability to the real-life story about a ’60s-era motorcycle club and the men who’d die for it. It’s further proof that the former Killing Eve star is an actor without limits. One person amazed by Comer’s skills is Jodie Foster, who got on a call with her name-twin to talk about emotional triggers, film-set politics, and theatrical trauma.
JODIE COMER: Hi Jodie, how’s it going?
JODIE FOSTER: Good, Jodie! I’m so excited.
COMER: Thank you for taking the time to do this. I’m so appreciative.
FOSTER: I got to see The Bikeriders last night, so that was fun.
COMER: Oh, brilliant. So it’s fresh?
FOSTER: Totally fresh. We’ll get into that, but first and most importantly, how did your mom come up with your name? I need to know.
COMER: [Laughs] My mom said that Jodie was always clear to her. If I was going to be a boy, I’d be Kieran, but I ended up being a girl.
FOSTER: The spelling is really uncommon. I think my mom decided she invented the spelling. She said if you put an “e” at the end, it would be the girl’s version.
COMER: It’s true. I haven’t met a lot of Jodies.
FOSTER: I really loved watching The Bikeriders, and it amazes me that you’re able to transform so completely. I don’t know how you do it!
COMER: Thank you. I had an initial conversation with Jeff [Nichols, the director] on Zoom, and he sent the script over, and I was aware that it was based on a book of photographs by Danny Lyon. There were a couple of images of this woman Kathy, and then he was like, “Just so you know, I have 30 minutes of audio of her.” I was like, “Why is this not in my inbox?” It was in that moment, listening to the clip, where I felt like I had an insight as to who this woman was. I could hear the way she carried herself through the way she spoke, and that ignited my imagination.
EXCLUSIVE: Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh looks to have found his next director outing as well as landing an top tier star to lead the film as sources tell Deadline Emmy and BAFTA winner Jodie Comer is set to star in Branagh’s new film The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde, which he wrote and will direct. The film is being described as a contemporary psychological thriller but logline is being kept under wraps. The independently financed film will begin production in August in the UK.
Branagh will re-team with his Belfast producers Tamar Thomas, Laura Berwick, and Becca Kovacik, along with Matthew Jenkins, and Maximum Effort’s Ashley Fox and Johnny Pariseau. When word got out in recent weeks Branagh had his new project ready to go, the town was a buzz especially since his last original script, Belfast, won him an Oscar. Given how busy Comer is, her quick attachment is a good sign Branagh has another exciting original story in store for audiences.
Speaking of that busy schedule, Comer most recently starred in The End We Start From, a thriller from Benedict Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch, Hera Pictures, Anton and BBC Film. The film was released in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles on December 8, 2023 and expanded in U.S. theaters on January 19, 2024.
Next, Comer will star in Jeff Nichols’ upcoming drama, The Bikeriders, alongside Tom Hardy and Austin Butler. The film is set to be released by Focus Features in on June 21, 2024. Comer will soon begin production for director Danny Boyle’s newest installment in the 28 Years Later trilogy, alongside Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell.
Branagh most recently co-starred in Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture winning Oppenheimer. He recently wrapped production starring in Mayday opposite Ryan Reynolds for Apple Original Films and Skydance, and later this year will return to the stage to play King Lear opening at the Shed in New York in October, co-directing with Rob Ashford & Lucy Skilbeck. He last directed and starred in A Haunting in Venice, the final installment in his Agatha Christie trilogy for Disney. In 2021, Branagh won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Belfast, which also received an additional six nominations including Best Picture and Best Director.
Branagh is repped by WME, Berwick & Kovacik, Gochman Law Group and Comer is repped by Independent Talent Group, WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
Source: Deadline Hollywood
Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer are heading to Sherwood Forest for one last hurrah.
The “Wolverine” star and the “Killing Eve” actress are attached to star in “The Death of Robin Hood,” a cheery-sounding new film from Michael Sarnoski, the director of the critically-acclaimed “Pig” and this summer’s “A Quiet Place: Day One.”
According to the official logline, the film will find Robin Hood “grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder.” Instead of the merry outlaw seen in certain previous versions of the story like the one portrayed by Errol Flynn, this Robin Hood is “a battleworn loner [who] finds himself gravely injured and in the hands of a mysterious woman, who offers him a chance at salvation.” It sounds reminiscent of Richard Lester’s elegiac take on the popular story, “Robin and Marian,” a 1976 film starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn as a middled-aged Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
Production on “The Death of Robin Hood” is set to begin in February 2025. “It has been an incredible opportunity to reinvent and freshly innovate the story we all know of Robin Hood,” Sarnoski said in a statement. “Securing the perfect cast to transform the script to screen was essential. I could not be more thrilled and trusting in Hugh and Jodie to bring this story to life in a powerful and meaningful way.”
Jackman will next be seen flashing his Adamantium claws opposite Ryan Reynolds in this summer’s “Deadpool & Wolverine.” His other credits include “The Greatest Showman” and his Oscar-nominated role in “Les Miserables.” On stage, he won a Tony Award for his performance in “The Boy From Oz.”
Comer won an Emmy for her work on “Killing Eve” and a Tony Award for her one-woman performance in “Prima Facie.” She also starred in Ridley Scott’s “The Last Duel” alongside Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and can next be seen in “The Bikeriders” co-starring with Austin Butler and Tom Hardy.
Jackman is represented by WME. Comer is represented by WME and Independent Talent Group. Sarnoski is represented by WME, MGMT Entertainment and Derek Kroeger.
Lyrical Media is fully financing “The Death of Robin Hood.” Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett will produce under their Ryder Picture Company banner alongside Alexander Black for Lyrical Media. Lyrical’s Jon Rosenberg and Natalie Sellers will executive produce with Rama Gottumukkala, Sarnoski and Jackman. WME Independent will represent the worldwide sales rights to the film in Cannes this month.
Source: Variety
EXCLUSIVE: The new 28 Years Later trilogy from director Danny Boyle and Sony Pictures is gaining momentum, and some serious star power. Sources tell Deadline that Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes have boarded the first pic, a sequel to the original 28 Days Later.
Boyle is directing the first movie from a script by Alex Garland. Sony will release the film in theaters globally.
While plot details are vague, the original 28 Days Later in 2002 centered on a bicycle courier (played by Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to discover the world had been overrun with zombies following the outbreak of a virus. The pic grossed more than $82 million worldwide and led to a 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, on which Boyle and Garland served solely as EPs.
Deadline recently broke the news that the studio has already tapped Candyman director Nia DaCosta to helm the second part of the trilogy, and that the plan is to shoot both films back to back. As for the three newest cast members, the studio is clearly showing it means business, adding star power instead of going the lesser-known-actor route like in previous installments.
Boyle and Garland are also producing 28 Years Later, as is original producer Andrew Macdonald and Peter Rice. Bernie Bellew is also producing. Murphy is also returning as an executive producer.
Following her star-making and Emmy-winning role in Killing Eve, Comer has stayed busy on the feature film side, starring in such films as Free Guy opposite Ryan Reynolds and in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. Next up, she can be seen in Focus Features’ The Bikeriders opposite Tom Hardy and Austin Butler.
For Taylor-Johnson, the job continues his strong partnership with Sony following a scene-stealing role in Bullet Train as well as the upcoming Marvel pic Kraven the Hunter. Next up, he’s in the Universal tentpole The Fall Guy that bows next week and also stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. He also has Focus’ gothic horror pic Nosferatu bowing this Christmas.
The Oscar-nominated Fiennes is currently finishing a 4-city International run of the sold out play, Macbeth in Washington, DC. The play was performed in Liverpool, London, and Edinburgh to sold out audiences in every city and to rave reviews He finishes his run in DC on May 5th. This fall he stars in two films, Conclave directed Edward Berger which will be released by Focus features and The Return directed by Uberto Pasolini opposite Juliette Binoche which will be released by Bleecker street
Comer is repped by Independent Talent Group, WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Fiennes is repped by 42 and CAA. Johnson is repped by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and David Weber.
Source: Deadline
I’ve updated our photo gallery with 64 pictures of Jodie Comer from “The End We Start From” UK Gala Premiere on January 9, 2024. Make sure you check them out by clicking the thumbnails below. Enjoy!
GALLERY LINK
Public Appearances from 2024 > January 9 | “The End We Start From” UK Gala Premiere
In NY & LA theatres December 8
Expanding nationwide in January 2024Featuring: Jodie Comer, Joel Fry, Katherine Waterson, Gina McKee, Nina Sosanya, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch
When an environmental crisis sees London submerged by flood waters, a young family is torn apart in the chaos. As a woman (Jodie Comer) and her newborn try and find their way home, the profound novelty of motherhood is brought into sharp focus in this intimate and poetic portrayal of family survival.
GALLERY LINK
Magazine Scans & Publications > Magazines from 2024 > February | Empire UK Magazine
Photoshoots & Portraits > Photoshoots from 2024 > Empire UK
US Release Date: December 8, 2023
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jodie Comer, Joel Fry
Director: Mahalia Belo
Synopsis: A woman tries to find her way home with her newborn while an environmental crisis submerges London in floodwaters.
“The Bikeriders” is a furious drama following the rise of a fictional 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club through the lives of its members. Inspired by Danny Lyon’s iconic book of photography, “The Bikeriders” immerses you in the look, feel, and sounds of the bare-knuckled, grease-covered subculture of ’60s motorcycle riders. Kathy (Comer), a strong-willed member of the Vandals who’s married to a wild, reckless bikerider named Benny (Butler), recounts the Vandals’ evolution over the course of a decade, beginning as a local club of outsiders united by good times, rumbling bikes, and respect for their strong, steady leader Johnny (Hardy). Over the years, Kathy tries her best to navigate her husband’s untamed nature and his allegiance to Johnny, with whom she feels she must compete for Benny’s attention. As life in the Vandals gets more dangerous, and the club threatens to become a more sinister gang, Kathy, Benny, and Johnny are forced to make choices about their loyalty to the club and to each other.
“Aftersun” star Paul Mescal and “Killing Eve’s” Jodie Comer are among those nominated for Olivier Awards, the U.K.’s top theater awards.
Mescal has been nominated for Best Actor for his role in “A Streetcar Named Desire” while Comer is up for “Best Actress” for her turn in legal drama “Prima Facie.”
“My Neighbour Totoro,” the stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s animated classic, received the most noms, scoring nine, including for Best Director and Best Actress.
The awards, which will be hosted by “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham, are set to take place on April 2 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. They will be broadcast on ITV.
Check out the full list of nominations below:
Best Entertainment or Comedy Play
“Jack And The Beanstalk” at The London Palladium
“My Neighbour Totoro” at Barbican Theatre
“My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?)” at Garrick Theatre & Ambassadors Theatre
“One Woman Show” at Ambassadors TheatreBest Family Show
“Blippi The Musical” at Apollo Theatre
“Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show” at Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre
“Midsummer Mechanicals” at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe
“The Smartest Giant In Town” at St Martin’s TheatreBest Theatre Choreographer
Matt Cole for “Newsies” at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Lynne Page for “Standing At The Sky’s Edge” at National Theatre – Olivier
Kate Prince for “Sylvia” at The Old Vic
Basil Twist for Puppetry Direction for “My Neighbour Totoro” at Barbican TheatreBest Costume Design
Frankie Bradshaw for “Blues For An Alabama Sky” at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Hugh Durrant for “Jack And The Beanstalk” at The London Palladium
Jean Paul Gaultier for vJean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show” at Roundhouse
Kimie Nakano for “My Neighbour Totoro” at Barbican TheatreBest Revival
“The Crucible” at National Theatre – Olivier
“Good” at Harold Pinter Theatre
“Jerusalem” at Apollo Theatre
“A Streetcar Named Desire” at Almeida TheatreBest Musical Revival
“My Fair Lady” at London Coliseum
“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” at Young Vic
“Sister Act” at Eventim Apollo
“South Pacific” at Sadler’s WellsBest Sound Design
Bobby Aitken for “Standing At The Sky’s Edge” at National Theatre – Olivier
Tony Gayle for “My Neighbour Totoro” at Barbican Theatre
Drew Levy for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” at Young Vic
Ben & Max Ringham for “Prima Facie” at Harold Pinter TheatreBest Original Score or New Orchestrations
David Yazbek, Jamshied Sharifi & Andrea Grody – Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek, Orchestrations by Jamshied Sharifi & Additional Arrangements by Andrea Grody – “The Band’s Visit” at Donmar Warehouse
Joe Hisaishi & Will Stuart – Music by Joe Hisaishi & Orchestrations and Arrangements by Will Stuart – “My Neighbour Totoro” for Barbican Theatre
Daniel Kluger & Nathan Koci – Orchestrations and Arrangements by Daniel Kluger & Additional Vocal Arrangements by Nathan Koci – “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” at Young Vic
Richard Hawley & Tom Deering – Music and Lyrics by Richard Hawley & Orchestrations by Tom Deering – “Standing At The Sky’s Edge” at National Theatre – OlivierBest Actor in a Supporting Role
Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh & Kaine Lawrence for “For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy” at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at The Royal Court Theatre
Will Keen for “Patriots” at Almeida Theatre
Elliot Levey for “Good” at Harold Pinter Theatre
David Moorst for “To Kill A Mockingbird” at Gielgud Theatre
Sule Rimi for “Blues For An Alabama Sky” at National Theatre – LytteltonBest Actress in a Supporting Role
Rose Ayling-Ellis for “As You Like It” at @sohoplace
Pamela Nomvete for “To Kill A Mockingbird” at Gielgud Theatre
Caroline Quentin for “Jack Absolute Flies Again” at National Theatre – Olivier
Sharon Small for “Good” at Harold Pinter Theatre
Anjana Vasan for “A Streetcar Named Desire” at Almeida TheatreBest Set Design
Miriam Buether for “To Kill A Mockingbird” at Gielgud Theatre
Tom Pye for “My Neighbour Totoro” at Barbican Theatre
Ben Stones for “Standing At The Sky’s Edge” at National Theatre – Olivier
Mark Walters for “Jack And The Beanstalk” at The London PalladiumBest Lighting Design
Natasha Chivers for “Prima Facie” at Harold Pinter Theatre
Lee Curran for “A Streetcar Named Desire” at Almeida Theatre
Jessica Hung Han Yun for “My Neighbour Totoro” at Barbican Theatre
Tim Lutkin for “The Crucible at National Theatre” – OlivierBest Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Beverley Knight for “Sylvia” at The Old Vic
Maimuna Memon for “Standing At The Sky’s Edge” at National Theatre – Olivier
Liza Sadovy for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” at Young Vic
Marisha Wallace for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” at Young VicBest Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Sharif Afifi for “The Band’s Visit” at Donmar Warehouse
Peter Polycarpou for “The Band’s Visit” at Donmar Warehouse
Clive Rowe for “Sister Act” at Eventim Apollo
Zubin Varla for “Tammy Faye” at Almeida TheatreBest New Opera Production
“Alcina by Royal Opera” at Royal Opera House
“Least Like The Other” by Irish National Opera and Royal Opera at Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre
“Peter Grimes by Royal Opera” at Royal Opera House
“Sibyl” at Barbican TheatreOutstanding Achievement in Opera
Sinéad Campbell-Wallace for her performance in “Tosca” by English National Opera at London Coliseum
William Kentridge for his conception and direction of “Sibyl” at Barbican Theatre
Antony McDonald for his design of “Alcina” at Royal Opera HouseBest Actor in a Musical
Alon Moni Aboutboul for “The Band’s Visit” at Donmar Warehouse
Arthur Darvill for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” at Young Vic
Julian Ovenden for “South Pacific” at Sadler’s Wells
Andrew Rannells for “Tammy Faye” at Almeida TheatreBest Actress in a Musical
Katie Brayben for “Tammy Faye” at Almeida Theatre
Anoushka Lucas for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” at Young Vic
Miri Mesika for “The Band’s Visit” at Donmar Warehouse
Faith Omole for “Standing At The Sky’s Edge” at National Theatre – OlivierBest New Dance Production
“Light Of Passage” by Crystal Pite at Royal Opera House
“Pasionaria” by La Veronal at Sadler’s Wells
“Traplord” by Ivan Michael Blackstock at 180 Studios (The Strand)
“Triptych (The Missing Door, The Lost Room, And The Hidden Floor)” by Peeping Tom at Barbican TheatreOutstanding Achievement in Dance
Manuel Liñán for his choreography of “¡VIVA!” at Sadler’s Wells
Dickson Mbi for his choreography of “Enowate” at Sadler’s Wells
Raquel Meseguer Zafe for her dramaturgy of “Ruination” by Lost Dog at Royal Opera House – Linbury Theatre
Catrina Nisbett for her performance in “Family Honour” by Spoken Movement at Sadler’s WellsOutstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre
“Age Is A Feeling” at Soho Theatre
“Blackout Songs” at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs
“The P Word” at Bush Theatre
“Paradise Now!” at Bush Theatre
“Two Palestinians Go Dogging” at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at The Royal Court TheatreBest Director
Rebecca Frecknall for “A Streetcar Named Desire” at Almeida Theatre
Robert Hastie for “Standing At The Sky’s Edge” at National Theatre – Olivier
Justin Martin for “Prima Facie” at Harold Pinter Theatre
Phelim McDermott for “My Neighbour Totoro” at Barbican Theatre
Bartlett Sher for “To Kill A Mockingbird” at Gielgud TheatreBest Actress
Jodie Comer for “Prima Facie” at Harold Pinter Theatre
Patsy Ferran for “A Streetcar Named Desire” at Almeida Theatre
Mei Mac for “My Neighbour Totoro” at Barbican Theatre
Janet McTeer for “Phaedra” at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Nicola Walker for “The Corn Is Green” at National Theatre – LytteltonBest Actor
Tom Hollander for “Patriots” at Almeida Theatre
Paul Mescal for “A Streetcar Named Desire” at Almeida Theatre
Rafe Spall for “To Kill A Mockingbird” at Gielgud Theatre
David Tennant for “Good” at Harold Pinter Theatre
Giles Terera for “Blues For An Alabama Sky” at National Theatre – LytteltonBest New Play
“For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy” at Jerwood Theatre “Downstairs” at The Royal Court Theatre
“Patriots” at Almeida Theatre
“Prima Facie” at Harold Pinter Theatre
“To Kill A Mockingbird” at Gielgud TheatreBest New Musical
“The Band’s Visit” at Donmar Warehouse
“Standing At The Sky’s Edge” at National Theatre – Olivier
“Sylvia” at The Old Vic
“Tammy Faye” at Almeida Theatre
Source: Variety
