Warning: contains major spoilers for the Magpie Murders finale.
With Magpie Murders, you get double bubble – one investigation in the ‘real’ world as literary editor Susan Ryeland sleuths her way around modern-day Suffolk after the death of one of her authors, plus a 1950s-set dramatisation of that author’s latest detective novel. Both stories are told side by side on screen as actors play dual roles, and Anthony Horowitz’s adaptation of his own novel keeps multiple plates spinning. All that, plus a truly lovely wardrobe worn by the impeccably dressed Lesley Manville in the lead role of Ryeland, and a new instant favourite detective in Tim McMullan’s Poirot-tinged Atticus Pünd. What more could cosy crime fans ask for?
Another series is one thing – a wish that’s already been granted. Expect Moonflower Murders to start filming in Dublin later this year, ready to debut on the BBC...
With Magpie Murders, you get double bubble – one investigation in the ‘real’ world as literary editor Susan Ryeland sleuths her way around modern-day Suffolk after the death of one of her authors, plus a 1950s-set dramatisation of that author’s latest detective novel. Both stories are told side by side on screen as actors play dual roles, and Anthony Horowitz’s adaptation of his own novel keeps multiple plates spinning. All that, plus a truly lovely wardrobe worn by the impeccably dressed Lesley Manville in the lead role of Ryeland, and a new instant favourite detective in Tim McMullan’s Poirot-tinged Atticus Pünd. What more could cosy crime fans ask for?
Another series is one thing – a wish that’s already been granted. Expect Moonflower Murders to start filming in Dublin later this year, ready to debut on the BBC...
- 4/19/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
As part of its Tuesday panel at the Television Critics Association 2023 winter press tour, Masterpiece has announced two new projects including a biographical series about Noele “Nolly” Gordon starring Helena Bonham Carter and “Moonflower Murders,” the follow up project to “Magpie Murders,” are in the works for the network.
“Nolly” tells the story of the British soap opera legend whose unceremonious firing from her hit show at the height of her career was front-page news. As one of the most famous faces on British TV in the 1960s and ’70s, Gordon is described as a woman who refused to play by the rules and ultimately transformed into a forgotten icon after the industry turned on her. Carter will star in the titular role.
“Doctor Who” showrunner Russell T. Davies penned the script. “Nolly” marks the first production from Nicola Shindler’s new production company Quay Street Productions, which is part of ITV Studios.
“Nolly” tells the story of the British soap opera legend whose unceremonious firing from her hit show at the height of her career was front-page news. As one of the most famous faces on British TV in the 1960s and ’70s, Gordon is described as a woman who refused to play by the rules and ultimately transformed into a forgotten icon after the industry turned on her. Carter will star in the titular role.
“Doctor Who” showrunner Russell T. Davies penned the script. “Nolly” marks the first production from Nicola Shindler’s new production company Quay Street Productions, which is part of ITV Studios.
- 1/17/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
One for sorrow, two for joy.
Three for a girl, four for a boy.
Five for silver, six for gold.
Seven for a story yet to be told.
Or, in the case of this “Magpie,” make that two stories yet to be told.
The latest limited series from PBS’s Masterpiece, “Magpie Murders,” may be derived from the popular children’s nursery rhyme, but the way director Peter Cattaneo unfolds the mystery within a mystery in this whodunnit is anything but child’s play.
The story, based on the 2016 novel by Anthony Hororwitz (the first in The Susan Ryeland series), begins when famed author Alan Conway dies shortly after handing in his new manuscript: “Magpie Murders.” The man’s death is suspicious, and the final chapter of his story is missing, setting up a meta mystery within a mystery that’s as much fun to follow as it is to solve.
Three for a girl, four for a boy.
Five for silver, six for gold.
Seven for a story yet to be told.
Or, in the case of this “Magpie,” make that two stories yet to be told.
The latest limited series from PBS’s Masterpiece, “Magpie Murders,” may be derived from the popular children’s nursery rhyme, but the way director Peter Cattaneo unfolds the mystery within a mystery in this whodunnit is anything but child’s play.
The story, based on the 2016 novel by Anthony Hororwitz (the first in The Susan Ryeland series), begins when famed author Alan Conway dies shortly after handing in his new manuscript: “Magpie Murders.” The man’s death is suspicious, and the final chapter of his story is missing, setting up a meta mystery within a mystery that’s as much fun to follow as it is to solve.
- 10/14/2022
- by Amber Dowling
- Variety Film + TV
We get two whodunits for the price of one in the twisty six-parter Magpie Murders, adapted by Anthony Horowitz from his bestseller. Lesley Manville (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) stars as shrewd British book editor Susan Ryeland, who becomes convinced her top author, Alan Conway (Conleth Hill), was killed after he turns in his final mystery minus the last chapter. (Credit: Bernard Walsh/PBS) To solve both murders, she needs those missing pages, and she gets advice from an unlikely source: the detective in Conway’s 1950s-set novel, Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullan), whom she talks with in her mind as Pünd’s investigation simultaneously unfolds. “It’s weird, isn’t it?” jokes Manville. That device (unique to the TV series), and the fact that Susan defies the conventions of women her age, appealed to the Oscar nominee. “She’s chosen not to get married, not to have children. She’s...
- 8/14/2022
- TV Insider
Exclusive: Anthony Horowitz believes his upcoming Magpie Murders adaptation is “the first time I’ve really got it right,” and has stated he will no longer write on classic TV murder mysteries.
The renowned UK author has adapted many of his novels for TV including Stormbreaker, The Diamond Brothers and South By South East, but Horowitz thinks PBS Masterpiece/BritBox’s Magpie Murders from Jill Green’s Eleventh Hour Films is a greater achievement.
The six-parter took two years to pen and involved around half a dozen drafts, Horowitz told Deadline, and while the mystery-within-a-mystery format threw up a multitude of challenges, the author said this is “the first time I’ve really got it right.”
“The whole book-within-a-book thing is really difficult,” he explained. “In the book the mysteries happen one at a time whereas in the show I wanted to do them simultaneously and that gave me the...
The renowned UK author has adapted many of his novels for TV including Stormbreaker, The Diamond Brothers and South By South East, but Horowitz thinks PBS Masterpiece/BritBox’s Magpie Murders from Jill Green’s Eleventh Hour Films is a greater achievement.
The six-parter took two years to pen and involved around half a dozen drafts, Horowitz told Deadline, and while the mystery-within-a-mystery format threw up a multitude of challenges, the author said this is “the first time I’ve really got it right.”
“The whole book-within-a-book thing is really difficult,” he explained. “In the book the mysteries happen one at a time whereas in the show I wanted to do them simultaneously and that gave me the...
- 2/9/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Distinguished British actor Tim McMullan is playing the role of detective Atticus Pünd in the PBS Masterpiece, BritBox U.K. and Eleventh Hour Films series adaptation of “Magpie Murders,” Anthony Horowitz’s international bestseller.
Previously announced actor Timothy Spall had to step away from the production due to a scheduling clash.
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art trained McMullan’s theater credits include “Anthony and Cleopatra,” “Twelfth Night,” “Man vs Superman,” “Father and Sons” and “The Master and Margarita.” His screen credits include “The Crown” as Robin Woods, Bernard Jenkins in “Brexit” and Sonny in “Patrick Melrose.”
Joining McMullan in the cast is BAFTA-nominated Daniel Mays.
“Magpie Murders” revolves around the character Susan Ryeland, played by Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville (“Phantom Thread”), an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript by bestselling mystery writer Alan Conway, featuring Conway’s detective Atticus Pünd – and has little idea it will change her life.
Previously announced actor Timothy Spall had to step away from the production due to a scheduling clash.
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art trained McMullan’s theater credits include “Anthony and Cleopatra,” “Twelfth Night,” “Man vs Superman,” “Father and Sons” and “The Master and Margarita.” His screen credits include “The Crown” as Robin Woods, Bernard Jenkins in “Brexit” and Sonny in “Patrick Melrose.”
Joining McMullan in the cast is BAFTA-nominated Daniel Mays.
“Magpie Murders” revolves around the character Susan Ryeland, played by Oscar-nominee Lesley Manville (“Phantom Thread”), an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript by bestselling mystery writer Alan Conway, featuring Conway’s detective Atticus Pünd – and has little idea it will change her life.
- 5/21/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Timothy Spall has dropped out of PBS/BritBox crime series Magpie Murders due to a scheduling clash and has been replaced by Tim McMullan (The Serpent). White Lines and Code 404 actor Daniel Mays has also joined the cast.
McMullan will star as the clever and complex detective Atticus Pünd in the six-part series about editor Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville), who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel but has little idea it will change her life.
Magpie Murders is based on Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling novel of the same name, with the author adapting his own work for the screen. The Full Monty helmer Peter Cattaneo has been set as the director. Other cast includes Pippa Haywood (Bodyguard), Michael Maloney (The Crown), and Game Of Thrones star Conleth Hill.
Magpie Murders is an Eleventh Hour Films production for Masterpiece and BritBox UK, with Sony Pictures Television distributing worldwide.
McMullan will star as the clever and complex detective Atticus Pünd in the six-part series about editor Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville), who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel but has little idea it will change her life.
Magpie Murders is based on Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling novel of the same name, with the author adapting his own work for the screen. The Full Monty helmer Peter Cattaneo has been set as the director. Other cast includes Pippa Haywood (Bodyguard), Michael Maloney (The Crown), and Game Of Thrones star Conleth Hill.
Magpie Murders is an Eleventh Hour Films production for Masterpiece and BritBox UK, with Sony Pictures Television distributing worldwide.
- 5/21/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Mr Turner and Summer Of Rockets actor Timothy Spall has joined Lesley Manville to headline PBS/BritBox crime series Magpie Murders, which goes into production next week in Suffolk and Ireland.
The five-time BAFTA nominee will star as the clever and complex detective Atticus Pünd in the six-part series about editor Susan Ryeland (Manville), who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel but has little idea it will change her life.
Magpie Murders is based on Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling novel of the same name, with the author adapting his own work for the screen. The Full Monty helmer Peter Cattaneo has been set as the director.
Magpie Murders is an Eleventh Hour Films production for Masterpiece and BritBox UK, with Sony Pictures Television distributing worldwide. It will premiere next year.
The five-time BAFTA nominee will star as the clever and complex detective Atticus Pünd in the six-part series about editor Susan Ryeland (Manville), who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel but has little idea it will change her life.
Magpie Murders is based on Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling novel of the same name, with the author adapting his own work for the screen. The Full Monty helmer Peter Cattaneo has been set as the director.
Magpie Murders is an Eleventh Hour Films production for Masterpiece and BritBox UK, with Sony Pictures Television distributing worldwide. It will premiere next year.
- 3/5/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Timothy Spall will star alongside Lesley Manville in the Masterpiece, BritBox UK and Eleventh Hour Films adaptation of “Magpie Murders,” Anthony Horowitz’s international bestseller.
Spall will play detective Atticus Pünd in the mystery-within-a-mystery in “Magpie Murders.” In the story, book editor Susan Ryeland (Manville) sits down to read the latest manuscript written by her popular author, Alan Conway, the writer behind the popular Atticus Pünd mystery series. When she discovers that its final chapter is missing, she goes to Conway’s house only to find his dead body. The story goes back and forth between the cozy case Pünd was trying to crack and Ryeland’s investigation of what happened to Conway.
Horowitz, who created the BBC mystery shows “Foyle’s War” and “Midsomer Murders,” has adapted “Magpie Murders” as a six-episode series. Production begins next week in England and Ireland, and “Magpie Murders” will air on Masterpiece on PBS next year.
Spall will play detective Atticus Pünd in the mystery-within-a-mystery in “Magpie Murders.” In the story, book editor Susan Ryeland (Manville) sits down to read the latest manuscript written by her popular author, Alan Conway, the writer behind the popular Atticus Pünd mystery series. When she discovers that its final chapter is missing, she goes to Conway’s house only to find his dead body. The story goes back and forth between the cozy case Pünd was trying to crack and Ryeland’s investigation of what happened to Conway.
Horowitz, who created the BBC mystery shows “Foyle’s War” and “Midsomer Murders,” has adapted “Magpie Murders” as a six-episode series. Production begins next week in England and Ireland, and “Magpie Murders” will air on Masterpiece on PBS next year.
- 3/5/2021
- by Kate Aurthur
- Variety Film + TV
Sony-backed Eleventh Hour Films has signed up The Crown star Lesley Manville to lead the cast of its PBS/BritBox crime series Magpie Murders, while The Full Monty helmer Peter Cattaneo has been set as the director.
Oscar and BAFTA-nominated Manville will star as Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel but has little idea it will change her life. The six-part series is based on Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling novel of the same name, with the author adapting his own work for the screen.
Manville said Ryeland is a “fabulous” character, while Cattaneo added: “Anthony has adapted his novel into wonderfully witty and richly layered scripts. Two cleverly intertwined stories, and a host of fascinating characters led by Lesley Manville make this an irresistible opportunity for a director.”
Manville was Oscar-nominated for her role in 2018’s Phantom Thread...
Oscar and BAFTA-nominated Manville will star as Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel but has little idea it will change her life. The six-part series is based on Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling novel of the same name, with the author adapting his own work for the screen.
Manville said Ryeland is a “fabulous” character, while Cattaneo added: “Anthony has adapted his novel into wonderfully witty and richly layered scripts. Two cleverly intertwined stories, and a host of fascinating characters led by Lesley Manville make this an irresistible opportunity for a director.”
Manville was Oscar-nominated for her role in 2018’s Phantom Thread...
- 1/21/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Lesley Manville is set to star in the upcoming adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s crime novel Magpie Murders for PBS Masterpiece and Britbox UK, with Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) attached to direct.
Manville — an Oscar and BAFTA nominee for Phantom Thread who is set to portray Princess Margaret in the fifth and sixth seasons of The Crown — will play Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest mystery novel, with little idea it will change her life.
“Fans of Anthony Horowitz’s highly acclaimed, thrilling novel will be utterly delighted that it is ...
Manville — an Oscar and BAFTA nominee for Phantom Thread who is set to portray Princess Margaret in the fifth and sixth seasons of The Crown — will play Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest mystery novel, with little idea it will change her life.
“Fans of Anthony Horowitz’s highly acclaimed, thrilling novel will be utterly delighted that it is ...
- 1/21/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lesley Manville is set to star in the upcoming adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s crime novel Magpie Murders for PBS Masterpiece and Britbox UK, with Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) attached to direct.
Manville — an Oscar and BAFTA nominee for Phantom Thread who is set to portray Princess Margaret in the fifth and sixth seasons of The Crown — will play Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest mystery novel, with little idea it will change her life.
“Fans of Anthony Horowitz’s highly acclaimed, thrilling novel will be utterly delighted that it is ...
Manville — an Oscar and BAFTA nominee for Phantom Thread who is set to portray Princess Margaret in the fifth and sixth seasons of The Crown — will play Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest mystery novel, with little idea it will change her life.
“Fans of Anthony Horowitz’s highly acclaimed, thrilling novel will be utterly delighted that it is ...
- 1/21/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The BBC and ITV’s joint-venture streamer BritBox has pulled the curtain back on its first slate of UK drama originals, just weeks after Deadline revealed that Damian Lewis and Dominic West will star in an adaptation of A Spy Among Friends for the streamer.
Building on the Kim Philby espionage thriller, which BritBox is co-producing with Spectrum Originals, the subscription video service has announced three fresh projects — all of which are literary adaptations with British writing, directing, and acting talent at their core. They will premiere in 2021.
First up, New Regency Television and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Films will make The Beast Must Die, an adaption of the 1938 novel of the same name by Nicholas Blake, the nom de plume of poet Cecil Day-Lewis, father of Daniel Day-Lewis. It tells the story of a grieving mother who infiltrates the life of the man she believes killed her son.
Building on the Kim Philby espionage thriller, which BritBox is co-producing with Spectrum Originals, the subscription video service has announced three fresh projects — all of which are literary adaptations with British writing, directing, and acting talent at their core. They will premiere in 2021.
First up, New Regency Television and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Films will make The Beast Must Die, an adaption of the 1938 novel of the same name by Nicholas Blake, the nom de plume of poet Cecil Day-Lewis, father of Daniel Day-Lewis. It tells the story of a grieving mother who infiltrates the life of the man she believes killed her son.
- 7/22/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: PBS’ Masterpiece is set to co-produce and broadcast murder mystery Magpie Murders, a six-part drama series based on Foyle’s War creator Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling novel. An air date has not been announced.
Adapted by Horowitz for television, Magpie Murders revolves around the character Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel, but has little idea it will change her life.
The series is produced by Jill Green and Eleventh Hour Films.
Lauded as “a magnificent piece of crime fiction” and “an ingenious novel within a novel” by the Sunday Times (London), Magpie Murders topped multiple best-seller lists including the New York Times and Los Angeles Times and appeared on the year-end Best Books lists of NPR, USA Today and others. Its international awards include the prestigious Macavity Award for Best Novel.
“Anthony Horowitz is a master mystery writer,...
Adapted by Horowitz for television, Magpie Murders revolves around the character Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel, but has little idea it will change her life.
The series is produced by Jill Green and Eleventh Hour Films.
Lauded as “a magnificent piece of crime fiction” and “an ingenious novel within a novel” by the Sunday Times (London), Magpie Murders topped multiple best-seller lists including the New York Times and Los Angeles Times and appeared on the year-end Best Books lists of NPR, USA Today and others. Its international awards include the prestigious Macavity Award for Best Novel.
“Anthony Horowitz is a master mystery writer,...
- 7/21/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Magnolia Pictures
Taking its cue from the real-life exploits of a con man who managed to pass himself off as Stanley Kubrick while the famed filmmaker was directing "Eyes Wide Shut", "Color Me Kubrick" is at best a kitschy "Catch Me If You Can" and at worst a tedious comedy that grows more tiresome by every self-consciously irreverent minute.
Directed by Brian Cook, a Kubrick assistant director, and written by author Anthony Frewin, who received an assistant credit on several of Kubrick's films, this John Malkovich vehicle strains for something droll, but the best it can muster up is a glib ennui that proves anything but colorful.
This Magnolia Pictures release debuts simultaneously on HDNet just ahead of a Tuesday DVD release, but it's unlikely many customers will take a shining to any of the various platforms.
Malkovich sluggishly drags out his trunk of trick accents to portray Alan Conway, a fey, passive-aggressive poseur who assumes the identity of the Bronx-born, U.K. resident despite looking or acting nothing like Kubrick or even knowing all that much about his life or work.
That doesn't seem to stop a parade of dupes -- especially of the young, male variety -- from being taken in by Conway. They take Conway in to their homes and lives, blindly allowing him to leech off of their star-struck good intentions.
Conway's bad behavior ultimately catches up with him, but it's long past the point of caring anymore on the viewer's end.
Despite a lively supporting ensemble, including long-time-no-seen Honor Blackman, Marisa Berenson and Ken Russell, "Color Me Kubrick" is a faux farce that fails to make for a convincing piece of entertainment.
Taking its cue from the real-life exploits of a con man who managed to pass himself off as Stanley Kubrick while the famed filmmaker was directing "Eyes Wide Shut", "Color Me Kubrick" is at best a kitschy "Catch Me If You Can" and at worst a tedious comedy that grows more tiresome by every self-consciously irreverent minute.
Directed by Brian Cook, a Kubrick assistant director, and written by author Anthony Frewin, who received an assistant credit on several of Kubrick's films, this John Malkovich vehicle strains for something droll, but the best it can muster up is a glib ennui that proves anything but colorful.
This Magnolia Pictures release debuts simultaneously on HDNet just ahead of a Tuesday DVD release, but it's unlikely many customers will take a shining to any of the various platforms.
Malkovich sluggishly drags out his trunk of trick accents to portray Alan Conway, a fey, passive-aggressive poseur who assumes the identity of the Bronx-born, U.K. resident despite looking or acting nothing like Kubrick or even knowing all that much about his life or work.
That doesn't seem to stop a parade of dupes -- especially of the young, male variety -- from being taken in by Conway. They take Conway in to their homes and lives, blindly allowing him to leech off of their star-struck good intentions.
Conway's bad behavior ultimately catches up with him, but it's long past the point of caring anymore on the viewer's end.
Despite a lively supporting ensemble, including long-time-no-seen Honor Blackman, Marisa Berenson and Ken Russell, "Color Me Kubrick" is a faux farce that fails to make for a convincing piece of entertainment.
- 3/23/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PARIS -- French movie group Europa Corp. has come on board the English-language comedy Colour Me Kubrick, starring John Malkovich, which started shooting over the weekend, Europa's Pierre-Ange Le Pogam said Monday. The film is based on a true story. Malkovich plays Alan Conway, who began impersonating Stanley Kubrick during the shoot of Eyes Wide Shut, crashing parties in the guise of the legendary director despite the fact that he looked nothing like him. Perhaps taking his impersonating too far, Conway died just four months before the director's own demise in 1999. The movie is directed and produced by Brian Cook, who was first assistant on the Kubrick movies Eyes Wide Shut, The Shining and Barry Lyndon.
- 1/13/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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