Exclusive Dreamland clip featuring an erratic Travis Fimmel

Just in time for the film’s digital debut, Vertical Entertainment has provided ComingSoon.net with an exclusive clip for the Margot Robbie-led Dreamland seeing Travis Fimmel’s George Evans on an erratic rampage on the hunt for the central couple. The clip can be viewed in the player below!

RELATED: Dreamland Trailer: Margot Robbie Stars in New Thriller Drama

Set amidst America’s struggle during the Great Depression, Dreamland follows Eugene Evans, a young man who dreams of escaping his small Texas town. His normal life takes a turn when he discovers a wounded, fugitive bank robber Allison Wells (Robbie) hiding closer than he could ever imagine. Torn between claiming the bounty for her capture and his growing attraction to the seductive criminal, nothing is as it seems, and Eugene must make a decision that will forever affect the lives of everyone he’s ever loved.

Click here to pre-order the period thriller drama!

The film stars Academy Award nominee Margot Robbie (I Tonya, Birds of Prey), Finn Cole (Peaky Blinders), Travis Fimmel (Warcraft, Vikings), Kerry Condon (Avengers: Infinity War) Lola Kirke (American Made), Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) and Darby Camp (Big Little Lies).

Dreamland is directed by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte from a screenplay written by Nicolaas Zwart. The film is being produced by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara of Lucky Chap Entertainment and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Rian Cahill of Automatik. Brad Feinstein of Romulus Entertainment is producing and financing.

RELATED: Christina Hodson & Margot Robbie Reunite for New Pirates of the Caribbean

The film had its world premiere last year at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and is currently in select theaters and is set to hit digital platforms tomorrow!

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Exclusive Iron Mask Clip Features a Brawling Arnold Schwarzenegger!

Lionsgate has provided ComingSoon.net with an exclusive clip from the forthcoming action-adventure flick Iron Mask! Featuring star Arnold Schwarzenegger brawling with some prisoners, you can check out the Iron Mask clip in the player below!

Click here to pre-order Iron Mask on Blu-ray + Digital Combo Pack!

RELATED: It’s Jackie Chan vs. Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Iron Mask Trailer

For the first time ever, screen legends Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan face off against each other in battle in this epic fantasy-adventure! In order to save his homeland from certain doom, a kung fu master (Chan) must escape from the maniacal James Hook (Schwarzenegger) in order to send his daughter a secret talisman that will allow her to control a massive and mythical dragon. This larger- than-life, globe-trotting tale – ranging from the impenetrable Tower of London to the fabled Silk Road and China’s Great Wall – also stars Rutger Hauer in one of the screen icon’s final performances.

The film stars Jason Flemyng (Jonathan Green), Yao Xingtong (Cheng Lan), Jackie Chan (Master), Arnold Schwarzenegger (James Hook), Anna Churina (Miss Dudley), Yuri Kolokolnikov (Iron Mask; Peter the Great), Martin Klebba (The Captain), Charles Dance (Lord Dudley), Christopher Fairbank (Grey) and Rutger Hauer (Ambassador).

RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Skydance Spy Series Acquired by Netflix

Iron Mask was directed by Oleg Stepchenko (Forbidden Kingdom), and arrives on Digital and On Demand November 20 followed by Blu-ray and DVD November 24!

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Michael B. Jordan’s Without Remorse pulled from Paramount schedule

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount Pictures has officially decided to remove their Michael B. Jordan-led Tom Clancy adaptation Without Remorse from their theatrical release schedule. Originally set to arrive in theaters on February 26, 2021, the thriller film is now reportedly eyeing for a streaming debut instead as Amazon Studios enters the final negotiations to acquire the film.

RELATED: HBO Max Coming to Amazon Fire Devices Tomorrow!

In addition, Paramount has also made some changes to their other films’ release date with How to Train Your Dragon director Dean Deblois’s upcoming live-action adaptation Micronauts also being removed from the current theatrical slate and vacating its previous June 4, 2021 release. Meanwhile, Lee Daniel’s The United States Vs. Billie Holiday has now been pushed back from February 12, 2021 to February 26, 2021.

Though not finalized, should the deal go through it would mark the third major film that Paramount has sold off to a streaming platform in the middle of the ongoing pandemic after the romantic comedy The Lovebirds and Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 were both acquired by Netflix.

Click here to purchase Tom Clancy’s original novel!

Jordan is set to play the role of Clancy hero John Clark, a recurring character in Clancy’s novels. Clark is an ex-Navy Seal who became a CIA operations officer. At first, he was a secondary character who helped Jack Ryan’s missions but the novel Without Remorse made him the lead and told his thrilling, yet tragic, origin tale. In the film, Clark seeks revenge after his girlfriend is killed by a Baltimore drug lord.

The film will be directed by Stefano Sollima (Sicario: Day of the Soldado) from a screenplay adapted by Taylor Sheridan. The cast also includes Jamie Bell (Jumper), Luke Mitchell (Blindspot), Cam Gigandet (Ice), Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim), Jacob Scipio (Bad Boys for Life), Brett Gelman (Stranger Things), Jack Kesy (Claws), and Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead).

It will be produced by Jordan, Akiva Goldsman (Transformers), Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec. Paramount Pictures is developing two film adaptations of Tom Clancy’s thriller novels Without Remorse and Rainbox Six with Jordan also set to star in the planned sequel.

RELATED: Paramount’s The Saint Reboot Lands Chris Pine to Star

John Clark has appeared in a number of Tom Clancy’s novels dating back to 1988’s The Cardinal and the Kremlin, as the darker side of the Jack Ryan character who works primarily in the field and typically operates by his own personal brand of ethics. The character was played by Willem Dafoe in Clear and Present Danger, starring Harrison Ford, and by Liev Schreiber in The Sum of All Fears starring Ben Affleck.

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CS Recommends: The Queen’s Gambit, Plus Toys & More!

Stuck inside? Don’t know what to watch/read/play/listen to? ComingSoon.net has got you covered. In this week’s CS Recommends our staff kicks off gives you solid tips on the best media to consume during your downtime, including The Queen’s Gambit and more! Check out our picks below!

RELATED: November 10 Blu-ray, Digital and DVD Releases

MAX EVRY’S RECOMMEND: Smarty Flutter

Click here to purchase!

This pre-school learning toy from Flycatcher is an interactive butterfly that your kid can “fly” around the house while it teaches them about directions, shapes, colors, and opposites. Motion sensors in it encourage physical activity and interactivity. It also helps develop emotional intelligence by calling out feelings that help kids recognize their own emotions. My daughter took to the bright colors and the interactivity of it immediately, and it’s a perfect toy for smaller children age 3 and up to have fun with while stuck inside!

KYLIE HEMMERT’S RECOMMEND: The Queen’s Gambit

Click here to purchase the novel!

Click here to watch The Queen’s Gambit!

In the series adaptation from Scott Frank and Allan Scott, Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Beth Harmon, a young woman who has grown up during the 1950s and 1960s with unresolved trauma, an addiction problem she developed at nine years old, and an uncanny knack for chess — a game that she eventually admits allows her to feel a sense of control. Based on the novel by Walter Tevis, The Queen’s Gambit is a gripping coming-of-age story of chess, addiction, and feminism, full of relatable and complex characters that will tear your heart out. The stunning performances, gorgeous visuals, and engaging writing must be noted, but more than anything I appreciated the essential and raw focus on addiction as we watch Beth grow dependent on the green tranquilizers her new home at the orphanage gives the children (which had me screaming at the screen), and how that develops the older she gets. Not just a character study, the story also gives a fascinating inside look at the world of competitive chess, which might give you more appreciation for something many consider just a simple board game.

GRANT HERMANNS’ RECOMMEND: Entourage

Click here to purchase!

With the entertainment industry still struggling to get back to delivering entertainment to audiences, now seems like the ultimate time to go back and see behind-the-scenes of the chaos of Hollywood’s inner workings in HBO’s Entourage. Loosely based on executive producer Mark Wahlberg’s own experiences as an up-and-coming star, the comedy series centers on an on-the-rise star as he navigates his career alongside brother and struggling actor Johnny “Drama” Chase, best bud and manager Eric “E” Murphy, good friend Salvatore “Turtle” Assante and agent Ari Gold. There may be a mild air of misogyny in the characters and their actions, but there’s a real charm to be had watching their journeys, especially in seeing the incorporation of real studios, celebrity cameos and clever spoofs of real Hollywood execs, and the outrageous antics of Jeremy Piven’s explosive agent, making for an endlessly entertaining ride from start to finish, even in its fairly weaker final seasons.

MAGGIE DELA PAZ’S RECOMMEND: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

Click here to purchase the film!

Click here to purchase the novel that inspired the film!

Starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, the film centers around the Baker family, composed of Tom and Kate Baker along with their twelve children. Due to Tom’s new job opportunity, they have no other choice but to move the whole family to a new town. However, things get more difficult when Kate also gets a career milestone of her own that would require her to leave the kids for a while. Because of this, Tom confidently took on the challenge of taking care of their children as well as other household responsibilities in order for Kate to follow her dreams. However, Tom will soon realize that he has signed up for more than what he bargained for as he struggles to find the time to balance the high demands from his new job while being an only parent to twelve kids, who are having a hard time adjusting to their new home.

Cheaper by the Dozen was based on Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey’s 1948 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. This 2003 family comedy film is definitely a delight to watch and a must-see film during the holidays. In addition to its charming and entertaining story, Steve Martin’s chemistry with the film’s young cast didn’t fail to bring in the laughs. Despite having a poor critical performance, the Shawn Levy-directed film was still able to gain a worldwide gross of more than $190 million against a reported $40 million budget. Even though the film didn’t appeal much to the critics, I believe that it better caters to young audiences, who will find themselves relating to the Baker kids’ chaotic energy, especially if they belong to big families.

So, if you’re looking for something fun and easy to watch, I highly-recommend you to check out or revisit Cheaper by the Dozen!

JEFF AMES’ Recommend: Ransom

Click here to purchase!

It’s been years since I’ve watch Ron Howard’s Ransom, mainly because you can’t find the damned thing anywhere. It’s available for Blu-ray, sure, but currently absent from any and all streaming services for rent or purchase. (Can we get a 4K version, please?) Luckily, I stumbled upon my dusty old, scratch-infested DVD copy of the flick and got the film working long enough to enjoy this potboiler centered around a kidnapping. Mel Gibson, perhaps in the height of his superstardom right after Braveheart and just before Lethal Weapon 4 and The Patriot, stars and whoa boy does the actor deliver in one of his strongest, most emotionally charged performances. However, the real MVP of the pic is Gary Sinise, here, too, at his peak (right after the one-two punch of Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 and just before Snake Eyes, Reindeer Games and, gulp, Mission to Mars), who delivers a sinister portrayal of a man doing a very bad thing for very personal reasons. His scenes with Gibson in which the two engage in over-the-phone, F-bomb laced shouting matches are thrilling to watch; and Howard directs with the same intense-fueled flare he brought to Apollo 13. Sure, the film is never as good as it probably should be, but as a weekend flick for the thrill-seeking crowd, you can’t do much better.

ComingSoon.net recommends all readers comply with CDC guidelines and remain as isolated as possible during this urgent time.

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Peter Stormare teases potential Constantine sequel in development

After rumors began swirling earlier this year that a new live-action film centered on the DC Comics character was in the works at Warner Bros. and Bad Robot Productions, Constantine star Peter Stormare has taken to Instagram with the tease a sequel to the Keanu Reeves-starring adaptation is currently in the works.

RELATED: Constantine Director Says Keanu Reeves Has Always Wanted a Sequel

 

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Based on the DC Comics’ Hellblazer comic book created by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, and John Ridgway and written by Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis (among other notable writers who have contributed to the series), the 2005 movie adaptation follows John Constantine (Reeves), a cynical supernatural exorcist and demonologist with the ability to perceive and communicate with half-angels and half-demons in their true form. Constantine, who is seeking salvation from eternal damnation in Hell for a suicide attempt in his youth, exorcises demons back to Hell to earn favor with Heaven but has become weary over time. He eventually helps a police detective (Rachel Weisz) to prove her sister’s death was not a suicide while simultaneously unraveling a much larger and darker plot.

Pick up your copy of Hellblazer, Vol. 1: Original Sins here!

The movie, written by Kevin Brodbin and Frank A. Cappello from a story by Kevin Brodbin, also starred Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale, and Peter Stormare.

RELATED: Constantine Movie Rumored in Development at Warner Bros.

A rumor recently surfaced that a new live-action film focused on the sorcerer is in development at Warner Bros. Though it’s currently unclear as to who would star in the film as Constantine, given the recent cult following surrounding Reeves’ initially derided outing and his resurgence in popularity at the box office with the John Wick franchise and the forthcoming The Matrix 4 and Bill and Ted Face the Music, as well as the 55-year-old’s continued desire to reprise the role, it’s entirely possible WB would look to him to star in the film.

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The Plane: Solstice Studios acquires Gerard Butler action pic

A mere 24 hours after Lionsgate dropped the project due to an inability to acquire COVID insurance for the production, the Gerard Butler (Greenland)-led action pic The Plane is gearing up for take off again as Solstice Studios has acquired the rights to the film, according to Deadline.

RELATED: The Plane: Lionsgate Exits Gerard Butler-Led Action Film

Following Lionsgate’s departure from the film, CAA Media Finance and MadRiver International confirmed to sources they would still be moving forward with the project and search for another distributor that could provide the extra finances for pandemic insurance.

Solstice, whose first film was also the first new film to hit theaters amidst the global pandemic with the Russell Crowe-led Unhinged and recently acquired the Mark Wahlberg Oscar hopeful Joe Bell, is self-insuring the production as the studio hopes to continue their theatrical release streak. Plans are for Butler to shoot another film, Kandahar, in the United Arab Emirates in January followed by The Plane at an estimated June 28, 2021 production start.

The Plane centers around a commercial pilot named Ray Torrance, who, after a heroic job of successfully landing his storm-damaged aircraft in a war zone, finds himself caught between the agendas of multiple militias that are planning to take the plane and its passengers hostage.

RELATED: Gerard Butler’s Disaster Film Greenland Heads Straight to PVOD

The film will be directed by Christian Gudegast, who have previously worked together with Butler on 2016’s London Has Fallen. It is co-written by Charles Cumming and JP Davis, based on a story by Cumming and Gudegast. The Plane will be produced by Butler and Alan Siegel through their G-Base banner along with MadRiver Pictures’ Marc Butan and Ara Keshishian. Di Bonaventura Pictures’ Lorenzo di Bonvaventura and Mark Vahradian will also be serving as producers.

(Photo Credit: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

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Zack Snyder only filmed four minutes of new Justice League footage

Earlier this year, Zack Snyder got a lot of fans excited when it was announced that he would be re-assembling a few key Justice League cast members to finally finish his version of the film, which is coming to HBO Max next year. At least five actors were called back for reshoots in Los Angeles. However, it turns out their new scenes won’t be adding much to the final runtime.

Snyder recently appeared on Beyond the Trailer (via Heroic Hollywood) to discuss how his Justice League cut was coming along. Surprisingly, he revealed that he only shot a few minutes of new footage for the film.

“I think it’s valid, on one hand though,” said Snyder. “I will say that in the end it’s going to probably be about four minutes or five minutes of additional photography for the entire movie. In the four hours that is Justice League, maybe four minutes.”

Reps for Warner Bros. previously relayed that they would be giving Snyder millions of dollars to finalize his cut of Justice League. In September, The Wrap reported that the budget was estimated to be around $70 million. It’s not clear how much of this went toward the L.A. reshoots, which reportedly took only a week to finish. There’s also the matter of special effects work that still needs to be completed.

RELATED: CS Soapbox: How Jared Leto’s Joker Fits Into Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Ben Affleck (Batman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), and Ray Fisher (Cyborg) were among those who filmed new scenes last month. The shoot also had Jared Leto and Joe Manganiello return to reprise their DCEU roles as the Joker and Deathstroke. During DC FanDome, Snyder also confirmed that he’s giving Fisher’s Cyborg a meatier role after most of his scenes were cut when Joss Whedon took over the movie.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League will premiere as a four-hour miniseries on HBO Max in 2021.

What are your thoughts on Snyder only shooting a few new minutes of footage for the film? Give us your take in the comment section below!

Recommended Reading: Justice League Vol. 1: The Totality

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Brad Pitt-starring Bullet Train rounds out cast with Zazie Beetz

The upcoming action pic Bullet Train led by Brad Pitt (Ad Astra) has officially rounded out its cast with the addition of Emmy nominee Zazie Beetz, marking an Atlanta reunion with recently cast Brian Tyree Henry and Deadpool 2 reunion with director David Leitch, according to Deadline.

RELATED: Brian Tyree Henry Jumps Aboard David Leitch’s Bullet Train

Bullet Train will mark the eighth collaboration between Leitch (Hobbs & Shaw) and Pitt, who first worked together in 1999 on Fight Club on which Leitch worked as an uncredited stunt double for Pitt, followed by 2001’s The Mexican, Ocean’s Eleven and Spy Game, the latter two in which he doubled again for Pitt and helped coordinate the martial arts stunts on the Tony Scott-helmed film. Leitch would once again double for Pitt in 2004’s Troy and 2005’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith and would later reunite with the star in 2018’s Deadpool 2, in which Pitt cameoed as Vanisher and Leitch directed.

On top of directing, Leitch will supervise the script written by Zak Olkewicz (Fear Street). Plot details for the film are currently being kept under wraps, but it is based on the Japanese novel Maria Beetle by Isaka Kotaro. The cast for the film, led by Pitt, already includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Andrew Koji (Warrior) and Joey King (The Lie).

Leitch and Kelly McCormick will produce the project via their company 87North along with Antoine Fuqua (The Magnificent Seven, Training Day, The Equalizer) and Kat Samick (The Equalizer, Southpaw, Infinite). Brittany Morrissey is the executive overseeing the film for Sony Pictures.

RELATED: Joey King in Talks for Brad Pitt-Starring Bullet Train

Leitch and McCormick recently signed a first-look deal at Universal and produced the action film Nobody, starring Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk, which is expected to release in February 2021. The duo is also developing a biopic of Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first and only woman to win the brutal off-road endurance race known as The Dakar Rally, as well as the rights to her book My Victory at Dakar.

(Photo Credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images)

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POLL: Stream or theatrical for Wonder Woman 1984?

Rumors are swirling that Warner Bros. is considering a shortened theatrical release for its highly-anticipated Wonder Woman 1984, followed by an HBO Max debut in January. They are also supposedly considering an alternate plan where they push the film to the crowded Summer 2021 where many of 2020’s other rescheduled blockbusters are. ComingSoon.net is asking our readers to voice their opinion on what kind of release they’d like to see for the DC Extended Universe sequel! Let us know your thoughts in the poll below as well as tell us what you think in the comments below!

RELATED: Will Wonder Woman 1984 Jump to HBO Max in January?

Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big-screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah. With director Patty Jenkins back at the helm and Gal Gadot returning in the title role, Wonder Woman 1984 is Warner Bros. Pictures’ follow up to the DC Super Hero’s first outing, 2017’s record-breaking Wonder Woman.

The film also stars Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Kristen Wiig as The Cheetah, Pedro Pascal as Max Lord, Robin Wright as Antiope, and Connie Nielsen as Hippolyta. Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot, and Stephen Jones are producing the film. Rebecca Steel Roven Oakley, Richard Suckle, Marianne Jenkins, Geoff Johns, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, and Wesley Coller are the executive producers. Patty Jenkins directed from a screenplay she wrote with Geoff Johns & David Callaham, story by Jenkins & Johns, based on characters from DC.

RELATED: Wonder Woman 1984 Products Revealed by Warner Bros.

The sequel was originally intended to be released in 2019 but was then delayed to June 5, 2020. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the film was then pushed back to two times to August and October before finally landing on its current December 25, 2020 release.

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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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CS Interview: Saoirse Ronan Talks Docudrama Romance Ammonite

Ammonite is now playing in theaters and, based on critical reactions, already looks like an Oscar contender. To celebrate the film’s release, we spoke with the great Saoirse Ronan, who dropped some interesting insights into the production, her chemistry with Kate Winslet and the challenges of working on the film.

RELATED: Blackbird Trailer Starring Susan Sarandon & Kate Winslet

Set in 1840s England, Ammonite follows the story of an acclaimed but unrecognised fossil hunter Mary Anning works alone on the rugged Southern coastline. With the days of her famed discoveries behind her, she now searches for common fossils to sell to tourists to support herself and her ailing mother. When a wealthy visitor entrusts Mary with the care of his wife Charlotte, she cannot afford to turn his offer down. Proud and relentlessly passionate about her work, Mary initially clashes with her unwelcome guest, but despite the distance between their social class and personalities, an intense bond begins to develop, compelling the two women to determine the true nature of their relationship.

The film is being produced by Iain Canning (Widows) and Emile Sherman (Lion) alongside Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly (Lady Macbeth). It is a production by See-Saw Films with Winslet, Simon Gillis, Mary Burke, Rose Garnett and Zygi Kamasa set as executive producers.

RELATED: The French Dispatch Trailer for Wes Anderson’s Latest!

Ronan is an Oscar nominee for her performances in Atonement, Brooklyn, and Lady Bird, for which she won the Golden Globe. She recently earned her fourth Oscar nomination at the young age of 25 for her performance as Jo March in  Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.  Both Winslet and Ronan are part of the star-studded ensemble cast of Wes Anderson’s upcoming drama The French Dispatch. 

ComingSoon.net: Congratulations on the film! I thought it was a really good movie. You delivered a great performance and your onscreen chemistry with Kate Winslet was fantastic.

Saoirse Ronan: Oh thank you.

CS: How did you craft that natural chemistry you two display on screen together?

Ronan: Well, I guess that’s it. It’s kind of a natural thing and you’re either looking to find it with the person you’re working with or not really. And I mean, we both knew going into it that we got on with one another because we had met randomly over the course of a few years, just through press junkets and roundtables. And we did a photoshoot together, an actor photoshoot thing. And so, yeah, and we have a few friends in common and things like that. And [Peter] Jackson obviously loves her from Heavenly Creatures, so I’d spent a lot of time hearing only lovely things about Kate [while filming The Lovely Bones]. And yeah, and we sort of, we knew that in terms of the way we work and our sort of wavelength we’re on, we’re very similar. And so, yeah, so we just kind of got on straight away. And I just constantly ripped the piss out of her, really, and she’s a really good sport. She lets me do it.

CS: How did you get involved with Ammonite?

Ronan: I mean, I think Kate might’ve put me forward for it. I think she definitely pushed me to Francis. He had no choice. So she was incredibly supportive in terms of me taking on the role of Charlotte. And yeah, and it was during the “Little Women” shoot that I received the script and read it on one of my days off. And I think because I was on something at the time that was so kind of action-packed in a way, there was a lot of energy, there were a lot of actors within one scene and a lot of talking, a lot of overlapping, there was just in general, bursts of energy on Little Women on the set. And I guess I was drawn towards something to follow that up with, which was quieter and a little bit more stretched back. Well, not stretched back, but scaled down. And the script came along, and Kate was already attached. And I had really loved God’s Own Country when it came out, when I saw it. And so, Francis was someone I was interested in working with. And you know, it was very conscious, as great as it is to do the slightly bigger indie films as well, to still do the smaller films that I’ve kind of grown up doing, because that’s, yeah, they’re the kind of sets I really love being on. So yeah, so I think that’s why I was drawn to it. And then, Francis and I had extensive conversations about it on the phone. And I spoke to Kate quite a few times about it. And yeah, and then we did it a few months later, and it was great. It was nice to essentially do like a two-hander with someone you know.

CS: There’s very little dialogue in the film. Did you find that aspect challenging or rewarding? And what kind of difficulties lie in that style of filmmaking?

Ronan: Yeah, I mean, it can be challenging. You know, as I said, especially when you’ve been doing some of that sort of really based on dialogue and text, and I mean, I love doing both. When I was younger, especially with things like Atonement and Hanna and a lot of stuff that I did when I was a child, I didn’t really speak that much. So for a long time, I think my safe space was characters that didn’t really speak that much. I think I now really love doing both, once the writing is great, because there’s nothing worse than, you know, bad dialogue that you’re being forced to say. But yeah, it was this incredibly quiet film. And it was fine that it was frustrating because I think that was the point  — and I experienced this even with something like Brooklyn, when you’re doing something that’s set in a certain time period and you’re trying to convey an emotion and you can’t really express that through language, you do become quite restrained, and in the way you are and probably even in just the type of emotion that you get out of yourself.

And that’s the way Charlotte needed to be. She really needs to be in this very low, almost kind of normal state when we meet her. And then, she very, very gradually, very, very slowly starts to come out of that. So yeah, it was challenging because I’d come off of something that was so like, words, words, words, and you know, throw your arms around and move in whatever way I wanted. I had complete freedom in that way. And then, for the first time ever, really, was playing the woman in the period piece that had the pretty dresses on and the pretty — or weird, but pretty — hair and the corsets, and I was very restrained in the way I moved. And that was very new territory for me.

CS: How familiar were you with Mary Anning’s story before you began filming? 

Ronan: I wasn’t familiar with her at all, but I do know a 10-year-old who was obsessed with fossils. And before I went off to make the film, I said, “Yeah, I’m going to do this film and it’s about a woman who was a paleontologist. She’s a fossil hunter.” He was like, “Is it Mary Anning?” So a 10-year-old friend of mine knew it before I did. But I mean, people have responded to this film in different ways. For some people, the fact that we’re following two women in it in a romantic relationship is incredibly important for them. For others, it’s something else. I mean, for me personally, the thing that I really love about the film is the honoring of the work that Mary Anning did.

She was really an incredible woman, and there were only a few of her around at that time. But nobody was making strides. No other woman was making strides, really, in the way that she was in that field. And she was completely overlooked for so long. And I think the more research that I did into her, the more I really appreciated and respected the manual labor that this woman did in order to then make something that was really precious and beautiful and polished and kind of delicate. And I really like that sort of contrast in this woman’s work, where she would literally climb up a cliff face and pull or dig a rock out of the cliff face, take it home and chisel away at it and polish it and turn it into something really beautiful. And so, for me, when I watch the movie and when we were making it and seeing the work that Kate was even doing to sort of convey that, I more than anything else walked away with so much respect for the work that this woman did.

CS: So how important and/or relevant is a film like Ammonite in today’s society?

Ronan: Oh I mean, it sounds important and relevant as any other film that’s out there, you know? I mean, there’s obviously a reason why we all responded to it, and audiences seemed to be responding to it pretty well. And I think it’s, you know, whether it’s a man or a woman, it’s always really fascinating to watch someone who was essentially a loner and sort of an outcast in society and see how they live their life, their private life. And when you bring another character into that, that would allow the audience to experience that through this other character. So Charlotte, in this case. That’s really fascinating. As I said, I mean, I think the thing for me certainly, as a young woman who works and who has grown up in a world of creativity and collaboration and working very intimately with other people, I really, really enjoy it, you know, coming together and watching a film that shines a light on that process, every intricate process. But you know, I think it’s just relevant in a sense that it’s a deeply sensitive film.

CS: You mentioned working with Francis Lee. What kind of freedoms did he give you on set? And were you surprised at all by his style? Or was it different from other directors you’ve worked with in the past?

Ronan: Yeah, I mean, I feel like every director is quite different in their own way. They always kind of introduce you to a slightly new way of doing things or working or viewing a story or just finding a new method to use that you can get into a character’s head. And I think for Francis, one of the things that he spends a lot of time on is the sort of lead-up to the film and the conversation that you have with him before the actual shoot begins. So we spent a lot of time in the months leading up to the shoot talking on the phone and you know, I went out and did piano lessons and did cross-stitch, which was very exciting. And yeah, and so, we had just a lot of conversations, really. And he encouraged me to keep a diary of Charlotte and just sort of immerse myself in this imagined life. Because this is a sort of imagined story, you know, based on these women, but yeah. We were sort of given a bit more artistic freedom in that sense. And yeah, and you know, he definitely had a very clear vision in terms of how he wanted the film to look, and the kind of energy he wanted us to bring to it was very, very specific. It did need to be quite contained. So I think definitely for me, that was a challenge. But knowing that, he was dead set on that meant that I had this kind of anchor, which was great.

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