TOWN COUNTRY page 26 & DN THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017

ames Bond will battle a blind super-villain in Croatia in the upcoming 25th instalment, tentatively titled ‘Shatterhand’, reports said. The next film in the long-running franchise, which will see actor Daniel TO GO TO CROATIA Craig fighting a blind antagonist, is based on the 1999 thriller ‘Never Dream BOND Of Dying’ by author Raymond Benson, who also wrote Bond books ‘Tomor- row Never Dies, Die Another Day’ and ‘The World is Not Enough’. TheJ novel opens with a police raid on a French movie studio that goes badly wrong, while an actress with a sordid past leads Bond to his final target. “Bond scriptwriters feel it could be the perfect follow-up to ‘Spectre’. They are hop- ing to film in Croatia next year,” said a source. FOR 25TH FILM The source added that the producers were furious when a local mayor revealed that they had been scouting for locations in the coastal tourist hotspot of Dubrovnik. Craig, who has been playing the famous spy since the 2006 film ‘Casino Royale’, has not yet been announced as being back as the British Secret Service agent. But there are reports that the 49-year-old star is set to return for his fifth stint in the series despite declaring he would rather “slash his wrists than play the secret agent again”. The 25th James Bond film will hit cinemas in November 2019. IANS

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ‘A GENTLEMAN’ SETHUPATHI Gentleman’, the upcoming action film has Siddharth Malhotra and Jac- queline Fernandez in the lead. The plot of the film sees Gaurav (Sid- TO PLAY A dharth) happily leading an ordinary and trying to lure his love interest Kavya‘A (Jacqueline) into marrying him. However, CENTENARIAN Kavya dreads the thought of settling down. Her only wish is that her “sundar susheel” gentleman lives life to the off the edge. Things soon take an interesting turn when an assignment takes Gaurav to . Ever since the fi rst teaser came out, oodles of mys- tery surrounding this action-thriller-comedy has only in- creased curiosity about the fi lm that is slated to release DISNEY FINDS on August 25. A CAPTAIN FOR FRESH PAIRING OF THE LEAD ACTORS ‘A Gentleman’ will see Siddharth romance Jacqueline for the first time on-screen. Although the two starred together in ‘Broth- ers’ this will be the first time that fans will see them steam up the ‘JUNGLE screens with their sexy lip-lock and much more. Fans got a peek at their crackling chemistry when they appeared on a chat show together. The two complement each other well and share a great camaraderie. This fresh pair is sure to create magic on screen leaving fans wanting more. CRUISE’

ijay Sethupathi’s next film with director C. Prem Kumar is titled 96 and also has Trisha Krishnan in an impor- DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR SIDHARTH MALHOTRA TITLE CHANGE tant role. This movie ‘A Gentleman’ was not the film’s title from the hasV Sethupathi playing a coming of This is the first time that Siddharth Malhotra will be essaying very beginning. Initially, the film touted as ‘Bang age character which covers his life a double role in his career. Unlike other typical dual Bang 2’ went on to being titled ‘Reloaded’. But across three stages with some roles, Sid plays two different parts with distinctive characteris- reports say that ‘Reloaded’ was merely a working important events at each stage. tics. Both are poles apart from each other, with one being a risk- title and was never going to be the final one. The latest we hear from close taker and the other an ordinary man with his 9 to 5 job. Diametri- Guess the name change is only for the better. sources is that, this character cally opposite in nature, both the boys have their own charm. played by Sethupathi will have him play a 96-year-old grandfather at one of the three stages. Apart from MANY FIRSTS FOR t seems like Disney has found the 96-year-old, it is also said that a captain for its ‘Jungle Cruise’. the 16-year-old and 36-year-old JACQUELINE According to the sources, ‘The stages of his life will be portrayed ‘A Gentleman’ gave Jac- Shallows’ helmer Jaume Col- in this film. He will be playing the queline the chance to try let-Serra will direct Dwayne role of a photographer. her hand at action Johnson in the action-adven- India Glitz sequences. Yes! This is tureI based on the classic Disneyland the first time that the ride. actress will hit the screen While park-goers are taken on a with blazing guns. Reports say journey through the rivers of the that Jacqueline was very excited to world, from Africa’s Nile and Congo shoot the action sequences but rivers to South America’s Amazon, when she got down to shooting exact plot details for the feature are ANUSHKA THE ‘BOBBY’ REFERENCE it, it was difficult for her to wield being kept under wraps. Siddharth Malhotra’s introduction in the film the gun. And not just that, it’s Johnson welcomed the director is inspired by the classic hit ‘Bobby’. The ‘Baar the first time the ‘Judwaa 2’ onboard by sharing a tweet, which WILL PRODUCE A WEB SERIES Baar Dekho’ actor is seen smearing his head actress played poker in her life read, “I’m a gut & instincts guy. 1st with dough just like Zeenat Aman did in ‘Bobby’. while shooting for the film. time I met Jaume, I was confident he nushka Sharma has turned producer Even though it was more of a feminine scene, Aren’t we all excited to see was the one. Visionary/edgy filmmak- early on in her career and has made a the directors reportedly wanted to try it on Sid- Jacqueline in this new and er. Excited 4 the fans #JungleCruise.” name for herself with some original dharth to draw a contrast between his two bold avatar? Johnson will also produce the stories in Bollywood. Now, this multi- characters. Times of India adventure project with Dany Garcia, faceted actress is all set to take a the co-CEO of the duo’s Seven Bucks plunge into the world of web series Productions banner, which will next underA her banner Clean Slate Films. release ‘Jumanji’. John Fox and Beau “As a production house, we are already work- Flynn will also produce. The studio is ing on something. I hope it works out, for shooting for a spring 2018 start of the time, effort and monies put into it. production. I know it will, because it gives the Collet-Serra was in the running to directors a platform to do something FAZAL AND DENCH’S direct the ‘Suicide Squad’ sequel, but very different from the movies,” according to some reports the director Anushka said. is now out of the running to direct the After backing some gripping FILM COSTUMES MAKE IT TO QUEEN VICTORIA’S PALACE ‘Suicide Squad’ sequel. films like NH 10 and Phillauri, Johnson has been attached to star Anushka feels the writing for web in and produce the ‘Jungle Cruise’ pro- series is unlike the movies. “It’s a he outfits worn by the legendary ject since 2015, tweeting about his different way of storytelling British actress and Bol- intentions to find a ‘visionary’ director because in a web series you are lywood’s Ali Fazal in their upcoming for the project, one “who can balance trying to string a story over a Anglo-American film will now offi- huge action with comic charm,” back few episodes. And whoever cially be displayed as a part of the in April. works in this medium needs to collective at the Osborne House in Past big screen adaptations of understand how to utilise this theT Island of Wight, UK. beloved Disney parks properties platform to its fullest because it’s a For those unaware, the Osborne house is the include 2015’s ‘Tomorrowland’, 2003’s great avenue,” the 29-year-old said. formal royal residence of Queen Victoria and ‘The Haunted Mansion’, and the suc- “As an actor, it’s exciting to work on a Prince Albert. Few portions of the film were even cessful ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ character and be able to develop it in a shot there, making it the only film to have been between Queen Victoria and her Indian servant movie franchise, which has amassed few episodes. It’s a new experience, shot inside the house. . The film stars Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, over 4.5 billion USD worldwide across but the audience is encouraging,” she Victoria & Abdul is a biographical drama, Eddie Izzard, Tim Pigott-Smith (in his last film five films released over the last 14 added. Well, we wish Anushka good directed by and written by Lee role), and Adeel Akhtar. The film is scheduled to years. ANI luck for her new venture. Hall. It is based on the book of same name by be screened at the 2017 Toronto International , and on the real-life relationship Film Festival. TNN