Read below a long but great interview Michael gave to Collider in which he talked about Dolittle and working with Robert Downey Jr., Good Omens, Quiz, Prodigal Son, and The Way, a three-part series he is directing:
I recently sat down with Michael Sheen, who stars as the villainous Dr. Blair Müdfly in director Stephen Gaghan’s Dolittle, opening this weekend. While sitting in his trailer on the Universal backlot, Sheen and I had a wide-ranging conversation about working with Robert Downey Jr. and spending so much time looking at a tennis ball on set, the success of Amazon’s Good Omens, his idea for a Columbo episode, why he agreed to co-star on Prodigal Son, his upcoming limited series Quiz (which is about a huge Who Wants To Be A Millionaire scandal in Britian), being in an episode of The Simpsons, how he’s getting ready to direct a three-part series called The Way, and a lot more.
As you’ve seen in the trailers, Dolittle stars Downey Jr. as the famed doctor that can talk to animals. After his wife dies, Dolittle retreats behind his castle walls until being tasked to try and save the young Queen (Jessie Buckley) from a deadly illness. As he travels the world looking for a mythical island, he’s joined on his quest by a young apprentice (Harry Collett) and numerous animals that are voiced by Emma Thompson, John Cena, Tom Holland, Rami Malek, Craig Robinson, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Octavia Spencer, Kumail Nanjiani, and Marion Cotillard. Dolittle also stars Antonio Banderas and Jim Broadbent.
Check out what Michael Sheen had to say below.
Ler maisIn an interview to the website The Beat, Michael talks about what it was like to work with Robert Downey Jr, the possibitily of doing more Good Omens and more:
Dolittle antagonist Michael Sheen has been crushing his way through all forms of entertainment media for a few decades now, from theater to movies and lately, television, the latter taking up most of his time in recent years. Depending on your interests might determine the work of his that you’re most familiar with, whether it’s “The Twilight Saga,” his work with writer Peter Morgan (The Crown) on The Queen and Frost/Nixon or some of his television work, like Masters of Sex – or fan favorite Good Omens.
In the new family fantasy-adventure Dolittle, Sheen plays Dr. Blair Müdfly, doctor to Queen Victoria and the ersatz arch-rival of Robert Downey Jr’s titular Doctor John Dolittle, a physician with the ability to talk to animals who has disappeared from the public view after the tragic death of his wife, Lily. Dolittle’s only friends are the animals that surround him at his estate until a young lad named Stubbins (Harry Collett from Dunkirk) stumbles onto the grounds. When Victoria (Jessie Buckley) falls ill, Dolittle is called back to London, but in order to find a cure, he must travel with his animals to the far sides of the globe. Of course, Müdfly isn’t happy about Dolittle’s interference.
Besides those mentioned above, the cast includes Antonio Banderas and Jim Broadbent, as well as a slew of actors providing their voices for various animals, including Emma Thompson, Octavia Spencer, Rami Malek, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani and Craig Robinson.
The Beat had a chance to get on the phone line with Mr. Sheen last week, and we did throw in a question about his possible return as the angel Aziraphale for any sort of follow-up to Amazon’s series based on Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel, Good Omens.
Ler maisThe Amazon miniseries based on Neil Gaiman and Terry Prattchet’s beloved book is coming to BBC Two on January 15th at 9PM (GMT). Read Michael’s interview to the British channel:
What drew you to Good Omens?
I have been a huge fan of Neil’s work for years. I first read Good Omens at drama school when someone in my year introduced me to comic books, and Neil’s work in particular. I read all the classic comic books – Sandman, Hellblazer, Watchmen and Swamp Thing. I loved them. I had always assumed that comic books were about superheroes and wasn’t that interested in them. But this stuff was brilliant. It was great storytelling; it was dark, gritty and fantastical. It really rang my bell. So I’m absolutely delighted to be involved in the TV version of Good Omens.
At the heart of Good Omens is the relationship between Aziraphale and Crowley. What brings them together?
They both begin to realise they are rather more fond of the human race than they should be. When Aziraphale and Crowley start to appreciate each other’s positions, that compromises them, but it also draws them together. It is something that is particular to them. Over hundreds of years, we see that bond developing. They’re on opposite sides, but they’re actually very similar. They’re both supernatural, but both very appreciative of humanity.
Ler maisThe Amazon/BBC Studios production Good Omens is finally coming on TV as from January 15th 2020, as announced on Twitter:
A friendly reminder that you can watch the minisseries on Prime Video anytime you like. You can also buy the DVD and Blu-ray on Amazon.
The British Film Institute (BFI) curators made a list of their favorite TV shows of 2019 and Good Omens was one of the productions picked by them. Check out what Lisa Kerrigan said about the Amazon/BBC mini-series:
Ler maisWhat could possibly go wrong in a world where Frances McDormand is the voice of God? As it turns out, quite a lot. Good and evil tussle and tango together in this adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s beloved novel. The antichrist is coming of age in Oxfordshire, and he’s about to set off the apocalypse by accident, so demonic Crowley (David Tennant) and angelic Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) race to save the world, because they’ve grown quite fond of it.
The starry cast is clearly having a ball, and the delightful production design and music make the series zip along at a jaunty pace. Acting as showrunner, Gaiman teases out the essential theme, which is really a powerful argument for nurture against nature, and the idea that our relationships define our existence. It’s only a pity that he can’t write the script for real life as well.
Check out on the photo gallery screencaptures of Michael Sheen as the angel Aziraphale in Good Omens, the BBC and Amazon Prime Video production that aired on May 2019:
Today the finalists in the C21’s International Drama Awards have been announced. Good Omens recieved one nomination for the Best English language drama (series) award. The winners will be announced at the International Drama Awards Ceremony between 6pm and 7pm on December 5 as part of Content London 2019. See the nominees below:
Chernobyl
Produced by: Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games
For: Sky Atlantic and HBO
Distributed by: HBO
Gentleman Jack
Produced by: Lookout Point
For: HBO
Distributed by: BBC Studios
Good Omens
Produced by: BBC Studios, Blank Corporation, Narrativia, Amazon Studios
For: Amazon Prime Video
Distributed by: BBC Studios
Hanna
Produced by: NBCUniversal International Studios & Working Title TV
For: Amazon Prime Video
The Spy
Produced by: A LEGENDE FILMS PRODUCTION WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF OCS IN COPRODUCTION WITH LFB / A PLUS FINANCE AND NETFLIX
For: Netflix
Distributed by: Netflix
Top Boy
Produced by: Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan Films, Dream Crew and SpringHill Entertainment for Netflix
For: Netflix
Distributed by: Netflix
Wishing team Good Omens good luck!
The 45th Annual Saturn Awards nominations were announced on July 15th. The Amazon Prime and BBC minisseries ‘Good Omens’ recieved three nods: Best Streaming Science Fiction, Action, & Fantasy Series, Best Supporting Actor in Streaming Presentation for Michael and Best Actor in Streaming Presentation for David Tennant.
Check out the nominees below:
Best Streaming Fantasy, Sci-Fi, or Action/Thriller Television Series:
Black Mirror (Netflix)
The Expanse (Amazon)
Lost in Space (Netflix)
Good Omens (Amazon)
Russian Doll (Netflix)
Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access) – WINNER
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Amazon)
Best Actor in Streaming Presentation:
Penn Badgley – You (Netflix)
Jon Bernthal – Marvel’s The Punisher (Netflix)
Charlie Cox – Marvel’s Daredevil (Netflix)
John Krasinski – Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Amazon)
Zac Efron – Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (Netflix)
David Tennant – Good Omens (Amazon)
Henry Thomas – The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) – WINNER
Best Supporting Actor in Streaming Presentation:
Wilson Cruz – Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Michiel Huisman – The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)
Timothy Hutton – The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)
Doug Jones – Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access) – WINNER
Ethan Peck – Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Maxwell Jenkins – Lost in Space (Netflix)
Michael Sheen – Good Omens (Amazon)
The winners will be announced on September 13th, Friday, when this post will be updated, and the ceremony be available to watch via live-stream for the first time in the event’s history.
Source: Saturn Awards and Collider
