Father's Day binge guide: From the galaxy of ‘Andor' to the thrills of ‘Mission: Impossible'
'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina'
Here's another franchise that's packed with the sort of adrenaline-pumping, stunt-heavy action that dads generally gravitate toward. A spin-off of the popular John Wick movies, Ballerina stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, and in true Wick fashion, she's out for revenge. With solid action-movie credentials from standout roles in No Time to Die and The Gray Man , de Armas delivers balletic beatdowns with precision and style and even manages to hold her own against the Baba Yaga himself (yes, Keanu Reeves makes a cameo).
Don't miss: Female action heroes: 8 women who redefined courage long before 'Ballerina' pirouetted in 'Fountain of Youth'
Fountain of Youth , starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as sibling adventurers Luke and Charlotte Purdue, channels the spirit of Indiana Jones , National Treasure and even a bit of the early Mummy films through the lens of Guy Ritchie. Think: a daredevil hero, a brainy, voice-of-reason sister, a mythical artefact, a shadowy organisation sworn to protect it, a power-hungry villain—and yes, pyramids. If Dad's a fan of archaeological mysteries, globe-trotting adventures and slick action-comedy, then this one should be right up his alley. 'Shogun'
If prestige series are more his thing, FX's award-winning Shogun , based on the 1975 historical novel by James Clavell, is essential viewing for Father's Day 2025. The performances are exceptional across the board, especially breakout star Anna Sawai's powerful portrayal of Lady Mariko. Populated by richly drawn characters and driven by a plot steeped in Japanese history, culture and political intrigue, this sweeping epic is as intellectually engaging as it is visually stunning. 'The Fall Guy'
A glorious ode to stunt performers, The Fall Guy is a romantic-comedy remake of the classic '80s TV show. Ryan Gosling stars as Colt Seavers, a stuntman sidelined by an on-set accident who agrees to come out of retirement—not so much to double for Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Hollywood action-star-with-a-heart-of-lead, but to win back the heart of the film's director—and his ex-flame—Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). With Gosling and Blunt's effortless chemistry and some of the most thrilling practical stunts in recent cinema, this film is a sure bet for dads looking for a lighthearted, fun action movie for Father's Day 2025. 'The Last of Us'
HBO Max's The Last of Us is perfect for gamer dads or those drawn to post-apocalyptic storytelling. Based on the acclaimed video game of the same name, the series has been praised for its rich character development, emotional depth and immersive world-building. Starring Bella Ramsey and man-of-the-hour Pedro Pascal, it's fundamentally a story about survival and revenge, with their compelling father-daughter dynamic anchoring the emotional core. For dads, the themes of sacrifice, protection and retribution resonate deeply—delivering gut-wrenching moments of love, loss and quiet resilience amidst the chaos. 'Andor'
The most grounded entry in the Star Wars universe, Andor —the prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story —offers an unflinching look at what it takes to mount a rebellion. Shifting the focus from space warfare, it tells the stories of the people on the ground, revealing the harsh realities people face in the fight for freedom—the sacrifices, the compromises, the casualties. Critically acclaimed and often called the best in the Star Wars series, Andor delivers a gritty, nuanced narrative that should resonate with longtime fans and newcomers alike. 'The Pitt'
Hailed for its attention to detail, medical accuracy and for capturing the physical and emotional toll of working in an ER, HBO Max's The Pitt , starring Noah Wyle as the stressed-out senior senior emergency attending physician on duty, is being called one of the best shows of the year and the most realistic medical drama to date.
With its unrelenting pace and raw portrayal of what goes on in an emergency room, the series is like ER meets 24 . The 15-episode first season unfolds in real-time, documenting a single 15-hour shift. Gritty, harrowing and authentic, it pulls no punches in showing the chaos, tough decisions and profound humanity behind hospital doors.
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Tatler Asia
13-06-2025
- Tatler Asia
Father's Day binge guide: From the galaxy of ‘Andor' to the thrills of ‘Mission: Impossible'
'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina' Here's another franchise that's packed with the sort of adrenaline-pumping, stunt-heavy action that dads generally gravitate toward. A spin-off of the popular John Wick movies, Ballerina stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, and in true Wick fashion, she's out for revenge. With solid action-movie credentials from standout roles in No Time to Die and The Gray Man , de Armas delivers balletic beatdowns with precision and style and even manages to hold her own against the Baba Yaga himself (yes, Keanu Reeves makes a cameo). Don't miss: Female action heroes: 8 women who redefined courage long before 'Ballerina' pirouetted in 'Fountain of Youth' Fountain of Youth , starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as sibling adventurers Luke and Charlotte Purdue, channels the spirit of Indiana Jones , National Treasure and even a bit of the early Mummy films through the lens of Guy Ritchie. Think: a daredevil hero, a brainy, voice-of-reason sister, a mythical artefact, a shadowy organisation sworn to protect it, a power-hungry villain—and yes, pyramids. If Dad's a fan of archaeological mysteries, globe-trotting adventures and slick action-comedy, then this one should be right up his alley. 'Shogun' If prestige series are more his thing, FX's award-winning Shogun , based on the 1975 historical novel by James Clavell, is essential viewing for Father's Day 2025. The performances are exceptional across the board, especially breakout star Anna Sawai's powerful portrayal of Lady Mariko. Populated by richly drawn characters and driven by a plot steeped in Japanese history, culture and political intrigue, this sweeping epic is as intellectually engaging as it is visually stunning. 'The Fall Guy' A glorious ode to stunt performers, The Fall Guy is a romantic-comedy remake of the classic '80s TV show. Ryan Gosling stars as Colt Seavers, a stuntman sidelined by an on-set accident who agrees to come out of retirement—not so much to double for Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Hollywood action-star-with-a-heart-of-lead, but to win back the heart of the film's director—and his ex-flame—Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). With Gosling and Blunt's effortless chemistry and some of the most thrilling practical stunts in recent cinema, this film is a sure bet for dads looking for a lighthearted, fun action movie for Father's Day 2025. 'The Last of Us' HBO Max's The Last of Us is perfect for gamer dads or those drawn to post-apocalyptic storytelling. Based on the acclaimed video game of the same name, the series has been praised for its rich character development, emotional depth and immersive world-building. Starring Bella Ramsey and man-of-the-hour Pedro Pascal, it's fundamentally a story about survival and revenge, with their compelling father-daughter dynamic anchoring the emotional core. For dads, the themes of sacrifice, protection and retribution resonate deeply—delivering gut-wrenching moments of love, loss and quiet resilience amidst the chaos. 'Andor' The most grounded entry in the Star Wars universe, Andor —the prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story —offers an unflinching look at what it takes to mount a rebellion. Shifting the focus from space warfare, it tells the stories of the people on the ground, revealing the harsh realities people face in the fight for freedom—the sacrifices, the compromises, the casualties. Critically acclaimed and often called the best in the Star Wars series, Andor delivers a gritty, nuanced narrative that should resonate with longtime fans and newcomers alike. 'The Pitt' Hailed for its attention to detail, medical accuracy and for capturing the physical and emotional toll of working in an ER, HBO Max's The Pitt , starring Noah Wyle as the stressed-out senior senior emergency attending physician on duty, is being called one of the best shows of the year and the most realistic medical drama to date. With its unrelenting pace and raw portrayal of what goes on in an emergency room, the series is like ER meets 24 . The 15-episode first season unfolds in real-time, documenting a single 15-hour shift. Gritty, harrowing and authentic, it pulls no punches in showing the chaos, tough decisions and profound humanity behind hospital doors.
Tatler Asia
06-06-2025
- Tatler Asia
‘Ballerina' is a feisty and rough-edged extension of the beautifully brutal John Wick universe
Ana de Armas brings raw intensity to a fledgling assassin's revenge tale in 'Ballerina', a welcome detour within the world of John Wick Grief is a powerful, maddening and messy thing. A little over a decade since the first movie of the franchise came out, the world of John Wick has unravelled a layered mythology, expanding its sleek, hyper-stylised underworld governed by honour codes, stealth killers and merciless mayhem. At the centre of this: Keanu Reeves, as the title character, plays a man of few words and relentless action, who is pulled back into this world for revenge, pain and love—those which endure and push us beyond reason. The legendary Baba Yaga finds a kindred spirit in Ballerina , the new spinoff from director Len Wiseman and screenwriter Shay Hatten. Chad Stahelski, who directed the four chapters of Wick's saga, is a producer for the film. Slotting between the events of the third and fourth movies of the series, it follows the Ruska Roma ballerina-assassin, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), as she sets out to avenge her father's death. Spoilers ahead. Read more: Female action heroes: 8 women who redefined courage long before 'Ballerina' pirouetted in
Irish Daily Star
27-04-2025
- Irish Daily Star
Jason Isaacs says he wants to 'milk' his Harry Potter role before he's 'long forgotten'
Jason Isaacs is clinging to his Harry Potter persona a bit longer, anticipating the forthcoming TV adaptation. The star of The White Lotus recently discussed his portrayal in the film series, which was adapted from the children's books by the contentious author J. K. Rowling , featuring a magical world of wizards. Jason took on the role of the nefarious Lucius Malfoy, father to Slytherin house's Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), who was notorious for bullying and being the nemesis of Gryffindor's Harry Potter ( Daniel Radcliffe ) and his companions, Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint). In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, which aired on April 21, Jason expressed pride in his performance as Lucius and his involvement in the eight-film saga. Read More Related Articles Harry Potter star slams J.K. Rowling over transgender comments, compares her to Andrew Tate Read More Related Articles The White Lotus star Walton Goggins to host SNL after Aimee Lou Wood feud "I have to say I'll milk this 'cause this time next year, there's gonna be another Lucius Malfoy, and he's gonna be fantastic, and I'll be long forgotten. So, I am savoring every other applause I get," he remarked during the live episode, reports the Mirror US . The role of Lucius Malfoy has not been announced for the TV series yet (Image: UGC) However, the 61 year old actor clarified that his comments weren't born out of vanity. "It's not me trying, fishing for compliments or more applause. I'm just saying they are making the TV series, and it will be brilliant," Jason further explained. "And I will be, you know, like, just like I'm now last season's White Lotus actor, I will be the last iteration of Lucius Malfoy, and that's fine by me." He concluded with a simple acknowledgment: "I've had a good run,". Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled plans for a Harry Potter TV series during an HBO Max streaming event in April series, based on all seven books, is set to dedicate a season to each book. The network recently shared some of the supporting cast members for the upcoming adaptation. The current cast list includes John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, and Luke Thallon as Professor Quirinus Quirrell. While the new trio (Harry, Hermione, Ron) and various other supporting characters have been cast, the role of Lucius Malfoy remains unannounced. The show, penned and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, is slated to begin filming this summer. Mark Mylod will also serve as an executive producer and direct several episodes. Additional executive producers include Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
