JANUARY 2007 NEWS:

1.30.07:

I've just posted a new interview that appeared in today's edition of Sweden's newspaper, Aftonbladet. Our thanks to Robin Solsjö Höglund for such a quick translation for us! The photo to the left was featured along with the interview, which took place this week at the Göteborg International Film Festival. Stellan discusses the possibility of taking on a role in the Swedish film production of ARN, based on Jan Guillou's medieval trilogy about a templar knight. The other news is that a month ago Stellan decided to quit smoking giving up his habit of three packs a day. I'm impressed and happy to see he's paying attention to his health, but it ain't easy. Hope he stays committed. The photo on the right was taken in July when he was signing autographs for PIRATES.

button_box.gif (205 bytes)The Goya Awards (Spain's answer to the Oscars) were presented the other evening and unfortunately (despite its title), GOYA'S GHOSTS did not impress voters. It had received three nominations - Best Costume Design, Best Makeup/Wigs, and Best Special Effects, but failed to nab any of the three. It is surprising that it wasn't even recognized for its cinematography - that award was picked up by del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" (which I would heartily recommend - magical storytelling at its best!).  Stellan will be on hand this weekend with Forman when GOYA is screened at the Göteborg International Film Festival. Yesterday  Czech director Milos Forman was joined by Natalie Portman and Javier Bardem in presenting his film in the native land. The film will open there tomorrow. Here are a couple photos that eerily appear as if Stellan were present.

button_box.gif (205 bytes)According to Cinematical.com,  DOWNLOADING NANCY has a whole new cast. Originally the Johan Renck-directed thriller was to star Stellan, William Hurt and Holly Hunter. Well, apparently that's all gone by the wayside. Mario Bello is now set to star and last week Ray Liotta's name was mentioned. However, this week Bello's two co-stars have been listed as Jason Patric and Danny Huston. Filming is to begin next week. Such disappointing news!

1.24.07:

Another great find! I've been able to locate the 18-minute short, TORTE BLUMA, online. You can watch the entire film at this Tribeca Film Festival link (no longer available as of 4/07). The film was featured at Tribeca in April 2006 and was given this description - "Director Benjamin Ross manages to cram both history and style into this visually stunning and emotionally sobering short. The story is inspired by a real-life episode that involved Franz Stangl, the German commandant at the Treblinka concentration camp, and the Jewish prisoner who cooked his meals. Ross ably captures the atrocious setting, and actor Stellan Skarsgård brings Stangl to life with frightening realism."

button_box.gif (205 bytes)Here are a few more photos of Stellan's son, Gustaf, taken on Monday night when he received his Guldbagge for Best Actor. I love his sneakers in the last photo!

1.22.07:

button_box.gif (205 bytes)Film Forum, New York City's leading movie house for independent premieres, will screen the short film, TORTE BLUMA, from January 24 through February 6. The Jewish Week says, "Stellan Skarsgård brings his usual agonized ambivalence to the role of Franz Stangl, the commandant of the Treblinka death camp. Directed by Benjamin Ross, the film also features Simon McBurney. It will be shown along with the German film, 2 OR 3 THINGS I KNOW ABOUT HIM.

button_box.gif (205 bytes)According to the Prague Post, GOYA'S GHOSTS will open in the Czech Republic city on February 1. Director Milos Forman will present his own special screening on January 31. Forman arrived in Prague earlier this month preparing to direct his first opera. The film will also be screened at the Göteborg International Film Festival, which opens next week. Among the workshops will be a class led by Forman and screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière and one given by Stellan, who will discuss his approach to performance, getting the best from screenplay material, and the art of collaboration.

button_box.gif (205 bytes)Our favorite pirates will be back on screen on May 25 when PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END premieres with the final installment of the epic adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Check out the new images below. Good chance that it will become 2007's highest grossing film considering the success of the first two "Pirates" films.

Here are a few more photos taken of Stellan at the PIRATES premiere last summer.

button_box.gif (205 bytes)In a recent interview, Melissa George indicated that the thriller WAZ, in which she co-stars with Stellan, would be making its premiere sometime in May this year.

A son follows in his father's footsteps! This evening Stellan's son, Gustaf, received a Guldbagge (Sweden's Oscar) for Best Actor for his role in the musical film, FÖRORTSUNGAR (Kids in da Hood), which also won for Best Film. Stellan won a Guldbagge for TÄCKNAMN COQ ROUGE in 1990 and for DEN ENFALDIGE MÖRDAREN in 1982.  Follow this link for an interview with Gustaf as he discusses his award (in Swedish). Gustaf will be busy promoting the film at the upcoming Berlinale (February 8-18) in the festival's Generation section and also himself as part of the European Film Promotion's Shooting Stars 2007.