Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh is set to portray U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson in This Sceptered Isle, a drama that charts the events surrounding Johnson and his government in the face of the first wave of the global coronavirus pandemic.

It's a long running joke among anglophiles that British actors are positively taking over American film and television. Seriously, they're everywhere. Just take a look at this year's Oscar nominations, or turn your TV in the next few days (seriously, you'll trip over a Brit on some major network property within an hour or two).

Well, it appears that Vanity Fair also noticed this trend while putting together its 2015 Hollywood issue and, with the help of photographer Jason Bell, has created the ultimate tribute, in the form of a cheeky fake newsreel about Great Britain's war on Hollywood, which also re-imagines a bunch of your favorite classic American films remade with British actors. Spoiler alert: The whole thing is awesome. Really awesome.

Remember how we theater-loving Americans were really jealous when we heard about the special production of Macbeth happening in Manchester over the summer, starring no less than Sir Kenneth Branagh and Doctor Who star Alex Kingston in the lead roles?

Sure, the National Theatre Live program broadcast the production, and many American cinemas will be holding screenings of it through the end of the year. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great program, and one which I wholeheartedly support, and it certainly saves ua all a lot of airfare to London, but at the end of the day there’s still nothing quite like being there in person, right?

Well, it turns out that now we can. Or will be able to next Spring, at any rate. Branagh – who was also the co-director of this particular production – will be bringing his Manchester Festival Macbeth to America in 2014 and (surprise!) making his New York stage debut at the same time. Want details? Read on.

The upcoming Manchester International Festival production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth has been causing considerable buzz – thanks to its limited run, unusual setting and basically perfect cast. The great Sir Kenneth Branagh will play Macbeth, joined by Doctor Who’s Alex Kingston as Lady Macbeth, Merlin's Alexander Vlahos as Malcolm and Coronation Street’s Ray Fearon as Macduff.

Seriously, England gets the best theater. It’s just unfair.

This production marks Branagh’s first Shakespeare performance in over a decade, which seems a bit strange when you remember how well he was once known for Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing and that epic four-hour Hamlet. So, it probably comes as no surprise that tickets to this extremely limited run sold out in record time.

Directed by Rob Ashford and Branagh himself, Shakespeare’s tragic tale of ambition and treachery will unfold within the walls of a deconsecrated Manchester church. Seriously. How cool is that? If this were happening anywhere near here, wouldn’t we all be lining up for the chance to see this play? Well, luckily, even though we’re not in Manchester, we don’t have to miss out on this production completely. Read on for details.