Julian was at the London Royal première of ‘The Hobbit’ last week. Leicester square was full of  fans and the production team created a little version of Hobbiton. This production really did break new ground running at 48 frames per second and also using Dolby’s new Atmos sound.

The Hobbit centres around Bilbo Baggins who is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

This is defiantly a film not to miss. The scene between Bilbo and Gollum is worth the price of a ticket in itself.

Julian was a the press night for “The King’s Speech” at Wyndham’s Theatre and Charles Edwards who plays Bertie in the production produced a brilliant performance.

The King’s Speech was written by David Seidler after reading about George VI’s life overcoming a stuttering condition he endured during his youth. He started writing about the relationship between the monarch and his therapist as early as the 1980s, but at the request of the King’s widow the Queen Mother, postponed work until her death in 2002. He later rewrote his screenplay for the stage to focus on the essential relationship between the two protagonists. It was also created as an Oscar winning film. Nine weeks before filming of the movie began, Logue’s notebooks were discovered and quotations from them were incorporated into the scripts for both the film and theatre productions.

The production is on until 21st July.

Henry Hitchings reviewed the show for the Evening Standard.

W.E (2011) Film Poster

W.E has now opened in cinemas across the country. Julian appears in this film as a waiter. The film is about the affair between King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson, and a contemporary romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard.

This was Julian’s second role in a feature film last year. The first being Tacho.

Julian has just hot footed it back from Los Angeles in time for the Royal Premiere of ‘HUGO’. This is beautifully filmed and is one of the best uses of 3D in a movie so far.

HUGO is the astonishing adventure of a wily orphan boy on a magical and mysterious quest to unlock a secret left to him by his father. Scorsese the legendary storyteller invites you to join him on a thrilling journey to a magical world with his first ever 3D film. Based on Brian Selznick’s captivating and imaginative New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the screenplay is by John Logan and the film is produced by Scorsese, Graham King, Tim Headington and Johnny Depp.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, HUGO stars Academy Award® winner Ben Kingsley (Shutter Island), Sacha Baron Cohen (Bruno), Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas), and Chloë Moretz (Kick-Ass).

Also appearing in the all-star cast are Academy Award® nominee Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes), Ray Winstone (London Boulevard), Christopher Lee (Lord of the Rings), Helen McCrory (The Special Relationship), Frances de la Tour (Alice In Wonderland), and Richard Griffiths (The History Boys).

Julian has just made it back from Los Angeles after a trip to see a producer for an acting role for a an upcoming theatre venture. Watch this space for more information! Julian had to rust back this week for the Royal Premiere of ‘HUGO’ on monday in London’s Leicester Square.

In 2004 the National Theatre turned another of Philip Pullman’s books “His Dark Materials” into a theatre production to massive acclaim, with the Stage saying:

“For anyone who sees this show, it will remain one of their most memorable theatrical experiences. If they take a child with them, that child will be hooked for life and surely that is the most important of all.”

The Stage, Dec 2004

Look forward to seeing this show hopefully later in the year!

It seems quite a while since Julian finished principle photography on Madonna’s new film W.E. But the release dates have now been announced. W.E. tells the story of the romance between King Edward VIII and American divorcee Mrs Simpson.

W.E. is getting its release during film festival season at the Toronto International Film Festival and Venice Film Festival in September with a wider release in the US planned for December.

Nero Band Members

Julian has been filming in Nero’s latest music video for their single ‘Promises‘ for their debut album, to be named “Welcome Reality” (after the “Me & You” B-Side).

Nero are electronic music artists, best known for producing dubstep and drum and bass. Nero’s debut dubstep release was “This Way” in 2008. They won the 2010 Beatport awards for Best Dubstep Act and Best Dubstep Track for “Act Like You Know” in 2009.

Sasha Frere-Jones, journalist for the New Yorker Magazine, listed Nero’s remix of The Streets, “Blinded by the Lights” in his top songs of 2009. The track had radio airplay in the UK as well as being played by DJs including Chase & Status, Skream, Tiësto and Diplo. More recently Nero have remixed La Roux, deadmau5, N*E*R*D and Daft Punk.

‘Promises’ will be the fourth single from the album, it will be released on 23 July 2011.

For more informatio check out Nero’s MySpace page, Facebook page or YouTube page.

The book is available to buy now from all good book shops and also online.

TACHO is a black comedy about a successful Rally driver and his race of a lifetime. For more information take a look at the TACHO post.

TACHO is a black comedy about a successful Rally driver and his race of a lifetime. Alex cannot imagine life without Rally, devoting himself exclusively to it. After an accident during which his co-driver is seriously injured, and with the date of the most important race of the season inexorably approaching, Alex’s manager is desperately searching for a replacement co-driver. Alex wants to race at all costs, despite the explicit ban on driving imposed by his doctor. He has been racing for fifteen years, but the greatest achievement has always escaped him by a hair’s breadth. After a fated encounter with a girl, he surprisingly decides that she alone is to be his co-driver in this race of a lifetime –the totally inexperienced Lucy, also committed to victory. The German, Weber, Alex’s greatest rival, already sees himself as a winner.  Also dreaming of victory are Slovakian adventurer, Jožo, and his new co-driver, Jula, whom he rescued from the clutches of the Mafia. English racing drivers, Charlie and Dave, are also practising intensely, albeit for something entirely different from Rally. Will this dramatic race have any winner at all? Indeed, life is about living every moment…

Julian this week has been working on a new book promotion for Walker Books. Filming finished this week and the advert should be out in the next couple of weeks so watch this space!. The advert was produced by Shoot!.

Julian has just completed an advertising campaign for Virgin Media. Keep your eyes out!

A massive congratulations to the Cock Tavern Theatre where Julian performed recently. They have just scooped an Olivier award last week for the opera ‘La Boheme’.  They beat five international opera companies to the ultimate theatre prize.

The performance was set in present day Kilburn and centered around aspiring novelist Rodolfo working on a laptop.

La Boheme opened at the 35-seat Cock Tavern pub theatre in north-west London at the end of 2009 and was put on by OperaUpClose. It ran for six months, and transferred to Soho Theatre in July 2010, where it sold out for six weeks – and returned to north London to the King’s Head in Islington for another season earlier this year.

Adam Spreadbury-Maher (producer), Robin Norton-Hale (director) and Ben Cooper (producer) are pictured with their award outside the King’s Head, where La Boheme was also staged. Picture by Rocco Redondo.

With the Première of TACHO in Prague just days previously and the Snow across Europe it was touch and go if Julian would make it back. But make it back he did just in time for the ‘TRON Legacy’ première in London’s Leicester Square.

Director Joseph Kosinski and Disney have done an amazing job on this film with an great soundtrack by Daft Punk. This is one of the first 3D films where 3D actually works. After the film Julian headed of to the after show party at the Tate Modern with a very impressive lazer light show. Tron Legacy comes out from the 16th December across the world.

TACHO is Mirjam Landa’s black comedy about a successful Rally driver and his race of a lifetime. Alex cannot imagine life without Rally, devoting himself exclusively to it. After an accident during which his co-driver is seriously injured, and with the date of the most important race of the season inexorably approaching, Alex’s manager is desperately searching for a replacement co-driver. Alex wants to race at all costs, despite the explicit ban on driving imposed by his doctor. He has been racing for fifteen years, but the greatest achievement has always escaped him by a hair’s breadth. After a fated encounter with a girl, he surprisingly decides that she alone is to be his co-driver in this race of a lifetime –the totally inexperienced Lucy, also committed to victory. The German, Weber, Alex’s greatest rival, already sees himself as a winner.  Also dreaming of victory are Slovakian adventurer, Jožo, and his new co-driver, Jula, whom he rescued from the clutches of the Mafia. English racing drivers, Charlie and Dave, are also practising intensely, albeit for something entirely different from Rally. Will this dramatic race have any winner at all? Indeed, life is about living every moment…

Here are a couple of press photos from the première. For more information about the film visit: www.tachomovie.com